Gerds, Hepatitis & Breast cancer

Gerds, Hepatitis & Breast Cancer

By Bill VanBurkleo D.O. FAEP 

                                                                                                   
      BREAST CANCER
   Some  new  statistics on breast cancer. In her 40th year, one  woman  in 1,000  develops breast cancer. In her 60th year, one woman in 500  develops breast  cancer.  Between ages 40 and 50, 1.5 percent of all  women  develop breast  cancer.  Between ages 40 and 60, 3.3 percent of all  women develop breast  cancer.  Your  chances of getting breast cancer, if  over 40,  are probably  greater than your mother's chances when she was 40.  Not  having
children or having a first child after age 30 increases the risk.
   Do  self exams every month to decrease your risk. Get a mammogram for  a baseline if over 40 years of age. See your doctor at least once a year  for pap, pelvic, AND breast exam.

     HEPATITIS
   Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It is caused most commonly by  a virus. The virus are : Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
   Hepatitis A is usually a self-limiting, uncomplicated illness.  Patients can usually be treated at home unless the symptoms become severe. Most  of the time the symptoms (nausea, vomiting, pain in the right upper  abdomen, headache,  fever,etc.) will subside in two to three weeks.   
    Treatment  consists  of symptomatic treatment and at home isolation (separate towels  and eating utensils,  etc.). This virus A is infective and isolation,  in  the home, usually last 1 to 2 weeks after the beginning of the symptoms. Immune serum  globulin  has been proven to help prevent hepatitis in  subject  who have been exposed. It is recommended for household contacts and for people who have eaten food prepared by infected persons. It is not recommended  in the post-exposure situation to casual school, hospital, and factory contact unless an overt epidemic develops.
   Hepatitis B is also self-limiting and usually uncomplicated. There  are, of course,  some serious cases. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are  alike  in that these infections are transmitted through parenteral (injection) inoculation  or from close, intimate contact. Unless one has severe fulminant hepatitis, treatment is symptomatic. Isolation, in this case, is  probably not necessary. Post-exposure shots are not necessary unless one receives an accidental contaminated needle stick or through intimate contact  (kissing, intercourse, etc.
    
        GERDS
   Gastroesophageal  reflux (heartburn) affects probably 10 percent of  the population daily. The condition usually persists over several years and can cause several complications such as esophageal stricture, Barrett's esophagus ( a premalignant condition), chest pain, chronic hoarseness and recurrent pulmonary disease.
   There are several reasons for reflux and the damage it causes. The  main one is the lower esophageal sphincter ( a valve-like stricture between  the esophagus  and the stomach). If it doesn't close properly, the acid in  the stomach can splash back into the esophagus and "burn" it.
   Treatment for patients with esophageal reflux is usually in two  phases. If phase I alone doesn't work, we then add phase II. Phase I  consists  of life style modification. Phase II is drug therapy. Phase I  recommendations are as follows:
1) Small meals, high in protein and low in fat eaten throughout the day. Do not eat within 3 hours of going to bed.
2) Weight loss
3) Foods to avoid: fatty foods, chocolate, spearmint and peppermint,  alcohol, citrus juices, tomato-based foods, and coffee
4) Elevate head of bed by 6 inches
5) Stop smoking
6) Use antacids and alginates (Gaviscon)
   Phase  II consist of drugs like Tagamet, Zantac, Carafate,  Bethanechol, and Metroclopramide.
Some of these drugs have serious  side  effects.  If neither of these phases work, surgery then becomes a consideration.

06-15-2008 22:00 Bill VanBurkleo Published in Health, Newsletter

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