Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious condition which makes breathing difficult. The lungs no longer function to their full capacity and this leads to COPD diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. There are 4 progressive stages of the COPD disease that worsen with time if not treated immediately. Here’s what you need to know. COPD is actually a lung disease that is life-threatening. This disease causes uncontrolled coughing and excessive production of mucus, shortened breaths, wheezing, tightening of the chest, and many other symptoms that cause difficulty in breathing. These symptoms of COPD worsen over time. The airways and air sacs of the lungs get damaged and inflamed as the alveoli of the lungs begin swelling resulting in excessive production of mucus. Generally COPD leads to the slow malfunctioning of the lung, and this condition could worsen if any of the symptoms are triggered. COPD is not contagious, and is often diagnosed among people from the age group of middle aged people to older adults COPD can be categorized into the following types: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Patients suffering from emphysema have difficulty in exhalation since the linings inside the air sacs of the lungs are damaged quite often due to smoking, excessive exposure to pollution or any other allergens. Depending on the severity of the illness the following are various progressive stages of COPD disease: Stage 1 – Mild COPD Patients having slight limitations in the airflow of the lungs enter the first stages of COPD disease. This stage is characterized by chronic cough along with an increase in the production of mucus. Often people who are in these stages of COPD disease are not even aware of it till their condition begins to deteriorate. In order to monitor the lungs, physicians conduct various nominal lung tests in this stage.

Impotence is a common problem that men around the world face. While it is not a life-threatening condition, it hampers the patient’s quality of life. Here are some of the best options for treatment of impotence. Erectile dysfunction is characterized by the inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection during intercourse. In general, men over the age of 40 years are susceptible to this condition. Impotency is often caused as a result of various diseases such as multiple sclerosis, vascular diseases, kidney diseases, neurological diseases, endocrine disorders, diabetes, and blood pressure. More than 70 percent of men who suffer from the medical conditions, also report impotency. Men who are diabetic are more susceptible to impotency. Other causes of impotency include any penile injury, hormonal disorder, narrowing of blood vessels caused as a result of standing for a long time, and high blood cholesterol. Treatment of impotence is recommended after proper diagnosis of the physical, hormonal, and psychological problems that go hand-in-hand with this condition. The following are different ways that help in the treatment of impotence. Weight Loss Obesity increases the risk of developing erectile dysfunction, and hence the first step towards treatment of impotence is losing weight. Men who are over-weight are more likely to develop medical conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, heart diseases, atherosclerosis, etc. which are factors that encourage the development of impotency. Psychological Counseling Erectile dysfunction can also be caused due to high levels of stress, anxiety or depression. In such situations it is recommended to seek help from a professional counselor or therapist who can guide the patient correctly for the treatment of impotence. Medication Treatment of impotence is done with the use of various prescribed pills. Certain medicines are either injected into the penis or need to be inserted inside the tip of the penis.

Did you know that you can manage your GERD symptoms by making some small changes in your everyday life? Here’s what you can do. Most of us have heard about heartburn and acid reflux, which are both common problems that people face quite often. These aren’t life-threatening conditions, but if the symptoms persist and are occurring at least twice a week interfering with your everyday life, it may have progressed to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is a chronic disease that affects your digestive system. GERD occurs when the stomach acid (or even contents of your stomach, at times) move back up into your esophagus (food pipe) and irritate the lining. In the United States, approximately 25- 40 percent of all adults suffer from some form of GERD. What are the usual GERD symptoms? You may experience a number of GERD symptoms, and some of these may even be painful as the disorder interferes with the normal functioning of your digestive system. The most common symptom of this health condition is heartburn, although not everyone who has GERD experiences this symptom. Some of the GERD symptoms that you need to look out for include: A sensation of burning in your chest (heartburn). This can sometimes spread to your throat, and leave a sour taste in your mouth. Hoarseness or a sore throat, which occurs when your stomach acid enters the throat. Pain or discomfort in the chest Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia). You may even find it troublesome to swallow things like ice cream and water. Dry cough that can be persistent. Regurgitation of food that you have eaten or sour liquid (acid reflux) A feeling of a lump in your throat This happens in people with GERD because acid reflux irritates the airways. An unexplained increase of saliva Earaches Bad breath Can you control your GERD symptoms naturally?

When you are suffering from any anxiety disorder, the anxiety refuses to go away and interferes with your everyday routine. Learn more about the natural anxiety supplements that actually work to curb this pervasive feeling. All of us experience anxiety at some point in our lives, in fact, it is an inherent part of life. There may be various reasons for your anxiety including family, money, health, and work issues. However, it is not natural to be in a state of anxiety all the time as it can be detrimental to your overall health. When you are suffering from any anxiety disorder, you experience several episodes of sudden feelings of fear and anxiety that reach its peak within a few minutes. These episodes are known as panic attacks . Some of the different types of anxiety disorders are social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and certain specific phobias. Symptoms and Treatment for Anxiety Anxiety disorders are characterized by a feeling of impending doom or danger, hyperventilation, feeling restless, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, and having difficulty in controlling your worry. There is not enough evidence on exactly what leads to anxiety disorders, however, traumatic events seem to trigger these disorders in those who are already susceptible to anxiety. Anxiety has also been linked with several health problems including diabetes, heart disease, drug abuse, respiratory disorders, thyroid problems, and chronic pain. Psychotherapy and medications are the two main treatment methods available for treating your anxiety. Your doctor will prescribe you medications based on what type of anxiety disorder you are suffering from. You may also be prescribed with benzodiazepine, which is a sedative that provides some relief from anxiety for a short period of time. The only problem with these medications is that they come along with a few side effects that can seem quite distressing when you have anxiety.

Xarelto is a drug that is mainly used in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). As is the case with most of the drugs, there are several side effects associated with Xarelto. Read on to know more about the Xarelto side effects. Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a serious medical condition that occurs when a blood clot is formed in one or more of the deep veins in the body. It most commonly affects a deep vein in your leg, and causes leg pain as well as swelling. It is a serious medical condition because the blood clots can travel through the bloodstream to your lungs, and block the blood flow leading to pulmonary embolism. Some of the symptoms associated with DVT are pain, tenderness, and swelling in your calves, a heavy ache and redness in the affected area, and warmth in the area of the clot. There are some cases of DVT that do not show any symptoms whatsoever. If it is not treated in time, you may suffer from pulmonary embolism that is characterized by chest pain, breathlessness, and collapsing suddenly. DVT typically affects only one leg and the pain will be worse when you are bending your foot towards your knees. The exact cause of DVT is not yet known, however, there are certain circumstances that tend to increase the risk of developing this disorder. When you are inactive for a long period of time, like after an operation, your blood flow slows down considerably. The chances of a blood clot increase when the blood flow slows down. Certain medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, thrombophilia, infectious diseases, and lung disease are also known to increase the risk of DVT. The standard medications that are used to treat deep vein thrombosis are anticoagulants, which are also known as ‘blood-thinning’ medicines.

Enlarged prostate is a condition medically termed as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) that causes difficulties in urination among men. Apart from medical help and diagnosis, it’s imperative to learn how to use a few simple remedies for natural treatment of enlarged prostate Prostate is a muscular gland that produces semen, and is responsible for carrying sperms out of the system during ejaculation. The prostate gland is placed below the urethra and behind the bladder in the male reproductive system. Enlargement of the prostate gradually occurs with age, especially after the age of 40 to 50 years, and is often associated with hormonal changes that occur during this time. However in some cases, this condition may also prevail at a younger age. Enlargement of the prostate gland can cause pressure on the urinary tract causing it to narrow, and resulting in many difficulties during urination such as increased frequency of urination especially in the night, lack of sleep, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, dribbling urine, strained urination, abdominal pain and sometimes even blood in the urine. There are other urinary tract infections that patients already suffering from enlarged prostate can become susceptible to. Treatment of an enlarged prostate involves prescribed medication after diagnosis, such as terazosin (a drug that helps in the relaxation of the prostate muscles), as well as antibiotics which are recommended for men experiencing chronic prostatitis, and sometimes even surgery to remove the excess tissue of the enlarged prostate. One can also opt for natural remedies that could help the patient without having to pay several visits to the doctor. The following are a few simple ways that help in the natural treatment of enlarged prostate. Pelvic Strengthening Exercises By doing certain pelvic strengthening exercises (also known as Kegel exercises) patients can seek relief from pain in the abdomen due to the enlarged prostate.

Constipation is a bowel condition due to which the bowel movements of an individual are hard and occur less often than normal. Almost everyone experiences this condition. It is not usually serious, as the person suffering from constipation feels much better when the body is back on track. The normal time frame of constipation varies greatly from person to person. Some people might have it three times a day some only once or twice a week. Constipation that takes longer than 3 or more days is usually considered as too long a time frame. After three days, the stool or feces become harder and becomes more difficult to pass. The general symptoms of constipation include: Trouble having bowel movements Having few bowel movements Swollen or dry belly pain with the feeling of nausea Hard or small stools Causes of constipation can be due to several reasons. Poor diet or poor bowel habits are the two main causes of constipation. Constipation causes problems in eliminating of stool, whether it is physical, functional, or voluntary. Most common causes of constipation include Poor diet Constipation can be caused due to eating only those foods that are rich in animal fats (which are usually found in dairy products, meat, and eggs) and refined sugar. Having a low fiber diet can also result in constipation. This is because the fiber content in the food helps in better digestion and maintains stool consistency that is easy to pass. Insufficient fluid intake Lack of fluid in the daily diet can lead to hard and dry stools. Fluid is absorbed by the intestine, consuming enough fluid maintains the water content and keeps the stool soft enough for passage. Caffeine and alcohol Consuming beverages rich in caffeine and alcohol result in increased excretion. This results in relative dehydration. This, in turn, leads to constipation as enough water is not retained by the stool.

The fast-growing lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits have all led to the rising of blood sugar levels. It is seen that high blood sugar can be treated by regular exercise and intake of a healthy meal. There are a number of treatment options that can help to keep your blood sugar under check. High blood sugar is the condition wherein the body’s ability to use or produce insulin gets affected. If you too are continuously finding ways on how to lower blood sugar levels and do not want to get treated using medicines, then here are a few ways of you can reduce it. Stay hydrated It is always advisable to drink water as much as possible. Drinking ample water helps in keeping the blood sugar levels under control. Also, if you drink enough water, the kidneys will flush out excess blood sugar from the body. It should be kept in mind that beverages that are sweet or sugar-sweetened water is not good for health as it raises the chances of diabetes and also drives weight gain. Increase the fiber intake in your daily diet Fiber is seen as an important constituent that plays a crucial role in sugar absorption. It also helps in slowing the process of carb digestion. There are different types of fiber and each one has a distinct role to play. The two types of fiber are soluble and insoluble. While both of these are equally important for the body, the soluble fiber has blood sugar lowering qualities. So, ensure that you have a high-fiber diet that not only fights against type 1 diabetes but also actively reduces high blood sugar. Some of the foods that are high in fiber include legumes, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, to name a few. Doctors too recommended having soluble dietary fiber as an effective home remedy to lower blood sugar levels.

Diabetes or high blood sugar can be effectively controlled if a proper daily diet is followed. Paying attention to food habits will not only keep a control on the blood sugar but also develop overall healthy weight. A balanced diet is often suggested by dieticians but not many understand the need for the same. If a person is suffering from diabetes, one thought tends to constantly remain in our mind and that is how to control blood sugar. Here are 10 best food items that are popular, easily available, and perfect for controlling blood sugar. Take a look! Vegetables are perfect for controlling blood sugar We all know that vegetables are an important part of everyday meals and diet plan. Including vegetables in the meal helps to keep us fit and healthy. Not only does eating vegetables healthy for a maintained body weight but also for controlling high blood sugar. It is advisable to include all kinds of vegetables in your diet but ensure to choose vegetables that are low in carbohydrates. You can try having mushrooms, tomatoes, sprouts, and onions, to name a few. Try adding more flavor to your meal by seasoning the vegetables well. Broccoli for a healthy heart Often recommended by doctors for people suffering from high blood sugar, broccoli is considered one of the best food items when one is looking to control blood sugar. With a high amount of vitamin C than what is found in oranges, broccoli also contains beta-carotene, which produces vitamin A. Broccoli also has anti-cancer properties and reduces the risk of heart diseases. You can either add boiled broccoli to your salads or just roast them a little with olive oil and have as is. Moreover, if you do not like the texture of broccoli, then you can always prepare broccoli soup, which is a very simple yet healthy recipe.

An important hormone that is essential for male growth and development of masculine characteristics, testosterone affects male reproductive and sexual functions, hair growth, muscle mass, as well as maintaining red blood cells levels, energy levels, mood, and density of bones. In men, testosterone is produced in the testicles, while in women, this hormone is produced in the ovaries. However, women have a minuscule proportion of testosterone as compared to men. Levels of testosterone are at the peak during late adolescence and early adulthood for men. After the age of 30, testosterone levels drop by about one percent each year. This is quite a natural phenomenon. However, sometimes testosterone levels decline drastically. The causes for this may include the following: Too much iron in the body, also known as hemochromatosis. Hypothalamus or a dysfunction of the pituitary gland. Diseases caused due to inflammation. Liver cirrhosis. Radiation treatment for any kind of cancer. Loss of testicles due to injury or infection. Lifestyle problems such as alcoholism, stress, obesity, and so on. A few effects of low testosterone levels Although lowering of testosterone levels is natural among men above the age of 30 years, there are certain factors such as chemical exposures and use of certain prescribed medications that can lower testosterone levels. This can lead to a lot of negative effects that can bring in a lot of physical changes. There might be an increase in the levels of body fat and a decrease in muscle mass. Cholesterol and lipid levels can be affected. There can be mild anemia due to a decrease in hemoglobin levels. There might be osteoporosis of bones. The growth of body hair might also go on a decline. What are testosterone boosters? Low testosterone levels can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy by taking testosterone boosters and also by following a healthy lifestyle.