“Health care providers can treat hemochromatosis safely and effectively by removing blood from the body on a regular basis. This is similar to donating blood. The process is known as phlebotomy.
The goal of phlebotomy is to lower your iron levels. The amount of blood removed and how often it’s removed depend on your age, your overall health and the severity of iron overload.”
MAYO CLINIC (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemochromatosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351448)
It can be tricky for your doctor to diagnose hemochromatosis, because other conditions have the same symptoms. He might want you to get tested if:
There are some other ways your doctor can figure out if you have it:
Checking your history. He’ll ask about your family and if anyone has hemochromatosis or signs of it. He might also ask about things like arthritis and liver disease, which might mean you or someone in your family has hemochromatosis but doesn’t know it.
Physical exam. Your doctor will examine your body. This involves using a stethoscope to listen to what’s going on inside. He might also tap on different parts of your body.
Blood tests. Two tests can give your doctor a clue about hemochromatosis:
If you have primary hemochromatosis, doctors treat it by removing blood from your body on a regular basis. It’s alot like donating blood. Your doctor will insert a needle into a vein in your arm or leg. The blood flows through the needle and into a tube that’s attached to a bag.
The goal is to remove some of your blood so that your iron levels return to normal. This could take up to a year or more. Blood removal is divided into two parts: initial treatment and maintenance treatment.
“Hemochromatosis is a metabolic disorder in which your organs accumulate excess iron, leading to organ damage. Hereditary hemochromatosis affects one in 300 people in the United States.”
John Hopkins Medicine (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hemochromatosis)
This is a problem with the Liver and in a nutshell it is IRON OVERLOAD!
Hemochromatosis (Hemo meaning blood, Chroma meaning change in color and Osis meaning swelling) is a condition where there is abnormal accumulation of iron in the organs resulting in organ toxicity. It is the most common autosomal recessive genetic condition along with being the most common cause of severe iron overload. 75 percent of patients who have hereditary hemochromatosis are asymptomatic. The diagnosis can be made based on the clinical symptoms of the disease. Since most patients are asymptomatic, they are diagnosed when their serum iron levels are noted to be elevated during a routine chemistry screening panel. Some of the tests performed on an individual suspected with hemochromatosis include genetic testing to test for HFE mutations, transferrin saturation levels, hepatic iron concentration, and serum ferritin studies. Imaging studies such as a chest radiography and echocardiography might be beneficial to help evaluate cardiac disease in patients with hemochromatosis.
Early diagnosis is important in hemochromatosis, like in most every other diagnosis.
The aim of therapy is to remove iron before it causes irreversible parenchymal damage. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, it is treated by phlebotomy to maintain normal iron stores and rid the body of excess iron. Chelation therapy uses agents such as deferoxamine, deferiprone, or deferasirox. Surgery may be required if there is end stage liver disease or severe arthropathy. In the United States, hereditary hemochromatosis is found in 1 of 200 to 500 individuals. Most of these cases are seen in individuals of northern European origin. It has the same prevalence in Australia, Europe, and other western countries. The highest prevalence is among individuals of Celtic origin and less among those of African descent.
1.) Fatigue and 2 types of fatigue, that would be:
Physical fatigue occurs when there is transient inability to achieve peak physical performance.
Mental fatigue is the temporary inability to maintain optimal cognitive performance. It is a common and non-specific symptom that can be seen in stress, overwork, depression, boredom, anemia, inadequate sleep, malnutrition, pregnancy, infections, and more. It can manifest as somnolence in patients.
2.) Impotence in patients with hemochromatosis is due to a result of hypogonadism. Hypogonadism can occur in hemochromatosis patients due to pituitary or testicular iron deposition.
3.) Arthropathy that’s a disease of a joint. In arthropathy, there can be joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased range of motion. Patients can see this occuring because of the accumulation of iron in the joint tissues. The most commonly affected joints are the knees, feet, wrists, neck, back, metacarpophalangeal joints, and proximal interphalangeal joints.
4.) It has been observed that 62 percent of patients with hemochromatosis experience partial loss of body hair. The most commonly affected area is the pubic area. Approximately 12 percent of patients experience total body hair loss. In some patients, the thinning and loss of hair may be reversed through therapy.
