Most of us are aware of and have probably been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Given the fact that so many of us are protected from hepatitis B, have you ever wondered why we still have so many cases of jaundice especially in the months of summers and monsoons? The reason is jaundice due to poor food, water and sanitation, meaning hepatitis A and hepatitis E virus.
The most important thing to realize that taking hepatitis B vaccination will not protect you against these forms of jaundice since they are caused by a different virus. Hepatitis means inflammation (swelling) of the liver. While there are many infections that can cause this, in India the commonest cause in children and one of the most common causes in adults is Hepatitis A. If symptoms are present, they usually occur abruptly and may include
• fever,
• tiredness,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea,
• abdominal discomfort,
• dark urine, and
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Symptoms usually last less than 2 months; a few persons are ill for as long as 6 months. The average incubation period (i.e., time taken from transmission from one person to the other) for hepatitis A is 28 days (range: 15–50 days). The diagnosis can be made with a blood test (IgM Hepatitis A antibody- cost approx. Rs. 600/-), since the symptoms of all types of hepatitis are the same. Other tests like the liver function tests are useful in finding out the extent of the disease. Treatment is essentially supportive, and with adequate rest and minimum use of anti-fever and anti – vomiting medicines a patient should generally recover within 15- 30 days. However 15 % of patients (mostly adults) may have a prolonged course of illness lasting even as long as 6-9 months!
Prevention rests on maintaining a good personal hygiene. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, or before preparing or eating food. Avoid outside food and water especially food that is undercooked/ uncooked (like salad etc.). Since proper food and water in India is still a pipe-dream, a more feasible way is to take the Hepatitis A vaccine. This is a very safe and highly effective vaccine (more than 90 % effective) with no major side-effects. It can be given to anyone above 1 year of age. Two doses are needed for life long protection and these need to be given 6 months apart. The vaccine is effective a month after the first dose is given. Dr. Gaurav Gupta is a practicing pediatrician in Chandigarh, India. Other than being a member of the American and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, he is also published many papers and written in various medical journals. He writes a bimonthly column is in Indian Pediatrics, official journal of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. He writes a medical blog, and contributes regularly to local newspapers and magazines while also answering online question about common parenting questions and kids health’s
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Baby Jaundice
Around 20% of newborn babies suffer from jaundice. The condition is not normally serious and usually clears up after a week or so.
What Are The Symptoms?
Baby's skin will develop a yellowish tinge and she will look as though she has a suntan. Black babies will have a yellow tinge to the whites of their eyes.
What Causes Baby Jaundice
Babies are born with a high level of the chemical bilirubin in the blood and it may take a week or so for the liver to break this down. Baby will suffer no pain or discomfort as a result of having this condition.
How Is It Diagnosed?
The first sign of jaundice is the change in skin tone. A blood sample will then be taken (usually a small sample from baby's heel) and the levels of bilirubin levels are checked.
What Is The Treatment?
Exposure to sunlight will help break down the chemical. If you are still in hospital, baby will be placed under bright fluorescent lights for set periods; a few days of this treatment is usually sufficient and the yellowish tinge will fade. If you're at home, place baby in as much daylight as possible (without clothing) - but be careful not to expose baby to direct sunlight as she could suffer from sunburn. Breastfeeding will also help (but you were going to breastfeed anyway, right?), and feed on demand so that the chemical clears the system more quickly.
What If The Symptoms Persist?
If the symptoms persist after two weeks, a rare occurence, it can be a sign of other complications and you should consult your doctor.
What Are The Symptoms?
Baby's skin will develop a yellowish tinge and she will look as though she has a suntan. Black babies will have a yellow tinge to the whites of their eyes.
What Causes Baby Jaundice
Babies are born with a high level of the chemical bilirubin in the blood and it may take a week or so for the liver to break this down. Baby will suffer no pain or discomfort as a result of having this condition.
How Is It Diagnosed?
The first sign of jaundice is the change in skin tone. A blood sample will then be taken (usually a small sample from baby's heel) and the levels of bilirubin levels are checked.
What Is The Treatment?
Exposure to sunlight will help break down the chemical. If you are still in hospital, baby will be placed under bright fluorescent lights for set periods; a few days of this treatment is usually sufficient and the yellowish tinge will fade. If you're at home, place baby in as much daylight as possible (without clothing) - but be careful not to expose baby to direct sunlight as she could suffer from sunburn. Breastfeeding will also help (but you were going to breastfeed anyway, right?), and feed on demand so that the chemical clears the system more quickly.
What If The Symptoms Persist?
If the symptoms persist after two weeks, a rare occurence, it can be a sign of other complications and you should consult your doctor.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Ayurvedic Concept and Jaundice
Ayurveda describes kaamala or Jaundice as one of the major diseases of yakrit (liver). The obstructive and infective jaundice are described in ayurvedic classical texts.
Pathogenesis
When a person indulges on diet which increases pitta( one among the three somatic humors), like excessive alcohol intake, heavy, oily, and spicy food, pitta becomes aggravated and results in disease of blood, muscle tissue, biliary system and liver. These then manifest as kaamala or jaundice. It is also mentioned in the texts that if a person is anaemic he is more prone to kaamala.
Symptoms
Yellowish discolouration of the eyes, nails, skin, and oral cavity, yellowish/reddish discolouration of faeces and urine, generalized weakness, burning sensation,loss of appetite and taste, vague body pains and weakness in all sensory organs and emaciation.
There are different types of Kaamala described in Ayurveda
Shakasritha: There is only mild aggravation of pitta and vata in this type of Kaamala ( acute jaundice) and this can be cured relatively easily.
Kumbha Kaamala: If not treated Kaamala ( acute jaundice) in due course turns into Kumbha Kaamala and becomes difficult to treat.
Panaki: This is considered to be late/advanced stage of Kaamala.
Haleemaka: This is an advanced stage of pandu roga (anemia). This occurs when both vata and pitta are vitiated. The disease is manifested with greenish-yellow discolouration, weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, body ache, burning sensation, loss of taste and dizziness.
Tastelessness, thirst, vomiting, fever, headache, loss of appetite, lethargy, pain in chest are also often referred to as associated ailments of Kaamala.
Pathogenesis
When a person indulges on diet which increases pitta( one among the three somatic humors), like excessive alcohol intake, heavy, oily, and spicy food, pitta becomes aggravated and results in disease of blood, muscle tissue, biliary system and liver. These then manifest as kaamala or jaundice. It is also mentioned in the texts that if a person is anaemic he is more prone to kaamala.
Symptoms
Yellowish discolouration of the eyes, nails, skin, and oral cavity, yellowish/reddish discolouration of faeces and urine, generalized weakness, burning sensation,loss of appetite and taste, vague body pains and weakness in all sensory organs and emaciation.
There are different types of Kaamala described in Ayurveda
Shakasritha: There is only mild aggravation of pitta and vata in this type of Kaamala ( acute jaundice) and this can be cured relatively easily.
Kumbha Kaamala: If not treated Kaamala ( acute jaundice) in due course turns into Kumbha Kaamala and becomes difficult to treat.
Panaki: This is considered to be late/advanced stage of Kaamala.
Haleemaka: This is an advanced stage of pandu roga (anemia). This occurs when both vata and pitta are vitiated. The disease is manifested with greenish-yellow discolouration, weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, body ache, burning sensation, loss of taste and dizziness.
Tastelessness, thirst, vomiting, fever, headache, loss of appetite, lethargy, pain in chest are also often referred to as associated ailments of Kaamala.
Jaundice is Yellowish
Not all that is yellow is good for the eyesight. Not all that seemed to be pale and yellow is anemia. So what it could be? Jaundice is also yellowish.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and the sclera or whites of the eyes. It is not a disease but only a sign to many other different diseases. Jaundice is caused by the high level of chemical bilirubin in the blood. Depending on the level of the chemical, the yellow pigmentation of the skin and the sclera may vary. When it is too high, it could appear as brown and not yellow.
Causes of Jaundice
The high level of bilirubin is the main cause of jaundice. However, it is better that we are able to understand how this chemical component of the blood is being released. The red blood cells are the ones responsible with the bilirubin. When these cells get old, they are naturally destroyed. Since the blood cells are the carriers of iron-content called hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood, this chemical is released from the destroyed cells. When the iron is removed, the remaining chemical content is called bilirubin.
Moreover, the liver has also a very important function in developing jaundice. The liver is tasked to remove waste from the body specifically in the blood stream. As discussed above, bilirubin is a waste product of destroyed red blood cells. The liver should be removing the bilirubin from the blood and excrete it through the feces.
Jaundice occurs when there is too many red blood cells destroyed and its waste product is too much for the liver to remove. Also, when the liver malfunctions and is not fit to remove the bilirubin in the blood, thus it accumulates in the blood. Lastly, blockage in the bile ducts that cause the flow of the bile and bilirubin to decrease.
Jaundice Causing Problems
Jaundice is only a symptom to more serious ailments. Jaundice or cholestasis causes other problems other than the yellowing of the skin and the sclera of the eye. The stool could also become pale in color when bilirubin is absent or become too brownish because of too much bilirubin. The urine is also affected as its color could also become dark yellow or brownish.
Jaundice , other than the coloring, is frequently associated with itching called pruritus. This condition can sometimes become severe that the patient could not scratch their skin. Others could have trouble sleeping. When the jaundice is caused by liver disease, the patient could experience fatigue, swelling of ankles, muscle wasting, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, bleeding in to intestine and worse, coma. When the blockage of the bile ducts is causing the jaundice, it can be concluded that there is not bile entering the intestine. Bile is necessary in the digestion of fat and releasing vitamins within the small intestines.
Other Diseases and Factors that Cause Jaundice
There are many drugs that can cause jaundice. Some drugs could leave the liver an inflammation or hepatitis almost similar to hepatitis caused by virus. Still other drugs could affect the bile ducts and also leave them inflamed. The only treatment to this kind of condition is to discontinue usage of such drugs. However, it would still take a few weeks before the bilirubin is back to its normal level.
Another factor is genetic disorders. One of these genetic disorders is the defect in bilirubin conjugation in the liver caused by the reduction of the enzyme for conjugating bilirubin and glucoronic. This condition is referred to as Gilbert's syndrome.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and the sclera or whites of the eyes. It is not a disease but only a sign to many other different diseases. Jaundice is caused by the high level of chemical bilirubin in the blood. Depending on the level of the chemical, the yellow pigmentation of the skin and the sclera may vary. When it is too high, it could appear as brown and not yellow.
Causes of Jaundice
The high level of bilirubin is the main cause of jaundice. However, it is better that we are able to understand how this chemical component of the blood is being released. The red blood cells are the ones responsible with the bilirubin. When these cells get old, they are naturally destroyed. Since the blood cells are the carriers of iron-content called hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood, this chemical is released from the destroyed cells. When the iron is removed, the remaining chemical content is called bilirubin.
Moreover, the liver has also a very important function in developing jaundice. The liver is tasked to remove waste from the body specifically in the blood stream. As discussed above, bilirubin is a waste product of destroyed red blood cells. The liver should be removing the bilirubin from the blood and excrete it through the feces.
Jaundice occurs when there is too many red blood cells destroyed and its waste product is too much for the liver to remove. Also, when the liver malfunctions and is not fit to remove the bilirubin in the blood, thus it accumulates in the blood. Lastly, blockage in the bile ducts that cause the flow of the bile and bilirubin to decrease.
Jaundice Causing Problems
Jaundice is only a symptom to more serious ailments. Jaundice or cholestasis causes other problems other than the yellowing of the skin and the sclera of the eye. The stool could also become pale in color when bilirubin is absent or become too brownish because of too much bilirubin. The urine is also affected as its color could also become dark yellow or brownish.
Jaundice , other than the coloring, is frequently associated with itching called pruritus. This condition can sometimes become severe that the patient could not scratch their skin. Others could have trouble sleeping. When the jaundice is caused by liver disease, the patient could experience fatigue, swelling of ankles, muscle wasting, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, bleeding in to intestine and worse, coma. When the blockage of the bile ducts is causing the jaundice, it can be concluded that there is not bile entering the intestine. Bile is necessary in the digestion of fat and releasing vitamins within the small intestines.
Other Diseases and Factors that Cause Jaundice
There are many drugs that can cause jaundice. Some drugs could leave the liver an inflammation or hepatitis almost similar to hepatitis caused by virus. Still other drugs could affect the bile ducts and also leave them inflamed. The only treatment to this kind of condition is to discontinue usage of such drugs. However, it would still take a few weeks before the bilirubin is back to its normal level.
Another factor is genetic disorders. One of these genetic disorders is the defect in bilirubin conjugation in the liver caused by the reduction of the enzyme for conjugating bilirubin and glucoronic. This condition is referred to as Gilbert's syndrome.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Symptoms And Factors For Jaundice Causes
It doesn't matter if it's a disease of the liver of a gall bladder affection, jaundice is the main symptom. If one notices that his skin color becomes jaundiced he can almost be sure he has an issue with his gall bladder or liver. The eyes also get an yellow color, instead of the characteristic white. The jaundice appears because the old blood isn't filtered out correctly. If the jaundice appears with flu like symptoms together then a medical control is required because it may be a result of hepatitis or serious damage taken by the gall bladder.
In the Asian medicine Jaundice is splitted in two types, the Yin Jaundice and the Yang Jaundice. The first one is mainly characterized by the whole body being colored in a vivid yellow, thirst, coloring of the tongue (yellow). The second, the Yin jaundice turns the face, the eyes, and the skin slightly grey. Yin jaundice produces low fever, nausea, no appetite and palpitations.
If you constantly have a bad appetite then you should consider having some medical test because this is one of the symptoms of liver disease. This will lead to decreasing of body weight and a not balanced metabolism that will lead to an unusual, unhealthy quantity of carbohydrates and fat in the blood. Another result of this symptom is anemia. This is the most severe consequence of a bad appetite. If a person developed anemia it is very possible that he will develop a disease in the liver cells (hepatocytes). Vomiting and nausea will appear, and in the vomit there are big chances that blood will be found. Ulcers have an increased risk rate if anemia is left untreated.
If you notice that your stool is too light colored then this may happen because the quantity of bile produced is too small. If this happens constantly then you can be sure that you have some liver or gall bladder issues. Bile isn't secreted in the right amounts or it won't reach the intestines because of the stones that may block the way.
Another common symptom is polyuria, also known as excessive urinating. This symptom appears at more than just this disease. A consequence of polyuria is polydypsia that is excessive thirst.
Other symptoms that may appear are strokes, depressions, spasms, allergies, seizures, colored yes (red, yellow) and mood swings (irritability.)
In the Asian medicine Jaundice is splitted in two types, the Yin Jaundice and the Yang Jaundice. The first one is mainly characterized by the whole body being colored in a vivid yellow, thirst, coloring of the tongue (yellow). The second, the Yin jaundice turns the face, the eyes, and the skin slightly grey. Yin jaundice produces low fever, nausea, no appetite and palpitations.
If you constantly have a bad appetite then you should consider having some medical test because this is one of the symptoms of liver disease. This will lead to decreasing of body weight and a not balanced metabolism that will lead to an unusual, unhealthy quantity of carbohydrates and fat in the blood. Another result of this symptom is anemia. This is the most severe consequence of a bad appetite. If a person developed anemia it is very possible that he will develop a disease in the liver cells (hepatocytes). Vomiting and nausea will appear, and in the vomit there are big chances that blood will be found. Ulcers have an increased risk rate if anemia is left untreated.
If you notice that your stool is too light colored then this may happen because the quantity of bile produced is too small. If this happens constantly then you can be sure that you have some liver or gall bladder issues. Bile isn't secreted in the right amounts or it won't reach the intestines because of the stones that may block the way.
Another common symptom is polyuria, also known as excessive urinating. This symptom appears at more than just this disease. A consequence of polyuria is polydypsia that is excessive thirst.
Other symptoms that may appear are strokes, depressions, spasms, allergies, seizures, colored yes (red, yellow) and mood swings (irritability.)
Factors For The Cause Of Jaundice
Jaundice is Yellowish
Not all that is yellow is good for the eyesight. Not all that seemed to be pale and yellow is anemia. So what it could be? Jaundice is also yellowish.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and the sclera or whites of the eyes. It is not a disease but only a sign to many other different diseases. Jaundice is caused by the high level of chemical bilirubin in the blood. Depending on the level of the chemical, the yellow pigmentation of the skin and the sclera may vary. When it is too high, it could appear as brown and not yellow.
Causes of Jaundice
The high level of bilirubin is the main cause of jaundice. However, it is better that we are able to understand how this chemical component of the blood is being released. The red blood cells are the ones responsible with the bilirubin. When these cells get old, they are naturally destroyed. Since the blood cells are the carriers of iron-content called hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood, this chemical is released from the destroyed cells. When the iron is removed, the remaining chemical content is called bilirubin.
Moreover, the liver has also a very important function in developing jaundice. The liver is tasked to remove waste from the body specifically in the blood stream. As discussed above, bilirubin is a waste product of destroyed red blood cells. The liver should be removing the bilirubin from the blood and excrete it through the feces.
Jaundice occurs when there is too many red blood cells destroyed and its waste product is too much for the liver to remove. Also, when the liver malfunctions and is not fit to remove the bilirubin in the blood, thus it accumulates in the blood. Lastly, blockage in the bile ducts that cause the flow of the bile and bilirubin to decrease.
Jaundice Causing Problems
Jaundice is only a symptom to more serious ailments. Jaundice or cholestasis causes other problems other than the yellowing of the skin and the sclera of the eye. The stool could also become pale in color when bilirubin is absent or become too brownish because of too much bilirubin. The urine is also affected as its color could also become dark yellow or brownish.
Jaundice , other than the coloring, is frequently associated with itching called pruritus. This condition can sometimes become severe that the patient could not scratch their skin. Others could have trouble sleeping. When the jaundice is caused by liver disease, the patient could experience fatigue, swelling of ankles, muscle wasting, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, bleeding in to intestine and worse, coma. When the blockage of the bile ducts is causing the jaundice, it can be concluded that there is not bile entering the intestine. Bile is necessary in the digestion of fat and releasing vitamins within the small intestines.
Other Diseases and Factors that Cause Jaundice
There are many drugs that can cause jaundice. Some drugs could leave the liver an inflammation or hepatitis almost similar to hepatitis caused by virus. Still other drugs could affect the bile ducts and also leave them inflamed. The only treatment to this kind of condition is to discontinue usage of such drugs. However, it would still take a few weeks before the bilirubin is back to its normal level.
Another factor is genetic disorders. One of these genetic disorders is the defect in bilirubin conjugation in the liver caused by the reduction of the enzyme for conjugating bilirubin and glucoronic. This condition is referred to as Gilbert's syndrome.
Not all that is yellow is good for the eyesight. Not all that seemed to be pale and yellow is anemia. So what it could be? Jaundice is also yellowish.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and the sclera or whites of the eyes. It is not a disease but only a sign to many other different diseases. Jaundice is caused by the high level of chemical bilirubin in the blood. Depending on the level of the chemical, the yellow pigmentation of the skin and the sclera may vary. When it is too high, it could appear as brown and not yellow.
Causes of Jaundice
The high level of bilirubin is the main cause of jaundice. However, it is better that we are able to understand how this chemical component of the blood is being released. The red blood cells are the ones responsible with the bilirubin. When these cells get old, they are naturally destroyed. Since the blood cells are the carriers of iron-content called hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood, this chemical is released from the destroyed cells. When the iron is removed, the remaining chemical content is called bilirubin.
Moreover, the liver has also a very important function in developing jaundice. The liver is tasked to remove waste from the body specifically in the blood stream. As discussed above, bilirubin is a waste product of destroyed red blood cells. The liver should be removing the bilirubin from the blood and excrete it through the feces.
Jaundice occurs when there is too many red blood cells destroyed and its waste product is too much for the liver to remove. Also, when the liver malfunctions and is not fit to remove the bilirubin in the blood, thus it accumulates in the blood. Lastly, blockage in the bile ducts that cause the flow of the bile and bilirubin to decrease.
Jaundice Causing Problems
Jaundice is only a symptom to more serious ailments. Jaundice or cholestasis causes other problems other than the yellowing of the skin and the sclera of the eye. The stool could also become pale in color when bilirubin is absent or become too brownish because of too much bilirubin. The urine is also affected as its color could also become dark yellow or brownish.
Jaundice , other than the coloring, is frequently associated with itching called pruritus. This condition can sometimes become severe that the patient could not scratch their skin. Others could have trouble sleeping. When the jaundice is caused by liver disease, the patient could experience fatigue, swelling of ankles, muscle wasting, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, bleeding in to intestine and worse, coma. When the blockage of the bile ducts is causing the jaundice, it can be concluded that there is not bile entering the intestine. Bile is necessary in the digestion of fat and releasing vitamins within the small intestines.
Other Diseases and Factors that Cause Jaundice
There are many drugs that can cause jaundice. Some drugs could leave the liver an inflammation or hepatitis almost similar to hepatitis caused by virus. Still other drugs could affect the bile ducts and also leave them inflamed. The only treatment to this kind of condition is to discontinue usage of such drugs. However, it would still take a few weeks before the bilirubin is back to its normal level.
Another factor is genetic disorders. One of these genetic disorders is the defect in bilirubin conjugation in the liver caused by the reduction of the enzyme for conjugating bilirubin and glucoronic. This condition is referred to as Gilbert's syndrome.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Prevention To Keep Jaundice Away
This is a most important subject for me, so I like to be thorough. Before writing this article I wanted to know exactly how "prevention" is defined. My Webster Dictionary tells me this: "'prevention' is to keep something from happening, or to make something impossible to happen by prior action." That's pretty forthcoming and suggests that pro-action is required to achieve a desired result.
With that in mind, let's talk about prevention in the arena of health and wellness. That's my passion and that's what I want to communicate to you. The question you may ask is "you mean I can prevent, say, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer or any other ailment in spite of the fact that we live in a polluted environment and often practice unhealthy eating habits?"
The answer lies in your understanding of how our bodies work and in your motivation to be proactive in maintaining your health. Think about this: what would you like better, checking into the best and plushest hospital to be treated for a disease, or walk the beaches of this world and play with your grandchildren and loved ones? If you choose the way I do, the answer is yes, you can; you can act now to prevent damage later! Qualifying that, I would have to admit there are no guarantees, but you definitely can reduce your risks considerably!
You no doubt have heard the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Many a sick person would attest to that and wish they had exercised their responsibility and taken better care of their health before disease manifested.
When, then, is the best time to focus on prevention? Anytime is a good time, but the earlier, the better. Starting in the womb would be ideal, but for most of us it's too late for that now. Actually, the best time is when you are well, active and feeling just fine. That's when you are probably least inspired to be thinking about your health. Yet, when you understand the 4 phases of the disease progression, the logic of it will be evident.
* In phase #1 the disease process begins silently in your body while you don't notice, say, the arteriosclerotic build-up that can later lead to heart attack or stroke, or the cancer cells that are replicating with the wrong DNA formula.
* During phase #2 the disease can be diagnosed if your doctor is looking for it; whereas in
* phase #3 you may begin to feel the symptoms of a disease. Up to then you may have thought yourself to be healthy, because you felt fine. By the time you feel the symptoms, it's already too late for prevention; then you need to focus on treatment, and that's much harder to do.
* Finally in phase 4 the disease is severe and potentially fatal.
Get the picture?
How hard is prevention? Well, that depends on you - how hard do you want to make it? There are many things you can do and some things you better forget about. You pretty much know the drill: smoking is out, heavy drinking you better forget about as well. Much is written about how you can improve your lifestyle to support prevention of unwanted disease. You pretty much know about nutrition which includes thoughtful nutritional supplementation, of course, but also how you deal with stress, the quality of sleep you are getting, your exercise, your emotional outlook on life.
This and many other aspects matter. Again, life doesn't give us guarantees, but if you set your mind on prevention NOW, chances are very good that you end up on the playgrounds of your Golden Years with your grandchildren or your golf buddies instead of some fine hospital.
With that in mind, let's talk about prevention in the arena of health and wellness. That's my passion and that's what I want to communicate to you. The question you may ask is "you mean I can prevent, say, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer or any other ailment in spite of the fact that we live in a polluted environment and often practice unhealthy eating habits?"
The answer lies in your understanding of how our bodies work and in your motivation to be proactive in maintaining your health. Think about this: what would you like better, checking into the best and plushest hospital to be treated for a disease, or walk the beaches of this world and play with your grandchildren and loved ones? If you choose the way I do, the answer is yes, you can; you can act now to prevent damage later! Qualifying that, I would have to admit there are no guarantees, but you definitely can reduce your risks considerably!
You no doubt have heard the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Many a sick person would attest to that and wish they had exercised their responsibility and taken better care of their health before disease manifested.
When, then, is the best time to focus on prevention? Anytime is a good time, but the earlier, the better. Starting in the womb would be ideal, but for most of us it's too late for that now. Actually, the best time is when you are well, active and feeling just fine. That's when you are probably least inspired to be thinking about your health. Yet, when you understand the 4 phases of the disease progression, the logic of it will be evident.
* In phase #1 the disease process begins silently in your body while you don't notice, say, the arteriosclerotic build-up that can later lead to heart attack or stroke, or the cancer cells that are replicating with the wrong DNA formula.
* During phase #2 the disease can be diagnosed if your doctor is looking for it; whereas in
* phase #3 you may begin to feel the symptoms of a disease. Up to then you may have thought yourself to be healthy, because you felt fine. By the time you feel the symptoms, it's already too late for prevention; then you need to focus on treatment, and that's much harder to do.
* Finally in phase 4 the disease is severe and potentially fatal.
Get the picture?
How hard is prevention? Well, that depends on you - how hard do you want to make it? There are many things you can do and some things you better forget about. You pretty much know the drill: smoking is out, heavy drinking you better forget about as well. Much is written about how you can improve your lifestyle to support prevention of unwanted disease. You pretty much know about nutrition which includes thoughtful nutritional supplementation, of course, but also how you deal with stress, the quality of sleep you are getting, your exercise, your emotional outlook on life.
This and many other aspects matter. Again, life doesn't give us guarantees, but if you set your mind on prevention NOW, chances are very good that you end up on the playgrounds of your Golden Years with your grandchildren or your golf buddies instead of some fine hospital.
Causes And Factors for Jaundice
Jaundice is Yellowish
Not all that is yellow is good for the eyesight. Not all that seemed to be pale and yellow is anemia. So what it could be? Jaundice is also yellowish.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and the sclera or whites of the eyes. It is not a disease but only a sign to many other different diseases. Jaundice is caused by the high level of chemical bilirubin in the blood. Depending on the level of the chemical, the yellow pigmentation of the skin and the sclera may vary. When it is too high, it could appear as brown and not yellow.
Causes of Jaundice
The high level of bilirubin is the main cause of jaundice. However, it is better that we are able to understand how this chemical component of the blood is being released. The red blood cells are the ones responsible with the bilirubin. When these cells get old, they are naturally destroyed. Since the blood cells are the carriers of iron-content called hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood, this chemical is released from the destroyed cells. When the iron is removed, the remaining chemical content is called bilirubin.
Moreover, the liver has also a very important function in developing jaundice. The liver is tasked to remove waste from the body specifically in the blood stream. As discussed above, bilirubin is a waste product of destroyed red blood cells. The liver should be removing the bilirubin from the blood and excrete it through the feces.
Jaundice occurs when there is too many red blood cells destroyed and its waste product is too much for the liver to remove. Also, when the liver malfunctions and is not fit to remove the bilirubin in the blood, thus it accumulates in the blood. Lastly, blockage in the bile ducts that cause the flow of the bile and bilirubin to decrease.
Jaundice Causing Problems
Jaundice is only a symptom to more serious ailments. Jaundice or cholestasis causes other problems other than the yellowing of the skin and the sclera of the eye. The stool could also become pale in color when bilirubin is absent or become too brownish because of too much bilirubin. The urine is also affected as its color could also become dark yellow or brownish.
Jaundice , other than the coloring, is frequently associated with itching called pruritus. This condition can sometimes become severe that the patient could not scratch their skin. Others could have trouble sleeping. When the jaundice is caused by liver disease, the patient could experience fatigue, swelling of ankles, muscle wasting, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, bleeding in to intestine and worse, coma. When the blockage of the bile ducts is causing the jaundice, it can be concluded that there is not bile entering the intestine. Bile is necessary in the digestion of fat and releasing vitamins within the small intestines.
Other Diseases and Factors that Cause Jaundice
There are many drugs that can cause jaundice. Some drugs could leave the liver an inflammation or hepatitis almost similar to hepatitis caused by virus. Still other drugs could affect the bile ducts and also leave them inflamed. The only treatment to this kind of condition is to discontinue usage of such drugs. However, it would still take a few weeks before the bilirubin is back to its normal level.
Another factor is genetic disorders. One of these genetic disorders is the defect in bilirubin conjugation in the liver caused by the reduction of the enzyme for conjugating bilirubin and glucoronic. This condition is referred to as Gilbert's syndrome.
Not all that is yellow is good for the eyesight. Not all that seemed to be pale and yellow is anemia. So what it could be? Jaundice is also yellowish.
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and the sclera or whites of the eyes. It is not a disease but only a sign to many other different diseases. Jaundice is caused by the high level of chemical bilirubin in the blood. Depending on the level of the chemical, the yellow pigmentation of the skin and the sclera may vary. When it is too high, it could appear as brown and not yellow.
Causes of Jaundice
The high level of bilirubin is the main cause of jaundice. However, it is better that we are able to understand how this chemical component of the blood is being released. The red blood cells are the ones responsible with the bilirubin. When these cells get old, they are naturally destroyed. Since the blood cells are the carriers of iron-content called hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood, this chemical is released from the destroyed cells. When the iron is removed, the remaining chemical content is called bilirubin.
Moreover, the liver has also a very important function in developing jaundice. The liver is tasked to remove waste from the body specifically in the blood stream. As discussed above, bilirubin is a waste product of destroyed red blood cells. The liver should be removing the bilirubin from the blood and excrete it through the feces.
Jaundice occurs when there is too many red blood cells destroyed and its waste product is too much for the liver to remove. Also, when the liver malfunctions and is not fit to remove the bilirubin in the blood, thus it accumulates in the blood. Lastly, blockage in the bile ducts that cause the flow of the bile and bilirubin to decrease.
Jaundice Causing Problems
Jaundice is only a symptom to more serious ailments. Jaundice or cholestasis causes other problems other than the yellowing of the skin and the sclera of the eye. The stool could also become pale in color when bilirubin is absent or become too brownish because of too much bilirubin. The urine is also affected as its color could also become dark yellow or brownish.
Jaundice , other than the coloring, is frequently associated with itching called pruritus. This condition can sometimes become severe that the patient could not scratch their skin. Others could have trouble sleeping. When the jaundice is caused by liver disease, the patient could experience fatigue, swelling of ankles, muscle wasting, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, bleeding in to intestine and worse, coma. When the blockage of the bile ducts is causing the jaundice, it can be concluded that there is not bile entering the intestine. Bile is necessary in the digestion of fat and releasing vitamins within the small intestines.
Other Diseases and Factors that Cause Jaundice
There are many drugs that can cause jaundice. Some drugs could leave the liver an inflammation or hepatitis almost similar to hepatitis caused by virus. Still other drugs could affect the bile ducts and also leave them inflamed. The only treatment to this kind of condition is to discontinue usage of such drugs. However, it would still take a few weeks before the bilirubin is back to its normal level.
Another factor is genetic disorders. One of these genetic disorders is the defect in bilirubin conjugation in the liver caused by the reduction of the enzyme for conjugating bilirubin and glucoronic. This condition is referred to as Gilbert's syndrome.
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