COPD - Know The Signs And Symptoms & Get The Facts

Ever come across any situation where someone has serious coughing, breathlessness and restlessness? But the disease detected is neither tuberculosis nor any other of such sort? Then maybe it is COPD! COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is an advanced and increasing disease, where the person affected finds it difficult to breathe. This disease is rapidly growing all across the globe. As per the statistics of various countries like USA and India, COPD is surpassing Malaria, Dengue, and TB, and this is a major reason of concern globally. COPD is also known as Emphysema or Chronic Bronchitis.

Causes of COPD -

There are various reasons for the onset of this disease. Some of the main reasons are: Exposure to lung aggravations and irritants that harm the lungs and to polluted surroundings, for a long period of time, is normally the reason for COPD. The most well-known aggravations that cause COPD are due to smoking. It can be through any of the devices like through cigar or stogie, pipes or through cigarettes, and also through different kinds of tobacco smoke, can cause COPD, particularly if the smoke is breathed in. A very big reason for the cause of COPD is due to a rare genetic condition, where people have low levels of the blood of alpha-1 antitrypsin. Passive smoking, which is noticeable from other individuals, air contamination; or the synthetic fumes from industries or earthly specks of dust or working environment are some of the reasons which additionally adds to COPD. A few people who have asthma can get caught into COPD.

Symptoms and Signs

COPD may occur with either no side effects or with just mellow indications. But as the illness deteriorates, side effects generally turned out to be increasingly extreme. Some of the Common signs and symptoms of COPD are: • The tightness of chest or snugness. • Whistling noise or a squeaky sound while breathing. • Cough with excess mucus, which is unusual. • Breathlessness, particularly while doing any heavy physical activity. • Extreme COPD can cause different indications, for example, swelling in your lower legs, feet, or legs; reduction of weight; and lower muscle continuance. But it is to note that not every person who has the side effects depicted above has COPD. Similarly, not every person who has COPD has these signs. Only a doctor or specialist can decide whether one is having COPD or not.

Cure

It is sad to note that there is no proper cure to COPD. Some medications like Bronchodilators can be incorporated in the regimen. It relaxes the breathing process and makes it easier. Flu causes more serious problems to patients of COPD. Flu shots can lower the risk of getting the flu. So to sum up, since there is no proper cure, one has to keep in mind the important ways like bringing change in the lifestyle of the person. Giving up smoking is the most effective step one can take to combat and prevent this. COPD, when gets severe, can be worse, and can even be fatal. Thus medical attention is required must, and without which there has to be no step taken in terms of medications and cure.

What You Need To Know About Asthma

Asthma is a chronic breathing problem that happens when our airways gets swelled up and do not function properly and prevents air from reaching our lungs. Asthma causes uncomfortable symptoms, but in some people, it can cause life threatening symptoms also. Asthma is an incurable disease but it can be controlled and prevented.

Asthma Triggers

A person suffering from asthma can become sensitive to certain things from surroundings that may trigger asthma attack or its symptoms. The swollen airways may react to many things, which are called ‘triggers’. During an asthma attack, the symptoms increase to a higher extent and the breathing capacity of a person gets reduced due to contraction of muscles around airways. A person may feel tight in the chest and cough a lot when his asthma gets out of control. The asthma triggers may not be same for every person but once identified, they can surely be prevented. Some of the asthma triggers include: • Allergens (pollen, dust, mold, pets etc) • Tobacco Smoke • Weather Change • Medications • Respiratory infections • Cleaning Products • Exercise • Perfume or other irritants • Intense laughing or crying Many people experience asthma attacks in certain places like outdoors or gym. An asthma attack induced during exercise happens more commonly during weather season while an allergy-induced asthma happens due to airborne particles like spores, pollen, mold etc. Occupational asthmatics are sensitive to dust, gases or chemical smells.

Symptoms of Asthma

Similar to triggers, the symptoms of asthma also vary from person to person. Some of the symptoms may represent a life threatening emergency. Some of the common symptoms of asthma attack are: • Shortness of breath • Chest pain • Chest tightness • Coughing • Wheezing when exhaling • Chronic Cough • Troublesome sleep
When the symptoms become more bothersome or frequent, it signals that your asthma is getting worse and there is a need to use quick-relief inhaler more often. Asthma is a serious disease, and can be life threatening if not treated properly. One can get a serious attack even with mild asthma. You need to seek an emergency medical intervention if the shortness of breath worsens and there is no relieving even after using the inhaler. The asthma patients can live normal and active lives when the disease is treated in a right way.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The doctor will review your family as well as medical history along with study of symptoms before performing any tests to diagnose asthma. The healthcare provider will listen to your lungs and heart while performing physical examination. You may also require to get sinus x-rays and blood and allergy tests done. The results of these tests will help the doctor for proper diagnosis of the problem that causes these symptoms. For treating asthma, the first thing to do is to avoid the triggers. However, avoiding triggers may not be possible at every place. So, you should consult your healthcare professional to find the best treatment for you. You may be put on certain quick-relief medications along with some long term asthma control medications to control the symptoms. Some medicines to reduce the body’s sensitivity to allergies may also be prescribed to curb allergy-induced asthma. With proper treatment for asthma, one can stay active and live a reduced symptom or symptom free life.

Side Effects of Eating Too Much Chocolate

Chocolate is one of those delicious foods that offer wonderful benefits to people. But as it is said that excess of everything is bad. This tasty food can be incredibly good for your health but at the same time bad also. Chocolate can be good for many people, but some people are more sensitive to caffeine and other compounds of chocolate. Eating too much chocolate may result in adverse effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, stomach problem, palpitations, insomnia or extra systoles. Though the benefits offered by chocolate are no less than its side effects due to its too much consumption, still people should avoid eating it too much. Some of the possible side effects that can be caused due to eating too much of chocolate are discussed here. Anxiety and irregular heart beat Chocolates are rich in caffeine that positively boosts energy of a person. However, when taken in excess, it can result in side effects like irregular and fast heartbeats, dizziness, and sweating and increased anxiety.

Gastrointestinal Issues: Eating too much chocolate can result in gastrointestinal discomfort as the nature of caffeine is acidic. Acidic foods can lead to bouts of heartburn, acid reflux issues and inflamed stomach ulcers. Too much of caffeine can worsen your gastrointestinal issues.

Weight Gain Chocolates contain high amount of calories which leads to inadequate weight gain. Increased weight can further result in problems like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

High Potassium: Chocolate is a potassium rich food, which is not good for people who suffer from adrenal disease and kidney disease. They need to avoid potassium rich foods. Hence, eating too much of chocolate is not meant for such people.

Acid Reflux Issue: Chocolate can cause irritation in the stomach lining as it allows gastric juice to pass through the oesophagus. The gastric juice irritates the oesophagus which results in a burning sensation in the chest known as heartburn.

Acne:Most common side effect of eating too much of chocolate is that it causes acne. Acne can be triggered due to any compound present in the chocolate, be it milk, cocoa butter, sugar, cocoa solids or other elements.

The side effects of chocolate on a person depends upon the fact that how you respond to the different compounds of its composition. Since, it is an individual response; an element may be good for one person but bad for another.

So, it depends on how your body reacts after eating it. However, eating too much of chocolate will definitely lead to some side effects on your body.

What Is COVID - 19

A coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in your nose, sinuses, or upper throat. Most coronaviruses aren't dangerous. In early 2020, after a December 2019 outbreak in China, the World Health Organization identified SARS-CoV-2 as a new type of coronavirus. The outbreak quickly spread around the world.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can trigger what doctors call a respiratory tract infection. It can affect your upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs).
It spreads the same way other coronaviruses do, mainly through person-to-person contact. Infections range from mild to deadly.
SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven types of coronavirus, including the ones that cause severe diseases like Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The other coronaviruses cause most of the colds that affect us during the year but aren't a serious threat for otherwise healthy people. Is there more than one strain of SARS-CoV-2?
An early Chinese study of 103 COVID-19 cases found two strains, which they named L and S. The S type is older, but the L type was more common in early stages of the outbreak. They think one may cause more cases of the disease than the other, but they're still working on what it all means. It is also normal for a virus to change, or mutate, as it infects people and this virus has done so. There are several variants that are now spreading, some proving to be more contagious as well as more deadly than the original virus.
Throughout the pandemic, scientists have kept a close eye on variants like: • Alpha • Beta • Gamma • Delta • Omicron • Lambda • Mu How long will the coronavirus last?

There's no way to tell how long the pandemic will continue. There are many factors, including the public's efforts to slow the spread, researchers' work to learn more about the virus, their search for a treatment, and the success of the vaccines.
Symptoms of COVID-19 The main symptoms include: • Fever • Coughing • Shortness of breath • Trouble breathing • Fatigue • Chills, sometimes with shaking • Body aches • Headache • Sore throat • Congestion/runny nose • Loss of smell or taste • Nausea • Diarrhea
The virus can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure, heart problems, liver problems, septic shock, and death. Many COVID-19 complications may be caused by a condition known as cytokine release syndrome or a cytokine storm. This is when an infection triggers your immune system to flood your bloodstream with inflammatory proteins called cytokines. They can kill tissue and damage your organs. In some cases, lung transplants have been needed.
If you notice the following severe symptoms in yourself or a loved one, get medical help right away: • Trouble breathing or shortness of breath • Ongoing chest pain or pressure • Confusion • Can't wake up fully • Bluish lips or face
Strokes have also been reported in some people who have COVID-19. Remember FAST: • Face. Is one side of the person's face numb or drooping? Is their smile lopsided? • Arms. Is one arm weak or numb? If they try to raise both arms, does one arm sag? • Speech. Can they speak clearly? Ask them to repeat a sentence. • Time. Every minute counts when someone shows signs of a stroke. Call 911 right away.
If you're infected, symptoms can show up in as few as 2 days or as many as 14. It varies from person to person. According to researchers in China, these were the most common symptoms among people who had COVID-19: • Fever 99% • Fatigue 70% Cough 59% • Lack of appetite 40% • Body aches 35% • Shortness of breath 31% • Mucus/phlegm 27% Some people who are hospitalized for COVID-19 also have dangerous blood clots, including in their legs, lungs, and arteries.
What to do if you think you have it
If you live in or have travelled to an area where COVID-19 is spreading: • If you don't feel well, stay home. Even if you have mild symptoms like a headache and runny nose, stay in until you're better. This lets doctors focus on people who are more seriously ill and protects health care workers and people you might meet along the way. You might hear this called self-quarantine. Try to stay in a separate room away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom if you can. • Call the doctor if you have trouble breathing. You need to get medical help as soon as possible. Calling ahead (rather than showing up) will let the doctor direct you to the proper place, which may not be your doctor's office. If you don't have a regular doctor, call your local board of health. They can tell you where to go for testing and treatment. • Follow your doctor's advice and keep up with the news on COVID-19. Between your doctor and health care authorities, you'll get the care you need and information on how to prevent the virus from spreading.
How do I know if it's COVID-19, a cold, or the flu?
Symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to a bad cold or the flu. Your doctor will suspect COVID-19 if: • You have a fever and a cough. • You have been exposed to people who have it within the last 14 days.