Swollen Lymph Nodes

Swollen Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes are clusters of tiny bean shaped cells that are present in the body in chains or groups. These lymph nodes form an important part of the immune system and lymphocytes exist within these glands. Lymph nodes play an important role in trapping the particles and foreign materials such as bacteria or cancer cells that are infectious. The lymph nodes thus are barriers to infection and have an important part to play in the body’s immune response.

Causes

Lymph nodes become swollen or enlarged due to a number of reasons and if these glands are swollen it is indicative that something is possibly wrong. These lymph nodes could swell rapidly or gradually. They swell rapidly if you have some viral or bacterial infection and can be painful. In some diseases like cancer, these glands tend to grow slowly and there is no pain involved.

The treatment of lymph nodes that are swollen will depend largely on what has caused them. If there is inflammation of the nodes, there is no need for concern. However, if the enlarged nodes are combined with symptoms of another condition, it is important that you seek a medical opinion.

If you have swollen lymph nodes, pain relievers or some kind of medication that helps reduce fever, can come in handy. You can also try and elevate the area that is affected. You could dip a cloth in hot water, wring it out, and apply it to the areas that are affected. Pressing a heat pad against the affected area for around fifteen minutes can also be beneficial. Your doctor may prescribe some antibiotics or antiviral medication especially if the problem is caused by some infection.

Home Remedies

You can also try some natural remedies to treat the core causes of the problem. Herbal treatment and homeopathic remedies are found beneficial in the treatment of swollen lymph nodes. They not only improve your overall health but are also gentle and do not have any side effects. It is however important that you get your herbal medicines from a reputable company to ensure that the quality is good and you get the right dosage as well.

Mix honey with a cup of hot tea and drink it. Honey is considered to be effective in the treatment of swollen lymph nodes. Stress sometimes causes your lymph nodes to swell and it is also important that you get enough rest as this will help in your recovery.

Treatment For Alcoholic Hepatitis (A Serious Liver Disease)

                                                            Pic Source: MayoClinic

Alcohol is a part of human culture and has been so for several centuries. Alcohol consumption is an important part of socializing. There are some cultures where alcohol is banned, but in most places in the world, it is freely available. Alcohol is addictive in nature, but only to individuals who consume this substance daily.

Most drinkers are social drinkers and are able to avoid alcohol as and when necessary. However, prolonged exposure to alcohol can causes serious health problems and it is therefore necessary that if you are an addict you need to quit drinking on your own.

Symptoms

The liver is an important and very complicated organ of the human body. It performs several different functions on which the life of an individual depends. One such function of the liver is of detoxification. This is the process that is associated with alcohol consumption. When the body detects alcohol in its blood, it begins to process the blood through the liver in order to filter this substance out of the body.

Hepatitis is a condition where the liver is inflamed due to some infection or condition in the body. Alcoholic hepatitis symptoms vary from patient to patient. In many cases, there will be mild or no alcoholic hepatitis symptoms at all. This is the case with most people who are in the process of developing this condition. As the condition progresses, these individuals will experience alcoholic hepatitis symptoms.

The most common alcoholic hepatitis symptoms include pain in the liver area and impaired liver function. This may cause fever, jaundice, ascites and many other potentially life threatening conditions. For individuals who have no alcoholic hepatitis symptoms, an examination may show that the liver is partially enlarged. This is a sign that remedial action needs to be take.

An individual who suffers from alcohol induced hepatitis should avoid the consumption of alcohol completely. Everyone should realize that alcoholic hepatitis is a life threatening condition and should therefore seek effective tips to give up drinking. It is not wise to risk one’s life in the pursuit of alcohol.

There are many ways to stop drinking which should be tried by any individual who is suffering from alcoholic hepatitis. Individuals may choose to quit drinking on their own or to seek the help of support groups and agencies that can help them get over this problem. In some cases, individuals who are suffering from alcohol dependency may need to be forcefully placed into rehabilitation centers.

This usually happens when members of the family or friends circle have had enough of the individual being continuously drunk.

Alcoholic hepatitis treatment depends on the extent to which the liver has been damaged. The liver is a vital organ that cannot be treated if it is damaged beyond a certain point. An individual will also not be able to survive without a liver that is at least partially functional.

Liver transplants are possible, but these are usually not given to patients with a history of alcohol abuse simply because there is a good chance that this organ donation will be wasted. Therefore, medications and surgical options are used for alcoholic hepatitis treatment.

It should be noted that in most cases, the alcoholic hepatitis symptoms are not particularly dangerous. It is only when an individual ignores these symptoms and continues drinking that the problem really becomes acute.

Most patients suffering from alcoholic hepatitis will recover fully if they stop alcohol consumption and begin to follow a healthy diet. It is important that such people realize the severity of their condition because this is the only way in which they will be prompted to make a useful change to their habits.

