Potassium is an essential mineral that helps in healthy functioning of your body   it helps in muscle contractions, fluid balance, and nerve signals. Your body receives the required amount of potassium from specific food sources and processes the same. The excess potassium is eliminated from the bloodstream by your kidneys.

Under normal circumstances, your blood levels should be between 3.5meq/l and 5.5meq/l for potassium to carry on these functions. Healthy kidneys play a vital role in keeping the potassium levels in check.

In case your kidneys are unable to remove excess potassium, it may get stored in your blood, leading to a condition known as hyperkalemia.

The link between your kidneys and potassium

The mineral potassium and your kidneys share an intricate relationship. If the levels of potassium in your blood are too high, it can pose a threat to your cardiac condition   leading to a ;heart attack or ;irregular heartbeat.

Hyperkalemia occurs when the kidneys fail to function properly. Your kidneys work to balance the amount of potassium consumed with that, which is eliminated through urine. Your body takes in potassium through the foods and drinks you consume. In the initial stages of your kidney disorder, they may be able to make up for high levels of potassium. However, as your condition worsens, they may be unable to eliminate enough of the mineral from the body.

How to find out if you have high potassium levels

The only way to figure out if your potassium levels are healthy or too elevated is to go for a blood test. The test measures the level of potassium in the bloodstream.

As long as your kidneys are healthy, your potassium levels will be under control. Therefore, if you have hyperkalemia, or if there are chances of you getting it, you may have to cut back on foods that are high in potassium content. Besides, you will have to rely on diuretics and potassium binders.

How Are Kidney And Potassium Connected?

Atherosclerosis refers to a medical condition in which the arteries become hardened and narrowed due to the accumulation of cholesterol plaque in the walls of the artery, obstructing the flow of blood.

What are the causes?

Atherosclerosis is a slow but progressive disorder that starts with the damage of endothelium   cells lining the interior surface of lymphatic and blood vessels. This allows bad ldl cholesterol to build up in the artery walls. Over time, a plaque made of calcium, macrophages, and cholesterol grows to a certain size to clog up arteries, disrupting blood flow around the body.

Other factors leading to atherosclerosis to include  

High blood pressure

High levels of triglyceride in the blood

High cholesterol levels

Certain medical conditions   diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance

Smoking/use of tobacco

Inflammatory conditions like lupus and arthritis

Symptoms of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis may develop in childhood or during adolescence. Mild conditions may not reveal observable symptoms unless the arteries are clogged, and blood supply to the tissues and organs are restricted.

Signs of moderate to severe atherosclerosis depend on the affected arteries   it could be the arteries leading to your brain, your heart, legs and arms, or the kidney. The symptoms of atherosclerosis include  

Weakness and fatigue

Difficulty breathing/concentrating

Headaches

Facial numbness

Paralysis

Vomiting

Chest pain

Anxiety

Loss of appetite

Swelling in the feet and hands

If any of the above symptoms seem familiar to you, consult a doctor right away for treatment.

Can atherosclerosis be prevented?

The best way to avoid cholesterol plaque from building up in the artery walls is to prevent the onset of atherosclerosis with these preventive measures.

Eat healthy   avoid eating foods that are rich in saturated fats   red meat, butter and cheese. These increase your cholesterol levels drastically. Instead, include foods that contain unsaturated fats, like avocados, olive oil, fatty fish, nuts and seeds because these help to keep ldl or bad cholesterol levels down.

Stay active   exercising and staying active can help regulate your cholesterol levels and prevent certain conditions that might put you at risk for atherosclerosis.

Quit smoking   people who smoke should quit smoking because it is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis   it increases blood pressure, which in turn, affects your cholesterol levels.

Atherosclerosis can lead to complications. With precautionary measures and proper treatment, the condition can be avoided.

Know All About Atherosclerosis Here

Thyroid cancer refers to the type of ;cancer that originates in the thyroid gland. Cancer develops when the cells in your thyroid gland begin multiplying uncontrollably to form malignant tumours.

What leads to the development of cancer in the thyroid glands is not clearly known. However, a combination of environmental factors and genetics could be a leading cause of cancer.

Thyroid cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women, and usually affects those in their 20s and early 30s.

Types of thyroid cancer

Four types of thyroid cancer are prevalent, which are  


	
	Papillary thyroid cancer   ;this is the most common type of thyroid cancer. Cancer typically develops in one of the two lobes in the thyroid gland, and gradually spreads to the lymph nodes in your neck.
	
	
	Follicular thyroid cancer   ;the second most common type is the follicular thyroid cancer. Here the disease spreads to other body parts and organs, like the bones or lungs rather than the lymph nodes.
	
	
	Medullary cancer   cancer starts from the c-cells of the thyroid gland, which usually produce a hormone called ;calcitonin. The disease can spread to the lungs, liver, or lymph nodes even before a nodule is discovered.
	
	
	Anaplastic thyroid cancer   this form of cancer is rare but aggressive. It develops from an existing follicular or papillary cancer and spreads to other parts of the body faster than any other type of thyroid cancer.
	


Symptoms to watch out for

The symptoms of thyroid cancer depend on its type. Although there are no observable symptoms in the initial stage, you might be able to spot some changes in your body as cancer progresses. These symptoms include:


	
	A lump or mass in the neck that can be felt through the skin
	
	
	Change in voice   ;hoarseness
	
	
	Pain in the throat and neck
	
	
	Difficulty in swallowing
	
	
	Swelling of the lymph nodes in your neck
	


Diagnosis and treatment

The following tests/procedures can help detect thyroid cancer early  


	
	Blood test
	
	
	Ultrasound
	
	
	Biopsy
	
	
	Imaging tests
	
	
	Genetic testing
	
	
	Pet scan
	


Once cancer is diagnosed, appropriate treatment will be prescribed depending on the stage. Primary treatment options include  


	
	Chemotherapy ;  medications are infused through veins to kill cancer cells
	
	
	Radiation therapy   high-energy radio beams are directed to destroy cancer cells
	
	
	Radioactive ;iodine   large doses of radioactive iodine are given orally
	
	
	Targeted therapy   medications are given to attack certain vulnerabilities in the cancer cells
	
	
	Surgery ;  complete or partial removal of the thyroid gland or the lymph nodes
	


Prior to the treatment, your doctor will discuss the treatment plan specific to your diagnosis. Thyroid cancer is curable if detected at the right time. Therefore, do not lose hope and consult a specialist as early as possible.

Thyroid Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, 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

World brain tumor day is observed on the 8th of june every year. The german brain tumor association initially took this initiative and it is celebrated worldwide to educate people about the brain tumor. 

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What is brain tumor? 

 ;

When abnormal cells grow inside the brain and are in the form of a mass the condition is called a brain tumor. There are various types of brain tumors that exist. Some of the existing brain tumors are malignant or cancerous while others may be non-cancerous.

 

A brain tumor can begin in any part of the brain and spread to other parts of the body or vice-versa. The growth rate of brain tumors is different for each individual suffering from it.

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What are the symptoms of a brain tumor? 

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If a person is suffering from a brain tumor he/she may be exhibiting the following symptoms: 


	
	Headaches in the morning after waking up, while sleeping
	
	
	The headaches will get worse after coughing and sneezing
	
	
	Vomiting
	
	
	Change in the mental functioning
	
	
	Confusion
	
	
	Clumsiness
	
	
	Effect on the memory
	
	
	Loss of balance
	
	
	Numbness or tingling sensation on one side of the body
	
	
	Trouble in speaking
	
	
	Blurred vision
	
	
	A person might have seizures without any previous history of neurological disease
	


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Risk factors of a brain tumor 

There are some risk factors that increase the risk of brain tumors in individuals


	
	The risk of brain tumors increases with age.
	
	
	This condition can also be inherited from the family however, the chances are only 5 to 10 percent.
	
	
	The risk of brain tumors increases in people who have been exposed to ionizing radiation.
	
	
	If a person is exposed to certain chemicals then they have an increased risk of suffering from a brain tumor.
	



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Treatment of brain tumor

 

The treatment of brain tumors depends on the location, size, and type of the tumor. The general health of the patient is also taken into consideration. The treatment which is common for brain tumor is surgery. The objective of the surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damaging the other parts of the brain. For surgery to take place the tumors must be located within the area of limits of the surgery.

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Doctors may suggest the following treatments according to the type, grade, and position of tumor and the general health of the patient.

 


	
	Surgery
	
	
	Radiation therapy
	
	
	Chemotherapy
	
	
	Anti-seizure medicines
	
	
	Steroids
	
	
	Ventricular peritoneal shunt
	
	
	Combination of treatments
	


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World Brain Tumour Day: All About Brain Tumour- Risk Factors, Symptoms And Treatments

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

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