HIV and Tuberculosis are co-epidemic Common symptoms of Tuberculosis

24th March is celebrated as World Tuberculosis Day every year and marks the need for awareness about the disease and its treatment to make the world free of the disease completely. Millions of people around the world suffer from tuberculosis and many are not even diagnosed. The disease can be fatal if not treated in time and properly.

It is important to be aware of the disease that causes so many deaths around the world. It is also extremely essential to know about the complications, risk factors, symptoms and treatment of the disease to make sure that you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy. Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease and the bacteria usually attack the lungs. The bacteria are airborne and can spread to other people when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Here are 5 facts about the disease that you must know.

Tuberculosis affects not just your lungs
Tuberculosis is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria mostly attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body like the spine or the kidneys. Symptoms of such tuberculosis include regular symptoms like fever and chills. Apart from these, tuberculosis may affect the functioning of that particular organ. For example, tuberculosis of the spine may cause severe backaches and in the kidneys, it may cause blood in the urine.


Tuberculosis is more common than you think
According to WHO, Tuberculosis is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. 2017 saw 10 million cases of TB illness, and 1.6 million people out of those died from the disease. In the same year, about 1 million children became ill with TB and 230000 of them died of the disease. The disease is much more serious than people perceive it to be.

HIV and Tuberculosis are co-epidemic
The two infections are known to be closely linked to each other, so much so that they are called a co-epidemic. According to the IFRC, in the last 15 years, cases of TB have almost doubled in countries where cases of HIV were already high. Many people infected with HIV contract TB as the first sign of AIDS. Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV in Africa and also in other countries.

Common symptoms of Tuberculosis
Common symptoms of tuberculosis include fever, chills, sweat while sleeping at night, a cough that lasts for weeks, blood in cough, loss of appetite and chest pain. These symptoms can be easily confused with symptoms of any other disease, like the common flu. However, if things get serious and symptoms like blood in cough start to show up, it is really important to visit the doctor and get yourself tested.


Ending Tuberculosis one of the sustainable goals of development
Global goals or also known as sustainable goals of development includes ending the TB epidemic by the end of 2030. According to WHO, the incidence of TB is falling at about 2% per year currently.

Symptoms,Causes,Treatment of an aneurysm and meaning

Emily Clarke, the famous British actress who plays Daenerys Targaryen on the blockbuster show, Game of Thrones, which is due to release its final season in April 2019, made revelations about her life and her battle with bad health in an essay titled A Battle for My Life published on Thursday, 21st of March, reported a leading daily.

The actress wrote about her struggle that she went through when she had to go through two surgeries of the brain that nearly took her life and also the recovery from them. The health issues started in 2011 after she had wrapped up the very first season of the show and it happened in the gym while she was working out with her trainer and felt a severe headache. The headache later turned into unconsciousness and was later diagnosed as a stroke, an aneurysm. What followed was a dreadful surgery of 3 hours on the actress's brain. In 2013, regular scans that Emily had with the hospital revealed that her second aneurysm had grown double in size and needed another surgery. The surgery was unsuccessful, and the recovery from it was extremely difficult. Chances of survival were very thin.

Here is everything you need to know about an aneurysm – the causes, treatment, symptoms and more.


According to the American Heart Association, an aneurysm occurs when the artery walls become weak, which causes them to balloon out, or widen abruptly. An aneurysm can occur anywhere, but the most common ones occur in the brain – cerebral aneurysm, a major artery in the heart – aortic aneurysm, leg behind the knee – popliteal artery aneurysm, intestine – mesenteric artery aneurysm, an artery in the spleen – splenic artery aneurysm.

Causes of aneurysm
The causes of an aneurysm are unknown but the common ones could be congenital – meaning a person is born with them, or an aortic injury that can cause the aneurysm. While a history of the disease in the family also puts you at risk of it, lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and lifestyle choices like smoking may also have some link to the aneurysm and its causes.

