Caused by the varicella-zoster virus, shingles can be described as a painful skin rash. Also known as herpes zoster, it usually appears as a strip, band, or infects a small area on one side of the face or body. It is therefore imperative to know about the symptoms and shingles pain treatment options to be able to fight it effectively. Shingles is a painful nerve root infection that occurs when the chickenpox causing virus gets activated in the body. After chickenpox is treated, the virus becomes dormant in the nerves. Although this virus mostly remains dormant, in others, the virus becomes active, usually in old age when the body’s immunity is comparatively weaker. Also, certain medications can trigger this virus, however, once active, it is unable to cause chickenpox. Seniors or people with a weak immune system are prone to shingles. Stress, medications and injuries can make the immune system vulnerable causing the varicella-zoster virus to activate. Usually, people suffering from shingles get better and do not suffer from it again. However, there are cases where people can get shingles more than once. Although non-communicable, it can still be transmitted from someone who has shingles. However, this possibility is pretty rare, so the chances of shingles spreading from a person who has had chickenpox to the one who has not are negligible. Shingles pain treatment vaccines are available for adults. These medications help in lowering the chances of getting affected with shingles, it clears the rashes quickly and also helps to prevent long-term pain that usually occurs after shingles. Symptoms The symptoms of shingles show up in different stages. It begins with a headache or extreme sensitivity to light. Some people also experience flu but do not have a fever or high temperature.The second stage marks itching, pain, or tingling sensation in a particular area.

The hip is closely attached to the lower back by nerve referral. Normally the pain occurs at the lower back arises from the muscles that connect the back to the hip, or from the ligaments that connect the back and the pelvis. The pain may also arise from the act of impinging the nerve from the lumbar spine. Causes of lower back and hip pain When the gluteal muscle becomes stiff and overactive, it results in excess strain on the lower back. A person, who has to sit and work for a long period of time, tightens the muscles at the lower back. This is due to poor sitting posture and not stretching the body for a long time. If there is an injury on the gluteal muscle at any point of time, it may also result in such lower back pains. If the injury is not treated properly at that time, the injury may later tighten the muscle and can give hardship to the body. Sometimes the hold of the ligaments around the buttocks and pelvis may give the same kind of lower back pains. This area is also referred as sacroiliac joint. Due to the link of the lower back to the hip, such pain is felt at the hip. The treatment is done on the ligament which is strained. The lower back and the hip is a combination of some of the complex components, so the cause of pain at the hip can be for various reasons. Depending on the location of the pain, proper treatment can be started. Chronic hip pain can last more than six weeks. If the patient is suffering from arthritis, then the surface of the socket at the hip tends to become uneven resulting in impaired movement and the result will be an arthritic hip pain.

The neck is a vital part of the human body that connects the head to the rest of the body (specifically the torso). It is the region where the brain is linked to the spinal cord there by supporting efficient functioning of the central nervous system.Since the neck is flexible and can move in all directions, it is often affected by pain. Also, undue exertion can cause neck disorders. The shoulder, on the other hand, joins the arms to the torso and facilitates a great degree of movement.It consists of three bones that define the physical structure of the body.It enables motion in all directions and is therefore, more prone to injury and pain. The shoulder joint in particular is subject to strenuous activity which can lead to dislocation. Usually, neck and shoulder pain, both occur simultaneously.It is not an uncommon phenomenon for those who participate in sports. Inappropriately performed exercises at the gym may also hurt the neck and the shoulder. X-rays, MRI tests and CT scans are used to diagnose the reason behind the pain. Neck pain or cervicalgia–It can be triggered by the following causes: Spondylosis –Neck pain due to spondylosis is an ordinary ailment encountered by the elderly. Under this condition, the spinal column gets weak due to wear and tear that takes place in old age. Neck cancer –Though cancer originates in the nose, mouth or throat, it may lead to the development of a lump in the neck along with severe neck pain. Too much consumption of alcohol or tobacco can activate neck cancer. Spinal stenosis –Arthritis, aging or trauma can narrow down the spinal cavity stimulating spinal stenosis. Neck pain combined with numbness is an important symptom of this disease. Whiplash – Whiplash is an outcome of physical traumadenoted by an abrupt and forceful blow to the neck.Activities such as head banging can also cause neck pain.

Urinary incontinence is a symptom characterized by an involuntary flow of urine which can be caused due to multiple reasons including medical conditions, bad eating habits or lifestyle issues. This involuntary flow can be minimal which is generally not an issue. It can be moderate or severe and require immediate medical attention. The major types of urinary incontinence have been listed below. Stress incontinence This is caused due to excessive pressure on the urethra due to physical reasons such as sudden coughing, sneezing, laughing or weight lifting. Urge incontinence This urinary incontinence is also called reflex incontinence and is caused due to an intense urge to urinate which is uncontrollable. This fierce urge is sudden and the urine flow that follows it is involuntary. This is caused due to diabetes or due to an infection in the excretory system. Some women also experience this during sex. Overflow incontinence This problem is associated with malfunctioning of the urinary bladder. Overflow incontinence is characterized by the regular involuntary release of urine in small amounts. It can be the result of the bladder being overfilled or if it not being completely empty. Functional incontinence This incontinence is caused due to functional issues such as an inability to reach the washroom in time. This can be caused due to mental or physical incapabilities such as severe arthritis or old age which limit the walking capacity. Mixed incontinence This condition is caused due to a combination of both stress and urge incontinence. There are several treatments for urinary incontinence. If the problem is severe, one can go for surgeries or medical implants in the genital areas. But if the problem is moderate, it is possible to treat it without invasive treatments. Following are some of the treatment options available for urinary incontinence. Treatment for urinary incontinence at home Kegel exercises are pelvic floor exercises which aim to provide better control over the muscles in the urinary tract.

Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden and severe pain often in the joint at the base of the big toe. Men are more likely to get gout than women who become susceptible after their menopause. It is a common prevailing condition in the UK, and one can’t escape gout without easy gout treatments. Here are certain symptoms of gout which you can check for in case of doubt: Joint Pain Sudden pain and swelling usually affecting the joint of your big toe is one basic symptom of gout. The whole area becomes red, and there is an unbearable pain for the first 4-12 hours after it begins. Inflammation The skin around the joint swells and the color changes to red or purple. You will find that the area will be warm compared to the rest of your body. Limited Mobility Gout leads to severe pain in the affected joint area, causing discomfort and limited mobility, and lasts for more than a week or so depending on the severity of the swelling. Below are other causes of gout. Uric Acid The body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines, a substance found naturally in the body as well as in certain foods. The acid dissolved in blood passes through the kidneys to leave the body as urine. When the body produces too much or the kidneys excrete too little acid, it turns into small crystals that settle in the joint. These crystals cause major swelling in the big toe. High Blood Pressure If the blood pressure is too high, it causes strain on your body and kidneys. This results in lack of flow of blood to your joints that may cause severe swelling, and thus gout. Family History Research shows that if one or two members of the family suffer from gout, there are higher chances of you getting it.

A woman who loves beauty products and most of all lipsticks, can never have enough of them. Lipsticks are an important part of a female’s makeup routine. Lipsticks contain waxes like candelilla, ozokerite, beeswax, and carnauba wax which has a high melting point and these waxes are used to strengthen the lipstick. Various fats and oils are also used to make lipsticks and these oils can be petrolatum, lanolin, cocoa butter, mineral oil, and olive oil. Most women are not aware that their favorite lipstick may contain harmful chemicals which they would otherwise never use on their skin. If your lipstick leaves an oily residue it may be due to the use of tallow or animal fat taken from dead animal carcasses. Tallow is used by many cosmetics companies as it saves them a lot of money. Make sure your lipstick isn’t made of any of these – myristic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, lard, suet, hydrolyzed collagen, palmitic acid, oleyl stearate, oleyl oleate, oleic acid, stearic acid or any ingredient with the word tallow. Your lipstick also contains heavy metals like industrial grade minerals which can lead to cancer, harm your reproductive system, and lead to organ toxicity. These won’t be listed in the ingredients of your lipstick but anything which begins with green, violet, yellow, blue, and red, indicates the use of heavy metals. Heavy metals are mostly never listed but include antimony, chromium, aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, iron, and lead. Here are six ingredients to look out for in your lipstick. Perfume The use of perfumes is regulated under the trade secret law. The company does not reveal the ingredients. FDA cannot decipher the meanings of ingredients which are used, but perfumes can result in skin rashes, respiratory issues, and migraine. Methylparaben This is used as a preservative in many beauty products.

It has been reported that over 75% of people aged between 18 and 65 deal with a headache over once or twice annually. Among them, more than 30% of adults usually develop the symptoms of migraine. By nature, a headache is caused due to migraine lasts longer and leads to more physical effects than any common headache. Certain foods have the ability to soothe migraine headaches, and various studies have reported that certain tweaks in your regular food can soothe migraine headaches. Herein, we’ve compiled a list of foods that can help you to reduce the impact as well as experience of headache caused by migraine. Include these foods in your diet and stay away from the inferior living condition caused by the symptoms of migraines. Baked potato This is one of the most loved sides of our dinner. It can do wonders in soothing migraine headache especially caused due to higher consumption of alcohol. A baked potato can help you to retain various electrolytes such as potassium in your body while your level of alcohol is high in your body. Further, it also ensures that your body is well hydrated. This is because the potato is a potassium-rich food and such food can alleviate hangover related to headaches and migraines. It is to be noted that baked potato contains a whopping 721 mg of potassium in comparison to 467 mg of banana. Watermelon Dehydration is one of the major causes of migraine headaches. Hence, instead of immediately reaching out to a pain killer or reliever, any water-rich food such as watermelon can help you in soothing down the headache caused by migraine. The natural water available in fruits and vegetables is rich in essential minerals such as magnesium. Magnesium is one of the key minerals for the prevention of a migraine headache.

Gastritis is a stomach disorder wherein the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed. This can occur due to certain foods or even bacterial infections. Gastritis can be avoided by avoiding certain foods as they help in dealing with symptoms effectively. On consulting with a doctor, one will be able to know the foods that should be consumed and avoided if suffering from gastritis. In the following, some of the foods that should be eaten and avoided have been listed. Foods to eat Food that can help kill the bacteria that cause gastritis and reduce inflammation should be consumed. Some of the choices have been listed below: Broccoli Broccoli is rich in a compound known as sulforaphane. Studies have shown that sulforaphane can kill the H.pylori bacteria that cause gastritis. Probiotics Probiotics found in yogurt, sourdough bread, and kefir can be very good for the stomach. It can strengthen the digestive process and, thus, help prevent gastritis. Fiber Foods that are rich in fiber, such as apples, beans, legumes, carrots, and oatmeal, are good for digestion and can help fight the symptoms of gastritis. Garlic Garlic is antibacterial and can help to kill the H. pylori bacteria. It can also reduce inflammation, thereby relieving one of the symptoms. Having raw pods of garlic can, however, cause irritation in some people. A helpful alternative is consuming garlic in the form of capsules. Whole grains Whole grains are good and should be consumed instead of processed grains. Brown rice is a good substitute for white rice and brown bread can be consumed instead of white bread. Lean meats Those suffering from gastritis should consume lean meats that have less fat and which do not irritate the stomach. They include skinless chicken, turkey, and pork chops. Lean proteins Lean proteins found in tuna, beans, chicken breast, and egg whites are good to include in a diet for gastritis.

If you are suffering from dry and dull hair, and often see white dandruff flakes on your shoulder, then a dry scalp could be the reason behind it. Many people feel embarrassed due to the white flakes and the itching that dry scalp can cause. The irritation that dry scalp causes can sometimes be unbearable; therefore, it is important to choose effective treatment methods to treat it as soon as possible. If you ignore the problem of dry scalp, it can then turn into a chronic problem, which could be very hard to treat in the future. You can choose from the plethora of dry scalp treatments available in order to avoid this problem. What causes dry scalp? Dry scalp is caused when the oil-producing glands on the scalp are not active or underactive and are not producing enough amounts of natural oil. This natural oil helps keeps the scalp moist all the time. The following are some other causes of a dry scalp: If you are using harsh, chemical-filled shampoos, it can cause dry scalp When you are using hard water to wash your hair Fungal infections Extreme weather conditions like extreme heat or cold climates Improper diet Harsh styling products Not oiling your hair often or not using conditioners after shampooing To combat dry scalp, the following list provides some effective dry scalp treatments: Oil massage: One of the best and most proven methods for treating dry scalp is oil massage. You can take any oil that you use regularly and massage the scalp in circular motions. In this way, blood circulation will be promoted in the scalp and your hair will also start growing in a natural way. When using oil for massage, it is always efficient to heat it slightly. This means that you should use lukewarm oil to massage your scalp, and this can be especially helpful if the dry scalp is being caused due to some fungal infection.

The human body has a peripheral nervous system that connects the nerves from the brain and the spinal cord with the rest of the body. They are connected everywhere including hands, legs, mouth, face, and internal organs. These nerves deliver signals of physical sensation back to the brain. Neuropathy or peripheral neuropathy refers to a disorder that occurs due to the malfunctioning of the nerves. If they get damaged or destroyed, they send wrong signals, like signals of pain when there is no pain and no signal when there is a pain. An injury, infection, inherited disorder or systemic illness may cause peripheral neuropathy. This disorder is a troublemaker and obviously uncomfortable, but with proper diagnosis and treatment, it can be cured. For the accurate neuropathy treatment, it is of utmost importance to find the root cause as the causes are different for different people, and their treatment is also different. Types and symptoms of neuropathy There are around 100 different types of neuropathy. Each of them has unique symptoms as well as treatments. They are classified into two types based on the type of nerve damage involved. The three types of peripheral nerves are sensory nerves that connect with the skin, motor nerves with muscles and autonomic nerves with the internal organs. Peripheral neuropathy affects one or all nerve groups. Mononeuropathy is the condition of one damaged nerve; on the other hand, multiple nerves are damaged during polyneuropathies which are more common. Various symptoms can be noticed like tingling and numbness in hands and feet, sharp stabbing pain, buzzing sensation, drop of blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, thinning of skin, diarrhea, and difficulty in digestion, constipation, and excessive sweating. When you go to the doctor, make sure to tell him about all the symptoms to get proper treatment. Diagnosis In order to determine the required treatment, it is important to diagnose the causes behind the disorder.

Have you ever imagined that a bug that is not visible to the naked eye could cause serious allergic reactions? Dust mites that can only be seen through a microscope can cause allergies that may even lead to breathing difficulties! Belonging to the tick and spider family, dust mites can be found in warm and humid environments. Common places at home where these mites thrive are bedding, soft toys, upholsteries, and carpeting. These microscopic creatures feed on dead skin. On an average, around one and a half grams of skin is shed every day by an adult human. This is the best food for dust mites. A runny nose and sneezing fits are common dust mite allergy symptoms. Long-term exposure to these mites may result in asthma and sinus infections. What is a Dust Mite Allergy? Dust mites survive in any type of climate and almost any altitude. These are microscopic bugs that thrive in humid conditions and feed on the dead skin that shed by humans. As many as 20 million people in the country are affected by dust mite allergy. When people are exposed to the waste products of dust mites, the immune system is triggered. As a result, antibodies are produced against normal, harmless substances. Dust mite allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, watering eyes, sneezing, and itching are triggered due to the immune system’s response. Although your home may seem clean, dust mites may be dwelling in your mattresses, cushions, upholstery and stuffed toys! They thrive on mattresses and pillows. Dust mite allergy symptoms increase over time as you continue to breathe in the waste particles of dust mites. Symptoms of Dust Mite Allergy Dust mite allergy symptoms are similar to that of nasal allergies like sinus or rhinitis. Common symptoms of dust mite allergy are as follows:

Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar is one of the most common lifestyle-associated disorders. It is characterized by a high level of blood sugar level called hyperglycemia. In a healthy person, the normal range of blood sugar is 70-130 mg/dL between meals which can spike to 180 mg/dL 1–2 hours post meals. A chronic hyperglycemia can be detrimental to the blood vessels, nerve tissues, and several other body organs. According to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the country alone, more than 100 million adults are suffering from high blood sugar. There are several ways in which the question of how to control blood sugar can be answered. However, before looking into that, let us know about the complications that high blood sugar can lead to. Complications caused due to high blood sugar Uncontrolled high sugar levels can lead to nerve and kidney damage, cardiovascular disorders, damage to eye lens, damage to retina which may cause complete blindness, higher chances of skin infections, infections in teeth and gums, and slow healing of an injury. Smart ways to control blood sugar The following tips can help one on how to control their blood sugar. However, an expert advice or consultation must be sought before starting any medication or natural treatment. Avoid huge meals : A diabetic patient is advised to keep his/her meal size small. This helps in effective regulation of blood sugar. However, one should not skip a meal. Add resistant starch to diet : The addition of resistant starch in the diet is one of the best ways to control blood sugar. Resistant starch bypasses the small intestine and subsequently gets digested by the “good bacteria” present in the large intestine. This helps in lowering the blood sugar effectively. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “second-meal” effect.