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There are thousands of people around the world who have to deal with the effects of a stroke at some point. This is something which is going to be very difficult to deal with, but with help and an understanding of the symptoms of stroke they will get through it. Stroke is a disease which affects the blood vessels and the supply of blood to the brain.

A stroke usually happens when a blood vessel which brings oxygen and nutrients to the brain ruptures or is clogged by a blood clot. This prevents the essential blood and oxygen getting to the brain. This is very dangerous and a very frightening time for the sufferer. Not only is this frightening for the person who is having the stroke, it is also frightening and stressful for those around at the time.

When there is not enough oxygen reaching the nerve cells of the brain that part of the brain will cease to work.. This will cause the part of the body that this part of the brain controls to stop working also. This is very hard for the sufferer to deal with, especially after a severe stroke has occurred. Stroke can cause permanent damage to brain cells, these damaged cells cannot be replaced.

There are two types of stroke. One is the Ischemic stroke which is caused by a blockage of the blood vessels. The other is called a Hemorrhagic stroke, this type of stroke is caused by bleeding. Bleeding strokes usually have a much higher death rate than those caused by clots.

It is estimated that around 83 percent of stroke cases are Ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes are caused by an obstruction in a blood vessel which supplies blood to the brain. The cause of this type of obstruction is the build up of fatty deposits in the walls of the blood vessel. This condition is called atherosclerosis. The fatty deposits I mention here cause two types of obstruction: Cerebral thrombosis, this refers to a thrombus, which is a blood clot that develops at the clogged part of the blood vessel. Cerebral embolism, this is generally a blood clot which forms at some other location in the circulatory system, this is usually the heart and large arteries of the upper chest and neck. A portion of this blood clot will break away, enter the bloodstream and travel into the brain’s blood vessels until it eventually reaches a vessel which is too small to let it pass. Another very important cause of an embolism is an irregular heartbeat, this is known as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation will create a condition where a blood clot will form in the heart, become dislodged and travel to the brain.

Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for around 17 percent of stroke cases. Hemorrhagic stroke is a hemorrhage which occurs when a blood vessel on the surface of the brain ruptures and bleeds into the space between the brain and the skull. A cerebral hemorrhage will occur when a defective artery in the brain breaks, and this will fill the surrounding tissue with blood.

When a blood vessel in the brain ruptures it will create a build up of pressure and compress part of the brain. If the person is lucky enough to live through this ordeal, the pressure will eventually subside. It is possible that the brain will regain some of its former function again. It is vitally important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible when a stroke occurs. This way a person can get the help and the treatment that they need to recover and survive through this devastating ordeal. A stroke can cause a great deal of damage to a person’s physical and mental well being.

All of us have probably suffered from food poisoning at some time in our lives. However not all of us have suffered from a severe form of food poisoning. Food poisoning can and does kill. I myself have almost died when I contracted a form of food poisoning called (Campylobactor). I hope that this article can go a long way to educating people on the causes and effects of the various strains of food poisoning.

Food poisoning is an acute gastroenteritis caused by consuming a food or a drink which contains the pathogenic micro organism or their toxins or poisonous chemicals. Food poisoning is common in many catering establishments including, hostels, hotels, communal feeding areas, and during festival seasons.

A group of people can be affected with the same symptoms, each of the group would have consumed the same food product and show the same or similar symptoms. These symptoms usually start to surface after around twelve hours of consuming the infected food stuff.

The different types of food poisoning.

1) Bacterial food poisoning:

Here the micro organisms called bacteria are responsible. The food material may contain the pathogenic bacteriae or their toxin and will be ingested along with the food.

2) Non bacterial food poisoning:

Due to the presence of toxic chemicals like fertilizers, insecticides, heavy metals etc..

Since bacterial food poisoning is the most common it will be discussed here.

Bacterial food poisoning:

Not all bacteria are harmful. There are some pathogenic bacteria which secrete toxins and cause clinical manifestations. These organisms enter the human body through food stuffs and or drinks.

How food poisoning occurs:

1) A presence of bacteria found in the drinking water.

2) The raw materials for the food may contain toxins.

3) Premises where the food is prepared may contain micro organisms or toxins.

4) Food handlers may carry some infectious diseases, or perhaps their hygiene leaves a lot to be desired.

5) Some animals like dogs and or rodents may contaminate the food.

6) If prepared food is kept at room temperature for a long period of time and then reheated, this can create severe food poisoning. 7) Purposely some body mixing toxins in the food.

Some common bacterial food poisonings.

1) Salmonella food poisoning:

There are three different varieties of salmonella bacteria.(salmonella typhimurium, salmonella cholera suis, salmonella enteritidis) These bacteria are present in milk, milk products and eggs. Symptoms of this food poisoning include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Fever is also common.

2) Botulism:

This is a very dangerous type of food poisoning caused by clostridium botulinum. The spores of these organisms are seen in the soil and enter the human body through pickles and canned fish etc.. Compared to other food poisonings here vomiting and diarrhoea are rare Mainly, it is the nervous system which is affected. The symptoms starts with double vision, numbness with weakness. Later there will be paralysis with cardiac and respiratory failure ending in death.

3) Staphylococcal food poisoning:

It is caused by staphylococcus aureus. These organisms usually cause skin troubles like boils and eruptions. It causes mastitis in cattle. Through the milk and milk products it enters and causes gastroenteritis. There will be vomiting,abdominal cramps with diarrhoea.

4) Closteridium food poisoning:

This is caused by closteridium perfringens. These are present in stool’s, soil and water. They enter the body through, meat, meat dishes and egg etc.. If food stuffs are cooked and kept at room temperature for a long period of time and then reheated, this can then result in this type of food poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting ,diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

5) Bacillus cereus:

The spores of these organisms can survive cooking and causes enteritis. Diarrhoea and vomiting is common in this infection.

How to investigate food poisoning?

1) Closely examine each and every person affected.

2) Water samples should be taken and tested.

3) Kitchen, store room and food samples should be examined.

4) The cook and food handlers should be questioned and examined.

5) Samples of the infected peoples vomit and stool’s should be tested to identify the bacteria.

How to prevent food poisoning:-

1) One should only use purified water.

2) Hygiene should be maintained by all people who are in contact with food.

3) Workers should use masks, cap and gloves during cooking and serving.

4) Sick individuals should not come into contact with food materials.

5) Kitchen and premises should be neat, clean and regularly inspected.

5) Vessels should be washed with soap and hot water.

6) Prepared food should not be kept for a long time at room temperature.

7) All food materials should be kept in closed containers.

Animals like dog’s, cat’s, rodents etc. should not come into contact with food materials.

9) Vegetables should be washed before cooking.

10) Meat should be fresh and should be purchased from a recognised slaughter house or butcher.

Having a high cholesterol level has become a very serious problem for many people today. This has been credited to a majority of the population getting accustomed to a diet rich in fats, bad habits such as smoking and leading a sedentary lifestyle. And because of high cholesterol levels, more and more people are finding themselves at an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease as well as stroke and heart attack.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for most people in the developed countries around the world. Having a high level of blood cholesterol has been linked to the increase of the incidence of heart disease and has become a grave cause of concern.

The only good news to this fact is that developing heart disease is highly preventable. All it takes is for one to be able to follow a healthier lifestyle. The path to such a lifestyle is trying to lower one’s cholesterol level. Although there are already several drugs available that will help an individual reduce body cholesterol levels, this is usually reserved for more high risk patients in need of drastic decreases in their cholesterol levels. There are also natural ways readily available for anyone looking forward to lowering their own cholesterol to normal and healthy levels.

One of the natural ways of lowering cholesterol levels is through diet. Following a low cholesterol diet day in and day out can be very effective in trying to control and maintain a normal cholesterol level. This would mean eating low cholesterol foods such as soy products, vegetables and fruits.

High fibre foods are also known to help in the fight to lower cholesterol. Regular exercise is also a good habit to develop if you are really intent in trying to lower your cholesterol levels. Exercise helps in increasing HDL or “good” cholesterol in the body as well as strengthens your heart muscle, helps keep your blood pressure at normal and even helps you in shedding of those excess pounds.

There are also several natural supplements that will be able to help you lower your cholesterol levels. Taking B-complex vitamins, specifically Niacin, has been known to help lower blood cholesterol in the body. supplements fortified with Lecithin can also help in lowering your cholesterol as it enables excess fat and cholesterol to be dispersed in the water instead of building up in the arteries.

There are other natural ways of lowering cholesterol levels available today. All it will take is some research and talking to your doctor about how to effectively follow a lifestyle that will enable you to lower cholesterol the natural way.

It is a non progressive neuromuscular disorder causing mild to severe disabilities throughout life.This condition is manifested as a group of persisting qualitative motor disorders which appear in young children due to damage to the brain during delivery or due to some pathological conditions in the intrauterine life.The neuroligical problems are multiple but non progressive in nature.Approximately 2 per 100 live birth is having this problem.This disease is having no hereditary tendency.

Causes of cerebral palsy:

1) Injury to the brain during delivery.

2) As a complication of forceps delivery.

3) Lack of oxygen supply to the baby during delivery.

4) Infections during delivery.

Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy:–

The signs and symptoms may not be similar in all babies affected.Depending upon the damage to the brain there may be mild to severe lesions.

Mild cases:- 20% children will have mild disability.

Moderate cases:-50% cases are having moderate disability.The affected children require self help for assisting their impaired ambulation capacity.

Severe cases:-About 30% of the affected children are totally incapacited and bedridden and they allways need care from others.

Abnormal findings in cerebral palsy:-

1,Abnormal neonatal reflexes.

2,Stiffness of all muscles with awkward motion.
3,Extention of extremities on vertical suspension of the infant.

4,Scissoring of the lower limbs due to spasm of the adductor muscles of the thigh.

5,In severe cases the back bend backwards like and arch.

6,May have total or partial paralysis.

7,Arrest of neurological and behavioral developement.

8,Swallowing may be difficult in some cases.

9,Drooling of saliva.

10,Mild to severe mental retardations.

11,Abnormal movements are seen in some cases.

12,Tremors with typical movements.

13,If cerebellum is affected there will be loss of muscle tone with difficulty in walking.

14,Complete or partial loss of hearing.

15,Speech may be affected.

16,Squint and other visual problems may be associated.

17,Convulsions may be seen in some children.

Cerebral palsy is diagnosed by detailed clinical examination and by eliminating other similar diseases like brain tumour, progressive atrophy ect.All investigations like CT scan,MRI and routine investigations are needed to ruleout other diseases.

Management of carebral palsy:–

General management:

This includes proper nutrition and personal care.  Symptomatic medicines are needed to reduce convulsions and muscle stiffness.  Diazepam can reduce spasticity and athetosis.
Dantrolene sodium helps to relax skeletal muscles.

Physiotherapy:

Here massage,exercise, hydrotherapy and ect are needed.Special training is given to train walking,swallowing and talking.The affected children are also trained to hold articles for routine activities.

Rehabilitation:

Moral and social support should be given to these children.They should be send to special schools where special training can be given by trained staff.Mentally retarded children need special training.Depending up on the disabitity special instruments and machines are given for locomotion and to assist their daytoday activities.

Occupational therapy:

This is given by occupational therapists.They train the disabled people to do some suitable works so that these people can have their own income.

Low back pain is a usual symptom amoung the modern civilised people.It affects mainly the middle aged and young adults of both sexes.People who work on the chair with out exercise and those who carry heavy loads regularly are prone to get this complaint.We can hardly find a person who has not suffered from back pain atleast once in life.The causes of  low backpain ranges from simple reasons like muscular strain to cancer of spine and hence backache should not be ignored.The pain is felt in lumbar and sacral region and may radiate to nearby sites.

The following are some causes for backache.

1) Backache due to diseases in the back.

2) Backache due to gynaecological problems.

3) Backache due to problems in other parts of the body.

1) Backache due to diseases in the back:–

a) Injuries :-

1) Compression fracture of the vertebral column.
2) Rupture of intervertebral discs.
3) Injuries to ligaments and muscles of back.
4) Lumbosacral strain.
5) Intervertebral joint injuries.
6) Fracture of processes of vertebra.

b) Functional backache due to imbalance:-

1) During pregnancy.
2) Pot belly.
3) Diseases of the hip joint.
4) Curvature in the spine due to congenital defect.
5) Short leg in one side.

c) Backache due to inflammatory conditions:-

1) Infection of the bone due to bacteria.
2) Tuberculosis of the spine.
3) Arthritis.
4) Brucellosis.
5) Lumbago or fibrositis.
6) Inflamation of the muscles.
7) Anchylosing spondylitis.

d) Backache due to degenerative diseases in the back.

1) Osteoarthritis.
2) Osteoporosis in old people.
3) Degenaration of the intervertebral disc.

e) Tumour in the spine:–

1) Primory tumour of the bones in the spine.
2) Metastatic tumours from other sites like prostate,lungs,kidneys,intestine ect.

2) Backache due to gynaecological problems:-

a) After childbirth.
b) After gynaecological operations.
c) Prolapse of the uterus.
d) Pelvic inflammatory diseases.
e) Cancerous lesions of the pelvic organs.
f) Endometriosis.

3) Backache due to problems in other parts of the body.

a) Renal stones.
b) Ureteric stone.
c) Cancer of prostate.
d) Pancreatitis.
e) Biliary stones.
f) Peptic ulcer.
g) Inflammations of pelvic organs.
h) Occlusion of aorta and illiac arteries.

Investigation of a case of backache:-

1) Complete blood count.

2) Routine urine examination.

3) Ultrasonography of the abdomen and pelvis.

4) X-ray of the lumbar and sacral region.

5) MRI of the spine.

5) CT scan of abdomen and pelvic region.

6) Examination of rectum,prostate,genito urinary organs.

Treatment of back ache:-

1) Removing the cause for backache.

2) Symptomatic treatement.

2) Back exercises.

3) Traction.

3) Yoga.

5) Surgery.

7) Homoeopathy.

Action on the stomach.
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The action of alcohol on the stomach is extremely dangerous that it becomes unable to produce the natural digestive fluid in sufficient quantity and also fails to absorb the food which it may imperfectly digest. A condition marked by the sense of nausea emptiness, prostration and distention will always be faced by an alcoholic. This results in  a loathing for food and is teased with a craving for more drink. Thus there is engendered a permanent disorder which is called dyspepsia. The disastrous forms of confirmed indigestion originate by this practice.

How the liver gets affected.
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The organic deteriorations caused by the continued use of alcohol are often of a fatal character. The organ which most frequently undergoes structural changes from alcohol, is the liver. Normally, the liver has the capacity to hold active substances in its cellular parts. In instances of poisoning by various poisonous compounds, we analyse liver as if it were the central depot of the foreign matter. It is practically the same in respect to alcohol. The liver of an alcoholic is never free from the influence of alcohol and it is too often saturated with it. The minute membranous or capsular structure of the liver gets affected, preventing proper dialysis and free secretion. The liver becomes large due to the dilatation of its vessels, the surcharge of fluid matter and the thickening of tissue. This follows contraction of membrane and shrinking of the whole  organ in its cellular parts. Then the lower parts of the alcoholic becomes dropsical owing to the obstruction offered to the returning blood by the veins. The structure of the liver may be charged with fatty cells and undergo what is technically designated ‘fatty liver’.

How the Kidneys deteriorate.
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The Kidneys also suffer due to the excessive consumption of alcohol. The vessels of Kidneys  lose elasticity and power of contraction. The minute structures in them go through fatty modification. Albumin from the blood easily passes through their membranes. This results in the body losing its power as if it were being run out of blood gradually.

Congestion of the lungs.
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Alcohol relaxes the vessels of the lungs easily as they are most exposed to the fluctuations of heat and cold. When subjected to the effects of a rapid variation in atmospheric temperature, they get readily congested. During severe winter seasons, the suddenly fatal congestions of lungs easily affects an alcoholic.

Alcohol weakens the heart.
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Consumption of alcohol greatly affects the heart. The quality of the membraneous structures which cover and line the heart changes and are thickened, become cartilaginous or calcareous. Then the valves lose their suppleness and what is termed valvular disorder becomes permanent.  The structure of the the coats of the great blood-vessel leading from the heart share in the same changes of structure so that the vessel loses its  elasticity and its power to feed the heart by the recoil from its distention,  after the heart, by its stroke, has filled it with blood.

Again, the muscular structure of the heart fails owing to degenerative changes in its tissue. The elements of the muscular fibre are replaced by fatty cells or, if not so replaced, are themselves transferred into a modified muscular texture in which the power of contraction is greatly reduced.

Those who suffer from these organic deteriorations of the central and governing organ of the circulation of the blood learn the fact so insidiously, it hardly breaks upon them until the mischief is far advanced. They are conscious of a central failure of power from slight causes such as overexertion, trouble, broken rest or too long abstinence from food. They feel what they call a ’sinking’ but they know that wine or some other stimulant will at once relieve the sensation. Thus they seek to relieve it until at last they discover that the remedy fails. The jaded, overworked, faithful heart will bear no more. it has run its course and the governor of the blood-streams broken. The current either overflows into the tissues gradually damming up the courses or under some slight shock or excess of motion ceases wholly at the centre.