Hypochondriasis

~ is characterised by fears that minor bodily symptoms may indicate a serious illness .
~ constantly examines himself and self diagnosis becomes a pre-occupation .
~ doubt and disbelief in the doctor's diagnosis .
~ is unconvinced when the doctor tells him he does not have a serious condition .

Stretch Mark

~ occurs when the deeper layer of skin ( dermis) is stretched rapidly beyond its elasticity point and begins to rupture .
~ with progressive stretching , the outer layer of skin ( epidermis ) is also thinned out .
~ the epidermis has little or no elastic tissue , it is less tolerant to stretching .
~ the thinned epidermis becomes almost translucent so its colour lightens .
~ inflammation and injury in the dermis causes both microscopic bleeding points and new vessel formation .
~ this is why new stretch marks may look reddish or purplish .
~ the injury of stretching heal with time , and the inflammation reduces .
~ the red / purple discolouration fades over a period of weeks to months and the overlying skin changes its characteristics to become more like a scar, which is a few tones lighter than surrounding skin.
~the prevention of stretch marks is to ensure that the skin maintains it maximum elasticity-by keeping skin well hydrated and supple at all time.

Amnesia

~ is defined as a profound memory loss that is usually caused by an injury to the brain .
~ 2 main types of amnesia :

1.Anterograde amnesia
~ cannot remember recent information ( crash ) short term memory goes away , is usually caused by damage to the hippocampus fornix , and mamillary bodies ~ the areas of the brain that form new memories . But you will remember event so long ago .

2.Retrograde amnesia
~ it is the opposite of anterograde amnesia . can remember the crash ( or any trauma ) clearly , but not the events before it . usually lose all memory of the events just before the crash . but the long term memory ( name and where you work ) is likely to be safe . is usually caused by damage to the areas of your brain used in storing old memories , ( temporal lobes and hippocampus )

~ in rare cases , both anterograde and retrograde amnesia can exist in the same patient .
~ it is very difficult to recover lost memories for retrograde amnesia .

Myasthenia Gravis ( MG )

~ a rare neurological condition .
~ a disease that occurs when there is signal failure between the nerve endings and the muscle .
~ the muscle needs a signal from the nerve for it to move one's limb .
~ normally , the nerve endings release a substance called acetylcholine , which binds to the muscle tissue at the nerve - muscle junction , causing the muscle to contract .
~ MG happens when the body produces antibodies that block the binding of acetylcholine.
~It is an auto-immune disease.
~Early diagnosis can prevent many of the more serious symptoms.
~Is a treatable disease, can go into remission if well treated.
~must be treated by a neurologist.
~MG affect any muscle.
~symptoms:
:~drooping of one or both eye lids.
:~blurred or double vision.
:~problems getting up from a chair or going up stairs.
:~weakness in arms, hands, fingers, legs and neck.
:~change in facial expression.
:~having a hard time swallowing.
:~shortness of breath.
~long-term control is by oral medications.
~many patients may require surgical intervention.
~steroids work to help stabilize a patient's condition.
~common side effects of steroids~weight gain, easy bruising, higher risk of osteoporosis, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension.

Myasthenic Crisis
~occurs when weakness affects the muscles that control breathing ( shortness of breath ).
~pain in the chest after attacks ( may developed a phobia ).
~need oxygen mask.

Thymectomy
~is the surgical removal of the thymus gland which is typically abnormal in MG.

Oedema

~ Is a condition that causes too much fluid to accumulate in the body .
~ It is kidney's job to eliminate excess fluids from the body in the urine .
~ If fail to eliminate excess fluids properly then fluid can soon build up in the tissue and result in swelling .

• Risk factor

~ Prolonged periods spent sitting or standing ( the pressure of fluid in the legs from doing either pushes it into the surrounding tissue )
~ High blood pressure ( abnormal pressure in the blood capillaries can result in the abnormal exchange of fluids to and from the tissues )
~ Heart failure ( when the heart can't pump blood round fast enough to clear fluid from the tissue)
~ Kidney problems ( cause large amounts of protein to be lost in the urine and cause fluid to be accumulate in the tissue )
~ Diagnosed with oedema may prescribe diuretic drugs that stimulate the kidneys to increase urinary water output .
~ Side effects :

1. Low blood pressure
2. Dizziness
   
3. Tinnitus
4. Impotence
5. Stomach upset
6. Nausea

• To ward off oedema

~ Put the feet up
~ Wearing support stockings
~ Cut down on the amount of salt
~ Eat more potassium - rich foods ( excrete water) (leafy green vegetables , citrus fruits , sunflower seeds)
~ Add fresh parsley ( cleanse the blood and stimulates the movement of toxins through the kidneys)
~ Celery ( excrete a diuretic action)
~ Drink plenty of water - 2 litres a day
~ Avoid tea and coffee ( dehydrating effect and cause fluid retention)

Burn

• First degree burn

~ Limited to the outer layer of the skin , causing it to be dry , red and painful , but without blistering .

• Second degree or partial thickness burn

~ More serious , and involves blistering of the skin .
~ Is painful and unlike a first degree burn , the affected skin will likely appear to be moist .

• Third degree burn

~ Also known as a full thickness burn .
~ Is when all of the skin layers have been penetrated and the burned area will be white , charred , firm and leathery .
~ Nerve endings are destroyed .
~ Victim may not feel pain in the burned area .
~ There are also deeper degree burns , which extend down to muscle and or bone .

~ if a burn is not treated carefully , can lead to infections or difiguration .
~ minor burns , soaked the area in the cold water .
~ symptoms will subside within a few hours , some persist for several days .
~ do not put ice , butter or any ointments on the burn .
~ do not break any blister that have formed .
~ home remedy skin soother ( butter ) on a burn can actually slow healing .

~ clean the area with plain soap and water and patted dry .
~ apply an antibacterial ointment .
~ place a sterile dressing ( non - stick gauze ) over the burned area before a gauze roll is wrapped around it .
~ cover it completely with a sterile , dry bandage if the wound 's small enough .
~ many burns cases need to undergo cleaning and debridement , which involves removing devitalised tissue around the wound .
~ after debridement , an antimicrobial ointment ( silvadene ) is applied to the burned area . It is covered with a gauze dressing .
~ see a burn specialist if a burn is not healing within two weeks or becomes infected developing redness and a discharge .
~ serious burns that cover a large area of the body , cover the burns with a clean dry sheet until professional help is available .
~ burn that covers more than 10 % of the total body surface area ( TBSA ) is considered to be a critical burn , except for first degree burns .
~ palm size ( not including fingers ) is roughly 1 % of TBSA .

Stroke Symptoms

~ seek medical help immediately when stroke symptoms occur.
~ stroke symptoms include :-
~sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis of your face, arm or leg-usually on one side of the body
~sudden difficulty speaking or understanding speech (aphasia)
~sudden blurred, double or decreased vision.
~sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.
~a sudden, severe "bolt out of the blue" headache or an unusual headache, which may be accompanied by a stiff neck, facial pain, pain between your eyes, vomiting or altered consciousness
~confusion or problems with memory, spatial orientation or perception.