Muscular dystrophy encompasses a set of disorders that lead to a progressive loss in muscle mass, resulting in the loss of strength. The most common variety of muscular dystrophy is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which primarily strikes young boys. Genetic mutations are one of the primary causes of this medical condition. These mutations interfere with the creation of proteins in the muscles, without which muscles cannot be built or remain healthy. Causes for muscular dystrophy are typically genetic, and unfortunately, treatments for muscular dystrophy are not 100% effective. Treatments can only alleviate the symptoms, but cannot cure the condition. The doctor will test the blood for enzymes that get released by the affected muscles and for genetic markers. An electromyography test uses an electrode needle for detecting muscle electrical activity. A muscle biopsy may also be conducted for diagnosis, where a sample of the muscle is tested. 1. Surgery The general treatments for muscular dystrophy include surgeries to correct muscle shortening and assisted ventilation when the respiratory muscles get damaged. Surgery may also be required for correcting spinal curvatures that often cause difficulty in breathing. 2. Medications There are medications for heart ailments, surgery for repairing cataracts, and treating scoliosis. Doctors may recommend eteplirsen, which is the first FDA-approved medicine for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Dementia is a term used to describe the decline of a person’s mental ability. An example of this condition includes the loss of memory in older people. Alzheimer’s disease is the main cause of dementia. Since this condition isn’t a physical disease, there are no proper medications for it. However, there are few lifestyle tips for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease to help people battle it. 1. Symptoms of dementia The symptoms of dementia are vast according to the level of severity. However, a few basic symptoms include impairment in communication and language, memory loss, visual perception, etc. One has great difficulty focusing or paying attention. Dementia reduces the ability of reasoning and judgment in patients. People with dementia often have problems in identifying family members and past life events. Generally, the symptoms get worse as the condition progresses. Moreover, medication is limited to help patients. Thus, many choose to adopt a few lifestyle tips when suffering from dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. 2. Types of dementia There are reports of many different forms of this disease worldwide; the most common type is Alzheimer’s. It forms around 60 to 80 percent of the total cases of dementia. The second most common type is vascular dementia.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. This type of cancer spreads very fast and tends to progress to later stages before doctors even detect it. This swiftness makes it a killer disease that is difficult to treat. The treatments for pancreatic cancer will depend on the stage and the overall health of the patient. The article explains the different stages of cancer and the treatment for the same. 1. Stages of pancreatic cancer The treatments for pancreatic cancer are decided based on its stage. The stage indicates the progress of cancer. The TNM system helps to decide the cancer stage. T stands for tumor extent, which looks at how big the tumor is, and whether it has grown outside the pancreas. N stands for lymph nodes, which helps understand if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. M indicates how much cancer has metastasized, i.e. how far has the cancer spread from the pancreas. There are five stages of pancreatic cancer. They are as follows: Stage 0 This stage is where the cancer is not visible in the imaging test and is present only at the top layer cells. It is a very early stage, hence it is almost impossible to detect cancer at this stage.

Fibromyalgia is a disease that is characterized by extensive musculoskeletal pain along with symptoms of fatigue, memory, sleep, and mood issues. Doctors believe that this condition amplifies the pain by affecting the nerves responsible for detecting pain in the brain. The symptoms of this condition start after surgery or physical trauma. Many suggest maintaining a few lifestyle tips for fibromyalgia to control the pain and spread of the disease. 1. Causes of fibromyalgia Many diseases do not have a definite cause and fibromyalgia isn’t any exception. Research is ongoing to find the exact cause of this disease, but there are some risk factors for this condition. Doctors have determined the following few risk factors for inducing this condition in the body: Genetics Family history and genetic mutation go hand in hand in the development of this disorder. Infections Few infections can trigger the growth and spread of fibromyalgia. Emotional or physical trauma Physical trauma such as accidents, injuries, and bruises can activate this condition in many cases. Psychological and emotional stress can also induce fibromyalgia in many people. 2. How can you identify fibromyalgia? There are only a few signs of this condition. People with fibromyalgia develop: Immense body pain Fatigue and tiredness Cognitive difficulties The development of this disease is seen in women more than men.

Renal, or kidney cancer can be fatal if not detected early and treated on time. Surgery is usually one of the preferred treatments for renal/kidney cancer. There are various surgical methods for treating this cancer. Surgery involves the removal of the tumor or cancerous tissues. Since the cancer is located in the kidney, it may be required to remove part of the kidney (partial nephrectomy). If the tumor has grown bigger, then it may be required to remove the entire kidney (radical nephrectomy). Apart from the kidney, surrounding tissues may be removed, if it has become cancerous. If the cancerous cells have spread to the adrenal gland, then it may need to be removed as well. 1. Partial Nephrectomy and laparoscopy One of the common treatments for renal/kidney cancer is partial nephrectomy. This is a surgery done to remove the part of the kidney that has become cancerous. The surgery may be done by making an incision on the belly, under the ribs, or in the back. It may be a normal surgery or may be done through laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgery involves making a small incision and a laparoscope with a camera is inserted into the incision. This is used to carry out the surgery.