What Does the Spleen Do and How Do We Take Care of It?

The spleen is an important part of your body, but many people don’t even know what it is or where it’s located. In fact, many of us can go through our entire life without even thinking about it. This little organ is located on the left side of your abdomen under the rib cage. It weighs about 6 ounces (170 gm) in healthy adults and looks somewhat like a fist-sized purple sponge with holes in it. Since it’s tucked under the rib cage, the spleen usually isn’t felt on exam. However, if your spleen enlarges, it might need to be treated or surgically removed.

1. What does the Spleen do?

 

 The spleen has a few vital functions: 

 

Its primary job is to filter or remove "junk" from the bloodstream. It does so by getting rid of cellular waste and removing old, malformed, or damaged blood cells. 

 

The spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes, as well as antibodies that help the body combat invading germs in the blood including bacteria or viruses. This makes the organ crucial for our immune system response. 

 

The spleen affects the level of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. It maintains the levels of fluid in your body. 

 

Apart from containing white blood cells, the spleen also stores red blood cells and platelets. 

 

The spleen is also responsible for analyzing the quality of our red blood cells. So, for instance, a red blood cell is damaged or unable to move through the blood system properly, the spleen removes it from circulation. Further, if the spleen finds anything in the red blood cells that shouldn't be there, it gets rid of it. 

 

Conditions That Affect the Spleen  

If your spleen doesn't work properly, you are at a bigger risk of being infected with bacteria. In addition, you may suffer certain medical conditions. For starters, it may start removing healthy blood cells, which may lead to anemia or an increased risk of infection from a reduced number of white blood cells. 

 

Some of the other conditions that cause an enlarged spleen include: 

 

Sickle cell disease: With sickle cell disease, a group of disorders, the red blood cells become misshapen and get trapped in the spleen. This ultimately causes the spleen to expand. If more and more red blood cells continue getting trapped in the organ, it will keep getting larger. This can cause anemia.  

 

Sickled red blood cells also harm the spleen tissues and disrupt their normal functions. People with this disease are hence at a higher risk of infection. 

 

Hereditary spherocytosis: It’s a condition that affects red blood cells. People with hereditary spherocytosis experience a shortage of red blood cells as they are destroyed earlier than normal by the spleen. The gene mutations that cause red blood cells to be misshapen are called spherocytes that are taken out of circulation and sent to the spleen to be removed. When this keeps happening, it causes a shortage of red blood cells and too many in the spleen.

 

Cancer: The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ in the body and is surrounded by a connective tissue capsule. It can also be connected with lymphomas or cancer of the lymphatic system as well as blood cancers such as Hodgkin’s disease and leukemia. 

 

Thalassemia: The spleen helps produce blood cells before birth. In people with thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, the bone marrow is unable to make red blood cells normally. This causes the spleen to enlarge to produce more red blood cells.

 

Bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections: If the spleen does not function properly, you are at a bigger risk from bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. This is simply because the spleen is responsible for getting rid of harmful bacteria from the blood. In many viral infections, the spleen becomes enlarged which can cause infections such as syphilis, tuberculosis, endocarditis, mononucleosis (mono), and malaria.

 

Enlarged Spleen 

 

Your spleen may become enlarged (a condition called splenomegaly) if it can’t filter your blood as efficiently as it’s used to. This primarily happens due to several different medical conditions or diseases that cause blood cells to break down too quickly such as cirrhosis, leukemia, or rheumatoid arthritis. 

 

An enlarged spleen traps an excessive amount of blood cells and platelets and may start destroying healthy red blood cells as well. This condition can lead to a significant reduction of healthy blood cells and platelets in your blood as your spleen becomes clogged. 

 

An enlarged doesn’t always show symptoms at first. But you should look out for these signs: 

 

* Feeling discomfort or pain behind your left ribs 

 

* Feeling too full quickly without eating too much. This happens because an enlarged spleen can press on the stomach. 

 

* Frequent infections. 

 

* Fatigue or anemia. 

 

* Easy bleeding 

 

If it enlarges too much without being detected, the spleen can be damaged or ruptured after a forceful blow to the abdomen. This may cause acute pain behind your left ribs and you would require your spleen to be removed.

How to treat an Enlarged Spleen?

Your doctor can often tell if you have an enlarged spleen by touching the area around your abdomen. A blood test, CT scan, or MRI scan would verify the diagnosis. 

 

If you are diagnosed with an enlarged spleen, you are likely to be first given antibiotics to treat the underlying condition that may have caused the issue. However, a severe infection may not respond to antibiotics and can lead to inflammation and a buildup of pus. In such a scenario, your spleen may need to be removed. Surgery may also be needed if doctors are unable to find out the cause of your spleen enlargement. 

 

The surgery to remove your spleen is called a splenectomy. Sometimes just part of your spleen can be removed if needed, which is called a partial splenectomy. Recovery from this surgery usually takes around four and six weeks. 

 

Can You Live Without Your Spleen?

After your spleen is removed, you are left with a compromised immune system and are at greater risk of bacterial infections. Does that mean you can’t live normally without a spleen? 

