The lack of healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood is a condition which is called as anaemia. Haemoglobin is actually the main constituent of the red blood cells and it binds oxygen to the blood. If there are very few numbers of red blood cells, or haemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in the body will not receive enough of oxygen. The result is a person feeling fatigued because organs aren’t getting what they require to function normally.

Some forms of anaemia may be hereditary and infants may be affected from it at the time of birth. Women in childbearing years are particularly prone to iron-deficiency and anaemia. Older adults also are at greater risk of developing anaemia because of their poor diet and other medical conditions.

Types of Anaemia

There are many type of anaemia and they are different in their causes and treatments too. The most common is the iron-deficiency anaemia and it is very treatable with diet changes and iron supplements. Some anaemia like the one that develops during pregnancy is considered quite normal. However certain other types of anaemia may be chronic and will be present lifelong causing serious health problems.

What causes anaemia?

Basically it is the loss of red blood cells that causes anaemia. The red blood cells can be lost through bleeding. The loss can occur slowly over a long period of time and can go undetected.

The chronic sort of bleeding can be the result of some gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, haemorrhoids (piles), gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) or cancer. Certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can cause ulcers and gastritis. Menstruation especially with excess bleeding is also a reason for blood loss.

Due to faulty red blood cell production

The body may produce too few blood cells or blood cells may not function properly. In both cases, anaemia is the result. The reduction in red blood cells may be due to the abnormal red blood cells or lack of minerals like vitamins needed for red blood cells to work properly. Conditions associated with these causes of anaemia include sickle cell anaemia, iron-deficiency anaemia, vitamin deficiency anaemia and bone marrow & stem cell problems.

Anaemia due to other causes 

This sort of anaemia occurs when there are too few hormones available that is necessary for red blood cell production. Conditions causing this type of anaemia include advanced kidney disease, hypothyroidism, and chronic diseases like cancer, lupus, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis or simply due to old age.

Anaemia due to destruction of RBC

There are instances when blood cells due to their fragile nature find it difficult to withstand the stress of circulatory system and rupture prematurely. This causes haemolytic anaemia.

This type of anaemia can be present at birth or it may develop in the later stages of life. Some of the causes for such anaemia are diseases like hereditary diseases like sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia. Stress giving conditions like infections, drug use, snake or spider venom and certain foods are all causative. Toxins from advanced liver or kidney disease, inappropriate attack by the immune system, vascular grafts, prosthetic heart valves, tumours, shock due to severe burns, exposure to chemicals and clotting disorders are listed in the reason for anaemia due to destruction of RBC. In haemolytic disease spleen enlargement can trap red blood cells and destroy them.

Odontoma tissue is a tumour of the odontogenic epithelium. They are composed of all the mature components of dental hard and soft tissue – enamel, dentin and pulp.

How do they affect us?

They are the most common odontogenic tumours but cause quite some problems.
They interfere with the eruption of permanent teeth
They develop along with the growth of the normal teeth
Their development stops once the teeth attains full growth
They occur mainly in the young age groups
What are the symptoms?
Usually odontogenic tumours are asymptomatic and are discovered only during a routine radiographic dental examination when the normal eruption of teeth is delayed. There is no pain or swelling as in the case of other dental problems.

What are the types of odontogenic tumours?

There are mainly two types of odontoma tumours, they are Compound tumours and Complex tumours.

Compound Odontoma : This is usually a collection of small tooth-like structures called ‘denticles’. It occurs in the anterior region of the maxilla and associated with the interrupted crown of the canine. It is caused by a manifold growth of the dental lamina or growing into a collection of small enamel organs.

Complex Odontoma : It is generally composed of hapazardly arranged dental hard and soft tissue. It will have no resemblance to normal teeth. It usually occurs in the posterior region of the mandibles. There may be a missing tooth where it arises from a normal tooth follicle.

How is it diagnosed?

Differential diagnosis of odontoma is the way to detect its presence. Compound odontomas are detected easily due to their tooth like appearance. Complex odontomas can be differentiated due to their nature to be associated with the crown of the growing teeth. They develop at a very young age and have a dense body that can be well differentiated.

Treatment for Odontoma

Odontomas are treated by simple local excision and their prognosis is excellent. They don’t recur and are not invasive.

What is a heat boil? A heat boil is a skin infection that begins in a hair follicle or oil gland. Usually the area of the infection turns red and a tender lump is formed. Thereafter in four to seven days the lump starts to turn white due to the formation of pus that collects inside it.

Heat boils commonly affect hairy area, the face, neck, armpits, shoulders and buttocks. It can also form on the eyelid when it is called a sty. If it is a single boil it is common but if several boils appear in a group, it is a bit serious and the infection is called a carbuncle. It is usually in diabetic.

What causes boils?

Boils are mostly caused by a bacterium called staphylococcal bacteria. The bacteria enter the body through tiny lesions and cuts on the skin. It then travels down the hair to the follicle on the skin.

Who are at risk to get boils?

Certain health problems make people more susceptible to get boils and skin infection. The diseases are diabetes, problem with immune system, poor nutrition, poor hygiene and exposure to harsh chemicals or irritants that affect the skin.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of a heat boil can be varied. First the boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump on the skin. After a few days, the lump becomes softer, larger and more painful. Then pus gets formed on the top area of the boil. The signs of skin infection due to the boils include the boil turning red, painful, warm and swollen. Later more boils may appear around the original one, there may be a fever developing and the lymph nodes get swollen.

What are the treatments?

Home remedies:

Home remedies  does not apply for diabetic patients. First you can try some home remedies to treat the boil and if it is successful soon you may get rid of the infection.

Soak the boil in warm water using a warm compress with a towel. This will reduce the pain considerably and allow the pus to come to the surface. Once the pus reaches the surface of the boil it will get ruptured due to continuous soaking. This can be tried within 10 days of the boil’s appearance.

Once the boil starts draining of the pus, wait for some time and wash it with an anti-bacterial soap until all the pus is gone. Then softly wipe the area with rubbing alcohol.

Apply a medicated ointment mainly a topical antibiotic. Then bandage the area properly. You should continue to wash the area two or three times a day and use warm compress until the would heals.

Medical treatment:

If you feel that the boil is not healing and the infection is serious, then additional tests are required and you should consult your doctor. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics if the infection is severe. The boil is drained properly and culture will be done to determine the type of bacteria causing the infection and then suitable antibiotic is prescribed by the doctor.

How to prevent boils?

There are few steps you should take to avoid getting heat boils.

• Take care of hygiene by washing clothes, bedsheets and towels of a infected person
• Clean and treat minor skin wounds promptly
• Practice good personal hygiene
• Protect your skin and take proper diet
• Try to remain healthy and increase your immunity

The human body, holds up to 60,000 miles of blood vessels, along with the heart and other muscles, the whole set-up makes a circulatory system. These networks of tubules carry blood to every corner of the body.

In a situation like this when the blood circulation is poor, it slows or blocks the blood flow. The result is that the cells of the body do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients they need and hence your body does not function as effectively as it should.

What are the signs of poor circulation?

When the circulation is poor and the limbs don’t get enough blood, then your hands or feet may feel cold or numb. Those with light skin can actually see the legs getting a blue tinge. Poor circulation also dries the skin, turns nails brittle and makes the hair fall out. Men develop sexual dysfunction. If you are diabetic and have poor circulation your scrapes, sores and wounds tend to heal very slowly.

Steps to improve circulation:

Stop smoking

Your cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobaccos are not as harmless as they look they contain nicotine, an active ingredient. Nicotine easily harms the walls of your arteries and thickens your blood. It is always better to quit smoking and let your body get healthier.

Control Blood Pressure

When the blood pressure is out of control or too high than normal then it leads to arteriosclerosis. This is a condition that hardens the arteries and can help choke off blood flow. A blood pressure of 120/80 is ideal but always ask your doctor about factors like age and health affecting the BP result.

Drink plenty of water

Half of our body blood consists of water, so you need to stay hydrated to keep it moving smoothly. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. You have to drink more if you do regular exercise or if the temperature is hotter outside.

Avoid sitting for long hours

When you sit for long duration at your workplace or home, then it is not so good for your circulation and your back. Sitting at a stretch every day, weakens the leg muscle and slows the circulation which could cause a clot. You can even prefer a standing desk at your workplace. Standing on your feet works the valves in your leg veins sending blood up to your heart.

Eat more vegetables

A balanced diet is always the winner. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits and stay away from saturated fats found in red meat, chicken, cheese and other animal source. Control that dash of salt in your dish. All these will help keep you weight under control, cholesterol under check and blood pressure in the normal range which means you enjoy a much cleaner arteries.

Brush your body right

You can take a body brush with stiff bristles and stroke the dry skin. Start at the feet and work your way up, using long motions on the legs and arms. Make circles on the belly and lower back. Brushing also improves dry skin. Finally it helps in keeping your circulation in its finest shape.

Soak your body

Get into the shower and take a bath; it surprisingly improves your circulation by a good level. Bathe in warm water since it makes your arteries and veins open a bit wider, letting more blood flow through. Drinking hot water or tea can be temporary trick to improve circulation.

Tongue cancer is today seen an increase in occurrence among people all over the world. This is one of the unique types of oral or mouth cancers. Like any other cancer it is caused due to excessive cell division which is out of control and forming growth or tumour on the tongue.

Type of tongue cancers

There are mainly two types of tongue cancers. One is called the oral tongue cancer since it affects the part of the tongue that you stick out. The other type affects the base of your tongue, where it connects to the throat. This type is often diagnosed only after it spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.

Who is at risk?

In our country the main cause of tongue cancer is tobacco abuse. Tongue cancer can affect any age group.  Rarely tongue cancer affects young children too.

What are the symptoms of tongue cancer?

The first signs of tongue cancer are the appearance of a lump or sore on the side of your tongue that doesn’t cure. The sore may be pinkish-red in colour. The sore can also bleed if pressure is applied on it. There may be pain near the affected tongue area and changes to your voice and trouble swallowing food may be other symptoms.

Whenever you get a sore right on your tongue or inside your mouth and it doesn’t go away in a couple of week’s time then it is advisable to see a doctor immediately. If the problem is at the base of the tongue then the condition may be asymptomatic in the early stages. It is usually detected when you visit your dentist on a regular visit.

What causes tongue cancer?

In our country the main cause of tongue cancer is tobacco usage. It can affect any age group after prolonged tobacco usage. More refined tobacco products can produce cancer tongue even after that period of exposure ( As short as six months). Tongue cancer without exposive  to tobacco can occur in older adults. Rarely tongue cancer can affect young Children .

Tongue caner is also caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The same virus can infect the genital areas and cause cervical cancer, penile cancer and even anal cancer. It is a common sexually transmitted disease.

Other reasons that  causes tongue cancer include alcohol consumption, jagged teeth and not taking proper dental care of gums and teeth.

Instead of the above causes, tongue cancer may also be inherited and the genes play a major role in this.

How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor will do a preliminary physical examination of your mouth and its parts and ask questions to you about any symptoms. It will be advised to take few X-rays or a CT scan. A sample tissue may be extracted from your mouth and sent for biopsy test to find the presence of any cancer cells and their stage.

What is the treatment?

The treatment depends on the location of the tumour and its size or growth. Surgery is the best way to remove the tumour from any part of the tongue. The surgery will involve taking out the tumour along with some healthy cells around it and some lymph nodes, so that the cancer does not come back.

When the cancer is located at the back of the tongue, usually the doctor will suggest a radiation therapy. Sometimes a combination of chemotherapy, cancer fighting drugs and radiation is applied.

Later the patient is given physical therapy to help them get back the ability to chew, move the tongue, swallow and speak better.

How to prevent tongue cancer?

Avoiding any type of tobacco is the best  way to prevent tongue cancer. Many cases of the base of the tongue cancer are caused by HPV. Some precautions that will help you avoid it include getting vaccinated for HPV, using latex during sexual contact.  Avoiding alcohol and taking good care of teeth and gums also prevent tongue cancer.