A renowned physicist from the University of Cambridge was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 21. During his prime youth years, he was told by doctors that he would not survive more than a couple of months. The physicist who spent his entire life understanding time and explaining it to the world is still alive but with the disease, and his name is Stephen Hawking. Today he is 75 years of age. ALS, being a progressive neurodegenerative disease, affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Most of those who are diagnosed with ALS generally do not have much time left after their diagnosis. However, in rare cases, some patients live for many years along with the disease. For the introductory part, it is essential to know how ALS impacts the body of a person. For that, we need to break down the term Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, A means “no” and “myo” translates to “muscle” and trophic translates to “nourishment.” Further, lateral is the reference to the spinal cord and sclerosis means to scar or harden. There are essentially two types of ALS, sporadic and familial. In the US, sporadic is the type of ALS that is most commonly found and almost 95 percent of ALS cases are of the sporadic type.

A blood clot is a small clump of blood that changes the consistency of blood, converting it to a semisolid or a gel-like form. Blood clots can exist in the exterior parts of the body as well as in the interiors. The blood clots that are formed inside the body are fatal than the ones that are formed on the exteriors of the skin. Exterior blood clot symptoms are quite evident, you will be able to see the formation of a red patch on your skin. Clotting of blood can also help you in losing a lot of blood when you get cuts or injuries. Common blood clot symptoms can be seen as clots on the exterior, but they differ depending upon the location and nature of the clot. Let us look at the blood clot symptoms based on the location of the clot: Arm or leg: Arms or legs are considered to be the most injury-prone parts in the human body. The common blood clot symptoms of a clot in the arms of legs include swelling, soreness, sudden pain and warmth in one spot. Brain: Developing a blood clot in brain usually leads to a stroke and can cause fatal damage to the life expectancy of a person.

The body’s first response to any form of physical damage is clotting. The blood changes its consistency from liquid to gel to stop bleeding. Therefore, this process is undoubtedly vital as it evades any excessive bleeding, which can be life-threatening. However, when the body starts to produce internal blood clots that don’t subside naturally, it can lead to some severe health problems. These require immediate medical intervention, especially when they are located in body parts like the legs, heart, lungs, and brain. Risk factors that can lead to blood clots The following are some of the common risk factors that increase the odds of an individual having blood clots. Pregnancy Sitting for prolonged periods while traveling Being sedentary or bed rest Excessive smoking Cancer Frequent use of certain types of contraceptive pills Being overweight Family history Age, especially those who are 60 years and above Symptoms of blood clots The signs and symptoms of a blood clot vary based on the body part it has affected. It most commonly affects the legs. The symptoms include inflammation, muscle cramps, warm sensation in the leg area, reddish discoloration on the leg, etc. The intensity of these symptoms depends on the size of the blood clot.

Cancer can happen to different parts of the body, one of the most common cancers among women is breast cancer. The risk factors that can cause breast cancer are generally based on a combination of factors. Breast cancer can be caused by a variety of risk factors and the survival rate depends fairly on the stage of cancer. One of the major risk factors for breast cancer is getting older, it is more common among women who are above 50. Some women get breast cancer even without the occurrence of other risk factors associated with the condition. Let us have a closer look at the risk factors and survival rate of breast cancer: Aging: As mentioned above, aging is one of the most prominent risk factors for breast cancer. Most breast cancer patients are above 50 years of age. Genes: Nearly 5% to 10% of the breast cancers are caused by gene mutations like the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. If you are exposed to either of these genes, then the risk of you getting breast cancer rises by about 45% to 65%. But the existence of these genes does not always mean that you are prone to breast cancer, in some cases cancer survivors test their children for the condition.

Typically, most breast lumps are noncancerous; however, if you still find one, it is imperative that you get it checked immediately as it could be a sign of breast cancer. One of the major problems with this condition is that it might not project any symptoms until the later stages. So, it is essential for every woman, especially who are aged above 40 or have a family history related to breast cancer to get regular screenings to rule out any possibilities. Though it is important to note that woman of any age is vulnerable to breast cancer. So, young women should schedule routine appointments with a gynecologist. Breast cancer screening and treatment Screenings for breast cancer are vital as it can detect the onset of the disease, especially when there are zero to mild symptoms. Early diagnosis can help the doctors to treat the condition effectively. Usually, women at an average risk of developing breast cancer fall between the age frame 50 to 75 years and are recommended to get to screening tests in every two years. Moreover, women above 40, should seek the counsel from their doctor for breast cancer screenings. The two most common breast cancer screening tests are mammogram and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

Gluten-sensitive enteropathy or celiac disease is a reaction of the immune system when we consume gluten. The reaction is due to a protein that is found in barley and rye, which are gluten-rich food. This protein causes the symptoms of celiac disease in the body. It is the same protein that gives elasticity to bread dough. Celiac is a type of autoimmune disease, which is sometimes also referred to as sprue or coeliac. Causes and symptoms of celiac disease Causes Celiac disease might occur due to interaction between genes, eating foods that have high gluten content, or even due to some environmental factors. Although the precise cause is not known yet but infant feeding practices and high gut bacteria activity can also cause celiac disease. In some cases, celiac disease can also be triggered after surgery, pregnancy, or a viral infection, and in some cases, severe emotional stress can cause celiac disease. A person suffering from celiac disease might experience a negative immune response in the small intestine on consuming food that contains gluten. The negative immune response might damage the inner lining of the small intestine over time which might cause a failure to absorb nutrients in the body.

It is estimated that around 30 million people are affected by a migraine in the U.S. Migraine is more common among women than in men. Migraines are accompanied by pulsating headaches on one side of the head. Sometimes, it is aggravated by physical activities and extreme stress. The pain caused by migraines are often quite intense and debilitating. Most people experience early episodes of migraines during childhood. In some cases, the onset of migraines begins in early adulthood. It has been noticed that a migraine is often hereditary and runs in the family. The causes and symptoms of a migraine vary from person to person. Here are some of the common causes and symptoms of migraines. Common causes of a migraine Environmental factors and genes are two of the most basic causes of a migraine. Along with these, other factors can trigger a migraine. Food: Food that is processed, high in salt, and contains additives such as aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) can trigger migraines. Eating aged cheese can also cause migraine pain. Drinking beverages that have high caffeine content and alcoholic drinks can also cause a migraine. Hormonal changes: This is more common in women. It has been observed that changes in estrogen levels in women can trigger a migraine.

The human body undergoes a lot of changes as we grow older. These changes occur due to the wear and tear of the body on a daily basis. At times, the wear and tear worsen to such an extent that people actually start suffering from certain disorders. One such disorder that affects more than half of the population is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis that affects the elderly population and at times, the younger lot as well under certain circumstances. This condition is characterized by the wearing out of the protective cartilage on the end of the bones. Osteoarthritis is often referred to as a degenerative joint disorder since mostly affects the joints in the hands, knees, spine, and hips. Unlike the other forms of arthritis, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis doesn’t affect the other organs of the body. Causes of osteoarthritis Family history Studies have indicated that if an individual has a family history of osteoarthritis, there are high chances that he is susceptible to it as well. This holds true if the person comes from a family that has a history of genetic joint defects. Gender Irrespective of what an individual wishes to believe, the gender plays a major role in making a person vulnerable to diseases.

Our bones are living and growing tissues mostly made of collagen. Collagen is a type of protein that provides softness to the bones. Moreover, calcium phosphate aids in providing mineral to the bones to give them strength and makes them hard. Collagen and calcium work together to make flexible enough to tackle stress. When a disease builds up in the bones, the bones stop growing and start losing its density. This disease is called osteoporosis. In osteoporosis, the bones become weak and tend to break when faced with stress. Causes and symptoms of osteoporosis are further discussed below. Causes of osteoporosis For the bones to keep growing and remain strong, there are two processes, bone formation and bone resorption. Resorption is the phenomenon of the reabsorption into tissues. When there is an imbalance in these two processes, the condition of osteoporosis occurs. Phosphate and calcium are the two essential minerals for the formation of the bone. Calcium contributes in keeping the heart and other organs of the body healthy and running. The body restores the calcium from the bones, so the blood calcium level is maintained. When the bones are not getting enough calcium from the diet, bone production and tissue suffer and become weak.

Living in a world governed by an unhealthy emphasis on the way you look can be very taxing. The constant pressure to look good, maintain an attractive figure and appease to the popular sense of beauty can have a grave impact on the person’s physical and mental health. And, it doesn’t help when fashion shows and magazines have thrust a “tailor-made” image of how a person should look right in front of your eyes. Maintaining a healthy weight or working towards achieving the same is quite essential, but when it becomes an obsession, that is when you see red flags appearing all over the place. In a bid to maintain the “ideal” weight people often stop eating; instead of brushing it away as an irrational fear, caution has to be exercised while dealing with people facing such situations. One such condition that arises on a person’s obsession to not gain weight, and which prompts them to take extreme measures is called anorexia nervosa. What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder which is characterized by the fear of gaining weight, and people go to any lengths to maintain the ideal weight. People suffering from anorexia nervosa do consume food but control their calorie intake by misusing diuretics, diet aids or laxative, or simply by vomiting after eating.