Headaches and migraines can vary drastically depending on their duration, specific symptoms and the person they are affecting. The more you know about your specific type of headache or migraine, the better prepared you will be to treat them—and possibly even prevent them. The two types of migraine are-
Symptoms of migraine vary and also depend on the type of migraine. A migraine has four stages: prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome. But it is not necessary that all the migraine sufferers experience all the four stages.
Prodrome: The signs of this begin to appear a day or two days before the headache starts. The signs include depression, constipation, food cravings, irritability, uncontrollable yawning, neck stiffness and hyperactivity.
Migraine Aura: Auras are a range of symptoms of the central nervous system. These might occur much before or during the migraine, but most people get a migraine without an aura. Auras usually begin gradually and increase in intensity. They last for an hour or even longer and are
Headache: In the case of a migraine attack one might experience:
Postdrome: This is the final phase of the migraine. During this phase, one might feel fatigued, though some people feel euphoric.
Red flags that the patient may be having underlying serious disorder not migraine
These patients require CT scan / MRI or CSF examination. Most Migraine patients do not need these tests.
Diagnosis of Migraine: Usually migraines go undiagnosed and thus are untreated. In case you experience the symptoms regularly then talk to the doctor, who evaluates the symptoms and can start treatment. You can also be referred to a neurologist who is trained to treat the migraines and other conditions. During the appointment, the neurologist usually asks about the family history of headaches and migraines along with your symptoms and medical history.
The doctor might advise for some tests like:
Treatments
Migraine treatments can help stop symptoms and prevent future attacks.
Many medications have been designed to treat migraines. Some drugs often used to treat other conditions also may help relieve or prevent migraines. Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad categories:
Your treatment strategy depends on the frequency and severity of your headaches, the degree of disability your headaches cause, and your other medical conditions.
Some medications aren't recommended if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Some medications aren't given to children. Your doctor can help find the right medication for you.
Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical Cancer is one of the most common ailments that women suffer from, making it only more important to be taken seriously and treated immediately.
Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV. You can get HPV by having sexual contact with someone who has it. There are many types of HPV virus. Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not cause any symptoms.
Most adults have been infected with HPV at some time. An infection may go away on its own. But sometimes it can lead to cervical cancer. That's why it's important for women to have regular screening. Screening can find changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. If you treat these cell changes, you may prevent cervical cancer.
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer may include:
Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecologic cancer to prevent, with regular screening tests and follow-up. Two screening tests can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early:
When to Get Screened
You should start getting regular Pap tests at age 21. The Pap test, which screens for cervical cancer, is one of the most reliable and effective cancer screening tests available. The Pap test is the best way to find cervical cell changes that can lead to cervical cancer. Regular Pap tests almost always show these cell changes before they turn into cancer. It's important to follow up with your doctor after any abnormal Pap test result so you can treat abnormal cell changes. This may help prevent cervical cancer.
Treatment-
In spite of being a fatal ailment, over the years various treatments have evolved that deal with this problem effectively. Some of them are:
1. Surgery: One of the effective and oft availed treatment to cure cervical cancer is surgery. Depending on the stage on which the disease is detected, doctors may suggest for a hysterectomy or removing the pelvic nymph nodes.
2. Chemotherapy: This has emerged as the most sought after way of treating any form of cancer. The abnormal growth of cells that triggers cancer in the first place is deterred in this method by administering drugs to destroy them.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When these abnormal cells are present in the cervix, it is called cervical cancer, or cancer of the cervix.
Screening Prevents Cervical Cancer and Saves Lives:
The Pap test can find abnormal cells in the cervix. These cells may, over time, turn into cancer. This could take several years to happen. If the results of a Pap test show there are abnormal cells that could become cancerous, a woman can be treated. In most cases, this treatment prevents cervical cancer from developing.
Pap tests can also find cervical cancer early. When it is found early, the chance of being cured is very high. The most important thing you can do to avoid getting cervical cancer is to have regular Pap tests.
Any woman who has a cervix can get cervical cancer, especially if she or her sexual partner has had sex with several other partners. Most often, cervical cancer develops in women aged 40 or older. Abnormal cells in the cervix and cervical cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That’s why getting tested for cervical cancer is important, even if there are no symptoms.
