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Common Causes and Symptoms of Eczema

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Eczema is a word which is used in reference to different types of inflammation of the skin. Another word which is often used to describe this condition is dermatitis. The most frequent type of this condition is referred to as atopic dermatitis. Although the two terms dermatitis and atopic dermatitis are often interchanged they do not mean the same thing. Dermatitis is the general name given to eczema whereas atopic dermatitis is simply one type of dermatitis which may occur.

Although anyone of any age is subject to afflicted with eczema it is more common in babies than anyone else. Over half of the population often experiences this condition before they reach the age of five years. Many times this condition is seen in very young babies and toddler. When this happens it is usually resolved before the baby reaches the age of three however it can return periodically over the course of that person’s life. A large portion of individuals who develop eczema do so because there is either a family history of it or that person may have other allergy conditions such as asthma or hay fever. Reports indicate that while eczema may affect as much as 20% of children it only affects approximately 2% of adults. This condition is thought to be more prevalent in girls than it is in boys and may strike individuals of any race. Although eczema is not considered a contagious skin condition, it is thought to be passed down from one family member to another in some cases. This is why it is not thought to be an unusual occurrence when more than one family member is affected.

It is not known exactly what causes eczema however skin defects and low functionality of the immune system are thought to be contributing factors to its occurrence. In the specific case of atopic dermatitis it is believe that defective genes causing protein abnormalities may lead to the development of this condition.

Some cases of eczema may be triggered by certain objects or substances that come in direct contact with the skin. Some examples of this may include certain types of clothing, jewelry, sweat, soaps, perfumes and cosmetics. Airborne allergens may also lead to the development of this condition in some cases in addition to heat, high humidity and even stress.

There are a variety of symptoms that may be experienced by an individual affected by eczema. Some of the most common of these symptoms include red, itchy skin with a burning sensation. These symptoms may vary slightly from one individual to another depending on such factors as a person’s chemical make-up as well as the particular type and cause of eczema in that person. Itching is generally the first of these symptoms to become noticeable with the other symptoms following closely behind.

Although any part of the body may be affected by eczema it is often most commonly seen in the areas of the face, neck, ankles, knees and insides of the elbows. In babies the areas affected may include the arms, legs, neck, head, forehead and cheeks.

Common Causes of Blindness

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Blindness is a condition which occurs when a person loses the ability to see. For some this may be a condition which they are born with while for others there may be something that occurs during their life which causes this to happen.

There are many things which may lead to the occurrence of blindness however one of the most common causes includes accidental injury or trauma to the eye. Anytime the eye is affected by injury or infection it has the potential to result in blindness if not treated quickly and properly.

Because injury or trauma to the eye is a leading cause of blindness there are some common guidelines which can be followed to minimize the chances of this happening. Some of these guidelines include:

Avoid throwing objects at a person’s face or head

Avoid running while carrying sharp objects such as knives, scissors or pencils

Wear protective face gear when playing sports which could result in eye injury

Follow proper safety precautions when working with chemicals

Even by following the proper safety precautions accidents may still occur that can cause damage or trauma to the eyes. When this happens it is very important to seek medical attention quickly in order to limit the extent of this damage. While it may not always be possible to save a person’s eyesight or even their eye the sooner medical attention is received the better the chances will be.

Not all blindness is caused by injury or trauma to the eye. In some cases blindness may be a direct result of a complication from an untreated medical condition. One condition which is known to lead to blindness when left untreated is diabetes. This is why it is so important to get regular checkups from a licensed health care official. This is especially important if diabetes is a condition which has been diagnosed in other members of your family such as parents or siblings.

Various eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration may also lead to blindness. It is important to have regular eye examinations in order to detect any of these conditions at the earliest possible time.

In some cases blindness may be corrected with high powered glasses or surgical procedures. Only your doctor can tell you what the chances of these being successful are after careful evaluation of your specific case.

Not all cases of blindness can be corrected or even detected beforehand. For example the natural progression of age often results in limited eyesight and eventual blindness or near blindness. In cases such as this there is often little that can be done to correct the problem however taking proper care of your eyes when you are young and still have the use of them will go a long way in protecting your eyesight for as long as possible.

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Swollen Legs, Feet and Ankles

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Swollen feet or legs often occurs when the muscles in the feet retains an unusually high amount of liquids. Swelling of the feet is often referred to as edema and may occur for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons is good old fashioned gravity. When there is excessive fluid in the body gravity pulls it down causing the majority of the effects to be evident in the feet, legs or ankles. This however can have an effect on many other parts of the body as well. There are many issues which may lead to swelling of the feet, legs or ankles including the following:

Injury to the area

Menstrual cycle

Advanced age

Obesity

Prolonged sitting or standing

Pregnancy

Excessive salt or carbohydrate intake

Improper use of laxatives or diuretics

Drug abuse

Disorders of the muscular system

Poor blood circulation

Use of certain medications

The symptoms of swollen legs, feet and ankles include the obvious signs as well as increased pain in these areas. In some cases a person experiencing this type of swelling may also have difficulty walking and stiffness of the feet.

There are several ways in which swollen feet or legs may be treated. One of the first recommendations that your health care provider will most likely make is to sit with your feet elevated above heart level. Other options may include staying off your feet as much as possible, changing your eating habits and reducing the amount of salt you use. It is important to know that what specific treatment is used for swollen feet is dependent on what specifically causes the problem.

Frequently changing positions, exercise, low salt diet and weight loss are all very effective ways of preventing swelling of the feet. It is important to remember that with any problem prevention is always the best course whenever possible. There are times however when prevention is not possible. When this is the case you should seek medical treatment to determine the cause of the problem and discuss various treatment options with your health care provider.

When swelling of the feet occurs from things that cannot be prevented such as advancement of age or menstruation cycles there are ways to alleviate the problem. One of these is to use a ‘water pill’ supplement which reduces the amount of fluid that a person’s body retains. This in conjunction with the other recommendations of your health care provider will most likely make the problem more bearable until it passes or you otherwise get it more under control.

Regardless of the specific problem it is important to understand that your health care provider can recommend the best ways to treat this problem based on the cause. In some cases this treatment may be more effective than others. Again this is largely dependent on the specific cause of the problem.

Symptoms and Causes of Ulcerative Colitis

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Ulcerative Colitis is a well known IBD or inflammatory bowel disease that affects a person’s colon or large intesine and their rectum. There are as many as 25 to 40 percent of all patients that have been diagnosed with this type of medical condition that will eventually begin to experience such severe symptoms that are commonly associated with Ulcerative Colitis that they will be required to undergo surgery. As of yet there has been no cure found for this condition. This means that patients who are diagnosed with having Ulcerative Colitis will need to do everything they possibly can to remain proactive in the management of the symptoms that they are experiencing, and do what is needed to prevent the symptoms from becoming worse.

There is a wide range of symptoms that are commonly associated with this type of condition that can affect a patient that has Ulcerative Colities. A few of the symptoms that some people experience would include those listed below:

Fever

Diarrhea that can be short-lived or last all day long. It may also be accompanied with mucus or blood

Fatigue

Pain and cramping in the abdomen that will generally go away after they have had a bowel movement

Loss of weight

Pain in the stomach

Discomfort, pain (Tenesmus), or bleeding from the rectum

The frequent need to rush to the bathroom

Sounds that are abnormal, such as a splashing or even a gurgling sound that can be heard in the intestines

Nausea and vomiting

Pain in the joints

When symptoms such as these have not been maintained and they have been experienced over a long period of time, it is a problem that can often lead to other medical conditions such as depression and anemia. This is why it is so important for patients to take the steps necessary to maintain the symptoms of this condition.

The common treatment options that are available for patients that are suffering from the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis is through proper nutrition and diet, and by taking a variety of prescription medications that a physician may prescribe that can be taken to decrease the severity and the occurrence of the symptoms.

Because of the fact ther specific types of food products may aggravate the problems a person has with the symptoms of gas and diarrhea, there are a few suggestions that patients are recommended to follow to decrease problems such as these and would include the following:

Being careful to eat meals that are in small portions throughout the day

Limit the use of or completely avoid the use of products that contain caffeine or alcohol

Avoid food products that contain a high amount of fiber. This would include foods such as popcorn, bran, seeds, beans, and nuts

Consume plenty of water that is portioned out throughout the day

If the patient is lactose intolerant, all types of milk products should be avoided

Foods that are fried or contain a lot of fat should be avoided. These would include such food products as heavy cream, butter, and margarine

What is Pink Eye and What are its Causes?

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Pink eye, also referred to in the medical world as conjunctivitis is a well-known eye condition that many children and adults have suffered from at one time or another. The white area and the inner-covering of a person’s eyelids has a protective covering over it that is a clear membrane known as conjunctiva. Pink eye is the eye condition where the conjunctiva becomes inflamed.

There are many people that do not have any idea that there is actually more than one type of pink eye – those that are contagious and those that are not. Some of the factors that can cause the non-infectious form of this eye condition would include various toxins and irritants, bacteria, and allergens. Pink eye can also occur when an individual has various types of diseases within the body’s system. To list some of the most common signs and symptoms that can occur with the non-infectious type of pink eye would include heavy tearing of the eyes, soreness and itchiness. Although a person will generally experience non-infectious pink eye in both of their eyes, it is not contagious. When a person has pink eye, it is generally quickly noticed, as they will usually suffer from a large amount of eye irritation, and the whites of the person’s eyes will also become very red.

Another form of non-infectious pink eye is commonly referred to as GPC or Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, and it generally occurs in contact lens wearers. This form of pink eye is considered to be the most bothersome, simply because the symptoms that it causes are the most irritating. This form of pink eye can also cause individuals to form a contact lens intolerance. Some of the most common symptoms that are associated with this form of pink eye include a tearing or watering of the eyes, each of the eyes having a heavy discharge, itching, and bothersome red bumps that appear beneath the eyelids.

The infectious type of pink eye actually comes from the very same type of bacteria that that is responsible for certain types of STDs or sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of the infectious form of pink eye would include eyes that are watery, sore, red, and have a discharge.

The most common treatment methods that is used for the infectious form of conjunctivitis includes prescription ointments, oral antibiotics, and antibiotic creams. These medications usually work very well for infectious pink eye, as it is a bacterial type of condition of the eyes. The discharge that most people suffer when they have pink eye can often be relieved by simply applying a warm washcloth to the affected eye or eyes. Prescription antibiotics are generally not prescribed to patients that have a viral form of conjunctivitis, as the body’s immune system is relied on to fight off this form of pink eye.

The safest way to treat any form of pink eye is to visit with your family doctor. He has the knowledge needed to determine which form of pink eye you have, and prescribe medications when they are necessary.