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image source: joint-pain-solutions.com

If you are a healthy person, your immune system acts as the body’s protector. It is the one responsible for identifying the pathogens and tumor cells that could cause infections and illnesses and then prevent them from entering your body. But when your immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells, you are already suffering from an autoimmune disorder. There are so many diseases that are categorized under autoimmune disorder because of their unknown cause. A good example for this is the juvenile arthritis (JA).

Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States. Based on data provided by arthritis.org, about 294,000 kids in America are being affected by the said disease. When we speak of juvenile arthritis, it refers to a chronic condition that involves inflammation in one or more joints of children ages 16 and below. It is not a contagious disease. But because the symptoms range from mild to severe, which could affect the entire life of a youngster, protecting your child from the said type of arthritis is imperative. And since the whole July is being observed in US healthcare as the Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, I decided tackle about JA and share what are the steps you can do to help your child if ever he/she is one of those who have the said disorder.

A child can only be identified as positive for JA after the doctor has get the patient’s medical history, performed physical exam, and do some lab tests. Aside from that, some doctors would also use certain hospital medical equipment called X-ray to determine joint deformities especially if the patient is already experiencing severe symptoms. Common symptoms of JA include persistent pain, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness of joints. These are all because of damage joints. Aside from joint pain, a juvenile diagnosed to have arthritis especially if it is already affecting the entire body may also have high fever and skin rash.

As mentioned earlier, JA is a chronic disease and that means a lifelong condition. But through proper and immediate care management, symptoms may gradually lessen or disappear as they enter the adulthood. So if you are one of those parents who have a kid complaining about joint pain or is at risk for JA, it would be beneficial if as early as now you are going to bring him/her to a pediatric rheumatologist who will look at your child medical history to find signs of JA. If ever your kid is positive for the said disorder, the pediatric rheumatologist often prescribes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to relieve inflamed joint. Meanwhile for patient whose JA is already in moderate to severe cases, more powerful medications or a combination of medicines are prescribed. Aside from that, you can also help improve the condition of your child’s joints by following the recommended treatment plans of his/her medical specialist. Often, doctors for JA advised the patients to improve their physically activity, undergo physical and/or occupational therapy for better range of motion, visit the ophthalmologist for eye care and dentist for dental care. Last but not the least, ensure proper nutrition. The ideal diets for children with JA are those that will control or reduce joint inflammation such as low-carb diet, lean protein diet as well as foods rich in mono and polysaturated fats.
 
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While on my way to work, I got a shocking message from my best friend Lyn telling me that her grandfather has just passed away at around 3 in the morning. I felt so sad because Lyn’s grandfather has been so good to me. He considers me just like his own grandchild. I have no idea what was the cause of his death and since using of cellular phone is not allowed in our working station; I keep on wondering why he died so soon.

During our 1-hour lunch break, I didn’t let the time pass without asking my best friend what was the cause of his grandpa’s death. And she quickly replied liver cirrhosis. I don’t have much knowledge about the said disease so I immediately did a research and here’s what I found on Wikipedia. Cirrhosis derives from a Greek word kirrhos, which means tawny (yellowish-brown/orange-brown). The English medical suffix –osis means disease. And from that root words, I was able to conclude that liver cirrhosis is a disease or a condition in which the liver becomes yellow-brown or orange-brown in color.
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A normal or healthy liver, once examined using hospital medical equipment, appears in brown color and has a smooth surface. It weighs about 1200 to 1600 grams and considered as the largest and strongest organ found inside the body. Strongest because it is responsible for a number of functions such as to regulate metabolism, produce enzyme, and detoxify poisons or excessive waste build up. This digestive organ has also the capacity to regenerate most of its cells when they become damage. However, just like any other organs found in the body, the liver will then fail to function especially if not taken care well. And cirrhosis is one of the common conditions associated with the liver. 

So how does cirrhosis of the liver happen? For sure this is also the question that runs in your mind. Well, based on my research, liver cirrhosis could either be due to hepatitis (an infection of the liver), poor lifestyle, metabolic or inherited disorder, primary biliary cirrhosis or autoimmune chronic hepatitis. Apart from those causes, too much alcohol consumption is also associated with the said liver disease.  

Alcohol causes the liver to make more fatty acids. These fatty deposits in the liver if not cleared out of the body causes damage to the liver. From uncleared fatty acids, the liver may now generate fibrous scar tissue or fibrosis. Fibrosis is still curable through abstinence on alcohol and having a healthy diet. However, if the person continues to drink, cirrhosis may develop in which the liver cells die and the body is no longer capable to regenerate them. Liver cirrhosis is categorized under chronic disease, meaning nothing can be done to repair the liver or cure the disorder especially if it is already at the end stage. And this is what happened to my best friend's grandfather. He continues to drink alcohol and never shared to his family the moment he experienced abnormalities in his system. Since his liver damage is already at worst stage, the doctor can no longer save his life. 

Aside from cirrhosis, I also learned that there are so many diseases associated with alcoholism like cancer, tuberculosis, anemia, lung- and heart-related diseases, mental disorders, infertility, sexual dysfunction, diabetes, and other infectious diseases. 



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