Chronic Diseases – Chronic Disease information to learn and live by

What is Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease or wear and tear arthritis. Mostly people who have crossed 60 years of age are commonly affected by this disease. Changes in the joint in osteoarthritis are as follows.

The joint tissues are elastic and flexible in a healthy joint which permits smooth movement of the joint. In patients affected by osteoarthritis its pathology is characterized by extensive growth of bone on one hand and loss of cartilage on the other. In osteoarthritis patients the ends of the bones remain unprotected as the cartilage gradually wears away and this leads to improper gliding surface causing pain while moving the joint. (more…)

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a form of chronic arthritis which typically affects the same joints of the two sides of the human body like hands and feet. The symptoms keep coming and going at different times. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the more common types of arthritis.

RHEMATOID ARTHRITIS SYMPTOMS and DIAGNOSIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed if a patient has four of the seven symptoms described below. They are as follows: (more…)

Arthritis diagnosis can be done by following tests.

1. ESR ( Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)- This is the test used to detect the collection of the RBC at the bottom of the glass tube which is filled with a test sample of blood. In people suffering from arthritis there is high ESR rate with inflammation. Note- High ESR rate is also found in some diseases like TB and few other types of cancer).

2. TOTAL BLOOD COUNT- It includes counting of all the blood cells RBC, WBC, and blood platelet count. Haemoglobin % , total proteins with albumin and globulin levels, c-reactive protein (or CRP) value estimation.

3. RF TEST (Rheumatoid factor Test)- There is a antibody called RF antibody which is abnormal. In this test this antibody is checked in blood. In more than 70% of Rheumatoid arthritis patients RF is present in a quantity higher than 80 I.U.

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The word ‘ Arthritis’ refers to pain and inflammation of the joints. The classical feature of arthritis is inflammation as well as it is also a defensive mechanism by which the body reacts protectively against invasion of the body cells or tissues. Hips, knees, ankles, elbows and fingers are the most commonly affected joints in arthritis.

The clinical characteristics of inflammation are redness, pain, heat, swelling and few other features are loss of mobility or stiffness, instability and deformity.

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Few practical suggestions for diabetic patients are as follows-

1. Diabetic patients should try to take shorter meals giving small intervals instead of taking heavy meal at once. This is because the blood sugar level does not increase suddenly as the smaller amount of insulin or the medicine which is injected is insufficient to metabolize large amount of blood sugar.

2. When diabetic patients are away from their home on a tour or while long traveling they should take fruits like apples, oranges or sweet limes to prevent low blood sugar.

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Diabetes ruins almost every part of the body in the long run. Complications in the nervous system gives rise to distorted sensations, inefficiency of the urinary bladder and sexual debility. Complications of the heart and blood vessels results in the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) high blood pressure and chronic heart diseases. Diabetic patients are at 5-6 times of higher risk when compared to (more…)

DIET- The single most important factor to control diabetes is diet. Remember one thing faulty dietary habits should be given up or else all other diabetic treatments will be of very little value. Especially for obese diabetics, maintaining good diet will be of more significance. Food substances containing large quantity of sugar such as sweets, pastries, ice cream, syrup, honey, cake, etc must be avoided by diabetic patients. Where as food which is rich in starch, such as potatoes, bread and rice should be used in limited quantities. The ability to utilize carbohydrates by diabetic patients is limited to certain extent. When this limit is exceeded the result will be  seen in the form of increase in the blood sugar level, leaking of sugar in urine and faulty fat metabolism. Because of this concentrated sources of quickly absorbable carbohydrates like sugars, etc should be avoided and pure refined starches should be limited. If vascular complications are set in then saturated fats should be avoided. Total amount of calories consumed is the mainstay of adequate dietary control. List of foods to be avoided and the quantity of food which should limited are as follows-

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Diabetic coma is mostly seen in children and young individuals who suffer from juvenile diabetes. Diabetic coma occurs when the patient suffers from hyperglycemia i.e., when the concentration of blood glucose level rises much above the normal level. The disintegration of stored fat in the body is commensurate by the glucose in the blood. Ketone bodies are the end products of disintegration of fat, and these ketone bodies are acidic in nature and this makes the blood acidic and this acidified blood on reaching brain affects it . This leads to drowsiness and lethargy and slowly the patient suffers from diabetic coma. As described earlier ketone bodies are harmful to the body and to avoid its harmful affects the body starts producing more and more urine. This leads to reduction in the fluid content of the body thus leading to an increase in the concentration of ketone bodies. Thus a dreadful cycle starts. (more…)

According to a recent study conducted it was found that diabetes can increase the risk of alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia.  The study was conducted on more than 13,000 swedish twins. It says that diabetics who are diagnosed with diabetes before the age of 65 are at more than double the risk of getting affected by alzheimer’s. (more…)

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES-

1. The patients show excessive thirst and dryness of mouth.

2. There will be an increased hunger.

3. The patient suffers from frequent urination.

4. Loss of weight.

5. The patient mostly feels exhausted and suffers from weakness.

6. Blurred vision.

7. The patient exhibit easy susceptibility to infections of skin, gums and respiratory system.

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