What is Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism?
The thyroid is a small gland that looks almost like a butterfly. It is located in the neck, in men, it is at the adams apple location, in front of the trachea and below the larynx. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolic processes. Thyroid problems occur when the thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism).
The thyroid gland makes and releases two hormones into the body called tri-iodothyronine and thyroxine. These hormones regulates functions in the body, including metabolism. Thyroid hormones also influence nearly every organ in the body, telling the organ how fast or slow to operate.
Hypothyroidism symptoms include weakness, depression, weight gain, and fatigue while hyperthyroidism symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, shaky hands, weight loss, and irritability. People who are living with either of these thyroid problems, face enormous challenges. A doctor may prescribe thyroid therapy, and suggest dietary changes that may help.
Fortunately, the development of new treatment methods has helped many people live comfortably with either condition.
A person with either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism would likely be referred to an endocrinologist by their primary doctor. An endocrinologists treats diseases that affect the glands, which in turn involve many systems within the body. There are many resources online for anyone who believes they may be suffering from either of these two conditions, but only a doctor can complete the required tests to make an accurate diagnosis.
How to Prepare Yourself From Influenza H1N1
How can you prepare
There are several steps you can take to prepare yourself and everyone around pandemic influenza. It is important to take into account problems that could face, particularly if the pandemic is severe.
Use a list of planning to ensure planning for the impact a flu pandemic could cause in your life, your family and your business development.
For more information relating to individuals, families and workplaces in particular, and for more information about schools, health care providers, community organizations and governments, see Plan and Prepare.
In addition, there are some actions you can take to stay healthy, such as washing hands frequently, cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and avoid direct contact with sick people.
How are we preparing?
The United States is working with other countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen systems to detect outbreaks of influenza that could start a pandemic. View activities worldwide.
The effects of a pandemic can be lessened if preparations are made well in advance. Are preparing information for the preparation and planning lists for various sectors of society, which includes information for individuals and families. View Plan and Prepare. Read the rest of this entry »
Vaccination and Treatment of H1N1 Influenza
Currently not available a commercial vaccine to protect humans against influenza A (H1N1) influenza virus. The H1N1 virus of swine influenza is very different from the H1N1 virus in humans and, for this reason, vaccines against seasonal flu does not offer protection against H1N1 influenza virus.
Antiviral Drugs
If you get sick, antiviral drugs can relieve their illness and make you feel better quickly. They can also help prevent serious complications of influenza.
For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if you start taking them immediately after getting sick, and you may not take effect if you start making more than 48 hours after the onset of the disease.
The influenza antiviral medications can also be used to prevent influenza when administered to a person who is not sick, but that has been or is near a person with influenza virus. Read the rest of this entry »
Symptoms and Diagnosis of H1N1 Influenza
Human Infection with Swine Influenza Virus
The swine flu viruses usually do not infect humans. However, there have been cases of swine flu infection in humans sporadically. Mostly, these cases occur in people who have direct contact with pigs (eg, children near the pigs at a fair or swine industry workers).
The spread of swine flu among humans is also possible. It is believed that this occurs in the same way that develops a seasonal flu in people, ie mainly through coughing and sneezing of those infected with influenza virus. People can be spread by touching something infected with influenza virus and then touching their mouth or nose.
Previously, CDC received reports of approximately one case of human infection with swine influenza virus every one to two years in the U.S.. UU. But from December 2005 until February 2009, reported 12 cases of human infection of swine influenza. Read the rest of this entry »
General Information of Influenza H1N1
What is happening today?
A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that spreads worldwide. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus to which people have little or no immunity and for which no vaccines are available.
The disease spreads easily from person to person, causes serious illness and can spread throughout the country and the world in no time. An influenza pandemic may be caused by swine influenza virus (pigs) or avian (bird)
Currently, there are cases of human infection with swine influenza virus A (H1N1) worldwide, including in the United States. A health professionals are concerned about the possibility that this virus becomes a pandemic for the following reasons:
* It is a combination never before seen in the human influenza virus, swine and avian.
* It spreads from person to person.
* The age group most affected is young and healthy adults (unlike seasonal flu)
* Like other types of influenza virus continues to evolve. Read the rest of this entry »
Epidemiological Alert Phases of Influenza Virus
In the document of the World Health Organization: Global influenza preparedness plan, WHO defines the different stages of epidemiological alert and make recommendations on what to do in the event that this pandemic.
Phase 1: The viruses that affect animals do not cause problems in humans. In addition, it has not been detected any subtype.
What should I do?
Be prepared for the detection and control of any epidemic at all levels of government.
Phase 2: A virus that affects animals could affect some people, making it a potential threat. Although not yet identified any subtype.
What should I do?
Avoid possible infection of humans and quickly alert health officials if this ocrurre.
Phase 3: The disease begins to occur sporadically in humans, but although it has given full capacity there is no transmission from person to person. The important thing is to avoid contact between people.
What should I do?
Ensure the identification of virus subtype that represents the threat and be aware of the presence of more cases. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Prevent The Spread of The Influenza Virus?
The best option is vaccination, this requires:
• Do not be sick.
• Do not be allergic to egg protein.
• Do not have a history of severe reactions to vaccination.
• Not having had Guillain-Barré syndrome 6 weeks before being vaccinated.
Moreover, to reduce the risk of contracting the influenza virus, take the following preventive measures:
• Stay away from people who have any respiratory infection.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially when in contact with a patient, and before eating or preparing food.
• Avoid greet and kiss your hand if you’re sick.
• Do not share food, cups and cutlery.
• Ventilate and allow the entry of sun in your house, offices and all enclosed places. Read the rest of this entry »
Laboratory Diagnosis of Influenza
The diagnosis of influenza is usually suspected based on clinical features found, particularly if the flu has been reported in the community.
The virus can be isolated in the nasopharyngeal and tracheal swabs obtained within 3 days of onset. The cultivation is done by amniotic sac inoculation of chick embryos or growing in certain cells that support viral replication.
A minimum of 48 hours are needed to demonstrate the virus, and one or two additional days to identify the type of virus. As a result the crop is useful to define the etiology of local epidemics, but not individual cases.
Serological confirmation of influenza requires demonstration of a significant increase in IgG. The sample in the acute phase should be taken within 5 days of onset of symptoms and the convalescent sample should be taken from 10-21 days (preferably 21 days). Read the rest of this entry »
Complications and Impacts of Influenza
COMPLICATIONS
The most frequent complication of influenza is pneumonia, most commonly secondary bacterial pneumonia. (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Staphylococcus aureus) Primary viral pneumonia is a rare complication with a high number of mortality.
Reye’s syndrome is a complicaciónque occurs almost exclusively in children, primarily in asocciación with influenza B (or varicella zoster) and presents with severe vomiting and confusion that may progress to coma, or develop a swelling in the brain.
Other complications include myocarditis (heart inflammation) and worsening of chronic bronchitis and other chronic lung disease. Death is reported in 0.5 to 1 per thousand cases. Most deaths occur in people over 65 years of age.
An increase in mortality typically accompanies an epidemic of influenza. The increased mortality is not only the influenza and pneumonia, but also from cardiopulmonary and other chronic diseases that can be exacerbated by influenza. Read the rest of this entry »
Three Types of Influenza Virus
The influenza virus is a single-stranded helical shape is an RNA virus of the family of Orthomyxoviruses. The core antigen types A, B and C are determined by the nuclear material.
Inluenza type has subtypes that are determined by surface antigens hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Three types of human hemagglutinin (H1, H2 and H3) have a role in the attack of the virus to cells. Two types of neuraminidase (N1 and N2) have a role in the penetration of viruses into cells.
Influenza A causes moderate to severe disease, and affects all age groups. The virus infects humans and other animals such as pigs and birds. Read the rest of this entry »