World hepatitis day is observed on july 28th every year to raise awareness about hepatitis disease among people. It is organized on the occasion of the birthday of Dr. Baruch blumberg who found the hepatitis b virus in the year 1967 and also developed a vaccine for it. Moreover, this day educates everyone about hepatitis infections, the efforts to fight viral hepatitis, and methods people can use for its prevention.

What is viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis or hepatitis disease is a condition of inflammation in the liver that leads to severe liver disease and hepatocellular cancer. With deaths happening every 30 secs from a hepatitis-related infection, it is important to treat viral hepatitis at the earliest. Hepatitis is of different types depending on the infection. 

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Types

Viral hepatitis impacts millions worldwide, resulting in both acute and chronic diseases. There are five major classifications of viral hepatitis-

 


	
	Hepatitis a- it is a liver infection that can be prevented by a vaccine. It is a result of the infection as a result of the hepatitis a virus.
	
	
	Hepatitis b- it is an infection that happens due to the hepatitis b virus. It is spread through the blood or other bodily fluids of a person.
	
	
	Hepatitis c- it is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis c virus. It transmits through the blood of a person who is infected.
	
	
	Hepatitis d- delta hepatitis is another name for this virus and the hepatitis d virus is responsible for this. It happens to only those who are already hepatitis b infected. ;
	
	
	Hepatitis e- it is a liver infection resulting from a hepatitis e infection. It is usually found in a person s stool.
	


 

Symptoms

Hepatitis is a condition where you don t show symptoms till it is chronic and starts affecting your liver health. However, people in the initial stages of hepatitis infection might start reflecting symptoms. Some common symptoms of viral hepatitis are:

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	Flu-like signs
	
	
	Darker urine color
	
	
	Fatigue
	
	
	Abdominal cramps and pain
	
	
	Appetite loss
	
	
	Weight loss
	
	
	Yellow skin
	
	
	Pale eyes
	


 

People at risk

The risk of catching a hepatitis infection is high in individuals working around these environments-

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	Direct contact with hepatitis a infected person
	
	
	Male in sexual relation with another male
	
	
	Drugs abuser
	
	
	Ones with clotting factor disorder
	
	
	Who work with primates
	


 

World Hepatitis Day: Know All About The Disease

All types of viral hepatitis diseases are contagious and they can be transmitted from one person to another easily. Although, the modes of transmission may vary.

 

Experts recommend some preventive steps for every type of infection to lower your risk of acquiring or spreading hepatitis infection.

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Here are some preventive measures that may help in preventing the infection:

 

Vaccines

Vaccines for hepatitis a and hepatitis b are the best ways to prevent these viruses. Vaccines are not for all types of hepatitis infections. However, hepatitis a vaccination can help prevent the infection caused by the hepatitis a virus. The hepatitis a vaccine is generally administered in 2 doses. Similarly, there are vaccines available for hepatitis b as well. It is administered within 6 months duration. The same vaccine is helpful to prevent hepatitis d as well. There are no vaccines for hepatitis c and hepatitis e currently.

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Reducing exposure

Hepatitis diseases can be transmitted through bodily fluids, water, and food containing the infection. One can lower the risk of contamination by minimizing contact with these agents. Practicing proper and good hygiene is a way to avoid getting hepatitis through these mediums.

 

You can decrease your risk of coming in touch with fluids containing these viruses by avoiding:

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	Sharing used needles and razors
	
	
	Using someone else s toothbrush
	
	
	Touching spilled blood
	
	
	Not using condoms and dental dams during sexual contact
	


 

Handwashing

One must trust in personal hygiene to lower the risk of spreading or acquiring the hepatitis virus. Here are some preventive steps you can follow by washing hands:

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	Washing your hands thoroughly after accessing the restroom
	
	
	When you get in touch with an infected person's blood, or stool
	
	
	After daycare routine for caretakers
	
	
	After a diaper change, and before serving food.
	


 

Avoiding contaminated consumption:

Contaminated or infected food and water may become the primary causes of hepatitis infection. One should take these precautions to avoid any contaminated consumption of food or water:

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	Avoid eating raw shellfish
	
	
	Beware of fruits that have been washed in contaminated water
	
	
	Avoiding unhygienic street vendors
	
	
	Use bottled water for brushing or oral cleaning in areas where clean water is not available
	
	
	Bringing the water to a 1-minute boil is a must in doubtful areas
	
	
	Heated food to be eaten right away
	


Hepatitis: Some Ways To Prevent Yourself

Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to keep the blood sugar ;levels under control. The condition, if not managed properly, can lead to related health disorders and complications, both long-term and short-term.

Health problems arising from type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes can have severe effects on your eyes, kidney, nervous system, and heart health. The most common ailments associated with type 1 diabetes may include the following-

1. Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the eyes, which occurs when the blood vessels in the retina (tissue present at the back of your eyes) are damaged. The walls of the retina gradually weaken from increasing blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and this leads to leakage of blood or fluid into the nearby tissues.

Early symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include-


	
	Blurred vision
	
	
	Floaters
	
	
	Difficulty perceiving colors
	


2. ;Diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy unfolds when the nerves are damaged due to type 1 diabetes. The condition mostly affects your feet and legs. Reduced blood circulation due to high blood glucose impedes normal wound healing in the extremities, hence, even a minor bruise ;can develop into a permanent injury.

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy are-


	
	Numbness
	
	
	Reduced sensation
	
	
	Severe, debilitating pain in the extremities
	


3. Diabetic nephropathy

Also known as ;diabetic kidney disease, the condition is a slow deterioration of the kidney and its ability to function properly. In severe cases, where the levels of blood glucose are extremely high due to type 1 diabetes, diabetic nephropathy can ultimately result in kidney failure ;or end-stage renal disease (esrd).

The following are the symptoms of diabetic nephropathy-


	
	Dark urine
	
	
	Swollen ankles, feet, eyes, or hands
	
	
	Shortness of breath
	


4. Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases refer to a range of heart conditions including blood clots and diseased blood vessels. High blood glucose levels resulting from type 1 diabetes can contribute to the deposition of fat in the walls of the blood vessel. Over time, this may restrict the flow of blood and put you at risk of cardiovascular disorders such as coronary artery disease, stroke, or even ;heart attack.

Symptoms of cardiovascular diseases widely vary, ranging from palpitations ;to chest pain. Sometimes, such a condition may not exhibit any symptoms at all.

Type 1 diabetes complications are related to poor management of blood glucose. The best way to monitor the condition and control the symptoms is to get in touch with your doctor. A specialist in this field can prescribe the correct treatment and help prevent the onset the related health disorders.

Complications Associated With Type 1 Diabetes

The moment you are diagnosed with a tumour, the first thing your doctor will do is find out whether the tumour is benign or malignant   this will determine the course of your treatment. In simple words, benign means non-cancerous while malignant means cancerous.

Benign cancer

When tumour cells grow at a normal pace, it is known as benign or non-cancerous growth. In the case of benign cancer, the cells grow slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body or invade the adjacent tissues. Most often, these do not exhibit serious symptoms or pose a threat to your health. So, they are not a cause of concern. However, sometimes a benign tumour can press against nerves, tissues or the blood vessels, causing pain and discomfort.

Some common types of benign cancer are  


	
	Adenomas
	
	
	Fibromas or fibroids
	
	
	Hemangiomas
	
	
	Lipomas
	


Benign tumours, although tend to be harmless, may need to be operated. This is true for tumours that have grown to become large and weigh heavy. When these develop in the brain and cluster around to press against block channels or vital organs, the condition can be potentially dangerous. Moreover, certain types of non-cancerous tumours like intestinal polyps are precancerous   meaning they have the potential to turn cancerous. ;Surgery to remove this type of tumour can help prevent it from becoming malignant.

Malignant cancer

Malignant cancer refers to cancerous tumours that can potentially be fatal. Unlike benign cancer, malignant cancer progresses quickly and metastasizes to invade other organs, tissues or parts of the body.

Here are a few examples of tumours that are cancerous in nature  


	
	Carcinoma
	
	
	Sarcoma
	
	
	Germ cell tumour
	
	
	Blastoma
	


A tumour that has turned malignant, or has spread through the lymphatic system or bloodstream, may require aggressive treatment. Based on the stage of cancer, your ;oncologist will devise a treatment plan that might include immunotherapy, ;radiation therapy, chemotherapy ;or surgery.

Being diagnosed with a tumour can be hard to deal with. To find out if the tumour is benign or malignant, consult a specialist and discuss your concerns.

Benign Cancer Vs Malignant Cancer: Know The Difference!

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

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

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