Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is typically caught during annual physical exams. During the exam, physicians inspect the joints for swelling, sensitivity, and range of motion. If OA is expected, additional medical tests will be performed. X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be performed to visualize changes in the joints. While an X-ray cannot image cartilage it can reveal narrow spaces between joint bones and bone spurs. MRIs can directly image cartilage. MRI is not typically used for diagnosis of OA, but may be used for more intricate cases. Blood tests can be used to rule out other possible forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. Joint fluid can also be examined for elevated levels of inflammation and to rule out other causes of pain such as infections. Treatment of Osteoarthritis Most treatments for OA aim at relieving symptoms rather than reversing the disease. Painkillers such as acetaminophen are prescribed to reduce the pain. In mild to moderate cases nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed to treat inflammation and pain. While effective at reducing pain, long-term use is associated with severe side effects such as liver and kidney damage, gastric bleeding and cardiovascular complications. In more severe cases, opioids and narcotics are used to relieve the pain.

Before talking about what causes osteoporosis, let’s look at the functions of bones. Bones serve as a large reservoir of calcium and to support the skeletal system. Bones are constantly regenerating as a way to get rid of old bone tissue and strengthen the bones with new bone tissue. It is estimated that the skeleton is completely replaced approximately over 4 years. Bone building, known as “remodeling” is the process of resorption and formation. Resorption : In resorption old bone is eaten up by the body (osteoclasts) and calcium, phosphorus, and collagen type 1 are in released into circulation. Osteoblasts are created when the parathyroid hormone stimulates the Osteoblasts, who in turn signal the monocytes and macrophages to differentiate into osteoclasts. Resorption takes days to weeks. Bone formation : is when osteoblats lay down new bone tissue called osteoid, which is made up of of type 1 collagen and other proteins. In order for the new bone tissue to grow strong, the osteoblasts deposit calcium and phosphorus (this step depends on the amount of calcium and phosphorus available, which is why it is important that we get enough calcium in our diet.) Bone formation takes months. Osteoporosis Causes Osteoporosis occurs when more bone is being broken down than built up. This can occur due to estrogen deficiency, steroid use, etc. There are two types of osteoporosis; primary and secondary.

It can be hard to tell if you have Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms of the disease differ from person to person. They also change as the disease progresses. Symptoms that one person gets in the early stages of Parkinsons, another person may not get until later-or not at all. People start showing signs of the disease between the ages of 50 to 60. It develops slowly and is often unnoticed by loved ones, friends and even the person suffering from it. By definition, Parkinson’s is a progressive disease. Although some people with Parkinson’s only have symptoms on one side of the body for many years, eventually the symptoms begin on the other side. Symptoms on the other side of the body often do not become as severe as symptoms on the initial side. Some of the symptoms are as follows: Tremor A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may notice a back-and-forth rubbing of your thumb and forefinger, known as a pill-rolling tremor. One characteristic of Parkinson’s disease is a tremor of your hand when it is at rest. Rigid muscles Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can limit your range of motion and cause you pain.

Suffering from hypertension? Then you are at greater risk of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Fortunately for you, there is a simple solution – namely, your diet. If you manage to get the right nutrition, you can not only control hypertension but also reduce the risk of other comorbid conditions drastically. Before you start to combat hypertension, however, it is necessary to understand what it is. The blood flowing in your vessels exerts a tension on the vessel walls. This is normal pressure. It is necessary to have this pressure to ensure that all parts of your body receive nutrients. When this pressure drops, you run the risk of losing the blood supply to the brain. But when the pressure increases, there is potential for damage to a number of parts of the body, including the eyes, brain, heart and the kidney. If you’re suffering from hypertension, then you most likely are already on medication. But medication alone is not much help, without following a proper diet. Read on to learn what foods you should include in your diet, in order to keep your blood pressure under control. Here is the underlying formula: Consume a diet that contains potassium, magnesium, and loads of fiber, while reducing the intake of sodium.

Most dermatologists believe you have sensitive skin if you have skin reactions like skin erosion, bumps, a tendency towards rashes and blushing. If you have very dry skin it too is classified as dry skin. Some people have naturally dry skin, while others might develop a sensitive skin. There are too many factors or causes that can lead to sensitive skin. If you believe you have symptoms of sensitive skin is recommended that you get a dermatologist to get your condition correctly diagnosed. All of us have a set skincare routine. Some have a more elaborate one while others might just cleanse, moisturize and be done with it. And we have our favorite products too. The products we use for a long time generally do not harm our skin. But if you feel your sensitive skin is not improving, suspend using any cosmetic or other products you use regularly. Try using Vaseline petroleum jelly or a doctor prescribed product. While there are numerous reasons that can cause sensitive skin, here are a few common ones. – Overdoing scrubbing: Exfoliation is a great skincare routine. It removes dead cells, removes dirt and other impurities from the top layer and jcan impart a healthy glow. But overdoing it can lead to abrasions, erosion of skin cells and can lead to cracks in the outer layer of the skin.

People with generalized anxiety disorder experience excessive anxiety over things related to their life. The anxiety and worry can be about family, work, finances, health or anything else. If you have generalized anxiety disorder, you can seek treatment from a doctor. But there are also some coping strategies that you can include in your daily life to deal with your condition. Consider these five coping strategies for generalized anxiety disorder. Maintain a Journal Instead of simply worrying about anything and everything all day long, channel your worries in writing to understand your condition better. You can also use art to channel your thoughts. You can either set aside a time everyday to sit and jot down your thoughts. Or you can take a few minutes away from your routine whenever the worrying becomes excessive during the course of your day. This measure may also help you learn more about the causes of your generalized anxiety disorder and better manage your condition. Practice Calming Techniques Include some calming techniques in your daily routine to soothe your nerves. You can listen to music or motivational talks. Massages and yoga can also help you calm your worrying mind. You can also light a candle with your favourite scent and practice deep breathing a few times every day.

It is often said that “You are what you eat”. Turns out, there is some objective truth in that statement. It is a scientifically proven fact that our mood and health completely depend on our food habits. Human nutrition is complex, and the microbiota affects everything right from our mood, stress, health, and behavior. This intricately linked system has made some scientists call our gut, the second brain. In the anatomy of the brain-gut axis, it has been found that the bacteria in the digestive system helps mold the brain structure and assists in the growth and development of the brain. It can be called as a bidirectional communication. What’s the connection between the gut and brain? Let’s understand the science behind this phenomenon. The human body consists of a trillion microbes collectively known as the microbiome. The vagus nerve present in the digestive system has a direct connection between the gut and brain. In fact, Irish researchers tested the absence of the vagus nerve; they cut the vagus nerve of a mouse and observed that many responses were eliminated. Almost 90% of fibers in the primary visceral nerve carries information from the gut to the brain. The right gut bacteria interact on a hormonal level to stop the cortisol and adrenaline response, which is harmful in the long term.

Adult incontinence refers to the condition where the patient cannot control his or her urge to pee. These people have the urge to use the loo when they have the urge to pee, or they might have an accident. Though it is observed that a lot of old people suffer from this problem, there are cases where people in their early 20s or 30s too face such problems. Mostly women complain of suffering from this condition, but with that being said, there are a lot of men out there who face the same issue. The only good thing about this condition is that it can be treated and cured completely de pending on what method is used to cure the condition. In this article, you will get to know about some of the adult incontinence treatment options that are available today. Adult incontinence treatment depends on the cause of the condition. There are many reasons like pregnancy, childbirth, damaged nerves, and blockage in the urinary tract that can cause adult incontinence. Here are some adult incontinence treatment methods you can consider: Behavioral techniques In this adult incontinence treatment method, your doctor will tell you to work on your control on your bladder.

Bowel Incontinence, which is commonly referred to by the medical community as Fecal Incontinence, is a medical condition that has several variances.  Bowel incontinence is defined as the loss of bowel function, resulting in the expulsion of the fecal matter.  Fecal incontinence can present as either a mild form or a more severe form.  The mild form of fecal incontinence consists of occasional bowel control loss, usually during flatulence.  The more severe form of fecal incontinence is when there is a complete loss of bowel control and complete bowel movements are expelled without the individual’s capability to prevent it.   There are some relatively common, temporary causes of bowel incontinence as well as some more severe, irreversible causes of bowel incontinence.  Temporary causes of bowel incontinence include diarrhea or food poisoning. Spinal cord damage is one of the leading causes of irreversible fecal incontinence.   Fecal incontinence is not always an easy topic to discuss with other people.  It can be quite embarrassing, to the extent that the individual does not seek evaluation by a health care provider.  It is essential to remember that healthcare providers are trained to evaluate patient’s medical conditions and symptoms.  Medical professionals help with finding the underlying cause behind what is causing the incontinence.

Most people resort to online checkers for diabetes and are generally unaware of the type of diabetes they might have. Both types of diabetes are conditions that occur when the blood sugar level rises above normal. However, the cause and development of diabetes from type I and type II is different. There is a typical assumption that type II diabetes is seen among people who are overweight and type I diabetes is seen among people who are underweight. But this is assumption only qualifies to be a myth as it has no solid factual backing. Another assumption for type I vs. type II diabetes is that people with type I diabetes use insulin, while people with type II diabetes do not use insulin. Read along to know more about type I and type II diabetes. Type I diabetes, earlier known as juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, accounts to only 5 to 10 out of 100 people with diabetes. In type I diabetes, the immune system of the body destroys the cells that release insulin. With time, they eliminate the insulin completely from the body. Once the insulin is lost, the cells lose their power to absorb sugar (glucose), which helps in producing energy.

If you are considering adding multivitamins to your health and fitness program, you might have some questions and concerns on how to take them correctly, safely, and for greatest benefit. While nothing can replace the advice of a physician, the information below can help you with preparing your list of questions to ask about multivitamins when you visit your doctor. What’s the best way to take vitamins? First and foremost, it is important to remember that natural sources of vitamins and trace minerals are contained in healthy foods. This is the best way to gain the nutrients that your body needs. While there’s still some controversy about exactly which vitamin supplements are best, experts agree that a healthy diet with natural foods is the best place to start and adding the multivitamin should be taken as a needed supplement, not as a replacement for a healthy diet. In the past, vitamins were something most people purchased in a health food store. Multivitamins are found everywhere now: grocery stores, pharmacies, retail shops, gyms and fitness centers, and of course online. They can be found in tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid forms, all containing a variety of mixtures of vitamins together (sometimes with herbs and minerals, oils and extracts) and are intended to supply dietary supplements for those looking for better health.