How To Spot Fabry Disease

Fabry disease is a genetic disease that tends to run in families. There are many different symptoms, such as specific rashes and pain in the feet and hands. Individuals with Fabry disease experience a buildup of a certain kind of fatty substance, which narrows the blood vessels. This narrowing hurts your nervous system, brain, heart, kidneys, and skin. The disease typically begins during childhood, and it tends to affect men more commonly than women. Treatments can alleviate day-to-day symptoms, and familial support is also key. Individuals with Fabry disease lack an enzyme referred to as alpha-galactosidase A, which is necessary to break down fatty products like fatty acids, waxes, and oils. Get to know the ways to spot Fabry disease now.

Dark Red Spots On The Skin

If you have Fabry disease, you might experience dark red spots on the skin. In most cases, the dark red spots will be found between a person's belly button and their knees. Many other diseases can cause dark red spots to appear on an individual's skin, though. Many different rashes and allergic reactions present as dark red bumps. Typically, red bumps alone won't be enough to indicate an individual has Fabry disease. However, paired with other characteristic symptoms, this rash can be indicative of the disease. Because Fabry disease is made up of so many common and seemingly unrelated symptoms, it often takes a long time for an individual to be diagnosed. A great deal of patients do not receive a diagnosis until years after their first symptoms appear. Often, they've been to many different doctors and even been misdiagnosed. For individuals who have any family history of Fabry disease, genetic testing for the disease may be the best option for diagnosis.

Reveal the next sign of Fabry disease now.

Tinnitus And Hearing Loss

Tinnitus and hearing loss are both common in individuals with Fabry disease. Tinnitus is the medical term used to indicate a ringing in the ears. It may also present as whistling, chirping, hissing, or a range of other sounds. Tinnitus tends to become worse in situations where there isn't a great deal of background noise. Even though tinnitus is a common symptom of Fabry disease, it can also be a sign of other conditions. In fact, it's estimated about fifty million United States adults suffer from some form of tinnitus each year. When this symptom is severe, it might make an individual have trouble with sleeping and concentrating. Tinnitus is associated with hearing loss, but it isn't the cause of hearing loss. Hearing loss is a separate symptom that occurs when an individual loses some or all of their ability to hear. Believe it or not, though, hearing loss is the number three most commonly reported problem in the United States. It's estimated forty-eight million Americans have sustained some hearing loss. A number of diseases may cause hearing loss besides Fabry disease.

Keep reading to learn about another Fabry disease symptom.