How Ragweed Symptoms Affect Your Body

How Ragweed Symptoms Affect Your Body

Ragweed symptoms are caused by the multitude of airborne pollen that give rise to allergies in people. Learn how ragweed symptoms affect your body. Ragweed plants are weeds with soft stems that are found growing freely all over the United States. In fact, there are at least 17 different species of the plant that grow in North America alone. Found in large quantities in the Eastern and Midwestern parts of the country, ragweed blooms during the months of August through November. When it blooms, a ragweed plant releases its pollen into the air. This results in really high levels of airborne pollen, especially during mid-September. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, approximately 20 to 25 percent of Americans are allergic to ragweed. Known as one of the most common causes of seasonal allergies in the country, ragweed pollen triggers the immune system, which mistakes it for a harmful compound in the body. The immune system begins to work overtime to produce chemicals so as to fight off the pollen in the body, even though on its own, the pollen does no harm. This allergic reaction is also known as a type of allergic rhinitis or hay fever. This reaction manifests itself in the form of a number of ragweed symptoms. Ragweed Symptoms that Affect the Eyes People who are allergic to ragweed are likely to notice that their eyes are experiencing several ragweed symptoms. These include watery or teary eyes, itchiness around the eye area, as well as heightened redness of the eyes. Furthermore, your eyes may end up looking stuffy and tired, with dark circles, after you have tolerated these ragweed symptoms for a while. Some of these symptoms may be alleviated with the help of eye drops. Ragweed Symptoms that Affect the Nose As with most other pollen allergies, ragweed symptoms specifically affect the nose.
Do You Have These Milk Intolerance Symptoms?

Do You Have These Milk Intolerance Symptoms?

Milk intolerance is a condition where the body is not able to easily digest the natural sugar that is found in milk leading to several gastrointestinal problems on the consumption of milk or any other dairy products. Watch out for these milk intolerance symptoms so you can avoid the inconvenience. Inability to digest lactose is medically termed as lactose or milk intolerance. Milk intolerance is a condition that is caused by the deficiency of the intestinal enzyme called lactase, which splits lactose into two sugars called glucose and galactose. This splitting is what helps lactose to be absorbed by the intestine. Hence it can be said that milk intolerance is a direct effect of a lactase deficiency. Lactase deficiency is caused in the body due to a certain mutation in the gene that is responsible for the production of lactase. This condition is also referred to as a congenital cause of milk intolerance. Secondary causes of milk intolerance include damaged lining of the small intestine and developmental lactose intolerance, which is a gradual genetically programmed decrease in the amount of lactase produced from the patient’s childhood itself. This decrease continues through adulthood, and is categorized as adult-type hypolactasia. The severity of milk intolerance varies depending on the amount of lactose that has been consumed by the patient. It has been clinically proven that it takes from 30 minutes to an hour for the milk intolerance symptoms to surface after the consumption of any dairy products. The following are certain prominent milk intolerance symptoms that need to be paid attention to in order to seek treatment in good time: Diarrhea Milk intolerance symptoms such as diarrhea appear in the early stages of the reaction. Since the body is unable to break down the sugars and digest lactose, it causes problems with the digestive system that leads to diarrhea on consumption of any dairy products like milk, cheese, etc.
Easy DIY Remedies to Treat Psoriasis Symptoms

Easy DIY Remedies to Treat Psoriasis Symptoms

You do not have to pop pills or use chemical ointments all the time to keep your psoriasis symptoms in check. Some simple home remedies can do the trick too. Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder that manifests itself in the form of scaly, flaky, and red patches of thickened skin. While not a life-threatening condition, psoriasis is a chronic disease that can be quite frustrating to live with. Psoriasis symptoms vary for every person, and can range from being mild to quite severe with nasty and frequent outbreaks. For those who experience worsening of their psoriasis symptoms at the slightest of triggers such as sunburn or a skin injury, going out of home and other everyday activities may become a cumbersome task. Added to that is the fact that psoriasis has no cure; however, there are various medications available that can help reduce your psoriasis symptoms and control the intensity of eruptions on your skin. The good news is that there are some simple remedies available that can help you lessen your psoriasis symptoms naturally. These easy do-it-yourself (DIY) solutions are things that you can do right at home and with ingredients that are available in most household kitchens. Here are some such natural remedies that can be effective in controlling your psoriasis symptoms. Aloe vera Apply aloe vera gel to the affected areas on your skin to lessen psoriasis symptoms such as scaling of the skin and rashes. Tested by dermatologists, this natural remedy can bring about a significant change in your psoriasis symptoms in just 3-4 weeks. All you need to do is apply the soothing gel of this plant to your skin at least thrice every day. Fish Oil Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to be a solution for flaky and patchy skin, one of the psoriasis symptoms that you have to face regularly.
You Should be Aware of These Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension

You Should be Aware of These Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a form of high blood pressure that affects the pulmonary arteries that carry the blood from the heart to the lungs. Beware of these symptoms of pulmonary hypertension because it can ultimately lead to heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the arteries that carry blood from the heart to your lungs, called pulmonary arteries, are blocked, narrowed, or destroyed. Because of this, it is harder for the blood to flow through your lungs, which increases the pressure in these arteries. When there is a constriction in the arteries, your heart has to work harder in order to compensate. This eventually leads to weakened heart muscles that ultimately stop, resulting in heart failure. It takes several months or even years for the narrowing in the arteries to be severe enough for the pressure to build up. This is the reason why it may take years for you to notice the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is an illness that becomes worse over a period of time, and can sometimes also be fatal. There is no cure for this serious disorder, but the treatment options available help reduce the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension, thereby improving the quality of your life. It is often difficult to diagnose pulmonary hypertension in its early stages because it cannot be detected in a regular physical exam. In its advanced stage, the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are very similar to the symptoms of other lung and heart conditions. Some examples of the tests used to diagnose this form of hypertension are Doppler echocardiogram, chest X-ray, blood tests, and pulmonary function test. Once the diagnosis is done, the treatment plans require regular follow-up with your doctor. The doctor may even need to change your treatment method if it is not effective any longer. Some of the standard pulmonary hypertension medications include vasodilators, anticoagulants, diuretics, and high-dose calcium channel blockers.
What Not to Do to Improve Overactive Bladder Symptoms

What Not to Do to Improve Overactive Bladder Symptoms

As you actively work to improve overactive bladder symptoms, ensure that you are not doing any of these things to worsen them. Having OAB or overactive bladder is an embarrassing situation for many people. The prospect of talking about a problem that is considered a private one is not something people look forward to. This is one of the reasons why many people with overactive bladder symptoms find it difficult to actually seek help from health professionals. Unfortunately, when your condition forces you to constantly look for restrooms when you are out of home, and makes road trips a scary prospect, it is important for you to do something about it. Overactive bladder symptoms can reduce your quality of life to quite an extent. While there are some things that are recommended for you to do in order to improve your overactive bladder symptoms, not many people tell you what not to do. There are certain things that you may be doing right now that are actively worsening your overactive bladder symptoms without your knowledge. Here’s what not to do if you want to see an improvement in overactive bladder symptoms. Do Not Give In Immediately Someone with overactive bladder symptoms is constantly wondering if they need to go to the bathroom, whether it would be a good idea to go now since a bathroom is visible, etc. Road trips and impromptu holidays are a strict no-no unless you know where and how many times you can stop for a bathroom break. It sounds like a solid policy then, to rush to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to go, right? Research does not agree. Physicians say that a better way to manage overactive bladder symptoms is to practice holding in your urine for a while before giving in to the urge.
Make These Five Changes to Cope with the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Make These Five Changes to Cope with the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

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.
11 Natural Remedies to Treat Heartburn Symptoms

