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Sunday 29 May 2011

Test of HIV

The commonly used HIV tests detect HIV antibodies – the substances the body creates in response to becoming infected with HIV. There are tests that look for HIV's genetic material or proteins directly; these may also be used to find out if someone has been infected with HIV.It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect, and this “window period” between infection with HIV and the ability to detect it with antibody tests can vary from person to person. During this time, HIV viral load and the likelihood of transmitting the virus to sex or needle-sharing partners may be very high. HIV tests are sent to a laboratory for testing, and it can take a week or two before the test results are available. There are also rapid HIV tests available that can give results in as little as 20 minutes. A positive HIV test result means that a person may have been infected with HIV.

HIV AIDS

HIV Aids is the human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome. In United States contracted HIV 56,000 people in 2006. Two types of HIV, HIV-1 and HIV-2. In the United States, unless otherwise noted, the term “HIV” primarily refers to HIV-1.  Some types of HIV damage a person’s body by destroying specific blood cells, called CD4+ T cells, which are crucial to helping the body fight diseases. Within a few weeks of being infected with HIV, some people develop flu-like symptoms that last for a week or two, but others have no symptoms at all. People living with HIV may appear and feel healthy for several years. However, even if they feel healthy, HIV is still affecting their bodies. All people with HIV should be seen on a regular basis by a health care provider experienced with treating HIV infection. Many people with HIV, including those who feel healthy, can benefit greatly from current medications used to treat HIV infection. These medications can limit or slow down the destruction of the immune system, improve the health of people living with HIV, and may reduce their ability to transmit HIV. Untreated early HIV infection is also associated with many diseases including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and cancer.  Support services are also available to many people with HIV. These services can help people cope with their diagnosis, reduce risk behavior, and find needed services.

Treatment of hepatitis C

Treatment of hepatitis C, other tests may be carried out. These include liver function tests, which measure substances in the patient’s blood, showing how effectively the liver is working. A liver biopsy may also be carried out. A fine hollow needle is passed through the skin into the liver and a small sample is taken. The sample is then examined under a microscope to gauge the amount of liver damage. Treatment combines the antiviral drugs interferon and ribavirin. Although treatment has improved in recent years, the success rates vary depending on which genotype the patient has and how long they have had hepatitis C. year of 2011, the FDA approved a new drug called Victrelis When taken alongside existing drugs, Victrelis cured more than 60 percent of patients in clinical trials compared to between 20-40 percent of patients when existing drugs were taken alone. Unlike other drugs for hepatitis C, Victrelis is a protease inhibitor, similar to those used to treat HIV. Adherence to this drug is essential to prevent drug resistance.

Negative result of test

Negative result generally the patient has never been infected with HCV. However, as the tests rely on the detection of antibodies to HCV, and the antibodies can take some months to develop, the doctor may advise the patient to take a repeat test if they believe they may have been recently exposed to the virus.

Positive result of test

 A positive result shows that the person has been exposed to the hepatitis C virus and their immune system has responded by producing antibodies. This may mean that the patient is a carrier of the hepatitis C virus. Alternatively, the patient may have recently cleared an HCV infection and still have antibodies in their blood. Further tests will be conducted to find out whether the patient has a current infection. A specialist will carry out a blood test that looks for the genetic material of the hepatitis C virus itself instead of the antibodies. This test will identify whether the virus is still present. The patient has successfully cleared the virus.

Hepatitis C

The hepatitis C virus is transferred primarily through blood, and is more persistent than hepatitis A or B. People do not have symptoms when they become infected with hepatitis C. Symptoms may emerge later, taking anywhere between 15 and 150 days to develop. Occasionally a person will not develop any symptoms and their immune system will successfully clear the virus without their knowledge. An infected person without symptoms can still act as a carrier and pass the virus on to others.

Treatment for hepatitis B

Many countries a patient with a positive test result will be referred to a specialist who will carry out further tests to determine the degree to which hepatitis B may be affecting the liver, and what may be the best treatment options. In these tests a small sample of liver tissue may need to be taken. In the majority of patients with active HBV, symptoms will not be severe and treatment will not be required. The patient will be monitored and after a few months the patient’s immune system should fight off the virus, giving the patient natural immunity. Antiviral medication is given as treatment to those with chronic symptoms to help prevent further liver damage. These medications may be injected or given in pill form. Examples are Interferon Alpha. Treatment usually lasts 6 months, during which time the patient will be carefully monitored. Regardless of whether the infection is producing symptoms or not, the patient will be advised to avoid alcohol, get plenty of rest and maintain a healthy diet.

Negative result of test

The result generally means the patient has never been infected with HBV and therefore has no natural immunity against the virus. If the person suspects they may have been recently exposed to HBV, the doctor may advise them to take a repeat test to confirm their negative status, and may also advise immunization against hepatitis B.

Positive result of test

A positive test result could indicate either a past infection. This means the patient has already been in contact with hepatitis B and their immune system has succeeded in fighting off the virus. The patient will then have a natural immunity to the virus. The patient is carrying HBV and can pass it on to others. The person may not display any symptoms but could be at risk of developing chronic liver disease.  Doctor may perform a number of different types of test to distinguish between current and past infections, and to estimate how infectious a patient with a current infection may be.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is more likely to cause chronic long-term illness and permanent damage to the liver if not treated. The hepatitis B virus is very common worldwide, with more than 350 million people infected. Those with long term HBV are at high risk of developing liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis B is most frequently passed on through the exchange of bodily fluids with an infected person. HBV is estimated to be 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. Hepatitis B cannot be spread through sneezing, coughing, hugging or coming in contact with the faces of someone who is infected.

Treatment Hepatitis A

Treatment for HAV and most people fight off the virus naturally, returning to full health within a couple of months. The doctor will advise avoiding alcohol and fatty foods as these can be hard for the liver to process and may exacerbate the inflammation. Patients should get plenty of rest and eat a nutritious diet. They should also ensure they do not spread HAV by washing their hands after using the toilet and before preparing food. Patients with more severe symptoms may be monitored in hospital for a short period.

Negative result of test

A negative test result means the patient is not infected with Hepatitis A. If the patient is believe to be at high or ongoing risk of infection, a doctor may advise immunization.

Positive result of test

A positive test result means the patient has either had a past infection or is currently infected. The type of antibody detected in the test will indicate whether the infection is current or has been cleared. A patient who tests positive may be asked about recent contacts and sexual partners that may need to be tested too. A patient who has already had the infection and fought it off is naturally immune to HAV.

Hepatitis A

The most common of the seven known types of viral hepatitis. Infection with the hepatitis A virus leads to inflammation of the liver, but complications are rarely serious. The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is found in the faeces of someone infected with the virus. It only takes a tiny amount of faeces getting inside another person’s mouth to cause hepatitis A infection. Personal hygiene, such as careful hand washing, can minimise the risk of the virus being passed on. HAV is a common infection in many parts of the world where sanitation and sewage infrastructure is poor. Often people become infected with HAV by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Diagnosed of Brain Tumors

If a patient has suggest a brain tumor, the doctor may perform more procedures.
1.      The doctor checks general signs of health.
2.       The doctor checks for alertness, muscle strength, coordination, reflexes, and response to pain. The doctor also examines the eyes to look for swelling caused by a tumor pressing on the nerve that connects the eye and brain.
3.      An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the head. The patient may receive an injection of a special dye so the brain shows up clearly in the pictures. The pictures can show tumors in the brain.
4.      A powerful magnet linked to a computer makes detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed. Sometimes a special dye is injected to help show differences in the tissues of the brain. The pictures can show a tumor or other problem in the brain.
The doctor may ask for more tests:
i)         Injected into the bloodstream flows into the blood vessels in the brain to make them show up on an x-ray. If a tumor is present, the doctor may be able to see it on the x-ray.
ii)       Some types of brain tumors cause calcium deposits in the brain or changes in the bones of the skull. With an x-ray, the doctor can check for these changes.
iii)      X-ray of the spine. A spinal tap is performed to inject a special dye into the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient is tilted to allow the dye to mix with the fluid. This test helps the doctor detect a tumor in the spinal cord.
iv)     The removal of tissue to look for tumor cells is called a biopsy. A pathologist looks at the cells under a microscope to check for abnormal cells. A biopsy can show cancer, tissue changes that may lead to cancer, and other conditions. A biopsy is the only sure way to diagnose a brain tumor.

Brain

The brain is a soft mass of tissue. It is protected by the bones of the skull and three thin membranes called meninges. Watery fluid called cerebrospinal fluid cushions the brain. This fluid flows through spaces between the meninges and through spaces within the brain called ventricles. A network of nerves carries messages back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body. Some nerves go directly from the brain to the eyes, ears, and other parts of the head. Other nerves run through the spinal cord to connect the brain with the other parts of the body. Within the brain and spinal cord and hold them in place. The brain directs the things we choose to do and the things our body does without thinking. The brain is also in charge of our senses  memory and personality.

Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatment is usually designed by a team of doctors or by the patient's oncologist and is based on the type of cancer and the stage of the cancer. Most treatments are designed specifically for each individual. In some people, diagnosis and treatment may occur at the same time if the cancer is entirely surgically removed when the surgeon removes the tissue for biopsy. Patients with cancers that cannot be cured completely removed by surgery usually will get combination therapy, the composition determined by the cancer type and stage. Palliative therapy (medical care or treatment used to reduce disease symptoms but unable to cure the patient) utilizes the same treatments described above. It is done with the intent to extend and improve the quality of life of the terminally ill cancer patient. There are many other palliative treatments to reduce symptoms such as pain medications and antinausea medications.

Cancer Diagnosed

Medical history, especially the history of symptoms, are the first steps in diagnosing cancer. In many instances, the medical caregiver will order of some tests, most of which will be determined by the type of cancer and where it is suspected to be located in or on the person of body. In addition most caregivers will order a blood levels and in some cases other blood studies, to do additional tests, such as a biopsy. Imaging studies are commonly used to help physicians detect abnormalities in the body that may be cancer. X-rays, MRI scans, and I;tasound are common used to examine the body. Other tests such as Microscopy, which with variations in the equipment used, can allow visualization of tissues in the intestinal tract, throat, and bronchi that may be cancerous. In areas that cannot be well visualized. The test involves ingestion or IV injection of a weakly radioactive substance that can be concentrated and detected in abnormal tissue. The preceding tests can be very good at localizing abnormalities in the body; many clinicians consider that some of the tests provide presumptive evidence for the diagnosis of cancer. However, in most patients, the definitive diagnosis of cancer is based on the examination of a tissue sample from the tissue that may be cancerous by a qualified pathologist. Some biopsy samples are relatively simple to procure of skin test or intestinal tissue biopsy done with an endoscope equipped with a biopsy attachment. Other biopsies may require surgery, brain tissue or lymph node biopsy. In some instances, the surgery to diagnose the cancer may result in a cure if all of the cancerous tissue is removed at the time of biopsy. The biopsy can provide more than the definitive diagnosis of cancer; it can identify the cancer type of a primary or metastatic type of brain cancer and the "stage" of the cancerous cells. The stage or cancer staging is a way for clinicians and researchers to estimate how advanced or how severe the disease is. The following section describes the general staging methods for cancers.

Development Cancer

A normal body cell to develop abnormally potentially can cause cancer. Many things can cause cell abnormalities and have been linked to cancer development. Some cancer causes remain unknown while other cancers may develop from more than one known cause. Some may be developmentally influenced by a person's genetic makeup. Many patients develop cancer due to a combination of these factors. Although it is often difficult or impossible to determine the initiating event that cause a cancer to develop in a specific person, research has provided clinicians with a number of likely causes that alone or in concert with other causes, are the likely candidates for initiating cancer. A listing of major causes and is not all-inclusive as specific causes are routinely addeds:

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Average of Heart Attacks in


Every 25 seconds, someone in the U.S. will have a heart attack. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death among Americans, men and women.

Medical emergency

Medical emergency is an injury that is acute and poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long term health. These emergencies may require assistance from another person, who should ideally be suitably qualified to do so, although some of these emergencies can be dealt with by the victim themselves. Dependent on the severity of the emergency, and the quality of any treatment given, it may require the involvement of multiple levels of care.
Any response to an emergency medical situation will depend strongly on the situation, the any patient  involved and availability of resources to help them. It will also vary depending on whether the emergency occurs whilst in hospital under medical care, or outside of medical care for instance, in the street or alone at home.

Diet information

Many people believe  is more than a calorie equation, with so-called new-and-improved ways to lose weight being ever popular. Americans spend an estimated $42 billion annually on weight loss foods, products, and services. With that much money at stake, it's no surprise there are an overwhelming number of "fad" diets and other weight-loss products on the market.
Having so many diet options makes it difficult to know which ones to trust. For this reason, The Partnership for Healthy Weight Management has developed the "Voluntary Guidelines for Providers of Weight Loss Products or Services." The mission for these guidelines is to "promote sound guidance to the general public on strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight." According to the guidelines, effective involves.
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