Cushing syndrome occurs due to prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol hormone. The condition, often referred to as hypercortisolism, affects women   usually between ages 25 and 40   more than men. Nearly 80% of adults and about 47% of children are diagnosed with cushing syndrome.

The most common cause of cushing syndrome is an overproduction of the stress hormone   cortisol   by the adrenal glands. However, it can also result from overuse of steroid drugs.

If you have cushing syndrome, you are likely to notice symptoms like muscle weakness, weight gain, a buffalo lump, irregular periods, sleep disorders, high blood glucose and high blood pressure.

Recent research has claimed to establish a relation between cushing syndrome and high blood pressure   or what is called hypertension in medical terms.

The link between hypertension and cushing syndrome

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure that causes the force of blood to raise against the artery walls. A number of conditions can lead to hypertension, such as poor diet and lifestyle, an underlying health issue, stress, pregnancy and so on.

As your body encounters stress, the adrenal glands produce and release cortisol in the bloodstream. Studies show that producing excess stress hormone can create a host of pathological problems in the body, including hypertension.

Hypertension is a distinguishing feature of endogenous cushing syndrome. High blood pressure in cushing syndrome has a significant correlation with the duration of hypercortisolism and results from the interaction between various pathophysiological methods regulating peripheral vascular resistance, cardiac output, and plasma volume   all of which are elevated in this state.

How to treat the condition

Cushing syndrome is usually treatable and curable. You will be prescribed to stop using steroid drugs that are likely to increase cortisol levels. If the condition does not improve after treatment, you will have to look for ways to manage the symptoms, especially by monitoring your blood pressure. Team up with your doctor and ask for ways to de-stress yourself.

Relation Between Cushing Syndrome And Hypertension: Know More

Abstract

Background: it is essential to have an understanding of life expectancy and risk factors among patients with sickle cell disease (sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin diseases, and thalassemias). These are required to counsel the patients, target treatment, and plan the right clinical trials.

 

Methods: a research followed 3764 people ranging from birth to 66 years of age and suffering from scd. The procedure was done to understand the life expectancy and calculate the average age at death. Moreover, the study understood the reasons for the death in all 209 adults. It used the proportional-hazards regression analysis to know the risks for an untimely death in adults with sickle cell anemia.

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Results: when the results for young kids and adults with sickle cell anemia were observed, it was found that the average age at death was 48 for women and 42 for men. Moreover, suffering from hemoglobin c disease had an average mortality age of 60 for men and 68 years for women.

 

In people with sickle cell disease, 18% of deaths took place in patients with mainly renal organ failures. 33% of the tested patients were medically free of organ failures but episodes of pain crisis took their life. Out of these patients, 78% experienced chronic pain, chest syndrome, or both, while 22% suffered a stroke that took their lives.

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Clinical modeling showed that people with sickle cell anemia faced acute chest syndrome, seizures, kidney failure, a white-cell count of over 15, 000 per cubic mm, and a low hemoglobin level were related to a risk of early death.

 

Conclusions: results suggested that 50% of patients with sickle cell anemia lived beyond the age of 50. A huge share of those who lost their lives suffered no noticeable chronic organ failure. However, most of them died due to acute episodes of pain or stroke. Early death was seen highest among patients who had symptomatic disease. High levels of fetal hemoglobin suggested improved chances of survival and are assumably a credible source to foresee the risks and other factors related to adult life expectancy.


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Life Expectancy And Risk Factors Involved In Sickle Cell Disease

A brain tumor is a common scenario these days. With around 40, 000 to 50, 000 cases per year, india has seen exponential growth in the numbers. However, understanding that brain tumors can be prevented or treated in various ways is important. Early detection of the tumor makes treatment and surgery easier and more effective. Signs usually include headaches, nausea, vomiting, facial paralysis, and sleep disturbance.

There are numerous myths and misconceptions among the general public about brain tumors. This leads to delays in seeking treatment. Some popular myths and facts about brain tumors are-

Myth: everyone has the same type of brain tumor

Fact: over 120 types of brain tumors are detected to date. They are differentiated based on the size, cell of origin, location, and grade of tumors.

Myth: everyone with a brain tumor has similar symptoms

Fact: not all persons show the same symptoms. They can have diverse signs depending on the condition. Some may even have seizures.

Myth: all tumors are cancerous in nature.

Fact: while not all tumors are cancerous in nature, brain tumors can be cancerous or benign depending on the condition.

Myth: only old people are susceptible to brain tumors

Fact: brain tumors can happen to people of any age. Moreover, some tumors are relatively more common in young adults. Brain tumors like medulloblastoma can also appear in children. Most lethal brain tumors like  glioblastoma mutiformae  can develop in adolescents and old people.

Myth: lifestyle modification can keep brain tumors away.

Fact: lifestyle changes have no role in preventing brain tumors. However, a workout, a nutrient-rich diet with high fiber content, and no smoking, no tobacco or alcohol consumption are good for overall health.

Myth: brain tumors are genetic.

Fact: it is not true that if no one in the family had a tumor, even you can t. Genetic mutations are too few to cause cancer. 90- 95% of cancer is by mutations that develop during an individual s life.

Myth: life gets back to normal as soon as the treatment is done in a patient.

Fact: benign tumors rarely recur. However, the cancerous tumors may recur posing a challenge to the doctor and the patient.

 

Myths And Facts Associated With Brain Tumour

World sickle cell day is observed annually on the 19th of june to raise awareness of sickle cell-related diseases. It is observed to increase people's knowledge and the understanding required to face the challenges posed by the disease.


 

What is sickle cell disorder (scd)?

Sickle cell disorders or sickle cell diseases are genetic blood disorders that cause an abnormality in the red blood cells. The rbcs turn into sickle-shaped cells that stick together and block the blood flow in the body.


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Types

There are four major classifications of sickle cell diseases-


	
	Hemoglobin ss disease
	
	
	Hemoglobin sc disease
	
	
	Hemoglobin sb+ thalassemia
	
	
	Hemoglobin sb 0 thalassemia
	



 

Symptoms

One can start noticing symptoms of sickle cell in a patient at around 6 years of age. However, they can differ from person to person. Some of the most typical symptoms are-

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	Anemia
	


A shortage of red blood cells occurs due to the excessive early dying in 10-20 days. It leads to an oxygen shortage in the body.


	
	Excessive pain
	


Blockage of blood flow due to the change in shape leads to periodic cycles of pain in the body.


	
	Swelling in the body
	


As the blood circulation becomes irregular, swelling becomes a regular phenomenon.


	
	Infections
	


Sickle cell can be damaging to the spleen. It increases the risk of ailments in the body that can be prevented only by antibiotics.


	
	Delayed puberty
	


Oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood are required for growth. As a reason, irregular blood flow can lead to slow growth or delay in puberty.


	
	Vision issues
	


Infected blood vessels carrying blood to the eyes can cause damage to the retina. It can lead to visual problems.


 

Traits and treatment

As sickle cell is genetic, it is suggested to take a test that can detect any trait of the disease. It can prevent any life-threatening risks to the newborn. However, we don't have a complete cure for sickle cell disorders. There are preventive measures that reduce the adversity of the disease to an extent. Procedures like blood transfusions help greatly in minimizing the effects of the disorder.

World Sickle Cell Day: Know All About Sickle Cell Disease

Headaches are extremely common   we all are familiar with mild or persistent throbbing ;pain. A number of conditions can result in headaches. Some of these include  


	
	Fatigue
	
	
	Lack of sleep
	
	
	Stress/tension
	
	
	An underlying condition, like migraine ;or sinusitis
	


Recent studies have revealed a lesser-known cause for headaches   ;hypertension, or what is commonly referred to as high blood pressure.

