Depression? Nausea? Gallstones? Are these regular illnesses or hepatitis C symptoms? First discovered in 1989, hepatitis C is a contagious disease which is caused by a virus that infects the liver. Hepatitis C virus or the HCV, is the most common cause of chronic liver disease with the number of cases increasing worldwide with each passing year. As reported by the World Health Organization, approximately 150 million people are infected with the hepatitis C virus. Around 350,000 people lose their lives from hepatitis C-related liver ailments every year. If left undetected or untreated, hepatitis C can eventually lead to liver cancer, liver damage and liver failure. Hepatitis C can be of 2 main types: Acute (generally brief but severe) Chronic (spread over a long duration) Acute Hepatitis C Symptoms Individuals suffering from acute hepatitis C usually do not display visible symptoms, and the few people that do generally manifest symptoms that are similar to the other cases of acute hepatitis A or B. These include flu-like symptoms, joint aches or mild skin rash. Individuals that are particularly likely to experience severe hepatitis C are those individuals that already have hepatitis B and become infected with acute hepatitis C. Other common hepatitis C symptoms: Loss of appetite Abdominal pain Dark urine Grey colored stools Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) Fatigue Joint pain Itchy skin Sore muscles A hepatitis C infection can cause damage to your liver (cirrhosis). If you develop cirrhosis, you may see symptoms such as: Redness on the palms due to expanded small blood vessels Clusters of blood vessels just below the skin surfacing usually on one’s chest, shoulders, and face Swelling of the abdomen, legs, and feet Shrinking muscles Bleeding from enlarged veins in your digestive tract referred to as variceal bleeding Encephalopathy which is damage to your brain and nervous system.

Crohn’s disease is a complication that can be considered as a type of inflammatory bowel disease and affects parts of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to the anus region. This inflammation of the digestive tract can result in abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Common Crohn’s disease symptoms Crohn’s disease affects different people in distinct ways. At times, only the last segment of ileum, which is also known as the small intestine, is affected. In some patients, Crohn’s disease affects the colon or large intestine. The last portion of the small intestine and colon are generally affected by Crohn’s disease. This disease can either be mild or severe. Mostly, the common Crohn’s disease symptoms develop at a gradual pace; however, in some cases, these symptoms come up suddenly. The most common Crohn’s disease symptoms usually include diarrhea, fever, fatigue, blood in the stool, and reduction in appetite and mouth sores. People who have reported severe Crohn’s disease symptoms suffer from inflammation of the skin, joints, and eyes and inflammation of the liver and bile duct. Delay in the growth in children is also an indication that the child might be suffering from signs of Crohn’s disease. Pain in the belly: This pain is intermittent and can cause cramps. The belly of the patient might feel sore when touched in such cases. This pain can turn into a constant ache and the condition of the patient can worsen with time. Diarrhea: Patients who suffer from an advanced stage experience Crohn’s disease symptoms of diarrhea ten to twenty times in a day. Such patients can also experience blood in their stool. Loss of appetite: Patients who experience Crohn’s disease symptoms may also suffer from loss of appetite and experience a reduction in the intake of food. High fever: Sometimes patients who experience Crohn’s disease symptoms might also suffer from high fever.

A reflex caused by stimulation of lining of throat, nose, voice box, lungs, and other respiratory parts, cough is a normal defense mechanism of the body to try and eliminate the effect caused by the allergen. Coughs can be annoying and disruptive and can have underlying causes. One of them could be allergies. If you have been coughing for a week, the causes might be more than cold and flu. If it has become chronic, it is advisable that you visit a doctor. When suffering from allergy cough symptoms, the underlying cough symptoms are same as other cough-related infectious illness. Irrespective of the symptoms, which could be due to allergy or due to some other medical condition, cough begins when the nerve endings in the airways detect some disturbance. The disturbance then relays those signals to the brain to make it aware that something is wrong with the respiratory system. Once the brain detects and processes the signal, it sends a chemical signal back to the throat and initiates a cough. Read on to know more about the allergy cough symptoms. When suffering from allergy cough symptoms, you will experience some difference in the timing of the symptoms when compared to that of a cough due to cold and flu. Allergy cough symptoms are a response due to change in weather or season in which the specific allergen is prominent. You might also experience coughing due to change in setting. For instance, a person might fell alright in office but might start coughing due to allergens caused due to animal dander or smoke in a different setting. If a cough is caused due to cold or flu, the coughing symptoms might be prominent for 2 to 3 days and subside eventually. Allergy cough symptoms might affect a person for weeks or even for a month at a time.

