A severe mental disorder, schizophrenia impacts how an individual thinks, reacts to emotions, and perceives reality. It results in a variety of symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia that can cause the patient to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. At present, roughly 1% of the total population suffer from this mental disorder. Schizophrenia cannot be cured, however, it can be managed with the help of medications and therapy. This disorder can affect anyone. It typically develops in men during their late teens or early twenties. On the other hand, in women, the symptoms of schizophrenia begin to surface during their twenties or early thirties. The following are some commonly observed symptoms of this condition: Delusions:  People suffering from schizophrenia often have delusions that can impair their day-to-day life. For example, they might believe they are being subjected to unjust prejudice, or they are exceptionally famous, or a big disaster is about to occur. Hallucinations:  Typically, patients experiencing schizophrenia mention seeing things or hearing sounds and/or voices that don’t exist. Hallucinations can also involve smelling strange odors or experiencing odd sensations in the body. Disorganized speech:  Schizophrenia impairs the brain’s ability to think clearly which leads to disorganized speech.

Our bodies are made up of different kinds of cells. Blood cells are an important type of cell that is further bifurcated into three parts, namely white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Each type of blood cell plays an essential role in the human body. Red blood cells remove carbon dioxide from the body and carry oxygen to the tissues. Platelets prevent bleeding by forming blood clots. While blood cells are an essential part of the immune system and help fight infection and protect the body from foreign substances. There are several types of white blood cells. B lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells that become plasma cells upon identifying antigens in the body. Plasma cells and multiple myeloma Plasma cells produce antibodies that fight antigens, otherwise known as harmful foreign substances. These cells are normally present in the bone marrow in a limited number, but they can turn into a tumor upon abnormal cell multiplication. The tumor can turn cancerous and may cause multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. While scientists do not know the exact cause of multiple myeloma, they have conducted studies on how certain DNA changes can cause the plasma cells to turn cancerous and form a tumor.

Multiple myeloma is a condition wherein plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cells in the bone marrow, become cancerous and start multiplying. This condition can damage the bones, immune system, and kidneys and the treatment for myeloma depends on the stage of cancer. Options include medication, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, and radiation; a stem-cell transplant may also be done. Cost of treatment There have been major advances in the last 15 years in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma. Overall, survival has remarkably improved during this period due to the research and introduction of new medications. But the costs of treating myeloma are very high, more than other oncology treatments. The cost is amplified in three ways: first, treatment requires a combination of multiple medications; second, treatment is usually done in the form of continuous or maintenance therapy, due to which costs are not temporary but continual; third, as survival through multiple myeloma has remarkably improved, the cumulative cost of care over the lifetime of a patient is very high. The costs for treatment for multiple myeloma can include approximately $150,000 per annum for medication and treatment, and around $100,000 per annum for maintenance and care after initial treatment.

Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. There are steps one can take that might help prevent osteoporosis instead of having to treat it later. And should on already have it, he or she can still follow these steps to help reverse the disease. These include the following: Avoid having carbonated drinks. Champagne or any sort of fizzy drink causes calcium to seep out of your bones. The phosphate content in carbonated drinks increases the loss of the bone. Avoid too much of protein. It causes excess acidity which in turn leads to calcium being leached out of your body through your urine. Don’t block your stomach acids with drugs when you have a heartburn or hiatal hernia. Stomach acid helps absorb minerals that are significant for the well-being of the body including calcium. Acid blocking agents are to be taken for a few weeks, not for years together. Avoid caffeine. Studies say that with every cup of coffee, 150 mg of calcium leeches out of your body through your urine. If you have to have coffee, ensure you have an additional 150 mg of calcium every day. Make sure you take in the right kind of calcium.

The types of dyskinesia The causes of dyskinesia vary but most cases are due to altered brain chemistry. Dyskinesia is caused due to medication and injury or trauma to the region of the brain known as the basal ganglia. Brain damage is also a major cause when it comes to dyskinesia. The basal ganglia is the region where voluntary movements are learned and controlled. This article examines the types of dyskinesia. Parkinson’s dyskinesia A high number of people, around 50% of patients with Parkinson’s who are being treated with levodopa, develop dyskinesia. Levodopa alters the dopamine levels in the brain, and this rise and fall of dopamine levels causes dyskinesia. The common symptoms of dyskinesia are fidgeting, head bobbing, swaying of the body, wriggling, and writhing. About half of the people who develop dyskinesia do not find the need to seek help and may continue to live healthy lives as the condition is mild and poses no challenge. Tremors Rhythmic movements are used to classify tremors. Some of the familiar types are: Resting or static tremors wherein tremors occur on a limb that is completely supported and is relaxed. These tremors may be associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s.

Treatment options for dyskinesia Seeking treatment for dyskinesia may get complicated depending on the severity of the disease. Some people try going off the medication levodopa altogether as most doctors agree that this medication is the primary cause for the condition. However, if you are off levodopa, you face a new set of challenges. The tremors, stiffness, and rigidity start surfacing again — this may result in the doctor prescribing additional doses of levodopa. Most doctors think that it is important to find the right balance. Some people may have to go off levodopa for a longer period of time, but the aftereffects can be tough to handle. Other people may choose to stay on the drug for long to avoid the severe consequences of Parkinson’s disease and dyskinesia. Let’s examine some of the treatment options for dyskinesia. Medication Opt for a controlled release form of levodopa. This prevents you from experiencing peak levels of the medicine, giving you relief from dyskinesia. Another alternative is breaking down the daily dose of levodopa into smaller more frequent doses throughout the day so as to prolong the effects. Some people also use other drugs that slow down the breakdown of levodopa so that its effects are felt for a longer time.

Contributing factors for hepatitis in children The liver is the body’s largest organ. It is a vital help in digesting food, storing energy, and eliminating toxins. Hepatitis is described as a condition where the liver experiences inflammation, which is, essentially, a tissue’s reaction to injury or irritation. Most cases of hepatitis are a result of being infected with viruses, and the types of hepatitis are named after the virus that is responsible for it. In some cases, the patient’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy liver cells, which leads to liver damage, among many other liver issues. Any of the types of hepatitis can affect people of all ages. Here are some contributing factors that lead to hepatitis in children. Understanding these can help in preventing the transmission and in maintaining hygiene: Hepatitis A The virus that causes hepatitis A is usually present in fecal matter. It can infect children in the following ways: Eating food cooked by an infected person who failed to properly wash their hands after going to the bathroom Drinking water that has been contaminated by infected feces Coming into direct or indirect contact with an infected person’s feces Traveling to areas with a common occurrence of hepatitis A Infections during blood transfusions Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is usually transmitted through blood and the most common way in which people contract this type is when an infected person’s blood is introduced into another person’s bloodstream.

Hepatitis – types and contributing factors Hepatitis is described as an inflammation in the liver. Inflammation is essentially any tissue’s natural response to injury or irritation, and the general effects of inflammation are swelling, redness, and pain. There is a wide range of causes of the condition, but they differ based on the type of hepatitis that one is affected with. For example, various types of viral hepatitis involve viral infections rather than any other disorder in the body. Hepatitis can be acute or chronic depending on the severity, and there are various types: Types Hepatitis A This type of hepatitis does not result in chronic infections and typically involves no complications. It is one of the most common food-borne infections, and the liver takes approximately two months to properly heal from hepatitis A. In rare cases, hepatitis A can lead to liver failure, which can be fatal. The most common prevention method for hepatitis A is vaccination. Hepatitis B Above 70% of all diagnosed occurrences of hepatitis B have been found in young people from the age of 15 to 39. It usually takes people 6 months to completely recover from the illness, but some may suffer from a life-long, chronic infection, which leads to ongoing liver damage.

5 effective home remedies for amyloidosis Amyloidosis is a condition in which the body is unable to process the protein amyloid correctly. Excess amyloid gets distributed through the body and can often impair organ health and functioning. Amyloidosis affects people in different ways depending on which organ is impacted. The different types of amyloidosis are renal, cardiac, and gastrointestinal amyloidosis. There is no known cure for this condition, but it can be managed with a balance of home remedies and medicines. Here are five effective home remedies to help control the symptoms of amyloidosis. Heart-healthy foods The heart is one of the main organs that gets impacted by improper protein processes in the body. Thus, it is essential to follow a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet for heart health. Foods that are good for your heart include green leafy vegetables, avocados, walnuts, tomatoes, beans, nuts and seeds, garlic, onions, and dark chocolate. Also, make sure to get sufficient potassium in your diet through bananas, oranges, prunes, and dried fruit. Omega-3 diet Including these healthy fatty acids in your diet prevent complications from amyloidosis from reaching the heart and affecting the circulatory system. Omega-3 can be found in walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, and linseed oil.

An overview of the symptoms and causes of dyskinesia Dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is characterized by involuntary muscle movement. It usually affects the head, or the arms and sometimes the entire body. It could also be painful. While suffering from dyskinesia, a person can experience mild to debilitating discomfort. Based on the type and severity of the condition, it could affect your daily activities as well. The frequency and the intensity of the condition cannot be predicted. Dyskinesia is often observed in people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. It could be caused due to levodopa treatment, which continues for a long time. It may also occur in people with movement disorders and is not restricted to Parkinson’s patients alone. People with brain injuries or others who take antipsychotic medications could also experience the condition. These uncontrollable movements could be as mild as minor body twitches to complete movement of the body. Facts about dyskinesia Dyskinesia starts out as minor fidgets or movements that are abnormal and uncontrollable in the dominant hand or foot. It could be a minor shake or tremor. The causes of dyskinesia may vary depending on the type of the condition. People who suffer from dyskinesia due to autism could benefit from behavioral therapy.