Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake, which eventually damages many parts of your body. The symptoms you might experience include malar rash, extreme fatigue, joint swelling, and fever. Lupus is most common in women between the ages of 15 and 44.

Recently, Hollywood celebrities, like Selena Gomez, have confirmed that they suffer from Lupus. While hard to communicate to their fans that they suffer from an autoimmune disease, this has highlighted and made sure that many people learn about the disease. Most importantly, they continue working hard and living their life with the disease, which provides a great example to many people that have been recently diagnosed.

The treatment plans and medicine will help you prevent or treat flares, prevent or reduce organ and joint damage, reduce swelling and pain, help the immune system, and balance hormones. If you leave it untreated you can suffer serious health risks, such as kidney disease or cardiovascular disease.

For many recently diagnosed patients, it is important and recommended to get a second opinion. For some patients, the diagnosis is correct, but they learn more about their disease and how to live with it. Unfortunately, many people have misconceptions about the disease. They believe lupus is contagious or a type of cancer. Neither of these are true, as lupus is not contagious and not related to cancer. A second opinion can help you get the answers you need, and help you get educated about your disease and how to live your life with it.

If you would like to get a second opinion on how your lupus is being managed, you should visit SecondOpinions.com. The relationship between a patient and a doctor needs to be as clear as possible, and a second opinion can help with that too!

Celiac disease is a disorder that is affecting 1 in 10 people worldwide. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the small intestine is very sensitive to gluten, which ultimately leads to a difficulty digesting food.

It can develop at any age if you have consumed foods or medicines that contain gluten. If you have a parent, child, or sibling with celiac disease, then you have a 1 in 10 chance of developing Celiac disease. Some of the symptoms you might experience are pain in the abdomen or joints, burning in the chest, and lactose intolerance. Now, the most important thing is that many of the symptoms presented could be confused with something else. In some situations, the symptoms may occur on your digestive system and other parts of the body. In the case of infants and/or children, most of the symptoms are digestive.

The only treatment available is a strict gluten-free diet, vitamins, and dietary supplements. If you leave it untreated, it can cause serious problems, such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Before deciding on a gluten-free diet, or some other type of treatment, it is important that you know that Celiac Disease is the reason for your symptoms.

If you have been diagnosed with celiac disease, unfortunately it is not something that can be cured and/or “grow out of it”. A change of lifestyle is required and a continuous review of your diagnosis needs to be in the books with your doctor frequently. You must be aware of the supplements and vitamins you are taking, and if they continue to work properly. Other exams like Bone Health and further medication need to be discussed on a regular basis to make sure everything is still working properly.

If you have had these symptoms, and are looking to be sure that you are not suffering from Celiac Disease, get in contact with us. We can provide information and a second opinion to allow you to make an informed decision. At the end of the day, if you do have Celiac Disease, we want to make sure you can continue to have a great life, and a peace of mind.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer causing more than 1 million Americans to suffer from it, and it develops when the cells that produce pigment become cancerous. We are exposed to the UV rays on a daily basis, and for the most part, do not realize that we might be victims of this cancer. Yes, melanoma is a cancer, and should be treated with the same seriousness as any other cancer, be it breast, lung, or other. Like other types of cancer, the causes for melanoma include cancerous cells; however, UV ray exposure from the sun and/or tanning beds, are also “gateways” for melanoma to form. In some cases, a patient can detect the cancer very early by checking their body for “a-typical” markings. Some might notice that a mole is asymmetrical, borders are uneven, the color is different, diameter has increase, and the has evolved.

If your doctor believes you have a melanoma, they will perform what they call “staging”. This is the process of finding out “how advanced” your melanoma is. There are 5 different stages (Stage 0,1,2,3,4) – and each of them requires different treatments. Of course, Stage 0 is much less complex and risky than Stage 4; however, all stages are important and should be treated as such.

Now- should I get a second opinion if my physician or dermatologist has mentioned that I have melanoma? The short, quick, and smart answer is – YES! In many cases, the doctors doing the diagnosis are not experts in Melanoma. They will perform the necessary tests to find out exactly what is it that they are looking at. In other cases, you might be so nervous with the diagnosis, that you are looking for some clarity and confirmation. For the most part, there are many treatments for melanoma, and you want to make sure you explore all of them, understand the benefits and the risks, before committing to one. At the end of the day, melanoma is a serious cancer and can spread quickly if not looked at in time. A second opinion provides the proper education to learn about your diagnosis, understand the steps for treatment, and provide a sense of “peace” for you and your family.

For melanoma patients, it is important to continue following-up with your doctor. Self-exams are highly recommended, and if you see something out of the normal, call your doctor right away and explain that you have had melanoma. Your doctor will communicate the next steps and do not forget, a second opinion is always a valuable resource!