It started with feeling a little run down after working extra hard, perhaps
there was some lightheadedness when he stood too quickly, and then came the
fatigue. The baseball world blamed Ichiro Suzuki's malaise on playing too
much in the World Baseball Classic. During spring training, baseball players are
supposed to lounge and gradually get themselves into shape,
not play like it's the World Series in October. But the baseball world was
wrong. It was discovered in April 2009 that Ichiro was tired because he was
anemic and because
he was bleeding from an ulcer.
The scenario plays out routinely off the playing field too often. A person
feels run down and blames it on all sorts of circumstances, but finally presents
to their doctor to get some help. The clues come from the history of heartburn
and indigestion, or maybe it was the extra aspirin or ibuprofen to help with
the stress headaches at work. There may be a little tenderness in the belly, and
after some coercion on the part of the doctor, the patient agrees to a rectal
exam. It shows that the stool has occult blood in it; that is blood that cannot
be seen with the naked eye but shows up with a chemical test. A blood test (CBC) shows
that the patient is anemic, meaning there is a low
red blood cell count. Put the
clues together and the doctor tells the patient that the fatigue and tiredness
is due to bleeding....
A peptic ulcer is a hole in the gut lining of the stomach,
duodenum, or
esophagus. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric
ulcer; of the
duodenum, a duodenal ulcer; and of the esophagus, an esophageal
ulcer. An
ulcer occurs when the lining of these organs is corroded by the
acidic
digestive juices which are secreted by the stomach cells.
Peptic ulcer
disease is common, affecting millions of Americans yearly. The
medical
cost of treating peptic ulcer and its complications runs in the
billions
of dollars annually. Recent medical advances have increased our
understanding of ulcer formation. Improved and expanded
treatment options
are now available.
What are the causes of peptic ulcers?
For many years, excess acid was believed to be the major cause
of ulcer
disease. Accordingly, treatment emphasis was on neutralizing and
inhibiting the secretion of stomach acid. While acid is still
considered
significant in ulcer formation, the leading cause of ulcer
disease is
currently believed to be infection of the stomach by a bacteria
called "Helicobacter pyloricus" (H. pylori). Another major cause of ulcers is
the chronic
use of anti-inflammatory medications, commonly referred to as
NSAIDs
(nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), including aspirin.
Cigarette
smoking is also an important cause of ulcer formation and ulcer
treatment
failure.
H. pylori bacteria is very common, infecting more than a
billion people
worldwide. It is estimated that half of the United States
population older
than age 60 has been infected with H. pylori. Infection usually
persists
for many years, leading to ulcer disease in 10 % to 15% of
those infected.
H. pylori is found in more than 80% of patients with gastric
and duodenal
ulcers. While the mechanism of how H. pylori causes ulcers is
not well
understood, elimination of this bacteria by antibiotics has
clearly been
shown to heal ulcers and prevent ulcer recurrence.
NSAIDs are medications for arthritis and other painful
inflammatory
conditions in the body. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn),
and etodolac (Lodine) are a few of the examples of this class of
medications. Prostaglandins are substances which are important
in helping
the gut linings resist corrosive acid damage. NSAIDs cause
ulcers by
interfering with prostaglandins in the stomach.
Cigarette smoking not only causes ulcer formation, but also
increases
the risk of ulcer complications such as ulcer bleeding, stomach
obstruction and perforation. Cigarette smoking is also a
leading cause of
ulcer medication treatment failure.
Contrary to popular belief, alcohol, coffee, colas, spicy
foods, and
caffeine have no proven role in ulcer formation. Similarly,
there is no
conclusive evidence to suggest that life stresses or
personality types
contribute to ulcer disease.
Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include light-headedness, dizziness, or even fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain. Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Blood clots can occur in the venous and arterial vascular system. Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract and uterus. Risk factors for blood clots include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Symptoms of a blood clot depend on the location of the clot. Some blood clots are a medical emergency. Blood clots are treated depending upon the cause of the clot. Blood clots can be prevented by lowering the risk factors for developing blood clots.
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition in which the acidified liquid
contents of the stomach backs up into the esophagus. The symptoms of uncomplicated GERD are heartburn,
regurgitation, and nausea. Effective treatment is available for most patients with GERD.
Though the cause of stomach cancer is unknown, risk factors for stomach cancer include diet, H. pylori infection, smoking age, gastritis, stomach surgery, family history, and pernicious anemia. Symptoms include stomach discomfort, feeling full after a small meal, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss. Treatment depends upon staging and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes chronic inflammation (gastritis) of the inner lining of the stomach in humans. This bacteria also is the most common cause of ulcers worldwide.
Dyspepsia (indigestion) is a functional disease in which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the stomach and first part of the small intestine, function abnormally. It is a chronic disease in which the symptoms fluctuate infrequency and intensity. Symptoms of dyspepsia include upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, early satiety, and abdominal distention (swelling). These symptoms are most often provoked by eating.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Causes of gastritis include drinking too much alcohol, medications such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, aspirin, H. pylori infection, severe infections, burns, anemia, and autoimmune disorders. Gastritis is diagnosed with endoscopy, blood tests, or stool tests. Treatment depends upon the cause of gastritis.
Prolactinoma is an adenoma (benign tumor) of the pituitary gland. Causes of many prolactinomas are unknown. Symptoms in women include changes in menstruation and infertility, decreased libido, or painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness. The most common symptom in men is impotence (erectile dysfunction). Treatment of prolactinomas are medication or surgery.
Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that may be caused by many conditions. Antiemetics are drugs that treat nausea and vomiting. Though some antiemetics for motion sickness and mild nausea are available over the counter (OTC), most require a medical evaluation and prescription.
Hypercalcemia is a condition in which calcium levels in the blood are elevated. Hypercalcemia is associated with other conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney failure, and elevated levels of vitamin D. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, kidney stones, to name a few. Treatment depends on the cause of hypercalcemia.
Iron is a mineral our bodies need. Iron deficiency is a condition resulting from not enough iron in the body. It is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause in the US. Iron deficiency is caused due to increased iron deficiency from diseases, nutritional deficiency, or blood loss and the body's inability to intake or absorb iron. Children, teen girls, pregnant women, and babies are at most risk for developing iron deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency include feeling weak and tired, decreased work or school performance, slow social development, difficulty maintaining body temperature, decreased immune function, and an inflamed tongue. Blood tests can confirm an iron deficiency in an individual. Treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. Proper diet that includes recommended daily allowances of iron may prevent some cases of iron deficiency.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed medications for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and more. One common side effect of NSAIDs is peptic ulcer (ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum). Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and patient safety information should be reviewed prior to taking NSAIDs.
Biologic rhythms, or biorhythms, are how our bodies respond to the regular phases of the sun, moon, and seasons. A medical chronobiologist studies how the "body clock" or biorhythms affect diseases and how the body clock responds to treatment of diseases and conditions at different times of the day.
Bernard-Soulier disease is a rare inherited bleeding disorder caused by a defect in the platelet glycoprotein complex 1b-IX-V. Symptoms and signs include bruising, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, and problems with anything that induces bleeding, such as surgery, ulcers, trauma, and menstruation. Treatment involves avoiding medications that interfere with clot formation, such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. People with Bernard-Soulier syndrome should avoid contact sports.
What are biologic rhythms? In essence, they're the rhythms of life. All forms
of life on earth, including our bodies, respond rhythmically to the regular
cycles of the sun, moon, and seasons.
For example, as night turns into day, vital body
functions, including heart
rate and blood pressure, speed
up in anticipation of increased physical activity. These and other predictable
fluctuations in body function, taking place during specific time cycles, are our
biologic rhythms. They are regulated by "biologic clock" mechanisms located in
the brain.
Although biologic rhythms can be "reprogrammed" by environmental influences
(such as when a person regularly works the night shift and sleeps during the
day), they are genetically "hard-wired" into our cells, tissues, and organs.
Medical chronobiologists have found that biologic rhythms can affect the
severity of disease symptoms, diagnostic test results, and eve...