Losing Belly Fat

Smouldering cheekbones, perfect broad shoulders and the arms of a beautiful Greek god wouldn’t dissolve the unattractiveness of belly fat. The same applies to women. One may prance from boulevard to boulevard with cascading hair far better than Rapunzel but a few ounces of belly fat often provokes you to look the other side. Yes, belly fat is very rarely appealing. 

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Unless your partner lives to sleep on the world’s best pillow that is indeed your tummy, you might have to reform your diet and exercise regime. Of course, beauty is only skin-deep but belly fat propels cruel ramifications to your health as well. It has been scientifically linked to problems such as heartburn, diabetes, heart disease, and crazy strokes! So, do yourself a favour by munching on the oat to reduce the bloat. Burn some fat as you chase the unwanted house rat. Get rid of the raspberry jelly and bid adieu to your enormous and life threatening pot belly! To feel more attractive and sexy, take a look at this article which stresses on ways to lose belly fat.

Ways To Lose Belly Fat

More Meals

Doesn’t it thrill you to learn that eating every three hours has a healthy effect on your body? However, be careful not to go overboard and mount your plates like a starved tribal. The purpose of this diet strategy is to ensure that you reduce the size of your portions. Do not gobble up too much at once as it inevitably turns into excess fat. Eating 5-6 small meals per day! This curbs your urges to binge and keeps your metabolism running as food is constantly being burned.

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Monitor Your Intake

Increase your consumption of the more fat burning foods like brown rice, whole grains, vegetables, natural fruits, skimmed milk, lean poultry or meat, seafood and egg whites. Avoid the junk food as tempting as the prospect of digging into a juicy cheeseburger may seem. Resist the enticement by picturing your arteries getting clogged. Pizzas, french-fries and chocolate doughnuts are all strict ‘No-No’s’. If you are accustomed to three teaspoons of sugar, bring it down to two and eventually one. Get into the habit of taking smaller bites and chewing them slowly. Too much salt causes the body to retain water and hence giving your abdomen the boated appearance. Therefore, control your salt and sugar intake. Instead add more fibre to your diet. Soluble fibre like apples and cherries lower insulin levels, which speed up the burning of visceral belly fat

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Drink, Drink And Drink Some More!

Hydrating your body to the maximum is pivotal in ensuring that body fat diminishes. Dehydration ails your liver function and hence impedes the fat burning process. Drink lots of water, even if you are not thirsty. Just drink! Also, it is scientifically proved that hot green tea neutralizes the effects of fatty foods.

Losing Belly Fat Fast 

Sweat It Out

Cardiovascular exercises for starters make for an excellent fat burner. Walk, jog, cycle and try your luck with aerobics till you get slim. It is most advisable to exercise before breakfast so that your body burn the excess fat when there is now extra food available to burn. Combine cardiovascular exercises with resistance training which phenomenally helps in getting rid of abdominal fat. Resistance training can be executed with free weights, exercise machines, or resistance bands. Resist taking short cuts to increase your movement and metabolism. Sticking to sit-ups may backfire and inflate your belly. This is because abdominal muscles grow in size and shape and eventually push out against the fat, thus the enlargement.

Satisfactory Sleep & Breakfast

Lack of sleep directly affects your levels of energy, thus deterring your ability to Exercise. Get at least seven to eight hours of peaceful sleep every night! Tired and sleep deprived beings are prone to slow metabolism. Refresh yourself in the morning and treat yourself to a wholesome breakfast. Never skip breakfast! Your body automatically jumps to "˜starvation mode' if you haven’t fed it anything since a long slumber. This lowers the metabolism and fails to burn calories quickly.

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Upper Stomach Pain

As the name suggests, upper stomach pain is a pain experienced in the upper portion of the belly region. There can be a number of reasons for the occurrence of this type of pain. It can be quite severe, long-lasting and chronic at times, while at other times it can be merely a short lived condition. However, the exact location of the pain determines its root cause. For instance, pain in the upper middle abdomen indicates problem in the epigastric area, related to pancreas, gall bladder and the upper small intestine. Pain in the upper left abdomen is connected with problems of the stomach, colon, pancreas or spleen. Acute pain in the upper right abdomen denotes inflammation of the gall bladder. For more information about causes of upper abdominal pain and its home remedies, read on.

Causes of Upper Stomach Pain 

• If you are experiencing an upper abdominal pain after meals, it can be due to indigestion or heartburn.
• The upper abdominal can occur due to an inflammation of the Pancreas.
• Another reason can be the occurrence of a peptic ulcer. It is caused when the lining of the stomach breaks, due to excess production of acid.
• Upper abdominal pain can result from other inflammations, such as diverticulitis and appendicitis.
• Loss of blood supply to an organ as in the case of ischemic colitis.
• Stretching or distention of an organ can also cause pain, like blocking of a bile duct by gallstones. 
• Remedies to Treat Upper Stomach Pain 
• In case of indigestion, you can take antacids, which provide instant relief in such a situation.
• If you are suffering from peptic ulcer, the treatment involves usage of antacids, which are well regulated.
• Milk is supposed to benefit in case of indigestion or peptic ulcer as it forms a lining on the stomach, thereby reducing the ill effect of the acids produced.
• If the cause of the pain is pancreatitus, medical assistance is needed.

Neck Pain Causes In Children

There was a time when a troublesome person was called “a pain in the neck”. This was because neck pains can be very difficult to cope with, and can cause other related aches and pains. However, as the stress of daily living increased, neck pains slowly stopped being a laughing matter. Until recently, it was primarily, the older people who suffered from neck pains. These days, children have also joined the bandwagon of sufferers and there are some chronic sufferers from neck pain. 

The number of cases of neck pain in children is increasing at alarming rates. The causes of neck pain in children range from injuries to more serious medical disorders, and, therefore, these should be taken seriously. In the event of the child suffering from severe pain, painkillers can be administered to offer temporary relief, but the child should be taken to the emergency room.

Causes Of Pediatric Neck Pain 

Common Causes Of Neck Pain In Children 

Poor posture, which can be due to uncomfortable seating in a classroom for extended periods of time. Children might also slump over video games or computers, and this causes a strain on the neck and back.

Heavy book bags that children have to carry could cause the neck to be strained and the neck muscles to be pulled. These days, the weight of book bags have increased beyond the capacity that children can actually carry. This could cause severe, debilitating strains of the spine as well as of the neck muscles.

Children could get injured while playing or while falling, resulting in a sprain, a pulled muscle, or even a broken bone. Therefore, ascertaining what happened before the neck pain began is important, since, severe injuries would require immediate medical attention.

Children also suffer from stress, just as adults do. Tension can cause neck pain and headaches as well. 

Medical Causes Of Neck Pain In Children 

• Rheumatoid arthritis occurs not only in adults but also in children. This causes inflammation of the joints, including the neck.
• Meningitis is an infection of any of the membranes that surround the brain. This is one reason for neck pain in children.
• Viral illnesses can cause inflammation of lymph nodes on the neck and can result in neck pain.
• Throat infections are probably the most common causes of neck pains in children.
• Pharyngitis, which is an inflammation of the larynx, could cause neck pain.
• A cervical strain will result in extreme neck pain.
• Wear and tear of the vertebrae in the neck can also be a cause of neck pain.
• While thryoiditis was earlier only a condition that affected older people, children have also begun suffering from this.
• Myelopathy is a disease that affects the spinal cord and can cause severe neck pains.

Natural Cures For Skin Rash

It is easy to identify people suffering from skin rashes. They are the ones who can’t live without scratching. Their hand flies all over their body trying to quell that itch that has the tendency to rise anywhere and at anytime. Initially the itch is not that severe; it is only when red blotches appear on the skin, that it becomes terrible. 

And the more you scratch, the uglier it becomes. Skin rashes, as these red blotches are known as, are fairly common and the main causes are bacterial and fungal infection and allergies. However, there are also a host of other factors that can cause and aggravate skin rashes. 

The best way to treat skin rashes are the various natural remedies that are easy to find and also do not have any side effects. You can effectively make these treatments at home and so save yourself a lot of expense. But the most important benefit is that when you go for natural cures, other than curing you of the rash, the various herbs will also bolster the strength of the skin to resist further infections. So, if you are looking for natural remedies to cure you of skin rash then, go through the article given below on the various cure available to you.

Natural Remedies For Skin Rash 

Skin problems like itchy skin rash, psoriasis, and eczema can be relieved to a great extent by using witch haze. This plant is rich in astringent that is an excellent cure for skin rash. Boil a pint of water and then add an ounce of witch hazel bark. Simmer for 10 minutes and then strain and cool. Soak a clean cloth in the solution and apply it on the skin rash. Leave for 30 minutes and then wash.

The Greeks and the Native Americans have been using the St. Johns Wort for a variety of medicinal purposes. It is also excellent in treating skin rashes. This flower has got astringent properties that moisturizes and refreshes the skin and so it is especially good for skin rash.

The gel from aloe vera plant also relieves the skin rash. Since it has anti-inflammatory, anti bacterial and anti fungal properties along with folic acid, zinc, vitamin C, and E, aloe vera effectively controls the rashes in the skin. Slice off a portion of the aloe vera leaf and apply the gel onto the affected area.

Calendula essential oils stimulate the production of white blood cells, which are responsible for eliminating harmful microbes. Boil the herb in water or add two drops of the essential oil in hot water, and then simmer for ten minutes. Let it cool and then apply it using a clean cloth into the affected area.

Chamomile essential oils soothe the skin rash and the irritations caused by it. However, sometimes it can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Crush the fresh leaves of jewelweed and then rub the juice over the rash. This is also very good in curing skin rash.

Apply oatmeal oil to the rash for immediate relief. Or you can pour a cup of uncooked oatmeal in a bucket of water and then take a bath.

Olive oil is also known to effectively cure skin rash. Apply olive oil directly on the rash regularly. The therapeutic properties of olive oil will cure the skin rash.

You can also apply baking soda to the affected skin area. Press the area gently after applying the baking soda to get relief from irritation and cure the rash.

In a blender take 15 basil leaves, 1-tablespoon olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, salt and pepper and blend thoroughly. Apply this mixture on the rashes.

Natural Cures For Kidney Stones

One of the best ways in which you can get to know if you are having kidney stones is if you have excruciating pain in the lower back and abdomen along with pain during urination. In most cases, the pain is because of the formation of stones, which settle in the urinary tract. 

