Peripheral neuropathy is the aftereffect of the damage to the peripheral nerves. It results in a great amount of pain; moreover, you have to deal with numbness and weakness. The pain is felt usually in your feet and hands. It affects other body parts as well. If your doctor senses peripheral neuropathy, he/she will refer you to a neurologist who will assess the history of your symptoms in a detailed manner. Signs of impaired reflexes, numbness, and muscle weakness will be investigated. Sometimes, blood and urine tests are needed for checking the underlying disease that causes peripheral neuropathy. What are the best foot neuropathy treatment options available? Nerve condition velocity and electromyogram tests Nerve condition velocity and electromyogram tests are needed in the case of some patients for the treatment of foot neuropathy. These tests are conducted for analyzing muscle, nerve function, and to measure the electrical properties of your nerves. With the help of these procedures, neurologists can identify the problematic nerves and they decide which area of your structure is damaged. Other types of tests Other procedures involving the diagnosis and treatment of foot neuropathy are muscle and nerve and biopsies. They give a clear cut idea about the type and cause of the problem. For determining inflammation or infection, doctors also advise a lumbar puncture or a spinal tap. If someone in your family was already diagnosed with neuropathy, the doctor may want to review medical records to explore the possibility of hereditary links. Treating the underlying reason in the key The prognosis and treatment of foot neuropathy have a lot to do with the underlying cause of the nerve damage. For instance, a neuropathy disorder can be an aftereffect of a vitamin deficiency. In this situation, this deficiency should be treated and reversed with the help of vitamin therapy and a healthy diet.

Probiotics are the food supplements which are added to the diet for health benefits such as immunity, digestive functions, and growth. It is safe to include the dietary intake in proper doses. High dose of probiotics at times have a bad impact on health. The probiotics can be taken orally. Live microorganisms work effectively to boost human health; however, there are some side effects related to them. These side effects range from mild to severe. They can cause digestive complications such as bloating and gas in the stomach. In some cases, the usage of probiotics can cause infections that can be only treated using antibiotics. It can cause problems for people suffering from health complications and cause unusual metabolic responses. Although the probiotics are pretty good for the body, they may cause some rare side effects. These side effects are common among people with underlying medical complications. At times, the body responds badly to the good bacterial intake. Normally, the pH level in the colon must be between 6.7 and 6.9. The pH levels below 7.0 are said to be acidic, whereas pH levels more than 7.0 are said to be of basic nature. The colon must be acidic to combat the growth of pathogenic bacteria and promote the growth of good bacteria. Medications and other drugs make the colon environment alkaline. The consumption of the probiotic supplements makes the colon acidic. The change of the colon’s pH from acidic to alkaline causes a war between the good and bad bacteria. This tug of war causes bloating, abdominal pain, and complications in bowel movements. The side effects of probiotics don’t last for long. Discontinuation of the probiotic intake will help you get rid of the symptoms and prevent their worsening. Side effects of probiotics Stomach problems Stomach problems such as bloating, pain in the abdomen, and gas production are some of the side effects of probiotics.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the colon or the large intestine. This inflammation usually begins in the rectum, which is located towards the end of the large intestine, ending in the anus. It then spreads in the colon and causes multiple problems such as painful bowel movements, stomach ache, and severe diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis generally occurs in multiple phases. The time when the symptoms are active, it is called ulcerative colitis flares. The alternating periods in between these active periods are called ulcerative colitis remission. While the causes of ulcerative colitis are unknown, research shows evidence that infection caused by certain virus and bacteria can cause inflammation of the anus, which can spread to the rectum and the colon. Some of the known symptoms of ulcerative colitis are: · Dehydration · Painful bowel movement · Blood in stool · Pus drainage · Stomach ache · Fever · Skin irritation and rashes If you are suffering from these symptoms, you should pay a visit to a doctor. The doctor will run certain tests to be sure if you have ulcerative colitis. The most commonly prescribed tests to diagnose ulcerative colitis are: Endoscopy The doctor will prescribe an endoscopy such as colonoscopy or proctosigmoidoscopy to get an appraisal of the internal situation of the colon. Stool Test Stool samples are collected to check for any traces of blood in it, which is a classic symptom of ulcerative colitis. X-Rays, CT Scans, Or MRIs These tests are also prescribed to help your doctor decide if the disease has affected your bones and other parts of your body. Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis Here is a list of some useful tips that you can follow while struggling with ulcerative colitis flares. Drink Plenty Of Water: Keeping yourself hydrated is very important during a ulcerative colitis flare.

Psoriasis is a skin disorder that occurs when the immune system sends incorrect signals to the skin, causing the cells to mature extremely quickly. These new cells are formed within days instead of weeks causing the excess skin to pile up on the surface of the older skin, as the body is unable to shed the excess skin cells. This leads to a patchy formation on the skin surface called psoriasis. It can range from being “mild”, which involves reddish and small rashes, to “severe”, consisting of scaly and thick plaques. Psoriasis can occur anywhere on the skin, but the scalp is one of the most common spots, seen in up to 50% of the cases. Scalp psoriasis treatment is different from that of psoriasis found elsewhere on the skin, due to barriers such as hair and also softer skin of the scalp. It must be remembered that scalp psoriasis differs from person to person and thus the effect of the treatment might vary from person to person. Mentioned below are some of the scalp psoriasis treatments: Over-the-Counter (OTC) Scalp Psoriasis Treatment One can use OTC medications and products to begin the treatment with, and ease the itchiness caused. Some of OTC products to be used are : Coal tar shampoo: Coal tar, a byproduct of coal production, is one of oldest treatments for scalp psoriasis. It reduces the exponential growth of the skin cells and helps to reduce the itching, scaling, and inflammation. The higher the coal tar concentration, the more effective is the treatment. Although the US Food and Drug Administration permits a maximum of 5% of concentration in the shampoos for scalp psoriasis treatment. Salicylic acid: This scalp psoriasis treatment involves salicylic acid, often mixed with coal tar, in shampoos and scalp solutions. It reduces the scaling and also helps in sloughing off the dead skin cells.

Epilepsy is a condition that results in seizures, triggered by a multitude of reasons, but they all start in the very same manner – in the brain. Epilepsy is caused due to a sudden change in the pattern that your brain cells send and receive electrical signals. The fact that the nature of the problem is the same in every case, doesn’t mean that every type of epilepsy or epileptic seizure can be treated in the same manner. Epilepsy can also be passed down through your genes and inherited. Epilepsy can be caused by sudden head trauma, other physical trauma or pre-existing brain conditions. In order to treat epilepsy correctly, the doctor must first diagnose the actual cause and nature of epilepsy on a case-to-case basis. Based on this, your doctor could offer a solution that would be the best course of treatment for you in particular. Drugs and Medication A large number of cases of epilepsy can be treated over time with medication. While there’s no cure for epilepsy, there is treatment. The right medication and care can be effective in handling seizures and their intensity. Medication is effective in treating at least 80% of the cases epilepsy. This, unfortunately, means that, for the remaining 20% of cases, medication doesn’t offer much relief. In some instances, people taking medication share that the drugs don’t make a significant enough difference in preventing seizures. So, while effective in over 80% of cases of epilepsy, whether medication on its own is the best treatment for epilepsy is still debatable. Often, in case the prescribed medication fails to treat the seizures, doctors can change the medication for improved results. There are at least twenty different types of medication that could be prescribed for epilepsy. Know your options to ensure you get the best treatment for epilepsy.

There has been an exponential growth in the popularity of the usage of personal DNA testing over getting DNA testing done at hospitals or clinics. One of the major reasons for this is the affordable nature of this DNA testing technique. The comfort of getting the DNA test done in your own home is another strong reason for the popularity of this type of testing method. The DNA testing in hospitals and clinics is carried out using different technologies and various methods and tends to be expensive. DNA testing kits can be the most affordable form of DNA testing, but you must be well informed about its functionality before indulging in carrying out the test at home. Below is some information that you must know about the affordable DNA testing kits. A simple procedure – You might think that using a DNA testing kit at home can be a tough task and might include multiple complications, but that is not the case. All you need is a small sample of your saliva to perform the test. Seal a sample of your saliva in the provided container and send it to the lab. You can also swab the inside of your cheek for the sample. There are many different players in the DNA testing kit market and most of them offer affordable DNA testing. DNA testing kits from popular brands such as Family Tree DNA, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage DNA, Living DNA, and 23andMe have prices that start from $69 and go up to $199. The price for some brands depends on the type of test that has been chosen. You can always resort to the International Society of Genetic Genealogy’s list to check the companies’ offerings for DNA testing. The lab tests for genetic variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) – Once the sample of your cheek swab or saliva has been received, the DNA testing labs will look for certain genetic variations in your DNA.

Gum disease or gingivitis is a common, non-destructive periodontal disease that happens due to inflammation in the tissues that surround and support the teeth. In gingivitis, a bacterial infection of the gums leads to the development of a sticky film called plaque, and this consequently destroys the gums. A hardened plaque will subsequently turn into a tarter, thus causing irritations and inflammation in the affected gums. Gingivitis is characterized by swollen and red gums which bleed. Prolonged gingivitis can destroy the bones supporting the teeth and might necessitate removal of the teeth. So, looking for a natural treatment for gum disease is essential if you do not wish to visit the dentist ever so often. Causes of gum disease: One of the most important causes is poor dental hygiene. A few other causes include stress, smoking, nutritional deficiency, excessive consumption of sugars and immune disorders such as cancer, diabetes, or AIDS. Dietary factors such as processed foods containing additives and sugars, hydrogenated oils which cause inflammation in gums can also cause gingivitis. Common symptoms of gingivitis are bad breath, tooth pain, bleeding, and inflamed gums. Treatment : There are several options for natural treatment for gum disease. A few are listed below: Diet : There are several dietary components which reduce the inflammation and provide essential nutrients. For example, wild-caught fish, fat-soluble vitamins, raw vegetables, and fresh vegetable juices are good for gum health. Oil pulling: It can be effectively employed as a natural treatment for gum disease. In oil pulling, the mouth is swished with coconut oil or sesame oil. This helps remove the harmful bacteria from the mouth by improving oral hygiene. Coconut oil, arimedadi oil, and tea tree oil are commonly used for oil pulling . Oral probiotics : Use of oral probiotics populates the mouth with “good, beneficial bacteria” which helps in removing the disease-causing bacteria.

Probiotic word has been derived from the Greek words Pro, which means “promotion” and Biotic, meaning “life”. Our body has a vast amount of bacteria- both good and bad, which have been with us since birth. But what is important is the optimal balance of these in the body. A subsequent imbalance is called dysbiosis, which can cause diseases related to the intestinal tract. So, probiotics are actually bacteria or live microorganisms which help prevent or even treat some illnesses. While the idea of having bacteria in the body that help instead of harm is a bit difficult to take in, probiotics actually help promote a healthy immune system as well as a healthy digestive tract. The following are the health benefits of probiotics: Balancing the good bacteria in the body An imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in the body can cause allergies, obesity, mental health issues and more. Probiotics restore the natural balance of gut bacteria upon consumption. These live beneficial microorganisms prevent an imbalance that might have been caused by various kinds of medications, illnesses, poor diet and more. Diarrhea treatment One of the most common side effects of taking antibiotics is diarrhea. This occurs due to the antibiotics negatively affecting the balance between good and bad bacteria. But one of the probiotic benefits is to help reduce or prevent diarrhea, especially antibiotic associated diarrhea. Studies have also proven that they can reduce infectious diarrhea by an average of 25 hours and traveler’s diarrhea by 8%. But, the effect varies depending on the type and dosage consumed. Improving mental health conditions Gut health has been linked to mental and mood health often, and in accordance, probiotic supplements have been found to decrease some mental health disorders like anxiety, stress, depression, OCD, memory and more. Keeping the heart healthy Bile is a fluid mostly made up of cholesterol which helps with digestion.

If you are suffering from dry and dull hair, and often see white dandruff flakes on your shoulder, then a dry scalp could be the reason behind it. Many people feel embarrassed due to the white flakes and the itching that dry scalp can cause. The irritation that dry scalp causes can sometimes be unbearable; therefore, it is important to choose effective treatment methods to treat it as soon as possible. If you ignore the problem of dry scalp, it can then turn into a chronic problem, which could be very hard to treat in the future. You can choose from the plethora of dry scalp treatments available in order to avoid this problem. What causes dry scalp? Dry scalp is caused when the oil-producing glands on the scalp are not active or underactive and are not producing enough amounts of natural oil. This natural oil helps keeps the scalp moist all the time. The following are some other causes of a dry scalp: If you are using harsh, chemical-filled shampoos, it can cause dry scalp When you are using hard water to wash your hair Fungal infections Extreme weather conditions like extreme heat or cold climates Improper diet Harsh styling products Not oiling your hair often or not using conditioners after shampooing To combat dry scalp, the following list provides some effective dry scalp treatments: Oil massage: One of the best and most proven methods for treating dry scalp is oil massage. You can take any oil that you use regularly and massage the scalp in circular motions. In this way, blood circulation will be promoted in the scalp and your hair will also start growing in a natural way. When using oil for massage, it is always efficient to heat it slightly. This means that you should use lukewarm oil to massage your scalp, and this can be especially helpful if the dry scalp is being caused due to some fungal infection.

As a parent, feeding your newborn baby can be one of the most challenging tasks—no matter if it’s breast or formula feeding. If you are looking forward to formula feeding or want to get some from the store in case of an emergency, it can be sometimes confusing to choose the best product for your baby. All baby formulas are certified and are closely engineered to resemble breast milk, supplying your baby the required amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and other necessary nutrients. Before you jump to any conclusion, you should be aware of its different forms available in the market. Baby formulas come in three different forms, which we will discuss herein. So, read on to know the best baby formula product among the many available in the market and their dos and don’ts! Different Forms of Baby Formula Ready-to-feed Formula It is the most convenient and expensive form of baby formula which does not require any type of mixing and measurements. Most hospitals use these baby formulas to feed the newborn babies. It is a safe and hygienic form of baby formula not requiring any consideration about water safety while feeding your baby. The only disadvantage of this formula is that it has a lifespan of about 48 hours and requires refrigeration once you open this pack. Liquid Concentrate Formula This formula is less expensive and requires proper mixing of the liquid concentrate with equal amounts of distilled water. You have to consider the proper safety of the water you use to mix this formula, and it is advisable to read the instructions carefully before proceeding. The only disadvantage about this liquid concentrate baby formula is that it requires proper refrigeration and is needed to be consumed within 48 hours. Powdered Formula This formula is the least expensive among the three and is required to mix with an appropriate amount of distilled water before you can feed it to your newborn baby.

Toenail fungus or toe fungus is an infection of toenails that is contagious. If the toenail fungus starts in one nail of the toe, it can spread to the other toenails as well. Usually, dermophytes, a fungi group, is responsible for onychomycosis or toenail infection. This fungi group thrives on keratin which is the main component of nails and hair. When the fungus starts to grow, the patient’s nails get discolored and turn yellow, brown, or white. Eventually, the affected nails might harden, thicken, become brittle, and can even fall off. The treatment for toenail fungus can last for several weeks to several months. Various medications are available to deal with this contagious infection. However, it is always advisable to take medicines under the guidance of healthcare professionals as these medications might have several side effects depending on the person’s medical history. Here is a list of some of the most effective home remedies to treat a toenail fungus. Vinegar You can find vinegar in almost every household. It is a common cooking ingredient in a few cuisines. However, in some cases, you will discover this item in some home cleaning solutions as well. Although there is no clinical evidence to prove vinegar’s effectiveness in treating toenail fungus, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support its potential for curing this condition. Mix vinegar in a bowl of warm water. Now, soak your infection-affected toe in this mixture. The ratio of water to vinegar should be 2:1. Baking soda Various medical reports have shown that baking soda helps in soaking up excess moisture, which is one of the leading causes of toenail fungus. While doing a medical study, researchers found that baking soda can effectively prevent the growth of normal fungi by a considerable amount. One of the easiest ways to use baking soda is to put it inside your shoes and socks so that it can soak up the moisture.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas almost stop producing the insulin hormone that is needed to allow the glucose (sugar) to enter the cells and produce energy. This chronic condition is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes. It usually occurs when the immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. Different medical research reports have reflected that several factors, including some viruses and genetics, may lead to this chronic condition. According to these medical reports, usually, type 1 diabetes can appear during the adolescence or childhood, and it can develop slowly in adults as well. Till date, different medical studies on this chronic condition have not come up with a permanent cure or remedy. However, the treatment mainly focuses on keeping the blood sugar levels in control with insulin. Additionally, some lifestyle changes along with a healthy diet can help prevent complications caused by type 1 diabetes. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes Due to this chronic condition, glucose from food items is unable to enter the cells and produce energy. Instead, it starts to build up in the blood, resulting in high blood sugar. It also causes the cells to starve. To prevent the life-threatening health complications caused by type 1 diabetes, patients require proper treatment. Here is a list of some of the most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes that will help you understand when to consult a doctor. Frequent urination: A patient with type 1 diabetes may feel like urinating quite often as the blood has extra sugar in it. Dehydration: The patient may become dehydrated due to frequent urination. DKA (Diabetic ketoacidosis): The combination of acidic ketones, dehydration, and extra glucose in the blood causes ketoacidosis. If not treated on time, DKA can become life-threatening. Weight loss Blurred vision Extreme hunger Increased thirst Mood swings and irritability Weakness and fatigue In the case of children, you may notice the problem of bed-wetting at night.