7 Facts About Synovitis: Symptoms and Causes

The synovial membrane is the part of the body that lines the inside of certain joints. It lines the joint capsule in the knee, ankle, wrist, elbow, hand, foot, and shoulder. When this membrane gets inflamed, it is called synovitis. Synovitis is often the result of repeated joint bleeds that are not treated early or correctly. With synovitis, the synovial membrane thickens and grows more blood vessels, causing even more bleeding into the joint. If you have synovitis, it means that your synovial membrane has become inflamed.



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Symptoms
Because of the mass of inflammatory cells in rheumatoid arthritis, the joint appears swollen and feels puffy to the touch. The increased blood flow that is a feature of the inflammation makes the joint warm.

• The joint remains swollen and "spongy" even after treatment.
• There is usually no pain or loss of motion unless there is an active bleed.
• There is an increased number of bleeds in the same joint.

Causes
The pain caused by synovitis can be a major problem in connection with other illnesses such as juvenile arthritis, lupus, and psoriatic arthritis. Synovitis can also be part of rheumatic fever, tuberculosis, injury, or gout. It is a defining characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. In that disorder, the cells in the inflamed membrane attract other inflamed cells from all over the body, making the synovitis more and more painful. Sometimes it is not known what is causing the synovitis; a person may have had an injury that seemed minor at the time, or they may not recall an injury at all, but the fluid collects in response to the trauma and causes inflammation.

What is Nursemaid's Elbow?: Causes and Symptoms

Nursemaid's elbow is a common injury of early childhood. It is sometimes referred to as "pulled elbow" because it occurs when a child's elbow is pulled and dislocates. The medical term for the injury is "radial head subluxation." Because a young child's bones and muscles are still developing, it typically takes very little force to pull the bones of the elbow out of place, making this injury very common. It occurs most often in children ages 1 to 4, but can happen any time from birth up to age 6 or 7 years old. Although the injury may cause initial pain, a doctor or other healthcare professional can easily reset the elbow, quickly relieving any discomfort and restoring arm movement.


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Causes
Nursemaid's elbow usually happens in kids 1 to 4 years old. Their ligaments (the elastic-like bands that hold bones together) are a bit loose. So it can be easy for a ligament in the elbow to slip into the joint and get stuck. Nursemaid's elbow can happen with just a small amount of force. For example:

• Pulling a child up by the hands can put stress on the elbows. Never pick up a toddler or infant by the hands or wrists, but lift under the armpits.
• Swinging a toddler by holding the hands or wrists can put stress on the elbow joint and should be avoided.

Symptoms
Because moving the injured arm may be painful, the primary symptom of nursemaid's elbow is that the child will hold the arm still at his or her side, and refuse to bend the elbow or use the arm.

What Causes Freckles?

Freckles are usually flat, beige, brown circular spots that typically are the size of the head of a common nail. The spots are multiple and may develop on sun-exposed skin after repeated exposure to sunlight. These are particularly common in people with red hair and a fair skin. They may appear on people as young as 1 or 2 years of age. Most freckles are uniform in color. On different people, freckles may vary somewhat in color -- they may be reddish, yellow, tan, light brown, brown, or black -- but they are basically slightly darker than the surrounding skin. They may become darker and more apparent after sun exposure and lighten in the winter.



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How do you get freckles?
Ephelides: These freckles form as a result of sun exposure and sunburns. They can appear on anyone who doesn’t protect themselves from UV rays. They show up on your face, the back of your hands, and upper body.

What increases your chance for freckles?
The credit for freckles goes to both the natural environment and genetics. Your risk for burning can increase the incidence of freckles. In a study of 523 middle-aged French women, two elements predicted the presence of freckles: frequent sunburns and a gene known as MC1R, which provides instructions for making melanin. But the gene doesn’t affect all individuals the same way. There are two type of melanin: pheomelanin and eumelanin.

8 Signs Your Prolactin Levels are Too High

Prolactin is a hormone that affects many different hormones in the body. Present in both men and women, it rarely causes problems, but those who care about their health should understand what it is and how it impacts the body’s overall health and well-being. Prolactin, as its name implies, is a hormone that promotes lactation or breast milk production in mammals and is responsible for a number of other functions and systems. Prolactin is created in the front portion of the pituitary gland in your brain, as well as in the uterus, brain, breasts, prostate, adipose tissue, skin, and immune cells.


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How is prolactin controlled?
One of the main regulators of the production of prolactin from the pituitary gland is the hormone called dopamine, which is produced by the hypothalamus, the part of the brain directly above the pituitary gland. Dopamine restrains prolactin production, so the more dopamine there is, the less prolactin is released. Prolactin itself enhances the secretion of dopamine, so this creates a negative feedback loop.

Why is the prolactin test done?
Women with prolactinoma symptoms may need the test. Prolactinoma is a noncancerous tumor on the pituitary gland that produces high levels of prolactin. Symptoms of prolactinoma in women include:

• unexplained headaches
• visual impairment
• galactorrhea, or lactation outside of childbirth or nursing
• pain or discomfort during sex
• abnormal acne

7 Facts About Encopresis - Causes and Symptoms

Encopresis, sometimes called fecal incontinence or soiling, is the repeated passing of stool into clothing. Typically it happens when impacted stool collects in the colon and rectum: the colon becomes too full and liquid stool leaks around the retained stool, staining underwear. Eventually, stool retention can cause swelling of the bowels and loss of control over bowel movements. Encopresis usually occurs after age 4, when the child has already learned to use a toilet. In most cases, soiling is a symptom of chronic constipation. Less frequently it occurs without constipation and may be the result of emotional issues.



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Causes
Most encopresis cases are due to constipation. The stool is hard, dry, and difficult to pass when a person is constipated. Many kids hold their BMs to avoid the pain they feel when they go to the bathroom, which sets the stage for having a poop accident. So to understand encopresis, it's important to understand constipation. There's a wide range of normal when it comes to having a BM. "Normal" pooping might range from one or two BMs per day to only three or four per week.

Symptoms
Pediatric gastroenterologists indicate that symptoms of constipation generally involve six characteristics of abnormal stooling present in infants and toddlers for at least one month and children 4 to 18 years of age for two months.

• Two or fewer bowel movements per week
• One episode of stool incontinence after mastering toilet-training skills
• A history of excessive stool retention which may be accompanied by characteristic retentive posturing in older children

5 Facts About Cat Scratch Fever - Symptoms

Cat scratch disease (CSD), also known as cat scratch fever or subacute regional lymphadenitis, is a bacterial infection affecting lymph nodes that drain the sites of inoculation. Bartonella henselae, a gram-negative rod, is considered the principal etiologic agent. CSD is one of the most common causes of chronic lymphadenopathy in children and adolescents. Patients with CSD usually have a history of sustaining a scratch or bite from a cat. The initial symptom is formation of a papule at the inoculation site, followed by solitary or regional lymphadenopathy within 1-2 weeks. In most patients, the disease resolves spontaneously within 2-4 months.



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Symptoms

Feline Symptoms
Cats can carry Bartonella but they don’t get sick from the bacteria, so you can’t always tell if they are carriers. It’s believed that cats contract Bartonella henselae from infected fleas, but there’s no evidence that humans can contract the bacteria directly from fleas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 40 percent of cats carry the bacteria at some time in their lives, most commonly when they are kittens. Your vet can test your cat to see if it’s carrying the bacteria, but cats tend to carry the bacteria only for a short time. Treatment isn’t usually recommended.

Human Symptoms

• a bump or blister at the bite or scratch site
• swollen lymph nodes near the bite or scratch site
• headaches
• a low-grade fever
• loss of appetite

7 Signs and Symptoms of Munchausen Syndrome?

Munchausen syndrome is a specific condition in which a person intentionally fakes, simulates, worsens, or self-induces an injury or illness for the main purpose of being treated like a medical patient. Munchausen syndrome was named after a German military man, Baron von Munchausen, who traveled around telling fantastic tales about his imaginary exploits. In 1951, Richard Asher applied the term to people traveling from hospital to hospital, making up various illnesses.



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Symptoms
Factitious disorder symptoms involve mimicking or producing illness or injury or exaggerating symptoms or impairment to trick others to believe them. People with the disorder go to great lengths to hide their deception, so it can be very difficult to realize that their symptoms are actually part of a serious mental health disorder. Most often, they continue with the deception, even without receiving any visible benefit or reward or when faced with objective evidence that doesn't support their claims.
Factitious disorder signs and symptoms may include:

• Clever and convincing medical or psychological problems
• Extensive knowledge of medical terms and diseases
• Conditions that get worse for no apparent reason
• Seeking treatment from many different doctors or hospitals, which may include using a fake name

Causes

The exact cause of the disease is not known, but researchers believe both biological and psychological factors play a role in the development of this syndrome. Some theories suggest that a history of abuse or neglect as a child, or a history of frequent illnesses requiring hospitalization, might be some of the factors associated with the development of this unusual syndrome. Researchers also are studying the possible connection with personality disorders, which are common in these individuals.

What is Marfan Syndrome: Risks and Complications

Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder. It affects our connective tissue, fibers that support your organs and other structures in your body.
Your skeleton, blood vessels, eyes, and heart are the most commonly affected organs in your body if you have Marfan syndrome.
A person who has Marfan syndrome is mostly tall and with thin with disproportioned fingers, toes, legs, and arms.
The damage cause can be mild to moderate to severe and if your blood vessels are affected, it can be fatal.



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Symptoms
The symptoms of the Marfan syndrome vary from the members of the family. Some may be fatal depending on the complications that the person is experiencing, but some may only develop mild effects.

Due to aging, it may become worst. The symptoms may include: tall and thin built of the body, disproportion in your arms, fingers, legs, and toes. Crowded teeth and extreme nearsightedness.

Causes
A gene defection that makes your body produces a protein that gives connective tissue its strength and elasticity is the main cause of Marfan syndrome. It’s hereditary.

A person who has a Marfan syndrome inherits the abnormality from his parents or other members of the family. There is a 50-50 chance that a child will have Marfan syndrome if one of his parents has the same disorder.

What is Encephalitis: Symptoms and Causes

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain tissue. The most common cause is viral infection. In some cases it can be caused by bacteria or fungi. There are two main types of encephalitis: primary and secondary. Primary encephalitis occurs when a virus directly infects the brain and spinal cord. Secondary encephalitis occurs when an infection starts somewhere else in the body and then travels to your brain. Encephalitis is a rare, but serious disease that can be life-threatening. You should call your doctor immediately if you notice any symptoms of encephalitis.



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SymptomsMost people with viral encephalitis have mild flu-like symptoms, such as:

• Headache
• Fever
• Aches in muscles or joints
• Fatigue or weakness

CausesEncephalitis can develop as a result of a direct infection to the brain by a virus, bacterium, or fungus, or when the immune system responds to a previous infection; the immune system mistakenly attacks brain tissue (secondary encephalitis, or post-infectious encephalitis).
Primary (infectious) encephalitis can be split into three main categories of viruses:

• Common viruses - including HSV (herpes simplex virus) and EBV (Epstein-Barr virus)
• Childhood viruses - including measles and mumps
• Arboviruses (spread by mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects) - including Japanese encephalitis, West Nile encephalitis, and tick-borne encephalitis

What Is Trichotillomania: Risk Factors and Treatment

Trichotillomania is a type of mental disorder, which involves an irresistible and recurrent urge to pull out one's hair from the scalp and other parts of the body with hair, in spite of having the desire to stop. Due to hair pulling, the scalp tends to have patchy bald spots, which can lead to a significant amount of distress. It can also interfere with one's work and social interactions.



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Risk Factors
Below are certain risk factors, which can increase the risk of developing this mental disorder:

• Age: Trichotillomania is known to develop in an individual just before the onset of puberty or during the early teenage years between the age of 10-13 years old, which often becomes a lifelong or chronic issue. Infants are also prone to developing the habit of hair pulling. However, it is usually mild and would go away on its own without the need for treatment.

• Family History: Genes have a significant role in most complex disorders. Similarly, genetics also play a role in the development of trichotillomania. Thus, trichotillomania may happen in people who have close relatives suffering from the disorder.

• Stress: People dealing with stressful life events or situations may trigger the disorder. Stress can be physical, emotional, or mental.

• Other Disorders: Individuals who suffer from trichotillomania may also have other forms of mental disorders, which include anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Treatment
There are certain treatment methods that can help individuals with trichotillomania. They include:

• Cognitive Therapy: In this therapy, any kind of distorted belief, which may have a connection when it comes to pulling hair is identified and examined.

• Habit Reversal Training: This type of behavioral therapy is considered as the main treatment for trichotillomania. This therapy would help an individual recognize the urges or triggers of hair pulling, and learn how to substitute such feelings with other behaviors instead. One example would be clenching one's fists to stop the urge of hair pulling or simply redirecting their hands to their ears instead of going for their hair. Other types of therapies can be used in combination with habit reversal training. 

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): In this particular therapy, individuals learn to accept their hair-pulling urge without acting too much on it.

What is Tourette Syndrome: Symptoms and Causes

Tourette syndrome is doing repeated movements or making unwanted sounds that can’t be easily controlled. For example, blinking eyes repeatedly, shrugging the shoulders or blurt out unusual sounds (tics).
They show up usually between the ages 2 and 15. Males are about 3 to 4 times more likely to develop Tourette syndrome.
There are some treatment methods available to reduce the repetitiveness but there is no complete cure. Tics often decrease after attaining puberty.



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Symptoms
Sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds also known as tics, are the characteristic symptoms of Tourette syndrome. Tics are classified into simple tics (involves limited number of muscle group) and complex tics (involves several muscle groups). Tics can also be differentiated into motor tics or vocal tics. Motor ticks usually precede vocal tics.

Some of the common motor tics include:

• Simple tics ( eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, eye darting, nose twitching and mouth movements).
• Complex tics (touching or smelling objects, repeated observed movements, stepping in a certain pattern, obscene gesture, bending or twisting and hopping).

Causes
Tourette syndrome is a complex disorder which is likely to be caused by a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. But, the exact cause is unknown.

Dopamine and serotonin are the chemicals that transmit nervous impulses in the brain. Disorders in these chemicals may lead to such disease.

What is cauliflower ear: Causes and Treatments

When we talk about the term “cauliflower ear”, it refers to a kind of deformity of the ear. It can be due to various causes such as an injury or blunt trauma to the ear during a wrestling or boxing match. If this injury is not treated in a timely manner, then it can lead to a blockage, which would, in turn, prevent the flow of blood and damage the tissues. The injury ultimately results into a lumpy or bumpy appearance on the part of the ear that looks quite similar to a cauliflower. If treatment is carried out earlier, then it can help prevent a permanently deformed ear from developing.


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Causes
There are certain parts of the human body, which are vulnerable to injury such as the ears. When the ear is struck, it causes the blood to clot in that area and tends to develop under the skin. There are also instances where the skin is sheared from the cartilage. The disruption caused in between the skin and the cartilage leads to the formation of a cauliflower ear.

Treatment
The main goal of treatment is to prevent permanent damage to the cartilage by draining the blood from the hematoma. Other treatment measures include getting the infection treated in a timely manner and reducing inflammation to properly establish a connection between the skin and its underlying cartilage. The doctors can also prescribe antibiotics to prevent further infections or complications.

What Does Psychosomatic Mean?

The term “psychosomatic disorder” means “a physical disease that is thought to be caused, or made worse, by mental factors.” This term is also used when mental factors cause physical symptoms but where there is no physical disease. For example, chest pain may be caused by stress and no physical disease can be found. Some physical diseases are thought to be prone to be made worse by mental factors such as stress and anxiety. A person’s mental state can affect the degree of severity of a physical disease. Physical symptoms that are caused by mental factors are also called somatization or somatoform disorders. These symptoms are due to increased activity of nervous impulses sent from the brain to various parts of the body.


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Which diseases are psychosomatic?To an extent, most diseases are psychosomatic - including both mind and body. There is a mental aspect to every physical disease. How we react to disease and how we deal with disease vary greatly from person to person. For example, the rash of psoriasis may not bother some people very much. However, the rash covering the same parts of the body in someone else may make them feel depressed and, as a result, more ill.

TreatmentEach disease has its own treatment options. For physical diseases, physical treatments such as medication or operations are usually the most important. However, healthcare workers will usually try to treat a person as a whole and take into account mental and social factors which may be contributing to a disease. Therefore, treatments to ease stress, anxiety and depression may help if they are thought to be contributing to your physical disease.

Tay-Sachs Disease : Symptoms and Causes

Tay-Sach’s disease is a rare genetic disorder which results due to absence of an enzyme in the body that breaks down fatty substances.
The fatty substances accumulate in the body and affect child’s brain. As the disease develops the body loses its function gradually.
Gene therapy or enzyme replacement therapy are the only treatment option which may in increase the life the child.

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Symptoms
Symptoms of Tay-Sach’s disease include

• deafness,
• blindness,
• loss of muscle strength,
• delayed mental development,
• dementia,
• irritability,

Causes
Tay-Sachs disease a genetic disorder caused by mutation (alteration in genome) on chromosome no. 15 (a human organism consists of 23 pairs of chromosome).
It occurs due to absence of an enzyme hexosaminidase A, that breaks down fatty acids.
Without this enzyme, toxic products like gangliosides build up in the cells and affect the CNS resulting the symptoms.

What Is Lou Gehrig's Disease?: Causes and Symptoms

Lou Gehrig's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord. It is also called as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. It is a progressive disorder that leads to the loss of voluntary muscle control in the body. This disorder often affects the nerves that control speech, swallowing function, and limb movements. There is still no known cure for this disease.



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Causes
This medical condition is classified into two types: sporadic and familial. Most ALS cases are sporadic, which means that anyone can be affected by the disorder. Around 5-10 percent of ALS cases are familial, which means that the disorder can be inherited.

Symptoms
The symptoms of ALS also depends on the affected areas of the nervous system. Thus, symptoms may vary from one person to another. The lower half of the brain stem is the medulla, which controls most of the body’s autonomic functions. These functions include the regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.

What is Strattera: Side Effects

Strattera affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. Strattera is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and may also be used for purposes not listed in numerous medication guides.

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When not to use Strattera?
You should not use Strattera if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, an adrenal gland tumor, heart disease or coronary artery disease. Do not use Strattera if you have taken a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, including isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others. Strattera may cause new or worsening psychosis, unusual thoughts or behavior, especially if you have a history of depression, mental illness, or bipolar disorder.
Strattera has caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart defect. Many young people have thoughts about suicide when they first start taking this medicine, or whenever the dose is changed. Pay attention to changes in your mood or symptoms, especially if you have ever had suicidal thoughts.

How to take Strattera?

• Take Strattera exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
• Take the medicine at the same time each day, with a glass of water.

Strattera is usually taken once a day in the morning, or two times per day in the morning and late afternoon.

• You may take this medicine with or without food.
• Do not crush, chew, break, or open a Strattera capsule. Swallow the capsule whole..
• Use Strattera regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
• Do not use a capsule that has been opened or accidentally broken. The medicine from inside the capsule can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes. If this occurs, rinse your eyes with water. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle and dispose a broken capsule.
• While taking Strattera, your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits. Your heart rate, blood pressure, height and weight may also need to be checked often.

Strattera side effects
It’s important to get emergency help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Strattera. Some of them are: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• signs of heart problems - chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out;
• signs of psychosis - hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), new behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia;
• liver problems - stomach pain (upper right side), itching, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• painful or difficult urination; or
• erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours (this is a rare side effect).

Common Strattera side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation;
• dry mouth, loss of appetite;
• mood changes, feeling tired;
• dizziness;
• urination problems; or
• impotence, trouble having an erection.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.It’s extremely important to use this medication in the right way and regularly communicate with your doctor in order to have the full effect and stay healthy and safe!

Facts About MRSA: Causes and Symptoms

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. However, it's much more complex to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to many antibiotics. The symptoms of MRSA depend on where exactly you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, like sores or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract. Although most MRSA infections aren't serious, some can be very serious and life-threatening. Many public health experts are alarmed by the spread of tough strains of MRSA. Because it's hard to treat, MRSA is sometimes called a "super bug."

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Causes
Garden-variety staph are common bacteria that can live inside the body. Plenty of healthy people carry staph without being infected by it. In fact, one third of everybody has staph bacteria in their noses. But staph can be a problem if it manages to get into the body, often through a cut. Once there, it can cause an infection. Staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. Usually, these are minor and don't need special treatment. Less often, staph can cause serious problems like infected wounds or pneumonia.
Staph can usually be treated with antibiotics. But over the decades, some strains of staph, like MRSA, have become resistant to antibiotics that once destroyed it. MRSA was first discovered in 1961. It's now resistant to methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and many other common antibiotics.

Symptoms
Staph skin infections, including MRSA, usually start as swollen, painful red bumps that might resemble pimples or spider bites. The affected area might be:

• Warm to the touch
• Full of pus or other drainage
• Accompanied by a fever

These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin. But, they can also go deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.

Who Gets MRSA?
MRSA is spread by contact. So, you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried by about 2% of the population (or 2 in 100 people), although most of them aren't infected.
MRSA infections are very common among people who have weak immune systems and are in hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes.

Treatment
Both health care-associated and community-associated strains of MRSA still respond to certain antibiotics. In some cases, antibiotics may not be necessary. For example, doctors may drain a superficial abscess caused by MRSA rather than treat the infection with drugs.
In the hospital, people who are infected or colonized with MRSA are often placed in contact precautions as a measure to prevent the spread of MRSA. Health care workers and visitors caring for people in isolation are required to wear protective garments and must follow strict hand hygiene procedures. Contaminated surfaces and laundry items should be properly disinfected. So, make sure to notice the symptoms on time in order to prevent MRSA from spreading rapidly!

Benefits of Alkaline Diet foods

There are all various types of diets— some good, some bad — but there is no diet better for longevity and shaking off disease than an alkaline diet.How do alkaline diets work? Research shows that diets consisting of highly alkaline foods — fresh vegetables, fruits and unprocessed plant-based sources of protein result in a more alkaline urine pH level, which helps protect healthy cells and balance essential mineral levels. Alkaline diets have been shown to help prevent plaque formation in blood vessels, stop calcium from accumulating in urine, prevent kidney stones, build stronger bones, reduce muscle wasting or spasms, and much more.


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What Is an Alkaline Diet?

An alkaline diet is one that helps balance the pH level of the fluids in the body, including blood and urine. pH is partially determined by the mineral density of the foods you eat. All living organisms on earth depend on maintaining appropriate pH levels, and it’s often said that disease cannot take place in a body that has a balanced pH.
Human life requires a very tightly controlled pH level of the blood of about 7.365–7.4. As Forbe’s Magazine puts it, “Our bodies go to extraordinary lengths to maintain safe pH levels.” Your pH can range between 7.35 to 7.45 depending on the time of day, your diet, what you last ate and when you last went to the bathroom. If you develop electrolyte imbalances and frequently consume too many acidic foods, your body’s changing pH level can result in increased “acidosis.”

Alkaline Diet Benefits

1. Protects Bone Density and Muscle Mass

Your intake of minerals plays an important role in the development and maintenance of bone structures. Research shows that the more alkalizing fruits and vegetables you eat, the better protection you might have from experiencing decreased bone strength and muscle wasting asyou age, known as sarcopenia. An alkaline diet can help balance ratios of minerals that are important for building bones and maintaining lean muscle mass, including calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Alkaline diet also helps improve production of growth hormones and vitamin D absorption, which further protects bones.

2. Lowers Risk for Hypertension and Heart Attack

One of the anti-aging effects of an alkaline diet is that it decreases inflammation and causes an increase in growth hormone production. This improves cardiovascular health and offers protection against common problems like high cholesterol, hypertension, kidney stones, stroke and even memory loss.

3. Lowers Chronic Pain and Inflammation

Researchers have found a connection between an alkaline diet and reduced levels of chronic pain. Chronic acidosis contributes to chronic back pain, headaches, muscle spasms, menstrual symptoms, inflammation and joint pain. One study conducted by the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements in Germany found that when patients with chronic back pain were given an alkaline supplement daily for four weeks, 76 of 82 patients reported significant decreases in pain as measured by the “Arhus low back pain rating scale.”

4. Boosts Vitamin Absorption and Prevents Magnesium Deficiency

An increase in magnesium is required for the function of enzyme systems and bodily processes. Many people are deficient in magnesium and as a result experience heart complications, muscle pains, headaches, sleep troubles and anxiety. Available magnesium is also required to activate vitamin D and prevent vitamin D deficiency, which is important for overall immune and endocrine functioning.
Unlike many other complex and strange diets, the alkaline diet is actually quite healthy. It encourages a high consumption of fruits, vegetables and healthy plant foods, while restricting processed junk foods. It should help you lead a healthy and good life!

What is Condyloma? : Causes and Treatment

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease that appears externally on the genitalia, in the anal area, internally in the upper vagina or cervix, and in the male urethra. The lesion is typically raised and pinkish. This condition may produce no symptoms at all, or cause itching, burning, tenderness, pain during intercourse, or frequent urination.

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Some half a million new cases of genital warts are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Technically known as condylomaacuminata, genital warts are small growths, sometimes resembling cauliflower, that occur on or near the genitals. Like other warts, the genital variety is caused by by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Worldwide, HPV is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease (STD).

The wart itself is actually the “tip of an iceberg” in that the virus lurks in cells of the normal-appearing skin around the visible wart, and possibly also in other uro-genital areas.
The viral nature of the condition also has important implications for transmission and treatment. Many if not most people who harbor the virus do not know it. The virus may infect cells but not cause warts for many years, erupting into visible lesions when the immune system is suppressed.
Because of a wart’s location and sexual mode of transmission, it may cause emotional and social problems. Genital warts can inflict extreme psychological turmoil, and those who have them often feel embarrassed, angry, and even guilty.

Concern about genital warts has increased because of an association between HPV and genital cancers. Anyone who has ever had sex is at risk for harboring HPV. The virus seems to cause visible lesions when a person’s immune system is suppressed, but many flare up even without an obvious trigger. This may occur because of illness (particularly other sexually transmitted diseases), or from taking certain drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy or drugs to prevent rejection of an organ transplant. Deficiencies of folic acid and vitamin A also may trigger genital warts. Smoking raises risk twofold, partly because nicotine byproducts attack immune system cells in the cervix.

Causes

Genital warts are spread by sexual contact with an infected partner and are very contagious. They often appear within three months of contact. Condoms can help, but do not assure, prevention.
Although much remains to be learned about how the papilloma virus progresses, doctors have observed that the warm, moist environment in the genital area seems to favor wart growth. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during pregnancy and in patients with defective immune systems.
Patients with a history of genital warts may be at increased risk for certain types of cancer. The human papilloma virus is associated with up to 90 percent of all cervical malignancies and is also thought may play a role in cancers of the vagina, anus, vulva and penis.Cervical warts may be transmitted to the newborn via passage through the infected birth canal.

Treatment

People with genital warts have a variety of treatments to choose from, but none is a perfect cure. The treatments vary widely in cost. Genital wart treatments fall into three categories: prescription topical preparations that destroy wart tissue; surgical methods that remove wart tissue; and biological-based approaches that target the virus causing the underlying condition. Each treatment must be applied to individual warts - none is taken systematically.
Home remedies and naturopathic/homeopathic treatments don't work! Talk to all sex partner(s) who may have been exposed. Encourage them to get tested. Both partners need to be treated to avoid reinfection. Avoid vaginal, anal and oral sex until your physician says it's okay so you don't get reinfected, or spread the disease to others. Typically this is during your treatment and for seven days following antibiotic therapy – your physician will advise you accordingly. Follow your treatment plan and finish all medications, even if you feel well. Follow up exams can make sure treatment was effective.

What is a Lipoma: Symptoms

A lipoma is a growth of fatty tissue that slowly develops under your skin. People of any age can develop a lipoma, but children rarely develop them. A lipoma can form on any part of the body, but they typically appear on the: neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, arms and thighs. They’re classified as benign growths, or tumors, of fatty tissue. This means a lipoma isn’t cancerous and is rarely harmful.

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Symptoms

There are many types of skin tumors, but a lipoma usually has distinct characteristics. If you suspect that you have a lipoma it will generally:

• be soft to the touch
• move easily if prodded with your finger
• be just under the skin
• be pale
• be colorless
• grow slowly

Risk Factors

• adiposis dolorosa (a rare disorder characterized by multiple, painful lipomas)
• Cowden syndrome
• Gardner’s syndrome
• Madelung’s disease

Diagnosis

Doctors can often diagnose a lipoma by performing a physical exam. It feels soft and isn’t painful. Also, since it’s made up of fatty tissues, the lipoma moves easily when touched.

Treatment

A lipoma that’s left alone usually doesn’t cause any problems. However, your dermatologist can treat the lump if it bothers you. Your dermatologist will make the best treatment recommendation based on a variety of factors including:

• the size of the lipoma
• the number of skin tumors you have
• your personal history of skin cancer
• your family history of skin cancer
• whether the lipoma is painful

What Is Hyperalgesia: Causes and Symptoms

Hyperalgesia is a condition where a person develops an increased sensitivity to pain. What may not hurt most people can cause significant pain in an individual with hyperalgesia. Although there are many potential causes associated with hyperalgesia, the condition is thought to be the result of changes to nerve pathways, which cause a person's nerves to have an overactive response to pain. Medications are available to prevent a person's symptoms from worsening.

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Causes
There are several nerve or "pain" pathways in the body where signals can start to miscommunicate with each other, resulting in hyperalgesia. Some scientists think that hyperalgesia occurs when chemicals known to reduce pain are disrupted; others propose that hyperalgesia happens when "crossed wires" in the nervous system prevent pain signals from transmitting accurately.

Types
Doctors usually divide hyperalgesia into primary and secondary categories. Both of these conditions are due to initial tissue trauma and inflammation.

Primary hyperalgesia
This type of hyperalgesia is when the increased pain occurs in the tissue where the injury took place. An example would be when a person has surgery on their elbow, and the pain starts to worsen over time instead of improving.

Secondary hyperalgesia
This type occurs when the pain seems to spread to non-injured tissue or tissues.
Another kind of hyperalgesia is opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). OIH occurs when a person experiences worsening or new pain as a result of taking opioids, such as morphine, hydrocodone, or fentanyl for pain relief.

Treatment
If hyperalgesia is opioid induced, a doctor may reduce the dosage. While a person may experience an initial increase in pain due to these changes, this frequently gives way to a reduced pain experience in those with hyperalgesia. A doctor may also try to prescribe an alternative, non-opioid medication.
There are also different classes of opioids a doctor could prescribe. One example is methadone, a medication that relieves pain, yet has been shown to prevent or reduce OIH. However, it is still possible that a person could have hyperalgesia while taking methadone. Another medication is buprenorphine, which can help to reduce the incidence of hyperalgesia by blocking receptors in the brain and spinal cord.

Ketamine, which also blocks certain receptors, is another option. All of these medications, as well as methadone, require close medical supervision. Another option is a muscle or nerve block, which uses a local anesthetic to numb or delay painful nerve impulses. Sometimes, treating hyperalgesia requires a trial-and-error approach, with frequent adjustments to medication until a person achieves a reduced pain experience.

Symptoms
The chief symptom of hyperalgesia is an increasingly extreme reaction to painful stimuli without any new injuries or worsening of a medical condition. An example would be a surgical incision that becomes more painful over time, yet the wound is not infected, and a person has not experienced any further injury.Hyperalgesia is different from tolerance to medications although the two processes are similar.

If a person develops a tolerance to a particular drug, it usually means that their body has become accustomed to the presence of the drug at the current dosage, and the drug is no longer working properly. When a person has developed a tolerance to a drug, increasing the dosage will usually decrease a person's pain.
Drug tolerance is different from hyperalgesia, where increasing pain medication will not reduce the amount of pain a person feels. Sometimes, increasing the pain medication makes the person's pain worse.

Another similar medical condition is allodynia. This condition is where a person develops a significant pain response to non-painful stimuli. Even brushing against a person's skin can cause pain.In hyperalgesia, a person has experienced a painful stimulus, such as cancer pain or pain following surgery, but their response to the pain is greater than the expected level of pain.
A doctor may increase a person's pain medication to determine if hyperalgesia is the cause. If the additional pain medication does cause more pain, it is possible the condition is hyperalgesia. Currently, there are no definitive diagnostic tests for hyperalgesia.

What Causes Breathlessness?

Sudden shortness of breath, or breathing difficulty (dyspnoea), is the most common reason for visiting a hospital accident and emergency department.It's also one of the most common reasons people call 911 for an ambulance.It's normal to get out of breath when you've overexerted yourself, but when breathlessness comes on suddenly and unexpectedly, it's usually a warning sign of a medical condition.

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Causes

Sudden and unexpected breathlessness is most likely to be caused by one of the following health conditions. Click on the links below for more information about these conditions.

A problem with your lungs or airways

Sudden breathlessness could be an asthma attack. This means your airways have narrowed and you'll produce more sticky mucus (phlegm), which causes you to wheeze and cough.
You'll feel breathless because it's difficult to move air in and out of your airways.

A heart problem

It's possible to have a "silent" heart attack without experiencing all the obvious symptoms, such as chest pain and overwhelming anxiety.In this case, shortness of breath may be the only warning sign you're having a heart attack. If you or your GP think this is the case, they'll give you aspirin and admit you to hospital straight away.

Heart failure can also cause breathing difficulties. This life-threatening condition means your heart is having trouble pumping enough blood around your body, usually because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. It leads to a build-up of water inside the lungs, which makes breathing more difficult.

Panic attack or anxiety

A panic attack or anxiety can cause you to take rapid or deep breaths, known as hyperventilating. Concentrating on slow breathing or breathing through a paper bag should bring your breathing back to normal.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the likely cause of your breathlessness. You will be strongly encouraged to stop smoking if you are a smoker. It will also help if you lose weight if you are overweight.You will probably be referred to a heart specialist (a cardiologist) or to a lung (respiratory) specialist, for further tests, depending on the most likely underlying cause. Most cases will be managed by your GP but you may be referred for further investigation and treatment at a hospital.

Blood in Semen: Causes and Symptoms

Seeing blood in the semen can make a man anxious. Fortunately, it doesn't always signal a major medical problem. For men younger than 40 with no related symptoms and no risk factors for underlying medical conditions, blood in semen often disappears on its own. But for men 40 and over, chances are higher that blood in the semen needs evaluation and treatment.

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Causes

Blood in the semen can come from several different sources:

• Infection and inflammation. This is the most common cause of blood in the semen. Blood can come from an infection or inflammation, in any of the glands, tubes, or ducts that produce and move semen from the body. These include:
• Prostate (the gland that produces the fluid part of semen)
• Urethra (the tube that carries urine and semen from the penis)
• Epididymis and vas deferens (tiny tube-like structures where sperm mature before ejaculation)
• Seminal vesicles (which add more fluid to the semen)
• It can also come from an STI (sexually transmitted infection) such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, or from another viral or bacterial infection. Infection and inflammation are the culprits behind nearly four out of every ten cases of blood in the semen.
• Trauma or a medical procedure. Blood in the semen is common after medical procedures. For instance, as many as four out of five men may temporarily have blood in their semen following a prostate biopsy.

Symptoms

When looking for an underlying cause of blood in the semen, the doctor will ask about any related symptoms, including:

• Blood in the urine (called hematuria)
• Hot, burning urination or other symptoms of painful urination
• Difficulty emptying your bladder completely
• A painful bladder that feels distended
• Painful ejaculation
• Swollen or painful areas on the sex organs or obvious scrapes from injury
• Penis discharge or other signs of an STD
• Fever, racing pulse, and higher-than-normal blood pressure

Treatment

In younger men, blood in the semen that happens just once or twice without any additional symptoms or history of certain medical conditions can disappear on its own without treatment. If you have repeated episodes of blood in the semen along with painful urinary or ejaculatory symptoms, the doctor may refer you to a urologist.

Lump Under Armpit: Causes and Symptoms

Armpit lumps are very common and are normally caused by a swollen lymph node or gland under the armpit. However, there are many other causes for armpit lumps, some of which may require treatment. Fortunately, there are many treatments for lumps that appear under the arm, depending on what has caused them. A doctor can diagnose the underlying cause of an armpit lump and prescribe the proper treatment.



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Causes
There could be a number of potential causes of armpit lumps. Most armpit lumps are harmless and the direct result of abnormal tissue growth.However, armpit lumps may indicate a much more serious underlying health issue. If this is the case, it will most likely require medical intervention.Some of the most common causes of armpit lumps include:

• noncancerous, fibrous tissue growth (fibroadenoma)
• cysts or fluid filled sacs
• allergic reactions to deodorant, antiperspirant, or soap
• viral or bacterial infections
• infections that drain into the lump in the armpit
• fatty growths (lipomas)
• adverse reactions to vaccinations
• fungal infections
• lupus
• breast cancer
• lymphoma
• leukemia

Symptoms
The most obvious symptom of an armpit lump is the lump itself. The lumps can range in size from very tiny to quite large.The texture of the armpit lump may vary according to what is causing it. For example, a cyst, infection or fatty growth may feel soft to the touch. However, fibroadenomas and cancerous tumors may feel hard and immobile.Some people may experience pain with an armpit lump. Painful lumps are often associated with infections and allergic reactions, which cause softer lumps. Lymph node infections may also cause painful lumps in the armpit.

Difference in men and women
Armpit lumps occur in both men and women of all ages and many of these are harmless. However, women should be particularly aware of armpit lumps as they may indicate breast cancer.Women should perform monthly breast self-exams and see a doctor for routine exams. If a woman finds a lump, she should report the lump to her doctor right away.
A man can generally wait to see a doctor unless they notice warning signs indicating the lump is serious. This is because men are far less likely to find a lump in the armpit that is due to breast cancer. However, although rare, men can also develop breast cancer.

How to tell if an armpit lump is serious
Any new or newly discovered lump on the body could cause concern. However, not all lumps are harmful or even painful. The seriousness of a lump can be best determined through medical examination and sometimes additional testing.Warning signs that may indicate a more serious armpit lump include:

• gradual enlargement
• no pain
• does not go away

If a person experiences or notices any of these symptoms, or has any doubts about the lump, they should see their doctor as soon as possible who can rule out more serious causes. Of course, any unusual lumps should be carefully evaluated.
When a person sees a doctor about an armpit lump, the doctor will generally start by asking them questions about the lump. The doctor may ask about any pain or discomfort the person is experiencing. In addition, the doctor will perform a physical examination. This examination should include a hand palpation or massage to determine the consistency and texture of the armpit lump. This procedure allows the doctor to thoroughly examine the lymph nodes.

Newborn Fever: Symptoms and Treatment

Kiss or touch your baby's forehead. If you think he feels hotter than normal, you're probably right. A higher-than-normal body temperature is called a fever. A fever is usually a sign that the body is waging a war against infection. Taking your baby's temperature can confirm your suspicions and help you and your child's doctor figure out the best way to get your baby back on the road to health. Most doctors – and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — agree that a normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 97 and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit. If your baby's rectal temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, he has a fever.

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Symptoms

• A temperature reading isn't the only indication of whether a fever is serious.
• Age is a factor: Fever is more serious in babies under 3 months.
• Behavior is another factor: A high fever that doesn't stop your baby from playing and feeding normally may not be cause for alarm.

When to call the doctor

You're the best judge of whether your baby is really ill – so do call if you're worried, no matter what his temperature is. Ask your baby's doctor for more specific advice, but generally:
If your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher, call the doctor immediately. A baby this young needs to be checked for serious infection or disease.
If your baby is 3 months old or older, the most important thing is how he looks and acts. If he appears well and is taking fluids, there's no need to call the doctor unless the fever persists for more than 24 hours or is very high. Ask your doctor for additional guidance: For example, the doctor may suggest calling right away if your baby's fever reaches 104 degrees, regardless of symptoms.

Treatment

Since fever is part of the body's defense against bacteria and viruses, some researchers suggest that an elevated temperature may help the body fight infections more effectively. (Bacteria and viruses prefer an environment that's around 98.6 degrees F/ 37 degrees C.) A fever also tells the body to make more white blood cells and antibodies to fight the infection.
On the other hand, if your baby's temperature is too high, he'll be too uncomfortable to eat, drink, or sleep, making it harder for him to get better.
When a baby has a fever that isn't accompanied by a runny nose, a cough, vomiting, or diarrhea, figuring out what's wrong can be difficult. There are many viral infections that can cause a fever without any other symptoms. Some, such as roseola, cause three days of very high fever followed by a light pink rash on the trunk. Pay attention to all of these symptoms in order to keep your baby healthy and happy.

What is Postprandial Somnolence?

I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" That's how it starts. How it ends: a nap on the couch, or at least a very unproductive afternoon. In everyday language, it's known as a food coma, carb coma, or the itis. In scientific terms, it's called postprandial somnolence ("postprandial" means after a meal, "somnolence" means drowsiness). But why does it happen?

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To understand the answer, it's important to know what happens in your digestive system when you eat. While you're chewing, your stomach produces the hormone gastrin, which triggers the production of the digestive juices that begin to break down your food. That food then moves into the small intestine as the gut releases the hormone enterogastrone, which regulates blood flow, among other things. Meanwhile, your pancreas releases insulin to promote the absorption of glucose from the carbohydrates in the meal. Insulin stimulates the transport of a variety of amino acids into the brain, including the infamous sleepy chemical known as tryptophan.

You might notice that food comas don't happen after every meal—just the indulgent ones. There are a few reasons for this: a meal high in carbohydrates triggers a larger spike in insulin, which makes more tryptophan enter your brain and turn first into seratonin, which makes you feel good, and then into melatonin, which makes you feel drowsy. Glucose from the carbs also appear to block brain cells called orexin neurons, which are responsible for keeping you awake and alert.

It should be mentioned, however, that tryptophan in food has a negligible effect when combined with all the other amino acids and hormones and macronutrients in a meal. Stop blaming the Thanksgiving turkey! It has less tryptophan than chicken, anyway. Plus, high-protein meals don't have the same sleepy effect, since protein tends to promote the release of more stimulating amino acids.

Food comas are sometimes unavoidable—nobody wants to watch their diet during a holiday feast—but if you want to reduce your chances of nodding off after dinner, there are a few ways to do so. Watch your portions and eat slowly so your body's hormones have time to balance out. Also, make sure you're eating a nutritious meal without too much starch or fat and with enough veggies and vitamins.

What is Polydipsia: Causes and Symptoms

Polydipsia is a medical name for the feeling of extreme thirstiness. Polydipsia is often linked to urinary conditions that cause you to urinate a lot. This can make your body feel a constant need to replace the fluids lost in urination. It can also be caused by physical processes that cause you to lose a lot of fluid. This can include sweating during exercise, eating a high-salt diet, or taking drugs that cause you to pass a lot of fluid, such as diuretics.

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Causes

Polydipsia can be caused simply by not drinking enough water after you lose a lot of fluid. If you sweat a lot or drink certain fluids, such as coffee or green and black tea, you’ll often feel extremely thirsty as your body seeks to replace the fluid that’s been lost. Dehydration due to not drinking enough water is also a common cause of polydipsia. You can feel this whether or not you’ve been sweating or urinating a lot. Polyuria, a condition in which you pass abnormally large amounts of urine, can also cause polydipsia.
Other recorded causes of polydipsia include:

• certain medications, such as corticosteroids or diuretics in pill form, such as water pills
• consuming a lot of salt or vitamin D in foods or drinks
• boredom or anxiety that causes you to drink a lot of water due to nervousness, which has also been observed in horses and dogs

Symptoms

The most obvious symptom of polydipsia is a feeling of extreme thirstiness. This symptom is especially noticeable when you feel this way even after you’ve already drunk a lot of water.Other common symptoms of polydipsia include:

• passing abnormally high amounts of urine (more than 5 liters a day)
• a persistent feeling of dryness in your mouth

Drinking too much water can also lead to water intoxication, which is sometimes called water poisoning. This condition happens when you drink excessive amounts of water. Doing so can dilute the amount of sodium in your blood and lower your blood sodium to dangerously low levels, also called hyponatremia. This can cause symptoms such as:

• headaches
• feelings of dizziness or disorientation
• muscle cramps or spasms
• unexplained seizures

Plastic Surgery Complications

Appearance is an important aspect of modern life as both women and men want to look as good as they feel. To achieve this end, more than 13 million million cosmetic procedures were performed last year in the United States. The results are often dramatic and permanent, so it is important that the patient knows what to expect and that he or she chooses a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has prepared the following reference to assist primary care physicians and others to help counsel their patients who are considering cosmetic (or reconstructive) surgery.

It is a common misunderstanding that the word plastic in plastic surgery means artificial. Rather, the word originated from the ancient Greek word plastikos, which means to mold or give form. Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involved with both the improvement in a person's appearance and the reconstruction of facial and body tissue defects due to illness, trauma, or birth disorders.

Plastic surgery restores and improves function, as well as appearance. It can involve surgery on any part of the anatomy, except the central nervous system, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Skin (including skin cancer, scars, burns, birthmarks, and tattoo removal)
• Maxillofacial (the facial skeleton)
• Congenital anomalies (including deformed ears, cleft palate, and cleft lip)

Doctors who perform plastic surgery

It is important to select a doctor who is certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Generally, a surgeon who is board-certified in plastic surgery has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least 5 years of graduate medical education--usually 3 years of general surgery and 2 years of plastic surgery. In addition, the surgeon must practice plastic surgery for 2 years and pass comprehensive written and oral exams to become board-certified. Board certification is renewed every 10 years to ensure ongoing competency in the specialty.

Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery: The Differences

Although the outward effects may be similar or even identical, the terms cosmetic and reconstructive surgery are not interchangeable. The plastic surgeon performs cosmetic surgery to reshape normal structures of the face or body in order to enhance the patient's appearance and self-esteem. Reconstructive surgery is performed to correct abnormalities of facial or body structures caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, injuries, previous or concurrent surgeries, infection, tumors, or other disease. The purpose of reconstructive surgery is generally to improve function, but it may also be used to restore a normal appearance.

These distinctions have implications for insurance coverage. Nearly all insurance carriers cover reconstructive procedures for functional restoration but not those performed purely for cosmetic reasons. In general, the classification as cosmetic or reconstructive depends on the reason that the surgery is performed. For example, rhinoplasty to change the shape of the nose is considered cosmetic. However, rhinoplasty to restore the shape of the nose following traumatic deformity is reconstructive.

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Corrective surgery to remove or minimize the effects of scarring usually provides cosmetic improvement. Insurance carriers, however, may recognize these procedures as reconstructive in nature because scars are abnormal formations that develop on the body as a result of injury or illness.

People with good self-images tend to function effectively in their work, feel secure in their relationships and interact positively with others. Self-image has other components, but one of the most important is appearance. Sometimes the correction of even a minor cosmetic defect can result in a major positive change, substantially increasing feelings of well-being and self-worth.

Many people hold jobs where appearance is important in the workplace, even if the person is not a public figure. In any job that involves interaction with others, people are apt to be judged­ to some degree ­by the way they look. Encounters are often fleeting, so first impressions count. At times of tenuous job security, people struggle to maintain whatever edge they can. For some, retaining a youthful and pleasing appearance may be their means of remaining competitive in a crowded marketplace.

What Causes Itchy Nipples: Causes and Symptoms

An itchy breast or nipple can seem like an embarrassing problem, but it happens to many people in their lifetime. There are several causes of an itchy breast or nipple, from skin irritation to rarer and more alarming causes, such as breast cancer.

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Causes
Atopic dermatitis is a common cause of an itchy breast or nipple. This type of dermatitis is also called eczema, which is an inflammation of the skin. While its cause is unknown, atopic dermatitis can cause dry skin, itching, and rash.Certain factors can worsen an itchy breast or nipple, including:

• artificial fibers
• cleaners
• perfumes
• soaps
• wool fibers

Symptoms
An itchy breast or nipple causes the urge to scratch at your skin. The discomfort can range from mild to severe, and may be an occasional or constant urge. Scratching can cause the delicate skin to become red, swollen, cracked, or thickened. While scratching may temporarily relieve the urge, it can also damage the skin.

Treatment
Mastitis is treated with antibiotics. Make sure to take the full treatment course to prevent the infection from coming back. Other steps that can also help reduce mastitis symptoms include:

• taking over-the-counter pain relievers
• drinking plenty of fluids
• resting

Paget disease and breast cancer are treated with a variety of approaches. These include:

• surgical removal of all or a portion of the breast
• chemotherapy
• radiation

How to Store Your Groceries

Storing fruits and vegetables is crucial to keeping them fresh. Lack of proper storage puts the   consumer at the risk of foodborne illness. This could be reduced by the correct handling, storing, and cooking of food. It is important to note all foods have a limited life, and with vegetables and fruits their life is even shorter. Things such as packaging and storing are the major contributors to how long the groceries stay fresh. When storing groceries, it is important to consider where to store, how to store, and the mode of storage will keep the vegetables and fruits fresh. The major areas of storing groceries are the counter and in the refrigerator.

The Counter

This storage is for vegetables and fruits that require a cool dry place. If well maintained,you could store groceries for up to two weeks.  The counter stores groceries that if kept in the fridge would turn mealy and in the process, lose most of their flavor.  These fruits and vegetables should be kept on the counter and stay fresh for the periods provided. Food put on the counter can be grouped according to the period they stay fresh.

How to store groceries on the counter

Fruits on the counter have to be well ventilated and air circulation must be ensured. Fruits that release a lot of ethylene gas should be separated to avoid over ripening of other fruits. Groceries should at all times be stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some groceries come with special instructions instructing to refrigerate only after opening or giving a specified period of consumption. These instructions all should be adhered to strictly. Observing the provided storage areas and the period the intended vegetable or fruit is to be fresh then wastage shall be reduced helping save more money. This also avoids the consumption of food that is poisoned with bacteria. Bacteria develops in vegetables and fruits after their peak condition then they may cause food poisoning.

Foods that stay fresh longer on the shelf

Onions, garlic and shallots stay for more than a month on the shelf while still fresh. This is only possible if the groceries are kept well.

•          Onions could stay for up to 2 months if whole
•          Shallots up to 1 month
•          Garlic up to 2 months
•         Dried chili pepper will stay up to 4 months in an air tight container

Those with a short life on the counter

These are vegetables and fruits that can stay for less than a week if stored on the counter.

•         Tomatoes could stay for 3 days, but to ripen they should be kept in a paper bag at room temperature
•          Potatoes up to 5 days, and make sure air circulates them
•         Sweet potatoes and yams up to 2 weeks in a paper bag
•          Oranges could stay up to 3 days
•          Peaches, to ripen, should be put in a paper bag until soft and slightly fragrant
•         Honeydew should be stored at room temperature in a paper bag, then once ripened can stay refrigerated for 5 days if whole and 3 days if sliced.
•         Pineapple can be stored up to 5 days on the counter top and whole but 3 days if sliced in a refrigerator
•           Bananas, lemon and other citrus fruits and melons are best if kept on the counter but once cut should be relegated to the refrigerator where germs do not survive. Bananas can stay at the counter for up to 5 days. .

The Refrigerator

Refrigeration is used in controlling bacteria. Low temperature stops bacteria from growing and also slows down the chemical reactions in the vegetable or fruit that may affect its quality. Vegetables from the refrigerator may be cooked in their frozen state; while it may be difficult to eat fruits in a frozen state, it is advisable to run the fruit under water or just remove it from the fridge earlier before consumption.

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How to keep groceries in the refrigerator

The refrigerator should be kept below 5 degrees Celsius/41 degrees Fahrenheit. Overloading is not encouraged since space between items is essential for keeping the cold air circulating between the groceries. Fruits kept in the refrigerator should be left in their original packaging and should not washed before refrigeration. Vegetables to be stored in the refrigerator should be washed, rinsed and dried well and wrapped up in a paper towel before putting in the fridge.

Groceries that stay long in the refrigerator

•          Apples could stay refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.
•          Black berries could stay for up to 1 week.  The damaged and moldy berries should be removed before refrigeration to prevent the mold from moving to the rest of the berries.
•          Broccoli could stay fresh for up to 1 week
•          Green or red cabbage could stay up to 2 weeks
•          Savoy and Napa cabbage stay fresh up to 1 week
•          Cranberries could stay for up to 1 month
•         Watermelon can stay for up to 1 week if whole

Groceries that can only stay refrigerated for less than a week

• Cantaloupe up to 5 days when whole and 3 days if cut; after cutting, wash thoroughly to prevent bacterial transmission
• Cucumbers up to 5 days·      
• Grapes up to 3 days  but can extend to a week if kept in a bowl or a ventilated plastic bag
• Kale up to 3 days
• Bagged lettuce: Strictly follow the expiry date
• Oranges up to 2 days
• Peas up to 4 days but should be left in the pods until ready to eat
• Spinach in a bunch up to 3days
• Strawberries up to 3 days, and anything moldy and damaged should be discarded
• Watermelon up to 2 days if cut

When buying groceries, one has to be keen on the condition of the vegetables and fruit being bought. Do not purchase swollen fruits and vegetables. This indicates bacteria has already grown inside. Fruits that produce more ethylene gas should be kept away from the rest. This gas is responsible for ripening. These fruits make the entire basket of fruits at the counter ripen and eventually become over ripe and swollen. This also leads to the formation of bacteria.

Information on where to store groceries, how to store and how long it takes still fresh is important since it reduces the cost of spoiled food and that of treating food poisoning after the consumption of fruits and vegetables with bacteria. This helps provide for a healthy living.