Bacterial meningitis is so severe that it can cause permanent disability, stroke, sepsis, paralysis and even death. It is the most dangerous of all kinds of meningitis. Thus, it calls for immediate medical attention. Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes known as meninges that outline the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can be viral, parasitic, non-infectious, bacterial and fungal. While viral is the most common type, bacteria is the most serious one. The mortality rate was 34% for bacterial meningitis in 2006, and about 50% people have gone through long-term effects even after recovery. This is why it is essential to start the treatment with antibiotics as soon as it is diagnosed. The bacteria causing bacterial meningitis include Streptococcus pneumonia and Group B Streptococcus. It is to be noted that vaccines have noticeably reduced the occurrence of bacterial meningitis. Facts about Bacterial Meningitis A few facts about bacterial meningitis are given below: Between 2003 and 2007, about 4100 cases were registered every year in the USA of bacterial meningitis. Approximately 500 of them were fatal. Bacterial meningitis is the second most common but the most severe kind of meningitis. Infants are at higher risk of bacterial meningitis. It spreads in places with a massive gathering like college campuses.

Joint pain is an extremely troublesome condition and can be caused by injury or a ligament tear. This can be an arthritic condition if the joints are inflamed and the pain is extreme which can also lead to joint cancer. Shoulders, knees, and ankles are the common parts of joint pain and cause redness and swelling. There are several simple triggers to joint pain, and some of them are driving position, foam-soled sandals like flip flops and too much usage of smartphones as they cause continuous and high pressure on the muscles. Joint pain increases with age and worsens if it is unaddressed. It is critical to maintaining healthy joints for mobility. There are medications that help to relieve joint pain but are not best recommended as they have side effects. In this case, supplements can replace medications to cure and prevent joint pains. Below are some best joint pain supplements. Best joint pain supplements: Glucosamine Glucosamine is a fatty acid that is a part of the cartilage of the knee joints and is regarded as the best joint pain supplements for the knee. It helps prevent wear and tear of the cartilage and also rebuilds the bones. This fatty acid also prevents adjoining of the muscle and inflammation of the joints.

If your body is functioning well and you are able to completely relieve yourself in the toilet every morning, everything goes well. However, if you are constipated, or if you are left feeling uneasy and bloated throughout the day, you have a problem. This also affects your general mood and work. Americans are reputed to spend more than $1 Billion each year on laxatives. So, if you suffer from constipation, you are not alone. Don’t fret. There are natural ways to stimulate your bowels and get the system functioning properly. Try these before you start searching for OTC laxatives. How to Treat Constipation: Simple Tricks to Try First If you are looking to how to treat constipation, put your feet up on a small stool while sitting on the toilet seat. This puts your body in a squatting position which is more natural and helpful for bowel movements. Drink a lot of water. Keeping your body hydrated can help in relieving constipation. Schedule regular times each day to go to the loo. This might help to train your system to relieve itself comfortably at those times. After a meal, take a walk. Don’t sit back and watch TV. Even a short walk can help the digestive system start its work, and you may find that eventually, your constipation problem disappears.

What is psoriasis? It is a completely irritating and unpredictable disease. You can also describe it as one of the most persistent skin disorders, and the main characteristics of this disease is that skin cells multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. Since the underlying cells that get onto the surface of the skin die, you experience an extreme hike in their volume and the red plaques get covered with white scales. The most vulnerable areas for psoriasis are the scalp, elbows, and knees. You can also find them in the sole, palms, and torso. A large number of people are always on the quest for authentic information about psoriasis. Leading psoriasis symptoms Psoriasis patients often have to deal with red skin plaques, and they are covered with silver-colored, loose scales. The lesions become excessively itchy, and you have to deal with a lot of pain. Cracking and bleeding sometimes occur in the lesions, with chronic conditions, the plaques grow fast and even merge into one another. It may get spread into large areas as well. Toe and fingernail disorders such as nail pitting and discoloration are also symptoms of psoriasis; moreover, with the passage of time, the nails may crumble or detach from the nail bed.

Are you suffering from erectile dysfunction, premature climax, or complete loss of libido? A lot of men face these issues, so you should know that you aren’t the only one. Sex plays a major role in your life, so when there is a sexual dysfunction, it can be frustrating. How to tell? A lot of men don’t like talking about their sexual concerns, but this shouldn’t be the case. Identify the following signs and symptoms, and if they tally with what you’re feeling, make sure you consult a doctor and talk to your partner about it. Here are a few signs and symptoms that you’re likely to face if you suffer from loss or decrease in your sex drive: Less physical intimacy. Even touching is restricted only in the bedroom, especially before this you didn’t have any problem engaging in any sexual activity. Sex isn’t intimate anymore, and you can’t connect to your partner sexually. Sometimes this can affect your emotional connect as well. Your partner is the only one initiating the sex, and you feel ‘pressured.’ Sex becomes more like a routine. It is mechanical and monotonous. Sex doesn’t interest you anymore. Sexual fantasies and thoughts don’t strike you as much as they did before.

