Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in your joints. Here is everything you need to know about the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in your joints, usually, the small joints of your hands and feet. Affecting around 1.5 million people in America, this form of arthritis can lead to cartilage damage, if it is left unchecked. It is much more common in women and generally occurs in individuals over the age of 40. Apart from affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis can also cause problems in other organs of the body like the eyes, blood vessels, skin, and the lungs. Fatigue, fever, morning joint stiffness, swollen and tender joints, and weight loss are some of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. In most cases of this type of arthritis, the symptoms are symmetrical. In other words, most often than not, the same joints are affected on both sides of the body. The rheumatoid arthritis symptoms vary in severity from one person to another. They also tend to come and go; the periods of the symptoms flaring up will alternate with periods when the symptoms go into remission. Over a period of time, as this disease progresses, it can cause the joints to shift out of place and deform. No known cause of rheumatoid arthritis has been found yet, therefore, the treatment plan basically focuses on easing the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and the discomfort caused due to joint stiffness. The treatment plan can only go into action after the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is made. It can be quite difficult to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis because there are many conditions that cause joint inflammation and joint stiffness. Also, there is no single definitive test for this type of arthritis.

It is very important to have an in-depth understanding and awareness regarding your allergies and their subsequent symptoms. Allergic reactions vary from mild ones to very serious type and at times, can even prove to be fatal. You need to take the necessary precautions and adopt preventive measures in order to avoid further complications. Allergy symptoms occur due to the instant activation of the white blood cells, generally called mast cells and basophils such as Immunoglobulin E, in response to exposure to even non-toxic and safe environmental elements. It is crucial to recognize the symptoms and the early signs of an allergy in order to prevent problems. Medical experts and allergists prescribe anti-histamines, steroids, and even immunotherapy so that the body’s response to the allergen can be desensitized. Some of the different kind of allergies are mentioned below: Food allergy Many people react to a large variety of foods including vinegar, soy, seafood, eggs, shellfish, cow’s milk, peanuts, wheat flour, etc., exhibiting mild to severe reactions. A reaction is generally triggered when the protein present in the food is erroneously identified by the body’s immune system as harmful. A food allergy will usually trigger some kind of reaction every time that typical food is consumed. Food allergy symptoms are common in children, but they can manifest at any age. You can even develop a reaction to safe foods, which you have eaten for years with no problems. Food allergens can stimulate the body to go into extreme reactions such as anaphylactic shock. It is best to avoid such foods and in case of emergency, immediately consult your allergist. Food allergy symptoms Upset stomach Constant pain in the stomach Vomiting Nausea Diarrhea Trouble in swallowing Shortness of breath Shock Dizziness A repetitive cough Dust allergy Dust allergy is caused by mites or microscopic organisms.

Sitting in a single position for a long time at the office or elsewhere can result in having deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot or thrombus in a single or more, deep veins in the body, mostly the thighs or lower legs, but can also come up in other areas of the body. It is a serious condition which occurs with leg pain, swelling, redness or warmness but may also occur without any symptoms. What is a blood clot? It is a gelatinous lump of blood in a solid state. Scientifically, DVT can be explained as the interplay of three processes which are changes to the blood vessel wall, an increased tendency to clot (hypercoagulability) and a decreased blood flow rate (venous stasis). It can be life threatening when the clot caused by DVT travels and makes it way to the lungs; this is also called pulmonary embolism. This can lead to many more complications. The symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include the following: Severe leg pain is the most common symptom for DVT that usually begins with the calf but later may spread to your entire legs. Pain alone cannot be a determinant for DVT though it is an important one. Swelling in the feet, leg or ankle mostly on one side is also a sign of a development of DVT in your body. Some areas of the leg feel warmer than the other parts of the body, though this may be temporary in some cases and the person may not think much of it, but it is a factor that many doctors when asked, get a positive revert from the patients. Discolouration or redness-blueness on the area affected is some of the very few visible symptoms of DVT. Distention of surface veins can occur.

Primarily a headache disorder, migraine is usually characterized by recurrent headaches and can be diagnosed on the basis of medical history, symptoms, and physical & neurological examination. Migraine is a common problem in the country and is accompanied by physical warning signs like blind spots, nausea, flashes of light, tingling sensation in arms and legs, vomiting, etc. The excruciating pain during migraine last for several hours or even days. To combat this pain, there are several treatments for migraine that help in easing severe pain. Treatments for Migraine There are different treatments for migraine that are known to stop symptoms and avoid future attacks. There are different medications that are designed specifically to treat migraines. Medications used to combat migraines can be classified into the following two categories: Pain-relieving medications – abortive or acute treatment, these medications are usually taken at the time of migraine attack and are specifically designed to stop or avert the symptoms. Preventive medications – These medications are often taken regularly to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. There are some medicines that are not recommended or advised if the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, there are some medicines that are not suitable for children. It is best to consult a doctor before starting any medicine. Pain-relieving Medications Pain-relieving medication should be taken as soon as symptoms of migraine are experienced. The medication works when taking at an initial stage and helps in easing the pain. Also, during migraine attack, it is advised to sleep in a dark room with no light. Migraine treatment medications include: Pain relievers for mild migraines belong to classes and OTC drugs For moderate migraine pain medications belong to Acetaminophen, Aspirin and Caffeine, Triptans are classes of medications that are used for treating moderate to severe types of migraine.

Parkinson’s disease and tardive dyskinesia (TD) are neurological disorders whose onset is marked by several similar yet distinct indicators. These symptoms may not always be obvious; however, it is important to recognize them early for timely diagnosis and intervention. The significant difference between Parkinson’s disease and TD is that in the former condition, individuals experience difficulty moving, while the latter is characterized by involuntary movements. Here are some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and TD. Micrographia Micrographia, the gradual reduction in handwriting size, is a subtle yet significant early sign of Parkinson’s disease. Those grappling with Parkinson’s may encounter difficulties sustaining legible scripts as the ailment advances. This seemingly benign symptom can signal underlying neurologic shifts. Olfactory sensation loss Anosmia, the absence of the sense of smell, can be an initial indicator of Parkinson’s and TD. A diminishing capacity to detect odors or an abrupt olfactory impairment frequently transpires years before the emergence of other discernible symptoms. This symptom is caused by the degeneration of nerve cells in the olfactory bulb. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) Restless Leg Syndrome, characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs, emerges as a common unspoken symptom of Parkinson’s and TD. Individuals with these conditions may experience discomfort and a constant need to shift their legs. Slouched posture A stooped or hunched posture is a physical change observed in Parkinson’s patients. This symptom, known as postural instability, happens due to the impairment of postural reflexes and can lead to challenges in maintaining an erect posture. Understanding this postural shift helps in early diagnosis and proper treatment. Swift blinking and facial contortions Tardive dyskinesia often leads to involuntary movements of the face and eyes, including rapid blinking, facial contortions, and tongue protrusion. Recognizing these silent symptoms of Parkinson’s and TD is important in facilitating timely diagnosis and care.

A low glucose level leads to several problems in your body and thus you need to maintain a normal blood sugar level to ensure good health. People with diabetes who are taking medications or insulin to lower their blood sugar levels are at high risk of facing this condition. Insulin is produced in the pancreas that helps your body break down glucose, getting energy for the whole day. However, people with abnormal production of insulin suffer from diabetes. People who are consuming more glucose get it stored in the muscles and liver in the form of fat, which is used as energy when needed later. Symptoms of low blood sugar Mentioned here are the symptoms of low blood sugar: Blurry vision Blurry vision is a common symptom of low blood sugar, and you may feel like you are losing your consciousness. Pale skin You may get pale skin that comes as a prime symptom of low blood sugar levels, and it’s important to consult your doctor in such a case. Nervousness Feeling nervousness can also be an indication of low blood sugar levels, which leads to you feeling anxious, followed by emotional instability. You may get an outburst of emotions that lead to other health problems, reducing the quality of life. Continuous hunger Low blood sugar levels lead to continuous hunger as if you have been starving. Your body’s need for glucose gives rise to a feeling of hunger. Severe shakes You may get severe shakes that are one of the symptoms of low blood sugar. The central nervous system starts malfunctioning in releasing catecholamine, which are the chemicals that boost the glucose production, and this leads to low blood sugar and its symptoms. Difficulty while sleeping You may face difficulty while sleeping, which indicates low blood sugar. You may get nightmares, causing tremendous emotional disturbances, which may even lead to sleepwalking.

Deep vein thrombosis or DVT occurs when there is a blood clot in one of the deep veins in your body. Here is everything you need to know about the different methods used for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis. When you have a blood clot in one of the deep veins, you are suffering from deep vein thrombosis or DVT. Typically, DVT affects the deep vein in your leg, and may cause swelling and pain in the leg without any other symptoms. You are at a higher risk of developing DVT, if you smoke, are overweight, lead a sedentary lifestyle, and are over the age of 60. It is extremely important that you keep an eye out for the possible signs of DVT, if you have a high risk of developing it. Deep vein thrombosis is considered to be a serious medical condition because if the blood clots break loose from your vein, they can travel to your lungs and block the blood flow there, leading to a life-threatening complication called pulmonary embolism. Therefore, it is crucial to be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms of DVT. DVT can show no symptoms in some of the cases, at least initially. However, when you do experience symptoms they will mostly be a pain in the leg that starts in your calf, and swelling in the leg that is affected. Some of the risk factors that are associated with deep vein thrombosis include prolonged bed rest, surgery, inheriting a blood-clotting disorder, pregnancy, smoking, heart failure, age, and cancer. In order to confirm the diagnosis of DVT, you may have to have tests such as duplex ultrasound, MRI and venography. Duplex ultrasound is a painless diagnostic test that uses sound waves to produce pictures of your blood vessels to check for clots.

A short-term increase in the body temperature is referred in medical terms as pyrexia. Commonly known as fever, it is a common occurrence in both adults and children. As the temperature of your body becomes higher than the normal temperature, it becomes indicative of an underlying illness which may be an infection in some part of the body such as the throat or stomach. Having high fever is an important sign that some changes are occurring in the body. The temperature of our body is regulated by the hypothalamus which is present at the base of the brain. The state of fever is experienced by almost every human being at some point of time irrespective of sex or age. Many medical experts are of the opinion that fever is a natural defense of the body against infection. Relevant treatment for fever is recommended by medical experts after assessing the symptoms carefully and conducting certain diagnostic tests. Causes of high fever in adults Diseases such as malaria, upper and lower respiratory tract infections or flu, cold, bacterial infections, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections or skin infections etc Excessive heat exposure Abnormalities in the brain or malignant tumors Disease of the endocrine which is associated with a hormonal or glandular system of the body Inflammation caused by tissue injury Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis which is the inflammation of the lining of joints Side effects of certain medicines Common symptoms High fever comes with a lot of physical discomforts. It is only after adequate treatment for the fever that you can feel better. High fever is typically characterized by a rise in oral temperature as it soars above 100°F (37.8°C) to touch 103°F. Temperature in adults can be measured with a thermometer placed under the tongue. General symptoms that accompany high fever include:

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a disease where the affected person gets painful bumps under their skin, mostly near the sweat glands. For now, there is no permanent cure for this affliction, but medical treatments and changes in lifestyle have proven to provide relief as well as reduce future flare-ups. Hidradenitis suppurativa occurs in places where the swear glands are located. The sweat glands are known as apocrine glands, which are located in places where an individual usually has hair, like under the arms, around the groin region and between the buttock cheeks. Bumps develop in these areas . This can also occur in areas where the skin frequently gets rubbed, like between the thighs and under the breasts. When these bumps break, they often leave behind tissue scars. Immediate treatment is required to prevent the infection from developing again in the same area. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a condition that lasts for a long time and can get very frustrating to deal with. It also takes an emotional toll. People suffering from this affliction should seek support from family and friends and maybe even join a support group. Skin conditions can have a physical and emotional toll on the patient and should be handled with care. Causes: The causes of hidradenitis suppurativa are not yet known, but it is proven that the skin problems begin when sweat glands become blocked. Most people see the first symptoms in their teens or during the twenties. It also happens to be more common in women as compared to men as well as in people who smoke or are overweight. It can also be hereditary as about one-third of the people who suffer from HS usually have another relative with the same problem. Medical researchers and scientists have not been able to pinpoint the causes for hidradenitis suppurativa, but it has been noted that it is not caused by the use of powders, deodorants or by shaving one’s underarms.

Caused by the varicella-zoster virus, shingles can be described as a painful skin rash. Also known as herpes zoster, it usually appears as a strip, band, or infects a small area on one side of the face or body. It is therefore imperative to know about the symptoms and shingles pain treatment options to be able to fight it effectively. Shingles is a painful nerve root infection that occurs when the chickenpox causing virus gets activated in the body. After chickenpox is treated, the virus becomes dormant in the nerves. Although this virus mostly remains dormant, in others, the virus becomes active, usually in old age when the body’s immunity is comparatively weaker. Also, certain medications can trigger this virus, however, once active, it is unable to cause chickenpox. Seniors or people with a weak immune system are prone to shingles. Stress, medications and injuries can make the immune system vulnerable causing the varicella-zoster virus to activate. Usually, people suffering from shingles get better and do not suffer from it again. However, there are cases where people can get shingles more than once. Although non-communicable, it can still be transmitted from someone who has shingles. However, this possibility is pretty rare, so the chances of shingles spreading from a person who has had chickenpox to the one who has not are negligible. Shingles pain treatment vaccines are available for adults. These medications help in lowering the chances of getting affected with shingles, it clears the rashes quickly and also helps to prevent long-term pain that usually occurs after shingles. Symptoms The symptoms of shingles show up in different stages. It begins with a headache or extreme sensitivity to light. Some people also experience flu but do not have a fever or high temperature.The second stage marks itching, pain, or tingling sensation in a particular area.

Nerve pain is the result of damaged nerves. Often persistent, nerve pain can be symptomatic of other ailments such as shingles, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis C, cancer, diphtheria, or HIV. Apart from these, there are other causes of nerve pain: deficiency of essential vitamins, aging, and toxin exposure. It has been observed that nearly 30% of nerve pain instances do not have any definite cause. Nerve pain is usually experienced as pinpricks, stabbing, burning sensation, prickling, and sudden electric shocks. The intensity of the pain varies from person to person depending on the cause, the person’s health condition, and their immunity strength. Also known as neuropathic pain, nerve pain may cause hindrance in carrying out routine activities and may make it difficult for the person to work. This may further lead to anxiety, sleeping disorder, or depression. Common signs of nerve pain The feelings of pinpricks, tingling, burning sensation, and so on are the obvious signs of nerve pain. However, these are not the only signs to diagnose and detect nerve pain. The following are some of the additional symptoms that may indicate that what is being experienced is really nerve pain: It becomes difficult to move the body parts affected by the pain. There is a loss of motor ability, There is a sharp, tingling pain from the lower back to one of the legs. The pain always occurs in this part of the body. The ability to coordinate declines and there might be repeated episodes of stumbling and falling. There are occasional periods of intense headaches. These headaches seem to like receiving brief electric shocks. There is excess or no sweating at all. Bladder becomes weak requiring more visits to the bathroom. There is no sensation when there is an injury such as burns or cuts. Popular nerve pain treatment options There are ways to treat nerve pain; nerve pain treatments can decrease the intensity of pain, or in certain cases, treatments can eliminate the pain completely by repairing the damaged nerves.

Fungal infection of the nail occurs when bacteria or fungi enter the nail bed. The main cause of fingernail fungus is a broken or cracked nail plate or cuticles. It can also result from bacteria inside the body. Often characterized by cracked nail beds, fungal infection makes the nail thick and yellow. There are different fingernail fungus treatment options, but the cure takes time to show results. Before discussing fingernail fungus treatment options, let’s look at the causes and visible symptoms of fungal infection. Causes of fingernail fungus Fingernail fungus infection usually occurs due to overgrowth of fungi under, or in the nail. Since fungi need a warm, and moist environment to multiply, so this type of environment helps them thrive easily. Nail infections can be caused by the same fungi that are responsible for causing ringworm, athlete’s foot, or jock itch. Nail infection can also be caused by fungi present on or in the body. It is also communicable i.e., it can spread if in case you come in contact with someone who already has a fungal infection. As stated by American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), toenails are more prone to fungal infections as compared to fingernails. This is because toes remain covered in the shoes which serves a perfect breeding ground for fungi. Risk factors for fungal infections Different causes can be associated with fungal nail infections, with each having its own course of treatment. Remember, although fingernail fungus is preventable, there are certain risk factors that increase the chances of developing it. If you are suffering from any of the below mentioned, likelihood of developing fungal nail infection increases: Diabetes Poor circulation People aging 65 years and above Artificial nails and nail injury Swim in public swimming pool Skin injury near the nail Fingers and toes when not dried properly Weak immune system It has been seen that men are more prone to getting affected by fingernail infection than women.