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Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition of the nervous
system, which makes ones arms and legs tremble. The muscles even go
stiff, making ones movement comparatively slower. Some people suffering
from this particular disease even develop a condition known as senile
dementia. Patients, who are seriously affected, suffer from conditions
like pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning), stroke, urinary tract
infection and pressure sores. Some of these conditions, in their severe
form, can lead to fatal consequences.

Parkinson’s disease
is caused by a continuous loss of the brain cells or neurons in a
certain portion of the brain called substantia nigra, which produces a
chemical known as dopamine. Researches have proved that people
suffering from this disease may also lack other essential brain
chemicals like serotonin (linked to mood), noradrenaline (linked to
blood pressure control) and acetylcholine (linked to mental state).

People
above forty generally suffer from this particular disease. In certain
cases, some teens may also suffer from an agonizing condition of
Parkinson’s disease.

Major risk factors associated with Parkinson’s disease are:

One loses ones capacity to smell things
One develops an obsessive personality
One may also experience extreme emotional trauma and stress

Symptoms

One
experiences stiffness and cramps in the muscles – the muscles tend to
become rigid, affecting the movements of arms, legs and necks
One may have problem in balancing the body and ones gait becomes unstable
Ones face becomes pale and expressionless
One fails to write properly
One suffers from disturbed sleeping conditions
One tends to get depressed and anxious
One faces difficulty in moving the body from one side to the other while lying on the bed at night
One experiences tremor especially when one are resting
One faces problems in initiating movements (this is known as Bradykinesia)
Ones manual dexterity gets minimized
One tends to suffer from acute constipation
One feels like urinating frequently at night
One suffers from a condition called drooling

Diagnoses

For
a proper and correct diagnosis of the condition, the physician takes
into account all of the symptoms. Doctors also perform some clinical
tests for the proper detection of Parkinson’s disease. At times,
special brain scans like SPECT or PET scans are done to support the
diagnosis of this particular disease.

Treatment

There
is no treatment for this agonizing and distressing disease as such.
Dopamine-enhancing drugs such as Levodopa can help ease, alleviate
suffering a bit. The best way to combat Parkinson’s disease is through
counseling, physiotherapy and speech therapy. Symptoms of the disease
can also be suppressed through surgery, pallidotomy, subthalamic
nucleus deep brain stimulation, pallidal deep brain stimulation and
neurotransplantation.

Support of the family and friends is an essential part of the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

BE VIRTUALLY BACK PAIN FREE
– JUST 21-DAYS –

Back pain
usually originates from the spine – a complex interconnecting network
of bones, nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Back pain
(dorsopathy) is one of the most common ailments of human beings. The
pain can be sudden or chronic, constant or intermittent and dull or
sharp. It can stay in one place or radiate in other areas. The pain in
the upper zone like shoulder, neck etc is termed as upper back pain
whereas that in the lower part of the spinal cord is called lower back
pain (Lumbago).

Causes behind back pain

Muscle
pulls or muscle imbalances are common causes of back pain. Muscle
imbalances create a mechanical problem in the bone structure, building
up pressure at certain positions along the spine. Another cause leading
to low back pain is Meniscoid occlusion. The more movable areas of the
spine contain Sinovial membrane that helps the smooth movement of the
bones. This membrane, which is well endowed with nerves and blood, gets
pinched or trapped and causes serious pain.

For below 50
years of age, individuals suffer from back pain owing to spinal disc
herniation, degenerative disc disease or Isthmic spondylolisthesis. For
adults above fifty years, common causes include osteoarthritis, spinal
stenosis, etc. Non- anatomical factors like stress, repressed anger,
depression or tension myositis syndrome can also cause back pain.

Treatment of back pain

In
general backaches do not require instant medical interventions, as they
are self-limiting and non-progressive. However, it is not wise to
ignore it for long, as there may be underlying problems. There are
several treatment procedures and they often vary from one individual to
another.

