Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Hypertension is an increase in blood pressure in the arteries.
In general, hypertension is a condition without symptoms, in which abnormally high pressure in the arteries increases the risk for stroke, aneurysm, heart failure, heart attack and kidney damage.

On examination the blood pressure will get two numbers. higher rates obtained when the heart contracts (systolic), lower figure obtained when the heart relaxes (diastolic). Blood pressure is written as systolic slash diastolic pressure, for example 120/80 mmHg, read a hundred and twenty and eighty. It said high blood pressure if at the time sitting systolic pressure to 140 mmHg or more, or diastolic pressure reaches 90 mmHg or more, or both. In high blood pressure, usually there is an increase systolic and diastolic pressure.

In isolated systolic hypertension, systolic pressure to 140 mmHg or more, but diastolic pressure of less than 90 mmHg and diastolic pressure was still within the normal range. Hypertension is often found in the elderly. Along with age, almost everyone has increased blood pressure, systolic pressure continued to increase until the age of 80 years and diastolic pressure continue to increase until age 55-60 years, then decrease slowly or even decreased.

Malignant hpertension is very severe hypertension, which if untreated, will cause death within 3-6 months. Hypertension is rare, only 1 out of every 200 people with hypertension.

Coronary Artery / Heart Disease

Coronary artery disease / coronary heart disease is characterized by fatty deposits that gather in the cells lining the wall of a coronary artery and block blood flow.

Fatty deposits (atheroma or plaque) formed gradually and spread over a large divergence of the two main coronary arteries, which sorrounds the heart and provide blood to the heart. Atheroma formation process is called atherosclerosis.

Can atheroma protruding into the artery and causes the arteries to narrow. If atheroma growing part of the atheroma may break and enter into the bloodstream or blood clot may form on the surface of the atheroma.

To be able to contract and pump normally, the heart muscle (myocardium) requeires a supply of oxygen-rich blood from the coronary artery. If a coronary artery blockage gets worse, it could happen ischemia (reduced blood supply) to the heart muscle, causing heart damage.

The main cause of myocardial ischemia is coronary artery disease. The major complication of coronary artery disease are angina and heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Mesothelioma Treatment by Photodynamic Therapy

Several experimental therapies are currently being conducted for treatment of mesothelioma cancer, one of the most promising is a technique called photodynamic therapy (PDT). 

Mesothelioma or asbestos cancer commonly called, is a cancer that is very aggressive and deadly, this disease affects the lining the chest (pleural mesothelioma) and the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma), generally less responsive to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. A number of other treatments, such as gene therapy, immunotherapy and alternative approaches may provide hope for cancer sufferers mesotheliomas

Photodynamic therapy is one type of masothelioma treatment is very promising future. This method combines three separate elements that is nontoxic, photosensitizing compound, oxygen and visible light. Photodynamic therapy target cells of mesothelioma cancer. Usually given during or after surgery to remove the remaining part of the tumor.

Unlike the case with chemotherapy and radiation, which tends to have a burning effect on the patient's body, photodynamic therapy provides a clear advantage that it does not kill healthy cells-non-cancerous cells. This means that the side effects of cancer treatment mesothelioma can be reduced and of course mesothelioma prognosis will be better.

Factor Affecting the Prognosis of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is generally not diagnosed until late stages of development. In addition, symptoms of mesothelioma are very common and often resemble less serious conditions, which may make it difficult in diagnosing cancer. As a result, the prognosis for the majority of patients is lacking, but many doctors may recommend mesothelioma treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to help fight the disease.

Mesothelioma cancer, there are several stages, starting from stage one to stage four. Unfortunately, once the mesothelioma cancer has reached stage three or four, not only treatment options become more limited, but is less effective as well.

In addition to cancer stage and patient age, other factors that affect prognosis include:
  1. Types of mesothelioma - pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma or mesothelioma testicular. 
  2. Size of tumor.
  3. Mesothelioma tumor location and whether it can be done with surgery.
  4. Levels of other symptoms, including fluid in the lungs or stomach.
  5. Is patient a smoker or not.
Malignant mesothelioma cancer is usually diagnosed in individuals over 55 years, although there are exceptions of course. Some patients already have multiple medical problems caused by old age, making treatment more difficult and increase worse prognosis of mesothelioma patients.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma Cancer

Malignancy that involves the mesothelial cells of the human body, including the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, and testis, known as malignant mesothelioma, either local or diffuse. Most, but not all, cases of malignant mesothelioma in the pleural (lung cancer) is usually associated with exposure to asbestos. Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, 77% had been exposed to asbestos in the past. Diagnosis of mesothelioma is diffucult to enforce because of the results of the analysis of pleural fluid from cancer was usually not diagnostic. Mesothelioma is more common in males than females and it occurs most often in the fifth decade of age until the 7th decade. Most cases (about 90%) of malignant mesothelioma in the pleura.

From the histological picture there are 3 types of mesothelioma are sarcomatous mesothelioma, epithelial, and mixed. Pleural mesothelioma usually begins as plaques and nodules that combine to produce sheetlike neoplasm. Tumor growth usually begins at the bottom of the chest. Tumors can invade the diaphragm  and blanketing the surface of the lungs and slit interlobaris.

As the disease progresses, often extends into the lung parenchyma, chest wall and the wall of the mediastinum. Pleural mesothelioma can spread to the esophagus, ribs, spine, brachial plexus, and superior vena cava.

Asbestos, amphibole asbestos, asbestos-crocidolite, and amosite asbestos in particular, is a major carcinogen involved in the pathogenesis. Chrysotile asbestos exposure is associated with a lower incidence of mesothelioma. Industrial areas that are often associated with the occurrence of mesotheliomas due to asbestos exposure include mining industry, ship building which involves the use of asbestos, the manufacture of asbestos cement, ceramics, paper mill, auto parts, and repair factory train.

Anemia caused by chronic disease

Chronic disease often causes anemia, especially in geriatric patients. Circumstances such as infection, inflammation and cancer, suppress the formation of red blood cells in bone marrow.

Because iron stores in the bone can not be used by new red blood cells, it is often called anemia re-use iron.


Cause
In all patients, infections (even a mild infection) and inflammation (eg arthritis and tendinitis) inhibits the formation of red blood cells in bone marrow, so the number of red blood cells decreases. But the new situation will lead to anemia if it is severe or lasts for a long time (chronic).


Symptoms
Because this type of anemia develops slowly and is usually mild, anemia is usually not cause symptoms. If symptoms develop, usually the result of disease, not because anemia.


Diagnosis
Laboratory tests can determine that the cause of anemia is a chronic disease, but this could not confirm the diagnosis. Since it was first done is to eliminate other causes of anemia, such as heavy bleeding or iron deficiency.

The more severe the disease, the more severe anemia that occurs, but rarely anemia due to chronic diseases that become very severe :
  • Hematocrit (precentage of red blood cells in the blood) are rarely up to under 25% (45%-52% in normal men, normal women 37%-48%)
  • Hemoglobin (the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells) are rarely up to below 8g/dL (normal 13-18 g/dL).

Treatment
There is no specific treatment for this type of anemia, so treatment is aimed to cause chronic disease.

Consuming iron supplements do not help much.

If the anemia becomes severe, it may take a transfusion or erythropoietin (a hormone that stimulates red blood cell formation in bone marrow).






Anemia caused by vitamin C deficiency

Anemia caused by vitamin C deficiency is a rare type of anemia, caused by severe deficiency of vitamin C in the long term.


Cause 
Cause of vitamin C deficiency ia usually a lack of vitamin C intake in daily diet.

Vitamin C is found in green peppers, citrus fruits (orange, lemons), strawberrie, tomatoes, broccoli, turnip green and other green vegetables and watermelons. One function of vitamin C is to help absorption of iron, so if there is deficiency of vitamin C, then the amount of iron absorbed will be reduced and can cause anemia.

Vitamin C should be consumed every day, because it is not fat soluble so it can not be stored for future use. Vitamin C is water-soluble vitamin, because it will be removed from the body regularly through the urine.


Symptoms
Anemia caused fatigue, weakness, lack of energy, shortness of breath and other symptoms.
Vitamin C deficiency can cause Scurvy.


Diagnosis
Was measured levels of vitamin C in the blood.
In this type of anemia, the bone marrow to produce red blood cells are small.


Treatment
One tablet of vitamin C a day to correct the deficiencies and treat anemia.

Caused Deficiency Anemia Folic Acid

Anemia caused by folic acid deficiency is megaloblastic anemia caused by folic acid deficiency. 

Folic acid is a vitamin found in raw vegetables, fresh fruit and meat, but the cooking process usually can destroy this vitamin. Because the body only stores of folic acid in small amount, then a few foods that contain folic acid, will cause deficiency of folic acid in a few months.

Cause
Folic Acid deficiency occurs in :
  • Folic acid deficiency is more common in the West compared  with vitamin B-12 deficiency, because there are not enough people who eat raw leafy vegetables.
  • Patients with small bowel disease, particularly Crohn's disease and sprue, because folic acid absorption interference.
  • Certain anti-seizure medication and birth control pills, because it reduces th absorption of folic acid.
  • Pregnant women and breastfeeding women, and people with kidney disease who undergo hemodialysis, because of the need to increase folic acid.
  • Alcohol drinkers, because alcohol affects the absorption and metabolism of folic acid.

Diagnosis
In smear examination under a microscope will be found megaloblas (large red blood cells).

If found megaloblas (large red blood cells) in a patient with anemia, measurement of folic acid levels in the blood.


Prevention
Increase the intake of food containing folic acid.

To prevent deficiency of folic acid in pregnancy, so pregnant women are advised to consume folic acid tablets.

Anemia Caused by Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency (pernicous anemia) is a megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency.

In addition to iron, bone marrow requires vitamin B-12 and folic acid to produce red blood cells. If lack of one of them, megaloblastic anemia can accur.

In this type of anemia, the bone marrow to produce red blood cells are large and abnormal (megaloblas). White blood cells and platelets are also usually abnormal.

Megaloblastic anemia is most often caused by a deficiency of vitamin B-12 and folic acid in foods or the inability to absorb the vitamin. Sometimes anemia is caused by certain medicines used to treat cancer (eg methotrexate, hydroxyurea, fluorouracil and cytarabine).

Anemia Caused by Iron Deficiency

Anemia caused by iron deficiency is a condition where red blood cells or hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in blood cells is below normal, which is caused by iron deficiency.

Some nutrients are needed in the formation of red blood cells. The most important are iron, vitamin B-12 and folic acid, but the body also needs small amounts of vitamin C, riboflavin and copper as well as hormonal balance, especially erythropoitin (a hormone that stimulates red blood cell formation).

Without these nutrients and hormones, red blood cell formation will be slow and inadequate, and the cell can have different shapes and unable to carry oxygen properly. Chronic diseases also can cause a reduction in red blood cell formation.

Normal intake of iron ussually can not replace iron loss due to chronic bleeding and body only has a small amount of iron reserves. Developing fetus using iron, because that pregnant women also need extra iron.

Meals average about 6mg cotain iron 1,000 calories, so the average person consumes about 10-12 mg iron / day. The best sources are meat.

Vegetable fiber, phosphate, bran and antacids reduce absorption of iron by way tie. Vitamin C is the only element of food that can enhance iron absorption. The body absorbs about 1-2 mg iron from food each day, which is roughly equivalent Degnan amount of iron removed from the body every day.



The occurrence of iron deficiency anemia

Anemia caused by iron deficiency usually occurs gradually, through several stages.
New symptoms arise at an advanced stage.
  • Stage 1
Loss of iron exceeds the intake, so spend the reserves in the body, especially in the bone marrow. Level of ferritin (a protein that holds iron) in the blood decreases progressively.
  • Stage 2
Reserves have been reduced iron can not meet the requirements for the formation of red blood cell, so the red blood cells produced fewer.
  • Stage 3
Start anemia. At this early stage, red blood cells appear normal, but fewer in number. Hemoglobin and hematocrit level decreased.
  • Stage 4
Trying to replace bone marrow iron deficiency by accelerating cell division and produce red blood cells with a very small size (microcytic), which is specific for iron deficiency anemia.
  • Stage 5
With the worsening of iron deficiency and anemia, it will arise the symptoms of iron deficiency and anemia symptoms as getting worse.



Prevention Anemia

Many types of anemia can not be prevented. However, you can help prevent iron deficiency anemia and vitamin anemia by eating a healthy, varied diet, including :

Iron. The best sources of iron are beef and other meats. Other foods rich in iron, include beans, lentils, iron fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, peanut butter and nuts.

Folate. These nutrients, and synthetic form, folic acid, can be found in orange juice and fruit, banana, dark green leafy vegetables, peas and fortified breads, cereals and pasta.

Vitamin B-12. This vitamin is a lot of meat and dairy products.

Vitamin C. Foods that contain vitamin C, like oranges, melons and berries, help increase iron absorption.



Eat plenty of foods containing iron are very important for people who have high iron requirements, such as children iron is needed for explosive growth and pregnant and menstruating women. Adequate iron intake is also important for infants, strict vegetarians and long distance runners.

Coution about iron supplements Doctors may prescribe iron supplements or multivitamins containing iron for people with high iron requirements. However, iron supplements appropriate only when you need more iron than a balance diet can provide. Do not assume that if you're tired, you just need to make iron supplements. The advantage with the iron in your body can be dangerous.

