Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a lung disease that can result in scarring of the lung tissues for no evident reason. Over a period of time, the scarring gets worse and it becomes difficult to breathe. Since the lungs are damaged, they cannot take in enough oxygen, leading to shortness of breath. The disease involves the tissues and space around the lungs and does not directly affect the blood vessels. There are various diseases that cause inflammation or fibrosis and each one is treated differently. Causes The cause of this medical condition is not completely understood. There is no single cause or reason why some people suffer from this disease. There are risk factors such as genetics, cigarette smoking, age, acid reflux, and more. It affects more men than women. Most individuals infected with IPF have another family member with a lung disease. About 75 percent of the patients are men and almost 75 percent of patients are or were previously cigarette smokers. Symptoms There are two main symptoms of IPF. Breathlessness Breathlessness or short breath first appears during exercise. It can have an impact on the day to day activities like climbing stairs. It increases as scarring in the lung gets worse and it could prevent all daily activities.

Multiple myeloma is a certain type of blood cancer that develops in the plasma cells in our body. These plasma cells grow abnormally in the bone marrow and stop the functioning of the healthy blood cells when a person has multiple myeloma. This kind of cancer affects more than just one part of the body and the patient may be asymptomatic in the early stages. The staging and survival rate for multiple myeloma will differ from patient to patient depending on the health and the spread of cancer in the patient. The treatment, too, will depend on the patient and the advancement of cancer. The first thing doctors do before considering any treatment is stage the multiple myeloma spread in a patient’s body. There are two systems to do so. This first is International Staging System and the second is Durie Salmon System. Multiple myeloma is divided into four stages namely, smoldering stage, stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3. Smoldering stage The smoldering stage is the phase where the cancer does not show any active symptoms and is also known as the Durie Salmon Stage 1. Myeloma cells are usually not detected in the blood at this stage and they do not advance or harm the patient’s body.

Acid reflux is fairly common in all age groups. It is the process of stomach contents bubbling up in the esophagus and throat, leaving a bad taste in the mouth and a burning feeling in the chest. Almost everyone has experienced this condition when they overdid their love for their favorite food and had a tough time keeping it all down. Other than burning sensations, there are many more symptoms of acid reflux which are unusual and problematic. Following are a few signs that are commonly observed. Most people do not know that they are results of acid reflux. Over salivation Experts believe that if your mouth gets full of saliva after a meal, so much so that you cannot keep it inside, it’s a clear sign of acid reflux. This is because of the same reason it happens before throwing up. Salivary glands produce excess saliva when they detect something in the esophagus, in order to flush it out. Over salivation happens in preparation for what is about to come up to the mouth and, in case of acid reflux, it’s the stomach contents that are on their way. Pneumonia When stomach acid is traveling upwards, it can enter the lungs and create a big problem like pneumonia.

In both adults and children, mental health is just as important as physical wellness. Thanks to the growing awareness about the importance of mental health, more and more people are coming forward for therapy and diagnosis. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a common psychological disorder that affects children mostly but is also prevalent in adults. Here is an overview of adult ADHD- Adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that is characterized by problems such as difficulty in paying attention, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. This disorder can cause a number of problems in the personal and professional life of an individual, and it may even cause other psychological problems like low self-esteem. ADHD is not a disorder that occurs suddenly, and that’s why adults who have just discovered ADHD are considered as adults with childhood ADHD that was never diagnosed and treated. ADHD may also be set off by a number of other factors like hyperthyroidism, seizure disorder, or even head trauma. The symptoms of adult ADHD present themselves in childhood and continue as the individual grows. In most of the cases of adult ADHD, the symptoms are not noticed till the individual is an adult. Some of the symptoms of adult ADHD are as follows- Difficulty paying attention Trouble in prioritizing things Trouble with organizational skills Lack of time management skills Mood swings Short temper Trouble coping with stress Low tolerance for frustration Difficulty in following through and completing tasks Impulsive behavior Inability to multitask Excessive restlessness These are just a few of the many symptoms.

Asthma is a condition wherein the person has difficulty in breathing due to chronic inflammation of the breathing passages of lungs. Asthma is also referred to as an obstructive lung disease. When airways are inflamed making it difficult to move in and out of lungs, it triggers wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Bronchospasm (airways), when combined with inflammation and mucus production, contribute to the cause of asthma. Symptoms of asthma Asthma mostly occurs in people with family history, this means its mostly genetic. Sudden tightening of muscles near the airways can cause an asthma attack. An asthma attack may start suddenly due to blockage or may develop slowly over a period of time. Apart from wheezing and coughing, which are the most common asthma symptoms, following is an overview of asthma symptoms. Rapid breathing both ways—in and out Lips and fingernails turning blue Tightening of chest Anxiety or panic attack Face turning pale Sweat outbreaks on the face Retraction of chest and face muscles Identifying early signs Asthma condition does not develop overnight. Over time, exposure to various particles that irritate the breathing process like dust, pets, or pollen are the main cause of asthma. Most of the time, people suffering from asthma get an early sign or warning before the attack.