Heat therapy, especially moist heat (hot bath or
whirlpool) is useful in curing acute or sub-acute low back pain. Cold
therapy, like ice or cold pack application, is also an effective mode
of cure. Your medical guide may administer oral medicines like muscle
relaxants, narcotics, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs,
paracetamol, etc. Exercises, especially if you do it under an expert’s
guidance is very helpful in relieving your backache. Certain studies
however reveal that exercise is more helpful in case of chronic back
pain than that in acute ache. Physical therapy (carried under
therapist’s guidance) inclusive of stretching and strengthening is also
good in curing backaches. Massage therapy, as in the case of
acupressure (pressure point message), reduces the pain in back, too.
Chronic pain is cured by body awareness therapy like Feldenkrais
method. Acupuncture also yields some benefit in curing chronic low back
pain.

Finally some unconventional methods dealing with
attitude, emotions, mental state and life style can come to your aid,
too. Some such therapies are respondent-cognitive therapy, progressive
relaxation therapy, etc. You should also change poor postures, if any,
to get rid of the backaches.

So if back pain is what is
bothering you, go for one of the curing therapies that suit you best.
After all, your spinal chord supports your entire frame.

Want the Secret to be Acne Free in 3 Days?
Click Here to Find Out How

For proper skin acne treatment, it is essential to take the
endurance of visiting a doctor and retrieving the useful information.
Acne is a skin disorder and a very common problem with many teenagers
and adults. Some may get rid of it; however, most people are plagued by
this problem throughout their life.

For the best skin acne
treatment, it is important to comprehend your acne condition. Acne can
be in mild or moderate or in severe stage and the assorted stages
demand respective treatment. Mild acne can be treated with homemade
remedies. What you need, is to be cautious about your skin condition.
Grime can be detrimental for your skin and, therefore, you have to keep
your skin clean. Doctor’ advice can be very helpful and if you take the
necessary precautions, then you can rule out the acne problem.

Moderate
acne appears in the form or whiteheads, blackheads and comedones.
Prescribed medicines or over the counter medicines are good skin acne
treatment options. Doctors may prescribe you medicines, which have
varying concentrations of Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic acid;
Retinoids, Accutane or other topical medicines can also be prescribed.

Vitamins
can also bring relief to your situation. However, severe acne is a
pathetic condition and calls for immediate doctor’s attention.
Sometimes, it may so happen that you do not get rid of the grave
situation at all. Nonetheless, laser treatment can be the last resort
to treat acne and has proved beneficial for many.

Nevertheless,
always, remember that before you go for a skin acne treatment, you will
need to understand what is really causing the acne problem. Actually,
there are different reasons for acne outbreaks – massive oil secretion,
stress, tension, genetic factors, environmental changes, hormonal
factors, etc. and the real reason should be specifically identified.

Skin Acne Treatment – Follow The Tips

Thorough
cleansing can keep your skin dirt-free and hence inhibit acne attacks.
Try to clear your face with an anti-acne cleanser, which will not dry
your skin yet drive away all the dirt from your face. Before dropping
into bed, remove all the make-up completely. When you use make up, try
to use only those products, which contains salicylic acid.

Home
remedies are the best skin acne treatment. You can mix different
kitchen products and apply on the skin. However, you should know the
right proportions and should be able to judge what will suit your skin.
Nonetheless, the surgical treatments or the laser treatments are
considered as the effective skin acne treatment. Microdermabrasion can
prove its efficacy.

Light chemical peels with salicylic
acid opens the blocked pores and enables in new skin growth. Severe
acne can also be treated with Isotretenoin. This is an effective skin
acne treatment. Blue wave light can also dispel the blemishes on the
skin.

Med-Help is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations.

Anti wrinkle treatments come in many forms. Some of them require a
doctor’s prescription but others are available over the counter. Some
of them can be made from foods commonly found in most home kitchens and
some of them are pretty dramatic.

Some highly effective anti
wrinkle treatments involve antioxidants. These treatments are usually
in cream, ointment, or lotion form and are rich in vitamins or their
derivatives.

Wrinkles are most often caused by damage from
the sun and antioxidants protect against this damage, thereby
minimizing the development of wrinkles. Vitamins A, C, and E are rich
in antioxidants and are used in many formulations designed to minimize
wrinkling.

There are some powerful side effects associated
with some of these formulations, though, especially those derived from
vitamin A, so a prescription is often required to obtain these
treatments. They can cause photosensitivity, which means added trouble
when exposed to sunlight so it is very important to use sunscreen
diligently and limit sun exposure when taking a vitamin A derivative.

