I have a few questions for a project for Science. (It's about Marfan's Syndrome)
What is your name?
What feild do you work in?
Have you ever dealt with Marfan's Syndrome?
What can you tell me about Marfan's Syndrome?
Thanks for your time. It is thought the Abraham Lincoln and Peter the Great ( Russia) had this Syndrome. My name is Ruth and, I am a medical professional, a Registered Nurse and, a history buff. I have been to St. Petersburg, USSR ( it was named Leningrad at the time of my visit).
Marfan's Syndrome is a heritable condition that affects the connective tissue. The primary purpose of connective tissue is to hold the body together and provide a framework for growth and development. Can you imagine if you have a fall and no bones or connective tissue to keep our body intact, what would happen without this support ??
Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, the Marfan syndrome can affect many body symptoms, including the skeleton, eyes, heart and blood vessels, nervous system, skin and, lungs.
This syndrome affects men, women, and children, and has been found among people of all races and ethnic backgrounds.
It is estimated that at least 1 in 5,000 people in the USA have the disorder.
I hope that this was helpful and here are 2 great websites:
http://www.marfan.org/nmf/GetContentRequ...
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/... Your best bet might to be a web search on Marfan's Syn....Not to many out there even know about this disease...even Lincoln didn't! Sorry no help here!
Good luck on your project! Hello. My name is Maree. I am a social worker in all fields. I have heard of it but it is not really comman as far as i know. It is a tissue disorder.
The Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder. Connective tissue provides substance and support to tendons, ligaments, blood vessel walls, cartilage, heart valves and many other structures. In the Marfan syndrome, the chemical makeup of the connective tissue isn't normal. As a result, many of these structures aren't as stiff as they should be.
The Marfan syndrome is inherited and affects many parts of the body. There's no single conclusive test for diagnosing it, but people who have it often have many similar traits. Besides perhaps having heart problems, people with the Marfan syndrome are often tall and thin. They also may have slender, tapering fingers, long arms and legs, curvature of the spine and eye problems. Sometimes the Marfan syndrome is so mild that few (if any) symptoms exist. In the most severe cases, which are rare, life-threatening problems may occur at any age.
In the Marfan syndrome, the walls of the major arteries are weakened. The aorta, the major artery that leaves the heart, often is affected. When this occurs, it gets bigger (dilates), which can weaken the inner aortic wall. Under strenuous exertion, the aorta wall can tear. Blood can leak through these tears into the aortic wall, separating its layers 鈥?a process called aortic dissection. Another problem that may occur if the aortic wall weakens is that an aneurysm (AN'u-rizm) may form.
The Marfan syndrome can involve any of the four heart valves. The two most important ones, however, are the mitral and aortic valves. Blood may leak backward through a valve, increasing the heart's workload. As a result, over time the heart may enlarge. Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common but usually less significant valve problem. People without the Marfan syndrome can have mitral valve prolapse, but those with the Marfan syndrome often have an oversized mitral valve. As it closes, the valve billows (prolapses) back into the left atrium. This causes abnormal heart sounds, which a doctor can hear with a stethoscope.
Once the Marfan syndrome has been diagnosed, regular visits with a cardiologist are needed. Chest X-rays and Doppler echo tests are usually performed. Other tests also may be necessary.
Different people may need different types of treatment. Some people may not need treatment, but others may need drugs that lower heart rate, blood pressure or both. When the aorta or aortic valve develop major problems, surgery is usually advised.
People with the Marfan syndrome who have an abnormal heart or who've had heart surgery for their Marfan syndrome risk developing an infection of the heart wall or heart valve (endocarditis). This happens when bacteria enter the bloodstream. The American Heart Association no longer recommends taking routine antibiotics before certain dental procedures except for people at highest risk for bad outcomes if they develop endocarditis. This includes people with a prosthetic heart valve, people who have previously had endocarditis, people with certain types of congenital heart disease, and people with a heart transplant who develop a problem with a heart valve. The AHA no longer recommends routine antibiotics solely to prevent endocarditis in patients undergoing gastrointestinal or genitourinary procedures .
What about lifestyle changes?
Physical activities 鈥?Because the Marfan syndrome appears in many forms, recommendations about exercise vary widely. For example, people with dilation of the aorta may be asked to avoid the usual team sports. Isometric exercises (such as weight lifting or rowing) and contact sports in which a blow to the chest could occur (such as football or hockey) also may be off-limits. Many people with the Marfan syndrome can participate in modified physical and recreational activities. A cardiologist can give advice about this.
Pregnancy 鈥?During pregnancy (and especially during delivery) stress to the aorta's walls greatly increases the risk of dissection or rupture. That's why pregnancy isn't advised for women with the Marfan syndrome who have a dilated aorta. There's also a good chance that people with the disease may pass it on to their children.
I did not know that much about it so i went and looked it up for you and i hope this helps. Take care. |