H Pylori or Helicobacter Pylori is a type of bacteria that enter your body and find accommodation in your digestive tract. These types of bacteria survive in your digestive tract for several years, and they develop sores known as ulcers in the upper area of your small intestine or the stomach lining. Over time, this infection can result in stomach cancer. Symptoms of H Pylori infection is pretty common, and many humans and animals have these bacteria in their bodies. In a majority of the people, they do not cause an ulcer. Even if this bacterium causes an infection, it can be treated with the help of medicines. Better sanitation and clean water offer protection against these germs. The following symptoms of H Pylori infection can help conduct a better and timely diagnosis of the same. Flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation Stomach acids play a critical role in the immune system. They kill the bacteria and other harmful parasites that are absorbed through food and drinking water. Other functions of stomach acids include promoting protein digestion and encouraging the pancreas to produce digestive juices. The H Pylori bacteria interfere with the stomach acids in your body to cause digestive issues. Therefore, you experience diarrhea, bloating, constipation, and flatulence as well. Vomiting and nausea When the digestive process becomes abnormal, the entire functioning of the body gets damaged. That is what happens when one begins to show symptoms of H Pylori infection. Several patients have to deal with nausea when they get affected by this bacterial infection. Some patients show a vomiting tendency as well. It is easily mistaken for morning sickness due to pregnancy. GERD and Heartburn Do you frequently suffer from GERD (Acid Reflux) or heartburn? If you experience these symptoms of H Pylori infection, you might be suffering from the same.

Here’s What is Causing Your Digestive Problems Diverticulitis is an inflammation of small pockets in the intestine. These are most commonly found in the large intestine but can occur anywhere along the digestive tract. Since the problem often goes unnoticed until it becomes more serious, it’s important to keep an eye out for diverticulitis symptoms. Diverticula are small pouches that appear on the walls of the large intestine. This occurs when the inner lining of the large intestine bulges out and forms small sacs in the outer lining. It can be caused by a consistently low-fiber diet which places your digestive system and intestines under immense pressure, leading to diverticula formation. The formation of these diverticula is called diverticulosis or diverticular disease. The inflammation of the diverticula is called diverticulitis. Diverticula are fairly common and have been associated with aging. With age, the walls of the intestines get weaker and the passing of hard food through it is enough to cause diverticula. It’s estimated that up to 50% of people in the world develop diverticula by the time they are 80 years old. Diverticulitis refers to the infection that occurs when there is bacterial growth within the diverticula. Diverticulitis symptoms can be severe and lead to complications such as abscesses in the intestine and even intestinal bleeding. Diverticular disease is often asymptomatic but as it progresses, you tend to have more pronounced diverticulitis symptoms. A low-fiber diet plays a significant role in the development of diverticulitis symptoms. Diverticulitis symptoms and signs Unfortunately, most cases of diverticulitis show no symptoms until the condition gets significantly worse. When there is an inflammation of the diverticula, the following diverticulitis symptoms may be noticed. Abdominal pain One of the most characteristic diverticulitis symptoms is a painful sensation in the lower left portion of the intestine.

Since Crohn’s disease directly affects the digestive tract and causes irritation and discomfort in the alimentary canal, people suffering from this disease should take primary care of their regular diet. The amount of food consumed, the calorie intake, and many other factors should be taken into consideration when suffering from this condition. In certain cases, the symptoms could get worse if one fails to maintain a healthy diet. What is Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease is both rare and life-threatening. It is a chronic disease which requires long-term medical attention and is mostly incurable. It results in inflammation of the intestines and might be accompanied by scarring of the inner intestinal lining. It can occur in any part of the intestine; however, the colon of the large intestine and ileum of the small intestine are prone to get affected more easily. The condition often lasts for years but can be lifelong for some people. Crohn’s disease may also result in ulcers in the inner lining as well as fistulae, which is extremely painful. Laboratory testing, as well as abdominal imaging, helps detect the disease. Foods to ease the symptoms of Crohn’s disease Since Crohn’s disease is not easy to cure, people suffering from it are advised to take thorough care of their diet. Junk food should be strictly avoided. Some of the foods to ease the symptoms of Crohn’s disease are: De-caffeinated drinks and beverages If you suffer from Crohn’s disease, caffeine should be avoided as much as possible. These include coffee, tea, flavored sodas, etc. Additionally, one should only consume drinks with low sugar or zero added sugar content so that they do not experience sudden flare-ups. Peeling fruits and selective fruits People with Crohn’s disease have a restricted fruit diet and can only consume the ones with low fiber content.

Bone cancer symptoms can be painful. Here are some of the medications your doctor may use to treat the disease and minimize its symptoms, and the side effects that these drugs may cause. Bone cancer is the type of cancer that creates malignant tumors which can damage the normal bone tissue in your body. It is a rare form of cancer and accounts for less than one percent of all cancer cases. The usual and not-so-common bone cancer symptoms include pain in the bones, inflammation and tenderness in and near the affected area, numbness and tingling, problems in movement, weaker bones that are susceptible to fractures, fatigue, unusual weight loss, and fever. If you have been experiencing any of these bone cancer symptoms, report it to the doctor at the earliest. These symptoms may also occur due to some other health condition and most people tend to mistake them for some less-serious problem, but getting it checked at the earliest is vital. There are treatment options available for bone cancer, and your doctor may recommend one depending on the specific type of cancer you have, the stage of your bone cancer, and other health issues that you may have. To treat the various bone cancer symptoms, the doctor may suggest some oral medicines. It is important for you to know about the medications that may be prescribed by your doctor to treat bone cancer symptoms. In addition, being aware of the side effects that these medicines may cause can help you understand what you can expect from your treatment. Here are some of the medications that may be recommended to provide relief from your bone cancer symptoms. For pain that is mild to moderate If you have been experiencing pain due to bone cancer and the pain is mild to moderate in intensity, you may be given over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), or some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Shingle is a rash infection usually caused by the vermicelli zoster virus; it’s quite painful and spreads over the skin. The same virus is responsible for causing chicken pox also. Shingles is also known as herpes zoster and it’s often seen in small or big patches all over the body or in some parts of the body. Shingle is most commonly found in adults, mostly aged above 30. It occurs when the chickenpox virus is reactivated in the nerve cells of the body. It lasts for about 2 to 3 weeks on an average. In most shingles cases, the cause of it is unknown as to why the virus starts multiplying and also why reactivates itself. A lot of doctors and specialists often say that the reason for the virus to multiply or reactivate itself is because of a weak immune system. Along with a weak immune system, aging is also one of the triggers; a lot of diseases such as cancer and HIV AIDS as well trigger the virus. Even stress of any kind, be it psychological or emotional can cause the virus to reactivate. Shingles is also a communicable disease so you can get it from someone around you as well. Even if you have had chicken pox before, there is always a chance to get shingles especially if you are an adult. It’s highly important to keep a distance from anyone who has shingles especially when you are experiencing weakness or might have a weak immune system. The disease is diagnosed by the doctor by looking at the appearance of the rash and other symptoms of shingles. Shingles are always treated with anti-viral medications along with some painkillers; there are also vaccines available to curb this disease. A lot of doctors also prescribe some medications or ointments that help as a numbing agent, so that the itchiness can be curbed.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that generally appears on the surface of your skin. But not always. Known as the most dangerous form of skin cancer, melanomas are responsible for the deaths of more than 10,000 people per year in the United States alone. Caused mainly due to exposure to occasional yet intense UV rays, melanoma symptoms are more likely to appear in people who are genetically predisposed to getting this condition. When it comes to skin cancers like melanomas, the common idea that the masses go by is that it is a “skin” cancer, and therefore can only appear on patches of skin that are directly exposed to the sun. However, this is not true when it comes to melanoma symptoms! In general, when skin cells suffer unrepaired DNA damage that triggers genetic mutations, the affected skin cells become cancerous, start to multiply at an exponential pace, and result in the development of malignant cancers. Melanoma symptoms are generally seen in the form of moles. The cancer develops in the melanocytes that are located in the basal epidermal layer of the skin. Where You Might See Melanoma Symptoms According to cancer research, the most common area for men to develop melanoma symptoms is the back/trunk area. Meanwhile, women reported their legs to be the most common site to see melanoma symptoms. While diagnosing melanoma due to irregular moles on the trunk or legs is not an easy prospect, these melanoma symptoms can definitely be watched out for. But you probably didn’t know that melanoma symptoms can appear inside one of the most delicate parts of your body – your eyes . Not only can your eyes be the place where melanoma symptoms manifest, they can also be the original source site of the melanoma cancer. Melanoma symptoms may either appear in the iris area of your eyes (colored ring around the pupil) or even inside your eye.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of debilitating health conditions that progressively cause muscle mass loss and weakness. It is caused by abnormal gene mutations which disrupt the production of natural proteins in the body. This makes building healthy muscle mass difficult. Most hidden signs of muscular dystrophy start in childhood. But for some types of muscular dystrophy, the symptoms do not show up until adulthood. Here are some common signs based on the type of muscular dystrophy. Duchenne type muscular dystrophy This is one of the most common types of muscular dystrophy. The symptoms start showing during childhood. Some of the known signs include the following: Falling frequently Finding it difficult to get up from a sitting or lying down position Difficulty in jumping or running Waddling gait Walking on the toes Enlarged calf muscles Muscular stiffness and pain Delayed growth Becker muscular dystrophy The symptoms of this type are mostly the same as that of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, the severity of the symptoms is mild. Moreover, the symptoms progress slowly over time compared to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Also, these symptoms are usually experienced during the teen years. But in some cases, there are no symptoms until the mid-20s or later. Myotonic muscular dystrophy This type of muscular dystrophy has symptoms such as the inability to relax the muscles after contractions. In this, the muscles of the face and neck are affected in the initial stage. It is characterized by a long and thin face structure with drooping eyelids and swanlike necks. Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD) muscular dystrophy In this type, muscle weakness begins in the shoulders, hip, and face. The shoulder blades tend to bulge whenever the arms are raised upwards. These symptoms usually start during the teen years. But in some cases, the symptoms may become evident during childhood or even after 50 years of age.

Fibromyalgia is the second most common disease in the country that affects the muscles and bones. The most common symptoms of the disease are feeling fatigued for no apparent reason and extreme pain in the joints. One of the main problems of this disease is that you may or may not know that you are suffering from the disease. The disease is poorly understood and identified by the masses. There is no specific test to determine whether you are suffering from the disease. The disease has no cure and its symptoms can be managed through treatment and by bringing about certain changes to your lifestyle. If you are suffering from the symptoms of the condition, make sure to visit a doctor immediately. Immediate treatment can help you effectively manage the disease. There are certain areas on the body that appear to be tender for those people who are suffering from the condition. These are called fibromyalgia tender points. What are fibromyalgia tender points? When suffering from fibromyalgia, there are certain areas on the body that become painful when pressure is applied to them. These areas are referred to as fibromyalgia tender points. While fibromyalgia tender points are also referred to as trigger points, they are not essentially triggered points. Trigger points can cause other parts of the body to pain when pressure is applied to them. For example, if pressure is applied to your elbow, you may feel pain in your hand. Some people may have trigger points and fibromyalgia tender points at the same time. Here are a few of the most common fibromyalgia tender points on the body. Be aware of these points and visit a doctor if you are feeling pain in these areas. It could be a sign that you are suffering from fibromyalgia and your doctor may prescribe medications.

Parkinson’s disease is commonly known as PD and is a progressive and a chronic movement disorder. All the symptoms continue and worsen over a period. In this disease, there is the death of the nerve cells which are vital, and all this happens in the brain. These nerve cells are the neurons. Parkinson affects the neurons Substantia Nigra area or part of the brain. The Dopamine levels in the brain, which help to send messages to the brain from the rest of the body gradually decrease, this, in turn, leaves the person feeling helpless as the movement is not controlled or is erratic. The cause of Parkinson Disease is unknown, and generally, there is no real cure apart from some surgeries and medications that are used to reduce the effect of the disease. The causes are divided into Genetic Factors and Environmental Factors. There is always a risk to develop Parkinson if someone in your blood relations has the same issue, the predisposition increases. Environmental Factors could be some brain injuries, environmental toxins, manganese, water, an unhealthy lifestyle, pesticides; prolonged exposure to occupational chemicals is also a cause of developing this disease. The symptoms of Parkinson disease vary from person to person. A lot of symptoms are to do with the motor skills. A person who has Parkinson will experience slowness of movement which is called bradykinesia, tremors of jaws, hands, legs, arms, face, stiffness or rigidity of limbs and trunk; there is also a lot of impaired balance and coordination in the body movements which is commonly known as postural instability. A lot of specialists say that in Parkinson Disease there is a considerable amount of loss of cells from the other parts of the brain as well which affects the senses as well, like the olfactory area and even sleep regulation is very erratic.