Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as an autoimmune disease. The word “scleroderma” comes from the Greek word “sclero”, meaning hard, and the Latin word “derma,” meaning skin. Hardening of the skin is one of the most visible manifestations of the disease. The disease varies from individual-to-individual. Scleroderma is not contagious, infectious, cancerous, or malignant. scleroderma.org Scleroderma is a term for a group of diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of skin and connective tissues – and can also harm blood vessels, internal organs, and the digestive tract. Scleroderma is more likely to…
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Editor
Designed as a companion to your healthcare provider's advice, Mamas Facing Forward endeavors to provide resources, encouragement, and community for parents and parents-to-be living with chronic illness.
A day of global solidarity, collective action and hope. World MS Day takes place on 30 May every year. Share stories, raise awareness and campaign with everyone affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). worldmsday.org Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease where a person’s immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers their nerve fibers, which causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. May 30 is World MS Day – so take some time today to learn a little bit about a chronic condition that affects 2.3 million people worldwide. You can learn more at the…
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about Lyme disease, its symptoms, and the importance of tick bite prevention. With the warmer weather, more people are spending time outdoors, increasing the risk of encountering disease-carrying ticks. One tick bite is all it takes to change a life. Global Lyme Alliance Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, more commonly known as a deer tick. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, so take a few minutes this month to learn more about Lyme disease – particularly…
Join us this May as we honor Preeclampsia Awareness Month, a month-long communication campaign to raise awareness of this life-threatening hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. High blood pressure can happen to any woman in any pregnancy or the postpartum period. It is a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death worldwide. Preeclampsia Foundation May 22 is World Preeclampsia Day. If you’re pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, or know anyone who ever might – take a few minutes today to learn the symptoms of preeclampsia. Some chronic illnesses can increase a woman’s chances of preeclampsia, so it’s particularly important…
World IBD Day takes place on 19 May each year and unites people worldwide in their fight against Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, known as inflammatory bowel diseases. worldibdday.org Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to refer to conditions that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract – such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by long-lasting inflammation and sores (ulcers) in the innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. May 19 is World IBD Day, so take a moment…
May is Celiac Awareness Month! In 2024, we are more hopeful than ever for the future. With 16 drugs in clinical trials, we firmly believe we will have a treatment beyond the gluten-free diet. www.beyondceliac.org Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye – which triggers an immune response in the small intestine. Over time, the lining of the intenstine can be damaged and the body may not absorb nutrients the way it is supposed to. There is no cure for celiac disease, but for most people a strict gluten-free…
Written by Dr. Antonia Repollet, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified School Psychologist Pregnancy and early parenthood bring meaningful change, including shifts in digestive health. For those living with a GI condition or ongoing symptoms, the body may feel more sensitive, less predictable, or more reactive than usual. Much of this can be understood through the gut–brain axis, which is the ongoing communication between the digestive system and nervous system, which becomes especially active during times of transition. From preparing for pregnancy to navigating symptoms during pregnancy and adjusting to parenting, this connection plays an important role in how symptoms show up…
ME/CFS Awareness Day is being observed around the world in many different cities and countries. This day helps bring awareness to ME/CFS patients, families, caregivers, and researchers. cdc.gov Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a chronic illness characterized by unexplained fatigue that can’t be explained by another underlying medical condition and is not relieved by rest. You can learn more about ME/CFS at the Mayo Clinic or CDC sites.
May is recognized each year as National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis is a disease that impacts more than 50 million Americans, making it the number one cause of disability in the [United States]. That means 1 in every 5 adults, 300,000 children, and countless families are affected by arthritis. These numbers are only going to keep growing – unless we take a stand. Arthritis Foundation “Arthritis” isn’t a single disease – instead it is am umbrella term that is used to refer to more than 100 different diseases and conditions that destroy joints, bones, muscles, cartilage, and other tissue. The…
A global health problem, lupus affects people of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders, and ages. Lupus can affect any part of the body in any way at any time, often with unpredictable and life-changing results. While lupus knows no boundaries, knowing all you can about lupus can help control its impact. worldlupusday.org Lupus is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs – including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. Because the symptoms of lupus often mimic those of other conditions, lupus can be difficult to diagnose.…