Here are a few things to know about the types and treatments of eczema What is eczema? Eczema is a condition of skin where some parts of the skin become inflamed. Eczema is also known as dermatitis.   Symptoms of eczema Eczema causes many symptoms as there are different types of eczema and each type of eczema has its symptoms. Itching is one of the common symptoms of eczema. Itching causes a lot of damage to the skin as it may be difficult to resist itching. As it is difficult to resist scratching, the skin becomes reddish and sometimes blood may ooze out of the wounds caused by scratching. Scaling is another symptom of eczema. The skin looks flaky and rough. The flakes of skin may rise and it may not be pleasant to look and feel. Redness of skin is another symptom which can be caused by the blood oozing out of the skin and wounds. Blisters can be filled with pus and fluid which can be unpleasant and irritating. Fissures may develop which can be painful and may also develop cracks. To get a good idea of these symptoms, look for pictures of eczema available online. Types of eczema, symptoms, and treatment Atopic dermatitis Atopic dermatitis is usually seen in infants and children.

Ravages of diabetes Diabetes is a condition where the body progressively loses the capacity to produce insulin, the hormone that aids utilization of glucose, in common parlance, sugar. This is the result of an autoimmune condition in which the beta cells of pancreases are attacked and destroyed by one’s own immune system. This is type 1 diabetes, generally found in young population. In Type 2 diabetes, generally found in older population aged 50 years and above, for some unknown reasons, the body develops resistance to the insulin produced by it or the production of active insulin reduces. If glucose levels in blood stays high for long periods it can ravage the body’s other organs, like eye, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, increase the risks of heart attacks, kidney diseases and failures, gastroparesis or slowing down of the movement of food through the digestive system and reduce peripheral circulation causing havocs in skin and extremities. Diabetic feet is one of the conditions resulting from reduced peripheral circulation. Diabetic nerve damage or diabetic neuropathy, besides hurting one, can cause loss of sensations and one may not know pain, heat, or cold. It is very common that rats or other rodents nibble diabetic feet, without the victim knowing, which can cause even rabies.

Causes of chronic leg pain and how to get rid of them Everyone suffers from leg pain at least once in their life. This kind of pain is very common and does not stay for a longer period of time. Chronic leg pain is the kind of pain which is extremely hurting and almost unbearable. It may result from lack of rest after physical activity, wear and tear of muscle, fracture, and problem in tendons or other internal reasons. People who take part in vigorous physical activity are more likely to suffer from chronic leg pain. Other reasons may include swelling, inflammation, nerve pull, etc. The leg pain can be felt in various parts of the leg like the calf muscles, knee, behind the knee, foot, toes, and ankles. In severe cases, it might also cause you to throw up which may result in weakness and numbness along with a tingling sensation. Sore muscles might also be the reason behind such terrible pain. Leg pain does occur, and it is not a serious problem unless someone is experiencing it without any apparent reason, and in case it is persistent, you should rush to a doctor or consider going for physiotherapy for chronic leg pain – treatment.

Understanding constipation in detail A person is constipated when the digesting food moves slowly via any part of the digestive system. Often, the slowing down takes place in the colon. It’s not a disease in itself but is seen as a symptom of gastrointestinal issue that 42 million people in the United States are affected by, comprising 15% of the entire population as per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Bowel movements in an individual changes as a person grows older. Constipation is a digestive issue that takes place due to irregular bowel movements in a person (less than three bowel movements in a week). At this point, stools tend to be hardened and cause a lot of discomfort to be passed. Symptoms to be on the lookout for Some individuals are constipated for a short time, while, in some people, this problem continues causing a lot of pain, distress, discomfort, and dissatisfaction. The person who has been constipated for a while can face complications such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fecal impaction and rectal prolapse. The symptoms that one should be on the lookout for, when constipated are: Feeling uneasy in the lower section of the abdomen Feeling dissatisfied on the incomplete emptying Straining to pass stools Belly bloating Hardened small stools Distressed psychologically Obsessed and overstressed about bowel movements Alternately being affected by diarrhea.

Understanding cholesterol levels Blood cholesterol test is a very common test to assess the risk of heart attack. The doctor measures the levels of good and bad cholesterol in your blood to arrive at a conclusion about your risk for heart attack. But how does the doctor arrive at a conclusion? What does he check? Which parameter is the best indicator of risk of heart diseases? These are some of the questions that even doctors have deliberated at times. Until recently, total cholesterol used to be a significant indicator of a heart condition. But nowadays, doctors are depending more on non-HDL cholesterol level and cholesterol ratios to predict the risk of heart disease. In fact, both cholesterol HDL LDL level and cholesterol ratio are now known to be better indicators of risk of heart disease than just total cholesterol or total LDL. Who should get a cholesterol check? It is universally accepted that people below 40 should get a cholesterol check at least every five years, if not more frequently. It is known as lipoprotein profile. This includes cholesterol HDL LDL level, amount of low-density lipoprotein, amount of high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides. What are the optimal parameters of blood cholesterol?

An overview on back pain Anybody can experience back pain. It may be due to an injury or age related or due to other medical related problems. Over 31 million Americans experience back pain. In fact, lower back pain is the principal disability cause across the world. It is the main cause for missing work and the second most common cause to visit the doctor. Over 80% will experience some back problem in their lives. In many cases, back pain is caused by serious conditions like cancer, fracture, infection, and inflammatory arthritis. Fact of the matter: Americans spend over $50 billion annually on back pain. Middle back pain It describes discomfort, pain or distress felt anywhere in the region of the middle back. It also includes the part where the chest region of the spine (a.k.a. thoracic spine) connects to the rib cage. Middle back pain can be chronic/acute. The most common reason of this pain is due to strained back muscles from picking up heavy objects. It can also happen if you perform an action regularly that aggravates the muscle tissue damaging the small blood vessels, and thus causes middle back pain. Middle back pain can be due to many because of injured discs.

All you need to know about skin cancer Cancer has been a disease that has manifested itself to be one of the scariest diseases of the century. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that affects people in the country. It can develop on any part of the skin such as the epidermis, dermis, and subcutis. In the advanced stages, it can spread to nearby tissues and organs. What are the types of skin cancer? Skin cancer commonly occurs as two types; the other types are not as common. Keratinocyte cancer develops in the cells of the skin known as keratinocytes. It has two subtypes, BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) and SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma). Melanoma is the second major type of skin cancer. It develops in the melanocyte cells of the skin. These cells are responsible for generating the brown pigment of the skin. Other types of cancer that are not so common are Merkel cell carcinoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, skin adnexal tumors, cutaneous lymphoma and other kinds of sarcomas. If you check out photos of skin cancer, you can distinguish between the different types of cancer. How frequent is each type of skin cancer? According to a study, 50% of the population in the country develops either BCC or SCC at least once in their lifetime.

The difference between rheumatoid arthritis And fibromyalgia One of these disorders is very common, and you may even know someone with it. While the other is so discreet and misunderstood, that even those who have it often struggle to understand it themselves. Of course, the former is rheumatoid arthritis, and the latter is Fibromyalgia. Rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia disorders have a lot more in common than they do. But the differences between Rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia are essential if you can identify them, nothing like it. However, they may sometimes also go hand in hand. This all feels a little too overwhelming if you haven’t got the slightest idea of what rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia disorders are, so here’s a breakdown: Arthritis-related Conditions Arthritis of any kind, and few other pain and joint disorders, are all categorized under this large umbrella. Fibromyalgia too comes under this category. However, what sets them apart? And further, are people who have arthritis more likely to get fibromyalgia? Arthritis is a word used to refer to all disorders that cause painful stiffness and inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a kind of arthritis that causes painful levels of immobility and deformity, along with the pain mentioned above and inflammation.

Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) is a chronic respiratory disease that causes scarring of the tissue inside and between the air sacs of the lungs. Due to this scarring, the tissue becomes thickened and stiff. It becomes difficult for oxygen to flow through the walls of the air sac into the blood, thereby, leading to perpetual breathing problem. Once the lung tissue becomes scarred, the damage cannot be undone. Pulmonary fibrosis is a part of larger group of lung diseases called Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) that can cause lung scarring. The average life expectancy of a patient with pulmonary fibrosis is considered to be 3 to 5 years, but early diagnosis and proper treatment can help in slowing down the progression of the disease. Symptoms The severity of the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis causes is classified into four stages – mild, moderate, severe and very severe. The primary symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis causes are listed below: Constant difficulty in breathing, particularly during exertion, such as stair climbing. Chronic dry, hacking coughing. Fatigue and weakness. Chest discomfort including chest pain. Loss of appetite and rapid weight loss. Muscle and joint pain. Sometimes the reduced supply of oxygen in the blood can result in clubbing of the tips of the fingers or toes in some patients.

What you should know about multiple sclerosis brain lesions Multiple sclerosis brain lesions are the spots created in the brain due to an immunological attack, which makes the tissues surrounding the brain abnormal, thereby affecting its functioning. It happens when the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks the protein myelin (the one protecting nerve endings from damage). The immune system starts deteriorating the nervous system, resulting in the occurrence of such lesions. Multiple sclerosis brain lesions are caused when many such spots are created in the brain not simultaneously but after a considerable period of time has elapsed. They may or may not be life-threatening depending on the severity of the situation. The multiple sclerosis brain lesions are usually called scars or plaques. These can occur and pop in different areas of the brain. The multiple sclerosis brain lesions usually occur on the optic nerves, spinal cords, and on the brain stem or the cerebellum. What are the possible causes of multiple sclerosis brain lesions? Multiple sclerosis brain lesions are mainly caused by the attack of the immune system on the central nervous system which damages the nerves in the brain. However, in some cases, they can be caused due to deep trauma.

Hemorrhoids, a health condition, are caused by swollen veins located along a person’s anal canal. This is a very common health problem and can even turn out to be a painful condition. However, hemorrhoids are usually not a serious issue. There are a number of hemorrhoid cures and treatments available in the medical world. The veins of the anal canal may swell inside the canal and result in the formation of internal hemorrhoids. The veins may also swell close to the anal opening and cause the development of external hemorrhoids. A person may suffer from both these kinds of hemorrhoids at the same time as well. The symptoms, causes and treatment of hemorrhoids actually depend on the kind of hemorrhoids a person suffers from. Causes of hemorrhoid Excessive pressure exerted on veins located in the rectal and the pelvic areas tend to result in hemorrhoids. Usually, the tissue situated in the anus gets filled up with blood in order to help regulate the movements of the bowel. If you tend to strain or if you take a long while to move the stool, the excessive pressure may cause the veins located in the tissue to stretch and swell. This condition causes hemorrhoids.