qick-facts

6 Symptoms You Shouldn't Self-Treat

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:57:32 +0100

Watching Grey's Anatomy won't help you heal yourself, though it may make you happy. While it's fine to self-treat symptoms such as a runny nose or a mild headache, others require a health professional's attention. And a phone consult isn't always enough: Your doctor may need to see you. For instance, if you're having symptoms for the first time and are unsure why, consider scheduling a visit with your healthcare provider. And if you're experiencing familiar symptoms, you may still need medical advice, especially if the problems stick around.

"I certainly understand a patient wanting to just get some information over the phone. But a description over the phone doesn't always tell us what's going on," says Randy Wexler, a physician and associate professor of family medicine at Ohio State University. Read on to get information about common symptoms you shouldn't self-treat—even though a quick trip to the drug store can be very, very tempting.

Heartburn. You're starting to pop antacids like candy, and that's a problem. If you have heartburn twice a week or more and have been taking antacids or heartburn medications for more than two weeks, see your doctor, advises the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). You could have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a more serious form of acid reflux that can cause complications like ulcers and cancer if left untreated.

Another reason to dial your doc: "Sometimes heart disease can mimic heartburn," says Jorge Rodriguez, a gastroenterologist in Newport Beach, Calif., and author of The Acid Reflux Solution: A Cookbook and Lifestyle Guide for Healing Heartburn Naturally. If you have a cardiac issue, you need to be checked out. Plus, even if heart issues aren't to blame (and we hope they're not), prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be dangerous if used for long periods of time, he adds. (For instance, OTC drugs such as Prilosec and Prevacid can increase your risk of fractures, according to the Food and Drug Administration.) Most doctors can treat GERD and will often recommend lifestyle changes, NIDDK reports.

Chronic dry eye. It's easy to rely on often-hyped eye drops, but if you always feel like you're in the Sahara (and you're not in the Sahara), consult a health professional. "People think that any time their eye is red that they just need eyedrops," says Wexler. But you could have anything from an infection to allergies. You'll want to see your doctor to figure out why your eyes are dry, so you can have any underlying problem treated and your vision checked, Wexler says.

Abnormal vaginal discharge. If your discharge suddenly smells or looks different, don't douche or buy over-the-counter yeast infection cream. You could have a bacterial infection, such as bacterial vaginosis, a sexually transmitted disease, or even non-allergic vaginitis (often caused by irritation from sprays, douches, or spermicides). And if you have a bacterial infection—the most common culprit of suspicious discharge in women of childbearing age—you'll need prescription antibiotics, according to the National Library of Medicine. Your healthcare professional can do an exam and recommend appropriate treatment.

A wound or bump that won't go away. You've had a weird spot or lump on your skin for more than a couple of weeks—it may look like the worst pimple ever—so you slather it with drugstore cream and hope for the best. Or you wait it out. Not the best idea. If you have a wound that's changing shape, growing, or not healing, "you need to see a doctor because it could be skin cancer," says Zoe Diana Draelos, vice president of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and a consulting professor of dermatology at Duke University School of Medicine. Skin cancer can look different on different people, reports the AAD, but it does have a high cure rate if caught early. By the way, similar rules apply for your mouth. If you have a sore that doesn't improve after a week or two, call your dentist, advises the American Dental Association. While many mouth sores are harmless, others can signal infection or oral cancer.

A blister on the tip of your nose.See your doctor immediately, says Draelos. These blisters, often painful, could signal shingles, which is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Though people over 50 and people with a weakened immune system have a higher risk, "anyone who's had chicken pox can get shingles," says Draelos. And shingles on your face can damage an eye, says Draelos, so you must seek treatment.

Heart palpitations accompanied by other symptoms. Your job is stressing you out. Or maybe it's your super active kids. But if you suddenly feel your heart beating extra fast or irregularly, it could signal a cardiac problem—especially if the feeling is accompanied by symptoms like dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath. (If you have these latter symptoms, call 911, advises the National Library of Medicine; and call your doctor if you have frequent palpitations or if you have risk factors for heart disease.) "People often think, 'well it's just anxiety,' but there are certain heart conditions that just present that way," Wexler says. So don't assume you can simply wait it out and move on. And, in general, don't think that you're bothering your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns, says Wexler. If something feels very wrong or if your symptoms are ongoing, make the call

A Battle with Fibroid by Abena S Yeboah

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:28:50 +0100

A fibromyoma, or myoma, is a type of growth commonly found inside the womb, or uterus uterus, and is formed from fibrous tissue and muscle. Sometimes known as uterine fibroids, or simply fibroids, fibromyomas are not cancerous but are benign tumors, which are thought to affect at least two out of every five women and which can occur singly or in groups. Often, fibroids cause no symptoms, but heavier periods, abdominal pain and swelling, constipation, or a frequent need to urinate may occur. Even though fibromyomas are noncancerous tumors, if symptoms become serious, treatment may be necessary. Fibromyoma treatment may involve using drugs to shrink the tumors, or one of a range of surgical and non-surgical techniques may be employed to remove them.
Women who are in their 30s and 40s, and those who are overweight, are more likely to develop fibromyomas. The tumors vary in size, and can be too small to be visible or large enough to occupy all of the uterus. Although the cause of the tumors is not known, a fibromyoma is more likely to grow when estrogen levels are higher. For this reason, a fibromyoma may slowly enlarge while a woman is still having periods, but may shrink after menopause, when estrogen levels fall.
A fibromyoma of the uterus may develop inside the muscular walls of the womb, in which case it is called an intramural fibromyoma. Submucosal fibroids grow beneath the womb's inner lining, while what are known as subserous fibromyomas arise from the outside of the uterus and may become huge. Occasionally a pedunculated fibromyoma, a type of fibroid which grows on the end of a stalk, may develop from the outer uterus wall.
Fibromyoma of the Uterus Risk Factors
    pregnancyafter the age of 30
    •
    •    Age over 45
    •
Recently research has proven that fibromyoma can occur in young women  below the age of 30 years.
Fibromyoma of the Uterus Symptoms
Abnormal vaginal bleeding:

•Heavy menstrual periods
• Irregular menstrual periods
•
• Vaginal bleeding after menopause
•
• Irregular vaginal bleeding:
•
• Vaginal spotting
•
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
•
• Lower abdominal pain
•
• Pelvic pain
•
• Chronic pelvic pain
•
• Abdominal tenderness:
•
• Right lower abdominal tenderness
•
• Left lower abdominal tenderness
•
• Lower abdominal tenderness
•
• Abdominal swelling
•
• Pain During Intercourse
•
• Painful menstrual periods
•
• Back pain:
•
• Lower back pain
•
• Chronic back pain
•
• Difficulty urinating
•
• Increased urinary frequency
•
• Increased urinary urgency
•
• Urinary incontinence
•
• Fatigue
•
• Constipation
•
• Malaise

Fibromyoma of the Uterus Evaluation

The evaluation of uterine fibroids begins with a history and physical exam, including a pelvic exam.

Physical findings in a woman with uterine fibroids may include:

    * Vaginal bleeding

    * Enlarged uterus during pelvic exam

    * Lower abdominal tenderness
Tests that may be used to evaluate uterine fibroids include:

    * Uterine biopsy

    * PAP smear

    * Pelvic ultrasound

    * CT scan of the pelvis

    * MRI scan of the pelvis

Less commonly performed tests that may be used to evaluate uterine fibroids include:

    * Pelvic angiogram

    * Laparoscopy

·         diagnosis of fibromyomas is usually made using an investigation such as an ultrasound scan. Fibromyoma treatment is only necessary if symptoms are troublesome. A drug known as GnRHa, or gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist, may help shrink the tumors, but it is not generally taken long term due to side effects such as osteoporosis, where bones become fragile.

Fibromyoma of the Uterus Treatment

Most women who have uterine fibroids have few if any symptoms. Small uterine fibroids may not require treatment if they do not cause symptoms. Treatment for large uterine fibroids may include hormone therapy, surgery to remove the fibroids, or hysterectomy. Fibroids that cause heavy vaginal bleeding can lead to significant anemia that may require treatment.

Treatment options for uterine fibroids include:

    * Hormone therapy for uterine fibroids:

          o Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists cause menstruation to stop, causing fibroids to shrink.

    * Androgens (Danazol):

          o Can relieve fibroid symptoms

          o Stops menstruation and can shrink fibroids

          o May cause side effects such as weight gain, depression, anxiety, acne, headaches, and excessive body hair.

    * Birth control pills and progestins:

          o May improve fibroid symptoms

    * Progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD):

          o Can improve fibroid symptoms, but does not shrink them or make them go away.

    * Myomectomy for uterine fibroids:

          o Removal of the fibroids from the wall of the uterus

    * Hysterectomy for uterine fibroids:

          o Surgical removal of the uterus

Non-surgical procedures such as UAE, or uterine artery embolization, reduce the size of fibromyomas by removing their blood supply. Endometrial ablation removes the womb lining and cuts away fibroids close to the surface of the uterus. For large fibroids, an operation such as a hysterectomy may be required, where the whole womb is removed. If women wish to have children later, an alternative method called a myomectomy may be carried out, where fibroids are extracted through the cervix, or through an incision in the uterus, sometimes using keyhole surgery techniques.

PMS

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:12:09 +0100

QUICK FACTS
Your doctor is the best person to speak with to help establish if you experience PMS or PMDD. Even if the symptoms you feel are very mild or you don’t experience the symptoms every month, there are things you can do to help smooth out the ‘ups and downs’.

Emotional symptoms

Feeling sad or depressed
A sense of hopelessness
Feeling worthless or guilty
Feeling anxious or tense
Mood swings
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
Feeling sensitive
Feeling irritable or angry
Disagreements with your friends, colleagues or family
A diminished interest in social activities
Difficulty concentrating

Physical symptoms

Tiredness
Increased appetite
Food cravings
Sleeping more
Trouble sleeping
Breast tenderness
Breast swelling
Headaches
Bloating
Muscle aches
Cramping or period pain
Problems with pimples/acne

Please remember, this list of symptoms is not so you can diagnose yourself, but to help you identify if the symptoms you experience or have experienced in the past are associated with PMS or PMDD.

S:yesican