Dry mouth is a condition where your body is unable to produce the required saliva. It often occurs due to a side effect from medicines, infections, or medical treatments. Saliva is essential to clean the mouth and prevent it from infections.
If you are suffering from dry mouth, it is important to treat it immediately. Here are some of the top remedies and treatments for chronic dry mouth and lips.
Dry mouth often happens due to dehydration. Increase your fluid intake and keep your mouth and body hydrated. Even if dehydration is not the cause of you, water will help to keep your mouth clean and away from bacteria.
Suck sugar-free candies. It enhances the saliva flow and also eases the symptoms. But ensure that you opt for sugar-free candies only, as sugar may aggravate the problem of dry mouth.
Breathing through the mouth increases the issue of dry mouth. Change your breathing habits and breathe through your nose even while resting.
A number of spices help to fight the problems of dry mouth and lips. You may use fennel seeds to fight bad breath and enhance the flow of saliva. Use cayenne seeds to strengthen your taste sensation and increase the production of saliva.
You should strictly avoid certain food and drinks when you are suffering from dry mouth. These include items that contain caffeine and sugar.
Follow healthy sleeping habits. Use a humidifier in your room. Do not wear dentures while sleeping. Use fluoride toothpaste and a mouthwash before you go to bed every night.
This method is known as oil pulling. Take a tablespoon of any household oil like olive, sesame, or coconut. Swish inside the mouth and spit it out. After this, rinse with warm water and brush your teeth.
When the home remedies do not work, it is advised to visit a doctor and get a suitable treatment. Some of the treatment options are as follows:
Consult your doctor and change the medicines that cause dry mouth. The doctor will help to adjust the dosage or switch the medicine.
Ask your medical practitioner to recommend a good product that will moisturize your mouth well for a better oral health. For instance, a dry mouth spray. Use it regularly. Such products will help to create artificial saliva and protect your mouth from any oral disease.
Your doctor may also prescribe some medicines that assist you to increase the production of saliva in your mouth. Some of these may be pilocarpine or cevimeline.
Your dentist may suggest some teeth protection methods to fight the problem of dry mouth and any oral health issues. The doctor may fill fluoride trays or ask you to use a chlorhexidine rinse every week to keep a check on cavities.
Pick the method that best suits you, and ensure to get your dry mouth and lips problems resolved at the earliest. If none of the above works for you, ask your medical practitioner for some more suggestions to ease your oral health problems.
Multiple myeloma is the cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. These cells that are responsible for producing the antibodies for the body’s immunity stop functioning properly and instead produce an abnormal protein. This condition is known as multiple myeloma.
While it is common to find asymptomatic patients, there are a few signs and symptoms that start showing up when the cancer advances. Some of these signs and symptoms include bone problems, abnormal blood counts, and a number of infections. One needs to identify these for understanding the treatment options for multiple myeloma.
Here are some of the treatment options for multiple myeloma-
There are cases of solitary plasmacytomas that are mostly treated with radiation therapy. Surgery is also an option if the tumor is not in the bone. Doctors may advise the patients to undergo chemotherapy only at the occurrence of multiple myeloma.
A lot of patients with Stage 1 myeloma are many-a-times asymptomatic and do well for several years without any treatment. If a patient is diagnosed with this stage of myeloma, doctors prefer to observe the advancement rather than starting any therapies. The patients may be given medicines to care of any bone problems. The treatment options for multiple myeloma depend on the advancement of the cancer. This is checked by examining the plasma cells under a microscope.
Patients diagnosed with Stage 2 or higher advancement of cancer may start with therapy that only involves drugs. These drugs are prescribed depending on the health of the patient. A lot of patients’ kidneys get affected due to multiple myeloma and may need treatment for that too and sometimes even a transplant. These factors are also considered when prescribing the medicines. Depending on the patient’s symptoms, doctors may also advise for chemotherapy sessions.
Some patients may be required to undergo other supportive therapies like blood transfusions and/or stem cell transplant.
Depending on the cancer and the patient’s health, doctors may advise the patient to undergo consolidation treatment. Consolidation treatment is when the cycles of previous treatment are repeated to ensure that the signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma do not return.
Some of the factors that can put an individual at a risk of developing multiple myeloma are as follows:
Individuals over the age of 35 years are at a higher risk of getting multiple myeloma than those below it.
Women have lesser chances of developing this form of cancer than men.
Multiple myeloma is more common in African Americans than in white Americans. The reason for this is, however, unknown.
Individuals who have been exposed to radiation from an atomic bomb blast too have a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma.
Apart from these factors, family history and having other plasma cell diseases also increase the risk of developing multiple myeloma.
The treatment options for multiple myeloma depend on the patient’s health and the stage of cancer. Getting more than one opinion is always a good thing to do before opting for any treatment. A doctor is the best to seek treatment advice from.
A migraine is a neurological condition that is characterized by multiple symptoms. No underlying cause for a migraine has been found yet but there are several theories on why migraine attacks occur. There are a few factors too that may trigger these attacks.
Migraine attacks affect over 25 million individuals in our country. Migraine attacks mostly start as a sudden throbbing pain on one side of the head, which may eventually spread to other parts of the head.
Let us discuss some of the common signs and symptoms of migraine.
Doctors assess whether or not an individual has migraine based on the patient’s’ history and the frequency of occurrence of these symptoms. The following are some of the early signs and symptoms of migraine that may be an indication of an impending migraine-
Some individuals with migraine may experience aura. This aura is characterized by uneasiness and problems with seeing and hearing. Most of the aura signs are visual problems, which include seeing strange shapes or flickering lines or light. This aura may occur before the migraine headaches set in or during the migraine attacks. It can last for a duration as less as five minutes to as long as 60 minutes or more. These visual symptoms are not always negative and sometimes may be positive as well.
Migraine attacks can be triggered by a number of factors. Some of them are-
When it comes to diagnosis, doctors look at the patient history to determine whether the headaches experienced are migraines. The signs and symptoms of migraines need to be present at least five times or more for the headaches to be classified as migraine.
There hasn’t been a cure so far that helps treat migraine; however, there are a number of medications that can be taken to alleviate the signs and symptoms of migraines and to avoid a major migraine attack.
If you experience migraines, there are a few lifestyle changes that you can adopt to help prevent them from occurring more often. These include adopting a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Make a note of what you feel in a diary about all the migraine episodes. This can help you understand what triggers it and what makes you feel better during the migraine headaches. It’s important to detect the early signs and seek advice from a doctor.
Multiple myeloma is cancer in the plasma cells of the bone marrow. These cells are a kind of white blood cells that are the protein-making cells. These cells make the different antibodies for the body to stay immune. In multiple myeloma, these plasma cells start making only one type of abnormal protein instead of the different kinds of antibodies that are required by the body. The abnormal type of protein cells is referred to as monoclonal or M protein.
While any definite cause for multiple myeloma is indefinite, there are some factors that can trigger the production of abnormal protein by the plasma cells. Some of these factors include harmful radiation, toxic chemicals, certain viruses, and immunity disorders. Genetic factors and family history are also important factors.
It is common to find asymptomatic patients with multiple myeloma with absolutely no signs or symptoms. But as the illness advances, there are a number of symptoms that show up. Here is an overview of the signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma.
It is important to note that all or some of these signs and symptoms are not always indicative of multiple myeloma and may be due to other medical conditions as well. The best way to know is by seeing a doctor to rule out the possibility of multiple myeloma.
A migraine is a neurological disorder that is characterized by headaches. These headaches are different from the usual headaches and may present itself with other signs like nausea and sensitivity to light.
Here is an overview of causes and symptoms of migraine headaches along with their treatment options.
A migraine attack is characterized by a headache on one side of the head, which eventually spreads to the entire head. Migraine headaches can be very severe. Migraines are painful enough to hinder with one’s daily routine. These headaches and symptoms may vary from person to person and so does the treatment for the same. Some of the symptoms of a migraine headache are as follows:
These symptoms may vary from person to person. Headaches are diagnosed as a migraine only when the symptoms associated have been presented five or more times. The doctors check the patient history while diagnosing migraines.
While there are no definite causes of migraine headaches, there are some factors that may trigger it. There are different theories about it. One of the theories is that these headaches are caused due to the inflamed nerves in the brain, which cause a headache. One of the common factors that are known to trigger a migraine attack is stress. Individuals who have a migraine are advised to stay as stress-free as possible to keep the migraine headaches at bay. Other than stress, an imbalanced food and sleep cycle can also trigger these headaches. However, these factors differ for every individual. This is why doctors recommend keeping a track of the symptoms and days when a person gets a migraine attack. One can maintain a migraine diary and jot down the times one has a migraine and in what situations and other details like the symptoms and how long it lasted. This can also help in understanding the frequency of the migraine headaches.
There are two kinds of medications available for migraines. These are abortive and prophylactic. The abortive medications help in relieving any of the symptoms in the acute phase whereas the prophylactic medications are used for preventing the migraine attacks. The latter is considered when a person gets these attacks more than two times in a month to help the individuals go about their life conveniently and without the pain.
Apart from the medicines, individuals may do things that help alleviate the symptoms based on their past experience. For example, some patients with a migraine found that lying down during these attacks helped them stay comfortable and relieve the pain to an extent.
It is advisable to visit a doctor if you feel that you experience the signs and symptoms of a migraine headache. An assessment by a doctor may help you understand and be sure of what you are experiencing. A doctor will only be the right person to recommend the best treatment for you.
Once you are diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer, the next step would be to look for treatment options available. Your dermatologist can discuss the various possible options that can help you treat melanoma.
Melanoma is a serious skin cancer, which cannot be ignored at any cost. The ultraviolet radiation from the sun can trigger the growth of cancerous cells in our skin and can later progress to other parts of the body as well.
When melanoma cells spread through the lymph nodes to distant sides and organs of the body, it is the stage IV of melanoma. There are five options available that can aid in treating melanoma skin cancer.
Under surgery, a surgical oncologist cuts the whole melanoma along with the border.
Under this therapy, the medical oncologist with the help of medicines helps to build your body’s immune system to fight cancer cells.
Targeted therapy drugs target melanoma cells from growing further by blocking signals in the cells.
In chemotherapy, the drugs are used to stop or slow down the new growth of cancer cells.
This therapy uses X-ray or other high energy rays to kill the cancer cells.
There may be chances of the relapse of the cancer. Depending on where the tumor has progressed in a much later stage, your surgical oncologist may suggest treating recurrent melanoma.
After the initial treatment, melanoma can resurface either near the original tumor location or in the form of surgical scar. At a much later stage, melanoma, if not treated soon, can spread to the other organs of the body. Treating melanoma skin cancer in this stage can be done via surgery, which includes sentinel lymph node biopsy, wherein lymph nodes are removed by dissection.
This happens when lymph nodes near the tumor area were not removed in the initial stage. However metastatic melanoma can be treated with combined treatments too, such as chemotherapy, radiation, interferon, or immunotherapy depending on the stage of cancer.
Melanoma skin cancer is not just confined to the moles on your face, they can even occur in places like lungs, bones, liver, or brain. This is usually seen in the stage IV or the last stage of cancer. Melanoma that appears on the visible parts of a body such as arms or legs can be treated with isolated limb perfusion chemotherapy. But melanoma in the brain is worst and needs to be treated in one or more ways such as surgery along with radiation therapy or targeted therapy.
After diagnosing and treating melanoma skin cancer with the options available, your healthcare provider will monitor your health and check for any signs or scars that indicate melanoma has not returned. This includes a physical and dermatologic examination. The objective is to look for any recurrence or new melanoma outbreak.
Melanoma is easily curable in the initial stages. Protect yourself from sun rays and take adequate preventive measures while in sun to control melanoma.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is formed under the melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells that give the skin its color along with moles. Melanoma is dangerous and is caused especially when exposed to strong ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Cases of melanoma cancer are on the rise every year. According to one statistic, one in every five American will develop melanoma in their lifetime.
Identifying the symptoms of melanoma can be a bit tough. Melanoma has to be treated and diagnosed at the earliest stage as cancer can spread to lymph nodes and other distant organs. Melanoma skin cancer has no exceptions and can happen to anyone. The first sign of melanoma can be noticed as unusual spots and changes of color on the skin. Melanoma can be detected if followed the ABCDE rule, which is as follows:
Part of the mole or birthmark are asymmetrical or do not match.
Lookout for any rugged, irregular, unusual, or blurred border edges on the mole.
The color of the skin may vary with a shade of brown, black, or sometimes patches of pink, red, or white.
The thumb rule for melanoma symptom is that the spot has to be larger than six millimeters.
The shape, size, and the color of the spot keep evolving or changing.
Mostly, but not all melanoma develop from moles. One can check the skin for any abnormal moles and get them checked with your doctor or dermatologist for any indication or sign of melanoma skin cancer.
It is a common knowledge that melanoma is caused by sun rays. After identifying the symptoms, prevention of melanoma needs to be done to restrict any further damage to your skin. Even though, one adopts preventive measures to control melanoma, certain factors such as age, hereditary, ethnicity, and gender play an important role for causing melanoma. Here are some preventive steps one can take to control melanoma.
Try to avoid going out in the sun a lot . Using broad-spectrum sunscreen, which gives protection from UVA and UVB rays or covering the eyes with glasses can limit melanoma. One sunburn or blister can double your chances of melanoma.
Everyone loves to get tanned. But these same tanning beds and tanning lamps are 75 percent responsible for causing melanoma, if used under the age of 30 years.
Hats, scarves, glasses, and wearing cotton clothes can help you from harsh sunlight to some extent.
Children have a delicate skin and slight sunburn can damage their skin and increase the chances of developing melanoma in near future.
The same sun that gives us sunlight can give us skin cancer too! People living in areas or location closer to the equator where sunlight is very sharp are more vulnerable to catch this deadly skin cancer. Identifying the symptoms and preventing melanoma is the best way to deal with this cancer.
Lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood and bone marrow cancer. This disease grows rapidly and creates immature blood cells instead of mature ones. Lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, and timely treatment can result in a good possibility for full recovery. It also occurs in adults but the chance of a cure is significantly lower.
The warning signs of this disease are as follows. Remember, symptoms vary from person to person.
Most symptoms result from the decline in normal blood cells, which happens as a result of leukemia cells crowding red blood cells in the bone marrow. They result in symptoms such as tiredness, weakness, dizziness and lightheadedness, fever, shortness of breath, easy bruising, bleeding, and recurring infections.
Some patients show nonspecific symptoms, such as weight loss, night sweats, fever, fatigue, and a loss of appetite. These may also indicate other conditions, apart from lymphocytic leukemia.
Let’s look at the symptoms specific to lymphocytic leukemia.
The leukemia cells build up in the spleen and the liver, which causes these organs to enlarge. This can be noticed in the swelling of the belly and a lower appetite.
Leukemia which has spread to the lymph nodes close to the body can be noticed as lumps under the skin. The nodes inside the chest can also swell but it can only be detected with an MRI scan.
Leukemia cells build up near the bone or inside the joint which can cause pain.
Sometimes leukemia spreads to other organs as well. If it spreads to the brain and spinal cord, it can cause headaches, vomiting, trouble with balance, facial numbness, weakness, blurred vision, and seizures. If it spreads to the chest, it can cause fluid to build up and lead to trouble in breathing. Rarely, it spreads to the skin, kidneys, eyes, and other organs as well.
It is important for the patient to recognize symptoms and visit a medical practitioner at the right time. For children suffering from the disease, there is a greater chance of successful treatment and recovery. For adults, on the other hand, the recovery chances are lower. If you detect any of the above symptoms and the signs, which can cause trouble in your daily routine, contact a doctor at the earliest. The medication and treatment will depend on the stage at which cancer has progressed and the age of the patient. Doctors tend to recommend treatments based on how far the medical condition has progressed. Learn everything there is to know about the disease and start treatment at the earliest to treat it successfully.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that grows in a certain specific type of skin cell. Cancer outbreak begins when cancerous cells in our body spread and multiply.
The top layer of the skin or epidermis is made up of squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. These melanocytes help the skin from harsh ultraviolet (UV) radiation by producing melanin. But sometimes, these melanocytes behave in a weird pattern and grow in an uncontrolled manner by penetrating in the lower layers of skin, giving rise to cancer cells called melanoma.
Melanoma produces a brown pigment called melanin and hence the color of our skin. Let us understand the causes and stats on melanoma, the worst type of skin cancer.
The UV rays of the sun can damage the skin cells. Melanin safeguards the deeper layers of our skin from the sun rays. The reason behind darkening or tanning of the skin in sunlight is due to melanocytes producing more pigment.
Most skin cancers are caused by constant exposure to the sun rays. It is said that UV-A and UV-B rays are the primary cause of melanoma. But melanoma cancer is caused by environmental location and partly due to genes. However, experts believe that factors such as fair skin complexion that freckles or can burn easily, multiple moles on the face, five or more atypical moles and family history, red or light colored hair also play a role in this.
Apart from the above factors, another one is using tanning beds, which emit dangerous UV rays to speed up the tanning process. Usage of tanning beds under the age of 30 years can pose a severe risk for melanoma.
Contrary to the belief that melanoma only occurs on the face, it is not entirely true. Melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin including eyes, neck, chest, genitals, and even anal area.
Not just melanoma, basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer are most common types of skin cancers. But melanoma is the worst type of skin cancer and very dangerous if spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is the fifth most common type of cancer found in men. On an estimate, melanoma accounts for around 1 percent of all the skin cancer in the country. If one goes by racial factors, around 2.6 percent of whites, 0.1 percent of blacks, and 0.58 percent of Hispanics are affected by melanoma.
Age also plays a big role in contracting melanoma. Though 63 years is the average age when melanoma is diagnosed, some people are even at the age of 30 years. Statistics show that melanoma cases have drastically increased over the past three decades. Talking of survival rate, melanoma has five-year survival rate over 98 percent, if diagnosed in the earlier stage. Around 11 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapies have been developed for treating melanoma.
Though melanoma is a dangerous type of skin cancer, it is curable at an early stage. With little prevention and protecting the skin from UV rays, you can prevent the outbreak of melanoma skin cancer.