Urinary tract infections (UTIs), also known as cystitis, are fairly common, especially among women. In fact, half of all women in the world suffer from a UTI at some point in their lifetimes. UTIs occur when bacteria, that are usually found in your gastrointestinal tract and pelvic region, enter into your urinary system. The bacteria don’t have much to travel to infect the woman’s bladder. As a result, it causes the inflammation of the bladder. Although UTIs are mostly caused by bacterial infections, they can also be caused by several other factors, such as chemical irritants, fungal infections, foreign bodies (e.g., kidney stones), and trauma. Symptoms of urinary tract infections Typically, UTI symptoms include the following: – Suprabic pain, which is the pain in lower abdomen – Dysuria, which is pain or a burning sensation upon urination – Needing to urinate urgently and frequently – Sometimes, the urine could be bloody or even cloudy Having said that, the symptoms can differ by age. Infants suffering from a UTI usually develop a fever, become fussy or feed poorly. Moreover, the elderly might experience fatigue, become incontinent or may even develop dementia. Urinary tract infection treatment options Step 1: Diagnosis The first and foremost step for the treatment of a UTI is a positive diagnosis. According to the diagnosis, the appropriate cure is suggested. There are a few tests for diagnosis of a UTI: Urine analysis You might need to have a urine culture taken to be evaluated for a possible infection of your kidneys. Once you get a urinalysis done, there might be signs of Pyuria—the presence of white blood cells in the urine, which can make the urine appear cloudy. Having a couple of WBCs in the urine can be normal, however, if there are more than 5 WBCs per high powered field is considered abnormally high.

Feel like your stomach is bloated? Have you been belching a lot? Or maybe you’ve been suffering from a lot of flatulence. If all of this sounds familiar, you are probably suffering from an excessive accumulation of gas. What Are The Causes Of Bloating In Your Stomach? People who have digestive or gastrointestinal disorders like celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis complain of bloating as well. Close to 90% of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome experience bloating. Dehydration can cause bloating. When you consume foods that are high in salt content, your body becomes dehydrated. Electrolyte imbalance along with dehydration will result in your body accumulating water. When your body does this, you might get constipated and end up with abdominal bloating. Drinking enough water can help balance your electrolyte levels and prevent dehydration, which in turn can help avoid bloating. While dehydration causes bloating, excess fluid retention can cause bloating as well. Excess fluids are usually stored in the abdomen and pelvic areas, and this can be another cause of bloating. If you are allergic to certain foods, you might find that one of your allergic reactions includes bloating as well. People who are lactose intolerant experience this often. A few foods that can cause an allergic reaction are bakery items that contain gluten, dairy products, and processed foods. Constipation can cause bloating. Not drinking an adequate amount of water and not consuming enough fibers can cause constipation. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO is a condition that involves an overgrowth of abnormal bacteria in your digestive tract and small intestines. These bacterias get accumulated when you have an inflammation, due to poor digestion or if you are on certain medications or antibiotics. Bacteria expel gases, and this can cause bloating as well. Also, when you eat food, these bacteria can ferment the food that has been consumed, causing you to have abdominal bloating.

Psoriasis is a disease of the skin, and it affects hands and feet, elbows, knees, scalp, eyelids, skin folds, or can appear anywhere on our body. Psoriasis is not limited to any specific part of the body, and it significantly affects the quality of our life. It is a chronic inflammatory cell-mediated disease mostly affecting skin and joints. Psoriasis is considered a very common and complex disease which can be cured with various treatments available. Chronic psoriasis is a rare and dangerous type of disease because they reduce the body’s ability to fight off the infections. It is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder with a strong genetic basis. Both men and women are affected with psoriasis. It can occur in any age groups but uncommon in children or early infants. Chronic psoriasis is caused due to various causative agents/ factors like environmental such as climate change, hereditary like psoriasis associated genes, frequent medications, the immune system of the host, etc. Psoriasis occurs when the cells of skin rise from below the skin surface and pile up on the surface before they shed off. T-cells often help to protect the body against various infections. In psoriasis, these T-cells are put into action by mistake, and they trigger other immune responses by being in an active state. Individuals with chronic psoriasis experience physical discomfort, itching, and pain. It interferes with a daily routine of walking, playing sports, self-care, looking after family members, sleeping, etc. Patients with chronic psoriasis become self-conscious about their appearance leading to depression and social isolation. Psoriasis is classified as mild, moderate and severe respectively. It is associated with several other conditions like diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular disorders, etc. Psoriasis is not a contagious disease and touching a person cannot pass this skin condition from one person to another.

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.

Every woman goes through the ebb and flow of sexual desires. Your general well-being, age, relationship and stress, all have an impact on how you think and want or respond to sexual stimuli. Given below are a few helpful options to boost libido in women: Eating right The first step to boost libido in women and fix your sex drive is to eat the right kind of foods. Vitamin A It is an essential element for the production of sex hormones – estrogen and testosterone. These are important for sexual development and desires. To maintain the levels of these hormones, it is important to add vitamin A to your daily intake. Foods like cabbage and dry apricots are a rich source of this vitamin and can boost libido in women. Vitamin B3 Chicken, green peas, mushrooms are foods that are rich in vitamin B3. This vitamin is responsible for the production of short bursts of energy while having sex. Vitamin B3 greatly enhances the intensity of your libido. It can efficiently boost libido in women. Vitamin B6 Prolactin is a hormone that is associated with the period of non-arousal after having an orgasm. This is why higher levels of this hormone can decrease your sexual appetite. Vitamin B6 keeps prolactin levels in check, within your bloodstream and allows for a better sex drive. Foods include avocados, low-fat cheese, and tomatoes. Intake of this vitamin will boost libido in women. Vitamin B12 This vitamin is an important factor in stimulating the nerve cells, to secrete histamine while having sex. Histamine causes the blood vessels to dilate and relax, and this is how you can achieve orgasm. To boost libido in women, it is important to have vitamin B12 foods like oysters, eggs, red salmon, and tuna. These foods are also called as aphrodisiacs – stimulants of sexual desire.

Shiny and voluminous hair is not only a sign of beauty but also speak volumes about the good health. However, maintaining them is not an easy task. The health condition of your hair depends on various nutrients, which are used by your body for their growth and repair. To help you keep your hair healthy, we have drawn up a list of some of the best vitamins for hair growth. Read on to know more. Vitamin A An important vitamin for proper hair growth is the vitamin A. It contains antioxidant properties that help in keeping the scalp moisturized by the production of sebum. Sebum is a natural oil made by the skin glands which makes your hair glossy. Vitamin A offers faster hair growth and sufficient thickness. Vitamin A rich foods include: Egg yolk Sweet potatoes Milk Spinach Mangoes Carrots Dried apricots Niacin (Vitamin B3) One of the 8 B vitamins, niacin is a necessary nutrient that is required for proper functioning of the body. Its chemical composition (nicotinamide) helps to improve skin function. Niacin ingested orally or applied to the scalp protects the scalp and hair from damage caused by sun/UV rays exposure. It makes your hair less brittle and provides more luster. Foods to eat for vitamin B3 deficiency: Tuna Mushrooms Avocados Turkey Biotin (Vitamin B7, Vitamin H) A part of the vitamin B family, biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that is also known as the hair growth vitamin, vitamin H. A part of the vitamin B family. This vitamin works to complement hair growth by activating the amino acids and fats that are essential for maintaining the structure of the hair protein keratin. A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to hair loss and sparse growth. Research has shown that intake of biotin coupled with an external application made hair grow back in areas where hair shedding had taken place.

