Running a high fever and having headaches are two different symptoms that can be shrugged off when seen separately. However, severe headache with fever may just be a sign of something more serious. While such an eventuality need not necessarily mean a life-threatening illness, it is imperative that you visit a specialist at the earliest for a proper diagnosis and course of treatment.
“Headaches may be a cause for concern when accompanied by a fever, besides being a sign of some serious infection. This infection could be localised to the brain and/or spinal cord. For instance, meningitis, encephalitis or a brain abscess,” says Dr Haresh Tolia, a Delhi-based general physician who consults for medical app Lybrate.
“Apart from this, flu or other systemic or whole-body infections can also lead to headache and fever. Other possible health conditions are bleeding or a tumour in the brain. In most cases, these could be symptoms of some run-of-the-mill viral infection that needs to run its course before subsiding,” adds Dr Tolia.
So, what should one do when experiencing a fever headache? “Do not ignore any headache with high or low-grade fever. Consult a doctor to rule out any underlying health issues. It can be simple dengue fever, chikungunya, malaria, acute sinusitis or flu, or serious brain fevers like meningitis or encephalitis. The red flags are altered mental status, vomiting and neck stiffness,” explains Dr K K Aggarwal, national president of the Indian Medical Association.
Dr Aggarwal suggests certain precautions (and home remedies) for those suffering from a fever headache.
1. Paracetamol can provide relief from pain and aches, besides fever.
2. Wet a piece of cloth and dab it at regular intervals on the forehead, arms and legs. This can help bring down fever.
3. Do not overheat yourself. Remove any extra piece of clothing. Overheating can cause the body temperature to rise and make symptoms worse.
4. Eat healthy foods. You can even opt for soups and other liquid foods to make you feel better.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-27 11:25:092020-07-27 11:25:09Severe headache with fever? It could be a symptom of viral infection
Because your kidneys are located toward your back and underneath your ribcage, it may be hard to tell if pain you may be experiencing in that area is coming from your back or your kidney.
The symptoms you’re having can help you figure out which is the source of the pain. The location, type, and severity of the pain are some of the things that will be different depending on whether the pain is from a problem in your kidneys or your back.
How to identify kidney pain
Kidney pain is most often caused by a kidney infection or a stone in the tubes coming out of your kidney. If the pain is coming from your kidney, it will have these features:
Where the pain is located
Kidney pain is felt in your flank, which is the area on either side of your spine between the bottom of your ribcage and your hips. It usually occurs in one side of your body, but it can occur in both sides.
Type of pain
Kidney pain is usually sharp if you have a kidney stone and a dull ache if you have an infection. Most often it will be constant. It won’t get worse with movement or go away by itself without treatment.If you’re passing a kidney stone, the pain may fluctuate as the stone moves.
Radiation of the pain
Sometimes the pain spreads (radiates) to your inner thigh or lower abdomen.
Severity of the pain
Kidney pain is classified according to how bad it is — severe or mild. A kidney stone usually causes severe pain, and the pain from an infection is usually mild.Things that make it better or worse
Typically, nothing makes the pain better until the problem is corrected, such as by passing the stone. Unlike back pain, it usually won’t change with movement.
Accompanying symptoms
If you have a kidney infection or a kidney stone, you may also experience:
small kidney stones that look like gravel in your urine
How to identify back pain
Back pain is more common than kidney pain and is usually caused by a problem in the muscles, bones, or nerves in your back. Back pain has the following features:
Where the pain is located
Back pain can occur anywhere on your back, but it’s most commonly located in your lower back or one of your buttocks.
Type of pain
Muscle pain feels like a dull ache. If a nerve has been injured or irritated, the pain is a sharp burning sensation that may travel down your buttock to your lower leg or even your foot.
Muscle pain may affect one or both sides, but nerve pain usually only affects one side.
Radiation of the pain
Nerve pain may spread to your lower leg. Pain from a muscle usually stays in the back.Severity of the pain
Back pain is described as acute or chronic based on how long you’ve had it. Acute pain lasts days to weeks, subacute pain lasts six weeks to three months, and chronic pain lasts longer than three months.
Things that make it better or worse
Back pain may get worse with movement or if you sit or stand for a long time. It may get better if you switch positions or walk around.
