Bone fractures: Types, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatments

What is Bone Health?
Bones are hard but they are not lifeless. They are growing tissue. Bones are comprised of three major components such as collagen, calcium phosphate mineral complexes as well as bone cells. These components help to keep them strong and flexible. Bone loss occurs as you age and it is necessary to take steps to protect it from getting damaged.

Why bone health is important?
Bones are an important part of the body and it complements our health. The important function of the bones is to provide structure to the body, protect various organs and also to store calcium in the body. At the young age the bones are formed rapidly after that as the age advances you lose more bone mass than you form. The higher your peak bone mass the more bone you have and this reduces your chance to develop osteoporosis as your age increases.

What causes bone fracture?
A partial or a complete breakage of bones is known as bone fracture. It isa medical condition that can be the result of higher impact due to force or may be stress on the bones that cause it to break. Sometimes a minor injury because of some disease such as osteoporosis that makes the bones weak and other medical conditions like bone cancer in which the fracture is termed as a pathologic fracture.

Bone Fractures: Types, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatments

Many types of fractures occur of which the main categories are listed below:

i. Comminuted Fracture – It refers toa bone injury in which there is more than 2 separate bone components, that is resulting in multiple fragments which is termed as comminuted fracture. The fracture also has specific names known as butterfly fragment and segmental fracture.

ii. Delayed Union Fracture – Delayed union fracture occurs in which bone healing does not take place at an expected time period. The bone union that has elapsed does not mean that it is permanent and the bone repair is not possible because it has become a nonunion. Delayed union mainly occurs because of problems such as inadequate immobilization, inadequate reduction, distraction, infection and loss of blood supply.

iii. Greenstick Fracture – Ina greenstick fracture a bone bends and cracks but does not break completely into separate pieces. It is common in children because they have soft and flexible bones. In some cases it becomes difficult to diagnose as a child may not be in severe pain and swelling and also the child is in full motion.
iv. Malunion Fracture – Ina Malunion fracture a breakage in the bone heals in an unacceptable position that lead to significant impairment. In this the bone is bent at a certain angle.

v. Metal Plate for Fracture - Metal plates has been used for a very long time for internal fixation of fractures. By the passing time an initial shortcoming that includes corrosion and insufficient strength have been overcome but the recent designs have not solved all the problems.

vi. Nonunion Fracture - Every fracture has the fear that it may not heal on time and becoming a nonunion. It can occur in any bone, but most commonly in the tibia, talus, humerus and fifth metatarsal bone.

vii. Oblique Fracture - An oblique fracture is a type of a break that has a fracture line that runs diagonal towards the bone shaft. It is similar to spiral fractures.

viii. Pins for Fracture - Pins are used to hold the pieces of bone together. It is used on small bones that cannot be fixed with the help of the screws. The pins are removed after a certain period but in some fractures may be left inside permanently.

ix. Screw for Fracture - The screws are used for internal fixation of a bone. It can be used to hold a fracture and also with rods, plates or nails. It may be designed for a specific type of fracture.

x. Spiral Fracture - A spiral fracture is caused by a twisting force, also known as torsion fractures that refer to the forces responsible to create a spiral fracture. It is difficult to treat a spiral fracture as the break is helical.

xi. Transverse Fracture - A transverse fracture is that in which the bone is completely broken in a way that is perpendicular to the way a bone runs. To understand this, forearm can be used to indicate a bone break essentially the break crosses the bone completely as a result the bone is separated into two pieces.

Bone Fractures Symptoms

When a fracture takes place a person experiences various symptoms and report to a doctor. In this, pain is a common symptom, whereas a rash is a sign. The signs and symptoms of a fracture differ according to the bone that is affected.
The symptoms of a bone fracture include swelling, discoloration of the skin around the affected area, pain, bruising, angulation of the affected area, the affected area cannot move, feel pain on putting weight on the area that is injured, bleeding if it is open fracture and grating sensation in the affected joint.

Bone Fracture Prevention
Bone fractures can be prevented. You have to take steps and follow these safety precautions given below:

• Don’t ride a vehicle without wearing a seat belt.
• Wear helmet and other safety equipment for doing the activities like contact sport, riding bikes or snowboarding.
• Walk properly while climbing stairs that can cause you to fall.
• Osteoporosis patients should perform regular exercise to improve the strength of the bones and also take calcium supplements suggested by a doctor.
• Don’t climb on a ladder unless someone holds it for you and avoid going on a top step.

