Wegener Granulomatosis -inflammation of blood vessel

Wegener Granulomatosis
Wegener Granulomatosis is an inflammation of blood vessel that affects the lungs, kidney and other major organs of the body. If not taken proper prevention and treatment it is a life-threatening disease. However this requires a long term immune suppressant treatment. The disease was discovered in 1936 by the physician Dr. Friedrich Wegener. Reports states that Wegener's granulomatosis affects small and medium-sized vessels, it is formally classified as one of the small vessel vasculatures in the Chapel Hill system. Wegener's granulomatosis usually affects young or middle-aged adults. Although it is uncommon in children, it can affect people at any age.
Symptoms of Wegener Granulomatosis:
This syndrome usually shows no specific nature of symptoms. Generally the patients show the first signs of Rhinitis. Other progressive symptoms are:

• Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
• Nose bleeding, loss of hearing,
• Underlying bone destruction and loosening of teeth
• Conjunctivitis
• bronchial stenosis
• Arthritis
• Feeling fatigue and weight loss along with fevers
• shortness of breath
• skin nodules or ulcers
• Chest pain
• Cough, with or without blood
• Voice change, wheezing, or shortness of breath caused by inflammation of the trachea

Other possible symptoms include:

• Eye inflammation or bulging, with or without loss of vision
• muscle pain
• Rashes or skin sores
• Kidney inflammation

Causes:
The major cause of Wegener's granulomatosis is not known. Wegener's granulomatosis is a rare disorder in which blood vessels become inflamed, making it hard for blood to flow. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. Wegener granulomatosis is typically suspected only when a patient has had baffling symptoms for a long period of time. Lab findings of patients with Wegener's granulomatosis include urine tests that detect protein and red blood cells in their urine and x-ray tests of the chest and sinuses detects abnormalities resulting from lung and sinus inflammation
To the presence of Wegener granulomatosis your doctor may suggest one of the following:

• Bronchoscopy with biopsy
• Kidney biopsy
• Nasal mucosal biopsy
• Open lung biopsy
• Skin biopsy
• Upper airway biopsy

Other tests that may be done include:

• Bone marrow aspiration
• Chest CT scan
• Chest x-ray

Treatment:
Medicines used to treat Wegener's granulomatosis include:

• Azathioprine
• Cyclophosphamide
• Methotrexate

The critical part of these medicines are that they may cause serious side effects and it is recommended that you should carefully discuss your treatment plan with your doctor, before intake of these medicines.
Other medicines may be prescribed, including:

• Bisphosphonate  to prevent bone loss caused by prednisone
• Folic acid or folinic acid
• methotrexate Trimethoprim to prevent lung infections
• Glucocorticoid drugs
• Cytotoxic drugs

Some patients do require a low dose of prednisone to sustain remission. The ideal duration of treatment with the other immunosuppressive medications is uncertain. Indeed many patients who have milder forms of WG can be treated without cyclophosphamide; being able to achieve remission with agents such as methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil or rituximab. The treatment used for Wegener Granulomatosis has also been successfully applied to other vasculitic diseases.
However, due to the increased risk of developing serious infections, these drugs suppress the immune systems and can also result in reactions like eight gain, cataracts, brittle bones, high blood pressure, diabetes, and changes in mood and personality. Because the medicines used to treat WG can have serious side effects, patients are monitored closely by their doctor. The dosage of medicine is adjusted as needed throughout the course of treatment.

Emphysema causes difficulty to breath

Emphysema is a disease that affects lungs and causes difficulty to breath. Air sacs and airways to lungs are damaged and this causes difficulty in exhaling. Disease develops very slowly and by the time you identify the disease it might have caused irreversible damage.

Symptoms

Hyperventilation, difficulty to exhale, expanded chest, reduced capacity of physical activity, mild or chronic cough, weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue etc. You will find it tough to breath when lying or when you have flu or such disease.

Causes

Disease is caused by exposure to toxic substances or long term use of tobacco smoke. Tissues of lungs loss elasticity and airways to lungs get damaged causing difficulty to exhale. Walls of air sacs are destroyed of which it loses elasticity. Air you inhaled gets trapped in air sacs and t will be difficult to exhale. Protein deficiency is another reason. Deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt) is hereditary. Occupational exposure to dust or chemical fumes are also likely to cause the disease. Exposure to secondary smoke, HIV, connective tissue disorders and heredity are other causes.

Treatment

Treatment is given for relieving the symptoms and to avoid further complications. For smokers the first step is to stop smoking to reduce further damage. For this a comprehensive smoking cessation plan is developed and medications like nicotine gum and medicines like bupropion hydrochloride (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix) are given to reduce problems after quitting smoking. Patients must also avoid air pollution.

Drugs like bronchodilators for relieving cough and breathing difficulties, inhaled steroids in case of emphysema associated with asthma, oxygen supplement for those with low blood oxygen levels are also given. Infusion of AAt protein, antibiotics to reduce infection due to pneumonia or influenza etc are also given. Lung volume reduction surgery is done to remove damaged lung tissue. Lung transplant is done in case of severe emphysema. Pulmonary rehabilitation program which includes exercise, education and behavioral intervention to help for independent living.

