Hair loss in men is both common and normal. It affects one in three men by the time they are 30 years and almost 50 percent of men have experienced at least some form of hair loss by the time they reach 50 years of age. With the advent of science and technology, hair loss can be prevented if the early signs and symptoms are noticed and taken care of. Let’s start by understanding the signs and prevention of hair loss.
A receding hairline is the first sign of hair loss. Along with this, visible scalp also indicates that hair is being lost more rapidly than it is growing. Most men start to notice that now they can see their scalp in between hair at the back. In the front, it is always the old M-shaped hairline that indicates that hair is moving back.
The problem with genetic hair loss is that it cannot be prevented. It can be helped only with some hair regrowth medications and in most cases, it comes down to hair transplant. Prevention is possible only for hair loss, which has been caused by stress, as a side effect of some medicine or, due to over usage of hair products.
There are many products in the market that claim that they can stop hair loss and help in regeneration of cells. Most of these products are fake and advertise their brand falsely. Doctors and scientists, after a lot of research, have come up with a few medicines that have been approved by FDA for the treatment of hair loss in men. These medicines have been proven to slower the hair loss rate and some are also capable of helping boost hair growth at the bald spots.
Minoxidil is a topical medication, which is available over-the-counter and no prescription is required to purchase it. It is available in various strengths and is well known to work in the crown part of the head. Experts say that Minoxidil performs better when it comes to preventing further hair loss rather than growing new hair. Plus, this medicine does not do anything for the receding hairline, which is the major issue with most men.
Finasteride is an FDA-approved medication, which can be used only by men who are going through androgenic hair loss. This medication reduces hair loss by blocking the action of natural hormones in scalp hair follicles. The main use of this medication is to prevent hair loss but it also manages to grow some hair at the bald spots. This medicine has some adverse side effects; hence, it is best taken under a doctor’s supervision.
Hair loss is a common condition that men suffer from. For most men, it takes away their self confidence. Thankfully, now there are some remedies that might help in hair loss prevention and treatment; but, the best way to approach them will be through an expert doctor.
Oral hygiene is essential not just to maintain overall health but also to enjoy the little things in life like sipping on a soda, eating an ice cream and biting into a burrito. Unfortunately, many Americans suffer from gum disease and sensitivity of teeth and are in constant distress. As an overview, gum disease (gingivitis) and sensitive teeth are disorders that cause acute pain and discomfort.
Gum disease or gingivitis is when one’s gums become inflamed and often bleed while brushing teeth. Many people suffering from gingivitis also complain of their gums receding from the teeth. Gingivitis is one of the earliest stages of gum disease and is caused by excessive plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a soft, sticky, and sometimes smelly bacterium that grows on the teeth and gums. The food that gets stuck in your teeth and on your gum acts as fodder for the plaque. Plaque must be removed from the teeth by brushing one’s teeth every day. However, if brushing one’s teeth is not part of one’s daily routine, they may be at risk of developing gingivitis. Plaque, when left on the teeth and gums for too long, creates toxins that irritate gums and cause gingivitis. Gingivitis, being the initial stage of gum disease, means that the bone and connecting tissue of the mouth has not been affected yet. However, if unchecked, it can develop into periodontitis, which can cause permanent damage to the teeth and the jaw.
Another oral disorder that affects many Americans is teeth sensitivity. When you experience a sharp pain in your teeth upon eating or drinking anything cold or hot you may suffer from teeth sensitivity. This happens when the enamel coating the teeth wears thin and exposes the dentin underneath. Dentin is a hard, bony tissue that forms a bulk of the tooth. When the enamel coating on your teeth gets eroded, it reduces the protection. The sharp pain you experience upon eating any foods that are hot or cold is because of their coming in contact with the dentin. Enamel can wear off if you use a very hard toothbrush, consume highly acidic foods, due to tooth decay, grinding your teeth, or gum recession. Treating teeth sensitivity may be as simple as fixing a cavity, but in some cases, patients are advised to use desensitizing products like special toothpastes that reduce sensitivity. Some doctors even prescribe strengthening the enamel layer by applying fluoride gel to the surface of the teeth.
Gum and teeth-related problems are sadly often overlooked. Many of us consider them to be a mere inconvenience in our daily lives. But lack of vigilance and constant neglect can cost us dearly. Not paying enough attention to oral hygiene can cause serious and permanent damage to the teeth, gums, and the rest of the mouth. It is, therefore, best to get into the habit of brushing and flossing daily. If you still experience discomfort related to gums and teeth, see your dentist right away, and correct the problem before it gets worse. You should also understand the overview of gum disease (gingivitis) and sensitive teeth so that you can work on its treatments and prevent further damages.
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that is caused mainly by high levels of uric acid in the blood. The disease is characterized by swelling and pain in the joints. While it affects both men and women, it is more common in men.
There are a number of factors that can trigger gout symptoms, such as intake of high-sugar food or beverages. Sometimes the onset of the symptoms is also seen after a trauma or an illness. A number of other factors can increase the risk of a person developing gout. These include medical conditions (heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes), diuretic medications, and bypass surgery.
Managing life with gout can be easy by making some lifestyle changes in diet and by following the course of treatment well. Here are some tips to help patients with gout to avoid triggering or aggravating the condition.
Some of the early signs of gout include sudden pain in the big toe which may also be accompanied by swelling. If you notice any signs, consult a doctor to understand what may be causing the pain. Specialists that help in diagnosing and treating gout are mainly rheumatologists, but you can always speak to your regular healthcare provider for guidance. Gout symptoms can be treated in the initial stages itself, to prevent it from turning into a chronic illness.
Keep the above tips in mind if you are a gout patient, or have a history of gout in your family, to prevent triggering or aggravating it. Managing life with gout isn’t that difficult if you follow all the guidelines carefully.
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis with symptoms like swollen or painful joints. Gout or gouty arthritis can affect both men and women, but it is a common form of arthritis in men over the age of 40 years.
Gout mostly starts as swelling or pain in the big toe or the feet, and a lot of times it starts developing after a trauma or an illness. Gout symptoms, if treated in the primary stage, can be treated effectively. This can also reduce the risk of irreversible damage to the joints.
The main reason why gout is caused is high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid gets collected near joints in needle forms which cause pain in the affected areas. Sometimes gout symptoms are also triggered by the intake of high-sugar energy drinks or food items like high-fructose corn syrup. Some of the risk factors that increase uric acid levels are excess alcohol intake, obesity, and a purine-rich diet.
While rheumatologists are the main specialists for diagnosing and treating gout, there are other specialists like orthopedists and general physicians who can take care of gout cases that are relatively uncomplicated. Gout treatment also involves nephrologists who administer medications for reducing the uric acid level. They make sure that the kidneys are not damaged by the high levels of uric acid.
For diagnosing and treating gout, doctors will get the patient’s family and personal medical history and examine the joints that show symptoms.
When it comes to lab tests, doctors may either ask for a blood test to check the level of uric acid in the blood, or drain the fluid from the affected joints and examine the liquid for any microscopic uric acid crystal formation, or both. The latter test is a preferred method of diagnosing gout as this helps in ruling out conditions like pseudogout or any other joint infection. Pseudogout is another form of arthritis with gout-like symptoms.
As a part of the gout treatment, doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines like Ibuprofen, or steroids in the form of pills or injection depending on the patient. Some patients may also be given medication for reducing uric acid levels in the blood.
There are a lot of things that can be done to reduce the risk of developing gout or to prevent gout. One of the most important things is to maintain a healthy diet that does not contribute to a higher uric acid level in the body or increase the risk of developing heart disease or stroke (both are common in patients with gout). Some of the food items that help in lowering uric acid levels and reduce the risk of heart disease include low-fat dairy products, whole grain foods, plant oils, and fruits rich in vitamin C. Weight management is also crucial for patients with gout or a history of gout. It is advisable to visit your healthcare practitioner or a rheumatologist for proper guidance on gout management.
Fibromyalgia was once diagnosed using an 18-point pain test. Now that has been changed to a quicker diagnosis wherein a patient is believed to have fibromyalgia if they are suffering from full body pain for more than three months with no underlying condition.
In order to rule out other conditions doctors prescribe a few tests, which might be:
Once the test results clear that there is nothing wrong with the body, the doctors start the treatment for fibromyalgia.
Treatment of fibromyalgia is more about managing the symptoms it presents. The main focus of the doctors is on minimizing the symptoms and improving general health so that the patient can go back to his routine activities. Following are a few methods that alleviate pain and manage other symptoms effectively.
Medications are helpful to patients suffering from fibromyalgia. They help in treating and managing fibromyalgia symptoms like insomnia, pain, and anxiety. There are mainly three types of medicines:
Pain relievers are a must in the management of fibromyalgia given that whole body ache is one of the biggest problems of this disease. Most of the times over-the-counter medications help but sometimes the pain is so bad that the doctor has to prescribe a painkiller. Most doctors avoid narcotics because of their dependency causing tendencies.
Antidepressants and muscle relaxants come in handy for the management of fibromyalgia. These two medications together take care of almost all the problems associated with the disease. When a person with fibromyalgia sleeps properly, most of the other associated issues get settled themselves and muscle relaxants help in feeling normal in terms of body movements.
For some cases, anti-seizure medications come in handy in pain and other symptom management. Gabapentin is commonly prescribed for fibromyalgia.
A number of therapies prove to be very helpful in treating and managing fibromyalgia. These therapies reduce pain and discomfort and help a person achieve a normal lifestyle. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling are a few options that help in regaining physical as well as mental strength.
Positive changes in lifestyle are well known to help people with fibromyalgia. Some of the changes that are vital are:
Stress is one of the biggest triggers of fibromyalgia. Hence, reduction of stress is imperative in the fibromyalgia management.
A proper sleep balances the chemicals in the brain, which is much-needed for a patient with fibromyalgia.
Appropriate exercises can magically heal the pain attached to this condition. Initial days feel like the pain is increasing, but it starts subsiding soon.
Eating healthy is good for everyone and a person suffering from fibromyalgia benefits a lot from the intake of a balanced and healthy diet.
Fibromyalgia is crippling but it is manageable. A good doctor and some of the remedies mentioned above can make life easier and pain-free for a patient.
Dyskinesia is classified as an Abnormal Involuntary Movement (AIM). There are different kinds of dyskinesias, each of them is characterized by different features and symptoms. This condition causes involuntary movements that cannot be controlled by the individual experiencing it. These movements may either be limited to one body part or sometimes even affect the whole body.
Let us look at the diagnosis and treatment options of dyskinesia.
The doctor may use the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale to diagnose dyskinesia and other AIMs. The scans of the brain also show some chemical alteration or damage to the area that is responsible for controlling and learning these involuntary movements. The basal ganglia is this area of the brain.
There treatment and management of dyskinesia will depend on the patient’s medical history and the severity of the dyskinesia. While some people may only experience these movements at a single part of the body, the others may experience it all over their body.
Dyskinesia is common in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The condition is also caused as a side effect of levodopa, which is an extremely effective medication to treat Parkinson’s. This medicine is administered to control the dopamine levels which may become low in the brain cells of patients with Parkinson. The dopamine levels come up for a while till the effect of the medicines last and then decrease. This fluctuation in the dopamine levels is one of the chemical alterations that can cause dyskinesia.
Another common health condition associated with dyskinesia is dystonia. Dystonia causes involuntary muscle tightening as a side effect of the taking Levodopa in Parkinson patients. These patients experience dyskinesia even at high dopamine levels in the brain cells due to the tightening of the muscles in the brain.
Not all people with dyskinesia need treatment as it may be mild symptoms. But for those who experience severe dyskinesia that may hinder their ability to work or do anything may need to opt for treatment. These involuntary movements are characterized by the following movements:
The doctors may take a few factors into consideration when planning out your treatment. These factors include the severity of the symptoms, the duration for which the levodopa or other medications last, the duration of the symptoms and age.
Given below are some of the treatment options for dyskinesia.
If you are experiencing dyskinesia, it is better to consult a doctor to pinpoint what may be causing these involuntary movements in your body. The doctor can help you with the right treatment plan for dyskinesia that may be suitable for your current health status and lifestyle.
Our eyes are probably the most fragile organ in our bodies. They also give us one of the most important things needed to lead a normal life: sight. Life would indeed be difficult if your eyesight was affected. It is very important to take due care of your eyes. And yet, more than 48 percent of the country’s’ population over the age of 18 years suffers from the painful condition known as dry eyes. This means nearly half of America’s adult population seeks treatment and relief of chronic dry eyes at some point in their lifetimes. This is a serious problem, but one that can be solved by proper medical treatment.
Dry eyes are caused when they do not receive enough lubrication. The human body produces a tear film that prevents friction between the eyes and the eyelids. If this lubrication is not produced in adequate quantities, the eyes get dehydrated and are thus called dry eyes. The causes may be related to one’s lifestyle or occupation. Sometimes this problem may also be caused because of hormonal imbalances in the body. Constant use of mobile phones and computers is one of the most common lifestyle-related causes of dry eyes. Most people need to use electronic devices for work and more and more people are putting in long hours into work. While you can’t avoid exposure to computers and mobile phones, you can take multiple short breaks during the day.
If your eyes are drying out because of reasons other than your lifestyle, you can seek treatment and relief for chronic dry eyes from your doctor. Commonly used treatments include applying artificial tears to the eyes, eye drops, and punctal plugs, among others. Artificial tears are available as both prescription and non-prescription drugs and may be used for mild cases of dry eyes. If artificial tears are not enough to provide relief, doctors may switch to steroid eye drops, which reverse redness, swelling, and inflammation of the eyes. Although effective, many doctors believe that steroid eye drops should only be used for a short period of time and in conjunction with artificial tears. A punctal plug is a small device inserted into an opening of the tear drainage ducts located in the eye. A punctal plug helps eyes remain lubricated longer by the tear film.
The treatment and relief for chronic dry eyes has many different approaches and we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice before opting for any of them. Many of us hate to admit it, but we avoid going to the doctor for seemingly trivial health issues. However, when it comes to health, it may be better to err on the side of caution. This does not mean you should run to the hospital after a harmless sneeze but you must remain vigilant and make note of unusual changes in the body that persist and don’t seem to reverse on their own. ‘Prevention is better than cure’ is the motto to live when it comes to health, especially that of your eyes.
Your eyes are among the greatest assets you own, but they are often taken for granted. The only time people really understand the true worth of their eyesight is when their eyes start to give them trouble. Many Americans suffer from chronic dry eyes and are in desperate search of the root cause. In fact, studies state that nearly 48 percent of Americans aged 18 years and above face this issue, making it one of the most common health problems in the country. In this article, we list the top causes of chronic dry eyes.
Your beloved contact lenses could be one of the causes of chronic dry eyes for you. Long-term use of contact lenses is believed to eventually lead to dry eyes among users.
Constant exposure to smoke may lead to dry eyes. Smoke dries out the natural lubrication in the eyes and leads to dryness, itchiness, swelling, and redness. An easy solution to this issue is to wear protective glasses while working. The glasses prevent the smoke from coming in contact with the eyes. An added advantage is that the eyes are also protected from infections caused by carbon particles that float up with the smoke.
Many of you may be shocked to read this, but air conditioning may also lead to dryness of eyes. Heating systems too can cause this by decreasing the humidity levels in the room, which eventually causes dry eyes.
Dry eyes may be a side effect of a medication you’ve been taking. Birth control pills, antidepressants, and blood pressure regulatory medications have been known to cause dry eyes as a side effect.
Human eyes naturally have a tear film that coats the eyes to protect them from drying out. A tear film is made up of, well, tears–essentially water, fatty oils, proteins, electrolytes etc. Hormonal imbalances in the body sometimes cause the tear production to be adversely affected. This leads to lower protection on account of a weak tear film and eventually leads to dry eyes.
Most of us are required to use computers throughout the day; add to that our dependence on mobile phones. We’re constantly using electronic devices, and this puts immense strain on the eyes. Using computers and mobile phones for long hours every day tires the eyes and causes them to become dehydrated. The problem is lifestyle related and can, thus, be treated with minor changes to one’s lifestyle. Taking multiple short breaks from computers and phones during the day gives your eyes much-needed rest. Meditation is also known to be helpful in giving a break to your eyes.
It is very difficult to lead a normal life when you’re riddled with frequent bouts of dry eyes. If you are one of the thousands of people who suffer from this affliction, you should contact your doctor right away and seek treatment. When it comes to your health, you must cut no corners and take no chances.
We often tend to ignore signs that we’re not in the pink of health. Call it laziness or fear; we’re all guilty of looking the other way when our body gives an indication of any kind of distress. The same goes with the problem of dry eyes. There are many causes and symptoms of chronic dry eyes and if you notice any of them for a prolonged period, you should consult your doctor.
Dryness of the eyes is caused when the eyes are not adequately lubricated, causing friction when one blinks. Going through your day with a case of dry eyes can be extremely uncomfortable.
Chronic dry eyes may be caused by many things. Some of the most common causes of dry eyes are menopause, frequent usage of computers, contact lenses, exposure to smoke, hormonal imbalances etc. Most of the causes are related to the kind of lifestyle you maintain. For instance, using laptops, tablet devices, and phones all through the day may give you tired and dehydrated eyes which in turn lead to dryness. Adopting a healthier lifestyle goes a long way in protecting your eyes.
The causes and symptoms of chronic dry eyes can be detected early enough to take curative action to restore their health.
Dehydrated eyes are a red flag and as soon as you experience this, you should take appropriate action.
Chronic dryness of the eyes leads to irritation and itchiness in and around the eyes. The most common reaction to this symptom is to rub the eyes, but that only makes the problem worse by irritating the eyes even more.
Sometimes dry eyes lead to swelling of the eyes as well as the eyelids. This also makes one feel as if their eyes have become heavier.
Acute dryness in the eyes is a very painful condition. It is a symptom you can’t miss. Dry eyes cause a burning sensation due to the friction caused by blinking.
The friction caused by dehydration of the eyes leads to redness of the eyes and sometimes even the area around the eyes. If your eyes appear inflamed and red, it is probably best to have them looked at by your doctor right away.
Cucumber slices are classic relaxing agents for the eyes. The soft, cool, gel-like inner core of the cucumber soothes the eyes.
As silly as it sounds, preventing the eyes from coming into contact with soap may be all that you need to do to stop them from stinging and burning.
You may dip cotton balls in warm water and press them into flat pads. These cotton pads, when laid on the eyelids, help the eyes to relax and allow them to rehydrate.
The home remedies mentioned above come in handy when you need quick relief from dry eyes. However, to consult a qualified physician and seek further treatment to ensure your eyes are healthy are safe.