Bone Fracture Treatments
For healing the bone fracture following treatments are used, which are as follows:

a. Splints – The process of splinting is used when the fracture of a bone occurs. It helps to fill the gaps between the limb as well as the splint material. It is done using sticks or other objects to make padding between the injured limb and splint by using a jacket or a shirt filled with grass or anything that can help to make the patient comfortable.

b. Braces – The braces such as knee braces are used to support the bone which is injured that helps to reduce pain. Some persons wear it to prevent knee injuries while playing sports. It is made up of a metal, straps, foam, plastic and elastic material.

c. Plaster cast – A plaster cast is applied to support the fractured bones of the arm or leg to place them properly and to heal the bones. You have to visit the doctor for regular check up to make sure that it is properly fitted or not.

d. Traction – For a complicated fracture a person needs a surgery or a surgical traction or sometimes both. But it is rare and is used to handle severe damage of the bones.

e. Surgically inserted metal rods and plates – When the bone is broken into pieces, metal rods and plates are inserted with the help of a surgery to bring the pieces of bone together.

Conclusion
Bone fracture can be treated with the help of the above effective treatment. But you should take care to prevent severe injuries to prevent it.

Parathyroid Problems: Know The Signs And Symptoms

You’re just not you. You know it. You can feel it.
But as hard as you fight it, any effort to reverse what’s going on is futile unless you’re able to broach it head-on. And the only way to do that is to know what, exactly, you’re dealing with.
That’s why it’s so important for you to understand the signs and symptoms of parathyroid problems. They’re tricky, and can often be puzzling to victims and doctors. But there are a number of telltale signs of parathyroid problems.

Image Source: www.zemplar.com

Here are some of them.
Bone Problems
This doesn't necessarily have to be full-on osteoporosis. But if your bones are feeling weaker and more frail than usual, whether or not you had any sort of such preexisting medical condition, it’s totally possible that a parathyroid problem is to blame.
This is because your parathyroid is very important in your body’s ability to harness and utilize many of the nutrients responsible for top bone health: calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. Without them, your body isn't able to support your skeletal structure the way it needs to, and you start to feel it – fast.
Again, your issue may not necessarily have gotten so bad as to become osteoporosis. But just because it doesn't fit the medical classification doesn’t mean that the same exact thing isn’t happening to a lesser degree. In fact, that’s probably what’s going on.
Over time, if your body isn't able to properly support itself the way that it needs to, the bones tend to hollow out. Even if this is in its most preliminary stages, that doesn't mean that it can’t be problematic – and that doesn't mean you won’t notice. The good news is, no matter where along the road you've caught your parathyroid and consequent bone problems, their effects are reversible. But not without first knowing what you’re dealing with.

Poor Sleep Quality
This might be one of the most frustrating signs and symptoms of a problematic parathyroid: you just can’t sleep like you used to.
Sleep is so integral to nearly every bodily process – and crucial for every person no matter their profession. Writers need sleep for their creativity. Athletes need sleep for their muscles. Teachers need sleep for their patience.
No matter the person or profession, sleep is an absolute must.
Take it away, and people start to get upset.
Parathyroid problems can be such a sleep stealer. That’s because the parathyroid is critical to some of the hormone production that’s responsible for helping you get restful sleep. That’s right, your body releases hormones when you go under that tell you to stay there, nestled in bed, counting sheep. Throw that system off-kilter, and there are likely to be consequences. Fortunately, it’s a relatively easy one to get back on track – so long as you know where to realign the rails and get the train rolling again.

Thinning Hair
This is a particular area of sensitivity for women, though men tend to get pretty bummed out about accelerated baldness too. For women, their hair is often one of the most central components of their appearance. Think about it. They spend just as much time doing their hair, which could be described as stuff that just sort of hangs from your scalp, as they do making up their face, which could be best described as basically everything you find attractive in a woman.
This is how women value hair. Imagine how they feel to lose it.
It’s not hard, though, to imagine how they’ll feel when they get these things back.
Dr. Michael Barakate is a pediatric and adult otolaryngologist located in Sydney, Australia offering thyroid and parathyroid information at Thyroid.com.au.

