In this first video of a five part series on Lyme Disease, Dr. John Aucott from the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center provides an overview of the disease.
Lyme Disease An Introduction
Disease Information
Psoriatic Arthritis – Disease Overview
Psoriatic arthritis, in short called PsA, is a rheumatologic disease that effects about 1.5 million Americans. About one in three people with the skin disease psoriasis, will get psoriatic arthritis. It affects the joints as well as the tendons, and it may also affect the spine.
Sjögren’s Syndrome – Disease Overview
Sjögren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that is found primarily in women, where inflammation at the salivary and lacrimal glands causes dryness of the eyes and mouth. However, it’s also a systemic disease that affects the entire body, producing joint pain and fatigue, and damaging internal organs. As many as four million Americans suffer from Sjögren’s Syndrome, which often overlaps with other rheumatic diseases making it very common to misdiagnose or overlook. Unfortunately, many patients are not diagnosed on time, which makes it much more difficult to treat. In this video, the Director of the Jerome L. Greene Sjögren’s Syndrome Center, Dr. Alan Baer, discusses the symptoms and problems that many patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome face.
Antisynthetase Syndrome Signs & Symptoms
While the symptoms of Antisynthetase Syndrome vary greatly from patient to patient, the most common symptoms are muscle weakness, joint pain, and lung inflammation. Because of the varying symptoms of this disease, it is advised for patients to have frequent follow ups with their Rheumatologist. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Mecoli, a physician in the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology, explains the signs and symptoms a patient may display with Antisynthetase Syndrome.
Polymyositis – Overview
Polymyositis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the muscles. It’s also commonly paired with other rheumatic diseases such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus. In this video, Dr. Lisa Christopher-Stine, the Director of the Myositis Center, explains the basics of polymyositis.
How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?
Sitting down and listening to a patient’s story is the first step in diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. While swollen joints are a large indicator of Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are many […]
Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) Overview
Inclusion body myositis is an inflammatory disease that affects the muscles. It affects more men than women, which makes it different than most other inflammatory diseases that affect mainly women. We are still learning about IBM and what causes it. In this video, Dr. Lisa Christopher-Stine, the Director of the Myositis Center, discusses the symptoms and problems many patients with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) face.
Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) Signs & Symptoms
The most first signs that usually appear in IBM patients are trouble getting out of chairs and unexplained falls resulting from leg weakness. In this video, Dr. Tom Lloyd, the co-Director of the Myositis Center, discusses the symptoms of Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM).
Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) Diagnosis
There are a variety of ways inclusion body myositis (IBM) is diagnosed. Physicians will check for a specific kind of weakness in the body, perform an EMG, and check the muscle enzymes. These tests help differentiate IBM from other kinds of inflammatory muscle disease. In this video, Dr. Lisa Christopher-Stine, the Director of the Myositis Center, explains how to confirm an Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) diagnosis.
Vasculitis Treatment
The treatment for vasculitis depends on the type of vasculitis a patient has. Before beginning treatment your Rheumatologist will try to understand how extensive is the injury to the body from vasculitis. Once that is determined, they would decide what is the intensity and duration of treatment that is needed.
For more extreme cases, corticosteroids may be used, along with non-steroidal treatments. Along with these treatments, it is important that patients are vigilant about maintaining a balanced and healthy diet, and exercising regularly.
Rheumatologist Dr. Eric J. Gapud, with the Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center, explains how treatment decisions are made.
Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) Treatment
Unfortunately, there aren’t really any medical treatments for inclusion body myositis. The most beneficial way to improve mobility and maintain muscle longevity is to exercise and stay active. In this video, Dr. Tom Lloyd, the co-Director of the Myositis Center, discusses the symptoms of Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM).
Vasculitis Lifestyle Information
Like many rheumatic diseases, exercise and a healthy diet are key to a Vasculitis patients recovery. How quickly and how well blood vessels heal and regenerate has a direct relationship with how soon can a patient get back to exercising.
Dr. Eric J. Gapud, physician and Vasculitis Center Director of Research, explores things patients can do at home to heal and feel better.