Macular degeneration (or AMD) is a chronic eye disease resulting in the partial or complete loss of vision. This occurs when the center portion of your retina, the macula, begins to degenerate. The leading cause is age; however, genetics, smoking, race, and obesity may also have an impact. This disease is most common in individuals over the age of 50, and although there is no known cure, treatment can slow the progression of AMD. There are two types of AMD: wet and dry. Wet AMD is characterized by blood vessels growing under the retina and leaking. Treatment for this disease depends on the type and progression, which all differ per individual. If caught early, treatment can have a substantial impact on its progression. Acknowledging your symptoms early can greatly slow the progression of the disease. Here are some symptoms to look out for: 1. Blurred or fuzzy vision In the process of degeneration, the macula will begin to thin. This thinning can cause your center of vision to become very blurred or fuzzy. If you notice that this symptom is quite frequent, be sure to mention it to your physician. 2. Straight lines that appear wavy or distorted In the early stages of AMD, the vessels behind your retina may cause it to bulge.

Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain that makes it challenging for a patient to distinguish what is real and not real. A person suffering from schizophrenia often has a hard time thinking clearly, relating to others, managing emotions, and functioning normally. And thus, the patient may be significantly affected by the way he/she behaves and perceives the world. The most common type of this disorder is paranoid schizophrenia, in which the patient may hear or see things that are not there or are not actually happening. The three main signs of schizophrenia are: 1. Depression and social withdrawal One sign of this disorder includes depression and social withdrawal. A person with schizophrenia may start avoiding and interacting with loved ones. He/she may self-isolate from family and friends most of the time. Eventually, this sign will lead to a negative effect on the person’s mental health, and may lead to depression. Signs of depression may include skipping social events, school, social events they were once passionate about, and work. Also, individuals may begin to uncharacteristically lose interest in aspects he/she once cherished, such as ambitions, passions, and hobbies. He/she may also feel nonchalant to important situations. There may also be a change in appetite that will lead to a significant weight gain or loss.

Cold sores are extremely painful blisters that are filled with fluid that show up around your lips and mouth. They are caused by the herpes complex virus, in many cases from kissing or from sharing a drink. They are extremely painful to have and there is even cold sore medicine for kids as anyone can get them. Though they typically go away on their own, there are ways, including cold sore medicine treatment, to speed up the healing process and ease the pain: 1. Ice compress An ice compress can reduce the inflammation that is associated with the cold sore. It can also help to alleviate the pain that comes from scabbing after the blister breaks. This may even lead to a shorter healing time if you use the compress at least a couple of times a day. If you are bothered by the ice, try a cloth that is damp with cold water. 2. Abreva cream Abreva cream should be applied as soon as you notice that you may have a cold sore. Results when using this cream have found that many patients see cold sore relief in as little as 3 days. Some people have even shared that if they apply the Abreva super early, the cold sore is stopped in its tracks and is gone within a few hours.

Do your elderly parents have issues eating regularly, remembering to eat, or eating enough in general? The following five tips can help caregivers assist elderly individuals to eat more healthy food consistently, so that they can feel their best every day, and that you can continue to spend quality time together. These five tips can help you make sure that your parent is getting proper nutrition and eating regularly: 1. Subscribe them to a meal delivery service It can be hard to be fully responsible all the time, so it is helpful to utilize services that can help elderly patients eat properly. There are many meal delivery services that you can sign up for and no longer have to worry about. If your parent struggles to make food often enough for themselves or just needs an extra bit of help with meal prep throughout the week, this is a great option to have a fresh meal delivered at the frequency that you choose. Also consider having a frozen meal plan delivered for them to store for later. Having a meal delivery service is especially useful if you are not always near your parents to help them out. 2. Adhere to a regular meal and snack schedule Having your elderly parent on a schedule for eating will make things a lot easier and straightforward for them.

Menopause is a natural life stage for all women. It marks the end of the menstrual cycle and occurs after a woman has gone 12 full months without a period. The time leading up to menopause is known as perimenopause and may occur in women between the ages of 40 and 50.  Symptoms that menopause is approaching can include hot flashes, anxiety, sleep disturbances, or weight gain. Treatments for menopause symptoms can include hormone therapy medications or lifestyle changes, such as a different diet. Here are a few foods that are known to help naturally reduce menopause symptoms: 1. Spinach and kale Leafy greens such as spinach and kale have a variety of health benefits, and can also aid in reducing overall menopausal symptoms.  Try swapping out lettuce for one of these leafy greens in your next salad! 2. Yogurt Yogurt is rich in vitamin D and calcium, nutrients which can help reduce risk of early menopause.  In addition, the probiotics found in yogurt help improve gut health, leading to better immunity, digestion, and skin. 3. Fatty fish Fatty fish contain omega-3 vitamins, which can help reduce the hot flashes and night sweats that are commonly experienced by menopausal women.  While omega-3 can be taken as a supplement, it’s best to get it directly from certain foods.  Omega-3 can be found in fish such as mackerel, tuna, and salmon, as well as chia seeds and flax seeds.

