Have you experienced migraine every now and then? A recent study shows that people who suffer from migraine may have a silent brain injury.

What is Migraine?

A migraine is a severely painful headache which may be accompanied by sensory warnings such as light flashes, numbness, blind spots in the vision fields, nausea, vomiting, tingling in the arms and legs and increased sensitivity to light and sound. This pain may last from hours to days and may disrupt daily activities. The migraine headache is due to blood vessel enlargements in the head and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that surround these blood vessels.

During the migraine attack, arteries which are located outside the skull and under the skin of the temple enlarge so that this triggers the release of chemicals that cause pain, inflammation, and further dilatation of the artery. All these reactions then bring about symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms associated with migraine. Migraine may also delay gastric emptying of the stomach and food absorption; it may also decrease blood circulation on the body. There may also be increased sensitivity to sound and light.

Migraines may affect people between the age range of 15 and 55 years old. Majority of these migraine sufferers have a family history of migraine. These people are often exposed to triggers before they experience migraine attacks; these triggers may include light, allergies, stress, perfume, lack of sleep, skipping meals, foods containing MSG, foods containing tyramine, smoking and alcohol. Most of them may also experience auras before headaches while some often do not. Other triggers include menstrual cycle fluctuations, use of birth control pills, menopause, tension headaches, foods containing chocolates and nuts, bananas, citrus fruits, dairy products, fermented or pickles foods and avocado.

Signs and symptoms of migraine may include moderate to severe pain usually on one side of the head, throbbing and pulsating head pain, pain during physical activity, inability to perform daily activities, vomiting, nausea, increased sensitivity to light and sound, and auras. Auras are abnormal perceptions such as confusing thought or experiences, perception of strange or flashing lights, visual field lines, blind spots, pins and needles sensation in the arms and legs, shoulder or neck stiffness and unpleasant smells. Other symptoms include sweets cravings, drowsiness, thirst, depression, irritability or increased energy.

Migraine and Silent Brain Injury

A recent study has shown that older migraine suffers are more likely to have silent brain injury. The results of this research are published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke. In this new study, people with a history of migraine have increased risk of having ischemic silent brain infarction as compared to people who do not experience migraines. Silent brain infarction is also known as silent stroke and is a risk factor for future more dangerous strokes. The researchers also found out that high blood pressure was also common among people who often suffer from migraine headaches. This is interesting because high blood pressure is also an important risk factor for stroke. The study also found out that migraines with aura were not so common among migraine sufferers who developed silent ischemia. This only means that risk factors should be controlled among older migraine sufferers.

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Prostate cancer is one of the top killers in males around the world. A recent study has shown that chronic inflammation can lead to high grade prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a disease which affects men and affects the prostate, a gland that is a part of the male reproductive system. The prostate is the gland that is located under the bladder and in front of the rectum in males. The prostate contains tiny glands which produce a fluid that is a part of semen. This fluid serves to protect and nourish sperm cells in the semen. The prostate gland is also involved in urine control because it is located near the urethra. This function is accomplished by the use of prostate muscle fibers that contract and release to control and release the flow of the urine through the urethra.

The cells in the prostate gland produce prostate specific antigen (PSA), a protein which helps keep the semen in liquid state. PSA can be observed in the bloodstream and if it is in high levels in the blood, this may mean prostate cancer or any other problem that affects the prostate. The PSA levels may be affected by several factors such as medications that aim to change male hormone levels.

In older men, the prostate may continue to grow and may make it difficult for them to pass out urine due to the fact that the prostate gland may cause the urethra to collapse. This condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Though it is not yet prostate cancer, it must be treated.

Prostate cancer starts when cancer cells start to grow within the gland cells. The cancer is known as adenocarcinoma and may progress very slowly. Prostate cancer tends to alter the size and shape of cancer cells in the prostate; this change is known as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). In this state, the cells are still within the prostate and have not moved to other parts of the body. The changes in the cells are often seen in the microscope. These cancer cells can also move to other parts of the prostate and may have low-grade or high-grade cell changes. High grade cell changes are more abnormal than low-grade cell changes. High grade PIN may have a significantly greater risk of having prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is staged using the TNM (Tumor/Nodes/Metastases) grading and the Gleason scoring.

Prostate cancer has several signs and symptoms, however in some men there may be little or none of these symptoms. The patient with prostate cancer urinates more often and may get up during the night to urinate. The patient may also have difficulty of urinating and may find it hard to continue urinating once he has started. There may also be blood in the urine and there may be pain on urination. Ejaculation may also be painful in some males and there may also be difficulties in achieving or maintaining erection.

Far-advanced prostate may bring about symptoms such as bone pain especially in the spine or pelvis or ribs, pain on the proximal femur, weakness of the legs, urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence.

Prostate cancer has no known exact cause however there are some risk factors for this disease. Older age in men may be one risk factor as well as a family history of prostate cancer. Faulty genes such as BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 may also be risk factors for prostate cancer. Poor diet choices, medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, obesity, sexually transmitted diseases, exposure to Sgent Orange, and other factors.

Chronic Inflammation and Prostate Cancer

A recent study has shown that men who have chronic inflammation symptoms may have nearly twice the risk of actually having prostate cancer than those with no inflammation. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center also found out that the link between inflammation and cancer was higher in patients with high-grade prostate cancers. The results of this study were published in the April 18 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; the researchers utilized data from Southwest Oncology Group’s Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. They examined benign tissue samples taken from the biopsies of 191 men with prostate cancer and 209 men without cancer. This is why chronic inflammation has to be controlled in patients with risk factors for prostate cancer.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most debilitating and progressive diseases today. This medical condition is chronic, is progressive and can bring about disability. A new study has found out that one Chinese herbal remedy may be effective for rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This autoimmune disease can cause inflammation or swelling and pain in the joints and other organs of the human body. Rheumatoid arthritis can more commonly affect the joints of the hands and of the feet, though any joint can be affected. These patients with rheumatoid arthritis often develop stiff joints and can feel tried and unwell.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, just like any other person with an autoimmune disease, often have antibodies in their blood which have the ability of attacking their own body tissues to result to inflammation. These autoantibodies can attack the lining of the joints, causing them to swell and become inflamed. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the lining of the joints unlike osteoarthritis which brings about wear-and-tear damage. These results in painful swelling that can erode bones and bring about jouint deformities. There may be permanent damage to the affected joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the other parts of the body because it is a systemic illness. The patient may have fevers and have fatigue as well as diffuse inflammation in the lungs and its coverings, the heart and its coverings, and the sclera of the eyeball. It can also form nodular lesions under the skin. It is also said that patients with rheumatoid arthritis can also have a higher risk of heart attack compared to other people.

Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than in men and is also more common after the age of 40, although a juvenile form of arthritis can also occur in children and teenagers. The illness is much more common than multiple sclerosis or leukemia. This can be a very painful condition which can make people lose function and mobility. Diagnosis is usually made by a rheumatologist after several blood tests and X-rays. Early treatment of symptoms can slow down the progression of this disease.

The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may develop gradually over a few weeks of months. There may be stiffness in at least one joint and pain when the joint is moved. There may also be tenderness in the said joint. The first symptoms are usually felt in the joints of the fingers and toes. The disease may affect at least five joints at the same time. The most commonly affected joints are the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the hands which may involve the middle and base joints of the finger, the wrist especially the ulnar-styloid articulation, the shoulders, the elbows, the knees, the ankles and the    metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints in the toes.

The spine may never be affected, except the atlanto-axial articulation in late disease. The hallmark symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is morning stiffness which usually lasts for an hour. Stiffness may also occur after long periods of inactivity. There may also be joint pain and swelling and the skin over the joint may become red, warm and swollen. There may also be pain and tenderness on the affected joint. Rheumatoid arthritis can also bring about anemia, weight loss, redness and puffiness of the hands, fatigue, malaise, depression and fever.  These symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may be intermittent or sporadic and may have flare-ups over time, which may be more intense and severe.

Complications may include inflammation of the lungs, inflammation of the heart and the blood vessels, inflammation of the outer white coat of the eyeball, nodular lesions, inflammation of the tear glands, inflammation of the salivary glands and inflammation of the cricoarytenoid joint which is the joint of the larynx.

A Chinese Herbal Remedy of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Recent research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases has talked about a traditional Chinese herbal remedy that can relieve joint pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. This remedy is said to act on the said medical condition like methotrexate. Furthermore, combining the herbal remedy with methotrexate”the disease modifying drug (DMARD) most commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis”was more effective than treatment with methotrexate alone, the findings showed.

This herbal remedy, called Triptergium wilfordii Hook F, or TwHF for short, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat joint pain, swelling, and inflammation, and is already approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in China. The study gathered data from 207 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. The results showed that TwHF is comparable to the effect of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

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Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a lifetime condition which can bring about debilitation and death especially among the elderly. This is a medical condition wherein the bones become weak and thin and are easily fractured. This condition commonly affects the bones of the hip, the spine and the wrist. If left untreated, this can further progress even without pain and may cause a bone to break, such as the hip bone, the spine or the wrist. Hip fractures often require major surgery and hospitalization and may even lead to serious disabilities and even death. Loss of height, severe back and pain and other deformities can also develop.

Osteoporosis often develops gradually over many years or months. It may have initial signs and symptoms such as joint pains, difficulty on standing up and difficulty in sitting up straight. As the person loses bone mass and bone density, he or she continues to at risk for fractures of the spine, the wrist or the hip. Even small movement such as a cough or a sneeze can cause partial collapse of these bones. Elderly people suffer the most because their bodies cannot repair bones properly. These unrepaired bones are more likely to trigger arthritis and may leave the person seriously disabled. These people, particularly the elderly, are not able to live independently afterwards.

Broken bones resulting from osteoporosis may also become more painful. It is said that one of the most common causes of chronic pain in osteoporosis is a spinal fracture. Not people are prone to osteoporosis; most people who do so have risk factors. These risk factors include sex, age, vertigo, HIV infection, gastric cancer, ethnicity, family history, people with small frames, smoking, estrogen exposure, anorexia or bulimia, cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer's disease. Other risk factors include, intake of certain medications, breast cancer, low calcium consumption, gastrectomy, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, vitamin D deficiency, Cushing's disease, long term lack of physical activity, too much caffeine consumption, alcoholism, and depression.

Women are prone to develop osteoporosis because they often start out with a lower bone life than men, they live longer than men, and they experience low estrogen levels during menopause. As a person ages every year, his or her bone mass lowers until he or she dies. There is a certain link between vertigo and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is also common among those who are Caucasian, or of South Asian descent.

Some medications can also increase the risk for osteoporosis. Examples of these medications include corticosteroids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), blood thinning medications, methotrexate, drugs for epilepsy, diuretics, aluminium containing antacids, thyroid hormone, and other drugs.

Osteoporosis is often diagnosed by laboratory tests such as Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, dental x-rays, ultrasound, CT (computerized tomography) and calcium intake, especially in men. Those who should get tested for osteoporosis include those aged 65 or older, are postmenopausal and have one or more risk factors for osteoporosis, are taking medications which can increase the risk for osteoporosis, have Type 1 diabetes, have liver disease, have kidney disease, have thyroid disease, have family history of osteoporosis, and have experienced early menopause.

Sleep Apnea and Osteoporosis

A recent study has shown that women and older individuals who have obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to have weakening of bones or osteoporosis. This study was published recently in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The researchers think that sleep disruptions encountered in sleep apnea may harm bodily systems such as the skeletal system. A lack of oxygen, as what is triggered by obstructive sleep apnea, can weaken bones and can give rise to osteoporosis.

The study used records from Taiwan’s single-payer National Health Insurance program to track treatment of 1,377 people who were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea between 2000 and 2008. These data were compared to that of 20,655 people comparable in age and gender who did not have the sleep disorder. The researchers found out that the incidence of osteoporosis was 2.7 times higher among patients with sleep apnea than their counterparts.

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If you have trouble sleeping for a long time already, you may have insomnia. But are you aware that insomnia can increase stroke risk? Read on.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a medical condition wherein there is difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep despite the person having adequate time for sleeping. This decrease or loss of sleep can bring about impairment in daytime functioning. Insomnia may be due to decreased quantity or poor quality of sleep.

Insomnia is fairly a common problem and occurs in about half of the general population. About 10 percent of these patients may experience long-standing insomnia. Insomnia often increases with age and is more common in adults than in children. Women are commonly affected more than men.

There are three types of insomnia. Transient insomnia is insomnia that lasts for one week or less. Short term insomnia is insomnia that lasts for more than a week to three weeks. Long term insomnia or chronic insomnia often lasts for more than three weeks. Insomnia can also be classified according to its causes such as medical conditions, sleep disorders, sleep habits and stress.

Insomnia is different from short duration sleep and sleep deprivation. Short duration sleep is normal for people who require less sleep to make them function normally during the day. Sleep deprivation is lack of sleep that is due to lack of opportunity for sleeping due to intentional or accidental reasons. On the other hand, insomnia happens even when there is adequate =time and opportunity for sleeping.

There are many causes of insomnia. Stress and several situational factors can cause insomnia, such as jet lag, physical discomfort, noise, too warm or too cold surroundings, unfamiliar surroundings, working different shifts, stresses from home or work, illicit drug use, cigarette smoking, caffeine intake during bedtime, alcohol intoxication, alcohol withdrawal and certain medications. Oftentimes insomnia due to these factors can be corrected.

Sleep hygiene can also cause insomnia. Poor sleep hygiene can be due to many reasons such as suing the bedroom for other purposes other than sleeping, exercising before sleep, eating before sleep, being hungry during bedtime, sleeping in a bedroom which has too much light or noise, and doing work in bed.

There are certain medical or psychiatric conditions which can bring about insomnia. These medical conditions may include breathing problems, heart disease, lung disease, congestive heart failure, obesity, gastric reflux, hyperthyroidism, urinary problems, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Psychiatric problems that can bring about insomnia include depression, mania, psychosis, anxiety or    posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Insomnia can also be due to menopause, changes in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, fever and pain.

Insomnia and Stroke

A recent study has shown that the risk of stroke is higher in people who have insomnia compared to those who do not have this sleep disorder. The findings of this study are published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke. The researchers also found out that the risk for stroke may be greater when insomnia occurs as a young adult. The researchers utilized data from the randomly-selected health records of more than 21,000 people with insomnia and 64,000 non-insomniacs in Taiwan.

The researchers also found out that insomnia raised the likelihood of hospitalization for stroke by 54 percent. Stroke risk was also eight times higher in those diagnosed with insomnia between 18-34 years old. Beyond age 35, the risk continually decreased. Diabetes may also increase the risk of stroke in those with insomnia.

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Menopause is one of the most remarkable stages in a woman's life, yet it can bring about uncomfortable symptoms. A recent study shows that menopausal symptoms may not be due to low vitamin D levels, as what was previously thought.

Vitamin D

Many people have associated vitamin D with sunshine; this association is true. Vitamin D is an intensely studied vitamin recently because of its potential health benefits, yet many people are aware of its basic functions. This vitamin is an essential nutrient which is involved in hormonal function and as medical treatment for various illnesses.

Vitamin D is often produced by the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. It can also be found in some foods and some supplements such as cod liver oil. This vitamin has many important functions in the body. First of all, Vitamin D is said to help in the formation and maintenance of bone mass. If there is low Vitamin B, there will be malformation or softening of the bones. This condition is called rickets in children while it is called osteomalacia in adults. Vitamin D acts like a hormone to increase calcium in the bloodstream by increasing the body's ability to absorb calcium or reducing the amount of calcium lost through the urine. Vitamin D also facilitates the resorption of calcium from the bone when calcium levels in the blood are low.

Vitamin D also functions to lower high blood sugar, thus preventing diabetes. This vitamin is also involved in the maturation of white blood cells which can fight off infections in the body. Vitamin D can be found in foods such as fish (tuna, sardines, salmon, etc), eggs, mushrooms, milk and fortified cereals and juices. Vitamin D can also be absorbed by the body through sunshine. People can develop vitamin D deficiency if they do not have enough sunshine exposure to meet their needs. They may also become deficient on this vitamin if they do not have adequate intake of vitamin-rich foods.

However there are still some people who can develop vitamin D deficiency. People who live far north have a high chance of acquiring vitamin D deficiency because they get little or no vitamin D during the winter. People who have darker skin may also have less efficiency of producing vitamin D. Examples of these people may include African-Americans who have darker skin than their counterparts.

Those who regularly wear sunscreen may also have increased risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. One study has found out that the regular application of sunscreen can interfere with the production of vitamin D in the skin. Sunscreens with SPF 8 or higher can block out vitamin D absorption in the skin.

Vitamin D absorption is also related to calcium levels in the body. Deficiency of both calcium and vitamin D can cause impaired bone formation and other medical problems. Vitamin D is also related to vitamin k as to function; these vitamins can promote bone formation.

Menopause and Vitamin D Levels

A recent study has shown that there is no significant connection between vitamin D levels and menopausal symptoms. This study, from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), analyzed the relationship between vitamin D blood levels and a number of menopause symptoms such as night sweats, concentration, sleep disturbance and forgetfulness. The researchers also commented that vitamin D supplementation may improve mood in certain groups of people. Vitamin D can protect against depletion of serotonin and can relieve joint and muscle pains. Estrogen as a hormone activates vitamin D. The results of this study show that individual menopausal symptoms were significantly associated with vitamin D. However the authors claimed that more studies should be done regarding this matter.

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Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that affects connective tissues. The problem with this disorder is that it leads to damage and fibrosis of tissues. A recent study has discovered new culprits that may be responsible for this disorder.

What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is the dermatologic (skin) component of the manifestations of systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis, on the other hand, is a multisystem autoimmune disease wherein there is increased fibroblastic activity, thus leading to abnormal growth of connective tissue. This disorder can cause vascular damage and fibrosis which may occur in the skin, known as scleroderma.

There are two main types of scleroderma: limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) or limited scleroderma and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) or diffuse scleroderma. Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis usually consists of 70% of systemic sclerosis cases and usually affects only the face, the forearms and the lower legs. This type may also be known as CREST syndrome which stands for Calcinosis, Raynaud’s disease, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly and Telangiectasia. On the other hand, diffuse scleroderma consists of only 30% of systemic sclerosis cases and involves the upper arms, the thighs or the trunk. There are also other types of scleroderma such as systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma, in which there is internal organ involvement without the skin changes.

Scleroderma commonly affects women who are within 30 to 50 years of age, though it may affect men and people of all ages. The etiology of this disease is still unknown. The features of this medical condition are excessive collage production, excessive collagen deposition, inflammation, vascular damage and autoimmunity. There is probably a genetic component in scleroderma. Some experts say that the causes may include infection with viruses such as cytomegalovirus, chemicals such as pesticides or benzene derivatives or silica, drugs such as weight loss pills or penicillamine or cocaine.

Scleroderma may manifest itself as Raynaud’s phenomenon, hardening of the skin in the hands or face, and esophageal symptoms. There may also be non-specific signs and symptoms such as musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and hand swelling. Internal organs may also be involved however the severity of skin involvement is not often [predicative of the severity of internal organ involvement.

Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis is usually milder than the other types and may have a slow onset and slow progression. This may go on until there are internal complications that may occur. On the other hand, diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis may have a more rapid onset and may bring about skin thickening and Raynaud’s phenomenon. The skin changes may appear rapidly and may gradually disappear with softening of skin changes and improvement in mobility. The symptoms may be worse during the first 3 to 5 days and may soon stabilize. There may be internal organ involvement.

Symptoms of scleroderma include fatigue, weight loss, swelling of the fingers and toes, sausage-like appearance of the digits, hardening and thickening of the skin, reduced hand movements, pitted fingertips, calcinosis, telangiectasia, joint pain and swelling, gastrointestinal symptoms and pulmonary symptoms.

Newly Discovered Causes of Scleroderma

A recent study by researchers from Northwestern Medicine has identified potential drug treatment targets for scleroderma. This study found out that a damage-associated protein called fibronectin (FnEDA) present in scleroderma may be the culprit in immune response that convert tissue repair into chronic fibrosis. FnEDA is undetectable in normal adults but it is markedly increased in the skin biopsies of patients with scleroderma. The results were published in the April 16 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

The scientists were able to investigate the connection of immunity and fibrosis with scleroderma by looking at skin biopsies of scleroderma patients. They also sought to identify the factors responsible for scarring in scleroderma as well as to test the theory that FnEDA was needed for the scarring to occur.

To know more about scleroderma and other autoimmune disorders, feel free to browse our other articles on this site.

Measles

Measles

Measles is a viral infection that can give rise to unpleasant symptoms and serious complications. Its initial symptoms may develop within 10 days after infection .These symptoms may include flu-like symptoms, cough, runny nose, chest tightness, red eyes, sensitivity to light, fever, and greyish white spots in the mouth and throat. After these initial symptoms, there may be a reddish-brown rash which may start behind the ears and spread to the head and the neck. It may also spread into other parts of the body.

The measles virus is highly infectious. It can infect other people in the form of tiny droplets that can spread into the air from the mouth or nose during a sneeze or a cough. A person can easily acquire the infection be breathing these droplets or by touching the area where the droplets have settled then by placing his or her hands on the nose or mouth. The measles virus can stay in surfaces and survive there for a few hours. Once the virus gets inside the body, it then multiplies at the back of your throat and may spread into the lungs before spreading to other parts of the body.

After a person is infected, he or she is infectious for about four days after the rash appears. Thus people or children who have the rash should not go to school or work for four days after the rash has first appeared. This is to limit the spread of infections among other people.

So who would most likely get measles? Anyone can be infected with measles if he or she has not been vaccinated against it. Anyone can also be at risk if he or she hasn't has measles in the past. The most susceptible age groups are children who are between one and four years old. People who have had measles in the past cannot develop infection in the future because their bodies are able to build up immunity to the virus.

Measles can be prevented with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first dose of the measles vaccine should be given when the child is 13 months old and the second dose should be given when the child starts school. The MMR vaccine can also be given to adults and children who are 6 months to 13 months old if they are at risk of acquiring measles. If there is an outbreak of measles on a local area, vaccination is recommended.

Measles has no specific treatment. The body should be strong enough to fight off infection within 7 to 10 days. The patient should have adequate rest during the course of infection. He or she should reduce light sensitivity by closing the curtains, cleaning the eyes using damp cotton wool, taking paracetamol and ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains and fever and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

If the measles case is severe, there may be complications, so that the patient may need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment. If untreated, measles may give rise to serious complications such as pneumonia or encephalitis of the brain. Those who are at risk for developing complications include those babies younger than 12 months, children who have poor nourishment and are of poor health, teenagers and adults.

New Drug for Measles Discovered

Researchers at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, the Emory Institute for Drug Development and the Paul-Ehrlich Institute in Germany have developed a new antiviral drug which may protect people from measles infection and prevent them from spreading the virus. These researchers have tested this drug on animals that were infected with a virus which is similar to that of measles. The virus levels were significantly reduced after the infected animals were given the drug through mouth. The drug also prevented the animals from dying from the disease. The researchers remarked that this drug can be produced at a cost-effective price, can be stocked and can be given through mouth. The researchers aim to eradicate measles and prevent its spread during local outbreaks.

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Almost all of us have contacted flu once or more within our lifetime. Influenza is a respiratory viral disease which may seem harmless but is actually one of the leading causes of additional costs and work and school absenteeism. A recent report has shown that ginseng may actually help prevent influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.

What is Flu?

Flu is a type of viral infection can is infectious and contagious. It can be spread by droplets transmitted through the air through coughs and sneezes. Flu is different from the common cold in that it can lead to more severe symptoms and can last longer. This type of viral infection is common during winter although it may be prevalent all year round. When it happens during winter, it is known as seasonal flu.

Flu can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as fever, body aches and pains, tiredness and sore throat. Nausea and vomiting may also ensue, as well as loss of appetite and cough. These symptoms can make you feel so unwell that you have to stay in bed until you get better. Flu should not cause you to visit your doctor; however you should take precautions against dehydration by drinking adequate amounts of water. Anti-pyretics may also be needed to relieve high temperature and fever. Those people who should see their doctor while having flu include those who are over 65 years of age, those who are pregnant, those who have co-morbid medical conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease or diabetes, and those who have weakened immune systems. In these cases, the doctor may prescribe antiviral medications.

Flu symptoms usually start within a few days after infection. Symptoms may increase and peak after two to three days and may wane after a week or more. This depends on the general health of the patient. From the start of infection until about five or six days, patients may be infections and may spread the infection to other contacts. Children and persons with weakened immune systems often have longer bouts of the illness so that they also remain infections for longer periods of time. In these people, complications may also result such as pneumonias.

Flu viruses are usually spread from person to person by coughing or sneezing into the air by an infected person. The droplets can travel within a meter or so and can create illness in persons who breathe them. Flu can also spread when a person touches the hands of an infected person or when a person touches the things that an infected person has touched such as door handles and hard surfaces. This is why to prevent infections you must constantly wash your hands with soap and water. You should also clean regularly surfaces which can come in contact with the hands of an infected person. Used tissues must be discarded to the waste can as soon as possible. Infected people should stay indoors and never go to work or to school so prevent them from infecting others.

A flu vaccine is usually needed by children, pregnant mothers, those with serious medical infections, health care personnel, caregivers, people living in nursing homes and adults aged 65 or older. The flu vaccine may offer some protection however it cannot totally prevent you from having other strains of the virus.

Ginseng and Flu

A recent study has shown that ginseng can help treat influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a respiratory virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages. This study, done by a researcher from Georgia State University’s new Institute for Biomedical Sciences, focused on the benefits of ginseng on various health ailments. In this study, the researcher investigated whether red ginseng extract has preventive effects on influenza A virus infection. The results of this study soon showed that red ginseng extract improves the survival of human lung epithelial cells infected with influenza virus. Also, treatment with red ginseng extract reduced the expression of genes that cause inflammation. This is why the researcher has recommended the use of ginseng for flu and RSV infections.

You can read more about flu if you browse our other articles on this site.

Chronic kidney disease can mean debilitation and death if not properly managed and prevented. A recent study shows that walking may protect against heart disease and infections in patients with chronic kidney disease.

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a medical condition wherein there is damage to one or both kidneys. Damaged kidneys can no longer perform their usual duties of blood filtering and waste excretion through the urine. Patients with chronic kidney disease often have high levels of waste products in their bloodstream, bringing about damage to other organs of the body. Complications that may arise from chronic kidney disease include high blood pressure, diabetes, blood vessel problems, poor nutritional health, anemia, osteoporosis and damage to nerves. Eventually, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure which requires dialysis ir kidney transplantation for life. This is why chronic kidney disease needs to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

Millions of people around the world are at risk for chronic kidney diseases. This deterioration to kidney damage may be prevented by early detection and treatment. In people with chronic kidney disease, heart disease is a major killer. People who are at high risk of developing chronic kidney disease are those who have diabetes and those who have high blood pressure. Diabetes is manifested by high levels of blood glucose in the body; this further leads to organ damage which may occur in the kidneys, the blood vessels, the heart, the nerves and the eyes. On the other hand, high blood pressure can occur when blood pressure in the walls of the blood vessels increase. High blood pressure can later on lead to chronic kidney disease, heart attacks, stroke and other medical problems.

Other problems that may bring about chronic kidney disease include glomerulonephritis which is a condition wherein there is inflammation and damage to the kidney, inherited diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, kidney malformations, lupus, other autoimmune disorders, obstructions by stones or tumors and urinary infections.

There are many symptoms of chronic kidney disease, which may include unexplained fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, poor appetite, trouble sleeping, muscle cramping, swelling of the feet and ankles, puffiness of the face, dryness and itchiness of skin, and frequent urination.

Those who are more likely to acquire chronic kidney disease include those who have diabetes, those who have high blood pressure, those who have a positive family history of kidney failure and those who are older. Chronic kidney disease is diagnosed by laboratory tests that calculate the glomerular filtration rate such as serum creatinine, ultrasound, CT scan or kidney biopsy.

Walking and Chronic Kidney Disease Complications

Heart disease and infections are common complications which may occur in patients with chronic kidney disease. In both of these conditions it is stipulated that immune system dysfunction may be involved. Immune system dysfunction can predispose to infections and can lead to inflammation of blood vessel wall which can lead to heart disease. A new study has found out that physical exercise such as walking may prevent infections and heart disease in patients with chronic kidney disease.

The said study gathered data from 15 patients who were subjected to 30 minutes walking every day. The researchers found out that this particular physical activity was able to improve the responsiveness of immune cells such as neutrophils. These cells exhibited anti-inflammatory reactions against bacteria. The patients were subjected to six months of regular walking which lasted for 30 minutes per day for five times a week. The researchers encourage patients with chronic kidney disease to start walking if they want to prevent infections and heart disease in the near future.

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