Symptoms - When to seek help

Symptoms – When to Call the Doctor

I used to work in a hospital, in administration in an Oncology department.   As I read one after another of the patient’s notes by the end of the first week I was convinced that I had everything from skin cancer to cancer of the pancreas.  It is said that medical students are the same.  Being made aware of diseases and conditions that they had no prior knowledge of could make them worried by every little twinge or headache they had, and attribute it to some dread disease.  But joking aside there are some symptoms that should never be ignored and should always send you beating a path to your doctor’s door. 

Among symptoms that always need checking out are:

·       Chest pains

• Abdominal discomfort
• Any unexplained bleeding 

Those may seem pretty obvious but there are other symptoms that are not so obvious but that also need to be checked out by your doctor.  These include any unexplained weight loss. Experiencing weight loss of 5% over the period of a month or a 10% weight loss from six to 12 months could be a warning of conditions such as

• hypothyroidism (an overactive thyroid)

• depression or other mental illness
• some liver diseases
• cancers
• malabsorption
• diabetes

A persistent fever should always be taken seriously. Any fever of over 100 f (37.8c) degrees should be investigated if it persists for more than a week. Fever can be an indication of  underlying infection and  is also sometimes a presenting symptom for some cancers and other medical conditions. Any fever that causes violent chills (rigors) or which is greater than 103f (39.0c) needs immediate medical attention.

Shortness of breath -  A persistent feeling of being short of breath on exertion can be a gradual hardly noticed symptom that can often be explained away easily, (you’re tired, are recovering from a cold, affected by pollen) However it is always best to take this type of symptom seriously, if it persists for any length of time see your doctor and of course any incidences of severe wheezing or gasping for air should be considered a medical emergency. Causes for breathlessness and wheezing are many and may include

• asthma
• heart problems
• anxiety
• panic attacks
• embolus (blood clot) in the lungs

Unexplained changes in bowel habits. Any change in bowel habits might indicate an infection, either bacterial or viral, hepatitis, possible inflammatory bowel disease (IBS) or even colon cancer. You need to see the doctor is you have any of the following:

• severe diarrhoea that lasts for more than two days
• chronic diarrhoea that lasts for a week or more
• constipation lasting two weeks or more
• unexplained and urgent need to have a bowel movement
• diarrhoea that contains traces or frank blood
• black stools or stools that appear tarry
• white stools

Finally symptoms that demonstrate any alteration in mental status. Unexplained changes in thinking, behaviour or demeanour may be due to:

        infection

        head injury

        stroke

        low blood sugar

        side effects of medications

In this area, immediate medical help should be summoned if any of the following symptoms are present:

        sudden confused thinking 

        gradual confused thinking

        disorientation  or panic

        sudden unexplained aggressive behaviour

        hallucinations in someone who has no previous history of this.

While it is important to keep an eye on your health and to know your body so that you recognise when things are not right, it is also important to keep things in perspective.  After all there is a fine line between being self-aware and becoming a hypochondriac, (one obsessed with his own health).   Just making sure that all is well and that any symptoms you have are checked out should ensure that you keep healthy and ensure that you get prompt treatment for any condition or disease that you do develop.   Remember that the earlier a disease is identified the better the chances of a good recovery for you.

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Blind Brothers Test Drive the Successor to the ‘White Stick”

Blind Brothers Test Drive the Successor to the  ‘White Stick”

This week we heard a fascinating story about two brothers, Dan and Michael Smith, 21 year old twins went blind within months last year are helping to promote the use of a navigational device that could see the traditional white stick consigned to history. Michael and Dan, from Barnet, North London, both suffer from a rare condition known as Leber’s Optic Neuropathy that results in a sudden and rapid loss of vision caused by the death of cells in the optic nerve.

Michael, a Paralympian footballer said he faced an uphill struggle to find information and advice that would help him avoid the acute embarrassment he faced when his failing sight caused him to bump into objects and other people. As a result of their experience in dealing with blindness at such a critical age in their young lives, tapping the ground with a white stick, as the blind have done for 800 years was not an option. They are now taking an active role in helping other young people with failing sight to move forward with confidence.

