Dry eyes are a problem that a large number of people have to deal with. Research reveals that dry eyes are an irritation of the eyes that can occur for a multitude of reasons. From dust, smoke and environmental pollution, to a range of ailments, there can be a number of causes for dry eyes. Chronic dry eyes can also happen as you grow older. In this regard, most people above the age of fifty are more likely to suffer from dry eyes. But this doesn’t mean they can’t be caused by reasons other than age. In fact, modern lifestyles have many triggers for dry eyes including computer screens, cell phone screens, sleep deprivation and constant exposure to bright lights. Although dry eyes are a common problem, you must address them with the appropriate treatment measures. Dry Eye Syndrome is a condition where the moisture in your eyes falls below the ideal level. This is when you experience an irritating or burning sensation in your eyes. Dry eyes can also occur because of spending long hours staring at computer screens without blinking. The market is currently flooded with a range of eye drops to treat dry eyes. However, before you make your choice, we’ll try and make you understand the reason you’re suffering from dry eyes. It’s only when you’re aware of the real cause for you experiencing dry eyes, that you’ll be able to make a more informed choice about the best drops for dry eyes. What are the best drops for dry eyes? While choosing from over-the-counter eye drops, keep two things in mind. First, make sure you know the cause of your dry eyes, and second, ensure that you’re aware of the basic composition of the drops. This is to ensure that you buy the best drops for dry eyes that you can get.

Bed bugs are pesky little insects that infect the soft furniture in a household like beds, sofas, couches, and other such places. They like to hide in dark places like the corners of drawers, seams of the mattresses, the bed box below the mattress and in the space between cushions. Although they do not cause any serious diseases, their presence can certainly be discomforting as they feed on human blood. Bed bugs bite humans, which sometimes causes red rashes and spots. These skin rashes, if scratched too hard, can cause breaks in the skin, causing bacteria to enter and infect it. The presence of bed bugs does not mean that your sanitation techniques should be questioned but they could have come from some other infested place like a hotel or a theatre through luggage, clothes or any other item. Bed bugs are extremely tiny in size and therefore are very hard to spot. But once you find their hiding spots, you can make use of any of some home remedies to get rid of those pesky little creatures hiding in your home. The following are some of the best ways to kill bed bugs, which you can make use of. Vacuum Cleaning Who knew that using your very own vacuum cleaner could be a simple fix making it one of the best ways to kill bed bugs? Just make sure to use your effective vacuum cleaner to reach all the hidden places like the corners of the drawers, behind the cushions, under the mattresses, along its seams, the space between the headboard and the mattress, behind the AC fittings, behind the wallpapers, in the bed box, and other such susceptible places. Make sure to clean all the places effectively and thoroughly so that no egg or larvae remain behind to restart the infestation process.

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a common disorder that affects the digestive system. Symptoms of IBS include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, etc. Almost all symptoms of IBS are gastrointestinal. Irritable bowel syndrome has a significant negative impact on the quality of life. IBS can persist for years and may be interspersed with periods of no symptoms. Disorders such as anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome, are common in people with irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by changes in bowel movements without apparent cause. Based on this, irritable bowel syndrome is classified into four types depending on the type of bowel dysfunction, constipation dominant, diarrhea-dominant, both constipation and diarrhea, and neither constipation nor diarrhea. It is estimated that 10-15% of the global population is affected by irritable bowel syndrome. Signs and symptoms of IBS The signs and symptoms of IBS can vary from person to person. The primary symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements. Symptoms of IBS tend to be acute with attacks that are experienced for a few days or weeks. These attacks eventually subside and may be recurrent. Other symptoms of IBS are bloating, gas, cramps, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. Along with this, there may be a sense of urgency in bowel movements and a feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation. Abdominal distension may also be seen. People with irritable bowel syndrome also tend to suffer from gastric reflux, a loss of appetite, lowered libido, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, and headache. Since these symptoms are rather vague, irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that there are more serious conditions that must be excluded before a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome can be made. Signs and symptoms that point to a more serious disorder include blood in the stool, rapid weight loss, abdominal pain persisting at night, etc.

Sinus infection is one of the most common problems that everyone faces at least once in their life. The infection can be cleared with medications. However, there are natural remedies that can cure the condition. The remedies are sure to give you relief from the cause of sinus which might be common cold, infection, or allergies. Sinuses are packets that are present in the bones around the nose. The purpose is to produce the mucus that drains into the nose. When there is inflammation, your nose swells and blocks the sinuses. The blockage causes congestion, pain, and cough. Some people even have teeth, facial pain, and a headache. Sinusitis can last for a few weeks or years based on the severity. There can be many reasons that can lead to this infection. It is best to battle it at the early stage and stay free of it. There are three steps in which you can tackle sinusitis. Step 1: Treat the existing symptoms Treatment of the current sinusitis is the first step you must take. Although this will only give you momentary relief, you are sure to feel better. You can take care of the underlying condition and improve your immune system once you start to feel better. Stay hydrated: A person suffering from sinusitis loses a lot of water. It is imperative to stay hydrated at all times. Water, being one of the most effective remedies for sinus, will help thin the mucus and drain it. Stay away from cold foods and beverages. Also avoid drinking alcohol, sugary drinks, and smoking till you recover. Face massage: The congestion in the sinus is the main reason for the discomfort. You can try a face massage to relax the muscles surrounding it. A face massage is one of the most certain remedies for sinus to provide you relief.

Are your clothes getting tighter around the waist? Is your body becoming more oblong and out of shape? If the answer to the above questions is a yes, then you are suffering from increasing belly fat, that gets accumulated due to a number of natural and man-made triggers. Belly fat is more than a just an aesthetic disposition of the body. An abdominal bulge is due to the storage of excessive visceral fat around the liver, stomach, and pancreas. This ‘beer gut’ is a predictor of metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, some heart diseases, and cancer. A simple tape can measure stomach fat. Standing up, wrap the tape around your waist and check your girth at the belly button. Make sure that the tape measure is level. A healthy body mass index dictates that your waist size be less than 35 inches in women and less than 40 inches in men. Ways To Burn Stomach Fat Losing fat from the abdomen area can be a difficult task, Some well-proven strategies target the specific fat buildup in the belly area. Fibrous Diet Soluble fiber is mostly indigestible plant matter that binds water, forming a viscous gel that ‘sits’ in the gut. This viscous gel helps in slowing down food as it passes through the digestive tract and gives you the feeling of being full. There is better absorption of nutrients, and your appetite remains in check. It is also known to decrease the number of calories that your body absorbs from the food thus helping burn stomach fat. High fiber foods include consuming vegetables and fruits. Legumes, flax seeds, shirataki noodles, Brussels sprouts, avocados, blackberries and some cereals like oats are excellent sources of fiber. Furthermore, a fiber supplement like glucomannan can be taken to provide benefit to the digestive system.

One of the most common types of heel pain is caused by a condition called Plantar Fasciitis, which is the swelling of a ligament called Plantar Fascia on the underside of your foot. A whopping 10% of the people in the entire world suffer from this condition. Sometimes, the pain can even become chronic. However, there are simple ways to deal with it. Read further to find out treatment of plantar fasciitis at home. Plantar Fasciitis: An Overview This condition is caused whenever you put excessive strain on your feet. It is most common in middle-aged people, but it can also affect younger adults who are on their feet for long periods, like athletes. Repeated straining can cause small tears in the ligament which can lead to chronic pains. Home Treatment Of Plantar Fasciitis Even when you visit a doctor, the first solution they give you is steps you can take to treat the pain on your own. Some of these are mentioned below. Rest Your Feet: Ensure that you give your feet ample amount of rest. If any activity is causing pain, avoid it. Support Your Feet: The best way to do this is by wearing supportive footwear that has a good heel cushioning and arch support. You can even buy shoe inserts to put into your footwear instead of buying expensive shoes for treatment of plantar fasciitis. Use A Cold Pack: Using ice or a cold pack can reduce the inflammation and ease the pain. Don’t apply ice directly on your feet, always wrap it in a towel. You can also alternatively use frozen peas or grapes wrapped in a towel for the same effect. Give It Some Heat: If ice doesn’t help with the symptoms even after two or three days, you can try a heating pad or a hot water bag to relieve pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful disease that can result in permanent damage to joints. In order to prevent this, doctors and rheumatologists prescribe each patient for a rheumatoid arthritis treatment regimen that consists of various types of drugs, combined with physical therapy. Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. In an autoimmune disorder, the immune system mistakes a body part as an invasive organism and damages it. In RA, the immune system perceives the lining tissue in the joints called synovium as a threat and attacks it. The synovium not only provides a protective covering but also produces a fluid that keeps the joints lubricated, enabling them to move freely. RA attacks the synovium, causing inflammation and ultimately damaging this tissue. If left untreated, the damage to the synovium could affect the cartilage and bones in the joint. And so, it becomes imperative to detect the disease and make sure that it does not progress rapidly. There is, as of now, no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Yet, there are ways to prevent inflammation, pain and to slow down the disease and keep it in remission. Rheumatoid arthritis treatments Rheumatoid arthritis treatments involve reducing pain, controlling inflammation, preventing the disease from progressing further or slowing it down, and putting the symptoms in remission. The rheumatoid arthritis treatment starts with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, to drugs that modify the course of the disease, and lets the patient enter long periods of remission (periods when there are no signs or symptoms of RA). Analgesics and NSAIDs Doctors first prescribe analgesics and Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to control pain and swelling. Over-the-counter NSAIDs like Ibuprofen as well as stronger prescription drugs might be advised. If the patient is at risk for a stomach ulcer, alternative NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors can be prescribed.

Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons associated with diverse illnesses and medical conditions. Many people suffer from this condition several times in their lifetimes, and it can be for various reasons. Read further to understand why abdomen pain symptoms occur. Constipation The normal cycle of bowel movements per week is from 5 to 15 times. If you have less stool than this in a week, then it means that you’re suffering from constipation. The easiest way to tell if you have constipation is by checking the number of bowel movements you have in a week. Other than this, you can even experience abdominal pain symptoms along with hard stools, bleeding from your rectum, straining during bowel movements, etc. Diarrhea Unlike constipation, diarrhea is a condition where you have bowel movements in excess and have relatively loose and watery stools. This is caused due to increased fluid secretion from your intestines. In worse case scenarios, you can experience extreme dehydration as this condition affects the amount of water that’s absorbed by the body. It generally accompanies extreme abdominal pain symptoms. Other symptoms depend on the cause of diarrhea. It can be both acute and chronic, and the treatment for each of these depends on the nature or type of infection. Irritable bowel syndrome This is another type of gastrointestinal disorder where you have irregular bowel movements. You can either have constant diarrhea, constipation, or both. You can recognize this condition after you experience abdominal pain symptoms along with other symptoms like growling stomach, increased gas in the belly, food intolerance, stomach cramps, etc. There is no exact reason as to why this occurs because it is a functional disorder of the digestive system. This means that there is no change in the form of the stomach or the intestinal lining.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder and does not have any cure. It is only possible to reduce the severity of the symptoms, which offers the patient a better quality of life. Rheumatoid Arthritis primarily affects the joints. It can also affect the lungs, voice box, and eye. Symptoms The distinguishing feature of Rheumatoid arthritis is that it affects both hands and both legs. There is swelling, pain, redness and tenderness in the finger joints, wrist, elbow and knee. The feet, hip, neck and even the jaw can be affected. Unfortunately, the exact cause for Rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. A gene alteration is the most likely cause of this autoimmune disorder which predominantly affects women. As the symptoms show up differently in each person, a combination of tests help to draw the conclusion that a person is suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis. Most often, the evident Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis help to diagnose the condition. There are some signs when rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints. Inflammation is accompanied by: Stiffness There is decreased mobility in the joints. Especially during mornings, it gets pretty difficult to use your joints. The stiffness lasts for a long time, and may last more than an hour, before you find your joints loosening up. Redness and Warmth The affected joints appear red and you can feel a warmth when you touch the joints. Swelling Swelling is a characteristic of any form of arthritis. When it comes to signs of rheumatoid arthritis, the fluid enters the joint and makes it puffy. Pain Pain in the joints is unavoidable. Inflammation inside the joint makes it tender and sensitive. Over a period of time, the joints experience damage and results in pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can not only affect the joints, but the entire body as well. In such cases, the symptoms manifest as fatigue, muscle ache, sickness, diminished appetite that can lead to weight loss.

The total cholesterol or the total blood cholesterol is a measure of HDL cholesterol level, LDL cholesterol level, and other lipid components. Total cholesterol is not actually a type of cholesterol but a composite of the different types of cholesterol. Twenty percent of the triglyceride level plus the LDL and HDL cholesterol level score gives the total cholesterol score of a person. For anyone who is over the age of 20, cholesterol levels should be checked every five years to keep a track record of health. The test that used to screen the cholesterol levels is known as the lipid profile, and it is recommended by experts that women above the age of 45 years and men above the age of 35 years should get frequent screenings done to check for lipid disorders. The risk for heart disease is determined on the basis of the total cholesterol number by a doctor who can devise a medical health plan to lower the risk. Overall, regular routine checkups, an active lifestyle, and a clean diet with the minimum intake of triglycerides are said to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. The aspects covered under the lipoprotein profile include the following. Total cholesterol LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, more famously known as “bad” cholesterol) HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, more commonly known as “good” cholesterol) Triglycerides (fats that are carried into the blood from the food that is consumed. Too much of alcohol, sugar or calories in the body get converted to triglycerides that are stored in the fat cells throughout the body.) The test report shows all cholesterol levels in a measure of milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Total cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol are one of the many factors that are considered by a doctor to predict a 10-year risk assessment or a lifetime risk assessment in terms of heart disease like heart attacks or strokes.