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November 8, 2007

What You Need To Know About Severe TMJ Symptom Posted By : Rashel Dan

Filed under: Disease & Illness — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

TMJ conditions may actually affect thousands of people but despite the obvious fact that the condition is real, not everyone realizes that they already have a TMJ condition. Sometimes, the condition may be so mild that it escapes notice. At other times, a person may already have a severe TMJ symptom but may not know it because of misdiagnosis. What can be considered a severe TMJ symptom?

TMJ Symptoms



Different individuals experience TMJ symptoms in varying degrees. A severe TMJ symptom however may not only cause considerable pain but may also result in other physical conditions. Here are some symptoms:

- A severe headache is one TMJ symptom. It is possible that this particular symptom is a referred type of pain that is the result of the pressure on the jaw joints. Some people may experience tremendous headaches but are unfortunately unable to get proper treatment. This is because a TMJ headache can sometimes be misdiagnosed as migraine or some other type of head pain.

- Another severe TMJ condition would also include facial pains, and aches near the areas of the ears, back, neck and shoulders. Sometimes, part of the face may begin to swell.

- A ringing sound which may accompany the pain in the ears is also another severe TMJ symptom. In some cases, the ear can be so affected that a person suffers from dizziness.

- Another severe TMJ symptom are worn, damaged or deformed teeth. This happens when a person instinctively tries to correct an uncomfortable bite by grinding the teeth. Frequent grinding itself can worsen a TMJ condition.

- A severe TMJ symptom to dread is the possible change in jaw direction and the shape of the face. Depending on your TMJ condition, you could suffer from jaw deviations whenever you open your mouth. You could also end up with a face that looks like it has a receding chin and a forward moving forehead.

- Jaw popping or clicking is another severe TMJ symptom. This happens when the joints misalign due to cartilage deficiencies and then realign. In the most severe cases, it can progress to lock jaw in which one would be unable to make any kind of jaw movement.

- Another severe TMJ sypmtom would also be speech defects. This severe TMJ symptom is obviously due to the misalignment of the jaws and teeth.

What Triggers Symptoms?

Severe TMJ symptoms can be triggered by various factors. It is quite obvious that one could suffer from a TMJ symptom due to physical accidents or shock. A car accident for example or a sports injury could lead to a TMJ condition. There are times though when a condition can be caused by common habits made worse by stress. There are times for example when we tend to clench our jaws and grind our teeth when we are in tense situations. Repeated clenching and grinding could then lead to a severe TMJ condition. It is also quite possible that a TMJ condition could be precipitated by frequent biting on hard candy, large chunks of meat and hard pastries.


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Alzheimers Disease : Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Stages Posted By : Stacey Crevoiserat - NewSunGraphics

Filed under: Disease & Illness — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

More than 4 million Americans today are affected with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to escalate to approximately 12 million within the next 30 years. This serious disease is plaguing America in such a way that just about every individual has had an experience with someone with Alzheimer’s in one way or another. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that affects the mind, and more specifically your memory. 1 in 8 individuals over the age of 65 will develop it.

Risk Factors:



We currently don’t know what exactly causes Alzheimer’s, and it remains a disease that is diagnosed by eliminating other possibilities. However, experts have found a number of factors that reoccur in Alzheimer’s patients. It is believed that a combination of the following factors can cause a person to be predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s.

1. Family history of the disease - especially a parent or sibling.

2. Heart-disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and diabetes.

3. Previous head injury

4. Environmental toxins

5. Advancing age

6. Stress- high levels of anxiety

Symptoms:

When an individual begins to develop Alzheimer’s, there won’t be any easily identifiable outward symptoms to use as evidence. As the disease progresses, memory lapses appear and slowly grow more serious. The individual may begin to forget the names of familiar people and places, forget the location of everyday objects, or have trouble finding the right words to express themselves. These symptoms are similar to that of a simply forgetful older mind. As we age, our memory isn’t as sharp as it once was, however an individual with Alzheimer’s will have a more noticeable and rapid decline in memory. If you notice this in a loved one, it is time to see a physician.

As time goes on and the disease progresses, the memory lapses will become more and more noticeable and serious. They will affect the individual’s daily life, hobbies, and work. As this happens, the person will often develop other cognitive problems such as:

  • General confusion, disoriented to date, time, and place.
  • Apathy, irritability, depression, and anxiety.
  • Troubles with language, math, abstract thinking.
  • Personality changes
  • Later on in the disease paranoia and delusions may occur.
  • At the end of the disease’s development, the individual may suffer total loss of self and control.

    Main Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease:

    Experts have identified a number of stages to help define and group people suffering from this devastating and difficult disease. With no cure the best thing you can do is be aware of what this disease may bring in the future and use this knowledge to help plan care for your loved one.

    The following are the Three Main Stages:

    1. Early-State - In the early stage, the individual will suffer memory loss and possibly some other cognitive difficulties, however, they can continue to function independently.

    2. Mid-Stage - In the mid-stage, the disease has progressed past basic memory troubles and the individual’s mental abilities have continued to decline. They start to suffer personality changes and physical problems, and in turn become more dependent on caregivers.

    3. Late-Stage - The late-stage is the most severe. Individuals will suffer complete deterioration of the personality and loss of control over bodily functions. They will become totally dependent on caregivers for even basic daily needs.

    There is no set time as to when a person will progress from one stage to the other. One individual may move quickly from the early-stage to the mid-stage, while another may stay in the early-stage for several years. Every person is different. Here is a basic break down of the types of symptoms and their severity for each stage:

    Symptoms of the Early-Stage:

  • Confusion, forgets names and words, forgets their own history, less able to plan or think logically, poor judgment, and withdraws from social and mental challenges.
  • Has trouble expressing themselves and comprehending reading material
  • Becomes apathetic, anxious, agitated, insensitive to others’ feelings, tired
  • Hoards objects of little value, forgets to do things like eat or eats only one kind of food.

    Symptoms of the Mid-Stage:

  • Forgets recent events, if they can’t remember they make something up instead.
  • Trouble connecting names and faces of family and friends but still knows the difference between familiar and unfamiliar faces.
  • Can no longer follow written or oral instructions, disoriented about the season, day of the week or time.
  • Problems speaking, reading and writing, repeats stories
  • Aggressive, suspicious, delusional, exaggeration of normal personality characteristics.
  • Restless, pacing, talking to oneself, disoriented sleep-wake cycle.

    Symptoms of the Late-Stage:

  • Doesn’t recognize familiar people, can no longer smile, doesn’t speak or speaks incoherently, may cry or call out, groan or mumble. Cannot write or comprehend reading material.
  • Cannot control their movements, cannot walk, stand or sit up without assistance. Can’t easily swallow and may choke on food.
  • Needs complete assistance with all daily activities, requires full-time care.
  • Frequent infections, seizures, abnormal reflexes.
  • May refuse to eat or drink, little response to touch, exhausted


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  • Juvenile Arthritis: Unknown Causes Posted By : Peter C Johnson

    Filed under: Disease & Illness — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

    Juvenile arthritis is the term given to arthritis which effects younger generations, even children. Arthritis is obviously more common in older persons where wear and tear, injury and joint inflammation are clear factors in terms of cause. This condition has its own specific set of symptoms and causes.

    Juvenile arthritis has recently been termed ‘juvenile idiopathic arthritis’, because there is currently no known active reason or cause for the condition. It has however been suggested that genetics and environmental factors may play a significant role in the appearance of this condition.



    Juvenile arthritis is very unique in comparison with more common forms of adult arthritis, and forms which affects children until they reach adulthood. This condition has no obvious symptoms which a doctor can easily diagnose, further to this it may be quite difficult for the child suffering to communicate the pain they are feeling. There are some basic signs which are evident in children suffering from juvenile arthritis: reduced interest in exercise, lethargy, decreased appetite, ‘limping’ movements, and swollen joints specifically in the wrist, hands, knee, ankle and feet.

    Juvenile arthritis has been classified into 3 categories: oligoarticular, polyarticular, and systemic.

    Oligoarticular only affects 4 or less joints, polyarticular affects 5 or more joints and usually involves smaller joints such as the neck and jaw, and finally systemic affects joints that rely on internal organs to function. This last type is specifically hard to diagnose, and the symptoms may come in the form of a rash which comes and goes. The only real means to diagnose which form your child has is via medical imaging in the form of an X-Ray or MRI.

    Treatment for this difficult condition is possible through therapy and medication. The first step for treatment is to contact your doctor or physician. Juvenile arthritis is specifically delicate as it involves children, so communication becomes an issue, and it is always better to be cautious if any symptoms present themselves. Early diagnosis is the key to treatment, so if your child complains of any possible symptom, take them to your doctor/physician ASAP. It will be better to preferably rule out juvenile arthritis earlier as a cause for your child’s symptoms.


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    Panic Attack And Chest Flutter Posted By : Bestie711

    Filed under: Disease & Illness — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

    For many who experience a panic attack and chest flutter, it can be worrying and confusing. It’s hard to tell if the palpitations are due to panic or not.

    For this reason, it’s best to see a cardiologist just to rule out everything as far as your heart is concerned before deciding that it is solely due to the panic attack.



    Panic Attacks Love To Imitate Other Conditions

    Panic attacks can be confusing as well as being frightening. When it’s just started, the confusion is caused by the fact that panic attacks mimic serious conditions.

    For example, if you start getting dizzy regularly, you think it could be caused by your brain or ear. Sometimes it affects the chest, so you may wonder why you have breathing difficulties or tightness in your chest.

    This is why nearly everyone rushes to emergency, only to be told everything is normal. “WHAT? NORMAL? HOW IS THIS NORMAL?” Naturally, this is confusing. It’s also worrying, because it doesn’t go away.

    If you have a chest flutter as well as panic attacks, make sure you can eliminate the possibility of an underlying heart problem. Once this is done, then you can safely say it’s due to the panic attacks.

    You may have to have blood tests to make sure there isn’t a thyroid problem as this could cause an irregular heart rhythm. You may also be required to wear a heart monitor to record your heart rhythm.

    Panic Attacks Are Treatable

    Don’t worry about the panic attacks. They can be treated pretty effectively. If the chest flutter is connected, then it should reduce or even go away as well.

    There is no doubt that a chest flutter can be due to panic attacks. If a panic attack and chest flutter link can safely be established, then you need to treat only one condition.

    If not, you’ll have to address them both. Make sure to tell your doctors all the medications you are taking. This will be helpful in getting the best care that you deserve.


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    What to Do with the Genital herpes symptoms that will not go away Posted By : graceshades

    Filed under: Disease & Illness — webmaster @ 12:13 pm

    Infected individuals may never have symptoms. And if they do, they could be very mild signs that they do not even notice. On a lighter note genital herpes symptoms could easily be mistaken for a skin irritation or an insect bite.

    Genital herpes is a Sexually Transmitted Disease caused by the herpes simplex viruses, Type 1 also called HSV-1 and Type 2 also known as HSV 2. Many people with genital herpes do not seek treatment because they are asymptomatic in other words, have mild symptoms and do not realize that anything is wrong



    As a matter of fact, results of a national study show that in United States of America, 1 out of 5 adolescents and adults have a genital HSV infection. This causes a large proportion of global burden of ill-health because in the end only a small proportion of people may look for advice and avoid re-infection.

    Better still, other individuals who have the genital herpes symptoms may prefer to treat themselves using home remedies. The identification of infected people combined with rapid treatment will reduce the complications of the disease and minimize further transmission.

    After the virus is transmitted, most probably it will take 2 weeks for some people to realize while for others this will not be the case at all. HSV 1 can cause genital herpes but most commonly this type will cause Fever Blisters which in other words are mouth and lips blisters.

    From the time a person notices signs of Genital herpes symptoms, they should avoid sexual exposure including oral and or anal. In addition the risk of transmission can be reduced by assisting in detection of infected partners.

    Genital herpes symptoms can be anything from muscle pains, swollen glands, fever, vaginal discharge. For some people they experience backaches and headaches. Worse still this comes with sores or blisters which in turn can cause a lot of agony and discomfort.

    Genital herpes symptoms which come in form of blisters and sores can be very painful sometimes. There are various ways to suppress this discomfort; Keep the affected area clean and dry, by wearing loose fitting clothes, by soaking yourself in warm water, better still use a blow dryer with low heat to dry the affected area as opposed to a towel. Women are highly advised against douching. This is to mention just a few of home remedies.

    Let no one lie to you. Research has shown that there is no cure for genital herpes. All is not lost though because we have a treatment called Anti viral therapy which is in tablet form. Antiviral can be used in two ways Episodic treatment -which is to shorten the time of each attack and Suppressive therapy-which is for delaying frequent or severe attacks.

    Wangeci Kinyanjui has been researching and reporting on Health Matters for years. For more information on genital herpes symptoms, visit her site at genital herpes symptoms


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