Fibroids are a very common tumour which is seen in the female reproductive system. These are also known by the names of leiomyomas, or fibromas and are firm, compact tumours which are made out of muscle cells or fibrous connective tissues. It mostly affects the uterus and the area surrounding it. According to a study, it has been found that 25-50% of the women experience Fibroids during their reproductive age but not all of them need treatment.
Fibroids also appear during child bearing years as well but all of them are not large enough to be identified via diagnosis. In most of the cases, these Fibroids are non-cancerous but there are some exceptions as well. The size of this tumour may range differently according to the person.
Who is at risk for fibroid tumors?
Fibroids can occur in the reproductive system of any women but those of whom are approaching their menopause stages are at greater risk. This is because of their exposure to high levels of estrogen. It has been found that women who are obese or belong to the African-American category are also at a much greater risk than the other women. The reason for such an anomaly is still not known clearly.
Symptoms of Fibroids
There are several symptoms of Fibroids which need to be identified to prevent any kind of serious complications. The same are listed as below :
If the woman experiences heavy or prolonged menstrual periods.
There can be abnormal or irregular bleeding between menstrual periods.
Pain in the pelvic region because of the tumor presses on pelvic organs.
Frequent urination can also be experienced.
Women might experience low back pain.
Pain during intercourse is also common if the woman is suffering from Fibroids.
So these are the most common symptoms of Fibroids which can be experienced by most of the women.
Diagnosis of Fibroids
It is important that if you experience the symptoms we mentioned, you must immediately visit the doctor for a checkup. Here are the most common techniques which will help the doctor to check whether you have a Fibroid or not :
X-ray - It is the Electromagnetic energy used to get the images of bones and internal organs that will help to identify the tumour.
Ultrasonography - it is an ultrasound test done with the help of a small instrument, called a transducer, that is placed in the vagina.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Non-invasive procedure which produces a two- dimensional view of an internal organ or structure.
Hysterosalpingography - The X-ray examination of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
So these are the different techniques which will help the doctors to identify the tumour.
If you have read the article till this point then you are now aware of the different information about Fibroids which will help you treat it the right way.
Noncancerous growths of the muscle tissue surrounding the uterus are known as uterine fibroids. This is a common disease which about 70 to 80% of women contract by the time they are 50 years of age. The uterine fibroids can sometimes be very big and cause heavy periods as well as severe abdominal pain while at other times, uterine fibroids give no signs or symptoms whatsoever and go away on their own. This is why it is crucial to know what type of uterine fibroids you have and how to diagnose them.
Here are the types of uterine fibroids and how to diagnose them -
Types
There are three main types of uterine fibroids. They are;
1. Intramural fibroids: The most common type of uterine fibroids are intramural fibroids. They typically appear in the endometrium and may grow larger which results in your womb getting stretched.
2. Subserosal fibroids: Subserosal fibroids are called so because they form on the serosa. The serosa is the outside of your uterus. Sometimes, Subserosal fibroids may grow so large that your uterus appears bigger on one side.
3. Pedunculated fibroids: Pedunculated fibroids tumors are basically Subserosal fibroids with a stem. A base which supports the tumor is called the stem.
Diagnosis
There are a number of tests done to diagnose uterine fibroids. They are;
1. Pelvic exam: A pelvic exam is a thorough inspection of a woman's pelvic area. The organs which are in the pelvic area include the cervix, ovaries, uterus and vagina. Normally, this and the next test in this article are enough to diagnose uterine fibroids.
2. Medical history: The history of your periods, as well as the other symptoms you have, will often be enough to diagnose the uterine fibroids. If your medical history is not enough, then you might need to undergo a pelvic exam.
3. Pelvic ultrasound: An ultrasound is when high-intensity sound waves are used to produce images of the pelvic area. This is only done when a pelvic exam and your medical history are not enough to diagnose uterine fibroids.
The nephrotic syndrome refers to kidney disease. Nephrotic syndrome is triggered when the glomeruli (tiny structures in the kidneys) malfunction or are damaged and allow too much protein to enter into the kidneys. Nephrotic syndrome is a chronic ailment but not very prevalent. In India, fewer than 1 million cases are reported every year.
Who is susceptible to Nephrotic Syndrome?
Children, especially between the ages 2-6 are vulnerable to coming down with this ailment. It is prevalent more amongst male children than female. Around 3-4 children out of 100,000 are affected by it. Age of onset determines how severe the syndrome will be.
What are the symptoms of Nephrotic Syndrome?
Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by swelling up of the face. The swelling spreads to other parts of the body. This is when most doctors will recommend a urine test to confirm if the child has contracted nephrotic syndrome.
