Cancer
The body is made up of various kinds of cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to produce more cells only when our body needs them. This process helps keep our body healthy. Sometimes cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, creating a mass of extra tissue. This mass is called a cancerous growth or a tumor.

Cancer is a process of an abnormal uncontrolled growth of cells. The cells divide uncontrollably and may grow into adjacent tissue or spread to distant parts of the body. There are many different types of cancers.

In cancer multiplication into new cells takes place at the cost of the other normal cells of the body. Normal cells of the body starve to death due to lack of nutrition.

Tumors can be noncancerous or cancerous:

Benign tumors: Noncancerous tumors are also known as benign tumors. Cells in noncancerous tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. They often can be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back.

Malignant tumors: Cancerous tumors are also known as malignant tumors. Cells in cancerous tumors divide without control or order. These cancer cells spread to different parts of the body and destroy them.

Malignant tumors can metastasize. Metastasize means cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the blood vessels or lymphatic system to form secondary tumors in other parts of the body.

Is the cell growth essential for our body?
Yes it is essential. For example when you get a cut in some part of the body, cells in this area are damaged. Body has the ability to replace these damaged cells by new healthy cells. To replace damaged cells, new cells start developing at the wounded site. When wound is completely healed up, no more new cells are added. Hence cell growth is very essential for the normal functioning of the body.

What happens in cancer?
In cancer the body’s ability to add new cells is uncontrolled. The body does not know when to stop and it keeps on adding new cells. Result of this uncontrolled growth of cells is called cancer.

Can cancer spread in other parts of the body?
Only malignant type of cancer can spread to different parts of the body. The place where cancer starts, cells keep on dividing in uncontrolled manner. After that, these cancerous cells start spreading to other parts of the body. This way other parts of the body are also affected by cancerous cells.

Why does cancer occur?
Cancer occurs as a form of body responses to certain stimuli. Stimuli are certain factors, which make your body to keep on adding new cells uncontrollably, without knowing when to stop.

For example: cigarette smoke may act as stimuli for lung cancer.

Sunlight may act a stimulus for skin cancer. Etc

Who is prone to cancer?
Anybody and everybody can be prone to cancer. Cancer is a universal disease.

What are the risk factors for cancer?
Certain types of cancer are usually hereditary, such as breast cancer or lung cancer. People who are exposed to the following factors are more likely to develop cancer:

Smoking is a major risk factor for lung and oral cancer. The risk increases in persons who have been smoking for over twenty years.

Tobacco Chewing is also a risk factor for oral and lung cancer. The risk increases in persons who have been chewing tobacco for over fifteen years.

X-rays — People who undergo frequent X-ray examinations, or who work in X-ray departments, etc have increased risk for cancer.

Industrial and/or Vehicular Pollution — is a risk factor for cancer for people who are overly exposed to industrial or vehicular pollutants. For example: Those living in near industries or next to main roads.

Sunlight – persons who are exposed to harsh sunlight for long periods of time have a greater risk for cancer.

Menopause — Women who have attained menopause are vulnerable to uterine or cervix cancer, and should therefore undergo regular, routine examinations after menopause.

What are the symptoms of cancer?
Symptoms may vary from person to person. Some may experience all of them or few of them.

The symptoms for cancer can be:

•  A sore that does not heal.
•   Unusual excessive bleeding from the body.
•   Blood in the urine.
•   Bleeding in women other than menstrual bleeding
•   Non-injury bleeding from the surface of the skin, mouth, or any other part of the body.
•   Excessive bleeding from a slight injury.
•   Blood expectoration or spitting out blood.
•   A lump or hard area in the breast or in other parts of the body.
•   Raised birthmark.
•   Sudden growth in a birthmark, mole, etc.
•   Bleeding from a mole, wart, cyst, etc.
•   Digestion is not proper (indigestion).
•   Difficulty in swallowing.
•   Cough which is not going away or hoarseness.
•   Pain and swelling of a bone and the surrounding tissue.

How can cancer be diagnosed?
Cancer is usually diagnosed by a doctor with help of a complete physical examination. Laboratory tests required to diagnose cancer are:

•  X-rays to look for any mass or spot in the lungs.
•   Sputum tests to study the sputum.
•   CT scan (computed tomography) – which can provide more precise information about the size, shape, and position of a tumor.
•   MRI.
•   Biopsies of the affected part of the body.
•   PAP smears.
•   Blood tests.
•   Urine tests

What are the treatments for cancer?
Radiation therapy is used to reduce the size of cancer. It uses high energy of rays to attack and stop the growth of cancerous cells.

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.

Anti-Cancer Drugs are used to fight the growth of cancerous cells.

Chemotherapy with anti-cancer drugs is used in combination with radiation and surgery in the treatment of cancer.

Surgery is used to remove the cancerous parts of the affected organs.

Prevention and early detection are important factors in treating cancer. Most of the cancers, when detected early and treated in time, are curable.

What are the causes for burns?
Different causes of burns are:

•  Exposure to or contact with heat such as fire, radiation, or hot liquids.
•   Electric shock
•   Contact with Chemical agents like acids.
•   Exposure to sunrays for long can also cause burns known as sunburns.
•   Accidental fires.

What are the signs and symptoms of burns?
Signs and symptoms of burns usually depend on the extent of area burnt and on the cause of burn. For example burns caused due to electrical shock or chemicals are very severe and invariably cause third degree burns.

Severity of symptoms of burns varies from first-degree to third-degree:

First-degree burns are superficial burns. They affect only the outer layer of the skin, causing pain, redness, and swelling. They are sensitive to touch and moist.

Second-degree burns affect both the outer and underlying layers of skin. They cause pain, redness, swelling, and additionally blistering.

Third-degree burns cause the deepest damage. The surface of the burn may be white and soft, or black, charred, and leathery. The burned area has no feeling when touched. Third-degree burns are not usually painful because the nerve endings in the skin are completely destroyed.

The skin is completely destroyed in third degree burns.

How can burns be diagnosed?
In most cases, it is easy to diagnose a burn. It is hard to tell the exact degree of burn, though.
For example, it may take a day or two for the burn to blister, making it a second-degree burn.

What are the treatments for burns?
The treatment depends largely on the severity and location of the burns.

First aid should be given immediately to a person who has got burnt.

If the person shows signs of shock, or if the person has burns to the airway or lungs. They should be rushed to hospital immediately after giving the necessary first aid steps.

First aid steps for burns are:

•  Cover the burned area with cool water, but not ice water, for 5 minutes.
•   Try to calm the person. Burns are extremely painful and can cause a lot of anxiety.
•   Cover the burnt area with a bandage after soaking it for several minutes. Use only clean cloth.
•   Try to avoid contaminating the wound.
•   Over-the counter pain killers like aspirin can be given.
•   Very minor burns usually heal without any treatment or follow-up with a doctor.

If the burn appears to be more severe (second-degree or third-degree) the person should receive medical attention.
A tetanus shot should be given for all types of burns.

Additional first aid steps for severe burns are:

•  If the person is on fire, have the person stop, drop, and roll. If the person is still on fire, cover the person with a wool or cotton blanket. Douse the fire with water. If water is not available douse it sand.
•   All burning material should be removed from the person`s skin.
•   One should try to keep the airway open. One should check if the person is breathing.
•   If the person is not breathing. CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be performed. It is the process giving artificial respiration.
•   Elevate the burned area and protect it from further burns, pressure, or injury.

What are the possible complications of burns?
Infection and respiratory failure are the most common complications leading to death because of severe burns.

Bulimia is a chronic eating disorder. It is characterized by uncontrolled episodes of overeating usually followed by self-induced vomiting.

It is also known as binging-purging, bulimia nervosa.

Individuals with bulimia secretly eat large amounts of food in a short period. This is called binge eating. They then try to avoid weight gain. They do this by fasting, inducing vomiting or using laxatives to get rid of whatever they have eaten.

What are the signs and symptoms of bulimia?
Symptoms of bulimia may include the following:

•   Amenorrhea, it is decreased or absent menstrual periods.
•   denial of the behavior
•   excessive exercise, even if the person is underweight
•   constant fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
•   feeling of disgust
•   need for frequent weighing
•   periods of not eating followed by heavy eating
•   problems with body image
•   vomiting
•   unusual eating habits

What are the causes and risks of bulimia?
Bulimia is thought to be a result of social, psychological, and biological factors.
Psychological factors like being always obsessed with a slim figure lead to this condition.
Social factors play a major role. Some societies emphasize on thinness.
Family problems, low self-esteem, and identity crisis are also major factors.
Bulimia is most common in females in adolescence or young adulthood.

What can be done to prevent bulimia?
There are no specific ways to prevent bulimia.
Promoting good nutrition and self-esteem are important. Changes in society`s attitudes about thinness would help.

How can bulimia be diagnosed?
A complete medical history and physical exam help in arriving at the diagnosis of bulimia.
Other additional tests required to diagnose bulimia include:

•  blood tests, such as a complete blood count(CBC)
•  an ECG, to check for heart problems
•  urinalysis to check for dehydration and infection

What are the complications of bulimia?
Complications of bulimia can lead to:

• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Salt imbalance in the body

Dangerous affects the brain and muscles.
Damage the reproductive tract, bowels, stomach, and other body organs.
Serious heart problems, like arrhythmias, congestive heart failure
It can even lead to death.

What are the treatments for bulimia?
Treatment depends on the severity of the disease.

Treatment includes:

•  medical management
•  nutritional rehabilitation and counseling
•  individual, group, and family psychotherapy

Some people become so malnourished that they need to be fed through tubes to stay alive.

Behavioral therapy is designed to help change the behaviors that keep the illness going.

Family therapy helps family members learn about the illness. They learn what they can do to help their loved ones recover. Sometimes, family problems need to be addressed before recovery can begin.

Medications are rarely used to treat bulimia. Antidepressants may be used to treat depression.

Breast cancer is caused when cells in the breast starts dividing abnormally and uncontrollably. This abnormal growth can lead to forming a tumor. It can develop in one or both of the breasts. It is a common cancer in women. It is a malignant form of cancer and it can spread to various organs of the body.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women.

What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?
Breast cancer in early stages usually does not cause any pain or any other symptoms at all.

Most of the breast cancer patients have no pain or lumps. They also do not have any other signs or problem with their breasts. Most common signs and symptoms are:

•  Change in the size or shape of the breast.
•   A lump or thickening present in the breast.
•   A lump can be present near the breast or in the underarm area.
•   Lump means it may be a mass or a swelling.
•   Skin irritation, or distortion of the breast.
•   Change in the colour or feel of the skin of the breast.
•   Change of colour of areola or nipple.
•   Changes like dimpling or peeling of nipple.
•   Nipple discharge.
•   Erosion, inversion and tenderness of the nipple.

Some people may have all the signs and symptoms and some may have only few of them.
If any of these signs or symptoms are seen or noticed one should go and consult a doctor immediately for breast examination. As breast cancer progresses very fast early detection helps in preventing the disease from progressing further.

Can breast cancer spread to other parts of the body?
Yes breast cancer can spread to other parts of the body. Breast cancer is a malignant type of cancer. It can metastasize or spread outside the breast to bone, liver etc. Breast cancer cells are often found in the lymph nodes under the arm. Once the cancer has reached these nodes, it may mean that cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. Hence it is then called as metastatic breast cancer.

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
Although some women are at a higher risk for breast cancer due to family history of breast cancer the fact is anybody can develop breast cancer. Therefore, all women have a risk for breast cancer because of the following risk factors:

•  Gender – breast cancer occurs mainly in women than in men.
•   Aging – most of the breast cancers occur after age 50 or in menopausal women.
•   Family history and genetic factors – having a history of breast cancer in family. Like having a mother or sister with breast cancer increases the risk.
•   Benign breast diseases.
•   Personal history of breast cancer that had been treated earlier.
•   Previous history of radiation therapy to breast.
•   Menstrual periods beginning early in life before age.12
•   Menopause beginning late in life after age 55.

Other symptoms that can lead to breast cancer are:

•  Being Obese and taking food high in fat content.
•   Lack of exercise.
•   Using oral contraceptives for a long period of time.
•   Not having any children or had children after the age of 30.
•   Going for abortion.
•   Being on estrogen replacement therapy for along period of time.
•   Not breast-feeding the baby.
•   Increased alcohol intake.
•   Smoking also increases the risk.

Environmental risk factors like exposure to pesticides, air pollution and to other chemicals are also known to cause breast cancer.

How can breast cancer be diagnosed?
Before arriving at a diagnosis of it is important to remember that a lump or other changes in the breast can also be caused by cancer or any other less serious problems.

A careful physical exam with personal and family medical history helps in diagnosis of breast cancer. The other breast examinations may include:

Clinical breast examination (CBE): It is done by palpation. Palpation is the process of carefully feeling the lump and the tissue around it. The doctor tries feel its size, its texture, and if it moves easily. Benign or noncancerous lumps feel different from cancerous ones.

Mammography – Examination of the breast by taking x-rays.

Nipple discharge examination is done for detecting any cancerous change in the breast.

Biopsy: The doctor removes some fluid or tissue from the breast that is sent for examination. This procedure is called biopsy.

What are treatments for breast cancer?
Treatment for breast cancer may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to attack cancer cells and stop their growth. It is also called radiotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancerous cells.

Surgery is used in the advanced cases of breast cancer. It may include various types of surgery depending on severity of the cancer.

Surgery is done to remove as much of the cancer as possible. Generally, surgery also includes removal of some or all of the regional lymph nodes usually the one in the armpit.

Bad breath means an unpleasant, unusual, or offensive odor of the breath. It is also known as halitosis.

A person who has bad breath may not be aware of the odor. However, his or her friends or people who are close to them are generally aware of the problem.

What are the causes for bad breath?
Bad breath can be caused by many factors within the mouth. These are known as local factors. It may also be caused by systemic factors. Systemic factors can be any disease or condition of the body.

Some of local causes for bad breath are:

•  Poor oral hygiene: when proper brushing and cleaning methods are not followed food remains in the mouth, which is a breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria are known to causes odorous breath.
•   smoking
•   tooth abscess (collection of pus around the tooth)
•   certain foods, such as garlic, onion etc
•   alcohol intake
•   mouth or throat infections, such as sore throat
•   gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gums
•   periodontitis is an inflammation of the structures supporting the tooth
•   sinus infection
•   cold or flu
•   nose infection
•   overgrown tonsils catching food, which is common in children
•   fungal infections in the mouth like candidiasis

Some diseases or conditions that may cause bad breath are:

•   Drugs and medications
•   Kidney disease
•   Lung abscess (pus pocket within the lungs)
•   Respiratory infections like Bronchitis etc
•   Conditions that cause dry mouth (xerostomia) where the mouth becomes dry because of very low amount of saliva. This happens due to mouth breathing or salivary gland disorder.
•   Digestive disorders
•   Constipation
•   Poorly controlled diabetes
•   Liver disease
•   Certain types of cancer
•   HIV, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus.

How is it diagnosed?
It is difficult to self-diagnose bad breath. If bad breath is suspected, an examination by a doctor might be needed. A complete history and physical exam might detect an underlying disease or condition. Then further tests may be needed to arrive at the diagnosis.

What are the treatments for bad breath?
If bad breath does not subside by improving oral hygiene like brushing twice daily and gargling, a doctor should be consulted. Once the cause of bad breath is found, the treatment for the problem is started. Bad breath can then be solved quickly.

Treatment depends mainly on the underlying disease or condition. Therefore, various treatments are available for bad breath depending on the cause of bad breath like:

Poor oral health: If the bad breath is due to improper oral hygiene or of oral origin then a through check up and cleaning of the teeth by a dentist helps in reliving bad breath.

If diabetes, kidney disease, digestive disorders or any other systemic factors are the cause for bad breath they have to treated by a doctor. Then bad relives by itself once the treatment is started.

How can bad breath be prevented?
Prevention of bad breath starts with good oral hygiene.
One should brush twice daily and floss teeth especially after meals.
Don`t forget to clean your tongue.
If you can`t brush or floss after a meal, rinse with water.
Removable dentures should be taken out at night, cleaned, and soaked overnight.
Eat a balanced diet.
Chew on cloves or zeera, saunf after meals to freshen breath.
Drink plenty of water to keep mouth moist.
Avoid coffee or other drinks that leave breath smelling foul.

Someone in good health may have bad breath at times, such as in the morning after a long sleep. However, a person with persistent bad breath should see doctor.

Mouthwash is not an effective treatment for bad breath, since it hides the real cause. Mouthwash can also irritate the tissue in the mouth. Mouthwash and breath mints are only temporary solutions and may mask more serious problems.

ALS is a disease that causes gradual loss of control and weakness of muscles. The mind is usually not affected, despite worsening weakness of the body. It is very rare. About 1 new case per 100,000 people is diagnosed each year. ALS affects the nerves in your brain and spinal cord that control your muscles. These nerves break down and disappear. Your muscles then become weak and waste away because the nerves that stimulated them are gone.

What are the causes of ALS?
The cause of ALS is not known. It is seen in some families. Also, some ethnic groups, such as Pacific Islanders, appear to be at greater risk. However, ALS most often occurs in people who have no family history of the disease.

What are the Symptoms of ALS ?
Symptoms mostly appear in people who are between 40 and 70 years old. The symptoms worsen more rapidly in some people than in others, leading to death. The symptoms may be:

•  Muscle cramps and twitching
•   Weakness in your hands and painless difficulty with small tasks, such as fastening buttons, turning a key, or opening a door
•   Weakness in your feet and ankles, causing your feet to drag when you walk (called foot drop)
•   Stiffness in your arms and legs
•   Slurring or slowing of speech
•   Difficulty swallowing
•   Decreased ability to make facial expressions
•   Fatigue
•   Weight loss.

The disease begins slowly, most often affecting just one limb, such as a hand, at first. As time passes, more limbs and muscle areas become affected.

The person may become more dependent as his disability increases. Eventually the person may be able to move only your eyes. To others it may look like that the person is in a coma, but he remains fully conscious and aware of the surroundings. The person will be able to see, hear, taste, smell, and recognize touch. Bowel and bladder functioning are not affected. The person may become too weak to breathe and need the help of a ventilator

How is it Diagnosed?
There is no specific test for ALS. The doctor will do normal examination and may ask your medical history. He may ask to take electromyogram (EMG)to test the muscles and nerves.

How is it treated?
There is no cure for this disease. Treatment includes relieving symptoms and providing supportive care. Emotional support from friends and family is very important in helps the person to cope with this disease.

During early stages of the disease, the person can try to remain moderately active. Physical therapy can help in keeping the muscles active and delay weakness.

Tips to take care
Yes ! self help is the best help ,he can try to do these things

•  Maintain good emotional health with support from the family, & friends. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise for as long as possible.
•  Learn about ALS, so that he can handle himself better.

Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is an incurable brain disease that can cause troublesome changes in behavior. Some of the most common behavior problems associated with AD are wandering; inappropriate behaviors (sexually inappropriate behavior, aggressive and assaultive behavior, pestering, repetitive vocalizations); hallucinations and delusions; and sundowning.

What is wandering?
People with Alzheimer’s often wander like walking aimlessly. Wandering may occur at any time of the day or night and poses the risk of injury to the wanderer as well as privacy problems for others. The problem affects more than 75% of people with AD at some time during the course of their disease.

What causes inappropriate behaviors?
As Alzheimer’s progresses, more and more brain functions are lost. This includes loss of impulse control, which results in the inability to remember which actions are acceptable and which are not. Sense of time is lost and the person may not be able to handle delays. The experiences of pain, pleasure, and discomfort remain. When needs are not met, the person may become angry or insulting or begin cursing.

The person with AD cannot control his or her behavior. Many of these behaviors are directed toward getting attention or affection. Giving attention or affection, such as with a pat or a hug, can often prevent disruptive behavior.

How to deal with inappropriate behaviors?
Always remember, the disease is causing the behavior, not the person. Some ways to handle difficult situations include:

•  Remain calm, even in the presence of the most offensive situations. Don`t raise your voice. Don`t act surprised or angry.
•  Maintain a sense of humor. Laughter is a great outlet.
•  Avoid drawing attention to the person. Try to divert the attention of others from the person with the inappropriate behavior.
•  Distract the person to another activity or another area.
•  Validate the emotional content of what the person says.
•  Do not scold or shame. It makes the situation worse.
•  Be sure the person`s physical needs are met. Hunger, pain, thirst, stress, or even an infection may cause behavior changes.
•  Avoid situations that the person might believe are dangerous. When faced with a perceived danger, a person with AD will strike out in self-defense.
•  Speak in simple, short sentences.
•  Limit choices to two. More than two choices or open options will frustrate the person.
•  Break large tasks into small ones to avoid frustration.

Alzheimer’s – Hallucinations and Delusions

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are perceptions that are not based on reality, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there. Many hallucinations are related to the need to feel safe. For example, to make up for feeling unsafe, a person makes up an imaginary companion who provides the needed security.

Delusions

Delusions are false beliefs held despite definite evidence to the contrary. For example, a person prepares, waits, and plans activities for a visit from a relative who is dead. It is thought that people develop delusions to avoid depression and self-blame, and to maintain good feelings about themselves and a sense of control.

How to deal with hallucinations and delusions?
It is more important to listen and respond to what the person is saying than to try to get him or her to face reality.

Always remain calm and friendly. Speak slowly and clearly to make yourself heard. Look directly at the person when speaking. These techniques show your interest in what is being said and may decrease the person`s anxiety. Establish a trusting relationship that is not demanding and identify and build on strengths of the person. Feeling safe, trusted, and respected can decrease the need for protective delusions.

Amenorrhea is the condition in which there are no menstrual periods or Absence of menstrual periods or missed menstrual periods. A healthy uterus, cervix or opening to the uterus, vagina, and ovaries, Pituitary gland and hypothalamus, are required for having a proper menstrual cycle. An abnormality in any of these may keep a woman from having a period.

Types of amenorrhea:

There are two types of amenorrhea:

Primary amenorrhea: In this the female does not start her menstrual cycle by the age 16.

Secondary amenorrhea:
In this the menstrual cycle stops in the woman who had regular menstrual cycles previously.

What are the signs and symptoms ?
Amenorrhea is not a disease. It is often caused by a hormone imbalance; it may trigger other symptoms, such as:

•  Weight gain
•   Excess body and facial hair
•   Breast milk secretion
•   Changes in sex drive
•   Acne

What are the causes for Amenorrhea?
The reason for this delay is generally not known, though it may be a family history. Other possible causes include a hormonal problem, such as an improperly functioning thyroid gland or Pregnancy.
Often the cause of amenorrhea is that the ovaries do not release eggs (ovulate). If you are not ovulating, your ovaries only release the hormone estrogen and do not produce progesterone, a hormone necessary for periods to occur.

How is it diagnosed?
A complete medical history and a physical exam is done. Your doctor may also recommend

• Pregnancy test
• Hormone test

Special blood tests if you are 14 and have not developed breasts or pubic hair.

•  blood tests if you have breast discharge, headaches, vision changes, too much body hair or weight.

What are the treatments for the condition?
If amenorrhea has lasted less than 6 months, a woman may not need treatment unless some problem is found:

•  in her hormone levels
•   on X-ray or ultrasound
•   Depending on the cause of amenorrhea, treatment varies.
•   Diet and exercise generally correct abnormal periods due to obesity. Stress management.
•   Medicines based on the condition will be prescribed. Surgery may be required in some conditions like
  •  tumors
  •  cysts in the ovaries
  •  defects in the uterus or vagina.

Asthma is a condition that affects the lungs. In this the windpipe or the airways get narrowed when they are exposed to different factors called allergens or triggers. Asthma causes airways to be extra sensitive. This means the airways react easily and strongly to contact with a trigger. People with asthma usually have difficulty in breathing. It is common and anybody can develop it. It is the most common problem among children.

What causes asthma?
The symptoms of asthma are caused by substances called ‘asthma triggers’ or allergens. In a person with asthma, the airways are narrow as a result of ongoing irritation. During an asthma flare-up, muscles surrounding the airway tubes, or bronchi, tighten. This increases mucus production and makes the airways narrower.

Allergens:

These allergens are substances that trigger asthma. These are substances that are present in our day-to-day life. Allergens and allergic response vary from person to person. They may be of different types:

•   Infections, such as a cold or flu caused by viruses
•   Some kind of food substances like peanuts, processed foods, and shrimp or drinks like beer, wine.
•   Pollution mainly air pollution
•   Cigarette smoke
•   Cold weather
•   House dust and dust mites
•   Fur and feathers from pets or animals
•   Pollen
•   Physical exertion like climbing stairs, playing tiring games.
•   Medicines that may be allergic
•   Some changes that happens during pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of asthma?
The main symptoms of asthma are:

•  Coughing
•   Difficulty in breathing
•   Chest tightness
•   Wheezing- it is the whistling sound that is heard while breathing.
•   Production of excess mucus
•   Disturbed sleep

Symptoms of asthma get worse in the early morning and during the night. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Some people have all the symptoms. While others have few.

How is asthma diagnosed?
To diagnose asthma and distinguish it from other lung disorders, the following tests are required:

(pulmonary function tests)
Spirometry (using an instrument that measures the air taken into and out of the lungs)
Peak flow monitoring (another measure of lung function)
Chest X-rays
Blood tests
Allergy tests

Asthma is diagnosed primarily by a history of symptoms, such as coughing or wheezing, that occur with physical activity or as a result of exposure to triggers. Pulmonary function tests are simple breathing tests that are often used to measure breathing limitations. Sometimes chest X-rays can show air trapped in the lungs. This occurs in long-term asthma.

What are the treatment options?
Two types of medications are used to treat asthma:

•  quick relief medicines are medicines that give relief immediately.
•  long term controlling medicines. These medicines control asthma for a longer duration.

Quick-relief medications prevent or help reduce the tightening of the muscles around the bronchial tubes, called bronchoconstriction. They also help in relieving cough and difficulties in breathing when an asthma attack sets in.

Long-term medication when used over prolonged periods of time control asthma better and prevent further attacks.

What happens after treatment for the disease?
Effective treatment of asthma reduces inflammation and tightening, bringing relief of symptoms. Successful treatment allows people with asthma to enjoy a full life without significant breathing problems.

Inhalation Therapy – some facts

The inhalation therapy is commonly practiced worldwide to keep asthma in check and under control. Inhalers are used, as they help the medicine reach your lungs directly, they work faster.

Inhalers give quick relief using the minimum amount of medicine. In fact, with inhalation therapy, you need only one-tenth, or even less, of the medication. With very little medicine reaching the other parts of your body, inhalation therapy is the safest.

Arrhythmias – irregular heartbeat
Arrhythmias of the heart is an abnormality of the rhythm or rate of the heartbeat. In this the normal electrical activity of the heart is affected. The normal heartbeat is 72beats per minute. In Arrhythmias the number of heart beat increases or decreases. The beat may also be irregular and may begin in an abnormal area of the heart. Arrhythmias may or may not be life threatening.

Types of arrhythmias.

It is divided into 2 main groups:

Tachycardias: increase in the heart rate, which is more than100 beats per minute

Bradycardias: decrease in the heart rate, which is less than 60 beats per minute.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may vary from person to person. It depends on the type of arrhythmia. The symptoms include:

•  dizziness,
•   palpitations, or an unusual feeling of the heart beating in the chest
•   shortness of breath
•   fatigue
•   weakness
•   chest pain
•   fainting

Untreated arrhythmias can cause heart attacks, strokes, and even death.

What are the causes?
Heart disease is the major cause of arrhythmias.

•  coronary artery disease, a condition in which narrowing of the arteries takes place. Thus decreasing the blood flow to the heart.
•   disease of the heart valves due to some infection.
•   congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart fails to pump enough blood to the body.
•   disease in the electrical system of the heart.

How is the condition diagnosed?
Arrhythmias can be detected with ECG. A device called a Holter monitor can also be used. This device records all heartbeats within a 24-hour period.

In case of complications, doctor may suggest you a test called cardiac catheterization. This helps to determine the type of arrhythmia is present.

What are the treatments available?
Different treatments are available, depending on the type of arrhythmia being treated. Medications to restore the rhythm of the heart is generally given by your doctor. A small device called pacemaker may be inserted to control an arrhythmia or speed up a heart that is beating too slowly.

What can be done to prevent the condition?
A person can reduce the risk for developing arrhythmias by:

•  not smoking
•   controlling high blood pressure
•   controlling blood cholesterol
•   controlling diabetes
•   exercising regularly
•   limiting the intake of alcohol and caffeine
•   eating a diet designed to minimize heart disease