Heartburn is a burning pain or heat that begins in your chest, just behind your breastbone and rises upwards to the throat. It usually comes in waves and is in response to stomach acid rising up through a valve from the stomach into the oesophagus (food pipe). In most cases, the burning sensation or pain is due to stomach acid irritating the unprotected oesophagus.

The pain is often worse after eating in the evening, or when lying down or bending over, and can last for several hours or more Occasional heartburn is common and no cause for alarm. Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn on their own with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications.

Heartburn that is more frequent or interferes with your daily routine may be a symptom of a very serious condition that requires medical attention.



Symptoms

Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms of GORD – Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease. It might sound scary, but in most cases GORD is not a serious condition and is experienced by one in ten people every day. However, persistent episodes can damage the lining of the oesophagus.

Heartburn can be more common during pregnancy as the body changes hormonally and physically.

Symptoms of heartburn include:

A burning sensation in the chest or throat that usually occurs after eating
Pain that worsens when lying down or bending over
Bitter or acidic taste in the mouth
A hot sour or salty tasting fluid in the back of your throat and difficulty swallowing.
Pressure behind the breastbone.
Feeling bloated.
Needing to burp
Feeling sick


 How heartburn and GERD occur


 Acid reflux occurs when the sphincter muscle at the lower end of your oesophagus relaxes at the wrong time, allowing the stomach acid to back up into your oesophagus. This can cause heartburn and other signs and symptoms. Frequent or constant reflux can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).



 It’s Causes

Heartburn and indigestion is very common. In most cases, it is caused by acid reflux, which is when the ring of muscle or valve (called the sphincter muscle) at the entrance to your stomach doesn’t close tightly, or relaxes too often, allowing acid from the stomach to travel out and up the oesophagus (food pipe).

Some people find they experience heartburn when they are stressed.
Being overweight means you can be more likely to suffer from heartburn because of increased pressure on your stomach, which can force open the valve after a meal.
Even tight clothing can do this.

Certain foods and drinks can trigger heartburn in some people, including:

Spicy foods
Chocolate
Onions
Large meals
Tomato products, such as ketchup
Fatty or fried foods
Citrus products
Peppermint
Alcohol, carbonated beverages, coffee or other caffeinated beverages
Being overweight or pregnant also can increase your risk of experiencing heartburn.


Complications

Heartburn that occurs frequently and interferes with your routine is considered gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD treatment may require prescription medications and, occasionally, surgery or other procedures. GERD can seriously damage your oesophagus or lead to pre-cancerous changes in the oesophagus called Barrett's oesophagus.



When to see a doctor

Seek immediate help if you experience severe chest pain or pressure, especially when combined with other signs and symptoms such as pain in the arm or jaw or difficulty breathing. Chest pain may be a symptom of a heart attack.

Make an appointment with your doctor if;

Heartburn occurs more than twice a week.
Symptoms persist despite use of over-the-counter medications.
You have difficulty swallowing.
You have persistent nausea or vomiting.
You have weight loss because of poor appetite or difficulty eating.
Pregnant women are only to take prescribed by the doctor.

Prevention

When stomach or chest pain is caused by heartburn, acid indigestion, or an ulcer, a few basic recommendations will probably help calm the pain and prevent it from returning.

Do not eat too much
Notice what foods or drinks make the pain worse and avoid them.
If the heartburn is worse at night when lying flat, try sleeping with the upper body somewhat raised.
Drink a lot of water.
Avoid tobacco
Take antacids but under your doctor’s prescription.


Read more: https://medhove.com/heartburn-its-causes-and-prevention/


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Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. Cholera is a diarrheal illness caused by an infection of the intestine by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium.

In about 80% of cholera infections, the person will have no symptoms or very mild symptoms.

However, about 20% of people with symptoms will experience profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps.

Symptoms can occur within two hours to five days after initial exposure to V. cholera. Cholera outbreaks are still a serious problem in other parts of the world. At least 150,000 cases are reported to the World Health Organization each year.

The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Common locations include parts of Africa, south Asia, and Latin America. If you are traveling to one of those areas, knowing the following cholera facts can help protect you and your family.

Transmission

Cholera is transmitted by ingesting food or water contaminated with V. cholerae. The contamination occurs when fecal matter from a sick person comes into contact with food or water supplies.

In areas with poor environmental management and overcrowding, the risk of cholera increases dramatically Common sources includes: Municipal water supplies, Ice made from municipal water, Foods and drinks sold by street vendors, Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes, raw or under cooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage. Ensuring that food and water supplies are clean and well managed is the easiest way to prevent the spread of cholera. The development and use of piped water systems, chlorination facilities, water filtration, safe water storage containers, and proper sewage disposal have helped reduce the spread of cholera.

Cholera is typically not spread directly from one person to another.


Cholera Symptoms

Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection. Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious.

About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Although many infected people may have minimal or no symptoms, they can still contribute to spread of the infection.

Complications
In extreme cases of cholera, diarrhea can be so profuse that severe dehydration sets in, which can lead to sunken eyes, cold skin, decreased skin elasticity, wrinkling of the hands and feet, and a bluish tint to the skin.

Death can occur within hours of symptom onset if the patient does not receive treatment.

Cholera treatment and prevention

Victims of Cholera

People who are ill with cholera can be treated with oral rehydration fluids. Intravenous fluids may be administered if the patient is severely dehydrated.

Antibiotics may be used to reduce the severity of symptoms. However, widespread use of antibiotics in areas with many cases of cholera is generally not recommended. Antibiotics do not prevent spread of the disease, and they may lead to V. cholerae’s increasing antimicrobial resistance.

However, you can protect yourself and your family by using only water that has been boiled, water that has been chemically disinfected, or bottled water.

Cholera is highly treatable, but because dehydration can happen quickly, it’s important to get cholera treatment right away.

Hydration is the mainstay of treatment for cholera, depending on how severe the diarrhea is, treatment will consist of oral or intravenous solutions to replace lost fluids. Antibiotics, which kill the bacteria, are not part of emergency treatment for mild cases. But they can reduce the duration of diarrhea by half and also reduce the excretion of the bacteria, thus helping to prevent the spread of the disease.


Reed more;https://medhove.com/cholera-ways-of-transmission-and-prevention/

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Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Ishilove
Marpol
Semid4lyfe
Obinoscopy
Seun