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Explore the warning signs of immune system problems.

Explore the warning signs of immune system problems.

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It’s a lifesaver when your immune system is functioning properly. That may be excellent, but it is not faultless. This unique collection of cells, tissues, and organs occasionally behaves improperly.

With autoimmune illnesses, your immune system attacks your body unintentionally. Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and a few thyroid diseases are examples of these types.

What is an autoimmune disease?

Normally, the immune system protects against viruses and germs. It sends out an army of fighter cells to attack these foreign invaders as soon as it detects them.

The immune system can typically distinguish between your own cells and foreign cells. When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system misinterprets your skin or joints as alien tissues. Autoantibodies, which are proteins released by the body, assault healthy cells.

Certain autoimmune disorders only affect a single organ. The pancreas is harmed by type 1 diabetes. Some illnesses, such as lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can have a total body impact.

A brief description of some of the most prevalent autoimmune illnesses is given below.

Why does the immune system attack the body?

Clinicians are unsure of the precise aetiology of immune system malfunction. Nonetheless, some people are more likely than others to develop an autoimmune disease.

According to a 2014 study, women are more likely than males to develop autoimmune illnesses (6.4% of women versus 2.7% of men). A lot of times, the illness strikes women who are fertile (ages 15 to 44).

Some ethnic groups are more likely to develop specific autoimmune illnesses. For instance, lupus affects white individuals less than it does African Americans and Hispanics.

Many autoimmune conditions, including lupus and multiple sclerosis, run in families. Although not every family member will necessarily have the same illness, they all have a propensity for autoimmune diseases.

Researchers believe environmental factors like infections and exposure to chemicals or solvents may potentially play a role in the rise in the prevalence of autoimmune illnesses.

Another possible risk factor for developing an autoimmune illness is a “Western diet”. Consuming meals that are rich in fat, sugar, and processing is likely to contribute to inflammation, which may trigger an immunological response. But there is no proof of this.

SHORT VERDICT: The precise causation of autoimmune disorders is unknown. A number of factors may be at play, including genetics, nutrition, infections, and chemical exposure.

Your chance of contracting COVID-19 may increase if your immune system is compromised. If you have symptoms, make sure to get checked as soon as possible.

Common signs of a weak immune system

Remember that there are numerous additional reasons why these potential signals might appear. You should visit your doctor to find out what’s wrong with your health.

Cold hands

Your fingers, toes, ears, and nose may have a tougher time maintaining heat if your blood vessels are irritated. When exposed to cold, the skin in these places may turn white, then blue. The skin may turn red after the blood flow has resumed.

“Raynaud’s phenomenon,” as doctors refer to it. It can be brought on by immune system issues as well as by smoking, some prescription medications, and artery-related illnesses.

Dry Eyes

If you suffer from an autoimmune condition, your immune system is attacking your body rather than protecting it. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are two examples.

Dry eyes are a common symptom for those with autoimmune diseases. You can get a sand-like, grainy feeling in your eye. Astringent discharge, discomfort, redness, or blurred vision are some potential symptoms. Even when they are angry, some people find they are unable to cry.

Fatigue

Extreme fatigue similar to what you experience from the flu may indicate a problem with your body’s defences. Sleep probably won’t do any good. Your muscles or joints may also hurt. However, there may be a variety of different causes for your feelings.

Light Fever

Your immune system may be beginning to overwork itself if your body temperature is higher than usual. It may occur as a result of an impending infection or the beginning of an autoimmune disorder flare-up.

Headaches

Headaches can have an immune system component. Vasculitis, for instance, is the inflammation of a blood vessel brought on by an infection or an autoimmune disorder.

Rash

Your body’s first line of defence against pathogens is your skin. How it feels and looks may be an indication of how well your immune system is functioning.

Skin that is red, dry, and itchy is a typical sign of inflammation. The same goes for rashes that hurt or don’t go away. Lupus patients frequently develop a butterfly-shaped rash on their cheeks and nose.

Joint Pain

Your joints become sensitive to the touch when the lining inside them gets inflamed. It might affect more than one joint, and it may also be stiff or swollen. It can seem to be worse in the morning.

Patchy Hair Loss

The immune system can occasionally assault hair follicles. You can have a disorder called alopecia areata if you experience hair loss on your scalp, face, or other areas of your body. Hair breaking out in clumps or strands is another sign of lupus.

