Health Tips with 3JC Laboratory

Of all your body’s many functions, modern medicine is still confused about one thing: the appendix. It’s possible your appendix fights off some infections, but doctors aren’t quite sure.

We all can survive without the 2-to-4-inch, worm-shaped organ. But if it happens to get infected or bursts — causing appendicitis, it's a serious problem. You’ll need medical attention right away, because it's an emergency case.

Everyone has a low risk roughly 7% for developing appendicitis during their life. However, it’s most common among children, ages 10 to 19. In fact, it’s the most frequent reason for emergency surgery in kids.

Appendicitis isn’t hereditary, and you can’t pass it to others. But there’s nothing you or your doctor can do to prevent it or reduce your risk of getting it.

How to tell if that pain is your appendix?

Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen

Sudden pain that begins around your navel and often shifts to your lower right abdomen

Pain that worsens if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements

Nausea and vomiting

Loss of appetite

Low-grade fever that may worsen as the illness progresses

Constipation or diarrhea

Abdominal bloating

Flatulence.

The site of your pain may vary, depending on your age and the position of your appendix. When you're pregnant, the pain may seem to come from your upper abdomen because your appendix is higher during pregnancy.

Why would your appendix get infected?
The appendix gets infected when there’s a blockage.

Blockages can be caused by:

Inflammation.
Bacteria.
Viruses.
Hardened f***l matter.
Parasites.
Enlarged tissues.
Ulcers.
Abdominal rips or tearing.
Left untreated, an infection can cause your appendix to burst. This can spread the infection and may cause inflammation in the lining of the abdomen.

What symptoms should you watch for?

Fortunately, appendicitis symptoms show up quickly, usually within the first 24 hours. Signs can appear anywhere from 4 to 48 hours after a problem occurs.

Go to the emergency room or call your doctor right away if you notice new or worsening pain in the lower right part of your abdomen (upper right side for pregnant women).

It’s especially important to see a doctor if you also experience:

Fever.
Loss of appetite with nausea or vomiting.
Lack of energy.
Inability to pass gas.
Appendicitis has similar symptoms with some other conditions. So, it’s important to have a doctor determine what’s wrong.

Symptoms can mimic:

Crohn’s disease.
Ulcerative colitis.
Gallbladder problems.
Urinary tract infections.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
Stomach problems.
Intestinal blockages.

How do doctors diagnose appendicitis?

There’s no blood test to identify appendicitis. A blood sample can show an increase in your white blood cell count, which points to an infection.

Your doctor also may order an abdominal or pelvic CT scan or X-rays. Doctors typically use ultrasound to diagnose appendicitis in children.

What are your treatment options?

Doctors can treat appendicitis in two ways.

In less severe cases, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. However, most appendicitis cases require surgery (an appendectomy) to remove the appendix.

If your appendix hasn’t burst, your doctor may remove it through a small cut in the belly button, a laparoscopy. This procedure works well for people of all ages. Recovery typically takes between two and four weeks.

A ruptured appendix will often require a longer recovery time. The surgeon will clean out any infection that’s spread in the abdomen and this can often be performed through a camera inserted through a small cut in the belly button as well.

The bottom line? Don’t hesitate to seek medical care if you notice potential signs of appendicitis.

“Treatment has the best results if appendicitis is found early.

Priapism is a prolonged, unwanted er****on of the p***s. It is usually painful and not related to sexual stimulation or arousal. Most clinicians consider priapism a medical emergency because the condition can result in impotence, sexual dysfunction or pe**le infection.

What causes priapism?

A normal er****on occurs in response to sexual stimulation. Priapism occurs in several conditions that interfere with the blood flow to the p***s or blood drainage from the p***s. This condition is unrelated to sexual stimulation and can last for several hours. Below are some of the causes of priapism.

Medical conditions that can cause priapism:

Sickle cell disease (most common reason for priapism)
Leukemia
History of malignancy (cancer)
Trauma as a cause of priapism:
Direct trauma to the p***s, pelvis, or perineum
Spinal cord injuries
Medications (several drugs have priapism as a side effect):
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics
Blood thinners (warfarin [Coumadin] and heparin)
Medications to help with erectile dysfunction (Vi**ra, Cialis, Levitra, Caverject)
Illegal drugs ( co***ne, ecstasy, m**hamphetamine, crystal m**h, cannabis)

What are the symptoms of priapism?

Priapism results in a persistent er****on. Priapism is usually divided into three categories.

Ischemic priapism is the most common category of priapism. Blood is not able to leave the p***s causing the er****on. This painful event is considered an emergency if it lasts for more than 4 hours.

Non-Ischemic (high-flow) priapism is the second category of priapism, and much less common. In this form, too much blood flows into the p***s. The er****on tends to be painless and less rigid then the ischemic form.

Stuttering priapism is the third category of priapism. In stuttering priapism, the er****on occurs repeatedly but is transient in nature.

How is priapism diagnosed?

The diagnosis of priapism is based on history (asking the patient questions) and the physical exam of the genitalia. Once a healthcare professional has finished this part of the exam a few other tests might be ordered.

Measurement of blood gas: By inserting a small needle and removing blood from the p***s the doctor will be able to establish the oxygen content and therefore the type of priapism the patient has.
Blood tests: Measuring white and red blood cells and platelets will help the health care professional determine why the patient might have a priapism.

What are the complications of priapism?

Ischemic priapism can cause significant complications. Due to the lack of oxygen, there can be significant damage if priapism lasts for more than four hours. The complications include erectile dysfunction as well as disfigurement of the p***s.

When to see a healthcare personal.

If a painful er****on lasting for more than 4 hours, we advise you see a doctor immediately as a matter of emergency.

Can priapism be prevented?

Priapism or recurrence of priapism can be prevented by treating the underlying medical cause that resulted in priapism or changing medications that have priapism as their side effects. No medications should be discontinued or changed until you speak with your healthcare provider.

Losing a pregnancy can be heartbreaking. And unfortunately, miscarriages are fairly common. On average, about 1 in 5 pregnancies will end in a miscarriage — usually in the first trimester.

A miscarriage usually happens in the first 3 months of pregnancy, before 12 weeks' gestation.

Why miscarriage could occur

The most common cause of pregnancy loss is a problem with the chromosomes that would make it impossible for the fetus to develop normally.

Other factors that could contribute to a miscarriage include:

Abnormal hormone levels in the mother, such as thyroid hormone

Uncontrolled diabetes

Exposure to environmental and workplace hazards, such as radiation or toxic agents

Certain infections

Uterine abnormalities

Incompetent cervix, or when the cervix begins to open (dilate) and thin (efface) before the pregnancy has reached term

Certain medications, such as the acne drug Accutane

Certain behaviors also increase the risk of a miscarriage. Smoking, for example, puts ni****ne and other chemicals into the bloodstream, causes the fetus to get less oxygen, and increases the chance of losing a pregnancy. Alcohol and illegal drug use also can lead to miscarriages.

SYMPTOMS OF A MISCARRIAGE

Many women don't even know that they've had a miscarriage (since they hadn’t known they were pregnant), thinking that it's just a particularly heavy menstrual flow.

Some women experience cramping, spotting, heavier bleeding, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, weakness, or back pain. Spotting is often not a sign of a miscarriage; many women experience it early on in pregnancy. But just to be safe, if you have spotting or any of these other symptoms anytime during your pregnancy, talk with your doctor.

Types Of Miscarriage

If you think you may have had a miscarriage, your doctor may use a number of terms to explain what has happened:

If a pregnant woman has bleeding, little or no pain, a closed cervix, and is found to still have a fetus with a heartbeat in her uterus, she may have had a threatened miscarriage. Most pregnancies with early bleeding but with a detectable heartbeat turn out fine.

An inevitable miscarriage is when bleeding and cramping happen during pregnancy, with an open cervix.

An incomplete miscarriage is when a miscarriage has happened, but the body does not expel all the tissue from the pregnancy.

A complete miscarriage is when all of the tissue from the pregnancy is expelled by the body.

If you have miscarried, your doctor may say you have a blighted o**m, which is a miscarriage that has happened so early that no clearly defined fetal tissues have formed.

A missed miscarriage is when the fetus has died or has not developed, but the body does not discharge the fetus or tissues from the pregnancy. Sometimes women with missed miscarriages notice that they no longer "feel pregnant."

STILLBIRTH

A stillbirth, which many experts define as the death of a baby after the 20th week of pregnancy, can happen before delivery or during labor or delivery. It is rare and happens in less than 1% of all births. A stillbirth also is sometimes referred to as intrauterine fetal death or antenatal death.

While there are some known risk factors for stillbirth (such as smoking, obesity, problems with the placenta, a pregnancy lasting longer than 42 weeks, and some infections), there is no way to predict when stillbirth will happen or who will have one, and the cause of many stillbirths remains unknown.

The common sign of a stillbirth is decreased movement in the baby. If you notice your baby moving less than usual, call your doctor immediately.

Your doctor can use an ultrasound to look for the heartbeat or, later in pregnancy, give you an electronic fetal non-stress test. This involves lying on your back with electronic monitors attached to your abdomen. The monitors record the baby's heart rate, movements, and contractions of the uterus.

AFTER A MISCARRIAGE

If you have miscarried, your doctor will do a pelvic exam and an ultrasound to confirm the miscarriage. If the uterus is clear of any fetal tissue, or it is very early in the pregnancy, then there often won't be any more treatment.

But if the uterus still contains the fetus or other tissues from the pregnancy, this will need to be removed. The doctor may give you medicine to help pass the tissue or may need to dilate the cervix to perform a dilation and curettage (D&C), a scraping of the uterine lining, or a dilation and extraction (D&E), a suction of the uterus to remove fetal or placental tissue. You may have bleeding or cramping after these procedures, which are done with anesthesia.

If it is determined that your baby has died later in pregnancy, the doctor might decide to induce labor and delivery. After the delivery, the doctor will have the baby and the placenta examined to help determine the cause of death if it's still unknown.

If you've had several miscarriages, you may want to be evaluated to see if any anatomic, genetic, or hormonal abnormalities are contributing to the miscarriages.

CAN MISCARRIAGES BE PREVENTED?

Although miscarriages usually can't be prevented, you can take precautions to increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy:

Eat a proper diet with plenty of folic acid and calcium

Take prenatal vitamins daily

Exercise regularly after you've gotten your doctor's OK

Maintain a healthy weight (women who are overweight or too thin may be more likely to have miscarriages)

Avoid drugs and alcohol

Avoid contaminated food because could carry listeriosis

Limit caffeine intake

If you smoke, quit

Talk to your doctor about all medications you're currently taking. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, many prescription and over-the-counter medicines should be avoided during pregnancy.

Avoid activities that could cause abdominal trauma.

Avoid stress

Get immunized against communicable diseases and know your family medical and genetic history

Go to all of your scheduled prenatal appointments and discuss any concerns with your doctor

Call your doctor right away if you have fever, feel ill, notice decreased fetal movements, or are having bleeding, spotting, or cramping.

WAKING UP DIZZY IN THE MORNING

Waking up to a spinning room or without normal equilibrium is never a good way to start your day. There are a number of potential causes for waking up feeling dizzy, and many of them can be prevented with some simple lifestyle changes.

What is the cause of dizziness?
Dizziness is not a disorder, but rather a symptom that can be caused by many things. For people who are experiencing dizziness when they wake up, dysfunction in the circulatory system or peripheral vestibular system may be the cause. Some medications can also cause morning dizziness, as can alcohol and recreational drugs. Even dehydration or low blood sugar can make you feel dizzy.

There are several forms of dizziness, including imbalance, lightheadedness, vertigo, and dizziness related to anxiety or fear.

Some common causes of dizziness:

Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the most common reasons why people are dizzy when they wake up. When you’re dehydrated, you actually lose blood volume. This makes your blood pressure drop, resulting in insufficient delivery of oxygenated blood to the brain. This can make you feel dizzy when you are lying down, and the dizziness will worsen when you go from lying down to standing up.

A common factor in dehydration-related dizziness in the morning is alcohol. If you woke up dizzy and nauseous or in a room that was spinning after a night of imbibing, alcohol is a likely culprit.

Low blood sugar

In order to maintain normal function, the brain depends on a sugar called glucose for energy. When you eat, glucose is transported from your digestive system to your blood stream and delivered to the brain. If you skip dinner, you may experience dizziness the next morning because your blood doesn’t have sufficient amounts of glucose to keep your brain working properly. Low blood glucose is also called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that affects blood glucose (sugar) levels. People with diabetes are missing an enzyme that allows glucose to get into the bloodstream, so diabetics have an increased risk for low blood sugar in the morning, which can lead to dizziness and fainting.

Sleep apnea and other obstructive breathing conditions

Anything that interferes with your breathing will reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to your brain, leaving you feeling dizzy or woozy.

Orthostatic hypotension

If your morning dizziness sets in when you first sit up or get out of bed, you may be experiencing orthostatic (or postural) hypotension. This is a condition that is caused by inadequate blood flow to the brain and occurs when people get up too quickly after they have been sitting or lying down. Dizziness or lightheadedness related to orthostatic hypotension lasts for just a second or two, so if your dizziness is persistent, there is probably som**hing else contributing to it.

Medications
Some medications are known to cause dizziness, and you may wake up in the middle of the night or in the morning feeling lightheaded or faint. Blood pressure medications like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium-channel blockers can all cause dizziness. In addition, drug interactions may leave you feeling dizzy.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, is a disorder of the inner ear’s peripheral vestibular system.

When to see a doctor
In most cases, occasionally waking up feeling dizzy is not a serious cause for concern. However, if you are regularly experiencing dizziness or vertigo when you wake up, it is recommended that you make an appointment with your doctor.

If your dizziness is accompanied by any of the following, seek immediate medical treatment:

1. Chest pain
2. Trouble breathing
3. Rapid heart rate
4. Confusion
5. Slurred speech
6. Severe headache
7. Numbness in the face, arms, or legs
8. Double vision
9. Ongoing vomiting