To understand why and how the kidney stones form, it is necessary to know the function of the kidney. Its main function is to excrete the various wastes that get generated from metabolism. These include urea, uric acid and various others. The minerals and salts in the kidney are dissolved by a substance that is found in the urine and so they are prevented from being solids. However, sometimes due to dehydration or other factors, the concentration of the salts and minerals exceeds the solubility level and results in the formation of stones. The size of the stones varies from grit, sand size to the size of a bird’s egg and it generally occurs during the middle age. 

To cure yourself, you can adopt the natural remedies and these are very effective, if the kidney stones are not large in size. Natural cures also strengthen your kidney and improve its overall function. However, you should not miss on professional consultation. To know more on the various natural cures for kidney stones, go through the article given below.

Home Remedies For Kidney Stones 

Basil leaves strengthens the kidneys. It is also very effective in curing kidney stones. Mix one tablespoon of basil juice with one tablespoon of honey and take it for a period of six months, daily. It removes the stones from the urinary tract.

Regular intake of celery prevents the chances of formation of stones in the kidney.

Daily intake of a ripe fresh apple is very effective in treating the stones in the kidney. This is based on the fact that in countries where cider is a common beverage, the cases of kidney stones are nearly non-existent.

Grapes have a high water and potassium salt content and so it has exceptional diuretic value. It also has low albumin and sodium chloride content. This makes it very valuable in case of kidney troubles and so is an excellent cure for stones in the kidney.

The seeds of sour and sweet pomegranates are very good in curing kidney stones. Grind a tablespoon of pomegranate seeds into a fine paste. Then make a soup using two tablespoons of horse gram and into it, mix the paste. Drink this soup regularly to dissolve the stones in the kidneys.

The concentration of water in watermelon is the highest among all fruits. It is also a rich source of potassium salts. Eat watermelon or drink its juice everyday to cure yourself of kidney stones.

Another effective home remedy for kidney stones is dried French beans. Remove the seeds and then slice the pods. Take four liters of water and set it to heat. To the water add sixty grams of the pods and then boil in low heat for six hours slowly. Now strain the liquid in fine muslin and then cool for eight hours. Strain the liquid again in another piece of muslin. Take a glass of this solution every two hours throughout the day.

You can also boil two figs in a cup of water and drink it in an empty stomach the first thing in the morning.

Take a cup of radish leaves as a salad twice a day to get cured from kidney stones.

Drink a glass of tomato juice with a pinch of salt and pepper in the morning to bolster the kidney and also to rid yourself of kidney stones.

Whole-wheat bread is a rich source of magnesium, which prevents the formation of stones. Add whole wheat bread in your regular diet to steer clear from kidney stones.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day. It is the best home remedy for preventing kidney stones. 

How To Treat A Bee Sting

Honey is probably the sweetest thing on earth. However, the makers of the honey are not all that pleasant. Bees can be horribly deadly or painful if they sting you, depending on whether you are allergic to their venom or not. They can attack you without mercy, and you might just come away from the encounter looking more swollen than their hives. 

The best way to approach bees is by wearing protective clothing. However, there are chances of you getting stung if you are probably going on a trek, or just taking a walk. All that’s needed is a bee which is disturbed. The main point to keep in mind if you are stung by a bee is react quickly. When bees sting they put out a scent that attract other bees. If you happen to be in the vicinity, you will be stung again. 

Bee Sting Treatment 

To being with, put as much distance between yourself and the bee(s) as possible. You don’t want to be stung again!

If there are any stingers embedded in your skin, remove them immediately. Don’t scrape them off. You could just pull them out with your fingers or with a pair of tweezers. If you do not pull the stingers out at the earliest, the effects of the sting will be more potent. Do not squeeze the stinger since it would push more venom into your body.

If you are allergic to bees and do not have any emergency treatment on you, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Go straight to the emergency room.

Watch for any itching, hives, shortness of breath or redness that could appear. If this happens, antihistamines can be used to slow down reactions until you get to the hospital.

If you are not allergic to bees, you would most often find that you would develop local reactions to the sting. These would include swelling, redness, and pain, which will all usually go away quite soon. Swelling may last for a day, for which an ice pack can be applied.

In case of itching at the place of the sting, calamine lotions will help soothe the spot. Antihistamines are also effective.

If you have been stung more than ten times or if you have been stung inside your mouth, nose, or throat, you should go to the emergency room immediately. Shortness of breath is common in these cases, even if you are not allergic to bees.

Pain can be relieved by judicious use of acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Bee sting swabs are available to dull the pain. This can be applied if there is tenderness at the site of the sting.

If the stinger has been embedded deep into your skin, and if you are unable to remove it, visit a doctor even if you are not allergic to bees.

How To Stop Snoring

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to a loud shrieking noise. Startled, you look here and there to find what caused the noise, only to find your partner being the source for it. Highly annoyed and irritated, you feel like bashing him/her up for disturbing your sleep, but end up taking an extra pillow over your ear. Unable to sleep all night, you wake up late the next morning. Result - you rush past the daily chores and by the end of the day, you feel damn lazy and tired. You look back and wonder what caused the exhaustion and suddenly remember, it was because of your partner’s snoring that you couldn’t manage a goodnight sleep and thus, felt lethargic and weary all through the day. 

You confess this to your partner, who, in turn, feels ashamed for his snoring problem and promises not to snore again. Relaxed, you get on to the bed and try to sleep only to be woken up yet again by a loud shrieking noise. Damn, you whisper and get really annoyed. But before you wake your partner and start a fight, you need to know that snoring while sleeping is troublesome for not only the person who sleeps beside the snorer, but also for the person who snores. 

A person who snores is said to be sleeping a disturbed unsound sleep and the person who has to hear the other person snoring all night through will for obvious reasons not get proper sleep. Therefore, a solution favorable to all would be to get rid of snoring while sleeping. Before rounding up on the cure for snoring, it is important to identify the causes and decide what you will have to change in your structure and habits to stop snoring.

Causes Of Snoring

• A blocked nasal passage makes breathing hard. This leads to the formation of a vacuum in the throat that leads to snoring.
• Snoring is mostly seen in the middle age or above when the throat muscles constrict leading to a blockage in the airway. 
• People who are fat are more prone to snoring. Fatty tissues are conducive to snoring.
• The sleeping posture also causes snoring. If you sleep flat on the back, the throat muscles relax which blocks the air passage and causes snoring.
• Do you know that a man is more prone to snoring than a woman because a man’s air passage is narrower?
• Excess use of alcohol, cigarettes and several drugs including medicinal drugs leads to the relaxation of body muscles and hence, snoring.
• Ways To Stop Snoring
• It is very vital to keep the nasal passage clear to get rid of the snoring habit. Don’t forget to blow your nose regularly. Cough accumulations in the nose makes it difficult for air to pass through, creating a vacuum in the air passage and therefore, causing snoring.
• Being overweight is one of the prime reasons for snoring. Keep your weight in check. The reduction of fatty tissues in the throat will reduce snoring to a great extent. Therefore, exercise well to lose extra weight and try to keep the kilos in check.
• Snorers can try sleeping without a pillow for some days to check whether snoring reduces. See that your throat muscles are not relaxed when you are lying down.
• Cigarette smoke blocks the air passage and also causes disturbances in the throat and nose membranes to induce snoring. Thus, quitting smoking can greatly help reduce snoring.
• Dry air is not good for snorers. It affects the membranes of the nose and throat in such a way so as to cause snoring. Therefore, if the surrounding air is dry make use of a humidifier.
• You can also go for nasal strips and sprays to stop snoring. The drops should be used during bedtime to clear air passages.
• The CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is a machine which consists of a mask that you can wear over your nose, while air is being blown into your system via another machine part when you are sleeping.
• For those having serious snoring problem, they can go for surgical procedures like the Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Tonsillectomy, the Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty and Adenoidectomy, which remove extra tissues in the air passage and induce free flow of air.
• Opt for devices such as dental and oral appliances and lower jaw positioners. These help to bring the tongue and the lower jaw forward when one is sleeping, thus helping in free breathing.
• Adhere to these ways and stop the snoring habit for good. Have a good night sleep!

How To Reduce Swelling

Medically referred to as Edema, swelling is characterized by an excessive build up of fluids within body tissues which leads to growth of your body parts to twice the size of what they used to be. Injury, infection, eczema, allergic reaction, insect bite, pregnancy, and poor kidney and liver conditions are some of the major causes of swelling. Legs and feet, organs, skin, glands, breasts, and ankles are the areas commonly affected by swelling. Although it is a not a condition to go insane about, however, if the swelling is abrupt and severe, immediate medical attention is called for. 

A prolonged swelling that doesn’t go away even after proper rest and treatment calls for expert medical advise. A number of home based remedies are available to provide you instant relief. However, if the condition and pain still persists, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Continue reading to know about the ways to reduce swelling.

Ways To Reduce Swelling

Apply Ice

Good old chilly way to ease pain ice. Applying ice pack to the swollen area will kick that pain right out of you. Take some cubes from the freezer and put them in a towel and rub it on the affected area, if you don’t have an ice pack.

Drink Water Aplenty

Have lots of water bottles stocked in your refrigerator? Drink them all. Although it’ll have you make hourly visits to the washroom, consuming lots of water would help you get rid of those toxins and bad fluids from your body and will lessen the impact of the swollen area and the pain.

For A Change, Rest!

Yes, you heard it right. Nobody will call you a sloth. Put your feet up if you have a swollen ankle, knee, or foot and rest them. Take the weight off that leg and rest.

Balanced Diet

Consume balanced and proportionate diet. Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables. A healthy you will function more effectively than an unhealthy you. Decrease the intake of salt, as it can absorb quite an amount of fluids inside you and leave you dehydrated. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine as all of them aggravate swelling.

Hot Cold Therapy

Immediately after the injury, a combination of cold and hot substances rubbed into the affected area is a sure shot technique to lessen the impact of injury and constrain the pain from getting severe. Both hot and cold therapies work in tandem to move that blood out of the affected area and reduce the pain. Always start and end with cold therapy. This is how it goes - cold hot cold hot cold - with 3-5 minutes for each session.

Exercise Regularly

After you’ve got rid of the swelling, make way for regular exercising in your daily routine. Join a gym which has a qualified trainer and a physician. Tell them about your weak muscle areas and your medical history. Regular exercising will open up those muscles and make them immune to severe injuries or swelling in the future. Have your body massaged every fortnight or month and get that soreness in your muscles and stress kicked out of you.

Follow these home remedies to reduce swelling and make your body pain free. Run! Run like the wind!

How To Lower Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is very common disease today owing to today’s lifestyle. Also called as hypertension, high blood pressure raison d'être ranges from obesity, lack of exercise, bad food habits, excessive alcohol intake, or smoking. It often runs in the family too. Although the symptoms of high blood pressure can be diagnosed medically, it is called ‘silent disease’ as it doesn’t have any signs or symptoms and is recognized only when the high blood pressure has reached a very advanced or life threatening effect. If you are suffering from high blood pressure, there are certain things, which you can do to lower it. Read on to know the tips for lowering your hypertension.

Tips For Lowering Blood Pressure

There is no alternative to healthy eating. If you want to lower your blood pressure you need to stick to a healthy diet which include wholesome grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and provide right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. You need to strictly avoid foods that are high in cholesterol, fat, and sodium.

Exercise is your best friend if you want to lower your blood pressure. Incorporate exercises in your daily life for at least half an hour. Exercises like cardiovascular exercises, aerobics, strength training, jogging, walking etc will help you lower your high blood pressure.

Stress is one of the main culprits of high blood pressure. Under chronic stress the cardiovascular system, goes in the state of overtaxing which results in high blood pressure. Don’t take unnecessary tensions and learn the stress management skill to help you lower your hypertension.

If you are in a habit of smoking, then you may have to face high blood pressure. Quit smoking, there is no other way of lowering hypertension. With this, also avoid drugs and alcohol. Actually these bad habits, damage many organs in the body which in turn causes the build-up of fluids in the body. These extra fluids cause the heart to beat harder which increases the blood pressure.

People, who have high blood pressure, are generally overweight. It just works on a simple principle that extra weight makes the heart works harder and thus causes high blood pressure. Maintain proper weight and if you are overweight, cut down your weight.

Sodium helps in increasing fluids in the body, which makes the heart beat harder and increase the blood pressure. Salt is the main source of sodium so decrease the salt intake from your diet.

If you already are suffering from high blood pressure then avoid caffeine too. Caffeine is a stimulator, which can raise the blood pressure in the body.

According to one study, meditation along with a good diet helps in stabilizing the heart and helps in lowering the blood pressure. Incorporate yoga too in your daily life for better results.

Lycopene is an antioxidant that helps in lowering the blood pressure. Lycopene is found in tomatoes and many other fruits and vegetables. Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Foods like broccoli also help in lowering blood pressure.

You should certainly add Omega 3 essential fatty acids to your diet. A good source of these is flax oil and cod liver oil. You can also take supplements of fish tablets in your diet.  

Incorporate the DASH diet in your lifestyle to help you lower the high blood pressure. DASH stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension." which lays the emphasis on eating whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts, fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods with low saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol.

There are many herbs, which helps in lowering the blood pressure in your body. Rauwolfia, Turmeric, Ginkgo Biloba, Hawthorn Berry, Maitake, Olive Leaf, etc are well known for their beneficial assistance in case of high blood pressure.

How To Cure Insomnia

Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep for a consistent period of time even when the body is trying to shut down on its own. Having said that, insomnia is not a disease but a symptom, and it affects all age groups. However, the severity of it only increases with age. Each one of us, at some point of time in our lives, has had trouble going to sleep or maintaining it for a good period but that doesn’t mean that we are sleep deprived. Once in a while, it is natural to be unable to fall asleep. 

But facing sleeplessness constantly is something you should give a serious thought to. Unlike other medical conditions, insomnia doesn’t kill the body, but problems like excess fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression, and poor concentration arising out of sleep deprivation are no less than a slow poison taking over the body and making us impaired. 

Those who have insomnia or have had it in the past know that it puts one in a purgatorial situation, neither here nor there. But it should be noted that deliberately staying awake doesn’t put you in a state of insomnia. It’s just a bad decision to be doing that unless it’s once in a blue moon. Treatment for insomnia depends on the state of it and their causes; so before moving on to it let’s discuss about the types of insomnia and their causes.

Types Of Insomnia And Their Causes

Transient insomnia generally lasts for less than a week, and is caused by stressful situations (divorce, death, exams etc.), jet lag, and changes in work hours, uncomfortable room temperature, and presence of some medical illness.

Acute or short term insomnia generally lasts for less than a month, and is caused by above disorders when they prolong themselves coupled with physical illnesses like pain, breathing problems, diarrhea, nasal and chest congestion, and fever.

Chronic or long term insomnia lasts for more than a month, and is caused by both psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, some sort of trauma, schizophrenia; and physical disorders like long term pain and fatigue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, sleep apnea, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Any of the above type of insomnia can also be caused by medications being prescribed for the disorders and intake of caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol before going to bed.

Treatment For Insomnia

The treatment for insomnia begins with proper diagnoses with your complete medical history in the hands of a qualified practitioner. The focus will be on a thorough examination and identification of the contributors to the problem. Most of the times, merely curing these causes is enough to induce sleep back into your life. Cure for insomnia can be provided by both non-medical and medical treatments.

Non Medical Treatment

Non medical treatment calls for designing and implementing proper sleep hygiene including exercising, shunning caffeinated beverages or alcoholic beverages and smoke. Eating properly before going to bed, adjusting the room temperature and lighting, following relaxation therapies (meditation, walking before going to bed, or light music), avoiding sleeping in the daytime and maintaining a regular sleep routine will definitely make a difference.

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment works best when combined with non-medical treatment. Medications like benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine sedatives, ramelteon, antihistamines, melatonin, antidepressants, and valerian may be prescribed by the practitioner depending on the diagnoses and your current and previous medical state.

It’s better to seek treatment for insomnia than hoping and waiting for sleep to fall over you. Unless you eliminate the cause for your sleep deprivation, it’s no good waiting for sleep! 

Home Remedies For Ear Infections

The inner ear, the outer ear, and the middle ear constitute the complex structure of the ear. The back of the throat and the nose is connected to the middle ear by the Eustachian tube, through which the fluid drains out through the throat. Sometimes due to a variety of reasons, the tube gets blocked and stops functioning. This results in the accumulation of the fluid in the middle ear that leads to infection. The main reason for the blockage of this tube can be due to cold, flu, and various types of allergies. 

These infections can also be very painful and if they persistsfor a couple of days then medical advice should be sought, otherwise there is a great chance of it leading to deafness. Ear infection is particularly common in children and swimmers. Another type of ear infection is known as the ‘swimmer’s ear’ which infects the ear canal. This is most commonly prevalent among the adults. Generally mild infections last only for a couple of days and so proper medications must be taken to tide over the irritations. The best of course is the various remedies that are available in your kitchen. These home remedies not only save you from the pain but also rid you of the infections. To know more, go through the article below for the various home remedies for ear infections.

Natural Remedies For Ear Infections 

To eliminate the fungus, which causes the ear infection, mix one part of apple cider vinegar with one part of water. Take a cotton ball and soak it in the solution. Now, plug your ear with the cotton ball and keep it for 5 minutes. Tip the head to drain the ear and dry it as much as possible. Apple cider vinegar is very good for fungal infections like swimmer’s ear.

Another effective home remedy for ear infections is tea tree oil. This should be used only if it is a bacterial infection. Mix one part of tea tree oil with one part of water and using a dropper, drop the solution into the ear. Leave it for 5 minutes before tipping the head and draining. Tea tree oil can be used to treat various types of ear infections.

Garlic is also very good in killing the bacteria in the ear. Take a few drops of garlic extract and apply it to the ear to stop the pain as well as the infection. It is especially beneficial if you use the extract two to three times a day, daily. After applying the garlic extract, allow it to set for 3 to 5 minutes and then tilt the head to drain and dry.

Apply a couple of drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the ear and leave for 10 minutes.

Onion is also another effective home remedy for curing ear infections. Take onion juice and heat it till warm. Now apply a couple of drops in the ear and after sometime drain.

Pluck a few tender mango leaves and then crush or grind them to take out the juice. Warm this juice a little and then put three to four drops into each ear.

You can also put 1 to 2 drops of warm olive oil into each ear to cure the irritation as a result of ear infection.

Heat half a teaspoonful of sesame oil and add half a clove of garlic to it. Cool it till warm and then put a few drops into the ear. Keep for 15 minutes and then drain.

Warm mustard oil is also very effective in reducing the chances of ear infections.

Take 1 tablespoon of almond carrier oil, 2 drops of lavender essential oil, 2 drops of chamomile oil, and 3 drops of tea tree essential oil. Heat this mixture till warm and then apply two drops into the ear. Do this thrice a day, daily for the best results.

Herbal Remedies For Sore Throat

Sore throat is the inflammation of the throat, which is mainly caused due to cold, flu, or infections. A person suffering from sore throat feels as if someone is scratching the insides of the throat with a brush. Swallowing is hard and there is constant irritation. Though the ailment runs its course in a few days, still it is very tough to bear without any medication. 

Throughout the world, millions of sore throat sufferers line up to the doctors every year. If the sore throat persists for a long duration then it is better to seek medical help. Various studies have shown that prolonged sore throat can be a sign of some other serious illness. Managing sore throat through the duration that it stays, is very easy and there are a number of herbal remedies available. These remedies give relief from the pain and irritation and also do not have any side effects that tag along with medicines. In the article below are given some herbal remedies to cure the sore throat.

Sore Throat Cure With Herbal Remedies 

Lemon Juice And Honey

Take a glass of warm water and squeeze a lemon into it. Add one tablespoon of honey and stir properly using a spoon. Drink this at least twice a day to get relief from soreness of the throat. Another method is to cut a lemon into slices and then adding a pinch of salt and pepper to it. Make the salt and pepper penetrate the lime by squeezing it lightly. Take care not to drop the juice. Suck on this lime slice. Doing this at least three times a day gives immediate relief for sore throat. 

Cayenne Pepper

In a cup of hot water add one-fourth teaspoon of cayenne pepper and stir. Drink this to cure sore throat.

Chamomile Flowers

Take two teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers and boil them in one cup of water. Drink this four to five times a day. 

Marshmallow Root

In a cup of water add one tablespoon of dried marshmallow root and boil it for ten minutes. Strain it and drink four cups a day. 

Ginger

Ginger is perhaps the most effective and widely used remedy to cure sore throat. Chew thin slices of ginger for immediate relief. You can also prepare tea using crushed ginger and drink it throughout the day. Another method is to grind the ginger and take out the juice. To it mix a teaspoon of honey and drink it. 

Fenugreek (Methi)

In a liter of water, add two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds. Put this and leave it to simmer for about half an hour. Strain and keep it for cooling. Use this water to gargle. 

Holy Basil

Holy basil is very effective in curing sore throat and cough. Crush around ten basil leaves and add it to a cup of water. Keep it for an hour and then strain. Drink this three to four times a day until the soreness is cured.

Salt

Mix one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle your throat. Do this every hour for immediate relief. 

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra)

The licorice herb is a very good herbal remedy. Drink licorice juice or chew some raw licorice for a soothing effect. You can also make tea using licorice powder and drink every couple of hours. 

Bishop's Weed (Ajwain)

Take a glass of warm water and add a teaspoon of bishop’s weed and a pinch of salt. Use this solution to gargle until the soreness disappears.

Healthy Blood Pressure Range

With our lifestyles becoming sedentary and with no time for any physical activity, our body faces a number of complications dealing with which becomes difficult at times. One such health complication which we might face because of our inactive lifestyle and unhealthy eating routines is fluctuation in the blood pressure level of the body. Blood pressure is nothing but the reading of the force which is exerted by the flowing blood on the blood vessels, veins and the arteries. The blood pressure of a person is enough to judge the health of a person. Any fluctuation in the pressure surely indicates the risk pertaining to the health of an individual. 

A healthy blood pressure is the pressure level which is considered to be an ideal pressure level that a person should try and preserve. The healthy pressure rate is measured based on two measurements viz systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the arterial walls when the blood gets pumped out to the arteries, while the latter is the pressure which is measured between two heart beats or when the heart is at the resting stage. The article provides you with tips to maintain healthy blood pressure range. Read on to discover more.

Tips To Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure Range

As per ‘World Health Organisation’ (WHO) the normal blood pressure rate is generally reflected as the systolic or pulse rate value less than 140 and the diastolic value below 90. According to many renowned health organizations, the healthy blood pressure level for an adult will be a systolic pressure between 90-120 and a diastolic pressure between 60-80. According to the ‘National Institute of Health’ the suggested optimum blood pressure level is 120/80 mmHg. After an all-inclusive study of the suggested blood pressure rates of different health organisations, one can say that the exact healthy blood pressure rate reading will be somewhere between 120 and 130 systolic pressure, and between 80 and 85 diastolic pressure. 

Steps To Ensure Healthy Blood Pressure Range

The first step you should take is to maintain a healthy eating pattern. Good intake of food, vegetables, low fat dairy products and other fibre-rich food items will help your pressure level to be on the safer side.

You should take steps to reduce your daily sodium intake in order to keep blood pressure on the healthier side. Try and purchase fresh unprocessed food items, make sure that you read the nutrition fact section on any packaged food you are buying, cut down on consumption of fast food, minimize your use of condiments and salted food items in order to cut down on your consumption of sodium.

Having and maintaining a healthy weight and body mass index (BMI) will also help keep your blood pressure under check. You should try and maintain BMI somewhere between 18- 25. Any measurement below or above this reading can prove to be unhealthy for a person.

You should cut down on your intake of alcohol. Consuming too much of alcohol also can cause fluctuations in the blood pressure level. Keep your alcohol consumption of 2 servings a day and maximum of 9-12 servings a week in order to maintain your pressure level.

Providing physical challenge to your body is the best way to deal with any health issue. A regular exercise routine will definitely keep your blood pressure levels towards the healthier side. Little exercise every day will keep your blood circulation good and will prevent any risk pertaining to blood pressure.

Head Cold Home Remedies

Head cold, often referred to as common cold, is a very frequently occurring illness that affects the young and old alike. Head cold is a viral infection that chiefly affects the mucous membrane of the nose. The most common symptoms of a head cold are headache, sneezing and coughing, runny nose, sometimes accompanied with congestion in the respiratory tract. 

The viral infection normally lasts for more than a week, after which it gradually fades away even without medication. However, the initial period of 10 days can be quite troublesome for the person who has contracted a head cold. Sometimes extreme conditions may lead to a high fever and also flu in certain people. The best medicine for head cold is warmth; the patient must be kept in warm temperatures and should be given warm liquids to drink. If conditions refuse to improve, the patient may also consult a general physician. Here are our suggestions to get rid of head cold at home.

How To Treat A Head Cold

Steam Treatment

Inhaling steam can help you get rid of a running nose and a congested respiratory tract. Take boiling water in a vessel and then place your face above the vessel to take in the hot vapor. Make sure that the steam is not very hot, for it might burn the mucous membrane of the nose. Repeat the process several times throughout the day to completely cure the blocked nose. A nasal spray or humidifier may also be used for the same purpose.

Keep Nose Clean

Inhaling steam may cause mucous to accumulate in the nose. Blow your nose and clear your nose off the mucous instead of sniffing it back. Keep your nose clear at all times of the day if you are to get rid of congestion in your respiratory tract.

Stay Warm

Take rest and keep yourself warm when contracted with a head cold. Sometimes, a head cold may be accompanied by fever. As such, it is advisable to stay wrapped in warm clothes at this point of time even if you feel hot doing so. Also, make it a point to remain stress-free and take rest as far as possible.

Drink Warm Fluids

Warm liquids are very necessary during a head cold as they not only give you comfort, but also keep your system hydrated. Drink more than eight glasses of liquids each day, but avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee as they cause dehydration. Ginger and herbal tea, soup or normal warm water is suggested.

Hot Packs

A head cold often leads to a sinus problem. The best home remedy for sinus pain relief is to use hot packs. Nowadays, a reusable hot pack is available in the market, but you can very well use one available at home. Try a hot water bag or use a warm damp towel to press against the sinus area for relief.

Hot Shower

Though a head cold can make you lazy and you may sometimes be afraid of water, do not avoid a how water bath. You can choose between a warm sponge bath or a steam shower. Hot water brings you instant relief. It helps to ease the pain in muscles which are a frequent occurrence during a head cold and also clears the nose.

Vitamin C Treatment

Drink two glasses of warm lime juice mixed with honey twice every day. This will help increase your resistance power and decrease the duration of the viral attack. You may also try vitamin C enriched tablets prescribed by doctors.

Consumption of Certain Spices

Ginger and turmeric are common spices which cure head cold. Extract the juice of ginger by boiling it in water. Then, add tea leaves to it to make ginger tea. Turmeric, on the other hand, can be helpful by adding it to a cup of warm milk. Both remedies cure throat irritation. Patients with head cold should have both ginger and turmeric at home all the time.  

Follow the above listed home treatments and keep head cold at bay! 

Hair Loss In Children

“Hair today gone tomorrow”, is what you feel when you see little children having no hair on their scalps.. Contrary to popular conception hair loss, is not concentrated just to adults and old age, but can also strike children. Though, it is not a common thing among children, the number is increasing day by day. This condition continues even during their adolescent years, sometimes resulting in permanent hair loss. Luckily a large percentage of children outgrow this hair loss condition. 

However, a small percentage of children, have to deal with the problem throughout their adult life. The hair loss occurs in children due to various reasons. The causes can be a traumatic incident, genetic condition, fungal infections, poor hygiene, medications, or some serious illnesses. For some forms of hair loss, a turn around or complete return of hair happens, but it can take a very long time. If your child is suffering from this condition of hair loss, read below for the causes and treatments that can help you.

Loss Of Hair In Children

Causes For Hair Fall Among Children 

Trichotillomania

This condition in children is characterized by partial loss of hair. This can affect the eyebrows, and the scalp. The hair loss is irregularly spread over the skin. There is a constant urge among the kids to pull their own hair before going to sleep or while watching television. This habit is typically an outcome of the fear psychosis. When the condition gets complicated, the child eats the hair causing digestive complications. This habit is also known as trichophagy. However, the condition improves once the child stops the habit of pulling hair. 

Tinea Capitis

This is a major cause of hair loss among kids. This complication is caused by fungal infection of the scalp, and is a contagious disease. It is also known as ringworm of scalp, and appears as a bare patch of skin on the head. A lot of kids suffer from this type of hair loss because of the damage done to the follicles of the hair. There is a lot of itching, and scaling in the scalp. However, this hair loss condition is curable. 

Alopecia Areata

This condition causes oval or round patches of baldness on the scalp. This condition appears suddenly. The skin exposed is smooth, and the strands near the bald patch may be swollen at the base. Children suffering from this condition also experience ridged or pitted nails. There is no dependable treatment but this condition clears up on its own in about an year. 

Telogen Effluvium 

It is a temporary hair loss caused by trauma, emotional distress, or shock. Sometimes very high fever can be the cause of hair loss among children. At times it can be triggered by some medicines including chemotherapy, too much of vitamin A, crash diets, surgery or bad injuries. This condition affects the efficiency of follicles to regenerate hair. This results in permanent hair loss.  

Traction Alopecia

When parents have a negligent and careless approach towards the hygiene of hair of their child it can be a cause of this type of hair loss. This condition can also happen due to physical damage to the hair. It can result from hair bands, hats, ponytails, rubbing against a hard surface. 

Treatments Of Hair Loss Among Children 

There are three main types of hair loss for which treatment is available. 

Tinea Capitis

An anti-fungal oral and topical treatment is recommended. Visit your physician for medical prescription of oral drugs. There are topical anti-fungal creams available to treat this condition. You might have to get the child a close haircut or a complete shave. Using sulfide based shampoos are helpful in treating this condition. Oral medication and washing the hair with medicated shampoo, once in a week can help the child recover fast. 

Telogen Effluvium

Topical steroids are used for this condition of hair fall among children. Some children respond to it while others do not. Consult a medical expert for prescriptions. There are some side effects of topical steroids like mild irritation of the scalp, so, medical supervision is required for proper treatment. 

Alopecia Areata

This treatment should also be adopted after medical consultation, as the treatment requires cortisone injections in the hair follicles. Sometimes, hair loss can be psychologically disturbing for a child. Hence, a dermatologist tries different medications and treatments to stimulate hair growth.