Medical & Vocabulary: "Hives" & Allergy

My Arm

Almost a year ago, 31st August, 2010, I suffered from heat rash after running under hot sun, I applied corticosteroid cream and I was fine. Yesterday, after I had had my shower, I sat in front of the computer and started feeling itchy in my buttocks. It got more and more itchy but I didn't realise what happened. Until at one point, I had to go to the toilet and I was shocked at the rash that was everywhere on my backside!!! Immediately I thought, it must be the mites on my chair, otherwise, why would it start only on my butt, so I quickly went to dilute some Dettol and wiped the infected areas.

After another hour, it spread down to my thighs, down to the knee caps, and slightly up my back. It became increasingly itchy and red and I found it difficult not to scratch.

My thigh

I tried to sleep anyway but when I got up, rash had covered my entire back and even up to the arms. I was afraid that it would spread to my face, and so I had to do something. I tried to apply some corticosteroid cream that was left from last time on my right arm to test the result, and after a short while, the rash had disappeared, so I applied it to everywhere I could see rash, and waited. Luckily, I was almost fine again before I left home to work. Took less than 2 hours to recover from the visual symptoms. (Although it is occasionally coming back in certain areas.)

What really happened I don't know. I was playing football in the rain yesterday on a muddy field in Happy Valley yesterday, and so were my students. I had shower in the public bathroom. I ate McDonald's for dinner. Which one of these could have caused the rash?

What kind of rash was it?

After a little research, I think this time, "Hives" is the most likely suspect. Medically, it is called Urticaria,
Hives is a common name in both English and Chinese speaking countries, meaning, the home of bees (beehive).

Beehive
Image from i.zdnet.com

The cause of urticaria is often unknown, and it could well be allergy (food or medication), reaction to temperature changes, the sun, contact with poisonous plants, autoimmune, etc.

For my case, unless I'm allergic to McDonald's fast food or I took medicine which I don't know, all others seem likely. But I'm starting to think that mine is heavy-sport induced, just like heat rash I got last time. In fact, every time I have finished some sport, I do get some smaller ones on my arms, but not as serious as this one.

I don't like to take any kind of medication, I like to strengthen my body by making its immune system do more work and rely less on medicine, but I can't possibly go to work with hives all over my body. No choice.

Talking about allergy, a friend of mine told me that she is severely allergic to kiwifruit, and I found that quite surprising, so I went to find the answer, and from Wikipedia, the most informative paragraph is this one:

Kiwifruit
Image from bbcgoodfood.com

"Raw kiwifruit is also rich in the protein-dissolving enzyme actinidin, (in the same family of thiol proteases aspapain), which is commercially useful as a meat tenderizer, but can be an allergen for some individuals. Specifically, people allergic to latex, papayas or pineapples are likely to also be allergic to kiwifruit. The fruit also contains calcium oxalate crystals in the form of raphides. Reactions to these chemicals include sweating, tingling and sore mouth or throat; swelling of the lips, tongue and face; rash; vomiting and abdominal pain, heartburn; and, in the most severe cases, breathing difficulties, wheezing and collapse. The most common symptoms are unpleasant itching and soreness of the mouth, with the most common severe symptom being wheezing. Severe symptoms are most likely to occur in young children."^[1]

Actinidain fruits: pineapple, mango, papaya

Never knew kiwifruits are so dangerous.

As mentioned above, "actinidain (or actinidin) is a type of cysteine protease enzyme found in fruits including kiwifruit (genus Actinidia), pineapple, mango and papaya. This enzyme is part of the papain-like peptidase C1 family.

It is an allergen and commercially useful as a meat tenderizer."^[2]

In some cases of severe allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock might occur ^[3], causing low blood pressure and inability to breath.

Is it that serious? Well, in House M.D. Season 5 episode House Divided, there is one episode when Dr. Chase went "into anaphylactic shock while taking a body shot from a stripper wearing strawberry body butter during his bachelor party."^[4]

Anaphylaxis can be deadly! And one of the symptoms of anaphylaxis includes hives!! I better keep myself checked today because the symptoms can develop over minutes to hours.^[3]

Resources:
Medical & Vocabulary : Heat Rash and Bug Bites @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/08/medical-vocabulary-heat-rash-and-bug.html

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwifruit#Nutrition
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actinidin
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphylactic_shock#Anaphylactic_shock
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Robert_Chase
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Divided

Anaphylactic Shock @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBLaDXa6pE

Movie: Constantine

Image from abrakaba.com

Mid-week recommendation, not a new movie, but for those of you with a thing for Shia LeBeouf of Transformers 1, 2, and the upcoming 3, Constantine can really give you a pre-star performance of the actor.
  

(Left-to-Right) Constantine, Midnite, and Chas standing outside of Papa Midnite’s bar.
Image from moviesmedia.ign.com

But of course, the main focus isn't Shia LeBeouf, is Canadian actor Keanu Reeves! Oh, and the design of a nuclear-blasted world to be Hell is really a state-of-the-art too!^[1] Reminds me of how dangerous a nuclear disaster can be.

Hell @ Constantine
Image from moviesmedia.ign.com

Adapted from the horror comic Hellblazer, Constantine talks about a cool but heavy-smoking John Constantine bargaining with Heaven by sending demons who made their ways to the "human plane" back to Hell. He then was involved in a murder investigation in which he discovered a much larger and darker plot.

"Welcome to my life!"
Image from Google

I really like the idea of having Heaven, Hell and the "human plane" all in the same dimension, and that there are the half-angels and half-demons who can cross these planes freely while human crossing the plane to Hell will need the help of a cat or to commit crimes before death. It is the first horror-plus-exorcist movie that uses cool high-tech Batman-James-Bond-like weapons -- The Holy Shotgun, the Gold Brass Knuckles blessed by the Bishop Anicott during the Crusades and Dragon's Breath, together with some traditional low-tech ones like Holy Water ampoules from the River Jordan and Screech beetle from Amityvilles, a piece of the shroud Moses wore to the mountain.^[2]

John Constantine with Gold Brass Knuckles

John Constantine holding onto a Dragon's breath
Image from imfdb.org

Overall, I love this movie as the plot, the scene design, the theories are all making sense, it is really intriguing to be in the world of Constantine -- cool but filled with danger. The detective-and-conspiracy interlocks are thrilling and addictive to watch. A definitive movie you can't miss!

Image from bdbphotos.com

Vocabulary:
pre-star -- from the word "star" -- (adj) before becoming famous
brass knuckles -- (n) [plural] a metal weapon which is worn over the knuckles and is intended to increase the injuries caused when hitting a person
screech -- (n) [C] a long loud high noise which is unpleasant to hear

Resources:

Keanue Reeves @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keanu_Reeves

[1] Constantine @ Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_(film)

[2] Constantine Script @ IMSDb

http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Constantine.html

Constantine Trailer @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3lfSQTDSVM

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/stardom
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/knuckle-duster

Medical: Thrombosis VS Embolism VS Atherosclerosis

Hugh Laurie as Dr Gregory House
Image from milliontalks

Another piece of information that I have learnt while watching House M.D. are these two terms, embolism and thrombosis.

Example of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and dislodging of a embolus
Image from daviddarling

Thrombosis "is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus; Greek: θρόμβος) inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system." ^[1] In simple words, a dry ball made of blood get stuck in a blood vessel so the blood cannot flow.
"When a blood vessel is injured, the body uses platelets and fibrin to form a blood clot to prevent blood loss. Alternatively, even when a blood vessel is not injured, blood clots may form in the body if the proper conditions present themselves. If the clotting is too severe and the clot breaks free, the traveling clot is now known as an embolus.^[1][2]." ^[1]

So, there is a medical condition caused by a travelling clot called embolism.

Image from blogspot

Embolism "is the event of lodging of an embolus ("any detached, itinerant intravascular mass (solid, liquid, or gaseous) as carried by circulation and capable of clogging arterial capillary beds at a site distant from its point of origin") into a narrow capillary vessel of an arterial bed which causes a blockage (vascular occlusion) in a distant part of the body." ^[2]

Atherosclerosis
Image from health.com

Now, do not mix up with Atherosclerosis ("also known as arteriosclerotic vascular disease or ASVD), which is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol." ^[3]

Angioplasty
Image from howstuffworks.com

The treatment to Atherosclerosis is through Angioplasty, "the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, typically as a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size using water pressures some 75 to 500 times normal blood pressure (6 to 20 atmospheres). The balloon crushes the fatty deposits, opening up the blood vessel for improved flow, and the balloon is then deflated and withdrawn." ^[4]


If Angioplasty is performed in the heart's coronary arteries, it is generally called "Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)" or "coronary angioplasty." ^[4]
If similar technique is applied elsewhere, it is generally called "Stenting". ^[5]


However, thrombosis could happen during post-angioplasty and thus "Patients with stents are usually prescribed an anticoagulant, clopidogrel which is taken at the same time with acetylsalicylic acid. These medications are intended to prevent blood clots and they are usually taken for at least the first months after the procedure is performed. In most cases, patients are administrated this type of medication for 1 year. Also, patients who are doing dental work are advised to cancel it because there is a risk of endocarditis, an infection of the heart."


These medical terms are becoming more and more common in the newspapers, so we should all learn something about them so we can communicate with the doctors at the dining tables (or at hospital, touch wood!)



Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embolus

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombosis
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embolism
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherosclerosis
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angioplasty
[5] http://www.healthcanal.com/blood-heart-circulation/16610-CUHK-Proves-the-Potent-Efficacy-Stenting-for-Carotid-Artery-Narrowing-and-Cardiac-Contractility-Modulation-for-Heart-Failure.html

Idiom & Song & Event: You Don't Miss Your Water -- Craig David X Memories of King Kowloon

This is a rewritten article after Google Blogger has deleted it.

Some days ago, something happened to me and reminded me of a song by Craig David, called "You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til the Well Runs Dry)", from the album Slicker Than Your Average.

Image from Wikipedia

The song talks about a guy who loves a girl very much and believes that he will be with this girl for a long time; however, this girl does not know how to treasure anything and only realises her loss after it is too late, so the guy sang this song to warn the girl, saying that if the girl ever thinks about cheating on him and he will leave her, and by then, it will really be too late for her to regret.

Lyrics: (Beautiful lines are underlined)



As I sail with you across the finest oceans
On a way to find the key to our emotions
Together we will move the clouds to brighter days
Some people question what I say
Try to break up you and me
But I know this love between us is growing stronger
You can call me whenever from wherever
Just remember that
I'll be there
Through all the stormy weather
Us break up never
No we'll be together
Forever

You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry
But I believe so strongly in you and I
Can't somebody answer me the question why
You don't miss your water til the well runs dry

As I close my eyes
Sit back while reminiscing
Of when we used to fuss and fight but end up kissing
There may be sad and painful times along the way
But in my heart you'll always be everything and more to me
For I know this love between us is growing stronger
You can call me whenever from wherever
Just remember that
I'll be there
Through all the stormy weather
Us break up never
No we'll be together
Forever

You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry
But I believe so strongly in you and I
Cant somebody answer me the question why
You don't miss your water til the well runs dry

For you are always on my mind
You are always on my mind
Girl you know that you
You are always
You are always on my mind
You are always forever

You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry
But I believe so strongly in you and I
Cant somebody answer me the question why
You don't miss your water til the well runs dry

You don't miss your water girl no
But I believe so strongly in you and I yeah
Cant somebody answer me the question why
Cause you don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry yeah listen
If you ever get the feeling
You wanna play around start cheating, remember
You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry




Opinions:

The Memories of King Kowloon exhibition will end on the 31st May, so if you still haven't paid a visit to it, then you should go ASAP! Don't miss your water till the well runs dry!

Exhibition Date and Time: 20 April - 31 May, 2011, 10am - 8pm*   (*No admission after 7:30pm. Exhibition closes at 5:30pm on 27 May) Venue: ArtisTree, 1/F Cornwall House, TaikKoo Place FREE ADMISSION Other activities: Student exhibition at the linbridge of Lincoln House, TaiKoo Place Free weekend guided tours Talk series in May (in Cantonese) Visit www.islandeast.com.hk for latest programme details.

Vocabulary:

You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry -- (from a proverb) "You never miss the water till the well runs dry", meaning "People are not grateful for what they have until they lose it"
reminisce -- (vb) [I] formal to talk or write about past experiences which you remember with pleasure
fuss -- (n) [S or U] a show of anger, worry, lack of satisfaction or excitement, usually one which is greater than the situation deserves
play around -- (UK also play about) informal disapproving If someone who is married or has a serious relationship plays around, they have sex with another person or people
cheat (on sb) -- 

phrasal verb 

informal 

If you cheat on your husband, wife or usual sexual partner, you secretly have a sexual relationship with someone else


Resources:

Craig David - You Don't Miss Your Water @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=183aYqvHCTs

You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til the Well Runs Dry) @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Don%27t_Miss_Your_Water_(%27Til_the_Well_Runs_Dry)

Craig David - You Don't Miss Your Water (Til The Well Runs Dry) Lyrics @ Lyrics007
http://www.lyrics007.com/Craig%20David%20Lyrics/You%20Don't%20Miss%20Your%20Water%20Lyrics.html

Event: Memories of King Kowloon @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/04/event-memories-of-king-kowloon.html

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/You+never+miss+the+water+till+the+well+runs+dry
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/reminisce
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/fuss_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/play-around_2#play-around_2__2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/cheat-on-sb#cheat-on-sb__2

Medical & Drinks: Coffee seems to lower the risk of lethal prostate cancer

I've asked Google for help but they have yet to give me any response, so I decided that I can't wait for them forever and our English Playground will have to go on. Some of the drafts I wrote and one article have disappeared, and that is sad. I'll see if I can rewrite them. I'll just make sure that I back up my blog from now on every time I have finished writing an entry.

For now, two news related to Coffee.

Coffee seems to lower the risk of lethal prostate cancer Drinking coffee might lower a man's risk for developing lethal prostate cancer, according to a new Harvard study. (Julius Schorzman / Creative Commons) Image from greenmedinfo By Marissa Cevallos, HealthKey / For the Booster Shots blog May 18, 2011, 1:26 p.m. Drinking coffee is a fine way to start the day, many men would agree. For those worried about prostate cancer, it appears to be a great way to start the day. The latest of many studies on whether a daily cup, or many cups, of java might lower a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer, especially lethal prostate cancer, falls on the side of coffee enthusiasts. A Harvard School of Public Health study of nearly 48,000 men found that those who drank more than six cups of coffee per day had a 60% reduced risk of developing lethal prostate cancer compared with nondrinkers. The reduction in lethal prostate cancer risk was similar between decaf and regular coffee drinkers. Thus, the researchers conclude, caffeine isn’t the wonder element -- good news for those who already consume far too much caffeine (you know who you are). The results were published online Tuesday in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The researchers write in the discussion of their paper: “An association between coffee and lower risk of advanced prostate cancer is biologically plausible. Coffee improves glucose metabolism, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and affects sex hormone levels, all of which play roles in prostate cancer progression.” But that’s not to say all men should consume cup after cup. Far from it. For those with benign prostatic hyperplasia, regular coffee can be problematic. As this WebUrology article notes: “For men who have BPH, drinking coffee can be detrimental because caffeine can stimulate an already overactive bladder, which means it can increase urinary frequency and urgency and may even result in urge incontinence...Caffeine can also irritate the bladder because it is a theoxanthine, which is a family of drugs that includes theobromine (found in chocolate) and theophylline (found in tea).” healthkey@tribune.com

Opinions:
Good news for some men, but more than 6 cups of coffee a day??? Even if it is decaf coffee, drinking 6 cups is like drinking water. Should we put sugar in it? Cos if we do, probably the chance of getting diabetes will also be 60% higher! But at least it is good to know that there is a prevention for a cancer.

The next news is about Starbucks teaming up with Lady Gaga. I'm not going to post the whole news here, if you are interested, you can read it from the following URL: http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2011-05-18-starbucks-lady-gaga_n.htm

Can you imagine going into Starbucks and watching those Financial Planners talking to their customers while hearing "Bad Romance"? Haha!!


Vocabulary:

prostate cancer -- (n) [C] a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. See Wikipedia.
lethal -- (adj) able to cause or causing death; extremely dangerous
enthusiast -- (n) [C] a person who is very interested in and involved with a particular subject or activity
anti-inflammatory -- (adj) describes a drug that is used to reduce pain and swelling
detrimental -- (adj) causing harm or damage



Resources:
Coffee seems to lower the risk of lethal prostate cancer @ Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-prostate-cancer-20110518,0,5881134.story

Starbucks teams with Lady Gaga @ USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2011-05-18-starbucks-lady-gaga_n.htm

Prostate Cancer @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lethal
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/enthusiast
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/anti-inflammatory_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/detrimental

Message: Google Blogger deleted posts

While waiting for Google Blogger to fix it's problems, which might further delete new posts, I just write this entry to inform you guys that I have not been lazy and I am still writing entries, but I'm saving them as drafts in my email account and I will only post it after my previous entry comes back.

Idiom & Song & Event: You Don't Miss Your Water -- Craig David X Memories of King Kowloon

Google claims that they have successfully brought back most of the lost entries and are working on the lost comments, but my nice entry is still gone, so meanwhile, we can only wait.

Right now, I'm more than frustrated!!!!


Resources:


Google says data corruption led to Blogger outage @ The Inquirer

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2071188/google-corruption-led-blogger-outage

Google Blogger Glitches, Posts Vanish @ Search Engine Journal
http://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-blogger-glitches-posts-vanish/29866/