HIRSUTISM

(Constitutional or male pattern hirsutism)

Hirsutism is the medical term for excessive hair, or hairness, particularly in women.
When a women grows hair on her face, trunk, and limbs that is similar to a man's, the condition is called male-pattern HIRSUTISM .
Humans appear to be fairly hairless, but in reality we have as many hair follicles as apes (monkeys). However most human follicles produce vellus hair, which is colorless and fine. Some vellus hair, though, is converted into the coarser, more visible terminal hair during puberty, when testosterone stimulates its growth.
Males produce more testosterone than females, thus men normally have more visible facial and body hair.
Excessive hair growth doesn't always signal a medical problem. it may be seen instead as constitutional hirsutism, or hair growth that is normal for person's age or racial and ethnic heritage.
Women of Mediterranean and near Eastern ancestry, for example, have more visible hair than their North European counterparts. Caucasians have more hair than Africans; and both Asians and Native Americans have less than other peoples.
Following menopause, women normally grow more facial hair, but the sudden development of male-pattern hirsutism in a younger women often indicates an imbalance of sex hormones, especially if there are other signs of virilization, such as a deepening of the voice and increased muscle growth.
Porphyria, a genetic disease marked by extreme sun sensitivity, can cause hirsutism, as can tumors of the ovaries or adrenal glands. If a cause cannot be identified the condition is called idiopathic hirsutism.

In both sexes, hirsutism may develop from certain medications; these include prednisone and other corticosteroids; phenytoin, an anti convulsant medication; and minoxidil, an anti hypertensive (used for high blood pressure) agent.

Medical Treatment:
When constitutional hirsutism is the problem, no medical treatment is required. Treatment of male pattern hirsutism depends upon the underlying cause. if there is excessive production of testosterone, spironolactone (Aldolactone) may be prescribed to block it.
Surgery may be necessary if a hormone producing tumor is present. When surgery is not possible, it may be destroyed by radiation therapy.

ALTERNATE THERAPIES
Electrolysis:
                 This is the only permanent method of hair removal. it is a time-consuming procedure that requires a skilled operator, known as the electrologist. Each hair is removed by the insertion of a fine probe into the hair follicle. An electrical current of low voltage passes through the probe and destroys the hair root.

Nutrition Therapy:
                               If obesity is contributing to a hormone imbalance that is causing excessive hair growth, a qualified nutritionist can devise a long term weight loss program.

Self Treatment:
There are numerous ways to remove unwanted hair temporarily or to make it less noticeable.

Bleaching:
                 This makes hair less visible . use a commercial product or make your own.
Method:

• One ounce of 6% hydrogen peroxide
• 10% of house hold Ammonia
• Enough baking soda to make a paste

Before using the mixture, do a small patch test on the inside of your wrist.

Depilatories:
These chemicals dissolve hair into a gelatinous mass that can be removed with a washcloth. Do a patch test and follow instructions carefully.

 Plucking:
This is a quick way to remove small amounts of body hair temporarily. Use care, however, as plucking can injure follicles and trigger infections, especially on the face.

Shaving:
This is the quickest way and most widely used method for removing hair from the underarms and legs. Although men regularly shave their faces, women hesitate to do so, as they mistakenly think that shaving will stimulate the growth of their hair. It only appears to, because all of the shaved hair grows back at the same time.

Waxing:
Warm melted wax is applied to the skin, allowed to cool, and then peeled off, taking with it any embedded hairs. Wax treatments are available in salons and there are also wax products for home use.

Other Causes Of Hairiness:
Thyroid disease, ovarian cysts, and pituitary tumors are among the endocrine disorders that can cause excessive hairiness.

Heat Rash (Miliaria; prickly heat)

Heat rash or prickly heat consists of clusters of tiny blisters filled with perspiration. It forms when pores become blocked and prevent the sweat glands from releasing perspiration, or when heat and humidity exceed the ability of the sweet glands to cool the body. The rash itches but doesn't become inflamed. It usually develops in the armpits and groin, and sometimes also on the chest, waist and back.

Babies are especially vulnerable because their ability to sweat is not fully developed, and because they often wear or lie on water proof materials, which intensify the effects of heat.
A similar rash, caused by sensitivity to ultraviolet light, may accompany prickly heat or occur independently. Referred to as a polymorphic light eruption, it produces itchy red spots within 24 to 48 hours of exposure to the sun. The rash appears mostly on the body, rarely on the face. Although children sometimes develop the rash, it is more common in young adults.

Medical Treatment:
A doctor may advise applying an over-the-counter cortisone lotion or cream 2-3 times daily. He may prescribe anti-histamines for severe itching or an anti-fungal medication containing cortisone, such as clotrimazole and betamethasone dipropionate (Lotrisone), if a secondary fungal infection has developed. A severe polymorphic light rash may require treatment with an oral steroid drug, such as prednisone.

Alternative Therapies:
Remedies that alleviate itching and cool the skin usually work well.

Herbal Medicines:
Herbalists often recommend adding thyme tea to bath water. Thyme contains thymol, an antiseptic substance that eases itching. 

Hydrotherapy:
Soaking in a cool bath is a soothing remedy. Don't apply soap to the rash. Instead, add 1 cup of oatmeal (Jo ka aata), cup of baking soda, 2 cups of apple cider vinegar, or 2 cups of laundry starch to the bath water. (A word of caution: Bathe a baby only in plain water). Soaking in a whirlpool bath of cool water is also helpful. alternatively, take one or two cool showers a day.
After bathing, gently pat the skin dry rather than rubbing it, then dust the affected areas lightly with cornstarch or baby powder. Don't apply moisturizing creams and lotions or use bath oil.
These products may further clog pores.

Self Treatment:
You can usually prevent heat rash by staying out of the sun and heat as much as possible, using air conditioning whenever available, and wearing light weight, loose-fitting, cotton garments. If a rash does develop, calamine lotion may ease the itching. Don't scratch.
Expose the effected areas to the air when you can. Avoid strenuous exercise or any activity that causing sweating.
When a baby has heat rash, change dipers as soon as they are wet; then pat the skin dry and apply a dusting of cornstarch. Avoid laying an infant on a plastic-covered mattress or pad; instead, use a cotton sheet or towel.

Fears & Phobias

Fear is a strong emotional response to danger, real or imagined. A phobia, Greek word, is a persistent, irritational fear that is out of all proportions to its cause. People with phobias recognize that their fears are excessive and constraiing, but they feel powerless to confront them and often go to great lengths to avoid the dreaded objects of situation.
Phobias can be of the following types;

Specific Phobia:
                          Fear of a specific object, situation, or event. Common examples include fears of animals, insects, the dark, germs, storms, heights, illness and death. From 5-10% of the population suffers from such phobias at some point in life. Women are more likely than men to be affected.

Specific phobias often arise during childhood. Although most disappear as a child matures, a few may persist for life. Some feared situations are easy enough to avoid, but others, such as a fear of flying (aerophobia) or of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), can interfere with an individual's lifestyle and work.

Social Phobias:
                         A compelling desire to avoid situations in which its necessary to face the scrutiny of others. People with this disorder fear being embarrassed or being humiliated. For examples some persons are terrified in engaging in casual conversations; others cannot tolerate eating in a public place, using public testrooms, or interacting with a member of an opp sex. Typically a social phobia begins in adolescence and often lasts for life. About 3-5% of population suffers from some type of social phobia. Men and women have the disorder in roughly equal numbers.

Agoraphobia:
                      An intense fear of being  alone or trapped in a public place. (Agoraphobia is a Greek term for fear of market place) This is the most limiting of all phobias, causing some people literally to become prisoners in their own homes.
About 0.6% of population have agoraphobia, with a women outnumbering men. some 2/3 of people with agoraphobia experience panic attacks, periods of intense anxiety characteristics by chest pains, a rapid heartbeat, sweating, difficulty in breathing, and other symptoms easily mistaken for a heart attack.

MEDICAL TREATMENTS:
Drug Therapy:
                        Most phobias sufferers are able to cope with their fears without medication.The exceptions are people with severe agoraphobia after panic attacks; they may require a prescription medication.