5.) Koilonychia refers to spoon nails where the nails are abnormally thin and have lost their convexity resulting in flat or concave nails. Causes of koilonychia include iron deficiency anemia and it can be seen in 25 to 50 percent of these patients.
6.) Skin Hyperpigmentation or Bronzing of the skin refers to darkening of the skin. It is due to the combination of melanin and iron deposition which is characteristic. It is one of the classic triad symptoms with the other two being cirrhosis and diabetes in the late stages of the disease. This usually occurs only when the total iron content in the body is more than 5 times the normal levels.
7.) Amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation in females who are in their reproductive age.
8.) In the heart it can cause the following: Atrial flutter is a problem with the way your heart beats. Such problems, whether in the rhythm or speed of the heartbeat, are known as arrhythmias. Heart Failure is the other.
In addition to these symptoms it can also cause problems with the spleen, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, gallbladder or thyroid.
For helping in possible PREVENTION of this diagnosis and most others stay as healthy as possible and get yearly check ups to pick up this or any other diagnosis EARLY!! In so many cases of diseases the early picked up or diagnosed the better the results turn out in most cases. When a disease just start in your body is being treated compared to late in the disease higher the odds will resolve or you will last longer with a better quality of life, just like with so many other diseases!
“Preeclampsia is a serious condition that can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy or after giving birth (called postpartum preeclampsia). Most people who have preeclampsia have dangerously high blood pressure and may have problems with their kidneys or liver. Blood pressure is the force of blood that pushes against the artery walls. An artery is a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. High blood pressure (also called hypertension) can stress the heart and cause problems during pregnancy.”
March of Dimes (https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/pregnancy/preeclampsia)
The Box below shows the organs Pre-eclampsia can effect:
Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs only during pregnancy. Some symptoms may include high blood pressure and protein in the urine, occurring after week 20 of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is often precluded by gestational hypertension. While high blood pressure during pregnancy does not necessarily indicate preeclampsia, it may be a sign of another problem. The condition affects at least 5-8% of pregnancies.
Preeclampsia, formerly called toxemia, is when a pregnant woman has high blood pressure, protein in her urine, and swelling in her legs, feet, and hands. It can range from mild to severe. It usually happens late in pregnancy, though it can come earlier or just after delivery.
Preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a serious condition that can have health risks for mom and baby and, in rare cases, cause death. Women with preeclampsia who have seizures have eclampsia.
If you have a mild case and your baby has not reached full development, your doctor will probably recommend you do the following:
If you have a severe case, your doctor may try to treat you with blood pressure medication until you are far enough along to deliver safely, along with possibly bed rest, dietary changes, and supplements.
The only cure for preeclampsia is to give birth. Even after delivery, symptoms of preeclampsia can last 1 to 6 weeks or more.
You can help protect yourself by learning the symptoms of preeclampsia and by seeing your doctor for regular prenatal care. Catching preeclampsia early may lower the chances of long-term problems for both mom and baby.
For many years preeclampsia has been considered to be a two-stage disease. The first stage comprises poor placentation. The second stage is the clinical expression of the disease namely new hypertension and new proteinuria in the patient.
Many experts think preeclampsia and eclampsia happen when a woman’s placenta doesn’t work the way it should, but they don’t know exactly why. Some think poor nutrition or high body fat might contribute. A lack of blood flow to the uterus could play a role. Genes are also a factor.
At each prenatal checkup, your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure, urine levels, and may order blood tests which may show if you have preeclampsia. Your physician may also perform other tests that include: checking kidney and blood-clotting functions; ultrasound scan to check your baby’s growth; and Doppler scan to measure the efficiency of blood flow to the placenta.
Preeclampsia sometimes develops without any symptoms. High blood pressure may develop slowly, or it may have a sudden onset. Monitoring your blood pressure is an important part of prenatal care because the first sign of preeclampsia is commonly a rise in blood pressure. Blood pressure that exceeds 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater — documented on two occasions, at least four hours apart — is abnormal.
Other signs and symptoms of preeclampsia may include:
Make sure you attend your prenatal visits so that your health care provider can monitor your blood pressure. Contact your provider immediately or go to an emergency room if you have severe headaches, blurred vision or other visual disturbances, severe belly pain, or severe shortness of breath.
Because headaches, nausea, and aches and pains are common pregnancy complaints, it’s difficult to know when new symptoms are simply part of being pregnant and when they may indicate a serious problem — especially if it’s your first pregnancy. If you’re concerned about your symptoms, contact your doctor.
The best clinical evidence for prevention of preeclampsia is the use of low-dose aspirin. Your primary care provider may recommend taking an 81-milligram aspirin tablet daily after 12 weeks of pregnancy if you have one high-risk factor for preeclampsia or more than one moderate-risk factor.
It’s important that you talk with your provider before taking any medications, vitamins or supplements to make sure it’s safe for you.
Before you become pregnant, especially if you’ve had preeclampsia before, it’s a good idea to be as healthy as you can be. Talk to your provider about managing any conditions that increase the risk of preeclampsia.
“July is recognized as Cord Blood Awareness Month. This month aims to educate people about cord blood donation and storage benefits. Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born.
Public cord blood banking is free and will provide life-saving benefits to a family in need. Once you donate your cord blood, however, you no longer have rights to those stem cells. If your child or family member is in need of cord blood stem cells, there is no guarantee that you or children can use their own cells. With private cord blood banking, there are fees but you own the cells. Your full rights to use it are preserved, and it is always immediately available to you.”
New England Cord Blood Bank – NECBB (https://www.cordbloodbank.com/july-cord-blood-awareness-month/)
July is National Cord Blood Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to learn more about cord blood—a biological product regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Found in the blood vessels of the placenta and the umbilical cord, cord blood is collected after a baby is born and after the umbilical cord is cut—an important point.
“Because cord blood is typically collected after the baby is delivered and the cord is cut, the procedure is generally safe for the mother and baby,” explains Keith Wonnacott, Ph.D., Chief of the Cellular Therapies Branch in FDA’s Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies.
Cord blood is approved only for use in “hematopoietic stem cell transplantation” procedures, which are done in patients with disorders affecting the hematopoietic (blood forming) system. Cord blood contains blood-forming stem cells that can be used in the treatment of patients with blood cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas, as well as certain disorders of the blood and immune systems, such as sickle cell disease and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.
“Cord blood is useful because it is a source of stem cells that form into blood cells. Cord blood can be used for transplantation in people who need regeneration, that is, ‘regrowth,’ of these blood-forming cells,” Wonnacott says.
For instance, in many cancer patients, the disease is found in the blood cells. Chemotherapy treatment of these patients kills both cancer cells and the healthy blood-forming stem cells. Transplanted stem cells from cord blood can help regrow the healthy blood cells after the chemotherapy.
However, cord blood is not a cure-all.
“Because cord blood contains stem cells, there have been stem cell fraud cases related to cord blood,” says Wonnacott. “Consumers may think that stem cells can cure any disease, but science doesn’t show this to be the case. Patients should be skeptical if cord blood is being promoted for uses other than blood stem cell regeneration.”
After cord blood is collected, it is frozen and can be safely stored for many years. “The method of freezing, called ‘cryopreservation,’ is very important to maintain the integrity of the cells,” Wonnacott says. “Cord blood needs to be stored carefully.”
You may choose to store your baby’s cord blood in a private bank so it can be available if needed in the future by your child or first- or second-degree relatives. Private cord banks typically charge fees for blood collection and storage.
Or you may donate the cord blood to a public bank so that doctors can use for a patient who needs a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
FDA regulates cord blood in different ways, depending on the source, level of processing and intended use.
Cord blood stored for personal use, for use in first- or second-degree relatives, and that also meets other criteria in FDA’s regulations, does not require the agency’s approval before use. Private cord banks must still comply with other FDA requirements, including establishment registration and listing, current good tissue practice regulations, and donor screening and testing for infectious diseases (except when cord blood is used for the original donor). These FDA requirements ensure safety of these products by minimizing the risk of contamination and transmission of infectious diseases.
Cord blood stored for use by a patient unrelated to the donor meets the legal definitions of both a “drug” and a “biological product.” Cord blood in this category must meet additional requirements and be licensed under a biologics license application, or be the subject of an investigational new drug application before use. The FDA requirements help to ensure that these products are safe and effective for their intended use.
