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wellness

Aspects of Emotional Wellbeing

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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Fitness

A State Of Ketosis – Is It Safe?

The obesity epidemic is highly risking the lives of many people in the US and the UK. Worldwide obesity has tripled since 1975. The worst thing is children are also commonly affected by obesity. According to a recent study by WHO, 39 million children are obese or overweight. Obesity is preventable. How? There are various ways like exercises, surgery, supplements. Following a healthy diet plan is one of the safe choices to bring the weight under control. In this article, we are going to briefly discuss the most popular diet called the ketogenic diet or otherwise called “ketosis”.

What is a Ketogenic Diet?

This is also called a low-carb high-fat diet. This is the most popular diet plan among Americans. Foods recommended in this diet have high-fat content, an adequate amount of protein, and low carbohydrates.

Did you know? Ketogenic diet was initially formulated for the treatment of epilepsy

What’s the Recommended Diet Plan in Ketosis?

The general daily calorie breakdown of the keto diet plan is as follows:

60-80% of calories from fat

20-25% of calories from proteins

5-10% of calories from carbohydrates

This ratio is formulated to help maintain ketosis state as well as overall health.

While the classical diet plan is used still today, several protocols came into effect based on the gender, height, and activity levels of the person.

What Is The Allowed Carb Ratio?

Like I said, as this is a low-carb diet, the usual intake should be around 20 to 50 grams per day.

What Is The Allowed Fat And Protein Ratio?

The main purpose of the state of ketosis is to allow your body to use more body fat. Our body digests fat and protein differently. Fat is the best source of energy and has a very limited effect on insulin level and blood sugar level. However, Protein has a great impact if taken excessively. For example, about 56% of the ingested protein converts into sugar which then upsets the state of a ketogenic diet in burning body fat. That is why, in the keto diet plan, protein is allowed only at a moderate level and is based on gender, height, and activity level.

Low Carbohydrates Vs No Carbohydrates

Meals that are rich in carbohydrates like rice, pasta, white bread, etc. tend to form belly in most people and the worst part is it is difficult to get rid of. The main advantage of the low-carb diet is that it helps in reducing the sugar levels and starch content in our body. This plan reduces weight effectively.

Some people mistake a low-carb diet for a no-carb diet. This could be highly dangerous because our body requires some carbohydrates for energy and for maintaining blood sugar levels. It is strictly advised to consult an expert dietician to know the right amount of protein and carbohydrates your body needs.

Having a healthy weight is more important to maintain overall health because it can prevent many conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and more. The ketogenic diet helps you attain a healthy weight.

Benefits of a Ketogenic Diet

When you are following this diet, your body will become carbohydrate-independent as well as burning stored fat effectively.

When practicing, people consume only healthy fats. As a result, prevent any stomach discomfort in your body.

Apart from weight loss, the keto diet enhances gut health, stabilizes blood sugar levels, regulates body hormones, and improves overall cognitive function.

As it allows only saturated fats in the diet, the risk of heart attacks is greatly reduced.

Foods Allowed On the Ketogenic Meal Plan

In general, all meats, seafood, and full-fat dairy are allowed.

Fats:

Avocado oil

Ghee

Olive oil

Coconut oil

MCT oil

Butter

Meat:

Beef

Turkey

Chicken

Lamb

Pork

Goat

Veal

Venison

Seafood:

Cod

Salmon

Oysters

Mackerel

Fish

Shrimp

Crayfish

Vegetables:

Spinach

Broccoli

Cucumber

Cauliflower

Zucchini

Celery

Lettuce

Kale

Cabbage

Eggplant

Bell peppers

Asparagus

Fruits:

Tomatoes

Avocados

Lemons

Blackberries

Blueberries

Raspberries

Strawberries

Coconut

Dairy:

Organic milk

Organic cheese

Full fat yogurt

Nuts and nut milk:

Brazil nuts

Pine nuts

Walnuts

Macadamia nuts

Almonds and almond milk

Cashews and cashew milk

Pistachios

Seeds allowed:

Pumpkin seeds

Chia seeds

Flax seeds

Hemp seeds

Foods not allowed include,

Refined sugar

Legumes

Gluten

Grains

Corn Syrup with high fructose

Foods with high Glycemic-load

Medical Benefits of Keto Diets

Keto diets are used for treating several medical conditions.

Epilepsy

This diet is mainly recommended for patients with epilepsy as it reduced seizures. Pediatric epileptic cases showed the most successful results to the diet plan.

Alzheimer Disease

Ketones provide the required cholesterol and energy to the brain and help to repair damaged neurons. All these help in improving memory and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients.

Gluten Allergy

High-carb foods have high gluten which causes gluten allergies like the bloated stomach. Whereas, following a ketogenic diet helps in curing the stomach bloating and digestive discomforts of many patients.

Some other benefits include

Reduced cholesterol levels

Improved immune system

Reduce food cravings and appetite

Stabilize insulin levels

Final thoughts

The Keto diet is an extremely popular diet lifestyle for maintaining weight and overall health. It is cost-effective and the meals are easy to make. It is recommended to consult with your dietician today to get your diet plan for attaining successful results.

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wellness

Everything about Autophobia Symptoms

Many of us have fears to a certain extent but for some people, these common fears will develop into a phobia. Phobia is an illogical fear of a particular situation or a specific thing that compels one to avoid, despite reassuring that it is not dangerous. Today phobias are commonly found among everyone. There are various types of phobias that are easy to acquire and easy to lose too. Phobias shouldn’t be confused with common fears, such as being afraid of a lion as that is a normal protective reaction to preserve ourselves. In this article, we are going to discuss a type called “autophobia” which means “fear of being alone”. This type of fear is most commonly found among adults than in children. Let’s find out what the autophobia symptoms are, their causes and how to overcome them.

How to differentiate between fear and phobic response?

It is easy to get afraid of anything. Fear is a negative experience with the object or certain situations. For instance, some people are afraid of dogs from their childhood and it continues even in adulthood. Such fears cannot harm anyone or go to any dangerous extent. But if you are phobic, you will suffer from severe physical and emotional symptoms. These symptoms cannot be controlled and may affect your loved ones to a great extent.

How to define autophobia?

Autophobia is anxiety and fear when you have to spend time alone or even think about it. This affects the person’s life to a great extent. There is no official definition for this type of phobia. Autophobia is composite and it is often difficult to differentiate it from post-traumatic stress disorder, fears of abandonment, and separation anxiety disorder. The sudden fear arises to a person with autophobia when they think about being alone and they cannot obtain calmness even if they know they’re safe.

Autophobia vs loneliness

Loneliness means a negative emotion that occurs when the person does not have any social interactions or meaningful connections.

Suffering from autophobia involves having anxiety throughout the time period spending alone. This may create various physical and emotional symptoms that affect their day-to-day life.

What are the symptoms of autophobia?

In general, most phobias have the same set of symptoms.

Physical symptoms include:

  • Rapid heart rate
  • Trouble breathing
  • Shaking
  • Upset stomach
  • Pain or tightness in your chest
  • Dizziness
  • Sweating

Emotional symptoms include:

Other names for autophobia are monophobia, isolophobia, ermophobia, etc.

What are the causes?

It may relate to any negative experiences faced in childhood or due to previous trauma when you’re alone. The exact cause of autophobia cannot be explained.

Often, the phobic people use certain statements like “I will leave you before you leave me” or “You have never loved me” and so on. This mostly creates the worst situation in his/her relationships. People with phobia sometimes create domestic violence or even physically harm their loved ones who left them alone.

In most cases, these problems arise due to the worst childhood experiences. For example, a parent’s divorce or death. This causes a complete change in their lifestyle; they fear or expect the same thing from their current relationships. They become totally dependent on their partner.

How to diagnose?

A mental health professional carries an autophobia test by first asking about your medical history and medications. Then the doctor asks for a type of situation that brings anxiety. Your doctor may use a behavioral avoidance test to measure the level of fear you have when left alone.

Treatments for autophobia

Like any other treatments for phobias, your doctor suggests psychotherapy to start with. He suggests a few ways that might help you face the fear of being alone.

Exposure therapy – This therapy is based on exposing the person to the situation or thing that they are afraid of. For example, in autophobia, a person will be left alone for a long time. This type of treatment is clinically demonstrated to overcome anxieties and phobias.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy – This is the widely used therapy to trigger rational thoughts and deep knowledge about the situation as well as your emotional reaction. This method can be very helpful in managing phobias.

Autophobia medication

To manage phobias, medications like antidepressants, sedatives, anti-anxiety medications are prescribed. These are very helpful for a person to avoid making dangerous decisions when in anxiety.

Outlook

Like any other phobias, autophobia is treatable. Sometimes a combination of therapies is also recommended to help manage the autophobia symptoms. With the right treatment, the level of anxiety faced when left alone will significantly reduce or disappear entirely.

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Health

Leukemia Cancer Treatment – Is it possible?

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of the body cells. Do you know? We all have cancer cells in our body but there is a natural defense system that keeps this under control. A nutritious diet is the only thing that can help us keep the body’s natural defense system healthy. Despite this, due to fast pacing lifestyle, many of us do not have time to maintain our health. In return, we develop cancer. There are various types of cancers like blood cancer or leukemia cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and more. One of the most common cancers that affect around 60K people per year and around 20K deaths the same year is Leukemia. Is Leukemia cancer treatment possible? Let’s find out.

Leukemia is the type of cancer that mainly affects the bone marrow. Do you know? Bone marrow is the part of our body that produces blood cells. Just imagine this scenario, our body can produce a certain number of blood cells, it takes time for them to grow and spread, and finally, after its life span (it is 120 days in the case of RBC and 13-20 days in the case of WBC) gets destroyed in the spleen. But if you are cancerous, there will be a rapid growth of the cells. Uncountable and unimaginable increase of blood cells overcrowds the blood and affects the entire system from proper functioning. This is Leukemia Cancer.

What are the Risk Factors?

Various risk factors have a close connection in developing leukemia.

Before heading into that section, we need to know that this cancer affects people over the age of 55, but nowadays it is also found in teens and kids under 15. I wanted to research “cancer in teens” in particular to know more about what the causes are and how to prevent and protect those innocents.

Now, coming back to the topic of risk factors, here

Viruses – Viruses are dramatically changing our lifestyle for many decades (it is the coronavirus now). Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV-1) has a link with leukemia.

Identical twins – If your siblings develop leukemia then there is a low chance of risking this disease.

Radiation therapy – This is the most common treatment method to reduce or destroy cancer cells. As there is a high chance of destroying the normal cells too, our body becomes more vulnerable to other side effects and diseases.

Chemotherapy – Like we all know that this is another common treatment method to destroy cancer cells. People who have undergone this are prone to other side effects like hair loss, nausea, and weight loss.

Hair Dyes – Yes, benzene content in the cleaning products and hair dyes can cause leukemia over time.

Electromagnetic fields – People who work under electromagnetic fields for a long time are prone to develop this cancer.

Similarly, long-term exposure to diesel, pesticides, and gasoline can also likely be a risk factor for leukemia.

What are the types of leukemia cancer?

The type of cancer is usually determined by the part of the blood cell it affects and the stage of WBC when affected.

The 4 types include:

  • Acute
  • Chronic
  • Lymphocytic
  • Myelogenous

Acute leukemia – this type gives no time, here the blood cells multiply quickly and leaves the bone marrow before it even grows well. This overcrowds the blood and causing many severe health risks.

Chronic leukemia – unlike the acute type, the chronic affects the fully matured blood cells.

Lymphocytic leukemia – This type affects the white blood cells and or otherwise called lymphocytes. We all know that this plays a vital role in our immune system. This is dangerous too, as it targets the whole immune system.

Myelogenous leukemia – This type targets the part of bone marrow itself rather than the blood cells that are produced.

Symptoms of leukemia

Leukemia has symptoms related to other illnesses too therefore a thorough diagnosis is required to confirm the disease.

Anemia – there will be a decrease in the number of red blood cells which means not having enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries iron throughout the body and when it lacks causes shortness of breath and pale skin.

Frequent illnesses – as the types like lymphocytic mainly affect the WBC (our body’s military system), the person suffers from various other illnesses frequently. Even WBCs start affecting our body’s cells.

Improper blood clotting – Petechiae is a condition in which a person may develop red or purple spots all over the body. This happens when white blood cells overcrowd the platelets. The person bleeds easily and may not be able to heal quickly.

Other common symptoms are

  • Weight loss
  • Bone pain
  • Weakness
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Nausea
  • Tiredness

What are the leukemia cancer treatment methods?

As we discussed earlier, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the two different treatment methods used in leukemia cancer treatment but still, this depends on what type a person has.

Surgery – This method is opted to remove the spleen but this again depends on the type and severity.

Stem Cell Transplantation – destroying the infected bone marrow either using chemotherapy or radiation therapy, replacing it with new stem cells that generate the noncancerous cells. This method is likely to produce good results in young than in older people.

Targeted therapy – in this method, tyrosine kinase inhibitors like imatinib are used to target the cancerous cells and destroy them alone. So far, this gave 90% successful results.

Summary

With the progress in the medical industry, remission is possible in cancer patients. Remission means a condition with no signs of cancer cells but still, periodic bone marrow checkups and blood tests may be required.

Like I said in my initial paragraph, a nutritious diet helps us fight all illnesses. Hope I will write a detailed article on it very soon.

Categories
Health

Maintain a healthy prostate

The prostate gland can be found in the male reproductive system. The main function of the gland is to provide an alkaline fluid called semen that is expelled during ejaculation. The healthy prostate looks slightly larger than a walnut and is located below the bladder. Enlargement of the prostate is the commonly found problem in men after retirement, resulting in abnormal functioning. Most of the time, it creates problems in urinating as it surrounds the urethra. So once you hit your 40’s, schedule regular checkups with your doctor to ensure that you have a healthy prostate. Prostate cancer is a reason behind major deaths in men! This is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the USA and UK. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the USA, next to lung cancer.

What are the causes of enlarged prostate and cancer?

We know that at the age of 40, the levels of prolactin of testosterone increase. This prolactin stimulates the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that naturally converts testosterone to dihydro-testosterones (DHT). This DHT is the major reason for the enlargement of the prostate and cancer. In addition to aging, we will discuss other causes of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.

Genetics

The enlarged prostates can be inherited from generation to generation.

Cell-growth factor

Some people have enlarged prostate for whatever reason.

Hormone imbalance

A typical middle-aged person has increased abdominal fat and thin muscle mass, which is the main factor for causing hormonal imbalance in men. There are also other factors like stress, depression, anxiety that can cause changes in hormone levels.

Obesity

Researchers and recent studies show that excess amount of calorie consumption either directly or indirectly stimulates enlarged prostates. This is mainly due to changes in hormone levels because of the fat, as we discussed above.

Mineral deficiency

Zinc is an important mineral for the proper function of the prostate gland in our body. Due to aging or uncontrolled diet or excessive alcohol drinking, the zinc level will be deficient. This leads to abnormal function of the prostate gland.

Testosterone

Like we discussed earlier, there will be an increase in the conversion of testosterone to DHT which triggers prostate enlargement.

What are the symptoms of enlarged prostates?

Nocturia

Waking up at night several times to pass urine is what Nocturia is. It is more common in aged people and when there is an enlarged prostate then the condition will be worst.

Dysuria

Dysuria in men is the condition in which the person has painful urination because of the infection in the urinary tract. This condition will become complex when there is an enlarged prostate gland.

Epididymitis

Epididymitis is also caused due to an infection in the urethra or bladder. The symptoms include low-grade fever, high sensitivity to traction or pressure.

Asymptomatic

There are cases in which men with inflammatory prostatitis are asymptomatic.

How to prevent prostate problems?

Let us begin with some home remedies to avoid prostate-related issues.

Tomato

Tomato is rich in lycopene that helps in protecting the prostate. Do not eat raw tomato as it is hard to digest. Eating well-cooked tomatoes with dark green leafy vegetables is the best way to avoid prostate-related issues.

Grapefruit

Grapes contain high amounts of vitamin C and bioflavonoids that help to prevent prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, and heart diseases.

Bean

The high fiber content in beans helps the body to remove the excess level of testosterone thereby reducing the chances of prostate enlargement.

Papaya

The antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and flavonoids present in papaya have anti-cancer effects and are cardioprotective.

Fish

Coldwater fish contains Omega-3 fatty acids which significantly reduce prostate-related risks.

What are the treatments for enlarged prostates?

Drug treatment

This is the first and foremost treatment doctors tend to opt for. The medications suggested will be to get relief from the swollen prostates.

Invasive surgery

The majority of the surgery cases are designed to cause the prostate gland to shrink or remove the extra tissues surrounding the urethra region. This reestablishes the flow of urine from the bladder.

Full surgery

If both the options look not enough to solve the problem, then the doctor opts for full surgery. These are either operated laparoscopically or through the use of robot technology. Such surgeries require a week-long stay in the hospital.

Final thoughts

To maintain a healthy prostate, healthy eating is highly important. The prostate gland is like a filter, if you have poor eating habits, there is a high chance that it gets clogged. In this article, I hosted a lot of home remedies/food recommendations as preventive measures. It is always better to seek professional medical advice if you are facing serious health issues.

Categories
wellness

Facial Pimples – Causes and How to Treat?

Acne is a very common skin problem especially when you are a teenager. Almost 90% of teenagers are affected by this problem. In some cases, this problem exists even in adulthood. Some experienced breakouts in the chest, neck, and shoulders too. Most people think dirt or not washing your face is the major reason for facial pimples but that is not the case. There are also other reasons like hormonal changes, genes, etc. which cause acne on the face or your body.

What causes pimples on the face?

Although we use a common term as “pimples”, there are different types such as whiteheads, blackheads, nodules, papules, and cysts. Either you have any of these or a combination of all.

Some of the main causes of facial pimples are:

Puberty

In general, females show signs of pimples on their faces while reaching puberty. At the time of puberty, there will be a hormonal change that stimulates the sebaceous glands. The higher the level of testosterone, the more severe the acne will be. That’s why males have more severe acne than females.

Makeup 

Some cosmetics develop acne especially if they are oil-based. These creams block the pores and create small swelling, so check the ingredients and make sure they are water-based before purchasing makeup products or sunscreens.

Menstruation

Commonly, most girls experience more acne during the menstrual period. The hormonal changes are the major factor for facial pimples.

Stress

Acne spots develop when you are highly worried or anxious; this is because stress hormones are produced enormously at this time. So, if you are highly depressed or under stress, consider going to stress management classes to keep you calm and remain pimple-free.

Myths about Acne

Passing down through generations, we came across a lot of myths about acne.

  • Acnes are formed due to bacterial infection and can be spread from one person to another
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Oily hair causes acne
  • A bad diet develops acne
  • Sunlight can clear the acne spots
  • Greasy foods produce extra sebum on the skin resulting in acne

Unknowingly, these myths are spread through various generations. In general, having clarity on what is the exact skin problem and undergoing effective treatment will help in reducing or clearing pimples.

Let’s find out the short tricks to eliminate pimples from the face

Orange Peel

We all know orange is rich in vitamin C that clears the dirt very well. Grind the orange peels with water and apply the paste to the affected areas. Leave it overnight and by the next day, you will see significant results.

Applying Lemon

Lemon is another great source of vitamin C. People with oily skin can apply lemon juice once a week to remove the extra oil. As you know excessive oily skin can cause pimples over time.

Fenugreek Paste

Grind fenugreek leaves with water or soak the fenugreek seeds overnight and grind it on the next morning to make a paste. Apply this on your affected areas, leave it to dry, and wash with water. This produces a cooling effect on your skin and removes pimples when used twice a week.

Neem face pack

As we all know, Neem is known for its medicinal values. Try this neem face pack available on the market and apply once a month for effective results.

Steaming your face

Steam opens up the pores and washing your face with a mild soap helps to preserve essential oils on your face and removes the excess. Finish cleaning with cold water as this closes the open pores; this prevents the dirt from entering your skin again.

Tea tree oil

I don’t recommend this method to clear pimples as tea tree oil can increase sebum secretion. Therefore, consult with your dermatologist before choosing this method.

Drinking-Water

Yes, this is a true and beneficial method. Just give it a try. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day to remove all the toxins from your body.

All these tricks may or may not suit everyone, therefore try applying to a small portion of the affected region and check whether it works for you. If yes, then go for it and stick to it until the pimples vanish completely.

Wrapping up!

Acne does go away on its own. Don’t panic and stress yourself too much as that could worsen the problem. Just remember the famous line, you are beautiful just the way you are!

Categories
Health

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is Hyperthyroidism?

The thyroid gland is an important organ that regulates the body’s metabolism. Metabolism is the conversion of calories we intake and oxygen we inhale into energy. And to do this process effectively, the thyroid gland must secrete a hormone called thyroxin. Thyroxin is an iodine-containing compound that makes all the tissues increases their cellular activity. This thyroid gland is located at the anterior portion of the neck and is the largest too. Despite having a healthy lifestyle, the thyroid gland may cause four basic problems which are due to hormone production level, over-growth of the gland, formation of lumps or nodules within, and cancer. In this article, we thoroughly look into “hyperthyroidism” which means the excess of thyroid hormone production and hyperthyroidism symptoms, causes, and treatment.

What Causes Hyperthyroidism?

There are many factors for hyperthyroidism, but one of the common autoimmune conditions called “Graves’ disease” is a major reason.

Graves’ disease

Graves’ disease occurs when the immune system alters the role of the pituitary gland which generally regulates the level of thyroxin production in the thyroid gland. This alteration happens by the antibody called TRAb (thyrotropin receptor antibody) which results in hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of Graves’ disease

Diarrhea is a common complaint in many patients and some other symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Reduced libido
  • Changes in Menstrual cycle

Graves’s disease has other conditions too, which are Graves’ dermopathy (specifically affects the skin causing red patches, thickness, etc.) and Graves’ ophthalmopathy (specifically affects the eyes causing dry/redness, bulging, excessive tearing, light sensitivity, blurry vision, etc.).

So, around 70% of thyroid issues are due to autoimmune disorders. How can the autoimmune disorder be treated?

What are the Hyperthyroidism Symptoms?

Let’s discuss the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism:

Anxiety and depression 

Losing mental clarity, suffering from anxiety and depression are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Abdominal Bloating

Changes in bowel habits, diarrhea, and bloating are common symptoms.

Menstrual patterns

In women, changes in menstrual patterns have been identified as a symptom. When there is a excess thyroxin, our body may lose its ability to convert testosterone to estrogen

Other symptoms include

  • Fatigue, weakness
  • Increased sensitivity to heat
  • Thinning of hair and skin
  • Sleeping disorder
  • Mood swings
  • Muscle pain
  • Changes in Blood Pressure levels
  • Changes in Heart Rate

What are the treatments for Hyperthyroidism?

Usually, a thorough diagnosis is made by your doctor and he suggests antithyroid medications or radioactive iodine therapy or in worst cases “surgery”. There are also natural treatments that require a strict “diet” plan.

Foods to Eat

It is a must to take food that will not trigger the overactivity of the thyroid gland. This includes whole grains, raw vegetables, meat, fruits, fresh spinach, Brussels sprouts, radish, etc.

Foods to Avoid

Any caffeinated drinks, Soy products as they are very dangerous to the thyroid gland. Stop eating foods that are rich in iodine (simply reduce salt), as they can make your thyroid overactive.

Final thoughts

Hyperthyroidism is not a simple health problem to neglect; it can result in more severe diseases. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are highly recommended whenever you find the above-mentioned symptoms in your body. Try practicing a healthy lifestyle, live in control, only then these threatening diseases can be avoided.

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