Cholesterol is essential in the body as it is found in the cells and membranes and is helpful in producing hormones, bile acids thereby aiding in digestion and vitamin D. The liver produces cholesterol. Bad cholesterol is often common in women. Women face the major issue of having a high blood cholesterol level as they tend to gain weight, especially around the waistline. One in every six adults has bad cholesterol. With the rise in obesity amongst children, the rate of bad cholesterol in children is also increasing. The body does need some cholesterol, and the presence of cholesterol in the body is normal, but bad cholesterol can clog and block the arteries. To maintain a healthy heart, a normal cholesterol level is required. If you are wondering what is the normal cholesterol level, read on. The normal cholesterol level is when the cholesterol is kept below 200 mg/dL in adults. 200 mg/dL of cholesterol is a borderline high-risk in developing bad cholesterol problems. A check-up of the cholesterol should be done every 5 years. Cholesterol levels are divided into two fat and protein packages referred to as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). These levels are tested in order to determine the good or bad cholesterol.

Cholesterol levels vary with age, gender and weight. A human body starts to produce more cholesterol with time. Thus, it is important for an adult to check their cholesterol levels every four to six years ideally, sooner than later. There are three categories in which cholesterol is measured: Total cholesterol HDL or good cholesterol LDL or bad cholesterol Most people struggle to balance these levels. It is important to keep LDL and total cholesterol level in check. However, having increased levels of HDL cholesterol would offer protection against developing heart-related ailments like strokes and heart attacks. How cholesterol levels differ with age? Cholesterol levels increase with age due to various reasons related to health and lifestyle. Thus, doctors recommend taking precaution early on in life to avoid high levels of cholesterol development as a person grows older. Unmanaged cholesterol developed in the past years would be quite difficult to treat. Children are rarely diagnosed with high cholesterol levels and thus they need to have their levels checked only once or twice before they are 18 years old. Children who are at risks of having high cholesterol levels due to other health conditions, they must check their levels frequently. It is seen that males tend to have increased levels of cholesterol than women throughout their life.

A gout is a form of arthritis, which develops due to the high level of uric acid in the blood. The acid creates a sensation which feels like needle-like crystals in the joints, which cause sudden, episodic pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, etc. Before knowing the popular and effective ways of treating gout pain, let’s understand the four types of gout pain that include asymptomatic hyperuricemia, acute gout, interval gout, and chronic gout. Asymptomatic hyperuricemia – This is the first attack of gout pain that is a signal of starting of this issue. In this stage, the level of uric acid becomes high in the blood and the start forming crystals in the joints. People don’t feel any physical symptom at this stage. Acute gout – In this stage, a person feels the first attack of gout due to increasing the level of uric acid in the blood. The inflammation and pain stay over the night or a week. After a week, the pain settles down by its own. In some cases, people never feel anything in the second stage. However, it mostly experienced by every sufferer. Interval gout – it is the middle stage of gout. In which, the little inflammation damages the joints.

Lupus Skin Rash is a disease which causes inflammation, flare-ups and has several other symptoms. The improper functioning of the immune system damages the skin tissue and results in flare-ups. The symptoms of lupus skin rash start in the early adulthood from the age of thirty and worsen as the age progresses. Studies reveal the occurrence of lupus is high among women as compared to men. Lupus skin rash affects people in different ways. Some of them suffer from mild symptoms while other could have a severe problem. The disease can’t be cured permanently, however, treatment can reduce the intensity of pain. Common symptoms of lupus skin rash The main symptoms which characterize the lupus skin rash are fever, rash, hair fall, fatigue, kidney infections, and inflammation in joints, dried mouth, thyroid troubles and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Nail problems: You may have discolored and brittle nails due to lupus. The nails may crack and fall anytime. At times red spots are formed in the nail bed due to the inflammation of the blood vessels. Joint pain: Pain in the wrists, fingers, limbs, and knees are the initial signs of lupus. You can even suffer from muscular pain, which causes inflammation. Fever:

The frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis refers to pain, stiffness and restricted range of movement in the shoulder. Overuse of the shoulder is a major contributor and an injury can also result in frozen shoulder. Diseases like stroke or diabetes also make you vulnerable to this condition. When you develop frozen shoulder, the tissues that surround the joint feel stiffened and the formation of the scar tissue also takes place. In such a situation, shoulder movements become highly painful and difficult. You develop this condition gradually over a period of time and it goes away in a slow manner after a year or so. Major causes frozen shoulder Sometimes, you are compelled to stop using the shoulder joint normally and it can be because of injury, pain or severe health conditions like stroke or diabetes. This situation makes you vulnerable to frozen shoulder. Any type of shoulder problem can result in this condition if you do not make efforts to maintain a full range of motion. People suffering from chronic diseases are prone to frozen shoulder and it has been found out that this problem occurs mostly between 40 and 70 years of age. Women are more susceptible compared to men, particularly during the postmenopausal stage.

Diabetes is a condition that causes a hike or a dip in your blood sugar or blood glucose levels. This is one of the most common diseases, what with 29 million people in the US suffering from it. If you take care of your body and lead a healthy lifestyle while following a good diet, you can keep a tab on your blood sugar levels, and lead a healthy and normal life. Here is a list of a few drinks for diabetes that you simply must incorporate to your diet. Water When in doubt, always drink water. Water is something you cannot go wrong with, so make sure you drink water through the day. Water keeps you hydrated, and this, in turn, helps maintain your blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can cause dehydration. Also, drinking water regularly can help your body eliminate any excess glucose. Make sure you drink about 8 to 20 glasses of water a day. If water is too plain for you, add slices of lemon, orange, or flavored herbs like basil, mint, or lemon balm. This is one of the best drinks for diabetes one can consider having. Chamomile tea Chamomile tea is known for its medicinal properties and makes for a great drink if you’re diabetic as well.

Toenail fungus is the bacterial or fungal infection of your toenail or a part of it. When your toes are exposed continuously to a moist or damp environment, it becomes a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria. If you leave this untreated, the infection could spread to your skin, so it is imperative that you get the toenail fungus treated on time. What causes toenail fungus? A number of factors cause toenail fungus, here are a few : Constant exposure to a damp and moist environment is the most common causal factor of toenail fungus. The type of fungus is usually a dermatophyte. If you already are suffering from athlete’s foot, then that can trigger toenail fungus as well. Weak blood circulation Sometimes, you can contract this infection from others. For example, by wearing the socks or shoes of a person who has toenail fungus can increase your chances of having it too. With old age, your blood circulation decreases, which can lead to toenail fungus. Excessive sweating Walking barefoot Contaminated public spaces such as swimming pools and gyms Psoriasis A weak immune system Wearing socks and tight shoes What are the symptoms of toenail fungus? The affected nail thickens.

Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder of the brain. This disease is untreatable and fatal due to cell damage of the nerves in the brain. The damage is usually severe and causes the nerves to dysfunction. In most cases of Huntington’s disease, the onset of the disease happens when the patient is in their thirties or forties. In some rare cases, symptoms are noticed in children as well. While there is no cure for Huntington’s disease, identifying Huntington’s disease symptoms early will help in the management of the disease. Here are the symptoms of Huntington’s disease. Early Symptoms The early symptoms of Huntington’s disease involve motor skills. These may include the following: Change in handwriting Difficulty in everyday physical activities Restlessness Clumsiness Mild twitching of fingers, toes, and even of the face Apart from these physical symptoms, there are also some subtle emotional and intellectual symptoms. Impulsiveness Short-term memory loss Bouts of depression and irritability Inability to manage new changes and schedules These symptoms are very generic and hard to diagnose as they can be mistaken for any other disease. There are many tests involved in the diagnosis of Huntington’s disease. Have a look at a few. Neurological Testing Reflex tests Muscle strength Co-ordination Balance Sense of touch Eye movement Hearing Neurophysiological Testing Memory Language function Mental agility Reasoning Spatial understanding Psychiatric Evaluation Behavioural patterns Judgement quality Substance abuse Coping skills Thought patterns Brain Imaging and Function Tests such as MRI and CT scans can be used to look for any structural changes in the brain.