27
February
2008
Hyperhidrosis: excessive sweating. I am going to focus on the hands, feet, and armpits because that is embarrassing and emotionally distressing to people who have it. It is thought less than 1% of the population suffers from this.
The cause? For most there is not a disease causing it. Those with growth hormone excess (acromegaly) have sweating hands and feet. Medications can cause it – there are a lot, in particular some NSAIDs, BP meds, migraine meds, antidepressants, and narcotics. Stimulants in particular can cause sweaty hands and feet because the sympathetic nervous system causes the sweat glands to secrete perspiration.
Interesting: doesn’t occur when asleep. Episodes occur usually during stress or excitement. Of course heat can cause the sweating as well.
drjohnhong 
Psych, Dermatology 
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20
February
2008
Nausea and Vomiting (N/V): who likes to feel nauseous and then throw up? Nausea is the feeling you are going to vomit. Vomit is actually bring up the stomach contents up and out through the mouth. If you don’t bring anything up, then it is called retching.
Many things cause nausea and vomiting. If you get motion sick like me, you will know that is one cause. Vertigo A viral GI bug usually goes around a community once or twice a year it seems. Bacterial GI bug comes from food normally, especially in undercooked or ill-prepared chicken. Pregnant all too well know N/V, like 70-85% of them. Diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperthyroidism, parathyroid disease are metabolic reasons. GI illness: peptic ulcers, pancreas disease, gallbladder disease, hepatitis, gastroparesis (slow GI system), small bowel obstruction. Migraines, meningitis, anxiety. Medicines, alcohol, narcotics, vitamins. Forcing vomiting is bulimia.
Vomiting can be protective against poisons and toxins. It is not GERD in which stomach acid and contents creep up the esophagus. Vomiting is forceful expulsion. If you are like me, I hate to vomit. Retching is when the throat and respiratory muscles prevent the vomit from coming up. Projectile vomiting can be a sign of an underlying neurological problem
Problems that can result from N/V: dehydration from not keeping fluids down. Puking up the acids can drop the body’s potassium and raise the pH of the blood. The esophagus can tear and bleed.
Treatment: well relief of the N/V depends on the underlying problem. Ginger and vitamin B6 can work for some people, in particular in pregnancy. Phenergan, compazine, reglan are common meds. Dexamethasone is a steroid that sometimes is used after surgery if vomiting is bad, or droperidol. Chemotherapy can cause terrible N/V and Zofran (ondansetron), granisetron, and dexamethasone can be used. Marijuana in cancer patients, but marijuana abusers can have the opposite and vomit. For people like me with vertigo, treating the vertigo is the main goal.
drjohnhong Uncategorized, GI Comments (0) » |
6
February
2008
February 6, 2008: Cheers! Or not so cheery. 2/3 of American adults drink (and unfortunately a lot of kids) and about 17% abuse it in their lifetimes & 12% become dependent. Sure we all like to have a good time, but when is, quoting Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand, “Enough is Enough”?
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