Do You Know How to Spot a Brain Aneurysm?

Brain aneurysms kill people suddenly every year, yet few of us know what the warning signs of this deadly attack are. Recent estimates suggest that 90% of Americans are not sure what a brain aneurysm really is. And because anything from between 6% to 9% of people actually have an aneurysm, this lack of knowledge is tragic. This necessary guide will give you important information about brain aneurysms, telling you everything you need to know, and explaining what you can do to spot the signs before the worst happens. 

 

Lisa Colagrossi's story

Some of you may know the story of Emmy Award-nominated US news anchor, Lisa Colagrossi, who died in 2015 from a brain aneurysm, aged only 49. Lisa was a hard-working woman who began to feel excruciating head pain. After discussing it with her husband, she decided to let it pass and get on with her work. Sadly, she was taken ill and died only two weeks after the initial headache passed.

Following this awful turn of events, Lisa’s husband established the Lisa Colagrossi Foundation (LCF) to raise public awareness about the silent killer that had taken her away from him and their two poor children. Her husband understood that it was only a lack of knowledge that prevented Lisa from going to the doctor before it was too late. 

 

This story dramatically illustrates the need for more widely-spread knowledge about brain aneurysms. 

 

What is a brain aneurysm?

Neurosurgeon at New York University’s Langone Medical Center, Howard Riina, MD, describes a brain aneurysm as a weakness of the wall in one of the brain’s blood vessels. The weakness lets the wall form a bulge, due to the pressure of the blood running through the vessels. When this bulge becomes over-inflated it can rupture and seep blood into the brain tissue.

 

This bulge, or aneurysm, is something that anywhere from 6% to 9% of us are walking around with, unaware that it could rupture. They can even be seen on an MRI scan. Yet if the aneurysm is of a tolerably small size, doctors will not recommend invasive and dangerous surgery.

When you suffer a rupture...

The frightening description above may give you the idea of blood squirting all over the place, but the truth is not quite so dramatic. There may be a little dribble for a few moments, but generally a platelet plug naturally forms, according to Riina. However, even this little trickle can be fatal. Between 30% to 50% of sufferers die immediately after a rupture occurs. 

 

The small blood leak irritates the brain tissues it comes into contact with, and this drastically increases pressure within the head. Furthermore, the loss of blood is catastrophic for the brain regions which have lost out. These areas need a constant supply of blood to function as they should. 

 

Pressure and a lack of blood combine to induce either death or unconsciousness. 

 

Signs and symptoms of a rupture:

Here are several symptoms that have been reported by those who have suffered a rupture: 

 

• An excruciating headache 

 

• Neck stiffness 

 

• Tingling face 

 

• Light sensitivity 

 

• Seizures 

 

• Weak limbs 

 

• Blurry or double vision 

 

• Extreme tiredness 

 

Most of these symptoms are secondary, however, to the headache. Colagrossi’s husband describes this as “W-H-O-L” or ‘the worst headache of your life’. This could be felt anywhere and at any time, though it may be felt more strongly behind the eyes. It is hard to describe this pain, some compare it to being hit by a bolt of lightning, others have said it felt like hearing a gun shot.  

 

What to do:

Riina’s advice is that if you or someone close to you experiences any of these symptoms, make an emergency call for an ambulance or go to the hospital directly. Doctors have several things they can do to get rid of the pressure that results from the rupture, but that doesn’t mean that everything will be well. 

 

Of those who receive treatment a third die, a third suffer permanent impairment, and a further third go back to normal. The goal of the Lisa Colagrossi Foundation is to help increase the number of people who can go back to normal. He says: 

 

"If someone had been doing the work we're doing now to raise public awareness, Lisa and millions of others would still be alive."

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.

What is Hyperthermia? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments You Needto Know

Though it's usually welcomed after long winters, summertime—and the hot temperatures that come with it—can pose some pretty significant health risks. And if you're planning on spending time outside right now in excessive heat, it's essential to educate yourself about heat-related illnesses, commonly known as hyperthermia.

Overall, "extreme heat is defined as summertime temperatures that are much hotter and/or more humid than average," the CDC explains on its website. The agency also says that "humid and muggy conditions can make it seem hotter than it really is," and that there's no set standard for what's considered excessive heat, because some place are hotter than others, and higher-than-normal temperatures are measured by what's considered average for a particular area.

Here's what you need to know about hyperthermia in the summertime, including what the symptoms of heat illnesses are, and how you can prevent and treat them.

What is hyperthermia? 

Hyperthermia is a catch-all phrase for heat-related illnesses, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The agency adds that, in general, hyperthermia is "an abnormally high body temperature caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body to deal with the heat coming from the environment."

It's the opposite of hypothermia, a condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, leading to a dangerously low body temperature, per the CDC.

"Hyperthermia occurs when core body temperature is markedly elevated or above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit),” Sara Hogan, MD, health sciences clinical instructor at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and dermatologist at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, tells Health. “Hypothermia occurs when core body temperature is 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower, often when body heat is lost to a cold environment.”

The most commonly known forms of hyperthermia or heat-related illness—which exist on a spectrum—include: heat fatigue, heat syncope, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Some forms of hyperthermia—like heat exhaustion and heat stroke—are worse than others. 

"Depending on how high your body temperature gets, there is risk it can become life-threatening," Ula Hwang, MD, an emergency medicine doctor at Yale Medicine and professor at Yale School of Medicine, tells Health. In these cases, a person's body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down—up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher—which can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, per the CDC.

While hyperthermia is most commonly associated with exposure to outdoor heat on a very hot, humid day, or over-exerting yourself in high temperatures, Dr. Hwang adds that it can also occur while "being indoors in an extremely hot room for a long time."

Who's most at risk for hyperthermia?

There are also a number of chronic conditions—such as heart, kidney or lung disease—that can make you more susceptible to the complications from hyperthermia. 

Dr. Mieses Malchuk adds that other risk factors for hyperthermia include not drinking enough water, living in an overheated space without air conditioning, lack of mobility, overdressing, overcrowded spaces, and having any sort of cognitive impairment that may interfere with your ability to respond to hot weather (for example, advanced brain disorders like dementia). Those who perform strenuous exercise outside in hot temperatures are also more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, though this is most common in younger people.

What are the symptoms of hyperthermia?

Because hyperthermia includes all heat-related illnesses, the signs and symptoms are varied. According to the CDC, the symptoms for the different types of hyperthermia include:

of heat stroke:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

Signs of heat exhaustion:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting

Signs of heat cramps:

• Muscle pain or spasms in the abdomen, arms, or legs.

Signs of heat rash:

• Red clusters of pimples or small blisters on the neck, chest/underneath the breasts, groin, or elbow creases

How can you prevent hyperthermia and how is it treated? 

Fortunately, hyperthermia can be easily avoided and many cases can be treated without long-term complications. "Hyperthermia can be prevented by wearing lightweight clothing, staying hydrated, seeking shade and taking time to rest in hot weather,” says Dr. Hogan. “If you must be outside, stay in cooler and shaded places (use an umbrella) and wear light-colored clothing,” adds Dr. Hwang. 

However, If you suspect that someone is suffering from a heat-related illness, NIH suggests taking the following steps for treatment:

• Get the person out of the heat and urge them to lie down in a shady, air-conditioned, or other cool place.
• Encourage the individual to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water.
• Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin.
• If the person can swallow safely, offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine.

More severe forms of hyperthermia, like heat stroke, can also be fatal. If heat stroke is suspected, the NIH suggests seeking immediate emergency medical attention by calling 911. Once the person is in medical care, treatment techniques vary but can include immersion in cold water, cooling blankets, or intravenous fluids to address dehydration, says Dr. Hwang.

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