Treatment Options for Enlarged Prostate

Treatment Options for Enlarged Prostate

When the prostate cells divide and multiply abnormally, it causes the organ to get enlarged in size. The benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) is also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. A person, who is affected by enlarged prostate experiences difficulties in the urinal and sexual activities. These issues may decrease the affected person’s overall quality of life. Various enlarged prostate treatment options are available which include medications, lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and in critical cases, surgery. Well, before taking any kind of medication, it is always advisable to consult a medical expert. Here is a list of some of the natural ways along with some healthy lifestyle changes that can help to ease the enlarged prostate symptoms. Lifestyle changes The following lifestyle tips are a major part of the prostate enlargement treatment: Eating fruits and such foods that are rich in fiber will help you in avoiding constipation. Constipation can put extra pressure on your bladder and can worsen the enlarged prostate symptoms. It is better not to go to sleep with a full bladder. Hence, you should avoid drinking fluids 1 or 2 hours prior to your bedtime. Make a habit of drinking at least 2 liters of water on a regular basis. Also, as much as you need to stay hydrated, make sure not to drink too much water at one go. Having regular exercise is another important part of the treatment of enlarged prostate. You should learn how to maintain a healthy body weight. Double voiding can help you in dealing with this condition. While visiting the bathroom, after urinating once, try to urinate again after a few minutes just to drain the bladder as much as you can. You can use absorbent urinary pants or pads that can absorb the urine leaks. It will also help to reduce the discomfort caused by wetness.
4 Reasons for Shoulder Pain

4 Reasons for Shoulder Pain

Are you unable to lift your hand above your head without feeling any discomfort? Well, this can be a symptom of a frozen shoulder or a rotator cuff injury or a dislocated shoulder. As per an estimate, about 67% of people in the country suffer from shoulder pain at some point over the course of their lives. The shoulder is made up of bones secured in place by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It is one of the most mobile joints. The well-combined joints and muscles help you perform all activities like allowing the shoulder to move freely in different directions, raising your arms over your head, throwing a baseball, or scratching your back. Joints are used in almost every day-to-day activity, and their regular wear and tear can create a lot of problems and pain. Here are a few reasons for shoulder pain symptoms. Rotator cuff tendonitis There are several reasons for shoulder pain, and the most common of these is the rotator cuff. A recent study showcased two-thirds of people having shoulder pain had a rotator cuff problem. The rotator cuff is a tough sheath of tendons and ligaments that support the arm at the shoulder joint, keeping the ball of your upper arm bone centered in your shoulder socket, making it easy to raise and rotate your arm. Performing some motions regularly can lead to inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, also known as tendonitis, which can cause shoulder pain. With tendonitis, shoulder pain symptoms and weakness are often mild at first and barely noticeable when you move the joint; after a while, they can grow more severe and occur all the time. Change in activities to avoid provoking the pain can help heal the tendons. The good news is that rotator cuff tendonitis can improve with time.
Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia

Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, abbreviated as FM, is a disease that causes fatigue, localized tenderness, muscular and skeletal pain. There are studies that claim genetics as a cause of FM, but, the real cause is still not identified. If a person experiences widespread pain without any medical condition for more than three months, fibromyalgia is diagnosed. Depression, poor concentration, psychological stress, headaches, physical trauma are some of the main symptoms of FM. These symptoms may become serious and disturb your daily routine. There are many methods to ease its symptoms, fortunately. Following are some of the fibromyalgia treatment options: Using proper medication There are many over the counter (OTC) pain relievers that are recommended by doctors and are used as a treatment option for fibromyalgia. These help in reducing muscle pain, minimizing the inflammation and also help in improving your sleep quality. Practice Yoga Studies indicate that fibromyalgia-affected people who practice yoga regularly have comparatively less muscle pain and fatigues. The breathing exercises and meditation help in improving the mood and increasing the muscle strength. Try Acupuncture Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment done by pricking needles into the skin. It helps in increasing the blood flow and changes the level of neurotransmitters in your brain. This method is used for treating chronic pain through natural self-healing. Studies show that the people who undergo acupuncture as one of the fibromyalgia treatments will get relief for at least two years. But, there are some side effects of this practice such as soreness, minor bleeding and bruising, right after the treatment. Another risk involved is that, if it is not from a licensed acupuncture expert, they may use unsterilized needles which can cause other infections. Physiotherapy This therapy strengthens your muscles and improves your movements and thus decreases the fibromyalgia pain. A trained physiotherapist can perform symptom-specific fibromyalgia treatments.
A Guide to Identifying Alzheimer’s Disease and its Various Stages

A Guide to Identifying Alzheimer’s Disease and its Various Stages

Learning that a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can take a toll on anybody. This progressive disease is emotionally and physically traumatizing as it gradually affects one’s memory, their ability to think and perceive. In order to manage the symptoms effectively, knowing about the stages of progress and treatment options is crucial. The experience of the disease may differ from person to person but the trajectory from the beginning to the end of the illness is the same. Given below are the 7 identified Alzheimer’s stages: Preclinical Alzheimer’s The preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s is not clearly observed and signs of memory loss or dementia are not evident. Family history alone may denote the risk of this stage or else one’s regular physician may recognize biomarkers signifying the risk, suggesting a visit to a neurologist. Normal forgetfulness After crossing 65, it is common to forget things. But at stage two of Alzheimer’s, the tendency to forget things tends to increase rapidly than in people of the same age group who do not suffer from the disease. Mild decline The symptoms at this stage are less clear and it usually continues for about 7 years. The symptoms gradually become obvious within 2- 4 years. Only those who are very close may detect the signs since they are still quite subtle. The quality of work may decrease and the victims may find it difficult to learn new skills. Other signs of the third stage include things like getting lost in a well-known route, difficulty in remembering correct words/names, an inability to remember recent news, inability to remember new names/ people, frequent loss or misplacement of an item, a decrease in concentration. Moderate Decline This 4 th Alzheimer’s stage lasts almost two years and marks the commencement of identifiable Alzheimer’s disease. In this stage, precise indications of the ailment are clear.
13 Tips to Reduce Heartburn

13 Tips to Reduce Heartburn

Before getting to know about the home remedies for heartburn, you need to understand the underlying causes. An unbearable pain occurs in the lower chest due to acid reflux. It happens when the contents of the stomach are pushed back into the esophagus. What are the home remedies for heartburn? It is vital to note that every mode of treatment comes with its risks, and hence it is advisable to consult a medical professional before deciding the best solution for yourself. If you are wondering how to stop or treat heartburn, you can read some of the tips and home remedies given below: Avoid overeating: When you overeat, you exert pressure on the esophageal sphincter which is a ring-like muscle that connects the esophagus to the stomach. It is similar to a valve, and thus, it prevents the stomach’s acidic content from going back to the esophagus. People with acid reflux have weak sphincters. Overeating causes acid to push into the esophagus. Losing weight: Acid reflux occurs when the pressure on the abdomen is high, particularly for those who are obese and for pregnant women as well. So to get relief from heartburn, one should try to lose weight. Excessive abdominal pressure pushes the esophageal sphincter upwards, causing the stomach acid to enter the esophagus, thus causing acid reflux. Low-carb diet: Carbs that remain undigested lead to bacterial overgrowth and increase the abdominal pressure. An excess of undigested carbs in the stomach is the main cause of gas and bloating. You might feel like belching because of this. Thus, following a low-carb diet is a good home remedy for heartburn. Controlling alcohol: The chances of getting acidity and heartburn rise due to the consumption of alcohol. Symptoms worsen as there is an increase in stomach acid. The esophageal sphincter becomes relaxed, and therefore, it cannot prevent the acid from entering the esophagus.
All You Need to Know about the Diet for Diverticulitis

All You Need to Know about the Diet for Diverticulitis

These days, the stomach diseases are increasing, and therefore, the doctors show a severe concern towards the overall nutrition of the people. Every age group has certain gut bacteria levels and must follow a routine check-up. Cleansing of the colon area is a must so that toxins from the body keep on regularly releasing without harming organs and intestine lining. However, a particular health condition came into highlight mostly in the age group of 30 to 50 years is diverticulitis. It is a kind of a stomach disease which occurs when small pockets are formed in the wall of the digestive system. They lead to the intestine inflammation. One of the reasons for this can be an infection due to the toxics of colon. What are diverticula and how is it formed? Diverticula are small sacs or pockets which take birth on their own when the colon muscles become weaker. They protrude outward in the large intestine lining in red color like boils or polyps. It is a painful condition during a flare-up. Sometimes, on diagnosing, immediate surgery is recommended by the specialists. What are the symptoms of diverticulitis? Most people are unaware of the initial symptoms and lead to the chronic stage and then realize the fact that they are affected by diverticulitis. Hence, there are some common symptoms which one must consider and get immediate help from the doctor whenever they experience them. Long-term constipation is the condition when one cannot pass stool regularly and sustains for a long term. It causes immense pain and fatigue. Long-term diarrhea is a common symptom of diverticulitis. If a person suffers from diarrhea and no antibiotic works, then it is a sure symptom of diverticulitis. Pain and tender feeling in the abdomen with bloating is a symptom of diverticula formation in the colon lining.
Causes and Treatments for a Bloated Stomach

Causes and Treatments for a Bloated Stomach

For some people, when they have a bloated stomach, their belly looks swollen or they might encounter intense abdominal pain. The reason may be abdominal bloating caused by something as mild as indigestion or too much gas forming up in the stomach and bowels. Fluid retention, irritable bowel syndrome, or infection are the possible causes of abdominal bloating. The cause of bloating is mostly harmless, and it can be treated at home by most people. However, abdominal bloating can be disturbing, especially when it is extremely painful. Let us have a look at some of the causes and treatments to get stomach relief from bloating: Causes of bloating Digestive disorders People who have various functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease have a bloating stomach. Studies show that stomach bloating is experienced by almost 23 percent to 96 percent of people with IBS. Fluid retention Excess bloating and temporary weight gain can be caused by bodily fluids that are deposited around the body, including near the abdomen or pelvis area. Fluid retention in the abdomen is called the ascites and it can be a symptom of a more serious health condition. It can be due to an abdominal infection, liver disease or, evendue to cancer. Dehydration Dehydration pauses digestion. The more water you drink, the more you get bloated. Constipation Another main reason for having a bloated stomach is constipation. Constipation causes the stool to settle in the intestines, thus leaving you with a hard-feeling stomach which causes pain, discomfort, and gas. The prominent reasons for constipation are the limited amount of fiber intake, not drinking enough water, or avoiding physical activity. Food allergies Food allergies, sensitives or lactose intolerance are other common causes of gas and bloating. The foods that trigger gas include dairy products, gluten-containing foods (most bread, pasta, rolls, cereals, etc.) and certain kinds of carbohydrates.
Rheumatoid Arthritis – Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an inflammatory disease. It leads to swelling, pain, stiffness, and loss of movements in the joints of the body. One of the main causes of this condition is the malfunctioning of the immune system of the body, as it starts attacking the membrane linings of the joints instead of defending the body. One should always consult a doctor in the case they are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This is essential as a proper and timely diagnosis will help with starting a treatment plan. Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis vary from person to person, and it can range from mild to severe. For most people, the condition turns out to be chronic and often lasts for a lifetime. For certain people the symptoms remain constant throughout; however, for others, the intensity of the symptoms varies from time to time. How is the treatment plan decided? Doctors use a variety of methods to treat rheumatoid arthritis. These treatment options are administered to the affected individual through various combinations and sessions depending on the condition. Most of the time, the treatment plans are curated on the basis of the individual’s condition. Communication is key and treatment is effective only if the patient is completely honest with their doctors. The patient should make a note of all the flare-ups and other symptoms and report them to the doctor as it would be important to devise an effective treatment plan for rheumatoid arthritis. A few common doctor-recommended options have been listed below that can help in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Change in lifestyle and behavior There are different changes that one can make from their side to help improve and manage their condition. Some of the common options have been listed as follows: Make sure to exercise and rest:
4 Popular Creams for Alleviating Shingles Pain

4 Popular Creams for Alleviating Shingles Pain

What are shingles? Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is a condition that is triggered by the varicella zoster virus. It is the virus that is responsible for causing chickenpox. After chickenpox is treated, it remains in a dormant state inside the nervous system. Usually, shingles is characterized by a blistering rash on the skin. It is mostly a common condition in elderly individuals, who have a fragile immune system. However, any person can contract shingles. In most cases, after patients have recovered from shingles they will not get affected by it again. Although, it is possible for it to occur more than once. Shingles is not a contagious condition, but there is a small possibility of the virus spreading to someone who has never had chickenpox and isn’t vaccinated either. Symptoms of shingles The most common symptom that is witnessed is a persistent form of pain that can be dull, sharp or might even burn. However, for some patients, the discomfort could be intermittent. The other signs indicating the onset of shingles are – A rash that instantly progresses into blisters containing secretions. Apart from being painful, these can be immensely itchy, although they might not spread to the other parts of the body. They usually appear on the face and upper body, but on rare occasions, these can affect the lower areas of the body too. Severe inflammation might be noticed around the area affected by shingles. In some cases, the shingles might target the eyes, damaging the ophthalmic nerve which can lead to pain, swelling and in extreme circumstances temporary or irreversible loss of vision. Patients may also experience heightened sensitivity, i.e., even the slightest touch can cause distress. At times, blisters can form a band which may come across as a skin damage resulting from severe burns.
Here are the Most Common Causes of Dry Eyes and its Treatment Options

Here are the Most Common Causes of Dry Eyes and its Treatment Options

Tears are a mixture of fatty oils, water, and mucus. It helps in keeping the surface of the eyes smooth and clear, which further helps in protecting the eyes from infection. With age, the tendency to produce tears reduces in both, men and women. This could be due to hormonal changes. Dry eyes are common in women who have gone through menopause. One of the most common causes that decrease tear production is increased tear evaporation and an imbalance in the make of tears. One of the common causes of dry eyes is that it is unable to produce enough tears. Medically, this condition is called as keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It could be due to aging, medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroid disorders, or simply due to vitamin A deficiency. Some of the common causes of dry eyes are as follows: There are certain medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressant drugs, and hormone replacement therapy that can contribute to being some of the common causes of dry eyes. Parkinson’s disease can also cause dry eyes. Tear gland damage and laser eye surgery can also bring about dry eyes. But because it is a surgical procedure, the symptom can be temporary. Increased tear evaporation is also one of the common causes of dry eyes. The common causes of tear evaporation include the wind, smoke, or dry air. It also occurs due to reading, driving, or working at a computer for long hours. People who have ectropion which is another name of out-turned eyelids can also cause dry eyes. As discussed above, the three basic components of tears, oil, water, and mucus, produce a film with the help of small glands called Meibomian glands that are present at the corner of the eye. When these glands are clogged or blocked, the production of tears decreases.
List of Things to Eat and Avoid When You Have Diarrhea

List of Things to Eat and Avoid When You Have Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a disorder caused due to irregular bowel movements. A quite common digestive system disorder, diarrhea is caused due to food allergy, bacterial infection or due to eating something that is not digested properly. Often, diarrhea can occur as part of other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome. It lasts for two to three days with loose and watery stools occurring throughout the day. Common symptoms of diarrhea Some of the common symptoms of diarrhea are as follows: Occasional bouts of nausea and a tendency to throw up Sudden weight loss Presence of mucus or blood in stool Cramps and pain in stomach and bloating Frequently visiting the bathroom to clear the bowels Although diarrhea goes away after two-three days, it is necessary to consult a doctor if the symptoms become severe and persist for a longer period. Dehydration, fever above 102 F, severe rectal or stomach pain and presence of blood in stools are some of the indicators that diarrhea has become severe. In such cases, it is necessary to receive medical treatment to prevent any further health complications. Treatment for diarrhea For mild cases of diarrhea, it is enough to take off the diet. There are certain foods for diarrhea that alleviate the discomfort. Even in the case of severe diarrhea, it necessary to avoid certain foods and eat only that helps the healing process to progress faster. A careful diet comprising of essential food for diarrhea should be followed along with doctor-prescribed medications. Food for diarrhea that you should avoid Certain types of food are difficult to process for the digestive system. These aggravate the symptoms and make diarrhea worse. So, these categories of food must be avoided when suffering from diarrhea. Food with fats: Food that has been fried and is greasy can make the symptoms worse.
A Brief Overview of Dry Eye Syndrome

A Brief Overview of Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is a disease that is commonly characterized by a condition in which eye fails to make enough tears or tears quick evaporate. Dry eyes become red and swollen, and this causes pain and irritation in the eye of a sufferer. Dry eye syndrome is also called keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eyes. People 50 years or older are prone to suffer from this syndrome. There are 5 million Americans suffering from dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is more common in women than in men. Women who are pregnant or taking hormone replacement therapy or experiencing menopause are at risk of dry eye syndrome. Here are many underlying conditions that can increase the risk of dry eye syndrome. If someone has chronic eye allergies, thyroid diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or any other immune system disorder, exposure to keratitis or vitamin A deficiency, they are at risk of contracting dry eye syndrome than those who do not have any of the above-mentioned conditions. Symptoms The symptoms of dry eye syndrome are usually mild in case of most people. Severe cases of dry eye syndrome are painful and difficult to treat. Symptoms that are commonly found in people suffering from dry eye syndrome are: – Feeling of dryness in eyes. – Grittiness and soreness in eyes – Red eyes – Eyes burning with inflammation – Eye sticking together on waking up – Temporary blurred vision – Watering eyes – Sensitivity to light If you think your symptoms are much more serious, visit your optometrist or GP. Causes of dry eye syndrome Dry eye syndrome can occur in people whose eyes fail to produce tear the natural way. There are a number of reasons leading to this condition. There are multiple reasons causing this problem. Here are the causes of dry eye syndrome.