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Important Things You Need to Know about Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer involves the aggressive growth of malignant cells in a woman’s cervix, the lowermost portion of the uterus, and a critical reproductive organ. If such an abnormal growth of cells is left unchecked or untreated, this cancer can spread to surrounding areas too. Cervical cancer is highly common. Every year, about 13,000 women develop this disease, and approximately 4,000 die. Here are some details regarding cervical cancer:

Cervical cancer symptoms
Fortunately, cervical cancer does not spread as rapidly as some other cancers. So, healthcare experts can diagnose it and opt for any of the effective treatment alternatives based on the following typical symptoms:

Vaginal bleeding after intercourse
Symptoms in the initial stages of cervical cancer are not as obvious as those in the advanced stages. Therefore, detecting this condition in women can be challenging in these stages. However, doctors and patients have the best chance of effectively treating cervical cancer in these stages. One of the more typical indicators of cervical cancer is frequent vaginal bleeding. Bleeding is especially profuse right after the person with cervical cancer has intercourse. Apart from that, women with this condition also frequently experience bleeding after their periods.
If a woman experiences frequent, unexplained, and painful episodes of bleeding, then they must consult their local healthcare professional immediately to screen for cervical cancer.

Pelvic pain during intercourse
This symptom usually shows up when the cancer is in its advanced stages. Women will experience continuous pain in the pelvis. This pain gets aggravated when they have intercourse. Usually, there will be several other indicators, such as bleeding and heavy vaginal discharge, before the pain starts to set in. Therefore, even if women experience mild pelvic pain, they must visit an oncologist or healthcare professional without delay.

Vaginal discharge
Irregular vaginal discharge is also a strong indicator of cervical cancer. Examining the discharge is one way to tell whether an individual has cervical cancer. Cervical cancer-based vaginal discharge contains large amounts of bacteria that causes its color, smell, and texture to differ from normal discharges. Cervical cancer-based discharge is usually thick. Additionally, this vaginal discharge has a foul odor.

Abnormal urinary symptoms
The cervix is closely connected to the vagina. Therefore, most symptoms of cervical cancer also end up affecting vaginal functions such as urination. Another standard indicator of cervical cancer involves a strange urge to urinate. Women with cervical cancer will have significantly more urges to urinate than others. Additionally, frequent urination also accompanies this symptom. Apart from that, difficulty in urination, blood in the urine, and similar other indicators show up during the initial and later stages of this health condition.

Lower back pain
Cervical cancer generally affects women after their puberty stage. During this phase of life, a constant sensation of pain in and around the lower back and pelvis indicates the abnormal growth of cancerous cells in an individual’s cervix.

Cervical cancer causes
Several factors contribute to the development of cervical cancer in women. Some of the most common causes of this condition are:

Sexual activity from an early age
Cervical cancer is mainly caused by Human papillomavirus infection, commonly known as HPV. Several research studies have found that having frequent sexual activity at an early age can increase one’s chances of contracting HPV from them. This infection is transmitted through anal, vaginal, or oral sexual contact and is the prime cause of cervical cancer.
Generally, most men and women contract HPV at some point, but their immune system fights against it and keeps them healthy. However, the likelihood of women contracting cervical cancer is magnified when the immune system does not do its job.

Sexually transmitted diseases
Having sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, syphilis, or gonorrhea can increase women’s chances of contracting HPV and eventually developing cervical cancer. Therefore, screening for cancer is vital when a woman contracts any of these diseases.

Weak immune system
As implied earlier, an individual’s immune system is key to fighting off HPV. Therefore, people with immune system-related issues, such as immunocompromised conditions, autoimmune disorders, and other similar problems, are more likely to contract HPV and then develop cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer remedies
When a person with cervical cancer visits a gynecologic oncologist (a cancer specialist with extensive credible knowledge and experience regarding a woman’s reproductive system), they will provide some of the following alternatives for treating the condition:

Surgical treatment
There are various types of surgery to treat cervical cancer, such as laser surgery, which involves using a powerful laser beam to incinerate the cancerous cells in a woman’s cervix. Apart from that, cryosurgery, which involves freezing malignant cells to stunt their growth, is also a common treatment avenue. In hysterectomy surgery, doctors remove the uterus from a woman’s body (but not the surrounding tissue) to eradicate the tumor.
In the cone biopsy procedure, doctors surgically remove a cone-shaped tissue portion from the cervix to treat cervical cancer. Similarly, trachelectomy involves the removal of the cervix and specific upper parts of a woman’s vagina to inhibit cancer growth and prevent metastasis. Apart from this, there are other kinds of surgery, too, such as pelvic exenteration and hysterectomy involving the dissection of one’s pelvic lymph node.

Chemotherapy
This treatment alternative involves using specific chemicals and medically-approved substances to kill cancer cells. In chemotherapy, doctors locate and strongly target the cancerous cells to stall their growth and prevent metastasis or the out-of-hand spreading of cancer to other parts of the body.

Radiation treatment
This is similar to chemotherapy. Instead of strong chemicals, this treatment involves the use of powerful radiation to quell the growth of a cervical cancer-causing tumor. Radiation therapy is effective but has specific side effects, such as muscle loss and hair fall.

Apart from these, doctors may also use specially-made HPV vaccines to strengthen one’s immunity against the dangerous HPV infection.

Known Signs of Hemophilia and Anemia

Bleeding disorders refer to a group of conditions like hemophilia or anemia that interfere with normal blood functions in the body. Hemophilia affects the ability of the blood cells to clot naturally, while anemia lowers hemoglobin count in the red blood cells. These conditions exhibit a unique set of symptoms that can be identified. Early diagnosis helps doctors form a viable healthcare plan. So, it pays to know and identify the following symptoms. Hemophilia and Anemia: Understanding the difference Both conditions are common bleeding disorders. However, anemia & hemophilia signs are distinctly different from each other when it comes to the disease progression. The latter is a genetic disorder that affects the red blood cellâs ability to clot and close wounds. Certain clotting factors in the blood bind with the red blood cells to prevent uncontrolled bleeding. Anemia is a condition where the body lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells in the first place. Also, a low hemoglobin count affects the red blood cellâs ability to carry oxygen to vital organs and extremities via the circulatory system. Genetic mutation triggers most known types of hemophilia, while certain nutritional deficiencies in the body trigger common forms of anemia. Symptoms of hemophilia The absence of essential clotting factors in the blood can trigger a variety of noticeable and unusual symptoms. Uncontrolled bleeding Bleeding is one of the primary symptoms of hemophilia. It can happen under the skin or in the joints. As the red blood cells are unable to bind and clot, this pool of blood can trigger swelling, pain, and tightness in the joints. This symptom is most commonly noticeable in the knees, elbows, and ankles. Blood collecting under the skin can lead to buildups under the muscle and soft tissue to cause more painful bruising. This symptom is called hematoma in medical terminology. Frequent nosebleeds When the bleeding is triggered externally, it can result in frequent nosebleeds that can be difficult to stop. Note that external environmental factors and physical injuries generally cause nosebleeds. So, any unexplained bleeding could indicate a developing condition. Bleeding caused due to cuts, bruises, and vaccinations Lack of essential clotting factor VIII can trigger bleeding from the lightest of impacts, cuts, bruises, or even after losing a tooth. Some people experience sudden bleeding after taking a vaccination. This could be the bodyâs reaction to producing antibodies, but the strain could be too much to bear, resulting in bleeding from the extremities. Blood in urine or stool Excess blood in the urine or stool is a clear sign of disease progression. The urine and stools appear dark red or even blackish due to the presence of red blood cells mixed with the excreta. Immediate medical assistance is advisable for visual symptoms. Bleeding in infants Complicated pregnancies can be physically taxing for both the mother and the child leading to possible symptoms of hemophilia at birth. But in some rare cases, infants may experience internal bleeding in the head. Symptoms of anemia The most common types of anemia, including iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemia, develop due to the lack of nutrients in the body. Therefore, anemia exhibits more physically taxing symptoms as the condition worsens. Tiredness Increased fatigue and weakness for no apparent reason is one of the main indicators of nutritional deficiencies. An unexplained decrease in overall stamina with no physical exertion or any activity during the day could mean low iron in the blood. Without iron, the body cannot produce enough red blood cells. And low hemoglobin means not enough oxygen is being circulated around vital organs in the body, thus resulting in fatigue induced by low energy levels. Respiratory symptoms Experiencing shortness of breath, chest pains, and even noticing an irregular heartbeat could indicate a possible anemic condition. An iron deficiency lowers hemoglobin count, and this means not enough oxygen is being circulated by the blood. Low hemoglobin affects the breathing rate as the body struggles to extract more oxygen resulting in shortness of breath. The heart must also put in extra efforts to pump the low hemoglobin blood forcefully, thus resulting in irregular heartbeats. Doctors refer to this condition as heart palpitations. These symptoms can also induce chest pains due to the sheer stress being put on the organ. Pale skin and damaged hair Skin and hair symptoms are visible indicators of a developing anemia condition. An iron deficiency results in low red blood cell production and indirectly affects the shade of the skin. Pale skin is noticeably visible around the face, gums, lower lips, lower eyelids, and even on the nails. This symptom is more visually obvious among people who flaunt a lighter skin tone. Also, hair thinning, hair fall, and a damaged scalp is a clear sign of iron deficiency. Treatment options Note that anemia & hemophilia signs never overlap. Once the primary indicators are confirmed, doctors quickly suggest blood tests to identify the leading causes or triggers. Knowing the differences can help with prompt diagnosis even though both the conditions are bleeding disorders. It is even possible to recover from common forms of anemia within 2 to 3 months. Hemophilia is a more serious bleeding disorder that is treated by introducing the missing clotting factors. Doctors also suggest prescriptions that help stimulate the body to release more clotting factors. However, a transfusion offers more promising results for moderate to severe progression. Effective preventive measures and home remedies can help lower the risk of bleeding. These conditions cannot be completely cured. But it is possible to improve the quality of life by incorporating healthy lifestyle habits. Prescriptions and treatments only help slow down the disease progression.

Eating Habits That Help Manage Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder leading to complications, including uncontrollable movements like stiffness or shaking, which can cause balance and coordination difficulties in an individual. Symptoms of this condition take time and develop gradually but worsen with time. It may reach a point where the patient may have difficulty walking and talking, and swallowing food. As a caregiver, it is crucial to know how to make eating easier and the right foods to introduce. Patience is the key When caring for those with Parkinson's disease, it is necessary to know that patience is paramount and that taking it slow is the anthem of caregiving. Since the disease affects brain activity, it leads to movements getting slower and slower by the day, including walking, talking, and even eating. Chewing needs the use of muscles, and this activity can become frustrating with difficulty in controlling muscles. So give the patient time and be aware of their eating routine. If it helps, you can encourage smaller meals frequently rather than three big meals throughout the day. It may help them get adequate nutrition and not frustrate them with one activity for too long. Noticing the swallowing patterns Since chewing and swallowing become difficult with Parkinson's disease, it is also necessary to keep a tab on any changes in eating habits over time. If you notice your loved ones facing difficulty swallowing, then it is time to speak to a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who can assess the risk of dysphagia or aspiration, referred to when the food goes down the wrong pipe and enters the lung. The specialist will do a series of tests to understand muscle strength and suggests specific exercises that may help improve swallowing. They may also suggest some foods that are safe and unsafe during this period. Extra care with liquids As unusual as it may seem, solid foods are not as significant a threat as liquid foods. It is because the latter can quickly enter the airway and reach the lungs, leading to complications like pneumonia. It is usually advised that if any soup is given, make it thick rather than just watery. Adding thickening agents like cornstarch or potato starch can be extremely useful. Even gelatin can be added to some foods. Avoiding dry foods Those with dysphagia can have trouble swallowing very dry foods. It will include biscuits, chips, toast, and even crusty bread. Experts usually advise that these dry foods should be moistened with a liquid to make it easier for them to slide down the food pipe. Use fluids like gravy, milk, broth, or syrup to soften the food. It is also advised to always cut the vegetables as small as an inch or smaller to make them easy to slide down the food pipe, and they should always be cooked till tender. Ensure that there is no snacking while lying down to avoid choking. Handling paranoia Parkinson's psychosis can lead to hallucinations and paranoia. It is observed that many patients with this disease develop false beliefs or negative thoughts, which may also affect their eating patterns. For example, one might worry that their food is poisoned by someone and refuse to eat anything. One of the ways to handle such situations is not to argue or invalidate what they feel but to redirect the person instead. Divert them to a different activity, delay food time a little, if necessary, and then try again. Arguing with the person will only lead to more agitation and make the situation even more difficult. Another complication that arises is that of hallucinations. For example, patients may start hallucinating about deceased family members at the dinner table and insist on having dinner with them. Experts suggest that instead of brushing off this behavior, encourage them to say hello (some studies prove that this often leads to the hallucination disappearing, bringing the person back to reality) and then continue with their dinner. Adaptive kitchen tools Since muscles are not in control, a simple task like eating food without shaky hands can be frustrating and overwhelming for patients. If the tremors persist for a long time, it is often advised to invest in kitchen tools to make eating easier. It includes buying weighted utensils or utensils with a stabilizing handle. Placing plate guards or non-slip material under the utensils like plates and bowls can be helpful while spooning food. Safe food choices According to experts, a Mediterranean meal plan is recommended for those diagnosed with the disorder. This nutritional regime is based on the traditional food habits observed in Mediterranean countries. It includes adding foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and plant-based foods. However, some foods like seafood, dairy, chicken or turkey, and eggs can be moderately included in the food plan on some days. Then there are foods like red meat and sweets like cookies and candies, which should be avoided or rarely included in the meal plan. It is the basic nutrition advice for those managing Parkinson's disease. Speaking to a doctor about referring to the right nutritionist for a meal plan for those with Parkinson's disease and especially Parkinson's psychosis would be extremely helpful. Besides the tips mentioned above, consult a doctor about better caregiving tips regarding nutrition and foods that should be excluded from the meal plan. It is necessary to treat those with the disease with utmost patience and love to avoid other mental and emotional health issues along with the disorder. The caregiver and the patient can experience agitation and irritation, and it is important to have a sound support system to deal with these challenges. One can also ask the doctor about any support groups in the community that could be helpful.

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