Tuberculosis- Get the Facts!
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that usually affects the lungs. TB sometimes affects other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. TB disease can cause death if it is not treated.
How is TB spread?
TB germs are spread from person to person through the air. TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs, or sings. People nearby may breathe in the TB germs and become infected. TB is NOT spread by sharing silverware or cups, or sharing saliva when kissing someone.
What is the difference between latent TB infection and TB disease?
Latent TB infection
Not everyone infected with TB germs gets sick. People who are infected, but are not sick, have what is called latent TB infection. People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their body, but they are not sick because the germs lie dormant (sleeping) in their body.
People with latent TB infection do not have symptoms and cannot spread the germs to others. However, these people may develop TB disease in the future. To prevent developing TB disease, people with latent TB infection can take medicine.
TB disease
People with TB disease are sick from the large number of TB germs that are active in their body. They usually have one or more of the symptoms of TB disease. People with TB disease often feel weak or sick, lose weight, have fever, and have night sweats. If TB disease is in their lungs, they may also cough and have chest pain, and they might cough up blood. Other symptoms depend on what part of the body is affected by the TB germs.
People with TB disease may spread TB germs to others. TB disease needs to be treated with medicine. If NOT treated, a person with TB disease can have serious health problems and die.
Who is more likely to develop TB disease?
Once a person has TB infection, he or she has a higher chance of developing TB disease if the person
- Has HIV infection;
- Is younger than 5 years old;
- Was infected with TB germs within the last 2 years;
- Has other health problems, like diabetes, that make it hard for the body to fight germs;
- Abuses alcohol or drugs; or
- Was not treated correctly for TB disease in the past.
How can I tell if I have TB?
Get a TB skin test or TB blood test. If you have a positive result to either of the tests, you will be given other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or TB disease.
Where can I get a TB test?
You can get a TB skin test or blood test from your doctor or the local health department.
How are the TB tests given?
For a TB skin test, a health care worker uses a small needle to put some fluid, called tuberculin, just under your skin. This is usually done on the lower inside part of your arm. After you get the test, you must return in 2 to 3 days to see if there is a reaction to the test. If there is a reaction, the size of the reaction is measured to determine if you have a positive result.
If you receive the blood test, a sample of your blood will be taken to do the test. Your health care worker will tell you how to get the results of your test.
What if my TB test is negative?
A negative test usually means you are not infected with TB germs. However, the test may be falsely negative if your immune system is not working properly or if you were infected recently. This is because it usually takes 2 to 8 weeks after exposure to a person with TB disease for your immune system to produce a response to the test. If you have a negative result and it has been less than 8 weeks since you were last exposed to TB disease, you may need to get a second test. Your health care worker will let you know if you need another test.
What if my test is positive?
A positive test usually means that you have been infected with the TB germs. It does not mean that you have TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray or sputum (phlegm) sample, are needed to see if you have TB disease.
What if I had the BCG vaccine?
BCG is a vaccine for TB. This vaccine is not widely used in the United States, but it is often given to infants and small children in other countries where TB is common. The BCG vaccine is not very good at protecting adults against TB. You can still get TB infection or TB disease even if you were vaccinated with BCG. You will need a TB test to see if you have latent TB infection or TB disease.
In some people, BCG may cause a positive skin test even if they are not infected with the TB germs. Unlike the TB skin test, TB blood tests are not affected by BCG. The TB blood tests are less likely to give a false-positive result in people who have received BCG.
What should I do if I have latent TB infection or TB disease?
Get the required follow-up tests. Follow your doctor’s advice and take the medicine as prescribed. Both latent TB infection and TB disease can be treated with medication.
References:
Sleep is essential for Health
As we celebrate world sleep day on March 17th ,2023, the theme for this year is sleep is essential for health.
