Cholesterol is a type of fat molecule which is present in your blood. It is an essential component that helps to maintain and shape cell structures. It is vital to have a certain level of cholesterol in your blood, but high levels of cholesterol can be harmful to your health. High levels of cholesterol according to the cholesterol chart could mean that there are deposits of fatty substances in your blood. These fatty substances occur due to high cholesterol levels and make it difficult for your blood to flow through your arteries. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke. A cholesterol levels chart typically monitors your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. Types of cholesterol There are two types of cholesterols in your blood, namely high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. HDL helps remove the excess cholesterol while LDL is the cholesterol that accumulates in your arteries. Cholesterol level charts for adults and children Cholesterol levels can be categorized as good, borderline, low, and high. The cholesterol level charts are different for children and adults. The total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels are measured and then categorized as good, low, high, bad or borderline. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has defined the values indicated below. Cholesterol levels for children Good cholesterol corresponds to total cholesterol of 170 or less, HDL cholesterol of 45 or higher, LDL cholesterol of 110 or less, triglycerides of 75 for age group 0-9 years and less than 90 for the age group of 10 to 19. Borderline cholesterol suggests total cholesterol of 170 to 199, HDL cholesterol of 40 to 45, LDL cholesterol of 110 to 129, triglycerides of 75-99 for age group 0-9 years and 90 to 129 for the age group of 10 to 19.

A short-term increase in the body temperature is referred in medical terms as pyrexia. Commonly known as fever, it is a common occurrence in both adults and children. As the temperature of your body becomes higher than the normal temperature, it becomes indicative of an underlying illness which may be an infection in some part of the body such as the throat or stomach. Having high fever is an important sign that some changes are occurring in the body. The temperature of our body is regulated by the hypothalamus which is present at the base of the brain. The state of fever is experienced by almost every human being at some point of time irrespective of sex or age. Many medical experts are of the opinion that fever is a natural defense of the body against infection. Relevant treatment for fever is recommended by medical experts after assessing the symptoms carefully and conducting certain diagnostic tests. Causes of high fever in adults Diseases such as malaria, upper and lower respiratory tract infections or flu, cold, bacterial infections, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections or skin infections etc Excessive heat exposure Abnormalities in the brain or malignant tumors Disease of the endocrine which is associated with a hormonal or glandular system of the body Inflammation caused by tissue injury Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis which is the inflammation of the lining of joints Side effects of certain medicines Common symptoms High fever comes with a lot of physical discomforts. It is only after adequate treatment for the fever that you can feel better. High fever is typically characterized by a rise in oral temperature as it soars above 100°F (37.8°C) to touch 103°F. Temperature in adults can be measured with a thermometer placed under the tongue. General symptoms that accompany high fever include:

Everyone experiences pain and swelling in their fingers at some point in time. There are several reasons for this pain and swelling, such as injuries and medical conditions that are known to cause pain in the fingers. Swollen finger pain is generally accompanied by redness, a burning sensation, tenderness, stiffness, numbness, a tingling feeling, swelling, color change, and such other conditions. Arthritis is one of the major causes of swollen finger pain. It can also be caused due to an infection or inflammation. Causes of swollen finger pain: Swollen finger pain may be caused as a result of injuries due to strenuous physical activity, actively participating in contact sports such as soccer, football, or baseball. Performing recreational activities that require a lot of efforts, such as skiing or playing tennis. Operating heavy machinery at home or work. Carrying heavy loads for a long period of time. Active participation in fist fights or punching. Performance of repetitive movements such as typing, writing, and stitching for a long period of time. As a result of the compartment syndrome, which leads to severe swelling of the fingers; it covers the muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Patients who are suffering from the compartment syndrome should be attended to immediately and under the supervision of a doctor. Arthritis also causes inflammation accompanied by swelling, pain, redness, and stiffness. Trigger finger happens when you are unable to straighten out your finger as the tendon in your finger has become swollen or inflamed. Dupuytren’s Contracture is a condition where your hand becomes tighter and does not enable free movement as the tissue becomes inflamed. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes swollen finger pain as pressure is exerted on the nerves of the fingers, causing severe pain, swelling, and numbness. The Raynaud phenomenon causes swollen finger pain as the blood flow to the fingers is blocked, and the patient suffers from swelling, numbness, stiffness, and cold fingers.

Sciatic Pain Cure refers to the treatment of the symptoms such as tingling in the leg, pain, weakness or numbness radiating through the sciatic nerve. The pain that occurs along the path of this nerve is known as sciatica. Sciatica is not a disease, it essentially points to an underlying medical condition. How can you cure sciatic pain? The cure for sciatic pain begins with the identification of medical conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated disc, spondylolisthesis, or degenerative disk disease. There is an inflammation of the sciatic nerve which becomes worse if there is no medical intervention. Sciatic pain can be cured nonsurgically as well as through regular exercise. There are alternative treatments for sciatic pain such as consulting chiropractors or undergoing massage therapy. Various methods to cure sciatic pain Though there are non-surgical methods to cure Sciatic pain, in extreme cases surgical intervention is required. The root of the sciatic nerve is compressed and this is the reason for the neurological symptoms that include pain. The various methods of non-surgical treatment are: Heat/ice Applying heat or ice to the affected area normally helps in reducing the pain in the leg. Ice and heat should be used alternately for 20 minutes, and the process is repeated every two hours. Medications for sciatic pain There are some prescribed medications that can reduce or relieve sciatic pain. You could get nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or oral steroids that help in relieving sciatic pain. Narcotics or muscle relaxants can also be used for a short period of time for pain relief. Epidural steroids In severe cases of sciatic pain, epidural steroids should be administered. The injection has a direct impact as it penetrates into the area surrounding the sciatic nerve thereby reducing the inflammation. In addition to this, these epidural steroids also help patients by supporting them in exercises and conditioning programs they might be undergoing for treating the pain.

Surgery is always a final resort when all other treatments fail to bear fruit. Spinal fusion surgery is recommended by doctors and medical specialists only after they have tried other treatment options. Let’s find out more about this procedure. What is spinal fusion surgery? It is a surgical technique that joins or fuses two or more vertebrae to restrict the movement between them. It is a neuro-orthopedic surgical procedure. It is usually recommended to reduce or eliminate spinal cord pressure and the resultant pain caused by worn out cartilage between the vertebrae. A patient may have to undergo surgery to decompress a pinched nerve-root or to stabilize a joint that causes pain. This surgery can help to heal spinal fractures and broken or damaged vertebrae that make the spine unstable. People undergo surgery if they have conditions like spinal weakness or deformity, herniated disks, spondylolisthesis, and other such ailments. Spinal tumor and degenerative spinal conditions are other situations where this surgery can be beneficial. It is a common surgical procedure, and statistics show that nearly 488,000 spinal fusion surgeries were performed in the country in 2011. Are you a candidate for this procedure? It is vital to identify and locate the exact cause of back pain before opting for surgery. There are cases where herniated disks may show up on a scan or X-ray, but the real cause of the back pain may lay elsewhere. At such times, undergoing surgery to fix the herniated disk might not solve the problem. A typical result is the FBSS (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome) in which the pain remains even after surgery. The most common reason for this is an incorrect diagnosis. Selecting the right surgeon is also crucial. A lot of surgeons can carry out the spine fusion surgery, so it’s important to know whether the surgeon you pick has specific expertise, experience, and training.

Helicobacter Pylori or H. Pylori is a common type of bacteria that usually causes the infection of the digestive tract. About 60 percent of the adult population of the entire world is affected by H. Pylori, and it is commonly seen in the western developed countries. “Helico” means spiral, and the name comes from its spiral shape. This shape makes it easy to penetrate the stomach lining, causing ulcers in the stomach. If the treatment for Helicobacter Pylori is not done on time, the complications can be life-threatening. Here are a few things related to the H. Pylori. The signs and symptoms of Helicobacter Pylori In about 85% of the cases of Helicobacter Pylori, there are no symptoms and complications. When there’s already an ulcer in the stomach, one can start feeling abdominal pain at night or a few hours after meals when the stomach is empty. This is a troubling pain that is timely, and it goes off on its own. Some other symptoms associated with H. Pylori infection are as listed: Excessive burping A feeling of bloating Nausea Heartburn Fever Decreased appetite Weight loss In the later stage of H. Pylori infection, some of the symptoms are trouble in swallowing, anemia, blood in the stool, vomiting, black spots on the face, and so on. Causes of Helicobacter Pylori The H. Pylori infection is known to spread from one person’s mouth to another. When a person does not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom, there are chances of the infection spreading. Also, it can spread through contaminated food and water. The H. Pylori bacteria penetrates the stomach’s mucous lining and forms the element that neutralizes the stomach acid. This stomach acid irritates the stomach lining and causes stomach ulcer. Risk factors for the Helicobacter Pylori infection The risk of developing a disease of H.

According to a report by the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, nearly 1 million people living in the country suffer from Parkinson’s disease. This association plans to educate people about this condition as well as the various problems that accompany it. What is Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s disease is an ailment that has a negative impact on the functioning of the human brain. It spreads slowly because of which an early diagnosis becomes nearly impossible. It comes gradually with a mild disturbance in movements, and slowly it starts impacting other activities like sleep, speech, and even the ability to think. Its other symptoms like the rigidity of muscles, problems with digestions are too vague because of which patients may get an inaccurate diagnosis in the early stages. Impact of Parkinson’s disease on the human body The main effect of Parkinson’s disease is the way it decreases the amount of dopamine in the body. Dopamine is a hormone that helps in the controlling motor and non-motor functions in our body. If the body has a dopamine deficiency, it leads to stilted walking, movements that are uncontrollable as well as tremors. There are many other symptoms that are less noticeable like loss of smell and constipation. Let’s have a look at a few details regarding the life expectancy of patients who have Parkinson’s disease. Appearance of symptoms According to medical studies, by the time a patient begins to exhibit the key symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, almost 60 to 70 percent of the body’s dopamine will be gone. This lack of dopamine will hamper all kinds of functions in the body. However, just because a patient starts exhibiting the symptoms of this condition doesn’t mean that they are out of all options. At such times, a patient’s mental strength matters a lot. Patients with Parkinson’s disease must try to stay positive, regardless of the circumstances.

Pain in the lower back area could be the result of numerous factors. But is your lower back pain kidney related? Pain caused in the lower back may be due to kidney infection or kidney stones. Very often, when you have lower back pain, you may be confused about the exact cause. With this article, we will help you distinguish whether you have normal back pain or whether your lower back pain kidney related. If it is lower back pain induced by kidney related issues, you will experience sharp pain between the hips and flanks and ribs. Unlike normal pain in the lower back which is not very specific, the lower back pain induced by kidneys is concentrated around the hip area and below the rib cage or in the lower back sides. Difference between normal lower back pain and kidney-related lower back pain When the lower back pain is kidney related, it usually shows incidence in the form of specific, localized pain. A normal back pain, on the other hand, may tend to affect the areas from your neck to your back. If you experience a sudden, shooting pain in the lower part of your rib cage or on the lower sides on your back, it is pain induced by kidneys. Kidney pain may lead to pains in lower abdomen and inner thighs, whereas in the case of normal back pain, the pain may spread further to your hips, thighs, calves, or feet. Kidney-related lower back pain causes The most common causes behind lower back pain are kidney stones or kidney infection. Other causes behind the lower back pain include renal infarction, kidney cancer, glomerulonephritis. Kidney stones can be responsible for inducing pain in your lower back. When there is a movement of the stone in your left kidney, you tend to experience lower left back pain.

When you feel pain or numbness in the fingers, it could be indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome. Well, it is a common type of condition that generally occurs in people working in various fields. This condition occurs when you put too much pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve is the nerve of your body that provides sensory signals to all your fingers except the little finger. In some cases, carpal tunnel syndrome will go away with time with the use of some types of wrist braces. However, there are certain cases in which the condition could persist and the patient might require surgery. In this article, a brief overview of a wrist brace and its types have been given. It aims to provide essential information on how a wrist brace can help you. What are wrist braces? A wrist brace is a type of garment that is generally worn in order to protect the wrist of people who are suffering from wrist pain or any type of pain in the area. It provides strong protection around your wrist which allows the condition to heal effectively. It is a very common rehabilitation method for those who have a wrist injury. How does a wrist brace help? When you sleep at night, it could generally result in the bending of your wrist. The bending of your wrist will, in turn, exert too much pressure on your median nerve. Moreover, when typing or performing activities that require the wrist to bend, immense pressure could be exerted on the wrist as well. A wrist brace will also help you by keeping your wrist at a straight and neutral position. One study found out that wrist braces can help provide relief to carpal tunnel symptom in a way that no other treatment procedure can.

A high level of cholesterol will increase the chances of heart diseases. Medications do help in keeping the cholesterol levels in check. However, instead of medications, if you can change your lifestyle, then it will be beneficial for you in the longer run. Before getting to know what kind of changes in your lifestyle will help, let’s see what the normal cholesterol levels are for your body. A blood test called lipid profile checks your cholesterol levels and generally reports the flowing things: Total cholesterol Triglycerides High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol What are the normal cholesterol levels ? The normal cholesterol levels depend on lot many factors but usually, they are universal for all. In order to get the perfect numbers or your cholesterol, it is highly recommended that you don’t drink (except water) or eat anything for about 9 to 12 hours prior to submitting blood samples. In the United States of America, the cholesterol levels are generally measured in mg/dl or milligrams (mg) of cholesterol in per decilitre (dl) of blood. Below are the various levels of measurement used for measuring cholesterol. Total cholesterol Below 200 mg/dl- Mostly desirable Between 200 mg/dl to 239 mg/dl- Borderline 240 mg/dl and above- High Triglycerides Below 150 mg/dl- Mostly desirable 150-199 mg/dl- Borderline 200-499 mg/dl- High 500 mg/dl and above- Very high HDL Cholesterol Below 40 mg/dl (men) or Below 50 mg/dl (women)- Poor 50-59 mg/dl- Better 60 mg/dl and above- Best LDL Cholesterol Below 70 mg/dl- Ideal cholesterol levels for those who are suffering from heart disease or diabetes Below 100 mg/dl- Highest for those people who are at risk of heart disease 100-129 mg/dl- Close to optimal if there are no heart diseases; high if the person has heart disease. 130-159 mg/dl- Borderline high if there are no heart diseases; high in case of heart disease.