Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be best described as a mental health issue, which makes the affected person act around a certain compulsion or obsession, causing them to undertake distressful actions and even have the same thoughts repetitively. As per a mental health report published in the year 2001 by the World Health Organization, obsessive-compulsive disorder is considered as one of the top twenty causes of disability caused by illness for people who are aged between 15 and 44 years. The report further indicated that obsessive-compulsive disorder was the fourth highest mental illness preceded by different phobias, abuse of substances, and cases of major depression. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is further featured with an array of functional disabilities and it also has a major impact on a person’s social and work life. However, people try to associate it with cleaning, but there are plenty of other types of obsessive-compulsive disorders. Some of the common types of OCD which one should know about are explained in brief as follows: Checking When this type of OCD affects a person, they feel the need to constantly keep on repeatedly checking their surroundings for potential damage, leaks, harm, or even fire. Checking may include appliances, car doors, possessions, and the like.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that affects the skin’s sensitive areas, like toes, feet, and hands. Contrary to its name, it is not restricted to athletes and sportspersons only. In fact, it can affect anyone. While the more common cause of this infection is sweat and humid conditions, it is important to note that it is contagious in nature and, hence, can even be caused by coming in contact with an infected person or source. Symptoms of it include excessive itchiness, dryness, and scaly rashes. If you had athlete’s foot in the past, you already know how taxing its treatment can be. While the minor infections can be treated using over-the-counter medicines, the more serious ones require extensive medical treatments that can be both painful and expensive. To avoid this, the best resort is to prevent its re-occurrence. Here are five tips that will help you to prevent athlete’s foot: Stay hygienic Staying neat and clean is the best option if you are really keen on preventing athlete’s foot. Tinea fungus causes this infection and regularly cleaning your feet and other parts of the body will ensure that you can wash away the fungus even before it starts infecting.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused when acid from the stomach flows back into the tube that connects your mouth and stomach. This tube is called the esophagus. The acidic reflux causes irritation in the lining of the esophagus. Out of the 60 million people who get heartburn in the country, around 19 million get GERD. It is a very common gastrointestinal disorder. GERD affects nearly 7% of Americans. The esophageal reflux appears from time to time. When it happens in a mild form, it appears at least twice a week. In case it is severe, it appears at least once a week. The discomfort is managed by most people as the daily lifestyle makes it easy for them to bear the influx and even if it is a little serious, there are some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that may tackle the acidic reflux with ease. Yet, there might be situations when one might need stronger medications or surgery to ease out the symptoms. What are the symptoms of GERD? Here are some common signs of GERD: Severe pain in the chest Food regurgitation Difficulty in swallowing food as one feels a lump in the throat Frequent heartburn characterized by a burning sensation in the chest.

Think of the term arthritis and the mind automatically conjectures images of elderly people with joint pains. Yet, did you know that certain types of arthritis can strike irrespective of age? Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects the joints. A chronic inflammatory disease, this type of arthritis can strike at any age. Let us take a look at seven interesting facts on rheumatoid arthritis. 1. It is an autoimmune disorder An autoimmune disorder is one in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body. In rheumatoid arthritis , the immune system attacks the healthy lining of your joints, causing painful inflammation, swelling, and stiffness. Thus, rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative disease that sets in with age. The exact cause for autoimmune diseases is not known till date, though medical researchers have found that it tends to run in the genes. 2. Age is no barrier Unlike with regular arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can shockingly set in at any age. The average age for people to develop this condition ranges between 30 to 60 years. However, medical data has shown that even children, who are prone to autoimmune conditions, can develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Many people consider type-A botulinum toxin, or as it is generally termed, Botox, to only be a remedy for wrinkles. However, its application has gone beyond that for numerous years, including Botox being used as a treatment for many severe medical conditions. It was when Botox proved effective as a treatment for wrinkles while also being used for treating muscle spasms in the face that its application in cosmetics was discovered. An unknown fact is that Botox is a brand that distributes a purified form of type-A botulinum, which is, in turn, produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. Apart from that, Australia is home to brands like Xeomin and Dysport. Uses of Botox Botox is injected in your skin for managing various types of facial wrinkles. Botox is usually administered in adults for temporarily dealing with the occurrence of the following: Vertical frown lines Also known as glabellar lines, vertical frown lines develop in the middle of your eyebrows and are caused due to the contraction of the muscles underneath, which occurs when you concentrate, squint, or frown. Horizontal forehead lines Also called worry lines, the horizontal forehead lines develop when the skin around the forehead area starts to thin. Other causes might include damage caused by the sun and facial muscle movements.