What is the Pap Test?
The Pap test, also called the Pap smear, is a cervical cancer screening test. It is not used to detect other kinds of cancer. It is done in a doctor’s office or a clinic.
During the test, the doctor or nurse uses a plastic or metal instrument, called a speculum, to widen the vagina. This helps to examine the vagina and the cervix, and collect a few cells from the cervix. These cells are placed on a slide and sent to a laboratory to be checked for abnormal cells.
Who Should Have a Pap Test?
Doctors recommend that women begin having regular Pap tests and pelvic exams at age 21, or within three years of the first time they have sexual intercourse – whichever happens first. After a woman has a Pap test each year for three years in a row, and test results show there are no problems, she can then get the Pap test once every 2-3 years.
Who Does Not Need to be Tested?
The only women who do not need regular Pap tests are:
How Do I Prepare for the Pap Test?
To prepare for the Pap test, doctors recommend that for two days before the test you should avoid:
Try to schedule your Pap test for a time when you are not having your menstrual period.
When Will I Get the Results?
It can take up to three weeks to receive Pap test results. Most results are normal. There are many reasons that Pap test results can be abnormal, and usually, it does not mean you have cancer.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the lining of the sinuses. Generally, a healthy sinus is filled with air, but when fluid or mucus fills the sinus, it can cause infection. The most common cause for sinusitis is common cold which does not respond to regular medications.
Symptoms of Sinusitis:
Patients suffering from Sinusitis should have the 2 or more of these symptoms:
Causes of Sinusitis:
The sinus problem can be caused by bacteria, viruses, pollutants, and also by various allergy sources. The irritants in the air may disrupt the normal mucus clearance mechanism & cause the stagnation of mucus in the patients. Once this stagnant mucus is infected it leads to inflammation of the sinus lining which is called as Sinusitis.
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis of Sinusitis is made on the basis of history & physical examination particularly of the nasal cavity using an endoscope (if need be). In endoscopy, a small thin, telescope is inserted into the nose of the patient and with the camera, detailed evaluation is done to confirm the clinical diagnosis. Sometimes imaging modalities like CT scan help to stage the health of the nose & sinuses.
Treatment:
For initial stages of Sinusitis, medical management suffices which includes appropriate antibiotics, analgesics and other supportive measures like steam inhalation, nasal irrigation, oral intake of plenty of fluids.
For recurrent episodes of cold and sinusitis (Chronic sinusitis) apart from medications, surgery might be needed to restore the normal functioning of sinuses and correction of obstructing anatomical abnormalities such as Deviated Nasal Septum, Polyps, enlarged turbinates etc.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery(FESS) is the most common form of surgery performed on a patient with Sinusitis.
The goal of FESS surgery is to enlarge the nasal drainage pathways of the paranasal sinuses with the help of nasal endoscopes there by improve sinus ventilation. The surgeon can remove the tissue and enlarge the sinus drain so that it does not clog in the future.
If a deviated septum is the cause of recurring infection, then a procedure called septoplasty is performed. It helps to straighten the septum of the patient & replace bone and cartilage in the right place.
Preventative Methods After Surgery:
Following preventive measures after the surgery is very much important for better result. Some of them are:
COPD, which is short for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a severe form of lung disease that is characterized by increased breathlessness and obstruction of airflow from the lungs. People who are suffering from COPD are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, heart diseases and many other conditions. It includes progressive lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, few forms of bronchiectasis and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. The former two are the most common conditions contributing to COPD.
Chronic bronchitis induces inflammation in the airway that carries air to the lungs and fills it with mucus. This either completely blocks the airway or narrows it, causing difficulty in breathing. However, in emphysema, the air sacs inside the lungs which inflate and deflate as you breathe in and out, lose their elasticity due to which less air comes in and goes out leaving you breathless.
The best way to treat COPD is to quit smoking. Your doctor may also prescribe you medications or ask you to enrol in a lung rehab program.
Causes:
Symptoms:
Diagnosis:
It is a real misfortune to witness several couples going from pillar to post as the mother cannot conceive. Unexplained infertility also called the Idiopathic Infertility continues to be a common problem in spite of all the latest advancements in the field of technology and medical science. As it is a known fact that infertility reports to the inability of a woman to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse.
A Few Causes for Unexplained Infertility:
White sugar- This is extremely acidic and highly toxic to the body. Too much sugar in your body and your diet can cause Candida and lead to infertility. Stop drinking beverages like coke and avoid things such as cookies, candy, donuts, cake and more.
Diagnosis of unexplained infertility- This kind of infertility is determined by an assessment of ovulation, a semen analysis, and a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).If symptoms are observed, laparoscopy and tests for ovarian reserve are done as well. When the outcome of a standard infertility evaluation is average, doctors specify a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. Although assessments differ, the possibility that all such test sequences for an infertile couple are usual.
Treatment options for unexplained infertility- By definition, the treatment for unexplained infertility is, therefore, empiric as it does not greet a distinct functional impairment or defect. The primary treatment for unexplained infertility comprises of 3-6 months of treatment with Clomid Pills along with regular and timed sexual intercourse and lifestyle changes.
Other treatments include Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI), controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with IUI, and IVF. Medical clinics or specialized doctors present diverse treatment choices and explain the benefits and limitations of several treatment strategies. The most expensive, but also the most powerful treatment for this condition consists of the spectrum of supported reproductive technology including IVF, with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI).
IVF is the method of choice for unexplained infertility when the less expensive, but also less favourable treatment modalities have abandoned. The optimal treatment strategy needs to be based on specific characteristics of the patient such as treatment efficacy, age, side-effect profile such as multiple pregnancies, and cost considerations.
The pancreas has an important role in the body. It releases enzymes for digestion and hormones for managing blood sugar. Pancreatic cancer hampers these functions and starts to affect the health of the patient even before cancer spreads to nearby organs. However, the real concern with pancreatic cancer lies in its rapid spread. In fact, it typically spreads to nearby organs quite fast. Moreover, it is quite difficult to detect it in the early stages.
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer-
Jaundice: Jaundice symptoms like yellowing of skin and eyes may appear in the primary stages of cancer if it begins near the common bile duct. However, if it begins at the opposite end, it would manifest only in the advanced stages. Pancreatic cancer spreading to the liver can also cause jaundice.
Back or Belly Pain: Back pain or abdominal pain is common in patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. The cancerous part of the pancreas can grow large and start impinging upon the nearby organs. This causes pain. If cancer spreads to surrounding nerves it may also cause pain.
Weight loss: Weight loss accompanied by poor appetite is a very common symptom of pancreatic cancer.
Nausea and Vomiting: If cancer spreads to the stomach, it can create a partial blockade for food resulting in nausea and vomiting.
Liver Enlargement: Pancreatic cancer may lead to enlargement of the liver if cancer has spread to that organ. The doctor can detect an enlargement by palpating the edge of the liver.
Indeed, there may also be other symptoms of pancreatic cancer, but none of these is definitive. In fact, by the time the symptoms begin cancer might have spread far and wide. However, for the fortunate one, pain or jaundice symptoms may start early. In their case, treatment can be started early.
Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer-
Though pancreatic cancer is hard to cure, a complex surgical procedure known as the Whipple procedure can extend the life of patients significantly. It is also called as Pancreaticoduodenectomy. In this procedure, doctors remove the wide part of pancreas lying adjacent to the duodenum. However, it is not only the pancreas portion that is removed, but other parts like the duodenum, the gallbladder, a part of the bile duct, and also a part of the stomach is also removed. After the surgery, the surgeon reconnects the rest of the intestine, bile duct, and the pancreas.
Who Can Undergo Surgery for Pancreatic Surgery?
Everybody is not fit for pancreatic surgery. It is estimated that just about 20% of patients can undergo this procedure. In most of these patients, cancer has not yet spread to major blood vessels and organs like lungs, liver, stomach, etc. To identify candidates for this procedure, doctors may even resort to testing. Among those eligible for the Whipple procedure, some can undergo laparoscopic procedure while others may need to go through an open procedure.
