Want to Know it? Answers to life's questions » Health

What Causes Pancreatitis

Want to know it — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:27:52 +0000

Pancreatitis is a painful condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. This inflammation occurs when the enzymes produced in the pancreas are activated inside the pancreas rather than the small intestine. This condition can come on suddenly or last for many years, depending on a variety of factors. Common symptoms include abdominal and back pain, nausea and vomiting. When the condition lasts for a long period of time it can lead to diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatitis has many different causes.

What causes pancreatitis?
The vast majority (80%) of pancreatitis is caused by gallstones or alcohol. Gallstones are responsible for most of the sudden onset cases of the condition and alcohol is the most common cause of long term pancreatitis. There is also a genetic condition that causes the trypsinogen (the inactivated form of the enzyme trypsin) to activate within the pancreas.

Other relatively common causes include; some medications such as AIDS drugs, steroid use, injury to the pancreas, mumps, high levels of calcium or triglycerides in the blood, autoimmune disease, malformation of the pancreas (pancreatic divisum), hypothermia and scorpion stings. A patient who undergoes a surgical procedure called Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) also has a 5% risk of developing pancreatitis.

The less common causes of pancreatitis include; pancreatic cancer, duct stones, inflammation of the blood vessels of the pancreas (vasculitis) and porphyria.

How is pancreatitis treated?
The treatment for pancreatitis depends on the cause of the condition. In most cases morphine is used for pain management. Oral intake is reduced or restricted and fluids are given intravenously. If gallstones are the problem they are removed surgically and antibiotics may be given if an infection is present.

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What Causes Ingrown Toenails

Want to know it — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:13:42 +0000

An ingrown toenail is a painful condition of the nail bed where the sides of the toenail grows into the nail bed. The sliver of toenail cuts into the nail bed causing pain, infection and inflammation. Whilst this condition can happen on both hands and feet it most commonly occurs with toenails. Some of the common symptoms of an ingrown toenail are localized pain at the base of the nail, swelling, pus, bleeding and sensitivity to pressure.

What causes ingrown toenails?
There are a number of factors that can cause ingrown toenails. Some people are more genetically prone to getting ingrown toenails. This can be due to the shape of the nail or the amount of skin around the nails. Some families have more rounded concave nails and this can cause the nail to bite into the nail bed when growing.

Another major factor that can cause ingrown toenails is incorrect footwear. Wearing footwear that is too tight or does not provide enough room for the toes can cause nails to grown abnormally. Some of the main culprits are high heels and narrow shoes with small toe-boxes. If you are susceptible to ingrown toenails it is important to get shoes that fit correctly. If you must wear high heels or narrow shoes rotate these with other more comfortable shoes and allow your toenails a chance to grow correctly.

Another common cause of ingrown toenails is improper care of the nails. If a toenail is cut incorrectly it may grow in such as way that it will cause an ingrown toenail. Toenails must be cut straight across, not rounded, and at the right length. If they are cut lower than the surrounding skin the nails may grow into the nail bed causing pain.

Fungal infections can also cause ingrown toenails. These types of disorders can cause the nail to grow thicker and wider leading to ingrown toenails. Any fungal infection should be treated as quickly as possible with the correct medication.

Lastly, trauma to the toe area can cause the nails to grow abnormally, which can lead to ingrown toenails. Dropping an object on the toe, stubbing the toe, or other similar events can cause the toe nail or the nail bed to develop irregularities causing the nail to bite into the flesh. If the toe has consistent pressure against it (such as regular soccer playing) ingrown toenails may occur.

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What Causes Impetigo

Want to know it — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:03:48 +0000

Impetigo, sometimes known as school sores, is a infection common amongst young children. It is usually a minor illness that causes painless blisters filled with fluid that occur on the arms, legs, face and trunk. These blisters may be red and itchy and eventually break and turn into a scab. In some cases the infection spreads into the second layer of skin. This is known as ecthyma and it is a far more serious problem. Symptoms of ecthyma include painful blisters that turn into ulcers and eventually cause scarring and swollen glands. Let’s take a look at what causes this infection.

What causes impetigo?
There are two bacteria that cause impetigo and the most common is known as Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria is also known as golden staph and causes a wide variety of illnesses. About 20% of all people are carriers of this bacteria in their nasal passages. A smaller number of cases are caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. The infection spreads by direct contact with the sores or from people that carry the bacteria. It takes about 1-3 days to start showing symptoms after being infected. The best prevention against impetigo is to practice good hygiene and avoid contact with people who show signs of being infected.

What is the treatment for impetigo?
The most common treatment for this infection is oral antibiotics or antibiotic cream. It is important to seek medical advice if you suspect you have impetigo.

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What Causes Boils

Want to know it — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:34:02 +0000

Boils are a painful swollen area on the skin that are sometimes known as a furuncle. They are sometimes mistaken for a large pimple, but are usually much more painful and can reach the size of a golf ball! In most cases they are a mere annoyance, but in serious cases they can cause swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, scarring, abscesses and even blood poisoning (sepsis). They can also reoccur, which is referred to as chronic furunculosis. Boils are contagious and are easily spread between people that have close contact. Let’s take a look at what causes this painful skin condition.

What causes boils?
Boils are an infection of a hair follicle and are usually caused by a bacteria known as Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria is also known as golden staph and is commonly found on the skin or in the nasal passages of many people. In fact, it is thought that 20% of people are constant carriers of this bacteria. The swelling and pain is caused by a build up of dead tissue and pus within the boil. There are various risk factors for developing boils including; being a carrier of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal passage, diabetes, weakened immune system and obesity.

What is the treatment for a boil?
It was once common to manually open the boil to allow it to drain, but this is no longer advised because it can cause further infection. However, if the boil looks likely to lead to further problems a doctor may choose to create an incision and drain a boil. The most common treatment today is to wash the area thoroughly, apply antibiotic cream and bandage the affected area. Antibiotics are sometimes given to people with serious or reoccurring boils, but Staphylococcus aureus is extremely antibiotic resistant. Preventing boils is possible with good personal hygiene and avoiding contact with infected people.
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What Causes A Muscle Twitch

Want to know it — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:19:03 +0000

The human body has about 656 to 850 muscles. Each of these muscles has a role to play in different bodily functions. Some muscles are used to move the body and others are used in bodily processes such as breathing, sneezing and digesting. Groups of muscles often work together to provide movement and achieve important bodily functions. Some muscles such as those in your arms and legs can be controlled by conscious thought, whilst others such as your heart complete their jobs without you thinking about it. It is common for muscles to twitch and move with and without us noticing. What makes a muscle twitch? Read this article to learn the answer.

Why Do Muscles Twitch?
A muscle twitch, known as fasciculation, is the involuntary tightening and relaxation of a muscle. It is often noticeable under the skin where it can also be seen, but in many cases can only be felt. Muscle twitches occur most often in skeletal muscle and are caused by a spontaneous discharge of muscle fibers. This discharge, or contraction and relaxation of the muscle fibers, can be caused by various factors such as stress, too much caffeine, too much strenuous exercise, poor diet or as a side effect of certain medications. A low level of magnesium in the body can also cause muscle twitches. Muscle twitches are usually not a concern and they will go away of their own accord. Common muscle twitches occur most frequently in the eyelids, calf or thumb.

Some muscle twitches are a sign of more serious health concerns such as disease of the motor neurons. It is best to see a health professional if you have muscle twitches that do not resolve after a few days. Other signs to be aware of are weakness, tingling, or numbness in the area where you get muscle twitches and the size and shape of the muscle becoming smaller.

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What Causes Dizziness

Want to know it — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:11:34 +0000

Dizziness is a fairly common occurrence amongst people of all ages. Dizziness is a feeling of light-headedness or loss of balance. Some experience a short dizzy spell, whereas others lose their sense of equilibrium and may even fall over. The feeling of spinning or motion of yourself or objects around you is often referred to as vertigo. Dizziness can be caused by a number of different factors and usually has a non-serious cause, but can be a symptom of a more serious problem.

What is the cause of dizziness?
There are many medical reasons that can cause dizziness. Some of the most common causes of dizziness are a rise or drop in blood pressure. This can occur when you stand too quickly or have eaten a heavy meal. When a person is hyperventilating (breathing too quickly and shallowly) the body is saturated by oxygen making a person become dizzy.

Other common causes include having low blood sugar. This often happens if a person is experiencing a cold or flu which is depleting their energy levels or causing them to eat less than usual. Emotionally upsetting experiences may also cause a person to feel dizzy. Tiredness or experiencing motion sickness is also a common cause of dizziness. Some pregnant women experience dizzy spells during episodes of morning sickness.

Dizziness can also be caused by a disturbance in the inner ear. The body’s balance is regulated by the fluid that can be found in the inner ear. When an infection is present in this part of the ear it causes the body to misread the signals being sent by the ear. This causes people to feel dizzy and unbalanced.

Some more serious causes of dizziness include such conditions as severe drops or rises in blood pressure. Prolonged high blood pressure can cause damage to the brain resulting in dizziness. Very low blood pressure is often caused by massive blood loss, reactions to medication or heart conditions. One of the first symptoms in these cases is dizziness. Heart conditions such as heart attacks or arrhythmia can also cause dizziness. Some brain conditions can also cause dizziness such as stroke, tumors and migraines.

Other metabolic disorders can also be a cause of dizziness these include condition such as hypoxia (low blood oxygen), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and dehydration.

If you have continual bouts of dizziness and are have other symptoms it is best to seek advice from a medical professional.

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Why is a Balanced Diet Important

Want to know it — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:06:48 +0000

Having a balanced diet is considered to be an important key to maintaining good health. A balanced diet is one that includes all the food groups in the right amounts. No one food group will provide a person with all that is needed to grow and maintain a healthy body and mind. Many illnesses require a balanced diet to aid in the recovery process. Let’s take a look at why eating a balanced diet is so important.

Why is a balanced diet important?
There are a number of reasons why having a balanced diet is important. The main reason is that eating a variety of foods will ensure that the body is getting all of the essential nutrients and minerals that are required. Eating a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber will provide your body with all of the essential amino acids, vitamin and minerals that the body needs to function. The body cannot synthesize particular amino acids and these must be absorbed from the foods that we eat. If a certain food group is being excluded it is likely that one or more of the essential amino acids will be missing, which can create a deficit in the body. The amino acids are the building blocks of life and are involved in every bodily function.

A deficiency in essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals can cause a number of health concerns such as poor growth and development (malnutrition), poor physical and mental health and in extreme cases death. It is also thought that an unbalanced diet makes the body more susceptible to illnesses. This is because the body cannot sustain the immune system without adequate nutrition. If the immune system is not functioning correctly it is unable to produce the necessary antibodies to fight off infections and disease.

Overconsumption of food groups can also cause health concerns, disorders and diseases. Some of the health concerns that are attributed to overconsumption of a food group, particularly refined carbohydrates, sugars and fats, include weight gain, obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease. A balanced diet helps people to avoid overconsumption of the wrong types of foods.

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What is the Cause of Yellow Fever

Want to know it — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:22:50 +0000

Yellow fever is a dangerous infectious disease that is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. It occurs in the sub-tropical and tropical regions of Africa and South America. In 85% of cases the disease is relatively mild and lasts 3-15 days. However, in 15% of cases yellow fever enters a second phase that is fatal approximately 20% of the time. The symptoms during the first stage include; fever, headache, chills, back ache, nausea and/or vomiting. In the second stage fever reoccurs and may be accompanied by jaundice (liver damage), abdominal pain, bleeding of the eyes and mouth and bloody vomit. Let’s take a look at what causes this dangerous illness.

What causes yellow fever?
We already know that yellow fever is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. The most common culprit is the yellow fever mosquito, but other species can also carry the disease. Yellow fever is actually caused by a virus, called the yellow fever virus, that infects the mosquito when it bites an infected person. This virus then replicates inside the mosquito and spreads to the salivary glands, which is then passed onto the next person, or animal, that it bites.

There is no cure for yellow fever and the treatment for the disease is supporting the patient with pain relief and rehydrating where necessary. However, a vaccine is available to prevent people from contracting the disease. It is effective 10 days after injection and offers about 10 years of immunity. Anyone who has been infected by, and subsequently recovered from, the yellow fever virus retains immunity to the virus for life.

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Where is the Liver Located

Want to know it — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:21:13 +0000

The liver is a vital organ in the body that has many important functions. It is an important part of metabolism, protein synthesis, hormone production and detoxification. The liver also produces bile, which is a compound that aids digestion. It is estimated that the liver has over 500 different functions and it is considered necessary for survival. In fact, there is no way to survive without a functioning liver in the long term. If you want to know where this major organ is located in the body, continue reading to find out?

Where is the liver located in the body?
The liver is located mostly within the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, but a small section also extends into the left upper quadrant. This means that it is located just below the diaphram. It is to the right of the stomach, beneath the right lung, and is above the right kidney and gallbladder. It is very hard to feel the liver because it is underneath the lower section of the right ribcage. The following diagram shows the approximate location of the liver in the human body.

Did you know?
A healthy human liver weighs in between 1.4-1.7 kg (3.08-3.7 lbs). It is pinkish-brown in appearance and is triangular in shape. It connects to two large blood vessels called the hepatic artery and the portal vein.

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What Causes Freckles

Want to know it — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:04:01 +0000

Freckles are dark spots or concentrated areas of melanin found on the skin and are often more noticeable on people with fair skin. The number, color and size of freckles can vary from person to person and are most noticeable on the face and arms. Freckles are genetic and you are more likely to have freckles if your parents do. Freckles often fade with age and many people who have freckles as a child “lose” their freckles as they get older. What cause freckles to develop? Read on to find out.

What causes freckles?
Freckles occur on the skin of people who genetically have the presence of the dominant melanocortin-1 receptor MC1R gene variant. This gene makes the skin produce more melanin when exposed to sunlight. Melanin is pigment found in our bodies that produce skin, hair and eye color. For people who are prone to freckles the exposure to the UV radiation from the sun causes the cells that create melanin, the melanocytes, to activate. These cells begin to produce more melanin causing dark spots on the skin or darkening already existing freckles. This happens in all people as a way to protect our skin from the effects of the sun. That is also the reason why we tan with exposure to UV radiation. In people who are prone to freckles the melanin production is not even, which produces the almond shaped spots we call freckles. Freckles tend to fade in the winter months where the UV radiation from the sun is lower and less likely to cause the melanocytes to activate.

Many people do not like the appearance of freckles and will have them treated with cosmetic creams and laser procedures. Even after these procedures if the skin is exposed to the sun without protection the freckles will reappear. People who have freckles are also more sensitive to UV radiation from sunlight and will suffer sunburn more easily.

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