Diagnosis of the disease-
Nephrotic syndrome can be diagnosed following procedures to test the presence of high cholesterol and low albumin levels in the blood. The doctor will also document the ratio of urinary protein to creatinine of more than 2 to confirm the diagnosis.
Nephrotic syndrome treatment-
The treatment options for the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome are as follows-
• If nephrotic syndrome is detected in children less than 3 months of age, they will only require albumin transfusion and diuretic medication. For older children, oral steroids are trusted medication only after determining that there are no underlying diseases.
• Parental counselling is necessary so that they can understand the medicine dosage, duration and side effects of steroidal treatment. Parents need to purchase uristix that can reveal protein levels in urine. It is imperative that parents regularly monitor their child’s urine. This way, the syndrome does not become aggravated and the child does not need to be hospitalized.
Medication for nephrotic syndrome can be steroid sensitive or steroid insensitive.
• In the case of steroid-sensitive medicines, swelling keeps recurring frequently or infrequently. But it is not followed by an infection. These are called relapses that require other immunosuppressive drugs. Regular follow up is recommended.
• For steroid resistant medication, a kidney biopsy is mandated to understand the underlying cause of nephrotic syndrome. Based on the test results, the doctor initiates calcineurin inhibitor therapy. This procedure is performed by a pediatric nephrologist in children.
The dosage depends on the child’s weight. Inadequate or overdose can harm the child.
The side effects of steroids include-
• Cushingoid facies (fat deposits on the face)
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Short stature
When a child takes immunosuppressive drugs, she/he becomes exposed to infections and might require vaccinations (Oral OPV i.e. pulse polio program, BCG, measles, MMR vaccine).
Diet for nephrotic syndrome-
A proper diet can work wonders in controlling the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome. A doctor usually recommends cutting down on salt and advises minimum intake of fluids. Since cholesterol levels go up with this syndrome, a diet low in saturated fats is suggested. Even though nephrotic syndrome is accompanied by loss of proteins, a high protein diet is not recommended because proteins aggravate the syndrome.
When the underlying causes of nephrotic syndrome (other diseases that trigger it) are cured, the symptoms of nephrotic disorder dissipate. The proper diet and medication will ensure that a child outgrows the disease and lives a healthy life.
The uterus, or womb, is a muscular structure and is held in place by ligaments and pelvic muscles. If these muscles or tendons become weak, they cause prolapse and are no longer able to hold the uterus in its place.
Uterine prolapse happens when the uterus falls or slips from its ordinary position and into the vagina, or birth waterway. It could be complete prolapse or even incomplete at times. A fragmented prolapse happens when the uterus is just hanging into the vagina. A complete prolapse depicts a circumstance in which the uterus falls so far down that some tissue rests outside of the vagina. Likewise, as lady ages and with a loss of the hormone estrogen, her uterus can drop into the vaginal canal. This condition is known as a prolapsed uterus.
Risks: The risks of this condition are many and have been enumerated as follows:
Symptoms: Some of the most common symptoms of prolapse involve:
Nonsurgical medications include:
Some specialists use the following methods to diagnose the problem:
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that causes damage to your eye's optic nerve and gets worse over time. The optic nerve is a bundle of millions of nerve fibres which carry visual impulse from the retina at the back of eye to the brain. The increased Eye pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve and fasten the natural nerve fibre loss. Since nerve cells can't regenerate this damage is permanent and irreversible.
Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total permanent blindness within a few years. Because most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain from this increased pressure, it is important to see your eye doctor regularly so that glaucoma can be diagnosed early and treated before significant functional visual loss occurs.
If you are over age 40 and have a family history of glaucoma, you should have a complete eye exam with an eye doctor every one to two years. If you have any risk factors, you may need to visit your eye doctor more frequently.
What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?
For most people, there are usually few or no symptoms of glaucoma. The first sign of glaucoma is often the loss of peripheral or side vision, which can go unnoticed until late in the disease. This is why glaucoma is often called the "Sneak Thief of Vision" or "Silent Thief of Eye Sight".
If you have any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care:
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors, which may lead to glaucoma, such as
Treatment-
The treatment for glaucoma relies on the nature and seriousness of every case. Generally, glaucoma cannot be totally cured, but it can be controlled. Eye drops, pills, laser strategies, and means of surgery are utilized to maintain and prevent further harm from happening. Talk to your eye doctor to find out if you are at risk of developing glaucoma.
Peritoneal Cancer is a rare form of cancer. It forms a thin layer of tissue in the abdomen, which lines that region. It covers the parts like uterus, gallbladder, and rectum. The structure is called the peritoneum which is made of epithelial cells. For the organs to move freely inside the abdomen, the peritoneum produces fluid.
This cancer is different from intestinal cancer or the general type of cancer which tends to spread.
Symptoms of Peritoneal Cancer:
This cancer is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. There are a few clear symptoms which appear when the cancer comes to its advance level. These symptoms are as follows:
Difficulty in breathing
Frequently urinating
Sudden weight gain or loss
Abdominal troubles like cramps, bloating, indigestion, etc.
Losing appetite
Bleeding from the abdominal area like vagina and rectum
Gut health problems
Management of Peritoneal Cancer:
The Management of Peritoneal cancer is a step by step process. It starts with recognising the symptoms. After that, a patient should consult a doctor for a diagnosis. And in the end, the treatment begins according to the diagnosis and other factors.
How to Diagnose Peritoneal Cancer?
Before advising any treatment, doctors must diagnose a patient. This will help determine the best-suited treatment for a particular patient depending upon the condition of the cancer.
Ultrasound: In this process, it takes a picture of the abdominal area with the help of high-frequency sound waves. It helps in detecting cancer.
Biopsy: In this process, a small tissue of the affected area is taken and is studied under a microscope. It helps in confirming the presence of cancer cells.
Paracentesis: In this process, the fluid produced by peritoneum is tested under a microscope, to detect the presence of a tumor in the fluid.
Treatment of Peritoneal Cancer:
Different treatments are suggested at different stages of cancer. There are a few other factors which are considered before treatment such as:
Stage of cancer
Location and size
Age and health of the patient
There are multiple treatment options available that can be opted further to treat cancer:
The treatment removes the tumor altogether. Sometimes organs which are affected by the cancer including ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus are also removed to prevent harm to cancer. The surgery is often performed by gynecologic oncologists as they are familiar with the process. And, they have a higher success rate.
In this process, the drug is given to the patient on the basis of how infected the patient is with cancer. According to the severity, it is given once a week or once every two to three weeks. The drug is directly injected into the affected area by a catheter. Catheter is placed inside the skin while the patient goes through surgery.
More than a treatment, it is a caring technique for patients with advanced cancer stage. In this process, patients' overall health is taken into consideration. Palliative care helps patients to fight symptoms of cancer which include abdominal pain, weight loss, and extra fluid formation.
Other Crucial Surgeries:
CRS (cytoreductive surgery) and HIPEC (hyperthermic intra peritoneal chemotherapy) are also very effective surgical options to cure peritoneal cancer. These methods are being used widely to get rid of this life threatening problem.
Conclusion:
There are many treatments available for Peritoneal Cancer. However, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before opting for any treatment as it depends upon the stage and condition of cancer.
With age, most body organs begin to deteriorate in their function. This happens to the brain also, thereby reducing the overall speed of functioning of most organs. While slowing of bodily movement is visible, the internal organs functioning also slows down, which is not that obvious. Memory loss or dementia is one of the main manifestations of this degeneration of the brain.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and the associated symptoms includes reduced reasoning abilities and cognitive defects. Though it is seen only in the elderly, not all elderly people will have Alzheimer’s. The overall quality of life of the affected person is reduced with difficulty remembering things that were recently learned. It is a progressive disease and as it gets more severe, a full-time caretaker may be required.
Causes: The brain cells are affected by protein masses known as plaques and tangles. These hamper the way communication between the brain cells happens as well as affect nutrition from reaching all parts of the brain. This leads to shrinking of the brain, eventually leading to memory loss and other problems. There is also a strong genetic linkage, as most people with Alzheimer’s have the lipoprotein A gene.
Symptoms: Though memory loss is the most common symptom, there are other symptoms:
Risk factors: While age is definitely a risk factor, the fact that not all aged people develop Alzheimer’s is to be borne in mind. Other risk factors include the history of stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and poor lifestyle choices.
Diagnosis: While there is no definitive way to diagnose Alzheimer’s, symptoms along with brain scans and neuropsychological function testing are useful ways to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment: This is aimed at two things reducing the rate of disease progression and treat (or reverse) symptoms if possible.
Cholinesterase inhibitors improve cellular communication in the brain and also manage depression and agitation. Memantine is used to slow the pace of disease progression.
In people with the disease, small changes are useful to help them with the symptoms. These include keeping essential things like keys and wallet in the same place, keep a daily diary to help them remember things, keep pictures of friends and family within visible distance.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Depression is a serious yet common mental health problem that can affect all age groups ranging from young children to the elderly. It is found to be more common among women when compared to men. It can take a toll over one’s peace of mind, physical health, interpersonal relationships as well as job performance (or academic performance). What is deceiving is, the person can also be functioning well, in which case, it can go unnoticed, leading to grave consequences. The good news is that depression is treatable and individuals are able to function much better with treatment. Affected individuals feel sad most of the time. He/she loses the ability to enjoy/be happy.
As a result of this, the daily activities that he/she participates in do not seem to appeal to him/her anymore. This is especially true in the case of socialising. The affected person will just seem to drop out of social circles. This can be said to be ironic because it is times like these when the individual with depression is in need of friends the most!
The individual seems to have an overriding belief that the status quo will not be altered by anything and he or she will be stuck in a rut in perpetuity. In other words, depressed people experience a perennial feeling of helplessness. Negative thoughts can also drive one to commit suicide.
A lot of people who have depression tend to experience a loss of energy. As a matter of fact, this is quite the case with men who enter a phase of depression, as the symptoms which are displayed by them can contrast sharply to those displayed by women. One of the reasons for men tending to report a higher chance of this than women is the fact that they are less likely to express feelings of self loathing. Rather, they usually talk about sleep problems and a loss of interest in things that once they might have found to be interesting or even captivating. They also gradually get quite irritable.
When it comes to women, guilt is quite likely to be felt. They may also sleep a lot longer than what is considered to be normal. Eating habits are a better indication of the presence or absence of depression than most people would realise. Overeating is one of the prime signs, especially in the case of women who are depressed. This leads to them putting on weight, as the rise in the intake of food is compounded by a drop in the amount of healthy physical activity. On the other hand, many may also experience loss of appetite, which over a period of time can even lead to weight loss. Some women who are depressed also complain of aches and pains in the body.
A few individuals who are depressed also complain of weird experiences, like being able to hear voices calling out to them, abusing them in dirty language, asking them to hurt themselves (hallucinations). Some may be found to be extremely suspicious about people around them.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Depression is a serious yet common mental health problem that can affect all age groups ranging from young children to the elderly. It is found to be more common among women when compared to men. It can take a toll over one’s peace of mind, physical health, interpersonal relationships as well as job performance (or academic performance). What is deceiving is, the person can also be functioning well, in which case, it can go unnoticed, leading to grave consequences. The good news is that depression is treatable and individuals are able to function much better with treatment. Affected individuals feel sad most of the time. He/she loses the ability to enjoy/be happy.
As a result of this, the daily activities that he/she participates in do not seem to appeal to him/her anymore. This is especially true in the case of socialising. The affected person will just seem to drop out of social circles. This can be said to be ironic because it is times like these when the individual with depression is in need of friends the most!
The individual seems to have an overriding belief that the status quo will not be altered by anything and he or she will be stuck in a rut in perpetuity. In other words, depressed people experience a perennial feeling of helplessness. Negative thoughts can also drive one to commit suicide.
A lot of people who have depression tend to experience a loss of energy. As a matter of fact, this is quite the case with men who enter a phase of depression, as the symptoms which are displayed by them can contrast sharply to those displayed by women. One of the reasons for men tending to report a higher chance of this than women is the fact that they are less likely to express feelings of self loathing. Rather, they usually talk about sleep problems and a loss of interest in things that once they might have found to be interesting or even captivating. They also gradually get quite irritable.
When it comes to women, guilt is quite likely to be felt. They may also sleep a lot longer than what is considered to be normal. Eating habits are a better indication of the presence or absence of depression than most people would realise. Overeating is one of the prime signs, especially in the case of women who are depressed. This leads to them putting on weight, as the rise in the intake of food is compounded by a drop in the amount of healthy physical activity. On the other hand, many may also experience loss of appetite, which over a period of time can even lead to weight loss. Some women who are depressed also complain of aches and pains in the body.
A few individuals who are depressed also complain of weird experiences, like being able to hear voices calling out to them, abusing them in dirty language, asking them to hurt themselves (hallucinations). Some may be found to be extremely suspicious about people around them. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
A breast lump is a restricted swelling, projection, lump, or knot in the breast that doesn't feel like a breast tissue. There are diverse reasons why breast lumps occur.
Not all lumps are cancer. These can also be breast conditions that are not harmful and which can be easily curable.Knots that feel harder or are not the same as the rest of the breast need to be checked. This kind of irregularity might be an indication of breast cancer.
A self-examination should be your starting point. This is how you can detect a lump on your own:
Step 1: Begin by taking a look at your breast in the mirror. Keep your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
This is what you need to search for:
In the event that you see any of the changes mentioned below, convey them to your doctor:
Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the changes mentioned above.
Step 3: While you're in front of the mirror, search for any indications of liquid or blood discharge from the nipples.
Step 4: Next, examine your breasts while resting.Use Your right hand to feel your left breast and use your left hand to feel your right breast. Cover the whole breast from your collarbone to the highest point of your mid-region, and from your armpit to your cleavage to search for any lumps.
Step 5: Examine your breasts while either standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest approach to examine their breasts is when their skin is wet, so this step could be done while taking a bath as well.
Diagnosis:
Possible treatments:
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
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