Posted in Category : Women's Health | May 29, 2009

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a problem that affects a large number of women. This syndrome can affect a woman’s ability to have children, her menstrual cycle, and even her appearance. In addition to this, her hormones, blood vessels, and even her heart are affected. Women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome complain of irregular periods. In addition they have problems with acne and often display oily skin. These women have small cysts, sacs filled with fluid, in their ovaries. The actual cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is not known; though it is believed that more than one factor could be responsible for it. Genes are believed to be one important factor and most women who have polycystic ovary syndrome have someone else in their family who suffers from the same complaint. Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome have a problem with insulin since their bodies are unable to use it. This results in excessive quantities of insulin in the body, which in turn increases the amount of androgen in the body. When women have high levels of androgen, they find that they tend to gain weight, have excessive growth of hair, and also experience problems with ovulation. In addition to irregular periods, these women also have very heavy periods. Alopecia, or the thinning of hair on the head, is another symptom noticed in women suffering from this condition. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are other indications of this condition.

There is no real treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome, and for this reason, each woman has to be treated according to her symptoms. Most women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome are overweight, and therefore weight management is one of the first things to do when treating this condition. In addition an overall healthy lifestyle can certainly help a woman suffering from this problem. Eating healthy foods and avoiding fatty foods helps; processed foods should also be avoided, as should food with a lot of sugar. Eating lean meats and fewer processed foods can help improve the body’s use of the insulin. This in turn can actually help normalize the levels of hormones in the woman’s body. Weight loss also helps regulate menstrual cycles, making them more regular. Some women may also be prescribed medication to help improve their condition, especially for managing insulin levels. Infertility may also be treated with medication, but this treatment varies from one woman to another.

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Posted in Category : Common Ailments |

Sciatic Nerve Damage

Sciatica is the term used to refer to the numbness, tingling or pain that people who have suffered from nerve damage experience. These people have suffered from a compression of the sciatic nerve – the longest nerve in our body. When this happens, the sciatic nerve, which is located at the back of the leg, gets damaged. It is this nerve that controls the muscles in the lower leg and the muscles of the back of the knees. It also ensures that there is sensation in the back of the thigh, the lower leg and even the soles of the feet. Usually, the damage to the sciatic nerve is caused by either some kind of injury. This is usually a fracture, though injury to the pelvic area can also affect the sciatic nerve. A slipped disc or spinal stenosis can also be responsible for damage to the nerve. In some cases, a degenerative disc disease can affect the nerve. People who have a job that requires them to sit for long hours are more likely to suffer from this condition. Similarly people whose job involves carrying heavy loads or having to twist their backs are likely to suffer from sciatica.

The pain caused by sciatica varies widely between people. In some people, this feels like a dull ache or a mild tingling, while others experience a burning sensation. Sometimes the pain is severe enough to make movement difficult. In most cases, people experience the pain on only one side. The pain is often severe in one leg and the person may experience weakness in that particular leg. The pain may be particularly bad when the person has been in one position for a long time. This could either be standing or sitting, but bending can also cause this pain to occur. A sensation of tingling or a feeling of “pins and needles” is another symptom of sciatica.

Damage to the sciatic nerve can cause some degree of disability in the patient. The degree of disability varies from person to person and can be either partial or complete. The pain in the nerve may be very severe in some cases thus restricting movement. In some cases the patient may also suffer from a complete loss of movement in the leg. Other patients complain of a loss of sensation in the affected leg, while still others may find that they suffer injuries to the leg, which go unnoticed.

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Posted in Category : Common Ailments |

Acid reflux back pain

A variety of factors can cause acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD for short. When this condition develops, the patient typically experiences a burning sensation in the esophagus. This is most commonly caused by bad eating habits. Over eating is a primary cause of acid reflux, this happens when the stomach does not get the required amount of time to digest the food that has been eaten. When you eat a large meal late at night and lie down immediately after this, you are quite likely to suffer from acid reflux. Other factors that could cause acid reflux are smoking and eating food that is too rich. Food items that generally tend to trigger acid reflux are chocolates, excessive amounts of tea and coffee, fried food, and spicy food. People whose diet is faulty and who overeat are likely to suffer from acid reflux on a regular basis. Although this primarily affects the throat area, there is the likelihood of the condition affecting other parts of the body too. The most common symptom is a burning sensation in the area of the heart; this pain may even radiate outwards in the chest region, making people mistakenly believe that they are having a heart attack. In addition however, a person who has acid reflux is very likely to suffer from a pain in the stomach. Shoulder pain and severe back pain are not very common, but they could sometimes be side effects of acid reflux.

Since acid reflux is directly related to the food we eat and also to the lifestyle patterns we follow, the best way to cure acid reflux is by altering the way you live and what you eat. A person suffering from acid reflux should learn to eat smaller meals. When we eat large meals we forget that the stomach may experience trouble with digesting these. Small meals are easier to digest. The last meal of the day should be eaten at least two hours before going to bed. You should avoid lying down immediately after eating a meal. In addition to the quantity of food, the type of food that is consumed should also be monitored. Fried and spicy food items should be avoided. Excessive consumption of coffee and tea, chocolates should be avoided. Smokers should cut down on smoking. For people who are overweight, losing weight is one of the first things to do. Regular exercise can also help keep people healthy. Following these simple steps will certainly help you get relief from the acid reflux induced back pains, and from all the other side effects of acid reflux.

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Posted in Category : Common Ailments |

Causes of Lymphoma

Lymphoma refers to a cancer that affects the lymphatic system in our body. The lymphatic system carries the lymph fluid and the white blood cells to the various parts of the body. When the body is affected by lymphoma, the cells in the body grow out of control, which causes the growth of tumors. Although doctors are not very certain about the causes of lymphoma, it is believed that the cancer is caused by the mutation in some genes in the body. These genes are called “oncogenes”, and when they suffer a mutation, they actually allow the normal cells to grow in an uncontrolled manner. In addition to the genes in our body, some external factors are also believed to cause or trigger lymphoma in the body. For example, if someone is exposed to certain chemicals in particular solvents, pesticides or even herbicides, then there is a high chance of that person suffering from Lymphoma. People who drink water that has been contaminated with certain nitrates are also likely to be affected by lymphoma.

A person who uses drugs on a regular basis may also fall prey to lymphoma, since regular intake of drugs can affect the immune system. Similarly, people who suffer from diseases that affect the immune system and weaken the body are also likely to suffer from lymphoma. Therefore, a person suffering from AIDS is more than likely to suffer from Lymphoma. People who are affected by autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus are also likely to suffer from lymphoma. In addition, conditions such as stomach ulcers or gastritis, which are caused by the bacteria H. pyelori, also increase the chances of developing lymphoma.

Usually one of the first signs of lymphoma is the appearance of a lump or a swollen gland. The lump is usually painless and the swollen gland is usually in the abdomen, groin area or even in the underarm. Sometimes people also notice red patches on their skin. In addition, people also suffer from breathlessness and cough. Pain in the abdomen, nausea and in some cases, vomiting, are other possible symptoms of lymphoma. In some cases the appearance of symptoms, referred to as B symptoms, can also indicate lymphoma. In such cases, the patient suffers from weight loss that cannot be explained, which is accompanied by sweats at night. Unexplained fever that comes and goes is another indication; this fever usually affects the patient in the evening.

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