Author: Ryan

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Myocarditis Symptoms, Risks, and Treatments

myocarditis symptoms

There are different causes of heart disease. Most heart diseases are caused due to high blood pressure which aids in the hardening of the arteries. The second major cause would be the high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the arteries which result in arterial blockage. In the case of heart diseases affecting heart muscles, the heart muscles get stiff. This reduces the amount of pressure needed to expand or narrow the passage through which the blood flows. One such heart disease is Myocarditis. Myocarditis is caused due to the inflammation of the heart muscle called myocardium. Some of the common symptoms of this disease include chest pain, irregular or rapid heart rhythms, and shortness of breath. Viral infection is also the reason for the cause of myocarditis. The severe condition weakens the heart completely thereby the other organs won’t get enough blood.

Myocarditis Symptoms

Early myocarditis doesn’t have any symptoms in some people. Common myocarditis symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Inflammation in legs, ankles, and feet
  • Dizziness
  • Headache, joint pain, sore throat, or fever.

In some people, myocarditis symptoms are similar to that of a heart attack. If you get intolerable chest pain and shortness of breath, seek immediate medical help.

Causes of myocarditis

Certain viral infections, drugs, or any condition that creates whole-body inflammation are the causes of myocarditis.

Some potential causes may include:

  • Viruses – Many viruses like adenovirus (common cold), COVID-19, parvovirus (causes a mild rash on the skin), hepatitis B and C, and herpes simplex virus are linked to the inflammation of heart muscles. Mononucleosis, echoviruses, and rubella (German measles) can also cause myocarditis. Myocarditis can also be caused by HIV which causes AIDS.
  • Fungi – People with weakened immune systems are likely to attract fungal infections that may result in myocarditis. Such fungal infections include Aspergillus, Histoplasma (found in bird droppings), candida, and molds.
  • Bacteria – Some bacteria that cause diseases like diphtheria and Lyme and staphylococcus and streptococcus can cause myocarditis.
  • Parasites – Parasites transmitted by insects can cause Chagas disease. Chagas disease is more common in Central and South America than in the United States.
  • Drugs – Antibiotics like sulfonamide and penicillin, anti-seizure medications, cocaine, and drugs that are used to treat cancer have an impact on causing heart muscle inflammation.
  • Chemicals or radiation – Over-exposure to radiation and carbon monoxide can also cause inflammation in heart muscles.

How severe is myocarditis?

Mostly myocarditis goes away without any permanent complications. However, those with severe effects can permanently damage the heart muscle.

Risks include:

Heart failure – Untreated myocarditis can permanently damage the muscles in the heart which leads to poor pumping of blood to the heart and other parts of the body. This condition may require a heart transplant or ventricular assist device.

Heart attack or stroke – Injured heart muscles can’t pump blood out of the heart properly and this collected blood form clots. If in case, when this clot travels to an artery leading to the brain can cause a stroke.

Irregular heart rhythms – Damaged heart muscles cause rapid changes in the heart beats which certainly increases the risk of stroke.

Sudden cardiac death – Serious Arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms) can make the heart stop beating all of a sudden. This could cause sudden cardiac arrest.

How to prevent myocarditis

There’s no specific prevention method to protect from myocarditis. However, protecting us from various infections might help prevent the disease.

  • Avoid close contact with infected people – Stay away from people with symptoms of flu or other respiratory illness. Similarly, if you’re sick with a viral infection, it is good to avoid exposing others.
  • Washing hands regularly – Frequent hand-washing is one of the best ways to stay away from various viral infections and spreading illnesses.
  • Get vaccines – Get vaccines as recommended to protect against COVID-19, rubella, and influenza to prevent myocarditis. Talk to your medical practitioner to understand the benefits and risks of vaccines according to your age.

Diagnosis of myocarditis

To protect from long-term heart damage, it is important to do an early diagnosis. A typical examination procedure will include listening to your heartbeat with a stethoscope by your health care provider.

The following tests are done to confirm myocarditis and determine its severity.

  • Blood tests – To determine the severity of infection and inflammation or to check for signs of a heart attack, your healthcare provider will recommend blood tests.
  • ECG (Electrocardiogram) – This easy and painless test is carried out to determine how your heart beats. If there is a sign of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), then your healthcare provider will proceed with other tests to confirm myocarditis. Nowadays, a smartwatch can offer electrocardiogram monitoring. Consult with your doctor, to know if this is an option for you.
  • Cardiac MRI – This test uses radio waves and magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the heart. This result shows the size, shape, and structure of the heart. From this, we can find heart muscle inflammation.
  • Echocardiogram – Here, sound waves are used for creating images of the heartbeat. This also shows how well blood flows through the heart valves. Echocardiogram is useful to determine the presence of any unwanted fluid around the heart.
  • Cardiac catheterization – A catheter (thin tube) is threaded through a blood vessel in the arm or groin to an artery in the heart. This tube helps identify the issues more clearly on X-rays.
  • Heart muscle biopsy – During the cardiac catheterization method, a tiny sample of heart muscle tissue is taken and sent to a lab to be diagnosed for infection or inflammation.

Treatment

Some people with mild myocarditis may require medications only for a few months and then recover completely. People with severe or permanent heart muscle damage may require life-long medication. Therefore, it’s important to have regular checkups with your healthcare provider to check for possible complications.

Surgeries

Severe myocarditis needs aggressive treatment procedures which include:

  • Ventricular assist device (VAD) – this helps in pumping blood from the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart) to the rest of the body. VAD is commonly used to help the heart work while undergoing other treatments like heart transplants.
  • IV medications – Some medications are given through an IV to quickly improve the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation – ECMO is a machine that works similarly to the lungs. This helps to add oxygen to the blood and removes carbon dioxide. During ECMO, blood is removed from the body, passed through the machine, and then returned to the body. This procedure is widely used during heart transplantation.
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Health

Common Migraine Causes and Triggers: How to Identify and Avoid Them

Introduction

Migraine headaches are a common and recurring type of headache that can cause moderate to severe pain in the head, often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smells. Migraines can last for hours or even days and can significantly impact a person’s daily activities, including work, school, and socializing. They can be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress, certain foods, hormonal changes, sleep disturbances, and weather changes. Migraines can be treated with medications, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies, and identifying and avoiding migraine causes and triggers is an essential part of managing migraines.

Importance of Identifying and Avoiding Migraine Triggers

Identifying and avoiding migraine triggers is crucial for managing migraines and reducing their frequency and severity. Migraine triggers can vary from person to person, and identifying the specific triggers that cause migraines can be challenging. However, keeping a headache diary and monitoring lifestyle factors can help individuals identify patterns and potential triggers.

Avoiding migraine triggers can help prevent migraine attacks and reduce the need for medication and other treatments. Lifestyle changes, such as reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet, can also help prevent migraines. When a trigger cannot be avoided, knowing the trigger can help individuals prepare and take appropriate action, such as taking medication or adjusting their routine to minimize the impact of the trigger.

Overall, identifying and avoiding migraine causes and triggers is an essential part of managing migraines and improving the quality of life for those who suffer from them. It can take time and effort to identify the triggers, but the benefits of doing so can be significant.

Common Migraine Triggers

Different types:

Migraine triggers can be categorized into different types based on their nature and source. Here are some of the most common types of migraine triggers:

  1. Environmental Triggers: These include weather changes, changes in altitude, and exposure to bright or flickering lights, loud sounds, or strong smells.
  2. Lifestyle Triggers: These include irregular sleep patterns, skipping meals, dehydration, excessive caffeine consumption, and overuse of medications.
  3. Hormonal Triggers: Hormonal changes in women can trigger migraines, such as during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause.
  4. Food Triggers: Certain foods and drinks can trigger migraines, such as aged cheeses, processed meats, alcohol (especially red wine), chocolate, and foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG).
  5. Stress Triggers: Stress is a common trigger for migraines, and it can come from various sources such as work, family, or personal issues.
  6. Physical Triggers: Physical exertion, such as intense exercise, or sexual activity, can trigger migraines in some people.

It’s important to note that not all triggers affect every person, and the severity of their effects can vary as well. Identifying specific triggers that are unique to an individual is crucial in managing migraines effectively.

Different methods to identify migraine triggers

There are different methods to identify migraine causes and triggers. Here are some common methods that can help:

  1. Keep a headache diary: A headache diary is a log where you can record the date, time, duration, and intensity of each headache. You can also include details about what you ate, what you were doing before the headache, and any other symptoms you experienced. This can help you identify patterns and potential triggers.
  2. Identify patterns: Once you have collected data in your headache diary, you can look for patterns that may indicate specific triggers. For example, if you notice that you tend to get headaches after eating certain foods or when you’re under stress, those could be potential triggers.
  3. Elimination diet: An elimination diet involves temporarily removing certain foods from your diet to see if they are triggers for your migraines. For example, you might eliminate foods that are known to be common triggers, such as chocolate, caffeine, or processed meats, and then slowly add them back one at a time to see if they cause a headache.
  4. Testing for allergies: Allergies can trigger migraines, and allergy testing can help identify potential allergens. Once you know what you’re allergic to, you can take steps to avoid those allergens and reduce the likelihood of a migraine.
  5. Medical tests: In some cases, your healthcare provider may order medical tests to rule out underlying conditions that can cause migraines. These tests can include blood tests, imaging tests, or other diagnostic procedures.

Tips to avoid migraine causes and triggers

  1. Keep a headache diary: Keeping a headache diary can help you identify patterns and potential triggers. Once you know your triggers, you can take steps to avoid them.
  2. Maintain a regular sleep schedule: Getting enough sleep and maintaining a regular sleep schedule can help prevent migraines. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep per night, and try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
  3. Manage stress: Stress is a common migraine trigger, so it’s essential to manage stress levels. You can try relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, to help reduce stress.
  4. Stay hydrated: Dehydration can trigger migraines, so it’s important to drink enough water throughout the day. Aim for at least eight glasses of water per day, and avoid drinks that can dehydrate you, such as alcohol and caffeine.
  5. Avoid trigger foods: Certain foods and beverages can trigger migraines, so it’s important to avoid them. Common trigger foods include chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, processed meats, and foods that contain nitrates or MSG.
  6. Wear sunglasses: Bright or flickering lights can trigger migraines, so wearing sunglasses can help reduce the impact of light triggers.
  7. Avoid strong smells: Strong smells can also trigger migraines, so avoid perfumes, cigarette smoke, and other strong smells.
  8. Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can help prevent migraines by reducing stress and improving overall health. However, it’s important to avoid overexertion, as this can also trigger migraines.
  9. Take breaks and rest: Taking breaks and resting can help reduce stress and prevent overexertion, which can trigger migraines.
  10. Work with a healthcare provider: If you are having trouble identifying triggers or managing migraines, consider working with a healthcare provider or a migraine specialist. They can help you develop a plan to avoid managing triggers and reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

Summary

Remember, every person’s experience with migraines is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. With time and effort, you can identify your triggers and develop a plan to manage your migraines and improve your overall quality of life.

 

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Health

Best Way to Purify Lungs

People who smoke regularly, have regular exposure to air pollution, or those who suffer from chronic respiratory health conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should take care of their lungs. If you can move out of these circumstances, then the lungs have the capacity of cleaning on their own. But if you aren’t able to do so, then the methods mentioned below are the best way to purify lungs. Read on to know more.

Why cleaning lungs is important?

Lung health determines a person’s overall health. There is no doubt about it. Healthy breathing is essential for a healthy long-living. Moreover, the Lungs are self-healing organs like the Liver. Once you quit smoking or avoid too much air-contaminated environment, then your lungs can turn normal. As we live in a COVID-19 period, we have to be extra careful to avoid lung damage. Chest congestion and other symptoms like inflammation can be avoided if you follow the methods below.

Effective natural ways for cleansing your lungs

Steam therapy

People with lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience their symptoms worsening with cold or dry air. Such climate drowns out mucus membranes and restricts blood flow. Lung mucus catches microbes easily and causes various respiratory health issues.

Steam inhalation helps loosen mucus in the airways and lungs. This creates immediate relief and helps for easy breathing. It is the best way to purify the lungs.

Controlled Coughing

People with COPD follow this exercise to purify their lungs. Coughing is considered the natural way of expelling toxins trapped in mucus.

How to do exercise step-by-step?

  • Sit on a chair, keep your shoulders relaxed, keep both feet flat on the floor
  • Fold your arms over the stomach
  • Slowly breathe in through your nose
  • Slowly breathe out by pushing arms over the stomach while leaning forward
  • Try coughing 2 or 3 times with your mouth open
  • Slowly breathe in through your nose
  • Repeat the exercise whenever necessary

This method is recommended by many doctors to loosen excess mucus formation in the lungs. This procedure is found useful in patients with COPD. Still, this is a temporary solution for instant relief.

Green tea

Green tea is an effective home remedy for cleansing the lungs. The antioxidants present in green tea help reduce inflammation in the lungs. Chain smokers who want to protect their lung tissue can drink at least 2 cups of green tea every day to reduce the harmful effects of smoking.

In this COVID situation, everybody can also follow the same for a better lung function.

Anti-inflammatory foods

When your airways are swollen, it makes chest congestion and difficult to breathe. Following foods are the natural way of cleansing the lungs at home.

  • Blueberries
  • Cherries
  • Leafy greens
  • Turmeric
  • Olives
  • Lentils
  • Beans

These are rich in anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, adding to your regular diet help improve the symptoms to a great extent.

Exercise

Exercising regularly decreases the risk of many health conditions like heart disease and stroke. A simple 30 minutes exercise can help improve overall physical and mental health conditions. Exercising regulates blood circulation resulting in a high oxygen supply to the muscles and removing excess carbon dioxide easily.

When your muscles work hard, they will learn to use more oxygen and produce less carbon dioxide. This improves the overall health of your body.

However, patients with COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis should consult with their doctor before starting a new exercise routine.

Remove mucus from the lungs

The postural drainage technique is the popular method used with gravity to drain lung secretions. The 1:2 breathing pattern, in which, the breathing out should be twice as long as breathing in; is used for improving breathing and avoiding lung infections. Learn more about postural drainage here.

Chest Percussion is the best way to purify lungs

It is another effective way used by medical professionals to clear the airways. In this physical therapy, a therapist will tap on your chest or back to loosen the thick mucus formed inside the lungs. This method produces coughing that helps us spit out the thick mucus. Read here to understand the procedure and its benefits better.

Final thoughts

Cleansing lungs is necessary these days. Good respiratory health is the foundation for the overall health of your body. Therefore, detoxing your lungs now and then or when you feel chest congestion helps improve breathing. Patients with chronic conditions should consult with their doctor before starting any exercise regimen. Otherwise, these suggested methods will help improve your lungs’ breathing capacity.

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Health

What is fibromyalgia? A detailed overview!

Many of us have faced bodily pain for a long time. Not caused due to any injuries. You may not be able to focus on carrying out your daily activities. Some might even get affected with mental distress. These chronic conditions have become common among 2-4% of people worldwide. This condition is hard to diagnose, it takes a lot of time to understand the cause. It takes several test procedures to identify the disease. It is fibromyalgia. As per the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), adults aged over 18 years have experienced fibromyalgia in their lifetime. Fibromyalgia is very common in women than in men. Read on to know more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment methods for fibromyalgia.

What are the symptoms?

Widespread bodily pain and fatigue are the commonly found symptoms among fibromyalgia patients. Irregular sleep patterns, joint pains, and muscle pains in the morning can also include in the symptoms. That’s why fibromyalgia and rheumatoid are always confused.