Some individuals may be ashamed or embarrassed about their condition. These people can seek anonymous help for their problem of alcohol dependency.

Bakers Cyst Treatment

A Baker’s cyst also known as a popliteal cyst is a medical condition wherein excess fluid (synovial fluid) accumulates and forms a bump behind the knee. The condition is usually the result of a knee joint disorder such as cartilage tear or arthritis. The cyst is named after a British surgeon William Morrant Baker, who first defined the disease.

A Baker’s cyst may cause great discomfort and irritation, but the diagnosis of the basic problem and the subsequent treatment relaxes the condition.

Symptoms: In some cases, a Baker’s cyst may produce no symptoms. However, the common symptoms defined in medical terms are as follows:

• Pain in the knee
• Cramping behind the knee
• Bulge or swelling behind the knee
• Bruise on the knee and calf (caused by the rupture of the cyst)
• Swollen leg
• Stiffness

Causes: The synovial fluid is responsible for the proper lubrication of tendons and cartilage. The fluid assists in the smooth movement of the leg and decreases the irritation in the mobile parts of the knee. However, occasionally, the knee produces excess synovial fluid, which results in the overload of fluids in the sacs and pockets of the knee, this condition is called a Baker’s cyst. 

The causes of Bakers cyst can be any one of the following:

• Cartilage tear (knee injury)
• Swelling in the knee joint (caused by different types of arthritis)
• Knee problems other than arthritis

Diagnosis: The diagnosis of a Baker’s cyst includes a thorough physical examination by the doctor. The examination includes the proper analysis of the mass behind the knee. The size of the cyst may hinder the movement of the leg by the patient, and in some cases, a meniscal tear may be detected.

The tests and laboratory examinations carried out for the exact diagnosis of the cyst are the following:

• X-rays to detect problems related to arthritis
• Transillumination (light shining through the cyst) to catch fluid build up
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting meniscal injury and cyst analysis
• If the pain is severe and the cyst growth is abnormal, some other tests may be prescribed to rule out certain other type of tumors.

Treatment: In accordance with the results of the test reports and study of the symptoms, the following treatments may be advised.

Drainage of Fluid: The doctor may use the needle to drain the fluid from the knee. The process is known as needle aspiration and is done with ultrasound help.

Physical Therapy: Compression wraps, ice packs, and the usage of crutches may decrease inflammation and pain in the knee. Some muscle strengthening exercises may be recommended to reduce the pain and stiffness.

Medication: The doctor may prescribe cortisone injections into the knee to decrease swelling and reduce the pain. However, this may not prevent the cyst to reappear again.

Surgery: If the excess synovial fluid is found to be the cause of cartilage tear, surgery may be recommended to remove or mend the cartilage.

It is important to note that in most cases no treatment is prescribed. The cyst may vanish on its own.

Home Care and Lifestyle Changes: If the cause of the Baker’s cyst is arthritis, the doctor may recommend some self-care steps to alleviate the pain and to reduce the formation of synovial fluid. These are as follows.

P.R.I.C.E: Protection of the legs by walking on crutches, which can reduce the load off the knee.  Rest the leg. Ice the sore area. Compression wraps, braces, or sleeves. Elevation of the knee when resting and while sleeping.

Change or reduction in physical routine: The doctor may prescribe scaling down the daily activity in order to rest the knee and alternate forms of exercise suitable for the condition may be recommended.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin, and acetaminophen may prove helpful in the reduction of pain. Prescribed NSAIDs provide better results than over the counter ones.

Exercises: Some knee exercises may improve mobility and provide relief from the pain. These are as follows.

Back of Knee Stretch: Rest the balls of one foot on a step while standing up. Bend down and try to touch the knees, keeping knees and the back straight. Stay in the position for 15 to 20 seconds and perform the same routine with the other foot.

Straight Leg Raise: Wear 1 pound ankle weights and sit on a chair. Put one foot firm and flat on the ground and extend the other straight in front on the chair. Move the foot a few inches off the chair. Keep the leg straight and hold for 10 to 15 seconds. Rest the leg for few seconds and repeat the steps 3 to 4 times. Repeat the same with other leg.

Bent Leg Raises: Wear 1 pound weights on the ankle and sit on the chair. Extend a leg in the front and stay in the position for 45 to 60 seconds. Bend the knees at an angle of 45 degrees and hold for half a minute. Rest the leg for some time, and repeat 4 to 5 times. Increase the weights according to the comfort and the intensity of the exercise.

Source: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/

Know about Stomach acidity - How to cure

                                                            pic source: The Lancet

Nowadays each fifth person suffers from stomach acidity - an imbalance between the stomach and proximal intestine structure and ensuring their safety protective mechanisms.  The stomach usually secretes acid which helps to break down the food, but its excess ion leads to acidity. Stomach acidity causes such symptoms like heartburn, dyspepsia and erosion of the stomach lining. The latter in most cases provokes formation of ulcers. Similarly, taking alcohol, highly spicy foodstuffs, non-vegetarian diets turn up as preconditions to gastric acidity.

Causes of ulcers occurrence

The stomach and some other inner organs which take part in breaking down the food secrete different ferments and hydrochloric acid.  But at the same time the stomach must also be protected from these ferments and acid. If the acid due to the temporary weakness in the normal sphincter mechanism enters the lower part of the Oesophagus it may lead to heartburn. Ulcers can occur if there is an imbalance between the different protecting stomach factors and the stomach  juices which help to digest the food.

Duodenal ulcers are much more common than gastric, because the first ones arise in the lining of the upper part of the small intestine, and gastric ulcers occur in the stomach.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome is a situation when there is an excessively large amount of acid secretion. They are stimulated by tumours located in the duodenum or pancreas.

Another damage for stomach and duodenum is pepsin - an enzyme that breaks down proteins. The defense system of the organism consists of the mucous layer, which coats the stomach and duodenum. It forms the first line of protect.  The body also secretes bicarbonate into the mucous layer, which neutralizes the acid. Hormone-like substances help to protect the organism too. They keep the blood vessels in the stomach dilated, ensuring adequate blood flow.

If there is a lack of these protect mechanisms, pepsin and acid can get into the stomach and cause an ulcer.

Stomach acidity preconditions.

Acidity is caused by the two main symptoms dyspepsia and heartburn. The former is the most common symptom, which in rare cases even may not occur.

Sometimes there is no pain at all, but only a feeling of nausea or indigestion. On the contrary, heartburn is characterized by a burning pain in the chest behind the sternum. It usually arises after meals, at night on lying down and is relieved when the individual sits up.

Commonly speaking, the pain is very closely related to posture. During heartburn regurgitation of the gastric contents may also occur.

Diagnostics and investigations of the stomach acidity

The patient‘s medical history plays a very important role in the diagnosis.  A history of family members with ulcers, taking alcohol and smoking, any present and past drug use are very important and useful facts in the definition the disease cause.

The symptoms may subside when a trial with acid-blocking medication is given. Such course lasts four weeks and the patient is given the acid-suppressing drugs. If the symptoms continue persisting the further testing is required.

Today‘s medicine use the Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscope to reveal the presence of ulcers. To ascertain Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome it is required to measure blood levels of gastrin.  Barium Meal studies are also very important as they reflect active ulcer craters, or deformities and scarring.

Treatment of the stomach acidity and its prognosis

To avoid the causative factors the individual must stop alcohol consumption and smoking, the suitable diet must be strictly followed avoiding fatty, spicy, salty and acidic foods.

A group of drugs called H2 Receptor Blockers cause the stomach to produce less acid by blocking histamine receptors. They are Cimetidine, Ranitidine, Famotidine or Nizatidine.

Another one group of medicine which disables acid-making cells also stops acid production.

Summarizing all the above said, the ulcers must be properly diagnosed and treated to prevent complications.

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension & HELLP Syndrome

Pregnancy induced hypertension is a form of increases in high blood pressure in pregnancy period. In addition to it there is another kind of high blood pressure is chronic hypertension, high blood pressure that is present before pregnancy begins. Preeclampsia is the etymology of pregnancy induced hypertension which often occurs in young women in first pregnancy. Usually hypertension is common in twin pregnancies, women with chronic hypertension occurs due to preexisting diabetes, an in women who had pregnancy induced hypertension in previous delivery. There are some major pregnancy induced hypertension like eclampsia and hellp.

One severe form of pregnancy-induced hypertension is known as Eclampsia. Women who suffer from eclampsia mostly experience seizures due to this condition. One in every 1,600 pregnancies is prone to this condition and generally Eclampsia progresses only at the later stages of a pregnancy.

HELLP syndrome is a complication of severe preeclampsia. HELLP syndrome is a group of physical changes including the breakdown of red blood cells, changes in the liver and low platelets (cells found in the blood that are needed to help the blood to clot in order to control bleeding).

The cause of pregnancy induced hypertension is still unknown. Some conditions may increase the risk of developing tension like pre existing hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes, tension due to previous pregnancy, age of the mother younger than twenty or older than 40 and multiple fetuses.

Although the high blood pressure is due to the increase in resistance of blood vessels. This may block blood flow in many different organs in the expectant mother including the liver, kidney, uterus, placenta and brain. The most common symptoms of high blood pressure in pregnancy are increased blood pressure, protein in urine, sudden weight gain, edema, nausea, urinating small amount and vomiting. Hence these are symptoms and type of pregnancy induced hypertension.