Will Wellness

Can Diverticulitis Cause Back Pain?

Posted by Will Wellness

Diverticulitis and back pain at first blush may seem unconnected. Diverticulitis is a condition stemming from the lower intestine. Back pain, of course, may have any number of origins – muscle strain, tissue injury, or nerve damage. But, can diverticulitis cause back pain?

Diverticulitis (as part of a category of diverticular disease) is a condition that develops form diverticulosis. This early condition is characterized by the formation of intestinal polyps (diverticula) on the outside of the colon. High pressure in the colon pushes against the weaker spots in the colon where nourishing blood vessels flow through the muscle layer of the bowel wall, supplying blood to the inner wall. Diverticulitis develops when one of these normally benign polyps become inflamed; bacteria from the processed fecal matter in the colon may infect the outside of the polyp. The danger is these bacteria may infect tissues near the outside of the colon; if the infection spreads to the abdominal cavity an illness called peritonitis can develop. This is often fatal if untreated. Inflamed diverticula can also cause bowel obstructions leading to chronic constipation. Sometimes, an infected polyp may adhere to a nearby organ in the pelvic cavity, such as the bladder, or it may enmesh with other tissues. Continue reading this post »

Tags: back pain, diverticulitis, polyps

Low Dose Aspirin Side Effects

Posted by Will Wellness

Low dose aspirin therapies (involving the taking of a very small dosage of aspirin daily) are often recommended by doctors as preventive measures against many serious conditions. However, low dose aspirin side effects can also present health problems; it is these that need to be considered before committing to any daily aspirin regimen.

Aspirin is a salicylate. It is also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. It blocks a specific chemical in the human body; this reduces pain and swelling. Aspirin is also a blood-thinning agent. Doctors may recommend daily aspirin for patients who have recently undergone a stroke or a heart attack. The risks for recurrence of either condition can be greatly reduced with proper aspirin use. It is also recommended for patients who have recently undergone any kind of arterial surgery (bypass or having a coronary stent implanted, for example). Post-operative cellular debris, dislodging over the healing process, may cause blood clots. Regular aspirin doses will help prevent that. The connection between low dose aspirin and high blood pressure has also been studied recently.

Low dose aspirin benefits that arise from treatment sessions may vary widely between men and women. Women, especially those between the ages of 55 and 79 at risk for mini strokes (often called transient ischemia), should take a baby aspirin daily. These doses are about 80 mg per tablet – if a doctor advises, two of these can be taken daily. The blood-thinning properties of aspirin can reduce a woman’s risk of such a mini stroke by 17%. Regular use of aspirin also reduces the risk of dying of breast cancer by half. It also has been proven to protect against colon and pancreatic cancers. Men do not always enjoy such greatly reduced risks. Continue reading this post »

Tags: aspirin, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke

Causes and Treatments of Bile Duct Stones

Posted by Will Wellness

Biliary obstructions are those things which block the bile duct causing bile fluid (otherwise known as gall) to back up into the liver. The results of such blockages may lead to dietary anemia, jaundice, or biliary colic (a condition characterized be severe abdominal pain, profuse sweating, and vomiting).

Most of these conditions can be laid at the doorstep of bile duct stones, an obstruction formed by excess cholesterol and body salts. The causes and treatments for bile duct stones can be similar to those of gallstones, but the problem is distinct. Although it would be possible to have a bile duct stone without having a gallstone, it is unlikely. And the two problems tend to coexist.

The liver is responsible for producing bile. Bile is used to break down fats and to neutralize the stomach’s acidity in the material pushing into the intestines. The bile secreted directly from the liver is usually sufficient to break down the fats in an ordinary balanced diet; a reserve of fluid is stored in the gallbladder. When a certain level of fat is detected in the material passing into the intestines, a hormone is secreted that causes the gallbladder to contract, releasing an extra dose of bile into the mix. Continue reading this post »

Tags: bile, bile duct, bile stone, gallstone, liver

Vegetarian Anemia Prevention

Posted by Will Wellness

A vegetarian lifestyle can be rewarding for both mind and body, but there are certain conditions like vegetarian anemia that can be a real concern. Fortunately, a person on a vegetarian or vegan diet plan does not need to fear anemia once the causes are better understood and some basic tips for prevention are followed.

Vegetarianism, considered by many in the mainstream as a fringe or lunatic dietary practice, has been with humanity for millennia. Some religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, observe strict vegetarian regimens. In the modern world, interest in such dietary practices led to the formation of the Vegetarian Society of Manchester (in England) in 1848 to promote a healthier lifestyle through better food selections.

However, many non-vegetarians will argue that a person cannot get all of the required nutrients from a strictly vegetarian diet. Similarly, they will argue that only meat (animal flesh) or other foods with animal sources (eggs, dairy products) provides adequate supplies of protein. Although both suppositions are wrong, there is some merit to carefully selecting the amount and types of foods to eat in a balanced vegetarian diet to insure an adequate intake of nutrients. This will also prevent what is commonly called “vegetarian anemia”, a condition resulting from deficiencies in minerals and vitamins. Continue reading this post »

Tags: anemia, vegan, vegetarian

Low Red Blood Count Causes

Posted by Will Wellness

Red blood cells are those cellular structures in blood that, along with plasma and other antibodies and cellular units, comprise whole blood. Problems with red blood cell production can mean a reduced number of these cells in the body. Low red blood count causes are usually related to diet or disease. Genetic disorders may also play a factor. However, a vitamin deficiency – leading to anemia – can also be an underlying culprit.

Red blood cells (also called erythrocytes) are single cells of a rust color. They are roughly donut-shaped with a “closed” hole in the center (biconcave). Red blood cells get their characteristic rust-red color from the hemoglobin carried in each cell. It is the red blood cells’ job to transport oxygen to the body’s organs. Within the tissues and organs, the red blood cells exchange their oxygen for carbon dioxide; once depleted of oxygen they circulate back through the lungs, dumping their carbon dioxide load and picking up a fresh cargo of oxygen before continuing on. Continue reading this post »

Tags: anemia, sickle cell anemia

Can Women Get Jock Itch?

Posted by Will Wellness

There are many ailments that are normally thought of as being gender specific. The problem of jock itch is usually considered to be a male problem, but there should be concern among the female community as well. Women can (and do) get jock itch and the causes, symptoms and treatments are surprisingly similar to that of men.

Jock itch is a fungal infection, tinea cruris, and it thrives in warm, moist spaces such as locker rooms. It passes easily by sharing towels or from surface contact. It flourishes in the groin area because that is a warm, humid place. Like athlete’s foot, jock itch may manifest elsewhere on the body, such as the armpits. The rash, like prickly heat, alternately burns or is maddeningly itchy. The surface of the skin can become scabrous from excessive scratching – this invites secondary bacterial infections.

Female jock itch is actually the same disease that men get. And, like the male version, jock itch in women is caught in public places where fungus grows: spas, sports clubs, gyms, or aerobics classes, anyplace that a warm, damp environment invites fungal growth.

In women, the jock itch fungus may find at least one extra place of infection. As in men, women may develop jock itch along their inside, upper thighs, or their armpits. More annoying is the area directly under the breasts (where skin-to-skin contact between chest and breast creates dampness, and bra cups and bands may irritate). Continue reading this post »

Tags: infection, jock itch, rash, skin rash

Acid Reducing Foods to Combat Reflux

Posted by Will Wellness

There are many top acid reducing foods to combat reflux, GERD, and other common indigestion problems, which can easily be found with a trip to one’s neighborhood grocery. Certain foods not only do not cause excess acid build-up in the stomach that can lead to such problems as acid reflux or chronic heartburn but they may also help ease symptoms of existing conditions.

Most people associate acid reflux or heartburn with consuming acidic or spicy foods. Actually, there may be more to these conditions medically than just the foods. Acid reflux, for example, can be caused by stomach acid washing upward into the esophagus. This is from an abnormal closure of the muscles connecting the esophagus to the stomach – acid roils upward and can cause heartburn and, over time, scarring of the esophagus.

In chemistry, the relative acidity or alkalinity of a substance is designated on a scale from 0 to 14 called a “pH” scale. Things with pH numbers between 0 and 7 are “acids”; those with numbers between 7 and 14 are “bases”. A higher number indicates that the food is more alkaline. Pure water, for example, is neutral, and has a pH balance of zero. Hydrochloric acid, at moderate concentrations, is pH 1. Continue reading this post »

Tags: acid reflux, gerd, heartburn, indigestion

Pain on the Inside of the Knee

Posted by Will Wellness

Sports injuries can be career-enders for athletes. On of the most difficult to resolve is pain on the inside of the knee. The average person, however, stands just as much chance of receiving a muscle or ligament injury in the category of sports-related injuries as the quarterback on a favored team. Knee injuries do not play favorites!

It is the injury most common in runners, and is clinically called a medial knee injury. Different strains, sprains, and twisting of muscles and joints can be the cause of pain inside the knee. The category of pain associated with such injuries is called medial knee pain and it is commonly seen by doctors specializing in sports health.

There are two general causes of medial knee pain. The first are medial ligament disorders. These are relatively serious injuries to the knee. The medial ligament aids in sideways motion and balance. Medial ligament disorders often mean other problems by default. Ligaments are very strong – any stress or traumas serious enough to injure them will undoubtedly cause collateral damage to the surrounding muscles and cartilage. Thus, pain on the inside of the knee may not only involve a ligament, it could involve other tissues, too. Continue reading this post »

Tags: knee injury, knee pain, pulled ligament, running

Herniated Navel in Children and Adults

Posted by Will Wellness

A clinically diagnosed herniated navel in children and adults can have different causes. Although any hernia in general may not be life threatening, in children they may present different issues than in adults (whose hernias are normally due to muscular stress).

Herniated Navel in Children

Hernias, a term used for any protrusion through the muscle lining of the abdomen or other bodily areas, are protuberances caused by a section of intestine pushing its way through a weak muscle layer. In many cases, hernias can be pushed back into place, and the body will heal properly.

Infants with hernias require more thorough examinations. If an infant’s navel protrudes this may be a normal “outie” (a navel that sticks out instead versus the desired depressed navel, commonly called an “inny”) seen when the umbilicus drops off. In male children, however, a herniated navel may be a sign of an undescended testicle. Continue reading this post »

Tags: hernia, pregnancy

Recognizing the Symptoms of Hypoglycemia in Women

Posted by Will Wellness

A general malaise may be one of the more recognizable symptoms of hypoglycemia in women. Others may experience differing physical complaints as well. Examining biological and other health processes can help understand the cause of low blood sugar in women and what the solutions might be.

Low Blood Sugar Causes

The “sugar” to which physicians and health care workers refer in people with low blood sugar is glucose. It is the simple sugar used by the body to produce energy and regenerative nourishment.

Almost all foods contain sugars or starches. Some, like grapes, have at their core glucose, the simplest sugar. Other foods, such as citrus fruits and dairy products, contain naturally occurring fructose, lactose, or sucrose. All of these are complex carbohydrates (also includes starches and cellulose), and must be broken down by the body’s metabolic processes into useable glucose.

When these processes fail, blood sugar level can spike or drop. These changes can be caused by the failure of the liver or other organs to properly convert the complex sugars into useable glucose. This condition lead to diabetes in some; for others it can range from mildly life-altering to deadly. Continue reading this post »

Tags: glucose, hypoglycemia, low blood sugar

Can Diverticulitis Cause Back Pain?

Low Dose Aspirin Side Effects

Causes and Treatments of Bile Duct Stones

Vegetarian Anemia Prevention

Low Red Blood Count Causes

Can Women Get Jock Itch?

Acid Reducing Foods to Combat Reflux

Pain on the Inside of the Knee

Herniated Navel in Children and Adults

Herniated Navel in Children

Recognizing the Symptoms of Hypoglycemia in Women

Low Blood Sugar Causes

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