Osteoporosis

   Osteoporosis, is a disease which is actually age related in women, causes the bones to become fragile leading to decreased quality of life.

   Worldwide 1 out of 3 women are affected by this disease, and it causes around 8.9 million fractures annually.

   The bones especially the weight bearing bones in the body start to weaken and become fragile, easily susceptible to fractures. The ribs, the spine, the wrist, and the hip bones are the most commonly fractured bones, others may also be fractured.

   It occurs usually in post menopausal women around an age of 45-50, due to a decreased oestrogen (Female hormone) level in their bodies. This oestrogen keeps a check on the bone absorbing cells(osteoclasts) and after  this check is lost these cells start working vigorously resulting in a bone like shown below.

Certain factors cause and increase the risk of this disease and these are mentioned as follows.

• Low dietary calcium
• Family history (genetic predisposition)
• Caucasian or Asian race
• Thin body frame
• Poor nutrition
• Celiac sprue (Allergy to wheat "Gluten") leading to malabsorption
• Vitamin C, D deficiency
• Smoking 
• Alcoholism

    For prevention and treatment, the strategy basically revolves around the prevention of fracturing of bones, in addition girls of younger age should be educated for a proper exercise routine, including strength training workouts and having a diet rich in calcium from an early period.

A dietary recommendation of foods rich in Calcium and Vitamin D is used for prevention which is as follows:

• Dairy products like milk,cheese, and yogurt
• Green leafy vegetables like spinach and keel
• Sesame seeds
• Figs
• Apricot 
• Eggs 
• Fish

   Certain foods are asked to be avoided like salt, caffeine , and carbonated drinks as these cause an increased excretion of calcium from the human body.

ADHD

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is a common problem in children of growing age nowadays. This problem has been on a rise because of the dietary changes in the recent years.



   It is found more significantly in children but grown-ups also show certain signs of this disorder. At an average, the male to female ratio is of 10:1.



    ADHD is a disorder that makes it difficult for a person to pay attention and control his impulsive behaviours, the person may be restless and constantly active (hyperactive).



    The symptoms begin in early childhood, may regress, or may worsen with the passage of time.

    As depicted above, it is a triad of three basic symptoms which merge and submerge to cause this syndrome.



   A number of factors have been attributed to this disorder which are classified as predisposing factors or risk factors. These may be the sole reason or may be because of interaction with the environment.



Some of them are as follows:



Genes

Smoking,

Alcohol abuse (In Adults)

Low Birth Weight

Brain injuries



    People with an ongoing ADHD show a pattern of three types of symptoms:



Difficulty in paying Attention

Being Hyperactive

Acting without  thinking.



    The combination of these symptoms may present as:



To overlook or miss details and to make careless mistakes.Seem not to listen when being spoken to directly.Have problems organizing tasks.Avoid tasks that require constant mental effort.Forgetfulness of daily routine activities.Become easily distracted.

    They also are unable to play or do tasks quietly, talk non-stop, have trouble in waiting in a line or for their turn, and also interrupt others meaninglessly.



    Certain foods have been thought to be associated with either causing or worsening the symptoms of this disorder but a majority of neuroscientists agree on the latter theory.

    There is a symptomatic treatment regime for this disorder and the child is usually trained and educated to overcome his symptoms.

  

Anemia (Iron deficiency)

    Anemia if I would simply say, is a reduced Haemoglobin level leading to decreased oxygen transport. Red Blood Cells (RBCs), are the major Oxygen transporters of our body. They function to transport Oxygen from our lungs to various parts of our body. These cells have a special Iron containing protein known as haemoglobin (Hb), which actually performs this function. As I am specifically mentioning this disease for women, the normal levels of Hb in a female human body are around 12-15.5g/dL.
    Anemia is of a variety of types but today I will be highlighting anemia due a deficiency of Iron in women. It occaurs in elderly, children and women, but the latter are usually more severely affected.
    According to survey conducted by W.H.O. in 2015 42% of the females in South East Asia suffer anemia due to Iron deficiency

    This disease is multifactorial and has a myriad of causes, some important but not all will be mentioned as follows.

• The major cause is the dietary deficiency of Iron.
• In women there may be an additional deficiency due to excessive menstrual bleeding which goes unchecked and uncured for a longer period of time.
• People who are infected with Hookworms also suffer this disease as this parasite lives in your intestines and feeds on your blood.
• Some people when have excessive stress, suffer from gastric ulcers, these ulcers bleed and give your stool a characteristic color ultimately leading to iron deficiency.
• Vitamin C is an important factor for the absorption of Iron, if a person is deficient in Vitamin C or has been suffering from scurvy may additionally acquire this disease also.

