The Talented Mr. Ripley, Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair, or lago in Shakespeare’s Othello —are fictional characters, but they’re drawn from real life templates. If they ever visited a psychiatrist, they’d be diagnosed with a sociopathic personality disorder or antisocial personality disorder. They share certain unmistakable symptoms and traits that mark this personality disorder. The sociopathic personality disorder is a category of mental disorders that are identified by distinctly harmful and maladjusted patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner life that deviate from the person’s culture. People suffering from these disorders experience disruption and deviation in their personal, social, and professional life. Antisocial personality disorder People affected by this condition display consistent behavior patterns that usually involves difficulty in differentiating between right and wrong. They show no awareness, sensitivity, or empathy for the feelings of the people they interact with. Their interpersonal dealings are conducted with either indifference or disregard for emotions. There is no feeling of guilt or remorse when they hurt people. For this reason, many of them end up becoming criminals and they are unable to fulfill normal roles in the family, society, or at work. These behavior patterns generally emerge in childhood and develop through adolescence and adulthood, where it affects the person’s quality of life and functioning. Traits There are different categories of sociopathic personality disorder. They are classified under three main categories: Odd/Eccentric Dramatic/Emotional/Erratic Anxious/Fearful Each of these categories has its own cluster of behavioral traits. Psychiatrists and psychologists also use many other classifications to distinguish one type of antisocial personality disorder from another. Common traits may include aggressive/cruel behavior towards vulnerable people/children/animals, deceit/theft/lying, disregard for rules, destruction of property, etc. Some may be narcissistic, obsessed with wealth acquisition, feel that they are self-important, can easily change demeanor to suit the occasion, and don’t take responsibility for their actions.

The prostate is the muscular gland in the reproductive system of men, which is very small in size. Almost 50% of men who are in their 60s face prostate enlargement, and this percentage reaches 90% for those who are 85 years old or above. The first sign of prostate enlargement is frequent urination at night. This condition of an enlarged prostate is also called BPH or Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. This condition takes place when the number of cells in the prostate gland begins to multiply, and the additional cells prevent the flow of urine by squeezing the urethra. Here are some of the causes and natural remedies for prostate enlargement. Causes of an enlarged prostate Enlarged prostate or BPH is a common medical condition for men who are aging, and men above 80 are the most likely to face some symptoms of BPH. However, the exact cause or the reason for BPH is still unknown. One of the factors for this could be the changes that occur in the generation of the male sex hormone with aging. Sometimes, prostate problems could be hereditary as well. Also, if there are any issues with the testicles, the person might also face the risk of developing BPH. Moreover, men whose testicles have been removed previously will not be facing the problem of an enlarged prostate. Symptoms of BPH Before proceeding further to know the remedies for prostate enlargement, you should be aware of the symptoms that are associated with BPH. These symptoms are mild at the beginning. However, they become more and more critical as time passes by. Therefore, it is extremely important to take the required action as soon as you face the following symptoms: The bladder is not getting emptied properly Urinating more than two to three times every night Weakened urinary stream Urge for urination out of nowhere Dribbling toward the end of urination Pain while urinating Blood coming out while urinating If you are continuously experiencing such serious issues, you need to seek advice from your doctor straight away.

A neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson’s disease affects almost four million people worldwide. This disease involves the progressive deterioration of your bodily and motor functions because the dopamine-producing cells in your brain get affected. Most common Parkinson’s disease symptoms: The problem with Parkinson’s disease is that it is hard to say that you are affected because most of the symptoms associated with this disease are common to other diseases, as well as old age. By the time the doctors diagnose these symptoms, patients would have lost over 60% to 80% of the brain cells that produce dopamine. Here are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: Shaking and Tremors : This is one of the first and most common Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Starting with your arms or feet, you might find your body shaking or experiencing mild tremors coursing through your body. This happens only on one side of the body initially, and you can experience these tremors on your lips, chin, and tongue as well. Over the course of time, these tremors extend to the other side of the body. Research shows that when the affected person is physically or emotionally stressed, the tremors seem to worsen, and when the patient is more relaxed, these tremors don’t occur often. Freezing Of Movements : All of a sudden, you might find yourself unable to move, especially when walking. Muscle Rigidity And Stiffness : At the onset of Parkinson’s disease you might find that there is a reduction in the swing of your arm when you walk, mostly on one side. This occurs because the muscles have stiffened. Other parts of your body can experience muscle rigidity as well. Sometimes, you might find it difficult to move your neck or other parts of your body. Your muscles tend to hurt as well, especially when you move them.

Do you feel like the meal you just ate is making its way back? Or maybe you feel like your chest and throat is on fire. What you’re experiencing is heartburn. Heartburns are caused when there is acid reflux and the food you’ve consumed is thrown back into the esophagus along with the stomach acid and enzymes. Heartburns are unpleasant but with the right treatment and simple home remedies, you can deal with it and help prevent it from occurring in the long run as well. Heartburn Symptoms Heartburn is a relatively common condition that most of us experience, especially after a heavy meal. The most common heartburn symptoms have been listed below. Chest Pain: Pain in your chest is a common symptom of heartburn. Chest pain is experienced especially when you lie down or bend over. Dizziness and lightheadedness : A burning sensation in your chest, especially at the back of your throat. Acid reflux sends back food and acids that make the end of your throat sour, hot, salty or acidic. You might also feel like you have food stuck in your throat. Hoarseness, sore throat, and coughing. Rapid breathing and shortness of breath. The pain in your chest might extend to your neck, shoulders, and even arms. While these are the symptoms of heartburn, it is easy to confuse them with a heart attack which can prove to be fatal. Here’s how you differentiate heartburn symptoms from the symptoms of heart attack. With heartburn, pain radiates to the neck, shoulders, and arms, but the radiation is very slow, and it happens gradually. A heart attack, on the other hand, starts with a feeling of dull pressure or pain in the center of your chest, and fullness or tightness in the rest of your body. Heartburns occur after a meal, especially a heavy meal or if you sleep or indulge in excess physical activity after a meal.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that hampers with a child’s ability to move by affecting motor nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement. This disease is progressive in nature and is caused by the loss of specialized motor neurons in the spinal cord and the brainstem. This affects a child’s ability to perform motor activities such as sitting up, jumping, walking, crawling, and controlling head movement. SMA mainly causes muscle wasting and weakness. Moreover, some people who suffer from severe cases of SMA face difficulty in breathing and swallowing as the muscles used for these functions are also affected. Below is some information on different types; diagnosis and treatments of SMA that can help families of the affected children understand the disease better. Types of SMA SMA can be classified into five different types: 0, I, II, III, and IV. Each type is categorized on the basis of different symptoms, and physicians often determine the type by understanding the symptoms. Type 0 Type 0 SMA is one of the most severe types. It is identified on the basis of symptoms such as decreased fetal movements, joint abnormalities, inability to swallow properly, and respiratory failure. This type occurs in a child before birth or within the first few months of birth. Type I Type I SMA is also called the Werdnig-Hoffman disease. It is one of the severe types of SMA that affects a person since their birth or within the first few months after birth. It is quite similar to the type 0 SMA as type I affected infants also face delayed physical developments. Children with this type exhibit symptoms such as breathing and swallowing problems that can cause choking. Other symptoms include diminished limb movements, fasciculation, tremors, hypotonia (severely reduced muscle tone), and lack of tendon reflexes.

Prostate cancer is a dangerous health condition in which the cells in a person’s prostate grow unnaturally, aggressively, and out of control. Like other malignancies, prostate cancer can assume life-threatening proportions if not diagnosed and addressed in its initial stages. However, healthcare professionals can treat the condition successfully if a person pays attention to the warning signs of the condition. Some of the leading indicators of prostate cancer are discussed below. Urinating difficulties Prostate cancer affects a person’s urination and the organs contributing to the process. So, people with this condition tend to have weakened or slow urine flow. Moreover, individuals with this condition also experience pain in the lower abdomen and urethra while urinating. Other issues, such as an excessive urge to urinate and a lack of control over how the urine flows, are common problems people face in all stages of prostate cancer. If people face pain while urinating or any other difficulty, they must immediately consult a doctor or oncologist for a cancer screening test. Frequent urination Besides pain during urination, prostate cancer patients might also experience irregular urination patterns in all stages of the condition. As the cells grow out of control into tumors, the adjacent cells and tissues soon start feeling the strain. Eventually, the aggressive cell growth grows into a toxin-filled tumor within the prostate of men with this condition. This tumor tends to put extreme pressure on the bladder and urethra of the individuals. Combined with all these factors, one of the earliest signs of prostate cancer is the frequent and urgent need to urinate. The frequency of such urges can get alarming, with a person feeling a urinating sensation multiple times per hour. Muscle loss without trying All kinds of cancer affect the supply of blood and nutrients to different parts of the body.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition resulting from a disease, injury or infection. In most cases, it is not caused by one single factor. Generally, the pain manifests after some illness or injury. For instance, if you drop something heavy on your foot, your nervous system will immediately send signals of pain to the brain. However, with neuropathic pain, no specific injury or event causes the pain. Instead, the body sends unprompted pain signals to the brain. Neuropathic pain is often categorized by a burning or shooting sensation, and this pain can be intermittent or persistent. Medications for neuropathic pain can give you some relief. Symptoms of Neuropathic Pain While each person may experience different indications, there are a few symptoms that are usually common for all. The ones seen on a general note are as follows: Shooting, stabbing, or burning pain Sharp tingling and numbness Unprompted pain that triggers on its own Evoked pain caused by events that are generally not at all painful such as clapping your hands, being in cold temperatures, etc. Unpleasant or nauseous feeling Difficulty in sleeping Loss of sensation Treatment for Neuropathic Pain Neuropathic pain is often a debilitating and serious condition. People suffering from it regularly need to consult expert medical practitioners and take prescribed neuropathy medications on the basis of their specific symptoms. Alternatively, there are also some non-prescription treatments that may help to relieve the symptoms of neuropathic pain. If the pain is mild, these over-the-counters medicines will generally prove to be helpful. Over-the-counter Medications for Neuropathic Pain Topical painkillers This is one of the most effective medications for neuropathic pain . Topical painkillers are available in the form of ointments and creams that can be precisely applied over the affected area for instant relief. Most of these painkillers contain Capsaicin, a natural ingredient derived from chili peppers that works as an excellent painkiller.

Probiotics are ideal for resolving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, and bowel movements. Probiotics contain microorganisms that supplement the natural bacteria of the intestine. What are probiotics and IBS? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) refers to a common ailment of the intestine which is quite challenging to treat. It is characterized by diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both. Other symptoms include abdominal cramps, protruding belly, and excretion of abnormally hard stool. Probiotics help in restoring the balance of the intestinal flora. The natural bacteria of the intestine are supplemented by microorganisms known as probiotics. These probiotics are available as supplements. Probiotics with a strain of bacteria known as Bifidobacterium infantis seem to be the most effective when it comes to resolving symptoms of IBS. Categories of probiotics for treating the symptoms of IBS One cannot only depend on probiotics for treating IBS. They should use it in combination with regular medication before or after following a FODMAP diet. Probiotics are bacteria which are beneficial for our health. There are bacteria in our gut or large intestine known as gut microbiota. These microbiota comprise numerous species of bacteria which are further made up of individual strains. Probiotics can contain a single species or strain or multiple species and strains. It is vital to understand the correlation between the species of bacteria present in your gut and the species that you are consuming. As far as IBS is concerned, the best probiotics are: Bifantis® (Bifidobacterium infantis 35624): This bacteria is supposed to be present in the intestine, and the strain required is 35624. A lot of people don’t have this strain of Bifidobacterium infantis in their large intestine. VSL#3®: This probiotic mixture consists of eight strains including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Lactobacillus casei. Several clinical trials have proved its effectiveness.

In the country, more than 18 million suffer from atopic dermatitis. This condition is a type of eczema which affects the skin. This condition commonly begins in childhood and can progress into adulthood. It is important for a person to know the right atopic dermatitis treatment plans for effective management of the condition. What Is atopic dermatitis? This condition is characterized by inflamed skin and itchiness. Although this condition is mostly seen in children, it can happen at any age. It is a chronic condition with periods of extreme redness and itchiness on the skin and asthma or hay fever may occur along with it. Signs and symptoms can differ from person to person but the most common ones include extremely dry or scaly skin, itching, red or brown patches all over the body, and tiny raised bumps or open sores due to scratching. In children, the first symptoms are usually dry and scaly skin patches that are seen on the face, forehead, and scalp. Atopic dermatitis pictures mostly show children with a patch or patches of reddened skin on the cheeks. Atopic dermatitis is a genetic condition that prevents the skin from retaining the moisture it needs. This leads to the skin easily getting affected by several environmental factors and allergies. Some children may develop the condition due to food allergies. Other conditions like hay fever or asthma can increase the risk of developing atopic dermatitis. How is atopic dermatitis treated? There is no cure for atopic dermatitis. However, with the right treatment, symptoms can be reduced and a person can experience a normal life. Atopic dermatitis treatment begins with examining a person’s skin and checking for a family history of the condition. As this is a chronic condition, treatment, and care over a long period of time can be effective in reducing the symptoms.

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.

Have you ever felt a rash on your skin for which you couldn’t find a concrete reason? Did you ever experience abrupt sneezing followed by watery eyes? The reason behind most of these unexplainable symptoms is an allergy. Allergy is a condition that is initiated by an overreaction of the body’s immune system to an allergen in the surroundings. Normally, a bout of allergy is acute and occurs instantaneously. There are different kinds of allergens that affect individuals differently. A person who is allergic to mushrooms might not be allergic to dust mites, while someone might not be allergic to both. The typical forms of allergies include hay fever which is the most common type of allergy and is particularly caused by sensitivity to pollen.Dust and dry weather fuel the occurrence of atopic dermatitis. Just like hay fever inflames the nasal cavity, this eczema inflames the skin tissue. Asthma is an allergy that is activated by air pollution and low levels of air purity. The allergen, in this case, is the suspended particulate matter. Food allergy is triggered by a food product or a category of products such as eggs, wheat, milk, and seafood.Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic disease that is caused by an insect bite. It is not easy to determine the exact cause of the allergy since almost all the allergic reactions produce similar symptoms. You can inherit a particular allergy from your family and may find your siblings suffering from the same. Some individuals are also sensitive to changes in weather and animal dander. Most of the time, uneasiness is experienced due to undesirable effects of medicines. A distinct skin type or a specific race of individuals are also more responsive to allergens. Symptoms of a possible allergy are coughing and heavy breath followed by a running nose.

A skin infection caused by the Staphylococcus bacteria —MRSA or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an infection that can occur in any part of the body. Characterised by mild symptoms like sores and boils, the infection can also graduate to severity by infecting surgical wounds, urinary tract, lungs, and bloodstream. The MRSA bacteria are resistant to commonly used antibiotics and that’s why it’s called the ‘ superbug’, making it difficult for the medical fraternity to treat this condition. Causes The Staph bacteria inhabit our bodies and do not pose much risk to healthy people. In fact, one-third of the general population have staph bacteria in their noses. The garden variety Staph is the most common. Staph can land you with a skin infection if it gets into your body. Such infections are minor and don’t call for any specialized treatment. In some cases, Staph can infect wounds or cause pneumonia ( when the bacteria infect the lungs ). Symptoms Of MRSA Staph infection leads to the formation of abscesses, furuncles or boils . These are pus-filled. The area where these boils or furuncles are present become red and swollen accompanied by intense pain. Drainage of the area is also a possibility. If the MRSA infection is moderate, the symptoms that show up are—headache, muscle ache, fatigue, fever, chest pain, and shortness of breath. You’ll experience a general feeling of sickness. When the MRSA infection graduates to become severe, the symptoms worsen. The patient suffers from joint pain, bone pain, muscle ache, chest pain, low blood pressure, fever and chills, fatigue, shortness of breath, painful breathing, headache, rash, and malaise. The above symptoms can be seen if the infection is restricted to the surface of the skin. If the infection reaches the bloodstream, it leads to septic shock , a life-threatening condition.