University students Michael and Dan put themselves forward as ambassadors for the UltraCane after testing its unique obstacle detection capability on the streets of Bristol and North London. In contrast to the standard long cane, the device uses ultrasound technology to give the user early warning of obstacles ahead and at head height through vibrating buttons in the handle. Michael is a third year geography undergraduate at Kings College, London and he said “When you lose your sight suddenly, you are plunged into a horrifying world. As a young person your safety, your image and your confidence are compromised and this is very hard to come to terms with. I am really looking forward to promoting the UltraCane to the many talented blind people I meet in schools, universities and business. They need to know mobility technology has progressed since the 1930s when the standard white cane became the accepted tool. As soon as I started using the UltraCane I realised how much information I was getting about what is ahead, to the side and around
me. I felt my confidence grow because I knew I was safe and could anticipate obstacles. The self-consciousness that comes when you crash into a bicycle or a bin left on the street has been completely eliminated.”

 Although they can only make out shadowy shapes both young men have succeeded in making rapid adjustments and have mastered new skills in order to continue their studies, their sporting interests and their charity fundraising. Last year the brothers completed a tandem bike ride from London to Amsterdam in aid of Blind in Business, raising in excess of £17,000 for the charity that helps blind and visually impaired graduates compete equally with sighted candidates for jobs. Even more ambitious cycling challenges are now in the planning stages.

Julie Davies, head of sales and marketing at Sound Foresight Technology, the company that developed the UltraCane said: “Michael and Dan are fantastic role models and we are very pleased and proud that they are promoting the UltraCane to other young, blind people and demonstrating how it could make a real difference to their lives too.” Dan, an engineering student in his third year at Bristol University said: “Even though I am an engineer and I understand the concept behind this device, I was initially quite doubtful that it could be made to work in practice, but I realised as soon as I tried it that it does live up to its promise and is an amazing aid to everyday life.”

Dan was recently featured riding an experimental UltraBike as part of the BBC 1 series Miracles of Nature. The programme showed how the UltraCane helps blind people develop a ‘mind map’ and demonstrated how the same technology could be used to help a blind cyclist negotiate his way along a woodland path.

The UltraCane mimics the way bats use echolocation to send out electronic pulses. By measuring the time from emission to receiving the echo they are able to build a picture of their environment that allows them to safely find their way around obstacles in the dark. In order to imitate this process the handle of the UltraCane is a handset fitted with transmitters and sensors. Buttons in the handle vibrate when the sensors detect that an obstacle is near. The strength of the vibration indicates the proximity of the obstacle, helping the user to walk around it easily and independently. This kind of tactile feedback stimulates the mind mapping ability of the brain. Over time, users find they no longer need to focus their full attention on the tactile information and can use their other senses when they walk around, much as sighted people do.

Please note that the authors, producers and companies themselves provide all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog that is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and not as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please, do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

For more information on ultra crane please visit the website:  www.ultracane.com

Chronic Back Pain

UK Health Radio – The Back Pain Show – Living with Chronic Back Pain

After a very successful visit to the Back Pain Show at Earls Court over the weekend, I thought it was only fitting that we concentrated on chronic back pain management in the blog this week.

Chronic back pain can have emotional as well as physical effects and a definitive diagnosis is always the best start.  For those who, for whatever reason have to live with chronic pain the emotional effects can include depression, anger, anxiety, and a fear of re-injury that may actually affect the ability of a person to return to work or to activities that they enjoy.

The emotional toll of chronic pain can also actually make that pain worse. Anxiety, stress, depression, anger, and fatigue interact in complex ways with chronic pain and may lead to a decrease in the body's production of natural painkillers.  Also, negative feelings may increase the level of substances that intensify sensations leading to a vicious cycle of pain.

About one in four workers have experienced low back pain within the past three months, making it one of the most common types of pain and the most frequent cause of disability in adults under 45. Although pain medication can’t actually heal a back injury, it can relieve pain and open a window for other treatments -- such as physical therapy -- to have a chance to work. There are multiple categories and types of medications for back pain; depending on how severe your symptoms are, and how long you’ve had the back pain.

If you or someone you love suffers from chronic pain it is important that they get help. There are many effective treatments available to relieve pain so that you or your loved one can start living again.

The ideal treatment for chronic pain is a comprehensive approach that addresses a person's physical, emotional, and cognitive needs. Successful treatment requires choosing a life-long plan of wellness that may include regular doctor’s visit, physical therapy, occupational therapy and even psychological counselling.

If you suffer from chronic pain, the first thing to do is to see a doctor and get treated. Other steps that can make living with chronic pain more tolerable include the following:

• ·        Learning how to relax through deep breathing and other stress management techniques.
• ·         Setting achievable goals and being careful not to over do it on good days.
• ·         Engaging in positive affirmation of your efforts.
• ·         Building in rest, exercise, and relaxation times to your daily schedule.
• ·         Joining a chronic pain support group.
• ·         Understanding your medications, including their expected benefits and any side effects.
• ·         Cutting down or eliminate alcohol consumption. Pain often disrupts sleep and alcohol can further disrupt the sleep cycle.
• ·         Stopping smoking. Cigarettes can impair healing and have been identified as a risk factor in the development of many diseases including degenerative disc disease that is a leading cause of low back pain.  

     It  can be difficult to live with chronic back pain but I do hope these tips might make life a bit easier.Please note that the authors, producers and companies themselves provide all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog, which is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and not as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to anything you hear on UK Health Radio. UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

  Amanda Thomas

  UK  Health Radio

Eating Disorder Awareness Week 11th - 17th February 2013

Eating Disorder Awareness Week‏  11^th - 17^th February 2013

An eating disorder is an abnormal attitude towards food that causes someone to change his or her eating habits and behaviour.   Between the 11^th and 17^th of February focus will be on eating disorders - that can destroy lives. 

It can start at any time, although it is commonest in younger people.  More recently though it has been starting to affect more people in the older age groups than has traditionally been seen.  It is characterised by a person focusing excessively on their weight and shape, leading them to make unhealthy choices about food with an often-catastrophic effect on their health and on those around them.

Eating disorders include a range of conditions that can affect someone physically, psychologically and socially. The most common eating disorders are: 

·       Anorexia Nervosa - when someone tries to keep their weight as low as they can, starving himself or herself or exercising excessively to achieve this.

·       Bulimia - this is when someone tries to control their weight by binge eating and then deliberately making themselves sick or using laxative medication to help empty their bowels before the food has been absorbed.

·       Binge eating - this is when someone feels compelled to continually overeat.

Although Eating disorders are often blamed on social pressure to be thin, with young people bombarded my images in the media that make them feel that they need to look a certain way, the causes are often a lot more complex.  There can be some biological influencing factors, combined with an experience that may ‘set off’ the disorder, while other factors may encourage the condition to continue. 

Some risk factors can make someone more likely to have an eating disorder.  They include:

·       Having a family member who has had an eating disorder, depression or substance abuse.

·       Being criticised for eating habits, body shape or weight can be a strong trigger, especially in young people.

·       Being overly concerned with being slim, particularly if combined with pressure to be slim either from society or for a job - for example models, athletes and ballet dancers.

·       Certain characteristics, like having an obsessive personality or an anxiety disorder, low self-esteem or being a perfectionist.

·       Particular experiences, such as sexual or emotional abuse or the death of someone special can trigger one of these conditions.

·       Difficult relationships either with family members, peers or friends

·       Stressful situations, for example when problems are encountered at work, school or university or at home.

It is often difficult to recognise that a loved one or friend has developed an eating disorder but some of the warning signs might be:

·       Someone missing meals

·       Complaining of being fat, even when they are normal weight or are even underweight.

·       If someone is weighing themselves and looking at themselves in the mirror all the time.

·       If when you offer a meal they always say that they have already eaten, or they will shortly be going out to eat somewhere else to avoid eating with you.

·       Cooking big or complicated meals for other people, while eating very little or none of the food themselves.

·       Only eating low-calorie foods such as lettuce or celery.

·       Feeling uncomfortable eating out or refusing to eat in public places, such as a restaurant.

·       The use of 'pro-anorexia' websites.

The NHS website has very useful information like this and much more on its site.  If someone in your family develops an eating disorder then it is likely that you will be in for a long and bumpy ride.   The sufferers become very clever in covering their tracks and in choosing loose clothing that will disguise the weight they have lost, in the case of anorexia or bulimia or even gained if they are a binge eater.  This is something that can rarely be tackled without outside help.  Look on the NHS website for help and guidance if you think someone you know might be affected by and eating disorder.

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge.  It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio