Sebaceous Cyst

Image via WikipediaSebaceous cyst is a blocked sebum or oil gland present in the skin. It usually appears as a rounded swelling in the skin surface, sometimes having a bluish hue, not hard, feels firm giving some sense of fluctuation to the palpating finger. A bluish puckered spot is mostly seen on the dome of the cyst called punctum.
It may gradually grow in size and can be seen in any part of body; but preferentially seen in scalp, behind neck, scrotum and chest wall.
It harbors a bacterium called Domodex Folliculorum; Sometimes untreated sebaceous cyst may get infected with other bacteria causing enlarging cellulitis spreading to the surrounding skin.
An infected sebaceous cyst may burst giving rise to non-healing ulcer. Sebum may come out of it gradually; solidify and enlarge giving rise to appearance of a horn called sebaceous horn. Several cysts may be seen sometimes ulcerating and solidifying confusing with the appearance of a skin cancer.
Incompletely removed cyst wall may give rise to a full sebaceous cyst.
The key to successful treatment is complete removal of the cyst and its contents.

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Food for healthier Sperms in Aspiring DADS

Aspiring fathers should have healthier sperms for the purpose. Many times in infertile males do not have good quality sperm. There may be more number of non-motile and/or abnormal sperms in semen; as well as the number of sperms may not be adequate. In an average sperm count is about 60 million/ml of ejaculate.

Some foods are suggested to boost sperm quality and quantity .

• Fruits and Veggies; Consuming more of fruits and vegetables rich in folic acid, vitamin C and lycopene linked with healthier sperm counts. It is thought that the antioxidants in these fruits and vegetables may help.
• The omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), found in oily fish, may help improve sperm quality.

Foods to avoid are cola, alcohol and soy.
 Image via Wikipedia
Healthier sperms for healthier babies.

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Think Before Hernia Surgery

Image via WikipediaHernias in abdominal wall;

• Inguinal,
• Femoral, or
• Ventral;

may occur  due to increased intra-abdominal pressure, secondary to another condition. Clinicians often jump to hernia surgery without thinking; if there is a condition giving rise to hernia. The problem is that if the primary condition is not adequately treated hernia surgery may fail to provide lasting relief and that may recur.
Such conditions giving rise to increased intra-abdominal pressure can be;

• Enlarged prostate in male,
• Stricture of urethra in both the sexes,
• Chronic cough due to some respiratory disease,
• Chronic constipation or
• Dysentery.

There can be several other causes of academic interest.
Another important cause of hernia mostly direct ones are due to weakness in musculature of abdominal wall in the later age.
So, before jumping to hernia surgery the patient should disclose and the doctor should inquire about such predisposing causes and take steps to adequately control the primary condition.

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Pre-diabetes.

Image via Wikipedia; Symptoms of DIabetes

Pre-diabetes means the blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be stamped as diabetes. Glucose comes from the foods one eats. Too much of un-utilized glucose can damage different systems of body over time. Pre-diabetics are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

• Normal fasting blood glucose can be up to 110 mg%, and pre-diabetic ranges up to 126 mg%; and above it can be diabetes.
• 2 hour post glucose of 75 grms or post lunch glucose; below 140 mgs% is normal, from there to up to 180 mgs% comes under pre-diabetic range and above that comes under diabetics range.

Most people with pre-diabetes don’t have any symptoms. Overweight individuals above 45 years of age should get tested for pre-diabetes.
Losing weight can prevent, delay diabetes; or even reverse pre-diabetes. That’s 10 to 20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds. One can lose weight by cutting down on the amount of calories and fat in the food; and being physically active at least 30 minutes a day. Being physically active makes body’s insulin work better.
If dietary and life style modifications does not help one may need medications.

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FDA Okays Shingles Vaccine for Younger Age Group

Medical News: FDA Okays Shingles Vaccine for Younger Age Group - in Public Health & Policy, FDA General from MedPage Today

The FDA has approved use of the varicella zoster vaccine Zostavax in patients ages 50 to 59 for prevention of shingles caused by the virus Herpes Zoster, which also responsible for chickenpox. The vaccine was approved in 2006 for prevention of shingles in patients 60 and older.

Approval for the new indication was based on a 22,000-patient multicenter study in the U.S. and four other countries. Patients ages 50 to 59 were randomized equally to the vaccine or placebo and were followed for a year.

Shingles risk was 70% lower in the treatment group than in the placebo group.

Adverse events in the study included injection site redness, pain, and swelling, as well as headache.

Shingles affects some 200,000 healthy patients in the newly approved younger age group each year in the U.S., an FDA statement said.

The likelihood of shingles increases with age..

The vaccine is manufactured by Merck.

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Rheumatic Heart Disease Miral stenosis

Image via Wikipedia

Rheumatic heart disease is a sequel of rheumatic joint disease. rheumatic joint disease usually follow untreated or inadequately treated sore throat and tonsillitis mostly in the childhood.
Most commonly affected is the valve between the two chambers of left side heart, called the mitral valve. The valve gets deformed creating blood flow disturbances through it to the left ventricle.
Gradually, there occurs back pressure changes and the function of many other chambers of heart deteriorate. As a result there occurs;

• Breathlessness,
• Puffiness of face,
• swelling of both the legs and feet; and spreads to other parts of body,
• Day to day work becomes difficult.
• infections in the chest may occur.

There is usually a history of childhood attack of rheumatic joint disease; it is said that, "Rheumatic arthritis affects joints first first, then leaves joins and bites the heart."
Now-a-days, incidence of this disease is decreasing due to liberal use of antibiotics to treat childhood throat infections. Moreover, diagnosed rheumatic arthritis are also being treated adequately.
Dilation of the mitral valve and replacement whenever required are available for established disease.

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Low Intensity Shock Wave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction in Men

Image by Jeremy Brooks via FlickrNearly 80% of erectile dysfunction cases in men is of vascular origin. The conventional phosphodiestarase-5 inhibitor may be helpful on demand basis. But, it has been seen by the researchers that low intensity shock wave therapy may be helpful in many male patients with erectile dysfunction on long term basis.
Low intensity shock wave therapy is being increasingly employed in patients of ischaemic heart disease, unsuitable for surgery; to induce new blood vessel formation with success. Here in erectile dysfunction the same logic is being employed.
The intensity of shock wave is one tenth of the intensity that is employed for breaking the kidney stones. The shock wave is given on the shaft of penis and other parts of the musculature of penis.
It may be helpful in long term basis in many cases of erectile dysfunction, the researchers conclude.

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Tackle Menopausal Hot Flushes with Meditation

Image by Troy B Thompson via FlickrHot flushes and sweating are the most frequent distressing symptoms of menopause. Hormonal replacement treatment has its own hazards.
It has been seen that meditation and stretching exercise may help the menopausal women to ease their symptoms.
Researchers based at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester have seen that such women got relief with practice of mindfulness programme.
They enrolled 110 women with bothersome hot flushes and assigned them randomly to two groups; by the end of the programme, women practicing mindfulness programme got significant relief from their symptoms.
The only drawback of the programme is requirement of considerable time. This can be started under guidance and later on practiced.

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Constipation and Retention of Urine from Hard Stool

Constipation and retention of urine may be seen following impaction of hard fecal mass in rectum. This is mostly seen in old age. Affect women more often than men.
Though there are several causes of retention of urine and constipation for a few days in many diseases of anal canal and rectum; inspissated fecal mass impaction is the most common cause in absence of any organic disease. There may be distension of abdomen, vomiting and pain abdomen in addition to constipation and retention of urine.
Many times an attending physician fails to diagnose the condition and cause because he/she fails to put a finger in the anal canal. It is obvious to miss the cause and at the first sight it appears to be a difficult case.
In old age the colonic movement may not be so active to expel the hard mass. Hard mass forms due to fewer intakes of water and less fiber in diet, and postponing the defecation.
It can be quickly diagnosed after a per rectal digital examination and a simple warm water enema is sufficient to evacuate the mass. In very late cases the fecal mass has to be manually removed.

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Tomatoes and Health benefits

Image via WikipediaRecently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 moved tomatoes to a newly established category of "orange/red" fruits and vegetables to encourage higher consumption of these healthy foods.
Tomato has the reputation of;
·  Being a good source of dietary lycopene; a powerful antioxidant that, unlike nutrients in most fresh fruits and vegetables, has greater bioavailability after cooking and processing.
· Having antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory functions.
· Lowering risk of;
1. Cardiovascular disease,
2. Osteoporosis,
3. Ultraviolet induced skin damage,
4. Cognitive dysfunction and
5. Certain cancers.
Tomatoes are widely available, people of all ages and cultures like them, they are cost-effective, and are available in many forms.
 Image Lycopene That gives Colour to Tomato
The evidence also suggests that consumption of tomatoes should be recommended because of the nutritional benefits and because it may be a simple and effective strategy for increasing overall vegetable intake.

 

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How Exercise may Prevent Colon Cancer

Endoscopic Image of Colon Cancer Physical activity may have a role in preventing colon cancer, by the way of preventing polyp formation; which are thought to transform to cancer later on. Some studies fail to confirm it. But, a recent study states that physical activity has a role across the carcinogenic process.
Several mechanisms have been proposed for such effects;

• enhanced immune function from increases circulation of immune cells or cells responsible for body defence; clearing of bacterial load in tissue and blood; those may have accessed,
• decreased inflammation, through inhalation of oxygen rich fresh air of outdoor, where exercise is usually taken up.,
• reduced insulin levels through use/entry to muscle tissue, where demand increases to produce more energy from glucose metabolism, 
• decreased insulin resistance through physical activity, and
• higher vitamin D levels, which may be acquired from sunny outdoor.

Increased insulin level in blood has also been directly related to colon polyp risk as seen by scientists. This recent meta-analysis provides support for an inverse association between physical activity and colon polyps; and also for the role of physical activity in preventing colon cancer progression.
As a summary the study concludes that physical activity may reduce the risk of colon polyps by 15% and may provide a substantially larger reduction in risk of large and advanced polyps. Risk reductions were similar for men and women.
Physical activity and high fibre in diet may go hand in hand to be cheap mode of preventing the cancer colon and to reap many more advantages.

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