A hernia can be caused to both adults and children. The common types of a hernia are an incisional, epigastric, and umbilical hernia. In an incisional hernia, your tissue pushes through a weak spot in the groin muscles that causes a bulge. This bulge in the groin or scrotum can be the cause of pain that may also feel like a burn. This is caused because the wall in the belly muscle does not close as it should, thereby causing an opening and any pressure can cause the tissue to bulge. This may soon occur after birth for some. It often feels like a round lump and can often occur suddenly. A physical test by the doctor can easily help detect a hernia. You may sometimes feel a relief from the pain once you lie down. The treatments for hernia has to be administered as it does not heal on its own. The chances of your hernia getting worse may also be prevalent. You can wait to have a surgery if the pain is not substantial. Hernias that are small and does not cause pain can also be left untreated after proper consultation with a doctor. Surgery is the common option to treat a hernia, and people sometimes opt for a surgery even when it does not cause much pain.

Red fire ants live in mounds and to protect their abode, they sting aggressively when they sense an intruder. The sting is quite painful and causes an allergic reaction to the skin like redness, itching, and even swelling. If you are not wearing proper clothes and protective shoes, there are higher chances of incurring a sting. Therefore, before going into ant prone areas, you should know the symptoms and treatment for fire ant stings. Several species of stinging ants are called fire ants. These ants bite when disturbed, and the bite causes allergies or skin problems. The two most problematic species in America are the following: Solenopsis Invicta:  This is a native South American species and is found in about 13 states in the United States. They are not more than half an inch in size and are red or brownish. It is better known as Red imported fire ant. A group of red imported fire ants stun their prey with venom and can overcome much larger animals like box turtles. Solenopsis Richteri:  It is a native South American species better known as Black imported fire ant. These are not as widespread as the red fire ants and are mostly found on the Gulf Coast and the Southeast.

Leg cramps happen when the muscles in the leg contract, which causes pain. This involuntary contracting of leg muscles causes leg cramps. Leg cramps mainly affect muscles in the thigh or the foot. It mostly occurs when you are asleep or just after you wake up. Reasons For Leg Cramps The sudden pain in the muscle can be due to different reasons: Inadequate supply of blood There are times when you exercise too much or have been sitting in same posture for hours. This prevents adequate supply of blood to your legs, causing contraction of muscles. Compression of nerves The spinal cord nerve directly connects to your leg muscles. Pain in the spinal cord or compression of spinal cord nerve can also cause pain in your legs. Walking with a good posture can help prevent compression of the spinal nerve. Mineral depression There are certain minerals needed for efficient working of leg muscles. Deficiency of minerals such as magnesium or calcium can cause leg cramps. There are certain medications that deplete the content of these minerals in your body. To add to the causes, there are factors that increase the risk of leg cramps: Age As you age, you lose strength and the muscles grow weak, leading to loss of muscle mass.

Around 6 to 18 percent people worldwide have experienced and are affected by irritable bowel syndrome. This is a medical condition which involves a change in the frequency of bowel movements. The trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can include daily factors such as diet, stress, and poor sleep. However, the trigger factors of irritable bowel syndrome vary for different people and no specific foods can be blamed for this disorder. Below are listed the most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome which you should know about. Pain and cramping Abdominal pain can be considered as a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome. In normal circumstances, the gut and brain work together and control digestion. This generally happens through hormones and nerves which release signals through good bacteria which are found in the gut. In irritable bowel syndrome, the signals usually get distorted and lead to pain in muscles of the digestive tract. Usually, this pain occurs in the lower abdomen; however, in some cases, it occurs only in the upper abdomen. This pain usually decreases after a bowel movement. The treatment for this problem includes the use of bowel relaxants such as peppermint oil. Cognitive behavior therapy is also found to be useful in such cases.

Probiotics can be defined as the living microorganisms which are useful for human health. They can be taken in the form of supplements and fermented foods. Probiotics have great health benefits and take good care of the gut bacteria. The intake of probiotics improves the general health. It has proven results to boost the digestive function, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, weight loss and reduce sickness and fatigue. Doctors recommend the intake of probiotics in the daily diet. Well, there are many brands of probiotics in the market. It is not easy to select the right one. All the probiotics products available in the market pronounce themselves to be the best products. It is difficult to choose the right product which caters your individual needs. Here are some of the factors you must consider when buying the probiotics: The probiotics must be manufactured in clean and hygienic conditions. Take a dig at the cost. Make sure you get all the essential nutrients at an affordable cost. Check the Colony forming units (CFU). The CFU gives the estimate of the bacteria count in the probiotic. Also, check the strains and strain purity level of the probiotics. The top probiotics of 2017 are as follows: