Diabetes Disease / Diabetes Insipidus Symptoms and Cause
In this post, we are looking at a rear type of disease that affects the kidneys. While there is no known cure for this disease, there are medicines that can help to manage the symptoms.
What Is Diabetes Insipidus?
Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that causes your body to make a lot of “insipid,” colorless, and odorless urine. Most people pee out 1 to 2 quarts a day. People with diabetes insipidus can pass between 3 and 20 quarts a day.
Hepatitis C, among boomers Why is the infection risk higher for Baby Boomers?
In this post, I am taking a look at Hepatitis C among boomers. In doing my research for this post, I discovered a few facts that surprised me.
In this post, I will be looking at hepatitis C and the Boomer Generation. This Viral Disease Poses a Problem for Boomers.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through contaminated blood.
Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection spreads when blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
Globally, HCV exists in several distinct forms, known as genotypes. Seven distinct HCV genotypes and more than 67 subtypes have been identified. The most common HCV genotype in the United States is type 1.
Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, infection causes acute hepatitis C, which may progress to chronic hepatitis C. Many people with hepatitis C do not show symptoms until severe liver damage. If it is not treated, chronic hepatitis C can cause life-threatening liver disease.1,2
Unfortunately, about 60 percent of people in the U.S. with hepatitis C know they have it. This means access to testing limits our ability to address hepatitis C.3
Chronic hepatitis C has been most common among people born between 1945 and 1965 (Baby Boomers). Now, because of the opioid crisis, new HCV infections occur more in people born between 1981 and 1996 (Millennials).
To address this, the CDC and other organizations now recommend that all adults get tested for hepatitis C at least once. They also recommend that people with ongoing risk factors get tested regularly.
A CDC report in 2012 showed that about 1 in 30 Baby Boomers were infected with HCV. This infection rate was 5 times higher than for other generations. And Baby Boomers made up about 75 percent of all chronic HCV infections among U.S. adults.1,4
The CDC then recommended Hepatitis C screening for all Baby Boomers. This helped identify more chronic hepatitis C cases than the previous guidelines based only on risk factors. However, the hepatitis C epidemic has changed since 2012. Because of increased injection drug use, new HCV infections are more common in young adults. According to a CDC study in 2018, Millennials and Baby Boomers each make up 36 percent of new chronic hepatitis C infections. People born between 1966 and 1980 (Generation X) make up about 23 percent of new infections.2,5
Hepatitis C is still a concern for Baby Boomers because of their individual risk factors. But the opioid crisis is also increasing the risk for all generations.
Why is the infection risk higher for Baby Boomers?
We do not know why Baby Boomers have a higher risk of HCV infection. Some studies suggest that they were more exposed to injection drug use during young adulthood in the 1970s and 1980s.1 Also, many Baby Boomers may have been infected by blood transfusions before we began screening the blood supply in 1992. It is also possible that HCV infections were more common because of poor medical practices at the time.6,7
Other studies also show that lack of health insurance, use of alcohol, and service in Vietnam may have contributed to the higher infection risk. Most Baby Boomers with chronic hepatitis C will not know how they were infected.4,8
What are the current testing recommendations for Baby Boomers?
The CDC now recommends testing for:5
Every adult at least once
Pregnant women during every pregnancy
Everyone with current risk factors regularly
Risk factors include injection drug use, sharing drug preparation equipment, and certain medical conditions. Talk to your doctor to discuss your risk factors and how often you should get tested.9
Testing is essential for Baby Boomers. Living longer with chronic hepatitis C increases the chances of serious liver disease. Testing can help you get treated quicker.7
If you and your doctor decide you should be tested, you may first take an FDA-approved test for a hepatitis C antibody. A positive test means you were exposed to the virus. Either you have an active infection, or you fought off a previous infection. You would then take an FDA-approved test for HCV RNA. If this test is positive, it means you have an active hepatitis C infection.9
Your doctor can give you more information specific to your situation. Then, they can help you get tested, advise you on precautions to take, and help you get treatment if needed.
