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A woman's health is intricately linked to her menstrual cycle, which is an important sign of her overall well-being. Throughout puberty and menopause, hormonal changes affect not only fertility but also mood, energy, and long-term health. A normal cycle usually indicates balance, whereas abnormalities may suggest problems such as PCOS, endometriosis, or thyroid disease.
Our bodies do not always work in a perfect clockwork operation and unexpected vaginal bleeding can often confused us. Is it a mere spotting? A normal period? A symptom of something more concerning? Differences between spotting, menstrual bleeding, and intermenstrual bleeding should be understood is crucial for maintaining reproduction health.
Here is a short guide to help you differentiate while you are confused.
Spotting is vaginal bleeding that doesn't happen as part of your regular menstrual period. It commonly manifests as fine droplets or smears of blood on clothing or toilet tissue. The intensity of the blood ranges from deep red (recent blood) to pink (having cervical mucus mixed in it) or brown (older, oxidized blood). Spotting is not very much and can't be seen in a way that needs either a tampon or a pad to absorb.
Spotting is caused by numerous factors, and in the majority of instances, it is nothing to worry about. Some frequent causes are:
Hormonal Birth Control Transitions: New birth control technique, for instance, birth control pills, IUDs containing hormones, or implants, results in temporary spotting as the body adapts.
Ovulation Bleeding: A few individuals get spotting light around the time of ovulation as a result of hormonal changes. It normally happens in the mid-cycle and could be followed by slight cramping.
Cervical Ectropion: A harmless condition when cells from the inside of the cervical canal migrate to the outer cervix, causing the outer cervix to become more sensitive and prone to faint bleeding on coitus or physical activity.
Early Pregnancy (Implantation Bleeding): 15–25% of pregnant women experience light spotting around 10–14 days post-conception, which is confused with an early period.
Spotting is usually harmless, but it's best to consult a doctor if:
There is a time, also known as a period or menstruation, when the uterine lining sheds due to changing hormone levels. It would last for approximately 2-7 days and is heavier initially. The hue and texture of period blood shift during the menstrual cycle:
Red: New active bleeding at the start of a period
Brown or dark red: Older, slower blood in leaving the uterus
Clots: It's normal to have small clots, but bigger clots may be a sign of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)
Menstruation is a part of the reproductive cycle, and it happens around every 21–35 days. When there's no pregnancy after ovulation, hormone levels fall, causing the uterine lining to be shed.
Though periods differ in different people, there are some signs that point towards probable underlying conditions:
If you have any of these, conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or thyroid disease may be involved, and a medical visit is in order.
Unlike spotting, intermenstrual bleeding is heavier and unexpected between regular periods. It may be from bright red to dark brown and can contain blood clots.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to inflammation and abnormal bleeding.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): A bacterial infection of the reproductive organs and can lead to abnormal bleeding.
Uterine Fibroids or Polyps: Benign growths in the uterus that may cause unexpected bleeding.
Endometrial Hyperplasia or Cancer: In some instances, abnormal bleeding may be a sign of abnormal cell growth in the lining of the uterus.
See a doctor if intermenstrual bleeding is:
Recognizing your body's rhythms can assist you in identifying normal versus abnormal bleeding. Monitoring your menstrual cycle through an app or calendar may flag changes that should be checked with a doctor. If you have any questions regarding abnormal bleeding, visiting your health care provider is the way to go.
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About 30 to 83.7 million adults in the United States have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), notes American Lung Association. Roughly 80 per cent of these cases remain undiagnosed. However, now, a simple daily pill, an old drug, could just be the solution.
Scientists in Sweden and other places too, have been studying the anti-seizure medicine sultiame as a treatment for OSA. In their latest Phase II trial, the scientists found that people on sultiame experienced an improvement in their apsea symptoms, and their sleep quality too improved as compared to those taking placebo.
The results points towards the potential of sultiame becoming an effective option for people with sleep apnea, especially those who cannot tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPACP) machines. The findings are published in The Lancet, and the researchers noted: "These findings offer perspective for a pharmaceutical approach to treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea."
OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea, and it happens when airway muscles physically block a person's breathing during sleep. This could pause the body to wake up enough to start breathing again, only for the cycle to restart throughout the night, anywhere from five to 100 times an hour. This also causes low oxygen levels and disturb people's sleep and, over time, can raise the risk of other long-term health problems, which could include heart diseases and even dementia.
What CPAP machines do is they use air pressure to keep the airways open during sleep. While machines are an effective way, some people have trouble using them long term, which is why some companies use less cumbersome interventions, including medicines.
Read: Harish Rana Case Highlights Why Planning For A Living Will Is Important
Sultimae or sulthiame was first launched in the 1960s by Bayger AG as an anticonvulsant - which means, it was a drug designed to treat epilepsy and prevent seizures by stabilizing nerve cell membranes and reducing abnormal, excessive electrical activity in the brain.
What the drug does is, it inhibits carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme that plays a role in regulating our breathing. Research also suggested that this could help people with sleep apnea by preventing airway collapse. The US-based Apnimed, in collaboration with the Japenese company Shionogi & Co., Ltd., have been looking to develop sultiame as a sleep apnea treatment.
The phase II of the trial involved 298 patients. Of them were untreated, moderate and people with severe sleep apnea. The people were observed for over a 15-week period, of them, half were randomized to a placebo pill to be taken right before bed, while rest were given varying doses of sultiame.
The results showed that people who took sultiame saw a noticeable decrease in apnea symptoms and also witnessed improvements in their sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. People in the highest dose group saw the most improvement, with apnea symptoms being reduced up to 47 per cent.
“It feels like a breakthrough, and we now look forward to larger and longer studies to determine whether the effect is sustained over time and whether the treatment is safe for broader patient groups,” said study researcher Jan Hedner, a senior professor of pulmonary medicine at the University of Gothenburg.
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While once considered an old-age disease, experts are now seeing kidney damage in people in their 30s and 40s. The prevalence of CKD in India has jumped significantly, moving from about 11 percent from 2011-17 to over 16 percent from 2018-23 among those aged 15 and above.
Kidneys are remarkably efficient that they can lose a vast majority of their function without causing any pain or noticeable symptoms. By the time physical warning signs such as foot swelling or fatigue appear, the underlying damage has already reached an advanced stage.
To catch issues early, the article recommends three standard tests:
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As people across the globe observe World Kidney Day, experts are sounding the alarm over the dangerous everyday habits that are worsening your kidney function and paving the way for the development of chronic conditions.
Dr Neha Bhandari, Senior Consultant, Pediatric Nephrology, Aakash Healthcare exclusively tells Healthandme: "Kidneys are very crucial in ensuring that the body maintains its internal equilibrium by filtering wastes, fluid regulation, electrolytes regulation, and in the process of assisting in blood pressure regulation as well.
"Nevertheless, a number of general living habits that have developed as part of contemporary everyday activity such as high painkiller use, large intake of processed foods and progressively sedentary lifestyles have the potential of slowly damaging the kidney functions. Since the damage of the kidneys frequently happens without any symptoms, and has no symptoms in severe cases, such simple habits can become a serious problem in the long-term, without any treatment."
Dr A K Jayaraj, MBBS, MS (Gen Surgery), MCH (Urology) at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Chennai also told this publication: "From the painkillers people take to relieve pain to the food they eat and the lifestyle they lead, there are a number of factors that can affect the functioning of these small but powerful organs.
"Focusing on these three factors helps keep these internal filters running smoothly by supporting clear blood flow, steady blood pressure, and balanced energy levels."
Here are the habits you need to keep an eye out for to protect your kidneys:
"Pain killers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are known to constrict the blood vessels that lead to the kidneys. Constricted blood vessels limit the ability of the kidneys to filter blood, and frequent use of painkillers in the long run may lead to scarring or chronic diseases in the kidneys. It is always better to use the lowest
dose possible and look for other alternatives to pain killers, such as physical therapy, bed rest or heat packs."
Moreover, Dr Bhandari added: "In the long run, the continuous intake of these kinds of medicines can cause long-term kidney damage to the person, particularly those who are already predisposed to other conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and dehydration or people who already have kidney disease. Overdosing with painkillers may also cause a situation called analgesic nephropathy which involves progressive renal damage and functional weakness of the kidney as a result of constant exposure to the drugs."
"What a person eats directly affects how hard their kidneys have to work. Modern processed foods are often a "triple threat" because of their high levels of salt, sugar, and chemical additives.
While doctors around the world note that having an active lifestyle can do wonders for both mental and physical health, Dr Bhandari highlights the dangers of not incorporating a workout in your routine.
She tells Healthandme: "Lack of exercise leads to weight gain, poor metabolic health, insulin resistance, and blood pressure all of which are great risk factors of kidney disease. The immobility also impacts circulation and general cardiovascular health, which in turn indirectly impacts on the effectiveness of the kidney functionality needs as adequate blood flow is needed to make the kidney processes effectively.
"Those who work long hours sitting with little physical activity during the time can gradually be a contributor to the disease conditions, which increases the damage to kidneys without thinking of the side effects of the disease in the long term.
"Indirect contribution can also be made by hydration habits. Most people replaced water with sweet drinks or caffeinated ones or soft drinks, which may lead to metabolic disorders and an overload of the kidney. Proper filtration and aiding in the excretion of toxins and metabolic waste into the body is facilitated by the adequate water intake."
"Weight gain and high blood sugar are the primary causes of kidney failure. Daily exercise, such as a 30-minute walk every day, helps the body regulate blood sugar well and maintain healthy blood pressure at all times. This, in turn, does not overwork the kidneys and allows them to perform at optimal capacity," Dr Jayaraj advised.
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