disease.com – Disease

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the a bone disease characterized by reduced bone mineral density, leading to an increased risk of fracture.

Osteoporosis is a major public health issue, affecting 10 million Americans. The number, when combined with the 34 million Americans that suffer from osteopenia (thinning of the bone mass less severe than osteoporosis), accounts for more than half of the population over age 50.

As Americans are growing older, the problem of osteoporosis is growing increasingly clearer. Direct health-care costs from osteoporosis fractures total $1 billion, and those suffering from it will feel it, both in their health and bank accounts.

There is hope, however. Osteoporosis can be treated with simple lifestyle changes and certain medication, or a combination of both. Treatment for osteoporosis has one particular focus: preventing bone fractures. Since osteoporosis attacks and weakens the bone, preventing osteoporosis is essential in staying healthy. The following treatments are meant to treat and prevent osteoporosis. Making a few lifestyle changes may save thousands of dollars and maintain health in the future!

1. Exercise

Guaranteeing yourself exercise on a daily basis will provide you many health effects beyond preventing and treating osteoporosis. While exercise does not increase bone density, it can help you improve fitness and balance, preventing falls. Walking daily for up to half an hour can do wonders for your health. Of course, if you are already struggling with weakened bones, you should use extra caution with the intensity of exercise.

2. Quit Smoking

Smoking has been found to significantly decrease bone mass, especially when done over a prolonged period. In women, cigarettes can decrease estrogen levels, cause earlier menopause, and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Smoking also damages many other organs and present many additional health problems.

3. Calcium Supplements

Calcium is very instrumental in building stronger bones, especially earlier in life. Calcium supplements can not be considered a standalone treatment or cure for osteoporosis, but can work well as a preventive measure and supplemental treatment. Supplements are best taken in smaller doses with meals divided into 500 mg each.

4. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is also very important in healthy bone strength. As with calcium, Vitamin D supplements are not meant to be a sole treatment or cure for osteoporosis, but instead a preventive measure and supplemental treatment. Taking Vitamin D will help your body absorb dietary calcium, avoid osteomalacia, and increase bone density. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States, but can be easily matched with one or two multivitamin tablets per day.

5. Hormone Therapy

Estrogen hormone therapy has been found to counter the symptoms of osteoporosis. Women can take estrogen orally or in the form of a patch. Before choosing a hormone therapy, you should contact your doctor.

6. Medication

There are a number of medications that have been found to retain calcium in the bones. Bis phosphates can be taken to decrease the risk of fracture, selective estrogen receptor modulators can be used as a replacement for estrogen, calcitonin (a hormone) can prevent bone loss, and teriparatide (synthetic hormone) can help regulate calcium metabolism. Talk with your doctor for possible medications.

Rickettsia Infection

The bacteria, Ricketsia, is a unusual form of bacteria. Not only, can this bacteria metastasize into several different infections, but the only way it can survive is inside of a host (eg. human body or animal body).

1. Rickettsia Infection can be the culprit for several diseases, such as, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or the Q Fever. Each one of these infections is defined by its own set of characteristics, but each attempts to accomplish the same task; survival.

2. The Ricketts Infection, enters the cell lining blood vessels, causing the vessels to become inflamed or swollen or bleed into the tissue. During this situation, each body reacts in a variety of ways; and because of that, every individual experiences different symptoms.

3. Humans normally contract the Ricketts Infection through a bite from an infected dust mite, lice, fleas or ticks. Once an individual has contracted the infection, it is important to immediately see a doctor, because it is extremely contagious.

4. Initially, the Rickettsia Infection will cause their hosts to suffer a fever, headache, rashes, or malaise. If the individual does not immediately care these symptoms an individual can develop a cough, difficulty breathing, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. In rare, but severe cases of the infection, the liver or spleen enlarges, the kidneys fail, and blood pressure falls dangerously low.

5. Since the Ricketts Infection is bacterial an individual can rid any signs of illness with a doctor presribed antibiotic. Occasionally, if this method does not work, an individual might have to receive a vaccination.

Yellow Fever

“Sleep tight; don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Seriously, if your bed happens to be South American or African region; do not let them bite! An infected mosquito can inject an individual with the West Nile Virus, Malaria, and the most severe, lesser known, Yellow Fever. Each year, Yellow Fever infects an estimated 200,000, and kills over 30,000.

1. Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The reason it is called “yellow fever” is because the yellow effect some people experience during the symptom of jaundice.

2. The infection, incubates in the body for up to 6 days, which is closely followed by two phases of symptoms. The first stage, attacks an individuals body internally. The most toxic phase, or the 2nd phase is only experienced by 15% of people. During this period, an individual’s symptoms evolve from an internal stage to an external.

3. This virus is an arbovirus of the flavivirus genus. The primary carrier of this genus is the mosquito. This virus can travel from host to host through a bite or contact; primarily between monkeys and humans.

4. Yellow fever symptoms take place in two separate stages. In the initial phase, patients will suffer a fever, muscle pain, back aches, head aches, shivers, loss of appetite and vomiting. The symptoms of the first phase mainly disappear within 3 to 4 days, for all but, 15% of the patients. These unlucky 15%, experience the most violent stage, or the 2nd phase. This stage is most notably known for patients acquiring severe jaundice, along with bleeding from any orifice.

5. Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for yellow fever. A hospital can only truly attempt to deal with the symptoms and not the actual disease, itself

Tetanus

What if I told you; the soil beneath your feet, contains a bacteria that lives up to 40 years, and if contracted has a 30% of killing you…Clostridium tetani, more commonly known as tetanus; is a microscopic bacterial spore, which lives in the environment.

1. The tetanus toxin, tetanospasmin, ranks as one of the most potent microbial poison. This toxin takes the shape of bacterial spores which live within the environment around us. These spores live of the diverse elements of soil, animal excrement, house dust, operating rooms, contaminated heroin, and the human colon.

2. Once the tetanus poison, enters the body it will penetrate the outer and inner nerves of the spine. After an estimated 8 days, the relaxation of the individual’s muscles will become blocked, due to a short circuit of the nerves.

3. Tetanus can enter the body in a variety of ways; animal or insect bits, surgical wounds, the site of needle injections, burns, splinters, lesions, abrasions, ulcers, infected umbilical cords, and of course from rusty intimate objects.

4. Any individual that contracts tetanus will experience anything from spasms in the jaw, hand, arms, legs, and back. Each one of these spasms are precipitated, or brought on, by a severe noise or touch. In more intense forms of tetanus individuals will lose the ability to breathe, or even die.

5. If an individual believes, he/she may have contracted tetanus, they should rush to a hospital immediately. Upon the visit, an individual will receive two forms of medication; a medicine to eliminate the toxin and a medicine to suppress the spasms.

Epilepsy

If the body is an electrical unit, the brain is the epicenter. This epicenter is comprised of vessels which transmit electric waves throughout the entire body. But what happens if one of those vessels misfires? What information gets caught between two different portals? A seizure. The brain will report a current internal imbalance, forcing the body to fall into a seizure. This precise action is the main symptom of epilepsy; a disease which affects 1% of the population (approximately 65 million).

1. The brain is comprised of hundreds of nerve cells which communicate through electrical signals. In order for the brain to properly function, the interplay between the nerve cells must be regulated. The normal function is disturbed, when an abnormal electrical discharge causes an epileptic seizure.

2. Although the epileptic seizures are a direct result of abnormalities in the brain, the brain suffers no actual damage.

3. If an individual is experiencing epileptic seizures, it often originates genetically. In the case of focal epilepsy (meaning that it attacks a specific part of the brain), a brain scan can normally depict the precise cause.

4. When an individual is not experiencing epileptic seizures, there are not definitive symptoms. However, during these seizures, the individual will experience twitching in the muscles, abnormal sensations, or lose of consciousness.

5. Epilepsy is usually treated with prescribed medication, but in severe cases an individual may need surgery.

Multiple Sclerosis

This year alone, thousands of individuals will participate in 100 bike rides and 600 walks with the National MS Society, in order to spread awareness and hopefully, one day, find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This disease currently affects over 300,000 individuals in the United States, and several hundred thousand around the world.

1. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease, which affects the connection between the brain and the spinal cord. Since MS, is an autoimmune disease, the immune system is the main culprit to severing the communication between the brain and the spinal cord.

2. Since MS, affects the spinal cord and the brain, the entire nervous system becomes imbalanced. This imbalance, produces a build up of scar tissue, which destroys all of the myelin which covers the nerves. Human beings depend on myelin to send messages back and forth to the spine and the brain.

3. Scientists and doctors have attempted to search for a cause for MS, but unfortunately, all that remains is hypotheses. Either hereditary or a contaminated environment, links individuals to the MS disease.

4. Individuals who have contracted MS, will experience; weakness, decreased coordination, blurred vision, and even eye pain.

5. There is no vaccination for MS, or even cure in sight, but there are medicines which can decrease the frequent symptoms. The two most notable medicines, shorten the attacks of MS and relieve the symptoms of the disease.

Celiac

50 percent of an individual’s proper diet, should consist of strictly carbohydrates. Each time an individual digests these carbohydrates, the body absorbs gluten; an internal protein which the body transforms into energy and fuel. This fuel is not only a nice advantage to delicious foods, but it is a necessity for everyday living.

1. The Celiac Disease creates road blocks, diversions, and detours throughout the entire energy highway. These obstacles disable an individual from digesting gluten and fully absorbing nutrients.

2. If an individual is suffering from Celiac Disease, they will not be able to properly digest gluton and absorb the necessary nutrients. Along with diverting the nutrient, Celiac Disease, will force the immune system to attack the body’s small intestines. In this event, individuals can develop osteoporosis, iron deficiency anemia, and raise the risk of lymphoma.

