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Iron Deficiency Anemia Treatment

As stated in my previous post about anemia, Anemia is common condition that affected population, especially in developing countries. The commonest cause of anemia is iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency anemia can be caused by: low intake of iron or excessive loss of iron. Low Intake of Iron means that dietary iron is insufficient related to demand, thus impacts the blood formation. Increased demand of iron can be found in conditions such as during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and growing children. Therefore, iron intake should be increased to fulfill iron demand. Another condition that often correlates with low iron intake is vegetarian. Even, iron also can be found in green leaf vegetables, but iron absorption from vegetable is lower or more difficult than from meat or animal sources.

Iron Deficiency anemia

Iron metabolism in our body is very effective, iron is being recycle to prevent depleted iron storage. But, some pathological conditions especially bleeding whether from menstruation, bleeding piles, gastric ulcer, etc. lead to loss of iron. The more chronic and severe that pathological conditions, the more iron is lost.

Iron deficiency not only effects blood formation but also in cognitive development, endocrine function, and immune system. Based on WHO publications about iron deficiency, iron deficiency can impair cognitive performance at all stages of life. These children will have delayed psychomotor development, and when they reach school age they will have impaired performance in tests of language skills, motor skills, and coordination, equivalent to a 5 to 10 point deficit in IQ.

Iron supplementation and milk or cereal fortification among deficient children
has been reported to reduce morbidity from infectious disease. Iron deficiency alters the production of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroid function in general, and the production and metabolism of catecholamines and other neurotransmitters. This results in impaired temperature response to a cold environment.

Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Prior to treat the anemia, someone have to be evaluated about the cause of iron deficiency. Then the management of iron deficiency can be divided into two:
1. Increasing Iron Intake
There are several ways in order to increase iron intake, such as using iron fortifier food, promoting diversified food, and taking iron supplementation.
Another way is by avoiding iron absorption inhibitors while consuming high iron content food, such as tea, coffee, and milk. And promoting the usage of iron enhancer such Vitamin C, to help iron absorption.
High Iron contained Foods

2. Stop or Control Abnormal Bleeding
Identify the bleeding source is important in order to minimized iron lost. Heavy periods, bleeding piles, gastric ulcer, etc. have to be consulted to the experts.

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Iron Deficiency Anemia

Anemia is common condition that affected people, especially in less developed countries. An estimated about 10-30% children in preschool age are anemia in developed countries, and the number raised in developing countries up to more than 50%. And the problem not only affects children, teenagers, but also adults especially pregnant women.

There are a lot of cause of anemia. It can be acquired or congenital. But, the most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is the latest form of iron deficiency, thus has already impact the red blood cell formation in bone marrow.

Iron deficiency
Iron deficiency anemia brings a lot of consequences that maybe often overlooked. Iron deficiency adversely affects:
*  the cognitive performance, behaviour, and physical growth of infants, preschool and school-aged children;
*  the immune status and morbidity from infections of all age groups;
* the use of energy sources by muscles and thus the physical capacity and work performance of adolescents and adults of all age groups.

Specifically, iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy increases perinatal risks for mothers and neonates and  increases overall infant mortality.

According to the research in China; compared with non-anaemic women, anaemic female workers were 15% less efficient in performing their work. They spent 6% less energy on their out-of-work activities, had 4% lower maximal work capacity, and had 12% lower overall productivity, as compared to levels achieved after anaemia was corrected by iron treatment for 4 months.
Anemic Blood Smear

Which those effects often overlooked and cause a greater consequences in regional or national scale as economic implications. The economic implications of such conditions include:
* the costs incurred by the public and private sectors in therapeutic measures for the prevalent level of anaemia;
* the societal consequences of increased maternal mortality and resultant restraints on productivity;
* the long-term projected negative consequences of impaired mental development on human capital formation.

Anemia Sign and Symptoms
Anemia is condition where the quantity or quality of red blood cell is decreased. Red Blood Cell has main function as oxygen delivery or transport to the tissues. Thus symptoms in anemia mostly related to lack of oxygen, but it depends on severity and duration of anemia. It can also make almost any other underlying medical condition worse. If anemia is mild, it may not cause any symptoms. If anemia is slowly ongoing (chronic), the body may adapt and compensate for the change; in this case there may not be any symptoms until the anemia becomes more severe.

Symptoms of anemia may include the following:
* Fatigue
* decreased energy
* weakness
* shortness of breath
* lightheadedness
* palpitations (feeling of the heart racing or beating irregularly)
* looking pale
* fainting or passing out

How to Diagnose
Anemia is the condition, not the disease itself. It can be cause by a lot of diseases. In order to establish the diagnosis; there are some procedures that should be done. Form, history taking and physical examination to exclude some diseases, then laboratory examinations to measure blood content, such as Hemoglobin, RBC, Iron level, etc.

The treatment of anemia depends on the underlying disease that causes anemia and the severity of the anemia.
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Retinal Implant: Give Light for Blind

Blindness is inability to see, or lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors. In the context of eye disease, total blindness is same as death, since it means the eye doesn't have any function as sense organ.

Blindness is frequently used to describe severe visual impairment with residual vision. Those described as having only light perception have no more sight than the ability to tell light from dark and the general direction of a light source.

There are lot of causes for blindness, some are reversible, while others are irreversible. Most of irreversible cases are related to retinal problems, such Age-related Macular Degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Diabetic Retinopathy, etc.

Scientists have already seen this retinal blindness as a problem to solve. To help people to have light or vision. With recent technologies and knowledges, we are entering the era of tissue replacement either with sophisticated tools or new engineered tissues.

Retinal Implant
This is a new technology, that have been researched for quite long period. In sense organ, cochlear implant or other hearing aids for patient have been introduced already. But, retinal implant still in development.

German doctors announced a breakthrough in retinal implants, the fledgling technology that aims to restore sight in people cursed by a form of inherited blindness.
Sub-Retinal Implant

Over the past seven years, Ocular surgeons have pioneered electronic implants that are attached to the retina and are linked by wire to a small external camera that is mounted to a pair of spectacles. The camera picks up light and sends the image in the form of an electrical signal, via a processor unit, to the implant. The implant then feeds the data to the optic nerve which leads from the eyeball to the brain.

Latest innovation is subretinal device, a kind of implant that takes a step forward by capturing light that travels naturally through the eye's lens. Correctly known as a sub-retinal implant, it entails a microchip comprising some 1,500 light sensors that are attached underneath the retina, thus replacing some of the lost receptors.

What the brain receives through the optic nerve is a tiny image comprising 38 pixels by 40 pixels -- points of light that are each brighter or dimmer according to the light that falls on the chip. Three patients fitted with the new device were able to see shapes and objects, and one was able to walk around a room by himself, approach people, read a clock face and distinguish between seven shades of gray.

It could eventually revolutionize the lives of up to 200,000 people worldwide who suffer from blindness as a result of retinitis pigmentosa. Retinitis pigmentosa is a degenerative disease in which light receptors in the retina, on the back of the eyeball, gradually cease to function.

A subretinal implant -- sits underneath the retina, directly replacing light receptors lost in retinal degeneration. It uses the eyes' natural image processing capabilities beyond the light detection stage to produce a visual perception in the patient that is stable and follows their eye movements. Other types of retinal implants -- known as epiretinal implants -- sit outside the retina and because they bypass the intact light-sensitive structures in the eyes they require the user to wear an external camera and processor unit.

Current situation
Clinical reports to date have demonstrated mixed success, with all patients report at least some sensation of light from the electrodes, and a smaller proportion gaining more detailed visual function, such as identifying patterns of light and dark areas.
The Era of Robotic Eye

The clinical reports indicate that retinal implants are potentially useful in providing crude vision to individuals who otherwise would not have any visual sensation. It remains unclear whether the low level vision provided by current retinal implants is sufficient to balance the risks associated with the surgical procedure, especially for subjects with intact peripheral vision.

Other aspects of retinal implants need to be addressed in future research, including the long term stability of the implants and the possibility of retinal neuron plasticity in response to prolonged stimulation.
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Exercises During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a crucial moment in women's life. During pregnancy, women are having dramatically physiological changes and psychological changes. Physically, a woman is preparing to have a baby, and also giving a life to a fetus inside her womb. Those changes impact women physically, thus proper adaptation is needed. Also those naturally occurring changes are not permanent, and the benefits of regular exercise are many.

Aerobic activity during pregnancy
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Hordeolum, A common eye problem

What is hordeolum (stye)?
A hordeolum is an infection of eyelid, this disease is quite common in community. It is an acute focal infection (usually staphylococcal) involving either the glands of Zeis (external hordeola, or styes) or, less frequently, the meibomian glands (internal hordeola).

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An Overview of Hepatitis A

Hepatitis is an inflammation of liver that can be caused by several agents such as virus, alcohol, drugs, etc. Inflammation of liver leads to organ dysfunction that manifests as elevated liver enzyme and byproducts such as bilirubin. Elevated bilirubin levels in blood causes jaundice.

The most common cause of jaundice epidemic or outbreak in community is Hepatitis A. Hepatitis is caused by Hepatitis A virus. This disease commonly found in developing countries and overcrowded places, especially with bad hygiene and sanitation. Annual incidence in US is about 150,000-200,000 cases. The amount of cases has decreased since the introduction of hepatitis A vaccine. Eventhough hepatitis often associated with outbreak, hepatitis A is self limited and rarely cause serious liver disease. Another good news is this disease associated with long-term immunity


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Electronic Cigarette Secret

Since the news of harmful effects of tobacco smoke hit the public around the middle of the 20th century the tobacco industry and others have been looking for a “healthy” alternative. Intensive campaigns against tobacco by health officers, raise people concern about health.

Risk factors in developing certain kinds of lung cancer and vascular disease, including strokes and heart attacks increase in people who consume tobacco products. Some cigarette companies marketed light, low tar, and filtered cigarettes with the claim, direct or implied, that they were a more healthful alternative to regular cigarettes. However, there has never been convincing evidence that such cigarettes are less of a health risk


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Hydroquinone as Whitening Agent, A Review

Skin whitening is a term used for lightening the complexion of the skin through artificial means like creams, lotions, soaps and injections. East society tend to look white skin as the beautiful, sexy, cute, etc., compare to the west that darker skin color far more better. That's why in west society, people are more concern about skin tanning, while in east is about skin whitening.

How does skin get pigmen?
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Sunbathing Benefits and Risks

"Summer is coming. It is the time to go to the beach." Previous sentences, has become certain habits in western societies, especially in 4 seasons countries. Sunshine not only makes everything look better, it makes us feel good. But, sunshine may also makes everything become worse.

Skin tanning, become so popular in 4 seasons countries, the darker skin during summer is more sexy and attractive. But some people don't tanning of the skin, they get skin burn. With the decreasing of ozone layer in atmosphere, UV rays are intensified, thus the possibility of skin cancers increase


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Stimulate our Brain with Music

Music and language are around us, we often hear it. But, only few people know that music or language is good for our brain. Our brain is unique, it has a lot of potency that could be optimized in many ways. One of them is through music. According to some experts, some types of auditory stimulation can have a positive impact on accelerated learning while other types can have a destructive influence.

Classical music has been shown to accelerate fetus brain growth, if being heard during pregnancy. So, even early form of human (fetus) inside mother's womb could get benefit from music


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