Muscle Cramp

- sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of muscles that cause

intense pain.
- harmless but can make it temporarily impossible to use the affected muscle
Cause: > Long periods of exercise or physical labor particularly in hot weather
> Some medications and certain medical conditions
Treat : # Stretch and relax the muscle affected
Prevent : - Avoid dehydration
- Stretch the muscles when muscles start to tense

Muscular Dystrophy
- refers to a group of muscle disorders in which the face, arm, leg, spine, or
heart muscles gradually shrink and weaken over time.
Types: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, Becker's muscular
dystrophy,
facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, the limb-girdle muscular
dystrophy,
Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, oculopharyngeal dystrophy, distal
muscular dystrophy
mitochondrial myopathies.
#The different types are distinguished by factors such as the:

age at which symptoms usually start

pattern of muscle weakness

speed at which the disease progresses

involvement of other tissues besides muscle

pattern of inheritance

>Symptoms :

problems with coordination and mobility with frequent falls

muscle weakness

joint stiffness

Oseteoporosis
- The inside of a normal bone has small spaces, like a honeycomb.
Osteoporosis increases the size of these spaces so that the bones lose
strength and density. At the same time, the outside of the bone also grows
weaker and thinner.
- People with osteoporosis are at a high risk of suffering fractures while
engaged in routine activities like standing or walking.
#Cause :
The biggest risk factor for osteoporosis is age. As people grow older, the body goes
through the process of breaking down old bone and growing new bone in its place.
Around the age of 30, however, the body starts losing bone faster than it is able to
replace it. In women, going through menopause can cause the body to lose bone
even more quickly for a period of time. Men continue to lose bone during this time,
but at a slower rate. By the age of 65 to 70, women and men are usually losing
bone at the same rate.
Other risk factors include:

being female

being older

being Caucasian or Asian

family history/genetics

poor nutrition

physical inactivity

smoking

taking certain medications

low body weight and/or small-boned frame

>> There are no symptoms or warning signs of the early stages of osteoporosis. In
most cases, people with osteoporosis are unaware that they have the condition until
they experience a fracture.
Some spinal fractures may occur without initial pain. In these cases, the chief
symptoms that a fracture has occurred may be loss of height or a bent spine.

Treat :
The most common drugs used to treat osteoporosis are called bisphosphonates
such as Fosamax, Boniva, and Reclast. Bisphosphonates are used to prevent the
loss of bone mass. They may be taken orally or by injection.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the following treatments are also available:

In men, testosterone therapy may help increase bone density.

For women, estrogen used during and after menopause can help stop bone
density loss. Estrogen therapy has also, unfortunately, been associated with
increased risk of blood clots, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

One alternative medication, raloxifene (Evista), has been found to provide the
benefits of estrogen without many of the risks, although there is still an
increased risk of blood clots.

Other medications sometimes used in the treatment of osteoporosis include:

denosumab, which is taken by injection, may prove even more promising

than bisphosphonates at reducing bone loss

teriparatide, which is also taken by injection and stimulates bone growth

calcitonin, which is taken as a nasal spray and reduces bone reabsorption

Prevent :

getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D

engaging in weight-bearing exercises such as walking or lifting weights
stopping cigarette use
limiting caffeine to three cups of coffee per day or the equivalent
for women, weighing the pros and cons of hormone therapy

Arthritis
- Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. A joint is the area where two
bones meet. There are over 100 different types of arthritis.
> Common types of arthritis include:

Ankylosing spondylitis

Gonococcal arthritis

Gout

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)

Other bacterial infections (nongonococcal bacterial arthritis)

Psoriatic arthritis

Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)

Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)

Scleroderma

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

#Cause :
- Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects a joint,
allowing it to move smoothly. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed
on the joint, such as when you walk. Without the normal amount of cartilage, the
bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.
Joint inflammation may result from:

An autoimmune disease (the body's immune system mistakenly attacks

healthy tissue)

Broken bone

General "wear and tear" on joints

Infection, usually by bacteria or virus

Symptoms :

Joint pain

Joint swelling

Reduced ability to move the joint

Redness of the skin around a joint

Stiffness, especially in the morning

Warmth around a joint

Treat :
lifestyle changes
prescriptions and medicines
surgery or other treatment

Prevent :
Early diagnosis and treatment can
help prevent joint damage. If you
have a family history of arthritis,
tell your doctor, even if you do
not have joint pain.
Avoiding excessive, repeated
motions may help protect you