| How to Diagnose Motor Neuron Diseases Posted: 06 Apr 2018 05:00 PM PDT Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) comprise several progressive neurological disorders. These conditions can impact activities like speaking, walking, and swallowing. Diagnosis of these conditions must be made by a doctor through testing. Once you've been diagnosed, your doctor may be able to stabilize your condition so it's easier to live with. Individuals with MNDs can continue to live fulfilling lives, despite their medical condition.[1] EditRecognizing Symptoms of MDNs - Notice a loss of muscle control in your legs. The early symptoms of MNDs involve weakening muscles and diminished muscle control. These symptoms typically begin in 1 of 3 areas: the legs, the hands and arms, or the mouth. Tripping, falling, or having trouble walking are often early signs of progressive MNDs. Symptoms of a developing MND also include having trouble putting weight on your legs and ankles.[2]
- Recognize weakness in your wrists and hands. You may notice an inability to make a fist, or you may begin to drop objects more and more frequently. These are signs of a loss of muscle control, and may indicate a developing MND. Although these symptoms can be frustrating or embarrassing, they will be valuable in helping your doctor diagnose your MND.[3]
- If MND symptoms begin in your hands, you may also have trouble opening doors, turning your car keys in the ignition, or giving a firm handshake.
- Pay attention to speech problems. Many MND symptoms are in the bulbar muscles: those located in the mouth and throat. MNDs may cause your speech to become slowed, slurred, or more nasal than usual. You may also find yourself unable to shout loudly or unable to sing.[4]
- Notice if you have difficulty chewing or swallowing. If chewing or swallowing has become harder, or if you feel a general weakness in your facial muscles, you may want to get a medical diagnosis. Individuals with these symptoms may also experience painful twitches or cramps in their facial muscles.[5]
- Cramps and muscle soreness can be reduced by medications or physical therapy.
- Notice any difficulty completing daily tasks. Although you may not notice general weakness or loss of dexterity until an MND reaches more advanced stages, you are likely to notice if it is harder for you to do normal activities. If daily activities—like making coffee, writing with a pen, or climbing in and out of bed—have become difficult, it could be due to muscle weakness and a lack of muscle control.[6]
EditTalking to Your Doctor - See your doctor as soon as you notice signs of an MND. If you experience any of the described symptoms of MNDs, make an appointment to see your general physician. Explain the duration and severity of your symptoms. If the doctor suspects that you do have an MND, they'll probably refer you to see a neurologist for tests and a more accurate diagnosis.[7]
- Ask your doctor to run genetic tests to screen for specific MNDs.
- Tell your doctor if anyone else in your family has suffered from an MND. Although MNDs can be inherited, this only happens in about 1 in 20 cases.[8] So, while it's quite unlikely that your case of MND is inherited, there's always a slight chance.
- Common MNDs include: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP), and Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA).[9]
- If you're unsure about a family history of MNDs, call up family members and ask if anyone in your family has suffered from a form of MND.
- Assess your exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals. It's believed that exposure to certain chemicals and to radiation may increase your risk for non-inherited forms of MND. There's a chance that smoking may also play a role in developing MNDs.[10]
- Tell your doctor if you have been exposed to radiation or chemicals such as herbicides or arsenic.
EditDiagnosing MDNs through Medical Tests - Ask your doctor for a physical exam. While you're in the office, your doctor will test your vitals, reflexes, senses, and muscle strength. They will also ask you questions regarding your medical history, and about how you are feeling.[11]
- Prepare for your appointment by making a list of your symptoms, including when you experienced them and how severe they were.
- Undergo a neurological exam. A neurological exam will involve the use of medical hammers and flashlights, and can be done in your doctor's office. This painless exam is used to assess your motor skills, sensory skills, coordination and balance, hearing and speech, vision, nerve function, and mental clarity.[12]
- This can help your doctor rule out other potential medical conditions, as well as determine which tests may be useful moving forward.
- Allow your doctor to draw blood and run other laboratory tests. Lab tests will help rule out other medical conditions when diagnosing an MND. [13]
- Laboratory tests—run on substances including blood, urine, and other bodily substances—are generally painless, although they may involve a small prick to draw blood.
- Ask your doctor to perform an MRI. An MRI (or magnetic resonance imaging test) involves lying down inside a large machine for 15–90 minutes. The procedure will generate an image of the interior of your body that doctors can use to assess muscles and diagnose MNDs. An MRI can be used to rule out diseases that affect the spinal cord and brain.[14]
- Your doctor may allow you to use pillows, blankets, and headphones to make yourself more comfortable during your MRI.
- Undergo a biopsy to confirm nerve disease. A biopsy may be needed to make a definitive MND diagnosis. This will involve the removal of a small muscle sample through a needle or tiny slit. Your doctor will use a local anesthetic to help with any pain.[15]
- Once the tissue sample has been removed, doctors can study the muscle tissue and examine it for signs of MND.
- You may experience soreness in the area of your biopsy for a few days afterward.
- Undergo electromyography (EMG) to diagnose lower neuron disorders. Doctors will also suggest an EMG in order to examine muscle disorders, or disorders of peripheral nerves. This procedure involves the insertion of a thin needle electrode with a recording instrument into one of your muscles. Testing usually lasts about an hour.[16]
- Your doctor may give you a local anesthetic to help with any minor pain.
- Ask your doctor to conduct a nerve conduction velocity study. A nerve conduction study is very simple. It involves the placement of electrodes on the skin. Through these electrodes, your doctor can measure the impulses in your nerves and detect any abnormalities.[17]
- A nerve conduction velocity study is usually done in conjunction with an EMG.
- Request a transcranial magnetic stimulation test to study your brain. For this test, electrodes will be attached to different areas of your body. Your doctor will stimulate a pulse in your brain, and the electrodes will measure the amount of muscle activity generated by the pulse. This information can help your doctor diagnose upper motor neural dysfunction caused by MNDs.[18]
- This procedure is totally painless.
- Create a treatment plan with your doctor after diagnosis. MNDs are incurable, but you can work with your doctor to manage the symptoms of your MND and live as comfortably as possible. Ask your doctor about physical therapy, which will help with muscle stiffness. If your mouth is effected by the MND, your doctor can refer you to a speech therapist.[19]
- Ask your doctor about the two drugs that have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of MNDs: Riluzole (or Rilutek), and Radicava (Endaravone). These medications increase survival rates and slow the rate at which MNDs destroy tissue.
- Your doctor can also prescribe other medications to help with common side effects of MNDs, including muscle cramps and drooling.
- People who are diagnosed with an MND often suffer from anxiety or depression.[20] If you've been diagnosed, you may want to reach out to support groups for comfort and advice.
- MNDs can be tricky to diagnose since their symptoms will look different for different people. Symptoms of MNDs can vary widely, and they can resemble the symptoms of other diseases. If you feel anything out of the ordinary, you should get it checked out by a doctor.[21]
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| How to Fold a Shirt Posted: 06 Apr 2018 09:00 AM PDT Folding shirts properly is a great way keep them nice and tidy and help save space in your dresser. This wikiHow will show you different ways of folding a shirt. EditIn a Hurry? To easily fold a dress shirt, start by turning it face-down. Fold one-third of the body on the right side towards the center, then fold the sleeve in the opposite direction, lining it up with the edge of the shirt. Repeat on the left, then fold the body vertically into three even squares. For simple tricks on how to quick-fold t-shirts and keep wrinkles at bay, read on! EditTraditional Dress-Shirt Fold - Button the top button and the third button.
- Lay the shirt face-down on the folding surface. You should be looking at the back of your shirt.
- Smooth out any puckers or wrinkles, so the shirt is flat front and back.
- Fold the right side first. Fold about one-third of the body toward the center of the shirt. The fold line starts at the center of the shoulder and ends at the tail. You should see the back of your shirt with about one-third of the front folded to the back.
- Neatly fold the sleeve forward, creating an angled fold at the shoulder. The sleeve should line up with the edge of the first body fold.
- Fold the left side in the same manner.
- Make a fold of several inches of the shirt tail.
- Fold up the bottom half of the partially folded shirt. The tail should be just behind the collar of the shirt now.
- Turn the entire shirt over. You should have a neatly folded shirt as you typically see at a professional laundry or clothing store.
EditJapanese Quick Fold - Lay out the shirt. Lay the shirt out horizontally in front of you, face-up. The neck of the shirt should be to your left.
- Pinch the shoulder. On the far side of the shirt, grasp the shirt with your left hand at the top of the shoulder, halfway between the sleeve and the neck.
- Pinch the midsection. On that same side, grasp the shirt with your right hand halfway down the shirt (think of this as the point where the bottom fold would be on a store-bough shirt). Your right hand should be parallel with your left hand.
- Make sure that you have pinched through both layers of fabric.
- Fold the shirt over. Still pinching the shirt with both hands, cross your left hand over your right hand so that the shoulder of the shirt goes down to the hem. Pinch the hem and the shoulder together with your left hand.
- Your arms should now be crossed.
- Uncross your arms. Lift the shirt up as you uncross your arms, keeping your grasp on the shirt with both arms. Pull the shirt taut with both hands and shake out and creases.
- Fold the remainder of the shirt. Holding the shirt up, lay it so that the front portion of the unfolded sleeve is touching the ground, up to the equivalent position where it is folded on the other side.
- Lay the shirt down. Lower the rest of the shirt so that the fold is complete and the front of the shirt is facing up.
EditKeeping Away Wrinkles - Use the permanent press cycle. This dryer cycle will allow your clothes to cool while they are still moving, preventing wrinkles from forming. Clothes are most likely to wrinkle while they are warm, so cooling them when they can't form wrinkles is best.
- Always starch your shirts before folding. If you really want to keep your shirts from wrinkling after you fold them, starch and iron your shirts before folding.
- Don't pack shirts too tightly. When you put away folded shirts, don't pack them in too tightly. This is more likely to wrinkle them.
- You may use a flat rectangular cardboard template (or something similar, such as a magazine) that is sized to fit between the left and right body folds. This keeps your shirts uniformly folded. Place the template on your shirt after it is face down. Finish folding. You can slide the cardboard out after the final step.
- Folding incorrectly can lead to wrinkles and creases in the wrong places! Be careful!
- Properly folded shirts travel better and need less touch-up pressing.
- Start with a clean, pressed shirt.
EditRelated wikiHows
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| How to Go Grey Posted: 06 Apr 2018 01:00 AM PDT Letting your hair go grey can be a bold style move as well as a great way to save time and money. Let your roots grow out and get a short haircut to remove your dyed hair, or go to a professional stylist for a color treatment that will blend your dyed hair with your natural grey. Wash your hair 1-2 times a week with blue-tinted shampoo to avoid any yellowish tinges in your grey, and update your makeup and wardrobe to complement your new look. EditCutting Your Hair - Use coverage products while you grow out your roots. There are several types of products available that are designed to temporarily color grey roots. Most of them come in the form of chalk, spray, or crayons, and can be applied directly to your roots and washed off at the end of the day.[1]
- Choose a color that matches your dyed hair so that your roots will blend with the rest of your hair.
- Crayons are generally less likely to rub off on fabrics, such as your pillowcase or hat.[2]
- Avoid color-protecting shampoos. The dye in your hair will fade faster if you use regular shampoos instead of those designed for color-treated hair. This will speed up the process of revealing your natural color.[3]
- Trim your hair regularly. Getting regular trims is a good way to remove dyed hair as your grey grows in. It will also keep your hair healthy and stimulate growth, so that the grey part of your hair reaches the desired length faster.[4]
- Ask your stylist to avoid using razors when cutting your hair, as this may fray the ends and leave it looking dry or frizzy.
- Choose a short haircut that flatters your face. If you want the haircut to remove all of your dyed hair, cutting it short will mean you won't have to wait as long. On the other hand, if you only want to cut your hair to about shoulder length, you will have to wait until your grey roots grow down to your shoulders.[5] Look online or in style magazines for short haircut ideas that work well for your facial shape.
- Round faces typically look good with layers. You may want to try an asymmetrical cut for an edgy look.[6]
- Long or oval faces are ideal for short haircuts, and often look good with bangs.
- If you have a heart-shaped face, with a wide forehead and narrow jawline, you may find a pixie cut to be flattering.
- Talk to a stylist about when to cut your hair. Take some pictures of the hairstyle you want to your salon. A hair stylist should be able to tell you when your hair is long enough that getting the cut you want will remove all the dyed ends.
EditTransitioning to Grey with a Color Treatment - Talk to a stylist who has experience with grey hair. You may want to get a color treatment or change the way you dye your hair as your grey grows in. Find a stylist who has some expertise with grey hair and have them advise you on how to keep your hair looking natural as it transitions to grey.[7]
- Your original color, the shade of grey that is coming in, and the texture of your hair will all determine the best color treatment and haircut for you.
- Stop dyeing your hair until your roots are at least long. To create a smooth, natural-looking transition between your dyed hair and the grey coming in, let your roots grow in a little before doing any color treatments. That way, your stylist will be able to determine what shades will complement your grey hair.[8]
- Get a mix of highlights and lowlights to blend your dyed hair with its roots. If you want to create a less visible transition as you grow out your grey hair, have your stylist do a color treatment to blend the colors. This will most likely involve highlighting certain sections of your hair and dyeing other pieces darker. [9]
- The exact shade and hue of your highlights and lowlights will depend on the color of both your dyed and natural hair.
- It's best not to attempt a color treatment at home, as your stylist will have a better idea of which colors will blend your colors effectively.
- Blend the highlights with your grey hair using toner. After your stylist puts in highlights, they may be a lighter version of your dye color. To give them a more grey hue, your stylist may apply toner to the highlights after the color treatment.[10]
- Ask your stylist whether you should apply more toner yourself if the grey hue fades out of your highlights after a month or two. If so, find out what brand and color you should buy and how best to apply it.[11]
- Use blue or purple-tinted shampoos 1 or 2 times a week. Shampoos with blue or violet hues can help balance out any yellow tones in your hair and maintain an even, grey color. These shampoos are available at most beauty supply shops and department stores, and may be specifically marketed for grey or blonde hair.[12]
- It's best not to use tinted shampoos more than a couple times a week, as they can give your hair a bluish or purplish sheen if overused.
EditUpdating Your Look - Straighten your hair to give it extra shine. Greys and whites tend to absorb light, which can make your hair color look flat. Straightening your hair with a straightening iron can temporarily give it a more shiny, lustrous appearance.[13]
- Choose blush and lipstick in bright, natural colors. To avoid looking faded or washed out with your new grey hair, you may want to look for makeup that is slightly brighter than what you usually wear. Stay within a few shades of your natural coloring to avoid an overly dramatic effect.[14]
- It's also a good idea to put more effort into your skin care routine, such as moisturizing, which will give you a more healthy, vibrant appearance.
- Avoid dramatic eye makeup. Very dark or bright colors can often look too intense when contrasted with the cool, soft shade of your grey hair. Don't use heavy eyeliner, and stick with softer colors that are within your natural palette when choosing eyeshadow.[15]
- Add cool, vibrant colors to your wardrobe. As your hair color changes, you may find that different colors look better on you. Blues, purples, and greens tend to go well with grey hair.[16]
- Try dressing in the same colors you usually wear, but a shade or two brighter.
- Avoid wearing too many bright colors at once, which can make you look washed out.
- Avoid dressing in earth tones. Colors like beige, brown, and olive often give a faded appearance to people with grey hair. Choose colors that provide a contrast to your grey hair, such as jewel tones in muted, natural shades.[17]
- Use clear gels and mousses. Grey and white hair is generally more likely to take on color from products. Look for gels, mousses, and other styling products that are clear or light in color.[18]
- Check the ingredient labels of your styling products and avoid anything with artificial colors or dyes.
- It can take about 6 months to 1 year to go fully grey.[19]
- It's generally best to wait until your roots are coming in at least 60% grey before you get a color treatment.[20]
- Grey hair tends to dry out more easily than hair with pigment, so it's a good idea to use moisturizing shampoos and conditioners. Hair masks, leave-in conditioners, and other moisturizing products may also help.[21]
- Rinsing your hair with a little lemon juice in water once a month can help remove environmental pollutants and make your hair look healthier and shinier.[22]
EditSources and Citations
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