The connection between hypertension and headaches

Hypertension occurs when the force of the blood circulation in the arteries is elevated   this particular condition can lead to steady pain throughout the head, particularly at the back of the head or in forehead.

Hypertension-induced headaches usually affect both sides of the head, particularly the temple regions. However, a person may not even realize that the headaches he/she is experiencing are induced by high blood pressure.

Since hypertension is an asymptotic condition, it is often referred to as  the silent killer . When blood pressure rises above 180/110, the condition is known as  hypertensive emergency .

Different types of hypertension leading to headaches

There are three types of hypertension conditions that are followed by mild to severe headaches:


	
	Malignant hypertension- this refers to a sudden, rapid increase in blood pressure that calls for medical attention. This is more common among young adults and women with pregnancy-induced hypertension.
	
	
	Idiopathic ;intracranial hypertension- it is characterized by elevated blood pressure around the brain. Symptoms include vision problems, nausea, ;shoulder pain, thumping noise in the ears, and severe headaches.
	
	
	Hypertensive encephalopathy- this is an extreme condition of high blood pressure, which leads to swelling in the brain. A person with this condition experiences severe headache that becomes worse.
	


Uncontrolled hypertension can be dangerous   headaches induced by such a condition could also become frequent or worsen over time. However, with proper medications and certain lifestyle changes, high blood pressure can be kept under the normal measure. Once your blood pressure normalizes, the headaches will disappear in no time.

How Are Hypertension And Headaches Related?

What are the different types of sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease or sickle cell disorder is a term often used to talk about a group of diseases affecting hemoglobin. It is the oxygen-carrying element of blood that makes up 2 alpha globins and 2 beta globins. Sickle cell disease happens due to beta-globin mutation and depending on the abnormality in mutation.

Types-
Sickle cell diseases can be of many types depending on the gene mutation in the blood. Some of the common types are-

Sickle hemoglobin s disease (ss)
Hemoglobin ss disease or sickle cell anemia is the most popular type of scd. It takes place when hemoglobin s gene mutation is inherited from both mother and father. In simple words, it happens when the child inherits one substitution beta-globin gene from each parent. In this type, the body only produces hemoglobin s. It is mostly found in people of african and indian origin.

Sickle hemoglobin- c disease (sc):
Patients with sickle hemoglobin sc disease have a moderately dissimilar swapping in their genes of beta-globin. Here, both hemoglobin c and hemoglobin s are inherited from each parent. It may cause similar symptoms like anemia but remains relatively l. People of west african and mediterranean origin are more prone to this.

Hbs beta-thalassemia
People with this type of scd inherit one sickle cell gene s and one gene for beta-thalassemia from each parent. Zero and plus are the two common types of beta-thalassemia. While beta 0 thalassemia usually takes a severe form, beta + thalassemia is a milder form of the disease.

Sickle beta-zero thalassemia
Beta-zero thalassemia takes form when the child inherits the beta s gene from one parent and beta 0 thalassemia gene mutation from the other. With similar symptoms to anemia, it is a slightly severe form of beta-thalassemia.

Sickle beta-plus thalassemia
Substitutions in both beta-globin genes take place in patients with sickle beta thalassemia (sb) disease. This may even lead to the requirement of blood transfusion if no normal beta globin is produced. Mediterranean and caribbean people are more likely to have this disorder.

Hemoglobin sd, hemoglobin se, and hemoglobin so
These are the few rare and not less common types of sickle cell diseases. They are also less severe. People with these forms of scd inherit one sickle cell gene s and one gene from uncommon hemoglobin (d, e, or o) from each parent.

Sickle cell trait
Hbas
People with sct have one sickle cell gene s and one normal gene a from both mother and father. Ones with this disorder show few to no signs of the disease and usually spend a normal life. However, the risk to their future generations still exists.
 

What Are The Different Types Of Sickle Cell Disease?

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