Category: Seniors

Acute Bronchitis

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What is acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is inflammation of your bronchial tree. The bronchial tree consists of tubes that carry air into your lungs. When these tubes get infected, they swell and mucus (thick fluid) forms inside them. This makes it hard for you to breathe.

Acute bronchitis only lasts a short time (several weeks or less). Chronic bronchitis is long lasting and can reoccur. It usually is caused by constant irritation, such as from smoking.

Symptoms of acute bronchitis
The symptoms of acute bronchitis can include:

sore throat
fever
cough that brings up clear, yellow, or green mucus
chest congestion
shortness of breath
wheezing
chills
body aches.
Your cough can last for several weeks or months. This happens because the bronchial tree takes a while to heal. A lasting cough may signal another problem, such as asthma or pneumonia.

What causes acute bronchitis?
Viruses most often cause acute bronchitis. They attack the lining of the bronchial tree and cause inflammation. The same viruses that cause colds can cause acute bronchitis. You can catch a virus from breathing it in or skin contact. As your body fights these viruses, swelling occurs and mucus is produced. It takes time for your body to kill the viruses and heal damage to your bronchial tubes.

Lesser-known causes are bacteria or fungal infections. Exposure to irritants, such as smoke, dust, or fumes, also can cause acute bronchitis. You are at greater risk if your bronchial tree already has damage. If you have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), also known as heartburn, you can get acute bronchitis when stomach acid gets into the bronchial tree.

How is acute bronchitis diagnosed?
Your doctor can confirm acute bronchitis. They will do a physical exam and review your symptoms. They might order an X-ray to rule out pneumonia.

Can acute bronchitis be prevented or avoided?
You can help prevent acute bronchitis by staying healthy and avoiding germs. Wash your hands often to kill any viruses. If you smoke, the best defense against acute bronchitis is to quit. Smoking damages your bronchial tree and puts you at risk for infection. Smoking also slows down the healing process.

Acute bronchitis treatment
Most cases of acute bronchitis can be treated at home.

Drink fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Get plenty of rest.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce inflammation, ease pain, and lower your fever. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) also helps ease pain and lower your fever.
Use cough medicine, if your child is age 6 or older.
Increase the humidity in your home or use a humidifier.
Do not hold in a cough that brings up mucus. This type of cough helps clear mucus from your bronchial tree. If you smoke, you should quit. It will help your bronchial tree heal faster.

Antibiotics do not help treat viruses. They can help treat cases caused by bacterial infections. Some people who have acute bronchitis need medicine that treats asthma. You might need this if you are wheezing. It can help open your bronchial tubes and clear out mucus. You usually take it with an inhaler. An inhaler sprays medicine right into your bronchial tree. Your doctor will decide if this treatment is right for you.

Living with acute bronchitis
Most cases of acute bronchitis go away on their own. You should call your doctor if:

You continue to wheeze and cough for more than 2 weeks, especially at night when you lie down or when you are active.
You continue to cough for more than 2 weeks and have a bad-tasting fluid come up into your mouth. This may mean you have GERD. This is a condition in which stomach acid gets into your esophagus.
Your cough produces blood, you feel weak, you have an ongoing high fever, and you are short of breath. These symptoms may mean you have pneumonia.
Questions to ask your doctor
What is causing my acute bronchitis?
Are there over-the-counter medicines or prescriptions that can help relieve my symptoms?
Am I contagious?
Am I at risk for getting pneumonia or other lung infections?
What should I do if my couth doesn’t respond to treatment or gets worse?
Resources
American Lung Association, Acute Bronchitis

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

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What is abnormal uterine bleeding?
Abnormal uterine bleeding is any heavy or unusual bleeding from the uterus (through your vagina). It can occur at any time during your monthly cycle, including during your normal menstrual period.

Symptoms of abnormal uterine bleeding
Vaginal bleeding between periods is one symptom of abnormal uterine bleeding. Having extremely heavy bleeding during your period can also be considered abnormal uterine bleeding. Very heavy bleeding during a period and/or bleeding that lasts more than 7 days is called menorrhagia. For example, women may bleed enough to soak through 1 or more tampons or sanitary pads every hour.

What causes abnormal uterine bleeding?
A variety of things can cause abnormal uterine bleeding. Pregnancy is a common cause. Polyps or fibroids (small and large growths) in the uterus can also cause bleeding. Rarely, a thyroid problem, infection of the cervix, or cancer of the uterus can cause abnormal uterine bleeding.

In most women, abnormal uterine bleeding is caused by a hormone imbalance. When hormones are the problem, doctors call the problem dysfunctional uterine bleeding, or DUB. Abnormal bleeding caused by hormone imbalance is more common in teenagers or in women who are approaching menopause.

These are just a few of the problems that can cause abnormal uterine bleeding. These problems can occur at any age, but the likely cause of abnormal uterine bleeding usually depends on your age.

Women in their teens, 20s, and 30s

A common cause of abnormal bleeding in young women and teenagers is pregnancy. Many women have abnormal bleeding in the first few months of a normal pregnancy. Some birth control pills or the intrauterine device (IUD) can also cause abnormal bleeding.

Some young women who have abnormal uterine bleeding do not release an egg from their ovaries (called ovulation) during their menstrual cycle. This is common for teenagers who have just started getting their periods. This causes a hormone imbalance where the estrogen in your body makes the lining of your uterus (called the endometrium) grow until it gets too thick. When your body gets rid of this lining during your period, the bleeding will be very heavy. A hormone imbalance may also cause your body not to know when to shed the lining. This can cause irregular bleeding (“spotting”) between your periods.

Women in their 40s and early 50s

In the years before menopause and when menopause begins, women have months when they don’t ovulate. This can cause abnormal uterine bleeding, including heavy periods and lighter, irregular bleeding.

Thickening of the lining of the uterus is another cause of bleeding in women in their 40s and 50s. This thickening can be a warning of uterine cancer. If you have abnormal uterine bleeding and you’re in this age group, you need to tell your doctor about it. It may be a normal part of getting older, but it’s important to make sure uterine cancer isn’t the cause.

Women after menopause

Hormone replacement therapy is a common cause of uterine bleeding after menopause. Other causes include endometrial and uterine cancer. These cancers are more common in older women than in younger women. But cancer is not always the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding. Many other problems can cause bleeding after menopause. For this reason, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you have any bleeding after menopause.

How is abnormal uterine bleeding diagnosed?
The tests your doctor orders may depend on your age. If you could be pregnant, your doctor may order a pregnancy test. If your bleeding is heavy, in addition to other tests, your doctor may want to check your blood count to make sure you don’t have a low blood count from the blood loss. This could lead to iron deficiency and anemia.

An ultrasound exam of your pelvic area shows both the uterus and the ovaries. It may also show the cause of your bleeding.

Your doctor may want to do an endometrial biopsy. This is a test of the uterine lining. It’s done by putting a thin plastic tube (called a catheter) into your uterus. Your doctor will use the catheter to remove a tiny piece of the uterine lining. He or she will send that lining to the lab for testing. The test will show if you have cancer or a change in the cells. A biopsy can be done in the doctor’s office and causes only mild pain.

Another test is a hysteroscopy. A thin tube with a tiny camera in it is put into your uterus. The camera lets your doctor see the inside of your uterus. If anything abnormal shows up, your doctor can get a biopsy.

Can abnormal uterine bleeding be prevented or avoided?
If your abnormal uterine bleeding is caused by hormonal changes, you will not be able to prevent it. But if your hormonal changes are caused by being overweight, losing weight could help. Your weight affects your hormone production. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent abnormal uterine bleeding.

Abnormal uterine bleeding treatment
There are several treatment options for abnormal bleeding. Your treatment will depend on the cause of your bleeding, your age, and whether you want to get pregnant in the future. Your doctor will help you decide which treatment is right for you. Or, if your doctor decides that a hormone imbalance is causing your abnormal bleeding, you and your doctor may decide to wait and see if the bleeding improves on its own. Some treatment options include the following:

Intrauterine device (IUD). Your doctor may suggest an IUD. An IUD is a small, plastic device that your doctor inserts into your uterus through your vagina to prevent pregnancy. One type of IUD releases hormones, and this type can significantly reduce abnormal bleeding. Like birth control pills, sometimes IUDs can actually cause abnormal bleeding. Tell your doctor if this happens to you.

Birth control pills. Birth control pills contain hormones that can stop the lining of your uterus from getting too thick. They also can help keep your menstrual cycle regular and reduce cramping. Some types of birth control pills, especially the progestin-only pill (also called the “mini-pill”) can actually cause abnormal bleeding for some women. Let your doctor know if the pill you’re taking doesn’t control your abnormal bleeding.

A D&C, or dilatation and curettage. A D&C is a procedure in which the opening of your cervix is stretched just enough so a surgical tool can be put into your uterus. Your doctor uses this tool to scrape away the lining of your uterus. The removed lining is checked in a lab for abnormal tissue. A D&C is done under general anesthesia (while you’re in a sleep-like state).

If you’re having heavy bleeding, your doctor may perform a D&C both to find out the problem and to treat the bleeding. The D&C itself often makes heavy bleeding stop. Your doctor will decide if this procedure is necessary.

Hysterectomy. This type of surgery removes the uterus. If you have a hysterectomy, you won’t have any more periods and you won’t be able to get pregnant. Hysterectomy is major surgery that requires general anesthesia and a hospital stay. It may require a long recovery period. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of hysterectomy.

Endometrial ablation is a surgical procedure that destroys the lining of the uterus. Unlike a hysterectomy, it does not remove the uterus. Endometrial ablation may stop all menstrual bleeding in some women. However, some women still have light menstrual bleeding or spotting after endometrial ablation. A few women have regular menstrual periods after the procedure. Women who have endometrial ablation still need to use some form of birth control even though, in most cases, pregnancy is not likely after the procedure.

Your doctor can do endometrial ablation in several different ways. Newer endometrial ablation techniques do not require general anesthesia or a hospital stay. The recovery time after this procedure is shorter than recovery time after a hysterectomy.

Living with abnormal uterine bleeding
Abnormal uterine bleeding can impact your life in a negative way. Not being able to predict when bleeding will begin can cause you to be anxious all the time. Also, heavy menstrual bleeding may limit your daily activities during your period. For some women, it even prevents them from leaving the house.

If you have heavy menstrual bleeding, try taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) during your period (or a few days before you expect your period, if you know). Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs can work to reduce the bleeding during your period.

You also should make sure that you are getting enough iron in your diet. Your doctor may prescribe an iron supplement to ensure that you don’t become anemic.

Questions to ask your doctor
What is the likely cause of my abnormal uterine bleeding?
Is my condition serious? Am I at risk for any other health problems?
Based on the cause, what treatment options do you recommend?
What are the risks and benefits of this treatment?
Will the treatment affect my chances of getting pregnant in the future?
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Vaginal Bleeding, Hormonal

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

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What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
The main blood vessel in your body is the aorta. It is a long blood vessel that reaches from your chest into your abdomen. It carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The part of the aorta in your abdomen is called the abdominal aorta. It supplies blood to your stomach, pelvis, and legs.

Sometimes an area of a blood vessel wall will get weak. It can start to swell like a balloon and become abnormally large. This is called an aneurysm. If an aneurysm forms in your abdominal aorta and grows too large, your aorta could tear or burst.

Symptoms of an AAA
As the aneurysm develops, there are usually no symptoms. This can go on slowly for years. Often, AAAs don’t cause symptoms unless they leak, tear, or rupture. If this happens, you may experience:

sudden pain in your abdomen, groin, back, legs, or buttocks
nausea and vomiting
abnormal stiffness in your abdominal muscles
problems with urination or bowel movements
clammy, sweaty skin.
If you have these symptoms, call your doctor. Internal bleeding from a ruptured AAA can put you into shock. Shock can be fatal if not treated right away.

What causes an AAA?
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes an AAA. Weaker aorta walls increase your chance of developing an aneurysm. There are many conditions that can weaken the walls of the aorta. These include aging, smoking, and high blood pressure. If any of the following factors apply to you, you are at higher risk of having an AAA.

Being male. Men are more likely than women to develop an AAA.
Age. AAAs are more common in people age 65 or older.
Personal history. If you have had aneurysms of any kind, you are at greater risk of an AAA.
Smoking. Smoking damages and weakens the aorta walls.
High blood pressure. Having high blood pressure weakens the walls of your aorta.
Family history. If any family members have had AAAs, you are at higher risk. You also could get an AAA before you are 65.
Talk to your doctor if you have a higher risk for an AAA, or if you have any of the symptoms.

How is an AAA diagnosed?
Doctors commonly find AAAs by chance during a routine exam. They also find them when doing tests for other issues, including unrelated pain in your abdomen. Doctors recommend an AAA screening for men age 65 to 75 who have ever smoked.

If your doctor finds or thinks you have an AAA, he or she may order tests. Common tests include:

Ultrasound or echocardiogram – These use sound waves to create pictures of the inside of your body.

Computed tomography (CT) scan – The doctor uses X-rays to take pictures of your organs. Dye is injected into your veins so he or she can see them clearly.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – This test uses magnets and radio waves to create pictures of your organs.

Angiography – This test uses dye and X-rays to look at the inside of your arteries. This can help your doctor see how much damage or blockage there is in your blood vessels.

If your doctor finds or thinks you might have an AAA, he or she might refer to you a specialist for treatment.

Can an AAA be prevented or avoided?
You can’t always prevent an AAA from forming. But there are steps you can take to lower your risk. These include:

Don’t smoke, or try to quit, if you are a smoker.
Eat a healthy diet.
Be physically active.
Manage conditions such as high blood pressure that can be controlled with medicine.
AAA treatment
Treatment for an AAA depends on its size. If your aneurysm is small, it might not need to be treated. Your doctor may just monitor it using routine testing. If your doctor is concerned about it, he or she may prescribe medicine. These can be used to lower blood pressure or relax blood vessels. This can help prevent the AAA from rupturing.

If your aneurysm is large or is growing quickly, you will most likely need surgery. There are 2 main kinds of surgery to remove or repair AAAs:

Open abdominal surgery – This is the most common form of surgery for an AAA. The surgeon will make an incision (cut) in your abdomen. He or she will remove the aneurysm. The removed section of the aorta is replaced with a graft made of man-made material.

Endovascular repair – In this procedure, the doctor inserts a graft into the aorta to strengthen it. He or she will insert a catheter (tube) into your artery through your leg. The graft will be threaded through the aneurysm and expanded. This will reinforce the weak section of the aorta and allow blood to flow normally. This helps keep the AAA from rupturing.

The type of surgery you have depends on many factors. Talk to your doctor about which kind is best for you.

Living with an AAA
If you have an AAA, it is important to get regular medical care. Listen to your doctor and follow your treatment plan. He or she may advise you to avoid lifting heavy objects. Try to avoid highly emotional situations or crises that could raise your blood pressure. Take care of yourself to prevent the aneurysm from bursting or tearing.

Questions to ask your doctor
If I’ve had one AAA, am I likely to experience another?
Are there any lifestyle changes I can make to avoid getting another AAA?
Is watchful waiting safe? Is there a chance the AAA could burst?
Are there any side effects from an AAA that I should be watching for?
What should I do if my pain gets worse?
Should I visit a specialist?
Are there any websites you recommend where I can learn more about AAAs?
Resources
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Aneurysm

U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aortic Aneurysm