Simple health problems

SIMPLE HEALTH PROBLEMS

Ulcers

Ulcers occur when there is excessive production of acid, particularly when the stomach is empty of food, due to irregular meals, excessive smoking and drinking, or lack of sleep or result of nervous tension.

Main symptoms are

            Pain just below the ribs, appears in the late morning and gets worse towards evening.

            An increase in the production of saliva.

These can be eased by antacids. Drugs can be given, which inhibit acid secretion. Rest is important. The most important being diet - small meals at regular intervals, less spicy, less fibre and highly nutritious.

Veneral Disease

Veneral disease are endemic that is, they are always present in the community. They are usually contracted through sexual intercourse with an infected partner. They include gonorrhoea and non-specific urethritis which are very common but easy to treat. Syphilis, is rare and extremely serious if left untreated.

The first hand evidence of syphilitic exposure comes between nine and ninety days after exposure to the disease. It consists of a hard, painless sore, with enlarged, painless lymph glands in the groin. This can lead to rashes or lumps in the skin, fever and finally damage any system or organ in the body. This condition has to be medically treated and abstinence from sex until cured.

Ear Disorders

Common medical problems that can affect the ear are excess wax in the ear and perforation of the ear drum. The other is injury to the ear drum. When the ear drum has a lump of wax against it or the ear passage is blocked, this causes conductive deafness. One or both ears may be affected. In infection there is discomfort, irritation and discharge.

Hard lumps of wax can be removed with a special instrument or syringed out with warm water. In infection, drops can be prescribed with antibiotics.

Eye Disorders

Most of the focussing is carried out by the cornea but its focus is fixed. The lens is flexible and makes fine adjustments to the focus. Myopia or short sight occurs when the lens is too strong, so that it focuses distant objects some where in front of the retina. In long sight or hypermetropia near objects are focused behind the retina.

Cataract is an eye disorder, in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively more and more opaque, blocking the passage of light to the retina and making it difficult to see. In this the lens is replaced through surgery.

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. This is common among children due to rubbing of eyes and can lead to infection. Simple washing of eyes and use of drops can help. Glaucoma is an eye disease in which fluid accumulates in the forward part of the eye ball. Pressure builds up and can result in blindness. This can be treated easily by specialists.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a neurotic disorder in which the victim, usually female, (as twenty women to one man are affected) deliberately reduces weight to the point of emaciation. Primary anorexia nervosa are normally closely linked to slimming in an attempt to look fashionable. Secondary anorexia are more likely to achieve their loss of weight by sometimes enormously and then vomiting immediately.

Best would be to eat well and put your weight back on. This is an area where psychotherapy has proved extremely successful.

Depression

Depression is a psychiatric illness, in which your vitality is reduced and your emotional state is low. The chief feeling in acute depression is that life is simply not worth living. It can strike at any age. Women are three times as often affected as men.

Depression is caused by a shortage of the chemicals within the body which are essential to the smooth running of the nervous system. In reactive depression you feel unhappy and unable to cope with your work, feel exhausted. In endogenous depression, you will slow down both mentally and physically. You cannot make a decision, read or do anything efficiently.

Depression is like being in a locked room without a key. Medical help is the only answer with various form of anti-depressive drugs.

Acne

Acne is a disorder of the sebaceous (oil) glands and ducts which produce a substance called sebum to lubricate the skin and hair. In acne, too much sebum is produced and consequently the ducts through which it is conveyed to the surface become blocked. The fatty sebum then accumulates to produce blackheads, pimples and whiteheads.

Almost all adolescents suffer from acne. The acne bacillus can be controlled by tetracycline taken four times a day. Cleanliness is obviously vital.

Anaemia

Anaemia is a term used to describe blood disorders in which the concentration of haemoglobin in the blood is abnormally lowered. Anyone of any age can develop anaemia and the possible causes are numerous - diet deficient in iron, folate, vitamin B₁₂ and protein, loss of blood etc.,

You may be pale, mental fatigue, irritability, headache, dizziness and fainting. Treatment depends on the type and cause of the anaemia. Dietary modification, tablets and injections of deficient nutrient is best sorted.