Spinal muscular atrophy is a neurological condition that affects an individual’s movement. The rare genetic condition causes the muscles to weaken due to improper functioning of the spinal cord and brainstem cells, and it is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. Despite its prominence, there is a general lack of awareness about this degenerative disorder. This article tries to bridge the gap by discussing the types and common symptoms of the condition: What is spinal muscular atrophy? Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a group of hereditary disorders that affect movement. The condition causes muscle wasting and weakness, mostly due to the loss of nerve cells present in the brain stem and spinal cord. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive trait, which means an individual must receive the defective gene from both parents (SMA carriers) to develop the disorder. The severity varies based on the type of SMA, with type 0 being the rarest and most severe form that develops during pregnancy. Milder forms of SMA develop during childhood (type 3) and adulthood (type 4). What are the symptoms of SMA? SMA symptoms depend on the type of the neuromuscular disease. There are five basic types, each of which manifests differently. Here are some of the symptoms that manifest with each type: Type 0 This is the rarest form of SMA, and it develops in babies while they are still in the womb. Common signs and symptoms of SMA type 0 include weak muscle tone, joint troubles, and weak muscles for breathing. Type 1 Another severe form of SMA, type 1 can leave an affected infant unable to support their head or sit without support. Swallowing trouble, breathing difficulties, and floppy arms and legs are also common among babies with this type of SMA. Type 2 This type affects babies of 6-18 months and causes moderate to severe symptoms that mostly affect the legs.

Hemophilia, an inherited disorder, impairs the body’s ability to clot blood. People with the disease have low levels of coagulation or clotting factors, which are proteins in the blood that help control bleeding. There are multiple types of hemophilia, and the most common types are inherited. Herein, let’s understand the signs and symptoms of this bleeding disorder in detail. Signs and symptoms The primary symptom of hemophilia is prolonged bleeding. The exact signs and symptoms depend on the severity of the disorder. Typically, based on the clotting factor levels in the blood and the symptoms, hemophilia is described as mild, moderate, or severe. Let’s look at each form of hemophilia separately. Mild hemophilia Hemophilia is usually considered mild when normal clotting factors are between 5% and 50%. Children born with this form may not show any signs or symptoms for several years. It is usually detected when a child doesn’t stop bleeding easily after a wound, surgery, or a dental procedure, such as tooth extraction. Moderate hemophilia Hemophilia is usually considered moderate when normal clotting factors are between 1% and 5%. People with this form tend to bruise easily. They may also have internal bleeding in the joints. Internal joint bleeding often begins with mild or no pain or visible signs of bleeding and commonly affects ankles, knees, and elbows. However, eventually, it can be painful and cause joint damage. The affected area may become hot, swollen, and tender. Severe hemophilia When the normal clotting factors drop below 1%, hemophilia is considered severe. In people with this form, internal joint bleeding episodes become frequent and take on an extreme form. The internal bleeding may lead to joint deformity, which may demand joint replacement surgery. The bleeding may also damage the soft tissue around the joints called cartilage. People with this form also experience “spontaneous bleeding,” meaning they start bleeding for no apparent reason.

Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is an illness characterized by the development of cancer cells within the lining of the stomach. It is a relatively rare type of cancer that may show absolutely no symptoms in the early stages, making diagnosis difficult. That said, the condition is associated with discomfort and pain when symptoms do start to surface. This article looks at the symptoms and causes of gastric cancer. Symptoms of gastric cancer Frequent heartburn People may normally experience acid reflux due to certain foods or lifestyle habits. That said, an individual with gastric cancer may experience frequent heartburn. Difficulty swallowing This symptom of stomach cancer can occur due to a tumor’s location, or it could be a side effect of the ongoing treatment. Lack of appetite and easily feeling full The tumor in the stomach may cause irritation and swelling, and cancer may change the way the stomach breaks down food in the advanced stages. This change in metabolism can manifest as a loss of appetite. Even small meals could make the patient feel full easily, hampering their nutrient intake. Sudden weight loss A constant feeling of fullness and bloating can cause an individual to eat less and compromise their daily nutritional intake, leading to weight loss. Side effects of medications and treatment can also lead to a lack of appetite and result in weight loss. Jaundice While this symptom is rare in gastric cancer patients, one may develop jaundice if cancer spreads to the liver or bile ducts or if the tumor blocks the bile ducts. Blood with stools The swelling and inflammation in the stomach can lead to blood in the stools. Stomach pain and cramps Abdominal pain and cramping that range from mild to extreme are common among people with stomach cancer, and pain usually worsens after a meal.

Some allergies are seasonal, while some are year-round. Either way, these allergies may leave you sneezing, sniffing, and staying up at night. Allergies tend to worsen at night, interrupting your sleep and leaving you tired or sick the next day. Several factors influence allergies; however, there are ways to manage them. In this article, we will be discussing some symptoms of nighttime allergies and the common allergens that cause them: Symptoms Some common symptoms of nighttime allergies are: A runny nose When you come in contact with an allergen, your body reacts to it the same way it would to a harmful type of bacteria. This leads to a stuffy, itchy, or runny nose. Additionally, you may experience itchiness on the roof of the mouth and in the eyes. Sinusitis Allergic reactions can cause sinusitis, which can, in turn, lead to headache, an itchy throat, wheezing, coughing, and a runny nose. It can also lead to swelling along the lining of the sinuses. Sneezing When allergen enters your body, especially through the nasal passage, the body reacts to it by sneezing or coughing. Sneezing is known to eliminate allergy-causing bacteria and germs from the body. Itching Allergens can cause itchy skin that is similar to eczema. Your skin may develop blisters, itches, and dryness. The itchiness may persist for several days depending on the severity of the allergic reaction. Allergens Here is a list of a few allergens and tips on how to manage them: Dust mites Dust mites develop in warm environments. They feed on dead skin and live in carpeted furniture, mattresses, and pillows, among other pieces of upholstery. What you can do : Dusting the house and furniture regularly and washing your sheets, stuffed toys, and pillows in hot water can help eliminate or reduce dust mites.

Shingles or herpes zoster is an infection that leads to blisters, causing painful rashes. This can affect any part of the body but is mostly first seen as a single stripe of blisters around the torso. It is similar to chickenpox, wherein the first sign of infection is visible around the torso. The similarity in the symptoms is probably due to the varicella-zoster virus, which is the common cause of these two illnesses. Symptoms of shingles Knowing about and identifying the common signs and symptoms of the disease can make it easy for patients to know when to visit the doctor for timely diagnosis and proper treatment. Some early signs usually affect only one side of the body. These include skin sensitivity, pain, tingling, burning, and a numbing sensation. A few other common symptoms are a rash following the aforementioned signs, itching, and pus-filled blisters. Fever, fatigue, headache, and sensitivity to light are some other signs that point toward the condition. Pain is the most common early sign of the illness, and while the intensity can change from person to person, it is usually extreme. If the pain is not followed by a rash, the illness can most likely be misdiagnosed. For correct diagnosis and timely treatment, it is important to look out for stripes of blisters, specifically around the left or right side of the torso, around one eye, the side of the face, or the neck. Causes of shingles The specific cause for the illness’s trigger is unclear; however, it is understood that it is brought about by the varicella-zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. The virus stays dormant in the host body after the patient has recovered from chickenpox. The dormant virus can reactivate and trigger the symptoms at any time in an individual’s life.

Whooping cough, medically known as pertussis, is a respiratory condition occurring in people of any age. This disease is caused due to infection by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria often start growing in the upper respiratory tract and lead to inflammation in the airways. Although this disease is highly contagious, the spread of whooping cough has been brought under control because of the TDAP (combined tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine. Some of the most common causes and modes of transmission of whooping cough are described as follows: Bacterial infection As mentioned earlier, whooping cough or acellular pertussis occurs when the bacterium Bordetella pertussis enters the body. Thus, being exposed to an infected individual or being exposed to an epidemic can be extremely dangerous and may result in the contraction of whooping cough. Non-vaccination A vaccine is the most efficient way of preventing any contagious pathogen from entering the body. Several vaccines are administered to babies or toddlers over a few years that protect them from such harmful diseases. One of them includes the TDAP vaccine, which is the most efficient in preventing tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis. Some of the common signs and symptoms of whooping cough are as follows: Early symptoms If a person has recently been exposed to the bacteria, they may start experiencing mild cold or flu-like symptoms that may not seem very serious in the beginning. Babies and younger children may also suffer from apnea, in which their breathing abruptly stops from time to time. Other common symptoms observed in the early stages are mild, low-grade fever, a runny nose, and mild cough. Severe symptoms After one or two weeks have passed, the person may start exhibiting more serious symptoms, typical when dealing with pertussis. Some of these symptoms include extreme fatigue and exhaustion, vomiting, and nausea.

Neurofibromatoses are a group of genetic disorders that cause tumors in the nervous system. There are three types of neurofibromatosis: mainly neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2), and schwannomatosis. The symptoms are usually mild but may cause serious complications. Here are the common symptoms of neurofibromatosis and what causes them. Symptoms The common signs and symptoms of neurofibromatosis are as follows: Small bumps on and under the skin These tumors tend to grow inside the body; however, sometimes, they may even grow under the skin. When these growths are present in the nerves, they may result in disfiguration of the face. These bumps called Neurofibromas may also increase in number with age. Learning disabilities Children affected by the NF1 gene may find their thinking abilities impaired. They may find it difficult to read or perform mathematics. Moreover, the child may also experience ADHD or a speech delay. Light brown spots Harmless brown spots called cafe au lait spots occur on the skin. Usually, the presence of more than six of these spots indicates NF1. They occur during childbirth or the initial years and stop after childhood. Other bumps and freckles Bumps called Lisch nodules are commonly noticed in the iris of the eyes. They are painless. Also, freckles occurring in various body folds, especially in areas like the armpits and the groin, are also common. Problems with the ears NF2 may result in the development of slow-growing tumors in the ears. They may also grow on the nerves that carry sound to the brain. As a result, one may experience symptoms such as hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and loss of balance. Causes The following reasons are responsible for the development of neurofibromatosis. NF1 The NF1 gene, located on chromosome 17, creates a protein called neurofibromin that helps regulate the growth of cells.

When a tumor or any other illness grows and spreads from its point of origin to other parts of the body, it is called metastasis. Similarly, metastatic breast cancer occurs when the cancerous cells from the breast spread to other body parts. In most cases, if breast cancer metastasizes, it is likely to appear in the brain, bones, liver and lungs. If the cancer is confined to the breast, several effective treatment options are available to cure it. But if it spreads to the nearby areas, it becomes quite difficult to cure. It is vital to spot the signs of metastatic breast cancer as soon as possible to ensure that suitable treatment can start immediately. Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer The initial stages of breast cancer typically do not exhibit any symptoms. Once the symptoms begin to appear, they are most likely to include a strange formation or lump in the breast or under the armpits. In the case of inflammatory breast cancer, the symptoms can include redness or swelling in and around the breast area as well as a mild sensation of pain. When breast cancer metastasizes, a patient may experience the following symptoms: – Development of a lump – Changes in the skin such as skin ulceration or dimpling – Nipple discharge – Pain or discomfort while moving the arms – Swelling in the breast or arms – Large, hard, and deep lymph nodes under the arm or the neck. Also, the most common signs of metastatic breast cancer are easily noticeable changes in the shape of the affected breast. Here are some advanced symptoms of the condition: – Difficulty in sleeping – Excessive fatigue – Digestion problems – Shortness of breath – A feeling of pain or discomfort Some significant signs of metastatic breast cancer One of the most common signs of metastatic breast cancer is difficulty in breathing.