Archive for the ‘Diagnostics’ Category
High Cholesterol
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
High blood cholesterol levels, especially elevated low-density lipoproteins (LDL), is considered to be a contributor to plaque building up in the arteries and impeded blood flow to the brain, kidneys, genitals, extremities, and heart.
Cholesterol is an essential part of every cell structure and is needed for proper brain and nerve function. It is also the basis for the manufacture of sex hormones. Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver and transported through the bloodstream to the sites where it is needed.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD Syndrome)
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
A seasonal disruption of mood that typically occurs during the winter months, SAD symptoms usually begin in September when days begin to shorten and last until March when the days begin to lengthen again. Individuals with SAD feel depressed, slow down, overeat, and crave carbohydrates in the winter. In the summer, these same individuals feel elated, active and energetic. Both adults and children can be affected. In individuals intolerant to heat, SAD symptoms may occur in summer. (more…)
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
An elevated blood pressure is a major risk factor for a heart attack or stroke. The diagnostic summary is as follows:
• Borderline high blood pressure: 120-160 / 90-94
• Mild high blood pressure: 140-160 / 95-104
• Moderate high blood pressure: 140-180 / 105-114
• Severe high blood pressure: 160+ / 115+
Microalbumin
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
The true marker for early detection of cardiovascular/ renal disease
Recent years have seen a radical shift in the focus of renal medicine. Rather than aiming to avoid complications from hemodialysis and kidney transplantation, nephrologists have turned to secondary prevention…
Detection while there is time to act
Recent years have seen a radical shift in the focus of renal medicine. Rather than aiming to avoid complications from hemodialysis and kidney transplantation, nephrologists have turned to secondary prevention – keeping kidney disease from progressing to its end stage. (more…)
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a recurrent condition in menstruating women, characterized by a wide range of troublesome physical and emotional symptoms that arise during the week or two before menstruation, but usually cease when the menstrual flow begins. Common physical symptoms include tender, swollen breasts; headache; backache; abdominal bloating; fluid retention causing puffiness in ankles, fingers and face; decreased energy level; acne outbreaks; and higher incidence of minor infections such as colds. Common emotional symptoms include irritability, nervousness, depression, mood swings, and altered (decreased or increased) sex drive.
Multiple Sclerosis
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a syndrome of chronic nerve disturbances due to a process called demyelination, a gradual loss of the myelin sheath surrounding each nerve cell. The myelin sheath plays an essential role in transmission of the nerve impulse. Without the myelin sheath, nerve transmission cannot occur, so nerve function is lost. Symptoms correspond to this loss of function in the affected nerves.
Incidence of MS follows a geographic distribution with areas of highest frequency all located in the higher latitudes, in both the northern and southern hemispheres (50–100 cases per 100,000 in higher latitudes versus 5–10 cases per 100,000 in the tropics). High-risk areas include the northern US, Canada, Great Britain, Scandinavia, northern Europe, New Zealand, and Tasmania. (more…)
Vaginitis and Vulvovaginitis
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Vaginitis is an infection of the vaginal tract that causes inflammation of the vaginal lining. In ulvovaginitis, the inflammation extends to the vulva, the external genital area, which includes the pubic mound, labia, clitoris, and opening of the urethra, as well as the vaginal tract. Although vaginitis can be caused by a sexually transmitted infectious micro-organism, it is more typically due to a disturbance in the delicate ecology of the vagina that allows organisms normally found in a healthy vagina to overgrow and produce an infection. Symptoms vary somewhat depending upon the causative infectious agent, but all involve increased volume of vaginal secretions; abnormal colour, consistency, or odour of vaginal secretions; vaginal and vulval itching, burning or irritation; and painful urination or pain with intercourse. (more…)
Tumours
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Modern medicine has only its single-minded one-size-fits-all treatment for all types of tumours – with very little evidence of success. However, alternative medicine provides a number of other possibilities if you wish to avoid the slash-poison-or-burn approach.
Homoeopathy has been in the vanguard of natural treatments for tumours, although much of the research has been performed with animals. Although the specific remedies may or may not necessarily apply to humans, the evidence that homoeopathy itself is an effective treatment is highly compelling. (more…)
Parkinson’s Disease
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Parkinson was an English physician in the 18th century. He described a clinical state that has taken on his name. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disease affecting the nervous system. The underlying cause is unknown, but symptoms appear when there is a lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that carries messages from one nerve cell to another. In healthy persons, it exists in balance with another neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. In people with what is called primary Parkinson’s disease, the substantia nigra – the area of the brain containing cells that manufacture dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin – are damaged or dying, and the brain loses the ability to manufacture these chemicals. (more…)
Peptic Ulcer
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Peptic ulcers (an ulcer is an erosion in the mucous membranes that produces a crater-like lesion) can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, but are most common in the lower half of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or in the upper part of the duodenum, the first 30 cm (12”) of the small intestine directly below the stomach (duodenal ulcer). Duodenal ulcers are four to five times more common than gastric ulcers, and are four times more common in men than in women. While duodenal ulcers are almost always benign, gastric ulcers may become malignant. Ulcers can affect all ages, and about 1 in 10 Americans develops a peptic ulcer at some period in his or her lifetime. (more…)