Your Appropriate Blood Pressure

The traditional reading for a “normal” blood pressure” is 120/80. Anything above it is considered high blood pressure. For example, if your reading is 140/90, your doctor would prescribe blood pressure tablets (or medication) in an effort to bring your blood pressure back down to 120/80. Many developed countries have since made an adjustment to the 120/80 criteria; unfortunately the U.K sticks to 120/80 as the criteria.

I disagree with 120/80 as the criteria. To put a patient on prescribed medication (blood pressure pills) simply because his blood pressure chart is 140/90 without investigating if it was his/her appropriate blood pressure is definitely wrong.

 Your blood pressure can be as high as 160/100 and if it is your appropriate blood pressure, do not do anything to disrupt it or try to bring it down with drugs (prescribed medication) What I am trying to say is this: If your chart reads 160/100 and you also have other complications, you should have it checked out by your doctor. True high blood pressure must be attended to by your G.P or specialist until such time you are able to adjust your life style with dietary adjustments and supplements.

 High blood pressure and if it is not your appropriate blood pressure can be extremely dangerous; it can cause stroke and other health complications. Bear in mind too that here is also such a thing as secondary high blood pressure. This usually happens when the kidneys are not well or that there is a general hardening of the renal artery. Also, if there is hypothyroidism, there is a tendency to have secondary high blood pressure. Therefore, it is wrong diagnosis to automatically put a patient on high blood pressure medication without first ascertaining if it was secondary high blood pressure to start with! Space & time does not allow us to write more on secondary high blood pressure.

To reinforce the point, let me cite an example. There is no such thing that if you are 5 feet 8”, you must be ten stone in weight. Our body density and bone mass varies from one individual to another; again it can vary from sex to race.

Your appropriate pulse pressure.
 We place more emphasis on pulse pressure than high blood pressure. Pulse pressure is the true measurement of how far gone your arteries are. The higher it is the stiffer your arteries are; the more strain on your heart, hence the higher likelihood of health problems.

Measurement of pulse pressure
Subtract your bottom blood pressure number (diastolic pressure) from the top number (systolic pressure).

"Say your blood pressure is 170/110 and Ray is 170/70. Ray is likely to have cardiac failure. (Heart failure, stroke or some other adverse event). In this example your pulse pressure would be 60 Ray would be an alarming 100."

What’s normal pulse pressure?
40 or lower is fine. Higher reading to that can be indicated as having stiff arteries. Conventional blood measurements are ideal for selling drugs. In order to reduce your pulse pressure meaningfully all you need is physical exercise, generous intake of fish oil alpha lipoic acid, folic acid, vitamin b3,   L-Arginine and intelectol. These supplements’ will only make your arteries softer and reduce the pulse pressure but will give you a general feeling of well being and good health. Intelectol is a powerful memory enhancer that will increase blood flow to your brain.

Cholesterol
Most people would hurry to take prescription drugs to lower their cholesterol upon learning that that they have high cholesterol. This is a gross mistake and a folly. Not all cholesterol is bad – unfortunately, space limit does not enable me to delve into details. Suffice to add, not all fats are bad. There are the saturated fats ( bad fats) and unsaturated fats (good fats) Most people and even doctors do not realize that cholesterol is essential to the body for many functions. It forms part of the cell membrane, the outer layer of every cell in your body. It helps transport and packs the major components of the cell membrane, called “phospholipids” that are made from essential fatty acids (EFAs). Without sufficient cholesterol, we would die because our tissues are constantly being repaired and replaced with new cells. Our body produces several thousand milligrams of cholesterol per day to carry out these essential functions, and each day the excess of cholesterol is supposed to be naturally recycled. If your body does not have sufficient new cholesterol each day, you cannot repair and replace your cell membrane and they will eventually degenerate.

 

The Dangers of Cholesterol lowering drugs.
Serious side effects have been reported for most cholesterol lowering drugs – the so called STATINS. The prescription of these drugs is based on the discredited hypothesis that high cholesterol can cause heart attacks.

This is false and misleading! Read on! The cholesterol myth has been one of the most long lived falsehood around – probably it has been excellent business for the big pharma - drug industry (“Big Pharma” for short)

Side Effects
In an article that appeared in “Life After Lipitor” in the newspaper “Tahoe World” on January 27th, 2004, Tahoe City (California) resident Doug Peterson began having serious neuromuscular problems after taking Statins for two years. He began losing muscular co-ordination and slurring words when he spoke. Then he lost balance, followed by loss of fine motor skills – he also had difficulty writing! These adverse side effects have begun appearing in peer-reviewed medical journals and numerous people have reported similar symptoms at public adverse websites such as medications.com. People have reported trouble at swallowing, trouble talking, feeling fatigued all the time, motor neuropathy which mimics ALS, nausea, vertigo, disorientation, memory loss, extremely dry eyes, muscle pain and so on.

How could Statins and the other cholesterol lowering drugs have so much of side effects? Statin drugs inhibit the production of cholesterol in order to lower LDL cholesterol counts. By limiting the production of cholesterol, statins may be directly causing membrane degeneration in neural and muscle tissues. Plus, statins may also inhibit of the liver to produce good cholesterol.
There are twenty million people in the U.S alone on all types of statin drugs. Statin drugs can actually increase heart disease and can cause extensive damage to one’s liver!

Your doctor could have advised you that, 2000 – 3000 milligrams of good vitamin C plus Fish oil in higher dosage could be the answer to lowering bad cholesterol without the side effects. L-Arginine besides helping to boost sex drive would complement Vitamin C to help reduce bad cholesterol.

Recommended Nutritional Therapy:  Depending on your weight,  We recommend Esterol, Ester C or a good brand of Vitamin C with bioflavonoid. Supplemented this with Eskimo 3(a good fish oil), Niacin (Vitamin B3) and also L’Arginine.  Alpha Lipoic acid will also help.

Anti-depressant drugs: On December 13th, 2006, the FDA announced that anti-depressant drugs prescribed to young adults are risky. Besides the enormous side effects, they cause suicidal thoughts in young adults. The Agency proposed a change to include a new label warning with a suggestion that patients of all age groups be carefully monitored, particularly when starting antidepressant treatment.


Urinary Incontinence: Cymbalta and some types of anti depressant drugs have been used by doctors for chronic liver diseases and urinary incontinence.  On October 17th 2005, Eli Lilly expanded its warning about liver related problems with the use of its drug, Cymbalta and cautioned doctors about using it for chronic liver disease. The warning came after a review of cymbalta found that 11 of nearly 9000 women taking it for urinary incontinence tried to commit suicide. But the lists of side effects are too many to mention.
The FDA approved of cymbalta in August of 2004 as an anti-depressant but it is not approved in the United States to treat urinary incontinence.

If your prescribed medication for depression and urinary incontinence is not mentioned in the list here, you can take it from me that they still carry an enormous amount of side effects. Please refer to the internet; all you need to do is to click onto the name of the drug. Google is a better search engine. Also all prescribed drugs for urinary incontinence carries with it an enormous amount of side effects.

It is my view that all anti depressant drugs can be habit forming. In addition, they blur the brain. For those taking statin drugs, proper blood testing is of paramount importance because an excessive dose and abusive use can cause permanent muscle and liver damage

In general, most forms of prescribed medication can deplete nutrients in the body. Classic example of this are diuretic drugs used to treat hypertension (blood pressure) whilst diuretic drugs are cost effective in reducing blood pressure, they deplete the body of essential minerals like magnesium and potassium.

As the side effects of urinary incontinence drugs are enormous and the list too many to mention, I would encourage you to research the internet for further information.

A further Word of caution:  Coumadin is a drug prescribed by cardiologists to prevent blood clots. Prednisone one of the NSAID (Non Steroid Anti-Inflammatory drug) is prescribed by doctors to relieve an inflammatory process for example, asthma and other flu like conditions.  Lupron is prescribed for prostate problems. Abusive use of each of these drugs can deplete bone mineral density but when all three are taken together, rapid osteoporosis can be induced.

The harsh reality today is that today’s large pharmacies sell anything that is legal. They are in the business to make money – they are not in the business to better humankind.

If you are observant, just pay attention to those who frequent the pharmacies. They look sickly; on the other hand if you pay close attention to those who frequents a health food shop, they look better and healthier. Do not trust your doctor to know everything about nutrition, nutritional therapy is usually not within the scope of their training. If you pay close attention to many of our obese doctors and nurses with a pot belly and who light up in the hospital’s corridors or car parks, you would know what I mean. This comment is not intended to discourage you from staying away from your doctor.

Recommended Supplements for a depressive disorder:  Before I start talking about heart problems and cancer, I want to let you know that 5 HTP which improves the serotonin level in your blood can be very effective in mood balancing. It may also help you to sleep better. It has virtually no side effects. When I lost my mother almost four years ago, I was on 5HTP nightly @ 50 mg per capsule x 4 (200 mg) for almost a year to help me get over with the extremely difficult period of my life. Another most advanced mood elevating therapy available today is SAMe (S-Adenosylmethionine).

We carry 5HTP but not SAMe but we can order it for you. SAMe has shown efficacy to relieving depressive symptoms but can also help in fighting liver’s disease, relieving arthritis pain and even supporting healthy endothelial functions. Never take sleeping pills or anti-histamine to help you sleep. If you wish, you may try 5HTP and melatonin together. It will help you sleep very soundly.

          


Heart Problems: When we hear about a sudden cardiac (heart) death in an adult, it is generally linked to atherosclerosis or clogging of the arteries. During vigorous exercises, if the blood flow to the heart muscle becomes blocked, the heart can stop working resulting in death. In children, however, the problem is usually due to a congenital abnormality of the heart muscle. A child may play sports for many years without any apparent problem. But these defects which often involve abnormal rhythm can cause the heart to stop pumping at anytime – particularly during heavy exercises. I would recommend that all young children be given an EKG (electro cardiogram) – the typical examination by your doctor using a mere stethoscope won’t be able to detect most congenital heart defects. Here at our Clinic, we use both the stethoscope and The Chinese pulse diagnosis. If we are uncertain, we would refer the client back to his G.P with an explanation that he/she should be referred to a cardiologist.

Having said that, we have seen many patients who are needlessly prescribed heart tablets. When we examine the patient, we often find that the patient has heart burn, acid reflux or aortic aneurysm and these conditions often transmit a false signal that there is a heart problem. These may include distant murmurs, irregular heartbeats and angina. Before we forget, oral chelation is extremely effective in removing a blockage in a heart artery or any arteries. We do not stock chelation tablets but we shall be happy to order it for you.

Recommended Nutritional Therapy for the heart:  Again, it’s good fish oil (Eskimo 3), Co-Enzyme Q 10, at least 100 mg per day, alpha lipoic acid, Vitamin E & L’Arginine, folic acid, niacin. Oral Chelation is a very effective therapy.

On the co-relationship between cholesterol and heart problems, do bear in mind that the majority of people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels. Cholesterol in itself doesn’t cause heart disease and it won’t stop a heart attack.  It has never been conclusively shown that lowering of cholesterol saves lives. In fact, several studies have shown that that lowering cholesterol into the range currently recommended is co-related with an increased risk of dying, especially of cancer.

Megaloblastic Anemia

Pernicious anemia refers to a type of autoimmune anemia . In addition to the cells being large, the inner contents of each cell are not completely developed. The disease was named pernicious anemia because it was fatal before treatment became available, first as liver therapy and, subsequently, as purified vitamin B-12. The term pernicious is no longer appropriate, but it is retained for historical reasons. Diseases of the small intestine that cause malabsorption may cause vitamin B12 deficiency. Vegans (individuals who consume absolutely no foods of animal origin) are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency due insufficiency of this vitamin in their diet. But it takes a long time to deplete all the vitamin B12 that is stored in the liver. There is a congenital form of pernicious anemia due to defect of intrinsic factor at birth that is clearly inherited as an autosomal recessive trait with the affected child having received two copies of the gene, one from each parent. Vitamin B12 helps in this shrinking process. Without vitamin B12, there are insufficient numbers of red blood cells, and those that are in the circulation are large and quickly become damaged. This leads to anemia, meaning that there is a deficiency of normal red blood cells. Symptoms, which usually begin gradually, include loss of appetite, diarrhea , paleness, fatigue, and headache. Tingling of the hands and feet, as well as the onset of spastic movements, may indicate that the nervous system has been affected. The word "pernicious" means highly injurious, destructive, or deadly. "Pernicious" comes from the Latin root "nex" meaning "violent death." Pernicious anemia was once quite deadly.
Megaloblastic anemia is a type of anemia characterized by very large red blood cells.xThe patient often has antibodies in the blood called intrinsic factor and parietal cell antibodies While the term pernicious anemia is reserved for patients with vitamin B-12 deficiency due to a lack of production of IF in the stomach, vitamin B-12 absorption is complex and other causes of vitamin B-12 deficiency exist and are described briefly in this article. They combine in the stomach and pass into the small intestine where the intrinsic factor helps the vitamin B12 get absorbed into the circulation. Doctors diagnose pernicious anemia when a patient with a low red blood cell count has large red blood cells and white blood cells with large, multi-lobed nuclei. Through the circulation, the vitamin is transported to the liver where it is stored, being released back into the circulation as needed. Without intrinsic factor, vitamin B12 is not absorbed and pernicious anemia occurs. Enlargement of liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly) may also occur, accompanied by yellow discoloration of the skin (jaundice) or pallor. Weakness, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, as well as pain in the limbs are other possible symptoms. Mouth and tongue infection may also occur. Neurological lesions , irritability, and abnormal feelings (e.g. of heat and cold) may also be present. Megaloblastosis can also be caused by disorders in which cobalamin and folate uptake and metabolism are not affected. Myeloproliferative syndromes and viral infections (eg, HIV) can lead to megaloblastosis by disrupting DNA synthesis.
Causes of Megaloblastic Anemia
There are many factors which may cause Anemia, some common causes are listed below:

• Inadequate intake e.g. Elderly people
• Malabsorption in digestive system
• Chronic alcoholism
• Abdominal or intestinal surgery that affects intrinsic factor production or absorption
• Crohn's disease
  decreased production of intrinsic factor (this disease entity is called pernicious anemia)
• intestinal malabsorption (due to an enteritis, celiac disease or other causes)
  Intestinal malabsorption disorders
• Fish tape worm
• Disorders of terminal illness e.g cancers

Causes of Folic Acid Deficiency

• Atrophy or loss of gastric mucosa (eg, pernicious anemia, gastrectomy, ingestion of caustic material, hypochlorhydria, histamine 2 [H2] blockers).
• Inadequate proteolysis of dietary Cbl .
• Insufficient pancreatic protease (eg, chronic pancreatitis, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
• immune hemolytic anemia - drug-induced.
• Administration of folate will correct the anaemia but will not reverse any neurological disease - approximately 5% show no other symptoms but neurological disorder.
• Certain medications, specifically ones that prevent seizures, such as phenytoin, primidone, and phenobarbital, can impair the absorption of folic acid
• Folic acid is present in foods such as green vegetables, liver, and yeast.
• Dysfunctional uptake and use of cobalamin by cells (eg, defects in cellular deoxyadenosylcobalamin [AdoCbl] and methylcobalamin [MeCbl] synthesis).

Symptoms of Megaloblastic Anemia

The following are the most common symptoms of megaloblastic anemia. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin
• decreased appetite
• irritability
• lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue)
• diarrhea
• difficulty walking
• numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• smooth and tender tongue
• weak muscles

The symptoms of megaloblastic anemia may resemble other blood conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

Treatment of Megaloblastic Anemia

Here is the list of the methods for treating Megaloblastic Anemia :

• To establish that the patient has Cbl deficiency
• Monitor the reticulocyte count (should return to normal in 2-3 weeks) and the Hb concentration (20-30g/L rise every week until normal)
• Intramuscular hydroxy-cobalamin daily for a week (regime will depend on the cause of the anaemia)
• You can treat vitamin B-12 deficiency related to a poor diet with changes in your diet along with vitamin B-12 supplementation, under a doctor's supervision.
• To confirm the diagnosis by documenting that specific therapy is effective
• your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• In some cases, blood transfusions and the medication erythropoeitin will correct anemia.
• To ensure administration of adequate quantities of Cbl for the lifespan of the patient
• your opinion or preference

Hemolytic Anemia

Hemolytic anemia is anemia due to hemolysis , the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells either in the blood vessels (intravascular hemolysis) or elsewhere in the body (extravascular). The mechanism by which the immune system mistakes the red blood cells for a "foreign invader" varies somewhat according to the cause. It usually involves adherence of the offending agent (parasite, drug or toxin) to the surface of the red blood cells.Autoimmune hemolytic anemia can also be caused by or occur with another disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, and rarely it follows the use of certain drugs, such as penicillin. Though much attention has been given recently to AIHA due to evidence linking the process of vaccinating with the manifestation of this sometimes life-threatening disease, immunization is only one potential cause for this condition. In particular, a form of damaged red blood cell known as a spherocyte occurs. Finding spherocytes on a blood smear almost guarantees that some form of hemolytic anemia is occurring Blood transfusions can be used in dogs with IMHA if necessary but they can make the condition worse so most vets reserve this approach for dogs that appear to be in imminent danger of dying due to severe anemia. It is necessary to treat most dogs for a fairly long time to prevent recurrence of the disease and some dogs seem to require lifelong use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants. Splenectomy is done in resistant cases since it is a major site of red blood cell destruction.
Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia results from an abnormality of the immune system that destroys red blood cells prematurely. It has numerous possible causes, ranging from relatively harmless to life-threatening. The immune system wishes to attack the offending agent, but manages to injure the red blood cells as well. When the spleen and the rest of the immune system is working to rid the body of the old, diseased or damaged red blood cells, it is doing its job properly. Whenever hemolytic anemia is present it is wise to carefully rule out initiating causes that might be treatable. Examples of problems that can lead to hemolytic anemia include ehrlichiosis (a blood parasite), reactions to sulfa antiseptics or penicillin antibiotics, zinc toxicosis - which can occur due to the ingestion of pennies. In some people, the destruction may stop after a period of time; whereas in other people, it persists and becomes chronic. There are two main types of autoimmune hemolytic anemia: warm antibody hemolytic anemia and cold antibody hemolytic anemia. In acquired hemolytic anemia, the person develops the condition from some other cause. Hemolytic anemia can begin rapidly or come on gradually and can range from mild to severe.

Causes of Hemolytic Anemia

The common Causes of Hemolytic Anemia :

• Autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematous (SLE, or lupus), rheumatoid arthritis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, or ulcerative colitis
• Drugs such as penicillin, antimalaria medications, sulfa medications or acetaminophen
• surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy...
• Blood loss excessive bleeding such as hemorrhages or abnormal menstrual bleeding.
• Penicillin and its derivatives .
• Cephalosporins.
• Levodopa.
• Tumors.
• AIHA and hereditary spherocytosis are classified as examples of extravascular hemolysis because the RBCs are destroyed in the spleen and other reticuloendothelial organs.
• Hereditary spherocytosis.

Symptoms of Hemolytic Anemia

Some are common Symptoms of Hemolytic Anemia :

• Abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin.
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mouth.
• weakness.
• Dizziness.
• Pale color.
• Dark urine.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Enlarged spleen.
• Confusion.
• Heart murmur.

Treatment of Hemolytic Anemia

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• vitamin and mineral supplements
• extent of the disease
• Surgical removal of the spleen generally is reserved for children who do not respond to other therapies.
• Administer packed RBC slowly to avoid cardiac stress.
• Corticosteroid medications, which are synthetic versions of natural hormones produced by the body's adrenal glands
• Blood transfusions are given with caution, if indicated for severe anemia , because of the potential that blood may not be compatible and may bring on a reaction.
• corticosteroid medications
• splenectomy - surgery to remove the spleen.
• Administer folic acid because active hemolysis may consume folate and cause megaloblastosis.

Hodgkin's Disease

Hodgkin's Disease is a malignant disease affecting the lymphatic and immune system. Hodgkins lymphoma arises in the lymph nodes or in lymphoid tissue of organs such as the digestive system, lung or skin. While the cause of this disease is unknown, a viral infection is suspected. Again, Hodgkins may have a genetic origin.
Hodgkin Disease is a neoplasm of lymphoid tissue that is defined histopathologically by the presence of the malignant Reed Sternberg cells with an appropriate cellular background. The Hodgkin's lymphoma , formerly known as Hodgkin's disease , is a type of lymphoma first described by Thomas Hodgkin in 1832 . In Hodgkin's disease, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped organs found underneath the skin in the neck, underarm, and groin. Hodgkin's disease most commonly affects people between the ages of 15 and 40 and people older than age 55. The cause of Hodgkin's disease is unknown. There is strong evidence that, in some people, Epstein-Barr virus infection causes B lymphocytes to become cancerous and transform into Reed-Sternberg cells. Hodgkin's lymphoma is not contagious and the patient does not pose a risk to others in any way. Advances in diagnosis, staging and treatment of Hodgkin's disease have helped to make this once uniformly fatal disease highly treatable with the potential for full recovery. Some doctors (like one I had in London) even go so far as to say a diagnosis of Hodgkin's is preferable to being diagnosed with another form of cancer although thinking like this may belittle the seriousness of any cancer diagnosis.
Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Hodgkin's Disease is a malignant (cancerous) growth of cells in the lymph system . Many people feel understandably shocked and upset when they are told they have Hodgkin's disease. This information is intended to help you to understand the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. What now differentiates Hodgkin's lymphoma is the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells (and variations on this cell) in the cancerous area, a cell specific to Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Because lymphatic tissue is present in many parts of the body, Hodgkin's disease can start almost anywhere, but most often starts in lymph nodes in the upper part of the body. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the other type, is far more common. In the United States in 2004, there were about 7,880 new cases of Hodgkin's disease, compared with 54,320 new cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Under a microscope they look different from cells of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and other cancers. Most scientists now believe that Reed-Sternberg cells are a type of malignant B lymphocyte . Normal B lymphocytes are the cells that make antibodies that help fight infections. For younger children, non-Hodgkins lymphoma is more common than Hodgkin's disease, but the reverse is true for adolescents.

Causes of Hodgkin's Disease

The common Causes of Hodgkin's Disease :

• The disease can spread to nearby lymph nodes and later may spread to the lungs, liver, or bone marrow.
• Hodgkin's lymphoma is most common among people 15 to 35 and 50 to 70 years old.
• Patients with HIV infection have a higher incidence of HD compared to the population without HIV infection.
• In as many as 50% of HD cases, the tumor cells are EBV-positive; EBV positivity is higher with MCHD (60-70%) versus NS HD (15-30%). Almost 100% of HIV-associated HD cases are EBV-positive.
• The cause of Hodgkin's disease is unknown, although it is believed to be associated with certain viruses commonly noted in the population.
• Infectious agents, especially the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), may be involved in the pathogenesis of HD.

Symptoms of Hodgkin's Disease

Some are common Symptoms of Hodgkin's Disease :

• A painless swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin
• Unexplained recurrent fevers
• Night sweats
• Generalized itching
• Fever and chills
• Fatigue
• Itchy skin
• Persistent fatigue
• Red patches on the skin
• Unexplained weight loss

Treatment of Hodgkin's Disease

• your child's age, overall health, and medical history
• Extent/stage of the disease
• your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• surgery
• High-dose subtotal nodal irradiation is still an acceptable alternative for highly selected patients who cannot tolerate chemotherapy.
• Hodgkin's disease is often treated by a team of specialists that may include a medical oncologist , oncology nurse , and/or radiation oncologist .
• For patients with clinical stage IA disease with neck involvement and NLPHD histology, radiotherapy alone is adequate therapy.
• If the lymph nodes are deep inside, e.g. in the chest or abdomen, then imaging such as CT scanning can show the response to Hodgkin's Lymphoma treatment.

Frost Bite

Frost Bite is due to exposure to cold, especially if accompanied by wind or high altitudes (eg climbers and explorers). It is also encountered in the elderly and chronic alcoholics during exposure to cold weather.
Frost bite ( congelatio in medical terminology) is the medical condition whereby damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Mountain frostbite is a variation observed among mountain climbers and others exposed to extremely cold temperatures at high altitude. This is caused by exposure to cold, either through the air or through a chemical exposure, like to dry ice (frozen CO2) or highly compressed gasses. Skin that is not covered in the cold will first become red and swollen and it will feel like it is stinging or burning. If skin remains exposed to the cold, it will feel like it is tingling and will look grey. Rewarming causes cell swelling, erythrocyte and platelet aggregation, endothelial cell damage, thrombosis, tissue edema, increased compartment space pressure, bleb formation, localized ischemia, and tissue death. Underlying responses to these injuries include generation of oxygen free radicals, production of prostaglandins and thromboxane A2, release of proteolytic enzymes, and generalized inflammation. With a loss of warming blood flow (or in extreme cases where blood flow can not compete with the extreme cold) the fluid within your cells and tissues start to freeze forming ice crystals. Long term exposure to moderate cold with wet boots can cause a more serious injury than a short-term exposure to severe cold with inadequate boots in the case of your feet. It is a complex equation that needs to be weighed careful when being outdoors in the cold.
Frostbite is a medical condition that can happen to anyone. Cold exposure leads to ice crystal formation, cellular dehydration, protein inhibition of DNA synthesis, abnormal cell wall permeability with resultant osmotic changes, damage to capillaries, and pH changes. This helps to preserve core body temperature. In extreme cold or when the body is exposed to cold for long periods, this protective strategy can reduce blood flow in some areas of the body to dangerously low levels. ). It cannot be emphasised strongly enough that frostbite need not happen even at extremes of altitude, temperature and fatigue: frequently a degree of carelessness is the chief cause. He also noted the harmful effects of the freeze-thaw-freeze cycle endured by soldiers who would warm their frozen hands and feet over the campfire at night only to refreeze those same parts by the next morning. If just the skin surface is affected, it's known as superficial frostbite; deep frostbite affects underlying tissues. Body tissues actually freeze when they are frostbitten. Ice crystals form in the cell, causing physical damage and permanent changes in cell chemistry Frostbite is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart , and those with a lot of surface area exposed to cold. These areas include the toes, fingers, ears and nose. It is related, but not identical, to hypothermia

Causes of Frost Bite

The common Causes of Frost Bite :

• Individuals stranded in cold weather.
• Soldiers, cold weather rescuers, and laborers working in a cold environment.
• Winter and high-altitude athletes.
• Infection.
• Peripheral vascular disease.
• Although anyone who is exposed to freezing cold for a prolonged period of time can get frostbite, people who are taking beta-blockers, which decrease the flow of blood to the skin, are particularly susceptible.
• Previous cold injury.
• Use of inadequate or constrictive clothing.
• In the first, ice crystals form in the space outside of the cells.

Symptoms of Frost Bite

Some are common Symptoms of Frost Bite :

• People with circulation problems, including diabetics and people with atherosclerosis.
• Anyone who has had a previous injury caused by cold.
• People who take certain drugs such as alcohol, nicotine or beta-blockers, which decrease the flow of blood to the skin.
• Blackening skin.
• Local swelling.
• Greying of affected area.
• At first the areas may appear deceptively healthy. Most people do not arrive at the doctor with frozen, dead tissue.
• Local pallor.
• Local numbness.
• skin is reddened and then becomes white, hard, and swollen.

Treatment of Frost Bite

• Gently exercise affected area after it has been rewarmed.
• Discontinue warming techniques as soon as affected area becomes flushed.
• Give the person warm, nonalcoholic, noncaffeinated fluids to drink.
• Elevate frostbitten areas, but not higher than heart.
• Do not rub or massage the skin.
• Move to a warm area to prevent further heat loss.
• Above all, keep in mind that the final amount of tissue destruction is proportional to the time it remains frozen, not to the absolute temperature to which it was exposed.
• Slow warming.
• Keep the affected part elevated in order to reduce swelling .
• DO take off any wet or restrictive clothing.

Thallasemia

Thallasemia is an inherited form of anemia, wherein there is a defect in the synthesis of hemoglobin. Thalassemia is an inherited disorder. It is sometimes called Mediterranean anemia, von Jaksch anemia or Cooley's anemia, named after the physicians who first diagnosed it. As a result of the decreased production of hemoglobin, the RBCs are small. Thalassemia is a term that refers to a group of genetic disorders characterized by insufficient production of hemoglobin.
Thalassemia can show up in any population of people. These conditions cause varying degrees of anemia, which can range from insignificant to life threatening. Thalassemia is actually a group of inherited diseases of the blood that affect a person's ability to produce hemoglobin, resulting in anemia. Genes involved are those that control the production of proteins known as globins, contained in hemoglobin. Hemoglobin production involves two sets of genes on different chromosomes which produce two different pairs of proteins. In people with thalassemia, the genes that code for hemoglobin are missing or variant (different than the normal genes).
Both types of thalassemia are inherited in the same manner. In beta thalassemia major (ie, homozygous beta thalassemia), the production of beta-globin chains is severely impaired, because both beta-globin genes are mutated. The disease is passed to children by parents who carry the mutated thalassemia gene. A child who inherits one mutated gene is a carrier, which is sometimes called "thalassemia trait." Most carriers lead completely normal, healthy lives. The blood cells are vulnerable to mechanical injury and die easily. To survive, many people with thalassemia need blood transfusions at regular intervals. Alpha thalassemia occurs when one or more of the four genes needed for making the alpha globin chain of hemoglobin are variant or missing. Moderate to severe anemia results when more than two genes are affected. A child who inherits two copies of the mutated gene for beta thalassemia will have beta thalassemia disease. The child can have a mild form of the disease, known as thalassemia intermedia, which causes milder anemia that rarely requires transfusions.
Thalassemia is an inherited disorder. Hemoglobin production involves two sets of genes on different chromosomes which produce two different pairs of proteins. One set is alpha, the other is beta. In beta thalassemia minor (ie, beta thalassemia trait or heterozygous carrier-type), one of the beta-globin genes is defective. The defect can be a complete absence of the beta-globin protein (ie, beta-zero thalassemia) or a reduced synthesis of the beta-globin protein (ie, beta-plus thalassemia) (see Image 1 ). The two main types of thalassemia, alpha and beta, are named for the two protein chains that make up normal hemoglobin. The most severe form of alpha thalassemia, which affects mainly individuals of Southeast Asian, Chinese and Filipino ancestry, results in fetal or newborn death. If one of the beta globin genes fails, the amount of beta globin in the cell is reduced by half; this condition is called thalassemia minor also called alpha-thalassemia and thalassemia minima. Infants become pale and listless, have a poor appetite, grow slowly, and often develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin). The spleen, liver, and heart may also be enlarged. Adolescents with the severe form may experience delayed puberty. The severity of illness depends on whether one or both genes are affected and the nature of the abnormality. If both genes are affected, anemia can range from moderate to severe.
Alpha thalassemia tends to be more common in people with the following ancestry:

• African
• Middle Eastern
• East Indian
• Southeast Asian (Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, Singaporean, Filipino, Cambodian, Malaysian, Burmese and Indonesian)
• Chinese
• Occasionally Mediterranean (Italian and Greek)

Beta thalassemia tends to be more common in people with the following ancestry:

• Mediterranean (Italian and Greek)
• Iranian
• African
• Southeast Asian
• Chinese

E Beta thalassemia tends to be more common in people with the following ancestry:

• Southeast Asian (Cambodian, Vietnamese and Thai)

Sickle Beta Thalassemia tends to be more common in people with the following ancestry:

• Mediterranean (Italian, Greek and Turk)

Types of Thallasemia

1. Thallasemia major in which the defective gene is inherited from both parents. Those with thalassemia intermedia fluctuate between being asymptomatic and having symptoms as severe as those associated with thalassemia major. Diagnosis of thalassemia intermedia is usually made after a period of observation; the decision to transfuse is often a complex one.
2. Thallasemia minor where the defective gene is inherited from one parent and the other is a carrier. Diagnosis of thalassemia major is confirmed by Hemoglobin electrophoresis with an increase in total hemoglobin, and analysis of lymphocyte DNA.

Causes of Thallasemia

The common Causes of Thallasemia :

• The level of expression of fetal Hb (ie, the expression level of the gamma-globin gene) determines, in part, the severity of the disease.
• Patients with co-inheritance of alpha thalassemia have a milder clinical course because they have a less severe alpha-beta chain imbalance.
• Thalassemia is an inherited disease it is passed on from parents to their child through their genes.
• It tends to be found in individuals whose families come from the Mediterranean region, Africa, and sometimes Asia.
• Genetic and molecular studies on one case of alpha-thalassemia, found in Moscow region, have demonstrated that the cause of the disease is the deletion of 3 of 4 alpha-globin genes, presenting in the human diploid genome.
• The coexistence of sickle cell trait and beta thalassemia is a major and symptomatic hemoglobinopathy with most of the symptoms and complications of sickle cell disease.
• Patients with high fetal Hb have milder disease.

Symptoms of Thallasemia

Some are common Symptoms of Thallasemia :

• Fatigue (feeling tired) and weakness
• Pale skin or jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• Protruding abdomen, with enlarged spleen and liver
• Paleness
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Spleen enlargement
• Reduced appetite

Treatment of Thallasemia

Repeated blood transfusions. There is no treatment when asymptomatic. If splenomegaly (inflamed spleen) is present-depending upon severity-splenectomy may be required. Overall, however, transfusion and desferoxamine therapy have increased the life expectancy of individuals with the most severe types of beta thalassemia major to the 4th or 5th decade. This can be expected to improve with time and increased developments in treatment, as well as for those with more mild forms of the disease. Here is the list of the methods for treating Thallasemia :

• Some pregnant patients with the beta thalassemia trait may develop concurrent iron deficiency and severe anemia; they may require transfusional support if not responsive to iron repletion modalities.
• Patients receiving transfusion therapy also require iron chelation with desferrioxamine.
• Inform patients that their condition is hereditary and that physicians sometimes mistake the disorder for iron deficiency.
• Regular blood transfusions may be required.
• In advaced disease this can be a permanent cure.
• They should get an annual flu shot and the pneumonia vaccine to help prevent infections.
• A recent development in transplantation involves using blood from the umbilical cord from a newborn baby.
• Those with severe thalassemia have a serious and life-threatening illness. They are treated with regular blood transfusions, iron chelation (ke-LAY-shun) therapy, and bone marrow transplants.
• Researchers are also studying other treatments, such as gene therapy and fetal hemoglobin.

Alpha thalassemia appears in people whose hemoglobin does not produce enough alpha protein. There are five types of alpha thalassemia:

• Silent Carrier
• Alpha Thalassemia Trait
• Hemoglobin H Disease
• Hemoglobin H - Constant Spring
• Alpha Thalassemia Major

Beta thalassemia appears in people whose hemoglobin does not produce enough beta protein. There are three types of beta thalassemia:

• Thalassemia minor or Thalassemia trait - In this condition the individual has smaller than normal red blood cells but generally has no health problems. Occasionally, those with this condition suffer from mild anemia.
• Thalassemia Intermedia - In this condition the lack of beta protein causes more severe anemia and other health problems commonly associated with Thalassemia major (bone deformities and enlarged spleen). These individuals need more regular transfusions but it is typically to improve life not for survival.
• Thalassemia Major or Cooley's Anemia - This is the most severe of the beta thalassemias. These individuals require regular blood transfusions and other medical treatment for survival.

Raynauds Disease Symptom, Treatment, Cause

Raynauds Disease is a disorder of the circulation, in which there is periodic interruption of blood supply to the periphery due to spasm of the smail arteries of the fingers, toes and nose. Raynaud's attacks are usually triggered by contact with the cold. Stress and anxiety can also lead to a Raynaud's attack. Raynaud's disease (RAY-noz) is a condition that affects blood flow to the extremities which include the fingers , toes , nose and ears when exposed to temperature changes or stress. It's a disorder of the blood vessels that supply blood to your skin.
The condition can usually be diagnosed at an early age, but some people with the illness do not show any symptoms until late teenage years. Many people with Raynaud's find that it can get progressively worse over time, as damage is done to the blood supply to the affected areas. During a Raynaud's attack, these arteries narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas. Although estimates vary, most studies show that Raynaud's phenomenon affects about 3 percent of the general population. For most, the symptoms are mild and not associated with any blood vessel or tissue damage. During these attacks, there is a brief lack of blood flow to the affected body part(s), and the skin can temporarily become white then bluish. Initially, the digits involved turn white because of diminished blood supply, then turn blue because of prolonged lack of oxygen and finally, the blood vessels reopen, causing a local "flushing" phenomenon, which turns the digits red.
A condition resulting in skin discoloration of the fingers and/or toes when a person is exposed to changes in temperature (cold or hot) or to emotional events You can have Raynaud's without any underlying disease associated with it, in which case it's called Raynaud's disease or primary Raynaud's. This results in several skin color changes which are often accompanied by a throbbing or burning sensation, cold, and numbness. The inset images show cross-sections of a normal artery.
Raynaud's disease can trigger other problems, and left untreated could become more problematic. To help sort out the problem, you can consider using nutritional compounds to assist with this. Raynaud's disease can be classified as one of two types: primary (or idiopathic) and secondary (also called Raynaud's phenomenon). Raynaud's disease affects a small percentage of Americans. Women are more likely than men are to have the disorder. It's more common in people who live in colder climates. Treatment of Raynaud's disease depends on its severity and the presence or absence of associated conditions. Secondary Raynaud's phenomenon may also be associated with exposure to vibrating tools such as jackhammers, which cause trauma to the hands and wrists. And it may be linked to certain drugs, such as chemotherapy agents, or to chemicals such as vinyl chloride.

Primary Raynaud's disease

Primary Raynaud's disease has no predisposing factor, is more mild, and causes fewer complications. About half of all cases of Raynaud's disease are of this type. Women are five times more likely than men to develop primary Raynaud's disease.

• Due to excessive vasoconstriction of digital arteries
• Vessels are normal between episodes
• Cooling of the hands results in intense vasoconstriction
• Flow in the digital arteries ceases at the critical closing temperature
• Reopening of blood vessels requires a rise in perfusion pressure
• Possible pathophysiological mechanisms include
  • Increased sympathetic activity
  • Increased sensitivity to adrenergic stimuli
  • Increased number of alpha-receptors in the vessel wal

Secondary Raynaud's disease

Secondary Raynaud's disease is the same as primary Raynaud's disease, but occurs in individuals with a predisposing factor, usually a form of collagen vascular disease. What is typically identified as primary Raynaud's is later identified as secondary once a predisposing disease is diagnosed.

• Due to conditions associated with
  • Abnormal vessel walls
  • Increased blood viscosity
• Connective tissue disease
  • Scleroderma
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Polyarteritis nodosa
• Haematological
  • Cryoglobulinaemia
  • Cold haemagglutinaemia
  • Paraproteinaemia
  • Thromboembolic disease

Causes of Raynauds Disease

Raynaud's disease are usually only observed in women. These findings suggest that different mechanisms influence the expression of Raynaud's disease in men and women. About one person in ten, will experience a complication called sclerodactyly. In sclerodactyly, the skin over the involved digits becomes tight, white, thick, smooth and shiny. In people with Raynaud's disease, the extent of constriction is extreme, thus severely restricting blood flow. Attacks or their effects may be brought on or worsened by anxiety or emotional distress.
1. Smoking.
2. Sensitivity to GPld.
3. Drugs.

Treatment of Raynauds Disease

The best treatments for Raynaud's symptoms are preventative. Patients are advised to keep their entire body warm, and wear layered clothing to prevent heat loss. At night, an electric blanket can be used to keep warm. People with severe cases of Raynaud's disease may need to be treated with medications to help keep the arterioles relaxed and dilated. Medications such as calcium-channel blockers, reserpine or nitroglycerin may be prescribed to relax artery walls and improve blood flow.Here is the list of the methods for treating Raynauds Disease :

• Avoid abrupt changes in temperature, especially going from warm air to air conditioning.
• Use mittens to take anything out of the freezer.
• Do not smoke.
• Some people find relief with drugs called alpha blockers, which counteract the actions of norepinephrine, a hormone that constricts blood vessels.
• Avoid excessive emotional stress.
• If you use birth control pills, you may wish to switch to another method of contraception because these drugs affect your circulation and may make you more prone to attacks.
• Sometimes, doctors need to amputate a finger or toe affected by Raynaud's in which the blood supply has been completely blocked and the tissue has developed gangrene.
• This class of drug, used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease, may worsen Raynaud's. Examples include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard) and propranolol (Inderal).

Causes of Raynauds Disease

Some are common Causes of Raynauds Disease :

• This is Raynaud's without an underlying disease or associated medical problem that could provoke vasospasm.
• Exposure to cold can be as simple as putting your hands under a faucet of running cold water, taking something out of the freezer or exposure to cold air
• Smoking constricts blood vessels and is a potential cause of Raynaud's.
• Regular operation of vibrating tools, as in construction
• Exposure to certain chemicals
• Raynaud's has also been linked to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and, rarely, to certain cancers.
• The illness occurs spontaneously, often in childhood or adolescence, without any underlying cause.
• Some workers in the plastics industry who are exposed to vinyl chloride develop an illness similar to scleroderma. .
• Other connective tissue disorders (eg Arthralgia or arthritis, Alopecia, skin rashes, cerebral symptoms, photosensitivity, dry eyes or mouth, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness, respiratory or cardiac problems).

Symptoms of Raynauds Disease

Some sign and Symptoms related to Raynauds Disease are as follows :

• Toes or fingers that change color when exposed to the cold
• Toes or fingers that change color upon pressure
• pain, sometimes with redness, which accompanies the return of blood circulation generally after 30 minutes to two hours.
• When exposed to cold temperatures, the oxygen supply to the fingertips, toes, and earlobes of Raynaud's disease patients is reduced and the skin turns pale or white (called pallor ) and becomes cold and numb.
• Numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or relief of stress
• Skin redness or inflammation
• paleness
• Tingling and slight loss of feeling or numbness in the fingers,
• Look bluish due to a lack of oxygen
• Redden and throb or tingle as blood returns to the affected area

Buegers Disease - Buegers Disease Symptom, Treatment, Cause

Buegers Disease condition is an inflammation of small and medium sized arteries of the legs. Clot formation and blockage occurs. Buerger's disease (also known as thromboangiitis obliterans ) is an acute inflammation and thrombosis (clotting) of arteries and veins of the hands and feet. The obstruction of blood vessels in the hands and feet reduces the availability of blood to the tissues, causes pain and eventually damages or destroys the tissue. The condition is strongly associated with heavy tobacco use, and progression of the disease is closely linked to continued use. The typical presentations are rest pain, unremitting ischemic ulcerations, and gangrene of the digits of hands and feet, and as the disease evolves, the patients may require several surgical amputations. Buerger's disease most commonly affects men between ages 20 and 40, though it's becoming more common in women. There seems to be a genetic link to people of the Orient, Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East, but appears to be rare among African–Americans. About 40 percent of people with this disease also have episodes of inflammation in the veins, particularly in the superficial veins, and the arteries of the feet or legs. TAO is caused by inflammation of the artery wall, along with the development of clots in the small and medium sized arteries of the arms or legs causing the arteries to become blocked. Without blood flow below the inflamed artery or clots, the fingers, toes, and skin tissue do not receive adequate blood.
Buerger's disease, also called thromboangiitis obliterans, is a rare disease of the arteries and veins in the arms and legs. x Buerger's disease is rare in the United States, but is more common in the Middle East and Far East. The notion that the condition is linked to tobacco exposure is supported by the fact that the disease is most common in countries with heavy use of tobacco and is perhaps most common among natives of Bangladesh who smoke a specific type of cigarettes, homemade from raw tobacco, called "bidi." Virtually everyone diagnosed with Buerger's disease smokes cigarettes or uses other forms of tobacco, such as chewing tobacco. Quitting all forms of tobacco is the only way to stop Buerger's disease. In modern times it was first described in 1876 by the German pathologist and bacteriologist Carl Friedländer (1847-1887) as arteritis obliterans. Felix von Winiwarter in 1879 described a male patient aged 57. Burger described it in 1908, and later, in 1924, he published a monograph based on the material from 500 patients.

Causes of Buegers Disease

The common Causes of Buegers Disease :

• Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) is caused by vasculitis, which is an inflammation (irritation with presence of extra immune cells) of blood vessels
• This leads to the signs and symptoms of Buerger's disease, beginning with pain and weakness in your fingers and toes and advancing to other parts of your arms and legs.
• Buerger's Disease is also known as thromboangiitis obliterans and its precise cause is unknown.
• It almost always affects men aged 20 to 40 years old who have a history of smoking or chewing tobacco.
• Most patients with Buerger's are heavy smokers, but some cases occur in patients who smoke “moderately”; others have been reported in users of smokeless tobacco.

Symptoms of Buegers Disease

Some are common Symptoms of Buegers Disease :

• Intermittent leg pains.
• Leg numbness.
• Often located in the arch of the foot.
• Pain and weakness in your legs and feet or your arms and hands.
• Swelling in your feet and hands.
• Fingers and toes that turn pale when exposed to cold (Raynaud's phenomenon).
• Skin changes or ulcers on hands or feet.
• Hands or feet may be pale , red, or bluish.
• Open sores on your fingers and toes.

Treatment of Buegers Disease

• Use of well-fitting protective footwear to prevent foot trauma and thermal or chemical injury
• This is the most important issue; most cases occur in smokers.
• Physical exercise.
• Early and aggressive treatment of extremity injuries to protect against infections.
• Avoidance of cold environments .
• Surgery to cut the nerves in the affected area (surgical sympathectomy) to control pain.
• Attempts to increase circulation may include warmth and gentle exercise.
• If an affected individual continues to smoke they're very likely to need amputation of toes and/or fingers.
• Low cholesterol diet.
• Sympathectomy