Hair thinning, hair loss, which is also known as alopecia is often a concern for men, women, and even children. Our hair is made up of a protein called Keratin that is produced in the outer layer of skin in the hair follicles. The follicles keep producing new hair cells and the old ones keep pushing out. These hair follicles have a lifespan or a cycle and the cycle keeps going on. There are several factors that can cause hair thinning or hair loss like hormones. In such a case, there is an imbalance of androgens and it is present in both men and women. Genes are also a major factor when it comes to hair loss or thinning and both males and females can be affected by the genes. A lot of studies have shown that stress is one of the major causes of hair loss. With the kind of lifestyle we have nowadays, stress cannot be avoided at all and people are bound to undergo stressful situations. A lot of infections such as ringworm is one of the causes of hair thinning. Cosmetic procedures can also cause a great amount of damage to our hair, such as using shampoo too often, dying hair, perms, bleaching, and using too many tools to set the hair. All these things make the hair really weak hence resulting in hair thinning. A lot also depends on our medical conditions and food habits as well. A lot of medical conditions such as thyroid, eating disorders, diabetes, and iron deficiency can make the hair really thin and weak. A diet which is low in protein will make your hair thin, dull, and weak; therefore, it’s important to see and keep a check on our food habits. Even consuming any kind of drugs or smoking can cause excessive hair fall.

Cataract surgery deals with the operation of the dysfunctional natural eye lens followed by the implantation of the intraocular lens. It generally takes five minutes to operate the eye. The process doesn’t cause pain and facilitates the quick recovery of vision. The eye surgeons are well aware of the fact that every patient has unique visual needs and likewise unique approach is used to treat their problem. The complete cataract surgery process has different stages which include diagnosis, counseling, pre-operative testing, intraocular lens selection, managing the hyperopic and myopic astigmatism and enhancement of the corneal refractive after the surgery. The cost incurred to accomplish the above tests and diagnosis makes the complete cataract surgery cost. The cataract surgery cost varies depending on the services provided by the health insurance companies. The cost includes the basic package, co-payments, and deductibles. Post-operative care for 90 days is covered in the basic package without other additional costs. The patients need to pay for the medical costs such as bifocals and eye medications. Some parts of these additional costs are included in the insurance coverage. The cataract surgery cost is calculated depending on the type of package. There are two packages, which are basic package and premium package. Premium cataract surgery cost: The premium cataract surgery is a wonderful solution for people who want to get optimized results for vision. The intraocular lenses with sophisticated features make the cost high. The estimated surgery cost is $500 to $5000 for on eye. The premium surgery reduces the dependence of the people on glasses in contrast to the basic cataract surgery. To know about the complete cost and deductibles of the premium surgery, it is wise to contact the insurer. Basic cataract surgery cost: The basic surgery cost improves the vision but it doesn’t give the freedom from glasses.

‘Pain in the neck’ is a common phrase while describing an irritating situation, person, or event. However, when neck pain occurs, it can be extremely painful too. Often neck pain results from the nerves. Mild neck pain is tolerable and it goes away by itself with time. But severe neck nerve pain can cause serious discomfort to a person and one should visit the doctor at the earliest. When to worry about neck pain A bad or awkward sleep posture during the night is the most common cause that leads to a stiff neck, or neck pain in the morning. This kind of pain is usually a strain in the muscle that starts at one point in the neck and usually goes away with time. One can try simple remedies like taking adequate rest, applying a pain relief spray, or ointment, or hot and cold compress. But if neck nerve pain persists for a prolonged period, spreads from one to point to another, or in any way disturbs the day-to-day activities of a person, it is best to see a professional doctor at the earliest. The warning signs are when the pain from the neck spreads and moves down towards the shoulders and arms. Some common symptoms or signs of neck nerve pain are as follows: Stiff neck Excruciating or sharp pain Soreness Numb feeling Headache Tingling sensation Sneezing or coughing increases pain Difficulty or pain while lifting things All these are signs to consult a doctor as soon as possible for further treatment. Neck nerve pain can be categorized into three types. These are as follows: Acute : Pain persists for more than 4 weeks Subacute : Pain lasts between 4 and 12 weeks Chronic : Pain has been there for more than 3 months The intensity of the pain and the symptoms may vary from patient to patient.

There are two kinds of cholesterol – good and bad. LDL is the bad cholesterol, while HDL is the good cholesterol. What we eat can directly affect our cholesterol levels, which is why it is so important to avoid foods that are high in cholesterol. There are foods that help reduce cholesterol, so they should be consumed regularly in decent quantities. Two strategies can be followed to reduce cholesterol levels: Adding food that lower LDL or low-density lipoproteins Cutting back on foods that boost LDL levels Reducing bad foods Harmful LDL is found in saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fats are found in animal products like red meat, eggs, whole-fat dairy products and some vegetable oils like coconut oil, palm oil, and cocoa butter. Saturated fat can increase the LDL cholesterol levels. Trans fats should be completely avoided as the body does not need them at all. A lot of food containing trans fats have been banned in the country. Trans fats are a byproduct of the chemical reaction that converts liquid vegetable oil into solid margarine or shortening. This helps prevent liquid vegetable oils from turning rancid and getting spoilt. These fats have no nutritional value and have been scientifically proven to be bad for heart health. They increase LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They are so bad for the health that they even reduce the good HDL cholesterol. Weight and exercise also affect the number of fats circulating in the bloodstream. A sedentary lifestyle reduces HDL and extra weight increases LDL levels. How to reduce cholesterol with foods Soluble fiber is delivered by certain foods that bind cholesterol in the digestive system along with other precursors. This fiber pushes the cholesterol out of the system before it gets into the circulatory system. Others may contain plant sterols and stanols that block the body from absorbing cholesterol.

Triglycerides are the fat that is present in your blood. They are used by the body to create energy by absorption into the adipose cells. When their quantity in the blood crosses the daily required threshold, they are stored in various parts of the body to be used later in the future, whenever required. However, when there are high levels of triglycerides flowing through the bloodstream, you are at an increased risk of coronary/heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. Thus, it is important to maintain the triglycerides that are being converted from the diet that you are taking. High Triglyceride Diet Foods To maintain the good health of your heart and pancreas, lowering your triglycerides plays an essential role. Given below are foods that make a high triglyceride diet, and that need to be maintained and kept in check. Starchy Vegetables Keeping triglycerides in mind, not all vegetables are good for managing their levels in your body. Some vegetables have a high starch content which means they have more carbohydrates; these can spike up the triglycerides by turning the excess starch into triglycerides. Some vegetables that are high in starch are: Lima beans Corn Peas Sweet potatoes Dried beans Winter squash Water chestnut Plantains These vegetables can be replaced by options like mushrooms, kale, and cauliflower. Starchy Foods As with vegetables high in starch, other starchy foods in the diet also need monitoring. The breakdown of these foods results in sugars that convert into triglycerides when the starch intake becomes superfluous. Some starchy foods – Bread – white, brown, and whole wheat Pasta and noodles Cereals – granola, oatmeal Rice Manage these starchy foods from your high triglyceride diet by keeping servings (2-4 per meal) in check. For example, one slice of bread or half a cup of cooked pasta would make one serving.

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.

Are your clothes getting tighter around the waist? Is your body becoming more oblong and out of shape? If the answer to the above questions is a yes, then you are suffering from increasing belly fat, that gets accumulated due to a number of natural and man-made triggers. Belly fat is more than a just an aesthetic disposition of the body. An abdominal bulge is due to the storage of excessive visceral fat around the liver, stomach, and pancreas. This ‘beer gut’ is a predictor of metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, some heart diseases, and cancer. A simple tape can measure stomach fat. Standing up, wrap the tape around your waist and check your girth at the belly button. Make sure that the tape measure is level. A healthy body mass index dictates that your waist size be less than 35 inches in women and less than 40 inches in men. Ways To Burn Stomach Fat Losing fat from the abdomen area can be a difficult task, Some well-proven strategies target the specific fat buildup in the belly area. Fibrous Diet Soluble fiber is mostly indigestible plant matter that binds water, forming a viscous gel that ‘sits’ in the gut. This viscous gel helps in slowing down food as it passes through the digestive tract and gives you the feeling of being full. There is better absorption of nutrients, and your appetite remains in check. It is also known to decrease the number of calories that your body absorbs from the food thus helping burn stomach fat. High fiber foods include consuming vegetables and fruits. Legumes, flax seeds, shirataki noodles, Brussels sprouts, avocados, blackberries and some cereals like oats are excellent sources of fiber. Furthermore, a fiber supplement like glucomannan can be taken to provide benefit to the digestive system.

It is common to confuse plaque with tartar due to similarity in symptoms. Plaque is a sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that repeatedly forms on the tooth surface. The plaque buildup can stain your teeth. It is also the origin of several gum problems. Plaque removers can help keep your teeth plaque free. Formation Of Plaque Bacteria in our mouth, combined with foods that contain sugar and carbohydrate, produce acids that attack the teeth. Inefficient brushing leads to plaque development, and if not removed, it can cause dental problems. It can also cause permanent damage to the gums, if left untreated. Treating Plaque Eliminating plaque is a daily routine process in our oral care. Regular brushing and flossing are the most basic. Plaque takes as less as 4 to 12 hours to recur on our teeth. Therefore, brushing at least twice a day is essential to fight plaque, followed by flossing for complete dental care. Brushing Even though you brush everyday, and it might seem like a simple task, note the following basics: Do not rush through your brushing routine. Make sure each quadrant of your mouth is brushed for 30 seconds. This means you should ideally brush your entire teeth line for 2 full minutes. Use a good electric brush that allows you to clean all corners of the mouth. The Oral-B in-handle timer pulses every 30 seconds, so that you can switch quadrants accordingly. Go tooth by tooth to achieve the best cleaning, and, attentively, reach all corners. Oral hygiene also involves a clean tongue. Brush your tongue to get rid of odor-causing bacteria. Once you are done, rinse the bristles of your brush well. This will prevent any residual bacteria and dirt clinging onto the bristles. Proper use of a good electric brush or a normal toothbrush having criss-cross bristles is enough to remove up to 90% of plaque.

Diet is one of the main factors which account for high cholesterol levels in our body. However, maintaining a proper diet can also help maintain cholesterol at requisite levels. If we choose the right foods to include in our diet, it can help manage fats in the bloodstream. We must consume foods that are lower in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This would allow us to maintain our cholesterol at requisite levels. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of the body’s lipoproteins and an important carrier of cholesterol. Having an excess of it is harmful to our body and can lead to clogging of the arteries. They are also known as “bad cholesterol.” Foods that lower cholesterol naturally in our body do so in different ways: Some foods bind cholesterol in the digestive system. Therefore, the cholesterol exits the body before it reaches the circulatory system. Some foods increase the amount of polyunsaturated fats in the body. This lowers the LDL levels in the bloodstream. Some foods contain sterols. These block the absorption of cholesterol in our body. Let’s look at some of the best foods that lower cholesterol naturally that can be included in your diet. Oats One of the best foods that lower cholesterol naturally is oats. You can choose to start the day with a wholesome breakfast of oatmeal. You may also have cold oats-based cereal for breakfast. This has 1 or 2 grams of soluble fibers. If you add a banana or some strawberries, this would add another half a gram of soluble fibers to your breakfast. Barley and other whole grains Barley and other whole grains reduce the chances of occurrence of cardiovascular disorders and are among the top foods that lower cholesterol naturally. One of the key mechanisms is by delivering a high percentage of soluble fibers to the body.

Dental implants are surgical components that attach a prosthetic tooth to the jaw or to the bone. Most modern dental implants are made of materials like titanium, that form a strong bond with the bone to ensure that the prosthetic stays in place. The procedure of implantation can be quite complex, so dental implant costs can vary. Dental implantation has to be carefully planned since the implant should be durable and be able to withstand considerable force involved during chewing. Overall, the initial dental implants cost may be high, but over time it is cheaper than other alternatives. Do You Need Dental Implants? Cost-Benefit Analysis The main purpose of a dental implant is to support a prosthesis . A prosthesis can be a crown (a single tooth restoration), a bridge (attaching a prosthesis to adjacent natural teeth), or dentures (false teeth). The process in which the implant integrates with the bone is called osseointegration . This process ensures that the implant lasts for decades. This durability justifies the dental implants cost, which can be quite high. Another reason for the relatively high dental implants cost is that the implant is usually made of titanium which is an expensive metal. Dental implants are customized to an individual’s mouth. This is why the dental implants cost can vary from person to person. Your age, pre-existing conditions, tooth health, and other factors play an important part in determining the dental implants cost. Even if the initial dental implants cost is high, the maintenance of dental implants is easy and cheap. They last for decades and doesn’t require too much care. Dental implants cost also depends on the number of teeth being replaced. Logically, the more the number of teeth to be replaced, the higher the dental implants cost. Apart from this, the dental implants cost is also affected by the health of the teeth surrounding the missing tooth, the health of the jaw, and the state of the gums.

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.

Meningitis refers to a medical condition in which the meninges or the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain get inflamed mostly due to viral infection. Fungal and bacterial infections may also lead to this health issue. Often characterized by the stiffness of the neck, high fever, and headache, meningitis can turn fatal, if not treated on time. In some rare cases, meningitis gets cured in a couple of weeks without any medication. However, it is never recommended to leave meningitis untreated and report to a doctor if you can find any of the below-mentioned symptoms of meningitis. General meningitis symptoms are- Symptoms of meningitis and flu are often quite similar, making it difficult to recognize at the very onset. However, some patients get many prominent meningitis symptoms in a few hours while others may take several days for developing the meningitis symptoms. Both adults and children have the risk of getting this infection. Anyone above two years of age is expected to show the following signs when infected by this disease germ. Getting high fever all of a sudden Neck stiffness, sometimes complete immobility of neck Developing concentration difficulty or confusion Difficulty in waking up, sleepiness in the daytime or excess fatigue Seizures or epilepsy signs Difficult to see in light or increased sensitivity to sunlight Low appetite and thirst Rad rashes on skin A severe headache accompanied by fever. In most cases, the pain is quite unusual than a normal headache. Many patients also get vomiting or nausea along with a headache Meningitis symptoms in babies below two years- Meningitis in infants below two years can be extremely difficult to diagnose and may turn fatal. Therefore, consult a doctor if you see any of the signs in your child. Constant crying accompanied by high fever. In most of the cases, the babies do not stop crying and might cry harder when trying to be consoled.