Do You Know About Small Vessel Stroke?

Small-Vessel Stroke The term lacunar infarction refers to infarction

following atherothrombotic or lipohyalinotic occlusion of a small artery(

30 to 300 _m) in the brain. The term small-vessel stroke denotes

occlusion of such a small penetrating arteryand is now the preferred

term. Small-vessel strokes account for _20% of all strokes.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY The MCA stem, the arteries comprising the circle of

Willis (A1 segment, anterior and posterior communicating arteries,

and P1 segment), and the basilar and vertebral arteries all give rise to

30- to 300-_m branches that penetrate the deep grayand white matter

of the cerebrum or brainstem (Fig. 349-3). Each of these small

branches can occlude either byatherothrombotic disease at its origin

or bythe development of lipohyalinotic thickening. 

Thrombosis of

these vessels causes small infarcts that are referred to as lacunes (Latin

for “lake” of fluid noted at autopsy). They range in size from 3 mm

to 2 cm. Hypertension and age are the principal risk factors.

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS The most common lacunar syndromes are the

following: (1) Pure motor hemiparesis from an infarct in the posterior

limb of the internal capsule or basis pontis; the face, arm, and leg are

almost always involved; (2) pure sensory stroke from an infarct in the

ventrolateral thalamus; (3) ataxic hemiparesis from an infarct in the

base of the pons; (4) dysarthria and a clumsy hand or arm due to

infarction in the base of the pons or in the genu of the internal capsule;

and (5) pure motor hemiparesis with “motor (Broca’s) aphasia” due

to thrombotic occlusion of a lenticulostriate branch supplying the genu

and anterior limb of the internal capsule and adjacent white matter of

the corona radiata.

Transient symptoms (small vessel TIAs) may herald a small-vessel

infarct; theymay occur several times a day and last only a few minutes.

Recoveryfrom a small-vessel stroke often begins within hours or days,

and over weeks or months maybe nearly complete; in some cases,

however, there is severe permanent disability. Often, institution of

combined antithrombotic treatments does not prevent eventual stroke

in “stuttering lacunes.”

A large-vessel source (either thrombosis or embolism) maymanifest

initiallyas a lacunar syndrome with small-vessel infarction. Therefore,

the search for embolic sources (carotid and heart) should not be

completelyabandoned in the evaluation of these patients. Secondary

prevention of lacunar stroke involves risk factor modification, specificallyreduction

in blood pressure (see “Primary and Secondary Prevention,”

below).

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Info:Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of joint inflammation (arthritis) that is long-lasting (chronic) and most often affects the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis commonly causes pain and stiffness, with swelling and limited motion in the low back, middle back, neck, hips, chest wall, and heels. Over time, joints in the spine can fuse together and cause a fixed, bent-forward posture.
In early ankylosing spondylitis, there is inflammation of the joints and

of the ligaments where they attach near the joints.

 

In advanced ankylosing spondylitis, there is:
Fusion of joints in the spine.
Flattening of the normal curve in the low back.
Often a flattening of the normal curve of the neck, an increase in the forward curve of the upper back, and bent posture at the hips.

Other joints can become painful and stiff, including those in the shoulders, wrists, hands, knees, ankles, and feet.
Although it is unusual, ankylosing spondylitis can also cause changes such as thickening of the major artery (aorta) and the valve in the heart called the aortic valve. Scarring of the lungs also happens in rare cases. The kidneys and the digestive tract can also be affected.

Warning: Please dont completely rely on informations available online. Kindly consult your doctor if you have any health issues

Image taken from Healthsource

Tips to care your Feet

Your feet are more important than you think. They contain roughly one-fourth of all the bones in your body
— and they take quite a beating as they support you and help you stay active. In fact, many people believe that the foot represents your overall health. A simple foot pain can signal numerous health conditions, some serious and others caused by wear and tear.
lot is riding on your feet, so take care of them. Just imagine if they got injured and became too sore for you to walk! A little foot love every day can go a long way. And daily foot care is simple with our foolproof tips. Here’s how to care for your feet every day.
1- Keep them clean:
Wash and dry feet in the tub or shower. Clean between your toes. Use an antibacterial soap and a nail brush to scrub away dirt and grime.



2- Don’t drip-dry:
Dry feet thoroughly and carefully with a clean towel. This will help prevent athlete’s foot, a fungus that causes itchy, red, flaking skin between and around the toes.
3- Slough off the dead skin:
Smooth rough soles and the edges of your feet every day with a pumice stone. This removes the dead skin on your feet and helps prevent the skin from splitting, infection, and the buildup of calluses.
4- Moisturize your feet every day with an unscented lotion:
The skin on your feet is not naturally moist and needs the extra nutrients from a good quality lotion.
5- Give ’em a rubdown:
Massage your feet every day as you moisturize to soothe sore, aching muscles and improve blood flow. Enjoy fragrant aromatherapy oils such as peppermint or chamomile.
6- Go round and round:
Stretch your feet every morning by rotating your ankles in a circular motion, pointing and flexing your toes, and standing on your tiptoes to strengthen bones, tendons, and muscles.
7- Soak it up:
Immerse your feet in a quick daily footbath. Fill with marbles and move feet gently on top of the marbles to stimulate the nerve endings.
8- Give yourself a pedicure:
File your toenails so they’re smooth. File them straight across using an emery board, not a metal file. Avoid filing them too short or pulling on loose edges. Match the shape of your nail to the shape of your toe. This helps avoid splitting, ingrown toenails, fungus, and soreness. Push back the cuticles with a clean orangewood stick, and trim the excess if necessary.
9- Wear the right shoes:
Wear comfortable shoes every day. Painful feet mean problem feet. Wear the right shoes for the right climate. Protect your feet in the rain and snow with proper waterproof footwear. If you walk or run for exercise, invest in top quality sneakers. In the summer, wear sandals so your feet can breathe. And don’t walk barefoot outside, as this can cause injury to your feet.
10- Walk it off:
Walking stimulates the circulation to your feet and keeps them healthy and strong.
11- Use good sock sense:
Avoid nylon socks and pantyhose and opt for more breathable cotton socks instead, if possible.
12- Keep an eye out:
Examine feet for sores, infections, rashes, swelling, blemishes, or corns, and treat them promptly.
It only takes a little time each day to treat your feet well, and these tips can keep them healthy and beautiful all year long.

Causes of Back Pain

 Back pain is not a disease but is a symptom for underlying disease.  Pain arising from other organs may be felt in the back. This is called referred pain.
Many intra-abdominal disorders -- such as appendicitis, aneurysms, kidney diseases, bladder infections, pelvic infections, and ovarian disorders, among others -- can cause pain referred to the back.  Nerve root syndromes are those that produce symptoms of nerve impingement (a nerve is touched), often due to a herniation (or bulging) of the disc between the lower back bones.
Sciatica is an example of nerve root impingement. Impingement pain tends to be sharp, in one spot, and associated with numbness in the area of the leg that the affected nerve supplies.
Herniated discs are produced as the spinal discs degenerate or grow thinner.


The jellylike central portion of the disc bulges out of the central cavity and pushes against a nerve root. Intervertebral discs begin to degenerate by the third decade of life. Herniated discs are found in a third of adults older than 20. Only 3% of these, however, produce symptoms of nerve impingement. Spinal stenosis occurs as intervertebral discs lose moisture and volume with age, which decreases the disc spaces. Even minor trauma under these circumstances can cause inflammation and nerve root impingement, which can produce classic sciatica without disc rupture. Spinal degeneration is caused by alterations in the disc that progress to degeneration. This, coupled with disease in joints of the low back, causes spinal canal narrowing. These changes in the disc and the joints produce symptoms and can be seen on an x-ray. A person with spinal degeneration may have morning stiffness or pain while standing for a long time or walking even short distances.
Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency. Disc material expands into the spinal canal, which compresses the nerves. A person would experience pain, possible loss of sensation, and bowel or bladder dysfunction. This could include inability to control urination causing incontinence, or the inability to begin urination.
Musculoskeletal pain syndromes that produce low back pain include myofascial pain syndromes and fibromyalgia. Myofascial pain is characterized by pain and tenderness over localized areas (trigger points), loss of range of motion in the involved muscle groups, and pain radiating in a characteristic distribution but restricted to a peripheral nerve. Relief of pain is often reported when the involved muscle group is stretched. Fibromyalgia results in pain and tenderness on 11 of 18 trigger points when touched, one of which is the low back area, as classified by the American College of Rheumatology. Generalized stiffness, fatigue, and muscle ache are reported. Other skeletal causes of low back pain include osteomyelitis or sacroiliitis (infections of the bones of the spine). This pain is usually worse at night and is worse when sitting or standing for a long time.
Tumors, possibly cancerous, can be a source of skeletal pain.

Small Bowel Cancers

Types of small bowel cancer:
There are five main types of small bowel cancer:
Adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of small bowel cancer, usually occurring in the duodenum or jejunum. Adenocarcinoma begins in the gland cells of the small bowel.
Sarcoma. Small bowel sarcoma is generally a leiomyosarcoma (a tumor that arises in the muscle tissue that makes up part of the intestine) and most often occurs in the ileum.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). GIST is an uncommon tumor that is believed to start in cells
found in the walls of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, called interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC).



 GIST belongs to a group of cancers called soft tissue sarcomas.
Carcinoid tumor. Carcinoid tumors are classified as neuroendocrine tumors (tumors that originate in the hormone-producing cells of various organs) and generally occur in the ileum.
Lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system, which is part of the body’s immune system. Lymphoma that occurs in the small bowel usually occurs in the jejunum or ileum and is most commonly non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Skin care during winter

Does your skin feel warm though winter has arrived?

Winter climate is likely to make your skin dry... This winter take care of your skin and body through few health tips:

Use a plain moisturizer for skin and Vaseline for lips rather than too fancy creams/moisturizer. Avoid harsh peels, facemasks and alcohol based toners, instead use mild cleansing milk. If you generally have a dry skin, then avoid washing your face too frequently.

Dry winter tends to increase dandruff on scalp. You can apply curd on your scalp an hour before washing your hair. Avoid applying curd during the early mornings and late nights as you may catch a cold.

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and sprouts. They taste really ‘yumm’ during winter...

You may not feel thirsty frequently, so keep drinking water on frequent intervals to keep your body hydrated.

What's a good way to gain weight if you're underweight?

If you're underweight, trying to gain weight can be as hard as trying to lose weight when you're overweight. Although being lean can often be healthy, being underweight can be a concern if it's the result of poor nutrition or a medical condition, or if you're pregnant or have other health concerns. So, if you're underweight, see your doctor or dietitian for an evaluation. Together, you can plan how to meet your goal weight.
Here are some healthy ways to gain weight when you're underweight:
Eat more frequently. When you're underweight, you may feel full faster. Eat five to six smaller meals during the day rather than two or three large meals.


Choose nutrient-rich foods. As part of an overall healthy diet, choose whole-grain breads, pastas and cereals; fruits and vegetables; low-fat dairy products; lean protein sources; and nuts and seeds.
Try smoothies and shakes. Don't fill up on diet soda, coffee and other drinks with few calories and little nutritional value. Instead, drink smoothies or healthy shakes made with low-fat milk and fresh or frozen juice, and sprinkle in some ground flaxseed. In some cases a liquid meal replacement beverage may be recommended. Drink fluids either 30 minutes before or after a meal, not with it, to avoid becoming full before you eat.
Add in calorie-dense snacks. Snack on nuts, peanut butter, cheese, dried fruits and avocados. Have a bedtime snack, such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a wrap sandwich with avocado, sliced vegetables, and lean meat or cheese.
Top it off. Add extras to your dishes for more calories — such as cheese in casseroles, soups and scrambled eggs, and nonfat dried milk in stews.
Have a healthy treat. Even when you're underweight, be mindful of excess sugar and fat. Have healthy treats that also provide nutrients, such as bran muffins, yogurt, fruit pies and granola bars.
Exercise. Exercise, especially strength training, can help you gain weight by building up your muscles. Exercise may also stimulate your appetite.