Accompanying symptoms
Other symptoms you may experience with back pain include:
the painful spot looking swollen and feeling tender to the touch
a muscle spasm in the painful area
numbness or weakness in one or both of your legs (if the pain is due to a nerve issue)
If you find you have back pain and can’t hold your urine or bowel movements, something is pressing on your spinal nerves, and you should be evaluated immediately. This condition, called cauda equina syndrome, can cause severe long-term damage to your spinal nerves if not treated right away.
When to see a doctor
Once you’ve determined whether your pain is coming from your back or your kidneys, consider seeing your doctor for evaluation and treatment. You should always be seen if you think you have a kidney infection or kidney stone.
You might be able to treat acute back pain that is mild without seeing your doctor, but if it doesn’t get better, is more than mild pain, or spreads, you should see your doctor.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-25 13:07:282020-07-25 13:07:28Kidney Pain vs. Back Pain: How to Tell the Difference
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. It can lead to severe complications and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death. Blood Pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels. The pressure depends on the work being done by the heart and the resistance of the blood vessels.
Medical guidelines define hypertension as a blood pressure higher than 130 over 80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), according to guidelines issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) in November 2017.
Around 85 million people in the United States have High Blood Pressure.
Hypertension and Heart Deseases are global health concerns. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that the growth of the processed food industry has impacted the amount of salt in diets worldwide, and that this plays a role in hypertension.
Fast facts on hypertension:
Here are some key points about hypertension. More detail is in the main article.
Normal blood pressure is 120 over 80 mm of mercury (mmHg), but hypertension is higher than 130 over 80 mmHg.
Acute causes of high blood pressure include stress, but it can happen on its own, or it can result from an underlying condition, such as kidney disease.
Unmanaged hypertension can lead to a heart attack, stroke and other problems.
Lifestyle factors are the best way to address high blood pressure.
Stress reduction
Avoiding stress, or developing strategies for managing unavoidable stress, can help with blood pressure control. Using alcohol, drugs, smoking, and unhealthy eating to cope with stress will add to hypertensive problems. These should be avoided. Smoking can raise blood pressure. Giving up smoking reduces the risk of hypertension, heart conditions, and other health issues.
Medications
People with blood pressure higher than 130 over 80 may use medication to treat hypertension. Drugs are usually started one at a time at a low dose. Side effects associated with antihypertensive drugs are usually minor. Eventually, a combination of at least two antihypertensive drugs is usually required.
A range of drug types are available to help lower blood pressure, including:
diuretics, including thiazides, chlorthalidone, and indapamide
brta-blockers and alpha-blockers
calcium-channel blockers
central agonists
peripheral adrenergic inhibitor
vasodilators
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
angiotensin receptor blockers
The choice of drug depends on the individual and any other conditions they may have. Anyone taking antihypertensive medications should be sure to carefully read labels, especially before taking any over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as decongestants. These may interact with medications used to lower blood pressure.
Causes
The cause of hypertension is often not known. Around 1 in every 20 cases of hypertension is the effect of an underlying condition or medication. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a common cause of high blood pressure because the kidneys do not filter out fluid. This fluid excess leads to hypertension.
Risk factors
A number of risk factors increase the chances of having hypertension.
Age: Hypertension is more common in people aged over 60 years. With age, blood pressure can increase steadily as the arteries become stiffer and narrower due to plaque build-up.
Ethnicity: Some ethnic groups are more prone to hypertension.
Size and weight: Being overweight or obese is a key risk factor.
Alcohol and tobacco use: Consuming large amounts of alcohol regularly can increase a person’s blood pressure, as can smoking tobacco.
Sex: The lifetime risk is the same for males and females, but men are more prone to hypertension at a younger age. The prevalence tends to be higher in older women.
Existing health conditions: Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and high cholesterol levels can lead to hypertension, especially as people get older.
Other contributing factors include:
physical inactivity
a salt-rich diet associated with processed and fatty foods
low potassium in the diet
Alcohol and tobacco usecertain diseases and medications
A family history of high blood pressure and poorly managed stress can also contribute.
Signs
Blood pressure can be measured by a sphygmomanometer, or blood pressure monitor. Having high blood pressure for a short time can be a normal response to many situations. Acute stress and intense exercise, for example, can briefly elevate blood pressure in a healthy person. For this reason, a diagnosis of hypertension normally requires several readings that show high blood pressure over time.
The systolic reading of 130 mmHg refers to the pressure as the heart pumps blood around the body. The diastolic reading of 80 mmHg refers to the pressure as the heart relaxes and refills with blood.
Symptoms
A person with hypertension may not notice any symptoms, and it is often called the “silent killer.” While undetected, it can casue damage to the cardiovascular system and internal organs, such as the kidneys.
Regularly checking your blood pressure is vital, as there will usually be no symptoms to make you aware of the condition.
It is maintained that high blood pressure causes sweating, anxiety, sleeping problems, and blushing. However, in most cases, there will be no symptoms at all.
If blood pressure reaches the level of a hypertensive crisis, a person may experience headache and nosebleeds.
Complications
Long-term hypertension can cause complications through atherosclerosis, where the formation of plaque results in the narrowing of blood vessels. This makes hypertension worse, as the heart must pump harder to deliver blood to the body.
Hypertension-related atherosclerosis can lead to:
Heart failure and heart attacks
an aneurysm or an abnormal bulge in the wall of an artery that can burst, causing severe bleeding and, in some cases, death
kidney failure
stroke
amputation
hypertensive retinopathies in the eye, which can lead to blindness
Regular blood pressure testing can help people avoid the more severe complications.
Diet
Some types of hypertension can be managed through lifestyle and dietary choices, such as engaging in physical activity, reducing alcohol and tobacco use, and avoiding a high-sodium diet.
Reducing the amount of salt
Average salt intake is between 9 grams (g) and 12 g per day in most countries around the world.
Reducing the amount of salt : Average salt intake is between 9 grams (g) and 12 g per day in most countries around the world. The WHO recommends reducing intake to less than 5gm a day, to help decrease the risk of hypertension and related health problems.
Moderating alcohol consumption
Moderate to excessive alcohol consumption is linked to raised blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke.The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend a maximum of two drinks a day for men, and one for women.
The following would count as one drink:
12 ounce (oz.) bottle of beer
4 oz. of wine
5 oz. of 80-proof spirits
1 oz. of 100-proof spirits
A healthcare provider can help people who find it difficult to cut back.
Eating more fruit and vegetables and less fat
People who have or who are at risk of high blood pressure are advised to eat as little saturated and total fat as possible.
Recommended instead are:
whole-grain, high-fiber foods
a variety of fruit and vegetables
beans, pulses, and nuts
omega-3-rich fish twice a week
non-tropical vegetable oils, for example, olive oil
skinless poultry and fish
low-fat dairy products
It is important to avoid trans-fats, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and animal fats, and to eat portions of moderate size.
Managing body weight
Hypertension is closely related to excess body weight, and weight reduction is normally followed by a fall in blood pressure. A healthy, balanced diet with a calorie intake that matches the individual’s size, sex, and activity level will help.
The DASH diet
The U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends the DASH diet for people with high blood pressure. DASH, or “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension,” has been specially designed to help people lower their blood pressure.
It is a flexible and balanced eating plan based on research studies sponsored by the Institute, which says that the diet:
lowers high blood pressure
improves levels of fats in the bloodstream
reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-25 12:58:342020-07-25 12:58:34Everything you need to know about hypertension
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. Compared with other diseases caused by a single infectious agent, tuberculosis is the second biggest killer, globally.
Fast facts on tuberculosis
Here are some key points about tuberculosis. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.
The World Health Organization estimates that 9 million people a year get sick with TB, with 3 million of these “missed” by health systems
TB is among the top 3 causes of death for women aged 15 to 44
TB symptoms (cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, etc.) may be mild for many months, and people ill with TB can infect up to 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of a year
TB is an airborne pathogen, meaning that the bacteria that cause TB can spread through the air from person to person
Types of TB:
Latent TB – the bacteria remain in the body in an inactive state. They cause no symptoms and are not contagious, but they can become active.
Active TB – the bacteria do cause symptoms and can be transmitted to others.
About one-third of the world’s population is believed to have latent TB. There is a 10 percent chance of latent TB becoming active, but this risk is much higher in people who have compromised immune systems, i.e., people living with HIV or Malnutrition or people who smoke.
Diagnosis of tuberculosis
To check for TB, a doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs and check for swelling in the lymph nodes. They will also ask about symptoms and medical history as well as assessing the individual’s risk of exposure to TB. The most common diagostic test for TB is a skin test where a small injection of PPD tuberculin, an extract of the TB bacterium, is made just below the inside forearm.
The injection site should be checked after 2-3 days, and, if a hard, red bump has swollen up to a specific size, then it is likely that TB is present. Unfortunately, the skin test is not 100 percent accurate and has been known to give incorrect positive and negative readings. However, there are other tests that are available to diagnose TB. Blood tests, chest X-rays, and sputum tests can all be used to test for the presence of TB bacteria and may be used alongside a skin test.
MDR-TB is more difficult to diagnose than regular TB. It is also difficult to diagnose regular TB in children.
What causes Tuberculosis?
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium causes TB. It is spread through the air when a person with TB (whose lungs are affected) coughs, sneezes, spits, laughs, or talks.
TB is contagious, but it is not easy to catch. The chances of catching TB from someone you live or work with are much higher than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who have received appropriate treatment for at least 2 weeks are no longer contagious.
Since antibiotics began to be used to fight TB, some strains have become resistant to drugs. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) arises when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria, with the surviving bacteria developing resistance to that antibiotic and often others at the same time.
MDR-TB is treatable and curable only with the use of very specific anti-TB drugs, which are often limited or not readily available. In 2012, around 450,000 people developed MDR-TB.
Symptoms of tuberculosis
While latent TB is symptomless, the symptoms of active TB include the following:
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-23 22:16:352020-07-23 22:16:35All you need to know about Tuberculosis
Hypotension is the medical term for low blood pressure (less than 90/60).
A blood pressure reading appears as two numbers. The first and higher of the two is a measure of systolic pressure or the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and fills them with blood. The second number measures diastolic pressure, or the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 (systolic/diastolic). In healthy people, low blood pressure without any symptoms is not usually a concern and does not need to be treated. But low blood pressure can be a sign of an underlying problem — especially in the elderly — where it may cause inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain, and other vital organs.
Chronic low blood pressure with no symptoms is almost never serious. But health problems can occur when blood pressure drops suddenly and the brain is deprived of an adequate blood supply. This can lead to dizziness or light headedness. Sudden drops in blood pressure most commonly occur in someone who’s rising from a lying down or sitting position to standing. This kind of low blood pressure is known as postural hypotension or orthostatic hypotension. Another type of low blood pressure can occur when someone stands for a long period of time. This is called neurally mediated hypotension. When it leads to passing out, if is called vasovagal syncope.
Postural hypotension is considered a failure of the cardiovascular system or nervous system to react appropriately to sudden changes. Normally, when you stand up, some blood pools in your lower extremities. Uncorrected, this would cause your blood pressure to fall. But your body normally compensates by sending messages to your heart to beat faster and to your blood vessels to constrict. This offsets the drop in blood pressure. If this does not happen, or happens too slowly, postural hypotension results and can lead to fainting.
The risk of both low and high BP normally increases with age due in part to normal changes during aging. In addition, blood flow to the heart muscle and the brain declines with age, often as a result of plaque build up in blood vessels. An estimated 10% to 20% of people over age 65 have postural hypotension.
The cause of low blood pressure isn’t always clear. It may be associated with the following:
Postural hypotension, which is low blood pressure when standing up suddenly, can happen to anyone for a variety of reasons, such as dehydration, lack of food, or being overly fatigued. It can also be influenced by genetic make-up, aging, medication, dietary and psychological factors, and acute triggers, such as infection and allergy.
Postural hypotension occurs most frequently in people who are taking drugs to control high BP (hypertension). It can also be related to pregnancy, strong emotions, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), or diabetes. The elderly are particularly affected, especially those who have high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
Dengue (pronounced DENgee) fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses. These viruses are related to the viruses that cause West Nile infection and yellow fever.
An estimated 390 million dengue infections occur worldwide each year, with about 96 million resulting in illness. Most cases occur in tropical areas of the world, with the greatest risk occurring in India South East Asia, Africa and Mexico.
Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in their blood. It can’t be spread directly from one person to another person.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Symptoms, which usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include
Sudden high fever
Severe headache
Pain behind the eyes
Severe joint and muscle pain
Fatigue , Nausea
Vomiting and Skin rash (appears 2 – 5 days after fever)
Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising)
Sometimes, symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral infection. Younger children and people who have never had the infection before tend to have milder cases than older children and adults. However, serious problems can develop. These include dengue hemorrhagic fever, a rare complication characterized by high fever, damage to lymph and blood vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, enlargement of the liver, and failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms may progress to massive bleeding, shock, and death. This is called dengue shock syndrome (DSS).
