Monthly Archives: May 2022

Going Healthy, Health, Life

Could You Have an Autoimmune Disorder? How to Spot the Signs

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Autoimmune disorders are health conditions where your immune system begins to attack your own body. This happens because your immune system can’t tell the difference between foreign cells and your own cells, causing it to treat your cells like an illness. There are different types of autoimmune diseases, some of which are fairly common and others that are much rarer. Some autoimmune disorders that you might have heard of include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, and some thyroid diseases such as Graves’ disease.

Autoimmune diseases can often be difficult to diagnose. Often, the symptoms can be hard to pin down or have a lot of crossover with many other health conditions. For example, many people may experience problems such as fatigue or aching muscles, which could be explained by many different illnesses or health issues. If you experience these symptoms, it can be easy to dismiss them as simply being tired or stressed. Even if you see a doctor, they can find it difficult to diagnose anything.

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However, there are some things you can look out for that might indicate you have an autoimmune disease. If you have a set of symptoms together and have ruled out other causes, you can bring it up to your general practitioner or see a rheumatologist.

Here are some common signs that you could have an autoimmune disorder, what it could be, and what you can do next.

Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Disorders

The symptoms of an autoimmune disorder can vary, depending on the specific disease. However, there are some common symptoms that are often experienced by people with several autoimmune conditions.

Some of the common problems that you might experience include:

  • Unexplained tiredness and fatigue
  • Pain and swelling in the joints
  • Skin problems
  • Digestive issues and abdominal pain
  • Fever
  • Swollen glands

Getting diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder can be difficult. There isn’t usually a single test that you can have that will reveal whether you have one or not, and the symptoms can be attributed to many other things. However, if you start to experience new symptoms after previously being healthy, it’s important to get them checked out.

Common Autoimmune Disorders

There are some autoimmune diseases that are more common than others. Although these conditions are more likely, it doesn’t rule out the possibility of a disease that is less common. Take a look at some of the autoimmune diseases that you could be more likely to develop.

Rheumatoid arthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by the immune system attacking the joints. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness and usually affects joints such as the hands, feet, and wrists. People with rheumatoid arthritis can have flare-ups, where symptoms are worse. Over time, it can cause permanent damage to the joints.

Psoriasis – This is a condition that affects the skin, creating dry, scaly, and thick patches of skin. Some people with psoriasis might also have psoriatic arthritis.

Lupus – Lupus can damage different areas of the body, including the joints, organs, and skin. It can damage the kidneys, lungs, heart, brain, and blood cells.

Thyroid diseases – Thyroid diseases such as Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) are also autoimmune disorders that are fairly common. They can affect your weight, energy levels, mood, and more.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) – MS affects the brain and spinal cord and can result in a range of symptoms, including difficulty with movement, fatigue, vision problems, muscle stiffness, balance problems, and difficulties with learning or thinking.

Who Has a Higher Risk of Autoimmune Diseases?

Some people may have a higher risk of developing an autoimmune disease. This includes genetic factors. There is evidence that some autoimmune diseases run in families so if you have a family member with an autoimmune disease, there is a higher chance you could have it too. However, it still isn’t a guarantee that you will have the same disease. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, being overweight can increase your chances of developing it, due to the stress put on your joints. Smokers also have a higher chance of developing a number of autoimmune disorders. Some medications can also lead to an autoimmune disease, although it’s not very common.

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Treatment for Autoimmune Diseases

Treatments for autoimmune disorders vary depending on the disorder. There are various medications and therapies that might be used to treat the disease and its symptoms. Steroids may be used for short periods to treat pain and other symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis is usually treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD), but biological treatments offer a newer method of treatment.

People with lupus often need treatment for a number of health problems. Mild lupus may only cause tiredness and joint or skin problems, but more severe lupus can cause inflammation of other parts of the body, including the kidneys, heart, and lungs. Serious damage to these organs can be life-threatening. People with lupus may need help from doctors specializing in lupus nephritis and other problems that are caused by the disease. Some people might require kidney transplants if their kidneys are severely affected by lupus.

The thyroid condition Graves’ disease might be treated with radioactive iodine therapy. This involves taking radioactive iodine by mouth to destroy overactive thyroid cells. Other treatments can include anti-thyroid medications and beta-blockers, as well as surgery, and steroids. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which causes an underactive thyroid, is treated by replacing the missing hormone to relieve the symptoms.

