What is hypoglycemia?

           Hypoglycemia is the clinical syndrome that results from low blood sugar. The symptoms of hypoglycemia can vary from person to person, as can the severity. Classically, hypoglycemia is diagnosed by a low blood sugar with symptoms that resolve when the sugar level returns to the normal range. The medical term for blood sugar is blood glucose.

          While people who do not have any metabolic problems can complain of symptoms suggestive of low blood sugar, true hypoglycemia usually occurs in people being treated for diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Individuals with pre-diabetes who have insulin resistance can also have low blood sugars on occasion if their high circulating insulin levels are further challenged by a prolonged period of fasting. There are other rare causes for hypoglycemia, such as insulin producing tumors (insulinomas) and certain medications. These uncommon causes of hypoglycemia will not be discussed in this article, which will primarily focus on the hypoglycemia occurring with diabetes mellitus and its treatment.

          Despite advances in the treatment of diabetes, hypoglycemic episodes are often the limiting factor in achieving optimal blood sugar control, because many medications that are effective in treating diabetes carry the risk of lowering the blood sugar level too much, causing symptoms of hypoglycemia. In large scale studies looking at tight control in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, low blood sugars occurred more often in the patients who were managed most intensively. This is important for patients and physicians to recognize, especially as the goal for treating patients with diabetes becomes tighter control of blood sugar.

           The body needs fuel to work. One of its major fuel sources is sugars, which the body gets from what is consumed as either simple sugar or complex carbohydrates in the diet. For emergency situations (like prolonged fasting), the body stores a stash of sugar in the liver as glycogen. If this store is needed, the body goes through a biochemical process called gluco-neo-genesis (meaning to "make new sugar") and converts these stores of glycogen to sugar. This backup process emphasizes that the fuel source of sugar is important (important enough for human beings to have developed an evolutionary system of storage to avoid a sugar deficit).
Of all the organs in the body, the brain depends on sugar (glucose) almost exclusively. Rarely, if absolutely necessary, the brain will use ketones as a fuel source, but this is not preferred. The brain cannot make its own glucose and is 100% dependent on the rest of the body for its supply. If for some reason, the glucose level in the blood falls (or if the brain's requirements increase and demands are not met) there can be effects on the function of the brain.

Can the body protect itself from hypoglycemia?

          The circulating level of blood glucose falls, the brain actually senses the drop. The brain then sends out messages that trigger a series of events, including changes in hormone and nervous system responses that are aimed at increasing blood glucose levels. Insulin secretion decreases and hormones that promote higher blood glucose levels, such as glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone, and epinephrine all increase. As mentioned above, there is a store in the liver of glycogen that can be converted to glucose rapidly. In addition to the biochemical processes that occur, the body starts to consciously alert the affected person that it needs food by causing the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.

           The normal range of glucose in the bloodstream is from 70 to 100 mg/dL when the individual is fasting (that is not immediately after a meal). The body's biochemical response to hypoglycemia usually starts when sugars are in the high/mid 70's. At this point, the liver releases its stores and the hormones mentioned above start to activate. In many people, this process occurs without any clinical symptoms. The amount of insulin produced also declines in an attempt to prevent a further drop in glucose.
While there is some degree of variability among people, most will usually develop symptoms suggestive of hypoglycemia when blood glucose levels are lower than 50 mg/dL. The first set of symptoms are called adrenergic (or sympathetic) because they relate to the nervous system's response to hypoglycemia. Patients may experience any of the following;

• nervousness, 
• sweating
• intense hunger,
• trembling,
• weakness,
• palpitations, and
• often have trouble speaking.

          In most people, these symptoms are easily recognizable. The vast majority of individuals with diabetes only experience this degree of hypoglycemia if they are on medications or insulin. People (with diabetes or who have insulin resistance) with high circulating levels of insulin who fast or change their diet to lower their carbohydrate intake drastically should also be cautioned. These individuals may also experience modest hypoglycemia.
People being treated for diabetes who experience hypoglycemia may not experience symptoms as easily as people without diabetes. This phenomenon has been referred to as hypoglycemic unawareness. This can be dangerous as blood sugars may approach extremely low levels before any symptoms are perceived.
Anyone who has experienced an episode of hypoglycemia describes a sense of urgency to eat and resolve the symptoms. And, that's exactly the point of these symptoms. They act as warning signs to tell the body to consume more fuel. At this level, the brain still can access circulating blood glucose for fuel. The symptoms provide a person the opportunity to raise blood glucose levels before the brain is affected.
If a person does not or cannot respond by eating something to raise blood glucose, the levels of glucose continue to drop. With further drops in blood glucose, patients progress to neuro-glyco-penic ranges (meaning that the brain is not getting enough glucose). At this point, symptoms progress to confusion, drowsiness, changes in behavior, coma, and seizure.

How is hypoglycemia treated?

          The acute management of hypoglycemia involves the rapid delivery of a source of easily absorbed sugar. Regular soft drinks, juice, lifesaver candies, table sugar, and the like are good options. In general, 15 grams of glucose is the dose that is given, followed by an assessment of symptoms and a blood glucose check if possible. If after 10 minutes there is no improvement, another 10-15 grams should be given. This can be repeated up to three times. At that point, the patient should be considered as not responding to the therapy and an ambulance should be called.
The equivalency of 10-15 grams of glucose (approximate servings) are:

• Four lifesavers
• 4 teaspoons of sugar
• 1/2 can of regular soda or juice

             Many people like the idea of treating hypoglycemia with dietary treats such as cake, cookies, and brownies. However, sugar in the form of complex carbohydrates or sugar combined with fat and protein are much too slowly absorbed to be useful in the acute treatment of hypoglycemia.
Once the acute episode has been treated, a healthy, long-acting carbohydrate to maintain blood sugars in the appropriate range should be consumed. Half a sandwich is a reasonable option.
If the hypoglycemic episode has progressed to the point at which the patient cannot or will not take anything by mouth, more drastic measures will be needed. In many cases, a family member or roommate can be trained in the use of glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone that causes a rapid release of glucose stores from the liver. It is an injection given intramuscularly to an individual who cannot take glucose by mouth. A response is usually seen in minutes and lasts for about 90 minutes. Again, a long-acting source of glucose should thereafter be consumed to maintain blood sugar levels in the safe range. If glucagon is not available and the patient is not able to take anything by mouth, emergency services (for example 911) should be called immediately. An intravenous route of glucose administration should be established as soon as possible.
With a history of recurrent hypoglycemic episodes, the first step in treatment is to assess whether the hypoglycemia is related to medications or insulin treatment. Patients with a consistent pattern of hypoglycemia may benefit from a medication dose adjustment. It is important that people with diabetes who experience hypoglycemia check blood glucose values multiple times a day to help define whether there is a pattern related to meals or medications. Some people who experience recurrent hypoglycemia will benefit from changes in their dietary patterns; for example, eating multiple small meals and frequent small snacks throughout the day rather than three larger meals.






SOURCE:http://www.medicinenet.com/hypoglycemia/

EIGHT HOME REMEDIES TO CURE SEVERE HEADACHE 

Severe headaches can be so painful and at times frustrating. You would feel like cutting your head off at a point to ease off the pain . If only you can.
Here are eight home remedies that can help you feel real good.

1 : Ginger ;

Mix ginger with lemon juice or add ginger to your tea. This help to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels hence easing the pain in the head.

2 : Water ;

In some cases causes of headache can be due to dehydration,a simple glass of water will do the magic in this case by helping to rehydrate the body. You can also sip through out the day.

3 : Soak your feet in warm water ;

Placing your feet in warm water and add mustard powder if available to it. This really goes a long way to help relieve the pain in the Head.

4 : Lemon ;

Add lemon to warm water or get a dry lemon that has been meshed into paste and apply on your forehead to relieve the pain.

5 : Simple Excersie;

At times what is just needed is just some little stretch here and there to get a good relief. Stetch your neck, move your chin up and down , and you can also bend your neck sideways to each other to feel relief.

6 : Apply Ice ;

Apply ice to the back of your neck, the cold from the ice helps reduce inflammation that calibrates to headache. I strongly believe applying ice to the forehead as so many believe is not that cool.

7 : Apple ;

Yea an apple a day sure keeps you away from the doctor.

A piece of apple sprinkled with little salt can go a long way to help restore balance in the body which starts from the head.

8 : Take a nap and just rest.

Most times headaches can be caused by fatigue and what you just need to do is to really take a cold bath and rest for some time to get back to your real self. Never underestimate this, it works a great deal.


source:
http://naijaebiz.blogspot.com.ng/2016/05/8-home-remedies-to-solve-severe-headache.html?m=1

An Apple a Day Keeps Dementia Away

It would seem that the old wives' tale "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" has borne fruit again in that a new study suggests that apples, bananas and oranges protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's.

The study is published in the early online issue of the Journal of Food Science and was conducted by scientists based at Cornell University, Geneva, New York, and colleagues from several universities in Korea, including Gyeongsang National University, Kyung Hee University and Korea University in Seoul.

The most common fruits in both Western and Eastern diets are apples, bananas, and oranges, offering an important source of vitamins, minerals, and fibre, wrote the researchers.

In their study, they exposed PC12 cells, that are very similar to neurons, to phenolics extracted from the three fruits and then put the cells under oxidative stress using H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide). 

The PC12 cells were bred using a mix of horse serum and fetal bovine serum. They extracted the fruit phenolics using ultrasound on dried fruit samples in an aqueous methanol solution.

Using a test called MTT reduction, the researchers discovered that the phenolic phytochemicals of the fruits had prevented a significant proportion of cells from succumbing to neurotoxicity from oxidative stress, with varying degrees of success.

MTT reduction measures the cell killing power of a toxin by comparing the amount of surviving mitochondrial enzymes with a control batch of cells not exposed to the toxin.

Of the three fruits, apples appeared to contain the most antioxidants, then bananas and then oranges.

Further tests with lactate dehydrogenase and trypan blue exclusion assays showed that the fruit extracts had reduced neuronal cell membrane damage induced by oxidative stress.

The researchers concluded that:

"These results suggest that fresh apples, banana, and orange in our daily diet along with other fruits may protect neuron cells against oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity and may play an important role in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease."

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease characterized by loss of memory and reduced ability to think and process information. Many research studies have revealed that the brains of people who die of AD show signs of different types of cell damage from oxidative stress.

The authors wrote that fruits and vegetables contain many different antioxidant substances, including vitamin C and polyphenolic phytochemicals. However, the authors had suggested in a previous study that the main antioxidative effect of apples came from the "synergistic activities of phenolics rather than vitamin C".

In their conclusion they also referred to another study that showed apple juice with antioxidants protected brain tissue from oxidative damage and improved cognitive performance in mice that had been genetically induced with AD.

Source: H.J. Heo, S.J. Choi, S.-G. Choi, D.-H. Shin, J.M. Lee, C.Y. Lee.
Journal of Food Science (Online Early Articles).
Published online on 24th January 2008.

All You Need to Know About Uterine Fibroid
 

WHAT ARE FIBROIDS?

Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb). Another medical term for fibroids is "leiomyoma" (leye-oh-meye-OH-muh) or just "myoma". Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there can be many of them in the uterus. They can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit. In unusual cases they can become very large.



WHY SHOULD WOMEN KNOW ABOUT FIBROIDS?

About 20 percent to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Fibroids are most common in women in their 40s and early 50s. Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. Women who do have symptoms often find fibroids hard to live with. Some have pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibroids also can put pressure on the bladder, causing frequent urination, or the rectum, causing rectal pressure. Should the fibroids get very large, they can cause the abdomen (stomach area) to enlarge, making a woman look pregnant.


WHO GETS FIBROIDS?

There are factors that can increase a woman's risk of developing fibroids.

AGE- Fibroids become more common as women age, especially during the 30s and 40s through menopause. After menopause, fibroids usually shrink.

FAMILY HISTORY - Having a family member with fibroids increases your risk. If a woman's mother had fibroids, her risk of having them is about three times higher than average.

ETHNIC ORIGIN - African-American women are more likely to develop fibroids than white women.

OBESITY - Women who are overweight are at higher risk for fibroids. For very heavy women, the risk is two to three times greater than average.

EATING HABITS - Eating a lot of red meat (e.g., beef) and ham is linked with a higher risk of fibroids. Eating plenty of green vegetables seems to protect women from developing fibroids.


WHERE CAN FIBROIDS GROW?

Most fibroids grow in the wall of the uterus. Doctors put them into three groups based on where they grow:

Submucosal (sub-myoo-KOH-zuhl) fibroids grow into the uterine cavity.

Intramural (ihn-truh-MYOOR-uhl) fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus.

Subserosal (sub-suh-ROH-zuhl) fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus.

Some fibroids grow on stalks that grow out from the surface of the uterus or into the cavity of the uterus. They might look like mushrooms. These are called pedunculated (pih-DUHN-kyoo-lay-ted) fibroids.


WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FIBROIDS?

Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids can have :

*Heavy bleeding (which can be heavy enough to cause anemia) or painful periods

*Feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower stomach area)

*Enlargement of the lower abdomen

*Frequent urination

*Pain during sex

*Lower back pain

*Complications during pregnancy and labor, including a six-time greater risk of cesarean section

*Reproductive problems, such as infertility, which is very rare.



WHAT CAUSES FIBROIDS?

No one knows for sure what causes fibroids. Researchers think that more than one factor could play a role. These factors could be:

*Hormonal (affected by estrogen and progesterone levels)

*Genetic (runs in families)
Because no one knows for sure what causes fibroids, we also don't know what causes them to grow or shrink. We do know that they are under hormonal control — both estrogen and progesterone. They grow rapidly during pregnancy, when hormone levels are high. They shrink when anti-hormone medication is used. They also stop growing or shrink once a woman reaches menopause.



CAN FIBROIDS TURN TO CANCER?

Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Rarely (less than one in 1,000) a cancerous fibroid will occur. This is called leiomyosarcoma (leye-oh-meye-oh-sar-KOH-muh). Doctors think that these cancers do not arise from an already-existing fibroid. Having fibroids does not increase the risk of developing a cancerous fibroid. Having fibroids also does not increase a woman's chances of getting other forms of cancer in the uterus.


WHAT IF I BECOME PREGNANT AND HAVE FIBROIDS?

Women who have fibroids are more likely to have problems during pregnancy and delivery. This doesn't mean there will be problems. Most women with fibroids have normal pregnancies. The most common problems seen in women with fibroids are:

*Cesarean section. The risk of needing a c-section is six times greater for women with fibroids.

*Baby is breech. The baby is not positioned well for vaginal delivery. Meaning that the head of the baby is pointing towards your chest and not the birth canal.

*Labor fails to progress.

*Placental abruption. The placenta breaks away from the wall of the uterus before delivery. When this happens, the fetus does not get enough oxygen and may die if no medical intervention is made.

*Preterm delivery.

Talk to your obstetrician if you have fibroids and become pregnant. All obstetricians have experience dealing with fibroids and pregnancy. Most women who have fibroids and become pregnant do not need to see an OB who deals with high-risk pregnancies.


HOW DO I KNOW FOR SURE THAT I HAVE FIBROIDS?

Your doctor may find that you have fibroids when you see her or him for a regular pelvic exam to check your uterus, ovaries, and vagina. The doctor can feel the fibroid with her or his fingers during an ordinary pelvic exam, as a (usually painless) lump or mass on the uterus. Often, a doctor will describe how small or how large the fibroids are by comparing their size to the size your uterus would be if you were pregnant. For example, you may be told that your fibroids have made your uterus the size it would be if you were 16 weeks pregnant. Or the fibroid might be compared to fruits, nuts, or a ball, such as a grape or an orange, an acorn or a walnut, or a golf ball or a volleyball.

Your doctor can do imaging tests to confirm that you have fibroids. These are tests that create a "picture" of the inside of your body without surgery. These tests might include:

*Ultrasound – Uses sound waves to produce the picture. The ultrasound probe can be placed on the abdomen or it can be placed inside the vagina to make the picture.

*Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – Uses magnets and radio waves to produce the picture.

*X-rays – Uses a form of radiation to see into the body and produce the picture.

*Computerized Tomography scan (CT scan) – Takes many X-ray pictures of the body from different angles for a more complete image.

*Hysterosalpingogram (hiss-tur-oh-sal-PIN-juh-gram) (HSG) or sonohysterogram (soh-noh-HISS-tur-oh-gram) – An HSG involves injecting x-ray dye into the uterus and taking x-ray pictures. A sonohysterogram involves injecting water into the uterus and making ultrasound pictures.

You might also need surgery to know for sure if you have fibroids. There are two types of surgery to do this:

*Laparoscopy (lap-ar-OSS-koh-pee) – The doctor inserts a long, thin scope into a tiny incision made in or near the navel. The scope has a bright light and a camera. This allows the doctor to view the uterus and other organs on a monitor during the procedure. Pictures also can be made.

*Hysteroscopy (hiss-tur-OSS-koh-pee) – The doctor passes a long, thin scope with a light through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. No incision is needed. The doctor can look inside the uterus for fibroids and other problems, such as polyps. A camera also can be used with the scope.



WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK MY DOCTOR IF I HAVE FIBROIDS?


How many fibroids do I have?

What size is my fibroid(s)?

Where is my fibroid(s) located (outer surface, inner surface, or in the wall of the uterus)?

Can I expect the fibroid(s) to grow larger?

How rapidly have they grown (if they were known about already)?

How will I know if the fibroid(s) is growing larger?

What problems can the fibroid(s) cause?

What tests or imaging studies are best for keeping track of the growth of my fibroids?

What are my treatment options if my fibroid(s) becomes a problem?

What are your views on treating fibroids with a hysterectomy versus other types of treatments?

A second opinion is always a good idea if your doctor has not answered your questions completely or does not seem to be meeting your needs.

FDA warning on power morcellators in treatment for uterine fibroids
If your doctor recommends a hysterectomy or myomectomy to treat your uterine fibroids, ask your doctor if a power morcellator will be used. Power morcellators break uterine fibroids into small pieces to remove them more easily. Recently, the FDA warned against the use of power morcellators for most women. This is because uterine tissue may contain undiagnosed cancer. While breaking up the uterine tissue, power morcellators can spread an undiagnosed cancer to other parts of the body without your doctor knowing it. Most uterine fibroids are not cancerous, but there is no way to know for sure until the fibroids are removed and tested.


HOW ARE FIBROIDS TREATED?

Most women with fibroids do not have any symptoms. For women who do have symptoms, there are treatments that can help.

Talk with your doctor about the best way to treat your fibroids. She or he will consider many things before helping you choose a treatment. Some of these things include:

*Whether or not you are having symptoms from the fibroids

*If you might want to become pregnant in the future

*The size of the fibroids

*The location of the fibroids

*Your age and how close to menopause you might be.
If you have fibroids but do not have any symptoms, you may not need treatment. Your doctor will check during your regular exams to see if they have grown.



MEDICATIONS

If you have fibroids and have mild symptoms, your doctor may suggest taking medication. Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used for mild pain. If you have heavy bleeding during your period, taking an iron supplement can keep you from getting anemia or correct it if you already are anemic.

Several drugs commonly used for birth control can be prescribed to help control symptoms of fibroids. Low-dose birth control pills do not make fibroids grow and can help control heavy bleeding. The same is true of progesterone-like injections (e.g., Depo-Provera®). An IUD (intrauterine device) called Mirena® contains a small amount of progesterone-like medication, which can be used to control heavy bleeding as well as for birth control.

Other drugs used to treat fibroids are "gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists" (GnRHa). The one most commonly used is Lupron®. These drugs, given by injection, nasal spray, or implanted, can shrink your fibroids especially when they are not so big.

Sometimes they are used before surgery to make fibroids easier to remove. Side effects of GnRHas can include hot flashes, depression, not being able to sleep, decreased sex drive, and joint pain.

Most women tolerate GnRHas quite well. Most women do not get a period when taking GnRHas. This can be a big relief to women who have heavy bleeding. It also allows women with anemia to recover to a normal blood count. GnRHas can cause bone thinning, so their use is generally limited to six months or less.

These drugs also are very expensive, and some insurance companies will cover only some or none of the cost. GnRHas offer temporary relief from the symptoms of fibroids; once you stop taking the drugs, the fibroids often grow back quickly, making Surgery the best treatment option.



SURGERY

If you have fibroids with moderate or severe symptoms, surgery may be the best way to treat them. Here are the options:

(1). Myomectomy (meye-oh-MEK-tuh-mee) – Surgery to remove fibroids without taking out the healthy tissue of the uterus. It is best for women who wish to have children after treatment for their fibroids or who wish to keep their uterus for other reasons. You can become pregnant after myomectomy. But if your fibroids were imbedded deeply in the uterus, you might need a cesarean section to deliver. Myomectomy can be performed in many ways. It can be major surgery (involving cutting into the abdomen) or performed with laparoscopy or hysteroscopy. The type of surgery that can be done depends on the type, size, and location of the fibroids. After myomectomy new fibroids can grow and cause trouble later. All of the possible risks of surgery are true for myomectomy. The risks depend on how extensive the surgery is.

(2). Hysterectomy (hiss-tur-EK-tuh-mee) – Surgery to remove the uterus. This surgery is the only sure way to cure uterine fibroids. Fibroids are the most common reason that hysterectomy is performed. This surgery is used when a woman's fibroids are large, if she has heavy bleeding, is either near or past menopause, or does not want children. If the fibroids are large, a woman may need a hysterectomy that involves cutting into the abdomen to remove the uterus. If the fibroids are smaller, the doctor may be able to reach the uterus through the vagina, instead of making a cut in the abdomen. In some cases hysterectomy can be performed through the laparoscope. Removal of the ovaries and the cervix at the time of hysterectomy is usually optional. Women whose ovaries are not removed do not go into menopause at the time of hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is a major surgery. Although hysterectomy is usually quite safe, it does carry a significant risk of complications. Recovery from hysterectomy usually takes several weeks.

(3). Endometrial Ablation (en-doh-MEE-tree-uhl uh-BLAY-shuhn) – The lining of the uterus is removed or destroyed to control very heavy bleeding. This can be done with laser, wire loops, boiling water, electric current, microwaves, freezing, and other methods. This procedure usually is considered minor surgery. It can be done on an outpatient basis or even in a doctor's office. Complications can occur, but are uncommon with most of the methods. Most people recover quickly. About half of women who have this procedure have no more menstrual bleeding. About three in 10 women have much lighter bleeding. But, a woman cannot have children after this surgery.

(4). Myolysis (meye-OL-uh-siss) – A needle is inserted into the fibroids, usually guided by laparoscopy, and electric current or freezing is used to destroy the fibroids.

(5). Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), or Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) – A thin tube is thread into the blood vessels that supply blood to the fibroid. Then, tiny plastic or gel particles are injected into the blood vessels. This blocks the blood supply to the fibroid, causing it to shrink. UFE can be an outpatient or inpatient procedure. Complications, including early menopause, are uncommon but can occur. Studies suggest fibroids are not likely to grow back after UFE, but more long-term research is needed. Not all fibroids can be treated with UFE. The best candidates for UFE are women who:
Have fibroids that are causing heavy bleeding

Have fibroids that are causing pain or pressing on the bladder or rectum

Don't want to have a hysterectomy

Don't want to have children in the future.



WHAT NEW TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR UTERINE FIBROIDS?

The following methods are not yet standard treatments, so your doctor may not offer them or health insurance may not cover them.
1. Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to destroy fibroid tissue without harming surrounding normal uterine tissue. The fibroids remain inside the uterus but shrink in size. Most women go home the same day and can return to normal activities within a few days.

2. Anti-hormonal drugs may provide symptom relief without bone-thinning side effects.

Source
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/uterine-fibroids.html
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(Uterine fibroids fact sheet was reviewed by:
Steve Eisinger, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
Professor of Family Medicine
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.)

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR HIP PAINS

What is the anatomy of the hip?

The hip joint is where the ball of the thigh bone (femur) joins the pelvis at a socket called the acetabulum. There is cartilage covering both the bone of the femur and the acetabulum of the pelvis in the hip joint. A joint lining tissue, called synovium, surrounds the hip joint. The synovium tissue produces fluid that lubricates the joint and provides nutrients to the cartilage of the joint. The ligaments around the hip joint attach the femur bone to the bony pelvis. There are a number of muscles and tendons that glide around the hip joint. Tiny fluid-filled sacs, called bursae, provide gliding surfaces for muscles and tendons around the hip joint. Major arteries and veins pass the front of the hip joint. The largest nerve of the body, the sciatic nerve, passes behind the hip joint.
The hip joint is one the large joints of the body and serves in locomotion as the thigh moves forward and backward. The hip joint also rotates when sitting and with changes of direction when walking.

What are causes and risk factors for hip pain?

There are many causes of hip joint pain. Some hip pain is temporary, while other hip pain can be long-standing or chronic. Causes of hip pain include bursitis, inflammatory and noninflammatory arthritis, fracture, sprain, infectious arthritis (septic arthritis), avascular necrosis, Gaucher's disease, sciatica, muscle strain, iliotibial band syndrome (IT band syndrome), and hematoma. 

What symptoms and signs may be associated with hip pain?

Symptoms associated with hip pain depend on the cause. Symptoms include

• limping,
• joint pain,
• groin pain,
• loss of motion of the hip,
• warmth,
• swelling over the hip,
• tenderness of the hip,
• difficulty sleeping on the hip.

Symptoms vary in intensity from mild to severe. Hip pain can be a cause of disability.

How do health-care professionals diagnose hip pain?

Health-care professionals diagnose hip pain with a history and physical examination. Physical examination maneuvers, such as internally and externally rotating the hip, can be used to detect pain-aggravating positions. Tenderness can be elicited by palpating over inflamed areas. Straight leg raising can detect signs of sciatica. A health-care professional may use imaging studies, including X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans, to further define the causes of hip pain. Sometimes, nuclear medicine bone scans are used to image inflamed or fractured bone.

What are treatments and medications for hip pain?

The treatment of hip pain depends on the precise cause of the pain. Treatments can include rest, non-weight-bearing, cold application, and anti-inflammatory medications. For local inflammation, sometimes injection of cortisone medication (steroids) is used to quiet the inflammation. If infection is present, antibiotics are used. Fractures can require treatment with surgical repairs, including pinning, plates and screws, and total joint replacement. For severe arthritis, total joint replacement is performed when possible.

What types of specialists treat hip pain?

General medicine physicians, including general practitioners, family medicine doctors, and internists, as well as orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, and sports medicine specialists treat hip pain. Often physical therapists and rehabilitation physicians are involved in the care of hip pain.

Are there any home remedies for hip pain?

Home remedies for hip pain include rest, non-weight-bearing, cold application, and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

What is the prognosis of hip pain?

The prognosis of hip pain depends on the cause and the response to treatment. Most mild strain injuries have a good outlook and resolve rapidly in response to home remedies.

Is it possible to prevent hip pain?

Hip pain can be prevented by avoiding injury to the hip joint. This includes sports injury. Sometimes proper conditioning prior to a sports event can prevent injury.

 

 

 

Sources: Firestein, G.S. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, Ninth Edition. China: Elsevier Saunders, 2012.

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