Symptoms and causes of deep vein thrombosis Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a blood clot forms in your veins. In DVT, the clot forms in one of the deeper veins, and it occurs in your legs. DVT can cause pain and cramps in your leg, but it could also lead to a life-threatening condition called Pulmonary Embolism (PE). What are the risk factors for Deep Vein Thrombosis? Blood clots can occur for various reasons – injury, certain medical conditions, surgery, etc. The risk factors for Deep Vein Thrombosis are: A Family History of DVT : If other members of your family have been affected by DVT or Pulmonary Embolism, you are at risk for getting this disease. Being Overweight : Your weight exerts more pressure on the veins in your legs and the pelvis. This increases the chances of a blood clot forming in your veins. Injury : Certain injuries like a fracture that causes damage to the veins, can also raise the chances of developing a blood clot. Surgery : Surgery, especially leg surgery like a joint replacement procedure, can lead to the formation of blood clots in some patients. Pregnancy : When you are pregnant, the uterus expands, and this affects the normal speed of blood flow.

7 warning signs of breast cancer that you should know In spite of repeated attempts to educate women about breast cancer and how to spot it early on, thousands of women around the world are diagnosed with this disease every month. While many women claim ignorance on their part as the main reason for the same, others indicate that they do not know how to notice breast cancer symptoms in the initial stages. This is where we come into the picture. We have scoured through hundreds of websites to bring to you the warning signs of breast cancer so that you can get treated for it successfully. Here are some of those signs you need to look out for. Appearance of lumps If you doubt a person to be suffering from breast cancer, the first sign, and probably one of the most common ones that should ring a bell in your mind is the visibility of lumps. You may start to notice a small, hardened lump under the skin of your breast. Some of these lumps may be rounded and soft while others may be irregular shaped and hard. Some may be painless, but others may pain a lot. So if you notice a strange looking lump on your breast, which you definitely knew did not exist before, get it checked out by a healthcare professional immediately as it would be a breast cancer symptom.

Acid reflux is the reverse passage of gastric contents into the esophagus (alimentary canal) that can cause heartburn. Acid reflux is the actual action of the part of the stomach contents that rises into the esophagus (sometimes in the throat and even in the mouth), while acidity is the unpleasant sensation as a result of that action. If one suffers from frequent acid reflux, such person may have GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease. It may sound scary, but in most cases, GERD is not a severe condition and is experienced by at least one in ten persons every day. But persistent episodes can damage the lining of the esophagus, so you should definitely talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you’re worried. Symptoms of acid reflux The typical symptoms of acid reflux are: Heartburn: a burning or pain that is felt behind the breastbone that can reach the throat. Regurgitation: an acidic acid or bitter taste that goes back to the throat or mouth. Other possible symptoms of acid reflux disease include: Swelling Burp Dysphagia: difficulty swallowing or feeling of food trapped in the throat Hiccup that does not give up Nausea Weight loss without any known reason Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness or a chronic sore throat Foods that cause acid reflux Here is a list of foods to avoid if experiencing acid reflux:

Common symptoms of fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia initially known as fibrosis is a common disorder that causes intense pain in bones and muscles originating in the tissues of the body. It is associated to the tenderness in the body which are called trigger points. In these areas the lightest pressure can cause unbearable pain. The pain caused by these trigger points are termed as a constant dull ache. It is one such ailment that cause physical, mental and social discomfort. Two to four percent of Americans suffer from this problem. Age doesn’t become a hindrance for this sickness to trap a person. As per the records of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), round about 5 million adults aged 18 years and above in the United States have fibromyalgia, wherein 80-90% of fibromyalgia patients are women. Females having close relatives suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome are more vulnerable to experiencing it themselves. This disorder is centuries old but was confused with rheumatism. But as medical science progressed and learnt that the fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms were different as compared to the other arthritic diseases where, the former affects the body tissues and not the joints unlike the latter was recognized in the fall of 1990’s to be a distinct medical condition.

Here are a few things to know about the early symptoms and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA, is a type of inflammatory arthritis that leads to chronic joint inflammation in the knees, feet, hands, and fingers. If you have been diagnosed with RA or are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis-symptoms, it is important to know more about this disease at an early stage and consult a doctor. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the joints; this causes pain, swelling, and damage to the bone. According to a study, nearly 1.5 million people in the United States are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis-symptoms (RA). It can affect any gender or at any age. Studies suggest that in women, the symptoms manifest between the ages of 30 and 60 years. On the other hand, the symptoms may occur at a later age in men. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints on both sides of the body including both hands, wrists, and knees. It is important to get treatment as early as possible when the symptoms first occur. Ignoring RA treatment can lead to severe health issues. High levels of inflammation can lead to various health problems throughout the body including the following: Blood vessels:  RA can also cause the inflammation of blood vessels leading to damage to the nerves, skin, and other organs.

Tips to deal with shingles nerve pain Shingles are defined as a ‘reactivation of the chickenpox virus, the varicella-zoster.’ The virus travels down the nerve fibers to cause a painful skin rash. Shingles are common in older adults and in people who have weakened immune systems. Anyone who has previously had chickenpox is at the risk of getting shingles. After recovery, the virus will remain in the nervous system and lie dormant for years. Its reactivation may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you grow older. You cannot catch shingles from someone who has shingles or chickenpox. Nevertheless, if you have never had chickenpox and you come into communication with someone who has shingles when the rash is still blistering and active, then it is probable for you to contract chickenpox. Most cases of Shingles last only for three to five weeks. Often characterized by the pain and rashes, the disease leaves behind nerve damage, which is yet another problem for patients. The rashes appear within the first five days. The signs and symptoms of shingles vary between mild to severe pain, with the most common warning sign being a rash on one side of the body, often on the trunk, head, and neck or around the eye.

Cancer of the plasma cells Multiple myeloma or plasma cell myeloma is the official name of cancer of the plasma cells. The white blood cells usually produce a normal number of antibodies. There are no symptoms of this condition, but if it reaches an advanced stage it leads to pain in the bones, bleeding, anemia, infections, and amyloidosis. Those suffering from this disease usually face a relapse of multiple myeloma after complete remission. Causes for multiple myeloma are also unknown but many factors contribute to it. These factors include family history, obesity, drinking, exposure to radiation, and chemicals. The main reason being abnormal plasma cells producing an irregular and uncharacteristic numbers of antibodies, causing thickness in the blood and kidney problems. This can form mass/masses in the bone marrow [the soft tissue]. The presence of more than one mass is called multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma can be diagnosed through blood and urine tests that look for abnormal numbers of antibodies, conducting bone marrow biopsy, medical imaging to look for bone lesions, and high levels of blood calcium. Multiple myeloma can be treated but is not entirely curable and has the chance of being relapsed. Remission is possible only with steroids, thalidomide, chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, lenalidomide, etc.

  Symptoms and Treatment for Pneumonia   Pneumonia is an infection caused by bacteria, fungi, virus or mycoplasma. One or both the lungs get infected when someone is affected by Pneumonia. Adults suffer from bacterial Pneumonia other than any other type of Pneumonia. Pneumonia symptoms affects the lungs as they get inflamed in the air sacs which are called alveoli. The air sacs get filled with fluid or pus which makes it difficult to breathe. Early Pneumonia symptoms range from coughing, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating, feeling chilled etc. Everyone may not go through all the symptoms. The symptoms can vary from person to person based on the age, the kind of infection etc. Viral Pneumonia is caused by respiratory viruses. Viral pneumonia usually affects young children and older people. Viral pneumonia is less serious than Pneumonia caused by bacteria, virus or mycoplasma. The Pneumonia symptoms caused by the virus are similar to may start with flu-like symptoms which start with wheezing. After 12 to 36 hours, the person may suffer from high fever. Bacterial Pneumonia is caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumonia. Chlamydophila pneumonia and Legionella Pneumophila are two other kinds of bacteria which can cause pneumonia. The symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria can cause the high fever which can go up to 105°F.

All about multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis, is an autoimmune disease. The immune system in humans is designed to protect the body from the ill effects of foreign invaders like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and pollens that can cause harm to the body. For some unknown and not fully understood reasons, the immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks one system or the other of the human body. Depending on the system affected, there are different names for the condition. However, all autoimmune diseases have the common trait of periodic flare ups alternating between periods of relative quiets or remittance. There is considerable variation in the symptoms multiple sclerosis and their intensity and is almost specific to each of the patients. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder with a faulty immune system where the nerves of the central nervous system, the brain and spinal cord are potentially disabled. The protective sheath of the nerves, called as the myelin layer, is attacked and destroyed. This causes problems in the communication between the brain and the rest of the body. As the disease progresses the nerves themselves deteriorate or permanently damaged The symptoms of multiple sclerosis, as is with autoimmune diseases, vary considerably in patients.

Everything to know about meningitis You may have heard of this disorder, and you might have a vague idea of how deadly it can be. Meningitis is one of the deadliest inflammation disorders to exist, because it can be quick in its progress, and if left untreated can wreak havoc. If not fatal, meningitis can leave the patients with severe side effects in the way that their brain functions. It’s so quick in its effect, that patients barely survive a day, let alone a few days. So what is it about this disorder that makes it so deadly? And what are meningitis symptoms anyway? Meningitis: what it is and what it isn’t Meningitis refers to the swelling and inflammation of the membranes and protective tissue around the brain and spinal cord. These membranes are known as Meninges. While it is most often caused by an infection, any number of triggers may set off its progress. Any physical injury, certain types of cancers, and even drugs may cause meningitis. For obvious reasons, meningitis is much worse in babies since they are unable to report any of the numerous symptoms. The most common and visible of all meningitis symptoms is the skin rash.

Know more about the cancer of the renal organ Metastatic renal cell cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting the kidneys among adults. It is also called renal cell carcinoma; it is asymptomatic and is found during imaging. The symptoms which occur in just 20% of the patients include flank pain, macroscopic hematuria, and abdominal mass. The reasons for this type of cancer can be genetic and environmental. The prognosis in these cases is poor as they show resistant to chemoradiotherapy. It is the 14th common cancer cause and is accountable for 2/3 % of the new cancer cases. In a population of a 100,000 over 15 cases exist. Males show a higher percentage than females. The incidence of this disease is 15 fold more in Europe, Australia, and North America in comparison to Africa and Asia. This type of cancer is also common post kidney transplant among native transplant recipients is a hundredfold more than patients who are on dialysis. There is also a strong connection between dialysis before transplant and developing renal cell carcinoma after transplant. Metastatic renal cell cancer sufferers show a poor response to treatment and the population barely crosses the age of 64.