People suffering from sickle cell disease (scd) usually start showing symptoms very early. They can appear to show up even during the first year of life. Symptoms of a sickle cell vary from one person to another and can be mild to serious depending on the condition.

 

Sickle cell disease is a health condition that worsens with time. Despite the absence of any full-proof solution, some treatments prevent further complications. These treatments can help patients receive aid for a lifetime. Simply said, sickle cell diseases can be managed medically.

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Treatment

Treatment in a sickle cell patient depends on the severity of the symptoms. Preventing complications and relieving pain is the primary aim of the diagnosis. They can range from medications to blood transfusions.

 

Concerns

Some of the concerns that need to be taken care of during the treatment of scd are-

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	Prevent painful scenarios
	


A painful episode or sickle cell crisis can be avoided by consuming sufficient fluids, wearing warm clothing, and staying away from sudden temperature changes.

 


	
	Avoid infections
	


Children with sickle cell anemia are made safe from infections by using penicillin. Adults with anemia might need to take penicillin all their lives. Doctors should ensure that all vaccinations in children and adults are periodically done to avoid any infections. However, during the covid-19 pandemic sickle cell patients should take extra care.

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Medications

While there can be numerous ways to manage sickle cell treatment, medications help in a significant way. Some of the prescribed medicines are-


	
	Hydroxyurea- it reduces the frequency of sickle crises. Pregnant women should stay away from this according to experts.
	
	
	Crizanlizumab- this drug injected into the patient can help reduce the sickle crises in adults and children over the age of 16.
	
	
	Voxelotor- it is an oral drug used in children over 12. It lowers the risk of anemia by improving blood flow.
	
	
	Pain-relievers- narcotics to prevent excessive pain can also be used during the treatment.
	


 

Surgical procedures


	
	Blood transfusion
	


It is used to prevent stroke and other related complications in patients. This can increase the number of red blood cells in the body that can help reduce the symptoms.

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	Stem cell transplant
	


It is also called a bone marrow transplant and is used to replace affected bone marrow with a healthy one. This procedure is carried out between matched donor and recipient. Although it is a known cure for sickle cell disease, various risks involved make it a less used practice.

 

Can Sickle Cell Be Cured?

A brain tumour is a life-threatening situation. Most of the symptoms of the brain tumour are alike, but not all tumours are malignant. The most common type of brain tumour is meningioma. You may even don t need surgery in this case as they are really not dangerous or life-threatening.

 

Here are some of the facts you should know about meningioma:

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Meningioma can develop in numerous locations

 

Cells in the meninges, the lining of the brain and spinal cord, give rise to these tumours. In fact, they are not brain tumours at all, because they are not caused by the altered brain cells. ;

However, they continue to grow inside your sull, indicating that you should now take immediate steps. Meningioma can produce brain tumour symptoms if it grows or creates swelling that presses against the brain or other tissues in the skull.

 

Meningioma symptoms vary depending on the size and location of the tumour

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Meningioma can cause vision-related issues, headaches or seizures which are all common signs of a brain tumour. A headache, even a strong one, is seldom an indication of meningioma or any other type of brain tumour on its own. 

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Other tumour sites can influence your sense of smell, vision, hearing and even the pituitary gland s function.

 

Meningioma diagnosis usually happens when the doctor is looking for some else

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The discovery of a tumour on a ct scan or mri while investigating the patient for another cause, such as a head injury or another neurological condition, is called an accidental diagnosis. When a doctor identifies a meningioma, you will undergo additional testing to determine how the tumour will behave. A neurosurgeon will decide whether to remove the tumour or just monitor it to see whether it grows based on these findings. 

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Majority of meningioma does not spread

 

Being diagnosed with meningioma, especially a large one, might be shocking, but these tumours are usually non-dangerous. Tumour cells are unlikely to spread to other sections of the body as a result of this. ;

Meningiomas, on the other hand, can grow silently for years without creating any difficulties and they can grow to be enormous.