Exercise to strengthen air diaphragm is a must. Influenza immunization must be taken every year. Strengthening is very necessary through exercises like walking. Extra mucus must be removed through proper exercise or lying positions. You must avoid dust, fumes, smoke, air pollution, extreme temperatures, respiratory infections etc. Nutrition level of body must be maintained. Regular exercise is the most effective treatment through which you can improve the exhaling capacity.

Yet another treatment developed by doctors is investigational therapy in which a miniature one way valve in lungs of emphysema patient and therapy is called endobronchial valve procedure. This is not a surgery. Oxygen therapy is another method in which oxygen is administered to patient in particular measurement. Pulmonary rehabilitation to improve quality of life is another treatment.

Links


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/emphysema/DS00296


http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/149/main.html


http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/emphysema.htm


http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/copd/lvrs.cfm


http://www.emedicinehealth.com/emphysema/article_em.htm


http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/choosingtreatme2/a/emphystreatment.htm


http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/choosingtreatme2/Treatment_Options_for_Emphysema.htm


http://emphysema.org/


http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/pulmonary/copd/conditions/emphysema/treatments.html

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Asthma - Try Homeopathy as an alternative medicine

Asthma is a conditon in which you find difficulty in breathing. It is a chronic disease that partially blocks the airways of lungs. Inside walls of airways becomes sensitive due to swelling and narrower causing difficulty in breathing. Asthma is divided in to four: mild intermittent (symptoms occur in normal intervals but yur lngs function normally), mild persistent asthma (symptoms occur more than twice a week and feel difficulty at night), moderate persistent asthma (symptoms come every day and at night it is more severe), severe persistent asthma(symptom comes every day at any time and at night you find more difficulty vey often). Mostly children (boys) are affected with asthma.

Symptoms

Wheezing, coughing, Nasal flaring, Sweating, chest tightness, chest pain, difficulty to breath, Rapid pulse, discoloration of lips in some cases etc. When the symptoms are worse condition is called asthma attack. Symptoms intensity and duration are different for each person. For some symptoms occur often and for some during exercise or when exposed to some diseases.

Causes

Allergy to various materials like dust, pollen, mold, smoke, pets, tension, air pollution etc can act as triggers to asthma. Asthma occurs due to genetic reasons and environmental changes. Medications like aspirin and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease are also reasons for asthma. Preservatives in some preserved foods can also cause asthma. Its usually a life long disease and gets chronic. Obesity and exposure to smoke is also a reason.

Treatment

Asthma is incurable, but can be controlled. For this you have to know about asthma in depth. Regular check up and following the directions of doctor strictly will help. Keep away from things for which you are allergic. Medications for allergy can help to keep asthma under control and to keep away from its symptoms.

Two types of medicines are usually used in asthma. Medicines for quick relief for immediate relief and long term medicines to control symptoms and attacks. Usually inhalers which are bronchodilators are used for quick relief and it is very important for preventing asthma symptoms. They are of many types and proper methods must be known. They help to relax the muscles in airways and thus help for free flow of air. It must be used with the appearence of symptoms and must be always carried with as the attack may occur at any time. Short-acting beta-2 agonists, Ipratropium (Atrovent), Oral and intravenous corticosteroids etc are used.

Among long term medicine corticosteroids like Fluticasone, Budesonide etc is most widely used, for preventing swelling of airways. Corticosteroid are inhaled to control all types of persistent asthma. Steroids are also used in cases of severe asthma. Beta agonists that act for long period are inhaled against night time symptoms. Leukotriene modifiers like zafirlukast with inhaled corticosteroids are given. Cromolyn , nedocromil or theophylline for mild asthma and theophylline with inhaled corticosteroids for persistent asthma which are moderate. Those who use theophylline should check blood level frequently to use appropriate dose. patients can even use drug cocktile. Suddenly stopping long term medicines will worsen asthma. You can use a peak flow meter to know the working condition of lungs. Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs), Leukotriene modifiers, Cromolyn and nedocromil, Theophylline etc are also used.

Children must be given proper advice and assistance of parents. During pregnancy asthma must be kept under control or else it might affect the child. Most of the medicines are safe during pregnancy. Using of corticosteroids can cause side effects like cough, loss of voice, slow growth in children etc. Immunotherapy, Anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies, Xolair in children above 12 years (by injection ), Omalizumab are also given.

Alternative medicine

Homeopathy is the most commonly used alternative medicine to treat asthma. In this method bodies defensive power is enhanced and patient is helped to lesd a healthy life. Acupuncture, Relaxation techniques, ayurveda, herbal medicine, folk medicines, Music therapy, Laser therapy etc are also used.

Links

http://www.asthma.net.in/app/asthma.asp

http://mohfw.nic.in/brochial%20asthma_final.pdf

http://asthmaticbronchitis.com/app/default.asp

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html

http://www.asthma.net.in/app/more_about_homeopathy_asthma.asp

http://www.noattacks.org/about.html

http://www.asthma.net.in/app/conventional-treatment.asp

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_Causes.html

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=19&cont=254

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/DS00021/DSECTION=8

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma-medications/AP00008

http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/244/main.html