Health and Fitness

What is a brain tumor? A brain tumor is a collection, or mass, of abnormal cells in your brain. Your skull, which encloses your brain, is very rigid. Any growth inside such a restricted space can cause problems. Brain tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). When benign or malignant tumors grow, they can cause the pressure inside your skull to increase. This can cause brain damage, and it can be life-threatening. Brain tumors are categorized as primary or secondary. A primary brain tumor originates in your brain. Many primary brain tumors are benign. A secondary brain tumor, also known as a metastatic brain tumor, occurs when cancer cells spread to your brain from another organ, such as your lung or breast. Types of brain tumors Primary brain tumors Primary brain tumors originate in your brain. They can develop from your: brain cells the membranes that surround your brain, which are called meninges nerve cells glands Primary tumors can be benign or cancerous. In ad...

 1. Blueberries Blueberries have antioxidant properties that may boost the immune system. Blueberries contain a type of flavonoid called anthocyanin, which has antioxidant properties that can help boost a person’s immune system. A 2016 studyTrusted Source noted that flavonoids play an essential role in the respiratory tract’s immune defense system. Researchers found that people who ate foods rich in flavonoids were less likely to get an upper respiratory tract infection, or common cold, than those who did not. 2. Dark chocolate Dark chocolate contains an antioxidant called theobromineTrusted Source, which may help to boost the immune system by protecting the body’s cells from free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that the body produces when it breaks down food or comes into contact with pollutants. Free radicals can damage the body’s cells and may contribute to disease. Despite its potential benefits, dark chocolate is high in calories and saturated fat, so it is important to ...

Facts you should know about mucormycosis  Mucormycosis (zygomycosis) is a serious, potentially deadly fungal infection that's infrequently diagnosed. Many different fungi may cause mucormycosis; infections with the Mucoraceae family of fungi predominate as causes; hence, many investigators use the term mucormycosis instead of zygomycosis. Risk factors include poorly controlled debilitating diseases (including diabetes), immunosuppression, and trauma (usually serious injuries), and groups of such patients injured in natural disasters. Symptoms and signs first appear usually in the body area infected and may occur as follows: fever, headache, reddish and swollen skin over nose and sinuses, dark scabbing in the nose by eye(s), visual problems, eye(s) swelling, facial pain, coughing sometimes with bloody or dark fluid production, shortness of breath, diffuse abdominal pain, bloody and sometimes dark vomitus, abdominal distension, flank pain, an ulcer with a dark center and sharply defi...

 What is MIS-C? Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Children with MIS-C may have a fever and various symptoms, including abdominal (gut) pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, or feeling extra tired. We do not yet know what causes MIS-C. However, many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19, or had been around someone with COVID-19. MIS-C Emergency Care Contact your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic right away if your child is showing symptoms of MIS-C or symptoms of COVID-19. Seek emergency care right away if your child is showing any of these emergency warning signs or other concerning signs: Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19. What to do if you think your child is sick with MI...

Overview Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. The parasite is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. People who have malaria usually feel very sick with a high fever and shaking chills. While the disease is uncommon in temperate climates, malaria is still common in tropical and subtropical countries. Each year nearly 290 million people are infected with malaria, and more than 400,000 people die of the disease. To reduce malaria infections, world health programs distribute preventive drugs and insecticide-treated bed nets to protect people from mosquito bites. A partially effective vaccine is being piloted in a few African countries, but there is no vaccine for travelers. Protective clothing, bed nets and insecticides can protect you while traveling. You also can take preventive medicine before, during and after a trip to a high-risk area. Many malaria parasites have developed resistance to common drugs used to treat the disease. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of ...

Typhoid is a bacterial infection that can lead to a high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It can be fatal. It is caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. Fast facts on typhoid Typhoid is a common bacterial infection in countries with low incomes. Untreated, it is fatal in around 25 percent of cases. Symptoms include a high fever and gastrointestinal problems. Some people carry the bacteria without developing symptoms Most cases reported in the United States are contracted overseas The only treatment for typhoid is antibiotics What is typhoid? Typhoid is an infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhi). The bacterium lives in the intestines and bloodstream of humans. It spreads between individuals by direct contact with the feces of an infected person. No animals carry this disease, so transmission is always human to human. If untreated, around 1 in 5 cases of typhoid can be fatal. With treatment, fewer than 4 in 100 cases are fatal. S. typhi enters through the mouth...

Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Good sources include: citrus fruit, such as oranges and orange juice peppers strawberries blackcurrants broccoli brussels sprouts potatoes How much vitamin C do I need? Adults aged 19 to 64 need 40mg of vitamin C a day. You should be able to get all the vitamin C you need from your daily diet. Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day. What happens if I take too much vitamin C? Taking large amounts (more than 1,000mg per day) of vitamin C can cause: stomach pain diarrhoea flatulence These symptoms should disappear once you stop taking vitamin C supplements. What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise? You should be able to get all the vitamin C you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take vitamin C supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful. Taking less than 1,000mg of vitamin C supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm.