Saliva is needed by all to moisten and cleanse their mouths and digest food. It also prevents infections by controlling bacteria and fungi, which are present in the mouth. When you don’t make enough saliva, the mouth gets dry and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many treatments that can help fight dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. What are the causes of dry mouth? The causes of dry mouth include: Side effect of certain medicines – Dry mouth is a common side effect associated with many prescription and non-prescription drugs, including those used to treat depression; Parkinson’s disease; anxiety; asthma (certain bronchodilators); pain; urinary incontinence; allergies, and colds (antihistamines and decongestants); psychotic disorders; obesity; nausea; acne; diarrhea; epilepsy; and hypertension (diuretics). Side effect of certain diseases and infections – Dry mouth can also be a side effect of medical conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, mumps, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, anemia, hypertension, cystic fibrosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Side effect of certain medical treatments – The amount of saliva that is produced can reduce because of damage to the salivary glands, the glands that make saliva. For example, the damage to the salivary gland could be because of radiation to the head and neck and chemotherapy treatments for cancer.

Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney failure, is the gradual loss of kidney function. The kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from the blood, which are then excreted in the urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, wastes, and electrolytes can build up in the body. In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, there may be only a few signs or symptoms. It may not become apparent up until the kidney function is significantly impaired. The treatment for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing down the progression of kidney damage. Usually, this is done by controlling the underlying cause. Chronic kidney disease may progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without dialysis (artificial filtering) or a kidney transplant. Symptoms If kidney damage progresses slowly, the signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease develop over time. The signs and symptoms of kidney disease may include: Nausea Hypertension (high blood pressure), which is difficult to control Vomiting Shortness of breath (if fluids build up in the chest) Loss of appetite Chest pain (if fluids build up around the lining of the heart) Fatigue and weakness Persistent itching Sleep problems Swelling of feet and ankles Decreased mental sharpness Change in how much one urinates The signs and symptoms of kidney disease are often nonspecific, which means they can also be caused by other illnesses.

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most commonly transmitted STD (sexually transmitted disease). HPV is usually considered not dangerous and goes away naturally after some time, but it can potentially develop into a cancer or even genital warts. There are more than two hundred different types of papilloma virus, out of which around forty can affect the genital area like vulva, cervix, vagina, penis, anus, rectum, and scrotum. HPV can even affect the mouth and the throat. The above-mentioned types spread mostly through sexual contact whereas plantar warts and warts on the hand aren’t transmitted sexually. Genital HPV is the most common and most people get genital HPV once in their life. People with HPV don’t show any kind of symptoms and feel totally fine and healthy, which is why they fail to diagnose the infection. Most HPV types are harmless and get cured on their own. Some types of HPV can develop into a genital wart or even a cancer. It is known that type 6 and 11 are the two responsible for genital warts. They are considered low risk HPV as they don’t develop in a cancer or any other serious health issue. A dozen types of HPV have been known to develop into cancer out of which type 16 and 18 are the most potent that can develop into cancer.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder in which the skin loses color in patches. The speed in which the skin loses color and its extent cannot be predicted. The effect may be seen on the hair or the insides of the mouth as well. The cause of vitiligo remains unknown. It is understood to be an autoimmune disease triggered by environmental factors. Presence of other autoimmune diseases such as anemia or hyperthyroidism is considered risk factors for vitiligo. Melanin is the compound that is responsible for the color of the skin and hair. Vitiligo is the result of melanin cells malfunctioning or dying. It is naturally more evident among darker skinned people though it occurs in skins of all types. This is not a harmful disease and poses no danger except leaving the person affected not happy with their skin. Treatment can help in restoring the natural color but it will not stop further loss of color. The best recommendation for light-skinned people suffering from vitiligo is to cover the patches with sunscreen and makeup. Phototherapy can help colorize the patches but it comes at the risk of skin cancer. So it is considered as the second line of treatment. Sessions under a UV lamp are done about three times a week for a few weeks or months.

Constipation is one of the most common health issues that is faced by millions across the world. This is actually a condition in which a person’s feces become so hard that expulsion becomes very difficult. Simple changes in your lifestyle can actually cure constipation and it needs to be kept in mind that laxatives should not be resorted to unless you have no other choice. What causes constipation? This condition normally occurs when the colon has absorbed more than the required quantity of water . The common triggers of constipation include A diet that is poor in fiber as fiber helps to aid bowel movements Lack of physical activity is also another common cause that normally triggers constipation in people. People who are bedridden and even elderly people who do not move around much experience constipation often. Some medications have also been found to be the culprit in triggering constipation. Some of the most common medications that have been found to cause constipation include Tylenol, Elavil, Percocet and Dilantin to mention a few names. Milk is yet another food that has been found to cause constipation in some people. Pregnancy also causes hormonal alterations in your body that make women prone to constipation.