In meningococcal meningitis, the meninges or the lining of the spinal cord and the brain is infected. The infection can be caused by bacteria or virus. However, the meningococcus bacterium is more commonly known to cause meningitis as well meningococcemia. The bacterium is categorized into five groups known as serogroups: A, B, C, W, and Y. The bacterium is often present in the throat region of many people. It is quite benign. But, once it enters the bloodstream or the spinal fluid, the disease can cause a lot of damage. One way to protect against this disease is to get the meningococcal meningitis vaccine. Given below are a few things to know about meningitis and meningococcal meningitis vaccine. Although the meningitis bacterium is present in a lot of people, certain sections are more prone to this disease. The most common groups who are at a high risk of contracting this disease are Infants, teenagers, and young adults. It has been observed that people in a community setting, such as a college campus, are prone to meningitis. Also, people who lack a spleen in their body, have a deficiency of a complement component, or are infected with HIV can easily contract meningitis. Specific geographical regions such as the sub-Saharan African region have frequent outbreaks of meningitis. People who stay in or travel to such regions are prone to meningitis. Meningitis does not spread through casual contact or breathing. However, it is contagious through saliva or spits. Meningitis has been known to spread through secretions of the throat or the respiratory system. Anyone who is in close physical contact with a patient with meningitis is at a high risk of contracting the disease. Antibiotics treatment or meningococcal meningitis vaccine is advisable for such a person as a preventive measure. The meningococcal meningitis vaccine is used to immunize against all five serogroups of the meningococcus bacteria.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system and has a potential to cause permanent disability. The condition is serious, affecting the brain and the spinal cord. When the protective sheath – myelin, is attacked by the immune system, multiple sclerosis is triggered. The nerve fibers are damaged due to lack of myelin and this leads to damage to the nerve signals between the brain and other body parts which further affects the communication process. The illness can also lead to deterioration and permanent damage to the nerves with each passing day. Multiple sclerosis has serious effects on the body and this entirely depends on the extent of damage to the nerves. The symptoms may differ from the nerve that is attacked. Moreover, every individual will experience different types of signs and symptoms. Some of the commonly experienced symptoms include: Thinking problems – An individual begins to find it difficult in understanding things and suffers from memory loss. Abstraction and processing information becomes a huge task for the patient. Loss of vision – Due to this disease, one has to also go through the loss of vision, either in one eye or both. Even the smallest eye movement stimulates excruciating pain to the patient. Color-distortion can also be one of the symptoms. Sensory feelings – One experiences sudden tingling in certain body parts. Such unexpected movements may be painful just like piercing of needles into the skin. Fatigue – An individual may feel tired during the entire day and will not be fit to carry out basic tasks and activities. This may also be accompanied by slurring in the speech. Generally, people who suffer from multiple sclerosis go through relapse very quickly. The signs and symptoms will defer over the course of time. Even an increase in the body temperature can worsen the symptoms.

A lot of middle-aged women these days are considering Botox to get back their young face. Though it is not a permanent way of getting rid of a wrinkly face, it helps in rejuvenating your skin for few months, after which you can again get injected. Botox is a toxin that blocks signals from the nerves to the muscle. The toxin acts on your muscles, and the muscles stop their contraction and stay relaxed. You might not know this, but facelift and lifting of lips are not the only uses of Botox. The truth is that Botox has a far broader application. If done right, a Botox surgery can help in different medical conditions. Here are some things to know about a Botox surgery and its cost. Medical conditions which can be treated by Botox For those who suffer from overactive bladder, you can inject Botox and control your bladder. When you inject Botox, it paralyzes the muscles of the bladder, thus reducing your washroom visits. Botox can also relieve the pain of a chronic migraine if supplemented with other treatments. The patient will experience less of a headache and nausea after the injection. For those who suffer from muscle spasm, you can consider getting a Botox to train your muscles to relax and soften. Another absurd but effective area where you can get a Botox injected is your armpits. This is great for people with the condition of excessive sweating and body odor. For these medical conditions, you can check up with your insurance company. Insurance covers your Botox cost if it is for a non-cosmetic purpose. Choosing a Botox surgeon Since Botox can completely change how your face looks, you should be sure of the surgeon from whom you are getting it done. Don’t settle for a doctor just because he offers a cheap Botox cost.

