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Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview

Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview
L. Hirt & eKnowItAll.com

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects your joints. It can cause swelling, stiffness, pain and loss of function in the joints it affects. Unlike other types of arthritis, it does not usually affect just one joint, but the matching joint on the other side of your body as well. The most commonly affected joints are the wrists and fingers. There are several forms of the disease, ranging from a short period of pain lasting for only a year to severe pain that lasts many years or an entire lifetime. SymptomsSymptoms can vary from person to person, but there are several features of the disease that often occur:Tender, swollen and warm joints often in the wrist or fingers Pain affecting the same joints on both sides of your bodyInflammation in other joints such as the knees or hipsProlonged periods of pain and stiffness, after long periods of rest or after waking upOccasional fevers, fatigue, and an overall feeling of not being wellFactors Increasing the Risk of Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatoid arthritis can be hereditary, and can result from having specific genes that control your immune system. Several genes play a role in whether a person develops the disease, and how severely they are afflicted. Genetics, however, is not the only factor.It is believed that certain events trigger the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in people already susceptible to it because of their genes. The most likely causes are bacterial or viral infections.Women are more likely to develop the disease than men, and their hormone levels may affect the onset of the disease. For example, pregnancy often lessens the severity of the disease, while flare-ups often occur after giving birth.The Basics of Rheumatoid ArthritisJoints, where two bones connect, are normally surrounded by a protective and supportive capsule. The capsule surrounds the joint and the cartilage between the bones. Healthy joints have a lining of a tissue called synovium and produce a fluid that both nourishes and lubricates the bones and cartilage. In people with rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system produces white blood cells that attack the synovium. This causes the inflammation consistent with arthritis, and makes the joint swollen and painful. Once the disease develops, the inflamed synovium actually attacks the joint and its bone and cartilage, working to destroy it. Eventually, the muscles around the joint become too weak to support it properly, causing often severe pain and joint damage. Common TreatmentsNo matter what treatment doctors and patients choose, the goal is always to stop pain and inflammation, prevent further damage to joints and allow the person to function normally.Dealing with the Disease:Splints can be used to support an affected joint, letting it rest. This will reduce swelling and pain. Other simple tools can make daily tasks easier for people with the disease. For example, patients may use special devices to help them get in and out of bed.A healthy blend of rest and exercise is also important. Doctors suggest getting more exercise while the disease is not severe, and getting more rest when attacks flare-up. Exercise improves flexibility, muscle strength, and joint mobility, while also contributing to the patients overall well-being. When resting, it is best to rest for short periods, rather than taking long naps.To reduce the stress involved in coping with the disease, patients can utilize relaxation techniques, regular exercise, and support groups. Eating a balanced diet also contributes to overall well-being.Medication and SurgeryMost people with rheumatoid arthritis take some form of medication. Types include those to relieve pain, to reduce inflammation and to slow the onset of the disease. Common drugs include Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirins. The most effective treatments often include a combination of more powerful medications.Surgery can be performed to reduce pain and improve joint function and daily life. Common surgeries include joint replacement, tendon reconstruction, and synovectomy, in which doctors remove the inflamed synovial tissue. This is done only as part of other reconstructive surgery.For all patients, regular doctor visits, and routine blood and other laboratory tests are important and should be made on a regular basis. About the Author
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The Two Most Common Acid Reflux Surgery with Quick Recovery

Did you know that unhealthy eating habits can cause acid reflux? Based on scientific research, anyone, even infants and young children have a tendency to have acid reflux. This disorder is most common in infants and young children but in time, disappears. Acid reflux known also as gastro-esophageal reflux disease can definitely affect adults too. This is a disorder that could happen anytime especially to someone who had just had a large meal with lots of acidic foods or even someone with history of acid reflux, thus, having recurrences of the disorder due to unhealthy eating patterns.

Unhealthy diet and an inappropriate eating schedule can cause acid reflux. As a person consumes a heavy meal, full of acid foods, an abnormality in the stomach can occur like bringing back the food induced to the esophagus and throat. Acid reflux is unexplainable to many because this condition can occur anytime but are most likely to occur after several heavy meals or unhealthy eating habits.

Many people with acid reflux can control their condition by means of medical treatment and even appropriate diet. Some people with a severe condition of acid reflux should consider surgical procedures because for most people, acid reflux surgery is the best solutions for this disorder. There are several surgical procedures that acid reflux patients can choose from. The most effective and safe acid reflux surgeries are Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery, also known as Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication and Intraluminal Endoscopic surgery that most patients encounter.

Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication, or fundoplication for short, is the most common form of acid reflux surgery. This surgery is performed by tightening the walls of the esophagus in the area next to the stomach then adding pressure to the lower esophageal muscles. When the pressure increased between the stomach and esophagus, this medical procedure prevents the content of the stomach to go upward inside the throat and esophagus. Another method mostly considered by other patients with acid reflux is having the esophageal valve tightened in order to seal the esophagus and prevent gastric acid to enter.

