A bone density test is done to check whether you have osteoporosis or not. Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone which causes them to become fragile and susceptible to damage easily. Previously, osteoporosis could only be detected after the patient has broken a bone. However, by the time it was found out, it was already very late as the bones become quite weak. A bone density test accurately determines how susceptible you are to breaking bones. The bone density test uses X-rays to determine the amount of calcium and other bone minerals in grams present into a particular area of the bone. The bones in the hip, spine, and forearm are mainly checked in this test. Why is the bone density test conducted? Doctors conduct bone density test to: – Monitor the treatment of osteoporosis. – Identify any decrease in bone density and prevent the advancement before one has a broken bone. Your bones are believed to be denser and less likely to break when you have high mineral content in your bones. It must be noted that bone scans and bone density tests are completely different things. Bone scans are characterized by injections being administered to patients before the procedure, and it is done to detect cancer, fractures, infections and other bone abnormalities. Osteoporosis is more common to women especially elderly people. However, osteoporosis in men is not uncommon at all. Regardless of your age and gender, your physician may suggest you a bone density test if you have: Lost height: People with underlying osteoporosis have experienced a loss of height. Osteoporosis causes compression fractures in the spines causing people to lose 4 cms in height generally. Fractured a bone: Fragility fracture is a term used to describe the situation when the bones become so weak that they break very easily.

If you are suffering from back pain for three months or longer, it is termed as chronic. You may have pain at times, while at other times, you may not experience any pain thereby enjoying temporary relief; this would be followed by frustration when the pain comes back again. These things happen when you suffer from chronic back pain. It is quite trying a situation especially if you do not know the reason for the pain. Causes Common causes of chronic back pain include: – Spinal stenosis – Spinal stenosis – Myofascial pain syndrome – Disc problems like bulging or herniated disc Before you opt for surgical procedures to get chronic back pain relief, you must opt for the non-surgical ones to see how it helps you. Nonsurgical treatments for chronic back pain relief include: Physical therapy Exercising is believed to be the first line of treatment in getting chronic back pain relief. You must go about the same only under the guidance of your physician and spine physical therapist. It is to be noted that the same set of exercise does not work for everybody. Thus, the same has to be tailor-made as per your specific condition and symptoms. This is the main reason why you should see a professional physician or physical therapist. It is important to continue with the exercise schedule at your house as well to accelerate relief from back pain. Physical therapies for a patient suffering from chronic back pain include: – Testing the limit of pain threshold – Retraining the posture – Aerobic exercises – Flexibility and stretching exercises – Core strengthening Meditation and mindfulness Chronic back pain is straining emotionally as much as it is physically. To manage the depression, irritability, frustration, and other psychological issues of people dealing with chronic pain, they may be referred to a rehabilitation psychologist.

A sedentary lifestyle coupled with obesity has put extra weight on our hips as well as heels. Comprising of 33 joints 26 bones, and over 100 tendons, the heel is the largest bone in the foot. Overusing any part of the body can cause injury and the same holds for heels as well. With increasing weight, extra weight is put on the heels, thus affecting blood circulation in heels. Pain usually experienced on the underside of the heels can make it difficult to perform daily tasks with same vigor. In this article, the causes along with different heel pain remedies are discussed. A common foot problem, heel pain is usually felt in the arch of the foot, at the bottom of the heels and increases with body movements. Heel pain is usually worse in the morning and can be due to several reasons. For instance, wearing flat shoes or worn-out shoes can cause discomfort and trigger the pain. Causes of heel pain There are some of the common causes of heel pain, such as: Plantar fasciitis: When too much pressure is put on the heels, it causes stiffness and damages plantar fascia ligament. It is a web-like ligament, which connects the heel to the front of the foot. If this ligament is injured, it causes severe pain, and the person finds it difficult to move. Sprains and strains: Extreme physical exercises with proper guidance often cause sprains and internal injuries.Sprains usually occur at joints and can have a negative effect on ligaments connecting bones. Fracture: A case of medical emergency, fracture implies a broken bone. A fracture is a broken bone. It usually occurs when a person has experienced a fall, accident, or injured themselves while playing sports. Achilles tendonitis: In Achilles tendonitis, tendon attaching the calf muscles to the heels get swollen up and cause severe pain.

Dry eyes are commonly found in people in their middle and old age. It is a common condition. Around 4.88 million people in the country are suffering from dry eyes in their 50s. Of the estimate, more than 3 million women and 1.68 million men are dealing with dry eyes. It is observed that women are more prone to dry eyes than men. Side effects of estrogen fluctuation could be one reason causing more number of women to suffer from dry eyes than their gender counterparts. Women those pregnant, taking birth control pills and those suffering menopause can suffer dry eyes. There are several other reasons for a dry eye to occur. Most prominent of all can be age and symptom of some other illness. An extreme dry environment or medications such as antihistamines can also cause dry eye in people. Through a serious health concern, dry eyes can be cured with proper medication, precaution, and care. Today, there are a number of eye solutions for dry eyes. Most popular method of curing dry eyes are eye drops. A doctor may recommend a patient suffering from dry eyes with over-the-counter eye solutions for dry eyes and a variety of prescription depending on the cause and intensity of the problem. There are multiple ways by which eye drops give relief to those suffering from dry eyes. Some of them are listed below. Use of artificial tears. To prevent dryness in eyes, use of artificial tears proves fruitful. However, it is important to find the right artificial tears to suit one. A type of eye drop is cyclosporine. It is designed to assist treatment of certain eye infection that results in dry eyes. Use of cyclosporine makes an eye produce excessive tears. Thus, this medication can provide great relief to the sufferer if applied twice in a day.

Constipation may become a long-term problem if not treated on time. It makes you feel uneasy, and constipation interferes with your daily activities. If this problem remains unattended, you are putting yourself vulnerable to a lot of health complications as well. Lemon juice offers immediate results Fresh lemon is a good remedy for constipation. It is a well-known fact that lemon contains a lot of citric acid. Lemon juice is a wonderful, stimulating agent for your digestive system and it assists you in flushing out toxins effectively. When you are suffering from indigestion, you can expect the buildup of undigested materials on the walls of the colon. You have to mix juice with water to reduce the intensity of the lemon flavor, and it should be consumed to get the fluids your body requires to restore the normal functioning. This method offers immediate results. You must get the juice of one lemon, and it should be combined with 1 cup of water before consuming it. Be active to get rid of constipation Lack of activity can aggravate constipation easily. If you want the foodstuff to move smoothly through your system, you have to be active. Everybody knows that sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits are two important reasons for constipation. If you are sitting most of the time, constipation can last longer. There are many scientific pieces of evidence available that inactive lifestyle worsens constipation. You must perform some stretching exercises in the morning or evening and a brisk walk for half an hour can also fetch relief from constipation. Add fiber-rich foods to your diet Following a healthy diet solves all your problems including constipation. Your body knows how to process grains, vegetables, fruits and veggies than processing artificial processed foods that do not pass in an easy manner.

Among the more common ailments prevalent today, the issue of burning foot pain ranks high on the list. However, most sufferers remain blissfully ignorant that this could be a cause for concern. Burning foot pain could arise from some nerve damage. Such nerve damage occurs in the leg and is medically referred to as neuropathy. There are many reasons besides this that could be a cause for such burning sensation. More often than not though, diabetes comes across as the culprit. The prime idea behind all treatments for such pain is related to controlling nerve damage as well as pain reduction. Neuropathy occurs when the damaged fibers of nerves misfire or become overactive. These nerves signal the sensation of pain to the brain. Therefore, despite the absence of a cut or a wound, the sensation of pain occurs. Nerves in the leg tend to get affected first, in patients with neuropathy. There could be accompanying numbness or tingly sensations along with burning foot pain. Burning pain in the foot could also be accompanied by excess sensitivity to touch on the foot area. The pain could be intense or mild from time to time. Burning sensation of the feet could also be linked to several other issues. A few of these include the following: Vitamin deficiency Uremia AIDS Amyloid polyneuropathy Hypothyroidism Lyme disease Erythromelalgia Drug side effects Sarcoidosis Metal poisoning Guillain-Barre syndrome Vasculitis There could be infections on the feet or even inflammations that could lead to burning pain in the feet. Athlete’s foot is a very common fungal infection that causes such pain. Moreover, in case the blood circulation in your legs is poor, you may experience burning feet, pain, and tingling especially when you walk around. Diagnosing the issue Identifying the prime cause of such an issue is important.

Deficiencies and diseases are no longer related to a specific timeframe or age. No matter where you stay or how old/young you are, health-related deficiencies can occur at any point in time. For instance, the case of the US, about 43 percent of residents have the likelihood of being diagnosed with a deficiency of magnesium. The deficiency of magnesium in the human body attracts a horde of diseases such as fibromyalgia, heart issues, osteoporosis, diabetes, and even depression. The role and utility of magnesium depend on the role of other linked compounds such as calcium, vitamin K2, and vitamin D. Magnesium naturally occurs in some foods, and the easiest and optimal way to incorporate more magnesium into your body is to go the natural way. However, if you are prescribed bringing a supplement into your daily diet, and you indeed need the same, you could try out one of the following which is considered as the best magnesium supplements in the market. To begin with, you have to understand that the benefits of such supplements vary as per type. Magnesium Glycinate Magnesium Glycinate is a glycine magnesium salt. Glycine is actually an amino acid. This is one of the best magnesium supplements is also available as magnesium diglycinate and magnesium bisglycinate. Mostly “chelated” products of magnesium contain these forms. Of course, the human body easily absorbs these. In order to enhance magnesium levels for hypomagnesemia, this, being one of the best magnesium supplements, is advised to be consumed. The supplement also comes with a high-level for bowel tolerance. Magnesium Oxide This is not usually available in bio-form. This, which is also considered as one of the best magnesium supplements, is used for the treatment of acid reflux or acidic stomach. The low level of bioavailability makes this compound perfect for individuals having constipation.

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.

Diarrhea is a condition characterized by loose or watery stools, dehydration, and loss of appetite. Usually, the condition can leave a patient for itself. However, sometimes diarrhea can become severe enough to cause fatality to a sufferer. It is recommended by doctors to stay careful while suffering from diarrhea. It is important to regulate the food and drinks we consume during such time. Not only this, medications are a popular mean to get instant relief from diarrhea. Here are some over-the-counter medications that one can take to get relief from diarrhea. One important precaution about medication to get relief from diarrhea is that there are separate medications for adults and children. Thus, it is necessary not to give a medicine that provided relief to your child. Therefore, never hesitate to recommend a pediatrician before purchasing any diarrhea medication for your child. Over-the-counter medications It is suggested to try over-the-counter medication. In a majority of cases, these over-the-counter medications can be used to avoid bouts of diarrhea. If you have not heard a term called traveler’s diarrhea, you should know that this condition is usually a result of consuming a food or drink that is contaminated. People on travel often end up compromising their health after eating food that can bad for their health. Some of the over-the-counter medications include Imodium (loperamide), Pepto-Bismol, and Kaopectate (bismuth subsalicylate) to get relief from diarrhea. However, it is highly recommended to take medication after the advice of physicians. The medications just mentioned are reasonable to take occasionally. But, these medications should not be taken for more than two days. People believe that in case you take pharmaceutical remedies for traveler’s diarrhea, they are good as they make a sufferer better in no time. However, they are not efficient enough to eliminate bacteria, parasites, and viruses from the system so early.

What is meningitis? An inflammation of the membranes and fluids that cover the spinal cord and brain is known as Meningitis. According to statistics, over 1 million people every year get affected by different types of meningitis. The most common cause of meningitis is the infection, and this infection can be caused by different kinds of germs like parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria. What are the different types of meningitis? Bacterial meningitis Bacterial meningitis is an aggressive type of meningitis that can develop quickly – often within a few hours. Bacterial meningitis is so dangerous that it leads to death or permanent disability within a few hours. In 10-20% of the cases, bacterial meningitis is fatal, accounting for about 170,000 deaths around the world every year. Most of these deaths occur within 24-48 hours of the onset of the symptoms. Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus), Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) are the main causes of bacterial meningitis. These bacteria are divided into groups of three that are known as serotypes or serogroups. To state an example, 95% of meningococcal meningitis and septicemia cases are caused by meningococcus serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y. Septicaemia, also known as blood poisoning, is a potentially life-threatening infection that is caused when meningitis-causing bacteria gets into the bloodstream. The infection can occur on its own or in addition to meningitis. It is very common to find meningitis bacteria in the throat and nose area in people. The bacteria that live in these areas of the human body usually cause no harm and help build immunity against infections. In case the bacteria invade the body, in a rare case, the disease manifests itself. Through respiratory droplets released through coughing, sneezing and making close contact, the bacteria becomes contagious as it can spread from person to person.

A yeast infection is an infection that results from the overgrowth of yeast that is a type of fungus. Yeast infections are commonly known as candida vaginitis or vulvovaginal candidiasis and are usually caused by the Candida albicans fungus. Other species of Candida may also cause yeast infections, like C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei. Statistics show that about 75 percent of women tend to get a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lifetime, while 40 to 50 percent of women experience more than one infection. Chronic or recurrent yeast infections are also common, as experienced by 5 to 8 percent women who may suffer from four or more yeast infections. Men too get yeast infections in their mouths, genitals, and other areas. The term yeast infection usually refers to a vaginal infection; however, it can also refer to non-genital yeast infections that are caused due to different types of candidiasis. Such yeast infections of the mouth are commonly known as thrush or oropharyngeal candidiasis. A yeast infection occurring on the skin in moist warm areas like folds of skin near the groin and armpits is known as cutaneous candidiasis. When the strain Candida manages to get into the bloodstream through for example the use of a contaminated intravenous catheter, the yeast can cause a deadly infection that is known as invasive candidiasis. On an average, yeast infections caused by Candida albicans are easy to treat, and there are other drugs available to provide yeast infection relief which may be purchased over-the-counter (OTC) or with a prescription. They may also be taken as a prescription cream like an anti-fungal cream, suppository, tablet, ointment, or medicated tampon. A class of anti-fungal drugs known as azoles is part of these medications which provide yeast infection relief and these include:

The lower parts of our legs are the ones that keep us standing, walking and running as we go through everyday life. There are many factors that affect the health of our legs—the kind of surfaces we walk on, the kind of shoes we wear, our posture, occupation, overall weight, etc. All this means that on more than one occasion, a person may experience leg pain symptoms. Some common leg pain symptoms and causes include: Aches related to the bones, joints, and muscles Muscle cramp A muscle cramp is also known as Charley’s horse and can occur any time on its own. It can occur in the middle of the night or during the day. The pain due to a muscle cramp is often described as a tight grip around one’s muscle, usually the calf muscle. Once it takes a group, it can get worse in the form of an intense, tight lower leg pain. The main cause of this type of leg pain is dehydration and general tiredness. Some common remedies to deal with leg pain symptoms of this sort is to increase the intake of water, massage the affected muscles, and also to do a good round of stretching and warming up before exercise. Shin splints Shin splints are a kind of pain usually experienced on the front of the calf muscle. It usually occurs when the flesh and muscles along the edge of the shin bone get inflamed, making walking, running, or jumping very difficult. Shin splints usually occur when the same activities are repeated over and over again on hard surfaces. People with flat feet or feet turned outward also tend to experience shin splints. Some common remedies to fix the pain related to shin splints are the intake of anti-inflammatory medicines that include naproxen, aspirin, and ibuprofen and the application of ice.