Thursday 22 September 2011

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