misc Health info

Moles

 

Introduction

Moles, known medically as nevi, are clusters of pigmented cells that often appear as small, dark brown spots on your torso, face, arms and legs. But moles can come in a range of colors and can develop virtually anywhere, including your scalp, armpits, under your nails, and between your fingers and toes.

Most people have between 10 and 40 moles, although the number you have may change throughout life. New moles can appear into mid-adulthood, and because moles last about 50 years, some moles may disappear as you age.

The great majority of moles are harmless, but in rare cases, moles may become cancerous. Monitoring moles and other pigmented patches is an important step in the diagnosis of skin cancer, especially malignant melanoma. Although not all melanomas develop from pre-existing moles, many begin in or near a mole or other dark spot on the skin.

Signs and symptoms

Although the typical mole is a plain, brown spot, moles come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes. They can be flesh-colored, reddish-brown, medium to dark brown, or blue; vary in shape from oval to round, and be as small as a pinhead or large enough to cover an entire limb. Moles that are larger than 8 inches in diameter and present at birth are a special problem. They may need to be removed to avoid the risk of malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

The surface of a mole can be smooth or wrinkled, flat or raised. Sometimes a mole may start out flat and brown and later become slightly raised and lighter in color. Some may become raised enough that they form a small stalk and are eventually rubbed off. Others may simply disappear.

Although most moles develop by age 20, they can continue to appear until midlife. There are also certain times in your life when moles are more apt to change; for example, they're likely to become darker, larger and more numerous because of hormonal changes during adolescence and pregnancy and with the use of birth control pills.

Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs, stay smooth or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole, or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops.

Causes

Melanin is a natural pigment that gives your skin its color. It's produced in cells called melanocytes, either in the top layer of the skin (epidermis) or the outer layers of the skin's second layer (dermis). Melanin is then transported to the surface cells of your skin. Normally, melanin is distributed evenly, but sometimes melanocytes grow together in a cluster, giving rise to moles.

Scientists don't know why moles develop or what purpose they serve, if any, although they do appear to be determined before birth. Most moles are harmless and don't require special care, but some people have unusual-looking moles, called dysplastic nevi, which are more likely to turn cancerous than ordinary moles are. Atypical moles occur most often on the back in both men and women, and also on the abdomen, chest and legs in women.

Risk factors

Several types of moles have a higher than average risk of becoming cancerous. They include:

  • Large moles present at birth. Large moles that are present at birth are called congenital nevi or giant hairy nevi. These moles may increase your risk of malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. In general, moles that are more than the size of an adult open palm pose the greatest risk. Have your doctor examine any mole that was present at birth and is palm-sized or larger.
  • Moles that run in families. Moles that are larger than average â€" which is about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters), or the diameter of a pencil eraser â€" and irregular in shape are known as atypical (dysplastic) nevi. These moles tend to be hereditary. They're frequently described as looking like fried eggs because they usually have dark brown centers and lighter, uneven borders. Overall, they may look red or tan. If you have dysplastic nevi, you have a greater risk of developing malignant melanoma.
  • Numerous moles. If you have many moles larger than a pencil eraser, you are at greater risk of developing melanoma.

When to seek medical advice

If a new mole appears past age 20, see your doctor. These signs and symptoms may indicate a medical concern:

  • Painful
  • Itching or burning
  • Oozing or bleeding
  • Inflamed
  • Scaly or crusty
  • Suddenly different in size, shape, color or elevation

If you're concerned about any mole, see your doctor or ask for a referral to a dermatologist.

Screening and diagnosis

You may choose to make a skin examination a regular part of your preventive medical care. Talk to your doctor about a schedule that's appropriate for you. A general guideline is every three years for people ages 20 to 39, and annually for people age 40 or older.

Your doctor will examine your skin from head to toe, including your scalp, your palms, the soles of your feet and the skin between your buttocks. If your doctor suspects that a mole may be cancerous, he or she may take a sample of the tissue (biopsy) and submit the biopsy for microscopic examination.

Treatment

If your doctor takes a tissue sample of the mole and finds it to be cancerous, the entire mole and a margin of normal tissue around it needs to be removed. Usually a mole that has been removed won't reappear. If it does, see your doctor promptly.

Treatment of most moles usually isn't necessary. For cosmetic reasons, a mole can be removed in several ways:

  • Shave excision. In this method, your doctor numbs the area around a mole and then uses a small blade to shave off the mole close to your skin.
  • Punch biopsy. Your doctor may remove a mole with a small incision or punch biopsy technique, which uses a small cookie-cutter-like device.
  • Excisional surgery. In this method, your doctor cuts out the mole and a surrounding margin of healthy skin.

These procedures are usually performed in the office of your doctor or dermatologist and take only a short time.

Prevention

The best way to catch potential problems at an early stage is to become familiar with the location and pattern of your moles. Examine your skin carefully on a regular basis â€" monthly if you have a family history of melanoma, and at least every three months otherwise â€" to detect early skin changes that may signal melanoma.

Remember to check areas that aren't exposed to sunlight, including your scalp, armpits, feet (the soles and between the toes), genital area and, if you're a woman, the skin underneath your breasts. If necessary, use a hand-held mirror along with a wall mirror to scan hard-to-see places such as your back. People with dysplastic nevi are at greater risk of developing malignant melanoma and may want to consider having a dermatologist check their moles on a regular basis.

To detect melanomas or other skin cancers, use the A-B-C-D skin self-examination guide, adapted from the American Academy of Dermatology:

  • A is for asymmetrical shape. Look for moles with irregular shapes, such as two very different-looking halves.
  • B is for irregular border. Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders â€" the characteristics of melanomas.
  • C is for changes in color. Look for growths that have many colors or an uneven distribution of color.
  • D is for diameter. Look for growths that are larger than about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters).

Self-care

In addition to periodically checking your moles, you can take protective measures to protect yourself from cancerous changes:

  • Avoid peak sun times. It's best to avoid overexposure to the sun, but if you must be out of doors, try to stay out of the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when ultraviolet rays are most intense.
  • Use sunscreen. Twenty to 30 minutes before going outdoors, apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Reapply every two hours, especially if you're swimming or involved in vigorous activities. Some sunscreens contain substances that block both types of ultraviolet rays, ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). Choose sunscreens with avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or transparent or microdispersed zinc oxide listed on the ingredient label. And keep in mind that sunscreen is just one part of a total sun protection program.
  • Cover up. Broad-brimmed hats, long sleeves and other protective clothing also can help you avoid damaging UV rays. You might also want to consider clothing that's made with fabric specially treated to block UV radiation.

If you have a mole that's unattractive, you may choose to cover it up using makeup designed to conceal blemishes and moles. If you have a hair growing from a mole, it may be possible to clip it close to the skin's surface. Dermatologists also can permanently remove hair from moles. If you have a mole in a beard, you may want to have it removed by your doctor because shaving over it repeatedly may cause irritation. You may also want to have moles removed from other parts of your body that are vulnerable to trauma and friction.

Anytime you cut or irritate a mole, be sure to keep the area clean. See your doctor if the mole doesn't heal.

 

 

Home Remedies for STAMMERING

 

 STAMMERING

 

 

An involuntary interruption or inability to utter a letter or syllable is called stammering. Because of defective control of muscles of the speech organs there is an obstruction in pronunciation of certain sounds or one utters them with repetition. There is a difficulty in the necessary movement of the tongue and lips and there is also a sound in the voice organs which leads to stammering. This difficulty is usually limited to words beginning with sounds produced by letters like p, b, t, d, g, k.

 

Because of stammering one pronounces words like kabooter as tabooter. When these sounds occur in the middle of a word, there is no difficulty in pronouncing them. The person who stammers should be given regular practice in pronouncing them correctly and in controlling the breath. He should be taught to speak slowly and patiently.



Natural Home remedies for the treatment of stammering

Amla : Chewing fresh amla is helpful in curing stammering of children. The tongue becomes thinner and the speech becomes clear. Mix a tsp. of amla powder with clarified butter and lick it daily. It will help overcome stammering.

 

Almonds : (1) Soak 12 almonds, peel them and grind them, mix with 31 gms. of butter and eat it regularly for a few months. It will provide relief from the problem of stammering.

 

(2) Grind finely an almond along with 10 corns of black peeper and sugar candy to taste and lick it.

 

Cinnamon : Chewing and sucking cinnamon provides relief from stammering. You may consult the writer of the present book for the treatment of stammering.

 

Dried dates : Clear Voice-Boil dried dates in milk and take it before bed time. Do not rake water after it for two hours. It will clear the sharp and bad voice.

 

 

 

What is Sciatica?

 

What is Sciatica?

 

 

Technically speaking, sciatica is a symptom not a diagnosis It is a non-specific term commonly used to describe symptoms of pain radiating downward from the buttock over the posterior or lateral side of the lower limb. It is usually assumed to be caused by compression of a nerve but this is not necessarily so.

 

 

A common neurolgical cause of this pain is entrapment of the sciatic and/or posterior femoral cutaneous nerves. But the pain may be caused by trigger points in the soft tissue. This latter case is easily overlooked and requires manual palpation of the musculature associated with the hip if the pain is not to be misdiagnosed.

 

Background

 

It is often assumed that there is sciatic nerve root entrapment, resulting in the compression of the nerve. Pain and symptoms being transmitted or referred from the low back to one of the buttocks and down the back of the leg along the pathway of the sciatic nerve. Hence the term sciatica.

The exact cause of sciatica is not fully understood but is commonly thought to involve a slipped or herniated disk. This means one of the disks, which lie between each of the vertebra in the lower back (lumbar area), has cracked and allowed some of the inner disk material to protrude out, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve root, which in this case is the sciatic nerve. The term 'lumbago' is often banded about as well which is a general term for low back pain. However, some people have been found to have a slipped disk but have no pain.

 

Sciatica Symptoms

 

Symptoms can vary from extreme pain in the low back radiating into one buttock and down the leg. Pain often increases on exertion or bending forward. Alternatively, there may only be a mild sensation in the leg or buttock. There may be numbness in the area, weakness in the leg and diminution of the reflexes. Pain may be triggered by coughing or straining and can be so severe that the lower back becomes locked in sideways bending position (scoliosis) caused by a strong contraction.

 

 

Alternatively, it may only come on when sitting or standing in a certain position. Clinical experience indicates that these certain positions are usually associated with continually holding a poor posture either at home or at work. For example, protruding the head forward peering at a computer all day or regularly lifting a baby out of the back of the car. But some or all of these symptoms are also associated with other conditions which is probably why the name is often misused as a catchall word for any pain affecting the buttocks or other parts of the leg. In this case the pain is triggered by a local trapping (trigger point) or straining of the nerve along its pathway.

 

Piraformis Syndrome Symptoms

 

May be a mixture of seemingly unrelated symptoms. Pain and paresthsias (pins and needles) may be apparent in one or more of these areas: the low back, groin, perineum, buttock, hip, back of the thigh, leg and foot or the SI joint. Swelling can occur in the painful leg and sexual dysfunction can occur. The condition can be aggravated by sitting, getting up, or standing. Conversely, activity can worsen the symptoms. It can also cause the buttock muscles to atrophy. Numbness of the foot and loss of position sense (proprioception) can lead to an unstable walk.

 

Activation

 

Piraformis syndrome can be activated in numerous seemingly different ways. For example, long drives in the car result in the accelerator foot being flexed for long periods, resulting in the tightening of the piraformis muscle. Lifting or lowering of a heavy weight, catching oneself from falling, twisting sideways while bending or lifting a weight such as a baby out of the back of the car. Direct trauma such as hitting the muscle itself or impact caused by a car accident particularly when the impact is from the side. Morton's foot (second toe is longer than the big toe) can initiate the syndrome after a long walk. This is because the condition tends to cause medial rotation and adduction (inward movement) of the thigh, which puts a strain on the piraformis.

 

LIQUORICE

 

LIQUORICE / Jastimadhu

 

 

Botanically it is called Glycyrrhiza glabra. It is a tall erect herb that may rise up to 1.5 m high. Leaves are compound containing leaflets in 4 to 7 pairs. The flowers are like lilac, small the fruits are 1.3 cm long, flat, densely covered allover with small spinous outgrowths. The rootstock gives numerous additional roots. The plant is grown in Kashmir, Debra Dun, Delhi etc.

The dried roots and underground stems of this plant constitute the drug. Liquorice is a house-hold remedy for coughs and cold, bronchitis, fevers, abdominal pains, consumption and epilepsy. It is also given in urinary and kidney disorders. The powder or small pieces of the drug are commonly taken with betel leaves. Liquorice is largely used in making syrup. It is also useful in gastric or peptic ulcers.

Benefit and uses of Liquorice.

  • The liquorice root as beneficial in the treatment of coughs, colds, and other bronchial irritations.
  • It is suggested for treatment of the spleen, liver and kidney. The use a licorice preparation to treat hepatitis.
  • Creams containing whole liquorice can be used to treat Eczema, Psoriasis, and Herpes.
  • Liquorice is used in allopathic medicine as a treatment for peptic ulceration, a similar use to its herbal use in gastritis and ulcers. It can be used in the relief of abdominal colic.
  • It is especially beneficial to smokers because of the anti-inflammatory action.
  • It can help fight inflammation, viruses, ulcers and even cancer.

A Chat with Dr. Devi Shetty (Heart Specialist) - Very Useful!

 


A chat with Dr.Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Heart Specialist) Bangalore was arranged by WIPRO for its employees .
The transcript of the chat is given below. Useful for everyone.

Qn: What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?

Ans:
1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil
2. Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a longtime
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar

Qn: Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart?

Ans: No

Qn: It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person
gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?

Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups.

Qn: Are heart diseases hereditary?

Ans: Yes

Qn: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?

Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.

Qn: Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?

Ans: Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints

Qn: You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?

Ans: Mother Theresa , who was my patient

Qn: Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?

Ans: Extremely rare

Qn: Does cholesterol accumulates right from an early age
(I'm currently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?

Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Qn: How do irregular eating habits affect the heart ?

Ans: You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body's enzyme release for digestion gets confused.

Qn: How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?

Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Qn: Can yoga prevent heart ailments?

Ans: Yoga helps.

Qn: Which is the best and worst food for the heart?

Ans: Fruits and vegetables are the best and the worst is oil.

Qn: Which oil is better - groundnut, sunflower, olive?

Ans: All oils are bad .

Qn: What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there any specific test?

Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.

Qn: What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?

Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position , place an aspirin tablet under the tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.

Qn: How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that caused due to gastric trouble?

Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.

Qn: What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.

Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, edentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.

Qn: Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet be perfectly healthy?

Ans: Yes.

Qn: Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?

Ans : Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child

Qn: Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart ? What precautions would you recommend?

Ans : When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.

Qn: Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short / long term)?

Ans : Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Qn: Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?

Ans : No.

Qn: Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?

Ans : No.

Qn: How would you define junk food?

Ans : Fried food like Kentucky , McDonalds , samosas, and even masala dosas.

Qn: You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?

Ans: Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately, Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Qn: Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?

Ans : No.

Qn: Can a person help himself during a heart attack (Because we see a lot of forwarded emails on this)?

Ans : Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.

Qn: Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low hemoglobin count lead to heart problems?

Ans : No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.

Qn: Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?

Ans : Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.

Qn: Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?

Ans: Yes. A strong relationship since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.

Qn: What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?

Ans : Diet, exercise, drugs on time , Control cholesterol, BP, weight..

Qn: Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?

Ans : No.

Qn: What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?

Ans : There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to
reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.

Qn: Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?

Ans : No.

Qn: Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?

Ans : Nature protects women till the age of 45.

Qn: How can one keep the heart in a good condition?

Ans : Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise everyday, do not smoke and, go for health checkup s if you are past the age of 30 ( once in six months recommended)

 

 

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