OBESITY - LEARN ABOUT CAUSES, DIAGNOSING AND HOW ARE OBESITY TREATED

What is Obesity

Obesity - is more than just a few extra pounds. Weight gain occurs when you eat more calories than your body uses up. If the food you eat provides more calories than your body needs, the excess is converted to fat.



Initially, fat cells increase in size. When they can no longer expand, they increase in number. If you lose weight, the size of the fat cells decreases, but the number of cells does not.

Causes of Obesity

• Emotional concerns. Emotional stress, anxiety, or illnesses such as depression or chronic pain can lead to overeating. Some people eat to calm themselves, to avoid dealing with unpleasant tasks or situations, or to dampen negative emotions.
• Trauma. Distressing events, such as childhood sexual, physical, or emotional abuse; loss of a parent during childhood; or marital or family problems, can contribute to overeating.
• Alcohol. Alcohol (beer and mixed drinks) is very high in calories.
• Medicines or medical conditions. Some medical conditions and medicines may also cause weight gain. Examples include having Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism or taking certain antidepressants or corticosteroids.
• Low self-esteem. Being overweight or obese may lower your self-esteem and lead to eating as a way to comfort yourself. Repeated failure at dieting also can affect your self-esteem and make it even harder to lose weight.

Diagnosing Obesity

Most doctors calculate obesity using a formula known as the body mass index (BMI), which is a measure based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. To calculate your BMI divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.

» Learn more: Obesity

Reviewed by Dr Alan Ogilvie, gastroenterologist and Dr Roger Henderson, GP

tags: obesity, obesity treatment, obesity drugs, obesity symptoms, obesity remedies, obesity pills, obesity help, obesity causes, what is obesity, obesity medications

OSTEOPOROSIS - LEARN ABOUT CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND HOW ARE OSTEOPOROSIS TREATED

What is Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis - is a condition where the bones become thin and weak, and break easily. It frequently goes undiagnosed until a fracture occurs, as there are no warning signs. The spine, wrist and hips are particularly vulnerable to fracture.

Osteoporosis Symptoms

There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Symptoms occurring late in the disease include:

• Bone pain or tenderness
• Fractures with little or no trauma
• Loss of height (as much as 6 inches) over time
• Low back pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
• Neck pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
• Stooped posture or kyphosis, also called a "dowager's hump"

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of osteoporosis or if you wish to be screened for the condition.

Osteoporosis Causes

The bones are a living tissue, just like the rest of the body. They consist of cells which both build and break down bone, within a surrounding substance known as the extracellular matrix which is composed of proteins and mineralised components (it's rather like a scaffolding made of millions of tiny struts).

» Learn more: Osteoporosis

Reviewed by Dr Alan Ogilvie, gastroenterologist and Dr Roger Henderson, GP

tags: inflammation, body's inflammatory, inflammation types, inflammation treatment, anti inflammatories drugs, inflammation symptoms, inflammation remedies, anti inflammatories pills, inflammation help, inflammation causes, treatment for inflammation, what is inflammation, inflammation diseases, inflammation signs, anti inflammatories medications

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION DISEASE - LEARN ABOUT CAUSES, POTENCY, DRUGS AND HOW ARE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION TREATED

Erectile Dysfunction (impotence)

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction is different from other conditions that interfere with male sexual intercourse, such as lack of sexual desire (decreased libido) and problems with ejaculation and orgasm (ejaculatory dysfunction).



Erectile dysfunction (ED, impotence) varies in severity; some men have a total inability to achieve an erection, others have an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection, and still others can sustain only brief erections. The variations in severity of erectile dysfunction make estimating its frequency difficult. Many men also are reluctant to discuss erectile dysfunction with their doctors due to embarrassment, and thus the condition is underdiagnosed.
Nevertheless, experts have estimated that erectile dysfunction affects 30 million men in the United States.

