Monday 28 August 2017
DENTAL CARIES (Tooth decay or Tooth cavities) AND YOU
DENTAL CARIES (Tooth decay or Tooth cavities)
Tom had always been good looking and it
was a fact that he was very aware much aware of. He knew he was good looking
and revelled in the knowledge so much he became unbearable to live with. Tom
lost a lot of his friends due to his pride and obnoxious attitude but he did
not notice. He had Fred, who was also as intimidatingly handsome like him and
almost as unbearable. Tom began to put life in perspective when Fred was
diagnosed with cancer in high school and died after struggling with it for
close to a year. The doctors said he had gotten to the last stage before they
found out. Tom had been distraught but he had also learnt that life was really
vain and all the beauty in the world is not what adds meaning to life but the
life one touches on the way. He had after all seen Fred become a shadow himself
before finally kicking the bucket.
When Tom discovered the patches grow on his
teeth, he was scared karma had finally caught up with him like it did his
friend, and he had developed cancer to pay for all the times he treated people
badly. His mother had to practically drag him to the hospital because he didn’t
want his fears to be confirmed. However, after a visit to the doctor, he was
soon to find out that it was merely tooth decay that had caught with him for
all those years spent not taking care of his teeth. He didn’t have cancer, he
had Dental Caries.
Dental Caries is basically tooth decay
or tooth cavities. It is the major oral disorder in most countries; it has to
do with the breakdown of the teeth due to the activities of bacteria. The
bacteria produce acid that destroys the tooth's enamel and the layer under it, called
the dentin. Different bacteria usually lives in the human mouth, they are built
up on the teeth in sticky biofilm called a plaque. Bits of the food we eat,
especially sugar are what feed these bacteria to grow more than normal. In
consequence, dieting often in simple sugar is a high risk of tooth cavities.
However, what happens to cause tooth decay is if the mineral build-up of saliva
is less than the breakdown. Thus, conditions like diabetes mellitus, Sjogren's
syndrome, diabetes insipidus, sarcoidosis, some medications such as antihistamines
and antidepressants that decrease saliva production are high risk factors of
tooth decay. Stimulants, most especially methylamphetamine and the active
chemical substance in cannabis, also causes almost total prevention of the
production of saliva. Caries can also attack the roots of teeth should they
become exposed by gum recession. The disease is mostly found in older adults.
Signs and Symptoms
A person suffering from Dental Caries
may not be aware initially. The first sign would be the physical changes that
would occur on the teeth. Usually, a small patch of soft enamel appears at the
tooth surface, although it is often hidden from sight in the grooves of the teeth
or in between the teeth. The colour of the small patch could range from black
to white. How this works is that as this is left untreated, the teeth begin to
break down gradually before finally a cavity appears that would completely
change the shape of the teeth. Before a cavity comes into the picture, the
regeneration can be reversed and the bacteria affecting the teeth killed but if
after a cavity is formed, it cannot be reversed. Other signs and symptoms
include tooth ache, difficulty chewing, numb teeth (whereby the affected teeth
would no longer hot or cold), and foul breathe in some extreme cases.
Prevention
The good news is that like many
diseases, tooth cavities can be prevented.
·
The most obvious way to
prevent tooth cavity is proper dental hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day and
do it properly, not hurriedly.
·
Another way is to avoid
diets with simple sugar as much as you can
·
Use fluoride. Some
water sources naturally contain fluoride but the availability is limited. Many
types of toothpaste fortunately contain fluoride. If yours doesn’t, you might
want to invest in one that does.
·
Pit and fissure sealant
is also another way of preventing caries. A sealant is a thin plastic-like
coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth to prevent the access of
plaque and plaque acids to the enamel surface.
Diagnosis
Sometimes caries may be directly visible
but most times, they are hidden. So it would take more than using the physical
eyes to see the small patches on the teeth.
·
Dental mirror and
explorer a good light source can be used to detect caries on the noticeable
surface of the teeth. Although some dental experts have advised against using
dental explorers, especially sharp-ended explorer.
·
Dental radiography
(X-ray) is used for the less noticeable areas of the teeth and to ascertain the
degree of destruction.
·
Lasers for detecting
caries make it possible to spot the decay without ionizing radiation and they are
now used for detection of interproximal decay (between the teeth).
·
Disclosing solutions
are also used during tooth restoration to minimize the chance of recurrence.
Treatment
·
In the early stage, the
tooth decay can be stopped and even reversed. Fluorides and other preventive
measure like sealants can help reverse decay.
·
When the tooth is
degenerated, it would take a dentist to repair it. The standard treatment for a
cavity is to fill the tooth. Depending on the method used, numbing the affected
area might be required. If a drill is used, the dentist will numb the area. If
a laser is used, a numbing shot is not usually required. The decayed material
in the cavity is removed and the cavity is filled.
·
However, if a cavity is
large, the residual tooth may not be able to support enough filling material to
repair it. In this situation, the dentist will remove the decay and cover the
tooth with a ceramic inlay, onlay or artificial crown.
·
If the bacteria further
attacks the pulp deep into the root of the teeth, then it would require root
canal treatment, which involves removing the pulp and replacing it with an
inert material. In many cases, the tooth will need a crown.
Sunday 27 August 2017
CHAGAS DISEASE
CHAGAS DISEASE
When
Lara's daddy developed heart failure at just 52, many people were surprised.
The man had always been healthy and fit. He never missed his time in the gym
every weekend. At the very least, if he was to fall sick, one would expect it
to be something that didn’t have to do with the heart. Health practitioners
after all say good diet and constant exercise keeps the heart in good shape.
Lara's father definitely was a rare occurrence, not for one whose nutrition
consisted of mainly fruits and vegetables. Coupled with the constant exercise,
it did come as a shock when his wife found him slumped in his study and the
paramedics that came to see to him when they called the ambulance said he had
heart failure. Their questions had finally been put to rest at the hospital.
According to the doctor, he has Chagas disease and the disease in many people
shows just mild symptoms for years before finally resorting to heart failure.
Of course, this brings the question of what Chagas disease is.
What
is Chagas disease?
Chagas
disease is also known as American trypanosomiasis. It got its name from the
Brazilian physician Carlos R. J. Chagas, who first described the disease in man
in 1909. It is a tropical parasitic disease caused by an infection with the parasite
called, "Trypanosoma cruzi." The parasite is mainly found in the
blood sucking insect called, "kissing bug." The insects feed on the
blood of humans and other mammals and deposits the infected faeces. One could
also contact it by breaks in the skin, blood transfusion, organ transplant, a
mother to a foetus or eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated drinks.
Friday 25 August 2017
CANDIDIASIS AND YOU
CANDIDIASIS
The
white patches grew on Sara's tongue for days before she got scared of the
implication. Her mama was sure it was because Sara did not keep a proper
hygiene. Of course, Sara thought otherwise. She took brushing her teeth
seriously and even did it twice a day like the dentists adviced. But she could
also not discount her mama's opinion not when she could see the white patches
growing every day.
Her mama further explained that it was probably because she
did not concentrate on her tongue as well as her teeth. She could not dispute
that fact and so, she started washing her tongue as well but after two weeks,
they knew they were dealing with more than unwashed tongue, not when it also
came with itches and pain. So mama finally took her to the hospital, where it
was diagnosed that she had candidiasis. Sara and her mama wondered at what that
could mean. It was definitely a disease they have never heard of. You might
fall into that category of Sara and her mama. Well, chill, you would wonder for
long.
· What is Candidiasis?
Our
body was created very artfully and there are many things that have are found in
the body who serve their purposes. One of such is the different kinds of yeasts
that live in our body. Candida, from which Candidiasis is from, is one type of
yeast we have in our body. Candida lives in small doses without causing
problems in the skin, mouth, or belly mostly. But sometimes, when they find
themselves in a conducive environment, they grow beyond normal and cause
problems. They usually grow in moist, warm areas such as the tongue (thrush),
underarm, diaper area, vagina (yeast infection), beneath the breast, nail bed
area and any skin folds. It is mostly common with infants, elderly or people
with weak immune system. Antifungal medication usually treats yeasts infection
without reoccurrence. However, yeast infections may return as a sign of more
serious diseases such as diabetes, leukemia, or AIDS.
The
most common yeast infections (Candidiasis) are;
- Thrush: It is called thrush when it infects the mouth. It is common among infants. With them, it is not considered abnormal or even severe except if it last for more than a few weeks.
- Signs and symptoms
When
you have thrush, the most noticeable symptom is the white or yellow patches
that appear on the tongue, lips, gums, roof of mouth, and inner cheeks. Other
symptoms include soreness in the mouth and throat; cracks at the corner at the
mouth, pain, difficulty swallowing, and sometimes itching.
- · Treatment
Thrush
can be treated with antifungal medicines like Nystatin, Clotrimazole, and fluconazole.
It
could also be treated by rinsing the mouth with Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash especially
in people with weakened immune systems.
Friday 5 May 2017
ALTERNATIVE (HERBAL) TREATMENT FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Alternative treatment focus on herbal mixtures,
or dietary supplements, that can be used to slow down the progression of the
disease, or to prevent the disease totally. However, according to the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration, the effectiveness and safety of these herbs and
supplements are unknown. Some of the herbs include:
Also, it is advisable to incorporate more vitamin E and raw organic virgin coconut oil into our daily diets. All these will either help to prevent the disease or to delay its development.
Learn more: How does Alzheimer’s affect the Brain? (pathology of Alzheimer's disease) Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, treatment of Alzheimer disease, alzheimer's disease (and memory loss)- a form of dementia
tags: alzheimer’s disease meaning, alzheimer’s disease causes, how does alzheimer’s disease occur, alzheimer’s disease symptoms, alzheimer’s disease stages, alzheimer’s disease risk factors, alzheimer’s disease stages, alzheimer pathology, alzheimer’s disease prevention, alzheimer’s disease control, alternative treatment of alzheimer’s disease (herbal therapy)
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- Lemon balm,
- Sage,
- Gingko biloba,
- Cat’s claw vine,
- Oregano,
- Rosemary,
- Parsley,
- Ginseng.
Also, it is advisable to incorporate more vitamin E and raw organic virgin coconut oil into our daily diets. All these will either help to prevent the disease or to delay its development.
Learn more: How does Alzheimer’s affect the Brain? (pathology of Alzheimer's disease) Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, treatment of Alzheimer disease, alzheimer's disease (and memory loss)- a form of dementia
tags: alzheimer’s disease meaning, alzheimer’s disease causes, how does alzheimer’s disease occur, alzheimer’s disease symptoms, alzheimer’s disease stages, alzheimer’s disease risk factors, alzheimer’s disease stages, alzheimer pathology, alzheimer’s disease prevention, alzheimer’s disease control, alternative treatment of alzheimer’s disease (herbal therapy)
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TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Treatment Options
Those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s live an
average of eight years after their symptoms become visible to others. However,
most patients can survive for up to twenty years depending on the age and
overall health status. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s because the
mutations that occur in the brain during the disease are permanent. Once the
nerve cells begin to die, and the brain begins to shrink, it can not be
reversed.
However, medications can be provided to help cope with the drastic
changes that occur in the brain of the patient. There are medications for
memory loss, sleep changes, and behavioural changes. These medications cannot
cure Alzheimer’s or stop it from spreading, but it can curb the symptoms and
slow it down for some time. The two types of medications used to treat memoryloss and confusion are cholinesterase inhibitors (such as Donepezil,
Rivastigmine, and Galantamine) and memantine. Medications used to treat sleep
changes include nortriptyline, trazodone, lorazepam, oxazepam, temazepam,
zolpidem, zaleplon, chloral hydrate, risperidone, onlanzapine, quetiapine, and
haloperidol.
Learn more: How does Alzheimer’s affect the Brain? (pathology of Alzheimer's disease) Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, alternative (herbal) therapy for Alzheimer disease, alzheimer's disease (and memory loss)- a form of dementia
tags: alzheimer’s disease meaning, alzheimer’s disease causes, how does alzheimer’s disease occur, alzheimer’s disease symptoms, alzheimer’s disease stages, alzheimer’s disease risk factors, alzheimer’s disease stages, alzheimer pathology, alzheimer’s disease prevention, alzheimer’s disease control, alternative treatment of alzheimer’s disease (herbal therapy)
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TODAY
Saturday 22 April 2017
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE 2- PATHOLOGY AND SYMPTOMS
How does Alzheimer’s affect the
Brain?
PATHOLOGY OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Alzheimer’s disease starts in a brain region
known as the Lateral Entorhinal Cortex.
This region leads to the hippocampus
area of the brain which is mostly concerned with establishing long-term memory. The Lateral
Entorhinal Cortex is usually affected by Alzheimer’s because it contains large amount of tau proteins.
The presence of numerous tau proteins causes the Lateral Entorhinal Cortex to
accumulate Amyloid Precursor Protein
(APP). Both APP and tau proteins work synergistically
to destroy the neurons in the entorhinal cortex, making that region
vulnerable to Alzheimer’s. If the Lateral Entorhinal Cortex is affected, the
hippocampus will also be affected. As time goes on, the disease spreads from
the entorhinal cortex to the cerebral cortex.
The main damaging effect of
Alzheimer’s is the destruction of nerve cells or neurons in the brain. As the
brain cells die off, the brain continues to shrink and reduce. When the cells in the hippocampus start to
shrink, short term memory begins to fade, and there is reduced ability to
perform routine tasks. As the disease progresses, and spreads through the
cerebral cortex and the two hemispheres, judgment declines, speech and language
is affected, and abrupt mood changes sets in. The death of more nerve cells in
the brain will lead to serious changes in behaviour as patients may start to
wander or become restless.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE 1 (AND MEMORY LOSS)- A FORM OF DEMENTIA
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that affects
the human brain, leading to memory loss, disorientation, behaviour changes, and
difficulty in speaking, swallowing, and walking.
Alzheimer's is the most prevalent form of
dementia. Alzheimer's
disease responsible for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. The disease got
its name from a German physician named Alois Alzheimer who diagnosed a
51-year-old woman of a rare brain disorder in the year 1906. The brain autopsy
performed on the patient identified the plaques and tangles that are now known
to occur in the brain of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.