Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-causes, diagnosis and treatment

BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA(BPH)

: BPH is a health condition characterized by the enlargement of the prostate gland. In the male reproductive system, prostate gland is located which is very small in size. Prostate gland is located below the bladder and in the front of rectum. The Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
is the enlargement of the prostate of the prostate gland and it is not cancerous. This enlargement of the prostate gland mainly occurs with old age. The enlargement of the prostate gland does not create any problem but when it becomes large enough to put pressure on urethra and this causes the thickening of the walls of the bladder. It generally happened in men who are in their late sixties or seventies.

CAUSES OF PROSTATE GLAND

: it include growth of cells i.e. hyperplasia. The reason behind this growth of cells may include androgens i.e. male hormones, estrogens and growth factors. The enlargement of prostate gland or benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH causes several problems. The symptoms of enlarged prostate may differ from person to person. The common symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH include increased frequency of urination, increase in urgency, leaking, increased frequency of urination in night, difficulty in urinating. Benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH or enlarged prostate may also cause urinary tract infection.


Dianosis and Treatment : It is very important to diagnose the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH or enlarged prostate to start the effective treatment. This diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is done by the urologist- a specialized doctor on male reproductive system and urinary tract. An urologist may suggest you to do following tests.
1) International prostate symptom score (IPSS) or AUA symptom index - some questions about specific urinary symptoms associated benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH or enlarged prostate.
2) Digital Rectal Examination – This examination helps a doctor to know about the size and condition of prostate gland.
3) Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test – PSA is a protein made by the prostate gland and if the level of this protein is increase in the blood, it is an indication of prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH or enlarged prostate.
4) Urinalysis – a test to find the presence of an infection.
5) If the result of the above tests shows that you are having benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH or enlarged prostate than following tests are done to confirm the disease. These tests include urinary flow study, imaging tests, cystoscopy etc.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) or enlarged prostate may not required any kind of treatment and can be monitored for any sign of other problems. If BPH cause an urinary tract infection than it can be treated with the help of antibiotics. There are various treatments available for enlarged prostate which include medications and lastely surgery. There are two types of medications available for the treatment of enlarged prostate which are "alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers" and "5-alpha reductase inhibitors". Amongst the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, the generic avodart (Dutasteride) works wonder. The active constituent of generic avodart is the dutasteride. The generic avodart (dutasteride) can prevent the prostate gland from growing larger. Surgery is often recommended for the removal of the enlarged portion of the prostate gland. The surgical procedure include “transurethral surgery”, “laser surgery”, “photoselective vaporization of the prostate”, “interstitial laser coagulation” and open surgery.

Does Atorvastatin Helps to Lower Cholesterol And High Blood Pressure?

Cholesterol

It is the most important factor that affects the blood pressure. Cholesterol is made up in the liver and it is of two types called as high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL).

LDL

It is known as the “bad cholesterol” and the HDL is known as the good cholesterol. This is because the LDL cholesterol gets deposited on the inner walls of the arteries and causing hardening of the arteries. This results in the narrowing of the arteries causing them to exert more pressure on the flow of blood resulting in high blood pressure. If the flow of blood to the heart gets blocked, it results in chest pain or angina. If the blood supply of a portion of a heart gets blocked it results in the heart attack and if the blood supply gets blocked for the brain, it may cause stroke.

The main culprit is the LDL or the bad cholesterol which can easily flow from one place to another along with blood. When LDL gets deposited on the inner walls of the arteries it grows in size and can be detached and travel from one place to another causing blockage. The LDL is mainly prepared in the liver and a very small portion of it is absorbed through the diet. The HDL or the good cholesterol helps to keep away the LDL or bad cholesterol from building up inside the arteries. There is cholesterol number to describe the amount of cholesterol present in the blood. So if the HDL cholesterol number is 40 then you might be at a risk of heart attack. If the HDL cholesterol number is greater than 60, then it is good for your heart.

There are several drugs available for the treatment of high blood pressure. In the treatment of high blood pressure it is very important to lower the levels of cholesterol. There is a group of medication known as “statins” which helps to lower cholesterol level in the blood. The statins group includes lovastatin, simvastain, fluvastatin and pravastatin. Amongst all these statins, Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) is the one drug which is largely used to lower cholesterol level in the blood. Atorvastatin is the active constituent of generic Lipitor. Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) works by blocking the production of HMG Co-A reductase enzyme that makes cholesterol. Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) also reduces the amount of triglycerides in the blood and helps to increase the amount of good cholesterol i.e. HDL. The dosage of generic Lipitor for lowering the cholesterol is 10 to 20 mg per day. The maximum dosages of Generic Lipitor (atorvastain) can be given up to 80 mg.

Though Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) helps to reduce the cholesterol in the blood it has some mild side effects too. The side effects of Generic Lipitor include constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, headache, skin rash and itching, fatigue, muscle pain and painful or frequent urination. These side effects of Generic Lipitor (atorvastain) last for some time and gets disappeared once your body gets adjusted with the drug. Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) also have contraindications. The contraindications of Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) include hypersensitivity to atorvastatin. Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) contraindications are pregnancy and lactation.

Asthma- causes, symptoms and treatments

Asthma is known as the long term respiratory disorder mainly affecting the lungs. It is the inflammatory disorder of the air passages of the lungs. Asthma is common disorder affecting millions of people including large number children. The chronic inflammation of the air passages of the lungs causes the narrowing and the swelling of the air passages. Because of this breathing becomes difficult resulting in suffocation. The bronchial tubes becomes over sensitive to the allergens or the irritants due to chronic inflammation.

The worst condition for an asthma patient could be the time when he or she gets the asthma attack. An asthma attack occurs when the bronchial tubes becomes narrow and inflamed due to chronic inflammation. They get filled up with the mucus cells and a sticky fluid resulting in the blocking of the air passages. The muscles that surround the air passage get tighten up making the condition even worse than before. This condition is known as “bronchospasm”. In some patients the mucus glands in the air ways produces more thick mucus further blocking the air ways.  The warning signs or symptoms of asthma attack are coughing, wheezing – breathing with a heavy sound or trouble breathing, shortness of breath and fast or noisy breathing which can make you tired.

The causes of asthma depend on the life style of the person. The causes of asthma include family history of asthma or allergy, life style aspects such as changes in diet, surrounding environment, pets, air pollution. The causes of asthma can also be air pollution, irritants that found at work place or home like dust, pollen grains etc. Other than these the causes of asthma also includes viral infection.

In the treatment of asthma it is very important to make an effort to control the asthma symptoms. The treatment itself suggests that one should lessen the intensity of the symptoms of asthma to get relief. The symptoms of asthma include sneezing, headache, mood swings, blocked nose, throat sensitivity, tiredness and difficulty sleeping. The symptoms of asthma may vary from person to person but the intensity goes beyond the limit when a person gets an asthma attack. The severity of the symptoms of asthma also differs from person to person but sometimes asthma symptoms can become fatal too.

In the treatment of asthma it is very important to diagnose the problem accurately. Not only in asthma but in any kind of diseases before starting the treatment it is vital to diagnose the problem and accordingly medications can be given. As said earlier in the treatment of asthma, the intention is to decrease the intensity of the symptoms of asthma. Following are the pulmonary functioning tests which are useful in the diagnosis of asthma.
1)    Routine pulmonary function test
2)    Bronchial provocation test
3)    Exercise induced bronchoconstriction test
4)    Allergy intradermal skin test
5)    Allergy prick skin test
6)    Bone density test
7)    Bone scan
8)    CT scan of sinuses

The treatment of asthma is connected with the severity of the symptoms of asthma. The treatments of asthma include the drugs known as bronchodilators or corticosteroid. The bronchodilators relax the bronchospasm and the corticosteroid reduces the inflammation of the air passages. In the treatment of asthma the inhaled medication is preferred over the oral or liquid medications. The inhaled medication is known as asthma inhalers. When a person get attack of asthma, the situation can be controlled by the use of asthma inhalers. The preventive measures for asthma includes staying away from irritant, quitting smoking can save you from asthma and making your workplace and your home free from dust particles.

What is heartburn and how to tackle it with generic medicine

At least once in a lifetime we would have suffered from the nightmare called heartburn. It is termed as nightmare because it takes away the sleep and makes it a bitter experience for us. We enjoy our food as it is the delicious way to get energy required for the well being of a individual and also important in terms of a good health. But sometimes because of indigestion of food we face a common health issue known as heartburn.

The heartburn is also known as the gastroesophageal reflux disorder or gerd. The symptoms of heartburn or gerd may differ from person to person because of variation in causes. In gerd or heartburn the acid that is secreted by the stomach for the digestion of food reach to the esophagus or food pipe causing a burning sensation in the chest so it is also called as acid reflux. Reflux means going in the opposite direction. The main cause of heartburn or gerd is the unhealthy,  unbalanced diet. We tend to have too much of chocolates and high caffeine drinks which give rise to gerd or heartburn. The high intake of fatty and acidic food also adds in the heartburn. The high consumption of citrus food, smoking and high intake of alcohol causes heartburn. Apart from this, obesity and immediately sleeping after having food causes gerd.

The heartburn is a disease that takes away the enjoyment from having food and makes it difficult to survive. The symptoms of heartburn or gerd may vary from individual to individual. The common symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux can be burning sensation in the chest after having the food, problem in swallowing the food and pain in the chest. Heartburn symptoms also include pain in the chest while bending and also there is a rise of the acid till the throat causing a sour taste in the mouth. In some cases the symptoms of heartburn of or gerd can be worse than the mild symptoms. These worse symptoms of heartburn or gerd include sour throat for a long time, long term coughing, asthma and chronic hoarseness in voice.

The treatment for heartburn or gerd involves home remedies and also allopathic medicines antacids. The home remedies for heartburn or acid reflux are as follows:
1.    Chew half teaspoon of fennel seeds after your meal.
2.    Drink aloe vera juice before every meal.
3.    Use ginger in your food. Make a paste of ginger and use it in food.
4.    Keep sucking a single clove after every meal.
5.    Chew few leaves of fresh basil leaves.
If the symptoms of heartburn do not go away with the home remedies or if the symptoms are getting worse then you can take allopathic medications like antacids or also known as “proton pump inhibitors”. These medication works by blocking the production of stomach acid.

It is always better to prevent heartburn because if it is ignored or left untreated can lead to serious health conditions like stomach ulcer and ulcer of esophagus. Heartburn or gerd can be prevented by drinking plenty of water. You should quit smoking if you are having heartburn from a very long time. You should avoid taking alcohol while meals. You can avoid gas forming food like beans. You can also cut off raw vegetables like cabbage, cucumber, onion, reddish, peppers etc. Keep a habit of chewing your food thoroughly. After taking meals take a walk around for about 20 minutes that will help to overcome indigestion and ultimately symptoms of heartburn or gerd.

Acne not only destroys the beauty of our face also affect our confidence level

Skin Issue(acne)

Acne Skin Disease
We all fear of nightmares, aren’t we? The most dreadful nightmare is big acne on our beautiful face. Acne not only destroys the beauty of our face but also affect our confidence level. Acne is the common skin issue occurs in teenagers and also in young people having an unhealthy life style. Do you know how acne occurs? What are the cause and home remedies to cure it? Let’s have a brief look about acne!

What is Acne skin disease?

can be defined as an inflammatory skin disease which results in the formation of tiny spots on the face, chest, back and arms. The sebaceous glands produce oil known as sebum. Acne develops due to the blockage of these pores resulting in trapping oil and dead skin cell. Situation get worse when a bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) living on the sebum interfere with this causing swelling around the pore and get developed into acne. Acne leaves scar once it has been treated and these are known as acne scars. There are two types of acne scars which are pitted scars and pigmented scars.

The exact cause behind the acne is not yet known. There are several factors which contribute in the formation of acne. These factors include heredity, oily skin and hair, hormonal changes, stress, side effects of the drugs and also nutritional deficiency. The treatment of acne includes both home remedies and chemical medicines too. The home remedies for acne includes use of grounded orange peel, paste of almonds and so on.

Treatment of Acne

The acne treatment also includes topical creams like tretinoin gel, adapalene gel, azelaic acid cream etc. There are also oral antibiotic available for the treatment of acne. These are the acne remedies which give relief from the embracement of carrying acne.

FIGHTING WITH HIV(human immunodeficiency virus)-AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome)

AIDS DAY

Every year on December 1 we celebrate the world AIDS day worldwide. The aim to celebrate world AIDS day is to spread the awareness among the people who are still in the dark about the facts and harmful effects of AIDS. AIDS is the Acquired immune deficiency syndrome. AIDS is caused by the HIV virus which the human immunodeficiency virus.

HIV Virus

The HIV virus, like other viruses live as a neutral spherical body or particle which has lots of spikes on its surface. HIV particles are covered by a coat of fatty matter called as viral membrane or viral envelope. Below this membrane, the next layer is called as matrix made up of protein. The viral core is bullet-shaped and inside the core, three enzymes are present along with two strands of RNA which are responsible for the replication of HIV virus.

The HIV virus can be active only inside a living cell. Once it gets the entry inside the human cell it starts to make copies of itself. This process starts when the HIV particle hits a cell which carries a special type of protein on its surface called as CD4. The spikes attached to the CD4 and viral membrane gets fused with the cell membrane. The enzyme reverse transcriptase converts the viral RNA into DNA which then transferred to the cell nucleus. The HIV virus may remain dormant for a longer time but as the cell becomes active it treats the viral DNA as a human DNA and converts it into messenger RNA and transported it outside the cell. This viral messenger RNA is used to produce more HIV enzyme and protein. These together produce more viral particle. These newly formed particle attacks the other cells and replication begins.

AIDS can be transmitted in following way:

Sexual transmission:
It is the most common way of transmission of AIDS. The HIV virus enters into the body through lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum or mouth during sexual activity.

Transmission in pregnant women : 
Women can transmit the HIV virus to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth. HIV virus can also transmit to the babies through the breast milk of the infected mother. Now medicine is available for the HIV infected pregnant women so that chances of transmission of HIV from a mother to child can be reduce.

Transmission through contaminated blood : 
It used to happen before when the transfusion of blood was taking place before any screening of the blood. Now the transmission of HIV through such transfusions is very rare.

Use of same syringe for many individuals :
It happens if the same syringe or needles are use which are contaminated with the minute quantity of the blood of the HIV infected person.


As the HIV virus attacks the immune system, it results in symptoms like herpes, tuberculosis. People suffering from AIDS are at high risk of developing cancer, infection of every organ system. AIDS also causes respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, neurological and psychiatric problems and tumors.
It is a fact that AIDS is not curable but you can prevent it. You can prevent the spreading of AIDS by taking following precautions

Use of condom when getting into a sexual act.
Demand of new syringe each time.
Consulting with your physician before getting pregnant.

At the rate AIDS is spreading in the world it has become necessary to take the precautionary measures as still there is no medicine available which can cure it.