Symptoms and Causes
Symptoms
Dupuytren's may affect one or both hands. It progresses slowly over time. The first sign you may notice may be lumps in the palm of your hand. These lumps are small, hard, and tender. As the condition progresses, the lumps will no longer be painful. Thick bands may begin to form under your skin. In more severe cases, all your fingers can curl into the palm of your hand.
Causes
The cause of Dupuytren’s is unknown. It is speculated that the disease may be genetic. Your risk is higher if a relative has it. Other risk factors include being over the age 40, alcoholism, smoking, thyroid problems, liver disease, diabetes, previous hand injury, and epilepsy.
Did you know...
- Do you know what the strongest muscle in your body is? No, it’s not your biceps or your thighs. It’s actually in your head. The masseter is a muscle in the jaw that is used when chewing. When all of the muscles of the jaw work together, they can exert a force as strong as 200 pounds on the molars. That’s some serious pressure.
- Need a quick cool down? Try drinking some hot liquid. It's true! As counterintuitive as it may seem, the heat from hot liquids will raise your body temperature. This will heat you up and cause you to sweat. The increased perspiration will wind up helping you feel cooler as it evaporates. Try it out!
- A hearty laugh is good for the heart. Laughing can increase blood flow by 20%. Additionally, looking on the bright side can help you live longer. Studies have shown that a more optimistic outlook is linked to a healthier heart, lower blood pressure, and a lower risk for coronary artery disease.
- There are many factors that contribute to your body odor, but one of the strongest links is our diet. This may be some bad news for meat-lovers because many studies have shown that those who refrained from or ate less red meat were judged as being more pleasant smelling. The meat sweats are real, and they don’t smell great!
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.