admin | Dr M V Rao

Itchy Skin? Decoding the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments of Skin Allergies

by admin | Feb 14, 2025 | Skin Allergies

When something touches your skin, your immune system reacts to it as an attack. This reaction often causes antibodies to fight against the allergen.

These substances lead to allergies. An allergy is an immune response to harmless allergens. These allergies affect almost 30% of the Indian population and are among the most common chronic diseases.

What are the Causes of an Allergic Reaction?

Several allergens can cause an allergy. They include:

Animals, especially furry ones.
Food, such as milk and gluten.
Pollen.
Bites from wasps and bees.
Pollution and dust.
Mites and molds.
Household chemicals and sprays.
Certain medications.
Sunscreens and bug sprays.
Topical medications, such as antibiotics or anti-itch creams.
Fragrances.
Cleaning products.
Plants, including poison ivy.

Skin allergies are also caused by a range of factors. More often than not, they are a reaction to an allergen or irritant. However, when an allergen triggers an immune system response, it causes an allergic skin condition.

During your immune system’s response, the body produces an antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which reacts to allergens. The symptoms that occur result from this allergic reaction.

What are the Types of Skin Allergy Reactions?

The most common reactions of skin allergy are:

Eczema: Also known as atopic dermatitis, it affects about 10 to 20 percent of children and 1 to 3 percent of adults. A common symptom of eczema is the occurrence of dry, itchy skin. People with eczema usually have a family history of skin allergies. Eczema is often linked with asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), or food allergies.
Hives: Also called urticaria, hives are a reaction of the skin characterized by itchy raised welts that are usually red, pink, or flesh-colored, and they may also sting or hurt. Mostly, hives are a result of an allergic reaction to medication or food, or a reaction to an irritant in the environment. If the condition persists for less than 6 weeks, it is known as acute urticaria, and if it lasts longer, it is known as chronic urticaria. Acute urticaria is mostly caused by foods, medications, and infections. The most common foods that cause hives are nuts, chocolate, fish, tomatoes, eggs, fresh berries, and milk.
Contact Dermatitis: Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin turns red and irritated. Most cases of contact dermatitis are not severe but can be unpleasant until they resolve.Symptoms can include a rash, blisters, itching, and burning. Soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, shampoos, nickel, adhesives, nail polish, and latex gloves can all cause contact dermatitis.
Angioedema: This condition involves rapid swelling in the deeper areas of the tissue. The swelling occurs when fluid accumulates in soft tissues, such as the face, lips, throat, and sometimes the hands and feet.

This is often linked with hives. However, if angioedema persists for less than minutes to hours, it is known as acute angioedema.

Acute angioedema is commonly caused by an allergic reaction to medications or foods. However, if it persists longer, it is known as Chronic Recurrent Angioedema.

On the other hand, hereditary angioedema is diagnosed by recurrent episodes of severe angioedema. The most common areas of the body to get affected are the limbs, face, intestinal tract, and airway. This often occurs without a known trigger.

What are the Symptoms of Skin Allergy?

Any skin allergy has the primary symptom of a skin rash or skin reaction. The rash might start as an itching sensation, a raised bump or redness.

There might be several symptoms that determine a skin allergy which include:

Rash
Itching
Redness
Swelling
Raised bumps
Scaling or flaking of skin
Cracked skin

What are the Tips to Prevent Skin Allergy?

Skin allergies usually go away within a week or month. These symptoms can help you prevent that in the meantime.

Avoid contact.
Apply an anti-itch cream.
Avoid wearing tight clothes as they can irritate your rash.
Minimize time in direct sunlight.
Keep irritating skin protected with a moisturizer.
Avoid contact with irritants.
Avoid scratching rash or hives.

How is Skin Allergy Diagnosed?

The doctor considers your family and medical history, your symptoms and may recommend a skin or a blood test to make a diagnosis.

If you or your loved one is experiencing these symptoms, make sure to speak to your healthcare provider for early recovery.

Recognizing the Signs and Finding the Right Treatment for Thyroiditis

by admin | Dec 26, 2024 | Thyroid

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that weighs about 15-20 grams and is located in the front of the lower neck between Adam’s apple and the breastbone.

