More than 1.5 million people report cases of rheumatoid arthritis in America every year, and this condition is three times more common in women than in men. It is one of the most common diseases of the joints which generally occurs in aged people. However, there are simple ways you can recognize the symptoms of this condition before it gets worse. Read on to find out more about them. What is rheumatoid arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease which results due to an adverse reaction of the body’s immune system. The immune system in your body is meant to protect you from dangers and illnesses, but in this case, the immune system mistakes the joints to be a threat and attacks them, resulting in an autoimmune disease. This condition affects a particular tissue which acts as a lining on the inner sides of your joints and causes swelling and pain in them. This tissue (called Synovium) is responsible for generating a fluid which lubricates the joints to keep them functioning smoothly. When the inflammation is left untreated, it causes damage to the cartilage, the tissues that cover the ends of your joints, and also the bone. This leads to loosening of joints making them unstable and painful. If this condition is diagnosed at an early stage, it is possible to reverse this loss in stability and get your joints to function properly again. It is important that you take care to not miss any of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned below, consult a doctor immediately. Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis Fatigue One of the most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is fatigue, especially when there is inflammation. This occurs because your body reacts to the inflammation along with poor sleep, medications, and anemia.

Skin rashes can be uncomfortable, hard to get rid of, and embarrassing. They occur in various forms and different parts of the body for various reasons. They can be caused by bacteria, virus, or even fungi. Keeping yourself educated on the types of skin rashes and the reasons why they occur can help you prevent many of them. Here are five types of skin rashes you must know about. Contact dermatitis Contact dermatitis is one of the common types of skin rashes that occurs when a person’s skin is directly exposed to the substance they are allergic to. This can also happen with anything else that causes irritation. If it is an allergic reaction, your immunity system will be under attack. A rash will develop, starting from the area of contact. Common reasons for contact dermatitis include poison ivy, soaps, latex rubber, and nickel. Nickel is commonly found in some types of jewelry. Once you figure out what you are allergic to, make sure to not expose yourself to the allergen. Psoriasis Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease where we see skin cells multiplying at a much faster rate. This is one of the types of skin rashes in which the volume of the cells makes the skin look red and patchy with heavy flaking. Psoriasis is usually observed at the elbows, knees, and scalp. There are four types of psoriasis-pustular, guttate, inverse, and erythrodermic psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis is when the patient is observed with red, scaly skin on the hands and feet accompanied by tiny pustules. It is a very rare type of skin disease. Guttate psoriasis can be caused due to a number of reasons from tonsillitis to beta-blocker medications. It usually starts at a young age and the rash is mainly observed on the torso and the limbs.

Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affects the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation causes abdominal cramps (pain), fever, weight-loss, and diarrhea. In the case of a severe inflammation, the stool is accompanied by blood and the infection spreads deep into the layers of the bowel tissue. Besides the inner infection, other complications such as anemia, skin rashes, lethargy, eye inflammation, and arthritis may occur. The ailment debilitates you and can lead to grave complications if left untreated. The colon, a part of the large intestine and the last part of the small intestine are the areas that are more prone to developing this disease. Crohn’s symptoms and signs Depending on the affected area of the bowel and the severity of the infection, you may develop symptoms that can prolong over weeks and years. In its active state, Crohn’s symptoms and signs include: Diarrhea : Diarrhea is one of the first tell-tale signs. If you have inflammation in the small intestine, you experience a more, watery form of diarrhea. If the infection is rooted in the colon, then diarrhea carries blood with it. When the condition flares up, diarrhea can be severely afflicting. However, when the inflammation goes down, the condition gets better. Rectal bleeding : One of the major symptoms of this IBD is blood that might appear on or in the stool. The blood spots are typically bright red as the bleeding might be from the rectum or the large intestine. Sometimes if the inflammation is too severe you may experience only passing blood. If the bleeding seems to be acute and steady, you need to seek emergency medical attention. Fever/night sweats : People with Crohn’s disease develop a fever as a reactionary step, taken by the body to fight the inflammation flare up. Night sweats develop as the body temperature changes, indicating that the immune system has kicked into action and has actively engaged with the infection in the digestive tract Fatigue :

Are you suffering from acute body ache? Are you tired and feel fatigued most of the time? Do you have disturbed sleep or undergo severe mood swings? If so, you might probably be suffering from a serious ailment named fibromyalgia. Although the mentioned symptoms may also be similar to other diseases or sickness, given below are some of the common indications of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that accelerates a musculoskeletal pain throughout one’s body. It basically intensifies painful sensations that affect the brain’s ability to process signals related to pain. Till the last couple of years, pain relief for fibromyalgia was limited to prescribing simple painkillers. However, a patient suffering from pain due to fibromyalgia can be treated in better ways today. Doctors have a better understanding of the problem today and are able to recommend appropriate medication that focuses mainly on providing pain relief for fibromyalgia. Indications of fibromyalgia for diagnosis Doctors across the globe noted that women are found to be more susceptible to pain due to fibromyalgia compared to men. The reason, however, is yet unknown. Although most of the warning signs of this disorder may sound very similar to any other disease symptoms, doctors treating a patient suffering from fibromyalgia diagnose the disorder only after knowing the patient’s medical history. It has been observed that in most cases, the onset of this acute pain in the body happens after a major event in the patient’s life such as – Surgery – Infection – Psychological stress – Trauma However, health practitioners do not rule out the fact that this disorder may also occur gradually with time, with none of the above-mentioned triggering events being visible. Knowing the happenings of the patient’s health and the time since that person has been undergoing the pain helps the doctor to analyze the condition better and suggest measures for pain relief for fibromyalgia accordingly.

Preterm labor is also known as premature labor. It happens when you’re pregnant, and your body is ready to give birth earlier than it should. Labor pains are considered to be premature if they occur three weeks before the expected due date. There are many ways in which doctors can prolong an early delivery. The longer the baby grows inside your body, it is less likely that the baby can have problems after birth. There are many ways in which you can tell if you’re about to have preterm labor. Following are some of the signs of preterm labor that you should watch out for. Causes of preterm labor Many factors increase the risk of preterm labor. Some of them include: Smoking : If you’re a chain smoker, there is a very high chance that excessive smoking can be one of the reasons. Being overweight or underweight : Being overweight or underweight before your pregnancy can also be a cause. No proper prenatal care : The risk increases if you don’t get enough prenatal care. Alcohol : Consuming alcohol and other drugs are some of the factors that increase the risk. Health conditions : Some health conditions like blood clotting, blood pressure, diabetes, and infections can affect you. Birth defects : If you are pregnant with a baby that has congenital defects. The risk is also high if you have twins. Family history : A family history of premature labor. Signs of preterm labor Here are a few signs of preterm labor from which you can predict if you’re about to have preterm labor. Excessive vaginal discharge Vaginal discharge is normal if it’s in the normal levels. If you feel that the discharge is more than usual, then it is one of the signs of preterm labor. Change in type of discharge If you’re leaking watery discharge, or if your discharge consists mostly of fluids, it is a sign of preterm labor.

Your shoulder is a combination of many joints. The joints meet the muscles and tendons of the arm to provide a full range of motion to the arm. The shoulder facilitates thousands of activities in everyday life. These vary from scratching one’s back to bowling, to carrying bags, and even driving. But your shoulder’s mobility may deteriorate over time, leading to issues such as instability & soreness. It may even affect the functioning of the bones or soft tissue in the shoulder, resulting in pain. The pain could be consistent and chronic, or you might feel the pain only when you move the shoulder. If the pain is temporary, it is easy to deal with, but if it lasts for a long time, this may call for medical attention. We need to understand the anatomy of the shoulder to understand shoulder pain in a better way. Anatomy Of The Shoulder The shoulder comprises of three major bones. They are as follows. Humerus, or the upper arm bone Scapula, or the shoulder bone Collarbone, or the Clavicle There is a round socket in the shoulder blade called the glenoid. The top part of the humerus, or the upper arm bone, fits into the glenoid. A host of muscles and tendons works toward keeping the arm bone stable in the glenoid. This is called the rotator cuff, and it covers the top of the humerus, and it attaches the humerus to the shoulder blade. Let’s go through the top four common types of shoulder problems: Tendon inflammation or tendon tear, also known as bursitis or tendinitis Loss of stability Broken bones or a fracture Arthritis Some other problems, which are rarer, but can cause shoulder pain, are: Tumors Infections Issues involving nerves Let’s run through some of the treatment options you have at your disposal for treating shoulder pain:

The liver is one of the vital organs in our body. Located in the upper right part of the abdominal cavity, the liver performs multiple functions and plays a significant role in ensuring the metabolic processes are carried out by the body. Functions of the liver The main function of the liver is to filter the blood coming in from the digestive tract, before the blood moves to the rest of the body. The liver is a detoxifying organ. A lot of toxins get into our body through the food we ingest. The liver detoxifies the chemicals and metabolizes drugs. Bile, an enzyme that is needed to break down the fats, is secreted by the liver. The liver also synthesizes proteins that are needed for blood clotting and other important functions. Conditions that damage the liver Like other organs, the liver is also prone to infections. Conditions that affect the liver are hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, ascites, primary biliary cirrhosis, gallstones, hemochromatosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Common liver damage signs Low platelet count When you accidentally cut your hand, the blood flows stop and its clots. It is the function of the platelets to help in clotting. Platelets are minute, disk-shaped cell fragments in the bloodstream that help the blood to clot. If a person suffers from liver damage, one of the signs is that his/her platelet count would bound to be low. Medically, this condition is known as Thrombocytopenia. A complete liver study is accomplished through a blood test and a low platelet count is one of the key liver damage signs. Nausea Nausea is a sensation where there is an urge to vomit. Persistent nausea not only causes discomfort but can also be debilitating. When the liver malfunctions, nausea occurs. Nausea is one of the first liver damage signs, along with lethargy and fatigue.

If the changing seasons make you sneeze your head off, instead of putting a spring in your step, you might have a pollen allergy. Pollen allergies or hay fever is an allergic reaction to the pollen released by plants. Pollen is a fine powder released by plants during their reproductive cycles. Pollen is fine enough to travel through the air, which helps plants to reproduce. However, the protein in the pollen can be easily inhaled or ingested via the nose, mouth, ears, or eyes which can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Approximately 30% of adults have some level of pollen allergy. Pollen is not only released by flowering plants but also by grass, trees, and weeds. Flower pollen allergies are more common in spring. Grass pollen allergies are more common in summer, and in autumn, pollen allergies from weeds are predominant. This makes pollen allergies a year-round ordeal for some people, that can be quite uncomfortable and impedes their daily lives. Pollen allergy signs and symptoms If you have a pollen sensitivity, every time you breathe in or come in contact with pollen, you might notice pollen allergy signs such as: Sneezing Itching Redness of the eyes A runny nose Coughing Watering eyes Difficulty breathing Pollen allergy signs can also include worsening of asthma and other respiratory conditions in people who are predisposed. Allergens such as pollen, trigger an immune response in the body. The immune system releases a chemical called Histamine, that works to eliminate this allergen, which is perceived as a threat to the body. Histamine causes the blood vessels to dilate which produces pollen allergy signs such as sneezing, runny nose, and redness of the nose and eyes. The nasal blood vessels also expand which can cause nasal congestion and sinus infections. Conversely, the veins of the face constrict in response to histamine, which causes characteristic pollen allergy signs called ‘allergic shiners’ like dark circles under the eyes.

Any type of allergy can be exhausting. Most allergies can make the strongest of us feel weak and worn down. Sinus allergies are some of the most excruciating ones. These allergies can overwhelm most people and can make even the most trivial day-to-day tasks seem overwhelming. Studies have shown that allergies if left untreated can worsen. This can cause infections as well as complicate the functions of the body in numerous ways. These range from stomach ailments to complicated heart issues. This is why doctors recommend treatment as soon as possible. The recommended approach towards allergies has always been prevention. Protecting the body means preparing and understanding allergies. The first crucial step towards combating allergies would be to understand what the possible sinus allergy signs are. Once the sinus allergy signs have been identified, the next step is symptomatic treatment. This means treating the symptoms to help weaken the overall allergy. The ideal situation for this form of treatment is that the allergy itself will become manageable and heal itself. However, if the body doesn’t recover naturally, medication is recommended. It is crucial to identify key sinus allergy signs by recognizing the symptoms of the possible allergy when it begins to manifest at an early stage. Here are some of the key sinus allergy signs. Nasal identifiers The first sign of any allergy is any kind of irritation inside the nose. These irritations can manifest in different ways. Watch out for any itching inside the nostrils. This itchiness can escalate to sneezing which is the second sinus allergy sign. Provided the itch and sneezing persist, the third sign of an allergy is a stuffy nose. Sinus allergy signs initially are similar to those of a common cold. The final nasal identifier for sinus allergies is a runny nose. If all four symptoms persist over a period of time, it might be an indication of an allergy.

Cramps are a sudden and painful contraction of a muscle. Leg cramps, especially on the calf muscles, occur as you fall asleep or as you wake up. However, sometimes the cramps can be in the thigh or foot. Causes of Leg Cramps at Night Although exact causes of these cramps are not known, there are many reasons for it to occur. Some of them are: Sometimes, too much exercise, an injury or even excessive pressure to the muscle can lead to leg cramps Dehydration is another reason Pregnant women having deficiency of calcium and magnesium have high risk of leg cramps Cold environment or exposure to cold water may be one of the reasons for leg cramps Another reason might be deficiency of potassium and calcium in the bloodstream Sitting in a single position for hours, standing on hard surfaces for extended periods, or sleeping in awkward positions. Certain medications such as birth control, diuretics, antipsychotics, and steroids. Medical conditions affecting the kidney, thyroid, and multiple sclerosis. Treating Leg Cramps At Night There are many ways you can ease the cramp. Try these methods, and you will know how to treat leg cramps at night. Stretching Simply stretching the muscle that is cramping will give you instant relief. If you were sleeping in an awkward position, make sure you be aware of it the next time. Stretch the muscle gently by pumping your heel up and down and then hold the stretch for 30 seconds. Repeat the process until the cramp eases up. This is one way how you can treat leg cramps at night. Heat Remedy Use a heat pack directly to the muscle, as it can be a very effective method to relax the muscle. You can use a heat pack on the muscle when you experience leg cramps at night.