Environmental diseases ( FINAL PART)

               Environmental diseases

      Environmental diseases are non-communicable diseases that result when people are chronically exposed to toxic environmental chemicals. Other contributory causes of ENVDs include radiation, pathogens, allergens, and psychological stress. 

N:

Nervous system disorders: which include the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, command and controls our thoughts, feelings, movements, and behavior. The nervous system consists of billions of nerve cells.  When these cells are damaged by toxic chemicals, injury, or disease, this information system breaks down. This can result in disorders ranging from mood changes and memory loss to blindness, paralysis, and death.

O:

Osteoporosis: As people get older, back problems become more common, and bones in the spine, hip, and wrists break more easily. Young people can lower their chances of getting osteoporosis in later years by exercising and eating calcium-rich foods like milk and yogurt.

P:

Pneumoconiosis:  Airborne particles can be very dangerous. These include fibers from asbestos, cotton, and hemp, and dust from such compounds as silica, graphite, coal, iron, and clay. These particles can damage sensitive areas of the lung, turning healthy tissue into scar tissue. This condition is called pneumoconiosis, or black lung. Chest pains and shortness of breath often progress to bronchitis, emphysema, and/or early death. 

Q:

Queensland fever: Queensland Fever People do not usually get diseases from farm animals. However, those who work with hides and animal products can get sick from breathing the infected dust around them. This illness is called Queensland fever because was first discovered among cattle ranchers and dairy farmers in Queensland, Australia. It is caused by a tiny organism that infects livestock and then spreads to the milk and feces. Symptoms include fever, chills, and muscle aches and pains. 

R:

Reproductive Disorders:  Reproductive Disorders Beginning in the late 1940s, many women who were in danger of losing their unborn babies have prescribed a synthetic female hormone called DES (diethylstilbestrol). In 1971, scientists discovered that some of the daughters of these women were developing a very rare cancer of the reproductive organs. Since then, the use of DES and other synthetic hormones during pregnancy has been discontinued. NIEHS and other agencies are studying the possibility that some natural chemicals and man-made pesticides may cause similar problems.  

   They are finding that some of these chemicals are so similar to female estrogen that they may actually ”mimic“ this important hormone. As a result, they may interfere with the development of male and female reproductive organs. This can lead to an increased risk of early puberty, low sperm counts, ovarian cysts, and cancer of the breast or testicles. 

S:

Sunburn and skin cancer: Sunburn and Skin Cancer Almost everyone has stayed in the sun too long and been burned. Too much sunlight can also produce the most common type of cancer—skin cancer. Some skin cancers are easy to treat because they do not spread beyond the surrounding tissue. Others, like melanoma, are much more dangerous because they spread to other parts of the body. Deaths due to melanoma are increasing by 4 percent each year. More than 7,800 people died from melanomas of the skin in 2003.

T:

Tooth decay: Tooth Decay In the 1930s, health experts noticed that people who lived in areas where the water contained natural chemicals called fluorides had fewer cavities. Today, all U.S. residents are exposed to fluoride to some degree, and its use has resulted in a significant decline in tooth decay. National surveys report that the incidence of tooth decay among children 12 to 17 years of age has declined from 90 percent in 1971 to 67 percent in 1988. 

U:

Uranium Poisoning:  Uranium is a dangerous element because it is radioactive. This means it gives off high-energy particles that can go through the body and damage living tissue. A single high dose of radiation can kill. Small doses over a long period can also be harmful. For example, miners who are exposed to uranium dust are more likely to get lung cancer. Uranium poisoning can also damage the kidneys and interfere with the body’s ability to fight infection. While most people will never come in contact with uranium, those who work with medical x-rays or radioactive compounds are also at risk. They should wear lead shields and follow recommended safety guidelines to protect themselves from unnecessary exposure.

V:

Vision Problems: Our eyes are especially sensitive to the environment. Gases found in polluted air can irritate the eyes and produce a burning sensation. Tiny particles from smoke and soot can also cause redness and itching of the eyes. Airborne organisms like molds and fungus can cause infections of the eyes and eyelids. Too much exposure to the sun’s rays can eventually produce a clouding of the lens called a cataract.

W:

Waterborne Diseases: Even our clearest streams, rivers, and lakes can contain chemical pollutants. Heavy metals like lead and mercury can produce severe organ damage. Some chemicals can interfere with the development of organs and tissues, causing birth defects. Others can cause normal cells to become cancerous. Some of our waterways also contain human and animal wastes. The bacteria in the wastes can cause high fever, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.

X:

Xeroderma Pigmentosa: Xeroderma is a rare condition that people inherit from their parents. When these people are exposed to direct sunlight, their skin breaks out into tiny dark spots that look like freckles. If this condition is not treated, the spots can become cancerous. 

Y:

Yusho Poisoning:  In 1968, more than one thousand people in western Japan became seriously ill. They suffered from fatigue, headache, cough, numbness in the arms and legs, and unusual skin sores. Pregnant women later delivered babies with birth defects. These people had eaten food that was cooked in contaminated rice oil.

Toxic chemicals called PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) had accidentally leaked into the oil during the manufacturing process. Health experts now refer to this illness as ”Yusho,” which means ”oil disease.” PCB’s were already leaking into the environment from waste disposal sites and other sources. Today, small amounts of these compounds can still be found in our air, water, soil, and some of the foods we eat

Z:

Zinc Deficiency/ Poisoning:  Zinc is a mineral that the body needs to function properly. In rare cases, people can be poisoned if there is too much zinc in their food or water. However, most people can take in large quantities without any harmful effects. In areas where nutrition is a problem, people may not get enough zinc from their diet. This can lead to retarded growth, hair loss, delayed sexual maturation, eye, and skin lesions. 

Environmental diseases and Homeopathic: 

Several studies noted that pretreatment and treatment with potentized doses of substances different from those to which the animal was being exposed did not provide any benefit. The research suggests that homeopathic medicine may play a significant role in the treatment of toxicological exposure. Homeopathic research has also explored the benefits of homeopathic medicines to protect against radiation (Khuda-Bukhsh, and Banik, 1991a, 1991b). Albino mice were exposed to 100 to 200 rad of X-rays (sublethal doses) and then evaluated after 24, 48, and 72 hours. Ginseng 6x, 30x, and 200x and Ruta graveolens 30x and 200xwere administered before and after exposure. When compared with mice given a placebo as treatment, mice given any of the above homeopathic medicines experienced significantly less chromosomal or cellular damage.

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Environmental diseases (Part 1)

                                   Environmental diseases

     Environmental diseases are non-communicable diseases that result when people are chronically exposed to toxic environmental chemicals. Other contributory causes of ENVDs include radiation, pathogens, allergens, and psychological stress. 

  In epidemiology, environmental diseases are diseases that can be directly attributed to environmental factors. Apart from the true monogenic genetic disorders. environmental diseases may determine the development of disease in those genetically predisposed to a particular condition. Stress, physical and mental abuse, diet, exposure to toxins, pathogens, radiation, and chemicals found in almost all personal care products and household cleaners are possible causes of a large segment of non-hereditary disease. If a disease process is concluded to be the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factor influences, its etiological origin can be referred to as having a multifactorial pattern. 

A to Z of Environmental diseases:

 The air, the water, the sun, the dust, plants and animals, and the chemicals and metals of our world: 

A:

Allergies and asthma: More than half of the 300 million people living in the u.s. are sensitive to one or more allergens. Sneeze, noses run and eyes itch from pollen, dust, and other substances. Triggered by pollutants and other chemicals in the air and in the home.  

B:

Birth Defects: When pregnant women are exposed to chemicals or drink a lot of alcohol, harmful substances reach the fetus. Aspirin and cigarette smoking can also cause birth problems. Birth defects are the leading cause of death for infants during the first year of life. 

C:

Cancer: when a cell or group of cells begins to multiply more rapidly than normal. Some cancers are caused by substances in the environment: cigarette smoke, asbestos, radiation, natural and manmade chemicals, alcohol, and sunlight. People can reduce their risk of getting cancer by limiting their exposure to these harmful agents.

D:

Dermatitis: Dermatitis is a fancy name for inflamed, irritated skin. Many of us have experienced the oozing bumps and itching caused by poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Some chemicals found in paints, dyes, cosmetics, and detergents can also cause rashes and blisters. Too much wind and sun make the skin dry and chapped. Fabrics, foods, and certain medications can cause unusual reactions in some individuals. 

E:

Emphysema: Air pollution and cigarette smoke can break down sensitive tissue in the lungs. Once this happens, the lungs cannot expand and contract properly. For these people, each breath is hard work. Even moderate exercise is difficult. Some emphysema patients must breathe from tanks of oxygen.

F:

Fertility: Ability to produce children. However, one in eight couples has a problem. Infertility can be caused by infections that come from sexual diseases or from exposure to chemicals on the job or elsewhere in the environment. Researchers at The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) have shown that too much caffeine in the diet can temporarily reduce a woman’s fertility. 

G:

Goiter: Sometimes people don't enough iodine from the foods they eat. This can cause a small gland called the thyroid to grow larger. The thyroid can become so large that it looks like a baseball sticking out of the front of your neck. This is called a goiter. Since the thyroid controls basic functions like growth and energy, goiter can produce a wide range of effects. Goiter became rare after public health officials decided that iodine should be added to salt.

H:

Heart disease: While most chemicals that enter the body are broken down into harmless substances by the liver, some are converted into particles called free radicals that can react with proteins in the blood to form fatty deposits called plaques, which can clog blood vessels. A blockage can cut off the flow of blood to the heart, causing a heart attack. When this occurs, the body is more vulnerable to diseases and infections.

I:

Immune deficiency diseases:

  The immune system fights germs, viruses, and poisons that attack the body. It is composed of white blood cells and other warrior cells. When a foreign particle enters the body, these cells surround and destroy this “enemy.” We have all heard of AIDS and the harm it does to the immune system. Some chemicals and drugs can also weaken the immune system by damaging its specialized cells. When this occurs, the body is more vulnerable to diseases and infections.

J:

Job- related illnesses: 

  Many of these illnesses are caused by chemicals and other agents present in the workplace. Factories and scientific laboratories can contain poisonous chemicals, dyes, and metals. Doctors and other health workers have to work with radiation. People who work in airports or play in rock concerts can suffer hearing loss from loud noise. Some jobs involve extreme heat or cold.

K:

Kidney Diseases: These diseases range from simple infections to total kidney failure. People with kidney failure cannot remove wastes and poisons from their blood. They depend on expensive kidney machines in order to stay alive. Some chemicals found in the environment can produce kidney damage. Some nonprescription drugs, when taken too often, can also cause kidney problems.

L:

Lead Poisoning: infants and children will pick up and eat paint chips and other objects that contain lead. Lead dust, fumes, and lead-contaminated water can also introduce lead into the body. Lead can damage the brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Severe lead poisoning can produce headaches, cramps, convulsions, and even death. Even small amounts can cause learning problems and changes in behavior. 

M:

Mercury Poisoning: Mercury Poisoning Mercury is a silvery metal that is extremely poisonous. Very small amounts can damage the kidneys, liver, and brain. Years ago, workers in hat factories were poisoned by breathing the fumes from the mercury used to shape the hats. Today, mercury exposure usually results from eating contaminated fish and other foods that contain small amounts of mercury compounds. If it is not treated, mercury poisoning can eventually cause pain, numbness, weak muscles, loss of vision, paralysis, and even death.

                                                                                      To Be Continued 

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Apophenia

                                                 Apophenia

Apophenia: In psychology, the perception of connections and 

meaningfulness in unrelated things. Apophenia can be a 

normal phenomenon or an abnormal one, as in paranoid 

schizophrenia when the patient sees ominous patterns where 

there are none. 

Defined it as "unmotivated seeing of connections a specific feeling of an abnormal meaningfulness". He described the early stages of delusion thought as self-referential, over interpretations of actual sensory perceptions, as opposed to Hallucinations. 

Apophenia has come to imply a human propensity to seek patterns in random information, such as gambling. 

   Apophenia, the tendency to infer patterns or connections in unrelated input, can be considered a commonplace effect of brain function. Taken to an extreme, however, it can be a symptom of psychiatric dysfunction, for example, as a symptom in paranoid schizophrenia, where a patient sees hostile patterns in ordinary actions. 

  Pareidolia: Pareidolia is a type of apophenia involving the perception of images or sounds in random stimuli. A common example is the perception of a face within an inanimate object, the headlights and grill of an automobile may appear to be "grinning". People around the world see the "Man in the moon". People sometimes see the face of a religious figure in a piece of toast or in the grain of a piece of wood. There is strong evidence that the use of psychedelic drugs tends to induce or enhance pareidolia. 

 

  Pareidolia usually occurs as a result of the fusiform face area which is the part of the human brain responsible for seeing faces, mistakenly interpreting an object, shape, or configuration with some kind of perceived "face like" features as being a face. 

Gambler's fallacy:

 Apophenia is well-documented as a rationalization for gambling. Gamblers may imagine that they see patterns in the numbers that appear in lotteries, card games, or roulette wheels. One variation of this is known as the gambler's fallacy. 

The problem of apophenia in finance has been addressed in academic articles, more specifically, within the world of finance itself, the examples most prone to apophenia are trading, structuring, sales, and compensation. 

 In contrast to an epiphany, an apophany does not provide insight into the nature of reality, nor its interconnectedness, but is a "process of repetitively and monotonously experiencing abnormal meanings in the entire surrounding experiential field. Such meanings are entirely self-referential, solipsistic, and paranoid, being observed, spoken about, the object of eavesdropping, followed by strangers. 

Patternicity:

 In 2008, Michael Shermer coined the word" patternicity", defining it as "the tendency to find meaningful patterns in meaningless noise".

Agenticity:

 In the Believing brain, Shermer wrote that humans have the tendency to infuse patterns with meaning, intention, and agency, which he called agenticity. 

Clustering illusion: 

 A clustering illusion is a type of cognitive bias in which a person sees a pattern as a random sequence of numbers or events. Many theories have been disproved as a result of this bias being highlighted. 

Causes:

  Apophenia is commonly referred to as an error in perception. Although there is no confirmed reason as to why it occurs, there are some respected theories. 

Models of pattern recognition: 

 Is a cognitive process that involves retrieving information either from long-term, short- term or working memory and matching it with information from stimuli. However, there are three different ways it occurs there are some respected theories.  

Template matching:

 The stimulus is compared to templates or copies in the long-term memory. These templates are often stored as a result of past learning or educational experiences. For example, D,d, all are recognized as the same latter. This detection routine when applied to more complex data sets (such as for example, a painting or clusters of data) can result in the wrong template being matched. A false detection will result in apophenia. 

Prototype matching:

 

 This is similar to template matching, except for the fact that an exact match is not needed. An example of this would be to look at an animal such as a tiger and instead of recognizing that it was a tiger knowing that it was a cat (prototype matching) based on the known information about the characteristics of a cat. 

This type of pattern recognition can result in apophenia based on the fact that since the brain is not looking for exact matches, it can pick up some characteristics of a match and assume it fits. This is more common with pareidolia than data collection. 

 Feature analysis: 

 The stimulus is broken down into its feature and allowed to process the information. This model of pattern recognition comes from the result of four stages, which are detection, pattern dissection, feature comparison in memory, and recognition. 

Evolution: 

  One of the explanations put forth by evolutionary psychologists for apophenia is that it is not a flaw in the cognition of human brains but rather something that has come about through years of need. The study of this topic is referred to as error management theory. One of the most accredited studies in this field is Skinner's box and superstition. 

 This experiment involved taking a hungry pigeon, placing it in a box, and releasing a food pellet at a random time. The pigeon received a food pellet while performing some action, and so rather than attributing the arrival of the pellet to randomness, it repeated its action and continued to do so until another pellet fell. As the pigeon increased the number of times it performed the action, it gained the impression that it also increased the times it was"rewarded" with a pellet, although the release in fact remained entirely random. 

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Spinal cord tumor

                                          Spinal cord tumor

A spinal tumor is a growth that develops within your spinal canal or within the bones of your spine. A spinal cord tumor also called an intradural tumor, is a spinal tumor that begins within the spinal cord or the covering of the spinal cord (dura). A tumor that affects the bones of the spine (vertebrae) is called a vertebral tumor. 

 Spinal cord tumors may be classified as one of three different types depending on where they occur relative to the protective membranes of the spinal cord.

These are the main types of intradural tumors: 

1- Intramedullary tumors:  begin in the cells within the spinal cord itself, such as gliomas, astrocytomas, or ependymomas.

2- Extramedullary tumors: Grow in either the membrane surrounding the spinal cord or the nerve roots that reach out from the spinal cord. Although they don't begin within the spinal cord itself, these types of tumors may affect spinal cord function by causing spinal cord compression and other problems. Extramedullary tumors that can affect the spinal cord include meningiomas, neurofibromas, schwannomas, and nerve sheat tumors. 

 Tumors from other parts of the body can spread (metastasize) to the vertebrae, the supporting network around the spinal cord, or, in rare cases, the spinal cord itself. 

spinal tumors or growths of any kind can lead to pain, neurological problems, and sometimes paralysis. A spinal tumor can be life-threatening and cause permanent disability.

types: 

- Astrocytoma

- Chordoma

- Ependymoma

- Glioma

- Meningioma

- Neurofibroma

- Schwannoma  

Symptoms: 

 Non- mechanical back pain, especially in the middle or lower back, is the most frequent symptom of both benign and malignant spinal tumors. This back pain is not specifically attributed to injury, stress, or physical activity. However, the pain may increase with activity and can be worse at night when lying down. Pain may spread beyond the back to the hips, legs, feet, or arms and may worsen over time, even when treated by conservative, nonsurgical methods that can often help alleviate back pain attributed to mechanical causes. 

 Depending on the location and type of tumor, other signs and symptoms can develop, especially as a tumor grows and compresses on the spinal cord, the nerve roots, blood vessels, or bones of the spine. 

Additional symptoms can include the following:

 -Loss of sensation or muscle weakness in the legs, arm, or chest

- Stiff neck or back

- Difficulty walking, which may cause falls

- Pain or neurologic symptoms increase with Valsalva maneuver

- Decreased sensitivity to pain, heat, and cold

- Loss of bowel or bladder function 

Paralysis that may occur in varying degrees and in different parts of the body, depending on which nerves are compressed

- Scoliosis or other spinal deformity resulting from a large and destructive tumor. 

There are many causes of back pain, and, most back pain isn't caused by a tumor, but because early diagnosis and treatment are important for spinal tumors if back pain

- Pain is persistent and progressive 

- Pain is not activity related

- Pain gets worse at night

- History of cancer and develop new back pain

- Other symptoms of cancer, such as nausea, vomiting, or dizziness

- changes in bowel or bladder function

- Progressive muscle weakness or numbness in your legs or arms.

Causes:

 It's not clear why most spinal tumors develop. Experts suspect that defective genes play a role, but it's usually not known whether such genetic defects are inherited or simply develop over time. They might be caused by something in the environment, such as exposure to certain chemicals. in some cases, however, spinal cord tumors are linked to known inherited syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis 2 and von Hippel- Lindau disease.

Risk factors: 

 Spinal cord tumors are more common in people who have:

 - Neurofibromatosis: in this hereditary disorder, benign tumors develop on or near the nerves related t hearing. This may lead to progressive hearing loss in one or both ears. Some people with neurofibromatosis 2 also develop spinal canal tumors.

- Von- Hippel- Lindau disease: This rare, multisystem disorder is associated with blood vessel tumors in the brain, retina, and spinal cord and with other types of tumors in the kidney or adrenal glands.

Complications: 

 Spinal tumors can compress spinal nerves, leading to a loss o movement or sensation below the location of the tumor. This can sometimes cause bowel and bladder function.

However, if caught early and treated aggressively, it may be possible to prevent further loss of function and regain nerve function. Depending on its location, a tumor that presses against the spinal cord itself may be life-threatening.

Diagnosis: 

Spinal tumors sometimes might be overlooked because they're not common and their symptoms resemble those of more common conditions. For that reason, it's especially important that your doctor know your complete medical history and performs both general physical and neurological exams.

Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI uses a powerful magnetic field and radio wave to produce accurate images of your spine, spinal cord, and nerves. MRI is usually the preferred test to diagnose tumors of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues. A contrast agent that helps highlight certain tissues and structures may be injected into a vein in your hand or forearm during the test.

 Some people may feel claustrophobic inside the MRI scanner or find the loud thumping sound it makes disturbing, but you're usually given earplugs to help with the noise, and some scanners are equipped with televisions or headphones. 

- Computerized tomography (CT). This test uses a narrow beam of radiation to produce detailed images of your spine. sometimes it's combined with an injected contrast dye to make abnormal changes in the spinal canal or spinal cord easier to see, CT scan is only rarely used to help diagnose spinal tumors. 

   Biopsy: The only way to determine the exact type of a spinal tumor is to examine a small tissue sample (biopsy) under a microscope. The biopsy result will help determine treatment options.            

       

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