Archive for November, 2011
Itchy Skin on Face No Rash
Itching of the face without the presence of rash is common and it can be caused by a number of things. Treatment is going to involve addressing the cause of the symptom.
Cause and Treatment
Here are some of the possible causes of itchy skin on face without any rashes.
Dry Skin
This is usually observed after bathing when the skin is really dry
It is also common in winter
Individuals who work in cold offices or work environments may also experience this problem
Exposure to Irritants
There are a number of irritants that can cause itching and not leave a rash, they include:
Beauty Products – Those that contain brighteners and other chemicals can cause itching. It is a good idea to test something out on a small portion of skin before using it for good.
Shampoos and Soaps – some shampoos, especially those that have been formulated for dandruff can cause itching and sometimes burning. Harsh laundry detergents not propcan also lead to itching.
Dust and other irritants
A new haircut
Allergies
Some topical allergies can occur without any rashes
There also are some diseases that can cause itching of the face without the presence of a rash.
These include:
Kidney Problems
Urea excretion can be impaired when kidney failure is present
When there are excess amounts of the waste product in the blood it can cause itching
This causes a generalized itching, not only on the face but on the rest of the body as well
Liver/Bile Problems
Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition where there are abnormally high presence of bile in the blood
This is common in patients who have liver and biliary tract problems
It is often accompanied by Jaundice and other symptoms
Lymphoma
This can also cause rash-less itching
Patients who are concerned should seek medical attention. They should also go to the doctor when:
The itching affects the rest of the body
The itching lasts for more than a few hours without any identifiable cause
It becomes too severe that it affects concentration
Treatment of Itchy Skin on Face
Treating the condition involves addressing the cause.
If it is an irritant, removing or eliminating the irritant from the patient’s environment can help with symptoms.
If it is dry skin, patients can use a milk moisturizing soap to keep the skin from drying, the use of facial moisturizers can help as well.
For pathologic causes, it is important to address the disease resulting in the itching as soon as possible.
If it helps, patients may also apply a warm towel dipped in a sitz solution on their face.
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itchy face no rashHeart Attack And Heart Disease Triggered By Inflammation
Doctors and researchers have recently made great new strides in our quest to understand, protect against and eventually eliminate heart disease.
Numerous studies reported in prestigious medical journals now identify INFLAMMATION, not cholesterol, as the major culprit in causing heart disease, and as it turns out, inflammation can be accurately measured by a simple test that costs under .
Research studies that number in the thousands and continue to this day show that INFLAMMATION plays a much bigger role in triggering heart attacks and heart disease than cholesterol.
These studies show that people with normal cholesterol AND high levels of a substance called C-reactive protein, which measures inflammation, are at greater risk of heart attack than people with high cholesterol and normal levels of CRP.
What is C-reactive protein? C-reactive protein, (CRP) is one of a number of molecules produced by the immune system for the specific purpose of containing or repairing artery damage that occurs for a variety of different reasons.
Discovering the connection between inflammation and heart disease is a MAJOR ADVANCE in understanding the disease.
And the ease with which C-reactive protein can be measured gives doctors a powerful new tool to identify high-risk individuals who, other than elevated CRP, have no other heart disease risk factors.
Cholesterol has always had much more press than it deserves.
While it’s true that about half of the people with heart disease have high cholesterol, it is also true about half the people with heart disease have NORMAL cholesterol, which means cholesterol may NOT be a significant causal factor.
The new research on inflammation and the role of C-reactive protein is so compelling that many doctors now believe the evidence is overwhelming and that inflammation is, with total certainty, the central factor in cardiovascular disease.
The bottom line is this; the next time you have a check up be sure and have your C-reactive protein tested because this test, exclusive of all others, provides objective information about your risk of heart disease that is far more important than any other factor capable of being tested at this time, including cholesterol.
Causes Of Inflammation And Increased C-Reactive Protein
Here is what we know.
When cells that line the inside of the arteries are injured or become dysfunctional they send out a signal, kind of like an SOS, a cry for help. The cellular distress signals are heard by the immune system and the immune system answers the distress call by sending in specialized cells and molecules, including C-reactive protein, to contain the injury, repair the damage and fight off the offender.
If you take a beautiful landscape, like the inside of a healthy artery, and turn it into a war zone where damage and injury is occurring and special troops are being poured in by the thousands to attack the enemy and contain the damage, it does not take long before the landscape is not so pretty anymore.
We know inflammation causes big problems, but what causes inflammation?
What damages the inside of the artery in the first place?
What causes the cells to cry for help and get the immune system, to send in the shock troops in the form of C-reactive protein and other substances?
We don’t know everything that causes damage inside the artery walls, but here are a few things we do know.
Basically ANYTHING that causes injury or inflammation signals the release of powerful immune system substances for the purpose of containing and repairing the damage and attacking the problem. So what causes inflammation?
Tobacco is a brutal toxin. Smoking litters the blood with powerful chemicals that damage artery walls and stimulate an immune system response, which, if maintained over time, causes the build up of inflammatory chemicals and greatly increases the risk of heart attack and heart disease.
Both high blood pressure and diabetes put constant stress on the inside of the artery walls. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein are common in people with either of these problems.
Although researchers are not certain as to why, we know that certain medicines cause an elevation of C-reactive protein, which is another good reason to get healthy, stay healthy and not depend on medicines of any sort.
Infections signal the immune system to release C-reactive protein. Many people suffer with low-grade infections that constantly sap their energy. Often, these people have no idea they are suffering with infections; they just think theyre tired.
Inflammation causes inflammation. You read it right, theres no misprint. The inflammatory chemicals produced by the immune system and sent into the blood to contain damage, repair damage and fight invaders actually become part of the problem IF the cellular call for help never stops.
Think about it, if storm troopers constantly trample through your garden, how will it ever grow back and be nice again? The answer is, it won’t!
These are a few of the OBVIOUS causes of inflammation. Now lets examine sources of inflammation that are not so obvious and potentially even more dangerous because they are likely to go unrecognized.
Does being overweight CAUSE inflammation?
Until recently researchers believed that fat cells were passive, but new research has proven differently. It turns out that fat cells are not at all passive.
Fat cells constantly produce a substance called interleukin-6.
Interleukin-6 is a highly specialized, extremely powerful, pro-inflammatory bio-chemical that can cause great damage if it shows up in the body at the wrong place and for the wrong reasons. AND FAT CELLS MAKE IT ALL THE TIME.
Interleukin-6 is like a pack of vicious attack dogs your immune system can set lose against viruses, tumors, or anything that may seriously threaten your health. But if there are no bad guys to attack, the last thing a peaceful neighborhood needs is a band of killer dogs roaming the streets ready to pounce on anything that moves.
When interleukin-6 enters the blood it does exactly what it is meant to do. It attacks.
Interleukin-6 causes an immediate inflammatory response, damaging cells and creating problems.
The injured cells send out a distress signal and the liver responds by making C-reactive protein and sending it streaming into the blood to solve a problem that never ends as long as interleukin-6 is present.
Because of the never ending supply of interleukin-6 that fat cells so graciously provide, overweight individuals live in a state of constant low-grade inflammation, which keeps C-reactive protein high and dramatically raises the risk of heart disease.
Now you understand exactly why losing weight slows the inflammation process, lowers C-reactive protein in the body and reduces the risk of heart disease. And you understand even better why losing weight and firming up is one of the healthiest things you can possibly do for yourself. See you at the gym!
Do Sugar And Carbohydrates CAUSE Artery Damage & Inflammation?
Make no mistake about it. Over consumption of foods high in sugar and carbohydrates is one of the primary initiating causes of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, gall bladder disease and about half of all cancers.
Besides causing metabolic imbalances that can destroy your health in a variety of different and creative ways, sugar and carbohydrates turn into glucose and glucose auto-oxidizes in your blood, spinning off free radicals that damage the artery, cause inflammation and send your cells screaming for help.
The ramifications of this are staggering, especially in light of the new research that shows INFLAMMATION to be the primary underlying cause of heart disease.
The health destructive effects of oxidation and free radicals are well documented in medical literature. In fact, research on free radicals is one of the main reasons supplements known as ANTI OXIDANTS are so popular.
Nutrients like vitamin c, selenium and zinc are important because they are powerful anti-oxidants that help protect against oxidative stress and free radical damage.
Here are the facts. Decide for yourself.
FACT: Sugar and carbohydrates are converted into glucose and glucose quickly enters your blood and raises your blood sugar.
FACT: Glucose auto oxidizes in the blood causing significant free radical production.
FACT: Free radicals rip and slice the arteries, causing damage, producing inflammation and causing the cells to cry for help. C-reactive protein is made in the liver and sent charging into the blood to answer the call.
The bottom line . . .
Eating a diet high in sugar or carbohydrates keeps blood glucose levels high resulting in oxidative stress, free radical production, arterial damage, a cellular cry for help and an accommodating liver that makes C-reactive protein to answer the call.
If you believe the latest research about inflammation and heart disease, and most cardiologist in America do, then you have to agree that eating a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates is a PERFECT PRESCRIPTION for developing heart disease.
A famous nutritionist once said we dig our graves with our teeth. I say you choose you level of health and vitality with the food choices you make every day. Health is a choice that only you can make, and if you want excellent health, you have to make that choice over and over, every single day. .
By the way, what’s for dessert?
Glaucoma Eye Surgery
Advantages Of Glaucoma Eye Surgery Prevail Over the Risks.
Glaucoma damages the vision nerve that is why when it is not treated a person suffering from it can lose his sight or go blind. Often times, glaucoma is only detected when your eye has been tested for its pressure level. The symptoms are usually no there. The initial treatment for it is usually medication. Glaucoma eye surgery is only administered when the medication is not effective in treating the disease. But before you undergo a glaucoma eye surgery, you need to be well-informed about the procedure. You can get the necessary information by discussing everything with your doctor or surgeon. Glaucoma eye surgery will basically correct the increasing pressure in the eye.
The procedure is performed either by a laser or conventional surgery. The doctor might recommend canaloplasty where a drainage channel is inserted into the eye so that the pressure level in the eye will be reduced.
The second type of glaucoma eye surgery is laser surgery. A part of the iris is burned to create an opening where the fluid in the eye can flow and drain much faster. The two procedures of glaucoma eye surgery can give temporary relief only. Usually, the patient who has undergone it the first time will have to undergo it again 2 to 3 years after. But the good thing is laser glaucoma eye surgery only requires local anesthesia and it can be administered in the doctor’s clinic.
Aside from a little pain, there is no major discomfort caused by a laser glaucoma eye surgery. Irritation and blurry vision are commonly experienced by people who have undergone a surgery days after the procedure but it can be treated with medication.
Even though the success rate of glaucoma eye surgery is extremely high these days, there are still risks involve such as increase of pressure level in the eye or development of cataracts after glaucoma eye surgery. It is important to prevent the disease from progressing because it can lead to blindness if not treated. Temporary relief is better than no relief at all so a person who has glaucoma should talk to their doctor about the type of glaucoma eye surgery that needs to be administered.
Handle Back Ache Pain the Simplest Way
Whether or not you’re experiencing back ache pain for the very first time or you suffered with it for years, it is generally best to have a program to manage your discomfort efficiently and effectively. Regardless of what method you choose, you have to monitor both the level of your discomfort and keep anecdotal records of your management approach.
One thing for certain is that back ache discomfort caused by sciatica is as personal as the individual suffering. This means that uncovering the root cause of the pain is important in making decisions about how to manage it. Ranging from doing totally nothing and hoping for the best to radical open-back surgical procedures, from pharmaceuticals to natural, herbal medicine, it is essentially clear that the option for treatment is personal. In brief, it is best to formulate a strategy, an approach to pain management that relieves even the worst of your symptoms.
Generally, pain management demands one to adhere to a strict schedule; exercise at a time specific, take your medication in the same time each day and so on. Needless to say, it truly is not uncommon for folks to choose a method for pain management from the perspective of attempting the least pricey, simpler approaches first and, if these prove unsuccessful, moving on to a lot more highly-priced and more radical approaches. Quite a few folks begin with physical exercise, yoga or even Pilates as a very first shot at discomfort management.
Numerous people today get started their back ache pain management regimen by opting for natural approaches. These include exercise, herbal supplements, massage, as well as acupuncture. Moreover, men and women frequently attempt changing their mattress to a firm or extra-firm base or even get a foam mattress for support. Also, sleeping with a pillow among the knees gives some relief at night. Adjusting posture, strengthening the core muscles of the abdomen and back, sitting with feet flat on the floor and other easy methods could give natural relief from the severe discomfort of sciatica.
Certainly, some men and women are not willing to attempt natural remedies or think that they’re not competent to create an exercise routine on their own. These people prefer to have their back discomfort diagnosed by their family doctor or chiropractor. They will go straight for the medication as an initial choice. While most doctors will stress the value of exercise as by far the most powerful pain management approach available, these people find their discomfort so intolerable that they have to find some relief prior to attempting exercise as therapy.
Look, it’s normally wise to obtain a professional diagnosis if your pain lasts longer than six to eight-weeks. The simple reality is that most back pain is self-limiting. It responds to over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin or naproxen quite nicely and when coupled with simple exercise will just go away. If your pain doesn’t diminish or disappear after a few weeks, it is a good idea to visit your physician for an accurate diagnosis. Though unlikely, your sciatica might be caused by something fairly significant, something that could lead to paralysis or even death if not treated. It truly is often good to rule these points out. If required, it’s also a fantastic notion to have a physical exercise and stretching routine developed exclusively for you by a physical therapist or exercise therapist. My point is only this; try some simple pain management approaches for a few weeks ahead of looking for skilled assist. If your discomfort goes away then great, if not, it is actually time to explore further choices beginning with a medical diagnosis.
No matter whether you are trying to manage back ache pain for the very first time or have been suffering for a though, finding an approach that works for you is critically essential. The truth is, lots of times it may be a distinction of a painful day or an excellent day!
Mold Allergy – Symptoms and Treatment for Mold Allergies
Just like some other allergies, an allergic a reaction to mold spores can range between mild irritation to extremely damaging and in many cases harmful or fatal for your health. There are a medical treatments which can be found and will overcome several symptoms of the mould allergy. But the best thing to do, instead of dealing along with the actual allergy itself, is to choose the cause of the mould. Once you find the presence with the mold you can avoid it which will also get rid of any mold allergy that could come from it.
Much like pollen, mold spores are the causal agent allergic reactions in people who are susceptible, or have your allergies. If a person through an allergy to mold is exposed to too much of this fungus, they can have an adverse reaction. Somebody that may have allergies from mold will suffer as the mold gradually builds up and is released in the immediate vicinity.
Depending on whether you will be indoors or outdoors will likewise depend on the species of mold that you discover.
And the symptoms of mold allergies are very like the symptoms of some other allergies. The most common types of symptoms from a mould allergy are wheezing, itching in the eyes, a runny nose area, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, and even rash and also hives. Some people find likely very restless for very long stretches of times, feel weak for no apparent purpose, and are affected by sinus problems. The most serious form of symptoms that are related to an allergy from mold are asthma symptoms, which can lead to long-term breathing problems.
The most common places that mold growth can be found is usually in the bathroom, the basement, in closets or storerooms, and around garbage cans.
What is Water Damage Mold?
Water damage mold is a greenish-black infestation more commonly described as “toxic mold”.
The technical term for it is Stachybotrys chartarum , also referred to as Stachybortrys atra , nevertheless most accurate popular term for it is black mold .
Alcoholism Among the Elderly – Anonymous Alcoholics
Medical studies in the area of alcoholism have found alcoholism among the elderly to be a bigger problem than you might think. What’s really surprising about this trend is that in retrospect, medical investigation suggests that this phenomenon is nothing new. In fact, alcoholism among maturing baby boomers has been a silent threat to the health of these individuals for quite some time now.
Since awareness of this problem was first announced, action to solve the problem has been slow moving. It is estimated that today almost half the elderly individuals suffering from alcoholism remain undetected. When these individuals use their health insurance for check ups and treatment, health care professionals sometimes misdiagnose these patients by focusing on secondary ailments such as dementia, depression, insomnia or gastrointestinal problems. What these physicians fail to realize is that some of these ailments might be attributed to alcoholism.
The type of alcoholism that assails the elderly is called “late onset alcoholism”.
This is a distinction from early onset alcoholism that usually begins earlier in life for most individuals. Late onset alcoholism, on the other hand, is developed by the elderly usually in response to situations unique to this age bracket.
For instance, death of a spouse, worrying about money, moving to a retirement home, or being away from family are some of the triggers that can initiate alcoholism and drug dependence among the elderly. Another trigger that may be unique to this demographic group is despair and depression from lifestyle challenges brought about by physical problems that come with old age.
Children should note that moving their parents to a retirement home may create the exact environment that fosters alcoholism. The depression that may set in from being placed in a home may lead the elderly to alcoholism, and the ironic truth is that a home provides many opportunities to drink and feed the alcoholic depressive mindset.
Women seem more prone toward late onset alcoholism than men. Also, men are more likely to admit they have a problem and seek help for this condition, while women tend to suffer silently in guilt and shame. Additionally, the inability of family members to recognize and come to grips with the fact that mom or dad is now an alcoholic impedes the individual suffering from alcoholism from seeking help and getting out of the condition.
Some of the elderly diagnosed with alcoholism may look to the government for treatment. Government issued medical insurance may pay for some treatment, but it will probably be insufficient to cover the entire costs. The correct treatment needed by the elderly suffering from alcoholism is pretty much a holistic approach that is used for other alcoholics of a younger demographic.
Alcoholism among the elderly is a dangerous problem for several reasons. As we age, the body’s physiology changes and our usual tolerance for alcohol is greatly decreased. This means that a standard drink may have double the effect on an elderly individual than on a younger one. This means that the harsh damaging effects of alcohol can be much stronger and therefore more lethal among the elderly. In fact, studies indicate that alcoholism causes more deaths among the elderly than cardiovascular disease.
Elderly people are, also, usually on heavy medications for many physiological conditions caused by aging. Alcohol creates an adverse effect when combined with most medications. Mixing alcohol with some medications can even lead to death. Also, you have the problem where some elderly may suffer from physical trauma from falls and accidents caused by excessive alcoholic consumption and alcoholism.
Detecting alcoholism among the elderly is not easy, but care givers can help identify some of the problem signs that may be indicative of the condition. For instance, frequent falls may be due to alcoholism more than any other reason. Signs of alcoholism must be looked for especially if the elderly being cared for has recently experienced a loss and is prone to bouts of depression and despair.
More attention must be given to identifying and helping the elderly suffering from alcoholism, as it’s been estimated that one out of six baby boomers will suffer from late onset alcoholism. As the population continues to age, the problem of alcoholism among the elderly will become a big social problem, and an even bigger economic problem as well.