Health Issues is a general health based blog concentrating on multiple health topics.

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS IN CASE OF ENDOMETRIOSIS: SUE’S STORY

Author: admin

I’m out and about and then I get the standard question: ‘How are you?’. I give my usual answer: ‘I’m surviving, thank you’. A twitch of an eyebrow. Of course they were expecting and only wanted to hear: ‘Fine, thank you’. But, I don’t like to lie and I also don’t wish to give a ‘case history’, so ‘surviving’ is honestly how I feel. It is also somewhere in between feeling good (‘normal’) and being sick enough to justify being in bed — mind you, often I’d love to be curled up in bed!

Then, you get ‘Oh, but you look fine’. I almost scream with frustration. They’re fishing for an explanation. So, should I explain or not? Well…in the interests of helping them to understand (hopefully), here goes with the justification speech yet again! I spiel off: ‘Well, I’ve got endometriosis (only some know what it is and even less understand the implications) and it is caused by… and it makes you have…symptoms, etc. etc.’. I would usually like to add, but prudently don’t, ‘I look “fine” because…

I have become determined to beat it!’.

I have my outward “facade” on today, which is a fake expression, accompanied by make-up, that says “I’m fine, I have no pain or problems at all’”;

the fact is I don’t venture out when I’m really feeling dreadful so you don’t see the real evidence of endometriosis’, or

I’ve taken a painkiller!’

You come away feeling guilty because you don’t look sick enough for them to believe or understand.

*110\83\2*

Tags: Women’s Health
May 8th, 2009  |  Posted in Women's Health  |  No Comments »

TREATMENT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS: DANAZOL AND HOW DANAZOL WORKS

Author: admin

It is thought that Danazol eradicates endometrial implants in several ways. The net result is that the production of oestrogen is suppressed and the levels of oestrogen in the body decrease to the low levels found in women following the menopause. Hence, Danazol treatment is sometimes referred to as pseudomenopausal treatment because it mimics the hormonal condition of menopause.

The low levels of oestrogen mean that the endometrial implants are no longer stimulated to grow and break-down each month. Therefore, they become inactive and begin to gradually waste away.

Ovulation and menstruation usually cease by the end of the second month of treatment though this may depend on the dosage being taken. The symptoms of endometriosis usually begin to decrease by the end of the second month of treatment and then continue to improve throughout the course of treatment.

*52\83\2*

Tags: Women’s Health
May 8th, 2009  |  Posted in Women's Health  |  No Comments »

PROBLEMS AT WORK AND SCIATICA: A NOTE FOR EMPLOYERS

Author: admin

While meeting the requirements of the various regulations may at times be expensive, it obviously makes good sense for employers to do so because otherwise the serious ill effects of work-related disorders can also lead to high costs. The HSE points out that these costs can include:

Sick pay, loss of production due to poor performance, sickness absence and poor industrial relations; and

Possible compensation payments. Considerable sums have been won in civil claims and this may increase the cost of Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance.

To reduce the risk of work-related disorders, the HSE recommends that employers should:

Make sure that work systems cater for the differences in people’s size, strength and abilities. Wherever possible allow people some control over work speed.

Think about any possible risks when planning changes to work methods or when buying new machinery or equipment. Check with suppliers that ergonomic principles have been incorporated in the design of new equipment.

Consider a programme of ‘health surveillance’. This could include a system for keeping records of problems when they first appear and for prompt medical assessment to anyone reporting problems. Encourage early reporting of symptoms (a positive safety culture will help) and look at sickness absence records and staff turnover.

Look into the possibility of alternative work or job changes when someone cannot continue their current type of work or where this will aid the return to work of someone who has been off sick.

Monitor as frequently as necessary to check the effectiveness of your control measures. Look, for example, to possible adjustment of workstations and seating, working techniques, maintenance arrangements. Be alert to any increase in work-related ailments in the workplace, for example, after a change of process, speed or working technique.

Finally, review your arrangements periodically.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Safety at work is, of course, a vast subject. For more detailed information consult the following HSE books and leaflets which you can order from HSE Books on 01787 881165:

Seating at work; Lighting at work; Ergonomics at work; Working with VDUs; Lighten the load: guidance for employers on musculoskeletal disorders; Management of health and safety at work; Approved code of practice; Work equipment: guidance on regulations; Manual handling: guidance on regulations; Workplace health, safety and welfare: approved code of practice; Display screen equipment work: guidance on regulations.

*57\124\2*

Tags: Pain Relief
April 29th, 2009  |  Posted in Pain Relief-Muscle Relaxers  |  No Comments »

ANTI-DEPRESSANT LIFESTYLE: WATCHING YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE

Author: admin

Even if you don’t have a defined problem with alcohol, it is very important for a person who suffers from depression to pay careful attention to his or her alcohol intake. First of all, alcohol is capable of interacting negatively with any drug that affects brain functioning. Even though one study of individuals taking St John’s Wort suggested that the effects of alcohol on their co-ordination and ability to concentrate was no different from that seen in people on placebo, I would recommend moderation in alcohol consumption to someone on St John’s Wort as I would to a person on any other type of anti-depressant. In practical terms, this generally means no more than one (or at the most two) glasses of wine or single shots of alcohol per day, depending on an individual’s tolerance. As always, it is important to exercise judgement when driving or operating machinery under such combined drug influences.

Even in those who appear to handle their alcohol very well in the hours after drinking it, I have often noticed a ripple effect on mood in the days that follow. This sometimes occurs after a very small amount of alcohol (even a single glass of wine) and takes the patient quite by surprise when the association is finally recognized. As I mentioned, sometimes it is only by logging one’s mood on a daily basis that a person will come to appreciate that there is indeed a cause-and-effect relationship between drinking alcohol and becoming depressed.

*72\75\2*

Tags: Anti Depressants
April 29th, 2009  |  Posted in Anti Depressants-Sleeping Aid  |  No Comments »

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURE: PARTIAL SEIZURES

Author: admin

The exact internal perception or external manifestations of partial seizures depend upon the site of origin of discharge of abnormal nerve cells. If these lie in the part of the brain called the motor cortex, a strip of brain concerned with movement, the initial manifestation will be a contraction of muscles in the opposite side of the body, as, through evolutionary events that are not entirely clear, one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. Cells in the motor cortex which supply the index finger and thumb, the corner of the mouth, or the big toe are most likely to be those in which a seizure discharge begins. There are more cells assigned to controlling these muscles, which are concerned with the fine tuning of manual skills and facial expression. Statistically, therefore, there is a greater chance of abnormal events occurring in these cells, but also experiments show that they are particularly easy to excite. The first evidence of such a partial seizure may be twitching of one corner of the mouth. As the seizure discharge spreads, the muscles around the eyes are next involved, as nerve cells supplying these muscles are next door to those supplying the mouth. Next involved are the hand muscles, and next the foot muscles. This march of events was described in the last century independently by Bravais, a French neurologist, and by Hughlings Jackson, an English neurologist whose wife had such attacks. This type of seizure is therefore often called a Jacksonian seizure. It may occur with no disturbance of consciousness whatsoever, as the discharge remains confined to the motor cortex. Partial seizures in which there is no disturbance of consciousness are said to be simple partial seizures.

Another type of partial seizure with movement is known as a versive (turning) seizure. In this the head and eyes turn to one side.

Usually the arm on the side to which they are turned is elevated and twitches. Sometimes the ‘version’ may continue so that the subject turns round several times on his own axis. Version is usually in the direction away from the discharging cerebral nerve cells—a left hemisphere focus causes turning to the right. Such seizures are therefore called adversive.

In the types of seizure described so far, there is an external manifestation-contraction of muscles driven by the discharging cerebral nerve cation-cells, so that this type of seizure is easily apparent to an observer.

