Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Scleroderma
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the condition?
Treatment depends on the symptoms and severity of the scleroderma. Following is a list of some of the medications used to treat this disorder:
Psychotherapy or counseling may help the person adjust to living with an incurable disease. There are support groups for this disorder. Joining one may help the person to deal with the illness.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Medications used to treat scleroderma have many side effects. The side effects include the following:
Calcium channel blockers have long been used to treat scleroderma as well as high blood pressure. However, the findings of two recent studies show that people who take a calcium channel blocker have a much higher incidence of complications than people taking other medications for high blood pressure. The findings of one study, for example, showed that the risk of heart attack was 27% greater. The risk of congestive heart failure was 26% higher in people taking calcium channel blockers. The American Heart Association recommends discussing the risks and benefits of the medication with a healthcare provider.
What happens after treatment for the condition?
The course of scleroderma varies unpredictably. A person who only has the local form of scleroderma has a better prognosis. An individual with severe systemic scleroderma may have chronic lung, kidney, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular problems.
How is the condition monitored?
A person with scleroderma should have frequent physical exams by his or her healthcare provider. This helps the provider monitor the activity of the disorder and determine possible complications. Frequent blood tests may help monitor the disorder as well. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.