{"id":9425,"date":"2019-08-09T07:07:13","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T07:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9425"},"modified":"2022-02-07T09:30:35","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T09:30:35","slug":"15-popular-signs-of-behcets-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-popular-signs-of-behcets-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Popular Signs of Behcet’s Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Behcet\u2019s disease isn\u2019t something that is routinely diagnosed due to its rarity. This can make it a bit of a surprise for doctors or anyone else to discover in a patient. The combination of symptoms is pretty unique and can vary quite a bit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different patients will manifest in different ways and may not show signs of the disease all of the time. It\u2019s common to go through periods of intense flare-ups, alternated with mild periods that can even be symptom-free and allow a patient to temporarily live an entirely normal life. Modern medications can help extend the time between flare-ups and can reduce the severity of the symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy lifestyle changes and natural treatments can also soothe some of the symptoms, which is good considering there hasn\u2019t been a cure for this autoimmune disease that anyone has discovered as of yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at 8 popular signs of this disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Your Joints Start to Hurt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you notice your joints <\/a>have started to hurt, it could just be classic inflammation that many people experience at one point or another, or it could be a sign of Behcet\u2019s disease. This sign alone isn\u2019t enough to warrant a diagnosis, but when it occurs along with multiple other symptoms, it can help to narrow down the cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may notice that your joints are giving you problems when trying to move them around, like when walking or when doing fine motor tasks like pouring a drink, opening a door, or applying makeup. With this disease, it\u2019s more common that major joints will be affected, like knees, elbows, wrists, and ankles. This is more likely than finer joints such as knuckles, toes, or back \u2013 but given the inflammatory nature of this condition, it can potentially affect nearly any joint in the human body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. You Can\u2019t Stomach Some Foods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the stomach <\/a>is irritated, that makes it is hard to tolerate a variety of different foods. You may notice you can eat about anything but still have symptoms like feeling as if you\u2019re going to throw up actual vomiting, or changes in bathroom habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behcet\u2019s can cause ulcers to appear in the stomach and digestive tract, which exposes sensitive parts of the stomach to harsh foods. Normally your stomach is covered in a protective lining of mucus that keeps acid and spice from affecting the lining, but if you have sores or ulcers from this disease, that usual lining might not do enough to protect you from discomfort.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If spicy, fatty, fried, acidic, or extremely salty foods affect your stomach, then that can be a sign of the disease. You may notice problems with foods like tomato sauce, orange juice, or spicy chicken wings for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. You Notice Spots in or on Your Mouth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With Behcet\u2019s disease, one of the most unique signs is the development of open or closed sores<\/a> that can be very painful. These spots of discomfort often appear around the mouth area. They can show up on the outside of your lips, the inside of your lips, on the tongue, under the tongue, on the gum line, on the insides of your cheeks, on the roof of your mouth, or even the back of the throat including the tonsils. No region of the mouth is safe from these spots if you have Behcet\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the sores are large, red, and open, they may be quite uncomfortable, especially in the presence of harsh food. Smaller sores may just be little bumps that don\u2019t bother you at all, but these are prone to accidental biting while chewing since they tend to protrude out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Your Vision Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the inflammation from this disease manages to reach your eyes, then you can go through a bunch of different symptoms that mess with the actual eyeballs themselves. Part of that can include vision changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the more mild side, inflammation<\/a> may increase tear production, causing your eyes to water up. Because of this, you may notice that you have difficulty seeing as usual. If the inflammation becomes more severe, it can actually affect the eye itself, causing a partial loss of vision, complete loss of vision, or just some blurriness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treating the inflammation as early as possible is a good way to try to keep the disease from causing damage to the eyes. If it is treated while still mild, then the chance of a complete recovery and full return of vision is very likely. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the higher the risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. You Notice Changes in Your Brain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the inflammation from Behcet\u2019s disease spreads to your brain<\/a>, then you can notice a wide range of changes that indicate the disease might be affecting your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The simplest sign can be a basic headache. These can range from mild to severe and can indicate that blood flow to the brain has been affected by the disease. This is just the start, and if the inflammation from the disease spreads to the brain itself, then more severe symptoms can start to pop up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cognitive symptoms can include things like memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and changes to your personality. Other people may begin to notice these signs before you do, especially if your perception has been altered by the condition making it difficult to notice changes in yourself. Other problems with the brain like loss of balance can be an additional sign of inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. You Find Dark Spots or Wounds Near Your Private Area<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This one can be a bit uncomfortable to bring up with others, but if you have come down with a case of Behcet\u2019s disease you might start noticing some changes in your private regions. Small bumps may start out looking similar to pimples <\/a>or zits, but can quickly become painful or start to spread. After a while, these lesions can grow larger and larger until they are up to 20 mm across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These spots can open up and be exposed to the elements, making them even more painful than normal. This is one of the classic signs of Behcet\u2019s and paints a strong case for you possibly having the disorder. It doesn\u2019t matter if you are male or female, these spots can affect everyone who has come down with the condition and it is a pretty common symptom to experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. You Notice These Signs Appear Then Disappear<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Behcet\u2019s disease <\/a>can be tricky to spot since the signs aren\u2019t always around all of the time. It\u2019s kind of like when you take your car to the mechanic and it won\u2019t make the funny noise that has been driving you crazy while it\u2019s there, so they have trouble figuring out what is wrong with it. The same thing can happen when you visit the doctor, making it important to document any symptoms as they pop up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you take a picture of visual issues like discoloration of the skin or open sores, then that can help a doctor determine what is going on even if the symptoms have disappeared. In fact, if you do notice that you cycle through periods of breaking out and then clearing up, that can be a strong sign that you possibly have Behcet\u2019s disease and should seek treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. You Notice Nervous System Problems<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another area that can be affected is your Central Nervous System, also commonly called the CNS. Symptoms can be pretty vague but indicate the problem might be becoming more serious and that you need to pursue more aggressive treatment or management options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first sign to look out for is fever. If you feel hot or notice you are running anywhere from a low-grade fever to a mild or severe fever, that can be a sign of this disease although it doesn\u2019t always happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fever combined with neck stiffness <\/a>can also be a red flag. It can indicate that the inflammation has reached your brain stem and could result in more severe effects if left untreated. Severe complications such as stroke can even happen, so if you reach this point it\u2019s important to seek treatment. Be especially concerned if the fever and stiff neck occur with movement difficulty.
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9. You’re in your 20s or 30s<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Behcet’s disease is more common in young people than in seniors<\/a>. However, the elderly may also experience the condition, but it’s rare. In most cases, patients are in their 20s or 30s when the disease emerges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s common for patients to ignore the symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Initially, the disease presents as other conditions that seem minor. The affected individual may not seek treatment for months or years until the more severe symptoms of the disease arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The effects of Behcet’s disease can vary widely in patients, and it may persist for years or even decades, or it may fade away on its own after a few months or years. The disease affects everyone differently, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s so challenging to diagnose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your physician may initially treat you for a condition unrelated to the disorder and notice no success with the treatment. As a result, they may send you for blood tests to determine the cause of the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. You’re Male<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Behcet’s disease can occur in men and women and young people or seniors. However, it’s more common for the condition to affect men than women. While both sexes can experience the manifestation of symptoms, it’s usually more severe in men, and they may require treatment sooner than women affected by the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical science is at a loss to explain why Behcet’s affects men more than women. However, some medical experts suggest that it may have something to do with the effects of the disease on the hormonal system or the fact that men have larger bodies than women and, therefore, more blood in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some men may attribute pain symptoms to other conditions like arthritis or gout. Behcet’s can cause swelling in these areas, common with other disorders like edema or arthritis. However, since young people rarely have to deal with these conditions, they will eventually end up at the doctor for a diagnosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. You Have Other Autoimmune Disease<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many medical professionals recognize Behcet’s