#Kidney disorder treatment

[priyaveda]

Obesity Treatment in Pune

Achieve sustainable weight loss with Ayurvedic obesity treatment at Priya Veda in Pune. Our holistic approach focuses on balancing metabolism, reducing fat accumulation, and promoting overall well-being. Experience personalized diet plans, herbal supplements, and lifestyle modifications to reach your weight loss goals in Pune.

[westlinnanimalhospital]

Common Conditions Treated in Pets with Veterinary Acupuncture

Acupuncture for pets is becoming an increasingly popular choice among pet owners seeking holistic and natural approaches to animal health care. This ancient practice, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate healing and relieve pain. Pet acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of conditions, enhancing the quality of life for many furry companions. In this blog, we'll explore some of the most common conditions that acupuncture can treat in animals.

Common Conditions Treated with Veterinary Acupuncture

1. Arthritis and Joint Pain

One of the most common uses of acupuncture for pets is the treatment of arthritis and joint pain. As pets age, they often develop osteoarthritis, leading to stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility. Acupuncture can help alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and improve joint function. Regular acupuncture sessions can make a significant difference in the comfort and mobility of senior pets, allowing them to enjoy a better quality of life.

2. Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition that affects the hip joints, causing pain and mobility issues. It is particularly common in large dog breeds. Pet acupuncture can be an effective treatment option for managing the pain and discomfort associated with hip dysplasia. By targeting specific acupuncture points, this therapy can help reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and enhance overall joint function.

3. Digestive Issues

Digestive problems, such as chronic diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting, can be distressing for both pets and their owners. Acupuncture can help regulate the digestive system, promote better gastrointestinal function, and alleviate discomfort. This natural approach can be particularly beneficial for pets with sensitive stomachs or those who have not responded well to conventional treatments.

4. Anxiety and Stress

Just like humans, pets can experience anxiety and stress. Whether it's due to separation anxiety, loud noises, or changes in their environment, these emotional issues can significantly impact a pet's well-being. Acupuncture for pets can help calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and promote a sense of relaxation. This treatment can be especially helpful for pets with behavioral issues or those undergoing stressful situations, such as moving to a new home or adapting to a new family member.

5. Chronic Pain Management

Pets suffering from chronic pain due to conditions like intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), cancer, or post-surgical recovery can benefit from acupuncture. This therapy helps manage pain without the need for heavy medication, making it a safe option for long-term pain management. By stimulating the body's natural pain-relief mechanisms, acupuncture can provide relief and improve the overall quality of life for pets with chronic pain.

6. Allergies and Skin Conditions

Acupuncture can also be beneficial for pets with allergies and skin conditions. Conditions like atopic dermatitis, flea allergies, and food allergies can cause significant discomfort and itching. Pet acupuncture can help boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and promote healing of the skin. This treatment can be used in conjunction with other therapies to provide comprehensive care for pets with persistent skin issues.

7. Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is a common condition in older cats and dogs. Acupuncture can support kidney function, improve circulation, and enhance overall health. While it may not cure kidney disease, acupuncture can help manage symptoms, reduce discomfort, and slow the progression of the disease.

8. Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders such as seizures, neuropathy, and degenerative myelopathy can be challenging to manage with conventional treatments alone. Acupuncture can offer a complementary approach to traditional treatments, helping to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures, improve nerve function, and support the overall neurological health of pets.

Choosing the Right Veterinary Care for Your Pet

When considering acupuncture for your pet, it is essential to choose a qualified and experienced veterinarian. Cascade Summit Animal Hospital offers professional pet acupuncture services, ensuring your pet receives the best possible care. Their team of skilled veterinarians is trained in both conventional and holistic treatments, providing a balanced approach to your pet's health care needs.

Conclusion

Acupuncture for pets offers a natural and effective way to manage a variety of common conditions, from arthritis and hip dysplasia to anxiety and chronic pain. By targeting specific points on the body, acupuncture can stimulate healing, reduce pain, and improve overall well-being. If you're looking for a holistic approach to your pet's health, consider the benefits of pet acupuncture. Cascade Summit Animal Hospital is dedicated to providing comprehensive care, including acupuncture, to help your pet live a happier, healthier life. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian to determine if acupuncture is the right treatment option for your furry friend.

[sugunahospital1]

Discovering Healthcare Excellence in Bangalore: Suguna Hospital

Bangalore, the bustling Silicon Valley of India, is domestic to some of the finest healthcare facilities in the United States of America. Among those, Suguna Hospital stands proud of its awesome services throughout a wide range of specialties. Whether you're in want of urgent medical attention, specialized kidney care, or habitual fitness checkups, Suguna Hospital offers complete answers to fulfill your healthcare wishes.

Best Accident & Emergency Hospital in Bangalore

When it comes to emergency care, time is of the essence. Suguna Hospital has a state-of-the-art accident and emergency department equipped with the latest technology and a team of highly trained staff The round-the-clock operations of the hospital ensure that patients receive prompt and effective care at times in the essential. With rapid diagnosis and immediate treatment, Suguna Hospital is known for its efficiency in emergency medical care.

Kidney Transplant Hospital, Bangalore

Suguna Hospital is the first kidney transplant center in Bangalore. The hospital offers a comprehensive kidney transplant program, supported by a team of experienced nephrologists, urologists and transplant surgeons With advanced operating rooms and post-operative care facilities enter the facility to ensure the best outcomes for patients. Rigorous pre-transplant screening and a rigorous follow-up program further increase clinical success rates in renal transplantation.

Dialysis unit in the hospital

For patients with chronic kidney disease, Suguna Hospital offers a dedicated dialysis unit that provides hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis The unit is designed to provide high quality care in a comfortable and hygienic environment. The staff includes experienced urologists and trained dialysis specialists who ensure each activity is safe and effective. The hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care is evident in the individualized treatment plans and compassionate support provided to dialysis patients

Gastric Disorder Treatment in Bangalore

Suguna Hospital also excels in treating gastroenteritis. The hospital's Department of Gastroenterology offers comprehensive gastrointestinal diagnosis and treatment for many gastrointestinal conditions. From acid reflux and ulcers to more serious issues like Crohn's disease and colorectal cancer, the team of gastroenterologists use state-of-the-art techniques to provide effective treatment Endoscopy, colonoscopy and simple surgeries many include many services available to patients.

Full body checkup in Bangalore

Preventative health care is an important part of long-term health, and Suguna Clinic offers comprehensive full-body screenings designed to detect health problems early These screenings include screenings and evaluations types tailored to a person's age, sex and health history. The hospital’s modern diagnostic facilities ensure accurate results, and the medical team provides comprehensive advice to help patients understand their health status and take proactive steps towards a healthier future in the wombs.

Best ENT Hospital in Bangalore

Suguna Hospital is also recognized as one of the best ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) hospitals in Bangalore. The ENT Department offers a wide range of services including treatment for tinnitus, sinusitis, voice disorders and head and neck cancer Clinic ENT specialists have the latest diagnostic equipment and surgical techniques whereby patients receive high quality care for all their ENT needs They receive it

Why choose Suguna Hospital?

Suguna Hospital’s reputation for excellent healthcare is based on advanced technology, skilled staff and a patient-first approach From emergency to primary care the hospital’s comprehensive services ensure consumption all your healthcare needs under one roof. Whether you are seeking emergency treatment or regular healthcare, Suguna Clinic is your trusted partner in health and wellness.

Visit Suguna Hospital and experience the difference in quality healthcare. Your health is their priority.

[advancedurologyandregeneration]

Easing the Pain: Your Essential Guide to Understanding and Treating Kidney Stones with Dr. Bivek Kumar

Kidney stones can be a source of intense pain and discomfort, affecting millions each year. Dr. Bivek Kumar is leading the charge with innovative Kidney Stone Treatment In Kolkata, offering hope and relief to those suffering. This guide provides an in-depth look at kidney stones, including their causes, symptoms, advanced treatments, and some commonly asked questions to help you navigate this painful condition.

What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Although stones can form in any part of your urinary tract, they are most commonly found in the kidneys. These stones can vary in size, and while smaller stones may pass unnoticed in urine, larger ones can block urine flow and cause significant pain and complications.

Causes of Kidney Stones

Understanding the causes is the first step in prevention. Here are some common factors that can increase your risk of developing kidney stones:

Dehydration: Not drinking enough water is perhaps the most significant risk factor.

Diet: High intake of protein, sodium, and oxalate-rich foods can contribute.

Obesity: High BMI, large waist size, and weight gain.

Medical conditions: Gout, diabetes, high blood pressure.

Supplements and medications: Vitamin C, dietary supplements, certain medications.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

The symptoms of kidney stones can be quite debilitating. Here are the key signs to watch for:

Severe pain: The most noticeable symptom.

Other urinary symptoms: Discolored urine, foul-smelling urine.

Nausea and vomiting.

Fever and chills.

Advanced Treatments: Focusing on Laser Technology

Dr. Bivek Kumar in Kolkata utilizes the latest in kidney stone disorder treatment, specifically kidney stone laser treatment, to provide effective relief to patients. This advanced technique, known as laser lithotripsy, uses a high-intensity laser beam to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces that can easily pass through the urinary tract.

Benefits of Laser Treatment

Minimally Invasive.

Precision.

Quick Recovery.

Effective for Various Stone Types.

FAQs on Kidney Stones and Treatment

Q1: Can drinking water help prevent kidney stones?

A1: Yes, staying hydrated is one of the most effective ways to prevent kidney stones.

Q2: How long does it take to recover from kidney stone laser treatment?

A2: Recovery times can vary, but most patients can resume normal activities within a couple of days after the treatment.

Q3: Are there any dietary changes I can make to prevent kidney stones?

A3: Yes, reducing sodium intake, limiting animal proteins, and consuming foods rich in calcium can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Q4: How effective is laser treatment compared to other methods?

A4: Laser treatment is very effective, especially for stones that are too large to pass on their own.

Conclusion

Kidney stones, while painful, are treatable, and with the advancements in medical technology such as kidney stone laser treatment in Kolkata provided by Dr. Bivek Kumar, patients can expect effective and efficient care. It’s crucial to consult with healthcare providers like Dr. Bivek Kumar early if you suspect you have kidney stones to avoid complications and to discuss the best treatment options available for your specific situation. Remember, early intervention is key to managing kidney stones effectively and painlessly.

[khoslastonekidneycentre]

These Urinary Tract Disorders Are Serious Health Concerns

The symptoms of any urology illness distress the body too much. Usually, the affected person finds difficulty while urinating. Increased urge to urinate puts the patient in uncomfortable situations frequently. In such severe cases, self-diagnosing works rarely. Instead, try to approach a famous Urologist in Ludhiana.

Their expertise can quickly resolve the following serious urology diseases :

Bladder infections

Enlarged Prostate

Incontinence

Kidney Infections

One can find a reliable urology care expert at Khosla Stone Kidney & Surgical Centre, an accredited Urology Hospital in Punjab. Go for the appointment booking immediately to avoid any further damage to the urinary system.

Khosla Stone Kidney & Surgical Centre — Urologist In Ludhiana — Dr. Rajesh Khosla

Address: 451, Khosla Hospital, Near, Char Khamba Chowk, Model Town, Ludhiana, Punjab 141002

Contact: 09815825257

[cripplecharacters]

Disabilities that You Should Consider Representing in Your Writing More… part 1

[large text: Disabilities that You Should Consider Representing in Your Writing More… part 1]

While all disabilities are underrepresented in basically all sorts of media, it’s hard to not notice the trend in what disabilities make up the majority of representation. It’s especially visible when having a blog like this, where we can see what disabilities writers even consider including in their writing, and which ones never come up.

One in four people are disabled. With eight billion people alive it means there’s a lot of disabled people, and a lot of reasons why they are disabled in the first place - but this diversity is rarely represented, even on this blog, and anyone who has been following for a while has probably noticed that fact.

To be blunt: there are disabilities other than “amputee” and “(otherwise invisibly disabled) mobility aid user”. Does that mean that it’s wrong to write either of those? Of course not, and we don’t want to imply that it is. Does it mean that either of these have a ton of good representation? Hell no. Does it mean that when you are deciding on what to give your character, you should think beyond (or along! people can be multiply disabled!) just those two? Absolutely. Disability is a spectrum with thousands of things in it - don’t limit yourself for no reason and embrace the diversity that’s built into it instead. 

This is, simply, a list of common disabilities. This is just a few of them, as this is part one of presumably many (or, at least three as of right now). By “common” we rather arbitrarily decided on “~1% or more” - so at least 1 in 100 people has the disabilities below, which is a lot. Featuring!: links that you should click, sources of the % that are mostly just medical reports and might be hard to read, and quick, very non-exhaustive explanations to give you a basic idea of what these are. 

Intellectual disability (about 1.5%) Intellectual disability is a condition we have written about at length before. It’s a developmental disability that affects things such as conceptualization, language, problem-solving, or social and self-care skills. ID can exist on its own or be a part of another condition, like Down Syndrome, Congenital Iodine Deficiency, or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. This post covers a lot of basic information that you might need. We have an intellectual disability tag that you can look through!

Cancer survivors (5.4% in the US, about 0.55% worldwide) A cancer survivor is a pretty self-explanatory term. There is a lot of types of cancer and some of them are very common while others are very rare, which makes this a very diverse category. Cancers also have different survival rates. While not every survivor will have disabling symptoms, they definitely happen. Most of the long-term side effects are related to chemotherapy, radiation, and other medication, especially if they happened in children. They can include all sorts of organ damage, osteoporosis, cognitive problems, sensory disabilities, infertility, and increased rate of other cancers. Other effects include removal of the affected area, such as an eye, a spleen, breasts, or the thyroid gland, each of which will have different outcomes. Cancer, and cancer treatments, can also result in PTSD.

Diabetes (about 8.5%, ~95% of that are type 2) Diabetes is a group of endocrine conditions that cause hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) for various reasons depending on the type. The vast majority of people have type 2 diabetes, which can cause fatigue, poor healing, or feeling thirsty or hungry. A diabetic person will use insulin when needed to help manage their blood sugar levels. There are many complications related to diabetes, from neuropathy, to retinopathy, and chronic kidney disease, and there's a lot of disabilities that coexist with diabetes in general! You might want to check out the #how to write type 1 diabetes tag by @type1diabetesinfandom!