Facts About Low Testosterone

About Testosterone

Testosterone is the male hormone that gives men lower voices, facial hair, and sexual interest. Testosterone does been to decline gradually in men after the age of 30, but a sharp decline in testosterone is not normal, and can be a precursor to some more serious illnesses.
It can also be hard to diagnose or for men to even recognize as a problem because the symptoms closely mirror the symptoms of things like depression and high blood pressure.

Symptoms

As previously stated, there are many symptoms of low Testosterone, and they can indicate other things such as depression or high blood pressure. However, if a man is experiencing several of these symptoms together, it is very important that he consult his doctor for further testing:

• Lowered libido – Although a man’s sex drive will decrease as he becomes older, a marked disinterest in sex can be an indicator of low testosterone.
• Lack of energy – Low testosterone has also been linked to lower energy and becoming tired more quickly than normal.
• Depression – Depression is another symptom of low testosterone. A man who has low testosterone is four times more likely to experience depression than a man who has normal levels of testosterone.
• Decreased strength and height – If a man feels like he’s shorter than normal, it may not be in his head. Low testosterone contributes to low bone density, which can cause a man to lose height. It’s also related to muscle strength, so a man with low testosterone may be feeling weaker than normal.

Medications

There are certain medications that can lower a man’s testosterone, or can mimic symptoms of low testosterone. A patient who is experiencing symptoms of low testosterone should consult his physician to be tested and to see if medication is causing the symptoms or if it is actually low testosterone.

Side Effects

The long term lasting side effects of low testosterone are serious. Because testosterone contributes to bone and muscle strength, a man can become injured or even permanently disabled as the result of untreated low testosterone.
This can cause a permanent stooped posture as well. It can cause increased abdominal body fat, and even a decreased sense of well-being that can contribute to life-threatening depression and anxiety.

Treatments

There are some treatments for low testosterone, including gels and testosterone boosters designed to replace the missing hormone in the man’s body.
Some doctors, however, do not feel that this is a viable treatment, especially for men who are older and are losing testosterone anyway. For these men, it may be more practical to treat the symptoms that the low testosterone has caused rather than to actually replace the hormone. This means treating the depression and decreased strength, and keeping an eye on the loss of bone density.
Losing testosterone can make a man feel like he’s not as much of a man as he used to be, but for older men it’s simply a part of life. It can be treated if it’s simply unbearable or if the man is young enough to be severely affected, but some care and thought should be put into the decision. Sometimes it’s enough to treat the symptoms than replace the hormone all together.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Facts, Risk And Treatments

Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevailing autoimmune disease that affects more than 20 million Americans each year.  It tends to be bilateral and asymmetrical, which means it appears on both sides of your body. It is a chronic inflammatory polyarthritis condition, which means it upsets multiple (five or more) joints in the body and is often linked to joint deformities, especially in the hand and fingers.

Image Source - webmd.com

RA can be very serious, causing premature disability, compromised quality of life, and sometimes even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 1997, rheumatoid arthritis accounted for 22 percent of all deaths due to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions.

Unlike arthritis that is brought by old age, rheumatoid arthritis can affect you at any age, including young children. In fact, a 2007 CDC study estimates that among 294,000 children with arthritis or other rheumatic condition, there were at least 16,000 classified as rheumatoid arthritis and other polyarthropathies. Fortunately, cases of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are still relatively rare today.
Early diagnosis can prevent further damage from RA, but this is sometimes challenging because early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are very non-specific. These include:

• Malaise
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Muscle soreness
• Low-grade fever
• Weight loss

Are You At Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

What causes rheumatoid arthritis is still a mystery. However, many experts suggest that it could be a combination of genetics and exposure to specific environmental factors.

• Gender – Typically, women are two to three times more predisposed to developing rheumatoid arthritis than men. Breast feeding, oral contraceptive, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), live birth history, and menstrual history are suspected to be contributing factors as to why women are at higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

• Age – While it is true that rheumatoid arthritis can hit you at any age, the onset of the disease begins between ages 30 and 50 and is at peak at 60 years of age in both men and women. 

• Smokers – Among a list of possible risk factors, smoking has the strongest and the most consistent link to rheumatoid arthritis. Studies suggest that a history of smoking is connected with a modest to moderate (1.3 to 2.4 times) increased risk of RA onset.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Conventional Versus Natural Approaches:
Since symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis usually involve joint pain, swelling, and inflammation, conventional anti-inflammatory approaches such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and analgesics are used by most physicians.

