Everything to know about Psoriasis in adults
Psoriasis may be a disease of the skin that causes thick, itchy patches of red skin and silvery scaling. The leading two layers of the skin are called the epidermis and dermis. New cells at rock bottom of the epidermis constantly move up and replace the older cells above them. Normally, it takes one month for cells to form this journey. In psoriasis, cells reach the skin surface in just six to eight days. This particularly happens due to a poor immune system. However, it is extremely common in fair skin people and adults.
How does it happen?
Scientists think that your immune system mistakes certain natural substances in your skin as foreign invaders. This causes your immune system to perform a counterattack called an inflammatory response. Inflammation stands as a series of changes that occur in your skin. This will eventually include enlarged blood vessels along with the growth of more blood vessels. In addition, the growth of more immune cells in the area. This helps in forming groups and faster creation of new skin cells. Over time, this becomes a cycle. Likewise, damaged skin cells signal more immune cells to join the area. Eventually, this allows the skin cells to multiply rapidly and your skin gets thicker. Thus, this results in raised, itchy, and inflamed areas called plaques on the skin. Scientists also think that the chances of your having psoriasis can be passed from your family. It can pass through parts of your DNA through genes. If you are passed with it from your family then there are certain triggers that you should take care of:
- Skin injuries such as big bites.
- Dry skin or dry weather.
- Infections particularly- strep throat or skin infections.
- Stress.
- Smoking.
- Drinking alcohol.
- Certain medications.
Types of psoriasis
There are five major types of psoriasis:
- Plaque psoriasis – It is the most common psoriasis. It appears in raised red patches along with a silvery-white buildup of dead skin cells. This appears common in the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower backs. They are often itchy and painful. Again, if they get cracked, they can bleed.
- Guttate psoriasis- A guttate psoriasis is a form of psoriasis that appears as small dot-like lesions. We can often see it in some children or young adults. This can further stand triggered by a strep infection. About 10% of psoriasis-affected people have guttate psoriasis.
- Inverse psoriasis- This comes out as extremely red lesions in body folds. Particularly, behind the knee, under the arm, or in the groin. Besides, it may appear smooth and shiny.
- Pustular psoriasis- It stands characterized by white pustules or blisters of non-infectious pus. Moreover, it stands surrounded by red skin. It has the tendency to occur in any part of the body. But occurs often on the hands or feet.
- Erythrodermic psoriasis- This is a severe form of psoriasis that directs to extensive fiery redness that spreads all over most of the body parts. It can particularly cause severe itching and pain.
Symptoms
- One or more raised red skin patches with silver scales on your scalp, elbows, knees, low backs, or buttocks.
- One may also notice skin patches that might occur on your eyebrows, armpits, belly, around the anus, or between your buttocks.
- The patches may itch or hurt.
- Some people with psoriasis may also face other symptoms such as swollen, painful joints or pus-filled blisters.
- Sometimes your fingernails might misshapen, thick, and pitted.
When to see a doctor?
It is always safe to see a doctor when you suspect you have psoriasis on any part of your body. Also, consult a doctor immediately if your psoriasis evolves severely or is widespread. Again, when it causes you discomfort, pain, change in the skin, joint problems. Particularly, when it does not improve with normal treatments. Doctors can usually tell you if you have psoriasis by looking at your skin patches. If still there remains any confusion the doctor will ask you for certain tests. They will take a sample of your skin and look at the microscope. This is known as a biopsy. The treatments will include medicines to put on your skin. Again, phototherapy where UV light will shine on your skin to heal. Furthermore, pills or shots are also used to treat psoriasis. Some of the medicines can possess side effects. So, they are only used to treat severe cases.
- Published in Basic Wellness
Habits that are taking you closer to cardiac arrest
In these uncertain times when the world is battling with the covid-19 pandemic, it is quite natural that our lifestyle and habits took a turn for the worse. Therefore our overall health practices are no longer a consistent part of our lifestyle. We no longer take part in physical movement and our eating habits are just as bad enough. But among all this chaos the most overlooked part of our health is our heart. According to WHO an estimated 17 million people died from Cardiovascular Diseases in 2019 and 85% of those deaths were due to cardiac arrest and stroke. Moreover, most of the deaths related to cardiac arrest can be prevented by addressing behavioral risk factors. Also, these habits take you closer to cardiac arrests among many other related complications.
So what is cardiac arrest?
According to heart.org, cardiac arrest is defined as the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have any prior heart condition. While a heart attack is the stoppage of blood flow in the arteries of the heart resulting in the death of heart muscle tissue, on the other hand, cardiac arrest is due to the malfunction of the heart-pumping mechanism resulting in the arrested heartbeats and eventually death. Common signs include loss of consciousness along with irregular or absent breathing. Before entering cardiac arrest, individuals may also experience chest pain or nausea.
Habits that are taking you closer to cardiac arrest
1. You are an active smoker
If you want to reduce your risk of cardiac arrest to a great extent, it is essential to avoid smoke in any way, shape, or form. Smoking tobacco damages the heart and blood vessels and can raise your blood pressure that consequently leads to the malfunction of the heart muscle. That said it is tough to quit smoking or change your lifestyle to avoid second-hand smoke, so do not be afraid to ask for support and try a variety of approaches until you find the right fit.
2. You indulge in heavy alcohol consumption.
The risk of heart attack is increased due to the heavy consumption of alcohol because it leads to an increase in blood pressure. That said, you do not have to quit alcohol completely to keep your heart healthy, but it is smart to cut back to the recommended maximum of two drinks a day for men and one drink per day for women.
3. You do not have a proper diet.
You might not like to spend much time looking at your plate. But overlooking your nutritional needs and food consumption habits will have a great consequence. Food does not need to be boring to provide you with all the nutrition. A balanced diet that has delicious foods like olive oil, fish, lean protein, nuts, fruit, and whole grains can satisfy those taste buds and also can keep your bad cholesterol in check which will lead to a healthy heart. These types of food also help in keeping your heart healthy, thanks to the good fats, fiber, and nutrients. Plus, all these types of food are readily available across all stores.
4. You do not exercise much.
Physical activity is one of the greatest things that can help you cut down your weight, tone out those muscles, and most importantly prevent you from having chronic heart conditions. If you spend all your time sitting around, chances are that you have already damaged your health in certain ways. Any type of physical activity is better than none. You do not need fancy equipment and fitness instructors to start your health journey. Start by taking long walks, stretching, or doing some jumping jacks, which does not need any technique and anyone would be able to accomplish.
5. You skip the annual health check-ups.
Healthcare specialists always suggest undergoing a complete medical checkup every year. Skipping health checkups might keep you in the dark about your health stats on cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar, which can eventually lead to sudden bouts of cardiac arrest.
Be consistent with your choice
Everything being said, Rome was not built in a day, in other words, lifestyle changes are not something that can be implemented in our life suddenly. Practice makes perfect and therefore you need to be mindful about your practices to add these changes slowly but regularly. Whether your goal is to quit alcohol or to start a healthy diet, try to implement a single habit at a time. Trying everything at once will lead to confusion and demotivation. Moreover, becoming more curious on the health front will make you accountable for your unhealthy habits. It ensures that you are well prepared for any emergencies that might need medical attention. Also, try to encourage others to keep a tab on their health. This will motivate you to continue yours and leads to the overall betterment of the community.
In short, try to keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to live a happy and healthy life. This is possible by keeping aside the bad habits and being responsible about our daily choices.
- Published in Basic Wellness
What happens in Electroconvulsive Therapy?
ECT is the abbreviation for Electroconvulsive therapy. It refers to a laboratory procedure in which the patient is given small electric current shocks to cause variation in brain and brain products. Electrodes help in supplying the electric current to the scalp of the patient to induce seizures. ECT helps in treating people suffering from severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder. Moreover, it must be noted that Electroconvulsive therapy is not a routine procedure. When other therapies such as psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, medications, etc. prove ineffective, doctors recommend ECT.
Reasons and uses of electroconvulsive therapy
Depression
ECT helps in treating patients with severe depression/ major depressive disorder. Depression refers to a mental condition in which one’s mood is affected severely. In addition, it is accompanied by loss of appetite, mood swings, feelings of sadness, and lack of interest in activities. Particularly, when this condition occurs with psychosis, desire to starve, suicidal thoughts, or actions, ECT is used.
Mania
Mania is a distinct episode occurring in people with bipolar disorder. It causes abnormal heart rate, an exaggerated sense of self-confidence, racing thoughts, affects the sleeping cycle, reduces concentration, and hampers the patient’s ability to make decisions. In addition, mania causes psychosis, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. So, electric current helps in changing the brain activity to control the behavior of the patient.
Catatonia
Catatonia is a behavioral syndrome that leads to an inability to move, speak, and other strange behaviors. For instance, a person with catatonia may make loud exclamations for no apparent reason. A catatonic person can cause massive self-harm by refusing to eat and drink water. So, researchers suggest that Electroconvulsive therapy can be successfully used for catatonic patients when medications do not work.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that causes hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and abnormal behavior in affected individuals. In addition, it also causes disturbances in emotions observed through facial features and body language. If therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychological treatment do not work, ECT proves useful to treat schizophrenia.
Complications associated with Electroconvulsive Therapy
Mental confusion
As ECT involves the transfer of electric current from the source to the scalp, various complications occur due to it. Immediately after the application of electroconvulsive therapy, patients can experience mental confusion. This confusion can last from several minutes to hours to days. Generally, young adults show signs of mental confusion post ECT.
Loss of memory
Researchers suggest that many people face loss of memory post electroconvulsive therapy. Patients face a lot of trouble remembering events and activities before therapy and even months before therapy. However, memory loss problems improve within months post-treatment.
Physical problems
Our brain is responsible for controlling, monitoring, and regulating body movements and processes. So, after the administration of electric current, some people experience nausea, muscular pain, body ache, and pain in the jaw.
