Multiple myeloma is a condition wherein plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cells in the bone marrow, become cancerous and start multiplying. This condition can damage the bones, immune system, and kidneys and the treatment for myeloma depends on the stage of cancer. Options include medication, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, and radiation; a stem-cell transplant may also be done. Cost of treatment There have been major advances in the last 15 years in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma. Overall, survival has remarkably improved during this period due to the research and introduction of new medications. But the costs of treating myeloma are very high, more than other oncology treatments. The cost is amplified in three ways: first, treatment requires a combination of multiple medications; second, treatment is usually done in the form of continuous or maintenance therapy, due to which costs are not temporary but continual; third, as survival through multiple myeloma has remarkably improved, the cumulative cost of care over the lifetime of a patient is very high. The costs for treatment for multiple myeloma can include approximately $150,000 per annum for medication and treatment, and around $100,000 per annum for maintenance and care after initial treatment. These costs not only affect the patient but also society as a whole. Introducing biosimilars to replace biologics – many of whose patents are due to expire – can result in huge savings, projected to be to the tune of $54 billion from 2017 to 2026. Comparing biologics and biosimilars Biologic medicines are transforming cancer treatment by targeting the key path that underlies the mechanism of the disease. They are more active and less toxic in the treatment of cancer than the previous generations of small-molecule medications. The research, manufacturing, and introduction cost of biologics is high, which explains why cancer medication is very expensive.

Common dog allergies and their treatments You will find that dogs suffer from different kinds of allergies, like food allergies, skin allergies and even allergies from environmental allergens. What is more challenging when it comes to dog allergy is that symptoms are of various types, and they often overlap. Herein, we discuss the various allergies that dogs suffer from and the appropriate natural treatment options. Types of dog allergies Dog allergies can be of various types, prime among them are Skin allergy It is a common type of dog allergy wherein the allergen is a flea bite or food substance. Insect bite allergy can be an exaggerated response to stings or bites of specific insects such as spiders, ticks, fleas, deer flies, blackflies, horseflies, ants, bees, mosquitoes, wasps, and bees. Flea saliva is unarguably the most common allergen that triggers flea allergy dermatitis. Inhalant allergy The main inhalant allergens include tree pollen, grass pollen, molds, house dust mites, mildew, and weed pollens. Symptoms may include bronchitis in dogs but it usually manifests as itchy skin, the condition is known as inhalant allergic dermatitis. While symptoms can be controlled, a permanent cure is not possible. You can conduct skin tests to identify the allergens and try to protect your pet from getting exposed. But since most allergens are environmental, the allergy is likely to come back. Bathing your dog with hypoallergenic shampoo may soothe the itchy and inflamed skin. Bathing will also rinse out allergens on its coat. Food allergy This can occur as a reaction to any protein or carb in their food, more often in response to dairy foods, wheat gluten, beef, chicken eggs, lamb, chicken, and soy. This type of allergy will not respond well to medical treatment or corticosteroids. You must identify the responsible allergen and eliminate it.

Treatment plans and medications for depression According to the World Health Organization, the estimated number of people around the world affected by depression are around 350 million. It is the most common illness worldwide and is a leading cause of disability. WHO states that it is a common mental disorder that is characterized by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that a person usually enjoys, accompanied by an inability to carry out daily activities for at least two full weeks. What causes depression? While the cause of depression is not fully understood, it is likely to be a complex combination of genetic, environmental, and biological and psychosocial factors. Also, while depression can affect people of all ages from all walks of life, poverty, unemployment, life events like the death of a loved one or a relationship break-up, physical illness, and problems caused by alcohol and drug use are likely to increase the risk. The symptoms involve losing interest in doing things that one would usually enjoy, change in appetite and sleep patterns, and feeling sad for at least 2 weeks. Approaches to treat depression If the symptoms persist for more than two weeks, patients are advised to get professional help from a therapist who can evaluate the symptoms and recommend the right approach for treatment. It is a condition that can be treated by therapy, medication, or both, and the treatment approaches vary depending on the type of depression. Here are some psychotherapy approaches to know about: Interpersonal therapy (IPT) This approach focuses on the past and present social roles and interpersonal interactions of the patient and attempts to help them find better ways to deal with their current problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) It focuses on helping patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behavior.

Allergies can be concerning, and even possibly life threatening for your dog. It could even drastically lessen the quality of life of your dog. So, it is important for you to be aware of the possible allergies that your dog could suffer from. This article talks about the most common allergies that could affect your dog: Flea allergy dermatitis: A pretty common allergy amongst dogs, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) occurs when the saliva in the flea bites cause an allergic reaction. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, FAD is the commonest dermatological disease in domestic dogs in the country. FAD is rampant during warm weather, such as the summer months. The reactions occur when the fleas bite, injecting saliva into the host, which contains compounds similar to amino acids, polypeptides, enzymes, and histamine. FAD can affect the entire body. One of the most natural remedies for FAD is medicated shampoo baths and a flea medication collar to prevent them from coming back. Seasonal allergies: Dogs can also suffer from seasonal allergies as well, the signs of which include sneezing, red, puffy eyes, loss of hair, itching, and irritated skin with hives and rashes. Usually, there is no natural treatment for seasonal allergies. The dog needs to be taken to the vet who will prescribe antihistamines and OTC medications, such as benadryl, for your pet pooch. Human food allergies: Human food allergies are quite common in dogs, with almost 10% of all dog allergy cases being food-related. Allergies occur when the dog’s body wrongly identifies a certain food as harmful, and produces antibodies that lead to a variety of potentially dangerous symptoms. Symptoms could be anything from nausea, vomiting, and itching to gastrointestinal issues, ear inflammation, and diarrhea. Dogs can be allergic to various foods including dairy, soy, wheat, fish, chicken, beef, pork, and more.

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.

Plantar fasciitis is a flat band of tissue which helps connect the heel bone to the toes. Straining of plantar fasciitis leads to it getting swollen and irritated. This condition is common in middle-aged people but happens in younger people who use their feet a lot. Athletes and soldiers suffer from this medical condition. Causes of plantar fasciitis This medical condition is caused by straining of the ligament which supports the arch. This results in pain and swelling and happens when the feet roll inwards as a person walks too much. People who are overweight also suffer from this medical ailment. The plantar fasciitis treatment is initiated to cure inflammation and pain in the heel. This treatment is also done with the objective of improving strength, flexibility and thereby correcting the foot problem. Most of the people who suffer from this medical condition recover within a year of initiating the plantar fasciitis treatment and 95 percent of these are able to get over this problem with nonsurgical plantar fasciitis treatment. Rest of them might require surgery to deal with this problem. It is worth mentioning here that if the plantar fasciitis treatment is started at the initial stage only, it takes less time for healing in comparison to the situation when the plantar fasciitis treatment is delayed. Initial treatment for plantar fasciitis There is a range of ways which can help a patient get relief in the condition of plantar fasciitis. The effectiveness of these methods has not been scientifically explored but has been found to give imminent relief to the patients. People suffering from plantar fasciitis need to rest their feet. In such condition activities which aggravate this condition must be limited. Running should be avoided as should be walking on hard surfaces. Inflammation and pain can be reduced by putting ice on the heel.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease. It makes the patient suffer from extreme pain throughout the body. Individuals suffering from fibromyalgia suffer from different symptoms such as difficulty in sleeping, exhaustion, high sensitivity to pain, and headache. Fibromyalgia causes deep muscle pain and hurting tender points causing difficult breathing and inactiveness. Fatigue, stiffness in muscles, mental problems (such as low concentration and memory), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which brings stomach ache and irregular bowel movements are some other symptoms that probably indicate fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia sleep about 8–10 hours during the night with the need to sleep more. Adequate bed rest doesn’t prove helpful to them. If you experience symptoms of fibromyalgia, you should ensure to consult a doctor. There are several fibromyalgia treatments available. The common fibromyalgia treatments include medications, change in lifestyle habits, and natural remedies. Specialists may recommend anti-depressants to treat depression and anxiety related to fibromyalgia. Physical therapies, stress reduction, and relaxation exercises also work well to cure fibromyalgia. A single approach doesn’t fit for treatment for fibromyalgia. Medications along with alternatives give wonderful results. Popular fibromyalgia treatments available: Fibromyalgia treatments aim to reduce pain, fatigue, and ensure quality sleep. Exercises: Fibromyalgia indicates poor fitness. People with fibromyalgia are reluctant to do exercises. Practicing aerobic and conditioning exercises to get rid of pain, stress, and anxiety are effective fibromyalgia treatments. Physical therapy: Physical therapies relax the muscle tension and smoothen the body movements. Stiffness and pain due to fibromyalgia lessen with regular physical therapy sessions. Therapies result in neuroendocrine changes which allow the quick recovery of muscles. On visiting the physical therapist, they will administer the right exercises for muscle stretching as part of fibromyalgia treatments for the patient. Hydrotherapy, which includes ice or heat packs, relieves pain quickly and more effectively. Follow proper posture and sitting styles.

Diarrhea is a medical condition that lasts a few days. In some cases, it gets treated by itself needs no treatment. However, sometimes, diarrhea gets so serious that it can last longer. If not treated on time, this can become fatal. Therefore, it is recommended to see a doctor if symptoms of diarrhea will become severe. When it comes to medication for diarrhea, not all people know that a medication for an adult is not for a child suffering from diarrhea. It is advised to seek the advice of a pediatrician when buying a treatment for children suffering from this condition. Here are some ways listed for the treatment of diarrhea. Hydrate well A person suffering from diarrhea is most likely to dehydrate frequently. Diarrhea exhausts away most essential body liquids from the body. Thus, it is important to keep fully hydrated when suffering from diarrhea. If your child is suffering from this condition, try to provide him with liquid drinks such as water, juice, and other liquid forms to keep him hydrated. The major concern is water-like stools that cause weakness and loss of liquid content to a patient’s body. Let’s see how to keep a person well hydrated in a serious condition as diarrhea. Keeping hydrated is one effective way for the treatment of diarrhea. Drink sports drinks Sports drinks are high in essential nutrients and fluids sources that a body tends to lose when suffering from diarrhea. Moreover, they come is a variety of flavors. Presence of sugar and salt content in sports drink let body absorb such drinks well. One way to make sports drink at home is by adding a teaspoon of salt to a quart of apple juice. This salt content in the drink help the body absorb fluids. In addition, it is advised to keep the drink on room temperature.

Around 45% to 50% of people experience bladder infections also known as cystitis at least once in their life. It occurs when E. coli bacteria or Escherichia coli enters the urethra, urinary tract, ureters, or kidney and causes an infection. Consequently, inflammation takes place in the internal bladder lining. This infection is pretty common among women compared to men. There are effective options for bladder infections treatment. The following sections will provide a brief overview of the most effective and popular bladder infections treatment options. Leading causes of bladder infections The primary reason behind this condition is the entry of the bacteria into the urethra and bladder. The urethra is the organ responsible for taking out urine of your body through the vagina. When E. coli enters the bladder, it stays in the bladder lining and sometimes, moves into the kidneys to cause kidney infection. If you have frequent sexual intercourse, you may become vulnerable to a bladder infection. One increases their chance of suffering from bladder infections when they have sex with a new partner. Moreover, you can also get afflicted with bladder infection if you delay urination after intercourse. Other common causes include diabetes and unusual urinary system changes. How do you know if you have a bladder infection? The most common symptoms of a bladder infection are cloudy urine, an unwanted smell in the urine, lower abdomen discomforts, pain or a burning sensation while urinating, frequent urge to urinate, passing limited quantities of urine, and blood in the urine. If you have a kidney infection, you may show these symptoms and may also show signs such as back pain, groin pain, vomiting, and fever. Doctors will analyze the symptoms prior to diagnosing bladder infection and will perform a urinalysis before arriving at a conclusion. Urinalysis refers to a urine test that checks the availability of white blood cells in the urine.

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?

Caused by the varicella-zoster virus, shingles can be described as a painful skin rash. Also known as herpes zoster, it usually appears as a strip, band, or infects a small area on one side of the face or body. It is therefore imperative to know about the symptoms and shingles pain treatment options to be able to fight it effectively. Shingles is a painful nerve root infection that occurs when the chickenpox causing virus gets activated in the body. After chickenpox is treated, the virus becomes dormant in the nerves. Although this virus mostly remains dormant, in others, the virus becomes active, usually in old age when the body’s immunity is comparatively weaker. Also, certain medications can trigger this virus, however, once active, it is unable to cause chickenpox. Seniors or people with a weak immune system are prone to shingles. Stress, medications and injuries can make the immune system vulnerable causing the varicella-zoster virus to activate. Usually, people suffering from shingles get better and do not suffer from it again. However, there are cases where people can get shingles more than once. Although non-communicable, it can still be transmitted from someone who has shingles. However, this possibility is pretty rare, so the chances of shingles spreading from a person who has had chickenpox to the one who has not are negligible. Shingles pain treatment vaccines are available for adults. These medications help in lowering the chances of getting affected with shingles, it clears the rashes quickly and also helps to prevent long-term pain that usually occurs after shingles. Symptoms The symptoms of shingles show up in different stages. It begins with a headache or extreme sensitivity to light. Some people also experience flu but do not have a fever or high temperature.The second stage marks itching, pain, or tingling sensation in a particular area.

Our body weight completely relies on our legs; hence, we need to take special care of our leg and heel muscles. Excess pressure on the legs causes several ailments to muscles, nerves, and the bones. We are talking about plantar fasciitis; it is a condition in which the thick band tissue of the heel that connects it to the toe inflames and causes excruciating pain and muscle injuries. In this ailment, there is a stabbing pain in the heel every time you touch it to the ground, thereby compelling you to limp. This kind of pain lasts for some time; however, improper care may aggravate as you age. Aging brings with it an additional weakness to different parts of the body; hence, it is always advisable to keep your body healthy with the help of exercise and a nutritious diet. Here are a few remedies you can put to use in case you suffer a stroke of plantar fasciitis. Rest and recoup Sitting or standing for long hours puts immense pressure on leg muscles, particularly the ankles and heels. Sitting for long hours makes the muscle immobile, increasing the pressure on the muscles and nerves. Similarly, standing for long hours also puts pressure on the heel and toe veins, leading to excruciating pain while you walk. Release this stress by doing mild leg stretching exercises. Choose the right shoe Plantar fasciitis largely depends upon the size and shape of your footwear. Wearing the wrong size of footwear will strain the heel ligament, damaging it in the longer run. Choose a comfortable shoe with the help of a shoe size board to help get the correct size. You can also use shoe inserts to add good arch support and a cushioned heel. Shoe inserts help in reducing stress on the heel ligament allowing you a comfortable walk.