Usually, the pain that lasts at least for 12 weeks is defined as chronic pain. It can be intermittent or steady. It can come and go without any apparent reason. It can be felt dull or sharp, causing an aching or burning sensation in the affected areas. Also, the pain can be felt differently in the affected areas. Lack of proper chronic pain management can reduce your strength, endurance, flexibility along with limiting your mobility. This definitely makes your daily life more challenging as it becomes difficult to get through various daily activities and tasks. According to various medical study reports, almost 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from this chronic pain. In the country alone, almost 100 million people are affected by this pain. Here is a list of some of the common types of chronic pain: Postsurgical pain Headache Arthritis pain Post-trauma pain Neurogenic pain that is caused by any damage in the nerve Lower back pain Psychogenic pain that is not caused by an injury, nerve damage, or any disease Cancer pain Causes of Chronic Pain Without realizing the underlying causes of the pain, treating it or getting the right chronic pain management plan will be tough. Here is a list of some of the most common causes of it: Sometimes, normal aging can affect the joints and bones, causing chronic pain. Nerve damage or nerve injuries that have not been healed properly are another cause of this pain. Some types of chronic pain can have more than one influencing factor. For instance, back pain can be caused by either a single factor or can be caused by any combination of the following factors: Poor posture for years Being overweight that puts extra strain on the knees and back Carrying heavy objects or improper lifting of heavy objects Traumatic injury Degenerative changes in the spine due to normal aging Wearing high heels Any congenital condition like spine curvature Sleeping on the poor mattress Diseases like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis can cause chronic pain.

Shingles, scientifically named as ‘herpes zoster’, is a viral infection that causes rashes in small sections of the body along with immense pain and is sourced from the same virus that causes chickenpox which is known as varicella-zoster virus (VZV). If you had chicken pox in your childhood, then there is a chance that at later stages, you can develop shingles. The first symptom of shingles is the immense pain. After a couple of days, you will see rashes and fluid-filled blisters in small sections of your body, while some people also experience fever, fatigue, and sensitivity to light along with painful blisters. Shingles usually last from two to six weeks. Complications Although shingles isn’t a life-threatening disease, some people develop a more serious condition due to this, known as postherpetic neuralgia when the nerve fibers get damaged. This condition can cause shingles pain to last for weeks and months even after the rashes clears out. Although there is no perfect treatment for Shingles, antiviral medications prescribed by your doctor can help to reduce its symptoms and shorten the time span of shingles. Read on to know the various at-home treatment options for shingles. Top treatments for shingles Take healing baths One of the most effective and top treatments for shingles that prevents the rashes from spreading to different parts of the body is thoroughly cleansing the body on a daily basis. Taking a shower with cold water along with antiseptic soap can help you to soothe your skin and body as the coolness of the water will reduce the pain and itchiness of the shingles blisters. You can also prepare a healing bath for yourself which is considered to be one of the top 3 shingles treatments. To prepare a healing bath, you need to pour 1 to 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal or cornstarch into lukewarm water and leave it for 10-20 minutes before taking the bath.

After osteoarthritis, the second most common musculoskeletal condition that affects a lot of people is fibromyalgia, which is very often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Fibromyalgia occurs in the form of fatigue, joint pain and widespread muscle pain among other symptoms. It can easily develop into something that causes social isolation and depression. What is Fibromyalgia syndrome? A set of symptoms is known as a syndrome and when they exist together, they point towards the presence of a specific disease or an increased chance of the disease developing in the system. In the case of fibromyalgia syndrome, the following symptoms occur: Decreased pain threshold Sensitive tender points Depression Social anxiety Widespread pain Debilitating fatigue It has been observed that nearly 12 million Americans are diagnosed with fibromyalgia; it has also been noted that women are ten times more likely to contract this disease as compared to men, and they usually fall in the age bracket of 25 to 60 years. Fibromyalgia symptoms The most common symptom of fibromyalgia is constant ache all over the body and crippling fatigue. One of the most common symptoms is feeling fatigued even after a whole night’s sleep. There may be specific tender points on the body that may be painful to touch and deep and restful sleep cycles may also be punctuated by disturbances because of mood swings. Depression is also a common indication of fibromyalgia. Regarding muscles, it often feels like the muscles are pulled or overworked even without any strenuous exercise. Muscles may also burn, twitch or experience deep stabbing pains. Some people suffering from fibromyalgia may also experience achiness and pain around the back, shoulders, necks, joints, and hips, making it difficult to exercise or sleep. Some other symptoms that are common to other illnesses but may also indicate towards fibromyalgia are: Dryness in eyes, mouth, and nose Abdominal pain Numbness or tingle sensation in feet and fingers Hypersensitivity to cold or heat or both Chronic headaches Incontinence Irritable bowel syndrome Fibro fog or inability to concentrate Overall stiffness The signs of fibromyalgia are very similar to those of tendinitis, osteoarthritis, and bursitis, which are often classified by experts under a type of arthritis and its related disorders.

Do you find yourself sneezing every time the season changes? Can’t enjoy seafood without your throat closing up? There is a good chance that you might have an allergy. Allergic reactions are a hypersensitivity reaction of the immune system to external agents, that are not harmful. Allergic diseases include a wide range of conditions like—hay fever, atopic dermatitis, food allergies, drug allergies, anaphylaxis, allergic asthma, etc. It is to be noted that anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Common allergy symptoms are—hives, itchy rash, difficulty breathing, runny nose, red eyes, sneezing, and swelling. Allergies are common throughout the world. Particles or materials that cause an allergic reaction are called allergens . The most common allergens are pollen, insect stings, and food. Some people have allergic reactions to metals such as nickel. Food and drug allergies tend to cause the most severe allergy symptoms. Allergy Symptoms And Diagnosis Airborne allergen particles like dust and pollen tend to affect the nose, eyes, and throat a lot. Common nasal allergy symptoms are—sneezing, a runny nose, and swelling of the nasal cavity ( allergic rhinitis ). The eyes may become watery or turn red. Allergens in the throat can cause difficulty breathing, increased mucus production, sneezing, coughing, and bronchoconstriction. Obstruction of the airway can be a life-threatening situation. If an allergen gets into the ears, it can cause pain and discomfort, along with swelling. Ingested allergens like food and medication, can manifest a different set of allergy symptoms. There could be abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, and hives. Food allergies rarely cause asthmatic or respiratory symptoms. However, some food allergies can lead to anaphylaxis . Nuts and shellfish are some of the common food allergens. Drug allergies can be dangerous and need to be diagnosed quickly. Apart from the usual allergy symptoms, drug allergies can also cause rashes and difficulty breathing.

Cholesterol levels vary with age, gender and weight. A human body starts to produce more cholesterol with time. Thus, it is important for an adult to check their cholesterol levels every four to six years ideally, sooner than later. There are three categories in which cholesterol is measured: Total cholesterol HDL or good cholesterol LDL or bad cholesterol Most people struggle to balance these levels. It is important to keep LDL and total cholesterol level in check. However, having increased levels of HDL cholesterol would offer protection against developing heart-related ailments like strokes and heart attacks. How cholesterol levels differ with age? Cholesterol levels increase with age due to various reasons related to health and lifestyle. Thus, doctors recommend taking precaution early on in life to avoid high levels of cholesterol development as a person grows older. Unmanaged cholesterol developed in the past years would be quite difficult to treat. Children are rarely diagnosed with high cholesterol levels and thus they need to have their levels checked only once or twice before they are 18 years old. Children who are at risks of having high cholesterol levels due to other health conditions, they must check their levels frequently. It is seen that males tend to have increased levels of cholesterol than women throughout their life. It increases with age. However, it is not rare to see high cholesterol level in women as well. The levels in women increase when they go through menopause. Healthy levels as per different age group Healthy levels of cholesterol do not differ much in adults. The recommended levels change due to additional health conditions and considerations. Ideal cholesterol levels in adults The total cholesterol levels in an adult should be below 200 mg/dL. If the range is between 200 and 239 mg/dL, it is considered borderline high.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are found in our digestive tract. These are spiral-shaped bacteria which attack the lining of the stomach. Although Helicobacter pylori infections are usually not harmful, these infections must not be ignored as they may have long-term implications. Helicobacter pylori can cause ulcers in the digestive tract, stomach, and small intestine. These bacteria can adapt to survive in the acidic and harsh environment in the stomach. They also reduce the acidity of the digestive tract for their survival. Symptoms of Helicobacter Pylori infections H. pylori infections are common among children. The bacteria usually infects the stomach during childhood. These bacterial infections usually don’t cause any apparent symptoms. However, H. pylori may result in diseases in some cases. Common diseases caused by H. pylori are peptic ulcers and gastritis which is an inflammatory condition caused by the stomach. Symptoms include excessive burping, bloating, nausea, anorexia, weight loss, and foul breath. H. pylori can easily penetrate into the stomach lining. Inside the stomach lining, they are protected by mucus, and the immune cells of the body often can’t reach them. It interferes with your immune system and brings down the body resilience. It may make you prone to digestive tract diseases. If you experience any symptom of these infections, you should avail treatment for Helicobacter pylori without delay. What causes these bacterial infections? Research on how H. Pylori infections are spread is still inadequate. H. pylori bacteria have coexisted with humankind since time immemorial. H. pylori infections are spread through the mouth or due to contact with contaminated food or water. H. pylori infections are known to be caused when the bacteria penetrate into the mucous lining of your stomach. The bacteria then neutralize the stomach acids by generating certain harmful substances. This infection causes irritation of the stomach lining and sores or peptic ulcers in the digestive tract, stomach or duodenum.

Nothing irritates a person more than sniffling throughout the day, and the very fact that it is the harbinger of other diseases should make you wary of it. What starts as an itchy throat can lead to a full-fledged case of nasal congestion. The human body has the ability to protect itself from various diseases, and the immune system is what helps it in this endeavor. However, due to poor diet or the magnitude of the disease, at times, the immune system fails to protect the body from the onslaught of diseases. Nasal congestion is one such infection which the body’s immune system couldn’t ward off. Though various treatments for nasal congestion are available, it causes great discomfort till the time it lasts. There’s not just one cause of nasal congestion; it stems from different sources. Irrespective of what is the source of nasal congestion, the treatment for nasal congestion is directed towards curing it of the roots. The causes and symptoms of nasal congestion Usually, common cold has been identified as the cause of nasal congestion. The common cold is known to give the individual a runny nose, which is a symptom of nasal congestion. However, one cannot simply limit the causes of nasal congestion to the common cold. Nasal congestion occurs when the nasal passage is blocked since the membrane lining of the passage is swollen due to inflammation of the blood vessels. It’s not just a common cold that results in such condition; there are other factors that cause nasal congestion. They are as follows: Various elements in the environment can irritate the individual when he comes in contact with it. These are often responsible for triggering nasal congestion. Nasal congestion is also caused due to a deviated septum. Another cause of nasal congestion is hay fever.

A healthy diet can keep you away from thousands of diseases. If you follow healthy diet rules, then you can fight the disease more strongly and recover fast. In this busy life schedule, everyone is busy with their own struggles of life. People forget to feel happy, spend a lonely time, and eat healthy cooked homemade mood. When it comes to a meal, 80% of people often skip their breakfast. Breakfast the essential routine of life, which boosts up your energy level and make your stomach healthy. The stomach is the center of a healthy body. If your stomach is fit perfectly, then you will never get sick easily. But, if you are the one who often faces stomach problems, then it is a time when you need to do something good for your stomach. When it comes to stomach diseases, the irritable bowel syndrome is one of them that occur due to a bad routine. In this disease, the intestine becomes inflamed because of the reversed action of immune system towards the body. In this disease, the survival feels belly pain and the symptoms of either constipation or diarrhea and gas blotting. The causes of irritable bowel syndrome are various, but the topmost are bad routine, food allergies, etc. If you inspect the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with you, then don’t worry. You can fix this problem by opting the right diet. Here we have arranged some important diets for irritable bowel syndrome that you can follow for the fast recovery. High-fiber diet The high fiber food including fruits, vegetable, and whole grains are the rich source of nutrients. The high-fiber irritable bowel syndrome diet adds bulks to stool, which responsible for its movements. You can follow high fiber diet to get proper nutrition without consuming a high amount of food.

A dry cough, also known as persistent dry cough, and productive cough are of two types. A productive cough is usually experienced with phlegm or mucous-whilst coughing and should not be suppressed. Phlegm is the gunk that the body needs to get rid of. Persistent dry cough, on the other hand, usually occurs together with a tickly cough and is usually caused due to allergy or by viral infections. Unlike a productive cough, a dry cough does not produce any phlegm or mucous. Since persistent dry cough is caused by viral infection, it is important to understand the underlying problem before discussing the remedies of the same. A dry cough can be triggered by cold, flu viruses and other atmospheric pollutants that irritate the throat. Dry coughs usually result due to irritation or inflammation at the back of the throat. Also, it can sometimes arise deeper in the chest. Persistent dry cough not only irritates but also disturbs sleep pattern. Let’s understand the common problems that cause persistent dry cough. Following are the common causes of dry coughs: Viral infections –Commonly known as cold and flu, viral infection causes coughs that occurs at the start or middle of an illness and lingers on even when other symptoms of the infection have subsided. Allergies –Allergies are also seen to be behind dry coughs. For instance, Hayfever, an allergy to tree pollen and grass, leads to eyes and nose irritation and is often seen to lead to coughs. People who are sensitive to other particles like animal fur, which is termed as allergic rhinitis, are at risk of developing this symptom. Air pollutants –It is often seen that air pollutants often irritate the back of the throat. This can give rise to dry coughs. A simple example of this would be a non-smoker entering a smoking room.

Lupus Skin Rash is a disease which causes inflammation, flare-ups and has several other symptoms. The improper functioning of the immune system damages the skin tissue and results in flare-ups. The symptoms of lupus skin rash start in the early adulthood from the age of thirty and worsen as the age progresses. Studies reveal the occurrence of lupus is high among women as compared to men. Lupus skin rash affects people in different ways. Some of them suffer from mild symptoms while other could have a severe problem. The disease can’t be cured permanently, however, treatment can reduce the intensity of pain. Common symptoms of lupus skin rash The main symptoms which characterize the lupus skin rash are fever, rash, hair fall, fatigue, kidney infections, and inflammation in joints, dried mouth, thyroid troubles and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Nail problems: You may have discolored and brittle nails due to lupus. The nails may crack and fall anytime. At times red spots are formed in the nail bed due to the inflammation of the blood vessels. Joint pain: Pain in the wrists, fingers, limbs, and knees are the initial signs of lupus. You can even suffer from muscular pain, which causes inflammation. Fever: People with lupus suffer from mild to high degree fever along with fatigue. They could feel exhausted throughout the day and find it difficult to walk. Butterfly rash: As the name indicates butterfly-shaped rash appears across the cheeks and Nose Bridge. Red spots, mouth sores, and purple rashes are some of the prime signs of butterfly rash. Hair fall: People may experience the falling of hair. The hair becomes thin on the scalp along with the development of flakes on the scalp. Sensitivity to light: Patients with lupus are highly sensitive to the sun. Spending a day in the sunlight can trigger the rashes.

There is a general misconception that cholesterol is bad for your health and heart. Fat is needed by the body to perform all metabolic functions. Not all cholesterol is bad. The fats that you consume, contain cholesterol in them (the levels differ depending on the food category). And it is the bad cholesterol that plays havoc with your heart health. A high level of bad cholesterol (LDL), low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) are a cause for concern. To maintain ideal cholesterol levels, wherein the levels of HDL is more than LDL calls for a proper diet and active lifestyle. What is good and bad cholesterol? HDL Good cholesterol or HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) is healthy cholesterol that is needed by the body. High HDL levels, not only help in lowering the levels of LDL, they also help in prevent heart diseases and stroke. In fact, when a blood test is done to verify the cholesterol levels, doctors first read the levels of HDL. As long as the HDL levels are greater in proportion, in total cholesterol levels, you’re on the safer side. Numerous studies have proved that low HDL levels increase the risk of heart disease. LDL LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) is bad cholesterol that causes plaque build up along the artery walls, causing blockages and resulting in heart attack. Higher LDL levels put you at a greater risk of having a heart disease. If your blood tests have high LDL levels, it’s time to take measures through diet and exercise which can help in lowering LDL levels. Triglycerides The most common type of fat in our body are triglycerides. The excess energy from the food that you eat, is stored as triglycerides. High triglycerides, low HDL, and high LDL is the potent combination that can lead to heart disease. Impact of cholesterol Excess amounts of cholesterol in the body forms a thick layer in the artery walls.

Diabetes and diets are closely linked; hence, they are one of the most important aspects to monitor. If you are diabetic, increase lean proteins and high fiber, while reducing processed carbohydrates in your diet. You must also increase your fruit, vegetable, and low-fat dairy food intake. Hypertension Stopping Diet This diet plan was designed to fight hypertension, but it is also found to be helpful in bringing down the risk of diabetes. Moreover, it may help in weight loss as this diet involves reducing portions and meal sizes. Blood pressure is the primary focus of this diet. It focuses on including nutrients like magnesium potassium and calcium, and includes the following foods. Seafood and poultry for protein Fresh vegetables (especially beans) and fresh fruits Nuts and seeds Fat-free or low-fat dairy products Whole grains Vegetable oils for healthy fats People on this diet should limit their sodium consumption to no more 1500 for a day. It is advisable to cut down on red meat and desserts. Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean diet derives itself from the traditional Mediterranean cuisine and is one of the best diets for diabetes. This diet contains a high amount of naturally available oleic acid. It has been proven to reduce fasting sugar level and helps manage weight. Moreover, it lowers the risk of metabolic disorders. The following foods are included in the diet. Chicken, eggs, and fatty fishes like salmon Fresh fruits and vegetables Nuts and seeds Olive oil and nuts Paleolithic Diet This diet is created on the assumption that current-day chronic diseases are caused due to modern agricultural practices. This diet includes foods that are possible to acquire by hunting and gathering, just like our ancestors acquired them. It is also considered as one of the best diets for diabetes and includes the following foods.