Intraluminal endoscopic acid reflux surgery is another acid reflux surgery that most patients prefer. This surgical procedure has the same procedure as the fundoplication except that it involves a small optical, tubular instrument that is needed to be inserted in the body and at the same time, view the inner parts of the body that needs surgical or biopsy attention thus allowing an actual biopsy or surgery to be performed. This is possible through the so called endoscope. Intraluminal endoscopic acid reflux surgery is quick and has minimal risks for the patients. As such, a post-operatory treatment is not required but allows possibly fast recovery for patients as well.

Because of medical advancement and millions of modern treatments, acid reflux can now be treated. Patients who wish to rid of acid reflux can do so because of the options given to them through possible medications, proper diet or surgery. Likewise, surgery is most recommended to people with chronic acid reflux but is now available to patients with less serious conditions of acid reflux. Henceforth, surgical procedures have been the most common way of getting rid of acid reflux completely and permanently. In mind, patients that are considering surgery will have quick recovery after the surgical procedures and will no longer have acid reflux.

Iodine For Radiation Therapy-Treatment For Thyroid Cancer

Cancer is a disease we hear about far too often. In decades past we figured we would have cured cancer by now, and even though doctors and sentients strive to find a cure, there is not anything out there yet. Even despite there modern medicine has a variety of treatments with varying success to deal with cancer. The treatment required of course depends on the type of cancer and how early it was caught.

Thyroid cancer is one such type. Iodine for radaition therapy is one of the treatments for thyroid cancer. Essentially they pass radiated iodine through your thyroid gland in the hopes of eradicating the cancer cells. Like all radiation therapy there are problems with it.

Depending on how early the cancer is caught one of the preferred treatments is simply to cut it out. If caught early enough, the cancer can be confined to the thyroid gland and doctors may opt to just remove the tumor and infected tissue outright. This method has a very high chance of curing the patient entirely by removing all traces of the cancer. But like all surgeries it has it’s risks and if caught too late it is not even an option.

The best defense against cancer is to simply catch it early on. In almost all cases, if caught early enough it can be treated effectively. Surgery and Iodine for radaition therapy can work, but their odds of working are increased exponentially the earlier the cancer is discovered.

Unlike a lot of types of cancer out there, thyroid cancer has symptoms you can look for and check for yourself. Some of these symptoms can include a small tumor on the front of your neck, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing and pain in your neck.

If you have these symptoms you should immediately see your doctor and have them run tests to determine whether or not you have thyroid cancer. Your doctor will run standard tests to determine whether or not you have thyroid cancer.

If you do have it, then he will talk with you about it and give you options and information. If you are fortunate and do not have thyroid cancer then you will need to figure out what was causing those symptoms to begin with. Even if it is not cancer it still might be something serious so it is important you do not just give a big sigh of relief and call it a day.

Your thyroid gland is an important part of your body that regulates your metabolism and creates hormones that benefit a lot of other aspects of your body. You want to take care of it as best you can and get it treated if it does present a problem.

Cancer is a major issue and if you catch it early enough then surgery or Iodine for radaition therapy can help treat it and ultimately get rid of it. However if you wait too long it might be too late. So if you even suspect you have it then you should see your doctor as soon as possible as any delay could have dire consequences.

Low Back Pain Exercises for Temporary Relief

Throughout my experience over recurring low back pain (which started since I was in grade school) and from reading lots of researches pertaining to back pain, I have found out (and I am not alone in this discovery) that close to eighty percent of back pain attacks cease after 1 month up to three after the onset. Given that there are no medications and surgeries done on the patient. Yet, there is still no comparison to the relief that may be felt during the duration of the attacks.

For the majority of sufferers, the agonizing pain may be helped with simple homeophatic therapies and by application of pain reliever creams and medications. But a number of individuals need the aids that may only be provided by treatments for relief which are typically termed as alternative medicines. Though many are still on their way to proving their worth, there are hosts of others that are widely recognized for their efficiency in easing the symptoms and effects of low back pain. And for people experiencing more advanced symptoms, the ultimate treatment is only through surgery and careful treatment plans but only under specific conditions.

But as already noted, the majority of patients experience only attacks that may last for a few short months. And the simplest course to take in order to gain immediate but temporary relief is by means of back pain exercises.

Back pain exercises virtually differ in intensity, application and routine. And most back pain exercises are especially designed to target specific conditions and to get away from specific consequences.

One good form of low back pain exercise is via yoga routines. Not only does this type of exercise induces strength and flexibility of the muscles and bones, it also create pathways to lead stress out from your system. This is most helpful for people who are showing symptoms of clinical depression due to chronic back pain. Yet, not all yoga postures and routines are allowed for everyone. Those diagnosed of advanced and more severe forms of back pain should refrain from doing more complicated poses and those that involve too much exertion and flexibility of the upper body.

Low back pain exercises in general were created to provide temporary treatment for lower back pain. It must be noted that there are so many underlying complex reasons and structures in the human body that create the back problems. Because of these, it must be understood that low back pain exercises may never ease the pain for long periods of time. The pain will keep on recurring unless the real cause is identified and properly cured.