Characterized as medical devices, hearing aids are devices worn to improve hearing and audible sound for patients with hearing loss. Yet according to many patients, it can be challenging to find hearing aids that are right for specific needs. Especially with all the different shapes, styles, features, and prices out there for hearing aids. We’ve created this list of five popular hearing aids to help you make an informed decision: 1. Audicus Hearing Aids Audicus Hearing Aids are slightly cheaper than Eargo wireless, but they work with an app that is not as easy to use. They cost between $300 and $400 USD, which is a great price for any hearing aid. The sound quality on these isn’t quite as good either but still very good for the price range. Other features include increasing the volume in different settings, a rechargeable battery that lasts about four hours, and compatibility with both Android phones and iPhones. The only downside is they don’t work as well in extremely loud environments but are still much better than many other brands on the market today. 2. Eargo Wireless Hearing Aids The Eargo wireless rechargeable hearing aids are one of the newest and most innovative products on the market.

Health insurance is a necessity for anyone with diabetes. The condition requires a lot of attention and medical assistance to manage symptoms. Insulin and testing supplies are both quite costly. In addition, when something goes wrong related to diabetes, patients often require hospitalization and other procedures which can be expensive without insurance. Thankfully, there are some tips which can help diabetics get the most effective insurance to help manage their condition: 1. Costs associated with a health insurance plan It’s important to keep in mind that insurance plans can have a very large scope. Health insurance and life insurance can even be packaged together. It’s important to carefully go over the various costs associated with any given insurance plan. You might be surprised by what’s included or missing within any given plan. For those with diabetes, look at the aspects of the health plan that apply most to you. By going over the plan in detail you’ll be able to discover helpful offerings while also avoiding plans with unnecessary additions. 2. What diabetes specific treatments or services does the plan provide? If you have diabetes then you’re in a niche group with specific needs. You’ll ideally want to find a plan that’s specifically tailored to those interests.

In cases of liver cancer, the key is to catch the disease as early as possible. Understanding the warning signs and symptoms will allow you to determine if you should seek medical evaluation for liver cancer. In order to catch potential liver cancer as soon as possible, here are some of the most common liver cancer symptoms to look for: 1. Losing weight without trying If you were not trying to lose weight and suddenly can’t keep the pounds on, this is an indicator that you may have early stage liver cancer. Unintentional weight loss is often because of cancerous tumors stimulating a gene switch within the body, which in turn lowers blood fat levels. The result of lower blood fat levels is a difficulty maintaining weight. 2. Upper abdominal pain and swelling Your liver itself may become enlarged due to a tumor growing on it. As a result, you may experience swelling or pain in your upper abdomen. You may start to see veins or discoloration on your abdomen. This pain, swelling and difference in appearance may be caused by the enlargement of the tumor. It may also be due to increased pressure to the liver, causing blood to back up in the veins and make the veins more visible.

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most prevalent type of heart arrhythmia, which is characterized by a too slow, too fast, or irregular heart beat. AFib may occur as a short-term or long term condition, but it causes impeded blood flow as well as it should from the atria to the lower chambers of the heart (the two ventricles), and puts patients at greater risk of heart attack and stroke. While the most common treatment for AFib is potassium channel blockers, often prescribed by physicians to decrease the electrical signals that cause AFib, certain foods may also contribute to worsening AFib symptoms, and should be avoided by patients: 1. Grapefruit Grapefruit can be a nice addition to your breakfast table. However, if you suffer from AFib, it’s best to stay away from this citrus fruit. Consuming lots of grapefruit can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb medications successfully. That includes medications designed to head off arrhythmias, as well as meds to prevent blood clots. Avoid both grapefruit juice and fruit if you are taking any of these medications. In fact, grapefruit commonly interacts negatively with several medications, so best talk to your doctor before eating. 2. Alcohol Alcohol is often moderated or eliminated by patients with certain health conditions because of its stimulant effects.

Heart disease is any condition that affects the heart. Each different type of heart disease has its symptoms and treatment. The most common risk factors of heart diseases are obesity, diabetes, unhealthy dieting, high cholesterol, blood pressure, and being physically inactive. Most forms of heart diseases are preventable or treatable with healthy lifestyle choices. This article sheds more light on five different heart diseases and their associated symptoms: 1. Pericardial Disease Pericardium is the outer layer or sac surrounding the heart. Pericardial disease affects the pericardium, and among the most common diseases of this sac are inflammation or pericarditis. The most common causes are trauma, cancer, heart attack, and infections. Symptoms of pericarditis include increased heart rate, fever, and chest pains. 2. Cardiomyopathy  Cardiomyopathy is a heart disease that affects the muscles of your heart. The muscles can either grow weak, larger, or rigid. The thickening of the heart muscle causes HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), which makes it challenging for the heart to pump blood. Cardiomyopathy heart muscle disease can be a result of genetic heart conditions, virus infection, drug or toxins reaction, and even at times, chemotherapy. Symptoms of this heart disease include shortness of breath, repeated fatigue, rapid pulse, bloating, and swelling in the ankles and feet.