When there is an excess amount of uric acid in the bloodstream its crystals are formed in the joint, and that condition is termed as gout. Uric acid is present in many foods that we consume. When the body cannot handle the uric acid that is present in the bloodstream, the crystals formed can give rise to many health issues such as arthritis. These crystals block the kidney filter tubules, causing stones to form in the kidneys, which can also lead to the failure of kidneys. Gout is basically of two kinds: Primary gout if it occurs on its own it is called. Secondary gout if it is due to other medical conditions. Gout arthritis can cause sudden pain as well as red and hot swelling near the joints, especially near the toes. This kind of problem is more likely in men who have crossed the age of 40; some of the symptoms of gout are as follows. Symptoms of Gout You will feel pain in the joints of the affected area, along with red and hot discoloration, swelling, and tenderness. Most commonly, you will experience gout near the small joints of your toes. It might also affect other areas like ankles, wrists, knees, elbows, and fingers. The pain can be so intense in some people that even a feather touch can cause a lot of pain. This pain can last from a few hours to a day also, irrespective of whether you take medication. In very rare cases, the gout attack can also last for a week. Diagnosis of Gout When a patient reports frequent attacks of arthritis, especially in the toes, knees, or ankles, then the patient is tested for excess uric acid and uric acid crystals near the affected joints. Usually, some fluid is extracted from the joints of the patient using a needle and it is sent for testing.

Medullary Breast Cancer is a rare type of cancer with a better than average prognosis. Here’s everything you need to know about the disease. Similar to most other types of breast cancer, medullary breast cancer may not manifest in any type of visible symptoms during its early stages. This is a rare type of breast cancer that accounts for only about 5 percent of all breast cancer cases. However, the good news is that medullary breast cancer actually offers a better prognosis and survival rate as compared to other breast cancers . If you have been diagnosed with medullary breast cancer, here’s everything you need to know about its symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment options. What is medullary breast cancer? Medullary breast cancer is a rarely-occurring type of invasive ductal breast cancer. One of the pivotal risk factors of this cancer is a genetic mutation known as BRCA-1. People who are carriers of this genetic mutation have a higher chance of getting medullary breast cancer. Similar to other types of invasive ducal breast cancer, this type of cancer also starts in the milk duct of breasts before spreading to other tissues eventually. The word “medullary” comes from the fact that the epidemiology of the tumors of medullary breast cancer resemble the graying soft tissue matter in the medulla or the brainstem. How is medullary breast cancer different from other breast cancers? As compared to other types of ductal breast cancers, medullary breast cancer differs on a number of counts. The medullary tumors are actually smaller than average at about 2cms or so. Even though they are small, the cells of this cancer are high grade ones. This means that the cells look very distinct from normal cells, and are generally dividing very rapidly. Known as triple-negative tumors, these cells generally test negative for progesterone and estrogen receptors, as well as the protein HER2 or neu.

Having HIV and having AIDS does not mean one and the same thing. Learn how to tell one from the other. What is the exact difference between HIV and AIDS? Are they the same disease? These are a few of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to HIV. It is understandable that these terms confuse a lot of people, especially since they are often used in an interchangeable manner. However, the truth is that there is a difference between HIV and AIDS. Simply speaking, HIV is the virus that could lead to a medical condition called AIDS. What is HIV? The Huma Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is a virus that is infectious in nature. As the name suggests, this virus only affects human beings, and its primary focus is on attacking the immune system so as to cause it to malfunction, and eventually shut it down. When it comes to most other viruses, our immune systems are well-versed with recognizing the foreign presence, and then working hard to annihilate it. However, the story is not the same in the case of HIV. For some reason, our immune systems seem completely unable to put up a fight against this virus. Scientists are still stumped as to why our immune systems are unable to attack HIV. While we cannot defeat HIV, it can be controlled very effectively with the use of medications. What is AIDS? Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS is a condition or syndrome. If you are infected with HIV, the chance of you developing AIDS exists. Once the HIV has caused severe enough damage inside the immune system, AIDS rears its ugly head. This syndrome affects and manifests in different people differently. Causing myriad varied symptoms in different people, AIDS symptoms are caused by the fact that the immune system is so compromised that it can no longer protect itself against any infections.

Impotence is a common problem that men around the world face. While it is not a life-threatening condition, it hampers the patient’s quality of life. Here are some of the best options for treatment of impotence. Erectile dysfunction is characterized by the inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection during intercourse. In general, men over the age of 40 years are susceptible to this condition. Impotency is often caused as a result of various diseases such as multiple sclerosis, vascular diseases, kidney diseases, neurological diseases, endocrine disorders, diabetes, and blood pressure. More than 70 percent of men who suffer from the medical conditions, also report impotency. Men who are diabetic are more susceptible to impotency. Other causes of impotency include any penile injury, hormonal disorder, narrowing of blood vessels caused as a result of standing for a long time, and high blood cholesterol. Treatment of impotence is recommended after proper diagnosis of the physical, hormonal, and psychological problems that go hand-in-hand with this condition. The following are different ways that help in the treatment of impotence. Weight Loss Obesity increases the risk of developing erectile dysfunction, and hence the first step towards treatment of impotence is losing weight. Men who are over-weight are more likely to develop medical conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, heart diseases, atherosclerosis, etc. which are factors that encourage the development of impotency. Psychological Counseling Erectile dysfunction can also be caused due to high levels of stress, anxiety or depression. In such situations it is recommended to seek help from a professional counselor or therapist who can guide the patient correctly for the treatment of impotence. Medication Treatment of impotence is done with the use of various prescribed pills. Certain medicines are either injected into the penis or need to be inserted inside the tip of the penis.

Ovarian cancer is defined as the state or process in which abnormal cells inside the ovary start to multiply without any control, and thereby form a tumor. If a tumor is not treated, it can easily spread to other parts of the body as well. This type of specific condition is known as metastatic ovarian cancer. Ovaries are defined as the two female reproductive glands, which are responsible for producing the ova or eggs. These ovaries also help in producing various female hormones like estrogen and progesterone. It was reported that more than 22,000 women in the country received an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2017, and almost 14,000 women will be dying from it. There are various warning signs of ovarian cancer, but the earliest symptoms are very vague and difficult to detect. Only 20 percent of ovarian cancers are detected at an earlier stage. So, take a look at some of the more details about this disease. Causes of ovarian cancer The exact reason for the occurrence of ovarian cancer is currently unknown. Following are some of the risk factors that you should be wary of: Having a family history of ovarian cancer Any kind of personal history of colon, breast or uterine cancer The onset of obesity Using hormone therapies No history of being pregnant Being old in age is also a risk factor. Most cases of ovarian cancer happen after the onset of menopause. It should also be kept in mind that, one can have ovarian cancer without having any of the above risk factors. In the same way, having any of these above risk factors doesn’t mean you will get ovarian cancer. Symptoms of ovarian cancer The early symptoms of ovarian cancer are: Having pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis or in the body’s lower part Pain in the back Experiencing indigestion When eating, the feeling of your tummy getting filled quickly Urination becomes more urgent and frequent Pain during sexual intercourse One can also have constipation, due to a change in the bowel movement.

Iron deficiency or anemia is one of the most common forms of anemia and affects many people. It is the result of an inadequate amount of healthy red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues in the body and are vital to the healthy functioning of the body as well. As the name suggests, a deficiency in iron leads to the onset of the disease. Your body cannot produce healthy red blood cells without sufficient amounts of iron. Iron deficiency or anemia may result in you feeling tired at all times and suffering from a shortness of breath. You need to maintain a healthy diet rich in iron to get back on track or correct your iron deficiency by taking iron supplements. You may need additional tests to determine the true nature of the disease, especially if you are bleeding internally. Here are some of the symptoms of iron deficiency or anemia: Symptoms of iron deficiency or anemia The onset of the disease is so mild that it generally goes unnoticed. The signs and symptoms of the disease gather pace once the deficiency of iron starts having a telling impact on the body. The signs and symptoms of iron deficiency or anemia include the following: Pale skin Weakness Extreme fatigue Chest pain Fast heartbeat Shortness of breath Dizziness, headaches, or light-headedness Cold hands and feet A poor appetite Unusual cravings for substances like starch, dirt, and ice Brittle nails If you end up suffering from these symptoms, it suggests the likelihood of iron deficiency or anemia. The worst you can do at this stage is do a self-diagnosis and find a treatment for yourself. While it seems simple to take iron supplements or drastically change your diet to incorporate more iron, overloading the body with iron can be extremely dangerous as well.

Meningitis is a clinical term used to describe an inflammation or swelling of the membranes that surround the brain. Meningitis, especially the type caused by bacteria, is a potentially fatal condition that can rapidly transform to cause permanent brain damage, neurological problems, and can even lead to death. Doctors are required to diagnose and treat meningitis at a fast pace to prevent or reduce any long-term effects that the disease might have. Meningitis which causes inflammation is normally a direct consequence of either an infection induced by some kind of bacteria or virus. But first, it is essential to understand the signs of meningitis for early diagnosis. Some common symptoms of meningitis Normally, meningitis has symptoms like fever, lethargy or indolence, and a decreased ability to think properly. However, these symptoms are often very difficult to detect in children of a very young age. If the infection or resulting inflammation moves from the membranes of the brain or the spinal cord, then the medical term used for it is encephalitis. According to a survey, meningitis mostly occurs when a child is a newborn and till he is two years of age. The greatest risk is during the time period immediately after birth and from three to eight months of age. Increased exposure to various kinds of infections and a deficiency of the underlying immune system present from birth can increase an infant’s risk of getting meningitis. Specific symptoms for meningitis in children For the particular case of infants, the signs and symptoms of meningitis are not always obvious to the non-critical eye of the parent because of the infant’s inability to communicate symptoms to them, or to the doctors, for that matter. Therefore, caregivers, parents, relatives or guardians must pay very close attention to the infant’s overall condition, as far as meningitis symptoms in children are concerned.

Metastatic lung cancer is when cancer cells from the other areas of the body spread to your lungs. There are various methods that are used in the treatment of this form of cancer. Read on to know more about the metastatic lung cancer prognosis. Usually, cancer develops in one area of the body and this area is known as the ‘primary site’. Cancer cells have a unique ability to break free from these primary sites and travel to the other parts of your body either through the bloodstream or through the lymph system. A cancer is termed as metastatic cancer, when it spreads from the primary sites to the other parts of the body. You suffer from metastatic lung cancer, when cancer in the other areas of your body spreads to the lungs. Some of the primary tumors that can cause metastatic lung cancer are breast cancer, bladder cancer, sarcoma, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, and neuroblastoma. Metastatic lung cancer may not always show up in signs and symptoms. Even when you do start experiencing the symptoms, it may be quite difficult to identity this form of lung cancer, because the symptoms are similar to several other medical conditions. Some of the symptoms of metastatic lung cancer include chest pain, weakness, a persistent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and sudden weight loss. If your doctor suspects metastatic lung cancer, you may have to take various tests to confirm the diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer. These tests are a bronchoscopy, a CT scan, a chest X-ray, and a lung needle biopsy. There are several methods available for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer and the main aim of these methods is to relieve the symptoms as well as to control the cancer growth. The treatment plan that is ideal for you depends on a number of factors that include your overall health, age, medical history, the number of tumors, the location and size of the tumor, as well as the type of the primary tumor.

With so many new multiple sclerosis treatment options being made available, it is important to know which ones are proven effective. Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a chronic disease of the nervous system. This debilitating disease affects the myelin sheaths that cover all the nerves in the human body. If you are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it means that the myelin in your body is progressively thinning and deteriorating. When the myelin sheath on your nerves begins weakening, it causes a whole world of unpredictable problems. Not only do the nerves stop functioning normally, but the speed of nerve signal transmissions also get reduced. Multiple sclerosis causes different symptoms and effects in different people. This means that the MS treatment plan needs to be tailored to suit the specific needs of the person suffering from the disease. While there is no one-cure-fits-all for this disease, there are a number of new multiple sclerosis treatment options that are made available for people who receive their diagnosis. MS Symptoms New multiple sclerosis treatment options are focused on minimizing the severity of the condition, reducing the chance of flare-ups, as well as slowing down the overall progression of the disease. Symptoms such as mobility problems, balance issues, slurred speech patterns, muscle spasms and stiffness, loss of vision, tingling in the body, loss of cognitive functioning, and loss of memory, can severely reduce the quality of the patient’s life. New multiple sclerosis treatment medications are used in tandem with behavioral therapy to alleviate the stress caused by the condition in every way possible. Other than this, there are also a number of support groups that bring together people suffering with MS so you can get the much-needed emotional and practical guidance on how to combat this disease. New Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Options There are a number of new multiple sclerosis treatment medications/drugs and therapies that are now being used to effectively treat this condition.

Lung cancer is one of the most unpleasant forms of cancer. Due to the large size of the lungs, tumors can grow in them for significantly long periods before being detected. The symptoms of lung cancer include coughing and fatigue. It is difficult to identify this disease by these symptoms alone, and thus, it is hard to get an early diagnosis. There are two types of lung cancer – non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. The stages of lung cancer depend on whether cancer has spread from the lungs to other organs, the lymph nodes, or whether it is still local. Early diagnosis of lung cancer can help in treating this condition effectively. Nevertheless, people with lung cancer do have access to various treatment options. Before we get to these treatment options, let’s understand the two types of lung cancer, their stages, and how they affect people in the country. Non-small cell lung cancer Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 85% of all lung cancer cases in the country. Adenocarcinoma, a subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, is the most common form, followed by squamous cell carcinoma (25%) and large cell carcinoma (10%). Stages of non-small cell lung cancer Stage I: Cancer is local and has not spread to the lymph nodes yet. Stage II: Cancer has started spreading to other areas of the lungs as well as the lymph nodes nearby. Stage III: In this stage of the disease, cancer spreads to the middle of the chest, the lymph nodes, and the lungs. It is also known as “locally advanced disease.” It has two subtypes. If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes present on the same side of the chest where cancer originated, it is called stage IIIA. If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes present on the other side of the chest, or just above the collarbone, it is called stage IIIB.

PAH or pulmonary arterial hypertension is also known as primary pulmonary hypertension. It is a very rare hypertension disease that affects your capillaries and arteries. The blood from the right ventricles of your heart flows into your lungs through these vessels. When the pressure in your arteries arises, your heart has to work much harder to pump the blood and as a result, it weakens the heart muscles. This can result in death as well. You cannot be cured of primary pulmonary hypertension. However, there are treatment options available for you to cope with it. Symptoms During the early stages of the primary pulmonary hypertension, you will not get any such noticeable symptoms. However, as your condition gets from bad to worse, there will be some symptoms that will get more and more noticeable. These symptoms include: Dizziness Chest pressure Fainting Fatigue Difficulty breathing Heart palpitations Rapid pulse Chest pain Bluish spots on your skin and lip Swelling of legs and ankles Swelling of your abdomen towards the later part of your disease You will find it difficult to breathe when you exercise or perform any other type of physical activity. Also, you might find it difficult to breathe even at the time when you are taking rest. Causes PAH happens when the capillaries and the arteries which carry the blood from the heart to the lungs gets destroyed or constricted. This happens due to multiple reasons. But the exact reason for primary pulmonary hypertension is yet to be discovered by the doctors and scientists. According to research, almost 15% to 20% of the people who suffer from PAH in the country have it hereditarily. This is due to the mutation that takes place in the BMPR2 gene or other genes. This genetic mutation can continue to happen from generation to generation leaving someone a chance to develop this disease at the later part of their life.

Hepatitis C is a viral liver disease which is also contagious. The disease spreads via blood contact and it is necessary to avoid any exposure to the hepatitis C virus. The infection can go on to be chronic and can be treated with medications. HCV can also cause liver cancer and in some worse conditions, it can also lead to death. The virus usually invades the liver which causes dysfunction and swelling. It is possible for a person to get re-infected with the virus that has a different strain. Symptoms of HCV Acute Hepatitis C Due to the lack of definitive symptoms, acute hepatitis C is very rarely diagnosed. People even refer to it as a silent epidemic. From exposure to symptoms, it takes up to 4 to 15 weeks. Symptoms of the same could be nausea, joint pain, abdominal discomfort, and jaundice. Chronic Hepatitis C When the virus remains in the blood for more than six months, hepatitis becomes chronic. During diagnosis, if the HCV virus is detected for more than two times then the chronic HCV is confirmed. The infection will continue unless it is treated with proper medication. It should be noted that after 25 to 30 years the infection might result in scarring or even fibrosis of the liver. If the situation worsens then it can cause liver cancer and even liver failure. The damage of the disease is not apparent until the liver is almost on the verge of collapse. Proper treatments for Hep C are the only way to go in this case. Causes of HCV Hepatitis C is caused by the HCV virus. Viruses are usually inactive unless they enter a living body. These viruses then attack the cell and start replicating. In case of chronic HCV, millions of copies of the virus are produced in the body.