When to suspect lupus
Achy joints, fatigue and fever could point to a lot of illnesses, but the one to watch out for is lupus, a chronic autoimmune disorder.
Because it masquerades as other common conditions, diagnosis can take three to five years, warns Dawn Isherwood, in the December issue of Shape. Lupus causes the body’s antibodies to mistakenly attack healthy cells, leading to the above symptoms as well as muscle pain, swollen glands, rashes and hair loss.
Early diagnosis is important because the chronic inflammation brought on by lupus can raise tenfold the risk of heart disease and by 50 percent the risk of kidney disease. The brain, skin and lungs also can be damaged.
There is no cure for lupus, but the disorder can be treated with steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antimalarial drugs and immunosuppressive drugs, which provide pain relief and help lower the risk of joint and organ damage. Stress can make lupus symptoms worse, according to a study from the University of Granada, by increasing the level of hormones that trigger or exacerbate inflammation flairs. Deep breathing and exercise can help to minimize stress.
Lupus can be hereditary and primarily affects women ages 15 to 45. Females make up 90 percent of the 1.5 million people with the disease. To determine your risk for lupus, go to the Web site of the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org.
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Pick a surgery to watch
To better understand a medical procedure, watch it performed by physicians live on the Web site or-live.com. The Internet Broadcasting company behind the site offers Webcasts of surgeries such as gastric bypass, endoscopy, knee replacement and much more.
To find surgeries under a specific specialty, click on the “on-demand Webcasts” tab at the top of the home page.
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Operation countdown
Take charge when you’re planning to have elective surgery, advises the December issue of Consumer Reports on Health, to help you to have a good outcome. Following is the magazine’s advice:
* Set the surgery date a month ahead, on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday morning.
* 21 to 28 days before surgery: Bank your blood, and write a living will and health-care proxy.
* 10 to 14 days before: Stop taking dietary supplements, which can interfere with surgery. Cut back on alcohol and cigarettes.
* 5 to 7 days before: Get medical clearance from your primary doctor. Stop taking non-steroidal antiinflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen, which can cause excess surgical bleeding.
* 3 to 5 days before: Meet with your surgeon to learn what will happen before and after the operation, and line up someone to help you post-surgery.
* 1 day before: Pack a bag with your doctor’s phone numbers, any drugs you need and comfort items such as a pillow, shawl or photos.
* 1 hour before: Have the surgeon autograph your surgery site, and ask about antibiotics, which can reduce the risk of infection.
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Underactive thyroid
Hypothyroidism, which is caused by an underactive thyroid gland, affects almost 25 million Americans, primarily women. The Dec. 4 Woman’s Day discusses how to check yourself for a problem:
Tip your head back and drink a glass of water while standing in front of a mirror.
While swallowing, look at the area below your Adam’s apple and just above your collarbone to see if there are any bulges or protrusions.
If you see something, make an appointment with your doctor.
Other signs that could point to hypothyroidism are frequent drowsiness; a puffy, dry, itchy face; constipation; sore muscles; weight gain; fluid retention; heavy or irregular menstrual flow; and brittle hair and nails.