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes skin irritation leading to oozing blisters and itchy rashes. This condition leads to leathery skin patches in later stages. This skin condition is common in younger children. There are environmental as well as hereditary triggers that might result in developing this skin condition. In some cases, eczema might be related to food allergies. Food products such as cow’s milk, eggs, soy products, gluten, nuts, fish, and shellfish have known to trigger or flare-up the symptoms of eczema. Thus, proper medications and eczema-friendly diet options can be a good alternative for eczema treatment. Let’s have a look at some of the eczema treatments in the form of dietary options that can provide relief from the symptoms of eczema. Fatty fish There are some cases where patients were able to get relief from the symptoms of eczema by eating fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines, albacore tuna, etc., that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty acids help in reducing inflammation. People suffering from eczema can also consider consuming omega-3 fatty acids in the form of supplements. However, it is important to consult a health specialist before taking these supplements. Foods rich in quercetin Quercetin is a type of a flavonoid. It is a type of polyphenol that is found in a number of fruits and vegetables. It is a natural antioxidant and antihistamine as it reduces histamine levels as well as inflammation in the body. Foods that are rich in quercetin include apples, blueberries, cherries, broccoli, spinach, and kale. Probiotic foods Probiotic foods help in developing a strong immune system. This further helps in reducing flare-ups and allergic reactions occurring due to eczema. Foods rich in probiotics can be considered as a good option for eczema treatment. Some of the probiotic foods include sourdough bread, miso soup, naturally fermented pickles, soft cheeses, unpasteurized sauerkraut, kefir, and tempeh.

Our body is capable enough of protecting itself from disease-causing agents to a certain extent. The immune system is what keeps harmful agents at bay. However, there are instances when the immune system isn’t strong enough to keep the body from harm’s way. In such situations, the viruses and bacteria enter the body and wreak havoc and the result is that you are bed-ridden for a few days. What might begin as symptoms of a common cold can turn into full-fledged nasal congestion in no time. Nasal congestion is a common ailment that affects children and adults alike. It causes a hindrance in breathing and worsens if left untreated. It starts as a normal common cold and, if left unchecked, can cause severe nasal congestion. Nasal congestion is a result of a variety of causes, but there are various treatments to relieve nasal congestion. If you wish to learn more about the same, keep reading. Various causes of nasal congestion Stuffy nose or nasal congestion occurs when the nasal passage is blocked. This blockage is the result of swelling of the membrane lining which is in turn caused by the inflammation of the blood vessels. In addition to causing great discomfort, nasal congestion affects the individual’s ability to breathe effortlessly. The common cold is usually the cause of nasal congestion, but there are a few other causes that are known to trigger nasal congestion. They are as follows: One of the common causes of nasal congestion is hay fever. Many times, a deviated septum is responsible for causing nasal congestion. People are usually allergic to certain substances in their surroundings. When the allergy is triggered, it can also lead to nasal congestion, especially if it involves a runny nose and sneezing. Exposure to certain chemicals can lead to nasal congestion.

A research suggests that there are more than 30 million cases of eczema across the country. Eczema as a whole is not a single condition. It involves a group of conditions that includes atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and dyshidrotic eczema which is sometimes also referred to as hand eczema. Following are some of the risk factors and causes of eczema. The first and foremost point to note here is that eczema is a genetic predisposition. This means there are high chances that a people may suffer from eczema if the disease runs in their family. Adolescent obesity is also one of the conditions that could later cause eczema. Low vitamin D levels due to poor nutrition or even during pregnancies might increase the risk of developing eczema in the early years of life. Although there are some widely-accepted causes of eczema, there are no definitive causes of the skin condition. Some of the common causes include: Dysfunctional immune system Environmental conditions Gene alteration that affects the skin can also result in eczema in the form of inflammation and itchiness There are some cases where eczema is caused due to food allergies, beauty products, laundry detergents, and other chemical components Temperature changes (which causes sweating) and chronic stress also cause eczema. Here are some of the popular home remedies to get eczema relief: Bath recipes One of the simplest eczema relief remedies, it requires a cup of vegetable or mineral oil to be poured in a warm bath. This helps in moisturizing and soothing the dry skin caused due to eczema. Apart from this, you can also try mixing 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a glass of milk. Add this to your bath water. Adding finely crushed oatmeal or Epsom salt into the bath water reduces itching and scales. Lavender and other essential oils also have healing and soothing properties and help reduce the symptoms of eczema.

We need to thank the Egyptians for introducing the hair removal idea into this world. Humans get hair growth everywhere on the skin for a reason, but today we are focused on getting hair from most areas removed. Individuals have hair growth on all over their bodies so that parasites can be detected and they remain free from any disease. If you peek into the history of human hair, you will find that women in the old and ancient times preferred hairier men to those who weren’t as hairy. This is because they preferred disease-free and clean men. Surprising, isn’t it? With the Egyptians and ancient Roman, who classified hairless bodies with people who have higher class, hair removal became a matter of aiming to look classier, richer, and cleaner. Romans considered pubic hair unhygienic and hence, if you see old Roman statues, you will find that most statues of females are depicted hairless. So now we know where and why we are so obsessed with removing hair. As time moved ahead, women started shaving the hair from legs, hands and private parts. Today if you see women, they prefer to have not a single hair below their nose. Most women would want to have hair on their eyebrows and head and nowhere else. Until the 1950s, men and women used razors as there were hair removal creams for women, but they caused irritation. Other tools like tweezers were used as well for shaping the eyebrows. It was in the 1960s when wax strips came into existence, and this method was accepted world-wide rather too quickly. This shows the obsession over getting unwanted hair removed from the body. The evolution of hair removing techniques was rapid over the decades. Today there are many ways to get your body and face hair removed.

Molds are a type of fungus that lives everywhere. Upsetting a mold source can send the spores into the air. You can find molds anywhere of different things. Mold spores are often released when there is a climate change. They are commonly found near places like waterbodies, food particles, damp walls and floors. Along with oxygen, molds need warmth to grow; their growth is hampered in freezing temperatures. They also thrive in darkness and moisture. You may also see them in liquids that has been untouched for a long time. In some cases, it is the moisture and the humid temperature that leads to the thriving of the molds. So, people living in coastal areas are likely to get molds forming on surfaces. Let’s look at some of the reasons that cause the growth of these molds: Humidity Leakage from the pipes and roofs Condensation Poor ventilation Wet clothes Flooding Damp basement Waterbody around the house (lake, pool, river, lagoon, etc.) Molds might seem easy to get rid of, but there are instances where people suffer severe allergies because of them. People catch the allergy when the mold’s small pollen grains escape the filtering process of the nose and get ingested into the respiratory system. People get mold allergy when their immune system overreacts while you are breathing in mold spores. People who already have breathing problem like asthma can also be affected by mold spores. To find cure and treatments to mold allergies, one needs to know the symptoms of the same. The symptoms include: Running or blocked nose Sneezing Coughing Post nasal drip Itchy eyes, nose and throat Watery eyes Dry skin Scaly skin Fatigue Keeping the symptoms in mind, you can now focus on treating the mold allergy. However, there is no cure for the allergies, but you can reduce your allergy symptoms by avoiding contact with the mold spores.

Asthma, being a chronic condition, has no specific diagnosis or treatment, which is why identifying the causes will help better understand the symptoms. Causes of asthma Various allergies, smoking, consumption of tobacco, environmental factors, stress, tension, obesity, and even genetics can be leading causes of developing asthma symptoms with very few visual indicators to identify the cause. Common symptoms of asthma One of the common symptoms of asthma is a dry cough with phlegm. Home remedies can give temporary relief until the severity of the condition can be diagnosed, and a recommended course of treatment can be prescribed for the same. A number of respiratory problems like difficulty in breathing, wheezing, respiratory infections, and shortness of breath are all caused due to the airways being blocked persistently, thus interrupting air flow going to your lungs. A cough is a very common symptom and does not necessarily indicate that a person might be in the beginning stages of developing asthmatic problems. However, a chronic cough is a clear indicator that the condition has been induced due to both internal and external allergens, which then is a clear cause for concern. There are many ingredients that you can use at your home to counter at best cope with the after-effects fo asthma symptoms to alleviate some of the discomforts caused. Here are some easy home remedies you can incorporate into your daily diet to help tackle developing or even persistent asthma symptoms. Parsley leaf: When it comes to herbal remedies, nothing beats parsley. Tea made from parley leaves will help soothe your throat and take care of any congestion that is causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Simple and very easy to make, parsley tea is a great remedy for respiratory symptoms of asthma. Milk and olive oil: The combination of warm milk mixed with olive oil might not sound very appealing on the first onset; however, this has proven to be an effective natural remedy.

Asthma is caused by the inflammation of the airways. The inflammation causes the airways to be swollen and sensitive. This leads the airways to react to specific substances on inhalation badly. The muscles of the airways constrict and lessen the air flow to the lungs. There might be the excess development of mucus in the cells of the airways, making them narrower. All these lead to the aggravation of asthma attack symptoms. Often beginning in childhood, asthma continues to affect a person into adulthood. It is estimated that nearly 25 million people have this chronic lung disease. Around 7 million children have been reported to have asthma. Who is at the risk of experiencing asthma attack symptoms? Asthma can be hereditary, or it can be caused by environmental factors. If someone in the family has asthma, it is highly likely that a child might be prone to asthma attack symptoms. An allergic condition such as atopic dermatitis or hay fever can also increase the possibility of asthma. Obesity, smoking, passive smoking, and frequent and prolonged exposure to pollution such as exhaust fumes or exposure to certain chemicals can also trigger asthma attack symptoms. People who work as hairdressers, farmers, and in the manufacturing industry are frequently exposed to harmful chemicals. These can also trigger asthma attack symptoms. What triggers asthma attack symptoms? If a person has asthma, several causes can trigger an attack involving extreme wheezing and breathlessness. The following are some of the common triggers of asthma attack symptoms: Dust, pollen, spores, dander, and even cockroach waste particles that are present in the air we breathe can cause asthma attack symptoms. Asthma can also be induced by exercise that causes an extreme strain on the respiratory system. Cold air can also act as a trigger for asthma attack symptoms.