Disabling vision loss (about 7.5%) Blindness and low vision are a spectrum, ranging from total blindness (around 10% of legally blind people) to mild visual impairment. Blindness can be caused by countless things, but cataracts, refractive errors, and glaucoma are the most common. While cataracts cause the person to have a clouded pupil (not the whole eye!) blind eyes usually look average, with strabismus or nystagmus being exceptions to that fairly often (but not always). Trauma isn't a common cause of blindness, and accidents are overrepresented in fiction. A blind person can use a white cane, a guide dog or horse, or both. Assistive solutions are important here, such as Braille, screenreaders, or magnifying glasses. We have a blindness tag that you can look through, and you might want to check out @blindbeta and @mimzy-writing-online.

Psoriasis (about 2-4%) Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition with multiple subtypes; it can cause intense itching, pain, and general discomfort, and often carries social stigma. It’s an autoimmune and non-contagious disability that affects the skin cells, resulting in raised patches of flaky skin covered with scales. It often (30%) leads to a related condition, psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain, tenderness, and fatigue, among other things.

Stroke survivors (0.5-1%) A stroke survivor is a person who has survived any kind of stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic, etc.). While the specific symptoms often depend on the exact location on where the stroke happened, signs such as hemiplegia, slurred speech, vision problems, and cognitive changes are common in most survivors to some degree. When someone has a stroke as a baby, or before they are born, it can result in cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other disabilities. We have a brain injury tag that you can look through!

Noonan Syndrome (about 0.1-1% - mild is 1%, severe 0.1%) Noonan Syndrome is a disability that is almost never mentioned in any context, but certainly not around the topic of writing disabled characters. It’s a congenital condition that can cause cardiomyopathy, chronic joint pain, hypermobility, short stature, facial differences such as ptosis, autism, and various lymphatic problems among other things. Some people with Noonan Syndrome might use mobility aids to help with their joint pain.

Hyperthyroidism (about 1.2%) Hyperthyroidism is a condition of the endocrine system caused by hormone overproduction that affects metabolism. It often results in irritability, weight loss, heat intolerance, tremors, mood swings, or insomnia. Undertreated hyperthyroidism has a rare, but extremely dangerous side effect associated with it called a thyroid storm, which can be fatal if untreated.

Hypothyroidism (>5%) Hypothyroidism is an endocrine condition just as hyperthyroidism is, and it causes somewhat opposite symptoms. Due to not producing enough thyroid hormones, it often causes fatigue, depression, hair loss, weight gain, and a frequent feeling of being cold. It’s often comorbid with other autoimmune disabilities, e.g. vitiligo, chronic autoimmune gastritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Extreme hypothyroidism can also be potentially fatal because of a condition known as Myxedema coma (or “crisis”), which is also rare.

Deafblindness (about 0.2-2%) Being DeafBlind is often considered to be an extremely rare disability, but that’s not really the case. DeafBlindness on its own isn’t a diagnosis - it can be caused by a wide range of things, with CHARGE syndrome (congenital), Usher syndrome (born deaf, becomes blind later in life), congenital rubella, and age-related deafness and blindness being some of the most common reasons. DeafBlindness is a wide spectrum, the vast majority of DeafBlind people aren’t fully blind and deaf, and they can use various ways of communication. Some of these could be sign language (tactile or not), protactile, the deafblind manual, oral speech (aided by hearing aids or not), the Lorm alphabet, and more. You can learn more about assistive devices here! Despite what various media like to tell you, being DeafBlind isn’t a death sentence, and the DeafBlind community and culture are alive and thriving - especially since the start of the protactile movement. We have a DeafBlindness tag that you can look through!

It’s probably worth mentioning that we have received little to no asks in general for almost all the disabilities above, and it’s certainly not due to what mods answer for. Our best guess is that writers don’t realize how many options they have and just end up going for the same things over and over.

Only representing “cool” disabilities that are “not too much while having a particular look/aura/drama associated” isn’t what you should aim for. Disabled people just exist, and all of us deserve to be represented, including those whose disabilities aren’t your typical “cool design” or “character inspo”. Sometimes we are just regular people, with disabilities that are “boring” or “too much”, and don’t make for useful plot points.

mod Sasza (with huge thank yous to mod Sparrow, Rot, and Virus for their contributions with research and data!)

[leitmotif]

born into this world to eat pickles cursed with the burden of a kidney disorder

[bluebliss1]

[lexingtonrenalcare]

Dr. Hazem Kakaji, MD, obtained a certification in both Internal Medicine and Nephrology from the American Board of Internal Medicine. Lexington Renal Care Doctor for kidney disease He is located in Lexington, KY, and has over 25 years of experience in the medical field.

[priyaveda]

Coronary Heart Disease Treatment in Pune

Protect your heart health with Ayurvedic treatment for coronary heart disease at Priya Veda in Pune. Our holistic approach aims to improve cardiovascular function, reduce risk factors, and promote heart health naturally. Experience personalized care, dietary guidance, and stress management techniques for a healthy heart in Pune.

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - September 11, 2023

Sorry for not sending last week's issue as I got covid again :/ I passed it, so here's the best things that happened last week :)

1. The IRS plans to crack down on 1,600 millionaires to collect millions of dollars in back taxes

The IRS announced on Friday it is launching an effort to aggressively pursue 1,600 millionaires and 75 large business partnerships that owe hundreds of millions of dollars in past due taxes. The newly announced tax collection effort will begin as soon as October. “We have more hiring to do,” Werfel said. “It’s going to be a very busy fall for us.”

2. The NGO African Parks announced it would purchase the world’s largest population of privately owned white rhinos

Africa’s beleaguered rhinos have been thrown a significant lifeline with the announcement that nearly 2,000 semi-wild rhinos owned by South African rhino breeder John Hume will be “rewilded” into reserves across South Africa and other parts of the continent over the next 10 years.

3. Mexico supreme court decriminalizes abortion across country

Mexico’s supreme court has unanimously ruled that state laws prohibiting abortion are unconstitutional and violate women’s rights, in the latest in a series of victories for reproductive rights activists across Latin America.

Wednesday’s ruling came two years after the court ordered the northern state of Coahuila to remove sanctions for abortion from its criminal code, a decision which prompted a tortuous state-by-state process of legal battles. So far 12 of Mexico’s 31 states have decriminalized the procedure.

4. The first human organ created inside an animal opens the door to manufacturing ‘spare parts’ for people

It is a historic image. A team of researchers in China has successfully generated a blueprint of a human organ in another animal for the first time. The experiment, conducted with humanized kidneys in pig embryos, represents a step toward the still-distant dream of using other mammals as source of organs for transplants.

5. Study Shows a Single Dose of Psilocybin's Astonishing Impact on Depression and Could Change Medical Treatments of Mental Health Forever

Psychedelics are making a comeback, and this time, they're dressed in the respectable garb of clinical research. Recent studies have reignited interest in these substances, particularly psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, as a potent treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD).

6. Missing cat reunited with owner after it disappeared during Alaska flooding

Twenty-six days after he went missing, an adorable black and white cat named Leo has been reunited with his family. Brave Leo went missing after historic glacial flooding swept away his home and all his owner's belongings.

7. Dogs perform Mozart with orchestra in Denmark

A classical music festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, has opened with some canine additions to the orchestra.

---

That's it for this week :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation here:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Also don’t forget to reblog this post with your friends.

[raythekiller]

🗒 ❛ Personality Headcanons ༉‧₊˚✧

Featuring: Jeff The Killer, Ben Drowned, Ticci Toby, Eyeless Jack, Masky, Hoodie

#Notes: just my general take on the creeps. hope y'all enjoy! requests open :)

˗ˏˋ back to navigation ´ˎ˗

꒰⸝⸝₊⛓┊Jeff The Killer

He's a total fucking prick, for a lack of better word. He doesn't care about other's feelings, he thinks he's better than everyone so he's "allowed" to treat people badly, and he has anger issues to top that. Protesting against his bad treatment is gonna earn you some screaming at best and some blood spilled at worst, depending entirely on his mood.

He has the potential to be a good friend and person in general, he just doesn't want to. However, you might catch him trying to awkwardly comfort Toby or Ben when they have mental breakdowns. Well, not as much "comfort" but more of a shy pat on the back and a "Stop being a little bitch" comment, but that's his way of showing that he cares. Take it or leave.

꒰⸝⸝₊⛓┊Ben Drowned

Generally a pretty chill guy. He's not an extrovert, but he's still fairly outgoing when it comes to meeting new people (when he does leave his room, that is. He's kind of a shut in). Since he died when he was about twelve, I think he's forever stuck into the pre-pubescent boy mentality, so he can be quite the little shit.

That means he's also kind of a pervert and just immature in general. The type to play certain games just to gawk at the female character's slutty outfits and make fart jokes. He can also be very sarcastic and witty when he wants to, just a total smartass. Also, he's a pothead.

꒰⸝⸝₊⛓┊Ticci Toby

Probably one of, if not the nicest creep in the manor. Very upbeat and cheerful, at least most of the time. As someone that has bipolar disorder, it personally doesn't make me very violent and as unstable as Toby is canonically said to be. What does make me does things though is my BPD, so I headcanon he has that as well. He's all sunshine and rainbows until someone says something in a slightly off tone and suddenly he's screaming and throwing his hatchets at the fucking wall.

That also means he's extremely clingy. He wants every last bit of attention he can get and is extremely possessive of people he likes. And, while he is nice most of the time, when he's having an episode he's probably the most cold and cruel person you'll ever met.

꒰⸝⸝₊⛓┊Eyeless Jack

One of the most chill creeps. He's not aggressive and kills only when he needs to eat, and tries to make it quick and painless for the victim. He eats any organs, not just kidneys. Also, he's a fucking great cook, Hannibal Lecter style. He really likes reading and is extremely intelligent, probably knows two or more languages, and is probably the most mature member of the manor after Slenderman.

He's not actually blind, but he's not not blind either. He sees the temperature of things instead of the actual object. He hates drama and argument and loud noises, so he normally stays away from the other creeps (especially our favorite trio, Jeff, Ben and Toby), but he gets along really well with Jane.

꒰⸝⸝₊⛓┊Masky

Another prick, though a more reserved one than Jeff. He's a perfectionist and natural leader, so he expects everyone to obey him without questions and no mistakes allowed. He has this rivalry going on with Toby because, even though he's the leader and Slenderman's right hand, he feels the tall guy has a certain favoritism or soft spot when it comes to Toby (which is true).

He gets very aggressive after missions and just wants to be left alone for at least a few hours, just until he calms down a little. After he's rested, he's actually pretty decent to be around, becoming less defensive and more accepting of others.

꒰⸝⸝₊⛓┊Hoodie

The coolest guy ever. He's calm but great to be around and is always willing to listen to others when they need to vent. He's kind of the manor's therapist and gives great advice. He's mute, so he talks either through sign language or writing down on paper. He also plays guitar and likes to write his own songs sometimes. Ben and Sally really look up to him as a kind of cool uncle.

Since he's so level headed, he's always the one to calm Masky down when he's being a bit much. Toby really appreciates this, since he's normally getting the short end of Masky's bad moods. As mentioned, he's great with the younger members of the manor and just kids in general and they all love him. The type of uncle to give them candy while saying "Don't tell your parents" playfully.

[scientia-rex]

Hysteria isn't a fucking thing

ok fun fact: I'm rapidly becoming a cult favorite doctor among our local privileged elderly white ladies, which I have mixed feelings about, but the #1 reason is that I just don't leap to "anxiety" as an explanation for symptoms unless the patient tells me "I am anxious, and then I feel these symptoms, and when I am not anxious, I don't feel these symptoms."

The sheer number of women I've seen who've been told for years to decades that the only thing wrong with them is anxiety is fucking staggering, in this Year Of Our Lord 2023, and I just keep digging. We checked a basic lab panel, sure. CBC. No anemia. CMP. Kidneys are fine. (Electrolytes are basically always going to be fine if someone is well enough to walk into my office under their own power to talk to me. Exception is mild chronic hyponatremia.) And we check thyroid. TSH and free T4. We check blood sugar. A1c, if the fasting is a little weird. Fasting insulin, if I'm still suspicious. We check cortisol. Inflammatory markers--ESR and CRP.

And eventually, if the symptoms support it, or right away, depending on my level of suspicion, we check rheumatological labs for abnormal autoimmune function. Anti-nuclear antibody. Rheumatoid factor. There's at least a dozen you can check, and which ones you should check is always a matter of debate and also of expertise that I 100% lack. We are out in the sticks. There are no "local" rheumatologists for me to send people to.

But a couple of weeks ago I found a woman--she has bipolar disorder and has been told for decades that's all that's wrong with her--who has an anti-centromere antibody titer that's fucking through the roof. I found an anxious 19-year-old with an ANA of 1:1380. And yesterday I found out why a sweet elderly woman I've seen for a year or two now started feeling crappy months ago: her rheumatoid factor is over 90.

Rheumatological disorders are always difficult. Our understanding of them varies from "pretty good, actually, and here are useful treatments" to "Well I Guess That Exists." Labs aren't always a slam-dunk and even labs plus symptoms can give you misleading impressions. Your immune system can decide that virtually any short chunk of protein is an enemy, and the problem with that is that your body is made up of many, many, many short chunks of proteins, so the odds that you'll develop some kind of antibody against yourself just keeps going up over your lifetime. Immune disorders tend to travel in packs; there's a clear genetic element to it, so the more first-degree relatives (parent, sibling, child) you have with any kind of autoimmune disorder (including Type 1 diabetes), the higher your risk of any kind of autoimmune disorder is, and if you already have one autoimmune disorder, you're at higher risk for developing another one.

But I think it's precisely because they're difficult that a lot of mainstream primary care prefers to pretend they don't exist, rather than try to sift through the utter fucking mess that is Mixed Connective Tissue Disorders, a title that has fallen out of favor since I learned it in my third year of med school. And women are at higher risk for autoimmune disorders than men. And older women are at higher risk than younger women.

So if I, as a family doc, just keep digging, just keep poking at the tangled knot of symptoms, there's a decent chance I will uncover something interesting. Hopefully something treatable. Sometimes we have nothing to treat with, and I just get to offer someone more understanding of their disorder, which feels pretty paltry but is better than the casual dismissal of "You're just anxious."

Never, ever, ever take anxiety as a diagnosis for a symptom other than anxiety. Not even as a rule-out. Keep those symptoms as an open question mark on the patient. Don't say "anxiety" just so you can close the door. And damn sure don't do it to women.

I'm actively working on learning more so I can be more helpful, in our Rheum-less community, so if you have good lectures or books, please drop me a lead.

[kira-akira]

Bernie Sanders Introduces Long COVID Moonshot Legislation

This legislation "provides $1 billion in mandatory funding per year for 10 years to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support Long COVID research, the urgent pursuit of treatments, and the expansion of care for patients across the country." Announcement on Sander's twitter and the Long COVID Moonshot website.

This announcement references the number 22 million for adults affected by Long COVID in the US but that number is certainly much higher; in 2022 the CDC reported that 7.5% of US adults have Long COVID and that number can only have increased.

Here is an article published today on PBS if you need a primer or a refresher on what Long COVID is and why everyone needs to care about it. From the article:

"Long COVID is a complex chronic condition that can result in more than 200 health effects across multiple body systems. These include:

Heart disease

Neurologic problems such as cognitive impairment, strokes and dysautonomia. This is a category of disorders that affect the body’s autonomic nervous system – nerves that regulate most of the body’s vital mechanisms such as blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.

Post-exertional malaise, a state of severe exhaustion that may happen after even minor activity — often leaving the patient unable to function for hours, days or weeks

Gastrointestinal disorders

Kidney disease

Metabolic disorders such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia, or a rise in bad cholesterol

Immune dysfunction"

I know it's easy to give into despair but THERE IS HOPE for the future! For decreasing transmission of COVID-19, for developing preventatives against Long COVID, and for treating Long COVID. To highlight just a few of the possible pathways to prevention and treatment being currently researched:

The possibility of using antivirals to treat not just Long COVID but any autoimmune disease

The development of N95 masks that can sense SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled breath using a printed immunosensor

A nasal vaccine that halts transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (though does not stop the user from developing COVID-19)

A Japanese research team is looking to treat COVID-19 by using embryonic stem cells to target the virus

The possibility of using already-developed arthritis drugs to treat Long COVID respiratory symptoms

Researchers just identified a possible protein to target in treating Long COVID fatigue

This is an incredibly small collection of studies researching potential treatments but they themselves and the decades of research they are built on had to be funded. In fact, since the pandemic began, more than 24,000 scientific publications about COVID-19 have been published, making it the most researched health condition in any four years of recorded human history.

So there is hope! But all this research needs money. Money that Long COVID Moonshot will provide. And while we wait for research to bear fruit, that $1 billion per year will also be crucial in caring for those suffering from Long COVID in the meantime.

So What Can You Do?

Keep masking - We've just hit 900,000 new COVID cases per day in the US and this wave is not even at its peak yet (For reference, Fauci stated back in 2021 that getting under 10,000 cases per day would allow for mask mandates and safety measures to relax...)

Go on the Long COVID Moonshot website and write to your legislators in support (You can use their script, it only takes 1 minute!)

Keep yourselves and others informed - On the Moonshot website they also offer handy graphics and facts sheets that you can post wherever you can. Spread the word!

And if you or someone you know has Long COVID, you can write in to the Long COVID Moonshot website about your experience

And remember, no one is safe from Long COVID; your chances of developing Long COVID increase with every reinfection. Until research like what Long COVID Moonshot will fund discovers viable preventatives and treatments, the only way to not get Long COVID is to not get COVID-19 in the first place.

Stay safe, stay hopeful, support Long COVID Moonshot, and mask up!

[covid-safer-hotties]

Global Emergency Compounded by the AIDS-like Features of SARS-CoV-2 Infection - Published Sept 1, 2024

Over a million people in the US are being infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) every day.

Originally named after the acute respiratory syndrome it can cause as a consequence of blood vessel damage in the lungs, SARS-CoV-2 is actually primarily a blood vessel virus that spreads through the airways. It causes a complex multisystem disease (1). It is airborne (2). It can persist in the body, and is detectable in body and brain tissue even at autopsy of “recovered” patients (3).

Each infection ages the body, causes damage to the blood vessels and the immune system, and affects organs including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, bones, etc. (4, 5, 6)

Each infection ages the brain. Specifically, it reduces gray matter and cognitive ability (7), and potentially IQ score (8). It increases the risk of psychiatric disorders (9). SARS-CoV-2 has also been identified as contributing to accelerated dementia (10).

The potential post-acute phase impacts of SARS-CoV-2 include long COVID, some manifestations of which are chronic conditions that can last a lifetime, including heart disease, diabetes, myalgic encephalomyelitis and dysautonomia (11).

The Economist has estimated excess deaths from the beginning of the Pandemic through May 2024 at up to 35 million people worldwide. (12)

In Addition, Many Scientists Are Now Issuing Warnings… SARS-CoV-2 triggers a new airborne form of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (13, 14, 15) (some are proposing specific terms such as “CoV-AIDS”).

This is not AIDS as we know it from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, it is a new type of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with different deleterious effects on immune function (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21), but both resulting in increased vulnerability to infections (22). Immune system deficiency and other COVID properties also suggest a potential link to greater risk of cancers (23, 24, 25, 26, 27).

The “original” AIDS caused by HIV takes up to around 10 to 15 years to make its presence felt, with the initial infection usually barely noticed and often resembling the common cold or a flu-like disease until its damage manifests itself leading to death in the absence of treatments (28, 29).

With SARS-CoV-2, immunodeficiency develops in the weeks and months following infection. It involves reduction and functional exhaustion of T Cells (30), enhanced inhibition of MHC-I expression (31), downregulating CD19 expression in B cells (32) and other evidence of immune dysregulation (33, 34). In one study, the dysregulation persisted for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection, the length of the study (35). There is no “cure” for any of the damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 including immune dysregulation.

Did You Know? Repeated infections are leading to prolonged immune dysregulation, and increase the risk of progressive disability and death.

Long COVID is a multisystem disease with debilitating symptoms, which has had a profound impact on society and the global economy. In the USA, economists have estimated that long COVID will incur cumulative future costs of more than US$4 trillion (36, 37).

The worldwide devastating economic consequences of this mass disabling event have been measured in terms of total work hours and GDP lost around the world (38).

It theoretically only takes a single viral particle to initiate an infection, and most infections are initiated by very few viral particles (39).

Despite current popular belief, the immune system is NOT a muscle, and does NOT benefit from being repeatedly challenged with disease-causing microbes. In fact, its finite resources are depleted with each new infection.

Herd immunity is unattainable for a rapidly mutating, immune-disrupting virus, and there is no basis to believe that a vascular infection will evolve into the common cold. Continuing to ignore SARS-CoV-2 will not make it go away. Depriving the virus of publicity does not deprive it of its continuing lethal effects.

SARS-CoV-2 is continuing to evolve and mutate – it is not running out of evolutionary space. It is not a cold or the flu, but primarily a blood vessel disease. It is damaging society as we know it.

How many repeated infections can we expect young people to endure and survive? Even if they get only 1 infection each year, that’s 10 infections in 10 school years. This is not compatible with health and a long life. Repeated infections can lead to long COVID and shortened lifespans.

How Do We Protect Ourselves, How Do We Protect Our Children, When Government Public Health Advice Has Failed?

By reducing transmission so that R0 remains less than one (meaning that each person infects less than one other), we can suppress and gradually eliminate the virus, targeting a safer return to pre-2020 normal.

Handwashing is helpful, but it is not the main way to stop the spread of this airborne virus.

Respirators can block 95% or more of virus particles through electrostatic action, and are therefore highly effective at reducing infection even if only one person in a conversation is wearing them. They are far more effective if all people are wearing them (40).

Transmission can be reduced with HEPA filtration and ventilation of indoor air.

The virus spreads more quickly in indoor settings, but also spreads outdoors.

For medical facilities, it is essential to clean the air with ventilation and filtration and require universal high-quality masking (with N-95/ FFP3 respirators or better) to protect medical staff and patients.

For workplaces, clean air will reduce transmission; and encouraging employees to test and stay home when infectious is essential. High-quality masking should be encouraged in the case of symptoms, a sick person at home, or any other suspicion that one could be carrying the virus. Remote work should be normalized and encouraged wherever possible.

For entertainment venues, events should be held outdoors when possible; and if indoors, clean air is key to protecting audiences. Audiences should also be encouraged to wear respirators to avoid getting infected and infecting others. Digital streaming options should always be offered.

For restaurants, an emphasis on outdoor dining will substantially reduce transmission. Patio service should be encouraged, and indoor dining areas should be well-ventilated with a high level of air-exchanges. Home or curbside delivery offers a safer alternative.

For schools, clean air will reduce transmission; encouraging students to test and stay home when infectious is essential to preserving their health. Masking or remote learning should be initiated whenever a case is detected or the incidence in the general population sharply increases. A permanent hybrid model / digital option can accommodate children with disabilities or those who simply do better learning from home.

Teachers and medical professionals may prefer to use transparent masks, or to wear HEPA-filtered headgear equipment that may be more universally tolerated/accepted.

To track our progress, we need sustained wastewater and population-level testing.

With just 60-70 percent of people taking mitigation measures such as masking, testing and isolating when infected, we can dramatically reduce forward transmission of the virus.

Even with very imperfect measures, as long as one infected person does not infect more than one person on average, the virus will eventually die out. The fewer people each person infects on average, the faster it will happen.

We still have a window of opportunity. Protecting ourselves and our families is in fact protecting the economy and the continued orderly functioning of our society.