With specialized nerves, the brain controls the moment of voluntary muscles. To permit movement, a combination of the muscles and nervous system work together. This is known as the neuromuscular system. The nerves that control these voluntary muscles and the nerves that communicate sensory information back to the brain are affected by neuromuscular disorders. Communication between the muscles and the nervous system breaks down when the neurons become unhealthy or die. As a result of this, muscles tend to weaken and eventually fade away.
Causes of neuromuscular disorders
There are various causes of neuromuscular disorders. Some of them are listed below:
- Genetic mutation
Genetic mutation is one of the major causes of neuromuscular disorders. These changes are caused by various environmental factors such as the UV rays of the sun. It may also be caused because of an error that is made as the DNA copies itself during cell division. - Family history
Neuromuscular disorders are possible to be inherited. Anyone who had neuromuscular disorders, their future generations are also prone to be diagnosed with the same. - Hormonal disorder
Your hormones are your body’s chemical messenger. They control many of the body processes. When you have too much or too little of a certain hormone. - Viral infection
The presence of a virus in the body is known as viral infection. Depending on the type of virus and the health of a person, various viruses can infect any part of the body from the tissues to the brain. - Metabolic disorder
Metabolic disorders are genetic conditions that cause metabolism problems. In most metabolic disorders, a defective gene results in an enzyme deficiency. - Autoimmune disorder
Autoimmune disorders cause abnormally high or low activity of immune system. In such disorders, the body attacks and damages its own tissues. It also decreases the body’s ability to fight invaders and infections. - Dietary deficiency
Deficiency of certain essential nutrients in the body can also cause neuromuscular disorders. The major cause of dietary deficiency is following a poor and unhealthy diet.
Symptoms of neuromuscular disorders
The symptoms of neuromuscular disorders may vary from person to person, depending on their intensity. It may be mild, moderate, or in worst cases, even life-threatening. Some of the common symptoms include the following.
- Muscle weakness that may further lead to twitching, aches, cramps, and pain
- Muscle wastage
- Muscle pain
- Muscle cramps
- Muscle loss
- Problems balancing
- Double vision
- Numbness, painful, and tingling sensations
- Breathing difficulties
- Swallowing difficulties
- Muscle spasticity
- Joint or skeletal deformities
- Droopy eyelids
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Lymph nodes, understanding the condition
Read moreThe lymph system forms a vital part of the overall body immune system. Lymph nodes forming part of this system have the important task of carrying the lymph fluids, nutrients and even waste material from the body tissues to the blood stream and back. These are small, glands which resemble the shape of beans and help carry the fluids throughout our body.
Swollen glands in neck, alternatively known as swollen lymph nodes refers to a condition which can be caused due to any injury, any infection or in severe cases due to the tumor which develops near the lymph nodes. Since the lymph nodes system is the body’s defense system against known diseases, swollen glands in the neck should be treated with immediate effect.
The most common causes of swollen glands include:
- Swelling in glands can be caused due to any infection or tumor which develops near vital organs in the lungs, breasts, neck or even in your abdomen. The glands above your collarbone may swell due to these areas being affected, a condition which targets the supraclavicular lymph nodes.
- An infection in the foot, legs, or genitals can cause a condition which leads to swollen glands commonly affecting the femoral or inguinal lymph nodes.
- Infection being the most common cause can also affect the axillary lymph nodes, which are found in your armpits.
Swollen glands in neck particularly exhibit the following symptoms:
- Generally, swollen glands in the neck are a common sign that your lymph system is not functioning properly. The first signs or symptoms of swollen glands in neck include tenderness and shooting pains in the lymph nodes.
- The swelling is quite noticeable since the size of the bulge resembles that of peas, or kidney beans or sometimes even larger.
- Respiratory infections which affect the swollen glands in the neck can cause a person to experience soreness in the throat, fever, runny nose among few other visible indicators.
- Night sweats are a noticeable indicator of swollen glands in the neck or other areas of the body, which can be caused due to severe conditions like a tumor or other immune disorders. Since the lymph system forms part of the immune system, it is only evident that your body’s ability to fight diseases is compromised due to developing lymph nodes.
The symptoms may be mild or severe, can be persistent or even chronic. Whatever the case may be, it is advisable to seek professional medical help as soon as the symptoms start showing up.
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Is couponing taking a toll on you
Read moreCouponing can be fantastic. The exhilaration of taking away lots for very little can drive you insane! Or, has it drained you, do you feel tired just maintaining and collecting coupons? Are you spending way too much time shopping and collecting coupons? Are you not seeing the savings you set out to make? Well you may have moved from couponing to extreme couponing. Extreme couponing takes more time and patience to see the rewards you seek. If the initial rush of Couponing has given way to exhaustion and depression. You have lost your way in the couponing maze. Here are a few methods to get back to enjoying couponing.
Set a goal: Couponers must understand why they want to coupon. More often than naught it is to save money or to live within a set budget. Couponers must understand what they require as against what is a great deal. After all you are shopping to stick to your goal, not the stores goal.
Impulse buying: Comparing coupons with greater deals as against to things you want at a lower discount is the worst thing to do. Stick on you goal and ensure that every coupon you use is for something you need.
Obsession: Spending too much time on collecting coupons and standing at checkout lines, will take away time from family and things that bring you happiness. It is easy to get drawn into all the savings to be had, remember the reason you are couponing and give it just that amount of time.
Savings goals: Create realistic savings goals while couponing. TV shows in recent past have created unrealistic savings goals in the mind of the couponer. Understand that you can have some savings if you hoard and coupon sensibly, but to expect savings in the thousands is foolhardy.
Hoarding: Hoarding coupons is a waste of time. Most coupons last between 10 days to a month. You will spend hours just arranging and organizing them. Hoard enough with bulk buying coupons, but keep an eye out for unnecessary purchases. After all, what will you do with a case of dental floss?
Letting go: The hardest thing for an couponer is to let go of a great deal. Yes, we all have been through it, stacking up our Catalinas for that thanksgiving turkey or for that salmon, but if it is going to take stepping through hoops of fire, it is time to ask yourself, is it really worth it? Great deals come and go and most coupon deals come back in a 6 to 10 week cycle. These deals will come back. Do not let a great deal drive you, drive sensible couponing towards sensible savings.