When you mention the words ‘blood disorder’ most people immediately think of haemophilia, which is predominantly a male condition. Thanks to advances in medicine over the past few decades it is now recognised that women do suffer in significant numbers from related problems.

In the UK alone an estimated 250,000 women have a bleeding disorder and may well be unaware of it. This number rises to 2.5 million in the US.

The obvious manifestation of an underlying problem in women is in their menstrual cycle. Most attribute heavy bleeding at the end of their cycle to something they have to put up with. Women suffering with these problems tend to accept it as ‘par for the course’, in spite of the fact that it can blight their quality of life every month and quite literally make them ill.

This article raises awareness of the types of blood disorders, the typical symptoms, their causes, potential treatment and where to go for help if you may be affected by any of the issues raised here.

Symptoms

If you think you may have a problem, this is what to look out for:

Heavy periods (referred to as menorrhagia)
Frequent nosebleeds
Bruising
Cuts that take a long time to stop bleeding
Bleeding heavily after childbirth
Gums that bleed regularly and heavily, whether spontaneously or after dental treatment

Most people will not realise they have a problem until they have a serious injury, surgery, dental work or possibly after childbirth.

Causes

Blood disorders are either inherited or acquired, the latter can be the result of medical conditions such as kidney problems or the result of certain medicines you may be taking.

Types of Blood Disorders

There are a number of types of blood disorders, including platelet function disorders. The most common appears to be Von Willebrand’s disease which affects 1% of the population in the UK for example.

Diagnosis

If any of this sounds familiar and you are concerned about any symptoms you may have, your doctor should refer you to a haemotologist to get checked out through a series of blood tests.

Continually heavy bleeding during a period may also cause anaemia which is characterised by feeling very tired, looking pale and becoming breathless even with little exercise. Anaemia is the lack of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood. It can be normally be rectified through a combination of tablets and a diet rich in iron, such as green vegetables, red meat, dried fruit and pulses. Vitamin B12 is also a good source and can be found in milk, cheese and eggs. In extreme cases of anaemia Vitamin B12 injections may also be given.

Treatment

Treatment for bleeding disorders varies widely depending on the severity of the disorder. Mild disorders can be managed with medication in the form of tablets, nasal sprays or injectable medication as required.

Where to Go for Help – Useful Websites

Please see below for useful website links for advice and where to go for help if you are affected by any of the issues in this article.

In Closing

So essentially, if you believe you or a friend, loved one or colleague may have any of these symptoms, please get checked. It can literally be a life saver in severe cases but at the very least it could improve your quality of life on a permanent basis

Lung Cancer, we all know the seriousness of this disease. We also know that a high percentage of these cases start with smokers. Once you get lung cancer what do you do? In a few minutes we will uncover some things that will help you through rough times.

Modern Medical Treatments

The three things modern medicine provides as treatment for lung cancer is: Radiation, Chemotherapy and Surgery.

We know these treatments have a limited success rate and they kill good as well as bad cells in the process. If you don’t know of any other alternatives, then you pretty much count on the above three for your life.

More Options

The last thing you need is someone telling you everything will be all right. Lung cancer is a serious disease, there is no sugar coating that. What you need to look at is, how can you help yourself?

Here are 3 things to think about:

The Thinking Process – we know how powerful the mind is. This powerful mind works both ways. A lot of people immediately shut down when they hear the word Cancer. They are drained of hope and options, they give up. Their mind becomes a powerful weapon against them, reverse this. If you adopt the attitude “I’m going down fighting” your mind will reverse it’s thinking. You will find yourself looking for alternatives, you’ll be searching for answers. Natural Healing – your body is programmed to survive, survive and thrive. Nature was here long before drug companies, but if you don’t go out and look for it, it will not come to you. Modern medicine doesn’t prescribe to natures remedies, so don’t expect them to offer much in this area. You need to do some of the footwork yourself. Understanding – if we know that cancer grows in an acidic environment, then why do we keep eating acidic foods? If we know that our immune system is the line of defense against cancer, then why do we continue to do things to break it down? Understand the causes and you can help yourself to the cure.

These things shouldn’t be mysteries to people, but they are. Now, when it comes to natural homeopathic substances, this is more complicated.