Continual Infections

Your body might not be able to effectively combat germs on its own if you need to take antibiotics more than twice per year (four times for kids).

Additional warning signs include persistent sinus infections, having more than four ear infections in a calendar year (for anybody older than 4), and recurring pneumonia.

Sun sensitivity

Photodermatitis, an allergic response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, can occasionally occur in people with autoimmune diseases. After being in the sun, you can develop blisters, a rash, or scaly spots. Alternatively you can get nausea, a headache, or chills.

Numbness or Tingling in Your Feet and Hands

That might be entirely benign. Yet, in other circumstances it may indicate that your body is targeting the nerves that communicate with your muscles. For example, numbness that begins in the legs and spreads to the arms and chest may be a symptom of Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), the demyelinating type of GBS, lasts for two to thirty days, whereas chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) lasts longer. Longer-lasting is CIDP.

Difficulty swallowing

Your oesophagus, which transports food from your mouth to your stomach, may be enlarged or underdeveloped if you have trouble swallowing. Some individuals have a food-stuck sensation in their throat or chest. Those who swallow choke or gag. Your immune system could be one of the potential causes.

Unaccounted-for Weight Change

Even if your eating habits and exercise routine haven’t altered, you notice that you are putting on weight. Perhaps the number on your scale can fall without apparent cause. It’s possible that your thyroid gland has been harmed by an autoimmune disease as a result.

White Spots

Sometimes, melanocytes, the cells that produce colour in the skin, are targeted by the immune system. If so, your body will start to develop white patches of skin.

Your Skin or Eyes Are Turning Yellow

Jaundice, sometimes called biliary cirrhosis, is a condition where your immune system attacks and destroys healthy liver cells. This may result in autoimmune hepatitis, a disease.

Symptoms of autoimmune diseases

Several autoimmune illnesses have early signs and symptoms, including:

  • fatigue
  • stiff muscles
  • swell and erythema
  • minimal fever
  • difficulty concentrating
  • tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
  • hair fall
  • body rashes

Also, every disease may have a different set of symptoms. As an illustration, type 1 diabetes results in excessive thirst, weight loss, and exhaustion. IBD results in diarrhoea, bloating, and stomach pain.

Symptoms of autoimmune illnesses like psoriasis or RA can fluctuate. A flare-up is a time when symptoms are present. Remission refers to the time frame during which symptoms disappear.

VERDICT: Signs of an autoimmune disease may include weariness, muscle aches, swelling, and redness. With time, symptoms may appear and disappear.

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When should a person worry about fatigue?

When should a person worry about fatigue?

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A generalised sense of exhaustion or lack of energy is referred to as fatigue. It differs from merely feeling sleepy or drowsy. You lack both energy and motivation when you are exhausted. Sleepiness may be a sign of exhaustion, but the two are not the same.

Many medical disorders, ranging in severity from moderate to serious, frequently exhibit fatigue as a symptom. It also happens naturally as a result of some lifestyle decisions, including not exercising or eating poorly.

See your doctor if your weariness doesn’t go away with adequate rest and nourishment or if you think it might be brought on by a physical or mental health condition. They can collaborate with you to identify the root cause of your exhaustion and address it.

What causes fatigue?

Fatigue may have a variety of causes. They can be categorised into three broad groups:

  • lifestyle elements
  • physical state of health
  • mental illness problems

lifestyle elements

Your activities and other lifestyle decisions could be to blame for your exhaustion. For instance, the following can cause fatigue:

  • physical effort
  • absence of exercise
  • absence of sleep
  • being obese or overweight
  • Stressful emotional times
  • boredom
  • grief
  • taking specific drugs, including sedatives or antidepressants
  • frequent alcohol consumption
  • utilising illegal narcotics, like cocaine
  • overdosing on caffeine
  • not maintaining a healthy diet

Physcial health issues

Fatigue is a common symptom of many medical problems. Examples comprise:

  • anaemia
  • arthritis
  • fibromyalgia
  • syndrome of protracted weariness
  • illnesses like the common cold and flu
  • A condition called Addison’s disease that can mess with your hormone levels
  • thyroid underactivity, or hypothyroidism
  • Overactive or hyperthyroidism thyroid
  • disturbances of sleep, such as insomnia
  • disorders of eating, including anorexia
  • autoimmune conditions
  • enlarged heart failure
  • cancer
  • diabetes
  • renal illness
  • liver illness
  • persistent pulmonary obstruction (COPD)
  • emphysema

Difficulties with mental health

Fatigue can result from issues with mental health as well. As an illustration, exhaustion is a typical sign of anxiety, sadness, and seasonal affective disorder.

