Showing posts with label OTHER DISEASES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OTHER DISEASES. Show all posts
Monday, 20 November 2017
Saturday, 23 September 2017
Systemic lupus erythematosus (“lupus” or “SLE”) and other autoimmune diseases are linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Specifically, lupus patients may experience an elevated risk of lymphoma and other cancers, such as cancer of the cervix. Researchers have elucidated certain connections between lupus and cancer. For example, it is widely accepted that immunosuppressive medications, such as azathioprine (Imuran) and mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept) contribute to elevated cancer risk. However, one of the largest studies to investigate this connection suggests that the risk of cancer is actually greatest during the earlier stages of lupus, indicating that exposure to immunosuppressive therapy is not the only link between lupus and cancer. Physicians do not yet understand the precise relationship between lupus and cancer.
Lupus and lymphoma
Studies show an increased risk of both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in lupus patients. It is believed that the elevated risk of lymphoma results from the disease process of lupus—specifically the overstimulation of B-cells coupled with defects in the immune system’s surveillance system—and not just from medications or other associated risk factors. Some suggest that immunosuppressive medications also increase the risk of lymphoma and other blood cancers, especially 5 or more years after taking the drug. In addition, people with Sjogren’s syndrome, which is relatively common in lupus, experience an even greater elevation of lymphoma risk, suggesting that lymphoma in lupus patients may also be linked to this condition.
Lupus and breast cancer
Some data indicate that women with lupus experience an increased risk of breast cancer. Increased estrogen levels might contribute to a higher risk of breast cancer in women with lupus.
Lupus and lung cancer
Lung cancer is about 1.4 times more common in people with lupus than in the general population. Interestingly, people with lupus and lung cancer are more likely to experience rare types of lung cancer. However, like the general population, many of the people with lupus who develop lung cancer are smokers. In fact, 85% of lung cancer is caused by tobacco. It is very important that people with lupus do not smoke. Smoking not only increases the chance of developing lung cancer, it also ups the risk for cardiovascular disease (which is also markedly increased in people with lupus), and prevents lupus drugs like Plaquenil from working properly. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor. S/he can help you find the most effective strategy to curb your smoking habit.
Lupus and cervical cancer
Certain studies have shown an elevated risk of cervical cancer and abnormal PAP tests in women with lupus. One study linked the increased incidence of abnormal PAP tests with histories of sexually transmitted disease, contraceptive use, and immunosuppressive medications. Some physicians suggest that either the use of immunosuppressives or flawed inherent immunity lead to a decrease in the ability of lupus patients to fight off human papilloma virus (HPV), a virus associated with cervical cancer. [Gardasil (the HPV vaccine) is recommended for young women with lupus to reduce the risk of later cervical cancer.] However, like much of our knowledge of cancer in lupus, these connections are not fully known or understood.
Lupus and endometrial cancer
New evidence suggests that lupus patients also experience an elevated incidence of endometrial cancer, although the cause for this risk is unknown.
NSAIDs and cancer
It has been found that people with Rheumatoid Arthritis, another autoimmune disease, experience a lower incidence of colorectal cancer than the general population. Although the precise cause of this phenomenon is unknown, it has been attributed to the long-term (10 years or more) use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and aspirin. Evidence has also been found that long-term aspirin and NSAID use may also reduce the risk of colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer in the general population. It is likely that this benefit also holds for people with lupus, but that does not mean that one should begin taking aspirin and NSAIDs for this reason. In fact, long term NSAID use can increase cardiovascular disease. Therefore, you should only take medications as directed by your physician.
The importance of regular cancer screenings
Despite the increased risk of cancer in people with lupus, studies show that lupus patients are actually equally or even less likely than the general population to undergo cancer screenings. Thus, it is very important that you speak with your doctor about lupus and cancer to ensure that you see the appropriate physicians for cancer screenings as often as recommended.
Healthy habits
Certain risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, hormone replacement therapy, and exposure to immunosuppressive medications, increase the chance that an individual will develop cancer. Therefore, it is also important that you practice healthy lifestyle habits. Obesity also increases the risk of certain cancers, so try to eat foods that help you maintain a healthy weight.
Sunlight causes lupus flares and also increases the risk of skin cancer. People with lupus should avoid the sun whenever possible. If you need to be outdoors, wear sunscreen with an SPF of 85 or greater and be sure that your sunscreen contains Helioplex to protect you from both UV-A and UV-B rays.
