Category: Health Problems

Also called hypervitaminosis A, Vitamin A toxicity describes the toxic effects that occur when there is too much preformed vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that gets stored in the body in the form of retinol. Retinol acts as a storage form of vitamin A, which can be converted

Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer that affects the linings of the blood vessels of lymphatic channels in persons with a lowered immunity typically patients with HIV infection. Types of Kaposi's sarcoma Classic Kaposi's sarcoma is rare and affects elderly men of Mediterranean or Ashkenazi Jewish origin. Endemic or African Kaposi's sarcoma affects young adults living

Anemia is due to lack of haemoglobin in the blood which is below the normal level or due to less than normal levels of red blood cells in blood. The haemoglobin helps carry oxygen in blood. Lack of haemoglobin thus causes deficiency of life giving oxygen to vital organs. (1-4) Types of anemia There are

The symptoms of sarcoidosis vary significantly between patients due to the size, number and location of the nodules that characterize the health condition. There may be one area of the body that is most affected – usually the lungs and chest area – or several body organs that may lead to specific symptoms. Some people

Chlamydia infection is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world. Mode of transmission The infection spreads from infected individuals to their sexual partners via unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sexual intercourse. Sharing unwashed sex toys or those that are not covered with a

When radiation therapy is used to treat cancerous cells in the body, it is important to measure the dose correctly to avoid unnecessary damage to normal cells in the body. Radiation is not selective to tumor cells and targets any cells that are in the process of replication when the therapy is applied, which accounts

There is currently no specific vaccine to protect people against the Zika virus or any specific antiviral drug treatment for people who are infected with the virus already. Patients are advised to use medications that can help to alleviate the symptoms that they have. Around 20% of the people that become infected with the Zika

Usher syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects approximately 1 in 25,000 babies born and causes hearing and vision loss, often accompanied by balance problems. The syndrome accounts for 3-6% of all deaf children. Hearing loss usually presents first, although the speed of progression to deafness can vary greatly between individuals. Retinitis pigmentosa initially

Several misconceptions and myths surround the topic of color vision deficiency. One common misunderstanding is that color blind individuals mistake one color for another, such as seeing red when others see green or vice versa. Instead, people who are color blind cannot distinguish colors at all and the world they see is made up of

Low blood sugar is referred to as hypoglycaemia. It is the most common and most dangerous condition for many people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This occurs when the blood glucose drops below the normal level. Levels of blood glucose below 70 mg/dl are considered below normal according to the American Diabetes

Good Parkinson’s disease care The Department of Health in the United Kingdom developed a National Service Framework (NSF) for the management and handling of long term nerve related disorders like Parkinson’s disease. The NSF allows health and social care professionals to plan and deliver services that are quicker and easier to access and use, matched

Sudden cardiac death usually occurs due to changes in the heart that alter the electrical signaling to cause arrhythmias. The irregular heartbeat increases the risk of dangerous circumstances and sudden cardiac death. Ventricular Fibrillation The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation, which is a type of arrhythmia. This involves abnormal function

Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), a drug that is used to reduce acid secretion in the stomach. There are several different brand names for esomeprazole including Nexium, Essocam and Esmezol. The molecule is developed and marketed by AstraZeneca. Esomeprazole is the more active, S-isomer or S-enantiomer of the PPI omeprazole (the R-isomer), which

Meningitis, especially caused by certain bacteria and viruses, is preventable with vaccinations and prophylactic or preventable antibiotics and medications among those who have been exposed to the infection. Vaccinations may be against routine infections as part of the child’s immunization programme or they may be age and immunity specific and specific for travellers to regions

Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that may affect various organs. It is derived from the word “adeno” meaning ‘pertaining to a gland’ and “carcinoma” meaning cancer. What is cancer? Every cell in the body has a tightly regulated system that dictates when it needs to grow, mature and eventually die off. Cancer occurs when

Dementia occurs due to loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It can affect several brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, planning, behavior and judgement. Dementias are usually progressive and worsen with time. They usually are degenerative and non reversible. ©Alexilusmedical / Shutterstock.com Types of dementia Alzheimer's disease is the most common

Oxygen therapy may be administered in several ways, using several different types of devices. Oxygen therapy may be needed on an emergency basis in an acute setting or on a long-term basis in the home management of chronic illness. Increasing the amount of oxygen supplied to the lungs can benefit the patient by making more

Mesothelioma is considered a signal tumor for asbestos exposure which typically occurs decades after the first exposure to asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma laws were created in order to ensure that victims are adequately compensated by their employers if they have been exposed to it in the workplace. A majority of these cases are thought to be

Diabetic coma is a dangerous condition that can lead to unconsciousness and even death. Diabetic coma may affect 2% to 15% of all diabetics at least once in their lifetime and the condition that most commonly causes the coma is severe hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar. There are three main causes of coma in people

Although the early stages of tooth decay are amenable to treatment, the advanced stages may lead to tooth loss along with a host of other complications. The basic tenet for treating tooth decay is therefore early identification of the problem, when the tooth can still be salvaged. In the early stages of tooth decay, for