Health Niche

Pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting stage for every woman, as she lays her feet on the first stepping stone of motherhood. As a woman you feel complete after attaining motherhood. After one intercourse, you start assuming you are pregnant. Confirmation of pregnancy gives you a mixed feeling of happiness and fear. Happiness is because you are bringing your own child and fear is regarding the childbirth process.

Confirmation of pregnancy through actual pregnancy tests is the right way to ascertain pregnancy.  A pregnancy test is done to ensure the presence of a hormone called HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the blood or the urine of the pregnant woman. This hormone is also referred to as the pregnancy hormone. The presence of HCG in the blood or urine is a confirmation that the woman is on her family way.
How to test pregnancy

There are two ways of testing pregnancy; one test is done on the blood and the other on the urine for pregnancy hormone. A urine test can also be done at home to ascertain pregnancy. Blood test has to be conducted at a doctor’s place. It is noticed that in recent times, women do the pregnancy test at home as these tests are private, easy and inexpensive. Urine tests confirm your pregnancy within two weeks following the ovulation. While, some urine states that they can confirm pregnancy in a day, if your period is missed even for a day.

Pregnancy tests are done using the Home pregnancy test kit. Home pregnancy tests can be expected to be accurate if they are utilized properly. The directions mentioned in the kit should be followed accordingly. You should be acquainted with its usage as to how to use the kit and when exactly to use them.

Similarly, birth control is a system of preventing pregnancy. Birth control helps you in deciding the time factor as to when to have a child. There are different forms of birth controls available. It is essential to know about the various methods of preventing birth control. The method you adopt should give you security and also prevent you from becoming pregnant. Every birth control method has its own favors and swindles.

Birth control can be done under various methods such as family planning, contraception, fertility control, and pregnancy prevention. Generally, all birth control methods are established on the basis of restricting male’s sperm from entering and contacting female’s egg, there by preventing further growth. Birth control methods are in two types, reversible and permanent. Reversible birth control methods are within our control, while Permanent birth control methods cannot be reversed because these methods involve surgery. Vasectomy for males and Tubal ligation for females are instances of permanent birth control methods.

Birth control methods can be classified into barrier method, mechanical method, hormonal method and natural method. Condom is the illustration for barrier method. Insertion of intrauterine device is an illustration of mechanical method. Hormonal method revolves using pills. Natural methods deals with women’s body physiology.

Birth controls are available in various forms, but none of them can provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Only strict abstinence can prevent you from entertaining hazardous diseases. Some of the birth control methods are explained to have a better idea of its functionalities.

Speaking of surgical sterilization, it is believed to be the permanent method of contraception. Sterilization is recommended for couples who do not want children in the future.

What is Vasectomy?

Vasectomy is a type of sterilization done for a man. Vasectomy stops the sperm from exiting his penis during intercourse. This surgery is done by a specialist surgeon or urologist. Similarly, Tubal ligation is done on woman’s fallopian tubes, so that it is blocked and eggs do not enter. It is a form of permanent sterilization method. Tubal ligation takes 30 to 450minutes of time. This is not a permanent solution for birth control.

Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is removal of the uterus in a woman. The IUD is also a method of birth control especially for women. It is a small T inserted in the uterus by healthcare. IUD is one of the effective and safest forms of contraception that starts working instantly. Two types of IUDs are available. One is Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) and other is intrauterine system (IUS).

There are different hormonal methods of birth control such as oral Contraceptives, insertion and injection into the body. The oral contraceptives are the pills which are available in two types, the combination pill and the mini pill. The combination pill restricts the eggs from maturing. The mini pill is also effective for birth control provided it is taken regularly. Few other hormonal methods are Contraceptive patch and vaginal ring.

Natural birth control methods are based on the sexual intercourse timings and eggs fertilization. Natural methods are the safest as it involves no side effects, surgery or drugs. But, a small slip will result in pregnancy.

