Diagnosis of Allergies

Besides a thorough medical history, the doctor will perform a number of skin tests and/or a blood test called Radio Allergo Sorbent Test (RAST). There are three skin tests used to evaluate and diagnose allergies, the prick method, the intramural test and the patch test:
The prick method is the most common type of skin test. This test is done by placing a drop of allergen extract on the skin on the back and passing a needle through the extract and making a tiny puncture in the skin. If allergic to the allergen a hive will appear at the site of the puncture within about 15 minutes. The doctor can perform multiple prick tests with varying allergen extracts simultaneously.
If the patient is allergic, the skin will become red and peel. When skin testing is not feasible, as in the case of people
with eczema and other skin conditions, RAST (blood test) is used. Diagnostic tests can be done by using a blood sample
from a patient to detect the levels of IgE antibody to a particular allergen.

Treatment

Wear a pollen mask when mowing the grass or housecleaning.

windows and doors closed during heavy pollination

Wash sheets, mattress pad and blankets weekly in hot water {at least 13°F).

Remove carpets and upholstered furniture (drastic measure).  



Medication

When avoidance or control of an allergen isnt possible, medications may be necessary. Common allergy medications are:
Decongestants: administered via spray or orally to unclog nasal passages. Examples of spray decongestants are oxymetazoline (Afrin) and phenylephrine (Vicks Sinex). Other medications or brands may be recommended by your doctor or pharmacist. Oral decongestants include pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and combinations of decongestants and analgesics.
Steroid nasal sprays: administered via spray to mute the inflammatory response. Medications include fluticonase (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), triamcinolone (Nasocort), and beclomethasone (Beconase, Vancenase).
Antihistamines: drugs that block the action of histamine, which is responsible for allergic symptoms.
Short-acting antihistamines, which are generally over-the-counter (non-prescription), often relieve mild to moderate symptoms, but can cause drowsiness. A pediatrician should be consulted before using these medicines in children, as they may affect learning.
Longer-acting antihistamines cause less drowsiness, can be equally effective, and usually do not interfere with learning. These medications, which require a prescription, include fexofenadine (Allegra), and cetirizine (Zyrtec).

Cromoglycate (Nalcrom)or related agents: administered mostly as eyedrops or nasal sprays to help prevent attacks

Allergies

Allergies are abnormal reactions to ordinarily harmless substances. The sensitizing substances, called allergens, may be inhaled, swallowed, or come into contact with the skin.

Allergens that most frequently cause problems are: pollens, mold spores, house dust.mites, animal dander, foods, insect bites or stings, plants, insect spores, latex rubber, viruses, bacteria, medications and environmental conditions (luch as cold temperatures). Allergic reactions can occur in one area, such as sneezing or ikln rash or sneezing, or mnv Include more than one .

Allergies

experience - by encountering, battling and remembering one enemy after another. For decades, medical science has taken advantage of this ability by using vaccination to create immunity - the immunologic memory of a disease. Allergic reactions occur after the immune system mistakenly leams to recognize innocent foreign substances (allergens) as potentially harmful.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS OF ALLERGIES

The fundamental cause of allergy is still not known. The problem has a tendency to run in families. An allergic individuals more likely to have relatives who are allergic than would be expected on the basis of chance, but non-hereditary factors apparently play a part as well. Individuals can be affected by a variety of allergic diseases. The most common allergic diseases are:

Allergic rhinitis is a general term used to apply to anyone who has allergy-based symptoms. Allergic rhinitis can be a seasonal problem allergic rhinitis (commonly known as hay fever or pollen allergy) or a year-round problem (commonly known as perennial allergic rhinitis). Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis is caused by allergy to pollens of trees, grasses, weeds or mold spores. Perennial allergic rhinitis is caused by house dust, animal dander, mold and some foods.

Asthma is caused by intrinsic and extrinsic (inhaled) factors. Intrinsic factors are pollens, dust, dust mites,

animal fur, animal dander or feathers. Extrinsic factors are respiratory infections; a cough, cold or bronchitis; exercise and tobacco smoke or other air pollutants, and can be caused by an allergy to a particular food or medication.
Eczema, also known as allergic dermatitis or atopic dermatitis, can be caused by foods or other allergens.
Contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to certain plants (such as poison ivy or poison oak), cosmetics, medications, metals and chemicals.

Urticaria, also known as hives, is caused by allergy to foods, such as nuts, tomatoes, shellfish and berries. Hives inn also be caused by medications, such as aspirin and penicillin.

SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIES

The signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis are:
ineezing, often accompanied by a runny or clogged nose
coughing and postnasal drip
Itching eyes, nose and throat
ll«raic shiners (dark circles under the eyes caused by
increased blood flow near the sinuses)

the allergic salute (in a child, persistent upward rubbing
l Il* nose that causes a crease mark on the nose)
an inflammation of the membrane that linn* eyelids, causing red-rimmed, swollen eyes and  of the eyelids

The signs and symptoms of asthma are
a feeling of tightness in the chest
breathlessness
coughing   
difficulty inhaling and exhaling
noisy breathing ("wheezing").
The signs and symptoms of eczema, contact dermatitis and urticaria are:
red, itchy skin
inflamed skin
welts (in hives).

Immunotherapy

When avoidance, environmental control measures and medications fail to control allergy symptoms, the doctor may allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots), linmunotherapy involves the injections of allergen extracts to desensitize the person.

Typically, the treatment begins with injections of a weal solution of allergen given one to five times a week, with the gradually increasing. When the maximum dose is l, maintenance injections are given at increasing until the patient receives injections only once a ).
It may take up to six months or so to show results. It iimuillv takes about three to four years for the patient to be Uvv of symptoms.

TREATMENT OF ASTHMA

Anthma treatment involves two major groups of - anti-inflammatories (corticosteroids) and bhmvhodllators.
Anti inflammatories reduce inflammation and lessen of acute asthma attacks. They may be inhaled
A new class of anti-inflammatories called leukotriene inhibitors, including zafirlukast (Accolate) and zileuton (Zyflo), work by inhibiting fatty acids that mediate inflammation from binding to smooth muscle cells lining the airways. These drugs prevent rather than reduce symptoms and are intended for long-term use. Other inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs include cromolyn sodium (Intal) and nedrocromil (Tilade).
Bronchodilators increase the diameter of the air passages and ease the flow to and from the lungs. The short-acting bronchodilators are metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), ephedrine, terbutaline (Brethaire) and albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin). The long-acting bronchodilators include salmeterol (Serevent), metaproterenol (Alupent), and theophylline (Aerolate, Bronkodyl, Slo-phyllin, and Theo-Dur).

Acidity

Hyper-Acidity


Hyper-acidity is mainly caused when hydrochloric acid, an important component of digestive juices is produced in excess. Acidity is quite a simple problem when it begins, but can get out of hand easily. It might even lead to ulcer formation in the digestive tract.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

 occurs when a muscle at the end of the oesophagus does not close properly, allowing irritating stomach contents to leak back into the oesophagus. Symptoms include heartburn and acid indigestion.

SYMPTOMS OF ACIDITY

The main symptoms of acidity are Heartburn and Dyspepsia.
Heartburn is characterized by a deeply placed, burning pain in the chest behind the sternum (breast-bone). It occurs after meals and is precipitated by increase in intra:abdominal pressure like straining or lifting weights. It is more common at night when a person is lying down. Heartburn is usually relieved when the person sits up. The symptoms of ulcers are mainly pain that can be either localized or diffuse. Sometimes it radiates to the back or to the chest.
Dyspepsia is a burning or an aching pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes described as a stabbing sensation penetrating through the gut. In rare cases there may be no pain, but only a feeling of indigestion, fullness, bloating, flatulence or nausea. When the cause is a duodenal ulcer, having a meal usually relieves the pain. But in the case of a gastric ulcer there may be no change, or the pain may become worse after eating. Peptic ulcer disease can sometimes occur without symptoms. Symptoms may also arise when there is no ulcer present, which is known as non-ulcer dyspepsia.

DIAGNOSIS OF ACIDITY

While a doctor may be able to diagnose a simple case of acidity from the medical history, more detailed investigations may be necessary to detect the presence of ulcers in the stomach and the duodenum.
The doctor will take a detailed history of use of drugs such as NSAIDs, a history of family members with ulcers, alcohol consumption and smoking to determine the causes of acidity. 
     .    ,
An assessment of a persons stress level is also important to reach a diagnosis.
A doctor may request an Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy to detect the presence of ulcers.
If Zolhnger-EUison Syndrome is suspected, blood levels of gastrin may be measured.
Barium Meal studies are useful as these may reveal an inflammation, active ulcer craters, or deformities and scarring due to ulcers. In some cases, a doctor may also request a biopsy of an ulcer, to rule out a cancer.

TREATMENT FOR ACIDITY OR ULCER

•The most important part of treatment of acidity, is to identify and avoid the causative factors. Foods that are spicy, salty and acidic should be avoided.


Smoking and alcohol consumption must be stopped.

Avoiding stress and modification of lifestyle may prove

very helpful in treatment of acidity and ulcers,

particularly in those with a nervous and emotional

disposition and people involved in high-stress jobs.

Antacids can provide immediate relief of symptoms by

neutralizing the excess acid secreted.

Early detection of and treatment of ulcers can prevent

complications like perforations. Long term therapy may

be necessary to produce complete healing.

•    Surgical methods like Vagotomy are sometimes used to

control acid secretion.

HOW CAN ACIDITY BE PREVENTED?

Acidity can be prevented by avoiding the known causative factors like alcohol consumption, spicy foods, drugs like NSAIDs, steroids etc. Regular eating habits and a healthy diet can prevent acidity. People with a highly nervous and emotional disposition and those involved in high-stress jobs could opt for a change in their lifestyle and reduce the stress.

HOME REMEDY FOR CONTROL ACIDITY

After the meals, take one piece of Clove (Laung) and suck on it slowly.   This not only gives instantaneous
relief but also helps in reducing the onslaught of diseases arising out of acidity.

Another good remedy is the usage of Jaggery (Gudh) after the meals. About 5 to 10 grams of a Jaggery piece taken after the meats helps in eliminating acidity, Improves digestion and also helps in the expulsion of worms in small children.

A teaspoon of amla (Indian gooseberry) powder diluted in water is also effective. Too much tea and coffee, garlic, onions and excessive smoking should be avoided. Consuming lots of water can aid digestion and help flush out toxins.

Treatment of eczema

Eczema (allergic dermatitis) and contact dermatitis (such as with poison oak or ivy) can be treated with cold compresses for 30 minutes 3 times a day, and/or corticosteroid creams or ointments (topical steroids). Hives (urticaria) can be relieved by applying calamine lotion or by taking type HI antihistamine drugs.

The best home remedy would be a paste of sandalwood and Limejuice. Apply the paste on the affected area. It will relieve you from itching and provide a soothing effect as well.

Application of mashed almond leaves on the affected area would also prove to be effective.

If you do not want to apply anything on the affected area, no problem. Put five grams garden mint in water and make a paste. Filter this mixture and add 12 grams of sugar. Intake this mixture two times a day.
Allergy brings itching along with it. Rub mashed papaya seeds on the affected area to get rid of itching.
Another natural way to cure allergy is to combine lemon juice with coconut oil. Apply this mixture on the affected area.

One of the easiest remedies for allergy comprises of food items that are rich in Vitamin C. Your best bet will be citrus fruits. Put two tablespoons of cider vinegar in a glass of water. Drink this mixture to heal yourself from allergy.
Mix five drops of castor oil with half a cup of any fruit or vegetable juice or plain water. Drink this mixture early morning, on an empty stomach. Carrot juice, combined with beetroot and cucumber juice, effective home remedy for treating allergies.

Loss OF MEMORY

Alzheimers disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Alzheimers is a progressive and fatal brain disease.
It destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life.
It is the most common form of dementia, a general term for the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.

ALZHEIMERS AND THE BRAIN

Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as wt age. Serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work are not a normal p.n i of aging. They may be a sign that brain cells are failing.

The brain has 100 billion nerve cells (neurons). Each nut v*1 cell communicates with many others to form networks. Nirvc cell networks have special jobs. Some are involved in thinking, learning and remembering. Others help us see, lifm

TEN SIGNS OF ALZHEIMERS

Memory loss that disrupts everyday life is not a normal . It may be a sign of Alzheimers disease, a fatal that gets worse over time and causes changes In 11 linking, reasoning and behavior. Although the disease is occur mainly in people 65 and older, it can also strike in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
Memory Loss  recently learned information is one of the signs of dementia.

Performing Familiar Tasks

Individuals may lose track of the steps to prepare a meal, place a telephone call or play a game.   

Problems with Language

People with Alzheimers disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making, their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find their toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for that thing for my mouth.
Whats normal? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

Disorientation to Time and Place

People with Alzheimers disease can become lost in their own neighborhoods, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home. Whats normal? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.

Poor or Decreased Judgment

Those with Alzheimers may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment about money, like giving away large sums to teiemarketers. Whats normal? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.

Problems with Abstract Thinking

Someone with Alzheimers disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are and how they should be used. Whats normal? Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.

Misplacing Things

A person with Alzheimers disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the
sugar bowl. Whats normal? Misplacing keys or a wallet temporarily.

Changes in Mood or Behaviour

Someone with Alzheimers disease may show rapid mood swings - from calm to tears to anger - for no apparent reason. Whats normal? Occasionally feeling sad or moody.

Changes in Personality

The personalities of people with dementia can change drninatically. They may become extremely confused, mmplrtous, fearful or dependent on a family member. Wtmtn normal? Peoples personalities do change somewhat with age.

DIAGNOSING ALZHEIMERS

Consult a doctor when you have concerns about memory loss, thinking skills and behavior changes in yourself or a loved one. For people with dementia and their families, an early diagnosis has many advantages:

time to make choices that maximize quality of life lessened anxieties about unknown problems a better chance of benefiting from treatment more time to plan for the future
It is also important for a physician to determine the cause of memory loss or other symptoms. Some dementia-like symptoms can be reversed if they are caused by treatable conditions, such as depression, drug interaction, thyroid problems, excess use of alcohol or certain vitamin deficiencies.

STEPS TO DIAGNOSIS

Finding the right doctor: In some cases, the primary care doctor may refer a patient to one of the following
specialists:

—    A neurologist, who specializes in diseases of the brain and nervous system.
—    A psychiatrist, who specializes in disorders that affect mood or the way the mind works.

A psychologist with advanced training in testing memory, concentration, problem solving, language and other mental functions

Understanding the problem.
Reviewing medical history.
Mental status tests.
Physical exam and diagnostic tests

Neurological exam:During the neurological exam, the physician may test:

—    Reflexes.
—    Coordination and balance.
—    Muscle tone and strength.

Eye movement.

Speech.

Sensation.

STANDARD TREATMENT OF MEMORY LOSS

Cognitive symptoms affect memory, language, judgment, planning, ability to pay attention and other thought processes.

Behavioral and psychiatric symptoms affect the way we feel and act.

Vitamin E

Doctors sometimes prescribe vitamin E to treat Alzheimers disease. Scientists think vitamin E may help because it is an antioxidant, a substance that may protect nerve cells from certain kinds of chemical wear and tear. Treatments for Sleep Changes

Examples of conditions that can make sleep problems worse include:

Depression.

Restless legs syndrome, a disorder in which unpleasant crawling or tingling sensations in the legs cause an overwhelming urge to move them.


Sleep apnea, an abnormal breathing pattern in which people briefly stop breathing many times a night, resulting in poor sleep quality.

For sleep changes due primarily to Alzheimers disease, there are non-drug and drug approaches to treatment
Non-drug treatments for sleep changes Non-drug treatments aim to improve sleep routine and the sleeping environment and reduce daytime napping. To create an inviting sleeping environment and promote rest for a person with Alzheimers:
Maintain regular times for meals and for going to bed
and getting up.

Seek morning sunlight exposure.

Encourage regular daily exercise, but no later than four hours before bedtime.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
Treat any pain.
If the person is taking a cholinesterase inhibitor avoid giving the medicine before bed.

The type of medication prescribed by a doctor is often influenced by behaviors that may accompany the sleep changes. Examples of medications used to treat sleep changes include:


Tricyclic antidepressants, such as nortriptyline and trazodone.
Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam, oxazepam and temazepam.
Sleeping pills such as zolpidem, zaleplon and chloral hydrate.
Atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone, onlanzapine and quetiapine.
Older classical antipsychotics such as haloperidol.

Alternative Treatments

A growing number of herbal remedies, vitamins and other dietary supplements are promoted as memory enhancers or treatments for Alzheimers disease and related diseases.
Coenzyme Q10, or ubiquinone, is an antioxidant that occurs naturally in the body and is needed for normal cell reactions. This compound has not been studied for its effectiveness in treating Alzheimers.

HOME REMEDIES FOR ALZHEIMERS

The best and easiest way to cure Alzheimers disease to have lots of raw carrots. Consumption of carrots, salad or in the form of juice, helps improve memory,
eating fish has been found to be beneficial for peoplE suffering from Alzheimers. It aids normal functioning of the brain.

Patients with Alzheimers should make it a habit to write down their regular routine. They must try to memorize it and thereafter, recall it after some time. It is said that the extract of ginkgo biloba, an herb, can improve the brain functioning. 100 to 200 mg of ginkgo biloba extract, 3 times a day, would aid the mental functioning of people with Alzheimers. Mating pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds improves brain functioning and helps in treating Alzheimers.

ANAEMIA

Anaemia is one of the common dietary deficiency diseases in which the blood is deficient in the body. It results in the lack of iron and haemoglobin in the body. Deficiency of haemoglobin results in poor functioning of the respiratory system, as it carries oxygen from lungs to other body parts.

Anaemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or haemoglobin is less than normal. The normal level of haemoglobin is generally different in males and females. For men, anaemia is typically defined m haemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gm/lOOml ant! In women as haemoglobin of less than 12.0 gm/lOOml Thiua_ definitions may vary slightly depending on the source the laboratory reference used.
Women and people with chronic diseases are at risk of anaemia. Important factors to remember are:
 Certain forms of anaemia are hereditary and infi may be affected from the time of birth.

1.Anaemia Caused by Blood Loss

Red blood cells can be lost through bleeding, which can occur slowly over a long period of time, and can often go undetected. This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from the following:

•Gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, haemorrhoids, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) and cancer.

Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or Motrin.

•    Menstruation and childbirth in women, especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple
pregnancies.


2.    Anaemia Caused by Decreased or Faulty Red Blood Cell Production

The body may produce too few blood cells or the blood cells may not work properly. In either case, anaemia can result. Red blood cells may be faulty or decreased due to abnormal red blood cells or the a lack of minerals and vitamins needed for red blood cells to work properly. Conditions associated with these causes of anaemia include the following:


Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disorder that affecli African-Americans. Red blood cells become crescent-shape I because of a genetic defect. They break down rapidly, sn oxygen does not get to the bodys organs, causing anaemia The crescent-shaped red blood cells also get stuck in liny blood vessels, causing pain.
Iron deficiency anaemia occurs because of a l;x It nf the mineral iron in the body. Bone marrow in the cet  the bone needs iron to make haemoglobin, the part nl llti red blood cell that transports oxygen to the bodyorgans

Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce enough haemoglobin for red blood cells. The result is iron deficiency ainaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia can be caused by the following:

An iron-poor diet, especially in infants, children, teens and vegetarians.

The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breast-feeding I hat deplete a womans iron stores.

Menstruation.

Inadequate blood donation.

surgical of part of the stomach or small intestine, drugs, foods, and caffeinated drinks. HMIM deficiency anaemia may occur when vitamin are deficient. These two vitamins are needed. Conditions leading to anaemia caused deficiency include the following:

anaemia: Vitamin B-12 or folate or both Poor vitamin B-12 absorption millions such as Crohns disease, an intestinal -II, nunjical removal of part of the stomach mini lion with HIV.

 no meat may cause a while overcooking or eating too few deficiency.


3. Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Problems

Bone marrow and stem cell problems may prevent the body from producing enough red blood cells. Some of the stem cells found in bone marrow develop into red blood cells. If stem cells are too few, defective, or replaced by other cells such as metastatic cancer cells, anaemia may result. Anaemia resulting from bone marrow or stem cell problems include the following:
Aplastic anaemia occurs when theres a marked reduction in the number of stem cells or absence of these cells. Aplastic anaemia can be inherited, can occur without apparent cause, or can occur when the bone marrow is injured by medications, radiation, chemotherapy, or infection.

Thalassemia occurs when the red cells cant mature and grow properly. Thalassemia is an inherited condition that typically affects people of Mediterranean, African, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian descent. This condition can range in severity from mild to life-threatening; the most severe form is called Cooleys anaemia.

Lead exposure is toxic to the bone marrow, leading to fewer red blood cells. Lead poisoning occurs in adults from work-related exposure and in children who eat pah il chips. Improperly glazed pottery can also taint food liquids with lead.

ANAEMIA BE HEREDITARY

Yes, anaemia may be genetic. Hereditary disorders shorten the life-span of the red blood cell and lead to am

(for example, sickle cell anaemia). Hereditary disorders can also cause anaemia by impairing the production of I Hemoglobin (for example, alpha thalassemia and beta lhalassemia).
Depending on the degree of the genetic abnormality, hereditary anaemias may cause mild, moderate, or severe unnnnia. In fact, some may be too severe to be compatible will) life and may result in death of the fetus (unborn infant). On I he other hand, some of these anaemias are so mild that lie not noticeable and are incidentally revealed during blood work.


What is a Complete Blood Cell (CBC) Count


A CBC is a test for counting and examining the different types of cells in the blood. Six component measurements make up a CBC test: 1. Red blood cell (RBC) count: The RBC count is done to determine if the number of red blood cells is low (anaemia) or high (polycythemia).

Haematocrit: The Haematocrit is specifically a measure of how much of the biood is made of red cells.
Haemoglobin: Haemoglobin is a red pigment that imparts the familiar red colour to red blood cells and to blood. Functionally, haemoglobin is the key chemical compound that combines with oxygen from the lungs and carries the oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body. Oxygen is essential for all cells in the body to
produce energy.

Low haemoglobin level: Low haemoglobin is called anaemia. When there is a low haemoglobin level, there is often a low red blood cell count and a low Haematocrit, too. Reference ranges are slightly different from one source to another, but typically haemoglobin of less than 13.5 is abnormal in men less than 12.0 in women. White blood cell (WBC) count. Differential blood count. Platelet count.
Only the first three of these tests: the red blood cell (RBC) count, the Haematocrit, and the haemoglobin, are relevant to the diagnosis of anaemia.


Additionally, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is also often reported in a CBC, which basically measures the average volume of red blood cells in a blood sample. This is important in distinguishing the causes of anaemia. Units of MCV are reported in femtoliters, a fraction of one millionth of a litre.

APPENDICITIS

APPENDICITIS

painful swelling and infection of the appendix is a finger-like pouch attached to line and located in the lower right area of the inside of the appendix is called the Mucus created by the appendix travels lumen and empties into the large
get appendicitis, but it is more common in io 30 years old. Appendicitis leads to minal surgeries than any other cause


enlarged lymph tissue in the wall of the appendix, caused by infection in the gastrointestinal tract or elsewhere in
the body. inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. Trauma to the abdomen. An inflamed appendix will likely burst if not removed. Bursting spreads infection throughout the abdomen potentially dangerous condition called peritonitis.

SYMPTOMS OF APPENDICITIS

Most people with appendicitis have classic symptoms Unit a doctor can easily identify. The main symptom <»l appendicitis is abdominal pain. The abdominal pain usually Occurs suddenly, often causing a person to wake up at night.

occurs before other symptoms
begins near the belly button and then moves lower to the right.
is new and unlike any pain felt before.
gets worse in a matter of hours.
gets worse when moving around, taking deep breaths, coughing, or sneezing.


Other symptoms of appendicitis may include:

loss of appetite.
nausea.
vomiting.

tinstipation or diarrhoea.
inability to pass gas.
 low grade fever that follows other symptoms.
itltiliiminal swelling.
livllng that passing stool will relieve discomfort.

TREATMENT OF THE ANAEMIA

The treatment of the anaemia varies greatly. First, the underlying cause of the anaemia should be identified and corrected. Sometimes iron supplements will also be needed to correct iron deficiency. In severe anaemia, blood transfusions may be necessary. Vitamin B12 injections will be necessary for patients suffering from pernicious anaemia or other causes of B12 deficiency.
In certain patients with bone marrow disease (or bone marrow damage from chemotherapy) or patients with kidney failure, epoetin alfa (Procrit, Epogen) may be used to stimulate bone marrow red blood cell production.

THE COMPLICATIONS OF ANAEMIA

Haemoglobin has the important role of delivering oxygen to all parts of the body for consumption and carries back carbon dioxide back to the lung to exhale it out of the body. If haemoglobin level is too low, this process may be impaired, resulting in body having low oxygen level (hypoxia).

DOS AND DONT FOR ANAEMIA

Following are some of the simple tips to prevent anaemia:

- Take healthy diet, rich in iron such as whole grain cereals, legumes, nuts, dry dates, beet root, red meat, especially beef and pulses.
-Person suffering from vitamin deficiency anaemia should take diet rich in vitamins such as eggs, fish, organ meats
and milk products such as cheese.

-If person is deficient of folic acid, he should consume green leafy vegetables and food grains in his diet.
-Some natural sources of vitamin C that will help you in the treatment of vitamin deficient anaemia are Fresh citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, Indian gooseberry, capsicum and tomatoes.

HOME REMEDIES FOR ANAEMIA

1.Cup beetroot juice, 1 cup of apple juice, mixed with either sugar or honey once a day.
2.Consume a ripe banana with 1 tbsp of honey 2 times a day.
3.Soak 10 currants overnight. Remove seeds and have for 3-4 weeks and have first thing in the morning .
4.Drink a mixture of apple and tomato juice.
5.Eat a lot of green leafy vegetables.
6.Honey-It is very good for an anaemic person because it helps increase the haemoglobin in the blood. It is rich in iron, copper and manganese.

APPENDICITIS DIAGNOSIS

Tests may also help diagnose appendicitis in people who cannot adequately describe their symptoms, such as children or the mentally impaired.

Medical History

The doctor will ask specific questions about symptoms and health history. Answers to these questions will help rule out other conditions. The doctor will want to know when the pain began and its exact location and severity. Knowing when other symptoms appeared relative to the pain is also helpful. The doctor will ask questions about other medical conditions, previous illnesses and surgeries, and use of medications, alcohol, or illegal drugs.

