Preterm labor is also known as premature labor. It happens when you’re pregnant, and your body is ready to give birth earlier than it should. Labor pains are considered to be premature if they occur three weeks before the expected due date. There are many ways in which doctors can prolong an early delivery. The longer the baby grows inside your body, it is less likely that the baby can have problems after birth. There are many ways in which you can tell if you’re about to have preterm labor. Following are some of the signs of preterm labor that you should watch out for. Causes of preterm labor Many factors increase the risk of preterm labor. Some of them include: Smoking : If you’re a chain smoker, there is a very high chance that excessive smoking can be one of the reasons. Being overweight or underweight : Being overweight or underweight before your pregnancy can also be a cause. No proper prenatal care : The risk increases if you don’t get enough prenatal care. Alcohol : Consuming alcohol and other drugs are some of the factors that increase the risk. Health conditions : Some health conditions like blood clotting, blood pressure, diabetes, and infections can affect you.

Your shoulder is a combination of many joints. The joints meet the muscles and tendons of the arm to provide a full range of motion to the arm. The shoulder facilitates thousands of activities in everyday life. These vary from scratching one’s back to bowling, to carrying bags, and even driving. But your shoulder’s mobility may deteriorate over time, leading to issues such as instability & soreness. It may even affect the functioning of the bones or soft tissue in the shoulder, resulting in pain. The pain could be consistent and chronic, or you might feel the pain only when you move the shoulder. If the pain is temporary, it is easy to deal with, but if it lasts for a long time, this may call for medical attention. We need to understand the anatomy of the shoulder to understand shoulder pain in a better way. Anatomy Of The Shoulder The shoulder comprises of three major bones. They are as follows. Humerus, or the upper arm bone Scapula, or the shoulder bone Collarbone, or the Clavicle There is a round socket in the shoulder blade called the glenoid. The top part of the humerus, or the upper arm bone, fits into the glenoid.

The liver is one of the vital organs in our body. Located in the upper right part of the abdominal cavity, the liver performs multiple functions and plays a significant role in ensuring the metabolic processes are carried out by the body. Functions of the liver The main function of the liver is to filter the blood coming in from the digestive tract, before the blood moves to the rest of the body. The liver is a detoxifying organ. A lot of toxins get into our body through the food we ingest. The liver detoxifies the chemicals and metabolizes drugs. Bile, an enzyme that is needed to break down the fats, is secreted by the liver. The liver also synthesizes proteins that are needed for blood clotting and other important functions. Conditions that damage the liver Like other organs, the liver is also prone to infections. Conditions that affect the liver are hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, ascites, primary biliary cirrhosis, gallstones, hemochromatosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Common liver damage signs Low platelet count When you accidentally cut your hand, the blood flows stop and its clots. It is the function of the platelets to help in clotting. Platelets are minute, disk-shaped cell fragments in the bloodstream that help the blood to clot.

If the changing seasons make you sneeze your head off, instead of putting a spring in your step, you might have a pollen allergy. Pollen allergies or hay fever is an allergic reaction to the pollen released by plants. Pollen is a fine powder released by plants during their reproductive cycles. Pollen is fine enough to travel through the air, which helps plants to reproduce. However, the protein in the pollen can be easily inhaled or ingested via the nose, mouth, ears, or eyes which can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Approximately 30% of adults have some level of pollen allergy. Pollen is not only released by flowering plants but also by grass, trees, and weeds. Flower pollen allergies are more common in spring. Grass pollen allergies are more common in summer, and in autumn, pollen allergies from weeds are predominant. This makes pollen allergies a year-round ordeal for some people, that can be quite uncomfortable and impedes their daily lives. Pollen allergy signs and symptoms If you have a pollen sensitivity, every time you breathe in or come in contact with pollen, you might notice pollen allergy signs such as: Sneezing Itching Redness of the eyes A runny nose Coughing Watering eyes Difficulty breathing Pollen allergy signs can also include worsening of asthma and other respiratory conditions in people who are predisposed.

Any type of allergy can be exhausting. Most allergies can make the strongest of us feel weak and worn down. Sinus allergies are some of the most excruciating ones. These allergies can overwhelm most people and can make even the most trivial day-to-day tasks seem overwhelming. Studies have shown that allergies if left untreated can worsen. This can cause infections as well as complicate the functions of the body in numerous ways. These range from stomach ailments to complicated heart issues. This is why doctors recommend treatment as soon as possible. The recommended approach towards allergies has always been prevention. Protecting the body means preparing and understanding allergies. The first crucial step towards combating allergies would be to understand what the possible sinus allergy signs are. Once the sinus allergy signs have been identified, the next step is symptomatic treatment. This means treating the symptoms to help weaken the overall allergy. The ideal situation for this form of treatment is that the allergy itself will become manageable and heal itself. However, if the body doesn’t recover naturally, medication is recommended. It is crucial to identify key sinus allergy signs by recognizing the symptoms of the possible allergy when it begins to manifest at an early stage.

Cramps are a sudden and painful contraction of a muscle. Leg cramps, especially on the calf muscles, occur as you fall asleep or as you wake up. However, sometimes the cramps can be in the thigh or foot. Causes of Leg Cramps at Night Although exact causes of these cramps are not known, there are many reasons for it to occur. Some of them are: Sometimes, too much exercise, an injury or even excessive pressure to the muscle can lead to leg cramps Dehydration is another reason Pregnant women having deficiency of calcium and magnesium have high risk of leg cramps Cold environment or exposure to cold water may be one of the reasons for leg cramps Another reason might be deficiency of potassium and calcium in the bloodstream Sitting in a single position for hours, standing on hard surfaces for extended periods, or sleeping in awkward positions. Certain medications such as birth control, diuretics, antipsychotics, and steroids. Medical conditions affecting the kidney, thyroid, and multiple sclerosis. Treating Leg Cramps At Night There are many ways you can ease the cramp. Try these methods, and you will know how to treat leg cramps at night. Stretching Simply stretching the muscle that is cramping will give you instant relief.

Vertigo refers to a medical condition in which a person feels like the objects surrounding them are constantly moving while they are not. It is a feeling of dizziness which may be accompanied by vomiting, headache, nausea, sweating, and trouble while walking. In case a person has an illusion that they are moving, it is called subjective vertigo. Also, when a person has an illusion that everything around them is moving, it is called objective vertigo. Causes of vertigo Many causes lead to vertigo – it is divided into peripheral and central causes. In case the cause of vertigo is central, it may occur due to a problem in the cerebellum part of the brain. It is the part positioned at the lowermost part of the brain. Vertigo could also be due to a problem in the brainstem which is the part of the brain linked to the spinal cord. Whereas if the cause of vertigo is peripheral, it is due to the trouble in the balancing system of the inner ear. Peripheral vertigo The most common causes leading to peripheral vertigo are as follows: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) It is the most common cause of vertigo. It occurs when tiny calcium carbonate particles accumulate in the inner ear’s fluid-filled canals.

Inflamed joints are a painful condition. Joint pain due to arthritic conditions like gout is one of the leading cause of pain worldwide. Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that is characterized by the accumulation of uric acid crystals around the joints. The course of gout is recurrent with attacks of inflammation, followed by pain that starts a few hours later. The pain is often severe and of rapid onset. Gout is caused by various genetic and environmental factors. Gout occurs when there is a high level of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid forms crystals and these uric acid crystals deposit around bone joints, tendons, and supportive tissues. Gout was once called “the rich man’s disease” or “the king’s disease” since it was associated with excessively rich diets. With modern diets and prolonged life spans, gout has become increasingly common. Being overweight, eating too much meat, and drinking too much beer increases your chances of developing gout. Gout diet plans aim to ease the symptoms and reduce the frequency of attacks. Causes of gout The primary cause of gout is uric acid buildup. In most cases, the underlying reason for overaccumulation of uric acid is underexcretion of urate by the kidneys.