Health Blog

Hepatic encephalopathy is a syndrome which comes under the category of neuro-psychiatric disorder or syndrome. Or in other words, it is one of the types of neuro-psychiatric disorders or syndrome. In hepatic encephalopathy, there occurs disturbed consciousness and behaviour along with some personality changes. There is also found asterixis, which is a kind of tremors. Along with asterixis there is also found fluctuating neurologic signs.

Cirrhosis is degenerative disease of liver in which there occurs wide spread necrosis of liver cells and extensive fibrosis of liver tissue.  

Fulminant hepatic failure is a syndrome in which there occurs hepatic encephalopathy caused by sudden severe impairment of hepatic function or due to sudden severe hepatic malfunction. Fulminant hepatic failure is said to occur when hepatic encephalopathy occur within the four weeks of onset of symptoms and there is no pre-existing liver disease.

Viral hepatitis is infection of liver which occurs due to viruses of different kind. The different types of viruses which cause viral hepatitis are hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis D virus and hepatitis E virus.

Ascites is diseased state or condition of body in which excess fluid gets accumulated within the peritoneal cavity, which causes various signs and symptoms in the body and also disturbs the healthy system of body.

When there occurs excess fluid accumulation within the peritoneal cavity, then this state or condition of peritoneal cavity is known as ascites.

Jaundice is diseased state of body in which there occurs yellow pigmentation of skin, mucous membrane and sclera by increased or raised levels of bilirubin in the blood.

Smoking although very harmful for health but still continuing in the world and done by so many people in the form of cigar, cigarettes, pipes, bidis and hookahs. But in whatever form you have it, it harm your health.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms which occur in a chronic alcoholic person on reduction or stoppage of further alcohol intake.

Post traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder in which there occurs recurrent attacks of severe anxiety along with vivid flashbacks or reminiscences of the initial traumatic event.

Panic disorders are type of anxiety disorders in which there occurs recurrent attacks of severe anxiety which are sudden and unpredictable.

Rickets is a nutritional deficiency disease caused due to deficiency of vitamin D. This disease occurs in children. In rickets, before the epiphyses have fused, there occurs failure of growing bone to mineralize due to deficiency of vitamin D in growing child.

Osteomalacia is a disorder of mineralization of organic matrix of skeleton in adults when the epiphyseal growth plates have closed. Osteomalacia produces increased non-mineralized matrix in bones.

Heat related illnesses or syndromes are caused due to high environmental temperatures of more than or above 32 ⁰ C and at high relative humidity.

Reiter’s syndrome is a syndrome in which there occurs non-specific urethritis, conjunctivitis and arthritis, two to four weeks after enteric or urogenital infections.

Chronic pancreatitis is a disease of pancreas in which there occurs chronic inflammation of pancreas.

Pseudomembranous colitis also known as antibiotic associated colitis is caused due to a toxin produced by Clostridium difficile when the normal bacterial flora is altered or suppressed by antibiotics. It usually occurs in adults.

There are various laboratory tests available which are done to identify malabsorption syndrome. The various laboratory tests which are done to diagnose malabsorption syndrome are as follow-

Malabsorption syndrome can be caused due to various diseases. It is also a symptom of various diseases. The various factors which cause malabsorption syndrome are-

Giardiasis is an inflammatory disease which occurs due to the infection by micro-organism named Giardia lamblia , which occurs by ingestion of cysts through contaminated or infected water.

Lactose intolerance is a gastrointestinal disease in which there occurs deficiency of an enzyme named lactase which hydrolyzes lactose to its components galactose and glucose. In the absence of this enzyme named lactase , lactose cannot be hydrolyzed and hence, it goes to colon where it is fermented by bacteria causing various gastrointestinal symptoms of lactase deficiency.

Tropical sprue is a malabsorption syndrome occurring in patients of tropics in the absence of other intestinal disease or parasites.

Coeliac disease is a chronic intestinal disease which is caused by intolerance to gluten found in food. It is more common in children although it is also found in adults.

Non ulcer dyspepsia also known as functional dyspepsia is that type of dyspepsia whose cause is not identified on various laboratory investigations and on clinical examination. It occurs in females of young age group whose age is less than forty years.

Dyspepsia is a syndrome which includes following set of gastrointestinal symptoms for example-

Constipation is a body phenomenon or a condition of body in which there occurs bowel movements less frequently than three times a week and stool is hard and difficult to pass.

Aortic dissection is caused by tear of intima of aorta which can propagate distally or proximally. Aortic dissection affects males more usually in the old age group.

Coarctation of aorta is the narrowing of the orifice of aorta anywhere from distal part of arch of aorta to bifurcation of abdominal aorta. This disease is more common in males.

Pericardial effusion usually occurs in association with pericarditis. Fluid of pericardial effusion can be transudate, exudate, pyopericardium or haemopericardium.

Hypertension is increase in blood pressure above normal blood pressure. Normal systolic blood pressure is 120mmHg and diastolic blood pressure is 80mmHg. Therefore, normal blood pressure is 120/80mmHg. In hypertension it is more than 120/80mmHg.

Acute myocardial infarction is a cardiovascular disease in which there occurs myocardial necrosis due to presence of critical imbalance between coronary blood supply and myocardial demand.

Angina pectoris is a cardiovascular disease in which there occurs pain in retrosternal region on exertion which radiates to left arm or sometimes to right arm but usually it extends to left arm.

Acute pericarditis is a cardiovascular disease of heart in which there occurs an acute inflammation of pericardium.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a cardiovascular disease in which there is enlargement of the ventricle and impairment of the ventricular contraction, usually affecting both ventricles.

Acute myocarditis is a cardiovascular disease in which there occurs inflammation of myocardium of heart.

Aortic regurgitation is a cardiovascular disease which can be acute as well as chronic. Aortic regurgitation has different causes. It remains asymptomatic for years but in the decompensated phase of disease, patient’s health status starts deteriorating towards ill health continuously.

Aortic stenosis is valvular disease of heart in which there is narrowing of aortic valve area. Normally aortic valve area is 2.5 cm 2 whereas in aortic stenosis it is decreased and is usually found less than 0.8 cm 2 or there is present gradient of more than 50 mmHg in critical stenosis.

Mitral valve prolapse is a valvular disease of heart in which the leaflets of the mitral valve bulge or project into left atrium during ventricular systole. It may occur with or without mitral regurgitation. It usually affects people especially females between the age group of fifteen to thirty years of age.

Acute circulatory failure or shock is a state of body in which there is inadequate cardiac output with compensatory vasoconstriction and tissue hypoperfusion. This tissue hypoperfusion causes cellular injury which can be reversed only if not prolonged for long time and prompt treatment is given at time. But it becomes irreversible if not treated at time.

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia occurs periodically that is on recurrent basis. It is a cardiovascular disorder in which there is arrhythmia occurs at a rate of 140 to 220 beats per minute with one to one ratio conduction. Causes -

Haemolytic anemias are disorders in which there is increased rate of red cell destruction and the life span of red cells is also shortened than the normal life span of red cells. Causes -

Aplastic anaemia is a disease in which there occurs pancytopenia due to the presence of acellular or markedly hypocellular bone marrow but there is no leukaemic or abnormal cells in marrow or blood. Types -

Haemoptysis is expectoration of blood or bloody sputum. Haemoptysis can be caused due to various reasons. It is not a disease itself but it is symptom of various different diseases. There are so many causes of haemoptysis some of which are as follow- 1. Pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the main causes of haemoptysis.

Pneumothorax is a type of respiratory disease in which there is found air in the pleural cavity. Primary spontaneous pneumothoarx affects people especially between the age group of twenty to forty years. Causes -

Malignant pleural effusion is usually caused due to either a primary malignancy of pleura or secondary invasion of pleura by the primary focus of malignancy in any other organ of body. Usually malignant pleural effusion is caused by cancer of lung, cancer of breast or sometimes it can be due to lymphomas. Symptoms -

Lung abscess is the purulent material containing necrotic area of lung parenchyma. Causes - 1. Aspiration abscess. 2. Pulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculous pleural effusion is caused due to pleural seeding with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through lymphatics, blood stream or by direct extension. Symptoms - Tuberculous pleural effusion usually affects young adults or adolescents. Affected patients complain of symptoms of fever, pleuritic chest pain and weight loss. Dysponea with slight irritating cough is also there.

Cheyne stokes breathing is an abnormal pattern of breathing which is not normal. In it there occurs oscillation between apnoea and hypopnoea. That is, there occurs progressive deep and fast breathing that is hyperventilation followed by temporary stoppage of breathing called apnoea. This cycle of hypopnoea followed by apnoea repeats itself which usually consists of time period of 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Causes - The cheyne stokes breathing may be caused by different reasons which are as follows-

Vitamin B12 is very important vitamin required by the body for the healthy functioning of nervous system, spinal cord and healthy formation of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is stored in liver when excess quantity is taken in food for three years.

We all know that vegetables are good source of healthy nutrients like vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and protein. But there are some vegetables which contain good amount of iron. The main vegetables which contain iron in good amount are-

Iron is very important mineral required by the body for hemoglobin synthesis and for preventing and treating iron deficiency anemia. It is found in different fruits and vegetables. The various fruits which contain iron are-

Pulses come under the category of cereals. These are edible seeds of leguminous plants. Pulses contain good amount of proteins. They are good proteinaceous food. Pulses have lot of health benefits. The health benefits of pulses are as follow-

Honey is known all over world for its various health benefits whether it comes to skin care, hair care, or for digestive system care. Honey has lot of health benefits. The different health benefits of honey are-

Lemon has lot of health benefits. It is very beneficial for skin. Healthy nutritive elements present in lemon benefits the skin with their skin health benefiting qualities. The various health benefits of lemon for skin are as follow-

Congenital glaucoma is abnormally high intraocular pressure which results due to development anomaly of angle of anterior chamber. It has autosomal recessive inheritance. It is bilateral and asymmetric. Symptoms of congenital glaucoma-