Q What are the kidneys?

Kidneys are bean shaped organ located at the back of abdominal cavity on either side of the spine. They receive their blood supply form the renal arteries and drain the blood into the renal veins. The urine form kidneys is excreted into the ureter on each side and is carried to the urinary bladder. The function of kidney is homoeostasis. It is achieved by elimination of waste products formed due to metabolism like urea, ammonia; maintenance of electrolyte balance, maintenance of acid-base balance, regulation of blood pressure, production of hormone like calcitrol, erythropoetin and enzyme renin, reabsorbtion of water, glucose and amino acids.

Q Diagnosis of high cholesterol

The diagnosis of high cholesterol levels is based on a simple blood test. Usually a complete Lipid profile is advised to test the levels of different components of cholesterol and triglycerides. Total cholesterol levels should be less than 200 mg/dl. LDL levels less than 100 mg/dL ( 2.6 mmol/L) are considered optimal. An acceptable HDL range is between 40- 60 mg/dL (1.04-1.56 mmol/L). Triglyceride levels should be maintained less than 150 mg/dl. High levels of HDL have a protective effect against heart disease whereas high levels of LDL and triglycerides increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Q When is herpes contagious? I have not had an outbreak of genital herpes in years but i do take valtrex if i feel an outbreak may be coming on. If i take valtrex as needed and i do not have an outbreak, am i still contagious?

Genital herpes is the most contagious when the lesions are active and a few days before that. However, an infected person can potentially be shedding the virus all his life. Since, the virus is spread by direct skin to skin contact, it is very easy to spread it through intercourse or oral sex. Thus, protect your partner by always using a condom.

Q What is G-spot? Where exactly is it located?

G-spot is an erotic spot in females. It is a bean-sized mass supposed to be located on upper surface of vagina exactly behind the urinary opening. The presence of this G-spot is still dubious and controversial.

Q What Psychological Factors Contribute to Mental Illness?

The reasons which cause mental illness- Significant interpersonal loss and family instability, such as death of loved one, misfortune, poor relationship with family, domestic partner violence, separation, and divorce, emotional detachment have all been identified as risk factors. Financial stress, unemployment, and a drop in socioeconomic status can also be triggers for mental illness. This is also the case for a range of acute and chronic health problems, such as pain syndromes, or diagnoses of conditions like HIV or cancer. Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental conditions.

Q My first marriage broke up because of my snoring, Im in another relationship now and I dont want it to happen again.please guide me for treatment of my snoring habit

It must be quite frustrating when your snoring affect your relationship. But the good news is, snoring can be controlled or eliminated by various devices and lifestyle changes. Snoring sound occur when there is any problem in smooth passage of air through airway. This can happen due to several reasons like more throat and nasal tissue, being fatty or overweight causing more fat at throat, tongue blocking airway while asleep, wrongly adapted sleeping posture, etc. You can seek help of any snoring device that will minimize the sound or your snoring. It will be bit difficult and time consuming to find the best suitable for you as many of such devices in the market are not well proven. You can take help of your physician to find the best one and to find the cause behind your snoring. Also rule out any underlying medical problem making you snore, with your doctors help. We are suggesting here some general guidelines about how you can reduce your problem: 1. Loose those extra pounds if your are overweight. Loosing even little fat can prove helpful in great way to reduce snoring. 2. Exercise regularly. Specially working for abs, arms and legs muscles will increase the tome of muscles in throat and neck, reducing snoring. 3. Quit smoking if you smoke. It will further narrow your air passage making your problem worse. 4. Established well planned sleeping schedule. 5. Elevating your head few inches while sleeping can help keeping airways intact. You can use specially designed pillow that help to prevent snoring. 6. Avoid sleeping on your back. Prefer side way position. 7. You can do several throat exercises to strengthen your throat muscles. 8. If these things does not prove helpful, think of medical treatments like CPAP, oral or dental devices, surgery to clear the airway etc.

Q can inhale not exhale,cough only during night feeling lack of energy

The symptom you have descrirbed may be due to pathologies related with respiratory system and the organ involved is trachea, lung or diaphragm. It may be due to an infection with bacteria or virus and it may acute or chronic. You require physical examination by a consultant to rule out the cause. A diet lacking certain nutrients can also contribute to a chronic cough. If your body has deficiency of iron, swelling and irritation in the back of your throat could be a symptom, which can lead to coughing at night. The condition is also associated with weakness many times. An iron supplement may be all you need in this case.

Q What is the true cause of trichotillomania aslo known as severe obsessive compulsive hair pulling?

The cause of trichotillomania is unclear. But like many complex disorders, trichotillomania probably results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Also, abnormalities in the natural brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine may play a role in trichotillomania. While the underlying biology is not clearly understood at this time, we do know that people with trichotillomania generally have a neurologically based predisposition to pull their hair as a self-soothing mechanism. The pulling behavior serves as a coping mechanism for anxiety and other difficult emotions. It does not hurt and they are not trying to damage themselves. While the average age of onset is 11, trich can be found in children as young as one year old. Onset of trich can be triggered by simple sensory events, such as itchy eyelashes, or by stressful life events, and it can occur quite suddenly. For example, it may be a tingling feeling that can only be relieved by pulling. ny relief that comes with hair pulling usually only lasts for a moment. The urge almost always returns. Thats because when the mind becomes used to giving in to the powerful urges that go with compulsive behaviors, the behavior is reinforced, and then becomes a habit. The mind gets trapped in a cycle of expecting to have the urge satisfied. The longer this goes on, the harder it can become to resist the urge.

Q what is the home treatment to cure diarrhea?

You can lose a lot of liquid in diarrhea, but you also lose electrolytes, minerals such as sodium and potassium. For this you have to stay hydrated through water mixed with sugar and salt. Yogurt helps to maintain friendly bacterias in your gut. Avoid milk, cheese, and other dairy products. Get enough rest. Chamomile is good for treating intestinal inflammation, and it has antispasmodic properties as well, so taking chamomile tea is healthy in diarrhea. Starchy foods, such as precooked rice or tapioca cereals, can help ease your tummy. Blueberries are rich in anthocyanosides, which have antioxidant and antibacterial properties, as well as tannins, which combat diarrhea. Orange peel tea is a folk remedy that is believed to aid in digestion.

Q How can I tell when Im ovulating?

Ovulation usually occurs 12-15 days before your period starts. So if your periods are regular, you can easily determine your ovulation period by subtracting 14 days from the expected date of the next menstrual cycle. One in 5 women experience mild abdominal cramps when they are ovulating. You can also use a basal body thermometer to check your basal body temperature which shows the lowest reading followed by a sudden rise when you ovulate. During ovulation, your cervix becomes softer and gives out more discharge (mucus) than normal. You can also buy ovulation kit available in chemist to determine your ovulation.