Felt Twitching in the Body? Watch Out For These Early Symptoms of Cancer

According to a report by World Health Organization, around 9.6 million people died of cancer in 2018. The painful disease is the second leading cause of death in the world. It is a cause of concern among the youth and children. It is no more an old age disease. Cancer is a deadly condition that occurs when your body cells start growing uncontrollably because of some unknown reason and form a tumour. It can develop in any part of your body and can affect your life majorly.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further eclipsed cancer care over the past two years. The lack of awareness, absence of pain in early stages and above all the pandemic scare is making many patients postpone their visits to the hospitals.

Cancers put the health care system under tremendous pressure due to the nature of the disease, prolonged treatment and regular checks that follow. Symptoms of Cancer are innumerable however, you can watch out for warning signs.

In some cases, the cancerous tumour can grow and spread through other parts of the body, it can lead to spasms, twitches, or jerking. Muscle twitches happen by involuntary contractions in the area, or uncontrollable twitching of a muscle group that is served by a single motor nerve fiber, according to Times of India report. Also Read - Summer Foot Care: Best And Effective Tips To Get Pretty And Smooth Feet During Summer | Watch Video

Why do you feel the twitching sensation?

Cancer symptoms usually occur when the tumour starts pressing on the brain which leads to abnormal functioning of the organ. The brain tumour irritates the neurons present in the brain and can cause muscle contradictions, twitching, numbness and tingling, shallow breathing and loss of consciousness, TOI report said.

It says that tumours which spread through the temporal lobe, frontal lobe, and parietal lobe can cause problems in speech, decision making, problem-solving, concentration, and thinking speed functions. The report says that it is imperative to address the symptoms as they appear.

Twitching can also happen for various other reasons including stress, an overdose of caffeine, an unhealthy diet, exercise, or as a side effect of some medicines.

It has been proven by various medical studies that an early diagnosis of cancer can save up to 90 per cent of lives.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, then it is advised to contact your doctor immediately for further examination.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Tourette disorder / Hichkki

Tourette disorder is a neurological (brain) condition that usually begins in childhood. They are abrupt, purposeless, and involuntary vocal sounds or muscular jerks. Motor and vocal tics may be simple (i.e. involving only a few muscles or sounds at a time) or complex (i.e. involving multiple muscles, or full sentences and phrases).

What are the symptoms?
Constant blinking, raising eyebrows, nostrils flaring, opening the mouth, sticking out the tongue, shrugging shoulders, jerking arms, clenching the fists, kicking, curling of the toes etc.

Vocalisations such as grunts, sniffing, throat clearing, squealing, snorting, clicking, hissing, or moaning are some of the symptoms that the patient may be experiencing.

Expert speak
A Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years of experience says, “This syndrome leads to involuntary movements that are beyond the control of the patient. In some cases, it has a neuro-biological component, and sometimes they are just behavioural symptoms.”

When asked about what the trigger might be, the Dr. said, “Very often they are stressors which cause these tics. I see many young patients who come to me with this issue. It usually starts somewhere around grade 4.”

Speaking about the importance of seeking help, she said, “Parents come to us after they have done a battery of tests on the child and that automatically means that a lot of time has been spent on that. I would urge parents to come visit a psychologist and psychiatrist as soon as one notices the tics.”

“Trying to understand what the stressors are that is causing this is the first step towards recovery. Family dynamics and school pressures often play a crucial role,” she said.

While this syndrome manifests itself in a seemingly superficial manner, the reality is far from it. If not treated in time the disorder can manifest itself in various forms.

With the right treatment and counselling, these tics and impulses can be reduced with time and in some cases, eliminated.

While addressing the physical aspect is one part of the treatment it is essential that the patient also seek counselling because they often require psychological support as well.

It is good to see, especially through cinema, there is rising awareness about this disorder and people treat it with the right understanding and knowledge.

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Huntington Disease

This guide is designed to be a primer for those who are seeking information about Huntington Disease (HD).
 
HD, previously known as Huntington's chorea, is an inherited genetic disorder that causes the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain. Over a period of time, this deterioration affects movement, behavior, and cognition, and eventually impedes the individual's ability to function normally. The symptoms of HD are often described as a combination of Parkinson's, ALS, and Alzheimer's. The symptoms can appear at any age, but usually become noticeable between the ages of 30 and 50.

 

What Causes Huntington's?

HD is caused by a defective gene inherited from a parent, with only 5-10% of cases resulting from a new genetic mutation. Since it is an autosomal dominant disorder, it means that only one copy of the defective gene, inherited from one parent, is necessary to produce the disease. Therefore, if one parent has the disease, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the defective gene.
Males and females are both at equal risk of acquiring HD, but the disease occurs in certain races and ethnicities more than others, with people of European descent having a higher risk of acquiring it.
Per million, HD affects:

• 40-120 people in Europe of European descent
• 100 people in the U.S.A.
• 1-7 people in Asia
• 0.6 people of African descent

Note: The African figure might be so low due to poor documentation and inconclusive evidence.

What Are the Symptoms of Huntington's?

There are many symptoms which are indicative of HD, however, not everyone with the disorder will experience them to the same degree. Evidence also suggests that the average age of onset is later for individuals who inherited the gene from their mother. This means that, typically, onset occurs earlier when the gene is inherited from the father.
During the early stages of HD, people can function normally at home and work. However, as the disease progresses they may find it increasingly difficult to work or manage a household, but are still capable of dealing with most day-to-day activities. In the advanced stages of HD, involuntary movements give way to rigidity, communication and swallowing become severely impaired, and affected individuals will become severely impaired, and totally dependent on others.
The lifespan of somebody with HD varies, however, death typically occurs 15-25 years after the onset of the disease. This is usually due to complications such as heart failure, choking, infections, or pneumonia, and not from HD itself. In roughly 9% of cases, suicide is the cause of death.
The symptoms of HD can be split into physical changes, cognitive impairments, and psychiatric disorders.
Physical Changes The movement disorders associated with HD can include both involuntary movements and impaired voluntary movements.
Involuntary movements which may originally consist of fidgeting, twitching of the hands or feet, or excessive restlessness, will slowly develop into more obvious uncontrollable jerking and twitching of the head, neck, arms, and legs. 
Diminished coordination, initially affecting things like driving and handwriting, becomes increasingly pronounced. Gait, posture, and balance become impaired and, as a result, during the later stages of the disease, people stagger when walking. Eventually, they will lose the ability to walk and control their movements all together.
Other physical changes include weight loss, muscle problems, slow or abnormal eye movements, and slurred speech.

Psychiatric Disorders

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders associated with HD. In addition to the constant feelings of sadness and worthlessness, and a lack of desire to engage in formerly pleasurable activities, other signs of depression may include a lack of energy, insomnia, social withdrawal, irritability, apathy, and frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide. Depression occurs as a result of changes in the brain due to HD, and not simply as a reaction to receiving the diagnosis.
Another psychiatric disorder associated with HD is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This condition causes severe anxiety and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts, and repetitive behaviors.
Cognitive Impairments Those who are suffering from HD will experience cognitive changes which affect their awareness, judgment, and perception.
Therefore, affected individuals will have difficulty organizing, prioritizing, making decisions, and focusing on tasks. As a result, their jobs often become very time-consuming. During the later stages of the disease, some people prefer to take on jobs that are less demanding rather than having to give up work entirely. The ability to recall information (be it old or new), process thoughts, and "find" the right words diminishes so people with HD might appear forgetful.
Furthermore, coping with new situations becomes increasingly difficult and individuals may exhibit a lack of flexibility when it comes down to communicating with words, phrases, or gestures. Other symptoms include a lack of impulse control that can lead to outbursts, acting without thinking, and sexual promiscuity.

How Is Huntington's Diagnosed?

