By Medical Edge may 16, 2011 12:00 AM

Dear Mayo Clinic: My twin brother has internal bleeding caused by hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. please explain this disease and how it can be diagnosed and treated. should he be seeing a specialist for treatment or monitoring? our mother died from this after numerous transfusions.

Reply: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an uncommon inherited disorder that affects blood vessels. a diagnosis of HHT is based on an assessment of symptoms, examination findings and genetic testing. Currently there’s no cure, but in many cases the symptoms can be effectively managed.

HHT involves blood vessels that don’t form properly. in people with the disorder, most of the body’s blood vessels are normal. But some networks of blood vessels that join arteries to veins (capillaries) are either missing or poorly formed, so they can’t do their job of filtering the blood that passes between arteries and veins. in small blood vessels, these malformations are called telangiectases. when they occur in larger vessels, they’re called arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Patients with HHT have both kinds of malformations.

Telangiectases and AVMs bleed easily, leading to a variety of symptoms that depend on where the blood vessel abnormality is located. Areas most often affected are the nose; skin of the face, hands and mouth; lining of the stomach and intestines; lungs, liver and brain. Recurrent nosebleeds are the most common HHT symptom. Many people with the disorder also develop small spots on their skin (external telangiectases), typically on the fingertips, lips and mouth.

Although HHT is not usually life-threatening, in some areas of the body — especially the lungs, brain and liver — these blood vessel abnormalities can be serious because they may result in undetected internal bleeding, infection or low oxygen levels. The severity of HHT often varies significantly from person to person, even within families.

The clinical criteria for an HHT diagnosis include: nosebleeds, a family history of nosebleeds or blood vessel abnormalities, AVMs in internal organs such as the brain, lungs, gastrointestinal tract or liver, and external telangiectases. Genetic testing is generally only helpful after HHT has first been confirmed in a family based on symptoms and physical exam findings. thus, the first step in a diagnosis should be to work with a professional genetic counselor to review and assess a detailed family medical history. That assessment determines whether genetic testing may be helpful and, if so, which family members should be tested.

At this time, the vessel malformations of HHT cannot be prevented or cured. Current treatments are designed to stop or prevent the problems that telangiectases and AVMs can cause. HHT treatment depends on which part of the body is affected, and the problems that result. Although no cure exists, much can be done to treat the symptoms and avoid serious outcomes that may result from telangiectases and AVMs.

People who have HHT, like your brother, should seek treatment at a medical center familiar with this disorder. Because the disorder is uncommon, finding a specialist in HHT can be difficult. in the United States, 12 HHT treatment centers, including Mayo Clinic, are designated by the HHT Foundation International for their ability to diagnose and treat all aspects of the disorder. If possible, your brother should be evaluated at least once at one of these treatment centers. for locations and contact information, refer to the HHT Foundation International website at hht.org.

If your brother does not live near an HHT center and cannot find a local HHT expert for ongoing monitoring, he should work with a doctor who’s willing to learn more about the disorder and to collaborate with an expert to provide the best possible care. — Karen Swanson, D.O., Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic

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Bone cancer different types of cancer are a subcategory of cancers which afflict the bones. there is normally two ways in which cancerous muscle may affect the bones. they’re called key and secondary bone cancer respectively. the important thing type of bone cancer is bone cancer type of cancer which arises from the muscle of the bone itself. in secondary bone cancer, cancer muscle from another part of the body, like the liver or even the ovary, seed in the bone marrow and create secondaries there. you will need to ascertain once the type of bone cancer is key or secondary on consideration of the reality that treatment is directed in the concentrate of the cancer muscle in most cases.

The different bone cancer different types of secondary cancer that an individual may find is normally from the cancerous muscle in the breast, prostate, lung, kidney or thyroid. This is by much the commonest type of bone cancer. it is caused by metastases once the cancer muscle in the original site of cancer break aside and seed in the bone marrow. they reach the bone marrow by implies of the blood vessels stream. The metastatic muscle produce secondaries in the bone and make the bones brittle. This make the bones susceptible to fractures. Secondary foci might also affect the capacity of the bone marrow to produce the blood vessels cells. The final result is normally anemia, an greater susceptibility to infections and a bleeding tendency.

