Be Your Own Doctor

urinary stones ( part 4 )

2010-06-18T12:45:00.000+03:00

Urinary stones

Do you know that 10-20% of all population has urinary stones!!!
It's true.... but not all of them show symptoms.

It's more common in middle aged men especially in hot climates as in Egypt...

How can urinary stones manifest?
Pain is the cardinal symptom of urinary stone. Either dull aching pain in the flanks.... or sudden severe excruciating pain in your loin radiating to the groin and can be associated with nausea and vomiting....
painful bloody urine or pus can also be a warning sign of stones...

Can urinary stones be a dangerous health hazard?
Absolutely.... Stones can causes your kidney to stop working in severe cases and also it can predispose for cancer bladder...

How can i avoid urinary stones?
It's true that some people are stone makers and other are not. Yet, any one who does not drink a sufficient amount of fluids is very liable to get stones....

Drink at least eight 8-oz glasses of water daily ( refer to your physician if you have a history of kidney or heart disease to supply you with a suitable fluid chart. )
Limit your intake of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages — they promote the production of urine, so you'll lose water.

Eye damage (part 3)

2010-06-06T21:58:00.001+03:00

Eye damage

picnics.... graduation parties.... cookouts.... direct contact with sunlight for long periods of time....
Maybe we can protect our skin with sun blocks, but what about our eyes....

First I'm going to give you a little hint about what the eye is all about....
This is a section in the human eye ball showing its different structures...
light travels through the cornea, then through the pupil which is a small hole in the colored iris, through the lens to the retina which is the part of eye which perceives light and translate it into electricity to go through the optic nerve to the brain to be interpreted as visual information.....

What is UV radiation?
Alot of us know about the hazards of UV rays on our skin ( refer to the first article for more information )...
but a few of us realize how dangerous is the UV rays on our eyes, whether natural or artificial, it can cause severe damage to surface eye structures as the cornea and lens....

UV radiation consists of invisible rays from the sun.... There are three types of UV radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC.
UVC rays do not pose any threat, as they are absorbed by the ozone layer.
However, exposure to UVA and UVB rays can have adverse effects on your eyes and vision. Short- and long-term exposure to these dangerous rays can cause significant damage. It is important to note that UV radiation can also be given off by artificial sources like welding machines, tanning beds and lasers.

Short-term effects of UV radiation:

If you are exposed, unprotected, to excessive amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you are likely to experience an effect called photokeratitis. Photokeratitis is an inflammation of the cornea caused by a brief exposure to UV radiation, usually when combined with cold wind and snow. Like a "sunburn of the eye", it may be painful and may create symptoms including red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes.

Long-term effects of UV radiation:

Long-term exposure to UV radiation can be more serious. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to small amounts of UV radiation over a period of many years may increase the chance of developing a cataract, which is opacity of the lens, and may cause damage to the retina. This damage to the retina is usually not reversible. Cumulative damage of repeated exposure may contribute to chronic eye disease, as well as increase the risk of developing skin cancer around the eyelids. Long-term exposure to UV light is also a risk factor in the development of pterygium (a growth of conjunctiva that invades the corner of the eyes) and pinguecula (a yellowish, slightly raised lesion that forms on the surface tissue of the white part of your eye, which we Egyptians suffer from it by a considerable percentage).

How can I protect my eye from UV radiation?

It is not yet known how much exposure to UV radiation will cause how much damage, but a good recommendation is to wear quality sunglasses that offer good protection and a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors, participating in outdoor sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun.

To provide protection for your eyes, your sunglasses should:

•Block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

•Screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.

•Be perfectly matched in color and free of distortion and imperfection.

•Have lenses that are gray for proper color recognition.

Finally, even if you are wearing contact lenses that have UV protection, you still need to wear sunglasses. UV rays will likely affect the eye tissue that is not covered by the contacts. Your eyes will be more comfortable, too, with most of the bright light blocked.

Top 10 Summer Health Hazards (part 2)

2010-05-09T13:37:00.005+03:00

Heat stroke

Korey Stringer, the Minnesota vikings right tackle died from Heat Htroke in 2001 as a result of the heat wave that hit Minneapolis...

What is Heat stroke?

Heat stroke is a form of abnormally elevated body temperature that can reach to 41 degrees or even more.... unlike less severe forms of elevated body temperature Heat stroke is a medical emergency that can be fatal if not well treated.

Normally, the body generates heat and is able to get rid of it by radiating it through the skin and the evaporation of sweat... However, in extreme hot weather, vigorous exertion under the sun and high humidity the body's temperature rises and the normal mechanisms can no longer sustain the normal range of body temperature...

Who are the most susceptible to getting a Heat stroke?

Infants
The elderly ( associated with heart or lung or kidney problems )
Athletes
Outdoor workers

How can I know I got Heat stoke?

sometimes a person may get the symptoms of heat exhaustion before those of heat stoke. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Weakness
Headache
Muscle cramps
Dizziness

However some people experience Heat Strokes suddenly and without warning...

Symptoms of Heat Stroke include:

High body temperature

NO sweating and Dry skin

Rapid pulse

Difficulty in breathing

hallucination

Disorientation

Seizures

Coma

What are the first aid measures i can offer to such a patient?

Heat stroke patients should receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage...

Get the victim to a shady area, remove his clothing, apply cold or tap water to his skin, fan him to promote sweating and evaporation, put ice under his arm pits and groin.

Call an ambulance, If it's going to take them long to arrive they will instruct you with further procedures

How can I avoid Heat Stroke?

Most importantly avoid dehydration and intense physical exertion in hot humid weather

Always drink plenty of fluids if you have to perform physical activity in such conditions

put on light coloured, lightweight, loose clothing

Take frequent breaks to rehydrate yourself

Top 10 Summer Health Hazards (part 1)

2010-05-08T14:46:00.003+03:00

This will be the first article in a series of 10 articles about the Top 10 Summer Health Hazards you need to avoid...

Skin cancer:
Over one million patient is diagnosed every year by skin cancer. Skin cancer is usually easy to treat provided that it is caught early.
We can further categorize the skin cancer into 2 categories:

1- Melanoma:

It's by far due to prolonged exposure to sunlight, it can also arise on top of a simple naevus and more common in fair coloured skin races.
So, How can i differentiate between a malignant melanoma and a simple naevus??
. A naevus is can be any size ranging from less than 1.5 cm in diameter to over 20 cm. (so, it's not about the size)
. If you find your naevus to be rapidly growing, itching, painful, changing in colour, bleeding or ulcerating consult your doctor immediately.
. Always check your skin for any deep coloured lesions and make your partner check those parts you can't have a good look at.

2- Non-Melanoma:

Either Basal cell carcinoma ( AKA rodent ulcer ) or Squamous cell carcinoma...
some factors as prolonged sun exposure ultraviolet rays or decreased immunity can increase your susceptibility to getting it.
.suspect non-melanomatous skin cancer if you find any painless swelling on your skin or a growing ulcer that is resistant to treatment.

Finally, always wear sunscreens before going out by day and consult your dermatologist if you suspect any skin lesion... remember skin cancer is curable if caught early.

welcome

2010-05-08T13:44:00.005+03:00

welcome to Be Your Own Doctor. This site provides some answers for the most important FAQs about health tips...
I will be glad to answer any Questions
and remember always Be Your Own Doctor