Posts Tagged Blood
Basic Medical Knowledge And Specialties
Within medicine, there are a number of specialties and subspecialties one can concentrate in. Before a doctor decides on a focus, they must learn the basic sciences of medicine. Basic knowledge is essential when moving forward in one’s studies, which is why doctors must attend four years of medical school before advancing to a specialty.
There are sixteen topics of introductory medical science. Anatomy, a subject often associated with doctors, is the study of the physical structures of humans. Histology is similar to anatomy, except with tissue instead of larger parts. Biochemistry and biostatistics are the applications of chemistry and statistics in a biological sense.
The study of individual cells is cytology, and genetics is studying the genes within cells. The nervous system has its own field called neuroscience, which comprises knowledge of the brain and spinal cord. Pharmacology and toxicology are both studies of drugs, except pharmacology focuses on the benefits of them while toxicology is about negative effects.
Other basic sciences include embryology, epidemiology, immunology, microbiology, nutrition, pathology, and physiology. General physicians need to have a background in all of these fields so they can appropriately refer patients to specialists.
Two broad categories exist in medicine; internal medicine and surgery. Internal medicine involves non-operative treatment of diseases and disorders through drugs and therapy. Surgery requires operative action, and is usually used in conjunction with some kind of internal medicine. Specialties branch out from both categories, while some are completely unrelated to either, such as radiology.
Cardiology is a specialty within internal medicine in which physicians concentrate on disorders related to the cardiovascular system. Subspecialties of cardiology focus on specific diseases, like coronary artery disease. In fact, most subspecialties of larger topics are dedicated to one disease.
Intensive care medicine is used with patients who are in immediate need of care or are in a life-threatening situation. Hepatology is concerned with the liver, and nephrology is concerned with the kidneys. Rheumatology involves treating joint problems, such as arthritis.
In addition to internal medicine specialties, several surgical specialties exist. Otolaryngology is surgery which comprises of head, neck, face, and certain cosmetic procedures. Surgical oncology is the use of surgery to combat cancer.
Vascular surgery involves peripheral blood vessels and the central nervous system, and cardiovascular surgery includes the heart and surrounding arteries. Transplantation is an important specialty, in which dysfunctional organs are replaced with optimal ones.
Besides the two main categories of internal medicine and surgery, a third class called diagnostic specialties exist. This type concerns itself not with curing diseases, but examining them. All laboratory sciences fall under diagnostic specialties. Cellular pathology is the study of diagnosing illnesses by utilizing samples of tissue or cells taken from patients.
Clinical microbiology involves in vitro diagnosis of diseases cause by fungi, viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Radiology is a widely known diagnostic specialty, which uses imaging technologies to diagnose and treat ailments.
Neurological disorders, which are not completely physical, require a different treatment approach than traditional diseases. Rehabilitation falls under neurology, as it is concerned with physical and mental healing after an injury or illness. Any disorder that involves the nervous system is neurological.
Therefore, all degenerative brain diseases, like Alzheimer’s, are dealt with in neurology. Neurologists can specialize in specific conditions, like stroke or sleep problems, after they have completed general neurology training.
Tags: Blood, Blood Vessel, Blood Vessels, Brain, Cosmetic Procedures, Kidney, Kidneys, Nutrition, Patients, Stroke, Therapy, VascularRelated posts
How To Choose Effective Acne Medicine
Whether someone is suffering from non-inflammatory or inflammatory acne, sufferers will tell you that it is no laughing matter. Fortunately, help is always available. The severity of the acne would determine which treatment would be the most suitable. A wide variety of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, mainly for mild acne, is available.
Antibacterial cleansers: Most of the antibacterial cleansers contain Triclosan, which kills germs on the skin. While this is usually used to prevent pimples and acne, a side effect may be a dry skin.
Benzoyl Peroxide: Available in lotions and creams, Benzoyl Peroxide kills pimple-causing bacteria on the skin. It is available in different strengths, like 2.5, 5 and 10%. The highest level of 10% should not be used on sensitive areas like facial skin since it can cause irritation of sensitive skin.
Salicylic Acid: Salicylic Acid eliminates white and blackheads; it unclogs pores and is very effective in the prevention of pimples.
Alpha-hydroxy Acids: Derived from natural acids, Alpha Hydroxy Acids is not a bacteria killer, but removes dead skin cells. Look for beta-hydroxy acid and tri-alpha hydroxy acid.
If acne does not improve after a couple of month’s use of over-the-counter drugs, you should see a dermatologist. Everybody is different, and your form of acne may be particularly aggressive, where typical OTC (Over The Counter) acne medicine may not be sufficient. By prescribing specific drugs, a dermatologist can offer treatment that is more aggressive. It is especially important to see a dermatologist if acne scars develop.
Topical Antibiotics
For moderately severe acne, antibiotics like erythromycin and clindamycin also kill bacteria on the skin. It is available in astringents, creams lotions and gel. There is less chance of side effects, as it is not absorbed into the bloodstream.
Oral Antibiotics
With oral antibiotics such as erythromycin, tetracycline and minocycline it can take a few months before improvement is visible. Treatment might also have to be continued for a number of years. The high cost of some of these antibiotics, as well as the fact that bacteria can develop a resistance is definite drawbacks. Other side effects could be sun sensitivity.
Accutane is a very powerful, very expensive drug. It is normally used in very severe cases of acne, which did not respond to other treatments. Treatment lasts 16 weeks and blood tests have to be done during treatment. Accutane kills bacteria and decreases the size of oil glands. A common side effect is very dry skin. Since Accutane has been possibly associated with birth defects, it is very important that women who receive treatment with Accutane take precautions against pregnancy.
Retinoids
Retin A, Avita, Differin and Tazorac are all excellent treatments. Unclogging follicles and restoring oil flow, they also helps to fade lesions. Some people find that their skin’s condition worsens before it gets better. It also sometimes takes weeks before improvement is visible. It is advisable to cover the skin when using retinoids as sunlight could lessen effectiveness.
Hormone Treatment
Cortisone injections, which reduce inflammation, can be used as another treatment. Other medications to restore hormonal imbalances in men and women can also be effective.
Chemical skin peeling is sometimes necessary in cases where healed lesions on the skin left deep acne scars.
Although research is still being done to establish its effectiveness as an acne treatment, Tea Tree Oil, with its antibiotic properties, is considered by many people as a natural acne medicine.
Tags: Acne, Acne Medicine, Acne Treatment, Blackhead, Blackheads, Blood, Blood Test, Dry Skin, Facial, Retin A, Sensitive Skin, SkinRelated posts
Lung Cancer Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Lung cancer is like any other type of cancer and occurs due to cell abnormality. Normally cells will divide to produce new cells and when this system does not progress as usual cancer occurs. You can develop benign tumors, which will not spread or malignant tumors that can grow and spread to other parts of the body. Lung cancer can occur anywhere in the lung.
The main cause of lung cancer is from smoking and using tobacco products. Over 90% of all lung cancer cases are due to smoking cigarettes. The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you smoke the increased chance that you will develop lung cancer. Lung cancer can also be caused by inhaling second hand smoke otherwise known as passive smoking, breathing in asbestos fibers, radon gas, air pollution and it is also hereditary.
It is possible to develop lung cancer and not have any symptoms. In order to diagnose the lung cancer you will need to have a chest x-ray or CT scan. Very small tumors typically will not produce any symptoms. Larger tumors can cause problems with breathing, coughing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood and chest pain. If the cancer has invaded the nerve cells in the lungs then it can cause pain down the shoulder or paralysis your vocal chords.
If you have a chronic or persistent cough, repeated respiratory infections, blood in the sputum, breathing difficulties, unexpected weight loss and or fatigue and chest pain then you should consult a doctor, particularly if you are a smoker.
Lung cancer is treated in several ways and will depend on the type of tumor and stage of cancer. Most times the tumor will be surgically removed if you are only in stage 1. However depending on the location of the tumor surgery may not be an option. Radiation therapy is used if surgery cannot be performed or if the patient refuses surgery. Many times radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy can increase the patient’s success rate dramatically.
Tags: Blood, Coughing Up Blood, Therapy, Weight, Weight LossRelated posts