The thyroid gland secretes and produces triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) hormones. These hormones affect all aspects of metabolism, which is the pace at which your body processes food to make energy and heat.

They also influence the control of vital functions, such as body temperature and heart rate. The thyroid gland also needs adequate amounts of dietary iodine to be able to produce T4 and T3.

However, thyroiditis is the swelling and inflammation of the thyroid gland, which can lead to underproduction or overproduction of thyroid hormone.

There are three phases that thyroiditis comprises of:

Thyrotoxic phase: This means that the thyroid is too inflamed and it releases too many hormones.
Hypothyroid phase: Post the excess secretion of thyroid hormones, the thyroid does not have enough hormones to release. This leads to a lack of hormones or hypothyroidism.
Euthyroid phase: During this phase, the thyroid hormone levels are normal. This phase may either come after the thyrotoxic phase before going to the hypothyroid phase, or it may come at the end after the thyroid gland has recovered from the inflammation and is able to maintain a normal hormone level.

Cause of Thyroiditis:

Thyroiditis can be caused by several agents that result in inflammation and damage to the thyroid cells, leading to thyroiditis.

Some of the agents include antibodies, drugs, organisms (viruses and bacteria), and sometimes drugs such as interferon, amiodarone, and radiation.

Thyroiditis may also be an autoimmune disease and may sometimes be a reaction or a side effect of a certain drug.

Types of Thyroiditis:

1. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis):

This is a common autoimmune disease caused by anti-thyroid antibodies. This kind of thyroiditis is diagnosed five times more in women than men. This disease occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and slowly destroys the thyroid gland and its ability to produce hormones in the body. The symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are similar to hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, weight gain, constipation, and dry skin. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis usually leads to hypothyroidism, in which the treatment of thyroid hormone replacement is needed.

2. Silent (Painless) Thyroiditis:

This is another autoimmune disease that is caused by anti-thyroid antibodies. It is also common in women and the next common cause after Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

3. Postpartum thyroiditis:

This is an autoimmune condition that occurs when a woman’s thyroid gland becomes inflamed after having a baby. This condition affects a small percentage of pregnant women (about 3 in 100). This may first result in the thyroid being overactive. But in time, it may also lead to an underactive thyroid. For instance, it can lead to symptoms of hyperthyroidism after 1 to 3 months of delivery, and symptoms of hypothyroidism begin about 4 to 8 months after delivery.

4. Acute thyroiditis:

This is a rare infection of the thyroid gland. The infection is painful and is associated with a fever, which progresses rapidly. The acute thyroiditis can affect children and adults, but it is more prevalent among children. Some of the symptoms include pain in the throat, mild illness, swelling of the thyroid gland, and in some cases, symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

5. Drug-induced thyroiditis:

A condition that is caused by the use of drugs such as amiodarone, interferons, lithium, and cytokines. However, this occurs in a small fraction of patients using the offending drugs, hence is not common to the normal population.

6. Radiation-induced thyroiditis:

This is a condition caused by external radiation, which is usually used as a medical treatment for certain cancers, or by radioactive iodine, which is used to treat hyperthyroidism. It may lead to symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of Thyroiditis:

The symptoms of thyroiditis depend on the type and phase of thyroiditis.

During the hyperthyroid phase, common symptoms are:

Anxiety
Insomnia
Rapid heart rate
Weight loss
Fatigue
Heat intolerance
Tremors
Irritability

During the hypothyroid phase, common symptoms are:

Fatigue
Weight gain
Constipation
Depression
Dry skin
Lack of focus
Poor exercise tolerance

Diagnosis of Thyroiditis:

The doctor may order blood tests to diagnose thyroiditis and determine what type you have. The blood tests are helpful in measuring the levels of thyroid hormone in your blood to detect whether there is an excess or a deficiency of the thyroid hormones.

In some cases, the doctor may decide upon a radioactive iodine uptake test that measures your thyroid’s ability to absorb iodine, a mineral that is needed to produce thyroid hormone. Early diagnosis and treatment of thyroiditis is crucial. Doctors may order one or more blood tests to check thyroid function. Contact your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms as soon as possible.

Understanding the Benefits of B6 and B12 Vitamins

by admin | Dec 13, 2024 | Healthy life

The dynamic duo of Vitamins B6 and B12 are important nutrients that play essential roles in maintaining good health. These vital vitamins do it all—from working across different bodily functions to energy production and nerve function. While both Vitamin B6 and B12 work interdependently, each vitamin is special on its own.

Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is essential for normal brain development and for maintaining the health of the nervous and immune system. The vitamin is present in more food sources than you’d think. It’s found in poultry, fish, potatoes, chickpeas, bananas and fortified cereals. You could also consume it in the form of supplements, as an oral capsule, tablet or liquid.

People suffering from kidney disease and other conditions have malabsorption syndrome, wherein their small intestines fail to absorb nutrients from foods. They are more prone to Vitamin B-6 deficiency. There are certain autoimmune disorders, specific epilepsy medications and alcohol dependency that can also lead to vitamin B6 deficiency. This can cause a condition where you don’t have enough red blood cells to carry enough oxygen to your body’s tissues (anemia), confusion, depression, and a weakened immune system.

Based on the research on Vitamin B-6, there are significant advantages to the body from consuming Vitamin B-6 in the recommended amount. It is extremely essential for metabolism, brain function, immune health, hormonal balance, red blood cell production, optimal heart health, and skin health.

A vitamin B6 deficiency is usually accompanied by a deficiency in other B vitamins, such as folic acid (vitamin B9) and B-12. The recommended daily amount of Vitamin B6 for adult with ages 50 and younger is 1.3 milligrams. After 50 years, the recommended daily amount is 1.5 mg for women and 1.7 mg for men.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, does excellent things for your body. While creating your DNA and red blood cells, it also assists in developing your central nervous system, consisting of your brain and spinal cord. It keeps your hair, nails and skin healthy.

Since your body doesn’t make Vitamin B12, you need to get it from foods of animal origin or supplements. You could however consume meat, fish, poultry, eggs, fortified breakfast cereals, breads, and plant milks. This vitamin is water-soluble, which means that the excess is removed from your body through pee. While Vitamin B12 can store itself in the liver for up to five years, you can eventually become deficient if you need to consume it more.

The recommended dosage for vitamin B12 differs on various factors such as age, health conditions, eating habits, and the kind of medication you take. However, the average recommended daily amount is segregated based on age:

Infants up to age 6 months: 0.4 micrograms
Babies aged 7-12 months: 0.5 micrograms
Children aged 1-3 years: 0.9 micrograms
Kids aged 4-8 years: 1.2 micrograms
Children aged 9-13 years: 1.8 micrograms
Teens aged 14-18 years: 2.4 micrograms
Adults (19+ years): 2.4 micrograms
Pregnant: 2.6 micrograms
Breastfeeding: 2.8 micrograms

Your doctor may prescribe Vitamin B12 injections or supplements depending on your needs.

To sum it up; both vitamins B6 and 12 are essential, as they participate in red blood cell production and help boost immunity. While Vitamin B6 operates to regulate hormones, B12 takes on nerve function and DNA synthesis. They’re equally important to your well-being and therefore should be consumed correctly to lead a healthy lifestyle. Contact your healthcare provider to discuss this further and get more information.

How to Boost Your Immunity This Winter

by admin | Nov 28, 2024 | Winter Care

While winters could mean hot chocolates and cozy blankets, they are also the time of greater vulnerability to illnesses such as the common cold and flu. To avoid catching any bugs, you may incorporate these few changes in your lifestyle so you may bolster your immune systems and make them winter-ready.

1. Prioritize a High Nutrient Diet:

Let there be no bowl without vitamins and minerals in winter. Have a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats rich in vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as zinc and selenium, which help in strengthening the immune function. For Vitamin C, you may consume citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes that are known to boost your immune system. Buy those leafy greens in the market and incorporate spinach, kale, and broccoli in your meals, as they’re packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants supporting immune health. For a healthy gut, you may add yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, or kimchi in your meals.

2. Stay Hydrated at All Times:

Drink plenty of water, as they help in flushing out harmful toxins and optimal functioning of your body. If bored of consuming water, you may also consume herbal teas like green tea, chamomile tea, or ginger tea to give you additional hydration with immune-boosting benefits.

3. Get a Good Night’s Sleep:

Try to get at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep every night, as adequate rest helps in regulating immune function and supporting overall health. If a consistent sleep schedule is followed, then the body’s immune response progressively strengthens. Allow yourself to rest and your body to regenerate at night.

4. Manage Stress:

If you’re someone who is known to stress about the smallest of things, your immune system must already be weakening. Engage in stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in hobbies that help you unwind and relax. Participate in self-care activities to mitigate stress and increase overall immunity.

5. Exercise Regularly:

Exercising in cozy winters can be tough, but it’s extremely helpful as it improves circulation, reduces stress, and improves your immune function. Exercise for at least 30 minutes; if not high-impact, then moderately for most days of the week.

6. Get Vitamin D:

Extremely important to keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy, Vitamin D is essential in different weather conditions. Getting sunlight during winters can be difficult due to limited sun exposure. Spend time outdoors if you can in daylight hours so you may increase your Vitamin D levels. If recommended by a healthcare professional, you may also take Vitamin D supplements as advised.

7. Good Hygiene and Appropriate Dressing:

Wash your hands as frequently as you can to prevent the spread of germs and use hand sanitizers when soap and water are unavailable. Dress in layers to protect yourself from the extremely cold temperatures and cover your mouth and nose in outdoors so you can prevent inhaling cold air, which can weaken your body’s defense mechanisms.

8. Avoid Unhealthy Foods:

As much as unhealthy foods look scrumptious, they can be a threat to your immune system. Limit oily, greasy foods, alcohol consumption, and smoking in this weather, as it may weaken the immune system.

To wrap it up, maintaining a robust immune system in winters can be tough but not challenging. It requires a few dietary changes, and lifestyle changes such as adequate sleep, regular exercise, and stress management to keep your daily routine intact and away from illnesses. It is important to remember that consistency is key in supporting your overall immunity and well-being throughout the year.

Take Control of Your Health: A Diabetes Survival Guide

by admin | Nov 18, 2024 | Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that occurs either if the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or if the body fails to effectively use the insulin it produces. Also known as diabetes, it is a result of high blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels are the main source of energy that comes from the food we eat.

The pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin, which helps the glucose from food get into body cells for energy. When the body fails to utilise the insulin effectively, the blood sugar levels rise, which is known as hyperglycemia. Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes has the potential to damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs.

There are a few kinds of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes: This is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. About 10 percent of the people with diabetes have this type. It is unclear what causes this attack; however, it is known that the immune system attacks and destroys the cells within the pancreas. Patients with type 1 Diabetes are required to take insulin injections throughout their lives.

Type 2 Diabetes: This occurs when the body turns resistant to insulin, causing the sugar to build up in the blood. Also known as insulin resistance, there is also a chance that the insulin produced does not match the requirements of the body. In these cases, diabetes can occur at any age but is most prominent with humans who are 40+ in age and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases.

This can be controlled through self-care by:

Physical exercise
Losing weight
Quitting smoking
Consuming a fibre-rich diet
Medication
In some cases, external insulin may be required.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is hyperglycemia with blood glucose levels above normal but below the diagnostic range of diabetes. Usually found in pregnant women, it has no symptoms and can be the result of the placenta producing hormones that cause high glucose levels in your blood. However, gestational diabetes usually disappears after pregnancy, but the affected women are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Treatments include a healthy diet, exercise, and medication if required.

Prediabetes

A condition where the blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis. With lifestyle changes, weight loss, and medication, it’s possible to bring a blood sugar level back to normal.

Causes of Diabetes

Various causes are associated with each type of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

This occurs when your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in your body for fighting infection. Type 1 is caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, though exactly what those factors are is still unclear. Weight is not believed to be a factor in type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, your cells turn resistant to insulin as your pancreas fails to produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of utilizing itself for energy, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

The reason, however, is uncertain. Although it is believed that genetic and environmental factors play a role in determining type 2 diabetes, people with a family history of type 2 diabetes are prone to developing this disease when compared to others.

Gestational Diabetes

This occurs when the placenta secretes hormones to sustain the pregnancy, which makes your hormones more resistant to insulin.

Usually, the pancreas responds by producing extra insulin to overcome this resistance, but sometimes it fails to keep it. When this occurs, deficiency of glucose causes too much residual sugar in the blood, resulting in gestational diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes

The general symptoms of diabetes include:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Weight loss
Increased Hunger
Extreme fatigue
Blurry vision
Slow-healing wounds
Tingling or numbness in the feet or toes

Men with diabetes may experience:

Decreased sex drive
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Poor muscle strength.

Women with diabetes may experience:

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Yeast Infections
Dry, Itchy skin

How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Tips and Tricks

Avoid sugar and refined carbs in your diet.
Work out regularly
Drink more water
Lose weight, if obese or overweight.
Quit smoking
Follow a low-carb and high-fiber diet
Limit alcohol intake
Optimize Vitamin D levels
Consider taking natural herbs like curcumin and berberine.

How Does Exercise Help in Type 2 Diabetes?

If you are active, your body becomes more resistant to insulin, helping you manage your diabetes. It also stimulates a mechanism that allows the muscles to absorb and utilise sugar, even without insulin. Physical activity is also proven to control blood sugar levels, lowering your risks of heart disease and nerve damage.

A diabetic person may take the following steps to control their diabetes:

You may start by walking for 10 minutes after dinner, gradually building up to 30 minutes most days. You may also try jogging, aerobic activities, and swimming.
Two or more sessions of resistance training every week help you strengthen your muscles.
Incorporate yoga into your lifestyle, which yields you calmness and peace and thus lowers your blood sugar levels.

Diabetes and Diet: What To Eat

Your diabetes diet simply means eating healthy in moderation and sticking to regular meal times. Changing your diet may help you lose weight and sometimes, maybe enough to control your diabetes.

These tips can be incorporated into your life for healthy living:

Eat in moderation, frequently.
Replace fruits and vegetables with high-calorie foods.
Eat fibre-rich whole grains as a source of healthy carbohydrates.
Consume pulses, beans, lentils, chickpeas, and garden peas.
Replace intake of saturated and trans fats with grilled poultry and fish.
Select skim (fat-free) milk and low-fat (1%) dairy products, reducing the consumption of cheese and butter.
Reduce sugar intake and watch out for the food labels.
Reduce salt intake by avoiding foods with high sodium.

Types of Insulin for Diabetes Treatment:

People with type 1 diabetes and a few people with type 2 diabetes may need to inject or inhale insulin to keep their blood sugar levels from becoming too high.

The types of insulin include:

Type	Onset Time	Peak Action Time	Overall Effect Time
Rapid-acting insulin	5-15 mins	30-90 mins	3-5 hours
Short-acting insulin	30-60 mins	2-3 hours	5-8 hours
Intermediate-acting	2-4 hours	4-12 hours	10-18 hours
Long-acting insulins	2-10 hours	6-16 hours	16-24 hours

How to Diagnose Diabetes Through Tests?

You can tell if you have diabetes by these three blood tests:

HbA1c

Calculates the average blood sugar level over two to three months. Check your range here:

<5.7%: Typical

5.7–6.4%: Pre-diabetic

≥6.5%: Diabetes

Fasting Plasma- Glucose (FPG) test:

Simplest and fastest way to diagnose diabetes. You may check your diabetic level below:

Normal range: 70–99 mg/dL

Prediabetes: 100–125 mg/dL

Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or higher

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT):

This test analyzes blood sugar levels after consuming a glucose solution and is used to treat gestational diabetes.

Diabetes or prediabetes may be indicated by a single abnormal result in any of these tests. If you are prediabetic, check your blood sugar at least once a year to ensure you haven’t developed type 2 diabetes. Consult your doctor if you experience any symptoms or have higher blood sugar levels than normal.

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