Metastatic lung cancer is when cancer cells from the other areas of the body spread to your lungs. There are various methods that are used in the treatment of this form of cancer. Read on to know more about the metastatic lung cancer prognosis. Usually, cancer develops in one area of the body and this area is known as the ‘primary site’. Cancer cells have a unique ability to break free from these primary sites and travel to the other parts of your body either through the bloodstream or through the lymph system. A cancer is termed as metastatic cancer, when it spreads from the primary sites to the other parts of the body. You suffer from metastatic lung cancer, when cancer in the other areas of your body spreads to the lungs. Some of the primary tumors that can cause metastatic lung cancer are breast cancer, bladder cancer, sarcoma, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, and neuroblastoma. Metastatic lung cancer may not always show up in signs and symptoms. Even when you do start experiencing the symptoms, it may be quite difficult to identity this form of lung cancer, because the symptoms are similar to several other medical conditions. Some of the symptoms of metastatic lung cancer include chest pain, weakness, a persistent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and sudden weight loss. If your doctor suspects metastatic lung cancer, you may have to take various tests to confirm the diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer. These tests are a bronchoscopy, a CT scan, a chest X-ray, and a lung needle biopsy. There are several methods available for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer and the main aim of these methods is to relieve the symptoms as well as to control the cancer growth. The treatment plan that is ideal for you depends on a number of factors that include your overall health, age, medical history, the number of tumors, the location and size of the tumor, as well as the type of the primary tumor.

Is there a connection between your heart’s irregular rhythm and a brain stroke? When it comes to brain strokes, most people know that having high blood pressure puts you at increased risk of suffering a stroke. High blood pressure is perhaps the most common potential risk factor for strokes. However, it is by no means the most powerful one. It might come as a surprise to you but Afib or Atrial Fibrillation is the single most powerful potential risk factor for brain strokes! In fact, a person with high blood pressure has twice the chance of getting a stroke, whereas a person with Afib is 5 times more likely to get an Afib stroke as compared to those that do not suffer from this heart condition. Afib affects your heart, while a stroke happens in the brain, what’s the connection? It all comes down to how the brain functions. This unique organ requires nourishment in the form of constantly supplied blood and oxygen. These nutrients are sent to the brain by the pumping of the arteries. If the brain does not receive this nourishment, brain cells begin to die rapidly. A stroke is simply defined as a “sudden loss of brain function”. In general, strokes are the result of an artery bursting or getting clogged. In the case of a person with high blood pressure going through a stroke, the cause is the weakening of the arteries due to the sheer force with which the blood is being pumped. As the name suggests, people with “high blood pressure” have their blood pumped by the arteries at a very high pressure. Over a period of time, more and more arteries of a person’s body get damaged due to the high pressure pumping. Some of these arteries are the ones that supply blood to the brain.

Until recently erectile dysfunction or impotence was one of the most ignored and neglected complications of diabetes. The rate for diabetes impotence has increased over the past couple of years and it’s a clear indication that one must understand the adverse effects of diabetes and how it plays a major role in causing a condition called sexual dysfunction in both men and women. Men with diabetes are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction or impotence especially in cases where diabetes is not controlled by the patient. It has been recorded that nearly 75 percent of men who suffer from diabetes have developed erectile dysfunction over a period of time. This is a condition where men cannot start or sustain penile erection for satisfactory intercourse. However it is still very difficult to understand how diabetes and impotence are linked to each other. Exploring the Link between Diabetes-Impotence Diabetes impotence is a condition that can impact both men and women, hence it’s important to understand that both sexes should take conscious effort in controlling diabetes to avoid sexual dysfunction or impotence. It has been proven that if diabetes is not controlled through medical measures over a long period of time, it results in the damaging of the nerves and arteries in the body. In general, the lining in the blood vessels of the bloodstream releases a chemical called nitric oxide which signals the muscles and arteries in the penis to let the blood flow, resulting in penile erection. For people with diabetes, the damaged nerves create an obstruction in the flow of blood as they block and lower the level of intravascular nitric oxide. The patient experiences loss of sensation due to the obstruction in the penis, thereby causing difficulties in sustaining rigid erection. In the case of women, diabetes impotence causes vaginal dryness that again leads to an unsatisfactory sexual experience.

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.

Stem cells can be used to understand and treat many diseases and health conditions. However, it can never be said that these treatments are very effective and safe. There is the knowledge of the clinics linked to the treatment. Many blood cell stems have, no doubt, helped many people deal with leukemia. Therefore, it is certainly helpful at times. At the same time, there are many misconceptions related to options which are considered better stem cell therapy options. Some people have exaggerated the effectiveness of this treatment so much that there is a belief of the same. Naturally, expectations from the better stem cell therapy options. The expectations can be there, but people need to know the limitations of the same. The treatment may or may not be effective, depending on various factors and the dynamics of the situation. Currently, there are but a few diseases which can be effectively treated with the use of better stem cell therapy options. These diseases are usually related to blood disorders. Also, few diseases of bone, skin, and eyes can also be treated the same. There is a lot to lose when it comes to trying treatments for the aforementioned diseases. Some of the important points have been discussed further which may help a person decide if the better stem cell therapy option is an alternative for a certain disease in a certain condition or not. Unproven treatments, though believed to be harmless, can create many unforeseen problems. Even though people think that they don’t have anything to lose from an unproven treatment, the result might be in the form of many short-term and long-term health issues. Many times, they require travel expenses along with heavy costs of the treatment’s itself. So, if a person can hardly afford such an expensive treatment, it is wise to not opt for an unproven treatment.

An allergic reaction is often a result of detection of a foreign substance that is harmful to the immune system. As a reaction to these allergens, the immune system reacts with symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and inflammation. If the allergy is mild then it can be treated with the help of over-the-counter medications and home remedies. However, if the allergy is chronic, then it requires medical intervention. In case the allergy is severe then it might need emergency medical care. The following allergy treatment options can help in reducing allergies or managing them. Nasal decongestants Sinuses, sore throats or coughing can be treated with nasal decongestants. There are pills, sprays, and liquids that are used to help with swollen and stuffy sinuses. However, these nasal decongestants should not be taken for more than 72 hours continuously. They are one of the most popular allergy treatment options. Often times, due to allergy, you might not be able to breathe and these nasal decongestants will clear the nasal track and ensure normal breathing. Saline sinus rinse The sinuses can be rinsed with saline in order to clear the way and remove the allergens. Here is a method recommended by the AAAAI for preparing the saline rinse. Take 3 tablespoons of salt without iodine and mix well with 1 tablespoon of boiled water. Next, add one tablespoon of this mixture to 8 ounces of hot water. Then dissolve this mixture in water and use as a saline. The saline gets rid of all the allergens and reduces the symptoms of allergy. You can also buy sinus rinsing devices from a pharmacy or online. If the allergy does not recede, then you are advised to see a doctor for further treatment. Immunotherapy Some allergies are not completely relieved by treatments and so the doctors might suggest allergen immunotherapy.

Spinal stenosis is an extremely painful condition that causes the narrowing of the spaces within the spine. This puts pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine and may lead to several complications. Spinal stenosis commonly occurs in the neck and the lower back. One of the major drawbacks of this condition is the fact that its onset may come with symptoms to indicate the presence of the condition. If you do experience the symptoms of spinal stenosis though, expect to face severe pain, numbness, muscle weakness, and tingling in the affected areas. The symptoms generally worsen with the progression of the condition, so consult a doctor immediately. The onset of spinal stenosis is generally due to wear and tear in the spine related to osteoarthritis. To make things easier for you, here are a few of the best spinal stenosis treatment methods for you to choose from. Spinal Stenosis Treatment Options Treatment for spinal stenosis is dependent on the severity of the signs and symptoms of the disease as well as its location. You must consult a doctor to determine the treatment method that suits you best. If your condition is mild, home remedies may be enough to keep your condition at bay. If you are suffering from severe spinal stenosis, or if home remedies are doing you no good, your doctor may recommend physical therapy, medications, or even surgery. Here are a few of the best spinal stenosis treatment methods. Medications The doctor may prescribe the use of pain relievers and anti-depressants. Pain medications may be successful in providing temporary relief and may ease the discomfort associated with the disease. Try not to use them for long periods of time as they can cause more harm than good. Anti-depressants can help ease chronic pain. Again, do not use them for long periods of time.

Boils, also known as abscesses, are basically red-colored bumps that develop beneath the skin. These bumps are not always painful, but as they grow larger and accumulate more pus, the tenderness and pain increase. Also, they do not drain until they are fully saturated. Boils are those kinds of skin infections that initiate at the root of the oil glands or the hair follicles of the skin. Boils can be very painful and warm when touched since they penetrate into the deeper subcutaneous layer of the skin. In case of small insignificant boils, it can be treated at home giving warm compresses. The repeated soakings will drive the pus to the head of the boils and it bursts to release the same. Whatever might be the case; boils should never be pricked with a needle for draining the pus as this can make the infection even worse. Due to infection, the base of the oil glands or the hair follicles and the area of the skin associated with the infection become red. The reddish appearance indicates that an inflammation has occurred. Immediately after, a soft painful coagulum develops from that place. It takes a maximum of 4 to 7 days for the clump to accumulate enough pus and turn white. for those who do not know how to get rid of boils, a hot compress is an effective home remedy. In case the pus does not drain even after applications of repeated hot compresses, it should be understood that the sepsis has metastasized to the deeper layers of the skin. In such a condition the boil is termed as furuncle or an abscess. Causes of Boils There are multitudes of bacteria’s present on our skin’s surface. Some are beneficial for our skin and some are bad. Boils are caused by Staphylococcus that resides on our skin.

As far as inflammations are concerned, meningitis is understandably the most difficult one to treat and deal with. It is a condition that is well-researched and monitored. It is an infection of sorts, that means treatment isn’t very difficult to figure out. Meningitis is essentially an inflammation that occurs along with the possible swelling of the protective membrane that covers our spinal cord and brain. The swelling and inflammation can be caused by a number of reasons—but a common cause is a bacterial or viral infection on this covering. Here is a broader understanding of the meningitis symptoms and how you can deal with this disease. What and How As we already know what meningitis is—understanding the cause and treatment is far more important—the symptoms are fairly similar across the board. However, how it affects you is something that you need to understand. The most common cause of meningitis in the country is either a bacterial or viral infection. Interestingly, many cases of meningitis get resolved by themselves, but others can be life-threatening and deadly. They need to be treated with emergency antibiotics. That is why it’s never okay to risk not getting meningitis checked. Identifying meningitis symptoms, therefore, also takes prime importance. Here are a few different types of meningitis to help you understand the differences and levels of severity. Bacterial Meningitis This kind of meningitis starts with a bacteria invading your body that travels to the spinal cord and the brain region. This causes what is known as acute bacterial meningitis. However, another way this can occur is if the bacteria gets access to the meninges directly. This is often the case during a nasal, ear, or throat infection—but can also happen during skull fractures and even surgeries. Of course, there are some kinds of bacteria are more likely to cause acute bacterial meningitis than others.

Certain underlying diseases, as well as one’s lifestyle, are the primary causes of constipation. Therefore, before opting for any treatment, one needs to understand the root cause by visiting a physician. Causes of constipation Excessive absorption of water by the colon is one of the primary causes of constipation. Poor or slow contraction of the colonic muscles may be the trigger for slow stool movements of and greater water loss. Here are some other factors that may lead to this problem: Insufficient fiber in the diet People who have a fiber-rich diet consisting of fruits, whole grains as well as vegetables in sufficient quantities are less prone to constipation. Fiber ensures that the patient has regular bowel movements. Thus, one can prevent constipation by making modifications to their diet. It is advisable to avoid food with low fiber content like eggs, meat, and cheese. Lack of physical activity When people are inactive for long periods, which occurs in the case of old people, there is a possibility of constipation. When people are bed-ridden for a prolonged period such as for weeks or months after hospitalization, there is an increased risk of constipation. Usually, seniors live a sedentary life without much physical activity. Therefore, they are at a higher risk of constipation as compared to younger, and more active people. Medications Constipation is a common side effect of taking some medications. These include narcotics like codeine, hydromorphone or oxycodone for pain relief. Amitriptyline, an antidepressant can also be responsible for constipation. Constipation can also occur due to anticonvulsant medications like phenytoin or carbamazepine, taken in the form of an iron supplement. Calcium channel blockers like diltiazem or nifedipine can trigger constipation. Certain antacids like Amphojel or Basaljel which contain aluminum could be responsible for constipation. Diuretics like chlorothiazide could also trigger constipation.

All of our body parts are necessary to perform several activities, and knees are something without which we cannot move even an inch. Knees are an indispensable part of the body as the knee joints enable us to walk, jump and do everything that we can’t do by being static. Hence, it is of paramount importance that we take extreme care of our knees. However, if you get into a situation that leaves you with a damaged knee joint, you should seek the medical assistance of an orthopedic doctor. If you are not sure whether or not your problem is a serious one, you can go through the knee replacement surgery videos on the Internet to know better about your condition. In a knee replacement surgery, the damaged part of the knee is replaced by an artificial part. Most of the times, doctors try to avoid the surgery by administering medicines to the patient, but if none works, then surgery is the ultimate option. Knee joints can get damaged due to several reasons such as meeting with an accident while doing house chores or getting injured during road accidents or while playing sports. People suffer from knee problems on account of age as well. Aging leads to wearing of cartilages in the knees which makes it difficult to walk. It can be really troublesome when you are not able to walk. For those people who want to know more about such problems, several knee replacement surgery videos on the Internet can help them understand the situation well. If you are also one of those facing knee pains and are concerned about the same, consider adopting the following changes: Weight loss: Most of the people tend to suffer from knee problems because they do not exercise much which makes their body parts habitual to lying static.

Have you ever heard about meningitis? Do you know what it is and what are all the things that are related to it? Is meningitis contagious? These are some of the common questions about meningitis. The fact of the matter is that many people are not completely aware of this disease. However, as it turns out, this is one of the most serious diseases. An acute inflammation of the meninges (the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord) is known as meningitis. As it affects the membrane that protects the brain, this disease is dangerous. According to the statistics, there were around 4,100 cases of bacterial meningitis each year from 2003 to 2007, and 500 of those cases were fatal. Meningitis is a disease that is found in various parts of the world. It has many types, of which bacterial meningitis is the most common. And sometimes the symptoms vary based on the age too. Types, causes, and symptoms of meningitis Bacterial meningitis Bacterial meningitis is caused by the bacteria that enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain and the spinal cord. This can also happen if the bacteria invade the meninges directly. The causes for this are skull fracture, an ear or sinus infection, and sometimes surgeries. The symptoms in this type of meningitis usually develop suddenly. Altered mental status, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, irritability, headache, fever, chills, stiff neck, drowsiness, and lethargy are some of the symptoms of bacterial meningitis. One should seek immediate medical attention if he or she notices any of the above symptoms as bacterial and another type of meningitis called viral meningitis can be very dangerous and lethal. Viral meningitis Viral meningitis is mild in nature and mostly clears on its own. Most of the cases of this disease in the country are due to a group of viruses named enteroviruses.