People aged over 45 years have got the symptoms including:

  • Headaches
  • Morning stiffness
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Painful menstrual periods
  • Difficulty in focusing and memory problems
  • Fatigue

As this chronic pain condition leads to mental distress, some patients have also shown the symptoms like depression and anxiety.

Other rare symptoms are

  • Skin problems
  • Dizziness
  • Weight gain
  • Chest pain
  • Breathing problems
  • Pelvic pain

Nobody can come up with a conclusion until they follow proper diagnostic methods recommended by the physician. So don’t confuse or overthink about “do I have fibromyalgia?” Such mental pressures often create room for other illnesses.

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown. However, based on some patients conditions, the following are the possible risk factors identified so far:

  • Those who have suffered from rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia.
  • Repetitive injuries are the causes for chronic pain condition in few.
  • It can be hereditary too. Many women have a higher risk of developing fibromyalgia because of the way their gene reacts to the pain.

How to diagnose?

There are no proper diagnostic procedures to identify this disease. But still, a self-diagnosis can help minimize the risks involved. Consult your doctor if you suffer from pain in any body part for at least 3 months.

If you don’t meet with an accident but if you’ve got the pain for 3 months or more, then a thorough diagnosis is necessary.

Unsatisfactory sleep, cognitive disorders, and levels of fatigue help confirm fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia often has symptoms that are similar to other conditions like hyperthyroidism, so diagnostic methods related to this can be followed by your doctor.

Is fibromyalgia treatment effective?

It may be confusing to choose the effective treatment method available. But as every patient showed a different set of symptoms, an individual treatment plan is necessary to get effective results. In my humble opinion, only treatments can help manage fibromyalgia otherwise it is difficult to live with.

Some common treatments include:

  • Acupuncture
  • Psychotherapy to overcome mental stress
  • Body massage
  • Active and simple exercises
  • Low-dose drugs to treat depression, still not the first choice for many doctors

Can dietary measures help?

Significant changes in the lifestyle help improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Follow these diet tips to manage fibromyalgia.

Foods that have gluten can increase pain and inflammation, so try to take gluten-free foods.

Tiredness is often an unmanageable thing; it will make it difficult to carry out day-to-day activities. Therefore, to increase the energy levels safely, adding foods such as oatmeal, avocado, almonds, etc. to your daily diet can help (remember to avoid sugar). These foods contain plenty of fiber and can help boost energy throughout the day.

If you have obesity and fibromyalgia, then it is a must to lose weight healthily. This is because; patients who have lost weight have shown great improvements in pain symptoms.

Final thoughts

There is no proper cure for fibromyalgia, yet there are more effective treatment methods available. Most of you have come across the term called “tender points”, but these are no longer used in the diagnosis. I have not talked about this in my article here, but if you’re interested in learning more about “tender points” then visit here.

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Health

Types of Rosacea Rashes and Causes

A rosy cheek in lovely winter weather is beautiful. But for some people, this is an irritating skin condition. It is rosacea. Rosacea is a skin condition with blushing and flushing of the skin, along with inflamed blood vessels. The worst thing here is anything can trigger this skin irritation easily. That means hot food, cold, sun, stress, and so on. While we think it appears only on cheeks, it can also affect the other parts of the body like the chest, upper back, inside your eyes, and more. We need to pay attention to the early signs of rosacea and types of rosacea rashes to keep ourselves away from the severity of the disease.

What causes rosacea?

Sadly, the exact cause of rosacea is still unknown. There are certain studies and researches carried by dermatologists that reveal genetic and environmental factors can be the reason. Rosacea’s condition also connects with other factors like metabolic diseases, food allergies, and hormonal imbalances.

Increased alcohol consumption, past smoking history, and obesity are also risk factors in women. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and following other healthy lifestyles will help minimize the risks involved.

Some types of microbes like Demodex on the skin may stimulate inflammatory reactions of rosacea. Anything that triggers the blood vessels dilation like stress, living in extreme temperature (hot or cold) for a long time, hot beverages, spicy foods, and more are likely to cause any types of rosacea rashes on the skin.

What are the types of rosacea?

It can be difficult to diagnose this skin condition and can appear in any place on the body and in any form. Still, certain studies say if you have this skin condition below your chest then it is likely not rosacea. That may be eczema. Rosacea usually appears on the face and eyes and not on the arms or legs. 

The National Rosacea Society categorizes skin conditions based on phenotypes. Here are the four types:

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR) 

This condition is classified based on the three common symptoms including inflammation on the blood vessels, flushing, and redness. ETR is the most type of rosacea these days.

Phymatous rosacea 

This type appears with a bulbous nose and cheeks. Thickening of the skin resulting in a bumpy texture. This is most common in men than in women.

Ocular rosacea

This type mostly appears in the eyes. Watery, burning, itchy, or bloodshot appearances in the eyes are the signs.

Papulopustular rosacea

Acne-like bumps appear on the face and can cause swelling over time. This condition resembles whiteheads but the proper diagnosis from the dermatologist can help avoid risks.

Treatment for rosacea rash

Rosacea allergic reaction can be treated based on the type you’re dealing with. Ointments, oral medications, skincare products, or in-office treatments are the common procedures chosen by your dermatologist.

Over-the-counter options

Purchasing skin care products from your local pharmacy won’t work much on permanently reducing any visible symptoms. Since people with sensitive skin often get affected, it is important to choose mild cleansers and moisturizers free of alcohol. Using high-quality sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, while heading out in the hot sun will be helpful.

Prescription topicals

Some antibacterial creams like metronidazole can help reduce the overgrowth of Demodex.

Oral medications

There is no definite bacterial pathogen that has been identified yet. However, an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drug like doxycycline can be prescribed by your dermatologist. Anti-parasite medication like ivermectin is also popularly used in reducing the Demodex populations in the affected region.

Laser and light therapy

Laser resurfacing treatments are used based on the severity of the condition. These methods help reduce visible symptoms.

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Health

Chronic Pain – A Complete Analysis

Have you come across chronic pain? Do you know what it is? How can you find out if you have chronic pain? I am going to write everything about chronic pain in this article. It is something you need to take care of before it gets tougher. So, what is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is not something that we get when we burn our hands accidentally. It is not the pain that we get because of a sprained ankle. This pain is more than this. Those types of pains are called acute pain. But chronic pain lasts longer than three to six months or to one or several years. Well, do we have treatment for this? Fortunately, it is a YES but prevention is far better than anything. I have discussed all the prevention methods in more detail as well.

Causes of Chronic pain?

First of all, what causes chronic pain?

According to doctors, many conditions cause chronic pain.

  • Migraine
  • Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Autoimmune diseases

Sometimes, an injury that caused severe damage to your nervous system or tissues can also create acute pain at the beginning but then it lasts longer than three to six months despite proper treatments and healing.

Changes in the nervous system are also the most common reason behind this pain. It creates discomfort and continuous aches.

What are the types?

Chronic pain is associated with certain conditions that cause continuous pain.

Migraine

What is Migraine? Getting headaches at times is common but if you get it frequently or say like 15 times in a month then it is associated with chronic pain. The exact cause of migraine is still unknown. But if you feel you get headache usually on one side of the head whenever you are exposed to light and too much noise. Try to avoid such circumstances that make things worse.

Back Pain

One out of five people with an injury that led to low back pain continue to suffer from pain after one year. Any pain that lasts longer is considered chronic.

Joint Pain

Half of the patients with arthritis suffer from joint pain that lasts for three months or more. This is considered chronic and may affect day-to-day activities.

Cancer Pain

Neuropathic pain caused due to chemotherapy drugs and radiation during cancer treatment can create long-lasting pain in the affected region. In other cases, tumors may press other surrounding organs or nerves and cause pain inside the body.

Neurogenic Pain

For example, autoimmune diseases, peripheral neuropathy, certain types of infections, and other damages to the nervous system can cause chronic conditions.

Musculoskeletal Pain

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain around the body. Such conditions make the patients more sensitive to pain resulting in total discomfort.

What are the symptoms of chronic pain?

Symptoms may be dependent on the disease that causes long-lasting pain. Some of the common characteristics of pain associated with most of the chronic conditions include:

  • Throbbing or shooting pain
  • Burning or stinging
  • Aching
  • Tingling or pins and needles
  • Tightness and stiffness
  • Electric shock

This recurring pain is so disruptive to one’s overall health. It impacts healthy sleep, appetite, mood, and energy levels to a great extent. Depression, anxiety, weight loss, fatigue, and insomnia are other common symptoms found in chronic patients.

How to diagnose?

As pain is a subjective experience, there are no specific tests to diagnose. Physical examination and review of your symptoms are usually the first steps to be expected from your doctor. Some tests like imaging tests (such as MRIs), blood tests, etc. are done to identify the exact problem. Most of the time, it is often hard for the patients to effectively communicate about its severity. So, your loved one can help explain how the pain affects your daily life.

Treatment

The treatment methods are usually recommended based on the severity and the condition of your symptoms. Here are a few treatment options available today:

  • Medication – Non-opioid drugs like NSAIDs, antidepressants, aspirin, or acetaminophen are used for coping up with the pain.
  • Psychotherapy – To give a feeling that the pain is under control.
  • Surgery – In some cases, surgery on nerves are recommended.
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Health

Breast Cancer – Everything You Need To Know

Breast cancer has become one of the commonly found diseases among women. Around one out of eight women in the US has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Treatments have also become more advanced and we have seen many people survive even the severe stages of breast cancer. We could see a lot of cancer treatments available today and that do not involve chemotherapies. Despite having these facilities, it is better to diagnose earlier, and undergoing regular checkups after 40 can prevent the disease. In this article, we are going to see how cancer develops, what causes it, what are breast cancer symptoms and treatments.

What is breast cancer?

Any cancer types mean abnormal growth of cells. So if it is called breast cancer then it occurs in the breast. Lobules and the duct that carries milk from lobules are the most commonly affected parts in the breast. An early diagnosis is the best way to prevent the severity of the disease. Do you know? Around 1% of men risk developing breast cancer and their death rate is also high compared to women. Pursuing regular checkups or mammograms after 40 and self-examining are recommended to protect against breast cancer.

What are the types of breast cancer?

There are different types of breast cancer based on their origin.

  • Ductal carcinoma in situ – a non-invasive breast cancer type.
  • Invasive ductal carcinoma – a most common type of breast cancer that is found in the duct.
  • Invasive lobular carcinoma – a second-most type that originates in the lobules (milk-producing glands)

Stages of breast cancer

After you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor examines how far it is spread. This process is called staging. It determines what possible treatment method can be used and estimate the survival rate. Stage 0 to stage IV is the range given by doctors based on its severity. The lesser the number, the less region got affected.

In addition to these, there are seven key characteristics to determine the staging.

  • Size of the tumor
  • Whether it has spread to other organs – metastasis
  • Number and part of lymph nodes affected
  • Tumor grade
  • Status of Estrogen and Progesterone-receptors
  • Human epidermal growth factor receptor status (HER2)

Who are at risk?

Any woman can get breast cancer. Some factors lie out of your control which includes:

  • Personal or family history of breast cancer
  • Being a women
  • Dense breasts
  • Undergone chest radiation
  • Have taken synthetic estrogen drugs
  • Having too early first period (age before 12) and later menopause (age after 55)
  • Certain gene conditions like BRCA1 and BRCA2

Apart from these conditions, there are several other risk factors but can be avoided if followed a healthy lifestyle.

  • Being obese
  • Being sedentary
  • Not breastfeeding
  • Not having children
  • Undergoing hormonal therapy after menopause
  • Taking hormonal birth control
  • Drinking alcohol

Symptoms of breast cancer

The breast cancer symptoms vary from one person to another. Some people are asymptomatic too. That’s why women are always recommended to undergo mammogram screening. It all begins as a small lump. So a self-examining could help in getting early treatment. Apart from these, possible warning signs could include:

  • A small lump in the armpit or breast
  • Shrinkage, swelling, or thickening of the breast – i.e., a change in size
  • Peeling on the skin
  • Red, dry, or thickened nipples and breast
  • Inverted nipples
  • A discharge in the nipple
  • Pain in breast or nipple
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the collarbone or under the arm

What are the treatments?

Depending on the type of cancer, size, stage, and sensitivity to hormones, age, and other health factors, cancer treatment can be suggested by your doctor. Some people may not even require chemotherapy to treat the cancer cells completely. Other most common treatment methods include:

  • Surgery – mastectomy or lumpectomy is recommended based on the severity level of the disease.
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Hormone therapy – especially for hormone-sensitive tumors
  • Immunotherapy – medicines that trigger the immune system to attack the cancer cells effectively

How to avoid breast cancer?

Though there are no sure methods to prevent, following a healthy lifestyle will help reduce the risk of developing cancer.

  • Exercise regularly
  • Reduce intake of alcohol
  • Maintain correct weight
  • Get mammograms once every two years
  • Self-examining
  • Breastfeeding – do not ignore this after giving birth

Final thoughts

Breast cancer, although a commonly found disease among women, it is treatable. Several people survived even after it spread to other organs in the body (metastasis). Luckily, chemotherapy is not only the treatment for curing cancer nowadays. There are several new treatments available in the industry that cause little to no side effects at all. So you can stay strong mentally if you or your loved ones are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Categories
wellness

How Can We Make Healthy New Year Resolution Ideas?

We’re just one month ahead to start a new year. We all hope this should be a fresh and healthy start. Everyone suffered a lot in the Covid crisis. Now, we should forget all the pains and need to fight back even stronger to make the New Year more successful. Whenever we talk about New Year, the very first thing that comes to our mind is Resolution. Let’s be honest now, every one of us has taken a resolution in January and stopped it even before the month ends. Comment below, if some of you are following even now. Well, this is the time we all come across a lot of articles that talk about new year resolution ideas but I have a different approach to welcome the new year in a positive way. Come, let’s find out.

Life changes only when we change

Having a positive approach to life will bring us more success. It doesn’t mean that you cannot cry when you’re in pain. Cry until you feel light and come up with a strong mentality to fight back. In this Corona crisis, we might have lost many loved ones. Life is not that easy. We have to try to come out of the pain. If your goal is clear and you’ve made a clever strategy to start 2022, then don’t mind about the other hazards you face in life. Nature supports you to reach your goal. Have the trust in YOU.

What to do in 2022?

There is not enough time to make a plan. Another year has come to an end, just like that. Make a quick strategy and implement it cleverly for a happy, healthy, and wealthy life. Some of us have faced a layoff from our previous organization due to the Covid impact. It must have caused a hard hit in your life. Don’t worry. Now, this is the right time to come back. Choose your new companies wisely, look for the benefits, prepare well for the interview based on your experience, and make sure the target is well crafted; you can make it all yours. This 2022 will bring you more wealth.

Let’s find out some healthy ways to welcome the New Year.

Setting realistic goals

Yes, most of us keep on setting our resolution goals like “eat healthier” or “work out more” etc. but do you think these can be followed without having a proper plan? Definitely not. Therefore, instead of going behind this vague idea, try setting the goals as “visiting gym three days in a week” or “eating fruits instead of cookies for a dessert” etc. These sound manageable than the rough goals.

Walking more

Being healthy is the most important thing for a happy life. Most of us have no time to hit the gym regularly. So, instead of not doing any activities to maintain health, we can simply go for a walk. Prefer choosing to walk while going to a nearby shop or for buying groceries. This method not only gets the job done but also lets you live a healthy lifestyle.

Having an anti-resolution

“Stopping” something you do can also be a resolution. Examples like stopping biting nails, stopping using disclaimers, stopping biting tongue, stopping working with worst or disloyal clients, stopping using social media too much, stopping putting off to work unnecessarily, stopping eating fast food, and so on.

You know what, anti-resolutions work way better than being committed to doing something regularly. Leaving bad habits or keeping a full stop for unproductive works make us live our life intentionally.

Preparing unique recipes

Trying something new in the kitchen turns out into the happiest moment with our loved ones. This increases our self-esteem and motivates us to do other works enthusiastically.

Following self-care routine

It is a commonly well-known fact that we all spend time caring for our loved ones but we never spent it for ourselves. This is a bitter truth. Think for a second. Have you spent time reading a good book? Have you bought a costume you loved? Have you mindfully sipped a drink? No is the answer for many of us. Just relax, it is not gonna bother anybody if you follow a routine on self-care. Analyse how you want to present yourself in public, how you want to spend time, etc. make a schedule at least a week and never stop it at any cost.

Making some music

Yes, it’s not about listening to music, it is about playing music. When is the last time you took your guitar to make some good music? Didn’t remember? Well, it’s time to do it now. Schedule a time every week and believe this is going to be one of the best new year resolution ideas.

Visit your doctor regularly

Due to this festive season like Halloween, Christmas, I am sure that we missed our regular checkups. Prepare a schedule to visit your doctor, a dentist, or cardio, visiting once will be a healthier start.

Try a new look

For a positive start, a new trendy look can be helpful. Try a new hair-do or just trim your regular one before New Year. The change in look will cause a positive impact on your brain and among your friends’ circle.

Create a vacation time

Planning for a vacation is similar to doing meditation. Travelling creates a huge impact on brain health. It refreshes our mind completely and allows us to do our other routine works more energetically. Sometimes, a vacation will also help us come up with a solution for a huge issue we faced.

Final thoughts

On the whole, my idea in this article is to forget and move on. A New Year should not be wasted for any issues we faced so far. Try implementing any or all of the above ideas to welcome New Year in a healthy way. Add your opinion below upon following any of these or any other useful ideas to start the new beginning.

Categories
Health

Proven Tips to Maintain a Healthy Digestive System

The digestive system plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body. It is responsible for breaking down the food you eat and absorbing the essential nutrients required for your body. Due to fast pacing life, we’re unable to maintain certain strategies to have a healthy digestive system. The unhealthy lifestyle like eating too fast, drinking alcohol, eating too much junk foods, etc. often takes people to the doorsteps of medical practitioners. If we have a very unhealthy digestive system, it leads to possible diseases like stomach bloating, diarrhea, etc. Therefore, to make things run smoothly, we need to follow certain strategies to maintain proper digestion.

High-fiber diet

If you face digestive problems frequently, it is high time to analyze your diet plan. Do your eating patterns possess a high-fiber diet? According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 30 to 38 grams of fiber each day is essential for men and 21 to 25 grams of fiber each day is essential for women. They stressed the importance of eating more high-fiber fruits and veggies. No matter whether it’s at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, High fiber foods are excellent sources of phytochemicals, disease-fighting nutrients, etc. Consuming these types of foods aid in weight management can help decrease the risk of heart diseases.

So let’s find out what is the connection between fiber and our body? What are fiber-rich foods? Fiber is a complex carbohydrate found in almost all plant-based foods. It can be processed only in the large intestine. Fruits, Vegetables, Legumes, Whole grains, Nuts, and Seeds are rich in fiber. Eating these regularly helps you feel full for a long time and helps in managing weight. High-fiber foods can also help in promoting gut health and reducing the risk of cancers.

Adding both soluble and insoluble fiber

There are two categories of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble, as the name implies, it dissolves in water. It forms a gel that improves digestion in various ways. It improves blood glucose levels that aids in reducing the risk of diabetes. On the other hand, an insoluble fiber food dissolves slowly. It promotes bowel health and prevents hemorrhoids.

It is a must to know that adding too much soluble and insoluble fiber can affect digestive health, so keep in control of what you eat. In case if you take too many fiber-rich foods then try following physical activities and drink more water to help relieve the symptoms like gas, pain, and bloating.

Adding lean meats to your diet

Lean meat is a broad category used to define “white” meat, fish, poultry, etc. that has lower calories. On the other hand, red meat has more cholesterol which in turn triggers heart diseases. Protein is the essential nutrient to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Skinless chicken and pork loin are healthy choices to fill your plate. These help in keeping your stomach healthy.

Limit fatty foods

Fatty foods slow down the digestive process, which in turn causes constipation. At the same time adding healthy fatty foods won’t affect your digestive health. So instead of taking only “fatty” foods, it is better to take fatty and high-fiber in your meal plan. Some of the low-fat, high-fiber foods are skinless chicken, whole grain cereals, bread, fish, vegetables, fat-free milk, low-fat yogurt, olive oil, etc. Make sure you follow three meal plans every day and can also follow low-fat snacking for a strong digestive system.

A super healthy probiotic diet

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that aids in maintaining a good digestive system, glowing skin, reducing depression, and promoting heart health. Let’s find out what are probiotic foods that we can add to our diet regularly.

Yogurt – This is the best source that is rich in friendly bacteria to improve bowel health.

Kefir – Kefir is mainly for people who have lactose intolerance. Kefir is a fermented milk drink made from cow or goat milk. It is rich in friendly bacteria and yeast, making it a better source of probiotic food.