We like to read novels in which the hero and heroine after all hassles live happily ever after. We like happy endings because we like similar things to happen in our lives. But alas! Life is not a novel and we have to endure many ups and downs as regards different relations are concerned.

Especially when it comes to male and female relations, those are beyond the realms of “just friendship”, there are all the more complicated issues to handle. When the happy going relation turns sour and breaks up, many issues crop up for both the partners, but the one who is emotionally vulnerable may succumb into the depths of depression.

There are different ranges of break up depression-

* Temporary depression- If the person experiences the world going against him or her for initial period after the break up, it is obvious feeling and there is nothing much to worry about. A good counseling with examples of similar events also helps one get over the crisis. Rather, this type is a normal symptom after break up and should not be termed clinically as depression.

* Teenage depression- being a period of transition both physiologically and mentally, teenage is the most vulnerable period for heart break ups. It has been roughly estimated that out of five teenage romances, one teenager suffers from teenage break up depression. At times, the crisis requires alarming sensitivity on part of parents or well-wishers, as a teenager may become violent due to suppressed feelings.

* Critical depression- After break up, some people react unusually alarmingly and represent suicidal thoughts and/or actions. This is definitely a clinical depression and even the slight awareness about it is enough to treat the case. Usually it affects those people more who have low self esteem.

How to deal with the break up depression?

It is found that break up depressions take more time to heal than other types of depression. Also it is a fact that most people loathe counseling during this period, because they want time for themselves. However, a well-guided counseling by an expert counselor definitely proves beneficial. Most of the times, people prefer books over counselors that depict situations like them exactly. When a person comes to know there are many similar sufferers like him or her, it is psychologically soothing than just plain words like “it will pass”.

Also this kind of break up depression may need certain anti-depressant drugs to make them compliant with the situation. Well, end of a relationship, whether in marriage or otherwise, is not easy to bear. But remember life is good and everything happens for good!

Are you suffering from syndrome-X, a disease complex of twenty first century? Yes, I am talking about hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity. Although the syndrome constitutes four different diseases, they are interdependent on each other. Among all of them, obesity remains as the prime factor that causes these diseases. No wonder whole world is trying hard for different weight loss programs.

However, the most important aspect we forget while embarking on any weight loss regime and that is, we do not improve the fallacies in our lifestyle and still try to lose weight. This is the reason, we fail miserably in it. There are numerous programs that you can follow but unless there is strong desire to change the way we are living, any regime can hardly do any good. Let’s see what the most effective weight loss programs available are-

*    Hoodia weight loss program is one of the mostly followed and definitely effective especially for those people who are binge eaters. Are you of the same category that you watch your favorite food and just cannot help but eat it? Then you need Hoodia that fools your brain and gives a false feeling of full abdomen. Also you can try other diet pills that burn fat faster by improving metabolism. However, don’t run behind fast weight loss programs by crash dieting. It definitely does more harm than good. Always find a program that will energize you at the same time lose pounds.

*    Right exercise regime combining aerobic exercises, stretching exercises like Yoga, pilates, cardio exercises, etc always work when done under expert advice. The exercise should be incorporated in your life as we incorporate our daily meals. Then and then only you will see certain positive effects of these programs.
*    It is better to understand difference between exercises that improve flexibility and exercises that reduce weight. Combining these two types will certainly benefit by improving stamina of your body, at the same time toning the muscles and reducing fat. Thus your success of weight loss lies in what you choose as your exercise program and diet schedule. These two are the pillars on which the other weight loss regimes are built up.

In short, don’t run behind fast weigh loss gimmicks, you may fool yourself by succumbing to hefty advertisements. Follow a lifestyle compliant with nature and soon you will be happy measuring yourself on weighing scale!

