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Health

What is fibromyalgia? A detailed overview!

is fibromyalgia

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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Health

Lung Cancer Disease – A Detailed Overview

Cancer is a life-threatening health issue that affects people of all ages. It denotes abnormal growth and spreading of cells across the body. Usually, our body cells die at a certain stage after their complete growth. However, in the case of cancer patients, cells are produced enormously before the existing ones die. This overcrowding of cells in the blood leads to abnormal functions of the organs. Cancer is a tumor (solid form) that forms anywhere in the body. There are various types of cancers like breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, blood cancer, and so on. In this article, we are going to discuss lung cancer disease in detail.

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that affects the lungs. The body’s cells in the lungs multiply uncontrollably. In the US, lung cancer is the third common cancer that causes death. These mainly lead to shortness of breath. It affects anyone but people who have the habit of smoking or having continuous exposure to smoke, exposure to chemicals in the workplace, etc. are likely to develop the disease in common.

Types of Lung Cancer Disease

Depending on the size of the cells as seen under a microscope, lung cancer can be differentiated into two types namely,

Small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This is a type of pulmonary malignancy that affects both smokers and non-smokers. In non-small cell lung cancer, the malignant (cancer) cells are formed in the tissues of the lung. Depending on the types of cancer cells (as seen under a microscope), this disease is further classified into three types:

Adenocarcinoma – in this condition, cells that line the alveoli will become cancerous. They form substances called mucus all over the lung.

Large cell carcinoma – As the name implies, it mainly affects the large cells of the lung.

Squamous cell carcinoma – This type is also called epidermoid carcinoma, it begins in the thin, flat cells lining the inside of the lungs.

Who Are Vulnerable To Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma?

Anybody who smokes or has continuous exposure to smoke is at high risk of developing pulmonary cancer.

Long exposure to arsenic, asbestos, beryllium, chromium, nickel, tar, etc. in the workplace will also make anyone a lung cancer patient.

People who have gone under radiation therapy to treat other types of cancer like breast are likely to be vulnerable.

Having a family history of lung cancer disease can also develop lately.

Symptoms of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

People with lung carcinoma do not show any symptoms until they reach the last stage. However, some common complaints include:

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

A cough that gets worse over time

Chest pain

Hoarseness in the voice

Sudden weight loss

Blood in vomit

Feeling extremely fatigue

Inflammation in the veins in the neck

How to Diagnose Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The examination can be carried out by using various test methods like

  • Imaging tests (CT Scan, X-Ray)
  • Understanding the lifestyle to check smoker/non-smoker or exposure to toxins & chemicals, etc.
  • Sputum cytology – in which a sample of mucus is examined under a microscope to check for malignant cells.
  • Thoracentesis – in which a needle is used to take a fluid sample of the lining of the chest and the lung. This fluid is then examined microscopically for cancer cells.

Stages of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Once the lung cancer is diagnosed, the staging of the cancer is identified by your doctor. The stages are described based on their severity and how far it’s been spread and affected other parts.

Hidden or Occult stage – This stage cannot be identified through imaging tests or bronchoscopy. However, cancer cells can be seen in mucus or a sample taken from the airways of the lungs.

Stage 0 – here the cancer cells are seen in the lining of the airways then it is called Stage 0.

Stage 1 – If a lung tumor is identified and it is under 4cm and not yet spread to other parts then it is called Stage 1.

Stage 2 – If the cancer cells have spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes and the tumor size is under 7cm, then you are likely to be in Stage 2.

Stage 3 – The cancer cells are spread throughout the lymph nodes and other parts surrounded by.

Stage 4 – This is life-threatening, it means the cancer cells begun to affect bones and brain, i.e. distant body parts.

Treatment Options for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Standard treatment options available to treat non-small cell lung cancer are as follows:

  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Laser therapy
  • Cryosurgery
  • Electrocautery
  • Photodynamic therapy

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer is a type of lung malignancy in which cancer cells are formed in the tissues of the lungs. There are two types as follows:

  • Small cell carcinoma
  • Combined small cell carcinoma

Who Are At Risk, Symptoms and What Are The Treatment Options?

Like we discussed in brief for the previous type, people who are smokers or non-smokers, those who have long exposure to chemicals or toxins in the workplace, those who have undergone radiation therapy are vulnerable.

Similarly, the treatment options are common for both types of cancers.

Symptoms also remain the same for any type of lung cancer.

Stages of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer has two different stages as follows:

Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer – as the name implies, in limited-stage, the cancer cells are present only inside the lung or spread only to the lymph node.

Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer – as the name implies, the cancer cells are spread beyond the lungs or the lymph nodes.

Small cell lung cancer is recurring in patients who just recovered. It mostly affected the chest, brain, or other parts of the body. 

The treatment options available these days have side effects like hair loss, so talk to your doctor in detail. Similarly, discuss the survival rate before proceeding. 

Final Thoughts

The lung cancer information provided here is based on my studies and researches. It is a must to talk to your doctor, in case you doubt having the symptoms. Early-stage treatments have produced complete recovery from lung cancer. Do not panic; keep your mind calm and positive to come over this fatal disease with your doctor’s help successfully.

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Health

Hardening of Arteries – When to Worry?

Arteries play a vital role in the circulatory system of our body. They carry away blood from the heart whereas veins take blood into the heart from other parts of the body. Arteries are thick and more elastic than veins, as they carry blood at high pressure (pumped from the heart). Due to the unhealthy lifestyle, for some people, blood gets thick quickly. The high amount of proteins, calcium, red cells, white cells, platelets, etc. in the blood causes thickening. Such condition paves way for blood clots and damages to endothelium. What is endothelium? Arteries have endothelium (a lining in their walls made of cells) that promotes a smooth flow of blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Damages to this thin layer can cause the hardening of arteries. This condition is called atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis.

What Causes Atherosclerosis?

Too much cholesterol and fat content in the artery wall is the major cause of this condition.

This deposition of substances is medically called plaque buildup in arteries. If plaque in arteries continues to collect, it can cause severe blockage and disrupt the blood flow. Sometimes, platelets gathered in the affected area and form blood clots.

Such clots can be life-threatening. It leads to heart attack and stroke.

What Are The Atherosclerosis Symptoms?

Atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease is more common in adults than in children. Usually, there will be no symptoms until plaque breaks out or when there is an interruption in blood flow.

The symptoms of arteriosclerosis vary depending on the type of artery affected.

Coronary arteries

Coronary arteries are located near the heart and when there is damage or hardening here, the blood supply to the heart fails. This causes heart attack and angina. Symptoms include:

Chest pain

Anxiety

Faintness

Coughing

Vomiting

Carotid arteries

These are present near the brain. Damages lead to stroke. Symptoms include:

Weakness

Headache

Paralysis

Difficulty in breathing

Facial numbness

Immediate medical attention is required, when a person has these signs.

Renal arteries

If the blood supply to the kidney got affected or limited, then renal artery blockage arises. This leads to chronic kidney disease and symptoms include:

Swelling of the hands and feet

Loss of appetite

Difficulty in concentrating

Peripheral arteries

These arteries supply blood to the pelvis, legs, and arms. Hardening of the arteries in the legs leads to Peripheral artery disease.

This condition increases the chances of stroke and heart attack. Severe damage to the tissues leads to immobility and pain in the limbs.

It also requires earlier medical attention to avoid life-threatening situations.

Who Is At Risk?

People who have poor lifestyles have a higher risk of getting affected with atherosclerosis. Certain health conditions include:

A family history of cardiovascular disease

Continuous tobacco smoking or high levels of alcohol intake

Low or no physical activity

Large intake of foods with “bad” cholesterol

A poor diet containing high levels of sugar, Trans fat, salt, cholesterol, etc.

Diabetes

High blood pressure

Stress

Sleep apnea

Atherosclerosis Prevention

Lifestyle changes like following a heart-healthy diet, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and soluble fiber are the only way for atherosclerosis prevention. It is possible to live a long life, even with atherosclerosis but when strictly managed with proper heart-healthy foods.

Maintaining a healthy weight and doing regular exercises avoid thickening of blood or formation of cholesterol in the blood.

Medication

Medications are suggested based on the individual’s needs. Common recommendations are for preventing blood clots, reducing sugar levels, and to lower blood pressure.

Surgeries are carried out in severe cases where your doctor may either remove plaque buildup or bypass surgery to carry blood flow effectively.

Final round-up

Atherosclerosis is a serious condition as it leads to life-threatening diseases like arteriosclerosis heart disease. Early diagnosis, proper treatment, a healthy diet, and healthy lifestyle choices are the few ways to reduce the risk of suffering from this disease. As this mostly affects elders, a regular checkup (as suggested by your doctor) can help avoid any diseases.

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Health

Wrist and Finger Pain – A Silent Disease to Note

In our day-to-day life, one of the frequent complaints we hear is wrist pain. A sudden stiffness in the wrist bones and especially on the fingers is the most common symptom. A question that arises is why there is a sudden pain and how to overcome it? Most of us would think of a quick home remedy to heal the pain but trust me there are various other causes behind this wrist and finger pain. Medical professionals recommend X-Rays to understand the severity of the cause. Let’s find out what triggers the pain in the wrist and hand.

Wrist Sprain

This condition occurs when the ligament is overstretched. For example, if we fell or bend the wrist backward, there is a great chance for the ligament to get affected. The treatment method involves resting the affected region for a minimum of 48 hours, compressing with a wrist bandage, ice, or hot water pack to reduce the inflammation. In worst cases, seek your doctor for quick healing.

Osteoarthritis

This is another cause for the sudden inflammation and pain in both hands and wrist. This condition occurs when bone cartilage wears off. Often, people who are in middle age and older suffer from osteoarthritis. Treatment methods include physiotherapies, pain killers, and in rare cases surgeries.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is an autoimmune disease that mainly affects the tissues in the joints causing swelling in the wrist and hand. The diagnosis involves taking a blood test to check the WBC count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level to identify the inflammatory process in the body. The other methods include imaging tests like X-Rays, MRI and ultrasound tests to help understand the severity of the disease in the body. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis; there are only medications to remit the symptoms.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Carpel tunnel syndrome or CTS mostly affects people between the ages of 45 and 64 years. It is more common in women than in men. CTS is described as nerve entrapment in which the body’s peripheral nerves are compressed or traumatized. The widespread use of computers is the most common reason for this nerve damage in the wrist. Treatment involves simple home remedies like reducing pressure given on the nerves. It is often advised to “give rest” to reduce the pain in the wrist joint and to avoid hand movements repetitively.

Repetitive Motion Syndrome

This is more like we discussed earlier, the CTS. Overworking and Overpressure on the joints can cause them to swell and pain in finger joints and wrist. So if you’re typing or knitting too much, just give rest for some time to get a cure.

Tendonitis

This condition is more common among sportspeople. Putting too much strain on the tendons during sport may cause them to swell. For people who play tennis, often experience pain on top of hand and wrist. Simple remedies like giving rest to the working hand or doing simple self physiotherapies or ice/hot water packages can reduce the symptoms as well as pain over time.

Ganglion Cyst

Cysts are the major reason behind wrist hand and finger pain. These are often filled with liquid, gas, or semisolid. A blockage in the body’s drainage system is called a cyst. Treatment may depend on the type of cyst, size, location, and degree of discomfort caused. Cyst occurs in any part of the body. For very large cysts, your medical professional suggest surgical removal.

Wrist and Finger Pain Symptoms

Some people experience sharp pain whereas for others it is dull. It depends on the location of the problem.

Swelling and bruising are the common complaints in wrist and finger pain.

Other common symptoms include weakness in the hand, numbness, tingling, etc.

Immobility or stiffness in the fingers (this is common in rheumatoid arthritis).

When to See Your Doctor?

Often, if the complications are interfering in carrying out the everyday activities, then visit your doctor immediately.

Common Diagnosis for Wrist Pain

Imaging techniques like X-Ray, MRI, CT scan, etc. are used to study the severity and swelling of the affected region.

Arthroscopy is a diagnostic and treatment method in which a small camera is inserted through a small cut (like a buttonhole) in the wrist to get a high-definition image of the issue in the joint. This is widely used when the imaging techniques are left unanswered to your doctor’s several diagnostic questions. Conditions like torn ligaments, damaged cartilage are treated using this method. Typically this is recommended only if the “rest” have been a failure.

Prevention Is Much Better

Follow these simple lifestyle changes to avoid suffering from wrist or finger pain.

So, if you are using computers for long hours and involve too much typing works, consider buying wrist-friendly keyboards.

Keeping the wrist in a relaxed position and following a proper posture when sitting/working at a workstation help avoid severe pain in the wrist and joints.

Avoid putting too much stress when working or playing. Give ample rest in between your works to reduce overpressure on the nerves or the finger joints.

When playing use proper wrist and knee guards to avoid severe injuries or damages to the ligaments and tendons and even bones.

Wrapping It Up

Wrist pain is not a big headache unless it gives immobility to the entire hand. It is treatable and the costs are affordable. Early treatment at home is more than enough to treat the condition. If this persists for more than 48 hours, then never hesitate to get the right consultation from your doctor.

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