Understanding Bronchitis and the Possible Consequences

According to a study conducted by Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in 2012 on non-institutionalized adults (source: www.cdc.gov)

• People diagnosed with chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in 2011: Number - 6.8 million and percentage: 2.9%
• People diagnosed with chronic bronchitis in 2011: Number - 8.7 million and percentage: 3.7%
• People diagnosed with emphysema: Number - 4.1 million and percentage: 1.7%

If you thought these facts and statistics are alarming, well sadly and unfortunately, there is more to this than meets the eye:

A number of Americans are dying every year from the ailments mentioned above. According to the same study:

• Number of bronchitis (chronic and unspecified) deaths: 619
• Bronchitis (chronic and unspecified) deaths per 100,000 population: 0.2
• Number of emphysema deaths: 9,352
• Emphysema deaths per 100,000 people: 3.0
• Number of deaths from other chronic lower respiratory diseases (excluding asthma): 129,627
• Other chronic lower respiratory diseases (excluding asthma) deaths per 100,000 population: 41.6

All these statistics go to show that in a country where AIDS, Cancer, Diabetes and Obesity are perennially on everybody’s radar, there are a whole lot of other diseases which are equally fatal but do not get the same attention.

Onset of Bronchitis – how the process begins?

Our lungs are filled with millions of tiny passages called bronchia which are filled with the air that we inhale or exhale. These bronchial passages are lined with mucous membranes which in turn, are lined with billions of hair-like particles called cilia. The cilia act as filters, trapping dust and chemicals that are found in the air we inhale and when we exhale, these cilia throw out the trapped toxic substances. During an attack of Bronchitis, the mucous membranes swell up or get inflamed, making the mucous membranes thicker. This constricts the bronchial passages making it difficult for the patient to breathe. The body then reacts by coughing vigorously in order to force the passages to relax and resume normal breathing.

Bronchitis comes in two forms: acute, when the condition lasts for up to 3 weeks and chronic when it lasts for up to 3 months or more. Then there is also asthmatic bronchitis, where patients with asthma, develop inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

Causes for Acute or Chronic Bronchitis to occur

• The causes for acute bronchitis can vary from person to person depending on personal habits, age, and the surrounding environment. Normally, acute bronchitis is caused by lung infections which are again caused by viruses, and in rare cases by bacteria. When an attack of acute bronchitis happen frequently, the patient’s bronchial passages get weakened with time, resulting in chronic bronchitis.
• Breathing in industrial pollutants found in the air, is found to be the leading cause of chronic bronchitis, among quarry workers, coal miners, agricultural food processing workers, steel mill workers who are exposed to metal dust, and others who are constantly exposed to noxious fumes such as chemical factory workers.
• However, and sadly, long-term cigarette smoking is found to be a huge contributor to chronic bronchitis. Smoke and the chemicals in tobacco that are inhaled irritate the bronchial tubes which causes them to produce excess mucus. The cigarette smoke also destroys the cilia making the lungs inefficient in throwing out toxic substances from the air that is inhaled.

The treatment for all forms of bronchitis comprises of prompt diagnosis, especially when a patient has a cough that lasts longer than usual; and needs long-term treatment. Quitting smoking is equally important for success of any course of treatment.

Meridian Medical is a reputed healthcare provider in the Bay Area. We have been helping thousands of patients detect bronchitis in time, and have been helping cure it, efficiently and cost effectively.  

Sinusitis, the Slow Killer

What is sinusitis?

The human face or skull contains four pairs of air-filled cavities towards the center called sinuses. These are

• Maxillary sinuses: in the nasal cavity
• Frontal sinuses: above the eyes
• Ethmoidal sinuses: between the eyes
• Sphenoidal sinuses: behind the Ethmoidal sinuses

Of these four, the paranasal sinues or those in the nasal cavity are prone to inflammation and this is called Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis. The inflammation can be due to various causes, generally being an infection, an allergy, or autoimmune deficiencies in the person. However, sinusitis caused by viral infection is the most common variety. Sinusitis is quite common and in the US alone, as many as 24 million cases are reported every year.

Why does it happen?

In the normal state, the sinuses are just filled with air. But in some conditions, fluid fills up in them and these get infected with bacteria, viruses or fungi. The sinuses then get blocked. Some of the conditions that can trigger the blockage are common cold, exposure to pollen, or air-borne pollutants, a swelling of the nasal lining, also called allergic rhinitis, small cyst-like growths polyps in the nasal lining, and in rare cases, a slight shift in the nasal cavity which is called as a deviated septum. Again the causes vary between adults and children.

Types of sinusitis

While there are different types of sinusitis such as Acute rhinosinusitis, Recurrent acute rhinosinusitis, Subacute rhinosinusitis, Chronic rhinosinusitis, and Acute exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis, the most common ones are Acute and Chronic.

• Acute: Acute sinusitis is caused by four main reasons: virus, bacteria, fungi and chemicals. When it comes to viruses, the main contributors are rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, syncytial virus, enteroviruses, metapneumovirus etc. Bacteria that can trigger acute sinusitis include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis etc. Mold, mildew, fungi and mosses growing in damp environments are the third category of contributors. Finally, chemicals like chlorine, asbestos, ash and cigarette smoke can also trigger acute sinusitis.
• Chronic: When the inflammation of the sinuses is severe and lasts more than 12 weeks, the condition is called chronic sinusitis. The most common symptoms include congestion in the nose, pain in the face, especially when bending down, severe headache with migraine-like symptoms, cough, asthma-like symptoms, thick and greenish mucous discharged through the nose, tightness in the face, toothache and foul smelling breath.

Other complications:

Since the sinuses lie close to the brain, the bacteria and viruses infecting the sinuses can travel to the brain through the bones and blood vessels and cause severe complications as follows:

• Abscess and meningitis resulting in headache, altered identity like behavior in the patient, problems with vision, concussions, coma and in rare cases – death.
• Sinus infections can spread through the veins or cause infection by virtue of close proximity, causing various conditions in the brain such as periorbital cellulitis, subperiosteal abscess, orbital cellulitis, abscess and thrombophlebitis.
• When sinusitis spreads to the central nervous system, it can cause conditions such as cavernous sinus thrombosis, retrograde meningitis, and abscesses of various types.

Treat sinusitis in time

For all the above reasons, sinusitis must be treated in time. Delaying treatment can be dangerous. In addition to the excruciating pain and discomfort, there can be an onset of bone infections, and seriously affect the brain, in the form of brain abscess and meningitis.

Meridian Medical Group is a familiar name in the Bay Area for our cost-effective healthcare. We have been helping patients detect sinusitis in time and treat the same before the condition worsens.

Cholesterol Screening Test-Purpose and Reasons

Until a decade ago, cancer was the only dreaded c-word in the world of Healthcare, but in recent times, another c-word is hogging the limelight: Cholesterol.

Not many people know that cholesterol is found abundantly in nature. A wax-like substance, cholesterol is fat material that is found in certain foods such as milk, butter, cream, cheese, eggs, and abundantly, in all kinds of meats. When these foods are consumed, the cholesterol in them gets ingested into the human body. Incidentally, the human body also manufactures cholesterol as it’s required to create hormones and other compounds required for good health.

The ticking bomb within begins to tick, when the cholesterol in the body exceeds a certain level. Cholesterol accumulates in the arterial passages, lining the inner walls layer by layer,consequently narrowing the arterial space, through which the blood flows, in other words forming a blockage,and triggering that first heart attack.

That is why, a cholesterol screening test is a must. Unlike other tests which are carried out to observe a particular ailment or its symptoms, a cholesterol test is a purely preventive measure executed to estimate the risk of a heart attack.

Moreover, the lifestyles of the human population in the yester years, in comparison to the last five decades, have had tremendous changes, and hence why it is important to regularly have a cholesterol screening test.

Lifestyle Changes that necessitates a Cholesterol Screening Test

• Increased consumption of junk food or processed foods that are rich in trans-fats and saturated fats,when ingested become a leading cause for build-up of bad cholesterol
• People who smoke, despite the anti-smoking campaigns are at risk. Smoking lowers HDL or good cholesterol levels which help flush out the LDL or bad cholesterol - the number one culprit behind heart attacks
• More women are using birth control pills than before, and these are known to increase cholesterol levels
• Various drugs that are used to treat different ailments have a tendency to increase cholesterol levels
• Excessive consumption of red meat vis-à-vis vegetables and fruits, also adds to increased bad cholesterol levels
• A sedentary lifestyle or desk job reduces the rate at which cholesterol is burned and flushed out from the body, whereupon cholesterol accumulation, begins
• Genetic factors: Obesity can be inherited; and obese or overweight people are always at a risk, as obese people are more prone to have high levels of ‘bad’ Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a silent killer and as it stealthy augments over time, you don’t know it is lurking within, just waiting to strike. Apart from simple fatigue, no other visible symptoms herald its devastating intentions. That is why, increasingly, doctors and medical insurance companies are mandating a cholesterol test for everybody, including children. Even children are at risk like adults due to the reasons, discussed earlier.Cholesterol screening is a simple test conducted by drawing a vial of one’s blood under specific conditions. Fasting as well as postprandial blood is tested to detect the cholesterol levels. However, under certain circumstance the results will not be accurate when:

• You have had a major illness, surgery, accident in the last 3 months
• You are pregnant
• Your medication contains epinephrine, beta-blockers, steroids, oral contraceptives, or vitamin D supplements

Meridian Medical Group has been at the forefront of affordable and comprehensive Healthcare services, and is very prominent, in the Bay Area. We offer various pathological tests such as cholesterol and diabetes screening tests, diagnostic and surgical services, and consultation for virtually any ailment known today. We have flexible working hours and give you the luxury of same day appointments. Our labs provide quick and efficient services,so your cholesterol screening test will be just that, quick and hassle-free!

Diabetes Mellitus: Types, Causes and Symptoms

Diabetes is a very common disorder and is medically referred to as diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels, a condition that develops when glucose, consumed in various simple or complex forms of food, fails to be assimilated into the human blood stream. The hormone Insulin that is produced by the body, is either insufficient or dysfunctional and is unable to break down the glucose (blood sugar) in the food ingested.

Insulin converts the sugars, starch and other elements in the food into energy, to empower the body to function. Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the pancreas, a gland located deep inside the abdomen, surrounded by the stomach, spleen, liver, gall bladder and small intestines. Insulin regulates the level of sugar in human blood and prevents either hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

There are 2 types of Diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2. As is obvious, insulin is the vital element that differentiates the type of diabetes a patient may have.

Type-1: The human body does not recognize the insulin producing pancreatic cells; treats it as a foreign particle, and tries to destroy it. Since insulin is vital to channeling the sugar in the blood to all the cells of the body for energy, the absence of insulin means, all this sugar accumulates in the blood. The treatment involves taking external or synthesized insulin hence why this form of diabetes is called insulin-dependent diabetes. It is also called juvenile diabetes as it can affect children too. If left untreated, it can severely damage the eyes, kidneys, heart, feet and nervous system and complicate illnesses.

Type-2: Although this is a less severe form of diabetes, if untreated or not properly managed, it can lead to Type 1 diabetes.Insufficient insulin is produced by the body, culminating in glucose accumulating in the blood and if neglected or left untreated, it can similarly affect the eyes, kidneys, heart, feet and nervous system. This type of diabetes is non-insulin dependent and the blood sugar can be regulated with medication, diet and exercise. Borderline diabetic patients can control their blood sugar levels with the right diet and exercise.

Symptoms of Diabetes

• Fatigue: Feeling unusually more tired
• Frequent urinationor the urge to do so (even if one doesn’t pass urine)
• Thirst: Recurring and intense thirst,leading to dehydration
• Delay in the healing of open cuts, wounds and bruises
• Skin problems: dry, itchy, flaky and irritable skin
• Lack of sensation, or a numb feeling in fingers and toes, with a tingling feeling at times
• Poor vision or blurred vision
• Problems in sexual health such as impotence, premature ejaculation, inadequate sensation etc

Who is at risk?

While the metabolic causes explained above can happen to anybody, again, some people are more vulnerable to diabetes than others.

• Heredity: Individuals whose natal family members have diabetes are at risk
• Body-weight: Anybody whose BMI(Body Mass Index) is more than 25 is regarded as overweight and is at risk
• Age: Depending on one’s body weight and lifestyle, anybody above 45 years of age can be at risk
• Race: Some communities like Afro-Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Native American tribes are also more vulnerable
• Women’s health issues: Pregnant women and women with ailments like polycystic ovarian disease have been known to develop diabetes quickly

Importance of Annually Testing for Diabetes

If your family has a history of diabetes, then it is always wise to be tested for diabetes, regardless of age, so that preventive measures can be adopted. Else, when you hit that four-score mark, it is time to make diabetes testing a part of your regular annual check-ups, again as a precautionary measure.