The immune system makes inflammation a natural response for healing during an infection or injury. The affected area becomes swollen, and blood flow to that area automatically increases. However, the immune system may mistakenly cause inflammation without infection or injury. When such inflammation affects the joints, they become unstable and painful. This condition is called rheumatoid arthritis. This autoimmune disease can be managed with timely diagnosis and treatment options. Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, impacts each person differently. While in some, it may advance slowly over time, it may progress quickly in others. The symptoms of pain and stiffness may be persistent or flare up occasionally and be dormant for some time. RA causes pain and stiffness in the affected joints, particularly in the morning or after staying in the same position for long durations. It can also cause a lack of appetite, low BMI levels, and fatigue. In some cases, RA can cause inflammation in the chest, causing severe chest pain. Complications of rheumatoid arthritis If left untreated for a long time, the disorder can lead to immobility and other serious health issues like: Carpel tunnel syndrome Inflammation in the heart’s pericardium Sjogren’s syndrome – inflammation of the eye Inflammation in the lungs causing COPD or pulmonary fibrosis Cardiovascular diseases Inflammation of the blood vessels Cervical myelopathy Joint damage Rheumatoid nodules Common mistakes to avoid if you have rheumatoid arthritis Getting treatment from a general physician A general physical may be able to diagnose RA, but they may not have the expertise in treating the condition.

Our immune system comprises many types of cells, like lymphocytes, which include T cells and B cells. Their primary role is to fight infections and prevent diseases. In this process, B cells get converted into white blood plasma cells. The plasma cells are mainly found in the bone marrow and make antibodies called immunoglobins. Multiple myeloma begins in the plasma cells, where these cells become cancerous and begin to divide and grow uncontrollably.  Impact of multiple myeloma A single defective plasma cell typically leads to multiple myeloma. It then divides over many years and months, increasing the number of myeloma cells. During cell division, the myeloma cells could enter the bloodstream, reach other bone marrow, and continue damaging the plasma cells. As myeloma begins to develop in multiple bone marrow sites, cancer thus formed is called multiple myeloma. The myeloma cells accumulate in the bone marrow, crowding the healthy cells. Instead of producing antibodies, the plasma cells produce abnormal proteins, leading to severe health complications. Multiple myeloma also can cause anemia and reduce platelet levels. Platelets are crucial for the blood to clot quickly. A person with multiple myeloma may suffer from frequent bruises and injuries due to a low platelet count.  The body keeps remaking bone cells regularly to keep them strong.

Recent studies show that the pandemic has led to increased cases associated with diabetes. Inflammation caused by the virus may replicate within the pancreatic beta-cells responsible for the body’s insulin production. This further affects the secretion and synthesis of the property. As a result, one may experience severe symptoms of diabetes. While the health complications associated with excessive sugar intake are well-known, this underscores the urgency of recognizing the eight symptoms of high sugar intake. 8 signs that indicate excess sugar intake Frequent urination When your body has extra sugar, i.e., about 180 mg/DL in the blood, the kidneys work much harder to flush it through urine. The higher the sugar levels, the more it tries to send it out through urine. If you suddenly make more than 20 trips to the bathroom during the day, it is one of the first indications of excess sugar intake. Heightened thirst Feeling extremely thirsty without an apparent cause could indicate excess blood sugar intake. Sugar builds up in your blood when you eat high-carb or high-calorie foods. The kidneys work extra to push out the sugar through urine. If there is insufficient water to pass the sugar out, kidneys drain water from our body tissues.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder that affects the esophagus. It is characterized by inflammation and the accumulation of eosinophils. EoE can cause significant discomfort, leading to difficulty swallowing, food impaction, and malnutrition. The elimination meal plan is a natural way to manage EoE and reduce symptoms. This article discusses an elimination meal plan and foods to eat and avoid for managing eosinophilic esophagitis. Read on to learn more. What is an elimination meal plan? An elimination meal plan eliminates certain foods and food groups to identify potential food intolerances or allergies. This type of meal plan helps to determine which foods are causing adverse reactions in the body and eliminates them from the meal plan for some time. During the elimination phase, foods are gradually reintroduced to determine which foods cause symptoms. The elimination meal plan is a safe and natural way to manage EoE and reduce symptoms. It can be used to identify and eliminate trigger foods and determine an individual’s nutritional needs. The meal plan is based on a process of elimination and reintroduction of different food groups. The benefits of an elimination meal plan The elimination meal plan has several advantages, including increasing general health, lowering inflammation, and removing food sensitivities.