Not every cord blood unit will meet requirements for public banking, adds Safa Karandish, M.T., an FDA consumer safety officer. If that happens, some of this donated cord blood may be used for non-clinical research.
“With warmer weather finally arriving, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) wants residents to enjoy favorite activities while also avoiding certain illnesses often linked with summer fun.
“If not done safely, many warm weather activities can sometimes cause unpleasant stomach-related symptoms and occasionally serious illness,” says Courtney Tillman, epidemiologist with WDH.
Diseases such as cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis and shigellosis are diarrheal illnesses caused by swallowing water from pools or outdoor sources contaminated with animal or human feces. These illnesses, along with salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis and E. coli-related illnesses, can also result from direct contact with animals or their feces during animal-related activities such as brandings or petting zoos.
Matt Peterson, another WDH epidemiologist, said, “Every spring in Wyoming, we begin seeing new cases of salmonellosis linked to backyard poultry.” Most of these cases are children under 5 who have touched or held baby poultry in ranch supply stores or whose family have recently acquired baby poultry. Young children are more likely to get sick with Salmonella because their immune systems are still developing and they are more likely to put their fingers or other items with germs into their mouths.
“Do not let young children touch live poultry (including chicks and ducklings) or touch anything in the area where the birds live and roam,” Peterson cautions. “Backyard poultry can have Salmonella germs in their poop and on their bodies even when they look healthy and clean. The germs spread easily to their cages, coops, hay, plants and soil in the areas they live and roam.”
Tillman added, “You should always wash your hands after coming into contact with animals or their habitats. It’s best to clean hands with running water and soap. If you can’t immediately access running water and soap, use hand sanitizer until you’re able to wash your hands.”
“Water sources and animals may look clean, but can still be contaminated,” Tillman said.
Simple things we can do to help protect ourselves and others include:
• DO stay out of the water if sick with diarrhea.
• DO shower before getting in the water. When chlorine mixes with dirt, sweat, pee and poop, there is less chlorine available to kill germs.
• DO take kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers every hour. Change diapers away from the water to keep germs from getting in.
• DO dry ears thoroughly with a towel after getting out of the water.
• DO boil or use a filter or solution designed to remove germs from streams, rivers and lakes before drinking.
• DO wash hands thoroughly after coming into contact with animals and their habitats, before preparing food and before eating and drinking.
Actions to avoid include:
• DON’T swallow swimming water and avoid getting water in the mouth.
• DON’T poop or pee in swimming water.
• DON’T sit or stand on jets at splash pads. Sitting or standing on jets can rinse poop off butts.
• DON’T let children kiss animals or put objects in their mouths after touching animals.
• DON’T touch wild animals or their carcasses. If concerned about a wild animal or animal carcass, contact your local animal control office.
Wyoming Department of Health (https://health.wyo.gov/dos-and-donts-to-help-avoid-common-summer-illnesses/)
We normally associate illness with winter, mainly because it’s the time of year we tend to get colds and flu.
However, there is no shortage of ailments and conditions that make life unpleasant and spoil our fun during the summer months.
The following are examples of health issues associated with summer:
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Prevention and Control), every year around 3,000 Americans die from foodborne diseases.
Warm weather encourages bacteria to multiply, and who doesn’t enjoy barbeques and picnics during summer? Food that is prepared in advance and allowed to stand in the heat creates the perfect conditions for contamination and food poisoning.
Pre-prepared food should be handled hygienically, stored safely and kept cool if possible. It’s also better to choose foods that don’t spoil as easily or can be freshly prepared at your destination.
NHS Choices explains that most cases of food poisoning can be treated at home and do not require medical advice, and that most people will feel better in a matter of days. It is however important to replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea.
If symptoms are severe, you may need to be admitted to hospital for a few days and given intravenous hydration.
Heat rash is a red or pink rash usually found on areas of the body that are covered with clothing. It happens during hot humid conditions and is most common in children. Heat rash develops when sweat ducts become blocked and swell up, looking like dots or tiny pimples on the skin. It often causes discomfort and itching.
Heat rash usually heals on its own in a matter of days and doesn’t require medical attention. In some cases the rash gets infected with symptoms like pain, swelling and pus. If this happens, be sure to see your doctor.
