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Arthritis – Types, signs and risk factors

Arthritis – Types, signs and risk factors
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Arthritis is a medical condition that is marked by inflammation in the joints. It can affect a single joint or several joints in the body. There are different types of arthritis. Each one can be traced to a different cause, with various methods to treat them.

Types
Primarily, there are two main kinds of arthritis – rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. These can be broken down into several categories.

  • Osteoarthritis
    This is the most commonly diagnosed form of arthritis. When a person is suffering from osteoarthritis, the cartilage of the joints gets severely damaged. The cartilage is the tough, coarse protective coating found at the end points where the bones come together to form a joint. Cartilage acts as a cushion to this part of the bones and facilitates the frictionless movement of the joints. When the cartilage gets damaged, the bones grind against each other, causing severe pain and restrictive movements. This damage can take place over a few years or in a short time.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
    In this type of arthritis, the immune system adversely affects the outer covering or the lining around the joint capsule. The joint capsule is a hard membrane that surrounds parts of the joints. When a person is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis , the outer covering swells up or suffers from inflammation. This results in destroyed cartilage and bone present inside the joint.

Signs and symptoms
Since arthritis affects joints, all the symptoms of this condition are found in joint areas, like knees, ankles, elbows, and more. Some of the most commonly found symptoms of arthritis in the joints are listed below.

  • Stiffness
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Immobility

Risk factors

  • Age
    As a person gets older, the risk of suffering from arthritis increases. If you are young and are suffering from pain in your joints, you must get it checked by a doctor immediately. If you neglect it now, it will result in further problems as you grow older.
  • Family history
    There are many families in which several individuals, across different generations, are found to be suffering from arthritis. If you belong to a family with a long-standing history of this condition, you must get yourself checked at an early age and find out if you have any likelihood of developing arthritis.
  • Gender
    Women have been found to be more susceptible to arthritis than men. Women are at a higher risk of suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Gout is a kind of arthritis that mostly affects men.
  • Past injury
    Sportspersons suffer from injuries quite often. Even if you do not play any sport and have suffered from some serious joint injury in the past, there is a chance of you developing arthritis at a later stage in life.
  • Being overweight or obesity
    Excess weight puts pressure on the joints in the spine, knees, and the hips. If you are overweight, you should make an effort to shed off extra pounds.

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Sexual conditions – Causes, risk factors, and treatment
health

Sexual conditions – Causes, risk factors, and treatment

A sexual condition is the inability to have a satisfactory sexual relationship with a partner. When hormones and neurological pathways do not work in sync, sexual desire could be hampered. This can affect the quality of life and even raise some serious concerns over the patient’s medical and mental well-being. If a man faces any kind of issue or hindrance during sexual activity, it indicates a sexual condition. It should be taken seriously and evaluated accordingly. What causes sexual conditions in men? Physiological causes If you are suffering from a high amount of stress or anxiety because of work or any other reason, it will have an adverse effect on your sex life. A discord in the relationship with your partner can also lead to a sexual disorder. Sometimes, you may also fail to be aroused because of body image issues or being conscious or nervous about your performance. Other physiological reasons include suffering from depression and fatigue. Physical causes Different kinds of medical conditions affect your sexual health. Some of these conditions are the heart and vascular diseases, hormonal imbalance, drug abuse, and neurological disorders. Other physical causes include alcoholism, substance abuse, testosterone deficiency, hyperthyroidism, and taking certain medications like anti-androgens or opioid analgesics. What are the risk factors of a low sex drive in men? The main factors that contribute to a diminished sex drive or sexual desire in men are: Smoking Malnourishment Aging, as testosterone levels drop as you grow old Illegal substance consumption Medications for prostate cancer, pain, and benign prostatic hyperplasia If you notice any of these risk factors in your life, we recommend speaking to a doctor immediately. How do you treat sexual conditions? Consult a doctor Visit a doctor and share with him details of the sexual condition you are facing. We understand that you may find it difficult or feel conscious about talking about their lack of sexual desire or inability to initiate a sexual relation.
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The human body has many essential body parts, and one of the most crucial parts of the body is the mouth. It entails a lot of different functions such as: Take in food as well as drinks Breathe in the air around It helps with kick-starting the process of digestion as the teeth chew the food you eat Helps in speaking and singing Since there are many different mouth and teeth problems, here are some of the most common home remedies you can adopt to cure them. Home remedies for toothache There are many home remedies that you can adopt to get rid of toothache: Saltwater rinse To use a saltwater rinse, we recommend you mix half a teaspoon of salt into a warm water glass and use it as mouthwash regularly. Cold compress Applying a cold compress to the area of a toothache can help in reducing the pain. When you apply a cold compress, the blood vessels of that particular area are constricted. Hence, it is highly advisable to go for it. Hydrogen peroxide rinse A hydrogen peroxide rinse also helps in relieving pain as well as inflammation. It not only kills bacteria but also reduces plaque and then starts healing bleeding gums. Garlic Garlic has been used for medicinal properties since time immemorial. It not only kills harmful bacteria but can also help in relieving pain. To use this remedy, you crush a garlic clove and then use it to create a paste to the affected area. Peppermint tea bags Peppermint tea can be used for numbing pain and then for soothing sensitive gums. To do this particular, allow an old used tea bag to cool down before you apply it to the affected area. Some other remedies that you can use as remedies include the following:
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Menopause is diagnosed when a woman doesn’t menstruate for 12 months at a stretch, and it is the end of a woman’s fertility and menstrual cycles. Natural menopause occurs when the ovaries start showing signs of reduced production of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. On the other hand, induced menopause is often a result of the surgical removal of the ovaries to treat a medical condition or the ovaries getting damaged due to the consumption of certain medications or exposure to harmful radiation. Menopause can lead to pain and discomfort, along with several other symptoms, but following some simple tips can help women reduce the discomfort and pain associated with menopause: Maintain a stable weight Women tend to gain weight during menopause due to the hormonal changes that their bodies undergo, and it can also happen due to aging, genetics, or lifestyle choices. Weight gain or the accumulating fat content in the body makes women susceptible to developing heart diseases and other conditions like diabetes. The increased weight also aggravates the symptoms of menopause and increases the risk of joint conditions like osteoporosis. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce the symptoms and protects the body against several harmful diseases. Avoid the consumption of trigger foods Trigger foods are the foods that cause the urge to eat more and can lead to an increase in the symptoms of menopause. These include mood swings, hot flashes, and night sweats. The most common trigger foods include alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks, junk food, fried food, and baked goods like brownies, donuts, pastry, and cookies. Also, women need to be mentally aware of the foods that are worsening their symptoms and stay away from them. Follow a regular workout schedule Regular exercise is a must among women during the onset of menopause to help manage the symptoms effectively.
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Improving your mental health at home

Improving your mental health at home

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Multiple sclerosis – what are the treatment options

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a kind of condition in which the immune system does not respond as it should. It gets directed against the working of the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS entails optic nerves, spinal cord, and the brain. It is meant to work in tandem with the immune system. However, when MS occurs, it fails to do so. Let’s take a look at some of the treatment options for multiple sclerosis. Treatment for multiple sclerosis Depending on the type, here are the common treatments for multiple sclerosis:   There is no particular cause for multiple sclerosis. As a result, the treatment focuses on recovering fast after an attack rather than getting to the root. Here are the common measures:  Corticosteroids, such as intravenous methylprednisolone and oral prednisone Plasmapheresis   Modifying progress To deal with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, ocrelizumab is usually recommended. It is the only FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy available. For particular types of multiple sclerosis, where it keeps recurring, the doctor may use different treatments, depending on the intensity of the condition. Some of the common treatments for these include:  Beta interferons Glatiramer acetate Fingolimod Dimethyl Fumarate Teriflunomide Siponimod Some of the other treatments for the signs and symptoms of MS include:  Physical therapy Muscle relaxants Medicines used to reduce tiredness Medicines to help increase walking speed Home remedies for multiple sclerosis There are plenty of other treatments available to help relieve the symptoms and deal with problems related to multiple sclerosis. Consume the following: Vitamin A Vitamin A has proven to show results in delaying macular degeneration associated with age. It also consists of antioxidants, which can be helpful people with multiple sclerosis.  Vitamin B-1 Vitamin B-1 is also known as thiamin. It helps in the proper functioning of the brain and is also essential for nerve, muscle, heart function, and metabolism.
Treatment options and home remedies for gout

Treatment options and home remedies for gout

Uric acid crystals result in gout. It is an inflammatory condition that usually affects men as a type of arthritis. It causes severe joint pain around the knees, feet, and ankles. However, there are certain measures that one can take for gout treatment. We will discuss these as well as home remedies in this article. Types of medications Some medicines may be prescribed to the patient on a regular basis; these can help to alleviate the symptoms of this condition: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications These medications are known to reduce the duration of the attack. If one takes them within the first twenty-four hours, then it really helps. They are usually prescribed to reduce the inflammation and relieve the pain. Corticosteroids These types of medications are usually administered orally or may even be injected into the body. They not only help in the reduction of the swelling but can also combat inflammation. In some cases, the doctor may also inject a hormone known as an adrenocorticotropic hormone to help the body produce corticosteroids naturally. The doctor may also give a combination of both at different times to help with alleviating the symptoms. Colchicine Colchicine is derived from a plant, which has been used to reduce the symptoms of gout for over 2,000 years. It helps to reduce pain and swelling. However, this may come with a specific side effect such as abdominal cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. Reducing uric acid levels The most ideal way to treat gout is by controlling uric acid levels in the body. Once they are controlled, the chances of a gout attack reduce considerably. The following medications can be consumed for reducing uric acid levels: Probenecid Allopurinol Lesinurad Febuxostat Pegloticase In most cases, the doctor will wait until the most recent gout attack before he goes on to prescribe a dosage of the aforementioned medications.

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