Preventive measures for deep vein thrombosis
Health

Preventive measures for deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis develops when there are blood clots within the deep veins of the legs or other areas of the body. When this happens, the blood flow in the veins slows down and causes the vein to swell. If a piece of a clot breaks free and moves through the blood vessels to the lungs, it results in serious complications, which can be fatal. It is important to be aware of the factors that can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis. As well as to undertake certain measures for its prevention accordingly in the following instances: 1. Before and after surgery Surgical procedures and certain medical treatments can increase the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. So, your risk of developing a blood clot and the kind of preventive measures to be taken should be assessed by the healthcare team: There’s less risk of getting deep vein thrombosis when local anesthesia is administered instead of general anesthesia. Certain preventive medications may be prescribed by the doctor to prevent the formation of blood clots before or after surgery. You also may be asked to stop certain medications before surgery. Special elastic stockings or inflatable boots are usually provided by the hospital.
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Diet plan for hepatitis C patients
Health

Diet plan for hepatitis C patients

Hepatitis C is a virus which affects a person’s liver. It causes inflammation and fibrosis. The virus is carried by the blood and other bodily fluids and it affects the liver. The liver is a vital organ in the body and its main function is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs. Hepatitis C causes the death of liver cells. Hepatitis C if left untreated can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis. To prevent this, proper treatment combined with a liver-friendly diet should be adopted. A special diet may not be essential, but there are certain foods which when included in the diet helps to maintain good liver health and to curb Hepatitis C. Some of the foods that should be included in the diet for Hepatitis C are: Fruits and vegetables A healthy diet should include plenty of fruit and vegetables. They are enriched with vitamins and minerals which are essential for the healthy functioning of the liver. Try to consume at least 5 portions (one portion is about 80 grams) of fruit and vegetables. Fresh fruit is ideal to maintain your health. Avoid canned or frozen foods for Hepatitis C.
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Understanding the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes
Health

Understanding the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes

The diagnosis and treatment of diabetes have to happen instantaneously and not wait till the blood sugar levels go beyond a manageable level resulting in other health complications. So where do you have to start if you need to know if you have diabetes? If you have any hereditary risk factors for diabetes or there are high levels of blood sugar detected in your urine, you would be asked by your medical practitioner to get diagnostics done for confirmation. Blood glucose, which is the blood sugar level, tends to be high if the insulin production in the pancreas is less or nil. This form of diabetes is categorized as Type 1. However, if the body itself is not responding normally to insulin then it is categorized as Type 2 diabetes. 1. Diagnosing type 1 and type 2 diabetes The diagnosis for diabetes is done through three types of tests. Most often doctors ask the individuals to get a repeat test or all three tests done to confirm the diagnosis. These three main tests for diabetes diagnosis and treatment include: Fasting glucose test: This is a test that helps identify the blood sugar levels early in the morning before the consumption of food.
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All you need to know about alcoholic hepatitis
Health

All you need to know about alcoholic hepatitis

Hepatitis (inflammation) of the liver is alcoholic hepatitis, which is caused due to excessive intake of alcohol. Normally, it is associated with the fatty liver which is an early stage of alcoholic liver disease. This contributes to the progression of fibrosis which leads to cirrhosis. Classical signs of alcoholic hepatitis would include fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity (ascites), jaundice, fatigue, and brain dysfunction due to liver failure (hepatic encephalopathy). Though mild cases are self-limiting, severe cases have a high risk of death. Moderate cases would suffer only liver enzyme elevation whereas severe cases would have either dulled consciousness or a combination of elevated bilirubin levels and prolonged liver failure. Cirrhosis caused by long-term alcohol consumption is distinct from alcoholic hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis can occur in patients with both chronic alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic cirrhosis. Alcoholic liver disease is a spectrum. Mostly all heavy drinkers have fatty liver changes and develop fibrosis which progresses to cirrhosis. 1–2% diagnosed with this disease end up with hepatocellular carcinoma. Alcoholic hepatitis is a clinical syndrome characterized by acute hepatic decompensation that results from long-standing alcohol abuse. Binge drinkers are also at a risk for alcoholic hepatitis. But research shows that the association between drinking pattern and developing alcoholic hepatitis are limited.
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The perfect diet plan for type 2 diabetes
Health

The perfect diet plan for type 2 diabetes

The Perfect Diet for Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a disease where your body can no longer use the insulin present on its own. There are over 27 million people with type 2 diabetes in the U.S alone. Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas does not produce insulin or does not produce enough of the hormone. It is insulin that helps the cells turn the glucose present in the food that we consume into energy. In the case of type 2 diabetes, this function does not take place as required, leading to increased blood sugar levels. While several medical interventions and alternative medicine therapy options are available, the key to good long-term blood sugar level management is consuming a balanced diet. Here are some great diabetic food options that you should consider, especially if you are a type 2 diabetic: 1. Recommended foods on a diabetic diet Any food that you consume should pass the following test: Does the carbohydrates have a low glycemic load and does it come primarily from vegetables? Glycemic is essentially an index (glycemic index and load) in the medical world. To explain further, carbohydrates are the greatest source to raise blood sugar levels.
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Foods that help lower your cholesterol levels
Health