Primary bone cancer different types of cancer are of different varieties. The varieties commonly witnessed include osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, chondrosarcoma and Spindle cell sarcoma. These varieties are dependent for the type of cell impacted and the persona of the tumor. The osteosarcoma is by much the commonest key bone cancer. This tumor has a predilection for further youthful ages and is well-known in small children and teenagers. The sites where by osteosarcomas are commonly found are the reduce thigh, upper shin bone, upper equip and reduce shin bone in reducing select of frequency.

Ewing’s sarcoma is another type of bone cancer, type of cancer getting primary. This sarcoma arises from the soft tissues in the bone. The soft muscle normally pertains to the connective muscle in the bone. This cancer is named quickly following the doctor who original described it. The cancer is well-known in teenagers. The regular sites for this cancer are the pelvic, thigh or shin bones. Contrast this cancer to the chondrosarcoma which is well-known in center age. This type of cancer influences the catilage producing muscle in the bone. it is a reasonably slow growing cancer and is normally witnessed is a pelvis, thigh bone, upper arm, glenohumeral joint blade or ribs.

The last type of bone cancer type of cancer is spindle cell sarcoma. These cancers are additional differentiated different types of osteosarcoma and is normally considered as because the adult versions of osteosarcomas. an individual can find 4 different types of spindle cell sarcoma: undifferentiated sarcoma of bone, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma.of these the undifferentiated sarcoma of bone will not have any special cell lineage and this undifferentiation can allow it to be complicated to predict what type of cancer muscle will originate from it.

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

High blood pressure can be caused by a number of reasons. Most of the reasons are quite known and sound rather familiar. However, there are still others that are not as common. Among such uncommon blood pressure causes, one is kidney problem. in fact, kidneys have an important role to play in maintaining blood pressure.

It is a cause of worry when the flow of blood to one of the kidneys is somehow reduced. the kidneys, in response to this reduction in the blood flow, release a hormone called ‘angiotensin.’ this constricts the blood vessels and the blood pressure shoots up.

This kidney problem is better understood when the way angiotensin is made is understood. Produced by angiotensinogen, it is an alpha-2-globulin released by the liver, and around 453 amino acids go into its making.

When the blood pressure is low, renin produces angiotensin I, which turns into angiotensin II. it is the presence of angiotensin II that makes the blood pressure rise. Arteries constrict due to angiotensin II, besides blood clots are also promoted due to platelets aggression, which promotes blood clots.

Angiotensin II is also responsible for increase in kidneys’ sodium absorption. this further worsens the blood pressure condition. it is basically an attempt on body’s part to increase the blood flow to kidney. and when the body succeeds, which it makes sure it does, you see your blood pressure reading skyrocket.

Apart from the above-mentioned ailment, there is another kind of kidney problem leading to high blood pressure. this normally afflicts the younger people, like the teenagers. it is called renovascular hypertension. it is caused when the renal arteries leading to the kidneys get narrow naturally. the renin is, thus, released and the above-mentioned cycle leading to high blood pressure is set in motion.

That was the problem part. Coming to the solution part, we all tend to pin our hopes to medication and so when things start going wrong with our blood pressure we rush to the nearest chemist. that is not the right thing to do. it is the doctor that you must consult and take the medication only when he prescribes and only those that he asks you to take.

Q. I had prostate cancer two years ago and went through 42 radiation treatments. The result of this is colon and rectum damage. I’m still passing a lot of blood. I was told there isn’t much treatment to help this problem. What is your opinion? is there any medicine that could help?

A Your complication of radiation therapy is called radiation proctitis (prock-TIE-tiss). Only a thin layer of tissue separates the rectum from the prostate gland. some radiation is bound to pass into the rectum and damage the rectal lining. that causes pain and bleeding. it appears within six weeks of treatment and lasts for a year or so. usually, it resolves on its own.

However, chronic radiation proctitis appears nine to 14 months after treatment. The lining of the rectum is quite severely injured, and the rectum is scarred. some blood vessels are lost; others become fragile and bleed. Diarrhea, rectal pain, loss of rectal control, bleeding and bowel obstruction are some of the possible complications. It’s a difficult condition to have, and it’s a difficult condition to treat.

If stool has become hard and difficult to evacuate, stool softeners are helpful. If the rectum has become so narrow stool cannot exit, a doctor can dilate the rectum with balloons. Rectal enemas containing prednisolone (a cortisone drug) along with oral sulfasalazine often bring some relief.

Hyperbaric oxygen has been used. However, the equipment needed to administer oxygen under pressure isn’t widely available. Surgery might be needed for symptoms that are not improving.

The doctor who was in charge of your treatment ought to know what is available in your area. Medical people are on guard to prevent this, but it is not always preventable.

Q. I was surprised to find a topic in your column that directly relates to the work I do. A reader, identified as A.S., shared that she had been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and was having problems obtaining the medication her doctor had prescribed. The problem was that out-of-pocket costs were too expensive. The letter hit home. I work for a charitable organization that provides financial assistance to people in her situation, and her illness, pulmonary hypertension, is one of the diseases we support. our address is: Caring Voice Coalition, 8249 Meadowbridge Road, Mechanicsville, Va., 23116, 888-267-1440, caringvoice.org. would you please pass along this information.

A. Thank you for your letter. I was unaware of your organization. I will mention it as many times as I can. Illnesses covered by Caring Voice are alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, chronic granulomatous disorder, complex partial seizures, Huntington’s disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, infantile spasms and pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). Grants are available only to U.S. citizens.

Q. My son is due for surgery on an umbilical hernia. I am worried. I’d like to know more about it, including recovery time. He lives on the West Coast, and I live on the East Coast.

A. All hernias are a protrusion of abdominal tissues or abdominal organs through a defect in the abdominal wall. The abdominal wall includes muscles and ligaments. Umbilical (bellybutton) hernias are common in infants. They often correct themselves. Umbilical hernias that develop in adulthood require surgery if they are large or painful.

The operation should not take your son off his feet for any length of time. Unless he does heavy physical labor, he might be back to work in two or three weeks.

It’s touching to hear from a woman who hasn’t lost her maternal instincts for a grown adult who lives thousands of miles away.

Q. My doctor showed me my X-rays. My neck bones, he said, are reversed, and my spine bones look like an accordion. He wants to give me three treatments a week, which will cost $3,000 a year. He also says I have the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. I am 66. I manage to do things, but it is painful. will this condition worsen without treatment? will I end up in a wheelchair? could I simply remain the same as now?

A. I don’t know what the doctor means when he says your neck bones are reversed and your spine looks like an accordion. I wouldn’t consider three weekly treatments that amount to a yearly output of $3,000 without seeking a second opinion. If you want a specialist, see a rheumatologist or an orthopedic surgeon.

I suspect you have osteo-arthritis of the spine, a condition that happens to many, many people with age. it hardly ever progresses to the point where a patient requires a wheelchair. You’re more likely to remain just as you are. Osteoarthritis progresses slowly for most people. Incidentally, MS usually starts at much younger ages.

Write to Dr. Donohue at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

The CT or CAT scan is an acronym for computerised axial tomography scan, and it?s now a tool regularly used in diagnosis.

THERE have been exponential advances in medicine in the last five decades, both in diagnostics and therapeutics. This has been made possible through technological discoveries or improvements in other fields of human activity. The CT or CAT scan is one such example.

CT or CAT scan is an acronym for computerised axial tomography scan. The images in a CT scan are created through x-rays and a computer system. Anyone who has seen the images of a CT scan, whether in film or digital form, cannot but marvel at its detail and comprehensiveness.

The CT scan is a large ring-shaped medical device which produces a series of x-ray beams as it rotates around the body in small movements. Images are built up of the various parts of the body scanned during this process. These images, which are called tomograms, are of greater detail than that of ordinary x-rays, which uses a single x-ray beam only. The CT scan can produce images of various body parts like the organs in the chest and abdomen, blood vessels and bones.

Full disclosure: Anyone who has seen the images of a CT scan, whether in film or digital form, cannot but marvel at its detail and comprehensiveness.

A more sophisticated CT scan is the spiral or helical scan, which is faster than the standard CT scan. The x-ray beam in this scan rotates around the body part being scanned in a spiral fashion and produces continuous images.

CT scans are used in the diagnosis and evaluation of many conditions as well as the monitoring of treatment. The procedure is painless and the time taken varies, depending on the body part that is scanned and whether a standard or spiral scan is used.

Standard scans usually take between 10 to 30 minutes. Spiral scans take a shorter time.

Preparations

There is a standard operating procedure whenever a CT scan is ordered. The patient will be asked about his or her medical condition, consumption of medicines, history of allergies, and the possibility of pregnancy in women in the reproductive age group.

In general, CT scans are not done in pregnant women unless there are medical or surgical conditions that require evaluation and/or treatment. This is because of the slight possibility that x-rays may harm the developing foetus. Children are more susceptible to radiation risks than adults. as such, CT scans are only done if the child has a serious condition which is of greater risk than the CT scan.

Any jewellery or metal on the body has to be removed because they interfere with the scanning process. Hair clips, dentures, contact lenses and hearing aids will also have to be removed, particularly if the head is to be scanned.

The patient will be asked to change into a hospital gown.

Some people have a fear of being closed in without means of escape (claustrophobia, which is derived from the Latin word claustrum, which means ?the shut in place?, and Greek word phobos, which means ?fear?). having a CT scan can be claustrophobic. If one has this problem or an anxiety about the scan, one should inform the staff when making the appointment. This is usually addressed by advice and information or the prescription of a sedative to be taken prior to the scan. It is advisable to arrange for a relative or friend to drive if one is going to take a sedative.

The scan

A patient having a CT scan will be asked to lie on a bed that automatically moves in and out of the hollow part of the CT scanner, which is shaped like a large ring. Images will only be taken of the body part that is inside the ring.

After adjusting the position of the bed to ensure that the exact part of the body is in the ring of the CT scanner, the radiographer or radiologist will leave the examination room. he or she will carry out the scanning from a control room, which has a window with full view of the patient. The reason is to reduce the radiation exposure to staff carrying out x-rays daily. Communication with the staff in the control room during the scan will be through an intercom.

The patient will be requested to be still and breathe normally to prevent any blurring of the images taken. one may be asked to breathe in, breathe out or to hold the breath at certain stage(s) of the procedure.

The x-ray in the ring of the CT scan rotates around the patient, taking images as it does so. with the completion of each rotation, the bed on which the patient is lying is moved forward a little bit and the cycle continues until the examination of the body part required is completed.

Sometimes, a contrast medium may be given to a patient who has a CT scan. The medium contains a dye which enhances the quality of the x-ray images of certain body parts. It may be injected into a blood vessel, swallowed as a drink or inserted into the rectum, depending on the body part that is being scanned.

Some patients experience a warm sensation with the injection of contrast medium. This is not abnormal and will resolve by itself rapidly. The contrast media used in CT scans are usually harmless and are excreted from the body in the urine. however, some patients may develop an allergic reaction to the contrast medium, causing complication; hence the importance of informing the radiologist or radiographer of any previous allergies.

The many x-ray images taken will be stored in a computer system. The radiologist will study and analyse the images taken on a monitor screen from various angles and then write a report for the doctor who ordered the CT scan.

With the completion of the CT scan, one can leave the hospital. It is advisable to ask the staff when to expect the results and to confirm one?s appointment with the doctor who ordered the scan.

Uses

CT scans provide information about various conditions, both in its diagnosis and evaluation as well as the monitoring of treatment. Sometimes, they may help in the diagnosis of an unsuspected condition.

The uses of CT scans are myriad and include:

> Head scans after a stroke and for suspected bleeding, swelling of arteries and tumours;

> Chest scans to assess lung and heart conditions;

> Abdominal scans in conditions affecting the liver, gall bladder, spleen, pancreas, intestines;

> Pelvic scans in conditions affecting the female reproductive tract and intestines;

> Blood vessel scans to assess blood flow in various parts of the body;

> Bone scans in conditions affecting bone;

> Guide for biopsies;

> Planning for radiotherapy; and

> Monitoring effects of treatment.

Risks

The exposure to radiation during a CT scan is generally at levels that are safe and insufficient to cause harm to a patient.

A report from the Clinical Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Imaging of the United Kingdom estimated that a typical CT scan of the abdomen or pelvis of everyone in the population would lead to a theoretical lifetime risk of radiation induced fatal cancer of about one in 2,000 (0.05%). This compares with the normal spontaneous risk of fatal cancer of about one in four (25%).

As with all things in medicine, one has to always consider the benefits and the risks of any intervention. If a CT scan is used in the diagnosis of a medical or surgical condition or to monitor treatment, the benefits will outweigh the potential risk.

However, if one has no symptoms, the risk of a CT scan increases because it may lead to additional tests which are unnecessary. as CT scans are not 100% accurate, there is also the possibility of undue alarm or false reassurance.

The benefits and risks must always be considered before having a CT scan. Doctors recommend that CT scans are done for medical reasons only and not for screening purposes.

Dr Milton Lum is a member of the board of Medical Defence Malaysia. This article is not intended to replace, dictate or define evaluation by a qualified doctor. The views expressed do not represent that of any organisation the writer is associated with.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – A pregnancy hormone that relaxes blood vessels appeared to reduce symptoms of acute heart failure and improve survival, according to a preliminary study released by U.S. researchers on Sunday.

They said the hormone relaxin, which is being developed by privately held Corthera Inc of California, was safe, and showed signs of reducing the risk of death from heart problems during the study.

The findings suggest that "early administration of this drug, in addition to standard therapy, might be associated with more rapid, sustained and complete resolution of acute heart failure, as well as with more favorable long-term outcomes," John Teerlink of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues wrote in the journal Lancet.

"if established in larger studies, the benefits of relaxin might represent an important advance in the treatment of patients with acute heart failure," the researchers wrote.

In pregnancy, the hormone helps relax and lengthen the cervix to prepare for childbirth, but it is also thought to be a natural vasodilator, widening blood vessels and allowing blood to flow more freely.

Vasodilators are often given to people with high blood pressure, which is common in heart failure, a condition in which the heart gradually loses its ability to pump blood efficiently, leaving organs starved for oxygen.

Teerlink and colleagues studied 234 elderly patients with heart failure and high blood pressure who were given either a 48-hour intravenous infusion of the drug or a placebo.

They found it was safe and helped to reduce shortness of breath in 40 percent of patients who received a moderate dose of the drug, compared with 23 percent who took a placebo.

It also reduced the number of patients in the study who died from heart problems or were readmitted to the hospital within two months for kidney failure compared with the placebo, according to the results, which were also presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Florida.

An estimated 5.3 million Americans have heart failure, a chronic but often deadly condition that will cost $34.8 billion this year for direct and indirect U.S. treatment costs, according to the American Heart Association.

© Copyright (c) Reuters

Source: Content partner // IRIN

PHNOM PENH, 7 February 2011 (IRIN) – When 46-year-old Cambodian motorbike taxi driver Gao Savvy broke his leg, he did not realize he would have to have it amputated, but he has had diabetes for five years and recently developed a condition called stenosis, a narrowing of the blood vessels, meaning doctors had no option but to amputate the injured leg.

“Now I only have my wife to take care of me. I don’t know what we’ll do next,” said Gao, who earned just US$50 a month.

Rapid lifestyle changes over the past two decades combined with poverty in Cambodia (according to government statistics, a third of the population lives below the national poverty line of 75 US cents a day) mean diabetes has become a major health problem.

The number of people with the disease is rising: Of the country’s 14.5 million inhabitants, about 352,000 adults live with diabetes, according to the 2009 Diabetes Atlas [ diabetesatlas.org/ ] published by the Belgium-based International Diabetes Federation. [ diabetesatlas.org/content/wp-data ]

In 2005, about 255,000 people suffered from diabetes, according to an article published that year in the Lancet, [ thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(05)67662-3/abstract ] a UK-based medical journal. Two-thirds of all cases went undiagnosed before the survey.

In 2010, Cambodia had about 8,000 diabetes-related deaths, according to the International Diabetes Federation. By contrast, the government records more than 200 malaria deaths per year, and has calculated over 1,000 HIV/AIDS-related deaths each year since the most recent prevalence data were collected in 2006.

“It’s a silent killer,” said Lim Keuky, an author of the 2005 study and head of the Cambodian Diabetes Association. “you don’t know about it until the symptoms appear, and then it might already be too late.”

Keuky’s study found a surprisingly high prevalence (5 percent) in Siem Reap, a province in the northwest, and 11 percent in Kampong Cham Province in eastern-central Cambodia.

The relatively high rates of diabetes in Cambodia were surprising, the study said, given that the country is poor, and lifestyles are still fairly traditional.

However, economic growth and urbanization mean many of Cambodia’s poor are eating processed food and not exercising enough, according to Denmark-based NGO the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF). [ worlddiabetesfoundation.org/ ]

These lifestyle changes have taken place on top of the hunger and desolation of the 1980s, the group said. [ worlddiabetesfoundation.org/composite-1183.htm ]

“most processed and unhealthy food is the cheapest option while healthy foods have become increasingly costly and beyond the reach of the poor, so the poor have no control over the risk factors,” said WDF head Anil Kapur.

Meanwhile, campaigners say diabetes is not getting enough attention from international donors.

“Foremost is the misconception among donor agencies that these [non-communicable] diseases are diseases related to affluence, and do not affect the poor, which is completely untrue,” Kapur told IRIN.

About 80 percent of all diabetes cases are in low- and middle-income countries, affecting mostly people aged 45-64, says the World Health Organization (WHO).

Globally, about four million deaths are attributed to diabetes every year, compared to three million for AIDS-related illnesses and one million for malaria. Diabetes is responsible for about 5 percent of all deaths globally each year and the figure could rise by more than 50 percent in the next 10 years if urgent action is not taken, says WHO.

According to new research published by the Lancet, [ irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=91723 ] chronic diseases such as diabetes could kill up to 4.2 million people annually in Southeast Asia by the year 2030.

© IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: IRINnews.org

The most frequent piles signals or symptoms will often be indistinct and will be very confusing. this implies that they could be signals or symptoms of other diseases and must not be mistaken for the other. when you finally feel these symptoms, you must consult a family doctor immediately.The pursuing are the most frequent piles symptoms.1. blood loss through bowel movement- piles are characteristically because of weakening of blood vessels vessels in the anal and rectal region of the body. As a result, a slight blood loss may very correctly be achievable because of collapse of the blood vessels vessels. but once the blood loss becomes severe and never- ending, this constitutes a medical crisis and could be treated right away. Also, some diseases may very correctly induce rectal blood loss like swelling of the intestines, cracks in the anus and even cancer. make sure appropriate diagnosis is made for accurate treatment.2.Pain- piles that block the anus may very correctly tend to swell that brings about pain and discomfort. a severe pain is definitely an indication that the blood vessels supply to the anus is getting reduce off.3. Incomplete bowel movements- after passing stools, there is even now the urge of having a bowel activity again. the reason being of swelling of the piles that touches the end component of the large intestine that brings about the feeling.4. Itching- the reason being of substance that internal piles may very correctly secrete. this mucus irritates the anal opening leading to itchiness and irritation.It can be quite critical that the piles signals or symptoms be identified and treated immediately so it could be prevented from worsening.

Cancer Health

Warning signs and symptoms, and cancer in the body that something is wrong in different parts of the body can cause many signs and symptoms is indicative. spreads to other parts of the body is enlarged as they could be taken before the cancer is detected early, it increases the chances of survival. In some cases, cancer can begin to grow or to suppress the body or blood vessels, organs or spread to cause the removal of the occupation timeThis is causing the symptoms or warning signs of nerves.

until it becomes large enough, as the spread of cancer and cancer to other parts of the body, such as pancreatic cancer, these symptoms may not occur until it has reached an advanced stage, however, in some cases, these symptoms can be. It gives them the best chance for early treatment and cure of many cancers, but the warning signs and be aware of them and act.

This is the medical guidecancer, the cancer can be a sign you will learn some basic warning signs, but it is definitely one of those signs or symptoms that may indicate any of these symptoms does not mean you have cancer is important to highlight some of the other diseases and disorders, but nothing should be checked by a doctor as soon as Ci.

Cancer early warning signs and symptoms

Fatigue, skin changes and weight loss

but you should check with your doctor if you are getting enough reststill constantly tired or weak, this leukemia, certain cancers, including cancer of the stomach or colon may be a similar warning.

if you have unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more, esophagus, lung, stomach or pancreatic cancer may be an indication. any changes in the skin to show through skin symptoms and other specific cancers such as skin cancer can be a symptom. these changes include:

• skin redness • Itching • Hairovergrowth including eyes, skin Jaundice • Jaundice • changes in skin pigmentation or darkening of the skin

Fever, headache and pain

But cancer is a common symptom in patients with fever usually occurs in later stages of cancer has grown or spread. can affect the body, such as cancer treatment or cancer or undergoing cancer treatments at some point the majority of people will develop a feverstrengthens the immune system. some cancers such as lymphoma or leukemia, this may be an early warning sign.

the pain is caused by certain types of cancer that has metastasized, or spread most commonly when the show later stages of cancer. Brain tumors can cause a persistent headache. back pain and sometimes the rectum, colon, or ovarian cancer can be a symptom. the warning signs of testicular cancer may sometimes, or bone pain.