Medical conditions

Fatigue is a symptom of thousands of diseases and ailments. The following are a few of the most typical causes of fatigue:

  • Illness and infection: Multiple sclerosis, kidney disease, cancer, and kidney disease are just a few illnesses that might make you tired. Moreover, illnesses like mononucleosis, HIV, and the flu can manifest as fatigue.
  • Mental health issues: The exhaustion brought on by despair or anxiety may make doing daily tasks challenging or impossible.
  • Autoimmune disorders: Several autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, have fatigue as a symptom.
  • Hormone imbalances: Issues with your endocrine system (the glands that produce hormones in your body) might make you feel exhausted.
  • The most prevalent reason of weariness is hypothyroidism.
  • Persistent illnesses such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or CFS) result in extreme, persistent exhaustion.
  • Cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and congestive heart failure all commonly present with fatigue.
  • Deficiencies: Fatigue is frequently brought on by anaemia and other vitamin deficiencies (such as vitamin D or vitamin B12). Fatigue can result from dehydration since the body needs a lot of fluids to function.
  • Fatigue is one of several symptoms that can result from weight issues and eating disorders such anorexia, bulimia, obesity, and underweight.

When is it time to see your doctor?

If you’re experiencing exhaustion and any of the following, you should schedule a visit with your doctor:

  • I cannot think of anything that could explain your weariness.
  • have a body temperature that is higher than usual
  • having lost weight that isn’t being explained
  • feel incredibly sensitive to cooler climates
  • regularly experience sleep difficulties
  • you think you might be depressed

Make an appointment with your doctor if your weariness has persisted for two weeks or more and you’ve tried unsuccessfully to address the most frequent lifestyle factors, such as lack of sleep, bad eating habits, and stress.

Your fatigue may occasionally be brought on by a significant medical problem. If you develop weariness and any of the following symptoms, visit the hospital right away:

  • abdominal bleeding
  • throwing up blood
  • terrible headache
  • suffering from chest discomfort
  • fainting sensations
  • unsteady heartbeat
  • breathing difficulty
  • significant discomfort in your pelvis, back, or abdomen
  • Having suicidal or harmful thoughts
  • thoughts of hurting someone else

You should also visit your doctor if you frequently feel weary even after getting a good night’s sleep, lack motivation to start the day, or find it difficult to do tasks that are usually simple. These could be indications of depression or a sleep issue.

Your doctor will attempt to rule out any problems during your examination, such as adverse drug reactions. In order to ascertain whether the exhaustion is caused by a particular condition, such as anaemia, hypothyroidism, or liver inflammation, he or she may also request blood testing (hepatitis). If your doctor cannot identify a cause, do not be shocked. I’ve discovered that most of the time, rest and a good night’s sleep help people recover from exhaustion.

REFERENCES:

  • https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21206-fatigue
  • https://www.healthline.com/health/fatigue
  • https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/when-should-you-worry-about-fatigue

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How dangerous is a Benign tumor and its types?

How dangerous is a Benign tumor and its types?

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What is Benign tumor?

Noncancerous growths in the body are known as benign tumours. They have distinct borders, modest growth, and can appear anywhere on the body. They don’t spread to other bodily parts like malignant tumours do.

You could presume it is a cancerous tumour right away if you find a lump or mass in your body that can be felt from the outside. For instance, women who self-examine their breasts and discover lumps are frequently worried. The majority of breast tumours are benign, nevertheless. In actuality, the majority of growths on the body are benign.

Over 90% of breast tissue changes are benign, and benign growths are highly prevalent. Similar to other cancers, benign bone tumours are more common than malignant bone tumours.

Types of Benign Tumor.

Numerous benign tumours can form in various locations throughout the body.

