Cervical polyps are fairly common, particularly in young women who have had children. They are rare before periods start, and uncommon after menopause. Polyps are often silent, without symptoms.
Polyps are often silent, without symptoms. Polyps are often associated with INFLAMMATION, and may be discovered because of vaginal DISCHARGE. They may bleed and betray themselves by heavy periods, or BLEEDING between periods.
My Daughter, a Student Health Physician, recently saw a patient who presented with a foul discharge and examination revealed a large polyp. A blood count showed a severe ANEMIA.
Although cancer is rare, the polyp should be biopsied or removed and examined to be sure there is no malignancy. Cervical Polyps are often discovered on a routine Physical Examination. Preventative Physical and Vaginal examinations in young women are important to check for such conditions as Polyps, do PAP smears, and, in sexually active women, screen for STDs.
Iron is the most common element, by weight, on earth, so it should come as no surprise that it has evolved to be an essential component in the mechanism that is life.
The ENERGY of the eukaryotic cell is dependent on the Iron in mitochondria, which are elaborate electron-transfer mechanisms. To quote Nobel Laureate Albert Szent Gyorgyi, “Life is nothing but an electron looking for a place of rest”.
Iron is essential, so it is possible to have too little of it. There is no physiologic pathway to get rid of it and so you can have too much iron in your body, which comprises a disease called Hemochromatosis. Excessive Iron can be TOXIC to the body, and produce damaging free radicals.
Deficiency of iron will produce ANEMIA. Regulation of incoming Iron is the body’s way of keeping excessive Iron out. It is absorbed only in the upper part of the small intestine, and a special protein called Hepcidin can block it from release into the circulation. It is carried through the blood by Transferrin and also Ferritin, which stores the iron that is not in the hemoglobin of RED BLOOD CELLS, the main storehouse of iron.
Blood loss is a common problem which leads to increased Iron requirement, This is reflected in the increase in RDA of Iron in Women during their menstruating years. Colonic Cancer, among other conditions, can also bleed and lead to the anemia of Iron deficiency. This is the reason for Doctors ordering a test for “occult”, or hidden, blood in the stools. My reason for taking Iron is a continuing loss of blood from the small intestine.
I have had multiple colonoscopies and Gastroenteroscopies to rule out cancer and other blood-losing conditions in the lower and upper intestinal tract. The small intestine is the “silent” area to gastroenterologists, and I cannot have the Capsule/camera examination because of my small bowel surgery.
I must take extra iron, and hope that this will be sufficient to keep me from developing anemia again. Green vegetables and red meat are more satisfactory sources, but insufficient for me. I worry a little about the recent finding that Heart Failure has been associated with Ferritin levels below 100 ng./ml.
I struggle to keep mine at 50 ng. by taking 2 tablets of feosol daily and dealIng with the subsequent constipation. An ANNUAL PHYSICAL and laboratory examination is important for the maintenance of health. Enough Iron and blood are important factors for vigorous Well-being. —
One of my previous posts, “bad breath”, was so well received that I am emboldened to deal briefly with another important, if politically incorrect, topic; Constipation.
I have anemia, and take regular IRON, which produces constipation. A high fiber diet solved it. My bones have also been thinning over the years into Osteopenia, a deficiency of Calcium. I Increased my calcium intake with some CALCIUM citrate powder, and developed one of the worst episodes of Constipation I have ever had, in spite of my high fiber diet.
Stopping the Calcium leaves me with the osteopenia worry, but was a great relief. Many other medications can cause constipation. Ask your Pharmacist for a list.` Hypothyroidism, and a variety of autoimmune, intestinal and neurological conditions have constipation as a symptom.
As I struggled with something that should be automatic, I worried about possibly pushing out a hernia, ballooning out one of my colonic diverticula, or developing hemorrhoids. These are all complications of constipation, not to mention the big waste of time. Regularity is much to be desired.
If you have regular SLEEP and EXERCISE a low Calorie density, high fiber diet, and are not taking a lot of drugs and supplements, you most likely don’t have constipation. If you have constipation, you might consider examining your sleep, diet, exercise and medications. If you don’t want to change your habits and medication, try METAMUCIL and drink lots of WATER.
Forward Healthcare differs from a conventional primary care clinic in several, generally good ways.
Most importantly, they stress PREVENTATIVE care. Blood tests that monitor diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and anemia are done regularly, since they have a laboratory on premises. They have their own EMR (electronic medical record) platform, and their own telemedicine platform, which are downloaded on the initial visit.
They give out a “sensor kit” consisting of temperature monitor, Pulse-oximetry, and a BP monitor, which wirelessly sends information to medical records.
Telemedicine is available through their own Downloaded platform. Although I get the impression that Telehealth isn’t as central as I would have expected in a technology oriented operation, it is increasingly important.
The monthly membership fee of $149 pays for the above and unlimited Doctor Availability 24/7 without copay.
Concierge Medicine has the monthly/yearly fee and unlimited access, but has a copay. Both will utilize your insurance, and neither treats patients in the hospital or provides referral care.
Government Health care is coming, and with it longer waiting times, shorter Doctor interaction times, and probably less time for Preventative Health Care.
Systems like Forward Health and Concierge Medicine will be the upper tier of a 2-tier system.
Proactive attention to Health in my opinion is essential in the future if we are to have a healthy nation, and not “bankrupt the system”. Telehealth is growing in importance, and offers help in making medical expertise more convenient, widely available and for less cost.
I am happy to see progressive Systems like Forward Health offer a preventative option to the present, broken, reverse-incentivized, fee-for-service System.
Doctors Without Waiting Rooms 