Gout or gouty arthritis is a form of arthritis that commonly occurs in the joint located at the base of one’s big toe. It can also be seen in other joints and results in swelling, sudden pain, and tenderness. It can happen to anyone and occur at any moment, even suddenly in the middle of the night. The good news is that it can be prevented and treated. Diagnosis of gout Multiple medical tests can be used to determine if one has this form of arthritis. Below is a list of the most common tests. Joint fluid test The doctor uses a needle to collect fluid from one’s joint and test the same under a microscope. If urate crystals are found in the fluid then they have the condition. Blood test For gout detection, the doctor may suggest a blood test. The amount of creatinine and uric acid present in one’s blood indicates if they have it or not. However, the result of the blood test may not always be conclusive. X-ray imaging If one has joint inflammation, the doctor can use X-ray imaging to determine if it is caused by any other reason or gouty arthritis. Ultrasound A musculoskeletal ultrasound test is used to determine if one has gout or any other form of arthritis.

ADHD, short for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, affects children worldwide, and this also often carries on into their adulthood. Some of the different problems faced by kids suffering from ADHD include sustaining attention for a long time, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. There might be other problems associated with ADHD, like low self-esteem, low grades in school, and difficulty in keeping up with relationships. More often than not, symptoms of ADHD are seen to have decreased with age. However, there are cases wherein ADHD symptoms never subside. Levels of ADHD There are three different levels or stages at which ADHD can affect individuals. They are: Predominantly inattentive ADHD This level of ADHD may be related to missing details very easily and getting distracted often. Also, one may get bored very quickly. One has difficulty in processing new information, and there is also the tendency to not listen properly. One might not be able to follow directions very clearly and also lose things like pencils or papers. It has been observed that girls are more likely to get inattentive ADHD than boys. Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD This is mostly associated with symptoms like restlessness and difficulty with sitting still. Kids suffering from hyperactive-impulsive ADHD have a tendency to talk consistently, and it’s less likely that they will engage in quiet activities.

Changes in the skin are one of the biggest signs that the body is aging. But how the aging of skin takes place depends on a lot of factors such as our diet, lifestyle habits, stress levels, and the like. For example, if you smoke regularly, it can lead to the production of free radicals, which damage healthy skin cells and cause wrinkles. So, let’s dig a little deeper into skin aging so that you can diagnose it and prevent it for as long as possible. Stages of skin aging As you age, you will start noticing changes in your skin. These changes take place in phases or stages. Learning about these phases can allow you to take better care of your skin and stay away from everything that can prove to be harmful to it. So, these stages of skin aging are: Stage I – Between 25 and 35 years This is the time when your skin will look extremely voluminous to you. But, this is also the time when the early signs of aging will start to appear. Therefore, it is important that you follow a good skincare regime. Some wrinkles can start appearing on the forehead. Lines can also start to appear on the face when you make normal expressions such as laughing, smiling, or frowning.

There are three terms that one can relate to addiction – reward, motivation, and memory. Addiction is when the body craves a behavior or substance in an obsessive pursuit of a reward. The person will have little concern about the consequences of the particular behavior or substance. Things to note in case of addiction Some of the attributes that one can relate with addiction include an inability to stay away from the substance, lack of self-control, an outrageous desire for the substance or behavior, ignorance towards the problems that the behavior might be causing, and a growing tendency to ignore the emotional response. Addictions have been known to interfere with daily life and there are also cases of relapse and remission. The complications of addiction can be physical, emotional, as well as financial. Stages of addiction There are five main stages of addiction. These include: Experimentation Every addiction starts with experimentation and during this stage, one cannot understand that this is the beginning of an addiction. One cannot be sure that this will turn into something serious, and hence no necessary steps are taken at this stage. A simple way to find out how this will turn into addiction is understanding the reason for experimenting and how often a person experiments with new substances.

The immune system of our bodies is constantly fighting against viruses and bacteria to keep us healthy. However, in certain cases, the immune system may also end up fighting some substances that are not always harmful. When this happens, you experience an allergic reaction. The allergens are the substances that cause the reactions. With a little carefulness, you can prevent the allergies effectively. The allergic development Even though an allergic reaction can vary from person to person, it generally progresses in the same five stages: Stage 1 The allergen enters your body through food, air, or touch, and contact the cells in your body. Stage 2 Your immune system creates immunoglobulin E, which is a type of antibody. Stage 3 This antibody enters your gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract but does not do anything. Stage 4 The next time when you are exposed to the same allergen, the immunoglobulin E treats it as a harmful substance and reacts with it. Stage 5 24 hours after the reaction, the immune system cells move towards the areas that were affected to release certain chemicals to treat it. How to diagnose allergies Your allergies can be diagnosed by a doctor. Before visiting him or her, you must recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Anemia is a kind of medical condition in which an adequate amount of oxygen fails to reach one’s body’s tissues owing to the deficiency of red blood cells in their body. When one suffers from this condition, their body feels weak and exhausted all the time. Symptoms There are different kinds of anemia and each of them has a cause of its own. It can have short-term or long-term effects and the disease can be mild or severe in nature. If one sees any symptoms suggesting that point toward anemia, it is essential to consult a doctor immediately. The signs vary from person to person and depend on the cause or their origin. Sometimes, the chronic disease causes anemia and the doctor ends up diagnosing the disease but the fact that one is suffering from anemia does not show up in the test. Sometimes, there are mild symptoms and then, with time the symptoms become more prominent indicating that the disease has penetrated one’s body more deeply. Some of the commonly found symptoms include breathing difficulties, fatigue, pale skin, chest pain, headache, dizziness, hands and feet turning cold, irregular heartbeat, and pain in the chest . Types of anemia Iron deficiency anemia This is the most common kind of anemia, which occurs due to iron deficiency.

Cancer is a disease caused by the growth of malignant cells in the body. The formation of cells can happen anywhere, from the brain to the pancreas. Several cancerous cells clustered together form a tumor. The tumor then grows in size, spreading to other parts as well. Some cancers we know of are fatal, while some can be cured with the help of surgery, chemotherapy, and other such procedures. Let’s take a look at the stages, diagnosis, and prevention. Stages of cancer There are different stages of cancer that are classified to understand how far it has spread and the degree of treatment that may be required. Based on this, there are two bases for differentiation. Based on the numbered system, there are 4 stages. Stage 0 cancer In this stage, the cancer cells are restricted to the area of origin and they’ve not spread to any other part. Stage 1 cancer Here, the cancer cells spread to the nearby areas, but not to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Stage 2 and 3 cancer This indicates that cancer has spread to nearby areas as well as lymph nodes. Stage 4 cancer Cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Many different forms of blood disorders can affect the human body. These disorders can affect the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Certain disorders can also affect plasma. The development of the diseases and their treatments depend on what kind of disorder one has. One of the most common illnesses is anemia, which affects red blood cells. Types of anemia Anemia causes a decrease in the number of red blood cells, which leads to pale skin, fatigue, and breathing difficulties. There are many different kinds of anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia This kind of anemia is caused due to a deficiency of iron in the body, which is necessary for the production of red blood cells. This can be caused by low iron intake and loss of blood. Chronic disease influenced anemia Chronic diseases like a kidney disorder can result in anemia, too. Some people require treatment to improve blood cell production. Pernicious anemia People with autoimmune disorders or weak stomach linings may suffer from this type of anemia. One cannot absorb enough B12 from their diet, which results in this deficiency. Aplastic anemia This is one of the blood disorders that results when the bone marrow fails to produce enough red cells and other blood cells.

Obesity is one of the most common medical problems in the country, and almost one-third of the adult population of the country requires weight management. Technically, if an adult who is over the age of 35 years has a BMI of 30 or more, they will be considered obese. Let’s take a look at the stages of obesity weight management and how to diagnose and prevent it. Stages of obesity There are broadly six stages of obesity weight management. Denial This is the first step of any behavioral issue, but the fact is that there is a mathematical calculation for the ideal weight and one for obesity as well. Thus, it is not a subjective matter, and one can clearly understand that there is a reason for action if the weight goes above the ideal weight. Decision Even after realizing that the weight is off the scale, it takes time for people to register the next steps. Whether one wants to maneuver eating habits or increase exercise every day, people take time to implement plans. Action The weight management phase starts here. This is an inclusive action and it is not limited to only eating healthy or working out. One must eat well, exercise regularly, cut down on bad habits, maintain a healthy sleeping schedule, and various other things to keep oneself from obesity.

From fatigue to nausea and weight gain, several symptoms can indicate pregnancy. The entire pregnancy can last for about 40 weeks, and for some women, it may even sound scary. Having said that, understanding the symptoms of pregnancy and what to expect during this period can help make this period smooth and comfortable for women. Common symptoms of pregnancy Among the first things women should know are the signs that can help them understand that they are pregnant. Although the symptoms of pregnancy may differ among women, here’s a list of the most common ones: A missed menstrual cycle : The most common and among the earliest signs of a pregnancy is a missed menstrual cycle. However, this is not a sure sign as irregular or delayed menstrual cycles can also be a result of ill health. Tender breasts : Tender and sensitive breasts can also be a sign of pregnancy as they are caused by hormonal changes that occur during the early stages of pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting : Nausea is a common symptom of pregnancy, and it generally starts a month after a woman conceives. However, it may occur earlier for some women, while others may not develop this symptom at all.