3. Presently, doctors are unaware of what causes Celiac Disease. On the other hand, they have discovered that small infections can actually trigger Celiac Disease within an individual.

4. An individual who is suffering from Celiac Disease will experience symptoms of bloating, rapid change in bowel movements, weight loss, fatigue, and weakness. Each individual will experience different symptoms, but the results will be the same.

5. Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for Celiac Disease, there are remedies. Any individual experiencing Celiac Disease, should begin a gluten-free diet within the first two weeks of their diagnosis.

Meningitis

Last year, 850 United States citizens woke up with a slightly stiff neck and the hint of a headache. A day or so later, they contracted a fever. Four days later, the individual is experiencing insensate vomiting and even the occasional seizure. Two weeks, after all the symptoms began; they are dead. This is the haunting journey of meningitis; a disease which claims over 200,000 deaths a year.

1. Meningitis is fast acting infection, which mainly affects children and individuals with a weak immune system. There are two separate kinds of meningitis; viral and bacterial. Viral meningitis is actually quite common. Although in rare cases, it has caused fevers and seizures, it is not a serious illness. Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, is an extremely serious disease. If not immediately treated, the disease can cause brain damage, and death.

2. The disease, Meningitis, is an inflammation in lining of the spine and the brain.

3. The bacteria surrounding the cause of bacterial meningitis are very common. Each bacteria, can be naturally be found in the nose and throat, in mainly young adults and children. The Meningitis bacteria is spread through coughing, sneezing, and kissing. It is extremely rare that the bacteria actually becomes viral; damaging the immune system.

4. Initially, the symptoms of meningitis will be directly correlated to the inflammation (eg. stiff neck or headaches). Eventually the individual will begin to experience vomiting, and even seizures.

5. If you or a loved one begins to experience symptoms of meningitis, make sure to contact a doctor immediately. Depending on whether the patient is a child or an adult, the doctor will prescribe a different injection. The meningitis C is the vaccination for children, and the pneumococcal vaccin, for adults.

Tuberculosis

It is the latter part of the 19th century. Europe is plagued with a disease, called tuberculosis, which is killing one in four individuals. It is now the 20th century. The number of individuals effected by tuberculosis have subsided. It is now, 2009, and 3 million people this year will die from tuberculosis, alone.

1. Tuberculosis, also known as, TB, is a bacterial infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), which can spread through the lymph nodes and bloodstream, effecting any organ in the body.

2. Out of all the organs in the body, tuberculosis, is mainly a disease of the lungs. This bacteria can not only develop in the lungs themselves, but in the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs) and in the lymph nodes.

3. Most individuals who are exposed to tuberculosis, never develop any symptoms. On the other hand, if the person has a weak immune system, the tuberculosis bacteria will become active. Upon activation, the bacteria will begin to attack and deteriorate tissue within the organ system. If any the symptoms are left untreated, it can be fatal.

4. Tuberculosis is contracted through the inhalation of microscopic droplets, that are released into the air by infected individuals. Individuals infected with TB, can spread it through, coughing, sneezing, or even speaking. Even though the bacteria itself my remain in the air for hours, it is mainly killed by ultra violet rays, or sunlight.

5. Once, TB, becomes activated within the body, it will cause symptoms of chronic coughing, lose of appetite, weight loss, fever, fatigue, and night sweats.

6. In order to prevent, the contraction of tuberculosis, it is recommended that an individual receive the BCG vaccination. This vaccination not only, reduces the possibility of tuberculosis, but subsequent pulmonary TB.

7. If you or a loved one, happen to contract tuberculosis; not to worry. Today, tuberculosis, is treated over a six to nine month period with a vareity of antibiotics.

Shingles

Try and think for a moment on when you got chicken pox. Remember how annoying it was to have that constant itch? Even better, remember how relieving it was to wake up with all of your symptoms erased? Well, what if I told you that while your chicken pox lie dormant, another infection was lurking in the shadows? That is right…Herpes Zoster, a.k.a. Shingles.

1. Once the virus of chicken pox subsides, it lies dormant within your nerve roots. The virus “awakes” when an individual experiences severe stress, disease, or aging weaken the immune system.

2. The Shingles infection is a systematic stage of symptoms. At first an individual’s nerve endings will be attacked, sending off mixed messages throughout the body. Due to this messages, the skin will create non-existent irritations, developing rashes and blisters. Finally, and individual’s nervous system will create an imbalance within the senses.

3. Although shingles is not contagious, an infected individual can spread chicken pox to another person.

4.  Herpes Zoster is an onset symptoms, which effects the individuals in stages. Initially, an individual will experience headaches, tingling skin, and irritable rashes. If the symptoms go with out the proper care, an individual can suffer from widespread rashes and extreme dizziness.

5. The sooner an individual contacts a doctor, the better. There is no prospective cure for shingles, but there are medicines that will eliminate all of the symptoms.