Hepatitis C is an inflammatory disease of the liver. It is caused by a virus and can also develop due to toxins or autoimmune processes. It can be serious if not treated on time. This article explains the common symptoms of Hepatitis C and the treatment that one can opt for. Early symptoms One of the major problems involved in the treatment of Hepatitis C is the fact that nearly 80% of all patients do not experience any symptoms. Hepatitis C may not be detected for months and years due to the lack of symptoms. This makes disease detection and treatment difficult. However, there are some early symptoms that may be seen in some people. The early common symptoms of Hepatitis C include the following: Pain in the belly area Fever Urine that is dark in color Feces that is clay colored Extreme tiredness and exhaustion Pain in the joints A poor appetite and not feeling like eating anything Jaundice with yellow tinted eyes or skin Nausea and vomiting Even though these are the early symptoms of the disease, they may take anywhere from two to twelve weeks to manifest. It is important to not ignore any of these symptoms.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurological condition that can lead to difficulty in control over muscle movement. It causes muscle wasting and has no cure, though it is possible to slow down the disease progress. This article explains the stages and symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy. Stages and types While discussing the stages and symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy, we need to know the various types of SMA. There are four types of SMA. They are: Type 1: Type 1 SMA is also known as Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. This usually occurs before the age of six months and is the most serious form of SMA. Inability to move the limbs, spine curvature problem, muscle weakness, and difficulty swallowing and breathing are the symptoms here. Most children do not survive beyond the age of 2. Type 2: This is usually seen in children between the ages of 6 to 18 months. While the infant may be able to sit, standing up and walking is almost impossible due to muscle weakness. If breathing problems are present, then survival becomes difficult. Also known as chronic infantile SMA, the disease affects the legs rather than the arms. Most of those who suffer from Type 2 would survive until adolescence.

Arthritis can cause painful inflammation of joints in the body. While there are different causes for this condition, certain foods can aggravate the condition. This article lists out the foods to avoid for arthritis pain. Processed Foods One of the foods to avoid for arthritis pain are processed foods. Baked products, packaged snacks, and meals contain high levels of sodium. They also contain trans fats. These are found to increase inflammation and thereby worsen the arthritis pain. Sugar Any food that has refined sugar is generally bad for health. The situation is bad for those suffering from arthritis. Sugary beverages, pastries, candies, cake, and juices have high levels of sugar. Even foods with corn syrup and fructose are bad. While some people prefer foods with artificial sweeteners, they are not recommended as they can also increase inflammation. Dairy Products Dairy products are usually high in fat and hence are not advised for those who have arthritis. Dairy products like butter and cheese can cause inflammation. Low fat milk products can be considered. Foods with AGE AGE stands for Advanced Glycation End product. It is a toxin found in food that is grilled or fried. These toxins are harmful and the body’s immune system attacks the toxins causing inflammation.

Sleep apnea is a condition that can cause breathing problems while a person is asleep. It can have a serious effect on the quality of life and hence needs to be treated promptly This article lists out the causes of sleep apnea and symptoms. Sleep apnea types Before understanding the causes of sleep apnea, it is essential to know the types of sleep apnea. There are three types of sleep apnea. They are: Obstructive sleep apnea: This is a serious form of sleep apnea, where the muscles in the throat relax, causing breathing difficulties while asleep. Central sleep apnea: This occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing and as a result, it causes breathing problems. Complex sleep apnea: This is a condition where a person has both obstructive and central sleep apnea. Causes of sleep apnea Sleep apnea primarily occurs because of a blockage in the airways. This affects breathing leading to the various symptoms of this condition. The exact cause of sleep apnea depends on the type of sleep apnea. In the case of obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles in the back of the throat would relax. Because of this, the airways become narrow.

Skin cancer is a form of cancer that manifests as melanoma or carcinoma. When it spreads it can be fatal, which is why it needs to be detected and treated early. If detected early, the 5-year survival rate is 99%. This article lists out the early warning signs of skin cancer that can help people identify the condition in the early stages. Signs of melanoma One of the early warning signs of skin cancer classified as melanoma is by using the ABCDE method. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It can be detected through the following signs related to moles on the skin: Asymmetry of the two parts of a mole on the skin Border of the moles having uneven or edges with notches on them Color of moles being different from normal moles and maybe red, blue, or white, or a different shade of brown Diameter of the mole being larger than other moles, usually more than 6 mm Evolving mole where the shape, color, or texture keeps changing fast and may even bleed. One more sign to identify melanoma is the ugly duckling method. In this method, when one compares all the moles on the skin, if one looks different then it could be melanoma.