Constipation is one such problem that is suffered by most of the people after a certain age. The symptoms of this problem are often associated with IBS which is irritable bowel syndrome. One of the main symptoms of IBS is the problem of abdominal pain. This pain is related to the change in consistency or frequency of the bowel habit. The changed bowel habit could be repeated constipation or chronic or diarrhea. The bowel habit could change gradually. Apart from this, the symptoms could change as time passes. The symptoms could turn out be worse or could diminish as well. There are many ways in which constipation problem is defined. It is normally considered difficulty at stools, infrequent stools, or the feeling of not being completely empty during the bowel movement. Moreover, around 25 to 45 million people in the country suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Treating IBS and constipation IBS with constipation is mainly treated with a mix of various treatments for the sake of getting relief. This mainly includes making changes in medication, exercise, diet and stress management. The treatment should not only help in making the bowel problems easy but also to reduce the stomach pain, bloating etc. which are the common problems of IBS with constipation. It is important to note that you should not treat the problem of IBS with constipation by yourself. After noticing the symptoms, the doctor is the best person who can give the right medication. This is because the medicines are featured with health risks of supplements and laxatives. The below-mentioned tips will surely help you to deal with IBS with constipation in an effective way. Dietary changes: Fiber intake should be in good content as it reduces constipation. People should develop the habit of consuming fruits, vegetables, whole-grain bread, beans, and cereals on a daily basis.

At times, the ankle might get swollen due to various reasons. Swollen ankles are usually caused due to fluid retention. People usually experience slight pain during this time, and sometimes the pain could be worse. The cause of swollen ankles could be due to injury or any medical condition. The below-mentioned information will help you know the causes of and swollen ankles treatment options in detail. Prominent swollen ankles causes Injury – An injury to the ankle or the foot could lead to swelling. Even when there is a sprain, it leads to a swollen ankle. The best that can be done for this is to avoid walking and taking rest. It is important to take rest and use an ice pack covered with a towel at least for 30 minutes on the affected area. You can also make use of a compression bandage by wrapping the affected area and elevate the foot, preferably on a pillow or stool when you rest. Blood clots – When blood clots are formed in the veins of legs, it will cause the problem in the blood flow. This will result in swelling in the ankles and the feet. There are two types of blood clots. They are superficial and deep vein thrombosis. The former is caused in the veins right below the skin. The latter could result in blockage of one or more veins of the legs. It could be life-threatening as well. If you experience pain or fever due to this, then it is important to get medical assistance. Pregnancy complications – Swelling of feet or ankles is a usual thing during pregnancy. If there is unexpected or extreme swelling, then it is a sign of pre-eclampsia. Apart from this, if you experience other symptoms like a headache, abdominal pain, nausea, frequent urination or problem with vision, then you would need medical help.

There comes a time in the life of some people when they experience pain in the ankles or feet. Swelling in the ankles is a common condition among women who are pregnant. There is more than one reason that causes swelling in the ankles. Some of those include spending long periods walking or traveling that may hinder any moment of legs restricting blood circulation or surgery. Swollen ankles is not a serious problem. There are ways to deal with it. Swollen ankles and feet cause discomfort while walking or moving around. Podiatric physicians believe that there are ways to get rid of swelling and prevent the condition from occurring. The condition of swelling in the body is medically known as edema. It occurs when your body retains fluid in any part of your body. Retention of bodily fluid also occurs in the legs and feet. This causes the ankles to swell. There is no need to panic, as swelling in the ankles is not an emergency situation. The condition should be addressed with patience and care, as it can go away itself with the required care. Swollen ankle treatment options Swelling in the body, be in any part, would require attention in order to get relief from it. Following are a few effective, yet popular swollen ankle treatment options that can be considered to get relief from it. Compression socks Compression socks can be bought from a nearby pharmacy. Compression socks are a way to get relief from the pain and discomfort and also prevent fluid from collecting into your legs, feet, and ankles. They are found in all kind of weights: light, medium, and heavy. Always make sure that you buy a pair that fits well and is not too much tight. It is often recommended to buy lightweight socks that measure somewhere between 12–15 mm and 15–20 mm of mercury.

A bone density test is done to check whether you have osteoporosis or not. Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone which causes them to become fragile and susceptible to damage easily. Previously, osteoporosis could only be detected after the patient has broken a bone. However, by the time it was found out, it was already very late as the bones become quite weak. A bone density test accurately determines how susceptible you are to breaking bones. The bone density test uses X-rays to determine the amount of calcium and other bone minerals in grams present into a particular area of the bone. The bones in the hip, spine, and forearm are mainly checked in this test. Why is the bone density test conducted? Doctors conduct bone density test to: – Monitor the treatment of osteoporosis. – Identify any decrease in bone density and prevent the advancement before one has a broken bone. Your bones are believed to be denser and less likely to break when you have high mineral content in your bones. It must be noted that bone scans and bone density tests are completely different things. Bone scans are characterized by injections being administered to patients before the procedure, and it is done to detect cancer, fractures, infections and other bone abnormalities. Osteoporosis is more common to women especially elderly people. However, osteoporosis in men is not uncommon at all. Regardless of your age and gender, your physician may suggest you a bone density test if you have: Lost height: People with underlying osteoporosis have experienced a loss of height. Osteoporosis causes compression fractures in the spines causing people to lose 4 cms in height generally. Fractured a bone: Fragility fracture is a term used to describe the situation when the bones become so weak that they break very easily.

Migraines are characterized by throbbing headaches, mostly on one side of the head; this is accompanied by sensitivity to sound and light, nausea, and vomiting. Migraines include a stage known as aura, which makes the person go through visual disturbances like zigzags, splotches, flashes, blind spot, or shimmering color lights. Causes of migraines There is no known cause of migraines as admitted by the doctors themselves. However, researchers believe that the issue is hereditary and pass on generations after generation. It is also believed that migraines are related to the transformations in the brain. Some people also inherit the triggers that cause migraines like bright lights, fatigue, weather change, etc. Top treatments for migraines If you are prone to migraines, some stimuli are present which make them reoccur. You need to track your headaches and look for potential catalysts and patterns like the following which would help you decide the top treatments for migraines that would suit you best. Estrogen levels: Before menstruating, women experience a steep decline in their estrogen levels that spark migraines in some people. Low-dose contraceptives for estrogen can help in this. Alcohol: People who get a “hangover” just after having one drink are experiencing a migraine at that time. You must avoid the kinds of alcoholic beverages that give you a headache within eight hours of consumption. It may happen that vodka would be fine but consuming beer may not be so for certain people with migraines. Curbing the consumption of alcohol can be considered as one of the top treatments for migraines. Missed meals: Blood sugar level fluctuations result in a cascade of a pain setting off a migraine as well. Thus, it is always important to keep your blood sugar levels in control. One should not go beyond three hours without eating food.

If you are suffering from back pain for three months or longer, it is termed as chronic. You may have pain at times, while at other times, you may not experience any pain thereby enjoying temporary relief; this would be followed by frustration when the pain comes back again. These things happen when you suffer from chronic back pain. It is quite trying a situation especially if you do not know the reason for the pain. Causes Common causes of chronic back pain include: – Spinal stenosis – Spinal stenosis – Myofascial pain syndrome – Disc problems like bulging or herniated disc Before you opt for surgical procedures to get chronic back pain relief, you must opt for the non-surgical ones to see how it helps you. Nonsurgical treatments for chronic back pain relief include: Physical therapy Exercising is believed to be the first line of treatment in getting chronic back pain relief. You must go about the same only under the guidance of your physician and spine physical therapist. It is to be noted that the same set of exercise does not work for everybody. Thus, the same has to be tailor-made as per your specific condition and symptoms. This is the main reason why you should see a professional physician or physical therapist. It is important to continue with the exercise schedule at your house as well to accelerate relief from back pain. Physical therapies for a patient suffering from chronic back pain include: – Testing the limit of pain threshold – Retraining the posture – Aerobic exercises – Flexibility and stretching exercises – Core strengthening Meditation and mindfulness Chronic back pain is straining emotionally as much as it is physically. To manage the depression, irritability, frustration, and other psychological issues of people dealing with chronic pain, they may be referred to a rehabilitation psychologist.

Treatment for diabetes aims to bring blood sugar level as close to normal range as possible. It is important to know what are normal blood sugar levels and if and how normal ranges of blood sugar can be attained by yourself. The information regarding the difference between “glucose” and “sugar” must be given first. Sugar is the general term used for sweet carbohydrates that can dissolve in water. Carbohydrate is characterized by the type of food that is made of oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen only. There are several types of sugars. Living beings use the sugar called “glucose.” Other sugars are fructose from fruit or lactose from milk, which we eat. These get converted in our bodies into glucose. Then the same is used for energy. Human bodies also break down starches into glucose. Starches are sugars fused together. When people ask what are normal blood sugar levels or what is blood glucose, they mean the same. In the US, blood sugar is usually reported in milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dl). Whereas in the UK and Canada, blood sugar is measured in millimoles/liter (mmol/L). What are normal blood sugar levels? Blood sugar levels vary throughout the day. Thus, the normal levels also vary accordingly. For those who do not have diabetes, they must have a fasting blood sugar level below 100 mg/dl, when they wake up in the morning. Normal sugars range from 70–99 mg/dl before meal time. Postprandial sugars, measured after two hours of lunch, should normally be less than 140 mg/dl. If you’re wondering what are normal blood sugar levels, these ranges are for those who do not have diabetes. For people who have diabetes, should keep their blood-sugar levels before meals between 80–130 mg/dl and after meals, the levels should be under 180 mg/dl as per the advice of the American Diabetes Association.

When the lung tissue is scarred and damaged, it causes the lung disease called pulmonary fibrosis. The stiff and thickened tissue makes it difficult for the lungs to work properly. As the disease advances, people experience more shortness of breath. The scarring can be caused due to a number of factors. However, the doctors cannot figure out the reason in most of the cases. If the cause of the illness cannot be determined, then the condition is termed as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Though the lung damage as a result of pulmonary fibrosis cannot be reversed, the symptoms can surely be eased, and the quality of life can be improved with therapies and medications. Lung transplant is the ultimate option and hope for many people to get cured of pulmonary fibrosis. Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include: – Dry cough – Fatigue – Aching joints and muscles – Unexplained weight loss – Rounding and widening of the fingertips The course and severity of pulmonary fibrosis and symptoms vary from person to person. Some people fall prey to the disease very fast, while the health of others with moderate symptoms deteriorates slowly over several months or years. Some patients may suffer from the rapid aggravation of their symptoms like extreme shortness of breath lasting for several days to weeks. People having acute exacerbations can be placed on a mechanical ventilator. Doctors treat this condition with corticosteroid and antibiotics along with other medications. Causes of pulmonary fibrosis Pulmonary fibrosis causes the tissue between and around the air sacs in your lungs to thicken and scar. This makes it hard for oxygen to go through your bloodstream. There are many reasons that can cause this illness. Some of the reasons include certain medical conditions, long-term exposure to toxins of certain types, medications, and radiation therapy.

Ear infection is quite painful. It affects peoples of all ages. The pain caused by an ear infection can range from being mild to sharp. To naturally treat it are some ear infection remedies that you can consider opting for: Garlic Garlic is known for its pain-relieving and potent antimicrobial properties. Thus, it is one of the most popular ear infections remedies that you can try at home. There are a number of ways garlic can be employed to work as a natural remedy for an earache. Take two cloves of garlic and two tablespoons of mustard oil together. Put them on low flame and let it cook until the garlic becomes black. Strain the oil. Insert a few drops of the oil in the affected ear when it is still warm but comfortable to bear. Always use a clean dropper for this method. Olive oil An ear infection is also caused due to wax attacked by a bacterial or fungal growth that leads to a blockage in the Eustachian tubes. Use olive oil to clear the blockage, as it is one of the most effective ear infection remedies. Warm olive oil on low heat and dribble a few drops in the infected ear. The oil will hit the wax and soften it. Remove the wax using a cotton swab. However, do not keep the swab too long in the ear as it may cause damage to the eardrum. Apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It fights chronic yeast infections. This can also be used to handle fungus, which might cause ear infections. Mix 1 part of water with 1 part of ACV and soak a cotton ball in it. Place the cotton ball on the affected ear and keep it on for five minutes.

Breathing can become a challenge when congestion strikes. Congestion can be caused due to various reasons including allergies, cold, flu, or sinus infection. There are numerous congestion remedies some of which involve the use of over-the-counter medications. However, there are numerous natural remedies which can be used as congestion remedies. These not only help a person recover from the ailment but also make the immune system stronger. 1. Use a vaporizer Flu or cold can often make a person feel dry and dehydrated. It is here that a vaporizer or humidifier can act as one of the top congestion remedies. The extra component of humidity in these vaporizers will provide the much-needed relief to the patients. Vaporizers add moisture in the air, and this helps in thinning of mucus which might have accumulated in the nose of the patient. A cold mist humidifier can be effectively used for a child since they can hurt themselves if a hot air humidifier is used to treat the congestion. The humidifier or vaporizer must be kept clean and dry otherwise the risk of bacterial growth in it is high. 2. Using a Neti pot for rinsing Neti pots have been used for relieving congestion since long as an alternative system of medicine. Using the Neti Pot is very easy, and the person who desires to use it has to fill the same with saline solution. This solution is made of warm water and salt. This solution is inserted into one nostril, and the head is then tilted to the other side. This allows the solution to move through the nasal passage to the other nostril and will, therefore, clear the congestion. This is one of the effective congestion remedies and can be used at home. 3. Staying hydrated Many people do not prefer to drink hot water when they experience congestion in any manner.