     The signs and symptoms if I talk about them are 

1. Fatigue 
2. Lethargy 
3. Dizziness
4. Palor of the skin of palms and soles
5. Shortness of breath
6. And Cravings to eat ice or clay ( definitely consult your doc now)
7. Spooning of nails.

     For the treatment NEVER EVER TREAT YOURSELF ALWAYS CONSULT A DOCTOR.  Depending upon the condition this can be treated by either iron supplements or by a planned dietary regime. Intake of vegetables and fruits like, Dark green and Leafy vegetables (Spinach), nuts, dry fruits, tomatoes, Red Meat, Eggs and , liver (NOT HUMAN) that are rich in iron, are helpful.

  If you are suffering from a vitamin C deficiency then you should opt for citrus fruits like lemons, oranges ,guavas and grape fruit.

  For lactating mothers they themselves should be on an iron rich diet and should make sure to feed their children properly.

 

Popeye says BYE BYE!

Obssession with Compulsion, a disorder

    In my country, being a psychiatric patient means that you are a living zombie. Like a disease of the human brain, there can be a disease of the human mind too, and having one is just perfectly normal and curable. Unlike diabetes or hypertension, being depressed, it is totally treatable. 

    The human brain and the human mind are two different entities. Similarly there can be psychological problems and neurological problems. 

    Today's topic of discussion is a common psychiatric problem named as the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). 

   Obsession is characterized by thoughts which are repetitive, intrusive, and  senseless.

   Compulsion is simply a thought on which you are stuck for an endless time.

   According to the stats given by W.H.O. at least 1-3% of the world's population is suffering from this disorder. The male population is equally affected as the female population. Usually it goes undiagnosed but when it is, it usually occurs around the age of 19 years.

   According to a journal published by CPSP every psychological problem has a metabolic basis. A patient under observation while being obsessed with excessive washing of the hands had shown increased metabolism of the frontal lobe and activity in the caudate nucleus. The frontal lobe is basically the thought processor of our brain.

   If I simply talk about the symptoms then the patient might have an aggravated fear of germs, he may wash his hands again and again, he might have an obsession of keeping things symmetrical and in the right place, he might have taboo thoughts all the time, and he may be aggressive without any reason, he might be constantly checking on things like his wallet or his wrist watch.

   Some people may present with a tic disorder characterized by eye blinking, shoulder shrugging and vocal tics. These symptoms may come and go and may also worsen with time.

   There are certain risk factors including a genetic predisposition or a child nurturing in a traumatic or abusive environment.

   The treatment is majorly a cognitive behaviour therapy of a 45 minutes session with your psychiatrist.

   

 

Venereal Diseases (STDs)

First of all I would like to start in the name of God, The most merciful. Blessings upon his Prophet P.B.U.H. Then I would like to thank my friends Zainab Zafar Siddiqua Rehman and Fatima Abid Wazir, for helping me and making me write again.

    I would be starting my blog with a topic discussed promptly in medicinal circles but it is a taboo to discuss this in our society typically in the sub continent, where even the mention of such diseases leads o a great disaster, both for the attending doctor and for the patient's family. If I talk  specifically about Pakistan, my homeland these diseases are prevailing quiet rapidly, Only HIV which is a viral infection and transmitted sexually or by fluid transfusions, is on the rise even in my homeland. According to the stats by "The Express Tribune" there has been a reported 17.6% rise in the patients of HIV and a reported 14.41% rise in deaths due to HIV. 

  The venereal diseases are of multiple types i.e. caused by a variety of organisms including, Bacteria, Viruses, and certain Fungi . There are at least 20 types of STDs seen:

• Chlamydia caused by a bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis
• Genital Herpes caused by a virus Herpes simplex virus
• Gonorrhea caused by a bacteria Nisseria Gonorrhea
• AIDS caused by a virus HIV
• Syphillis caused by a bacteria Treponema Palidum. And many others

   These diseases are not spread by any other means, only an intimate contact or coitus is the reason of the spread of these diseases.Eradication is not possible unless there is a complete trace to the contact and to the final carrier person who is responsible for the spread as treating only the presenting patient is not enough.

  The prevention techniques are very simple and are also easy to follow.

 Awareness amongst the common people can be generated by simply giving handouts to the common public and also, by educating the poor about the beneficial aspects.

Treatment for these diseases varies as from simple shots of penicillin to a complex treatment depending upon the stage of the spread of a specific infection.