Did you know that you can manage your GERD symptoms by making some small changes in your everyday life? Here’s what you can do. Most of us have heard about heartburn and acid reflux, which are both common problems that people face quite often. These aren’t life-threatening conditions, but if the symptoms persist and are occurring at least twice a week interfering with your everyday life, it may have progressed to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is a chronic disease that affects your digestive system. GERD occurs when the stomach acid (or even contents of your stomach, at times) move back up into your esophagus (food pipe) and irritate the lining. In the United States, approximately 25- 40 percent of all adults suffer from some form of GERD. What are the usual GERD symptoms? You may experience a number of GERD symptoms, and some of these may even be painful as the disorder interferes with the normal functioning of your digestive system. The most common symptom of this health condition is heartburn, although not everyone who has GERD experiences this symptom. Some of the GERD symptoms that you need to look out for include: A sensation of burning in your chest (heartburn). This can sometimes spread to your throat, and leave a sour taste in your mouth. Hoarseness or a sore throat, which occurs when your stomach acid enters the throat. Pain or discomfort in the chest Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia). You may even find it troublesome to swallow things like ice cream and water. Dry cough that can be persistent. Regurgitation of food that you have eaten or sour liquid (acid reflux) A feeling of a lump in your throat This happens in people with GERD because acid reflux irritates the airways. An unexplained increase of saliva Earaches Bad breath Can you control your GERD symptoms naturally?

Xarelto is a drug that is mainly used in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). As is the case with most of the drugs, there are several side effects associated with Xarelto. Read on to know more about the Xarelto side effects. Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a serious medical condition that occurs when a blood clot is formed in one or more of the deep veins in the body. It most commonly affects a deep vein in your leg, and causes leg pain as well as swelling. It is a serious medical condition because the blood clots can travel through the bloodstream to your lungs, and block the blood flow leading to pulmonary embolism. Some of the symptoms associated with DVT are pain, tenderness, and swelling in your calves, a heavy ache and redness in the affected area, and warmth in the area of the clot. There are some cases of DVT that do not show any symptoms whatsoever. If it is not treated in time, you may suffer from pulmonary embolism that is characterized by chest pain, breathlessness, and collapsing suddenly. DVT typically affects only one leg and the pain will be worse when you are bending your foot towards your knees. The exact cause of DVT is not yet known, however, there are certain circumstances that tend to increase the risk of developing this disorder. When you are inactive for a long period of time, like after an operation, your blood flow slows down considerably. The chances of a blood clot increase when the blood flow slows down. Certain medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, thrombophilia, infectious diseases, and lung disease are also known to increase the risk of DVT. The standard medications that are used to treat deep vein thrombosis are anticoagulants, which are also known as ‘blood-thinning’ medicines.

Fibromyalgia is a common condition, but often goes misdiagnosed. Also known as a musculoskeletal condition, fibromyalgia causes pain in the muscle and joints resulting in a lot of fatigue. This can also lead to what is commonly referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome, which is a set of symptoms like pain in the muscle, fatigue, and decreased pain threshold. People often tend to overlook two of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia—chronic pain and fatigue. Persistent pain in joints or muscles should be immediately checked out. The pain might not necessarily be the result of overworking or stress but can be prime indicators of developing fibromyalgia. Common symptoms of fibromyalgia: Here are some other indicators of fibromyalgia. Disturbances in sleep, which affects sleep patterns and causes fatigue, often leading to moody behavior and depression, are among the top symptoms of fibromyalgia. Severe muscle twitching, burning sensation under the skin, deep pain, and muscle pulling. Fibromyalgia also affects the neck joints, shoulder joints, back joints, and hip joints, among common areas. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include abdominal pain; chronic headaches; dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes; stiffness in the body due to muscle pulling and pain; incontinence; inability to concentrate which is also known as fibro fog; and increased sensitivity to temperature changes. Myths about fibromyalgia busted Many people are under the impression that fibromyalgia is something which is rare and does not affect many. But this is not true, taking into account that more than 5 million people in the country suffer from this chronic pain disorder. The fact that only a few are aware of the statistics explains why the symptoms of fibromyalgia often go unnoticed and untreated, until and unless the condition worsens. Symptoms of fibromyalgia can be often confused with symptoms of most common pain disorders, which is why it takes some time to ascertain for sure that the condition is fibromyalgia.

Pneumonia is an infection that targets one or both the lungs. This infection commonly causes an inflammation of the airspaces in the lungs. The air sacs in the lungs are known as alveoli. The inflamed alveoli get filled with pus and liquid, making it extremely difficult to breathe. Pneumonia and symptoms of pneumonia are caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi that lead to the formation of an infection. However, pneumonia can also be caused by noninfectious elements such as toxic elements and foreign matter that are inhaled through breathing. Pneumonia is a life-threatening condition, if not treated in time. A large population around the world loses the battle to pneumonia every year. This fatal disease can affect anybody, irrespective of their age or gender. However, elderly people and individuals who have a weak immune system are at a greater risk of suffering from this condition. It is more serious and difficult to treat when contracted by younger kids, old individuals, and people who already suffer from a medical condition. The condition and symptoms of pneumonia generally begin when one inhales a bad germ into the lungs. A person who is suffering from cold or fever is likely to get the disease as these infectious conditions make it difficult for the lungs to restrain and fight against the germs. Also, people who have chronic illnesses like diabetes or cancer may have a higher risk. Pneumonia is contagious and can spread through inhalation of droplets from the sneeze or cough of an affected person. However, there are some types of pneumonia that are not contagious and do not spread through contact or being around a patient. Symptoms of pneumonia can be easily noticeable and come quickly after the lungs are infected. The symptoms also differ on the basis of age and the type of pneumonia.

There are various reasons why people suffer from leg pain. While one of the common leg pain causes is the physical activity such as exercise or sports, some people suffer from leg pain due to some severe illness conditions. Sprains and strains are common due to physical activity. The ligaments and muscles are the most affected areas due to strains and sprain. The calf muscle, thighs, elbows, etc. are the most affected parts during sprains and strains. Usually, sprains and strains do not require medical care, and some times a spray can help in reducing the swelling and pain. Here are some of the reasons other than physical activity which cause leg pain: Peripheral vascular disease Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a disease which is related to the blood vessels. The disease is caused due to blockage, narrowing down of the blood vessels related to heart and brain. This disease can affect arteries, veins, stomach and other parts of the body. The disease affects the blood vessels where they become barrow which reduces the flow of blood. The arteries get hardened, or blood vessels get spasms which restrict the flow of blood. These blood vessels, arteries, or veins can be affected anywhere in the body and especially when they are affected in the legs, they cause leg pains. There are two types of PVD known as functional and organic. In functional peripheral vascular disease, the physical damage of the blood vessels is not done. The blood vessels can get narrowed or widen, which can decrease the flow of blood. In the functional PVD, the blood vessels show the response in an extreme way whether it may be widening or narrowing due to the factors such as stress, temperature changes, etc. Deep vein thrombosis When one suffers from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots are formed in blood veins which are deep inside the body.

Hemorrhoids, also widely known as piles, are blood vessels that are part of the muscles making up the walls of the anus and rectum. It will be wrong to say that hemorrhoids are abnormal as it is part of the anatomy. However, when the hemorrhoids swell, it is a reflection of a problem. When too much of pressure is exerted on the small vessels that makeup hemorrhoids, they tend to increase in size and encompass excess of blood. A very common medical issue, a large population around the world suffers from this condition at least once in their lifetime. Hemorrhoids are either caused on the inside or outside the anus. Internal hemorrhoids develop around the inside lining of the anus and rectum and are only felt when they are very severe. In most cases, these kinds of hemorrhoids are only apparent during bowel movements as they cause bleeding. Internal hemorrhoids may also protrude and feel like moist pink skin. This causes pain around the anus; however, these hemorrhoids recede into the rectum after a while. External hemorrhoids, however, can be seen and felt during the course of passing stools. They are lower than the anus and are extremely painful as they can develop blood clots within. It is also likely to profusely bleed during the bowel movement routine. Therefore, it is essential to adopt one of some of the best hemorrhoid remedies available in the market. Both men and women are at the risk of suffering from this condition. A prevalence of hemorrhoid is likely to be seen among people who are above the age of 40. What are the causes of hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids are caused by several factors and the lifestyle one leads can greatly impact the condition. Diet – The diet followed by an individual not only determines the overall health of a person but can have a big role to play in causing and preventing hemorrhoids.

A fit or seizure is a medical condition characterized by unreasonably immoderate activity in the brain. There is a series of chemical reactions, which leads to an imbalance between the brain cells.Commonly, a seizure is a symptom of epilepsy. However, a person facing issues such as trauma, hypoglycemia, hypoxia or drug abuse may also have seizure attacks. Seizures often point at some disease in the brain that may stand undetected. Not all of them are noticeable and may affect individuals differently. People suffering from fits experience unrestrained movement or transitory loss of consciousness of the surroundings. Usually, electroencephalography is conducted to find out the level of electrical activity in the brain. A seizure goes through three stages. The first stage is known as the aura. It is a symptom that warns the occurrence of a seizure. The second stage is the ictal stage. This is marked by the actual escalation in electrical activity in the brain. The last stage is the postictal stage where the recovery takes place. It is not necessary that every person will pass through all the stages or experience the same duration. Following are the signs one needs to be aware of to detect the occurrence of seizures at the earliest. A headache accompanied by giddiness – Persistent headache along with the feeling to vomit all the time can be an essential symptom of seizures. Peculiar feelings – Déjà vu and Jamais vu are common feelings experienced before a fit. These can lead to jumbled thoughts and panic attacks. Unclear vision – Everything around can look blurry and confusing. Imaginary objects can begin to appear in front of the eyes (hallucinations). Blackout – The major symptom of seizures is the loss of awareness or loss of consciousness. One loses sight of the situation or can even faint temporarily.

Everybody has seen the occurrence of dark circles at one point or the other in their life. Now, what exactly are these dark circles? It is a condition where the skin under the eyes of an individual gets pigmented. Dark circles do not pose any serious threat to one’s health. However, they are believed to be aesthetically displeasing and may lead to low self-confidence. While the cause of these dark circles is often not dangerous, however, if these are persistent, there might be a serious ailment behind. The skin under the eyes is very fragile, because of which dark circles are prominent specifically in that area. The reason behind their appearance range from nonserious issues such as inadequate sleep, excessive consumption of alcohol, stress, allergies, old age to severe ones such as periorbital cellulitis, hyperthyroidism, and liver ailment. Dark circles may also be inherited from one’s parents. It is an arduous task to heal these dark circles. Hence, it becomes essential to have an improved lifestyle to prevent their development. The different ways in which dark circles can be treated are as follows: Potato juice – Yes, potatoes are not only meant for eating but also for healing purposes. Placing a cloth dipped in the juice of raw potatoes on the eyes for a few minutes daily makes this an effective dark circle treatment option. Slices of cucumber – Cucumbers are refreshing and known for their water content. Chilled cucumber slices, when placed on the eyes, provide a cooling effect, and these are also a great dark circle treatment option. Tea bags – This is an age old tried and tested remedy. The tea bags used to make your favorite green tea can be refrigerated and used as one of the dark circle treatments. Meditation – Insomnia is one of the major reasons behind the occurrence of dark circles.

Diabetes has turned out to be a common problem that is suffered by a lot of people these days. If you are a diabetic patient and have been experiencing burning, shooting, and pricking feels in your hands and feet, then it is the case of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which is also called as diabetic nerve pain. It is mainly caused due to poor diabetes management and is a common problem among people suffering from diabetes. Nerve pain is known to be a pain that is non-protective. It is caused due to damage to nerves due to injury or diabetes. The nerves send signals to the brain. Even though the nerve damage cannot be resolved, controlling of blood sugar can be done easily so that further damage can be avoided. It is important to talk to your doctor if you come across of the symptoms of this problem. Symptoms The usual symptoms of diabetic nerve pain include burning, shooting, numbness, feeling of pricking of needles or pins, feel of electric shock, tingling, throbbing, stabbing, stinging, sensitivity to touch and radiating. The patients could also experience urination problems, vaginal dryness among women and erectile dysfunction among men. Depression and weight loss are often combined with diabetic nerve pain. Causes Diabetic nerve pain is a complication relating to diabetes that has become common among people who have had diabetes for more than about 20 years. This problem is caused due to many factors mentioned below. Nerve inflammation due to an over-reactive immunity system Damage to the nerves due to trauma or medical complications like rheumatoid arthritis Inherited weakness to nerve damage Damage to the blood vessels, which supply oxygen and various other nutrients to the nervous system Factors like low insulin level, high blood pressure, high lipid levels etc. Lifestyle factors like smoking, excess alcohol consumption, obesity etc.

There comes a time in the life of some people when they experience pain in the ankles or feet. Swelling in the ankles is a common condition among women who are pregnant. There is more than one reason that causes swelling in the ankles. Some of those include spending long periods walking or traveling that may hinder any moment of legs restricting blood circulation or surgery. Swollen ankles is not a serious problem. There are ways to deal with it. Swollen ankles and feet cause discomfort while walking or moving around. Podiatric physicians believe that there are ways to get rid of swelling and prevent the condition from occurring. The condition of swelling in the body is medically known as edema. It occurs when your body retains fluid in any part of your body. Retention of bodily fluid also occurs in the legs and feet. This causes the ankles to swell. There is no need to panic, as swelling in the ankles is not an emergency situation. The condition should be addressed with patience and care, as it can go away itself with the required care. Swollen ankle treatment options Swelling in the body, be in any part, would require attention in order to get relief from it. Following are a few effective, yet popular swollen ankle treatment options that can be considered to get relief from it. Compression socks Compression socks can be bought from a nearby pharmacy. Compression socks are a way to get relief from the pain and discomfort and also prevent fluid from collecting into your legs, feet, and ankles. They are found in all kind of weights: light, medium, and heavy. Always make sure that you buy a pair that fits well and is not too much tight. It is often recommended to buy lightweight socks that measure somewhere between 12–15 mm and 15–20 mm of mercury.

Plantar fasciitis is a condition which causes pain in the heels as the Plantar Fascia which is a tissue that connects the heel bone to toes. This flat tissue supports the foot arch. The tissue when gets strained or hurt, it pains when the person with this condition stands or walks for a long time. This condition of pain in fat tissue known as plantar fasciitis occurs in everyone and especially in sports people and professionals who stand for long hours while working. The plantar fascia is a tissue in the foot which causes strain in the ligament due to various reasons. The foot can get inflamed or swollen due to the strain in the tissue. The best plantar fasciitis insoles help in reducing the pain caused by the condition. The insoles help in aligning the foot so that the pressure on the tissue is taken off. This condition occurs when the flattening of the foot is more than the usual one which makes the foot longer. This makes the tissue in the foot to be non-stretchable, and the foot can only be pulled. When the tissue becomes non-stretchable micro tears start happening at the heel, which is caused due to the application of force on a particular point. The tearing causes the pain which can be relieved by removing the pressure from the particular point by using the best plantar fasciitis insoles in the footwear. Tips to choose orthotic insoles The orthotic insoles have to be chosen carefully as the wrongly chosen insole inserts can cause a lot of discomfort and pain. The shoes or the shoe inserts designed for the condition of plantar fasciitis must be designed with a soft cushion so that they heal the pain and provide the needed comfort to the soles. The pain and discomfort in people with plantar fasciitis vary from person to person.

Lupus, like many other autoimmune diseases, affects women more than men. Young women between the age group of 15 to 34 have been found to be suffering from lupus. However, no known cause of Lupus has been found. A mixture of genetic and environmental reasons has been attributed to Lupus. Lupus can affect any part of one’s body and the symptoms might vary from person to person. Some people show severe signs of Lupus while others might show only mild signs of this infection. Below are listed some of the common lupus symptoms in women, and an indication of any of these symptoms should be taken as a sign that one would be suffering from Lupus. Taking adequate precautions will always lead to signs of lupus getting weakened. Swelling in joints and pain One of the lupus symptoms in women is a pain, swelling in the joints, and stiffness in these parts in the morning. Pain and swelling in wrists and fingers indicate that lupus is on the way. However, this symptom is often confused with rheumatoid arthritis. However, the difference between lupus signs and rheumatoid arthritis can be understood from the fact that while lupus affects joints on one side of the body whereas, in rheumatoid arthritis, joints on both sides are affected. Moreover swelling in the case of Lupus is not permanent and might wither away with time. However, in rheumatoid arthritis, this swelling leads to disfiguring. Lupus also occurs in young women only and signs in older women do not develop to an advanced stage. Rashes on the face When exposed to the sun, lupus symptoms in women would include skin rashes. This is a characteristic feature of lupus. This kind of rash is typically known as butterfly rash and usually extends from bridge reason of the nose, goes through the cheekbone, and then further percolates to the jawbone.