Health and Wellness Tips

The Facts on STDs

A sexually transmitted disease, also known as a STD, is an infection contracted through sexual or intimate contact such as vaginal or anal intercourse or oral sex. STDs are now commonly being called STIs, or sexually transmitted infections. In the past, sexually transmitted diseases were known as veneral diseases or VDs. Some common STDs include genital herpes, HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and genital warts. Most STDs are transmitted through the mucus membranes of the penis, vulva, and less commonly the mouth.

Hives are itchy, raised and annoying! They occur when the body reacts to something that it is sensitive or allergic to, which results in it releasing histamines and other chemicals into the bloodstream. While this is occurring, tiny veins and capillaries leak, and the fluid is trapped in the skin.

Foot pain is common, and can be due to a number of reasons. One of the most common causes of foot pain is metatarsalgia. With this condition, one of more of the metatarsal heads become painful and inflamed, due to pressure on the foot for a long period of time. It may be acute or chronic foot pain, and can be made worse by wearing high heels, standing for long periods of time, or over-exercise.

Shingles is known as herpes zoster, an extremely painful viral infection that is caused by the chicken pox virus. Shingles can develop in any person who already has had chicken pox. More than one out of every ten people who had the chicken pox virus as a child gets the shingles virus as adults. Usually it occurs in people that are over 60 years of age. Varicella zoster, which is the same virus that causes chicken pox, causes shingles and is in the herpes family. The shingles disease is not a new infection and it is considered a second outbreak of the chicken pox virus.

What is a Yeast Infection?

A vaginal yeast infection is pain and irritation of the vagina and the surrounding area, called the vulva. It is caused by a large growth of the fungus or yeast in the body. Yeast infections are also known as Candida yeast infections. Yeast normally lives in the vagina in small numbers, but when the bacteria within the vagina become out of balance, the yeast will grow quickly and cause pain. Vaginal yeast infections are very common in women, but it is good to recognize that men can also get yeast infections. Yeast infections in men occur when they have unprotected sex with a partner that has a yeast infection. If both partners are not treated for the yeast infection then they can re-infect each other again and again. Most women will experience a vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime and some might even experience two or more.

Direct transmission of a swine flu virus from pigs to humans is occasionally possible (called zoonotic swine flu).

Get the Facts on Genital Warts Now

The human papillomavirus or HPV is responsible for causing genital warts in many people. While there are over one hundred types of HPV, only about forty types target the genital areas. The contraction of HPV has been linked to birth control pill use because of the tendency of the user to engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia. There are three main forms of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. These three forms have similar signs, symptoms, and consequences, but are rooted in different causes. Type 1 diabetes is an incurable chronic condition.

What Is AIDS?

Understanding AIDS and HIV , Find AIDS symptoms and treatments. The AIDS virus is the result of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV), which is a disease that attacks the body's immune system. Normally, the immune system protects the body against all kinds of illnesses, but in the case of the AIDS virus, our immune system is not strong enough and the cells are destroyed. A person infected with the AIDS virus is susceptible to all sorts of opportunistic diseases that the immune system could normally destroy, if the person is healthy.

Over 50% Of Sufferers Don't Know, Our Poll Show

Fifty-four percent of people who have had a hives outbreak don't know what caused it, according to a poll done by BeeHealthee.com. Hives, also called urticaria, affect about 20% of the population in the US, most commonly people aged 20 to 30. Most health experts believe that the root cause of hives is an allergic response to a food or drug, but according to our poll, the trigger is often never found.

If you are having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week, you are considered constipated. When you're constipation, your stools are hard, dry, small and difficult to eliminate. It can be very uncomfortable, with bloating and straining each time you have to use the bathroom. Some people think that they are constipated if they aren't having a bowel movement each day, but this is not the case. Depending on the person, someone may have a bowel movement three times per day, or three times per week.