A heart attack occurs because of a blocked coronary artery. This blockage reduces the flow of blood to the heart, and in turn, deprives a section of the heart muscle of oxygen. Heartburn, tightness in the chest, cold sweat, dizziness, and nausea are some common symptoms of an attack. Treatments could be complex for individuals who experience a heart attack. The treatments would vary depending on the type of heart attack a person faces. Based on the blockage, the types of heart attacks are: Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction or a non-ST-elevation implies a partial block in the coronary artery. A total block in the coronary artery is known as ST-elevation myocardial infarction or a “STEMI” heart attack. Sometimes, patients may need to undergo treatment after a heart attack to prevent further complications. Treatment options Blood flow restoration techniques involve thrombolysis where medicines that dissolve blockages or clots are used. Some other treatment options are fibrinolytic agents, surgical treatments, balloon angioplasty, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), revascularization, or a blend of these treatments. For patients who have suffered from an NSTEMI type of attack, doctors recommend treatment after diagnosing the patient’s condition through a cardiac catheterization test. In this test, they examine the interiors of the heart.

Many people confuse muscular dystrophy and muscular atrophy and assume that they are the same or have the symptoms and prognosis. However, that is not the case as they are both quite different. Muscular atrophy occurs due to aging or conditions like severe malnutrition, polio, Guillain-Barré syndrome, burns, and neuropathic atrophy. Muscular dystrophy, on the other hand, is due to genetic inheritance and has a mutation as the cause of it. But it can also be due to mutation caused by radiation. Difference in appearance Muscular Atrophy symptoms: The patient has muscle hypotonic which means that the muscles become loose and loses its tone. The patient’s muscles can become flabby and weak. There is a loss of strength which can be felt in the muscles. There is also a huge amount of tissue loss. Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy: A patient undergoes a progressive and gradual muscle wasting. The affected person has really poor muscle strength which leads to a decrease in movements, even normal ones. Patients suffer from an inability to walk and have an altered gait. There are repeated injuries and falls. People can experience difficulty in even initiating movement as muscles lack the strength and power to do so.

Kaposi’s sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the tissue lining the lymph and blood vessels, and it typically affects the face, legs, or feet. In some cases, lesions may be seen on the mouth and genital areas, and it can affect the lungs and the digestive tract in severe cases. Diagnosis of Kaposi’s sarcoma Since there are many types of soft cell sarcoma, it is important to determine the type of the tumor before treatment can be started. Several diagnostic tools may be used for this: Imaging tests These tests are used to give the doctors a clearer image of the size and positioning of the tumor. It may also be used to determine the extent to which the tumor has spread. Biopsy A biopsy involves taking a small sample of the affected tissue and testing it in a lab. The lab tests will examine the tissue sample under a microscope for cancer symptoms and determine how aggressive the cancer is. A biopsy may be conducted in several ways: Core needle biopsy This method helps doctors to obtain tiny tubes of the tumor material. A core needle biopsy may be used to take samples from multiple parts of a tumor.

The stage of cancer depends on the size of the cancerous tumor as well as the extent of its spread. It helps the doctor in deciding which treatments are needed. Several tests and scans are available which can help in diagnosing liver cancer and providing information about the stage. It also helps doctors understand if the cancer is primary liver cancer or not. Types of staging systems There are several staging systems which one could use. These systems are: TNM staging system Number staging system Stages of liver cancer Liver cancer is mainly divided into 4 stages, from stage 1 to stage 4. Stage 1A: It means that there is a single tumor in the liver which is 2cms or less in size. It may or may not have grown into a blood vessel. Stage 1B: In this stage, the tumor measures more than 2cm in size and has definitely not grown into the blood vessels (microvascular invasion). Stage 2: It means that a single tumor has grown more than 2cms in size and has moved into the blood vessels. Later in this stage, there could be several tumors in the liver, all of which measure less than 5cm. In stage 2, cancer does not spread to the lymph nodes or any other area of the body.

Parkinson’s disease is an ailment which affects the nerves in the brain leading them to gradually die. Common effects of the condition are shakes, rigid muscles, changes in speech and movement, impaired balance and so on. It is a progressively debilitating neurological disorder that has no cure. However, certain medications, therapies as well as some changes in the diet can help one manage the symptoms. Diet tips for Parkinson’s disease There is no strict diet for patients who have Parkinson’s disease. However, this ailment makes one’s movements clumsy or hard to control, thus making it tougher for them to eat well. One needs to have wholesome foods so that they can maintain their strength to ensure that the Parkinson’s medicines work optimally and produce the desired results. It is very likely for patients with Parkinson’s disease to become underweight, have concerns related to digesting and passing stool, and feel nauseated mostly because of the high doses of medicines. Though a doctor can guide one the best on a diet plan, there are a few tips too that can help an individual suffering from Parkinson’s. • Ensure that the diet consists of the necessary minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins; as these will give the energy required to pull through the treatment phase.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disorder and causes inflammation and swelling in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis also adversely affects various other organs of the body such as the skin, heart, eyes, lungs and the blood vessels. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakenly attacks joints and other soft-tissues associated with the joints. In severe cases, rheumatoid arthritis leads to deformities and erosion of the joints and causes movement disabilities. Causes of rheumatoid arthritis Some of the causes of rheumatoid arthritis are Genetic factors Genetics seems to play a crucial role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis and may be a cause for up to 60% of cases. It has been observed that rheumatoid arthritis is more prominent in people who have a family history of the disease. Several genes that are involved in immune regulation have been linked with rheumatoid arthritis. Our body differentiates between self and non-self on the basis of human-leucocyte antigens. It has been shown that variations in the HLA-DRB1 gene can contribute to its development. Smoking Smoking can not only increase your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis but also increases the severity of the disease. Smoking is particularly risky in individuals who are already genetically predisposed for the disease.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the small intestine, colon, and ileum. The disease can also develop in the mouth, esophagus, and the rectum. This disease falls under the umbrella of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). There is no cure for the disease, but the symptoms can be managed with proper treatment. Some symptoms of the disease are chronic diarrhea, pain in the abdominal region, unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, and fever. Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease often require surgery to treat the condition. The doctor might advise a surgery, if he or she detects cancerous tissue in the colon, as patients suffering from this disease are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. Surgery is also the last resort when the medications lead to severe side effects or when they have stopped working efficiently in managing the symptoms of this health condition. Certain complications like bowel abscess, fistula, intestinal blockage, bowel perforation, or uncontrolled bleeding require emergency surgery. Though surgery can be effective in some cases, many patients might have to undergo multiple surgeries during their lifetime. Types of surgery The doctor decides the type of surgery to be performed, depending on the organ affected by Crohn’s disease.

A neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline is known as Alzheimer’s disease. It is the most common type of dementia, which is a broader term for conditions caused by brain injuries or diseases that negatively affect memory, thinking, and behavior. These changes interfere with daily living too. At first, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are mild, but they progress and become more severe over time. Alzheimer’s is often diagnosed when memory loss is the most prominent symptom, especially in the area of learning and recalling new information. The most prominent deficits in executive dysfunction (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral difficulties) would be to do with reasoning, judgment, and problem-solving. Most people get diagnosed with this disease after the age of 65, but early-onset Alzheimer’s disease can affect younger people with a family history of the disease, typically between the ages of 30 to 60 years. There is no cure for this disease, but there are treatments that can slow the progression of the disease. Ways to care for patients of Alzheimer’s disease Taking care of an Alzheimer’s patient is a full-time job that’s typically not easy but can be very rewarding. Being a caregiver takes many skills, which include patience above all, along with creativity, stamina, and the ability to see the joy in helping someone to live the most comfortable life they can.

Eczema is a condition that causes inflammation of the skin, and it is also known as atopic dermatitis. It could cause irritation, oozing blisters, and sometimes itchy rashes on the skin, and it could also cause leathery skin patches over time. Environmental and hereditary triggers play a major role in a person developing this condition. Infants are most likely to develop this disease, and most people who are diagnosed with the disease tend to suffer from food allergies too. When affected by eczema, there are some food habits that a person should follow: Food habits It should be understood that eating certain types of food does not cause eczema, but it may trigger this disease. Understandably, one should be careful with some food items: Cow’s milk Eggs Soy products Gluten Nuts Fish Shellfish Foods to eat There are certain foods that one should start eating to suppress this disease: Fatty fish : One can reduce the symptoms of eczema by eating fatty fish like salmon and herring. Fish oil contains a high level of omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory. One must also consider taking omega-3 supplements. Foods containing quercetin : It is a plant-based flavonoid that one can get in many flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Tourette syndrome is a nervous system disorder that causes people to make sudden sounds or movements called tics. These movements are not under their control. This uncontrollable behavior varies in different people, some may blurt out words unintentionally, while others may blink or clear their throats repeatedly. Repeated involuntary physical movements and vocal outbursts are characteristic of Tourette syndrome. Around 100,000 people in the country have Tourette syndrome, but some may only have a mild form of this condition. This nervous disorder begins in childhood, and it affects boys more than girls. As children grow up, the symptoms usually get better, and for some people, they may disappear completely. The tics of Tourette syndrome are usually caused by abrupt, intermittent twitches of a group of muscles. The most common types of tics are grunting, blinking, sniffing, clearing throat, head movements, grimacing, shoulder movements, and blurting out words. The symptoms of this disorder usually appear between the age of 3 to 9 years. Most of the times, they begin as muscle tics in the head and neck. As the syndrome progresses, the tics may appear in the trunk and limbs. Causes of Tourette syndrome The exact cause of Tourette syndrome is not known.