Spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, is a group of genetic disorders that affects muscle movement. This happens due to a loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brainstem, which causes weakness and muscle wasting. SMA is both a type of motor neuron disease and a neurological condition. There are some types of SMA that can be fatal, while other types may have mild symptoms. The various types of SMA, their symptoms, and prognosis include the following: 1. SMA1 Type Onset The onset of this condition occurs within the first six months after birth. Symptoms Muscle weakness is the main symptom and difficulty in moving the muscles become apparent. The child can never sit on its own. The floppy limbs give it the name “floppy baby syndrome.” The main problem with this type of SMA is difficulty with swallowing and breathing. Prognosis The lifespan may be around two years for around 68% of patients. Moreover, the lifespan for around 82% of patients is around four years. However, proper respiratory care and treatment can help extend their lifespan. One of the severe types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is SMA 0 (which is a variant of SMA1). The babies affected face severe symptoms and breathing problems that can be fatal.

Thyroid cancer is the third most common tumor malignancy and one of the very first signs of thyroid cancer is a nodule or lump in the neck. This is usually present at the base where the thyroid gland is located. The lump is typically painless and discovered by chance in most cases. Even when it is detected, the individual has normal thyroid functions, and there are no noticeable symptoms. When this tumor grows, it starts to affect the nearby tissues. Gradually, the tumor may grow to compress the food pipe, and people might have difficulty swallowing food. When laryngeal nerves that control the vocal cords are involved, it can lead to paralysis. Children often get lumps in their necks. If these are not caused due to infections like strep throat or ear infection, they must be properly examined. Thyroid cancers are more common in females than in males and women usually develop this cancer during their 40s and 50s. Whereas, for men, the typical age is the 60s and 70s. It is, however, possible to get this type of cancer when one is very young. For instance, papillary thyroid cancer, one of the most common and treatable types of thyroid cancer, is also likely to occur to individuals in their 30s.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women. It is estimated that around 2000 women are affected by this type of cancer. Different methods of treatment and prevention measures are mentioned below for your understanding. Like most types of cancers, ovarian cancer can be successfully treated at an early stage. The prognosis for this cancer is good when detected at the earliest stage. The treatment is also based on the cancer stage. At an early stage, removing a part of the cancerous cells can help in its treatment. In the advanced stages, cancer would have spread to other organs requiring multiple treatments. 1. Surgery This treatment method is usually the main treatment for ovarian cancer. It is probably the very first treatment option. Depending on the stage of cancer, any of the following surgeries may be carried out: One, or both, ovaries may be removed. If one ovary is removed then the woman can still have a chance of experiencing childbirth. In Stage 2 of cancer, both ovaries may need to be removed with the fallopian tubes. If both ovaries are removed, pregnancy is still possible by using a frozen embryo or eggs from a donor.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where a person’s breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. It can be a result of a blocked airway or the brain has problems signaling. Common symptoms include loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, and restless sleep. When left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications, including depression and heart disease. Treating sleep apnea will depend on the cause, but the goal is to normalize breathing during sleep. Before you consider serious treatment options like surgery, consider less invasive options including the following: 1. Humidifier Use a humidifier that adds moisture to the air. Dry air is known to irritate the respiratory system. Humidifiers open airways, encourage clean breathing, and therefore decrease congestion. Eucalyptus oil or peppermint oil, which has anti-inflammatory and soothing benefits, can be used to a humidifier. 2. Oral devices Oral devices are now available for sleep apnea patients who prefer it to wearing a CPAP mask. They prevent the airway from collapsing by holding the tongue in position. They also slide the jaw forward to enable easy breathing during sleeping. These can range from low-cost over-the-counter options to ones that are fitted by a dental professional trained in sleep medicine.

Statistics from the National Hemophilia Foundation reveal that there are currently about 20,000 people with hemophilia living in the U.S. Hemophilia is a group of relatively rare genetic disorders, which is characterized by the inability of blood to form clots, an essential process to stop bleeding. It is to be noted that early hemophilia diagnosis and treatment is something that is very important. Hemophilia is more commonly found in males than in females. The gene-mutation is often passed from female to male children. Greater awareness of hemophilia diagnosis and treatment can go a long way in helping to manage the disease outcomes. Read on to find out more about the diagnosis and treatment of hemophilia: 1. What is hemophilia? When blood-vessels rupture and bleeding occurs, it sets in motion a complex process to plug the leak. This is known as clotting and occurs via the creation of a fibrin clot. Fibrin is the end product of the reaction of about 13 factors in the blood. In people with hemophilia, two crucial factors—Factors VIII or IX are absent, resulting in the inability of the blood to clot. As a result, the bleeding process lasts for much longer following an injury, there is a tendency to bruise easily, and bleeding can occur in the joints or inside the brain.