The mild winter warm days have a surprise accompanying them, an increase in the pollen count around you. The pollen grains in the air are a count of the pollens of plants such as grass, olive or ash in the air. This pollen count is measured in order to understand the pollens in the atmosphere. Pollen in each cubic meter is measured in order to determine pollen count. The colder the winters, the delay in the release of pollen would be felt. Hot weather or the comparatively warm weather is when pollen is released into the air. The state does release a national survey of the pollen grains in the air. There are several ways to measure the pollen count, one of the ways is to take a silicon grease clad rod and rotate it in the air to collect all the pollen. Periodic rotation of the rod occurs through an entire 24 hour day. This rod is then removed and then is taken to a lab to get analyzed in order to understand the type of pollen in the air and the concentration of the pollen present in that air. Another method of measuring pollen count is using the 7-day volumetric spore trap. This is done by using a Burkard trap. The direction of the wind is determined and this device is kept in the wind and air is drawn by a pump. The rotating rod has a sticky film on it that helps to trap the grain. During a course of seven days, the drum rotates very slowly in one direction. These 7 days are used to collect particles in order to aid the process of measuring the pollen grains. This tape on the drum is then removed and tested for pollen count. The actual allergy to pollen is referred to as hay fever.

Heartburn is an unpleasant condition often characterized by a burning sensation in the throat and chest. Most of the times, it is triggered by the food we consume, especially acidic, fatty or spicy foods. Heartburn and indigestion are often used interchangeably. But, it is important to understand that heartburn is a symptom of indigestion. Eating certain foods can cause some discomfort in the belly, resulting in digestive pain and heartburn. In a lot of cases, heartburn is also caused due to acid reflux, a condition in which some of the stomach’s content is forced back up into the esophagus. If the acid reflux happens more than two times a week, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, approximately 15 million Americans experience heartburn every day. Common causes of heartburn If one experiences occasional heartburn, then it is generally not a cause for concern. Persistent acid reflux may result in the diagnosis of GERD, which can have serious consequences for health or may indicate another underlying health issue. However, conditions such as digestive motility disorders, hiatal hernia, diabetes or asthma can also lead to excessive heartburn. Certain medications, such as anti-anxiety pills, steroids, antibiotics, and narcotics, can also trigger heartburn. Some ways to prevent heartburn There are plenty of ways to prevent this unpleasant and discomforting condition from occurring, such as the following: Avoid excessively acidic and spicy foods Maintaining a healthy body weight Not wearing very tight clothes, especially around the waist Eating regulated portions of food Avoiding smoking Avoiding constipation Getting adequate rest and reduce stress Consuming warm liquids after meals Waiting for 3 hours after eating before going to the bed or lying down Treatment of heartburn Treatment for heartburn and indigestion usually begins with making certain lifestyle and dietary modifications. In case, one experiences occasional bouts of heartburn, one can take some over-the-counter medicines for getting instant relief.

MRSA is an infection caused by bacteria that are resistant to most common antibiotics. These skin infections can be painful and it can even lead to other complications if the bacteria enter the bloodstream. However, this condition can be treated, if identified quickly. Read on to find how to treat MRSA. What is MRSA? Staphylococcal Aureus is a bacteria that is part of the microflora in the human body. It is present in the respiratory tract, the nose, and the skin. MRSA or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a form of the Staph aureus that has become highly resistant to many of the common antibiotics that are used in treating bacterial infections. If you have any cuts or abrasions on the skin, this bacteria can cause a skin infection which is also referred to as MRSA. MRSA can be a Healthcare-Acquired condition or Community Acquired. In HA-MRSA, people who are admitted to hospitals for surgery or other procedures like IV tubing are vulnerable to this condition. In community-acquired or CA-MRSA, the bacteria spread through contact, i.e skin to skin. Children at school, childcare workers, people who work in crowded environments can be at risk. However, this is not a cause for panic, because most people have this staph bacteria in their body without getting or causing an infection. In fact, CA-MRSA is much milder than HA-MRSA. According to recent data, both HA and CA MRSA are on the decline. But, it is still a common skin infection and is also one of the most common causes of infections in the bloodstream. MRSA can be treated with certain select antibiotics. Symptoms of MRSA Symptoms of MRSA are red bumps on the skin that are painful to touch. They may be swollen and filled with fluids that begin to leak out.

Halitosis or as it is commonly known, bad breath, is an embarrassing condition. Gum, mints, mouthwashes, and other products designed to fight bad breath are only temporary measures as they don’t address the cause of the problem. Some food items, health conditions, and habits are the main causes of bad breath. You can cure bad breath with proper and consistent dental hygiene. The malodor may vary depending on the underlying cause. If self-care techniques don’t work, it is best to see your dentist or physician to make sure that it isn’t a symptom of other serious condition. Symptoms Some people may have bad breath and don’t know about it. Other people worry too much about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odor. It is hard to self-assess your breath. Therefore, ask a close friend or relative to check if you have bad breath. Causes There are many probable causes for bad breath. They are: Food The breakdown of food particles in your mouth increases bacteria and causes a foul odor. When you eat certain foods like onions, garlic, and spices, they enter your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs, and affect your breath. Tobacco products Smokers and oral tobacco users are prone to having gum diseases, which could lead to bad breath. Tobacco has an unpleasant odor as well. Poor dental hygiene Food particles remain in your mouth and cause bad breath if you don’t brush and floss daily. Plaque, a colorless and sticky film of bacteria, forms on your teeth. This plaque can irritate your gums and eventually form plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and gums if you don’t brush regularly. Not only your teeth, but the tongue can also trap bacteria that produce odors. Dry mouth or xerostomia Saliva helps cleanse your mouth. If you have a problem with your salivary glands, it may result in chronic dry mouth.

Migraines are characterized by throbbing headaches, mostly on one side of the head; this is accompanied by sensitivity to sound and light, nausea, and vomiting. Migraines include a stage known as aura, which makes the person go through visual disturbances like zigzags, splotches, flashes, blind spot, or shimmering color lights. Causes of migraines There is no known cause of migraines as admitted by the doctors themselves. However, researchers believe that the issue is hereditary and pass on generations after generation. It is also believed that migraines are related to the transformations in the brain. Some people also inherit the triggers that cause migraines like bright lights, fatigue, weather change, etc. Top treatments for migraines If you are prone to migraines, some stimuli are present which make them reoccur. You need to track your headaches and look for potential catalysts and patterns like the following which would help you decide the top treatments for migraines that would suit you best. Estrogen levels: Before menstruating, women experience a steep decline in their estrogen levels that spark migraines in some people. Low-dose contraceptives for estrogen can help in this. Alcohol: People who get a “hangover” just after having one drink are experiencing a migraine at that time. You must avoid the kinds of alcoholic beverages that give you a headache within eight hours of consumption. It may happen that vodka would be fine but consuming beer may not be so for certain people with migraines. Curbing the consumption of alcohol can be considered as one of the top treatments for migraines. Missed meals: Blood sugar level fluctuations result in a cascade of a pain setting off a migraine as well. Thus, it is always important to keep your blood sugar levels in control. One should not go beyond three hours without eating food.

It is best to rid yourself of an addiction by getting yourself treated. You can opt for an outpatient rehabilitation program. These programs provide for great facilities and services for treatment on a daily basis. These programs usually last for just over a month to years at a stretch. While you may stay on the facility premises for several hours every day, you can return home afterward. This is the best option for those seeking the comfort of their home, family, and friends while treating and ridding themselves of an addiction. There are different outpatient rehabilitation categories: support groups, regular outpatient, and intensive outpatient. While there are several amazing outpatient centers to choose from in the country, some are simply the best. We have made the process of choosing an outpatient rehabilitation program easier for you. Here are a few of the best outpatient rehabilitation centers in the country. Beachway Therapy Center Beachway Therapy Center offers flexible programs and complete anonymity. It will be like no one ever knew you were there. Their intensive outpatient and regular outpatient programs offer regular group therapy sessions led by trained and experienced professionals. Therapy sessions cover a wide horizon of topics including addictions, stages of recovery, and several other topics. These topics may also include developing a mechanism to help manage stressors and emotions, money management strategies and planning, and understanding trigger feelings and situations which may lead you to substance abuse and how to adapt to stressful and unfamiliar situations. You can contact them at 877-415-7452 and enroll for their outpatient rehabilitation program today! Ocean Breeze Recovery Ocean Breeze Recovery is one of the best outpatient rehabilitation centers in Florida. It is a luxury rehabilitation center which focuses on healing people as a whole while providing for compassionate treatment of the body, mind, and soul.

Schizophrenia affects an individual’s ability to think, receive, or comprehend sensory information. Changes in behavior are among the first noticeable signs of a developing mental disorder. Although the condition is uncommon, it can disrupt a person’s ability to live a normal life. The family of the affected person must also exercise caution on their part to provide a comfortable surrounding and environment. In rare cases, children can also suffer from schizophrenia. Normally, adults between the ages of 16 and 30 can experience positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Positive psychotic behaviors include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and movement disorders. Negative behaviors can cause an individual to suffer from reduced speaking, feelings and expression of emotions. They may have trouble performing simple activities as well. A person might also experience subtle cognitive symptoms including problems with working memory, focusing, and reduction in the ability to understand and use information. Understanding medical care and rehabilitation for schizophrenia. Medications and medical follow-ups In most cases, antipsychotic medications, commonly referred to as neuroleptics, can help a person control the varied symptoms. Here, one must understand that antipsychotics simply control the symptoms to help the person shift their attention to other aspects of their lives. Medication and subsequent follow-ups are a crucial part of the rehabilitation process. Subsequently, the purpose of a follow up is to monitor compliance for the medications taken and adjust the dosage levels depending on the prognosis. In simple terms, the medication can be adjusted depending on the measure of improvement shown by the affected person. At any given stage in the condition, medical professionals may work with both the patients and their families. Open communication Medication and medical follow-ups are an ongoing process. The next stage in rehabilitation includes psychotherapy sessions. A person suffering from schizophrenia must stay in touch with their doctor to discuss everything related to the condition.

When you are diagnosed with diabetes, the blood sugar monitor test is an important part of your diabetes care. Learn more about the different things that must be considered before you choose a blood sugar monitor test. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects how the glucose is processed in your body, increasing your blood sugar level. There are two types of diabetes, namely, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Usually diagnosed in children and adolescents, type 1 diabetes is when your body does not produce insulin to break down the glucose. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is when the body is unable to use the insulin properly, termed as ‘insulin resistance’. Whether it is type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it is a lifelong condition and you will need to follow up with your doctor often. Certain cases of type 2 diabetes can be controlled by weight loss, healthy eating habits, and increased physical activity, at least initially. Eventually, you may have to take diabetes medications orally or in the form of insulin injections. For type 1 diabetes, the treatment plan typically includes daily insulin injections as oral medications aren’t effective for this form of diabetes. The signs and symptoms of diabetes vary on the basis of the level of glucose in your blood. Some of these include extreme hunger, increased thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, irritability, unexplained weight loss, and blurred vision. Diabetes can also lead to hyperglycemia, when the glucose level in your blood is extremely high. This high glucose level can cause some significant damage to your organs, which then results in certain complications. The complications that are generally associated with diabetes are kidney problems, stroke, myocardial infarction, problems with scarring, and sexual problems like erectile dysfunction. In order to avoid these complications, it is important that you minimize the hyperglycemia risk by controlling your blood sugar level.

A purified protein, Botox is injected to treat wrinkles accompanying the different facial expressions. When Botox is injected into the skin, it helps in relaxing the muscles and has a visible effect on the wrinkles, as they smooth out. Botox has been a favorite when it comes to treatment of wrinkles as well as facial creases. It is also used to treat forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet (lines around the eye area). The price of Botox injections varies vastly depending on several factors. Normally costing between $200 and $400, the price of Botox keeps fluctuating. The factors that affect the price of Botox injections are: – The physician (and his qualification) – Location – Time period – Units purchased – Number of injections – Area of treatment – Desired profit margin – Ongoing promotions Usually, doctors levy the price of injections Botox based on the cost per unit, while there are some who charge a sum by the area of injection. While most doctors charge a flat price for Botox injection, there are some who levy a charge based on the units opened during the treatment. Flat rates that doctors usually charge fall between $300 and $1000. The rate per unit, moreover, is somewhere between $10–15 per unit. Nowadays, the physicians normally pay $400 for a single vial, with each vial having approximately 100 units. The vial once opened, has to be used within a few hours or else its efficacy becomes questionable. Thus, the doctors normally throw the vials which have been opened but not used for a few hours. The price of Botox should be weighed against other factors such as the value of the cosmetic surgery practice and the qualified testimonials of the doctor. An unusually low price of Botox is an indication of a doubtful or not so good treatment.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder and does not have any cure. It is only possible to reduce the severity of the symptoms, which offers the patient a better quality of life. Rheumatoid Arthritis primarily affects the joints. It can also affect the lungs, voice box, and eye. Symptoms The distinguishing feature of Rheumatoid arthritis is that it affects both hands and both legs. There is swelling, pain, redness and tenderness in the finger joints, wrist, elbow and knee. The feet, hip, neck and even the jaw can be affected. Unfortunately, the exact cause for Rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. A gene alteration is the most likely cause of this autoimmune disorder which predominantly affects women. As the symptoms show up differently in each person, a combination of tests help to draw the conclusion that a person is suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis. Most often, the evident Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis help to diagnose the condition. There are some signs when rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints. Inflammation is accompanied by: Stiffness There is decreased mobility in the joints. Especially during mornings, it gets pretty difficult to use your joints. The stiffness lasts for a long time, and may last more than an hour, before you find your joints loosening up. Redness and Warmth The affected joints appear red and you can feel a warmth when you touch the joints. Swelling Swelling is a characteristic of any form of arthritis. When it comes to signs of rheumatoid arthritis, the fluid enters the joint and makes it puffy. Pain Pain in the joints is unavoidable. Inflammation inside the joint makes it tender and sensitive. Over a period of time, the joints experience damage and results in pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can not only affect the joints, but the entire body as well. In such cases, the symptoms manifest as fatigue, muscle ache, sickness, diminished appetite that can lead to weight loss.

Dental implants are the best option available to restore the look, feel, fit and function of your natural tooth. Although there are other options like dentures and bridges, they often interfere with speaking, eating and smiling. All these complexities can be avoided with implants. They would also last longer. Dentures may last for 8 to 10 years, and you need to replace them after this time frame. The cost adds up to such a situation. On the other hand; implants last a lifetime, and you just need some periodic adjustments to enhance the longevity of this dental procedure. In other words, an average cost of dental implants is much less compared to other types of procedures when you consider the long-term benefits. Cost for the X-Ray may add to the cost temporarily but saves money in the future. When it comes to implants, the initial consultation is vital. Most of the planning for the entire treatment is done during this stage. Your teeth and jawbone health is analyzed during the consultation stage and if forms an essential aspect of the treatment. You might have heard a few people saying that their implants have failed to live up to the expectations. If you everything is not done properly during the planning phase, you may not get the expected results. Experienced dental surgeons give utmost importance to the initial consultation to eliminate any future complication. Some people may want to combine the initial phase with the first stage of the treatment to save money. In such a situation, you need to remember that diagnostic imaging such as panoramic X-ray is essential, and it should never be avoided in the name of added cost. X-rays are critical for this procedure, and you should not choose a dentist who is willing to do an implant without an X-ray.

Our memories are often our most prized possessions. They remind us of lessons learned and a life well lived. Imagine the pain of losing them! This is what exactly happens in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a chronic, degenerative disease that affects neurological and cognitive functions and is the most common cause of dementia. It affects approximately 29.8 million people worldwide, as of 2015. Alzheimer’s is a painful and debilitating condition. Therefore, it is important to watch out for the symptoms and signs to improve the quality of life. Alzheimer’s disease can have many varied signs. Alzheimer’s disease has a slow, insidious onset, so you have to be vigilant to the symptoms. It starts off slowly and progresses until control of bodily functions is lost. The life expectancy of patients with Alzheimer’s ranges between 3 – 9 years. Warning Signs: Alzheimer’s disease The early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s are often vague. The first characteristic sign of Alzheimer is an inability to remember recent events including forgetting names of objects, places, and people. As the disease progresses, the memory impairment worsens along with the appearance of other signs of Alzheimer. Alzheimer’s shows the following symptoms: Difficulty in planning or problem-solving: Some people will notice that it is becoming harder for them to formulate and stick to plans and structured activity. There may be an associated difficulty in managing numbers. Difficulty in performing familiar tasks: A person may forget to perform routine tasks and activities such as to operate a stove, use tools, or other such signs of Alzheimer. Alzheimer’s can impair the ability to complete tasks that were once familiar. Language problems: A person may forget words, pronunciations, spellings, grammar, and another component of written and spoken language. There may difficulty holding or following a conversation and using the wrong words.