 

While the spleen is an important part of the body, you can indeed live without your spleen if it’s damaged by disease or injury. Your liver and lymph nodes take over the job of the spleen after it’s removed from your body. That being said, you may develop certain infections quickly and are likely to take longer than usual to recover after getting sick without your spleen. Your doctor may ask you to get vaccinated against certain infections to lessen your risk. Some of these include: 

 * Influenza 

* Meningitis 

* Chickenpox 

* Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough 

* Measles, mumps, and rubella 

* Pneumonia 

 

If you are an otherwise healthy adult, you can lead a normal life even without your spleen. Consult with your doctor to devise a long-term plan to stay healthy after your spleen is removed. 

 

How Do I Keep My Spleen Healthy? 

Currently, there's not much research on how your diet can affect your spleen. There are also no recommendations on specific foods you should avoid to reduce the risk of developing an enlarged spleen. However, a healthy diet affects your overall health and keeps your immune system robust. Therefore, to keep your spleen and immune system in good shape, you should exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and drink plenty of water, health experts say. Eating a balanced diet abundant in fruits and vegetables will be beneficial as well.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Nasal Irrigation: Natural Relief for Cold & Allergy Symptoms

How Nasal Irrigation Works
Got a stuffy nose from allergies or a cold? Nasal irrigation may help. Here's how it works. You pour a saline solution into one nostril. As it flows through your nasal cavity into the other nostril, it washes out mucus and allergens. Use this step-by-step guide to see how to do it.


Step 1- Decide What You'll Need
For nasal irrigation, you'll need a container and saline solution. You can buy pre-filled containers, or use a bulb syringe or neti pot. All are available at drugstores. 

Step 2: Mix the Saline Solution

If you choose a pre-filled bottle, skip this step. Otherwise, you can buy a saline solution powder and follow the directions on the label or make your own. Start with one to two cups of warm water. Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt and a pinch of baking soda to soften the effect of the salt. Use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water to make the solution to help prevent infection.

Step 3: Get in Position

If you are using a squeeze bottle, neti pot, or syringe, lean forward over the sink, at about a 45-degree angle. Tilt your head so that one nostril is pointed down toward the sink. Don't tilt your head back.

Step 4: Pour in the Saline Solution
Place the spout of a neti pot or the tip of a syringe or squeeze bottle just inside your nose. The tip should go in no further than a finger's width. Keeping your mouth open, squeeze the bulb syringe or bottle, or tilt the pot to pour the water into your nostril. Remember to breathe through your mouth, not your nose.

Step 5: Let It Drain

The salt water will run through your nasal passages and drain out of your other nostril and maybe your mouth. You should spit it out and not swallow it. But if some does go down your throat it won't hurt you.

Step 6: Clear Your Nose and Repeat

Gently blow your nose to clear out the remaining solution. Repeat the procedure with your other nostril. When you're done, throw away any leftover solution and thoroughly clean the items you used. Let them air dry. Store them in a clean, dry place.

What If It Stings or Burns?

Try using less salt in the saline solution, and make sure you're using lukewarm -- not hot or cold -- water. Be sure to tilt your head to the side at a 45-degree angle, and don't tilt your head back. Keep your mouth open so you don't breathe through your nose and "snort" the saline solution.

How Fast Does Nasal Wash Work?

You may see results after just one or two times. The benefits grow as you continue to do it. One study showed that long-term nasal irrigation helped people feel in control of their sinus symptoms and really improved their quality of life.

Is Nasal Irrigation Right for You?

Nasal irrigation can benefit people with chronic sinus symptoms, nasal allergies, acute sinusitis, colds, and even nasal symptoms from the flu. It can help both adults and kids. Some people use it every day to stay symptom free. You shouldn't use it, though, if you have an ear infection or a nostril that's plugged and hard to breathe through.


How Sinuses Get Clogged
The nose has two passages that filter air. In the bones of the skull are the four pairs of air-filled cavities called sinuses, which drain into these passages. The passages and sinuses are lined with a mucous membrane. If it becomes inflamed -- for instance from a cold or allergy -- it swells and blocks the sinuses from draining. Bacteria can build up leading to a sinus infection. That leads to more inflammation, swelling, stuffiness, and pain.

Why Nasal Irrigation Helps

In the mucous membranes, hair-like structures called cilia pass bacteria and other debris to the throat where they can be harmlessly swallowed. When membranes swell, cilia can't do their job. With nasal irrigation, you use the saline solution to rinse out your nasal passages. The salt water also restores moisture and eases inflammation of the mucous membranes. Swelling is reduced, making it easier to breathe.

Ways to Reduce Allergens

If you have allergies, avoiding allergy triggers will go a long way toward making it easier to breathe. That means doing things like using an air conditioner in your home and car during warm seasons, reducing indoor humidity, and always running the exhaust fans when showering and cooking. Vacuuming regularly and using protective mattress and pillow covers can help, too.

Work With Your Doctor

One study showed that people with chronic sinus problems who used nasal irrigation were able to use fewer medications. Talk with your doctor about what's right for you. And if you are taking medication now, don't stop without talking to your doctor first.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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Red Clover Tea Good For Kidney and Liver Functions

Red clover tea has antioxidants that can help to metabolize 

lymphatic-clogging toxins and further purify your body. It 

may improve lymphatic drainage and kidney and liver 

function as well, two key organs that clear toxins from your 

system.






ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com/

I've not given details about designs, but those interested are free to mail me for the same.

HEART DISEASES- Cinnamon and Honey

Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply it on bread instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, those who have already had an attack, when they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.