Foods that help lower your cholesterol levels

Cholesterol is an insoluble and waxy substance made by most cells in the body, and can also be acquired from various food items. Cholesterol is not naturally bad, but too much of it can lead to various health problems. It is necessary to know that a proper diet plays a major role in determining the level of cholesterol. Here is a list of foods to add to your high-cholesterol diet to manage the levels. Tomatoes Along with vitamins A and C, tomatoes contain a compound called the antioxidant lycopene, helpful in reducing LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. Raspberries You can get 8 grams of fiber by just having a cup full of raspberries. Intake of adequate fiber decreases LDL and also aids digestion. Apples Intake of adequate apples lowers total cholesterol. Apples also contain antioxidant compounds that are good for the heart and help promote healthy cellular functions. Bananas Bananas prevent cholesterol from entering into the bloodstream and removes it from your digestive system, thus limiting the LDL cholesterol. It is good to have sliced bananas with oats and a tablespoon of chia seeds. Oats Oats is a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, that removes excess saturated fats. By lowering the saturated fats, it helps in limiting the LDL cholesterol.
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Top 8 natural remedies for treating eczema
Health

Top 8 natural remedies for treating eczema

Eczema is a condition caused by dryness of the skin. It is a predominantly genetic condition that worsens in the winter when the air is very dry. The treatment of eczema flare-ups is possible with the help of creams and natural products. Natural treatments can help to moisturize the skin, prevent and combat inflammation, and reduce swelling and prevent infection. Although natural treatments cannot cure eczema, they help manage the symptoms. Some of the effective natural remedies that can be tried at home for the treatment of eczema are discussed herein: 1. Aloe vera gel The gel from the aloe vera plant is a great soother to treat eczema. It is antibacterial and helps heal wounds and prevent infections that occur when a person has dry skin. You can use the gel directly from the leaves of the plant. Aloe vera can be easily grown at home. 2. Apple cider vinegar It helps improve the acidity levels of the skin. People with eczema have less acidic skin than others. The skin’s defense to infection is weaker when it is less acidic. Diluted acidic vinegar, when applied to the skin, helps to maintain the skin’s acidity levels. Vinegar should be diluted before application otherwise it can burn the skin.
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Types of surgeries used for treating kidney cancer
Health

Types of surgeries used for treating kidney cancer

Surgery is one of the most common forms of treatment for kidney cancer that is prescribed in order to remove the cancerous tumor and clear any other surrounding areas that may have been affected in the whole process. In patients, where the cancer has not metastasized and is only in the starting stages, the surgery would then only involve the removal of the tumor, all or just part of the affected kidney, and the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. There are quite a few types of kidney cancer treatment surgery options, and these include the following: Radical nephrectomy This is a type of kidney cancer treatment wherein the whole kidney including the tumor and any surrounding tissue that has been affected is removed. In addition, a procedure that is known as lymph node dissections could be performed if ether is substantial damage to the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. In this process, any of the lymph nodes that have been affected will be completely removed. In the event that the adrenal gland or even the blood vessels nearby are affected, then another procedure known as adrenalectomy may be performed in addition to the above procedures. This course of treatment is prescribed when the patient’s tumor is quite large and there is no healthy tissue remaining to be salvaged.
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Understanding the difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis
Health

Understanding the difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis

Eczema is a skin condition that occurs, heals, and recurs in a cycle over time. The main indicators of eczema are sensitive and dry skin. This condition would probably worsen over time or even get aggravated as a result of various environmental triggers, including allergens that are airborne like pet dander and dust mites. It could also be caused due to the aggravation as a result of exposure to the chemicals in detergents, soaps, or lotions that have very heavy fragrances. Even exposure to cleaning products or perfumes and deodorants can end up causing irritation on your already present eczema. There are some people who are sensitive to weather changes, and eczema reacts based on those seasonal changes as well. You cannot ignore these conditions and would have to identify whether you are suffering from eczema or any form of dermatitis: 1. Age in occurrence of eczema and atopic dermatitis Eczema is a common occurrence in infants, and there are statistics that show how close to 20% of children have suffered from eczema. This skin condition is not contagious but rather hereditary in nature. In about 60% of infected infants, eczema symptoms manifest themselves as early as age 1, and close to 30% of those with eczema manifest their symptoms by at least age 5.
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Types of genetic leukemia
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Types of genetic leukemia

Leukemia is the cancer of the bone marrow; it is a genetic disease but they are most often not thought to be hereditary. According to scientists, the various types of leukemia are caused due to mutations in the DNA of the blood cells. These genetic mutations cause changes in the way that blood cells in the bone marrow reproduce. Moreover, they prevent the blood cells from functioning properly. This causes the healthy blood cells to be pushed out by the abnormal blood cells and they block the bone marrow from further producing healthy cells. The mutations in leukemia are genetic but not usually hereditary because this condition is caused by genetic abnormalities that are not often inherited from the family. This is also known as an acquired gene mutation. The cause of these mutations is not always known. Even though a person may be genetically predisposed to developing leukemia, some lifestyle factors such as smoking cigarettes could also lead to developing leukemia. Environmental factors like radiation and exposure to some chemicals could also be the reason behind the DNA abnormalities that cause leukemia. Although leukemia is generally not considered a hereditary disease, there is an increased risk of developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia if there is a close family member who already suffers from leukemia.
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