Characterized by severe pain and swelling in the joints, gout is a common type of arthritis that affects people of all ages. This condition is caused by excess uric acid in the body crystallizing and accumulating in the joints, which makes movement difficult and painful. Although it can affect any joint in the body, the big toe is most commonly affected. A gout attack can be so severe that it can wake a person in the middle of the night. The affected joint becomes swollen and painful, and joint tenderness also makes it difficult to handle weight. Although the condition cannot be cured, the symptoms can be managed with proper care and timely treatment. This article aims to give you a basic understanding of this condition. Symptoms associated with gout In some cases, people have high levels of uric acid in their bodies but don’t show any symptoms related to gout, which means the condition is asymptomatic. In other cases, the condition causes the manifestation of severe symptoms in the affected joints that linger on for anywhere between 3 and 10 days. Patients experience excruciating pain and swollen and warm joints during gout attacks. Although the condition goes through a remission phase between subsequent flare-ups, wherein a patient might get relief, leaving gout untreated can lead to it becoming chronic.

Complications in pregnancy are not very common, but they become a reason to worry whenever they arrive. Pregnancy is not generally easy and can turn out to be very overwhelming for most women. Further, things turn tricky since it gets difficult to understand whether a pain arising during pregnancy is normal or there might be something to worry about. Previous pregnancy or words of caution from mothers who have experienced family and pregnancy might not help a lot since every pregnancy is different on many levels. Yet, in planning a family and pregnancy, complications can arise. While most of the complications can be managed easily, it is still suggested that one must understand the level of different complications and when one must visit the doctor to understand better. Symptoms of pregnancy complications Different symptoms are associated with different complications of pregnancy, and it is advisable to know the different types so that expecting months understand what specific symptoms may lead to. It is also very important to understand if something is indeed a reason to worry. Preeclampsia is a condition wherein the mother has high blood pressure. The symptoms of this complication might involve swelling, dizziness, pain in the stomach, blurred vision, and frequent headaches.

Arthritis commonly refers to inflammation of the joint, although the term is used for more than 200 types of conditions that affect the joints as well as the tissues that surround the joints. The most common type of this rheumatic condition is osteoarthritis, while there are other common types of arthritis including gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Usually, pain, swelling, aching, and stiffness are problems associated with arthritis. The pain normally occurs around joints, and the symptoms may develop instantly, or they can take time to develop. In a few cases, the rheumatic conditions may also involve the immune system of an individual as well as some internal organs. Widespread symptoms and multiple organs might be associated with some forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to name a few. Stages of arthritis The different kinds of arthritis might have different stages as they progress. Let us understand the stages of arthritis in osteoarthritis – the most common type of arthritis. Stage 0 What is usually recognized as normal knee health, this stage is the part where there is no problem with the knee, and there are no signs of arthritis. Since there is no problem, no treatment is required during this stage.

When there is an uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in the body, the condition is known as cancer. These cells are known as cancer cells, tumor cells, or malignant cells. The growth of these cancer cells can go beyond control and can lead to the formation of tumors in the body. These cells can also attack the immune system and can cause other impairments that can lead to death. Cancer a broad term used to describe the condition that is caused by abnormal division and growth of cells. It has affected 15.5 million people in the country as of January 2016. There are various types of cancer. While some lead to a rapid multiplication of the cells, while others can lower the rate of division. There are some cancer types that lead to the growth of visible tumors, while there is some other such as leukemia that does not cause any tumors. Symptoms of cancer The symptoms caused by cancer can vary based on the part of the body it has affected. However, there are certain common signs and symptoms that can be associated with cancer include Tiredness A feeling of a lump stuck under the skin Loss or gain in body weight that cannot be explained Darkening, yellowing, or redness of the skin.

A wax-like substance present in the cells of your body that aids the production of vitamin D and certain hormones is known as cholesterol. The liver produces the amount of cholesterol required by the body, but we also get cholesterol from the food we eat. This can lead to an increase in blood cholesterol levels in the body, increasing the risk of severe health problems like heart diseases. Let’s understand how high cholesterol levels affect the body. What is high cholesterol? When the blood cholesterol levels increase, fatty deposits begin to accumulate in the blood vessels. As the condition progresses, the fatty depositions grow and start preventing blood flow in the arteries. In some cases, a breakage in these deposits can form a clot, causing a heart attack or stroke. Although high cholesterol is usually inherited, an unhealthy lifestyle has a vital role to play in its development. So, a healthy diet, accompanied by regular exercise and proper medication, can keep cholesterol levels under check and prevent severe complications. What are the symptoms of high cholesterol? High blood cholesterol levels can lead to the development of not-so-obvious symptoms that make it difficult to diagnose at home, but certain conditions associated with high cholesterol levels show symptoms.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as CFS, is a condition that is identified by symptoms such as extreme tiredness or fatigue. These symptoms cannot be cured with rest, and no underlying illness can explain their occurrence. Sometimes, there are different terms used to refer to chronic fatigue syndrome. These include: Myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME Systemic exertion intolerance disease or SEID Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex condition and it affects a large number of body functions. There is a long list of symptoms that can be associated with the condition. Many of these symptoms can appear to be very similar to the symptoms of several other conditions, making it difficult to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome. The symptoms can be categorized as: Core symptoms These are the main symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome which become the primary focus of any doctor while diagnosing the condition. Although these symptoms might differ from individual to individual, for a patient to be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, these three core symptoms are important to be noticed: Fatigue When a person suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, experiencing extreme tiredness or fatigue is the most common indication. Extreme fatigue is usually recognized by doctors when the ability to perform routine activities is lacking.

Dehydration is a term used for a condition that occurs when the body uses or loses more fluids than those supplied. When the human body does not get the required supply of water, its functions get interrupted. Therefore, if the body is not replenished with sufficient fluids, it gets dehydrated. Although anyone can be affected by dehydration, the condition can do more harm to young children and older adults. So, how can you identify the symptoms, what can be the causes of dehydration, and who is at a higher risk? Let us find out here. Symptoms of dehydration Many people confuse thirst with one of the main symptoms of dehydration. However, it might not be a reliable symptom of dehydration. Various people, especially those who belong to an older age group do not feel any thirst unless their body is dehydrated. Hence, to make sure that your body does not run out of fluids, you must keep drinking water regularly during summers and if you’re unwell. The symptoms of dehydration can vary based on age. Listed below are the dehydration symptoms across various age groups. In children and infants, the symptoms are Dryness in the tongue and mouth No discharge of tears while crying Not wetting the diaper for up to three hours Irritability A spot in the skull that looks sunken Sunken facial features such as eyes and cheeks And in adults, they are Uncontrollable thirst Reduced need for urination Dark-colored urine Tiredness and fatigue Confusion Causes of dehydration The primary causes of dehydration include Limited intake of water Loss of water in excess Combination of these two There are many reasons for which one might not be able to consume enough water.

Cold, cough, and flu are all caused by viruses, and often we take over-the-counter medications to tackle them. Some of the common symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, cough, and congestion. Although most of us might not pay a visit to the doctor when we have these symptoms, some of the cases might be serious and warrant necessary doctor consultation. The symptoms in this case will include fever and muscle soreness. Some of the common medications that work against a virus include Relenza and Tamiflu. Symptoms of cold, flu, and cough from a virus The symptoms of cold and flu differ largely because of the nature of the two kinds of viral infections. While people might use the two terms interchangeably, they are very different in how they present in the human body. The common symptoms of a cold include Runny or stuffy nose Sore throat Cough Sneezing Headache and body aches Mild tiredness On the other hand, symptoms of the flu are Dry cough Fever, in certain cases Sore throat Muscle or body aches Headache Quivering chills Lasting fatigue for a couple of weeks Vomiting or nausea Diarrhea (commonly witnessed in children) Of the two conditions, cold is often milder than the flu.