Pneumonia - Diseases

Pneumonia - Diseases

Pneumonia is an acute lung inflammation in which the lungs fill with a fibrous material, impairing gas exchange. With poor gas exchange, the blood has too much carbon dioxide and too little oxygen.
People with normal lungs and adequate immune defenses usually recover fully. However, pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
Classifying pneumonia
Pneumonia can be classified by location or type, as well as cause .
" Location: Bronchopneumonia involves the lungs and small airways of the respiratory tract. Lobular pneumonia involves part of a lobe of the lung. Lobar pneumonia involves an entire lobe .
" Type: Primary pneumonia occurs when a person inhales or aspirates a disease-producing microorganism; it includes pneumococcal and viral pneumonia. Secondary pneumonia may occur in someone who's suffered lung damage from a noxious chemical or other insult, or it may be caused by the blood-borne spread of bacteria from a distant site.
What causes it?
Pneumonia can be caused by a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoa, mycobacterium, mycoplasma, or rickettsia.
Certain factors can predispose a person to bacterial and viral pneumonia-chronic illness and debilitation, cancer (especially lung cancer), abdominal or chest surgery, atelectasis (the collapse of air sacs in the lung), the flu, common colds or other viral respiratory infections, chronic respiratory disease (such a, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, or cystic fibrosis), smoking, malnutrition, alcoholism, sickle cell disease, tracheostomy, exposure to harmful gases, aspiration, and drugs that suppress the immune system.

Diphtheria - Cause and Prevention

Diphtheria - Cause and Prevention

Diphtheria cases have become increasingly rare because of immunization. In some countries where immunization is not a part of public health standard, diphtheria fatality rate is 5-20% approximately.
The inflammation in upper respiratory tract is due to the rapid multiplication of the diphtheria bacteria, corynebacterium diphteriae. If not checked it is also known to produce a toxin which can enter the bloodstream and affect heart, brain and the nervous system.
Diphtheria is a contagious disease and can be contracted by air from an infected person. Sneeze and cough are the most common carriers of the bacteria. Diphtheria can also spread from one person to other by the secretions form nose and mouth of the infected person and also if a person comes in contact with skin ulcers of the infected person.

Cause of Acidosis

Cause of Acidosis

Acidosis is the breeding ground for most diseases. Nepthritis or Bright's disease, rheumatism, premature old age, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, skin disorders, and various degenerative diseases are traceable to this condition. It seriously interferes with the functions of the glands and organs of the body. It also lowers the vitality of the system, thereby increasing the danger of infectious diseases.
The main cause of acidosis or hypo-alkalinity of the blood is faulty diet, in which too many acid
forming foods have been consumed. In the normal process of metabolism or converting the food
into energy by the body, various acids are formed in the system and in addition, other acids are
introduced in food. Whenever there is substantial increase in the formation of acids in the
system and these acids are not properly eliminated through the lungs, the kidneys and the
bowels, the alkalinity of the blood is reduced, resulting in acidosis.
Other causes of acidosis are depletion of alkali reserve due to diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera etc.,

Laryngitis Home Remedies

Laryngitis Home Remedies

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, which basically means an inflammation of the vocal chords. You know you have it when you lose your voice.
What Causes Inflammation Of The Vocal Chords?
Inflammation can be caused by overuse of your voice - or by infection or in very rare cases by a growth on the chords. You will usually know if you have been shouting, laughing or singing a great deal - at a rock concert for example or perhaps a football game - or even a birthday party or comedy show - its likely you have over strained your vocal chords and caused them to swell up.
On the other hand if you feel unwell or have an upper respiratory tract infection (a cold) then its likely the inflammation is caused by the same infection.
What's The Best Treatment For Laryngitis?
The first step is to rest your vocal chords completely by not speaking at all or by whispering when you need to communicate rather than speaking out loud.
Next, nearly all infectious cases of laryngitis are caused viruses rather than by bacteria. So taking antibiotics is not only a waste of time and money - since antibiotics only kill bacteria - but could also be harmful to your body.

Symptoms and Causes of Hyperthyroidism

Symptoms and Causes of Hyperthyroidism

The thyroid hormone acts as the pace-keeper of the body's processes and the pace itself is referred to as metabolism. Thus a subsequent rise in the thyroid hormone speeds up the functions of the body. The thyroid gland is also instrumental in regulating body temperature. It secretes two different hormones that determine the speed at which the body burns calories and releases energy. If the hormone production is high then the condition is hyperthyroidism but when it is low, the resultant condition is hypothyroidism.
There are a varied number of symptoms and most of which are in response to stimuli.
Acute weight loss coupled with a huge appetite, intolerance to harsh weather, weakness, fatigue, irritability, depression, apathy, polyuria and sweating are all part and parcel of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. There may be seemingly alternate symptoms as well wherein patients may experience palpitations, or arrhythmias, possibly atrial fibrillation, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting and loss of libido. Older people might only show symptoms of fatigue and signs of weight loss which result in apathetic hyperthyroidism.
There could also be neurological manifestations such as myopathy, chorea, tremor or even periodic paralysis. A cardio embolic stroke may also occur due to atrial fibrillation and this is a rather serious complication of hyperthyroidism

Graves Disease Causes and Cures

Graves Disease Causes and Cures

It was perhaps even tougher for me, as I'm a holistic doctor that not only believes that there is a cause for every condition, but in most cases there also is a cure. And while there isn't a magic pill or supplement to cure Graves Disease, for many people it is possible to restore one's health through a natural treatment protocol. I'll briefly discuss this later in this article.
But first, here are some of the different Graves Disease causes:
Graves Disease Cause #1: inability to handle stress. Although most people know that stress can cause a lot of problems, most don't truly understand the impact that chronic stress can have on one's health over a period of many months or years. Our bodies were designed to handle acute stress situations, but not with chronic stress. As a result, a person who deals with chronic stress and does a poor job of managing it will most likely develop adrenal issues, which in turn can affect immunity, and over a period of time can lead to the development of an autoimmune condition.
Obviously it is not possible to completely eliminate the stress from your life. But most of us can do a much better job of handling stress. In fact, for anyone with Graves' Disease looking to restore their health, stress management is a key component.
Graves Disease Cause #2: Nutritional deficiencies. Having one or more nutritional deficiencies can cause or contribute to Graves Disease. There are many different nutritional deficiencies one can have, but two of the more common ones are iodine and Vitamin D. Many people wrongly assume that people with Graves' Disease have an excess of iodine, but this usually isn't the case. For more information on the importance of iodine and why most people are deficient in it, I highly recommend reading the book "Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It".
Vitamin D is another important nutrient when it comes to immunity. One of the big reasons many people are deficient in vitamin D is because they avoid the sun, and/or put sunscreen on every time they go outside. For more information about vitamin D, visit the website vitamindcouncil.

Hypothyroidism and Goiter - Hypothyroidism Causes Enlargement of the Thyroid

Hypothyroidism and Goiter - Hypothyroidism Causes Enlargement of the Thyroid

Hypothyroidism, in general, has exactly the opposite effects as those of hyperthyroidism, although it may be caused by autoimmunity as well but a kind of immunity that destroys the gland rather than stimulates it. Most of the patients first have autoimmune thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid glands. This causes deterioration and eventually, fibrosis of the gland or the replacement of thyroid tissue with connective tissue. Fibrotic tissue is incapable of producing thyroid hormone and a deficiency in the hormone occurs. In most cases, an enlagement of the thyroid gland is observed.
Endemic Colloid Goiter
Around 50 milligrams of iodine are required every year for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland and for production of sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone. In some areas of the world like the Swiss Alps, the Andes, and the Great Lakes regions of the United States of America, there are less than adequate quantities of iodine in the soil for the foodstuffs to contain this yearly requirement. In the days when iodized table salt was not yet available, people from these areas developed extremely large thyroid glands called endemic goiters.
Endemic goiters develop when the lack of iodine prevents the formation of sufficient quantities of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Because of the low concentrations of thyroid hormone, there is nothing that could inhibit the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH by the pituitary gland, which would result in the anterior pituitary gland secreting increased amounts of the hormone targeting the thyroid gland. The increased levels of TSH stimulate the thyroid gland to produce increased amounts of thyroglobulin. However, without iodine to bind to the tyrosine residues in the tyroglobulin molecule, there is still no production of hormones. This causes the thyroid gland to increase in size, sometimes to as large as 10 to 20 times its normal size.
Idiopathic Nontoxic Colloid Goiter
Similarly enlarged thyroid glands filled with colloid may also happen to people who do not have an iodine deficiency, unlike patients with endemic goiter. These people may have normal levels of thyroid hormone secretion but more often than not, the secretion of thyroid hormone is depressed like that of endemic goiter.
The exact cause for the enlargement of the thyroids of patients with iodiopathic nontoxic colloid goiter is not known. However, most of these patients do show signs of mild thyroiditis, which led to the suggestion that thyroiditis might lead to slightly lower concentrations of the hormone, which in turn could cause increase in TSH secretion and progressive growth of unaffected portions of the gland. This could explain why the thyroid glands of these patients are usually nodular, with some areas exhibiting growth while some are being destroyed by thyroiditis.

Bronchiectasis Definition, Symptoms And What Can Be Done

Bronchiectasis Definition, Symptoms And What Can Be Done

Bronchiectasis is a lung condition in which the bronchi (airways leading to the lungs) are chronically dilated (expanded). This condition cannot be reversed but there are treatments aimed at lessening the severity of the symptoms. This article shares more about what bronchiectasis is, how it is caused, and what can be done about the symptoms of this disease.
Bronchiectasis Symptoms And Causes
Symptoms may include a persistent daily cough with a foul smelling sputum, difficulty breathing, fatigue, a general ill-feeling, and frequent lung infections.
Bronchiectasis usually results from damage to the bronchi. This damage destroys the muscles and elastic tissue layers that allow the bronchial tubes to contract normally. Due to the inability to contract, secretions from the lungs are not able to be cleared, this can lead to an increased risk of infection, which leads to more damage and a vicious cycle develops.
Damage may result due to chronic lung infections or bronchitis, trauma caused by an obstruction in the bronchi, tuberculosis, allergies, or cystic fibrosis.
Bronchiectasis Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis begins with the observation of the aforementioned symptoms and an evaluation by a physician. The evaluation may include a physical examination, x-rays or a high resolution CT scan of the chest, culture of the sputum, and possibly a bronchogram (study of the bronchi) or pulmonary function tests.
The goal of treatment is to control secretions and prevent infections. Instructions will be given on positioning to allow drainage (postural drainage), sleeping with the head slightly elevated and chest clapping (percussion or clapping on the back to loosen secretions).
Smoking, air pollutants, heavy exertion, and rapid temperature changes should be avoided. A physician will advise the patient to drink plenty of fluids to make mucous secretions less sticky and may prescribe expectorants to loosen secretions in the lungs or antibiotics to fight frequent lung infections.

Whooping Cough - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

Whooping Cough - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

Whooping cough is an infectious bacterial illness that affects the respiratory passages. The disease is most contagious during the cold-like initial phase (catarrhal phase). In its early stages, pertussis is indistinguishable from the many colds common in children. However, after one or two weeks, the illness gets progressively worse. Worldwide there are over 60 million cases of pertussis a year with more than half a million deaths. Whooping cough is still a very serious disease when it occurs in children under the age of one year old. Pertussis can be fatal, but in the United States, widespread vaccination against the infection has made the disease rare. In the more advanced stages, it's marked by the symptom that gives the disease its name: a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop." It is spread by droplets from the respiratory tract, rarely it may also spread on clothes, toys, etc. You can also become infected through direct contact with discharges from the nose or throat of an infected person.
Whooping cough exists everywhere in the world and can lead to a variety of diseases and complications, including death. Whooping cough in a recognizable form evolves over a period of 2 weeks. Sometimes the patient stops breathing after a severe bout of coughing, long enough to go blue. Occasionally the patient faints as well. It's mainly affected infants who are younger than 6 months old before they are adequately protected by their immunizations, and kids who are 11 to 18 years old whose immunity has faded. With proper care, most teenagers and adults recover from whooping cough without complications. There is a danger that people with less severe, undiagnosed cases may spread the infection to infants who have not yet been immunized. Treatment of whooping cough is supportive, meaning that treatment is directed at the symptoms, e.g., cough; however, young infants often need hospitalization if the coughing becomes severe.
Causes of Whooping cough
The common causes and risk factor's of Whooping cough include the following:
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis .
It is spread through children from exposure to infected persons through droplets in the air.
Any one who is not protected (by recent immunisation or by having had the infection before) can get whooping cough, including older children and adults.
Underlying medical conditions are other medical conditions that may possibly cause Whooping Cough.
Symptoms of Whooping cough
Some symptoms related to Whooping cough are as follows:
Runny nose.
Sneezing.
General feeling of being unwell and loss of appetite.
Dry cough.
Characteristic 'whooping' sound on inhalation.
A mild fever.
Vomiting at the end of a bout of coughing.
Watery eyes.
Cough can be started by many factors, including feeding, crying, or playing.
Treatment of Whooping cough
Here is list of the methods for treating Whooping cough:
Whooping cough is generally treated with antibiotics.
Drink plenty of fluids, including water, juices, soups, and fruits to prevent dehydration.
Isolation to prevent contagion.
Young babies with whooping cough are often so ill that they need hospital treatment. Feeding can be a problem because they often vomit after coughing. A baby may need tube feeding.

Asthma Symptoms

Asthma Symptoms

Asthma is a condition that affects the lungs and eventually your breathing. Asthma symptoms include: chest tightening, pain, pressure, wheezing, coughing (especially at night), and breathlessness. Everybody with Asthma doesn't have the same symptoms. Some people experience some of the symptoms but not at one time. Asthma symptoms can also change from one episode to the next.
Asthma attacks occur at different times under different circumstances. Exercise may bring about asthma symptoms and sometimes people only experience an episode that coincides with viral infections such as the common cold. Not all, but some individuals are fortunate enough to go for prolonged periods with no symptoms at all, with only periodic severity called Asthma attacks.
Warning signs of Asthma may come about prior to or at the onset of an attack. In most cases, these symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with your daily life. Paying attention to these signs though, can help keep your condition under control. Early warning signs includes: frequent cough, breathlessness, feeling tired/weak when exercising, wheezing or coughing after exercising, feeling tired, easily upset, grouchy, moody, decrease or change in lung function when measured on a peak flow meter, signs of a cold or allergies, and trouble sleeping.
Asthma symptoms in kids usually occur before age five. Asthma occurs when the bronchial tubes become inflamed due to increased secretions within the tubes. Severe chronic coughing may be the only indication of Asthma in kids. Asthma amongst children is steadily increasing due to unknown reasons.
Asthma attacks are produced when the airways tighten. The lining within the airways swell or become inflamed; the cells within the bronchial tubes produce more and thicker secretions than normal. Other symptoms of an Asthma attack includes: coughing that won't end, rapid breathing, difficulty speaking, chest pain/pressure, and feeling of anxiety. Asthma attacks will worsen with time so seek help immediately! Without immediate medical attention, breathing will become harder, air movement will decrease, and you'll lose the ability to speak, all of which can lead to death.
Some people do not experience common Asthma symptoms. Some individuals have symptoms that most people wouldn't attribute to Asthma but they are. These unusual symptoms include: rapid breathing, sighing, and fatigue, inability to exercise properly, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and chronic cough without wheezing. Asthma symptoms can resemble other condition so it's important to know your body, talk to your doctor and to be educated and aware of both Asthmas common and uncommon symptoms.

Asbestosis Mesothelioma Settlement Issues

Asbestosis Mesothelioma Settlement Issues

Asbestosis, by its character, is a non-cancerous ailment of the lungs. It's brought about by inhalation and exposure of asbestos over a lengthy time period and can take many years to develop. The micro fibers become trapped in one's lungs and it could take 25 to 40 years before symptoms begin to enroot. Asbestosis symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain are the more common examples.
In order to get compensation for the disease, one has to assemble health and employment records to present to their attorney-at-law. Ask for quotes and consultations from reputable a mesothelioma settlement legal adviser or work with them on a contingency groundwork.
Since asbestosis may not show up for years, it may behoove you to study the nature of this disease. Asbestos fibers get trapped in your lungs when you were exposed to breathing contaminated air. In order to get rid of the asbestos in your lungs, your body produces an acid to try to flush out these fibers and the continued production of the acid can eventually scar the lung tissue. Extra scarring can cause improper function of the lungs and serious breathing difficulty.
Sadly, there is no compelling treatment for this disease. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, laborers are often exposed to asbestos in either demolition or construction and have a sizable risk to asbestosis. Ships used asbestos widely because of the burn resistance qualities as well as the good insulation and non-corrosive qualities. Naval shipyard workers who were exposed were the first ones diagnosed with asbestosis.
When asbestos gets disturbed, it becomes hazardous to your health. Asbestos is composed of almost undetectable bundles of fibers that when disturbed or damaged, these fibers separate and may become airborne. Inhaling these tiny micro-fibers cause them to lodge in the lungs and may in the course of time lead to fatal or serious affliction such as mesothelioma. Asbestosis symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain are the more common examples of symptoms.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the pleura (the outer membrane that encloses the lung and chest cavity) and even the peritoneum (the membrane lining the walls of the abdominal cavity). Exposure to asbestos has been the primary predicament cause in these cases.
Employing a mesothelioma law firm is the jump off point in getting a mesothelioma settlement that will dampen the effects of continual asbestos exposure expense or possible future expenditure. Acquiring a specialized attorney-at-law or law firm adequately trained to deal with all challenges of a mesothelioma lawsuit are one's best bet. Any mesothelioma settlement; arrived at considers the fact that the family of the victim has a right to be financially secure.
The money a lawyers receives after the successful lawsuit is sliced from the total compensation, which normally figures around 35%. Mesothelioma settlements are not only available for the victims of the ailment. Settlements are also available for families of the victims for the reason that they have lost a loved one and suffered pain and anguish on the financial and the sentiment front. It usually takes fifteen to thirty years of exposure to asbestos to come down with lung cancer. Consider a specialize mesothelioma law firm for your plight.

Causes of AIDS

Causes of AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency sydrome (AIDS) is one of the disease in the world that has no cure and it is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This disease affects the immune system of the body and makes individual to be exposed to infections and tumors. According to AVERT, a report in 2009 shows an estimate of 33.3 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS with about 2.6 million people gets infected with HIV every year while 1.8 million deaths are been recorded yearly as a result of AIDS.
HIV is spread in the body through direct contact of a mucous membrane or blood stream with a bodily fluid containing HIV. Examples of bodily fluid that may be infected with HIV includes blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluid. HIV is transmitted when people have anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion and using needles that is been infected with HIV. Babies tends to have HIV from their mother during pregnancy, childbirth and breast feeding. HIV have also been detected in saliva, tears, nervous system tissue and spinal fluid but only blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk is the major way HIV is been transmitted to others. HIV infections is not spread by mosquitoes, casual contact such as hugging, touching a person infected with HIV or participating in sports or any activities.
The symptoms of AIDS are as a result of HIV infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, which affects nearly every system of the organ. Symptoms common with AIDS includes fever, sweats (most especially at night), weight loss, chills, weakness and swollen glands. The risk of developing various cancers such as cervical cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma are high in people that has AIDS. One major infection that is associated with HIV is tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis is transmissible to people and is not easily treatable once some has the infection. According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2007, records shows that 456,000 deaths as a result of tuberculosis were HIV positive.
Chronic diarrhea is associated with people that are HIV positive and this is due to many possible causes such as bacteria and parasitic infections. Diarrhea is believed to be a result of changes in the way the intestinal tract captures nutrient. On the other hand diarrhea may be a side effect of drugs that is been used to treat HIV. It can also be the side effect of taking antibiotics which is been used to treat diarrhea.
The major ways HIV is been transmitted to people are sexual contact, during childbearing and exposure to infected body fluids. Knowing the major ways HIV is been transmitted will help in the prevention of the spread of HIV. The use of male or female condoms can reduce the risk of infection with HIV and other sexual transmitted diseases. The risk of contracting HIV through sexual contacts can be reduced to about 80% if condoms is been used during sexual intercourse. The risk can be reduced further if the condom is used the right way every time. Research carried on couples where one partner is infected with HIV and there is constant use of condom shows rate of HIV was below 1% per year for the uninfected partner.
Mothers who are infected with HIV should avoid breast-feeding their infant as this will help in preventing the transmission of HIV to the infant. People working in clinics, hospitals or other health related works should always use barriers which can expose them to body fluids. Such barriers includes gloves, protective eye wares or shields, masks, and gowns or aprons which will prevent the exposure of the skin to blood borne pathogens. Sharp objects such as needles, glass and scalpels should be disposed off carefully.
Lastly the best way to prevent the spread of AIDS is educating the people on the causes and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Ways of educating people starts from schools, because the youths are more prone to the disease and the media to inform the general public.
There is no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS so extra precaution needs to be made so that you don't get infected with the disease but if you do then you have to able to manage it. The best way of managing AIDS after someone is being exposed to the virus is with the use of antiretroviral drugs. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the current treatment of HIV infections.

Determining Osteoporosis Symptoms for Immediate Treatment

Determining Osteoporosis Symptoms for Immediate Treatment

We often hear of the disorder osteoporosis and how debilitating it is as a disease. However, there are only a few who are aware of what osteoporosis is all about. Knowledge about the treatment is not enough for knowing the different osteoporosis symptoms and causes is also vital.
Osteoporosis is a bone disorder wherein the bone density is decreased, reducing its strength and eventually leading to fragile bones. Having this makes you at risk for bone fractures especially on the wrist, the spine and the hips. It is more common in women, with 80% of cases happening to them. It is also observed to be common in people who are aged 50 and beyond. According to statistics, there are about 10 million people in the United States who are suffering from this disease, with 18 million who are at risk of developing it. It is also more common in Caucasians and Asians.
The lack of hormones, estrogen in women and androgen in men is the most common cause of osteoporosis. It has also been proven that this is hereditary, since there are about 30 genes that are associated with its development. It is also common in those who lack weight-bearing exercises and those who have diets that have inadequate calcium and Vitamin D. Cigarette smoking, regular alcohol drinking and having a sedentary lifestyle can also put you at risk for developing this disorder. Certain medical conditions can also lead to acquiring this such as anorexia, bulimia, rheumatoid arthritis, endocrine and hematologic disorders.
What makes this disorder difficult to diagnose is the absence of osteoporosis symptoms during the initial stage. You can have osteoporosis then for several years without knowing it until the occurrence of fractures. To differentiate osteoporosis fractures from other types of fractures, you will notice that these are usually painful. The location of the pain will depend on where the fracture is located. If the fracture happens on the spine, there will be a band-like pain that starts at the back and radiates to the sides of the body. When the condition becomes severe, the pain will also worsen, described as sharp and occurring suddenly. This becomes worse when you put weight on the affected area and it will usually be accompanied by tenderness. Other osteoporosis symptoms include the presence of the dowager hump which is a result of vertebral collapse from repeated spinal fractures. There will also be an increased risk for falls which is commonly associated with aging. The areas that are mostly affected are the spine, the hips and the wrist.
The treatment of this condition will begin on the particular osteoporosis symptoms that you have. The fractures will have to be fixed immediately, especially if these will require surgery. Proper diagnostic tests will also be done to determine that underlying cause so that the right medications will be given to you. You should not just take any medications unless these are prescribed by your physician after he did all the tests needed. Treatment is needed immediately so that you will not keep on suffering from these osteoporosis symptoms and such that complications will be avoided

