Renal osteodystrophy facts* *Renal osteodystrophy facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Renal osteodystrophy is a bone disease that occurs when your kidneys fail to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. It’s common in people with kidney disease and affects most dialysis patients. Renal osteodystrophy is most serious in children because …

Hypoparathyroidism facts* *Hypoparathyroidism facts by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Hypoparathyroidism is a condition in which the body doesn’t make enough parathyroid hormone (PTH), a hormone that regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus in your body’s bones and blood. Hypoparathyroidism is very rare. It is different from hyperparathyroidism, a much more common condition in which the body makes too …

What is post-polio syndrome? Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. Post-polio syndrome is mainly characterized by new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection and in muscles that seemingly were unaffected. What are the symptoms of post-polio syndrome? Readers Comments …

For the urinary system to do its job, muscles and nerves must work together to hold urine in the bladder and then release it at the right time. Nerves carry messages from the bladder to the brain to let it know when the bladder is full. They also carry messages from the brain to the bladder, telling muscles either to …

What is Leigh’s Disease? Leigh’s disease is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder that affects the central nervous system. This progressive disorder begins in infants between the ages of three months and two years. Rarely, it occurs in teenagers and adults. What causes Leigh’s disease? Leigh’s disease can be caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA or by deficiencies of an enzyme …

What is pseudotumor cerebri? Pseudotumor cerebri literally means “false brain tumor.” It is likely due to high pressure within the skull caused by the buildup or poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The disorder is most common in women between the ages of 20 and 50. What are the symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri? Readers Comments 12 Share Your Story Symptoms …

Klinefelter syndrome facts* Kleinfelter syndrome facts author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Klinefelter syndrome, also known as the XXY condition, is a term used to describe males who have an extra X chromosome in most of their cells. About one of every 500 males has an extra X chromosome, but many don’t have any symptoms. Symptoms depend on how many …

High blood pressure and kidney disease facts *High blood pressure and kidney disease facts medically edited by: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD High blood pressure can damage kidneys and result in chronic kidney disease High blood pressure is the excessive force of blood placed against blood vessel walls. High blood pressure damages the vessels that, in turn, can’t provide the …

Oral cancer facts* *Oral cancer facts medical author: Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD The oral cavity is complex and consists of lips, cheek lining, salivary glands, hard palate, soft palate, uvula, area under the tongue, gums, teach, tongue, and tonsils. Oral cancer is abnormal (malignant) growth of body cells in any part of the oral cavity; oral cancer is sometimes …

Neuroblastoma facts* *Neuroblastoma facts medical author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Neuroblastoma is a disease in which cancer cells form in nerve tissue of the adrenal gland, neck, chest, or spinal cord. Neuroblastoma is the third most common childhood cancer after leukemias and cancer of the central nervous system. Common symptoms of neuroblastoma include a lump in the abdomen, neck, …