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Chickenpox (Varicella)

Chickenpox is highly contagious childhood disease. About 95% of all children have been infected with it before adolescence, most commonly between ages 3 to 9.
This disease is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is transmitted by direct contact with an infected patient. It is contagious a day or two before its characteristics itchy rashes appear, so a child may catch it from another before signs of infection are apparent. Clusters of small and bumps progress to blisters and scabs within 24hrs, but new clusters continue forming four hours or five days. The disease remains contagious until the final crop of blisters forms scabs.
The virus then becomes dormant in the body, but my reappear yrs later as shingles. A person who lacks immunity to the varicella virus can contract chickenpox if exposed to someone with a shingles rash.

Medical Treatments:
A pediatrician's care is usually not required, unless the patient has a weak immunity system or develops severe complications.

(to be continued)

CONSTIPATION

Constipation is a condition marked by infrequent bowel movements of hard feces that are difficult to pass. Straining, rectal bleeding and a sensation of fullness is common.
In some cases, the constipation alternates with diarhhea and it may be accompanied by abdominal cramps, bloating, and gassiness. Chronic constipation often leads to hemorrhoids and other rectal problems.
Almost everyone experiences periodic bouts of constipation. However, some people mistakenly correlate the condition with a failure to have a daily bowel movements.
In reality colon function varies considerably, and bowel movements as often as three times a day and as infrequently as twice a week fall within a normal range, as long as the stools are easy to pass.

Most constipation is due to insufficient fiber in the diet (25-30gm per day are recommended) and inadequate intake of fluids. Aging, a sedentary life style, depression, emotional stress, the side effects of certain drugs, and overuse of laxatives and enemas can also be responsible.

Occasionally, constipation is a symptom of a serious underlying disorder such as colon cancer or a digestive disease.

DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES AND PROCEDURES:
Constipation i not usually considered significant medically, unless there is a major change in bowel habits that persists for more than one week. In such cases, the doctor will ask about recent dietary changes, drug use and other contributing factors, and then perform a physical examination.

Laboratory  tests of blood and stool samples may be ordered; additional diagnostic tests will depend upon results from these initial procedures. for example a direct examination of colon with a Sigmoidoscope or a colonoscope (a thin, flexible tube with magnifying and lighting devices) will be ordered if a colon tumor or other disorder is suspected.

MEDICAL TREATMENTS:

• Medical treatments are not necessary for simple constipation. in some cases, a short course of a fiber-based stool softener may be recommended, but in general, the use of laxatives and enemas is discouraged because they can disrupt normal bowl function.

• If constipation is due to a medication such as, codeine or an antidepressant, an alternative drug may be prescribed. in cases of severe obstruction, surgery my be necessary, but this is rare.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES:
Eliminating constipation is a major aspect of many alternative therapies, which include,

• Herbal Medicines: A number of herbs have a laxative effect, including cascara sagrada, chicory, dandlion, flaxseed, elderberry, goldenrod, licorice, and psyllium seed.
• Castor Oil is another long-recommended remedy. though it is not toxic, it sometimes cause nausea and vomiting and should be used in small amounts, if at all. or along with milk etc.

• Nutrition Therapy: The vast majority of constipation cases can be treated by increasing the amount of fiber in the diet. one simple remedy is to soak 6-8 dried figs or prunes in a glass of water overnight, and drink the water and eat the fruit in the morning.
• Nutritionist recommend eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products at every meal and as snacks.
• Rasins and other dried fruits, brown rice, beans, popcorn and whole wheat or bran cereals, breads and crackers are example of high fiber diet.
• Increase fiber intake gradually to avoid bloating, abdominal cramps, and gassiness.
• Coffee and tea also act as laxatives for some people.
• Constipation can be decreased by increasing water intake.
• When you wake-up in the morning then drink a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of lemon juice, this tonic helps to improve muscle contractions and push reside out of bowl..

ABSORPTION OF DRUGS

Drugs Given via Sub Lingual Route:

•  Nitroglycerine
• Buprenorphine
• Nifedipine

Drugs On Which Food Increase Absorption:

• Griseofulvin
• Lumefantrine
• Halofantrine
• Efavirenz
• Carbamezipine
• Indinavir
• Dofetilide
• Docetaxel
• Nitrofuruntoin
• Ritonavir

Drugs whose Absorption is Reduced:

• Tetracyclines
• Azithromycin
• Ampicillin

Drugs Where Absorption is Not Effected by Food:

• Doxycycline
• Minocycline
• Fluroquinolones

TIPS TO REDUCE FOOT ODOR

• Wear shoes made up of natural materials, such as, leather and cotton canvas that allows air to circulate.
• Don't wear the same shoes, especially sneakers, everyday; give them a chance to air out. It also helps to dust them with deodorant or foot powder.
• In hot weather, choose open shoes which enables air to circulate.
• Wear white cotton socks with sneakers.
• After exercising, bathe feet with warm water and soap, dry them thoroughly, and change into dry socks and different shoes.

FLU

(Grippe; influenza)

An influenza virus causes the flu, a very common and highly contagious respiratory infection. Some people mistakenly refer to a cold or any upper respiratory disorder as the flu. But in reality, the flu is a more severe illness than the common cold.
Not only it can lead to pneumonia, but some types of the disease are even fatal.
A bout of flu confers immunity against that particular virus strain, but because these viruses quickly change, or mutate, new strains emerge every few years. In general, however, a flu virus falls into one of three categories, Type-A, the most common, is responsible for the serious and wide spread epidemics; Type-B also causes epidemics, but with milder cases than those of Type-A; Type-C is relatively un-common, but sometimes causes outbreaks of mild flu.

Diagnostic Studies and Procedures:
Your own observations of symptoms are usually enough to tell you that you're having flu, particularly if there has been an epidemic in your area. Flu symptoms are similar to bad cold, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, running nose, cough and headache but they come on more suddenly, are more severe, and last longer. If you consult a doctor, he will do a physical examination and possibly order blood tests and a sputum culture. A chest X-Ray may also be necessary if the symptoms suggests the presence of flu and related pneumonia.

Medical Treatments:
The physician may prescribe you Amantadine if Type-A virus is involved, an anti-Parkinson's disease drug that has an anti-viral effect. Or he may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent secondary pneumonia, especially if you suffer from asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or another lung disorder.

Alternative Therapies:
Although they are unlikely to shorten the course of the flu, a number of alternative therapies may alleviate the symptoms of the illness.

Aromatherapy: Therapist recommend placing 5 drops of cinnamon oil in 1 tablespoonful of water and inhaling the scent three times a day; they also advise massages or baths using lemon, pine needle, or rosemary oil.

Homeopathy: Aconite and Nux-vomica are recommended during the early stages of flu. One dose a week of bacillinum 30 & influenzinum 30, given separately or in combination, may be advised for severe cases. Baptisia is used for headache, aching limbs, and fever and arsenicum album for chills and diarrhea.

Hydrotherapy: For the achiness of flu, take a hot shower or bath; also try soaking your feet in a basin of hot water for 20 minutes twice a day.

Self Treatment:

Bed rest while your body fights the virus, is the best medicine. If you have a fever, drink extra fluids, including fruit juice, tea, and broth, to prevent dehydration, extra fluid also help thin any lung secretions.

For a sore throat, try gagling with warm water, double strength tea, or warm salt water. Acetaminophen, aspirin, nasal sprays and decongestants may relieve minor discomfort, however do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 18 as it may increase the risk of Reye's Syndrome.

COMMON CAUSES OF INFERTILITY

In about 10% of all causes, there is no identifiable cause for infertility, and in a small number, the problem is related to infrequent and poorly timed intercourse. Otherwise, the most common causes of infertility include the following:

Both Sexes:

• Hormonal disorders (ovarian or testicular abnormalities, pituitary failure, adrenal or thyroid disease)
• Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Obesity and excessive thinness
• Alcoholism and other drug abuse, and excessive smoking
• Genetic disorder
• Immunological factors

Female:

• Failure to ovulate (including menopause)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal scarring
• Endometriosis
• Uterine febroids
• Uterine and cervical malformations
• Hostile cervical mucus
• Prenatal exposure to DES (a synthetic estrogen prescribed to prevent miscarriage until the late 1960s)
• Turner's syndrome, a genetic disorder in which a women has three rather than two X-Chromosomes

Male:

• Low sperm count or other sperm abnormalities
• Hydrocele or variocele
• Undescented or Underdeveloped testicles
• Impotence or ejaculatory disorders
• Prostatitis
• Testicular injury or inflammation
• Klinefelter's syndrome, a genetic disorder in which a man has more than one X-Chromosomes