disease as an auto-immune disorder. Medical science is unsure why people develop auto-immune disorders, and they struggle to find the link between Bechet’s and problems with the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auto-immune disorders occur when the body recognizes its tissues as invading pathogens<\/a>. As a result, it launches a full-out attack to prevent what it thinks is a pathogen from spreading in the body. There are hundreds of auto-immune disorders, and no one can explain why they suddenly appear in people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers think that Behcet’s disease may have a genetic or environmental trigger that causes the condition to emerge. Behcet’s disease creates inflammation of blood vessels, known as “vasculitis.” If left undiagnosed and untreated, it can damage the veins and arteries throughout the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have another auto-immune disease, such as lupus, you are more likely to develop other auto-immune disorders, like Behcet’s disease. Your doctor will advise you on the best course of treatment for your condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Loss of Appetite<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with Behcet’s disease often find that they develop a loss of appetite<\/a>. As a result, they consume fewer calories than a healthy person, which may lead to rapid weight loss in affected individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hormones “leptin” and “ghrelin” regulate feelings of hunger in the body, and changes to the body’s blood supply may cause dysfunction in these hormones. As a result of a reduction in leptin and an increase in ghrelin, the patient may find that they don’t feel hungry at all. While that might sound like a win for overweight people, it’s a very challenging disorder to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t feel like eating, you may forget to do so during the day, resulting in blood pressure and blood sugar issues, causing you to feel tired and lethargic throughout the day. Doctors will treat the patient to increase their appetite to normal levels using drugs designed to stimulate leptin production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Arthritis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Arthritis <\/a>is a degenerative condition affecting the skeletal system. It’s a common disease in seniors, causing loss of mobility on the affected joints. Seniors notice that they experience pain in joints like the wrists, shoulders, hips and knees, and the spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it’s uncommon for young people in their 20s and 30s to develop arthritis. Therefore, if you are young and visit your doctors complaining of joint pain, they may order a battery of blood tests to discover the source of the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthritis causes an increase in inflammatory markers in the blood, and some doctors may initially confuse Behcet’s disease with arthritis or other degenerative bone diseases. Usually, spondylitis (degeneration of the spine) and peripheral arthritis affect around half of all patients dealing with Behcet’s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arthritis symptoms may be polyarticular (affecting several joints) or monoarticular (affecting ac single joint). Spondylitis may present as “sacroiliitis,” a type of arthritis affecting the sacroiliac joints in the hips where they fuse in the lower back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Lung Problems<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Behcet’s disease will sometimes affect the lungs, but this symptom of the dis4ease is less common. People with Behcet’s that develop lung problems may present with respiratory problems like shortness of breath (dyspnea), a dry or wet cough, and in very rare cases, a pulmonary artery aneurysm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pulmonary artery aneurysm <\/a>is a severe symptom, causing the bulging of the blood vessel walls, leading to rupture in the lungs. If this symptom occurs, it can cause a life-threatening condition where the patient must seek immediate treatment or risk dying from a lung hemorrhage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have Behcet’s and noticed complications with your breathing or heart rate, seek immediate medical assistance with your doctor. They will issue a CT scan of your chest to identify the cause of the lung tissues and recommend treatment based on the severity of your case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Failing to receive the treatment you need in time may result in the onset of pulmonary artery aneurysm and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Bruits in the Chest or Abdomen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with Behcet’s disease may also find that they develop bruits in the abdomen or chest. Bruits are vascular sounds emanating from the stomach or the chest. If they occur in the stomach, the patient may confuse the sounds with the normal grumbling of the stomach during digestion, also known as “borborygmus.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the sound is unique to Behcet’s, and it is slightly different from the normal grumbling from the tummy. The large vessel vasculitis may also affect the chest, where the affected individual may start to think they have something wrong with their heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it’s important to note that Behcet’s disease and the bruits rarely cause any complications involving the heart or renal disease in the patient. Bruits in the chest may cause slight chest pain, causing the patient to think they have some form of cardiovascular condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While complications of the digestive system<\/a>, renal, and cardiovascular system are rare, bruits may indicate the beginning of an aortic tear and an increased risk of stroke. Consult with your doctor as soon as possible if you notice bruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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