KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS– A type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of bones wears down. The wearing down of the protective tissue at the ends of bones (cartilage) occurs gradually and worsens over time.

Joint pain in the hands, neck, lower back, knees, or hips is the most common symptom.

Medications, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery can help reduce pain and maintain joint movement.  It is a common disease and there are more than million cases per year.  Treatment can help, but this condition can’t be cured.

Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Affected joints might hurt during or after movement.
• Joint stiffness might be most noticeable upon awakening or after being inactive.
• Your joint might feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it.
• Loss of flexibility.You might not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
• Grating sensation.You might feel a grating sensation when you use the joint, and you might hear popping or crackling.
• Bone spurs.These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, can form around the affected joint.
• This might be caused by soft tissue inflammation around the joint.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints gradually deteriorates. Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that enables nearly frictionless joint motion. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, bone will rub on bone.

Osteoarthritis has often been referred to as a “wear and tear” disease. But besides the breakdown of cartilage, osteoarthritis affects the entire joint. It causes changes in the bone and deterioration of the connective tissues that hold the joint together and attach muscle to bone. It also causes inflammation of the joint lining.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351925?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=abstract&utm_content=Osteoarthritis&utm_campaign=Knowledge-panel

ESINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS is a chronic immune system disease in which a type of white blood cell (eosinophil) builds up in the lining of the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach (esophagus). This buildup, which is a reaction to foods, allergens or acid reflux, can inflame or injure the esophageal tissue. Damaged esophageal tissue can lead to difficulty swallowing or cause food to get stuck when you swallow.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been identified only since the early 90s, but is now considered a major cause of digestive system (gastrointestinal) illness. Research is ongoing and will likely lead to revisions in the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Signs and symptoms include:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Food getting stuck in the esophagus after swallowing (impaction)
• Chest pain that is often centrally located and does not respond to antacids
• Backflow of undigested food (regurgitation)

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eosinophilic-esophagitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372197

GASTROPARESIS, which means partial paralysis of the stomach, is a disease in which the stomach cannot empty itself of food in a normal way. If you have this condition, damaged nerves and muscles don’t function with their normal strength and coordination — slowing the movement of contents through your digestive system.

This is a common condition in people who have had diabetes for a long time, but it may also occur in other situations. Gastroparesis can be misdiagnosed and is sometimes mistaken for an ulcer, heartburn or an allergic reaction. In non-diabetic people, the condition may relate to acid reflux.

What are the symptoms of gastroparesis?

• Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (backup of stomach contents into the esophagus).
• Vomiting undigested food.
• Early satiety (feeling full quickly when eating).
• Abdominal bloating (enlargement).
• Chronic abdominal pain.
• Poor appetite and weight loss.
• Poor blood sugar control.

Gastroparesis can cause several problems:

• Food that stays in the stomach too long can ferment, which can lead to the growth of bacteria.
• Food in the stomach can harden into a solid mass called a bezoar. Bezoars can cause blockages in the stomach that keep food from passing into the small intestine.
• People who have both diabetes and gastroparesis may have other problems as well, because blood glucose levels rise quickly when food finally leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine.
• Dehydration (extreme thirst).
• Malnutrition (poor nutrition).

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15522-gastroparesis/diagnosis-and-tests

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING

If you are age 50 to 75 years old, you should get screened for colorectal cancer.  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening beginning at age 50. Some groups recommend starting earlier, at age 45.

• The vast majority of new cases of colorectal cancer (about 90%) occur in people who are 50 or older.
• Millions of people in the United States are not getting screened as recommended. They are missing the chance to prevent colorectal cancer or find it early, when treatment often leads to a cure.
• If you think you may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer, learn your family health history and ask your doctor if you should begin screening before age 50.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/index.htm

MENINGITIS is an uncommon but serious disease caused by different types of germs

• The disease can cause serious health problems in people, including an infection in the brain and spinal cord, hearing loss, loss of a limb, and skin scarring. In some cases, meningitis can cause death
• Meningitis germs spread through close personal contact, such as kissing, coughing, and sneezing
• Although anyone can become infected with meningitis, it is most commonly diagnosed in infants, young children, teens, and young adults

In the QUINTET Research Study, doctors and researchers want to learn how well a study combination ABCWY vaccine works in helping to protect against the different kinds of meningitis germs and how safe this investigational vaccine is when compared with the 2 types of vaccines currently used to help protect against meningitis.

In the QUINTET Research Study, doctors and researchers want to learn how well a study combination ABCWY vaccine works in helping to protect against the different kinds of meningitis germs and how safe this investigational vaccine is when compared with the 2 types of vaccines currently used to help protect against meningitis.

You may also request a take-home copy of this information from your doctor’s office. Feel free to discuss this information with your doctor and trusted friends and family, and ask the study team any questions you may have.

Source: artcrafthealth.com

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection occurs when H. pylori bacteria infect your stomach. This usually happens during childhood. A common cause of peptic ulcers, H. pylori infection may be present in more than half the people in the world.

Most people don’t realize they have H. pylori infection, because they never get sick from it. If you develop signs and symptoms of a peptic ulcer, your doctor will probably test you for H. pylori infection. If you have H. pylori infection, it can be treated with antibiotics

Symptoms

Most people with H. pylori infection will never have any signs or symptoms. It’s not clear why this is, but some people may be born with more resistance to the harmful effects of H. pylori.

When signs or symptoms do occur with H. pylori infection, they may include:

• An ache or burning pain in your abdomen
• Abdominal pain that’s worse when your stomach is empty
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent burping
• Bloating

Symptoms

• Most people with H. pylori infection will never have any signs or symptoms. It’s not clear why this is, but some people may be born with more resistance to the harmful effects of H. pylori.
• When signs or symptoms do occur with H. pylori infection, they may include:
• An ache or burning pain in your abdomen
• Abdominal pain that’s worse when your stomach is empty
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent burping
• Bloating
• Unintentional weight loss

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/h-pylori/symptoms-causes/syc-20356171

EROSISVE ESOPHAGITIS is inflammation that may damage tissues of the esophagus, the muscular tube that delivers food from your mouth to your stomach.

Esophagitis can cause painful, difficult swallowing and chest pain. Causes of esophagitis include stomach acids backing up into the esophagus, infection, oral medications and allergies.

Treatment for esophagitis depends on the underlying cause and the severity of tissue damage. If left untreated, esophagitis can damage the lining of the esophagus and interfere with its normal function, which is to move food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis can also lead to complications such as scarring or narrowing of the esophagus, and difficulty swallowing.

Common signs and symptoms of esophagitis include:

• Difficult swallowing
• Painful swallowing
• Chest pain, particularly behind the breastbone, that occurs with eating
• Swallowed food becoming stuck in the esophagus (food impaction)
• Heartburn
• Acid regurgitation

Complications

Left untreated, esophagitis can lead to changes in the structure of the esophagus. Possible complications include:

Scarring or narrowing (stricture) of the esophagus

Tearing of the esophagus lining tissue from retching (if food gets stuck) or during endoscopy (due to inflammation)

Barrett’s esophagus, characterized by changes to the cells lining the esophagus, increasing your risk of esophageal cancer

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophagitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20361224