👃🏼 If You Can Touch Your Tongue, You May Be a Mutant!

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a genetic connective tissue disorder that can be caused by mutations in multiple genes in your DNA and affects about 1 in 5,000 people globally. Mutations in these genes usually change the structure, production, and processing of collagen. ❓What is collagen? Collagen is what the body uses to provide strength and elasticity to tissue. Normal collagen is a strong protein that allows tissue to be stretched and then safely return to normal position. Collagen is found throughout the body including tendons, ligaments and cartilage around joints, as well as blood vessels. EDS is a structural problem. 💡 A good analogy for comparison is the building of a house. If one builds a house with cheap and damaged materials, complications are bound to arise. Some complications are more likely to arise than others, but because the cheap and damaged materials are everywhere, and not necessarily visible, it is difficult to predict where the problem will arise and when. The following are the more commonly encountered signs and symptoms of EDS. Keep in mind this is a short list!

💪🏼 Joints - hyper flexible joints, unstable and prone to dislocation and subluxation

🖐🏼 Skin - hyper-extensibility with fragile skin that tears or bruises easily

👁 Eyes - myopia or astigmatism

❤️ Cardiovascular - valvular heart disease, aortic aneurysm dilation/rupture (life threatening)

👃🏼 Gorlin sign - ability to touch the nose with the tip of the tongue

🙏🏼 Reverse-Namaskar sign - form the namaste hand gesture behind your back There is no cure for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The condition is managed with supportive therapy. Close monitoring of the cardiovascular system, physiotherapy, and orthopedic instruments may be helpful. Ultimately surgery may be required to repair unstable or damaged joints.

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