AtoZ Diseases

Today, eye conditions causing visual impairment that twenty years ago could be corrected only by very thick glasses, have a much simpler remedy. Thanks to huge advancements in the field of optometry, conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia are all possible to correct with something as simple as ultra-thin contact lenses. The contact lens industry uses the very latest material technology and advanced design to create a product that can’t be comparable to the contact lens of the 60’s or 70’s. And despite this vast development, the consumer prices have come down considerably.

The contact lens of today is extremely soft, lets the eye breath and is very easy to use. It also “breathes” to let more oxygen through to the cornea, to prevent irritation and tired eyes. On top of this, many lenses are provided with a UV filter, which blocks out the dangerous rays from the sun. Modern lenses can also be worn for extended periods of time with no cleaning or maintenance, and they are so comfortable that they are unnoticeable.

To buy contacts, just make a quick visit to your local eye care professional, who can help you to try out which lenses suit you best.

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In emphysema,the lungs become less and less efficient because of damage to some of the millions of alveoli, or air-sacs, at the ends of thIn emphysema, the lungs become less and less bronchioles in the lungs. It is in the alveoli that oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange takes place. Healthy lungs have an elastic, spongy texture, so they contract and expand fully. If the alveoli become stretched or rupture, the elasticity of the lungs is gradually destroyed. This type of damage occurs when the alveoli are constantly subjected to higher pressure than normal. This happens to people who have a long-standing lung disease. Chronic bronchitis or asthma for example, cause narrowing of the lung airways. The labored, forceful breathing that results strains, weakens and may ultimately damage the alveoli.

What are the Symptoms?

The main symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath, which is likely to become gradually worse over a period of years. If you have emphysema, your chest is probably distended into a barrel like shape. The name of the disease comes from the Greek word for inflation. If you also wheeze, cough, and bring up phlegm, these are symptoms of other kinds of lung trouble, not of emphysema.

What are the Risks?

Emphysema usually occurs in people who have bronchitis or asthma. It is much more common in men than in women, and your chances of having it increase if you smoke and/or live in an area where the air is polluted. Some people are particularly susceptible to emphysema because of an inherited defect in the chemical make-up of their lungs. If your job requires exceptionally forceful use of lung power, you may also be highly susceptible. Some examples of such professions are glass-blowing and playing a wind musical instrument. If you have increasing shortness of breath, you risk death from eventual respiratory failure. Emphysema also makes you more susceptible to chest infections such as pneumonia that can be life-threatening.

There is also a risk of a pneumothorax In addition, since blood cannot flow freely through damaged alveoli, the resulting strain on the right side of the heart, which pumps blood to the lungs, can lead to heart failure .

What should be done?

If you are troubled by breathlessness, you should consult your physician. In the initial examination, the physician will probably percuss, or finger tap, your chest, and listen to it with a stethoscope. The doctor may also ask you to have a chest X-ray, and to blow hard into a peak-flow meter, a machine that measures your breathing capacity. Special breathing tests called pulmonary function tests may also be necessary. Because emphysema is usually associated with other lung disorders, it is not an easy disease to diagnose independently

What is the Treatment?

Self-help: If you smoke, stop. A void places with polluted air. Keep away from people who have coughs or colds. Exercise moderately but regularly in fresh, clean air.

Professional help: Physicians can relieve the symptoms and delay the progress of emphysema, but they cannot cure it. If you have bronchitis along with emphysema, you may be told to inhale bronchodilator drugs, which widen the airways and help prevent further damage to the alveoli. Since bronchitis and lung infections of any kind aggravate emphysema, the best way to help control the disease is to prevent respiratory infection. Thus your physician may prescribe antibiotics as a preventive measure.

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The blood cells known as platelets playa vital part in the mechanisms of the body that stop bleeding. If you have thrombocytopenia, your blood contains about one-third or less of the normal number of platelets. As a result, you will bleed longer than is normal if you are injured or if you begin to bleed internally or externally for any reason.Thrombocytopenia is usually caused by the body forming antibodies (normally protective biochemicals) that attack its own platelets. Healthy platelets are damaged and then re­moved from the bloodstream at a high rate. This type of thrombocytopenia is known as acute ITP, which stands for immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Its cause is unknown. Thrombocytopenia may also occur because of a drug you are taking for an unrelated purpose. It occurs relatively often in people who are receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy for cancer.

Thrombocytopenia can occur as a symp­om of other blood disorders such as leukemia. Also, your platelet count can be reduced when you are given many blood transfusions in a short period of time, during major surgery, for example, or when abnormal bleeding and clotting occur with another disorder.

What are the Symptoms?

The main symptom of thrombocytopenia is a rash that consists of minute, bright red and dark red dots. These dots are actually tiny areas of bleeding in your skin. The rash can appear on any part of your body, but it often begins on the legs and wherever your skin has been irritated. Nose bleeds and a tendency to bruise are also very common symptoms. Bleeding from cuts is also prolonged, and major internal bleeding often occurs when your platelet count is low.

What should be done?

Consult your physician immediately if you notice the characteristic rash or any other abnormal bleeding. The physician will proba­bly review any drugs you may be taking for another disorder, and will take a blood sam­ple for laboratory analysis. The blood test will show the platelet level, and indicate whether the thrombocytopenia is a sign of another disease. Usually a bone marrow examination is required to determine if platelets are being made in the marrow.

What is the Treatment?

Your physician will probably stop most or all drugs you may be taking, because virtually any drug can produce thrombocytopenia. If the cause appears to be an antibody, your physician may prescribe a steroid drug to decrease the destruction caused by an­tibodies. This will allow the level of platelets in your blood to rise. The disease often im­proves or disappears after a few weeks. If it does not, your physician may advise you to have a splenectomy, an operation in which your spleen is removed. The spleen normally destroys worn out red cells, but it can become enlarged and overactive. If this occurs, the spleen may also destroy platelets, and pre­vent you from recovering quickly.

If you have thrombocytopenia that is caused by underproduction of platelets by the bone marrow or by blood loss caused by bleeding or abnormal clotting, you may need transfusions of platelets.

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