Causes and symptoms of dementia
Health

Causes and symptoms of dementia

Dementia is not a disease but a group of symptoms that are indicative of memory loss, diminished thinking ability, and social skills. If these symptoms interfere with your daily life, you should seek medical help. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common reason for dementia in older adults. Dementia could also be caused due to various other reasons. Mentioned below are the symptoms and causes of dementia. Symptoms of dementia Dementia primarily affects cognition and psychology, and the consequent changes are listed below. Cognitive changes Memory loss Difficulty finding commonly used words Impaired reasoning and logical ability Difficulty handling complex tasks Having a tough time planning and organizing events Confusion Disorientation Difficulty with motor functions and coordination Psychological changes Depression Anxiety Hallucinations Personality changes Behaving inappropriately Agitation Paranoia Causes of dementia Dementia is the effect of damaged nerve cells in the brain. The severity depends on the area that is affected and the extent of damage. In cases when dementia is caused due to medications or vitamin deficiencies, the symptoms usually reverse after the patient is treated and returns to normalcy. There could be various other causes like: Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common reason for dementia in adults above the age of 65.
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All you need to know about nasal polyps
Health

All you need to know about nasal polyps

Inoffensive growths along the internal nasal walls or sinuses in the nasal passage, which are painless and benign, are typically known as nasal polyps. Nasal polyps affect adults and are generally not considered as a serious ailment, but more of a disturbance causing factor in most cases. They are small sac type lump and may not be bothersome as long as they are small in size. The problems begin when this lump increases in proportion and obstructs the nasal ventilation or sinuses. Causes of nasal polyps A decisive cause for nasal polyps is unknown but the research till date has categorized some possible triggers such as: • Chronic rhinosinusitis • Asthma • Sensitive sinuses with allergies • Susceptible allergic tendencies • Mucosa is the protective wet lining in the nose and sinuses reddens during constant or recurring nasal infections. When the allergy is extended, the mucosa may develop into a polyp, thus blocking the nasal airway. • Vulnerability to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen. • Hereditary hypersensitivity that may cause the mucosa to respond to the inflammation. Symptoms of nasal polyps Nasal polyps occur at the junction of the nose, eyes, and cheekbones. The paucity of nerves in the lump explains their insensitivity and the difficulties in identifying the problem.
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A brief overview of nasal congestion
Health

A brief overview of nasal congestion

Nasal congestion is caused when the tissues in your nose and adjacent areas, along with the blood vessels, become swollen with excess fluid (or mucus), causing a stuffy feeling. This may be accompanied by a runny nose as well. The congestion is often a symptom of an underlying health issue, like a sinus infection. In kids, the effects of nasal congestion must be taken seriously, especially in cases where their sleep is disturbed. In infants, it may cause breastfeeding problems and even fatal respiratory problems at times. Nasal congestion may also prevent normal speech and hearing development in children. Symptoms The symptoms that define nasal congestion are as follows: Pain in the sinuses A runny nose Swollen nasal tissue Buildup of mucus Causes Anything that irritates or inflames the nasal tissues is a cause of nasal congestion: Infections like flu Cold or sinusitis Allergies Irritants like foreign bodies and tobacco smoke Overuse of a decongestant nasal spray Having a deviated septum Drug addiction Enlarged adenoids Hormonal changes Using certain high blood pressure medications Occupational asthma Pregnancy Stress Thyroid disorders Home remedies Usually, home remedies are known to do the trick to alleviate nasal congestion, especially if caused by the common cold.
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Types of musculoskeletal conditions that you probably did not know about
Health

Types of musculoskeletal conditions that you probably did not know about

Ranging from the most common to the extremely rare there are more than 100 types of musculoskeletal conditions. Joint or muscle pain and inflammation are some of the common symptoms that are shared by quite a few of the musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal conditions can be classified into two major categories namely specific and non-specific musculoskeletal conditions. Specific musculoskeletal condition These are specific and progressive rheumatic diseases which may not be typically caused by work but may be made worse by work. They are clinically diagnosed conditions that when left untreated may progress in a broadly predictable way. They can cause an impact on the work style of a person and may prevent them from participating in the labor market in the long run. People with these conditions need clinical help and need to be treated for a prolonged period of time. A few of the specific musculoskeletal conditions include Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis, Gout, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Juvenile arthritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Non-specific musculoskeletal conditions These are episodic conditions that may be caused by and made worse by work. They get manifested in different ways. They can also cause periods of intense discomfort which may actually affect the person to carry out his/her work.
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How complicated is hypertension and how to go about its treatment
Health

How complicated is hypertension and how to go about its treatment

Hypertension does not manifest with a specific set of symptoms and most of the times it is detected during physical examinations or when a person is treated for other diseases. However, some persistent symptoms that could indicate hypertension are: Frequent and persistent headache Shortness of breath Nosebleeds Dizziness When a person has a sudden attack of blurred vision, nausea, along with chest pain, it could be a symptom of malignant hypertension and needs to be taken to a hospital immediately. Complications from hypertension Undetected and untreated hypertension can lead to severe and life-threatening complications. Vascular diseases : Hypertension if untreated leads to thickening of blood vessels known as atherosclerosis and also leads to the narrowing of arteries. This can happen in any part of the body including, heart, kidneys, eyes, legs, and brain, leading to disability or organ failure and life-threatening conditions. Blood vessels can weaken and form an aneurysm, which can also be life-threatening if it ruptures. Heart disease : Atherosclerosis in the heart can lead to heart attack and stroke. If there is high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder resulting in the thickening of the heart’s pumping chambers. This can prevent the heart from pumping enough blood to all parts of the body resulting in heart failure.
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Breast Cancer: Common Symptoms
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Breast Cancer: Common Symptoms

Breast cancer is cancer that originates in the breast. There are two types of breast cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) which originates in the ducts and Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) which originates in the milk producing glands. Most of the time breast cancer is detected via an x-ray or a lump that can be felt during a self-exam. Depending on which type of breast cancer is present, there are a wide variety of symptoms. Below are several common breast cancer symptoms to be watchful for: 1. Lump or mass in breast One of the most common recognized symptoms of breast cancer is a mass or lump in the breast tissue. It’s wise to do self-exams often to check for changes in your breast. It is also recommended that women 40 and over have a mammogram annually. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast with the goal of early detection. If you notice a lump at any time during a self exam you should bring it to your Doctor’s attention no matter how old you are. 2. Breast swelling Breast swelling is when the breast becomes enlarged and painful. It is common for breasts to swell because of hormonal changes which cause estrogen levels to rise.
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Common Triggers for Allergies
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Common Triggers for Allergies

Allergies consist of microscopic particles, debris, dust, pollen or anything of the sort that causes irritation of normal daily function in many people world wide. Traditionally speaking, allergies happen most often in the spring when the pollen count is at its highest. These reactions are not limited to being outdoors because pet dander can pose a major problem with a specific animal allergy. It’s important to know the various types of allergies for safety knowledge: 1. Pollen Pollen is one of the most necessary things for nature to keep circulating, but for many around the world, pollen is one of the highest contributing factors to spring triggers for allergies. During this time, certain people are more vulnerable to the pollen increase, and therefore suffer the side effects of allergies and asthma. This can include wheezing, coughing, sneezing, and itchiness in the sinus cavity. 2. Food Allergies Food allergies are also extremely common among people, but this doesn’t mean that you will die from eating something you’re allergic to. It depends greatly on how violent a reaction, and how much you ingested. In any case, these reactions should be immediately addressed to ensure proper treatment is administered to prevent the closure of the bronchial tube and in some cases intense swelling of the tongue and face.
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Dietary Tips for Ulcerative Colitis
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Dietary Tips for Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that results in chronic inflammation of the large intestine. While this might seem like a relatively mild condition, it can have some significant health consequences in terms of day-to-day quality of life. It is important to make the distinction that ulcerative colitis is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (or IBS), or Crohn’s disease, which is also a type of inflammatory bowel disease that impacts the entire gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include: Bathroom urgency Persistent fatigue Abdominal pain and cramping Diarrhea Loss of appetite Weight loss Rectal bleeding Anemia Thankfully, in addition to doctor-prescribed medications, certain dietary change may help lower the frequency of ulcerative colitis flare ups: 1. High calorie diet Those who take too aggressive of a posture towards ulcerative colitis can develop malnutrition, and this is why it is important to get a full day’s calories, but with good, healthy foods, and filling yet heart-healthy fats. 2. Go lactose free Ulcerative colitis can interfere with fat absorption, and as a result it is generally recommended that those with the disease avoid lactose as much as possible. 3. Low fat diet Ulcerative colitis is something that can interfere with fat absorption, and so it is very important to avoid a diet that is high in fat.
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Different Types of Lymphoma
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Different Types of Lymphoma

It is an unfortunate situation for one to have lymphoma in any capacity. Nevertheless, it is very important that we are aware of lymphoma and the various types of lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in cells that fight infection within the immune system. Those cells are in such places such as the lymph nodes, bone marrow and other parts of the body. The signs and symptoms of lymphoma include swelling in the lymph nodes, persistent fatigue, fever and night sweats. Different types of lymphoma include the following: 1. B-cell lymphoma This type of lymphoma is a type of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The treatment of this lymphoma is dependent on the subtype of this disease. There are various subtypes. The most common is Diffuse large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) While treatable, it is an aggressive form of cancer that involves lymph nodes and organs. Another subtype of this lymphoma is mantle cell lymphoma. This cancer starts in the lymph nodes, bone marrow and gastrointestinal system. 2. T-cell lymphoma This lymphoma is a type of cancer that forms in T-Cells or known as T lymphocytes. This is a cancer that is rare and hard to diagnose. Some subtypes of this lymphoma include the angioimmunoblastic T-Cell lymphoma (AITL).
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Early Warning Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Early Warning Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes intense pain, restricted movement, and progressively crippling effects in hands, feet, hips, and many other parts of the body. It is a chronic disease because it occurs in flare ups that come and go but never disappear. No known cures for rheumatoid arthritis are known. However, many doctor-prescribed medicines help to reduce symptoms. Over the counter medicines such as ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) may also help lessen some symptoms such as swelling and pain. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis vary from person to person, however, there are some symptoms that many RA patients have in common: 1. Joint pain and inflammation Pain is one of the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis. One symptom is painful swelling. The joint linings become inflamed. The area may become warm and swell. Over time the joint loses its stable footing and begins to disfigure the area affected. In the long-term, a person may lose functions of the fingers, feet, ankle and many places where there is a joint. This painful swelling makes it harder to use parts of the body where attacked. A patient may experience such pain that they may refrain from moving.
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