One of the more puzzling medical conditions we see today is interstitial cystitis, a condition with symptoms similar to those of a urinary tract infection. It affects an estimated 700,000 Americans - 90% of whom are women. What can be troubling is that the condition does not respond to antibiotics nor is it caused by an infection. In fact, the actual cause of interstitial cystitis is still in question.
With interstitial cystitis, the bladder wall becomes irritated leading to symptoms that include:
- An intense urge to urinate, including awakening from sleep to urinate
- Pressure or tenderness near the bladder -that can intensify as the bladder fills -in the pelvic region or below the belly button
- Frequent urination
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Pain during sexual intercourse
This past week, Serena Williams underwent surgery for a hematoma caused by a serious medical condition called pulmonary embolism. Many have commented on Serena’s condition, wondering how one of the world’s strongest tennis competitors could suffer from this condition. In fact, pulmonary embolism - blocked arteries in the lungs - can happen to the healthiest of people.
Pulmonary embolism results when a blood clot (or other material) travels from your body to arteries in your lungs. If the clot is not detected, it can damage the portion of lung that is not receiving blood and cause a life-threatening condition. Usually, the clot originates in one’s lower legs. However, other materials - part of a tumor, fat from bone marrow or air bubbles - can cause pulmonary embolism as well.
Most often, the clot travels from the legs to the lungs after a person has been stationary for a long time - sitting on an airplane or in a car, or moving about after extended bed rest. It’s generally recommended that you walk during flight or drink plenty of water when traveling to avoid such a condition.
Other risk factors for pulmonary embolism include age, family history, surgery, heart disease, pregnancy, certain types of cancer, smoking, obesity or taking supplemental estrogen.
The symptoms of pulmonary embolism include a shortness of breath, coughing that produces bloody sputum, chest pain, weak pulse, excessive sweating, wheezing, swollen legs, irregular heartbeat, lightheadedness or fainting.
If pulmonary embolism is detected in advance, you may be placed on anti-clotting medications or clot dissolvers. In some instances surgery will be required in order to safely remove the clots.
If you do find yourself short of breath, wheezing or coughing up bloody sputum, it’s important you see a medical professional.
Are you always the unlucky one in your family or group of friends who seems to get waylaid by a cold — again and again? Why me — you ask yourself. Well, here’s an interesting article that takes a look at the various factors that make you more vulnerable to getting a cold. It’s a combination of factors, really. Your genetics, your past exposure to various cold viruses and the luck of the draw — were you in the wrong place at the wrong time and grabbed a shopping cart just used by someone with not-so-good nasal hygiene?
You might also like to take a look at a slightly older article on the link between immunity and exercise. Researchers found that people who exercised five days a week for at least 20 minutes had 40 percent fewer days of illness compared to those who only exercised one day (or less) each week. Yes exercise just keeps racking up the benefits — but keep in mind that genetics and being next to one good sneeze can still send the sniffles your way.
It’s no secret — in general, American children consume too much added sugar. Processed foods, and most notoriously soda, have plenty of added sugars. The two most common added sugars are sucrose and high fructose corn syrup (but these sugars have a variety of different names as well). Plenty of researchers are examining the connection between added sugars, obesity and diabetes II. Now, new research indicates that an abundance of added sugars in a teen’s diet can lead to heart problems in later life.
According to the report in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association,” teens who consumed the most sugar had significantly less “good” cholesterol (and more “bad” cholesterol) than those who consumed the least added sugars. This can put teens on a path for greater risk of cardiovascular disease as they age.
It’s a good idea to monitor your family’s sugar intake. However, it’s not always easy to tell how much added sugar a product contains because manufacturers have a lot of different names for those added sugars. This list of pseudonyms for added sugars, from the Harvard School of Public Health, can help. More details on the added sugars research can be found at http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/01/12/132814924/for-teens-too-much-sugar-can-be-a-heartbreaker.
Between the ages of 40 and 65? Then you’ll certainly be interested in Barbara Strauch’s new book, “The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Age Mind.” The book includes the latest research from neuroscientists and psychologists, and questions many of the myths surrounding our aging brains — decaying brain cells, empty-nest syndrome, middle-age crises, forgetfulness. The book examines all of these topics and more. And it offers some wonderful insights — that middle-aged people tend to use both sides of their brain, rather than just one side (typical of younger people), as we reorganize our brain to get the job done. That our brains become better at adapting. That challenging our frontal cortex by engaging with people and ideas that challenge us is really a “good thing.” And we’re better at problem-solving. Watch the interview. Read the book. And savor your abilities at every age.
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