Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease characterized by skin cells developing too quickly. Excess skin cells lead to the creation of skin lesions. Every 3 in 10 people who are suffering from psoriasis end up contracting psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition characterized by the body attacking healthy joints. This results in inflammation. If not treated, this can cause permanent damage to the joints. You may or may not develop the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis when you first contract the disease and this makes its detection quite difficult. Nevertheless, here a few of the common psoriatic arthritis signs and symptoms and if you are suffering from these symptoms, it is strongly advised to visit a doctor immediately.

Signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

Swelling – One of the most common symptoms of the disease is the unique swelling it causes in the fingers and toes. A sausage-like swelling appears in the toes and fingers if you are suffering from the condition. Visit a doctor immediately if you are suffering from the same as it is quite painful and can lead to permanent deformities if left untreated.

Pain in your feet – While the autoimmune condition causes swelling and joint pain, it is more likely to cause pain in the tendons. Tendons are muscles attached to the bones. Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis are the two most common tendon affecting conditions associated with psoriasis arthritis.

Back pain – Every 2 in 10 people suffering from psoriasis arthritis suffer from joint inflammation between the pelvis and the spine and between the spine’s vertebrae.

Morning stiffness – Another common sign and symptom of psoriatic arthritis is the feeling of morning stiffness. You may wake up in the morning and find it hard to move the joints on both sides of the body. You feel stiff and inflexible and you might find it difficult to move. You may also suffer from stiffness when you sit in one place for too long.

The condition of psoriatic arthritis symptoms pictures a grim tale if not treated properly. They may or may not appear during the initial contraction of the autoimmune condition. It is of grave importance to visit a doctor immediately after you recognize the psoriatic arthritis signs and symptoms. You can immediately conclude that you are suffering from psoriatic arthritis if you notice a sausage-like swelling in your toes and fingers. This can be extremely painful and can lead to permanent deformities down the line. Therefore, immediate medical consultation is strongly recommended if you notice any of the aforementioned psoriatic arthritis signs and symptoms.

Dupuytren’s disease is a deformity in which the fibrous tissue beneath the palm and fingers, known as fascia thickens and tightens especially at old age. Here the patient develops knots under the skin which forms a thick cord and brings the finger inward. The patient is unable to straighten it, and the resulting condition is known as “Dupuytren’s contracture.” It interferes with the functioning of the hand and the person suffering from it faces difficulty in performing daily activities. In most of the cases, the patient’s ring finger gets affected by Dupuytren’s disease.

Symptoms of Dupuytren’s disease
The primary sign of Dupuytren’s disease is shortening of palmar fascia or palmar aponeurosis tissue. The symptoms develop gradually and in the beginning, the patients feel a tender lump under the skin. Eventually tough bands of tissue form below the epidermis which makes it difficult to stretch the fingers. The patient shows the presence of unusual dimples or lumps which looks like a small callus. In 50 percent of the cases, both hands get affected, and there are also reports of “Dupuytren’s contracture” in the toes of certain individuals.

Cause of Dupuytren’s disease
The exact cause of Dupuytren’s disease is still not known in the medical world. However, studies point to a connection between open wound (including surgery) in hand with the development of this disease.

Risk factors
There are certain conditions which increase the chance of developing Dupuytren’s contracture. These include the following.

• You are a male aged above 40 years.
• You have a northern European (English, Irish, or Scottish) or Scandinavian (Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish) ancestry.
• You have a family history of Dupuytren’s disease.
• You have diabetes or had a seizure.
• You are an alcoholic.

Diagnosis
The doctor diagnoses Dupuytren’s contracture after physically examining the hand. If he notices the presence of dimples, thickened skin, bent finger, or pitted marks, then he may advise you to perform the “tabletop test.” Here the patient places his hand flatly over the table top. If the finger bent on the table, then the doctor suspects the Dupuytren’s disease.

Treatment
At present, there is no permanent cure for Dupuytren’s disease. However, there are surgical and non-surgical treatments available to improve the motility of fingers. In most of the cases, therapy helps to remove the cords from the fingers. Doctors may recommend needle aponeurotomy, enzymatic injections, or surgical removal of knots to improve the condition.

Dupuytren’s disease poses a problem for aged people in performing their life activities. If the disease progresses slowly, and do not cause any pain, the doctor may advise you home remedies like swearing gloves and stretching exercises to manage it.

When the normal pumping power of the heart is affected, the condition is called congestive heart failure. This condition is generally observed in people with weak heart muscles or people with certain defects that prevent their heart from circulating blood normally. CHF or congestive heart failure decreases the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body. With time, this might result in the organs receiving less blood which worsens the condition. The condition progresses through four stages. Read on to know more about the different stages of CHF and how to treat them.

Different Stages of Congestive Heart Failure
The main risk factors of CHF are high cholesterol, obesity, and high blood pressure. There are basically four stages of CHF and they are as follows:

Stage A
Those who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and diseases of the coronary artery are at a higher risk of developing CHF. Patients at stage A of CHF do not have any issues with the heart structure or the way it works. They will also not experience the signs or symptoms of the condition.

Stage B
At this stage, patients suffer from structural heart disease, which is related to congestive heart failure. The signs might include a previous incidence of heart attack or having an enlarged left ventricle. However, at this stage, too, patients do not experience any major symptoms.

Stage C
At this stage, the patients of CHF might experience certain symptoms associated with structural heart disease. Patients with this stage of CHF experience difficulty in breathing or fatigue because of the contraction of the left ventricle. So, such patients will have to undergo a congestive heart failure treatment to do treat the symptoms.

Stage D
At stage D, people suffer from advanced level structural heart disease and experience the symptoms of congestive heart failure even at rest. This stage is the most serious one and requires special care as well as the best congestive heart failure treatments. Treatments include cardiac transplant, hospice care, mechanical circulatory support, and continuous inotropic infusion.

Congestive Heart Failure Treatment Options
Congestive heart failure treatments, at the initial stages, pertain to reducing the amount of fluids in the body to ease the strain on the heart and improve its blood-pumping ability. Doctors might also prescribe ARBs or angiotensin receptor blockers and ACE or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors to help the heart pump blood effectively. Beta-blockers might also be prescribed to control the heart rate.

Plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by red and scaly patches appearing on the skin, especially on elbows, knees, and nails. In plaque psoriasis, too many skin cells are formed which causes these cells to accumulate on the skin surface. According to an estimate by an institute related to skin diseases, about 6.7 million citizens are affected with plaque psoriasis. The scaly and red patches are thick and cause an intense itching, pain, burning sensation, irritation and continuous scratching of the affected area which may cause skin infection.

Classification of plaque psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is classified on the basis of the severity of the disease and the percentage area of the body affected by it. It can be mild (less than 3% body is affected), moderate (between 3-10% body area is affected), and severe (when more than 10% body is affected).

Home remedies for plaque psoriasis
This skin condition can be treated at home. A few plaque psoriasis remedies are listed below:

• Natural remedies
  One natural plaque psoriasis remedy is the use of topical treatment which provides relief from constant itching. These treatments also soothe the skin and reduce the redness. Several commonly used natural remedies are applying aloe vera on the affected area, use of diluted apple cider vinegar, and soaking the skin in Epsom salt for about 15 minutes.
• Hydrocortisone cream
  The use of topical steroids such as 1% hydrocortisone cream is a safe plaque psoriasis remedy and reduce mild symptoms of plaque psoriasis. However, it is advisable to use it after consulting a doctor.
• Sunlight
  Sunlight is an extremely effective plaque psoriasis remedy. The affected person can take a sunbath without causing a sunburn. The ultraviolet rays of the sun, UVB rays, reduces the rapid skin growth. Moreover, sunlight causes the formation of vitamin D which reduces inflammation in the body.
• Turmeric
  It is one of the best known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herbs. It reduces the levels of inflammation-causing molecules like Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF), thus helping in reducing the symptom of psoriasis.
• Tea tree oil
  This oil is an excellent antiseptic ointment and helps in relieving the scalp psoriasis. But importantly, some people may be allergic to it, hence a precaution must be taken before using it.

Plaque psoriasis is a painful autoimmune disorder of the skin. Several natural and home remedies are available to reduce the irritation and pain of the skin. One may start using a plaque psoriasis remedy depending on skin sensitivity and consultation with a doctor.

A recently concluded survey says that many citizens tend to wake up in the morning feeling immense pain and stiffness in their heels. A majority of such instances of heel pain are linked to a disease known as plantar fasciitis. This unique condition of the foot primarily affects the plantar fascia, which is the anatomical name for the band of tissues that connect the heel bond with the toes of a person. This part of the body is responsible for giving the natural arched shape to the foot. To choose the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, one should consider the following factors:

Get the perfect fit
If one wants to know about the details to get the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, then it is absolutely important for them to stick with the basics. In the beginning, the patient should make sure that the size of the shoe they are getting fits them perfectly. However, choosing the perfect size can be a little more daunting than one can possibly imagine. The first step is, measuring one’s foot and this might be somewhat awkward. The second factor is that the sizes of various types of shoes tend to vary from one brand to another.

Make sure of the toe box size
If one wants to treat plantar fasciitis, then it is often required for the patient to stretch their toes as much as possible. This would become impossible if the said patient decides to choose a pair of shoes which has a tiny toe box. To make sure that the individual remains comfortable all the time, one should opt for a wider toe box in the shoes. One must also ensure that their toes have enough breathing space around them.

Heel cushioning
Plantar fasciitis has a significant impact on the heel of a patient. Thus, the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, ensure that the heel portion of the patient’s foot is provided with a lot of cushioning by the shoes purchased.

The various symptoms this condition brings about are stiffness, weakness, swelling, and inflammation with a lot of pain. If the patient decides to wear the right shoes, it would make a world of difference for someone suffering from plantar fasciitis. Thus, the best shoes for plantar fasciitis cater to all of the above-mentioned factors.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a specific kind of lung disease which occurs when the tissues of the lungs become damaged or scarred. The thickened, as well as stiff tissue, makes it very difficult for the person’s lungs to work properly. When the disease goes on to become worse, the patient becomes more and more short of breath. Scarring, as a side effect, is associated with pulmonary fibrosis. It can also be caused by a number of varying factors. However, in most number of cases, doctors are unable to pinpoint the particular reason which is causing the problem. When doctors are unable to find a cause, the condition is given the medical term idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The treatments for pulmonary fibrosis are discussed in the following section.

Treatments for pulmonary fibrosis
The scarring of the lungs which is a very common occurrence in pulmonary fibrosis cannot be reversed, and there are no present treatments that have proven effective in stopping or hindering the progression of the disease. Some treatments for pulmonary fibrosis, however, have the potential to improve symptoms for the time being or slow down the progress of the disease. There are other techniques which may help to improve the general quality of life. Doctors are known to evaluate the severity of the patient’s condition to determine the most appropriate treatment for an individual’s condition. Some of these are:

Medications
Doctors often recommend newer and more recent medications as they have a higher and better chance of working. These medications have the potential to possibly slow the progression of what has been defined as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, one must keep in mind the fact that such medication should always be consumed under medical supervision and with proper prescriptions and in the appropriate dose.

Oxygen therapy
This is one of the many treatments for pulmonary fibrosis that is prescribed to a patient. This is basically to use oxygen for various purposes including:

• To ease the process of breathing and exercise
• It can also lessen and prevent complications which arise from low blood oxygen levels in the blood
• The blood pressure in the right side of a patient’s heart is controlled and restrained by it

Pulmonary fibrosis is a repetitive disease, which progresses in magnitude, getting worse over time. If someone learns more about this disease in the very initial stage, it can help them and their family to cope up with it. If a patient attends pulmonary rehabilitation then it can also help him/her to manage their symptoms and improve daily functioning. You can opt for any of the aforementioned treatments for pulmonary fibrosis, however, medical consultation is strongly advised before taking any such step.

Eczema is a term used to refer to a group of medical conditions which cause the skin to become irritated and inflamed. Infants commonly suffer from this condition though they usually outgrow it by their tenth birthday. However, in some cases, people continue to suffer from symptoms of eczema that affect their skin on and off throughout their life.

Common signs and symptoms of eczema

• The first symptom of eczema is an intense itching sensation on the skin. The rash appears a little later in the form of red bumps of varying sizes. The itching is so severe that it interferes with one’s sleeping patterns as well.
• The developed rash itches and may cause a burning sensation, especially in thin areas of the skin such as the eye area and eyelids.
• If scratched or itched harshly, these bumps may ooze a transparent fluid.
• Older or chronic eczema causes symptoms such as thickened and scaly skin.
• Nummular eczema or coin shaped eczema indicates a condition where patients have one or more round areas with rashes. This condition is often confused with fungal infections.
• Some patients may develop painful cracks in the skin with time.
• In most cases, adults and older children experience eczema on the skin around the neck, flexures of the arms and legs, and in rare occasions, on the face. Infants can suffer from rashes on their face and torso. As the toddler starts to crawl, these rashes spread to their knees and elbows. The diaper area is rarely affected.
• A lot of people get red, fluid-filled bumps on their skin. When scratched, these bumps weep, adding wetness to the overall appearance. This type of eczema is most commonly seen on the sides of the fingers.
• The scalp area is hardly affected by the rash. Similarly, patients may not suffer from rashes in the outer ear area, though they may get rashes in the region behind the ears.
• Eyelids become red and puffy.
• If patients have rashes on the palms or soles of their feet, then they are probably suffering from a different skin condition like scabies, fungal infection, or allergic contact dermatitis.

Patients with any of these symptoms should consult a doctor immediately. They will perform an analysis of the entire skin’s surface and study the patient’s health history carefully, arriving at an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes, a sample of the affected skin is also sent to the laboratory for thorough examination.