There are specific things that focus on lung cancer recovery. This requires a certified practitioner who can guide you in your specific needs. There are foods that are safe which have antioxidant properties: Garlic, lumes, broccoli, lemons, honey, the list is big.

These products are easily found in local markets and don’t cost that much.

Vitamin C is a good antioxidant, for smokers it’s suggested to take 5 times the normal amount to offset toxins in your lungs. The worse side effect of to much vitamin C is diarrhea, this indicates your body is saturated and taking any more vitamin C is a waste.

Cancer is a deadly disease all over the world, with very little known about curing it completely. One type of cancer that affects many women around the world is ovarian cancer. It has now become the fifth leading cause of death in cancer patients and leads the charts under all the gynaecological cancer deaths. Women of all demographics, races and ethnicities show risk factors for developing ovarian cancer. After one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the first response is to affirm the ovarian cancer survival rates and life expectancy. These rates differ from patient to patient, but some common factors are the age, family history of disease and early diagnoses of the cancer.

As the age of a woman increases, so do the chances of her having ovarian cancer. Very few women below the age of 40 are seen to suffer from this, but it is not a complete rarity. However, ovarian cancer survival rates are much higher in young women that the elderly. Women under the age of 20 show the highest survival rates, with close to 99% of the women recovering fully from it. This changes almost minimally for women under the age of 30 with death rates climbing to 0.8%. With early screening of cancer, death rates decline rapidly and most women go on to live completely healthy lives. After the age of 35, with the onset of other gynaecological problems and lower chances of pregnancy, the survival rates take a slight dip; going down to some 96.8% and even lower if the cancer has advanced to stage III or IV.

Once women cross the age of 45 years, ovarian cancer survival rates decrease even further, going down to 85%. Life expectancy at this point is not very high and can be further complicated if breast cancer develops at the same time. Once women hit their sixties, the life expectancy goes down to some five to six years, after remission. If the patient is healthy and active at the time of diagnoses, then this can be extended to 12 to 15 years, but no more. If diagnosed in the final stages of its spread, then ovarian cancer survival rates can be very low. At this point, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are seen to be the best options for treatment.

After the age of 65 years and above, the rates drop straight to 75% and life expectancy is down to 1 year to 2 after the diagnoses. Proper treatment may provide relief but for very long. Very few women suffer from ovarian cancer after the age of 80 but those who do display longer survival rates but can suffer from detoriated health due to other illnesses and conditions. Long term therapy is advised for such patients, since surgery can be a futile risk to take. As with all diseases, proper therapy and early diagnoses can increase survival rates and life expectancy after that. One must always go in for regular health screenings and check ups to diagnose cancer of any kind at an early stage and cure it.

In current years, there’s been an escalation of life-saving treatment progresses against breast cancer, carrying new expectation and enthusiasm. Instead of simply one or two alternatives, nowadays there’s an irresistible set of choices of treatment preferences that battle the complex mixture of cells in every individual cancer.

The objective of treatment for early breast cancer is to get rid of the cancer from the breast and armpit part, and to obliterate any cancer cells that possibly will have extend to other areas of the body, but couldn’t be identified. Treatment for early breast cancer typically contains either breast conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy, or mastectomy (at times followed by radiotherapy).

Various kinds of treatment are obtainable for patients with breast cancer. A number of treatments are typical (the presently employed treatment), and a number of are being examined in clinical tests. A treatment clinical examination is a research study intended to assist recover existing treatments or get information on latest treatments for patients with cancer. When clinical examinations demonstrate that a new treatment is better than the typical treatment, the new treatment possibly will become the regular treatment. Patients could be would like to consider concerning participating in a clinical trial. A number of clinical trials are open simply to patients who have not begun treatment.

Treatments are present for all kind and stage of breast cancer. Nearly all women will have surgery and a further treatment like radiation, chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Experimental treatments are obtainable at cancer treatment centers as well. There are no correct and incorrect answers to numerous treatment choices. A number of women consider that they have to keep their breast if at all possible. Others believe that once the breast has had cancer in it, they would rather have it detached totally.

In older women with locally advanced breast cancer, doctors at times make use of a kind of hormone therapy named an aromatase inhibitor as an initial treatment. These drugs could frequently assist to minimize the cancer in the breast. It will typically be clear in 6 weeks of beginning this treatment how fine it is going to operate.

Don’t be scared to inquire your doctor or nurse if something is mystifying you. This is a problematical field of medicine, even for doctors. In addition to no one will consider it odd that you are inquiring matters concerning your treatment.

While most prescription medicines have the potential to cause side effects, prescription cholesterol medications are dangerous and potentially fatal. Zocor side effects, as well as Lipitor, and a whole host of other statin side effects, are serious and should never be ignored.

For people who are taking Zocor, a common negative effect that occurs in anyone who takes it is constipation.

Understanding the different Zocor side effects is important to ensure you stay safe.

Negative effects include muscle problems that can turn into a rare and very serious condition called rhabdomyolysis. If you experience this symptom, please do not hesitate to inform your doctor about it immediately.

Other Zocor side effects include the following:

* muscle pain
* weakening of the muscles
* tenderness of the muscles (especially when accompanied by fever and unusual tiredness)
* change in urine amount

You should report all of these to your doctor to get their opinion and advice on them, and to discuss safer alternatives.

Zocor can cause liver problems, and you should consult your doctor, if you experience any of the following potential major Zocor side effects, such as yellowing of the eyes and skin, dark-coloured urine, severe stomach or abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

This drug can cause rare cases of serious allergic reactions. Therefore, you are strongly advised to report to your doctor at once if you notice any of the following:

* skin rashes
* hives
* itching
* swelling of the face, tongue, and throat
* dizziness
* breathing difficulties

Other Zocor side effects include tightness in the chest, pale stools, and reddish, swollen, and blistered skin.

You must remember that is not a complete list of the different negative effects that can be encountered once you take Zocor medication.

If you notice other negative effects that are not included in the list above, call or visit your doctor immediately. You may also ask your pharmacist about any occurrences you think could be one of the Zocor side effects.

What really matters most is that when you feel any negative effects, seek medical attention right away especially when they are severe and due to Zocor intake.

There is a much safer, healthier alternative to taking Zocor, or indeed any statin medication, and that is a natural cholesterol supplement. The right supplement, with select natural ingredients, will keep you side effect free, and lower high cholesterol.

Statins like Zocor only focus on LDL cholesterol and ignore HDL cholesterol, which keeps you at risk of heart disease, unlike natural cholesterol supplements that treat the whole of cholesterol.

Other additional benefits of going natural include dissolving gall stones and protection against some forms of cancer.

When you have a food allergy and you have a party or a family holiday coming up, do you feel like you should be left out of the festivities for your own safety. Or how about if you are the host or hostess at an upcoming event and you realize one of your guests has severe allergies. Both of these scenarios has their own list of “horrors”. Try some of these tips to relieve some of the stress evident at any of these important events.

When You Are The Guest

Try following some of these rules as guidance to relieve some of the anxiety when you go to a party.

Always talk to your host in advance. Never show up and just announce “I can’t eat that…and that… or that.” Have the courtesy to explain your limitations in advance and have a list ready of the types of things you may eat and are considered safe. If the menu does not seem to coordinate with your limitations, ask if you may bring a covered dish or two of your own. If possible, try to coordinate your selections you bring into the party’s theme also. Pack your own small snacks and treats goodie bag also just in case something happens that a food disaster crops up with the menu. Mention to your host you need to see the ingredient labels before the dinner or during your initial conversation. Do not ever expect anyone unfamiliar with allergies to understand all those words on an ingredient label. Remember, this is a party. You are not there just for the food. Enjoy the food wherever possible but also the company, camaraderie and the games.

When You Are The Host

Make your day a little easier–and safer– by following a few of these ideas:

Be sure to mention on the initial invitation that you wish any guest to advise of any food restrictions in advance of the party. Most people will be thrilled you had the courtesy to try to include them into your party plans. If you need help devising a party menu, ask them for ideas what is safe for them. Often the allergic individual may offer to bring a dish or two. Accept their offer of help with gratitude as it will relieve some of the pressure off you and your menu selections. Remember to keep all the ingredient labels for everything. Realize this does mean everything too! Most people think of keeping the main components of their dish and its labels but the baking powder, baking soda, salt and or spices, pats of butter etc. are all in there also. Most people with food allergies are dependent on knowing everything which goes into a recipe, not just selected major components. Check up and verify you understand the principle of cross-contamination. Take special precautions to verify no other guest accidentally contaminates the “safe foods.” Do not hover over the allergic guest all night to confirm their safety. Set up your precautions, follow through on the plans and then allow your guest to enjoy themselves for the evening, the same as you.

So whether you will be the guest or the actual host of the party, with some advance planning and preparation, you can immensely reduce the odds of an accident and ensure a good time is had by all at the party in which you are in attendance.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you are definitely not alone. When it comes to dreadful times, the phrase “allergy season” is up there with “tax season”, “finals week”, and “the yearly visit with the in laws”. Allergies affect millions of Americans every year. Although there is no way to eliminate allergies altogether, there are some things you can do to avoid some of the most common allergens.

The main allergens include pollen from trees, grass and weeds, mold, animal dander, and dust. Allergies that occur in the spring often arise from tree pollen. Allergies in the summer are often from grass and weed pollen, and allergies in the fall are often from ragweed. Mold allergies are usually worse during humid and rainy weather because mold is more common where water collects. Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of furry pets such as cats and dogs are allergens. Many allergens, such as dust mites, are in dust. They live on dead skin cells and other things found in house dust.

There are some things you can do to help avoid these common allergens. To avoid pollens, it’s good to shower at bedtime in order to wash off pollen in your skin or hair. Staying indoors as much as possible on dry or windy days may also reduce your allergies. You can minimize the amount of mold in your house by frequently washing shower curtains, windows, and other places where mold may grow. Opening doors and windows and using fans can increase air movement and prevent mold. Unfortunately the only way to avoid pet dander is to give away your pets, or stay away from other people’s as much as possible. No matter how cute Rover and Trixy are, they won’t help your allergies. As for dust mites, frequently cleaning carpets and curtains, and dusting appliances and other surfaces will reduce your allergies.

Also, remember that allergies can make you more susceptible to a catching a cold. Be sure to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, avoid touching your eyes and nose, and wash your hands often.

If you are one of the many people suffering from these seasonal allergies, there are things you can do to lessen the severity of your symptoms. Follow these simple tips as best you can and the term “allergy season” won’t give you that sick feeling in your stomach anymore!

Lung cancer is an ailment of unrestrained cell development in the lung tissues. This growth may lead to metastasis, spreading to the adjoining tissues and penetrating prematurely the lungs. It is the most popular cancer cause of death in men, and the second most common in women.

Frequent symptoms of lung cancer:
1. Continuous chest throbbing
2. Persistent coughs that become severe
3. Shortness of breath, puffing, or huskiness
4. Constant troubles with pneumonia or bronchitis
5. Coughing up blood
6. Inflammation of the neck and face
7. Loss of appetite or significant weight loss
8. Exhaustion

Types of Lung Cancers:

A. Small-cell lung cancer occurs when malignant cells form in the lung tissues.
Small lung cancer has three different types, classified according to the forms of cells developing as cancer. These are:

1. Small cell carcinoma
2. Union of small cell and large cell carcinoma.
3. Joint small cell carcinoma.

These three kinds may contain many different types of cells. The cancer cells of all types may grow and multiply in different ways.

Stages of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Limited stage – cancer starts in the lung tissues, and in the adjacent lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are tiny, bean-shaped structures near the lungs.

Extensive Stage – cancer has propagated beyond the lungs to other parts of the body.
B. Large-cell lung cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the lungs.

Five types of large-cell lung cancer

The five types of large-cell lung cancer have differing varieties of cancer cells. The cancer cells of each category produce and multiply in unusual effects:

1. Squamous cell carcinoma – Cancer starts in the squamous cells, thin flat cells that appear like fish scales. It’s called epidermoid carcinoma.
2. Large cell carcinoma – Cancer in which the cells are big and seem to be irregular when examined under a microscope.
3. Adenosquamous carcinoma – Cancer that begins in cells. Cancer cells appear to be firm when inspected under a microscope.
4. Adenocarcinoma – Cancer that begins in groups in glandular assets.
5. Undifferentiated carcinoma – Cancer cells that do not seem to be normal. They spread fast.

Treatment:

1. Surgery – Surgery is the ideal medication for lung cancer. The body is normally opened up for the lungs to be treated directly.
2. Radiation is a common treatment for lung cancer. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It distresses cells only in the treated area.

a. External radiation is the most common radiation treatment for people with lung cancer. Radiation comes from a huge apparatus outside your body. Mainly people go to the hospital or clinic for treatment. Treatments are typically 5 days a week for more than a few weeks.

b. Internal radiation is rare. Radiation is released from a seed, wire, or another device, to the body.

