Breast cancer is a condition that develops in the breast cells. Changes that are known as mutations cause a division of the cancer cells that begin to multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Typically, the cells begin to grow in the ducts and lobules of the breast while spreading to the fatty tissues and connective tissues. Treatment of breast cancer solely depends upon the stage of cancer or the growth of the tumor. The most common forms of treatment employed include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. Apart from medical treatment methods, one can explore some natural methods and therapies that have great supporting effects. Holistic therapies Holistic therapies are widely revered for their great effects in promoting a sense of peace and bringing about a desirable balance in an individual’s state of mind. Not only does it reduce the level of stress but it also aids the patient in feeling more relaxed. While this therapy does not have a direct effect on the control or treatment of breast cancer, holistic therapies are widely reported to bring a positive change in the mental health and the reduction of anxiety among patients. Some of the most popular forms of therapy include aromatherapy, journaling, art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, and meditation among several others. These holistic therapies can be used in combination or singularly depending on likes and comfort. Special diet A healthy diet can have several desirable effects on the body. While a specially formulated diet does not aid in the cure of cancer or other diseases, it can have several positive effects in the promotion of better overall health. Eating the right food will help in supporting the medical treatments employed for breast cancer and reduce the ill effect of certain treatments. One should consider adding more vitamins and foods rich in minerals as part of the diet plan.

Arthritis, a disease of the joints, causes swelling and tenderness in the joints. The most prominent symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which worsen with time. Arthritis is of two types: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis. It affects people when their joints are overused. Although this condition mostly affects people when they reach old age, it can also occur due to joint injuries or obesity, as they cause excess stress on the joints. One’s knees, hips, feet, and spine are most likely to feel the pain as these bear the most weight. These are also the most common joints to be affected by osteoarthritis. Healthy joints have a coating of cartilage that’s tough yet smooth and slippery. These cartilages cover the surface of the bones and allow the bones to move freely against each other. However, in osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes thin and the surface becomes rough, which prevents the joints from moving freely. Osteoarthritis can affect the joints of the neck, lower back, hips, the base of the thumb, ends of fingers, knees, and the base of the big toe. Treatment and medication The treatments of osteoporosis include medications and lifestyle changes. Medication used in osteoporosis slows the breakdown of bones and rebuilds them so that they are stronger. This, in turn, stops the breakage. The medication used in osteoporosis also effectively maintains bone density that prevents the bones from breaking. Medication alone cannot treat the condition and must be accompanied by lifestyle changes that include regular exercise, intake of a nutritious diet, and limiting or quitting alcohol and all kinds of intoxication. Symptoms of osteoarthritis can also be treated by some home remedies. Thermotherapy Thermotherapy is an effective home remedy that osteoarthritis patients can incorporate. This therapy involves the usage of hot and cold compress that is used when patients experience acute pain.

Schizophrenia affects an individual’s ability to think, receive, or comprehend sensory information. Changes in behavior are among the first noticeable signs of a developing mental disorder. Although the condition is uncommon, it can disrupt a person’s ability to live a normal life. The family of the affected person must also exercise caution on their part to provide a comfortable surrounding and environment. In rare cases, children can also suffer from schizophrenia. Normally, adults between the ages of 16 and 30 can experience positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Positive psychotic behaviors include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and movement disorders. Negative behaviors can cause an individual to suffer from reduced speaking, feelings and expression of emotions. They may have trouble performing simple activities as well. A person might also experience subtle cognitive symptoms including problems with working memory, focusing, and reduction in the ability to understand and use information. Understanding medical care and rehabilitation for schizophrenia. Medications and medical follow-ups In most cases, antipsychotic medications, commonly referred to as neuroleptics, can help a person control the varied symptoms. Here, one must understand that antipsychotics simply control the symptoms to help the person shift their attention to other aspects of their lives. Medication and subsequent follow-ups are a crucial part of the rehabilitation process. Subsequently, the purpose of a follow up is to monitor compliance for the medications taken and adjust the dosage levels depending on the prognosis. In simple terms, the medication can be adjusted depending on the measure of improvement shown by the affected person. At any given stage in the condition, medical professionals may work with both the patients and their families. Open communication Medication and medical follow-ups are an ongoing process. The next stage in rehabilitation includes psychotherapy sessions. A person suffering from schizophrenia must stay in touch with their doctor to discuss everything related to the condition.

A severe mental disorder, schizophrenia impacts how an individual thinks, reacts to emotions, and perceives reality. It results in a variety of symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia that can cause the patient to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. At present, roughly 1% of the total population suffer from this mental disorder. Schizophrenia cannot be cured, however, it can be managed with the help of medications and therapy. This disorder can affect anyone. It typically develops in men during their late teens or early twenties. On the other hand, in women, the symptoms of schizophrenia begin to surface during their twenties or early thirties. The following are some commonly observed symptoms of this condition: Delusions: People suffering from schizophrenia often have delusions that can impair their day-to-day life. For example, they might believe they are being subjected to unjust prejudice, or they are exceptionally famous, or a big disaster is about to occur. Hallucinations: Typically, patients experiencing schizophrenia mention seeing things or hearing sounds and/or voices that don’t exist. Hallucinations can also involve smelling strange odors or experiencing odd sensations in the body. Disorganized speech: Schizophrenia impairs the brain’s ability to think clearly which leads to disorganized speech. Simply put, the patient will talk about things that are completed or partially unrelated to the current conversation. In rare cases, they might put together random words that don’t make sense. Abnormal motor behavior: This symptom can manifest in a number of ways. For example, the individual might act silly, be unnaturally childish, or get absurdly angry. Since the behavior isn’t directed towards a goal, it can become tough to manage routine tasks as one might disobey instructions, not respond, keep repeating movements, and hold an awkward pose for a long time. Negative symptoms: The negative symptoms of schizophrenia refer to the diminished ability to do things normally.

Our bodies are made up of different kinds of cells. Blood cells are an important type of cell that is further bifurcated into three parts, namely white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Each type of blood cell plays an essential role in the human body. Red blood cells remove carbon dioxide from the body and carry oxygen to the tissues. Platelets prevent bleeding by forming blood clots. While blood cells are an essential part of the immune system and help fight infection and protect the body from foreign substances. There are several types of white blood cells. B lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells that become plasma cells upon identifying antigens in the body. Plasma cells and multiple myeloma Plasma cells produce antibodies that fight antigens, otherwise known as harmful foreign substances. These cells are normally present in the bone marrow in a limited number, but they can turn into a tumor upon abnormal cell multiplication. The tumor can turn cancerous and may cause multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. While scientists do not know the exact cause of multiple myeloma, they have conducted studies on how certain DNA changes can cause the plasma cells to turn cancerous and form a tumor. Multiple myeloma can lead to a loss of red blood cells, causing anemia. It can also decrease the number of platelets in the blood, which causes increased bleeding and bruising. Multiple myeloma even causes a shortage of white blood cells that leads to problems in fighting infections. Medical researchers and doctors who have been studying multiple myeloma are looking for a cure and methods to prevent this disease. Preventing it becomes less challenging when one knows the risk factors and early signs of cancer. Identifying the risk factors and taking the right measures to eliminate the risk can be an effective way to prevent multiple myeloma.

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.

Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. There are steps one can take that might help prevent osteoporosis instead of having to treat it later. And should on already have it, he or she can still follow these steps to help reverse the disease. These include the following: Avoid having carbonated drinks. Champagne or any sort of fizzy drink causes calcium to seep out of your bones. The phosphate content in carbonated drinks increases the loss of the bone. Avoid too much of protein. It causes excess acidity which in turn leads to calcium being leached out of your body through your urine. Don’t block your stomach acids with drugs when you have a heartburn or hiatal hernia. Stomach acid helps absorb minerals that are significant for the well-being of the body including calcium. Acid blocking agents are to be taken for a few weeks, not for years together. Avoid caffeine. Studies say that with every cup of coffee, 150 mg of calcium leeches out of your body through your urine. If you have to have coffee, ensure you have an additional 150 mg of calcium every day. Make sure you take in the right kind of calcium. Tums, for instance, is a bad source of calcium because it has calcium hydroxyapatite which is not absorbed well and it decreases stomach acid. Remember, your body can absorb a maximum of 500 mg of calcium only at a time. Make sure you get some exposure to sunlight every now and then. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium and helps deposit it in the bones. Check your hormones regularly. In women, a decline in hormones after menopause leads to bone loss. In men, the equivalent of menopause is called andropause and it causes bone loss as well. Too much of cortisol, insulin, and parathyroid hormones are also culprits in bone loss.

5 effective home remedies for amyloidosis Amyloidosis is a condition in which the body is unable to process the protein amyloid correctly. Excess amyloid gets distributed through the body and can often impair organ health and functioning. Amyloidosis affects people in different ways depending on which organ is impacted. The different types of amyloidosis are renal, cardiac, and gastrointestinal amyloidosis. There is no known cure for this condition, but it can be managed with a balance of home remedies and medicines. Here are five effective home remedies to help control the symptoms of amyloidosis. Heart-healthy foods The heart is one of the main organs that gets impacted by improper protein processes in the body. Thus, it is essential to follow a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet for heart health. Foods that are good for your heart include green leafy vegetables, avocados, walnuts, tomatoes, beans, nuts and seeds, garlic, onions, and dark chocolate. Also, make sure to get sufficient potassium in your diet through bananas, oranges, prunes, and dried fruit. Omega-3 diet Including these healthy fatty acids in your diet prevent complications from amyloidosis from reaching the heart and affecting the circulatory system. Omega-3 can be found in walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, and linseed oil. Compression stockings Water retention from amyloidosis can lead to severe swelling in the legs and feet. This swelling is often accompanied by severe pain. Wearing compression stockings can go a long way in relieving this pain. You can request your doctor to recommend the best compression stockings suited to you. Alternatively, try to get foot massages done regularly. These will help to improve blood circulation in the affected areas. Many online shopping sites offer foot massage machines for purchase. Rest adequately Getting adequate rest is often overlooked and yet this is a crucial component of managing the symptoms of amyloidosis.

Among women, breast cancer is known to be the most diagnosed cancer after skin cancer. It develops in the cells of the breasts. Although it can occur in both men and women, breast cancer is known to be more common among women. There are no known exact causes of this type of cancer; most often it is genetic. In some cases, environmental factors can also cause breast cancer. Regular mammography and physical examination by a physician can help in early detection of breast cancer. Certain symptoms and signs include formation of a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue, change in the size, shape, or appearance of a breast, changes to the skin over the breast, a newly inverted nipple, and peeling, scaling, crusting, or flaking of the areola or breast skin. There can be redness or pitting of the skin over the breast. Depending on the stage at which it is detected, it is possible to completely recover from breast cancer. Make sure you consult your doctor regarding the same. Treatments often include the use of certain medications including the following: Afinitor® Also known as Afinitor Disperz ® , this breast cancer medication works by interfering with the growth of cancerous cells. It slows down the spread of the cancer cells in the body. Along with using it for the treatment of breast cancer, Afinitor ® is also used for certain types of kidney cancer and brain tumor. Additionally, this medication is prescribed for certain types of progressive or advanced tumors of the pancreas, stomach, and intestines. Furthermore, Afinitor ® is used in the treatment of specific types of seizure and non-cancerous tumors of the brain or kidney in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. Piqray® With the chemical name Alpelisib, Piqray ® belongs to class PI3K inhibitor.

6 FDA-approved asthma medications to know about There is no known cause of asthma; usually, a combination of genetic and environmental factors lead to the condition. Exposure to allergic substances and irritants can trigger asthma symptoms. The triggers and symptoms vary from person to person. Everything from airborne substances like pet dander, mold spores, the common cold, cold air, smoke, GERD, and stress can trigger asthma symptoms. These triggers can induce asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, chest pain, wheezing or whistling sound when exhaling, coughing attack, or wheezing attack. These symptoms can be alleviated and controlled using asthma medications. There are no complete treatments for asthma, but therapies and medications are used to prevent flare-ups and keeping the symptoms under control. For flare-ups, quick-relief inhalers are recommended. Long-term control of asthma symptoms can be done with certain FDA-approved asthma medications. Fasenra It is a medication used for the treatment of a type of severe asthma called eosinophilic phenotype asthma. This medication is usually prescribed to patients who are 12 years or older. Younger patients whose asthma condition is not under control with current medications have found relieve with the use of Fasenra. It is prescribed along with asthma maintenance medications. The medication lowers the number of severe asthma attacks that require hospital stay or emergency room visits. Additionally, taking Fasenra lowers the daily maintenance dose of oral corticosteroids. Zyflo Zyflo is a leukotriene inhibitor prescribed for the prevention of asthma attacks in adults and children above 12 years of age. Leukotrienes are chemicals released in the body whenever a person breathes in allergens. These allergens make the lungs swell and cause muscle tightening around the airways, triggering asthma symptoms. Zyflo prevents the effects of the allergens on the lungs and respiratory system, thus controlling asthma symptoms.