Hepatitis C is a condition of the liver that is caused by the HCV virus. This virus can be spread through contaminated blood, semen, or other bodily fluids. A speck of blood can contain a large number of virus particles that aren’t easy to kill. One cannot contract the disease from casual contact, kissing, breathing, or sharing food. It is treated with antiviral medication, and in a few cases, this condition can be completely eradicated. It is a common disease and can spread easily. There are several symptoms of hepatitis C that one can experience. These may range from mild to severe Acute hepatitis C symptoms Most people do not develop symptoms and if they do, they show up only after a minimum of two weeks. This can facilitate the spread of the disease as the affected person has no knowledge about it and thus will not make any attempts to stop the transmission. In cases where symptoms show up, they are one or more of the following: Fever Weakness and tiredness Pain in the abdomen Loss of appetite Nausea and Puking Colored and dark urine Stools that are clay-colored Jaundice Joint pain Chronic hepatitis C symptoms Acting stealthier than active hepatitis C, the chronic version of this disease is diagnosed during a blood test or blood screening.

Dementia can be life-changing for the patient and their loved ones. Dementia doesn’t just impact the mind, it impacts everyone who comes in contact with the person diagnosed. Dementia can cause memory problems and increased confusion, however, understanding the early warning signs of dementia and diagnosing it early can help a patient benefit from drug and non-drug treatments and explain the changes to friends and family. Read on for the early warning signs of dementia: 1 . Memory loss The most well-known symptom of dementia is memory loss. Patients diagnosed with dementia often have trouble remembering details. It doesn’t matter if the details are small or large, it can be hard for them to recall names, dates, or events in the far or recent past. This symptom doesn’t happen quickly; instead memory will gradually worsen over time the worse their memories become. 2. Problem solving difficulties Another early warning sign of dementia is problem solving difficulties. Basic problems like decision making may become much harder and more difficult for people with dementia. This is because they may have difficulty comprehending objectives and understand how to figure them out. Eventually, these problem solving difficulties begin to impact their everyday lives, they may react in anger or frustration.

A migraine is an intense, pulsating headache that can cause symptoms of blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound, and even nausea and vomiting. Triggers for migraines often include certain foods (i.e., nitrites, wheat, and alcohol), hormonal changes, medications, weather changes, and emotional triggers, like stress. Yet odors, or smells, are often misunderstood migraine triggers. For instance, many migraine sufferers report the onset of a migraine after being exposed to the following odors: 1. Cigarette smoke Cigarettes contain nicotine, a vasoactive substance, which alters the size of blood vessels in the brain. When the vessels narrow, which leads to less blood flow into the brain hence, it may cause a migraine. Tobacco cigarettes emit smoke containing carbon monoxide, which triggers migraines. To prevent migraine attacks, you should avoid smoking and stay away from people who smoke. 2. Food odors Certain foods have odors that trigger migraines. Fatty and fried foods, like onions, are the most common triggers. Their smells induce emotional changes, therefore affecting the brain because smell and emotions have a close link. In some cases, these smells stimulate the trigeminal nerve causing inflammation. Sometimes the smell itself causes the shrinking of blood vessels. These attacks can be prevented by avoiding such food smells.

For individuals aiming at reducing body cholesterol, they need to understand the nature of the foods they consume. There are several risk factors of high cholesterol. LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein), also known as bad cholesterol, has adverse effects on arteries. Conversely, HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein), or good cholesterol, helps to absorb excess fat and carries it back to the liver for elimination. Numerous studies concentrate on the topic of lowering cholesterol levels in the body. However, it is crucial to note that food, and snacks, can either help or hinder the body with metabolism, blood sugar maintenance, and overall blood cholesterol levels. This article aims at highlighting snacks that can help reduce cholesterol: 1. Mixed nuts Nuts are a perfect snack for reducing unwanted cholesterol in the body. Studies indicate that mixed nuts not only reduce the level of cholesterol but prevents LDL from oxidizing. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offered a qualified claim that some nuts can reduce heart attack risk. However, it is crucial to note that nuts contain a high level of calories, and instead, individuals should stick to ¼ cup of nuts daily. 2. Avocado toast Studies indicate that eating avocado daily reduces the level of bad cholesterol, particularly in obese or overweight people.

According to a 2015 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 35 million Americans suffer from eczema. In fact, eczema is an is a type of topic dermatitis that causes skin to become red, inflamed, and itchy. While eczema often begins during childhood, it can occur at any age. Eczema is chronic in nature, meaning it tends to flare up with severe symptoms periodically. Research studies show a relationship between eczema and several environmental factors. Eczema can be triggered by increased levels of allergens and outdoor air pollutants. Research indicates that symptoms may worsen when patients are exposed to environmental factors such as air pollution, smoke, chemical emissions, extreme weather, and pollen. The following American cities are considered poor addresses for eczema patients: 1. Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia is ranked as the third worst city for people living with eczema. Environmental conditions are the key cause of the condition, namely traffic congestion and air pollution. Additionally, the number of emergency room visits have contributed to the ranking. 2. Cleveland, OH People living with eczema would want to avoid Cleveland mainly because of the poor air quality. Car exhaust has contributed to the poor quality air environment. 3. Springfield, MA Several research groups rank Springfield as the top city with the highest rate of eczema.

A lot of people suffer with breathing issues, with the most common being allergies, asthma, and COPD to name a few. Symptoms of asthma and COPD, as well as symptoms of other breathing problems can include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue. Luckily there are medications and treatments your doctor can prescribe to help manage these symptoms. V accines have long been recognized as a crucial treatment for a wide array of respiratory and breathing ailments. This critical role extends to various respiratory conditions such as Influenza, Pneumonia, Whooping Cough, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Tuberculosis, among others. Despite its widespread prevalence, the common cold still lacks a corresponding vaccine. Leading vaccine manufacturers, including Novovax, Fluarix Quadrivalent, Vaxelis, Infanrix, Kinrix, Pediarix, Pentacel, among others, are responsible for the production of these vital immunizations. Additionally, you may be encouraged to participate in clinical trials, for example, joining the Novavax clinical trials. What you might not know is there are foods that can make breathing difficult or trigger symptoms associated with the previously mentioned conditions. In fact, here are several foods that can trigger breathing issues, such as: 1. Milk Milk can be a major trigger food, especially if you have allergies to dairy.

With mask mandates becoming more common, coupled with the need for personal safety, asthma sufferers are having a difficult time finding a mask style that works for them. Asthma has become increasingly more common since the 1980s and affects over 25 million Americans. This condition causes one’s airways to simultaneously become more narrow and swell. Additionally, asthma may cause an excess of mucus in the airways. If one’s asthma is so severe they cannot wear a mask, the best and safest option may be to stay home and avoid potential exposure. However, avoiding these mask issues may help: 1. Avoid masks with latex ear loops These masks may not always be a breathable material. Additionally, latex can serve as an irritant for some individuals. Many people are affected by latex allergies. Furthermore, extended exposure to latex can cause people to develop chronic conditions, such as occupational asthma. Asthma-like symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing can develop after latex exposure. If possible, seek out latex-free masks. Regularly change or wash your masks to avoid contamination. 2. Don’t wear masks with unbreathable rayon or nylon Rayon and nylon are synthetic materials that are very different from natural fibers. A hard, stiff material such as rayon or nylon can be constricting, cause difficulty breathing and simply be uncomfortable.

When you suffer from migraines it can be hard to cope with the painful symptoms, especially when wearing a mask. Masks pose the threat of triggering a migraine if they fit too tightly or uncomfortably over the head or ears.  Looking for a comfortably designed mask with good ventilation, made of non smelly fabric and materials may be your best bet. Here is a list of mask styles to avoid if you suffer from migraines: 1. Medical-grade N95 masks This hospital grade style mask was found to give wearers a headache. This style mask is not recommended for people to wear anyway, and if you have one in your possession, you should donate it to the local hospital or clinic if they are low on medical grade level masks. This type of mask has shown to be uncomfortable and headache inducing based on low ventilation and because it is designed to block significantly more particles by being tighter to the face. You should opt for a looser style mask if you have a headache from this style of mask. 2. Masks with tight ear ties Sometimes having something pressing too tightly on our ears can cause discomfort and a headache.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a serious medical condition which impacts people’s spinal cord and brain. Most of the symptoms associated with this condition relate to damage to the central nervous system. However, multiple sclerosis also arises from an underlying issue with the immune system. The following symptoms often serve as an early warning that someone might suffer from multiple sclerosis: 1. Vision problems Vision is heavily tied into the nervous system as a whole. As such it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that vision is heavily impacted by multiple sclerosis. People often suffer from slightly blurred vision during the early stages of multiple sclerosis. This can eventually lead to double vision or even true blindness. 2. Tingling and numbness Early damage to the central nervous system will often manifest in subtle ways. Tingling sensations are a common symptom of minor nerve damage. The tingling sensations often evolve into numbness as the damage escalates. The defining feature of tingling and numbness related to multiple sclerosis is the lack of a readily apparent cause. Both of these symptoms are fairly common in people’s day to day lives. As such they typically forget about the symptoms soon after they go away for a while.

Medicare can be great for hospital insurance and medical insurance for many people over the age of 65 and under the age of 65 depending on their disabilities. There are different medicare coverage benefits plans, including medicare supplemental options, some of which can be found on their health plan website. If you are interested in looking into medicare health insurance and want to know what isn’t covered, here is a list to help you: 1. Medical care for international travel If you or your family frequently travel internationally, it’s advisable to explore Medigap plans, which serve as supplements to Medicare. Some Medigap plans can cover expenses that Medicare does not, often up to 80%. Additionally, Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage for emergency medical expenses incurred abroad. 2. Preventive dental checkups Original Medicare does not include routine dental exam coverage, dental procedures, or dentures. Nonetheless, some Medicare Advantage plans may offer annual limits, such as the common dental limit of $1,500 per year. 3. Routine eye care, hearing exams, and hearing aids Original Medicare does not extend coverage to hearing exams or hearing aids. However, certain Medicare Advantage plans can provide assistance in this regard. Vision care, including eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses, is not covered by Medicare.