Dry eye syndrome is a common health condition attributed to inadequate lubrication of eyes. It can happen either due to insufficient production of tears or low-quality tears. Dry eyes are very uncomfortable and cause a burning sensation in the eyes. Generally, dry eyes develop due to uninterrupted working on computer screens, sitting in air-conditioned rooms for longer durations, or while long driving. Here is a closer look at dry eye symptoms and treatment options. Prevalence According to one estimate, millions of people in the country suffer from dry eyes. Moreover, it increases with increasing age, and women are more prone to develop dry eyes compared to men. Causes of dry eyes Several factors lead to dry eyes. A few are listed below: Use of medications such as antihistamines, birth control pills, and hormone replacement therapy Dry eyes are more prevalent in people aged above 50 Vitamin A and vitamin B 12 deficiency, diabetes, and thyroid disorders are also linked with dry eyes Insufficient blinking, allergies, and autoimmune disorders Chronic conjunctivitis Symptoms of dry eyes Common dry eye symptoms are: Red eyes and burning sensations and eye fatigue Blurred vision and light sensitivity Difficulty in driving A problem in wearing lenses Ways to treat dry eyes Use of lubricants Mild dry eye symptoms due to excessive use of computer or reading can be treated with artificial tears or lubricant eye drops. Other options are the use of gels and/or lubricants after consultation with a doctor. Lifestyle changes Take periodic breaks while working on a computer screen. Blinking eyes frequently and closing them for a few minutes while using a smartphone or any digital device may also help in reducing the symptoms of dry eye. This allows basal tears to spread uniformly across the eye. In case of long driving, wear proper sunglasses which covers the eyes completely thus protects your eyes from dust particles and warm air.

A burning sensation in your feet is often related to nerve damage caused by certain underlying health conditions, out of which diabetes is one of the major causes. The feeling of pain can range from mild to harsh, and intermittent to constant. Sometimes you may get the feeling of hot, tingling or prickling pain or numbness in your feet which usually gets worse during the night. Causes of burning foot pain Sometimes, cases of burning foot pain have unknown causes. However, most of the times, doctors diagnose a wide range of conditions that lead to the sensation of burning foot pain. Here are some of the top causes: Diabetic neuropathy Uncontrollably high levels of blood sugar can gradually damage your blood vessels and nerves, leading to a reduction in the transmission of signals from the nerves. It can also weaken the blood vessel walls that are responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to nerves all over the body. Altogether, this can affect the ability to feel sensation in various parts of the body, including the feet. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, around 60-70 percent of people with uncontrolled diabetes have some nerve damage or neuropathy. Certain factors can increase the risk of neuropathy: Obesity High blood pressure Smoking Alcohol consumption When the nerve damage takes place in your legs and feet, it’s known as peripheral neuropathy. It is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy. Apart from the burning sensation in the feet produced by peripheral neuropathy, there are some other symptoms which are as follows: Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet Sharp and stabbing pains Weakness in your legs or arms Excessive sweating Small fiber sensory neuropathy (SFSN) SFSN is painful neuropathy which often leads to a painful burning sensation in the feet.

The pollution levels in most urban spaces are rising at an unhealthy level and this, while undoubtedly affecting your health, also leads to hair loss. Other factors that affect it are stress, usage of too many hair products that have chemicals, and bad maintenance. One major consequence of an unhealthy environment is hair loss. What is hair loss? On an average, a human being sheds around 100 strands of hair in a day. If there seems to be more loss or the following signs, it is a call for concern. Signs of hair loss Scalp and crown that has thinning hair (usually seen in men) A hairline that is receding quickly A pattern on the head that is located near the crown. It is usually of a horseshoe shape. Although in circumstances where hair loss is sudden and severe, you are advised to see a doctor. Treatment There are several treatments one could pick to combat this problem. But a lot of treatments can be very time-consuming. One of the easiest ways you could treat your hair is by incorporating the remedy into your existing hair care routine with a shampoo for hair loss. Here’s a way you could broadly pick out what is best for you. This will help you pick the best products for your hair care: First, analyze your hair’s condition and texture. Find a product which will be suitable for your hair type. Finally, change the brand you are using once in every few months. Shampoos are made up of ingredients which clean out the dirt, pollutants such as smoke particles and even its natural oils (sebum). Any general hair loss shampoo available in the market does just about that, although you should be careful with some low priced brands since the shampoo might be harsh and strip the hair of its vital lipid layer.

Gout is a form of arthritis which involves swelling, pain, and inflammation of joints. Most gout cases tend to affect knees, heels, fingers, wrists as well as the big toes. It is estimated that about 8.3 million citizens in the country face the problem of gout. Usually, the symptoms of gout occur when a person’s blood has excess uric acid in their body. This acid is a waste product the body makes while digesting certain foods. So, when the levels of uric acid are high, some crystals of it accumulate in the joints, triggering intense pain, swelling, and inflammation. Luckily, one can control this health problem with some lifestyle changes, effective gout diet plans, and medications. This article will review the best foods for gout including the foods you should exclude from your diet. Understanding how diet affects gout When you have gout, some food can trigger an attack by increasing the levels of uric acid in your body. Trigger foods are often high in purines, and when digested, the waste product formed is uric acid. Healthy people don’t have to worry about excess uric acid because their bodies can efficiently get rid of it. However, a person with gout cannot effectively remove excess uric acid, and this leads to a gout attack. Luckily, research has shown that taking the right medication and avoiding a high purine diet can prevent gout attacks. Best foods to include in your diet to fight gout Although an anti-gout diet eliminates most foods, there are a lot of low purine foods one can still enjoy. Low purine foods are the ones that have at least 100 mg of purines/100 grams (3.5 ounces). Here is a list of gout foods you should include in your diet. Vegetables: One can have most types of vegetables like mushrooms, peas, potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, and eggplants.

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.

The Mediterranean diet plan is basically based on the diet plan followed by the people of Greece and Italy in the 1960s. The diet primarily consists of food items predominantly eaten by natives from that region such as generous helpings of fruits, vegetables, pasta, and rice and a limited quantity of red meat. There are alleged reports that swear by this diet plan’s ability to help one reduce weight, prevent strokes, type 2 diabetes, premature death, and heart attacks. There is no such exact diet plan because around the Mediterranean Sea, there are many countries and the people of those countries have a diverse palate influenced by indigenous produce and their culture. In this article, you will get dishes and foods that you can include in your Mediterranean diet menu in order to make it healthier. The basics of a Mediterranean diet Here are some of the some of the basic foods that you should include in your Mediterranean diet menu: Foods you must eat regularly: Vegetables, legumes, bread, whole grains, extra virgin olive oil, fruits & nuts, fish and seafood, seeds, herbs, and spices Foods to eat in moderation: Eggs, cheese, poultry, and yogurt. Foods to eat rarely: Red Meat Foods to be avoided: Sugary dishes, added sugars, refined grains, processed meat, and refined oils Food items you need to abstain from while on the diet: These are some of the unhealthy foods that you should not have in your Mediterranean diet menu: Added sugar: Candies, soda, ice cream, and other related sugary foods Refined grains: Pasta prepared with refined wheat and white bread Refined oils: Canola oil, soybean oil, and cottonseed oil Trans fats: Margarine and other processed foods Processed meats: Sausages and hot dogs, among others Food items that should be included in the Mediterranean diet: There is no exact definition of what a Mediterranean diet comprises since the region is made up of different countries that have varying culinary preferences.

A high level of cholesterol will increase the chances of heart diseases. Medications do help in keeping the cholesterol levels in check. However, instead of medications, if you can change your lifestyle, then it will be beneficial for you in the longer run. Before getting to know what kind of changes in your lifestyle will help, let’s see what the normal cholesterol levels are for your body. A blood test called lipid profile checks your cholesterol levels and generally reports the flowing things: Total cholesterol Triglycerides High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol What are the normal cholesterol levels ? The normal cholesterol levels depend on lot many factors but usually, they are universal for all. In order to get the perfect numbers or your cholesterol, it is highly recommended that you don’t drink (except water) or eat anything for about 9 to 12 hours prior to submitting blood samples. In the United States of America, the cholesterol levels are generally measured in mg/dl or milligrams (mg) of cholesterol in per decilitre (dl) of blood. Below are the various levels of measurement used for measuring cholesterol. Total cholesterol Below 200 mg/dl- Mostly desirable Between 200 mg/dl to 239 mg/dl- Borderline 240 mg/dl and above- High Triglycerides Below 150 mg/dl- Mostly desirable 150-199 mg/dl- Borderline 200-499 mg/dl- High 500 mg/dl and above- Very high HDL Cholesterol Below 40 mg/dl (men) or Below 50 mg/dl (women)- Poor 50-59 mg/dl- Better 60 mg/dl and above- Best LDL Cholesterol Below 70 mg/dl- Ideal cholesterol levels for those who are suffering from heart disease or diabetes Below 100 mg/dl- Highest for those people who are at risk of heart disease 100-129 mg/dl- Close to optimal if there are no heart diseases; high if the person has heart disease. 130-159 mg/dl- Borderline high if there are no heart diseases; high in case of heart disease.

The thyroid gland is located just below the Adam’s apple, on the front of your neck. This butterfly shaped gland produces thyroid hormones that regulates the body’s metabolism. Any disruption in the normal level of thyroid hormones in your body, can cause several symptoms associated with thyroid problems. Thyroid Hormone Production Hypothalamus is a section of the brain, that produces various vital hormones. The Hypothalamus secretes Thyrotropin Releasing Hormones (TRH), which travel to the pituitary gland. There, the TRH signals the pituitary gland to release Thyrotropin or TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). The TSH sails through the blood vessels to the thyroid gland, where it boosts the release and production of two thyroid hormones— L-Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid gland needs an adequate supply of iodine to produce these two hormones. When the body detects that there is a good supply of the thyroid hormones in the blood, the production of TRH and TSH are reduced. This in turn reduces the production of thyroid hormones. Symptoms of thyroid problems occur when the regulatory mechanism of the hormone system is disrupted. Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Hypothyroidism is the condition associated with the underproduction of thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland slows down and this causes the body metabolism to slow down too. Hyperthyroidism is the condition associated with the overproduction of thyroid hormones. This causes the metabolism to reach high levels.. Symptoms of Thyroid Problems Whatever kind of thyroid problem you have, there are various signs from which you can tell that your butterfly-shaped gland is not doing its job properly. Women are more prone to suffer from thyroid disorders than men. If you are a woman over the age of 35, you should regularly check for the signs of thyroid disorders. Here are some symptoms of thyroid problems: Exhaustion If you feel drained and tired even after a full night’s sleep, your body may not be producing enough thyroid hormones.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a deadly disease in which immune system attacks the covering of the nerves. It is a disorder which involves central nervous system mainly brain and spinal cord. MS is a life-threatening condition and is incurable once developed. Mostly optic eye nerves located in the brain are most affected than others. MRI scans reveal swelling or inflammation as white dots called plaques in such disease. Multiple Sclerosis is usually diagnosed in adults and uncommon in childhood. Immediate blood relatives like children, brothers, sisters, and non-identical twins are at the higher risk of acquiring MS than the unrelated ones. The body’s repair system depends on its extent of recovery. Women are at a higher risk to be exposed to MS than men. There is no specific cause of MS, and it mostly develops because of genetic and environmental factors. MS is considered to be an autoimmune disease in which immune system starts to attack healthy tissues. The prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis varies extensively between geographical locations. MS has been known for years, but its pathogenesis is still unknown. MS does not affect the peripheral nervous system, but it affects myelin sheath of the central nervous system in particular. Patients having MS experience enormous physical and physiological disturbances. MS is a neurological condition which occurs when our immune system is not working properly. Common symptoms include vision problems, cognitive problems, bladder and bowel problems, paralysis, erectile dysfunction, tremors, muscle spasticity, painful involuntary muscle contractions, fatigue, urinary retention, etc. Diet for Multiple Sclerosis Diet for Multiple Sclerosis can help to cure the condition to a greater extent rather than using stronger medicines or drugs. Even the most advanced modern drugs cannot provide complete relief from the progression of the disease. Eating exact amount of food, right nutrients in right amounts can help to lower down the symptoms of the disease.

The prostate is a small organ that wraps around the urethra in males. Prostate problems are fairly common in men, especially when they get older. The most common prostate issue in men is a prostate enlargement. This is called benign prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia. The primary function of the prostate is to add fluid to semen to help in the mobility of sperm. Although the gland starts out small, as men get older there can be an increase in the number of cells in the gland which causes the prostate enlargement. This enlargement is often non-cancerous which is why it is said to be benign. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is not a life-threatening condition and can be managed efficiently. Lifestyle changes, medications, and herbal treatments for prostate enlargement are all useful in controlling this condition. Symptoms Of Prostate Enlargement The prostate gland is located behind the urethra just below the bladder. Any enlargement of the prostate will constrict the urethra. This will manifest as urinary symptoms. Common symptoms of prostate enlargement are: Frequent urge to urinate Difficulty initiating urination Incomplete voiding of the bladder Weak flow of urine Urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage of urine) Intermittency of urine flow (starting and stopping of the urine flow) Benign prostate enlargement is a progressive condition and will worsen over time. Effective management, including herbal treatments for prostate enlargement as well as medications, is necessary to prevent further complications. Treatment Options: Medical And Herbal Treatments For Prostate Issues Treatment involves a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and herbal treatments for prostate enlargement. Herbal treatments for prostate issues is an excellent way to supplement the effectiveness of medicines. Medications The most commonly prescribed medications for this condition are alpha blockers and 5alpha-reductase inhibitors. Alpha blockers cause relaxation of the smooth muscles of the prostate and bladder neck which eases the flow of urine.

Do you often hear your office colleague brag about his cool new diet? Are you looking for the best diet plan that will give you the perfect body you desire? If yes, then before going ahead and following the same diet as your colleague, you should know that not all diets work the same way for everyone. So, blindly starting someone else’s diet that they swear by, won’t be your smartest move. Every week you will find a new fad diet featured in your favorite health magazine. How do you know what is the ultimate diet for you? The answer is that you won’t know until you try it. The best thing to do for all those men who are looking for a diet plan is to try and explore all their options and follow what works best for them. One thing you should know though is that most diets are inevitably short-term goals. Some diets don’t have fats while some don’t have carbs. With so many restrictions, you are bound to feel overwhelmed and quit your diet. The best thing to do in this case is to find a well-balanced diet which you are confident about and which you see yourself following in the long run. Here are some of the best diet plans you can follow: Atkins diet Atkins diet is one of the best diet plans for weight loss in men. The best thing about this low-carb diet is that you won’t have to say goodbye to delicious food items like bacon, cheese, cream, and dark chocolate. Atkins diet has four phases that need to be followed to get the desired weight. The first phase is called induction, where you reduce your carb intake to mere 20 grams or less per day. This is then followed by phases of balancing, finetuning, and maintenance, in which gradually you increase your intake of healthy carbs.

Many factors can have a serious impact on the cholesterol levels in the body. To control these levels, having a proper and well-maintained diet is the most important thing on the priority list. Cholesterol and the saturated fat available in the food you consume increases the cholesterol levels in your blood. The prime factor is the saturated fat; however, you cannot undermine the importance of the cholesterol contents available in your food. You must consume foods that contain a reduced amount of saturated fat and cholesterol to decrease the blood cholesterol level. You can also refer a cholesterol level chart to keep track of your blood cholesterol. In a cholesterol level chart, you would find the various levels which would help you decide in which section the cholesterol level falls. The following points are essential as they contribute to knowing the factors that affect the cholesterol levels in the body. Body weight is an indicator of your cholesterol levels When your blood cholesterol levels rise, you become very susceptible to heart diseases. As per the cholesterol level chart, weight is an important risk factor for heart ailments. When one’s weight increases, the cholesterol level also increases. However, when one starts to lose weight, they can reduce the level of LDL cholesterol. It also helps reduce the triglyceride levels and optimize the HDL cholesterol levels. Never underestimate the importance of physical activity Physical activity is an important aspect that you need to consider. If you are not physically active, you are putting yourself at risk for heart diseases. Regular physical activity not only reduces the LDL or bad cholesterol levels but also increases the HDL or good cholesterol levels. When you are physically active, achieving the desired weight loss goal becomes easier. Focusing on being physically active at least for 30 minutes a day will help you see LDL levels decline on the cholesterol level chart.