Experiencing sudden swelling or inflammation in your joints? Is the painfulness is accompanied by fatigue or gastrointestinal problems? Well, then it can be a symptom of lupus. An autoimmune disease, lupus can show different signs and symptoms in patients. Other than a few exceptional cases, the symptoms are usually mild and often get neglected. Detecting lupus is quite easy as the symptoms of lupus are extremely bothering in the initial stages and fade with time. It recurs periodically. Anyone in their late teens can be affected by this condition. The risk of getting lupus continues even in the days of adulthood. For an easy diagnosis of lupus, you can keep an eye on the following few symptoms associated with it. Low-grade fever This is one of the earliest symptoms of lupus and often gets neglected as a sign of a common cold. However, unlike the symptoms of common cold, fever associated with lupus always remains low-grade and has no visible cause associated with it. In most of the cases, fever recurs at intervals, and the maximum temperature for lupus fever is 38.3 degree Celsius or 101 Fahrenheit. Therefore, if you get a recurrent fever, you need to consult a doctor. Fatigue Feeling tired for no particular reason or frequent fatigue symptoms can also be an indication of lupus. People with lupus mostly sleep too much in the daytime and gets insomniac at night. Afternoon nap, once in a while should not be considered as an indication of lupus. Lesions or rashes If fatigue and fever are associated with rashes on your cheeks and nose bridge, it is high time to consult a doctor. Almost all patients with lupus get butterfly rashes on cheeks and nose. As the rashes get aggravated after sunlight exposure, many people mistake it as a heat rash.

Gout is the most common type of arthritis that is caused due to an imbalance of uric acid levels in the body. When the body starts to produce excess uric acid, it starts forming urate crystals. These crystals get accumulated near the joints such as the base of the big toe, knees, finger joints, and wrist. This causes pain, inflammation, and discomfort. The joints that are affected by gout are usually red and swollen. They are also surrounded by inflamed and sore muscles. Gouty arthritis can be painful. A gout attack can strike at any time and can last for up to seven to ten days. If you have high uric acid levels in your body, it is best to get tested for a possibility of having a gout attack in the future. If left untreated, it can lead to further problems like renal failure, and severe damage to muscles, joints, and tendons. Gout can be effectively treated using antibiotic medicines prescribed by your physician. Other gout remedies that work are—natural ingredients from your kitchens such as garlic, ginger, turmeric and apple cider vinegar that will reduce the effects of gout. While home remedies focus on reducing the inflammation, once a gout attack happens, medications are a long-term solution for treating gout. Some medicines treat gout by lowering the uric acid levels in the body by blocking its production. Some are helpful in reducing the swelling and inflammation. Gout treatments are recommended, to prevent further attacks. Following is a comprehensive list of some gout remedies that work. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) These drugs, as the name suggests, are anti-inflammatory. They are given after the gout attack commences. NSAIDs help to reduce the physical symptoms of a gout attack like swelling of the joint and inflammation, to provide instant relief from the condition.

