Cristina's Blog

Rare Diseases

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:43:22 -0500

There are many conditions that are listed as a rare disease by the Office of Rare Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. These diseases only affect approximately 200,000 people in the United States. Diseases such as ABCD syndrome, Richter syndrome, Pancreatic Adenoma and Say syndrome are just a few of the rare diseases that many have never heard of before.

Causes of Flatulence

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:45:21 -0500

We all experience flatulence. If you say that you don’t then you’re either lying or something is really wrong with you. Flatulence occurs when there is an excessive amount of stomach or intestinal gas. We all know the feeling. Stomach cramps and bloating can be very uncomfortable and the burping and farting can be extremely embarrassing. It’s definitely not something we like to share with the world.

Health Riks of Pica, A Behavioral Eating Disorder

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:47:20 -0500

Pica is a serious behavioral problem that is characterized by a persistent craving and a compulsive urge to eat items that are not food. It is classified as a feeding and eating disorder of childhood. The disorder affects children, pregnant women, certain cultures and the mentally disabled. Substances that may be ingested include, but are not limited to, chalk, hair, glue, paper, toothpaste, soap, baking soda, cigarette butts, vinyl gloves, light bulbs, needles, string, wire, matches, erasers, fingernails, coal, plastic, feces, pebbles, stones, clay, paint, wool, ashes, dirt, ice and laundry detergent.

Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:51:18 -0500

Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome (LVAS) is an uncommon disorder described as sudden and progressive sensorineural hearing loss. The vestibular aqueduct is a narrow, bony canal that connects the inner ear and the cranial cavity. It is related to the bony labyrinth of the inner ear. LVAS is also known as Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct syndrome (EVAS) and Vestibular Aqueduct syndrome (VAS). LVAS received its name in 1978 simply because the large vestibular aqueduct was the only part of the disorder visible on a CT scan.

Hope for the Deaf: Cochlear Implants

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:44:13 -0500

Having the ability to hear is an important part of life and there are many that lack that ability. Those who are deaf learn to adapt to that way of life and wouldn’t change it even if they could, but others want to be able to hear. Cochlear Implants become a viable option for the hearing impaired who want the opportunity to hear.

HHT: What is Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia?

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:57:07 -0500

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder of the blood vessels that results from a missing or broken gene. This causes the development of multiple abnormalities in the blood vessels. HHT was first described as a hereditary disorder in 1896 by Dr. Rendu.

Causes of Sleep Eating

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:47:22 -0500

Sleep Eating is a rare, but documented sleep-related disorder. Those who suffer from sleep eating experience recurrent episodes of eating while they are asleep. They usually eat foods that are high in sugar and fat and they seldom remember the episodes. Other names include sleep-related eating disorder, nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder and sleep eating syndrome.

Sexsomnia: The Causes of Sleep Sex

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:12:19 -0500

Sexsomnia or Sleep Sex is sexual behavior that occurs during sleep. It appears to occur predominantly among males, but there are reported cases of women who initiate the sexual behavior while sleeping. The condition can range in severity from disruptive moaning to unwanted, sometimes violent sexual advances. Those who experience sleep sex usually do not remember what happened. Sexual behaviors that can occur during sleep include sexual vocalizations, masturbation, fondling another person, intercourse and even sexual assault.

Symptoms of Depression

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:10:10 -0500

Depression affects work, relationships and just about every aspect of a person’s life. It’s normal to feel down or have a bad day every now and then, but when it gets to the point where you can no longer function as a normal person then there is a problem. As many as one and three people are affected by depression and women are more likely suffer from it than men.

Signs and Symptoms of Fourth Nerve Palsy

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:28:51 -0500

Fourth Nerve Palsy, also known as Superior Oblique Palsy, Limited Eye Movement and Trochlear Nerve Palsy, is a neurological defect that results from dysfunction of the fourth cranial nerve. It is the most frequent isolated cranial nerve palsy. The fourth cranial nerve gives impulses to one of the muscles on the surface of the eye which is called the superior oblique muscle. The main function of the superior oblique muscle is to move the eye downward. The main characteristic of Fourth Nerve Palsy is one eye is slightly higher than the other and this improves or worsens with different head positions.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:08:53 -0500

Have you been diagnosed with Irritable bowel Syndrome? Are you still experiencing your symptoms even with treatment? It may not be Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but a tumor in the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal Stromal tumors are tumors of the

Sanity

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:55:12 -0500

Lies, manipulation and fights that the neighbors have probably heard. This is what has filled my house for the past four months. It’s been four months since I’ve had a stress-free day and four months since I’ve had any kind of sanity. The trouble doesn’t lie within my marriage, but with a house guest. This guest is supposed to be my big sister, but I don’t recognize her anymore. She’s a stranger in my home that has stolen all of my sanity. Alcohol is her lover and I am the enemy trying to keep them apart.

The Effects of Jimson Weed

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:23:18 -0400

Jimson weed is the common name for a plant known botanically as Datura stramonium. It is an annual herb that grows up to five feet tall. The main ingredients in the plant are belladonna alkaloids, atropine and scopolamine. Atropine is among the active ingredients in prescription drugs of Donnatal, Lomotil and Unrised.

5 Common Myths about Drinking Alcohol

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:06:03 -0400

Here are 5 common myths about drinking alcohol.

Myth 1: Alcohol kills brain cells.
Fact: Alcohol does not kill brain cells. It does damage dendrites however. Dendrites are the branched ends of nerve cells that bring messages into the cell. This damage is completely reversible. Moderate consumption is actually associated with better thinking and reasoning skills and memory. Years of alcohol abuse can cause serious neurological damage, but there is no evidence that alcohol kills brain cells.

The Four Degrees of Uterine Prolapse

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:41:13 -0400

Giving birth and ageing can weaken the pelvic floor. This causes uterine prolapse to occur. Uterine prolapse is the falling or sliding of the uterus from the normal position in the pelvic cavity into the vaginal canal. Other names for uterine prolapse are pelvic relaxation and pelvic floor hernia. If the uterus slips or drops into the vagina, creating a lump or bulge, it is referred to as an incomplete prolapse. A complete prolapse occurs in more severe cases when the uterus slips so far that the tissue drops outside of the vagina.