In general, the majority of casesThis is because the symptoms are not cancer, but can cause these symptoms, and any doctor can determine which treatment is needed to be checked by an expert, especially for an extended period of time.

Cancer early warning signs and symptoms

Modern medicine has not been able to find an actual cause for migraine headaches.. For many years it was believed that migraines were vascular or blood vessel dilation headaches. the theory was that blood vessels were suddenly dilated around the head causing severe pain. Currently, it is believed that migraines result from some type of disturbance in the central nervous system. This disturbance causes a series of chemical changes in the brain, which results in dilation of blood vessels, pain and other symptoms. since migraine involves much more than pain, the other symptoms seem to be directly related to the brain. Studies have shown that the brains of people who suffer from migraines are more excitable and behave differently than the brains of those who don’t have migraines the visual and sound receptors of the brain appear to be much more excitable in migraine patients. it is felt that inflammation of the covering of the brain or blood vessels is the cause of the throbbing pain. the nerve endings in migraine sufferers have been shown to release inflammatory proteins around the blood vessels and covering of the brain, thus causing pain.

A study by a German researcher named Dr. Hans-Christop Diener of migraines in men took place in 1995. they used a PET scanner to determine what was happening in the brain during their headaches. the PET scans showed an area in the lower part of the brain (the brainstem) where the nerve cells were activated at the start of a migraine, stayed activated throughout the headache, and shut off at the end of the headache. Dr. Diener developed the term “migraine generator” for this area because he believed it to be the part of the brain where the migraine begins. the migraine generator connects to nerve fibers leading to the covering of the brain known as the meninges. these fibers connect to other fibers that surround and stimulate the blood vessels of the meniges ( lining around the brain). This results in dilation of the vessels and the nerves release inflammatory chemicals around the vessels. the dilation combined with the inflammatory chemicals result in the pain of migraine. the system that connects the migraine generator, the blood vessels of the meninges, and the nerves is called the Trigeminovascular system. the Trigeminal nerve is the cranial nerve that plays a major role in this system. it has been shown that stimulating this nerve can help relax the muscles that cause the actual pressure and tension of the headache.

Migraine headaches are probably the most well known type of severe headache. they can occur at any age, but are generally more common in women than in men. Women usually experience migraine between age 40 and 45 whereas men start at a younger age of 30 to 40. there are a variety of different types of migraines. the International Headache society recognizes two major categories of migraine: migraine with aura, which are those that include some type of visual disturbance (previously known as “Classic” migraine and migraine without aura (previously known as “common” migraine.)

Migraine without Aura-As mentioned, this was previously known as a “common” migraine. these headaches usually last from 4 hours to 3 days. Symptoms usually include some or all of the following: unilateral headache, pulsating pain, moderate to severe pain that interferes with the person’s ability to function normally, the pain is made worse by any type of physical activity, there is usually nausea and/or vomiting, and the patient will often have light and/or sound sensitivity. Sinus problems and congestion are common complaints with many migraine sufferers. Yet, when examined, there is usually not any sign of an inflammatory problem or infection in the sinus. Many sufferers also complain of upper back and neck stiffness.

Migraine with Aura is the name given to what was previously known as Classic migraine.. This is applied to a migraine where a physical warning sign of some type occurs before the headache. the aura is usually visual and occurs 5 to 20 minutes before the actual headache, and can last up to 60 minutes.some times the aura will last thru the entire headache. the most common aura symptoms range from visual floaters to moving figures, blind spots, distorted objects and even hallucinations. We know from electrical activity studies that migraine aura is caused by an increase in electrical activity that moves across the brain’s surface, which is followed by a loss of electrical activity. During this period there is increased blood flow followed by decreased blood flow, which is not the result of vessel Contraction. This results in the visual aura. Migraine treatment has to address this electrical activity change.

There is another type of migraine with Aura known as Basilar migraine. with this type of headache, the aura before the head ache may include double vision, temporary blindness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and even fainting. Although the symptoms are extremely scary to the individual, it is not worse than a regular migraine. This type of migraine is seen most often in teenage girls. though it can occur at any age.

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