Health

Stiff Person Syndrome Symptoms: Understanding The Signs And Treatment Options

(CTN NEWS) – Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by muscle stiffness and spasms, leading to difficulties in movement and coordination.

This article explores the various symptoms associated with Stiff Person Syndrome, the causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and coping strategies for individuals living with this condition.

Introduction

Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a chronic neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to control their muscles. It is a rare condition, and its exact cause is still not fully understood.

People with Stiff Person Syndrome experience muscle stiffness and spasms that can be debilitating and significantly impact their quality of life.

What is Stiff Person Syndrome?

Stiff Person Syndrome is a neurological disorder that primarily affects the muscles and movement. It is characterized by progressive muscle stiffness, involuntary muscle contractions, and an exaggerated startle reflex.

The stiffness and spasms can occur in any part of the body but commonly affect the trunk and lower extremities.

Causes of Stiff Person Syndrome

The exact cause of Stiff Person Syndrome is not known, but it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder.

In individuals with SPS, the immune system mistakenly targets and attacks specific components of the nervous system, particularly the cells responsible for regulating muscle movement.

This autoimmune response disrupts the normal communication between nerves and muscles, leading to muscle stiffness and spasms.

Symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome

Muscle stiffness and spasms

The hallmark symptom of Stiff Person Syndrome is muscle stiffness, which can vary in severity. The stiffness is often most pronounced upon waking up or during times of stress or emotional distress.

In addition to stiffness, individuals with SPS may experience painful muscle spasms that can be triggered by external stimuli or sudden movements.

Balance and coordination issues

Stiff Person Syndrome can affect balance and coordination, making it difficult for individuals to walk or perform precise movements.

The stiffness and spasms in the muscles can lead to an unsteady gait and increase the risk of falls. Tasks that require fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt, may also become challenging.

Hyperactive reflexes

People with Stiff Person Syndrome often exhibit hyperactive reflexes, meaning their reflex responses are more intense and prolonged than normal.

Simple stimuli, such as a loud noise or a tap on the knee, can trigger exaggerated muscle contractions, leading to further stiffness and spasms.

Emotional and psychological symptoms

Stiff Person Syndrome can have a significant impact on emotional well-being.

Many individuals with SPS experience anxiety, depression, and social isolation due to the physical limitations and challenges associated with the condition.

These emotional symptoms can further exacerbate the muscle stiffness and spasms.

Diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome

Diagnosing Stiff Person Syndrome can be challenging because its symptoms can mimic other neurological disorders.

Medical professionals typically rely on a combination of clinical evaluation, medical history, and specific laboratory tests to make an accurate diagnosis.

These tests may include electromyography (EMG), blood tests to check for autoantibodies and imaging studies to rule out other conditions.

Treatment Options for Stiff Person Syndrome

What to Know About Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) - Homage Malaysia

While there is no cure for Stiff Person Syndrome, several treatment options can help manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with the condition.

Medications

Medications such as diazepam, baclofen, and muscle relaxants are commonly prescribed to alleviate muscle stiffness and spasms.

In some cases, anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants may be recommended to address the emotional symptoms associated with SPS.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in managing Stiff Person Syndrome. Therapeutic exercises can help improve muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination.

Physical therapists may also teach individuals stretching techniques and relaxation exercises to reduce muscle stiffness.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy involves infusing high doses of antibodies into the bloodstream to modulate the immune system’s response.

IVIG can help alleviate symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of muscle spasms in individuals with Stiff Person Syndrome.

Plasma exchange

Plasma exchange, also known as plasmapheresis, involves removing the blood plasma and replacing it with donor plasma or a substitute.

This procedure helps remove harmful autoantibodies from the bloodstream and can provide temporary relief from the symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome.

Coping strategies and lifestyle adjustments

Living with Stiff Person Syndrome can be challenging, but there are several coping strategies and lifestyle adjustments that can help improve daily functioning and overall well-being. These may include:

Seeking support from a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals
Engaging in stress-reducing activities such as yoga or meditation
Using assistive devices and adaptive equipment to aid mobility
Modifying the home environment to ensure safety and accessibility
Joining support groups or online communities to connect with others facing similar challenges

Research and ongoing studies

Research into Stiff Person Syndrome is ongoing, with scientists striving to better understand its causes, develop targeted therapies, and improve the quality of life for individuals with the condition.

Ongoing studies explore the underlying mechanisms of the disease and investigate potential treatments and interventions.

Conclusion

Stiff Person Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by muscle stiffness, spasms, and coordination issues. While the exact cause is unknown, it is believed to be an autoimmune condition.

Diagnosing SPS can be challenging, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving daily functioning.

By employing a multidisciplinary approach and adopting coping strategies, individuals with Stiff Person Syndrome can lead fulfilling lives despite the challenges they face.

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Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP