By Harold Thompson
Below, we will outline the most common symptoms of poor blood circulation that doctors see when dealing with patients. Impaired circulation of blood to the legs is almost always what is being discussed when a doctor mentions circulation problems, so it is important to keep that in mind throughout the rest of this article. When patients are developing poor leg circulation, the symptoms below are the ones that they most often report to the doctor.
Before any of the other symptoms of impaired circulation that are in our list, this is the first one that causes patients to become concerned. One of the first things that takes a person to the doctor, and this is especially the case with diabetics, is a lingering cramping or numbness in the feet.
The swelling of the lower legs is another of the primary symptoms of circulation problems. This swelling is usually referred to by doctors as edema. There is an easy way to check for edema on your own; just press firmly against the skin of your lower leg for fifteen seconds or so. The presence of an indentation where you were pressing against your leg several seconds after you pull your finger away tells you that edema is present. This excess fluid will eventually result in color changes as the skin breaks down, first to a red color and then to a brown.
The next symptom is tired, achy legs. Sitting or standing for a long time also tends to make it worse.
Libido can also be affected if you are suffering from circulation problems. The presence of good blood circulation is one of the most necessary aspects to successful intimacy, and the presence of impaired circulation can certainly make things much more difficult.
An important sign to watch for, again especially if you are diabetic, is a scratch or wound on the leg that isn’t healing properly. The loss of circulation can be very worrisome because of the amount of blood flow that is necessary in order for healing to happen.
Circulation issues often occur with the exhibition of a number of different symptoms. The aching or numbness of the legs may be the first thing that you notice, but it especially important to begin treatment if you start seeing discoloration or if you start to develop open wounds on your legs. Most doctors will usually recommend compression socks as part of the treatment for circulation issues, and there are many different manufacturers, such as Jobst medical legwear.
For information about finding the best mens compression socks, as well as more information about Jobst Medical Leg Wear, please visit Healthier Tomorrow.
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By Joann Grant
Low blood pressure is no less threatening than high blood pressure. In fact this problem of low blood pressure which is also known as Hypotension often leads to dangerous consequences. In case of hypotension your blood moves in arteries or entire circulatory system with less than required pressure. Due to this, blood movement becomes slow. Because of this slowed rate of blood circulation all vital parts of body get less than the sufficient volume of blood to carry out the normal functioning. That is, functions of all of your vital organs get retarded due to hypotension.
Although there exists some explicit reasons of hypotension; still, it becomes difficult to ascertain exact causes for it in most of the cases.
1. Drugs and Medication
Hypotension often develops due to consumption of drugs used for various purposes. For example use of anti depressants can immediately result in low level of blood pressure. Medications used in cardiovascular complications could also facilitate hypotension. If you are using Diuretics continuously, major side-effects will definitely include low blood pressure. All high blood pressure medications if used over a period of time would give way to low BP.
2. Alcohol Consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption may also affect blood flow by lowering level of blood pressure. Some analgesics have been also found reducing blood pressure.
3. Over all health and diseases
An impending stroke could also be a cause of hypotension. That’s why people with cardiac complications are said to be extremely careful of hypotension. A chronic diabetic may also suffer from blood pressure disorder. Thus low BP could be termed as by product of different maladies. However cardiac diseases remain major contributor to low BP.
Anatomical inflammations may also cause hypo tension. For example- pancreatic swelling, cardiac inflammation and enlarged liver.
A nervous system disorder known as Vasovagal reaction that is identified by fear or trauma contributes to low blood pressure.
4. Dehydration
Dehydration undoubtedly happens to be the most common cause of low blood pressure. Dehydration may be due to less water consumption, vomiting, excess sweating and diarrhea. There could other reasons of dehydration too.
5. Diet
Low blood pressure could be also due to undernourishment or poor dietary habits. Less than required calorie intake tends to slow pace of blood circulation thus retards function of vital organs.
Despite the number of varied reasons of this ailment, the lower bp is identified with some common symptoms or indicators. These are regular headaches, irregular breathing, dizziness and excess vomiting.
