A sarcoma is a very rare type of cancer that develop within the connective tissues of the body, most often within muscles, tendons, nerves, fat cells, cartilage, blood vessels, and bones. Sarcomas tend to develop as either immature bone cancers or soft tissue tumors, which may form a painless lump. However, many tumors are not detectable until they progress in size and begin to interfere with other organs or body functions. For instance, a large sarcoma may press against a muscle or nerve, creating pain and discomfort, or even breathing difficulties. Research from the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, indicates that an estimated 12,000 Americans are diagnosed with sarcoma annually. However, this type of cancer is considered more prevalent among children compared to adults. While sarcomas exist in over 50 different types, they are often classified as either: 1. Osteosarcomas, which make up about 1,000 new U.S. diagnosis per year, and are considered the most prevalent type of bone cancer. Osteosarcomas develop as immature bones, typically at the end of a long bone (i.e., knee) in patients typically under 25-years of age. Symptoms of osteosarcoma include: Limping (with leg osteosarcomas) Inflammation that gets progressively worse Radiating pain in the affected area, particularly at night 2.

Amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when abnormal amyloid (a type of protein typically produced by the bone marrow) accumulates in organs and tissues, damaging the organ or tissue and greatly impacting healthy function to the point of complete organ failure. Amyloidosis most often affects the nervous system, spleen, digestive system, liver, kidneys, and heart. Patients with amyloidosis often don’t present symptoms until the condition has reached an advanced stage. Although symptoms largely depend on the organ affected, they may include: Swelling of the tongue Trouble swallowing Adema (swelling) of the legs, feet, and ankles Numbness in the extremities (hands and feet) Breathlessness Discoloration of the skin, particularly around the eyes Bloody diarrhea and/or constipation Tendency to bruise easily Severe fatigue Heart palpitations The type of amyloidosis you have depend on two factors—firstly, the type of protein, or amyloid, and secondly, what tissue or organ is affected. The main types of amyloidosis include the following: 1. Dialysis-related amyloidosis This form of amyloidosis occurs when abnormal blood proteins collect in the tendons and joints in patients undergoing long-term kidney dialysis. It presents in joint edema, carpal tunnel syndrome, and joint stiffness and pain. 2. AA amyloidosis The AA type of amyloidosis, also known as secondary amyloidosis, often results in inflammatory type diseases (i.e., inflammatory bowel and rheumatoid arthritis), which means patients may experience joint pain, digestive upset, kidney, liver, and heart disease.

The function of the eyes, much like other areas of the body, degrade as we age. While many of these issues are only minor in nature (i.e., macular degeneration, presbyopia, eye strain, floaters, and chronic dry eyes) others can be downright scary and even cause permanent eye damage if left untreated. Most of the following eye conditions are more prevalent as we age, however, early detection can help prevent them from progressing. Here are the most common eye conditions: 1. Cataracts Cataracts affects the lens of the eye, which is like a camera lens in that it’s responsible for image processing via the brain. However, when cataracts occur they develop in small cloudy areas cover the eye lens, which block light from passing into the back of the eye where images are established. Surgery is necessary in extreme cases to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear, artificial lens. 2. Glaucoma Glaucoma puts excess pressure on the optic nerve while blocking fluid flow from eye lens to cornea. The pressure of glaucoma can be non-existant or mild in the early stages, however, floaters, blurriness, and some eye pressure may be felt by the patient. Glaucoma is treated with oral medication, eye drops, and surgery in severe cases to prevent permanent eye damage and possible blindness.

Research finds that when an individual follows a low cholesterol diet this reduces an individual’s cholesterol and improves a person’s heart health. The following foods helps to keep the cholesterol low they are foods that reduce the saturated fat in an individual’s your diet: 1. Saturated fats The following foods that reduce saturated fat in people’s diets are fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, and preparing more foods that are baked and broiled. 2. Trans fats The individual should try to eliminate the use of trans fats. So the individual should avoid such foods like fried foods, frozen pizza, margines, and baked goods. Instead the individual should eat more lean meats, nuts, whole grains, and beef. 3. Soluble fiber Individuals can also increase the use of soluble fiber in there diet. The reason why is because this type of diet reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the bloodstream. It is recommended that people ingest 25 to 30 grams of soluble fiber daily. Some of the foods that have the best amounts of soluble fiber are vegetables, fruits, oats, and dried beans. The most efficient ways to combat high cholesterol is by eating a healthy diet and to try and get some sort of exercise even if it is just walking for 30 minutes a day.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a type of chronic lung disease that occurs when tissues in the lungs become scarred and damaged. Over time, the scarring (called “fibrosis”), gets worse and it becomes progressively more difficult to breathe. IPF is an interstitial lung disease that affects the area around the air sacs of the lungs, known as the interstitium. Around 50,000 people in the United States have the disease, with approximately 15,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Need to know IPF facts include the following: 1. Causes Researchers do not yet know what exactly causes pulmonary fibrosis, hence the word “idiopathic,” which means “of unknown cause.” While the main cause is a mystery, there are certain risk factors will affect your chances, such as genetics. More than 20% of IPF patients have a relative who has an interstitial lung disease. Other risks include cigarette smoking, acid reflux, prolonged exposure to fumes and dust, as well as age and gender. 2. Symptoms There are two common symptoms of IPF: breathlessness and a persistent cough. The former is characterized by shortness of breath to the point that getting a full breath becomes difficult. People report that simple activities such as taking a shower or getting dressed can leave them out of breath.