Orcee

Archive for November, 2009

The pancreas is an elongated but tapered glandular organ located in upper abdomen and lies behind the stomach. The pancreas is responsible for producing digestive juices containing enzymes which are essential for proper digestion and hormones like insulin and glucagons which regulate the glucose level in the blood.

The pancreas has two functional components: –

1. The endocrine part which produce and secretes hormones into the blood stream

2. The exocrine part which produce digestive juices

Acinar cells are outward or exocrine cells.

Pancreatitis: – Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. It may be acute or chronic. Both acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis can be severe and even life threatening.

Acute Pancreatitis: – It is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas in which peripancreatic tissue or remote organ systems may also be involved.

Pancreatitis Causes: -

1. Gall Stone

2. Some types of drugs

3. Use of excessive alcohol

4. Chronic hypercalcemia

5. Toxins (e.g. Scorpion venom)

6. Infections such as mumps, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis etc.

7. Abdominal trauma

8. Peptic ulcer or other duodenal disease

9. Cystic fibrosis

10. Pancreatic tumor

11. Ischemia from bye pass surgery

Read the rest of this entry »

What is Appendicitis?

An inflammation of the appendix is known as appendicitis. Appendix is a small close ended tube. It lies in the lower right portion of the abdomen near the joining point of small intestine and large intestine.

Appendix causes swelling and pain. Since it is painful and moreover as there is a risk of rupture of the wall of the infected appendix so treatment of appendicitis is very essential before the appendix ruptures. In most cases surgery is necessary for its removal. It is a medical emergency.

Delay in treatment (or removal) may cause rupture of infected and inflamed appendix. Pus and other contents of the appendix are discharged into the abdominal cavity which can cause peritonitis. Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum caused by infection. It is very dangerous and can be fatal if not treated properly in right time.

Causes of Appendicitis

Blockage of the opening of appendix: – When the opening of the appendix is blocked by a piece of hardened stool then the inflammation of the appendix may occur.

Reaction to the infection: – If there is an infection in the digestive tract of a person, then due to its reaction inflammation of the appendix may occur.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

• Pain in abdomen: – Pain may start near the belly button and may move to the right lower side of the belly.

• Vomiting

• Fever

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Loss of appetite

• Problem in passing gas.

Symptoms of Peritonitis are much more severe than that of appendicitis: -

• Severe pain felt through out the abdomen.

• Swollen abdomen.

• Abdomen is felt hard.

Prevention and Treatment

Though there is no known prevention for appendicitis yet people who eat roughage and take high-fibre diet (raw vegetables and fruits) have less chances of appendicitis.

If a person has some of the symptoms of appendicitis then he/she should immediately consult a doctor. After performing blood test, urine test, x-ray, ultrasound etc. if appendicitis is diagnosed then doctor may remove the appendix by performing laparoscopy or by operation (appendectomy).

Appendix has no known useful function and a person can lead a normal life without appendix.

Author: Surya Narayan Bhattacharya

Epilepsy is considered as a disorder of central nervous system. Nerve cells of brain transmit electrical signals with the help of chemicals called neurotransmitters. These electro chemical signals are very essential for movement of our muscles or for everything we do and feel. But due to imbalance of these chemicals (neurotransmitters) nerve cells send electro chemical signals at very high rate than the normal. Again due to this sudden excessive and abnormal activity of nerve cells brain is disturbed too much and seizure occurs. Seizures can affect the brain partially and completely.

Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent seizures. Convulsions, muscle spasms, strange and abnormal behavior are seen in epilepsy. Muscles receive abnormal and unusual signals. Persons with epilepsy may loose consciousness, their muscle can be rigid and they do not have any control over their muscles.

Causes of Epilepsy

• Tumor of the brain

• Head injury

• Improper diet

• Toxic material – alcohol

• Serious infection like meningitis

Author: Surya Narayan Bhattacharya