Leg cramps happen when the muscles in the leg contract, which causes pain. This involuntary contracting of leg muscles causes leg cramps. Leg cramps mainly affect muscles in the thigh or the foot. It mostly occurs when you are asleep or just after you wake up. Reasons For Leg Cramps The sudden pain in the muscle can be due to different reasons: Inadequate supply of blood There are times when you exercise too much or have been sitting in same posture for hours. This prevents adequate supply of blood to your legs, causing contraction of muscles. Compression of nerves The spinal cord nerve directly connects to your leg muscles. Pain in the spinal cord or compression of spinal cord nerve can also cause pain in your legs. Walking with a good posture can help prevent compression of the spinal nerve. Mineral depression There are certain minerals needed for efficient working of leg muscles. Deficiency of minerals such as magnesium or calcium can cause leg cramps. There are certain medications that deplete the content of these minerals in your body. To add to the causes, there are factors that increase the risk of leg cramps: Age As you age, you lose strength and the muscles grow weak, leading to loss of muscle mass. Therefore, when muscles are overstressed, it leads to leg cramps. Dehydration Most of the time, you are always doing an activity that requires leg strength. Lack of water intake leads to inadequate fluids in the body that result in contraction or tightening of your leg muscles. This generally happens to athletes; they feel sudden pain while training on a hot sunny day, due to loss of more fluids than usual, from the body. Pregnancy Pregnancy is one major factor of leg cramps. This is because, during pregnancy, the body requires more minerals such as potassium and calcium for adequate functioning of leg muscles.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a disorder that causes a change in the pattern of bowel movements. IBS with diarrhea is known as IBS-D and it causes acute abdominal pain. It can also be termed as a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that inflicts pain and discomfort. There are four types of IBS based on the combination of diarrhea and constipation, both or none. They are IBS-D, IBS-C, IBS-M, and IBS-U. Depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue are the other common disorders associated with IBS. This disorder is diagnosed with the study of its symptoms. Symptoms Of IBS-D The symptoms of IBS-D are painful and embarrassing. Most common symptoms that occur in the case of IBS are: Abdominal pain Diarrhea Constipation Frequent and loose stools Nausea Bloating Gassiness Headache Fatigue Causes Of IBS-D The exact causes of IBS-D are still unknown. However, irregularities in the gastrointestinal movements trigger IBS. Intestinal infection, pain, food sensitivity, and genetics are some factors responsible for IBS-D. Excessive consumption of alcohol and substances that cause inflammation are also known to increase the chances of IBS. Home Treatment For IBS-D Add Fiber To Your Diet Including fiber in your diet brings drastic relief with IBS-D. Soluble fibers found in certain food items and vegetables soak up the extra liquid content in your intestines. Hence, it prevents diarrhea. Oatmeal, beans, and certain fruits like apples, strawberries, and grapefruit are excellent sources of soluble fiber. Insoluble fibers help in resolving constipation. Insoluble fibers are mainly found in wheat, bran, and salad greens. Keep yourself well hydrated to help the fiber move swiftly through your body systems. Fiber helps in smooth functioning of the digestive system. Intake of Yogurt Yogurt contains a high amount of active bacteria that help in slowly decreasing diarrhea. Daily intake of yogurt helps in preventing the growth of harmful bacteria which cause IBS-D.

A gout is a form of arthritis caused by an imbalance of uric acid in the body. It is commonly known as gouty arthritis. The condition is characterized by tender and sore joints, often in combination with severe pain. When the body produces too much uric acid, it is crystallized and deposited around the joints in specific areas of the body. It causes pain and discomfort. The uric acid deposits swell and are tender to touch. Gout is found in the big toe of your feet, ankles, knees and other joints. The pain and stiffness recur at random intervals and in differing levels of severity. Over time, gout causes permanent damage to muscles, tendons, and joints if left untreated. Treating Gout with medicines The very first step to deal with gout attack is to get a clinical diagnosis by a medical practitioner. The expert will take a sample from the swollen joint to test for the presence of urate crystals. A blood test is also recommended to check for uric acid levels in the body. The treatment course for gout includes two kinds of medicines – Anti-inflammatory ones like Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Corticosteroids and medications that lower the levels of uric acid in the body. The anti-inflammatory medications help to relieve the sudden pain and swelling caused by a gout attack. They are given right after the pain starts. The other medicines, however, are usually started after the gout attack is over. Along with these medical treatment courses, you can also use natural home remedies to alleviate the symptoms of gout. Read on to find out how to treat gout naturally. Eat right It is always sensible to prevent a gout attack before it troubles you. Purines are a chemical compound found in meat and dairy products. It can increase uric acid level in the body, and lead to gout.

Do you find yourself sneezing every time the season changes? Can’t enjoy seafood without your throat closing up? There is a good chance that you might have an allergy. Allergic reactions are a hypersensitivity reaction of the immune system to external agents, that are not harmful. Allergic diseases include a wide range of conditions like—hay fever, atopic dermatitis, food allergies, drug allergies, anaphylaxis, allergic asthma, etc. It is to be noted that anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Common allergy symptoms are—hives, itchy rash, difficulty breathing, runny nose, red eyes, sneezing, and swelling. Allergies are common throughout the world. Particles or materials that cause an allergic reaction are called allergens . The most common allergens are pollen, insect stings, and food. Some people have allergic reactions to metals such as nickel. Food and drug allergies tend to cause the most severe allergy symptoms. Allergy Symptoms And Diagnosis Airborne allergen particles like dust and pollen tend to affect the nose, eyes, and throat a lot. Common nasal allergy symptoms are—sneezing, a runny nose, and swelling of the nasal cavity ( allergic rhinitis ). The eyes may become watery or turn red. Allergens in the throat can cause difficulty breathing, increased mucus production, sneezing, coughing, and bronchoconstriction. Obstruction of the airway can be a life-threatening situation. If an allergen gets into the ears, it can cause pain and discomfort, along with swelling. Ingested allergens like food and medication, can manifest a different set of allergy symptoms. There could be abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, and hives. Food allergies rarely cause asthmatic or respiratory symptoms. However, some food allergies can lead to anaphylaxis . Nuts and shellfish are some of the common food allergens. Drug allergies can be dangerous and need to be diagnosed quickly. Apart from the usual allergy symptoms, drug allergies can also cause rashes and difficulty breathing.

Mark, blemishes, sores or rashes on the face can give you sleepless nights. It is not just the dampening of look that makes you worry, the pain associated with them is also quite bothering. While pimples and acne is the most dreaded thing in this regard, cold sores too can be quite painful. If you have got cold sores and facing difficulty to get rid of them, you can follow some simple tips. In most of the cases, cold sores seldom require any medicinal treatment and can be healed with ease. Few home remedies to treat cold sores in a couple of days are mentioned below: Vanilla extract – Take some pure and organic vanilla extract with a cotton pad or cotton swab. Now, soak the cotton in the vanilla extract till it gets saturated. Take the cotton pad and apply it directly on your sores. Keep it for a minute and wipe out the area. The alcoholic effect of vanilla extracts will help in relieving the sores. For the fastest results, you need to repeat the process for at least four times in a day. Milk compress – Take a cup or half a cup whole milk and cotton balls. Dip the cotton ball in a teaspoon of milk and apply it directly on the sores. Keep the cotton on your sores for a few minutes before removing. Once you have removed the cotton, clean the residue with a wet towel and apply petroleum jelly if needed. Depending on your choice, you can either take milk in room temperature or use cold milk. Applying whole milk compress can heal the pain and offer a soothing effect. Immunoglobulins present in milk contain antibodies, which can help in the further outbreak of sores or herpes. L-lysine contained in milk too is useful for dealing with such conditions.

Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder of the brain. This disease is untreatable and fatal due to cell damage of the nerves in the brain. The damage is usually severe and causes the nerves to dysfunction. In most cases of Huntington’s disease, the onset of the disease happens when the patient is in their thirties or forties. In some rare cases, symptoms are noticed in children as well. While there is no cure for Huntington’s disease, identifying Huntington’s disease symptoms early will help in the management of the disease. Here are the symptoms of Huntington’s disease. Early Symptoms The early symptoms of Huntington’s disease involve motor skills. These may include the following: Change in handwriting Difficulty in everyday physical activities Restlessness Clumsiness Mild twitching of fingers, toes, and even of the face Apart from these physical symptoms, there are also some subtle emotional and intellectual symptoms. Impulsiveness Short-term memory loss Bouts of depression and irritability Inability to manage new changes and schedules These symptoms are very generic and hard to diagnose as they can be mistaken for any other disease. There are many tests involved in the diagnosis of Huntington’s disease. Have a look at a few. Neurological Testing Reflex tests Muscle strength Co-ordination Balance Sense of touch Eye movement Hearing Neurophysiological Testing Memory Language function Mental agility Reasoning Spatial understanding Psychiatric Evaluation Behavioural patterns Judgement quality Substance abuse Coping skills Thought patterns Brain Imaging and Function Tests such as MRI and CT scans can be used to look for any structural changes in the brain. While these tests may not reveal much in the early stages of Huntington’s disease, it can be used to eliminate any other conditions that could be responsible for the symptoms. Genetic Testing If you do not have a family history of Huntington’s disease, then genetic testing is the most reliable option.

Most people would have experienced a bladder infection at some point in their life. Bladder infections are quite common, and so you should watch out for the signs of bladder infections. Bladder infections are also called urinary tract infections (UTIs). Urinary tract infections can affect any part of the urinary system. Infections that affect the lower part of the urinary system are called bladder infections, whereas those that affect the upper portion of the urinary system are called kidney infections. Bladder infections occur when bacteria enters the urinary system. These infections are more common in women but can affect anyone and at any age. The bacteria enter via the urethra which is a tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body. Urinary tract infections can be cured with a combination of medications and home remedies. To prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, certain precautions need to be taken, like—drinking enough water and maintaining personal hygiene. A popular home remedy is cranberry juice for bladder infections. In a given year, up to 10% of women, will experience a urinary tract infection. These infections are most common in the ages of 16 to 35, and recurrent cases are common. Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections The most common symptom of a urinary tract infection is pain or a burning sensation during urination. Other symptoms include frequent urination, an urge to urinate even with an empty bladder, and passing small amounts of urine. A kidney infection will also have pain along the flank, and cause fever. There may be changes in the color of the urine. Urine may be cloudy, instead of clear. The color may be pink, red, or brownish, which can indicate the presence of blood in the urine. In some cases, if the infection becomes severe, there may be pus in the urine.

Diverticulitis is an infection/inflammation that occurs in the intestine of the digestive tract. Small pouches called diverticula start developing along the walls of the intestine. Diverticulitis is a serious condition that may even require surgery. In this condition, there could be a small abscess in the pouches and go on to cause a severe infection or a massive perforation of the bowels. Symptoms Diverticulitis starts to manifest by causing cramps on the left side of the abdomen. The pain eases after you move the bowels or pass gas. Bright red blood in stool is another indication of this condition. Prolonged infection can lead to bowel obstruction, which can cause abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, thin stools, nausea, and vomiting. Delay in treatment will require surgery. The surgery would be needed to treat abscesses and fistulas. In case of severe bleeding, a blood transfusion would be required. Causes An improper dietary pattern can be one of the causes of diverticulitis. Obesity, low level of physical activity, and how frequently you smoke can also determine if you are prone to this digestive disease. Diverticulitis diet Antibiotics are the first course of treatment to contain the infection. Changing your diet pattern is a long-term strategy to control the symptoms. Studies have found that following a prescribed diet can help those suffering from diverticulitis. The aim of following the best diet for diverticulitis is to ease the strain on the digestive system and help in the healing process. By following the best diet for diverticulitis, it is possible to reduce the symptoms and prevent any flaring. Listed below are some of the best diet for diverticulitis. Liquid diet If you exhibit any of the symptoms, it is best to switch to a liquid diet. Water, vegetable/chicken broth, tea, coffee (without milk/cream), clear soups, fruit juices (without the pulp), and popsicles.

Every new parent can understand the agony of their baby falling sick, or experiencing discomfort. In the first year of life, your baby could fall prey to a number of ailments. A bloated or gassy stomach is one such problem that many babies face. Most parents are terrified about their babies falling ill, and the first few months of parenting, can be a trying time. Babies commonly suffer from digestive and intestinal issues. This is because their gastrointestinal systems are still developing, meaning they’re more prone to bloating and gas. Nearly any food is new and alien to a baby’s digestive system. So, bloating, or gas, is not uncommon. Baby gas relief not only makes your baby more comfortable, but also reduces the stress on new parents. There are a lot of options that can be implemented, by the parents themselves, for giving their baby gas relief. However, always consult a pediatrician before you take it on yourself to give your baby gas relief. Symptoms of Gas in Babies Some common symptoms of babies suffering from gas, or bloating, are: Burping Burping is a natural response to excessive gas in the digestive system. It’s normal for babies to burp or belch after meals, but excessive burping may indicate that your baby is taking in too much air while feeding. Spitting up Most babies will spit up a little after meals. Spitting up is often accompanied by burping. There are many things apart from gas, that can cause spitting up. Some of these are particles in the breast milk, eating too much or too fast, or the type of formula the baby is being fed. Bloating Bloating is commonly associated with gas build up in babies. The abdomen will appear swollen or distended. This is often uncomfortable or painful for the baby, and may be accompanied by stomach cramps.

Rotator cuff problems have afflicted us at one or the other point of time in our lives. These make basic activities such as brushing, getting dressed, and combing one’s hair difficult. Rotator cuff problems could afflict anyone, but athletes and sports persons are more vulnerable to this disease. Some Other Names Used to Refer to Rotator Cuff Problems Include: Swimmer’s shoulder Tennis shoulder Pitcher’s shoulder Shoulder impingement syndrome Muscles and tendons attached to bones present in the shoulder joint make the rotator cuff. These keep the shoulder stable and also allow a range of motion. The rotator cuff is made of four muscles and their tendons which help the shoulder to function. The humerus is attached to the scapula that sits right under the glenoid cavity. The ball and the socket help the regular function of the shoulder. Rotator Cuff Pain is Likely to Occur When: The arm stays in the same position for elongated periods of time. Like when one works on the computer for a long number of hours. If you then to sleep in a particular position over your shoulder, then you might experience an excruciating pain from the neck and shoulder. There won’t be any relief from the rotator cuff pain. One goes for outdoor sports which need one to move the arm overhead. Some such sports are tennis, pitching while playing baseball and swimming. Working in a way which requires the arm to stay overhead for a long time. People involved with painting and carpentry more vulnerable to rotator cuff problems. Bad posture could over time lead to problems of the rotator cuff. Rotator cuff issues could arise as an effect of aging. The rotator cuff pain will not relieve the patients if it’s not given timely treatment. Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injury Rotator cuff tears could sometimes lead to intense pain on occurrence.