Sleep is essential for the body to maintain good health; sleep affects not only physical health but also mental health. Getting adequate sleep can help to keep health complications such as obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, etc., at bay. Proper sleep also ensures a good appetite, lesser stress, clearer thinking, healthy weight control, better mood, good sex life, and immunity from diseases. Despite the obvious health benefits of good sleep, many people are suffering from unhealthy sleeping habits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sleeping disorders have become “a public health epidemic.” In 2009, the CDC conducted a study among 74,571 adults in 12 states across the country. The study found that nearly 35.3% of the respondents had less than 7 hours of sleep every day. About 48.0% complained of snoring, 37.9% unintentionally fell asleep during the day at least once in the month preceding the study, and 4.7% of the respondents reported incidents of nodding off while driving at least once in the month preceding the study. Although this CDC study is not recent, the statistics are still relevant. One of the reasons for this is a skewed work–life balance. Also, due to an increased usage of personal devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, the percentage of people with sleeping problems is on the rise. Unless the lack of sleep causes any significant health complications, almost all cases of sleeping disorders go unreported. In her book The Sleep Revolution , co-founder and editor-in-chief of Huffington Post, Ariana Huffington points out that we are a generation suffering from a sleep deprivation crisis. In this well-researched book, she dispels the notion that less sleep means more productivity and urges her readers to bring about a sleep revolution. The bottom line is simple: get sufficient sleep to be more productive and healthy.

Kidney stones can usually be found in the urethra, a membrane tube that originates from the bladder and discharges the urine and semen from your body. These stones build up over a period when they do not get dissolved within your system. If they remain unattended, they will keep growing without making any external effects. Small stones pass through with urine, but the bigger ones remain in your system. The larger stones are pushed into the narrow ducts called ureters, and they get stuck in this are to cause smooth urine passage. When your body makes an effort to discharge these stones, you experience severe pain in your genitals, abdomen, groin or back. Other symptoms of a kidney stone include nausea, vomiting, abnormal urine color and blood in the urine as well. How to dissolve kidney stones using home remedies You can make use of different methods to dissolve kidney stones. If you are wondering how to dissolve kidney stones naturally, here are the most effective natural methods to dissolve kidney stones. Drink a lot of fluids As a first step, you can drink plenty of water. Doctors advise patients to drink about 2 liters of water a day. Some stones can be thrown out when you drink a lot of water. This is essentially the first for removing stones. The most preferred option is distilled water because it is 100% pure and the pure water easily mixes with the buildup of the waste. The tones are broken down by the water, and it dissolves them properly. Phosphoric acid is another effective choice available to dissolve the kidney stones, and the soft drinks available in the market contain phosphoric acid. Drink apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar is highly rich in citric acid. It dissolves the kidney stones effectively. You can use cider vinegar even to prevent the formation of stones because of the alkalizing effect it creates on the blood and urine.

Plantar fasciitis causes pain and discomfort. Over a million people in the world suffer from this illness. Though there are no easy and quick solutions to cure this, you can surely do something to prevent or decrease the discomfort that you would face. You can choose to wear the New Balance shoes for plantar fasciitis since these shoes have shown useful results in controlling pain. The most important factors include arch support for choosing insoles and shoes for plantar fasciitis. Following is a list of the most popular New Balance shoes for plantar fasciitis shoes for both men and women: WW759 Country Walking Shoe: This pair is going to give you all the comfort as it has excellent cushioning features. This is for the neutral feet as it has minimalistic features for pronation corrections. This shoe is designed for hill-top hikes. It’s thicker midsole offers extra durability, thereby helping it provide a great arch support. It is waterproof as well. Gore-Tex layer on this shoe is there for protection and breathability. This lining offers protection against uncertain weather conditions as well. The breathable mesh fabric at the top and ABZORB cushioning as its insoles make everything so comfortable. It is one of the popular New Balance shoes for plantar fasciitis. W1340v2 Optimum Control Running Shoe: This is a great option if you are looking for a running shoe. It employs the Stabilicore medial support system to offer a comfortable and healthy run. There is polyurethane, multi-density insert, offering comfort, flexibility, and support. The rubber outsole is there to offer excellent grip at all time. This pair has en-suite rubber compound, mainly for those areas, which experience the maximum impacts. WL574 Outside in Pack Classic Running Shoe: If you have a tough training schedule to maintain, this is the shoe you should opt for.

Cavities, sinus, gaps, and infections at the gum line often result in severe toothache problems. Toothaches are always dreadful. Some of the common symptoms of toothaches are as follows: – Tooth enamel erosion – Inflammation in the teeth pulp – Grinding of teeth – Periodontitis – TMD (Temporomandibular joint disorder) These tooth problems don’t vanish overnight. It is advised to visit a dentist to reduce the complication. Well, another wonderful way is to try toothache remedies. Many remedies for a toothache have been developed time and again. These remedies have certain advantages over the advanced dental care. Just by thinking about the dental treatment, people get anxious about the pain they will undergo. Instead of visiting the dentist, people prefer to postpone taking the appointment. People also believe that natural methods are better than medical intervention. In today’s busy world, people don’t have the time to go to the dentist for regular cleanings. Thus, it is essential to use some remedy to prevent the gradual development of the dental problem. You can try some of these a severe toothache remedies to get some relief: Clove oil: Cloves contain the eugenol which is a natural anesthetic. This is an effective severe toothache remedy. It works wonders to numb the nerves and reduces the dental pain. Pour two drops of clove oil on cotton balls and put it in against the tooth. The pain will vanish in some time. You can even chew the clove or place it in the tooth until the pain is relieved. However, ensure to not pour the oil directly on the aching tooth. Ginger-cayenne paste: Take equal parts of ginger and cayenne and mix them with water to make a paste. Dip a cotton ball in the paste and put it on your tooth. Place it as long as you can tolerate (until you feel a burning sensation).

Do you wake up with itchy knees or elbows in the morning? Do you often wake up with red marks or patches on your body but cannot find a single insect in your bed? Well, even if you cannot see them in the morning, your bed has been infested by tiny bed bugs, which feed on your blood while you are asleep. Bed bugs are small insects, which dwell in your bed and often tend to bite you during the night. Even though these bed bugs bite multiple times in a minute, you do not feel any pain in your body. All you can see is the red marks of their bite in the morning. Bed bug infestation can be a serious concern for anyone, especially for families with infants or children. If you’re wondering how to detect bed bugs, then you can follow some simple tips for the same. Light up the room: Bed bugs can easily hide in your bed or in your sofa for it’s extremely minute in size. Therefore, to detect bed bugs in your home, you need to light up the entire area you want to search. Open all shades so that the sunlight can brighten up the room. Also, put on the lights you have in the room to detect bed bugs. Remember, killing bed bugs once does not guarantee its complete eradication from the house. It can easily come from other rooms of the house. So, start searching as soon as you notice a single symptom of infestation. Search the mattress crevice minutely: In most of the cases, bed bugs prefer to hide in the crevice of the mattress. Therefore, start searching from the crevices. Remove the mattress from the crevice and use a flashlight to detect bed bugs lined up there. Bed bugs are nocturnal animals and removing them in the morning is not too tough.

People who have high cholesterol levels are at a higher risk of having heart diseases. However, it is always in a person’s hand to maintain a healthy outlook. The bad or LDL cholesterol can always be lowered while the good or HDL cholesterol can be raised. This can be done by adopting the few measures listed below: Reduce intake of trans fats Consumption of trans fats increase your LDL level and lower the HDL. This also increases the chances of a person suffering from stroke and other heart complications. Fried food and baked goods contain a fair amount of LDL. You can certainly attain a lower LDL cholesterol level by avoiding these food items. Lose the extra pounds People who tend to be overweight have a lot of bad or LDL cholesterol. Having a balanced diet rich in fiber will help a person reduce weight and attain a lower LDL cholesterol level. Exercise regularly People who exercise for the duration of 2 to 2.5 hours in a week tend to raise their HDL and lower LDL cholesterol levels. For people who have never tried this option beginning with a mild exercise schedule of 10 minutes can bring a viable change in their body. The duration of exercise can be slowly increased, and this will help them to attain a lower LDL cholesterol level. Take fiber-rich diet If a person has higher cholesterol level, it is advised that they include food items like apples, beans and soluble fiber in their food. People who tend to consume up to 10 grams of this healthy food than other people lower their LDL cholesterol levels. Moreover, if a person includes more fiber in the diet it will make them feel fuller, and they will have less craving for snacks and other junk food. However, it is advised that a person should go slowly when consuming fibers as taking an excess of fiber can result in abdominal cramp formation.

Shingles or the red patchy marks on the skin characterized by an intense pain can bring extreme discomfort to anyone. Also known as Herpes Zoster, this is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, which remains dormant in almost every human being. It is the same virus, which is responsible for causing chicken pox in kids also sometimes in adults. This is why the symptoms of these diseases are quite similar. If not cared for at the initial stage, shingles can cause unbearable itchiness as well as pain. Some patients also complain of light sensitivity, fever, fatigue, headache, and body pain. Irrespective of the symptoms, shingles remedies are available. While some patients prefer over-the-counter medicines, others opt for home remedies. Some of the useful home remedies for shingles are as follows: Apple cider vinegar – You are really lucky if you have this at home as it is one of the most effective and popular shingles remedies. Just dab some cotton in this astringent and put it in the affected region to relieve the pain. Ensure that the skin is not peeled up. While this reduces the pain, applying this liquid twice a day can help you get a complete cure from this skin infection. You can also mix apple cider vinegar with any juice or water and drink it every day to get cured from within. Make a paste of baking soda and cornstarch – Mix two parts of cornstarch or baking soda in a cup of water to form a paste. The quantity of the paste can be varied depending on the size of the affected area. Once you make the paste, apply it on the affected area at least twice a day and leave it for around 15 minutes before washing it with cold water. Honey – Many of you may not know that honey work wonders on the blisters caused by shingles.

American Gastroenterological Association opines that probiotics are good bacterial strains which benefit the health of its consumers. It would help people with digestion if taken on a regular basis. It is also supposed to work as a shield against illness-causing bacteria. The best way to include this bacterium in your diet is through yogurt which consists of living organisms. In the USA, most brands of yogurt contain probiotics however the idea is to consume the one in which the organisms have been added after the heating process. Thus, you need to check the label to ensure that you are buying the right thing. The one to purchase must have “live and active cultures” on the packaging. Here is a list of the most popular brands that make the best probiotic yogurts. Activia Activia, which is manufactured by the world-renowned company, Dannon, is available in an array of flavors like mixed berry, strawberry, vanilla, prune, and cherry. It comprises of several healthy varieties of probiotics such as Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium lactic and Lactobacillus bulgaricus – a specific probiotic culture meant for digestion and regularity. ‘Applied and Environmental Microbiology’ published a study in the July 2006 issue conducted by Marina Eli where he mentioned that both Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus survived through the entire digestive pathways continuing to enhance regularity and digestion. Dannon says that each 4-oz serving of yogurt is filled with billions of live cultures for the consumers to take benefit of. Yoplait Original The manufacturer ensures that Yoplait Original contains scientifically proven probiotic cultures along with vitamins A, D, and calcium. Though it has several cultures it lists Lactobacillus acidophilus as its main organism. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this is most widely used probiotic. It helps in forming substances that would make your stomach or intestines non-friendly toward bad bacteria which may make you ill.

High cholesterol treatment can very well be done using natural, herbal, or home remedies. The treatment would be more effective if the disease has not progressed to an advanced stage yet. There are studies and research to support the claim of certain herbal and home remedies to treat high cholesterol level. However, no such claim has been made about heart failure. There are many who experienced success with alternative high cholesterol treatments. Thus many other rely on the power of herbal treatment which makes them follow an alternative treatment plan for high cholesterol. Here is a list of herbal and natural remedies that can be incorporated in your lifestyle and diet plan to reap their benefits for high cholesterol treatment: Astragalus The use of this herb is found in traditional Chinese treatment where it was used to strengthen the immune system. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Since it is considered as an “adaptogen,” it has the properties to protect the body against several health issues. Studies show that this herb has to offer certain benefits for your hearts health thereby contributing toward being an effective high cholesterol treatment method. Hawthorn Hawthorn is a shrub belonging to the rose plant family. Its leaves, berries, and flowers are in use since Roman times to treat a heart problem. Studies proved that this shrub could be helpful in treating a mild case of heart failure. However, there is no proof that this plant is effective as a high cholesterol treatment method. Flaxseed Flaxseed is derived from the flax plant. Both flaxseed oil and flaxseed contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in high levels. This is an omega-3 fatty acid which may be effective in lowering the risk of any heart ailment. Studies show that flaxseed may help to lower cholesterol levels, especially for people with high cholesterol levels as well as postmenopausal women.

Stomach health issue is a topic which people generally avoid to discuss sighting embarrassment in public especially if someone is suffering from constipation. We commonly discuss regular body ailments, however, fail to discuss stomach issues with people and even with a doctor. It is time to shun your inhibitions and discuss stomach-related issues as well. One of the common stomach ailments is constipation. Many times people undergo self-medication to avoid consulting the doctor, thereby inviting more trouble. If you are wondering h ow to relieve constipation, h ere are a few remedies which can help you to keep constipation at bay. Olive oil and lemon Doctors always consult on regular intake of olive oil for a healthy stomach. One suffers from constipation when there is a disruption in the functioning of the colon. Olive oil helps in creating a protective layer over the colon thereby helping it with digesting the food properly thereby preventing constipation. If direct intake of olive oil is a task for you then spruce it up with a tinge of lemon juice. This mixture will work wonders when taken on a empty stomach. Lemon juice The fragrance of lemon is indeed enticing not just for the nose but also the stomach. Lemon is high on citric acid which helps in flushing out unwanted toxins as well as smoothens the process of digesting undigested food. The citric content in lemon has numerous vitamins which cuts down on acidic build up in the food tract and relieves constipation. One lemon juice in a glass of warm water is the perfect remedy to your problems. Green tea If you are one of those who is obsessed with tea then switch over to a healthier option and replace normal tea with green tea. Green tea has plentiful antioxidants which helps in keeping the stomach refreshed and eases the digestive system.

IBS, irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that affects the colon. IBS is accompanied by pain in the abdomen and change in the bowel movements. It is diagnosed based on the severity of the symptoms of IBS. Since IBS is a collection of symptoms, therefore it is called a syndrome. IBS is of different types depending on its symptoms, such as IBS-D for diarrhea, IBS-C for constipation, IBS-M (both diarrhea and constipation) and IBS-U (neither diarrhea nor constipation). Signs of IBS: Diarrhoea, gas, bloating, rectal bleeding, weight loss, constipation, and muscle in stool are some of the probable symptoms of IBS. Causes of IBS: There is no specific reason for the IBS. It is assumed IBS is caused by an infection. The intestines swell up. The problem may even continue for a lifetime. In some cases, the intestine muscles contract and relax during the digestion process. The causes and effects of IBS are different among people. Contractions in IBS may cause bloating, diarrhea, and gas. Weak contractions make it difficult for the food to pass which causes constipation. Activators of IBS: Different factors such as stress, hormones, and foods cause IBS among individuals. Some food products such as cabbage, fats, beverages, alcohol, chocolate and milk products cause IBS problems. The IBS problems accentuate during stressful durations. Stressful situations at the workplace, home or office can cause IBS frequently. Women suffer from IBS more than men, and the problem worsen during the menstrual periods. Effects of IBS: Regular instances of constipation and diarrhea lead to the development of hemorrhoids. Restricting the intake of several food products can result in loss of essential nutrients. IBS worsens the life quality. People with IBS generally feel high stress and anxiety. Once if IBS is diagnosed, you need to visit the doctor for tests and treatments.

At times, the ankle might get swollen due to various reasons. Swollen ankles are usually caused due to fluid retention. People usually experience slight pain during this time, and sometimes the pain could be worse. The cause of swollen ankles could be due to injury or any medical condition. The below-mentioned information will help you know the causes of and swollen ankles treatment options in detail. Prominent swollen ankles causes Injury – An injury to the ankle or the foot could lead to swelling. Even when there is a sprain, it leads to a swollen ankle. The best that can be done for this is to avoid walking and taking rest. It is important to take rest and use an ice pack covered with a towel at least for 30 minutes on the affected area. You can also make use of a compression bandage by wrapping the affected area and elevate the foot, preferably on a pillow or stool when you rest. Blood clots – When blood clots are formed in the veins of legs, it will cause the problem in the blood flow. This will result in swelling in the ankles and the feet. There are two types of blood clots. They are superficial and deep vein thrombosis. The former is caused in the veins right below the skin. The latter could result in blockage of one or more veins of the legs. It could be life-threatening as well. If you experience pain or fever due to this, then it is important to get medical assistance. Pregnancy complications – Swelling of feet or ankles is a usual thing during pregnancy. If there is unexpected or extreme swelling, then it is a sign of pre-eclampsia. Apart from this, if you experience other symptoms like a headache, abdominal pain, nausea, frequent urination or problem with vision, then you would need medical help.