What is gout? Gout is a type of arthritis that primarily attacks the joints and other body parts like the ears, wrists, knuckles, knee, ankles, and other small joints. It is often characterized by painful swelling, stiffness, and inflammation of these affected joints. The swelling and stiffness are mainly the results of excess levels of uric acid forming crystals in the joints. The pain is due to the inflammatory response to the crystals formed. The causes of gout may include lack of exercise, high levels of uric acid in the system, genetics, excessive consumption of meat, being overweight, menopause, excessive consumption of alcohol, stress, and excessive protein content in the body. It mainly affects the big toe, causing an increased swelling, inflammation, and redness in the affected area. The deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint causes inflammation and makes the movement of the joint agonizing. The elevated levels of uric acid in the system also causes the depositing of crystals in the kidney, which, in turn, leads to stone formation. Gout attacks An overweight or an obese person is more likely to suffer from frequent gout attacks. A gout attack generally results from years of having high levels of uric acid in your bloodstream.

The varicose veins are the blood vessels which carry the blood back from the legs to the heart. Many times you must have noticed the blue gnarled veins under the skin. This could probably be a varicose vein disorder. The National Institute of Health reveals that 60% of men and women suffer from the varicose vein problem. Varicose veins disorder starts with the development of spider veins. The spider veins are the soft red and blue tracing of veins that appear on the skin. They look similar to spider webs. Exposure to the sun breaks down the collagen level and worsens the problem caused by spider veins. The varicose vein disorder can be caused by several factors. Hormone disorders play a big part in the occurrence of varicose vein disorder. Birth control pills, puberty, menopause, pregnancy, and the consumption of estrogen and progesterone result in the weakening of vein valves. In pregnant women, blood circulation is increased to make sufficient blood available for the mother and fetus. This causes the veins to bulge. Sitting for longer time intervals on thighs obstructs the blood return to the heart. Generally, the varicose veins that arise during pregnancy subside after three months of delivery.

A seizure is a brief episode of abnormal brain activity. Seizures are also called epileptic seizures or fits. During a seizure, there is a burst of excessive or synchronous brain activity. This abnormal brain activity can manifest in many ways. A disorder in which a person has more than one unprovoked seizure is called epilepsy. An unprovoked seizure is one that is not triggered by a specific cause of low blood sugar, poisoning, infections, etc. Epilepsy is diagnosed by first ruling out other similar disorders like fainting or non-epileptic attacks and external causes such as a drug overdose, low oxygen saturation, alcohol, infections, etc. It is estimated that 1% of the global population is affected by epilepsy and 5-10% of the population will have a seizure by the time they’re 80. Epilepsy responds well to treatment in 70% of patients. In patients who have an inadequate response to treatment, seizures can be controlled by dietary changes, management of external stressors, surgery, or neurostimulation. In some cases, with adequate treatment, seizures can be reduced in frequency and severity over time. Types Of Seizures The majority of seizures are convulsive. Non-convulsive seizures are rarer and less likely to be detected since they last for a very short period of time.

Your sex drive or libido can play a huge role in your life. When your libido is facing a nose dive, it can be frustrating and embarrassing as well. However, a lot of men face this issue, and here are a few male enhancement techniques that can help change your sex life for the better. Make Sure You Stay Active Staying active can positively contribute not just to your general health but your sexual health as well. You should know that your blood circulation and pressure plays an essential role in your sexual performance. One of the major causes of erectile dysfunction is improper blood circulation. Indulge in cardiovascular exercises often and make sure you exercise as regularly as possible. Ensure that you do light exercises every day and a more vigorous regime a few times a week. Research shows that men who are physically fit and active have lesser chances of having a loss or decrease of libido, as opposed to men who lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Incorporate Meats Into Your Diet The nutrients in meat can help with your blood flow. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon and tuna can help your circulation. Vitamin B-1 found in meat like beef and pork can help improve the functions of your nervous system, which includes signaling your brain activity concerning your penis.

Are you suffering from acute body ache? Are you tired and feel fatigued most of the time? Do you have disturbed sleep or undergo severe mood swings? If so, you might probably be suffering from a serious ailment named fibromyalgia. Although the mentioned symptoms may also be similar to other diseases or sickness, given below are some of the common indications of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that accelerates a musculoskeletal pain throughout one’s body. It basically intensifies painful sensations that affect the brain’s ability to process signals related to pain. Till the last couple of years, pain relief for fibromyalgia was limited to prescribing simple painkillers. However, a patient suffering from pain due to fibromyalgia can be treated in better ways today. Doctors have a better understanding of the problem today and are able to recommend appropriate medication that focuses mainly on providing pain relief for fibromyalgia. Indications of fibromyalgia for diagnosis Doctors across the globe noted that women are found to be more susceptible to pain due to fibromyalgia compared to men. The reason, however, is yet unknown. Although most of the warning signs of this disorder may sound very similar to any other disease symptoms, doctors treating a patient suffering from fibromyalgia diagnose the disorder only after knowing the patient’s medical history.

