Blood donation is a procedure carried out for the noble cause of helping patients and saving lives. As the healthy donor's blood is transfused into the patient, it gives them a new life. That said, the donor has to fulfill a few criteria to be eligible to donate blood.

Eligibility

While any healthy adult of any gender can donate blood, it is advised for males to donate once every three months and for females to donate once every four months. Some of the other criteria are-


	
	Age
	


Any person in the age group of 18 to 65 years can donate blood depending on other factors.


	
	Weight
	


A donor should be at least weigh 45 kilograms in order to be eligible.


	
	Pulse
	


The temperature and pulse of the donor should be normal during the time of blood donation.


	
	Hemoglobin
	


Hemoglobin in the blood should be at least 12.5 grams otherwise the donor stands ineligible.


	
	Childbirth
	


A female donor should have delivered at least 1 year ago and stopped lactation.


	
	Blood pressure
	


Ensuring that the systolic and diastolic pressures are within normal limits is a must.


	
	Malaria
	


One should not have malarial symptoms and not have been treated for the same in the last 3 months.


	
	Tattoo
	


A person should not have had a tattoo in the past 12 months.


	
	Immunization and vaccination
	


A donor should not have had shots for cholera, typhoid, diphtheria, tetanus, or plague in the last 15 days.


	
	Cancer
	


A person should be checked for cancer and should not have any signs of cancer in the body.


	
	Infection
	


There should not be hepatitis b, c, tuberculosis, leprosy, or hiv infection in the body.


	
	Diseases
	


A person should not have epilepsy, bleeding disorders, sickle cell, or thalassemia.


	
	Drugs
	


One cannot donate blood if injected intravenously ever. It may cause risk to the recipient.


	
	Heart issues
	


A person willing to donate cannot have any heart disease.


	
	Diabetes
	


People on oral drugs or dieting to control diabetes can donate blood while patients with insulin injections cannot.

 

Strictly prohibited


	
	Ones who have been tested hiv positive.
	
	
	People suffering from cardiac problems, hypertension, cancer, epilepsy, or kidney ailments.
	
	
	Donors who have consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours.
	
	
	Ones with a major dental procedure done in the last one month.
	
	
	Women with miscarriages in the past 6 months.
	



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Know Eligibility Rules For Donating Blood

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

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-

 ;


	
	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.

 ;

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.

 ;


	
	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?

We often forget to take note of things that could cause a spike in blood pressure levels like sleep apnea, ;high sugar intake, among others.

What Are The Things That Could Spike Your Blood Pressure Levels?

Yoga can cure numerous common ailments like asthma and arthritis if practised frequently. Yoga cannot cure diabetes, yet it is helpful in controlling the glucose in the body to a great level. There are different yoga asanas that are cures for lower back pain and acid reflux. Here is how yoga cures some common ailments:

 

Asthma: the main practical cure for asthma lies in yoga. Inhalers can spare your life when you get an asthma attack; however, for a long-term cure, you need to rehearse pranayam and anulom-vulom.

Diabetes: it is one of the most common illnesses on the planet. You cannot generally cure insulin resistance; however, some yoga asanas like the triangle posture (trikonasana) can control your glucose levels.

Heart disease: bhujangasana or cobra pose stretches the chest, massaging organs inside, including heart, and allowing more blood flow to it, thus stimulating and strengthening the heart muscle. Kapalbhati pranayama is also very good for the heart since it increases the absorption of oxygen in the blood. Yoga is proven to be an excellent heart risk improvement practice according to current research too.

Thyroid disorders: yoga asanas like shoulder stand, inverted pose, plough pose, and the fish pose all help in making the thyroid gland work optimally again. The cobra pose and ujjayi pranayama also work wonders by re-balancing metabolism and working on the throat reflex pathways to cure thyroid imbalance. ;

Headache: migraine and headaches are frequently brought on by insufficient blood supply to the brain. Attempt the yoga postures like shirsasana or a headstand to cure headaches or migraines as opposed to taking medicines.

Back pain or lower back pain: it has turned into a common condition among the working class and individuals even undergo surgery to stop the pain. Attempt yoga postures like tadasana or the tree posture.

Joint inflammation or arthritis: arthritis is an ailment that causes serious joint pain. However, yoga can control the amount of pain brought on because of joint inflammation. Attempt the surya namaskar as a flexible approach to cure arthritis.

Liver problems: liver issues can go from minor ingestion to extreme greasy liver disorder. To keep your liver sound, try some extremely basic yoga postures that may increase the blood circulation in the belly. The stretching posture is a great illustration.

Depression: yoga is one of the best and most powerful cures for depression. If you would prefer not to be reliant on antidepressants and dozing pills, attempt yoga asanas like uttanasana.

Polycystic ovaries syndrome (pcos): it is one of the most common problems that are troubling young women nowadays. The side effects are irregular periods, and it can even lead to infertility. So attempt yoga postures like the body stance to cure ovarian cysts without medications or surgery.

 

10 Diseases You Can Cure With Yoga

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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