Exfoliation,
resurfacing, and chemical peels are anti wrinkle treatment options that
remove the top layer of skin. This layer of skin is composed of dead
cells that dull the complexion and give it the look of dryness that
accentuates any wrinkling already present. By removing this topmost
layer of skin cells, new skin cell growth is encouraged.

Alphahydroxy
acid is one peeling agent that is highly effective in removing this
layer of dead cells and it is found in many anti wrinkle treatments.
This beautifying acid occurs naturally in milk, sugar, apples, pears,
oranges, lemons, and grapes.

Some chemical peeling agents can
be very harsh, burning the skin or leaving it red, inflamed, and itchy.
These stronger agents are best left to the hands of a professional
esthetician or dermatologist.

Dermabrasion is a mild and easy
to use anti wrinkle treatment. Scrubs containing microscopic beads that
rub away the dead skin around wrinkles leave the skin looking fresh and
invigorated. Some microbead formulations are made from mild creams and
cleansers but other contain harsher acids that may aggravate acne,
broken blood vessels, or sensitive skin.

Moisturizers are
wonder anti wrinkle treatments that are most effective when applied to
moist skin that has been thoroughly cleansed. Moisturizers provide a
protective barrier over moist skin that prevents evaporation by
trapping the water in the skin. Others draw moisture from the air and
are great for people with oily complexions. Lighter formulations are
recommended for daytime use or in hot climates while the creamier
versions are wonderful at night and when indoor heating systems draw
moisture from the air in cold climates.

For more immediate and dramatic results, collagen injections and cosmetic surgeries are always an option.

Med-Help is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations.

Want the Secret to be Acne Free in 3 Days?
Click Here to Find Out How

Good skin care is the golden key for maintaining a youthful and
healthy skin. Ask yourself, won’t you love to have a skin that appears
glowing and beautiful even when you have gained age. So, do you think
all these come easy? No, there is no shortcut, to obtain your dream
skin; you need to opt for proper skincare.

There are many who
do not even bother about skin care, but this is extremely wrong. With
age, our skin loses its moisture and becomes dry. Moreover, the passing
time gifts you with skin tags, age spots, uneven discoloration, spots
and other skin problems. Thus, it is very important to care for your
skin to make it look good for a longer time.

If you have
developed a skin disease, talk to your doctor about the best skin care
routine that will help you deal with the skin problem. The aim should
be to combat the disease and stop it. However, the best way to avoid
the skin problems is to take the necessary precautions. If you maintain
a good skin care routine while young, you could possibly avoid a lot of
skin problems in your life later on.

The skin conditions like
acne, which develops due to the oiliness of the skin, essentially
requires effective skin care. Acne can occur on any part of your skin.
What you can do is control the acne to avoid scarring and the emergence
of other problems.

If you have acne on your body, then it is
better to wear loose clothes and allow your body to breathe.
Accumulation of sweat can further aggravate the acnes. You should stop
yourself from touching the nodules, no matter how tempted you are.
Also, do not worsen your skin condition by squeezing the pimples.

For
those of you with dry skin should apply moisturizers to hydrate your
skin especially during winter. Brown spots is a skin condition that
needs to be dealt with. For this, you need to apply sunscreen whenever
you step outside into the sun. It is vital to avoid the UV rays as it
causes damage to your skin. The sun is known to cause the greatest
damage to your skin, so make generous use of sunscreen when you walk
out in the day.

The 3-step basic skin care routine

1.Get
a good skin cleanser to get rid of all the dirt, oil and traces of
makeup from your face. However, it is not good to clean your skin very
frequently. You can also wash your face in the morning with lukewarm
water.
2.The next step requires you to exfoliate your skin; scrubs
remove the dead skin cells and gives you a fresh look. Exfoliation of
the skin once a week should be perfect.
3.Ultimately, you will be requiring moisturizing your skin. You should moisturize you skin depending upon your skin type.

Remember
that taking proper care of your skin does not guarantee a life free of
skin problems. Skin diseases might crop up anyhow, but it would not
always mean that you have neglected skin care.

BE VIRTUALLY BACK PAIN FREE
– JUST 21-DAYS –

Chronic back pain is a very common problem that has
no effective treatment. This musculoskeletal disorder affects many
people every year. This chronic pain attacks the lumbar segment of the
spine, which happens to be the lowest part of your back, just above
your buttocks.