Healthy sleep is sleep which restores and energizes a person, so he or she feels wide awake, dynamic and energetic all day long. Health and disease are opposites, and therefore, when disease (disorder) of sleep does exist, sleep investigation is worded to identify and treat it. Sleep disorders are not rare, and they can cause serious problems, if left untreated.
The optimal sleep duration requirement is largely determined by heredity. However, large surveys show the average sleep duration for an adult is about 7 to 8 hours.
Technically, sleep specialists agree the range of 6.68-10 hours of sleep per night is the optimum amount.
What are healthy sleep habits?
A restorative sleep depends on duration of sleep, depth of sleep and continuity. A few guidelines for healthier sleep:
• Allow for an adequate amount of sleep every night (sleep duration).
• Establish a regular sleep and wake up schedules. Start by selecting a bedtime when you can fall asleep easily; keep your rising time constant; if you feel you are not getting enough sleep, try to go to bed earlier.
• Ensure your sleep is continuous by eliminating as many sleep disturbances as you can (sleep continuity).
• If you changed your usual sleep schedule, try to return to your regular schedule as soon as possible.
How can I get on a regular sleep schedule?
Maintain a regular sleep schedule by going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every day, seven days a week. Regularity is important for stabilizing your internal biological clock, allowing you to fall asleep and maintain uninterrupted sleep.
Can you really get a sleep deficit?
Yes. Chronic sleep deficits are common and occur when a person does not obtain the needed amount of sleep on a permanent basis. There are numerous causes of it, including shift work and other environmental demands (occupational or family responsibilities such as caregiving for children or elderly, desire for social life, recreation, etc.), medical and sleep disorders (including sleep apnea, insomnia, movements disorders among others) that impair sleep architecture and increase nocturnal wakefulness, and the modern twenty-four hour lifestyle expectation. If you are getting less than seven hours of sleep each night, feel sleepy or tired during the day, fall asleep instantly, and/or do not feel rested upon awakening, you most likely live in a sleep deficit, and should seek professional advice.
What are the stages of sleep?
When you sleep, your brain goes through natural cycles of activity. There are four total stages of sleep, divided into two phases:
• Non-REM sleep happens first and includes three stages. The last two stage of non-REM sleep is when you sleep deeply. It’s hard to wake up from this stage of sleep.
• REM sleep happens about an hour to an hour and a half after falling asleep. REM sleep is when you tend to have vivid dreams.
As you sleep, your body cycles through non-REM and REM sleep. You usually start the sleep cycle with stage 1 of non-REM sleep. You pass through the other stages of non-REM sleep, followed by a short period of REM sleep. Then the cycle begins again at stage 1.
A full sleep cycle takes about 90 to 110 minutes. Your first REM period is short. As the night goes on, you’ll have longer REM sleep and less deep sleep.
Insomnia
Insomnia is defined as difficulties to fall and stay asleep or early awakenings when you have the appropriate opportunity to do so.
Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep:
Getting enough sleep is good for your health. Here are a few tips to improve your sleep:
- Set a schedule – go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
- Exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day but no later than a few hours before going to bed.
- Avoid caffeine and nicotine late in the day and alcoholic drinks before bed.
- Relax before bed – try a warm bath, reading, or another relaxing routine.
- Create a room for sleep – avoid bright lights and loud sounds, keep the room at a comfortable temperature, and don’t watch TV or have a computer in your bedroom.
- Don’t lie in bed awake. If you can’t get to sleep, do something else, like reading or listening to music, until you feel tired.
- See a doctor if you have a problem sleeping or if you feel unusually tired during the day. Most sleep disorders can be treated effectively.
References:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20basic%20types,brain%20waves%20and%20neuronal%20activity.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12148-sleep-basics
https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/06/29/sleep-hwd/
Liu Y, Wheaton AG, Chapman DP, Cunningham TJ, Lu H, Croft JB. Prevalence of Healthy Sleep Duration among Adults–United States, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016 Feb 19;65(6):137-41
https://worldsleepday.org/ask-the-sleep-experts