A common condition, seborrheic dermatitis is a skin issue that is characterized by the development of scaly patches and dandruff-like red flakes on the scalp. While it usually is found to develop on the scalp area, however, it may also be seen on parts of the body that tend to get oily such as the eyelids, chest, ears, and nose. The condition is typically not very severe and may heal without any further need for treatment. However, in some cases, the condition can get worse and one will have to undergo treatment for the symptoms. Seborrheic dermatitis can affect anybody, including infants and adults. The symptoms help in detecting the issue and the noticeable ones to look for include skin flakes or dandruff-like texture on the scalp, eyebrows, beard, and mustache, patches of greasy skin on the eyebrows, eyelids, ears, chest, armpits, groin area, red skin in the skin folds and immense itching. Depending on the season, the symptoms can get more severe. During winters or weather conditions, there may be more flare-ups. Risk factors There are several factors that contribute to the risk of seborrheic dermatitis. It may be related to the neurological and psychological condition of the individual.

There are about 15 million adults in the country dealing with COPD, a group of lung diseases known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Moreover, there are thousands more who are living with it and are oblivious to its presence. The most commonly occurring lung conditions with COPD are chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory asthma. Around 90% of cases of COPD are caused by tobacco smoking, while environmental air pollutants are the next major cause of this lung condition. While it is true that the quality-of-life of people suffering from it can be improved with the help of appropriate medicines, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation that includes breathing exercises, and positive lifestyle changes, the fact that COPD is the third major cause of death in the country is appalling. When the process of breathing gets obstructed, only then do we begin to realize that there are other prevailing symptoms that need our attention. If you notice that the continuous and undisturbed movement of oxygen is affected, if there is a persistent cough sometimes accompanied by phlegm, if you notice wheezing and a tightness in the chest, and if you experience breathlessness during routine physical activities, then it is definitely time to visit a physician and maybe also undergo a spirometry test to evaluate the dynamic functioning of the lungs.

Leukemia, commonly known as blood cancer, can be acute or chronic and can affect different types of white blood cells in the blood. Acute leukemia occurs suddenly, and children are most likely to be affected. Chronic leukemia mainly affects adults, although children can be affected too. There are some factors that may lead to an increased risk of leukemia: Heredity: If members of a person’s family have been diagnosed with leukemia, they face a higher risk of developing leukemia too. Genetics: Disorders that originate from abnormal genes, like Down’s syndrome increase the risk of leukemia. Cancer treatment: If a person has been treated for some other form of cancer with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, the likelihood of developing leukemia increases. Exposure to some chemicals: People who work with gasoline and in some chemical industries are prone to leukemia due to exposure to certain substances in petrochemicals and hair dyes. Smoking: The use of tobacco leads to several problems, and it is the trigger for many severe diseases. Smokers face a risk of developing acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). There are a few factors that are not within a person’s control that could lead to leukemia. Leukemia occurs due to mutations in the DNA.

An infection of the eye can have different symptoms. It could be an itchy feeling or it may start turning into a shade of pink. A lot depends on which part of the eye is infected. It could be the eyelid, cornea or conjunctiva. The key signs to watch out for are: Pain or discomfort Irritation Itchy eyes Sensitivity to bright light Burning sensation in the eye The tender feeling in the eyelid Watery eyes Presence of painful and small lumps under the eyelid or at the base of the eyelashes Symptoms of conjunctivitis can be diagnosed based on the appearance of the eye. Discharge from one or both eyes that could be yellow, green or clear in color Red, purple or swollen eyelids Pink color present in the white of the eye Lashes and lid that become crusty in the morning It is possible to have a blurry vision and fever also. There would be swelling on the lymph nodes near the ear and one would also find it difficult to wear contact lenses. Symptoms of keratitis and other frontal eye infections would include: Swollen eyelids Constant involuntarily blinking Photosensitivity Discharge of yellow pus Redness of the eye Damage to the retina, optic nerve, or blood vessels does not cause any pain.

The medical term for ear infection is otitis media, and it is more common in children than in adults. However, adults are still susceptible to these infections. Ear infections occur when viruses or bacteria get into the space behind the eardrum (middle ear). Causes The most common triggers of an ear infection include colds, allergies, and other respiratory viral infections. Various other causes of otitis media or ear infection include Eustachian tube dysfunction The Eustachian tube is a part of the ear that is behind the eardrum. It is a passageway that runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat (nasopharynx). They are responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear and are usually closed except for when you yawn, chew, or swallow. If the Eustachian tube is blocked, fluid or bacteria gets trapped inside the ear and causes ear infections. Eustachian tube dysfunction is more common in children because the Eustachian tube in children runs at a more horizontal angle than in adults, so the secretions or the fluids in the middle ear don’t drain well. This explains why children are easily accessible to ear infections. The main reason for Eustachian tube dysfunction is a common cold.

