An estimated 10 to 30 percent of people across the world suffer from Allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever, is a condition wherein the immune system overly responds to allergens resulting in inflammation in the nose. As you might be aware, an allergen is typically a harmless substance present in the surroundings causing an uncomfortable allergic reaction.

Following is a detailed account of the condition.

Symptoms-
Some of the most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include,

Sneezing
Stuffy and runny nose
Persistent coughing
Itchy and watery eyes
Sore throat
Frequent headaches
Dark circles under the eyes
And, symptoms associated with eczema
Further, it also results in hives and excessive fatigue. An allergic person is likely to feel many of these symptoms within a few minutes of coming into contact with an allergen. Some symptoms, such as recurrent fatigue and headaches can only happen when there is long-term exposure to allergens. There are some people, who rarely undergo any signs, and this happens when a person is exposed to the allergens in massive quantities.

Causes of Allergic Rhinitis:
When the body comes in contact with the allergen, it triggers the release of histamine which is a natural chemical that defends the body from the allergen. This histamine can lead to allergic rhinitis and the associated symptoms which may range from a blocked or a runny nose to itchy eyes. Common allergens include pollen, dust mites, animal dander, grass pollen, and mold.

There are two variants of allergic rhinitis- seasonal and perennial.

Seasonal- Seasonal allergies usually occur during specific seasons owing to the response to outdoor allergens. For example, during a specific time in the year such as spring, the pollen can cause allergies in a person. Also, when trees and flowers release pollens during the fall and summer, seasonal allergic rhinitis can be seen on the rise.
Perennial- On the other hand, perennial allergens tend to linger all-round the year, and pet dander, mold or dust mites come under perennial allergic rhinitis causing allergens.
Diagnosing and treating allergic rhinitis-
When a person is suffering from minor allergies, a physical exam may be required. But a doctor may also perform some tests for identifying the best course of treatment as well as prevention plan for a particular patient. A skin prick test is one of the best ways to determine whether you have allergic rhinitis.

This health issue can be treated in a variety of ways which range from home remedies to medications to alternative therapies. Common medications include antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays and eye drops.

Staying away from a known allergen is the best possible way to prevent allergic rhinitis. When diagnosed, it is necessary to consult your doctor as the condition may sometimes lead to complications.

Allergic Rhinitis - Everything That You Ought To Know

Depression is a clinical, mental and emotional condition that may give rise to feelings of hopelessness and chronic sadness. It slows down the way people process everyday activities and leads the patient to a sense of constant gloom and doom. It is a disabling mental condition as per who and may be caused due to reasons like genetics, changes in the balance of hormones, stress, grief, trauma and prolonged, chronic physical ailments.

Symptoms of depression are:

    Sleep irregularity: It relates to either insomnia or oversleeping that is, either you sleep too much or do not sleep at all. This could be because of work or other stress in your personal or professional life.
    Irritation or unnecessarily getting angry: You start losing your temper easily and that too for silly reasons. You think you are losing control.
    Feeling hopeless and sad: The first signal or symptom is the feeling of hopelessness. In this, case the patient loses the hope in everything. They feel like being trapped in some kind of cage, from which they are not able to come out.
    Lack of interest in anything: Everything seems to be of no use or interest, even your daily work. You don't want to do anything; even the things, which you loved to do like your hobbies and passions, which you no longer find interesting.

Here is a comprehensive list of homeopathic medicines which most doctors are likely to recommend for treating depression:

    Sepia: This medicine is beneficial to women suffering from post-partum depression (sadness or emotional conflict after giving birth) and menopause. Feeling of solitude and hopelessness with no energy to continue with life are some common symptoms that can be reduced with Sepia.
    Arsenicum album: This medicine is prescribed to control the symptoms like diarrhea, gastric problems, indigestion which patients often suffer from as a result of intense anxiety. Patients, appropriate for this medicine tend to be fastidious and restless. It is made of white arsenic and should be taken in prescribed potency because an overdose can cause gastroenteritis.

The above mentioned medicines are just some of the medicines, which should only be taken only after consulting your doctor, as causes and symptoms differ for each person.

Can Sleep Irregularity be a Sign of Depression?

Urinary incontinence is a common problem that afflicts many adults around the world. Stress related urinary incontinence is a fairly common problem that afflicts many as well. This form of incontinence is usually caused by physical activity, which exerts pressure on the bladder and may cause the leakage of small amounts of urine.

Triggers and Symptoms for stress urinary incontinence
In terms of urinary problems, stress is used to describe physical problems in particular and not mental stress. So the triggers or risk factors of it could be any of the following:
1. Exercise
2. Jumping
3. Sneezing
4. Coughing
5. Exercises
6. Sexual activity

This form of urinary incontinence is very common in women who are older or have already been through menopause. It may also be common for women who have recently given birth or are pregnant. The urethra or the bladder may become prone to external stress and then involuntarily leak out some urine.

Causes
The causes can be quite varied from patient to patient but are primarily attributed to the weakening of the pelvic muscles, bladder or the sphincter. If any of these muscles open involuntarily due to physical stress, it leads to urine leaking out. Some of the causes which may lead to this are:
1. Pregnancy and childbirth: Pregnancy or childbirth related problems may cause damage to the urethra or sphincter during childbirth; leading to stress urinary incontinence.
2. Surgery of the prostate: Another common problem, especially with men, is with surgical interventions to correct prostate problems.
3. Menopause: Many older women often complain about stress incontinence after menopause due to the weakening of the muscles.
4. Pelvic surgery: Any surgery to the pelvic area or illnesses which may cause the muscles to become relaxed or act involuntarily due to external stress, may cause incontinence.
5. Weakening of the pelvic muscles: Certain illnesses may cause the pelvic muscles to become weak and thus cause the sphincter as well as the bladder to react involuntarily. UTIs or urinary tract infections have also been known to cause incontinence due to the same reason.
6. Obesity: Obesity has been known to put stress on many of the bodily systems and it may affect the bladder and the urinary sphincters as well.

Causes and Symptoms of Stress Urinary Incontinence

Diabetes which was earlier called a lazy person's disease does not live up to the name anymore. Owing to the sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits, diabetes has become an epidemic in the recent years.
As as we all know, diabetes is a condition characterized by an increased concentration of blood glucose level. If not managed and treated on time, the condition can prove to be life threatening. Diabetes is known to trigger a host of health complications and disorders including cancer. In fact, research has established that there is a link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. The report suggests that people with chronic diabetes for more than 5 years stand at an increased risk of suffering from pancreatic cancer. In some patients, diabetes may be one of the symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer. Whether diabetes triggered pancreatic cancer or was it the precancerous cells that caused the diabetes is difficult to explain.

The pancreas is an important organ involved in the production and secretion of many important hormones including the insulin (by the Beta cells of the pancreas). A diseased condition, such as pancreatic cancer may bring about changes, affecting the proper functioning of the pancreas. This, in turn, may interfere with the production of insulin. Decreased production of insulin or insulin resistance may result in elevated concentrations of glucose in the blood, a condition that will eventually give rise to Diabetes.

According to another published article (NCBI), in many patients with pancreatic cancer, diabetes was detected almost simultaneously along with cancer or 2 years prior to the diagnosis of cancer. These findings indicate the fact that both diabetes and pancreatic cancer not only occurred concomitantly but were also correlated.

Another experiment suggested that in people with Type-2 diabetes, the pancreas was for long subjected to a condition termed as hyperinsulinemia (increased level of insulin in the blood as compared to the blood glucose level). The experiment shows that insulin does have a role to play in establishing a relationship between diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

Managing Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer
The conditions of diabetes and pancreatic cancer should be managed well to avoid further complications.

The diet plays a significant role in the proper management. The diet should be well balanced with all the essential nutrients. Include more fruits and vegetables in the diet. Berries such as raspberries, blackberries can go a long way to regularize the blood glucose level. Opt for whole grain cereals and food items. Avoid foods rich in fats and carbohydrates.
A healthy body weight can work wonders, both in the case of diabetes and pancreatic cancer. If you are a couch potato, give up the habit at the earliest. Indulge in more physical activities (not necessarily rigorous or strenuous) such as exercise, jogging, morning walk. In addition to keeping your weight in check, these physical activities are excellent stress busters.
The unhealthy lifestyle habits such as drinking, smoking, substance abuse can harm your body beyond imagination. Give up these unhealthy habits as early as you can.
There may be a strong connection between pancreatic cancer and diabetes. However, to avoid one affecting the other, one should take care of themselves and manage the conditions well.