People with weakened immune systems as well as those with a second or subsequent dengue infection are believed to be at greater risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Diagnosing Dengue Fever
Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test to check for the virus or antibodies to it. If you become sick after traveling to a tropical area, let your doctor know. This will allow your doctor to evaluate the possibility that your symptoms were caused by a dengue infection.
Treatment for Dengue Fever
There is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection. If you think you may have dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could worsen bleeding. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor. If you start to feel worse in the first 24 hours after your fever goes down, you should get to a hospital immediately to be checked for complications.
Preventing Dengue Fever
There is no vaccine to prevent dengue fever. The best way to prevent the disease is to prevent bites by infected mosquitoes, particularly if you are living in or traveling to a tropical area. This involves protecting yourself and making efforts to keep the mosquito population down.
The retina is a light-sensitive membrane located at the back of the eye. When light passes through your eye, the lens focuses an image on your retina. The retina converts the image to signals that it sends to your brain through the optic nerve. The retina works with the cornea, lens, and other parts of your eye and brain to produce normal vision.
Retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the back of your eye. This causes loss of vision that can be partial or total, depending on how much of the retina is detached. When your retina becomes detached, its cells may be seriously deprived of oxygen. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. Call your doctor right away if you suffer any sudden vision changes.
There’s a risk of permanent vision loss if retinal detachment is left untreated or if treatment is delayed.
Symptoms of retinal detachment
There’s no pain associated with retinal detachment, but there are usually symptoms before your retina becomes detached. Primary symptoms include:
blurred vision
partial vision loss, which makes it seem as if a curtain has been pulled across your field of vision, with a dark shadowing effect
sudden flashes of light that appear when looking to the side
suddenly seeing many floaters, which are small bits of debris that appear as black flecks or strings floating before your eye
Types and causes of retinal detachment
There are three types of retinal detachment:
rhegmatogenous
tractional
exudative
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
If you have a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, you have a tear or hole in your retina. This allows fluid from within your eye to slip through the opening and get behind your retina. The fluid separates the retina from the retinal pigment epithelium, which is the membrane that provides your retina with nourishment and oxygen, causing the retina to detach. This is the most common type of retinal detachment.
Tractional retinal detachment
Tractional retinal detachment occurs when scar tissue on the retina’s surface contracts and causes your retina to pull away from the back of your eye. This is a less common type of detachment that typically affects people with diabetes mellitus. Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus can lead to issues with the retinal vascular system, and this vascular damage can later lead to scar tissue accumulation in your eye that could cause retinal detachment.
Exudative detachment
In exudative detachment, there are no tears or breaks in your retina. Retinal diseases such as the following cause this type of detachment:
an inflammatory disorder causing fluid accumulation behind your retina
cancer behind your retina
Coats’ disease, which causes abnormal development in the blood vessels such that they leak proteins that build up behind your retina
Who is at risk for retinal detachment?
Risk factors for retinal detachment include:
posterior vitreous detachment, which is common in older adults
extreme nearsightedness, which causes more strain on the eye
a family history of retinal detachment
trauma to your eye
being over 50 years old
prior history of retinal detachment
complications from cataract removal surgery
diabetes mellitus
Diagnosis of retinal detachmentTo diagnose retinal detachment, your doctor will perform a thorough eye exam. They’ll check:
your vision
your eye pressure
the physical appearance of your eye
your ability to see colors
Your doctor might also test the ability of your retina to send impulses to your brain. They may check the blood flow throughout your eye and specifically in your retina.Your doctor may also order an ultrasound of your eye. This is a painless test that uses sound waves to create an image of your eye.Preventing retinal detachmentIn general, there’s no way to prevent retinal detachment. However, you can take steps to avoid retinal detachment that results from an injury by wearing protective eyewear when playing sports or using tools. If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar and see your doctor regularly. Get yearly eye exams, especially if you have risks for retinal detachment.It’s important to know the symptoms of retinal detachment. Recognizing when you may have a retinal problem and seeking medical care immediately can save your vision.https://www.healthline.com/health/retinal-detachment#outlook
Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that causes your body to excrete too much protein in your urine.
Nephrotic syndrome is usually caused by damage to the clusters of small blood vessels in your kidneys that filter waste and excess water from your blood. Nephrotic syndrome causes swelling (edema), particularly in your feet and ankles, and increases the risk of other health problems.
Treatment for nephrotic syndrome includes treating the underlying condition that’s causing it and taking medications. Nephrotic syndrome can increase your risk of infections and blood clots. Your doctor may recommend medications and dietary changes to prevent these and other complications of nephrotic syndrome.
Symptoms Signs and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include:
Severe swelling (edema), particularly around your eyes and in your ankles and feet Foamy urine, which may be caused by excess protein in your urine Weight gain due to excess fluid retention Fatigue Loss of appetite Causes Nephrotic syndrome is usually caused by damage to the clusters of tiny blood vessels (glomeruli) of your kidneys.
The glomeruli filter your blood as it passes through your kidneys, separating things your body needs from those it doesn’t. Healthy glomeruli keep blood protein (mainly albumin) — which is needed to maintain the right amount of fluid in your body — from seeping into your urine. When damaged, glomeruli allow too much blood protein to leave your body, leading to nephrotic syndrome.
Many possible causes Many diseases and conditions can cause glomerular damage and lead to nephrotic syndrome, including:
Diabetic kidney disease. Diabetes can lead to kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy) that affects the glomeruli. Minimal change disease. This is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children. Minimal change disease results in abnormal kidney function, but when the kidney tissue is examined under a microscope, it appears normal or nearly normal. The cause of the abnormal function typically can’t be determined. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Characterized by scattered scarring of some of the glomeruli, this condition may result from another disease or a genetic defect or occur for no known reason. Membranous nephropathy. This kidney disorder is the result of thickening membranes within the glomeruli. The exact cause of the thickening isn’t known, but it’s sometimes associated with other medical conditions, such as hepatitis B, malaria, lupus and cancer. Systemic lupus erythematosus. This chronic inflammatory disease can lead to serious kidney damage. Amyloidosis. This disorder occurs when substances called amyloid proteins accumulate in your organs. Amyloid buildup often affects the kidneys, damaging their filtering system. Blood clot in a kidney vein. Renal vein thrombosis, which occurs when a blood clot blocks a vein connected to the kidney, can cause nephrotic syndrome. Risk factors Factors that can increase your risk of nephrotic syndrome include:
Medical conditions that can damage your kidneys. Certain diseases and conditions increase your risk of developing nephrotic syndrome, such as diabetes, lupus, amyloidosis and other kidney diseases. Certain medications. Examples of medications that can cause nephrotic syndrome include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs used to fight infections. Certain infections. Examples of infections that increase the risk of nephrotic syndrome include HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and malaria. Complications Possible complications of nephrotic syndrome include:
Blood clots. The inability of the glomeruli to filter blood properly can lead to loss of blood proteins that help prevent clotting. This increases your risk of developing a blood clot (thrombus) in your veins. High blood cholesterol and elevated blood triglycerides. When the level of the protein albumin in your blood falls, your liver makes more albumin. At the same time, your liver releases more cholesterol and triglycerides. Poor nutrition. Loss of too much blood protein can result in malnutrition. This can lead to weight loss, but it may be masked by swelling. You may also have too few red blood cells (anemia) and low levels of vitamin D and calcium. High blood pressure. Damage to your glomeruli and the resulting buildup of wastes in your bloodstream (uremia) can raise your blood pressure. Acute kidney failure. If your kidneys lose their ability to filter blood due to damage to the glomeruli, waste products may build up quickly in your blood. If this happens, you may need emergency dialysis — an artificial means of removing extra fluids and waste from your blood — typically with an artificial kidney machine (dialyzer). Chronic kidney disease. Nephrotic syndrome may cause your kidneys to gradually lose their function over time. If kidney function falls low enough, you may require dialysis or a kidney transplant. Infections. People with nephrotic syndrome have an increased risk of infections. Diagnosis Tests and procedures used to diagnose nephrotic syndrome include:
Urine tests. A urinalysis can reveal abnormalities in your urine, such as large amounts of protein, if you have nephrotic syndrome. You may be asked to collect urine samples over 24 hours for an accurate measure of the protein in your urine. Blood tests. If you have nephrotic syndrome, a blood test may show low levels of the protein albumin (hypoalbuminemia) specifically and often decreased levels of blood protein overall. Loss of albumin is often associated with an increase in blood cholesterol and blood triglycerides. Serum creatinine and blood urea also may be measured to assess your overall kidney function. Removing a sample of kidney tissue for testing. Your doctor may recommend a procedure called a kidney biopsy to remove a small sample of kidney tissue for testing. During a kidney biopsy, a special needle is inserted through your skin and into your kidney. Kidney tissue is collected and sent to a lab for testing. Treatment Treatment for nephrotic syndrome involves treating any underlying medical condition that may be causing your nephrotic syndrome. Your doctor may also recommend medications that may help control your signs and symptoms or treat complications of nephrotic syndrome. Medications may include:
