Archive for the ‘Body Care’ Category

Chest cold is a medical condition that is caused due to the formation of mucus in the bronchial tubes. Chest cold, also called as acute bronchitis, is very much contagious. Early diagnosis of this condition is important to prevent it from spreading to others. Mild headache, tiredness, body pain, watery eyes and dry throat are some of the symptoms of chest cold.

Since, chest cold is considered contagious and acute, consulting a physician is important to stop its recurrence and further infection. Antibiotics are generally prescribed for bronchitis if it is in the mild stage. However, there are also some natural remedies available to treat chest cold. Use of apple cider vinegar to treat acute bronchitis is a widely accepted home based remedy. The concentration of apple cider vinegar can be reduced by adding some warm water to it. It acts as a natural antibiotic to treat mucus in the bronchial tubes.

Normal functioning of heart can be disturbed due to a combination of various factors like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes; fats in cells and depression. These factors either directly or indirectly contributes to heart diseases. Herbal therapies used to control heart diseases are extremely safe compared to pills and drugs.

Use of olive oil for cooking checks the cholesterol level as it contains no mono saturated fatty acids. Garlic either cooked or in supplements can act as a blood thinning agent and an excellent source of antioxidants. Adding two or three garlic flakes to the diet can protect our heart from diseases. Ginkgo biloba is another blood thinning agent that can help in improving overall circulation of blood to the heart. Onions that we use everyday has the ability to ease the path of coronary arteries by raising the High density lipoprotein. Soy, turmeric, ginger and green tea are few other herbs that supports healthy heart.

Diabetes in general can be divided into two types: Type 1 and Type 2. Identifying the type can be done by trained practitioners. Type 1 diabetes is more common among children and young people in their thirties, whereas type 2 is widely seen among people of age group greater than 40. Dehydration, excessive urination, low energy, sudden weight loss, confused state of mind and eye sight problem are some the major symptoms of both types of diabetes. Smoking and intake of alcohol increases the risks of diabetes and hence it should be avoided.

A good balanced diet is necessary for a diabetic to gain the lost energy through sweat and urine. It also helps in maintaining the sugar level of the body. Avoiding food items containing high carbohydrates; excess fat and calories; and physical activities such as walking, running, cardio workouts are some of the effective ways to treat diabetes. Regular check- ups also help in keeping diabetes under control.

Whenever a physical action is performed, we lose some energy in the form of calories. This process is termed metabolism and rate at which it loses refers to metabolism rate. Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR) is one of the popular ways used to measure it.

Several factors control the rate of metabolism in our body and it changes from person to person. Though every workout is intended to increase the metabolism rate, few mistakes or improper planning can produce negative results. Here are some of the common workout mistakes that affect metabolism rate:

Performing workouts without eating food not only lowers the metabolism rate but also results in muscle loss. Next mistake is the repetition of a single workout for longer duration. This is because that the muscles gets used to the weight and procedures leading to low metabolism rate. Inconsistency, setting unrealistic goals and insufficient knowledge are few others factors that can affect metabolism rate.

When it comes to tackling high blood pressure, apart from medications, there are plenty of widely accepted home remedies available. Though these remedies are not scientifically proven, it is claimed that they are very effective. It is quite strange, but true that high blood pressure can be kept in control through the food we intake.

Avoiding food items that contain excess amount of sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats can help in keeping the pressure level under control. Planning the diet for whole week and sticking to that plan is the first step to be taken while tacking high blood pressure. This diet should include foods that are rich in potassium, magnesium and antioxidants. Potato, banana, corn, dry fruits, green leafy vegetables, skimmed milk, fish and wheat are some of the best sources of potassium and magnesium. Practicing meditation and yoga regularly at home can also help in controlling high blood pressure.

Surgery which is done to improve the appearance and beauty of a person’s teeth is recognised as Cosmetic dental surgery. Cosmetic dental surgery includes implantation of missing teeth, teeth whitening, reshaping of teeth, bridging and bonding of teeth. People go for teeth whitening to have a graceful smile and also it reduces staining and discoloration. Teeth bonding include reshaping of teeth, filling the gaps between teeth and removal of any tooth decay.

To get rid of any type of gum disease and improvement in speech dental bridging is an option which is included in cosmetic dental surgery. However after going for teeth bridging extensive care should be taken for oral hygiene. Tooth contouring is also a part of cosmetic dental surgery which helps in repairing of cracked or chipped teeth. Dental filling is more common and popular type of cosmetic dental surgery. It involves removal of cavities from teeth and filling them with some composite materials like resins. Usually preferred and most commonly used fillings include metal fillings like gold, silver and mercury.

The process of reconstructing teeth, gum, jaw or a combination of any of these into the mouth of any common person is known as Reconstructive dental surgery. The need for reconstructive dental surgery arises if someone looses their teeth, gums or jaws as a result of an accident or due to heredity. Though reconstructive dental surgery results in poor oral hygiene but it is very essential for a person who finds difficult to speak and chewing due to some disorder or injury in mouth, or those who lost their teeth.

Some other problems which leads people to go for reconstructive dental surgery are overcrowding, jaw injuries, temporomandibular joint (TMJ).Dentists create new teeth with some different compound materials. To protect the normal functioning teeth from other damaged ones, reconstructive dental surgery is chosen. For repairing and rebuilding of the bridges and to implant teeth where they are missing reconstructive dental surgery is suggested.

Razor bumps are actually ingrown hair that causes red swellings on the face, especially due to incorrect shaving. Often, when one shaves, the hair might get cut at an awkward angle and then grow back into the skin, leading to this condition. Quite painful, razor bumps could also be caused by using dull blades or using the razor in an improper manner.

A few tips, however, can be followed to avoid getting razor bumps on the skin –

Apply shaving cream and let it remain on the area to be shaved for a few minuted before you start shaving.
Try using single blade razors, since the new-fangled three or four blade razors are truly not that effective and can have excess deposit sticking to the blades making shaving a difficult thing
Change your razor blades, regularly, at least once a week. Dull blades can lead to more razor bumps.
Never stretch the skin while shaving, since the hair might snap back and lead to bumps. Let your skin be relaxed when you shave.
The last but almost the most important tip, try to avoid shaving n a daily basis if you are prone to razor bumps.

Always try to remember that softer hair, relaxed skin and sharp blades are best for shaving and will always help you be razor bump free.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and provides us sensory perceptions that help us live. Like all other organs, the skin is also quite susceptible to diseases, in fact, more so since it is always exposed. There are vast number of skin diseases that can affect the skin, the most common being skin rashes or allergies, acne and the like. Skin ailments are usually caused by hormonal changes, but they can be hereditary too.

The types of skin ailments that can affect the skin include –

Acne is the most common skin aliment and is generally called a pimple. Caused by the clogging up of skin pores by excess sebum, these affect individuals as young as 10 years old.

Eczema, which causes skin rashes or peeling off of the upper layer of the skin, is another common skin ailment.

Psoriasis is another skin ailment, which causes scaly skin, which is dry and inflamed and causes a lot of itching.

Dermatitis, where the skin becomes excessively dry, even to the point of peeling off is another skin ailment. This causes the skin to crack and become inflamed.

Apart from these common skin ailments, there are many others that are not listed here. In fact, skin ailments are the most common disease across the world. However, if one is a little conscious and careful with one’s skin, taking good care of it and eating a healthy diet, such skin ailments can be easily avoided.

More and more cases of sinusitis are coming to the fore with every passing day. Sinusitis is caused by the inflammation or infection of sinuses that are basically air cavities located within the facial skull around the nose. A person can suffer from acute sinusitis that lasts for less than a month or subacute sinusitis that lasts between 4 to 8 weeks or chronic sinusitis that can continue for over 8 weeks at a time.

Some of the common symptoms of sinusitis are given below:

• Difficulty in nasal breathing
• Facial pain and swelling in and around the nasal area including dental and jaw pain
• Congestion of the nasal cavity
• Fever and headache
• Foul smell of the nasal drainage
• Snoring during sleep

To get some relief from sinusitis, you can try the following treatments:

• Antibiotics to eliminate bacterial infection
• Pain relievers to reduce the soreness
• Nasal spray and other decongestants to reduce nasal blockage.