Pancreatic Cancer - Are Diabetic Patients At A Higher Risk?

Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or hemoglobin is less than normal. Haemoglobin is the main part of red blood cells and it binds oxygen. If you have few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen. Anemia can last temporarily or for a long-term, and it can range from mild to severe. If you suspect you have anemia, see your doctor immediately because it can be a warning sign of a serious illness. A person who has anemia is called anemic.

Sign and symptoms of anemia: Because a low blood cell count decreases oxygen delivery to every tissue in the body, anemia can cause a variety of signs and symptoms. It can also worsen the state of any other underlying medical condition. If anemia is mild, it may not cause any symptoms. If anemia is chronic, the body may adapt and compensate for the change. In this case, there may not be any symptoms until anemia becomes more severe. Anemia signs and symptoms may vary depending on the cause of the condition. These may include fatigue, weakness, pale or yellowish skin, irregular heartbeats, breathlessness, dizziness, chest pain, cold hands and feet, and headache.

Causes of anemia: Anemia occurs when your body doesn t have enough red blood cells. This can happen if: 

Your body doesn t make enough red blood cells: The bone marrow is essential for the creation of red blood cells. A number of diseases can affect the bone marrow, including leukemia, where too many abnormal white blood cells are produced. This disrupts normal production of red blood cells.
Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced: Iron deficient anemia is the most common type of anemia which often falls into this category. It is caused by a shortage of iron, which most often results due to blood loss. Blood loss can be acute and rapid or chronic. Rapid blood loss can happen at the time of surgery, childbirth, trauma, or a ruptured blood vessel. 
Your body destroys red blood cells: Red blood cells have a lifespan of 120 days in the bloodstream but they can be destroyed or removed beforehand. In one type of anemia, the body s immune system mistakenly identifies its own red blood cells as a foreign substance and attacks them. Excessive red blood cell breakdown can also occur due to infections, the use of certain drugs, snake or spider venom, severe hypertension, and in the case of clotting disorders.
Treatment of anemia: The treatment of anemia varies greatly. First, the underlying cause of anemia needs to be identified and corrected. Most of the times, iron supplements will be needed to correct iron deficiency. In severe anemia, blood transfusions may be necessary. Vitamin B12 injections are necessary in some cases who are suffering from a specific type of anemia.

Prevention of anemia: Many types of anemia can t be prevented. But iron deficient anemia and vitamin deficient anemia can be avoided by having a diet that includes a variety of vitamins and nutrients, including iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin C.

Anemia - What Causes It?

Acute sinusitis is a type of infection of the sinus. It involves an infection or inflammation of your sinus membranes. The most common symptom of sinusitis is that you have trouble draining mucus from your nose. The sinus is the cavity around the nasal passage and it may swell up when this condition occurs. Usually, the symptoms are temporary. However, sometimes, especially if you suffer from chronic sinusitis,medical intervention is required.

Saline Nasal Spray: This is a spray you put into your nose several times a day to clean your nasal passages.
Nasal Corticosteroids: There are many types of nasal corticosteroids. They include fluticasone, budesonide, mometasone, beclomethsone. These nasal sprays not only help to treat inflammation, they help prevent to prevent inflammation as well.
Aspirin: This is a type of OTC pain relievers and they help relieve the pain of acute sinusitis. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are two other OTC pain relievers which can be used instead of aspirin.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics are usually not required and should never be taken without the doctor's prescription. However, sometimes the doctor may recommend it if he thinks there is a bacterial infection or if the symptoms progress rapidly.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is given when allergies are the reason you are having acute sinusitis. It is rarely needed, however.
Surgery: For sinusitis symptoms which are chronic or occur frequently, nasal surgery may be the best option for permanent relief. A number of different surgical procedures can be used to treat acute sinusitis such as balloon sinuplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery etc.

Treatment of Acute Sinusitis

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