The bladder is a part of the urinary system responsible for expelling urine from the body. Bladder cancer occurs when cells in the lining of the bladder start to divide uncontrollably. This cancer is most common in the bladder, but it also appears in other parts of the urinary tract system. It is more common in men, but still affects women, and it can even recur, making it important to receive follow-up appointments after treatment. The various types of therapies used to treat bladder cancer are as follows: 1. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is performed during the early stages of bladder cancer treatments. There are two types of chemotherapy performed based on the type and stage of bladder cancer: Systemic chemotherapy The process of administering medications in the form of pills or capsules, or injecting them into a vein (IV) or muscle (IM) is called systemic chemotherapy. In this therapy, the medications go directly into the bloodstream, which will help in attacking cancer cells anywhere in the body. Intravesical chemotherapy The process of delivering medications into the bladder with the help of a catheter inserted through the urethra is called intravesical chemotherapy. Intravesical chemotherapy only destroys the tumor cells that come in contact with the chemotherapy drugs.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where blood clots develop inside a vein deep within the body. Though clots form in any part of the body, they usually occur in a vein in the thigh and calf muscles. It is a serious condition and poses risks if not diagnosed and treated. Fragments of the clot can break away and block blood vessels, or travel to the lungs and result in a fatal pulmonary embolism. Managing the causes of deep vein thrombosis helps in timely prevention and treatment. 1. Symptoms One of the most challenging aspects of this condition is that though it is quite common, it is also elusive. Occurring in about two million Americans annually, DVT causes complications in sick/hospitalized patients as well as in apparently healthy persons. Women are at a higher risk of this condition and it is a well-recognized, post-surgical complication. It can occur in cancer patients and people with certain chronic conditions. In many cases, there are few or no symptoms. The nature of these can be vague and they can easily be confused with other conditions. Clinical diagnosis can also be unreliable, but screening can be done via blood tests like D-dimer and a definitive diagnosis is achieved through tests like venography or ultrasonography.

The human sex drive or libido fluctuates over a person’s lifetime. Reduced libido or hypoactive sexual desire disorder, is frequently observed in women of all ages, but nearly one-third of women between the ages of 18-59 report a lowered desire for sexual activity. This condition is slightly different from lowered libido in men as it is a complex, multi-faceted combination of physical, emotional, and psychological factors. Beliefs, experiences, current partners, and lifestyle choices also play a crucial role. Nearly 50% of women experience libido issues in different forms. Sexual satisfaction is an important aspect of a woman’s general health. When it begins to affect her sense of emotional health or her relationships, it is important to seek help from a qualified healthcare professional. Causes of low libido in women can include the following: 1. Aging and hormonal changes Hormones like estrogen, oxytocin, serotonin, acetylcholine, etc. along with dopamine, play a major role in regulating the libido. The levels tend to fluctuate during the woman’s lifetime, and even during the day. Other hormones like cortisol regulate energy levels. Fatigue can result from lowered levels of this hormone. Testosterone in women begins to decline by their twenties. It results in problems of acne, hair-loss or excessive hair growth, anxiety, and infertility.

Lymphoma occurs when lymph node cells start to multiply uncontrollably, producing cancerous cells that invade other surrounding tissues in the body. Lymphoma primarily comes in two forms: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The former can be classified into many subtypes depending on whether it originates in the T-cell or B-cell and cell characteristics. This sub-type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma will determine the need for early treatment, responses to treatments, the nature of the treatment, and prognosis. 1. Causes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Research shows that there are many risk factors for the condition, but the exact causes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are not yet known. This is more so because lymphomas are a miscellaneous group of cancers. Changes in genes It is believed to be one of the main causes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Certain changes in DNA may make normal lymphocytes become lymphoma cells. DNA is the chemical present in our cells that controls how cells will function. Genes that can grow and divide are the oncogenes, while those that keep cell division in check are tumor suppressor genes. But cancers which are triggered by DNA mutation may turn these oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes off. Patients of lymphoma may inherit gene mutations from any parent, and this increases the risks of certain types of cancers in them.

Pulmonary hypertension occurs when there is unusually high pressure inside the pulmonary circulation system. When pulmonary hypertension does not have an identifiable cause, it is called idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Sometimes, the condition can be caused by drugs and diseases like dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and systemic lupus. Infections like HIV, liver and valvular diseases, congenital heart problems, COPD, and blood clots may also lead to pulmonary hypertension. 1. What are the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension? People who have pulmonary hypertension (PH) may not have any apparent symptoms at all. This is particularly true when the disease is at an early stage. Otherwise, PH symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, dizziness, lethargy, fluid retention, causing swelling, chest pains, and angina, among others. The disease may have other manifestations too, depending on the underlying conditions it is associated with. 2. What conditions can become causes of pulmonary hypertension? There can be multiple causes for PH, and usually, more than a single factor is involved in this disease. These factors also change how the disease progresses. Diseases, where blood circulation from the heart to the rest of the body is affected, can lead to a backflow of blood, elevating pulmonary venous pressures and causing PH.