Vaginitis is the term which is used to refer to the inflammation of the vagina. In most of the cases, vaginitis occurs as a result of an infection of the vagina. The infection caused by vaginitis can result in discharge, pain and itching. Vaginitis can also be caused by non-infectious causes. Vaginitis is often caused because of an infection caused by yeast or bacteria. But it can also happen due to chemical or physical irritation. Some STDs cause vaginitis but not all the causes for vaginitis are related to STDs.
A reduction in the levels of estrogen after menopause can also cause vaginitis. The most common types of vaginitis are known as Bacterial vaginosis, Yeast infections and Trichomoniasis. Vaginitis is common in women who are in their reproductive years. It usually happens if there is a change in the balance of yeast or bacteria that are usually found in the vagina. If left untreated then it can cause complications. The risk of complications is greater in pregnant women. In severe cases it can also cause premature delivery, postpartum infections, increased vulnerability to HIV infection and even infertility.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms of vaginitis.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of vaginitis is based on the symptoms of the woman.
Heatburn or acid reflex is a burning sensation that is felt in the throat or chest region after the intake of certain foods. While many of us must have felt heatburn once in our lifetime, too many occurrences such as this could be a fair indication of esophageal cancer.
How an acidburn is related to esophagus?
Esophagus is the tube which carries food from the throat to the stomach. In the case of an acid reflux, the acid from the stomach jumps to the esophagus leading to a condition known as the Barrett’s esophagus. This is a condition which replaces the tissue present in the esophagus with a similar kind of tissue found in the lining of the intestine. This being said, Barrett’s esophagus doesn’t necessarily lead to esophageal cancer.
Key symptoms of Esophageal Cancer
Difficulty swallowing is a key symptom of esophageal cancer. This condition is known as dysphasia. As the tumor grows bigger, it becomes more difficult to swallow food. Esophageal pain is also a common symptom reported by many patients. Loss in appetite and an unexplained weight loss are some of the other symptoms of this type of cancer. Although esophageal cancer does not show any visible signs in the early stage, some of the key indicators are chronic couch, indigestion and hoarseness of voice.
Key risk factors:
Some of the key risk factors for this type of cancer are as follows:
How an esophageal cancer is detected?
Primarily there are 3 ways by which this cancer is detected. The first step for an oncologist to detect this cancer is to perform an endoscopy. If this fails, doctors often try a barium swallow on suspected patients and take an x-ray to understand the esophagus lining. If all this fails, doctors rely on a CT scan to detect this cancer.
How is esophageal cancer treated?
If a patient is lucky and the cancer gets detected in a very early stage, the tumor along with the infected cell can be surgically removed. Apart from surgery, some other alternatives are radiation and chemotherapy. A combination of radiation and chemotherapy or a surgery followed by radiation can also be suggested by the doctor. The treatment plan depends on the stage of detection.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Zinc deficiency is one epidemic that people are mostly unaware of. As per the data shared by World Health Organization, around 31% of the world population is suffering from zinc deficiency. The problem is also ranked 5th in the leading factors that cause several diseases. It is also a primary reason why underdeveloped nations suffer from high mortality rate as zinc deficiency is associated with child pneumonia and diarrhea.
Every person, young or old, needs to have a regular intake of zinc for a healthy life, which it is known as an essential nutrient. It is also present in every cell, tissue, bone and fluid in the human body; zinc is especially prevalent in male semen and prostate glands.
Common Symptoms Of Zinc Deficiency
Unfortunately, millions of people suffering from zinc deficiency are unaware of their condition. However, looking out for certain key indicators can help in identifying the problem before it becomes severe. Here are the common symptoms of zinc deficiency that everyone must look out for:
Zinc Rich Foods You Must Include In Your Diet
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms shared above, then you might be suffering from the zinc deficiency. To improve the level of zinc in your body, you can either take all natural zinc supplements. But, supplements usually contain several forms of zinc like zinc sulfate, zinc acetate and more. Thus, it is better to include the below-shared foods in your diet, which contain a high amount of zinc: