What Is Appendicitis?

                                      

Appendicitis can be a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical care.

Appendicitis is a painful medical condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus, a fluid made up of dead cells that often results from an infection.

Appendicitis is one of the leading causes of emergency abdominal operations.

The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to your large intestine on the lower right side of your abdomen.

It's not entirely clear what role the appendix plays in the body, but some research suggests that it isn’t the useless organ it was once thought to be.

Though people can live perfectly normal lives without their appendix, inflammation of this abdominal organ can be a serious, life-threatening condition.

If not treated promptly, appendicitis may cause the appendix to burst, spreading an infection throughout the abdomen.

When people discuss appendicitis, they're typically referring to acute appendicitis, which is marked by a sharp abdominal pain that quickly spreads and worsens over a matter of hours.

In some cases, however, people may develop chronic appendicitis, which causes mild, recurrent abdominal pain that often subsides on its own — these patients usually don't realize they have appendicitis until an acute episode strikes.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Appendicitis

Acute appendicitis now affects about 9 in 10,000 people each year in Africa (roughly 300,000 people annually) — this prevalence is higher than it was just 20 years ago, according to a 2012 report from the Journal of Surgical Research.

People of any age can get the condition, though appendicitis is most common among children and teenagers between 10 and 19 years old, according to the 2012 report.

It affects males more often than females, but scientists have yet to identify why this is the case.

Appendicitis is more common in Western societies, and may be more common in urban industrialized areas, compared with rural communities.

The typical "Western diet" that's low in fibre and high in carbohydrates is thought to be behind this pattern.

It also appears that having a family history of appendicitis increases the risk of getting the condition for both children and adults.

It is estimated that almost 400 people die in the Africa each year from appendicitis.

Causes of Appendicitis

It's not always clear what causes appendicitis, but the condition often arises from one of two issues: A gastrointestinal infection that has spread to the appendix, or an obstruction that blocks the opening of the appendix.

In the second case, there are several different sources of blockage. These include:

• Lymph tissue in the wall of the appendix that has become enlarged
• Hardened stool, parasites, or growths
• Irritation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract
• Abdominal injury or trauma
• Foreign objects, such as pins or bullets

When a person's appendix becomes infected or obstructed, bacteria inside the organ multiply rapidly. This bacterial takeover causes the appendix to become infected and swollen with pus.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

At the onset of appendicitis, people often feel an aching pain that begins around the belly button, and slowly creeps over to the lower right abdomen.

The pain sharpens over several hours, and can spike during movement, deep breaths, coughing, and sneezing. Other symptoms of appendicitis may follow, including:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Inability to pass gas
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal swelling
• Fever

Diagnosing Appendicitis

Because the symptoms of appendicitis are very similar to other conditions, including Crohn's disease, urinary tract infections (UTI), gynaecologic disorders, and gastritis, diagnosing appendicitis is no simple matter.

After learning about a patient's medical history and recent pattern of symptoms, doctors will use a number of tests to help them diagnose appendicitis.

They may:

• Conduct an abdominal exam to assess pain and detect inflammation
• Take a blood test to determine white blood cell counts, which could indicate an infection
• Order a urine test to rule out urinary tract infection and kidney stones
• Perform a bimanual (two-handed) gynecologic exam in women
• Use imaging tests, including computerized tomography (CT) scans, abdominal X-rays, ultrasounds, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to confirm the appendicitis diagnosis or find other causes of abdominal pain

Treating Appendicitis

In rare cases, doctors will treat appendicitis with antibiotics, but the infection needs to be very mild.

Most often, appendicitis is considered a medical emergency, and doctors treat the condition with an appendectomy, the surgical removal of the appendix.

Surgeons will remove the appendix using one of two methods: open or laparoscopic surgery.

An open appendectomy requires a single incision in the appendix region (the lower right area of the abdomen).

During laparoscopic surgery, on the other hand, surgeons feed special surgical tools into several smaller incisions — this option is believed to have fewer complications and a shorter recovery time.

If a person's appendix isn't treated in time, it may burst and spread the infection throughout the abdomen, leading to a life-threatening condition called peritonitis, an infection of the peritoneum (the lining of the gut).

In other cases, abscesses may form on the burst appendix.

In both these cases, surgeons will usually drain the abdomen or abscess of pus and treat the infection with antibiotics before removing the appendix.

Boost Your Odds of Getting Pregnant

                                             

Some women get pregnant effortlessly; others spend months or even years trying to conceive. Why? Experts concede it's still largely a mystery. "We have hints—factors like when your mom went through menopause and how regular your cycles are—but they don't tell us everything," says Sarah Berga, MD, chair of ob-gyn and women's health at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. "So much of it depends on the individual."

That said, there are ways you and your partner could increase your chances of getting pregnant. Try these lifestyle tweaks.

Kick your soda addiction

Women who drink two or more servings of any type of soda a day have about a 16% lower fertility rate than women who don't drink any, according to a 2012 study co-authored by Lauren Wise, ScD.

Go to bed early

Research suggests that women undergoing IVF treatments see the best results when they regularly clock seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

Be a better brusher

Gum disease can add an extra two months to the amount of time it takes to become pregnant, 2011 Australian research shows. Make sure you get your teeth checked before trying to conceive.

Exercise, but not too much

Thin women who work out vigorously five hours a week or more are 42% less likely to get pregnant than those who don't exercise as strenuously, Wise's research suggests.

Don't let him turn into a couch potato

Guys who watch more than 20 hours of TV weekly have a 44% lower sperm count than those who watch almost none, a 2013 Harvard study showed.

Get a handle on chronic anxiety

"If your stress levels become high enough, you'll simply stop ovulating," Dr. Berga explains. Try maintaining a stress-free life style.

Try giving up gluten

A recent Columbia University study suggests that 6% of women with unexplained infertility have celiac disease. "They produce antibodies that may interfere with the development of the placenta," says study author Peter Green, MD. After subjects went on a gluten-free diet, they were able to conceive within a year.

Encourage him to lose weight

Men who are overweight or obese are more likely to have low total sperm counts and concentration, according to a study from 2013.

...And quit smoking

Lighting up leads to lower sperm quality, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which is why it recommends quitting if trying to conceive.

...And move his phone

Men who store phones on their belts or in their pants pockets have lower sperm counts, according to a review published by the Environmental Working Group, possibly due to the electromagnetic waves they emit.

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What Do You Want to Know About Smoking Cessation?

                                     

You promised yourself you would quit when you graduated from college, or when you turned 30, or when you had your first child. You promised your family you would quit just as soon as you got settled at your new job, or found the right program, or retired. Every year, millions of people make a promise to themselves and to their families to quit cigarettes once and for all. And every year, millions succeed. You can be one of them.

The number of smoking-cessation aids and quit-smoking programs has grown dramatically in recent years as more and more people seek to quit through solutions tailored to them. Working with your doctor or a medical professional, you can find the right plan, using one method or a combination of methods.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs)—such as patches, gums, and inhalers—deliver to your body the nicotine it is craving in a much safer form than cigarettes. Over time, you reduce the amount of nicotine you consume until you have hopefully curbed your cravings entirely.

Smoking-Cessation Medications

Prescription drugs like Chantix or Zyban alter chemicals in your brain in order to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. With some of these medications, you’re able to concurrently use nicotine replacement therapies like a patch or gum to ease severe withdrawal symptoms. Some even let you continue smoking at the beginning of the program.

Alternative Therapies

Procedures like hypnosis, acupuncture, and meditation can address some of the mental and physical habits you have developed around cigarettes. Some people who have quit use these therapies alone, while others use them in conjunction with medicines or nicotine replacements.

Support Therapies

These include counselling and stop-smoking groups. Many doctors and smoking-cessation specialists highly recommend them, in addition to chemical or low-nicotine methods, as an additional level of help.

If you smoke, you know the damage your habit is doing to your body—shorter life span, dramatic increase in cancer risks,  quicker ageing process. You probably know more than one lifetime smoker who lost a battle with lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, or heart disease.

You can probably recite the roadblocks one encounters when trying to kick the habit—relapse, weight gain, withdrawal. Each person’s journey is different. Each success brings with it a new difficulty, and each milestone you reach—one week without lighting up, one month, one year— brings untold joy to you and your family. In the end, the decision to quit should be yours, but the journey does not have to be taken alone.

Many people who want to quit do not know where to start, what to do, or who to turn to.

What Do You Want to Know About Women's Health?

                                                                                                          Healthy habits are the best way to avoid disease, prolong life, and live more happily. Take these simple steps toward a longer, healthier life.

Eat Natural Foods

Packaged and processed foods are often full of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and calories. Avoid the fake stuff, and opt for the good stuff:

• fresh fruits and vegetables
• whole grains
• fiber-rich foods (beans and leafy greens)
• fresh fish
• lean cuts of meat and poultry

Here's a grocery-shopping tip: Shop the perimeter of the store. This is where you will find the fresh foods. Try to avoid the inside aisles, where most of the boxed and processed foods reside.

Eat Your Vitamins

You can get your vitamins with a daily multivitamin, but eating vitamin-rich foods serves up extra benefits—plenty of healthy fiber and minerals. So do both. Pack your meals with vitamin-rich foods, but keep taking the multivitamin.

Get Moving

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women. Exercise is the best way to prevent heart disease and keep your ticker strong. Aim for 30 minutes of movement, at least four days a week. Aerobic exercise—including walking, jogging, dancing, and swimming—is best.

Avoid Health Sins

Don't smoke. And steer clear of those who do. Second-hand smoke is almost as dangerous as smoking. Nearly 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die every year from lung cancer. Other health sins involve drugs and alcohol. Don't use recreational drugs, and consume alcohol—including wine—only in moderation. For women, that means 12 ounces of beer, four ounces of wine, or one ounce of spirits each day. (One four-ounce glass of wine a day cuts heart disease risk, but more than that increases your risk of cancer and other problems.) Also, some women should not drink at all, including those who are pregnant or those who are on a prescription medication that interacts with alcohol.

Know Your Breasts

Conflicting advice on breast cancer screenings may be confusing, but many doctors and experts still recommend self-exams on a monthly basis starting at age 20 and yearly mammograms starting at age 40 (earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer).

Baby Your Skin

The skin sins of your 20s (tanning beds and long days at the pool) will rear their ugly heads in your 40s, 50s, and beyond. To protect against wrinkles, age spots, and even cancer, slather on sunscreen with a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Better yet, wear protective clothing and sunglasses, and make sure to avoid the sun entirely in the middle of the day. If you spot any changes in freckles or new or unusual spots, see your dermatologist. The American Academy of Dermatology has a great recommendation: "Check your birthday suit on your birthday!"

Put on Your Best Smile

Good dental and oral health goes beyond a blindingly white set of chompers. Daily brushing and flossing keep away cavities, gum disease, and even the doctor, as having healthy teeth and gums can actually reduce your risk of heart disease.

Deal with Stress

Career. Kids. Family. Friends. Volunteer work. Many women are swimming in stress and responsibilities, which can manifest more than just gray hairs. Excessive stress can translate to high blood pressure, upset stomach, back pain, relationship conflicts, and eating disorders, to name a few. Manage stress with therapy, relaxation techniques, prayer, meditation, exercise, or a combination of these.

Visit the Doctor

Other than breast exams and gynecological visits, you should make sure to visit your family doctor or internist regularly for checkups and screening exams. For example, the American Heart Association recommends having your blood pressure checked every one to two years. Tests like these can nip potential issues in the bud

Obsession

What Is an Obsession?

Obsessions are persistent, uncontrollable thoughts or ideas. When a fixation on a thought, an idea, or an emotion interferes with a person’s ability to live a happy, productive life, that fixation can be considered an unhealthy obsession. When someone acts on such thoughts, they are considered compulsions (MedlinePlus, 2012).

Having favourite thoughts or ideas that are frequently returned to is normal for many people. Obsessions become a problem when they cause worry, discomfort, and anxiety, and when they interfere with a person’s ability to live a happy and productive life.

Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Obsession?

Obsessions become problematic when disturbing thoughts last for more than hour at a time or begin to interfere with daily life. It is normal, and even necessary, to have persistent thoughts about some things, such as work problems or personal finances. However, what's considered “normal” varies among cultures and is defined by things such as family and community.

Obsessive thoughts commonly focus on:

Dirt and contamination

Aggressive thoughts

Organization and orderliness

Religion

In children, obsessions linked to unrealistic fears can lead to pathology. Parents need to talk to their children about any uncomfortable thoughts they may have (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology, 2013).

Treatments

How Is Obsession Treated?

People who are having trouble dealing with obsessive thoughts or emotions may consider seeing a mental health professional, who will work with them to change thinking patterns.

There are things people can do to keep normal obsessions from becoming a psychological problem (Doverspike, W., 2013), including:

      Get out of your head. Don't analyse an obsession or think about it over and over. Becoming obsessed with an obsession exacerbates it.

      Do something else. Participate in a physical activity or shift to thinking about something positive. Writing about things you enjoy can help, as can exercise.

      Talk to a friend or loved one about your concerns.

      Listen to music or engage in other activities that unlock feelings beneath the surface. This may help you better understand your obsessions.

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What Do You Want to Know About Stress Management?

                                              

Stress is your body’s response to certain situations. It is a subjective condition. Something that may be stressful for one person—speaking in public, for instance—may not be stressful for someone else. Not all stresses are “bad.” For example, graduating from college may be considered a “good” form of stress. 

Stress can affect your physical health, your mental health, and your behaviour. In response to stressful stimuli, your body turns on its biological response. Chemicals and hormones are released that are meant to help your body rise to the challenge. Your heart rate increases, your brain works faster, you have more focus, and you experience  a sudden burst of energy. This response is natural and basic; it’s what kept our ancestors from falling victim to hungry predators.

Stress overload, however, can have harmful effects. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), many people report suffering the health effects of too much stress, and 22 percent say they are under “extreme” stress. We cannot eliminate stress from our lives, but we can learn to avoid and manage it.

Is All Stress Bad?