Anemia is a decline in the total amount of red blood cells (RBCs) or insufficient oxygen or hemoglobin in the blood. It is one of the most common disorders. Statistics say that anemia is more common in females than in males. There are definite reasons, such as ignorance towards health, an unbalanced diet, malnutrition, menstrual cycle, and lastly pregnancy. Key facts about anemia 24.8 percent of the world’s population suffers from anemia. Preschool kids have the maximum risk, with an estimated 47 percent, developing anemia throughout the world. Anemia is not restricted only to human beings but also to cats and dogs. Symptoms of anemia Feeling of exhaustion and a lack of energy and stamina. Pale skin Irregular heartbeat, which is generally fast Shortness of breath Chest pain Headaches Common types of anemia iron deficiency anemia The most common type of anemia is iron deficiency anemia. As the name suggests, it is caused by a deficiency of iron, most often through blood loss. When the body loses blood, in some situations it reacts by pulling in water from tissues outside the bloodstream. This additional water dilutes the blood. The reasons for rapid blood loss can include surgery, childbirth, trauma, accidental causes, or a ruptured blood vessel.

Deep vein thrombosis and Pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE) are preventable medical conditions, but many times these are underdiagnosed and severe. In deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot is formed deep in the vein. These clots normally develop in the thigh, lower leg, or pelvis, but they can occur in the arms as well. It’s important to know about this condition as it can happen to anybody and potentially cause disability, serious illness, and in some cases, death. The good news, however, is that if discovered early, deep vein thrombosis is preventable and treatable. Complications The most serious complication that can occur with deep vein thrombosis is when parts of the clot dislodge and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. This can cause a blockage called pulmonary embolism (PE). People can recover from PE if the clot is small with appropriate treatment. Although, there will be some damage to the lungs. But a large clot can stop the blood from reaching the lungs, which is fatal. Also, nearly one-third of people who have been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis have long-term complications. The damage the clot does to the vein is called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). People who are suffering from PTS show symptoms like pain, swelling, discoloration, and in severe cases, ulcers or scaling in the affected part.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and one of the most common disabling ailment of the central nervous system. During multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the protective sheath of myelin that covers nerve fibers. This slow progress attack causes communication problems between your body and your brain. Till the end, the disease completely deteriorates the nerves which become permanently damaged. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely depending on the amount of nerve damage and affected nerves. Some people with severe multiple sclerosis even lose the ability to walk independently or at all, while others have shown long periods of remission without any new symptoms. Although there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, the treatments can help in swift recovery from the attacks, even alter the progression of the disease thus helping in the management of symptoms. Causes The actual cause of multiple sclerosis is still unclear to researchers. Multiple sclerosis comes under autoimmune diseases where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. With multiple sclerosis, the immune system malfunctions and destroys myelin, a fatty substance responsible for protecting nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. The function of myelin would be same as insulation coating on electrical wires.

There are various people in the world who are affected by this disease. Diabetes is a disorder that affects the ability of the body to process fat and sugar from the food you eat, for which the pancreas normally releases insulin. However, when you are suffering from diabetes, the pancreas releases very less or no insulin, which leads to the body not being able to process blood glucose properly. It is very important for people with this condition to change their lifestyle so that they can manage this disease properly. There are mainly three types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes This type of diabetes is generally considered to be an autoimmune disorder. In this condition, the immune system mistakenly targets beta cells in the pancreas, taking them to be harmful external agents. Hence, the immune system attacks and destroys these beta cells, which are responsible for producing insulin in the body. This damage is permanent, and diabetes caused by this will also be permanent. The attack of the immune system may be due to a genetic factor or due to environmental factors. If you are suffering from type 1 diabetes, you will require therapy for insulin. Only ten percent of people suffer from this condition, and this type of diabetes is typically seen to develop at a younger age.

Flu (or influenza) is a respiratory ailment that is caused by a virus. It is highly contagious and is usually spread by the sneezes and coughs of an infected person. Touching an infected person, like shaking their hands, may also lead to the spreading of influenza. Most adults are contagious for 1-2 days before getting the symptoms and will be so up to 7 days after becoming ill. It means that one can spread the influenza virus even before they know that they are infected. Fast facts on flu Most antibiotics cannot be used to treat influenza. Almost 5-20 percent of Americans develop influenza. All the experts agree that the best way to prevent influenza is to get vaccinated each year. The influenza vaccine is not suitable for everyone, like those with a severe allergy to chicken eggs. Symptoms Influenza is usually uncomfortable, but it’s not life-threatening. Confusing influenza with a bad cold is common because both include a sore throat, runny/blocked nose, and cough. There are, however, a few pointers on the symptoms of flu that are different from a heavy cold just to tell them apart: Cold sweats and shivers High temperature Headache Fatigue and feeling exhausted Aching joints and limbs There are other gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and even diarrhea, though these are more common among children than among adults.