If there is something wrong with your thyroid, you are not likely to notice immediately, because its symptoms may be manifested gradually and vary widely among individuals. But whilst thyroid disorders may not be easy to prevent, there are ways to manage them effectively.

There are two major types: hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is that state where the thyroid releases lower than normal quantities of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream, which tends to slow down the body's functions. Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid releases too much hormones, making bodily functions proceed at a faster rate.

WHAT IS MASTOCYTIC ENTEROCOLITIS?

Mastocytic enterocolitis (entero=small intestine, colitis- colon + -itis= inflammation) is a newly discovered disorder defined by the presence of increased mast cells in the intestine. Mast cells are a type of immune cell. They are involved in allergy reactions, infection fighting and nerve regulation in the body. They have numerous granules that contain a variety of chemicals that mediate body reactions i.e. chemical mediators. Histamine is one of the main chemical mediators in mast cells that are released when mast cells are triggered. Mast cells present in the superficial intestinal lining or mucosa in small numbers except when there are parasites, food allergies, increased stress or the presence of other chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. When mast cells release histamine and other chemicals, this irritates or inflames the bowel making it more permeable or leaky. This can set up a vicious cycle of pain and further gut injury.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The most common symptoms are diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain. However, constipation may occur due to gut paralysis. Nausea, vomiting and various non-GI symptoms such as flushing, headaches, and fatigue may also commonly occur. When histamine is released, it can cause leaky gut, increased contractions of the gut or decreased contractions, increased secretions and increased pain.

You may have heard about the disease normally known as Multiple Sclerosis - but what is it and what causes it?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system. First described by Jean-Martin Charcot in 1868, MS(formerly known as disseminated sclerosis) is more common in women than in men and typically affects - depending on country and actual population - between 2 and 150 people per 100,000. The disease usually has its onset in early adulthood.

The disease affects the 'white matter' of the brain. Cells in white matter - present in the brain and spinal cord - carry signals for processing to 'grey matter' areas and also between these areas and the rest of the body. MS affects the neurons in the white matter - specifically destroying the cells known as 'oligodendrocytes' that are cells responsible for creating the 'myelin sheath' - a fatty layer that assists the neurons in the carrying of electrical signals.

There may be times that you would hear an unusual ringing in your ears- beware you might be experiencing tinnitus. Tinnitus is a sensation in the ear, which constitutes a feeling of fullness of the ear. You can also feel some sort of pressure in it. The loud ringing within you is also dominant feeling and it is mostly a very long and sustained sound. It could last for just a few seconds but the loud ringing sound is very disturbing. And if you have Meniere's disease and tinnitus strikes it would last for a longer period.

Tinnitus is an ear problem. Most ear problems can be caused of a number of factors of which the most common one is the infection inside the ears. The infection could manifest itself in different ways and can affect specific parts of the ear. Ear infections are usually due to poor hygiene.

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle.

Myocarditis is collection of diseases of infectious, toxic, and autoimmune. Myocarditis may develop as a complication of an infectious disease, usually caused by a virus. It can occur in people of all ages and is diagnosed more often in men than in women. Myocarditis is likely caused by a wide variety of infectious organisms, autoimmune disorders, and exogenous agents, with genetic and environmental predisposition. Myocarditis is defined as inflammatory changes in the heart muscle and is characterized by myocyte necrosis. Many organisms can infect and injure the heart. Type B, a virus among those that usually infect the gastrointestinal tract, is believed to be the most common offending agent. Many other viruses, such as those of polio, rubella and influenza, have been associated with myocarditis. Myocarditis can occur as a rare complication of bacterial infections, including diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and tetanus. Other infectious organisms, such as rickettsia and parasites, may also cause inflammation in the heart muscle.

Colon cancer is becoming more common. There will be around 125,000 new cases diagnosed in America this year. Many of these cases are in people more than 50 years old and are random. A small percentage, approximately 10%, however are not random, they have an inherited form of colon cancer. This could be caused by four different hereditary conditions, hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis (this may also be nonhereditary) and Peutz-Jegher’s syndrome.

Colon cancer is caused by damage to the genes in your colon cells. These damages can cause the cells to grow unrestricted. This unrestricted growth becomes a polyp, which will become cancerous if it’s not removed. Usually it takes a long time for polyps to develop and even longer to become cancerous. That’s why colon cancer is rare in people less than 50 years old. The cases in people less than 50 are frequently caused by an inherited condition.

Although the age of onset and severity of the condition can vary from one person to another, there are common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis.

Also, the symptoms will vary from one person to another because everyone is different, and your genes and lifestyle choices will also play a role in how your condition progresses.

That's why it's important to manage your condition by making proper lifestyle choices as early as possible, such as following a treatment protocol and eating a proper anti-inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis diet.

Only On the Web: Kelly Wallace gives a preview of her story aboyut a brother and sister who have teamed up to find a cure for prostate cancer.

May 29, 2007 (Insidermedicine) New genes responsible for raising a woman's chance of developing breast cancer have been identified, according to reports published in the journals Nature and Nature Genetics.

Tongue cancer may be linked to chronic gum disease in men, whether or not they smoke, according to a report in the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.