Gout is inflammatory arthritis, which occurs due to the presence of excessive uric acid in the blood . Gout is marked by symptoms such as pain, extreme stiffness, redness, and swelling in the joints. The knees, big toes, elbows, and ankles are the parts that most commonly get affected by gouty arthritis. On diagnosis, gout is normally treated with anti-inflammatory medicines as well as drugs that help prevent the deposit of uric acid within the body joints. Moreover, watching your diet and maintaining good eating habits can also keep your uric acid levels in control. Following are ten superfoods that you should be eating if you have been diagnosed with gout. Tart cherry juice Tart cherries are sour and have much more health benefits than regular, sweet cherries. Tart cherry juice is rich in Vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium, manganese, and copper. Regular consumption of tart cherry juice is known to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation in the body. Turmeric Turmeric has long been acknowledged as a miracle food for its immense healing and anti-inflammatory powers. Adding turmeric to your daily diet will slow down the activity of enzymes in your body and act as a natural painkiller as well.

While most of us know lemongrass is a great flavoring agent for Asian spreads curated in your kitchen, not many of us are aware of its amazing health benefits. This citrus-flavored plant with medicinal properties has been masquerading as a humble ingredient for teas, curries, and soups, especially in oriental cuisine. However, its antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial properties make it the perfect remedy for several disorders and ailments. Beneficial for gout patients Lemongrass tea has a host of nutrients stored in its leaves such as vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, phosphate, phosphorous, and calcium. Lemongrass mainly consists of citral, which helps in flushing toxins out of the system and clearing the digestive tract. These properties of lemongrass also help to keep gout in check. It also reduces the content of uric acid in the body which helps to control gout and alleviate its symptoms. Provides relief from the symptoms of arthritis Lemongrass essential oils can help control arthritis. Firstly, this medicinal herb provides relief in arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Secondly, it reduces cell damage because of its anti-oxidant nature. Arthritis would also require you to keep your anxiety under control and maintain a healthy weight, both of which can be achieved with the consumption of lemongrass.

With stress taking over our lives, hair loss has become an inevitable condition. With the right treatment, you may be able to slow further thinning, if not get rid of the problem completely. Following are some important pointers to remember regarding hair loss treatments. Male pattern baldness Male pattern baldness is also known as androgenic alopecia. It is also the most common kind of hair loss found in males. While genetics and environmental factors can largely be attributed to this problem, it can be treated with the measures listed below. If you feel like you are losing hair and it might be a sign of male pattern baldness, then visit a hair transplant expert and learn about the best course of treatment for you. Alopecia areata Alopecia areata is another disorder that results in major hair loss. It is said to affect approximately 6.8 million people in the country. It is considered to be a common autoimmune disorder. Alopecia areata does not have any known cure as of yet, but there are plenty of measures, which may allow people to regrow their hair without much of a hassle. Treatments to undertake There are plenty of treatments that you can undertake to tackle the problem of hair loss successfully.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland which is situated at the base of your neck. A part of the endocrine system, it performs many vital functions to keep your body in good health. Some of these functions include maintaining body metabolism, heart health, and reproductive function. The thyroid performs these functions through its two main hormones—triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Unfortunately, thyroid disease has become rampant in the world today. The reasons for this outbreak range from sedentary lifestyles to modern, processed meals and genetic factors. This leaves us with a pressing need to better understand the two main types of thyroid disorders—hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism is a disease that is caused by an overactive thyroid gland. This overactivity leads to an excess secretion of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Causes of hyperthyroidism Hyperactivity in the thyroid gland may arise due to any one of the following reasons: Graves’ disease Abnormal secretion of TSH Excessive consumption of iodine Thyroiditis or an inflammation of the thyroid Symptoms The excessive secretion of TSH leads to the speeding up of many bodily functions. The effects show up in the form of symptoms such as the following: Sudden weight loss Unexplained anxiety Insomnia Diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome Excessive sweating Abnormally rapid heartbeat Intolerance to hot temperatures Hair loss Increased acidity Irregular menstruation Diagnosis and treatment Blood tests that show high levels of T4 and low levels of TSH indicate a case of hyperthyroidism.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disease of the intestine that causes stomach ache, cramps, and diarrhea or constipation. Statistics show that IBS is a relatively common condition and affects almost 20 percent of the citizens, with women getting more affected than men. Some other terms used to refer to this health condition are a spastic colon, irritable colon, and spastic colitis. Symptoms of IBS The main symptoms of IBS include: Constipation Diarrhea Bloated stomach Excess gas Mucus in the stool Belly cramps Pain after eating These symptoms may get severe and even lead to rectal bleeding, anemia, insomnia, and vomiting. In many cases, the symptoms of IBS may interfere with your libido. Causes of IBS The causes of irritable bowel syndrome vary from person to person. Some of the most common causes are: A weakened immune system that leads to inflammation in the intestine The presence of other digestive disorders Bacterial or viral infections While not life-threatening, irritable bowel syndrome may truly reduce the quality of your life. A single flare-up may last anywhere between four days to a week. Treatment options for IBS Let’s take a look at some of the viable treatment options for IBS. Take proper medicines Depending on whether IBS is causing loose stools or constipation, your doctor will prescribe diarrhea medicines or laxatives respectively.

Most of us strive to eat a balanced diet daily. However, due to our busy work lives, this may not always be possible. We may fall short of important nutrients needed for our body to function normally. One such element is iron. Iron helps our body to make red blood cells (RBCs), which are the cells that supply oxygen throughout the body. If our bodies do not have enough iron, it directly affects the number of RBCs produced, which in turn can lead to multiple health problems like fatigue, loss of energy, and headaches. This deficiency is termed as anemia. Doctors usually prescribe iron injections to treat anemia. Anemia can also be treated with changes in diet, by including more iron-rich foods and/or taking iron in the form of pills. If this is not sufficient, the doctor will recommend iron injections. Iron injections deliver the required dose of iron directly into the muscles. These injections are normally given on the rear. In some cases, iron injections are also given as infusions, wherein the iron is slowly passed into the body using an IV drip. The dosage needed varies from person to person, depending on body type and deficiency. Therefore, iron injections should always be taken under medical supervision only.

The kidney is an organ that helps purify blood by eliminating waste from the body in the form of urine. Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, is cancer that originates in the kidney cells. There are two main types of kidney cancer—renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma. The symptoms of this type of cancer include pain in the lower back, blood in the urine, fever, swelling in the legs and ankles, unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, and a loss of appetite. Screening for kidney cancer People who are at a high risk of developing this type of cancer are always advised to go for an annual screening. Factors which increase one’s risk of developing kidney cancer include obesity, chain-smoking, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney cancer. The tests used to diagnose kidney cancer include the following: Physical examination A physical exam is one of the first steps in the process of screening for kidney cancer. The doctor will feel the surface of the skin around the kidneys to see if any lump may be detected. Blood tests Blood tests such as complete blood count (CBC) may reveal that a person has an extremely low count of red blood cells (RBCs).

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the body’s blood-producing tissues. This includes the bone marrow and lymphatic system. In leukemia, the body produces an abnormally large volume of malignant leucocytes, which are also called white blood cells (WBCs). This lowers the body’s immunity and exposes you to a number of infections. Leukemia commonly affects people above the age of 50. However, statistics show that it is also the most common form of cancer among children below the age of 15. The common symptoms of leukemia include the following: Pain in the joints Low immunity and increased infections Easy bruising and bleeding Fever Swollen lymph nodes Red spots on the skin Mouth ulcers Causes of leukemia Like with all other cancers, leukemia is caused due to mutations in the DNA. Some of the factors which increase a person’s risk of developing this form of blood cancer are: A family history of cancer Smoking Infection from viruses such as HIV and human T-lymphotropic virus Chemotherapy and radiation therapy which are used to treat different types of cancer Genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome Types of leukemia There are four main types of leukemia, each of which is discussed in brief below:

Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, refers to the uncontrolled growth of mutated cells within one or both the lungs. These cells do not function normally and also hamper the healthy cells within the body. Smokers fall into the highest risk bracket for developing lung cancer. Its symptoms include chest pain, a hoarse voice, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, sudden and inexplicable weight loss, and a chronic headache. If these symptoms persist for long in conjunction with each other, it is wise to go for a lung cancer screening. The two main types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Their diagnosis is done through CT scan, X-Ray imaging, sputum analysis, and biopsy. Post the test results, the doctor determines the stage of lung cancer to advise the appropriate treatment. The following are the latest and the most common lung cancer treatments available today. Surgery In a surgery, the doctor may either remove a portion of the lung containing the tumor or the entire lung. Lung surgery is usually performed only if cancer is restricted to the lungs, which is the case in stages I and II of lung cancer. Post-surgery, the patient may still have to undergo chemotherapy to make sure there are no more malignant cells left in the body.

Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer in the world. It affects the lymph system of the body, which houses a certain type of infection-fighting white blood cells (WBCs) called lymphocytes. A mutation may cause a lymphocyte to become cancerous and thereby replicate itself at a faster rate than normal, healthy lymphocytes. Statistics show that lymphoma is the most common form of cancer among teenagers and young adults. The lymph system in the body is responsible for helping rid the body of toxins as well as transporting WBCs to fight germs that invade the body. The lymph tissues are found in the spleen, bone marrow, thymus gland, heart, lungs, intestine, and liver. Thus, lymphoma may affect any of these organs. Science has classified lymphoma into two main types, which include Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin’s lymphoma The rarer form of this cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) affects lymphocytes known as Reed-Sternberg cells. The symptoms of this form of lymphoma include the following: Sudden weight loss Fever and chills Constant fatigue in spite of having rested well Pain in the lymph nodes after consuming alcohol A swelling of the lymph nodes This type of lymphoma arises in the neck, underarms, and chest areas.