Is it Appendicitis? How to Know

The appendix is a small pouch on the lower right side of the abdomen that projects out of the colon and serves no known purpose. When someone has appendicitis, their appendix becomes filled with pus as well as inflamed.  The pain associated with appendicitis usually begins around the belly button and then travels to the lower right abdomen.  What starts as a minor pain often increases to a very severe one over the course of 12 to 18 hours.

Symptoms of appendicitis include:

• Nausea
• Pain that begins around your navel and shifts to lower right abdomen
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Swelling of the abdomen
• Diarrhea

It is not always known exactly what might cause a case of appendicitis, but often it results from bacteria that has invaded due to an infection or obstruction in the appendix.  Appendicitis can cause rupturing, in which the contents of the intestines (and its infectious bacteria) can leak into the cavity in the abdomen. This can cause an infection of your abdominal cavity to occur.

Because of the danger of the appendix rupturing, it is important to see a doctor right away if you experience any of the above symptoms coupled with a distinct pain in the lower right abdomen.

Upon seeing your doctor, he or she will administer a physical exam and may also order x-rays, blood work and urine tests to confirm that your symptoms are really a result of appendicitis. In most cases, treatment will require an appendectomy, or the surgical removal of the appendix. Following surgery, you should expect to have a few weeks of downtime for recovery.

Photo credit: WebMD

Are You Getting Too Much Salt?

Recent data from the CDC shows that a whopping 90% of Americans get too much salt in their diet.  In a study of 5,000 U.S. adults, it was found that those adults consumed an average of almost 3,500 milligrams of sodium a day. That's approximately 1200 milligrams more than current dietary guidelines recommend. What's more, a government advisory panel recently recommended that the recommended daily sodium limit should be reduced even further to 1,500 milligrams.

However, for most of us the salt isn't coming from using our salt shakers. It's estimated that over three-fourths actually comes from the sodium found in restaurant or processed foods.  This makes salt more difficult to cut out of our diet, and often most of us don't realize how much we're really getting.

While most of what we eat contains sodium, certain foods are bigger culprits than others.  The CDC report identified five foods that provide the most salt in our diets: pizza, pasta dishes, cold cuts, yeast breads and chicken.  Surprisingly, grains contribute almost 40% to our daily sodium intake.

Too much sodium can lead to elevated blood pressure which in turn increases our risk of stroke, kidney disease and heart disease.  That said, what can be done?  First and foremost, it's always a good idea to add more fresh vegetables and fruit to your diet.  Also, try avoiding most processed foods and check food labels to see how much sodium they contain.

The Institute of Medicine has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate the amount of salt added to foods in order to help Americans cut down on their salt intake.  The FDA has not decided whether to make food companies cut salt amounts; however, the good news is that many have begun voluntarily cutting the salt from their foods on their own.

How to Avoid Dehydration this Summer

When you lose more fluid than you take in, dehydration occurs.  Causes of dehydration range from fever, diarrhea, vomiting and excessive sweating to not taking in enough water during exercise or hot weather.  Those most at risk include the chronically ill, older adults and children.

Infants and children are vulnerable because of their small body weight, their susceptibility to diarrhea and the rate at which they turnover electrolytes and water.  With older adults, their bodies often have a reduced ability to conserve water, and disability is another factor that may lead to decreased fluid intake.

Chronic illnesses such as cystic fibrosis, adrenal gland disorders, alcoholism and kidney disease also make it more likely that someone will become dehydrated.

When a person is only mildly dehydrated, their symptoms will be different than someone who is severely dehydrated.  Mild dehydration symptoms include headache, dry mouth, thirst, dizziness and decreased urination.  Severe dehydration symptoms include, but are not limited to, extreme thirst, lack of sweating, very dry skin and mouth, lack of urination, fever and low blood pressure.

If you are otherwise healthy, mild dehydration can usually be treated by drinking more fluids.  If dizziness, confusion, extreme thirst and more than eight hours without urination are experienced, medical attention should be sought immediately.  Dehydration can become very serious and lead to complications like kidney failure, seizures, brain swelling, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, hypovolemic shock, coma and even death.

Dehydration can be prevented by consuming lots of fluids and foods with high water content such as fruits and vegetables.  If your body is telling you that you are thirsty, be sure to listen. However, if you are exercising, it is best to not wait until you are feeling thirsty to consume adequate fluids.

What is TMJ and What Are the Treatment Options?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, and is a disorder that causes pain and tenderness in the joint where your skull meets the lower jawbone.  According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, roughly 10 percent of people in the United States experience TMJ-related pain.

Some of the most common signs or symptoms of TMJ include aching facial pain or pain around the ear, headache, joint locking, a clicking sound when opening the mouth or chewing, tenderness or pain in the jaw, chewing discomfort and an uneven or uncomfortable bite.

The causes of TMJ are not always clear, but they sometimes can occur if the joint is damaged by arthritis or injury, the muscles are fatigued or the disk moves out of alignment or becomes eroded.

Some of the risk factors for TMJ include jaw or facial trauma, Fibromyalgia, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, facial bone deformity or rheumatoid arthritis.

In terms of treatment, there are several different routes that can be taken, the first being medications.  Muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tricyclic antidepressants and corticosteroid drugs are some of the more frequently prescribed types.  Therapies such as bite guards or cognitive behavioral therapy are also sometimes recommended, as well as other procedures such as surgery, corrective dental treatment and arthrocentesis.

Home remedies should also not be overlooked, and stretching, massage, heat or cold, avoiding overuse of the jaw muscles and keeping the jaw muscles relaxed can help provide relief.

If you experience clicking when you move your jaw or chew, have ongoing pain or tenderness in your TMJ, or have facial pain, you should seek medical attention. Your dentist, a TMJ specialist or one of the medical professionals at Allegheny Medical can discuss treatments of TMJ disorders with you.

Photo credit: Arches Tinnitus Formulas

Summer Brings Lyme Disease Risk

Summer is upon us in North America, and it's a time where Lyme Disease risk is at its highest.  Deer ticks can harbor the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi which causes Lyme disease, and then spread it when feeding on the blood of humans and animals.

The risk for contracting Lyme disease is higher if you spend time in wooded and grassy areas where there are more likely to be ticks that carry the disease.

Generally, the symptoms of Lyme disease can include joint pain, flu-like symptoms, numbness, rash and fatigue.  When Lyme disease is untreated, complications may arise such as impaired memory, joint inflammation, irregular heart rhythm and neurological symptoms.

Contrary to what many people might believe, only a small amount of deer tick bites actually end up causing Lyme disease.

Deer ticks are brown in color and can be very difficult to spot as they are usually no larger than the head of a pin. Only if a tick stays attached to your skin for 48 hours or longer can bacteria from a tick bite can enter your bloodstream.  However, removing the tick right away is important in order to prevent infection.

When you visit a doctor regarding possible Lyme disease symptoms, they will likely perform tests such as the ELISA test, which detects antibodies to B. burgdorferi. The Western blot test is another test given to confirm a Lyme disease diagnosis. A PCR, or Polymerase chain reaction test is also sometimes given which helps detect bacterial DNA in the fluid from an infected joint.

Once a diagnosis of Lyme disease has been made, oral or intravenous antibiotics are usually prescribed.

The best thing to do is to be proactive in order to prevent Lyme disease from ever happening to you.  Some simple precautions you can take include using insect repellents, wearing long pants and sleeves, and checking yourself, children and pets for ticks.