Universal Medicine

It's no secret to us all that there are a huge number of people living in our World, and it's also not that much of a stretch to accept that our resources are spread extremely thinly across us all. For this reason, the Royal College of GPs is begging the public of the UK to carefully consider whether a visit to the GP for their symptoms is absolutely essential. If a mere 5% of people did not visit GPs for harmless diagnoses, then 50,000 appointments would be saved for those who truly need medical attention from the GP. So, what is the title of this article banging on about? The rule of 3, or "3 before GP" rule, is a set of three things that you should consider before scheduling an appointment with your local GP. 1) Could I do this myself? If the symptoms aren't that severe, is it something you could take of yourself? Perhaps a glass of water and some rest is enough to allay the symptoms you are experiencing. 1) Is there something online that could help? The...

Seasons Greetings! This year has been filled with some wonderful posts written by my fellow writers here at Universal Medicine. From carbon nanotubes and CRISPR, to the effect of coffee on our health as well as the problems with prescriptions, there has been such a diverse range of topics covered! Make sure you go back and check through if there are any that you have missed. Thank you greatly to all of our readers who take the time look at our posts and respond. On behalf of all of us here at Universal Medicine, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Stay tuned for some excellent posts next year. By Vicale Czan Alfanti Universal Medicine 

It’s the most *cough* wonderful time of the year *cough*… We are very much in the whirlwind of the Christmas spirit. Hopefully all last minute gifts have been purchased and we are all gearing up for Christmas Day television and plenty of food. Even if Christmas is not celebrated in your household, it is hard to deny that this time of the year is most definitely best spent with family and friends. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to enjoy the festive period. Simple things such as food, shelter and companionship are of concern, only made worse by the sharp cold they are unable to escape. There are several things we can also strive to do in the coming weeks (and all year if we are able) to help as many people as possible enjoy the end of 2017 and look forward to a brand new year. 1.        Many households will be guilty of buying too much food. No worries! Any left-over tins, drinks non-perishable items can be donated to food banks for those who w...

We're all aware of the devastation to come as a result of our abhorrent overindulgence in the use non-renewable fuels. Rising sea level, floods as a result and severe climate change are all consequences we are going to have to deal with in the future, but our pollution problem is forcing us to deal with effects that are much more immediate, and in no way less sinister. UNICEF issued a statement on the 6th of December ( click link here ) stating that 17 million babies around the world are at risk of stunted brain development due to their breathing in of toxic pollutants. They also said that the majority resided in South-Asia. Southern Asia is notorious for its heavy smog clouds in large cities and many of the citizens subsequently wear smog masks or gas filters in an attempt to protect their well-being. There are babies in these smog-ridden regions that are breathing in an environment that is polluted 6 times the national limit, and the effects are detrimental to their future. U...

Addison’s disease impacts approximately 8400 people in the UK, and can affect individuals of any age although it is most common in women and people aged between 30 and 50. It is also referred to as primary adrenal insufficiency, or hypoadrenalism, as it pertains to the adrenal glands not working as they should do. Below, we will delve more into the disease itself, as well as the symptoms and methods of treatment. Adrenal glands are labelled as endocrine glands as they are a group of specialised cells with the primary function of secreting hormones. The adrenal glands are situated at the top of the kidneys, and the hormones which they produce related to Addison’s disease are cortisol and aldosterone, produce specifically from the adrenal cortex. Both hormones are vital as they allow for the regulation of not only blood pressure through the balancing of ions but also the body’s reaction to stress. When the adrenal cortex is damaged, not enough of the hormones are produced, th...

Transubstantiation… Doctrine of the Catholic Church, scientifically verified? Figure 1 According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, Transubstantiation is the change of substance of bread and wine offered (consecrated) as a sacrifice in Mass, into the real body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Church teaches the way the substance of the Eucharistic offering changes into the body and blood of Christ is a mystery and incomprehensible to human intellect. But it appears even Catholic have trouble believing this nature.  However over centuries there have been numerous reports of consecrated hosts turning to physical flesh and blood. figure 2 The Miracle of Lanciano In 8 th century Lanciano, a priest who was doubting  the claims of the church; that Jesus was truly present in the consecrated, when he said the words of consecration during mass(“this is my Body. This is my blood”) saw the bread and wine turn into real human flesh and blood.( Figure 1 unleavened brea...

Being motivated is not the easiest of tasks. The thought of having to do a task that requires a lot of effort isn’t appealing in many ways and the constant distractions in our environments can quickly become the cause of our loss of attention. Leading to the involvement in other unnecessary activities- known as procrastination. This alludes to the common misconception  that motivation is down to our actions alone. However, there is actually a lot more science to how we become motivated. The source of our motivation stems from the neurotransmitter dopamine. Although dopamine is usually associated with pleasure, its effects have been proven to be more diverse. Many studies suggest it plays a key role in motivation, as it is involved with attention span and focus which are vital for staying motivated. It passes from one neurone (the presynaptic neurone) to the next (postsynaptic neurone) across the synapse. It diffuses across to the postsynaptic neurone and binds to its receptor...

From 2011 to 2016, the number of people admitted to hospital suffering from an allergic reaction increased by a third in the UK. This sharp influx of admittances is due to a phenomenon described in the "Hygiene Hypothesis" which states that due to a lack of early exposure in one's childhood to pathogens and microbes in the surrounding environment, their body's immune system has not properly developed and is subsequently more susceptible to allergic diseases later on in life. An interesting statistic is that there are a lower percentage of people with allergies in less developed countries than in more developed countries. This is a result of living in conditions less hygienic than our own exposing their population to viruses, parasites and microbes from an early age, facilitating the growth of their immune system. In an irony of fate, our cleanliness has led to our increased vulnerability to common (and in most cases harmless) substances. An allergic reaction is defin...

Diabetes   Approximately 422 million people suffer from diabetes in the world, some of whom are unaware that the condition impacts them. With the number of cases of diabetes on the rise, it is important to understand what it is and how it can be identified. What is diabetes?   Blood glucose concentration in the body is something which should remain constant in the body in order for it to function correctly. The mechanism that controls this is the interaction between the hormones insulin) and glucagon in the way that insulin lowers blood glucose concentration and glucagon will increase it. Insulin is the hormone of importance here. In the pancreas, there is an area of exocrine tissue called the Islets of Langerhans which contains beta cells that produce the insulin. When there is a malfunction, and the system does not behave as it should, the individual will experience diabetes mellitus, otherwise known simply as diabetes where the blood glucose concentration will r...

The biopsychosocial model (BPSM) The BPSM is a holistic approach considering one’s health through their physical (biological), Psychological (psycho) and social factors. The traditional biomedical model used in medical practise – taking into account one’s health only regarding physical well-being through genetics and biology, was expanded by Doctor George Engel in 1977 who stated: “We are now faced with the necessity and the challenge to broaden the approach to disease to include the psychosocial without sacrificing the enormous advantages of the biomedical approach”. He alongside others found the biomedical model a reductionist in nature – narrowing down one’s well-being merely to genetics, ignoring the significant influence of psychology and society on an individual.  The BPSM argues psychological factors - behaviour, cognitive process and emotions, and social factors - cultural, support, economic background (etc…) has an influence on health and illness. This model allow...

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, is caused by a type of bacteria that produces acid which erodes the tooth’s surface (enamel) and it’s under layer known as the dentine. This is can result in the formation of holes called cavities. Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases, yet it can easily be prevented. How is it caused? Dental plaque is a film of bacteria that cover the teeth surface. The consumption of foods high in carbohydrates, predominately those high in sugar, result in acid production by the bacteria in plaque. The acid produced causes the erosion of the enamel, which is the outer layer of the tooth. Demineralisation of the tooth is where fundamental minerals and ions are removed from the tooth, which causes the hard enamel to become soft. Once holes are formed in the enamel plaque and bacteria can then make its way down to the dentine. A cavity is created from the breakdown of the enamel and dentine. As the dentine is softer it erodes quicker, so ...