Other complications
Changes in blood pressure, elevation in heart rate, and similar problems with heart occur post ECT. Anesthesia elevates the risk factors.
The procedure of Electroconvulsive Therapy
Hospital staff advises and instruct patients to undergo certain dietary restrictions before the procedure. These include restrictions on food products and consumption of only water before therapy. Then, at the time of therapy, the healthcare professionals inject anesthesia into the patients. Thereafter, the doctor checks the heart and lungs of the patients. After this, the healthcare provider inserts an intravenous line into the patient’s arm. Finally, the healthcare providers place electrode pads on the head.
What to expect after Electroconvulsive therapy?
As stated, electroconvulsive therapy is only helpful when other therapies prove ineffective and insufficient. ECT helps to improve the patient’s condition. Technically, a person observes improvement after six ECT treatments. This therapy helps in changing brain activity and induces the release of certain chemicals that help in altering and managing negative movements and behavior. Such chemical changes help decrease the symptoms of several mental health diseases. However, after ECT, a patient requires medications and psychotherapy (psychological counseling). It helps in managing psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. In addition, ECT helps in controlling negative thoughts and emotions. It is also used to treat pregnant mothers to avoid the harmful effects of medication/ drugs on the fetus.
- Published in Basic Wellness
About Covid Variants And Coping Measures
“Scientists had warned that the variants- and in particular B.1.1.7- might lead to 4th wave in the US and that the already strained health care system might buckle”
-medical researchers
Spreading around the world since November 2019, coronavirus causes severe health and respiratory problems. However, the ever-changing and newly evolving strains of coronavirus make it more challenging to treat. Technically, viruses are nonliving organisms that replicate and grow in the host’s body. Viruses can evolve and transform to thrive in the environment. For instance, coronavirus changes to resist the treatment or survive in extreme environments. Aerosols refer to the minute droplets or particles occurring while sneezing or coughing. These particles are the main cause of SARS-CoV-2.
About Coronavirus
An infected person’s cough, sneeze, or breath is the cause of infection. Coronavirus affects the respiratory tract of people thereby causing breathing problems and dry cough. It can also cause inflation of the lungs making it difficult to breathe. In addition, it weakens the immunological system of the infected person.
The general signs and symptoms associated with the various variants of coronavirus include
- High fever and chills
- Severe headaches, muscle aches, and pains
- Dry cough
- Trouble in respiration and shortness of breath
- Diarrhea
- Sore throat
- Feeling of pressure in the chest area or chest pain
- Extreme fatigue or tiredness
- Vomiting or nausea
- Skin discoloration
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized covid-19 vaccinations that help in reducing the severity of infection. In addition, they help in decreasing the risk of hospitalization and death.
Various Variants Of Coronavirus
Delta- B.1.617.2
First identified in India, it is one of the fastest spreading variants in the United States. It is highly contagious. It can cause serious problems in unvaccinated people such as illness, respiratory problems, and death. The primary symptoms associated with the Delta variant include chills, sore throat, headache, and runny nose. Along with vaccinations, wearing masks is one of the most essential preventive measures to avoid the spread of delta variants. In addition, it is essential to maintain public hygiene and practice social distancing. Monoclonal antibody treatments and Covid vaccinations are effective for fighting delta coronavirus variants. In this therapy, laboratory-prepared antibodies are made and given to the patient.
Alpha- B.1.1.7
The Alpha coronavirus was first identified in the United Kingdom. It causes severe illness among the infected people. This strain of covid-19 spreads more quickly compared to the delta variant. High fever, severe headaches, loss of appetite, and body aches are the main symptoms associated with this variant. In addition, the Alpha variant leads to an elevated risk of hospitalization and death. So, according to the vaccine manufacturing companies, all the Vaccines produced are effective against Alpha variants.
Beta- B.1.351
This variant was first identified in South Africa. It has more than a 50% transmission rate compared to other Covid-19 variants. It decreases the efficacy of monoclonal antibody medications used for treating coronavirus.
Gamma- P.1
The gamma variant of coronavirus was first identified in Japan and Brazil. It does not cause severe illness or death compared to other variants. Just like the beta variant, it also reduces the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody medications used for treating coronavirus.
Ensure taking necessary precautions
All the people in the world have been fighting against coronavirus for a long time. Therefore, always take necessary precautions. It is essential to regularly disinfect the hands with alcohol-based hand rub or hand sanitizers. Wear face masks to prevent infection. In addition, cover your nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing. So, the coronavirus leads to the weakening of the immunological system of the infected person. It is also advised to refrain from smoking as it harms the respiratory system.
If a person suspects having coronavirus, they must get tested immediately. Furthermore, avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated places. Vaccines are the sword for fighting covid-19. The approved vaccines are safe and effective thereby helping in reducing the severity of infection and risk of death. Avoid miscommunication and misconceptions about vaccines. Only rely on official sources, pages, and news for vaccines updates. Moreover, it is advised that unvaccinated people and children follow strict preventive measures and hygiene precautions.
- Published in Basic Wellness
