Invisible Illness

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MRSA Infection – How you get MRSA

MRSA

MRSA

MRSA lives harmlessly on the skin of around 1 in 30 people – usually in the nose, armpits, groin or buttocks. This is known as “colonisation” or “carrying” MRSA.

You can get MRSA on your skin by:

touching someone who has it

sharing things like towels, sheets and clothes with someone who has MRSA on their skin

touching surfaces or objects that have MRSA on them

Getting MRSA on your skin won’t make you ill, and it may go away in a few hours, days, weeks or months without you noticing. But it could cause an infection if it gets deeper into your body.

People staying in hospital are most at risk of this happening because:

they often have a way for the bacteria to get into their body, such as a wound, burn, feeding tube, drip into a vein, or urinary catheter

they may have other serious health problems that mean their body is less able to fight off the bacteria

they’re in close contact with a large number of people, so the bacteria can spread more easily

Healthy people (including children and pregnant women) aren’t usually at risk of MRSA infections.

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COPD what are the causes of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

COPD Awareness

COPD Awareness

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occurs when the lungs and airways become damaged and inflamed.

It’s usually associated with long-term exposure to harmful substances such as cigarette smoke.

Things that can increase your risk of developing COPD are outlined below.

Smoking

Smoking is the main cause of COPD and is thought to be responsible for around 9 in every 10 cases.

The harmful chemicals in smoke can damage the lining of the lungs and airways. Stopping smoking can help stop COPD getting worse.

Some research has also suggested that being exposed to other people’s smoke (passive smoking) may increase your risk of COPD.

Fumes and dust at work

Exposure to certain types of dust and chemicals at work may damage the lungs and increase your risk of COPD.

Substances that have been linked to COPD include:

cadmium dust and fumes

grain and flour dust

silica dust

welding fumes

isocyanates

coal dust

The risk of COPD is even higher if you breathe in dust or fumes in the workplace and you smoke.

The Health and Safety Executive has more information about occupational causes of COPD.

Air pollution

Exposure to air pollution over a long period can affect how well the lungs work and some research has suggested it could increase your risk of COPD.

But at the moment the link between air pollution and COPD isn’t conclusive and research is continuing.

Genetics

You’re more likely to develop COPD if you smoke and have a close relative with the condition, suggesting some people’s genes may make them more vulnerable to the condition.

Around 1 in 100 people with COPD has a genetic tendency to develop COPD called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a substance that protects your lungs. Without it, the lungs are more vulnerable to damage.

People who have an alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency usually develop COPD at a younger age, often under 35 – particularly if they smoke.

The British Lung Foundation has information about alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. The charity Alpha-1 Awareness UK also provides information and advice.

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What happens when you have a disease doctors can’t diagnose? A TEDtalk Jennifer Brea

Jennifer Brea

Jennifer Brea

What happens when you have a disease doctors can’t diagnose?

This happens all the time. A lot of people with fibromyalgia for example have experienced how hard it is to get a diagnosis.

So we thought we would share this brilliant video by Jennifer Brea

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Common Hidden and Invisible Illnesses Explained – Please share to raise awareness

If you saw a person in a wheelchair or on crutches struggling to move, would you accuse them of milking it for attention? Not unless you were a truly malign, cold-hearted individual. If you saw a seemingly healthy person climbing out of a car that’s just been parked in a disabled parking spot, would you accost them and insist that they park elsewhere? Quite possibly, but before you do, it’s worth taking the time to consider whether that person actually does need the spot, even though they seem healthy.

There’s a little insight into the world of the hidden illness sufferer. Aside from the crippling physical pain they courageously endure on a daily basis, there’s also the frustration and torment of unsympathetic observers who take their exterior appearance at face value and believe that there’s nothing wrong. It doesn’t have to be a physical illness, either. Depression is also classified as a hidden illness, as it is a medical condition which might be highly concealed but has an enormously damaging impact on a person’s day-to-day life.

For people living with hidden illnesses, a basic degree of understanding and empathy from others is greatly appreciated. If you hear someone saying profusely that they’re feeling unwell, don’t just brush their words aside as the attention-seeking whines of a serial complainer. Ask them if there is anything you can do to make them feel a bit better. A person without a chronic illness just does not know the extent of the suffering of those with such illnesses.

This infographic from Burning Nights neatly summarises 10 of the most common hidden illnesses so that we can all obtain a small level of understanding. This include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, depression, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Lyme disease, Lupus and CRPS. Maybe the next time we see a seemingly healthy person occupying a handicapped parking space, we won’t be so hasty in our judgement.

Common Hidden Illnesses Explained [Infographic]