Health Tips with 3JC Laboratory

01/01/2021

22/12/2020

Of all your body’s many functions, modern medicine is still confused about one thing: the appendix. It’s possible your appendix fights off some infections, but doctors aren’t quite sure.

We all can survive without the 2-to-4-inch, worm-shaped organ. But if it happens to get infected or bursts — causing appendicitis, it's a serious problem. You’ll need medical attention right away, because it's an emergency case.

Everyone has a low risk roughly 7% for developing appendicitis during their life. However, it’s most common among children, ages 10 to 19. In fact, it’s the most frequent reason for emergency surgery in kids.

Appendicitis isn’t hereditary, and you can’t pass it to others. But there’s nothing you or your doctor can do to prevent it or reduce your risk of getting it.

How to tell if that pain is your appendix?

Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen

Sudden pain that begins around your navel and often shifts to your lower right abdomen

Pain that worsens if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements

Nausea and vomiting

Loss of appetite

Low-grade fever that may worsen as the illness progresses

Constipation or diarrhea

Abdominal bloating

Flatulence.

The site of your pain may vary, depending on your age and the position of your appendix. When you're pregnant, the pain may seem to come from your upper abdomen because your appendix is higher during pregnancy.

Why would your appendix get infected?
The appendix gets infected when there’s a blockage.

Blockages can be caused by:

Inflammation.
Bacteria.
Viruses.
Hardened f***l matter.
Parasites.
Enlarged tissues.
Ulcers.
Abdominal rips or tearing.
Left untreated, an infection can cause your appendix to burst. This can spread the infection and may cause inflammation in the lining of the abdomen.

What symptoms should you watch for?

Fortunately, appendicitis symptoms show up quickly, usually within the first 24 hours. Signs can appear anywhere from 4 to 48 hours after a problem occurs.

Go to the emergency room or call your doctor right away if you notice new or worsening pain in the lower right part of your abdomen (upper right side for pregnant women).

It’s especially important to see a doctor if you also experience:

Fever.
Loss of appetite with nausea or vomiting.
Lack of energy.
Inability to pass gas.
Appendicitis has similar symptoms with some other conditions. So, it’s important to have a doctor determine what’s wrong.

Symptoms can mimic:

Crohn’s disease.
Ulcerative colitis.
Gallbladder problems.
Urinary tract infections.
Pelvic inflammatory disease.
Stomach problems.
Intestinal blockages.

How do doctors diagnose appendicitis?

There’s no blood test to identify appendicitis. A blood sample can show an increase in your white blood cell count, which points to an infection.

Your doctor also may order an abdominal or pelvic CT scan or X-rays. Doctors typically use ultrasound to diagnose appendicitis in children.

What are your treatment options?

Doctors can treat appendicitis in two ways.

In less severe cases, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. However, most appendicitis cases require surgery (an appendectomy) to remove the appendix.

If your appendix hasn’t burst, your doctor may remove it through a small cut in the belly button, a laparoscopy. This procedure works well for people of all ages. Recovery typically takes between two and four weeks.

A ruptured appendix will often require a longer recovery time. The surgeon will clean out any infection that’s spread in the abdomen and this can often be performed through a camera inserted through a small cut in the belly button as well.

The bottom line? Don’t hesitate to seek medical care if you notice potential signs of appendicitis.

“Treatment has the best results if appendicitis is found early.

16/12/2020

Priapism is a prolonged, unwanted er****on of the p***s. It is usually painful and not related to sexual stimulation or arousal. Most clinicians consider priapism a medical emergency because the condition can result in impotence, sexual dysfunction or pe**le infection.

What causes priapism?

A normal er****on occurs in response to sexual stimulation. Priapism occurs in several conditions that interfere with the blood flow to the p***s or blood drainage from the p***s. This condition is unrelated to sexual stimulation and can last for several hours. Below are some of the causes of priapism.