Whatsoever may be the cause, you low BP could be cured well. Be positive while undergoing treatment for low BP as it would help you in your quest to overcome hypotension.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joann_Grant
Hazards of Low Blood Pressure
By Andrew Roma
Lower blood pressure is a medical condition whereby blood vessels are constricted, thereby resulting to abnormal blood flow in the human body, which can even lead to a heart attack, kidney failure, lung problems and eye sight problems in serious cases.
Hypertension is caused when force is exerted on artery walls by the flowing blood. The normal reading for blood pressure in an adult is around 120/80, where one hundred and twenty is the systolic measure of blood pressure, on the other hand eighty is the diastolic pressure measure of blood pressure. The systolic measure is the pressure that is exerted directly on the artery wall when the heart is contracting, while diastolic measure is the pressure felt on the artery blood, this is after heart contraction.
A systolic reading of higher or equal to 140mmHg is considered as hypertension. There is contention in relation to hypotension. However, many medical practitioners and experts consider anything less than 90/60 to be lower blood pressure.
Though much interest has been given to hypertension, lower blood pressure can be very well equally dangerous. A person with blood pressure that is low for a long period of time can deprive his vital body organs such as the brain, lungs, and the heart, from oxygen can cause irreversible damage, which is even fatal in some cases. Therefore, it’s important to keep monitoring the pressure levels, especially when you experience low pressure signs. Here are some conditions caused by a lower blood pressure.
Lower Blood Pressure Dangers
The major danger of a lower pressure of blood is a reduced circulation of blood via the veins and arteries. This can severely interrupt normal blood flow that is destined to other body parts including the liver, kidney and the brain. In the event of insufficient delivery of oxygen and blood, the body organ will start to fail. For example, when the kidney does not receive enough amounts of oxygen and blood, it fails to function and becomes unable to remove waste material such as creatine and urea, from the system, which leads to consequent increase in their amounts. If the pressure is too low, thus it fails to transport sufficient blood to coronary arteries, leading to likely hood of experiencing chest aches and in serious cases heart attacks.
An individual who suffers from hypotension which is a term used to refer to lower pressure of blood, will experience regular fainting spells, rapid breathing, clammy skin, cold, dizziness, blurred vision, lightheadedness and palpitations. Abnormally hypotension can affect concentration levels and general health to a person by causing fatigue, weakness and nausea. Experiencing shocks is a major condition related to prolonged hypotension, where vital body organs like brain, lungs, heart, liver and kidney fail because of nutrients and oxygen deprivation as a result of insufficient blood circulation.
The treatment and management of hypotension is dependant on underlying causes. Effective monitoring of symptoms and signs of hypotension can play a vital role in preventing dangers related to lower pressure of blood. Avoid over using hypertension medication, because it is a significant cause of hypotension to abnormal levels.
To get more information on lower blood pressure visit lowerbloodpressures.org.
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By N. Strickland
A number of people have experienced low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, at some point. Being dehydrated or experiencing blood loss can cause a drop in pressure as can sudden movement from a sitting or prone position to standing. However, there are also some health conditions that can cause more frequent bouts of hypotension. While you should seek medical treatment for low blood pressure, you can follow it up with a non-invasive complementary treatment like electronic acupuncture.
Defining Low Blood Pressure
Hypotension happens when the blood’s pressure during and after each beat of the heart is lower than normal. Basically, the heart is not pumping with enough force to push blood throughout the body to oxygenate the organs, resulting sometimes in the telltale signs of dizziness, nausea and in worst case scenarios – shock. A normal pressure reading is 90/60 to 120/80 so anything that falls below the 90/60 marks is considered hypotension.
Certain drugs like anti-depressants, narcotic painkillers, alcohol, anti-anxiety medications and even surgical anaesthesia can cause low blood pressure. Health conditions like coronary disease, stroke and Parkinson’s disease are contributors too. If incidences of low blood pressure are common enough for you that you seek medical treatment, then electronic acupuncture can help.
Electronic Acupuncture and Blood Pressure
Following ancient Chinese principles, your body is divided into dozens of microscopic pathways called meridians and your life energy travels through these channels. When one or more of these meridians becomes blocked, there is a consequence like pain, illness and even low blood pressure. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to help release these blockages and restore the proper flow of qi, your life energy.
Save Money with Acupoint Therapy
The cost of multiple sessions of traditional acupuncture or an aversion to the stainless steel needles inserted at various strategic points up and down the body may be a deterrent for you seeking this alternative treatment for your hypotension. However, did you know that you do have another option in which to reap the benefits of this ancient healing practice?
An electronic acupuncture device uses the same healing principles but instead of placing needles all along the body, electromagnetic wave impulses are delivered through a small wand. These electronic bursts of energy are directed toward specific acupoints along the hand and palm that correspond to various body functions. It’s a great way to reap the benefits of acupuncture without the needles and you can treat yourself on your own schedule. In just a few sessions, you can restore the flow of qi and effectively treat your low blood pressure. Just remember to consult with your doctor first before starting electronic acupuncture for your hypotension.
Want to learn more about acupoint therapy? N Strickland is a former cancer patient who is thankfully now in remission. He has a keen interest in pain management, most particularly using alternative therapies. To get more information on hand acupoints and Electro-Acupuncture visit http://www.getaculifenow.com Get a free full colour Hand Map when you visit our website.
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For those who want to discover more about acupuncture for treating illness please read the interesting article below:
An Introduction to Acupuncture
By Dick Aronson
Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and is most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Acupuncture treatment regulates the flows of Qi (life energy) and Blood, tonifying where there is deficiency, draining where there is excess, and promoting free flow where there is stagnation until the body reaches a healthy balance.
Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific sites (acupuncture points) along the body’s meridians to clear energy blockages and encourage the normal flow of qi through the individual.
The first forms of acupuncture to reach the United States were brought by non-TCM practitioners -such as Chinese rail road workers- many employing styles that had been handed down in family lineages, or from master to apprentice (collectively known as “Classical Chinese Acupuncture“).
Classically, in clinical practice, acupuncture treatment is typically highly individualized and based on philosophical constructs as well as subjective and intuitive impressions, and not on controlled scientific research.
In today’s China, acupuncture has a prominent place in medicine with even major surgery sometimes carried out with no other forms of anaesthesia.
However despite this, the effectiveness of acupuncture remains controversial in parts of the scientific community, according to a review by Edzard Ernst and colleagues in 2007, which found that the body of evidence was growing, research is active, and that the “emerging clinical evidence seems to imply that acupuncture is effective for some but not all conditions”.
While little is known about the mechanisms by which acupuncture may act, a review of neuro-imaging research suggests that specific acupuncture points have distinct effects on cerebral activity in areas that are not otherwise predictable anatomically.
It is thought that the needling process, and other techniques used in acupuncture, may produce a variety of effects in the body and the brain.
There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners, and that further research is warranted.
Despite some remaining concerns acupuncture has now become quite popular in the western world, where the technique is mainly used to control pain and relieve symptoms of disease such as nausea caused by chemotherapy drugs, but not to cure the disease itself.
Acupuncture is often the choice for the alleviation of nagging pains such as back pain where the constant and unrelenting use of analgesics can lead to problems with stomach irritation or in more severe cases dependence on pain killers.
The World health organization recognizes acupuncture treatment for the following conditions:
headaches, migraines, stroke, facial and inter-costal neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, some forms of paralysis, consequences of poliomyelitis, peripheral neuropathy, Meniere’s disease, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, sore throat, common cold.
toothache, post-extraction pain, gingivitis, hiccups, oesophageal spasms, duodenal ulcers, gastric hyperacidity, gastritis, colitis, diarrhea, constipation, conjunctivitis, simple cataracts, myopia in children, central retinitis, osteoarthritis, sciatica, low back pain, cervicobrachial syndrome, “frozen shoulder”, and “tennis elbow”.
In conclusion, acupuncture has been the subject of many clinical studies and in some countries is now part of a medical degree curriculum.
Most countries require a license to practice acupuncture; however, education and training standards and requirements for obtaining a license to practice vary from country to country.
Although a license does not ensure quality of care, it does indicate that the practitioner meets certain standards regarding the knowledge and use of acupuncture.
Dick Aronson has been involved in the healthcare industry for 35 years. He has written numerous articles on the subject and runs a number of informative websites,viz: [http://www.acupuncture-select.com] and http://www.healthinnovationsonline.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dick_Aronson
By John Pen
The heart pumps blood for good circulation in the body. The circulatory process is called blood pressure. Whenever a person gets excited, afraid, and angry – the blood pressure increases or decreases. Blood pressure is also related to pulse rate. Whenever there is too much or too less blood flow in the body, there comes a deficiency or disease.
Hypotension is a deficiency pertaining to low blood pressure. This sickness is more common to young women. Even if one has low blood pressure, one should be alarmed because this is a serious condition. In some cases, this condition is caused by improper functioning of the endocrine glands or by the circulatory system.
How will a person determine that one has hypotension? If one is experiencing headaches, dizziness when getting up, not being energetic or weak pulse may have hypotension. However, this is not a symptom of ill health. In many cases, people who have low blood pressure enjoy healthier and longer lives than individuals whose blood pressure is closer to average.
There are countless treatments for this circumstance. It could be taking prescription medicines or any form of detoxification may be helpful. Nevertheless, there is an option or more affordable way to prevent or to treat hypotension. This is through Chinese medicines.
There are herbs that could help treat hypotension. These include ginseng, oats, and hawthorn berries. In addition, there are traditional Chinese medicines that are useful for blood circulation improvements. These include Dang Shen, Huang Qi, Dang Gui,Huang Jing, Bai Zhu, Wu Wei Zi, mix-fried Ma Huang, Zhi Ke, Sheng Ma, and mix-fried Gan Cao. The advantage of taking these medicines is that one can get them simply at their on backyard. This also could prevent from frequent doctor and hospital visits. No matter what the case may be, a good medical examination is still best move to determine the condition in order to treat and prevent low blood pressure.
Other Chinese remedies are:
Cure Low Blood Pressure With Dandelion Root Powder
Dandelion root is known as an effective blood purifier because of its nutritive salts building up in the blood. Polysaccharide insulin is also found in its root and it has immune-boosting properties for white blood cells. Take 1 teaspoon of this medicine 3 times a day depending on the severity of your health condition.
Pu-Chung-I-Chi-Tang remedies For Low Blood Pressure
This Chinese medicine formula is a combination of ginseng and astragalus, which is an herb tonic. This combination is good for one’s blood pressure when taken regularly. The formula can be consumed as tea or taken in powder form. As tea, put half teaspoon of shredded roots in a cup of water then boil it for one and half minutes. Let it stand for 20 minutes and drink it once or twice in a day. As powder, mix one gram pulverized roots in three tablespoons of water and take two to three times daily.
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan for Low Blood Pressure Treatment
Tian wang bu xin tan is a traditional Chinese medicine that helps in treating low blood pressure. It serves as a tonic for the heart blood. This formulation is effective because of its natural content that comes from different Chinese herbs. Take this with guidance of a doctor for best result in maintaining normal blood pressure.
The author is the owner of www.mychinesemedicine.com [http://www.mychinesemedicine.com].
For more information about Chinese medicines for Low blood pressure visit www.mychinesemedicine.com/treatment/low_blood_pressure.aspx [http://www.mychinesemedicine.com/treatment/low_blood_pressure.aspx].
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Achy Legs? You May Have Varicose Veins
By Roo Sadegi
People who stand all day may find themselves with tired, aching legs at the end of the day. Sometimes the aching continues even after they’ve rested their legs. The aching may be combined with a heavy feeling, or appearance of dark blue lines running along the leg. If these symptoms sound familiar, you may have varicose veins.
Imagine the blood moving through the body in a constant circuit: Oxygenated blood is pumped from your heart to the body through the arteries and returns through the veins. While the pressure coming from the heart is great enough to keep the blood flowing out, it is not necessarily enough to keep the blood flowing back. Instead, veins have valves that keep the blood moving toward the heart. Sometimes these valves wear out and blood pools in the vein resulting in a varicose vein.
Sufferers of varicose veins may be most concerned with their appearance. As the blood pools, the vein becomes enlarged and becomes visible through the skin. Although not particularly attractive from a cosmetic standpoint, the visibility of varicose veins is a relatively minor symptom. People who develop varicose veins may also experience aching or heavy feeling legs, itching around the affected vein, cramping of the legs, or swelling. Less common, but more serious are skin ulcerations or even blood clots in the affected vein.
For the most part, treatment of varicose vein symptoms is optional and depends on the discomfort level of the sufferer. In order to improve circulation and relieve some discomfort, sufferers can wear compression stockings. These tight-fitting stockings help keep blood moving forward instead of pooling in the vein. Elevating the legs after standing for any period of time may also alleviate some of the symptoms. For sufferers with sharp pain or with ulcers, a physician may recommend more invasive treatment. Vein stripping is the process of removing the affected veins surgically. This can cause discomfort, bruising and scarring though and suffers may wish to inquire about the Closure Procedure from VNUS. In this procedure, physicians use a heated catheter to shrink and then close the affected vein. The body then naturally diverts blood flow to non-affected veins.
Because of the constant pull of gravity, people who stand for long periods of time, especially in one place, are more likely to develop varicose veins. If you spend a lot of time on your feet and notice that your legs ache, or there are blue lines showing through your skin, you might be developing varicose veins. Moving rather than standing in one place, wearing compression stockings, and putting your legs up for a couple of hours each night can lessen your symptoms or keep them from worsening.
Roo Sadegi is an expert on several topics, including venous diseases.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roo_Sadegi
Blood Circulation – Varicose Veins
Proper blood circulation is the key to managing varicose veins. There are medications to improve your situation; however it is up to you to provide the doctor with meaningful information for an informed diagnosis. If you have any of these three signs of poor blood circulation, please point them out to your health professional as soon as feasible. The 3 signs are:
1. A sign that you may have poor circulation in your legs is discoloration of the skin. If you notice a blue, purple or pale area on your leg, then this may be a sign that the blood is not flowing as well as it should to the spot. Keep a health journal and note where you see the spots and share the information with your doctor.
2. Another sign of poor blood circulation is slow healing. For example, if you have an open sore on your leg for a longer period than normal, and it is discolored, this is the “slow healing” symptom of poor blood circulation. Slow healing may also be a sign of diabetes, so you should mention it to your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
3. Fatigue during the day or even in the morning when you first wake up may be a sign of poor circulation to the legs. Sleeping with your legs elevated improves the blood circulation and gives the stressed veins a chance to repair. The leg pillow wedge can be portable for you to use in bed or on the sofa when watching TV or reading a book. For improved circulation the proper leg pillow wedge keeps the ankles, calves and knees at the same level. A common pillow under the knees actually is worse for circulation than lying flat. When you only have a pillow under the knees, the blood circulation from the toes and ankles actually is uphill. So if you have poor blood circulation in your legs, never use a knee pillow wedge or pillows only under your knees.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are permanently dilated (widened) and twisted veins. Although this can occur in any part of the body, it usually develops in the legs. If the resulting poor blood circulation worsens, there is a risk of developing:
1. Phlebitis (inflammation of the wall of the vein). Phlebitis is swelling of a vein caused by a blood clot. There are two main types of phlebitis: deep venous thrombosis affecting deeper, larger veins, and superficial phlebitis affecting veins near the skin surface.
2. Dermatitis. Skin rashes. Properly circulating blood is important for the health of all the body tissues including the skin. When your blood circulation is impaired, a number of pathologies may arise, such as Stasis Dermatitis. The best way to prevent stasis dermatitis includes elevating the legs to increase return of venous blood to the heart and reduce leg swelling.
3. Leg ulcers. These are open sores that do not get the proper blood flow to heal. Your immune system cannot overcome poor circulation. Your circulationmust be improved for relief.
Proper blood circulation is critical to your whole body and you can improve it in your legs to relieve pain in your calves cause by varicose veins. Please discuss with your health professional the idea of using a leg pillow wedge to improve circulation and get relief for any secondary conditions that poor blood circulation is causing. Each person is different and you may require more or less bed rest or other medical recommendations. If you are interested in a leg pillow wedge, please visit Pillow Wedge.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Betsy_Powell
The tragic side of Mesothelioma treatment is that it cannot fully cure you. At least it can increase the days of your life span. Mesothelioma cannot be diagnosed from the moment the asbestos dust starts moving inside your body. The problem may be revealed after twenty and in many cases even after thirty-five years. And when it is detected that you are actually suffering from Mesothelioma, you are left with the life span of hardly 2 to 3 years and may be even less than that.
How long the patient will live after the diagnosis mostly depends on the patient’s overall health condition. But if the patient is properly treated through the means of available treatment for Mesothelioma his lifespan can be increased and his pains can be reduced. So instead of losing hope and getting complete frustrated from life, it is suggested to both the patient and the family members to arrange for the treatment in the right way.
The known treatments for Mesothelioma cancer are
* Radiation therapy
* Chemotherapy
* Surgery
Radiation therapy is the most conventional and traditional type of treatment for the Mesothelioma patients. There are two major ways of conducting the radiation therapy. Mostly the process is selected by keeping in mind the condition of the patient.
If the patient’s condition is not that adverse and the whole idea behind using the high energy rays is to remove the cancerous cells from the body, then the external radiation therapy would be suitable. Here the rays are bombarded on the Mesothelium lining that has taken the cancerous shape. But the healthy cells are not damaged through this radiation process.
Again in another type of radiation therapy the means for throwing the rays is directly by entering into the region where the tumors have formed. This is patient’s condition is very bad. This process can give the patient relief of pain to a greater extent and the chances of formation of tumor can be prolonged if not prohibited.
Chemotherapy is used in other types of cancer treatments too. Chemo is induced in the body from time to time for relief and removal of the cancerous cells. But there are some side effects like nausea, fatigue and stress and many patients turn bald due to chemo reaction.
Surgery is the conventional way of taking out the tumors from the Mesothelium lining in your body. But even surgery cannot assure that he will not die of Mesothelioma.
Related Mesothelioma Patient Articles
Mesothelioma cancers cells develop and multiply more quickly than normal and ordinary cells, but also some normal and ordinary cells also multiply rapidly, most particularly the ones in the system of reproduction, digestive tract, and follicles of hair. The side effects happens as a result of the damage done to normal and ordinary cells from treatment of mesothelioma cancers.
The kind of side effects mesothelioma patients pass through and the severity of the effects, relies on the kind of chemotherapy mesothelioma patients are undergoing, the pharmacology of the drugs, dosage administered and how their body reacts to this type of treatment of mesothelioma. Types of pain Before chemotherapy treatment begins and starts, mesothelioma patients will be told to sign an agreeement form. Before signing the form, make sure your doctor gives you adequate and all informations of all the facts as regarding the chemotherapy treatment he/she will be administering, also to include necessary and adequate information about the chemotherapy drug or combination of chemotherapy drugs to be administered, the side effects, and risks involved in using each chemotherapy drugs, the amount of chemotherapy treatment of mesothelioma you will undergo and how frequent, and whether you will under a hospital stay, or admission or as an outpatient basis.
Anti-nausea treatment for chemotherapy mesothelioma patients also play a vital role in the treatment of mesothelioma cancers.
Nausea is often times a side effect of mesothelioma treatments.
Mild and temporary side effects such as nausea and vomiting, anorexia, loss of hair, and mouth sores. If some blood producing cells are damaged, there could be low blood cell count. This could also lead to a substantial or high risk of infection, blood klotting process could be impaired after minor cuts or injuries, and experiencing exhaustion or shortness of breath could also be seen… get more info …
Related Mesothelioma Patient Articles
Mesothelioma is a fairly new type of cancer that is very serious and life threatening, as with most types of cancer. One thing that makes mesothelioma such a serious condition is that it is usually not found until the late stages of the cancer, causing the survival rate to be low. This is because the symptoms don’t usually arise until the late stages.
By this time the patient most likely doesn’t have much longer to live. Studies show most patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have a year or less left to live. Along with diagnosis being difficult and delayed, mesothelioma is also fairly uncommon and we are still learning more about the disease.
However, some studies show that one out of every ten mesothelioma patients will live up to three years after diagnosis and one out of every twenty people will live five years after diagnosis.
Studies are performed daily and new clinical trials are helping to increase the survival rate of those with mesothelioma. Survival rates vary depending on where the study is performed, and who is performing the study. In general, studies are very close in comparison.
Survival rates are based on several different factors. Some of these factors are, the size of the tumor, the stage the patient is in, whether the tumor can be completely removed with surgery, the quantity of fluid in the chest and abdomen and how long it took to diagnose the cancer.
Some other interesting facts about mesothelioma survival rates are that the average age of the patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are sixty one years of age and eighty one percent were male.
As said before, many studies are performed daily to find new ways to prolong the survival rate of those who have mesothelioma. Many studies have already proven to do just that. Lots of studies show that chemotherapy greatly increases the survival rate of those with mesothelioma. So, although this is a newer and less common cancer we are learning more about it daily.
With our learning we’ll eventually come up with more options of treatment and this will lead to an all together higher survival rate.
Related Mesothelioma Patient Articles
There is no right or wrong treatment for mesothelioma since each case is considered individually. Treatment chosen for the patient will depend on various diagnostic tools such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, biopsies etc. Cancer treatment basically focuses upon eliminating the malignant cells and preserving the healthy ones. Presently three major options are available for the patients. They include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
The course of treatment will depend upon the type of mesothelioma and location of tumor, the size of tumor, the degree to which the cancer has spread, the age of the patient, his overall health etc. A team of specialists would be involved in the treatment of the desease like an oncologist (cancer specialist), pulmonologist (lung specialist), radiologist etc.
Surgery can be performed on mesothelioma patients either with the aim of curing it or for keeping the patient more comfortable and impdroving the quality of life. Mostly, curative surgery is not an option since the disease is diagnosed at a later stage. Radiation is often recommended for patients whose health is too weak for surgery. It has lesser side effects than chemotherapy and is easier to tolerate. There are different types of radiation therapy available. External beam radiation is the type of radiation which comes from a machine outside the body and is aimed toward affected areas. Brachytherapy is the kind of radiation, where radioactive material is placed directly inside the lung or abdomen.
Chemotherapy provides relief from the horrible symptoms of the disease. May be in future days it would help in prolonging the life of the patients. It is given in the form of pill or injected. Two drugs are often combind for better results. Also other drugs are administered to overcome the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy. Some patients find the side effects too difficult to bear that they decide not to undergo the therapy.
Clinical trials are the study of new treatments for a particular disease. These promising trials need patients who are ready to try them before they get the approval of the FDA. How ever the pros and cons of the trial should be considered carefully before getting ready to undergo them. Patients can talk to their doctors in detail before taking the final decision to participate.
Apart from conventional treatments Alternative Therapies are recommended for the patients. They include potential treatment of the disease or the symptoms. They may include the use of vitamins or herbs. The patients can also participate in therapies like acupuncture, massage or hypnosis.
Researchers are trying hard to find a cure for this malignant cancer. Combination treatments have been successful in increasing the life span of the patients. The development of technology also offers new hope to the hapless victims of mesothelioma. How ever treatment may vary from person to person.
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