Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder and does not have any cure. It is only possible to reduce the severity of the symptoms, which offers the patient a better quality of life. Rheumatoid Arthritis primarily affects the joints. It can also affect the lungs, voice box, and eye. Symptoms The distinguishing feature of Rheumatoid arthritis is that it affects both hands and both legs. There is swelling, pain, redness and tenderness in the finger joints, wrist, elbow and knee. The feet, hip, neck and even the jaw can be affected. Unfortunately, the exact cause for Rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. A gene alteration is the most likely cause of this autoimmune disorder which predominantly affects women. As the symptoms show up differently in each person, a combination of tests help to draw the conclusion that a person is suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis. Most often, the evident Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis help to diagnose the condition. There are some signs when rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints. Inflammation is accompanied by: Stiffness There is decreased mobility in the joints. Especially during mornings, it gets pretty difficult to use your joints. The stiffness lasts for a long time, and may last more than an hour, before you find your joints loosening up. Redness and Warmth The affected joints appear red and you can feel a warmth when you touch the joints. Swelling Swelling is a characteristic of any form of arthritis. When it comes to signs of rheumatoid arthritis, the fluid enters the joint and makes it puffy. Pain Pain in the joints is unavoidable. Inflammation inside the joint makes it tender and sensitive. Over a period of time, the joints experience damage and results in pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can not only affect the joints, but the entire body as well. In such cases, the symptoms manifest as fatigue, muscle ache, sickness, diminished appetite that can lead to weight loss.

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in the anal canal. External hemorrhoids refer to enlarged veins beneath the surface of the anal skin. You can see and feel external hemorrhoid as the blood clot surrounds the surface of the anus. External hemorrhoids are not serious but are very painful. The most common causes of external hemorrhoids are prolonged sitting on the toilet, chronic constipation and straining during the bowel movements. All of these cause enlargement of the veins outside the surface of the anus, causing external hemorrhoids. They disturb the blood flow to and from that area resulting in swollen blood vessels. Constipation tightens the muscles of the anal canal that are smooth. This strain causes pain and bleeding during the bowel movement. The connective tissue that connects the anus muscles also weaken with age, thereby increasing the swelling outside the surface. When you pressurize the veins of the pelvic and rectal area, it can also lead to external hemorrhoids as the muscles tighten. Symptoms of external hemorrhoids There are four main symptoms of external hemorrhoids: The first and foremost is itching around the surface of the anus. This is because hemorrhoids cause swelling and irritation in the rectal area, and develop an urge to itch. But the symptom gets worse with itching as disturbing the swelling makes the anus grow further. There is constant pain around the anus. The external hemorrhoids result in affecting the anus and rectal areas. The pain is not severe but can get unbearable at times. Swelling of the anal skin causes lumps. These lumps are blood clots that cause swelling and pain. Lumps, when inflating with pus around the anus, make the symptoms worse. One another major symptom is bleeding while using the washroom. If you find thick blood stains on the stool, then you are probably suffering from external hemorrhoids that are mainly caused due to a weaker digestive track.

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in the anal canal. External hemorrhoids refer to enlarged vein beneath the surface of the anal skin and internal hemorrhoids refer to an enlarged vein of the anal skin. You can see and feel external hemorrhoids as the blood clot surrounds the surface of the anus. A hemorrhoid is generally not serious but is a painful condition. The most common causes of hemorrhoids are long sitting in the toilet, chronic constipation, and straining during the bowel movements. These enlarge the veins of the surface of the anus causing hemorrhoids. This is because they disturb the blood flow to and from anus resulting in swollen blood vessels. Constipation tightens the muscle of the anal canal that is generally smooth in nature. This strain causes pain and bleeding during the bowel movement. The connective tissue that connects the anus muscle also weakens with age thereby increasing the swelling outside the surface. When you pressurize the veins of the pelvic and rectal area, it can also lead to hemorrhoids as the muscle tightens. There are four main symptoms of hemorrhoids Itching: Itching around the surface of the anus. This is because hemorrhoids cause swelling and irritation in the rectal area, making you itch to feel better. However, the symptoms get worse with itching as we don’t know how clean our hand is and disturbing the swelling makes the anus grow further. Pain: Constant pain around the anus. The hemorrhoids result in affecting the anus and rectal areas. Since they are external in nature, you will feel the pain outside during bowel movements or strain. The pain is not serious but can get unbearable at times. Swelling: Swelling of the anal skin causes lumps. These lumps are blood clots that cause swelling and pain. However, because they are external, they can be seen and felt.

There are 4 stages of breast cancer—stage I, II, III, and IV. Stage IV breast cancer is also known as metastatic or even secondary breast cancer and is the most advanced stage of breast cancer. If left untreated for a long time, then cancer metastasizes (spreads) beyond the breast. Most often, metastatic breast cancer spreads through the lymphatic system to the liver, bones, lungs, and brain. This, in turn, can result in life-threatening morbidity including myocardial infarction (MI). The size of the tumor varies from one person to another. Approximately more than 154,000 women residing in the US have metastatic breast cancer. Many women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer had suffered from breast cancer before. However, for some, metastatic breast cancer may be their first diagnosis of breast cancer . Treatment Coping up with the most advanced stage of breast cancer is quite tough and challenging as an advanced stage of breast cancer remains incurable. Only an oncologist can treat patients diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. A lot of factors such as age, medical history, and general health are considered. Moreover, the biology of the growth of tumor and metastasis comes into the picture. Your medical oncologist will encourage effective treatment. He will also recommend you to undergo the one best for you out of the four effective treatment options. The four options are as follows: Breast cancer chemical therapy or chemotherapy (chemo) This is the first systemic treatment for hormone receptor-negative and hormone receptor-positive (but no longer responds to hormone therapy) stage IV breast cancers. Chemical therapy is better known as chemotherapy. The term “chemotherapy” is often put forward as an overarching definition. In chemotherapy, the cancer cells shrink much faster than that in hormone therapy. In this treatment option, you can even control the growth rate of cancer cells in the body for several years.

Diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels due to the inability of the pancreas to secrete sufficient insulin or the body’s inability to effectively use the secreted insulin. In fact, diabetes mellitus is a silent killer, and if a person suffers from high blood pressure along with diabetes, it can prove to be fatal. Studies have reported that approximately 37% of the global population is diabetic and these figures are rising due to increased incidence of obesity and other lifestyle habits. An Insight Into Diabetes Diabetes can manifest in two types. People usually develop type 1 diabetes or diabetes mellitus in adulthood. Sufferers of type 1 diabetes are completely insulin dependent. Type 2 diabetes is more common and in this condition, the body does not produce enough insulin or body cells are insulin resistant. There is an increased incidence of juvenile diabetes and gestational diabetes. Medications and lifestyle changes can help manage the conditions effectively. Diabetes is a cause of adult blindness. Also, diabetics are at an increased risk of suffering from a fatal stroke. Moreover, they are prone to infections that do not heal quickly, resulting in amputation of the limbs. Hence, it is essential that blood sugar levels are constantly monitored with the help of a blood sugar chart. These charts serve as tools to determine the quantum of sugar that has accumulated in the blood. What Is A Blood Sugar Chart? A blood sugar chart helps track your blood glucose levels. The chart contains columns that keep a track of the date, and fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels. It also shows target readings which will help you conclude your current levels vis-a-vis the normal blood glucose levels. The normal blood sugar levels before meals range between 70-130 mg/dl. Post meals, that is about 2 hours after meals, the blood sugar levels should be below 180 mg/dl.

The term ‘neuropathy’ itself speaks about what it essentially means. Neuro means related to nerves or the nervous system and pathy denotes disorder in a specific part of the body. Hence, neuropathy, popularly known as peripheral neuropathy, refers to the disorder of nerves. This disorder could be caused when certain injury or disease damages your nervous system. Originating from your brain and spinal cord, these peripheral nerves extend to your muscles and tissues. The peripheral nervous system is the primary source of all communication between the body and brain in the form of electrical impulses. There are three types of nerves: Motor nerves Sensory nerves Autonomic nerves Each nerve comprises of neurons, which transmit information throughout the body in the form of electrical and chemical impulses at very high speeds. Thus, damage to the nerve cells results in damage to the communication link. Neuropathy is a rapidly growing condition which is being researched extensively to understand the various causes and treatments for the same. Did you know? The leading cause of deaths among senior citizens is due to accidental falls. Some people fall because of the condition of neuropathy and hence are unable to feel their feet. They try to stand but because of the numbness, don’t get a proper standing posture, and as a result trip and fall over. Causes of neuropathy There are a number of causes that could lead to the development of this condition in an individual. The most common causes include: Trauma Metabolic system anomalies Out of range glucose levels Inflammation of specific body parts, e.g. hands, feet Diabetes Chemotherapy Treatment for neuropathy The most significant concept to remember here is; it is essential to diagnose the underlying cause and provide symptomatic relief by eradicating that cause itself. Based on the root cause of the nerve damage, the treatments for neuropathy can vary.

UTI occurs when there is an uncontrollable growth of bacteria in the bladder. This is an infection that can happen to anyone. However, it is most commonly seen in women. Before we know the about how to cure urinary tract infection, let us know about its causes. Bacteria enter through the urethra and attach to the bladder. The infection starts spreading as the bacteria multiply. This causes symptoms like frequent urination, cramping in the abdomen, and pain while urinating. You need to treat these symptoms with medication or home remedies. If you treat it at home, you will not have to worry about having any side effects. These home treatments are very simple and will get you feeling better in no time. You need to know how to cure a urinary tract infection at home. Here are nine ways in which you can fight the infection and recover quickly. Drink More Fluids One of the most common solutions yo how to cure urinary tract infection is consuming more fluids. This will help flush out the bacteria. You can either drink plenty of water or have fruit juices. Urine is filled with waste from the body and is acidic. Drinking more water will dilute it. This way you will not experience pain while urinating. Have a glass of water before every meal. Have at least 12 glasses of water a day. This is sure to help treat the UTI. Heating Pads If your bladder infection is severe, you are sure to have a mild pain in the abdomen. This will cause you discomfort as it is persistent and may be severe in some cases. If the other methods or medication is not helping, you can use heating pads to soothe the dull ache caused by the UTI. Urinate Frequently It is best not to hold it when you need to urinate.

Pain is a sensation of extreme discomfort in a particular region of the body. It is your body’s early warning system protecting you from the possible ailment you could suffer from. In a situation where you can’t feel pain, that is, in fact, an indicator of numbness which could further worsen the condition. The tolerance towards pain varies from one person to another. Hence, medications work for some, while they don’t work for others. Opium-based drugs known as opioids that include fentanyl and even oxycodone are the reason behind an addiction epidemic in the US and thus are highly disapproved by doctors and even patients. Thus, there has been a need for new pain medications to be available on the market that isn’t harmful. The abuse of these opioids has resulted in thousands of overdose deaths in the US every year. These drugs can cause motor impairment and respiratory depression. Patients also build up an increased tolerance over time, therefore increasing the risk of overdose or abuse. Below is a list of some new pain medications with the painkilling power of the infamous opioids but without some of the dangerous side effects, it brings along: Oliceridine A new pain medication opioid, Oliceridine, is currently in its final stages of experimentation with human trials and is being executed by Trevena. Advantages: Research shows that it relieves pain similarly to morphine It comes without the side effects that morphine brings along, such as constipation and respiratory depression Patients are less likely to build a tolerance towards it, unlike in the case of morphine Lesser risk of overdose. Drawbacks: As addictive as morphine Can be used in hospital environments only Scientists claim that research indicates this drug to be much safer to use than morphine. FDA recently gave Oliceridine a breakthrough therapy designation, which is only granted to drugs with a significant clinical improvement as compared to other available therapies.

Prostate impotence also termed as erectile dysfunction affects almost 30 million men. The impotence may result from a complete inability to achieve an erection, inconsistent ability to achieve an erection, or sustain a brief erection. The condition is brought about by physical problems mainly with respect to the blood supply to the penis. Advancement in medicine has opened up effective prostate impotence treatment options, which are safe and effective. Risk Factors As men age, they risk suffering from impotence. Other known risk factors for impotence include low testosterone levels, smoking, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, diabetes, hypertension, high blood cholesterol levels, and vascular diseases. Before we know about the prostate impotence treatment options, lets know about the causes of prostate impotence. Causes of Prostate Impotence A possible list of causes for erectile dysfunction include performance anxiety, depression, premature ejaculation, diabetes, venous leak, organic impotence, neurological causes ( like multiple sclerosis, spine and nerve injuries), Peyronie’s disease, drug-induced impotence, and hormone induced impotence. Treatment Options The line of treatment is drawn based on the age, general health, medical history of the patient, the extent of the disease, patient tolerance for specific medication, procedures, and therapies and the patient preference. Following are the specific treatment alternatives available for prostate impotence/erectile dysfunction. Medical Treatment Prescription drugs such as Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis have been administered to patients with prostate impotence as the first line of treatment. They are oral PDE5 inhibitors. The component like sildenafil citrate contained in Viagra is an oral drug that increases the response to sexual stimulation. Levitra which contains vardenafil citrate works quickly and improves sexual function in men across all age groups. It is particularly effective for men with diabetes and men who have undergone radical prostatectomy. Tadalafil citrate contained in Cialis is the one that stays in the body for the longest possible time.

The summer season brings along skin irritations and rashes. The heat rays finally get to your skin, and you can find rashes mostly in the areas covered by clothing. Everyone from infants to elders is susceptible to heat rashes. You need to first identify the rash. It will irritate and might get worse if you do not go for heat rash treatments. Many home remedies and medications can put a stop to it. What is more important is working on preventive methods so that it doesn’t happen again. You can enjoy the summer in peace once you have dealt with it. Heat rash is a fairly common problem, and it happens to most people, so there is no cause for alarm. If these methods don’t work, there might be another infection that is causing the rashes. In that case, it is best to consult a dermatologist. What is heat rash? The red or pink rashes on parts of your body that are covered by clothes are called heat rashes. It happens because the air ducts are blocked. They swell up due to the heat and cause itching. This is commonly found in babies. However, in hot climates, it can affect adults too. Heat rash occurs when the body is covered with too many clothes, and the skin is unable to breathe. Heat rash treatment involves treating the rashes. However, as a permanent solution, you need to make sure you are in a cool environment, and your body heat is under control. How to identify a heat rash? A heat rash is very easy to identify. It looks like dots or pimples all across the skin. It can appear in any part of the body. In sporadic cases when heat rash treatment is not done, a secondary infection may appear. So, it is best to identify it and treat it immediately.