Advantages of Blood Donation

1.It gives you a free mini physical examination.
Before donating blood, your hemoglobin level will be tested. If it is low, then you will not be allowed to donate blood. Besides hemoglobin, your blood pressure level and body weight will also be checked. In addition, your blood will also be examined for detecting the presence of five diseases, namely, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS and malaria. If you are not suffering from these diseases, only then you will be allowed to donate your blood.

 

 

2.Chances of heart disease and stokes are about 30% lesser in men who donate blood regularly.

 

3.Reduces blood pressure.

4.Iron overloading is also thought to increase the risk of heart diseases. Besides, iron oxidizes cholesterol, which is harmful for the arteries. Hemochromatosis is a genetic disease characterized by excess accumulation of iron in the tissues due to improper metabolism. The disease can cause damage to many organs like pancreas, adrenal glands, etc. It may also cause diabetes, liver diseases and heart diseases. So, donating blood on a regular basis would help you to regulate the level of iron in your body. Studies have shown that donating blood regularly can be beneficial for the heart and circulatory system and can reduce the risk of heart diseases, especially among young people.

5.Production of new red blood cells enhanced. Bone marrow is activated.

6.Burns calories: one unit of blood donation causes burning of about 650 calories.

 

 

7.Heeling of Euphoria – well being.

 

 

8.Reduces Risk of Cancer.

 

9.A unit of blood donated by you can benefit three persons. Blood can be separated into RBC, PLASMA and PLATELETS. All of them are life saving.

Birth Control Pill Types

Birth Control Pill Types

When taken correctly, the pill is highly effective at preventing pregnancy. But that phrase "when taken correctly" is key.

About 8% of women who take the pill become pregnant unintentionally each year. In most of those cases, the women forgot to take pills. Yet when used perfectly -- every day at the same time of day -- only 1 in 100 women have an unintended pregnancy during the first year of using the pill.

So yes, the pill works. But it's not ideal for women wanting a contraception method that they don't need to think about.
It's a very effective method for women who remember to take their pill each and every day at around the same.


Types of Pills

There are two main types of birth control pills: combination pills and progestin-only pills. Most pills are available in both a 21-day or a 28-day pack. They are often classified on the amount of estrogen and/or the amount and type of progestin.

Combination pills. These contain the hormones estrogen and progestin. Most birth control pills are combination pills. They're equally effective at preventing pregnancy -- again, when taken correctly. They may also have other benefits, including:
Shorter, lighter, more regular, and less painful periods
May reduce the severity or frequency of menstrual migraines
Can improve bleeding and pain associated with endometriosis and fibroids
May improve acne
Can lower risk of ovarian and uterine cancer
Can lower risk of pelvic inflammatory disease
May improve bone density in the years just before menopause

All combination pills slightly raise the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and blood clots that start in a leg vein but could travel to other parts of the body -- including the lungs, which could be fatal. That risk rises if you're a smoker older than 35.

Erythromelalgia

Do you know about Erythromelalgia ?

Erythromelalgia is a rare disorder that is characterized by burning pain and warmth and redness of the extremities.
Devastating disorder that typically affects the skin of the feet or hands, or both, and causes visible redness, intense heat and burning pain.

'The term erythromelalgia describes the syndrome: erythros (redness), melos (extremity) and algia (pain). An alternate name is “erythermalgia” that emphasizes the thermos (heat) – an essential part of the syndrome'

While usually affecting the lower extremities and upper extremities other body parts like faces or just ears or the nose may be involved. It usually affects both sides of the body, but can affect just one.

The associated pain and burning sensations can be extremely severe. People with EM often make major adjustments to their lifestyles to avoid flare-ups. Even in mild-to-moderate cases, normal functioning such as walking, standing, working, socializing, exercising, and sleeping may be impaired.

Precipitating factors include warm temperatures and even mild exercise. Cooling the hot body parts relieves the pain, as does elevating the affected areas.
[The use of icy water is strongly discouraged as ice can damage the skin. Using a fan or cool water is suggested instead.]

Approximately five percent of those with EM have an inherited condition that research has shown to be caused by genetic mutations. These people usually have other members of their families with the syndrome.

The cause of EM is unknown in the vast majority of cases. Peripheral neuropathies underlie many, and in some cases EM may be secondary to other disorders like the blood disease polycythemia.

A number of different medications have been shown effective in relieving symptoms of EM. However, no one drug helps everyone. Traditional over-the-counter pain medications or stronger prescription drugs help some.
Anticonvulsant drugs like Neurontin and Lyrica help others. Certain antidepressants like Cymbalta help still others. Combinations of drugs also have been reported effective. For instance, Lyrica and Cymbalta, at the lowest possible dosage, have been reported to be more effective than either drug by itself...

Platelet inhibition is helpful in patients with thrombocytosis. Aspirin is most often used, but anagrelide may also be effective.The optimal pharmacologic therapy in primary erythromelalgia is still unknown.

Marfan syndrome

Marfan syndrome is a disorder of connective tissue, the tissue that strengthens the body's structures.Marfan syndrome is caused by defects in a gene called fibrillin-1,whixh plays an important role as the building block for elastic tissue in the body.

SYMPTOMS:

tall with long,thin arms and legs

arachnodactyly

When they stretch out their arms, the length of their arms is much greater than their height.

pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum

flat feet

highly arched palate and crowded teeth

hypotonia

joints that are too flexible

learning disability

myopia

micrognathia

scoliosis

thin, narrow face

COMPLICATIONS:

aortic regurgitation

aortic rupture

bacterial endocarditis

dissecting aortic aneurysm

e4nlargement of the base of the aorta

heart failure

mitral valve prolapse