Critical signs that indicate the onset of a liver disease

Liver disease is often a silent killer progressing with no noticeable symptoms. Recognizing early signs is crucial. Primarily among this which we commonly see here are jaundice. It is a common symptom seen in all patients with liver disease. It could be of a mild nature or it could be of a very severe nature. The patient commonly notices the change in the colour of the urine of a darker nature, yellowish and darker. Or someone on the family could also notice that there is yellowish discoloration of the eye or the sclera, the white part of the eye. This needs evaluation immediately and needs an expert assessment in terms of gastroenterologist or surgery in the patient because there are  multiple causes of jaundice that needs to be ruled out whether it is a viral infection or bacterial infection. It could be liver tumours, it could be chronic alcohol abuse. All this needs to be ruled out immediately. So the patient needs to visit an expert. Associated symptoms along with jaundice could also be fluid filling in the abdomen which is called medically ascitis.  This is because there’s abdominal walls are LAX and there’s a potential for a large amount of fluid to collect over there. This fluid is primarily produced because the liver is not s able to synthesize any proteins that is ingested in the diet. So the albumin, the quantity of albumin made in the body is low and because of that fluid which is supposed to be in the blood vessels leaks out into the abdominal cavity. There are other potential spaces to collect. Fluid is also in the chest, which is called fluid diffusion or just in the limbs where you primarily see edema in the hands and legs or the patients may just present with swelling. The treatment for ascitis or edema is usually medical in nature. It requires some amount of diuretics but if it’s causing distress to the patient, then fluid from the abdomen or chest can also be removed by tapping. Other symptoms may include vomiting of  blood or passing dark colored stools. This is because of the rupture of blood vessels in the esophagus or the food pipe.  This happens because of underlying portal hypertension. This needs immediate attention again to control the source of bleeding and this is f=done by using an endoscope or a colonoscope. Other symptoms that the patient may present could be confusion which is usually called encephalopathy. In medical terms this could either be a mild nature where the patient may just be confused or may be incoherent to or exaggerated nature where the patient may be deeply commandos and requiring intensity and support. This is because of a buildup of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia builds up because of undigested food or resistance of blood in the digestive system and the liver is not able to metabolize it so the blood ammonia starts rising. This again is of an urgent nature where the patient requires hospitalization to lower the levels of ammonia in the blood. Other associated symptoms with liver disease are is one specifically called sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass in the body could have severe thinning of the limbs, upper limbs and the lower limbs. This is again because of protein loss of protein synthesis and the patient is not able to keep up his muscle mass in the body. kidney can also get affected in liver disease. This is called hepatorenal syndrome where the patient’s urine output drops or the creatinine stats rising. This is evidence of serious affection of the liver. other associated symptoms that the patient may primarily present are liver tumours. All patients having end stage liver disease or chronic liver disease for a long time are prone to develop liver tumours in the liver. This again requires assessment to control a downstage the tumours and then finally have a management plan for the liver tumours . Patients with liver disease can also present primarily with infections. Infections could be on the blood, in the chest and the abdomen. This needs treatment in terms of hospitalization and antibiotic treatment.

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

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for infor on cancer and health related topics
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs. I'm going to add posts there, do give me your valuable feed back on my blogs. Thanks a lot, take care, be healthy and be happy.

Cold urticaria

Cold urticaria is a rare skin condition that is caused by skin’s exposure to cold temperature, cold water or even cold objects including eating or drinking cold food items. It mostly happens when the temperature is lower than 3-degree Celsius. If a person is suffering from cold urticaria, he/she is likely to develop small red welts (hives) on the exposed skin. These welts or hives appear within 2-5 minutes of exposure to the cold. People suffering from cold urticaria often develop a host of different symptoms including temporary reddish welts on the area where the skin was exposed to the cold stimuli, swelling of hands and lips while holding or consuming cold objects to worsening of reaction as skin slowly begins to warm. These hives usually last for 1-2 hours after the exposure to cold. The diagnosis of cold urticaria is done by placing a cold object (or an ice cube) on the skin for about five minutes. Symptoms are usually noticeable after the skin is exposed to the stimulus. While the exact cause of cold urticaria is not known, medical experts suspect that in some cases it can be caused by an underlying condition like infection, blood condition or cancer. This skin condition usually impacts young and middle-aged adults and while some people experience minor reactions, it may lead to severe reactions in others. In very severe cases, exposure to cold could lead to loss of consciousness, shock or even death. It can even cause swelling of tongue and throat, which makes it difficult to breathe. If the medical care provider feels that you may have an underlying condition that is causing severe reactions due to cold urticaria, you may need to get a couple of tests done to understand the cause. There is no specific course of treatment for cold urticaria and the line of treatment is usually to avoid further exposure to cold. This skin condition usually subsides on its own after a couple of weeks or months, but over-the-counter antihistamines and prescription medicines might be given to reduce the severity of the symptoms. 

