Multiple myeloma is a condition wherein plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cells in the bone marrow, become cancerous and start multiplying. This condition can damage the bones, immune system, and kidneys and the treatment for myeloma depends on the stage of cancer. Options include medication, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, and radiation; a stem-cell transplant may also be done. Cost of treatment There have been major advances in the last 15 years in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma. Overall, survival has remarkably improved during this period due to the research and introduction of new medications. But the costs of treating myeloma are very high, more than other oncology treatments. The cost is amplified in three ways: first, treatment requires a combination of multiple medications; second, treatment is usually done in the form of continuous or maintenance therapy, due to which costs are not temporary but continual; third, as survival through multiple myeloma has remarkably improved, the cumulative cost of care over the lifetime of a patient is very high. The costs for treatment for multiple myeloma can include approximately $150,000 per annum for medication and treatment, and around $100,000 per annum for maintenance and care after initial treatment. These costs not only affect the patient but also society as a whole. Introducing biosimilars to replace biologics – many of whose patents are due to expire – can result in huge savings, projected to be to the tune of $54 billion from 2017 to 2026. Comparing biologics and biosimilars Biologic medicines are transforming cancer treatment by targeting the key path that underlies the mechanism of the disease. They are more active and less toxic in the treatment of cancer than the previous generations of small-molecule medications. The research, manufacturing, and introduction cost of biologics is high, which explains why cancer medication is very expensive.

When one or more disc of cartilage present between the intermediate bones of the spine protrudes beyond a certain limit, it is referred to as bulging disc. This condition usually affects the lower back known as the lumbar region. They also happen to occur in the middle region of the spine called as thoracic and neck (cervical) region. The person, in this case, might have to undergo bulging disc treatment. Made up of cartilage, these discs provide flexibility and allow maximum shock absorption against the daily rigors that our body goes through – Walking, bending, lifting and even sitting puts stress on your spine. The stress increases if we overdo any of these physical activities. Although the symptoms of bulging discs are symptom-free initially, the seriousness of the symptom might increase, if the nerve roots in the spinal canal start experiencing the pressure exerted by the bulging disc. This results in pain and inflammation in the particular part of the body whose spinal nerve is getting affected due to the bulge. Bulging disc is a byproduct of an aging spine as it becomes drier and weaker with age. The symptoms of bulging disc depend on the location of the inflamed nerve. Some common symptoms include pain, numbness, weakness, spasms and tingling sensations that might manifest in the arms and legs. For light to moderate symptoms, a chiropractic adjustment might suffice, but if the condition is chronic, it is advisable to consult a doctor for bulging disc treatment. There are a variety of minimally invasive procedures and techniques that provide relief from neck and back pain and offer recovery in a shorter period of time as compared to conservative traditional open back surgery. Bulging disc treatment options Mild cases of bulging disc can be treated efficiently using nonsurgical methods. The aim of these treatments is to reduce the pressure on the damaged disc and block the nerve pathways in the spinal canal to send pain signals to the brain.

People who have high cholesterol levels are at a higher risk of having heart diseases. However, it is always in a person’s hand to maintain a healthy outlook. The bad or LDL cholesterol can always be lowered while the good or HDL cholesterol can be raised. This can be done by adopting the few measures listed below: Reduce intake of trans fats Consumption of trans fats increase your LDL level and lower the HDL. This also increases the chances of a person suffering from stroke and other heart complications. Fried food and baked goods contain a fair amount of LDL. You can certainly attain a lower LDL cholesterol level by avoiding these food items. Lose the extra pounds People who tend to be overweight have a lot of bad or LDL cholesterol. Having a balanced diet rich in fiber will help a person reduce weight and attain a lower LDL cholesterol level. Exercise regularly People who exercise for the duration of 2 to 2.5 hours in a week tend to raise their HDL and lower LDL cholesterol levels. For people who have never tried this option beginning with a mild exercise schedule of 10 minutes can bring a viable change in their body. The duration of exercise can be slowly increased, and this will help them to attain a lower LDL cholesterol level. Take fiber-rich diet If a person has higher cholesterol level, it is advised that they include food items like apples, beans and soluble fiber in their food. People who tend to consume up to 10 grams of this healthy food than other people lower their LDL cholesterol levels. Moreover, if a person includes more fiber in the diet it will make them feel fuller, and they will have less craving for snacks and other junk food. However, it is advised that a person should go slowly when consuming fibers as taking an excess of fiber can result in abdominal cramp formation.

As you age, your testosterone levels come down. It is a natural process and all men have to have to go through this phenomenon. Nevertheless, reduced testosterone levels can be linked with men of younger age as well. You can easily smell an underlying health problem if your testosterone levels decrease unnaturally and it can be an injury, obesity, an issue in the pituitary gland or some other health disorders. Patients undergo cancer treatments also have low testosterone levels. Most common symptoms of reduced levels of this hormone are concentration problems, reduced sex drive, hot flashes, erectile dysfunction, physical fatigue, reduced body hair growth, decreased sex drive and lowered muscle mass. You have to see your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms. How can you confirm that testosterone levels are below the standard levels? That is where the importance of testosterone test kits comes in. How to check testosterone levels without a blood test? If you see a doctor, you have to undergo a physical examination to check the hormone levels. The doctor will assess the symptoms and then, you will be asked to undergo a blood test determine the hormone levels. The hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day and they will be at the highest point during the morning time. That is why doctors take the blood sample in the morning. Even without taking a blood test, you can come to know whether you are experiencing low levels of testosterone with the help of test kits. Home test kits You can come across different types of testosterone test kits to check your hormone levels at home. All these testosterone test kits check your saliva instead of blood and the sample can be collected at home with great ease. The method of collecting saliva and the number of samples to be taken rely on the specific product you purchase.

Obesity or excess weight gain is a major problem experienced by the people of the United States. The extra flab not only dampens the look but also paves way for different health complications, including cardiac diseases, joint pains, breathing difficulties etc. Therefore, before it takes a toll on your health, it is wise to find some effective measures for losing the stubborn belly fat. Maintain a strict diet is not always necessary to lose your belly fat. If you are wondering how to lose stubborn belly fat, you can opt for various measures mentioned below and flaunt a slim tummy in a few weeks. Movement is important – Walking is one of the best exercises when it comes to losing stubborn belly fat. However, you can also opt for some jogging, cycling as well as freehand exercises to remove the extra pounds that have collected in your time. Belly fat deposition is mostly seen in people who remain stationery for a prolonged period of time. If you too sit at a place for several hours, make sure to take a break and walk for some time. This will prevent the fat deposition in your belly area and you will be able to showcase a slim figure in just no time. Workout post pregnancy – Post pregnancy tummy is one of the common problems faced by young mothers after their first child delivery. If you are also facing the same problem, it is recommended for you to follow the designated workouts to reduce post pregnancy fat. Though it is always better to practice the workouts under the guidance of a trainer, you can also practice it on your own. DVDs for different exercises are now available in stores. You just need to select the right one for your practice. Know what to avoid – Just sweating out the excess fat is not enough if you want to get a slim and trim body.

Everybody knows fiber is good for health. Unfortunately, many people do not get adequate fiber from their diet and it results in a wide range of health complications. In this fast paced world, people are consuming a lot of processed and junk foods and it limits their fiber consumption seriously. Proper intake of fiber offers several health benefits including reduced risk to type 2 diabetes, better heart health, high resistance to certain types of cancers, healthy digestive tract, fast weight loss and much more. If you want to enjoy all these benefits, you must follow a high-fiber diet plan. What do health experts recommend when it comes to daily fiber intake? Most health experts recommend a daily consumption of 38 grams for men aged below 50 years. As far as women aged below 50 are concerned, daily fiber intake should be 25 grams. If you are a male above 50, you must consume 30 grams fiber daily and for women of the same age category should eat 21 grams. Options for a fiber-rich breakfast When it comes to breakfast, you have to consume one cup of oatmeal. Another option available is to take a serving of whole-grain cereal. When you consume oatmeal in the morning, you are getting around 4 grams of fiber. Health experts advise that a person must consume 5 grams of fiber at least in the morning. In order to get that one gram fiber that you need, blueberries can be added. In place of blueberries, you can use blackberries or raspberries along with oatmeal to get 5 grams in the morning. This method of approach ensures a high fiber intake in your diet and reduces fat consumption. While taking breakfast, you can use dairy milk or soy milk. It must have reduced fat or no fat.

It is a well-established fact that every person wants to stay fit in this era marked by a sedentary lifestyle. There are many ways to keep that dreaded belly fat away with exercise being one of them. However, exercise alone cannot work well unless it is supported by a healthy, nutritious diet. Low-fat yogurt is a superfood that adds on to the immense amount of advantages that a regular box of yogurt already provides. Hence, for all the fitness freaks out there, don’t miss out on this one. Generally, yogurt is made by carefully fermenting cow’s milk; however, some manufacturers also make use of soy or goat’s milk. Now, depending on the type of yogurt made, that is, whole, skimmed or non-fat, the time duration involved in the fermentation process will vary. There have been mixed reviews about low-fat yogurt with some swearing by its health benefits while others calling it another marketing gimmick by food processing companies. In simple terms, low-fat yogurt has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Here are some things you need to know about low-fat yogurt. Probiotics – This refers to the set of bacteria that is good for the human body, particularly the gastrointestinal tract. Low-fat yogurt naturally contains these microorganisms and helps improve metabolism to a great extent. Some manufacturers take an extra step and add more of these good bacteria, thereby making low-fat yogurt extremely healthy. But these additional bacteria come with a huge price tag. Nutrition content – As the name suggests, this product is characterized by fermentation of low fat or skimmed milk. The nutritional figures will depend upon the type of brand you purchase since products of every company differ in terms of price and quality. Approximately, a normal box would contain 3.8 grams of fat, 15 mg of cholesterol, and 400 mg of calcium.

Typically, cold and flu are not serious health issues. However, they can often prove to be frustrating as they bring down the body’s energy levels with a range of bothersome symptoms. This can negatively influence your health and even make routine tasks cumbersome. Such conditions can be treated with home remedies, but they might take a considerable amount of time to work. Therefore, to gain quick relief you can use cold and flu medicines. To understand your treatment options better, read further to get a gist of its signs. Identifying cold and flu symptoms You can develop cold and flu separately, or together. However, both of these conditions have different indicators. For instance, cold is characterized by signs such as a sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, chest congestion, cough, mild fever, etc. Moreover, flu symptoms can be comparatively more severe like fever, muscle pain, headaches, sore throat, etc. In few cases, patients can also suffer from additional issues like nausea and upset stomach. Although, the occurrence of these signs will differ from person to person. If any of the symptoms persist for more than three to four days, then you should immediately seek medical help. Types of medications for cold and flu Depending on the signs, you can seek the assistance of OTC (over-the-counter) medications or prescribed medications. There is a range of cold and flu medicines that can help alleviate various symptoms. The following are some of the common kinds of cold and medicines that you can consider using. Decongestants – If you are tackling a stuffy nose, then a decongestant might help. This drug shrinks the inflamed tissues and blood vessels in the nose that assist in getting rid of any nasal blockage. You can find this cold and flu medicine in the form of pills, syrups, nasal sprays, and nose drops.

Fast-paced lifestyle and increased market competition often make people neglect the need for a healthy diet. Irregular work hours along with increased junk intake and odd sleep patterns are paving the way for different health issues. The increased dependence on junk food and fast foods often make people forget the importance fiber for a healthy body. According to the studies conducted by the experts, every man should consume at least 30gm of fiber and women should take 25gm of fiber on a daily basis. However, surveys conducted across different parts of the United States show that people consume only half of the required portion. If you are also among those people, you can check out the best fiber supplements, which can do wonders. Increasing demand for the best fiber supplements has brought a number of sellers in this field, which in turn has increased the varieties of supplements. Therefore, before making a purchase, it will be better for you to know the basics. Like fibers, availability of supplements is also widely divided into two different categories, soluble and insoluble. While soluble fiber gets completely dissolved in water and can be digested at ease, insoluble fiber mixes in water but does not dissolve in it. When purchasing a supplement, you need to know whether it has the soluble or insoluble fiber and make a sound decision. Inulin – Someone who skips eating fruits or vegetables would require inulin supplements for healthy living. An easily available fiber obtained from different vegetables or fruits, this can help in managing your weight effectively. Inulin can also be a good choice for people in need to improve their gut bacteria. People suffering from liver function problems or irregular blood sugar levels can also be benefited from this fiber. However, it might not be a perfect option for boosting the digestive tissues.

Following healthy diet plans or healthy eating does not mean that you have to implement strict dietary restrictions. It also does not mean that you have to deprive yourself of the foods you really would love to eat. On the other hand, it refers to feeling energetic and vibrant, stabilize your mood and enhance your health. When you feel tired of all the strict limitations and inadequate nutrition, you lose interest, and the purpose of losing weight becomes complicated. Everybody would come up with a lot of advice, but you need to choose what serves best for you. These simple tips help you remove all confusion, and you can learn how to develop a nutritious and healthy diet plan that brings excellent results. Strike a balance Some rigid yet healthy diet plans put forward rigid guidelines. What you need is a perfect balance of minerals, vitamins, fiber, fat, carbohydrates and protein and it helps you sustain a healthy body. It is not all about eliminating specific food categories from the diet, but selecting the healthiest choices from every category is the best option. Learn how to add essential fats to your healthy diet plan You must realize that not all fat belongs to the same category. The bad fats can make your efforts ineffective, and they make you more vulnerable to heart diseases and other related health problems. On the contrary, good fats safeguard your health in the best manner. Healthy fats like omega-3 are essential in stabilizing your mental as well as physical health. You must learn how to add healthier fats to your healthy diet plan to improve your health and lose weight effectively. Mix protein from animal sources and plant sources in a balanced way Protein is one of the best energy boosters for the human body.

Weight management has become one of the biggest challenges of the modern generation. There are very few, who manage to maintain the desired weight for their body. While a majority complains of obesity-related issues, some even complain of having an extremely lean body. To stay fit and active, it is important for you to do it in the right manner. You should neither eat extra nor starve yourself. If you are looking for an effective diet plan that can help you balance your weight, the following suggestions can be of your help. Do not skip your breakfast Breakfast plays a vital role when it comes to an effective diet plan for healthy living. Therefore, do not skip breakfast. Instead, prepare a protein-rich breakfast so that you can remain active throughout the day. Depending on your preference you can include dairy products, lean ham, eggs or salmon in your menu. However, you should never include carbohydrate-rich food in the first meal of the day, as it would have an adverse effect on your weight management. Selecting the right type of breakfast and keeping yourself full from the morning keeps a check on your blood sugar level. It also helps in making a better selection of food. Snack yourself in the mid-morning Taking breakfast early in the morning may make you feel hungry before lunch. There is no need to starve yourself if you are getting hunger prangs. Opt for some oats biscuits, oats cakes, veggie dips or any other low-calorie foods in small quantity. This will help you to work actively till the lunch time. Carbohydrates can be a part of lunch While protein is the best choice for morning meals, a few carbohydrates can be a part of your lunch. Carbs are not all. You need to include lean proteins in the lunch as well.

Who doesn’t dreams of a flawless white set of teeth like those in commercials or of the celeb’s? While few of us are blessed with a good and perfect set of teeth, there are few others who are cursed with dental flaws, no wonder why they shy away from being photographed. A smile is one of the precious jewels a person wears. With defective teeth, smiling becomes a challenge, thus pushing you into the abyss of depression and low self-esteem. What are dental implants? Dental implants are titanium posts which are inserted into the bones and plays the role of your teeth roots. It enables us to smile, talk, eat and lead a life packed with confidence and inflated happiness. Also, dental implants assist you in maintaining the structure of your bone, for a youthful look all through your life. They aim in mimicking a natural set of teeth and is the best fix for your missing teeth. You have already scoured the internet and trawled the edges to come across a solution that could fix your dental flaws, but only in vain. Never mind, we are here to help you out. Dental implants are the best alternative, to say the least, for denture users, and also help them in restoring the teeth. Affordable dental implants and how to get them? Experts claim that dental implants are the best possible replacement for natural teeth, what deviates you away, is the price, which is the only disadvantage as it ranges up to several thousand dollars. But we have gathered up few tricks on how you can actually get affordable dental implants, without breaking your savings. Put in your ‘I Know It All’ trick to use This is one of the best tricks to get affordable dental implants. Turn into an encyclopedia to be thorough with this topic of the dental implant, you would never have to adhere to whatever your dentist speaks or suggests.