Whereas benign tumours grow determines their classification. For instance, lipomas develop from fat cells while myomas do so from muscle. Below are some examples of several benign tumours:

Adenomas

A thin layer of tissue called epithelial tissue, which covers glands, organs, and other internal systems, is where adenomas develop. The development of colonic polyps and liver tumours are two examples. The thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands can all develop adenomas.

These tumours may progress to cancer. In fact, one in ten colon adenomas progress to cancer.

Lipomas

The most frequent kind of benign tumour, lipomas develop from fat cells. A lipoma will appear once every 1,000 people in their lifetime. They frequently appear on the neck, back, shoulders, and arms. They can be somewhat manipulated under the skin and are typically spherical and velvety.

Treatment for lipomas might not be necessary unless they are painful or developing quickly. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, they also seldom get cancer. Lipomas can develop at any age, however they are most prevalent in persons between the ages of 40 and 60.

Myomas

Myomas can develop in blood vessel walls or from muscle. They can also develop in smooth muscle, such as that which lines the uterus, the stomach, or the gastrointestinal tract. It is also referred to as a uterine fibroid if the myoma forms in the uterus.

Fibroids

Fibroids, also known as fibromas, can develop in any organ, tendon, or ligament’s connective tissue. They are called uterine fibroids in the uterus, where they are most prevalent. (Uterine myomas and leiomyomas are other names for uterine fibroids.)

The symptoms of uterine fibroids include severe vaginal bleeding, back or pelvic pain, and stomach pressure. Although they are rarely malignant, surgery for fibroid may be required to treat the symptoms.

Nevi

Moles are another name for nevi. These are typical, non-cancerous skin growths that can be tan, brown, pink, or even black in appearance.

Dyplastic nevi, for example, have a higher risk of turning into skin cancer. In order to detect these changes, routine skin exams are required.

Skin tags and other benign skin neoplasms are examples of skin growths. These atypical growths should be monitored for cancerous developments, just as moles.

Hemangiomas

Benign tumours called hemangiomas develop from blood vessels. The skin or internal organs like the liver or intestines may accumulate blood vessel cells. You might notice a red or bluish mark on the skin when it occurs. On the head, neck, or trunk, these are frequently seen. These typically disappear on their own and are seen as birthmarks by some people.

Hemangiomas that are close to the eyes or ears might impair hearing or vision. Furthermore, they may bleed or get ulcers. Some people need medical attention or laser therapy. In some situations, surgery can be required.

Meningiomas

Meningiomas are benign tumours that grow in the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord, or the meninges. These tumours might not present any symptoms, but they may do so if they enlarge significantly or put pressure on the brain or spinal column. These signs include a headache, a seizure, side weakness, and eyesight issues.

These tumours can sporadically develop cancer. According to research, 1–3% of meningiomas develop into cancerous brain tumours.

Neuromas

Benign brain tumours called neuromas develop inside of nerves. Almost anyplace in the body can experience them. The peripheral nervous system’s nerve sheaths generate schwannomas. Neurofibromas form on nerve tissue and can also spread deeper into the body, such the bladder, than the skin.

Osteomas

Exostosis, also name for osteomas, is the benign development of new bone over preexisting bone. Any bone in the body could be affected by this. It is known as an osteochondroma when the bone growth is coated in cartilage.

Some growths may not hurt and don’t require medical attention. However, some of them can hurt and may require surgery to be removed. They have no probability of developing into cancer.

Causes of benign tumors

A benign tumor’s precise cause is frequently unknown. It arises when the body’s cells divide and grow too quickly. The body usually manages to keep cell division and development in check. When a cell dies or becomes damaged, new, healthy cells are produced in its place. Tumors are growths that are created when dead cells are left behind and stick together.

The same processes govern cancer cell growth. Cancerous cells can invade neighbouring tissue and spread to other parts of the body, in contrast to the cells in benign tumours.

Although the exact cause of benign tumour development is unknown, there are some possible explanations. These consist of:

  • environmental elements like chemicals, radiation, or poisons
  • infection or inflammation
  • diet
  • localised ailment or damage
  • stress
  • genetics

Even children can acquire benign tumours, while adults are more prone to do so as they become older.

Symptoms of benign tumors

Neither benign nor malignant tumours always exhibit symptoms. The operation of critical organs or the senses may be impacted by a number of symptoms, depending on the location of the tumour.

Possible signs of a benign tumour, depending on the location, include:

  • chills
  • annoyance or pain
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • reduced appetite
  • morning sweats
  • slim down

Even benign tumours that are close to the skin may be large enough to be noticed. The majority, nevertheless, aren’t painfully or discomfortingly enormous. If they are, they can be taken away. Lipomas, for instance, are often soft, moveable, and painless, yet they can be large enough to be detected.

Benign skin-surface tumours like nevi or hemangiomas may exhibit some degree of skin pigmentation. Anything that seems strange has to be examined by a physician. Depending on where they are growing, some benign tumours could produce particular symptoms. These consist of:

Benign brain tumour

A benign brain tumour may cause the following symptoms:

  • headaches
  • vision issues
  • unclear memory
  • seizures

A meningioma or other tumour pushing on the brain or spinal column causes these symptoms to appear. Your daily life may be impacted by symptoms, which may necessitate therapy.

Benign breast tumour

Although most alterations to breast tissue are benign, some tumours may still be large enough to be felt by hand. The following are signs of these benign breast growths:

  • elevated lump beneath or on the skin
  • If near the skin, it would be large enough to feel.
  • EIther firm or soft, while pressing
  • may change if you press

benign bone tumour

Osteomas and osteochondromas are benign bone tumours that rarely produce symptoms, but they can if they are large or close to joints. These signs comprise:

  • notably in the muscles or joints
  • bone or nerve pressure
  • complete range of motion is challenging
  • Shorter on one limb than the other

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Important causes and symptoms of Hepatitis B.

Important causes and symptoms of Hepatitis B.

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What is hepatitis B?

A liver infection known as hepatitis B is brought on by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). One of the five varieties of viral hepatitis is HBV. Hepatitis A, C, D, and E make up the other four. Each one is a distinct kind of virus. The most likely types to develop chronic or long-lasting are types B and C.

Around 296 million individuals worldwide are thought to be infected with hepatitis B, according to the World Health Organization. In 2019, around 1.5 million new cases of chronic hepatitis B were reported.

Acute or chronic HBV infection are both possible. Adults with acute hepatitis B experience sudden onset of symptoms. Rarely do newborns who receive hepatitis B at birth simply experience acute symptoms. The majority of baby hepatitis B infections progress to chronic disease.

What are the types of hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B infections come in two flavours: acute and chronic.

Acute

When you contract hepatitis B for the first time, an acute infection occurs. Many people can get it out of their bodies and feel better. In fact, roughly 4 out of 5 sick adults fit this description.

Chronic

You have chronic hepatitis B if you are unable to get rid of the virus within six months or longer. (Chronic denotes continual.) The dangerous, sometimes fatal diseases of liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver are caused by chronic hepatitis B, which also causes inflammation. Treatment can halt the progression of the condition, lower the risk of developing liver cancer, and improve survival rates.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?

Acute hepatitis B symptoms can not show up for several months. However, typical signs include:

An early evaluation is required for any hepatitis B symptoms. Acute hepatitis B symptoms worsen in those over 60. If you believe you may have been exposed to hepatitis B, tell your doctor right once. It’s possible that you can stop an infection.

How common is hepatitis B?

According to the WHO, around 296 million people around the globe live with chronic HBV. Around 1.5 million new infections occur every year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic hepatitis B affects approximately 1.2 million people in the United States.

But HBV often goes undetected. In fact, the WHO estimates that only about 10.5% of people living with hepatitis B were aware of their condition as of 2019.

Causes and risk factors for hepatitis B

A viral infection called hepatitis B can be spread by blood or other body fluids like vaginal or sperm.

Hepatitis B can be spread, among other things, by:

  • having intercourse without using a condom or other barrier techniques with a person who has HBV
  • sharing blood-contaminated razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes
  • getting a tattoo or a body piercing with unsterilized equipment
  • sharing needles, syringes, or other supplies while injecting narcotics
  • from a parent giving birth to a newborn child

Although the virus may be found in the saliva, hepatitis B is not transmitted through:

  • kissing
  • sneezing
  • coughing
  • sharing cutlery

HBV infection is more likely to occur in some groups than others. These comprise of:

  • medical professionals
  • users of injectable medications
  • infants conceived by HBV-positive parents
  • HBV-positive individuals’ sexual partners
  • people with renal disease who are on dialysis

Complications of hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B complications include:

  • the hepatitis D virus
  • hepatic scarring (cirrhosis)
  • liver damage
  • liver tumour
  • death

Only those who have hepatitis B can get hepatitis D. Although hepatitis D is rare in the US, it can also cause chronic liver disease.

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What are the possible ways to prevent Hepatitis A?

What are the possible ways to prevent Hepatitis A?

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The hepatitis A virus, which causes hepatitis A, causes liver inflammation (HAV). When an uninfected (and unvaccinated) individual consumes food or water that has been tainted by an infected person’s faeces, the virus is most commonly disseminated. Oral-anal sex, contaminated food or water, poor sanitation, poor personal hygiene, and these factors are all strongly linked to the disease.

Hepatitis A can induce crippling symptoms and, less frequently, fulminant hepatitis (rapid liver failure), which is frequently fatal. Hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease, unlike hepatitis B and C. According to WHO estimates, 7134 people worldwide passed away with hepatitis A in 2016 (which accounts for 0.5% of the mortality from viral hepatitis).

Hepatitis A is sporadic and prevalent over the world, with a propensity for cyclical recurrences. Contaminated food or water-related epidemics can break out violently, as was the case with the pandemic in Shanghai in 1988 that impacted around 300,000 people. Additionally, they have the potential to spread from person to person, devastating communities for months at a time. Hepatitis A viruses can withstand food production techniques that are often intended to kill or control bacterial diseases and persist in the environment.

Hepatitis A Symptoms

If you have this infection, your liver is inflamed because of the virus. Numerous children, in particular, lack symptoms in some persons. Others may have:

  • Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin)
  • belly ache
  • dark urine
  • reduced appetite
  • uneasy stomach
  • Vomiting
  • Itching
  • Light-colored faeces
  • aching joints
  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue

Although they may recur for up to six months, these issues often go away after around two months. Even if you feel healthy, the hepatitis A virus can still be transferred. Additionally, you can spread it in the two weeks prior to and the first week following the onset of your symptoms.

What causes hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A infections occur in people who have HAV. Typically, this virus is spread by consuming food or beverage that has been tainted with faeces that have the virus in them. Once it has been distributed, the virus enters the bloodstream and travels to the liver, where it produces swelling and inflammation.

HAV can be transferred by direct contact with an infected individual in addition to through the consumption of contaminated food or water. A person with hepatitis A can easily infect others residing in the same home since HAV is infectious.

Hepatitis A can be acquired by:

  • eating food prepared by a hepatitis A carrier
  • consuming food that has been prepared by staff members whose hands haven’t been thoroughly washed before handling it.
  • consuming raw seafood that has been tainted with sewage
  • a sexual relationship with a hepatitis A patient
  • consuming contaminated water
  • interacting with faeces that are hepatitis A-infected

Before any symptoms even show, you will be infectious if you get the virus. After symptoms start, the infectious period lasts for around 1 week.

Who is at risk of getting hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease that often spreads from person to person. However, a few things can make you more likely to have it, like:

  • residing (or staying for an extended period of time) in a region where hepatitis A is widespread, such as the majority of nations with subpar sanitation or inadequate access to safe water
  • drug injection or drug use
  • living with a hepatitis A-positive person in the same home
  • having intercourse with a hepatitis A positive person (barrier measures don’t effectively stop the spread of hepatitis A)
  • an HIV-positive status
  • involving non-human primates in work

By the age of 10, more than 90% of kids in nations with poor sanitation will have contracted hepatitis A, according to a trusted source from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Is there any way to prevent hepatitis A?

Getting the hepatitis A vaccine is the best strategy to prevent contracting hepatitis A. Two shots of this vaccination are administered in a series, six to twelve months apart.

Get your immunisation at least two weeks before your trip if you’re going somewhere where hepatitis A transmission is more prevalent. After the first injection, your body typically takes two weeks to begin developing hepatitis A immunity. It is recommended to receive both injections prior to departure if you won’t be travelling for at least a year.

If you want to know if you need to obtain a hepatitis A vaccination, check the CDC website for your location. In order to reduce your risk of acquiring hepatitis A, you should also:

  • Be sure to fully wash your hands after using the bathroom and before consuming anything.
  • If you live in a developing nation or a nation where you have a high risk of catching hepatitis A, you should drink bottled water rather than tap water.
  • eat at well-known, respected restaurants as opposed to street stalls.
  • Avoid consuming unwashed or uncooked produce in unsanitary or unhygienic environments.

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Is it possible to have Angina with normal blood pressure?

Is it possible to have Angina with normal blood pressure?

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What is Angina?

Angina is tightness, squeezing, pressure, or pain in the chest. It occurs when an area of the heart muscle receives less blood oxygen than usual. It is not a disease but a symptom. Angina usually happens due to ischemia, when one or more of the coronary arteries becomes narrow or blocked. It is often a symptom of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Alone, angina is not life threatening, but it can resemble the symptoms of a heart attack, and it is a sign of heart disease. Receive medical attention if angina occurs unexpectedly, does not go away, or does not respond to rest or medication.

What does angina feel like?

Most angina sufferers describe having pressure or pain in the chest. Or they describe a heaviness or squeezing in their chest. Some claim that it has the sensation of dyspepsia. Others claim that putting angina into words is difficult.

Usually, the pain starts behind your breastbone. You might not always be able to pinpoint the particular source of the pain. Your upper torso may experience upper chest pain or discomfort as well. Your neck, jaw, shoulders, arms, back, and belly are a few of these.

Other symptoms, referred to as “angina analogues,” can be brought on by a lack of oxygen to your heart. You may not feel any of these symptoms in your chest, such as:

Types of Angina

Enduring angina

When the heart is working harder than usual, such as during exercise, stable angina develops. Normally, it lasts for five minutes.

It has a predictable rhythm and might last for weeks, months, or even years. The symptoms can typically be reduced with rest or medicine.

Erratic angina

Unstable angina has no set rhythm and typically strikes while you’re at rest. Atherosclerosis, which involves a blockage preventing blood from reaching the heart, is the primary cause.

The pain may develop with time and linger for more than five minutes. Medication and rest may not be enough to reduce the symptoms.

Angina that is unstable can signal a possible heart attack. Anyone experiencing sudden angina should seek emergency medical attention.

Angina microvascular

Coronary microvascular disease can cause microvascular angina (MVD). The tiniest coronary arteries are impacted by this.

In addition to chest pain, a person may feel:

  • low energy and weariness
  • issues with sleep
  • breathing difficulty
  • Stable angina is more transient than microvascular angina. It frequently lasts for more than ten minutes. Trustworthy Source and occasionally takes more than 30 minutes.

Angina variant

Rare variant angina Prinzmetal angina is the name some doctors give to this condition, which can occur when the body is at rest, usually in the early morning or late at night.

It takes place when the coronary arteries spasm. Cold exposure, stress, medications, smoking, or cocaine usage are examples of potential triggers. Although the illness is chronic, medicines can help manage it.

What causes angina?

Angina is brought on by myocardial ischemia, which is reduced blood supply to the heart. Your coronary arteries may develop a number of issues that hinder your heart from getting adequate blood. These consist of:

Coronary artery disease: The most frequent cause of angina is coronary artery disease. When plaque (a fatty, waxy substance) accumulates in your coronary arteries, which carry blood to your heart, it causes heart disease. Your heart receives less blood as a result of these arteries’ narrowing or hardening (atherosclerosis).

Coronary microvascular disease: Compared to men and individuals designated male at birth, women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) had a higher prevalence of coronary microvascular disease (AMAB). Small blood veins that branch off of your coronary arteries suffer damage to their walls.

Coronary artery spasm: Your coronary arteries repeatedly contract (tighten) and then relax during a coronary artery spasm. Your heart’s blood supply is momentarily restricted by these spams. Even without coronary artery disease, you can experience coronary spasms. Regular CAD testing may not be able to diagnose this, and it may be necessary to conduct specialised testing that not all hospitals offer.

Angina with normal blood pressure?

Even though the coronary arteries themselves are healthy, angina can occasionally develop when parts of the heart muscle are not getting enough oxygen.

The following conditions can cause angina without having coronary artery disease:

  • extremely low blood pressure, which may happen in shock as a result of bleeding
  • severe anaemia
  • extremely active effort
  • a lot of mental stress (as in broken heart syndrome)
  • significant hyperthyroidism
  • persistent tachycardia
  • significant hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • severely enlarged ventricles
  • significant aortic stenosis

These disorders typically affect sicker people, and angina is typically just one symptom among many. Therefore, the absence of classic CAD is unlikely to mislead the healthcare professionals caring for these patients into a false sense of complacency.

