Why Veins appear blue?

The blood vessels in our bodies have slight shades of blue and red and these shades are the outcome of oxygen content in the “red blood cells.” Haemoglobin gives these cells their red colour (blood also has “white blood cells,” which are immune cells that lack haemoglobin). In a healthy person, the arteries that carry blood away from the heart are full with oxygen. This oxygen causes the blood to be bright red colour that penetrates the walls of the vessels. When this blood flows through the capillaries in the tissues, the haemoglobin releases the oxygen to the surrounding tissue cells, where it is converted to energy molecules.

The blood flowing from the capillaries into the veins on its way back to the heart and lungs have less oxygen, so blood in veins appears bluish-red. When looking at the skin, we can’t see the red arteries because they are located deep to keep them out of danger or harm. Instead, we see only veins. And they appear blue rather than red, especially in individuals with little melanin pigment in their skin (The pigment that gives human skin, hair, and eyes their colour. Dark-skinned people have more melanin in their skin than light-skinned people have).

In some people with lesser lung function, or mountaineers climbing high altitudes without bottled oxygen, the blood flowing from their heart to the tissues might be more bluish in tint than normal. This difference can be detected by looking at the colour of certain tissues with capillaries that are dense and close to the surface, such as the lips and nail-beds of the fingers. As a result, these individuals will appear to have blue lips and fingernails and this is not a good sign, because they lack oxygen in their tissues.

Hepatitis- A growing pain

Hepatitis means injury to the liver with inflammation of the liver cells. Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. The type of hepatitis is named for the virus that causes it; for example, hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Drug or alcohol use can also cause hepatitis. In other cases, your body mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the liver. There are three main types of hepatitis that are caused by a virus, A, B & C.

Hepatitis A
This is caused by eating infected food or water. The food or water is infected with a virus called HAV (hepatitis A virus). Anal-oral contact during sex can also be a cause. Nearly everyone who develops Hepatitis A makes a full recovery - it does not lead to chronic disease.

Hepatitis B

This is an STD (sexually transmitted disease). It is caused by the virus HBV (hepatitis B virus) and is spread by contact with infected blood, semen, and some other body fluids. You get hepatitis B by:

• Unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person (unprotected sex means without using a condom) Using a syringe that was previously used by an infected person (most commonly happens with drug addicts and people who inject steroids).
• Having your skin perforated with unsterilised needles, as might be the case when getting a tattoo, or being accidentally pricked. People who work in health care risk becoming infected by accident in this way. Sharing personal items, such as a toothbrush or razor, with an infected person.
• A baby can become infected through his mother's milk if she is infected.
• Being bitten by someone who is infected.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is usually spread through direct contact with the blood of a person who has the disease. It is caused by the virus HCV (hepatitis C Virus). The liver can swell and become damaged. In hepatitis C, unlike hepatitis B, liver cancer risk is only increased in people with cirrhosis and only 20% of hep C patients get cirrhosis. Feces are never a route of transmission in hepatitis C. Donated blood is also tested for hepatitis C.

The initial phase of hepatitis is called the acute phase. The symptoms are like a mild flu, and may include:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Mild fever
• Muscle or joint aches
• Nausea
• Slight abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Weight loss.

The acute phase is not usually dangerous, unless it develops into the fulminant or rapidly progressing form, which can lead to death. As the patient gets worse, these symptoms may follow:

• Circulation problems (only toxic/drug-induced hepatitis)
• Dark urine
• Dizziness (only toxic/drug-induced hepatitis)
• Drowsiness (only toxic/drug-induced hepatitis)
• Enlarged spleen (only alcoholic hepatitis)
• Headache (only toxic/drug-induced hepatitis)
• Hives
• Itchy skin
• Light colored feces, the feces may contain pus
• Yellow skin, whites of eyes, tongue (jaundice).

Patient outcomes after the acute phase depend on various factors, especially the type of hepatitis.

Safe- Donated Blood

Blood is tested to determine the donor's ABO group (A, B, O, AB) and Rh type (positive or negative). This is critical in selecting compatible blood for a patient in need of a transfusion. Blood that has been donated is tested before giving it to any recipient. The various test that are carried out is crucial for all recipients as it is important that the blood that is used is not impure of infectious in any form. 

ANTIBODY DETECTION TEST
All donors are tested to determine if their blood contains unexpected antibodies to red blood cell antigens (genetic marker). These antibodies, if not identified, can cause problems in a blood recipient.

TESTS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Screening donated blood for infectious diseases that can be transmitted through blood transfusion is very important in ensuring safety. A positive screening test in any of the following tests for infectious disease is followed by a confirmatory test, since it is possible to have false positive test results. A false positive occurs when the screening test is positive but it cannot be confirmed. This means a donor was not exposed to the infectious agent being tested for but the screening test was positive. The following eight tests are performed on each unit of donated blood:

1. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and Core Antibody (anti-HBc): The hepatitis B virus has an inner core and an outer envelope (the surface). The HBsAg test detects the outer envelope or surface of the virus. The anti-HBc tests for the presence of antibodies to the inner core of the hepatitis B virus. In the absence of any other positive test for hepatitis B, the presence of antibodies to HBc suggests the individual may have had past exposure to the hepatitis B virus and it is unlikely he/she is infectious.
2. Hepatitis C Virus Antibody (anti-HCV) and Nucleic Acid Test (NAT): Two tests are Video Clip done to detect hepatitis C infection. The anti-HCV test detects antibodies to the hepatitis C virus. A positive result suggests the donor has been exposed to the hepatitis C virus and may be infectious. The second test detects RNA, the genetic material, of the hepatitis C virus. 
3. Alanine-Aminotransferase Test (ALT): The ALT measures the level of the liver enzyme (ALT) that is found in the blood. An elevated result suggests the possibility of abnormal liver function, but this may not necessarily be related to viral hepatitis. This test was initiated prior to more sophisticated tests performed today.
4. Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus Type I and Type II (HTLV I/II) Antibody: HTLV I/II testing detects antibody to the HTLV-I and HTLV-II viruses. HTLV-I has been associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-I is associated with myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HTLV-II has not been clearly associated with any diseases, but may lead to subtle abnormalities of the immune system.
   
5. Syphilis Antibody: This test has been performed on blood donors since shortly after World War II when the rate of infection was much higher. The risk of transmitting syphilis through a blood transfusion today is very small, since the rate of infection is low in blood donors and the organism causing syphilis is very fragile and unlikely to survive blood storage. 
6. Human Immunodeficiency Virus 2 (HIV-1/2) Combo Antibody and Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT): HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 virus cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. HIV-1 is more common in the United States while HIV-2 is prevalent in Western Africa. Two tests are done for detecting HIV. One screens for antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses. The other detects RNA, the genetic material, of the HIV-1 virus.

Criteria to keep in mind while choosing a Lab

Diagnostic Labs are growing and increasing in number and sometimes it becomes difficult to identify what aspects of a lab we should consider while choosing one. Different advertisements and technical aspects provoke us to go forward in choosing a lab. But what should our major concentrations focus on?

1. Fully Automated process (to avoid man made errors)

A Lab that is fully automated and mechanized is considered to provide more accurate and error free results. The testing of samples can be specific and detailed. And this also helps to reduce man-made errors that may otherwise occur.

2. Lab should have a resident subject expert- Technically qualified

Resident subject experts refer to those who are technically qualified to advice and correct mechanical errors, if any. In this way, the quality of the lab’s output is not disturbed and results will be as qualified as of the automated ones.

3. NABL Accreditation- National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Accreditation assists the Indian industries to enhance the quality and reliability of Indian goods in the domestic market and exports, thereby, catalysis the growth of Indian economy. WTO has identified non-acceptance of test results and measurement data as Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) and accreditation is considered to be the first essential step towards removing such technical barriers. NABL provides accreditation in all major fields of Science and Engineering such as Biological, Chemical, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Fluid-Flow, Non-Destructive, Photometry, Radiological, Thermal & Forensics under testing facilities and Electro-Technical, Mechanical, Fluid Flow, Thermal, Optical & Radiological under Calibration facilities. NABL also offers accreditation for medical testing laboratories.

4. Online Result Availability

Customers must be able to avail results online. In this way, people who are not able to come till the lab again can get their results in the electronic format, either through e-mails, mobile messages, or online checking of results and reports. This makes convenience for the customers.

5. Empanelled Doctors

The opinion and direction of doctors and standards followed around the world must be applicable in a lab you choose to diagnose yourself. These standards will help recognize the quality of the lab. These are the criteria that one must keep in mind while selecting a lab for their diagnosis. The lab with the above mentioned criteria would probably give you the most accurate results possible.

Vitamin-D Important for your health

Vitamin D can be found in small amounts in a few foods, including few fish. To make vitamin D more available, it is added to dairy products, juices, and cereals that are then said to be “fortified with vitamin D.” But most vitamin D – 80% to 90% of what the body gets – is obtained through exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D can also be made in the laboratory as medicine.

Vitamin D is used for preventing and treating rickets, a disease that is caused by not having enough vitamin D (vitamin D deficiency). Vitamin D is also used for treating weak bones, bone pain, bone loss in people with a condition called hyperparathyroidism, and an inherited disease in which the bones are especially brittle and easily broken. It is also used for preventing falls and low calcium and bone loss in people with kidney failure. Vitamin D is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It is also used for diabetes, obesity, muscle weakness, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchitis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and tooth and gum disease.

It is estimated that around 75% of the Indian population has Vitamin D levels less than normal. But without a blood test, there is just no way to know for sure if the vitamin D levels are low. Low Vitamin-D conditions are a growing concern in people around the world. It is important and safe that one gets checked-up for such deficiencies.

People who are at a general risk of Vitamin-D deficiency are People:

• with naturally very dark skin
• with little or no sun exposure
• who wear covering clothing for religious and cultural reasons
• who deliberately avoid sun exposure for cosmetic or health reasons
• at high risk of skin cancers and who therefore avoid exposure to the sun
• hospitalized or institutionalized for long periods (Old people)
• with a disability or chronic disease
• In occupations with little sun exposure, such as office workers, taxi drivers, factory workers or night-shift workers.

Therefore, low Vitamin D can put a person at risk for various diseases and Vitamin D is considered as a “Universal Risk Factor”. It is as important as sunlight, water and food. Everyone should have their Vitamin D levels checked, including children.

Know your Family Medical History

Your family medical history, sometimes called a medical family tree, is a record of illnesses and medical conditions affecting your family members. You inherit half of your genetic profile from each parent. Along with the genetic information that determines your appearance, you also inherit genes that might cause or increase your risk of certain medical conditions. A family medical history can reveal the history of disease in your family and allow you to identify patterns that might be relevant to your own health.

Your doctor might use your family medical history to:

•  Assess your risk of certain diseases
•  Recommend treatments or changes in diet or other lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of disease
•  Determine which diagnostic tests are appropriate for you
•  Determine the type and frequency of screening tests
•  Identify any other possible conditions that could arise
•  Identify other family members who are at risk of developing a certain disease
•  Assess your risk of passing conditions on to your children

Your family might want to work together to develop a family medical history. Consider kicking off the project at a family gathering, such as a holiday or reunion. Keep in mind, however, that some loved ones might be uncomfortable disclosing personal medical information — perhaps due to guilt, shame or a reluctance to face painful memories. You might want to consult family documents, such as existing family trees, baby books, old letters, obituaries or records from places of worship. Public records — birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates — are usually available in county record offices. If you or your family members maintain electronic personal health records, use them.

 If possible, your family medical history should include at least three generations. Compile information about your grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, siblings, cousins, children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. For each person, try to gather the following information:

Sex, Date of birth, Ethnicity Medical conditions, Mental health conditions, including alcoholism or other substance abuse, Pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects or infertility Age when each condition was diagnosed, Lifestyle habits, including diet, exercise and tobacco use, For deceased relatives, age at the time of death and cause of death, Pay special attention to conditions that develop earlier than usual, such as high blood pressure in early adulthood, or conditions that affect multiple relatives. 

Give your doctor a copy of your family medical history and ask him or her to review it with you. Your doctor might ask you questions for clarification and can help you interpret the relevance of certain patterns in your medical history, including the need for preventive measures or screening tests. Going forward, update your family medical history every couple of years. Be sure to share updates with your doctor.

Are you prepared for your Health?

Have you ever had to face a situation where you were un-prepared for a function or a party or un-informed guests to your house? Don’t you just wish they had just informed earlier so that you could make yourself presentable or your house neater? Well, something similar goes into the thought process of our health and the un-invited or un-informed health issues that just over take our lives and we just wish if only we had a clue some time earlier. This is the reason why the typical ancient saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure”. It may sound cheesy to most of us, but what if it was to relate to you sooner or later?

The idea is simple. To be prepared, you need to be aware and for that you need to check yourself periodically. If your health condition has not shown any doubtful symptoms, the best time is the beginning of a year. By having periodical check-ups, you can be prepared two or more steps ahead of your un-healthy conditions if any. Of course, unexpected circumstances are part of life and are often unavoidable. Sometimes sudden accidents and illnesses can destroy our ambitions and seriously reduce our quality of life.

For this reason, it is extremely important for us to do everything in our means to mitigate the risks of the unknown. By educating ourselves as much as we can about our health and taking the proper measures to take care of our bodies, we can greatly increase our chances of avoiding or at least correcting and managing health problems as soon as they begin to surface. It’s found that tobacco, poor diet, physical inactivity, and misuse of alcohol have been estimated to be responsible deaths annually. With sound health, we are capable of fully enjoying the company of our friends and family as well as achieve our career and personal goals. The checkup is truly a powerful aid for us to live longer, healthier and happier lives. So, treating a condition at its early stage is easier and preventing it is easier than getting a disease and taking medications for the same which are mush severe and probably harmful.