A partial of complete hair loss is called baldness. When the normal hair falls out from the hair follicles, it grows new hair. A failure of growing new hair results in baldness. The cause of the failure to grow new hair Baldness is commonly known as hair loss. Its medical name is Alopecia. To understand hair loss it is necessary to know the anatomy and physiology of hair.
The Anatomy and Physiology of hair:

•   The lifeof each hair is approximately 4 to 5 years. During its life time each hair grows about half an inch every month. The hair falls out in its fifth year.
•   Within six months only this fallen hair gets replaced by a new grown hair.
•   Only when body fails to produce new hair it results in baldness not the hair falling
•   More than 30% men start getting bald during their early 30s
•   Baldness occurs more in men then in women

Hair follicles:

Every human being has approximately 100,000 hair follicles in the scalp. These are minute sac like structures in skin. The function of  these follicles is to simply grow hair. In a person’s life each follicle grows arround 20 hair. A person losses approximately 100 hair every day.

There are two types of baldness:

1. Male baldness also known as Male pattern baldness

2. Female baldness also known as Female pattern baldness

Male pattern baldness:

•   It starts in puberty
•   The main feature is that the hair start receding from the lateral side of the scalp. This side is known as “Receding Hairline”. This line can be seen in males in their mid twenties.
•   Androgenetic Alopecia: This type of baldness is caused by a male sex hormone called DHT. Which is responsible for the growth of  hair on various parts of the body. Persons who are genetically prone to hair loss suffer from shrinking of hair follicles because of action of DHT.  Gradually such shrunken follicles fail to grwo normal healthy hair.
•    Male baldness is medically categorized on the basis of Hamilton-Norwood scale.

Female pattern baldness

It can be caused by aging, hormones and even genetic reasons

• There are many patterns of baldness in women.The alrarming symptoms is when you start lossing your scalp hair you should seek help of a qualified specialist. Other simple signs could be When you can not understand the the sudden and continuous loss of your hair.
• It is very difficult to recognize baldness in women as compared to men. In women it begins during early fifties. It might not even be linked to heredity also.
• A relevant expert only can diagnose female hair loss. Self-diagnosis can be misleading and harmful.

Treatment:

There are many hair loss treatment products available to prevent hair loss and growing new healthy hair. Like Herbal hair treatment, Laser hair treatment, Hair growth medicines and lotions and even Hair grafting.

Postpartum depression also known as postnatal depression is a kind of clinical depression that affects women after the birth of a child. The various significant studies or reports show that the prevalent rate of this kind of depression rates among the women from 5% to 25%.

Maternity Blues-A Mild Depressive State!

Maternity blues or baby blues refer to the transitory or mild mood swings by which 80% of women suffered after pregnancy.  In some cases fathers also suffer from maternity blues or baby blues.  The symptoms of this depression last from a period of few hours to several days.  They include irritability, tearfulness, sleeplessness, hypochondriasis,   concentration impairment, headache and isolation.  The baby or maternity blues don’t have the same nature as postpartum depression.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

These symptoms may occur anytime at the very first year postpartum. They include:

* Sadness
* Low self-esteem
* Hopelessness
* Sleep disturbances
* Guilt
* Inability to be comforted
* Eating disturbances
* Emptiness
* Inability to enjoy things one previously enjoyed
* Social withdrawal
* Becoming easily frustrated
* Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby (or feeling like one cannot take care of the baby
* Low energy
* Exhaustion

Risk Factors Of Postpartum Depression

There are thirteen factors that are considered as significant predictors of Postpartum Depression. They are:

* Low self esteem 
* Prenatal anxiety
* Childcare stress
* Low social support
* History of previous depression
* Poor marital relationship
* Life stress
* Maternity blues
* Low socioeconomic status 
* Infant temperament problems
* Single parent
* Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy

Some women suffering from Postpartum Depression believe that they aren’t able to take good care of their baby. Some are worried that they might create problem for their baby or can even harm them. It’s really important to understand the normal postpartum emotional changes. Don’t think too much and try not to have feelings that something may be amiss. If you’re really at trouble by your thinking just consult your physician for the immediate help.

Since 20th century depression is as the major psychiatric disease, affecting eight million people approximately in North America. In the case of depression, adults suffering from psychiatric illness are more prone to death from suicide or accidents than the adults not having any psychiatric disorder. Major depression, including bipolar disorder, often appears at its initial stage during adolescent age, and has severe effects on later morality and morbidity.