What is an Erection

An erection occurs when blood is pumped into the penis and stays there, making it hard. It generally happens because a guy is thinking about sex, or because his penis is being stimulated - or both.
The result is that signals go down the nerves that lead from his spinal cord to his genitals. They tell the blood vessels which supply the penis to open up. Blood flows in and the organ ‘blows up’ like a balloon. A valve mechanism near the base of the penis keeps the blood from flowing out again – a least, until sex is over.
Nicotine is now known to narrow those vital blood vessels – which is why ED is much commoner in smokers. But often, there is nothing physically wrong with men who develop ED.

Erectile Dysfunction Causes

There are many underlying physical and psychological causes of erectile dysfunction. Reduced blood flow to the penis and nerve damage are the most common physical causes. Underlying conditions associated with erectile dysfunction include the following:

Vascular Disease

Arteriosclerosis, the hardening and narrowing of the arteries, causes a reduction in blood flow throughout the body and can lead to impotence. It is associated with age and accounts for 50% to 60% of impotence in men over 60. Risk factors for arteriosclerosis include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes mellitus

Smoking, which can lead to any of the above risk factors, is perhaps the most significant risk factor for impotence related to arteriosclerosis.

Hormone Imbalances

Hormone disorders account for fewer than 5% of cases of impotence. Testosterone deficiency, which occurs rarely, can result in a loss of libido (sexual desire) and loss of erection.
Among other conditions, an excess of the hormone prolactin, caused by pituitary gland tumor, reduces levels of testosterone. Hormone imbalances can also result from kidney or liver disease.

Diabetes Mellitus

Chronic high levels of blood sugar associated with diabetes mellitus often damage small blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, which can impair nerve impulses and blood flow necessary for erection. About 60% of men with diabetes experience impotence.

Neurologic Conditions

Spinal cord and brain injuries (e.g., paraplegia, stroke) can cause impotence when they interrupt the transfer of nerve impulses from the brain to the penis. Other nerve disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, may also result in impotence.

Drugs

Over 200 commonly prescribed drugs are known to cause or contribute to impotence, including drugs for high blood pressure, heart medications, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and sedatives.

» Learn more: Erectile Dysfunction


Written by Dr David Delvin, GP and family planning specialist

tags: erectile dysfunction, erectile dysfunction causes, erectile dysfunction treatment, erectile dysfunction drugs, impotence, sexual dysfunction, impotence erectile dysfunction, male erectile dysfunction, erectile dysfunction symptoms, erectile dysfunction remedies, erectile dysfunction pills, erectile dysfunction symptoms, erectile dysfunction help, erectile dysfunction cures, erectile dysfunction exercises, erectile problems, alcohol erectile dysfunction

ARTHRITIS DISEASE - LEARN ABOUT ARTHRITIS CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TYPES AND HOW ARE ARTHRITIS TREATED

Arthritis

Arthritis simply means a painful condition of the joints. There are different types of the disease - many inflammatory and others more degenerative in nature.
Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases. These are conditions that are different individual illnesses, with differing features, treatments, complications, and prognosis. They are similar in that they have a tendency to affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons, and many have the potential to affect internal body areas as well.

Arthritis sufferers include men and women, children and adults. Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. Over 40 million people in the United States are affected by arthritis, including over a quarter million children! More than half of those with arthritis are under 65 years of age. Nearly 60% of Americans with arthritis are women.
There are many forms of Arthritis (over 100 have been described so far, and the number is growing). The forms range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation as a result of an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Together, the many forms of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States.

Arthritis Causes

The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to degenerative arthritis), inheritance (such as in osteoarthritis), abnormal metabolism (such as gout and pseudogout), infections (such as in the arthritis of Lyme disease), and an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus). Treatment programs, when possible, are often directed toward the precise cause of the arthritis.

Arthritis Symptoms

Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Inflammation of the joints from arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness and warmth. Tenderness of the inflamed joint can be present. Loss of range of motion and deformity can result. Certain forms of arthritis can also be associated with pain and inflammation of tendons surrounding joints.
Some forms of arthritis are more of an annoyance than a serious medical problem. However, millions of people suffer daily with pain and disability from arthritis or its complications. Moreover, many of the forms of arthritis, because they are rheumatic diseases, can cause symptoms affecting various organs of the body that do not directly involve the joints. Therefore, symptoms in some patients with certain forms of arthritis can also include fever, gland swelling, weight loss, fatigue, feeling unwell, and even symptoms from abnormalities of organs such as the lungs, heart, or kidneys.

Types of Arthritis

In literal terms, Arthritis can be defined as the swelling of joints. Arthritis comprises of nearly hundred different types and is classified based on the intensity of inflammation, the way the wear and tear occurs, etc.

Rheumatoid Arthiritis

This type of arthritis is chronic and systematic affecting the joints and leading to an inflammation of the synovitis. It also tends to spread to other parts of the body and tissues. It is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system by mistake attacks the synovium and causes arthirtis.

» Learn more: Arthritis

Reviewed by Dr Badal Pal, consultant rheumatologist

tags: arthritis, arthritis causes, arthritis symptoms, arthritis treatment, types of arthritis, arthritis medications, rheumatoid arthiritis, osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis pain, what is arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, knee arthritis, symptoms of arthritis, arthritis in hands, arthritis pain relief, arthritis in neck, arthritis in back, signs of arthritis, arthritis hands, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

ANXIETY DISORDER - LEARN ABOUT ANXIETY SYMPTOMS, TYPES AND HOW ARE ANXIETY DISORDER TREATED

Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is a normal response to stress or danger. At times it is helpful because it can help prepare the body for action, and it can improve performance in a range of situations. Anxiety becomes a problem when it is experienced intensely and it persistently interferes with a person's daily life.
Depression and anxiety commonly occur together. Not everybody who is anxious is depressed, but most depressed patients have some symptoms of anxiety.

Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety can be experienced in a number of different ways.

Physical symptoms

• Racing heart beat (palpitations);
• Chest tightness;
• Breathing fast, feeling short of breath or finding it hard to "get breath";
• Dry mouth, butterflies in the stomach, feeling sick. Sweating;
• Tremor;
• An urge to pass urine.

Psychological symptoms

• Inner tension;
• Fear of losing control;
• Agitation;
• Dread that something catastrophic is going to happen, such as a blackout, seizure, heart attack or death;
• Feelings of detachment, as if being trapped in a bubble separate from the world;
• Irritability.

What types of anxiety disorders

There are a number of "types" of anxiety disorders. They tend to overlap considerably and it is not uncommon for people to have features of several of the disorders.

Panic disorder

In panic disorder, repeated panic attacks occur unpredictably and often without obvious causes. The attacks consist of severe anxiety with physical and psychological symptoms.
Psychological symptoms typically include dread (particularly of extreme events such as dying), having a seizure, losing control or "going mad".
Physical symptoms can include any of the general symptoms of anxiety described above and often the hyperventilation syndrome.
To the sufferer, the attacks feel as if they are going on for a long time, but actually they tend to last only a few minutes, and at their longest they last around an hour. Panic disorder is common in depression, GAD or agoraphobia.

» Learn more: Anxiety Disorder

Written by Dr Hamish McAllister-Williams, MRC clinical scientist, senior lecturer and honorary consultant psychiatrist

tags: anxiety disorder, anxiety symptoms, social anxiety, depression, anxiety depression, anxiety attacks, stress, anxiety disorders, anxiety meds, anti anxiety medication, medication for anxiety, anxiety pills, signs of anxiety, anxiety symptoms, anxiety physical symptoms, anxiety psychological symptoms, anxiety panic disorder, anxiety stress related disorders, anxiety phobic disorders, generalised anxiety disorder, anxiety treatment

ANGINA PECTORIS (CHEST PAIN) DISEASE - LEARN ABOUT ANGINA SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, RISK FACTORS AND HOW ARE ANGINA PECTORIS TREATED

Angina Pectoris (chest pain)

Angina Pectoris (Chest Pain) is chest discomfort that occurs when there is a decreased blood oxygen supply to an area of the heart muscle. In most cases, the lack of blood supply is due to a narrowing of the coronary arteries as a result of arteriosclerosis.

Angina Pectoris Symptoms

Symptoms typically start during physical exertion or emotional stress. They are often worse in cold or windy weather and sometimes after big meals.

• A sense of heaviness or numbness in the arm, shoulder, elbow or hand, usually on the left side.
• Increased shortness of breath on exercise.
• A squeezing or heavy pressing sensation on the chest.
• The discomfort can radiate into both arms, the jaw, teeth, ears, stomach and in rare cases between the shoulder blades.
• A constricting sensation in the throat.

Blood then clots around the rupture, and the clot may be large enough to block the artery and seal off the blood supply. This may cause unstable angina or a heart attack.

Angina Pectoris Causes

In most cases, the cause of angina is coronary atherosclerosis: the thickening of arteries that supply blood, oxygen and nutrients to the heart.
Symptoms may only appear at times when your heart needs more blood supply, such as when you're stressed, exercising or climbing stairs.
This happens when fatty deposits, called plaques or atheroma, narrow the arteries over time and reduce blood flow to the heart.
As your heart tries to pump faster to meet your body's increased demands, the narrowed arteries struggle to keep up. The heart then receives too little oxygen, which causes pain in the heart that is felt as chest pain. In severe cases this can also happen when the heart is at rest.

» Learn more: Angina Pectoris

Reviewed by Dr Neal Uren, consultant cardiologist, Dr Patrick Davey, cardiologist and Dr Stephen Collins, GP

tags: angina pectoris, angina pectoris symptoms, angina, angina pectoris couses, angina pectoris symptome, symptomen angina pectoris, angina pectoris treatment, nitroglycerin treatment to angina pectoris, stable angina pectoris and nitroglycerin

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE - LEARN ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND HOW ARE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE TREATED

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting over half of all dementia sufferers. Alzheimer's disease is caused by a loss of brain cells, probably related to an imbalance in the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain.

How are people affected?

Over time, their mental abilities deteriorate, gradually progressing through forgetting important matters, getting confused about where they are and what day it is, to becoming lethargic and withdrawn and starting to neglect personal hygiene.

The sufferer may tend to dwell in the past and mistake friends and neighbours for long-departed family members. Conversation may become repetitive and the personality may alter as people develop odd or uncharacteristic behaviours.

In the later stages of the illness, sufferers lose insight and may not be aware of their plight, which makes the disease particularly hard for carers to bear.

Who develops Alzheimer's disease

The main risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is increased age. As a population ages, the frequency of Alzheimer's disease continues to increase. Ten percent of people over 65 years of age and 50% of those over 85 years of age have Alzheimer's disease. Unless new treatments are developed to decrease the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, the number of individuals with Alzheimer's disease in the United States is expected to be 14 million by the year 2050.

There are also genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Most patients develop Alzheimer's disease after age 70. However, 2%-5% of patients develop the disease in the fourth or fifth decade of life (40s or 50s). At least half of these early onset patients have inherited gene mutations associated with their Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, the children of a patient with early onset Alzheimer's disease who has one of these gene mutations has a 50% risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

There is also a genetic risk for late onset cases. A relatively common form of a gene located on chromosome 19 is associated with late onset Alzheimer's disease. In the majority of Alzheimer's disease cases, however, no specific genetic risks have yet been identified.

Other risk factors for Alzheimer's disease include high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary artery disease, diabetes, and possibly elevated blood cholesterol. Individuals who have completed less than eight years of education also have an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. These factors increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but by no means do they mean that Alzheimer's disease is inevitable in persons with these factors.

All patients with Down syndrome will develop the brain changes of Alzheimer's disease by 40 years of age. This fact was also a clue to the "amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease"

» Learn more: Alzheimer's disease

Written by Professor Marion McMurdo, honorary consultant in medicine for the elderly

tags: alzheimers disease, alzheimers association, dementia alzheimers, dementia, alzheimers society, alzheimers symptoms, alzheimers stages, alzheimers care, early alzheimers, alzheimer, alzheimers stages, dementia symptoms, alzheimers walk, what causes alzheimers