Liver cancer has been on the rise over the last decade. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer, which tends to occur in livers damaged by birth defects, alcohol abuse, or the infections that come with hepatitis B and C. Hepatoblastoma is the most common form of liver cancer in children. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a type of liver cancer that affects the bile ducts on the inside and the outside of the liver. The treatments and success rates for liver cancer may vary. Some options include removal of part of the liver, chemotherapy, radiation, and liver transplant. Like most cancers, the outcome of liver cancer is likely to be better if you catch it early. Unfortunately, it is often hard to find liver cancer early because signs and symptoms often do not appear until the later stages. Be on the lookout for any of the following most common signs of liver cancer: 1. Unexplained weight loss One of the first signs of cancer is unexplained weight loss. This may sound like a good thing, but if your diet and exercise has not changed, and you have a sudden drop in weight, it may be a sign of liver cancer.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease wherein both the density and quality of bones are reduced. Osteoporosis translates to “porous bone”, meaning the condition greatly increases the risk of a bone fracture. There are often no symptoms of osteoporosis until after the first fracture occurs, as damage happens both silently and over time. The good news is that working closely with your doctor to manage the disease, in addition to watching your diet by eating the following foods, can help prevent osteoporosis and strengthen overall bone health: 1. Calcium Calcium is the number one ingredient needed to maintain healthy bones. The good news is that calcium is pretty easy to come by, being found in a huge number of food staples. If you aren’t getting enough in your food, taking a supplement is also an option. 2. Dairy products Dairy foods such as (low-fat) milk, yogurt, and cheese. These foods are high in the nutrient Calcium, which is the most important part of building healthy bones. Additionally, many dairy products are fortified with Vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of Calcium. 3. Green leafy vegetables Vegetables such as kale, okra, turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, and broccoli are all high in calcium and great foods for fighting osteoporosis.

Birth control is a subject that nearly every adult must contemplate at one point or another. There is a wide variety of methods that one could use to prevent pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Today, we have a multitude of options for the form of birth control that suits us best. Yet there are pros and cons to even the most popular birth control options: 1. Birth control pills Women have been using oral birth control pills since their inception in 1954. The pill uses synthetic progesterone and estrogen to repress ovulation in women, preventing pregnancy. The pill was also recommended by doctors to help women with regulating their menstrual cycle. The pill may also offer protection against pelvic inflammatory disease; a disease that can lead to infertility if left untreated. On the opposite side of the coin, there are some side effects that can occur when taking birth control pills. Studies show that they can cause headaches, weight gain, breast tenderness, irritability, anxiety, and even nausea. Additionally, they may lead to depression and lowered sexual libido. The most serious complication that can occur when taking these medications is the formation of a blood clot in the heart, lungs, brains, or legs, particularly if the patient is a smoker.

Human immunodeficiency virus (or HIV) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that attacks the white blood cells, and as a result lowers the immune system, leaving patients susceptible to infections and illnesses. HIV is contracted through bodily fluids, can also be contracted through open cuts, scratches, unprotected intercourse, and injection. Some common risk factors for HIV include having unprotected sex with multiple partners, sharing needles, and prostitution. In the early stages symptoms of HIV may be mild flu-like symptoms to non-existent. However, if symptoms do occur, they will not be the same for everyone. The only way to know is to get tested for HIV. Here are some signs that may occur in the early stages: 1. Fever A fever is more commonly the first symptom of show, which can be followed by unexplained fatigue and swollen glands. 2. Swelling You may start noticing irritation in your groin, armpit, or neck. Your lymph nodes are located in these parts of the body. When lymph nodes are affected by a virus, such as the human immunodeficiency virus, it causes them to become inflamed. Your lymph nodes play a significant part in your immune system. If this continues for more than a few weeks, you should consult with your healthcare provider.

If you are one of the millions of people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, odds are your diet has taken on a new set of restrictions out of necessity. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic illness in which sugar or glucose more specifically can build up in the bloodstream, and the insulin which normally brings sugar into the bloodstream has a harder time doing so. The most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes are frequent urination, increased thirst, fatigue, constant hunger, blurry vision and more. To minimize these symptoms, diabetics are typically urged to control their sugar intake and stay away from some of the following foods: 1. Sugary beverages This is one of the worst things not just for a diabetic but anyone to consume. Not only do sugary drinks dehydrate you, but they can also create metabolic changes to the body that lead to belly fat and dangerous cholesterol levels. For type 2 diabetics though, this high intake of liquid sugar can lead to insulin resistance. 2. White bread, pasta, and rice These products are high carb and tend to also be high processed foods that even without sugar themselves can lead to blood sugar spikes.