Causes and Tips to Prevent Restless Leg Syndrome

Causes and Tips to Prevent Restless Leg Syndrome

A lot of us have heard about people constantly moving their leg while sleeping. Restless leg syndrome is a disorder connected to the nervous system of the human body. It’s often referred as RLS. In this syndrome, a person feels a tremendous urge to move their leg. The urge can be very uncontrollable at times. If someone is suffering from this issue, he/she is unable to sleep well and can often develop sleep disorder as well. The urges person experiences can be unpleasant and cause discomfort. Restless leg syndrome is neurological sensorimotor disorder often studied in the fields of mental health. The RLS can cause very unpleasant sensations as well. Restless leg syndrome can sometimes spread to the arms, torso, genitals and even face, but this happens in very rare cases. The restless leg syndrome gets activated especially when the person is not moving or is placed in a fixed position. The most prevalent symptoms are restless legs at night time. People with RLS, experience very uncomfortable sensations and high urges to move their legs, the feeling can also be compared to an itchy or a creepy crawly sensation in legs. The sensations get worse when a person is sleeping, lying or resting. The severity of restless leg syndrome goes on from mild to moderate to severe or intolerable. Symptoms come and go, and so does the sensations, and it’s different from person to person. Any person suffering from restless leg syndrome may experience urges to get up if they are sitting, this also hinders with a person’s concentration levels and can have emotional effects as well as it can become embarrassing. The main reason for restless leg syndrome is unknown in most cases. There is no one specific reason for this to happen to someone. However, some causes that are associated with the syndrome are as follows:
3 Common Causes of Foot Nerve Pain

3 Common Causes of Foot Nerve Pain

Nerve disorders related to the foot can be quite distressing. Therefore, it’s important to understand where foot nerve pain comes from, what it is, and how it can be treated. Physical injuries, ailments, and other disorders can cause foot nerve pain. Your first step is to consult a physician and get an accurate diagnosis, so you know how to proceed with treatment. Once you identify the cause of the foot nerve pain, you can take appropriate measures to deal with it. Listed below are a few common causes of foot nerve pain, and the various treatment options available: Diabetic neuropathy Pain in your foot can be a symptom of diabetes known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It’s important to identify this early so you can treat it effectively. Keep an eye out for the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately. Ignoring these signs, especially if you have a family history of diabetes or heightened blood sugar can cause a lot of complications later. These are some of the indicators of diabetic neuropathy: Numbness in the toes, fingers, feet, and hands Extremely sensitive feet Sharp, burning pain along the legs and eventually in the arms A tingling sensation in the feet, toes, fingers, and hands This type of foot nerve pain may sound unsettling and frightening, but it’s relatively common. A large number of people suffer from diabetic neuropathy. Because of this, there are a wide range of options to treat it These are some treatment options for foot nerve pain caused by diabetic neuropathy: Medication – There is a large range of medicines that help manage, treat, and cure diabetic foot pain. These include antidepressants, anti-seizure medication, opioid pain medication, and anticonvulsants. Patches – Skin patches with anesthetics like lidocaine have been proven to alleviate foot nerve pain.
Chronic Bronchitis – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Chronic Bronchitis – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Bronchitis can be defined as an irritation or inflammation of the airways, also known as bronchial tubes, in the lungs. These airways are the tubes through which the air passes. When these airways get inflamed, thick mucus forms in them. The mucus covers up the airways thus making it hard for the air to get into the lungs. Persistent coughing is an indication of bronchitis and produces mucus. The sputum plugs up the airways and causes difficulty in breathing, resulting in a feeling of tightness in the chest. In this article, the symptoms along with effective treatment for chronic bronchitis have been outlined. Chronic means that the problem or condition lasts a long time ranging from a few days to several months. Chronic bronchitis is bronchitis that usually lasts more than 3 months and often occurs with emphysema. The combination of these disease causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Symptoms of chronic bronchitis The most common symptoms of acute bronchitis: Sore throat Fever constant coughing accompanied by yellow or green mucus Chest congestion Shortness of breath Wheezing Chills Body aches Causes of chronic bronchitis Viruses are often blamed for causing chronic bronchitis. Viruses attack the coating of the bronchial tree and cause inflammation. The same viruses that are responsible for causing colds can also cause acute bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is contagious, i.e., the virus can be caught from breathing it in or through contact. Once the body starts fighting bronchitis causing viruses, swelling, and inflammation occur. The body needs time to kill these viruses and heal the damage caused to the bronchial tubes. Cigarette smoking is also said to be a major cause of chronic bronchitis. During smoking, tobacco smoke is inhaled into the lungs, this smoke causes irritation in the airways, and they start producing mucus. Regular smokers often develop acute bronchitis.
Toenail Fungus – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Toenail Fungus – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Toenail fungus is the bacterial or fungal infection of your toenail or a part of it. When your toes are exposed continuously to a moist or damp environment, it becomes a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria. If you leave this untreated, the infection could spread to your skin, so it is imperative that you get the toenail fungus treated on time. What causes toenail fungus? A number of factors cause toenail fungus, here are a few : Constant exposure to a damp and moist environment is the most common causal factor of toenail fungus. The type of fungus is usually a dermatophyte. If you already are suffering from athlete’s foot, then that can trigger toenail fungus as well. Weak blood circulation Sometimes, you can contract this infection from others. For example, by wearing the socks or shoes of a person who has toenail fungus can increase your chances of having it too. With old age, your blood circulation decreases, which can lead to toenail fungus. Excessive sweating Walking barefoot Contaminated public spaces such as swimming pools and gyms Psoriasis A weak immune system Wearing socks and tight shoes What are the symptoms of toenail fungus? The affected nail thickens. You might find it difficult to trim your nails. The thickness is caused due to the overgrowth of bacteria and fungi. Discoloration of the nail is one of the most common symptoms. The nail might turn white, yellow or brown. The nail turns brittle, crumbly and will break easily. The shape of your nail changes, it can get distorted and ragged. Owing to the buildup of debris under your nail, the nail bed becomes a dark color. Sometimes, the nail starts to emit a foul odor. Hyperkeratosis or scaling under the affected nail. Lateral onychomycosis refers to the white or yellow streaks that appear across your nails.
What Causes Body Odor and How to Prevent it