Shingle is a viral infection which leads to the development of a powerful rash. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States has found out that one in every three people will suffer from shingles at any point in their life. Varicella-zoster virus causes shingles. Incidentally, this is the same virus which is responsible for the development of chickenpox. For people who had suffered from chickenpox in their childhood, shingles virus can attack at any point in their life since it lies in a dormant stage in such people. Though shingles can occur at any point in the body, the rashes in shingles make their appearance in a small region. Pain in the shingles affected region is the first symptom of this medical condition. Usually, within a few days of the appearance of pain fluid-filled blisters make their appearance. People who suffer from shingles also develop fever and face fatigue for the most of the day. It is commonly known that there is no treatment for shingles; doctors also recommend antiviral medications for shingles. However, these are not very effective remedies for shingles; therefore, several natural remedies for shingles have also been recommended for getting relief from this ailment. Healing Baths If daily cleaning of blisters is done, it will reduce the risk of spreading of shingles and is one of the effective remedies for shingles. The person suffering from shingles should take a cool bath or shower if possible since it will soothe the skin. The cool effect of water also eases the pain and offers relief from itching which is a common symptom of shingles. Wet, Cool, Compress If you are taking a healing bath to get some relief from shingles, application of cool and moist compress should be the next step in the series. This should be done several times in a day to get some relief from shingles related problems.

The inability to achieve an erection or maintain one for a period that is long enough for sexual intercourse is called impotence. Impotence can be caused due to some reasons that range from stress to genetics. Some of these causes can be combated through a combination of exercise, therapy, and medication. Recent studies suggest the link between impotence and lifestyle is more relevant than previously thought. A well-balanced diet, a consistent exercise routine, and a good night’s sleep are all key elements of any lifestyle. This is no different when we’re talking about sexual performance. It will help combat impotence to a certain degree. There may be deeper causes for the inability to perform sexually too. Impotence can be caused due to genetics, a bad injury or bad blood circulation. Fear not, to combat the type of impotence that isn’t lifestyle based; we bring you these amazing impotence home remedies. Cocoa Cocoa is considered medicinal in many parts of Africa, South America, and East Asia. Studies have proven that one of the key nutrients in cocoa, an antioxidant called flavonoids, can help combat impotence. Flavonoids help improve cardiovascular health by improving blood circulation and detoxifying the blood. Dark chocolate has high levels of cocoa; ensure any chocolate consumed is at least 70% dark. Milk chocolate has lower levels of flavonoids and higher levels of sugar and fat. Try avoiding milk chocolates. The improvement of blood circulation and the quality of blood will guarantee an overall improvement in every aspect of anyone’s health. This includes sexual health. Cocoa may be the tastiest of the available impotence home remedy. Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is one of the healthiest dietary components around. It is the most readily available impotence home remedy; it also is renowned for its ability to combat other ailments like diabetes, high cholesterol, and prostatitis.

Constipation is a condition that involves difficulty in passing stools. Hardening of stool and decrease in the frequency of passing stool is also noticed. Sometimes, episodes of constipation can occur in between diarrhea as well. When constipated, the stools are hardened, and it becomes difficult for it to pass through your rectum. Causes of constipation Your diet plays an important role in the functioning of your body, and the same goes for constipation and its treatment. Consuming foods that are rich in fats and dairy products causes constipation. Inadequate consumption of foods that are rich in fiber is also a major cause. Water is something you shouldn’t compromise. Drinking eight to ten glasses of water on a daily basis is a must. Inadequate consumption of water can cause your stools to harden. Your colon needs water to keep the stools soft as well. Drinking a lot of water is also one of the treatments for constipation. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to dehydration. These drinks make you pass urine frequently, due to which your intestines begin to absorb moisture. This causes you to get constipated. Sometimes, constipation is caused when you delay or ignore your bowel movements. Ignoring the desire to have bowel movements may initiate a cycle of constipation. This is true for people who hold back their stools because they don’t like using the public toilet. This shouldn’t be the case as it can lead to progressive constipation if repeated often. Medications can cause constipation too. Painkillers, iron tablets and a few narcotic drugs can suppress bowel function, leading to constipation. Laxatives help induce bowel movements and loosen the stool, but using this can make your bowel lose its sensitivity. You might become too dependent on these laxatives, and it can have a negative effect on you, that is constipation.

With a jam-packed schedule, do you wake up and get ready to eat waffles topped with chocolate sauce for breakfast? Then amidst the back-to-back meetings, do you quickly grab a soda, burger, and fries for lunch? Does your dinner regularly comprise of pasta or spaghetti? Do you often remain thirsty and don’t hydrate regularly? If this is what your daily dietary routine looks like, your kidneys are silently yearning for help. Kidneys are vital for your health and play an essential role in the well-being of your body. Kidneys perform the following essential functions: Eliminate toxins Filter the blood Absorb minerals Neutralize acids Damage to the kidneys can often go unnoticed for a long time, as kidneys can function with as little as 20% of its capacity. Therefore, prevention is better than cure holds true in the case of kidneys. If you have any kidney disease, you should know which products are harmful and which are beneficial for your condition. Vitamins for kidneys are essential nutrients that our body needs to grow, develop normally and maintain its functions. Here are some vitamins for kidneys which are essential for the maintenance and recovery of your kidneys. Vitamin A Vitamin A is a fat-soluble compound that is generally classified as retinoids. Retinoic acid promotes embryonic development and is needed for normal immune function. Vitamin A is transported through to retinol-binding protein (RBP). These vitamins for kidneys are recommended to be consumed in a liquid form. Recommended Dosage : Daily Reference Intake (DRI) of 700-900 ug/day. Sources : Liver Fish liver oil Dairy Products Butter Eggs Red and yellow colored fruits and vegetables Dark green leafy vegetables 2) Vitamin B12 Known as Cyanocobalamin, B12 is found in high protein foods. Thus, patients who consume low amounts or remain on very low protein diets for an extended period may have insufficient B12 levels.

Contrary to the previous belief that it is rare to develop both rheumatoid arthritis and gout, in recent years, it is observed that rheumatoid arthritis patients are at high risk of developing gout in the near future. Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is an autoimmune disease where the joints in your body suffer from chronic joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Gout is another type of arthritis where the uric acid level in a person’s body is alarmingly high, leading to the formation of uric acid crystals that cause joint pain and stiffness. Both the diseases are inflammatory diseases, and many times it is difficult for the doctors to deduce which type of arthritis you are suffering from. Also, men are more likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and gout together than women. Is it Gout or RA? Diagnosing the illness at the initial stage is very important. Though both the conditions have similar signs and symptoms, if you look carefully you can make out the difference. Here are some signs that differentiate the two: In most of the cases, gout occurs in the base of the big toe. Common areas that get affected by RA are the joints of your wrist and hands. You will always experience redness, swelling, and inflammation of joints when you are suffering from gouty arthritis symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis is painful, but it is not always followed by swelling and reddening of the affected area. In this article, you will learn about some common rheumatoid arthritis and gouty foot pain treatments. Treatment for Gout About 4 % of the population suffer from gout at some point in their life. This makes gout one of the most common types of arthritis that people suffer from today. There are two types of medication for gout foot pain, short-term medication, and long-term medication.

Arthritis is a painful condition that causes inflammation of the joints. The term arthritis covers a broad spectrum of rheumatic diseases and conditions, that affect the joints. There are over 200 types of arthritis, classified into seven main groups. The main groups under which the various types of arthritis are classified are: Mechanical or degenerative arthritis Inflammatory arthritis Soft tissue musculoskeletal pain Back pain Infectious arthritis Connective tissue arthritis Metabolic arthritis Causes of arthritis While it is not possible to pinpoint any single cause, a combination of any of the following can lead to arthritis. Family history can lead to osteoarthritis Immune dysfunction can lead to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Abnormal metabolism can lead to gout and pseudogout Any injury to the musculoskeletal system can lead to degenerative arthritis Any infections can lead to arthritis as in Lyme’s disease Arthritis pain symptoms There are symptoms that precede, before a completely developed arthritis. Arthritis is a progressive condition, and the severity of symptoms increase over a period of time. In some cases, the pain is persistent, while in others, the pain is on and off. Also, the symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis. There are certain arthritis pain symptoms that are experienced by a majority of patients. There are four key warning signs of arthritis. Joint pain The earliest symptom of arthritis is joint pain. Arthritis can affect the joints in the neck, shoulders, elbows, knees, wrist, hips and ankles. The pain can be continuous or intermittent. It can be isolated to one place or the pain can be felt in all parts of the body. Joint stiffness Some types of arthritis display a typical symptom—joint stiffness. Joints get stiff after waking up in the morning, after sitting for a long time at the work desk, or in the car.