Author Archive

Cataracts

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

cataractDEFINITION

Cataract is the loss of lens transparency. The lens is a transparent lens that we have behind the pupil and that helps us focus on objects clearly. For a variety of conditions, diseases or more frequently due to the passage of time, the lens may be losing its natural transparency and become opaque lens. So a cataract is more or less advanced depending on whether the decline is greater or lesser transparency. The greater the loss of lens transparency (or more advanced is the waterfall) the greater the decrease in vision.

CAUSES

* Advanced age
* Diabetes
* Infection or eye trauma
* Familial tendency

Cataracts are a normal part of aging. The greater the person, the greater the probability of occurrence and progression of cataracts. But there are times when the falls are at earlier ages, especially in people with certain diseases like diabetes and high myopia intraocular inflammation among others. Cataracts can also occur after ocular trauma or in families predisposed. Nearly three in four people over age 75 suffer from cataracts, most people with cataracts have them in both eyes. However, one eye may be worse than the other because each cataract develops at different rates.

(more…)

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Cataracts | No Comments »

Anemia

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

anemia

Anemia: What is it?

Anemia is a common health problem characterized by a lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin. The main symptoms of anemia are fatigue, paleness and breathlessness increased effort.

Those most affected by anemia are women who have heavy periods, people who eat poorly, infants and young children. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of world population suffers from anémie1.

Symptoms of anemia due to depletion of tissue oxygen. Red blood cells are cells found in blood. They contain mostly hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is composed of protein (globin) and a pigment (heme) that gives red blood. The fixed iron pigment that transports oxygen from the lungs to the cells. Oxygen is essential for cells that produce energy. The pigment bound to oxygen is colored red vermilion: the arterial blood. Hemoglobin also transports carbon dioxide from cells into the lungs. It becomes purplish red: the venous blood.

Causes

Anemia can be of various origins:
* Anything that decreases the production of red blood cells (such as kidney disease or a deficiency of iron or certain vitamins) or accelerates the pace of destruction;
* Bleeding, that is to say, a significant loss of blood outside the circulatory system. Blood loss may occur acutely, then a short period of time, or chronic, with small losses over a long period.
(more…)

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Anemia | No Comments »

Insomnia

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

insomnia

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep, or waking up too early, or simply wake up with the impression of not having a good sleep. The consideration for people suffering from insomnia is different for each patient, and varies between cultures, so it is not possible to define normal sleep in a manner acceptable to different people and populations. What each considered normal in quantity and quality of sleep is very variable.

Why did it happen?
Insomnia may be due to the effects of substances, drugs or toxic or organic disease, a mental disorder, a related sleep disorder breathing (sleep apnea), neurological injury or abnormal sleep situations , such as sleepwalking or sleep terrors in children. In these cases, it is called secondary insomnia. There is talk of primary insomnia when it is associated to another cause, treatment or illness. The description of the night insomnia include discomfort at not being able to sleep satisfactorily, and also the consequences for daytime activity: irritability, poor concentration, drowsiness. There may be a deterioration in social, occupational, or other areas of life of people. In turn, the insomnia itself can cause other illnesses such as depression or headache.

What are the symptoms?
Insomnia is more common in women, and becomes more common as age increases. Subsequent daily activity to cause fatigue, difficulty concentrating and reduced performance, both physically and intellectually. It is often accompanied by other symptoms such as:
* Nervousness, tension, anxiety. Personal concerns, household, social relations bedtime.
* Previous history of depression, obsessive or compulsive traits, or other type relevant psychopathological symptoms.
* Symptoms of restless legs or other automatic movements.
* Changes in the usual hours of sleep and wake.
* Snoring or other symptoms of sleep apnea.
* Symptoms or history of abusing alcohol or other intoxicants.
* Current medications (diuretics, antihypertensives).
* Other diseases.
* Environmental conditions: noise, excessive temperature or cold.
* Dietary habits (consumption of coffee, alcohol), especially at dinner.
* Making excessive exercise during the day.
* Labor intensive or stressful activity.
(more…)

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Insomnia | 1 Comment »

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

fatigue

Definition

Clinical entity controversial multi-disease symptoms are not recognized by some medical teams. It is characterized by prolonged fatigue, lasting more than six months, which occurs without reason and that is not improved by rest. The syndrome now called chronic fatigue is a condition characterized by fatigue particularly intense and accompanied by exhaustion, during which the patient complains of various physical and psychological complaints specifically neuropsychological. Usually the chronic fatigue syndrome is confused with that of fibromyalgia but we shall see that there are some essential differences.

Overall patients affected by chronic fatigue are two times more often women than men and rather young while preferentially on fibromyalgia seems he patient a little older although fibromyalgia is also described in the adolescent.

If, in general the medical establishment defines chronic fatigue as a trivial symptom characterized by the onset of fatigue and exhaustion, it seems that the reality of chronic fatigue syndrome, which would cover between 150 to 350 people per 100 000 people in industrialized countries is more complex with more defined causes (especially infectious) that would better differentiate the syndrome of fibromyalgia. They are mainly women between 30 and 50 who are affected by this syndrome.

It seems that chronic fatigue syndrome is comparable to what the ancients called neurasthenia, effort syndrome, the neuromyasthénie epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, hypoglycemia, chronic candidiasis, the hyperventilation syndrome, fumes, chronic mononucleosis, infection with Epstein Barr syndrome, post-viral fatigue etc.

(more…)

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Definition | 1 Comment »

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Chronic fatigue syndrome: what is it?

The myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome is a mysterious disease: it is not clear what the cause or what would be cured. Considered a neurological disease, it often appears so acute, causing a rapid and substantial deterioration of health. (more…)

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | No Comments »