close

November 2021

Health

Monkeypox and The Human Body

In the 1980s, modern medicine achieved the unthinkable. It was the eradication of smallpox by an intensive global vaccination program. However, this victory was short-lived due to the emergence of Monkeypox. These two viruses come from the same family of Poxviridae viruses. Since experts have been studying smallpox prior to the Monkeypox outbreak, solid understanding of how these viruses work has been established. Medical professionals now know what to expect out of this infectious disease. Though, there are some stark differences and significant similarities between the two. Particularly regarding which organs and systems of the body are affected by Monkeyvirus that makes it unique compared to smallpox.

Monkeypox infection pattern

To understand the organs targeted by Monkeypox virus, it is crucial for us to know its pattern of infection. This involves looking at the incubation, prodrome, infectious, recovery or latent period if any. These stages in the disease will give an idea of which organs that are commonly affected. Especially when Monkeypox has a mortality rate of 10%.

  • Incubation period

It is a period that starts from the first day an individual is infected with the virus. At this stage, the patient is not infectious and asymptomatic. Therefore, there are no clear organs or systems in the human body targeted. The average incubation period for Monkeypox is 7-14 days but there are instances where it can range from 5-21days of incubation.

  • Prodrome period

Once the incubation stage ends, the infection has established its presence in the body. Initial group of symptoms will be reported by patients, hence called the prodrome state. The symptoms include:

  • Myalgia
  • Lethargy
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Based on the prodrome symptoms listed above, the lymphatic system of the body is one of the targets for Monkeypox virus. Onset of lymphadenopathy is a stark difference compared to smallpox, which does not involve lymph nodes swelling. It has been recorded that the lymph will swell with fever or 1-2 days prior to any rash appearance.

Symptoms of cough and sore throat also suggest that the virus is able to affect the respiratory system. Though research suggests, the evidence of respiratory involvement is mainly due to route of transmission via respiratory droplets. Unlike Tuberculosis or Influenza, this virus did not have a predominance towards the lungs. During this state, some patients may already begin to be infectious.

  • Infectious period

Afterwards, comes the infectious state of the disease. Akin to smallpox, patients usually become infectious when the rash starts to appear as the Poxviridae will always affect the skin. Appearance of the rash usually starts from the face, trunk and disseminates to the limbs. Initially presented as macules, it then raised and became more papule-like. The papular rash then filled with clear fluid, forming vesicles, ultimately those fluids become pustular and form pustules. By 14 day, pustules are usually scabbed or crusted over. During this state, the patient is most infectious. Even if a healthy individual has contact with a patient’s cloth or bed linen, they can also be infected with Monkeypox virus.

This is also the phase where some infections can develop complications. Usually among children. The complications often have extracutaneous manifestations, affecting organs outside of the skin. These complications involves:

  • Soft tissues infections underneath the skin
  • Eyes, which can cause permanent visual loss
  • Lungs, causing pneumonitis
  • Brain, leading to brain infection known as encephalitis
  • Sepsis
  • Resolution or Latent Infection period

Luckily, the disease is self-limiting. Meaning that the disease often runs its course and mostly resolves when the rash is gone. There is also no evidence of latent infection in previously infected individuals.

Conclusion

The severe complications that can come from Monkeypox infection is not something to be taken lightly. Since, there is still no definitive cure for the virus, prevention is the best approach.

It’s advisable to take Covid 19 Vaccine.

read more
Health

How do chiropractic adjustments work?

How do chiropractic adjustments work? Chiropractors, or doctors who practice the method of treating neuromusculoskeletal disorders by the use of spinal manipulation and other treatments have been doing so for centuries. In fact, this treatment is often referred to as the art of chiropractic because chiropractors seek to manipulate the spine to relieve pain, stress, and other ailments.

The basic technique involves the manual correction of misaligned vertebrae and soft tissue along with the application of controlled force into those joints. It is a non-surgical technique that does not require anesthetics or surgery. If your spine feels strained, there are several things you can do to help correct it. First, if you find that you are moving too much in any direction when you rotate your body, you should correct that. For example, if your shoulder joint feels too tight when you turn your shoulder forward, you should try to pull on the side of the shoulder that is affected and rotate the shoulder back into place.

Next, your chiropractor may apply spinal manipulation to help correct spinal abnormalities and realign the joints in the spine. These realignments are not always immediately evident, but over time they will make a positive difference in how your body moves. Chiropractic adjustments will also help to reduce low back pain and tension that is common among people who suffer from this condition. Low back pain can affect your ability to function properly in your daily life, so chiropractic adjustments can be an important part of your regimen.

The basic idea of how do chiropractic adjustments work is that the spine is not functioning properly due to an unhealthy nervous system. This unhealthy nervous system can result in different ailments, including pain, numbness, and even weakness in the body. When the spine is corrected, the nervous system will become more balanced and the body will start to heal itself naturally. Chiropractors know that healing the spine will help the entire body to become better functioning and will encourage your health to increase as your nervous system becomes more balanced.

In order for chiropractic adjustments to have the most effect, you must first consult with your doctor. Your chiropractor will examine your spine and its alignment and will begin with spinal manipulation techniques. Once your spine has been manipulated, your doctor will move to applying chiropractic adjustments. You may feel some pressure in your shoulders or low back while your chiropractor is performing these adjustments, but after a while your body will start to heal itself without the use of massage. By this point, your body will be able to move without feeling soreness or pain.

After your chiropractor has finished the adjustments, he or she may recommend that you take a cold shower. The cold water that you are bathed in will relax your muscles, which will make the popping and cracking noise less noticeable. Chiropractors believe that the popping and cracking sound is an attempt by your nervous system to signal that the treatments have begun. This relaxation, which can last up to an hour, will make it easier for your body to get back into shape.

When to discontinue chiropractic?

when to discontinue chiropractic

When to discontinue chiropractic treatment There are a variety of different reasons that people seek the services of a chiropractor. While there are several positive benefits to this type of medical care, there are also some things that you should know if you’re thinking about trying out this type of therapy. If you are thinking about discontinuing your chiropractor’s services, here are some of the main reasons why you may want to think about doing so. Keep in mind that there are likely other reasons that you might have as well, and these are just two of them.

  • Increased Pain – Even though most people tend to think of spinal manipulations when they hear about chiropractors, pain can be caused by other types of treatments. This is why you should be sure that you find a good chiropractor who is capable of providing spinal manipulation as well as other treatments. Some people experience jaw pain or neck pain after regular manipulations. This is because the chiropractor was unable to reach specific problems within those areas. If you experience pain from any other treatment besides chiropractic, then it’s probably a good idea to find another therapist.
  • Increased Back Pain – Spinal manipulation is great for relieving neck pain and other body aches. However, when it comes to back pain, you should be careful about trying too much. If you get a little bit of extra work, your chiropractor may be able to help with lower back pain as well. However, this is usually a good sign that you should stick with a chiropractor who works on only upper back issues.
  • Misaligned Teeth – This is probably the most common reason why people discontinue their chiropractic care. In some cases, teeth alignment isn’t as much of an issue as the actual joints being misaligned. However, if you have misaligned teeth, then you should definitely talk to your doctor about seeing if there is something you can do about it. Many times, removing the problem by yourself can solve the problem. Your chiropractor can usually recommend braces or some other type of corrective action.

If you are in poor health and feel that chiropractic is too risky for your health, then you need to learn more about what to expect from your chiropractor. Many chiropractors will not perform chiropractic care for children. They feel that too many young patients are not likely to be educated on the dangers of chiropractic care. You need to make sure that you discuss this with your chiropractor before you decide to discontinue chiropractic.

These are just a few of the reasons why a person might want to discontinue their chiropractic treatment plan. For most patients, however, these reasons are not enough to stop the treatment. It’s important to make sure that you get regular medical care, such as x-rays, before you discontinue your chiropractic treatment. And if there are any problems that you are having, make sure that your chiropractor knows about them and works to resolve them.

read more