Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes seizures. A person is said to have epilepsy if he experiences two or more seizures, a disorder in the electrical communication between neurons in the brain, separated by a period of 24 hours. The consequences of an epileptic seizure can vary from uncontrolled jerking movement to momentary loss of awareness. These can also vary in frequency, from several times in a day to only once in a year. Understanding epilepsy seizure symptoms is the first step in treating this disorder. Types of epileptic seizures and their symptoms Differentiating seizure types is important for causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Epilepsy seizure symptoms are broadly classified into two groups – focal seizures and generalized seizures. Focal seizures are the ones which initially affect only one hemisphere of the brain. There are four lobes in each hemisphere of the brain. The seizure symptoms vary based on where the seizure has occurred. This is further divided into two categories: Focal aware seizure – This affects only a small area of the brain and people experiencing this type of seizure remain conscious. The common symptoms include the following. A sudden feeling of fear, anger, anxiety Falling or moving sensations Altered sense of hearing Strenuous speech or incapable of speaking If asleep, hallucinations or illusions Focal impaired awareness seizure – This is associated with unilateral cerebral hemisphere and results in impairment of awareness. The common symptoms include the following. A feeling of déjà vu, a feeling that a person has lived through the present situation A feeling of euphoria or depersonalization Display of automatisms like, lip smacking or swallowing Generalized seizures – These are typically characterized by no apparent cause. Unlike focal seizures, it affects more or the whole part of the brain. This is further classified into the following types.

Neuropathy refers to a generalized disease or malfunctioning of the nerves due to a variety of causes. Nerves are present throughout the body and damage in any location of this system affects the related body part. What Is neuropathy? The word is a combination of “neuro” + “pathy” where “neuro” refers to nerve and “pathy” means suffering or feeling. This is a term that is used to describe injury, damage or disease to the nerves. As a result of such damage, there can be several effects – pain, loss of sensation, loss of function or movement, impairment of gland or organ function. These damages are based on the part of the nervous system that is affected. Classification Neuropathy may be classified according to: The number of nerves affected- mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex Type of nerve fiber that is involved in motor, sensory or autonomic systems Damaged or injured nerves can cause compression or inflammation Other classifications include cranial neuropathy vs peripheral neuropathy based on whether cranial nerves or peripheral nerves( those outside the brain/spinal cord system) are involved, focal neuropathy where only a single nerve or one single area of the body is involved. Terms like distal symmetric neuropathy are used to describe how distant the affected nerves are from the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Symptoms of Neuropathy The malfunction of any nerves results in neuropathy. The symptoms of neuropathy depend on the type, location and number of nerves involved There are two types of neuropathy symptoms: loss of functions and gain of functions. Motor symptoms include weakness, tiredness, lack of balance, muscle atrophy, cramps, and muscle twitch Sensory symptoms include numbness, tingling, and pain In general, the sensory symptoms appear first before motor symptoms that’s why early diagnosis and intervention are crucial Autonomic neuropathy symptoms include dryness of the mouth, constipation, difficult urination, lack of balance or dizziness when you stand up, sexual dysfunction, feeling of bloating after meals, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, intolerance of heat, decreased sweating and hypoglycemia.

All of a sudden one experiences extreme pain in the big toe or other joints. The pain is excruciating and occurs at any time of the day. Such symptoms are typical of gout. Gout pain is a complex type of arthritic pain that occurs due to the build-up of uric acid in the bloodstream. The accumulation of uric acid forms sharp crystals in bone joints. The most common location where gout occurs is the big toe. A gout attack can occur to anyone. A gout attack typically lasts for 10 days, out of which extreme pain occurs during the initial three days. Gout attack starts at one joint and spreads to other joints when not treated. Pain relief for gout can be achieved by reducing the inflammation. Prompt treatment of gout foot pain results in the reduction of inflammation and pain and prevents spreading to other joints as well. Symptoms of gout pain Symptoms of gout pain vary with the severity and build-up of uric acid. Extremely painful gout pain is caused when the uric acid accumulates to the extent where crystals are formed at the joints. The common symptoms of gout pain are: Excruciating pain in the joints : Big toe is the most common joint that is affected by gout pain. It can also spread to other joints like elbow, ankle, wrists, and fingers. The first two to three days of a gout attack are most painful. Swollen joints : Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid at joints. This accumulation manifests as a swelling or bulge at the joints. Excessive uric acid deposits form crystals at the joints, which appear like tiny nodes under the skin. Moderate discomfort : After the extreme pain reduces, moderate to mild pain lingers at the joints. This discomfort lasts for weeks.

Do you feel pain in your heels while walking, jogging or running for a long period of time over a large distance? If the pain goes away after you have rested, it is of no cause of concern. If the pain persists, it is likely that you are suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a disease characterized by pain in the heels and it is the most common cause of heel pain. It is characterized by the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your toes to your heel bone. It results in a stabbing pain that usually occurs when you take your first steps in the morning. The pain tends to decrease as you move more, but it might return if you are standing for a long period of time, or if you rise after sitting for extended periods of time. If you are experiencing this pain, consult a doctor immediately and seek plantar fasciitis treatment. Here are a few causes, symptoms and common methods of treatment for plantar fasciitis. Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis As mentioned before, plantar fasciitis leads to the onset of stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot, and near the heel. The pain is normally the worst when you first wake up in the morning and take your first steps. It may also be triggered if you have been sitting in one place for a long period of time and suddenly stand up, or if have been standing in one place for a long period of time. While such pain generally subsides, if it continues to persist and comes back after periods of time, be sure to conclude that you are suffering from plantar fasciitis. The onset of this pain may also ensure when you are exercising or after you have completed exercising.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea can be daunting. It affects your large intestine, and you might experience symptoms like bloating, cramps, gas, diarrhea, and even constipation. It is a common disorder, and people under the age of 45 are known to be prone to it. Moreover, the disease occurs among women more than men as their reproductive hormones influence their gut hormones. Luckily, today several medications are available to treat IBS. Some people wonder about the effectiveness of these medicines, and it is true that for several years pharmaceutical companies struggled with developing safe medication for diarrhea. However, recently, they have come up with new medications to treat IBS. The two medicines are eluxadoline and rifaximin. Eluxadoline is known to cause fewer bowel contractions and therefore eases diarrhea. Rifaximinis an antibiotic that focuses on changing your gut bacteria, thus leading to a reduction in the symptoms of diarrhea. Even though IBS does not cause any grave ailment, its symptoms are quite painful and can interfere with an individual’s daily life. Although medication for IBS can help with the condition, other ways to ease the symptoms are available. Here are some tips that will help you if you have IBS: Talk to a mental health professional Speaking with a mental health professional is a good idea if you are looking for ways to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Anxiety and pain are correlated and talking to a psychologist can help you deal with the disorder. Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy can also help in alleviating the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. According to studies, over 40% of patients have experienced a reduction in their symptoms such as abdominal pain as well as bloating. A lot of professional therapists can help you go through the process of healing. They use the power of imagination for creating uplifting images in your mind.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, about eight percent of Americans have an allergy that occurs in a particular season. Seasonal allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to an outdoor allergen (something that triggers an allergic response), such as pollen. The pollens that spread seasonal allergies are from wind-pollinated plants, such as trees, grasses, and weeds. The insect-pollinated plants are too heavy to remain airborne for long, therefore they are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. The plants release their pollen at different times of the year. You may experience seasonal allergies in more than one season depending on where you live and your allergy triggers. There are some of the best seasonal allergy medicine options that you can opt for, but let us first take look at what triggers a seasonal allergy. Seasonal allergy triggers The most common seasonal allergy trigger is ragweed, a wild plant that grows especially on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Ragweed blossoms and discharges pollen from August to November. Some other plants that trigger seasonal allergies are Burning Bush, Cocklebur, Lamb’s-quarters, Pigweed, Sagebrush and Mugwort, Tumbleweed, and Russian Thistle. Climate factors can influence how badly your seasonal allergies are triggered. Tree, grass, and ragweed pollens grow during warm days and cool nights. Molds develop swiftly in heat and high humidity. Pollen levels tend to rise in the morning. Even though the rain washes the pollen away, pollen counts can rise after a rainfall. Airborne allergens are grounded on a day with no wind. The pollen counts rush when it is a windy and warm day. Symptoms of seasonal allergies Symptoms of seasonal allergies vary from very mild to severe. Some of the most common symptoms are sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, postnasal drainage, watery and itchy eyes, itchy sinuses, throat, or ear canals and ear congestion.

Chronic myeloid leukemia is a form of cancer that affects the White Blood Cells (WBCs) in the bone marrow. Chronic means the disease grows and spreads gradually, comparatively slower than acute forms of leukemia. This type of cancer is usually diagnosed in older adults and is rare among children, but it can affect people at any age. This article discusses the condition’s causes and symptoms, understanding which can facilitate early diagnosis and ensure timely treatment. What causes chronic myeloid leukemia? This form of leukemia develops due to a genetic mutation. While it isn’t quite understood what sets it off, how it progresses to cancer has been discovered. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. In people with chronic myeloid leukemia, a part of the 9th chromosome switches places with a section of the 22nd chromosome, resulting in an extra-short 22nd chromosome (aka the Philadelphia chromosome) and an extra-long 9th chromosome. The Philadelphia chromosome is found in up to 90 percent of chronic myeloid leukemia patients. The DNA swapping between the two chromosomes leads to the formation of a new fusion gene called BCR-ABL. BCR-ABL causes the myeloid cells to produce an abnormal enzyme called tyrosine kinase, which allows WBCs to grow uncontrollably. These abnormal WBCs multiply rapidly and do not leave room for the healthy cells, leading to the development of chronic myeloid leukemia. What are the symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia? Chronic myeloid leukemia shares symptoms with several other conditions, making diagnosis difficult. Additionally, the condition may not always cause symptoms and is usually detected in a blood test. That said, the signs may include the following when they do appear: Fatigue or weakness A person may experience tiredness, fatigue, and shortness of breath while doing everyday activities. Abdominal swelling Patients may experience abdominal discomfort and swelling, usually in the upper left part of the abdomen.

Rotavirus is a contagious virus that causes inflammation in the intestines and stomach. It is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in children. Although there is no cure for this condition, there are medications that help manage the symptoms. Understanding the symptoms of rotavirus can help one treat the condition immediately. In this article, we will be discussing the symptoms, causes, and prevention methods of rotavirus. Symptoms The symptoms of rotavirus start two days after the exposure to the virus. However, the symptoms can last for up to seven days. Fever and vomiting During the first three days, one may notice fever and vomiting. However, these symptoms may fade away by the fourth day. Dehydration Babies and younger children may experience severe dehydration. Irritability, lack of fluid consumption, little to no urine, and lethargy may be common symptoms of dehydration. Seek immediate medical help if you notice any of these symptoms. Watery diarrhea After the fever and vomiting fade away, one may experience watery diarrhea. This may last for up to seven days. Abdominal pain The diarrhea may be accompanied by abdominal pain. Nevertheless, the stomach pain should subside within a couple of days. Causes Rotavirus is present in the fecal matter of a person and spreads through hand-to-mouth contact. It may be present in the infected person’s stool for two days before the symptoms show up. If a kid or a parent does not wash hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper, the virus can spread easily. The virus can stay on surfaces that have not been disinfected for up to months at a time. Contracting the viral infection is possible even after getting vaccinated. Therefore, prevention is crucial. Prevention To prevent or reduce the risk of getting contaminated, one must wash their hands after using the washroom.

Menopause is a time when women stop having their monthly menstrual cycle. Some women do not have any unpleasant symptoms, while others suffer from menopause symptoms that are debilitating. Read on to know more about menopause symptoms that you should be on the lookout for. Menopause, in simple terms, refers to the time period when women stop menstruating. There is a steady decline in the production of estrogen as well as the function of ovaries as you age. The average age at which most women stop menstruating is 51 years, however, there is a small percentage that experience menopause as late as 60 years. Statistics also show that women who smoke have a tendency to go through menopause earlier than the women who don’t smoke. Menopause means a whole lot more than just the end of fertility for a lot of women. You can suffer from a variety of menopause symptoms like hot flashes and sleeping problems that can be difficult to cope with. The experience of menopause symptoms are different for different women, some report mood changes, while others experience night sweats. If you know what menopause symptoms to look out for, it becomes easier for you to work with the doctor to find the ideal way to manage these changes. Some of the menopause symptoms are: Irregular Periods Many women experience short, irregular, or absent periods at least once in their lives. There are a variety of reasons that can cause irregular periods, however, during menopause the main culprit is hormonal imbalance. Your periods may be heavier or lighter than usual, may last for numerous days or be brief, and may come later or earlier than usual. You may also experience ‘spotting’, which is nothing but bleeding between your periods. This is one of the menopause symptoms that is caused because of hormonal imbalance that is a result of decreasing levels of progesterone and estrogen.

Testicular cancer is a life-threatening disease. Early detection of the cancer results in a better prognosis. Watch out for these testicular cancer symptoms, and seek help if you notice them. Testicular cancer is a disease that is characterized by the growth of cancerous cells in the testes of the male reproductive system. The cancer is said to have metastasized if the cancer begins to multiply and spread to the other healthy organs of the body through the bloodstream. However, the good news is that unlike most cancer cases, testicular cancer can be cured even after metastasis. In general, testicular cancer begins in the cells that produce immature sperms in the testicle, these cells are called germ cells. . There are different types of testicular cancers, such as carcinoma in situ, seminomas, non-seminomas, stromal tumors, Leydig cell tumors, sertoli cell tumors, secondary testicular tumors, etc. Although it is curable, many people lose their lives to this cancer because the testicular cancer symptoms are not diagnosed early enough. In order to ensure early detection and treatment of the disease in time, it is essential to know about the various significant testicular cancer symptoms. Testicular Lump One of the early testicular cancer symptoms includes the development of a pea-sized swelling or a lump in either testicle. This lump or cyst also known as spermatocele develops in the epididymis. The lump may or may not be painful, however it may cause discomfort for the patient as the swelling increases. Pain in the Lower Abdomen Owing to the swellings and lumps in the testicles or in the scrotum, most patients experience pain in the lower abdomen and/or groin area. Shortness of Breath One of the common testicular cancer symptoms is the experience of shortness of breath also known as dyspnea, followed by excessive coughing and chest pains.

Allergies among children of various age groups is a very common phenomenon, but it hampers the immune system of the child and allows other infections to enter the body. Parents must keep a close eye on various child allergy symptoms for the better health of the little one. An allergy is a condition where the immune system abnormally treats certain substances as irritants which may not necessarily be harmful to the body. The patient is said to have developed an allergy to a particular substance when the immune system overreacts by producing antibodies in the bloodstream as if fighting a foreign element or an invader that has entered the system forcefully. Airborne allergies are the most common type found among children which causes a condition known as allergic rhinitis. Child allergy symptoms of allergic rhinitis reportedly affect nearly 10 percent of children in the United States. The child allergy symptoms can be anywhere from mild effects on the patient to being a potential threat to their quality of life. Hence it is imperative for parents and guardians to know about these allergies, so as to provide intensive care and proper medication to the child on time. The following are certain child allergy symptoms that can be diagnosed in the early onset of the illness to prevent the allergy from worsening. Breathing Difficulties Breathing difficulties are one of the most common child allergy symptoms. In the case of respiratory signs, child allergy symptoms include irritable airways in the child that leads to uncontrolled coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest, and also shortness of breath. Child allergy symptoms such as breathing difficulties are often encountered in allergic asthma, which is recorded as the most common type of asthma. Nasal Congestion Postnasal drip is a very common child allergy symptom which is caused when there is an irritant or allergen that has entered the nasal passage causing nasal congestion.

Some skin cancer symptoms are not as obvious as others. These are a few you should actively watch out for. The common assumption is that skin cancer symptoms and signs can only manifest on areas of skin that are exposed to the sun. While it is true that sun-exposed skin presents the primary area where skin cancer develops, this does not mean that skin cancer symptoms cannot show up in areas that almost never see the sun such as under your nails, on your palms or soles, on your genital area, etc. The problem with most skin cancer symptoms is that they can easily be mistaken for other skin issues. This often leads to a loss of time that prevents early diagnosis and a positive prognosis. By knowing the obvious as well as obscure skin cancer symptoms, you will know exactly what you need to watch out for, and which skin cancer symptoms should definitely not be ignored. Skin Cancer Symptoms to Watch Out For The first thing to understand is that there are a number of types of skin cancers that are classified under the broad marquee. These include basal cell skin cancers, squamous cell skin cancers, and melanoma. These are a few skin cancer symptoms you ought to wary about: If you have a sore or a spot that has consistently refused to heal for more than 4 weeks, it may be more than just a sore. Sores or spots that constantly itch, bleed, crust over, or get scabby for more than 4 weeks may be skin cancer symptoms. It is important to watch out for ulcers. An ulcer is basically an area that in the stages of breaking down, and is getting deeper. Once erosion takes place, ulcers ought to heal. If you find yourself facing an ulcer that does not heal within 4 weeks, and that too, for no apparent reason, do not ignore it as it is most likely to be one of the many skin cancer symptoms.