Super Health Articles

A vein is a blood vessel that carries blood throughout the body. Normally, these veins do their job like a well oiled pump but sometimes these veins break down, causing the flow of blood to become abnormal.

I am sure most of us have, or know someone who has the enlarged, twisted, superficial veins in their lower legs and ankles known as varicose veins.

Varicose veins can occur in any part of the body but are more common in the lower extremities.

These veins can be due to genetic default but this is not the only cause. Other contributing factors can be prolonged standing or pregnancy. For many women, the first signs of varicose veins appear during pregnancy. Obesity is also a contributing factor. The added pressure of supporting excess weight is almost certain to result in chronic venous breakdown.

The signs and symptoms of varicose veins not only includes the unsightly rope-like veins but also a constant dull ache, cramps, swelling and fatigue after standing.

There may also be a brownish discolouration of the skin which is known as stasis pigmentation. This is caused by a breakdown of blood cells leading to a leakage in the affected area and is common in people who have suffered from this condition for a lengthy period of time.

Usually diagnosis is simply a case of visual observation but sometimes a procedure called phlebography is used. This is a painless procedure in which a solution called a radio-opaque contrast medium is introduced into the bloodstream. Imaging of the veins is then carried out to detect the abnormalities in the blood flow and venous pressure.

Another diagnostic procedure available is the use of ultrasound to examine the blood flow in the major arteries and veins in the arms and legs. This procedure is known as Doppler’s ultrasonography. Ultrasound is high frequency sound waves that echo off the body. It is performed by applying a water soluble gel to the body and then passing a hand held device known as a transducer over the area.

Treatment of varicose veins an be as simple as wearing elasticised compression stockings, controlling your weight, undertaking a moderate exercise program, avoiding prolonged periods of standing, and elevating the legs whenever possible.

Another method of treatment is called compression sclerotherapy. In this procedure, points of abnormal flow from deep to superficial veins are located and permanently obliterated by the injection of a substance called a sclerosant. Application of continuous pressure then restores the pumping capacity of the vein.

In severe cases, a surgical procedure called stripping and ligation may be considered necessary. During this surgery, one or more incisions are made over the varicose veins, and the vein is tied off (ligated). If several valves in the vein and the vein itself are heavily damaged, the vein (or the diseased part of the vein) is usually removed (stripped). An incision is made below the varicose vein, a flexible instrument is threaded up the vein to the first incision, and the vein is grasped and removed.

If you have varicose veins, it is necessary to seek medical advice. Your health practitioner will advise you of treatment options and will assist you in the care of your condition.

A deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot developing in a deep vein, usually in the leg. They also can occur in other parts of the body. Blood clots in the veins in the thigh are usually more serious than blood clots that happen in veins in your lower leg. A DVT causes pain, and possible complications if it reaches the lungs. If a clot in a vein breaks off and travels through your bloodstream, it can lodge in your lung. This is called a pulmonary embolism which is a very serious condition that can cause death.

DVTs are known to occur in about 1 out of 1000 people in the general population from all causes. DVTs are more common in obese people and those aged over 40. Causes include long-distance air travel and long journeys by car, train or coach, because of prolonged immobility.

Symptoms of Deep vein thrombosis include: Swelling of the leg; Pain or tenderness in the leg-the pain is usually in one leg and may only be present when standing or walking; Feeling of increased warmth in the area of the leg that is swollen or that hurts; Red or discolored skin.

The main goals in treating deep vein thrombosis are to: Stop the clot from getting bigger; Prevent the clot from breaking off in your vein and moving to your lungs; Reduce your chance of having another blood clot.

Exercising the legs once an hour can reduce risk. Take regular breaks if driving, or walk up and down the coach, train or plane aisle.

Lower leg muscles can be exercised while sitting by pulling the toes towards the knees then relaxing, or by pressing the balls of the feet down while raising the heels.

Other preventative measures include: Avoid sleeping pills. These cause immobility, increasing the risk of DVT; Wear loose clothing; Keep legs uncrossed; Keep hydrated by drinking; Avoid alcohol to prevent dehydration; Wear graduated compression stockings or socks – particularly important for travelers with other DVT risk factors. Compression stockings are worn on the legs from the arch of the foot to just above or below the knee. These stockings are tight at the ankle and become looser as they go up the leg. This causes a gentle compression (or pressure) up your leg. They have some side effects: They can be uncomfortable when worn all day They can be hot They may be difficult to put on, especially for older adults and overweight people.

Some doctors recommend aspirin because of its blood thinning effects. This is unsuitable for children and can have side effects, so seek professional advice.

The word jaundice is derived from a French word called as jaune, which means yellow. It is a very common condition which is seen in newborn babies which can be treated by exposing them to sunlight. It is also known as yellow skin or eyes disease. It turns your skin, mucous membranes, sclera (the white of your eyes) into a single yellow color. This yellow pigment which is seen on your skin is due to bilirubin which is a byproduct of old red blood cells. If you are affected by jaundice consider it to be a serious problem which cannot to be taken lightly.

Nearly 1% red blood cells retire everyday and those are replaced by fresh blood cells. These old blood cells are processed in the liver and later disposed. If there happens to be too many old red blood cells the yellow pigment builds up in the body, which results in the first stages of jaundice.

Even though jaundice is not a disease but it is a sign for many other diseases. Jaundice is very common among babies due to the immature functioning of the liver. It is not equipped to deal with the removal of bilirubin from the bloodstream. Jaundice occurs mainly due to liver failure but there are many other reasons by which it is affected.

Detection of jaundice is very important, because if you detect jaundice in the later stages it may prove to be fatal. Some of the common symptoms for jaundice are: *Extreme fatigue and weakness *Severe headaches *Constipation *Nauseating feeling *Yellow color of your eyes, skin *Constant pain near your stomach and liver

There are many causes for jaundice these are some of the reasons due to which you are under the jaundice attack -It occurs when high level of bilirubin is being produced for the liver and unable to be removed from the blood. -Defect in liver due to prevention in removal of bilirubin from the blood. -Due to blockage of bile ducts. -Due to viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D and hepatitis E) -Alcoholic liver disease -Cancer of the pancreas -Malaria -Neonatal jaundice found in babies - Gall bladder cancer -Yellow fever -Stomach cancer -Rh incompatibility

Remedial measures when suffering from Jaundice *A hot cup of water mixed with 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder taken 2-3 times a day would be very beneficial *Consumption of lime juice is very good for your health *Having plenty of sugarcane juice is also good *Barley water, orange juice helps in urination *Spicy and oily food should be strictly avoided *Consumptions of vegetables like radish leaves, tomato and lemon is good *Dried dates along with almonds and cardamoms are also good.

There have been documented dangers of benzene for well over a century now. Even though benzene exposure often leads to leukemia, there are also many non-cancerous diseases that have been shown when exposed to elevated levels of benzene. Some of these other diseases include:

Myelodysplastic syndromes: also called ‘pre-leukemia’, this is a collection of diseases resulting in diminished blood production and can weaken the immune system. This can result in leukemia.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: this is a disease affecting the lymphatic systems and shares many similarities with leukemia. It can eventually affect the bone marrow in addition to other organs.

Aplastic Anemia: this is a condition where the marrow in the bone stops producing enough blood cells to replace lost ones.

Even though these diseases are not leukemia, they have strikingly similar resemblances. The victims who suffer from them many times can’t tell the difference. Even with proper care and treatment, victims of these diseases face an uphill battle exposed to pain and suffering.

Everyone experiences back pain at some time in their life. In fact, it is in the top three complaints that people bring to the doctor’s office.

In most cases there is soft tissue inflammation, muscle spasms, or degenerative arthritis. These respond well to conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatory medicines, stretches, and osteopathic manipulative therapy. Physical modalities such as heat or cold, massage, and acupuncture are also helpful.

So when should you worry? Any loss of bowel or bladder control needs immediate attention. Surgery can release the pressure on the nerves and full function usually returns.

The longer the loss of bladder or bowel control continues without treatment, the higher the risk of permanent damage. This also includes weakness of any muscles in the legs or feet. Plus you can reduce the risks of falls and fractures.

Contrary to popular opinion, a thorough history, neurological and structural exams, plus basic X-rays of the spine can diagnose the problem 80-90% of the time. Expensive MRI studies certainly can be helpful looking at the cross-sections of the spine into the discs and spinal cord. But, in most cases it will not change the eventual conservative treatment anyway.

Consider an MRI if surgery is likely. Certainly if there is no improvement in your symptoms after several weeks or there is worsening of your pain.

Besides the obvious causes of low back pain from muscle spasms, degenerative discs and osteoarthritis, chronic structural imbalances play a major role. Wear and tear to the spine from old trauma, sports, and obesity cause the discs to lose their cushioning ability. They also may bulge or protrude backwards.

Over 50 years of age almost everyone has changes I the discs loosing height and acquiring some bone spurs. However, not everyone has pain. Again, unless the nerve root coming out of the spinal cord or the spinal cord itself is squeezed, surgery will not help. Even radiating leg pain called sciatica along with numbness and tingling in the legs can go away over time with proper treatment that includes osteopathic manipulation therapy.

Studies show that back pain sufferers who have surgery have no better pain relief or function than those who didn’t have surgery after five years passed. Certainly if surgery is recommended it is wise to get a second opinion.

If you suffer from severe back pain and fear that surgery may be necessary, or if surgery has been recommended and you question the wisdom of it, you may want to try some non-surgical physical treatments first.

Unless your back pain is due to an infection, malformation of the back, or tumor, some type of physical treatment can probably help it. Let’s look at a few of the more popular and effective types of treatment.

Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractic treatment has been shown to be most effective when applied within 2 months of the onset of back pain. Chiropractors realign the spine, increase the range of motion in back muscles, increase the flexibility of spinal soft tissue, break down scar tissue, and reduce pressure from constricted and misaligned spinal joints, all of which help to relieve pain. Usually treatment takes around 15 minutes 3 times a week at first. Over a few weeks sessions decrease until you are on a maintenance program of once a month or even “come come only if it hurts.”

Acupuncture

Studies by the National Institutes of Health show that acupuncture is very effective in treating back pain. According to the theory of acupuncture, energy (known as chi) flows through the body along pathways called meridians. If the flow of chi is interrupted, pain or illness can result.

An acupuncturist uses very thin needles inserted into the skin along the meridians to correct the flow of chi. You may be surprised to learn that acupuncture is rarely described as painful. In fact, many people find it relaxing and even fall asleep during treatment.

Physical Therapy

A good physical therapist will combine passive and active treatments, since exercise is essential to the long term imporvement in back pain.

Active therapy involves the patient’s participation. The therapist will determine which exercises are best for a particular condition, and supervise you in those exercises to ensure that you are doing them correctly. They will include:

* stretching
* strength building exercises
* aerobic exercise.

Passive therapy is done on you, usually while you are relaxing, and includes:

* heat or cold therapy
* electrical stimulation
* ultrasound
* massage
* iontophoresis (inserting a drug through intact skin using an electric current).

Other Alternatives to Surgery

In addition to these 3 modalities, many other non-surgical treatments exist for back pain, among them massage, and the use of herbs and natural supplements.

Spondylolisthesis, a condition that can affect athletes in all sports that require a wide range of movement and flexibility, is a degeneration of the exterior portion of the vertabrae in the spine, reducing not only its integrity, but support, flexibility, and strength.

No matter how severe the condition, a patient may experience extreme discomfort, lack of mobility, or even the loss of sensation in an extremity, typically the leg. Adolescents suffering from this condition may often exhibit few symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Spondylolisthesis tends to cause great discomfort in patients and is usually brought on by physical accidents, such as falls or even automobile accidents. While it can occasionally be a pre-existing condition, but it is often worsened because of the accident.

In the highest levels of discomfort, it may be necessary to treat with what is known as spinal fusion, a treatment in which the lower vertebrae of the spine is fused to the affected vertebrae and held in place with titanium screws and rods or, at times, a plate. This surgery can take a maximum of four hours and can be extremely painful for the patient. While recovering, the pain can be terribly severe and requires mobility assistance and physical therapy.

While spinal fusion is painful and can take up to twelve months for recovery to take place, the success rate of this form of surgery is eighty percent, making spinal fusion the prime option of treatment for both patients and their doctors. When paired with special exercise, physical therapy, and changes in daily routine, spinal fusion can assist in alleviating Spondylolisthesis effectively.

This condition is curable and can be treated if detected early enough. Speaking to your physician and an orthopedic surgeon is key, as left untreated, Spondylolisthesis can lead to loss of sensation and bone degeneration. Your health is important and if you find yourself experiencing discomfort in the back, especially the lower back, after an accident or a fall, you should speak to an orthopedic surgeon immediately about testing and possible treatment.

Early detection can save both your health and your bones. Leaving it untreated is risky - a risk you should not be willing to take.

What is sciatica? Sciatica is the official name given to a pain in the leg, foot, or buttock, brought on by a form of irritation to the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the entire body.

Sciatica is most commonly caused by a slipped disc in the lower back, some form of arthritis, or a pinched nerve. It begins with back pain, followed by calf or hamstring pain, and sometimes included numbness in the toes. Forms of sciatica, resulting from inflammation get better with time, healing themselves. However, bed rest is not the best way to treat sciatica. It is shown that remaining active and performing exercises that are not weight bearing can help. Given time, even herniated spinal discs can heal.

Treatment for sciatica is varied. It is only possible to find out what treatment is best for you by going to your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor may order an MRI to conclude the exact cause of sciatic pain, although many physicians can determine the cause through physical examination alone.

Proper stretching and exercising, combined with over-the-counter pain medications can assist on the road to recovery. If your pain is not relieved by the milder pain medications, your doctor may prescribe a naroctic analgesic. However be advised that these medications can cause nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness, and may result in dependency if taken over long periods of time. In extreme cases, surgery may be required to remove fragment of the disc.

It is important to stay active. Do exercises that develop muscles in your back and stomach. This helps to stablilize your spine. It is also important to maintain a reasonable body weight. Ensure that you practice good posture, and sleep on a mattress that is neither too hard or too soft. You should always discuss health matters with your physician, especially if you suffer progressive weakness, as this may constitute a medical emergency. The problem thought to be something easily treated may be a serious condition caused by the compression of the nerve roots in the lower end ofthe spinal canal, which requires immediate medical attention.

While there are many factors that can contribute to back pain, one of the most common problems is poor posture. Some people get into the habit of sitting or standing improperly, and over time this contributes to pain in their backs. Understanding the causes of back pain will allow you to avoid it, and will lead to a healthier and more active lifestyle.

When someone first begins feeling pain in their back, they can easily correct it by improving their posture. However, if you don’t correct your posture your joints will eventually begin to wear out over time. Studies have shown that in the long term, the ageing of joints in your back can be just as extreme as the effects of suffering a back injury.

People who continue to have poor posture will eventually feel the effects of ageing. Their poor joints will force them to stoop over, and their mobility will be greatly decreased. With the rising costs of healthcare, it will be expensive to correct such problems, if it is even possible to correct them at all. Is it not better to correct your posture while you still have the chance?

The vast majority of the deformities seen in the elderly are a result of poor posture. Often, other parts of the body are affected such as the lungs, which will not be able to get a proper amount of oxygen due to the upper body being bent over. This may also eventually cause problems with your stomach and other organs.

While many people consider weak back joints to be just a normal part of ageing, by taking a few simple steps everyday people can avoid back problems in the long term. By standing up at least once a day and bending backward, people can avoid back pain.

Doing this simple routine on a daily basis can keep your from being impaired when you get older. Walking or running can help people to relieve pain in their lower backs. Because most people drive or work in an office, they have less time for running or walking. Exercising is an important part of keeping both your back and the rest of your body healthy.

Back pain is something that millions of people suffer from, and there is not reason for them to continue. By exercising and sitting correctly, many of these problems can be avoided. Getting treatment for the problem once it has become out of control will be costly. It is much less expensive to just practice good posture and exercise on a regular basis.

Sitting improperly is one of the leading causes for back pain. Once you begin having problems in your lower back, sitting improperly will exacerbate the problem. It is also important to stand up and lay down properly also. You may find that you suffer pain in your lower back only at certain times, such as when you sleep or stand for extended periods of time. If this is the case, it can be easily corrected by practicing good posture.