Getting treatment for a rare disease
For many New York residents who are suffering from a rare disease, getting treatment can be very difficult. However, advocacy groups are working to get legislation passed that would help those suffering from a rare diseases to seek treatment.
Diagnosing a commonly misdiagnosed illness
There are some health-related issues that require a closer look in order to achieve a proper diagnosis. New York residents who are prone to various and seemingly unrelated illnesses that have no immediately recognizable cause may actually suffer from a commonly misdiagnosed disorder.
Learning more about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a genetic condition that impacts how the body processes collagen. Collagen makes up about 30 percent of the human body, which means symptoms of the syndrome may be felt in multiple places. However, it is often difficult for patients in New York and elsewhere to be diagnosed with the condition because its symptoms may be seen as localized issues. For example, knee pain may be diagnosed as tendinitis while a shoulder issue may be seen as bursitis.
Molecular imaging finds cancers missed by mammograms
According to a new study in the August edition of the American Journal of Roentgenology, molecular breast imaging can locate cancers that mammograms miss. The research could improve breast cancer outcomes for women in New York and nationwide, particularly those who have dense breast tissue.
About 1 in 5 Alzheimer’s patients don’t have the disease
Many New York residents who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease may not actually have the disease, according to studies by researchers from the Mayo Clinic and the Keenan Research Center for Biomedical Science at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. About 20 percent of Alzheimer’s diagnoses are incorrect, and patients who have been misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease may actually have conditions like dementia and brain atrophy.
Mini-stroke sufferers could experience lasting impacts
New Yorkers who sustain minor strokes, also known as transient ischemic attacks may be at higher risk for other ailments. TIAs involve the partial stoppage of circulation to the brain, and they may be associated with stroke-like symptoms that appear to dissipate within 24 hours. A 2016 study published by scientists at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. found that patients who had survived TIA incidents were more likely to later visit the doctor for problems like depression, anxiety, fatigue or cognitive difficulties.
Understanding the bladder condition of interstitial cystitis
New York residents may be interested in learning more about a troublesome bladder condition known as interstitial cystitis or “painful bladder syndrome.” While many people, including physicians, are unfamiliar with the condition, it is a disease that affects roughly 3 percent of women and 1 percent of men throughout the world. However, because many people who suffer from interstitial cystitis are often wrongly diagnosed, the numbers could be significantly higher.
Misdiagnosing some serious diseases
New York patients struggling to receive a correct diagnosis may face problems. Some illnesses are misdiagnosed at a much higher rate than others, such as celiac disease, Lyme disease and endometriosis. These three conditions require an elimination of symptoms, which means that patients are often inappropriately diagnosed multiple times before the correct diagnosis is arrived at.
Google working on new test for eye diseases
Many New Yorkers lose their vision because of developing diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. Both of these eye diseases are often misdiagnosed by doctors. This is unfortunate because researchers say that if these two diseases were properly diagnosed early in the disease process, 98 percent of people who have diabetes could save their vision and avoid blindness.
New York patients and differences between PsA and OA
New Yorkers who suffer from psoriatic arthritis or osteoarthritis should understand the differences between these conditions. While both mostly affect individuals over the age of 40, osteoarthritis primarily affects cartilage. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects the joints as well as the skin. Sufferers of psoriatic arthritis often experience red patches of swollen skin with uncomfortable scales.