Author Archives: cduck

Dec
05
2012

Hydrocephalus

Posted by

Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF ) is produced by the ependymal cells in the choroid plexus in the brain and its main purpose is to absorb shock and provide protection to the brain. CSF flows between the pia mater and arachnoid mater of the brain and is reabsorbed through the arachnoid villi. If CSF is not formed or drained, hydrocephalus occurs.

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of CSF in the brain cavities (often called “Water on the Brain”) (1). Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an obstruction in the brain that prevents the proper drainage of CSF (1). The buildup of CSF causes an increase of pressure inside the skull, which in turn, inflicts pressure on the brain (1). Hydrocephalus can be caused by congenital abnormalities, head injury, and meningitis (3). Symptoms of hydrocephalus vary depending on age, the level of progression, and individual tolerance of the disease (2). Some typical symptoms for hydrocephalus includes: problems with walking, impaired bladder control, mental impairment, and dementia (2). The effects of hydrocephalus can be life threatening (1). If left untreated, convulsions, head enlargement, brain damage, and death can occur (1).

Hydrocephalus is a very serious condition and is highly significant to treat after receiving an injury to the head and/or noticing some of the symptoms mentioned above. If left untreated, a person could not only be forced to endure the pain of an enlarged head due to the buildup of fluid that was meant to protect the most vital organ in the body but might possibly die all because they failed to treat their hydrocephalus condition.

  1. Nordqvist, Christan.  “What Is Hydrocephalus(Water On The Brain)? What Causes Hydrocephalus?” MNT. 10 Mar. 2010. 16 Nov. 2012 < http:// www .medicalnewstoday .com /articles/181727.php>
  2. “Hydrocephalus (cont.).” MedicineNet.com. 16 Feb. 2011. 28 Nov. 2012 http://www. medicinenet.com/hydrocephalus/page3.htm
  3. Tortora, Gerald J, Bryan Dickerson. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 2009.
Nov
19
2012

Pulmonary Fibrosis

Posted by

As we have learned in previous chapters, the body is made up of numerous muscles that allow people to move and create heat. However, what happens when there is a homeostatic imbalance in the muscles? A homeostatic imbalance could result in a minor, painless muscle spasm in a single muscle. However, something more serious like a type of fibrosis called pulmonary fibrosis could result.

Fibrosis is a replacement of muscle fibers by excessive amounts of connective tissue. Pulmonary fibrosis, on the other hand, is more specific. It scars and thickens the tissue around and between the alveoli of the lungs (1). It makes it more difficult for oxygen to pass through the blood stream (1). Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis vary but often include shortness of breath, coughing, and diminished exercise tolerance (2). In some people, there is no identifiable cause for the disease (2). However, in some cases, the disease is thought to be a result of trauma to lung tissue which lead to swelling and a buildup of collagen (3). People who develop this disease usually die within five years (2). Dyspnea and signs of heart failure can occur (2). As the lungs fail, the blood pressure in lungs rises which result in the increase work for the right side of the heart (2). Eventually, the side of the heart will fail as a result of overworking (2). This failure in the heart can result in fatigue and buildup of fluid in the body (2). There is no cure for this disease, but there are things people can do to help treat it such as taking medication and participating in pulmonary rehabilitation (2).

Although there is no cure for the disease at the present, it is still significant to take steps to try to prevent and treat the disease. In order to prevent the disease, people could stop smoking. In order to treat the disease, people can take medication like prednisone (1). They can do physical exercises and breathing techniques as a part of rehabilitation to treat the disease (1).

(1)Mayo Clinic Staff. “Pulmonary fibrosis.” Mayo Clinic. 15 March 2011. 5 Nov. 2012 < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-fibrosis/DS00927/DSECTION=causes>

(2)Stoppler, Melissa C. “Pulmonary Fibrosis (cont.).” MedicineNet.com. 2 Dec. 2010. 5 Nov. 2012 < http://www.medicinenet.com/pulmonary_fibrosis/page4.htm>

(3)Schoenstadt, Arthur. “Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis.” MEDTV. 19 Sept. 2008. 5 Nov. 2012 < http://diseases.emedtv.com/pulmonary-fibrosis/causes-of-pulmonary-fibrosis.html>

Oct
19
2012

Osteoporosis

Posted by

As we have learned in chapters 5 and 6, through the course of life, people age both internally and externally. As people age externally, their skin shows signs of wrinkles and so called “liver spots” appear. Their hair begins to lose it color. As people age internally, they are at risk of getting certain diseases because their immune systems are weakened and/or because the disease is inherited from a family member and is just now making an appearance.  An example is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that could be genetic, and causes bone to become brittle which, in turn, makes them easier to break.

Osteoporosis is caused when the bone quality is lowered (1). This disease is a health threat to millions of Americans (1). If left untreated, it can progress but will not cause pain until a person breaks a bone (1). Osteoporosis takes many years to develop and may take a person a numerous amount of time to realize they have the disease(1). Signs that help indicate whether or not a person has osteoporosis includes joint pains and having difficulty in either standing or sitting up (1). Gender raises the possibility of having osteoporosis. For instance, women are more likely to develop osteoporosis when compared to men because they go through menopause which speeds up bone loss. Menopause speeds up bone loss because the body stops producing estrogen (1). Age can raise the chance of having this disease because as a person ages their bone mass lowers (1). Family history also raises the chance of having osteoporosis. For instance, if a close family member has osteoporosis, people within that family are more likely to develop the disease(1). There are many things people can do to try to prevent/delay this disease from occurring such as taking vitamins and exercising. For instance, people can start taking vitamin D tablets to better absorb calcium (1). By doing daily exercises prevent/delay the occurrence of osteoporosis (2).

The prevention of osteoporosis is significant to people’s health. Granted, it may take many years to show the signs of osteoporosis. Although it may take several years to see the signs of the disease, people need to go ahead and take the necessary precautions to prevent the disease, especially if they are elderly and people within their families have the disease. If these people do not take the actions necessary to prevent or delay the occurrence of this disease such as exercising or taking vitamins, by the time they realize they have it, the damage had already been done to their bones.

1.) Nordqvist,Christian  “What is Osteoporosis? What causes Osteoporosis?” MNT: Medical News Today. 28 June 2009. 2 Oct. 2012 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155646.php

2.) Mayo Clinic Staff  “Osteoporosis.” 13 Dec. 2011. 18 Oct. 2012 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoporosis/DS00128/DESECTION=prevention>

Sep
07
2012

The Dangers of Ultrasounds

Posted by

Ultrasounds (sonagrams) are one of the many types of medical imaging techniques. This type of medical imaging involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to scan specific  areas of the  body such as the chest  and abdomen. Because they are invasive and painless, ultrasounds are commonly used on pregnant women to see  and identify the sex of their unborn child.

According to Rober Mattews, this seemingly  “safe” type of medical imaging is possibly causing subtle brain damage to unborn fetuses. Subtle brain damage “can cause people who should be genetically right handed to become left handed.” (Mattews 3) People with subtle brain damage “face a higher risk of having learning difficulties and epilsey.” (Mattews 3) Researchers have found that mothers that had ultrasounds done to them in the 1970’s gave birth to males that were left hand although gentically, they were meant to be right handed, thus indicating brain damage in the womb. ” A team of Swedish scientist found that men whose mothers had ultrasound scans in the 70’s were significantly more likely to be left handed than normal, pointing to a higher rate if brain damage while in the womb.” (Mattews 5)

Ultrasound scanning is ultimately harming the human race due to the fact that it is messing with our gentic make-up. The fact is that it is causing innocent people to be born with defects such as epilespy, all because their mothers wanted to make sure they were healthy while in the womb. This is outragous and uncalled for. Scientist NEED to develop a safer form of ultrasound imaging. By developing a safer form of ultrasounds, the possbility of a fetus developing subtle brain damage due to medical imaging technolgy will be lowered.

Mattews, Rober. “Ultrasound Scans Linked to Brain Damage in Babies.” Mercola.com. 19 Dec. 2001. 6 Sept. 2012 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/12/19/ultrasound.aspx.