Consumer Guide Online

Archive for December, 2008

7 years ago i had problems only in my left eye which was diagnosed as uveitis inflamation in in my eye which was causing me to lose my eyesight i know can see nothing and about 5 years ago my right eye began with the same problem.i have blurred vision and floaters in both eyes. the sunlight bothers me, and at night i cant see the have never found a reason they just say it is something in my body that is wrong that is causing this. but to this day nothing abnormal in test.

answer:

Causes
Uveitis has many different causes. It may be associated with infections from a virus (such as shingles, mumps, or herpes), a fungus (such as Histoplasmosis), or a parasite (such as Toxoplasmosis). It may also result from autoimmune inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or come as a consequence of injury to the eye. In at least 50% of cases, the cause remains unknown.

Treatment

Treatment varies according to the type of inflammation. Iritis affects the front chamber of the eye, usually as sudden episodes with symptoms of pain, rednesss and sensitivity to light. These attacks respond to drops, using steroid of variable strength and frequency and dilating the pupil while inflammation is active to prevent adhesions. Complications of repeated attacks of iritis include permanently small pupil, rise in eye pressure and cataract. Vision may be blurred during acute attacks and dilating drops will also blur reading vision in particular.

Prompt treatment is necessary to minimize any loss of vision. Eye drops, especially steroids and pupil dilators, are medications used to reduce inflammation and pain. For deeper inflammation, oral medication or injections may be necessary. Complications such as glaucoma (high pressure in the eye), cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye), or neovascularization (new blood vessel formation) may also occur and need treatment in the course of the disease. If complications are advanced, laser surgery or conventional surgery in the operating room may be necessary. Your doctor will discuss specific treatment recommendations with you.

I am a 23 year old Male, and for the past month I have been experiencing a strange sensation in my head that is hard to explain – but I will do my best to describe it here. It comes on every 5 seconds or so and lasts for about 2 seconds at a time. I guess it feels like a burning sensation, although the pain is quite mild. I also experience an ache within my left ear, and sometimes a slight ache in my throat but these aches are not always constant. I would say they are present for about 70% of the day, where as the sensation in my head is 100% of the day. The muscles around my shoulder blades also seem a little tight, and yesterday I tried massaging myself around this area, and when I hit a certain spot I would get a short headache in my temples that lasted for less than a second… but every time I did this, I got the head ache every time. Sometimes (but quite infrequently) I feel the same pain on the right side of my head too, and I also experience shooting pains in strange places like my earlobes and rib area, which last for less than a second and again occur infrequently.

I have been to the Doctor a few times in the last couple of weeks, as I want to be sure it is nothing serious like a tumour. (I’ve never had anything like this my whole life, so it is all a bit worrying for me). They are not sure what it is, but think it is unlikely to be anything serious since the headaches are not strong, and I am not sick/nauseous. Also, they said that I would probably experience problems with my sight and/or hearing… The Doctor examined my ears, eyes, and throat quickly and said there was nothing of any concern there, but I know that it can’t be right to be feeling like this constantly for so long! They have prescribed me with Migrane tablets, which didn’t seem to do anything, and today they prescribed me with Diclofenac Sodium tablets which I have to start taking tomorrow. They said it is likely to be Tension Headaches, although having done some research online, I am not sure my symptoms
quite fit this diagnosis as the pain in my head is at the top left (right by the crown), and not at the front of my head like traditional headaches.

Can anyone put my mind at ease and tell me what the problem might be? I feel a bit like the Doctors think I am wasting their time, but I am just want to be sure it is nothing serious.

answer:
Secondary headaches are classified as either traction
or inflammatory headaches. Traction headaches result
from the pulling, pushing, or stretching of pain-sensitive
structures, such as a brain tumor pressing upon the outer
layer of tissue that covers the brain. Inflammatory
headaches are caused by infectious diseases of the ears,
teeth, sinuses, or other parts of the head.

Causes

A person feels headache pain when specialized nerve endings, known as nociceptors, are stimulated by pressure on or injury to any of the pain-sensitive structures of the head. Most nociceptors in humans are located in the skin or on the walls of blood vessels and internal organs.

Tension headaches typically result from tightening of
the face, neck, and scalp muscles as a result of emotional
stress; physical postures that cause the head and neck muscles to tense (e.g., holding a phone against the ear with one’s shoulder); emotional depression or anxiety; temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction; or arthritis of the neck. The tense muscles put pressure on the walls of the blood vessels that supply the neck and head, which stimulates the nociceptors in the tissues that line the blood vessels.

Medical treatments

Tension headaches are usually relieved fairly rapidly
by such over-the-counter analgesics as aspirin (300–600
mg every four hours), acetaminophen (650 mg every four hours), or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (brands include Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (brands such as Naprosyn or Aleve). For patients with chronic tension headaches, the doctor may prescribe a tricyclic antidepressant or benzodiazepine tranquilizer in addition to a pain reliever. A newer treatment for chronic tension headaches is botulinum toxin (Botox type A), which appears to work quite well for some patients.

I have oily/combination skin on my face and the texture seems to be getting worse. I’ve noticed that my pores are getting bigger, the complexion drier and I have more wrinkles. I can’t afford expensive face treatments or products. I know the drill of fruits, water and leading a healthier lifestyle but it isn’t easy to follow consistently. I’m worried and upset that in no time I’d be old and wrinkly-looking!

answer:
You have a situation where you have a lot of oil secreted on your skin, but the surface is dry. Your skin is not getting enough moisture (bear in mind that facial oil does not hydrate your skin), that’s why your complexion is getting drier. On the other hand your sebaceous glands are very active, producing too much oil, and that is the cause of the dilated pores. You need to get the right skincare products that are able to deeply moisturize your skin (an oil-free formula is better to prevent clogged pores) and at the same time control the production of sebum. Exfoliation is important too to encourage product absorption. And yes, diet and exercise is important in maintaining good skin, get sufficient rest as well. It’s difficult, but you have to make a lifestyle change if you want good skin throughout the year. It’s worth the effort, believe me.

My privates seem to smell bad all the time. I wash it with feminine wash but it does not seem to be working. What is wrong?

answer:
Bad smells down south is often caused by bacteria and this is exacerbated by a constant state of wetness at the groin as a result of sweating and vaginal discharge. To control this, always wipe after urinating (from front to back), wear a panty liner  but be sure to change it at least twice a day, avoid wearing too tight clothing and make it a point not to wear underwear that’s made of synthetic fabrics that tend to trap moisture. Try this first but if the situation still does not improve, you might actually have an infection that needs medical attention.

1. Take care of your depression and anxiety. It is vital to have a disease-free mind before you go into fixing your other body problems. Depression and Anxiety are quite easy to treat; all you really need to do is sit down and think about who or what is causing your depression and anxiety , what you can do about it, and then actually do something about it. Ask a family member or a specialized to help you figure that stuff out. One time you are completely sure that you know what is causing you mental grief – then try your hardest to reverse it. Several things you can do while treating your anxiety and depression are: meditation, deep breathing, relaxation, praying, swimming, hot tub/sauna/steam room, massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, spas, exercising, daily walks, daily exposure to the sun, organic food and supplements/multivitamins. The idea is to figure out what your problems are.

2. Energy is found in the optimal supply of the raw materials of life— food—ALL the nutrients the body needs, not just some. Pay attention of your body. Frequently getting sick is a sign of a weak immune system. Start workout regularly (swimming and biking are good for this purpose), start using a multivitamin and some specific supplements geared towards enhancing your immune system (b vitamins, vitamin c, zinc, l-glutamine, Echinacea, etc.), and fix your sleeping pattern and hygiene.

3. Antibiotics are more commonly prescribed for infectious diseases. In order to find out which bacteria you might currently be infected with, you need to get some blood tests done. If you haven’t done those already, then inquire your doctor about getting checked out as soon as possible. You can also drink Japanese mushroom teas and take daily detoxification formulas to clean out any of the less threatening bacteria while you are waiting for your blood test results.