GOITER AND YOU

A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland that causes swelling on the neck. The thyroid gland is situated in front of the windpipe and is responsible for producing and secreting hormones that regulate growth and metabolism.

The extent or degree of swelling and the severity of symptoms produced by the goiter usually depends on the individual.

Key points about goiter includes:

·    Goiter describes a condition where the thyroid gland, located in the neck, becomes enlarged.

·    Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of goiter.

·    In developed countries, goiter is usually caused by an autoimmune disease.

·    Goiter is diagnosed by physical examination, but thyroid function blood tests and scans may be used.

·    Treatment is not necessary unless the goiter is large and causes symptoms (there are often no symptoms).

CAUSES

IODINE: Iodine deficiency is the major cause of goiter worldwide, but this is rarely a cause in more economically developed countries where iodine is routinely added to salt.

As iodine is less commonly found in plants, vegan diets may lack sufficient iodine; this is less of a problem for vegans who live in countries such as the United States that add iodine to salt.

Dietary iodine is found in:

·       seafood

·       plant food grown in iodine-rich soil

·       cow's milk

The thyroid gland needs iodine to manufacture thyroid hormones, which regulate the body's rate of metabolism.

HYPERTHYROIDISM

An overactive thyroid gland is termed Hyperthyroidism. This is another cause of goiter. This usually happens as a result of Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder where the body's immunity turns on itself and attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to swell.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

This is the main cause of goiter in developed countries. Women over age 40 are at greater risk of goiter, same as people with a family history of the condition.

OTHER CAUSES

·       nodules - benign lumps

·       smoking - thiocyanate in tobacco smoke interferes with iodine absorption

·       hormonal changes - pregnancy, puberty, and menopause can affect thyroid function

·       thyroiditis - inflammation caused by infection, for example

·       lithium - a psychiatric drug that can interfere with thyroid function

·       overconsumption of iodine - too much iodine can cause a goiter

·       radiation therapy - particularly to the neck

TREATMENT

Most simple goiters are preventable through adequate intake of iodine, which is added to table salt in many countries.

Active treatment of goiter is reserved for cases that cause symptoms - otherwise, no action is taken, and some simple goiters resolve on their own. If the goiter is small and thyroid function is normal, treatment is not usually offered.

SURGERY

Surgery to reduce the size of the swelling is reserved for cases where the goiter is causing troublesome symptoms such as difficulty breathing or swallowing.

SYMPTOMS

Most goiters don’t show symptoms. The following are the most common symptoms that are seen with goiter:

·       throat symptoms of tightness, cough, and hoarseness

·       trouble swallowing

·       in severe cases, difficulty breathing (possibly with a high-pitch sound)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FIBROIDS

Fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus. Sometimes, these growths or tumors become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy periods. In some cases, they show no signs or symptoms at all. The growths are typically noncancerous. The cause of fibroids is unknown.
Some research shows there may be a relation between estrogen levels and fibroid. When estrogen levels are high, especially during pregnancy, fibroids tend to swell. Research has also shown it develops more with women who are taking birth control pills that contains estrogen. It has also been observed that when estrogen is low, like in menopause, fibroids tends to shrink
According to  research, 70 to 80 percent of women have them by the age of 50, most do not show symptoms.

TYPES OF FIBROIDS

Intramural Fibroids
Intramural fibroids are the most common type of fibroid. They appear within the muscular wall of the uterus. Intramural fibroids may grow larger and can stretch your womb.

Subserosal Fibroids
Subserosal fibroids form on the outside of your uterus. This part of the uterus is called the serosa. They may grow large enough to make your womb appear bigger on one side.

Pedunculated Fibroids
When subserosal tumors or fibroids develop a stem, they become pedunculated fibroids.

CAUSES

As stated earlier, it is unclear why fibroids develop, but several factors may influence their formation. These factors includes

Hormones
Estrogen and progesterone are the hormones produced by the ovaries. They cause the uterine lining to regenerate during each menstrual cycle and may stimulate the growth of fibroids.

Family History
Fibroids in most cases run in the family. If your mother, sister, or grandmother has a history of this condition, you may develop it as well.

Pregnancy
Pregnancy increases the production of estrogen and progesterone in your body, this inversely increases the chances of fibroid development.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms depends on the location, size of the tumor(s) and number of the tumors. A small sized tumor and a woman at the menopause stage may not have any symptoms. Fibroids may shrink during and after menopause.
Symptoms of fibroids may include:

heavy bleeding between or during your periods

pain in the pelvis and or lower back

increased menstrual cramping

increased urination

pain during intercourse

menstruation that lasts longer than usual

pressure or fullness in your lower abdomen

swelling or enlargement of the abdomen

DIAGNOSIS

A gynecologist will do a pelvic examination. This is done to check the condition, size, and shape of your uterus.

Other tests may also be required:

Ultrasound
An ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of your uterus on a screen. This enables a doctor to see its internal structures and any fibroids present.

Pelvic MRI
MRI produces pictures of uterus, ovaries, and other pelvic organs.

TREATMENT

A treatment plan is developed by the Doctor, based on the patients age, size of fibroid(s), and overall health.

Medications
Medications to regulate your hormone levels may be prescribed to shrink fibroids. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, such as leuprolide (Lupron), will cause your estrogen and progesterone levels to drop. This will eventually stop menstruation and shrink fibroids.

Surgery
Surgery to remove very large or multiple growths (myomectomy) may be performed.

PREVENTION

Regular uterus check up is advised for women of age 35 and above.

When you start observing irregular mensuration, please check with your doctor.

Reduce pill intakes that has high estrogen levels.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COLOR BLINDNESS

Color blindness is not a form of blindness at all, but a deficiency in the way you see color. With this vision problem, you have difficulty distinguishing certain colors, such as blue and yellow or red and green.

Color blindness (color vision deficiency) is an inherited condition. It affects males more frequently than females. According to Prevent Blindness America, an estimated 8 percent of males and less than 1 percent of females have color vision problems.

Red-green color deficiency is the most common form of color blindness.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS:

Do you have difficulty telling if colors are blue and yellow, or red and green? Do other people sometimes inform you that the color you think you are seeing is wrong? If so, it’s a sign that you have a color vision deficiency.

Contrary to popular belief, it is rare for a color blind person to see only in shades of gray.

Having color blindness does NOT mean the person doesn’t see colors, but certain colors appear washed out and are easily confused with other colors, depending on the type of color vision deficiency they have.

If  normally you have been able to see a full range of color, and gradually you started noticing you miss colors, then you definitely should visit your doctor. Sudden or gradual loss of color vision can indicate any number of underlying health problems, such as cataracts. Tests can also help to detect the color deficiency you have

CAUSES OF COLOR BLINDNESS?

It occurs when light-sensitive cells in the retina fail to respond appropriately to variations in wavelengths of light that enable people to see an array of colors. These light-sensitive cells are called photoreceptors.

The 7 million cones in the human retina are responsible for color vision, and these photoreceptors are concentrated in the central zone of the retina called the macula.

The center of the macula is called the fovea, and this tiny (0.3 mm diameter) area contains the highest concentration of cones in the retina and is responsible for our most acute color vision.

Inherited forms of color blindness often are related to deficiencies in certain types of cones or outright absence of these cones.

Apart from differences in genetic makeup, other causes of color vision defects  include:

·         Parkinson's disease (PD). Because Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder, light-sensitive nerve cells in the retina where vision processing occurs may be damaged and cannot function properly.

·         Cataracts. Clouding of the eye's natural lens that occurs with cataracts can "wash out" color vision.

·         Tiagabine for epilepsy. An antiepileptic drug known as tiagabine has been shown to reduce color vision. The effects is NOT permanent

·         Kallman's syndrome. This inherited condition involves failure of the pituitary gland, which can lead to incomplete or unusual gender-related development such as of sexual organs. Color blindness can be one symptom of this condition.

·         Aging. Color blindness also can occur when aging processes damage retinal cells.

·         Injury. An injury or damage to areas of the brain where vision processing takes place also can cause color vision deficiencies.

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Lenses For Color Blindness:

Some people use special lenses to enhance color perception, they come inform of contact lens or eyeglass. These types of lenses are available from a limited number of eye care practitioners. If your eye doctor doesn't handle these types of lenses, ask for a referral so that you can seek out someone who might be able to assist you.

You also can learn ways to work around your inability to pick out certain colors. For example, you might organize and label your clothing to avoid color clashes. (Ask friends or family members to help!)

Diagnosing color vision deficiency early also may prevent learning problems during school years, particularly because many learning materials rely heavily on color perception. If your child has a color deficiency, be sure to speak with his or her teachers about it, so they can plan their lessons and presentations accordingly

#NOTE#: A major study of preschoolers has found that among Caucasian boys, one in 20 is color blind (or, more precisely, color vision deficient), and African-American, Asian and Hispanic boys have lower rates of the mostly genetic condition.

MALARIA AND YOU.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that’s typically transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Not all mosquitoes transmit malaria, specifically; it has to be an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites a human, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.

When the parasites get into the body, they travel to the liver, where they grow and mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and start infecting the red blood cells. In 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open. This causes symptoms that occur in cycles that stay or lasts two or more days.

Malaria parasites lives majorly in subtropical areas and that’s why people that lives there suffer from it majorly.

Apart from direct contact with an infected anopheles mosquito, malaria can be transmitted through blood. An infected mother can also pass the disease to her baby at birth. This is known as congenital malaria. Malaria can also be transmitted through:

• an organ transplant
• a transfusion
• use of shared needles or syringes.

SYMPTOMS:

The symptoms of malaria normally develop within 10 days to four weeks following the infection. In some people, symptoms may not develop for several months usually due to the individuals immune system strength. Some malarial parasites can enter the body but will be dormant for long periods of time. Common symptoms of malaria include:

• shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe
• high fever
• profuse sweating
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• anemia
• muscle pain
• convulsions
• coma
• bloody stools

PREVENTION:

Malaria has no vaccine available for prevention. Talk to your doctor if you’re traveling to an area where malaria is common or if you live in such an area. You may be prescribed medications to prevent the disease. These medications are the same as those used to treat the disease and can be taken before, during, and after your trip.

Sleeping under a mosquito net may help prevent being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Keeping a clean environment plays a big role in staying away from anopheles mosquitoes. This breed of mosquitoes strive well in a dirty environment, water logged areas, areas with stagnated waters etc.

Clear bushes around your surroundings, they breed mosquitoes.

PREGNANCY & ALCOHOL.

Alcohol is formed when yeast ferments (breaks down without oxygen) the sugars in different food. For example, wine is made from the sugar in grapes, beer from the sugar in malted barley, cider from the sugar in apples, vodka from the sugar in potatoes, beets or other plants.

Alcohol is classified as a ‘sedative hypnotic’ drug. It acts to depress the central nervous system at high doses. When taken at lower doses, alcohol can act as a stimulant, inducing feelings of euphoria and talkativeness, but drinking too much alcohol at one session can lead to drowsiness, respiratory depression, coma or even death.

In an adult, alcohol affects the brain (it interferes the brains communication pathways), Heart (high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, stroke), Liver (fibrosis, cirrhosis etc), Cancer (drinking can increase your risk of having throat cancer, mouth, liver, breast), weaken the immune system of the body.

A woman who drinks alcohol while she is pregnant may harm her developing baby. Alcohol can pass through blood. This simply means it goes from the mother's blood into the baby's blood. Alcohol can damage and affect the growth of the baby's cells.

FASD (Fatal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder):

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes the range of alcohol effects on a child. These problems can range from mild to severe. Alcohol can cause a child to have physical, mental or both problems that may last all of his or her life.

Heavy drinking (having eight or more alcoholic drinks a week) greatly increases the risk that your baby will suffer from FASD. Even babies whose mothers drink less can develop a FASD or later have a number of mental, physical, or behavioral problems

THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL CAN INCLUDE:

• Distinctive facial features. A child may have a small head, flat face, and narrow eye openings, for instance. This gets more obvious as the baby ages (2 to 3 years).
• Growth problems. Children who were exposed to alcohol before they were born may be smaller than other children of the same age.
• Learning and behavior problems.
• Baby’s exposed to alcohol usually have birth defects.
• Problems feeding as a newborn.

Heavy alcohol use during pregnancy can also lead to miscarriages, stillbirth, or a baby being born early.

HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS SAFE?

The risk gets higher with heavy alcohol use, any amount of alcohol may affect your developing baby. Heavy drinking (5 or more drinks on at least one occasion) during pregnancy can severely affect a developing baby.

The best way to avoid FASD is by not drinking at all while you are pregnant.

The effects that alcohol has on a developing baby depend on:

• How much, how often, and at what stage of pregnancy the mother drinks alcohol. The more the intake, the more the effect on the fetus.
• Whether the mother used other drugs, smoked, or had poor health for any reason while she was pregnant. In these cases, the child is more likely to have problems.
• Traits passed down through families. Some babies are more likely to be harmed by alcohol than others. It's not clear why, but there may be a genetic link.

It’s advisable a pregnant woman stays away completely from alcohol. It’s still advised after child birth because alcohol intake after birth could still affect the baby if precautions are not taken. The amount of alcohol that makes it into the bloodstream of a breastfeeding woman also makes it into her breast milk. Baby’s are tiny and have an immature liver. They can’t process alcohol as you can. Over working their liver is not advisable and could damage it permanently.

STD, KNOWLEDGE & PREVENTION

WHAT IS STD?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are infections that are passed from person to person through sexual contact. There are more than twenty other sexually transmitted infections that are mainly spread by sexual contact (vaginal, anal, and oral sex).

Globally, more than one million people get an STD every day. Most people with sexually transmitted infections do not have symptoms and are therefore often unaware of their ability to pass the infection on to their sexual partner(s).

Sexually transmitted infections can cause serious health problems if untreated. This could lead to cervical cancer, liver disease, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and pregnancy problems. Having some STIs such as chancroid, herpes, syphilis, and trichomoniasis) can increase the risk of your getting HIV.

Teenage girls and young women are more at risk for sexually transmitted infections. Their cervix (passage between the vagina and womb) in adolescents and young women is lined with cells that are more likely to become infected with STIs.

Many sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms, but can still be passed from person to person. An individual may look healthy, and still have an STI. The only certain way to know for sure is to get tested.

Practicing Safe Sex reduces chances of contracting STIs greatly. Most STIs can be successfully cured through treatment. For other STIs, there are effective medications that can help you manage your condition.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS TO KNOW ABOUT:

While many people with sexually transmitted infections show no signs or symptoms of their infection, when there are signs of STIs they are most likely to be in the genital area. The genital area in women includes the vulva (the area around the vagina including the lips), vagina (the opening where menstrual blood comes out), buttocks, urethra (the opening above the vagina where urine comes out) and anus (the opening where a bowel movement comes out). The genital area in men includes the penis, scrotum (“balls”), urethra, and anus.

CHANCROID:

This sexually transmitted infection is caused by a bacterium. Symptoms may include genital sores, vaginal discharge, a burning feeling when urinating, and swollen lymph nodes in the groin. It can be spread by vaginal or anal sex or skin-to-skin contact with sores. Chancroid can be treated with antibiotics.

CHLAMYDIA:

This is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It is caused by a bacterium that exists in vaginal secretions and semen ("cum"). It can be spread by vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Pregnant women can pass it on to their babies during normal delivery. Symptoms may include vaginal discharge, burning sensation during urination, but most women do not have any symptoms. Antibiotics can treat chlamydia. Untreated chlamydia can spread to a woman’s upper, internal reproductive organs (ovaries and fallopian tubes) and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to infertility.

GENITAL WARTS: Genital warts are caused by viruses. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is the name of a large group of viruses. Certain types of HPV cause warts on the hands or feet. Other types cause infections in the genital area that can lead to genital warts, cervical cancer, or cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. Genital HPV is spread easily through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Condoms do not totally prevent transmission.

GONORRHEA:

This sexually transmitted infection exists in vaginal secretions and semen. It can be spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom or latex/polyurethane barrier. Symptoms may include a yellowish or greenish vaginal discharge and a burning feeling when urinating. Gonorrhea can also affect the anus and the throat. Many women have no symptoms. Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics.

PUBIC LICE (“Crabs”): Pubic lice live in the pubic hair and can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. They can also be spread through infected clothes and bedding. Symptoms may include intense itching and seeing lice or eggs in the hair. Pubic lice can be treated with over-the-counter medications. However, pregnant women must use products specially designed for them. Contaminated clothes, sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and towels should be washed in hot water and laundry soap to kill lice and eggs and to prevent being infected again.

SYPHILIS: This STI is caused by a bacterium. It can be spread by vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom or latex/polyurethane barrier. The disease has several phases. People with primary syphilis (early disease) may have pain-free open sores, called chancres, in the genital or anal area or around the mouth. The sores usually heal on their own in three to six weeks. People with secondary syphilis (a later stage of the disease) often have a rash and/or hair loss. If left untreated, syphilis can proceed to the latent stage during which it may have no visible symptoms but can cause damage to the heart, brain, and other organs. Syphilis can be successfully treated with antibiotics. Without treatment, it can hurt your body’s organs, leading to severe illness and even death. Pregnant women can pass syphilis to their babies during pregnancy and childbirth, so it is important that pregnant women get tested for syphilis

PROTECTING YOURSELF AND OTHERS:

You can greatly reduce your risk of getting many sexually transmitted infections by practicing Safer Sex. Some STIs like genital warts, herpes, and syphilis can be spread through contact with infected skin. Here are some tips for protecting yourself:

·         Use a latex condom for vaginal and anal sex or a plastic condom if you are sensitive to latex

·         The female condom can also prevent many sexually transmitted infections

·         Use condoms without lubricant for oral sex on a man

·         Use latex or plastic barriers, such as a dental dams or plastic wrap, for oral sex on a woman or for oral-anal sex; use latex or plastic gloves if you have cuts or sores on your hands

·         Use water-based lubricants (KY, Astroglide) with latex condoms or barriers

·         DO NOT use oil-based products (Vaseline, body lotions) because they destroy latex

·         Do not use lubricants or condoms that contain nonoxynol-9 (N-9), which can damage the lining of the vagina or anus and increase the chances of infection with HIV

·         Wash shared sex toys (dildos, vibrators) or put on a fresh condom between users

·         Know that some methods of birth control, like birth control pills, shots, implants, or diaphragms, will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections. If you use one of these methods also use a latex condom.

·         Talk with your sex partner(s) about sexually transmitted infections and using condoms

·         Talk honestly with your health care provider and your sex partner(s) about any sexually transmitted infections you or your partner has or has had

·         Have regular pelvic exams and cervical cancer screening, but remember that cervical cancer screening tests do not screen for sexually transmitted infections other than HPV

·         Talk to your health care provider about having routine sexually transmitted infection screening as part of your annual physical or gynecological exam

·         Do not share needles or syringes for injecting drugs or other substances; if you do share drug equipment, be sure to clean your works

FACTS ABOUT MISCARRIAGES.

A miscarriage could be explained as the loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion. The word "spontaneous" is the key word here because the condition is not an abortion in the common definition of the term.

According to research, 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Mostly, it often occurs before a woman misses a menstrual period or even knows she is pregnant.

Most miscarriages occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Miscarriages are less likely to occur after 20 weeks gestation.

SYMPTOMS:

• Bleeding
• Severe cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Weakness
• Back pain

WHAT CAUSES MISCARRIAGE?

Most miscarriages happen when the unborn baby has fatal genetic problems. Most at times, these problems are unrelated to the mother.

Other causes of miscarriage include:

• Infection
• Medical / Health conditions in the mother, such as diabetes, thyroid disease etc
• Hormonal issues
• Immune system problems
• Physical problems in the mother
• Uterine abnormalities

A woman has a higher risk of miscarriage if she is over 35 years of age.

CERVICAL INSUFFICIENCY:

Wikipedia defined cervical insufficiency (cervical incompetence) as a medical condition in which a pregnant woman’s cervix begins to dilate (widen) and efface (thin) before her pregnancy has reached term.

A miscarriage from an incompetent cervix usually occurs in the second trimester.

Symptoms may occur before a miscarriage caused by cervical insufficiency. They may include; feel of sudden pressure, her "water" may break, tissue from the fetus may be expelled without much pain.

 An incompetent cervix can usually be treated with a "circling" stitch in the cervix in the next pregnancy, usually around 12 weeks. The stitch holds the cervix closed until it is pulled out around the time of delivery. A stitch may also be placed even if there has not been a previous miscarriage if cervical incompetency is discovered early enough.

CAN YOU GET PREGNANT FOLLOWING A MISCARRIAGE?

Yes. 85% of women who have miscarriages have subsequent normal pregnancies and births. Having experienced a miscarriage does not necessarily mean you have a fertility problem.

If you experience two to three miscarriages in a row, it’s advised you stop trying to conceive, use a form of birth control, meet your health care provider for diagnostic tests so as to determine the cause of your miscarriages.

Determine the timing of your next pregnancy from your health care provider after all checkups to prevent another. Its recommended one takes time to heal physically and emotionally before trying again. Counseling is advised and pregnancy support groups to help with emotional healing.

CAN I PREVENT A MISCARRIAGE?

Miscarriages cannot be prevented, it’s spontaneous and often occurs due to an abnormal pregnancy. It is advised a woman goes for a general checkup before conception so as to reduce chances of miscarriages and treat underlying health problems.

Sometimes, treatment of a mother's illness can improve the chances for a successful pregnancy.