Amyloidosis is a rare disease in which abnormal proteins, called amyloid proteins, build up in your organs - affecting your kidneys, heart, spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract or nervous system. Researchers have not yet determined the exact cause of amyloidosis, but those at greater risk include people over 40, those with chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases (such as tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis), those with a family history of the disease and those undergoing kidney dialysis.
The microbes in your guts help you digest food and synthesize vitamins — playing an important role in your health. Now researchers have discovered that people have three distinct ecosystems within their guts. So far, researchers have not been able to find a link between the three enterotypes (gut ecosystems) and ethnicity, weight, health, sex or age. So why does one person have a specific enterotype? Researchers will continue to look for the answer.
Why does a person’s gut type matter? Well, think of blood types. Today, many treatments are dependent upon your blood type. In the future, one’s enterotype may play a role in dietary recommendations or prescriptions. Enterotypes may even alter our use of antibiotics — if researchers discover means of restoring good gut bacteria, rather than eliminating the disease-causing bacteria (as antibiotics commonly do).
Read the entire article in Nature magazine, or a synposis of the findings from the New York Times.
Noroviruses - which can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting - are highly contagious. Thus outbreaks typically occur in crowded environments such as resorts, daycare facilities, hospitals, cruise ships or nursing homes. The infection can be spread by close contact with an infected person - who may or may not have symptoms - or via food or drink that has been contaminated by an infected person or animal.
Most people infected with norovirus become ill within 24 to 48 hours and recover within three days after becoming ill. However, in some cases infected persons may suffer from more severe diarrhea and vomiting, and may be sick up to five or six days. In such cases it is very impotant that the person drink plenty of fluids in order to remain hydrated. Remember that sodas, sugary drinks and caffeinated beverages do not help a person hydrate and can, in fact, lead to more frequent urination that contributes to dehydration.
In the United States, one of every 15 people will suffer from appendicitis. And those most likely to be affected are people between the ages of 10 and 30. So, is appendicitis an emergency? Yes. An inflamed appendix, if left untreated, can burst and release infectious materials inside your body. If these materials are released, it can lead to peritonitis - inflammation of your abdominal cavity - which can be fatal if not treated with antibiotics.
Just what causes appendicitis? It can be the result of an infection, cancer or blockage caused by stool.
It’s important you be aware of the various symptoms of appendicitis, particularly as appendicitis can often mimic the symptoms of other conditions such as a urinary tract infection, a gallbladder problem, ovarian pain, gastritis, a bladder infection or an infection within the intestines.
Growing numbers of people suffer from lactose intolerance - experiencing nausea, cramps, bloating, gas or diarrhea when they eat dairy products. Lactose intolerance is caused when a person’s body doesn’t create enough lactase, the enzyme used to break down sugar (lactose) found in dairy products.
Most people with lactose intolerance do not need to completely eliminate dairy from their diets. Lactase enzyme replacement pills taken before a meal can help prevent or lessen symptoms brought on by eating dairy.
What else can you do to alleviate lactose intolerance symptoms?
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