With lives getting stressful with each passing year, there has been a sense of rush in everybody around to win the race. Since struggles have increased, so has the possibility of many illnesses. One of them being atrial fibrillation, a condition wherein a patient experiences quivering or irregular heartbeat. The irregularity can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and other heart-related issues. The complications related to the heart are deemed as the most serious ones and should not be ignored. What causes atrial fibrillation? This particular illness is caused when the two upper chambers of the heart get chaotic electrical signals. As a result, the heartbeats quiver or get irregular. The heart rate during this heart illness ranges from 100 to 175 per minute. Some conditions that lead to atrial fibrillation are as follows: High blood pressure Abnormal heart valves Any previous heart illness Infection Stress Excessive alcohol consumption Obesity Old age While some of the causes are a result of an unhealthy lifestyle, the others come with age. Regardless of the cause, it is imperative that the patient seeks immediate medical help to avoid any kind of complications. Hence, it is important that we learn about the best treatment options for the condition.

Having healthy teeth takes years of care, and it is crucial to follow the right steps to take care of them and prevent problems from arising later on. Here are some dental care tips one should follow: Brush properly The one dental care routine to always follow is this. Don’t be in a hurry, and move the toothbrush in a very gentle, circular motion to get rid of the plaque. A poor brushing style can lead to unremoved plaque that can harden and cause calculus buildup, which can later lead to gingivitis. Brush your teeth before going to bed It is generally recommended to brush twice a day, but many still neglect to brush at night. It helps get rid of all the plaque and germs that accumulate in your mouth throughout the day. Pay attention to your tongue Many don’t know but plaque can also build up on the tongue, and this can lead to bad mouth odor along with other oral health issues. So, gently brush your tongue while brushing your teeth. Flossing is also important Even people who brush regularly forget to floss. Flossing helps reduce plaque, stimulates the gums, and lowers inflammation in that area. Use mouthwash Mouthwash helps reduce the amount of acid present in the mouth, reaches the areas that are difficult to reach using a brush, and also remineralizes the teeth.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is the disease-fighting network spread throughout the body. When a person suffers from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the tumor develops in the white blood cells. These cells are also known as lymphocytes that form an integral part of the body’s immune system. This affects the body’s ability to fight against any ailments. Diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma To diagnose the condition, your doctor may prescribe one of the following tests: Physical examination – In this, your doctor will look for signs such as swollen lymph nodes or a swollen liver or spleen. Blood and urine test – This is conducted to rule out the possibility of an infection. Imaging tests – Tests such as X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or PET scan may be conducted to check the presence of a tumor in the body. Lymph node test – This is a lymph node biopsy that involves removing a small part of the lymph node and testing it in the laboratory. This also helps in determining the type and stage of lymphoma. Bone marrow test – In this, a small sample of bone marrow is taken from the hip bone to check for lymphoma cells.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition in which a person experiences excess musculoskeletal pain and mental distress. Many times, the symptoms of fibromyalgia are confused with joint inflammation or arthritis. However, this is a rheumatic condition that leads to myofascial pain or soft tissue pain. As per a report released by NIAMS, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, more than 5 million people, aged 18 or above, in the USA experience fibromyalgia. Causes of fibromyalgia The exact cause of fibromyalgia is yet unknown, but many researchers suggest it to be genetics. It is primarily a problem related to the central pain processing in the brain, where a specific trigger might increase sensitivity to pain. Some most likely causes of this pain are: A traumatic physical or emotional event such as a car accident Repetitive injuries Any autoimmune disease or rheumatoid arthritis or spinal arthritis Problems with the central nervous system Genetics. Females who have relatives suffering from fibromyalgia have a higher risk of developing it themselves. Common Types of Fibromyalgia Pain Myofascial pain This is a condition in which pressure is exerted on the sensitive points in your muscles. Also known as trigger points, these points generate pain in the muscle and sometimes, in unrelated parts of the body.

Huntington’s chorea is an inherited disease that leads to a systematic breakdown of the cells present in the brain of the person. This disease has a significant impact on the person’s motor functions and so results in disorders related to cognitive (thinking), movement and psychiatric. Huntington’s chorea is a life-altering disease. Hence, joining a support system like that of a therapist, social worker, or support group can make the whole journey a little less daunting. People can live a decent life for years independently with the help of a health care team. How does the disease start? The onset of the disease could be when an individual is in the 30s or 40s; however, it could emerge at any point in their life. When the disease manifests before one’s 20s then it is termed as juvenile Huntington’s chorea. The earlier onset results in a different set of symptoms and leads to faster progression of the disease. There are various kinds of medications available to manage this disease, but the treatments cannot help with the mental, behavioral and physical decline related to the condition. Causes  of Huntington’s chorea In 1993, medical researchers found the gene responsible for Huntington’s. Everyone carries this gene; however, in some families, a corrupt or abnormal copy gets transmitted to the child from the parent.

Multiple myelomas refer to the cancer of plasma cells (they are a type of white blood cells). Plasma cells help our body fight infections by creating antibodies that identify, target and attack germs. Multiple myelomas lead to cancer concentrating in the bone marrow where they crowd out all the healthy blood cells. The cancerous cells produce abnormal proteins that lead to various complications rather than producing helpful antibodies. For people who do not show any kinds of symptoms, they might not require any treatment. For people who do need treatment, have access to a wide range of treatment options available to help tackle the condition. Causes Researchers are still not sure as to what causes myeloma. We do know that myeloma starts from one abnormal plasma cell present in the bone marrow. The abnormal cell starts multiplying rapidly. Since cancerous cells do not mature, they do not die like normal cells, hence they tend to crowd out the healthy cells present in the bone marrow. One is more likely to get this if they are over 65 years of age, or they are African American or there is a family history of the disease. There seems to be some connection of multiple myeloma with a condition known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

Skin cancer originates in the cells of the skin due to them being exposed to harsh UV rays of the sun. Skin cancer starts with mild symptoms like lump formation, and since it is not painful, patients are mostly not aware of it initially. However, if your doctor diagnoses it at an early stage, it can be cured. This is why it is essential to be aware of skin cancer symptoms and go for regular check-ups. Types of skin cancer There are three primary types of skin cancer: Basal cell skin cancers (basal cell carcinomas) Squamous cell skin cancers (squamous cell carcinomas) Melanomas Basal cell carcinomas and Squamous cell carcinomas The common types of skin cancer, basal and squamous, are found mostly on the parts of your skin which are most exposed to the sun rays, like neck and face. While they are not as fatal as melanomas and are less likely to spread to other parts; it is crucial to treat them as soon as diagnosed. If you leave it untreated, it can become fatal. Melanomas Melanomas initiate in the melanocytes and are not as common as the other two types and they are usually benign. It can be found in any part of the body, and like the other two, if you start treatment at an early stage, you can get rid of it.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma or Hodgkin’s disease is a type of cancer that occurs in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a key part of the immunization system of the human body. Hodgkin’s disease triggers in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes protect the body from germs and infections. In Hodgkin’s disease, the cells of the lymphatic system multiply abnormally and grow out of control. Thus, leading to cancer. With the progress of the diseases, the human body loses the power to fight infections. Hodgkin’s disease can trigger regardless of age; however, it is more common among the people aged between 20 and 40 and over the age of 50. Diagnosis of Hodgkin’s disease The diagnostic process of Hodgkin’s disease includes multiple steps. Doctors usually analyze complete family and personal medical history of the patient to start the process of diagnosis. Based on the outcomes of the analysis, doctors usually suggest the patients undergo the below-listed procedures and tests to confirm Hodgkin’s disease. Physical examination – As part of the physical examination of Hodgkin’s disease, doctors usually look out for swollen lymph nodes across the underarms, neck, and groin. Further, physical examination also includes finding if there are swollen lymph nodes in the spleen or the liver.

The various stages of lung cancer tell the progression of cancer and help doctors formulate the treatment plan for the same. The chances for successful treatment are much higher when cancer is diagnosed in the early stages before it metastasizes. The problem with lung cancer is that it doesn’t show any specific symptom in its earlier stages and people get to know about it in the later stages when it spreads in the other parts of the body. Non-small cell lung cancer is typically categorized into 4 main stages – Stage 1 Cancer is diagnosed in the lung, but it has not spread anywhere Stage 2 Cancer is diagnosed in the lung and the surrounding lymph nodes. Stage 3 Cancer is diagnosed in the lung, lymph nodes and in the middle part of the chest. Stage 3A Cancer is present in the lymph nodes but remains localized on the same side of the chest, mostly in the region where cancer initially developed. Stage 3B Cancer has spread to other lymph nodes, even to the ones present on the opposite side of the lung. It can also spread to the lymph nodes present above the collarbone. Stage 4 By this stage, cancer fully spreads in the entire lung and its surrounding regions, maybe even to the other distant organs.

A gout is a form of arthritis which can cause you to experience debilitating pain in the joints all over your body. This is mainly caused by a buildup of uric acid in the body which leads to the inflammation of various joints but those mostly around the feet and toes. It is estimated that most men, between the ages of 30 to 50 are susceptible to attacks of gout. Furthermore, you may be predisposed to the condition due to genetics. This condition can be painful which is why it is essential that you take a closer look at some of its causes as well as risk factors associated with it. Causes of gout Gout can be caused due to various factors but is mainly caused by the buildup of uric acid in the body. In other words, unlike most other conditions, gout can be caused by abnormalities in your metabolism rather than your immune system. This is why it is important that you pay close attention to your diet especially if you are predisposed and are at high risk from gout. Purine-rich food items : As your body consumes purine, your digestive juices break it down and uric acid happens to be one of the by-products of the same.