Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be described as a functional disorder of the body’s gut. There are a few symptoms that could indicate IBS. Some of these include the following: discomfort or pain in the abdomen which tends to come and go but also seems to go away after passing stools; swelling or bloating of the abdomen with more than usual flatulence (passing wind); stools (or faeces) can differ from person to person. Some have diarrhea while some may have constipation, sometimes the stools are small and pellet like, while others they are watery or “ribbony”; nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, backache and heartburn are all other symptoms.

The causes of IBS are not as yet very clear. Some doctors believe it has something to do with over-activity of one or many parts of the gut, and this over-activity could cause diarrhea or constipation. Over-activity could be caused by many things, including the nerves or muscles of the gut being overactive; intolerance to some foods; bacteria or infection in the gut; and, reaction to taking antibiotics.

IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Treatments can include eating more fiber in the diet; eating a healthy diet while eating regular meals or avoiding not eating for long periods of time; drinking at least eight cups of non-caffeinated fluids each day while restricting coffee and tea to two or three cups per day.

Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver. It is more prevalent in Asia and Africa and can be either acute (more common), resolving itself relatively quickly with no long term liver damage, or chronic (in about 20% of cases) lasting six months or more, and sometimes even for life with symptoms coming and going randomly.

Hepatitis B is normally transmitted via contact with infected bodily fluids or blood and only a very small amount of blood is required to transmit the disease because it is that infectious. In the developed world the virus is normally spread via sharing of contaminated needles, unprotected sex and the sharing such things as razor blades. In less developed countries where blood products are not screened properly or medical equipment is not sterilized adequately, this can also lead to the spread of the virus.

Hepatitis B viruses have an incubation period of between six weeks and six months, but approximately one third of all cases show no symptoms of the disease at all. In another third of cases, symptoms appear flu-like in nature and can include aches, pains and weakness; fever; headaches; loss of appetite; jaundice; diarrhea; and, vomiting and nausea. In the last third of cases, the virus can cause severe illness that can last for a long time (many months in some cases).

Vaccines are available nowadays against hepatitis B, but treatment for those infected normally includes nothing more than rest and recuperation. Drug treatments may be required for chronic types of the disease, to prevent damage to the liver and other parts of the body.

Hair loss is a problem that many people suffer from. There are different types of hair loss affecting both men and women. Whoever suffers from it, whether male or female, hair loss can lead to many issues with self-esteem and confidence. The main types of hair loss suffered by individuals are detailed below.
Male-pattern baldness is the commonest form of hair loss in human beings and is called androgenic alopecia. Although the term androgenic loosely means “of man genus”, the condition can actually affect women as well as men.

Hair Loss Patterns

The next type of hair loss is alopecia areata and this form involves bold patches that tend to come and go sporadically. One in every hundred people is affected by this, with the main group being young people and teenagers. One in every five cases can be attributed to hereditary reasons.

A problem with the immune system is thought to be the main contributor to alopecia areata and there is no effective treatment available for the condition. In most of the cases though, the hair will grow back within a year. One in every five persons affected with the condition go on to develop hair loss in a more severe form, such as alopecia totalis (no hair on the scalp) or alopecia universalis (lack of hair on the body as well as scalp).

Telogen effluvium is another form of alopecia hair loss which is quite common, and the condition can be described as extensive thinning of the hair rather than having specific bald patches. The hair loss in this condition is usually down to stress or a reaction to medication.