Physical Examination

Details about the abdominal pain are key to diagnosing appendicitis. The doctor will assess pain by touching or applying pressure to specific areas of the abdomen. Responses that may indicate appendicitis include:

Guarding.   Guarding   occurs   when   a   person subconsciously tenses the abdominal muscles during an
examination. Voluntary guarding occurs the moment the doctors hand touches the abdomen. Involuntary guarding occurs before the doctor actually makes contact.

Rebound tenderness. A doctor tests for rebound tenderness by applying hand pressure to a patient abdomen and then letting go. Pain felt upon the relens of the pressure indicates rebound tenderness. A person may also experience rebound tenderness as pain the abdomen is jarred—for example, when a per bumps into something or goes over a bump

Rovsings sign. A doctor tests for Rovsings sign by applying hand pressure to the lower left side of the abdomen. Pain felt on the lower right side of the abdomen upon the release of pressure on the left side indicates the presence of Rovsings sign.

Psoas sign. The right psoas muscle runs over the pelvis near the appendix. Flexing this muscle will cause abdominal pain if the appendix is inflamed. A doctor check for the psoas sign by applying resistance to the right knee as the patient tries to lift the right thigh while lying down.


Obturator sign. The right obturator muscle also runs the appendix. A doctor tests for the obturator sign the patient to lie down with the right leg bent lite knee. Moving the bent knee left and right requires the obturator muscle and will cause abdominal appendix is inflamed.

IMAGING TEST TO FIND APPENDICITIS

Computerized tomography (CT) scans, which create cross-sectional images of the body, can help diagnose appendicitis and other sources of abdominal pain. Ultrasound is sometimes used to look for signs of appendicitis, especially in people who are thin or young. An abdominal x ray is rarely helpful in diagnosing appendicitis but can be used to look for other sources of abdominal pain. Women of child-bearing age should have a pregnancy test before undergoing x rays or CT scanning. Both use radiation and can be harmful to a developing fetus. Ultrasound does not use radiation and is not harmful to a fetus.

APPENDICITIS TREATED

Surgery

Typically, appendicitis is treated by removing the appendix. If appendicitis is suspected, a doctor will often suggest surgery without conducting extensive diagnostli testing.

Surgery to remove the appendix is called appendectomy} and can be done two ways. The older method, called hparotomy, removes the appendix through a single incision in the lower right area of the abdomen. The newer method, called laparoscopic surgery, uses several smaller incision* and special surgical tools fed through the incisions to remove the appendix. Laparoscopic surgery leads to the complications, such as hospital-related infections, and shorter recovery time.
Sometimes an abscess forms around a burst appemlix_ called an appendiceal abscess.
 

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO IF THEY THINK THEY HAVE APPENDICITIS

Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate care. People who think they have appendicitis should see a doctor or go to the emergency room right away. Swift diagnosis and treatment reduce the chances the appendix will burst and improve recovery time.

HOME REMEDY FOR APPENDICITIS

The best home remedy for appendicitis would be a mix of 100 ml cucumber juice, 100 ml beet juice and 300 ml carrot juice. Intake this juice regularly, two times a day.

Buttermilk helps in curing chronic appendicitis. A litre of buttermilk should be consumed, on an everyday basis,
for about a fortnight.

Appendicitis can also be cured by having green grams. 1 tsp of sprouted green grams, twice or thrice a day will prove to be worthwhile in treating appendicitis.

Include coriander juice, radish juice and spinach juice in your regular diet. They will help treat appendices problem.

Ginger helps in those appendicitis cases where the patient also has the tendency to vomit. Add a pinch of rock salt
to 1 tsp of ginger juice and drink it. Alternatively, you can store raw cut pieces of ginger, with some rock salt, in a bottle and have it with your meals.

Ginger and turmeric act as a good combination for treating appendicitis. They can be taken in a raw or powdered form. It reduces the pain and swollenness resulting from appendicitis.
 

ASTHMA

disease of the respiratory tract in which |n THERE ARE difficulties in breathing due to narrowing of the respiratory tract, especially the trachea. It can be triggered allergies, some foods, clothes, hair, or it could be down genetically.

most attacks are generally short lived, sometimes occur in which severe asthma is unrelieved hours or even days, like in status asthmaticus. It affects small age groups, but is found to be more common in It tends to affect both sexes equally. There are two types Asthma— Allergic and Idiosyncratic.

Allergic associated with personal or family history asthma of allergic diseases like hay fever, etc.

CAUSES OF ASTHMA

environment and air pollution. certaln drugs like Aspirin.

Occupational factors like working with animal skins, chemicals, stone dust etc.

Infections of the chest or Upper respiratory Tract can bring about an acute attack of Asthma.

Exercise and emotional stress.

CLINICAL FEATURES

The most characteristic features of Asthma are— breathlessness, cough and wheezing. The attack often occurs at night but may also occur abruptly due to one of the precipitating factors mentioned above.
The patient often experiences a tight sensation in the chest along with dry cough. Sometimes a long standing dry cough maybe the only indication of Asthma.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR ASTHMA

Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts in childhood. Young children who have frequent episodes of wheezing with respiratory infections, as well as certain other risk factors, are at the highest risk of developing asthma that continues beyond 6 years of age. These risk factors include having allergies, eczema (an allergic skin condition), or parents who have asthma.

Among children, more boys have asthma than girls. But among adults, more women have the disease than men. Its not clear whether or how sex and sex hormones play a role in causing asthma. Most, but not all, people who have asthma
have allergies.

Some people develop asthma because of exposure to certain chemical irritants or industrial dusts in the workplace. This is called occupational asthma.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA

Common asthma symptoms include: Coughing. Coughing from asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep. Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs when you breathe.
Chest tightness. This may feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest. Shortness of breath. Some people who have asthma say they cant catch their breath or they feel out of breath. You may feel like you cant get air out of your
lungs.
Not all people who have asthma have these symptoms. I llwwise, having these symptoms doesnt always mean that you have asthma. A lung function test, done along with a medical history (including type and frequency of your ms) and physical exam, is the best way to diagnose for certain.

types of asthma symptoms you have, how often llit«V occur, and how severe they are may vary over time. Si ntietlmes your symptoms may just annoy you. Other times Ihey may be troublesome enough to limit your daily routine.

ASTHMA DIAGNOSIS

Your primary care doctor will diagnose asthma based on your medical history, a physical exam, and results from tests.
He or she also will figure out what your level of asthma severity is—that is, whether its intermittent, mild, moderate,
or severe. Your severity level will determine what treatment you will start on. You may need to see an asthma specialist
if:

—    You need special tests to be sure you have asthma.
—    Youve had a life-threatening asthma attack.
—    You need more than one kind of medicine or higher
        doses of medicine to control your asthma, or if you have overall difficulty getting your asthma well controlled.
—    Youre thinking about getting allergy treatments.


Medical History


Your doctor may ask about your family history of asthma and allergies. He or she also may ask whether you have asthma symptoms, and when and how often they occur. Let your doctor know if your symptoms seem to happen only during certain times of the year or in certain places, or if they get worse at night. Your doctor also may want to know what factors seem to set off your symptoms or worsen them.

Your doctor may ask you about related health conditions that can interfere with asthma management. These conditions include a runny nose, sinus infections, reflux disease, psychological stress, and sleep apnea.

Physical Exam

Your doctor will listen to your breathing and look for signs of asthma or allergies. These signs include wheezing, my nose or swollen nasal passages, and allergic skin infections such as eczema. Keep in mind that you can still li.we asthma even if you dont have these signs on the day lluit your doctor examines you.

Diagnostic Tests Tung Function Test

Your doctor will use a test called spirometry to check hOW your lungs are working. This test measures how much .iir you can breathe in and out. It also measures how fast you can blow air out. Your doctor also may give you medicines and then test you again to see whether the results improved.

If the starting results are lower than normal and improve with the medicine, and if your medical history shows a pattern of asthma symptoms, your diagnosis will likely be asthma.

Other Tests

Your doctor may order other tests if he or she needs more information to make a diagnosis. Other tests may
Include:

—    Allergy testing to find out which allergens affect you, if any.
—    A test to measure how sensitive your airways are. This is called a bronchoprovocation test. Using spirometry,
this test repeatedly measures your lung function during physical activity or after you receive increasing doses of cold air or a special chemical to breathe in.

—    A test to show whether you have another disease with the same symptoms as asthma, such as reflux disease,
vocal cord dysfunction, or sleep apnea.


A chest x ray or an EKG (electrocardiogram). These tests will help find out whether a foreign object or other disease may be causing your symptoms.

