Gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the lining of the stomach. It can occur suddenly (acute) or gradually (chronic).
What Causes Gastritis?

Gastritis can be caused by irritation due to excessive alcohol use, chronic vomiting, stress, or the use of certain medications such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs. It may also be caused by any of the following:

* Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): A bacteria that lives in the mucous lining of the stomach. Without treatment the infection can lead to ulcers, and in some people, stomach cancer.
* Pernicious anemia: A form of anemia that occurs when the stomach lacks a naturally occurring substance needed to properly absorb and digest vitamin B12.
* Bile reflux: A backflow of bile into the stomach from the bile tract (that connects to the liver and gallbladder).
* Infections caused by bacteria and viruses

If gastritis is left untreated, it can lead to a severe loss in blood, or in some cases increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.
What Are the Symptoms of Gastritis?

Symptoms of gastritis vary among individuals, and in many people there are no symptoms. However, the most common symptoms include:

* Nausea or recurrent upset stomach
* Abdominal bloating
* Abdominal pain
* Vomiting
* Indigestion
* Burning or gnawing feeling in the stomach between meals or at night
* Hiccups
* Loss of appetite
* Vomiting blood or coffee ground-like material
* Black, tarry stools

Source : www.webmd.com
Image : www.suplementosdesalud.com

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Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history. About 1 percent of Americans have this illness.

People with the disorder may hear voices other people don't hear. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illness and make them withdrawn or extremely agitated.

People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking. Sometimes people with schizophrenia seem perfectly fine until they talk about what they are really thinking.

Families and society are affected by schizophrenia too. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, so they rely on others for help.

Treatment helps relieve many symptoms of schizophrenia, but most people who have the disorder cope with symptoms throughout their lives. However, many people with schizophrenia can lead rewarding and meaningful lives in their communities. Researchers are developing more effective medications and using new research tools to understand the causes of schizophrenia. In the years to come, this work may help prevent and better treat the illness.

Source : www.medicinenet.com
www.huge-entity.com

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Hallucinations

Hallucinations involve sensing things that aren't there while a person is awake and conscious.
Considerations

Common hallucinations include:

* Feeling a crawling sensation on the skin
* Hearing voices when no one has spoken
* Seeing patterns, lights, beings, or objects that aren't there

Hallucinations related to smell or taste are rare.

Many recreational drugs, including drugs such as LSD and certain strong types of marijuana, may cause hallucinations. Hallucinations related to these drugs tend to involve seeing things, and may include patterns or haloes around lights. People who have such visual hallucinations after taking drugs usually know that their perception is distorted.

Hearing things (auditory hallucinations) is more common in psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia, although it may sometimes occur with high doses of cocaine, amphetamines, or other stimulants. High doses of stimulant drugs can make you feel as though there are bugs crawling on or just under the skin.

In some cases, hallucinations may be normal. For example, hearing the voice of, or briefly seeing, a loved one who has recently died can be a part of the grieving process.

www.nlm.nih.gov

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Illusion

An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people. Illusions may occur with more of the human senses than vision, but visual illusions, optical illusions, are the most well known and understood. The emphasis on visual illusions occurs because vision often dominates the other senses. For example, individuals watching a ventriloquist will perceive the voice is coming from the dummy since they are able to see the dummy mouth the words. Some illusions are based on general assumptions the brain makes during perception. These assumptions are made using organizational principles, like Gestalt, an individual's ability of depth perception and motion perception, and perceptual constancy. Other illusions occur because of biological sensory structures within the human body or conditions outside of the body within one’s physical environment.

The term illusion refers to a specific form of sensory distortion. Unlike a hallucination, which is a distortion in the absence of a stimulus, an illusion describes a misinterpretation of a true sensation. For example, hearing voices regardless of the environment would be a hallucination, whereas hearing voices in the sound of running water (or other auditory source) would be an illusion.

en.wikipedia.org
brainden.com

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Typhoid Fever

What is typhoid fever?

Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually causes a less severe illness. The bacteria are deposited in water or food by a human carrier and are then spread to other people in the area.

The incidence of typhoid fever in the United States has markedly decreased since the early 1900s. Today, less than 500 cases are reported annually in the United States, mostly in people who recently have traveled to endemic areas. This is in comparison to the 1920s, when over 35,000 cases were reported in the U.S. This improvement is the result of improved environmental sanitation. Mexico and South America are the most common areas for U.S. citizens to contract typhoid fever. India, Pakistan, and Egypt are also known high-risk areas for developing this disease. Worldwide, typhoid fever affects more than 13 million people annually, with over 500,000 patients dying of the disease.

www.medicinenet.com

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Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB)

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that mainly involves the lungs, but may spread to other organs.
Causes

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). You can get TB by breathing in air droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person. This is called primary TB.

In the United States, most people will recover from primary TB infection without further evidence of the disease. The infection may stay asleep or nonactive (dormant) for years. However, in some people it can reactivate.

Most people who develop symptoms of a TB infection first became infected in the past. However, in some cases, the disease may become active within weeks after the primary infection.

The following people are at higher risk for active TB:

* Elderly
* Infants
* People with weakened immune systems, for example due to AIDS, chemotherapy, or antirejection medicines given after an organ transplant

Your risk of contracting TB increases if you:

* Are in frequent contact with people who have the disease
* Have poor nutrition
* Live in crowded or unsanitary living conditions

The following factors may increase the rate of TB infection in a population:

* Increase in HIV infections
* Increase in number of homeless people (poor environment and nutrition)
* The appearance of drug-resistant strains of TB

In the United States, there are approximately 10 cases of TB per 100,000 people. However, rates vary dramatically by area of residence and socioeconomic class.

www.nlm.nih.gov
www.qualityhealth.com

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Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.

Causes

Many different conditions can cause abdominal pain. The key is to know when you must seek medical care right away. In many cases you can simply wait, use home care remedies, and call your doctor at a later time only if the symptoms persist.

Possible causes include:

* Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
* Bowel blockage or obstruction
* Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) with or without gallstones
* Chronic constipation
* Dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm
* Diverticulitis
* Food allergy
* Food poisoning (salmonella, shigella) or viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
* Heartburn, indigestion, or gastroesophageal reflux
* Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
* Intussusception -- while uncommon, this is a serious possible cause of pain in an infant who may be bringing the knees to the chest and crying
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Ischemic bowel
* Kidney stones
* Lactose intolerance
* Mesenteric insufficiency or infarction (lack of enough blood supply to the gut, sometimes resulting in the failure or death of part of the bowel or intestines)
* Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
* Tumors or cancers
* Ulcers
* Urinary tract infections

www.nlm.nih.gov
medicalimages.allrefer.com

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Asthma

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. Your airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways become sore and swollen. That makes them very sensitive, and they may react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When your airways react, they get narrower and your lungs get less air. This can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night.


Asthma - CAUSE

According to the etiology, bronchial asthma is divided in the following groups:

1. Allergic (extrinsic/ atopic) - This type of asthma usually starts in childhood and is often preceded by eczema. But most of the young adults (<35 yrs) developing asthma also fall in this category. Genetic factors also play a significant role i this. In this type of asthma the allergen leads to production of excessive (IgE) immunoglobulins.

2. Infective or Intrinsic - This is not hereditary or allergic, but may be caused by, or at least associated with upper respiratory tract or bronchial infection which is usually viral.

3. Psychological factors (like anxiety, emotional stress etc) are often considered to be the sole cause of some asthmatic attacks, but it is still not certain whether it can be the sole cause or is only a precipitating factor.

4. Occupational asthma - This can occur in certain industries in which there is exposure to metallic dusts (esp. platinum salts), biological detergents, toluene diisocyanate, polyurethane, flour and dust from grains etc.

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H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

Swine flu is an infection caused by a virus. It's named for a virus that pigs can get. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

There are antiviral medicines you can take to prevent or treat swine flu. There is a vaccine available to protect against swine flu. You can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by

* Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.
* Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
* Trying to avoid close contact with sick people.
* Staying home from work or school if you are sick.

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Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite, Plasmodium, which infects red blood cells. Malaria is characterized by cycles of chills, fever, pain and sweating. Historical records suggest malaria has infected humans since the beginning of mankind. The name "mal 'aria" (meaning "bad air" in Italian) was first used in English in 1740 by H. Walpole when describing the disease. The term was shortened to "malaria" in the 20th century. C. Laveran in 1880 was the first to identify the parasites in human blood. In 1889, R. Ross discovered that mosquitoes transmitted malaria. Of the four species of malaria, the most serious type is Plasmodium falciparum malaria. It can be life-threatening. The other three species of malaria (P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale) are generally less serious and are not life-threatening.

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Kidney Diseases

Kidney Diseases

Also called: Renal disease

Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fists. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney about a million tiny structures called nephrons filter blood. They remove waste products and extra water, which become urine. The urine flows through tubes called ureters to your bladder, which stores the urine until you go to the bathroom.

Damage to the nephrons results in kidney disease. This damage may leave kidneys unable to remove wastes. Usually the damage occurs slowly over years. There are no obvious symptoms, so you don't know it is happening.

Many things can cause kidney disease. You are at risk if you have

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• A close family member with kidney disease

Your doctor can run tests to find out if you have kidney disease. If your kidneys fail completely, a kidney transplant or dialysis can replace the work your kidneys normally do.

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Kidney Failure

Kidney Failure

Also called: End-stage renal disease, ESRD, Renal failure

Healthy kidneys clean your blood by removing excess fluid, minerals and wastes. They also make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. But if the kidneys are damaged, they don't work properly. Harmful wastes can build up in your body. Your blood pressure may rise. Your body may retain excess fluid and not make enough red blood cells. This is called kidney failure.

If your kidneys fail, you need treatment to replace the work they normally do. The treatment options are dialysis or a kidney transplant. Each treatment has benefits and drawbacks. No matter which treatment you choose, you'll need to make some changes in your life, including how you eat and plan your activities. But with the help of healthcare providers, family and friends, most people with kidney failure can lead full and active lives.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

www.nlm.nih.gov

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Kulit Halus Berkat Kepompong

Si lonjong putih ini bukan sembarang kepompong. Ia bisa membuat kulit lembut, layaknya kain sutra. Penasaran?

Kepompong ulat sutra yang datang dari Negeri Gajah Putih konon berkhasiat melembutkan kulit wajah. Efektif, karena mengandung anti bakteri dan protein. Kepompong ulat sutera juga ramah terhadap kulit, karena memiliki pH yang hampir sama dengan kulit manusia.

Dikarenakan banyak manfaatnya, kini Anda bisa mencoba totok herbal kepompong. Metode perawatannya adalah scrubbing dengan kepompong ulat sutra yang dipadukan dengan totok, kompres, dan masker.

Tertarik mencobanya?

Langkah-Langkah:

1. Bersihkan wajah dengan susu pembersih.
2. Sebelumnya, kepompong direndam dengan air hangat selama tiga menit. Setelah itu, kepompong digosok lembut pada wajah dan leher. Halusnya kulit langsung terasa, lho!
3. Lanjutkan dengan totok wajah yang merupakan tradisi pengobatan Cina. Sentuhan pada titik-titik akunpuntur, dipercaya melancarkan peredaran darah. Sehingga wajah tampak lebih cerah.
4. Badan yang selama ini bekerja keras pun tak dilupakan begitu saja. Sekujur badan akan dipijat dan dikompres dengan ramuan yang terdiri dari bangle, lengkuas, jahe, kulit jeruk, jeruk, dan bahan tradisional lainnya.
5. Ramuan ini disimpan dalam buntelan kain putih yang sebelumnya telah dipanaskan. Pijatannya sungguh nyaman dan membuat pernafasan lebih lega, begitu menyentuh punggung, pinggang, dll. Untuk wajah, sengaja dibuat buntelan berukuran kecil. Rasanya, hmm, sungguh menenangkan.
6. Terakhir, masker aromaterapi agar rileks senantiasa.

Sumber: tabloidnova.com

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