Ankylosis Spondylitus

Ankylosis Spondylitus

Ankylosis Spondylitus, a disease with a long sounding name. It causes inflammation of the joints and is commonly referred to as arthritis of the back. This is a progressive disease that continues without remorse. It encompasses degeneration of the disks in the vertebra of the back. It extends to cause pain in the hips, neck, knees and ankles. A general stiffness of the body is first noticed by the host. Its effects include difficulty in walking, getting in and out of cars and stiffness of the spinal column. The end result of this disease is total fusion of the spine.
The effects of this disease progressively get worse. Over a period of time the ugly face of
complete disability may stare you in the face. Back pain is accompanied by the inability to
walk or move without constant and unbearable pain. Some people cannot actively function in
jobs that they have occupied for many years with the onset of this disease. This disease
can causes job changes or disability.
Although there is no cure for this disease there are things that you can use to slow the
disease down or lessen the pain associated with it. A mix of glucosamine, chondroitin and
MSM will slow down the effects of the disease. Physical therapy will also help to retard it's
effects. Use the same medications that you would normally use for arthritic conditions.
Salves or ointments normally reserved for arthritis treatment can be used in this capacity.
Chiropractors use treatments that help break up the vertebrae in the spinal column with the
hope of returning the spine to good health. If this disease continues unabated without some
type of treatment organ damage can result. In order for a body to be healthy the vertebrae
need to be flexible. Chiropractors offer manipulations as a way in which to achieve optimum
health. Pain pills offered for arthritis relief can also be of value. Hot baths seem to have a
beneficial effect. Start on some type of therapy as early as possible.
This disease can be detected in several ways. The first issue to be considered is pain in the
neck, shoulders and back. After consultation by a doctor the disease can be verified by
xrays or by blood work. Start on the medications and exercise regimens early in order to
forestall the onset of the diseases symptoms. If untreated this disease can have paralyzing
results. Falling to the floor and not being able to arise and walk is one complication involved
in this disease. Pain management and medications that soothe and lubricate the joints are
used for optimum benefits.
As the disease progresses physical activities enjoyed before the onset of symptoms related to the disease will have to be curtailed or stopped. Hopefully a total cure for this ailment will be brought about by medical intervention. Until that time we will have to use the tools that are available to us to limit the effects of this disease

How Dental Ankylosis Occurs

How Dental Ankylosis Occurs

The human tooth is normally attached to the alveolar bone or jawbone through gingival and periodontal fibers. Furthermore, the roots of a single tooth are not directly connected with the jawbone because of a substance that covers them called cementum. At times, though, these components which help the tooth to be intact with the alveolar bone are not present, causing the roots of a tooth to be directly fixed into the jawbone. This condition is called dental ankylosis.
Generally, a temporary or baby tooth is loosened as the permanent tooth under it pushes itself out of the gums. But this unfastening won't be possible if the roots of the primary tooth are strongly united with the alveolar bone. As a result, the spawning permanent tooth would lose its direction, causing malocclusion to the affected person's dental construction.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, dentists resolve this issue by extraction, although doing this wouldn't be as simple as pulling out an ordinary tooth. Minor surgeries might be performed in order to remove the ankylosed tooth without damaging either its neighboring teeth or the jawbone. Some orthodontic treatments may be required in the future to prevent misalignment as well.
Myrtle Beach dentists also do not consider this dental imperfection as a major concern. No serious potential harm will be experienced except for asymmetry in tooth alignment. In fact, adults who already have established permanent teeth no longer need treatments, because no erupting teeth would be affected in the future anyway.
A Myrtle Beach dentist can determine if a child is suffering from dental ankylosis through X-ray diagnosis. Another evident symptom of an ankylosed tooth is its unusual submersion. Compared to other teeth, an ankylosed tooth is usually more buried into the gums.
Myrtle Beach dentists acknowledge a few possible causes of this unusual tooth forming behavior, one of which is physical trauma. Accidents may be the reason why dental ankylosis happens. A heavy blow can cause the gums and nerves to swell, altering the way a tooth sprouts. Insufficient bone growth is another ground for ankylosis, as well as an abnormal pressure from one's tongue.

Common Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Common Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints. This disease is categorized as an autoimmune disease because people suffering from this condition have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues. As a result, the joints are mistakenly attacked by the body's own immune system. The condition is likely to occur in people between the ages of 40 and 50. It is very common in the US and not less than 2 million Americans are diagnosed with this disease. In fact, it is the most common type of arthritis in the US. Women are more prone to rheumatoid arthritis than men at a ratio of 3:1.

Rheumatoid arthritis can attack various organs and tissues in the human body. However, it mainly attacks synovial joints in the hands, wrists, ankles, and knees. Common arthritis symptoms include fever, weight loss, malaise, as well as muscle ache and pain. People suffering from arthritis are also likely to experience the feeling of tiredness, lack of sleep, the inability to use the hand or walk properly, and difficulty in moving their joints especially in the morning.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include the ones mentioned previously as well as other specific signs which differentiate this type of arthritis from other types such as osteoarthritis and gouty arthritis. Besides the above mentioned symptoms, people with this disease will suffer from joint pain, joint stiffness, joint swelling and joint tenderness. They will also feel warmness around the affected joints. The pains are likely to occur symmetrically. For example, if you feel pain in one knee, you will also feel pain in the other. The sufferers can also find lumps under their skin, usually on the hands or elbows, which are called the rheumatoid nodules. This type of arthritis can also cause joint space narrowing and bone erosion as well. Other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms also include anemia, increasing ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), ulnar deviation, rheumatoid factor, swan neck, and hand deformity.

Hand deformity is a common occurrence in people suffering from this condition. Hand deformities in people with this disease occur when ulnar deviation happens. Ulnar deviation is the condition when the fingers deviate towards the ulna (the inner bone of the forearm). The disease can also prevent the fingers from functioning properly due to ruptured tendons. As mentioned before, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that it can't be cured. However, surgery may be helpful to correct deformities caused by this disease.

Congenital Hip Dislocation - Symptoms and How It Is Treated

Congenital Hip Dislocation - Symptoms and How It Is Treated

Congenital hip dislocation symptoms are not be easily seen in a newborn child. However, a pediatrician will typically check for the presence of this disorder using a simple procedure that involves pushing the infant's legs apart.
Congenital hip dislocation is a disorder in which the hip bone (head of the femur) does not fit properly into its socket or is partially or completely outside of its socket. The condition is present at birth and is more common in girls.
This article shares how this condition is diagnosed in both infants and older children and explains how the dislocation is treated.
Congenital Hip Dislocation Symptoms and Causes
Due to the fact that symptoms are not easily noticed in a newborn, most infants are routinely checked for congenital hip dislocation by their obstetrician or pediatrician. If the test is positive, the medical doctor will hear a clicking sound when flexing and spreading the infant's legs apart.
In older infants or toddlers, one leg may appear shorter than the other or the toddler may walk with a limp, on his or her tip-toes, or with a waddling gait.
The cause of congenital hip dislocation is not fully understood. There may be a link to a hormonal imbalance in the mother during pregnancy or injury during the birth process which may be due in part to the position of the fetus (i.e. breech position).
Congenital Hip Dislocation Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is typically made by an obstetrician or pediatrician who may identify the problem during a routine examination. During a routine physical examination, the doctor will flex and spread the infant's legs, if a clicking sound is heard, the condition may be present.
For toddlers or older children, the doctor will monitor the child's gait to detect a limp or other unusual walking characteristics such as walking on his or her toes, or waddling like a duck. Other signs of this condition in toddlers and older children may include the appearance that one leg is shorter than the other, skin folds in the thighs that appear uneven and less flexibility on the side affected by the dislocation.
In older infants and children, the diagnosis may be confirmed by additional tests such as ultrasound and/or x-rays of the hip.
Congenital hip dislocation is usually correctable if discovered early and treatment will depend on the age of the child. In newborns and young infants, a soft device called a Pavlik harness can be used to maintain proper positioning of the hip bone in its socket. This allows the hip to develop normally.
For older infants and toddlers a procedure called closed reduction may be performed in which the hip bone is pushed back into the socket. This procedure may be performed under anesthesia. If this procedure fails, open surgery may be recommended.
Treatment typically involves immobilizing the hip joint until it heals. Immobilization can involve using a splint, brace or cast, which may need to be worn for many months. If a cast is needed for a very young child, the child

Sprained Ankle Symptoms - Is It Broken Or Sprained?

Sprained Ankle Symptoms - Is It Broken Or Sprained?

Though breaking your ankle and spraining you ankle is a completely different type of injury, it can be difficult to understand sprained ankle symptoms just by "feel". A bad sprain can be much more painful than a light break and vice versa. Unfortunately, for those of us who like to admit defeat and consult a professional, the best way to tell is to go to the doctor and get an x-ray. Guessing (even educated guesses) can result in larger problems down the road if your guess-work results in an incorrect diagnosis. However, there are a few telltale signs that can help you figure out if your ankle is broken or twisted - unfortunately none of these sprained ankle symptoms are one hundred percent reliable.
When you injured the ankle, what kind of noise did you hear? A popping or ripping sound is indicative of a sprain. A sprain is the stretching or tearing of ligaments in your ankle. That sound you heard is the sound of your ligaments doing things they shouldn't. One of my worse injuries sounded like Christopher Walken doing a Spanish accent. It turned out to be a sprain. A cracking noise indicates a break. Even small fractures can be difficult to heal. However, depending on the degree of the fracture and the environment in which you were injured, you may or may not hear a noise.
Next on your list of sprained ankle symptoms is a test of 'reactionary' vs. 'constant' pain. At the moment of injury immediately get off your feet. Any place will do; a bench, a curb, the ground. Taking pressure off the injury will help you determine the type of pain you are experiencing. Reactionary pain is experienced when you move the injured area. For example, placing your foot on the ground, moving your ankle in different directions, or touching the area are all simple tests. If you are only experiencing discomfort from the initial injury, and pain comes only when moving or touching the injured site, this is probably indicative of a sprain. However, complete tearing of a ligament could result in NO PAIN or EXTREME PAIN, making these sprained ankle symptoms all so confusing. If you are experiencing constant pain, regardless of how much you move or don't move the area, this is probably a break.
Here is another test of 'reactionary' vs. 'constant' pain. Sit on the floor facing a firm wall with both feet in front of you and put you injured foot flat against the wall. Push softly against the wall with your injured foot. If you are able to do this, no large bones are fractured or broken. If when you do this you experience a good amount of pain in places other than your ankle, you probably have broken something.
Sprained ankle symptoms my also include a feeling of ankle instability. I know, at this time who wants to put pressure on the injury right? However, a serious ankle sprain resulting from completely tearing a ligament will give you an 'unstable' feeling when walking on your ankle. A break will probably make it impossible to walk or you will experience pain in other parts of your body in addition to your ankle.
Another test of sprained ankle symptoms is the "wait and see" test. Initial injury is a very difficult time to diagnose yourself because really, a little pain and a lot of pain is difficult to differentiate, and who really knows what Christopher Walken doing a Spanish accent sounds like. So get home quickly (if you're able to walk yourself home it's probably a sprain) and begin the RICE system. If the pain keeps you up at night - it's probably a break. If after 24 to 48 hours you're feeling better, it's probably a sprain. If after 48 hour of RICE you are feeling better, you should start rehabilitation exercises for your ankle to speed up recovery time.

Scoliosis Genetic and Blood Tests Pave the Way for Early Stage Scoliosis Intervention in the Future

Scoliosis Genetic and Blood Tests Pave the Way for Early Stage Scoliosis Intervention in the Future

The treatment of idiopathic scoliosis has maintained a consistent dogmatic stance of observation for mild curvature less than 25 degrees, bracing for moderate curvatures between 25 and 40 degrees, and highly invasive spinal fusion surgery for curvature over 40 degrees. With the advent of genetic and blood testing this dogmatic stance will be rapidly changing. Controversy amongst scoliosis specialists has been evident especially when dealing with early and moderate treatment zones. With the lack of any genetic profile or understanding of what makes a scoliosis progress to severe surgical levels we simply were unable to tell whether or not the conservative treatments like scoliosis bracing and scoliosis exercise altered the natural course of the disease or if the scoliosis would not have progressed regardless of early attempts to halt progression.
Genetic prognostic testing now available, that will help determine the progressive nature of a patient's scoliosis. An analysis of 53 DNA markers associated with scoliosis has allowed categorization of three specific groups of patients: low risk for progression, moderate risk, and those that will progress to greater than 45 degrees and most likely require fusion surgery. When this testing is used as standard practice it may in fact change the entire paradigm of scoliosis management. Those that will not require treatment considered very low risk will need to be monitored only periodically if at all depending on the patients choice to seek alternative therapies for possible reducing the lower grade curvature. Those that are in the moderate risk zone will still require periodic evaluation and may certainly benefit from conservative methods of treatment, such as scoliosis rehabilitation. Those in the high risk category for curve progression, may be candidates for less invasive non fusion based guided growth type surgeries known as vertebral stapling.
The advent of growth modulation techniques, mainly vertebral body stapling, will most likely become more commonly utilized versus the reactive fusion based surgery that currently dominates the scoliosis surgery market. This guided growth technology may be effective in controlling curve progression until skeletal maturity, at which time the vertebral staples could either be removed or remain based on what the surgeons recommend. This newer technique generally will not negatively impact spinal mobility but at the same time alter curve progression levels and in some cases prevent progression. Further tweaking of the genetic testing may eventually identify those patients who will benefit from physical therapy or spinal bracing, so that these types of scoliosis treatments can be begin at the earliest possible stage in scoliosis development to ultimately maximize their effectiveness. The eagerly awaited scoliosis blood test which measures level of osteopontin (OPN) will hopefully be used in conjunction with the patient's genetic risk analysis and can be used to determine how effective a conservative treatment approach may be for any given patient before they fail a therapeutic trial.
Scoliosis is a condition with both genetic and environmental components (Nature vs. Nurture). Any basic algebra student can tell you that an equation with 2 unknown variables can't be solved and this is why trying to figure out which patients needed which treatments was almost impossible to do with any amount of accuracy. Until now, the Scoliscore test can provide us with the necessary genetic part of the equation and we can now focus on elimination of the environmental aspects of the condition (since altering the genetic component is currently impossible).....this means we can actually start working towards a cure through early stage intervention and elimination of environmental factors.
The prognostic technology of scoliosis is rapidly out pacing the rate of scoliosis treatment advancement. An early stage scoliosis treatment program is being developed in hopes of altering the natural course of the condition and take advantage of the opportunity this prognostic technology can provide.