Monday, 21 August 2017
Do you know someone who has AIDS? Or maybe you've heard about a celebrity who has it? Here are some quick facts:
- AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV.
- If you've got AIDS, your body finds it harder and harder to fight off infections.
- The most common way to get AIDS is by having sex with someone who has it. But there are other ways, too.
What happens when you get AIDS?
When you get infected with HIV, your body's immune system gets weaker. The immune system is what makes your body able to fight off infection and disease.
It takes time for this to happen. But when it does, it can lead to AIDS and be fatal.
When a person has AIDS, the immune system is so weak it can't fight off viruses or bacteria. And it can't prevent certain kinds of cancer the way a healthy immune system can.
While people can die quickly once they develop AIDS, HIV infections can be treated. It's possible with the right treatment to live a long, healthy life.
How do people get HIV?
People get HIV by contact with body fluids that come from someone who has it. For example, you can get AIDS in these ways:
- Oral, vaginal, or anal sex without using a condom.
- Injecting drugs with a needle that has also been used by someone infected with HIV.
- Using the same needle as someone with HIV when you get a tattoo.
Do only gay people get an HIV infection?
No, you don't have to be gay to get an HIV infection. You can get AIDS from having sex -- without a condom -- with someone of the opposite sex.
How can I avoid getting HIV?
The best way to avoid getting HIV is to not have sex. If you do have sex, you can protect yourself with these steps:
- Always use a condom when having sex.
- Only have sex with one person who you know is not infected.
- Do not use alcohol or drugs. That way you can make smart choices based on clear thinking.
Activities like hugging, kissing, and rubbing against one another don't spread HIV as long as there are no open sores being touched. Also, you can't give yourself HIV by masturbating.
Can I get HIV from getting a tattoo?
Yes, if the person who gives you the tattoo uses the same needle that was used on someone who has HIV.
That's because any activity that can result inblood getting passed from one person to another carries a risk of HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from someone sneezing on me or from touching someone's used tissue?
No. HIV is not passed on in sweat, saliva, or tears.
Some other things to know about catchingAIDS:
- The body fluids that contain the highest concentration of HIV are blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, and other fluids that contain blood.
- You can't catch it from casual contact like you can a cold or the flu.
- Holding hands or touching someone'sskin won't cause you to get the virus.
- Sharing a drinking glass with someone does not spread the virus.
- Open mouth (French) kissing is very low risk for getting the virus unless there are open sores in the mouth or there is blood present.
How do you know if someone has HIV?
The only way to know for sure whether you or someone else has HIV or AIDS is by testing. A person may be positive for HIV but take more than 10 years to develop symptoms.
If I've had sex that put me at risk, how soon should I get tested?
Most experts recommend waiting to be tested until three months after having sex that put you at risk. That's because it may take that long to develop antibodies that can be found by testing. There are, though, some newer tests that may provide results sooner. Discuss your timing for having tests with your doctor.
It's important to avoid risky behaviors during that three-month period. If you think you are infected, see a doctor right away. He or she can help guide you in the testing.
Where do I go to be tested?
The best thing to do is talk to your health care provider. He or she will:
- Determine whether or not you should be tested.
- Explain the testing procedure.
- Describe your options for testing.
- Help you locate the nearest testing site.
You can also find out where the nearest testing site is by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636). You can call 24 hours a day. The call is confidential. No one will know you called.
Do I have to tell my parents if I want to get tested?
That depends on where you go to be tested. Some clinics want your parents' permission before they offer you a test.
Most clinics are confidential. No one else will be told about your test results. You can call a clinic before going there to find out what its policy is on keeping your test confidential.
It's a good idea, though, to talk with an adult you trust about your concerns. A trusted adult can help you sort through your options. The adult can also help you think about your behavior and what to do about behavior that puts you at risk.
If I decide to get a test, does the person I had sex with need to get tested, too?
The test will tell you only about yourself. Your sexual partner could still have HIV, even if your test is negative.
What happens if my test is positive?
The earlier you get treatment, the better chance you have of being able to stay well. If your test is positive, talk with your health care provider about your treatment options and what you need to do to live a long, healthy life.
Take-Away Tips About AIDS
- Never have sex without using a condom.
- Do not use illegal drugs or get tattoos with unclean needles.
Thursday, 17 August 2017
Health problems in the fast-food generation
Ideally the teen years are a time of perfect health, without the illnesses that can affect older people. Unfortunately, there are chronic diseases (those that persist for a long time) that can affect teens. Sadly, too, many are the result of our modern but sedentary lifestyle. Understanding and recognizing those diseases will help in their treatment and in some cases, prevent their onset.
Obesity
Obesity is a dangerous condition becoming more and more common in our culture. It is developing into a serious crisis in the teen population. The number of obese teenagers (aged 12 to 19 years) increased from 10.5 to 15.5 per cent between 1988 and 2000. Obesity poses a threat to overall health, and is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers.
Overweight adolescents and their parents must understand this is more than a cosmetic issue. Excess weight can have a long-term effect on your adult life and health.
Obesity as a chronic health problem has received more attention lately. Lawsuits have recently been filed against major fast food corporations serving high fat foods. On average, urban kids under the age of 17 visit fast food restaurants twice a week. Quick service, convenience, good taste and inexpensive prices are appealing to adolescents. Teens can afford to eat and socialize at these places. However, eating fast food too often can lead to rapid weight gain.
Part of growing up and becoming more independent involves making food choices on your own. With school, hobbies and after-school jobs, teens may spend a lot of time away from home. Still, it is important to eat on a regular schedule. It is thought that up to half of teens skip breakfast. Without breakfast, it is hard to stay awake and concentrate in school. Total nutrient intakes are lower in adolescents who miss breakfast. Breakfast may be skipped in a misguided attempt to reduce calories. Overeating at the next meal or snacking on high calorie and fat foods is often the result. What’s more, kids who eat at least two consistent meals a day are leaner than those who do not. Those who eat more family meals also tend to be a normal weight and have better overall nutrition.
The teen years are a time for learning to make wise food decisions. If poor eating habits are formed now, it is very difficult to acquire better habits later. Those who eat badly during adolescence risk obesity later in life. If eating well is unfamiliar and difficult for you, get one-on-one help by talking to a dietitian.
High Blood Pressure
Evidence suggests that having high blood pressure in childhood is linked to high blood pressure as an adult. The condition is also genetic (inherited). It can lead to an increased risk of strokes, heart attacks or heart failure, as well as kidney disease. High blood pressure may have no symptoms. Severe cases may involve chest pain, headaches and blurred vision.
Body size is the biggest predictor of high blood pressure in children. About half of children with high blood pressure are very overweight. Losing weight can improve blood pressure. Girls with this condition who are on birth control pills must be monitored, since the pill tends to make it worse. Drinking alcohol and smoking can also increase blood pressure.
Finding out if you have high blood pressure involves taking a reading. Normal blood pressure shows a systolic (top) number less than 130 and a diastolic (bottom) number less than 80. To be sure of a true reading, blood pressure should be properly checked at least twice at two or more doctor’s visits. Some people have ‘white coat anxiety hypertension’ – since they are nervous at the doctor’s office, their blood pressure goes up. After they have met the doctor more than once, their blood pressure reading lowers.
Diabetes
Diabetes is also becoming more common in teenagers. Almost all kids with this disease initially have Type 1. Generally, those with Type 1 diabetes are not overweight. Early symptoms of the disease involve weight loss, frequent passing of urine and increased thirst. These symptoms may be linked to the destruction of insulin-producing pancreas cells by the immune (defence) system.
Until recently, Type 2 diabetes was thought of as an adult form of the disease. However, up to eight per cent of kids with diabetes now have Type 2. This version involves the cells of the body becoming resistant to insulin. Most kids with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese when diagnosed. They tend to be over the age of ten, often in the mid- to late teen years. Symptoms may include some glucose in the urine, mild symptoms of thirst or increasing passing of urine. There may be no symptoms. Usually a family history of Type 2 diabetes exists. This type of diabetes is also treated by diet and weight loss, and has the potential to be cured by weight loss.
In all three of these chronic diseases – obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes – excess weight plays a key role. In some cases, lifestyle changes alone may provide a cure. If there is one vital message, it is that these changes are much easier to make before health problems arise. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Asthma
Some chronic illnesses are more difficult to avoid, even if the guidelines for weight and exercise are followed. More kids see their family doctors for respiratory problems than any other problem. Respiratory problems are usually related to viral infections that improve and resolve. Some teens do develop chronic respiratory diseases, the most common being asthma. In fact, asthma is the most common chronic illness affecting children and adolescents today, with about 4.8 million sharing the disease.
Inflammation and spasm in the airway cause asthma. In your body, particles called inflammatory mediators are released to help fight off infection. However, asthma appears when too many of these particles are produced at the wrong time. The body releases particles when exposed to an irritant in the environment. Irritants vary based on the person, and may be allergens, cold air or even exercise. The wheezing and shortness of breath begin when irritation in the pathways of the lungs obstructs or blocks the flow of air.
