People usually look for primary care physicians or specialists near them to ensure accessibility. But another crucial factor is finding a professional you can trust and with whom you can easily establish a positive doctor-patient relationship. One of the common specialists people look for is an ENT specialist, i.e., doctors who treat conditions associated with the head and neck, ear, nose, and throat. Here is everything you need to know about finding a good doctor: Role of an ENT doctor The specialists who treat the ear, nose, and throat and associated ailments are officially known as otolaryngologists. While that is a mouthful, they are more popularly known as ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctors. The role of an ENT specialist is to treat the specific areas around the head, neck, ear, nose, and throat for allergies, throat ailments, sinus issues, and ocular infections, among other conditions. As part of their treatment, they may have to perform specialized procedures and surgeries such as tonsillectomy, septoplasty, or thyroid surgery. These doctors are sought-after specialists as they address extremely common health conditions people encounter. For instance, earaches, an itchy throat, and persistent head or neck pain are common issues ENT specialists diagnose and treat.

The increased risk of heart-related ailments due to several lifestyle issues, genetic factors, stress, and more has contributed to people looking for the best cardiologist nearby. A cardiologist is a specialized doctor who treats heart-related problems such as coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and more. Furthermore, several factors contribute to selecting the best cardiologist in the country based on individual requirements. Here are some tips to simplify the process. Word of mouth The most reliable way to find the best cardiologist nearby is through referrals from primary care doctors or family and friends. It is important to do thorough research about the doctor through various online sources. You can even get in touch with the cardiologist’s office and book a consultation to find out more about the practitioner. One of the famous cardiologists in the country is Dr. Antonio Abbate, who is the vice-chairman of the Division of Cardiology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Reachability Before choosing one of the best cardiologists in the country, it is important to check on the location of the doctor’s office and the facilities provided for checkups and tests. This is particularly vital for people suffering from active heart disease as they require visiting the doctor multiple times a year, and so traveling far off may pose a higher risk for them.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that may develop in someone who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic incident like war, accident, severe disease, loss of a loved one, natural disaster, or any kind of harassment. While some may recover in a few weeks or months, others may feel upset and have terrible recollections of the event, isolate themselves, or behave recklessly. Here’s all one needs to know about PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Causes Individuals who have undergone stressful, scary events or prolonged traumatic experiences are at risk of PTSD. Not everyone facing such events develop PTSD, and doctors have yet to identify the causes of it. However, studies indicate that patients can develop PTSD as a coping mechanism to help them face similar incidents. It is also noticed that people who develop PTSD have higher adrenaline levels and a smaller hippocampus that controls memory. Some incidents that could lead to PTSD are accidents, harassment, bullying, kidnapping, combat, working long-term in emergency services, surviving natural disasters like earthquakes, cyclones or tornados, difficult childbirth, bereavement – particularly the loss of a loved one, or chronic or life-threatening illness. Symptoms of PTSD Symptoms are likely to develop within three months after the traumatic event; they last for weeks, months, and sometimes even years.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects about 2–3% of people in the country and is more common in women than in men. It is a psychological disorder in which people experience recurring and unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations that drive them to do something repetitively. While these thoughts may not severely disrupt one’s everyday life, people with OCD may exhibit rigid behaviors. Here are some of the key things to know about the disorder:  Signs People with the disorder experience “obsessions” and “compulsions”. Obsessions: These are repetitive thought processes that can cause anxiety and fear. For example, the fear of contamination due to germs is a common obsession for people with OCD that pushes them to act (using compulsions). These thoughts have no logical reasoning, and often, people with OCD understand the irrationality. Compulsions: These are overt or covert repetitive behaviors that drive one to respond to an obsession. Here, the obsessive thought of contamination could push the person to give in to compulsions like excessive cleaning, sanitizing, or hand washing. If the person shows repeated obsessions and compulsions, it could be an obsessive-compulsive disorder sign.  Causes While the exact cause of OCD is not yet known, experts suggest that a family history of the condition plays a crucial role.

Hemophilia is a rare genetic disorder causing a person’s blood to clot more slowly than usual or, in severe cases, the inability to clot appropriately. This can lead to severe bleeding in muscles, and internal organs. The most common symptom of hemophilia is easy bruising (or “bleeding”) after injury or surgery. Hemophilia often has no signs at birth but develops after puberty. Various treatment methods are available, and prevention measures can be taken to lower one’s risk. Types of hemophilia There are two types of hemophilia: Type A and Type B. Type A hemophilia : The Type A hemophilia is the most common type, accounting for about 75% of all cases. A deficiency causes it in factor VIII (8). This is called classic hemophilia. Type B hemophilia : Type B hemophilia occurs when there’s a deficiency in factors IX and XI. This type of hemophilia makes up about 15% of all cases. It is also called Christmas disease.  Hemophilia occurs when the body does not make enough factor VIII (also called hemophilia A), which is needed for clotting blood and controlling bleeding after injury or surgery; this makes it difficult for the body’s immune system to fight off germs that cause infections.

A primary immunodeficiency is a group of disorders that affect the immune system. The cause is a defect in one of more than 100 genes responsible for building resistant system components. In general, these diseases result in an inability to produce enough antibodies or white blood cells that can prevent and fight off germs. In addition, children with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI) are at greater risk for frequent bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections. Early signs and symptoms The leading causes of primary immunodeficiencies are mutations in several genes that encode proteins involved in cell-mediated immunity (CMI). This genetic defect often leads to recurring bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral infections that can be fatal if left untreated. Children with primary immunodeficiency diseases Several types of primary immunodeficiencies affect different parts of a child’s immune system, including T-cells; B cells; macrophages; natural killer cells; dendritic cells; T-cell receptors; cytokine receptors; cell adhesion molecules. One of the most common signs is a history of repeated infection, especially in infancy and early childhood. The severity of immunodeficiency will determine how often one experiences infections. The signs and symptoms include fever or chills, loss of appetite or poor growth, poor healing from injuries due to easy bruising or bleeding (especially from minor cuts), ear infections, sinus infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, meningitis, and skin infections.

Heart monitors are a great way to monitor your health and fitness. They’re easy to use, have plenty of features, and can be worn on any part of your body. There are many advantages to having this device, as it helps a person regulate their sleep patterns, and monitor stress, thereby helping them make improvements to their lifestyle habits. If you’re looking for an entry-level heart rate monitor, these eight options are worth checking out. Polar H10 The H10 is waterproof and can be used in the pool. It has a battery life of 400 hours, which is convenient if your workout takes longer . Its fabric ensures that sweat does not get trapped between your skin and the strap; this means less irritation and comfort during long exercises like running or cycling. It is available in the range of $90. Fitbit Luxe The Fitbit Luxe is a minimalistic heart rate monitor built into the watch, so you do not have to wear a chest strap. The tracker also comes with an app that allows you to see how well your heart rate is during workouts and other activities like swimming or cycling. It is waterproof, so it will be right at home on your wrist if you exercise in water.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a psychological therapy that helps people channel their thoughts to manage their mental health issues. This treatment method enables a patient to recognize and change the negative thoughts and behaviors that affect their life. CBT can be used for many disorders, including anxiety and mood disorders. This therapy focuses on how a person thinks about things rather than what happens to them or how others affect them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on how people feel about things and affects their feelings and behavior. For example, let us say someone is going through a bad phase because they have lost their job or had an argument with their partner. They may feel sad all the time and might experience trouble sleeping at night. But if this person were able to recognize what was causing their feelings—for example, “I am feeling sad because I did not get my promotion at work” or “My relationship with my partner has become strained”—then they could try different ways to approach such thoughts until they found one which works best for them. What happens in cognitive behavioral therapy? CBT is a short-term treatment that usually lasts between 12 and 16 sessions.

Experts believe that more than 3% of the adult population in the country, or roughly 7.5 million people, have psoriasis. People with psoriatic arthritis are more likely to develop nail psoriasis. The disease, which is caused due to an overactive immune system, develops in the region where the new nails grow. This condition doesn’t have a cure yet, but treatments, good hygiene, and some home remedies can help manage and alleviate the symptoms. Nail Psoriasis Nail Psoriasis is a non-contagious autoimmune disorder characterized by discoloration, pitting, and unnatural changes in one’s nails. Usually, normal skin can grow and shed fully in about a month. But during instances of nail psoriasis, the new cells grow too fast in only three to four days. It results in the cells accumulating on the skin’s surface rather than shedding. Risk factors Anyone can get nail psoriasis, but people over 40 with psoriasis arthritis or a family history of psoriasis are more vulnerable to the condition. Additionally, men are more prone than women to develop the disease. Symptoms  The color and texture of healthy nails are consistent. Healthy fingernails and toenails often have pink nail plates, while the nail growing off the nail bed is ideally white.

Plasma is a special liquid component in a person’s blood. It maintains the blood’s pH balance, regulates blood pressure, and suspends platelets, red blood cells, and other vital cells within the bloodstream. During plasma donations, individuals visit health centers and have their blood plasma extracted to help patients with specific illnesses. Besides being incredibly beneficial for patients, plasma donations have several positives for the donors themselves. Here are some interesting details about these donations. Why is blood plasma important? Blood plasma is incredibly crucial for the body to function. Without it, the bloodstream will not receive the proteins needed to bolster the immune system, facilitate immune responses, and facilitate blood clotting. The fluid helps patients with massive blood loss due to accident-related injuries, severe burns, internal hemorrhages, childbirth complications, or other problems. It also helps treat rare blood-related diseases and clotting disorders. How does plasma donation work? Healthcare professionals use a special machine to extract plasma from a donor’s blood and return the other components to their body. The person might be administered saline during the process, which takes approximately two to three hours. Centers that collect plasma follow every possible health and safety rule to protect donors from infections.

Women’s estrogen levels drop when going through menopause, leading to symptoms like hot flashes and discomfort. Healthcare experts recommend hormone replacement therapy to manage these symptoms. Here, one uses prescription options to replace the hormone estrogen, which the body stops producing during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy also helps prevent bone loss and reduces the risk of fractures for postmenopausal women. However, one should consider the following details before opting for this therapy. Types Hormone replacement therapy (also known as estrogen therapy) focuses on making up for the estrogen deficit in the body following menopause. The two main types of estrogen therapy are: Systemic hormone therapy: Here, a healthcare expert prescribes oral options, rings, gels, creams, sprays, and skin patches that contain high amounts of estrogen. These prescriptions have a concentrated dose of the hormone absorbed throughout the body, whether consumed or applied. Systemic hormone therapy can help treat the common symptoms of menopause. Low-dose vaginal products: Low-dose vaginal preparations are available in cream, oral options, or ring forms. A doctor may recommend low-dose options for those requiring limited amounts of estrogen. This form of hormone therapy usually treats vaginal and urinary symptoms of menopause. Additionally, doctors may prescribe estrogen with progesterone or progestin if one has not had the uterus removed.