What Causes Body Odor and How to Prevent it

Smelling bad can be embarrassing, and you’ll put the people around you in an awkward position. While mild body odor is something all of us experience, constant body odor, and too much of it, is not a good thing. What are the causes of body odor? While not having a bath regularly is one of the most basic reasons, there are a few other underlying causes that might contribute to the bad odor as well. Excess consumption of spicy foods Been indulging in too much spicy food? Your extra spicy street food and dishes could be one of the causal factors of body odor. You are what you eat. While this is an arguable statement, it does have a grain of truth to it. The spice you eat, when broken down, causes your body to release gases that contain sulfur. These sulfur gases are released through the pores of your skin, the smell of body odor. Does that mean you should stop eating spice? Not at all. Just lower the intake of spice, drink plenty of water through the day especially after a spicy meal, and avoid spicy foods the day before a party or date. A hot shower and deodorant can help too. Excess alcohol consumption When you drink alcohol, it goes into your bloodstream and comes out through your urine, as well as your sweat. Your body considers alcohol to be a toxin. Due to this, it looks for ways to eliminate the alcohol, so while you do urinate a lot while you drink, your body tries to expel the alcohol through your sweat and breath too. You must drink a lot of water to flush out the alcohol. Also, when you drink next time, drink at a slow pace, or have non-alcoholic drinks in between your alcoholic ones.
Nail Fungus – Causes, Symptoms, and Cure