Symptoms of aneurysm
An aneurysm can develop over the years and show no symptoms. It mostly only shows symptoms when it expands quickly or ruptures, and those symptoms may include:


Pain
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea and vomits
Low blood pressure
Unconsciousness
Rapid Heart Rate
If any of these symptoms are seen, it could mean that the aneurysm has ruptured, or something serious has happened to the body. The patient should be taken to a hospital at the earliest.

Treatment of an aneurysm
A ruptured aneurysm calls for an emergency and needs to be looked at as soon as possible. No or delayed treatment of a ruptured aneurysm can be fatal. If you have been diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm, you may need to keep a check on it with the help of regular scans and tests, so that the rupture can be prevented. Some aneurysm may even require surgery to prevent rupture, or even after the rupture.

How to reduce your risk?
There are some lifestyle changes that you can make and reduce your risk of an aneurysm, especially if you or your family has a history of aneurysm. Make sure you eat healthily, exercise regularly, keep your heart healthy by keeping blood pressure under control and bad cholesterol reduced. You should also quit smoking, and manage stress better with yoga and meditation to keep the risk at the minimum.

Why some young adult engage in unsafe sex reasons revealed

Factors such as gender, sexual orientation and the desire to form lasting romantic relationships appear to influence sexual risk-taking among young adults, a new study suggests. The study, published in the Journal of Sex Research, categorised people into three groups -- heterosexual men, heterosexual women, and homosexual men -- and found that all three had a preference for different condom negotiation strategies.

Heterosexual men tended to choose more passive strategies (and were most likely to agree to sex without a condom); heterosexual women tended to choose more assertive strategies (like withholding sex). Homosexual men tended to aim for a balance, choosing more verbal strategies than heterosexual men, but selecting strategies that were not confrontational.

The findings also explain some of the motives and reasoning that influence risky behaviours. For example, the study found that heterosexual women were more willing to take risks when the couple has a stronger relationship motivation.


"It is particularly striking that women had lower expectations that their partner would be interested in condom use - this highlights how challenging heterosexual women expect the negotiation of condom use to be," said lead author Shayna Skakoon-Sparling from the University of Guelph, Canada.

For the study, the team involved 157 heterosexual men, 177 heterosexual women, and 106 homosexual men, aged between 18-25 years. Participants were presented with a vignette describing an encounter with a hypothetical new sexual or romantic partner and were asked to rate their attitudes and likelihood of choosing particular courses of action, as well as their relationship motivation. The findings may help explain why some young people engage in unsafe sex even though they are aware of the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, cervical cancer and unplanned pregnancy.

How can Holi colours affect pregnant women and their babies?

Holi is a beautiful Hindu spring festival celebrated every year with much fun and frolic. But the festival can take a toll on your health, considering the amount of water and colour one ends up playing with on Holi. Traditionally, Holi colours were made from natural sources such as flowers, spices berries, and other plants that are considered safe to play with. However, modern versions of coloured powder and liquids thrown during the festival contain toxic agents posing serious health risks. Chemical colours can severely affect pregnant women and infants.

Usually, herbal gulaal, also known as chemical free colours, are flooding the market as the festival approaches. But experts warned that these so-called organic colours ‘deemed safe and eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic colours’ are unlikely to be free of toxic substances. One of the best ways to find out whether the herbal colours you bought from the supermarket is organic is to get tested.

Researchers have found that modern versions of Holi colours contain toxic chemicals that may cause damage to the eyes, skin and lungs.


How can Holi colours affect pregnant women and their babies?
Modern versions of Holi colours are made out of dyes, chemicals, or may contain heavy metals or even pieces of crushed glass. According to BabyCenter, these metals such as lead oxide, copper sulphate can harm you and your unborn baby in a number of ways, including the nervous and respiratory systems. In severe cases of exposure, they can prove fatal, resulting in miscarriage, preterm birth or low birth weight.

Can pregnant women play Holi?
Yes, certainly, but with some precautions. Homemade colours made using ingredients such as fruits and flowers are considered safe. Moreover, natural colours made from herbal or vegetable dyes are also considered safe pregnant women and their unborn babies. It is believed that most herbal dyes also use floral or herbal extracts that act as antioxidants as well.

However, you need to be cautious of the label ‘natural’ or ‘organic’, considering the fact that the terms are being used very loosely nowadays. Moreover, there are no regulations that control the production of Holi colours. For instance, natural henna is considered safe, but black henna may cause allergic contact dermatitis due to the presence of paraphenylendiamine (PPD) in it. This means, there’s a probability that colours containing either of these forms of Henna will also be labelled as ‘natural’.


So, if you’re expecting and are planning to play Holi, the best option would be to opt for colours made at home. This will help you enjoy the festival of colours without worrying about the effects the colour might have on you or your baby. If you do not have the time to make colours at home, you need to be very careful about where you buy from.

Remember, a little planning and some compromise can help you enjoy the festival without some of the unpleasant pregnancy problems afterwards.

What are the signs and symptoms of oral cancer?

Oral cancer is a type of mouth cancer that is caused due to the growth of cancerous tissues in the oral cavity. It can occur in any parts that make up the mouth, or oral cavity- such as on the surface of the tongue, in the lips or gums or tongue, inside the cheek, in salivary glands, or in the roof and floor of the mouth. World Oral Health Day (WOHD) marked each year on March 20 stresses the importance of good oral health which is vital to overall health and well-being.

Studies have shown that bad oral hygiene habits can lead to major health problems, including mouth cancer. This means poor oral hygiene is not just restricted to bad breath and cavities. Like other cancers, the exact cause of mouth cancer is not known, yet, cancers form when a genetic mutation triggers cells on the lips or in the mouth to grow without control. Tobacco use and heavy alcohol use are the main risk factors for oral cancer.

Other factors that may contribute to the development of mouth cancer are exposure to certain chemicals, excessive sun exposure to your lips, a weakened immune system, human papillomavirus (HPV), a family history of oral cancer, etc.


What are the signs and symptoms of oral cancer?
Signs and symptoms of mouth cancer may include the following:

Pain when swallowing
Swelling in the mouth that lasts for more than three weeks
Mouth ulcers or sores that do not heal
Loose teeth with no apparent reason
Unusual changes in sense of taste
A white or reddish patch on the inside of the mouth
A growth or lump inside your mouth
Unexplained weight loss
You must consult a doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms. Early diagnosis of oral cancer helps in its effectiveness of the treatment, improving your chance of survival. Treatment for oral cancer depends on the location and stage of the cancer, patient’s general health, etc. The main treatments are surgery and radiation therapy. In some cases, chemotherapy may be required.

Can oral cancer be prevented?
While there’s no proven way to prevent oral cancer, the golden key to the prevention of oral cancer is to not use tobacco. You can certainly reduce your risk by making changes in your lifestyle, such as -


Eating a healthy diet and avoiding or limiting the intake of junk foods, saturated fats, and processed meats.
Stop using tobacco or quit immediately.
Avoid excessive sun exposure to your lips.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if you do drink.
Make a point to visit your dentist regularly.
Studies have found that the chance of developing cancer of all types is lower among people who eat a healthy diet consisting of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, small amounts of lean animal or plant-based protein, and stay active by making regular exercise as part of their daily routine.

How to use garlic for erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is a very common male sexual health problem and can occur in any age of men. This condition happens when a man is finding it difficult to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. While many men who have a problem with their sexual activity are embarrassed to speak to their doctor about this issue, it is now well known that ED can be treated successfully in most cases. In fact, there are many home remedies that can help treat impotence, and garlic is considered a natural cure for erectile dysfunction.

For most men, erectile dysfunction can be both physiological and psychological, which means it can have both physical and emotional causes. According to Mayo Clinic, ED can be a result of a serious health problem, including diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, etc.

Benefits of garlic for erectile dysfunction or impotence
Garlic, which is being used as a major ingredient in various cuisines across the world, can be an effective natural remedy for erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Research has shown that garlic can be beneficial for the treatment of impotence, erectile dysfunction by acting on the body in different ways.


A study done by the researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham demonstrated that garlic contains polysulfides that promote the production of H2S which causes blood vessels to relax and lowers blood pressure, thereby improving heart health. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggested that garlic’s ability to relax blood vessels improves circulation, which indirectly controls impotence.

Moreover, allicin, the principle bioactive compound in garlic, has been shown to improve blood flow. The beneficial effects of garlic such as its ability to lower high cholesterol and contribute to the treatment of hypertension are well-known. Both high blood pressure and cholesterol are a risk factor for atherosclerosis, a build-up of fats and other substances in the walls of arteries, causing obstruction of blood flow. Since atherosclerosis contributes to decreased blood flow, it is a contributing factor to impotence. This indicates that garlic may help treat ED, although more research is needed to establish a direct link between allicin and the treatment of impotence.

How to use garlic for erectile dysfunction
To get maximum benefits, you can simply chew 3-4 cloves of raw garlic every day.


Another option to use garlic for ED is to consume it with milk or honey. Crush 1-2 cloves of garlic and mix it with 1 teaspoon of raw honey. Consume it on an empty stomach. Repeat daily for three to four months.

A word of caution: While garlic has immense health benefits, speak with your doctor before trying any home remedies, including garlic, to treat your condition as it can interact with certain medications like anticoagulants and isn’t safe for anyone in greater amounts compared to when used in cooking.

What is pre exposure prophylaxis

A Sydney man has been diagnosed with HIV in spite of taking pre-exposure prophylaxis medication known as PrEP that promises to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, reported The Sydney Morning Herald. According to the report, Steve Spencer, 27, tested positive for HIV in December despite taking PrEP regularly during a regular sexual health test.

As per the CDC, pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is highly effective when it comes to preventing HIV if used as prescribed. However, the medication can be much less effective when not taken consistently. Daily PrEP can help reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 per cent.

“I was in complete shock, as were my doctors, knowing the chances were extremely rare,” said Mr Spencer who is believed to be the seventh person globally to contract HIV while adhering to a PrEP regimen.


“What happened to me doesn’t change the fact that PrEP is still the most powerful HIV preventative we have ever had,” Mr Spencer, one of the first men in Australia to start taking the medication more than five years ago, was quoted as saying.

The report added that multiple international clinical trials have shown promising results indicating that PrEP can effectively prevent HIV transmission and roughly half a million people worldwide are taking the medication. Mr Spencer’s story has been chosen to share by the sexual health and gay community advocate in a bid to help prevent misinformation that could devalue the effectiveness of PrEP.

What happened to me doesn’t change the fact that PrEP is still the most powerful HIV preventative we have ever had. It is protecting hundreds of thousands of people from HIV in an empowering way, alongside effective treatment for people living with HIV,” Mr Spencer added.


According to Andrew Grulich, program head of HIV Epidemiology and Prevention at the University of NSW’s Kirby Institute, PrEP had been a ‘game-changer for HIV prevention in Australia, adding that the medication only works if it is taken correctly. In fact, Kirby Institute data showed that the number of people infected with HIV fell by almost one-third following the EPIC-NSW PrEP trial.

In the case of Mr Spencer, he started HIV treatment immediately after diagnoses and within six weeks he achieved an ‘undetectable viral load’, which means he cannot transmit HIV to anyone.

What is PrEP and who should take it?
PrEP is a course of HIV drugs taken by people who do not have the disease (but are at substantial risk) to prevent infection. Essentially, the blue pill The pill (brand name Truvada) contains two medicines -tenofovir and emtricitabine. These drugs are used in combination with other medicines to treat HIV.

The CDC claims that PrEP drug has the potential to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection in people who are exposed to HIV through injection drug use or sex. If taken consistently, PrEP has been found to reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 92% in individuals who are at high risk.

What are the signs and symptoms of Sexsomnia?Treatment and management

You may have heard of different types of sleep disorders, such as sleepwalking (somnambulism), sleep talking, and even sleep driving. But have you ever heard of sleep sex, or sexsomnia? Sleep sex is a distinct form of parasomnia that is caused by a disruption while the brain is moving between deep sleep stages. It may be noted that sex sleep is different from sex dreams that do not involve physical actions or behaviours besides arousal and ejaculation.

People with sexsomnia engage in sexual behaviours while in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, ranging from masturbation to sexual intercourse. Sleep sex is a very real yet relatively new condition that takes place randomly during the night. A 2015 study published in the NeuroQuantlogy reported that only 94 cases of sexsomnia have been documented worldwide.

What are the signs and symptoms of Sexsomnia?
The problem with sleep sex is that people with the disorder may not realise that they have it. Hence, other people such as a partner, roommate, are the ones who first notice symptoms of the condition. Perhaps, dealing with the condition or a partner who has it can be difficult. Common signs and symptoms of sexsomnia include:


Fondling with bed partner
Masturbation
Sexual intercourse
Pelvic thrusting
Spontaneous orgasm
Blank or glassy stare during events
sexual assault or rape
What causes Sexsomnia?
It’s unclear what causes sexsomnia, however, sleep sex can be caused by or be linked to various factors, including sleep deprivation, poor sleep habits, increased stress, anxiety, fatigue, excessively drinking alcohol, certain medications, etc. While it’s not clear how common sexsomnia is, men were almost three times more likely to have this disorder than women.

Medical conditions that are associated with sexsomnia are restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnoea, seizure disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn’s disease, ulcers, head injuries, migraines, Parkinson’s disease, etc.

Treatment and management for Sexsomnia
Treatment is very successful when it comes to sexsomnia and mainly involves treating underlying causes, as well as lifestyle changes. Maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule is one of the best ways to treat this disorder.


Treating underlying conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress that cause sleep disruption can help resolve symptoms of sexsomnia.

In most cases, treatment for sexsomnia involves making lifestyle changes, including adopting good sleep hygiene, avoiding triggers like alcohol and recreational drugs, etc.

Sometimes, sexsomnia can affect your personal relationships or put people in your life at risk. Therefore, it’s important to let your family and partner know of the diagnosis, and what they can do to help you deal with the condition.

common symptoms of tuberculosis to watch out for

World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated on March 24 every year, and marks the building of public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts made to eradicate the disease. Tuberculosis is a hidden disease that may not be perceived as a serious problem until it actually becomes too serious. This disease affects more people in middle and low-income countries, like India. In 2012 alone, around 8.6 million people fell ill with tuberculosis, out of which 1.3 million died of the disease, and the number has been similar ever since.

It is important to know about a disease that is so common and so fatal. The disease definitely shows symptoms that one should take seriously, and start treatment as soon as possible to make sure the disease does not turn fatal. Very common symptoms that can be mistaken for normal common cold and cough, or symptoms of any other disease are coughing that lasts for weeks, fatigue, fever, night chills and sweats. These symptoms can make you think that you are just under the weather and a common OTC medicine will cure the problem. However, if these symptoms are accompanied by the following uncommon symptoms of Tuberculosis, make sure you visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Coughing up blood
Normal coughing could be a result of a viral infection you have contracted due to the weather, or by just being around someone with the infection. However, if you cough up blood while coughing normally, it is a matter of worry. It could be a symptom of active tuberculosis and you must see a doctor immediately.


Loss of appetite
Not feeling hungry when you are sick is normal, but when the problem happens for a prolonged period of time, it means you are sicker than you think you are. If the above symptoms are accompanied by a considerable loss of appetite for a prolonged period of time, you must get yourself tested.

Effects on other organs
If tuberculosis happens outside your lungs, it will affect other organs differently and you must know these symptoms. You must watch out for these symptoms also to detect the problem early. If you have the tuberculosis of the spine, you may experience backaches, and tuberculosis of the kidney may cause blood in your urine.

Chest pain
One common and serious symptom of tuberculosis is chest pain. However, most people associate it with cough and cold and do not take it seriously. Chronic chest pain can also occur if you are experiencing a heart attack, and therefore you must visit a doctor if the pain arises very often.


Sweating at night
Something that may feel like just a weather condition, where you sweat at night could actually be a symptom of a disease. If you feel that the sweating is happening without reason and is accompanied by the above other symptoms, you must make a visit to your doctor soon.