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.

Diabetic feet are problems in your feet, as a result of diabetes. Diabetes is the medical condition associated with the lack of insulin in our body, which is a hormone released by the pancreas. Insulin helps convert glucose from the food that you intake, into energy. Due to the lack of insulin, glucose stays in the blood, and high glucose can cause health problems and foot complications. Diabetic foot is a severe condition affecting anyone with diabetes. The effects may be mild like the healing of a foot cut, or extreme like an amputation of the foot. One simple thing you can do is, prevent any injuries to your feet and make sure to monitor your feet on a daily basis. There are two major reasons for diabetic feet. Lack of oxygen and nutrients will lead to the low blood supply to the feet which will further cause cuts and damages. Secondly, there is a diabetic nerve called peripheral neuropathy that causes numbness in your feet, thereby increasing your chances to get sores and infections. Problems Associated With Diabetic Feet Fungal Infection of the Nails This is caused by bacteria and results in irritated and reddened nail area. The infection also leads to a change of color (yellow) along with inflammation, pain and crumbling of the toe. If left untreated, the fungus becomes worse and can infect your other toenails, the skin on your feet and even your fingernails. In severe cases, the infection can impair your ability to walk or cause painful ingrown toenails. Muscle and Joint Problems Diabetes also result in damage to the peripheral nerve, resulting in foot problems. The damage of the nerve causes muscle and joint pain in a severe way possible. It can also result in numbness of the feet, making it difficult for you to feel your feet.

Dealing with acne can be incredibly frustrating as it can severely affect your facial skin’s health. However, acne is a widespread condition and almost everyone at least once in their life has dealt with it. There are many reasons as to why you could be getting acne on your skin. Read on to know more about acne, its causes, how to treat it and put an end to your woes. What causes acne? Narrowing down the source is not easy, as many factors cause acne. A few of them are: The most common cause is an excessive accumulation of oil in your glands, which in turn clogs your pores and causes acne. Sebaceous glands are the powerhouse of oil production. If you haven’t been keeping your face clean, these pores will get clogged, because your glands continue secreting oil. Stress can cause acne too. When stressed, your hormonal levels get disrupted. This can cause you to have breakouts. Lack of sleep is another common cause of acne. Some people tend to get acne during or around their menstrual period. This is because there are a lot of hormonal changes during menstruation. Using too much cosmetics on your skin, especially ones that are greasy, can clog your pores and cause acne. Also, using a product that is not meant for your skin type can lead to acne. People with an oily skin type have to use products that are meant for oily skin. The same goes for individuals who have dry or combination type of skin. Sometimes, a few medications come with side effects, possibly acne can be one of them. Drugs that contain lithium and androgen especially are known to cause acne. If you happen to take birth control pills regularly, then you might experience acne, as they interfere with your natural hormonal levels.

Do you often find yourself shaking your leg restlessly? Perhaps, while listening to a lecture, attending a meeting or during a family dinner? If it feels like a compulsive behavior, you may be suffering from restless leg syndrome (RLS). Here is an insight into the syndrome and effective remedies that would help you to stop restless legs. If you’re wondering how to stop restless legs, and only have a relatively mild condition with no serious underlying cause, the following home remedies may give you relief. Massage with hot and cold packs Massage your leg with alternating hot and cold packs to relax the muscles. This treatment alleviates pain and improves circulation in your legs. You can also soak your leg in a warm water bath to provide muscle relaxation. These treatments work best if you do them just before you go to bed. Regular exercise Follow a fitness routine that gets you moving and stretches your muscles. Make sure you stay regular and ensure you don’t overdo it. A simple power walk for about 30 minutes every day, is good enough to keep your legs relaxed and maintain overall health. Exercise is important for RLS since this syndrome is triggered by tension and stress in your muscles. Regulate your sleep RLS causes fatigue as it interferes with your sleep cycle. Sticking to a strict sleep schedule will help minimize damage. Do your best to go to sleep, and wake up at the same time every day. Common measures to achieve this are taking a hot bath before bed, and meditating clear away disturbing thoughts. Create an environment around your bed that’s conducive to healthy, quality sleep. Include a 10 to 15-minute window to relax either through meditation or simple breathing techniques, just before bedtime. This will go a long way in reducing stress and inducing better sleep.

You’ve probably heard of Kegel exercises for women, but did you know about Kegel for men? Kegel for men is not a strange concept as it sounds. You can read on to know more. Kegel exercises were developed by an obstetrician named Dr. Arnold Kegel in the 1940s. Kegel exercise is also known as pelvic floor exercises. Kegel for men and women involve repeatedly constricting the muscles of the pelvic floor. Kegel exercises aim to improve the muscle tone of the pelvic floor muscles called the pubococcygeus muscles. These muscles are sometimes colloquially called kegel muscles, and help in controlling urination and defecation. Kegel for men needs to be performed several times a day for at least a few months for noticeable effects. Kegel for men helps in improving sexual performance, urinary incontinence, treating prostate pain, and swelling. How to perform Kegel for men The first step to correctly performing Kegel for men is to identify the correct muscles. The easiest way to do this is to stop your flow of urine midstream. The muscles you use to do these are the pelvic floor muscles. Once you’ve identified your pelvic floor muscles, all you need to do is alternately contract and relax them. It can be done in any position and at any time; however, some beginners may prefer to start by performing Kegel exercises while lying down. To do Kegel for men properly, you should follow the right technique. Contract the pelvic floor muscles and hold them in this position for three seconds before relaxing. Do this a few times and keep increasing the repetitions, as your pelvic floor muscles get stronger. When doing Kegel exercises, make sure that you don’t contract other muscles such as muscle groups in the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs. Contraction of other muscle groups will diminish the effects of the Kegel exercises.

What is Sunless Tanning? Sunless tanning is known by other names such as UV-free tanning, spray tanning, fake tanning and even self-tanning. Sunless tanning is associated with applying chemicals onto the skin that generates effects, similar to what a suntan does. Our skin is made of two layers, epidermis which is the outer layer and dermis which is the inside layer. When self-tanning products are applied, the reaction occurs in the epidermis. The epidermis is further categorized into further layers. The lowermost layer is known as the basal layer, which is affected when sun tanning occurs, and in the case of sunless tanning, it is the layer of the epidermis that is affected. Sunless tanning is a popular trend that’s doing rounds currently, and there are many natural and artificial methods available to get a tan without stepping out in the sun. These methods can be adopted for getting a sunless tanning. There are a few natural ways of making your suntan at home or artificial methods like applying sun tanning products that are available on the market or even consuming tanning pills. The main ingredient in all the sun tans available is DHA ( Dihydroxyacetone), which is a form of a colorless sugar that reacts with the dead cells on the epidermis, and as this reaction occurs, the skin starts to change its color. Sunless Tanning Methods Carotenoids : It is one of the safest methods to undergo Sunless tanning through consumption of fruits, such as carrots and tomatoes, that have high antioxidant properties. These fruits can result in changes in the skin color when consumed in large quantities. The only drawback of this method is that it may take months to get the required skin tone, and so it does not provide immediate results. Bronzers : This comes in powder as well as gel forms, and is a sunless tanner that immediately turns your skin into the required color until washed off.

There is a general misconception that cholesterol is bad for your health and heart. Fat is needed by the body to perform all metabolic functions. Not all cholesterol is bad. The fats that you consume, contain cholesterol in them (the levels differ depending on the food category). And it is the bad cholesterol that plays havoc with your heart health. A high level of bad cholesterol (LDL), low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) are a cause for concern. To maintain ideal cholesterol levels, wherein the levels of HDL is more than LDL calls for a proper diet and active lifestyle. What is good and bad cholesterol? HDL Good cholesterol or HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) is healthy cholesterol that is needed by the body. High HDL levels, not only help in lowering the levels of LDL, they also help in prevent heart diseases and stroke. In fact, when a blood test is done to verify the cholesterol levels, doctors first read the levels of HDL. As long as the HDL levels are greater in proportion, in total cholesterol levels, you’re on the safer side. Numerous studies have proved that low HDL levels increase the risk of heart disease. LDL LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) is bad cholesterol that causes plaque build up along the artery walls, causing blockages and resulting in heart attack. Higher LDL levels put you at a greater risk of having a heart disease. If your blood tests have high LDL levels, it’s time to take measures through diet and exercise which can help in lowering LDL levels. Triglycerides The most common type of fat in our body are triglycerides. The excess energy from the food that you eat, is stored as triglycerides. High triglycerides, low HDL, and high LDL is the potent combination that can lead to heart disease. Impact of cholesterol Excess amounts of cholesterol in the body forms a thick layer in the artery walls.

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.

Diabetes is a chronic condition where the sugar levels in the blood become incredibly high. Today, diabetes is a widespread condition, mostly because of the kind of unhealthy lifestyle people lead.Contrary to popular opinion, having diabetes does not stop you from eating the foods you like, instead helps in including plenty of nutritious and healthy choices in your diet. A healthy diet is a foundation for the management of diabetes. A diabetes diet is the finest meal plan for almost every individual. It is a guide chart that tells you what kinds and how much quantity of foods you can pick to eat at different mealtimes. Paying heed to the guide chart is of high significance. Following your diabetes diet plan on a regular basis will help keep your blood sugar and weight in check. Start by with building and following diabetic meal plans. You must begin with breakfast followed by lunch and then dinner. Besides this, take two light snacks between the meals. A combination (combo) meal can give you about 1,400 calories each day. Consult with your dietician or doctor to figure out the best diabetic meal plans, so that you can keep your calories intake in check. How many calories you should consume ideally depends on your age, weight, health conditions, and lifestyle. Smart food choices for diabetes The 8 primary elements of diabetic meal plans are: Fruits Vegetables Low-fat or nonfat dairy products Yogurt Whole grains Beans Lean meats like fish and poultry Legumes including peas, lentils, and dried beans These heart-healthy foods are high in nutrients and low in calories and fats. A heart-healthy diet comprises a perfect balance of carbohydrates, fat, fiber, vitamins, and protein. It is the mainstay of medications and activity levels. Sticking to a daily diabetic meal plan may seem to be quite challenging at first, but once you have the meal plan in place, you will start enjoying it.