LUNG CANCER SYMPTOMS,DIAGNOSES,AND TREATMENTS

LUNG CARCINOGENS

There are more than 100 carcinogens or cancer factors are existing in our lifestyle and the major factor is tobacco smoking.

Tobacco when it is burned is producing too many toxins. The major toxin which contributes to about 75% is NNK or Nicotine derived Nitrosamine Ketone.

Nicotine itself may not be a single factor that causes carcinoma but when it gets burned as in cigarette smoking it is converted to its ketone form the NNK which is highly carcinogenic.

The chemistry of nicotine converted to NNK:-

 The above-shown nicotine when burned or heated or treated with some chemicals such as nitrous acid (HONO) structurally changed as follows by opening its pyrrolidine ring into NNK which is represented by the structure given below 

                                  

The ketone at the end represented by (C---C==O)is a potent mutagen which attacks DNA molecule to misread its content to form irregular developments and forming cancerous tumors 

Tobacco smoke contains 75% NNK and the person who inhales the smoke is more in danger than the smoker himself.

Perhaps there is another carcinogen in tobacco smoke known as NNN (N-nitroso Nornicotine)which is also equally potent in producing cancer.

NNK is a mutagen hence it needs activation in our body to mutate the DNA.

Our liver contains many groups of enzymes one of which is the cytochrom450 which activates NNK to produce is harmful effects on DNA.

LUNG CANCER

From the above diagram note the difference between the normal and the diseased lungs.

Types of Lung Cancers

1. Large Cell Lung Carcinoma-it is the most common form of lung cancer. It is also known as squamous cell carcinoma or non-small cell carcinoma. It is slow in spreading or metastasis and easily treatable.

2. Small Cell Lung Carcinoma-it is uncommon and can spread rapidly make it difficult to treat.

3.Lung Carcinoid Tumor.-A rare form of lung cancer and the most dangerous which affects nerves and endocrines.

Symptoms

Early signs of lung cancer are silent and undetectable however in advance stage some of the following symptoms are evident.

1.Vocal change

2.Weakness

3.Tiredness

4.Frequent respiratory infections

5.Medically unresponsive chronic cough

6.Blood spitting during cough

7.Painful coughing with thick mucus which makes difficulty in swallowing.

8.Shortness of breath

9.Pain in bones

10.Weight loss

Causes

1.Prolonged exposure of our lungs to harmful carcinogens in smokes including tobacco smoking, radon radiation, etc

2. In immune compromising situations such as suffering from HIV infection, prolonged use of steroids, etc.

Complications

1.Difficulty in breathing due to pleural effusion or fluid accumulation in the respiratory pathway 

2. Spreading of cancer to other parts such as the brain and skeletal muscles through lymphatic circulation.

3.Mouth infections, tooth decay, dry tongue, etc.

4. Stomach upset, loose motion or constipation due to the disease spread into the digestive system 

Stages:-

0 stage:-it is just above the normal as still cancer not established but there are attacks on the DNA. The small bits of tumors appear on the inner linings of the alveoli but not still spread to the lymph nodes

Stage-1: The tumors grown into cancerous but still at the starting level and not spread.
Sage-2: The tumors at this stage develops further distinctively and still localized, and can be removed by surgery without complications 
Stage:3: The tumors grew further and can reach metastasis but still localized.
Stage-4: The tumors attain metastasis and spread to other parts especially to lymph nodes, followed by bones, visceral parts, and brain.

Treatments

1.When any one of the symptoms mentioned above such as vocal change, coughing with blood and thick mucus occurs go to a specialist and diagnose thoroughly.

2. Cessation of smoking is a must.

3. Usually there are no proper diagnostic methods to detect lung cancer in early stages. But treatments can be with chemotherapy and

antibiotics to control the early symptoms.

4. Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is easily treatable as it is not usually spread to the brain.

5. Treatment is based on preventing irregular fusion of the DNA brands. This can be achieved by inhibiting a special gene protein known as Abnormal Fusion Protein. This is known as ALK Gene Rearrangements.

Three drugs namely Crizotinib ( Xalkori), Ceritinib (Zykadia), and Alcetinib (Alecensa)are developed to prevent the abnormal fusion protein.

 

HOW TO GET MORE IRON

IRON RICH FOODS

Iron is an important mineral our body needs to keep us healthy.

About 65% of our body iron is present in hemoglobin which is the boat used by the body to carry oxygen to the needed organs through blood circulation.

For this vital and critical oxygen transport hemoglobin must contain sufficient iron.

In simple words hemoglobin is a protein -iron complex.

Iron present in this complex is in ferrous (Fe++) form which then comes in contact with oxygen while blood circulates in the lungs during breath in the process the ferrous pick oxygen and become ferric (fe+++) iron.

When this oxygenated blood circulates in the peripheral organs it gives up its oxygen and the ferric return back to ferrous.

The rest of the iron is stored in the liver. 

Myoglobin is a protein iron complex which supply oxygen to the skeletal muscles for physical activities.

Iron is of two types.

1.Heme Iron.

2.Non-heme iron

Haem iron is very important which can be easily consumed by our body.

Animal meat is a full source of heme iron and may contain little nonheme iron also

Liver, red meat such as mutton, beef are good sources for heme iron

Similarly, white meat like seafood and chicken are also rich in heme iron.

Non-heme iron is mostly present in vegetable foods.

Our body is less likely to consume non-heme iron when compared with heme iron.
Hence those who are non-vegetarians are less likely to get iron-deficiency anemia and vise versa
Those who are vegetarians are very likely to get iron-deficiency anemia as their food contains non-heme iron which our body could not consume fully and easily.
These people should take periodical consumption of iron supplements as per doctor's advice.
There are some edibles which can make our body to easily assimilate food iron. They are vitamin C and Phytates
Vitamin C is enriched in all green vegetables, salads, and fruits such as oranges, berries, and tomatoes
Phytates are enriched in nuts such as cashew, walnut, and almonds.
Consuming these items after a meat or vegetable meal may help the body to consume and assimilate iron from the foods. Phytate containing nuts is better soaked or fermented before taking, otherwise, they may interfere with the iron consumption of body from the diet.
Drink an orange juice after a strong meal.
Conversely caffeine tannin and other tea contents disturb and reduce our body's ability of taking and consuming iron from food.
Hence avoid taking coffee or tea immediately after a strong meal at least within an hour gap.

Iron enriched food(Heme + Non-heme)

1.Beef
2.Mutton and any other red meat.
3.Chicken
4.Seafood like fishes and any other like white meat
5.Eggs
6.Poultry products.

Vegetarian Iron Supplements(Non-heme)

1.Beetroot

2.Dry fruits such as figs and apricots

3.Nuts

4.Seeds 

5.Soya beans

6.Potato molasses

7.Dark green vegetables and leaves such as broccoli, water crest, seaweeds, asparagus, and parsley.

Daily Individual Needs

1. Females aged between 19 -50 yrs =20mgs.

2. Males aged between   19 -50 yrs =10mgs 

3.Pregnant ladies                             = 30mgs

4.Breastfeeding ladies                    = 10mgs

Anemic Levels (WHO)

1.For female:- less than 119 gms per liter of the blood

2.For male:- less than 129 gms per liter of the blood

Symptoms of Anemia

1.Fatigue and Tiredness

2.Weakness and Dizziness

3.Pale skin

4.Irritability

5.Hair loss

6.Craving to eat sands, stone, bricks, and dirt

7.Leg restlessness

8.Brittle and pale nails

Iron Overload

This is a medical condition due to genetic disorder 

known as hemochromatosis in which the body absorbs more iron above the limit of its storing ability.

People who have this condition should avoid iron consumption should seek medical advice.

According to the National Institute for Health (NIH)

the daily intake of iron should not exceed 45 mg.

Symptoms of Iron Overload includes,

1.Stomach upset

2.Abdominal pain

3.Constipation

4.Faint.

 

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM-MORNING DIARRHEA

MORNING DIARRHEA

 

Morning diarrhea sometimes disturbs our daily life and work power.

Morning diarrhea signals us by the urgency of going to the bathroom in the morning wake up. Watery stools may drain up important body electrolytes such as sodium potassium, calcium, and magnesium, etc which leads to tiredness and weakness. There will be a rapid put down of body mass.

Occasional morning diarrhea may be a sign of temporary illness due to lifestyle habits or may be due to diet changes.

But regular morning diarrhea can be a sign of some serious underlying causes.

Lifestyle Habits

1. Smoking before going to bed at night or after woke up in the morning on an empty stomach may cause diarrhea in the morning.This due to nicotine

which causes ganglionic stimulation which leads to rapid cholinergic intestinal movements.

2. Drinking too much alcohol at night can cause loose stool in the morning

3. Another cause for morning diarrhea is getting up at midnight and have a spicy snake

4. Drinking too much coffee at night may also cause diarrhea in the morning.
5. If you take heavy breakfast in the morning too may some times cause morning diarrhea
6. Taking antibiotics may also cause morning diarrhea

Other Causes

1. Morning diarrhea can be possibly caused by ingesting shelf life expired food materials, unhygienically handled edibles, sweets, junk foods, improperly cooked foods, etc.

2. Viruses such as H.Influenza may cause diarrhea.

3. Bacterial infection may also cause diarrhea

4. Changing hormone level such as during pregnancy also may cause morning sickness such as diarrhea.

5. Usually, stress may not cause loose motion instead it may cause constipation due to sympathetic bowel relaxation but there may be some exception 

6. Dehydration may cause electrolyte imbalances which in turn causes diarrhea.

7. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition usually occurs due to chronic anxiety and stress often causes morning diarrhea
8. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases such as Crohn's disease also causes chronic diarrhea.
9.Allergens such as peanut, eggs, some fruits, milk, etc.

Treatments

If you found any irritable diet causes diarrhea to avoid that item in your diet. (e.g.) rotten fruits, rotten eggs, fermented milk.

If you found the diarrhea is due to allergy exclude that food item causes allergy. (e.g.) dry fish, citrus fruits, tomato

If you find any symptoms of IBS (Irritated Bowel Symptom) such as

bloating, stomach pain, gas, mucus then avoid irritable foods mentioned above and go to a doctor

If you find any symptom of IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) such as

stomach pain, weight loss, fatigue, blood in stools then go to a doctor.
Most of the IBD symptoms can be controlled by taking some steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but with the supervision of a doctor.
Aminosalicylates are used to treat Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease.
Antibiotics are also used as per the Doctor's direction to treat IBD.
Most of the IBS symptoms can be treated with some anticholinergic drugs such as, scopolamine or tincture of belladonna but with doctor's advice. Loperamide, a synthetic opioid may also help if an infection is excluded.
Other simple morning diarrheas can be treated with simple diets and lifestyle changes

ITCHY PALMS-CAUSES AND TREATMENTS

ITCHING PALMS

 

Some times we get itchy palms because of any one of the following causes.

A.Eczema 

The itchy palm due to eczema may have the following distinct features:-

1.Redness of the skin

2.cracking of the skin

3.Skin dryness

4.Blistering

A sub-type of eczema known as Dyshidrotic Eczema may be featured by small itchy blisters specifically on hands and sometimes at the feet. 

Causatives

The following professionals may be affected by palm eczemas

1.Cooks

2.Cleaners

3.Hairdressers

4.Medical professionals

5.Mechanics

B.Diabetes

The itchy palms due to diabetes may have the following distinct features:-

High blood sugar level may produce osmolar diuresis which causes extensive loss of water from the extracellular compartments to produce dry skin that results in itching palms 

The itching may appear with or without inflammations bumps or bruises

C.Allergies

The following are the distinct features of palm allergies

Palm allergy or contact dermatitis may appear within 48 to 96 hours after the hand comes in contact with the following allergens

1.Metals such as hand jewelry like rings, bangles including metal, plastic or rubber bands

2.Perfumes

3. Hand gloves specifically made out of latex

4.Soaps

5.Disinfectants

6.Antiseptics and antibacterials

7.Dust

8.Chlorinated liquids
Even though the allergic reactions may not be immediate, the reactions develop step by step within a few days as the body may take enough time to release itchy histamine.

Allergic Medications

Itchy palm may also be a result of some ingested medicines rather than a result of direct skin contact of medicine at the palm.

When a person takes an allergic medicine even at a mild dosage the stimulated body mast cells release histamine which tends to concentrate more in the palm and at the feet. Hence these areas will be affected first to show itching symptoms.

D.Cirrhosis

An autoimmune disorder known as Primary biliary cholangitis or Primary biliary cirrhosis a kind of liver disease can also develop itchy palms as one of the symptoms. The itchy may be characterized by blotchy palms. The other symptoms are 

1.Nausea

2.Diarrhea

3.Abdominal pain

4.Bone pain

5.Black urine

6.Jaundice

This symptom is more common in women and there are no known causes for this disorder.

E.Neurodisorders

Some times nerve damages at hands may also cause itchy palms. This etiology can be mostly attributed to diabetes because high blood sugar can cause peripheral neuropathy. This may affect sensations like pricky itches.

Another etiology is attributed to Carpal Tunnel Syndrom caused by pressure on the hand medial nerve leads to numbness, itching, and pain in the palm. This has been already discussed in another post in this blog.

The syndrome is caused by repeated workload by the same hand and can be relieved by rest.

Treatments for Pricky Palms

Generally treatments are based on the etiology(causes) or the origins of the discomfort.

1. Placing a cool damp cloth or an ice pack at the palm for 5 minutes can relieve the itching.

2. Corticosteroid creams or ointments can relieve redness and itching of the palm if its due to allergy. But care should be taken in case of diabetes.

Avoid frequent usages as steroids can cause thinning of the skin.

3. Refrigerated moisturizers can often help to relieve the itching and it is good for diabetics and patients with eczema.

3.U.V.radiation is more effective in eczematous itching.

Preventions

1. Always use hand gloves made of natural origins such as cotton

2.Wash hands with lukewarm water

3.Use soaps free from any fragrance

4. Apply any moisturizer whenever after drying the hand.

5. Use soft cotton or natural rubber gloves whenever working with chemicals or detergents

Synthetic gloves can be used if their inner linings are made out of cotton.

6. Avoid alcohol rubbings and gels contain high concentrations of alcohol.

 

 

USEFUL MEDICAL BITS-4

Fatty Liver

1. A recent study revealed that a chemical present in Kiwi fruit, Papaya, and Celery is known as pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)

is preventing the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice whose mothers were fed with high fatty food.

2.NAFLD is a condition in which there is heavy fat build up around the liver and the liver functions are damaged.

3. Obesity, high cholesterol level, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, are the main causes of NAFLD, and these conditions often arise as a result of taking high fatty diet.

4. It is well-established proof that a child can get NAFLD if its mother took high fatty food when it was in her womb.

Breast Cancer

5. A new study has shown that fats derived from fish liver oil and soy can able to prevent breast cancer as well.

The omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish liver oil such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are well established in reducing LDL cholesterol third omega-3 fatty acid derived from soy known as a-linolenic acid (ALA) also plays an important role in preventing cholesterol-based cancer tumors.

6. A new research study published in the magazine ONCOGENE has revealed that some macrophages present in the breast cancer tumor's microenvironment cause the tumor to spread to other parts by secreting insulin-like growth hormones (IGH). 

Weight Loss

7. A new finding regarding weight loss has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that worries about weight gain and thinking of hardness to lose weight may psychologically helpful to shed off your weight successfully. Albeit it is a joke but serious.

Schizophrenia(Psychosis)

8. Treatments for this mental disorder sometimes become difficult for some people who are refractory to antipsychotic drugs or they may need heavy doses to be controlled. To prevent this a Taiwanese Doctor Hsien Yuan Lane from the China Medical University of Taiwan with his team has found out that a common food preservative Sodium benzoate can enhance the effect of the anti psycho drug clozapine if taken along with it and thereby one can reduce the dose of clozapine an atypical antipsychotic drug.

Collagenous Colitis

9.A rare noncancerous inflammatory bowel disease in which a thick nonelastic band of collagen has formed under the lining of the bowel. 

The symptoms are as follows:

.Watery non-bloody diarrhea

.Stomach ache

.Dehydration

.Weight loss

.Nausea, and Vomiting 

.Bloating

.Exhaution

.Fecal Incontinence

.Reduced nutrition

.Anemia

Itchy Mole-Melanoma(Skin Cancer)?  

10. Not all itchy moles are necessarily cancerous but sometimes it may be one of the first signs of melanoma fatal skin cancer. Hence if your mole becomes itchy, change color, irregular border, larger than the hole of a pencil eraser, painful bleeding, and anything abnormally disappear or reappear on your skin should be diagnosed by a skin specialist.

USEFUL MEDICAL BITS-3

USEFUL MEDICAL BITS-3

Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

1. A study conducted by Dr.Eric S.Musiek an assistant professor of Neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St.Luis has reported that chronic insomnia and those who have long time sleep disturbances should possibly have markers of Alzheimer's Syndrom even though they show no symptoms.
2. In 2017, a group of scientists from the University of Southern California at Los Angels has reported that about 1 in 3 cases of Alzheimer's Disease can be preventable through lifestyle changes.
The WHO is recommending men aged above 65 years should undergo regular to moderately intense aerobic exercises for 150 minutes per week or high-intensity exercises for 75 minutes per week can keep AD at the bay. 

E-Cigarettes

3. A study at the Newyork University School of Medicine, Newyork City revealed that e-cigarettes smoke caused damages in DNA configurations when tested in mice. Hence it is known that they are carcinogenic and can cause cancers and heart diseases.

Multiple Sclerosis

4. A recent study of the interaction between testosterone and the immune system in the male mice at North Western University in Chicago has discovered a Guardian molecule that seems to protect against multiple sclerosis

Cloves

5. Researchers have found that clove oil is having the following health benefits:

Cure oral infections such as gingivitis

Tests in mice with clove extract along with its active ingredient nigericin shown some positive results in reducing insulin resistance by the tissues and hence good for diabetics.

1/2 teaspoon of the grounded powder of clove contains plenty of antioxidants, as per a report in Today's Dietitian.

Extract of Cloves has proved to prevent and cure obesity.

6. It is shown that chewing and swallowing raw cloves can be some times fatal if it goes into the airway by catching flames.

Also, clove oil can cause skin rashes, respiratory irritations, eye irritations, and allergy according to the National Center For Biotechnology Information

Obesity

7. The following proportions of diets are recommended for those who intend a weight loss

Carbohydrates   40%

Proteins             30%

Fats                     30%  

Sex

8.Lordosis Behavior-At the time of ovulation a female finds a particular male more attractive and makes a move available for having sex and mating.

A recent study says that a peptide known as Kisspeptin plays a vital role in this lordosis behavior.

Haphephobia

10.A psychological disorder in which the patient is afraid of being touch by others.

SOME USEFUL MEDICAL BITS-2

1. Anxiety suffered by men is mostly given by their close relatives especially by female relatives like mother, wife, or sister. A new study by the psychological medicos from the University of California, Berkeley, and Bar-Ilan University of Ramat Gan, Israel.
2. Doctors prescribe Metformin for Type-2 diabetes as it reduces blood glucose levels by improving glucose utilization by the tissues. But there is a wider belief that metformin also causes weight loss in patients who use medicine. Hence the drugs also prescribed by some doctors to patients who are overweight and obese. But the FDA does not approve this as the weight reduction by metformin is virtual. Also the FDA does not approve the use of metformin to treat the polycystic ovarian syndrome.
3.Type-1 diabetes is a condition in which a destructive gene activated by the environment that stimulates the body's autoimmunity which kills the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Hence it is purely insulin-dependent and usually occurs in children.
Type-2 diabetes is a condition in which insulin production or its release or its peripheral utilization by the tissues is insufficient by some unknown mechanism. It is associated with mental health and lifestyle.
It is important to know that Type-2 diabetes fortunately never become Type-1 (Juvenile,insulin-dependent) diabetes by taking insulin injections.
4. A recent article published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that Vitamin-D has a beneficial effect in the alleviation of IBM, Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
The symptoms of IBM are stomach ache, diarrhea, and bloating.
5. Symptoms of Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) which may be considered as a subtype of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are as follows:
a)Difficulty sleeping, nightmares, insomnia
b)Intrusive fears about the abuse
c)Silence about the abuse
d)avoid situations prone to the abuse
e)Feelings of sorrow, anger, hopelessness, worthlessness
f)Intence fear
g)Flashback imaginations of abuse
Even though this symptom is usually suffered by woman this may be experienced by any gender and hence can be named as Battered Person Syndrome.
6)Doctors from the University of California have found out that high cholesterol can cause intestinal cancer tumors 100 fold faster.
7)A man carried
 oxygen cylinder inside the MRI scanner room got fatally sucked and twisted by a tremendous magnetic force towards the huge MRI machine and killed.
It is not advisable to carry any metallic materials especially iron materials inside the MRI scanners. Iron is a powerful electromagnetic conductor and it will get magnetized as soon as it enters the magnetic field across the MRI scanner followed by a twist to align the electrical charges positive to negative.
So it is the radiologist's responsibility to check the patient for the metallic materials before the entry such as shoes, belts, spectacles, wristwatches, pens, pencils, implants, earrings, ornaments etc.etc. 
8. The Indian spice Turmeric is having high medicinal values because of its rich content of curcumin an antioxidant that can protect our body cells from harmful oxidations by various free radicals. Thereby turmeric is good for inflammations, stroke and Alzheimer's Disease-A new study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
9. Researches from the Queen Mary University of London have found that modified flu viruses can destroy tumors. They successfully tested on pancreatic tumors in vitro.
10. Hidden culprit influenza can cause a heart attack