What are the early symptoms of leukemia in children?

Many symptoms of leukemia in children are also symptoms of common, less serious childhood illnesses. Leukemia can be chronic, and the symptoms may develop slowly, or it can be acute, and the symptoms may appear very quickly.

Childhood leukemia also affects teens. It is the most common type of cancer in children under the age of 15, according to the National Cancer Institute in the United States. Around 4,000 children in the country are affected by leukemia each year.

Leukemia affects the blood cells. It causes white blood cells to develop in a person's bone marrow. These then travel through the bloodstream and suppress the production of healthy blood cells.

A diagnosis of leukemia can be frightening, but survival rates continue to improve.

Common symptoms of childhood leukemia

If a child has any of the following symptoms, and a parent or caregiver suspects leukemia, it is essential to contact a doctor.

1. Anemia

Anemia occurs when the body has a shortage of red blood cells.

Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen around the body, and if someone is not producing enough, they may experience:

• fatigue
• weakness
• dizziness
• breathlessness
• headaches
• pale skin
• feeling unusually cold

2. Frequent infections

Children with leukemia have a high white blood cell counts, but most of these cells are not functioning correctly. This is because abnormal cells are replacing healthy white blood cells.

White blood cells help to protect the body and fight off infections.

Recurrent and persistent infections can indicate that a child does not have enough healthy white blood cells.

3. Bruising and bleeding

If a child bruises easily, experiences severe nosebleeds, or bleeds from the gums, this can point to leukemia.

A child with this type of cancer will have a lack of platelets that help to prevent bleeding.

4. Bone or joint pain

If a child seems to be in pain and complains that their bones or joints are sore or achy, this can indicate childhood leukemia.

When leukemia develops, the abnormal cells can collect inside joints or close to the surface of the bones.

5. Swelling

In a child with leukemia, swelling can affect various parts of the body, including:

• The abdomen, when abnormal cells collect in the liver and spleen
• The face and arms, when pressure on a vein called the superior vena cava causes blood to pool in the area
• The lymph nodes, when a person notices small lumps forming on the sides of the neck, in the underarms, or on the collarbone

It is important to note that a child with swollen lymph nodes and no additional symptoms is more likely to have an infection than leukemia.

Also, tumors from other types of cancer are more likely to put pressure on the superior vena cava and lead to facial swelling. The swelling will be worse when a child wakes up, and it will improve during the day.

This is called superior vena cava syndrome, and it rarely occurs in cases of leukemia. However, it can be life-threatening, and it requires emergency care.

Source: Medical News Today

Ten tips for giving up smoking

Most people are now aware that cigarette smoking is a major preventable cause of premature death and disease: It causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung disease. For this reason, many people are eager to stop.

In spite of the health risks involved, one in five American adults still smoke on a regular basis. The main reasons for this are that nicotine is addictive and changing a habit is hard. But there is help at hand.

Research shows that, with the right approach, it is possible to break with the unhealthy routine and kick the habit once and for all.

Here are ten of the most effective methods used to quit smoking and stay stopped.

1. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

Nicotine in cigarettes is addictive, which is why people experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) provides a low level of nicotine without the other poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke.

This helps to ease some of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, such as intense cravings, nausea, tingling of hands and feet, insomnia, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating. NRT is available as:

gum

patches

sprays

inhalers

lozenges

Patches can be bought in a pharmacy without prescription. They act by slowly releasing nicotine, which is absorbed into the body through the skin. Over 8-12 weeks, the amount of nicotine the body is exposed to is gradually reduced by switching to lower-dose patches until it is no longer required. Some people wear their patches all the time and provide a steady dose of nicotine over 24 hours, while others remove their patches at night. Discuss which option is right for you with your doctor.

Inhalers, gum, lozenges, and sprays work quickly, but their effects only last for a short time. As such, it is often recommended that a patch is used to provide a daily dose of nicotine and the fast-acting products used to relieve intense cravings.

Evidence shows that using a combination of NRTs can significantly increase the chances of success compared with using just a single product.

2. Varenicline

Varenicline (Champix) works by triggering the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Smoking raises levels of this feel-good chemical in the body artificially. So, when smokers quit, they often experience depression and anxiety until their natural dopamine production levels are restored.

Varenicline helps to counteract these low dopamine levels and lessen some of the symptoms caused by nicotine withdrawal. At the same time, it blocks the satisfying effects of nicotine should the person relapse and smoke. As such, it is also useful to reduce the reinforcing effects of nicotine.

3. Bupropion

Bupropion (Zyban) is an antidepressant, but it has been found to help people stop smoking. Like varenicline, it reduces the dopamine shortfall experienced in nicotine withdrawal and so may reduce the irritability and difficulty in concentrating linked to quitting smoking.

Bupropion may be particularly useful for those concerned about potential weight gain while quitting smoking as it has been shown to decrease appetite and the tendency to overeat.

4. E-cigarettes

An e-cigarette is an electronic device that allows for the inhalation of nicotine in a vapour without the other harmful byproducts of tobacco, such as tar and carbon monoxide.

New research suggests that e-cigarettes can help in quitting smoking because people can gradually reduce the nicotine content of the e-liquid in a similar way to NRT. However, there is some controversy in the literature about this approach to smoking cessation.

5. Allen Carr's Easyway

Many people have successfully quit smoking using Allen Carr's Easyway. It is the world's bestselling book on how to stop smoking. It works by helping smokers understand common misconceptions about why they smoke and helps them to address the fears that keep them hooked on smoking.

This study shows that smokers following the Allen Carr method were six times more likely to have not smoked after 13 months compared with those going cold turkey.

Source: Medical News Today

What causes chest pain and vomiting?

Chest pain and vomiting can have a variety of causes, which are different in adults and children. Reasons can include digestive and abdominal issues, such as acid reflux or an ulcer. Sometimes, a heart problem causes the symptoms in adults.

This article will explore the potential causes of chest pain and vomiting. Some of the causes are harmless, while others can be more serious.

Causes

Common causes of chest pain and vomiting include:

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

peptic ulcer

panic attacks

anxiety

heart attack

GERD is a disorder of the digestive system that causes symptoms including acid indigestion, heartburn, chest pain, and vomiting. People can usually manage GERD with medication and dietary changes.

Peptic ulcers develop on the lining of the stomach. They can be very painful, and symptoms include vomiting and a burning-type pain in the chest. Treatment includes medication, but sometimes surgery is necessary.

Panic attacks can be frightening, and symptoms can include feelings of tightness and pain in the chest. Stress and anxiety are leading contributors to panic attacks, so finding ways to reduce stress can help alleviate the symptoms.

Making some lifestyle changes can help address anxiety and panic attacks. People should also speak to a doctor about treatment.

Reducing stimulants, such as coffee, as well as introducing meditation and mindfulness may also help alleviate stress.

Anyone who is experiencing chest pain and vomiting should visit a doctor for a diagnosis.

Could it be a heart attack?

Sometimes chest pain and nausea can be symptoms of a heart attack.

It is important to know that women and men can present with different symptoms.

Common symptoms of a heart attack include:

mild chest pain and discomfort that builds up slowly

chest pain or discomfort

upper body discomfort

shortness of breath

nausea or vomiting

sudden dizziness

breaking out into a cold sweat

unusual tiredness

According to the American Heart Association, women are more likely than men to experience the following:

shortness of breath

nausea

vomiting

pain in the back, shoulders, and jaw

Heart attacks require immediate medical assistance. If someone suspects they are having a heart attack, or are with a person who is experiencing one, they should call the emergency services immediately.

Heart attack diagnosis

A heart attack is when a person experiences a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries. This blockage prevents oxygenated blood and nutrients getting to heart tissue and muscle, which can cause them to die.

A doctor can diagnose a heart attack with an electrocardiogram (EKG test) or coronary angiography. If the tests detect an irregular rhythm, it might indicate a heart problem.

Sometimes, doctors will do a blood test to diagnose a heart attack.

Source: Medical News Today

Can fish oils and omega-3 oils benefit our health?

Fast facts on fish oils

Here are some key points about fish oils. More supporting information is in the main article.

Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and D.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils may protect the heart and offer other health benefits, but research results have been mixed.

Eating fish is a better way of getting fish oil or omega 3 than taking supplements.

What are omega-3 fatty acids?

Omega-3 fatty acids are fats commonly found in plants and marine life.

Two types are plentiful in oily fish:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): The best-known omega-3 fatty acid, EPA helps the body synthesize chemicals involved in blood clotting and inflammation (prostaglandin-3, thromboxane-2, and leukotriene-5). Fish obtain EPA from the algae that they eat.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): In humans, this omega-3 fatty acid is a key part of sperm, the retina, a part of the eye, and the cerebral cortex, a part of the brain.

DHA is present throughout the body, especially in the brain, the eyes and the heart. It is also present in breast milk

Health benefits

Some studies have concluded that fish oil and omega-3 fatty acid is beneficial for health, but others have not. It has been linked to a number of conditions.

Multiple sclerosis

Fish oils are said to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) due to its protective effects on the brain and the nervous system. However, at least one study concluded that they have no benefit.