However, while these can relieve pain – and there’s a lot to be said for pain relief – it’s very important to understand that chronic use of these types of medications are associated with significant and very serious side effects such as kidney and/or liver damage. In the U.S., overuse of analgesics is a very common source of kidney failure.

NSAIDs also kill some 30,000 people every year due to bleeding ulcers, and the oral drugs have been linked to a host of problems, including heart failure. Vioxx and Celebrex make prime examples of these very real dangers. This is not to say that they are not useful agents in some cases; however, you need to use them very, very cautiously.

With respect to rheumatoid arthritis treatment – or any other disease – opting for natural approaches is still the best way to go.  The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center has a wholearticle on this, titled “Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis ,”where there are several helpful alternative remedies that may be of significant benefit to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Some examples are acupuncture, hydrotherapy, tai chi, and yoga.

Here are crucial lifestyle changes (Prevention) to achieve success against RA:

• Eliminate sugar, especially fructose, and most grains. For most people, it would be best to limit fruit to small quantities.
• Eat unprocessed, high-quality foods, organic and locally grown if possible.
• Eat your food as close to raw as possible.
• Get plenty high-quality animal-based omega-3 fats. Krill oil seems to be particularly helpful, as it appears to be a more effective anti-inflammatory preparation. It is particularly effective if taken concurrently with 4 milligrams of astaxanthin, which is a potent antioxidant bioflavanoid derived from algae.
• Incorporate regular exercise into your daily schedule.

Arriene Hernandez is an avid reader of Mercola.com and Dr. Joseph Mercola’s daily newsletter.

Xanax Dosage Addiction: All Xanax Review

Xanax is a powerful drug most often used in the treatment of anxiety, panic disorder and other related illnesses. This drug acts as a depressant to the central nervous system and, when taken as prescribed, effectively relieves symptoms that include overwhelming fear, panic-induced shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, severe nervousness and more. However, this drug is often misused and is, in fact, one of the most-abused prescription drugs in the United States.

How Does Addiction to Xanax Occur?

In most cases, addiction to Xanax begins innocently enough. For example, if an individual experiences symptoms of panic disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive behaviors, he or she may decide to see a mental health professional for a complete psychological evaluation. During this evaluation, a doctor may take into consideration the severity and frequency of symptoms, as well as their probability to interfere with daily activities. If symptoms are severe enough to warrant medication, Xanax, or its generic form, alprazolam, is often prescribed. And although Xanax is often helpful at reducing symptoms and improving quality of life, misuse occurs due to a tolerance for the drug, which can lead to the need for larger, more frequent doses in order to produce initial effects. Also, in some cases, patients seek the euphoric effects produced by Xanax and begin to take larger quantities of the drug, even when symptoms of anxiety aren't present.

What Are the Signs of Xanax Addiction?

Like other types of substance abuse, addiction to Xanax may be hard to detect in its initial stages. However, there are several signs that may indicate the beginnings of addiction, some of which include the following:

• Psychological cravings for the drug. 
• Persisting symptoms, which could indicate an increasing tolerance. 
• Using more medication that prescribed. 

Once addiction progresses, the signs become easier to spot. For example, individuals addicted to Xanax may exhibit behaviors like the following:

• Slurred speech.
• Problems with coordination or motor skills. 
• Inappropriate behavior and/or loss of inhibitions. 
• Black-outs or memory loss. 
• Personality changes, including apathy or a drastic decrease in emotional range. 
• Compulsions and preoccupations regarding Xanax. This can include excessive thoughts about the drug, as well as extreme anxieties when supply dwindles. 

How Is Xanax Addiction Treated?

When addiction to Xanax is apparent, seeking treatment is recommended. Some individuals can stop using the drug suddenly without experiencing any negative side effects. Others, however, may have a difficult time discontinuing use and may experience withdrawal symptoms that include rapid heartbeat, insomnia, an increase in anxiety and panic disorder symptoms, tremors and high blood pressure. In these cases, the risk for complications such as seizure and stroke are increased; therefore, a physician should be consulted. In most cases of Xanax addiction, a tapering dose is prescribed, as well as medications used to substitute Xanax. These often include other anti-anxiety drugs that have a lower potential for abuse.

In severe cases of Xanax addiction, entering a substance abuse treatment facility is often recommended. Here, patients will receive proper treatment for withdrawal symptoms, as well as learn coping strategies for dealing with anxiety and other issues without the use of pharmaceutical drugs.