THE COUGH THAT NEVER CEASES. SEVEN IMPORTANT CAUSES.

We refer to a cough that lasts more than three weeks and that never ceases to end. The cough is a reflex that that our body uses as a defence mechanism to expel or clean foreign bodies from our airways. If the cough becomes a chronic cough, it would not be normal and it would be warning us that there is something wrong.

The cough can present itself as part of acute pathologies that would be generally infectious and of a short duration. We will be analysing the persistent and chronic cough within this article, as it is a symptom of many pathologies that need to be diagnosed as soon as possible.

CAUSES OF THE CHRONIC COUGH

1. ASTHMA

Asthma is a disease that produces an inflammation and reversible obstruction of the bronchial tubes. It is characterised by the presence of a certain type of cough that is predominantly dry, nightly and accompanied by respiratory difficulties. It is usually produced by an allergy to pollen, fungi, animal hairs, foods, vasomotor alterations, etc.

2. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease covers three types of pathologies and they are: chronic bronchitis, emphysema and long-term asthma in people that have been smokers. This disease is due to the permanent and irreversible inflammation of the bronchial tubes. It is usually caused by tobacco and produces a cough every morning and different amounts of sputum.

3. GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

Gastroesophageal reflux is the way in which gastric contents travel through the oesophagus and produce a feeling of heartburn or burning in the throat, mouth or retrosternal.

This acid usually produces laryngeal irritation that causes a commonly dry and persistent cough. Gastroesophageal reflux can only present this cough as an only symptom without being aware that the reflux is present.

4. POSTNASAL DRIP

Postnasal dripping is the constant presence of mucus within the throat. This dripping is caused by inflammatory processes in the nose (Rhinitis) and in the mucous membrane that surrounds the sinuses (Sinusitis).

5. CHRONIC LARYNGITIS

Inflammation of the larynx that lasts more than three weeks, results in a dry cough that is usually accompanied by hoarseness, that is commonly due to the misuse of the voice, the presence of nodules on the vocal chords or irritants such as tobacco, alcohol, gastroesophageal reflux.

6. TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is a pulmonary infection that is produced by Koch’s bacillus and which the main symptoms are: a chronic cough with sputum of blood, fever, tiredness, night sweats, etc.

7. LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer usually does not have any initial symptoms, but a recent cough that lasts more than three weeks, or an existing cough that changes intensity or tone, or that simply has the presence of blood in the sputum, would alert us of this pathology.

OTHERS

Cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, cardiac failure, parasites such as worms and pharmaceuticals to treat hypertension such as captopril, etc. are other pathologies that will produce a cough that is not as frequent.

Lastly, we want to remind people that when faced with the presence of a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, then medical assistance should be sought out in order to obtain a diagnosis as quickly as possible.

Dr. J. Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus

THE COUGH THAT NEVER CEASES. SEVEN IMPORTANT CAUSES.

We refer to a cough that lasts more than three weeks and that never ceases to end. The cough is a reflex that that our body uses as a defence mechanism to expel or clean foreign bodies from our airways. If the cough becomes a chronic cough, it would not be normal and it would be warning us that there is something wrong.

The cough can present itself as part of acute pathologies that would be generally infectious and of a short duration. We will be analysing the persistent and chronic cough within this article, as it is a symptom of many pathologies that need to be diagnosed as soon as possible.

CAUSES OF THE CHRONIC COUGH

1. ASTHMA

Asthma is a disease that produces an inflammation and reversible obstruction of the bronchial tubes. It is characterised by the presence of a certain type of cough that is predominantly dry, nightly and accompanied by respiratory difficulties. It is usually produced by an allergy to pollen, fungi, animal hairs, foods, vasomotor alterations, etc.

2. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease covers three types of pathologies and they are: chronic bronchitis, emphysema and long-term asthma in people that have been smokers. This disease is due to the permanent and irreversible inflammation of the bronchial tubes. It is usually caused by tobacco and produces a cough every morning and different amounts of sputum.

3. GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

Gastroesophageal reflux is the way in which gastric contents travel through the oesophagus and produce a feeling of heartburn or burning in the throat, mouth or retrosternal.

This acid usually produces laryngeal irritation that causes a commonly dry and persistent cough. Gastroesophageal reflux can only present this cough as an only symptom without being aware that the reflux is present.

4. POSTNASAL DRIP

Postnasal dripping is the constant presence of mucus within the throat. This dripping is caused by inflammatory processes in the nose (Rhinitis) and in the mucous membrane that surrounds the sinuses (Sinusitis).

5. CHRONIC LARYNGITIS

Inflammation of the larynx that lasts more than three weeks, results in a dry cough that is usually accompanied by hoarseness, that is commonly due to the misuse of the voice, the presence of nodules on the vocal chords or irritants such as tobacco, alcohol, gastroesophageal reflux.

6. TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is a pulmonary infection that is produced by Koch’s bacillus and which the main symptoms are: a chronic cough with sputum of blood, fever, tiredness, night sweats, etc.

7. LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer usually does not have any initial symptoms, but a recent cough that lasts more than three weeks, or an existing cough that changes intensity or tone, or that simply has the presence of blood in the sputum, would alert us of this pathology.

OTHERS 

Cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, cardiac failure, parasites such as worms and pharmaceuticals to treat hypertension such as captopril etc. are other pathologies that will produce a cough that is not as frequent.

Lastly, we want to remind people that when faced with the presence of a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, then medical assistance should be sought out in order to obtain a diagnosis as quickly as possible. 

Dr. J. Hurtado Martínez
Medical Director of HealthSalus

HYPERTHYROIDISM, WHEN THE THYROID INCREMENTS ITS FUNCTION.

The thyroid is a gland located in the neck that regulates our metabolism.

Hyperthyroidism is caused by an increase of the production of the hormones produced by the thyroid (T3 and T4).

It is a pathology that mostly affects young women between the ages of 35 and 45.

The most common causes for this pathology are:
• An autoimmune disease, in other words, when our own body attacks the gland. 
• An inflammation of the gland, which is less common and whose origin is viral.

SYMPTOMS

The warning symptoms are:

1. Anxiety and nervousness. 

Patients describe it as feeling anxious and anguished. It is common to be experiencing these symptoms in the evening and at night, making it very difficult to sleep.

2. Diarrhoeas. 

No link to a digestive pathology is found.

3. Heart palpitations that can sometimes lead to serious arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

4. Weight loss without a loss of appetite.

5. Excessive sweating and intolerance to heat.

6. Weakness and muscle fatigue, which causes patients to be unable to fulfil their duties at work.

7. A slight hand tremor. Patients sometimes feel this tremor throughout their body and can make them feel as though they might fall to the floor imminently.

8. Brittle hair.
This symptom stands out because the hair does not fall out but instead breaks off easily.

9. Disruption of periods in women.

10. A visible increase in size of the gland, which manifests itself as a lump in the neck, called goitre.

In some cases, bulging eyes accompany all of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism along with inflammation of the goitre and the anterior part of the leg that is then named ‘Graves-Basedow disease’.

• Diagnosis.

The diagnosis is easy; all that is needed is a simple blood test whereby an increment of the thyroid hormones can be found along with specific antibodies. Other tests such as ultrasound scan or thyroid scan will allow us to pinpoint the diagnosis.

• Treatment.

The treatment for this pathology are antithyroid drugs, which improves the symptoms in mere days, however, surgical treatment or the use of radioactive iodine, can be prescribed when oral medication is not enough to control the condition.

Even though patience would be needed in some cases, as a misdiagnosis is what can make patients visit all types of doctors’ surgeries, usually the condition has an overall good prognostic. A simple blood test solves this issue.

Dr J. Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus

THE COUGH THAT NEVER CEASES. SEVEN IMPORTANT CAUSES.

We refer to a cough that lasts more than three weeks and that never ceases to end. The cough is a reflex that that our body uses as a defence mechanism to expel or clean foreign bodies from our airways. If the cough becomes a chronic cough, it would not be normal and it would be warning us that there is something wrong.

The cough can present itself as part of acute pathologies that would be generally infectious and of a short duration. We will be analysing the persistent and chronic cough within this article, as it is a symptom of many pathologies that need to be diagnosed as soon as possible.

CAUSES OF THE CHRONIC COUGH

1. ASTHMA

Asthma is a disease that produces an inflammation and reversible obstruction of the bronchial tubes. It is characterised by the presence of a certain type of cough that is predominantly dry, nightly and accompanied by respiratory difficulties. It is usually produced by an allergy to pollen, fungi, animal hairs, foods, vasomotor alterations, etc.

2. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease covers three types of pathologies and they are: chronic bronchitis, emphysema and long-term asthma in people that have been smokers. This disease is due to the permanent and irreversible inflammation of the bronchial tubes. It is usually caused by tobacco and produces a cough every morning and different amounts of sputum.

3. GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

Gastroesophageal reflux is the way in which gastric contents travel through the oesophagus and produce a feeling of heartburn or burning in the throat, mouth or retrosternal.

This acid usually produces laryngeal irritation that causes a commonly dry and persistent cough. Gastroesophageal reflux can only present this cough as an only symptom without being aware that the reflux is present.

4. POSTNASAL DRIP

Postnasal dripping is the constant presence of mucus within the throat. This dripping is caused by inflammatory processes in the nose (Rhinitis) and in the mucous membrane that surrounds the sinuses (Sinusitis).

5. CHRONIC LARYNGITIS

Inflammation of the larynx that lasts more than three weeks, results in a dry cough that is usually accompanied by hoarseness, that is commonly due to the misuse of the voice, the presence of nodules on the vocal chords or irritants such as tobacco, alcohol, gastroesophageal reflux.

6. TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is a pulmonary infection that is produced by Koch’s bacillus and which the main symptoms are: a chronic cough with sputum of blood, fever, tiredness, night sweats, etc.

7. LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer usually does not have any initial symptoms, but a recent cough that lasts more than three weeks, or an existing cough that changes intensity or tone, or that simply has the presence of blood in the sputum, would alert us of this pathology.

OTHERS

Cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, cardiac failure, etc. are other pathologies that will produce a cough that is not as frequent.

Lastly, we want to remind people that when faced with the presence of a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, then medical assistance should be sought out in order to obtain a diagnosis as quickly as possible.

Dr. J. Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus

VIRAL HEPATITIS. THE EPIDEMIC THAT CAN NOW BE ERRADICATED.

Viral hepatitis or liver inflammation, are caused by viruses that are generally type A, B, C, D and E. Types B and C are the main causers of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer out of all the different branches of Hepatitis.

According to the World Health Organisation (OMS) there are four hundred million people infected in the world with half of those people not even aware of its presence.

HEPATITIS A and E.

It is commonly suffered by children and adolescents and presents itself in the form of epidemics as it is transmitted through contaminated food and water. It presents itself with vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, yellow discoloration of the mucus membranes or jaundice, dark urine and discoloured faeces in the majority of cases; although it sometimes does not show any symptoms and solves itself without any scars creating permanent immunity.

HEPATITIS B.

It is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, blood (through transfusion or substance abuse) and from mothers to children during the pregnancy or birth. No symptoms are present in the majority of cases.

90% of cases solve themselves, however the remaining 10% turn into chronic cases that can lead to liver cancer without a previous stage of cirrhosis.

Its treatment is through antivirals. There is a vaccine available for this type of Hepatitis and it is present in the vaccination calendar of the majority of countries.

HEPATITIS C.

It is a type of Hepatitis that it is silent in the majority of cases. A quick diagnosis and effective administration of the treatment that are at our current disposal will prevent this type of Hepatitis from reaching the last stages of Cirrhosis and Liver cancer.

The Hepatitis C virus was discovered towards the end of the 1980s, therefore every person that received a blood transfusion prior to this date has to have a blood test to detect the presence of this virus. The latency of this pathology, which can last up to twenty years, and its lack of symptoms make it one of the diseases that we should be keeping a close eye on, especially if we have or have had any risk factors in the past.

Even though blood transfusions were the primary method of contagion prior to 1992, the placement of piercings and tattoos in unsterilized places is now the major source of transmission. The use of shared needles in drug abuse is also one of the most frequent ways of transmitting this disease.

DIAGNOSIS.

The elevation of the hepatic transaminases and consequently the detection of antibodies and viral load counts will lead us to a diagnosis.

If only everybody could have access to an accurate diagnosis, the vaccine for Hepatitis B and to the treatment for Hepatitis C.

Dr J. Hurtado Martínez
Medical Director of HealthSalus

HEPATITIS VÍRICAS. EPIDEMIA MUNDIAL QUE PODRÍA ERRADICARSE.

Las hepatitis víricas o inflamación del hígado son ocasionadas por virus, generalmente de los tipos A, B, C, D y E. De estos virus los B y C son los principales causantes de cirrosis hepática y de cáncer de hígado.

Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) hay cuatrocientos millones de personas infectadas a nivel mundial y de ellas la mitad no lo saben.

HEPATITIS A y E.

Se da fundamentalmente en niños y adolescentes, se presenta en forma de epidemias, trasmitiéndose a través de alimentos y agua contaminada. En la mayoría de las ocasiones se presenta con vómitos, dolor abdominal, fiebre, coloración amarilla de las mucosas o ictericia, orina oscura y heces sin color; a veces se presenta sin síntomas y se resuelve sin secuelas originando una inmunidad permanente.

HEPATITIS B.

Se contagia a través de las relaciones sexuales sin protección, sangre (transfusión o drogadicción) y de madre al hijo durante el embarazo o el parto. En la mayoría de las ocasiones no aparecen síntomas.

El 90% de los casos de Hepatitis B se resuelven solos y el 10% pasan a la cronicidad, pudiendo llegar a cáncer de hígado sin fase previa de Cirrosis.

Su tratamiento es con antivirales.

Actualmente hay vacuna para este tipo de hepatitis y en muchos países está en el calendario vacunal.

HEPATITIS C.

Es una Hepatitis, la mayoría de las veces silenciosa. El pronto diagnóstico y la administración del tratamiento adecuado del que se dispone actualmente, evitaría llegar a las fases últimas de Cirrosis y de Cáncer de hígado.

El virus de la Hepatitis C fue descubierto a finales de los ochenta, por lo que todas la personas que recibieron una transfusión de sangre antes de esta fecha deberían de hacerse un análisis de detección de este virus. La latencia de estos, a veces de hasta veinte años y su falta de síntomas, la hace ser una de las enfermedades de las que deberíamos estar pendientes, sobre todo si tenemos o hemos tenido factores de riesgo.

Aunque antes de 1992 las transfusiones sanguíneas eran el mayor medio de contagio, son ahora la colocación de piercings y tatuajes en lugares no controlados sanitariamente los que ocupan el primer lugar. El uso de jeringuillas compartidas en la drogadicción está también entre las formas más frecuentes de transmisión.

DIAGNÓSTICO.

La elevación de las transaminasas hepáticas y consecuentemente la detección de anticuerpos y conteos de la carga viral nos llevarán al diagnóstico.

Ojalá todo el mundo pueda acceder a un diagnóstico adecuado, a la vacuna de la Hepatitis B y al tratamiento de la Hepatitis C.

Dra J. Hurtado Martínez

Directora Médica de HealthSalus

PINK EYE. SEVEN IMPORTANT CAUSES.

The conjunctiva of the eye or the white part located within it, can be affected by a number of different pathologies which are usually caused by bacteria, viruses, etc.

Among the most common causes of this pathology are bacterial conjunctivitis, herpetic conjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Corneal ulcer, conjunctival haemorrhage and dry eye are some of the other causes of pink eye.

1. BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS.

It is an infection of the conjunctiva that causes inflammation, pain, purulent discharge (usually greenish or yellow), blurry vision, feeling of a foreign object in the eye, etc.

It is usually unilateral although it can extend to the other eye.

It is transmitted from person to person or through contaminated objects. The treatment consists of irrigation with physiological saline and antibiotic eye drops in severe cases.

2. VIRAL CONJUCTIVITIS.

It consists of an inflammation of the ocular conjunctiva that emerges in one eye and that can extend to the other. The most common symptoms are pain, fever, photophobia (sensitivity to light) and it barely presents any discharge.

This type of conjunctivitis can be accompanied by pharyngitis and rhinitis in some cases. It presents itself in the form of epidemics, and it usually spreads in public toilets and swimming pools.

The treatment is anti-inflammatories in the form of eye drops in order to alleviate the symptoms.

3.  HERPETIC CONJUNTIVITIS.

It is an infection caused by the herpes virus. Vesicles can be seen in the form of small water drops around the eyes, eyelids and in the conjunctiva. It has to be treated urgently as it can affect eyesight.

4. ALLERGIC CONJUNTIVITIS.

It is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, usually present in both eyes at the same time. The intense itching without ocular secretions is what sets them apart from the other types of infections. The treatment consists of antihistamines in the form of eye drops.

5. CORNEAL ULCERATION.

This is another cause of pink eye. It is characterised by traumas in the cornea. The pain is intense and is accompanied by unilateral and blurry vision.

It is to be treated urgently.

6. CONJUNCTIVAL HEMORRHAGE.

Red blood can be clearly visible in the affected eye and produces slight discomfort. The most common causes are eye trauma and high blood pressure. Blood pressure should be kept under control although it does resolve itself without treatment in most cases.

7. DRY EYES.

Ocular dryness is frequently common due to age, continued used of the computer and other less common pathologies. It produces eye redness and needs to be treated with the use of artificial tears.

Evidently all of these pathologies have to be diagnosed by an ophthalmologist or general practitioner in order to receive the correct treatment.

Dr J. Hurtado Martínez
Medical Director of HealthSalus