Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that affects over 16 million people in the country, most of whom are middle-aged women. Although it’s not a life-threatening disease, living with rosacea can cause distress among many. In most cases, it affects the skin on the nose, cheeks, and forehead. This skin problem is often characterized by tiny, red, pus-filled bumps that appear on the skin during flare-ups, which occur in cycles. Types and causes The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has classified rosacea into four main types: Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR): This type is characterized by redness and flushing of the skin with dilated blood vessels in the center of the face. For some, it can result in the skin becoming sensitive and swollen, while it becomes dry, rough, and scaly for others. Papulopustular rosacea: This is associated with redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts. It can also result in the affected person having oily and sensitive skin, with broken, visible blood vessels. Phymatous rosacea: It’s a rare type that mostly affects men and results in the thickening of the nose skin. It causes a person’s skin to develop a bumpy texture, large pores, and visibly broken blood vessels, and they may also have thick skin on the chin, forehead, cheeks, and ears. Ocular rosacea: All symptoms of this type are centered around the eye area. This includes bloodshot and watery or dry and itchy eyes, diminished vision, cysts on the eyes, broken blood vessels on the eyelids, and a burning or stinging sensation in the eyes. The exact causes of rosacea are yet unknown, but experts suggest that it mostly affects people with fair skin. Abnormalities in facial blood vessels and a family history of the condition contribute to developing it, and several factors can make this skin problem worse. These include extreme temperatures, vigorous exercise, and certain emotions like stress, anger, and embarrassment.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that occurs due to damaged nerve cells, which causes an imbalance in the dopamine levels in the brain. Nearly 1 million Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a condition closely related to the dopamine levels. So, apart from being aware of the symptoms and the treatment options for the disease, it is imperative for patients to make the right dietary choices to get relief from the symptoms. Foods to eat with Parkinson’s disease Here are some foods that should be eaten to keep the symptoms at bay: Foods rich in antioxidants Eating foods rich in antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress, which is defined as the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant defenses. When a person has Parkinson’s disease, the reduced dopamine levels can result in tissue damage, but foods rich in antioxidants can help alleviate this. Some antioxidant-rich foods that should be included in the diet are tree nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios, pecans, blueberries, goji berries, blackberries, cranberries, spinach, and kale. Omega-3-rich foods Foods like salmon, oysters, halibut, soybeans, kidney beans, and flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help improve cognitive function. Regularly consuming these can help relieve symptoms like confusion and dementia, which are commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease. Calcium-rich foods Osteoporosis is a condition that causes the bones to become weak and fragile, and it is also one of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Increased severity of the neurological disorder is also linked to osteoporosis, so experts suggest vitamin D and calcium intake to help build stronger bones. Some foods that are great sources of calcium are sardines, canned salmon, beans and lentils, almonds, broccoli, and leafy greens like spinach and kale. Co-enzyme Q10 The enzyme is naturally present in small amounts in a wide range of foods like oily fish, soya oil, offal, and beef and can help relieve the symptoms of this neurological disease.

The first thought most people have when trying to chalk up a plan for their weight management journey is consuming fewer calories. A close second is to get in some exercise into their routine. Fewer calories, more exercise, perfect plan! But as perfect as that sounds, it’s not all that simple. Just like everything else, weight management comes with a dos and don’ts list. While we would all like to think we’re smart enough to plot and plan our weight management journey without any mistakes, it’s surprising how many of us make common mistakes. Read on to know about three mistakes you should definitely avoid the next time you hop on the train to weight loss. Weight is just a number Weighing oneself on a regular basis might seem like the right way to go, but is it? Regular weight checks are bound to make you feel frustrated, as weight loss is a slow process and might not always go the way you want it to. Plus, there are multiple factors that could affect the daily changes you expect to see on the scale, like muscle gain or menses. Instead of standing on the scale looking down on your decisions every day, try weighing yourself once every week. You can also add in tape measures to your routine to really know your progress. Restricting and skipping meals A new fad diet pops out every now and then on the Internet—the modern-day encyclopedia—these days. Different diets have varying requirements, while some ask you to give up fats, some cut out carbs, and so on. A few diets even require you to bulk up on protein or healthy fats, like they are depleting sources of life. But here’s the thing, fad diets are just that—a fad. The sensible approach to weight management is to manage your diet the right way, and include the right amount of macro and micronutrients without compromising on your vegetable and fruit intake.

Your immune system needs to be strong to fight off diseases. A weak immune system will not be able to fight allergies, infections, disorders, and other health problems. Right from fighting and managing common cold to severe health disorders, a strong immune system is essential for a healthy life. To boost the immune system, it is essential to supply the body with important nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin b12, and iron. The body absorbs these nutrients from food, making the inclusion of certain foods in your diet necessary. Read on to know more about the foods you should include in your diet to boost your immune system. Red bell peppers Bell peppers are rich sources of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps you quickly recover from the common cold, flu, and other infections and allergies. Adding red bell peppers to your meals in a day can provide the body with this essential vitamin. Moreover, bell peppers are rich in beta carotene, which is converted to Vitamin A in the body. Citrus fruits Vitamin C produces white blood cells, which fight infections and allergies. Citrus fruits are loaded with vitamin C. Since the body does not retain vitamin C, it is recommended to have vitamin C-rich food daily. Fruits such as grapefruit, oranges, clementines, tangerines, lemons, and lime are rich sources of vitamin C. Include at least one of these fruits in yo8ur daily diet to boost the immune system. Garlic A highly effective immunity booster, garlic is packed with allicin, a sulfur-containing compound. This compound can immensely strengthen your immune system. Adding garlic to food will not only enhance its taste, but also help the body in fighting infections and diseases. Broccoli Broccoli is packed with all essential nutrients and vitamins such as antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins A, E, and C.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S, accounting for over 600,000 deaths each year. The umbrella term heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions and can occur to people of all ages, including children. On a positive note, almost 80% of heart conditions, such as heart attack, heart failure, and stroke, can be prevented if you are willing to make long-term lifestyle changes. Here is what you need to do to keep heart diseases at bay. Become physically active Being active for most part of the day is an effective way of keeping your blood pressure in check and preventing heart disease. Experts say that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity workout for five days a week is good enough to strengthen your heart. Becoming physically active is not only limited to exercise; you can go swimming, cycling, rowing, or engage in similar heart-pumping activities to keep your heart healthy. Remember, the more physically active you become, the better it is for your heart. Utilizing modern technologies such as digital watches and mobile apps to track the number of steps and your heart rate can keep you motivated. Eat healthy Diet plays a key role in preventing heart diseases, even if you have a genetic predisposition for heart conditions. Changing your diet overnight is virtually impossible, so it’s best to start making little changes to your diet. Creating a diet plan that is rich in raw fruits and vegetables is a great place to begin. You can then include whole grains, olive, and foods rich in omega-3s such as fish. Experts strongly recommended to keep your red meat intake to a minimum or eliminate it completely, if possible, since it worsens your heart condition. You can replace red meat with legumes and nuts to meet your daily protein requirement.

Hearing loss can be sensorineural, conductive, or a combination of both. The type of hearing loss determines whether a person has lost his/her hearing ability completely or partially. Once the hair cells in the inner ear are dead, they can’t be treated, and the ability to hear is permanently lost. Regardless of the type of hearing impairment, a person can utilize hearing aids to help hear better. These aids significantly improve hearing ability by amplifying sounds so that it reaches your inner ear. Read on to know more about hearing aids. What are hearing aids? Hearing aids are wearable, sound-amplifying devices designed to help people with complete or partial hearing loss. Hearing aids have a microphone that picks up sounds, an amplifier that increases sound levels, and a receiver that conducts sounds to the inner ear. Hearing aids differ by the technology used to amplify the sound, analog or digital, their various designs, and distinctive features. Some aids come with earmolds or earpieces that direct the sound flow inside the ear canal and improve sound quality. Before choosing a particular aid, it is recommended that the individual consult an audiologist to understand the severity of hearing loss. Analog vs. Digital hearing aids Although not as popular as digital hearing aids today, analog hearing aids are still available and offer quite a few benefits. A sound amplifier is at the core of analog devices. They cannot isolate background noises, so they amplify all sound signals equally. However, these devices are programmable and can be tweaked to work for different environments like a library, restaurants, or music concert. But even there, they will equally amplify all sounds in the set frequency range. Analog devices tend to have longer battery life and are cheaper than digital aids. Digital hearing aids are an enhancement over analog devices and are the most preferred type of hearing aids today.

Joints form the connection between the bones and facilitate a range of motions. Any damage caused to these joints can interfere with the ability to move and cause a lot of pain. There are several joint conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and bursitis that are debilitating and painful. Joint pain is one of the most common pains that people, in general, complain about. A national survey suggested that one-third of adults have reported joint pain at least once in a month. Out of this, knee pain is the most common complaint followed by hip and shoulder pain. Here are some of the unusual underlying causes that give rise to painful joint condition: Gout It is a common form of arthritis that can affect any age group. Gout is characterized by episodes of severe pain, swelling, redness, and swelling of the joints typically at the base of the big toe. Gout is caused due to the formation of uric acid crystals near the toe. The body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines. Due to gout, the body loses its capacity to convert purines. Lupus It is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own organs and tissues. Lupus affects not only joints, but also affects the skin, blood cells, lungs, heart, and the brain. Apart from causing joint conditions, the most distinct sign of lupus is the formation of rashes that resembles butterfly wings unfolding across both cheeks. Hypothyroidism Underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce required hormones. Hypothyroidism may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages but can cause several problems. One major symptom of hypothyroidism is obesity. Unexplained weight gain, followed by joint conditions. Lyme disease It is caused by specific species of bacteria, it is the most common tick-borne illness that is transmitted from the bite of a bacteria-infected tick.

Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life that signals the end of her monthly period cycle. However, it does not occur overnight. Women first enter the perimenopause stage, wherein the physical and hormonal structures of their bodies undergo many changes. If there is no recurrence of the cycle for 12 consecutive months, then they are said to have entered menopause. Monthly menstrual cycles generally stop between the ages of 45 and 55; the average age at which menopause sets in is 51, when the functions of a woman’s ovaries gradually start to decline. It is important to note that this is a perfectly natural cycle and hardly a cause for concern. However, as women near their menopausal stages, they might be faced with certain health risks that increase over time. While research attributes some triggers to genetics, there is a number of other factors that can give rise to these changes. When one starts to experience adverse symptoms, it is advisable to consult a specialist. However, with adequate care and timely changes made to one’s lifestyle, this transition can be easily managed. Here are some of the transitions that women go through during their perimenopausal and menopausal stages: Hot flashes Reduced levels of estrogen in the body can cause hot flashes, one of the most common symptoms women experience during a normal menopausal transition. The shift in hormonal cycles caused due to low levels of estrogen, age, and changes in daily lifestyle can also trigger mood swings in women. Bone health Menopause affects bone health as well—the gradual decline in estrogen levels can also lead to a loss of calcium, making the bones brittle. Women are highly susceptible to bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis during menopause. This is one of the reasons why women must adopt a healthier diet and make lifestyle changes that help promote bone health.

Most people spend a huge part of their lives in their offices. If they’re suffering from some kind of mental illness, then it must be addressed in the workplace as it severely impacts their performance. Many employees with mental health issues shy away from discussing their problems with their peers and bosses out of fear of damaging their working relationships. It is equally the employer’s responsibility to ensure that employees feel encouraged to talk about their mental health woes and that they seek professional intervention as well. Taking mental health seriously can significantly improve employees’ productivity. Here are a few more reasons why employers must incorporate dialogues around and tools to deal with mental health in the workplace: Helps employees feel comfortable and more productive It’s important for an employer to understand how mental disorders can affect an employee’s work and behavior. For instance, if one of the employees has a history of panic attacks, it is quite likely that he suffers from attacks at work too. But if they are not comfortable talking about their mental health issues in the office, then their condition could worsen and their performance, too, may drop. On the other hand, if employees feel comfortable to discuss this issue with their bosses, then they can together find a way to cope with the problem. This ensures that the employee’s confidence is boosted and that their mental health is not a hindrance to their performance at work. Builds a culture of happiness and acceptance Employers must create an environment wherein employees can talk freely about their mental health issues whenever they feel like it. Some employers do this by first talking about their own issues and how they overcame/are overcoming them. This motivates their employees to step forward and talk openly about any issue that they may be dealing with.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which comprises the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It’s an unpredictable disease that disrupts the flow of information between the body and brain. The exact cause of multiple sclerosis is not fully understood yet, but experts believe that it is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath that covers and protects the nerve fibers from damage. When this protective myelin sheath is destroyed, it leaves a scar or sclerosis. Doctors often refer to these damaged areas as plaques or lesions. The damage prevents the brain from effectively sending signals to the rest of the body. Signs and symptoms Multiple sclerosis can lead to a variety of symptoms that can differ in each individual. The severity of symptoms can also change over time. Since it affects the central nervous system, which controls the movements in the rest of the body, the symptoms can be observed in various body parts. Some of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis include: Muscle weakness Numbness and a tingling sensation in the face, torso, arms, and legs Bladder and bowel problems Fatigue Chronic pain Dizziness and vertigo Vision problems Mood changes and depression Types There are four types of multiple sclerosis. These include: Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) This involves one episode of symptoms due to myelin damage, and can last for about 24 hours. If another episode of symptoms occurs, then the individual is diagnosed with the next type of multiple sclerosis. Relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) This is the most common type of multiple sclerosis observed in people. When an individual experiences the second episode of symptoms, they are diagnosed with RRMS. These new episodes can be more severe and are often followed by periods of remission, during which symptoms disappear to some extent or completely.

It is alright to feel sad or anxious at times in your life, but if these feelings linger for more than two weeks, it could be a sign of depression. Although depression is a mental disorder, the effects it has on an individual’s body cannot be ignored. A person diagnosed with depression may experience physical pain, fatigue, heart problems, and other serious issues. Research has revealed how depression can affect your body. Weight changes Depression can make people binge eat or experience a significant loss of appetite. The contributing factor to weight gain can be emotional eating, in which the person eats food subconsciously, thinking that it may subside the feeling of depression. On the other hand, a person in a depressive state may lose interest in eating much, and have less motivation to prepare meals, leading to weight loss. Persistent physical pain People in depressive states tend to experience unexplained pains or aches on their back, joints, and limbs. It may also cause a headache and breast tenderness. Some people can even feel full-body pain, which can be chronic and extremely weakening. Plus, chronic pain can make symptoms of depression worse. Gastrointestinal problems It’s common for people with depression to go through bouts of stomach or digestion problems, such as constipation, vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea. In some cases, people may also experience chronic conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome. Insomnia Insomnia or trouble falling asleep or staying asleep is quite common among people who are depressed. The lack of sleep makes people feel exhausted and invites a variety of health problems. Researches have shown that long-term sleeping problems can cause diabetes, weight problems, high blood pressure, and even some types of cancer. Deteriorating chronic illnesses People with depression have often reported about their chronic health condition worsening over time. Chronic diseases are stressful as it is, and depression plays a part in intensifying these feelings.

Leading a healthy life when suffering from diabetes can be challenging, especially with diet restrictions. Reports suggest that diabetes has now attained epidemic proportions. Some very severe consequences of uncontrolled diabetes include kidney and heart diseases and other health complications. Therefore, while it is frustrating to be watchful of everything you eat, it is also necessary. Considering that diabetes is associated with blood sugar and insulin levels, it’s necessary that one is always aware and takes care of their insulin and sugar levels. One of the easiest ways to do that is by following a rigid diet and eating right. However, avoiding everything is not the answer here, the simplest way of eating right is by making healthy food choices. Here are some diet tips to help you eat right and manage your diabetes. Carbohydrates can be healthy All types of carbohydrates directly affect the levels of blood glucose in your body. Therefore, it is important to be aware of foods that are rich in carbohydrates. However, with controlled portions, and healthier carb sources, there is no reason for anyone to give up carbohydrates completely. Substitute whole grains in your meals in place of processed grains for a much healthier diet. Lower salt intake Diabetes makes one’s body susceptible to secondary health issues. Higher salt intake can be a high-risk gateway for heart diseases, and having diabetes makes one more vulnerable. Sticking to a recommended 6-grams of salt intake a day lowers these risks. This requires checking the salt content of packaged and preserved foods as well. Avoid red meat Swapping chunks of carbs in favor of proteins for diabetics is okay. But, swapping carbs with red and processed meat for proteins is not. Red and processed meats are linked to higher risks of cardiac diseases, which makes them a strict no-no.