Inflammation of the inner lining of the large intestine, or colon, is medically termed as Colitis. This inflammation can be caused by bowel diseases (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis), infections or allergic reactions. The condition can cause symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain, that can be extremely belittling. Given below are a few home remedies for colitis management. Dietary changes When dealing with colitis, it is important to understand how diet can cause adverse effects on your symptoms. Sugars (refined carbohydrates) in our food-intake breaks down; it can cause the pH in the bloodstream to spike to abnormal levels. This highly acidic environment harms the good bacteria and can lead to repeated episodes of diarrhea. Sugars harm the lower intestines when certain bacteria or fungi (similar to yeast), start to feed off them. With the growth and multiplication of these microbes, the chances are that the colon might get infected, and make your condition even worse. So, you should start off with cutting out refined carbohydrates from your diet, to help relieve symptoms. Replace the refined carbohydrates in your diet with high-complex forms, as these add more fiber and promote better bowel movement. Add a good quantity of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, that help to alleviate the condition, by providing relief to the constipated bowels. When picking options for a high fiber diet, make sure you are not allergic to foods like wheat, dairy products or corn. The reaction to these allergens is known to be one of the causes of colitis. Also, public drinking water that has chlorine and other chemical agents, could be an irritant to lower bowels. Switch to making use of boiled or distilled water. Nutrition Recurring episodes of diarrhea can cause a serious loss of nutrients from the body. Also, the inflammation in the lower intestines hinders the process of nutrition absorption from food.

There are 4 stages of breast cancer—stage I, II, III, and IV. Stage IV breast cancer is also known as metastatic or even secondary breast cancer and is the most advanced stage of breast cancer. If left untreated for a long time, then cancer metastasizes (spreads) beyond the breast. Most often, metastatic breast cancer spreads through the lymphatic system to the liver, bones, lungs, and brain. This, in turn, can result in life-threatening morbidity including myocardial infarction (MI). The size of the tumor varies from one person to another. Approximately more than 154,000 women residing in the US have metastatic breast cancer. Many women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer had suffered from breast cancer before. However, for some, metastatic breast cancer may be their first diagnosis of breast cancer . Treatment Coping up with the most advanced stage of breast cancer is quite tough and challenging as an advanced stage of breast cancer remains incurable. Only an oncologist can treat patients diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. A lot of factors such as age, medical history, and general health are considered. Moreover, the biology of the growth of tumor and metastasis comes into the picture. Your medical oncologist will encourage effective treatment. He will also recommend you to undergo the one best for you out of the four effective treatment options. The four options are as follows: Breast cancer chemical therapy or chemotherapy (chemo) This is the first systemic treatment for hormone receptor-negative and hormone receptor-positive (but no longer responds to hormone therapy) stage IV breast cancers. Chemical therapy is better known as chemotherapy. The term “chemotherapy” is often put forward as an overarching definition. In chemotherapy, the cancer cells shrink much faster than that in hormone therapy. In this treatment option, you can even control the growth rate of cancer cells in the body for several years.

Diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels due to the inability of the pancreas to secrete sufficient insulin or the body’s inability to effectively use the secreted insulin. In fact, diabetes mellitus is a silent killer, and if a person suffers from high blood pressure along with diabetes, it can prove to be fatal. Studies have reported that approximately 37% of the global population is diabetic and these figures are rising due to increased incidence of obesity and other lifestyle habits. An Insight Into Diabetes Diabetes can manifest in two types. People usually develop type 1 diabetes or diabetes mellitus in adulthood. Sufferers of type 1 diabetes are completely insulin dependent. Type 2 diabetes is more common and in this condition, the body does not produce enough insulin or body cells are insulin resistant. There is an increased incidence of juvenile diabetes and gestational diabetes. Medications and lifestyle changes can help manage the conditions effectively. Diabetes is a cause of adult blindness. Also, diabetics are at an increased risk of suffering from a fatal stroke. Moreover, they are prone to infections that do not heal quickly, resulting in amputation of the limbs. Hence, it is essential that blood sugar levels are constantly monitored with the help of a blood sugar chart. These charts serve as tools to determine the quantum of sugar that has accumulated in the blood. What Is A Blood Sugar Chart? A blood sugar chart helps track your blood glucose levels. The chart contains columns that keep a track of the date, and fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels. It also shows target readings which will help you conclude your current levels vis-a-vis the normal blood glucose levels. The normal blood sugar levels before meals range between 70-130 mg/dl. Post meals, that is about 2 hours after meals, the blood sugar levels should be below 180 mg/dl.

Onychomycosis is the medical term for toenail fungus. This forms when the skin has abnormal Ph levels. Toenail fungus normally occurs in older people as the skin around the nail gets brittle and dry. The nails may crack allowing the fungus to enter. Some of the symptoms which characterize toenail fungus are: Thickening of the skin Inflammation Yellowing Pain in toes and toenails Crumbling of toenail Primary underlying factors which may lead to toenail fungus include: Poor hygiene habits Weak immune system Bad circulation High moisture content in the environment Toe Nail Fungus Remedies: Let us take a look at some natural toenail fungus remedies. These allow one to get rid of toenail fungus, or prevent its formation. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is also known as Melaleuca. It has strong antifungal and antiseptic properties. This makes it a natural toenail fungus remedies. How to use Tea tree oil as one of the toenail fungus remedies: Clean the affected area well Apply tea tree oil on to the toe with a cotton swab Let the oil stay over the toe for about10 minutes. Then clean up, using a clean cloth Baking Soda: Baking soda dries out excess moisture from the toes. This makes it an effective toenail fungus removal remedy. Baking soda also heals foot disorders, as it neutralizes foot odors. So by keeping the area clean, it helps prevent infection. How to use baking soda for treating toenail fungus: Create a paste using baking soda and water Apply it over the toe Let it stay for 10 minutes before you cleanse it with water For healing toenail fungus, you may also choose to dip your feet in a bucket full of water, mixed with baking soda. Cornmeal: Cornmeal contains a fungus which is otherwise harmless. However, cornmeal fungus counters the fungus which infects the toenail.

Pain is a sensation of extreme discomfort in a particular region of the body. It is your body’s early warning system protecting you from the possible ailment you could suffer from. In a situation where you can’t feel pain, that is, in fact, an indicator of numbness which could further worsen the condition. The tolerance towards pain varies from one person to another. Hence, medications work for some, while they don’t work for others. Opium-based drugs known as opioids that include fentanyl and even oxycodone are the reason behind an addiction epidemic in the US and thus are highly disapproved by doctors and even patients. Thus, there has been a need for new pain medications to be available on the market that isn’t harmful. The abuse of these opioids has resulted in thousands of overdose deaths in the US every year. These drugs can cause motor impairment and respiratory depression. Patients also build up an increased tolerance over time, therefore increasing the risk of overdose or abuse. Below is a list of some new pain medications with the painkilling power of the infamous opioids but without some of the dangerous side effects, it brings along: Oliceridine A new pain medication opioid, Oliceridine, is currently in its final stages of experimentation with human trials and is being executed by Trevena. Advantages: Research shows that it relieves pain similarly to morphine It comes without the side effects that morphine brings along, such as constipation and respiratory depression Patients are less likely to build a tolerance towards it, unlike in the case of morphine Lesser risk of overdose. Drawbacks: As addictive as morphine Can be used in hospital environments only Scientists claim that research indicates this drug to be much safer to use than morphine. FDA recently gave Oliceridine a breakthrough therapy designation, which is only granted to drugs with a significant clinical improvement as compared to other available therapies.

Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, means low blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body. It usually occurs in people with diabetes. It can be a side effect of insulin or other types of diabetes medicines. Generally, the acceptable range of blood sugar is 70 to 100 mg/dL. In case of diabetic patients, 70 mg/dL or less indicates low blood sugar. However, diabetes medication is not the only cause of low blood sugar. Medications that don’t suit your body, or any exercise or diet, can lead to low sugar levels. Therefore, you mustn’t be careless about your sugar levels and should keep a thorough record to prevent its diminution below the permissible limit. Also, the brain needs glucose to function efficiently and low sugar can cause loss of energy for brain function, leading to poor attention and cognitive function. The brain senses the drop in sugar. This biochemical process then alerts the person that they need food or water—if neglected or left untreated, it can lead to coma or death. In worse case scenario, an injection of glucagon is given to the affected person as the person finds it difficult to eat anything in a normal manner. The glycogen immediately raises the sugar levels to relatively normal. There are many symptoms that can help you recognize low blood sugar levels (they differ from person to person). Symptoms of low blood sugar Anxiety: One of the symptoms of low blood sugar is anxiety. In anxiety or stress, the blood sugar consumption increases which cause an adrenaline rush. This, in turn, causes low blood sugar due to the fluctuations in the energy levels. Hunger: Mild hypoglycemia makes you feel hungry while high or severe hypoglycemia leads to unconsciousness. Food then breaks down into sugar that enables functioning of our body. The sudden hunger pangs are one of the major symptoms of low blood sugar.

Diverticulitis is a severe medical implication. It is caused by the swelling of the diverticula. Diverticula are the pouches along the lining of the large intestine. An exertion of pressure causes weak spots in the intestinal wall. Due to this, the intestine bulges the colonic wall structure outwards. Diverticulitis occurs among people after the age of forty. As individual ages, the symptoms of diverticulitis are often seen. Initially, diverticulitis is characterized by minor infection or inflammation. But it can aggravate and tear, and cause the serious problem of diverticulitis. Some of the medical conditions related to diverticulitis include abdominal pain, fever, bloody bowel movements, and nausea. Diverticulitis can be treated with medications. However, if the problem is serious, surgeries are other viable approaches. Making lifestyle changes is the best way to control the worsening of diverticulitis over time. Changing the diet proves helpful for treating diverticulitis. There are certain foods which you must take and avoid. Include the good foods and stay away from the bad foods if you want to prevent the aggravation of diverticulitis. The diet for diverticulitis works efficiently to give the digestive system enough time to rest. It includes liquids and easily-digestible food. These food products are digested quickly and don’t strain the digestive tract. What is the right diet for diverticulitis? Liquid Diet: The intake of liquid diets must be increased. Some of the liquid diets you must take are water, ice chips, fruit juices that don’t contain pulp (apple), vegetable juice, skimmed tea or coffee, gelatin, and broth. If the symptoms of diverticulitis improve with the intake of the liquid diet, your doctors may suggest the intake of fiber diet. He will start with the low-fiber diet and then recommend the high fiber diet. Some of the low fiber foods include eggs, fish, and white bread, cooked foods without seeds, foods without skin, green beans, and juices without pulp, white rice, yogurt, milk, pasta, and low-fiber cereals.

Obstructive sleep apnea better known as snoring, is a potentially fatal disorder. It restraints breathing of the individual during sleep. People use Oral Appliances like mouth guards to control, or stop obstructive sleep apnea. This helps them sleep better and reduce various health risks associated with it. Risks of untreated or undertreated sleep apnea include heart attack, stroke, deadly heart rhythms, mood and memory disorder. So, it is important to take this seemingly harmless habit seriously and treat it before the condition worsens. Use Of Oral Appliances/Mouth Devices Oral appliances or mouth devices are an alternative to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy(CPAP) or oral surgery for sleep apnea. Overweight individuals use it along with weight loss therapies. These mouth guards work by reducing the turbulence in airflow and inhibit snoring. These sleep apnea mouth guards or mouth pieces are most effective when the disorder is mild or moderate. These dental devices are adopted in the early stages of sleep apnea. A sleep study to diagnose the severity is recommended by the physician, before use. Another sleep study to understand the effectiveness of the appliance may also be recommended. Features Of Mouth Devices Or Dental Appliances Sleep apnea mouth guards are custom-made by dentists and laboratories to best suit your condition. The design is aimed at enhanced comfort and increased patient compliance. Sleep apnea oral devices or appliances reduce snoring, by increasing the air passageway between the jaws. The device pushes the lower jaw forward, over the upper jaw, to make the correction. Most sleep apnea mouth guards come with an adjustable feature. Allowing patients to make small increments for the increased airway. So they can personalize it to suit their comfort. Most common sleep apnea mouth guard features are: Adjustable position provided with a telescopic hinge. Free and full range of motion, allowing the patient to comfortably talk and drink.

Annoyed of that belly fat? Those love handles getting in the way of your skinny jeans? With these quick fixes and enough focus and dedication, get a flatter tummy and a healthier body in a few days! Incorporate these small changes in your routine, follow some of the fastest ways to lose belly fat and see the inches melting off your waist. Bid adieu to sugar This is definitely rule number one. You need to eliminate added sugar and sugar-rich foods if you want to shape up quickly. Sugar is composed of glucose and fructose. When you consume excessive amounts of refined sugar, the liver gets overloaded with fructose, which can be metabolized only in limited quantities and converts it into fat. So, say no to those cakes, chocolates, sweetened juices, and sodas. Cut down on salt Salt is rich in sodium and excessive sodium in your body can make you look bloated because salt has a tendency to retain water. To reduce the amount of salt, try cooking your own meals, and add a minimal amount of salt. Moreover, try as much as possible to stay away from processed foods. Not only do these processed foods contain preservatives rich in sodium, but they also contain added sugar. Drink more water One of the fastest ways to lose belly fat is by drinking enough water. Water has zero calories, makes you feel fuller, flushes out the harmful toxins, is good for your skin and also helps in losing weight. Heaven’s nectar much? Quite possibly is! Make it a point to drink 7-8 glasses of water each day. Water in any form is beneficial, but in order to increase your appetite for it, you can make infused water with cucumber, lemon, and mint. Workout regularly Instead of focusing on crunches, you should concentrate more on routines that engage multiple muscle groups and work your cardiovascular system.

The human eye is a complex organ. The affliction of any eye disease can lead to temporary or permanent loss of vision. This delicate organ, which is our window to the world, needs to be well taken care of. In case of an eye infection or disease, it is best to consult an eye doctor and undergo a treatment following the diagnosis, to regain eye health. From minor itching in the eyes due to an allergy which can cause redness to more serious glaucoma and cataract, the eyes are susceptible to a number of infections. Eye diseases symptoms manifest in various forms. While some cause mucus discharge from the eyes, a few others can lead to partial vision loss. If you are experiencing any eye diseases’ symptoms, which do not subside in a short period, it is imperative that you consult an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Here are some of the common eye diseases and their symptoms that are encountered by people. Cataract Cataract can form in one or both the eyes. When you’re suffering from cataract, your vision is blurred. You also tend to notice a glare or a halo surrounding the light source during night time. Cataract develops slowly and does not cause any pain or redness. Normally, cataract surgery is performed to help restore clear vision. Glaucoma Increased pressure within the eyeball can damage the optic nerves, and this condition is known as glaucoma. Blocked blood vessels, eye injury and inflammatory disorders can cause glaucoma. It does not develop any eye disease symptoms such as pain. Hence, a regular eye examination will help detect this condition at the earliest. Conjunctivitis Also referred to as ‘pink eye’, it is caused by inflammation of the conjunctiva. This infection is characterised by redness, itching, discharge (pus or mucus), and burning.

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy-like substance that is found in almost all cells of the human body. Unlike what most people think cholesterol is an essential compound which is essential for your body to produce vitamins, hormones and other elements which help in the digestion of the food you ingest. Cholesterol is not the bad guy, in fact, its a significant factor inside your body. Your body is capable of meeting all the cholesterol needs by manufacturing it. On the other hand, cholesterol is also available in some of the foods you consume. It makes its way into the bloodstream using tiny packages called lipoproteins. These packages are composed of proteins on the exterior and fat on the interior. It is essential to know how to lower LDL cholesterol. Types of cholesterol: There are two kinds of lipoproteins which circulate the cholesterol around your body. Low-density Lipoproteins (LDL) High-density Lipoproteins (HDL) Maintaining a nominal level of both of these types is crucial for good health. LDL cholesterol is referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol. A high value of LDL in your blood means that there’s an active buildup of cholesterol in the walls of your arteries (these are blood vessels which are responsible for transporting blood from your heart to the rest of the body). If you have a high LDL level, you need to know how to lower LDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is also known as ‘good’ cholesterol. That’s because HDL is responsible for bringing cholesterol from various parts of the body to the liver. The liver is capable of eliminating cholesterol from your body. High blood cholesterol High cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol are terms that can be used interchangeably because they pretty much mean the same thing, cholesterol that isn’t good for your body. You need to figure out how to lower LDL cholesterol.

Diarrhea is a condition characterized by frequent and watery bowel movements. It is caused by bacteria such as salmonella; viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus; or parasites like giardia. They infect the bowel and cause irresistible urges to use the toilet. This can also cause abdominal pain, bloody stool, vomiting, weakness, and tiredness. What Is Chronic Diarrhea? Usually, diarrhea gets resolved on its own within a week. But if the symptoms persist for more than four weeks, it is a case of chronic diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea can be dangerous especially when it leads to extreme dehydration. The frequent watery bowel movements cause excessive loss of water from the body, which leads to dizziness, reduced the amount of urine, lethargy and other problems. This can further lead to multiple infections in the body. What Causes Chronic Diarrhea? The recurring diarrhea episodes can be a result of an underlying health condition such as inflammation in the intestines due to gluten or lactose intolerance, bowel cancer, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome. Other causes of chronic diarrhea include certain antibiotic and anticancer drugs. How Is Chronic Diarrhea Diagnosed? Chronic diarrhea is diagnosed by examination of the blood and the stool. Sometimes sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is advised to rule out the presence of the inflammatory bowel disease. How Can Chronic Diarrhea Be Treated? Treating Chronic Diarrhea At Home: If you are suffering from chronic diarrhea, it is essential to take proper care of yourself so that the symptoms do not aggravate further. You can make individual steps at home to treat chronic diarrhea or stop it from exacerbating. Avoid Dairy Products If your diarrhea is aggravated by lactose intolerance, try to avoid dairy products like milk and other milk products. This is a great way to treat chronic diarrhea. Go For Gluten Free Food Items If gluten is the cause of diarrhea, avoid foods such as pasta, bread, crackers, wheat starch, and semolina.