Tag: weight loss

ASPERGILLOSIS

BY DAKSHITA NAITHANI

INTRODUCTION

Pier Antonio Micheli, a priest and scientist, named Aspergillus while documenting moulds in 1729. The mould looked like an aspergillum, which is a type of holy water sprinkler. Physician Georg W. Fresenius described the species fumigatus for the first time in 1863.

 Apergillus spp., found in abundance of nature, can be found in soil, decomposing materials, water sources, and air particle. Aspergillus-related disease is uncommon, although it has a significant death rate. The majority of people are exposed to spores (conidia) during their lives, although illness development occurs mostly in people with compromised immune systems, as well as during construction and yard activities. In patients with leukaemia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, A.fumigatus is the most frequent invasive mould infection, with death rates exceeding 50 percent in these high-risk populations.

Around the apex, the stipes are grey in colour. They feature a slick finish. Their globule is tiny and columnar. The conidia’s texture is either smooth or spinose.

WHERE IT CAN BE FOUND?

Aspergillus is commonly found in rotting plant matter. After considerable environmental exposure to Aspergillus spores, such as when handling tree-bark chipping, Aspergillosis can develop in healthy hosts.

Aspergillus can be found in soil, compost piles, and damp grain in outdoor settings. Aspergillus may be found within buildings in wet insulation, fireproofing material, beds , behind couches, in damp rooms’ corners, dust, and air conditioning systems. In the Northern Hemisphere, most research studying seasonal changes in fungal exposure show an increase in airborne Aspergillus throughout the cold season.

TYPES OF ASPERGILLOSIS

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a multifaceted hypersensitivity reaction to inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus. Although it produces lung irritation and allergy symptoms, it does not cause infection. Aspergillus sinusitis is caused by an allergic reaction to the fungus Aspergillus, which produces inflammation in the sinuses and the symptoms of a sinus infection but does not cause an infection. A fungus ball is also known as an Aspergilloma. It forms in the lungs or sinuses but seldom spreads to other regions of the body, as the name implies.

Aspergillosis of the lungs (chronic pulmonary aspergillosis) Aspergilloma, chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis (CCPA), chronic fibrosing pulmonary aspergillosis (CFPA), and Aspergillus nodules are all illnesses classified as chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). CPA is a lung infection that develops over time.

INVASIVE PULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS

Inhaled conidia are removed by epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages in normal host lungs. Aspergillus becomes invasive when conidia escape these host defences and develop into branching filaments called hyphae. Alveolar macrophages generate inflammatory mediators, which attract neutrophils, which can destroy the hyphae.

CUTANEOUS SKIN ASPERGILLOS

Aspergillus comes in contact through a breach in the skin (for example, after surgery or a burn wound) and infects persons with weaker immune systems. Cutaneous Aspergillosis can also develop if invasive Aspergillosis moves from another part of the body, such as the lungs, to the skin.

LIFE CYCLE

Aspergillus begins its infectious life cycle by producing conidia (asexual spores) that are easily transported into the atmosphere, ensuring its ubiquity in both habitats. Inhalation of these conidia is the most common way to become infected, followed by conidial deposition in the bronchiole spaces. The phagocytosis and destruction of Aspergillus conidia is largely carried out by macrophages. The danger of infection stems largely from a breakdown in these host defences, as well as fungal characteristics that allow A. fumigatus to survive and flourish in this pulmonary habitat.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of Aspergillosis are:

  • Wheezing, chest pain
  • Shortness of breath, stuffiness, runny nose and reduced ability to smell
  • Cough (sometimes blood)
  • Fever (in rare cases), headache, fatigue
  •        Weight loss

•             The length of time that an illness lasts depends on the underlying health concerns, the intensity or location of infection, and the kind of sickness.

•             Allergic forms, may require steroid and antifungal treatment for a few months, possibly longer sometimes.       

•             Invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis may need at least 6 to 12 weeks of antifungal therapy. Severe cases may need therapy for lifetime and monitoring to keep the illness under control. 

•             If the infection spreads from the lungs to other areas of the body, additional symptoms may appear.

•             Red to purple plaques or papules are common symptoms of cutaneous Aspergillosis.

DIAGONOSIS    

Because the symptoms of Aspergillosis might be confused with those of other lung diseases, diagnosing it can be challenging. In order to make a diagnosis, your healthcare practitioner will look at your medical history, risk factors, symptoms, physical examinations, and lab testing.

An Aspergilloma, a fungal tumour, or the symptoms of invasive Aspergillosis and ABPA can be found on a chest X-Ray or a chest CT scan.

•             A sample of your sputum is stained with a dye and examined for the presence of Aspergillus filaments in a respiratory secretion (sputum) test.

•             Tissue and blood testing may be used to confirm the presence of ABPA.

•             To confirm invasive aspergillosis, a biopsy of tissues from your lungs or sinuses is performed, as well as blood testing.

TREATMENT

In addition to early diagnosis, early treatment is critical in managing aspergillosis. Depending on the type of disease, one may have the following treatments:

•             Observation- If you have a single aspergilloma, you may not need treatment; instead, you may be monitored with regular chest X-rays or CT scans. The doctor may prescribe antifungal medication if your disease worsens.

•             Antifungal medicines may be used in combination with corticosteroids to reduce the need of steroids, improve lung function, and prevent existing asthma or cystic fibrosis from deteriorating. Some examples are prednisone (Deltasone), prednisolone (Orapred), and methylprednisolone (Medrol).

•               Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is treated with antifungal medications. Voriconazole (VFEND) and amphotericin B are two of these drugs (Amphocin, Fungizone).

•             Surgery- as antifungal medicines have a hard time penetrating an aspergilloma, surgery may be required to remove the fungal mass if the aspergilloma causes pulmonary haemorrhage.

Embolization of the Arteries -This technique can be used to temporarily halt aspergilloma-related bleeding.  A radiologist uses a catheter to inject a substance into an artery supplying a lung cavity where an aspergilloma is causing blood loss. The injected substance solidifies, cutting off the area’s blood supply and halting the bleeding. This therapy works for a while, but the bleeding will most likely return.

REASONS TO GO ON A DIET

In a world full of foodies, some people also spread awareness about the importance of going on a diet. Diet, though in modern days is used as a tool for weight loss, is not a new thing ancient India. In ancient days or even now, many people go on a fasting. Many state that to be on religious grounds. Many also state it the other way. Fasting was a little different from diet. Fasting was either no consumption for a day or two or just consumption of liquids. Many say there is a scientific reason behind fasting because many say that being on a fast on a regular basis is healthy as it gives some rest to the digestive organs in the body that are continuously indulged in the process of breaking down food. As people are more emotionally attached to food, they over indulge in the process of eating which is not good for a healthy state of the body. Though it might be nutritious, there would be no pattern of eating. Thus, diet brings a pattern and regularisation in quantity and quality of eating. Most of the people believe that the only reason for people to go on a diet is for weight loss which is actually a myth. Though it is one of the reasons but there are many other reasons too!!

REASONS TO GO ON A DIET:

  • WEIGHT LOSS-This is the reason mostly people undergo a diet regime. Due to the accumulation of toxins by eating a lot of processed foods and increase body mass index. Thus, people to reduce to their former size, go through diet. But the diet they follow may not be always right or suitable for their body. A healthy diet includes consumption of fruits, vegetables and protein rich pulses.
  • WEIGHT GAIN– There are also very skinny people, though eat a normal diet do not fit into the normal Body Mass Index (BMI). There are also people who lost huge weight due to some illness. Diet helps these people to gain weight.
  • REDUCES RISK OF CANCER– Excessive consumption of alcohol, eating packed and processed food are associated with risk of some forms of cancer. Following a healthy diet refreshes your body and maintains it healthy.
  • DECREASES GLUCOSE LEVEL IN BLOOD STREAM– This is related to weight loss. By way of diet for weight loss, one can also lower their blood glucose levels according to the “Diabetes care” 2011.
  • HEALTHIER SKIN AND HAIR– A healthy diet keeps your skin soft and supple. It keeps aging at bay. It also improves your hair condition and keeps it soft and shiny.
  • BETTER DIGESTION– While on a diet, you can control the quantity of each nutrient going to your body. An increase in consumption of fibres in diet can improve your digestion.
  • IMPROVES MOOD– Diet not only make you look better, you also feel better. Your body feels light and healthy which has a direct impact on the mind. A healthy body promotes a healthy mind.

STAY HEALTHY! STAY HAPPY!!

Relevant links: https://www.idodeclaire.com/2021/06/why-you-should-focus-on-your-diet.html

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-a-plant-based-diet-and-why-should-you-try-it-2018092614760

Is exercise necessary for weight loss?

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Exercising is a great way to be healthy and maintain your weight. It makes our body flexible, improves our metabolism and also helps with stress and depression. Many people suggests exercising for weight loss, but the question is if it is really an essential to loose weight?

We have been conditioned to believe that exercise is an essential ingredient to loose weight but according to science, it might not be that important of a factor to loose some pounds. A very uncommon fact about exercising is that it amounts to a very small calorie expenditure of your daily life. Obesity researcher Alexxai Kravitz suggests that there are three main components of calorie expenditure : 1) basal metabolic rate, or the energy used for basic functioning when the body is at rest; 2) the energy used to break down food; and 3) the energy used in physical activity.

According to Kravitz, basal metabolic rate amounts to about 70% of energy expenditure and we have no control over the same. Energy spent in digesting food amounts to about 10%. All of this included, it leaves only about 20% room for physical exercise along with daily activities like walking, carrying weight,etc. What I am trying to imply is that food we consume actually amounts to 100% of calories/energy that goes inside our body while exercising only amount to about 10-30% of expenditure. This basically shows that erasing all the fat on your tummy is not as dependable on exercise as your gym membership shows.

It is difficult to create a calorie-deficit only through exercising. To explain it in easier words, “If a hypothetical 90-kg man added 60 minutes of medium-intensity running four days per week while keeping his calorie intake the same, and he did this for 30 days, he’d lose 3 kgs.” And to compensate the exercise, if the man adds food and rest in his daily routine his weight loss will be even less significant. So for an overweight person to loose weight solely by exercise, it will take him a lot of time to reach his goal.

Studies say that generally people who exercise may consume more than on a daily basis believing they lost a lot of calories or simply because they were hungrier. “You work hard on that machine for an hour, and that work can be erased with five minutes of eating afterward,” Hall explained. It is suggested that reducing calorie intake and replacing high calorie food with low calorie ones are more helpful on your way to effective weight loss. Exercising boosts weight loss in other subtle ways but depending wholly on it may not be the best idea. We need to change the way we look at exercising, it is immensely helpful for preventing diseases and living a healthier life but it may not be the best way to lose weight. Also, it has been said many times that exercise helps in building muscles, more than losing weight. In order to lose weight there should be a balance of physical activity and calorie intake.