Hepatitis C is a silent disease. Three out of four people who’ve been infected don’t know they have it.
A blood test is the only way to determine if you’ve been infected before the virus causes serious health problems. If your test shows you have it, antiviral drugs can cure it in most cases and prevent future issues.
“It’s so sad when we see patients who have been unknowingly infected for many years and come in with cirrhosis, cancer, or liver failure,” says Sammy Saab, MD, professor of medicine and surgery at UCLA.
Standard STD Test for Women – Check for HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Herpes Simplex Type 2, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis – Verisana
Understanding Your Hep C Risk
Been exposed to IV drug use or unprotected sex before the virus was known about or anyone was being tested for it. Baby boomers’ chances of having hepatitis C are higher.
Some could have gotten it through a blood transfusion or organ transplant before widespread screening of the blood supply began in 1992.
While it was once uncommon among younger people, their odds of having it has risen sharply in recent years.
One reason for that could be the increase in IV drug use caused by the growing opioid problem.
Seventy-three percent of those surveyed correctly said that all baby boomers should be tested, but nearly three-quarters of survey respondents between the ages of 18 and 38 didn’t think they were at risk.
Long-term infection with the hepatitis C virus is known as chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C is usually a “silent” infection for many years until the virus damages the liver enough to cause the signs and symptoms of liver disease.
Signs and symptoms include:
Bleeding easily
Bruising easily
Fatigue
Poor appetite
Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Dark-colored urine
Itchy skin
Fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites)
Swelling in your legs
Weight loss
Confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas)
Every chronic hepatitis C infection starts with an acute phase. Acute hepatitis C usually goes undiagnosed because it rarely causes symptoms.
However, when signs and symptoms are present, they may include jaundice, fatigue, nausea, fever, and muscle aches.
Acute symptoms appear one to three months after exposure to the virus and the last two weeks to three months.
Acute hepatitis C infection doesn’t always become chronic. Some people clear HCV from their bodies after the acute phase, an outcome is known as spontaneous viral clearance.
In studies of people diagnosed with acute HCV, rates of spontaneous viral clearance have varied from 15% to 25%. Acute hepatitis C also responds well to antiviral therapy.
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Causes
Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection spreads when blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
Globally, HCV exists in several distinct forms, known as genotypes. Seven distinct HCV genotypes and more than 67 subtypes have been identified.
The most common HCV genotype in the United States is type 1.
Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the genotype of the infecting virus, treatment recommendations vary depending on viral genotype.
Risk factors
Your risk of hepatitis C infection is increased if you:
Are a health care worker who has been exposed to infected blood, which may happen if an infected needle pierces your skin
Have you ever injected or inhaled illicit drugs
Have HIV
Received a piercing or tattoo in an unclean environment using unsterile equipment
Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992
Received clotting factor concentrates before 1987
Received hemodialysis treatments for a long period of time
Were born to a woman with a hepatitis C infection
Were ever in prison
Were born between 1945 and 1965, the age group with the highest incidence of hepatitis C infection
Complications
Hepatitis C infection that continues over many years can cause significant complications, such as:
Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). After decades of hepatitis C infection, cirrhosis may occur. Scarring in your liver makes it difficult for your liver to function.
Liver cancer. A small number of people with hepatitis C infection may develop liver cancer.
Liver failure. Advanced cirrhosis may cause your liver to stop functioning.
Prevention
Protect yourself from hepatitis C infection by taking the following precautions:
Stop using illicit drugs, particularly if you inject them. If you use illicit drugs, seek help.
Be cautious about body piercing and tattooing.
If you choose to undergo piercing or tattooing, look for a reputable shop.
Ask questions beforehand about how the equipment is cleaned. Make sure the employees use sterile needles.
If employees don’t answer your questions, look for another shop.
Practice safer sex. Don’t engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners or any partner whose health status is uncertain. Sexual transmission between monogamous couples may occur, but the risk is low.
Treatment
Antiviral medications
Hepatitis C infection is treated with antiviral medications intended to clear the virus from your body.
The goal of treatment is to have no hepatitis C virus detected in your body at least 12 weeks after you complete treatment.
Researchers have recently made significant advances in treatment for hepatitis C using new, “direct-acting” antiviral medications, sometimes combined with existing ones.
As a result, people experience better outcomes, fewer side effects, and shorter treatment times — some as short as eight weeks.
The choice of medications and length of treatment depends on the hepatitis C genotype, existing liver damage, other medical conditions, and prior treatments.
Due to the pace of research, recommendations for medications and treatment regimens are changing rapidly.
It is, therefore, best to discuss your treatment options with a specialist.
Throughout treatment, your care team will monitor your response to medications.
Liver transplantation
If you have developed serious complications from chronic hepatitis C infection, liver transplantation may be an option.
During liver transplantation, the surgeon removes your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver.
Most transplanted livers come from deceased donors, though a small number come from living donors who donate a portion of their livers.
In most cases, a liver transplant alone doesn’t cure hepatitis C. Instead, the infection is likely to return, requiring treatment with antiviral medication to prevent damage to the transplanted liver.
Several studies have demonstrated that new, direct-acting antiviral medication regimens are effective at curing post-transplant hepatitis C.
Vaccinations
Although there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, your doctor will likely recommend that you receive vaccines against hepatitis A and B viruses.
These are separate viruses that also can cause liver damage and complicate the course of chronic hepatitis C.
I have left a straightforward exercise from Silver Sneakers. I hope you enjoy it.
This is also the case for people with chronic conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injury, etc. There also may be circumstances that this option is not possible either they can’t do it, or it is extremely challenging for them to participate in normal activities.
Using a manual wheelchair may solve this problem, but using one requires significant upper body strength.
If exhaustion or any other difficulty in using a manual wheelchair is experienced, a power wheelchair should be considered.
The power wheelchair consists of a power base, a seat, and controls. These come in various systems.
The power base contains the drive wheels of the wheelchair.
There are the rear wheel, center wheel, and front wheelchairs. Each configuration has advantages and disadvantages.
Front-wheel drive chairs are better for avoiding obstacles. However, rear-wheel drive chairs are more powerful.
Mid-wheel drive chairs have the smallest turning radius and are best suited for indoor use.
The seat can be of numerous types and materials. It can also be equipped with various power options such as tilt, recline, elevate, and even stand.
Before you purchase a wheelchair, you should consult an assessment expert who will help you choose an appropriate cushion and back. They will also help you decide which power options, if any, are necessary.
Finally, there are the controls. If you can’t use your hands, custom controls can be operated with your head, chin, mouth, etc.
For those who need a power wheelchair, I would like to introduce the Cirrus Sling Seat Plus HD sold online by Medical Supply Depot.
The Drive Cirrus Plus folding power wheelchair is a great wheelchair at an even better price. Attractive silver vein finish, swing-away footrests, height-adjustable armrests, seat belts, and seat cushions are included.
What Makes This Different
Rear-wheel drive makes the Cirrus Plus easy to maneuver, and it has a 4” ground clearance. This is a folding-frame power chair, so if you remove the batteries from under the seat, the frame can be folded and stowed.
Great standard features include a 2” foam seat cushion, padded backrest with adjustable upholstery, and swing-away footrests with a calf strap and heel loops. Elevating leg rests available at an additional charge.
.You will like the extra support and comfort offered by the seating of the Cirrus Plus. The seat is standard in 16’ or 18” width and can be ordered in a 20” width at an additional charge. For a 22″ seat and higher weight capacity Cirrus, see the Cirrus Plus HD model. The joystick controller is programmable and can be mounted on either the left or right armrest. 1 Year in-home service is included with the Cirrus Plus. 2 and 3 Year in-home service is available,
on Electronic Controller/Drive Train Components: 24 Months
Weight Capacity
400 lbs. (22″) | 450 lbs. (24″)
Features
Foldable, lightweight frame for easy portability
Steel double cross-brace frame
Adjustable tension back upholstery
Armrests are padded, adjustable, and removable
Adjustable length controller mount
Adjustable tension back upholstery
Swing-away footrests with heel loops
Optional elevating leg rests (Item #DRVCPELR) sold separately
Optional 2″ seat depth extension (Model #DRVSTDS1818N) sold separately
Positioning belt included
Padded back upholstery with storage pouch and cushioned seat
Programmable controller
Flat-free, non-marking tires
Easy free-wheel operation
Manual wheel locks
General foam seat cushion incl
Measurement Guide
Seat Width
Measure at the widest point of the body from knee to hip, then add approximately an inch to add some “wiggle room.” Keep in mind that bulkier clothing (such as a winter coat) will require additional width to maintain equivalent space.
Seat Depth
Measure from the backside to the inside of the knee, then subtract approximately two inches. You may add several inches if you prefer more leg overhang to allow for easier leg lifting.
Back Height
Measure from the bottom of the seat to the top. Upper back support is critical for power wheelchair users, particularly at initial acceleration.
Hanger Angle
Measure horizontally. A tighter angle facilitates tighter steering. The preferred angle will depend on the knee’s ability to bend. The resulting angle will also determine how far the toes extend from the body.
Front Seat to Floor
Measure from the underside of the knee to the sole. Subtract the thickness of the compressed cushion, and add approximately two inches for footrest clearance. (Since power wheelchairs are rarely foot-propelled, you need not consider excluding the additional two inches for the footrest clearance, as you sometimes might with a manual wheelchair.)
Positioning belt included
Padded back upholstery with storage pouch and cushioned seat
Programmable controller
Flat-free, non-marking tires
Easy free-wheel operation
Manual wheel locks
General foam seat cushion included
Anti-tip wheels
The value of the Cirrus Plus HD Folding Power Wheelchair is unsurpassed. Offering all the most desired options, the Cirrus Plus HD Folding Power Wheelchair is powerful and portable. The top speed is 5 mph on a level surface.
The Cirrus Plus HD Folding Power Wheelchair is 29 inches wide, weighs 146 pounds, supports up to 400 pounds, and has a wide turning radius.
Medical Supply Depot is a US-leading source for medical supplies and everything needed for pain management, respiratory care, skincare, and more. Since its creation, we have built our reputation on honesty, integrity, fair pricing, and superb customer service.
Medical Supply Depot offers the biggest selection of brand-name medical supplies at deep discounts and delivers them as quickly as possible. From incontinence supplies to bathroom safety to diagnostic tools to mobility aids, Medical Supply Depot makes it easy and affordable for our customers to order the right items from the comfort of their own homes.
Reviews Of Owners Of The Cirrus Plus HD wheel-chair
There are many positive reviews on the Cirrus Plus HD wheel-chai owners, this just one of the many.
5.0 out of 5 stars
This chair is just wonderful. I’ve had power chairs that always break and …
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2015
This chair is just wonderful. I’ve had power chairs that always break, and I hardly get to use them. This chair I have already used for a good month. It has made such a difference in my life.
It can go on the grass, so it has been a big help for me when I pull the trash around. Also, I can walk the dog with it.
He really gets more exercise since I’ve had this chair. I wish I had gotten this brand sooner.
My next challenge is getting a car to just it in without having to take out the batteries. I would never take out the batteries just for a trip in the car. They are very heavy, and I was fortunate to get them for the first time. Again, I highly recommend this chair.
I appreciate your time, and I welcome your questions and comments. Please remember to share.
.NOTE: This post includes affiliate links, which, if clicked on and a product purchased, I get a small commission (with no increase in cost to you)
