Categories
Health

Skin Cancer Causes, Types, Treatment, and Prevention

skin cancer causes

Those were the days when cancer was a disease that was considered rare. Today, we can see an alarming rate of people who are being affected by the same. One of the most common types of cancer found these days is skin cancer. People who are not taking care of themselves and are not sun-safe are considered the most common skin cancer causes. One thing that helps us feel relaxed is that skin cancer can be diagnosed earlier or on time, it can be treated and even cured.

What is skin cancer?

When there is an uncontrolled growth of cells in the tissues of the skin, then it is considered skin cancer. This formed tumor is malignant and affects the other remote organs when flowing through the bloodstream. That is why it is important to treat skin cancer immediately when diagnosed.

What are the main causes of skin cancer?

Exposure to Sun – Overexposure to the Ultra Violet rays of the sun increases the chances of getting affected by skin cancer in the long run.

White Skin – People with less melanin pigment are prone to this cancer when compared to the darker-skinned tones.

Exposure to a carcinogen – Too much exposure to certain chemicals like nicotine, tar, and arsenic are found as the skin cancer causes.

Family History – Genetic reasons and family history can also be the reason behind the occurrence of skin cancer. If someone from your family is affected with skin cancer then there is a high chance of getting the disease.

Types of cancer

There are three types of skin cancers:

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): This type of cancer arises from basal cells, which are present in the deepest layers of the epidermis. This is the most common type of skin cancer and many people affect by this frequently when compared to the other types. It appears as a patch of skin, which is red and irritated. Sometimes it could also be in form of a bump or sore, that does not heal. Areas like the scalp, ears, face, etc, or the parts that are constantly exposed to too much sunlight are usually affected by BCC. If the condition is diagnosed in time, then curing it is possible.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – This type of cancer affects the squamous cells in the epidermis. It appears as skin crusting or scaling, the affected area could become red and burned. There could also be bumps that cannot heal. This condition is also due to overexposure to sunlight. One of the scary things is it affects any part of the body and spreads faster to other organs, so it is a must to treat the disease earlier to stop spreading.

Melanoma – This is the most dangerous type that affects the pigments of the skin. It spreads rapidly and could lead to death. There is less chance to treat this disease through minor surgeries before it gets spread to the other parts of the body.

How it is treated?

In considering your age, general health, type of cancer, size of cancer, and where it is on your body, the treatment choice will depend. Most commonly followed treatment methods include:

  • Surgery
  • Scraping
  • Freezing
  • Radiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy

Prevention of skin cancer

While skin cancer is treatable, the best treatment of all is prevention. Following are some of the healthy lifestyle significantly reduces the chances of developing skin cancer.

  • Avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight
  • Covering up the skin when going out in heavy summer.
  • Applying good quality sun creams.
  • Using protective gloves when handling dangerous chemicals.

Following the above tips can protect yourself and your family from any types of skin cancer.

Categories
Health

Lower Back Pain- causes and how to overcome

One of the world’s most common health problems is Back Pain. According to the World Health Organization, it is also on the top 10 diseases list. Most people at any age suffer from back pain which affects work life and general well-being. There are a few ways to avoid the common causes of lower back pain. This article will help you identify the techniques and explain how to reduce the pain.

What are common causes of back pain?

Our human body’s complex system is the lower back. This must work well to enable movement. The Spine also contains cartilage-like pads called discs. Damages to these components lead to back problems. The most common causes of lower back pain problems include:

Injury

Injury is the most common cause of back problems. Some type of accidents like car crashes falls, and sports field injuries might include broken bones, ruptured discs, torn ligaments, etc.

Physical overexertion

Sometimes we fail to handle very heavy items properly. This causes too much strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the lower back which leads to pain.

Ruptured discs

Sometimes discs in the spine change their shape of rupture. When this occurs, more pressure is applied on the nerves which potentially causes back problems.

Medical conditions

There are a variety of medical conditions like osteoporosis, kidney problems, arthritis, sleep disorders, etc. that causes severe back pain problems.

