Getting a good amount of sleep is fundamental to our health. Not getting sufficient sleep can have a grave effect on our physical and mental health. While most of us may not sleep simply because we are watching a show, there are some people who suffer from sleep disorders and cannot help it. Stages of human sleep Any kind of disturbance in the period or quality of sleep is known as a sleep disorder. Human sleep can be explained in the following stages: Stage 1 This stage is called non-rapid eye movement sleep. Stage 2 This stage is the second stage of non-rapid eye movement sleep. It constitutes half of your sleep. Stages 3 and 4 These stages see the person most deep in sleep and they account for approximately 10 to 20 percent of the sleeping period. They occur during the first half of the duration of sleep. Stage 5 This stage is called the rapid eye movement stage (REM). It is in the stage that we see dreams. The amount of time each person spends in each stage will differ as per their age. Types of sleep disorders Now let us take a look at some of the main types of sleep disorders:

The stomach has three main functions: storing food and liquids, producing digestive juices, and sending food to the small intestine, but stomach conditions can disrupt its functioning. Stomach-related disorders, including gastritis, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), peptic ulcer, viral gastroenteritis, hiatal hernia, gastroparesis, and stomach cancer, can cause severe pain and extreme discomfort, and they require immediate medical attention. Types of gastritis – A common stomach condition Gastritis is one of the most common stomach conditions and affects 25-35% of the country’s population. It has two primary stages: acute and chronic. The former is characterized by sudden swelling or inflammation in the stomach lining and can be caused by injury, a viral or bacterial infection, stress, and ingestion of irritants like alcohol, steroids, NSAIDs, or spicy food. It leads to the development of symptoms like a loss of appetite, black stools, indigestion, nausea, bloody vomiting, and abdominal pain. On the other hand, chronic gastritis develops over time and is generally caused by bacteria, alcoholism, certain medications, stress, or immune system disorders. This condition inflames the stomach lining and destroys some of the protective cells in the lining. Chronic gastritis can last for several years and slowly weakens the stomach lining. It can also lead to other diseases like dysplasia or metaplasia, and its symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, indigestion, bloating, nausea, vomiting, belching, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Heart disease is a serious health condition, and it is also one of the main causes of death in the country. Irrespective of what kind of heart-related issue one has, they can be diagnosed with the help of certain tests. Once these are carried out, and a proper diagnosis is arrived at, the heart specialist, also known as a cardiologist, treats the condition accordingly. Diagnosis of heart diseases Heart-related conditions can be diagnosed via chest X-ray and blood tests. However, these are not the only available options that doctors use to determine the cause of the problems. Here is a list of some common tests that are also an option. Electrocardiogram (ECG) Holter monitoring Echocardiogram Stress test Cardiac catheterization Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Different stages of heart failure Heart failure is a heart disease with different types and stages. There are mainly four stages known as A, B, C, and D. Stage A exposes one to the risk of heart failure. It can develop due to family history, hypertension, diabetes, alcohol abuse, coronary artery disease, and metabolic syndrome, among others. Stage B is more serious, as one starts to develop pre-heart failure conditions. During this stage, systolic left ventricular dysfunction occurs, which can lead to heart failure in the future.

Heartburn and GERD are often used interchangeably. However, heartburn is a common symptom experienced by people who suffer from acid reflux, and if heartburn occurs more than just twice in a week, the condition is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). As per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the condition affects as many as 20 percent of the country’s total population. Stages of GERD GERD is a progressive condition, and the treatment offered depends on the stage of the condition. How severely the reflux is taking place into the esophagus determines the stage of the condition. So, the various stages of GERD are: Stage I At this stage, the symptoms of the condition are mild and occur about once or twice the month. The treatment at this stage involves more lifestyle changes combined with some over-the-counter medications. Stage II When a patient is at this stage, the symptoms become more frequent and the need to take an acid-suppressive medication arises. If the medication is not taken, the symptoms of the condition can become severe and can interfere with the daily routine of the patient. When left untreated, the symptoms are also linked with inflammation of the esophagus.