 

Things You Should Know About Most Common Brain Tumours

Hepatitis- related to an inflammatory condition of the liver. It occurs mainly due to infection caused by viruses but there are other possible causes as well. Hepatitis can be temporary or viral. Temporary hepatitis, which is acute in nature, gets resolved on its own. Viral hepatitis can be of five types, a, b, c, d, and e.

Symptoms of hepatitis

Hepatitis, in its initial phase, is called the acute phase. The following symptoms along with mild flu are visible:

Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Joint pains
Pain in the abdomen
Nausea
Weight loss
Jaundice
Though this phase is not really dangerous for some patients, it can result in liver failure leading to death.

How is hepatitis diagnosed?

Physical examination
Laboratory tests
Imaging tests


Treatment for hepatitis

Treatment options for different types of hepatitis are:

Hepatitis a: this doesn t require treatment as it is short-term in nature. In case the symptoms cause a lot of discomforts, then bed rest is recommended. The vaccine is available to prevent this infection.

Hepatitis b: acute hepatitis b doesn t require treatment either. Its chronic form can be treated with antiviral medications. This can be prevented with vaccination.

Hepatitis c: this type of hepatitis, both in its acute and chronic forms, is treated through antiviral medications.

Hepatitis d: according to a study in 2013, a drug known as alpha interferon is used to treat this type of hepatitis. Unfortunately, this only comes to the rescue of 25-30% of people.

Hepatitis e: this acute form of hepatitis gets resolved on its own. Adequate rest, drinking a sufficient amount of water, and taking enough nutrients in their food are some of the ways to get healed from this disease.


 

Hepatitis: Signs, Diagnosis, And Treatment

High sugar levels can harm your body and impact the quality of life. However, you can manage your ;sugar levels by keeping a check on your nutritional intake.

Manage Your Diabetes By Keeping A Check On Your Nutritional Levels

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

Surprising benefits of donating blood

Blood is that element in the human body that can't be manufactured. Hence, it makes blood donation a very significant phenomenon. It benefits the patients, the donors, society, and the overall medical ecosystem. However, people are not particularly aware of some of the benefits of donating blood. While some of them are necessarily good for your overall health, some can even surprise you.

Benefits

Potentially reveal health issues
Donating blood gets your vitals checked to make sure you are adequately fit for the procedure. Hence, it can be a process to keep your overall health checked. Your pulse, blood pressure, and hemoglobin check can ensure that you are free of any chronic illness. Usually, blood low in iron is not taken for donation. As a result, blood donation can find health issues that can be eradicated from the roots.

Reduce harmful overload of iron
Iron overload in the body causes a condition called hemochromatosis. Although this condition is not a usual phenomenon in india, it is important to detect it at the earliest. Blood donations help eliminate the excess iron from the body through red blood cells.

Cardio and vascular health
Regular blood donation maintains low blood pressure and keeps the risk of heart attacks at bay. According to a study, donating blood reduces the chance of heart attacks by 88 percent. High hemoglobin and high iron stores are checked by blood donations that have to do with blood clots and strokes.

Reduce the risk of cancer
A high concentration of iron in the body can cause free-radical damage. It increases the risk of cancer in the lungs, liver, colon, and throat due to the lowering of oxidative stress. Thus, regular blood donations make sure that the risk of cancer and mortality is lower.

Liver stays healthy
Excess iron in the body gets stored in the liver, heart, and pancreas leading to a risk of cirrhosis or liver failure. Various health ailments related to the liver are prevented by donating blood and getting rid of the extra iron in the body.

Help your mental state
With several physical benefits, there are also some psychological edges. As donating blood directly or indirectly helps a patient, it gives a sense of pride and satisfaction. Making a difference in society feels extremely fulfilling and that keeps you in an elated state. Hence, blood donation is equally healthy for your body and mind.

Surprising Benefits Of Donating Blood

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