Brittle bone disease is more commonly known as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). It is a rare, usually inherited disorder that causes bones to break easily due to the body’s low production of collagen.
Low levels of collagen characterize Type I brittle bone disease. This type is the most frequently occurring and the least severe. Bones are likely to break easily before the onset of puberty. As well, those with Type I are prone to scoliosis, extreme curvature of the spine, and may need to wear a brace as teenagers to correct the curve.
Type II brittle bone disease is extremely severe, with most affected children dying before age one. The bones are usually severely deformed and lung development is not normal. Respiratory infections are the primary cause of death in this type.
Type III, conversely, allows the body to produce enough collagen, but the collagen is of poorer quality. This type of brittle bone disease is progressive, with few symptoms shown in babies. As the child ages however, symptoms like those of Type I begin to emerge. Generally, severity increases with age creating significant deformity and disability. People with Type III may have a normal lifespan, but their life will be significantly impacted by progression of the disease.
Type IV brittle bone disease is also characterized by poor quality collagen but tends to be a milder form. Bone breakage is common before adolescence, like in Type I. In fact the disease follows an almost identical course to Type I. The differentiation is that Type I is caused by insufficient collagen, while Type IV is caused by sufficient collagen of poor quality.
Type V and Type VI are used to describe the way the bones develop, and are both basically subsets of Type IV. Type V brittle bone disease usually causes the bones to resemble meshing or webs. These imperfections result in easier breakage. In Type VI brittle bone disease, the bones appear to be scaled.
A swollen tongue and sore throat can be symptoms of a few different problems. Most commonly they are indicators of an allergic reaction, mononucleosis or tongue cancer. Allergic reactions can sometimes cause a swollen tongue and sore throat, depending on the severity of the reaction. Other symptoms of an allergic reaction may include trouble breathing, hives, rashes and sneezing. Mononucleosis, or mono, is often known as the “kissing disease” because it is transferred from one person to another by saliva. It can also be spread by mucus and tears. It is a virus that leaves a person feeling extremely tired for a long time. Once a person contracts the virus, it will be present in his body for the rest of his life, sometimes becoming active and contagious. Symptoms of mono include weakness, extreme fatigue, fever, a swollen tongue and sore throat.
While the symptoms of iron deficiency vary, iron deficiency anemia is one of the most well-known, and perhaps the most critical, symptom. When bone marrow has insufficient iron, it cannot produce the hemoglobin that is necessary for maintaining healthy red blood cells; this can cause iron deficiency anemia. Besides iron deficiency anemia, some other symptoms of iron deficiency are fatigue, light-headedness, muscle weakness, irritability, a very pale appearance, and pica - an eating disorder in which the sufferer craves non-food items like clay or chalk. Iron deficiency can be caused by excessive bleeding, inadequate intake of iron, or a diet or medical problem that interferes with the body's absorption of iron. On average, women are ten times more likely than men to develop this condition due to the blood lost during menstruation. Iron deficiency anemia is the end stage of iron deficiency. Many symptoms of iron deficiency can be prevented with a proper diet or with the use of iron supplements, unless it is due to malabsorption. Iron-rich foods include meats of all kinds, green leafy vegetables, beans, and tofu. Iron is an essential nutrient for humans, as well as for many other forms of life. In humans, it helps regulate cellular respiration, providing the main source of energy for many different cell types in the body to do their work. It is also a major component of red blood cells, which provide oxygen to all parts of the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs for expiration. Iron also helps store oxygen within muscle cells. Iron is extremely important to human life, and a deficiency in this nutrient can cause many symptoms and may result in health problems.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a very common disorder that is characterized by unusually high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver. It is important for a person who has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to establish healthy diets and stay active to help prevent the condition from worsening. When fat is present in the liver but does not impair the organ's functioning, the condition is called steatosis. Most people who have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease experience steatosis. Rarely, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease leads to cirrhosis, or permanent scarring and hardening of liver tissue. Cirrhosis can cause a number of severe symptoms, including constant abdominal pains, jaundice, digestive disorders, and muscle weakness. When a physician suspects fatty liver disease, he or she usually performs a physical examination, asks about lifestyle changes, and collects blood samples for lab tests. Blood is screened for high triglycerides, cholesterol, and liver enzymes. Ultrasounds and other diagnostic images may be taken of the liver to look for signs of inflammation and scarring. If abnormalities are discovered, a liver biopsy may be necessary to confirm the condition and gauge its severity.
Floating kidney, which may also be called hypermobile kidney or wandering kidney, is known by the medical name of nephroptosis. It is a condition that causes the kidney to drop downward, especially when a person stands up or goes from a lying down to upright position. This can also be called prolapse or kidney prolapse. The downward movement of the kidney suggests it is not fully fixed in place by the tissues that surround it. The kidneys are usually supported by tissue called perirenal fasciae, which is soft tissue that is part of connective tissue. When perirenal fasciae are not present in abundance, the floating kidney is not fixed in place, and upon standing it can drop as low as the pelvis. The displacement of the kidney may also cause the ureter, the structure that passes urine from the kidneys to the bladder to kink. This can result in extreme pain upon or difficulty urinating. For those suffering the symptoms of floating kidney, treatment usually exists in the form of kidney surgery called nephrophexy.
Muscle cramping is a common problem encountered by athletes and nonathletes alike. Defined as painful involuntary skeletal muscle contractions, cramps may be categorized as either nonexercise related or exercise related. The etiology of the former group may involve hormonal, electrolyte or metabolic imbalances, or it may result from long-term medication. Traditionally, such cramping was believed to arise from dehydration, electrolyte imbalances (including magnesium, potassium and sodium), accumulation of lactic acid, or low cellular energy levels. Age also seems to predispose individuals to cramping--the phenomenon may develop later in life for people who exercise for years without prior problems. Other factors include increased body weight and improper footwear. Eccentric muscle contraction and other musculoskeletal injuries can contribute to the problem.
Prophylactic stretching of the major muscles of the lower limbs for at least five to 10 minutes during warm-up and cool-down periods can help prevent cramps. The importance of flexibility cannot be overstated, particularly for older athletes. Other recommendations include minimizing running hills and stairs (limiting eccentric contractions); undergoing a biomechanical evaluation of your exercise technique; making sure shoes and other equipment are appropriate and not excessively worn.
Add Comments
Read More
Comments (1)