Poor posture

Sitting in a poor posture for a long time puts too much pressure on the muscles and discs that contribute to pain in the back and sometimes may cause long-term damage.

How to avoid the back pain

There are few ways helpful in curing or reducing back ache.

Sleep on your back

Due to the whole day routine works like walking, running, sitting down, and lifting objects, the spine gets compressed. Hence, sleeping on your back gives the chance to your spine to relax, therefore reducing pain.

Chiropractic treatment

Chiropractic treatment is one of the effective methods to reduce back ache. These professionals are trained in identifying musculoskeletal problems in the human body. They can identify the root cause of the problem and suggest treatments accordingly. During this diagnosis, the following common causes can be identified:

  • Ensuring the spine is properly aligned
  • Identify the postural problems that cause spine pain
  • Identify ruptured discs or other serious health problems that contribute to pain.

 

Good pair of shoes

Ensuring your body has a stable and well-balanced base reduces the pressure placed on ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Therefore, purchase a high-quality pair that fit your feet well.

Exercises

There are a few exercises that help strengthen the core muscles for avoiding spine pain. This also reduces the chances of back injury effectively.

Regular massages

Massaging the muscles at back increases the blood flow. Proper flow of blood can help you remain flexible, and prevent any pain related to ligaments.

Summary

Overall, protecting from back problems is very simple. All you need to follow is a healthy lifestyle. It is good to see a doctor when any of the above methods didn’t help in reducing the pain.

Categories
Health

Bone Health – risks and how to overcome?

Bones are the protectors of organs, providing structure, storing calcium, and anchoring muscles. Bones continuously change during ages. Old bones break down and new bones are made. Most people reach the peak at the age of 30. Bone health is important to have a healthy body. There are various factors that affect bones. These include:

Calcium – A diet that has low calcium leads to bone loss, risking fractures, and diminished bone density. Therefore, it is best to maintain a good calcium diet.

Physical activity – Osteoporosis is a condition that mostly affects bones that are brittle and weak. People who are physically inactive are likely to have a higher risk of this disease.

Hormones – In the case of women, bone loss increases due to reduced levels of estrogen. Increased levels of thyroid hormone will also cause bone loss. In men, decreased levels of testosterone diminish bone density.

Eating disorders – For some people who have undergone weight-loss surgery or other diseases conditions like anorexia or bulimia, the stomach loses its ability to absorb the calcium from a regular diet.

Size – People who have thin structures have less bone mass and are highly risky to fractures.

Smoking and drinking – Those who smoke regularly contributes to weak bones. Too much alcohol consumption also increases the risk of suffering from osteoporosis.

How to avoid the risks?

There are a few simple steps to follow to slow down bone loss.

Adding calcium to the diet – Good sources of calcium like broccoli, almonds, dairy products, etc. should be included in the diet to increase bone health. If it is not possible to follow the diet, then it’s good to go for supplements as per the doctor’s advice.

Vitamin D – Vitamin D-rich foods like whitefish, salmon, mushrooms, eggs, etc. increases bone mass.

Exercises – Physical activity plays a major role to maintain strong bones. Jogging, walking, climbing, etc. should be followed every day to slow down the bone loss.

It is important for both men and women to keep their bones as healthy and strong as possible. Bones fitness exercise amplifies muscle strength and overall health. Follow these simple tips to have healthy bones.

Categories
Fitness

How to lose face fat?

Face fat is a result of several factors that include lack of proper diet, genetics, dehydration, etc. Losing face fat is a difficult job unlike other parts of the body. Having a perfect facial shape is vital as that is the first area that most people focus on. This is the main area that creates a larger impression on others. It will not be good if you have a beautiful body but not a beautiful face shape. This is why; many people are willing to reduce excess face fat. It’s very easy to achieve only if the regular facial exercises and right eating habits are followed correctly. Let us find out how to lose face fat with the following tips.

Tips to lose face fat:

Cosmetic surgery – There is no doubt that cosmetic surgery is a very fast way to reduce facial fat. However, this involves some risks so that it is better to go for other methods first. 

Facial exercises – It’s all about the cheek and chin. In the case of beginners, it is a must to do facial exercise 1 time a day for a month. Although the results are not immediate for some parts of the face, this is considered the safest method to reduce face fat. It can be learned easily and can be done just by simply sitting or standing or when relaxing in bed. Facial exercises are not only good at reducing fat but also help to protect the skin from anti-aging and reduce wrinkles effectively.

Drinking more water – You may ask what is the connection with this end. Drinking more water helps reduce hunger which makes you eat less food. Fewer calories intake is the best way to lose fat. Usually, it is recommended to take around eight to eleven glasses of water each day. 

Walking every day – A half-hour of walking will do wonders in reducing body fat. Walking is considered as a primary exercise, this increases blood circulation throughout. Hence, it is preferred to reduce fats in any part of the body. 

Categories
Health

Tips to maintain eye health

Vitamin A is good for your eyes a nutrition concept

Our eyes are the vital parts of the body. Your vision is the most precious gift. Maintaining good eye health is important. We have come across a lot of proactive tips helpful to take care of the most delicate sensory organ. Some of the common factors that affect the eye’s health are long working hours in front of your computer, pollution in the environment, sun rays, and a non-healthy diet. There are simple lifestyle tips to follow like wearing sunglasses and adding eye health vitamins to your diet in order to maintain eye health.

What do we need to follow?

  • Avoid UV rays – The UV rays of the sun affects the skin as well as the eyes. Optometrists suggest wearing sunglasses on a sunny day or a cloudy day. This is because; the UV rays can penetrate the clouds. UV-protected contact lenses may also harm the eyes if the white part of the eye is not covered with sunglasses.
  • Taking a break when starring computer – The monitor should be kept five to nine inches below eye level. This offers less strain on the eyes and helps to blink. Blinking maintains the moisture level in the eye and helps avoid dryness. The best formula is the “20/20/20 rule” which means for every twenty minutes look away from the computer and fix your sight 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This method works best in reducing eye strain and is a good exercise to maintain eye health.
  • Practicing simple eye exercises – Simple exercises help in maintaining blood circulation and supplies enough oxygenated blood throughout.
  • Simple yet effective lifestyle – A healthy digestive system can absorb eye health vitamins effectively from our regular diet. Drinking plenty of water, getting a good night’s sleep, etc. can help in promoting digestion. This improves the overall health as well. Smoking and consuming alcohol not only harms the whole body but also mostly affects the vision. Too much alcohol diminishes the capability of the body to absorb essential nutrients in the food. Similarly, too much smoking irritates the eyes and gradually decreases sight. Contact lens wearers should not overuse the lens as it can cause severe damage to the surface of the eye.

Nutrients for eye health

Adding plenty of fruits and vegetables to the everyday diet supports eye health. Vegetables like papayas, carrots, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, etc. are all rich in beta carotene and other essential eye nutrients. Egg yolks, seafood, liver, and beef are also providing healthy nutrients for the eyes.

Vitamin A is well known for good vision. Apart from this, Vitamin C and E are good at promoting cell regeneration.

Carotenoids like beta-carotene are helpful in improving the functioning of the immune system. These powerful antioxidants protect the eyes from harmful irritants in the environment.

Lutein often called “natural sunglasses” is present in the center of the retina. This protects us from the light emitted from television and computer, sunlight, welding light, fluorescent light, etc. Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and peas are rich in lutein.

Dairy products, fish, meat, etc. are rich in Zinc. As said earlier, Vitamin A is essential for eye health and Zinc helps in releasing Vitamin A from the liver.

Other than these natural methods, eye health supplements are also prescribed by optometrists to balance eye vision. These are mostly recommended only if you are unable to maintain a balanced diet. It is important to follow a healthy regimen as early as possible to have good eye health.

