Thursday, June 12, 2014

Gallbladder Pain – Location, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Gallbladder Pain – Location, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
The small sac that is found just below your liver is called the gallbladder. The function of this sac is to store the bile which is produced by the liver. Bile is required by the body, in order to digest fats. The gall bladder sends bile, through tubes known as the cystic duct and the common bile dust, into the small intestines, where fats are digested. The problem begins when cholesterol, in the bile, forms hard balls, known as gallstones. Another cause for gallstones is when the gall bladder does not empty of all the bile when digesting fats. These vary in size and can be as small as a grain of sand, or as large as a tennis ball. In most cases gall stones do not cause any problems, but if they move into the bile duct and block it, then there may be problems, and urgent treatment is required. The problem is common in people who are obese or trying to lose weight through a crush diet.










http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

Where is the location of gall bladder pain?



In most cases, you may develop gallstones and never experience any pain. Most people who have gallstones do not have symptoms. However, for people who develop a painful gall bladder, the pain is felt in the upper right area of the abdomen, or deep inside the abdomen. This pain is usually severe, and may be constant, or it may come and go. It is usually worse when you eat, as the gallbladder tries to send bile to the small intestine through the blocked ducts.


What are the causes of gallbladder pain?


As mentioned earlier, gallbladder pain comes when the cholesterol in the bile and some other small objects in the gallbladder, come together and form stones which proceed to block the ducts taking bile from the bladder to the small intestine. You must notice that the presence of gallstones does not always cause pain, and the pain comes only when the stones move into the ducts.


In the 1960’s, Dr. James C. Breneman, conducted a research that showed that food allergies can also cause gallbladder pain. He put a group of people who had developed the condition on an elimination diet, and he found that the pain got worse after eating certain types of foods, and disappeared after eating others. However, this theory has not been followed up, and doctors recommend the removal of the gallbladder as the main form of treatment. Secondly, he found that 14 of the 69 people involved in the study, developed gallbladder pain whenever they took certain medication. This implied that allergy to medicines may also cause the condition to occur.










What are the symptoms of gallbladder pain?


The first thing that you will notice is pain in the upper right of the abdomen, or in the deeper parts of the intestine. You may actually feel like your intestines are on fire. Secondly, your skin and eyes will develop a yellow tint as the bile finds its way into your blood circulation. When you develop this problem, the resultant inflammation may also cause inflammation to the pancreas and it may swell, a condition known as pancreatitis. Other symptoms include heart burn, or you may experience the type of pain that comes before a heart attack. You may also experience a lot of nausea, and vomiting, and a general feeling of queasiness in your abdomen. You may also pass a lot of gas, and continually burp and belch. The pain may also move to the back and up to your shoulder. The pain associated with this condition usually occurs at night, but sometimes can occur during the day. The pain lasts for as little as 15 minutes, and may go for as long as 15 hours. For the doctor to determine whether you are suffering from complications brought by gallstones, he may ask you to describe the kind of pain that you are feeling. He will want to know when the pain started, and how frequently it occurs. He will then proceed to take images of your abdomen through ultrasound scanning. If the doctor does not see the presence of gallstones, he may order a further test, where a dye is injected into your blood, and when it reaches the liver, he will take an X-Ray, and see if the stones appear.


Gallbladder Pain Relief and Treatment


If you have gallstones and you do not experience any pain, then you do not need to undertake treatment. If the pain is mild, then the doctor will give you pain medication and see if the pain will disappear after a few days. You may even go for the rest of your life without any other attack occurring. However, if the pain is acute, or if you have a second attack, then the only solution is to have the gallbladder removed. When you have another attack, it is a clear indication, that you will have other attacks in future.


Removal of the gall bladder will not cause any health problems, and many people recover well after the surgery. The process of removal is done though laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon will make a small incision in your abdomen, split the muscles, as opposed to cutting them, so he can get access to the inner abdominal cavity. He will then locate the gallbladder and remove it. The surgery is considered to be minor, and you will be up and about within a week or two. For some people, the recovery period may go beyond a fortnight, especially if they are aged. The recovery period may also be determined by the size of the incision made by the surgeon.


The removal of the gallbladder will not affect the functioning of your liver. In this case, bile will flow straight from your liver to the small intestines. Some people may notice a change in the ways fats are digested, and this may manifest in the form of loss of weight, and in some people there may be no change in digestive activity at all.












Appendix – Pain Location, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Appendix – Pain Location, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
The appendix is located at the junction of the small and large intestines. It is a small tube that is about 4 inches in length, and is found on the right side of the body. Till today, nobody knows the function of the appendix, but people say that it stores bacteria, which are essential for digestion. It stores the bacteria to repopulate the intestines after you have lost a lot of them through diarrhea. Other scientists say that it may have had a significant purpose, centuries ago, but the process of evolution has made it obsolete. Therefore the removal of this organ does not, in any way, cause health problems.










For reasons that are yet to be understood, the appendix gets inflamed, and this leads to a painful condition known as appendicitis. The inflammation can be sore severe, that the organ swells and ruptures. This is accompanied by severe pain on the right side of the body and a lot of nausea and vomiting. If you ever have a severe pain on the right side of your body, you should go to the hospital immediately, so the appendix can be removed.


http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

Where is the appendix pain location exactly ?


It is very difficult to place the location of pain related to inflammation of the appendix. There is a generalized pain in the belly especially around the umbilicus. The pain will come with nausea, anorexia, fevers, and general malaise. The pain ebbs, and will last for several minutes before subsiding, and this is also determined by the degree of inflammation. The way that the nerves are grouped in the abdomen is what makes it difficult to identify the location of the pain. However, there is a general pattern that the pain follows at the start of the inflammation.


As the appendix gets distended, it will affect the peritoneum that surrounds it, and this will cause some pain to the lower right side of the body. If you try to stretch or move your body, the pain in this area increases. You will experience guarding of your abdominal muscles, and this is an involuntary contraction of the muscles to prevent any movement that will cause more pain. You will also experience rebound tenderness, which is the pain that follows after pressure is released. This is due to the movement of the digestive tract, after pressure is removed. You may also experience referred pain, which will cause your groin area to hurt.











What are the symptoms of appendicitis?



  • Classic Symptoms – Appendix pain starts at the umbilicus (navel), slowly moves down to the lower abdomen, at a point above the appendix known as McBurney’s Point. This path of pain is what is used to diagnose appendicitis, but it is not common to all cases. A large number of people develop the disease without exhibiting this path of pain. The pain also causes the loss of appetite, and you may experience some nausea and vomiting, as soon as the pain starts. You will also experience some swelling of your abdomen. The pain also comes with some fever, and you may experience temperatures between 99 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. You may also experience some constipation or diarrhea. You will also be unable to pass any gas.

  • Atypical Symptoms – in some cases, there will be pain in the region of the upper or lower abdomen, the back, and even the rectum. You will have pain when you go to urinate. You may also vomit before the pain starts, unlike in the normal case where you may vomit after the pain starts.


What causes appendicitis?


The inflammation of the appendix occurs when the appendix is blocked. This blockage increases the pressure of the http://www.Symptoms-Causes-treatment.blogspot.com detect diseases at an early stage symptoms, and find out the causes and treatments best suited.

What is the treatment available for this condition?


The most common treatment for appendix pain is appendectomy. This is a quick surgery to remove the appendix. The whole process is done through laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon will make a small incision, obliquely, in the region of the iliac fossa, on the right. The muscles are not cut, but are split apart, so that the surgeon can access the peritoneum. The surgeon then proceeds to remove the appendix, and sews up the junction of the small and large intestine where the appendix was.


Sometimes, the doctors will give you antibiotics, intravenously, and observe you for a day or two. This may be done if your case is not acute. If it is acute, then you will be taken directly to the operating theatre. Appendicitis is potentially fatal, since the pain experienced by the body upon rapture, can cause your organs to go into shock, shut down, and cause death. For this reason, most cases of suspected appendicitis are treated through the removal of the organ. However, it has been found that about 20% of those suspected to have appendicitis, have had their appendix removed, when it was healthy. Since the removal of the organ does not affect the health, doctors still go for appendectomies, rather than risk the morbidity, or mortality, of the patient.












