Showing posts with label Health And Beauty Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health And Beauty Tips. Show all posts

Friday, August 27, 2010

What Causes Lower Jaw Pain after Dental Work?

What Causes Lower Jaw Pain after Dental Work?


In medical term, the jaw is known as the mandible and can be a source of pain due to variety of reasons. The cause is obvious in some cases for example in the case of a breakage. Lower jaw pain can be caused by numerous medical problems from bone and joint issues to some dental problems and many of which can be quickly addressed by a visit to the doctor or dentist. Underlying medical problems can also cause lower jaw pain. For lower jaw pain, an individual should definitely seek medical attention and some conditions can develop much worse if they are not addressed. Take a look on this article, if you are finding causes of lower jaw pain after dental work.


Lower jaw pain may be resulted due to few things including arthritis, fractures, dislocations, whiplash injuries and structural issues in the jaw that you were born with. Jaw pain can be treated and may be cured most of the time naturally. Once it is recognized or diagnosed, eliminating the cause is the most important part. Sometimes, lower jaw pain can be caused by heart problems and so first you have to ensure that it is not related to your heart. You must seek treatment immediately, if it is related to heart as this can be serious and a heart attack may be looming. Stress can also be the cause of lower jaw pain. Lower jaw pain causes require specific treatments.
Causes of Lower Jaw Pain:

    * TMJ (temporomandibular joint):

TMJ disorder is one of the most common and known causes of jaw pain. It is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint located directly in front of the ear on either side of the head. At this spot, the upper and lower jaw meets. It is the most complex joint in the human body as it’s the only joint that moves up-down and left-right. Due to this, joint can become weak and injured leads to this disorder that causes extreme pain. This causes inflammation and the pain can radiate up into the ear, face and neck, causing tooth pain, headaches and stiff and sore jaw muscles which creates it hard to chew or open the mouth.


In the United States, 5 to 15 percent of people develop pain as a result of TMJ disorder, said by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofascial Research. TMJ starts with lower jaw pain and many different reasons are also responsible for this. Some of these causes are trauma (car accident, a punch to the jaw, etc…) to the joint, extended amount of stress (stress causes us to clinch the jaw) or hereditary causes such as arthritis, etc.

Pain or tenderness of the upper and lower jaw, pain around the ears, facial pain, headache and locking of the joint are the symptoms of TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder can also result in an uneven bite and a headache. TMJ symptoms may be worsened with stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep. You might develop headaches, toothaches or earaches by the lower jaw referring pain to those areas.


Treatment:

Lower jaw pain can be cured by many ways. TMJ disorder treatment involves taking medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, corticosteroid drugs, botulism toxin, and muscle relaxants to reduce the pain. To protect the teeth, a bite guard might be necessary. To remove any debris, a dental appliance or a needle can be placed into the joint in some cases. In extreme cases of TMJ, surgery is a treatment option to repair the dysfunctional jaw.

    * Bone Metastases:

Bone metastasis is an odd growth within and outside a bone’s pre-existing structure, caused by a particular type of cell in bones. When these cells are infected due to cancer cells, it could take place resulting in abnormal bone cells and subsequently odd bone growth. The new growth will push the jaw out of the socket if this happens in the TMJ. Bone metastases can also cause jaw pain in another way as it can affect the hollow chamber of the jaw. Mainly, the unwanted protrusion stuffs itself in the interior of the bone to an extent that the resulting stress from that pressure causes left lower jaw pain and right lower jaw pain. If this is not treated as soon as likely, then a jaw can break open from within.

    * Bruxism:

Bruxism is mentioned as grinding or clenching of the teeth. It can lead to lower or upper jaw pain, headache, trouble sleeping, depression and anxiety. It can also lead to tension, stress and eating disorders. Causes of bruxism are unclear but stress can trigger it.

Some of the ways to manage bruxism includes a splint, teeth guards, stress reduction and stretching of the jaw muscles through physical therapy exercises.

    * Arthritis:

Arthritis is joint disorder and another culprit for jaw pain. It can affect any joint including the jaw joint. It is a degenerative joint disease which may be resulted due to infection, trauma or simply aging. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Depending on the severity of the arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can also cause severe lower jaw pain.

    * Dental Issues:

Lower jaw pain can also be caused by dental surgery, extraction of wisdom teeth or untreated cavities and so on. Tooth abscess or toothache can also be the reason for jaw pain and these can also be classified under lower jaw pain causes.

Aside from these, migraine, nail biting, jaw cyst, jaw tumor, and grinding are amongst the culprits that resulted in lower jaw pain.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Information about Colon Cancer

Information about Colon Cancer

Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases. They affect the body’s basic unit, the cell. Cancer occurs when cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. Like all other organs of the body, the colon and rectum are made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells divide to produce more cells only when the body needs them. This orderly process helps keep us healthy.

If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms. This mass of extra tissue, called a growth or tumor, can be benign or malignant.

Benign tumors are not cancer. They can usually be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. Most important, cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.

Malignant tumors are cancer. Cancer cells can invade and damage tissues and organs near the tumor. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This is how cancer spreads from the original (primary) tumor to form new tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

When cancer spreads to another part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary tumor. For example, if colon cancer spreads to the liver, the cancer cells in the liver are colon cancer cells. The disease is metastatic colon cancer (it is not liver cancer).

What is Cancer of The Colon and Rectum?

The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. Together, they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine (also known as the large bowel).

Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps. Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called cancers. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can be easily removed during colonoscopy and are not life-threatening.

If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant (cancerous) over time. Most of the cancers of the large intestine are believed to have developed from polyps. Cancer of the colon and rectum (also referred to as colorectal cancer) can invade and damage adjacent tissues and organs.

Cancer cells can also break away and spread to other parts of the body (such as liver and lung) where new tumors form. The spread of colon cancer to distant organs is called metastasis of the colon cancer. Once metastasis has occurred in colorectal cancer, a complete cure of the cancer is unlikely.

Globally, cancer of the colon and rectum is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth leading cause of cancer in females. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world. It is common in the Western world and is rare in Asia and Africa. In countries where the people have adopted western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

What is The Symptoms and Signs of Pancreatic Cancer?

What is The Symptoms and Signs of Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer symptoms often do not appear until the disease is in an advanced stage, thus making early detection difficult. When pancreatic cancer symptoms do appear, they can be vague and non-specific, such as stomach pain and weight loss.

What is the Pancreas?

Pancreatic cancer symptoms can vary based on what part of the pancreas is affected and if it has spread. The pancreas is a gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail.

The pancreas lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine. It cannot be felt during a physical exam exam and is located behind other organs like the stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, and small intestine.

Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

Below you will find some of the most common pancreatic cancer symptoms:

Yellowing of the Skin and Eyes.

Jaundice, a condition marked by the yellowing of the skin and eyes commonly occurs in people pancreatic cancer. It occurs when an increased level of bilirubin is in the blood. This can occur when a tumor completely or partially blocks bile ducts, slowing the flow of bile.

Abdominal Pain.

Abdominal pain is common symptom of pancreatic cancer. It usually occurs on the upper abdomen and may even radiate to the back. Abdominal pain may worsen when lying down or 3 to 4 hours after eating.

Unintended Weight Loss.

While losing weight without trying may welcomed by many, but it can indicate something is wrong. Again, unintended weight loss is a common symptom of pancreatic cancer and one that is usually one of the first symptom experienced along with abdominal pain. Weight loss is common in many types of cancer and other benign conditions.

Nausea/Vomiting.

Again, another vague symptom of pancreatic cancer that is common among many other conditions. Non-specific symptoms, like nausea, often result in a delay in a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

Loss of Appetite.

Appetite loss is a symptom of hundreds of diseases and conditions, including pancreatic cancer. It can signal something severe or even be related to something as small as a stomach virus. When symptoms are vague like this, medical tests are necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.

Itchy Skin.

Itchy skin is a less common symptom of pancreatic cancer. Again, a vague symptom, but when coupled with another symptom like abdominal pain or jaundice, it can be significant in making a more accurate, timely diagnosis. Unfortunately, when someone with undiagnosed pancreatic cancer is experiencing itchy skin, it is often misdiagnosed as a dermatological condition.

Unexpected Onset of Diabetes.

In some cases, pancreatic cancer may impede the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin, resulting in diabetes. It is important note that most people develop diabetes because of reasons unrelated to pancreatic cancer.

Changes in Stool and Urine Color.

Urine may become much darker, while stools loser their brown color, becoming a pale, clay color. This is often due to the bile duct being blocked. Stools can also have a odd, strong smell. Unsure of what your symptoms may be? Try the Symptom Checker to see what your symptoms could mean.

In this excerpt, provided by UpToDate– an electronic resource used by many patients and their doctors looking for in-depth medical information– you can see how the location of a tumor can impact symptoms a person may experience:

    * Symptoms vary depending upon where the pancreatic cancer is located. Cancers that develop in the head of the pancreas tend to block the drainage of bile from the liver to the intestines and typically cause jaundice. In contrast, tumors that arise in the body or tail are less likely to cause jaundice and more often cause abdominal pain, weight loss, and diarrhea.

What to Do If You Have Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, see your doctor. Even if they are not related to pancreatic cancer in the end, they are symptoms that do warrant a medical evaluation. More than likely, you do not have pancreatic cancer. You should know that pancreatic cancer is rare — only 38,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed in 2008.

What is The Causes of Pancreatic Cancer

What is The Causes of Pancreatic Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases. More than 100 different types of cancer are known, and several types of cancer can develop in the pancreas. They all have one thing in common: abnormal cells grow and destroy body tissue.

Healthy cells that make up the body’s tissues grow, divide, and replace themselves in an orderly way. This process keeps the body in good repair. Sometimes, however, some cells lose the ability to control their growth. They grow too rapidly and without any order. Too much tissue is made, and tumors are formed. Tumors can be benign or malignant.

Benign tumors are not cancer. They do not spread to other parts of the body and are seldom a threat to life. Often, benign tumors can be removed by surgery, and they are not likely to return.

Malignant tumors are cancer. They can invade and destroy nearby healthy tissues and organs. Cancer cells also can break away from the tumor and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

Cancer that starts in the pancreas is called pancreatic cancer. When pancreatic cancer spreads, it usually travels through the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system includes a network of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels, into tissues all over the body.

Cancer cells are carried through these vessels by lymph, a colorless, watery fluid that carries cells that fight infection. Along the network of lymphatic vessels are groups of small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Surgeons often remove lymph nodes near the pancreas to learn whether they contain cancer cells.

Cancer cells can also be carried through the bloodstream to the liver, lungs, bone, or other organs. Pancreatic cancer that spreads to other organs is called metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

How To Prevent High Blood Pressure(HBP)

How To Prevent High Blood Pressure(HBP)

 High blood pressure may be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle, including some of the following:

    * eating a nutritious, low-fat diet;

    * exercising regularly;

    * decreasing salt (sodium) intake, read food labels so you know the salt content before you buy a product in the grocery store or eating a meal at a fast food restaurant, and avoid adding salt to foods;

    * maintain a healthy weight and if you are overweight or obese, try to lose weight;

    * drink alcohol in moderation;

    * stop smoking;

    * get routine health assessments and blood pressure screening;

    * taking your blood pressure medications as directed, even if you’re feeling fine; and

    * reduce stress and practice relaxation techniques, physical activity will help with this.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

When to Seek Medical Care in High Blood Pressure

When to Seek Medical Care in High Blood Pressure

 Many symptoms present gradually after years of poorly blood pressure control. Many times, the first knowledge of hypertension occurs when a patient complains of chest pain or has stroke-like symptoms. Should these occur, it is appropriate to call 911 immediately (if available) to activate emergency medical services and seek care.

You may be directed to seek medical care if blood pressure readings are elevated if done as part of a community health screening.

Isolated elevated blood pressure readings do not necessarily make the diagnosis of hypertension. Blood pressure readings vary throughout the day, and your primary care provider may record a different reading than the one that was measured in a screening that sent you in for care.

There are non-specific symptoms associated with hypertension that may cause a person to seek care, including lightheadedness, dizziness, headache with or without nausea, change in vision, or lethargy and fatigue. There are many other reasons to develop these symptoms other than high blood pressure.