Macular degeneration causes a loss of central vision in both eyes. It is a painless condition that normally affects people who are older than 50 years. It is commonly known as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). There are also rare cases of Juvenile Macular Degeneration, which affects young people. Certain genetic disorders are the cause of the development of juvenile macular degeneration. When a person suffers from Macular Degeneration, the central vision is affected. So, there is difficulty in focusing on objects that lie straight ahead. The result is that everything appears blurred, it becomes difficult to read, the faces of people appear blurred and colors of objects around you look pale and dull. Causes The exact cause for macular degeneration isn’t known yet. Aging can cause a person to develop this condition. In older people, the macula, which is a central spot in the retina, develops a problem and causes age-related macular degeneration. AMD can develop as wet AMD or dry AMD. Dry AMD The macula has light-sensitive cells that gradually break down as you age. As the light-sensitive cells reduce in number, the central vision deteriorates. Waste products start to accumulate in the retina and cause small deposits called drusen. As the drusen increases in size, vision problems arise. Drusen is a characteristic feature of dry AMD. Wet AMD Tiny blood vessels form underneath the macula attempt to clear the drusen from the retina. These blood vessels cause fluid and blood to leak into the macula, leading to scarring and macular damage. This can lead to serious symptoms like blind spots and distorted vision. Symptoms Macular degeneration escapes attention, till you experience diminished vision. The primary symptom is blurred central vision. Faces, writing, and images get distorted in the central view. You lose visual acuity. You cannot see the fine details, and it becomes difficult for you to read and drive.

Coughing for long hours is problematic. It can even cause your muscles to ache and brings with it chronic cold and flu. An allergic cough has many causes such as acid reflux, allergies, dry air, smoking, and asthma. Prolonged medications for diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and allergies can even result in a cough People who suffer from an allergic cough generally prefer to take the over-the-counter medications. Cough suppressant drugs remove the allergens and alleviate a cough. However, you can even bring a change in the lifestyle habits and use the herbal remedies to get rid of an allergic cough. Some of the allergy cough treatments are as follows. Stay Hydrated Infection such as cold or flu in the upper respiratory tract causes the postnasal drip. The secretions escape down the throat and aggravate a cough. High intake of water and fluids thin out the mucus in the nose. It keeps the mucous membranes moist. Hydration is necessary during winters when the air is dry. Lozenges and Hot drinks Warm tea with added honey relieves a sore throat. Menthol is a good cough syrup which numbs the throat. Hot drinks reduce the cough reflex. Stay away from pollutants Pollutants and allergens such as smoke, bathroom sprays, and perfumes pollute the air. They even enhance the chronic sinus irritation which results in the production of extra mucus. Avoid the usage of products which produce scents in the air. People addicted to smoking get the smoker’s cough. People who breathe in the smoke-polluted air also suffer from grave consequences. Smokers must quit smoking as it is the best solution and suggestion for them. Humidifiers Humidifiers relieve dried out noses. Humidifiers give an adequate level of moisture in the nose and prevent an allergy cough. However don’t use it too much. Clean the nose regularly to prevent the occurrence of bacteria and fungus.

A migraine is a headache that occurs due to physiological changes in the brain. It can be severe and is usually more intense than regular headaches. Most people who suffer from migraines complain of an intense pain on one side of the head. However, some people suffer from migraine pain on both sides of the head. Migraines last for hours and sometimes even days. It is associated with sensitivity to sound, light, and smell. Unfortunately, the experts have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of migraines. What they do know is that migraines are set off by triggers. Each person’s trigger is different. Sometimes, a person even can have multiple triggers. A migraine with aura Some people experience physiological signs before they have a full-blown migraine. This is known as the aura of a migraine. The signs can include flashing lights, nausea, and tingling. The aura usually starts several minutes before an actual migraine begins. It gives the patient enough time to take any preventive measures. Remedies for migraines The remedies for migraines are of two types. The first type is preventive, while the second one includes any treatment that is taken after a migraine begins. Preventive remedies for migraines Learn to cope (LTC) – It is a recent method of treating patients who suffer from migraines. In this treatment, patients are exposed to small measures of triggers. This way, patients can develop resistance to the triggers. Slowly, as the treatment progresses, the patient will find that they don’t suffer from migraines as often as they used to. Create a schedule and stick to it – Studies have shown that migraines can occur when a person has erratic lifestyle patterns. There have been cases where a patient will suffer from a migraine attack even if they wake up a few minutes before they usually do.

Bacterial meningitis is so severe that it can cause permanent disability, stroke, sepsis, paralysis and even death. It is the most dangerous of all kinds of meningitis. Thus, it calls for immediate medical attention. Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes known as meninges that outline the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can be viral, parasitic, non-infectious, bacterial and fungal. While viral is the most common type, bacteria is the most serious one. The mortality rate was 34% for bacterial meningitis in 2006, and about 50% people have gone through long-term effects even after recovery. This is why it is essential to start the treatment with antibiotics as soon as it is diagnosed. The bacteria causing bacterial meningitis include Streptococcus pneumonia and Group B Streptococcus. It is to be noted that vaccines have noticeably reduced the occurrence of bacterial meningitis. Facts about Bacterial Meningitis A few facts about bacterial meningitis are given below: Between 2003 and 2007, about 4100 cases were registered every year in the USA of bacterial meningitis. Approximately 500 of them were fatal. Bacterial meningitis is the second most common but the most severe kind of meningitis. Infants are at higher risk of bacterial meningitis. It spreads in places with a massive gathering like college campuses. Early signs of meningitis include a headache, stiff neck, vomiting, nausea, confusion and sensitivity to light. It is imperative to seek immediate medical attention when meningitis strikes. To prevent meningitis, it is important to vaccinate yourself. Three types of meningitis are Hib, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Neisseria meningitides, which need to be prevented by vaccines. Causes and Risk Factors The bacteria causing bacterial meningitis include: Neisseria meningitides Haemophilus influenza type B Listeria monocytogenes Streptococcus pneumonia Group B Streptococcus People are affected by different strains as per their ages. Meningitis-causing bacteria pass from person to person.

Cellulite is a prevalent condition that you can treat at home. About 80 to 90% of women experience cellulite at least once in their life. Cellulite forms when there is an imbalance in the fat and the connective tissues in the body. Cellulite can be a result of hormonal, diet, or lifestyle changes. You cannot predict when it happens so it may happen to anyone, at any time. While you could opt for surgeries and treatments, you can always find the cure right at your house. There are simple ways in which you can completely get rid of cellulite at home. Cellulite treatment can be done for any person as it does not have any side effects. Get Rid Of Toxins One major factor that contributes to cellulite is toxins. The toxins in your system collect when you have a lot of refined sugars, packed foods, and other substances. This collection of unhealthy products creates a reaction leading to cellulite. The pockets formed due to cellulite is filled with toxins. However, this is a process that takes years to show on your skin. So, the best treatment you can go for is removing the toxins and preventing more from entering the body. There are many ways you can clean your body. Start with increasing your water intake. Coconut Oil Coconut oil is known for its medicinal effects and is sure to help you treat cellulite. Cellulite treatment with coconut oil is an age-old remedy and it can be done at home. Brushing the dry skin using the coconut will help you remove the pockets from the skin. The effect may take some time to show, but the process is sure to improve the condition. You can try this process on any part of the skin. The brushing helps tighten the epidermis layer of the skin.

Experiencing severe pain in the head, which is primarily of a disabling nature, is known as a migraine. A migraine can often be accompanied by nausea, difficulty to perform due to sensitivity to light and sound, inability to bear the pain above the eye sockets, etc. A migraine may feel like a headache but the attack includes a variety of symptoms. The International Headache Society recognizes various types of migraines. Migraines can also be diagnosed by keeping track of your symptoms and by taking tests such as an MRI, eye exam, etc. There are various home remedies for migraine headache. A migraine does not have a universal treatment option, and the treatment has to be adopted individually. Caffeine has several benefits and is believed to block certain receptors that might lead to migraine headaches. Caffeine is also popularly combined with various medications with other painkillers. Certain people are recommended to not take caffeine as the brain can learn to develop tolerance to the intake of caffeine. A strong cup of coffee can help stop or control an attack. Caffeine in high doses can also lead to a rebound headache, therefore, has to be consumed in limited intakes. Tea also has caffeine in it. Green tea has been used for relieving migraine headaches but for some migraine sufferers; chamomile tea has been helpful in relieving certain migraine sufferers. Flaxseed and Flaxseed oil are rich in Omega-3 which is an essential fatty acid and lignans. It is a superfood that can help evacuating the bowels properly, and therefore help some migraine sufferers. These can be used as great home remedies for a migraine headache. Increasing your intake of water is the easiest thing to do and helps control the trigger for a migraine. Water intake that is recommended for each individual is half of the body weight, as 70 percent of our body is made up of liquid.

Everyone wants a crystal clear eyesight and healthy eyes. We completely depend on our vision for normal functioning, that the thought of diminishing vision is often terrifying. To make sure that you keep your eyes healthy, as you age. It’s important to know the best vitamins for the eyes. Vitamins are organic compounds that are required by the body in adequate amounts. An organic compound is said to be a vitamin when the body cannot synthesize that particular compound, but that compound is necessary for normal body functions. Hence, the best way to get vitamins is to consume them in your diet. Supplementation of vitamins may be required in deficiency states, but not for healthy individuals. Currently, 13 recognized vitamins are essential for the human body. Vitamins perform a diverse range of functions. They can regulate mineral metabolism, hormone production, cell growth regulation, and also some of them are antioxidants. Vision care: The best vitamins for the eyes It is estimated that 75% of people notice a change in their visual acuity by the age of 50. Taking the best vitamins for the eyes is a good preventative measure. The best vitamins for the eyes include: Vitamin A You might have been told that eating carrots are important for good eyesight. But what about carrots that make it so good for the eyes? Carrots are a rich source of vitamin A, which helps to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts. Carrots also contain beta-carotene and rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is a pigment found in the eyes, that is responsible for night vision. Without this pigment, you wouldn’t be able to see clearly at night, or in low-light situations. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and is found in foods like—liver, leafy vegetables, oranges, pumpkins, carrots, yellow fruits, fish, soy milk, and cow milk.

Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, means low blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body. It usually occurs in people with diabetes. It can be a side effect of insulin or other types of diabetes medicines. Generally, the acceptable range of blood sugar is 70 to 100 mg/dL. In case of diabetic patients, 70 mg/dL or less indicates low blood sugar. However, diabetes medication is not the only cause of low blood sugar. Medications that don’t suit your body, or any exercise or diet, can lead to low sugar levels. Therefore, you mustn’t be careless about your sugar levels and should keep a thorough record to prevent its diminution below the permissible limit. Also, the brain needs glucose to function efficiently and low sugar can cause loss of energy for brain function, leading to poor attention and cognitive function. The brain senses the drop in sugar. This biochemical process then alerts the person that they need food or water—if neglected or left untreated, it can lead to coma or death. In worse case scenario, an injection of glucagon is given to the affected person as the person finds it difficult to eat anything in a normal manner. The glycogen immediately raises the sugar levels to relatively normal. There are many symptoms that can help you recognize low blood sugar levels (they differ from person to person). Symptoms of low blood sugar Anxiety: One of the symptoms of low blood sugar is anxiety. In anxiety or stress, the blood sugar consumption increases which cause an adrenaline rush. This, in turn, causes low blood sugar due to the fluctuations in the energy levels. Hunger: Mild hypoglycemia makes you feel hungry while high or severe hypoglycemia leads to unconsciousness. Food then breaks down into sugar that enables functioning of our body. The sudden hunger pangs are one of the major symptoms of low blood sugar.

Diverticulitis is a severe medical implication. It is caused by the swelling of the diverticula. Diverticula are the pouches along the lining of the large intestine. An exertion of pressure causes weak spots in the intestinal wall. Due to this, the intestine bulges the colonic wall structure outwards. Diverticulitis occurs among people after the age of forty. As individual ages, the symptoms of diverticulitis are often seen. Initially, diverticulitis is characterized by minor infection or inflammation. But it can aggravate and tear, and cause the serious problem of diverticulitis. Some of the medical conditions related to diverticulitis include abdominal pain, fever, bloody bowel movements, and nausea. Diverticulitis can be treated with medications. However, if the problem is serious, surgeries are other viable approaches. Making lifestyle changes is the best way to control the worsening of diverticulitis over time. Changing the diet proves helpful for treating diverticulitis. There are certain foods which you must take and avoid. Include the good foods and stay away from the bad foods if you want to prevent the aggravation of diverticulitis. The diet for diverticulitis works efficiently to give the digestive system enough time to rest. It includes liquids and easily-digestible food. These food products are digested quickly and don’t strain the digestive tract. What is the right diet for diverticulitis? Liquid Diet: The intake of liquid diets must be increased. Some of the liquid diets you must take are water, ice chips, fruit juices that don’t contain pulp (apple), vegetable juice, skimmed tea or coffee, gelatin, and broth. If the symptoms of diverticulitis improve with the intake of the liquid diet, your doctors may suggest the intake of fiber diet. He will start with the low-fiber diet and then recommend the high fiber diet. Some of the low fiber foods include eggs, fish, and white bread, cooked foods without seeds, foods without skin, green beans, and juices without pulp, white rice, yogurt, milk, pasta, and low-fiber cereals.

A stye is a small, red, tender bump, either inside or outside of of the eyelid. Stye pops out when the area under the base of the eyelashes or the glands get clogged or irritated. A stye can occur only in one eye or both the eyes at the same time. Medically known as Hordeolum, Stye is caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that occurs inside the eye and is more painful than the one on the outer side of the eyelid. The factors that contribute to the occurrence of styes include diabetes, stress, and chronic blepharitis. Symptoms At the outset, the area near your eyelid becomes red and there is tenderness in that area. Other indicators are a red bump with a pus spot in the center, excessive tears, feeling of some foreign particle in the eye, crusting along the eyelids, sensitivity to bright light, itchiness around the eye, and more. Treatment options In most cases, styes burst go away on their own. They heal in about a week. What you should, however, religiously do is just to clean up the pus. If you want to get rid of the stye faster, you can try one of the remedies listed below. Soak a clean washcloth in very warm water and apply it over the stye for about 5 to 10 minutes. Do this several times a day. When the washcloth is over the eye, try to do a gentle massage. Take a cotton swab. Dip it in watered-down baby shampoo and clean your eyelids. Avoid regular soaps and shampoos because sometimes they might cause burning. Keep the eyes and face clean. Scrub away the crust around the eye. Home remedies on how to get rid of a stye Styes are painful and cause discomfort but these don’t cause any damage to the eye.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are found in our digestive tract. These are spiral-shaped bacteria which attack the lining of the stomach. Although Helicobacter pylori infections are usually not harmful, these infections must not be ignored as they may have long-term implications. Helicobacter pylori can cause ulcers in the digestive tract, stomach, and small intestine. These bacteria can adapt to survive in the acidic and harsh environment in the stomach. They also reduce the acidity of the digestive tract for their survival. Symptoms of Helicobacter Pylori infections H. pylori infections are common among children. The bacteria usually infects the stomach during childhood. These bacterial infections usually don’t cause any apparent symptoms. However, H. pylori may result in diseases in some cases. Common diseases caused by H. pylori are peptic ulcers and gastritis which is an inflammatory condition caused by the stomach. Symptoms include excessive burping, bloating, nausea, anorexia, weight loss, and foul breath. H. pylori can easily penetrate into the stomach lining. Inside the stomach lining, they are protected by mucus, and the immune cells of the body often can’t reach them. It interferes with your immune system and brings down the body resilience. It may make you prone to digestive tract diseases. If you experience any symptom of these infections, you should avail treatment for Helicobacter pylori without delay. What causes these bacterial infections? Research on how H. Pylori infections are spread is still inadequate. H. pylori bacteria have coexisted with humankind since time immemorial. H. pylori infections are spread through the mouth or due to contact with contaminated food or water. H. pylori infections are known to be caused when the bacteria penetrate into the mucous lining of your stomach. The bacteria then neutralize the stomach acids by generating certain harmful substances. This infection causes irritation of the stomach lining and sores or peptic ulcers in the digestive tract, stomach or duodenum.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths that occur due to cancer. It is estimated that lung cancer causes more deaths than breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers combined. Based on the statistical data by the American Cancer Society, there are about 220,000 new cases of lung cancer every year. Several types of treatments are being developed and researched on to stop or at least slow down the disease progression in lung cancer patients. Apart from this, several oncologists and nutritionists also suggest that maintaining a proper diet can help in fighting the symptoms of lung cancer. There are some foods that can keep lung cancer symptoms at bay and can also be used as home remedies along with mainstream treatments. Some of the foods that can aid a lung cancer patient are mentioned below: Green tea According to several oncologists, green tea not only helps in preventing lung cancer but can also benefit to those who are living with the disease. Green tea contains theaflavin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which can potentiate the effect of chemotherapy medications. It is important to know that bottled green tea may have very little or no EGCG as the compound doesn’t last long when bottled. Nutritionists suggest drinking green tea with a dash of lemon juice as it can enhance the absorption of the compound. Ginger Known for its hot and zesty yet sweet flavor, ginger contains a compound called 6-shogaol that can prevent the development of malignant (cancerous) cells in the lungs through apoptosis (cell suicide) of cancer cells. It can also lower the risk of metastases of the disease thereby stopping or slowing its progression. Its anti-inflammatory compounds can also help in relieving the pain caused due to the side effects of medicines that are used to treat lung cancer.