In September 2009 actor Patrick Swayze passed away due to pancreatic cancer. This week Steve Jobs has lost the battle to the disease.

You can read about this horrible cancer in our original post.

Here are some updated statistics you should know about -

• Each year, more than 43,000 people are diagnosed with this cancer in the United States alone.
• 37,660 people have died of pancreatic cancer since the beginning of the year.
• Smoking is the most important risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Smokers are more likely to develop this cancer, while heavy smokers are at an even higher risk.
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, dark urine and pale stools) may be a sign of pancreatic cancer. Also abdominal pain may be one of the first signs.
• It’s usually discovered too late, which is one of the reasons so many people die of it
• If the cancer can’t be removed by surgery, survival may last for only 4-6 months.

Haiku by Andrew Forgrave

The Lustgarten foundation was established to advance the scientific and medical research related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer. You can make a donation to help prevent further deaths from this disease.

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This article is submitted by Julia Wayne of LiposuctionCost.com

Liposuction is a medical procedure wherein accumulated fat under the skin is essentially sucked out. The procedure involves a plastic surgeon, a medically trained doctor, to use equipment that performs this task. When done correctly and effectively, liposuction is a great way to sculpt the body, especially after extensive weight loss, childbirth or not being able to shed those love handles or muffin tops.

The ideal candidate for lipo procedures is one who’s in normal weight and/or slightly to moderately overweight and otherwise should generally have good health. Liposuction cost can range anywhere from $2,000.00 to $10,000.00 depending on how much liposuction is needed and on what parts of the body it is needed. Liposuction cost is also variable by geographic areas.

Preparation for liposuction is minimal. Some preoperative testing may be required by the surgeon simply to evaluate general health status of the patient for his or her own safety. This may include general blood tests, an EKG/ECG and possibly a chest X-ray. These are all minimally invasive, painless, and can generally be done in one day.

The day of the procedure, the patient should not have anything to eat or drink and be accompanied by a friend or family member. The procedure is usually performed in an operating room typesetting but this can be located in a medical office or suite. It does not necessarily mean having to go to a hospital. In order for the doctor to suck out the body fat, a probe is inserted under the skin. This does require small incisions into the skin, but it is attempted to avoid much cutting and minimal scarring. The patient may be slightly sedated to reduce discomfort and anxiety.

Liposuction post op includes mostly rest. If pain is significant, the doctor may prescribe medication to take the edge off. Many patients can return to their normal activities, including work, within one week. Liposuction post op is minimal and recovery time is short. Also during the immediate liposuction post op time frame, the patient should avoid twisting or lifting as the incisions require time to heal.

Another visit to the doctor will verify the success of the surgery and the patient’s overall wellness in tolerating the procedure. Any signs of infection or discomfort will be addressed at that time, as well as the pain a patient may experience. Follow-up check-up is a must to get better results.

No related posts.

On Thursday’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, a patient woke up during her own surgery. She was able to smell her own flesh burning during the procedure (heat is used during surgery to burn down bleeding blood vessels), able to see her abdomen open and to see the surgeons operating on her. The only thing she wasn’t able to do was move. Not even her mouth or vocal cords – meaning she couldn’t even scream.

Sounds like science fiction, right? Unfortunately, this condition, called anesthesia awareness, happens to around 30,000 people a year in the US alone.

Danger level: High

What is it?

Anesthesia awareness is the condition in which a person is awake during surgery, being aware of the surgery, even though they are supposed to be asleep.

Imagine being cut down while awake. Photo by Brit.

Who gets it?

It occurs in about 1-2 out of every 1,000 surgical patients. Probably more in children.

What causes it?

When undergoing surgery, a patient is usually put to sleep using anesthesia. But that is not the only drug given to them. In order to insert a tube down a patient’s throat to ventilate them, and in order to cut through muscle, the patient’s muscles have to be paralyzed. A drug that causes that is given prior to surgery.

When the anesthesia doesn’t work, for any reason, the patient is left with the paralyzing drugs working – meaning they can’t move, speak, blink the eyes or otherwise respond to the pain, if they feel it.

So when does anesthesia not work? There can be a number of reasons:

1. Not using the full dose of anesthesia – In some high-risk surgeries, such as trauma, cardiac surgery, emergency c-sections, or when the patient’s condition is unstable, using the usual dose of anesthetic could harm the patient. In these situations awareness may not be completely avoidable.
2. Patient physiology – Some people (like the woman on the Grey’s Anatomy episode) may be more resistant to anesthetics than others. This can happen due to a genetic condition. Other things, such as other drugs, may interfere with the action of the anesthetic drug and may require using a higher dose of it in order for it to work effectively.
3. Human error – Sometimes a drug dose which is too low may be the cause. Also inadequate monitoring during surgery may be the cause, when there is a need for an increase in drug dosage, but no one has noticed.

How does it feel?

Most people don’t feel the pain of surgery. But even without pain, the experience can be traumatic. The patient can recall the details of their own surgery. Some describe it as being trapped inside a corpse.

This video shows the story of former patients who experienced the condition -

The bottom line – how do I avoid it?

Before surgery, you should meet with your anesthesiologist to discuss anesthesia options. You should share with them any problems experienced with previous anesthetics. You should discuss all prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking.

During surgery, the anesthesiologist monitors your vital signs, such as your heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure. When you are awake when you shouldn’t be, these will change, indicating the need for more anesthesia.

There are also new tools being studied to assess how awake you are during surgery. It is still unclear how effective they are. No monitor exists yet that can completely guarantee you will not experience awareness during surgery.

Related posts:

1. As Seen on Grey’s Anatomy – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – It Can Happen To Anyone
2. As Seen on Grey’s Anatomy – Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome
3. Can Cystic Fibrosis Patients Date Each Other? (As Seen on Grey’s Anatomy)

Yesterday actor Patrick Swayze, known for his performance in such films as "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost", died of pancreatic cancer. What is this cancer, and how can you avoid this deadly condition?

Danger level: High

What is it?

Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the pancreas. It is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death.

Who gets it?

In the US, more than 37,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. It happens to about 8-10 people out of 100,000 each year.

It’s most common in African Americans. It’s also more common in people of Native Hawaiian, Korean, Czech, Latvian, and New Zealand Maori origin. It’s quite rare in India, where there are about 2 cases per 100,000 people.

Pancreatic cancer is related to age – After age 50, the risk for it increases. Most people diagnosed with it are in their 70s and 80s.

There are some risk factors, which increase your risk of having pancreatic cancer:

1. Smoking
2. Being overweight
3. A history of chronic pancreatitis – In you or someone in your close family
4. A history of pancreatic cancer – In you or someone in your close family

Patrick Swayze, in 2006. Photo by MoonSoleil

What causes it?

The pancreas is a large gland in our abdomen. It’s responsible for making two things: insulin, which helps our body control the level of sugar in our blood; and pancreatic juices, which help our body digest the foods we eat.

The pancreas has three parts: The head, the body and the tail. Cancer can develop in any of these parts. Most cancers develop in the head of the pancreas (it is the part that’s leftmost in the drawing above).

Cancer is a condition which develops when cells in our body start dividing more than they should, causing a growth in an organ called a tumor. As with most other cancers, the reason for it is unknown, although it is known that a chronic inflammation in the pancreas increases the risk.

How does it feel?

As mentioned above, the cells in the pancreas grow, creating a tumor. This tumor often spreads further from the pancreas, through the blood, to reach other organs.

Unfortunately, this cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms most of the time, until the disease has spread. When symptoms do appear, they may include:

1. Abdominal pain – Usually in the upper or middle abdomen. It can radiate to the back.
2. Jaundice – This is a yellow color in your skin or the whites of your eyes.
3. Loss of appetite
4. Weight loss
5. Fatigue

How is it discovered?

Usually this cancer is detected late, a fact which is responsible for the high death rate involved with it.

Usually it is discovered by taking images of the body by an ultrasound, CT scan or an MRI, although there are other methods as well.

When the cancer is found, it is important to stage it. This term means deciding which stage the cancer is in, or how much it has spread. The higher the stage, the more advanced the cancer is, and the less likely it is that it can be cured. Staging can be done by surgery to open your abdomen and look at the pancreas and other organs, by imaging the body and by taking a blood test called CA 19-9, which helps the doctor follow the cancer and see if it is spreading.

How is it treated?

There are a few types of treatment for this cancer. The one chosen depends on the stage of the disease, on your age, on your overall health and your personal preferences.

Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and sometimes some drugs.

What happens after treatment?

Unfortunately, the death rates for this cancer are high. If the cancer can’t be removed by surgery, people usually survive for about 4-6 months. If the cancer can be operated on, about 20% of people can live for 5 years after the surgery.

This video from this morning’s CBS News sums it up:

The bottom line – How do I avoid it?

There are a few things you can do to lower your chances of having pancreatic cancer:

1. Quit smoking
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Eat a balanced diet – The American Cancer Society recommends eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while eating less red meat, although none of this has been actually proven.

Related posts:

1. Pancreatic Cancer–6 Facts You Should Know [News]
2. Cell Phones Causing Cancer – What Is It All About? [News]
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Danger level: High

What is it?

Diverticulitis is an inflammation of pouches (called diverticula) in the wall of your intestines.

Who gets it?

You are more likely to get diverticula (pouches in the wall of your intestines) as you age: less than 5% of people before age 40 get it, while at age 85 it happens to more than 65% of people.

In the world, diverticulitis occurs more frequently in Western countries, a fact which is probably related to the diet in these countries (it has become more common in Japan, for example, when the country adopted a more Western lifestyle).

There are a few risk factors – things which put you at a greater risk of getting diverticulitis:

1. Too little fiber in your diet – A high fiber diet helps keep stools soft. Fiber moves quickly through our digestive system, helping it to function properly. The diet in industrialized countries today is relatively low in fiber (which can be found in foods such as fruit, vegetables, oat bran, whole wheat bread and others).

   
   Fiber. You have to eat enough of it to prevent diverticulitis. Photo by Mr. T in DC.

2. Lack of exercise – The exact reason behind this isn’t understood.
3. Obesity – Being overweight increases the odds of developing diverticulitis. You can find out if you’re overweight by calculating your BMI.

What causes it?

Without enough fiber in our diet, which usually adds bulk to the stool, the intestines have to work harder to push the stool forwards. This causes pressure on the intestine’s wall, causing pouches (called diverticula) to form in weak places in the wall of the intestine.

Diverticulitis is the formation of pouches in the wall of your large intestine.

These pouches can just lie there aimlessly, or can cause trouble. There are 2 things which can happen to them:

1. Diverticulitis – This is the subject of this article. Diverticulitis (or an inflammation of the pouches) occurs when bacteria get trapped in the pouches, leading to infection or inflammation there.
2. Hemorrhage – Sometimes a blood vessel adjacent to one of these pouches may rupture, which can cause massive bleeding.

How does it feel?

The most common symptom in diverticulitis is abdominal pain, located in the left lower part of the abdomen. The pain is often sudden and severe (but it can less commonly start milder and progress). The pain can radiate as well, and be felt in the groin or the back.

Other things that can appear along with the pain include a change in bowel habits, tenderness when touching the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, fever and chills, constipation or diarrhea.

How is it discovered?

Besides a physical check-up, the doctor may run some blood tests (they will take a test called a complete blood count, which will tell if you have an infection) and take some images of your abdomen, for example using a CT scan.

How is it treated?

The treatment depends on the severity of the disease, as well as other things, such as if you’ve had attacks before.

The initial treatment usually includes fluids given through the vein, while withholding eating anything, to not put a burden on the intestines. Also, since diverticulitis is usually related to an infection, antibiotics are given.

In more problematic situations (such as when an abscess develops) a surgery may be needed.

What happens after treatment?

If diverticulitis isn’t treated on time, the intestines may rupture, which can be a life threatening situation. Therefore, if you experience the symptoms mentioned above it’s important that you seek immediate medical care.

Even when the condition is treated, in some people it tends to recur. In these cases, surgery may be needed.

The bottom line – How do I avoid it?

1. Eat a fiber-rich diet – You should replace low-fiber foods (such as white bread, white rice, candy and chips) with fiber-containing foods (whole-grain bread, brown rice, fruits and vegetables). The nutrition labels on foods will show you how much fiber the food has, like in the following example (information by nutritiondata.com):

   

   The recommended amount of fiber per day is at least 25-30 grams.

2. Get regular exercise
3. Drink lots of fluids – This prevents you from having chronic constipation, which can contribute to the pressure on the intestine’s wall.

Have you experienced diverticulitis and have tips of your own to share? Let us know in the comments.

Related posts:

1. Refsum Disease–Losing Your Vision and Sense of Smell, All Because of Your Diet (As Seen on House MD)
2. Why Staying Up Late Isn’t Good for Your Diet

Danger level: High

What is it?

Pancreatitis is a disease in which the pancreas gets inflamed.

Who gets it?

In the US, it happens to about 40 people out of 100,000 people. Over the world, acute pancreatitis is most common in the US and in Finland.

In terms of race, African Americans are more prone to acute pancreatitis. The risk for African Americans aged 35-64 is 10 times higher than for any other group.

What causes it?

The pancreas is an organ which is located next to our stomach and intestines. It has 2 roles:

1. It produces hormones: Such as insulin.
2. It secretes the pancreatic juice – It contains digestive enzymes (types of molecules in the body), which help with the breakdown of the food we eat in the intestines.

The pancreas. When it gets inflamed, pancreatitis happens.

Under normal conditions, the pancreatic juice is secreted into our intestines after we eat, helping with the breakdown of the food we ate. When that happens, the enzymes in the juice are activated, and start breaking the food molecules into smaller parts.

In acute pancreatitis, these enzymes are activated while still in the pancreas. Since their role is to break things down, instead of breaking down food, they break down the pancreas itself, causing it damage.

There are many causes for acute pancreatitis, with the first two being the most common:

1. Heavy alcohol use
2. Gallstones – These are stones in the gall bladder (you can see the gall bladder in the drawing above).
3. A high level of fats in the blood
4. After abdominal surgery
5. Certain medications
6. Smoking
7. Cystic fibrosis
8. Treating gallstones by a procedure called ERCP
9. Infections – Such as mumps.
10. Cancer in the pancreas
11. Injury to the abdomen or elsewhere in the body

How does it feel?

The main thing that’s felt in acute pancreatitis is an abdominal pain. It usually travels to the back. The pain may get worse by eating, especially fatty foods.

Other things that are felt during an episode of acute pancreatitis can include a swollen and tender abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and fever.

How is it discovered?

To determine if someone has acute pancreatitis, the blood level of the enzymes in the pancreas can be checked. These enzymes are released from the pancreas before due time, cause damage to the pancreas, and then reach blood vessels and can be found in the blood. These enzymes are called lipase and amylase and they will be high in blood tests in people with pancreatitis.

Other methods that can help include an ultrasound or a CT scan, as well as other techniques.

How is it treated?

The main treatment is fluids and pain killers, both given directly to the vein. Also, not eating for a couple of days helps the pancreas rest and recover. Acute pancreatitis usually requires hospitalization, and the treatment is given in the hospital.

Acute pancreatitis is a severe condition, and in up to 20% of people it may require hospitalization in an intensive care unit. There, the person with pancreatitis will be closely monitored, since the disease can cause damage to other organs in the body as well.

What happens after treatment?

Usually an attack of acute pancreatitis lasts a few days, unless there are complications. Even when treated properly, acute pancreatitis is a serious condition, which can sometimes also lead to death.

After recovery, the cause for the pancreatitis has to be discovered and treated, in order to avoid future attacks.

Sometimes, the simple treatment above doesn’t help, and the situation requires a surgery to fix the condition.

The bottom line – How do I avoid it?

Since many cases of acute pancreatitis are caused by excessive alcohol drinking, you should limit your alcohol drinking. If you abuse alcohol, you should see a doctor about a referral to an alcohol treatment center.

This video shows the personal story of someone with pancreatitis caused by heavy alcohol drinking:

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2. Acute Intermittent Porphyria Revisited (As Seen on House MD)
3. Cystic Fibrosis – A Dangerous Inherited Disease Causing Thick Secretions

Danger level: High

What is it?

Carcinoid tumor is a type of slow-growing cancer which can grow in several places in the body. It usually forms in the intestines, but can also appear in the lungs, in other places in the digestive system (such as the stomach) and in other organs.

Who gets it?

In the United States, about 1.5 people in 100,000 have a carcinoid tumor.

There are a few risk factors which can put you at risk of developing this tumor:

1. Smoking – As in many other tumors, smoking can also increase your risk of having a carcinoid tumor.
2. Family history – If you have someone in your family with a syndrome called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (or MEN1 for short) you might be at risk.
3. Certain medical conditions – These conditions affect the stomach’s ability to produce acid, which is produced by the stomach under normal conditions. Conditions here include atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. They all put you at greater risk for developing a carcinoid tumor.

What causes it?

Most of us know that our digestive system (the stomach, intestines, etc.) helps us break down the food we eat and digest it. One of the less known abilities of this system is to produce hormones (these are chemicals which affect cells in other parts of the body). Our digestive tract is lined by cells which can produce hormones (as well as other cells). Carcinoid tumors arise from these cells (and that is why carcinoid tumors can sometimes produce hormones themselves, as you’ll see ahead).

In carcinoid, these cells multiply uncontrollably to form masses, which are the tumor.

A part of the small intestine with a round mass in it – this is the carcinoid tumor.

How does it feel?

There are 3 things that can be felt in a carcinoid tumor:

1. Nothing – Often these tumors don’t show any signs of existence in their early stages, and you can go about unaware you have them.
2. Things that occur when there are tumors in the intestines – Carcinoid isn’t the only tumor which can occur in the intestines. It and other tumors there usually can cause a set of symptoms due to their location. These include abdominal pain, obstruction of the intestines (which will cause vomiting and bloating, among other things), diarrhea and weight loss.
3. Things specific to carcinoid tumors – Above we mentioned that these tumors can produce hormones. In less than 10% of cases, this brings about a set of symptoms called the carcinoid syndrome. Things it can include:
   a. Flushing (redness) of the skin
   b. Diarrhea
   c. Enlargement of the liver
   d. Problems with the heart valves
   e. Asthma

How is it discovered?

There are a few ways in which these tumors can be discovered:

1. Accidentally – Since a lot of the time these tumors don’t produce any symptoms, sometimes they’d be found in surgery done for other reasons.
2. High levels of the hormones in the urine – As mentioned above, these tumors can produce chemicals. An example of this is 5-HIAA, which can be found in high levels in the urine. Blood tests can also be used to discover the tumor.
3. Body imaging – Using a CT scan, an MRI or some other form of imaging, will show the tumor itself.

How is it treated?

The main treatment for carcinoid is surgery to take out the tumor. If the tumor is detected early, it can be removed completely in surgery (depending on where it’s at in the body). Unfortunately, most of these tumors are at an advanced stage when they are finally discovered, so removing them completely is usually not an option.

These tumors tend to spread (send metastases) to the liver. In which case, a simple removal of the tumor in the intestines isn’t enough.  A liver surgery, a liver transplant or a procedure which will stop the blood supply to the tumor in the liver is performed. Chemotherapy may also be used.

This video tells the story of Ruth Gerdes, whose carcinoid tumor reached the liver, and how she was cured of it:

For people with the carcinoid syndrome, there are certain medications, which can help greatly.

What happens after treatment?

If a tumor is taken out completely about 100% of people will continue living cancer-free. If the tumor spreads, the chances are lower for survival, but are still high relative to other cancers.

Even if the tumor isn’t operable, people can still live for years, since it grows slowly.

The bottom line – How do I avoid it?

Preventing the risk factors mentioned above (smoking, the medical conditions mentioned) might prevent you from having a carcinoid tumor.

For more information, you can visit the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation’s blog.

Related posts:

1. As Seen on Grey’s Anatomy – Melanoma – You Can Avoid It if It’s Found on Time
2. Pheochromocytoma – A Rare Tumor That Can Cause Hypertension (As Seen on House MD)
3. Astrocytoma (Butterfly Tumor)–A Brain Tumor That Spreads To Both Sides (As Seen On Grey’s Anatomy)

Danger level: Medium

What is it?

Crohn’s disease is a condition in which there is a chronic inflammation in the intestines (you might also hear the name inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) when Crohn’s is mentioned).

Who gets it?

About 7 people out of 100,000 in the US (and about 1-10 out of 100,000 in Europe) get Crohn’s disease. More and more people have been getting the disease in the last 5 decades, especially in northern areas. It’s less common in other areas of the world, like Asia, South Africa and Latin America.

The disease can begin at two time periods in life – most commonly in the ages 15-30, but also at 60-80.

There are a few things known to increase the risk as well -

• Crohn’s is more common in Ashkenazi Jews.
• If you have a close family member with Crohn’s (parent, sibling, children) – your chances of getting it are also higher.
• Smokers have a higher chance of developing Crohn’s.

What causes it?

No one knows exactly why it is caused. It might be related to an over-reaction of the immune system to normal bacteria in the intestines, although other theories exist as well.

Whatever the cause may be, it causes an inflammation in the intestines (the small intestine as well as the large intestine). This inflammation causes damage to the intestines, which brings about the symptoms of the disease.

How does it feel?

Usually Crohn’s has a pattern of flares (when the disease worsens) and remissions (when it gets better).

The main symptoms of Crohn’s are abdominal pain and diarrhea (sometimes with blood). The diarrhea can appear many times a day (even 10-20), and even at night. This can cause weight loss, as well.

Other things which are related to our digestive system and that happen here can include mouth sores, bowel blockages, anal fissures (tears), and openings between organs (called fistulas).

Unfortunately, Crohn’s isn’t limited to our digestive system. Other things can happen here as well -

1. Growth failure – If the disease starts at an early age, there may be a problem with the growth of the child.
2. Fever
3. Inflammation in the eyes
4. Inflammation in the joints (which can also involve the spine)
5. Skin flares

And others…

This photo shows what happens on the inside of a Crohn patient’s intestines – You can see wounds (ulcers) all over the place. Photo by Samir.

How is it discovered?

There are several tests which can be done to discover Crohn’s. They include -

1. X-Rays or CT scans of the intestines
2. Colonoscopy – Which is a tube with a camera which is inserted into the intestines and can show what’s going on inside them (like in the picture above).
3. Biopsy – A sample of the intestines can be taken to see the disease under the microscope.

How is it treated?

There are two types of treatments for Crohn’s:

1. Medications – There are many drugs out there used to treat Crohn’s. They include drugs that take down the inflammation in the body (such as steroids and others), as well as antibiotics and other drugs.
2. Surgery – Sometimes the drugs won’t do the trick, and a surgery may be the only way to improve the symptoms. Surgery doesn’t cure the disease, though – it only takes down the diseased part of the intestines, but other parts can continue to develop the disease.

What happens after treatment?

Crohn’s is a chronic disease, meaning it can’t be cured. Flares of the disease can continue in spite of the treatment, although less severely.

People with Crohn’s are also more likely to develop colon cancer over time.

The bottom line – How do I avoid it?

Since the cause for Crohn’s isn’t known, there is currently no known way to prevent it.

This video tells the story of pro quarterback David Garrard and the effect Crohn’s disease had on his life:

For another personal story, you can read the living with Crohn’s disease blog, written by Scottie Roy.

If you had a brush with the disease or know of anyone who did you’re welcome to share it in the comments below.

Related posts:

1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – How the Intestines Can Affect Your Whole Life
2. Peptic Ulcer Disease – Wounds in your stomach and intestines
3. Behçet’s Disease – Inflammation of Your Blood Vessels, Throughout the Body (As Seen on House MD)

Danger level: High

What is it?

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix (a part of the intestine).

Who gets it?

In the US, appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal pain which requires surgery.

It occurs in up to 7% of people in the US (it’s lower in countries where there is more dietary fiber in the diet), and occurs in about 250,000 people a year in the US. It’s 1.4 times more common in men than in women.

Appendicitis is most common in young people – it occurs mostly between ages 10 and 30, but it can happen at any age.

What causes it?

Let’s first start by explaining about the appendix. The appendix is a part of our intestines, as shown in this drawing:

The appendix is marked by a circle in this drawing.

Even though it’s part of our intestines, the appendix isn’t involved in anything related to food digestion. In fact, no one really knows what it’s there for (although there have been some suggestions in recent years).

Appendicitis occurs most commonly as a result of obstruction of the appendix. As a result, it gets filled with mucus and gets swollen, which causes pressure on the blood vessels going through it. When the blood vessels get pressured, they can’t supply the appendix with enough blood, which causes it to die. Germs see this as an opportunity for a feast, and start accumulating in the area, causing an infection. After this, the appendix can rupture, leading to an inflammation inside our abdomen, which can be life threatening.

This diagram summarizes the process to make it easier to understand -

What causes the appendix to get obstructed in the first place?

That depends on the age of the person with appendicitis:

• In young people – The cause is growth of the lymphoid tissue in the area (the lymphoid tissue is responsible for handling infections)
• In older people – It can occur as a result of a fecalith (a hard mass of feces) or because of a tumor in the area.

How does it feel?

The main thing that people feel when they have appendicitis is abdominal pain. It usually starts near the belly button, and then moves to the lower right side of the belly (but that’s not always the case and it can appear in other places as well). The pain can get worse by moving, sneezing or coughing.

Other things that can be present here are fever, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

Unfortunately, all of these occur in less than half of people, which can sometimes make appendicitis hard to diagnose.

How is it discovered?

When the classic symptoms described above are present, it will be pretty clear to the doctor that this is appendicitis and no further tests need to be done, to save time.

If the doctor suspects appendicitis but is not sure, images of the abdomen using CT scan or an ultrasound may be done.

How is it treated?

The only treatment for appendicitis is surgery, in which the appendix is removed. Also antibiotics are given (since the germs in the appendix cause infection of the area).

What happens after treatment?

When the appendix is taken out on time without any complications, the disease usually goes away with it. However, if it’s not treated on time, the chance of dying from it is higher than 50%.

The bottom line – How do I avoid it?

There is no proven way to prevent appendicitis, but adding more fruit and vegetables to your diet may decrease your risk of having it.

Related posts:

1. Plummer’s Disease – A Small Mass That Causes Lots Of Trouble (As Seen On House MD)
2. Understanding Heart Attacks – Part 2 – Angina Pectoris
3. Understanding Heart Attacks – Part 3 – Myocardial Infarction

Danger level: Medium

What is it?

A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeeze through a weak spot in the body.

Who gets it?

Hernias can be of many types (see ahead), and each type is common in different types of people.

The most common hernia is an inguinal hernia (a hernia in your groin) – It’s more common in men. These can be direct (occurring more in older patients) and indirect (more common in babies and young people. These are much more common than direct hernias).

What causes it?

Like stated above, hernias happen when an inner part of the body protrudes out where it shouldn’t. The most common hernias are those in the groin (where the intestine or bladder protrude through), and, like mentioned above, they can be either direct or indirect:

1. Indirect hernias -  During our development as fetuses, the testicles in boys and ovaries in girls are formed near the kidneys. As the baby develops, they descend through the abdomen. After passing through an opening in the lower abdomen, that opening closes. In about 5% of children, that opening doesn’t close properly (This is more common in boys). This opening potentially allows the contents of the abdomen to travel down into the scrotum in boys or into the labia in girls.
2. Direct hernias – These occur as a result of weakness in the abdominal wall. Since the abdominal wall weakens as we age, this type of hernia is more common in the middle-aged and elderly.

Inguinal hernia – The intestines enter the scrotum.

There are also other, less common, places where hernias can occur:

1. Femoral hernias – These occur at the top of the thigh.
2. Umbilical hernias – In the belly button.
3. Incisional hernia – In a site of a previous abdominal surgery.

There are more types, but they are even less common.

How does it feel?

Hernias can present in one of 3 ways:

1. Asymptomatic – This will just show as a swelling in the area of the hernia. Sometimes an aching sensation can be felt. In these hernias, usually the doctor will be able to push the contents of the hernia back into the abdomen.
2. Incarcerated – These hernias can’t be returned to the abdomen. In these cases, if a part of the intestines is trapped in the hernia and can’t be returned, it might get obstructed, causing nausea and vomiting, among other things.
3. Strangulated hernia – If the intestines in the hernia are obstructed by being stuck in the hernia sac, blood will not flow in that area of the intestine sufficiently. Death of this part of the intestines may happen, which can cause it to rupture.

How is it discovered?

Usually the appearance of the hernia is enough to recognize it. Sometimes an ultrasound or CT scan might be performed.

How is it treated?

The only treatment is surgery. Surgery isn’t always urgent and doesn’t always have to be performed right away. You should consult your doctor, who will advise you on the urgency of the surgery. Remember that in some cases the hernia may become trapped and strangulated, so surgery is important.

What happens after treatment?

If discovered and treated on time, hernias shouldn’t pose any danger.

This movie demonstrates hernias visually:

The bottom line: How do I avoid it?

If the hernia is indirect (the one that happens because of a defect during development) there’s not much you can do about it. On the other hand, you can prevent direct hernias by following these steps:

1. Avoid becoming overweight – The pressure in your abdomen rises when you’re overweight, which can increase the risk of your abdominal contents protruding through a hernia. Diet and exercise should help you maintain a healthy weight.
2. Avoid rapid weight loss – Many crash dieting programs may be lacking in nutrients which are needed for muscle strength. This causes the muscle in the abdomen to become weaker.
3. Stop smoking – Smoking can lead to a chronic cough, which raises the pressure in the abdomen.
4. Avoid constipation and straining – This will also raise the abdominal pressure.
5. When lifting heavy objects, use your legs – If you use the back and not your legs, you’re running the risk of developing an inguinal hernia.

Had a hernia or have any questions about it? Hit us in the comments.

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