We all like to spend time in the water during summer, and Dennis Maki, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, warns of the risk of bacterial infections and other water-borne illnesses as a result of taking part in recreational water activities.
Germs that turn up in swimming pool water include bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, Camplobacter, noroviruses, and parasites. While treatment with chlorine can kill germs in swimming pools, it takes time for the chlorine to do its job.
Crypto is the most common cause of diarrhea outbreaks linked with swimming pools or water parks because it can survive up to 10 days in chlorinated water. … Infections can cause watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting, and can lead to dehydration. CDC states “Crypto is highly resistant to chlorine, which makes it hard to kill once it’s in the water. Swallowing just a mouthful of water with crypto in it can make otherwise healthy kids and adults sick for weeks with watery diarrhea, stomach cramps , nausea, and vomiting,” says Michele Hlavsa, chief of the CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program. Every year, at least 15 to 20 outbreaks of diseases, like stomach bugs and diarrhea, are linked to swimming in public pools, according to the CDC.”
“Here are some tips from CDC in helping to protect you and your kids when the temperatures rise and the public pool is the only thing that will cool the heatwave:
Apart from natural bodies of water like rivers and lakes, pools and hot tubs can also be sources of gastrointestinal problems; skin, ear and eye infections; and respiratory, neurological and viral problems. The safest places to swim are pools that are regularly checked for their chlorine levels.
There is a kind of virus that produces cold-like symptoms, which tends to rear its ugly head during the summer months. It is called enterovirus and can cause more complicated symptoms than the typical winter cold.
Something summery may be lingering even as the season fades—the summer cold.
Colds in summertime can last for weeks, at times seemingly going away and then suddenly storming back with a vengeance, infectious-disease experts say. A winter cold, by contrast, is typically gone in a few days.
The reason for the difference: Summer colds are caused by different viruses from the ones that bring on sniffling and sneezing in the colder months. And some of the things people commonly do in the summer can prolong the illness, like being physically active and going in and out of air-conditioned buildings.
“A winter cold is nasty, brutish and short,” says Bruce Hirsch, infectious-disease specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. “But summer colds tend to linger. They can go on for weeks and reoccur.”
Summer colds, which can hit between June and October, occur only about 25% as often as the winter variety. But summer colds can have more severe, flu-like symptoms, in addition to sneezing and coughing. Many people also mistake a summer cold for allergies, because it just doesn’t seem to leave.
According to Merck Manual, symptoms of a summer cold caused by enterovirus include fever, headache, and sore throat, and sometimes mouth sores or a rash. Treatment is basically aimed at relieving symptoms.
An unfortunate result of summer activities that involve spending a lot of time in the hot sun can be a spitting headache. A survey by the National Headache Foundation indicates that headache sufferers consider summer to be the worst time of year for headaches.
As the temperature goes up, so does your risk for getting a headache. One theory is that the heat makes blood vessels in your head expand, causing them to press against nerve endings. Dehydration and strenuous exercise in hot weather can also lead to headaches.
An over-the-counter painkiller will usually alleviate headaches caused by heat exposure and exercise, and drinking enough water should take care of a dehydration headache.
Heat stroke or hyperthermia results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures. It can happen for example when children are left in hot cars during summer.
Emedicinehealth defines heat stroke as a condition where the body’s cooling mechanisms are overcome by heat, resulting in a core heat of over 40°C. Heat stroke is preceded by signs of heat exhaustion like headaches, dizziness and weakness, and results in unconsciousness, organ failure and eventually death.
Hyperthermia is primarily treated by outside cooling of the body with the help of water, cold air or ice packs. Internal cooling by flushing the stomach or rectum with cold may also be used. Persons with hyperthermia need to be hospitalised in order to be tested for complications like muscle breakdown, which can damage the kidneys.
With summer comes the danger of sunburn, which can be extremely serious. Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun that damage your skin cells. The risk of damage depends on things like the time of day, the amount of time spent in the sun and if you use sun protection or not.
Sunburn can lead to long-term skin damage and even skin cancer. MedicineNet.com explains that there are three major kinds of skin cancer:
The best and simplest way to avoid sunburn is to stay out of the sun. Other ways to be sun-safe is to stay out of the midday sun, stay in the shade, use a good sunscreen and wear a hat and protective clothing.