All about breast cancer treatments Quote – “Your illness does not define you. Your strength and courage does”. – Anonymous The breast is one of the most sensitive areas of a woman’s body and is composed of many types of tissues. It comes as no surprise that there are many types of breast cancer as well. Like any other cancer, breast cancer also begins without any significant symptoms. However, awareness campaigns through various media have been a success, wherein most women have been taught the process of self-examination. This is important since even innocuous lumps and early detection of breast cancer has rendered cancers often curable in many cases through treatments, which may have otherwise been metastatic. The mortality rates have also decreased consequently. In spite of all the improvements in detection, treatment, and management, cancers do go on to become killers. What are the types of breast cancers? Angiosarcoma is a type of cancer that starts inside the blood and lymph vessels; this is a rare type of cancer. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) is a common type of breast cancer. It is usually detectable in the initial stages and is curable. It has only low potential to be invasive.

All about eye floaters and how to get rid of them Ever came across the term “eye floaters?” In case you haven’t, you will find this article quite helpful, as it discusses eye floaters, what causes eye floaters, and their treatment and cure in detail. What are eye floaters? Eye floaters are spots that float in the field of vision. They may look like black or grey strings, specks, or cobwebs. Eye floaters drift when you move your eyes and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly. As the floaters are inside the fluid in your eyes, they move with your eye movement. They can distract you, but they don’t cause any pain and discomfort. They may appear only in one eye or in both the eyes. Eye floaters usually appear when you stare at bright objects and surfaces, such as the sky, a blank bright paper, or a reflective object. They are rarely seen in situations where there is reduced illumination. No two people have the same eye floaters. What causes eye floaters? The following can be the causes of eye floaters: Age-related eye changes : One of the causes of eye floaters is the change in the eyes caused by aging.

Common signs and symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia Bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for all kinds of pneumococcal infections. The bacterium is also known as pneumococcus. Pneumococcus, or singular pneumococci, is found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy people, and this bacterium is the only reason behind pneumococcal pneumonia. There can be many types or serotypes of pneumococci. Serotypes refer to close related family of microorganisms, where they can only be distinguished by slight changes in the antigens found in the body of the bacterium. An antigen is defined as a foreign substance responsible for producing antibodies. What is pneumococcal pneumonia? Pneumococcal pneumonia is defined as a disease that seriously infects the lungs of a person and thus can be fatal. This disease mostly affects the elderly and infants. Even though the outbreak of this disease is very rare, when an outbreak does occur, it is mainly in adults living in substandard, crowded conditions. Who is at a higher risk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia? Even though this pneumonia disease mostly affects the elderly people or people having some serious medical conditions, the following people are also at a high risk: Children below the age of 2 years Children living under group childcare People who are living in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islands.

An overview of itchy skin An uncomfortable and irritating sensation that makes an individual want to scratch is called an itchy skin. The medical term for this condition is pruritis. Commonly, itchy skin is caused by dry skin. Itchy skin because of dry skin is a condition common in older adults, as the skin tends to become drier with age. However, the cause of itchy skin is not limited to only dryness of the skin. Given below is some information about the common causes of an itchy skin, symptoms, and more. What are the most common itchy skin causes? Dry skin – Dry skin is often the cause of itchy skin. One can look at their feet and legs to check if they have flaky and scaly skin with prominent lines, this is commonly caused by dry skin. Diseases – An internal disease can cause itchy skin. Some of these diseases include kidney failure, liver disease, thyroid problems, iron deficiency anemia, etc. Usually itching caused by an internal disease affects the entire body; however, the skin may look normal to the eyes, except for the areas that are scratched repeatedly. Rashes and skin conditions – Skin conditions like eczema, contact eczema, psoriasis, lice, hives, chicken pox, etc.

An overview of external hemorrhoids- Causes, symptoms, and treatment Hemorrhoid or piles is a health condition wherein the blood vessels that are located in the smooth muscles of the anus wall or rectum wall get swollen. An external hemorrhoid is the term used when the anus veins that are located outside the anus are affected. This kind of hemorrhoids causes discomfort, pain, itching, and blood in the stools. It is very important to get hemorrhoids treatment in time when an individual experiences pain while passing stool. External hemorrhoids are formed under the skin surrounding the anus. As there are many pain-sensing nerves around the anus, these type of hemorrhoids are painful and also tend to bleed. Below is some information about the causes of external hemorrhoids, symptoms, treatment, and more. What are the causes of external hemorrhoids? One of the main causes of external hemorrhoids is too much pressure on the veins around the anus. Due to this much pressure, they tend to stretch and bulge. This pressure might be caused by: Repeated straining while passing stools Chronic constipation Chronic diarrhea Pregnancy Sitting for prolonged periods of time (especially in the toilet) What are the symptoms of external hemorrhoids? The symptoms of external hemorrhoid vary as per the severity of the hemorrhoids.

An overview of fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a long-term chronic syndrome that causes bodily pain and mental distress. Due to the chronic widespread pain caused in the body and tenderness in the muscles, it is a largely misunderstood disorder. The symptoms are subjective and in the absence of a clear cause, fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed as some other disease. Continue reading to know more about this disease, its causes, a symptoms checklist, and more. What causes fibromyalgia? An exact cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown. Various factors working together may cause this health condition, including: Infections-  An infection or illness may trigger fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms , making the condition worse. Trauma- An individual who has experienced physical and/or emotional trauma is at a risk of developing fibromyalgia. Genetics-  If there is someone in the family or relatives suffering from this disorder, then an individual is at a high risk of developing fibromyalgia. Stress-  Stress just like trauma leaves a long-term negative impact on the body. Hormonal imbalance is one of the side effects of stress that could contribute to the development of fibromyalgia in a person’s body. What are the signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia? The classic symptoms associated with fibromyalgia are widespread muscle and joint pain and fatigue.

A guide to buying dental insurance In response to the rise in the number of people demanding dental insurance, many dental insurance providers and companies have sprung up. With the increase in the number of insurance providers, it is more difficult to choose which one to opt for. This is because not all dental insurance providers offer the same benefits. You cannot simply rely on any company that claims to offer the best dental insurance plans. It is only after a thorough research of dental insurance providers and their benefits that you can ascertain the worth of an insurance provider. If you are tight on budget you can consider Aspen Dental, it offers thorough check-ups at affordable prices. If you are on the lookout for dental insurance plans and their providers, the following are the things you should know. What are the different types of dental insurance plans available? Preferred provider organizations (PPOs )- The dental insurance plans offered by the preferred provider organizations (PPOs) are quite popular because of their unmatched flexibility. They give freedom to patients to choose their dentists and dental specialists. Additionally, the service-quality is better and there are fewer limitations; however, the premiums are usually high.

An overview of diarrhea- Causes, symptoms, and prevention One of the most common health complaints, diarrhea affects almost two billion people every year globally. It can vary from a mild and temporary condition to a possibly life-threatening one. Diarrhea is a condition that is characterized by loose and watery stools. Most often diarrhea is caused by parasites, viruses, or bacteria. Chronic diarrhea is generally caused by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Preventing diarrhea is possible with the help of some nutritional and probiotic mediation. Read on further to know more about this common health ailment. What are the main causes of diarrhea? Gastrointestinal infection- Diarrhea is often caused by a gastrointestinal infection. C4ertain bacteria, parasites, or viruses are microbes responsible for this infection. In the country, most cases of acute diarrhea are caused by bacteria Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli. In certain cases of chronic diarrhea, a clear cause cannot be found. Microscopic colitis – A persistent form of diarrhea, microscopic colitis affects mainly older adults, especially, during the nights. Maldigestive and malabsorptive diarrhea – An impairment in digestive functions leads to maldigestive diarrhea. Malabsorptive diarrhea is caused by damaged nutrient absorption. An example of this would be Celiac’s disease.

All about cold sores Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that appear in the form of red patches near the mouth or on other areas of the face that may persist for two weeks or longer. It can also appear on the fingers, nose, or inside the mouth, but these can be counted as rare occurrences. Cold sores are caused by a common virus known as herpes simplex that can spread from person to person even if cold sores are not visible. It spreads by coming in close contact, such as by kissing, hugging, shaking hands, etc. Although there’s no definite cure for cold sores and they can come back anytime without any prior warning, certain medications can be used to treat cold sores and prevent them from coming back. What causes cold sores? As mentioned above, cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Herpes simplex is categorized into two types, herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1), which is responsible for common cold sores, and herpes simplex type 2 virus (HSV-2), which usually causes genital herpes. Once affected by the herpes simplex virus, the virus remains dormant in the patient’s body even after the sores get healed. This means that new sores can come up anytime without any warning, and with a weak immune system, the person can experience frequent outbreaks during illness or times of stress.

Muscle cramps – Causes, treatments, and prevention A muscle cramp is an involuntarily contracted muscle that cannot be relaxed. When individuals use the muscles that can be voluntarily controlled such as those of the legs and the arms, they contract alternatively and relax while the limbs are moved. Muscles supporting the trunk, head and neck contract similarly in synchronized fashion for maintaining posture. Muscles or even a few fibers of a certain muscle that contract involuntarily without willing consciously is in a spasm. In case the spasm is sustained and forceful, it results in cramps. Muscle cramps generally result in palpable or visible hardening of the muscle that is involved in the process. What are the causes of muscle cramps? The causes of muscle cramps are not always known. They might be the result of different activities and conditions such as: Injury, exercising, and overuse of the muscles Exposure to cold water or cold temperatures Pregnancy is also a common cause of muscle cramps. Muscle cramps might occur due to decreased amounts of different minerals such as magnesium and calcium. This generally happens in the later months of pregnancy. Spending a long time standing on hard surfaces Placing the legs in an awkward position while sleeping Sitting for a long time There are other medical conditions that can also result in muscle cramps and these include blood flow issues, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease.

Common causes of sores in the mouth Mouth sores are red coloured, tiny, shallow lesions that usually develop above the soft tissue in your mouth and near the base of your gums. Although one confuses the two, cold sores are different from mouth sores. The former develop on the lips and they are contagious as well. But mouth sores develop only in the mouth and are not contagious. However, they are painful since it can get difficult for you to eat anything when suffering from mouth sores. What are the symsptoms of mouth sores? Mouth sores are usually oval or round in shape. In the center of the lesion, it looks light yellowish or pale yellowish in color and at the edge of the lesion, it is really red. They appear only inside the mouth and not outside. The first sign of these sores is that you will have a burning or tingling sensation in the mouth for a couple of days before the lesions begin to appear. What are the common causes of sores in the mouth? A very common reason for sores in mouth is biting your lips, cheek or tongue by mistake. Another cause for mouth sores can be eating or drinking something that is too hot.