Conditions

Bedwetting is commonly defined as involuntary urination during sleep in children after the age that bladder control normally occurs. It can happen any time the child is asleep, whether day or night, but most commonly occurs during nighttime sleep. Nocturnal enuresis is the term used to describe instances of involuntary urination at night.

Primary nocturnal enuresis is the condition in which a child has not yet achieved an extended period without wetting the bed. Secondary nocturnal enuresis is diagnosed when an individual, either a child or adult, returns to wetting the bed again after having been dry for some time. Although thought of as a childhood condition, many adults suffer from nocturnal enuresis as well, estimated at around 26 million adults in the U.S. according to the Simon Foundation for Continence.

Symptoms

The primary, and often only, symptom of nocturnal enuresis is the involuntary release of urine during nighttime sleep. Other symptoms may occasionally be present, such as daytime wetting, general incontinence, increased urgency to urinate, increased frequency of urination, burning during urination, and constipation.

Causes

Nighttime wetting has numerous potential causes, with the enuresis likely influenced by more than one of the following. Most cases of bedwetting fall under the category of primary nocturnal enuresis. PNE cases are occasionally caused by medical conditions, but most can be attributed to a developmental issue. In these cases, the body has not yet matured enough to stop urine production at night. This results in the bladder filling up during a period where awareness of the need to urinate is diminished due to sleep.

The body naturally develops the ability to delay urine production during sleep by around age 5. Genetics can also play a role, as children whose parents were not bedwetters have only a 15% chance of becoming bedwetters themselves. In contrast, children with one or two parents who wet the bed exhibit a 44% and 77% chance of developing enuresis respectively.

There are other less common causes of bedwetting, and since there are no clear tests to determine if enuresis is caused by a developmental delay or genetics, the following more-easily diagnosed causes are often either identified or ruled out first.

Medical Conditions

Several medical conditions can cause a person to wet the bed. Infections and certain illnesses, such as a urinary tract infection, can insight involuntary nighttime urination, though the likelihood of this is estimated at less than 5% of all cases. Physical abnormalities might also be a cause of bedwetting, primarily due to a smaller than normal bladder.

In children, a condition in which an insufficient amount of the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) is produced might also play a role. This hormone normally increases at night, signaling the kidneys to slow urine production. If low levels of ADH continue throughout the night, the bladder will continue to fill often leading to a wet bed.

Psychological Issues

It is not uncommon for bedwetting to result from psychological trauma or anxiety. Mental or emotional issues resulting from a death in the family, negative social pressures, physical or sexual abuse, or a hostile home environment, can manifest themselves through nighttime wetting. Enuresis itself is not regarded as a psychological disorder, but it can be symptomatic of a troubled psyche.

Sleep Disorders

Certain sleep disorders have also been identified as contributing to instances of bedwetting. Sleep apnea, a condition where the airway becomes obstructed during sleep, can be a potential cause of nocturnal enuresis. Sleep walking can also be a cause as the sleep walker often dreams they are in another room of the house, and thinking they are in the bathroom, they urinate only to find upon waking that they have wet the bed.

Diuretics

Substances which increase urine production, such as caffeine, dark chocolate, and alcohol, are called diuretics. These substances work opposite any ADH signals active in the body, telling the body instead to produce more urine rather than less.

Other Causes

A few other potential triggers thought to contribute to enuresis include the following. Stress is an often documented cause of a return to bedwetting, or secondary enuresis. The constant tension in the body experienced by those under heavy stress wears out the muscles, and leads to difficulty maintaining stamina in the sphincters associated with the bladder at night. Heavy sleeping can also lead to bedwetting. Though children have been shown to wet during all five sleep stages, parents who report that their children are heavy sleepers also report higher rates of bedwetting.

This could be due to the difficulty for those children to transition from the sleep state to being awake, causing difficulty in resuming bladder control once the ADH hormone begins to diminish. Constipation can also be a cause as the excess fecal matter can press against the bladder making the need to urinate more urgent. Some believe food allergies might also be potential cause of enuresis, though more documentation is needed. One controversial cause of nighttime accidents is aggressive or improper potty training. Training too early or with too much negative reenforcement has been sighted as a possible environmental cause of bedwetting, due to the anxiety children might experience with such training.

Diagnosis

With bedwetting, diagnosis usually begins with an in-depth consultation between the family physician and the parent or guardian of the child. In some cases, the child may be asked some questions directly. These questions might include how many times has the child wet the bed, have they ever been dry, is there any family history of bedwetting, and are they taking any medications currently. He might be curious about the diet of the child, or whether the child has ever wet during the day.

Other questions will also be asked specifically to rule out some of the less-ambiguous potential causes.Following the consultation, and based on the answers given, a series of tests will be run to attempt to diagnose the cause of the wetting issue or to rule out even more potential causes, allowing the doctor to narrow down the list of possible triggers.

The physician will likely take a urine sample, and X-rays may be necessary if the doctor feels as though a physical abnormality might be behind the enuresis. With secondary enuresis, especially if the individual has reached middle age or beyond, a more extensive evaluation might be given, taking into account more psychological factors. In many cases however, it proves easier to pin-point the cause of secondary enuresis, since it often corresponds with an event, injury, or treatment.

Treatment

Treatment for bedwetting varies from medical intervention to counseling. It is very specific to the identified cause of the enuresis. If a physical abnormality is identified as the source of the issue or if the bladder was damaged in an accident, surgery may be performed to strengthen the bladder walls or repair the urinary tract. If a medical condition, such as an infection or Diabetes, seems to be the cause, medications may be prescribed. In the majority of cases, neither surgery nor medication end up as the recommended treatment for nighttime wetting.

The most often recommended treatment in cases of primary nocturnal enuresis is simply to wait for the child’s body to mature, since most physicians do not expect a child to be accident-free until age 5 or so. Another common treatment prescribed for bedwetting is the use of a bedwetting alarm. These alarms sound when they sense wetness in the crotch area, causing the child to wake and become aware of the sensation of a full bladder. They have proven to be considerably effective as over time, the child begins to awaken from sleep on their own when they experience the now-familiar bladder pressure.

Synthetic hormones, such as Desmopressine, may be prescribed in cases where the anti-diuretic hormone is not being produced in sufficient quantities. If the cause seems to be psychological in nature, anti-depressants may be prescribed.

Punishment, as a tool to stop bedwetting, has been proven ineffective in several major studies on the subject, and has been shown to increase the frequency of bedwetting rather than reduce it.

Coping

Bedwetting can be traumatic for a child, causing embarrassment, social awkwardness, and the feeling that something is wrong with them. For adults or children who return to wetting, it can cause frustration at the inability to control their own body, and depression due to the struggle to regain continence, which is often dealt with in secret. For many individuals, treatment does not bring with it an instant cure, and bedwetters must deal with wet beds, stained pajamas, and heavy hearts in the mean time.

Several coping methods exist to deal with wetting the bed. The first, and most obvious, is diapers or absorbent briefs. Heavy wetters will likely need an overnight diaper, such as Depends, to prevent urine from reaching the bedding and soiling pajamas. The average bedwetter however, can usually opt instead for absorbant underwear, such as Goodnights or Pull-Ups. These briefs are less bulky than a standard diaper, and pull-on like underwear.

Product Design

They are increasingly being made to look like underwear, to the point of felling like cloth, and even mimicking the waist-band. There are absorbent underwear options for the child, all the way up to the youth and adult age groups. These options make it less embarrassing for a child to attend a sleepover or camp-out, and therefore less psychologically draining. It should be noted that some believe that excessive use of protective underwear can actually prolong bedwetting, since the individual cannot feel the resulting wet bed as they normally would. Another coping option is the use of a mattress cover.

These are employed to prevent the mattress from becoming stained with urine, and the accompanying smell. Finally, almost all bedwetters are advised to limit the intake of fluids several hours before bed. This gives the bladder time to produce the remaining urine from the days meals, which can be voided before bed, leaving the body less likely to produce a significant amount of urine over night.

Prevention

A consistent sleep schedule, allowing the individual to get a full-nights rest, and regimented visits to the bathroom go a long way in preventing accidents at night. Also, avoiding enuretic triggers, such as diuretics, before bed should also be observed.

Complications

There are few complications that arise from wetting the bed, but the following should be considered. Rashes and other skin issues may result from sleeping in wet clothing over an extended period. Diaper rash cream or petroleum jelly can ease the discomfort and prevent further inflammation. As mentioned before, emotional or psychological issues may result from bedwetting, and should not be dismissed as insignificant.

Alternative Medicine

Several alternative therapies have been used to treat enuresis, and these treatments have been gaining popularity. Hypnosis has been used to varied success on individuals who wet at night, focusing on suggestions to stay dry or to wake to use the toilet upon certain triggers. Acupuncture has also been used to treat bedwetting, with some success. There are several homeopathic remedies for nighttime wetting, but consider before use that these have been determined to be ineffective in clinical trials.

Pyorrhoea is an advanced form of gingivitis and the symptoms can be very similar. Pyorrhoea is the world’s second most common dental problem following simple tooth decay and gingivitis.

Gingivitis is a mild and common form of gum disease that if left untreated or ignored can become the more severe pyorrhoea. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums. Because the condition can be so mild, an individual may not realize they have a problem. The cursory signs of gingivitis is swelling and bleeding of the gums.

The most common reason for gingivitis is poor oral hygiene so it is important to establish daily oral hygiene routine and periodical checkups with a dentist. Gingivitis is the only one of the seven periodontal diseases that can be reversed or eliminated. The other six categories are considered destructive and permanent.

Form of Gingivitis

Pyorrhoea is the more severe form of gingivitis. Pyorrhoea or periodontitis occurs when the gingivitis condition worsens and there is bleeding and pus-like discharge from the gums. The discharge is from the root of the teeth and gum, which leaves a bad odor in the mouth. Pyorrhoea eventually leads to inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth.

The result can be a devastating loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth and if unchecked, can lead to the loosening and loss of teeth. The bone loss is irreversible and gums begin to pull away from the teeth or disintegrate entirely. It is the number one cause of adult loss of teeth. The gum disease is caused by microorganisms adhering to and growing on the surface of the tooth. Many times, the individual has an antagonistic autoimmune response against the microorganism.

The primary cause of pyorrhoea is an accumulation of a bacterial growth at the gum line called dental plaque. If untreated, this microbic dental plaque forms a hardened surface to form calculus or tartar, as it is s familiarly known.

Tartar above and below the gum line must be removed by a dentist or a dental hygienist. This common procedure is a first-line defense against pyorrhoea and its resulting loss of bone and tissue surrounding the teeth.

Underlying Conditions

It is important to note that some underlying medical conditions lend themselves to the propagation of plaque and tartar leading to the periodontal diseases. Diabetes, Down’s syndrome, genetic defects and autoimmune disorders can lead to pyorrhoea in the individuals afflicted with these disorders.

Symptoms

Symptoms of pyorrhoea are well documented and easy to recognize.

• Bleeding. This may appear even with the gentlest pressure applied to the gums. It may also appear in the interspaces between the teeth.
• Breath odor or halitosis. This odor is distinct and may leave a metallic taste in the mouth.
• Gums that take on a dark purple or red hue.
• Gums that appear to have a shiny surface.
• Gums that are painful when touched but otherwise are painless.
• Gums that are swollen or pulling away from the tooth surface.
• Loose teeth. Loose teeth refer to teeth that are shifting or gapping in the mouth but otherwise appears stable.
• Pain in biting on hard foods such as nuts.
• Pain and sensitivity when eating very cold or frozen foods.

Complications

Untreated, pyorrhoea can lead to several debilitating conditions for the person suffering from pyorrhoea.

• Abscess of a tooth, a painful pus-filled pocket around a tooth.
• Facial cellulitis, an infection or abscess of soft tissue
• Osteomyelitis, an infection of the jawbone
• Tooth shifting, a gradual movement that may lead to gaps and spaces between teeth.
• Tooth loss
• Trench mouth, ulcers and swelling in and around the gums.

Pyorrhoea and its complications may lead to the onset of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. It can also lead to the development of some cancers.

Diagnosis

A dentist or periodontal specialist diagnoses pyorrhoea through a clinical examination. The dentist will examine the gum line using X-rays to look at the surface below the gum line and the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth. Examination of the mouth and teeth by the dentist will determine the depth of deposits of plaque and calculus, which may be visible at the base of the teeth.

Oftentimes, there are enlarged pockets in the gums, which can be analyzed by the dentist with a probe specifically designed for that purpose.

Dental Treatment

The goal of treating pyorrhoea is to reduce the inflammation of the gums, eliminate the gum pockets if possible, and treat any underlying condition that may be an aggressive force in the acceleration of the pyorrhoea.

A dentist or the hygienist will first employ a method called scaling. Scaling is the use of instruments and devices to removed calcified deposits from the teeth. They will also use a method called planing to smooth rough teeth and any dental appliance must be fitted or repaired if needed.

The dentist will instruct and demonstrate a vigorous and meticulous home care program. This protocol will include brushing, flossing and rinsing techniques, all designed to stop the destructive progress of pyorrhoea. Patients who suffer with periodontal diseases are encouraged to have more than two dental cleaning and scaling treatments per year.

If the pyorrhoea is advanced, a dentist may recommend surgery. In the actual surgery itself, gum pockets may be opened and scaled of all plaque and tartar. There are numerous procedures that can be performed based on necessity.

Types of Surgery

• Bone grafts. This surgical procedure used fragments of natural bone (either the patient’s own bone or from a donor) or synthetic bone to replace bone lost to pyorrhoea. The grafts act as a platform for alveolar bone to regrow and establish a stable environment for the teeth.
• Bone surgery. In bone surgery, the shallow craters in the bone itself are smoothed and reshaped to decrease the size of the craters. This makes it difficult for the tartar or plaque to reform in the newly shaped bone craters.
• Flap surgery/guided tissue regeneration. These two procedures are often done in conjunction with one another. First, the gums are lifted and tartar removed, then the tissue of the gum is placed smoothly against the tooth surface. The guided tissue regeneration is then employed to stimulate bone and tissue growth by inserting a mesh-like fabric between the bone and the tissue. This mesh flap allows connective tissue and bone to grow together rather than tissue growing where bone should appear.
• Soft tissue grafts. In this procedure, grafted tissue is stitched in place to fill gaps left by the degeneration of pyorrhoea. Most oftentimes, the tissue is grafted from the roof of the mouth, with little or no rejection by the patient. This reinforces thin gums or fills in places where gums have receded.

Patient who undergo scaling, plaque removal or tissue and bone surgery may experience bleeding and tenderness in the gums which gradually recedes over a one to two week period.

Homeopathic & Home Remedies

There are actually a myriad of homeopathic and home remedies that block or arrest the development of pyorrhoea.

Home Remedies

Several home remedies are available to help stop the spread of pyorrhoea.

• Squeeze the juice of one lemon and rub it directly on the gums. It causes a tingling sensation but it helps relieve bleeding.
• Cut a raw guava into four pieces. Sprinkle a little salt on each slice of guava. Eat the fruit. This applies Vitamin C directly to the teeth.
• Brush the teeth daily with a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and goldenseal powder. This combination cleans teeth thoroughly and fights further infection.
• Apply aloe vera directly to the guns to relieve pain and inflammation.
• Gargle with a mixture of one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in 6 ounces of water.

Naturopathic treatment

If the cause of pyorrhoea is a dietary deficiency, a daily supplement of CoQ 10 is recommended. Mouth rinses containing zinc or folate solution can be used as a mouthwash twice daily,

Preventions

The number one prevention method for pyorrhoea is good daily oral hygiene. The second is dietary considerations, which have a long-term impact on stopping the spread of pyorrhoea.

Proper Brushing

Teeth should be brushed twice a day for two minutes, allocating the time in 30-second intervals of upper teeth, bottom teeth, and each side. Move the jaw slightly to one side to reach the sides of the back molars. Change the toothbrush every month because bacteria can collect on the brush and cause a recurrence of an infection. Lightly brush the gums and angle the brush to reach up under the gum line.

Some studies show that dry brushing for the first minute and a half with no toothpaste can eliminate 67% of bacteria alone. Therefore, some dentists recommend dry brushing first, followed by the same regime for 30 seconds with a wet brush and toothpaste.

If a person is in a situation where they are unable to brush, a simple rinse of water can remove up to 30% of bacteria.

Flossing

Teeth should be flossed once a day taking care to floss between all interspaces of the mouth. Use a long length of flossing thread, using a clean area of the thread between each set of teeth.

Antiseptic Mouthwashes

A dentist may recommend a mouthwash that helps stave off further deterioration. There are two that clinical research shows are effective against plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth.

Chlorhexidine is available by prescription only. The reduction of plaque can be as high as 55% and it reduces gingivitis by 30% to 45%. It is recommended that the rinse be used twice daily.

However, it is important to note that Chlorhexidine binds to tannins, so people who regularly drink tea, coffee and red wine should be aware of the possibility the mouthwash may cause staining. Patients using this wash should wait 30 minutes after brushing before rinsing. Certain toothpastes can deactivate the mouthwash, rendering it ineffective.

Listerine

Listerine is an oral rinse comprised of essential oils. It should be used as a rinse for 30 seconds twice daily. It does have a high alcohol content so for individuals concerned with alcohol content, full disclosure should be made. Newer Listerine products contain the same essential ingredients with lower alcohol levels and a more pleasant taste.

Periodontal trays. Provided by the dentist, these trays maintained prescribed antibiotic medications at the source of the decay. A tray is fitted to the upper or lower arch to deliver medication to the teeth and gum tissue. The tray is constructed from moldable material that conforms to the shape of the teeth and gum line. A seal surrounding the tray keeps the medication directly on the teeth and gum tissue. This forces the medication onto the tooth surface and into pockets where tartar and plaque can accumulate.

Diet & Lifestyle

Dentists recommend a whole foods diet rich in dietary fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods high in Vitamin C should be consumed daily to maintain healthy gums. Calcium and magnesium supplements may be taken to augment calcium intake.

Flavonoids provide a powerful protection against pyorrhoea and are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids are known for their powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Fruits high in flavonoids include pomegranates, blueberries and cranberries. Great sources of this beneficial antioxidant can be found in vegetables such as onion, lettuce, brussel sprouts and asparagus. Herbs that can be used include dill, basil, coriander and thyme. Effectives teas made of chamomile or peppermint leaves can help prevent pyorrhoea.

Avoiding the Bad Stuff

Foods high in sugar, processed foods, white bread and grains are infamous for their contribution to the formation of plaque and tartar. These foods should be eaten as little as possible. If these foods are eaten, it is wise to wait 15 minutes before brushing because the combination of sugar and toothpaste may actually destroy tooth enamel.

Drink Water

Drinking seven to eight glasses of water a day increases the production of saliva. Saliva has been found to dilute toxins created by plaque. Water will also help reduce inflammation caused by pyorrhoea. Saliva produces nitrates, which convert to nitric oxide, helping to prevent the survival of bacteria in the mouth. Increasing water intake is particularly important as one ages, when less saliva is produced.

Tobacco Use

Smoking cigars, cigarettes and pipes is discouraged because tobacco can deplete the body of essential vitamin C.

Practice Proper Hygiene

With proper dental hygiene, regular visits to the dentist and proper food and vitamins, prevention of the spread of pyorrhoea can preserve the natural balance needed for healthy teeth and gums.

Hysteria, also known as hysterical neurosis, is a psychological state that is caused by extreme emotions such as overwhelming fear or sorrow. The psychological strain will become so severe that the individual will begin showing physical symptoms. The person will be extremely emotional and will often feel pain associated with supposed problems.

For centuries, it was thought that hysteria only affected women. In fact, the word hysteria comes from the Greek word “hustera”, meaning “uterus”, because it was thought that all hysterical symptoms stemmed from the female uterus.

Broad Diagnoses

Unfortunately, hysteria became a blanket diagnosis for all women who showed abnormal behavior whether it was simple hormonal problems and sexual dysfunctions or serious mental disorders. Until the early 20th century, hysteria was often referred to as female hysteria. Since the advent of modern medicine and psychiatry, diagnoses of hysteria are not as wide spread. Although it has been established that the disorder is not caused by the female uterus, hysteria is still diagnosed more in women than in men.

Mass hysteria occurs when a group of people experience paralyzing fear that stems from the same cause. For example, mass hysteria could occur during a school shooting or a civil disturbance. It is very much thought that mass hysteria was part of the Salem Witch Trials.

Although hysteria is divided into several disorders, it is now most commonly referred to as somatization disorder.

Symptoms

Those suffering from hysteria are completely consumed by fear and anxiety. The person is absolutely certain that his or her body is suffering from disease or injury. The person will be so afraid of the supposed problem that he or she will often dissolve into “hysterics” that cannot be controlled by the person or by others. The person is so certain of the problem that he or she will actually feel associated pain. A person suffering with hysteria will often not be able to function socially.

Other symptoms of hysteria include hyperventilation, fainting spells, elevated heart rates, depression, convulsions, and sensory impairment. Symptoms can last anywhere from a few weeks to a lifetime depending on the cause and type of hysteria.

Causes

Hysteria is not a physical disease that can be treated and ultimately cured. It is a serious psychological disorder. As with many mental problems, a person can be born with it. It can also be brought on by emotional or traumatic experiences such as witnessing a crime or the unexpected death of a loved one. Hysteria can also develop in children who have lived in an extremely abusive environment.

Unfortunately, hysteria can also be a side effect of chemical drugs. Long term use of the anti-anxiety drug Valium, for example, has been proven to cause the symptoms of hysteria.

Risk Factors

Those suffering from hysteria will often do harm to themselves and to others. Because depression is a common symptom, thoughts of suicide can occur.

Even if a person is able to function socially, the symptoms of hysteria can be detrimental to interpersonal relationships. Hysteria sufferers often have difficulty making friends or forming and maintaining intimate relationships.

Diagnosis Considerations

1. Conversion Disorder

Conversion disorder occurs when a person encounters a personal difficulty that he or she feels unable to cope with by ordinary means. The person therefore “converts” the psychological dilemma into physical symptoms. A person suffering from conversion disorder will often have unexplainable physical problems such as tremors, paralysis, or even loss of sight, speech or hearing. For example, if a person sees his or her house burn down, he or she may, for a time, be unable to talk. The symptoms of conversion disorder are often alleviated by therapy.

Conversion disorder used to be known as hysterical blindness.

2. Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is diagnosed in people, particularly women, who show behavior patterns marked by overly emotional or dramatic thoughts and actions. The person will often embellish stories, be extremely egotistical, will seek approval and be hurt when it is not given, and will often dress and behave in sexually inappropriate ways. Although the person is able to interact socially, he or she will often be unable to maintain relationships.

Before personality disorders were discovered and defined, histrionic personality disorder was often blamed on sexual problems and/or witchcraft.

3. 3. Pain Disorder

Pain disorder occurs when a person suffers from chronic, unexplainable pain, usually after having endured a psychologically stressful event such as the unexpected death of a loved one. The pain can last anywhere from a few weeks to several years. Pain disorder is not the same as fibromyalgia, although many of the symptoms of these two disorders are identical.

4. Somatization Disorder

The most common hysteria disorder is somatization disorder. Somatization disorder is diagnosed when a person continually complains of physical pain and/or problems although there is no medical evidence that the problems actually exist. The person will go from one doctor to another, often with a new complaint for each.
Somatization disorder is sometimes considered a more serious form of hypochondria. A person with somatization disorder is absolutely certain of a physical problem; in fact, he or she will even feel pain associated with these supposed illnesses or injuries. Somatization disorder sufferers will also often manifest unexplainable physical impairments similar to those of conversion disorder sufferers.

Treatment Options

1. Alternative Medicine and Natural Remedies

   1.1. Homeopathy

   There are a wide number of homeopathic remedies that can help relieve the symptoms of hysteria. Each remedy depends on the type and severity of the symptoms. For example, Ignatia can be given to help relieve convulsions and supposed pain, Valeriana has a calming effect and can help with mood swings, and Gelsemium can help relieve irritability.

   The Bach flower remedies are another effective homeopathic treatment. The remedies, developed by English homeopath Edward Bach, are made up of very small and very concentrated amounts of flower material. Rescue Remedy is the Bach flower remedy most commonly used in treating hysteria.

   Although homeopathic remedies rarely have any lasting side effects, they should never be taken without the guidance of a homeopath, naturopath or other qualified medical professional.

   1.2. Herbal Remedies

   Herbal remedies are usually used to calm hysteria sufferers, thereby making them more manageable. Lavender, in any form, is often used because of its established ability to relieve tension. Lavender has no side effects except that it may possibly induce allergy attacks and/or hay fever.

   Another common herbal remedy is St. John’s wort. St. John’s wort is a very potent relaxant that can be used to treat depression; in fact, St. John’s wort is often considered the poor man’s anti-depressant. The herb can be given in tea, capsule, or tincture form. Sensitivity to sunlight can develop after long term use; otherwise, St. John’s wort has no side effects.

   Passion flower, which has practically no side effects, can also be used as a tranquilizer or to help induce sleep.

   1.3. Acupuncture

   Acupuncture is an affordable way to treat nearly every illness and disorder. If done properly, acupuncture has no risks or side effects. Acupuncture sessions can cost as little as 50 dollars.

   1.4. Massage Therapy

   Another way to calm hysteria sufferers is massage therapy. Massages are very relaxing and often have no risks or side effects; only minor muscle or vein injuries can result. Costs usually start at about 60 dollars an hour.

   1.5. Hypnotherapy

   Because hysteria is such a serious psychological disorder, hypnotherapy is sometimes necessary to help the person cope. Hypnotherapy can help the person relax, deal with his or her problems, and begin developing better habits.

   Although hypnotherapy does not have any serious risks, it should only be conducted by a trusted professional. Hypnotherapy does not, by any means, have a one hundred percent success rate; however, it is a legitimate and, at times, useful treatment option. Hypnotherapy sessions can cost anywhere from 65 to 160 dollars. The severity of the illness or disorder is what determines the cost as well as the number of sessions.

Natural remedies are some the most economical and effective ways to treat the symptoms of hysteria. However, no matter how simple a treatment may sound, it should only be administered under the guidance of a qualified professional.

Alternative medicine is always a viable option, simply from the standpoint that these treatments rarely cause
any adverse effects.

2. Pharmaceuticals

   2.1. Anti-Anxiety Medication

   If necessary, medical doctors can prescribe traditional anti-anxiety medications for hysteria sufferers. Xanax and Ativan are two of the most commonly prescribed drugs.

   However, anti-anxiety medications should only be administered to patients with either severe or violent hysteria symptoms. Anti-anxiety medications can aggravate symptoms and can also have nasty side effects. For example, some of the side effects of Xanax are depression and jaundice; Ativan can cause dizziness and amnesia.

   2.2. Anti-Depressants

   Anti-depressants are often prescribed in an attempt to control mood swings and thoughts of suicide. Lexapro is one of the most often prescribed anti-depressants. Lexapro is effective although it can increase thoughts of suicide.

   Again, these medications should only be used in extreme cases. If an anti-depressant is thought necessary, it is advisable to consider the aforesaid St. John’s wort.

   2.3. Pain Killers

   Pain killers are often prescribed for patients suffering from pain disorder and somatization disorder. Vicodin and Oxycodone are two common pain killers. Caution should be used, however, because the pain associated with hysteria disorders is mostly psychological. Also, most pharmaceutical pain killers have unpleasant side effects; Vicodin, for example, can cause intestinal problems and Oxycodone can cause seizures and breathing problems. When treating painful symptoms of hysteria disorders, it is advisable to use either natural remedies or placebos.

For the most part, pharmaceuticals are not considered the first choice for treating hysteria. However, for more severe cases, pharmaceuticals may be the only option.

3. Therapies

   3.1. Psychotherapy

   Psychotherapy is still considered a viable treatment option for hysteria. It is often used for treating victims of conversion disorder. However, many people do not morally or medically agree with the teachings of Sigmund Freud. Psychotherapy should only be used by patients who are open to a cure from this type of therapy. Counseling sessions usually cost from 60 to 120 dollars.

   3.2. Cognitive Therapy

   Cognitive therapy, which is not as controversial as psychotherapy, can help treat irrational thoughts and symptoms of depression. This therapy type is particularly effective for those suffering from histrionic personality disorder. Cognitive therapy also focuses on behavioral modification and, therefore, can help the patient develop a better lifestyle. Unfortunately, cognitive therapy usually costs 120 dollars a session. However, many patients feel that the end results are worth the cost.

   3.3. Group Therapy

   Group therapy is a cost effective treatment option for patients with mild symptoms of hysteria disorders. The setting is very relaxed and it can be helpful for patients to know that they are not the only ones suffering from these problems. However, group therapy should not be considered a treatment option for severe or particularly violent hysteria sufferers.

Because hysteria disorders stem from psychological problems, therapies can be very effective treatment options. If properly conducted, therapies can provide relief from nearly every symptom of hysteria.

Hair loss is a common condition in which a person permanently sheds his hair. Hair can be lost from the head or other parts of the body. Unlike elective removal of excess body hair through shaving, waxing, etc., hair loss and baldness is often unwelcome and can be psychologically damaging to the person experiencing it.

Hair loss is such a common problem that a billion dollar industry has developed selling products and services aimed at helping those people who are concerned about their thinning hair to either grow it back or preserve what is remaining. In most cases, hair loss is a harmless part of the natural aging process, but at other times, hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition.

Alternative Names

In medical terms, baldness and hair loss are broad sections of a medical description called alopecia. Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body where hair is normally found. This includes the head, arms, legs, groin, and arm pits. Hair loss that is limited to one area is called alopecia areata.

Sometimes, as in the case of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the whole body sheds its hair in a condition known as alopecia universalis. The most common type of hair loss is referred to as male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia.

Although the name only specifically makes reference to males, females can also suffer from male pattern baldness. In men with male pattern baldness, hair loss is noticeable in a recognizable patter, starting on the temples and gradually thinning out to the crown of the head. In women with male pattern baldness, the whole head sees a thinning of the hair, although total baldness is rare.

Hair and Its Growth Cycle

What exactly is hair? Hair is a growth of strand like cells that contain a protein called keratin. These strands grow out of a special structure on the skin called a follicle. In humans, the hair on the body is in a continuous cycle, with each follicle of hair being in one of three phases.

These phases of growth are the anagen phase, catagen phase, and the telogen phase. Human hair has a lifespan ranging from 3 years to 7 years, depending on its location and health. In the anagen phase, cells in the base of the follicles begin to divide and produce new hair. The anagen phase is the growth phase for human hair. Depending on how long a hair follicle stays in this phase determines how fast the hair grows. In catagen phase is the resting phase in which the hair follicle detaches itself from the hair strand, effectively cutting off the strand’s blood supply.

The hair is then pushed upwards. The final stage of the hair cycle is the telogen phase, which lasts from 1-4 months depending on a variety of factors. In this phase, the hair is dormant and not growing. Eventually, the anagen phase will start again and push out the old hair, resulting in normal hair loss, or shedding. For normal adult humans, 85% of the hairs on the body are in the anagen phase at any given time, while 10-15% are in the telogen phase. In people with permanent baldness, the telogen phase is not followed by a normal anagen phase to produce new hair growth.

Causes and Risk Factors

Male pattern baldness has numerous genetic and environmental causes. Genetics is thought to play a primary role in the development of male pattern baldness. Research has shown that an androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) may play a pivotal role in developing baldness. An androgen is any number of hormones that causes the development of male characteristics in the body. Some men have a genetic trait that makes their hair follicles sensitive to DHT.

When the follicles come into contact with DHT, over time, they can begin to shrink which can shorten their lifespans and lead to an early cessation of hair renewal. Genetic research into the genes that control sensitivity to DTH has show that although a number of genes may be responsible for male pattern baldness, the primary cause occurs on the X chromosome, the component contributed by a person’s mother. High levels of the hormone insulin in the blood can also play a role in baldness.

Low levels of a protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) are often found in people with diabetes. SHGB binds with testosterone and prevents it from turning into DHT, which can cause hair loss.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a condition in where baldness occurs on one specific part of the body. While there is evidence of a genetic basis for alopecia areata, it is thought to be primarily an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are conditions in where the body’s immune system turns on itself and attacks the body’s own healthy cells. In a normal immune response to a foreign body such as a virus or bacterium, the body detects these invaders and sends out cells to destroy them. In an autoimmune disorder, the body gets mixed up and wrongly targets its own cells for destruction. The autoimmune response that causes alopecia areata is thought to be caused by things like extreme stress and a virus or bacteria.

Baldness

Baldness may be caused by an underlying medical condition. Thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can both cause hair loss. Also diabetes and the autoimmune disease lupus can cause hair loss in humans. Fungal infections of the follicles and scalp are responsible for hair loss in some people, but can be alleviated with anti-fungal medications. Anemia caused by an iron deficiency can also lead to baldness. Correcting any underlying medical condition may reverse the hair loss, although some may be permanent.

Finally, baldness can be caused by trauma to the head or body. Putting too much strain on the hair, such as in elaborate hairdos or pulling of the hair, can result in baldness. For people undergoing chemotherapy, baldness is one of the most common side effects of the treatment. Stress can also cause hair to fall out. Once the traumas and stresses on the body are removed, hair growth will usually start again.

Cures and Remedies

Male pattern baldness is a medically harmless process, but to the person experiencing it, baldness can have damaging psychological consequences. In modern society, hair is thought to be a symbol of youth, beauty, and vitality. Losing one’s hair can be a sign of frailty and weakness.

A multi-billion dollar industry has grown over the last few decades offering services and products that help people to prevent hair loss. Many of these products claim to help a person grow hair or prevent old hair from falling out, but results for some of these products are mixed at best. However, some medications have proven effective for many people and are available with a doctor’s prescription.

Finasteride

Finasteride is a first line drug used in an effort to preserve current hair and cause regrowth. In the United States, finesteride is sold under the trade names Propecia and Proscar, which are manufactured by Merck. Originally developed to combat prostate gland conditions, Finesteride is a DHT inhibitor that works by binding with an enzyme in the body called 5-alpha-reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone to DHT.

Finesteride works well for approximately 50% of its users. In studies, 48% of men regrew hair and 42% were able to maintain their current hair with no further hair loss. Finesteride works on all areas of the scalp, but works best on the crown of the head. Its effects will last for as long as a person takes the drug, however once treatment is stopped, hair loss will continue as before after several months of being off the medicine. Finesteride has not been shown to work well in women, however doctors sometimes prescribe it to them.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant cannot take finesteride as it may cause birth defects. Sexual dysfunction is the major side effect of finesteride, occurring in up to 18% of those taking it. Finesteride treatments can be expensive, with 30 day supplies costing several hundreds of dollars depending on the strength.

Minoxidil

Like Finesteride, Minoxidil was a drug used originally to treat another disease rather than hair loss. Minoxidil is a drug that belongs into a larger class of drugs called vasodilators. Vasodilators are medications used to treat high blood pressure by making arteries and veins open wider, allowing for easier blood flow within them. While it was being developed, researchers discovered that Minoxidil had the side effect of causing hair growth and darkening in some people.

Minoxidil used for high blood pressure comes in the form of pills, but when it was discovered to have hair growth properties, a topical foam was created to take advantage of this side effect. This foam was marketed around the world under the brand name Rogaine, which is today synonymous with hair growth products. Scientists do not fully understand how or why minoxidil works. One hypothesis says that since minoxidil is a vasodilator, it increases blood flow to hair follicles.

When this happens, the hair follicles enter the telogen phase prematurely, causing old hair to fall out and new hair to grow in its place. Several studies have been done to show the efficacy of minoxidil. What they show is that minoxidil can increase hair count by nearly 30% in those taking it, in contrast to almost no hair growth in placebo groups. Minoxidil is sold in a topical solution of 5% for men and 2% for women. It works best on the crown of the head, although it can cause hair growth on all surfaces of the scalp. It also works best for small spots rather than large areas of baldness.

Application of Minoxidil

Minoxidil, when applied to the scalp must be left on the hair for a long period of time and applied once or twice daily. An hour is the minimum, with recommended times of up to 4 hours. Once treatment is stopped, the effects of minoxidil wane and baldness will occur again. Side effects of topical minoxidil are relatively mild, consisting of itchy scalp and dandruff. Patients treated with minoxidil may also experience hair loss as part of the shedding process in the telogen phase, however, the manufacturers of minoxidil do not guarantee that new hair will replace it. Costs of minoxidil vary widely, depending on the manufacturer and the strength of the solution.

Scalp Reduction

There are two surgical methods of correcting hair loss. One is called scalp reduction and the other hair transplantation. Scalp reduction is a painful procedure in which a bald area of the scalp is surgically removed. The remaining hair covered areas are then sutured together to cover the hole. Hair transplantation involves moving hair follicles from one spot on the body to another. It is generally done by means of taking small grafts of 1 to 4 hair follicles and transplanting them to areas that need hair. This method provides natural looking results. Hair is harvested in two different ways.

The first method involves the surgeon cutting a long strip of scalp with hair attached to it, from which many grafts can be taken. The second method involves cutting tiny plugs out of the scalp and harvesting hairs individually. They can then be placed in the desired location via small cuts to the area. Hair transplants can be very expensive, with costs ranging from $3 to $12 per graft. Depending on how many grafts are done, prices can therefore reach into the tens of thousands of dollars very quickly, as the typical transplant surgery requires approximately 6000 grafts to be removed and implanted.

Side Effects

Side effects include pain, itching, swelling, and bleeding at the site of the operation. Also, risks associated with general surgery are also present. These include infection and possibly death. Hair transplants usually last for several years, but over time, they may also fall out, leading a patient to have more grafts implanted.

Impact of Your Diet

Diet can have an impact on hair loss in people with a genetic predisposition to male pattern baldness. It has been show that high insulin levels, like those found in type 2 diabetics and people with metabolic syndrome may exacerbate hair loss. High levels of insulin in the blood can cause the levels of SHBG to fall. SHBG is a protein that binds to testosterone, preventing it from being converted into DHT. Diets that maintain strict glycemic control can therefore help to prevent hair loss.

Maintaining control of insulin in the blood is dependent on controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a simple sugar that the body uses for energy. For those wishing to combat hair loss with diet, it is important to eat foods low on the glycemic index, such as while grains and vegetables. Eating omega 3 fatty acids may also help to prevent hair loss. These fatty acids are found in foods like salmon, tuna, and flax seeds.

Natural Remedies

Several natural remedies have been touted to help combat male pattern baldness. These herb and supplements can be found in health food stores and specialty nutritional centers.

Iron

Iron is an important mineral for preventing anemia due to an iron deficiency. Anemia is a medical condition where there is a drop in the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. One of the symptoms of iron deficient anemia is hair loss. Iron can be taken in pill supplements or obtained from ingesting iron rich foods such as broccoli and organ meats.

B Vitamins

B vitamins may also help in preventing hair loss. B vitamins, particularly biotin, are necessary for producing hair and maintaining its health. 3 mg of biotin per day is adequate for aiding in hair loss and health.

Zinc

Zinc may help to reduce the amounts of DHT in the blood. It is important to take only the daily recommended value of zinc, because taking too much may cause the formation of dangerous free radicals and a copper deficiency.

Saw Palmetto & Green Tea

The herb saw palmetto has been the subject of much research. Like finesteride, it has been shown to help with certain prostate conditions. Because of this, scientists believe it may also have similar effects on hair growth.

Green tea has been shown in studies to increase levels of SHGB, which can bind with testosterone and prevent it from being converted into hair damaging DHT. Green tea also has powerful antioxidants and anti-cancer properties.

Conclusion

While hair loss may be a traumatic experience for many people, it need not be. Images of beauty change constantly and in modern years, a shift towards accepting that bald can be beautiful has been occurring. Balding men now routinely shave their heads and proudly display their bald heads, taking control of the situation and making the best of it. For those who are uncomfortable with embracing their baldness, they can try wigs or hats to disguise their hair loss.

Medical advancements have made it possible to regrow or at least salvage what is left of a person’s hair, but treatments need to be continuous or the hair loss will return. These treatments can be time consuming and expensive, and in the case of hair transplantation, painful. Fortunately, for people suffering from baldness, there are choices. In the end, it comes down to personal preference and a person’s self image.bat

Fever, also known as pyrexia, is any body temperature that is elevated above the normal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Body temperature fluctuates throughout the day, and can elevate due to normal everyday activities, such as exercise. However, an elevated temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher is considered medically significant, and is usually due to an underlying medical condition.

How to Diagnose a Fever

If the body temperature is higher than the normal temperature of 98.6F, and cannot be explained by activity level, a fever is present. Diagnosing this is a simple matter of taking one’s temperature with a thermometer. Sometimes, depending on signs and symptoms accompanying the fever, a physical exam or other tests will be ran in order to determine if the cause of the fever is infection or something else. Once a determination of the underlying medical condition has been made, other tests (such as a blood test) may be required to confirm the diagnosis.

How to Determine Body Temperature

A thermometer is used to measure body temperature. The three most common methods are rectal; oral; tympanic (in the ear); and axillary (under the armpit). Rectal is most often used with infants and is the most accurate method. Oral is the next most accurate method, and is also the most widely used in children above the age of 4, and adults. The tympanic method requires a digital thermometer, and is often used in children over the age of 3. Axillary is the least accurate method.

Taking Temperatures

Rectal Method (infants)

• Use small amount of lubricant on end of rectal thermometer
• Place infant on belly and carefully separate buttocks cheeks
• Carefully insult the thermometer ½ – 1 inch into the infant’s rectum
• Keep hand cupped loosely on infant’s bottom and keep fingers on the thermometer so the thermometer and baby are still
• Wait for the thermometer to beep, or wait for three minutes if not using a digital thermometer

Oral Method

• Clean the tip of the thermometer with soap and warm water or rubbing alcohol. Rinse with cool water
• Put tip under tongue
• Close lips gently around thermometer
• Keep thermometer under tongue until thermometer beeps, or for three minutes if not using a digital thermometer

Tympanic Method

• Put a new, throw-away cover over the tip of the thermometer
• Keep head still
• For child, gently pull child’s ear straight back; for adult, gently pull ear up and then back
• Put covered thermometer tip into the ear opening. DO NOT push hard.
• Press the button to turn on the thermometer and hold the button until the thermometer beeps (or follow manufacturer instructions)
• Remove thermometer from the ear opening

Axillary Method

• Place thermometer in the armpit with arms crossed over chest
• Wait for the beep, or wait four to five minutes if not using a digital thermometer

Causes of Fever

Our body temperature is set by the hypothalamus, which is an area in the brain that acts as a thermostat for our bodies. The thermoregulatory set point is determined by balancing the heat produced by body tissues such as the liver and muscles, and the heat lost by the body.

The thermoregulatory set point is increased in response to threats, such as bacterial or viral infections, resulting in a higher body temperature as the body directs blood away from the skin to decrease heat loss. When the fever occurs, there are feelings of chilliness, stiffness and shivering caused by the body generating heat until the blood around the hypothalamus reaches the new, elevated set point. When the body temperature then begins to return to normal, there is often sweating as the body attempts to get rid of the excess heat.

The most common cause of a fever is infections, such as the flu or a cold. However, other possibilities include

• inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
• extreme sunburn
• heat exhaustion
• surgery
• heart attack
• hemorrhage
• hyperthyroidism
• lupus
• inflammatory bowel disease
• malignant tumor or some form of kidney cancer
• side effect of some immunizations
• side effect of some medications

Symptoms of Fever

• dehydration
• general weakness
• headache
• inability to concentrate
• loss of appetite
• muscle aches
• sweating
• trembling, shivering

High fevers between 103F and 106F may cause

• confusion
• convulsions
• hallucinations
• irritability

Febrile Seizures

Children under the age of 5 can experience fever induced seizures, otherwise known as febrile seizures. A febrile seizure occurs when a child’s temperature rises or falls quickly. The signs of a febrile seizure include convulsions and a brief loss of consciousness.

Febrile seizures occur in approximately 3% of children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years. Of those children, 1/3 will have another seizure with febrile episode. These seizures do not generally cause long term side effects or damage to the nervous system

When to Seek Medical Attention

Low fevers are generally not cause for alarm. In fact, if the fever does not cause discomfort and there are no troubling symptoms accompanying a low fever, it should go untreated to allow the body’s natural defenses to combat the underlying illness. However, there are times when medical attention is necessary.

Medical attention should be sought when

• temperature is 104F or higher (seek IMMEDIATE medical attention! A temperature this high can lead to delirium and convulsions)
• a child under 3 months of age has a temperature of 101F or higher
• infant refuses to eat or drink
• fever in infant is accompanied by unexplained irritability, or unusual crying during a diaper change or when moved
• fever in infant is accompanied by lethargy and unresponsiveness
• fever in a child occurs after being left in a hot car
• there is a history of cancer, HIV, AIDS, heart disease, diabetes, or other serious illness
• other symptoms suggest major illness
• fever is sustained for more than 3 days

Risk Factors

As fevers are usually signs of an underlying medical condition, the risk factors for a fever go hand in hand with the risk factors for the underlying medical condition. Exposure to illness, family history of more serious ailments causing fever, and a weakened immune system are all risk factors for contracting a illness, and thus for experiencing a fever. The exact factors putting individuals at risk for developing a fever depend greatly on the cause of the underlying medical condition that causes the fever.

How to Prevent a Fever

In order to prevent a fever, exposure to underlying medical conditions must be reduced. The most effective way to reduce exposure to the underlying medical conditions causing fever is to wash hands frequently, particularly before eating, after using the restroom, after exposure to a crowd or someone who is sick, and after petting animals.

Developing good hand washing practices is imperative to prevention, and should be taught to children as soon as possible.

Avoiding touching the “T-zone” of your face—eyes, nose, mouth—helps to prevent fever by reducing the spreading of viral infections.

In addition to hand washing and avoiding touching the “T-zone” of your face, covering your mouth when coughing and nose when sneezing helps to prevent the transmission of infection, and thus prevents fever.

Three rules to prevention

1. Wash hands frequently
2. Cover your cough and sneeze
3. Avoid the “T-zone”

Treatment

High-grade temperatures, as opposed to low-grade, may be treated to lower their severity. The treatment for fever depends greatly on the underlying medical condition causing the fever. If the underlying medical condition is a bacterial infection, prescription medications such as antibiotics will be prescribed.

However, antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections. For any underlying illness causing the fever that cannot be treated with prescription medications, over-the-counter medications or home remedies may be used. It is important to note that these over-the-counter medications and home remedies do not cure the fever or the underlying medical ailment. Rather, these treatments alleviate the symptoms of the fever.

Over-the-counter medications

Over-the-counter medications used to treat a fever include acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), and aspirin. These help to lower a high fever, but will not cure it. Acetaminophen should not be used if the person with a fever has liver disease. Adults may take 2 extra strength tablets (totaling 1000 mg) every 4-6 hours.

Children should seek medical advice. Ibuprofen is safe for children over 6 months in age, though medical advice should be sought regarding proper dosage. Adults may take 2-3 200mg tablets every six hours. Aspirin should NOT be used with children or adolescents, due to concerns with a serious illness called Reyes Syndrome. Aspirin is, however, safe for adults.

Home Remedies

There are various home remedies that, while they will not cure the underlying illness, will help the fever run its course, and make a person suffering from a fever feel better

• Stay hydrated. Drink water, juice, or broth. Fever causes fluid loss and dehydration so it is important to keep sipping something in order to keep the body hydrated.
• Rest. Activity can raise body temperature, so plenty of rest is recommended to help body temperature return to normal
• Soak in lukewarm water. Tepid water (85F) baths may help bring temperature down. Soak for 5-10 minutes for a cooling effect. Do not use alcohol, and if the bath causes shivering, stop the bath. Shivering raises the body’s temperature, so will have an opposite effect on the fever.
• Herbal Tea. Various recipes of tea are available that claim to aid in the reduction of a fever. These include Basil Leaf Tea drank 3-4 times per day during the fever; tea with ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder, 2 cardamoms, and 2 teaspoons ginger boiled well; 2-3 teaspoons dry roasted fenugreek seed powder boiled and strained with a drop of butter added; and 10 grams raisins and ginger boiled in 200 ml water until it is reduced to 50 ml, with the water then strained and drank.
• Herbs. Various herbs, independent of the herbal tea, are thought to be good treatments for fever. 7-8 tulsi leaves (basil) and 3-4 peppercorns chewed together is supposed to help a fever, as is a teaspoon of honey with 2-3 drops of ginger juice.

While high-grade fevers may be treated to alleviate the symptoms of the fever, low-grade fevers should not be treated with either over-the-counter medications or home remedies. Treating low-grade fevers may extend the length of the illness and interfere with the body’s immune response. In these cases, allowing the body to combat the illness is the best option.

While fevers are the body’s natural defense against illness, it is important to remember that sometimes our body needs a little help. Don’t put off seeking medical attention if the fever is accompanied by worrisome symptoms, if the fever is exceptionally high, or if the fever does not decrease after taking medication.

Piles, better known as hemorrhoids, are located within the anal canal. There are typically two classes of piles: external and internal. Each indicates the location of the hemorrhoids. Once swollen or inflamed, they become pathological. Piles are one of today’s most common ailments, affecting several people.

Hemorrhoids

Piles, or hemorrhoids, is classed as a varicose and is an inflamed condition of the anal veins, either within or just outside the anus. In the case of external piles, there will be a great deal of pain but not much bleeding present. When internal piles are present, there is a common discharge of a dark blood that is secreted. In the event that the veins burst, there will be a condition called bleeding piles.

Piles are seen as round swellings that are located within the anal canal, in the area termed as the anal cushions. Since there are many people that never seek treatment or consult a physician for piles, it isn’t known just how many cases there are. There are several different types of piles categorized in different degrees, based on symptoms and severity.

• First degree: Swellings located on inside lining of anal canal. Occasional bleeding but aren’t seen on the outside.
• Second degree: Large and protrude from anus during bowel movement, returning afterwards.
• Third degree: Same as second degree however do not return until pushed in.
• Fourth degree: Hang down permanently, not able to be pushed back inside the anus. Blood within can become clotted causing extreme swelling and pain.
• External: Swollen veins that develops below the anal cushions and are typically more painful than other types.
• Sentinel: Lumps that develops from anal fissure that heals and creates a painless skin tag.

There are other types as well, presenting different characteristics and locations. The pain typically increases towards the higher degrees and the more outer anal cushion piles.

Initial Symptoms & Causes

The symptoms can vary depending on the type, as well as the treatment. Fiber, oral fluids, NSAIDs, rest, and sitz bathing has been shown to be the most commonly recommended treatment. Rest is especially important as there are many complications associated with overexertion and overstress.

There are surgical measures that are taken when the piles does not respond to other treatment options. Many home remedies and herbal remedies are available, as well as over-the-counter medications that can be applied. A physician can also prescribe various medications to aid in the relief of the symptoms and the treatment of the piles for more severe cases.

There are several causes of piles, typically dependent upon the type and severity. Many of the causes are associated with functions of the anal canal, typically from some sort of irritation or strain that causes the veins to enlarge and many times protrude. Typically any over exerted activity can risk the development of piles, and should be avoided. Though some cases bleed, there are some that do not. However, treatment should be sought out to avoid progression of the affliction for any case. Worsening will continue through time causing them to get larger and more severe, especially if there is no change in stress or inexertion of the area.

Symptoms

There are a great many symptoms associated with Piles, each characteristic of the condition. The most common piles cases can show the least symptoms, sometimes going unnoticed for a bit of time until the inflammation and swelling increases. Many times, these cases will even often times resolve on their own in a few days. Typically, hemorrhoids are benign and are simply enlarged and swollen veins protruding the anal cavity below the anal cushion.

The external piles cases tend to be more painful and itchy, while the internal piles can be painless. Most commonly, the symptom of internal hemorrhoids is noticed during a bowel movement in which the stool will be covered by bright red blood.

This is a condition that is called hematochezia, and can be noticed in the toilet bowl or the toilet paper. Sometimes the internal piles will protrude through the anus, while many times they won’t. External hemorrhoids can be seen as a swollen lump around the anus, which will inflict a great deal of pain when inflamed.

The most common symptoms of hemorrhoids are:

• Itching of the anus
• Aching or pain around the anus, especially when sitting
• Bright red blood in the stool
• Painful bowel movements
• One or more painful, hard, and sore lumps around the anus

There are some cases when there can be a slimy mucus discharge of the anus as well, indicating there is a case of piles or even that the bowels haven’t been emptied entirely. These cases are typically dependent on the severity and type of piles that is present.

Causes

The actual cause for piles isn’t completely understood or known. However, there are theories that concern the cause, one being that there is a weakness of the anal tissue connecting the anal cushions too the muscle layers located underneath. When there is a straining during bowel movement, this anal cushions can slide out of place and down into the rectum. This presents itself as one or more hemorrhoids and can also be associated or complicated with diet.

Eating a low fiber diet can assist in causing the piles as the bowels will be much harder and more difficult to pass without strain. This strain passing these bowels could result in one or more piles developing. Constipation for this reason, is another thought to be cause of piles, which highly increases chances of developing the affliction.

Who Piles Effects

Piles are thought to afflict the elderly more so than the younger adults as the rectum structures aren’t supported as well. Pregnancy has a strong influence in the development and many women who are pregnant are at a high risk of developing the hemorrhoids. As the fetus bears down on the lower half of the woman’s body and as she strains to walk comfortably, these piles will erupt in mild to severe cases, sometimes resolving shortly after child birth. There are also some children born with a weak rectum structure, or have a family history of piles, which increases the risk of development.

Other causes are extended periods of sitting or standing, extremely strenuous working conditions, obesity, mental tension, and various bowel disorders.

Risk Factors

There are several risks, most which correlate with the causes. Heredity, age, activity, and diet can play a large role in the risk for piles. Pregnant women are at an extreme risk due to the extra strain that is placed on the anal cushions. With the rapid weight gain and the disproportioned weight in the mid section, there is an increase risk for excessive strain.

The elderly are also at risk as age deteriorates muscle structure and strength. Children are typically not affected by hemorrhoids, but children can be born with weakened muscles in the rectum that will increase their risk of developing piles later in life. Constipation and other bowel disorders have a strong influence on the risk for developing the condition as this creates extreme strain and pressure.

There are 5% of Americans that are afflicted at one point of their lives with piles. Over one million people in the US are afflicted each year with hemorrhoids, yet many others don’t even report the condition, leaving many cases unaccounted for.

Prevention Tips

The best prevention method for piles is to maintain soft stool so there is no strain during bowel movement; this decreases the pressure and strain during bowel movement. It is also a necessary to prevent piles, to pass stool as soon as the urge occurs. Daily exercising, including jogging and walking, as well as a diet rich in fiber can reduce the chances of constipation and will assist in making softer stools so they are easier to pass. There should be minimal time attempting to defecate as this could create the slippage in the anal cushion that develops piles.

Test and Diagnosis Considerations

If there is bleeding occurring from the rectum, a physician should be contacted immediately in order to decrease any complications that may occur from the piles. The physician will typically diagnose according to description of the symptoms as well as an examination of the rectum and the anal canal. The exam will consist of inserting a gloved finger into the rectum gently to feel for any hemorrhoids. There will also likely be an evaluation of medical history.

Physicians also may use a proctoscope for looking inside the anal cavity. This proctoscope is a narrow, tube-like camera that will blow air through to open the bowel and see more clearly. This is a great test for ruling out the occurrence of worse complications that may be causing the bleeding and pain. There is also a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy test that is done within the hospital allowing the doctor to see inside the large bowel. These are tests that are typically done in order to ensure there isn’t a more serious condition causing the symptoms.

Treatment Options

Although there are many treatment options for piles that can alleviate the symptoms and provide a great amount of relief from the swelling and pain, there is no cure for the condition. There are several home treatments that are basic and consist of relieving the symptoms through self help methods. There is also a great deal of medical treatments, and there are surgeries that can take place in the most severe cases of piles. Over-the-counter creams are great for treating the symptoms and are most commonly used.

Herbal and Home Remedies

The most common home remedy is to bath in sitz which is an antimicrobial liquid that can be poured into the bath to sooth any inflammations and prevents infections of many kinds. Other herbal and home remedies include the use of:

• Dry figs
• Mango seeds
• Jambul fruit
• Radish
• Turnip
• Bitter Gourd
• Ginger

There are many other home treatments that include using onion, wheat grass, sesame seeds, and many other types of extracts. The most common remedy however is also a fiber rich diet that allows for softer and more passable stool. Exercise is also quite important to the treatment as it allows the bowels to remain strong and able to pass stool easily. There are also various laxatives that can be used to soften the stool when constipation.

Medical Treatment

There are several over-the-counter corticosteroid creams that are effective in alleviating pain and swelling. Witch hazel applied with a cotton swab can also be effective at reducing itching followed by several other steps including:

• Wear cotton underwear
• Perfumed or colored toilet tissue
• Avoid scratching as it will irritate and inflame more

Increasing fiber intake, oral fluids, and use of NSAIDs and taking advantage of rest can also be very effective at treating the condition, even decreasing the size of the hemorrhoids. Preparation H is a commonly used cream for piles, but will not cure the condition or make it go away. Many times there are flair ups that must be treated, as they occur, which could be often or seldom.

There are also various medical procedures that will be performed without surgical need, including:

• Rubber band ligation: elastic bands applied to internal hemorrhoid to eliminate blood supply, allowing it to wither and fall off. Cure rate is seen at 87%.
• Sclerotherapy: injection of sclerosing agent, including phenol, into the piles. The vein walls collapse and the hemorrhoid shrivels up and falls off. The success rate of this cure is 70%.
• Cautery: many methods such as electrocautery, infrared radiation, and cryosurgery are performed to remove piles.

Surgical Treatment

If there is no response to medical treatment, there are some surgical techniques that are performed. They can cause urinary retention, or other complications associated with the surgery, as the surgery is performed so close to those organs. Types of surgery include:

• Hemorrhoidectomy: surgical excision of hemorrhoid used in severe cases. Requires 2-4 weeks for recovery.
• Doppler guided transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization: taping off of Doppler located arteries providing blood to the piles. Minimal complications yet has high reoccurrence rate.
• Stapled hemorrhoidectomy: resection of soft tissue, disrupting blood supply to piles. Less painful than removing the hemorrhoids and has faster healing rate.

These surgical treatments are highly effective at removing the hemorrhoids; however there is no guarantee that there won’t be recurrence. The most severe cases are relieved with surgical measures, but these measures are much more costly than other non-surgical treatments.

Urticaria is commonly known as hives, uredo or needle rash and is a type of allergic reaction that causes the skin to welt into red blotches. The welts are extremely itchy and can cover large areas of the human body including arms, legs, face, stomach and back. The cause of urticaria can be related to an immune response to food, other allergens or contact with an allergenic substance. Urticaria can also be related to excess stress. Urticaria can also present after a viral infection like mononucleosis, German measles or hepatitis.

Closely related to urticaria is a type of swelling called angioedema, which causes welts that are embedded deeper in the skin, particularly near the lips and eyes. Most of the time urticaria and angioedema will resolve without treatment in a short period of time, but there are cases that can be life threatening, especially with angioedema if the throat and/or tongue swell enough to block the airway. Angioedema and urticaria can occur at the same time and can be severe.

Angioedema can be caused by food allergies, medications like aspirin and latex allergies. Hereditary angioedema is related to a C1 inhibitor deficiency or lack of normal blood protein.

Different Types of Urticaria

There are basically four types of urticaria including acute, chronic, drug induced and physical. Acute urticaria comes on rapidly after touching an allergen. It can last as long as several weeks to as little as a few hours. Allergies to food and certain product ingredients fall into the ‘acute urticaria’ category. Common allergies to food include nuts, eggs, fish, shell fish, food dyes and acid derivatives. Common allergies to products include many different types of ingredients used in perfumes.

Chronic urticaria is a case of hives that lasts six weeks or longer. There are cases reportedly lasting as long as 20 years or more. There is no real known cause of chronic urticaria and it is often referred to as idiopathic in nature because of this.

Drug induced urticaria is serious and can result in cardiorespiratory failure. One of the main drugs known to cause drug induced urticaria is the anti-diabetic suphonylurea glimepiride or Amaryl®. This drug is documented as to causing severe allergic reactions, which appear as urticaria. Penicillin, aspirin, ACE inhibitors, sulfonamides, anticonvulsants and NSAIDs can also bring on or exacerbate angioedema and chronic urticaria.

Depending on cause, physical urticaria can be categorized into several categories including:

• Cold reactions like cold air, water or ice.
• Cholinergic reactions to exercise, after a hot shower or body heat
• Aquagenic reactions to water (extremely rare)
• Delayed pressure after standing for long periods of time, or to items like belts and bra straps
• Dermographism from skin scratching
• Heat reactions to hot objects or hot food
• Vibration
• Solar reaction to sunlight
• Adrenergic reaction to noradrenalin or adrenaline

Risk Factors For Urticaria and Angioedema

The risk factors for urticaria and angioedema increase if a person has experienced either in the past, has allergic reactions, suffers from disorders like lymphoma, thyroid disease or lupus, has a family history of angioedema, hereditary angioedema or hives.

Symptoms of Urticaria

There are several symptoms associated with urticaria that include severe itching, stinging and burning. Hives emerge as elevated, erythematous or papules, plaques and linear streaks that are transient and usually encompassed by a flare or halo. The lesions are usually pale, particularly in the center. They can vary in size from several centimeters to a few millimeters.

Hives brought on by heat, exercise, changes in temperature or emotions and induced by acetylcholine appear as morphologically unique lesions that usually disappear in an hour or less. Lesions caused by trauma or scratching have a streaking linear appearance that is pronounced with a surrounding flare. In angioedema, pale areas of edema with diffused borders can be recognized on various parts of the body and face. If angioedema affects the larynx, dyspnea, stridor or hoarseness can occur and can be quite serious, even leading to death.

In cholinergic urticaria, induced by acetylcholine and triggered by emotions, heat, exercise or changes in temperature, the lesions are morphologically different and disappear in 30-60 minutes. Dermographic lesions, induced by brisk scratching or trauma, are linear streaks with a surrounding flare.

Symptoms of Angioedema

Angioedema, as noted, is quite similar to hives and recognized clinically as pale areas of edema deeper in the skin. Angioedema appears as firm, thick, rather large welts, skin swelling, blistering and pain. Angioedema mainly appears on the eyes and lips but can also present on hands, genitalia, feet, or inner throat. Involvement of the larynx may lead to hoarseness, stridor and dyspnea, and may be fatal. Hereditary angioedema is uncommon and more serious than common urticaria or angioedema. It is identified by rapid and severe swelling of various body parts, as well as abdominal cramping if the digestive tract is involved.

Visiting a Doctor For Urticaria and Angioedema

As mentioned, most hives and angioedema episodes are not life threatening and can be treated at home. But in more chronic and severe cases, an appointment with a doctor to determine the cause and offer treatment is highly recommended. As a general rule of thumb, see a doctor if hives or angioedema does not go away after a day or two or if a home remedy or over the counter treatment (see Treatments Section Below) does not work in relieving symptoms. If symptoms include breathing difficulty, swelling of the throat or fainting and/or a lightheaded feeling, go to an emergency room for immediate treatment.

A doctor will take a patient’s history to try to identify the cause of urticaria or angioedema. It helps if a patient brings notes to the appointment that include important information like signs and symptoms of urticaria or angioedema, how often the symptoms occur, how long they last and any medications, herbs or vitamins taken to relieve symptoms. A patient should also write down any questions he or she might have regarding tests, causes, symptoms, alternate approaches, and best course of action to take.

A doctor will ask questions like:

• When was the onset of symptoms first noticed?
• How did the urticaria or angioedema present in appearance?
• Have symptoms changed at all?
• What makes symptoms worse?
• Have any home remedies or over the counter medications been used?
• Have prescription medications been taken?

The answers to these questions will help the physician put together a complete history and proper diagnosis of the condition and how it might best be treated.

Following a complete history and evaluation, the physician may do a scratch or prick test to help identify any allergies to foods, insects, pollen, animal fur, medications, etc. The doctor may also do a patch test, which is an allergen placed on a patch and applied to the skin. If it causes a reaction, the allergen is identified and the appropriate treatment can be initiated.

Similarly, the doctor may do an intradermal test, whereby an allergen is injected into the skin. Intradermal testing is usually performed if the physician suspects an allergy to insects or penicillin. A doctor suspecting a patient might be suffering from hereditary angioedema, may request a blood test to evaluate levels and blood protein function.

Treatment Options For Urticaria and Angioedema

If treatment for urticaria or angioedema is recommended, standard antihistamines should help. Antihistamines will block the release of histamine, which causes the symptoms and discomfort of urticaria and angioedema. Over the counter medications include:

• Diphenhydramines like Benadryl
• Chlorpheniramines like Chlor-Trimeton
• Loratadine like Claritin and Alavert
• Cetrizines like Zyrtec

Some of these medications can cause drowsiness, so caution should be taken before medicating. For instance, a patient should not drive when taking antihistamines, unless the medication states that it does not cause drowsiness.

Prescription medications include:

• Desloratadine or Clarinex
• Fexofenadine or Allegra
• Hydroxyzine or Vistaril
• Levocetrizine or Xyzal

If the hives or angioedema are severe, a physician may prescribe a corticosteroid drug like prednisone to help bring down swelling and ease itching.

To treat hereditary angioedema, a physician may prescribe a long term treatment of androgens like danazol, which help maintain and regulate blood protein levels. There are also many new medications that are in clinical trials that might be recommended.

If the episode of hives or angioedema appears to be severe or life threatening, an emergency adrenaline injection may be necessary. This will require visiting an emergency treatment center immediately. If these severe episodes are frequent, a physician may recommend and prescribe adrenaline that can be used by a patient in an emergency.

After self injecting an adrenaline, a patient should go to an emergency room for further treatment if necessary.

Side Effects of Antihistamines

As mentioned, drowsiness can be a side effect of taking antihistamines for urticaria or angioedema. Other side effects include changes to the immune system. A patient should speak to a physician about side effects and complications of mixing antihistamines with other medications.

Side Effects of Corticosteroids

The side effects of corticosteroids can be serious affecting the joints and other parts of the body. That is why, when prescribed, they are used for a short period of time in hopes of alleviating severe symptoms of urticaria or angioedema. Most corticosteroids must be withdrawn gradually to avoid further complications.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes To Help Relieve Urticaria and Angioedema

Rather than taking over the counter medications or prescribed medications, some patients choose to try home remedies and lifestyle changes to help urticaria and angioedema symptoms. To relieve itching and pain associated with urticaria and angioedema there are natural remedies and lifestyle changes that could help significantly. They include:

• soaking in oatmeal baths
• soaking in detoxifying baths
• rose water and vinegar applications
• mint and brown sugar drinks
• Turmeric powder
• the herb rauwolfia mixed in a cup of water
• applying anti-pruritic lotions.

Lifestyle changes include switching to an all fruit diet for five days, maintaining a balanced food diet of nuts, seeds, fruits, grains and vegetables and avoiding foods like coffee, tea, alcohol, and foods that are hard to digest.

Epson salts baths in hot water are claimed to be the most effect way to relieve outbreaks of urticaria or angioedema. The patient should soak in a hot bath treated with a cup of Epson salts for 20 minutes or more at least three times a week. Do not use soap as it may introduce harmful chemicals and prevent the positive effects and results of the Epson salts.

There is also a chemical free technique or Organic technique that is proving quite helpful for treating chronic urticaria. The theory is by wearing and using clothes and other items like sheets and bath towels that have not been exposed to laundry detergent chemicals, toxicity levels are greatly reduced in the body, and the immune system is boosted.

After about four to six weeks, urticaria and angioedema could disappear. To successfully carry out this technique, a patient must use chemical free, cold water methods to wash items they come in contact with. High levels of baking soda should be added to the long rinse wash cycle, and all items must be air-dried to prevent heat combustion that can cause chemical residue in a dryer.

Preventing Outbreaks of Urticaria and Angioedema

Active patient participation is important in preventing outbreaks of urticaria and angioedema. There are ways to lower the chances of outbreaks by staying away from known triggers like foods that seem to bring on hives or angioedema, medications or situations that provoke onsets. Situations can include anything from temperature changes, stressful environments and exposure to chemicals that could provoke an allergic reaction.

It is also highly recommended that patients keep a log of their outbreaks of urticaria or angioedema, noting what foods seem to cause reactions, what environment brought on a reaction like extreme heat or cold and what chemical (for instance, a certain component in a perfume) caused an allergic attack. By using these self-help techniques, many times a patient can identify and eliminate the cause or causes of their urticaria or angioedema attacks and avoid taking over the counter or prescription medications and the side effects that go along with them.

Conclusion

It is worth the time invested to research urticaria and angioedema to know the various degrees and forms of both conditions. In most cases, urticaria and angioedema are temporary and not serious, but there are rarer forms of urticaria and angioedema that can present serious and life threatening conditions.

Patients experiencing hives or mild angioedema should benefit by taking an antihistamine that can help relieve swelling and itching. In severe cases, corticosteriods may be prescribed for a short period of time. If a patient experiences any difficulty in breathing, swallowing or maintaining consciousness, immediate emergency treatment must occur. Some patients with severe reactions carry epinephrine injections and antihistamine pills to administer should a severe reaction occur.

Hereditary angioedema is not an allergic reaction. It is a genetic disorder that affects the immune system. It can be triggered by injury, infection or stress and the main symptom is swelling, particularly around the mouth and eyes. If swelling occurs in the windpipes, breathing can be inhibited and immediate attention is required. Certain treatments may relieve hereditary angioedema symptoms.

Gray Hair Facts

Hair follicles, like skin, bear pigmentation in the form of melanin. For hair, there are two types of melanin: eumelanin (brown pigment) and pheomelanin (black pigment).These are the same melanin types that create the classic stripes of a Tiger or spots of a leopard. Their different combinations will result in blond to brown to dark brown, to black hair colors. The balance is similar to paint mixing with only two colors, and results in the many hair color shades in between blond and black, in all populations of the world.

The hair can grow with a number of combinations of these two pigments and their concentrations are biochemically controlled by their stem cell instruction set, DNA.

Melanin Loss

Grayness is directly related to melanin loss or deficiency. The average person has roughly a 3:1 active /recessive hair growth ratio. For every 4 follicles, 1 is dead/dying, 3 are active and growing. This growth is not a regenerative process in terms of the fact that a follicle does not keep making hair after hair during its cellular lifecycle; it is a one-time-build. Each hair has a new follicle manufactured just for that one hair growth cycle.

When a hair follicle dies the keratinocyte and melanocytes recede and expire in a pre-programmed physiological manner. The hair falls out and the follicle remains are reabsorbed by the body. During this process stem cells (progenitor cells) which are located at the base of the follicle, begin to build new keratinocyte and melanocytes, leading to the growth of a new hair.

Scientific Voids

The graying of hair is a result of a disruption in this process – in particular, lack of melanin production. Free radical damage has been highlighted as a possible cause, but scientists worldwide have yet to pinpoint the exact science behind hair graying – strenuous investigation is ongoing to find the causes (there is definitely more than one cause, that fact at least, has been determined).

Our ancestors are the best future indicator, the genetic component to age, related graying is a primary factor in predicting one’s age at graying onset. It is likely one’s parents’ combined average will offer the best guess. However these are not accurate to more than average. Ones may carry recessive genes (as yet unidentified genes) that can affect one’s hair grayness onset and rate.

Hair grayness causes (and aging) really are unfulfilled scientific investigations. Through activities such as the recently completed Genome Project, science has a deeper understanding of our genetic components. In order for us to benefit from this breakdown of DNA, the detail to which we understand its meaning is really the breakthrough that mankind is waiting for.

Modifying our genetic makeup to compensate for our vanity regarding hair grayness may just be the tip of the iceberg. The control of aging processes, that nirvana of the vain, is now on our visible horizon.

Aging and Gray Hair

Is “Gray hair is the new black”? – A recent suggestive headline posed – For the vast majority of the graying population the answer is would be very much “No!”

When we see someone from a distance, we can make few judgments about them except based upon what we see. Traditionally, hair color has been used to ascertain a person’s age, especially when observed from more than a talking distance.

This all changes when we meet someone, or get close enough to them to see other signs of aging such as wrinkles, discolored eye whites, crows-feet and tighter skin – all of which indicate advancing age, but are not necessarily age-related. Facial features mistaken for aging commonly include, wrinkles caused by sun-drying skin exposure, and skin and eye discoloration from tobacco use. Tobacco has a well-documented range of effects that accelerate our age-appearance.

When we interact we exchange information via whole series of communicative devices. The interacting persons will get a great deal more information about each other than at that first glance. But gray hair remains synonymous with age, unless the person is clearly young and has a genetic or physiological impairment that causes this hair color. (See section on causes)

Many people in western society perceive advancing age as advancing weakness or a reflection of personal deterioration. Other societies embrace aging as a noble and respect-deserving stage of life. Gray hair is commonly associated with people of wisdom, and power across all societies.

A Look of Distinction

Note that judges, barristers, senators and senior executives often bear a silver mane proudly and know that it has a representative quality that does not have to be ageist. Vain though they may be, the altering of their hair color, no matter how hard they try to conceal this vanity with expensive hair treatments, is usually not hard to spot.

Most accept that the gray hair is not a disadvantage at all. For those men who are dating, unless one is trying to date well below one’s peer-age group, the graying of one’s hair is seen as a sign of a distinguishing gent, rather than a sign of ‘old age’. Women prefer for obvious reasons, prefer to remain as young looking as possible for as long as they can. Their social upbringing almost demands it in the western world.

When ageism is in play, gray hair, considered from a psychological viewpoint, is perceived as a clear social disadvantage – regardless of gender. People in general know this and tend to try to reduce their exposure to this discrimination –the hair color business is a billion dollar industry.

Causes and ‘Cures’

Genetics are the main factor in deciding hair grayness rate and the age of onset. Our genes carry the stem cell instructions on when to produce growth and cell renewal throughout the body. Hair follicles are just specialized cells and are no exception. Included in this genetic instruction set (our DNA) are the functions of melanin production (of types, eumelanin and pheomelanin). Dependent upon hair type (see ‘facts’ section) the reduction in melanin production advances hair grayness, until production ceases and the remaining hair (the aging process causes hair thinning/loss too) becomes the classic non-pigmented white of the aged.

Potentially, genetic modification might well be a gray hair reversal and prevention method. If stem cells can be controlled by DNA segments then surely we can just pop out a few genes here and there – or just swap a few AGTC (DNA assembly block) sequences around until things read a bit better?

Sadly this is not as easy as it sounds. Identification of the genes that control hair growth has already been made. But the advance of age in humans is still an enigma from a genetic viewpoint. Grayness caused by specific a genetic defect is most likely treatable. But we are in the “gray area” (excuse the pun) of aging.

Finding a “cure” (not considered by many as an appropriate word) to aging is the holy grail of geneticists and sufferers of death or aging anxiety worldwide. Typically those who fear the hair -graying process, also fear aging and the reality of mortality

Widely reported is the connection between stress and gray hair. There does seem to be a measurable relationship between the two, and scientific evidence points towards

Stress

David Fisher, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School stated: “It is the gradual depletion of melanocyte stem cells that leads to loss of pigment”. Does stress influence that loss?

It is suggested that stress might cause the body to produce hormones that cause inhibited production of the two melanin types. This has yet to be conclusively proven, yet there clearly is a link because the findings of many studies are concurrent that environmental factors can play a part in accelerating aging and the consequent onset of grayness.

Results of Study

A study of methamphetamine users concluded that they exhibited measurable increases of age-onset signs (including hair grayness), presumed to be related to possibly the increased metabolic rate or the poor cellular health caused by malnutrition. Genetic damage caused by environmental factors such as radiation seems to also accelerate aging processes.

Today’s populations in urban areas and factory environments are subject to a barrage of airborne, ingested and applied toxins. From tobacco smoke – both first and second hand – to hair dyes, our 21st century lives inflict a heavy toll on our hair. These factors can significantly influence hair grayness and its onset.

Youngsters

Genetics can be responsible for a condition whereby hair graying begins at early adulthood, as early as 16-17 years old is not that unusual. As this is caused by genetic variation, only a gene modifying (not available yet) process might be able to delay the onset of graying.

Incidence

Graying can begin at a surprisingly early age (see causes). However, most men start to show those tell-tale signs at around 30 years, and women usually upwards of 35.

Some people regardless of gender do not start to gray properly until their 50’s. It seems that the greater the black pigment (pheomelanin) presents, the later the overall gray onset occurs. Many black men will not exhibit signs of grayness until into their 40’s

The scientific explanation is varied. Genetic disorders which manifest at early ages are easily explained via DNA examination or disease diagnosis. In these cases gray hair is either a symptom of an ailment, a genetic disorder, or environmentally caused for example by gray hair can be directly attributable to the disorder or disease. Most of the population however, falls into other categories, with advancing age being the clear leader.

Darker skin color seems to have a general correlation with age at graying onset – Asian and black people regardless of gender tend to gray at a later age. Different parts of the body may surprisingly gray at vastly different rates. Hair above the neck tends to gray at a faster rate than bodily hair although this is not universally true. Stress, thought to affect the rate of graying, could cause different patterns of hair graying. The myth that a great sudden shock can make one’s hair go white has been proven to be just that, a myth!

Treatments & Remedies

As mentioned in the causes section, there is no cure for grayness. There is no partial cure, no reversal process. As of today, anything one reads to the contrary is probably an attempt to sell a product – a product that will unlikely do anything but extend ones frustration. The only option is a remedy, and as the name suggests, these are remedial, non-permanent solutions to those who wish to address their graying hair color.

Dyeing hair is the most common approach. Semi-permanent dyes are effective and not so noticeable when careful selection of dye color is made. Once hair starts to gray more heavily, the use of a permanent dye may be the only way to conceal the grayness. Either approach involves repeated use; as hair grows, even permanent dyes have to be reapplied to avoid the emerging gray hair being noticeable.

Use of these methods repeatedly is not a really good formula for hair care in the long term. Many over-users of hair dyeing products have a resulting poor hair condition as the chemicals used to color hair are often corrosive in nature, affecting hair growth rates and damaging the hair structure this can producing straw-like or “wrinkly” hairs – Damage to the cuticle causes elbow-bends or breaks in the hair.

Cuticles in Healthy Hair

In healthy hair, the cuticle is made up of an armor of overlapping shingle-type layers of keratinous tissue. They are coated with natural oils produced in the scalp which to prevent snagging and protect the hair from environmental damage such as low humidity. When hair dyes and bleaches are applied, these shingles break off, the oil is completely removed and brittle, gnarly hair is usually the result.

This dyeing philosophy ironically, has the opposite effect of reducing the self-perceived ageing that the arrival of gray hair imbibes. Spending money on a professional rather than home-dye-kit is rarely, long term, any different effect. Over time, the avid gray hair ‘cover-by-dye’ enthusiast may well find that they look older due to the damage to their hair, than if they had just accepted gracefully that they are getting older.

For those with medical diagnosis of a condition which causes gray hair, the situation is in direct contrast. For these people, there are many remedies – often reverting hair color completely to its former blond/brown/black shade. Vitamin deficiencies are easily diagnosed and addressed. Thyroid disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency are treatable diseases that cause grayness. Grayness caused by Vitiligo, a poorly understood genetic/auto-immune/environmental disorder, cannot at present be cured or reversed.

Give up Smoking!

Tobacco smoking has been long known and proven to produce many aging effects. Chronic smokers of age 30 often look like a 40 year old. Tobacco smoke contains a host of unpleasant and detrimental ingredients. Ones hair, as a living part of one’s body, is just as likely, with tobacco exposure, to suffer alongside other bodily tissues and organs.

Hair graying is accelerated by tobacco smoking/exposure and a strategy to reduce this effect should include serious consideration of giving up smoking or ensuring little time is spent in the presence of a smoky environment, such as a bar. Not only would this reduce the aging effect and hence appearance, but almost certainly will extend one’s life!

Retaining teeth and lip color are issues that many people face. There are a number of factors that can affect the color of the lips and teeth. Age, gender, race, health conditions as well as environmental factors and diet can also contribute. Before beginning any treatments, you should consult with your doctor and exercise caution until you are certain of any side effects.

There are many reasons to try to retain the natural color of teeth and lips such as cosmetic reasons as well as overall oral health. Good dental hygiene has a positive impact on the body while poor dental hygiene can lead to heart disease and other health complications.

Symptoms

Staining or discoloration of the lips or teeth. The discoloration may be just the lips or teeth or may include both. It may be spotty, an all over color change such as excessive or loss of color or colored deposits on the gum, lips or teeth. Inflammation in the mouth, foul breath, tooth decay or sticky deposits may also be noticed.

Causes

It is important to know the source of the problem before beginning any treatment regimen for it. One of the most common causes for discoloration of the lips and teeth is smoking, with coffee and tea a close second.

Chewing tobacco, chemotherapy, improper oral hygiene, excessive consumption of wine or dark colas, allergies to products such as lipstick or other lip products, overexposure to sunlight and high amounts of fluoride can all contribute to discoloration of the lips and teeth. Certain types of infection are also known to manifest with symptoms of color loss or excessive color. Some medications may also cause discoloration.

Risk Factors

Risks of uneven or spotty coloration of the lips and teeth include types of skin cancer caused by sun and tobacco exposure. When allergic reactions are the cause of the problem it is important to discontinue use of the products causing the reaction. Even minor allergic reactions can lead to a more serious condition known as anaphylaxis, which is a life threatening problem.

There are also some medical conditions that can cause the natural color to change, and should be ruled out through examination and testing. In some cases, the underlying cause may lead to decay of the enamel and tissue in the mouth.

Prevention and Tips

The best prevention is to avoid exposure to the cause of the problem. In some cases, such as medicine and treatments it may not be possible, but for discoloration problems caused by dietary and lifestyle factors there are easy ways to reduce or prevent it. The best way to prevent lip and teeth discoloration caused by smoking is to quit smoking.

For tea and coffee drinkers, brushing after drinking and using whitening toothpaste and products can help reduce and prevent further staining. Lowering the consumption of staining beverages will also greatly reduce incidents of coloration issues. When medications or other medical treatments are the source of the problem, it may be worth discussing it with your doctor to see if there are alternative treatments available, or if they approve starting a treatment at home to reduce the symptoms.

Tests and Diagnosis

Your doctor may perform an exam of the mouth to check your symptoms and ask simple questions about your diet, whether you smoke and how much coffee or tea you consume. Other tests may include blood work or x-ray exams to check for other causes if no immediate one can be found. He or she may also refer you to a dentist depending upon their conclusions.

Treatment Options

Home Remedies for Retaining and Recovering Lip Color

1. Drink plenty of water, this helps hydrate the body and can flush out unwanted toxins. It is recommended to consume 8-10 glasses of water each day but care should be taken not to over-hydrate.
2. Reducing the source of the problem. If caused by consumption of tobacco or beverages, reducing your intake will help reduce the symptoms.
3. Lime or lemon applied directly to the lips can help lighten them and even out discoloration. Cucumber juice has also been shown to have a light bleaching effect upon the lips. Care should be taken to not further injure or agitate the lips through over-application of lightening products.
4. Moisturizers for the lips. This may include balms available at most retailers, or a home made balm such as clarified butter or simple yogurt. Avoiding heavily pigmented lip products may also reduce coloration issues as some have been known to darken the lips with long term usage.
5. A homemade scrub for the lips may help remove dead or damaged cells and lighten the tissue. The ingredients for the scrubs vary but often include a rich oil such as almond, and several lightening agents such as lemon and a coarse scrub agent, often sugar. Massaging these gently onto the lips can help improve the quality and condition of the lips.
6. Gentle massage. A very gentle massage of the lips can increase circulation and improve darkening skin. Combining this massage with a moisturizer or scrub can greatly improve results.

These home remedies are very cost effective, and in cases where reducing the amount of tobacco smoked can even save money as the products would be purchased less frequently.

Often for home remedies, many of the ingredients are already available in the home, further reducing the cost. Side effects are likely to be minimal depending on the source of the problem, but as with any medical problem, some side effects such as swelling, hives and blisters can be indicative of a serious reaction and should be discussed with your doctor.

Professional and Medical Treatments for Lip Color

1. Cosmetic lip tinting. The lips can be tattooed with color to give them the appearance of a natural lip color. This is permanent and can be painful as well as costly depending where one goes for it. It does not remove the cause of the loss of natural color, only treats the superficial symptoms.
2. Skin peels. Most peels can be done in a spa and some doctor offices have started to offer them. When considering skin peels make certain that the location is licensed and experienced. These peels work by applying a chemical compound to the lips to break down and remove the top layers, exposing the healthier skin underneath.
3. Depending on the source of the lip discoloration this may be a temporary solution, and one treatment may not be enough. The cost can vary depending on the severity of the lip condition and the location of the spa or doctor office. Common side effects to skin peels include irritation, swelling and can lead to further discoloration in some circumstances.

Home Remedies for Retaining and Recovering Tooth Color

1. Drink plenty of water to help hydrate and flush out toxins. This can also help rinse out the mouth and provides overall health benefits.
2. Rinsing the mouth after meals can also help prevent food and beverages from building up on the teeth. While brushing the teeth after each meal is ideal, it is not always possible. A variety of products are available to help keep the teeth clean including pocket size tooth wipes and mouthwash, but if those are unavailable, simply rinsing the mouth with water can help.
3. Baking soda toothpaste, or plain baking soda mixed into a paste can be used to loosen some of the discoloration and whiten the teeth.
4. Chewing sugarless gum has been shown to help reduce symptoms of discoloration.
5. Avoiding foods and beverages that are known to stain the teeth, or if they cannot be avoided, practice the good habit of brushing or rinsing with mouthwash after consuming them to prevent buildup.
6. Certain foods can be helpful in preventing buildup or assist in whitening them. These foods include citrus fruits and strawberries, but care should be taken not to overdo it because citrus fruits can irritate the gum or lead to decay or wear on the enamel if used in excess.

These home remedies are very cost effective, often requiring minimal purchases, and in cases where reducing the amount of tobacco smoked can even save money as the products would be purchased less frequently. Side effects to these home remedies are likely to be minimal but if side effects are noticed or become bothersome, consult with your doctor. Some possible side effects may include mild irritation of the gums from products or an increase in sensitivity.

Professional and Medical Treatments

For discolored teeth, professional dental whitening can remove staining and help maintain a bright smile. Professional level cleaning is proven to be the most effective but is also the most expensive option. The results last longer but does need to be done frequently to maintain the results. Your dentist may also recommend supplementing their treatment with an at home kits, increasing the overall cost. At home kits are available but results from them may vary. Whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes are also available and are fairly low cost.

Surgical Treatments

Surgical treatment to help retain tooth color beyond professional whitening does exist but can be very expensive and may not be right for everyone. A cosmetic dentist may suggest veneers, which are placed over the tooth to either protect a damaged surface or to improve the appearance of the teeth.

Because veneers are often used on multiple teeth at a time the cost can be prohibitive for some people. It can be difficult to match the color of the surrounding teeth so many dentists will recommend that multiple teeth are done at once so better match. This can be a permanent solution but care must be taken to maintain them as some types of veneers can fall off or crack in some cases.

Additional Surgical Options

Other surgical options include capping or crowning a tooth with a more permanent porcelain or ceramic tooth. In some cases removal of the tooth is necessary or recommended. The gap is then filled with an artificial tooth. This may also require manipulation of the surrounding teeth to either bridge across them or to make room in the mouth for the implant.

Dental implants can be easier to match to the surrounding teeth and often have a more natural look. They can be more sturdy than veneers but they can still break, same as natural teeth. This may be a more cost effective option than veneers but it is not a substitute for good oral hygiene. Many cosmetic dentists offer free or low cost consultations to help decide if that is the best procedure for your situation.

Before beginning any treatment, whether at home or professional, please consult your doctor and use caution and common sense with remedies. This is especially important if you are on medication or under the treatment of a doctor for other conditions. Do not hesitate to discontinue use and report any problems to your doctor.

Endometriosis is an illness that affects women of childbearing age with debilitating pain and infertility. Endometriosis causes multiple symptoms that can be difficult to manage, diagnose, and treat. It is thought to affect 5-10% of pre-menopausal women in the United States.

Alternative Names for Endometriosis

The name endometriosis comes from the Latin form of the words “endo,” meaning “inner;” the portion of the word “metri” refers to the uterus or womb; and “-osis” means “condition.” Although the name describes the adverse condition of the uterus, endometriosis can also affect surrounding structures within the pelvis and abdominal cavity.

Endometriosis has also been called by other names that refer to the unusual results of the disease itself. It has been named adenomyosis, which is a type of endometriosis in which uterine lining implants and grows within the muscular walls of the uterus itself. Endometriosis may also be referred to as chocolate cysts or endometriomas, both of which are by-products of the disease.

Chocolate cysts are pockets of blood that are found growing outside the uterus within the pelvic cavity. Because the blood inside the cyst is old, it has a dark appearance, similar to that of chocolate. Endometriomas are another name for growth of endometrial tissue found in various locations throughout the abdominal and pelvic cavity.

Symptoms of the Disease

Symptoms of endometriosis are similar but may vary in severity. Some women may suffer from extreme pain and heavy bleeding with their menstrual periods. Other women may be unaware that they are affected by endometriosis until they receive a diagnosis of infertility. The following symptoms are indications of endometriosis:

• Pelvic pain
• Heavy bleeding with menstrual periods
• Spotting or bleeding between periods
• Pain with urination
• Pain with bowel movements
• Infertility
• Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea or constipation
• Pain with intercourse
• Fatigue

Pelvic pain is the most common sign for women experiencing endometriosis. Pain may be located within the pelvic area, near the uterus, or it may radiate to the back. Some women feel pain near the location of their ovaries; it may radiate into the abdomen, down the legs, or up into the shoulder. The pain can be a constant dull ache, sharp and intermittent, or a combination of both. The severity of pain varies with each woman, some experiencing acute pain that is debilitating. Others suffer from a constant, dull ache. A percentage of women experience no pain with endometriosis.

Endometriosis can cause excessive bleeding during a woman’s menstrual period, resulting in heavy flow. The period may last significantly longer than average, continuing many days or even weeks at a time. Menstrual flow may have large clots and be associated with severe uterine cramping. A heavy menstrual flow is difficult for many women to manage and can be extremely uncomfortable.

Timetable & Menstrual Cycle

The end of a menstrual period typically indicates that approximately a month will pass before starting another. For the patient with endometriosis, there may be spotting of blood or recurring bleeding similar to menstrual flow but lasting for a shorter duration. This occurs mid-cycle and may be associated with menstrual symptoms, such as cramps. This can be challenging to manage for many women, as they may be unprepared for breakthrough bleeding mid-cycle.

Some women with endometriosis experience pain with urination. Endometrial tissue may migrate from the inside of the uterus to the bladder or ureters and implant itself. The action of emptying the bladder can then cause pain during urination or during the sensation of having to void. There may be small amounts of blood that is seen in the urine.

Bowel Movement Issues

Pain during a bowel movement is an associated symptom of endometriosis, as the bowel and rectum become locations for the implantation of endometrial tissue. The pain and bleeding at these sites results in pain during movement of the bowels. A woman may also experience small amounts of blood in the stool.

Infertility & Female Issues

Infertility is closely associated with endometriosis. For women that do not experience pain or bleeding symptoms that are typical of the disease, infertility is often the source of diagnosis. There can be multiple sources of infertility for the woman suffering from endometriosis. The implantation of endometrial lining in various parts of the pelvic cavity leads to bleeding and scar tissue formation that can block the process of fertilization. For example, scar tissue build-up within the fallopian tubes can prevent a released egg from finding its way to the uterus for fertilization.

A hormonal imbalance is often associated with endometriosis, and in order to achieve pregnancy and successfully grow a baby to term, a delicate balance of hormones must remain in the body. Endometriosis involves an imbalance that may prevent implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus, or the growth of the egg into a fetus, resulting in miscarriage.

Some women experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation. Lesions of endometrial lining may localize on the bowel or intestine, causing a change in bowel habits and producing loose stools or reducing the frequency of bowel movements.

Endometrial lesions may occasionally appear in or near the vagina or cervix of a woman, or they may deposit in the peritoneal cul-de-sac. The cul-de-sac is the area located between the back wall of the uterus and the rectum. Endometrial lesions found in these locations can cause pain during sexual intercourse.

Fatigue

Fatigue is the result of several symptoms of endometriosis, including management of chronic pain and blood loss. Any chronic disease that leaves a patient handling negative symptoms such as pain can become exhausting. The body utilizes some of its own resources to respond to pain, but after an extended period of time, the body’s energy may become depleted, resulting in fatigue.

Large amounts of blood loss through menstruation or internal bleeding from lesions can also result in fatigue. For women with exceptionally heavy amounts of bleeding, laboratory tests such as an iron panel should be checked for possible anemia.

The management of chronic disease also leads to the possibility of depression for women with endometriosis. Living with constant pain, as well as experiencing discomfort during typically normal activities can be exhausting. Infertility for a couple with a desire to have a child can be a heartbreaking event, leaving them hoping for a baby but feeling depressed because of the illness. Women diagnosed with endometriosis should consider the possibility of depression as a potential long term effect of the disease and seek treatment if necessary.

Causes of Endometriosis

There is not one exact cause of endometriosis, but several theories have developed, all of which have research to back up some of their ideas. The process of menstruation typically develops as a monthly episode where the body releases an egg from one of two ovaries located near the uterus. The ovaries are connected to the uterus with the fallopian tubes, each a passageway for the egg to travel as it moves toward fertilization.

During the time preceding ovulation, the uterus has built up a healthy amount of interior lining made of blood and tissue that will provide a place for a fertilized egg to implant and then grow into a fetus. Without fertilization, the egg is shed along with this endometrial lining approximately once a month during menstruation.

Ovulation

The entire process of ovulation through menstruation is managed by specific hormones within the body. Two common hormones, called estrogen and progesterone are responsible for many of these factors, such as the maturation of an egg before ovulation and the development of endometrial lining in the uterus.

Endometriosis occurs when some of the endometrial lining that is normally found in the uterus migrates to other parts of the pelvic cavity and implants itself on other structures. These endometrial lesions can be found on many parts of the body, including the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the bowel, the bladder, the ureters, or the wall of the peritoneum.

Lesions

In rare cases, lesions have been found on the diaphragm and even the lungs of some women. Although the lesions implant on areas outside the uterus, during the process of menstruation, the lesions bleed just as if they were still inside the uterus. It is this internal bleeding that causes pain and the multiple symptoms associated with endometriosis.

The reasons for the wandering endometrial tissue are unclear, but are thought to be related to one of the hormones affecting menstruation: estrogen. Increased amounts of estrogen have impacted the quantity of endometrial tissue found in other parts of the body, and is responsible for the monthly bleeding associated with the lesions.

Retrograde Menstruation

Another theory that may be a source of endometriosis is the concept of retrograde menstruation. In this situation, the body proceeds through the menstrual cycle as usual, but when it is time for the interior lining of the uterus to be shed, some of the blood and tissue travels up into the fallopian tubes and toward the ovaries where it exits into the pelvic cavity. This then allows some particles of the endometrial lining to attach to various internal organs and continue the process of endometriosis.

A genetic factor has also been attributed to the development of endometriosis. The risk of a woman developing the disease is ten times greater if she has close family member, such as a mother or sister, with endometriosis. The role of hormones in the process of heredity contributes to some of the changes that occur during the menstrual cycle, giving women that are direct relatives related menstrual symptoms, and therefore a genetic probability of disease development.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for developing endometriosis are related to some of the causes of the disease. Endometriosis is primarily a disease that affects women during their childbearing years, although it can also be found in post-menopausal women. Because of this, a woman of childbearing age (between menarche and menopause) is at a greater risk of developing endometriosis. Women that have a close female relative with the disease are also at greater risk. In addition, those women that take estrogen supplements are at risk due to the presence of the hormone related to the disease.

Prevention

There is little that can be done to prevent endometriosis, especially for women that are unaware that they have the illness. Endometriosis is a disease that is treated after symptoms appear. Awareness seems to be the highest form of prevention, as well as taking care of the body. Women should be aware of the risk factors associated with endometriosis and monitor their own body system for signs of the disease.

For women that suffer from heavy periods, vitamin supplements that contain iron may be effective in handling fatigue. The use of hormone supplements should be well monitored by a physician to determine if the body may be developing a hormone imbalance.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of endometriosis is definitively made only by surgery. A physician can recommend surgery if a patient presents with the symptoms of endometriosis that is not managed by pain control or if she desires a pregnancy. A doctor should take a complete history of the woman, including menstruation, number of pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual history. The physician may ask about family members with endometriosis to find a possible genetic link. Lab work may be ordered to check for estrogen and progesterone levels.

If a woman is seeking treatment for infertility, a physician may attempt to treat the condition before performing surgery to rule out endometriosis. This typically occurs if infertility is one of the only symptoms. Infertility procedures, such as the administration of medications to induce ovulation, as well as intrauterine insemination may be performed in an attempt to achieve pregnancy first.

Hysterosalpingogram

A physician may perform a procedure called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), which is a test to determine if the fallopian tubes are clear. If a woman is presenting with infertility and may have endometriosis, lesions may have appeared within the fallopian tubes, causing blockage or scar tissue that can prevent an egg from reaching the uterus for fertilization. During an HSG, a doctor administers a solution into the cervix of the patient where it travels up into the uterus, through the fallopian tubes, and into the ovaries.

The solution can be seen on x-ray and the physician is able to take radiographic images of the process to see the flow of fluid and determine if the fallopian tubes may be blocked. A blockage does not indicate definitively that endometriosis is present, but it can explain a reason for infertility, giving the doctor a reason to look for other possible signs of endometriosis.

Surgical Procedures

Surgical procedures to diagnose endometriosis include a laparoscopy to look for lesions in the pelvis. The doctor makes several small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a tube with a lighted camera on the end into the pelvic cavity. This enables the physician to look for lesions on organs and throughout the pelvis. If lesions are found, they can then be removed. The use of laparoscopy gives a physician a definite diagnosis of endometriosis and can help control some pain of the disease following the procedure.

Endometriosis is diagnosed according to stages, which depends on the severity of lesions, not the associated symptoms. Stage one is considered minimal, and there are very few lesions found outside the uterus. Stage two is referred to as mild endometriosis. There are more lesions and they are found deeper within the tissue.

Scar Tissue & Painful Side Effects

There is also the presence of scar tissue. Stage three is moderate endometriosis, which includes everything found in stages one and two, as well as implantations found on the ovaries. Stage four is inclusive of all stages, with large lesions and significant amounts of scar tissue. Stage four is considered severe endometriosis.

Pain and symptoms are not part of the diagnosis of which stage the disease is in. A woman may have severe pain, but with minimal lesions. Alternatively, a woman may present with only a diagnosis of infertility and no other symptoms yet have a diagnosis of stage four endometriosis with extensive scar tissue.

Treatment

Treatment of endometriosis is based on the stage of life of the woman and the severity of symptoms. For the childbearing woman who wishes for a future pregnancy, symptoms are treated through pain medication and other comfort measures. For example, pelvic pain can be helped with the use of anti-inflammatory medications and a heating pad to reduce discomfort. Surgery to remove lesions and scar tissue is also an option for the woman suffering severe symptoms but who still plans to have children. Surgery can reduce pain and bleeding associated with the disease and retains the internal structures needed for pregnancy.

Women that do not wish for a pregnancy have other options for treatment beyond comfort measures. The use of hormone therapy, particularly that found in oral contraceptives can reduce symptoms of pain and regulate menstrual bleeding. Progesterone is a hormone that can counterbalance excessive estrogen, the cause of many endometriosis symptoms.

Surgery Options

Surgery can also be an option for painful symptoms. Beyond laparoscopy to remove lesions and scar tissue, there is an option of removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This provides relief from excessive menstrual bleeding and can help with chronic pain, but is an invasive option that is reserved for the woman with particularly difficult symptoms.

Endometriosis can be a difficult disease to detect and to treat. Millions of women suffer from this disease throughout their childbearing years, making conception difficult and monthly periods unmanageable. Through the help of a physician, women suffering from endometriosis can be accurately diagnosed, and depending on their stage of life and desires, can be treated and find relief from these difficult symptoms.