Parkinson Disease Life Expectancy, Understanding the Condition

Parkinson Disease Life Expectancy, Understanding the Condition

Parkinson’s disease is a brain and movement disorder that is caused when the production of dopamine is reduced severely or ceased by the nerve cells. Dopamine is an essential chemical compound that aids the body in normal motor movements. The symptoms include body tremors, uncontrollable movements, imbalance, slowing down of reflexes and movements. The onset of Parkinson’s disease is usually gradual and unnoticeable in the earlier stages and it cannot be diagnosed by just one definitive test but only by a series of clinical tests. These tests then determine the stage of the disease ranging from Stage one to five. Stage I being the first stage of the onset of the disorder and Stage V being the last stage. The initial symptoms are subtle and when considered individually often go unnoticed. Some of the most common symptoms predicting the onset of the disorder are: Tremors or shaking. Reduction in the size of your handwriting. Loss of smell. Difficulty in walking and standing. Masked face (Having an expressionless or serious face when your mood is not so). These symptoms are just some of the many that require the physician’s consultation and expertise to determine if the onset of Parkinson’s disease is imminent or not. Although there is still no direct cause identified for the origin of this disease in a patient, but there is one strong theory of the disease being hereditary. Studies have also shown that men have 50% higher risk of living with the disorder than women. Various studies have concluded that the life expectancy of patients with Parkinson’s disease is almost the same or slightly less, as that of the general population of the same age. One must understand that even though Parkinson’s disease does not have a cure yet, it is not a fatal illness and hence does not have an adverse effect on the life expectancy of the patient directly.
Plantar Fasciitis- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Plantar Fasciitis- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Do you feel pain in your heels while walking, jogging or running for a long period of time over a large distance? If the pain goes away after you have rested, it is of no cause of concern. If the pain persists, it is likely that you are suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a disease characterized by pain in the heels and it is the most common cause of heel pain. It is characterized by the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your toes to your heel bone. It results in a stabbing pain that usually occurs when you take your first steps in the morning. The pain tends to decrease as you move more, but it might return if you are standing for a long period of time, or if you rise after sitting for extended periods of time. If you are experiencing this pain, consult a doctor immediately and seek plantar fasciitis treatment. Here are a few causes, symptoms and common methods of treatment for plantar fasciitis. Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis As mentioned before, plantar fasciitis leads to the onset of stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot, and near the heel. The pain is normally the worst when you first wake up in the morning and take your first steps. It may also be triggered if you have been sitting in one place for a long period of time and suddenly stand up, or if have been standing in one place for a long period of time. While such pain generally subsides, if it continues to persist and comes back after periods of time, be sure to conclude that you are suffering from plantar fasciitis. The onset of this pain may also ensure when you are exercising or after you have completed exercising.
Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of Overactive bladder

Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of Overactive bladder

A medical condition characterized by a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate is called overactive bladder (OAB). An overactive bladder leads to involuntary passage of urine, also known as urge incontinence. Apart from physical discomfort, an overactive bladder causes embarrassment for the affected person. Healthy functioning of the bladder requires a healthy urinary tract. Also, the communication channels between the nerves and the bladder muscles need to be uninterrupted. An improper communication passage or unhealthy urinary tract causes involuntary contractions of the urinary bladder. These involuntary contractions trigger overactive bladder symptoms. Causes of Overactive bladder Involuntary contractions of the bladder lead to urge incontinence. It may not always be possible to pinpoint the exact cause of these contractions. Based on the accompanying symptoms, the doctor may identify overactive bladder causes as the following: Neurological conditions Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis cause interruption between your nerves and bladder, which leads to urine incontinence. Damage to nerves Any damage to the nerves leading to the bladder causes overactive bladder. These nerves may be damaged due to an injury to the spine, abdomen or pelvis. In some cases, surgery to these parts may accidentally damage the nerve leading to the bladder. Urinary tract infection An infection of the urinary tract affects the activity of the bladder wall. As a result of the infection, the bladder becomes overactive causing urine incontinence. Medication Side effects of certain medicines cause OAB. Consumption of water pills or caffeine pills or diuretics causes increased bladder activity. Blockages Obstructions in the urinary tract could trigger symptoms of OAB. Enlargement of the prostate, tumors, and bladder stones are overactive bladder causes. Pregnancy The uterus of pregnant women expands to accommodate the fetus. Expanded uterus pressurizes the bladder, which in turn causes frequent urination. For some women, urge incontinence continues even after childbirth.
Causes and Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Causes and Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There are no findings which can enlighten on the actual cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS. However, as per the experts, there are certain things which have lead to IBS in people. Thus, they believe, these reasons play major roles in developing IBS symptoms. The factors causing Irritable Bowel Syndrome are given below: Physical Health Problems Brain-Gut Signal Problems The signals between your brain, the small and large intestines as well as the nerves in your gut manage how the gut functions. Thus, if there is a problem with the brain-gut signals, it will cause IBS symptoms. GI Motility Problems People with IBS do not have the kind of motility in their colon as other people normally have. They have either slow or fast motility. While slow motility causes constipation, fast motility causes diarrhea. Spasm is the reason behind the abdominal pain. If you suffer from IBS, there is a high chance of you experiencing hyperactivity which causes a significant increase in bowel contractions after you eat and when you feel stressed. Pain Sensitivity People with IBS have extra sensitive nerves in their gut. This causes more pain and discomfort than usual when stool or gas is stuck in the gut. The brain processes pain indications from your bowel in a different way if you suffer from IBS. Infections Bacterial infection in an individual’s GI tract may be a cause of irritable bowel syndrome. However, researchers have still not been able to confirm why GI tract infections cause some people to suffer from IBS while others do not. There may be additional reasons for mental health problems and GI tract lining. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Usually, there are a small number of bacteria found in the small intestine. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is referred to the change in the type of bacteria or increase in their number in the small intestine.
Symptoms and Treatment Methods for Pneumonia

Symptoms and Treatment Methods for Pneumonia

Pneumonia is the infection caused in one or both the lungs. It can be caused due to viruses, fungus, or bacteria. The disease causes your lungs to be filled with fluid or pus, thus making it difficult to breathe. The symptoms that you might experience for pneumonia are coughing with mucus, sweating and chills, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Pneumonia can be caused due to germs or location and the treatment of each disease depends on a variety of factors. Most of the pneumonia is known to be contagious. However, you can get cured with the right treatment for pneumonia. Symptoms of pneumonia The symptoms of pneumonia essentially vary from being mild to severe. It also depends on your age as well as health. The most common symptoms of pneumonia include mild or high fever, shaking chills, cough, and falling short of breath while doing hectic activities. Some other additional symptoms of pneumonia can also include a stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you are breathing heavily. You might experience a headache, a very clammy skin, and excessive sweating in some cases. Your doctor will recommend the correct treatment for pneumonia based on your symptoms and diagnosis. When the condition gets worse you might feel a loss in your appetite and in energy accompanied by fatigue. Older people might also experience confusion. As pneumonia can be bacterial and viral, the associated symptoms also vary accordingly. In case you have bacterial pneumonia, your temperature might go as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This type of pneumonia is known to cause sweating and a rapid increase in the pulse rate and breathing. Due to the lack of oxygen, the lips and nail beds can turn blue. The patient might also feel a loss of focus. When it comes to viral pneumonia, the symptoms are similar to influenza.
Important Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Fibromyalgia Pain

Important Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Fibromyalgia Pain

A fibromyalgia disability is a type of illness that makes your life hard to live as you may not be able to do your daily tasks with much efficiency. You may even find it difficult to get up from your bed in the morning, in addition to making it physically challenging for you to work at the office. Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes extensive pain in your whole body and causes an adverse impact on your brain. You may feel instant changes in your mood and sudden restlessness. As per scientific terms, it is a chronic pain disorder which is also termed as the fibromyositis, muscular rheumatism, fibrositis, or FM. Millions of people in the country have been suffering from this condition. It is also believed to be caused by the oversensitivity to the pain signals reaching your brain. Measures of Easing Pain of a Fibromyalgia Disability There are a number of medications and non-medication therapies advised by specialists, which may help you to get relief from the pain. However, it has been observed that there is no permanent cure to help you bid goodbye to the issue once and for all. Adapting a few changes in your lifestyle and trying some alternative measures and some other approaches may help you to get relief from the severe symptoms of fibromyalgia and also help in increasing your life quality. These measures are as follows: Daily Physical Exercise Regime Try adding a regular exercising routine to your daily life as it is the most effective measure which offers you relief from the pains of a fibromyalgia disability. It is advised to add any aerobic exercise for battling the condition. When you start exercising at first, you may feel more pain, but the regularity in doing so may improve your symptoms and help in making your workout better and comfortable.
5 Useful Things to Know about Hidradenitis Suppurativa

