Immunization is the key to protection from critical diseases. Vaccinations during childhood and adulthood have brought down the high mortality rates caused by life-threatening illnesses. Meningococcal infection was one such dreaded disease that claimed the lives of many people. Thanks to meningitis vaccine shots, meningococcal disease is now preventable. Although rare, meningococcal disease can cause grave conditions in teens and young adults. Once a person contracts this infection, it spreads rapidly, infecting the lining of the brain and spinal cord. In worst cases, the meningococcal infection spreads to the entire brain and spinal cord within a few hours. To get protection from meningococcal disease, it is vital that one takes meningitis vaccine shots. Vaccination is the best way to guard oneself against contracting this dangerous and rapidly spreading infection. All you need to know about the meningitis vaccine Meningococcal infection is not contagious like flu or cold, but the disease can spread through infected respiratory and throat secretions. An infected person can spread this infection by coughing or sneezing around others or by kissing them. Currently, three vaccines shots for meningitis are available in the country. None of these vaccines contain live bacterial cultures. These vaccines essentially contain antigens that trigger the immune system to produce antibodies to fight the meningococcal disease. When the infection enters the body, the antibodies present in the immune system attack and kill the infectious bacteria. The three vaccines available for meningococcal disease are: Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (MenB) The first two options in the list offer protection against four types of meningococcal infections. These infections make up 70% of the meningococcal infection cases in the country. Meanwhile, the MenB vaccine prevents meningococcal disease caused by the Meningococcal B strain of bacteria. The MCV4 vaccine is administered to people aged 55 and younger.

It is commonly observed that people whose diet is irregular, suffer through acid reflux problem. It is a prevalent issue in the digestive system where acids accumulate because of unhealthy eating habits and food contents. Mainly oily food, spicy agents, and acidic caffeine based drinks create excessive acids in the digestive tract which at a certain point cannot digest easily. Hence, a severe stomach problem people suffer is of a hiatal hernia. In this type of condition, the stomach’s upper portion presses upward through the diaphragm under the chest area. The main symptom one could face during the existence of a hiatal hernia is the acid reflux. Discomfort and pain caused after eating a specific type of spicy food items is another primary symptom of the respective condition. What are the food items to avoid? Therefore, a hiatal hernia diet should include non-acidic food preparations and liquid products. Some of the food items and ingredients are listed below: Garlic and onion: Raw or cooked both are acidic. They should curtail in food preparations from the hiatal hernia diet plan. Citrus fruits: It is better to avoid citrus foods entirely such as oranges and limes entirely until acid reflux and discomfort last. Tomato-based food items: Pasta in red sauce, salsa, spaghetti sauce all have high tomato content and should not include in the diet plan. Fried and spicy foods: Burgers, fried chicken, nuggets and food that is high in sodium and eliminated. Which beverages are not allowed in hiatal hernia diet? Anything which has acid and bubbles must be avoided. But to clearly understand what is not healthy for you at all, they are stated below: Wine, beer, spirit based drinks, and alcohol are not allowed Coffee filtered or non-filtered both avoided. Avoid caffeinated teas or ginger based tea preparation Seltzer water and soda drinks wholly banned for the hiatal hernia patients Whole milk which has a high-fat percentage and not pasteurized Symptoms of a hiatal hernia Hiatal hernia diet includes various food preparations that have low fat, few carbohydrates, and zero acidic contents.

While summer is a welcome break for many, it can also become a dreaded time for those who suffer from prickly heat rashes. These reddish, itchy spots can cause a lot of irritation if you don’t resort to the right preventive and curative measures. Heat rashes or sweat rashes commonly occur in tropical, humid climates. Prickly heat rash can occur in adults, children, or even infants. Timely heat rash treatment and preventive measures can help combat the condition effectively. Mild prickly heat rashes usually clear up by themselves, if you reduce your exposure to the sun and maintain good hygiene. The face, neck, chest, back, groin area, under the breasts, and shoulders are likely to be affected by heat rashes. Heat rashes occur when the sweat glands are blocked and the sweat is unable to reach the skin surface to evaporate. This clogging of the sweat pores causes inflammation or rashes. Common causes of heat rashes include the following: Over-exposure to the sun Poor personal hygiene Heavy creams or lotions Wearing tight clothing Symptoms of heat rash Prickly heat is also referred to as miliaria rubra. They are characterized by tiny red bumps on the skin that are accompanied by an itchy or prickly feeling. The prickly sensation feels like a sunburn. The tiny blisters look like beads of sweat or bubbles. Heat rashes may spread to other parts of the body as well. However, it is not an infectious skin condition that could spread to others. There are mainly three types of heat rash: Clear or miliaria crystallina – This is the mildest form that usually disappears on its own Red or miliaria rubra – This occurs on the outer skin layer in the form of tiny red bumps Deep or miliaria profunda – It occurs due to repeated bouts of heat rash that may inflame deeper skin layers.

The number of kidney patients has increased by the time because of various lifestyle issues. In chronic kidney diseases, the organ cannot function the way it is naturally supposed to. It is neither considered as kidney failure nor fully functional. A moderate problem occurs in the glomerular filtration rate known as GFR, which leads to the stage 3 kidney disease. However, at this particular stage, the necessity to transplant a kidney or undergo dialysis treatment is not operational. It is better to detect as early as possible so that medication and proper diet control can prevent the disease to increase further. How is stage 3 kidney disease diagnosed? When a patient starts complaining about urination, pain in legs, and pain in the kidney areas and finds difficult to do regular household jobs, then one must go for a blood test on doctor’s recommendation. A perceptive analysis executed for kidney function, i.e., GFR. There are specific measures used for the particular test such as- age, race, sex, serum, and creatinine. A blood test is utilized to determine the creatinine and serum levels in the body. The kidneys do not function properly when the creatinine levels are higher than expected and a waste of the body such as fluid can’t be removed easily. Hence, the stage 3 kidney disease is divided into two segments- Stage 3 A The range of GFR is 45-59mL/min (moderate chronic kidney disease) Stage 3 B The range of GFR is 30-44mL/min (mild chronic kidney disease) What are the primary symptoms? People suffering through stage 3 kidney disease may get alarmed with specific symptoms. Some significant warning signs listed below- Excessive fluid retention The loss of protein is higher through urine, and that is the reason why kidneys can’t determine the amount of fluid that should retain. This malfunction of kidney results in fluid retention.

If you have diabetes, you may experience pain, numbness, and other issues in your feet. Here are some simple tips that can help in reducing diabetes foot problems. People who have diabetes often experience certain foot problems. This happens because too much blood sugar in your body causes poor blood circulation and even nerve damage, resulting in diabetes foot problems like blisters, corns and calluses, bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and fungal infections. Though these diabetes foot problems may seem petty and you may wish to ignore them, leaving such issues untreated can lead to severe pain or infections. If you notice any such diabetes foot problems, do not delay seeking medical treatment. In addition, you can take a few steps to keep your feet healthy and thus prevent or reduce any diabetes foot problems. Here are some handy and simple tips that can help in taking care of your feet. Check your feet daily Spend a few minutes every day to check both your feet carefully, as you may have certain diabetes foot problems even if you don’t feel any pain. Examine your feet for any blisters, redness, infected toenails, or other similar problems. Remember to check between all your toes, and make a note of any new changes. If you find it difficult to check your feet on your own (for example, because of a physical challenge), ask a family member for help. But do not get lazy and ignore this routine for few days. Wash your feet with warm, not hot, water Keeping your feet clean is important in preventing diabetes foot problems, so wash your feet every day for a brief period. It is vital that you use warm water, which is not hot, to wash your feet. Avoid soaking your feet for a long time, and dry them properly immediately after you are done washing them.

Turmeric is often known as a magical herb. It is because of the amazing benefits this organic spice offers. Everybody knows that it is used as an essential ingredient in curries, but this spice has many more advantages to offer. The color of turmeric is bright yellow, and it has significant similarities with ginger. Firstly, people boil it and then it is sun-dried before being ground into a powder. The flavor of turmeric is peppery and warm, and it also has a light fragrance. Huge demand all around the world Turmeric can be described as a perennial herb, and it is native to India. The scientific name of this spice is Curcuma Longa. The herb is taken from the plant’s rhizome, and it requires a particular environment and temperature to survive. And this is the reason why this herb is not extensively cultivated all around the world. At the mean time; the demand and desirability are really high across the world. In India and some other Asian countries, it is widely used as an ingredient in various types of curries and foods such as biscuits, meat dishes, soups, rice preparations, and much more. Here are six of the most prominent turmeric benefits: Excellent anti-inflammatory properties Turmeric acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Although many healthy active ingredients can be found in turmeric, curcumin is the most important ingredient. The medical community is highly appreciative about this compound because of its amazing abilities as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. It has become a very powerful pharmaceutical option to lower inflammation, and that is why consuming turmeric is highly advocated for lowering gout and arthritic pain. It is also used to reduce the muscle pain after having met with an injury or exercise. Normal consumption of turmeric offers relief to all these conditions, and it can also be used in the topical form.

Nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is an unpleasant problem. It is caused by moisture, fungus, mold, and yeast. When moisture traps in warm and dark places, it allows the fungus to thrive. For example, a regular wearing of shoes causes fungus in the toenails. The nail fungus infection starts as a yellow or white spot at the tip of the nail. Gradually, the spot progresses and thickens and causes the nail to crumble/brittle. The nail color may change either turn dark or dull. In the worst case, nail separates from the nail bed resulting in onycholysis. Here are some of the best home remedies for nail fungus: Tea tree/orange oil: Tea tree oil has antibacterial and fungicidal and disinfectant properties. When the orange oil is mixed with tea tree oil, it gives wonderful results to treat fungus. Take one teaspoon of tea tree oil, half teaspoon of orange oil, and a half teaspoon of olive oil and mix them. After this, dip some cotton balls in the mixture and apply it on the nail affected by fungus. Allow the oil to dry. You can even add 4–5 drops of tea tree oil in water and dip your feet in it. Try both of these home remedies for nail fungus twice a day for better results. Coconut oil: Coconut oil works like a miracle and is one of the most effective home remedies for nail fungus. The fatty acids present in coconut oil absorb into the lipid layer of the fungal membrane and interfere with it. This causes the cells to disintegrate and destroy the nail fungus. Wear gloves and rub coconut oil on the affected nail. Allow the nail to absorb the oil and dry. Follow this two times a day to cure the nail. Baking soda and vinegar:

When there is constant, stabbing pain toe that just cannot stop hurting, it means you are suffering from gout. In the US, millions of people suffer from gout. The condition is more common in men than the women. Gout is a condition caused by the development of uric-acid in the body. When uric acid crystallizes in joints and causes inflammation and unbearable pain, this indicates the gout attack. Simple measures to cure gout are listed below. Pain relievers Medications the help in pain relief for gout are generally the effective over-the-counter pain medications that help one prevent the attack. Some examples of these medications are anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen. It is better to ask a medical practitioner for safe medication. Prescription drugs Taking prescription drugs helps in pain relief for gout. If you had gout attack in the past, it is better to take the similar medications in pain as recommended before. There are many kinds of stronger medication such as codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. A corticosteroid can be either taken orally or through injection in the affected joint. There is one more oral medication known as colchicines is helpful in gout. It has been observed that this medication helps in pain relief for gout and reduce inflammation within 24 hours of a gout attack. Ice One home remedy for gout is the application of ice on the affected joint. Cold therapy can be a great method for pain relief for gout and would act as an anti-inflammatory agent to suppress the pain. Elevation of joint An affected foot usually can be treated with elevation joint that involves RICE therapy. RICE stands for rest, compression and elevation. It can be a great way to relive a pain of gout attack. Rest Giving your joint a comfortable time during the attack helps minimize the pain.

Hemorrhoids, commonly known as piles, is a disease characterized by swollen veins that are located in the lower rectum or around the anus. As per studies, nearly every 9 out of 10 people experience hemorrhoids from time to time. Therefore, it is necessary to know the symptoms along with different hemorrhoid treatments option that can help us tackle it efficiently. There are two types of hemorrhoids; they can either be external or internal. External hemorrhoids, as the name suggests, usually develop outside of the anus. Internal hemorrhoids, on the other hand, develop within the rectum or anus. External hemorrhoids are found to be more troublesome and pain causing. Before discussing different hemorrhoid treatments, let’s look at the symptoms first. Below mentioned are some of the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Itching coupled with pain around the anus. Irritation and swelling near the anus. Fecal leakage Extreme pain during bowel movements Blood discharge on the tissue after passing stool. Hemorrhoid treatments Pain relief – If severe pain is experienced, it is best advised to soak the affected area in a tub of warm water for a minimum of 10 minutes. This is a good option for relieving pain. Using a hot water bottle is also a good option to relieve pain caused due to external hemorrhoids. However, in case the pain becomes unbearable, an over-the-counter medicated suppository can be used to get relief from itching and burning. Fiber supplements – When suffering from constipation, it is best to use fiber supplement as it helps in help softening stool and makes bowel movement easier. Psyllium and methylcellulose are two common over-the-counter supplements of this type for hemorrhoid treatments. Home remedies Maintaining good personal hygiene is a must. Basic hemorrhoid treatments include cleaning of the anus with warm water every day while taking a shower.

In today’s world, people end up having a reaction to a range of substances which was not a common phenomenon in earlier times. Whether they are food allergies, dust allergies, pollen or smoke, people with a weak immunity system fall prey to allergies. There is a host of reasons for dust allergies, and these may include dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, pet hair or fur. Primarily, the reason behind almost all dust allergens is dust mites, which are tiny bugs that survive in almost all climates. The onset of a dust allergy can be realized by certain symptoms. These include: Frequent sneezing Watery or teary eyes Runny nose Itching The most effective dust allergy treatment is to prevent exposure to allergens. Allergens are the foreign bodies such as dust mites and pollen, which tend to trigger allergies. Limiting exposure to such allergens is an effective way, to prevent the onset of your allergy. The following are some dust allergy treatments, that are bound to help: Medications for dust allergy treatment The use of medications such as several over-the-counter and prescription ones. The reduction of inflammation with fewer side effects than the oral medication is what makes nasal corticosteroids an effective dust allergy treatment. To help relieve a runny nose, sneezing, and itching, antihistamines have proven extremely useful. Shrinking the nasal passage to make it easier to breathe, which is done by decongestants, is another dust allergy treatment Antihistamines and decongestants are present in certain medications like Actifed, which is also an effective dust allergy treatment. Immunotherapy is long-term dust allergy treatment that involves getting allergy shots, or a prescription medicine that acts as an allergy shot. Home remedies for dust allergy treatment In addition to the medications mentioned above, there are a number of home remedies that one may use as an effective means of dust allergy treatment.

Any type of allergy can be exhausting. Most allergies can make the strongest of us feel weak and worn down. Sinus allergies are some of the most excruciating ones. These allergies can overwhelm most people and can make even the most trivial day-to-day tasks seem overwhelming. Studies have shown that allergies if left untreated can worsen. This can cause infections as well as complicate the functions of the body in numerous ways. These range from stomach ailments to complicated heart issues. This is why doctors recommend treatment as soon as possible. The recommended approach towards allergies has always been prevention. Protecting the body means preparing and understanding allergies. The first crucial step towards combating allergies would be to understand what the possible sinus allergy signs are. Once the sinus allergy signs have been identified, the next step is symptomatic treatment. This means treating the symptoms to help weaken the overall allergy. The ideal situation for this form of treatment is that the allergy itself will become manageable and heal itself. However, if the body doesn’t recover naturally, medication is recommended. It is crucial to identify key sinus allergy signs by recognizing the symptoms of the possible allergy when it begins to manifest at an early stage. Here are some of the key sinus allergy signs. Nasal identifiers The first sign of any allergy is any kind of irritation inside the nose. These irritations can manifest in different ways. Watch out for any itching inside the nostrils. This itchiness can escalate to sneezing which is the second sinus allergy sign. Provided the itch and sneezing persist, the third sign of an allergy is a stuffy nose. Sinus allergy signs initially are similar to those of a common cold. The final nasal identifier for sinus allergies is a runny nose. If all four symptoms persist over a period of time, it might be an indication of an allergy.

Cramps are a sudden and painful contraction of a muscle. Leg cramps, especially on the calf muscles, occur as you fall asleep or as you wake up. However, sometimes the cramps can be in the thigh or foot. Causes of Leg Cramps at Night Although exact causes of these cramps are not known, there are many reasons for it to occur. Some of them are: Sometimes, too much exercise, an injury or even excessive pressure to the muscle can lead to leg cramps Dehydration is another reason Pregnant women having deficiency of calcium and magnesium have high risk of leg cramps Cold environment or exposure to cold water may be one of the reasons for leg cramps Another reason might be deficiency of potassium and calcium in the bloodstream Sitting in a single position for hours, standing on hard surfaces for extended periods, or sleeping in awkward positions. Certain medications such as birth control, diuretics, antipsychotics, and steroids. Medical conditions affecting the kidney, thyroid, and multiple sclerosis. Treating Leg Cramps At Night There are many ways you can ease the cramp. Try these methods, and you will know how to treat leg cramps at night. Stretching Simply stretching the muscle that is cramping will give you instant relief. If you were sleeping in an awkward position, make sure you be aware of it the next time. Stretch the muscle gently by pumping your heel up and down and then hold the stretch for 30 seconds. Repeat the process until the cramp eases up. This is one way how you can treat leg cramps at night. Heat Remedy Use a heat pack directly to the muscle, as it can be a very effective method to relax the muscle. You can use a heat pack on the muscle when you experience leg cramps at night.