Sauerkraut – Sauerkraut is a finely shredded cabbage fermented by lactic acid bacteria. This sour and salty tasted traditional food is often used as a side dish or used on top of sausages. This food is popular in Europe and is not only probiotic but also contains vitamins C, B, and K.

Kimchi – Kimchi is a very popular spicy Korean dish made from fermented cabbage. Kimchi contains lactobacillus bacteria which is well-known for benefitting healthy digestive system.

Miso – This traditional dish is made by fermenting soybeans with salt and a type of fungus called koji. Miso not only promotes digestive health but also reduces the risk of cancer and stroke in women.

Stay hydrated

Fiber pulls too much water into the colon to form softer and bulkier stools. This in turn dehydrates the body faster, so to maintain the water level in your body especially when you take too much fiber, it is a must to drink plenty of water.

This supports the digestive system to continue the normal digestive processes.

Maintain a healthy eating schedule

Following the same time, each day to have your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks will help in managing your body clock properly. It is better if you follow healthy snacks and healthy meals every time.

Stay away from bad habits

Alcohols, too much caffeine, and cigarettes are very harmful to your digestive system. This leads to severe digestive tract problems like stomach ulcers and heartburn.

Stay active

Doing physical exercises regularly is necessary to reduce the risk of constipation and to improve bowel movements. Practice a weekly schedule to maintain bowel health.

Manage stress

Stress or anxiety is the biggest enemy of your overall health. Though these are unavoidable, it is better if you follow stress-reducing activities every day.

Summary

If you can follow just one, you are likely to see a difference. If you continue to follow one by one, then you can solve the entire digestive system imbalance completely.

Categories
wellness

Aspects of Emotional Wellbeing

Emotional wellbeing means the quality of our emotions in individual experiences. Our emotions are influenced by situations, people surrounded by or dealing with, the economy, and so on. In recent studies, the COVID-19 outbreak has lowered our emotional wellbeing by 74%. Many people suffered from stress, anxiety, and depression. A few have become pessimistic, have low self-esteem, are very self-critical, very sensitive emotionally. However, on the positive side, awareness of the aspects of emotional wellbeing has contributed to increasing self-esteem, work productivity, performance, and optimism in many people.

Feelings, Thoughts, and Emotions

Our feelings and thoughts have a close connection with our bodies. When our thoughts are positive, it affects our feelings and in turn, our body generates hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. I bet it is difficult to change one’s thoughts if they got that adrenaline rush at least once in their lifetime. Feelings depend on thoughts and these determine attitudes and actions.  That’s why it is important to educate children right from their schoolings. Good emotional health prevents diseases and makes it possible to enjoy life most happily.

How to Build Emotional Health?

Mental health and emotional health are different from each other. Emotional health is a basic aspect of self-awareness, resilience, and overall contentment. Remember that, good emotional health does not always mean happiness and being free from negative emotions. It is the mindfulness to manage the ups and downs in life.

The majority of us are not ready to accept the emotional messages from others. Instead, we hide them by distracting ourselves with destructive behaviors like drugs and alcohol.

It is of utmost importance to protect our emotional health before it affects our physical and mental wellness.

Let’s talk about how to improve or get into action.

Interacting with people

Yes, this comes first on our to-do list. Interacting with people in the real world is far more important than talking on computer screens or TV. It is our responsibility to find a person who is a good listener. A good listener is someone who does not criticize, judge, or hurt you; instead, they understand your feelings behind your words. Such supportive relationships help strengthen emotionally. Communication breaks stress, talking helps us feel relaxed. So trust me, follow this first step. Living alone is neither a solution to any problem nor makes us happier.

Handling Stress

When you are under extreme stress, it reduces social interactions and stops you from doing regular works. This affects your overall growth in life. Learning stress management techniques like yoga, mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, keeping your muscles and body in a relaxed state, and so on. These strategies can help your mind and body to get back to a balanced state.

Eating Healthy

The food we intake has a direct impact on our feelings. Healthy meals give you tremendous energy and help you look beautiful. Physical and mental health helps us to improve self-esteem, self-awareness, and control of our situations. That’s eventually emotional wellbeing. Right?

Joy of Giving

Gifting our loved ones delivers immense pleasure to the receiver. That positivity develops a great feeling on our level of emotional health. On the other hand, giving with love and joy increases social interactions and strengthens our emotions.

Being Mindful

Focusing on the present is what being mindful is all about. Learn to maintain a complete awareness of our feelings, thoughts, and surrounding environment. Yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and several other mindfulness techniques help you achieve this. You will get great control over all your emotions in daily activities.

Self-Care

Learn to enjoy the beauty of life. Book a ticket to a funny movie, have a walk in the garden, read a good book, talk to your loved ones, spend money on buying beautiful outfits and grooming, eat a tasty and healthy meal, and do whatever you love. Do not postpone anything in life. Live in the present and enjoy your life. Believe me; these investments will pay good dividends in terms of immense pleasure.

The Bottom Line

Bad things happen to everyone, never mind if you’re a good person or not. Being healthy in aspects of emotional wellbeing, physical and mental health enables a person to take on life’s challenges in a productive way. These not only improve one’s life, behavior but also gain an indefinite number of trustworthy social connections.

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