Cold urticaria is caused by the skin’s exposure to a sudden drop in air temperature or cold water. However, the exact underlying cause of this skin condition is not completely understood as of now. It is an extremely rare allergy, where a person exposed to any cold stimuli (weather, food, objects, etc.) develops red, itchy welts on the affected area. It is believed that certain people are sensitive to the cold due to their skin cells, any inherited trait or an underlying condition including blood infection, chickenpox, cancer, and viral hepatitis.

The allergic reactions are triggered by the person’s exposure to cold as it leads to the activation of mast cells in the body and the release of histamine and leukotrienes in the bloodstream. However, the specific underlying cause of cold urticaria remains unknown. This extremely rare skin condition impacts about 0.05 per cent of the global population and is mostly seen to affect young and middle-aged adults.

It is important to take note that different people exhibit different symptoms of cold urticaria. Hence, the signs and symptoms of the skin condition vary on the basis of its severity. Some of the most common symptoms of cold urticaria include:

1.Reddish, itchy hives (bumps or welts) on the exposed area. These welts are usually temporary and subside after a couple of hours. However, they may persist for up to 48 hours after exposure.

2. Instead of localised itching, one may also experience itchy rashes all over the body.

3.Wheezing, shortness of breath

4.Swelling of lips and throat

5. Headache

6. Palpitations

7. Anxiety

8.Abdominal pain

9.Swelling of hands

The severe allergic symptoms of this skin condition include:

1.Swelling of limbs and torso

2.Loss of consciousness

3. Shock

4. Hypotension (low blood pressure)

5. In rare situations (full skin exposure like swimming in cold water), it may even lead to death

Swimming in cold water is the most common cause of a severe cold urticarial reaction. Some of the other causes of severe reactions are staying in a cold room or during surgery under general anesthesia.

People suffering from cold urticaria should make it a point to safeguard themselves from any cold stimuli. Some of the other prevention methods include:
1. Take the prescribed medicines regularly

2. Protect your skin from cold objects, foods, and cold and windy weather. Be prepared for sudden changes in the temperature.

3. Make it a point to always swim under observation and dip your hands in the water first to check if you are experiencing any reaction or not.

4. Anyone who has ever developed anaphylactic reactions should carry emergency adrenaline with them all the time to prevent severe reactions to cold stimuli.

5. Carry over-the-counter antihistamine with you all the time, so that you can use them before cold exposure.

6. If you are planning to undergo any surgery, it is strongly advised to talk to your doctors and inform them about your condition. This will help them to ensure that they take precautions during the procedure to keep you warm. Some of these precautions include monitoring your body temperature, applying warm blankets and avoiding histamine-releasing drugs. 


Treatment
While there is no cure for cold urticaria, it can be managed effectively with a preventive approach coupled with the treatment of the infectious trigger. Treatment consists of patient education, stimulus avoidance, and medication.

The line of treatment for cold urticaria involves:

1. Avoiding scenarios and stimuli that may trigger the reaction.

2. Educating the patient about the preventive methods of the skin condition.

3. LTRAs such as montelukast 10 mg once daily

This is because Montelukast is an orally active leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) licensed for the maintenance treatment of asthma and to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies and different forms of urticaria, including cold urticaria.

4. Cetirizine up to 40 mg daily

High doses of non-sedating antihistamines may be helpful.

5. Omalizumab (Xolair)

Helpful for people who don’t respond to other medications for treating cold urticaria.

6. Carry an epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, others) due to the increased risk of anaphylaxis.

7. One may also try desensitising the body by gradually hardening the skin to cold conditions (and stimuli).

According to the DermaNet NZ website, “There have been reports of successful treatment with leukotriene antagonists, ciclosporin, systemic corticosteroids, dapsone, oral antibiotics and the synthetic hormone, danazol.”

