Tinnitus is noise originating in the ear rather than in the environment. Tinnitus is a symptom and not a specific disease. It is very common-10 to 15% of people experience some degree of tinnitus. More than 75% of ear-related problems include tinnitus as a symptom, including injury from loud noises or explosions, ear infections, a blocked ear canal or eustachian tube, otosclerosis (a type of hearing loss), tumors of the middle ear, and Meniere's disease. Certain drugs (such as
aminoglycoside antibiotics and high doses of aspirin) also may cause tinnitus.
Tinnitus may also occur with disorders outside the ears, including anemia, heart and blood vessel disorders such as hypertension and arteriosclerosis, an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) , and head injury. Tinnitus that is only in one ear or that pulsates is a more serious sign. A pulsating sound may result from certain tumors, a blocked artery, an aneurysm, or other blood vessel disorders.
The noise heard by people with tinnitus may be a buzzing, ringing, roaring, whistling, or hissing sound. Some people hear more complex sounds that vary over time. These sounds are more noticeable in a quiet environment and when the person is not concentrating on something else. Thus, tinnitus tends to be most disturbing to people when they are trying to sleep. However, the
experience of tinnitus is highly individual; some people are very disturbed by their symptoms, and others find them quite bearable.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Because a person who has tinnitus usually has some hearing loss, thorough hearing tests are performed as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head and computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bone (the skull bone that contains part of the ear canal, the middle ear, and the inner ear). Attempts to identify and treat the disorder causing tinnitus are often unsuccessful. Various techniques can help make tinnitus tolerable, although the ability to tolerate it varies from person to person. Often a hearing aid helps suppress tinnitus. Many people find relief by playing background music to mask the tinnitus. Some people use a tinnitus masker, a device worn like a hearing aid that produces a constant level of neutral sounds. For the profoundly deaf, a cochlear implant may reduce tinnitus.
[Merck]
Monday, January 14, 2008
Tinnitus
Labels: Five Senses
Posted by Aris Martant at 10:20 AM 2 comments
Peptic Ulcers
What is a peptic ulcer?
A peptic ulcer is a sore in your stomach or small intestine. It happens when the juices that help break down food damage the lining of your stomach or intestine. Ulcers usually affect people who are 25 to 64 years of age.
The two main causes are a germ called Helicobacter pylori (HP) and anti-inflammatory pain medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Steroids and medicines for osteoporosis also may cause ulcers.
How can I tell if I have a peptic ulcer?
You may feel bloated or full. Pain may start soon after you eat. Three to four hours after eating a meal, you may get pain or an empty feeling in your stomach that gets better after you eat again or take an over-the-counter antacid (such as Tums).
Other signs include belching, feeling sick or dizzy, vomiting, heartburn, and a bad taste in your throat. Some people have black stools from bleeding in the stomach or intestine.
Your family doctor may give you a blood or stool test to see if you have anemia or HP infection. You may need an x-ray or an endoscopy (when the doctor looks inside your stomach with a tiny camera on a tube inserted through your mouth).
How are peptic ulcers treated?
Peptic ulcers are treated with medicine that stops your stomach from making acid. If you have HP infection, you will need to take antibiotics and acid-reducing tablets for one to two weeks.
If you smoke, quitting will help your ulcers heal and will help stop them from coming back. If you are taking a medicine that may cause ulcers, your family doctor can suggest a different one.
You should start to feel better within a few days or weeks of starting the medicine. Some people need to take medicines for four to eight weeks or longer. Tell your family doctor if you still have symptoms, you lose weight, the pain gets worse, you see blood in your vomit, or you have black, tarry stools.
[AAFP]
Labels: Digestive
Posted by Aris Martant at 10:00 AM 7 comments
Orgasm Sign
There are many questions rise up among women regarding sexual stuff. Event there are women that never have orgasm experience.
Menilai pertanyaan yang disampaikan oleh ibu Nira, dapat disimpulkan bahwa ternyata tak sedikit seorang perempuan yang kurang memahami seputar masalah seksual sebelum ia menikah. Untuk itu, sebaiknya bisa disimak penjabaran dari pertanyaan-pertanya an diatas.
Dengan memperhatikan terjadinya kontraksi otot yang ritmik itu, pasangan seksual bisa mengetahui terjadinya orgasme. Memang ada kalanya kontraksi ritmik tak cukup kuat sehingga tidak nyata terlihat atau tidak jelas dirasakan pasangannya.
Kalau belum pernah mencapai orgasme, berarti reaksi seksual tidak pernah mencapai puncak. Ini menunjukkan bahwa rangsangan seksual yang diterima tak cukup mampu menimbulkan reaksi seksual sampai pada puncaknya.
Banyak laki-laki yang menganggap isterinya telah mencapai orgasme karena menyamakan perlendiran vagina dengan ejakulasi pada laki-laki. Hal itu menunjukkan bahwa mereka tak mengerti bahwa perlendiran vagina hanyalah reaksi awal terhadap rangsangan seksual.
Labels: Reproduction System
Posted by Aris Martant at 9:49 AM 57 comments