Annuities offer one of the more stable and reliable guaranteed income options in a person’s post-retirement phase. Annuities come with several benefits, such as monetary assurance for self and family, an income source immune to recession, and others. The positivity around annuity can be negatively affected when people who wish to apply for it make certain mistakes during or after the application process. So, identifying and avoiding these mistakes is imperative. Choosing the wrong insurance/annuity provider An annuity is of 5 types. For example, fixed dollar amounts, variable, guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits, and inflation-adjusted are the types of annuities. Each type of annuity comes with its own set of pros and cons. Financial advisors recommend that people go for certain annuities based on their personal requirements and financial position. Choosing the “wrong” kind of annuity can prevent users from getting the full scope of benefits of the scheme. Apart from the type of annuity, the insurance company in question must be checked before people sign up for annuity plans with them. One must research the credibility and popularity of annuity providers. After the research phase, people need to select the insurance companies that are among the most reputed ones. Not understanding how an annuity works Knowing the metaphorical ABCs of any investment option is critical for people looking to sign up for it.

Taking care of animals, such as pet dogs, is one of the most rewarding things an individual can do. Most pet parents go out of their way to ensure their dogs get the healthiest and most delicious food available.  This includes feeding them various products, including wet and dry dog foods. While these benefit dogs, a pet parent must also feed them fresh produce and specific meats to manage their overall health. 1. Honey Honey has several health benefits; it is rich in multiple nutrients, including vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. It is also abundant in calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, and antioxidants. Giving pets small amounts of honey may help with allergies, as it introduces small amounts of pollen to the system, subsequently building immunity to local allergens. 2. Bone broth Bone broth is one of the healthiest foods for dogs and one that they truly enjoy. The broth is created by simmering bones on a low flame with apple cider vinegar for long hours. The process slowly breaks down the nutrients, making them highly bioavailable to the pet’s body. Bone broth can help improve digestion and heal a “leaky gut.” It can also improve liver health, reduce inflammation, and alleviate joint pain.

The comfort of sports jerseys is unmatched. Whether it’s one’s choice of outfit for the upcoming game, a trip to the gym, or just to run errands around town, people can get a lot of use from their sports jerseys. Plus, with athleisure being more popular than ever, now seems like the perfect time to splurge and show some love to one’s favorite sports teams while still feeling comfortable and looking effortlessly chic! Football jerseys One of the biggest sports in the country, there’s a lot of pride and joy associated with one’s team of choice. Football has made a massive impact on people’s fashion choices, making it one of the easiest picks for a casual outfit. Invest in a well-fitted jersey to wear to the next game or screening and rock the casual activewear look! Baseball jerseys It’s  no surprise that baseball is on this list, given the popularity of the sport. A versatile closet staple that can be worn in and out of the stadium, baseball jerseys make for a splendid, comfortable casual-wear option. Basketball jerseys Another adaptable jersey option to have in the closet is a basketball jersey. As a sleeveless tee, these can easily be worn in the summer or layered underneath jackets or hoodies in the winter.

With a plethora of options available for dog foods, it can be confusing to figure out which one is the right option for one’s pet. From choosing to go the traditional route of buying kibbles to picking trendy raw food marketed on social media, pet owners are often overwhelmed by the decision. In such situations, it is helpful to know about the various aspects that need to be considered while buying the best dog foods. 1. Check the package for an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement One of the easiest ways to determine if a package of dog food will give complete nutrition is to look for the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement.  The AAFCO, or Association of American Feed Control Officials  (AAFCO), has established nutritional standards for pet foods. While the AAFCO does not conduct any testing on dog foods, brands can put the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement on their product packages only if they have third-party feeding tests and laboratory analyses to verify that the products meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles. So, dog food packages that come with AAFCO’s nutritional adequacy statement are considered to be complete and balanced foods. These fulfill the minimum requirement of essential nutrients in proper proportions.