Auto Immune conditions

What are the symptoms of Graves’ disease? The early symptoms of Graves’ disease include: Weight loss (despite increased appetite) Anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping (insomnia) Heat intolerance, sweating Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing Increased stool frequency (with or without diarrhoea) Irregular menstrual periods in women Goiter Prominent, bulging eyes If Graves’ disease goes untreated, physical signs and symptoms may develop: Goiter: A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland…

Complications of Graves' disease can include: Pregnancy issues: Possible complications of Graves' disease during pregnancy include miscarriage, preterm birth, fetal thyroid dysfunction, poor fetal growth, maternal heart failure and preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a maternal condition that results in high blood pressure and other serious signs and symptoms. Heart disorders: If left untreated, Graves' disease can lead to heart rhythm disorders, changes in the structure and function of the heart…

The diagnosis of Graves' disease may include: Physical examination: Your doctor examines your eyes to see if they're irritated or protruding and looks to see if your thyroid gland is enlarged. Because Graves' disease increases your metabolism, your doctor will check your pulse and blood pressure and look for signs of tremor. Blood sample: Your doctor will order blood tests to determine your levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the pituitary hormone that normally stimulates the thyroid…

While there are no clear causes for Graves’ disease, genetics plays an important role. So if you have a family member with Graves' disease, then your chances are increased.  If you have a high risk of Graves’ disease, try and live a healthy life. Avoid smoking. Smoking increases the risk of Graves' disease and Graves' ophthalmopathy. Reduce stress in your life. Meditate, exercise regularly, take up activities that you enjoy and that calm you. 

Says Cindy Payne, who fought against the nerve-damaging autoimmune condition with yoga. I took my first yoga lesson in 1997 more out of curiosity than anything else, since yoga was not yet popular in Singapore. In 2001, I began to study Iyengar Yoga more seriously. When I first started taking lessons, I was primarily focused on the physical part of the practice – seeking to counter all the running I had been doing for 25 years, plus juggling owning a boutique marketing-…

Or is it sometimes the fall guy for other allergens? Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi tells you what to do if you think you are gluten-sensitive. First tip: Do not rush into a gluten-free diet plan. I first heard about gluten sensitivity during my college days when I was studying nutrition. During my year of internship in a 1,000-bed government hospital in India, I heard of only 3 gluten sensitive cases that were referred to the dietary department for a specific meal plan. This was 10 years back. Now, in…

Principles of gluten free diet include Avoid all foods made from wheat, rye and barley. (Examples: Cereals, Pasta, Breads, Crackers, Cakes, Pies, Cookies) Avoid oats because some oat preparations can be contaminated with wheat. Processed foods may contain gluten. Wheat flour is a common ingredient in many processed foods. Example: canned soups, salad dressing, ice cream, candy bars, instant coffee, luncheon meats and processed meats, ketchup, mustard, yoghurt, pasta. Beware of tablets,…

Treatment There is no cure for celiac disease. The only treatment is gluten-free diet. The disease severity will be varying depending on the patient’s immune response. Some patients can ingest small amounts of gluten without developing symptoms, while others experience massive diarrhoea with only minute amounts of gluten. Medication is not normally required, following a strict gluten free diet will greatly reduce the symptoms. Sometimes, the doctor may prescribe medications to manage the…

Can Celiac Disease be prevented? Celiac disease cannot be prevented. But if you have celiac disease, you can prevent the symptoms and damage to your small intestine by eating a gluten-free diet. For a gluten free diet, eat fuit, vegetables, meat, fish, seafood, legumes and nuts. Rice is gluten free and can be included in diet.   Read more in Celiac Disease Management section  

Complications of Celiac Disease: If celiac disease is left untreated, it can cause: Weight loss and failure to grow Anxiety and depression Anaemia due to iron deficiency and folic acid deficiency Osteoporosis or Rickets Loss of tooth enamel Intussusception (one part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part) Rectal prolapse Lymphoma of intestine and probably cancer of oesophagus