Most people are right handed, the left hemisphere then being considered to be dominant. Language is very largely located in the dominant hemisphere. An aphasic partial seizure in which expression or comprehension of language is impaired may arise from a seizure discharge in the dominant temporal lobe.

Other groups of discharging cerebral nerve cells may not necessarily result in any external apparent event, only in a distorted internal perception. A focus in one parietal lobe (just behind the motor cortex) may only result in a transient disturbance of sensation, such as a perception of pins and needles in the opposite side of the face, arm, or leg. A seizure discharge in the anterior part of one temporal lobe may result only in the person perceiving a strange smell, unreal, often unpleasant, and yet often vaguely familiar. Similar hallucinations of distorted taste may also occur, which are usually perceived as unpleasant.

If the seizure discharge begins in a slightly different part of the temporal lobe, complex visual hallucinations may occur. A boy of 11 told one of us that he saw himself standing near a shower with another boy, whom he felt he knew yet could not name. This boy and he alternately put their feet under the running water, and this odd hallucination continued until the seizure ended.

Other seizures arising in the temporal lobe may cause a perception that events taking place have previously occurred in the person’s experience. This phenomenon is known as ‘deja vu’. Jamais vu is a phrase used to indicate that the person perceives familiar surroundings as unreal.

If such distorted perceptions occur they may disturb full consciousness—as defined by awareness of current events, interpretation of current events, and correct responsiveness to current events. All gradations of disturbance of consciousness may be seen. For example, the child or adult may respond appropriately to a question after a considerable delay, or he may respond inappropriately, or not at all. After the attack has terminated, people may say that they were dimly aware of ongoing real events, but this is not necessarily true, and the person may have no memory for all events during and for some time after the seizure. Partial seizures in which consciousness is disturbed are said to be complex partial seizures.

Sometimes seizures arising in the temporal lobe result in complex automatic behaviour — a so-called psychomotor seizure. The person may, for example, dress and undress repeatedly or drum his fingers on the table. Less complex, but more common manifestations, are repeated sucking or chewing or swallowing movements. The person will have no memory for these events after the attack.

Such automatic behaviour occurring during the seizure discharge must be distinguished from the common confusion following a grand mal attack, or following a prolonged temporal lobe seizure, for which the person will also be amnesic. This amnesia is, perhaps, analogous of the amnesia following a head injury, in which, for example, a young man will complete a game of rugby football after a collision resulting in a concussive head injury, yet afterwards he will be amnesic for this part of the game.

Emotional experiences are very frequent in partial seizures arising in the temporal lobe. These are often expressed just as ‘a horrible feeling’, but sometimes the sensation of fear is overpowering.

Sensations in the abdomen and chest often also occur. A common initial sensation is a vague feeling of discomfort in the upper abdomen, which rises rapidly into the chest and head. The abdominal sensation may be accompanied by contractions of the stomach and bowel resulting in audible rumbles.

Another frequent internal sensation is one of vertigo. People with seizures beginning in the temporal lobe may say that they are ‘dizzy.’ This word is used in different senses by various people, but some appear to perceive vertigo (a sense of dysequilibrium which may be rotational) as part of the seizure.

Any partial seizure may become secondarily generalized into a tonic-clonic seizure (grand mal seizure). Sometimes this happens so quickly that the partial (focal) onset is only apparent on careful analysis of an EEG recorded during a seizure.

*11\188\2*

Tags: Epilepsy
April 28th, 2009  |  Posted in Epilepsy  |  No Comments »

HOARSENESS IN CHILDREN

Author: admin

Symptoms: speaking or crying in an unusually low pitch; inability to speak above a whisper; voice loss.

Home care:

-    Have the child rest his or her voice.

-    Encourage the child to inhale steam and drink warm liquids.

-    If hoarseness is caused by an allergy, antihistamines prescribed by the doctor should help.

Precautions

-    Consult the doctor if the hoarseness is severe or persists longer than two to three days,

-    Note that babies are sometimes born with soft larynxes. This may give a hoarse note to the baby’s cry, but it is nothing to worry about and usually disappears after six to eight months of age.

Anything that interferes with the normal vibrations of the vocal cords can cause the cords to swell and produce hoarseness – distortion or loss of the voice. In children, the most common cause of hoarseness is abuse of the voice by screaming. Hoarseness can also be caused by croup, laryngitis, or an allergy. More rarely, the condition can result from diphtheria, injury to the larynx (voice box), or a foreign body that the child has inhaled.

Extreme hoarseness can cause total temporary voice loss. Repeated hoarseness leads to the formation of tiny, wart like growths on the vocal cords. In children, these growths are known as “screamer’s nodes.” When they occur in adults they’re referred to more politely as “singer’s nodes.” Either way, they can cause the hoarseness to become a chronic condition.

Note that a baby may be born with a soft, underdeveloped larynx that collapses partially each time the baby takes in a breath; the baby makes a crowing sound (congenital laryngeal stridor), and there may be a hoarse note to the baby’s cry. This condition should clear up without treatment, and you don’t need to be concerned about it.

*118/84/5*

Tags: General health
April 28th, 2009  |  Posted in General health  |  No Comments »

SELF-HELP PREVENTION: DEPRESSION

Author: admin

Depression is a highly complex condition that can be defined in many ways. To the man or woman in the street it is often taken to mean ‘the blues’ or ‘feeling low’, but at the other end of the scale doctors see people who are really ill with depression, which is still the biggest single cause of suicide.

However we define it, depression is extremely common-in fact it is the most common psychiatric condition in the western world. Between 8 and 15 million Americans are being treated for it at any one time, and it is the biggest single cause for admission to mental hospitals in the western world. Women seem to be more commonly affected than men, but this assumption is being seriously questioned as it now appears that men may simply show their depression in other ways-the main ones being anti-social behaviour, alcoholism and sexual misdemeanors.

There are two types of depression. The most common by far is the ‘endogenous’ kind. This occurs for no apparent reason though as we learn more about the condition more and more causes are being recognized. The second type is ‘manic’ depression. In this disease the individual suffers bouts of being highly active and sleepless and bouts of deep depression.

The signs and symptoms of depression are many, and surprisingly it can be a difficult diagnosis to make when the picture is not clear-cut. Many depressives have few mental or psychological symptoms and go to the doctor with physical complaints which are in fact a manifestation of their depression. The main signs of depression are: sadness; a slowness of thought; feeling worse in the

morning and brightening up as the day progresses; trouble getting off to sleep, and waking early in the morning (4 or 5 a.m.); a poor appetite for sex and food; a loss of interest in life generally; a lack of interest in things that used to be of value (e.g. hobbies); self-neglect; loss of self-confidence; a sense of guilt and worthlessness; anxiety; irritability; a tendency to cry easily; a fear of being left alone; a fear of death; a sense of hopelessness; extreme weakness and tiredness; delusions; and suicidal thoughts.

Some of the commonest physical symptoms are: tiredness; itching; weakness; dizziness; palpitation; blurred vision; a tendency to drop things; burning pains in the limbs; abdominal pains; nausea; constipation or diarrhea; ‘can’t draw a good breath’; facial pain; excessive sweating; food ‘sticks’ in the throat or gullet; aches; and pains and cramps in the legs. In one study of people complaining of symptoms for which no cause could be found one in ten were clinically depressed and half had been ill for more than ten years. Many had had numerous operations and investigations-most of which were quite unnecessary.

Treatment takes the form of drugs, psychotherapy, or electro-convulsive therapy (ÅÑÒ). Each has its place but all the treatments have drawbacks and the best way of handling depression is clearly to prevent it, if at all possible.

*135/72/5*

Tags: General health
April 23rd, 2009  |  Posted in General health  |  No Comments »

SOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OF ARTHRITIS TREATMENT:

Author: admin

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS

Consider a company researching a new substance which has potential for treating a particular disease. Several factors influence the progress of this substance and its eventual destiny.

If the disease for which it is indicated is a serious one, the; product is likely to be a big money spinner. The project will then probably go ahead with maximum effort. If the disease is serious but not likely to involve good sales for the product (perhaps a disease of relatively low incidence), then the whole project may be abandoned in favour of another substance which is effective for some less serious condition, but still has good sales potential. This is straight commercialism and, of course, is quite justified in private enterprise where survival depends on sales.

Suppose, however, that the first case applies and the company proceeds to put the substance through all the trial procedures demanded by governmental agencies. These procedures can involve five to eight years of research and trials. The costs to the company will be enormous. Another company may also be progressing with research on a similar substance with indications for the same disease. Neither company will know of the other’s work and it then becomes a matter of who will gain official approval and the consequent prize – ‘the market’. Should one of the companies learn of the possibility of being ‘pipped to the post’ by another research project they may well decide to cut their losses and abandon the project. It could be that the product which would have resulted from this company’s research would have been an excellent one; due to a combination of circumstances it is, however, lost to the consumer.

A feature which comes into decisions regarding the acceptance of new substances officially classed as ‘drugs’, involves a comparison with other drugs used for the same disease. This brings the second aspect into play; that is, the basis of comparison involved in the acceptance of new ‘drugs’, or therapeutic substances.

It is valid to criticize a system which judges (and possibly rejects) new therapeutic substances by their comparative effectiveness with an exsiting substance. There are so many other factors which can be influential here, including, obviously, the difference in side-effects between the new substance and the existing one. Thus, a material which was only a quarter as potent or effective as another but which displayed an absence of serious side-effects would be a more valuable substance – for the patient. Furthermore, the new material may be more easily assimilated by patients than the one with which it was being compared. The effectiveness of a product involves a more widespread manifestation than just the speed by which it changes the course of a disease.

*24/48/5*

Tags: Arthritis
April 23rd, 2009  |  Posted in Arthritis  |  No Comments »

BREAST CANCER: ADJUVANT THERAPY. CLINICAL TRIALS

Author: admin

Adjuvant therapy

Following surgery for breast cancer, you may be referred to a cancer specialist – an oncologist – for further treatment. Treatment that is auxiliary to the main form of treatment – in this case surgery – is known as adjuvant therapy, and its aim in treating women with breast cancer is to destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the body after the tumour has been surgically removed.

Following an operation for breast cancer, the adjuvant therapy may be with X-rays (radiotherapy), drugs (chemotherapy), or hormones. You will see a consultant in clinical or medical oncology, and may be given one of these forms of treatment or a combination of any of them. You may receive the adjuvant treatment at the same hospital at which your operation was done, or you may have to go to a cancer centre at another hospital.

Some time before your treatment starts, the oncologist will examine you and look at the results of your operation and of any investigations that have been done. You may need to have further investigations, such as a liver or bone scan, to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond your breast. The oncologist will then discuss the proposed treatment plan with you, and you will be able to ask questions.

Clinical trials

To be able to improve the treatment given to women with breast cancer, new drugs need to be tested, and currently used drugs and radiotherapy regimes need to be tried in different ways. Therefore, many women are asked to take part in clinical trials to compare a new treatment with an existing one.

If your doctor is involved in a trial of this sort, you may be asked if you would be willing to take part. The details of the trial will be explained to you, and you should make sure you fully understand what is entailed before you make a decision. You are under no obligation to agree to be involved, and if you refuse, the quality of the treatment you receive will not be affected in any way.

*50/39/5*

Tags: Cancer
April 23rd, 2009  |  Posted in Cancer  |  No Comments »