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Important signs and symptoms you need to know about Dengue.

Important signs and symptoms you need to know about Dengue.

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The virus that causes dengue is mostly spread via the bite of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. There are no indications of dengue and severe symptoms that resemble the flu. A small proportion of people develop severe dengue, which can be fatal.

Dengue serotypes are groups of four closely related dengue viruses. Recovery from infection confers immunity against that serotype of dengue, but it also raises the chance of developing severe dengue if patients contract a different serotype later.

Every year, dengue infections affect millions of people globally. Southeast Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America, and Africa are where dengue fever is most prevalent. Localized outbreaks of the disease have been reported in Europe and the southern United States, among other new locations.

The development of dengue fever vaccines is ongoing. For now, in areas where dengue fever is common, the best ways to prevent infection are to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take steps to reduce the mosquito population.

Who does dengue fever affect?

Africa, Central and South America, some regions of Asia, and the Pacific Islands are where dengue is most frequently found. Dengue is present in a few areas of the United States. More than half of the world’s population, who reside or travel to these areas, are most at risk. The chance of developing a major illness is higher in children and the elderly.

How common is dengue fever?

Around 96 million of the 400 million dengue infections that are reported each year around the world result in disease. Most occurrences occur in tropical regions of the world, with the following regions having the highest risk:

  • The continent of India
  • Asia-Pacific is
  • China’s south
  • Taiwan
  • Islands in the Pacific
  • Atlantic Ocean (except Cuba and the Cayman Islands)
  • Mexico
  • Africa
  • South and Central America (except Chile, Paraguay, and Argentina)

The majority of cases in the US are visitors who caught the virus abroad. However, those who reside near the Texas-Mexico border as well as in other southern US regions are at an increased danger. A dengue fever outbreak was discovered in 2014 in Hawaii, with earlier outbreaks being reported in 2013 in Brownsville, Texas, and Key West, Florida.

Symptoms

Many persons may not exhibit any symptoms or indicators of dengue illness. When symptoms do show up, they typically start four to ten days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and may be mistaken for other ailments, like the flu.

Any of the following signs and symptoms, as well as a high fever of 104 F (40 C), are brought on by dengue fever:

  • Headache
  • joint, muscle, or bone pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • back of the eyes hurt
  • enlarged glands
  • Rash

Most folks get better in about a week. In some cases, symptoms worsen and can become life-threatening. This is called severe dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

Your blood vessels become damaged and leaky with severe dengue. Additionally, the quantity of platelets in your blood decreases. Shock, internal bleeding, organ failure, and even death may result from this.

There can be speedy development of severe dengue fever warning signs, which is a life-threatening emergency. The warning signals, which may include the following, may appear within the first day or two after your fever has subsided.

  • Severe stomach pain
  • continual vomiting
  • bleeding from the nose or gums
  • Having blood in your faeces, urine, or vomit
  • under-the-skin bleeding that may resemble bruises
  • arduous or quick
  • Fatigue
  • Easily irritated or restless

Causes

Any one of the four dengue virus types can cause dengue fever. Being around someone who has dengue fever won’t cause you to catch it. In contrast, mosquito bites are how dengue disease is transmitted.

There are two mosquito species that carry dengue viruses most frequently are widespread in and around residential areas. The dengue virus enters the mosquito when it bites a person who is afflicted with it. The virus then enters the bloodstream of the person who is bitten by the infected mosquito. This can produces an infection.

Once you have recovered from dengue fever, you are immune to the virus type that caused your infection for life, but not to the other three types that cause dengue fever. This implies that one of the other three virus types could infect you once more in the future. In the event that you contract dengue fever a second, third, or fourth time, your risk of acquiring severe dengue fever rises.

Risk elements

You are more likely to have dengue fever or a more severe version of the illness, if,

You frequent or reside in tropical locales. A higher risk of contracting the virus that causes dengue fever exist if you live in tropical or subtropical regions. Southeast Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America, and Africa are regions with very high risk.

You’ve previously experienced dengue fever. If you have already had dengue fever, you are more likely to experience severe symptoms if you contract the virus again.

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