Sarcoidosis is a disease that is difficult to understand because nobody is really certain about what causes it. It is a disease caused by the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body like the lungs, lymph nodes, skin, and eyes. In at least half the cases, sarcoidosis symptoms and signs go away on their own. While anyone can develop sarcoidosis, primary sarcoidosis risk factors that may lead to higher chances of development of this disease are as follows:
Genetic risk factors
Most scientists believe that an infection or exposure to something in the environment or air may trigger the immune system to overreact in people with specific genetic makeup. Mostly, such triggers, whether viral, bacterial or chemical, are usually harmless for a majority of the people; however, they may irritate the immune system and lead to the development of sarcoidosis symptoms and signs in people who are genetically predisposed toward developing it.
Family history
There is no specific gene mutation that can be blamed for causing sarcoidosis, but it is known to run in the families. If you have a family history of people suffering from sarcoidosis, you may be at a higher risk of developing the disease.
Age and sex
People between ages 20 and 40 have a higher risk of developing sarcoidosis. Compared to men, women have a slightly greater tendency to develop sarcoidosis.
Race
People of African-American as well as Scandinavian descent have a higher chance of developing sarcoidosis as compared to people of the Caucasian descent. Also, the manifestation of sarcoidosis symptoms and signs in people of African-American descent is more severe and chronic, has higher chances of recurrence, and may lead to lung problems in some cases. Similarly, hand and skin lumps are most likely to affect people of Northern European descent, while people of Japanese descent are more prone to developing sarcoidosis-related heart problems.
Exposure to dusty and moldy environments
Some evidence suggests that some exposures to dusty and moldy environment may lead to an increased chance of developing sarcoidosis in few individuals.
Sarcoidosis symptoms and signs are also difficult to diagnose. While it does not have a known cure, the signs can usually be managed with very little or no treatment except in certain extreme cases where the symptoms last several years and lead to serious damage to the organs.
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10 reasons why you should own a pair of Chuck Taylor converse shoes
Read moreNow produced by Nike, Converse Chuck Taylors have been around for almost a century. These shoes were typically made to play basketball. But the comfort they provide has made them popular with people across all age groups.
Here are 10 reasons why you should buy a pair now.
- The history is really big on these converse. They were born out of the constant innovation required for footwear in the basketball community.
- They were the first shoes made specifically to play basketball. At a point, 80% of the converse sold were Chuck Taylor’s.
- The Chuck Taylor’s converse you are buying today is the model that was introduced in 1948. So it can be considered a collector’s item.
- Each part of the shoe is intricately designed. The sole is made of brown rubber while the front part is made of white rubber. It is meant to help the person keep their grip. They were the first non-skid shoes ever invented.
- You cannot bruise in these converse shoes. These were made to withstand basketball games. The shoe is made of canvas cotton to help move the feet easily and avoid blisters.
- The logo on the ankle serves as a padding to avoid injury to the player. Ventilation eyelets are small circular metallic rings placed on the sides of shoes. They were added to allow air to circulate inside the shoe.
- The original model was an all white converse. Later came the all black model. Blue and red lines were later added to the trim. They had toe guards, laces and the outer wrap was white. These are the classics and the first of the Converse Chuck Taylor collection.
- Converse are also available in a variety of colors styles, prints, and materials.
- The maker of these shoes went to great lengths to improve the game and popularize it all over the world.
- He changed the ball that was used in the game to a more uniform and grip-worthy design.
- They are unisex and can be worn with any casual outfit.
Converse have become so popular that they have been featured in multiple movies. Even Dennis from Dennis the Menace wore them. Records were set in basketball while athletes played wearing these Converse. They were even used in training by American soldiers in the second World War.
They have several accolades to their name and have sustained through the years simply because of their excellent design and uniqueness. There’s a pair of Chuck Taylor converse being purchased every 43 seconds. When do you plan on getting yours?
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Here’s how to get baby formula for free
Read moreIf you are expecting a baby, you must be aware that with a new baby comes new expenses too. And formula food is one such cost that is absolutely essential. But like so many baby products, baby formula is indeed expensive. And before you settle down on one type or brand of formula food that your little one clearly enjoys having, there are baby formula samples that are available for free. And, though a little effort is required, there are many ways you can get free baby formula samples. Here are a few you can try:
The first stop to find free baby formula samples should be your local food bank. If you could make a call and find out whether they have stock of baby formula, they would gladly give it to you free of cost. Check out the government websites for a list of the local directory of food banks. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) are two federal programs set up to feed families with little children and they could provide free baby formula too.
You may be able to get free baby formula samples from your doctor, pediatrician or local hospitals. Because baby formula manufacturers provide samples for exactly this purpose, that doctors and hospitals pass them on to babies in need of formula food in the hope that they can reach the ultimate user of their product.
If you happen to get your hands on daily newspapers and magazines dedicated to baby and child care, you might find inserts that give coupons for free baby formula samples. And local grocery stores sometimes announce a sale on certain items they carry, this could include baby formula too.
Register online at the many websites that offer free baby formula samples. Manufacturers of formula food like Nestle, Nature’s One, Gerber, Enfamil, Similac and stores such as Amazon or Target have websites/registries where you could enroll and get free sample baby kits that might include baby formulas and also coupons or discounts for future purchases.
While some of these resources need you to qualify as a low-income parent, there are others open to everyone. Try the many different ways mentioned here to get free baby formula samples, from small portions to full-sized cans everything is available for your newborn or infant.