Publication made on 02/15/2023 – 1:00 pm
The Purple February
Purple represents the struggle to raise awareness about the care of three diseases: lupus, fibromyalgia and Alzheimer's. With distinct symptoms and treatment, all these conditions have in common the fact that they are incurable pathologies.
Lupus
It is the autoimmune disease that most affects Brazilians. The causes that trigger lupus are still little known. The person with lupus produces antibodies that attack healthy structures in the body itself.
Symptoms
Lupus can trigger a range of symptoms, from skin lesions and hair loss to neurological and cardiovascular problems. Joint pain is the most common sign of the disease and affects approximately 95% carriers. Constant fatigue of unknown cause, involuntary weight loss, and frequent low-grade fever are also common symptoms.
Diagnosis
The detection of lupus is carried out through clinical analysis by the physician associated with laboratory tests that identify the dosage of antibodies in the blood.
Treatment
Treatment is usually done with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. However, in more severe episodes, the indication of heavy immunosuppressive drugs is the most recommended. The lupus patient also needs continuous follow-up with a multidisciplinary health team to minimize the effects and prevent the disease from worsening.
Alzheimer's disease
With a higher incidence in patients over 65 years old, Alzheimer's disease is named after the German physician Alois Alzheimer, the first scholar to systematize the symptoms and other details of the disease.
Symptoms
The signs of Alzheimer's, in general, appear gradually, with worsening and different clinical pictures at each stage of the disease. In the initial stage, memory loss is common, especially of events that have just happened, lack of interest in activities that generate pleasure, sudden change of mood, sudden change in personality and loss of visual and spatial skills.
Diagnosis
Even with the absence of a definitive exam for the detection of Alzheimer's, doctors specialized in the monitoring of these patients are able to carry out the diagnosis with psychological tests and evaluation of the carrier. The diagnostic accuracy level is up to 90%.
Treatment
Despite being an incurable disease, the medical and multidisciplinary follow-up associated with the use of medication increases the survival of Alzheimer's patients, alleviates the signs and delays the appearance of new symptoms of the disease.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is marked by the appearance of chronic and widespread pain throughout the body. It has a higher prevalence in women aged between 30 and 50 years. People with a history of psychological trauma and exposed to situations of great stress are more vulnerable to the pathology.
Symptoms
In addition to severe pain throughout the body, fibromyalgia sufferers also experience fatigue, sudden memory loss and difficulty concentrating. The disease even affects the quality of sleep.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is made by an evaluation by the rheumatologist based on reports and symptoms presented by the patient. Some clinical tests are also applied by the specialist to aid in greater accuracy of the diagnosis.
Treatment
Fibromyalgia is incurable, but the symptoms can be managed with specialized treatment. This includes the use of medication associated with cognitive and psychotherapeutic therapies, in addition to the practice of light physical activities. Acupuncture and meditation are also indicated for the treatment of the disease.
The orange that saves
The sooner the better. Thus, orange, which is the color of balance, of kindness, reminds us that early diagnosis saves lives. It represents the fight against leukemia.
According to INCA - National Cancer Institute, about 10,000 Brazilians are diagnosed with the disease every year.
And in this orange, what we must always disseminate is that bone marrow donation saves. That's right, a simple procedure, with registration carried out in blood center donor banks across the country, and a life that goes on.
In most cases, the bone marrow transplant means the cure of the patient.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects blood tissues, accumulating diseased cells in the bone marrow. Today, this type of cancer is the 9th most common among men and the 11th among women.
People with a history of cancer treatment with chemotherapy or other types of radiation therapy, individuals with exposure to chemicals such as benzene, smokers and those with a family history of cancer are more vulnerable to developing the disease.
Symptoms
In general, patients with leukemia have constant fever or chills, infections, weakness, involuntary weight loss, nosebleeds, bone pain, and excessive sweating at night.
Diagnosis
The blood count is the main test for identifying leukemia. Performing the laboratory procedure is important, since the symptoms of the disease can be confused with the flu or other mild pathology.
Treatment
The treatment of leukemia is defined by the doctor according to the clinical profile of each patient. The therapeutic process can range from chemotherapy to bone marrow transplantation.
Take care!