 DIAGNOSING ASTHMA IN YOUNG CHILDREN

Most children who have asthma develop their first symptoms before 5 years of age. However, asthma in young children (aged 0 to 5 years) can be hard to diagnose. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether a child has asthma or another childhood condition because the symptoms of both conditions can be similar.
Also, many young children who have wheezing episodes when they get colds or respiratory infections dont go on to have asthma after theyre 6 years old. These symptoms may be due to the fact that infants have smaller airways that can narrow even further when they get a cold or respiratory infection. The airways grow as a child grows older, so wheezing no longer occurs when the child gets a cold. A young child who has frequent wheezing with colds or respiratory infections is more likely to have asthma if:

    One or both parents have asthma. The child has signs of allergies, including the allergic skin condition eczema.
The child has allergic reactions to pollens or other airborne allergens. The child wheezes even when he or she doesnt have a
cold or other infection.

-    A lung function test along with a medical history and physical exam is the most certain way to diagnose asthma. However, this test is hard to do in children younger than 5 years. Thus, doctors must rely on childrens medical histories, signs and symptoms, and physical exams to make a diagnosis. Doctors also may use a 4 to 6 week trial of asthma medicines to see how well a child responds.

IS ASTHMA TREATED AND CONTROLLED

Asthma is a long-term disease that cant be cured. The goal of asthma treatment is to control the disease. Good asthma control will:

Prevent chronic and troublesome symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.
Reduce your need of quick-relief medicines.
Help you maintain good lung function.
Let you maintain your normal activity levels and sleep through the night.
Prevent asthma attacks that could result in your going to the emergency room or being admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Asthma treatment for certain groups of people, such as children, pregnant women, or those for whom exercise brings on asthma symptoms, will need to be adjusted to meet their special needs.

FOLLOW AN ASTHMA ACTION PLAN

You can work with your doctor to create a personal written asthma action plan. The asthma action plan shows your daily treatment, such as what kind of medicines to take and when to take them.
If your child has asthma, all of the people who care for him or her should know about the childs asthma action plan. This includes baby-sitters and workers at daycare centres, schools, and camps. These caretakers can help your child follow his or her action plan. Avoid Things That Can Worsen Your Asthma A number of common things (sometimes called asthma triggers) can set off or worsen your asthma symptoms. Once you know what these factors are, you can take steps to control many of them. For example, if exposure to pollens or air pollution makes your asthma worse, try to limit time
outdoors when the levels of these substances are high in the outdoor air.
    .
If your asthma symptoms are clearly linked to allergies, and you cant avoid exposure to those allergens, then your doctor may advise you to get allergy shots for the specific allergens that bother your asthma. You may need to see a specialist if you are thinking about getting allergy shots. These shots may lessen or prevent your asthma symptoms, but they cant cure your asthma.

Several health conditions can make asthma more difficult to manage. These conditions include runny nose, sinus infections, reflux disease, psychological stress, and sleep ipnea. Your doctor will treat these conditions as well. Medicines Your doctor will consider many things when deciding which asthma medicines are best for you. Doctors usually use a stepwise approach to prescribing medicines. Your doctor will check to see how well a medicine works for you; he or she will make changes in the dose or medicine, as needed.

Asthma medicines can be taken in pill form, but most .ire taken using a device called an inhaler. An inhaler allows Hie medicine to go right to your lungs. Not all inhalers are used the same way. Ask your doctor ,111c! other clinicians on your health care team to show you the right way to use your inhaler. Ask them to review the way you use your inhaler at every visit.

Long-Term Control Medicines

Most people who have asthma need to take long-term control medicines daily to help prevent symptoms. The most effective long-term medicines reduce airway inflammation.
Inhaled corticosteroids. Inhaled corticosteroids are the I inferred medicines for long-term control of asthma. These medicines are the most effective long-term control medicine ID relieve airway inflammation and swelling that makes the airways sensitive to certain substances that are breathed in.

Reducing inflammation helps prevent the chain reaction I hat causes asthma symptoms. Most people who take these medicines daily find they greatly reduce how severe Symptoms are and how often they occur. Inhaled corticosteroids are generally safe when taken as 111 described. They are very different from the illegal anabolic athletes. Inhaled corticosteroids arent habit-forming, even if you take them every day for many years. But, like many other medicines, inhaled corticosteroids can have side effects. Most doctors agree that the benefits of taking inhaled corticosteroids and preventing asthma attacks far outweigh the risks of side effects.

One common side effect from inhaled corticosteroids is a mouth infection called thrush. You can use a spacer or holding chamber to avoid thrush. A spacer or holding chamber is attached to your inhaler when taking medicine to keep the medicine from landing in your mouth or on the back of your throat. Other long-term control medicines. Other long-term control medicines include:

Inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists. These medicines open the airways and may be added to low-dose inhaled corticosteroids to improve asthma control. An inhaled long-acting beta2-agonist shouldnt be used alone.

Leukotriene modifiers. These medicines are taken by mouth. They help block the chain reaction that increases inflammation in your airways.

Cromolyn and nedocromil. These inhaled medicines also help prevent inflammation and can be used to treat asthma of mild severity.

TheophyUine. This medicine is taken by mouth and helps open the airways.
Long-term control medicines can have side effects. Talk to your doctor about these side effects and ways to monitor or avoid them.

Ouick-Relief Medicines

All people who have asthma need a quick-relief help relieve asthma symptoms that may flare up. short-acting beta2-agonists are the first choice for quick relief. These medicines act quickly to relax tight muscles around your airways when youre having a flare-up. This allows tin1 nlrways to open up so air can flow through them. Carry your quick-relief inhaler with you at all times In case you need it. If your child has asthma, make sure thai anyone caring for him or her and the childs school has th« t liilds quick-relief medicines. They should understand when nud how to use them and when to seek medical care for your child.

You shouldnt use quick-relief medicines in place of prescribed long-term control medicines. Quick-relief medicines dont reduce inflammation

TRACK YOUR ASTHMA

To track your asthma, keep records of your symptoms check your peak flow number using a peak flow meter and
get regular asthma checkups.   

Record Your Symptoms

You can record your asthma symptoms in a diary to see how well your treatments are controlling your asthmT
Asthma is well controlled if You have symptoms no more than 2 days a week and they don t wake you from sleep more than 1 or 2 nights or a month.   

You can carry out all your normal activities.
You take quick-relief medicines no more than 2 days a week.   
You have no more than one asthma attack a year that requires you to take corticosteroids by mouth
Your peak flow doesnt drop below 80 percent of your personal best number.
If your asthma isnt well controlled, contact your doctor He or she may need to change your asthma action plan.

Use a Peak Flow Meter

This small, hand-held device shows how well air moves out of your lungs. You blow into the device and it gives you a score, or peak flow number. Your score shows how Z your lungs are working at the time of the test When first diagnosed with asthma, its important to find out your personal best peak flow number.

qet during that time is your personal best. You can compare I his number to future numbers to make sure your asthma is under control.

Your peak flow meter can help warn you of an asthma attack, even before you notice symptoms. If your score falls to a number that shows that your breathing is getting worse, you should take your quick-relief medicines the way your asthma action plan directs. Then you can use the peak flow meter to check how well the medicine worked.

Get Asthma Checkups

When you first begin treatment, you will see your doctor about every 2 to 6 weeks. Once your asthma is under control, your doctor may want to see you anywhere from once a month to twice a year. If your control is very good, you may be able to take less medicine. The goal is to use the least amount of medicine needed to control your asthma.

Emergency Care

Most people who have asthma, including many children, can safely manage their symptoms by following the steps for worsening asthma provided in the asthma action plan. However, you may need medical attention. Call your doctor for advice if:

Your medicines dont relieve an asthma attack.
Your peak flow is less than half of your personal best peak flow number.
You have trouble walking and talking because youre out of breath.
You have blue lips or fingernails. At the hospital, you will be closely watched and given



oxygen and more medicines, as well as medicines at higher doses than you take at home. Such treatment can save your life.
Asthma Treatment for Special Groups
The treatments described in this section generally apply to all people who have asthma. However, some aspects of treatment differ for people in certain age groups and those who have special needs.
Children
Its hard to diagnose asthma in children younger than 5 years old. Thus, its hard to know whether young children who wheeze or have other asthma symptoms will benefit from long-term control medicines. Doctors will treat infants and young children who have asthma symptoms with long-term control medicines if the childs asthma health assessment indicates that the symptoms are persistent and likely to continue after 6 years of age.
Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred treatment for young children. Treatment may be given for a trial period of 1 month to 6 weeks. The treatment usually is stopped if benefits arent seen during that time and the doctor and parents are confident the medicine was used properly. Older Adults
Doctors may need to adjust asthma treatment for older adults who take certain other medicines, such as beta blockers, aspirin and other pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory medicines. Be sure to tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines.

Older adults may develop weak bones from using inhaled corticosteroids, especially at high doses. Talk to your doctor about taking calcium and vitamin D pills and other ways to help keep your bones strong.
Pregnant Women
Pregnant women who have asthma need to control the disease to ensure a good supply of oxygen to their babies. Poor asthma control raises the chance that a baby will be born early and have a low birth weight. Poor asthma control can even risk the babys life.

HOME REMEDIES FOR ASTHMA

Following are some of the effective home remedies for
asthma-.

Mix few leaves of holy basil with honey and consume them every morning. It is an effective remedy to keep asthmatic attacks away. 

For asthma in the early stages, it is beneficial to chew some black pepper before going to bed.

For temporary relief from asthmatic attacks, mix some leaves of holy basil with black pepper and eat them.

Mix some lemon juice with ginger and consume it once a day. It is an effective home remedy for asthma.

Grind some turmeric (use old turmeric for better results). Mix one teaspoonful of this powder with one tablespoonful of honey (again, the honey must be as old as possible). This is to be taken orally. This recipe is believed to work even when all other methods fail.

When an attack is about to come, chewing some leaves of basil mixed with rock salt.
 

BACKACHE

Backache or backpain is one of the most common ailments of mankind. Ever since human beings stood upright they have been having trouble with their backs. In fact, experts estimate that roughly 80 percent of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives, and slightly more men suffer from it than women.

TYPES OF BACKACHE

Acute Backache

Back strain due to lifting of a heavy object, a fall, a violent jerk (as in case of a sudden car brake). 
Injury, road accident, fall of a heavy object, fracture of the spine, dislocation of a vertebral disk.

Chronic Bachache


Spondylosis: A vertebra slips forward on the lower one, usually just above the hipbone.

Slipped Disk: These disks act as cushions between two vertebral bones, the reason may be an injury to the spine which   is   forgetten, degeneration of the disk due to old age or other reasons.

Posture: Wrong Posture is the front runner as a cause of chronic back pain, (long hours sitting on chairs in the wrong posture, e.g., as you may be sitting watching this screen, watching TV slumped in the couch).

LOW BACK PAIN

Eighty percent of people will have low back pain at some point in their lives. And nearly everyone who has low back pain once will have it again. Very few people who feel pain in their low back have a serious medical problem. Ninety percent of people who experience low back pain for the first time get better in two to six weeks. Only rarely do people with low back pain develop chronic back problems.

With these facts in mind, you can be assured that back pain is common, that it usually only causes problems for a short period of time, and that you can take steps to ease symptoms and prevent future problems. Back pain is very common during pregnancy, due to the considerable anatomical changes and stress in the body. Carrying a child changes the position of your internal organs putting a huge amount of pressure on the lower spine. The increase in body weight, the muscle relaxing effects of the hormone progesterone, and the lumbar spine change in your center of gravity contribute to the problem. Thats why every day as your baby grows its harder to get up and down of chairs and beds.  If you have back pain you can feel also muscle aches, locked areas in your back, stiff neck and your hole body will ache.

Anatomy

The human spine is made up of 24 spinal bones, called vertebrae. Vertebrae are stacked on top of one another to create the spinal column. The spinal column gives the body its form. It is the bodys main upright support.
From the side, the spine forms three curves. The neck, called the cervical spine, curves slightly inward. The mid back, or thoracic spine, curves outward. The outward curve of the thoracic spine is called kyphosis. The low back, also called the lumbar spine, curves slightly inward. An inward curve of the spine is called lordosis.
The lumbar spine is made up of the lower five vertebrae. Doctors often refer to these vertebrae as LI to L5. The lowest vertebra of the lumbar spine, L5, connects to the top of the sacrum, a triangular bone at the base of the spine


Backache

that fits between the two pelvic bones. Some people have an extra, or sixth, lumbar vertebra. This condition doesnt usually cause any particular problems.
Each vertebra is formed by a round block of bone, called a vertebral body. The lumbar vertebral bodies are taller and bulkier compared to the rest of the spine. This is partly because the low back has to withstand pressure from body weight and from daily actions like lifting, carrying, and twisting. Also, large and powerful muscles attaching on or near the lumbar spine place extra force on the lumbar vertebral bodies.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF BACKACHE

There are many causes of low back pain. Doctors are not always able to pinpoint the source of a patients pain. But your doctor will make every effort to ensure that your symptoms are not from a serious medical cause, such as cancer or a spinal infection.
The vast majority of back problems are a result of wear and tear on the parts of the spine over many years. This process is called degeneration. Over time, the normal process of aging can result in degenerative changes in all parts of the spine.
Injuries to the spine, such as a fracture or injury to the disc, can make the changes happen even faster. There is strong evidence that cigarette smoking also speeds up degeneration of the spine.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms from low back problems vary. They depend on a persons condition and which structures are affected.

Some of the more common symptoms of low back problems are:

Low back pain.
Pain spreading into the buttocks and thighs.
Pain radiating from the buttock to the foot.
Back stiffness and reduced range of motion.
Muscle weakness in the hip, thigh, leg, or foot.
Sensory changes (numbness, prickling, or tingling) in the leg, foot, or toes

DIAGNOSIS OF BACKPAIN

The diagnosis of low back problems begins with a thorough history of your condition. Your doctor will ask you questions to find out when you first started having problems, what makes your symptoms worse or better, and how the symptoms affect your daily activity. Your answers will help guide the physical examination.
Your doctor will then physically examine the muscles and joints of your low back. It is important that your doctor see how your back is aligned, how it moves, and exactly where it hurts.
Your doctor may do some simple tests to check the function of the nerves. These tests are used to measure the strength in your lower limbs, check your reflexes, and determine whether you have numbness in your legs or feet. The information from your medical history and physical examination will help your doctor decide which further tests to run. The tests give different types of information

TREATMENT OF BACKPAIN

Ninety percent of people who experience low back pain for the first time get better in two to six weeks without any treatment at all. Patients often do best when encouraged to stay active and to get back to normal activities as soon as possible, even if there is still some pain. The pain may not go away completely. One goal of treatment is to help you find ways to control the pain and allow you to continue to do your normal activities.

N0NSURG1CAL TREATMENT

Whenever possible, doctors prefer to use treatments other than surgery. The first goal of these nonsurgical treatments is to ease your pain and other symptoms.

Bed Rest

In cases of severe pain, doctors may suggest a short period of bed rest, usually no more than two days. Lying on your back can take pressure off sore discs and nerves. Most doctors advise against strict bed rest and prefer that patients do ordinary activities using pain to gauge how much is too much.

Back Brace

A back support belt is sometimes recommended when back pain first strikes. It can help provide support and lower the pressure inside a problem disc. Patients are encouraged to gradually discontinue wearing the support belt over a period of two to four days. Otherwise, back muscles begin to rely on the belt and start to shrink (atrophy).

Medications

Many different types of medications are typically prescribed to help gain control of the symptoms of low back pain. There is no medication that will cure low back pain. Medications are prescribed to help with sleep disturbances and to help control pain, inflammation, and muscle spasm.


Physical Therapy and Exercise

In addition to other nonsurgical treatments, doctors often ask their patients to work with a physical therapist. Therapy treatments focus on relieving pain, improving back movement, and fostering healthy posture. A therapist can design a rehabilitation program to address a particular condition and to help the patient prevent future problems. There is a great deal of scientific proof that exercise and increased overall fitness reduce the risk of developing back pain and can improve the symptoms of back pain once it begins.

FIRST AID FOR LOW BACKACHE

When you first feel back pain, try these steps to avoid or reduce pain:

Relax.

Find a comfortable position for rest. Some people are comfortable on the floor or a medium-firm
bed with a small pillow under their head and another under their knees. Some people prefer to lie on their
side with a pillow between their knees. Dont stay in one position for top long.

Walk.

Take a short walk (10 to 20 minutes) on a level surface (no slopes, hills, or stairs) every 2 to 3 hours. Walk only distances you can manage without pain, especially leg pain.

Try heat or ice.

Try using a heating pad on a low or medium setting, or a warm shower, for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Or you can buy single-use heat wraps that last up to 8 hours. You can also try an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. You can
use an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a thin towel. There is not strong evidence that either heat or ice will help, but you can try them to see if they help. You may also want to try switching between heat and cold.

HOME REMEDIES FOR BACKACHE

Ask someone massage the affected area with herbal oils using knuckles and increasing pressure slowly. After a few minutes you will feel less discomfort. This gets rid of tension and relaxes the muscles in that area. Avoid lifting heavy objects in the last couple of weeks of your pregnancy. Do not sit in couches, always sit in firm chairs supporting the lumbar area with a pillow. This will help you keep your waist and lower back in the proper position.

BALDNESS OR HAIR FALL

Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows, especially on the head. The most common form of baldness is a progressive hair thinning condition called androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness that occurs in adult male humans and other species. The amount and patterns of baldness can vary greatly; it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia, alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, and alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universafis, which involves the loss of all hair from the head and the body.

Although hair is not vital for living but it has lots of cosmetic concern to provoke restlessness in anyone when it begins thinning, lessening or disappearing. To a female, the view of a comb or brush enclosed with lost hair can cause strong mental strain. Hair is fashioned in little pockets in Hie skill called hair follicles. An up growth at the base of the Follicle, called the papilla, usually produces hair when a particular group of cells turn amino acids into keratin, a sort OF protein of which hair is made. The rate of production of lluse protein building blocks decides hair growth. The average enlargement rate is about 1.2 centimetres per  , increasing fastest on women between 15 to 30 years age.

HAIR LOSS SYMPTOMS

Main hair symptoms are seeing hair on clothes after COMB, bald patches and receding hairline. Symptoms are  clear for hair loss.

HAIR LOSS CAUSES

The most fundamental cause of hair loss is inadequate iiultltion. Persons lacking in vitamin B6 lose their hair and

those lacking in folic acid often become completely bald. But the hair grows usually after the liberal intake of these vitamins.

Stress, Prolonged Illness, impure conditions — Other important causes of hair loss are stress such as worry, anxiety, and unexpected shock, general body debility caused by severe or long standing illnesses like typhoid, syphilis, chronic cold, influenza, and anaemia an unclean situation of the scalp that weakens the hair roots by jamming the pores with the collected dirt; and heredity

KINDS OF BALDNESS

There are several other kinds of baldness: Traction alopecia is most commonly found in people with ponytails or corn rows who pull on their hair with excessive force. Trichotillomania is the loss of hair caused by compulsive pulling and bending of the hairs. It tends to occur more in children than in adults. In this condition the hairs are not absent from the scalp but are broken. Where they break near the scalp they cause typical, short, exclamation mark hairs.
Traumas such as chemotherapy, childbirth, major surgery, poisoning, and severe stress may cause a hair loss condition known as telogen effluvium.

Worrisome hair loss often follows childbirth without causing actual baldness. In this situation, the hair is actually thicker during pregnancy due to increased circulating oestrogens. After the baby is born, the oestrogen levels fall back to normal pre-pregnancy levels and the additional hair foliage drops out. A similar situation occurs in women taking the fertility-stimulating drug clomiphene.

Iron deficiency is a common cause of thinning of the hair, though frank baldness is not usually seen.

Radiation to the scalp, as happens when radiotherapy is applied to the head for the treatment of certain cancers there, can cause baldness of the irradiated areas.

Some mycotic infections can cause massive hair loss. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as spot baldness that can result in hair loss ranging from just one location {Alopecia areata monolocularis) to every hair on the entire body (Alopecia areata universalis).

Localized or diffuse hair loss may also occur in cicatricial alopecia (lupus erythematosus, lichen piano pilaris, folliculitis decalvans, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, post-menopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia, etc.). Tumours and skin outgrowths also induce localized baldness (sebaceous nevus, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma).
Hypothyroidism can cause hair loss, typically frontal, and is particularly associated with thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows (syphilis also can cause loss of the outer third of the eyebrows) Hyperthyroidism can also cause hair loss, which is parietal rather than frontal. Temporary loss of hair can occur in areas where sebaceous cysts are present for considerable duration; normally one to several weeks in length.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HAIRLOSS OR HAIR FALL

The psychological effects for individuals experiencing hair loss vary widely. Some people adapt to the change comfortably, while others have severe problems relating to anxiety, depression, social phobia, and in some cases, identity change.
cancer chemotherapy has been reported to cause changes in self-concept and body image. Body image does not return to the previous state after regrowth of hair for a majority of patients. In such cases, patients have difficulties expressing their feelings (alexithymia) and may be more prone to avoiding family conflicts. Family therapy can help families to cope with these psychological problems if they arise.
Psychological problems due to baldness, if present, are typically most severe at the onset of symptoms.
Some balding men may feel proud of their baldness, feeling a kindred relationship with famous charismatic bald men, much of whose perceived masculinity and handsomeness derives from their most obvious distinguishing feature. Baldness has, in recent years, in any case become less of a (supposed) liability due to an increasing fashionable prevalence of very short, or even completely shaven, hair among men, at least in western countries.

HOME REMEDY FOR HAIRFALL

by Rubbing Scalp: - An energetic rubbing of the scalp with fingers tips after washing the hair with cold water is extremely beneficial in avoiding hair loss and baldness. The scalp must be rubbed force fully till it starts to tingle with the heat.

With help of Amalaki Oil - Amalaki oil that is made by boiling dry pieces of amalaki in coconut oil, is considered helpful hair tonic for enriching hair growth. A mixture of an equal amount of fresh amalaki juice and lime juice, used as a shampoo also arouses hair growth and prevents hair loss.

With Lettuce - Lettuce is useful in avoiding hair loss. A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is thought to be helpful in promoting the growth of hair if taken to the degree to half a liter a day.

With Amaranth - Amaranth is a good home remedy for hair loss. Its fresh leaf juice must be applied to the scalp to prevent hair loss. It aids in the growth of the hair and keep it soft.

With Alfalfa - The juice of alfalfa, in combination with similar amounts of carrot and lettuce juice, taken on daily basis, also aids in the growth of hair to an amazing extent. With Neem - The leaves of the neem tree are also useful in the treatment of hair loss. If hair has been falling or has stop to produce it should be rinsed with the decoction of neem leaves. This will stop hair fall and also makes them black and shiny. It not only lengthens hair but also kill the head lice.

BODY ODOUR

Generally our mind and body is the main reason for Body odour. The effect of various feelings like more happiness, more sorrows, high tension, more sexual feelings forms the main reason for mind related body odour. During these time, all the glands act fast and generates more liquid inside the body. Due to this, colourless, odourless comes outside our body along with Bacteria and it mixes with sweat to form Body odour.
Moreover the type of food we intake more also lead to the body odour. Onion, Garlic, certain type of fishes, lavender, some masala items are main reasons for Body odour. Fatty people have high amount of Bacterias in action and hence more odour occur. Diabetes patients are also the victims of this body odour.

Physiology

Two types of glands produce sweat, the eccrine glands and the apocrine glands..

The eccrine glands are dispersed throughout the body but are concentrated in the armpits, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and the forehead. When the body is overheated - from hot weather, physical exertion, or fever -the eccrine glands help regulate body temperature by expelling a solution of water and salts that cools the skin.
The apocrine glands are concentrated in the armpits and around the groin. These glands develop during puberty and have nothing to do with temperature regulation; instead, they respond to such conditions as sexual arousal, nervousness, and anger, as well as to heat and exertion. The sweat they produce is rich in organic substances that attract bacteria and produce a strong odour. Other reasons could be the purely the faulty lifestyles1 or emotional stresses like in ovulation or menopause when the hormones trigger the apocrine glands to produce the characteristic smell.

Actually sweat is bodys most convenient way of maintaining homeostasis or keeping cool. But when the temperature spurts above the normal there are about 2.5 million sweat glands, which act as tiny air-conditioners in maintaining the homeostatic balance. Surprisingly our sweat has no odour of its own. It usually smells bad only when the bacteria act on the sweat after reaching the skin surface. Normally most people tend to combat bad body odour with products like deodorants or body sprays as a solution. But it can only diminish the effects temporarily. In fact bad body odour (B.O) indicates that youre disturbed emotionally or physically.

GOLDEN RULES TO FIGHT BODY ODOUR

DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROBLEM FOR BODY ODOUR

Broadly, there are three completely different kinds of problem that are responsible for bad body odour: 1. Hygiene problem,, not cleaning up properly, not having proper bath or using clean clothes. Ask the pharmicist for advice on soaps and cleansers and deodorants. But be warned; an excess of chemicals can make things worse, not better. Take advice and follow it.

2.    Skin problem; if you have a bit of eczema or psoriasis or allergy problems, it is possible that a skin infection,
probably fungal, is contributing to the problem. You need to know, and if thats the case, it is treatable, though not always easily.

3.    There are some uncommon genetic conditions that are associated with odour. They are uncommon, and there are methods of dealing with the problem. Again, consult your doctor.

CAUSE OF BODY ODOUR

Following are the factors that are the main cause of body odour: - Obesity Warm temp not only stimulate the sweat glands but also cause bacterium to break sweet down into a sticky coating that becomes a magnet for dirt thereby causing bad body odour.
Synthetic fabrics like polyester look good but trap sweat. This trapped sweat makes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Bad eating pattern Tight fitting clothes / shoes also increase the likelihood of excess perspiration and body odour.

GOLDEN RULES TO FIGHT BODY ODOUR

Take a shower using an antibacterial soap followed by a deodorant once in a day especially in the areas around the anus and the genitals. When bathing, use a good brush in circular movement. Use cotton clothes especially cotton undergarments,
which lets the skin breathe. Avoid synthetic clothes. Wear loose cloths instead of figure-hugging ones and change your cloths daily. Washing areas under the armpits is a must as 80% of The bodys sweat is present there. Take more Orange, pineapple, green leaves. The fibre products available in these fruit help in controlling Body odour.

To get rid of smelly feet, wash and dry between the feet adequately and wear well-ventilated footwear to let feet breath

Keep your mind cairn and silent all the time. DonT cross the limit on your feelings whether happy/sad.
Use a deodorant or anti-perspirant that contain aluminium chlorohydrate or zirconium.
Curb your coffee and tea intake. Caffeine can stimulate the autonomic nervous system, which regulate sweating. Limit yourself to two cups daily.
Avoid alcohol since it increases perspiration potential by dilating.blooD vessels.
If none or the above work and or the scent of your perspiration becomes stronger or more intense. See your doctor.

HOME REMEDIES FOR BODYODOUR

After your bath, add a tablespoon of honey to tepid water for the final rinse. This will help keep body odour in check.
Adding a teaspoon of alum to your bath water make you smell fresh all the day.
In summer, add a cup full of vinegar to your bath water or add a cupful of camphor oil to your bath water.
Baking soda used as a powder will absorb chemicals therefore this will remove body odours. Use a powder puff, which has been used for talc, to apply the powder.
Boil mint leaves and add the water to your bath water.
Keep some aside for a special dousing for your armpits and between the thighs.

FOODS THAT HELP DEAL WITH BAD BODY ODOUR

A balance diet is a must. Ideally it should be the one, which has about 20% protein i.e., fish, poultry, or combinations of pulses and grains, 20% ods and fats and balance from vegetables, fruit, pulses and grams.
Include turnip or its juice in your diet.
Red radish juice can be included in the diet. You can also apply it under the arm after the morning shower.
Also apply it on your feet and in between the toes.
Radish juice helps keep body odour at bay.
Drinking plenty of water will also ensure that you smell fresh and sweet.

TO BE AVOIDED

People with body odour should avoid food that are rich h i lecithin or choline or cantine lysine such as soya products, corn, wheat and also chocolates, peanuts nuts rEsins creals, eggs, etc or limit the intake of these foods to a small part of the daily diet.

BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers—the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as 120 over 80.
Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic.

CATEGORIES FOR BLOOD PRESSURE

When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be used to classify blood pressure level. For example, 160/80 mmHg would be stage 2 hypertension (high blood pressure).

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Hiqh blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and from tissue to parts of the body. High blood pressure does not mean emotional tension, although emotional tension and temporarily increase blood pressure. Normal blood Is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/89 is called pre-hypertension

The top number, the systolic blood pressure, corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into the arteries. The bottom number, the diastolic pressure, represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction. The diastolic pressure reflects the lowest pressure to which the arteries are exposed.
An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage). These complications of hypertension are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic (long duration) high blood pressure. For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications.

It was previously thought that rises in diastolic blood pressure were a more important risk factor than systolic elevations, but it is now known that in people 50 years or older systolic hypertension represents a greater risk.

HOW IS THE BLOOD PRESSURE MEASURED

The blood pressure usually is measured with a small, portable instrument called a blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer). The blood pressure cuff consists of an air pump, a pressure gauge, and a rubber cuff. The instrument measures the blood pressure in units called millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
The cuff is placed around the upper arm and inflated with an air pump to a pressure that blocks the flow of blood in the main artery (brachial artery) that travels through the arm. The arm is then extended at the side of the body at the level of the heart, and the pressure of the cuff on the arm and artery is gradually released. As the pressure in the cuff decreases, a health practitioner listens with a stethoscope over the artery at the front of the elbow. The pressure at which the practitioner first hears a pulsation from the artery is the systolic pressure (the top number). As the cuff pressure decreases further, the pressure at which the pulsation finally stops is the diastolic pressure (the bottom number).

Borderline High Blood Pressure

Borderline hypertension is defined as mildly elevated blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm ,Hg at some times, and lower than that at other times. People with borderline hypertension may have a tendency as they get older to develop more sustained or higher elevations of blood pressure. They have a modestly increased risk of developing heart-related (cardiovascular) disease. Therefore, even if the hypertension does not appear to be significant initially, people with borderline hypertension should have continuing follow-up of their blood pressure and monitoring for the complications of hypertension.

CAUSES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood pressure tends to rise with age, unless you taki steps to prevent or control it. Certain medical problems, such as chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, and sleep apnea, may cause blood pressure to rise. Certain medicines, such as asthma medicines (for example, corticosteroids) and cold-relief products, also may raise blood pressure.
In some women, blood pressure can go up if they use birth control pills, become pregnant, or take hormone replacement therapy.
Women taking birth control pills usually have a small rise in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. If you already have high blood pressure (HBP) and want to use birth control pills, make sure your doctor knows about your HBP. Talk to him or her about how often you should have your blood pressure checked and how to control it while taking the pill.
Taking hormones to reduce the symptoms of menopause can cause a small rise in systolic blood pressure. If you already have HBP and want to start using hormones, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits. If you decide to take hormones, find out how to control your blood pressure and how often you should have it checked.
Children younger than 10 years who have HBP often have another condition thats causing it (such as kidney disease). Treating the underlying condition may resolve the HBP.

HIGH RISK FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Certain traits, conditions, or habits are known to raise the risk for HBP. These conditions are called risk factors. This section describes the major risk factors for HBP. Older Age Blood pressure tends to rise with age. If you are a male older than 45 or a female older than 55, your risk for HBP is higher. Over half of all Americans aged 60 and older
have HBP. Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is the most common form of HBP in older adults. ISH occurs when only systolic blood pressure (the top number) is high. About 2 out of 3 people over age 60 who have HBP have ISH. HBP doesnt have to be a routine part of aging. You can take steps to keep your blood pressure at a normal level.

Race/Ethnicity

HBP can affect anyone. However, it occurs more often in African American adults than in Caucasian or Hispanic American adults. Overweight or Obesity Youre more likely to develop Pre-hypertension or HBP if youre overweight or obese. Overweight is having extra body weight from muscle, bone, fat, and/or water. Obesity is having a high amount of extra body fat.
Gender Fewer adult women than men have HBP. But, younger women (aged 18-59) are more likely than men to be aware of and get treatment for HBP. Women aged 60 and older are as likely as men to be aware of and treated for HBP. However, among treated women aged 60 and older, blood pressure control is lower than it is in men in the same age group. Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits
A number of life-style habits can raise your risk for HBP, including:

Eating too much sodium (salt).
Drinking too much alcohol.              
Not getting enough potassium in your diet.
Not doing enough physical activity.
Smoking.

OTHER RISK FACTORS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

A family history of HBP raises your risk for the condition. Long-lasting stress also can put you at risk for HBP.
Youre also more likely to develop HBP if you have Pre-hypertension. Pre-hypertension means that your blood pressure is in the 120-139/80-89 mmHg range.

Risk Factors for Children and Teens

Overweight is on the rise in youth younger than 18 years. As a result, Pre-hypertension and HBP also are becoming more common in this age group. Like adults, children and teens need to have routine blood pressure checks. This is even more important if a young person is overweight. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? High blood pressure (HBP) itself usually has no symptoms. Rarely, headaches may occur. You can have HBP for years without knowing it. During this time, HBP can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of the body. Some people only learn that they have HBP after the damage has caused problems, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, or kidney failure.
Knowing your blood pressure numbers is important, even when youre feeling fine. If your blood pressure is normal, you can work with your health care team to keep it that Way. If your numbers are too high, you can take steps to lower them and control your blood pressure. This helps reduce your risk for complications.

HOW IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE DIAGNOSED?

Your doctor will diagnose high blood pressure (HBP) using the results of blood pressure tests. These tests wil be done several times to make sure the results are correct. If your numbers are high, your doctor may have you return for more tests to check your blood pressure over time. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher over time, your doctor will likely diagnose you with HBP. If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, a blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg or higher is considered HBP. The HBP ranges in children are different.

HOW IS BLOOD PRESSURE TESTED

 A blood pressure test is easy and painless. This test is done at a doctors office or clinic. To prepare for the test:

Dont drink coffee or smoke cigarettes for 30 minutes prior to the test. These actions may cause a short-term rise in your blood pressure.
Go to the bathroom before the test. Having a full bladder can change your blood pressure reading.
Sit for 5 minutes before the test. Movement can cause short-term rises in blood pressure.
To measure your blood pressure, your doctor or nurse will use some type of a gauge, a stethoscope (or electronic sensor), and a blood pressure cuff. Most often, you will sit or lie down with the cuff around your arm as your doctor or nurse checks your blood pressure. If he or she doesnt tell you what your blood pressure numbers you should ask.

DIAGNOSING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHILDREN AND TEENS

Doctors measure blood pressure in children and teens the same way they do in adults. Your child should have routine blood pressure checks starting at 3 years of age. Blood pressure normally rises with age and body size. Newborn babies often have very low blood pressure numbers, while older teens have numbers similar to adults.
The ranges for normal blood pressure and HBP are generally lower for youth than for adults. These ranges are based on the average blood pressure numbers for age, gender, and height. To find out whether a child has HBP, a doctor will compare the childs blood pressure numbers to average numbers for his or her age, height, and gender.

DIAGNOSIS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

If youre diagnosed with HBP, you will need treatment. You also will need to have your blood pressure tested again see how treatment affects it. Once your blood pressure is under control, you will need to stay on treatment. Under control means that your blood pressure numbers are normal. You also will need regular blood pressure tests. Your doctor can tell you how often you should be tested.