Sunday, 25 September 2011

Causes of AIDS






Causes of AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency sydrome (AIDS) is one of the disease in the world that has no cure and it is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This disease affects the immune system of the body and makes individual to be exposed to infections and tumors. According to AVERT, a report in 2009 shows an estimate of 33.3 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS with about 2.6 million people gets infected with HIV every year while 1.8 million deaths are been recorded yearly as a result of AIDS.
HIV is spread in the body through direct contact of a mucous membrane or blood stream with a bodily fluid containing HIV. Examples of bodily fluid that may be infected with HIV includes blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluid. HIV is transmitted when people have anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion and using needles that is been infected with HIV. Babies tends to have HIV from their mother during pregnancy, childbirth and breast feeding. HIV have also been detected in saliva, tears, nervous system tissue and spinal fluid but only blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk is the major way HIV is been transmitted to others. HIV infections is not spread by mosquitoes, casual contact such as hugging, touching a person infected with HIV or participating in sports or any activities.
The symptoms of AIDS are as a result of HIV infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, which affects nearly every system of the organ. Symptoms common with AIDS includes fever, sweats (most especially at night), weight loss, chills, weakness and swollen glands. The risk of developing various cancers such as cervical cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma are high in people that has AIDS. One major infection that is associated with HIV is tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis is transmissible to people and is not easily treatable once some has the infection. According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2007, records shows that 456,000 deaths as a result of tuberculosis were HIV positive.
Chronic diarrhea is associated with people that are HIV positive and this is due to many possible causes such as bacteria and parasitic infections. Diarrhea is believed to be a result of changes in the way the intestinal tract captures nutrient. On the other hand diarrhea may be a side effect of drugs that is been used to treat HIV. It can also be the side effect of taking antibiotics which is been used to treat diarrhea.
The major ways HIV is been transmitted to people are sexual contact, during childbearing and exposure to infected body fluids. Knowing the major ways HIV is been transmitted will help in the prevention of the spread of HIV. The use of male or female condoms can reduce the risk of infection with HIV and other sexual transmitted diseases. The risk of contracting HIV through sexual contacts can be reduced to about 80% if condoms is been used during sexual intercourse. The risk can be reduced further if the condom is used the right way every time. Research carried on couples where one partner is infected with HIV and there is constant use of condom shows rate of HIV was below 1% per year for the uninfected partner.
Mothers who are infected with HIV should avoid breast-feeding their infant as this will help in preventing the transmission of HIV to the infant. People working in clinics, hospitals or other health related works should always use barriers which can expose them to body fluids. Such barriers includes gloves, protective eye wares or shields, masks, and gowns or aprons which will prevent the exposure of the skin to blood borne pathogens. Sharp objects such as needles, glass and scalpels should be disposed off carefully.
Lastly the best way to prevent the spread of AIDS is educating the people on the causes and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Ways of educating people starts from schools, because the youths are more prone to the disease and the media to inform the general public.
There is no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS so extra precaution needs to be made so that you don't get infected with the disease but if you do then you have to able to manage it. The best way of managing AIDS after someone is being exposed to the virus is with the use of antiretroviral drugs. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the current treatment of HIV infections.


Thursday, 22 September 2011

Determining Osteoporosis Symptoms for Immediate Treatment




Determining Osteoporosis Symptoms for Immediate Treatment
We often hear of the disorder osteoporosis and how debilitating it is as a disease. However, there are only a few who are aware of what osteoporosis is all about. Knowledge about the treatment is not enough for knowing the different osteoporosis symptoms and causes is also vital.
Osteoporosis is a bone disorder wherein the bone density is decreased, reducing its strength and eventually leading to fragile bones. Having this makes you at risk for bone fractures especially on the wrist, the spine and the hips. It is more common in women, with 80% of cases happening to them. It is also observed to be common in people who are aged 50 and beyond. According to statistics, there are about 10 million people in the United States who are suffering from this disease, with 18 million who are at risk of developing it. It is also more common in Caucasians and Asians.
The lack of hormones, estrogen in women and androgen in men is the most common cause of osteoporosis. It has also been proven that this is hereditary, since there are about 30 genes that are associated with its development. It is also common in those who lack weight-bearing exercises and those who have diets that have inadequate calcium and Vitamin D. Cigarette smoking, regular alcohol drinking and having a sedentary lifestyle can also put you at risk for developing this disorder. Certain medical conditions can also lead to acquiring this such as anorexia, bulimia, rheumatoid arthritis, endocrine and hematologic disorders.
What makes this disorder difficult to diagnose is the absence of osteoporosis symptoms during the initial stage. You can have osteoporosis then for several years without knowing it until the occurrence of fractures. To differentiate osteoporosis fractures from other types of fractures, you will notice that these are usually painful. The location of the pain will depend on where the fracture is located. If the fracture happens on the spine, there will be a band-like pain that starts at the back and radiates to the sides of the body. When the condition becomes severe, the pain will also worsen, described as sharp and occurring suddenly. This becomes worse when you put weight on the affected area and it will usually be accompanied by tenderness. Other osteoporosis symptoms include the presence of the dowager hump which is a result of vertebral collapse from repeated spinal fractures. There will also be an increased risk for falls which is commonly associated with aging. The areas that are mostly affected are the spine, the hips and the wrist.
The treatment of this condition will begin on the particular osteoporosis symptoms that you have. The fractures will have to be fixed immediately, especially if these will require surgery. Proper diagnostic tests will also be done to determine that underlying cause so that the right medications will be given to you. You should not just take any medications unless these are prescribed by your physician after he did all the tests needed. Treatment is needed immediately so that you will not keep on suffering from these osteoporosis symptoms and such that complications will be avoided

Ankylosis Spondylitus




Ankylosis Spondylitus
Ankylosis Spondylitus, a disease with a long sounding name. It causes inflammation of the joints and is commonly referred to as arthritis of the back. This is a progressive disease that continues without remorse. It encompasses degeneration of the disks in the vertebra of the back. It extends to cause pain in the hips, neck, knees and ankles. A general stiffness of the body is first noticed by the host. Its effects include difficulty in walking, getting in and out of cars and stiffness of the spinal column. The end result of this disease is total fusion of the spine.
The effects of this disease progressively get worse. Over a period of time the ugly face of
complete disability may stare you in the face. Back pain is accompanied by the inability to
walk or move without constant and unbearable pain. Some people cannot actively function in
jobs that they have occupied for many years with the onset of this disease. This disease
can causes job changes or disability.
Although there is no cure for this disease there are things that you can use to slow the
disease down or lessen the pain associated with it. A mix of glucosamine, chondroitin and
MSM will slow down the effects of the disease. Physical therapy will also help to retard it's
effects. Use the same medications that you would normally use for arthritic conditions.
Salves or ointments normally reserved for arthritis treatment can be used in this capacity.
Chiropractors use treatments that help break up the vertebrae in the spinal column with the
hope of returning the spine to good health. If this disease continues unabated without some
type of treatment organ damage can result. In order for a body to be healthy the vertebrae
need to be flexible. Chiropractors offer manipulations as a way in which to achieve optimum
health. Pain pills offered for arthritis relief can also be of value. Hot baths seem to have a
beneficial effect. Start on some type of therapy as early as possible.
This disease can be detected in several ways. The first issue to be considered is pain in the
neck, shoulders and back. After consultation by a doctor the disease can be verified by
xrays or by blood work. Start on the medications and exercise regimens early in order to
forestall the onset of the diseases symptoms. If untreated this disease can have paralyzing
results. Falling to the floor and not being able to arise and walk is one complication involved
in this disease. Pain management and medications that soothe and lubricate the joints are
used for optimum benefits.
As the disease progresses physical activities enjoyed before the onset of symptoms related to the disease will have to be curtailed or stopped. Hopefully a total cure for this ailment will be brought about by medical intervention. Until that time we will have to use the tools that are available to us to limit the effects of this disease

How Dental Ankylosis Occurs




How Dental Ankylosis Occurs
The human tooth is normally attached to the alveolar bone or jawbone through gingival and periodontal fibers. Furthermore, the roots of a single tooth are not directly connected with the jawbone because of a substance that covers them called cementum. At times, though, these components which help the tooth to be intact with the alveolar bone are not present, causing the roots of a tooth to be directly fixed into the jawbone. This condition is called dental ankylosis.
Generally, a temporary or baby tooth is loosened as the permanent tooth under it pushes itself out of the gums. But this unfastening won't be possible if the roots of the primary tooth are strongly united with the alveolar bone. As a result, the spawning permanent tooth would lose its direction, causing malocclusion to the affected person's dental construction.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, dentists resolve this issue by extraction, although doing this wouldn't be as simple as pulling out an ordinary tooth. Minor surgeries might be performed in order to remove the ankylosed tooth without damaging either its neighboring teeth or the jawbone. Some orthodontic treatments may be required in the future to prevent misalignment as well.
Myrtle Beach dentists also do not consider this dental imperfection as a major concern. No serious potential harm will be experienced except for asymmetry in tooth alignment. In fact, adults who already have established permanent teeth no longer need treatments, because no erupting teeth would be affected in the future anyway.
A Myrtle Beach dentist can determine if a child is suffering from dental ankylosis through X-ray diagnosis. Another evident symptom of an ankylosed tooth is its unusual submersion. Compared to other teeth, an ankylosed tooth is usually more buried into the gums.
Myrtle Beach dentists acknowledge a few possible causes of this unusual tooth forming behavior, one of which is physical trauma. Accidents may be the reason why dental ankylosis happens. A heavy blow can cause the gums and nerves to swell, altering the way a tooth sprouts. Insufficient bone growth is another ground for ankylosis, as well as an abnormal pressure from one's tongue.