Dogs love smelling things. They want to put their snout on anything that comes across their path, be it garbage on the sidewalk or blossoming flowers in a park or garden. While some things are downright disgusting, other items can be toxic to your dog’s health. Certain plants can cause diarrhea and other serious issues like liver damage. Hence, it’s important to keep your dog away from the plants mentioned below. Sago palms These popular indoor ornamental palms are found in warmer climates. Every part of this plant is toxic to your dog. If consumed, it can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, and seizures. Aloe vera Aloe vera is another common household plant grown mainly because of its many beneficial properties. However, its gooey gel contains some components that are toxic for dogs. It can cause lethargy, stomach problems, vomiting, and diarrhea. Elephant’s ear Elephant’s ear is a beautiful plant commonly found in warm climates. This plant can be harmful to dogs as it contains glass-like insoluble oxalate crystals, which can result in severe irritation, swelling in the mouth, vomiting, and diarrhea. Azaleas All parts of the azalea plant, including the flower, leaves, seeds, and honey made from its nectar, are toxic to dogs. Signs of ingestion include hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, eye problems, slow heart rate (bradycardia), heart arrhythmia, low blood pressure, cardiovascular collapse. In some cases, it can even cause death. Ivy Some of the most common types of ivy are the English ivy and Devil’s ivy, also known as Golden Pothos. All of them are toxic to your furry pet. If consumed, it can lead to mouth and stomach irritation, foaming, excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs. Snake plant Snake plants are one of the most common household plants in the world since they require little maintenance.

An allergy is a disease caused when our immune system becomes hypersensitive due to contact with any foreign substance. These allergic reactions vary from person to person –while some allergies are less complicated with rashes or redness on skin some can be fatal like sending you into an anaphylactic shock where you find it difficult to breathe. Based on the different types of allergies, you need the best allergy medicine which can help your immune system to recover. Food allergy Although more popular among kids and infants, it can also affect adults at any point in time. The concerning thing about food allergies is that it can even occur suddenly after eating food you have been consuming for long. While allergies can happen after consuming anything from eggplant to prawns, the 8 foods that trigger 90% of allergic cases include eggs, soy, milk, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish. Sesame or mustard seeds can also trigger allergies. Symptoms include a swollen tongue, breathing problems, dizziness, wheezing, vomiting, repetitive cough, pale or flared skin etc. Severe symptoms include anaphylactic shock with a sudden drop in blood pressure, unconsciousness and blockage in the air passage. The best way to avoid food allergy is to avoid those foods or products that contain this food in them. In case of Anaphylaxis, injecting an EpiPen initially will help followed by medical attention. Drug allergy Drug allergies can occur after you take a medicine and your immune system gets sensitized with the ingredients of the medication, regardless of whether they are in liquid, tablet, capsule or are transfused through injections. The common triggers of this allergy can be attributed to Anticonvulsants, Penicillin and Penicillin-based antibiotics, Sulfa Drug based antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs and NSAIDs like Aspirin and Ibuprofen. The symptoms include hives, itching, rashes, swelling, wheezing and other breathing complications and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.

Common dog allergies and their treatments You will find that dogs suffer from different kinds of allergies, like food allergies, skin allergies and even allergies from environmental allergens. What is more challenging when it comes to dog allergy is that symptoms are of various types, and they often overlap. Herein, we discuss the various allergies that dogs suffer from and the appropriate natural treatment options. Types of dog allergies Dog allergies can be of various types, prime among them are Skin allergy It is a common type of dog allergy wherein the allergen is a flea bite or food substance. Insect bite allergy can be an exaggerated response to stings or bites of specific insects such as spiders, ticks, fleas, deer flies, blackflies, horseflies, ants, bees, mosquitoes, wasps, and bees. Flea saliva is unarguably the most common allergen that triggers flea allergy dermatitis. Inhalant allergy The main inhalant allergens include tree pollen, grass pollen, molds, house dust mites, mildew, and weed pollens. Symptoms may include bronchitis in dogs but it usually manifests as itchy skin, the condition is known as inhalant allergic dermatitis. While symptoms can be controlled, a permanent cure is not possible. You can conduct skin tests to identify the allergens and try to protect your pet from getting exposed. But since most allergens are environmental, the allergy is likely to come back. Bathing your dog with hypoallergenic shampoo may soothe the itchy and inflamed skin. Bathing will also rinse out allergens on its coat. Food allergy This can occur as a reaction to any protein or carb in their food, more often in response to dairy foods, wheat gluten, beef, chicken eggs, lamb, chicken, and soy. This type of allergy will not respond well to medical treatment or corticosteroids. You must identify the responsible allergen and eliminate it.

Let’s take a brief look at yeast contagions and other fungi contagions, along with their prevention measures Fungi are everywhere. There are almost a million different species of fungi all over the world. It’s almost a miracle that only a handful of them actually cause humans any form of contagion. Microscopic fungi are often the cause of fungal contagions, and they tend to live in the environment, potentially anywhere. They have only a certain set of requirements to survive. So, it’s almost impossible for us to truly avoid them. Here’s everything you need to know about fungi contagions and most importantly, yeast contagions, probiotics for yeast infections, and other things you can do to prevent these diseases. Syndromes: How it can look or feel Mild fungal contagions can resemble cuts or rashes. If we were to take up the example of ringworm, a skin contagion that is caused by a fungus, you might already be aware of how it looks. Fungal contagion inside the body parts like the lungs can be more serious. It can cause syndromes that may be identical to tuberculosis or flu. These include mild to high fever and coughing. The most common type of fungi contagion is yeast contagion. This generally affects the genitals, and this syndrome is more common in women than it is in men. The syndromes of this contagion include itching, burning, or irritation in the genitals. In women, the itching is felt near the vagina or beside the vulva. Pain or soreness in the genitals is also common, and this pain can also involve burning sensations. In the case of men, the syndrome is generally limited to itching and serious rashes. In women, it can also lead to a white odorless or watery discharge. Swollen skin or redness is also common in both the sexes.

Psoriasis sufferers know how frustrating the condition can get. But did you know that staying away from these causes of psoriasis breakouts can reduce and even prevent your symptoms? Psoriasis is an abnormality of the skin, and this recurring autoimmune disorder presents itself in your body as thick, scaly, and itchy patches of skin. The symptoms of psoriasis include red, itchy patches of thickened skin covered in silvery scales; dry and cracked skin prone to bleeding; tiny scaling spots; nails that are thickened or ridges; and stiff, inflamed joints. The patches of psoriasis on your skin can range from just a few ones to major outbreaks that spread across a large area. Psoriasis is not a curable condition. It is a long-lasting disorder that can get quite frustrating for patients, particularly those who have frequent and major eruptions. At times, these flare-ups can even be painful. While there are medications and treatments available to provide relief to your skin, preventing the occurrence of psoriasis breakouts can be a more effective way of reducing your discomfort. For this, you need to be aware of what causes psoriasis breakouts. These triggers are not universal, but knowing the specific causes of psoriasis breakouts for you can help you stay away from such triggers and prevent painful psoriasis flare-ups. Watch out for these causes of psoriasis breakouts. Stress Studies suggest that stress can worsen your psoriasis symptoms, as it acts as one of the major causes of psoriasis breakouts. Since your symptoms may also lead to you getting stressed, it may seem like an endless cycle. However, you can work towards reducing stress in your everyday life by making yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises a part of your daily routine. Also remember to focus on the positive, talk to friends, and have a healthy lifestyle—all of which can contribute to reducing stress.

The complexity of the human body never fails to astonish us. For instance, the bacteria that the antibiotics so readily get rid off can be useful for our body as well. There are “good” and “bad” bacteria. However, the antibiotics do not bifurcate between the good and the bad bacteria, and it ends up cleansing the body of all the bacteria. The good bacteria are believed to perform a very vital function of maintaining a healthy digestion and ensures that the intestines function appropriately. For increasing the “good” bacteria in our body, probiotics have come into existence. One can say that probiotics are bacteria which are responsible for maintaining a natural balance of microflora in the intestines. Daily consumption of probiotics will effectively reduce the occurrence of diarrhea, gas, cramps, and intestinal disorders. There are various natural sources of probiotics which can be included in our diet. However, if an individual feels that he isn’t receiving the required amount of probiotics via food, he can always opt for probiotic supplements. Probiotic supplements ensure that the individual receives the right amount of probiotics to maintain a healthy gut. Here’s a list of the best probiotic supplements dedicated to preventing any intestinal disorder in the user. BlueBiotics Ultimate Care Bluebiotics Ultimate Care contains almost every proven “good” bacteria that have been approved by science. It consists of 61 billion live probiotics and 11 strains of live culture, which ensures that the individual consuming this probiotic stays healthy and prevents the onset of disorders that stem from intestines. It is one of the best probiotic supplements as it contains a large number of “good” bacteria and is 100% natural. Thus, there’s no premonition of side-effects lurking around. Probiotics One Daily Support It doesn’t come as a surprise that Probiotics One Daily Support is considered as one of the best probiotic supplement.

