Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and damages it. This leads to inflammation of the liver. The virus that causes this condition is the hepatitis C Virus (HCV). This disease was identified in the year 1989 until when it was termed as non-hepatitis A and non-hepatitis B. HCV is one amongst the well-known hepatitis strains of hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. As of 2015, about 2% of the world, that is, around an estimate of 143 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. Though there are various methods of treatment available for this disease, there is no availability of vaccines to prevent the occurrence of this disease. The disease is spread by direct blood to blood contact. It is a highly contagious disease. The spreading of the disease occurs majorly due to organ transplant, blood transfusion, sharing needles (usually with the usage of intravenous medicines), body modifications (tattooing with unsterile needles, nose/ear piercing), shared items (sharing items such as razors and toothbrush), during childbirth (the mother can pass down the virus to the child), and sexual contact (if it involves the exchange of blood). There are various methods of treatment for this disease. Few do not need a treatment because the antibodies produced as a natural phenomenon by the body take care of fighting off the infection. They are given antiviral medications and are constantly monitored. The identification of the presence of these antibodies in the blood is a method of detection. For the patients whose level of liver scarring is high, a liver transplant is recommended. Symptoms of hepatitis C In humans, the symptoms of hepatitis C are not obvious and are dormant for a long term. In order to be able to avail proper treatment for this highly contagious disease, here is a list of symptoms of hepatitis C.

Foot pain can cause immense discomfort. While foot pain usually just requires a good few hours of relaxations and rest to fade away, sometimes it persists for a long period of time for no evident reason. In this scenario, one must consider that there is a possibility of an underlying condition which is causing the pain. You may experience several symptoms before the onset of a particular condition, or experience no symptoms at all. Some of the most common causes of foot pain include bunions, heel spurs, and plantar fasciitis. These conditions may lead to general pain, uneasiness, walking difficulties, and the projection of bony growth on the feet. While taking medications help in treating these conditions, you must get the required therapy regularly to ensure that these conditions do not progress further and complicate matters. As a basic remedial measure, you can buy specialized shoes online or at a shop near you. These shoes have comfortable paddings and additional room for your feet and help keep them comfortable. Here are a few of the most common foot pain symptoms and their causes: Foot pain causes Here are a few of the most common causes of foot pain: Bunions This is a condition characterized by the appearance of bony projections on the inner side of the foot and at the big toe joint. Its onset is a result of the bones of the big toe being aligned out of proportion. It leads to the stiffening of the toes and makes walking an extremely difficult task. The main reason for one developing this problem is constantly wearing narrow shoes or heels. These shoes exert additional pressure on the feet and may lead to the condition worsening. Resort to wearing specially designed shoes to provide for additional comfort and foot space. Plantar Fasciitis Plantar fasciitis leads to the feeling of a stabbing pain in the bottom of the feet.

It is estimated that more than 30 million adults in the country are living with kidney disease and most are not aware of it. There are a number of visible signs of kidney disease, but sometimes people associate them with other health problems. Most of them are unable to identify kidney failure symptoms until a very late stage, that is, when the kidneys are failing or when there is a large amount of protein in the urine. Causes of kidney failure Chronic kidney disease befalls when a disease or condition impairs the kidney function, which leads to kidney damage over several months or years. The main causes of kidney illness are diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, smoking, obesity, abnormal kidney structure, and older age. Sometimes, if one has a family history of kidney disease, it can also trigger the chances of having kidney failure. Kidney failure symptoms are usually subtle and most people don’t pay attention to them. If one notices most of the following, it can be a sign of kidney failure. Being more tired, with lost energy and having trouble concentrating A critical decrease in kidney function can lead to the accumulation of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can make people feel tired, weak and can make it hard to focus. Anemia is also one of the kidney failure symptoms, which can make an individual weak and exhausted. Having trouble sleeping The toxins stay in the blood rather than flushing out from the body through the urine when the kidneys aren’t filtering properly. Physical problems can contribute to abrupt sleep patterns. Compared to the general population, the sleep disorder is very common in those with chronic kidney disease. Having dry and itchy skin Healthy kidneys perform numerous important functions of the body. They dismiss waste and extra fluids from the body, help the body to produce red platelets, keep bones strong and also work to keep up the appropriate quantity of minerals in the blood.

A severe mental disorder, schizophrenia impacts how an individual thinks, reacts to emotions, and perceives reality. It results in a variety of symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia that can cause the patient to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. At present, roughly 1% of the total population suffer from this mental disorder. Schizophrenia cannot be cured, however, it can be managed with the help of medications and therapy. This disorder can affect anyone. It typically develops in men during their late teens or early twenties. On the other hand, in women, the symptoms of schizophrenia begin to surface during their twenties or early thirties. The following are some commonly observed symptoms of this condition: Delusions: People suffering from schizophrenia often have delusions that can impair their day-to-day life. For example, they might believe they are being subjected to unjust prejudice, or they are exceptionally famous, or a big disaster is about to occur. Hallucinations: Typically, patients experiencing schizophrenia mention seeing things or hearing sounds and/or voices that don’t exist. Hallucinations can also involve smelling strange odors or experiencing odd sensations in the body. Disorganized speech: Schizophrenia impairs the brain’s ability to think clearly which leads to disorganized speech. Simply put, the patient will talk about things that are completed or partially unrelated to the current conversation. In rare cases, they might put together random words that don’t make sense. Abnormal motor behavior: This symptom can manifest in a number of ways. For example, the individual might act silly, be unnaturally childish, or get absurdly angry. Since the behavior isn’t directed towards a goal, it can become tough to manage routine tasks as one might disobey instructions, not respond, keep repeating movements, and hold an awkward pose for a long time. Negative symptoms: The negative symptoms of schizophrenia refer to the diminished ability to do things normally.

Osteoporosis makes your bones fragile and brittle by reducing the quality of your bones. Read on to know more about the different osteoporosis symptoms. Osteoporosis is a disorder that causes your bones to become so weak and brittle that sometimes, even activities like bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Some of the most common fractures associated with osteoporosis happen in your hip, wrist, and spine. About 200 million women all over the world suffer from this debilitating disorder, and it is more common in white and Asian women. As the bones are living tissue, the old bones in your body are constantly being broken down to create new bones and this rebuilding process is termed as ‘remodeling’. However, when the remodeling pace does not keep up with the pace of the breaking down of the bones, the bones become weak, brittle, and fragile, leading to osteoporosis. It is clear how this disorder develops over a period of time, however, what is not clear is what exactly causes osteoporosis. There are, however, certain risk factors that are associated with the development of this disorder. These are your race, body frame size, age, family history, sex, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and eating disorders. Osteoporosis is typically diagnosed by a bone density test, which involves the use of X-rays to scan the body. The treatment methods that are generally used for osteoporosis mainly depend upon your risk of a fracture. If your risk is low, the treatment plan will mainly involve lifestyle changes and modifications that can reduce the risk factors related to osteoporosis. If you are at a higher risk of breaking a bone, the doctor will prescribe you medications like Actonel, Binosto, Boniva, and Fosamax. Osteoporosis is mainly regarded as a silent disease because there are no telltale signs and symptoms in its early stages.

An overview of the symptoms and causes of dyskinesia Dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is characterized by involuntary muscle movement. It usually affects the head, or the arms and sometimes the entire body. It could also be painful. While suffering from dyskinesia, a person can experience mild to debilitating discomfort. Based on the type and severity of the condition, it could affect your daily activities as well. The frequency and the intensity of the condition cannot be predicted. Dyskinesia is often observed in people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. It could be caused due to levodopa treatment, which continues for a long time. It may also occur in people with movement disorders and is not restricted to Parkinson’s patients alone. People with brain injuries or others who take antipsychotic medications could also experience the condition. These uncontrollable movements could be as mild as minor body twitches to complete movement of the body. Facts about dyskinesia Dyskinesia starts out as minor fidgets or movements that are abnormal and uncontrollable in the dominant hand or foot. It could be a minor shake or tremor. The causes of dyskinesia may vary depending on the type of the condition. People who suffer from dyskinesia due to autism could benefit from behavioral therapy. Unless symptoms pose a significant challenge and affect daily life, it may go untreated if the symptoms are mild. Symptoms of dyskinesia Dyskinesia’s symptoms are different for each person. It may be mild with minor movements of the hands, feet, or head. It could also be more severe wherein multiple body parts start moving randomly. The symptoms tend to get worse over time and some symptoms start after a serious brain injury or they may get intense after trauma to the head. Dyskinesia is not related to the tremors experienced by Parkinson’s patients.

Bones make up the entire skeletal structure that supports the body. Conditions like osteoporosis can result in bone health deterioration and increase the risk of fractures significantly. Since it is a progressive disorder, the symptoms only get worse with increasing age. This condition cannot be fully treated. At best, changes in daily food habits, home remedies, and prescription medications like Prolia® or Evenity® can help improve quality of life. Listed below are few important things to remember while managing osteoporosis symptoms. Foods for calcium Calcium is a crucial nutrient required to maintain bone health. It helps build new bones and prevents bone mineral density loss. Research suggests that adults must get at least 700mg of calcium per day. Greens and leafy vegetables are a natural source of calcium. Popular choices include broccoli, kale, okra, Chinese cabbage, mustard greens, dandelion greens, collard greens, and turnip greens. Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are also loaded with the nutrient. Those who are lactose intolerant can get their calcium requirement from soya beans, tofu, and soya drinks. Sardines and salmon are other good sources of calcium. These foods combined with medications like Prolia® can help manage osteoporosis symptoms in the long run. Foods rich in Vitamin D Vitamin D helps the body better absorb calcium directly from nutritional and organic grown foods. It is possible to get some vitamin D from sunlight but the rest must be supplemented with daily foods. Fortified dairy products contain a healthy concentrate of vitamin D. Fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and mackerel are great seafood options. Research indicates full grown adults need at least 10 micrograms of Vitamin D. Certain types of breakfast foods, breads, snacks, juices, soy milk, and rice milk are also fortified with this vitamin for daily intake. Other essential nutrients Magnesium (for increasing bone strength), potassium, and Vitamins C and K (for reducing risk of fracture) are all essential bone building nutrients.

Prostate cancer is the cancer that starts in the prostate gland and is one of the most common cancers in American men. Here is a list of the prostate cancer symptoms that you should be on the lookout for. The prostate gland is the male sex gland that is responsible for producing the thick fluid that helps sperms propel out of the penis during sexual intercourse. It is almost the size of a walnut, and is located below the bladder, just in front of the rectum. You are diagnosed with prostate cancer when the cells in these glands become cancerous and start multiplying out of control. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects American men, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in them. According to the American Cancer Society estimates, around 221,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year. Prostate cancer is mainly diagnosed in older men, it is extremely rare for it to be diagnosed in men younger than 40 years of age. There are no known causes of prostate cancer, however, there are certain risk factors associated with it. These are your age, family history, ethnicity, diet, smoking, and obesity, exposure to toxins, vasectomy, and infections that are transmitted sexually. Even though the exact cause of this cancer is not known, you can still reduce the risk of developing it by managing the risk factors that are in your control. There are two diagnostic tests that are commonly used for prostate cancer, digital rectal exam and ‘prostate-specific antigen’ or PSA blood test. These are just the initial tests, the diagnosis is confirmed by performing a biopsy and examining the prostate cells. The treatment of prostate cancer does not follow the premise ‘one size fits all’. There are different treatment options available, and the one that is ideal for you depends upon your age, your overall health, size of your tumor, and the stage of the cancer.

Heartburn causes a lot of discomfort to those who experience it. It occurs when your stomach acid travels back up into the esophagus, thus causing an irritating and burning sensation. Apart from a burning sensation, one would most likely experience chest pain since the fluid tends to linger in the esophagus. The symptoms of heartburn may last for a long time. Before we can go on to understand heartburn signs and symptoms, here are a few facts: Acid reflux is a primary indicator of heartburn which leads to a burning feeling in your chest. This is one of the prominent heartburn symptoms. Acid reflux normally occurs after the consumption of certain foods or drinking certain beverages which did not get ingested properly into the system. Heartburn signs and symptoms generally include difficulty in swallowing, chronic cough, pain in the upper abdomen, sore throat, the regurgitation of anything you just ate or drank (which is the acid being thrown up into the esophagus with stomach fluid), or even persistent laryngitis. It is important to understand what causes a heartburn in order to diagnose it correctly and on time: A valve, known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), located below the rib cage keeps the stomach acid from being sent up the esophagus, leaving gravity to deal with the rest of it. The LES mainly functions to open the tube to allow food to be ingested into the stomach or allowing you to belch. It closes both times automatically. The only reason stomach acid tends to seep into the esophagus or gets thrown up due to some reason is the improper functioning of the LES. The causes of LES malfunction can be anything from obesity, pregnancy, constipation, or anything that tends to put too much pressure on your stomach forcing the valve to open.

A stroke is one of the most feared ailment that both men and women can suffer from. This is an attack on the brain that can happen to anyone at any time of their lives. The circulation of the blood to the brain is the primary source of oxygen that results in the smooth functioning of the human body. In case this flow of blood is disrupted, oxygen fails to reach the brain, and the brain cells start dying. This situation is called as a stroke. The physical and mental trauma of a stroke is not limited to just the patient but also affects the patient’s family and friends, as it is a life-threatening ailment. The severity of a stroke depends upon the area of the brain that is affected due to the lack of oxygen. It usually affects the motor control senses and causes disturbances in the nervous system of the patient. It is said that every stroke survivor faces different stroke symptoms. The possibilities of stroke may be detected earlier by a medical practitioner in case the person visits the doctor for any discomfort. Some common early stroke symptoms can broadly be categorized under the title of FAST. This stands for, F: Face drooping A: Arm weakness S: Speech difficulty T: Time to call for help When a person is under the threat of a stroke attack, their face might droop or feel numb when they smile or speak. Their speech may be slurred or abnormal. Also, their arms might feel numb when raised. In case a person undergoes any of these symptoms he or she should immediately call for help or send for medical assistance. Even if any of these signs are observed for a while and may subside after some time, it is still advised to visit a doctor at the earliest.

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.

All seizures are caused by anomalous electrical aggravations in mind. Fractional (central) seizures happen when this electrical movement stays in a restricted region of the brain. The seizures can now and then transform into summed up seizures, which influence the entire cerebrum. This is called optional speculation. Incomplete seizures can be additionally described as: Simple – Not influencing mindfulness or memory Complex – Influencing mindfulness or memory of occasions sometime recently, amid, and quickly after the seizure, and influencing behavior Alternative Names for seizures Focal seizure; Jacksonian seizure; Seizure – Incomplete (central); Worldly flap seizure Manifestations – Patients with central seizures can have any of the manifestations underneath, contingent upon where in the brain the seizure begins Patients with straightforward central seizures don’t lose cognizance. They will know about and recall the occasions that happen at the time Patients with complex, incomplete seizures could conceivably recall any or the majority of the side effects or occasions amid the seizure Side effects can include: Abnormal muscle constriction Muscle constriction/unwinding (colonic action) – normal Affects one side of the body (leg, some portion of the face, or another region) Abnormal head developments Forced turning of the head Staring spells, with or without mind-boggling, dreary developments, (for example, picking at garments) – these are called automatisms and include: Abnormal mouth developments Lip smacking Behaviors that appear to be a propensity Chewing/gulping without cause Forced turning of the eyes Abnormal sensations Numbness, shivering, slithering sensation (like ants creeping on the skin) May happen in just a single piece of the body or may spread May happen with or without motor manifestations Hallucinations Abdominal torment or uneasiness Nausea Sweating Flushed confront Dilated students Rapid heart rate/beat Different side effects include: Blackout spells – time frames lost from memory Changes in vision Sensation of history repeating itself Changes in disposition or feeling How are seizures analyzed?