What do you understand by
this kind of pain? Well, chronic back pain can be distinguished from
other types of back pain in that it stays on for more than three
months. This debilitating condition is far less common than the acute
back pain. The chronic back pain can have a stabbing or shooting effect
and it is usually localized in nature. The low back pain can also arise
from any other part of the body.

Who Are Prone To Chronic Back Pain?

The
people who are engaged in activities like bending, heavy lifting and
standing for long intervals on a daily basis are prone to developing
chronic back pain. The pain can also result in people with an injury,
stress or disease like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, a spinal
disc herniation, or degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae. It
can also be caused by an infection, a tumor including cancer and a
vertebral fracture that is caused by osteoporosis.

Chronic Back Pain And The Symptoms

The
symptoms of the chronic low back pain depend on the causes of the pain.
The damage to ligaments and muscles can initiate the back pain. When
you have a chronic pain in the back, you will be experiencing back
muscle spasms, difficulty in twisting, pain on walking, terrible
one-sided back pain and stiffness. Nerve irritation can also lead to
sciatica (which is a pain down the legs), as a consequence of the
irritation to the sciatic nerve in your back.

The Treatments

Treatments
for chronic low back pain are dependent on the source of the pain as
well as the type of the pain. The treatment options include some rest
for a period of 24 hours, ice or heat compresses, slowly resuming the
activity to exercise, medication, acupuncture and physical therapy.

The
use of trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a great
way to deal with chronic low back pain; it affects a speedy recovery
and decreases the pain. The treatment also alleviates the symptoms.

If
the problem of chronic low back pain seems to linger on even after the
treatment, then an operation will be required for decreasing the nerve
irritation and for relieving the pressure on the disc.

See the doctor if you are suffering from chronic back pain. This way, you will be able to lead a pain-free life.

Head lice are a very common problem among children and can take a
serious turn if the problem persists. It initially starts as an itching
and eventually becomes a cause of grave concern if not treated in time.

What Are Head Lice?

Head lice are actually small
wingless insects that are tan to grayish white in color. They have hook
like claws at each end of the six claws. A head louse stubbornly clings
to the hair locks and it is very difficult to pull one out. The
parasitic insect bites the skin to suck blood and this bite causes the
itching. The common feeding areas are behind the ears and the nape of
the neck.

Head Lice – Stages of Development

First Stage: Nits

The
tiny eggs of head lice are known as nits, which remain attached to the
hair shaft. The nits are so tiny that it is quite strenuous for the
roving eyes to see them at the first glance.

Second Stage: Nymphs

The
nits then hatch and develop into Nymphs, after almost a week. Though
the Nymphs look like the adult head lice, they are comparatively
smaller in size.

Third Stage: Head Lice

After a
few weeks, the Nymphs mature into full-grown head lice. The usual life
span of the head lice is 30 days but the person infected with it can
feel a lingering itching sensation even after the lice die. Head lice
can affect people belonging to different age groups. Children between 3
to 12 years of age are mostly affected. This is because they have the
tendency of sharing their belongings and play very closely together. If
you have this notion that head lice infestation is a contagious problem
and affects only those who always remain dirty, you are utterly
mistaken. If you know that someone is infested with lice, then it is
advisable to maintain a little distance from him or her. Sharing the
same pillow, towels, hats, combs and brushes can make you infested with
the hair enemy.

Ways to Prevent Head Lice

Never let your child share brushes, combs or hair decorations
Do not let your child wear a hat used by others
Always make sure that you pack a separate pillow and bed for your child if he or she plans to stay away from home.

Treating Head Lice

You
have a number of choices, when it comes to treating head lice. You can
purchase the medicines or shampoos that can be bought over the counter.
Actually, the medicated shampoos and chemicals contain those pesticides
and chemicals that can kill the head lice.

One of the best
ways to get rid of head lice is by frequent combing of hair. There are
special lice removing combs from renowned companies, to get the
stubborn parasites out of your hair.

Wash those towels,
clothing, carpet, pillows used by a person infected by the parasites.
You can either wash it with hot water or clean it with vacuum cleaner.

If you take timely care, you can get rid of head lice.

