PetronellaTelford223

This is a subject that, unfortunately, is extremely close to my heart. My grandmother, who practically raised me while my mom was out working, experienced Gaucher Disease until the day she died. As a young person, I didn't know what it absolutely was. My grandmother was a proud woman and didn't discuss it. I only knew because my mother explained. After she passed on and I got older, I decided I had to know just what it had been that took my grandmother. This informative article will give you the essential factual statements about what Gaucher Disease is and what treatments can be obtained.

The first thing that surprised me to learn was that Gaucher Disease is most typical among people who are either Jewish or from Eastern or Central Europe. From the Jewish home, it explained too much to me. One more thing that I learned that also amazed, and in addition scared me was that Gaucher Disease is also inherited, meaning it's passed on from your parents. The probability of inheriting the condition decrease with each generation that the disease itself doesn't show up. In my own family, it's now 3 generations since, so we're probably pretty safe at this point.

What exactly is Gaucher Disease? Well, it's really a genetic mutation that effects organs such as the liver and spleen. The specific infection is due to an enzyme deficiency that consequently causes fatty substances to accumulate in these organs. In my grandmother's case it had been in both her liver and her spleen. The condition causes an enlargement of those organs. This explains why my grandmother, who weighed all of 80 pounds, appeared to be she had a basketball in her stomach.

There are, unfortunately, additional symptoms besides an enlarged liver or spleen. Other symptoms include problems with blood clotting, easy bruising, fractures for no apparent reason, and even bleeding when brushing the teeth.

Detecting if someone has Gaucher Disease is just a simple matter. A blood test is all that is needed. The enzyme deficiency will show in the liver and spleen. There are actually three types of Gaucher Disease, but type one is the most frequent and the type that my grandmother endured.

Fortuitously, we have come a considerable ways since the 60s, when my grandmother endured this illness until she died in 1974. Today, there are enzyme replacement therapies which are actually quite effective in treating Gaucher Disease. Also, an excellent diet, reduced in saturated fats and meats, high in fruits and vegetable, may also help in battle this infection.

Those who are experiencing this infection can live quite a long time with it. My grandmother developed this infection very young in life and still lived to be 66 years old.

In the event that you or a loved one is suffering from Gaucher Disease, there was hope. Please visit your physician and get him what treatments can be purchased in your area.