The basic procedure before starting any surgery is the first step. Your vital signs will be checked to make sure that your body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygenation levels, and other vital signs are normal. If there is a dysfunction in any of your vital signs, the surgery will not be performed until it has been rectified. With the vital signs all good, the doctor has the green light to proceed with the surgery. The second most important step involves administering anesthesia to the patient. You will be given general anesthesia, where you will be in a deep sleep, or regional anesthesia, where the sensation to feel is blocked from below your below your waist. The knee that is to be operated is marked. The surgeon will first make an incision that is around 8 to 10 inches long in the center of your knee. After this line, he will cut through the deeper tissues like the quadriceps and tendons. The kneecap is then flipped over so that the tibia and femur are accessible. The knee is then bent at a 90-degree angle, to allow the surgeon easier access to the joint that needs to be operated. The arthritically injured or damaged areas are removed with the help of a bone saw.

A skin infection caused by the Staphylococcus bacteria —MRSA or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an infection that can occur in any part of the body. Characterised by mild symptoms like sores and boils, the infection can also graduate to severity by infecting surgical wounds, urinary tract, lungs, and bloodstream. The MRSA bacteria are resistant to commonly used antibiotics and that’s why it’s called the ‘ superbug’, making it difficult for the medical fraternity to treat this condition. Causes The Staph bacteria inhabit our bodies and do not pose much risk to healthy people. In fact, one-third of the general population have staph bacteria in their noses. The garden variety Staph is the most common. Staph can land you with a skin infection if it gets into your body. Such infections are minor and don’t call for any specialized treatment. In some cases, Staph can infect wounds or cause pneumonia ( when the bacteria infect the lungs ). Symptoms Of MRSA Staph infection leads to the formation of abscesses, furuncles or boils . These are pus-filled. The area where these boils or furuncles are present become red and swollen accompanied by intense pain. Drainage of the area is also a possibility.

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in strands. Mold could be present in homes all year round. The most common molds found in homes are as follows. Cladosporium Penicillium Alternaria Aspergillus Stachybotrys chartarum Stachybotrys chartarum is the greenish-black mold that is sometimes found indoors. It grows on surfaces rich in cellulose content, such as wood, fiberboard, paper, and dust. Molds reproduce by forming spores. These spores could travel through air and are invisible to the naked eye. Once mold spores form, they are hard to get rid of and could survive even in dry or harsh conditions. Molds travel with the wind and may grow when they come across a moist environment. Outdoor molds aid in the decomposition process of leaves and compost piles. These are most often found in damp and dark environments. The environments most suitable for growth of molds are as follows. Damp Warm Humid The mold found indoors could affect the surface where it grows and could lead to health issues as well. In homes, molds are most likely to be found in the following places. Bathrooms and basements Drywall Ceiling tiles Carpets Furniture Ductwork Roofing Wallpapers Mold spores enter homes through the following locations.

Fluid buildup in the muscles and tissues cause swelling in the feet. If you are hale and healthy, swollen feet can be a result of exertion. Taking adequate rest and keeping the legs elevated brings down the swelling. When it gets severe, swollen feet, medically termed as peripheral edema, can lead to difficulty while walking, skin ulcerations, scarred tissue, increase the risk of infection and a decrease in blood circulation. Peripheral edema can manifest across all age groups. The elderly who have suffered a muscle wear and tear, and athletes engaged in high impact activities, are at a higher risk of suffering from swollen feet and ankles. The swelling is painless and can occur in one or both the legs. Primary Causes The feet can swell due to—injury, pregnancy, ageing, being overweight, excess consumption of salt, underlying medical conditions, high altitude, binge drinking, menstruation/PMS, standing or sitting in the same position for long duration, and intake of medications such as antidepressants, steroids, birth-control pills with high estrogen, calcium channel blockers, and medication for diabetes. Heart, liver and kidney failure can also cause swollen feet, due to the accumulation of fluids. Other underlying conditions that can be the cause for swollen feet include—varicose veins, insect bite, arthritis of the feet, thyroid disorder, venous insufficiency, blood clots, excessive use of laxatives, drugs, and diuretics, salt retention, malnutrition, lymphatic obstruction, any allergic reaction, and leg or foot surgery.

Insomnia is a complicated condition that leads to people not getting a proper sleep. It is also known as sleeplessness. People find it difficult to stay asleep if they have insomnia. Anyone suffering from insomnia never gets a satisfied sleep and therefore feel fatigued, face difficulty in concentrating, and lack energy. Their performance also diminishes, and they suffer from stress and mood swings. Types of Insomnia There are mainly two types of insomnia conditions – Acute Insomnia which is not a serious condition and is usually influenced by life circumstances such as excitement or shock. This type of insomnia is temporary and flees away with time. The other type of insomnia is chronic insomnia which is rather more difficult to handle as it occurs for more than a month. Chronic insomnia tags along with many causes such as environmental change, indefinite sleeping habits, heavy workload and it could even be a result of side effects of certain medications. There are a number of medications available for treating insomnia. The treatment may vary from person to person depending upon what kind of insomnia they are suffering from. Insomnia Medications The following drugs help in treating insomnia to a large extent. However, these drugs should be consumed in combination with proper sleeping habits.

Testosterone is a sex hormone in males, that is generated in the testicles and helps in the development of their physical features. Testosterone is the key hormone that provides men with muscle and bone strength, facial and body hair, and a heavy voice. Testosterone is an influencing factor boosts men’s sex drive, their mood, erections and their capacity to generate sperms. What does low testosterone mean? This is a medical condition known as hypogonadism or low-T, that refers to a condition in which the production of the testosterone hormone is not normal (there is a lack of fabrication of this sex hormone). Once a man attains 30 years of age, the testosterone levels start decreasing by about 1% every year. This decrease in testosterone levels is normal and is considered as a part of the aging process. However, there are various other reasons that can lead to decrease in testosterone levels. Low-T can be of two types, primary and secondary, and each of these types has its own causes. Common causes of low testosterone Primary hypogonadism This is a medical condition in which the cause of low testosterone levels originates due to problems in the testicles. This can be acquired through time, or even can be genetic.

A hemorrhoid is often referred to as piles. It pertains to inflated blood vessels positioned in the soft muscles of the walls of the bottom portion of the rectum and anus. Hemorrhoids manifest in the following forms: · Mucus discharge · Anal itching · Painless rectal bleeding accompanied by bowel movement They grow internally and externally in the anus and rectum. Hemorrhoids are quite common these days and disappear on their own in a short period. It can lead to a certain degree of discomfort. You can fall back on home treatments to get instant hemorrhoid relief from pain. Internal and external hemorrhoids Internal hemorrhoids are located above the pectinate line. They are enclosed with cells that are identical to those in the intestines. External hemorrhoids appear below the line. They are wrapped with cells that look like the skin. Hemorrhoids become a topic of concern only in case they are inflammatory. This results in pain, itching, and likely profuse bleeding. Both internal and external hemorrhoids are easily treatable. They heal automatically. As an exception, hemorrhoid could produce a problem. Anemia can happen in event of unceasing blood loss from hemorrhoid. Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells. Internal hemorrhoids can have their blood feed discontinued.

If you are like most, then you are in college or stuck at a 9-5 and simply can’t concentrate on your diet to incorporate enough proteins into it. Buying food from outside to meet your daily protein requirements isn’t a practical solution, and you aren’t in the position to start cooking your own food. If you belong to that category of people, protein powder is the thing for you. You can avail all the necessary proteins for bodybuilding using a drink or shake. However, it is important you choose the best protein powder on the market. Read on to know why: What is the role that proteins play in muscle formation? Proteins are composed of amino acids which are responsible for several processes including building, repairing and even maintaining your muscle tissues. Proteins contain high levels of Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Carbon and most important Nitrogen. Like how nitrogen (or nitrous) can speed up cars in a drag race, nitrogen plays a similar role when it comes to muscle formation as well. When you’re having sufficient amounts of protein, you have an ideal nitrogen balance (also referred to as a positive balance). This puts your body in the anabolic state (which is optimal for building muscles). On the other hand, insufficient consumption of proteins results in a negative or an unideal nitrogen balance.

An allergy is the response of the immune system to an irritating substance. These allergens could come from food, insects, pollen grains, drugs, and medications. When our body comes across any allergen, our immune system becomes active and creates specific antibodies called immunoglobulin to fight with the allergen. Immunoglobulins are present in our nose, throat, eyes, and lungs. These antibodies activate the mast cells in our body which cause the release of certain chemical substances in these zones called histamines. The release of histamine causes symptoms of an allergic reaction such as swelling in the nasal passage, runny nose, itching in the throat, burning eyes, and other such symptoms. Every person is different and so are their allergies. No two people are bound to have the same reaction to an allergen. A person can be allergic to one thing but might be completely non-responsive to the other. Though allergies are different in different people, there are be best allergy treatments people can use to cure all types of allergies. The allergies can also depend upon the amount of exposure. A limited amount of exposure might not harm an individual but if it crosses the threshold, it can cause the allergy to flare up. These reactions basically depend on upon our genetic disposition.

Allergies occur when the body responses in an irregular manner to an external substance. Most commonly allergies occur in case of certain food items. Medically, the immune system of human being becomes hypersensitive to some external factor. This condition is called allergy. Generally, allergies occur from food, fur, dust or pollen. The substance that causes an allergy is called an allergen. Pollen allergies are found to be very common among the American population. Allergy due to pollen is called known as Hay Fever. Pollen is basically a powder type of substance that is found in the environment. It helps in fertilizing other plants of their same kind. Pollen is found in flowers, trees, grass, weed and the atmosphere at large. It is the main factor that helps plants reproduce. It is extremely light-weight and thus can travel by air. Humans may breathe in this powdery substance, thus resulting in an irritation in their immune system and thereby leading to an onset of the signs of pollen allergy. Allergies are usually neglected by most people since it is considered as not very critical. The severity of allergies, however, can range from mild discomfort to seriously fatal situations where one can even lose a life.