Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Week is December 1-7.

Aplastic anemia is a disease of the bone marrow. It happens when the bone marrow stops making enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets for the body. Any blood cells the marrow does make are normal, but there are not enough of them. Aplastic anemia can be moderate, severe or very severe. People with severe or very severe aplastic anemia are at risk for life-threatening infections or bleeding. Although aplastic anemia can appear at any age, it is diagnosed more often in children and young adults. Several well-known figures from history had aplastic anemia, including chemist and Nobel Prize recipient Madame Curie and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Aplastic anemia is caused by destruction of the blood-forming stem cells in your bone marrow. These stem cells normally develop into three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Most research suggests that stem cell destruction occurs because the body’s immune system attacks its own cells by mistake. Normally, the immune system attacks only foreign substances. When your immune system attacks your own body, you are said to have an autoimmune disease. Aplastic anemia is generally thought to be an autoimmune disease. Other autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Aplastic anemia can be acquired or hereditary.

• Acquired aplastic anemia can begin any time in life. About 75 out of 100 cases of acquired aplastic anemia are idiopathic. This means they have no known cause.
• Hereditary aplastic anemia is passed down through the genes from parent to child. It is usually diagnosed in childhood and is much less common than acquired aplastic anemia. People who develop hereditary aplastic anemia usually have other genetic or developmental abnormalities.

About 25 out of 100 cases of acquired aplastic anemia can be linked to one of several causes. These include:

• Toxins, such as pesticides, arsenic, and benzene
• Radiation and chemotherapy used to treat cancer
• Treatments for other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Pregnancy – sometimes, this aplastic anemia improves on its own after the woman gives birth
• The symptoms of aplastic anemia are caused by low blood cell counts. The symptoms depend on which type of blood cell is affected.
• Low red blood cell count
• A low red blood cell count is called anemia. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. A low red blood cell count causes fatigue and tiredness.
• Low white blood cell count
• A low white blood cell count is called neutropenia. White blood cells fight infections in the body by attacking and killing bacteria and viruses. A low white blood cell count can increase the risk for infections.
• Low platelet count
• A low platelet count is called thrombocytopenia. Platelets help blood to clot and stop bleeding. A low platelet count can lead to bleeding problems and cause you to bruise easily.

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Epilepsy, which affects approximately 2 million persons in the United States, is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Delayed recognition of these seizures and subsequent inadequate treatment increases the risk for additional seizures, disability, decreased health-related quality of life, and, in rare instances, death. Although epilepsy can occur at any age, the condition is more likely to begin among children aged 2 years and adults aged 65 years. The number of cases among older adults is increasing as the U.S. population ages. A multistate study by CDC indicated that approximately 1% of adults have active epilepsy, and many might not be receiving the best available medical care.

Many persons do not know how to respond appropriately to a person having a seizure. For example, although many law enforcement and emergency response personnel are able to respond successfully to readily recognizable forms of seizures and intervene appropriately, some might not recognize seizures in persons they encounter who appear to be confused, unable to communicate, or exhibit behaviors inappropriate to time and place. Such persons might not obey directives and might become involuntarily combative, resulting in inappropriate arrest, possible injury, and, in some cases, death.

“Get Seizure Smart,” this year’s theme for National Epilepsy Awareness Month, focuses on the importance of seizure recognition and first aid. During the month of November, the Epilepsy Foundation will launch an interactive website  that will provide educational materials and other resources to support this effort.

Additional information about epilepsy and the national program is available from the Epilepsy Foundation by telephone (800-332-1000) or online (http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org ). Information in Spanish is available online (http://www.fundacionparalaepilepsia.org ) or by telephone (866-748-8008).

November is American Diabetes month and the American diabetes Association is asking, “How will you stop Diabetes?” Last November, the American Diabetes Association launched the Stop Diabetes movement, with the bold goal of having 1 million people join in the first year. So far, more than 814,000 people around the country have raised their hand and pledged to join the fight. There are plenty of ways you can become involved in American Diabetes Month and the Stop Diabetes movement this November. Therefore, please don’t waste time in learning the symptoms and getting the facts about diabetes. Drastic action is needed from everyone.

A new federal report predicts that one in three American adults may have diabetes by 2050‚  with the number of diabetes patients projected to double or triple over the next 40 years. These projections come from new analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)‚ published in the journal Population Health Metrics. The report points out three key demographic factors behind the increased diabetes prevalence: an aging population‚ increases in high–risk minority groups‚ and better survival in people who already have diabetes. Total costs of diabetes are an estimated $174 billion annually‚ including $116 billion in direct medical costs‚ the CDC says. The new report predicts that the number of new diabetes cases each year will increase from eight per 1‚000 people in 2008 to 15 per 1‚000 in 2050.

“These are alarming numbers that show how critical it is to change the course of type 2 diabetes‚” said Ann Albright‚ director of the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. ”Successful programs to improve lifestyle choices on healthy eating and physical activity must be made more widely available‚ because the stakes are too high and the personal toll too devastating to fail.” According to Sue Kirkman‚ senior vice president of medical affairs and community information for the American Diabetes Association‚ these new projections are probably the most accurate because of the amount of information used to make them. ”We definitely know that people with diabetes are living longer than they did 20 years ago‚ and are less likely to have complications‚” Kirkman said. Earlier this year‚ the CDC launched the National Diabetes Prevention Program to bring diabetes prevention to communities. The program supports a network of lifestyle intervention programs for overweight or obese people at high risk of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes:

• Frequent urination
• Unusual thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Extreme fatigue and Irritability

Type 2 Diabetes*:

• Any of the type 1 symptoms
• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
• Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
• Often people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms