Neuropathy refers to a generalized disease or malfunctioning of the nerves due to a variety of causes. Nerves are present throughout the body and damage in any location of this system affects the related body part. What Is neuropathy? The word is a combination of “neuro” + “pathy” where “neuro” refers to nerve and “pathy” means suffering or feeling. This is a term that is used to describe injury, damage or disease to the nerves. As a result of such damage, there can be several effects – pain, loss of sensation, loss of function or movement, impairment of gland or organ function. These damages are based on the part of the nervous system that is affected. Classification Neuropathy may be classified according to: The number of nerves affected- mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex Type of nerve fiber that is involved in motor, sensory or autonomic systems Damaged or injured nerves can cause compression or inflammation Other classifications include cranial neuropathy vs peripheral neuropathy based on whether cranial nerves or peripheral nerves( those outside the brain/spinal cord system) are involved, focal neuropathy where only a single nerve or one single area of the body is involved. Terms like distal symmetric neuropathy are used to describe how distant the affected nerves are from the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Symptoms of Neuropathy The malfunction of any nerves results in neuropathy. The symptoms of neuropathy depend on the type, location and number of nerves involved There are two types of neuropathy symptoms: loss of functions and gain of functions. Motor symptoms include weakness, tiredness, lack of balance, muscle atrophy, cramps, and muscle twitch Sensory symptoms include numbness, tingling, and pain In general, the sensory symptoms appear first before motor symptoms that’s why early diagnosis and intervention are crucial Autonomic neuropathy symptoms include dryness of the mouth, constipation, difficult urination, lack of balance or dizziness when you stand up, sexual dysfunction, feeling of bloating after meals, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, intolerance of heat, decreased sweating and hypoglycemia.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain and inflammation in the joints. What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? Joint stiffness Joint pain Joint swelling Loss of joint function Mostly, RA is diagnosed via several blood tests. X-ray is also used for diagnosis. A family history of RA is a risk factor for developing its symptoms. What are the causes? Cigarette smoking Obesity Injuries such as fractures and trauma Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis There are several treatments available for rheumatoid arthritis. Let’s take a look at the different treatment methods available: Medication Medication is a good option from among the rheumatoid arthritis treatments, and there are three kinds of medications that are used. These are corticosteroids, non-steroidal corticosteroid, and acetaminophen. Medication helps with the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by slowing the process of damage to the joints. Exercise Simple yoga exercises can also be used as treatments for joint pain caused due to rheumatoid arthritis and also help in improving the mobility of a patient. These exercises should be done on a regular basis to get good results. Buy assistive devices You can put braces on your joints or can use crutches to walk around in your home. You can also install bars and other devices to improve your mobility. Follow a healthy diet A rheumatoid arthritis-friendly diet needs to be incorporated, which comprises of vitamin A, C, and selenium with food like dark chocolates, berries, kidney beans, spinach, and so on. Food having flavones should also be consumed, such as green tea, berries, broccoli, grapes, and soy products. Omega 3 fatty acids are specifically important, and you can get these from fishes like tuna, mackerel, and salmon, and from walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds. Food products to be avoided include those that contain trans fats and carbohydrates.

Also known as mastalgia and mastodynia, breast pain happens to be a common occurrence. According to the California Pacific Medical Center, between 50 to70 percent of women in the country suffer from breast pain. Breast pain can occur due to numerous reasons. Also, in most cases, breast pain does not indicate breast cancer. The symptoms of mastalgia and mastodynia include tightness and heaviness in the breast, a dull ache, and breast tenderness. In some cases, the pain can spread to the arms as well. If this pain is linked to the menstrual cycle, it is known as cyclical mastalgia. Sometimes, women experience breast pain in only on the left side. There are various conditions which can cause this left-sided breast pain. In this article, we will look at some of the significant causes of breast pain in the left side and some treatment methods for it. Causes of left breast pain in women Injury: The skin of the breast is highly elastic and sensitive. It shields the connective tissues, blood vessels, nerves, ducts, and lobes that produce milk. A breast injury can cause damage to these tissues, resulting in a severe ache. Also, sometimes, an injury to the breast heals with scar tissues and may cause pain. These tissues may feel like a lump, making it difficult to distinguish them from breast cancer. Breast surgery: Any type of breast surgery, regardless of whether it involves reduction, enhancement or reconstruction, will make the breast tender and cause pain. Gradually, as the incision heals, scar tissues will develop. And in the case of scar tissues, the pain can come and go, long after the surgery is complete. Milk duct infections: Numerous benign yet painful conditions can occur inside your mammary glands. For instance, the milk ducts can get clogged and infected, resulting in a breast infection.

A severe mental disorder, schizophrenia impacts how an individual thinks, reacts to emotions, and perceives reality. It results in a variety of symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia that can cause the patient to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. At present, roughly 1% of the total population suffer from this mental disorder. Schizophrenia cannot be cured, however, it can be managed with the help of medications and therapy. This disorder can affect anyone. It typically develops in men during their late teens or early twenties. On the other hand, in women, the symptoms of schizophrenia begin to surface during their twenties or early thirties. The following are some commonly observed symptoms of this condition: Delusions: People suffering from schizophrenia often have delusions that can impair their day-to-day life. For example, they might believe they are being subjected to unjust prejudice, or they are exceptionally famous, or a big disaster is about to occur. Hallucinations: Typically, patients experiencing schizophrenia mention seeing things or hearing sounds and/or voices that don’t exist. Hallucinations can also involve smelling strange odors or experiencing odd sensations in the body. Disorganized speech: Schizophrenia impairs the brain’s ability to think clearly which leads to disorganized speech. Simply put, the patient will talk about things that are completed or partially unrelated to the current conversation. In rare cases, they might put together random words that don’t make sense. Abnormal motor behavior: This symptom can manifest in a number of ways. For example, the individual might act silly, be unnaturally childish, or get absurdly angry. Since the behavior isn’t directed towards a goal, it can become tough to manage routine tasks as one might disobey instructions, not respond, keep repeating movements, and hold an awkward pose for a long time. Negative symptoms: The negative symptoms of schizophrenia refer to the diminished ability to do things normally.

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.

Depression? Nausea? Gallstones? Are these regular illnesses or hepatitis C symptoms? First discovered in 1989, hepatitis C is a contagious disease which is caused by a virus that infects the liver. Hepatitis C virus or the HCV, is the most common cause of chronic liver disease with the number of cases increasing worldwide with each passing year. As reported by the World Health Organization, approximately 150 million people are infected with the hepatitis C virus. Around 350,000 people lose their lives from hepatitis C-related liver ailments every year. If left undetected or untreated, hepatitis C can eventually lead to liver cancer, liver damage and liver failure. Hepatitis C can be of 2 main types: Acute (generally brief but severe) Chronic (spread over a long duration) Acute Hepatitis C Symptoms Individuals suffering from acute hepatitis C usually do not display visible symptoms, and the few people that do generally manifest symptoms that are similar to the other cases of acute hepatitis A or B. These include flu-like symptoms, joint aches or mild skin rash. Individuals that are particularly likely to experience severe hepatitis C are those individuals that already have hepatitis B and become infected with acute hepatitis C. Other common hepatitis C symptoms: Loss of appetite Abdominal pain Dark urine Grey colored stools Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) Fatigue Joint pain Itchy skin Sore muscles A hepatitis C infection can cause damage to your liver (cirrhosis). If you develop cirrhosis, you may see symptoms such as: Redness on the palms due to expanded small blood vessels Clusters of blood vessels just below the skin surfacing usually on one’s chest, shoulders, and face Swelling of the abdomen, legs, and feet Shrinking muscles Bleeding from enlarged veins in your digestive tract referred to as variceal bleeding Encephalopathy which is damage to your brain and nervous system.

A chronic inflammatory disorder, Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation to the gastrointestinal tract. It may develop anywhere between mouth and anus. Some brief points regarding Crohn’s disease information are listed below Crohn’s disease usually occurs at the end of the small intestine It appears in patches. This means, the inflammation will not be constant throughout the gastro intestinal tract, it would appear near the rectum and some patches of inflammation would be prominent in the mouth. Crohn’s disease sometimes extends through the entire thickness of the wall Crohn’s disease information available on the internet might confuse the reader as this inflammatory bowel disease has similar symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The main difference between Crohn’s disease is that IBS is a disorder that it affects the muscle contractions of the bowel while Chron’s disease causes inflammation to the gastrointestinal tract. There is no information entailing the causes of Crohn’s disease. Several studies suggest it is caused by some factors that involve genetics, environment, and an overactive immune system. It is a misconception that Crohn’s disease is caused due to eating habits. Crohn’s disease characteristic information states that its severity is different for different people and may vary from time to time. It also depends on which gastrointestinal tract is infected. And since the symptoms vary from person to person, it might be harder to track the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Some common Crohn’s disease symptoms include: Rectal bleeding Unexplained weight loss Fever Recurring Diarrhea Abdominal pain and cramping with reduced appetite Based on the area of inflammation there are five types of Crohn’s disease: Ileocolitis This Crohn’s disease affects ileum, which is the end of small intestine and colon which is the part large intestine. The symptoms include diarrhea, cramping flowed by pain in the right lower abdomen, and sudden weight loss.

Your feet manage your entire body weight, and at times, they too can get strained. The causes of foot pain can vary, sometimes it could be a result of stress, injuries, wrong footwear, or health disorders. Foot pain specifies any form of discomfort that occurs in the toes, arches, soles, and toes. Depending on the cause, the pain can be mild or severe. Many of these can be easily managed at home, but seeking the counsel of a podiatrist is always a great way to steer clear of any doubts. Medical intervention can also help you to evade any possible risks such as infections or permanent joint damage. Here are some of the common causes of foot pain: Sprains and strains A very common kind of foot injury, sprains and strains mostly affect the muscles and the ligaments. A sprain refers to a condition where one or more ligaments have twisted or bent. Moreover, a strain implies that muscle fibers are ripped or stretched. Usually, they occur when you suddenly move, fall, or collide with something. Apart from pain, these may result in inflammation and contusions. These can be administered at home with simple remedies such as cold compression, OTC medications, and rest. Plantar fasciitis Caused due to damage to the fascia, a ligament situated in the bottom of the feet, plantar fasciitis is extremely common in athletes and individuals aged above 40. It can also affect people who are constantly on their feet for long hours throughout the day. The discomfort is usually at its peak when you wake up in the morning. Along with home treatments, plantar fasciitis can be fixed with physical therapy, prescription drugs, and orthopedic footwear. Bunions These are a type of bone abnormality that occurs in the big toe, which makes it lean inward towards the other foot.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. It causes swelling or inflammation along with varied symptoms. Different people are affected in different ways with this disease.While some may have fewer mild symptoms, others may have severe symptoms. People who develop lupus experience symptoms between their early teens and 30s. Since early signs of lupus are similar to other conditions, people do not quite realize that they may have lupus. However, having those symptoms may not necessarily mean you have lupus. Some early signs of lupus are as follows: Fatigue One of the major and common early signs of lupus is fatigue. About 90% of people experience this if they have lupus. Though, napping in the afternoon help people with fatigue but too much sleep during the day lead to sleeplessness during the night. If you want to keep up your energy levels, you would have to maintain a daily routine and remain active. This is difficult for people to do but it is worth the effort. If you are living with unbearable fatigue, talk to your physician so that the root cause of fatigue can be taken care of. Unexplained fever If you have lupus, you will experience a low-grade fever for no reason at all. Since the fever would be around 98.5˚F to 101˚F, you may not consider seeing a doctor. On and off, you would experience such kind of fever. A low-grade fever also means infection, inflammation or imminent flare-up. This is one of the early signs of lupus and if it happens frequently, you must consult a physician. Hair loss One of the early signs of lupus is hair thinning. Hair loss is caused due to inflammation of the scalp and skin. Lupus makes people shed hair by the bunch. Some people may face slow but consistent hair loss.

H Pylori or Helicobacter Pylori is a type of bacteria that enter your body and find accommodation in your digestive tract. These types of bacteria survive in your digestive tract for several years, and they develop sores known as ulcers in the upper area of your small intestine or the stomach lining. Over time, this infection can result in stomach cancer. Symptoms of H Pylori infection is pretty common, and many humans and animals have these bacteria in their bodies. In a majority of the people, they do not cause an ulcer. Even if this bacterium causes an infection, it can be treated with the help of medicines. Better sanitation and clean water offer protection against these germs. The following symptoms of H Pylori infection can help conduct a better and timely diagnosis of the same. Flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation Stomach acids play a critical role in the immune system. They kill the bacteria and other harmful parasites that are absorbed through food and drinking water. Other functions of stomach acids include promoting protein digestion and encouraging the pancreas to produce digestive juices. The H Pylori bacteria interfere with the stomach acids in your body to cause digestive issues. Therefore, you experience diarrhea, bloating, constipation, and flatulence as well. Vomiting and nausea When the digestive process becomes abnormal, the entire functioning of the body gets damaged. That is what happens when one begins to show symptoms of H Pylori infection. Several patients have to deal with nausea when they get affected by this bacterial infection. Some patients show a vomiting tendency as well. It is easily mistaken for morning sickness due to pregnancy. GERD and Heartburn Do you frequently suffer from GERD (Acid Reflux) or heartburn? If you experience these symptoms of H Pylori infection, you might be suffering from the same.

You might have had that experience where you hear a sound such as ticking or ringing to continuous pure tone that is not from outside of your body. It is also known as ‘ringing in the ears.’ It can affect one in ten adults and is more likely in those over the age group of 60 years. This sound that you hear is tinnitus. Minor disorders of the ear and the body can be accompanied along with tinnitus. Tinnitus has two origins which are the psychological origin and the neurological origin. Sometimes excessive amounts of stress can also lead to the cause of tinnitus. A proper diagnosis of tinnitus can help you understand the underlying cause and thereby assist in the adoption of healing treatments that help cure tinnitus naturally. Some medications have also been proven to cause tinnitus and therefore, sometimes leaving an aid medicine can assist in curing tinnitus. The first step towards the care for tinnitus is prompt care of a ear infection, discontinuing any medication or TMJ problems. Tinnitus can be cured by Cognitive and Behavioural therapy. Cognitive therapy focuses on the perception towards tinnitus, whereas behavioral therapy uses the systematic desensitization approach. Cognitive therapy involves coping with tinnitus by inducing more positive thinking. Cognitive therapy includes counseling and cognitive restructuring. Behavioural therapy focuses on several methods that involve attentive control. Sound therapy and music therapy have also proved as an effective way to cure tinnitus naturally. Acoustic therapy helps you mask the noise in your ears. This is done by turning on a background music or sound that has elements of white or pink noise in it. Massaging and stretching the neck and masticatory muscles have shown significant improvement in tinnitus. Some form of foods has been beneficial in alleviating tinnitus. An effective home remedy for tinnitus is ginkgo biloba, a plant extract.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms such as a combination of inactivity, hyperactivity, or impulsiveness. Around 8 million adults suffer from the problem of adult ADHD in the USA. ADHD is a biological or genetic problem. The symptoms of ADHD mainly occur in childhood. Hyperactivity reduces in adulthood, however, impulsivity or inattentiveness many continue. People in the USA, who have had ADHD as children, have higher chances of suffering from adult ADHD. Some people get it diagnosed and treated in time. Those who haven’t diagnosed ADHD know about it in the latter halves of their life. Common symptoms of adult ADHD: The common symptoms of ADHD include restlessness, less concentration, and poor organizing ability. Adults with ADHD in the USA find it difficult to listen to commands/instructions, follow directions, concentrate, memorize details, and accomplishing tasks on time and managing them. The symptoms of adult ADHD vary from mild to significant depending on levels of severity. These symptoms can cause trouble in normal life and cast severe impacts at work, home, or school. Adults with ADHD in the USA suffer from anxiety disorders including bipolar disorder, depression, or psychiatric disorders. The comorbid disorders refer to the conditions when two or more of the problems mentioned above exist together. About 50% adults with ADHD in the USA suffer from anxiety disorders. If an individual has ADHD, he/she is likely to face the below symptoms: – Depression, chronic boredom – Bad mood (mood swings) and short temper – Lesser self-esteem and motivation – Procrastination and forgetfulness – Troubling relationships The problems caused by ADHD aren’t alike for everyone. Some individuals may find it difficult to work in certain situations, while some hunt for simulation. Some adults with ADHD are highly antisocial while others could be pro-actively social. Adults with ADHD in the USA might even have poor grades, either dropped out or have an underachieving record in school.