WHAT IS STOMACH CANCER?

23 November 2022

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, usually happens in the central part of the stomach, and slowly it starts to spread to other body parts; in such cases, it can become out of control. It is believed that people with age 60 and above tend to develop stomach cancer.

However, as a word of caution, it is essential to note that stomach cancer might spread to other body organs outside the stomach, such as the liver, lungs, and brain.

The following are the types of Stomach Cancer:

Adenocarcinomas

Adenocarcinoma cancers are those which are found in the innermost lining of the stomach.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)

This type of cancer develops in the stomach walls and can grow in other areas or spread to other body parts.

Neuroendocrine Tumors

This type of cancer tends to develop in the stomach cells, mainly in parts of the digestive tract. This type of cancer usually does not spread to other organs.

Lymphomas

This cancer is found in the immune system, and it is essential to note that it can start in the stomach and other body parts.

What Causes Stomach Cancer?

Many factors can cause stomach cancer, such as a common bacteria causing ulcers, Inflammation in your gut called gastritis, and many more. Some of the common factors that increase the risk of stomach cancer have been highlighted below:

Overweight and Obese
Alcohol and Smoking
A- Type Blood
Certain genes
Exposure to Coal, Metal, and Timber
Past Family History

What are the symptoms of Stomach Cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, one of the most significant drawbacks of stomach cancer is that people usually don’t know that they have it until or unless it has reached some advanced stages. This is because many stomach cancer symptoms resemble ulcers, food poisoning, and stomach infection.

However, some people may experience some of the common symptoms of Stomach Cancer, as mentioned below:

Indigestion and Frequent Heartburn
Loss of Appetite and Bloating
Excessive Fatigue
Constant Abdominal pain
Blood-stools
Nausea and Vomiting

How to Treat Stomach Cancer?

You and your doctor need to know the exact stage of stomach cancer before starting the treatment. The stages of stomach cancer will be determined by how much the tumor has spread into your body. There are in total four stages of stomach cancer:

Stage Zero

In this stage, the inside lining of the stomach has clubbed itself into a group of unhealthy cells, forming the tumor. Hence, your doctor may perform surgery to remove cancer.

Stage One

In this stage, the tumor is in the stomach lining, and it may or may not have spread to any other body part or has not grown to a bigger size. Therefore, your doctor may perform surgery to remove all the regions where the tumor has spread.

Stage Two

In this stage, cancer might have spread into the inner sections of the stomach and maybe into nearby lymph. Hence, your doctor may perform surgery to remove parts where the tumor has reached or spread, and the doctor may likely recommend chemo.

Stage Three

In this stage, it may have happened that cancer has now reached all the layers of the stomach and other nearby organs; hence, the doctor may undergo surgery to remove the entire stomach or all the parts where cancer has spread. In such cases, you may have to go through chemo or chemoradiation to cure it properly.

Stage IV

In the last stage of cancer, it may have happened that cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the liver, lungs, and so on. In such cases, it may be difficult for the doctor to cure cancer. Hence doctor may provide you with treatment to help in get some relief from the symptoms.

Stomach cancer is usually treated after performing any of the following treatments.

Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Surgery
Immunotherapy

The type of treatment your doctor chooses will depend on factors such as age, health, vitals, and cancer stage.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written after performing in-depth secondary research related to the topic from various articles, blogs, and journals that have expertise in writing for healthcare. Suppose you see any issues related to digestion, abdominal pain, ulcers, IBS, stomach cancer, etc. We strictly advise you to seek medical consultation.

HOW TO GET RID OF BAD BREATH?

Preeti Kamboj

23 November 2022

Bad Breath is also known ashalitosis and can be embarrassing. There are various potential causes of bad breath, such as foods, health conditions, dental habits, etc. Dentists believe that, in many cases, we can improve the situation of bad breath by maintaining proper dental hygiene; however, in instances where the problem seems out of control, it is advisable to visit the dentist and get the necessary treatment.

Certain foods can cause bad breath, such as garlic, cheese, soda, onion, and many more, flossing and rinsing your mouth will not help in combating the bad breath caused by this food until they are flushed out from the body. Additionally, people who follow a strict diet and do not eat too often can also have bad breath as they do not eat enough, and once the past foods break down completely, the body releases some chemicals which can cause bad breath.

When we do not brush and floss regularly, food particles may remain in our mouths, leading to bacterial growth between teeth and on the tongue, thereby causing bad breath. Having bad breath regularly in the mouth can cause concern, and it is better to visit dentists and examine yourself.

How To Prevent Bad Breath?

Bad breath can be easily prevented at home by adopting some healthy gums habits and feeling fresh in your mouth as mentioned below:

Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Brushing your teeth two times a day and rinsing your mouth after every meal is a good start to keep bad breath at bay.

Floss Once a Day

Flossing can remove the food particles between your teeth, which helps control bad breath.

Scratch Your Tongue with a Toothbrush

Your tongue can also store bacteria which can cause bad breath; therefore, cleaning your tongue every time you brush can help prevent overgrowing bacteria and bad breath.

Clean Your Dentures

People using dentures and other dental instruments should make an extra effort to keep them clean before putting them into their mouth and after removing them from their mouth. They may also use the cleaning products as recommended by their dentists.

Stay Hydrated

Keep moisture in your mouth by drinking plenty of water and avoid tobacco and alcohol as they can cause dry mouth. Chewing sugar-free gum is also an excellent option to stimulate saliva.

Change Your Toothbrush

Dentists advise us to change our toothbrush every three months and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to keep our gums healthy.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Visiting your regular dentist once in six months or once a year is a promising idea to keep a note of your dental health and get yourself examined regularly.

When to Visit Dentist?

It is advised to check your oral hygiene habits and make lifestyle changes such as brushing your teeth twice a day and every time after eating, using dental floss, and drinking plenty of water. However, if the situation is persistent, it is advisable to visit your dentist as there can be some other grave reason for which a dentist consultation is needed.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written after performing in-depth secondary research related to the topic from various articles, blogs, and journals, that have expertise in writing for healthcare. Suppose you see any issues related to bad breath, gums, jaws; we strictly advise you to seek medical consultation.

PROSTATE CANCER

Preeti Kamboj

23 November 2022

Prostate cancer happens in the prostate, a gland located near the bladder and in front of the rectum in the male body. The prostate appears to be a walnut-shaped gland and is part of the man’s reproductive system.

Prostate cancer is when the cells in the prostate start growing and growing in large numbers to become out of control. The urethra is a tube that passes through the prostate and carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis.

All prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas (malignant tumors) because this type of cancer starts in the secretion glands. However, people may develop other prostate cancer types, such as small cell carcinomas, Transitional cell carcinomas, Neuroendocrine tumors, and Sarcomas.

What are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

Following are the symptoms of Prostate Cancer, which becomes more common as the disease develops to other stages:

Frequent and urgent need to urinate
Irregular urine flow
Painful urination
Bowel incontinence
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Blood in urine
Pain in the lower back, hip, and chest
Numbness of leg and feet

What causes Prostate Cancer?

There is no significant cause of prostate cancer; it is usually observed in old males or males above 50. This is because damage to the prostate cell’s DNA is more likely in men over 50-55. This leads to the development of abnormal prostate cells to grow out of control and become tumors.

Below mentioned are some of the most common factors that may increase the risk of prostate cancer:

Age

Age is the most common factor that may cause or increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Family History

People with a history of prostate cancer are at a higher risk of developing the disease.

Smoking

As we all know, smoking increases the risk of almost every disease. Additionally, it is essential to note that smoking doubles the risk of prostate cancer.

Diet

Diet and lifestyle choices put us at increased risk of prostate cancer. Consuming more calories, animal fats, refined sugar, fewer fruits and vegetables, and lack of exercise is considered to increase the risk of prostate at advanced stages.

How is Prostate Cancer treated?

Treatment of prostate cancer will vary depending on the stage and other factors, such asGleason score and PSA levels. The following are the types of treatment that one may undergo to treat prostate cancer:

Monitoring and Waiting

Prostate cancer grows slowly in the body; therefore, the doctor may advise waiting and watching for other symptoms and conducting testing regularly to outweigh the side effects of treatment.

Surgery

In cases when surgery is needed, the doctor may perform a radical prostatectomy to remove the tumor and tissues near the prostate.

Radiation Therapy

Doctors may use radiation therapy to kill cancer cells and prevent them from growing. There are two ways of performing radiation therapy:

External Radiation Therapy: In this method, the machine outside the body will send the radiations where cancer cells are growing. This is done while keeping in mind to reduce the risk of health issues and kill the prostate tumor.

Internal radiation therapy: With this method, the doctor implants the radiation seeds near the prostate to kill the tumor. This is done with the help of imaging scans, such as ultrasound.

Systemic Therapies: The doctor may recommend a series of chemotherapy and immunotherapy therapies. If cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland. These therapies include

Disclaimer: This blog has been written after performing in-depth secondary research related to the topic from various articles, blogs, and journals that have expertise in writing for healthcare; suppose you see any issues related to urination, prostate, ED, or any other health, we strictly advise you to seek medical consultation.

Tips To Fight Sugar Cravings

Preeti Kamboj

23 November 2022

We all love sweet foods. Consuming sugary food is undoubtedly rewarding for our brains as it uplifts our mood and positively impacts the same. Psychologists believe that a desire to eat something sweet stems from stress relief, comfort, reward, overcoming tiredness, prolonging a celebration, and many other factors. However, one should not feel guilty about sugar cravings, as cravings are a natural phenomenon, and people crave diverse food at some point. However, it is crucial to note that excessive sugar consumption can have significant side effects:

Primarily, eating sugar-based items can cause Type 2 Diabetes
Sugar is terrible for the mouth as it can lead to cavities
Sugar can lead to an excessive increase in weight gain
Sugar is terrible for your heart as it increases the risk of heart diseases
Consumption of a diet that is rich in sugary foods and drinks is often considered to be bad for acne

Dentists recommend that eating sugar directly impacts our teeth and causes tooth decay. This is because sugar mixes with our saliva in the mouth and leads to plaque, which can further reduce the enamel and causes cavities.

Diabetologists believe that consuming much sugar increases the chances of weight gain, which can directly or indirectly cause Type 2 Diabetes. Hence, it is better to watch out for daily sugar consumption and calorie intake. Enjoying sugar or sugary meals such as cakes and other sweets occasionally is an excellent way to treat your taste buds and is part of a healthy balanced diet.

People who have sugar teeth tend to get sugar cravings regularly for the best possible reasons explained below:

Habit: Sugar cravings are often associated with habits. People who develop this habit of overeating sugar tend to get sugar cravings, especially after food, as a reward for the brain and a feel-good factor. After eating the sugar, insulin is released in the body, and it reaches our brain, which results in the release of dopamine and further develops eating sugar into a habit
Deficiency of Nutrients: When the body is faced with nutrient deficiency, then it will not be able to gear up to the energy levels, and in that case, cravings for sugar increase as it will help the body in increasing the sugar level
Sudden Change in Blood Sugar: Out-of-the-box cravings for sugar can be caused by a sudden fall in blood sugar levels, and as a result, the body needs more sugar to keep the energy blood sugar level high

If you are always in the mood to eat some sugar and have cravings consistently, here are some ways to control the cravings:

Eat a Fruit: Eating fruit whenever a craving sets effectively to fight the urge and get fiber and nutrients. As most fruits have a sugary taste, this will give you the sweetness that your body was craving
Reduce the long gaps between Meals: Do not give a long gap between meals as increasing the gap between your meals will increase the consumption of sugary and fatty foods, which will keep you full for long hours, thereby cutting your hunger and impacting the blood sugar levels in the body
Reduce Stress and Anxiety: Managing stress and anxiety levels will help curb sugar cravings. When our brain is stressed out, we tend to feel hungry and crave something sweet in nature. Therefore, we overeat and eat sugar-based foods. Consequently, it is advised to control stress and anxiety levels by practicing yoga, meditation, listening to music, and following other methods which help to relax
Take a Walk: When craving sets in, keep your shoes ready and go outside for a walk or a run; this helps in creating the distance between the food, and since both walk and run will release endorphins, it will further help in turning off the craving
Change Your Food: When we eat the same things daily, either because they are healthy or in the name of nutrients, we get stuck in our eating habits. Hence, it is advised to choose different spices. As the saying goes, those spices are the savior; they will not only add distinct types of taste to the food but will also help in setting off the sugar cravings
Pay Attention to your Body: Craving is an intense desire to eat something, but a simple craving should not drive you to eat what is needed. Doctors advise following other patterns as well like, for example, craving followed by headache, stress, physical hunger, or lack of energy, and so on
Hormonal Changes: Women tend to have more cravings for sugar because of the hormonal changes caused by hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and estradiol. These cravings are usually felt during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy

Sugar cravings can be bothersome, especially when we follow a restrictive diet or want to reduce weight. If fighting those out-of-blue desires can be challenging, then consuming the below-mentioned foods can be helpful:

Berries: Consuming any berries, namely blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, is the best solution to strike-off sugar cravings
Avocado: Avocado is rich in fiber and healthy fats. Consuming avocado can help suppress our hunger, enhance blood sugar levels, and limit blood sugar level
Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are rich in nutritional levels as they have proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber. Therefore, consuming chia seeds regularly can keep sugar cravings off for a more extended period
Oats: Oats are very filling and lower our glucose level, which helps in combating the sugar cravings
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil has a fact-based property; therefore, it takes time to digest and leaves us feeling satiated, thereby slowing down the process of food conversion into sugar in our body and balancing blood sugar, which combats sugar cravings
Olives and Olive Oil: Consuming olives or eating food cooked in olive oil help in feeling full for a longer duration and thereby combating sugar cravings

Disclaimer: This blog has been written after performing in-depth secondary research related to the topic from various articles, blogs, and journals that have expertise in writing for healthcare; suppose you see any issues related to weight gain, sugar cravings, diabetes, we strictly advise you to seek medical consultation. You may book a consultation with SmartCare Doctors.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ICE THERAPY FOR THE FACE?

Preeti Kamboj

21 November 2022

Icing has long been used to heal, reduce swelling, ease pain, and speed up the recovery of wounds and bruises, as it can promote the healing of soft tissues, reduce blood flow and reduce nerve activity. Applying ice to the face will cause an increased blood supply under the skin.

Dermatologists recommend applying ice to the skin as it is natural, affordable, and has ample benefits such as removing dark circles, reducing eye puffiness, reducing inflammation, and many more.

Skin icing is done by massaging 2-3 ice cubes on the face, eyes, lips, and jawline. Rubbing ice daily on your skin provides ample benefits, such as reducing oiliness & inflammation, removing acne, eliminating eye puffiness, and reducing the signs of aging.

Reduces swelling

We are all aware of applying ice to our injuries to heal. However, dermatologist believes that ice provides the same benefits on the face. The ice’s coldness helps remove the additional fluids such as o, il, which further helps decrease the puffiness of the face.

Fights Blemishes and Acne

Dermatologists recommend applying ice directly on the acne and keeping it on the acne for a few minutes until it feels numb; once it starts feeling numb, remove the ice, and the results can be seen in ways that will reduce the size of the pimples and any blemish that is on the face. This is because ice has the property to attack inflammation of any type.

Additionally, applying ice directly on the face will help the skin on the front fight infection, block pores and irritation, and lessen any swelling; this is done by restricting the blood flow and easing any pain.

Eliminates Puffiness and Dark Circles

The eyes are the accurate indicator of everything one is feeling, such as sadness, happiness, upset, tiredness, lack of sleep, whatever it may be eyes and the area around the eyes is the clearest indicator that something is wrong. Icing can provide quick relief from dark circles, and puffiness around the eyes eases a little of tiredness. Putting the ice directly on the ice and massaging it can remove the discomfort in the eyes. Additionally, applying the rose water ice can instantly make the eyes look refreshed.

Reduces Signs of Aging

As we all know, aging can’t be stopped; however, the signs of aging can be delayed by icing the face regularly. Ice therapy is a simple and cost-effective method to provide several benefits to our skin.

Apply ice every morning before wearing makeup to get the instant glow

Apply ice every night before going to bed to fight acne and blemishes

Dermatologists recommend using ice therapy less often in winter as when the temperature dips, the blood circulation gets lower and applying too much ice can make your skin dry.

Applying Ice therapy is a natural and easy way to get glowing skin, improve skin appearance, reduce pimples, and fight any signs of aging. Ice is also an excellent way to reduce dark circles and puffiness in the eyes.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written after performing in-depth secondary research related to the topic from various articles, blogs, and journals that have expertise in writing for healthcare. Suppose you see any skin health issues or concerns about skin problems. We strongly suggest that you seek medical consultation.

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