Several of the symptoms and signs of HD can be caused by many different conditions. Therefore, if you or someone close to you has any aforementioned signs or symptoms associated with HD, you should consult a doctor who will probably refer you to a neurologist. You will then undergo a thorough examination which will include a physical exam, a review of your family's medical history, neurological tests, a psychiatric evaluation, and brain imaging. If the results suggest that you may have HD, your neurologist might suggest that you take a genetic test to confirm whether you carry the defective gene.

Genetic Testing If one of your parents has HD, but you haven't any symptoms and you'd like to find out whether you carry the gene, you can take a genetic test from the age of 18. Some take the test because they find it stressful not knowing if they will develop the disease. Others, on the other hand, prefer not to know if they've inherited the faulty gene as there are no treatments as of yet that can reverse the effects of the disease.
If you know that your partner carries the defective gene and are expecting a child, a genetic test can be carried out at 11 weeks into the pregnancy to reveal if the baby has the defective gene or not. If one of you is at risk of having HD, but would prefer not to know, one option is preimplantation genetic diagnosis. This allows the embryo to be tested for the disease and only implanted into the womb if it doesn't have the gene and is not at risk of developing HD after In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has been performed.
Juvenile Huntington's If someone develops HD before the age of 20, it is known as Juvenile Huntington Disease. However, only 5-10% of people with the disease are affected by it. The onset and progression of symptoms may differ from those in adults. The problems that occur in the early stages include:
Behavioral changes: • Children and young adults experience a loss of previously learned academic or physical skills.
• A rapid, and significant drop in school performance.
• Behavioral problems can arise. 
Physical changes: • Muscles become contracted and rigid, affecting gait.
• Changes in fine motor skills that is noticeable in, for example, handwriting.
• Young people can experience seizures in addition to tremors or involuntary movement. 

 

Living with Huntington's As the disease advances, individuals with HD will undergo a number of physical and mental changes so it's important for them and their loved ones to have a clear understanding of the changes that they will have to make in order to allow them to remain as independent as possible.
Eating can become frustrating during the later stages of the disease, so in order to help with this any food should be easy to chew, swallow, and digest. To avoid choking, food should be cut into small pieces or pureed. Furthermore, adapted cutlery and straws, as well as non-slip mats can make eating easier for affected individuals. At later stages of the disease a person may choose to be fed through a tube.
As mobility and balance become affected, social services and occupational therapists can help people with HD to adapt to their homes so that day-to-day living is easier. a person's shower, toilet, bath, chairs, and bed may need to be modified, and during the later stages of the disease the home may need to be adapted to make them wheelchair friendly.

What Treatment Is Available to Individuals with Huntington's?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for HD, but although the mental, physical and behavioral decline can't be slowed down or reversed, there is medication available that can help manage the symptoms. The following treatments and therapies have been found to be effective in managing some of the symptoms of HD.

Therapies • Speech and language therapy can help to improve communication skills as well as memory. Language therapy can teach HD sufferers alternative ways of communicating aside from talking.
• Physiotherapy can help a HD patient maintain/regain mobility and balance. Treatments such as massages, muscle manipulation, exercise, electrotherapy, and hydrotherapy can be very effective.
• Regular exercise is very important for those affected by HD. Individuals with this disease who exercise feel a lot better both physically and mentally than those who don't exercise. 
Medications Medications can be prescribed by a doctor to help manage some of the symptoms of HD, but most of them have side effects so many patients decide not to take them.
• A variety of antidepressants can be taken to improve mood swings. However, the side effects include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, excessive sweating, insomnia, trembling or shaking, and low blood pressure.
• Mood stabilizers can treat mood swings and irritability. The side effects may include weight gain, gastrointestinal problems, and tremors.
• Antipsychotic medication can be used to control delusions and violent outbursts. However, doctors usually prescribed the lowest dose possible as they can have very severe side effects. This includes drowsiness, nausea, and restlessness. They can also trigger depression or other psychiatric conditions. 
In order to manage symptoms, it's crucial that the patient's treatment goals and medication plan are regularly reviewed and analyzed by a specialist.

 this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes 
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement