Treatment for Raynaud’s - 2 -
Introduction
Raynaud syndrome is an auto-immune disorder in which blood vessels in the digits constrict. It usually strikes females between the ages of eighteen and thirty. “Between three to five percent of people are affected.” (Harvard, 2003) There is no known cause or cure. (Segala et al, 2003) Clinical features primarily deal with (but are not limited to) the digits of the fingers. Other digits that may be affected include toes, nose, and ear lobes. Exposure to cold and emotional stress triggers the vasoconstriction of the digits. It was originally described by the Catholic, French physician Maurice Raynaud in 1862. In this condition, the vasospastic response is more frequently induced by exposure to cold temperatures and is often accompanied by digital color changes. After onset, a tri-color change [blanching (white), cyanosis (blue), and reactive hyperemia (red)] occurs. “Pallor (blanching) shows vasospasm and loss of arterial blood flow, cyanosis shows the deoxygenation of static venous blood, and rubor (red) shows reactive hyperemia following return of blood flow.” (Bowling, 2003) Theories for the causes of Raynaud syndrome include: arterial wall damage, connective tissue disease (CTD), or repetitive use of vibrational tools. (Ko, 2002)
There are various methods of diagnosing Raydaund syndrome. Cold water emersion is one method. In this method, patients’ hands are immersed in cold water to observe any clinical features. Another mode of diagnosis looks at medical conditions that are associated with Raynaud syndrome, such as CTD, scleroderma, and lupus. A third technique includes physical examination of the ulnar and radial vessels, nail folds in the capillaries, presence of digital inflammation, sclerodactyly (sleroderma, hardening of the skin, of the fingers and toes), or telangiectasia (chronic dilation of groups of capillaries
Treatment for Raynaud’s - 3 - that cause dark red blotches on the skin, usually on the face). Laboratory tests are another consideration of diagnosis. Tests consist of anti-nuclear anti-body (ANA) counts and anti-topoisomerase (an enzyme that reduces super-coiling in DNA by breaking and rejoining one or both strands of DNA). High ANA’s and low anti-topoisomerases are found in patients with Raynaud syndrome. (Desai, 2003) “Patients with circulating autoantibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and anti-Scl 70 antibodies are at (an) increased risk of developing a connective tissue disease. Systemic sclerosis is the connective tissue disease most frequently associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon.” (Bowling, 2003) This syndrome is described as primary Raynaud phenomenon (PRP) if is not associated with another disorder and as secondary Raynaud phenomenon (SRP) if it occurs in association with another disorder.
The brand name is Lexapro, but is known generically as Escitalopram. Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (Escitalopram, 2011). Lexapro is used to treat: acute and maintenance treatment of Major Depressive Disorder and Acute Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Forest Pharmaceuticals, 2012). Lexapro can treat adults for both MDD and GAD. Lexapro is not FDA-indicted to treat adolescent with GAD, but is approved for adolescents (aged 12-17) with MDD. There are no street names for Lexapro, and stated by Forest Pharmaceuticals, animal studies suggest that abuse danger of this drug is low
Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(1):124–125. Puchenkova, S. G. (1996). "
Also evident are molluscoid pseudotumors (fleshy lesions associated with scars) frequently found over pressure points (e.g. elbows) and subcutaneous spheroids, which are commonly mobile and palpable on the forearms and shins. Complications of joint hypermobility include sprains, dislocation are common in the shoulder, patella and temporomandibular joints Muscle hypotonia and slower gross motor development also can occur It is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner (Clarke, D., Skrocki-Czerpak, K., Neumann-Potash, L.). In the Hypermobile type of EDS, the joints of the body experience Hypermobility, which is the dominant clinical manifestation. General joint hypermobility affects large (elbows, knees) and small (fingers and toes) joints. Skin is hyperextensible, smooth/velvety, and bruising occurs easily as well.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. "Hidradenitis Suppurativa: MedlinePlus." Nlm.nih.gov/. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. .
P3 – Describe the investigations that are carried out to enable the diagnosis of these physiological disorders
It’s a “nonlesion” syndrome , exhibit no clinically detectable lesions, although symptoms of pain and burning can be intense. This is particularly frustrating problem for both patient and clinician, because there is usually no clear cut cause and no uniformly successful treatment is present.
...cz-Towalska, O., Rzodkiewicz, P., Maslinska, D., Szukiewicz,D. & Maslinski, S. (2009) “Cryotherapy decreases histamine levels in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis”, Inflammation Research , 59(2), pp.253–255. ResearchGate [Online]. Available at http://www.researchgate.net/publication/40697605_Cryotherapy_decreases_histamine_levels_in_the_blood_of_patients_with_rheumatoid_arthritis (Accessed: 12th May 2014).
Ployarteritisnodosa is an inflammatory disease of the small to medium sized arteries. Many systems including the skin, central nervous system, heart, kidneys and intestinal tract. It is commonly associated with hepatitis B but the cause is usually unknown.. Symptoms vary however, fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, and muscle and joint aches are normal. Treatment depends on how serious the case is.
The Beauty Industry being such a wide market of services and products include providing for the care of our skin, hair, selling of perfumes and cosmetics (“What is the Beauty Industry?”2014) and now developing more extensively into basic cosmetic surgery and treatments, now gives society a big opportunity to pamper and nourish themselves in more extensive ways. Throughout this essay, the branches of dermatology and dermal therapies will be explained; common skin disorders and specifically a treatment called ‘Ultrasonic Peeling’ and how it can potentially help with skin disorders imposed today will be explored and described in detail. After the investigation of what Ultrasonic Peeling is and how it works, I will also state my opinion on how well I think the treatment benefits its users, give my evaluation if I would consider using it, what I think the positives and negatives are and in scenario, assess whether it is a treatment that more salons should consider offering.
Tamparo, C. D. & Lewis, M. A. (2011). Diseases of the human body. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.
Peripheral artery disease is usually caused by atherosclerosis, which is when fatty deposits accumulate in the arteries of, most likely, limbs. This does affect all arteries throughout the body, then in turn, slowing the blood flow. PAD may also be due to inflammation of the blood vessels, injury to the extremities, or even exposure to radiation. “Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects approximately 10% of the American population” (Gurbir Dhaliwal; Peripheral arterial disease: Epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis and treatment; 2007). If not taken care of, PAD may lead to critical limb ischemia, open sores on the feet or legs that become infected by gangrene. The gangrene is then removed surgically, but doctors might have to amputate the extremity all together. Another issue that arises with PAD if it is not under control is the risk of stroke or heart attack. These can cause death to part of the heart or brain, or even death itself. The population more at risk would be smokers, diabetics, people who are obese, those with hypertension or hyperlipidemia, over the age of 50, have a family history of PAD, or those with a high level of homocysteine. If someone does fall into a few of these categories a physician can do a few tests to check for PAD. The doctor will more than likely start off with a physical exam, blood test, and possibly an ultrasound. From there the physician may try an ankle-brachial index, or ABI, which compares the blood pressure of the feet to the blood pressure of the arm. “An American survey of 2174 patients older than 40 years of age used the ankle-brachial index (ABI) as a screening tool, and showed a PAD prevalence of 0.9% between the ages of 40 and 49 years, 2.5% between the ages of 50 and 59 years, ...
... Medicine. 3rd ed. Vol.3. Detroit: Gale, 2006.2139-2141. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.
The Cleveland Clinic, 26 Dec. 2007. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . "
Schepis, Carmelo, Donatella Greco, and Corrado Romano. "Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) Syndrome." Australasian Journal of Dermatology 40.2 (1999): 111-13. Print.
· Poorer blood circulation. Ie . gray and pale skin, easy to freeze , and cold hands and feet.