Zinc Deficiency: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Treatment

The role of zinc in the human body is considered to be crucial. This is mainly due to its ability to fight off infections and diseases attacking the immune system. Thus, if a patient’s zinc level is low in a blood test, then the chances of contracting bacterial infections are increased.

Symptoms

The most commonly occurring symptom caused by zinc deficiency is weak immunity in children as well as adults. Loss of smell or taste, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhoea are other symptoms that exhibit themselves in a majority of cases. However, some patients experience unique conditions such as open sores all over their skin, loss of motor skills, depression, etc. It has also been observed that children suffering from this type of deficiency have stunted growth. Zinc blood test can be used to check  vitamin and mineral levels.

Risk Factors

To grow properly, children, as well as adolescents, require zinc in a higher amount. This is essential because this metal helps in rapid cell production. The same goes for pregnant women who require zinc not only for the foetus but for their cell regeneration as well. Individuals who are addicted to alcohol might suffer from this deficiency. As an excessive amount of alcohol in the body can restrict zinc to be absorbed properly, developing a deficiency is highly likely. Besides this, gastric diseases such as IBS, Crohn’s disease, and short bowel syndrome can increase the risk of zinc deficiency too. 

Treatment 

For diagnosing zinc deficiency accurately, a series of tests are conducted. This includes blood tests, hair strand test, urinalysis, etc. After evaluating the level of zinc deficiency, changes in the patient’s diet are made. Consumption of red meat, poultry, wild rice, oysters, and seeds is recommended. Along with this, eating baked beans, peas, almonds, and cashews can help in improving the zinc level in the patient’s system. A lot of times, medical practitioners might also prescribe supplements to give a boost to the patient’s cell production and immune system. 

Zinc deficiency can be cured with the help of an experienced physician in just a few weeks. Hence, we recommend a reputed doctor for a zinc level test to detect zinc deficiency.

Thyroid Cancer: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

The role of the thyroid gland in the human body is mainly to produce hormones. These hormones help in regulating the growth, development and metabolism of the individual. For this reason, if the thyroid gland is unable to function properly, then the supply of hormones to different organs and muscles would be disrupted. Thyroid cancer is known to have several types, however, each one of them affects this butterfly-shaped immensely. Patients suffering from thyroid-related issues should get regularly tested from a reputed pathology lab. The facility of at-home blood test further helps in diagnosing this condition easily. 

Symptoms 

In most cases, this type of cancer does not exhibit any signs or symptoms in its early stages. As cancer progresses, the patient might experience changes in her/his voice accompanied by a lot of hoarseness. Besides this, a lump can be felt in the neck that indicates tumour in the thyroid gland. Some patients complain of difficulty in swallowing food, water or even saliva in this condition. Inflamed lymph nodes, pain in the neck and throat are other signs of thyroid cancer. 

Causes 

A definite cause of thyroid cancer is unclear until now. However, certain genetic mutations that cause abnormal accumulation of thyroid cells are known to be responsible for this cancer. Women are a higher risk of contracting thyroid cancer more than men. Besides this, patients suffering from other cancers who get radiation therapy can develop cancerous tumours in their thyroid glands as well. Moreover, there are inherited diseases that have caused thyroid cancer in patients. These include familial medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia and Cowden's syndrome. 

Treatment 

For proper diagnosis, a series of blood tests such as anti-Tg test, complete blood count, ultrasound, MRI, CT Scan, and genetic testing are conducted. After evaluating the severity of the condition, the medical practitioner comes up with a treatment plan. In most cases, complete removal of the thyroid gland is done through a thyroidectomy and half of the gland is removed by a thyroid lobectomy. In some cases, the surgeon might remove the lymph nodes in the neck area through a lymph node dissection. Certain medications are prescribed after the surgeries for regulating hormone production. External chemotherapy and radiation are other modes of treatment to kill the cancerous cells in the thyroid gland.

Reputed cancer hospitals and oncologists provide palliative care for patients suffering from chronic pain. Therefore, consulting them is highly recommended.