"Provides basic consumer health information on understanding connective tissue disorders, identifying types of connective tissue disorders, and learning how to deal with acquired diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and collagen vascular diseases. Includes index, glossary of related terms, and a list of resources for additional help"-- Provided by publisher.

Preface -- Part 1: Connective tissue: an overview -- An introduction to connective tissues -- Connective tissue membranes -- Types of connective tissue -- Physiology of connective tissue -- Connective tissue disease in pregnancy -- Mental health of people with connective tissue diseases -- Self-management of chronic diseases -- Sustained therapy for connective tissue disease and risk for COVID- -- Part 2: Hereditary connective tissue disorders -- What are hereditary connective tissue disorders -- Marfan Syndrome -- Symptoms, diagnosis, and causes of Marfan Syndrome -- Treatment of Marfan Syndrome -- Living with Marfan Syndrome -- Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes -- Osteogenesis imperfecta -- Overview and types -- Causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of Osteogenesis Imperfecta -- Treatment of Osteogenesis Imperfecta -- Loeys Dietz Syndrome -- Stickler Syndrome -- Cutis Laxa -- Thoracic aortic artery dilatation and dissection -- Alkaptonuria -- Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum -- Part 3: Acquired diseases and injuries of connective tissue -- What are acquired diseases of connective tissue? -- Rheumatoid Arthritis -- Rheumatoid Arthritis: An overview -- How Rheumatoid Arthritis mechanisms may vary by joint -- Parents' smoking during childhood linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis -- Management and complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis -- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus -- What people need to know about Systemic Lupus Erythematosus -- Diagnosing and treating Lupus -- Can a woman with SLE have a healthy Pregnancy -- Can you treat your Lupus with alternative medicine -- Scleroderma -- Overview of Scleroderma -- Types, symptoms and causes of Scleroderma -- Understanding allergic reactions to skin care products -- Diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take -- Polymyositis -- Necrotizing Vasculitides -- Sjögren Syndrome -- Overview of Sjögren Syndrome -- Diagnosis and treatment -- Amyloidosis -- Osteoarthritis -- Who gets Osteoarthritis -- Diagnosis and treatment of Osteoarthritis -- How can you improve your quality of life? -- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura -- Relapsing Polychondritis injuries to the connective tissue -- Rotator Cuff injury -- Sprains and strains -- Tendinitis and Tenosynovitis -- Meniscal and knee ligament injuries -- Growth plate injuries -- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis -- Types, symptoms, and causes of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis -- Living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis -- Diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take -- Injuries to the connective tissue -- Rotator Cuff injury -- Sprains and strains -- Tendinitis and Tenosynovitis -- Meniscal and knee ligament injuries -- Growth plate injuries -- Part 4: Other Collagen Vascular Diseases -- Dermatomyositis -- Vasculitis -- Polyarteritis Nodosa -- Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis -- Psoriatic Arthritis -- Ankylosing Spondylitis -- Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder -- Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease -- Piecing together the autoimmune disease puzzle through research -- Part 5: Connective Tissue Tumors -- Adult Fibrous Tissue Tumors -- Ovarian Fibromas -- Uterine Fibroids or Fibromas -- Fibrosarcoma -- Tumors of fat tissue -- Lipoma -- Liposarcoma -- Tumors of cartilage -- Chondroma -- Chondrosarcoma -- Tumors of the bone -- Osteoma -- Osteosarcoma -- Tumor of the Notochord -- Other Connective Tissue Tumors -- Fibrous Histiocytoma -- Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma -- Life after cancer treatment -- Guide to healthy living: Physical health -- Guide to healthy living: Emotional health -- Part 6: Living with a Connective Tissue Disorder -- Next steps after your diagnosis -- Finding information and support -- Take the time you need -- Get the support you need -- Talk with your doctor -- Seek out information -- Decide on a treatment plan -- Where to find more information -- Coping with a chronic disease -- Improve health and wellbeing -- People with chronic pain -- People with disabilities -- People with cancer -- Arthritis workgroup -- Students with chronic health conditions -- COVID-19 CoronaVac in patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases -- Emotional dimensions of chronic disease -- Chronic disease and the workplace -- The basics of disability benefits -- Part 7: Additional help and information -- Glossary of connective tissue diseases and disorders-related terms -- Directory of organizations related to connective tissue diseases and disorders -- Index.