Everything you need to know about dry eyes caused by contact lenses Feeling uncomfortable while wearing contact lenses? Do you experience a burning or scratchy sensation in the eyes too, along with redness? You may be suffering from dry eyes. If you have been wearing contact lenses, there is a chance that your lenses have contributed to it. However, they are not the only reason for dry eyes. How can one know if they are suffering from dry eyes? If you have a burning sensation in the eyes, there is ample mucous around them, and your eyes have become sensitive to light, you are most likely suffering from dry eyes. You may also suffer from blurry vision or eye fatigue. It is best to visit a doctor if this issue persists as it may negatively affect your eyes’ health in the long run. If you wear contact lenses, take them off. Contact lenses can be a risk factor for dry eyes and therefore, can worsen the situation. How do tears help in keeping the cornea oxygenated? Everyone has a film of watery liquid spread thinly over their eyes. This film is called the tear film, and the tear liquid contains much more than just water.

A guide to understanding probiotics In a 2016 study published by the National Academy of Sciences USA, it was estimated that there are at least one trillion different varieties of bacteria on the earth. A huge majority of these are harmless and some are even beneficial for sustained health. A few, however, can be deadly, causing a range of infections and diseases. Some of them can survive with little to no oxygen, in soil, water-bodies, and in the harshest of conditions and environments. While antibiotics are used to combat the effects of harmful bacteria and eliminate them, probiotics promote the growth of useful and “friendly” ones. These are packaged and promoted as useful supplements that offer health benefits. Taking the best probiotic products regularly can help people combat many diseases and conditions caused by lifestyle choices. Here are some things you may not have known about the best probiotics: What are probiotics? As with many English words we use today, the word “probiotic” has a Greek origin with “pro” meaning “for” and “biotic” meaning “life”. The use of fermented foods for promoting good health was known to the ancient Greeks and Hindus and it has also mentioned in the Bible.

FAQs on skin cancer diagnosis Cancer is understandably one of the most difficult diseases to understand and treat. In recent times, we’ve got better at detecting it. But with something as fiercely progressive as cancer, it is understandable to be worried. Cancer also seems to affect the most important parts of the body—the lungs, heart, blood, liver, stomach, and of course, the skin. Skin cancer is now on the rise and increasingly common—and no one seems to know the exact reason why. Of course, there are hypotheses—tanning beds, UV radiation, long sun exposure without adequate protection, and a genetic predisposition. Skin cancer treatment is another story altogether. Here are some questions that might pop up in people’s head regarding skin cancer diagnosis and what to deduce from looking at pictures of skin cancer. How to know if one is at risk for skin cancer? This is the first question most people want to be answered. Spending time in the sun with no protection and having low melanin in the skin means being at risk of developing skin cancer. Further, people with hazel or blue eyes/blonde or red hair are at a higher risk. For people living near the equator, this problem could be worse.

Everything you need to know about HIV skin rash The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to the continuous deterioration of the immune system as well as poses a serious threat of end-stage cancerous conditions and contracting other life-threatening infections. The sickness can be controlled by medication and treatment; however, there is still no complete cure for it. Below is some basic information about rashes caused by an HIV infection. What is an HIV rash? Among the most common and visible symptoms seen in a person who has been infected by HIV are the skin sores and rashes. These symptoms happen to occur on the skin of an HIV infected person within two months of contracting the virus. The common body areas where an HIV positive person gets the skin rash are the hands, legs, face, and the chest. These rashes generally appear as red flat patches with tiny bumps. One can view HIV rash pictures online to know if a rash is caused due to HIV infection or something else. The HIV skin rashes are accompanied by constant discomfort caused by itching. What triggers the HIV skin rash? An HIV rash may appear on the skin of an HIV positive person either as a symptom of the condition or as a side effect or allergic reaction of the medical treatment for the disease, specifically, the antiretroviral drug.

HPV infections and cervical cancer: The link, risks, prevention, and control One of the most commonly seen viral infections of the human reproductive tract is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Studies show that both men and women, once they enter a sexually active stage in life, are vulnerable to an attack from this virus at some point in their lives. There are at least 100 different types of HPV and not all of them are life-threatening or dangerous. Some of them cause annoying but non-hazardous conditions like genital warts or benign tumors in the respiratory passages. Most of them get eliminated spontaneously by the body’s own immune systems, but a small number are resistant and can be identified as cancer-causing agents. Cervical cancer ranks fourth in occurrence among cancers in women and has a relatively high mortality rate (51%). A large number of cervical cancer fatalities occur in the less developed countries, probably due to the absence of modern screening systems. Let’s look at some of the links between HPV infections and cervical cancer, the risk factors involved, prevention, treatments, and control practices. What is cervical cancer? The cervix is the lower part of the entrance to the uterus, connecting the vagina and the uterine cavity.

Inpatient drug rehab in California and what to know Inpatient drug rehab programs aim to aid deaddiction by providing facilities for the patient to stay at a rehab center for a certain amount of time. The inpatient rehab centers differ depending on various factors. Some of them provide the patients with games, while others focus on exercises such as yoga, and then there are some that provide both the types of facilities. The facilities for inpatient drug rehab in California are many to choose from. There are luxurious rehab centers and then there are cheap rehab centers too. What is inpatient drug rehab? An inpatient drug rehabilitation program is a treatment program where the person has to stay for a period of time at a center to aid deaddiction. The drug rehab center generally lets the patient stay for at least 30 days for treatment. However, there are drug rehab centers that require a patient to stay for longer than 90 days as well. The inpatient facility determines the number of days an addicted person has to stay in for. The factors that contribute to their decision depend on drug addiction severity, health issues, and relapses, if any. What are the different phases of inpatient rehab?

Everything you need to know about the Dupuytren’s disease The Dupuytren’s disease is a condition that targets the palm tissue and is fairly common. However, it can easily extend to one’s knuckles, penis, and the sole of the feet. It is a generally painless genetic condition and not life-threatening. However, it often impairs a person’s functionality. What causes the disease is still unknown. The severity of the disease largely depends on how fast it’s progressing and the extent of the impairment in functionality it is causing. The Dupuytren’s disease occurs in stages, and the later stages are called the Dupuytren’s contracture. The Dupuytren’s disease often affects the ring fingers or the little fingers. The Dupuytren’s contracture can lead to one or more fingers to become permanently bent toward the palm of one’s hand. The Dupuytren’s disease pictures often help in getting an idea if one is afflicted by this disease. Below is some information that can help one understand the disease better. How does the Dupuytren’s disease develop? As with many painless and common disorders, it starts with a lump developing under the skin on a person’s hand. It could also be a band and it develops slowly over time.

Everything you need to know about chemotherapy for breast cancer Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where anti-cancer drug combinations are infused to destroy cancerous cells in the body. It holds back the ability of the cancerous cells to grow and divide. There are several drugs used in chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. The combination of drugs is specific to the stage and location of the cancer. Below is some information to better understand breast cancer, its stages, and chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. What is breast cancer? Breast cancer is a cancer that is caused by the growth of cancerous cells in the breasts of women. It usually leads to a formation of a lump in the breasts, changes in their shape, and nipple discharge. Risk factors for this disease include obesity, lack of exercise, dense breasts, genetic mutations, etc. The chance of breast cancer increases as women get older. The amount of chemo for breast cancer varies depending on the stage of cancer the patient is suffering from. When are the stages of breast cancer? Stage 0 – At this stage breast cancer is curable. Early treatment can control the spread of breast cancer. Generally, the doctors remove the cancerous cells from the breast by performing a surgery.

Overview of allergies- Causes and treatment options All mammals have an immune system, and it protects them from attacks of unicellular life forms like bacteria, fungi, etc. These specialized cells get deployed in a matter of minutes in large numbers and kill off the invading life forms. When the immune system goes into overdrive, they react to the presence of innocuous particles like the pollens from certain trees and food items. This overdrive leads to allergic reactions. Understanding allergic reactions have helped scientists in developing medicines that counter the reactions set in motion for no reason and avoid as well as control the allergy. What causes an allergy? Some human immune systems react to common environmental particles like pollens of certain plants, chemicals used in industry like solvents, pigments, and the likes. They recognize these as dangerous agents, foreign to the individual, and activate the immune response. Causes of allergy vary from person to person. Some common causes of allergy are insect stings and food items like peanuts, certain types of fish, and medications. Of these, an insect sting can cause fatal anaphylaxis, a severe immune reaction. In absence of immediate medical attention, it can be fatal. Histamine, a chemical secreted by the immune cells, causes the normal cells to swell and shed fluid.

Changes you need to make for losing 20 pounds in 2 weeks Losing 20 pounds in 2 weeks is a short period of time and can be hard and sometimes dangerous for your health. Before deciding to lose weight, consider your current weight and whether losing a large amount of weight will make you healthier. A quick fix like this can only be temporary and the weight loss may not last for a long period. Below is information about some changes you can make to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks, as well as continue them on a long-term basis to remain healthy. How many calories should you lose? 20 pounds is a large amount of fat and body weight that you will reduce through these changes. In calories, it comes up to about 70,000 calories in two weeks, which may seem like a huge task but it is possible. While 70,000 calories might look like a large number, you have to understand that when it is broken down into each day, you have to lose 3500 calories each 7 days. A simple half hour jog can help you lose 300 calories. So to lose a large amount of weight, you have to increase the time you spend on your exercise routine.

An overview of bladder cancer Bladder cancer is one of the most common types of cancer with around 60,000 new cases every year in the country. It affects more men than women. Also, people of all age groups are susceptible to this form of cancer, although older adults are more likely to be affected by it. How does bladder cancer start? This form of cancer starts in the urothelial cells of the bladder lining. These are basically epithelial cells that form the membrane of the bladder lining. These cells also form the linings of the urinary drainage system. Thus, this form of cancer can spread to the urinary system too. About 70% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage where treatments are highly efficient. However, bladder cancer has a high recurrence rate. One needs to monitor the condition for several years to detect any recurrence of the illness. What are some common symptoms of bladder cancer? Like many other forms of cancer, the symptoms of bladder cancer are vague and may look like a less dangerous condition. Hematuria or blood in the urine, pain during urination, pain in the pelvis, back pain, and frequent urination are some early warning signs.