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Tourette
By
Shahida Nisar
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Vicky Whitehead is striving to help her children Scott,
11, and Rebecca, 9, become independent while balancing
the need to protect them. It's especially hard not to
shelter Scott, who suffers from Tourette's syndrome
and the teasing and unkind remarks she knows he endures.
The former schoolteacher said Tourette's is a misunderstood
disorder that is often sensationalized in the media.
Tourette's, is a neurological disorder characterized
by repeated tics or body movements and vocal sounds.
Involuntary movements can include eye blinking, repeated
throat clearing or sniffing, shoulder shrugging or jumping.
This explanation to answer the "What is Tourette's"
question is a simple answer to a
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complicated
disorder, one that has perplexed people for decades.
Coprolalia, or uttering of obscenities, is manifested
by fewer than 15 percent of people with Tourette's, but
it's often the first image people have when they hear
about the disorder.
"There are people who have Tourette's, and they know
they are different, but they haven't been diagnosed,"
Whitehead said. "I worked with special education
kids, and that's how I knew Scott had Tourette's before
he was diagnosed when he was 7. We went to a pediatric
neurologist, and this was comforting because the diagnosis
confirmed what I already knew." It's often a relief
to parents when they get a diagnosis to explain their
child's behavior. Until they do, they can't help their
children. "We were lucky we got an early diagnosis.
I was relieved because we had a name," said another
mother. Her son Zac, 8, was diagnosed with Tourette's
when he was 4. "Of course, at first I fell apart.
But I believe knowledge is power. I thought Tourette's
involved compulsive cursing. I just poured myself into
the Internet to learn all I could." Neither Scott
nor Zac have coprolalia.
Dr. Julie Parke, neurology professor at the University
of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and chief of child
neurology, says that the cause of Tourette's is unknown.
Prominent thinking of researchers is that the disorder
stems from the abnormal metabolism of at least one brain
chemical or neurotransmitter. There appear to be genetic
factors, and there may be nongenetic autoimmune and environmental
factors. There often are other associated conditions such
as Attention Deficit Disorder or obsessive-compulsive
behavior. Most children with Tourette's start showing
symptoms at ages 5 or 6. Tourette's is diagnosed clinically.
There is no blood test or other test that parents sometimes
expect. A diagnosis is made when the child has motor tics
and vocalizations lasting longer than 12 months.
Tics are brief, rapid, usually repetitive movements, such
as blinking, grimacing, shrugging or jerks of the head.
Vocalizations can be sniffing, coughing or popping noises.
They vary in severity and type, (and) wax and wane with
intensity. Older tics could disappear and new ones appear.
The child may be able to suppress tics for a brief period
of time, especially older children, but it's like a tension
that has to be released. Medicines that block dopamine
(a neurotransmitter) seem to help, noting that many patients
don't require medicine. Behavioral treatment and counseling
play a significant role in treatment. The good news for
parents is that two-thirds of children with Tourette's
outgrow the tics. Most children with Tourette's experience
the worst tics between ages 10-15.
Whitehead said, "Scott is so kind, a wonderful true-blue
friend who takes the underdog under his wing. He's a really
neat, well-rounded little boy. The kids give him a hard
time, and my concern is to get him through the teen years."
Whitehead said she is patient, and her husband and both
sets of grandparents are supportive. The family is open
and willing to talk together about Tourette's. And, Whitehead
said Scott's sister, Rebecca, is understanding toward
her brother. She said her son used to talk to her about
Tourette's and the teasing he experienced. Now, he doesn't
say much. "It's embarrassing to him," she said.
"Everything is traumatic when you are 11 years old."
Whitehead said children with Tourette's don't adapt well
to change. Her family has learned to be as consistent
as possible.
Zac, a second-grader with an outgoing personality and
an amazing memory, is sometimes grown-up as he talks about
Tourette's. He experiences eye blinking, throat clearing
and impulsions to touch other children's faces. She said
they have tried medicines. "Last year, when he started
school, he had no tics. We are trying to teach Zac not
to touch another child. It's such an impulse; it's hard
for people to understand. It looks like a kid acting out,
or like he is trying to annoy someone. He doesn't realize
it is intrusive. A tic is like an itch, but we say, 'Don't
scratch.' Children suffering from Tourette's have a flood
of information they are trying to process. You have to
go on and do the best you can," Matney says. "That's
what my husband and I do. I can't think about teasing.
But I know it will rear its ugly head. Every new school
year, I pray, 'Please God, let me get a good teacher for
Zac, one who is loving and will be understanding.' There
are upsetting times, and I just want him to have a good
self-image and know that he can do whatever he wants in
life." |
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Prostate
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One in ten men will develop prostate cancer
in their lifetime. In fact, prostate cancer is
the second most common type of cancer diagnosed
in males. The occurrence of this
disease increases with age with over 75% of all
cases diagnosed in men who are over 65. The
best chance for successful treatment and
recovery occurs when prostate cancer is diagnosed
while it is still confined to the
prostate, and is treated promptly.
What is the prostate? The prostate is a gland
of the male reproductive system. The main purpose
of the prostate is to produce seminal fluid, which
nourishes and transports sperm. It is a walnut-sized
gland, located below the bladder and surrounds
the upper portion of the urethra (the tube that
carries urine from the bladder).
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
1. Frequent urination, especially at night
2. Difficulty starting urine flow
3. Weak urinary stream
4. Inability to urinate
5. Interrupted flow of urine (flow stops and starts)
6. Burning or pain when urinating
7. Blood in the urine or semen.
It is important to note that these symptoms could
be caused by other health conditions, such as
an infection or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH),
as well as by prostate cancer. Any man who has
any of these symptoms should see his doctor immediately.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed? It is usually
diagnosed by a series of tests and exams. The
physician will usually start by discussing symptoms,
personal medical history, and the patient’s
family history of cancer. A digital rectal exam
(DRE) allows the physician to feel the prostate
with a lubricated, gloved finger and determine
if it is enlarged or has any lumps or any abnormalities
of texture. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
test measures the amount of PSA in the blood.
While a healthy prostate releases only a very
small amount of PSA into the bloodstream, certain
prostate conditions, such as BPH and prostate
cancer, can cause larger amounts of PSA to enter
the blood. A biopsy may be performed if the results
of the DRE and PSA are suspicious. The physician
will use a needle to remove a small amount of
prostate tissue, which is examined under a microscope.
The only way to definitely diagnose prostate cancer
is through a biopsy. As early stages of prostate
cancer may not have yet increased the PSA or be
detectable by a microscope, it is important that
men over the age of 50, and men over the age of
40 who are in high risk groups, have a DRE and
a PSA every year.
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
Age: It is mainly found in men over age 55.
Family history: A man’s risk is higher if
his father or brother has been diagnosed with
prostate cancer.
Diet: A diet high in animal fat may increase the
risk of prostate cancer.
How is prostate cancer treated? Treatment depends
on the extent of the disease, how abnormal the
cells appear, and the likelihood of the cells
growing or spreading. Also considered in planning
treatment are the man’s age, his health,
and his feelings about the various treatment options
and their potential side effects. Prostate cancer
can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy,
hormonal therapy, or a combination of therapies.
A physician may also provide management through
careful, close monitoring and plan treatment only
if symptoms occur or grow worse.
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Breast Vs.
Bottle
If knowing
that it wards off infection and allergies still hasn’t
persuaded mothers to breast-feed their newborns, maybe
this will. A study of 15,000 children ages 9 through
14 shows that those who were breast-fed are 20% less
likely to be overweight than those who were formula
fed. That’s welcome news indeed, since overweight
youngsters tend to grow up into overweight adults.
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Diagnosis: Female
Even after adjusting for all other
risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure
and age, researchers have found that women are nearly
60% more likely than men to suffer a stroke after heart
surgery, and 15% more likely to die soon afterward.
Why? Researchers have no explanation.
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Ring of Prevention
In its search for the perfect
birth-control device, America’s Food and Drug Administration
has approved a new one called NuvaRing. It’s a
clear, flexible plastic ring that’s inserted into
the vagina once a month and emits the same hormones
used in the Pill but in lower (and presumably safer)
doses. It should be available early next year.
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