5 Useful Things to Know about Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a disease where the affected person gets painful bumps under their skin, mostly near the sweat glands. For now, there is no permanent cure for this affliction, but medical treatments and changes in lifestyle have proven to provide relief as well as reduce future flare-ups. Hidradenitis suppurativa occurs in places where the swear glands are located. The sweat glands are known as apocrine glands, which are located in places where an individual usually has hair, like under the arms, around the groin region and between the buttock cheeks. Bumps develop in these areas . This can also occur in areas where the skin frequently gets rubbed, like between the thighs and under the breasts. When these bumps break, they often leave behind tissue scars. Immediate treatment is required to prevent the infection from developing again in the same area. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a condition that lasts for a long time and can get very frustrating to deal with. It also takes an emotional toll. People suffering from this affliction should seek support from family and friends and maybe even join a support group. Skin conditions can have a physical and emotional toll on the patient and should be handled with care. Causes: The causes of hidradenitis suppurativa are not yet known, but it is proven that the skin problems begin when sweat glands become blocked. Most people see the first symptoms in their teens or during the twenties. It also happens to be more common in women as compared to men as well as in people who smoke or are overweight. It can also be hereditary as about one-third of the people who suffer from HS usually have another relative with the same problem. Medical researchers and scientists have not been able to pinpoint the causes for hidradenitis suppurativa, but it has been noted that it is not caused by the use of powders, deodorants or by shaving one’s underarms.
Ways to Curb the Occurrence of Acne

Ways to Curb the Occurrence of Acne

Acne is perhaps the one word that manages to bother even the most nonchalant ones out there. For the sake of your skin and beauty, acne can be considered as something of an impediment. Acne is a common skin problem in the current age. It generally appears as pimple outbreak but can also affect one’s shoulders, back, and chest areas. While the blemishes and bumps cause unpleasant appearance, there is pain involved in severe acne too that needs proper treatment. Acne occurs when skin pores are clogged due to deposits of oil and few dead skin cells. While there are hordes of the best acne products as well as treatments available, finding one that is best for your skin is most important. However, not everybody afflicted with acne will have the exact mirror types as someone else. There have been cases where the acne has been really mild while some have extreme or very prominent acne. The period for acne to set in is usually adolescence; however, one might also suffer from acne-related skin issues before they might hit puberty. Now there are racks of products available in the market which brand themselves as the best acne products; however, not all can live up to being the best acne products. According to a recent study, it has been revealed that acne affects 50 percent women between the ages of 21 and 30; 25 percent women between the ages 31 and 40; and 12 percent women between the ages 41 and 50. For many women, hormones are the main cause of acne. Changes in monthly menses as well as imbalances in diet that foster acne growth. Now again, stress is a huge flare up and many of us do not even realize the same being so monumental in causing acne. You can try introducing certain changes such as the following to help reduce the occurrence of acne.
Everything You Need to Know About Haemophilia in Children

Everything You Need to Know About Haemophilia in Children

Get all your questions pertaining to haemophilia in children answered here. A first aid kit is your best friend as a parent. Children seem to know just how to walk in an unbalanced gait and topple over without any external help. The result is an extraordinary number of bumps and bruises that need more than a mother’s kiss to make better. While bruises and scrapes are a normal part of childhood, haemophilia children need extra care. A bruise or cut would heal and scab over for others, but for haemophilia children, even the smallest cuts are a cause of concern. If you are a parent with haemophilia children or would just like to know more about the condition to help your loved ones handle it better, here are the answer to the most common questions when it comes to haemophilia in children. What is Haemophilia? When you get a cut, there are clotting agents in your blood that act quickly to curb the bleeding. However, for haemophilia children, the disease actively stops blood from clotting properly. The result is an excessive loss of blood, which can be very dangerous to the health of haemophilia children. This genetic disorder tends to affect more boys than girls. In fact, statistics show that one in every 5-10,000 boys have this condition. Even though many girls inherit this gene, they are generally not affected by the condition. However, these girls become carriers of the gene and can pass it on to their kids. Haemophilia in children is generally caused by inheritance of mutated genes, or gene mutations that happen during the development of the child in the womb. Bleeding in haemophilia children may be external where the cut and excessive bleeding is visible, or internal where the bleeding happens inside the body and is not visible.
Dark Circles – Causes and Treatments

Dark Circles – Causes and Treatments

The presence of dark circles under the lower eyelids is quite common among men and women. When you have dark circles, you may look much older than your actual age. This visible discoloration of skin is quite hard to eliminate. Most people will face this situation at some point in time. It is essential to know how you could prevent this and what are the various treatment options available. In this article, let’s have a look at the causes and treatment options for dark circles. Risk factors for dark circles Dark circles could affect anybody. Primarily, they affect the following people: People who are old People with a family history of dark circles Causes of dark circles Many people associate fatigue as the sole reason for the appearance of the dark circles. However, apart from fatigue, there are numerous reasons because of which dark circles could appear. Here are some of them: Age Aging is one of the causes of dark circles. When you start to get older, your skin naturally becomes thinner than before. You will start losing collagen and fat which are needed to maintain your skin’s elasticity. When this happens, the dark vessels inside your skin will become more and more visible. Because of this, dark circles will appear underneath your lower eyelids. Too much strain on your eyes When you work on your computer for about 10 to 12 hours per day, you tend to strain your eyes. Also, watching television for a long duration of time will put similar pressure on the eyes. Because of this strain, the blood vessels in and around your eyes will become enlarged. As a result of this, you start getting dark circles. Fatigue Fatigue is one of the more prominent causes of dark circles. Oversleeping, staying awake after your usual bedtime or being extremely tired could result in dark circles.
4 Things to Know about Asthma Attack and Its Symptoms

4 Things to Know about Asthma Attack and Its Symptoms

Asthma is caused by the inflammation of the airways. The inflammation causes the airways to be swollen and sensitive. This leads the airways to react to specific substances on inhalation badly. The muscles of the airways constrict and lessen the air flow to the lungs. There might be the excess development of mucus in the cells of the airways, making them narrower. All these lead to the aggravation of asthma attack symptoms. Often beginning in childhood, asthma continues to affect a person into adulthood. It is estimated that nearly 25 million people have this chronic lung disease. Around 7 million children have been reported to have asthma. Who is at the risk of experiencing asthma attack symptoms? Asthma can be hereditary, or it can be caused by environmental factors. If someone in the family has asthma, it is highly likely that a child might be prone to asthma attack symptoms. An allergic condition such as atopic dermatitis or hay fever can also increase the possibility of asthma. Obesity, smoking, passive smoking, and frequent and prolonged exposure to pollution such as exhaust fumes or exposure to certain chemicals can also trigger asthma attack symptoms. People who work as hairdressers, farmers, and in the manufacturing industry are frequently exposed to harmful chemicals. These can also trigger asthma attack symptoms. What triggers asthma attack symptoms? If a person has asthma, several causes can trigger an attack involving extreme wheezing and breathlessness. The following are some of the common triggers of asthma attack symptoms: Dust, pollen, spores, dander, and even cockroach waste particles that are present in the air we breathe can cause asthma attack symptoms. Asthma can also be induced by exercise that causes an extreme strain on the respiratory system. Cold air can also act as a trigger for asthma attack symptoms.
10 Things You Need to Know about Anti Snoring Devices

10 Things You Need to Know about Anti Snoring Devices

Snoring is the result of obstructed movement of air when a person breathes while sleeping. Some people snore loud, while others do not cause much disturbance. In the realm of medicine, the condition is characterized by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Snoring is one of the factors causing sleep deprivation. People suffering from OSA also suffer from irritability, drowsiness, and lack of attention. Loud snoring has been associated with heart attack and stroke in people. Snoring causes vibration that passes through the carotid artery that leads to carotid artery atherosclerosis in a person. This also leads to the development of atherosclerotic plaque. One in every 15 Americans is believed to have moderate sleep apnea. More than half of the population in the world is suffering from some degree of snoring. There are many solutions to treat snoring. There are many anti-snoring devices that help you get rid of that prolong habit of snoring while you sleep. Mouthpieces It is one of the most popular devices among snorers. They come with almost no side effects. They are proven and established. Chin straps They are not new, but effective. Chip straps work like jaw retaining mouthpieces in context their results. It is simple to use. It is used under the chin, over the top, and round the back. They are made using neoprene and nylon. The quality of chin straps is determined by the material it is made of. Pillows A type of snoring solution is an anti-snoring pillow. There are many types of snoring solutions that allow your head to lie in a position that does obstruct the airways and cause snoring. In other words, anti-snoring pillow corrects the wrong sleeping position that can otherwise cause snoring. However, they are not found to make much difference to the problem and thus are not much reliable for some people.