Bulging disc is a condition where the discs between your vertebrae tend to bulge outwards. When the outer fibrous region of your disc weakens, it causes a bulging disc. If a bulging disc is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to the problem of disc tears, which is known as a herniated disc. Causes for a bulging disc The primary reason behind the problem of a bulging disc is that of disc degeneration. Degeneration refers to the gradual wear and tear of your body’s discs. With age, the water content in your spinal discs tends to go down. As a result, your spinal discs start to lose flexibility. At such times, even a minor strain or small twist can make you prone to ruptures or tears. Lifting heavy objects can lead to the problem of a bulging disc as well. It occurs when you are not using your leg and thigh muscles, but the muscles of your back while lifting heavy objects. Risk factors Age is one of the risk factors behind the problem of bulging discs. With age, the water content in your discs tends to go down, and because of this, your discs become inflexible and brittle. As a result of gravity, the weakened cartilage tends to bulge towards your spinal cavity. Smoking cigarettes also put you at risk. Smoking leads to a weakening of your cartilage, thus causing your discs to bulge. In such instances, you will need the right treatment for a bulging disc. People who have a family history of spinal problems are at a higher risk of developing this condition. Injuries caused by accidents during physical exercises and workouts, weightlifting, car accidents, slipping on the pavement or poor movements can also lead to a bulging disc. Poor lifestyle choices also contribute to a bulging disc.

Non-small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung carcinoma is the most prevalent type of lung cancer. There are mainly two types of lung cancers, which are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer. Lung carcinoma is a condition in which the lung cells become abnormal, as a result, grow out of control. These abnormal or cancer cells develop rapidly and spread to other parts of the body. Prevalence and causes of non-small cell lung cancer Among the lung cancer cases in the country, almost 80-85% are of non-small cell lung cancer type, and only about 10-15% is of the small lung cancer type. The symptoms and treatment for these two types of lung cancer vary. There are many subtypes of NSCLC, namely, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and sarcomatoid carcinoma. The NSCLC type is a serious condition that cannot be reversed but prevented from getting worse. Majority of those affected by this type of lung cancer are smokers or have been exposed to smoke. Exposure to radon, asbestos, air pollution, metal or mineral dust, or radiation is likely to cause this disease. Symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer It is difficult to detect this disease during the early stages because the symptoms are not easily detectable. Often, the symptoms are confused with those of other illnesses like pneumonia or collapsed lung. However, common symptoms of NSCLC are as follows: A cough that worsens or a persistent cough : Continuous bouts of a cough or coughing symptoms that worsen with time may be a symptom of NSCLC. This type of cough may not be associated with a recent spell of cold or flu or other infections. Chest pain : Another classic symptom that is often confused with other diseases. Chest pain due to NSCLC may increase with cough or when one takes deep breaths.

A migraine is a condition where the person suffers from severe headaches along with a lot of other symptoms. Usually, migraine headaches are accompanied by nausea and photosensitivity. Some people have a sensitivity to sound. What are some medications for migraines? There are two kinds of medications for migraines. Acute medications are designed to control and provide relief from an existing migraine, while the other type is prescribed to prevent the onset of a migraine. Most people who are known to have frequent migraines are usually prescribed preventive medications by their doctors. Acute migraine relief medications There are a wide number of medications for migraines that are available. Some of the drugs used by migraine patients are painkillers and anti-nausea medicines. Ergotamines Ergotamines are generally prescribed to patients suffering from severe migraines. These work by constricting the flow of blood in the head, thereby relieving the person of a headache. These are generally prescription drugs and are not to be abused, as it could lead to serious side effects. These are known to cause serious issues in pregnant women and in people with heart problems. This group of medication has to be used with caution. Triptans Triptans, also known as serotonin agonists, work by blocking the nerve transmitters which transmit pain in the body. The blood vessels are constricted and there is an increase in the serotonin levels. This is effective in relieving the person of a headache. Some of the known side effects of this class of drugs are nausea and dizziness. Some people even reported feeling very drowsy after taking this drug. People who are currently on antidepressants need to mention it to their primary care provider as it can interfere with the triptans and can cause serious harm. Painkillers Painkillers are usually used to provide instant relief from a headache.

Also known as diabetes mellitus type 2, adult type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects the body’s ability to metabolize sugar i.e. glucose which is the main source of energy in the human body. In such a condition the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin which is an important hormone responsible for maintaining the glucose level in the body. There are certain underlying causes responsible for developing type 2diabetes; however, the exact cause is still unknown. In this article, some of the important facts are discussed that would help in the proper diagnosis and prevention of adult type 2 diabetes. Causes The human body develops type 2 diabetes when it becomes resistant to insulin. More precisely, the pancreas at first produce more insulin to give energy to the cells but eventually it can’t cope up with the requirement and stops producing insulin when the body fails to utilize that insulin. This then gets deposited in the bloodstream as sugar. Lifestyle factors This is a contributing factor as to why the body develops adult type 2 diabetes. Being obese, not doing much physical activity and leading a sedentary lifestyle can be the contributing factors of type 2 diabetes. Eating unhealthy foods with artificial sweeteners, saturated and trans fat and too much junk food together with a poor diet may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Too much stress can also trigger the blood sugar level. Genetics Genetic factors cannot be justified much. These are the factors that are beyond human control. Different DNA contributes to different abnormalities in the body cells and this is one such abnormality. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes in adults Frequent urination and increased thirst Collection of excess sugar in the blood causes more fluid that tends to be pulled out by the tissues resulting in triggering your thirst.

Post nasal drip cough is a common condition among children and adults. This condition can affect the normal functioning of a person’s life by causing sleeplessness and severe exhaustion. With the right diagnosis and early treatment, this condition can be brought under control. What is post nasal drip cough? The glands that line the nose, airways, throat, and the stomach produce mucus every day. Mucus helps keep foreign objects away from the nose and throat by trapping and destroying any bacteria or viruses. It also greases and cleans the passages leading from the nose to the body. Usually, this mucus mixes with the saliva and trickles down the throat, and a person might barely notice it. However, when the body produces more mucus due to an allergy or infection, the mucus begins to thicken. The excess mucus comes out of the nose, and this condition is commonly referred to as a runny nose. Some of the mucus drains at the back of the throat, resulting in a condition known as post nasal drip. A post nasal drip cough occurs due to the thickened mucus blocking the throat. It can affect a person for eight weeks or more if not treated properly. It is important to check with your doctor about the best treatments available. Symptoms and causes of post nasal drip cough A post nasal drip cough can cause severe irritation to the throat and nose. You may constantly experience a feeling of clearing your throat, and this feeling may be accompanied by pain while swallowing, headaches, an ear infection, a sinus infection, a hoarse voice, a scratchy feeling in the throat, a shortness of breath, and, in serious cases, it may even lead to coughing up blood. There are several possible causes for this condition. Some of the causes are flu, allergies, sinus infection, certain types of medications for treating blood pressure and birth control, changing weather, dry or cold air, an object caught in the nose of a child, spicy food, or inhaling smoke or chemical fumes.

Your body consists of good bacteria and bad bacteria. When there is a balance between both, your body is capable of functioning at its optimum. But often due to the onset of an illness or other external factors, this balance gets disturbed. There are times when there may be a shortage of good bacteria in your body, also known as probiotics. These probiotics are important for one to stay healthy. For instance, when you take antibiotics, you may end up losing some good bacteria. Taking the best probiotics on a regular basis can help you to recover from the loss of good bacteria as it helps to replace them. What are the top rated probiotics? There are many different types of probiotics. Following are the top probiotics of 2017. Bifidobacterium There are four strains that come under this family. It is considered to be one of the best probiotics. B. Longum This strain can help in improving your memory power and are capable of increasing your retention power. These bacteria strains also help to relieve you from constipation. This strain can help you to decrease your stress levels as well. They can help with preventing the growth of any bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract that could harm you in any way. It helps to boost the normal functioning of your brain as well. B. Lactis This strain can help improve your immunity by aiding in the proper functioning of your immune systems. B. Breve This is particularly beneficial for children who face constipation issues. It can also be useful for people who are often exposed to the harmful rays of the sun. The reason is that it protects your skin from any type of damage. This is another bacteria strain that is helpful in relieving you from abdominal pain. B.

The fever temperature chart indicates the range of normal temperature measured in different ways for different age groups of children. When the temperature exceeds the upper limit, it is an indication of fever. Measuring fever in a child The mode of measurement depends on the extent of discomfort the child is facing as well as the target temperature indicated by the fever temperature chart. The fever temperature chart varies according to the age group of the child. For children between 0 and 3 months, normal temperature is between 97℉ or 36℃ to 100.4℉ or 38℃ or and temperatures above 100.4℉ or 38℃ indicate fever. The temperature range is the same for children between 3 and 6 months and temperature above 101℉ or 38℃ indicates fever. For children over 6 months, a temperature of 102℉ or 39℃ and above indicates fever. Situations when medical consultation is required Medical consultation is necessary when the temperature as per the fever temperature chart indicates fever and if there are certain accompanying symptoms. Babies below 3 months with fever require immediate medical attention. Children : When the child is fussy or not behaving in a normal way even after medications to reduce fever have been administered, or if he/she is refusing fluids and is dehydrated with dryness of the mouth, stiffness of the neck or a headache, pain in the abdomen, difficulty breathing, rashes or pain in the joints, fever persisting continuously for 5 days—these are the signs that a doctor needs to be consulted. Different ways to measure temperature and corresponding fever temperature chart ranges It is advisable to use a digital thermometer to measure someone’s temperature for recording and determining the fever levels. The different thermometers that are available include—rectal thermometers, oral thermometers, thermometers for measuring temperature through the temporal artery, and thermometers to measure the temperature through the armpit or the ear.

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.

Getting the recommended dosage of vitamins is essential for overall health maintenance. Having a wholesome and a healthy diet alone does not ensure an adequate supply of essential vitamins to our body. All of the vitamin and mineral requirements of our body are not met by natural, whole foods. Hence, doctors recommend multivitamin supplements to bridge this nutritional gap. Given the fact that the nutritional requirements of women differ from that of men, choosing the best multivitamins for women requires careful evaluation of the nutritional needs and other factors. Intake of multivitamins needs to be done after a detailed evaluation of the nutritional gaps and consultation with a physician or a registered dietician. Essential vitamins for the proper functioning of the body Here is a list of vitamins that are essential for the proper functioning of the body. Vitamin A Vitamin B1/B2/B3 Vitamin B5/B6 Vitamin B7/B9/B12 Vitamin C Vitamin K Vitamin E Choline Who needs to take multivitamins? Those who do not have healthy eating habits require multivitamins to fill the nutritional gaps. People who have a poor appetite due to health complications or illnesses need them too. Pregnant women and nursing mothers require an additional supply of vitamins and minerals, which are provided by multivitamin supplements. Those on diet restrictions may also need multivitamin supplements to make up for lack of nutrients. Senior citizens require multivitamins to compensate for depleted nutrients due to old age. How to choose the right multivitamin for women? What are the factors to be considered before choosing the best multivitamins for women? Although each multivitamin brand varies slightly based on the ingredients and the quantities, the main vitamin and mineral content remains the same. The rate of absorption of the contents of multivitamins is the differentiating factor between various brands of multivitamins. Women should scrutinize the contents of the multivitamins before consumption.

Shingles are one such viral infection that could cause a severe rash. This viral infection is caused by that virus which is the sole reason for causing chickenpox as well. When you had chickenpox in your childhood, the virus varicella zoster will stay dormant inside your body. However, this virus could get reactivated later in your life that will inevitably cause shingles. Although you will feel pain in the first few days of developing shingles, later on, the fluid-blisters and rashes will also become evident. There are various medicines available in the market that could really help you to treat shingles. Therefore, have a look at the medicine that you could use in order to treat shingles. Antiviral medication Antiviral medications are one of the more effective shingles medications that you can use in order to treat shingles. You need to take them within the first 72 hours from when you start getting the symptoms. These medicines will also decrease your chances of facing complications later on due to shingles. Antiviral medications will generally slow down the growth of the virus and by doing so will reduce the symptoms of shingles. There are various shingles medications available in the market out of which some your doctor may prescribe for you depending on the severity. A detailed discussion about the side effects of such medications is needed though. Pain Killers When you have shingles, one thing you can be assured and that is, you will have pain. Therefore, you may need the help of the painkillers which will help you reduce the pain. Taking painkillers is not a good option, but when you face the excruciating pain from the shingles, you would have to opt for one. Even your doctor may prescribe one for you. Although these shingles medications are not that a great option to opt for, yet they are worth a try.