Overview of Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidross (hi-pur-hi-DROE-sis) is abnormally excessive sweating that’s not necessarily related to heat or exercise. You may sweat so much that it soaks through your clothes or drips off your hands. Besides disrupting normal daily activities, this type of heavy sweating can cause social anxiety and embarrassment.

Hyperhidrosis treatment usually helps, beginning with prescription-strength antiperspirants. If antiperspirants don’t help, you may need to try different medications and therapies. In severe cases, your doctor may suggest surgery either to remove the sweat glands or to disconnect the nerves responsible for the overproduction of sweat.Sometimes an underlying cause may be found and treated.

Symptoms

Most people sweat when they exercise or exert themselves, are in a hot environment, or are anxious or under stress. The excessive sweating experienced with hyperhidrosis far exceeds such normal sweating.The type of hyperhidrosis that usually affects the hands, feet, underarms or face causes at least one episode a week, during waking hours. And the sweating usually occurs on both sides of the body.

When to see a doctor

Sometimes excessive sweating is a sign of a serious condition.

Seek immediate medical attention if your heavy sweating is accompanied by lightheadedness, chest pain or nausea.See your doctor if:

 

• • Sweating disrupts your daily routine

• • Sweating causes emotional distress or social withdrawal

• • You suddenly begin to sweat more than usual

• • You experience night sweats for no apparent reason

Causes

Sweating is your body’s mechanism to cool itself. Your nervous system automatically triggers your sweat glands when your body temperature rises. Sweating also normally occurs, especially on your palms, when you’re nervous.

The most common form of hyperhidrosis is called primary focal (essential) hyperhidrosis. With this type, the nerves responsible for signaling your sweat glands become overactive, even though they haven’t been triggered by physical activity or a rise in temperature. With stress or nervousness, the problem becomes even worse. This type usually affects your palms and soles and sometimes your face.

There is no medical cause for this type of hyperhidrosis. It may have a hereditary component, because it sometimes runs in families.

Secondary hyperhidrosis occurs when excess sweating is due to a medical condition. It’s the less common type. It’s more likely to cause sweating all over your body. Conditions that may lead to heavy sweating include:

 

• • Diabetes

• • Menopause hot flashes

• • Thyroid problems

• • Low blood sugar

• • Some types of cancer

• • Heart attack

• • Nervous system disorders

• • Infections

Certain medications also can lead to heavy sweating, as can opioid withdrawal.

Complications

Complications of hyperhidrosis include:

 

• • Infections. People who sweat profusely are more prone to skin infections.

• • Social and emotional effects. Having clammy or dripping hands and perspiration-soaked clothes can be embarrassing. Your condition may affect your pursuit of work and educational goals.

 

投稿 Hyperhidrosis【Abnormally excessive sweating】 は Second Opinions JAPAN に最初に表示されました。

Overview

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged area in the lower part of the major vessel that supplies blood to the body (aorta). The aorta runs from the heart through the center of the chest and abdomen.The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body, so a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can cause life-threatening bleeding.

Depending on the size of the aneurysm and how fast it’s growing, treatment varies from watchful waiting to emergency surgery.

Symptoms

Abdominal aortic aneurysms often grow slowly without noticeable symptoms, making them difficult to detect. Some aneurysms never rupture. Many start small and stay small. Others grow larger over time, sometimes quickly.

If you have an enlarging abdominal aortic aneurysm, you might notice:

• Deep, constant pain in the belly area or side of the belly (abdomen)
• Back pain
• A pulse near the bellybutton

When to see a doctor

If you have pain, especially if pain is sudden and severe, seek immediate medical help.

Causes

Aneurysms can develop anywhere along the aorta, but most aortic aneurysms occur in the part of the aorta that’s in the belly area (abdomen). Several things can play a role in the development of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, including:

• Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis occurs when fat and other substances build up on the lining of a blood vessel.
• High blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage and weaken the aorta’s walls.
• Blood vessel diseases. These are diseases that cause blood vessels to become inflamed.
• Infection in the aorta. Rarely, a bacterial or fungal infection might cause an abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• Trauma. For example, being injured in a car accident can cause an abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Risk factors

Abdominal aortic aneurysm risk factors include:

• Tobacco use. Smoking is the strongest risk factor for aortic aneurysms. Smoking can weaken the walls of the aorta, increasing the risk of aortic aneurysm and aneurysm rupture. The longer and more you smoke or chew tobacco, the greater the chances of developing an aortic aneurysm. Doctors recommend a one-time abdominal ultrasound to screen for an abdominal aortic aneurysm in men ages 65 to 75 who are current or former cigarette smokers.
• Age. Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur most often in people age 65 and older.
• Being male. Men develop abdominal aortic aneurysms much more often than women do.
• Being white. People who are white are at higher risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• Family history. Having a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysms increases the risk of having the condition.
• Other aneurysms. Having an aneurysm in another large blood vessel, such as the artery behind the knee or the aorta in the chest (thoracic aortic aneurysm), might increase the risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

If you’re at risk of an aortic aneurysm, your doctor might recommend other measures, such as medications to lower your blood pressure and relieve stress on weakened arteries.

Complications

Tears in one or more of the layers of the wall of the aorta (aortic dissection) or a ruptured aneurysm are the main complications. A rupture can cause life-threatening internal bleeding. In general, the larger the aneurysm and the faster it grows, the greater the risk of rupture.Signs and symptoms that an aortic aneurysm has ruptured can include:

• Sudden, intense and persistent abdominal or back pain, which can be described as a tearing sensation
• Low blood pressure
• Fast pulse

Aortic aneurysms also increase the risk of developing blood clots in the area. If a blood clot breaks loose from the inside wall of an aneurysm and blocks a blood vessel elsewhere in your body, it can cause pain or block blood flow to the legs, toes, kidneys or abdominal organs.

Prevention

To prevent an aortic aneurysm or keep an aortic aneurysm from worsening, do the following:

• Don’t smoke or use tobacco products. Quit smoking or chewing tobacco and avoid secondhand smoke. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about medications and therapies that may help.
• Eat a healthy diet. Focus on eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products. Avoid saturated and trans fats and limit salt.Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. If your doctor has prescribed medications, take them as instructed.Get regular exercise. Try to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity. If you haven’t been active, start slowly and build up. Talk to your doctor about what kinds of activities are right for you.

投稿 Abdominal aortic aneurysm は Second Opinions JAPAN に最初に表示されました。

Overview

Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots in the heart. A-fib increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly — out of sync with the lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. For many people, A-fib may have no symptoms. However, A-fib may cause a fast, pounding heartbeat (palpitations), shortness of breath or weakness.

Episodes of atrial fibrillation may come and go, or they may be persistent. Although A-fib itself usually isn’t life-threatening, it’s a serious medical condition that requires proper treatment to prevent stroke.Treatment for atrial fibrillation may include medications, therapy to reset the heart rhythm and catheter procedures to block faulty heart signals.A person with atrial fibrillation may also have a related heart rhythm problem called atrial flutter. Although atrial flutter is a different arrhythmia, the treatment is quite similar to atrial fibrillation.

Symptoms

Some people with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) don’t notice any symptoms. Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may have signs and symptoms such as:

• Sensations of a fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness

Atrial fibrillation may be:

• Occasional (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). A-fib symptoms come and go, usually lasting for a few minutes to hours. Sometimes symptoms occur for as long as a week and episodes can happen repeatedly. Symptoms might go away on their own. Some people with occasional A-fib need treatment.
• Persistent. With this type of atrial fibrillation, the heart rhythm doesn’t go back to normal on its own. If a person has A-fib symptoms, cardioversion or treatment with medications may be used to restore and maintain a normal heart rhythm.
• Long-standing persistent. This type of atrial fibrillation is continuous and lasts longer than 12 months.
• Permanent. In this type of atrial fibrillation, the irregular heart rhythm can’t be restored. Medications are needed to control the heart rate and to prevent blood clots.

When to see a doctor

If you have any signs or symptoms of atrial fibrillation, make an appointment with your doctor.If you have chest pain, seek immediate medical help. Chest pain could mean that you’re having a heart attack.

Causes

To understand the causes of A-fib, it may be helpful to know how the heart typically beats.The typical heart has four chambers — two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). Within the upper right chamber of the heart (right atrium) is a group of cells called the sinus node. The sinus node is the heart’s natural pacemaker. It produces the signal that starts each heartbeat.In a regular heart rhythm:

• The signal travels from the sinus node through the two upper heart chambers (atria).
• The signal passes through a pathway between the upper and lower chambers called the atrioventricular (AV) node.
• The movement of the signal causes your heart to squeeze (contract), sending blood to your heart and body.

In atrial fibrillation, the signals in the upper chambers of the heart are chaotic. As a result, the upper chambers shake (quiver). The AV node is then bombarded with signals trying to get through to the lower heart chambers (ventricles). This causes a fast and irregular heart rhythm.The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute. The normal range for a heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute.

Causes of atrial fibrillation

Problems with the heart’s structure are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. Possible causes of atrial fibrillation include:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heart defect that you’re born with (congenital heart defect)
• Heart valve problems
• High blood pressure
• Lung diseases
• Physical stress due to surgery, pneumonia or other illnesses
• Previous heart surgery
• Problem with the heart’s natural pacemaker (sick sinus syndrome)
• Sleep apnea
• Thyroid disease such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and other metabolic imbalances
• Use of stimulants, including certain medications, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol
• Viral infections

Some people who have atrial fibrillation have no known heart problems or heart damage.

Risk factors

Things that can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (A-fib) include:

• Age. The older a person is, the greater the risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Heart disease. Anyone with heart disease — such as heart valve problems, congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, or a history of heart attack or heart surgery — has an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
• High blood pressure. Having high blood pressure, especially if it’s not well controlled with lifestyle changes or medications, can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation.
• Thyroid disease. In some people, thyroid problems may trigger heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), including atrial fibrillation.
• Other chronic health conditions. People with certain chronic conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, lung disease or sleep apnea have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
• Drinking alcohol. For some people, drinking alcohol can trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation. Binge drinking further increases the risk.
• Obesity. People who have obesity are at higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Family history. An increased risk of atrial fibrillation occurs in some families.

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation that can lead to stroke.In atrial fibrillation, the chaotic heart rhythm can cause blood to collect in the heart’s upper chambers (atria) and form clots. If a blood clot in the left upper chamber (left atrium) breaks free from the heart area, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.The risk of stroke from atrial fibrillation increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase your risk of a stroke due to A-fib, including:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• Some valvular heart disease

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation. Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

• Eat a nutritious diet
• Get regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight
• Don’t smoke
• Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine
• Manage stress, as intense stress and anger can cause heart rhythm problems

投稿 Atrial fibrillation は Second Opinions JAPAN に最初に表示されました。

投稿 Arterial Catheter Embolization は Second Opinions JAPAN に最初に表示されました。