11 Natural Remedies to Treat Heartburn Symptoms

Heartburn is a condition wherein the stomach acid leaks into the esophageal system thus causing irritation and discomfort. There are a number of heartburn symptoms and triggers which are caused due to the malfunctioning of the LES sphincter which is a natural flap that stops stomach acid from leaking into the esophagus. Although there are a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications available to treat this disorder, it is always better to find some natural and home-made remedies to counter discomforts. The following 11 natural, home remedies can aid in treating heartburn symptoms: Baking soda: Baking soda has proven to be quite effective to cure heartburn symptoms. Also known as sodium bicarbonate, a spoonful of baking soda mixed with water can help relieve the burning sensation of heartburn caused due to a gastrointestinal reflux. It also has a high pH level which helps neutralize stomach acid. Aloe vera juice: Aloe vera juice is a natural therapy to help soothe the discomfort caused due to heartburn. Aloe vera has a lot of uses because of its anti-inflammation properties. Acid reflux causes the stomach acid to be thrown up into the esophagus and thus causes the burning and irritating sensation, which can be calmed down with a nice glass of aloe vera juice. Chamomile tea: Heartburn symptoms can also be a result of certain foods or beverages which do not get properly ingested into our system. There are certain foods that might actually be the cause of severe heartburn. Chamomile tea helps reduce the inflammation caused due to these foods and balances the acid level in your stomach. Stress is another factor which is known to trigger heartburn symptoms through acid reflux, which is why having a cup of chamomile tea on a regular basis is advisable. Mustard: Although at first, it may sound very odd to consume a spoonful of mustard straight up, this has proven to be a somewhat effective remedy for curing any heartburn symptoms.
Eczema – Symptoms, Complications, and Treatment Options

Eczema – Symptoms, Complications, and Treatment Options

Eczema is a skin condition in which the infection causes inflammation and irritation of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin). Alternatively known as atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema, it comes under a group of skin diseases which results in allergic conditions. Eczema is a common condition which affects more than 3 million people in the country including infants, children, and adults and can last for a couple of months depending on the severity of the condition. The rash results in itching which cannot be controlled and commonly appears on your face, back of the knees, hands, feet or on your wrists. Eczema causes the affected area to dry up and thicken. It can also affect pigmentation which causes discoloration in your skin highlighting the affected area particularly. Infants suffering from eczema will be affected severely since the rash can cause oozing, crustation of the skin on the face and scalp along with patches that can occur throughout the body. Causes of eczema are not known, but the condition has been linked to the body’s immune system. The immune system is designed to respond to various threats that might affect your overall wellbeing, thus keeping you healthy. However, an overactive response for tackling certain conditions can lead to the development of eczema skin. Other causes can be linked to an allergic reaction caused by certain substances like coming into contact with coarse materials, exposure to household products which might contain chemicals in them like soaps and detergents. Even an allergic reaction to animal dander can aggravate the skin condition. Noticeable symptoms of eczema Formation of reddish rashes which make the skin dry. Itching caused due to inflammation and dry skin, which will cause more discomfort at night. Patches on your neck, wrists, ankles, feet, hands, eyelids, elbows among other body parts.
Abdominal Pain – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Abdominal Pain – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Abdominal pain could happen at any time in one’s life. This leads to immense discomfort. Usually, the pain could be mild and also could lead to nausea, dizziness, etc. Normally people avoid food and water during this time. There are chances that people experience a kind of heaviness in their abdomen this time. Abdominal pain could happen due to a lot of reasons. When the tissues and organs in the body, which are small intestine, stomach, gallbladder, spleen, liver, pancreas, and colon do not function effectively, there are high chances of abdominal pain. However, it is important to know that at times even with simple medication the pain will be eliminated or it will resolve by itself. Firstly, when you come across mild abdominal pain, the cause should be identified. In case you overeat the gas-inducing food, there are chances that it will result in distended stomach, heartburn and abdominal pain. When this is the case, the best thing that can be done is to follow some dietary changes. The digestive tract should be healthy in such a case, and hence, it is essential to consume such food substances that are light on the stomach. Consumption of fiber-rich food and increasing the water intake will definitely help for this purpose. Usually, women experience cramps and pain during the monthly period. During this time it is important to stay relaxed as stress could lead to increase in the stomach acid. Doing some breathing exercises will definitely help a lot during the monthly periods. When you come across abdominal pain due to any reason, the first thing you can do is to change your behavior and lifestyle. If this does not work in your favor, the next thing you can consider is the laxatives, pain relievers or antacids. It is important to keep in mind that certain anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin should not be consumed as this could lead to stomach upset and lead to complications in the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms of Bipolar Mania You Cannot Ignore

Symptoms of Bipolar Mania You Cannot Ignore

Formally defined as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a form of a major affective or a mood disorder that is usually characterized by manic or hypomanic episodes. These episodes cause a change in one’s normal mood accompanied by high energy states. Bipolar mania symptoms are often the result of the very serious bipolar disorder that plagues people. This bipolar mania can affect an individual for many days, which may include other symptoms like long-term sleeplessness, psychosis, hallucinations, paranoid rage, or superlative delusions. Moreover, research shows that depressive episodes may be more devastating and harder to treat in people who never have manias or hypomanias. Bipolar disorder and mania Thought to stem from a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors, bipolar disorder is a complex disorder. It is divided into two parts based on the severity: bipolar 1 and bipolar 2. Bipolar 1 comprises mood episodes that are associated with clinical depression or mania. Mania refers to the condition of high energy and extreme elation with interspersed periods of normal mood and energy in between the episodes. The severity of the mood swings may range from very mild to extreme. They may develop over time or can occur very suddenly and unexpectedly. Rapid cycling is the process wherein discrete mood episodes occur over four or more times per year, and it should not be confused with very frequent moment-to-moment based changes in the mood. The latter often points towards bipolar disorder or another disorder known as the borderline personality disorder. Patients with bipolar disorder may additionally have disturbances in thinking apart from or along with manic or depressive episodes. Impairment in social functioning and distortions of perception may also occur. Causes of bipolar disorder The causes of bipolar disorder, much like other mood disorders, are not known very well. The only concrete information available is that bipolar disorder involves the deregulation of brain functioning and may have a genetic component since it can run in families.
Dry Eyes – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Dry Eyes – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Tears provide moistures and keep the eyes lubricated. Generally, tears contain water, oil, mucus and special proteins which protect from eye infections. In contrast dried eyes mean the eyes are deprived of the essential tears. Dry eyes don’t have adequate moisture. Those who suffer from dry eyes experience different symptoms such as itching, redness, and blurred vision. The eyes of people with dry eye syndrome fail to maintain a normal layer of tears which coat the eyes. It prevents the keeping away of the eye irritants. In some cases dry eyes also result in excess tears which are known as reflex tearing. Low moisture content causes irritation in the eye and asks the nervous system for more lubrication. In response to tears are generated to make up for the dryness in eyes. Tears keep the eyes protected and wash the dust and grime from the eye. Causes of dry eyes There are different causes of dry eyes. Occasionally deviations in the tear-flow system could be the probable causes of dry eyes. Heaters, air conditioners and several other environmental factors around us can also cause the eye to dry out. Drugs such as antihistamines, birth control pills, nasal decongestants may even cause side-effects on the eyes contributing to dry eyes. Gradual progression of age and menopause likely can cause dry eyes. Certain diseases such as collagen vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome also impact the ability of the eye to generate tears. Certain lifestyle habits such as working on the computer and reading for long hours can worsen the problem if you suffer from dry eyes. People who suffer from dry eyes are generally susceptible to bacterial infections which can cause scarring in the eye cornea. In some cases, the problem worsens, which can cause permanent blindness. The tears in human eye have three layers.
Symptoms of Asthma You Must Know About

Symptoms of Asthma You Must Know About

Asthma is the inflammation of the airway of the lungs that causes you to have difficulty in breathing and gives you intense feelings of shortness of breath. Asthma is caused by genetic and environmental factors and almost anything could cause an asthma attack. These causes are called triggers and the most common triggers are pollen, dust, mold, change in weathers, allergens in the air, irritants such as cigarette smoke or even some medicines. Asthma is much more difficult to manage if it is accompanied by other health conditions such as a runny nose, sinus infection, psychological stress or sleep apnea. The experience of Asthma is different for every person and you have to track what triggers your asthma the most in order to control it. The symptoms of Asthma are many and there are a few that you just cannot miss. 1. Uncontrollable coughing: If you find yourself unable to control that cough making it difficult to function, you have a case of Asthma. The cough may be continuous making it extremely hard to sleep. Likewise, it is noticed that the coughing can be worse during early morning or late at night. The cough accompanied by congestion can also feel painful while being extremely difficult to control. 2. Shortness of Breath: You may feel like you cannot breathe or catch your breath. This difficulty in breathing is caused by chronic inflammation of the airway. Almost anything can cause this inflammation, and the first step to preventing an asthma attack is to identify the trigger. 3. Tightening of the chest: A sense of tightening of the chest may also be felt during an asthma attack that could make one feel extremely uncomfortable. This chest tightening can occur during an attack along with coughing or shortness of breath. The chest tightening feels like something may be squeezing your lungs and not allowing you to breathe.