Categories
wellness

How to go to sleep quickly?

If you have a busy lifestyle, then you might cut on sleep to meet the endless demands of your day. Most people have so many things to do every day so they sacrifice their sleep hours as much as they can. Attending game practice, making time to study, buying groceries, managing business, gym training, etc. are the most common practices found in everyone. However, just like eating and exercising, having an adequate sleeping hour is important to maintain proper health. Sleep is natural, normal, and essential. It is interesting how a baby can get it with ease. It is a basic function of life, like eating, thinking, moving, working, etc. but then why is it so difficult to go to sleep quickly?

Not having a proper sleep

It’s a struggle if we don’t get sleep properly. It is difficult to wake up in the morning, cannot focus on works, and one cannot be creative at all. There is a chance of mood swings when you are sleep deprived and sometimes you may feel hungry always. This affects the overall health and life in general that’s why decent sleep is recommended always. A chronic sleep problem has developed over time. Sometimes it only exists for several weeks and then it gets repaired in one or two nights. On the other hand, some may take a while to get better.

How to get to sleep quickly

When it comes to looking for a remedy, often “stupidest” things can turn out to be the most powerful. Let’s discuss the five tips to get to sleep quickly.

  1. Having a regular time to go to bed – Sleep is a natural process therefore we need to allow the body’s natural system to work with regular rhythms. Try to go to bed somewhere around 9.45 to 10.15 pm. It is necessary to follow this even on weekends too. Following this step will automatically create “your sleep time”.
  2. Maintain proper “get up” time – Maintaining a proper wake-up time is as important as going to bed. This cycle keeps you healthy and active throughout the day.
  3. Allowing enough “bedtime” – Like we already know, 7 to 8 hours is a good range. This peaceful sleeping hour is an extremely important opportunity for the body to restore, heal, and rebalance and to clean up the internal organs and tissues. This is the time where our body’s essential hormones are released efficiently. Therefore enough “bedtime” is important for a healthy life.
  4. Having a bedtime ritual – Have you noticed it in movies? The children are warmed with kisses and with a pleasant bedtime story. This would be an excellent method to create a bedtime ritual for you. Get into a quiet relaxing mindset that calms down emotionally and mentally. Enjoy listening to soothing music, a bath, a massage, a relaxing reading, etc. to secure your restful night.
  5. Designing your bedroom – It is the place where you end your day, therefore it should look pleasant and delivers only one message: Sleep…! So do not place a TV, computer, treadmill, etc. in your bedroom. Paint the wall with your favorite restful colors. Decorate with relaxing pictures like a hug, meditation, etc.

Categories
Health

Food Allergy – a complete analysis

If you feel discomfort in your stomach, tired or not well after a mean; if you have stomach cramps or bowel movements problems; if you have food dislikes; if you have a collection of symptoms that cannot be explained or feel annoyed or depressed then you may be suffering from food allergy. This is considered as a factor in various health problems, especially in children.

When food harms

When we eat food that is over-processed and added with too many preservatives, our stomach will get toxins. This is a major source of many health issues. And sometimes, even if we eat well-cooked hygienic food, our stomach may not feel good. This is because of the stress we face in our daily life. Some sad hormones will affect the process of digestion and intoxicate the bowel system.

Food allergies not only harm our internal organs but also create several mental problems. Continuous allergenic to foods will make the body weaker. It will not have enough nutrients essential to do day-to-day activities. We may find ourselves limiting our diet when we suffer from certain foods that caused such health issues. Gradually, by eliminating the foods you need, the person will lose the outstanding benefits of nutrients present.

What is meant by allergenic food?

In simple terms, allergenic or reactive food is the one that causes allergic reactions like wheezing, stuffy nose, stomach cramps, etc. Some of the foods that cause allergenic reactions in children include milk, soy nuts, eggs, corn, etc.

For some people, citrus foods, seafood, chocolate, oats, etc. can be allergenic or highly reactive.

The level of sensitivity to one or more components of the food determines the allergenic level. Some vitamins and minerals present in the food may not work well with the enzymes and hormones in the bowel system.

Symptoms of food allergy

The following are the symptoms of food allergy:

  • Frequent sniffing
  • Throat clearing
  • Moodiness
  • Hyperactivity
  • Irritability
  • Dark circles under the eyes
  • Headaches
  • Stomach aches
  • Muscle pain
  • Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Bowel problems
  • Frequent respiratory or digestive problems

Treatment

Treatment for food allergies includes desensitization which is a program that helps in improving the immune system. In this method, our body gets the capacity to react to allergens naturally. Another treatment is avoiding the food that causes allergenic reactions in one’s body. The third method commonly found is detoxification, in which body toxins that contribute to allergies are removed.

Categories
Health

Alzheimer symptoms – a complete overview

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of neurological disorder. This mostly affects individuals above 65 years of age. The main cause of this disease is the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. The person who suffers from this loses the capacity of carrying out simple routine tasks, thinking skills, etc. The sufferers will have feelings of loneliness, depression, fear, anger, and anxiety. Although there are several treatments available for this disorder, there are fewer chances to get complete recovery. The patient needs to be given proper mental stimulation, diet, and exercise throughout the lifetime. Alzheimer symptoms can be reduced to a small degree by some medical treatments as well.

Who suffers the most?

The primary factor to be considered is age. An individual has a high risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s like age increases. According to various studies and reports, people who are above the age of 65 are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s. Some people may also suffer in their early forties and the children of this group have 50% risk of developing this disorder. Other than aging, some of the risk factors include diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease.

Symptoms

The symptoms at the beginning are slow and gradual. With the advancements, the problems associated arise and the patient develops difficulty in thinking and intellectual impairments. Behavioral changes also take place. They slowly develop the inability to carry out the daily routine works and office works. This condition will become even worse before the death of the patient.

Warning signs

Some of the warning signs that can help to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease include:

  • Memory loss
  • Difficulty in performing day-to-day activities
  • Decreased judgment ability
  • Misplacing things
  • Mood fluctuation
  • Problems with language
  • Inability to recall the current events
  • Forgetting time and place
  • Incapability to make decisions

Diagnoses

People who have symptoms of dementia are more like to get diagnosed with this disorder. Some other diseases like brain tumors, blood clots, strokes, etc. can also lead to this neurological disorder. Some of the medications that are used for treating bladder urgency, steroids, excessive alcohol intake, thyroid dysfunction, etc. can be responsible for dementia. There is no specific blood test or imaging technique is available to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. A number of disorders are often confused with this type of disease. However, there are three procedures followed to diagnose which include psychiatric evaluation, neurological examination, and medical workup. The research on perfect diagnosis is still going on.

Treatment

There are two types of treatments are in use that include medication and non-medication treatments.

  • Non-medication treatment – Social activities like walking, dancing, singing, etc. are helpful in treating the patient who suffers from psychiatric symptoms like depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, irritation, etc. Rehabilitation and caregiving are generally preferred for the treatment.
  • Medication treatment – Drugs that are specifically made to slow down the rate of progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that this only slows down for 6-12 months.
Categories
Fitness

Cardiovascular fitness – a simple technique for overall wellbeing

In day-to-day life, it is very much important to follow a good diet and regular exercise. People who want to live healthy should maintain their health. The heart and lungs play a vital role in maintaining health. These organs should supply the required amount of oxygen to the entire body. If they fail to do so, then it leads to various diseases. Enhancing the ability of these organs to transfer oxygen to body tissues and other internal body parts is referred to as cardiovascular fitness. The oxygenated blood flowing throughout the body helps you stay active and healthy.

Why is cardiovascular fitness important?

Cardiovascular exercises help in increasing the body’s natural immune level, which in turn improves the ability of the whole body to fight against infections and diseases. It increases the stamina that benefits you to go through the toughest day energetically. It is also said that cardiovascular exercises will help us stay away from stress which we face in everyday activities.

