Monday, April 5, 2010
For years, doctors have observed that patients with one illness may be stricken by another condition that's seemingly unrelated and sometimes more serious, known as a "shadow disease." One of the most well-known is the connection between migraines and heart attack or stroke. Now researchers are uncovering even more linked ailments and zeroing in on why they appear to travel in pairs.It's difficult enough to deal with one type of chronic disease, but it's possible having one disease might raise the risk of developing another. Researchers are learning more about "shadow" diseases.
Studies show that these couplings occur for different reasons. In some cases, one disease creates damage that causes the second illness. In others, troublesome genes or poor health behaviors, such as smoking or lack of exercise, trigger one problem, then the other. Being alert to the following dangerous connections can help you avoid the shadow disease or get early diagnosis and treatment, leading to a better outcome.
Migraine
Its Shadow: Stroke or Heart Attack
If you regularly suffer from migraine pain (especially if you develop auras, which are visual or sensory phenomena that accompany the headache), your doctor has probably warned you about your susceptibility to heart attack or stroke. Frequency matters. If you have fewer than one migraine a month, you're 50 percent more likely to have a heart attack than nonsufferers.
Protect yourself: Unfortunately, existing research has not yet found that preventing migraines has the effect of lowering stroke or heart attack odds. However, by keeping your cardiovascular system as healthy as possible, you diminish your chance of a cardiac event, according to the National Stroke Association. To do this, control known hazards, such as high cholesterol and obesity, via diet and exercise. You should also quit smoking and limit alcohol intake.
Endometriosis
Its Shadow: Melanoma
A huge, study confirmed that women with endometriosis (in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the womb) are 62 percent more likely to suffer from melanoma. Researchers are unsure why endometriosis and the deadly skin cancer sometimes travel together, but one possibility is a genetic defect that triggers both conditions.
Protect yourself: If you have endometriosis, ask your doctor to scan your skin for melanoma advises.
High Blood Pressure
Its Shadow: Diabetes
Doctors have long wondered how high blood pressure and diabetes are related, because the two often appear together, especially in obese patients. Constantly elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, doubles your risk of developing diabetes, regardless of your BMI.
Protect yourself: If you have mild hypertension or are at risk for this problem, get tested for diabetes. You can help prevent onset of diabetes with lifestyle changes: Increase your physical activity, lose excess weight, limit salt, and stub out those cigarettes for good, suggests Conen.
Psoriasis
Its Shadow: Heart Attack
The rough, itchy patches of psoriasis are more than uncomfortable and unsightly: They may increase your odds of a heart attack, concludes a study that followed half a million people for 5 years. The risk of a cardiac emergency was related to the severity of the psoriasis, serious cases of the skin ailment could mean a more than doubled heart attack risk.
Protect yourself: Will controlling the skin disease diminish the inflammation that can cause a heart attack? New psoriasis medications are including Amevive (generic name alefacept). They're made from living sources, much as vaccines are. They may work, even if past treatments failed.
Metabolic Syndrome
Its Shadow: Kidney Stones
Metabolic syndrome is a serious health condition associated with coronary heart attacks, diabetes, and even early death. Excess abdominal fat, high blood triglycerides, low HDL (which is the good cholesterol), high blood pressure, and impaired glucose tolerance.
Protect yourself: Obesity is a key player in both metabolic syndrome and kidney stones, perhaps because overweight people are likely to consume excess protein and sodium, which may cause the painful crystals to develop. Your waistline reduces one of the metabolic syndrome traits and may diminish your chances of getting kidney stones.
Asthma
Its Shadow: Depression and Anxiety Disorders
Breathing difficulties may cause anxiety or even depression. Or psychological problems may make asthma worse.
Protect yourself: If you know you have either asthma or mental health problems and suspect you have the other, get tested for it. Seek help for any confirmed illnesses so you don't find yourself in a downward spiral, with each condition exacerbating the other one.
posted by emedinfo
@10:28 PM
permanent link |
|
| Bookmark & Share |
|
<< Home