Those with a history of repeated wheezing, cough or chest tightness may have asthma. A chronic cough or wheeze with weather changes, exercise, viral illnesses or exposures to chemicals, dust, or tobacco smoke may also indicate the condition. House dust mites are one common trigger that can be controlled by covering pillows, mattresses and box springs with cases. Washing all bedding in hot water every two weeks also cuts down house mite populations. Air filtering devices, reduced humidity levels and removing bedroom carpeting where mites like to live also helps control them.
Allergies to animals are another possible allergic trigger. Cat saliva, cat and dog dander can all be irritants. Some people may need to remove pets from the house. Another option is to use an appropriate air filter and confine the animal to a carpet-free area away from bedrooms.
Other allergens are plant pollens, including various trees, grasses and weeds. Those with allergies or asthma may do better staying inside when pollen counts are high. If possible, use home and car air conditioners rather than opening windows during bad pollen seasons such as late spring and early fall. Outdoor or indoor mold can also cause a serious allergy for asthma sufferers. Make sure there is good ventilation to prevent mold from growing. Some other irritants that may be in the air include tobacco smoke and smoke from wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. Perfumes may also set off attacks in some people.
Allergy testing can confirm allergies. A small amount of the allergenic product is placed in the skin to see if a reaction occurs. Asthma can also be diagnosed with a pulmonary function test, and by checking if symptoms are relieved by a bronchodilator medication. This medication reverses airway spasm.
One way to manage asthma is to take a peak expiratory flow value (PEF) reading, done by blowing in a tube that measures the flow of air when blowing out. PEF readings help doctors and patients know how well-controlled asthma is by checking how much air the person can blow. Treatment for asthma is based on the severity of the symptoms. In mild cases, avoiding triggers and occasionally using inhalers to open airways are all that is needed. As symptoms become more severe, a step-by-step approach to medications is used. Steps include trying other inhalers to treat swelling, as well as pills to fight inflammation and allergies. Rarely, oral steroids are needed.
Eczema
Eczema is another chronic condition related to asthma. It is essentially the same allergic reaction but involves the skin, resulting in an itchy rash. The rash is usually red and swollen with areas that may drain in severe cases. The rash tends to cycle, getting better and then worse. Scratching makes it worse.
In adolescents, the rash is generally on the hands, eyelids, neck, feet, and areas that flex such as the bend of the knees and elbows. Ninety per cent of people with eczema get it before the age of five, but usually improve with age. Triggers include too much hand washing, wearing wool clothing or other materials that do not allow the skin to ‘breathe,’ sweating and stress. Treatment involves avoiding allergic triggers as well as medicines. Medical therapies can include steroid creams of various strengths. Recently, a non-steriod cream has been introduced that can be very effective. Occasionally oral antihistamines and rarely oral steroids are used for severe itch or rash.
Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis can also be a difficult chronic condition. Up to nine per cent of people with allergic rhinitis also have asthma. It runs in families, and more than two-thirds of people are diagnosed by the time they are 20. The main feature of this condition is a continuing dry cough and runny nose. Other symptoms include sneezing, itching in the eyes, ears and throat and nasal congestion. A chronic condition is indicated if these symptoms have lasted longer than three months.
Allergy testing to determine triggers may help with diagnosis and treatment. Triggers are similar to asthma and include perfumes, tobacco smoke, dust, air conditioning, strong odors, potpourri, burning candles, cold air and animal dander.
Avoiding the allergen causing discomfort is the first step in treatment. Next, try to eliminate it. If this is a long or difficult process, an intranasal corticosteroid (a nose spray prescribed by a doctor) may help. It works by helping to stop the inflammation process causing the runny nose. The sprays are well tolerated and have few side effects. Dryness or irritation of the lining of the nose may be one result. Those who develop nosebleeds should stop using the spray. It can take a few days to a few weeks of treatment to get the most benefit out of the medication. Antihistamine medications have also been proven to reduce these symptoms. Rarely, oral steroids are required.
Occasionally, regular allergy shots can make someone ‘immune’ to their old allergens. Fortunately, allergic rhinitis resolves in some children as they age. As the world grows more industrialized, the number of people with this problem is predicted to increase.
Recognizing these chronic illnesses at an early stage can help in their treatment. If any of these conditions sound familiar, talk with your family doctor.
