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Archive for the ‘Diseases’ Category

Mar
22

The name may sound fancy and unique but Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is very much like tendonitis due to it being an inflammatory condition. The signs and symptoms of this syndrome almost copycat that of several forms of tendonitis. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is diagnosed when inflammation is observed or detected around the median or inside nerve that runs through a tight channel or “tunnel” in the wrist on up to the hand.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel

Much like tendonitis, inflammation of the wrist and this “tunnel”, in particular, is caused by tissue damage that may be the result of overdoing a repetitive activity such as typing for instance. The body responds to tissue damage naturally with inflammation as a way to protect itself. Unfortunately, along with inflammation comes pain. In addition to pain, a person with this syndrome may also experience a tingling and numbing sensation due to compression or irritation of the median nerve in the wrist.

Immediate Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

As with tendonitis, the best immediate treatment for this type of wrist tendonitis is ice and rest. Ice should help reduce the inflammation surrounding the wrist. It is best not to apply ice directly to your skin as this may be harmful. Instead, wrap the ice in a cloth or paper towel before applying it. Rest is also recommended for someone experiencing the signs and symptoms of this wrist tendonitis problem. Rest allows your body time to heal any inflamed or damaged tissue.

Like tendonitis, performing some simple prevention techniques may help keep wrist tendonitis pain and inflammation at bay. Doing a light set of strengthening and stretching exercises involving the wrist may help increase blood flow to any areas susceptible to damage.

Another Form of Prevention for Carpal Tunnel

Another form of prevention should involve the foods you put in your body. Filling up on heart-healthy Omega-3 essential fatty acids is highly recommended since they make for a much stronger cardiovascular system. A much stronger heart and cardiovascular system will allow for the speedy delivery of nutrients and oxygen to any area of tissue in the wrist that is likely to succumb to pain and inflammation ultimately resulting in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Conversely, the foods you DO NOT put in your body are just as important. Like tendonitis that may be caused or exacerbated by eating processed sugars and flours, you should definitely avoid any type of sodas, candy, junk food, and/or boxed dinners. Stay away from them at all cost because whether you suffer with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, tendonitis, arthritis or some other condition, these types of foods spike your insulin levels that will inevitably spike your levels of pain and inflammation all over the body.

One can draw many parallels between Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and tendonitis or any inflammatory condition for that matter. The signs and symptoms are similar as are the methods of treatment. Finally, prevention techniques for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are very similar to forms of tendonitis prevention.

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Mar
14

How to stop bedwetting is a question that has worried, confused and upset generations of parents. Unfortunately, a great many young children will suffer from bedwetting at some stage in their lives. This can leave their parents wondering how to cope with the problem, known in medical circles as enuresis. For a child, making the transition from wearing a nappy to sleeping without one can be difficult and therefore this is a prime time for many ‘little’ accidents to occur. However, there are ways to resolve these problems whilst the child gets used to the regime of potty training.

First of all, telling off the child is really not a good idea. The very fact that they have wet the bed means they have lost control and were unable to wake up in time to visit the toilet. As stress is considered a prime trigger that can cause a child to wet the bed, scolding them for doing it will very probably make things worse not better. Other possibilities do exist however, an underlying medical issue or infection can also cause enuresis.

A nice and simple way of helping children to naturally stop bedwetting is to encourage them to visit the toilet last thing at night before bed. Make sure you consider how old your child is though; regressing back to nappies in the short term can work if you are currently trying potty training. Older children can also start wetting the bed and in this situation you may need to try other methods such as reducing any fluids they have not long before they go to bed. Different children will respond to different methods, so keep trying if you don’t succeed the first time.

Make sure you keep an eye on your child to watch for physical symptoms which could trigger the bedwetting so they can also be resolved. For example, if your child is experiencing any discomfort while urinating, that could be indicative of some kind of infection. If it is an infection, normal toileting habits should be resumed once the infection has been successfully treated. In other situations bedwetting alarms work well; the child will be woken if they do wet the bed.

In the end a positive attitude is highly beneficial to the child, regardless of why the bedwetting may have started. Matters can be made even worse if the parents are negative about it and transfer those feelings onto the child, who is probably already feeling upset about it. Almost certainly they will want to stop bedwetting as much as you want them to stop.
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In the vast majority of cases this problem can be solved, so remember there is a lot you can do to successfully put an end to the situation. Fortunately, it is not usually a long lasting affliction, sooner or later most children will stop bedwetting and sleep without any further problem.

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Mar
11

What is Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The swelling can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, the general name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines. Because the symptoms of Crohn’s disease are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. In Crohn’s disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel.

Crohn’s disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn’s disease can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. People of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease, and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis.

What causes Crohn’s disease?

Several theories exist about what causes Crohn’s disease, but none have been proven. The human immune system is made from cells and different proteins that protect people from infection. The most popular theory is that the body’s immune system reacts abnormally in people with Crohn’s disease, mistaking bacteria, foods, and other substances for being foreign. The immune system’s response is to attack these “invaders.” During this process, white blood cells accumulate in the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation, which leads to ulcerations and bowel injury.

Scientists do not know if the abnormality in the functioning of the immune system in people with Crohn’s disease is a cause, or a result, of the disease. Research shows that the inflammation seen in the GI tract of people with Crohn’s disease involves several factors: the genes the patient has inherited, the immune system itself, and the environment. Foreign substances, also referred to as antigens, are found in the environment. One possible cause for inflammation may be the body’s reaction to these antigens, or that the antigens themselves are the cause for the inflammation. Scientists have found that high levels of a protein produced by the immune system, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), are present in people with Crohn’s disease.
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/

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Mar
09

I often say that as human beings, we end up being smart about stuff we never wanted to be smart about. For example, when I was first diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC), I knew very little about the disease and spent a lot of time reading to understand what was happening to me. The one thing I wasn’t worried about was the diet given to me by my urologist. After all, I was a dietitian, right? I was good at helping other people manage their special diets and was confident I could do it for myself. I got right to work, cut out caffeine, and eliminated some of the more irritating foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits. I drank more water and avoided heavily spiced foods.

Shortly after my diagnosis, however, I was at a gathering where the only things on the menu were pizza, soft drinks, and beer. That was when it really hit me. This is going to be my life from now on-navigating food and drink all day, every day. Instantly, I felt beaten down and betrayed by my own body. It was a depressing realization that this wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought.

It actually took me some time to understand how diet affected my bladder symptoms. Since it was 1998, at first, I had to rely on information given to me by my urologist. After a few months I insisted that our family invest in a new computer and get “online” so that I could research more via the Internet. What a relief to find that I was not alone in my situation! I found an online support group on the web, the IC network that literally saved my sanity and provided me with hope that my urologist was not able to give. I posted regularly, asking question after question; eventually reaching the point where I was answering other patients’ questions. Over time, the few people who knew I was a dietitian began begging me to write a book about IC and diet. I resisted for a very long time because, in my mind, I was the farthest thing from being an “expert”. I was still trying to figure everything out myself!

As I recall those early days, I can see now that what I was doing was preparing me for the work I do now. In order to understand the disease, I quickly became proficient in online research and formed relationships with people who held key positions in the IC community. While writing posts for the online support group, I fine tuned my writing skills. Eventually, I started talking to patients on the phone, guiding them through their first attempts at determining their personal trigger foods. In fact, the more opportunities that I was given to help other people, the better I felt about my own situation.

Slowly, I realized that I actually was in a unique position to help other IC patients with their diet. Although most dietitians counsel patients about diseases that they don’t have personal experience with, it helps to note that many IC patients have had negative experiences with the medical system, often encountering multiple providers who have no clue about the disease. As a result, they are often skeptical and distrust any advice they are give. When patients seek my help, however, they recognize that my expertise comes not only from research, but from personal experience. I am “one” of them-if I can do it, they can do it. I am an expert and a testimonial in one package! In fact, just the realization that I have been through what they are experiencing can be motivating enough that my patients begin to see the IC diet and other lifestyle changes as challenges rather than burdens.

Having IC not only gave me credence with my patients, but it also created opportunities as an entrepreneur that I may never have had. To date, I have spoken to support groups, dietitians, and regional forums all across the country. I took the risk and eventually wrote three books about IC that are now recommended by all of the major IC organizations, one for dietitians and other nutrition educators.I have even appeared in a PBS special about IC! Never could I have imagined that these things were possible for me. I have slowly learned to turn a curse into a blessing and to use the knowledge I never wanted to help others in ways I could only have imagined before.
Julie Beyer, MA, RD, is a Michigan dietitian and author of several books including Interstitial Cystitis: A Guide for Nutrition Educators. She provides resources for patients and medical educators and also coaches IC patients on diet and lifestyle modification. Julie is a speaker and consultant at IC Support Groups and conferences across the country.

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Mar
03

Healthcare professionals are able to diagnose insomnia and also prescribe insomnia treatments. If the patient does not respond to any insomnia treatment prescribed, then more extensive examinations and further testing might be warranted. Especially if neither the person’s physical, emotional, or mental circumstances seem to be the cause. The treatments available are diverse and will invariably seek to improve any physical or emotional difficulties that might be contributing factors to the condition.

The insomnia treatments available include anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and sedatives, all of which require a prescription. The drawbacks with regards to this kind of treatment are:
1. the drugs can be habit forming/addictive
2. they will often become less effective over time, and
3. they can reduce awareness.

It is important to identify any medical or psychological problems that may be causing the insomnia, as well as rule them out, before a suitable treatment can be found. There are alternative insomnia treatments which can be tried and avenues which can be explored before turning to drug therapy. For many people simply making changes in their lifestyle will often improve the situation.

There are effective and natural insomnia treatments available. Stimulus control therapy involves controlling/changing the sleep environment, a concept often referred to as ‘sleep hygiene’. Changes might include:

1. Setting the alarm for the same time everyday, Monday through Sunday, to establish a regular sleep pattern – regardless of how much sleep one managed to achieve

2. Refraining from using the bed for reading or watching TV – reserving bedtime exclusively for bed time

3. Only going to bed when ready to sleep

4. If you cannot sleep within 20/30 minutes, engage in a relaxing activity elsewhere, like reading

5. And no napping during the day.

Sleep Restriction endeavors to equal the time spent in bed with the time spent asleep. This can play an important role in stimulus control therapy. Sleep restriction maintains a precise and inflexible sleep-wake routine. This is one of the insomnia treatments involving a level of sleep deprivation, as well as control. A minimum of 85% of the time in bed must be spent sleeping: If a person can only manage to sleep around 5hrs the maximum time they are allowed to sleep would be around four and a half hours – and they must always get up at the same time. Over a matter of two or three weeks the amount of sleep allowed is gradually increased.

There are many natural insomnia treatments available which are non-addictive and effective. Even so, the first line of defense should invariably be to change elements within your environment, your sleep routine and even your lifestyle.

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Mar
02

Chicken pox is a highly infectious and very common childhood disease. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. It is usually a mild, self-limiting disease in healthy children but it can be severe if contracted by babies, immune-suppressed children or adults.

Children under 10 years old are the main target of chicken pox. Adults can catch chicken pox as well, but this is very rare. Once you have had chicken pox, you can not develop it again. However, if you have not had chicken pox by the time you were ten, then things do not look so good. Older children and adults that develop chicken pox risk more severe complications. Winter and spring are the most common seasons for chicken pox. There are also some people that are more vulnerable to chicken pox than others. For example kids that are immunosuppressed or newborns are especially vulnerable to chicken pox.

Chicken Pox- Symptoms

The symptoms of Chickenpox is worse in adults than children. Complications are most common among the older age group. Serious and widespread dissemination of the disease can occur in patients who are immunosuppressed e.g patients with leukemia, lymphoma, HIV and Transplant patients. The lungs and brain may get involved causing pneumonia or encephlitis.

Chicken pox is a disease that affects mainly children. It is contagious and can be spread even through air. The main way of chicken pox transmission is by direct contact with the person infected by chicken pox. Like many other disease, chicken pox also has symptoms. These signs will appear about three weeks after infection with the virus that causes chicken pox. The reason for this is because the chicken pox virus has an incubation period. The proper medical term fro chicken pox is actually varicella, because the name of the virus that causes this children’ s disease is called varicella zoster.

Some of the chicken pox symptoms are quite characteristic. However, many of the other symptoms of this skin problem are similar to many other skin conditions. It is important to examine the chickenpox symptoms below to ensure that the problem is actually chicken pox and not some other illness. When in doubt, contact a physician or skin doctor to properly diagnose the condition.

Causes of Chickenpox

Chickenpox occurs mostly during the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring. It generally affects children aged from 2 to 8 and can take the form of epidemics.

The symptoms of chickenpox are: fever, itchy, red bumps that transform into round blisters with a red base. These blisters will form a crust and will eventually dry. For at least 5 days the infected person should not get into close contact with people that have not suffered from chickenpox and children should not go to school because they can infect others. Pregnant women who have made chickenpox before are safe and so is their baby. If she has not made chickenpox and got in contact with an infected person, the doctor can administer antibodies of chickenpox within 4 days of a possible contamination. After the dry scabs form the rate of contamination will decrease.

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Feb
27

Epilepsy

Perhaps you know someone who has epilepsy. Perhaps you yourself have it. The writer of this article has suffered with epilepsy for over seventeen years, more than half her life. She would like to share with you her take on epilepsy.

It is life changing in so much as the sufferer must live life under new rules, rules different from that of family members and friends. He or she may have to give up like driving, alcohol consumption, or climbing stairs where alone. But before you assume that I am an all negative disabled complainer hear me out. It is not my personal goal to complain but to educate.

So in an attempt to educate, I will explain what a seizure can look like not from the eyes of a potential bystander, not from the eyes of a doctor reading an EEG, but from inside the very being of a person while having a seizure. For me the moment of seizure is often a moment of not knowing. I do not know I am having a seizure, even if I’m wondering around, seemingly looking right at people and making senseless noises. So you see, during a seizure the person with epilepsy may not be suffering at all.

It is when they wake up with the realization that they just had a seizure that a feeling of helplessness may set in. When you realize you do not know what you were doing right before the seizure, nor how long it lasted that frustration may set in. Thoughts like, I hope I did not fall and bang my head, or did I bite my this time float through the broken mind while a desire to just go no like nothing happened sea-saws with the idea that you should most likely take a nap.

Working adds a boat load of extra concerns for someone who is prone to seizures. If you need to get to work but do not drive you either walk, bicycle, rely on public transportation or friends and family. If for what ever reason, illness weather etc. your transportation can not be relied on getting to work can be quite a challenge. There is always the question about disclosing your disability and to who exactly. Do you tell your boss but not your coworkers? Your coworkers and not your boss? When? Why? How do you bring it up without the possibility of them becoming either over protective of you, afraid of you or afraid you will not do a good job working?

With all that has been said here I have hardly touched the surface of what it is like to life with epilepsy. All people with seizures have different takes on things. Please know I’m not trying to generalize for all. If you are interested in this article rest assured there is plenty more to come on this subject. I will be starting

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