Bulging disc is a condition where the discs between your vertebrae tend to bulge outwards. When the outer fibrous region of your disc weakens, it causes a bulging disc. If a bulging disc is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to the problem of disc tears, which is known as a herniated disc. Causes for a bulging disc The primary reason behind the problem of a bulging disc is that of disc degeneration. Degeneration refers to the gradual wear and tear of your body’s discs. With age, the water content in your spinal discs tends to go down. As a result, your spinal discs start to lose flexibility. At such times, even a minor strain or small twist can make you prone to ruptures or tears. Lifting heavy objects can lead to the problem of a bulging disc as well. It occurs when you are not using your leg and thigh muscles, but the muscles of your back while lifting heavy objects. Risk factors Age is one of the risk factors behind the problem of bulging discs. With age, the water content in your discs tends to go down, and because of this, your discs become inflexible and brittle. As a result of gravity, the weakened cartilage tends to bulge towards your spinal cavity. Smoking cigarettes also put you at risk. Smoking leads to a weakening of your cartilage, thus causing your discs to bulge. In such instances, you will need the right treatment for a bulging disc. People who have a family history of spinal problems are at a higher risk of developing this condition. Injuries caused by accidents during physical exercises and workouts, weightlifting, car accidents, slipping on the pavement or poor movements can also lead to a bulging disc. Poor lifestyle choices also contribute to a bulging disc.

An overactive bladder (OAB) is a bladder disorder that causes an abnormal urge to urinate. The urge may be difficult to stop and sometimes leads to involuntary loss of urine which is referred to as urinary incontinence. This syndrome affects many elderly people in the country and is equally prevalent in both, men and women. An overactive bladder majorly impacts the quality of life of the sufferer, forcing people to avoid social gatherings and outings. However, fortunately, there are several treatment options for overactive bladder. With medications or behavioral changes, or sometimes, a combination of both can help in treating the condition. If any symptoms are noticed, one should visit the doctor for a thorough examination and obtain a suitable line of treatment. Natural treatments for overactive bladder Pelvic floor exercises and bladder training are great non-medicinal remedies that prove to be largely beneficial for a lot of people. There are many other treatments used to manage an overactive bladder and even urine incontinence. Read on to know more. Bladder training: This is the most common overactive bladder treatment that seeks to alter the way one uses the bathroom. This means instead of going whenever one gets the urge, they urinate at fixed times during the day. This is also known as scheduled voiding. In this process, one can learn to control their urge to urinate, by waiting for a couple of minutes initially to gradually increasing the interval to up to a few hours. Pelvic floor exercises: Also known as Kegel exercises, these pelvic floor exercises are a special set of exercises that help one strengthen the muscles that control urination. With the help of a special training, known as biofeedback, one can learn to tighten, hold, and relax the muscles that are vital to starting and stopping urination.

Lower back can cause serious discomfort. You will have trouble performing your day to day activities. According to a report, almost 80% of the adults face lower back pain at some point in their life. There are several reasons as to why this happens. However, one must know the different ways to treat and get relief from this excruciating pain. There are several home remedies that you can try in order to manage your lower back pain. For low back pain relief, try these 7 best home remedies Apply ice on your lower back Applying ice on the area where you are experiencing the pain can certainly help you to improve the condition of your lower back. When you start having that pain, you should immediately apply ice on it because it will help you to get rid of that inflammation and get yourself relief. However, the best time to apply ice is the first 24 to hours from when you start getting that pain. After that, you can switch to applying heat since after a couple of days, applying ice will not give you the desired result. Whether you apply ice or heat, you need to do give your body rest for 20 minutes because otherwise, you may have skin problems. Keep your body moving When you have pain in your lower back, and you stop moving your body because of it, then you will find it tough to recover from your condition. That is why it is important to keep your body moving no matter how much pain you have in order to get relief from lower back pain. Therefore, don’t stop going to work, making your bed, and doing all the other daily activities you do. If you go to a gym or aerobics class, then don’t stop it either because these are some of the things that keep you active or help you to fight against your lower back pain.

Congestive heart failure is a disease characterized by a problem that affects the pumping power of the heart muscles. It is a chronic progressive disease and is also referred to as heart failure. Congestive heart failure (CHF) refers to the stage in which there is a build-up of fluid around the heart. This causes an ineffectiveness in pumping blood. The heart has four chambers. The lower half of the heart has two ventricles which pump blood to the body’s organs. The upper half of the heart, however, consists of two atria which receive the blood circulated back from the rest of the body. The ventricles cannot pump enough blood to the body due to congestive heart failure. This leads to blood and other fluids filling up the liver, lungs, lower body, and the abdomen. Treatment for congestive heart failure must be done immediately as the disease could be life-threatening. Causes Congestive heart failure may arise from other health conditions that directly impact the cardiovascular system. It is important to get check-ups on a yearly basis to determine the possibility of the onset of any such disease. Lowering the risks which cause heart health problems can go a long way in ensuring one does not develop the disease. Listed below are a few common causes of congestive heart failure. Hypertension leads to the narrowing of the arteries. This makes blood flow much more difficult and can result in the onset of congestive heart failure in the long run. Consider changing the diet if one is suffering from this disease to restore normality or to keep high blood pressure at bay. Valve conditions can directly impact the heart and could lead to its failure. The heart valves regulate the flow of blood to and from the heart by opening and closing the valves.

Have you been experiencing pain in your leg muscles? Pain in the legs may occur due to different conditions that affect the joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, tendons or skin. You may experience leg pain in the ankle, behind the knee, foot, thigh, at the back of the leg or any other part. It may occur while lying down at night or when you are exercising or running. Leg pain can also affect one or both legs depending on the cause. Usually, pain in the leg muscles occurs due to tissue inflammation caused by a disease or injury. Because a leg contains numerous structures and types of tissues, there are many muscle injuries and conditions that can lead to leg pain. When to see a doctor about pain in the leg muscles? Sometimes it becomes difficult to know when you should see a doctor about the muscle pain in your leg. However, you should consider scheduling an appointment if you start experiencing the following symptoms: Muscle cramps: Muscle cramps are one of the reasons behind leg pain, and several factors could trigger this type of pain. The cause can be dehydration, muscle fatigue, vigorous exercise, poor circulation of blood in your leg, sitting or standing too much, and not stretching enough among other reasons. These muscle cramps lead to intense leg pain. Swelling in both legs: If any of your leg muscles have been injured or fractured, you will experience pain and swelling. Pain while walking: You may find it hard to walk due to the pain in your leg muscles. It usually occurs when some tissues in your leg muscles overstretch. A tingling sensation: This sensation is not necessarily painful, and it can occur when you are resting or walking around. However, you should see a doctor as its cause may be nerve damage in the leg.

Hair loss is a common condition that affects thousands of men and women across the country. A person can experience it on the scalp or other parts of the body. Frequent hair loss can affect a person’s self-esteem and can be an indicator of underlying health conditions. It is vital to know about the essential vitamins for preventing hair loss that can help in controlling the condition. Why does hair loss happen? First, let’s take a quick look at the causes and symptoms of hair loss. This condition is often a result of medication, hormonal imbalances, lifestyle or hereditary factors. Male pattern baldness or excessive loss of hair from the scalp, commonly known as alopecia, is mostly a result of genetic factors. Different people may experience different types of hair loss. Men and women lose their hair in different ways. Some people may experience symptoms such as thinning of hair or bald patches while others may find clumps of hair fall after brushing or washing their hair. People who have gone through radiation or chemotherapy experience hair loss all over the body, although this hair grows back once the treatment is complete. Other factors such as age, traumatic experiences or nutritional deficiency can also result in hair loss. The intake of nutrients in the form of vitamins is essential for preventing hair loss. Essential vitamins for preventing hair loss Vitamin A This vitamin is one of the best options for controlling hair fall. The cells in the body need vitamin A to grow and develop. This vitamin also helps the glands in the skin release a greasy substance known as sebum which conditions the scalp and maintains the overall health of the hair. However, an excess quantity of vitamin A can cause hair loss. Vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, kale, and spinach are rich in beta-carotene which gets converted into vitamin A in our bodies.

Learning that a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can take a toll on anybody. This progressive disease is emotionally and physically traumatizing as it gradually affects one’s memory, their ability to think and perceive. In order to manage the symptoms effectively, knowing about the stages of progress and treatment options is crucial. The experience of the disease may differ from person to person but the trajectory from the beginning to the end of the illness is the same. Given below are the 7 identified Alzheimer’s stages: Preclinical Alzheimer’s The preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s is not clearly observed and signs of memory loss or dementia are not evident. Family history alone may denote the risk of this stage or else one’s regular physician may recognize biomarkers signifying the risk, suggesting a visit to a neurologist. Normal forgetfulness After crossing 65, it is common to forget things. But at stage two of Alzheimer’s, the tendency to forget things tends to increase rapidly than in people of the same age group who do not suffer from the disease. Mild decline The symptoms at this stage are less clear and it usually continues for about 7 years. The symptoms gradually become obvious within 2- 4 years. Only those who are very close may detect the signs since they are still quite subtle. The quality of work may decrease and the victims may find it difficult to learn new skills. Other signs of the third stage include things like getting lost in a well-known route, difficulty in remembering correct words/names, an inability to remember recent news, inability to remember new names/ people, frequent loss or misplacement of an item, a decrease in concentration. Moderate Decline This 4 th Alzheimer’s stage lasts almost two years and marks the commencement of identifiable Alzheimer’s disease. In this stage, precise indications of the ailment are clear.

There are various ways to resolve neuropathy foot pain including medication and several therapies, but it is important to identify the underlying cause first. It occurs when there is damage to any of the peripheral nerves. Symptoms of Neuropathy foot pain Neuropathy foot pain is a result of some affected nerve of the peripheral system. The type of nerves that are involved include: Sensory nerves Sensations such as pain, temperature, touch, vibration through the skin are picked up by the sensory nerves. Motor Nerves The movement of the muscles is regulated by these nerves. Autonomic Nerves The heart rate, blood pressure, bladder, and digestion are controlled by the autonomic nerves. The signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are as follows: Numbness or tingling A feeling of numbness or tingling that starts at your hands/feet and radiates to your arms and legs. Pain A feeling of sharp, burning, throbbing or freezing pain. Sensitivity You become extremely sensitive to light touch. Coordination Problems with balance occur as a result of poor coordination and sometimes you could fall. Muscle weakness If there is an impact on the motor nerves, there could be a resultant weakness of muscles or paralysis. Heat intolerance This occurs if there is an effect on the autonomic nerves. The sweating pattern is altered. Digestive problems Another side effect of the autonomic nerves that are affected is digestion problems. Bowel and bladder problems also arise. Dizziness Affected autonomic nerves are also responsible for dizziness along with changes in blood pressure. When only one nerve is affected due to peripheral neuropathy, it is referred to as mononeuropathy. When there are multiple nerves involved, it is known as polyneuropathy. Causes of Neuropathy in feet Neuropathy in feet can occur due to the presence of multiple diseases. The reasons for neuropathies are: Alcoholism There are vitamin deficiencies due to poor choice of diet in the cases of people suffering from alcoholism.

Helicobacter Pylori or H. Pylori is a common type of bacteria that usually causes the infection of the digestive tract. About 60 percent of the adult population of the entire world is affected by H. Pylori, and it is commonly seen in the western developed countries. “Helico” means spiral, and the name comes from its spiral shape. This shape makes it easy to penetrate the stomach lining, causing ulcers in the stomach. If the treatment for Helicobacter Pylori is not done on time, the complications can be life-threatening. Here are a few things related to the H. Pylori. The signs and symptoms of Helicobacter Pylori In about 85% of the cases of Helicobacter Pylori, there are no symptoms and complications. When there’s already an ulcer in the stomach, one can start feeling abdominal pain at night or a few hours after meals when the stomach is empty. This is a troubling pain that is timely, and it goes off on its own. Some other symptoms associated with H. Pylori infection are as listed: Excessive burping A feeling of bloating Nausea Heartburn Fever Decreased appetite Weight loss In the later stage of H. Pylori infection, some of the symptoms are trouble in swallowing, anemia, blood in the stool, vomiting, black spots on the face, and so on. Causes of Helicobacter Pylori The H. Pylori infection is known to spread from one person’s mouth to another. When a person does not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom, there are chances of the infection spreading. Also, it can spread through contaminated food and water. The H. Pylori bacteria penetrates the stomach’s mucous lining and forms the element that neutralizes the stomach acid. This stomach acid irritates the stomach lining and causes stomach ulcer. Risk factors for the Helicobacter Pylori infection The risk of developing a disease of H.

Stomach acid and reflux problem is a condition that is characterized by the discomfort caused by the reversed flow of the acidic content from the stomach to the esophagus or the food pipe. This problem occurs when your lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak and opens up abnormally, which causes the contents of your stomach to move upwards. This problem can be dealt by using stomach acid remedies and various treatments depending upon your case. Symptoms of stomach acid and reflux Typically, patients who are diagnosed with reflux and stomach acid abnormalities show symptoms like heartburn, a burning sensation that you experience in your chest, the taste of a sour acidic liquid in the back of your mouth accompanied by pain in the chest, etc. You may also experience difficulties in swallowing your food. Remedies to treat acid reflux As a part of stomach acid reflux remedies and treatments, you may first be recommended to make some lifestyle modifications and changes in your diet as recommended by your doctor. You may also be recommended to try over the counter medicines during the initial stages. However, if you do not experience any relief from the treatment, you may be advised to go for surgery or prescription medicines. Antacids may be recommended by your doctor to get quick relief from the problem of stomach acid reflux. These may include Rolaids, Tums, and Mylanta. Certain medications that help in curbing acid production in your stomach, termed as H-2 receptor blockers may also be helpful in providing relief. These include famotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine. Proton pump inhibitors are medications that may be taken to help block the production of acid in your stomach and to heal your esophagus. This treatment is amongst the most efficient stomach acid reflux remedies when compared to H-2 receptor blockers.

All of a sudden one experiences extreme pain in the big toe or other joints. The pain is excruciating and occurs at any time of the day. Such symptoms are typical of gout. Gout pain is a complex type of arthritic pain that occurs due to the build-up of uric acid in the bloodstream. The accumulation of uric acid forms sharp crystals in bone joints. The most common location where gout occurs is the big toe. A gout attack can occur to anyone. A gout attack typically lasts for 10 days, out of which extreme pain occurs during the initial three days. Gout attack starts at one joint and spreads to other joints when not treated. Pain relief for gout can be achieved by reducing the inflammation. Prompt treatment of gout foot pain results in the reduction of inflammation and pain and prevents spreading to other joints as well. Symptoms of gout pain Symptoms of gout pain vary with the severity and build-up of uric acid. Extremely painful gout pain is caused when the uric acid accumulates to the extent where crystals are formed at the joints. The common symptoms of gout pain are: Excruciating pain in the joints : Big toe is the most common joint that is affected by gout pain. It can also spread to other joints like elbow, ankle, wrists, and fingers. The first two to three days of a gout attack are most painful. Swollen joints : Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid at joints. This accumulation manifests as a swelling or bulge at the joints. Excessive uric acid deposits form crystals at the joints, which appear like tiny nodes under the skin. Moderate discomfort : After the extreme pain reduces, moderate to mild pain lingers at the joints. This discomfort lasts for weeks.

Busy work schedules and high-tech lifestyles are not easy to sustain. They have their own demerits which are reflected in the form of medical conditions that we fall prey to unknowingly. One such condition is insomnia that robs a person of the inability to sleep well. Most of the people facing this problem resort to various medications available for managing insomnia. Changing one’s lifestyle and switching to healthier habits reflect immensely on the mind and body. It is only by adopting good habits and following them that one can keep several medical conditions at bay. People dealing with insomnia must put alternatives to use such as trying home remedies, like those listed below, before resorting to insomnia medications for managing the condition. No smoking If one is facing insomnia and are an active smoker, then this is high time that one should quit. Nicotine present in cigarettes can trigger insomnia. Moreover, quitting smoking will also lead to a lower risk of high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, and even cancer. Exercise If one has not been exercising, then now is the time to give it some serious thought. Studies have shown that exercising regularly for about half an hour fosters good night sleep. Also, think about the fitness that one would gain from the workout. Exercise enables the body to not fall prey to obesity and cardiovascular problems. Limit the consumption of alcohol Although alcohol is a good sedative that induces sleep readily, excessive consumption of alcohol over a long time can lead to insufficient sleep which ultimately keeps the body from relaxing fully. Alcohol can also lead to the risk of strokes and heart failure. Hence, it is vital that one should keep a watch on their alcohol intake. Healthy diets If one is serious about keeping themselves healthy both mentally and physically, they should ensure to consume healthy food only.