The news of a baby arriving brings an enormous amount of happiness in the family. With pregnancy come the various highs and the lows in the health of the expecting mother. It’s important to remember that family history has an important role in what health conditions the baby may inherit and how parents deal with them. It goes without saying that family & pregnancy are very much related to each other. Causes of complications in pregnancy It is advisable to know about the family history of both the parents so that timely action can be taken against issues such as genetic diseases, birth defects, and developmental disabilities. However, before delving into the relationship between family & pregnancy and the associated risk factors, let’s first look at some of the most common causes of complications in pregnancy. There are several causes that can lead to complications in pregnancy. Complications are health problems that involve the mother or baby or both. Some women experience issues during pregnancy, while some experience pre-pregnancy issues. The following causes of complications in pregnancy are quite common: High blood pressure can cause complications in pregnancy as it becomes hard for the blood to reach the placenta. This plays an important role in providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.

Gout is a type of arthritis that can affect any person. Generally, it affects the big toe’s base joint and may appear as sudden and severe pain, redness and tenderness, and swelling. Symptoms may appear and disappear at the slightest trigger, but luckily, there are several ways to prevent flares and manage the symptoms. Symptoms Generally, the symptoms of this ailment occur in the middle of the night and include the following: Severe joint pain Although gout generally affects the big toe joint, it may affect any other joint too. Some other affected parts may be wrists, ankles, fingers, elbows, and knees. Individuals usually suffer from severe pain between the first four and 12 hours of its onset. Limited motion range As the disorder progresses, you may lose the normal motion in the affected joints. Lingering discomfort Even after the severest pain passes away, you may feel the discomfort for several days or even weeks. Over a period, the attacks may affect more joints and result in increased discomfort. Redness and inflammation The affected joints are often warm, swollen, red, and tender. Causes Initially, gout is the result of excessive uric acid in the blood, known as hyperuricemia. The higher levels result in the accumulation of urate crystals in the affected joints, which cause severe pain and inflammation.

Diabetes is a condition that develops due to high sugar levels in the blood. Insulin, a hormone in the body, helps the sugar in the blood to be transported to different cells of the body. These cells either utilize this sugar for energy or store it for future use. However, in this condition, the body either fails to produce sufficient insulin or is unable to use the insulin that it makes. Symptoms Some common signs of diabetes (type 1 and type 2) include: Weight loss Blurry vision Fatigue Excessive hunger or thirst Excessive urination Sores, which do not heal easily Men-centric symptoms Erectile dysfunction Low libido Muscle strength reduces Women-centric symptoms Yeast infections Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Itchy or dry skin Gestational diabetes Usually, a lot of women who suffer from gestational diabetes do not showcase any symptoms. In them, the condition is primarily detected during a routine pregnancy test done between the 24 th and 28 th week. In a few cases, women with gestational diabetes also experience extreme urination or thirst. Causes The cause of diabetes is often dependent upon its type. Type 1 There is no certainty of the exact cause of this form of diabetes. However, what happens is that the immune system tends to attack and further destroy the beta cells, which are responsible for producing insulin in the pancreas.

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease and is a condition in which the stomach acid rises back into the food pipe and causes a sense of discomfort. Over time, this continuous backwash impacts the esophagus lining and causes heartburn. A lot of people occasionally experience acid reflux and heartburn, but GERD occurs when this problem becomes a lot more frequent. In this article, we will look at the various aspects that need to be considered when it comes to GERD. Signs of GERD There are plenty of signs and symptoms of GERD, and heartburn is the biggest one. Other major symptoms of GERD include Chest pain Difficulty when it comes to swallowing A continual regurgitation of both food and sour stomach liquids A sensation or a lump inside the throat For people who have night-time acid reflux, the common symptoms include laryngitis, chronic cough, or asthma as time progresses. They may also suffer from disrupted sleep. For such instances of GERD and heartburn, we recommend consulting an expert as soon as these symptoms become frequent. Causes of GERD GERD is the consequence of acid reflux and heartburn occurring frequently in the body. When we swallow our food, the circular band of muscles around the esophagus relaxes to ensure that the entire ingestion process happens smoothly.

Hair loss is a result of problems related to the scalp. However, sometimes, it could be due to other underlying conditions as well. At times, it is temporary, but, in most cases, it is permanent. It could be a result of normal aging, hormonal changes, family history, or medical conditions. When there is excessive hair loss, it leads to baldness. In general, heredity hair loss is the prime cause of baldness. Symptoms Usually, hair loss can occur in a multitude of forms and would depend on the underlying cause. Moreover, it might either occur gradually or suddenly and can hamper either the scalp or the entire body. Some common signs of this condition include: Patchy or circular bald spots In some people, hair loss occurs as a patchy or a circular bald spot either in the eyebrows, beard, or scalp. It might lead to painful or itchy skin before hair fall actually occurs. Slow thinning on the top of the head This is the most prominent category of hair loss and occurs in people as they get older. It has been seen that there is a receding hairline or a loss of hair in men as they grow older. On the other hand, women tend to have a broadening of the centerline in the hair.

When you age, you can experience hearing loss, and that’s fairly common among people. In our country, approximately one-third of the population between the age group of 65 to 75 years have some or the other form of hearing loss. Moreover, every one in two persons over the age of 75 has this defect. Types of hearing loss One that involves the inner ear – Sensorineural One that involves the middle or outer ear – Conductive Combination of the two – Mixed Usually, hearing loss occurs because of prolonged exposure to loud noises or simply as a result of aging. However, with the excessive accumulation of earwax, your hearing might be temporarily reduced. Though hearing loss cannot be reversed, certain steps can be taken to reduce its impact. Symptoms of hearing loss Inability to comprehend words, especially in a crowded or a noisy place Repeatedly requesting people to speak loudly, clearly, and slowly Trying to withdraw from conversations Muffling of sounds Inability to hear consonants Having to keep the radio or the television sound up Causes Build-up of earwax over time When there’s a gradual build-up of earwax, it tends to obstruct the ear canal. As a result of it, the sound wave conduction gets hampered.

Cholesterol can be understood as some waxy substance in your blood, which is needed by the body to build its healthy cells. However, when the cholesterol increases to an uncontrolled level, it can put you at risk of heart diseases. Furthermore, as a result of high cholesterol, there can be a fatty deposit in your body’s blood vessels. Because of this, it gets hard for the blood to flow through the arteries. What can high cholesterol lead to and how does it develop? At times, the deposits break down and lead to a clot formation, which can either result in a stroke or a heart attack. Though high cholesterol mainly develops as a result of your unhealthy lifestyle choices, it can be inherited too. However, it is both treatable and preventable. With the inclusion of regular exercises, a nutritious diet, and proper medication, you can reduce cholesterol levels. Symptoms As such, there are no definitive symptoms of high cholesterol. The only real way to diagnose it is via a blood test. Causes Cholesterol is attached to proteins and is transported into the body via the blood. This amalgamation of cholesterol and protein is known as a lipoprotein. Depending upon what the lipoprotein carries, there are two different types of cholesterol.

Addictions have become an extremely serious global issue. From different kinds of substances to alcohol and nicotine, people can be addicted to a variety of vices. Being addicted to something is a disorder, which affects the behavior and brain. When the addiction increases, one loses control over his/her urge to use the substance, even if they know how bad it is for them. Understanding it better First, one needs to understand that addiction is a disease. It can start from consumption on an experimental basis, which leads to more intake use until the person cannot control the urge any longer. While some substances may take time to become addictive, a few can be riskier and turn a person into an addict immediately. Like most other diseases, addictions can be treated, but it requires more support from loved ones, and one needs to develop the willpower to quit. Symptoms of addiction Sometimes it can become quite difficult to identify if one is addicted to any substance. Avoiding the consumption of alcohol or any other substance is the best way to save oneself from addiction. However, if a person has started consuming any of these substances, they must look for the following symptoms to recognize if they have become addicted.

Aging is a natural process. All of us grow older with time, which is why it is crucial to lead a healthy lifestyle. This way, old age does not bring too many problems along. From pain in the joints to suffering from forgetfulness, there are a bunch of things that are associated with aging. Types of aging Cellular aging The aging process of cells is dependent on the frequency with which they replicate. A cell can replicate itself around 50 times, and after that, the genetic material cannot be copied properly. This happens because of shortened telomeres. Hormonal aging Hormones play a huge part in the aging process, more so when a person is in their childhood or adolescence. The levels of hormones keep fluctuating as long as we live. Puberty results in the formation of large pores and acne. As we get older, the change in hormones contributes to the formation of dry skin. Metabolic aging Cells are responsible for transforming food into energy throughout the day. The byproducts produced during this process can be quite harmful. The metabolizing process causes damage to the body. Some are of the opinion that the slow-down of the metabolic process through methods like calorie restriction could result in slowing down the process of aging.

An allergy is a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to a foreign substance. The immune system is responsible for producing substances referred to as antibodies. When an individual suffers from allergies, their immune system generates antibodies that help in identifying the harmful allergens affecting the body. The symptoms of allergies are dependent on the substance one has been affected with. The reactions can be mild, moderate or severe in nature. Hay fever Hay fever, which is also called allergic rhinitis, can result in sneezing, runny nose, itching in the eyes or the nose, and watery or swollen eyes. Food allergy An allergy, which has resulted from consuming a particular food item, can lead to a tingling sensation in the mouth, lips or face swelling up or anaphylaxis, which could pose a threat to one’s life. Insect sting allergy A sting from an insect can cause the affected portion to swell up considerably, cause an itching sensation across the body, and lead to shortness of breath. Medication allergy An allergy, caused by the consumption of some medication, results in an itchy skin, rash, hives, swelling on the face, wheezing, and anaphylaxis. Atopic dermatitis This is a skin condition, which also goes by the name of eczema.

Alzheimer’s results in the unfortunate wasting away of brain cells, causing their premature death; it is a progressive ailment. It is the most common kind of dementia, wherein a person’s social skills, behavior, and thinking capabilities decline, disrupting their ability of independent functioning. The earliest signs of this disorder may be forgetfulness with severe memory loss as the disease progresses. Here are the common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: Memory loss Repeating questions and statements Difficulty in finding words to identify objects, participate in conversations, or express thoughts Forgetting events, appointments, and conversations Forgetting family members’ names and common objects Getting lost in known places Misplacing things Thinking and reasoning Losing the ability to make reasonable judgments and decisions Making uncharacteristic or poor choices in social gatherings Difficulty in responding to everyday situations Planning and performance Routine activities, such as cooking or planning becomes difficult Advanced stage patients may not be able to perform basic tasks, such as bathing or dressing Personality and behavioral changes Delusions Depression Loss of inhibitions Apathy Wandering Mood swings Modified sleeping habits Social withdrawal Aggression and irritation Distrust in others Why does Alzheimer’s occur? The patient’s brain changes due to Alzheimer’s disease. The brain becomes smaller as the disease progresses with lesser healthy brain cells.