Autoimmune diseases can have a wide range of symptoms. If you have any of the symptoms that could be evidence of an autoimmune disease, it doesn’t mean that you necessarily have one. There are many other things that some of these symptoms could relate to, from vitamin deficiencies to viruses or even stress. However, if you think that you could have an autoimmune disease, it’s important to see a medical professional and have your symptoms assessed. Doctors and other medical professionals can help to ensure the right tests are carried out and the root of the problem is discovered.

Going Reviews, Parenting

Mossy the Manatee: The Endearing Tale of a Manatee Who is Different from His Friends

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Mossy the Manatee follows the journey of a Florida manatee who is unusually colored in comparison to those of his kind and is therefore perceived as strange. Along with his unique appearance, another aspect that sets him apart is his unusual wish to feel the snow on Cape Cod. Because manatees can’t stand such cold weather, Mossy must do the impossible and find a way to make the journey. With the help of his mom and dear friend, Mossy learns that when he embraces what makes him unique, even his wildest dreams can come true!

The uplifting tale originated from the author’s admiration (or obsession) of manatees as a child, then coupled with a lovely message for all children, the story was born. Originally designed to be a short animation piece, Mossy the Manatee is now a picture book in rhyme that encourages children to embrace what makes them one of a kind. 

About the author:
Nika Tomljenovic is an author, playwright, scriptwriter, and video game writer. She received her MA in Creative Writing from City, University of London. Her plays, Medicine and Spectacular, have been produced in New York City and throughout Canada. Her screenwriting credits include the short film, No More No Less, which was part of the London-based, Pinewood Studio’s Lift-Off Sessions. More recently, Nika has been adapting her writing to video games in the crypto space and children’s literature.

E-mail: nika.tomljenovic@yahoo.com

The book can be purchased through Amazon:

Mossy The Manatee

Going Green, Going Healthy, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

How To Talk To Your Kids About The Environment

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Hearing discussions about climate change and environmental destruction may be fascinating and worrisome for young children, depending on their age.

It can be difficult for parents to know how much to express without worrying their children. No parent wants their child to grow up without understanding environmental issues.

What is the best way to strike the correct balance?

Many youngsters have lately gone on strike from schools all across the world, citing Greta Thunberg as their inspiration. As a result of the widespread media coverage, it has sparked widespread concern among youngsters about the status of the world. Here, we look at how you can talk to your children about climate change and the environment. 

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Do not try to hide the truth from them.

While switching off the television when your child walks into the room may be tempting, it prevents them from learning about the world around them. Young children are more prone than adults to hear misleading stories from other children, which might cause them to feel fearful.

Instead of avoiding the subject of the environment, look for opportunities to speak about it with others. It is critical that young children do not believe they are destined to live on a dying planet, despite the fact that big adjustments must be undertaken. When discussing an environmental issue, emphasise the positive things that can be accomplished.

Use child-friendly language

Provide a straightforward explanation of what an “environmental issue” is to your youngster. Until you are confident that people will grasp what you are saying, avoid using technical phrases such as “biodiversity” and “ecosystem.”

When discussing a problem, place it in a local context that the youngster will understand and remember. For example, if you are concerned about biodiversity loss, you may talk about wildflowers, the dangers of shark finning or diminishing bee populations in your local region.

It is important to keep things as basic as possible for them in order for them to comprehend the issue at an age-appropriate level.

Look to do something practical.

The best way to learn about environmental stewardship is to participate in it as much as possible. Look for initiatives and activities in your community that you can participate in and contribute to.

You could do one of the following:

  • Participate in an organised litter pick-up event as a volunteer.
  • Teach your youngster how to sort the recycling each week by demonstrating it to him or her.
  • Attempt to eat vegetarian or vegan meals.

Start small and encourage your youngster to be concerned about the people and things in their environment. As they mature, they have the potential to become more ecologically conscious.

Final thoughts

When children are young, it is critical that they learn how to care for and appreciate the natural world around them.

However, avoiding talking about issues out of fear of upsetting your child might result in uncertainty and concerns as a result of the mixed signals.

As an alternative, keep your message pleasant and focused on local concerns while speaking in child-friendly terms. Look for opportunities to lend a hand at local events and be sure to recognise and thank them for their contributions, no matter how insignificant.