No, not all stress is bad. In fact, it can be healthy because it helps us avoid accidents, power through unexpected deadlines, or stay clear-minded in chaotic situations. But stress is meant to be temporary. Once we’ve passed the “fight or flight” moment, our bodies should return to a natural state—heart rate slows, muscles release, breathing returns to normal. But the circumstances of chronic stress so many of us face as a result of the pressures and demands of our modern lives mean our bodies may frequently be in a heightened state with our heart pumping hard and our blood vessels constricted. Over time, these physiologic demands begin to take a toll on the body. This is the unhealthy side of stress.

What Are the Types of Stress?

Acute Stress

Acute stress is your body’s immediate reaction to a new challenge, event, or demand—the fight or flight response. You may experience a biological response to cope with  the pressures of a near-miss automobile accident, an argument with a family member, or a costly mistake at work. Acute stress isn’t always caused by negative stress; it’s also the experience you have when riding a roller coaster or having a person jump out at you in a haunted house.

Isolated episodes of acute stress should not have any lingering health effects. In fact, they might actually be healthy for you. Stressful situations give your body and brain practice in developing the best response to future stressful situations.

Severe acute stress such as stress suffered as the victim of a crime or life-threatening situation can lead to mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder.

Chronic Stress

If acute stress isn’t resolved and begins to increase or lasts for long periods of time, it becomes chronic stress. Chronic  stress can be detrimental to your health. It can contribute to several serious diseases or health risks, such as heart disease, cancer, lung disease, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide.

How Should Stress Be Managed?

The goal of stress management isn’t to get rid of it completely. That would be entirely impossible. In fact, stress can be healthy in some situations.

Instead, the goal is to identify a person’s stressors—what it is that causes him or her the most problems, or demands the most energy—and find ways to overcome the negative stress those things normally induce.

By managing chronic stress and episodes of acute stress, when possible, you can reduce your risks of stress-related illnesses and disease. You will also feel better, think more clearly, and relate with others better without the distraction of stress.

Create a Healthy Office

                                     
 Add up the number of hours you spend in your office. How does that compare to the number of waking hours you spend at home? Close to the same? Many people spend seven or more hours each day in their offices, but most rarely think about how those cubes or rooms impact their health. These tips will help you feel as healthy and happy in the office as you do at home.

Get the Right Chair

If you’re sitting in it all day, shouldn't it be doing your back and body some favours? Look for one that has low-back support and adjustable height and arm rests. You should be sitting straight with your knees bent and at 90-degree angles to your ankles. Don’t sit cross-legged for long periods of time. When you sit this way, your spine isn’t straight, and it’s difficult to square your hips and shoulders, upping your chances of back pain. You’re also cutting off blood flow, which increases your risk of varicose veins.

Invest in a Headset

Pinning the phone between your shoulder and ear is an instinctive move for many—but it could be doing a number in your neck and back. Use a headset or speakerphone on longer phone calls. (Just be aware of neighbours if you’re speaking with a speakerphone).

Reduce Headaches

Many headache causers lurk in offices. Identifying them can help you ward them off—and their accompanying headaches.

Keep Smells to a Minimum

Perfumes, candles, hand lotions—they’re all possible culprits if you have a sensitivity to scents. Don’t have them in your office. Politely ask colleagues not to wear heavy perfumes, too. Keep an aspritin-acetaminophen combination over-the-counter medicine (such as Excedrin) handy if all else fails.

Ward off Hunger

For some people, skipping lunch is the fastest way to five o’clock, but doing so may trigger a headache. Low blood sugar is the problem here. But don’t pick up a candy bar for a quick cure. You’ll need something with a mix of protein and carbs—such as peanut butter on wheat toast—to keep you feeling strong longer.

Beat Poor Posture

That’s right—your posture may be causing more than just back pain. Slouching at your desk can put a strain on your neck, which may lead to tension headaches. Adopt proper chair posture, and these headaches should be a thing of the past.

Splash Happy Colours

Though you likely can’t paint your office walls, you can add accessories for an instant mood booster.

·         Reds and violets stimulate your body and cause it to pump more adrenaline. In fact, one British study found that Olympians who wore red body suits in their competitions won more often than those who wore blue. The reason: the researchers think the colour red evokes more energy.

·         Green and yellow evoke feelings of happiness and make you feel more upbeat. In fact, one study out of Amsterdam found that adults reported feeling happier when around these two colours.

·         Blue is a calming colour, and people respond better to challenging tasks when they’re surrounded by it, according to research from Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Bring in Some Flowers

Flowers can alter your brain chemistry and make you feel more positive. In fact, one study from Harvard Medical School found that people who kept fresh-cut flowers in their house reported less anxiety and felt more compassionate toward others. Another reason to keep some buds in your cube: women have more innovative ideas and solutions to problems when fresh flowers are near, according to research from Texas A&M University.