Usually, insects and bugs will bite or sting when they are provoked. For example, spiders, bees, wasps attack when they are disturbed. On the other hand, bites from other insects such as bed bugs, mosquitoes, ants, fleas and so on can catch you unaware. In either case, you need immediate first aid to prevent the insect bite from causing any infection or a serious health hazard. Identifying the insect bites is the first step towards treating them. Once the symptoms of insect bite have been identified, it becomes easy to know what remedy can be applied to alleviate the discomfort caused by the bite. Here is a list a few common symptoms for easy insect bite identification. Check these symptoms and consult a doctor for identifying insect bites and get immediate medical attention. Bed bugs bite:  If you want to know what do bed bug bites look like, you can look for photos of bed bug bites. Physical symptoms such as swollen red skin with a dark center with bites appearing in groups or a line would be quite evident from the pictures; bed bug bites photos that are available online would be one of the easiest ways to identify whether the bite is a bed bug bite or not.

Like every other new trend on the internet, the online symptom checker has also been welcomed by the web audience with open arms. An increasing number of internet users are using the online symptom checker to identify the type of medical condition they might be suffering. Even as this tool is helpful to some and is easy to access, it has its loop holes. An online symptom checker possesses the capability to provide you with a probable disease or illness you might be suffering from based on the symptoms you enter in the form. But, how accurate are the results from these tools? This question has been widely discussed in many medical institutions and schools. The accuracy of the online symptom checker cannot be gauged until there is a thorough research on the platform, its credibility and how it’s algorithm. Some online symptom checkers have a high accuracy according to researchers. For example, online symptom checkers like Symcat and Isabel have a high accuracy rate of above 65%, according to some researchers. A research on the accuracy of these tools: A set of researchers compiled a list of diseases from various categories and a standard list of symptoms that are used by medical colleges to educate their students about the diseases.

Saturated media is the leading reason due to which more and more useless myths are being shared, which makes it difficult for people to identify valid and relevant information from the rest. Misleading information about women’s health can cause a lot of confusion and lead people astray. Here are a few common myths about women’s health explained for your reference: The Myth about weight gain during and after menopause: Weight gain is one of the leading concerns which has on countless occasions led to women employing drastic food and health changes which might prove to be detrimental to their overall health. Weight gain during menopause is normal and should not be a worrying cause for concern. It is just one of the changes women experience during this transition period and weight gained certainly does not have to be permanent according to a myth that says so otherwise. Myths about low fat and low-calorie diets: Many people think that restricting the number of calories consumed per day will help control your weight. This is, however, just a temporary fix and not a permanent solution to maintain a healthy weight and body mass index. The body needs a certain amount of calories (being the primary energy source) and certain fats for vital functions, which might get affected due to any imbalance.

In today’s fast paced life, taking care of your health should be your primary concern. With hectic work schedules, deadlines to meet, office politics to handle and most important of all, just getting the work done properly can be very stressful. Stress is the number one killer, and stress management is key, to maintain a healthy outlook and lifestyle for that matter. Despite taking all the necessary steps and precautions, womens health is normally affected by these five major health concerns: Heart disease: Feeling out of breath, not being able to perform physical activities, even when walking up a short flight of stairs feels like a burden, these are indicators of the first signs of heart trouble. Heart disease is considered the number one killer affecting womens health, with staggering statistics of 29% deaths caused due to various heart-related ailments. Symptoms in women tend to be underdiagnosed which is quite alarming. Breast cancer: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women’s health, being one of the leading cause of premature deaths in women. Factors which contribute to the developing signs include obesity, increasing age, genetic mutations, family history of breast cancer among others. Osteoporosis: Bone health is equally important and should be taken care of since Osteoporosis affects more than 44 million people in the country, 68% percent being women.

Viral infections are commonly caused due to a host virus attack on the immune system. Since viruses cannot survive and grow on their own, they attach to cells in the body to introduce the genetic material of the carrier virus ultimately killing the host cell and replacing it with virus cell copies. This is how a viral infection spreads internally, slowly affecting all the healthy cells in the vicinity. Immediate medical attention is advised if the symptoms start showing up. The most common types of viral infections are divided across categories like respiratory viral infections, viral skin infections, foodborne viral infections, sexually transmitted viral infections among others. Rhinovirus: A type of viral infection which is known to cause the common cold with mild symptoms like coughing, sneezing, headache and sore throat. Flu: Alternatively known as seasonal influenza, flu symptoms include symptoms like body aches and fatigue apart from common cold symptoms which are more severe. It is estimated that about 5% to 20% of the population in the country suffer from the flu. Molluscum contagiosum: This is a viral skin infection which most commonly affects children. However, symptoms have been experienced by adults as well. They include small flesh colored bumps which are a noticeable indicator of the developing symptoms.

Heart health should never be taken lightly. Today, there are a number of factors that contribute to people developing stress, anxiety, hypertension, blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, all which lead to one or the other symptoms of developing heart diseases. What works for men’s health, does not have to necessarily work for womens health. Often this logic is overlooked which results in symptoms of developing heart diseases being misdiagnosed since the data which is used for diagnosis is sourced from what has been researched for men’s health. For a proper diagnosis and effective treatment option, research for womens health should be conducted separately. Here are important heart health facts every woman should be aware of: The severity of symptoms: Heart disease symptoms experienced by women will be more subtle than what men experience during a heart attack. Early signs of a developing attack for women include anxiety which might be coupled with stress. Noticeable signs will include experiencing discomfort in your chest, difficulty in breathing normally, persistent feeling of fatigue, pain below the left shoulder blade among others. Men will have a more dramatic and severe experience of the first signs compared to women, which is why symptoms often go misdiagnosed for women.

With the progress in medical science, people are hoping that one day, even the most formidable of the diseases can be cured. When we know what causes that particular disease, only then can an antidote for the same be developed. There are still a plethora of diseases the cause of which is yet to be determined. However, though we are supposed to lead our lives with such long-term diseases, we can definitely take measures to control it. Sjogren’s syndrome is one such disorder that the affected person has to learn to coexist with for their lifetime. What is Sjogren’s Syndrome? Sjogren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects an individual when their immune system goes haywire and starts attacking the normal cells in the body instead of the bacteria and viruses that pose as the real threat. It is a lifelong disease, and since there is no proper method to cure Sjogren’s Syndrome completely, people resort to methods to adapt and coexist with the disease. Usually, Sjorgen’s Syndrome accompanies other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. What are the causes of Sjogren’s Syndrome? Though the causes of Sjogren’s Syndrome remain a mystery, it has been identified that some bacteria or virus is known to trigger this disorder.

An autoimmune disease, sarcoidosis mostly affects people between the ages of 20 and 40 years. It causes inflammation of critical organs including heart, brain, eyes, skin, lungs and so on. In most cases, sarcoidosis signs and symptoms occur when the disease attacks the lungs and the lymph nodes. Nodules or inflamed tissues develop in the affected organs of the body. Most often, sarcoidosis symptoms and signs do not surface, and the disease goes away on its own. But in certain rare cases, the symptoms may be so extreme that it becomes difficult to carry out daily routines. Classic sarcoidosis symptoms and signs The classic sarcoidosis symptoms and signs occur in the initial stage. When a patient is first diagnosed with sarcoidosis, they may experience the following symptoms: Occasional fever Enlargement of lymph nodes Arthritis with swollen joints that are painful Red bumps that are tender to touch on the front of the legs Joints near the bumps are swollen and painful The last two symptoms are together known as erythema nodosum. When these symptoms occur, it can be assumed that the sarcoidosis will go away after a few months or years without any treatments. Common sarcoidosis symptoms and signs The symptoms of sarcoidosis vary depending on the organ that has been affected by the disease.

The human body, though vulnerable, is quite capable of protecting itself. The nature that nurtures us has elements in it that are known to cause damage, which can be short-term or can last a lifetime. The body’s immune system is credited with protecting the body from outside agents, and this ensures that we don’t fall prey to diseases that aim at disrupting our body’s functioning. However, trouble surfaces when the very immune system that is supposed to protect the body, starts attacking it from the inside. The immune system begins attacking the healthy cells instead of the bacteria and viruses, and this affects the functioning of the body’s organs. The autoimmune diseases that arise due to the malfunctioning immune system can affect any part of the body and result in the deterioration of the same. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, rheumatism, thyroid diseases, etc. are examples of common autoimmune diseases. However, some autoimmune diseases are rare, and the damage they cause is quite grave as well. Here are some rare autoimmune diseases that can cause severe pain if left untreated. Grave’s disease – One of the most severe autoimmune diseases that can affect people is Grave’s disease. When the immune system produces antibodies, which activate the TSH receptors, and this, in turn, leads to an overproduction of the thyroid hormone.

Autoimmune diseases strike the body when the immune system goes rogue and starts attacking the healthy cells. This affects the functioning of certain organs and even their structure. The symptoms of autoimmune diseases tend to overlap with that of other common diseases. This makes it difficult for doctors to pinpoint what exactly ails the patient. This often leads doctors to attribute the symptoms to stress-related disorders or organ malfunctions. There are around 80 known types of autoimmune diseases; each has different methods of diagnosis. Despite the differences, most autoimmune diseases are usually diagnosed with a common set of tests: Organ function and inflammation tests : This is one of the most elementary tests. However, a test of organ function alone is not sufficient for the correct diagnosis of an autoimmune disease. Auto-antibody test : Auto-antibodies are made by the immune system to attack healthy cells and tissues in the body. There are blood tests that check for the presence of auto-antibodies in the bloodstream. These tests can be useful for quick diagnosis of an autoimmune disease. Not only tests but a little bit of forthcoming and cooperation on the part of the patient can also help doctors in timely diagnosis.

Breast pain is experienced by most women, with nearly 70 percent reporting the same at least once in their lifetime. The pain may occur in the breast or anywhere around the chest. While breast pain may send down a fear of breast cancer, it isn’t always true and can be caused by several other factors. Also known as mastalgia, breast pain is categorized as cyclical pain and noncyclical pain. Cyclical pain is caused due to hormonal changes in the body, before or during menstruation. Noncyclic breast pain causes include injuries or trauma to the muscle or tissues of the breast. The pain can be felt like a mind-tingling or an intense and sharp burning sensation. These can be several breast pain causes and here a few common factors: Hormonal fluctuation – During the course of life, a woman’s body goes through hormonal fluctuation at every stage. A flection in the levels of estrogen and progesterone is one of the most common breast pain causes. The breasts begin to pain and feel lumpy. This pain tends to increase with age as the body becomes more sensitive towards these hormones with age. When pain is caused by a woman’s periods, the pain usually subsides at the end of the cycle.