Category: Health Questions

Oxygen is vital for the sustenance of life. The normal level of oxygen in the blood is a measure of the saturation of oxygen in the blood. RBCs contain hemoglobin which binds to atmospheric oxygen, and carries it to the various tissues of your body. Variation in the oxygen levels in the blood can lead to health complications.

The normal level of oxygen in the blood tends to hover around 95 – 100 %. A reading that is below 90 % is considered a huge cause for concern, and must be evaluated by your health care provider.

Oxygen levels in the body are measured by employing several methods. The most common method of establishing whether oxygen levels are healthy is with a blood test used to examine the arterial blood gas. Another suitable method is by using a pulse oximeter. The oximeter is a tiny gadget which measures oxygen levels in the blood by means of a light sensor.

What Causes High Oxygen Levels In Blood?

High levels of oxygen in the blood occur as a result of breathing in concentrated oxygen. It is considered a grave condition and can result in cell damage and cell death, chiefly in the eyes, central nervous system, and lungs.

Those who could develop this condition are – scuba divers, given that, they are subjected to high atmospheric pressure. Scuba divers use a breathing apparatus. They breathe a mixture of gasses which includes oxygen. A mixture known as nitox decreases the risk of decompression sickness by replacing oxygen for part of the nitrogen content. Nonetheless, breathing in nitrox can trigger hyperoxia because of the high partial pressure of oxygen if used for a protracted interval of time.

The rules for the safe and sound usage of oxygen partial pressure in diving are entrenched and followed meticulously by scuba divers as well as military combat divers. People sent on space missions make use of high levels of oxygen too; and people who are going through hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A major risk of hyperoxia is in hyperbaric oxygen therapy where there is huge likelihood of it happening as a side effect of the treatment such as – chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

How To Maintain Oxygen Level In Blood?

Symptoms include – breathing problems, disorientation, and impaired vision. In severe cases, there could occur extensive damage to the cells, deflation of alveoli in the lungs, detachment of the retina, and convulsions.
In order to avoid the incidence of these symptoms, those who need to breathe in concentrated levels of oxygen need to endure careful training vis-à-vis the use of oxygen cylinders as well as spacesuits under different atmospheric pressures.

Oxygen saturation level is a vital factor that is used to look for the existence of a lung disorder or anomalies in the level of hemoglobin in your blood. It is crucial to make sure that the level of oxygen in the blood ought to fall within the optimal range, since any kind of deviation from the normal, even for a little time interval, can set off irreparable damage to the organs in the body.

Supplementation of oxygen is a very common modus operandi of pre-hospital treatment. Guidelines emphasize about the usage of 28 % oxygen masks and ask you to be careful about hyperoxia. Long term usage of supplemental oxygen definitely increases the survival in patients having chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, but can cause hyperoxia.

Numbness of lips may be experienced as an abnormal sensation or tingling. There may be a complete or a fractional lack of feeling in the lip. There are several causes of numbness of the lips, ranging from mild to severe. Also, the condition may be acute or chronic, depending on the cause and underlying condition.

Numbness may be due to exposure to cold temperature, an allergic reaction, or due to certain drugs and medications. It could also be a sign of neuropathy, wherein the nerves fail to carry signals between the lip and the brain. Neuropathy may be because of nutritional insufficiency, exposure to poisonous chemicals, or certain diseases.

Numbness may be a symptom of a life threatening condition, such as, anaphylaxis, hyperventilation, or ingestion of toxins.

Numb lips may occur in association with other symptoms, which vary depending up on the underlying disease. Symptoms affecting the lips and mouth tend to involve other body systems.

Commonly seen symptoms that accompany numb lips include: burning sensation, bleeding, tingling and pins and needles sensation, swelling, redness, and heat.

Causes Of Upper Lip Numbness

There are diverse causes of numbness of the lips and they vary from mild to severe. Grave factors responsible for numbness of lips include – allergic reactions and neuropathy, in which the nerves fail to conduct messages between the brain and the lips.

Common causes are:

• Cold temperature.
• Allergic reaction to some foods.
• Vitamin deficiency.
• Side effects of certain drugs and medicines.
• Raynaud’s syndrome – i.e. spasm of the small blood vessels of the toes and the fingers, which results in the diminution of blood circulation.
• Tetany – i.e. contractions of the muscle caused due to low levels of calcium in the blood.

Numb lips may also occur due to:

• Exposure to noxious chemicals.
• Cancer.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Ischemia – i.e. inadequate blood flow to the lips.
• Lyme disease –  i.e. bacterial infection that is spread by ticks.
• Multiple sclerosis, a disorder that afflicts the brain and the spinal cord resulting in poor coordination, weakness and fatigue, balance difficulties, etc.

Causes that could be life threatening include:

• Anaphylaxis.
• Ingestion of toxins, such as, ingesting some chemicals, consuming poisonous plants, and consuming wild, inedible mushrooms.
• Hyperventilation.

Treatment For Numbness In Lips

The treatment of numbness of the lip depends up on the etiological factor responsible. Your doctor will assess your condition, order a few diagnostic tests and investigations and determine the course of action.

• Numbness due to vitamin insufficiency can be easily corrected with supplementation. By and large, vitamin B complex and folic acid supplements are recommended for about 2 months. This will make up for the deficit speedily. Also, your doctor will prescribe a wholesome and nutritious diet to prevent recurrences.
• Numbness due to allergic reactions and reactions to certain medicines and drugs stops once the offending agent is removed. Talk to your physician about the drugs that you may be taking.
• Disorders such as multiple sclerosis, hypothyroidism, diabetes, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Raynaud’s syndrome and Lyme disease call for a more specific approach and a suitable line of treatment.
• Cancer treatment may comprise of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and possibly surgical intervention.
• Life threatening cases such as hyperventilation and anaphylaxis necessitates immediate medical attention.

Having itchy lungs is a common sign of several respiratory diseases, most common of which is asthma. Asthma causes the air passage ways to swell, become narrow, and produce a large volume of mucus which often causes the patients to feel as if their lungs are itchy.

Patients that have itchy lungs may often have breathing difficulties that can be a minor nuisance or can be a major problem that can disrupt daily activities.

Those that have asthma sometimes can be at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack.

Causes of Itchy Lungs

There are several factors that cause lungs to feel itchy and these often differ from one person to another. Below are some of the factors that commonly trigger itchy lungs:

• Allergens that are spread in the air like pollen.
• Animal dander, dust mites, molds, and cockroaches.
• Infections that attack the respiratory system like the common cold.
• Strenuous physical activities like too much exercise.
• Cold air.
• Pollutants and irritants in the air like smoke and chemical fumes.
• Certain drugs which include aspirin, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs along with beta blockers.
• Strong emotions of anger, fear, sadness, and anxiety along with stress.
• Additives, preservatives, and sulfites that are added to beverages and foods.
• GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is a condition that brings back stomach acids into the throat.
• Allergic reactions to certain foods like shellfish and peanuts.
• Menstrual cycle.

Itchy Lungs Symptoms

Although having itchy lungs is a symptom in itself, it is usually accompanied by several other symptoms. These symptoms include the following:

• Shortness of breath.
• Tightening and pain in the chest area.
• Patients will often have trouble sleeping which is mainly due to breathing difficulties, wheezing and coughing.
• Audible whistling sound when a patient exhales. This is a common symptom experienced by children.
• Bouts of wheezing and coughing that can get worse when the respiratory tract is being attacked by viral infection like when a patient has a cold or flu.

What to Do for Itchy Lungs

Treatment options usually depend on the causative factor or the one that triggered the symptom to arise, age of the patient, and the symptoms that are observed.

• Those that have asthma will need long-term medications to control symptoms along with lung itchiness. Medications include inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, beta agonists, and a combination of inhalers.
• Allergy shots and medications can also be applied to control itchiness and accompanying symptoms especially when triggered by allergic reactions.
• It is always best to avoid things or substances that trigger the symptoms. This can be done by using an air conditioner, maintaining good humidity, maintaining clean air indoors, decreasing pet dander, regular clean-ups, and covering the face in cold surroundings.
• It is also best to maintain a healthy weight, do regular exercise, eat fruits and vegetables and manage gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Jugular vein carries deoxygenated blood from the region of the head and drains into the vena-cava, which eventually drains into right atrium of the heart. In general, the external branch of the vein is close to the surface of the skin resulting in an appearance of a protrusion along the either sides of neck. The extent of the protrusion (i.e. height) is often considered as an approximate indicator of the pressure in central venous system.

The distension of the jugular vein depends upon the body’s position. It is normal to have a small amount of distention of the jugular vein however a height of the more than four centimeters when a head is positioned at an angle of 45 degrees, it is indicative of cardiovascular disease.

The causes of the distention of the jugular vein are attributed to elevated pressure in the right side of the heart (i.e. right atrium and right ventricle). There are several factors that can contribute to this situation,

• Blockage or narrowing of the vena-cava interferes with deoxygenated blood from entering into the heart.
• Constrictive pericarditis i.e. infection of the pericardium (the lining surrounding the heart).
• Cardiac tamponade which is referred to accumulation of blood or fluid in the pericardial region.
• Right sided cardiac failure can also result in elevated pressure within the jugular vein.

Symptoms Of Jugular Vein Distention

The symptoms associated with jugular vein distension can be categories into circulatory symptoms and other symptoms. These include,

• Sensation of pressure in the chest with or without chest pain.
• Palpitations or increased heart rate.
• Coldness in the hands and feet due to reduced circulation of blood in the peripheries.
• Increased fatigue and generalized weakness, with exhaustion on slightest exertion.
• Nausea with or without vomiting.
• Reduced appetite with weight gain or weight loss.
• Confusion and loss of memory may also be observed.
• Swelling and edema of the lower extremities with increased urge to urinate at night.

Some of the more serious and life threatening symptoms associated with the condition include the following,

• Reduced production of urine is observed.
• Bluish discoloration of the finger nails and lips.
• Anxiety along with profuse sweating.
• Alteration in the levels of consciousness ranging from alertness to unresponsiveness.
• Shortness of breath, wheezing or labored breathing.

If these symptoms are observed, it is important to consult a medical professional immediately, in order to avoid further complications.

How To Check Jugular Vein Distention?

In order to check the distention of the jugular vein, the patient is positioned under 45 degree along the filling levels of the vein. In healthy people, the filling level of the jugular vein is less than 3 centimeters about the sternal angle (i.e. the angle between the clavicle and the neck).

In order to visualize the jugular vein, one needs to look along the surface of sternocleidomastoid muscle, as one can appreciate the movement/pulsations in relation to the neck, when looking sideways. It is also recommended that in order to correctly visualize the jugular vein, one should move from left to right, at a right angle, as opposed to coming towards it.

In general the pulsation of the jugular vein are difficult to observe, however for a trained cardiologist, this is an indication of central venous pressure and provides indications regarding the overall health of the heart.

Parosmia is an olfactory malfunction typified by the incapacity of the brain to recognize an odor’s actual smell correctly. What happens is that the natural odor gets translated in to a nasty and disagreeable smell, characteristically – charred, decaying, putrid, fecal, or chemical smells. Thus, in parosmic patients pleasant odors are also perceived as offensive and disgusting.

Symptoms Of Parosmia

A constant nasty odor is the chief complaint of one suffering from parosmia. The smell makes him feel ill. The odor of any substance seems like offensive fecal or rotten odor.

One suffering from parosmia cannot recognize the actual odor of a particular substance. Consequently, he has trouble eating food; and even pleasant aromas appear foul and disagreeable.

Those diagnosed with parosmia are distressed in their day-to-day life since they cannot differentiate between aromas of various food products.

Common Causes Of Parosmia

There are numerous diseases that are associated with parosmia.

• The most frequently seen causes for parosmia are upper respiratory tract infections. Upper respiratory tract infections can result in parosmia because of impairment to the olfactory receptor neurons.
• Exposure to harmful solvents is another significant etiological factor for parosmia and more damaging to the olfactory receptor neurons. When these neurons get damaged there occurs an inability to rightly programme a message representing a specific smell, and this consequently sends a wrong signal to the odor processing centre in the brain, the olfactory bulb. Consequently, the signal activates a different trigger, i.e. an altered odor, than the actual odor is perceived, and the individual fails to coordinate the input and output smells. Impairment to the olfactory receptor neurons causes a peripheral fault in the pathway; there are also cases wherein impairment to the processing centre in the brain can trigger warped erroneous smells.
• Trauma to the head causes dysfunctions which can trigger parasomia. In humans, the olfactory bulb is situated on the inferior aspect of the brain. Trauma and injury to this section of the brain alters how information is processed in various ways. If that section of the brain which infers and processes these input signals gets damaged, then a warped output occurs. This causes parosmia.
• Temporal lobe epilepsy is an important cause, but this is only temporary; the onset of parosmia was a seizure and it lasts for 7 to 15 days.
• Parosmia is also seen in Parkinson’s disease; though not ever-present, and though the exact pathway is uncertain, an insufficiency of dopamine is known to cause the parosmia.

Treatment Options For Parosmia

Unfortunately, there’s no specific cure for parosmia. Luckily, the symptom is known to diminish over a period of time. In some patients it may take years to decrease. Although there are many cases where the individual stays afflicted for years at a time, this is certainly not in a majority of the cases.

Many health care providers recommend L-Dopa to manage the condition successfully. You need to confer with your physician and understand your cause for the parosmia and based on that the treatment regimen will be started.

Surgical intervention is also advocated in a few cases. Some people who are bothered by their condition may opt to destroy the olfactory bulb with surgery. Talk to your health care provider to assess the benefits as well as risks.