Anemia occurs when there is a low number of red blood cells (RBCs) circulating in the body and is one of the most common blood disorders to affect the general population. Currently, anemia affects more than 3 million people ion the country, and more than 400 types of anemia that have been identified and divided into three main groups according to their cause. They are anemia caused by the destruction of RBCs, anemia caused by decreased production or production of faulty red blood cells, and anemia caused by blood loss. The main kinds of anemia across these categories are discussed herein. Sickle Cell Anemia Sickle cell anemia causes the body to produce sickle or C-shaped RBCs as opposed to the normal, iron and hemoglobin-rich RBCs which are disk-shaped and are able to move about easily in the blood vessels. Sickle cells don’t last very long and die 10–20 days after they are formed. Since the body cannot reproduce RBCs quickly enough to replace the ones that are dying, it ends up causing anemia. Treatment includes intravenous fluids, pain relief, and oxygen therapy, blood transfusions, folic acid supplements, and antibiotics. Vitamin Deficiency Anemia Vitamin deficiency anemias or pernicious anemias are when the body cannot produce enough healthy RBCs because it does not have enough vitamin B12.

Hemophilia is a blood disorder where the individual’s blood lacks the ability to form clots. This happens due to the lack of blood-clotting proteins in the blood. If one is hemophilic, the blood probably doesn’t clot in an injury, which causes them to bleed much more than the average person. However, this won’t occur in the event of a small cut. If one is deficient in a blood-clotting protein, the issue pops up during deep bleeding or severe injuries. This occurs on the knees, ankles or elbows and internal bleeding by itself can cause organ failure and gush blood to the connective tissues, which is a life-threatening situation. Herein, we discuss the various symptoms of hemophilia and its treatment options. Symptoms The symptoms of hemophilia vary from one person to another because it depends on the clotting factor levels in one’s body. If your clotting factor is decreased to a mild level, chances are one might bleed only after a traumatic experience or after surgery. If the clotting factors are too deficient, there would be spontaneous bleeding and it could cause a lot of blood loss. Some of the top signs include excessive bleeding when one gets a cut or injury, after dental work, deep cuts, large cuts, unusual bleeding after getting vaccinated.

A series of tests are required to diagnose one with kidney cancer. And once it is identified, the appropriate treatment is provided. There are four stages of kidney cancer; the severity of these stages and treatment options depend on the spread of the tumor and its locations. When making treatment plans for stages of kidney cancer, it is always best to seek advice from a good doctor and go for clinical trials. In clinical trials, a doctor conducts research studies on the basis of the patient and gives them a prognosis on each step. In kidney cancer care, there are different doctors who work on each step to create a multidisciplinary team for the understanding of the severity. Urologists who major in the urinary tract, bladder, kidney, prostate, genitals, and testicles, Urologic oncologists who understand and treats cancer in the urinary tract, a medical oncologist who is trained to understand the medication to systemic treatments, lastly radiation oncologist who does radiation therapy to treat cancer. Let us look at the stages of kidney cancer and their related treatment options. Stages In stages 1 and 2 of kidney cancer, the tumor is inside the kidney. And stage 3 is where the tumor starts moving toward the lymph nodes.

Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes, which are the pigment-producing cells of the skin. These cells produce melanin, which is responsible for the color in the hair, eyes, and skin. According to the National Cancer Institute, only 2% of all skin cancers result in melanoma, so it is very rare indeed. However, that also makes it extremely dangerous and the deadliest of all skin cancers. Herein, we discuss the various prevention methods, symptoms, and treatment options for melanoma: Causes and risk factors Exposure to sunlight’s ultraviolet rays is the chief cause of melanoma. UV rays could damage the melanocytes’ DNA, causing them to grow uncontrollably into a tumor. Excessive exposure to UV radiation, the use of tanning beds, and blistering sunburns in childhood increase the risk for melanoma. Individuals with more than 50 regular moles are likelier to develop melanoma. Also, melanoma strikes fair-skinned people more often, since lesser skin pigmentation means lesser protection from UV radiation. Melanoma tumors most commonly occur in areas of the body which are exposed to direct sunlight like face, head, legs, and arms. Melanoma is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Individuals with a family history of melanoma are more likely to develop it.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could be debilitating if symptoms cannot be managed. However, ADHD can be managed with certain changes in lifestyle options, one of which is dietary changes. Following an ADHD nutrition plan rich in vitamins and protein could go a long way in helping control its symptoms. Herein, we discuss what to eat and avoid when it comes to dietary lifestyle options for ADHD. What to Eat The dietary lifestyle options for ADHD require you to include the following foods: Protein Foods rich in protein, such as low-fat dairy products, soy, nuts, beans, eggs, fish, poultry, pork, and lean beef, could be beneficial in managing ADHD symptoms. The body uses protein-rich foods to make neurotransmitters, which are chemicals the brain cells release for communicating with each other. Protein prevents surges in blood sugar, which increases impulsivity and hyperactivity. Vitamins and Minerals Some important fats, vitamins and minerals could improve alertness and attention. Diet and supplements can correct nutrient shortfalls which could exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Magnesium, Iron, and Zinc Low levels of zinc result in inattention, and low iron levels also correlate with severe ADHD and cognitive deficits. All these three minerals make neurotransmitters which are involved in concentration and attention, and ultimately have a calming effect on the brain.

Prostate cancer that occurs in men is the formation of a tumor on the prostate gland. Cancer is formed on the walnut-shaped gland that helps nourishment of sperm formation. Its symptoms include urinary incontinence, blood passed through urine, immense pain or bone fracture. Age is a commonly known risk factor; as men get older, their chances of getting prostate cancer are higher. In the country, every 13 out of 100 men get prostate cancer, and around 0.8% of them die. Some people of particular race like Afro American are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer or men with a family history of the same. Let us look at the top risk factors for prostate cancer: North American or North European race Prostate cancer is mostly seen in North American and Northern Europe side. Nowadays research also found that it is slowly been seen among the Asians as well especially in urban locations like Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Men with a stunted lifestyle like poor eating habits, less physical exercise and those who use a lot of chemicals on their body are more likely to get prostate cancer. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer or HBOC syndrome This is one of the top risk factors for prostate cancer and is linked to DNA repair mutations, especially the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes.

When a person has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, their doctor will work with them to decide what treatment is right for them. Often, one will have to face the fact that one will be undergoing multiple treatments at the same time. Listed below are the main treatments employed when one has ovarian cancer: Surgery Surgery is usually the first step when it comes to treating ovarian cancer. Surgery is done to take out the piece of the mass to check whether it is cancer, which is commonly known as a biopsy. Surgery helps in deciding the stage of cancer and checks how far or how much it has spread. If the cancer is confirmed, the surgeon will take out as much of the cancerous tumor as possible. Also, exactly how much or how many surgeries one will have solely depends on how far cancer cells have spread. In certain cases, the fallopian tubes, cervix, uterus, and ovaries could need to be removed. Other tissue usually removed includes all visible cancer including the omentum and lymph nodes. If one wants to have children in the future or whose surgery is in the very early stages, doctors might not remove all of their reproductive organs.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder that affects the joints, causing them to get inflamed. It starts with the joints of the feet, wrists, and hands, and detecting the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis leads to proper treatment. Consistent treatment leads to proper management of this disease. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis but moderate exercise and treatment lead to the reduction of inflammation. Untreated it can damage the bones, cartilages, and joints. Herein, we take a look at the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis and what they lead up to Fatigue The early signs of rheumatoid arthritis include feeling extremely tired, depressed and without energy. Fatigue may have an effect on your work productivity, sex life, relationships and other everyday activities. Fatigue can be due to the inflammation of the joints. Fever Fatigue will make an individual feel feverish and unwell. The slight rise in body temperature along with the tiredness is seen before the effect on the joints. Weight loss Losing weight unexpectedly can be due to inflammation of the joints due to rheumatoid arthritis. Feeling unwell, feverish and fatigued may lead to loss of appetite, which causes weight loss. Stiffness Joint pain, tenderness, and stiffness are a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disorder that disables a person’s mobility and nerve cells. This condition is a neurological disorder that also leads to muscle weakness. This, in turn, affects the spinal cord and brain stem. Spinal muscular atrophy could start anytime in life, depending on the gene mutation. People with spinal muscular atrophy will be unable to walk, breathe, chew, swallow and control their head wobbles. Of all the different types of spinal muscular atrophy, some of them will affect life expectancy. Currently, there is no cure for spinal muscular atrophy, but research is ongoing for new treatment options and medicines, and current ones like Nusinersen and Zolgensma are slowly progressing into every hospital in the world. If the doctors suspect spinal muscular atrophy, they will want to conduct a few tests to confirm the diagnosis. The tests are genetic blood tests, electromyography to measure the electrical activity in a group of muscles and lastly, the creatinine test called the CPK to distinguish SMA from other neurogenetic disorders. Herein we tale a look at the top four treatment options for spinal muscle atrophy. Gene therapy for SMA This is done only once. It is an infusion sent to your veins in order to replace the deformed or unseen SMN1 gene.

Hepatitis C is a disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which leads to inflammation of the liver. Although there are far fewer cases of children being infected by hepatitis C, the early warning signs are quite the same as those seen in adults. Herein, we discuss these early warning signs and how children are likely to contract hepatitis C. Signs and symptoms The top early warning signs of hepatitis C in children include Fatigue If the child is getting tired too quickly, it could be a sign of a hepatitis C infection. While children could get tired easily due to other causes, it never hurts to check for a hep C infection. Loss of appetite Children suffering from the early warning signs of hepatitis C will face loss of appetite. They will not like anything put in front of them, even if it is food that they like. So, parents need to be careful and check and keep track of their child’s eating habits and behaviors. Darker-colored urine Darker-colored urine that is spotted with red or coffee-colored stains is a sure-shot sign of an HCV infection. It could also be a sign of internal bleeding, so one needs to rush their kid to the hospital immediately.