Heart burn pills increases the risk of stomach cancer

Chronic heartburn, caused by stomach acid splashing into the gullet, also known as acid reflux, affects many people. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)  is popularly used to treat the condition. Available both on prescription and over-the-counter at lower doses, PPIs are among the top ten most regularly taken drugs. A study this year by University College London (UCL) involving 63,000 patients, found those taking PPIs for two weeks were twice as likely as those not on the drugs to develop stomach cancer in the following seven years.

If they stayed on them for a year, they were five times more at risk of cancer. And after three years of taking the drugs daily, the risk rose eight-fold. Scientists think PPIs may linked to cancer by stimulating a hormone called gastrin, known to play a part in triggering the growth of cancerous cells in the stomach. It is important to clarify that the UCL findings do not prove these drugs cause cancer, and researchers stressed the risk of stomach cancer in patients on the drugs is still small.

Chronic reflux can cause cells in the gullet to grow abnormally, a condition known as Barrett’s oesophagus that’s thought to affect one in ten people with reflux. Left untreated, this can develop into oesophageal cancer. PPIs such as Nexium, Zanprol, Prevacid and Prilosec, work by suppressing the release of stomach acid by cells, called proton pumps, in the stomach lining. In theory, PPIs should reduce oesophageal cancer rates by treating acid reflux.

An investigation in 2016 by Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands revealed men who regularly took PPIs were three times more likely to have low sperm counts. Meanwhile, research from Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. in 2015 found that those on PPIs were 90 per cent more likely to develop kidney failure, while a study conducted by McGill University in Canada in 2015 found that they raised the risk of hip fractures by 44 per cent. In all the studies, the longer people stay on them, the bigger the risk. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already acted on PPI safety fears and nearly 300 patients in New Jersey have filed lawsuits in the past year or so claiming the drugs left them with kidney damage and that manufacturers knew about the risks but failed to warn them.

Stomach acid protects against infection by destroying the spores containing the C.difficile bacterium before they infect the gut. But if the stomach is producing very little acid because PPIs are being taken every day, it boosts the bug’s chances of thriving. Lab research at Stanford University in the U.S. showed that the drugs don’t just turn off acid pumps in the stomach-they also block production of acid in every cell in the body. Each cell has an area called a lysosome, which contains enzymes that help to break down damaged or defective proteins, the debris from the ageing process. But these enzymes only work properly in acidic conditions.

If the lysosome is unable to release acid to help with this process (because PPIs have blocked the mechanism), waste material builds up and cells age quicker. People with acid reflux should be able to control it by quitting smoking (a big risk factor), losing weight or raising the head of the bed by six to eight inches (which stops gravity pulling acid out of the stomach during sleep). A study this year by University College London (UCL) involving 63,000 patients, found those taking PPIs for two weeks were twice as likely as those not on the drugs to develop stomach cancer in the following seven years. If they stayed on them for a year, they were five times more at risk of cancer.
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New disease responsible for kidney failure

Reserchers have discovered an insidious new autoimmune disease that causes kidney failure. Anti-brush border antibody ABBA disease. Researchers identified ABBA after analyzing biopsied kidney tissue from different patients who had developed acute kidney injury, a sudden episode of kidney failure or damage that happens within a few hours or days.

The condition causes a build-up of waste products in the blood and makes it difficult for kidneys to maintain adequate balance of fluid in the body.
Researchers discovered that in the nephrons, the functional units of the kidneys, antibodies had coated a specialized part of cells called brush borders, which help reabsorb and process proteins.

Since it is an autoimmune disease, different approaches to suppress the immune system were used to treat the patients, but those efforts were unsuccessful, determining where on the protein megalin - which acts as a sponge to absorb proteins and other compounds that enter the nephron - the antibody binds is very important for key to treating the disease.
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Air pollution can cause kidney disease

According to American Society of Nephrology, air pollution - even in small amounts can damage kidneys. Air pollution has been linked to heart disease, strokes, cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Inhaling tiny specks of dust, dirt, smoke, soot and liquids in polluted air move to the bloodstream, when kidneys are filtering the blood, the particles can damage them. Exposure to any amount of air pollution, no matter how small, can harm the kidneys the same way it harms other organs such as the heart and lungs.

Human kidneys filter out waste products from the blood before converting them into urine and also maintain blood pressure. Chronic kidney disease CKD is a long-term condition where the kidneys could not function properly.

The risk of CKD increases with age, CKD does not usually cause any symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. It can be detected early by blood and urine tests. The main symptoms of advanced kidney disease include tiredness, swollen ankles or hands, shortness of breath, nausea and blood in urine.

Those with the condition have a greater risk of having a stroke or heart attack. It can also cause kidney failure, when sufferers will need to have dialysis and transplant. Lifestyle changes and medication can stop it from getting worse if it's diagnosed at an early stage.
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Post trauma stress disorder may increase the risk of lupus

Lupus is an incurable autoimmune disease that causes kidney inflammation and can affect many organs in the body like joints, skin, blood cells, brain, heart, lungs and kidney.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because lupus flares can be as minor as a rash, but can also come with muscle pain, joint pain and fatigue. Severe flare ups can cause fluid to build up around the heart and cause kidney failure.

Women who have post traumatic stress disorder PTSD or have experienced trauma may develop lupus. There is a correlation between PTSD and lupus in women than any other risk factor.

PTSD has been associated with other autoimmune diseases like cardiovascular problems. PTSD creates constant state of anxiety and defense. In these states, the heart rate goes up, and cortisol release is less controlled, which leads to an inflammation. This stress response causes lupus.

Lupus is an enigmatic disease; it affects different organs, the disease can be genetic, it may be triggered by infections, drugs and sunlight. Presently, there is no cure for lupus, the available treatments can control the symptoms.
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Depression damages the heart

Depressed heart disease patients may die suddenly because post-coronary artery disease depression can leads to untimely death. This shows that their is
a link between depression, heart disease, and increased risks of death.

Coronary artery disease patients don't live as long as expected. But the life expectancy can be increased with better therapies, surgeries and treatment.

Depression is the strongest risk factor for dying, compared to any other risk factors like age, heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney failure.

Hormonal changes and electrofunctioning changes which affect the heart's functioning during depression can cause sudden death.

Depressed people are prone to over eating, smoking and drinking. This can increase the risk of heart attack and sudden death. They have reduced levels of serotonin released in their brain which may affect their heart.

There are normal emotional reactions to having a heart attack, emotions like
anxiety, sadness and anger. These are normal for some people, but long-term anxiety and sadness can leads to depression.
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Signs of severe hypertension

Hypertension does not have any symptom but severe high blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke, kidney failure, aortic aneurysm, vascular dementia and heart attacks.

An ideal blood pressure is 120/80, Low blood pressure is considered to be 90/60 or lower. High blood pressure is when your readings are consistently equal to or more than 140/90mmHg.

Severe hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is consistently at or above 180mmHg and/or the diastolic is consistently at or above 110mmHg.

Seek medical help if you experience any of these signs of severe high blood pressure- fatigue, chest pain, severe headache, irregular heartbeat, blood in the urine and difficulty in breathing.

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Risk of kidney failure after donation

Researchers have developed a risk calculator associated to development of kidney failure after donation.

Dorry Segev, of the Johns Hopkins University School of medicine examined information on 133,824 living kidney donors from 1987 to 2015.

They discovered that the risk of kidney failure was 1 case in 10,000 donors at 20 years after donation.

Black race and male sex were linked with 3 to 4 increased risks of developing kidney failure after donation.

Old age and higher body mass index are also associated with kidney failure after donation.