Osteoporosis can be described as a condition where the bones of an individual become thin and weak, leading to easy breaks of the bones. As there are no warning signs, it usually goes undiagnosed until a fracture eventually occurs, with the hip, wrist and spine especially vulnerable.

Some individuals are at a higher risk than others for getting osteoporosis. A good rule of thumb to know if a person is at risk is when an individual is able to answer yes to two or more of these questions: if a woman, have you had the menopause and if so, was it before the age of forty-five; if the person has had an eating disorder that has been sever enough to disrupt periods; any spontaneous fractures in the past; x-rays suggesting thinning of the bones; lost height in the last decade; on steroids for a longer period than six months; family history of the condition; any chronic illnesses; been immobile for any reason; and smoking or drinking a lot.

Once diagnosed with osteoporosis, a number of treatments are available. These include vitamin D and calcium supplements; hormone treatments including HRT and bisphosphonates (drugs that prevent bone breakdown).

Osteoporosis

Once a person nears or reaches middle age, preventative action is often very helpful for staving off the condition. This includes increasing calcium in the diet, increasing weight-bearing exercise, quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol intake.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be described as a functional disorder of the body’s gut. There are a few symptoms that could indicate IBS. Some of these include the following: discomfort or pain in the abdomen which tends to come and go but also seems to go away after passing stools; swelling or bloating of the abdomen with more than usual flatulence (passing wind); stools (or faeces) can differ from person to person. Some have diarrhea while some may have constipation, sometimes the stools are small and pellet like, while others they are watery or “ribbony”; nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, backache and heartburn are all other symptoms.

The causes of IBS are not as yet very clear. Some doctors believe it has something to do with over-activity of one or many parts of the gut, and this over-activity could cause diarrhea or constipation. Over-activity could be caused by many things, including the nerves or muscles of the gut being overactive; intolerance to some foods; bacteria or infection in the gut; and, reaction to taking antibiotics.

IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Treatments can include eating more fiber in the diet; eating a healthy diet while eating regular meals or avoiding not eating for long periods of time; drinking at least eight cups of non-caffeinated fluids each day while restricting coffee and tea to two or three cups per day.

Rotavirus infection affects the stomach and intestines in children with symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting. Most cases of the rotavirus infection are mild and usually clear up without medical intervention within a few days but some children, especially toddlers under the age of two, can be at risk of dehydration so it is essential to keep them hydrated with plenty of fluids.

The rotavirus infection is spread by infected people who haven’t washed their hands properly after going to the toilet. This can cause tiny amounts of infected feces being passed on to the child.  Small amounts of these infected feces can also be carried in the air resulting in the child inhaling them. Most children will have contracted the rotavirus infection by the age of five.  The rotavirus infection is more common during the winter and spring and it is usually common for the first virus to be the worst as after that the child will have built up some immunity.  It is for this reason that the rotavirus is rare in adults.

Rotavirus Infection

The rotavirus is extremely contagious in children and can even infect children who have already had the infection due to full immunity not being built up.  It is a good idea to isolate an infected child for a period of at least 48 hours after they have stopped having diarrhea and vomiting.

Symptoms of the rotavirus infection include rapid onset of diarrhea and vomiting and also occasionally a high temperature of 38C or above however it is important to recognize the signs of dehydration as this can occur if not enough fluids are taken.  Signs of dehydration include weakness, rapid breathing, little or no urine, or dry mouth and eyes.

The most important thing to do for a child with the rotavirus infection is to keep them hydrated and the infection will usually pass within a few days.