Health Care & Medical News

Roche have filed licence applications in both the United States and in Europe for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with their innovative arthritis treatment drug, Actemra (tocilizumab).

Actemra is already available in Japan for patients with the rare auto immume disease known as Castleman’s disease and after sucessfull clinical trials there now been approved in Japan for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and for both juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis which affect kids.

Actemra is the first of a new class of drug with a novel mechanism which brings new hope to rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. Actemra works by suppressing the activity of IL-6, an  trigger of the inflammatory process and so reduces inflammation of the affected joints and relieves the effects of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive autoimmune disease. The inflammation causes swelling of the joints and reduced functionality plus stiffness and swelling and significant pain from inflammation of the membrane lining in the joints. The condition eventually leads to irreversible disability from joint break down. Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include osteoporosis, anaemia, shortened life expectancy and fatigue. Statistically at least 50% of effected patients can no longer work or function properly after 10 years of the condition.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a severe disease associated with symptoms in joints occurring in kids. Those affected have many similarities to rheumatoid arthritis as well as fever.

For more information about Actemra contact Roche

Following up on the US senates resolution declaring the 1st April each year as National Asbestos Awareness Day, and April 1-7 Asbestos Awareness Week, Bobby Bright the Mayor of Montgomery Alabama has jumped up and signed a proclamation that also declares the 1st of April as Asbestos Awareness Day in Montgomery.

Asbestos Awareness Day is an idea put forward by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization 4 years ago sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus (D–Montana). The local proclamation hopes to increase local awareness and also bring attention to asbestos related diseases like Mesothelioma and to educate the general public about the ongoing risks.

Asbestos exposure, can lead to asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and Mesothelioma and you only need to breathe a minute number of the fibres which can be airborne near any damaged asbestos products.

What is Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is almost always caused by an earlier exposure to asbestos fibre. In this disease patients have a low survival rate, malignant cells form in the Mesothelioma, a protective lining that shields the body’s internal organs. In most cases the cancer forms in the pleura, which surrounds the lungs and chest cavity, however it can occur in the pericardium, which is the tissue surrounding the heart or the peritoneum which lines the abdominal cavity.

How Is It Contracted
Most patients that have contracted Mesothelioma have been employed in locations where they have inhaled fine asbestos particles, or have been otherwise exposed to asbestos dust or fibres. Some Trades are more likely to develop Mesothelioma such as: construction workers, metal plate workers and vehicle body builders, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters. Other people who are much less at risk can also been exposed to airborne asbestos fibres such as by washing the clothes of a workers or home renovators using, or uncovering asbestos cement products.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Diagnosing Mesothelioma is difficult, because the symptoms can be similar to many other medical problems. Unfortunately the symptoms of Mesothelioma often do not reveal until up to 50 years after inhaling to asbestos fibres.

For Pleural Mesothelioma the most common symptoms are; fatigue or anaemia, shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness, coughing, and chest pain due to fluid build up in the pleural space.

Usual symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma include; swelling in the abdomen and pains due to the build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity known as ascites,  and also weight loss and cachexia. Other symptoms may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting and anaemia in later stages when the cancer has spread beyond the Mesothelioma symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, or swelling of the face or neck.

Arthritis medication and treatments need to suit the individual diagnosis. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and millions of people suffer from some variation of what can be a debilitating inflammatory disease.

Each form of arthritis has its own characteristics and treatments should be appropriate to the particular type of arthritis that a patient suffers from. Some forms of arthritis are hard to detect and if you are not getting results from your regular physician then you may need to consult a specialist rheumatologist.

Symptoms can include joint pain and joint swelling and increased stiffness. The symptoms are usually associated with elderly people however arthritis can attack us at any age.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease characterized by inflammation which affects the entire body and gets into a number of bone joints of the body concurrently. The inflammation mainly affects the lining of the joints called the synovial membrane, but can also affect other organs.

Osteoarthritis is a disease causing erosion of cartilage and the bone structure within a joint as well as causing bony growths. The gradual breakdown of these body tissues causes to painful joint stiffness.

Gout is another rheumatic disease resulting from deposition of uric acid crystals (monosodium urate) in tissues and fluids within the body. This process is caused by an overproduction or under excretion of uric acid.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies to cells within the body leading to widespread inflammation and tissue damage.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome predominately characterized by muscular pains and fatigue. A chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points that occurs in precise, localized areas

another variation is arthritis in which the synovial membrane becomes inflamed. It’s associated with psoriasis, a skin disease. It can also affect the tendons where they attach to the bone.

Pain relief from some forms of arthritis can come from non prescription medication. However in may be short lived and consultation is recommended. New prescription drugs and medications can assist some people in some cases. Certain creams and gels can help some patients particularly with isolated joint pain. In some cases surgery is required. Many remedies include weight loss where appropriate, special diets and also physiotherapy, or all of the above.

In any case the best hope for your long term pain relief and quality of life starts with proper early diagnosis. So find a specialist rheumatologist.

 Visit  uwmcarthritiscare.org  To find more information on Arthritis or to locate a rheumatologist.

Poorly designed and wrongly used backpacks are a leading cause of back and shoulder pain for millions of children and adolescents.

Healthcentered.com recommends that parents should keep a close eye on backpack contents and weight and on the way children and youths carry their backpack.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, a backpack, should weigh no more than 10% of their body weight. to avoid back injuries. This means that an 90 pound youth should carry only 8 to 10 pounds, whilst many children carry packs that weigh more than double that.

The ACA also recommends distributing a backpack’s weight evenly on the back by making sure it is packed evenly and both straps are used.

For more information on backpacks, back safety and chiropractic care find your local Chiropractic at Healthcentered.com BackPack Safety.

Healthcentered.com is an online directory for American Chiropractors and Chiropractic health issues.