What you should know about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

What you should know about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
This a term used to describe a combination of diseases .The diseases comprise of chronic lung diseases such as chronic emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The diseases are characterized by limiting the amount of air flowing into the lungs. Due to this the diseases are manifested in symptoms such as breathlessness, production of sputum and chronic coughs. These diseases are dangerous and can lead to death.

What are the causes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
There are many causes among them are the following causes:-
Smoking tobacco
This is the major cause .Smoking leads to damaging of the lining of the airways by making the airways become inflamed. The inflammation in the airway lining leads to obstructing the air flowing to the lungs hence causing the complication.

Air pollution
In case the air is polluted by pollutants from industries or any other heavy particles the particles can enter the airways of individuals and lead to the chronic complication. Inhaling of chemical fumes is the biggest contributor under the category of pollutants .This is because the chemicals tend to react with the airway lining making it narrow in size.

Hereditary
In some individuals the condition can develop due to genetic factors such as lack of some protein in their body that initiate complications of the organs such as lung which end up developing the condition.

What are the treatments of (COPD)

Quitting smoking
This will expose the airways to less obstruction that is caused by the smoke from tobacco hence treating the condition. Quitting can be the best solution if the condition is in early stages and smoking happens to be the cause.

Using short -acting bronchodilator inhalers
These are inhalers with bronchodilator medicine that helps in dilating the bronchus hence relieving the condition .Examples of these inhalers include; beta-agonist inhalers such as salbutamol and antimuscarinic inhalers like ipratropium.

Using long-acting bronchodilator inhalers
They help in making the bronchus to dilate incase it was affected but last for up to 12 hours unlike the short acting bronchodilator inhalers .They include inhalers such as ;beta-agonist inhaler for example formoterol and antimuscarinic inhalers such as tiotropium.

Using steroid inhalers
Steroids help in reducing inflammation in severe cases .These inhalers are mostly used in combination with other inhalers such as long -acting beta-agonist inhaler .Steroids may not have direct impact on the symptoms but they help a lot in preventing flare-ups that are commonly experienced with individuals with this condition.

Using bronchodilator tablets. Tablets such as theophylline are used to relieve the condition after they enter the blood stream.

Using mucolytic medicine
Medicines such as carbocisteine ,erdosteine and mecysteine helps in making the sputum produced during this complication less thick hence helping in relieving the condition.They also prevent the effect of bacteria on the sputum which may end up increasing the infection. For mucolytic medicine to be effective individuals using it must take it on a regular basis .It can be taken two to three times per day for it to be more effective.

Effective Cancer Cure Techniques

There are several cancer cure approaches. Each of the approaches produces effective results if applied in the desired way. The most common approaches include:

1.Surgery
Surgery is normally used to treat, prevent and diagnose cancer. It offers the greatest opportunity to recover from cancer especially if the cancer cells have not spread to most parts of the body.
2. Chemotherapy
It involves the use of drugs and chemicals to cure cancer. Most people fear this form of treatment. However, understanding of how the process operates will help a lot in gathering enough effort towards successful completion of a chemotherapy process.
3. Radiation therapy
This form of cure involves the use of high energy waves and particles to kill the cells that have been attacked by cancer. It can be used to cure cancer either by itself or by combining it with other forms of treatment.
4.Targeted therapy
It is a new approach in cancer cure that involves a combination of certain substances and drugs to identify and destroy cancer cells.
5. Immunotherapy
It involves the engagement of the body’s immune system in fighting cancer. Different types of immunotherapy are used to treat different forms of cancer.
6. Hyperthermia
As the name suggests, this method of curing cancer entails the use of heat to treat cancer. This method is currently being improved to enhance its effectiveness.
7. The stem cell transplants
This technique involves the use of bone marrow as well as stem cell transplants to treat cancer.
8. Photodynamic therapy
A photodynamic therapy involves the use of a special drug called photosensitizing agent to kill the cells. The agents are used together with light. These drugs are activated by special kinds of light and once they are activated, they will be able to destroy the harmful cancer cells.
9. Use of lasers
Under this procedure, careful surgery is performed using powerful beams of light. The beams are used instead of blades. It is one of the most effective ways of treating cancer.

All About Arthritis

All About Arthritis

Definition of arthritis

This is the inflammation of one or several joints in the body. Arthritis has over 100 types and therefore it is important for a proper diagnosis to be made to identify the type affecting an individual.

Common causes of arthritis
The most common causes are trauma to the joint, joint infections and old age. There are some types of arthritis that are associated with autoimmune diseases. This condition is the most common cause of disability in many developed countries.

Symptoms of arthritis
All types of this condition have some form of symptoms that are similar. This is why it is important to visit the physician to identify which type it is. Additional tests such as blood and radiological tests can be carried out to make the proper diagnosis.
These symptoms are:

Reduced ability in the use of limbs
Feelings of unease and easily getting tired after a simple activity
Loss of weight
Lack of or poor sleeping patterns
Pain in the muscles
Problematic movement of the joints
Weakness of the muscles
Reduced flexibility
Reduction of aerobic capabilities
The limitations in movement make the patient susceptible to sedentary lifestyle diseases like weight and heart complications. They are further prone to depression because of the fear of the symptoms getting worse.
Treatment of arthritis
Treatment options depend on the type of arthritis. These include physical therapy, changes in exercises and feeding habits to control weight, wearing of orthopedic braces, drugs and in some cases the joint may need surgical replacement.

Long term relief of pain can be achieved by regular exercise to the affected joint. In some cases the patient needs occupational therapy in addition to exercises. Physical therapy has been shown to improve joint function, reduce pain and postpone surgical procedures to the affected joints.

They work better than medication because they also rejuvenate the whole body and increase muscle strength and function. Medication can be used in some cases and physicians normally start with mild drugs with little side effects and progress as the condition progresses.

Heart Disease: A Threat To Humanity

Heart Disease: A Threat To Humanity

Heart disease is a collective terminology that constitutes of heart conditions like cardiac arrest, coronary artery disease, heart attack, congenital heart disease and congestive heart failure. In the past years this disease was commonly associated with the elderly frail people but with dietary and lifestyle changes, everyone even a two year old kid can suffer from the disease. The most frequent of the diseases mentioned above is coronary heart disease (CHD) which is caused by conical or blocked coronary artery that provisions the heart with blood. (CHD) is the leading cause of heart attacks in the world today, little or no blood supply to the heart muscle renders it weak, leading to shortness of breath and in severe cases death may result.
There are five universally known symptoms of heart disease; the first one is chest pain or distress that comes about once the heart seizes to receive enough oxygen or blood; next up is discomfort or pain on the neck, back or in the jaws, at this state movement is rather painful since the failed coronary artery pumps blood directly next to these parts. Part of the painful experience entails pain in the shoulders or in the arms; while running a simple errand the victim of heart malady feels weak on the joints, light headedness and shortness of breath perhaps with or without any chest pain.
It’s good to note that the disease can be treated successfully through natural means, the most crucial of them is through embracing a balanced diet into your meals; you should strive to avoid fatty and cholesterol meals at all given times. Make the desirable corrections into your lifestyle, habits like cigarette smoking ,drugs and solvent abuse should be shunned upon and try to adopt physical drills like sporty activities, jogging, swimming and meditation. Even though there are other advanced ways of fighting heart disease like the stem cell treatment, it is always wise to act fast before matters get worse with the condition.

 

Helping Understand Cystic Fibrosis

Helping Understand Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis   (CF) is a recessive genetic disorder that affects mostly lungs, pancreas, liver and intestine.

Cystic Fibrosis is a lifelong, progressive condition which mostly affects the glands excreting mucus, sweat and intestinal secretion. It disrupts the salt balance in the body leaving too little water and salt in body. Due to CF, mucus is build up and clogs lung which makes breathing very difficult. This mucus is difficult to cough out and leads to lung infection.

The most common symptoms of CF are salty tasty skin, poor growth and poor weight gain, accumulation of thick sticky mucus, coughing and frequent chest infection. Lung infection in regular intervals like pneumonia and bronchitis, frequent greasy stools , unable to pass stool, nasal polyps, poor growth and infertility.

What are the causes of Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a mutation in a gene called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR serves an important function in creating mucus, sweat and digestive liquid. Most people have 2 copies of gene for creating CRTF if a person lacks one unaltered version of gene that produce a CRTF protein , it will result in cystic fibrosis. A person can be infected with CF only if both the parents are carrier a child has to inherit 2 copies of defective gene.

One can diagnose cystic fibrosis as part of new born screening as soon as the baby is born mostly if a new born is not able to pass stool, sweat test or genetic test can also be conducted.

What are the treatments available for Cystic Fibrosis?

As such there is no cure for this disease but with help of specialized medicine, proper nutrition and care quality of life can be improved and prolonged. Treatment varies for each person depending on his severity and related symptoms of the patient.

Mostly patient undergo treatment for clearing mucus from lungs which helps in functioning of lungs, also some medicines like pancreatic enzyme supplements. In some sever cases where lung functioning is very low they recommend a lung transplantation.