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Anemia Treatment

Treatment of anemia depends on the cause :

Iron deficiency anemia. Form of anemia is treated with iron supplements, which you have to drink for several months or more. If the cause of iron deficiency blood loss other than from menstruation the source of bleeding should be identified and stopped. This may involve surgery.

Vitamin deficiency anemia. Pernicious anemia treated with injections often lifetime injection of vitamin B-12. Folic acid deficiency anemia treated with folic acid supplements.

Anemia of chronic disease. There is no specific treatment for this type of anemia. Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. Iron supplements and vitamin generally do not help this type of anemia. However, if symptoms become severe, blood transfusions or injections of synthetic erythropoietin, a hormone normally produced by the kidneys, may help stimulate red blood cell production and reduce fatigue.

Aplastic anemia. Treatment for anemia may include blood transfusions to boost levels of red blood cells. You may needa bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow of diseased and unable to make healthy blood cells. You may need immune-suppressing drugs to reduce your immune system and provide an opportunity transplanted bone marrow responds to begin functioning again.

Anemia associated with bone marrow disease. Treatment of various diseases can range from simple medication to chemotherapy to bone marrow trasplantation.

Anemia hemolytic. Managing hemolytic anemia include avoiding certain medications, treating related infecctions and taking drugs that suppress your immune system, which can invade red blood cells. Brief treatment with steroids, immunosuppressant drugs or gamma globulin can help suppress the immune system attacks the red blood cells.

Sickle cell anemia. Treatment for anemia may include giving oxygen, pain relief medication, both oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Doctors also commonly use blood trnsfusions, folic acid supplements and antibiotics. Bone marrow transplantation may be an effective treatment in some circumstanes. A cancer drug called hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea) also is used to treat sickle cell anemia in adults.






Symptoms and Diagnosis of Anemia

Symptoms Anemia
The symtomps are caused by insufficient oxygen supply to these needs, vary. Anemia can cause fatigue, weakness, lack of energy and the head was floating.

If the anemia gets worse, can cause a stroke or heart attack.


Anemia Diagnosis
Simple blood tests can determine the presence of anemia. The percentage of red blood rail in total blood volume (Hematocrit) and the amount of hemoglobin in a blood sample can be determined.

Inspection is part of complete blood count (CBC).

Anemia

Anemia ia a condition where the number f red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin (oxygen carrying protein) in red blood cells is below normal.

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which enable them to carry from the lungs and deliver them to all parts of the body.

Anemia causes the reduced number of the red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells, so that blood can not transport oxygen as required in the amount of the body.


Cause
A common cause of anemia :
Heavy bleeding
  • Acute (sudden)
  • Accident
  • Surgery
  • Maternity
  • Broken blood vessels
  • Chronic
  • Bleeding nose
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Peptic ulcer
  • Cancer or polyp in the digestive tract
  • Kidney or bladder tumors
  • Menstrual bleeding
  •  
Reduced red blood cell formation
  • Iron deficiency
  • Lack of vitamin B12
  • Lack of folic acid
  • Lack of vitamin C
  • Chronic diseases
The increased destruction of red blood cells
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Mechanical damage in red blood cells
  • Autoimmune reaction against red blood cells
  • Paroxysmal noctural hemoglobinuria
  • Sferositosis hereditary
  • Elliptositosis hereditary
  • G6PD deficiency
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Hemaglobin C disease
  • S-hemoglobin C disease
  • Hemoglobin E desease 
  • Thalassemia

Cancer Symptoms

Painful
Cancer is usually not painful at first. With the development of their first symptoms is often a mild discomfort, which can be quite severe pain can be increased as the enlargement of cancer. The pain can occur from pressure or erosion cancer into nerves or other structures. Nevertheless, not all cancer causing severe pain. In the same way, the lack of pain does not guarantee that the cancer does not develop or spread.

Bleeding
Initially, the cancer can be a little bleeding because the cell does not stick well to each other and fragile blood vessels. Then, as the enlargement of the cancer and attack the tissue around, this could develop into a blood vessel in the vicinity, causing bleeding. The bleeding may be mild and not detected or can be detected only by tests. As is often the case in the first stage of colon cancer. Or, especially with advanced stage cancer, the bleeding may be more significant, even major and life threatening.

The location of the cancer to ensure the location of the bleeding. Cancer anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract can cause bleeding in the stool. Cancer anywhere along the urinary tract can cause bleeding in the urine. Other cancers can bleed into inside of the body. Bleeding into the lungs can cause a person's coughing up blood.

Weight Loss and Fatigue
Generally, a person suffering from cancer may experience weight loss and fatigue, which could get worse as the cancer advances. Some states have weight loss despite good appetite. Others lose their appetite and can even have difficulty swallowing. They can be thin, loss of underlying fat, especially visible on the face. People with advanced cancer are often very tired and slept for hours a day. If anemia is formed, this person could find that they feel tired or become difficult to breathe even with light activity.

Swollen Lymph Nodes
As the cancer began to spread around the body, it could first be spread to surrounding lymph nodes, become swollen. Swollen lymph nodes may not be painful or light, and feels hard and rubbery. They feel easily removed, if the cancer is more, they can be stuck to the skin on it, toward the deeper layers of tissue beneath, or both.

Depression
Cancer often region contribute to depression. Depression can be associated with symptoms of pain, fear of dying, or loss of freedom. In addition, some cancers can produce substances that directly cause depression by affecting the brain.

Neurological and Muscular Symptoms
Cancer can grow into nature or compress the nerve, causing multiple symptoms of nerve and muscle disease, including changes in sensation (such as a sense of tingling) or weakness of muscles. When cancer develops in the brain, symptoms of possible symptoms appropriately, firmly but can include haedache, dizziness, nausea, changes in vision, and seizures. Neurological symptoms can also be part of paraneoplastic syndrome.

Respiratory Symptoms
Cancer can suppress or block structure, such as the airways in the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing, coughing, or pneumonia. Difficulty breathing can also occur when the cancer causing large plural effusion, bleeding into the lungs, or anemia.


Immunotherapy Cancer

Immunotherapy is used to stimulate the immune system against cancer. For example, a vaccine consisting of antigens derived from tumor cells can increase the body's function on antibodies or immune cells (lympiosit). Extracts inactivated tuberculosis bacteria, which are known to boost immune response, has been successful when instilled into bladder to prevent recurrence of bladder tumors.

Monoclonal antibody therapy requires the use of antibodies produced experimentally to make special proteins on the surface of cancer cells as targets. Thrastuzumab is one of the antibodies, which attack the HER-2/neu receptor is present on the surface of cancer cells in 25% of women with breast cancer. Trastuzumab enhances the effect of chemotherapy drugs. Rituximab is an effective treatment for lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Rituximab is associated with radioactive isotopes can be used to delver radiation directly to lymphoma cells. Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin, antibody and the drug combination, is effective in some people with acute myelocytic leukemia.

Biological response modifiers improve the immune system's ability to find and destroy cancer cells, such as to stimulate normal cells to produce chemical messengers (mediators). Interferon (of which there are several kinds) is the best known and very widely used biological response modifiers. Almost all human cells naturally produce interferon, but also can be made through biotechnology. Although the exact mechanism of action is not completely clear, interferon has the task in the treatment of some cancers, like Kaposi's sarcoma and malignant melanoma. Interleukin 2, which resulted in certain white blood cells, also can help cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma in the kidney.

Cancer Prevention

Reduce the risk of certain cancers may be through changes in diet and other lifestyle. How risk can be reduces depending on the specifics of cancer. Tobacco use is directly linked to one third of all cancers. Not smoking and avoiding contact with tobacco smoke can greatly reduce the risk of lung cancer, kidney, bladder, and head and neck. Avoiding the use of smokeless tobacco (sniffing, chewing) to reduce the risk of cancer of the mouth and tongue.

Other lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of some cancers. Reducing alcohol intake may reduce the risk of head and neck cancer, liver, and esophagus. Reduce intake of fat in the diet appears to reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer. Avoiding sun exposure (especially during the day) can reduce the risk of skin cancer. Protect exposed skin and use protective sun lotion with high sun protection factor (SPF) against UV rays also help the risk of skin cancer. Using aspirin and drugs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduces colorectal cancer risk. Test Papanicolaou (PAP) can help prevent cervical cancer by detecting precancerous changes in cervical cells.

Vaccination can prevent certain types of cancer that is caused by a virus. Cervical cancer is caused by infection with certain of human papillomavirus (HPV) that is transmitted through sexual intercourse. Vaccination against HPV before any sexual relationship can be really prevent cervical cancer. HPV infection can also increase the risk of anal cancer and some forms of head and neck cancer, vaccination against hepatitis B virus may help prevent this type of cancer.

Early detection of cancer or precancerous growth can save lives. For women aged 40 years or more, doing annual mammograms can help detect breast cancer when they still can be treated. For people aged 50 years or more, to undergo colonoscopy (inspection of the colon through a flexible tube) to see every few years can be detect polyps and early cancer of the intestine.
 
Health Advice ~ Prevention ~ Diagnosis ~ Treatment ~ Therapy ~ Alternative Medicine