Eczema is a skin condition where some patches of skin get inflamed and become itchy, sore, rough, and cracked. In some cases, blood blisters may also occur. Eczema is not a single condition, but a group of conditions that include atopic dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, contact dermatitis, hand eczema, neurodermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and nummular eczema. This is a frustrating skin condition, where some people experience symptoms a few times a year while some deal with it on an everyday basis. Finding a soothing, natural eczema treatment can be life-changing for people suffering from this exasperating condition. Some facts on eczema Certain food items, such as dairy products, nuts, etc. can trigger eczema symptoms. Symptoms generally vary with a person’s age; however, most common symptoms include red and itchy patches of skin. A lot of times, eczema can be triggered by environmental factors such as dust, smoke, and pollen. There is no complete cure for this skin condition. The best eczema treatments focus on soothing damaged skin and relieving the symptoms. This is not a contagious condition. Symptoms of eczema The symptoms of eczema range from mild to severe, and can change from one outbreak to another. Common symptoms include: The appearance of small bumps that may ooze out liquid Rough, dry and scaly skin that cracks Red or brown patches of skin on the face, hands, feet, wrists, neck, eyelids, ankles, upper chest or scalp Sensitive skin that gets swollen and inflamed from scratching A rash that causes intense itching and irritation Rashes due to atopic eczema Best eczema treatment options There is no complete cure for eczema. The treatment for eczema aims to heal the inflamed area and prevent the symptoms from flaring up. Generally, eczema rash treatment is based on the patient’s age and symptoms. Also, for some people, eczema goes away over time, while for others, it is a lifelong condition.

Having something sweet after a meal is nearly everyone’s weakness. Most of us enjoy consuming sugary treats from time to time. Unfortunately, this has affected many people in the country. Gorging on sugar has its own set of repercussions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a staggering 100 million Americans suffer from pre-diabetes or diabetes. 9.4% of the country’s population suffers from diabetes. 84.1 million Americans have prediabetes. If their condition is left untreated, they will go on to develop the disease. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the country. Naturally, effective measures are essential. You need to be careful and keep your blood sugar levels within the normal range. Here are the blood sugar level charts for people with and without diabetes. Blood sugar level ranges Diabetes is a matter of great concern. Some areas of the country have a higher mortality rate than others, while other regions have a higher number of patients. Maintaining one’s diet is the key to avoid worsening the disease. The food you eat impacts your blood sugar levels, and you need to control your diet. To understand your blood sugar levels, you need to take frequent tests. Prediabetes is a condition which often leads to the onset of diabetes if not treated in its early stages. You need to know about the blood sugar level charts to determine how likely you are to develop this condition. Additionally, the doctor may recommend an A1C blood test to diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes by checking the sugar level charts. The blood sugar level charts have different ranges that vary from person to person. These levels depend on whether the patient has type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. There is a different blood sugar level chart for children with type 1 diabetes.

Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are respiratory ailments that are often confused for each other due to overlapping symptoms and little understanding of the two conditions. The National Institute of Health (NIH) says that about 40% of people with COPD also have asthma. The NIH also estimates that 24 million Americans suffer from COPD though about half of them are not aware of it. If you suspect that you are suffering from any of these two conditions, it is important to understand the similarities and differences between COPD and asthma for better management of these conditions. What is asthma? Asthma is an allergic reaction that often develops in early childhood. Health experts have never pinpointed why people develop asthma, but only that asthma attacks are triggered by allergens. These include dust, dust mites, mold, pollen, strong perfumes, certain foods, and food additives. The allergic attack causes inflammation that constricts the airways. Asthma attacks differ in severity depending on exposure to the triggering allergen. An asthma attack is relieved using a bronchial dilator to expand the airways and allow free movement of air. What is COPD? COPD is a disease that develops later in life due to the effects of exposure to particulate irritants especially tobacco smoke. This is usually observed in smokers above the age of 40 years. COPD is a progressive disease whose effects are treatable but irreversible. It is characterized by progressive airflow limitation and degrading of lung functions. This leads to respiratory complications including shortness of breath, coughing, and frequent throat clearing. COPD is a leading killer in smokers, being attributable to the death of about 150,000 Americans each year. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are respiratory complications commonly observed in people with COPD. Chronic bronchitis happens when the bronchial tubes are inflamed leading to excessive coughing and mucus production.

Diabetes, which is also referred to as diabetes mellitus, is a health disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels. This is caused due to fluctuating insulin levels in the body. It is a long-term condition that affects various parts of the body like heart, kidneys, and limbs in the long run. But what is the relation between diabetes and foot related issues? Diabetics are prone to foot issues because the disease damages the nerves and affects the blood flow to your feet. Diabetic feet problems require periodic checkups almost as often as you check your blood sugar levels. Regular and consistent foot care is vital for a diabetic patient. Even the slightest neglect or postponement of foot checkups may lead to serious complications like loss of limbs. Taking good care of diabetic feet goes a long way in the prevention of infections and other complications. Foot Complications Due to Diabetes Diabetes affects vital organs in the long run. Maintaining sugar levels through medication and active lifestyle can prevent health complications due to diabetes to a large extent. Uncontrolled and unmonitored diabetes leads to several life-threatening complications. Unregulated diabetes can lead to eye, foot, skin, hearing, cardio, and renal complications. Common diabetic feet complications are neuropathy, foot ulcers or sores, and gangrene, which lead to amputation of the limb. Prolonged diabetes affects the nerves (diabetic neuropathy) and hampers the blood supply to the feet. Also, wearing ill-fitting footwear can also lead to diabetic feet problems. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves of the feet, resulting in numbness and complete loss of sensation if left untreated. People with long-term diabetes or uncontrolled diabetes are likely to develop peripheral neuropathy. What starts as a tingling sensation and occasional periods of numbness becomes a permanent loss of sensation to the feet. As a result, walking and balancing become difficult for the person.

Diabetes can take a toll on every organ of your body if not controlled. Diabetic foot pain is one of the complications of severe, uncontrolled diabetes. First, diabetes restricts the blood flow to your feet, which then deprives them of nutrients and oxygen. The second complication is numbness of feet due to peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. Diabetic foot pain or sores, when left untreated, may even lead to amputation of the limb. Diabetic foot pain treatments are based on the severity of the condition and the causes. It is important to discuss diabetic foot pain and sores with your doctor in order to ensure it does not lead to serious complications. Most diabetics develop foot pain and ulcers, but good foot care measures can help prevent serious complications. What causes diabetic foot pain? Diabetic foot sores commonly occur under big toes and the balls of your feet. They are caused due to the breaking of skin tissue and exposure of layers underneath. Severe sores may even affect the bones of your feet. Infected foot sores may even lead to amputation of your feet. First signs of foot sores are drainage from your feet, unusual swelling, redness or irritation, and bad odor from one or both feet. Diabetic foot pain and ulcers are mainly caused due to a lack of healthy blood flow to the feet. This blocked blood flow results in the formation of a black tissue that surrounds the ulcer. Diabetic foot pain is usually caused due to the following. Poor blood flow – Poor blood flow is a vascular disorder that makes it difficult for wounds or ulcers to heal. High blood sugar – Hyperglycemia or high sugar levels hamper the healing of an infected foot ulcer. People with type 2 diabetes find it extremely difficult to manage infected ulcers.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a common condition associated with the large intestine of our body. It affects around 25-45 million Americans. People in their late teens to the early 40s are likely to get affected by this condition. A person with IBS often experiences a mix of belly discomfort or pain along with trouble in bowel habits. Some other symptoms are cramping, bloating, mucus formation in the stool, and gas. Although it isn’t a life-threatening disease, it requires long-term management, a healthy lifestyle, and proper treatment to get rid of IBS. Mostly, healthcare professionals categorize IBS into three categories which are as follows: IBS-D where diarrhea is the predominant symptom IBS-C where constipation is the predominant symptom IBS-M where predominant symptoms can be a mix of diarrhea and constipation Factors that lead to IBS-D Though the precise causes of IBS-D are still unknown, let’s have a look at some of the factors that play a vital role in the development of this condition: Intestinal muscle contractions The intestinal walls have muscle linings that allow food to pass through the digestive tract through its contraction and relaxation movements. If the intestinal contractions are stronger than the average levels, it can lead to the formation of gas, bloating, and even diarrhea. At the same time, if the muscle contractions are weaker than usual, food passes slowly through the digestive tract, which can lead to the formation of hard and dry stool. Nervous system Abnormalities in the nerves in your digestive system can cause your body to overreact to changes. Thus, it could result in discomfort, pain, or even diarrhea and constipation. Intestinal inflammation Some people with IBS-D develops an increased number of immune-system cells in the intestinal walls which leads to inflammation of these walls. This condition plays a role in the formation of more serious digestive abnormalities including diarrhea and constipation.

Immunization is the key to protection from critical diseases. Vaccinations during childhood and adulthood have brought down the high mortality rates caused by life-threatening illnesses. Meningococcal infection was one such dreaded disease that claimed the lives of many people. Thanks to meningitis vaccine shots, meningococcal disease is now preventable. Although rare, meningococcal disease can cause grave conditions in teens and young adults. Once a person contracts this infection, it spreads rapidly, infecting the lining of the brain and spinal cord. In worst cases, the meningococcal infection spreads to the entire brain and spinal cord within a few hours. To get protection from meningococcal disease, it is vital that one takes meningitis vaccine shots. Vaccination is the best way to guard oneself against contracting this dangerous and rapidly spreading infection. All you need to know about the meningitis vaccine Meningococcal infection is not contagious like flu or cold, but the disease can spread through infected respiratory and throat secretions. An infected person can spread this infection by coughing or sneezing around others or by kissing them. Currently, three vaccines shots for meningitis are available in the country. None of these vaccines contain live bacterial cultures. These vaccines essentially contain antigens that trigger the immune system to produce antibodies to fight the meningococcal disease. When the infection enters the body, the antibodies present in the immune system attack and kill the infectious bacteria. The three vaccines available for meningococcal disease are: Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (MenB) The first two options in the list offer protection against four types of meningococcal infections. These infections make up 70% of the meningococcal infection cases in the country. Meanwhile, the MenB vaccine prevents meningococcal disease caused by the Meningococcal B strain of bacteria. The MCV4 vaccine is administered to people aged 55 and younger.

According to a report by the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, nearly 1 million people living in the country suffer from Parkinson’s disease. This association plans to educate people about this condition as well as the various problems that accompany it. What is Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s disease is an ailment that has a negative impact on the functioning of the human brain. It spreads slowly because of which an early diagnosis becomes nearly impossible. It comes gradually with a mild disturbance in movements, and slowly it starts impacting other activities like sleep, speech, and even the ability to think. Its other symptoms like the rigidity of muscles, problems with digestions are too vague because of which patients may get an inaccurate diagnosis in the early stages. Impact of Parkinson’s disease on the human body The main effect of Parkinson’s disease is the way it decreases the amount of dopamine in the body. Dopamine is a hormone that helps in the controlling motor and non-motor functions in our body. If the body has a dopamine deficiency, it leads to stilted walking, movements that are uncontrollable as well as tremors. There are many other symptoms that are less noticeable like loss of smell and constipation. Let’s have a look at a few details regarding the life expectancy of patients who have Parkinson’s disease. Appearance of symptoms According to medical studies, by the time a patient begins to exhibit the key symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, almost 60 to 70 percent of the body’s dopamine will be gone. This lack of dopamine will hamper all kinds of functions in the body. However, just because a patient starts exhibiting the symptoms of this condition doesn’t mean that they are out of all options. At such times, a patient’s mental strength matters a lot. Patients with Parkinson’s disease must try to stay positive, regardless of the circumstances.

Pollen is a very fine yellowish powder produced by flowers, trees, weeds, and grasses to help fertilize other plants of the same species. Sometimes, these pollens, when inhaled by people, cause an adverse immune response, leading to pollen allergies. In fact, many people in the country are allergic to pollen. Normally, the body’s immune system guards the body against harmful raiders, such as bacteria and viruses, to keep all illnesses at bay. In the case of people with pollen allergies, the immune system erroneously classifies harmless pollens as dangerous invaders. Consequently, it starts producing a large number of antibodies to fight against pollen. This is termed as an allergic reaction. Pollen allergy is also known as Hay Fever or Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis. What to Do if You are Allergic to Pollen? Once a person has developed pollen allergy, he is quite unlikely to get rid of it. However, there are some remedies that offer pollen allergy relief. Apart from medications, making certain lifestyle changes can also help to manage the allergy symptoms. Here is a complete guide to pollen allergies, along with some effective home remedies that offer instant relief. Different Types of Pollen Allergies Several types of pollens exist in nature. This is the reason why some people experience symptoms when trees are flowering, while others experience symptoms when the grass is growing. People may have an allergy to the following pollen types: Trees such as oak, birch, and cedar Grasses Weeds such as ragweed, tumbleweed, and sagebrush Generally, it is seen that grasses are the most common source of allergy. If you are not sure about which pollen type you are allergic to, you can consult a specialist. This information is particularly important as every plant grows at a different time of the year. Knowing which pollen causes allergy can help you decide exactly when to start taking medications and precautions.