Posts Tagged ‘Factor’

Rh Factor

January 28th, 2010 admin

What is Rh factor?
Every person’s blood is one of four major types. A, B, AB, or O. Blood types are determined by the types of antigens on the blood cells.

Rh describes the factor that is found on the red blood cells of most people. People with the Rh factor are Rh positive, those who do not have the factor are Rh negative. Approximately 85% of the United States population is Rh positive and about 15% is Rh negative. The type we are is determined by our parents just like eye color. The Rh factor does not affect a person’s general health. Rh factor can be determined by a simple blood test which only requires a finger stick.

When is Rh important?
Rh is important when donating blood or receiving a blood transfusion and during pregnancy. Rh negative blood donors are always in demand because Rh negative patients need Rh negative blood. Rh positive patients can receive blood from either Rh positive or Rh negative donors. In pregnancy, Rh is especially important when an Rh negative woman carries an Rh positive fetus.

What if I am Rh negative and pregnant?
If an Rh negative woman is pregnant with an Rh positive fetus, her body will produce antibodies against the fetus’s blood, causing a disease known as the Rh disease. Sensitization to the disease occurs when the woman’s blood is exposed to the fetus’s blood. The antibodies attack and destroy the Rh positive red blood cells of the fetus, a progressive anemia develops and in severe cases, there can be heart failure or even death. This hemolytic disease usually does not affect the first pregnancy, but once a woman has produced antibodies, all future Rh positive pregnancies are at risk. Antibody production can be prevented by giving Rh Immune Globulin (Rhlg or RhoGam).

 
What is RhoGam and what does it do?
RhoGam is a solution containing Rh antibodies which is injected into the Rh negative mother during pregnancy and just after delivery, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or induced abortion.
Once the antibodies have been given, the immune system sees no need to act and the woman’s body does not make her own antibodies even though Rh positive red blood cells from the fetus got into her bloodstream.

Is protection necessary after each pregnancy?
Yes. With each pregnancy the Rh negative woman has a chance of being exposed to the red blood cells of her fetus. Unless it is known for certain that the fetus is Rh negative, the woman should receive protection. Before birth, miscarriage or induced abortion there is no way of knowing the baby’s Rh type unless both parents are Rh negative.

Is RhoGam Safe?
Yes. RhoGam has an excellent safety record. Before it was made available for general use, it was tested in medical centers around the world. Millions of women have received RhoGam safely and delivered healthy babies. RhoGam is prepared by a process that has not been shown to transmit hepatitis or other infectious diseases.

Rh disease is preventable through this simple injection of Rh Immune Globulin.

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Diabetes – A High Risk Factor For Coronary Heart Disease

January 28th, 2010 admin

It is alarming to know that every year diabetes mellitus kills more than 70,000 United States residents and about 20 million people in U. S. alone suffer from this disease. Five in hundred people in the U. K. are affected with diabetes. In Canada about 6 per cent of their population is with diabetes mellitus which invariably accounts for about 20,000 deaths annually according to experts. In addition, diabetes is a contributory factor in heart diseases and other related health conditions.

Diabetes is caused by the body resistance to, or deficiency of the hormone insulin which helps in removal of excess sugar from the blood stream into the body cells so that it can be used as a source of energy.

If this hormone insulin is deficient or ineffective, blood sugar rises causing excessive urination, hunger and thirst. Apart from excess urine, additional symptoms may include weight loss, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, irritability, weakness and fatigue.

There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or otherwise known as juvenile onset diabetes, this type normally starts at childhood or early adulthood and has a very strong genetic components. This type is characterized by a complete lack of insulin as the name implies and must be treated with regular insulin injections.

This type 1 diabetes is also an autoimmune disease (that is a condition whereby the body disease fighting immune system attacks the healthy tissues and cells). In this case the immune system attacks and destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas.

Type 2: Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or maturity onset diabetes tends to develop in middle age or older individuals particularly those who are obese.

In this case the pancreas secrets enough insulin, but the body cells seem resistant to the effects making the body to release more insulin in the blood by trying to overcome the resistance.

Most cases of type 2 diabetes can be managed with a combination of diet, exercise and oral medication. Symptoms include repeated infections or skin sore that heals slowly or not at all, numbness in the hand or feet, tiredness and nausea.

For women, it is particularly important because diabetes seems to affect the female hormone and as a result, many women with diabetes develop coronary heart disease. Diabetes may cause blockage of large blood vessels that can lead to severe cardiovascular problems.

Studies have shown that some environmental factors can trigger type 1 diabetes in people with genetic predisposition for the disease.

Researchers attribute type 2 diabetes to obesity. So every pound of excess weight you gain increases your chance by 5 per cent at least.

Treatment includes controlling the amount of glucose in your blood stream depending on the type of diabetes, physical exercise, controlled diet and medication makes it less common. Most importantly, check your blood sugar regularly and see your physician for a more qualified advice.

A couple of drugs like, Glucophage, Actos, Precose, Avandis and many others have been developed to help with type 2 diabetes. Consult your doctor for a detailed and proper form of treatment.

Knowledge is power, so Learn and Live!

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