Hair grows on all parts of the human body, apart from some places like the palm of the hands and the soles of our feet. Hair is essentially made of keratin, which is a type of protein. Keratin is produced on the outer layer of the skin in hair follicles. The follicles produce new hair cells and old cells are subsequently pushed out of the surface. There are 100,000 to 150,000 strands of hair on a human head, and one loses about 100 hair in a day. Thus, hair loss can be normal. However, we should only be concerned if there is hair loss at an alarming rate. Stages of hair loss Hair loss , also known as alopecia, is divided into different types: the age at which it starts, the duration of hair loss, and the area of the body. Further there can be multiple diseases and disorders which can lead to hair loss as a side effect. There are noticeably and popularly seven different stages of hair loss. The duration of different stages can depend on the individual. The Norwood Scale defines seven stages of hair loss in men: Stage 1 Significant loss or a receding hairline is not noticed in this stage.

Hearing loss gradually occurs as the body ages, making it common among seniors, but it can affect people of all ages due to a birth defect or damage to the ear due to an injury. Almost one-third of America’s population between the ages of 65 and 75 years suffer from some level of hearing loss. Depending on the part of the ear that’s affected, hearing loss can be divided into three types: Conductive : Hearing loss involving the outer or the middle part of the ear Sensorineural : This type of hearing loss involves the inner part of the ear Mixed : This is a combination of the other two types of hearing loss Stages Various levels of hearing loss have been identified by audiologists: Mild hearing loss People with mild hearing loss can hear sounds ranging between 25 and 40 decibels, so sounds like the ticking of a clock or a faucet dripping will be inaudible. Keeping up with a conversation that they have with one person might not be much of a challenge for people with mild hearing loss. Moderate hearing loss At this stage, people with hearing loss might not be able to hear sounds below 41 to 55 decibels.

The immune system of our body is constantly fighting against viruses and bacteria. Its job is to protect us from foreign cells that try to harm us. However, there are certain illnesses that can result in your immune system attacking your own healthy cells. These illnesses are known as autoimmune diseases. They cause the immune system to treat certain body parts as foreign elements and release auto-antibodies to attack the cells. Causes of autoimmune diseases Exactly what causes the autoimmune diseases is still unknown, but researchers around the world have come up with a few possibilities. While genetics can be at fault, your diet, certain infections, and exposure to specific chemicals may also result in autoimmune diseases. Types of autoimmune diseases There are many different types of autoimmune diseases that affect your immune system and cause it to attack the healthy cells in your body. Below is a list of the most common types. Type 1 diabetes This causes the immune system to attack the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. Rheumatoid arthritis This illness forces the immune system to attack the joints in the body and results in stiffness, soreness, and redness. Multiple sclerosis The nerve cells in the human body are protected by a coating called the myelin sheath.

Contact lenses can be a lifeline for those who find wearing glasses regularly too cumbersome. They negate the need to clean the lens constantly and need barely any upkeep. Some might even prefer its aesthetic advantage, like allowing one to change the eye color. However, as contact lenses are closer to the eyes, one must take more precautions to maintain eye health. So, here are four ways to protect one’s vision while wearing eye lenses. Travel tips while wearing eye lenses When traveling, it is better to avoid wearing glasses all the time since they could prevent one from participating in activities like adventure sports and get fogged up or dusty. What one needs, thus, are eye lenses. However, if one isn’t careful, one may have to constantly deal with red, watery, and itchy eyes due to one’s contact lenses. Before one leaves on one’s travels, it is advisable to visit the eye care provider and ensure the prescription is up-to-date. During the trip, remember to take out the contact lenses before showering or swimming. Removing them prevents germs in the water from getting into the eyes. Also, replacing the contact lenses as often as one’s eye lens provider advises is essential.