How to improve?

By doing exercises regularly on cardiovascular machines like treadmills, bikes, etc. helps in increasing the heart rate effectively. Any sports like basketball, football, tennis, etc. increases the heart rate which benefits in supplying oxygenated blood to all the organs. Apart from these running, walking and jogging will also help in keeping the heart active. The main motive of these physical activities is to pump more blood to the heart and lungs and then to tissues and entire internal organs.

Benefits

Here are some of the benefits of doing cardiovascular routines:

  • Helps in lowering cholesterol
  • Lowers the blood pressure
  • Increases bone density and strength
  • Protect from heart diseases
  • Reduces the risk of affecting with cancer
  • Decreases depression and anxiety
  • Improves the metabolism
  • Improves the digestion process
  • Helps in getting good body and shape
  • Reduces the risk of getting obese or overweight
  • Helps burning calories effectively

Being healthy is everyone’s aim. It is all about handling every situation in life with energy and excitement. Cardiovascular fitness is one of the great ways to complete entire day-to-day activities actively.

Categories
Health

Cataract – causes, symptoms, and treatment

The eye is the most vital organ in our body. It works like a camera. The lens collects the light in the outer world and transmits the visual detail to the brain. Understanding the structure and function of the eye is difficult. Taking care of eyes is important to maintain overall health. People who suffer from eye problems usually have a risk of affecting from injury, depression, etc. There are various ways to keep our eyes healthy which include eating leafy green vegetables, adding more Vitamin A and C rich foods in your diet, eye exercises, wearing sunglasses, using blue light spectacles when working on the computer, etc. Despite practicing these, there are a few common disorders that affect many people around the world. These common disorders include refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, amblyopia, strabismus, diabetic retinopathy, and so on. This article discusses one of the most common eye problems called a cataract.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a cloudy lens. This begins with small clumps that prevent the lens from sending clear images to the retina. It develops very slowly and interferes with the whole vision if untreated. Cataracts can affect anyone and especially older people.

Causes

  • Too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation is one of the most common causes of cataracts. This blurs the vision which slowly forms clumps in the lens.
  • Our body’s immune system varies due to the medication we intake, this overproduces oxidants in the lens when then eventually produce the cloudy lens.
  • People who have diabetes are more likely to get cataract disorder.
  • Trauma
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Eye illnesses
  • Glaucoma
  • Aging
  • Infection in the eyes
  • Eye inflammation
  • By birth or congenital
  • Family history of cataract
  • Smoking

Types of cataracts

  • Cortical – this type of cataract is usually formed around the edges of the nucleus.
  • Nuclear – It mainly affects the center of the lens which becomes brown or yellow.
  • Congenital – This type is found right from birth or from the baby’s first year.
  • Radiation – this occurs in rare cases after undergoing radiation treatment for cancer.
  • Traumatic – caused by an injury to the eye.
  • Secondary – Due to steroid intake and other medications to cure certain diseases.

Treatment of cataract

Unfortunately, there is no medication to remove a cataract, the only option to avail is cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is a microsurgical technique in which a trained surgeon operates under a microscope and there is no chance to develop a cataract again after surgery. Normally surgery is recommended when it is difficult to perform daily activities, driving, or reading. There are two types of surgical methods, one is phacoemulsification and the other is extracapsular surgery.

  • Phacoemulsification involves using ultrasound waves to break the lens and remove the pieces.
  • The extracapsular method involves removing the cloudy part of the lens into fine pieces which then are carefully suctioned out. An intraocular lens is usually inserted into the eye after this procedure.

Is it necessary to implant an intraocular lens?

IOL is implanted in almost all cases. If an IOL is not inserted, then the patient has to use +10D spectacle to have a clear vision. This spectacle contains a heavily weighted lens which disturbs from carrying out regular activities. Thus, implanting IOL is usually recommended by most surgeons.

Exit mobile version