Depression in adolescents-A significant severe problem!

Depression has actually raised the rate of suicide in adolescents.
In the present times adolescent suicide is more evident for deaths of youths aged 15 to 19. Through the recent survey, it is clearly shown that 20% of common adolescents in are suffering from emotional disorders or problems. Depression leads to the serious problems that include difficulties in work and workplace, school, and personal adjustment that continues till adulthood.

Depression- An Emotional Turmoil!

Adolescence is an age or time that brings along with it mood swings, emotional turmoil, gloomy introspection, heightened sensitivity, and great drama. It indicates behavioral experimentation.

The diagnosis of teenage depression not only a part of formal clinical interview but a close study of the person affected by his parents, community advisors, and teachers.

The premorbid personality of the patient must be closely observed and taken into account.

In this case therapeutic alliance is important because the adolescent usually will not be ready to share their feelings with any adult or a stranger unless they have trust or any kind of rapport with them.

Faith and confidentiality should be there in order to treat them with the best possible methods.

The diagnosis will further require many precautions while dealing with the patients of depression.

The Common Symptoms of Adolescent Depression

Depression has essential symptoms in adolescents and in adults.

* Pervasive sadness may be epitomized with the black clothes, composition of poetry with diseased themes or music with nihilistic themes.
* Sleep disturbance visible through by watching television all-night watching, getting up late and with difficulty for school, or sleeping throughout the day.
* Lack of energy level or motivation.
* Loss of concentration and unable to think properly.
* Boredom.
* Loss of appetite that eventually result in anorexia or bulimia.
* Adolescent depression can also be observed through conduct or behavior disorder, alcohol abuse, family turmoil.

In this kind of complicated depressive episodes, formal psychological testing will prove to be of great help. In the cases that are difficult most to handle, a trial of a treatment is required to prepare an effective study of the patient suffering from clinical depression or emotional turmoil. 

Cancer cannot be defined under the category of a single disease. These uncanny unpredictable malignancies included in cancer can literally affect every organ of human body. Thus to curb this emerging menace, cancer research is the reliable tool.

Cancer research helps in the identification of the respective causes of cancer and develops the strategies for the diagnosis, prevention and cure for cancer. The various features those are included in cancer research

*  Molecular bioscience
*  Epidemology
*  Clinical trials and comparison of various cancer treatments
*  Cancer applications, which range from therapy of hormone, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, gene therapy, immunotherapy etc.
*  Functioning strategies of cancer research

The areas of research for cancer treatment are basically genetics, environmental and chemical factors, mutations, diet, etc. Cancer research includes the discovery of tumour suppressor genes. These genes play a decisive role in researching about the innumerable cancer types. It also includes a detailed study regarding the stages of oncogenes, the dramatic cell proliferation, development of tumours, 

Institutes for cancer research

There has been a tremendous increase in the number of institutes conducting cancer research. More that four hundred million dollars in invested in these institutes by the government, charitable institutions and pharmaceutical industries. Some of the renowned cancer research institutes are American Association for Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK, Dana-farber/ Harvard Cancer Centre, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

Recent Updates

The number of deaths caused by cancer has witnessed an apparent decrease in the past years. New York Times recently revealed that there has been a tremendous decrease of around twelve thousand deaths caused due to cancer when compared with the early nineties.  There has been prominent research in the cancer types including prostate, breast and lung.

Advances in breast cancer research

It has been discovered that the xenoestrogens normally found in cosmetic, nail polish removers, lotions, pesticides and insecticides cause hormonal imbalances and disrupt the normal functioning of the immunity system.

Advances in lung cancer research

It has been discovered that early detection of ultra violet photography helps in reducing chances of skin lesions and skin cancer. UV camera and photodynamic therapy is another evolving tool for the diagnosis.  
 

Advances in prostate cancer research

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types affecting males. The Prostate specific antigen test is one of its diagnosis tools. The specific reasons behind the causes of prostate cancer are still unknown. It has been discovered that prostate cancer mostly affects the black men. It has also been discovered that anti-inflammatory medicines, for example aspirin helps in reducing the chances of prostate cancer.

Drawbacks of cancer research

One of the setbacks to the ever-evolving cancer research is the discovery of treatments, which focus a minority of cancer types. In addition to it, the entire research for changes and their implementation in the cancer cases is quite slow. Thus there is no focussed treatment tuned for every individual cancer patient. Though the usage of natural cellular defense has aided in granting remission to for cancer patients serving at their fourth stage, there has been no amalgamation of allopathic and herbal drugs so far.

Thus, it’s a subject of serious consequences whether the cancer research of today is really fast paced and evolving or just incompetent to meet the needs of cancer patients.

There are different forms of cancer that can occur in the living beings. All different kinds of cancer, begin with the body cells. Human body is made up with many cells and when these cells expand they outgrow other cells, which are necessary to keep the body healthy. When these cells die, other cells are formed. But when these new cells are not formed in the correct manner or when they are formed at the time when the body does not require them, these extra cells results in cancer or tumour.  

Cancer occurs when the group of cells show uncontrolled growth further from the normal limits. 

Cancer takes place in people belonging to any age group. However, it is said that it increases or causes severe pain with the increment in the age.  According to a survey, it was found that 13% of deaths are caused due to cancer. 

All cancers are the result of irregularities in the genetic material of the distorted cells. It occurs due to inhalation of tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or through infectious agents. The cells of cancer are formed from the normal cells because of amendment or mutations of DNA or RNA. These mutations occur suddenly or due to other factors such as nuclear radiation, ultra-violet rays or through electromagnetic rays. These generate mutations, which result into cancer. 

Cancer cells can spread to the other part of the body through the blood circulation or through lymph systems. Cancer is not a one kind of disease and there are many kinds of cancer. The main among its kinds are:

·         Carcinoma- In this type cancer begins in the tissue or in the skin or it can cover the internal organs of the body.

·         Sarcoma-in this cancer begins or starts with the bones, muscles, blood vessels, or in other connective or loyal tissue.

·         Leukaemia-here cancer starts in the blood- organising tissue such as the bone core and causes the numbers of blood cells to be organised and thus enter the blood.

·         Lymphoma and myeloma-in this cancer begins in the cells of the immune system.

·         Central nervous systems- here cancer occurs in the brain or in the spinal cord.

There are only three ways for treating cancer that is through surgery, radiation or through chemotherapy. But with enhancement in levels of research, specific treatments are developing in order to cure different kinds of cancer. The targeted therapies have shown progress specially in deducting the abnormalities in certain cells.

Radiation and chemotherapy destroys the immune system. The respective cancer can again crop up in future if a person has taken the treatment of radiation or chemotherapy early before the correct period. All these methods only shrivel the cancer; they don’t help in removing the disease entirely. Radiation also causes damage to the normal cells of the body. Thus cancer refers to the class of diseases so it is improbable to say that there will be a single cure for cancer treatment. 

Cancer, being a chronic disease, should be treated with utmost care. In your quest to fight with this severe disease, the role of the doctor who treats you and helps you fight this disease also become important. Consultation with an oncologist and a cancer specialist is must for every cancer patient.

National Cancer Institute is a leading institute giving out excellent doctors dedicated towards cancer treatment. Doctors play quite an important role in educating people about the disease. They are the one’s who launch new initiatives and keep people posted about new techniques and treatment methods for cancer. Since cancer doctors are in extensive touch with family members and relatives, they are the ones who can provide valuable guidance and advice to family members.

Cancer Doctors can help their patients in getting out of the disease. They can advice their patients and their relatives about life style, eating habits. They also ask their patients to keep away from smoking or eating of junk food. This advice proves more valuable as compared to the drugs and medical treatment.

Department of Health is another active institute that provides timely guidelines regarding up gradation of any medical treatment and technology. As a cancer patient, it is quite important for you to stay in regular touch with your doctor and seek their advice without fail. While deciding on curing treatment, your doctors can better advice as to which medical cancer treatment would your body respond to. They help you know that whether you should go for surgery, radiation therapy or for hormone therapy. Surgery or radiation therapy performed, depends entirely on how proficient the cancer doctor is as performing his task.

Cancer doctors also play an important role in giving you guidelines on the estimated cost likely to be incurred in the treatment of an acute cancer. They realize that cost plays an important role in helping you decide the type of treatment you should go for. Hence, they give you correct estimate of the cost and nuances involved in each type of treatment.

Information about oncologists and cancer doctors can be obtained from different associations and institutes. Journal of clinical oncology, annals of oncology, American journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine etc provide you details about the top oncologists in India and abroad.  Internet is another important medium by which you can obtain details about good can treatment hospitals and institutes. It would also keep you up to date regarding any developments in this field.

Patients and their family members usually place 100% faith in their doctor and oncologist. This exceeds the amount of faith that they place in God. However, a cancer patient should remember that visiting a doctor and following his suggestions or ideas is only the beginning. You need to take complete care of yourself and your diet. 

Prevention is better than cure. However, if you become a victim of cancer you should make no delay in contacting oncologist and following his advice religiously. 

Treatment is the only way by which you can cure this disease.

There are different types of cancer treatment available in the market to cure cancer. Some are safe and mild, while others are little strong and harsh for the body. Depending upon your bodily strength and will power, you should choose the right type of treatment for yourself. There are chemical treatments as well as surgery treatments as well as herbal treatments.

In the below section, we discuss in detail the different types of cancer treatment methods:

Chemotherapy:

The most commonly used method for cancer treatment is chemotherapy. It is also used as a supplementary method along with various other treatment methods like surgery and radiation therapy. The treatment is aimed at attacking the cancer generating cells in the body and stopping their growth in the body. One of the most harsh and strong methods of fighting cancer, chemotherapy has several side effects like blackening of skin, hair fall and baldness, loss of appetite. However, not all people notice or face these side effects. 

Chemotherapy works to destroy growth of any new cancer cell in the body, any recurring cancer cells as well as to destroy the cancer cells that do not get destroyed because of surgery. The type of drugs to be used depends upon your medical condition as well as your medical history. Chemotherapy can be done through injections or by taking pills or by rubbing a cream on your skin or by feeding the medicine in your artery.

Surgical Treatment:

Surgical treatment for cancer is adopted when there is a lump formation in any particular part of the body. In such circumstances, it is easily possible to cut out that portion, i.e. the tumour and any surrounding tissues, and separate it from the body. However, surgery cannot necessarily be used to cure cancer. It can’t be used when the cancer cells are wide spread in the body and do not affect any specific organ.  Once surgery is done, doctors often follow it by chemotherapy to completely remove cancer cells.

Radiotherapy:

It is also possible to cure cancer with the use of radiation. The therapy that uses radiation is called as Radiotherapy. Radiation is nothing but a special type of gamma or x-rays used to damage or hurt the cancerous cells and stops their multiplication.

Biological Therapy:

Proteins are used in order to build up the immunity system by creating white blood cells in your body and to fight the destruction creating cancer cells. Ability to produce cancer-killing cells, called the T-cell and B-cell is increased with the help of proteins.

Herbal Treatments:

Combination of natural herbs can be used for curing cancer. Usually, such treatment methods are safe and do not involve any side effects. The treatment process, however, progresses a little slowly.

Hormone therapy:

This is used to cure breast cancer or incidence of prostate cancer. This therapy blocks the cancer producing hormones from staying active. Medication is also provided to block the body from producing cancer-generating hormone. This treatment is used to affect the cancer diseases that are fuelled due to a particular hormone growth.

Before deciding upon the right type of treatment, it is essential to consult your doctor and to seek his advice as to the right type of treatment for you.