As of 2018, there are more than 25,000 people in the U.S. That suffer from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Interestingly, no two people who have been diagnosed with SMA have the same symptoms because there are different types of spinal muscular atrophy. There are four main types of SMA and other lesser developed spinal muscular atrophy illnesses: 1. SMA Type I This is the more severe and common type of SMA called Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease. Type I is aptly diagnosed when it strikes an infant during their first six months. The Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease leaves babies with the inability to move their muscles. They also will be unable to swallow, to hold their heads up, and labored breathing. Unfortunately, SMA is a disease that progresses quickly forcing the medical staff to insert feeding tubes and tubes to help with breathing. SMA has a fatal outcome for babies. 2. SMA Type II Following the more severe SMA is Type II. SMA Type II strikes between the ages of 7 and 18 months. Type II SMA also progresses quickly. This disease causes a child’s legs and arms to become weakened robbing them of the ability to move their arms or legs. Breathing problems also affect children with Type II but with medical assistance, children can live with this disease into adulthood.

Acid reflux, otherwise known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD), is a chronic condition that varies in severity. It can cause a range of symptoms including heartburn, chest pain, nausea, and even coughing. Depending on the extent of your condition, it can interfere with your daily life. There are so many causes and contributing factors for GERD that it can be difficult to narrow down exactly what’s causing yours. Some contributing factors include stress, hiatal hernia, drinking, smoking, pregnancy, being overweight, and eating heavy or spicy foods. Because so many people suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disorder, it’s important to know how to manage it: 1. Antacids Antacids are used to help neutralize acid in the stomach. There are a lot of different kinds to help manage acid reflux symptoms. Some are designed to provide immediate relief from symptoms whereas others can be taken before meals to prevent symptoms all day. 2. Eat smaller meals It’s not just eating small meals, but eating regularly. It’s better to eat five or six small meals every day instead of a few larger ones. Keeping your body on a schedule will reduce symptoms and ensure that your stomach has something to digest. An empty stomach can worsen GERD symptoms just as much as an overfull one.

Mac lung disease, also known as mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease, is a rare but serious lung condition caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium avium complex. The disease is characterized by symptoms such as coughing, fatigue, weight loss, and fever. While treatments such as Arikayce, Rifamycin, and Ethambutol are available, prevention is always better than cure. Here are some causes and risk factors for MAC lung disease that you should be aware of: 1. Exposure to contaminated soil or water Exposure to soil or water contaminated with Mycobacterium avium complex bacteria is a significant risk factor for MAC lung disease. This is particularly true for individuals who have compromised immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infection. 2. Airborne bacteria Airborne bacteria are another significant cause of MAC lung disease. The bacteria can spread through the air and cause infection when inhaled. Individuals with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting the disease through airborne bacteria. 3. Individuals with low immunity (HIV or AIDS) Individuals with low immunity, such as those with HIV or AIDS, are at a higher risk of developing MAC lung disease. This is because their immune systems are not strong enough to fight off infections.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine causing stiffness and making it harder to bend. The presence of the HLA-B27 gene increases the risk of developing AS as well as environmental factors such as exposure to certain infections, toxins, and pollutants; joint injuries; changes in the colon’s bacteria; and bowel inflammation. There are many medications that can treat AS such as Upadacitinib, Cimzia, Xeljanz, Stelara, Enbrel, Simponi, and Infliximab. Here are the early warning signs of ankylosing spondylitis that you should watch out for: 1. Back pain The back pain caused by ankylosing spondylitis is often described as an ongoing, dull pain that feels like it’s coming from deep within the patient’s lower back or buttocks. This is because of the inflammation caused by AS. For relief, doctors recommend painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. 2. Stiffness Another early warning sign to look out for in those with ankylosing spondylitis is stiffness. The inflammation caused by AS can affect the pelvis, shoulders, hips and knees, and between the spine and ribs. Stiffness can be expected in these areas, especially in joints like the knees and in the spine.

Nasal polyps are soft, small, non-cancerous growths in the nose that are typically non-serious but can keep growing if ignored. They are often associated with other illnesses such as chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma. While they are non-serious it is often a bad idea to ignore symptoms, and treatments of nasal polyps include FLONASE nasal spray, Xhance, and more. This is what can happen if nasal polyps go untreated. 1. Breathing problems As you ignore nasal polyps they can continue to grow until they block the nasal passage more and more, causing breathing problems. Treatments for nasal polyps often work by shrinking and eliminating the polyps to prevent breathing issues. If you want to be able to breathe clearly through your nasal passages it is best to treat nasal polyps before they become more serious and start causing worsening issues. 2. Lost sense of smell Another complication of nasal polyps is the loss of the ability to smell. This is, again, caused by largening nasal polyps that can continue to block smells from reaching the smell receptors through the nasal passage. This can be an upsetting symptom and can easily be avoided by seeking out treatment for nasal polyps early on.