Congestive heart failure is a condition which involves a buildup of fluids around the heart, which in turn affects the pumping and overall functioning of the heart. The heart has four chambers—the upper half houses two atria, while the lower half has two ventricles. The ventricles are responsible for pumping blood to the entire body and organs, while the atria are responsible for receiving blood. If you’re suffering from congestive heart failure, your ventricles become incapable of pumping sufficient blood to the body. This results in the blood and fluids getting accumulated in the lungs, liver, abdomen, and other parts of the body. If not treated in time, congestive heart failure can be life threatening. What Causes Congestive Heart Failure? There are a few causal factors of congestive heart failure, and this includes: Coronary Artery Disease Coronary heart disease is a disease that affects the arteries. It involves the blockage or narrowing of the arteries. It can cause your heart to be starved of the oxygen and nutrients it requires. Coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of congestive heart failure. Cardiomyopathy This is a progressive heart disease, where the heart walls thicken, stiffen up, and enlarge. This, in turn, can disturb the heart’s ability to pump blood, causing congestive heart failure. Heart Attack Heart attacks are the most common cause of congestive heart failure. A heart attack happens when the coronary arteries get blocked suddenly. This stops the flow of blood to the heart and to the rest of your body. A heart attack can damage the heart muscles as well, leaving it dysfunctional. Alcohol and drug abuse Alcohol and drug abuse can damage the heart and cause congestive heart failure. Research shows that people who indulge in alcohol and drug abuse are more prone and likelier to get congestive heart disease, as opposed to those who don’t.

If you think a spider has bitten you, it is harmless in most cases, and you don’t need to panic. Spiders are generally harmless and prefer to hide in the dark. They attack when they feel threatened or when exposed from their hiding space. You will not have to worry if you have a spider bite as most of these bites are harmless. Treating spider bites is very simple, and the bite marks can be easily taken care of with timely care and treatment. The first step is spider bite identification. Once this is done, you can go ahead and treat the wound. Why Spiders Bite A few spiders in the wild are known to be aggressive. These spiders are capable of attacking and causing harm. They are the poisonous ones. On the other hand, the non-poisonous spiders often bite as an act of self-defense. They prefer to hide in dark and isolated places. You may even come across harmless spiders in your home and be unaware of it. Spider bites cause itchy red spots on the skin. The spots clear up in a few days, and you will find no sign of it. Most of the spiders have fangs that are too short to penetrate the human skin. While most of the bites are painless, you may experience a sting in some. Spider bite identification is essential as you need to be aware if a poisonous spider has bitten you. The venom from the spider reacts differently in each person. Dangerous spiders can inflict bites and leave unnoticed. It is later that you start feeling its effect. Spider Bite Identification You can identify spider bites in no time. You may not notice it for a few hours, but once you do, you can easily tell. There will be swelling and skin damage on the spot where you have been bitten.

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.

Gum disease is common and results in painful, inflamed, and swollen gums. The early stages of gum disease are called gingivitis. If gum disease isn’t tackled in early stages, then it progresses to periodontitis. The most common gum diseases are called by bacterial infections, that can spread and destroy the gums, and the tissue surrounding the teeth. The bacteria forms plaques around the teeth and gums. If this plaque isn’t removed, it can harden and form tartar. Most early cases of plaque buildup and gingivitis can be treated on your own. Natural treatment for gum disease is a great way to save yourself time, money, and pain of seeing a dentist. Natural treatment for gum disease includes maintaining good oral hygiene and overall health. Symptoms of gum disease Healthy gums are pink, fit securely around the teeth, do not bleed when you touch or brush them, and are not painful or inflamed. In some cases, the initial stages of gum disease are not painful, and there may be no recognizable symptoms. Eventually, as the disease progresses, the symptoms can worsen. The early stage of gum disease or gingivitis has fewer symptoms, and these tend to be nonspecific and vague. The most common early symptoms of gum disease are: Redness or purple discoloration of the gums Swelling Bleeding gums while brushing, eating, or on touching the gums. Painful gums Bad breath ( halitosis ) Natural treatment for gum disease is best initiated during early stages, to halt the progression into a more severe form of gum disease, i.e, periodontitis . The symptoms of advanced gum disease or periodontitis are: An unpleasant taste in the mouth Bad breath (halitosis) Loose teeth Difficulty chewing food Gum abscesses (collection of pus) Receding gums, which make the teeth appear longer. Deep pockets between the gums and teeth.

What is a rotator cuff injury? Rotator cuff injury occurs when the muscles and their tendons, in the shoulder get inflamed or irritated. A rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that play a vital role in stabilizing the shoulder and regulating its’ movement. Rotator cuff injury may occur either due to impingement (the swelling of rotator cuff muscle or due to a tear), or when the rotator cuff muscle or the tendon gets torn. The swelling or the tear may either result due to an injury, constant pressure over the shoulder muscles, or due to aging. The symptoms of rotator cuff injury include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the arm and shoulder area, weakness, inability to carry any weight. Also, you might notice a clicking sound when you raise your arm and feel pain whenever the arm is put to work. Rotator cuff injury treatment Once you are certain that the rotator cuff is the reason for uneasiness in your shoulder joint, the following treatments can be considered: RICE Technique : Try adopting the RICE technique, after an injury to the shoulder joint. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This is the initial treatment that’s recommended for treating rotator cuff injury. Rest : Rest is the best remedy for treating rotator cuff injury. You should rest for a while and restrict yourself from any activity involving the shoulder or the arm, so the problem settles rather than getting elevated. Ice : Apply the ice pack on the shoulder area where the problem exists, to reduce the pain or swelling. Apply the ice pack for 10-15 minutes, and repeat it at least twice a day. Compression : Wrap around a crepe bandage on the painful area, which helps in reducing both the pain and the swelling. Wrap the bandage loosely, so that the blood circulation doesn’t get affected.

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.

What is Chronic Pain? Pain usually occurs when we experience a muscular tear or any other kind of injury in any part of the body. This occurs suddenly and may vanish away in few days as it may recover on itself or through using ointments or other pain reliever drugs. This is called acute pain. On the other hand, pain in any part of the body that lasts more than a few months or may even last for years is known as chronic pain. This is the result of either a long-term injury or other damage to the body, that may occur due to age factors. Chronic pain is a dangerous medical issue as it may lead to reduced quality of sleep, depression, mood swings, irritation, exhaustion, anxiety and lack of stamina to perform daily activities. In case you are experiencing chronic pain in any part of your body, you must pay close attention to the problem and try to treat it before it goes out of hand. Treatments For Chronic Pain The following treatment options help in improving and regulating chronic pain: Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) : This is a widely adopted treatment option for treating chronic pain. In this procedure, the nerves that carry the signals of pain to the nervous system are targeted. When you undergo this treatment, your doctor will first identify the nerve/s that is causing pain and sends the pain signals to the nervous system. Once identified, X-rays may be used to focus on the area where the medical needle is to be placed. This procedure is done under the influence of a local anesthesia where the doctor after realizing where the needle is to be placed, removes or destroys the nerve tissue causing the pain thus hindering the pain signals from reaching the brain.

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.