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

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

8 Warning Signs of a Blood Clot

Blood clotting is a normal process that the human body carries out in order to stop external bleeding. However, sometimes blood clots happen when they're not meant to, such as when it's still within your veins. When this occurs, blood clotting can become life-threatening. Internal clotting can be a cause of heart attacks, strokes, as well as other serious medical conditions. Fortunately, there are 8 common ways to notice if you're suffering from a blood clot:
 

1. Swelling in One Limb

One serious type of blood clot is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). When DVT occurs, oxygen is prevented from reaching your vital organs. This results in poor blood circulation, which ends up causing swelling. If one or more of your limbs is inexplicably swollen, it would be best to consult your doctor.

 

2. Leg Pain or Tenderness

People suffering from DVT also commonly experience leg pain or tenderness. In addition to making the limbs swell, DVT may also cause the legs to ache, be sore to the touch, or to cramp up.

3. Chest Pain and Heavy Breathing

Chest pain should never be ignored, and neither should heavy breathing. If both of these symptoms are experienced simultaneously, experts say that you could be suffering from a blood clot in the lungs. Such a clot can quickly turn fatal, so should you experience these symptoms, then stop whatever you're doing, and seek medical attention right away.

4. Shortness of Breath

Much like with heavy breathing, shortness of breath is never a symptom you should ignore. If you notice that you're finding it hard to breathe, have a racing heart, feel a fluttering sensation in your chest, or experience any dizziness, then you may be suffering from a clot in the lungs. These symptoms, particularly when experienced simultaneously, warrant immediate medical attention.

5. A Random Cough Without a Cold

If you aren't ill but are coughing for seemingly no reason, then look out for other potential signs of a blood clot. These include chest pain, shortness of breath, and a noticeably increased heart rate.

6. Red Streaks Along Your Veins

If you notice red streaks on your skin that run down much of the length of your veins, then you should contact your doctor immediately. While blood clots typically cause bruising, streaking is a sign of a more severe and potentially life-threatening concern. These streaks will also make your skin feel a lot warmer to the touch, which is another way of identifying a clot.

7. Severe, Chronic Headaches

If you are continually experiencing very painful headaches, whilst also having trouble speaking or seeing, then this may indicate a blood clot in your brain. Needless to say, this is extremely serious, and you should seek medical assistance immediately.

8. Vomiting or Diarrhea

Severe diarrhea and/or vomiting is never normal under any circumstances. However, if these symptoms keep persisting, then you should contact a medical professional, as they could indicate a blood clot in the abdominal region.

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-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                        https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://my crochet creations.blogspot.com

Amputees can learn to control robotic limbs with minds

Amputees can learn to control a robotic arm with their mind even several years after an amputation, through electrodes implanted in the brain, according to a study led by an Indian-origin scientist. 

Researchers showed that the areas of the brain used to control the amputated limb and the remaining, intact limb can create new connections to learn how to control the device. 

"That is the novel aspect to this study, seeing that chronic, long-term amputees can learn to control a robotic limb," said a professor. 
 
"But what was also interesting was the brains plasticity over long-term exposure, and seeing what happened to the connectivity of the network as they learned to control the device," said a senior author of the study. 

Previous experiments have shown how paralysed human patients can move robotic limbs through a brain machine interface. 

The study is one of the first to test the viability of these devices in amputees as well. 

Researchers worked with three rhesus monkeys who suffered injuries at a young age and had to have an arm amputated to rescue them four, nine and 10 years ago respectively. 

In two of the animals, they implanted electrode arrays in the side of the brain opposite, or contralateral, to the amputated limb. This is the side that used to control the amputated limb. 

In the third animal, the electrodes were implanted on the same side, or ipsilateral, to the amputated limb. This is the side that still controlled the intact limb. 

The monkeys were then trained to move a robotic arm and grasp a ball using only their thoughts. 

The scientists recorded the activity of neurons where the electrodes were placed, and used a statistical model to calculate how the neurons were connected to each other before the experiments, during training and once the monkeys mastered the activity. 

The connections between neurons on the contralateral side - the side that had been controlling the amputated arm - were sparse before the training, most likely because they had not been used for that function in a long time. 

However, as training progressed, these connections became more robust and dense in areas used for both reaching and grasping. 

Researchers found that first the connections were pruned and the networks thinned, before rebuilding into a new, dense network. 

"That means connections were shedding off as the animal was trying to learn a new task, because there is already a network controlling some other behavior," said a researcher who led the study. 

"But after a few days it started rebuilding into a new network that can control both the intact limb and the neuroprosthetic," said the researcher.

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