Prostate cancer

One study found that fish oils, alongside a low-fat diet, may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, another study linked higher omega-3 levels to a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggested that a high fish oil intake raises the risk of high-grade prostate cancer by 71 percent, and all prostate cancers by 43 percent.

Post-partum depression

Consuming fish oils during pregnancy may reduce the risk of post-partum depression. Researchers advise that eating fish with a high level of omega 3 two or three times a week may be beneficial. Food sources are recommended, rather than supplements, as they also provide protein and minerals.

Mental health benefits

An 8-week pilot study carried out in 2007 suggested that fish oils may help young people with behavioral problems, especially those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The study demonstrated that children who consumed between 8 and 16 grams (g) of EPA and DHA per day, showed significant improvements in their behavior, as rated by their parents and the psychiatrist working with them.

Memory benefits

Omega-3 fatty acid intake can help improve working memory in healthy young adults, according to research reported in the journal PLoS One.

However, another study indicated that high levels of omega-3 do not prevent cognitive decline in older women.

Heart and cardiovascular benefits

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils may protect the heart during times of mental stress.

Findings published in the American Journal of Physiology suggested that people who took fish oil supplements for longer than 1 month had better cardiovascular function during mentally stressful tests.

In 2012, researchers noted that fish oil, through its anti-inflammatory properties, appears to help stabilize atherosclerotic lesions.

Meanwhile, a review of 20 studies involving almost 70,000 people, found "no compelling evidence" linking fish oil supplements to a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or early death.

People with stents in their heart who took two blood-thinning drugs as well as omega-3 fatty acids were found in one study to have a lower risk of heart attack compared with those not taking fish oils.

The AHA recommend eating fish, and especially oily fish, at least twice a week, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Alzheimer's disease

For many years, it was thought that regular fish oil consumption may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. However, a major study in 2010 found that fish oils were no better than a placebo at preventing Alzheimer's.

Meanwhile, a study published in Neurology in 2007 reported that a diet high in fish, omega-3 oils, fruit, and vegetables reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's.

Vision loss

Adequate dietary consumption of DHA protects people from age-related vision loss, Canadian researchers reported in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

Epilepsy

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry claims that people with epilepsy could have fewer seizures if they consumed low doses of omega-3 fish oil every day.

Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may help reduce the risk of psychosis.

Findings published in Nature Communications details how a 12-week intervention with omega-3 supplements substantially reduced the long-term risk of developing psychotic disorders.

Health fetal development

Omega-3 consumption may help boost fetal cognitive and motor development. In 2008, scientists found that omega-3 consumption during the last 3 months of pregnancy may improve sensory, cognitive, and motor development in the fetus.

Foods

The fillets of oily fish contain up to 30 percent oil, but this figure varies. White fish, such as cod, contains high concentrations of oil in the liver but less oil overall. Oily fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include anchovies, herring, sardines, salmon, trout, and mackerel.

Other animal sources of omega-3 fatty acids are eggs, especially those with "high in omega-3" written on the shell.

Vegetable-based alternatives to fish oil for omega 3 include:

flax

hempseed

perilla oil

spirulina

walnuts

chia seeds

radish seeds, sprouted raw

fresh basil

leafy dark green vegetables, such as spinach

dried tarragon

A person who consumes a healthful, balanced diet should not need to use supplements.

Source: Medical News Today

Can water help you lose weight?

Many studies support the theory that drinking water is beneficial for weight loss. Also, hydration is key for many factors that play a role in weight loss, including digestion and muscle function.

However, the medical community is still unsure about how much of an influence water consumption has on weight loss.

In this article, learn six reasons that drinking water may help a person to lose weight. We also look at how much water a person should drink each day.

Six reasons why drinking water may help you lose weight

Researchers are still unsure why drinking more water helps a person to lose weight, but many studies show some positive correlation between increased water consumption and weight loss.

Below are six reasons that water may help with losing weight.

1. Water is a natural appetite suppressant

When the stomach senses that it is full, it sends signals to the brain to stop eating. Water can help to take up space in the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and reducing hunger.

A person may also think that they are hungry when they are actually thirsty. Drinking a glass of water before reaching for something to eat can help to curb unnecessary snacking.

In a 2014 study, 50 overweight females drank 500 milliliters (mL) of water 30 minutes before breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to their regular water consumption, for 8 consecutive weeks.

The participants experienced a reduction in body weight, body fat, and body mass index. They also reported appetite suppression.

A study from the previous year had yielded similar results.

2. Water increases calorie burning

Some research indicates that drinking water can help to burn calories.

In a 2014 study, 12 people who drank 500 mL of cold and room temperature water experienced an increase in energy expenditure.

They burned between 2 and 3 percent more calories than usual in the 90 minutes after drinking the water.

Water may also temporarily increase the body's resting energy expenditure, or the number of calories burned while resting.

Drinking cold water may further enhance water's calorie-burning benefits, because the body expends energy, or calories, by heating up the water for digestion.

3. Water helps to remove waste from the body

When the body is dehydrated, it cannot correctly remove waste as urine or feces.

Water helps the kidneys to filter toxins and waste while the organ retains essential nutrients and electrolytes. When the body is dehydrated, the kidneys retain fluid.

Dehydration can also result in hard or lumpy stools and constipation. Water keeps waste moving by softening or loosening hardened stools.

Water also helps the body to recover from digestive problems, such as diarrhea and indigestion.

When waste builds up in the body, people may feel bloated, swollen, and tired. Bloating can add inches to a person's waist.

Staying hydrated is a good way to avoid retaining waste, which may add a few extra pounds.

4. Drinking water can reduce overall liquid calorie intake

It is easy to accumulate liquid calories by drinking soda, juice, or sweetened coffee or tea.

Most people also ignore how many calories they consume in sports drinks or alcoholic beverages.

Replacing even a few high-calorie drinks each day for water or other no-calorie beverages, such as herbal tea, may have long-term weight loss benefits.

Authors of a 2012 study found that replacing two or more high-caloric beverages for non-caloric drinks every day for 6 months resulted in an average weight loss of between 2 and 2.5 percent in a group of females with obesity.

In a study from 2015, female participants drank 250 mL of water after lunch each day while attending a 24-week weight loss program. They lost 13.6 percent more weight than women in the same program who drank the same volume of diet beverages after lunch.

Results of a large-scale study showed that men and women who replaced one serving of a sugar-sweetened beverage for water or a low-calorie drink every day for 4 years gained 0.49 fewer kilograms (kg) than a similar group who had made no changes.

The same study found that adults who replaced at least one serving of fruit juice with water or a low-calorie drink gained 0.35 kg less than their counterparts.

Source: Medical News Today

What type of acne do I have?

Acne can form several types of skin blemish, each with a distinct appearance and symptoms.

Most minor acne blemishes respond to at-home care and over-the-counter medications. However, people with severe or long-term acne should speak with a doctor or dermatologist.

Acne affects around 80 percent of adolescents and young adults. About 40–50 million Americanshave acne at any given time.

The following are common types of blemish associated with acne:

·         whiteheads

·         blackheads

·         pustules, which are commonly called pimples

·         papules

·         cysts

·         nodules

Each type of acne lesion requires a different treatment. Receiving prompt, correct treatment can reduce the risk of long-term skin complications, such as dark spots and scarring.

Acne blemishes fall into two categories, depending on whether or not they cause inflammation of the surrounding skin.

Noninflammatory acne types

Whiteheads and blackheads are types of noninflammatory acne lesion. They are the least severe forms of acne.

Noninflammatory blemishes usually do not cause swelling and are not very painful.

Whiteheads

The medical term for whiteheads is closed comedones. These are small, whitish or flesh-colored spots or bumps. They usually have a white, circular center surrounded by a red halo.

A hair will sometimes emerge from the center of a whitehead, or it may appear to be trapped within the blemish.

The skin around a whitehead may appear to be tight or wrinkled, especially when the whitehead is large or especially raised.

Whiteheads typically do not cause scarring.

Blackheads

Blackheads are also called open comedones. They are small, black or dark-colored spots that may appear as slightly raised bumps.

The skin around a blackhead usually appears normal, while the center of the blackhead is darker than the surrounding area.

The coloration is not a result of trapped dirt. Blackheads are simply whiteheads that have opened and widened. When the contents of a whitehead are exposed to air, they darken.

Treatment options

Many over-the-counter rinses, moisturizers, gels, toners, and creams can treat noninflammatory acne blemishes. They often contain a mix of active ingredients.

The following ingredients in over-the-counter treatments can help to break down whiteheads and blackheads:

·         benzoyl peroxide

·         salicylic acid

·         sulfur

·         resorcinol

Also, several home remedies and lifestyle changes can help to reduce most minor-to-mild forms of noninflammatory acne. It may help to try:

·         washing the face with lukewarm water and soap twice daily

·         washing the whole body every 2 days

·         reducing stress

·         eating a healthful, balanced diet

·         staying hydrated

·         avoiding over-washing or irritating the skin

·         limiting exposure to the sun

·         always wearing sunscreen when outdoors

People should never pop acne blemishes. Doing so can lead to complications, such as:

·         nodules

·         cysts

·         scarring

·         dark spots

·         pitting

Source: Mediacl News Today