Nail Fungus – Causes, Symptoms, and Cure

Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails. There’s a lot about nail fungus on the Internet. However, the article focuses on how to cure nail fungus. Before delving into how you can cure nail fungus, it’s essential to analyze what causes this nail attack. Causes of fungus Just as the term suggests, nail fungus related infections are the result of the infestation of microorganisms called fungi on your nails. There’s this particular family of fungi by the name of dermatophyte which has a significant stake in the nail attack mafia organization. Age is a detrimental factor of nail fungus too. As the nails on your hands or feet age with time, they are prone to dry and become brittle; paving the way for fungi to enter your nails. In other cases, poor blood circulation in feet, and a weak immune system could be possible reasons for nail fungus. However, it is important to know the symptoms before knowing how to cure nail fungus. Symptoms of nail fungus Sudden thickening of nails Visible discoloration (colors include whitish to brownish yellow). Brittle or ragged nails. A dark shade on the surface of your nail as a result of debris built up below the surface of your nails. How to cure nail fungus Visit the dermatologist This is the safest and quickest way to recovery. A professional dermatologist knows about nail fungus way more than most people, and it would be an entirely safe bet to shell out a few bucks and time to visit a dermatologist. If you think your situation isn’t that serious or if you have doctor-phobia, below is a list of home remedies to cure nail fungus.
Meningitis – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Meningitis – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. Since it is a serious health condition, it requires immediate medical intervention. Causes of meningitis The swelling may be caused due to viral or bacterial infections. However, in some cases, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections can also lead to meningitis. Commonly, acute viral and bacterial infections cause the inflammation of tissues. Fungal meningitis is rare which causes chronic meningitis. The signs of meningitis vary from person to person, depending upon his or her age and the cause of the infection. Bacterial meningitis is a serious illness and can be life-threatening. It spreads to the brain through nasal mucus and throat secretions. It can build up in over a few hours or several days. In infants, the most common causes are Group B strep, E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Neisseria meningitides (meningococcus) are often the causes of meningitis in adolescents. If left untreated for long, many complications may arise. The possible complications might include: Loss of hearing Epilepsy Brain damage which can cause learning disabilities in children Memory problems Renal failure Gait issues Hydrocephalus or fluid buildup and brain swelling Myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscles (only if the infection reaches the heart) Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis and is often less severe than bacterial meningitis. There is no report of severe long-term issues associated with viral meningitis. Affected people recover on their own (without any medical treatment). There is no specific treatment as antibiotics do not help viral meningitis. However, they are crucial in treating bacterial meningitis. Viral meningitis is a communicable disease. Signs of viral meningitis are cold, diarrhea, fever, blisters, sore throat, and influenza. The most common virus that causes viral meningitis is a group known as enteroviruses or common stomach viruses.
Here are Some of the Common Causes Of Excessive Sweating

Here are Some of the Common Causes Of Excessive Sweating

Hyperhidrosis refers to the medical condition that involves excessive sweating. While everyone does sweat when it’s extremely hot outside, those suffering from hyperhidrosis sweat so profusely, that even water may drip from their hands. In normal circumstances, perspiration produced by the sweat glands is carried to the surface of the skin when the air temperature rises, when exercising, when feeling nervous or anxious, and when having fever. Once these factors have ceased, the nerves signaling the sweat glands are put on hold. But for those with hyperhidrosis, these sweat glands don’t go into inertia and one sweats even when the surrounding environment is quite cool, as in an air conditioned room. Hyperhidrosis is classified into two categories: Primary hyperhidrosis (Focal hyperhidrosis): Excessive sweating caused in specific regions of the body such as the underarms, hands, face and groin, without any apparent reason. It is not a medical condition to be worried about and doesn’t require medication. Secondary hyperhidrosis (Generalized hyperhidrosis): Excessive sweating caused all over the body and not just one specific region. This is a more serious medical condition, as the reason behind this is basically an underlying medical condition. The Causes Of Excessive Wweating The cause of excessive sweating in secondary hyperhidrosis, is mainly caused by an underlying medical condition, which is most likely to be one of the following: Hyperthyroidism · When too many thyroid hormones circulate throughout the body, it is called hyperthyroidism. · The body’s chemical process gets speeded up and this is one of the causes of excessive sweating. · Medication, surgery and iodine radiation have proved to be effective in its treatment. Medications · Some medicines that treat high blood pressure, or some antibiotics and supplements have been known to cause excessive sweating. · One must consult the doctor if this happens, as one must not stop your prescription medicine without the doctor’s consultation.
What Causes Leg Pain Behind The Knee

What Causes Leg Pain Behind The Knee

Leg pain behind the knee is also called posterior knee pain. There can be multiple causes of this pain. Arthritis, road accidents, muscle injuries, old age and faulty sports techniques, and the like are some of the major causes of posterior knee pain. Posterior knee pain can be mild and is only noticeable after a long day’s work or if you try to straighten your leg completely. It can also be severe, debilitating and can restrict your movement, making it difficult to sit and stand straight. In some cases, leg pain behind the knee can be accompanied by stiffness, tender and sore muscles, which can be painful to touch. Posterior knee pain is caused due to severe arthritis, tumors, and blood clots. Other conditions can cause compressed nerves which inflame the muscles behind the knee. Baker’s Cyst Baker’s Cyst is also referred to as Popliteal Cyst. Popliteal sac is a fluid-filled sac, present at the back of the knee. Often in arthritis patients, the fluid from the joints leaks into the popliteal sac, causing it to swell. Baker’s cyst can also be caused due to repetitive bending and flexing of the knees, which causes a fluid buildup. This fluid then forms a cyst which resembles a small balloon. The swelled popliteal cyst causes pain and inflammation at the back of the knee joint. Baker’s cyst can pose a problem in flexing the leg completely or while bending. It can be treated at home using ice packs or by electrotherapy. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) This is a condition characterized by the formation of blood clots in the veins that are behind the knee. There can be one or multiple clots that can make it difficult to sit or stand properly. DVT can be serious because if the cysts burst they can cause a heart attack or blockage of arteries in the lungs.
Eczema – Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Eczema – Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

The skin is the largest organ of the body by weight making about one-sixth of our total body weight. It’s a complicated structure and consists of three layers namely; epidermis the outermost one, the dermis which is a layer beneath the epidermis and the subcutaneous layer the deepest one. Eczema commonly called as ‘dermatitis’ is a skin disorder characterized by inflammation and intense itching. People suffering from eczema have extremely dry skin which is highly susceptible to bacterial, fungal or viral infections. The affected skin is not a smooth, protective barrier but patches of skin with rashness, red lumps or blisters. Eczema can affect people of all age group from infants or adults and continue to have symptoms throughout their life depending on the severity. Normally in infants, itchy rashes appear on the skin. The eczema photos show that these rashes can produce oozing, crusty condition majorly on the child’s scalp and face. Eczema is a recognizable health condition among a number of skin diseases and can be prevented by keeping the skin moisturized, nourished and healthy. Types of eczema Eczema is not considered as a contagious disease and cannot catch when in close contact. While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, researchers suggest that people develop eczema because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers. When an allergen gets activated, skin cells behave like a foreign agent causing an eczema flare-up. There are eight different types of eczema like atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, hand eczema, neurodermatitis, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis. It is possible to identify the types by looking for eczema photos online. Atopic dermatitis, which is severe and long-lasting is the most common one and can occur in combination at a time. All types of eczema cause itching, redness or blisters.
Rotavirus – Symptoms, causes, and preventive options

Rotavirus – Symptoms, causes, and preventive options

Rotavirus is a contagious virus that causes inflammation in the intestines and stomach. It is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in children. Although there is no cure for this condition, there are medications that help manage the symptoms. Understanding the symptoms of rotavirus can help one treat the condition immediately. In this article, we will be discussing the symptoms, causes, and prevention methods of rotavirus. Symptoms The symptoms of rotavirus start two days after the exposure to the virus. However, the symptoms can last for up to seven days. Fever and vomiting During the first three days, one may notice fever and vomiting. However, these symptoms may fade away by the fourth day. Dehydration Babies and younger children may experience severe dehydration. Irritability, lack of fluid consumption, little to no urine, and lethargy may be common symptoms of dehydration. Seek immediate medical help if you notice any of these symptoms. Watery diarrhea After the fever and vomiting fade away, one may experience watery diarrhea. This may last for up to seven days. Abdominal pain The diarrhea may be accompanied by abdominal pain. Nevertheless, the stomach pain should subside within a couple of days. Causes Rotavirus is present in the fecal matter of a person and spreads through hand-to-mouth contact. It may be present in the infected person’s stool for two days before the symptoms show up. If a kid or a parent does not wash hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper, the virus can spread easily. The virus can stay on surfaces that have not been disinfected for up to months at a time. Contracting the viral infection is possible even after getting vaccinated. Therefore, prevention is crucial. Prevention To prevent or reduce the risk of getting contaminated, one must wash their hands after using the washroom.
All You Need to Know about High Cholesterol Levels

All You Need to Know about High Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is a type of fat molecule which is present in your blood. It is an essential component that helps to maintain and shape cell structures. It is vital to have a certain level of cholesterol in your blood, but high levels of cholesterol can be harmful to your health. High levels of cholesterol according to the cholesterol chart could mean that there are deposits of fatty substances in your blood. These fatty substances occur due to high cholesterol levels and make it difficult for your blood to flow through your arteries. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke. A cholesterol levels chart typically monitors your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. Types of cholesterol There are two types of cholesterols in your blood, namely high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. HDL helps remove the excess cholesterol while LDL is the cholesterol that accumulates in your arteries. Cholesterol level charts for adults and children Cholesterol levels can be categorized as good, borderline, low, and high. The cholesterol level charts are different for children and adults. The total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels are measured and then categorized as good, low, high, bad or borderline. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has defined the values indicated below. Cholesterol levels for children Good cholesterol corresponds to total cholesterol of 170 or less, HDL cholesterol of 45 or higher, LDL cholesterol of 110 or less, triglycerides of 75 for age group 0-9 years and less than 90 for the age group of 10 to 19. Borderline cholesterol suggests total cholesterol of 170 to 199, HDL cholesterol of 40 to 45, LDL cholesterol of 110 to 129, triglycerides of 75-99 for age group 0-9 years and 90 to 129 for the age group of 10 to 19.