Diabetic feet are problems in your feet, as a result of diabetes. Diabetes is the medical condition associated with the lack of insulin in our body, which is a hormone released by the pancreas. Insulin helps convert glucose from the food that you intake, into energy. Due to the lack of insulin, glucose stays in the blood, and high glucose can cause health problems and foot complications. Diabetic foot is a severe condition affecting anyone with diabetes. The effects may be mild like the healing of a foot cut, or extreme like an amputation of the foot. One simple thing you can do is, prevent any injuries to your feet and make sure to monitor your feet on a daily basis. There are two major reasons for diabetic feet. Lack of oxygen and nutrients will lead to the low blood supply to the feet which will further cause cuts and damages. Secondly, there is a diabetic nerve called peripheral neuropathy that causes numbness in your feet, thereby increasing your chances to get sores and infections. Problems Associated With Diabetic Feet Fungal Infection of the Nails This is caused by bacteria and results in irritated and reddened nail area. The infection also leads to a change of color (yellow) along with inflammation, pain and crumbling of the toe.

Testosterone, a hormone generated by the testicles, is required for boosting masculinity and muscle development. An increase in the levels of this hormone during adolescence is the reason why boys develop male characteristics such as facial hair and a deep voice. In addition to this, testosterone promotes red blood cell production, strengthens the bones, uplifts mood, and fosters mental capabilities. The levels of testosterone in the body peak during early adulthood and they begin to decline after the age of 40 years. Beyond the age of 50 years, men may complain of the symptoms of low testosterone levels such as alterations in sexual drive, impotence, anxiety, fatigue, gain in body weight, lowered muscle mass, and anemia. Although a reduction in the testosterone levels occurs as one grows old, it may occur owing to other health conditions such as infections, injuries, cancer treatments, hormonal or steroid drug consumption, stress, obesity, alcoholism, and severe illnesses. Normally, testosterone levels in the body range between 300 and 1000 nanograms per deciliter of blood. Men with levels less than this lower limit are deemed as suffering from low testosterone. This is a major concern for men. Hence one must consider consulting a doctor for low testosterone treatment.

Ear infections are most prominent in individuals during the rainy season. High outdoor temperatures such as those exceeding 38 o C could induce ear infections. Children are more vulnerable as compared to adults getting an ear infection. Ear infection symptoms often come into effect in little time. Timely treatment must be considered in case of severe ear infections. Different ear infections have different treatment methods. Symptoms of Ear Infection Pain in the ear Feeling unwell Low energy levels Inaudibility Discharge from the ear Feeling of fullness inside the ear Flaky skin both, in and around the ear Children and babies can have some other symptoms when they have an ear infection. These include: Irritability Restlessness Difficult in maintaining balance Disinterested in eating Tendency to rub or pull ears Let’s run through some of the key differences between inner and outer ear infections. Inner Ear Infections: Children are more vulnerable towards getting an inner ear infection. Most common causes are flu and colds. These affect the ear canal or the tube that connects the eardrum to the outer ear. Outer Ear Infections: Adults are more vulnerable, particularly in the age group of 45 to 75 years. The underlying cause is often something that irritates the ear canal.

Your shoulder is a combination of many joints. The joints meet the muscles and tendons of the arm to provide a full range of motion to the arm. The shoulder facilitates thousands of activities in everyday life. These vary from scratching one’s back to bowling, to carrying bags, and even driving. But your shoulder’s mobility may deteriorate over time, leading to issues such as instability & soreness. It may even affect the functioning of the bones or soft tissue in the shoulder, resulting in pain. The pain could be consistent and chronic, or you might feel the pain only when you move the shoulder. If the pain is temporary, it is easy to deal with, but if it lasts for a long time, this may call for medical attention. We need to understand the anatomy of the shoulder to understand shoulder pain in a better way. Anatomy Of The Shoulder The shoulder comprises of three major bones. They are as follows. Humerus, or the upper arm bone Scapula, or the shoulder bone Collarbone, or the Clavicle There is a round socket in the shoulder blade called the glenoid. The top part of the humerus, or the upper arm bone, fits into the glenoid.

Sciatica is a pain in the leg that often affects one’s motions and activities. It is caused by the irritation in the sciatic nerve that arrives from each side of the lower spine and then goes through the pelvis and bumps. Next, the pain courses along the back portion of each leg and finally divides at the knee until it offshoots till the feet. Radiculopathy, which is a disease of the root of a nerve, is even worse than the back one as per doctors. It is usually caused by pressure on the nerve; the herniated disc forms a breakage and swells into spinal cord pinching the said nerve. The sensation of the pain is truly reflected by the word intolerable . It can result in numbness and a tingling sensation, apart from something like a burning sensation. Continuous sitting or standing, training, and weightlifting can be the originators. Sciatic pain treatment has a wide range, within which medicines, physiotherapy, etc. are present. Medicines for pain relief There are different sorts of medications available that are used by a clinical specialist to reduce the pain. Among oral medicines, acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen like Advil, Ketoprofen, and Naproxen are common. Doctors commonly prescribe some muscle relaxants for easing spasms.