Swollen Lymph Nodes of Neck

Swollen Lymph NodesLymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, a component of immune system. Lymph nodes are small cluster of lymphocytic cells which produce antibodies and macrophages which digest the debris and infectious agents in the body. These are major sites where foreign substances and infectious agents interact with cells of the immune system. Swollen lymph nodes indicate signs of infection in the body.

Causes of Swollen Lymph NodesThere are a large number of causes due to which lymph nodes of neck may enlarge. These include:

InfectionAn infection in the body can lead to an increase in white blood cells concentration and cause swelling in lymph nodes of the neck. This infection can be due any bacterial, fungal or viral species.

InflammationInflammation in a given region of lymph node may occur due to an infection or due to an immune disorder such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. This causes lymph nodes to swell throughout the body.

CancerInfiltration with malignant cells brought along with the flowing lymph to the lymph node causes a swollen lump node. It can also lead to a lump on back of neck. It majorly occurs due to uncontrolled multiplication of malignant lymphocytic cells.

Other common causes of swollen lymph nodes include:

Allergic reactions due to medication
Cat scratch fever
Gingivitis
Hodgkin’s disease
Non-Hodgkin’s disease
Mouth sores
Measles
Tonsillitis
Tuberculosis
Symptoms of Swollen Lymph NodesThe most common symptoms experienced during swollen lymph nodes involve:

Sore throat
They can be painful while touching or moving the neck or head
Pain can be experienced during chewing and swallowing of food
Fever
Redness or streaking of skin
A lump on back of neck can also be seen
Internal inflammation and edema
Painful and tender nodes under skin of neck
Also read about lump around anus.

Diagnosis of Swollen Lymph NodesThe lymph nodes which are rapidly growing over the past 2 or 3 days may have different causes and require different treatment than those which have a generalized swelling over a past few months. When you visit a doctor with associated symptoms, the doctor may carry out the following steps:

Your doctor will ask about the associated symptoms and carry out a physical examination of your neck
Depending upon your condition, the doctor may perform certain blood tests
The doctor may carry out imagining tests such as X-ray or MRI scan
A biopsy of the lymph node may be carried out or a portion of the lymph node may be removed for examination. This involves examination of the tissue under a microscope to identify the cause of swelling. It is carried out by a pathologist.
Treatment of Swollen Lymph NodesIn some cases, lymph nodes may reduce on their own and may not require any medical treatment. They can be treated by any of these ways:

The doctor may recommend certain pain killers and analgesic such as ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen. This will help reduce pain and inflammation in the neck.
Doctor may prescribe certain antibiotics or antiviral medication to reduce the infection in lymph nodes
Home remedies such as compresses and elevation may help reduce and resolve swelling.
If there is a localized sack of infection on the neck, it should be drained by cutting open the skin. It involves draining of the infected fluids and then filling the opening with packing.
If the swelling occurred due to malignancy, the treatment may involve surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
If swelling in lymph node occurred due to an immune disorder, then the doctor may prescribe medication to help cure the disease.

How Age Affects Driving?

The body and the mind go through changes as people age. Driving abilities may differ as individuals get older. Driving requires stable physical condition and keenness of perception. Individuals in their senior years may experience physical and mental changes that can affect ability to drive.

It is important for seniors to understand and accept that their bodies are subject to limitations. There are age-related conditions associated with sense of sight, hearing, and other senses that can affect driving skills. Awareness and acceptance can help seniors become more cautious when driving while ignorance or denial can lead to irresponsible and reckless behavior on the road.

Here are some physical and mental changes that older individuals should mindful of.

• Vision may deteriorate because of aging. As people age, it may become challenging to keep track of multiple things such as road signs, signals, markings, traffic lights, and pedestrian. Driving at night may also become more difficult.

• Vision problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration may cause visual problems such as blurry or hazy vision and reduced sense of sight. Complications in vision may make it difficult for seniors to see other cars and pedestrians on the road.

• Hearing may also decline. Poor hearing due to age may make it difficult for seniors to hear things in a noisy environment. Inability to detect high-pitched sounds that indicate some kind of warning such as ambulance sirens or railroad warnings can put people at risk.

• It is important for drivers to be able to apply defensive driving techniques on the road to avoid dangerous situations. Seniors may lack alertness and quick response necessary in defensive driving. Seniors may have slower reaction time. They may also have poorer coordination and flexibility.

• Muscles weaken because of age. Older adults may experience slower motor reflexes. Health conditions such as arthritis can make basic maneuvering hard.

• Pain in the neck can hinder seniors from looking over their shoulders when changing lanes or looking at opposite directions to check for other vehicles or pedestrians.

• Pain in the knees, ankles, leg, and feet may make it hard for individuals to move their feet and legs. Difficulty pressing on the gas or brake may cause road accidents.

• Weakness and pain in the arms and hands can make it difficult to move the steering wheel when making a turn or changing lanes.

Not all seniors are automatically deprived of driving privileges. Some older adults may still drive provided that they understand their limitations and learn to take charge of their health. Eating a healthy and balanced diet, engaging in proper exercise and getting enough sleep can promote better health. Regular check-ups are very important in determining the capability of seniors to drive. Older individuals should have their vision and hearing checked annually. Doctors can recommend if individuals are fit to drive or not. Take note that certain medications can interfere with driving. For instance, some drugs can cause drowsiness. Physicians can advise seniors about the effects of their ailments and corresponding medications on their driving abilities.

Author Bio:

This article is written by Joseph Joffo on behalf of www.econocarental.com, this is having topics on senior drivers, older drivers, should elderly people be allowed to drive and many more. View more information on elderly people driving on the web right now!

The Facts about Root Canal Treatment

For many the thought or mention of root canal may cause fear and dread. There are many prevailing misconceptions about this endodontic procedure; In fact, it is a procedure to remove the diseased tooth pulp.

The crown is the visible part of the teeth while the roots are the anchor of the teeth. The dental pulp which is a combination of nerves, tissues, blood vessels which senses the hot and cold substances when they come in contact while drinking or eating lie in the center of the tooth The common causes for this are cracked tooth, deep cavity,

Root canal is described as the natural cavity within the center of the tooth. The soft area within the root canal is the pulp. When the pulp gets infected or inflamed, an endodontic procedure becomes necessary. Root canal means cleaning of the canals inside the tooth`s roots. The causes of pulp damage are deep cavity, cracked tooth, tooth injury or other mishaps.

Facts about Root Canal
Look for signs for root canal treatment

When you have pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat and cold, discoloration of teeth, facial swelling, tenderness to chewing and touch, oozing pus are some of the symptoms as infection travels to the root. Sometimes, the pain may subside and you may think that the infection has gone.

However, it is not the case as the pulp begins to die, pain disappears. Do not delay your root canal procedure and visit the dental clinic that offers the best root canal treatment in Dubai.

Cause of pain

It is important to understand that root canal treatment is not the source of pain as frequently misunderstood by many. On the contrary, pain is caused by the damaged , infected tissue or the pulp. This endodontic procedure cleans up the entire infected pulp of the decayed tooth

Procedure is not painful

In order to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection, many endodontic procedures are performed. With advanced technology and anesthetics, root canal procedure has become relatively painless and extremely effective. Most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.

Protect your tooth

Following the root canal therapy, with discomfort subsiding, you need to allow your tooth to rest and heal. Your dentist may talk to you about the further restoration of your tooth. Teeth that require root canal therapy often have extensive decay, making them weak. Often a crown is recommended to be placed on your tooth to prevent it from breaking and to give full functionality.

Try not to extract teeth

One of the main advantage of root canal procedure is that the infected tooth need not have to be extracted.

Dental Clinic Dubai

The majority of dentists in Dubai who are specialists in endodontics agree that preserving the natural tooth is preferable to extracting it and replacing it with a bridge or implant. Root canals are one of the methods to save a tooth by removing the damaged pulp rather than resorting to extraction.