Treatment of Large-Cell Lung Cancer:

o Chemotherapy – This is cancer treatment making use of drugs to prevent the increase of cancer cells. Drugs are either taken by mouth or injected in the veins and muscles to destroy cancer cells. These drugs go into the bloodstream to treat cancer cells in the body. When chemotherapy is placed straight in the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity like the abdomen, these drugs generally distress cancer cells in those parts.
o Laser therapy – Laser is used to destroy cancer cells.

Leukemia is a sort of cancer of the blood and marrow. The disease is characterized through the overproducing of immature blood cells (stem cells) that aren’t able to fully develop and carry out the activities of normal blood cells.

Each type of mature blood cells has specific traits and roles inside the body. White blood cells or leukocytes have an important role in the immune system, contributing to overcome infections. White blood cells also help in healing flesh wounds and cuts. Red blood cells or erythrocytes contain hemoglobin, which has a great importance in transporting oxygen to the cells within the organism. Red blood cells are vital for the process of cell respiration, carrying oxygen to cells and removing carbon dioxide from them. Platelets have an important role in repairing damage at the level of blood vessels, accumulating to seal any cuts or tares.

Leukemia leads to the accumulation and crowding of diseased stem cells at the level of the bone marrow, which decreases the normal production of healthy blood cells. The lack of normal blood cells leads to the appearance of leukemia symptoms. It is important to understand that despite the fact that leukemia causes an over production of white blood cells, these cells are immature and can’t substitute for normal blood cells. Due to this, the body is exposed to many forms of infection.

The most common leukemia symptoms are: anemia (insufficient number of red blood cells in the bloodstream), risks of bleeding (insufficient number of platelets in the bloodstream), nose bleeding, bleeding of the oral cavity, predisposition to bruising, high exposure to infections due to lack of white blood cells, improper healing.

Other leukemia symptoms may be fatigue, lack of concentration, poor psychical performance, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss.

In the case of chronic leukemia, which facilitates the accumulation of diseased blood cells in different places inside the body, the leukemia symptoms may be migraines, insomnia, decreased vision and hearing, loss of balance, faints and seizures. Some of these leukemia symptoms need immediate medical intervention, as they may lead to further complications.

Sometimes people with leukemia may have enlarged liver and spleen, causing abdominal swelling or enlarged lymph nodes. The body glands of the organism can also be affected by leukemia.

Leukemia symptoms have a non-specific character. This means that they can be misleading in establishing an appropriate diagnose, as they may also occur in the cases of other diseases. Medical professionals are the only persons able to distinguish leukemia from other illnesses with resembling symptoms. Proper diagnose is very important in order to quickly begin the administration of specific treatment. Blood analysis and careful body examinations can reveal the presence of leukemia. Leukemia is considered to have a high rate of mortality and although the disease can be overcome through treatment and therapy, it can cause death if its presence is not noticed in time. Therefore, prompt intervention is required for leukemia, regardless of its type.

Melanoma Diagnosis

Biopsy of the suspected tissue confirms the presence of Melanoma. If the tumor is bigger than 1 mm in thickness, lymph nodes may be examined for possible presence of melanoma cells in the nodes. A whole body scan also helps in finding out if the cancer has spread.

Treatment of Melanoma-

The choice of treatment depends upon the stage of melanoma. Melanoma progresses from the primary stage to fourth stage. In the fourth stage, the cancer has spread to different body parts. During the initial stages, surgery to remove the cancerous growth is the first choice. Treatment with Interferon is also used for melanoma that has spread to lymph nodes. For the fourth stage, you may have to discuss the treatment options with your oncologist. It is mostly incurable at this stage.

High Risk Groups-

* Exposure to UV radiation is the biggest risk factor. Most of this exposure takes place during the childhood. Those who are involved with jobs that keep them outdoor for a long time are also at risk.

* Presence of atypical moles (dysplastic nevi).

* White race. People who have fair skin that burns rather than tans, red hair, or blue eyes are at a higher risk.

* Previous melanoma or other skin cancer. Family history of melanoma.

* Other cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma.

* Impaired immune system.

* PUVA treatment, which is used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.