Medical conditions that can cause priapism:

Sickle cell disease (most common reason for priapism)
Leukemia
History of malignancy (cancer)
Trauma as a cause of priapism:
Direct trauma to the p***s, pelvis, or perineum
Spinal cord injuries
Medications (several drugs have priapism as a side effect):
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics
Blood thinners (warfarin [Coumadin] and heparin)
Medications to help with erectile dysfunction (Vi**ra, Cialis, Levitra, Caverject)
Illegal drugs ( co***ne, ecstasy, m**hamphetamine, crystal m**h, cannabis)

What are the symptoms of priapism?

Priapism results in a persistent er****on. Priapism is usually divided into three categories.

Ischemic priapism is the most common category of priapism. Blood is not able to leave the p***s causing the er****on. This painful event is considered an emergency if it lasts for more than 4 hours.

Non-Ischemic (high-flow) priapism is the second category of priapism, and much less common. In this form, too much blood flows into the p***s. The er****on tends to be painless and less rigid then the ischemic form.

Stuttering priapism is the third category of priapism. In stuttering priapism, the er****on occurs repeatedly but is transient in nature.

How is priapism diagnosed?

The diagnosis of priapism is based on history (asking the patient questions) and the physical exam of the genitalia. Once a healthcare professional has finished this part of the exam a few other tests might be ordered.

Measurement of blood gas: By inserting a small needle and removing blood from the p***s the doctor will be able to establish the oxygen content and therefore the type of priapism the patient has.
Blood tests: Measuring white and red blood cells and platelets will help the health care professional determine why the patient might have a priapism.

What are the complications of priapism?

Ischemic priapism can cause significant complications. Due to the lack of oxygen, there can be significant damage if priapism lasts for more than four hours. The complications include erectile dysfunction as well as disfigurement of the p***s.

When to see a healthcare personal.

If a painful er****on lasting for more than 4 hours, we advise you see a doctor immediately as a matter of emergency.

Can priapism be prevented?

Priapism or recurrence of priapism can be prevented by treating the underlying medical cause that resulted in priapism or changing medications that have priapism as their side effects. No medications should be discontinued or changed until you speak with your healthcare provider.

16/12/2020

Not everyone is aware that excess fat can also lead to infertility.

Excessive stomach fat is generally associated with increased amount of fat disposition in the lower abdomen. So this may cause a wide waist circumference and this per say can cause infertility, and it is seen generally in obese people, in people who are over weight, in people with polycystic ovarian disease and people with insulin resistance syndrome. All these people have infertility associated with their condition. So in these people what generally happens is the abdominal fat causes certain hormonal imbalances or it can interfere with the natural hormone system of the body and cause a hormonal imbalance which in turn leads to infertility.

The fat cells produce hormones that can lead to disrupting multiple pathways in the body, leading to oocyte (egg) development problems and other health issues like insulin resistance, inflammation, hypertension, cardiovascular risk, and hypercoagulation (excessive blood clotting).

Therefore it's important that people with excess fat take-up active forms of exercise and reduce their abdominal girth and thereby the abdominal fat.

In summary, for women that are overweight or obese, losing 5-10% of their body fat can improve fertility, reduce the risk for pregnancy complications, as well as reduce complications for the baby's health. While the diet fads may make it seem like it: there is no secret to losing weight. Losing weight requires a diet overhaul . It means significantly reducing sugar, refined carbohydrate intake and processed foods. It also means exercising daily.

One 'trick' for starting new healthy habits is not to think of depriving oneself, or saying 'no' to unhealthy food, but to think of giving to oneself and saying 'yes' to the gift of health.

12/12/2020

We are delighted 😊 to give back to our community. It's our free medical out reach happening right now 💃💃💃 12/12/2020.

A Christmas season medical outreach happening today being the 12th of December 2020 at 3JC DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL LABORATORY.

We are giving back to our society through our free medical outreach holding currently at no 12/14 Eni Njoku street, Ikenegbu layout (behind Austin Graces Multi-specilist Hospital and Maternity) close to ITC park, Owerri Imo State.

We Care about your health status.

Come join us right for free medical services!!!

09/12/2020

Anyone can have high cholesterol – even if you are young, slim, eat well and exercise. That’s because high cholesterol can be caused by different things. It can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, but it can be genetic too.

What is high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of blood fat (lipid). We all need some cholesterol in our blood to stay healthy, but too much can lead to serious health problems in the future, including heart attacks and strokes.

High cholesterol is very common, but most people don't know they have it because it doesn't usually have any symptoms. That's why everyone should have a cholesterol check.

A complete cholesterol test is also called a lipid panel or lipid profile. Your doctor can use it to measure the amount of “good” and “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of fat, in your blood.

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy fat that your body needs to function properly. However, too much cholesterol can lead to:

heart disease

stroke

atherosclerosis, a clogging or hardening of your arteries

Who should get a cholesterol test?

Adults at average risk of developing coronary artery disease should have their cholesterol check beginning at age 18.

More-frequent testing might be needed if your initial test results were abnormal or if you already have coronary artery disease, you're taking cholesterol-lowering medications, or you're at higher risk of coronary artery disease because you:

Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart attacks

Are overweight

Are physically inactive

Have diabetes

Eat an unhealthy diet

Smoke ci******es

Are a man older than 45 or a woman older than 55

People with a history of heart attacks or strokes require regular cholesterol testing to monitor the effectiveness of their treatments.

Children and cholesterol testing

For most children, one cholesterol screening test between the ages of 9 and 11 is recommended, and another cholesterol screening test between the ages of 17 and 21.

If your child has a family history of early-onset coronary artery disease or a personal.

07/12/2020

Losing a pregnancy can be heartbreaking. And unfortunately, miscarriages are fairly common. On average, about 1 in 5 pregnancies will end in a miscarriage — usually in the first trimester.

A miscarriage usually happens in the first 3 months of pregnancy, before 12 weeks' gestation.

Why miscarriage could occur

The most common cause of pregnancy loss is a problem with the chromosomes that would make it impossible for the fetus to develop normally.

Other factors that could contribute to a miscarriage include:

Abnormal hormone levels in the mother, such as thyroid hormone

Uncontrolled diabetes

Exposure to environmental and workplace hazards, such as radiation or toxic agents

Certain infections

Uterine abnormalities

Incompetent cervix, or when the cervix begins to open (dilate) and thin (efface) before the pregnancy has reached term

Certain medications, such as the acne drug Accutane

Certain behaviors also increase the risk of a miscarriage. Smoking, for example, puts ni****ne and other chemicals into the bloodstream, causes the fetus to get less oxygen, and increases the chance of losing a pregnancy. Alcohol and illegal drug use also can lead to miscarriages.

SYMPTOMS OF A MISCARRIAGE

Many women don't even know that they've had a miscarriage (since they hadn’t known they were pregnant), thinking that it's just a particularly heavy menstrual flow.

Some women experience cramping, spotting, heavier bleeding, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, weakness, or back pain. Spotting is often not a sign of a miscarriage; many women experience it early on in pregnancy. But just to be safe, if you have spotting or any of these other symptoms anytime during your pregnancy, talk with your doctor.

Types Of Miscarriage

If you think you may have had a miscarriage, your doctor may use a number of terms to explain what has happened:

If a pregnant woman has bleeding, little or no pain, a closed cervix, and is found to still have a fetus with a heartbeat in her uterus, she may have had a threatened miscarriage. Most pregnancies with early bleeding but with a detectable heartbeat turn out fine.

An inevitable miscarriage is when bleeding and cramping happen during pregnancy, with an open cervix.

An incomplete miscarriage is when a miscarriage has happened, but the body does not expel all the tissue from the pregnancy.

A complete miscarriage is when all of the tissue from the pregnancy is expelled by the body.

If you have miscarried, your doctor may say you have a blighted o**m, which is a miscarriage that has happened so early that no clearly defined fetal tissues have formed.

A missed miscarriage is when the fetus has died or has not developed, but the body does not discharge the fetus or tissues from the pregnancy. Sometimes women with missed miscarriages notice that they no longer "feel pregnant."

STILLBIRTH

A stillbirth, which many experts define as the death of a baby after the 20th week of pregnancy, can happen before delivery or during labor or delivery. It is rare and happens in less than 1% of all births. A stillbirth also is sometimes referred to as intrauterine fetal death or antenatal death.

While there are some known risk factors for stillbirth (such as smoking, obesity, problems with the placenta, a pregnancy lasting longer than 42 weeks, and some infections), there is no way to predict when stillbirth will happen or who will have one, and the cause of many stillbirths remains unknown.

The common sign of a stillbirth is decreased movement in the baby. If you notice your baby moving less than usual, call your doctor immediately.

Your doctor can use an ultrasound to look for the heartbeat or, later in pregnancy, give you an electronic fetal non-stress test. This involves lying on your back with electronic monitors attached to your abdomen. The monitors record the baby's heart rate, movements, and contractions of the uterus.

AFTER A MISCARRIAGE

If you have miscarried, your doctor will do a pelvic exam and an ultrasound to confirm the miscarriage. If the uterus is clear of any fetal tissue, or it is very early in the pregnancy, then there often won't be any more treatment.

But if the uterus still contains the fetus or other tissues from the pregnancy, this will need to be removed. The doctor may give you medicine to help pass the tissue or may need to dilate the cervix to perform a dilation and curettage (D&C), a scraping of the uterine lining, or a dilation and extraction (D&E), a suction of the uterus to remove fetal or placental tissue. You may have bleeding or cramping after these procedures, which are done with anesthesia.

If it is determined that your baby has died later in pregnancy, the doctor might decide to induce labor and delivery. After the delivery, the doctor will have the baby and the placenta examined to help determine the cause of death if it's still unknown.

If you've had several miscarriages, you may want to be evaluated to see if any anatomic, genetic, or hormonal abnormalities are contributing to the miscarriages.

CAN MISCARRIAGES BE PREVENTED?

Although miscarriages usually can't be prevented, you can take precautions to increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy:

Eat a proper diet with plenty of folic acid and calcium

Take prenatal vitamins daily

Exercise regularly after you've gotten your doctor's OK

Maintain a healthy weight (women who are overweight or too thin may be more likely to have miscarriages)

Avoid drugs and alcohol

Avoid contaminated food because could carry listeriosis

Limit caffeine intake

If you smoke, quit

Talk to your doctor about all medications you're currently taking. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, many prescription and over-the-counter medicines should be avoided during pregnancy.

Avoid activities that could cause abdominal trauma.

Avoid stress

Get immunized against communicable diseases and know your family medical and genetic history

Go to all of your scheduled prenatal appointments and discuss any concerns with your doctor

Call your doctor right away if you have fever, feel ill, notice decreased fetal movements, or are having bleeding, spotting, or cramping.

06/12/2020

How healthy are you to enjoy the Christmas season 🥳🥳🥳

Health fitness is a serious issue to attend to for a graceful Christmas celebration.

The Christmas celebration is around the corner. The festive season is full of excitement, increased activities, more visitations, which may lead to increased stress during the season.

The global economic downturn and associated money worries are likely to make this Christmas more stressful than most.

Over the festive season, the combination of excitement, stress, tiredness and alcohol can create unexpected health hazards, especially for those who are not medically fit or have underlying health problems. Sometimes people lose their lives due to the inability of the body to carry the festive pressure. That's why it's advised you know your health status in preparation for the Christmas celebration.

During this festival season, we experience:

People drinking far too much alcohol and eating excessively.

Family issues adding to the stress of Christmas. Not only are there many domestic tasks but also spending concentrated periods of time with family members can increase the risk of conflict.

Many activities and functions to attend to.

Financial expenses etc.

During this Christmas period, we are advised to undergo medical checkup, and to take treatment if needed.

Your health is important, therefore you need to reduce stress, eat healthy, take less alcohol and exercise to make the festive season more enjoyable.

To celebrate Christmas 🎉, we at 3JC Diagnostic Medical Laboratory invites you for her Season's Medical Outreach.
Come for free medical services.

Date:12th of December 2020
Venue: 12/14 Eni Njoku street, Ikenegbu layout, close to ITC park
(Behind Austin Graces Multi-specialist Hospital), Owerri Imo State.
Time: 9am till dusk (All Day)

We care about your health status.
Merry Christmas 🥳💝

For more details check the image below 👇🏽

01/12/2020

Today we mark . A day to show support for people living with HIV, to commemorate those who've died from an AIDS-related illness, and to commit ourselves to ending stigma, ignorance, and the spread of the virus.

01/12/2020

WAKING UP DIZZY IN THE MORNING

Waking up to a spinning room or without normal equilibrium is never a good way to start your day. There are a number of potential causes for waking up feeling dizzy, and many of them can be prevented with some simple lifestyle changes.

What is the cause of dizziness?
Dizziness is not a disorder, but rather a symptom that can be caused by many things. For people who are experiencing dizziness when they wake up, dysfunction in the circulatory system or peripheral vestibular system may be the cause. Some medications can also cause morning dizziness, as can alcohol and recreational drugs. Even dehydration or low blood sugar can make you feel dizzy.

There are several forms of dizziness, including imbalance, lightheadedness, vertigo, and dizziness related to anxiety or fear.

Some common causes of dizziness:

Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the most common reasons why people are dizzy when they wake up. When you’re dehydrated, you actually lose blood volume. This makes your blood pressure drop, resulting in insufficient delivery of oxygenated blood to the brain. This can make you feel dizzy when you are lying down, and the dizziness will worsen when you go from lying down to standing up.

A common factor in dehydration-related dizziness in the morning is alcohol. If you woke up dizzy and nauseous or in a room that was spinning after a night of imbibing, alcohol is a likely culprit.

Low blood sugar

In order to maintain normal function, the brain depends on a sugar called glucose for energy. When you eat, glucose is transported from your digestive system to your blood stream and delivered to the brain. If you skip dinner, you may experience dizziness the next morning because your blood doesn’t have sufficient amounts of glucose to keep your brain working properly. Low blood glucose is also called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that affects blood glucose (sugar) levels. People with diabetes are missing an enzyme that allows glucose to get into the bloodstream, so diabetics have an increased risk for low blood sugar in the morning, which can lead to dizziness and fainting.

Sleep apnea and other obstructive breathing conditions

Anything that interferes with your breathing will reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to your brain, leaving you feeling dizzy or woozy.

Orthostatic hypotension

If your morning dizziness sets in when you first sit up or get out of bed, you may be experiencing orthostatic (or postural) hypotension. This is a condition that is caused by inadequate blood flow to the brain and occurs when people get up too quickly after they have been sitting or lying down. Dizziness or lightheadedness related to orthostatic hypotension lasts for just a second or two, so if your dizziness is persistent, there is probably som**hing else contributing to it.

Medications
Some medications are known to cause dizziness, and you may wake up in the middle of the night or in the morning feeling lightheaded or faint. Blood pressure medications like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium-channel blockers can all cause dizziness. In addition, drug interactions may leave you feeling dizzy.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, is a disorder of the inner ear’s peripheral vestibular system.

When to see a doctor
In most cases, occasionally waking up feeling dizzy is not a serious cause for concern. However, if you are regularly experiencing dizziness or vertigo when you wake up, it is recommended that you make an appointment with your doctor.

If your dizziness is accompanied by any of the following, seek immediate medical treatment:

1. Chest pain
2. Trouble breathing
3. Rapid heart rate
4. Confusion
5. Slurred speech
6. Severe headache
7. Numbness in the face, arms, or legs
8. Double vision
9. Ongoing vomiting