Blood pressure medications. Drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce blood pressure and also reduce the amount of protein released in urine. Medications in this category include benazepril (Lotensin), captopril and enalapril (Vasotec). Another group of drugs that works in a similar way is called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and includes losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan). Other medications, such as renin inhibitors, also may be used, though ACE inhibitors and ARBs are generally used first. Water pills. Water pills (diuretics) help control swelling by increasing your kidneys’ fluid output. Diuretic medications typically include furosemide (Lasix). Others may include spironolactone (Aldactone) and thiazides, such as hydrochlorothiazide. Cholesterol-reducing medications. Medications called statins can help lower cholesterol levels. However, it’s currently unclear whether or not cholesterol-lowering medications can specifically improve the outcomes of people with nephrotic syndrome, such as avoiding heart attack s or decreasing the risk of early death. Statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor). Blood thinners. Medications called anticoagulants help decrease your blood’s ability to clot and may be prescribed if you’ve had a blood clot to reduce your risk of future blood clots. Anticoagulants include heparin, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), dabigatran (Pradaxa), apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto). Immune system-suppressing medications. Medications to control the immune system, such as corticosteroids, may decrease the inflammation that accompanies underlying conditions, such as minimal change disease, lupus and amyloidosis.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-23 16:52:452020-07-23 16:52:45What is Nephrotic Syndrome and its symptoms
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disorder that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. The bleeding results from unusually low levels of platelets — the cells that help blood clot. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, which is also called immune thrombocytopenia, affects children and adults. Children often develop ITP after a viral infection and usually recover fully without treatment. In adults, the disorder is often long term. If you don’t have signs of bleeding and your platelet count isn’t too low, you may not need any treatment. In rare cases, the number of platelets may be so low that dangerous internal bleeding occurs. Treatment options are available.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) may have no signs and symptoms. When they do occur, they may include:
Easy or excessive bruising (purpura) Superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a rash of pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots (petechiae), usually on the lower legs Bleeding from the gums or nose Blood in urine or stools Unusually heavy menstrual flow When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your doctor if you or your child develops warning signs that worry you.
Bleeding that won’t stop is a medical emergency. Seek immediate help if you or your child experiences bleeding that can’t be controlled by the usual first-aid techniques, such as applying pressure to the area. Causes In some people thrombocytopenia is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking and destroying platelets. If the cause of this immune reaction is unknown, the condition is called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Idiopathic means “of unknown cause.”
In most children with ITP, the disorder follows a viral illness, such as the mumps or the flu. It may be that the infection triggers the immune system malfunction.
Increased breakdown of platelets In people with ITP, antibodies produced by the immune system attach themselves to the platelets, marking the platelets for destruction. The spleen, which helps your body fight infection, recognizes the antibodies and removes the platelets from your system. The result of this case of mistaken identity is a lower number of circulating platelets than is normal.
A normal platelet count is generally between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of circulating blood. People with ITP often have platelet counts below 20,000. Because platelets help the blood clot, as their number decreases, your risk of bleeding increases. The greatest risk is when your platelet count falls very low — below 10,000 platelets per microliter. At this point, internal bleeding may occur even without any injury.
Risk factors Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura can occur in anyone at almost any age, but these factors increase the risk:
Your sex. Women are two to three times more likely to develop ITP than men are. Recent viral infection. Many children with ITP develop the disorder after a viral illness, such as mumps, measles or a respiratory infection. Complications A rare complication of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is bleeding into the brain, which can be fatal.
Pregnancy In pregnant women with ITP, the condition doesn’t usually affect the baby. But the baby’s platelet count should be tested soon after birth.
If you’re pregnant and your platelet count is very low or you have bleeding, you have a greater risk of heavy bleeding during delivery. In such cases, you and your doctor may discuss treatment to maintain a stable platelet count, taking into account the effects on your baby.
You May Have Had a Heart Attack Without Realizing It
However, a new study indicates that thousands of Americans may have had a heart attack and not known it. In the study, published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation, researchers analyzed the health records of nearly 9,500 middle-aged adults who were enrolled in a study focused on atherosclerosis, a condition that involves plaque build-up in the arteries. Researchers then looked at differences in heart attacks between several groups in the study, including men and women, and followed patients for nine years.
They found that 317 of them had silent heart attacks, while another 386 had heart attacks with obvious symptoms. By following patients for another 20 years, researchers found that silent heart attacks accounted for 45 percent of all heart attacks. These kinds of heart attacks also increased fatality rates. Those who had silent heart attacks were three times more likely to die from heart disease and were 34 percent more likely to die in general. Researchers also found another important distinction: women were more likely to die from silent heart attacks even though men were more likely to get them.
Why are silent heart attacks so deadly? Because if someone doesn’t realize they’ve had a heart attack they’re less likely to seek treatment for heart disease.
A heart attack is usually accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, upper body pain in the arms, neck or jaw and nausea or lightheadedness. However, the symptoms of a silent heart attack are barely noticeable. According to the study’s authors, these heart attacks usually are detected later when patients get an electrocardiogram (EKG) to check their heart’s electrical activity.
Signs of a Silent Heart Attack Silent heart attacks should be treated because they indicate underlying heart disease. If you aren’t sure if you’ve had a silent heart attack, here are some signs and symptoms you should be aware of:
Fatigue: if you have unexplained tiredness, it could be a sign of cardiac issues. During a heart attack, there is reduced blood flow to the heart, which puts extra strain on the muscles and leads to fatigue. If you feel tired and have other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, don’t hesitate to see a doctor.
Soreness in the Limbs: If you feel sore in your arms, back or chest, it could be a sign of a possible heart attack. When the arteries are blocked, blood flow to the muscles is reduced, which leads to soreness.
Heartburn: Unusual heartburn that doesn’t occur after eating may be a sign of a heart attack, especially if it is accompanied by intense chest pain.
Nausea: If you have a severely upset stomach accompanied by nausea or vomiting, it may be a symptom of a heart attack. If you haven’t eaten something to disturb your stomach, you may want to see a doctor just for peace of mind.
If you experience any of these symptoms and have other risk factors for heart disease, it’s best to get an EKG. Though silent heart attacks often go undetected, they should be treated in the same way as other heart attacks, which may reduce your risk of a future episode or potentially fatal heart attack.
But as we often say, prevention is key. Heart disease is largely preventable with healthy lifestyle choices, including regular physical activity and a balanced diet that’s low in saturated fat, salt and sugar and high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
A heart attack is life-altering — and potentially life-ending. So whether you’re at risk for a silent heart attack or not, take steps today to be more proactive about your health health.
What can cause a silent heart attack? Are the causes different for men than women? The causes of silent heart attacks are the same as those that cause heart attacks with symptoms. The most common cause of a heart attack is a blockage in a blood vessel that compromises blood supply to the portion of the heart that depends on that blood vessel. However, there are many different ways that blood flow to the heart can be compromised and women may be at higher risk for some of the less common mechanisms, which include:
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection, or SCAD (when a spontaneous tear forms in the wall of a blood vessel compromising blood flow) Coronary vasospasm (a temporary, sudden spasm of a coronary artery that can impair blood flow) Microvascular disease (disease of small blood vessels supplying the heart)
Because less is known about less common mechanisms, these causes are harder to identify and treat. There is still so much to learn about how to improve cardiovascular care in women, and this is a focus of Mass General’s Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program
Ways to prevent a silent heart attack:
Eating a healthy diet Walking 45 minutes a day Maintaining an active lifestyle Maintaining a healthy weight Not smoking Drink more water, one glass before sleep Physical Health check once a year.
Doctors can help people identify whether someone may be at higher risk for developing heart disease and can help treat some of these risk factors—like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Women with a history of pre-eclampsia may also be at increased risk for heart disease.
It is very important that patients who already have heart disease or have had a heart attack see a cardiologist (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the heart) regularly to care for their hearts. Patients who have had a heart attack are at particularly high risk for another heart attack, and a cardiologist can help patients reduce this risk.