Sitting in the backyard and enjoying the weather can be an issue especially in warmer seasons when mosquitoes freely buzz around and pose a potential threat to the health of your family. Although mosquito repellants serve as an interim solution to this problem, a proper backyard mosquito control becomes essential for permanent results. Before finding out ways to get rid of these tiny insects, it essential to know about the breeding cycle as well as common locations where they might reproduce. Understanding the breeding cycle – A female mosquito has the capacity of laying eggs multiple times after one session of mating with the male mosquito. The surface of the water body is where t he mosquito lays eggs, and these do not hatch until the water level rises due to rain, etc. While mosquitoes grow in a typical larvae-pupae-adult cycle, the time duration taken by each stage will depend on the species present in the backyard. Adult mosquitoes are capable of biting in the winter season as well. Possible locations – The eggs are laid in damp areas such as water and marshes where there is sufficient amount of moisture. In the backyard, the hotspots include areas such as gutters, pots, tires, bird baths, buckets and the like. It is noteworthy that mosquitoes can fly up to forty miles from the place of their birth. Reducing breeding areas can at least prevent them from mating and producing more mosquitoes in the house. The size of mosquitoes may be small, but their sting can cause life-threatening diseases. There are numerous backyard mosquito control measures, and a combination can be undertaken for effective elimination. Some mosquitoes are resistant to certain forms of control methods and therefore, hiring the services of a professional pest controller can ensure that the right method is used.

A skin infection caused by the Staphylococcus bacteria —MRSA or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an infection that can occur in any part of the body. Characterised by mild symptoms like sores and boils, the infection can also graduate to severity by infecting surgical wounds, urinary tract, lungs, and bloodstream. The MRSA bacteria are resistant to commonly used antibiotics and that’s why it’s called the ‘ superbug’, making it difficult for the medical fraternity to treat this condition. Causes The Staph bacteria inhabit our bodies and do not pose much risk to healthy people. In fact, one-third of the general population have staph bacteria in their noses. The garden variety Staph is the most common. Staph can land you with a skin infection if it gets into your body. Such infections are minor and don’t call for any specialized treatment. In some cases, Staph can infect wounds or cause pneumonia ( when the bacteria infect the lungs ). Symptoms Of MRSA Staph infection leads to the formation of abscesses, furuncles or boils . These are pus-filled. The area where these boils or furuncles are present become red and swollen accompanied by intense pain. Drainage of the area is also a possibility. If the MRSA infection is moderate, the symptoms that show up are—headache, muscle ache, fatigue, fever, chest pain, and shortness of breath. You’ll experience a general feeling of sickness. When the MRSA infection graduates to become severe, the symptoms worsen. The patient suffers from joint pain, bone pain, muscle ache, chest pain, low blood pressure, fever and chills, fatigue, shortness of breath, painful breathing, headache, rash, and malaise. The above symptoms can be seen if the infection is restricted to the surface of the skin. If the infection reaches the bloodstream, it leads to septic shock , a life-threatening condition.

Getting the recommended dosage of vitamins is essential for overall health maintenance. Having a wholesome and a healthy diet alone does not ensure an adequate supply of essential vitamins to our body. All of the vitamin and mineral requirements of our body are not met by natural, whole foods. Hence, doctors recommend multivitamin supplements to bridge this nutritional gap. Given the fact that the nutritional requirements of women differ from that of men, choosing the best multivitamins for women requires careful evaluation of the nutritional needs and other factors. Intake of multivitamins needs to be done after a detailed evaluation of the nutritional gaps and consultation with a physician or a registered dietician. Essential vitamins for the proper functioning of the body Here is a list of vitamins that are essential for the proper functioning of the body. Vitamin A Vitamin B1/B2/B3 Vitamin B5/B6 Vitamin B7/B9/B12 Vitamin C Vitamin K Vitamin E Choline Who needs to take multivitamins? Those who do not have healthy eating habits require multivitamins to fill the nutritional gaps. People who have a poor appetite due to health complications or illnesses need them too. Pregnant women and nursing mothers require an additional supply of vitamins and minerals, which are provided by multivitamin supplements. Those on diet restrictions may also need multivitamin supplements to make up for lack of nutrients. Senior citizens require multivitamins to compensate for depleted nutrients due to old age. How to choose the right multivitamin for women? What are the factors to be considered before choosing the best multivitamins for women? Although each multivitamin brand varies slightly based on the ingredients and the quantities, the main vitamin and mineral content remains the same. The rate of absorption of the contents of multivitamins is the differentiating factor between various brands of multivitamins. Women should scrutinize the contents of the multivitamins before consumption.

When you feel pain or numbness in the fingers, it could be indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome. Well, it is a common type of condition that generally occurs in people working in various fields. This condition occurs when you put too much pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve is the nerve of your body that provides sensory signals to all your fingers except the little finger. In some cases, carpal tunnel syndrome will go away with time with the use of some types of wrist braces. However, there are certain cases in which the condition could persist and the patient might require surgery. In this article, a brief overview of a wrist brace and its types have been given. It aims to provide essential information on how a wrist brace can help you. What are wrist braces? A wrist brace is a type of garment that is generally worn in order to protect the wrist of people who are suffering from wrist pain or any type of pain in the area. It provides strong protection around your wrist which allows the condition to heal effectively. It is a very common rehabilitation method for those who have a wrist injury. How does a wrist brace help? When you sleep at night, it could generally result in the bending of your wrist. The bending of your wrist will, in turn, exert too much pressure on your median nerve. Moreover, when typing or performing activities that require the wrist to bend, immense pressure could be exerted on the wrist as well. A wrist brace will also help you by keeping your wrist at a straight and neutral position. One study found out that wrist braces can help provide relief to carpal tunnel symptom in a way that no other treatment procedure can.

Diabetes mellitus or diabetes is a medical condition characterized by hyperglycemia. The insulin level, as secreted by the pancreas, is not sufficient enough to synthesize the glucose present in the blood. This results in a high volume of sugar in the blood. Diabetes can have a serious impact on the entire body in the long run. The most affected parts include the brain, heart, and kidneys. Usually, the pancreas malfunction and are unable to produce the required amount of insulin. This causes Type 1 diabetes. However, sometimes, the cells do not react effectively to the insulin already produced and develop resistance against it. This causes type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes, on the other hand, results from increased glucose in the blood at the time of pregnancy. The child is also highly prone to encounter type 2 diabetes. A sedentary lifestyle along with physical inactivity leads to obesity.These are the major reasons that trigger type 2 diabetes making it the most common metabolic disorder these days.Usually, patients are given injections to meet the daily insulin requirements. Consistent performance of physical exercise is said to be more impactful than medication. Though there is no permanent remedy for diabetes, a low carb diet is a key to keep blood sugar levels under control.The low carbohydrate condition is often contested as carbohydrates are considered to be the most important source of energy for the body. The following factors must be kept in mind while preparing a diabetes diet chart: Roughage –Roughage helps in improving the gastrointestinal tract and thus, metabolism. It also helps in controlling obesity which is essential in managing diabetes. Foods rich in fiber should form the most important part of a diabetes diet breakfast. The major sources are legumes, dark green vegetables, and nuts. Glycemic Index – This is associated with the amount of starch in a particular food item and its contribution to blood sugar levels inside the body.

Our brain works at its natural capacity but sometimes supplements are required for the growth of our brain and its enhancement, i.e. stimulators that would help in overall wit development. Brain boosting supplements also known as “Nootropics”, help a person in enhancing their concentration power and alertness by helping the brain to process information quickly. Brain boosting supplements also help in the long run as it reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s. Other significant benefits of brain-boosting supplements include better-retaining power, better recalling power, better energy, reduced stress, better focusing power and less fatigue. There are several brain boosting supplements that are effective and have been widely used by people around the world. Some of the best available brain boosting supplements have been discussed below. Omega 3 Fatty Acids: These are vital fatty acids that are not naturally found in the human body. These fatty acids are present in cold water fish and plants and have been found to be really essential for the development of the brain and its functionality. Studies have shown that people are prescribed omega-3s with antidepressants achieve better effective results. Another study has shown that children who intake omega-3s in their diet or even artificial supplements that are available in the market have shown better memory and healthy brains with the clarity of mind in later stages of life. There are mainly two omega-3 fatty acids; DHA and EPA. DHA is better for brain health than EPA. DHA is the primary component of the cerebral cortex; the area of the brain which is responsible for every important function of the brain. Natural source of the supplement is Fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids including Herring, sardines, salmon, and mackerel. Plants rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include flax seeds, soy beans, walnuts, chia, and pumpkin seeds. Ginkgo Biloba: