Fatty liver disease is a prevalent condition affecting many individuals worldwide. One of the major contributors to this disease is obesity. In today’s fast-paced world, dietary habits are often unhealthy, leading to an imbalance in the body and numerous health issues.
Cause: Not related to excessive alcohol consumption.
Effects: Causes inflammation and damage to liver cells.
Progression: Does not typically worsen over time without additional contributing factors.
Alcohol-Related Fatty Liver Disease (ARFLD)
Cause: Directly related to excessive alcohol consumption.
Effects: Can cause serious liver damage, including an enlarged liver.
Symptoms: Early signs include pain and discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen.
Progression: Can improve with cessation of alcohol consumption; continued drinking can exacerbate the condition.
Symptoms and Effects on the Body
Abdomen
Fluid Retention: Water retention in the abdomen, caused by pressure in the liver’s blood vessels due to inflammation, leading to swelling and pain.
Foot
Swelling: Persistent swelling in the feet can indicate liver disease, as fluid accumulates due to gravity. This swelling can also occur from normal activities, but when persistent, it should be checked by a healthcare provider.
Legs and Ankles
Swelling: The ankles, legs, and feet can swell due to liver disease. Enlarged veins put pressure on the kidneys, hindering their ability to filter and remove excess fluid from the body naturally.
Chest
Enlargement: Liver disease can cause enlargement of the chest walls due to hormonal imbalances. This condition can decrease sexual desire and increase the risk of infertility.
Understanding these symptoms and their potential links to liver disease is crucial for early detection and management. Proper dietary habits and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption can significantly reduce the risk of developing fatty liver disease.
Indigestion — also called dyspepsia or an upset stomach — is discomfort in your upper abdomen. Indigestion describes certain symptoms, such as belly pain and a feeling of fullness soon after you start eating, rather than a specific disease. Indigestion can also be a symptom of other digestive disorders.
Although indigestion is common, each person may experience indigestion in a slightly different way. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily.
Indigestion may often be relieved with lifestyle changes and medicines.
Digestive system
The major organs in your digestive system are the liver, stomach, gallbladder, colon and small intestine.
Symptoms
If you have indigestion, you may have:
Early fullness during a meal. You haven’t eaten much of your meal, but you already feel full and may not be able to finish eating.
Uncomfortable fullness after a meal. The feeling of fullness lasts longer than it should.
Discomfort in the upper abdomen. You feel a mild to severe pain in the area between the bottom of your breastbone and your bellybutton.
Burning in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable heat or burning sensation between the bottom of your breastbone and your bellybutton.
Bloating in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable sensation of tightness in your upper abdomen.
Nausea. You feel as if you want to vomit.
Less frequent symptoms include vomiting and belching.
Sometimes people with indigestion also experience heartburn. Heartburn is a pain or burning feeling in the center of your chest that may radiate into your neck or back during or after eating.
When to see a doctor
Mild indigestion is usually nothing to worry about. Consult your health care provider if discomfort lasts for more than two weeks.
Contact your provider right away if pain is severe or accompanied by:
Unintentional weight loss or loss of appetite.
Repeated vomiting or vomiting with blood.
Black, tarry stools.
Trouble swallowing that gets worse.
Fatigue or weakness, which may be signs of anemia.
Seek immediate medical attention if you have:
Shortness of breath, sweating or chest pain radiating to the jaw, neck or arm.
Chest pain when you’re active or stressed.
Diagnosis
Your health care provider is likely to start with a health history and a thorough physical exam. Those evaluations may be enough if your indigestion is mild and you’re not experiencing certain symptoms, such as weight loss and repeated vomiting.
But if your indigestion began suddenly, and you are experiencing severe symptoms or are older than age 55, your provider may recommend:
Laboratory tests, to check for anemia or other metabolic disorders.
Breath and stool tests, to check for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the bacterium associated with peptic ulcers, which can cause indigestion.
Endoscopy, to check for issues in your upper digestive tract, particularly in older people with symptoms that won’t go away. A tissue sample, called a biopsy, may be taken for analysis.
Imaging tests (X-ray or CT scan), to check for intestinal obstruction or another issue.
If a person is down with fever, muscle pain, and weakness or has any other symptoms of dengue, then it is wise to get a blood test done. The only way to detect dengue is through a lab test. However, before you consider a blood test for dengue, you need to know about the different types of blood tests available because depending on the time of infection and the appearance of the symptoms, the test results may differ. Here is a quick guide for dengue lab tests that can help you.
Tests to diagnose dengue
In most cases, a complete blood count is recommended if your doctor suspects dengue. However, it is a nonspecific test because it doesn’t help to confirm the presence of the dengue virus or detect the type of virus.
To detect the presence of the dengue virus in the blood, you need to undergo definitive tests which include non-structural protein 1 (NS1) test, Immunoglobulin G/ Immunoglobulin M test or a real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Here are the common tests recommended to diagnose dengue:
1. Dengue NS1 Antigen
This is a blood test to detect the dengue virus early in the course of an infection.
When to get the test done: It should be done within the first five days of the appearance of symptoms because after five-seven days, the chances of false positive and negative results are high.
Limitations: This test does not differentiate between different dengue serotypes. It is also found that the sensitivity of the test is higher (more than 90%) in primary infection (first time infection) than in secondary infection.
When can you get the results: The test results can be obtained within a day. The NS1 Antigen test is comparatively cheaper than other lab tests for dengue.
2. Immunoglobulin M (IgM)
This test looks for IgM (antibodies) in the blood, which appear in the early course of the disease (acute infection). The test can also help to differentiate between primary (first time infection) and secondary (second time infection with any of the dengue virus) infection.
When to get the test done: It is advised to undergo a dengue antibody IgM test, if you are experiencing symptoms of dengue for more than a week or 10 days. This is because IgM levels are detectable in 50% of patients by day 3 after the onset of illness, which increases to 80% by day 5 and 99% by day 10.
Limitations: This test is not advised if you have a secondary dengue infection as IgM levels are significantly low (or even undetectable) in secondary infection.
When can you get the results: Depending upon the method used to detect the antibodies, you can get the test results within 30 minutes (IgM rapid test) or around 1-2 days (IgM ELISA) and it may vary for each lab.
3. Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
The test is used to detect infection in the later course of the disease because the level of IgG in the blood tends to increase slowly. Usually, the level increases six to ten days after the infection and the antibodies can remain in the blood for around 90 days or for the rest of your life.
To distinguish between primary and secondary dengue infections, IgG/IgM ratio test is commonly used.
When to get the test done: You can get an IgG antibody test for dengue after a week. You can also get the test done after 15 days as these antibodies can still be detected in the blood several months after the infection.
Limitations: This test is not advised for acute infections.
When can you get the results: To get the reports, you may have to wait for at least seven days or more.
4. Dengue RNA PCR test
It is a primary test used to detect dengue virus in the early course of the infection. A positive result not only confirms the infection but also helps to identify the different serotypes of the dengue virus. The test is around 90% sensitive and 95% specific.
When to get the test done: The dengue RNA PCR test can provide positive results if the test is done within five days after the symptoms start to appear. It detects the viral genome (the genetic material of the virus) in the blood.
Limitations: The test can only be performed in certain laboratories.
When can you get the results: The results for dengue RNA PCR test can be obtained within a day or two after getting tested.
So if your doctor has advised a test for the diagnosis of dengue fever or if you are planning to undergo a test because you suspect you might have dengue, book the correct diagnostic test after monitoring the symptoms.
The information on this blog should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Dengue fever is a viral infection spread by mosquitos. The virus can’t be spread from person to person. Mosquitos that carry the dengue virus are most common in areas of the world with tropical and subtropical climates. These include parts of:
South and Central America
Southeast Asia
The South Pacific
Africa
The Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Dengue fever is rare in the U.S. mainland, but cases have been reported in Florida and in Texas near the Mexican border.
Most people who get dengue fever have no symptoms, or mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and headache. These symptoms usually last for a week or so. But sometimes dengue fever can develop into a much more serious disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).
DHF causes life-threatening symptoms, including blood vessel damage and shock. Shock is a condition that can lead to a severe drop in blood pressure and organ failure.
DHF mostly affects children under 10. It can also develop if you have dengue fever and get infected a second time before you have fully recovered from your first infection.
A dengue fever test checks your blood for signs of a dengue fever infection. There are two main types of dengue fever blood tests. One looks for the virus itself; the other checks for antibodies to the virus. Antibodies are proteins made by your immune system to fight foreign substances like viruses.
While there is no medicine that can cure dengue fever or DHF, other treatments can help relieve symptoms. This can make you more comfortable if you have dengue fever. It can be lifesaving if you have DHF.
Other names: dengue virus antibody, dengue virus by PCR
What is it used for?
A dengue fever test is used to find out if you have been infected with the dengue virus. It is mostly used for people who have symptoms of illness and have recently traveled to an area where dengue infections are common.
Why do I need a dengue fever test?
You may need this test if you live or have recently traveled to an area where dengue is common, and you have symptoms of dengue fever. Symptoms usually show up four to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and may include:
Sudden high fever (104°F or higher)
Swollen glands
Rash on the face
Severe headache and/or pain behind the eyes
Joint and muscle pain
Nausea and vomiting
Fatigue
Symptoms
Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) causes more severe symptoms and can be life-threatening. If you’ve had symptoms of dengue fever and/or have been in an area that has dengue, you may be at risk for DHF. Seek medical help immediately if you or your child has one or more of the following symptoms:
Severe abdominal pain
Vomiting that doesn’t go away
Bleeding gums
Nose bleeds
Bleeding under the skin, which may look like bruises
Blood in urine and/or stools
Difficulty breathing
Cold, clammy skin
Restlessness
What happens during a dengue fever test?
Your health care provider will probably ask about your symptoms and for details on your recent travels. If an infection is suspected, you will get a blood test to check for the dengue virus.
During a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
You don’t need any special preparations for a dengue fever test.
Are there any risks to the test?
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
What do the results mean?
A positive result means you probably have been infected with the dengue virus. A negative result can mean you aren’t infected or you were tested too soon for the virus to show up in testing. If you think you were exposed to the dengue virus and/or have symptoms of infection, talk to your health care provider about whether you need to be retested.
If your results were positive, talk to your health care provider about how to best treat your dengue fever infection. There are no medicines for dengue fever, but your provider will probably recommend that you get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. You may also be advised to take over-the-counter pain relievers with acetaminophen (Tylenol), to help ease body aches and reduce fever. Aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are not recommended, as they may worsen bleeding.
If your results are positive and you have symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever, you may need to go to the hospital for treatment. Treatment may include getting fluids through an intravenous (IV) line, a blood transfusion if you’ve lost a lot of blood, and careful monitoring of blood pressure.
Is there anything else I need to know about a dengue fever test?
If you will be traveling to an area where dengue is common, you can take steps to reduce your risk of getting infected with the dengue virus. These include:
Apply an insect repellent containing DEET on your skin and clothing.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Use screens on windows and doors.
Sleep under a mosquito net.
Also, a vaccine to prevent dengue fever is available in certain areas where the virus ins common. These include the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The vaccination is only for people who have had a previous dengue fever infection.If you’ve never been infected with dengue, the vaccine could make you very sick.
To learn more about the vaccine, talk to your health care provider.
A blood differential test measures the amount of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your body. White blood cells (leukocytes) are part of your immune system, a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect you from infection. There are five different types of white blood cells:
Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell. These cells travel to the site of an infection and release substances called enzymes to fight off invading viruses or bacteria.
Lymphocytes. There are two main types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells. B cells fight off invading viruses, bacteria, or toxins. T cells target and destroy the body’s own cells that have been infected by viruses or cancer cells.
Monocytes remove foreign material, remove dead cells, and boost the body’s immune response.
Eosinophils fight infection, inflammation, and allergic reactions. They also defend the body against parasites and bacteria.
Basophils release enzymes to help control allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
However, your test results may have more than five numbers. For example, the lab may list the results as counts as well as percentages.
Other names for a blood differential test: Complete blood count (CBC) with differential, Differential, White blood cell differential count, Leukocyte differential count
What is it used for?
The blood differential test is used to diagnose a variety of medical conditions. These may include infections, autoimmune diseases, anemia, inflammatory diseases, and leukemia and other types of cancer. It is a common test that is frequently used as part of a general physical exam.
Why do I need a blood differential test?
A blood differential test is used for many reasons. Your doctor may have ordered the test to:
Monitor your overall health or as part of a routine checkup
Diagnose a medical condition. If you are feeling unusually tired or weak, or have unexplained bruising or other symptoms, this test may help uncover the cause.
Keep track of an existing blood disorder or related condition
What happens during a blood differential test?
A health care professional will take a sample of your blood by using a small needle to draw blood from a vein in your arm. The needle is attached to a test tube, which will store your sample. When the tube is full, the needle will be removed from your arm. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
You don’t need any special preparations for a blood differential test.
Are there any risks to the test?
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms usually go away quickly.
What do the results mean?
There are many reasons your blood differential test results may be outside the normal range. A high white blood cell count may indicate an infection, immune disorder, or allergic reaction. A low count may be caused by bone marrow problems, medication reactions, or cancer. But abnormal results don’t always indicate a condition needing medical treatment. Factors such as exercise, diet, alcohol level, medicines, and even a woman’s menstrual cycle can affect the results. If the results seem abnormal, more specific tests may be ordered to help figure out the cause. To learn what your results mean, talk to your healthcare provider.
Is there anything else I need to know about a blood differential test?
Use of certain steroids may increase your white blood cell count, which can lead to an abnormal result in your blood differential test.
The information on this blog should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
