Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small portion of the large intestine that hangs down from the lower right side. Although the appendix does not seem to serve any purpose, it can still become diseased. If untreated, an inflamed appendix can burst, causing infection and even death. About 1 in 500 people has appendicitis each year.

Appendicitis may occur after a viral infection in the digestive tract or when the tube connecting the large intestine and appendix is blocked by trapped stool. The inflammation can cause infection, a blood clot, or rupture of the appendix. Because of the risk of rupture, appendicitis is considered an emergency. Anyone with symptoms needs to see a doctor immediately. Symptoms include

• Pain in the right side of the abdomen. The pain usually begins near the navel and moves down and to the right. The pain becomes worse when moving, taking deep breaths, coughing, sneezing, and being touched in the area.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhea.
• Inability to pass gas.
• Low fever that begins after other symptoms.
• Abdominal swelling.

Not everyone has all symptoms. It is important that people with symptoms of appendicitis not take laxatives or enemas to relieve constipation because these medicines could cause the appendix to burst. People also should not take pain medicine because it can mask symptoms that the doctor needs to know about.

The doctor bases an appendicitis diagnosis on symptoms, a physical exam, blood tests to check for signs of infection such as a high white blood cell count, and urine tests to rule out a urinary tract infection. Some doctors use ultrasound to see whether the appendix looks inflamed. Treatment is surgery to remove the appendix, called appendectomy. Doctors are beginning to use laparoscopic surgery for appendectomy. This technique involves making several tiny cuts in the abdomen and inserting a miniature camera and surgical instruments. The surgeon then removes the appendix with the instruments, so there is no need to make a large incision in the abdomen. People can live a normal life without their appendix--no changes in diet, exercise, or other lifestyle factors are necessary.

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What Are Healthier Ways To Buy, Cook, and Eat Vegetables?

Eat raw and cooked vegetables with little or no fat. You can cook and eat vegetables without any fat.

• Try low-fat or fat-free salad dressing on raw vegetables or salads.
• Steam vegetables using a small amount of water or low-fat broth.
• Mix in some chopped onion or garlic.
• Use a little vinegar or some lemon or lime juice.
• Add a small piece of lean ham or smoked turkey.
• Sprinkle with herbs and spices. These flavorings add almost no fat or calories.

If you do use a small amount of fat, use canola oil, olive oil, or tub margarine instead of fat from meat, butter, or shortening.

How Should I Eat Fruit?

Eat fruits raw, as juice with no sugar added, canned in their own juice, or dried.

• Buy smaller pieces of fruit.
• Eat pieces of fruit rather than drinking fruit juice. Pieces of fruit are more filling.
• Buy fruit juice that is 100-percent juice with no added sugar.
• Drink fruit juice in small amounts.
• Save high-sugar and high-fat fruit desserts such as peach cobbler or cherry pie for special occasions.
  
  What Are Healthier Ways To Buy, Cook, and Eat Protein Foods?
   
  • Buy cuts of beef, pork, ham, and lamb that have only a little fat on them. Trim off extra fat.
  • Eat chicken or turkey without the skin.
  • Cook protein foods in low-fat ways:
    • Broil.
    • Grill.
    • Stir-fry.
    • Roast.
    • Steam.
    • Stew.
  • To add more flavor, use vinegars, lemon juice, soy or teriyaki sauce, salsa, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and herbs and spices.
  • Cook eggs with a small amount of fat.
  • Eat small amounts of nuts, peanut butter, fried chicken, fish, or shellfish. They are high in fat.
    
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What causes male pattern baldness?

The causes of male pattern baldness are thought to be complex and are not completely understood. However, as suggested by its medical name (androgenetic alopecia), male pattern baldness seems to involve both hormonal (androgen) and genetic factors. Many different types of hormones play roles in the regulation of scalp hair, but the hormones with the largest effect are the androgens. Testosterone and its more potent derivative dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are responsible for increasing the size of hair follicles in areas such as the beard and underarm during puberty, but can also cause hair follicles in the scalp to decrease in size later in life. These contrasting responses to DHT might be explained by genetic differences in the individual hair follicles. Similarly, in men who are balding, genetically determined characteristics of hair follicles in the scalp may cause the follicles to be more likely to degrade in the presence of androgens. Hair follicles become miniaturized, and the hair consequently becomes thinner and shorter. The growing phase of the growth cycle becomes progressively shorter, which means more hairs are shed. Although the follicles still have an adequate blood supply, they continue to shrink, and some eventually die.

Whatever the exact causes of male pattern baldness may be, it is a hereditary trait. There are multiple genetic factors that influence male pattern baldness. A tendency toward baldness in the men on either the mother’s or father’s side of a man’s family indicates a genetic predisposition to baldness. The speed, pattern, time of onset, and degree of balding are all influenced by heredity. Generally, the earlier the onset of balding, the more extensive the degree of hair loss will eventually be.

Contrary to popular myth, balding is not caused by wearing hats. Massaging or brushing the scalp will not help regrow hair, and excessive cleaning of the scalp will not “unclog” follicles and allow hair growth. While extreme psychological stress may contribute to a form of hair loss known as alopecia areata, normal everyday stress does not contribute to balding and is not a cause of androgenetic alopecia.