What are Ovaries? Ovaries are reproductive glands found only in females (women). They produce eggs (ova) for reproduction. What is Ovarian Cancer? Ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat worldwide. Studies show that the quality of treatment greatly affects the diagnosis. Ovarian cancers were previously believed to begin only in the ovaries but recent evidence shows that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far (distal) end of the fallopian tubes. Cancer starts when cells in the ovary begin to grow out of control (metastasis). Causes of Ovarian Cancer- It is caused by a variety of factors such as: (i) Endometriosis (ii) Diabetes. (iii) Smoking (iv) Early menstruation and menopause. (v) Those who have inherited a faulty gene called BRCA gene. (vi) Obesity and overweight (vii) People with a history of breast or bowel cancer. (viii) People who had radiotherapy for previous cancer treatment. (ix) Risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with age, mainly over 60 years. Types of Ovarian Cancer- The ovaries are mainly made up of 3 kinds of cells. Each type of cell can develop into a different type of tumor. These tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

1. Epithelial ovarian tumors: these start from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. Most of the ovarian tumors are epithelial cell tumors.
2. Germ cell tumors: these start from the cells that produce the eggs (ova)
3. Stromal tumors:    start from structural tissue cells that hold the ovary together and produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Symptoms-

1. Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
2. Changes in bowel habits such as constipation and indigestion.
3. Fatigue
4. Abdominal or lower tummy pain
5. Loss of appetite
6. Frequent urination
7. Abdominal bloating or increased abdomen size.

Diagnosis and Treatment-

1. Physical examination:  this includes the recto-vaginal examination with the empty bladder to evaluate for pelvic and abdominal masses.  
2. Transvaginal ultrasonography: In case of any abnormal pelvic mass, women should undergo ultrasonography.
3. Surgeries:  Primary treatment for ovarian cancer. It is used for cytoreduction (debulking).
4. Other tests: These include colonoscopy, laparoscopy, biopsy etc.
5. Medicines/ Chemotherapy:  Postsurgical adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for late-stage disease and stage II cases.

Prevention and Control-

1. Maintaining proper hygiene and cleanliness.
2. Routine gynecologist checkups.
3. Women who have a high-risk family history should be referred for genetic testing.

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder in which the body makes inadequate or abnormal form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein present in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen to all the other cells in the body. When there’s less hemoglobin (anemia), red blood cells do not function properly and eventually results in disruption of the red blood cells. Inheriting a faulty thalassemia gene from both the parents, creates the trait for thalassemia and in major cases there’s a need for blood transfusion. Causes- It is caused by a variety of factors such as: (i) Caused by the mutations in the gene responsible for the production of hemoglobin. (ii) People with a family history of thalassemia. (ii) Ethnicity of the people, most common in African Americans and in Southeast Asians. Types of Thalassemia- Hemoglobin, a protein which is made of two subunits- Alpha globin and Beta globin.

1. Alpha thalassemia- it occurs when the gene related to the alpha globin is mutated.
2. Beta thalassemia- when gene associated with beta globin is mutated.

There are two forms of thalassemia-

1. Thalassemia minor- When the person inherits the faulty gene from only one parent. They are the carriers of thalassemia and do not show any symptoms.
2. Thalassemia major- It is developed when the person inherits the faulty gene from both the parents. Beta thalassemia major is also known as the Cooley anemia.

Symptoms-

1. Pale skin
2. Dark urine
3. Constant fatigue and weakness
4. Enlarged Spleen
5. Abdominal pain and swelling
6. Bone deformities
7. Delayed growth and development
8. Heart problems such as abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) associated with severe thalassemia.

Diagnosis and Treatment-

1. Blood examination
2. Careful blood transfusions in case of thalassemia major.
3. Undergo thalassemia screening test (Blood HPLC/thalassemia test) to check the chance of being a thalassemia carrier.
4. Medications and health supplements.
5. Bone marrow transplantation in major cases.

Prevention and Control-

1. Routine blood tests.
2. Periodic consultation with the doctor.
3. Maintain healthy lifestyle and proper balanced diet.
4. Regular exercise
5. Consult a genetic counselor to determine the risk of passing thalassemia to your children.
6. Take prescribed medicines.

Asthma (also called Bronchial Asthma) is a long-term condition in which the air passages in the lungs become narrow due to inflammation and tightening of the muscles around the small airways. It makes breathing difficult and can make some physical activities challenging or even impossible. Causes- It is caused by a variety of factors such as: (i) Extreme weather conditions like air pollution, environmental irritants, allergens etc. (ii) Respiratory infections, people exposed to tobacco smoke, strong chemicals. (iii) People with a family history of Asthma or other allergic diseases have a high risk of developing asthma. (iv) Exercise (v) Certain medications like Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin etc. Types of Asthma-

1. Exercise-induced asthma:  It is triggered by exercise and is also called exercise-induced bronchospasm.
2. Occupational asthma: This type of asthma happens to people who work around irritating substances.
3. Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS):  This type happens when a person has both asthma and  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both diseases make it difficult to breathe.

Symptoms- The most common symptom  is wheezing. There is a whistling sound that occurs when a person breathes. Other asthma symptoms include:

1. coughing, especially at night, when laughing, or during exercise
2. tightness in the chest
3. shortness of breath
4. difficulty talking
5. anxiousness or panic
6. fatigue
7. chest pain
8. rapid breathing
9. frequent infections
10. trouble sleeping

Diagnosis and Treatment-

1. Bronchodilators:  These medicines relax the muscles around the airways which helps to move the air and let mucus move more easily through the airways. Used for intermittent and chronic asthma which help to relieve the symptoms.
2. Anti-inflammatory medicines:  These medicines reduce swelling and mucus production in the airways. They make it easier for air to enter and exit your lungs. Mainly used for chronic asthma.
3. Biologic therapies for asthma:  These are used for severe asthma when symptoms persist despite proper inhaler therapy.
4. Medicines:  metered-dose inhalers, nebulizers etc.

Prevention and Control-

1. Wear masks while going outside especially in crowds, polluted places.
2. Prevent exposure to allergens such as dust, pollens, molds, pets etc.
3. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle- nutrient rich diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy BMI as asthma tends to worse in obese people.
4. Management of stress
5. By quitting smoking as smoking triggers Asthma and increases the risk of COPD.
6. Take preventive medicines in case of emergency.