Sepsis involves fight of the body against a severe infection, spread through the bloodstream. Septic patients mostly have a very low blood pressure, often termed as “shock”. There are usually two reasons that lead to this condition. The foremost cause is the defense system of the body itself, while the second reason is the toxic substances that are made by infecting agents, like fungus, bacteria or virus.
People with weak immune systems, due to several reasons, like AIDS, intake of steroids, chemotherapy treatment and others, are more likely to suffer from sepsis. However, even healthy beings are not completely spared. In fact, infants whose immune systems have not developed as yet may also become septic. It is often difficult to diagnose sepsis in infants as typical symptoms of sepsis, like change in behavior or fever are difficult to determine.
Elderly people, especially those suffering from other illnesses like diabetes are also at increased risk. Statistics for death rate among sepsis patients have almost doubled during the past two decades. This increase is believed to be the fact that more doctors nowadays prefer treating organ transplant and cancer patients with strong medicines that mars the immune system greatly and increases the number of people suffering from sepsis.
Finally, heightened as well as inappropriate antibiotics use to cure illness that are not caused by bacteria but viruses has led to a lot of bacteria being resistant to these antibiotics that has made the treatment of sepsis even more complicated in a few cases.
After a discussion about so many risk factors for sepsis, let us emphasize now on symptoms for the same. Yes, so what are symptoms that one should stay alert for an early diagnosis of sepsis? Sepsis patients usually have fever, while sometimes their temperature my go to below normal or even stay normal. Severe shaking, chills, rapid breathing, fast heartbeat, decreased urination, dizziness, confusion, agitation and disorientation are also noticed. Reddish rashes or dark red dots all over the body and joint pains are a few more symptoms that are included in the list for sepsis patients.
There are several different types of microbes that can lead to sepsis. In most cases, bacteria are the most common cause but fungi and viruses can also cause sepsis in a few cases. Infections in kidneys, lungs, bladder and several other organs may also spread that can result in sepsis. Also, sometimes infections may develop after any surgery that can cause sepsis.
If any child who is born for less than 60 days and have fever, unusual rash, change in usual child’s behavior, lethargy or poor feeding, it is advisable to seek medical guidance as soon as possible.
So, as soon as you observe any symptoms of sepsis in any of your family members, do not delay to take them for emergency treatment to increase the possibilities of survival.
Some diseases are not talked about publicly unless any known celebrity is affected by it. One such disease is prostate cancer that came into light when Ronald Reagan, the former President, overcame it recently. However, he was definitely not the first man to be suffering from it as one out of every ten men are the victims of this life-threatening disease.
It is not only the most widely known malignancy among American men but is also the second most common reason for cancer deaths, with first position being taken by the lung cancer. Experts thereby recommend yearly screening or PSA test for all men above the age of 40 years, for early detection of prostate cancer. Timely diagnosis, of course, increases the chances of cure.
As cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth in a particular body part, prostate cancer is therefore the uncontrolled and abnormal cell growth within the prostate gland. Prostate, which is of the size of the walnut, plays an important role in the male reproductive system and lies deep inside the pelvis. You can locate it below the urinary bladder, facing the rectum and surrounding the urethra.
Prostate cancer is significantly found in America, Australia and Europe. Though no particular environmental causes can be pointed out, dietary fat is believed to heighten the risk of this cancer. Family history of the prostate cancer also increases the risk by 2-3 times.
Early symptoms go undetected in most cases but advanced stages of prostate cancer may cause the following symptoms:
- Hesitancy
- Urinary urgency
- Slow flow of urine
- Incomplete emptying of the bladder
- Dribbling after the urination
Pelvic pain may also occur in a few cases. Urethra compression is the man reason for this pain.
There is also a possibility that prostate cancer can reach to other body parts. Usually, pelvic nymph nodes are the first to be affected. But no symptoms are observed at this time.
Bone tissues are next to be attacked that may cause bony pain in lower back or pelvis and many other areas. Most common detection of prostate cancer is related to the prostate’s benign enlargement. Along with this, you may also notice many symptoms in the lower urinary tract. As a result, sometimes, prostate cancer is diagnosed when you consult a doctor regarding your other problems associated with your urinary tract.
A downfall in the mortality rate of prostate cancer has been reported as compared to the previous decade. This mortality rate reached its peak when 41,800 deaths were reported due to prostate cancer, by the American Cancer Society in 1997. Irrespective of this fact, it is essential to know that many men expire while suffering from prostate cancer but not because of it.
Hence, make sure that you undergo yearly PSA test to avoid any threat to your life, once you cross 40 years.
Pancreatitis simply means inflammation of the pancreas. Located in the upper part of the abdomen, behind the stomach, the pancreas plays an important role in digestion.
Inflammation of the pancreas has various causes. Once the gland becomes inflamed, the condition can progress to swelling of the gland and surrounding blood vessels, bleeding, infection, and damage to the gland. There, digestive juices become trapped and start “digesting” the pancreas itself. If this damage persists, the gland may not be able to carry out normal functions.
Pancreatitis may be acute (new, short-term) or chronic (ongoing, long-term). Either type can be very severe, even life threatening. Either type can have serious complications.
Acute pancreatitis usually begins soon after the damage to the pancreas begins. Attacks are typically very mild, but about 20% of them are very severe.
Chronic pancreatitis begins as acute pancreatitis. If the pancreas becomes scarred during the attack of acute pancreatitis, it cannot return to its normal state. The damage to the gland continues, worsening over time.
About 80,000 cases of acute pancreatitis occur in the United States each year. Pancreatitis can occur in people of all ages, although it is very rare in children. Pancreatitis occurs in men and women, although chronic pancreatitis is more common in men than in women.
Alcohol abuse and gallstones are the two main causes of pancreatitis, accounting for 80%-90% of all cases.
Pain is a major symptom in acute pancreatitis, and it is usually quite intense and steady, located in the upper abdomen, and radiating to the patient’s back. Nausea and vomiting and abdominal swelling are also common symptoms. A patient will often have a slight fever, with an increased heart rate and low blood pressure.
Patients with acute pancreatitis are at risk of complications related to shock, a very serious syndrome that occurs when the blood pressure is too low to get adequate circulation to critical organs. Without adequate blood pressure, organs are deprived of oxygen, nutrients, and waste removal and may not function well. Kidney, respiratory, and heart failure are serious possible outcomes of shock.
Even if shock does not occur, circulating pancreatic enzymes and related toxins can cause damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, lining of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, eyes, bones, and skin. As the pancreatic enzymes affect blood vessels, the risk of blood clots increases. When blood flow is blocked by clotting, the supply of oxygen is further decreased to various organs and additional damage done.
Other serious complications of acute pancreatitis include pancreatic necrosis, abcess, and pseudocyst formation. Pancreatic necrosis occurs when a significant portion of the pancreas is permanently damaged during an acute attack. Pancreatic necrosis has an increased risk of death and an increased chance of pancreatic infection. A pancreatic abscess is a local collection of pus that may develop several weeks after the illness subsides. Another late complication of pancreatitis, occurring several weeks after the illness begins, is called a pancreatic pseudocyst, which occurs when dead pancreatic tissue, blood, white blood cells, enzymes, and fluid leaked from the circulatory system accumulate. Pseudocysts cause recurrent abdominal pain and also press on other nearby structures in the gastrointestinal tract, causing disruption of function. Pseudocysts are life threatening when they become infected (abscess) and rupture. Simple rupture of a pseudocyst causes death 14% of the time, but rupture complicated by bleeding causes death 60% of the time.
In very severe cases of pancreatitis, called necrotizing pancreatitis, the pancreatic tissue begins to die, and bleeding increases. Due to the bleeding into the abdomen, two distinctive signs may be noted in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis. Turner’s sign is a reddish-purple or greenish-brown color to the area between the ribs and the hip (flank). Cullen’s sign is a bluish color around the navel.
Inadequate levels of insulin can sometimes lead to hypertension and cause organic acids and ketons accumulation within the blood. This is a life-threatening state, usually referred to as diabetic ketoacidosis. Patient may have to face significant alterations in blood chemistry and severe dehydration quite frequently.
DKA is common among people suffering from Type 1 diabetes. This condition is normally discovered in patients below 25 years of age, though this may occur in all age groups, irrespective of the sex of the patient.
Infection, missed insulin and recently diagnosed diabetes are some of the major reasons that cause DKA. Surgery, stress, trauma, heart attack and stroke are several other identifiable reasons. In about 5-10% cases, doctors even fail to recognize the cause of DKA.
Excessive thirst, loss of appetite, vomiting, frequent urination, increased heart rate, lower blood pressure, confusion, breathing problem, dry mouth, dry skin, and weakness are the symptoms that are faced by the diabetic ketoacidosis patients. Sometimes, the distinction between the complications and symptoms of DKA becomes very arbitrary in severe cases. Swelling in brain (cerebral edema) and risk for coma are some complications that might be due to delay in the use of appropriate therapy.
If any of the above mentioned symptoms are noticed in diabetes patients, immediate medical attention is required and direct consultation ought to be sought with the emergency department of the hospital. Apart from these symptoms, high fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, chest pain and difficulty in breathing are some other warning signs that should be recognized in diabetic patients for medical assistance.
Physical examination and history of the patient is checked to confirm DKA diagnosis. Levels of blood sugar, sodium, potassium and several other electrolytes are also taken into consideration, along with sample of arterial blood gas, kidney function markers and ketone levels that help to determine blood acid concentration. ECG, chest x-ray, CT scan of the brain and urine analysis are some other tests that are utilized to analyze associated conditions that are believed to trigger DKA.
Immediate and proper treatment is mandatory for easy recovery from DKA. No time should be wasted in seeking treatment, once diabetic ketoacidosis has been diagnosed as the condition may worsen very quickly. Continuous low-dose insulin administration is the standard treatment for DKA that works by reducing glucose levels. Though a deadly disease, aggressive treatment still has a ray of hope that paves way for complete recovery of DKA patients.
Did you know that 110,000 people in USA are diagnosed with colon cancer every year? Yes, it is the third most commonly found cancer in the U.S. Regular screenings after the age of 50 years is essential to ensure an early diagnosis and timely treatment of this cancer, else it may prove to be life-threatening. You might say that you feel good and are absolutely healthy but this is where you may be going wrong. There is very much a possibility that you need not notice any symptoms while malignant tumor is developing in your colon or large intestine.
Hence, it is a wise decision to get regular colorectal screenings done after every few years than to regret later. Colonoscopy, Sigmoidoscopy and Fecal Occult Blood Test are some of the screening methods that are suggested by the doctors.
However, sometimes you may stay alert for symptoms such as bloody stools, constipation, inexplicable weight loss, thin stool, bloating, lethargy, nausea and vomiting for a warning against colon cancer.
It is also not uncommon to find cancer cells breaking away from tumor and gaining entry into the bloodstream, from where they spread over to other body organs. Early detection of colon cancer thereby controls the spread of cancer to other body parts and prevents any fatal consequences.
On the basis of body parts to which cancer has spread, different stages of cancer is determined. There are primarily four stages that are distinguished for colon cancer:
- Stage 0 – This is an early stage when cancer has been detected in the rectum or colon’s innermost lining.
- Stage I – In this stage, the cancer has spread onto a large part of rectum or colon’s inner wall of the patient.
- Stage II – This stage shows the spread of cancer to the nearby tissue that are outside the rectum or colon, though it has not yet spread to lymph nodes.
- Stage III – This signifies the spread of cancer to adjacent lymph nodes.
- Stage IV – This involves detection of colon cancer in its last stage that is when it has spread to other body parts, like lungs and liver.
Detection of the stage of colon cancer helps doctors to plan the appropriate course of treatment.
Reoccurrence of colon cancer after the treatment has been reported in many cases. It may occur in rectum, colon or any other body part. However, if the cancer has not reoccurred within 5 years, there are very bleak chances of the cancer reoccurring again. Patients’ until the Stage III of colon cancer have a hope to be cured but those who have reached Stage IV do not have any cure, though their life may be extended for sometime through treatments.
Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are three most common treatments that are recommended for colon cancer. However, surgery is the most preferred among the three as it involves the removal of cancer of cancer through an operation. Any of these treatments or a combination of treatments might be advised by the doctor based on the stage of your colon cancer, age and your overall health. Polypectomy, colostomy and local excision are the different kinds of surgical treatments that are used.
Having a positive biopsy or a suspicious mammogram for breast cancer are the scariest words that a woman can hear from her physician. Breast cancer isn’t just concerned with ill health, like all other diseases. There are several other issues that are associated with it, such as death, surgery, losing sexuality, body image and so on. Hence, it’s a stressful condition, both physically and mentally.
Unfortunately, this is the topmost reason for cancer among women and seconds the list of reasons that is causing cancer deaths in U.S. women. This is usually found in women in the age group of 45 to 55 years. Although, this is more common in women but even male population is not completely spared from its fatal condition. However, breast cancer accounts for only 1% of the total cancer deaths among the male population.
Increased awareness about the risk for breast cancer has increased the women’s concern about the disease and as a result, the number of females who are undergoing mammography screening. This leads to timely detection of the disease at an early stage and thereby enhances the chances of survival.
The most common symptom that serves to be an indication for breast cancer is the lump discovered in the armpit or breast. Some other symptoms are – lump or swelling in breast or armpit, retracted nipple, nipple discharge, pain or discomfort in nipple or breast, pitted or scaly skin over the nipple and continuous tenderness of breast.
One in every eight women becomes a victim of breast cancer once in their life. Though there is nothing that can be said regarding why women are most affected by breast cancer but there are a few unchangeable risk factors that are found to be the culprit:
- Age – possibility of breast cancer increases in women as they age.
- Genes – BRCA1 and 2 are the two genes that are highly responsible for breast cancer. Women whose family members have ovarian or breast cancer are advisable to get themselves checked regularly.
- Periods – Women whose period begin before the age of 12 or whose menopause occur after the age of 55 needs to be careful.
Any woman who drinks alcohol, take pills for birth control, is overweight, have dense breast, have undergone hormone replacement therapy or those who have their first child later than 35 years of age are also at great risk and must stay alert for any warning signs.
Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for 85-90% of the total cases. This is followed by lobular carcinoma with 8% of the breast cancer cases. Besides these two, Paget’s disease of nipple and inflammatory breast cancer are the types of breast cancer that are not found very commonly.
Breast cancer that can spread from their original site of tumor to other breast or body parts is referred to as invasive breast cancer. Survival rates of breast cancer patients have greatly increased in the past decade with early diagnosis and better treatment methods.
There are probably very few people in the world who are oblivious about the deadly nature of brain tumor. However, not many might know about its symptoms, types and what it exactly is? Brain tumor is like the cancer of the brain, you may say. Mass production of abnormal cells within the brain is referred to as brain tumor. While some brain tumors are benign or non-cancerous, there are others that are cancerous or malignant.
Broadly, there are two main types of brain tumors:
- Primary brain tumors – They usually begin in the brain
- Secondary brain tumors – This kind of cancer normally begins in other body parts and gradually spread to the brain. Most common cancers that usually spread to brain are: lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and many others. These are also called metastatic brain tumors and are more commonly found than the primary brain tumors and are sometimes life-threatening as well.
Brain tumor symptoms vary a great deal, depending upon the location, size and growth rate of the tumor. However, some general symptoms that can be observed are: severe headaches, unexplained vomiting, vision problems, restricted movement or loss of any sensation in a leg or arm, hearing problems, behavior changes, difficulty in balancing, hormonal disorders and difficulty in speech.
Though the causes of brain tumors cannot be pinpointed by doctors as yet, still there are a few risk factors that have been identified that may enhance your possibility of getting brain tumor:
- Race – brain tumors are most commonly found in whites, though meningioma is the only exception that is generally found in blacks.
- Age – Possibility of brain tumor increases with your age. Adults of 45 or above are the worst hit, though brain tumor can occur in any age. In fact, medulloblastomas is a kind of brain tumor that exclusively occurs in children in most cases.
- Radiation exposure – people who are more exposed to ionizing radiation have an increased risk.
- Chemical exposure on a regular basis – Workers employed in certain industries are also at a high risk, like those working in oil refineries, healthcare, agricultural or electrical industries.
- Family history – Sometimes, people who have a family history for brain tumors may also be the victim but such cases are very few.
In case, you are in the risk zone and you have observed any symptoms mentioned above, it is better to check with the doctor without any delay. To clear the suspicion, doctor may recommend a few procedures and tests, such as neurological exam, imaging tests and tests to diagnose cancer in other body parts. Shrinking away from tests is no solution, the sooner it’s diagnosed, the better it is. The biopsy of the abnormal cell is done that helps to determine if the brain tumor is benign or cancerous. These tests and biopsy would help doctors decide the most appropriate course of treatment, based on the results.
Anyone who has had a nearby relative or family member suffering from Alzheimer disease surely knows about the emotional and physical turmoil that both the patient and the caregivers have to undergo. Being a gradually progressive brain disease, memory impairment is the most commonly observed symptom that characterizes Alzheimer. This is followed by problem in planning, perception, language and reasoning.
Many scientists are of the opinion that accumulation or production of the protein, namely, beta-amyloid protein, within the brain causes death of the nerve cell that is believed as the primary reason for this disease.
The possibility of becoming a victim to Alzheimer increases as you age. This particularly stands true for anyone over 70 years of age, while 50% of these patients are found to be above 85 years.
The changes within the patient are analyzed in seven different stages by the physicians, as given below:
Stage 1 – No impairment - No problems are observed in reasoning, memory, communication, judgment or everyday activities of the patient. They are as normal as any healthy human being.
Stage 2 - Little impairment – A few lapses in the memory and some other cognitive troubles might occur but no changes are detected by anyone around the patient. No problems can even be revealed in the medical examination, at this stage.
Stage 3 – Cognitive decline becomes noticeable – mind changes are observed by family and friends in behavior, communication patterns or memory. Mild or early stage of Alzheimer’s disease is sometimes diagnosed at this time. Commonly observed symptoms at this stage are:
- Problem in remembering name of people or objects
- Difficult functionality in social settings or employment
- Forgetting what they have just read
- Misplacing important things frequently
- Reduced organizational or planning skills
Stage 4 – Mild Alzheimer’s – Forgetfulness about personal details or recent events is common. Cognitive decline become more evident. Diminished ability in completion of complicated tasks, like managing finances and reduced mathematical skills are some other symptoms that are noticed at this stage.
Stage 5 – Moderate Alzheimer’s – Patients usually require little assistance with their everyday tasks. Thinking and memory problems are clearly noticed. Some of the symptoms of this stage are:
- Forgetting important details, such as one’s own life history and contact details
- Disorientation to place and time
- Reduced personal care judgment
However, the condition of the patient is worsening but they can still eat on their own use bathroom without any assistance requirement.
Stage 6 – Severe Alzheimer’s - A lot of behavior and personality changes are noticed at this time and thereby the situation becomes difficult to cope for the caregivers. Assistance is needed for almost all daily activities. Bladder and bowel incontinence, reduced consciousness of surroundings, difficulty in recognizing one’s family members, increased restless in late afternoons, wandering, suspicion and repetitive behavior are some other problems that are faced at this stage.
Stage 7 – Last stage of severe Alzheimer’s – Almost no response to the surroundings, limited communication in just a few phrases or words, swallowing ability and other basic functions may come to a standstill, leading to a life-threatening situation. It becomes inevitable to take total care of the patient.
Rate at which these stages are advanced by the patient is completely an individual concern. Sometimes, a patient may be found to be in two stages at once. These stages, in any case, are not a blueprint of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease but this definitely stands true for most cases. Alzheimer is a deadly disease that may even cause family members to leave the patient alone than to take proper care of them as it tests the caregivers of the patient, more than the patient itself, who is unaware of their surroundings.
Running from the chest to both the legs, aorta is the largest artery in the body that carry oxygenated blood to all body parts as blood is pumped by the heart. Aorta, as it reaches the abdomen, is known as abdominal aorta. Abdominal aortic aneurysm or AAA is a life-threatening disease associated with this aorta that is claiming many lives nowadays. Diagnosed AAA cases have augmented threefold in the last 30 years. 200,000 people are diagnosed with AAA in U.S. every year. Around 15,000 of these patients have AAA that may cause death due to rupture, if left untreated.
Bulging of any weakened part of the abdominal aorta due to pressure of the flowing blood is called abdominal aortic aneurysm. While 1 inch is the diameter of any normal aorta, AAA may cause aorta to expand beyond safety margin. This is a great health risk as excessive expansion may further lead to rupture or burst of abdominal aorta. Burst or rupture causes severe and immediate internal bleeding, resulting in shock or death.
Sometimes, AAA may pave the way for a serious health condition, embolization. Debris or clots starts forming within the aneurysm that goes into the blood vessels, thereby spreading to other body organs. In case of blockage of any of the blood vessels that has clots, severe pain can be felt by the patient, leading to serious problems, like limb loss.
Though you may not experience any symptoms at the initial stage, at a later stage, you may feel the following:
- Feeling your pulse rate within your abdomen, just as your heartbeat
- Sudden or severe pain in the lower back or abdomen. This is a dreadful symptom as this implies that your aneurysm can burst very soon.
- Occasionally, your may experience discoloration or pain in your feet and sores on your feet or toes.
When aneurysm bursts, patient usually feels sudden and very intense pain, dizziness and weakness and loses consciousness eventually. This condition is a huge threat to your life and requires immediate medical attention.
There is no surety about the causes of AAA. However, inflammation is believed to have a relation with atherosclerosis and hypertension and smoking are thought to increase the risk even more, with their contribution to atherosclerosis. Besides, being a man of over 60 years or having a close relative as an AAA patient also increases the possibility of becoming an abdominal aortic aneurysm victim. Also, men are at a greater risk of AAA as compared to women.
AAA that does not cause any symptoms is sometimes diagnosed when doctors are performing a CT scan or an imaging test for any other condition. At times, a physician may also notice huge pulsing mass within your abdomen while conducting a routine physical checkup. MRI, CT scan or abdominal ultrasound may be recommended, if AAA is suspected.
Like other diseases, even in the case of AAA, early diagnosis can be of great help. The common treatments that provide a ray of hope to AAA patients are: Endovascular stent graft, watchful waiting and open surgical aneurysm repair.