Multiple Myeloma : Signs And Symptoms Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer in the bone marrow, mainly manifested by the rapid and uncontrollable multiplication of its cells. The signs and symptoms associated with Multiple Myeloma are as follows: Bone pain and breaks The most common symptom of multiple myeloma is bone pain and it usually involves your back and ribs. Unlike other forms of cancer which could afflict you, the pain in myeloma is suddenly caused and provoked by your movements. If ever there is a persistent pain in a certain site of your body, it could mean that a bone fracture has taken place, which is one of the unfortunate consequences of your disease. Normally, you have two kinds of bone cells that harmoniously work together. These are the osteoclasts and the osteoblasts. The osteoclasts destroy old bones, while the osteoblasts build new ones. When you have multiple myeloma, a certain substance is produced wherein the osteoclasts are given signals to keep on destroying bones. However, the osteoblasts do not receive any kind of signals that they will construct new ones. With this discrepancy, more bones are destroyed rather than constructed. Thus, you have bone destructions if you have the disease.

Those suffering from asthma may swear by the persistent spasms in the bronchi of their lungs, which in turn causes difficulty in breathing. Though not many may know this, but asthma is usually connected to an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity. Even a physical display of strong emotions like shouting, crying ot laughing may end up causing great difficulty in breathing. If you think you are experiencing breathing difficulties, then it’s time that you see an allergist for diagnosis and treatment. An allergist is the right person to help you recognize the early warning signs of an attack and suggest ways to cope up in case of an emergency. According to the leading experts in asthma, the symptoms of asthma and best treatment for you or your child may be quite different than for someone else with asthma. The most common symptom is wheezing. This is a scratchy or whistling sound when you breathe. Some other symptoms include: Shortness of breath or rapid breathing, which may be associated with exercise. Some people who have asthma say they can’t catch their breath or they feel out of breath. You may feel like you can’t get air out of your lungs.

Rheumatoid arthritis is somewhat of a medical mystery. Doctors believe that genetics influence the development of the disorder, but environmental factors, i.e. habits and activities within the patient’s control, may determine whether someone at risk does or does not develop RA. Genetic First, let us look at the genetic component of RA. People with rheumatoid arthritis have been found to have antibodies in their systems called anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPAs for short). These antibodies, which attack the patient’s own proteins, signal the presence of RA. ACPAs are the most reliable predictor of RA. Another genetic marker of RA risk is the “rheumatoid factor.” The rheumatoid factor is also an antibody that shows up in patient blood work, but it is present in only eighty percent of actual rheumatoid arthritis patients. Both the rheumatoid factor and ACPAs can be accurately assessed with a blood test. Family History Anyone with a close family member who has developed rheumatoid arthritis should assume that he or she is at risk unless a blood test has clearly shown the absence of ACPAs and the rheumatoid factor. However, it is important to note that not everyone with ACPAs will develop rheumatoid arthritis. Age Age and gender play an important role.

Opioid or painkiller addiction is considered an epidemic in North America. According to statistics from the American Society of Addictive Medicine, overdose from prescription painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin accounted for over 20,000 deaths in 2015. Opioid-based painkillers, like OxyContin and Vicodin, are derived from the opium plant and also the foundation for illegal drugs, like heroin. Not only are these opioids extremely addictive, taking them for even for a brief time, can lead to addictive dependency. In order to diagnose a painkiller addiction, a patient will have to be considered dependent on the drug. Doctors will often pose these questions to diagnose if a person is addicted or not: Do I take painkillers because I need them? Am I in pain that requires the use of painkillers? Is my dosage reasonable to my condition or is it out of necessity (i.e., to escape, feel good)? When don’t I take my meds do I experience addictive side effects (i.e., chills, shakes, nausea, headaches, etc.)? Treating a painkiller addiction If your physician determines that you’re addicted to opioids, he or she will recommend a treatment plan based on both the physical and emotional dependencies of your addiction, including: Addiction support While many are embarrassed or believe they can overcome an addiction on their own, it’s very difficult to get a painkiller addiction under control by yourself with no support.

Insulin is a common term in households with a diabetic patient. The injection and use of insulin is important part of a diabetic’s daily life. While insulin is mainly used by those with type 1 diabetes, it is often necessary for those with type 2 diabetes as well. There are many different insulin routines that a doctor may suggest. Since diabetes is a highly individualized disease, with symptoms and reactions differing from person to person, there are a variety of insulin therapy plans available. There are several ways to inject or use insulin and this guide can help you find a plan that works best for you. Insulin Use for Type 1 Diabetes Those with type 1 diabetes are usually put on a traditional syringe plan. The patient can inject insulin twice per day, gradually increasing the amount to three or four injections per day depending on the insulin type and need. Since each individual’s blood glucose levels are different, there are many different types of insulin available to assist with the maintaining of those glucose levels. With the frequent injection of insulin, those with type 1 diabetes can prevent stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, and more. Insulin Use for Type 2 Diabetes Individuals with type 2 diabetes do often require insulin, but not as frequently as those with type 1 diabetes.

Prostate cancer, like every other cancer in the world right now, is curable. If you find out that you have prostate cancer, you might be low and won’t be able to focus on any tasks or activities in your day-to-day life. You must know that like most of the diseases even prostate cancer myths are quite prevalent and you might come across them if you diagnose prostate cancer. To help you stay away from thinking about piling on those myths, here are some of the most common prostate cancer myths: Prostate cancer has urinary symptoms, always. Based on this prostate cancer myth, many people believe that if a person does not have urinary symptoms, then they do not have prostate cancer. The widespread nature of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) proves that this is a myth as most men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the early stages of the disease. Also, in the early stages, there aren’t any signs of urinary symptoms. Sex helps to improve the patient’s health When you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are many life changes you would go through and many alterations that might help in making you feel better. However, among these changes, there is a prostate cancer myth that sex improves the health.

Treating ADHD often requires psychological, behavioral, educational, and medical intervention. Depending on the age of the patient, the treatment options may include:    Parent training    Education regarding ADHD    Educational supports    Behavioral therapy    Counselling    Skills training    Medication Treatment for ADHD can help relieve the symptoms and improve the patient’s daily living conditions. The treatment options can be therapy, a medication, or, better yet, a combination of both. Let’s look at these two commonly used treatment approaches. Therapy Different therapies can be used to treat ADHD in both children and adults. Therapy has been seen as a useful approach in treating other problems associated with the disorder, such as anxiety and conduct disorders. Some therapies used to manage ADHD include: Social skill training —A child suffering from ADHD can be engaged in a role play situation to teach them how to socialize with other children and understand how their behavior affects others. Behavior therapy —Behavioral therapy entails behavior management, whereby a system of reward is used to encourage a child with ADHD to control their behavior towards situations and other people. Both parents and teachers are integral parts of this therapeutic approach. Psychoeducation —This is a form of talk therapy, wherein you and your child are encouraged to talk about ADHD.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no single test to diagnose ADHD, because many other health conditions such as certain learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders can have similar symptoms. If you suspect that you or your child might have ADHD, the first thing you should do is talk to your doctor to check if the symptoms fit the diagnosis. A person is diagnosed with ADHD if he/she portrays more than six symptoms of ADHD for more than six months. Additionally, the symptoms must be present in more than one setting since the age of 12. Depending on the type of symptoms, a patient can be diagnosed with either Inattentive Type, Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, or Combined Type ADHD. Many healthcare providers. such as doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and pediatricians can diagnose ADHD with the help of standards from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. The diagnosis pertains to gathering of information from parents or caregivers about the child’s behaviors. Your doctor or your child’s GP may inquire about the following: A family history of ADHD. Other health conditions you or your child may have. Any significant event in your life, or that of your child, for instance divorce or death of a close family member.

Gout, or hyperuricemia, is a condition that’s caused by the long-term buildup of uric acid crystals in the bodily tissues and joints. What results from this buildup is painful inflammation that’s characterized as a type of arthritis that strikes in what’s known as a gout attack. Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia). The exact cause of gout is a mystery, although many doctors believe it is an inherited condition. When a gout attack occurs, it’s painful due to inflammation in a joint (typically the big toe) or surrounding tissues – causing symptoms of redness, swelling, stiffness, and burning heat. Gout attacks are recurrent. Even though they will gradually subside, patients will experience them repeatedly, and they can cause permanent damage to joints and surrounding tissues if left untreated. Many patients experiencing their first gout attack are misdiagnosed with joint sprain or tendinitis. Gout attacks usually strike during the nighttime, with a mild pain that gradually worsens. What’s considered a mild gout attack can cease swelling, pain, burning, redness, and stiffness after a few hours. However, patients experiencing mild gout attacks have reported symptoms lasting for up to 2 days in duration. Most mild gout attacks cease all symptoms after a week.

Gout is often confused with other conditions, due to similarities in many of the symptoms (i.e., joint pain and inflammation). However, if you think you may have gout, you can expect your doctor to ask you a series of common questions during your initial appointment. With that in mind, here’s the information that you should be prepared to bring along to your medical appointment: The family history of gout: Do you or have you had a parent, sibling, or immediate relative with gout Symptoms: What are they, when did they start, and how often do they appear? Triggers: Have you identified what triggers your symptoms (i.e., illness, stress, diet)? Current health:  —Do you have any existing medical conditions, and what medications are you taking to treat them? Diet: What and how much do you eat and drink (i.e., alcohol) in a day/week? Do you take any vitamins, supplements, or over-the-counter medications (i.e., aspirin)? If your general physician expects that you may have gout, he or she will likely refer you to a rheumatologist or an arthritis specialist. That specialist will likely complete one or a few of the following gout tests in order to rule out gout or determine a proper diagnosis:

Dyskinesia takes its name from dystonia, which describes the involuntary muscle contractions or uncontrolled movements, common in patients with parkinson’s disease. Dyskinesias can occur as mild to severe symptoms in those affected by Parkinson’s disease. How does dyskinesia affect parkinson’s patients? Every Parkinson’s patient will experience them to a different degree—for instance, some patients suffer only mild motor complications in isolated muscles, while others may experience random twitching that resembles dance-like, writhing of the entire body, including the face, arms, legs, and torso, and sometimes even facial muscles. With parkinson’s disease, dyskinesia can often worsen gradually as the disease advances. These involuntary movements are often treated using prescription drugs, like levodopa and entacapone, which can provide relief and aim to control Parkinson’s symptoms. However, over the long term levodopa for used over the long term can actually cause dyskinesia to worsen. What exactly causes dyskinesia in parkinson’s patients? Parkinson’s disease is thought to be caused by lack of the brain cells that produce certain natural and vital chemicals (i.e., dopamine, serotonin, and glutamine), namely fluctuating dopamine levels in the body. A decrease in dopamine can significantly impact muscles, and can lead to slow or shaky movements, tremors, twitching, muscle pain, and stiffness that characterizes dyskinesia.