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?

Cancers of different kinds are diseases that do not have a direct cause. Here are a few pancreatic cancer symptoms that could help understand and diagnose the condition in time for a good prognosis. Pancreatic cancer is a disease where malignant (cancerous) cells are formed within the tissues of the pancreas. The result of metastasis (where the tumor spreads and invades the other healthy organs and grows) is a more serious condition that is difficult to treat. Pancreatic cancer is a disease that is generally caused due to damage or mutations to the DNA. Often these mutations are inherited from either or both parents or could develop as we grow older. There are two types of pancreatic cancer – tumors affecting the exocrine or the endocrine functions of the pancreas. Tumors affecting the exocrine are the most commonly found ones. 95 percent of exocrine pancreatic cancers are a result of a malignant tumor called an adenocarcinoma. Tumors found in the endocrine and exocrine of the pancreas have varied signs and symptoms depending on where exactly it is located, the size of the tumor, and how far the cancer has spread. Though pancreatic cancer symptoms are rare, and they may not even be very prominent unless the cancerous cells have begun growing, here are a few of the surprising pancreatic cancer symptoms that you may never have connected to this condition. Unexplained weight loss Weight loss is one of the common pancreatic cancer symptoms that is easy to misdiagnose. Weight loss induced by cancer, also termed as ‘cancer cachexia’ is a problem affecting the way the body uses or rather breaks down the calories and proteins ingested. This condition leads to burning more calories, breaking down of muscle, and decrease in appetite thereby leading to unreasonable weight loss. Pain in the abdomen Another one of the surprising pancreatic cancer symptoms is unstoppable pain in the upper abdomen area.

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.

Many people think that Narcissism is just a phase, but that’s not the truth. Although it is human nature to be selfish and proud, a narcissist takes this to a whole new level. You can identify a narcissist by someone with an extremely high sense of importance and belief that they’re special, unique, or better than the others. About 6% of the entire population suffers from this disorder at least once in their lives and is more common in men than in women. If you think you or someone else has the characteristics of a narcissist, then read further to find out more about this personality disorder. An Overview The hallmark of a narcissist lies in their lack of understanding of someone else’s emotions or pain. They carry a highly inflated notion of themselves, but behind this, they have a relatively low self-esteem which can crack with the slightest bit of criticism. They find the need to be first in everyone’s life. This behavior can become incredibly annoying to people, often leading to the criticism of the narcissist. Symptoms Of Narcissistic Personality Disorder There are several symptoms of a narcissist, some of which are listed down below. A high sense of self-importance. They exaggerate their achievements, talents, and brilliance and expect praise for them even if they haven’t achieved anything that matches to their notion. Always preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited power, fame, success, beauty, etc. Believe that they are special or unique compared to others. Needs constant and excessive praise or admiration. Consider themselves to be entitled to significant privileges and special treatment. Exploits or takes advantages of others needs or beliefs. Most times, they have unreasonable expectations of people. Lacks the power of empathy or fails to understand the emotions or needs of others. Is envious of people.

A stroke is one of the most feared ailment that both men and women can suffer from. This is an attack on the brain that can happen to anyone at any time of their lives. The circulation of the blood to the brain is the primary source of oxygen that results in the smooth functioning of the human body. In case this flow of blood is disrupted, oxygen fails to reach the brain, and the brain cells start dying. This situation is called as a stroke. The physical and mental trauma of a stroke is not limited to just the patient but also affects the patient’s family and friends, as it is a life-threatening ailment. The severity of a stroke depends upon the area of the brain that is affected due to the lack of oxygen. It usually affects the motor control senses and causes disturbances in the nervous system of the patient. It is said that every stroke survivor faces different stroke symptoms. The possibilities of stroke may be detected earlier by a medical practitioner in case the person visits the doctor for any discomfort. Some common early stroke symptoms can broadly be categorized under the title of FAST. This stands for, F: Face drooping A: Arm weakness S: Speech difficulty T: Time to call for help When a person is under the threat of a stroke attack, their face might droop or feel numb when they smile or speak. Their speech may be slurred or abnormal. Also, their arms might feel numb when raised. In case a person undergoes any of these symptoms he or she should immediately call for help or send for medical assistance. Even if any of these signs are observed for a while and may subside after some time, it is still advised to visit a doctor at the earliest.

What are seizures? A seizure refers to a burst of electrical activity taking place in the human brain. It may last up to 30 minutes, and sometimes, the seizures may disappear within a few seconds. If you experience seizures repeatedly, you are exposed to epilepsy or seizures. Most people get early signs of seizures that may last a few minutes or a few hours or a few days. The warning signs can be described as ‘pre-ictal.’ Fundamentally, seizures can be classified into two categories, namely focal seizures and generalized seizures. When it comes to focal seizures, they begin in a specific area of your brain, and the seizures is named after the part on which they occur. You will experience physical as well as emotional effects, and the focal seizures also make you hear or see things that do not exist. Around sixty percent of people, who are suffering from epilepsy, experience this kind of seizure. These seizures are also known as partial seizures, and there is a chance of mistaking the partial seizures symptoms with mental illness or nerve disorder signs. The nerve cells located on the two sides of your brain misfire when you experience generalized seizures: You may fall, blackout or experience muscle spasm during the period of experiencing a generalized seizure. What are the major signs of seizures? Strange or unusual feelings Many people often have a strange, odd or unusual feeling before a seizure. You may experience it days or hours before the attack of seizure. It is something like feeling disoriented or confused, and a sense of detachment is experienced from the environment. Some people are found completely lost, and there can be a daydreaming tendency as well. Auras Auras are one of the common signs of seizures. It has been found out some people experiencing a strange smell, and many have to deal with a weird taste in their mouth.

What is the meaning of the term “probiotics”? It means the bacteria that we consume particularly for health benefits. Our gut or large intestine contains a lot of bacteria, and they are collectively known as the microbiome. The microbiome consists of more than 1000 various species of bacteria, and they can be divided into individual strains. Probiotics can change the balance of the bacteria available in the gut, and they are made of one or more strains. If you can consume the right species based on the already existing bacteria in the gut, they can deliver some good results. Probiotics help you treat irritable bowel syndrome effectively. Various studies suggest that approximately 15% of the population is suffering from irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. IBS infected people show irregular bowel habits, and other symptoms include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. Probiotics are being extensively used in the treatment of IBS. What are the best probiotics for IBS? The most popular and well-researched species are Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. Shortage of these two species can always be associated with IBS patients. Best probiotics for IBS with constipation People, who suffer from constipated issues, can take a natural supplement containing probiotic strain known as Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12. Various clinical studies have been conducted on this strain of probiotics. It can be described as the most researched strain in the entire family of Bifidobacteria. Most of the studies have shown that this strain is extremely beneficial to get rid of constipation and encourage good bowel movements. Supplements containing Bifidobacterium lactis also improves gut health, and they are an excellent source of fiber because of the presence of Fructooligosaccharides. Most effective probiotics for IBS with diarrhea If you are suffering from frequent diarrhea, you can select Saccharomyces boulardii. It is a proven product to deliver the best support for improving gut health and several clinical studies back the advantages of this product.

Pulmonary embolism is an ailment where a blood clot gets transported to the arteries of the lungs. The clot develops in some other part of the body and moves to the lungs causing minor to major blockages. It may affect multiple arteries inducing partial or complete damage to the lungs. Pulmonary embolism can be catalyzed by cancer, obesity, old age, and heredity. Often, pulmonary embolism symptoms are the outcome of deep vein thrombosis. Deep vein thrombosis refers to the establishment of a blood clot in the veins lying deep inside the body particularly in the legs. At times, this clot gets severed from the parent vein and traverses through the body to reach the lungs obstructing the flow of blood. This complicated condition is known as pulmonary embolism. A major clot can lead to deprivation of oxygen to the lungs resulting in death. It, therefore, becomes necessary to be aware of the symptoms of this condition that remains undetected in most cases. It can prove fatal if neglected. The following are the major pulmonary embolism symptoms one should know about: Shortness of breath – Though the symptoms vary according to the characteristics of the clot, the most common one is shortness of breath. This pulmonary embolism symptom often leads to difficulty in breathing and discomfort. Chest pain – Another prominent pulmonary embolism symptom is chest pain which may be mild or severe. It is abrupt and is magnified by the act of breathing. Tachypnea – Pulmonary embolism is also characterized by hasty breathing or tachypnea. This involves breathing more than 20 times in a minute. Blood stains in a cough – Extreme coughing comprising of blood-stained mucus can be another common pulmonary embolism symptom. This condition is called hemoptysis, and it can lead to choking. Loss of consciousness – Pulmonary embolism results in low blood pressure.

TSH level or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Level is the hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland that regulated the level of hormones in the body. A blood test is conducted to explore your hormone level. This test helps you determine your thyroid which helps look into normal TSH levels along with thyroxine (T4) in your blood. A high and low level of both these thyroid hormones helps determine underactive thyroid. When one notices normal TSH levels, it would indicate that a person does not have thyroid-related issues. An underactive thyroid is determined by the high level of TSH and a low level of T4 in the blood. If one finds normal TSH levels but the T4 is showing low, then it is highly probable that there is a risk of developing an underactive thyroid. This may require a blood test and monitoring often in order to assess the risk level of a person to avoid future thyroid problems. Sometimes, the T3 or triiodothyronine hormone is also used to check underactive hormone but it is seen that T3 hormone can remain normal even when there is a significant underactive thyroid. You may also have an overactive thyroid and these can be detected by keeping a check on the symptoms. This is referred to as Hypothyroidism. When the TSH level is measured, the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is usually associated with low or suppressed levels which would not indicate normal TSH levels. Thyroid hormones such as T3 or T4 will be increased for patients with hyperthyroidism. It is not necessary that all the hormones would be high and sometimes only one or two hormones being high can lead to hyperthyroidism. Feeling extremely cold and struggling to keep warm is also a symptom of underactive thyroid. Feeling extremely hot is also a symptom of thyroid issues.

Huntington’s disease results in the brain nerve cells’ progressive degeneration or breakdown. It is a hereditary disease and adversely affects your functional abilities. Psychiatric, cognitive and movement disorders can be associated with this disease. The symptoms of this disease normally develop in the 30s or 40s of the life of an individual. If you develop this disease prior to 20 years of age, it is known as juvenile Huntington’s disease. This type of early occurrence causes different kinds of symptoms and speedy progression of the disease. Major symptoms In addition to psychiatric, cognitive and movement disorders, this disease has many other symptoms. The first symptom that manifests depends on the unique condition of the affected person. As the disease progresses, certain disorders become more dominant and they create more impact on the functional ability. Movement disorders When it comes to movement disorders, there are two types of problems and they include voluntary movement impairments and involuntary movement issues. Some of the most prominent disorders under these categories are muscle problems like dystonia or muscle rigidity, unusual eye movements, impaired balance, posture and gait, speech production or swallowing related difficulty, chorea and involuntary impairments that make it really difficult for a person to perform daily activities and communicate. Cognitive disorders The most common cognitive impairment problem connected with this disease is the difficulty of focusing on tasks, organizing and prioritizing. The affected people often lose the flexibility to get stuck on a thought and they also lose the natural tendency to focus on an action. Sexual promiscuity is another cognitive disorder and the patients lose the control over the impulses that lead to outbursts. These people are not aware of their own abilities and behaviors and they often find it extremely hard to learn new information. Another cognitive disorder that affected people experience is the slowness in processing thoughts.

Sitting in the backyard and enjoying the weather can be an issue especially in warmer seasons when mosquitoes freely buzz around and pose a potential threat to the health of your family. Although mosquito repellants serve as an interim solution to this problem, a proper backyard mosquito control becomes essential for permanent results. Before finding out ways to get rid of these tiny insects, it essential to know about the breeding cycle as well as common locations where they might reproduce. Understanding the breeding cycle – A female mosquito has the capacity of laying eggs multiple times after one session of mating with the male mosquito. The surface of the water body is where t he mosquito lays eggs, and these do not hatch until the water level rises due to rain, etc. While mosquitoes grow in a typical larvae-pupae-adult cycle, the time duration taken by each stage will depend on the species present in the backyard. Adult mosquitoes are capable of biting in the winter season as well. Possible locations – The eggs are laid in damp areas such as water and marshes where there is sufficient amount of moisture. In the backyard, the hotspots include areas such as gutters, pots, tires, bird baths, buckets and the like. It is noteworthy that mosquitoes can fly up to forty miles from the place of their birth. Reducing breeding areas can at least prevent them from mating and producing more mosquitoes in the house. The size of mosquitoes may be small, but their sting can cause life-threatening diseases. There are numerous backyard mosquito control measures, and a combination can be undertaken for effective elimination. Some mosquitoes are resistant to certain forms of control methods and therefore, hiring the services of a professional pest controller can ensure that the right method is used.

There are many factors which can be considered to cause hair loss. This can happen due to hair follicles getting clogged by oil, or the scalp can be lacking in vitamins. An alternate form of testosterone is also known to inhibit the growth of hair. Of the numerous hair loss treatment options available in the market some have side effects in the form of dryness and dandruff which can prove detrimental to the growth of hair. Choosing the shampoo for hair loss The shampoo for hair loss should be ideally free from chemical as these cause harm to the hair. A person should also have some knowledge of the type of hair they have as picking the wrong shampoo for hair loss can cause more trouble than good. If your scalp is dry, the shampoo for oily scalp and hair will do no good to you. Instead, the focus should be on shampoo that is most suitable for dry scalp. The shampoo you choose to cure the hair loss should be from a reputed brand, picking up new and unknown shampoo can cause a problem, and in worst cases, you will have to consult your dermatologist for a solution. A good shampoo would be one which has ingredients loaded with minerals, essential oils and vitamins as these are considered a good combination for maintaining the health of hair. However, it should always be remembered that there are different underlying reasons for hair loss and treatment through shampoo could be one of the options. Using the hair growth shampoo For the ingredients of the shampoo to begin their work, these should be absorbed properly by the scalp. You can always apply these shampoos in the same way any other such shampoo is used. On the wet hair, the shampoo is to be left for some time so that the ingredients soak into the hair follicles and do their job.