Heel pain is mainly prevalent among active adults above the age of
40. Children and adolescents also suffer from it. It mainly arises from
exercise and daily activities. Moreover, the heel is the first part of
the foot that touches the ground while walking. The heel bone or the
‘calcaneus’ is the largest foot bone.

Why does the pain occur?

There
are two structures below the foot or on the sole of the foot, they are
the plantar fascia and the flexor digitorum brevis muscle, and these
are connected to heel pain. What happens is, when your foot absorbs the
weight of your body while walking, the arch flattens and the foot is
stabilized and the arch is maintained by the two structures.

The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are redness, heat and swelling.

Abnormalities
in your walking manner can result in the inflammation of the structures
that are attached to the heel bone, thus causing heel pain. It is
commonly caused due to the inflammation of the plantar fascia.

If
you stress an area of the foot repetitively, it is likely that the area
will develop sores. Shoes with improper heels and a sudden boost in
activity can cause heel pain. If the plantar fascia is too stressed,
then the pain is felt intensely when you wake up in the morning.

A heel pain will make it very uncomfortable to carry the weight of the body on the heel.

The treatment

Finding
the heel pain extremely awkward? It is time for treatment. What you
must do is provide cushioning, absorb shock and heighten the heel for
transferring pressure. For this, you will need a visco heel cradle, a
heel cup or an orthotic designed with materials for absorbing shock and
shear forces.

For controlling the pronation, an orthotic with
a good arch support and medial posting will be good. Another important
thing to be kept in mind is that you must choose your footwear
effectively always. The best shoes are the ones that have a good arch
support, a firm heel counter and proper heel height.

However,
if you find that the problem is still persisting, visit a doctor
immediately. The diagnosis of the pain will involve imaging tests and
physical examination.

You can prevent the pain

Yes, with a few precautions, you can keep the pain at bay.

Before you start an exercise program, you must consult a physician.
Never go barefoot on hard surfaces or rocks.
Start exercising slowly.
After exercising, relax and stretch yourself properly.
Always wear well fitting shoes and if required replace them frequently.
Change the incline as desired when walking or running on a treadmill.
Stop exercising if you find that the pain is persisting.

Heel pain is a common condition but do not be careless enough to ignore it totally.

Your physiological conditions lead to clotting of blood in order to
prevent excessive bleeding; however, a blood clot or symptoms of a
blood clot can be detrimental at times. Clotting of blood jams veins
and arteries and this can be extremely harmful for your health.

The Problem

Blood
clots are formed in response to some injury/damage caused to the blood
vessels. With passing time, the blood vessels heal automatically and
the blood clots are completely dissolved. A blood clot, which is also
known as thrombus, usually starts in the legs. There are chances that
the thrombus may get dispersed and spread throughout the body entering
into pelvis, lungs and the smaller blood vessels. This can indeed lead
to something fatal.

Some Of The Most Common Symptoms Of A Blood Clot

It
is normal that you may suffer from deep vein thrombosis or DVT. This
usually happens within the veins of the legs and pelvis making you
suffer from several symptoms of blood clot including prominent veins,
tenderness, discoloration, pain and undue swelling of the calf muscles
in the legs.

However, if you have conditions of pulmonary
embolus, which is characterized by the presence of a clot in your
lungs, you will develop symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain
and coughing of blood.

Other symptoms of a blood clot
include difficulty in breathing, a feeling of faintness, a painful
condition of the upper abdomen, arrhythmia, feeling dizzy, aching
shoulders, pain in the back and wheezing. In extreme cases, symptoms of
a blood clot can go to the extent of causing heart attacks, strokes and
even blinding of an eye.

Such symptoms of a blood clot are
truly dangerous and they should not be neglected under any
circumstances. If you have any of these symptoms make sure to consult
your physician as soon as possible.

Who Mostly Have Blood Clots?

Victims
of cancer are more prone to having symptoms of a blood clot. Therefore,
those who suffer from this disease are often asked to take a break and
take a small walk, when traveling for long distances. This facilitates
normal and easy flow of blood.

People who are suffering from
immobility too show signs and symptoms of a blood clot. Others who may
have the tendency of suffering from this particular condition include:

Individuals having fractured bones
One who takes chemotherapy
People suffering from arteriosclerosis
Aged individuals
Women who take birth control pills
Obese individuals
One having a history of DVT
People who have the regular habit of smoking.

Med-Help is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations.