Gout is a kind of arthritis which can cause a sudden attack of pain. The common symptoms of having gout can be realized from stiffness, burning pain, and swelling in the joint. If not treated at an early stage, gout can damage the joints and harm the tendons and other tissues. Gout foot pain is very common in men; it is caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid may harden and form crystals in the joint. Risk factors People who are obese may be susceptible to gout foot pain. Also consuming alcohol, meat, and fish can affect the body. Some medicines like water pills can also cause gout foot pain. The most common syndrome is night-time pain in the joint. Some people also get pain attacks on their knees, ankle, joints, foot, etc. and these can go on for an entire day or a week before one gets relief. Sometimes it the pain may persist for over a year also. Even if the pain is gone, it is advisable to see a doctor because sometimes even after the pain is gone the buildup of uric acid may still occur and can attack the joints. Gout foot pain is common in men. With age, the pain can become more unbearable, and the chances of getting gout attacks become high. So a proper maintenance of lifestyle is essential. With age, a person has less resistant power, less stamina to do physical work, and low patience. So a proper diet is important. A diet chart should be prescribed by a doctor or a nutritionist; without proper examination, a doctor or a nutritionist normally does not prescribe any medicine. So taking advice from the expert is advisable. Sometime the doctor may prescribe some easy exercises according to the capability of the patient.

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.

A rare lung disorder, primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a case where the blood vessels in the lungs become narrow, thus causing high blood pressure in the lungs. Pulmonary arteries are responsible for carrying blood from the body to the lungs. It is in the lungs where carbon dioxide is traded for oxygen. Also known as idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, PHN is a chronic disease and can lead to heart failure, if not treated on time. The pulmonary arteries are responsible for carrying blood from the body to the lungs, PHN is a disorder that is categorized by an abnormal/irregular increase in pulmonary artery pressure. Causes of primary pulmonary hypertension Although causes underlying primary pulmonary hypertension are unknown, there are some forms of PHN that can be linked to defective genes that run in the family. Researchers have established that gene mutation often leads to sensitization of blood vessels and theses can narrow, or constrict when exposed to such factors. The symptoms of PPH are as follows. Fatigue (extreme tiredness) and dizziness Loss of breath, trouble in breathing, especially during any physical activity. Persistent dry cough Swelling of the ankles or legs Bluish lips Angina (chest pain) High pulse Palpitations Hypoxia- the level of oxygen depletes in blood The above-mentioned symptoms usually get worse as the disease progresses. Less common symptoms of PPH Non-productive cough Exercise-induced nausea Vomiting Coughing up of blood The signs and symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension are unrecognizable in its early stages, and often go unnoticed for months. Signs of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is often confused with other conditions that have an effect on the heart and lungs. While diagnosing pulmonary hypertension, doctors ask about the symptoms and risk factors, including family history and other medical conditions. Having a family member who has or had pulmonary hypertension increases your chances of developing the disease.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection caused by inflammation of the liver. In some cases, it can lead to serious liver damage in people with the condition. The disease mainly spreads through contamination of blood. Earlier the treatment of hepatitis C involved weekly injections that were given to patients and certain oral medications. However, many hepatitis patients could not take these medications due to their other health problems and due to side effects. Chronic HCV is curable using oral medications that are taken daily for at least two months. There are about half of the people suffering from HCV, and they don’t know they are infected. This happens when a person experiences no symptoms of the problem. Symptoms can take a decade to appear in many students. This is why the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention ask a person to get a one-time screening of blood test for those who can be at increased risk of infection. The largest group at the risk of the situation is born between 1945 and 1965. A population is five times more likely to get infected with the problem than people born in other years. Symptoms of hepatitis C There are many factors by which can determine if a person is suffering from hepatitis C. People suffer from long-term infection with hepatitis C virus. It is also known as chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C remains silent for many years. This becomes evident sometimes when the virus has damaged liver enough to cause signs and symptoms to appear. Here are a few signs and symptoms of the condition. Easy bleeding Easy bruising Fatigue Poor appetite Discoloration of skin and eyes, a form of jaundice. Urine that is dark colored Itchy skin Abdomen fluid build up Leg swelling Weight loss Drowsiness Confusion Slurred speech Spider-like blood vessels in the skin or spider angiomas.

Digestion is a complex process of breakdown of food into simpler substances or nutrients for easy absorption by the body. This process is facilitated by heat and certain chemicals produced by our body called digestive enzymes. Since the process of digestion occurs in multiple stages, at each stage, these digestive enzymes contribute to the breakdown of certain macro and micronutrients. What are natural digestive enzymes? Our body produces a number of enzymes. Most enzymes are proteins and some of these are involved in the process of digestion. They speed up the digestion process by helping the breakdown of complex macromolecules into smaller molecules. Every enzyme has a different target nutrient to break down and make it available for the body. Digestive enzymes are secreted at every step of the digestion process. The salivary glands produce amylase enzyme in the mouth that kick-starts the digestion process. Mainly, the digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas and small intestine. Other enzymes are produced in the mouth and stomach. Why do we need digestive enzyme supplements? When the body is unable to produce sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes or when the enzymes fail to function properly, this leads to several digestive issues such as bloating, chronic constipation, and inflammatory bowel syndrome. The undigested food passes on to the intestines, which becomes the breeding ground for the bad bacteria. This can cause colon related problems. In such cases, it is advisable to take digestive enzyme supplements for smooth digestion. What causes digestive enzyme deficiency? Our body requires digestive enzymes to digest food. But in some cases, the production of these enzymes is restricted due to some disease such as pancreatic cancer, celiac disease or Crohn’s disease. It can also be caused due to old age or low acid production in the stomach. Some other habits that affect the enzyme production are chronic stress, alcoholism, and drug abuse.

Our memories are often our most prized possessions. They remind us of lessons learned and a life well lived. Imagine the pain of losing them! This is what exactly happens in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a chronic, degenerative disease that affects neurological and cognitive functions and is the most common cause of dementia. It affects approximately 29.8 million people worldwide, as of 2015. Alzheimer’s is a painful and debilitating condition. Therefore, it is important to watch out for the symptoms and signs to improve the quality of life. Alzheimer’s disease can have many varied signs. Alzheimer’s disease has a slow, insidious onset, so you have to be vigilant to the symptoms. It starts off slowly and progresses until control of bodily functions is lost. The life expectancy of patients with Alzheimer’s ranges between 3 – 9 years. Warning Signs: Alzheimer’s disease The early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s are often vague. The first characteristic sign of Alzheimer is an inability to remember recent events including forgetting names of objects, places, and people. As the disease progresses, the memory impairment worsens along with the appearance of other signs of Alzheimer. Alzheimer’s shows the following symptoms: Difficulty in planning or problem-solving: Some people will notice that it is becoming harder for them to formulate and stick to plans and structured activity. There may be an associated difficulty in managing numbers. Difficulty in performing familiar tasks: A person may forget to perform routine tasks and activities such as to operate a stove, use tools, or other such signs of Alzheimer. Alzheimer’s can impair the ability to complete tasks that were once familiar. Language problems: A person may forget words, pronunciations, spellings, grammar, and another component of written and spoken language. There may difficulty holding or following a conversation and using the wrong words.

Sleep is essential for the human body. It lets the body heal and rejuvenates. Without sufficient sleep, our body can face serious complications. People who don’t sleep enough are likely to have more health issues than people who have healthy sleep cycles. Some people don’t get enough sleep, unfortunately, no matter how hard they try. If you’re someone that falls into this category of people, do not worry at all. You can make a few simple lifestyle and dietary changes every day to sleep naturally. There are a lot of best sleep medications that can help you sleep like a baby. Pay close attention to this article to know more. Rozerem Rozerem is one of the medications that doesn’t have any side effects. Rozerem is a drug that is designed to act on the body’s melatonin receptors. Melatonin is a hormone that plays a major role in influencing proper sleep patterns. It is one of the safest drugs, and it doesn’t have any withdrawal effects. Sonata Sonata is one of the best sleeping pills in the market, that has a short half-life of 60 to 30 minutes. The half-life of a pill is defined as the time required by the body to eliminate half of the pill. You can even try sleeping on your own after taking this tablet. Even if you take this tablet around 2 AM in the morning, you can wake up next morning without feeling drowsy. Ambien Ambien is one of the pills that are often prescribed. The half-life of this medicine is less than 150 minutes. Ambien can be useful in helping you sleep, but Sonata is a preferred choice. Lunesta Lunesta is one of the sleeping pills that has the highest half-life. It has a half-life of 360 minutes. There is a high chance for you to feel drowsy in the morning.

Lung cancer begins when the lung cells grow to be abnormal and multiply uncontrollably. As there is a rapid growth of the cancerous cells in the body, tumors form and start spreading to other areas of the body. There are different types of lung cancer such as Adenocarcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and other subtypes such as sarcomatoid carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. This non-small cell lung cancer is less common as compared to the other types. Adenocarcinoma Majority of lung cancer cases are of adenocarcinomas. They can occur in many parts of the body. These cancers occur in current or former smokers mainly, however, they are found in non-smokers as well. This cancer affects women more than men, and among other cancers, this cancer affects younger people more. Squamous cell carcinoma Of all the lung cancers, the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma is 20% to 30% in people. This cancerous cells start affecting the flat cells and lie inside the lung airways. This cancer is linked to the history of smoking and is mostly found in central part of the lungs. Large cell carcinoma This cancer covers 10% to 15% of all lung cancers. This cancer can occur in any part of the lung. It grows and spreads to other parts of the body quickly, which makes it hard to treat. An early treatment for non-small cell lung cancer is important before it gets to a higher stage and incurable. For that reason, knowing the symptoms becomes important. There are several non-small cell lung therapies and treatments that can be used if this cancer is detected at an early stage. Symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer Endless coughing is one of the primary symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer. Though many may confuse this with one of the smoking side-effects, but if you see persistent coughing, it is advisable to get it checked for the same.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, affects the colon as well as the rectum. It is one of the most common types of cancer that affects men and women across the country equally. This type of cancer develops in the inner lining of the colorectal tube. The colorectal tube can be a breeding ground for polyps and small tumors that can turn malignant. Although most polyps and tumors are benign, studies have shown that usually, polyps developing inside the glandular tissue of the intestinal lining can turn precancerous. These precancerous polyps can lead to metastatic colorectal cancer if left untreated. The development of cancer is related to size as polyps less than a centimeter in size have roughly 1% chance of turning into adenomatous (malignant) polyps. The ones that are bigger than two centimeters are more prone to turn malignant. The growth of colorectal cancer can be controlled and treated if the tumor is localized. At the same time, metastatic colorectal cancer can spread to other parts of the body including lymph nodes, organs, tissues, and the bloodstream as it spreads through the walls of the bowel. Mentioned below are some risk factors that might cause colorectal cancer: Abdominal diseases An underlying condition can increase one’s risk of developing metastatic colon cancer. Abdominal diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can result in the development of tumors and polyps in the intestine, causing colorectal cancer. Genes Unfortunately, cancer can be hereditary. Studies show that genetic sequences partly determine one’s susceptibility to colorectal cancer. It is observed people with medical conditions such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), Gardner’s syndrome, MYH-associated polyps, and Cowden’s disease, have a higher chance of suffering from colorectal cancer. Diet Although not a major cause, one’s diet does contribute to the early stages of colorectal cancer.

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood flowing in the blood vessels. Blood vessels carry blood pumped by the heart to all parts of the body. Proper supply of blood requires an optimum level of blood pressure and anything above or below this level is a cause of concern. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, where 120 is systolic pressure and 80 is diastolic. Blood pressure measuring 130-139/80-89 mmHg is considered as the first stage of hypertension, and pressures above 140/90 mmHg are considered as the second stage of hypertension. Pressure above 180/120 warrants immediate medical treatment. Prolonged hypertension results in thickening of the blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis). Other health complications caused by hypertension are a stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. How to lower your blood pressure? This is an important question faced by those affected by hypertension. Read on to understand the causes of high blood pressure and ways to control high blood pressure. Causes of High Blood Pressure Hypertension is classified as primary and secondary hypertension. Primary or essential hypertension develops over time with no particular cause, whereas secondary hypertension occurs rapidly and becomes more severe than primary hypertension. Although the exact pressure cause of high blood pressure is not known, several risk factors are attributed to hypertension. When looking for information on how to lower your blood pressure, the common causes of hypertension should be understood first: Being Overweight Being overweight is a predisposition to developing high blood pressure. Excess body fat overloads the heart, which results in increased blood pressure. Smoking High blood pressure is among other health disorders caused by smoking. Lethargic Lifestyle Those leading a lethargic lifestyle without any physical workout are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. Unhealthy eating habits combined with a lethargic lifestyle result in fat deposits in blood vessels, which in turn narrow blood vessels.

Most people who have suffered a gout attack pretty much know the signs of a flare-up. The worst part about a gout flare up is that there is not much you can do to stop it. Although there are no cures for the condition, there are some home treatments that can help in managing the symptoms of gout attacks. Gout, or gouty arthritis, has been reported as early as the fifth century B.C. This disease was dubbed as the “disease of kings” owing to its association with consumption of alcohol and rich food. A gout attack can occur with several warning signs or may occur suddenly without a warning. Its four stages are asymptomatic hyperuricemia, acute gout, interval gout, and chronic tophaceous gout. The symptoms and treatment vary for each stage. The most common joint where gout inflammation is observed are the joints in the feet. The top 5 gout treatments are a combination of medication and home care remedies that provide relief from pain and swelling. Causes of Gout Pain Gout is mainly caused by the buildup of uric acid in the body. The uric acid gets deposited in the form of crystals in the joints and tissues on the body, causing pain and inflammation. Gout is a complex health condition that comprises many contributing factors. High levels of uric acid, which lead to gout, may be caused due to digestive disorders or alcoholism, or unchecked diet. Foods like shellfish, red meat, sweet juices, organ meat, and salty food may cause a rise in uric acid levels. Kidney or thyroid problems may also lead to uric acid build up in the body. Those with a family history of gout are at a risk of developing gout. Alcoholism and medications are other causes of gout. The most commonly affected part is the big toe.

Huntington’s disease is not just a physical disorder. One needs to understand the physical and mental stress it causes along with its symptoms. Huntington’s disease causes a progressive breakdown (degeneration) of the nerve cells in the brain. The symptoms of Huntington’s disease develop mostly in people between the age of 30 to 40 years, but it can strike anyone from children to seniors. If a patient falls prey to this condition before the age of 20, it is known as juvenile Huntington’s disease. The symptoms of this condition vary depending on when one develops this disease. Over 10 to 25 years, it kills nerve cells in the brain which affects the body, mind, and emotions of a patient. The symptoms of Huntington’s disease differ from person to person, and these symptoms can worsen if a person goes through a lot of stress and excitement. The initial signs such as abnormal movements are easily detectable. Weight loss is a constant cause of a concern through all stages of this disorder. Medical science has progressed a lot, and now, medicines are available for dealing with the symptoms of Huntington’s disease. However, one cannot prevent the physical, mental, and behavioral decline associated with the condition through treatment. Symptoms With a broad range of signs and symptoms, Huntington’s disease typically causes movement, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders. Some disorders appear to be more aggressive and have a significant effect on a patient’s ability to function normally. Movement disorder Huntington’s disease is linked to involuntary movements as well as impairments. A patient may exhibit actions such as: Involuntary yanking or writhing movements (chorea) Rigid or contracture muscles (dystonia) Abnormal or slow eye movements Impaired gait, posture, and balance Difficulty in speech or swallowing As time passes by, the symptoms may interfere with a patient’s day-to-day life.