The  Legionnaire’s Disease syndrum

Can be fatal if not treated

It  is an extremely severe form of pneumonia. The cause of Legionnaires’ disease is a bacterium, specifically the bacterium called legionella. This is a disease that is difficult for people to transmit between each other.

Most people come down with this disease by inhaling bacteria out of the air. There are specific groups of people that are more at risk for coming down with this disease. The specific groups of people that are at a high risk for this disease are people that smoke, adults that are older, and people with weakened or damaged immune systems.

Legionella bacterium is also a type of bacterium that can result in a specific type of fever called Pontiac Fever. The Pontiac fever is a milder type of fever that resembles the common flu.

Has been found in commercial air conditioner units and potting mixes with a high level of stagnant moisture.

The good news is that this fever is usually an illness that clears up on its own without serious medical treatment. Most people do not realize that Legionnaires ’ disease can be fatal if it is not treated. The good news is that antibiotics can easily cure the disease, but catching the disease early on is the key to successful treatment.

There are several common symptoms that are related to this unusual disease. In most cases the first symptoms develop anywhere from a couple to fourteen days after taking in legionella bacterium.

Some of the symptoms that you can come down with include headaches, muscle pains, chills, and a fever of over 104 F. By the time you actually have the disease in your system you can also have symptoms of chest pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite. In very severe cases you can even come down with a symptom of mental confusion.

Knowing when to see a doctor can be difficult if you think you have this disease. If you have any of the symptoms you should monitor them extremely closely. If you think you have the disease because of symptoms that you have you should immediately seek medical attention at the doctor’s office.

The key to stopping this disease in its tracks is catching it early in the piece. If you fail to catch this disease early on it will be more difficult to treat. By diagnosing it early you can stop it from spreading to other parts of your body.

If you do come down with the disease you should not panic.

Be aware that it is a disease that is completely treatable so just stay calm and take care of your body!

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 24th August 2009

Lung Cancer is a serious disease?

What do you know about it?

Lung cancer or lung carcinoma results from an abnormality of the cells in the lung. This is the same way that cancers anywhere else in the body work. This abnormal growth is usually called a tumor and a lung tumor can cause serious problems.

The main types of lung cancer are small cell lung carcinoma and non so small cell lung carcinoma.

Knowing the difference is important because lung cancer treatment varies depending on the type.

Causes of Lung Cancer

The body is a complex organism made up of many different cells all working together, Cells are constantly dying, splitting and re-growing but sometimes things go wrong and cancers develop. When this happens in the lungs, it can greatly affect the lung’s ability to function properly.

Lung cancer kills more men and women each year than any other type of cancer. It is made worse by cigarette smoking although many cases of lung cancer exist that are not directly related to smoking. Smoking greatly increases your chances of developing lung cancer, however. If you suspect you may have lung cancer, you should stop smoking immediately.

In addition to smoking, some other causes of lung cancer include passive smoking, or second hand smoke, asbestos exposure, radon gas, air pollution, genetics, heredity, and other lung diseases or conditions. There are different types of lung cancer. If you are already predisposed to getting lung cancer from one of the reasons listed above, it’s very important that you take care of your lungs and learn all that you can about lung health.

If possible, you need to avoid the pollutants that may cause your lung cancer and seek the help of a professional if you think you may already have contracted lung cancer or if you are having breathing problems. In many cases, lung cancer is fatal but it doesn’t have to be for you. The sooner you seek treatment, the better your chances of recovery will be.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

While some 25% of people with lung cancer have no symptoms at all, there are many who will begin to notice some of the early signs and symptoms. Talk to your doctor immediately if you

• cough up blood,
• have persistent and frequent cough,
• wheezing or shortness of breath,
• chest pain or tightening when breathing,
• unexplained weight loss and fatigue,

You are also at risk if you have previously been diagnosed with a lung previous lung cancers or abnormal growths like lung nodules.

What Is a Lung Nodule?

A lung nodule is a small abnormality in the lung. It is also known as a pulmonary nodule that can be seen on a chest x-ray if it is larger than one centimeter.

Most lung nodules, which are sometimes called “lung spots” are noncancerous or benign lesions. Nonetheless, anyone diagnosed with a lung nodule should investigate it further because it may actually be an early stage of lung cancer. It might also be an indication that cancer is present and is spreading (also called metastasizing) from another part of the body to the affected lung.

A needle biopsy, which is also known as a needle aspiration, may be necessary to determine if a lung nodule is cancerous or benign. A biopsy involves removing some cells from a suspicious area within the body and examining them under a microscope to determine a diagnosis.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 214th AUgust 2009