Skin Tags on Eyelids

Skin Tags on Eyelids
In the initial stages, skin tags on eyelids appear as a tiny bump on the skin of the eyelids. It usually has the same color as the surrounding skin. The bump becomes bigger with the passage of time and tends to droop out. It can retain the skin color or turn somewhat darker. The grown lump remains attached to the skin with the help of a very narrow piece of skin referred to as ‘the stalk.’ This abnormal growth which hangs out of the eyelid skin is known as a skin tag on eyelids.










The condition is not dangerous and does not cause any medical complications. They also have no known links with cancer. Eyelid skin tags are however ugly to look at and can result in increased self-consciousness in the patient, as well as be a cause of great embarrassment. People may however be relieved to known that these tags normally tend to appear in areas such as the genitals, neck, and the armpits. Cases of skin tags on eyelids are relatively uncommon.



Causes


Research still continues to find out the causes of skin tags/skin tags on eyelids. Additionally, there are no known risk factors that can raise the susceptibility to developing such a condition.


A number of observations, as listed below, have however been indicated in various studies conducted on skin tags:











  • An increased age increases the vulnerability to developing skin tags on eyelids

  • Younger adults usually develop skin tags in the armpits, groin and other hidden areas of the body. Middle-aged and older people are however more likely to develop these on the neck, cheeks, eyelids, and hands.

  • Women are at greater risk to skin tags than men

  • Patients of diabetes mellitus are also at greater risk of being affected by this problem.

  • Uncommon medical conditions like Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome have links with appearance of skin tags.

  • Women are at increased risk to to these unsightly tags during and after pregnancy.

  • Overweight people and individuals who have recently put on excess weight are also prone to develop this condition

  • Skin tags also have genetic links. A family history of the condition increases the risk to developing the skin disorder.




Treatment for skin tags on eyelids (removal)


Skin tags on eyelids are harmless. Patients who want to remove them for cosmetic reasons should visit a doctor. It can be removed in the following ways:



  • A doctor may surgically remove the skin tag on eyelid. General anesthesia may be used during the procedure.

  • The abnormal growth is frozen by use of liquid nitrogen which destroys it. This procedure is called cryotherapy.

  • Blocking the flow of blood to the skin tag via varied means will cause the growth to rot and drop off.

  • The stalk or the complete skin tag may be burnt off with the use of electric current. This procedure, known as electro-cauterization, may cause minor scarring.

  • Skin tags on eyelids can also be eliminated via laser therapy. It does leave scar marks.












White Spots on Lips

White Spots on Lips
White spots on lips can be harmless or indicate the presence of a serious underlying disorder. Hence, it is important for all affected individuals to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.










The condition can be unsightly and cause embarrassment. Hence, even patients with harmless instances of this skin anomaly tend to get it cosmetically treated.


Symptoms



  • These white spots may be mild or extensive as per the underlying cause of the condition.

  • The spots may develop as tiny discolored patches on the lips, or may occur as large abnormal patches that are clearly visible. They appear throughout the lips and decrease the natural red/pink color of the lips.

  • The abnormal patches may migrate into the oral cavity or spread to the skin areas surrounding the mouth.



Causes of white spots on lips


White spots on lips may be caused due to a number of reasons. The condition may occur due to oral viral infections such as HPV, mumps, herpes, measles, and rubella, etc., or due to other underlying diseases as listed below:











  • Fordyce spots: It is characterized by the development of tiny, white spots on lips which may range from 1 to 3 mm in diameter. Also called Fordyce granules, the spots are not painful or dangerous. The exact cause of the condition is not known. However, it is thought that it may be occur due to trapping of oil in the sebaceous glands.

  • Lip cancer: One of the most prominent types of cancer is skin cancer. The lips are usually the most common part of skin that are afflicted by cancer. Lip cancer often remains undiagnosed as the white spots on lips are mistaken for some other disorder. Lip cancer typically affects individuals over 50 years, and more men than women. It is mostly caused due to excessive contact with the UV rays of the sun and can be detected via a biopsy.

  • Herpes: It is an infectious condition caused due to infection by the herpes simplex virus. It results in formation of painful, itchy, white blisters on lips. The disease spreads via direct ‘skin to skin’ contact. It cannot be cured but the symptoms and infection can be suppressed via medications.

  • Vitiligo: In addition to white spots on lips, vitiligo also results in loss of pigmentation across different parts of the body. It is a progressive disease which migrates to all areas of the body. The cause is not known; but it is believed that the disorder may be related to skin cancer, autoimmune diseases, or inherited causes.


Treatment



  • Herpes infections can be treated via topical and oral antiviral drugs

  • Psoralen photo-chemotherapy, topical steroids, and depigmentation are the available treatment options for vitiligo. Doctors may also consider surgical options like tattooing, skin grafts, and autologous melanocyte transplants for treating it.

  • There is no cure for Fordyce spots. However, the white spots on lips can be removed via laser therapy. They may also be made less prominent via use of chemical peels, and anti-sebum ointments and creams.

  • As per the stage, lip cancer may be treated via chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both.












Red Spots on Tongue

Red Spots on Tongue
Red spots on tongue may be caused due to a harmless condition or a severe underlying disease. Hence, it is important for all patients to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.










Symptoms



  • Red spots on tongue may sometimes develop as red bumps. Such unsightly bumps may be painful and elicit a burning sensation.

  • The presence of painful red bumps can lead to difficulties in eating and chewing food

  • In rare cases, the condition may not be painful. They may however occur as bumps that are hard to touch. It can be a symptom of oral cavity cancer. It may also be noted that cancer related bumps appear only on one side of the tongue and on the mouth floor.



Causes of red spots on tongue


Some of the causes  are listed below:











  • Geographic tongue: It is a condition which results in the appearance of a map-like pattern on the tongue surface as well as red spots on tongue. It is a harmless condition, but patients may seek medical attention if they experience discomfort or pain.

  • Allergic reactions: Red spots on tongue can also develop due to an allergic reaction after contact with different kinds of allergens such as medications, food, etc. For example, asthma patients may elicit the characteristic red spots after an allergic reaction which causes inflammation of the lungs.

  • Scarlet fever: It is a fever caused due to infection by the strep bacteria. It also results in formation of red spots on tongue

  • Vitamin B deficiency: One of the most common causes of red spots on tongue is deficient intake of vitamin B.

  • Digestive conditions: Red spots or bumps on tongue may also occur due to varied gastric abnormalities such as acid reflux that cause adverse action by the acid regurgitated from the stomach.

  • Oral cancer: It is a rare cause of the tongue anomaly. It may however aggravate the condition can lead to formation of lumps which may or may not be painful.

  • Smoking and alcohol abuse: The tongue may also experience swelling and develop red dots due to excessive smoking or increased alcohol intake.

  • Kawasaki disease: It is an autoimmune disease which results in formation of large reddish spots on the back part of the tongue. Such bumps are really warts which can be eliminated via therapies.

  • Other causes: Sexually transmitted diseases, disorders of the taste buds, intake of hot and spicy food, physical injury, bleeding, and increased body heat, etc. can also lead to appearance of red spots on tongue.



Treatment


Treatment of red spots on tongue is aimed at finding out the underlying cause and then treating it. Harmless cases of the tongue abnormality may be treated in the following ways:



  • Intake of sufficient quantities of vitamin B via food and supplements to offset its deficiency in the body. Red meat, apricots, nuts, etc. are excellent sources of vitamin B and iron.

  • Maintaining a good dental hygiene. Use toothbrushes with soft bristles to avoid hurting the tongue.












White Spots on Toenails

White Spots on Toenails
White spots on toenails can be caused due to varied reasons. They are generally harmless and tend to disappear on their own.











Causes


Listed below are some of the varied causes -


1. Vitamin and minerals deficiency


One of the major causes of white spots on toenails is deficiency in different vitamins and minerals. A number of women tend to suffer from such abnormal, unusual spots due to deficits in calcium intake. Such spots may also arise if your diet lacks adequate amounts of zinc. When the white spots occur along with a slow immune system and hair fall, then it usually signifies deficiencies in diet.


2. Injuries


Most of us tend to injure the toenails and the areas around them during manicures or nail-clipping. Such injuries are mostly minor and often ignored by us. The injuries can lead to formation of white spots on toenails, generally some days or weeks after the injury has occurred.


3. Infections


An infection is another common cause of white spots on toenails. Our feet are usually covered in shoes for most of the day and hence we generally are not aware of any sort of nail infections. A fungal infection tends to grow after getting under a nail and causes development of a whitish patch.


Toenails are normally affected by 3 types of fungal infections, that is, molds, yeast, and dermatophytes. Such infections typically occur at the tip or end of the toenail. Individuals who sweat a lot at their feet are at greater risk to such infections. Spread of the infection can result in growing discoloration and tinning or thickening of the affected nail. It may also experience splitting or flaking, or may come apart.










4. Anemia


It is a blood disorder caused due to deficient RBCs and hemoglobin. Pale or whitish nail beds can be a symptom of anemia


5. Allergies


The presence of allergies to certain products can also lead to development of white spots on toenails. The allergic reaction may occur due to contact with chemicals present in nail hardeners, nail polish, or nail polish removers. Patients who experience the abnormal spots just after changing the brand can consider the new product as being allergenic.


6. Diseases


In some cases, white spots may also signify liver or kidney diseases. It may however be noted that kidney disorders usually cause partial whitening, while liver conditions affect the entire nail.


Treatment of white spots on toenails


The condition is typically not dangerous. It is however necessary to consult a doctor when affected by prolonged instances of this nail anomaly.



  • Changes in diet, varied natural remedies, good personal hygiene, and certain lifestyle changes can also help in removal of the white spots.Fishes like sardines and salmon, dairy products, kale, broccoli, and spinach are calcium rich, while zinc can be obtained from lamb, beef, sea foods, and legumes like peas, beans, and lentils.

  • It is important to avoid injuring the nails when cutting them. Topical and oral medications can be used to treat minor injuries. Fungal infections can be treated via application of anti-fungal creams on the affected toenail.












White Spots on Fingernails

White Spots on Fingernails
Healthy fingernails have always been considered to be sign of good health. Such fingernails tend to be smooth without any discoloration, ridges, deformities, or spots. Nails consist of several layers of a protein known as keratin. This hardened protein is also present in the skin and nails. Fingernails offer protection to the fragile tissues present in the fingers.










The occurrence of white spots on fingernails refers to a condition known as leukonychia. It can be caused due to varied reasons such as diet deficiencies, injuries, allergies, etc. The term leukonychia has its origins in two Greek words, i.e. Leuko meaning white, and Onyx meaning nail. White spots on fingernails is a harmless condition and tends to disappear on its own.



Types of leukonychia


Leukonychia has been classified into four different types as per the amount of discoloration and its severity. They are:



  • Leukonychia Punctata: It is the most common form and is identified by formation of tiny white spots on fingernails

  • Leukonychia Partialis: The fingernails experience partial discoloration or whitening

  • Leukonychia Striata: It results in formation of discolored or white stripes on the fingernail.

  • Leukonychia Totalis: The complete nail is discolored or whitened


Causes


Some of the varied causes of white spots on fingernails are listed below:











  • Injuries: One of the most common causes of abnormal white spots on fingernails is an injury. Even minor injuries that may result from mild bruises or a bump against hard objects can lead to development of the white spots. A harsh injury which causes elevated trauma to the affected fingernail can result in formation of blood clots under the nail. Such clots will eventually turn into white spots after some time. Injuries may also arise when clipping or manicuring the fingernails.

  • Infections: This condition may also be caused due to fungal or bacterial infection of the nails.

  • Drugs: Chemotherapy or intake of certain medications can also result in white spots on fingernails.

  • Allergic reactions: Chemicals present in nail hardeners or enamels may trigger an allergic reaction leading to formation of white spots on fingernails.

  • Diet deficiencies: Insufficient intake of calcium and zinc can also cause this condition


It may be noted that leukonychia can be an inherited condition or an acquired one. The latter may result from varied diseases such as cirrhosis, typhoid fever, leprosy, medicines, trauma, or hypocalcaemia.


Treatment for white spots on fingernails


Leukonychia is a harmless condition and the associated white spots tend to vanish on their own without treatment. Patients should however consult a doctor when the discoloration persists or spreads across the nail, as it can indicate the presence of a serious underlying condition.


Normal cases of white spots on fingernails can be treated with changes in diet, good personal hygiene, and taking care to avoid injury or trauma to the nails.


Fungal and bacterial infections of the fingernails can be treated with topical anti-fungal drugs or antibiotic creams. One can prevent such infections by thoroughly washing the hands after being outdoors.