Dogs are the best friends of a human being unless he or she is allergic to them. Americans love dogs. However, pet allergies are also quite common in the country. According to a report, 15% to 30% of the population has pet allergies. Allergic reactions due to other pets are not as severe as allergic reactions to dogs. Moreover, people with asthma are quite likely to have a dog allergy. This article gives the reader some information about the symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatments for dog allergies. Symptoms of dog allergies in humans Patients with dog allergies will experience several symptoms when they come in contact with a dog. These symptoms could range from mild to severe. People with low sensitivity may not experience symptoms for several days after they come in contact with dogs. Some of the symptoms of dog allergies include: Itching and swelling of the membrane in and around the eyes and nose A patient’s skin becomes red after getting licked by a dog Wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath within 10 to 30 minutes after exposure to dogs Rashes on the face, chest, and neck A severe attack of asthma for asthma patients Trouble with sleeping due to shortness of breath Pressure and pain in the face Nasal congestion Causes of dog allergies in human beings The proteins that a dog secretes generally end up in their dead skin or dander, urine, and saliva. When an allergic person comes in contact with the dog, their immune system starts to react abnormally to these harmless proteins secreted by the dog. You should also remember that different breeds of dogs produce different dander. Thus, it is possible that an individual is only allergic to a specific breed of dogs. Also, the dander could get into various surfaces like the carpet, clothing, walls or even couch cushions.

Toenail fungus is a common problem that begins with a white or yellow spot under the tip of your toenail. Nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken, and crumble at the edge as the fungal infection goes deeper. It can attack any nail. You may not need a treatment if your condition is light and not disturbing you. If the nail fungus becomes painful and makes the nails thickened, home remedies and medications may be effective. Nail fungus usually comes back even if the treatment is successful. Read on to know the symptoms nail fungus and methods on how to get rid of it: Symptoms Although the fungus mainly affects the toenails, nail fungus can affect any fingernail. If properly treated, fungal nail infections don’t usually lead to serious long-term problems. However, in certain individuals who have diabetes or a weakened immune system, they may be more serious. There is no pain associated with the infection, but if you find your nails thickened or show discoloration from white to yellowish brown, you may have fingernail fungus. Nails becoming brittle, crumbly, ragged or distorted in shape are also its symptoms. Debris may build up under the nail and make the nail dark. Sometimes, the nail may generate a slightly foul smell. Treatment Medications Usually, doctors prescribe antifungal medications that you can take orally or apply to the nail for fingernail fungus treatment . In some cases, the oral and topical antifungal therapies may be combined. Oral Antifungal Medication This is the best toenail fungus treatment as it clears the infection more quickly than anything else. However, the treatment success rates with these medications appear to be lower in adults over age 65. These medications stimulate a new nail to grow free of infection by slowly replacing the infected part.

Losing weight is a matter of being consistently inspired to do it. The best weight losers are engaging and provide you with the reasons you want to lose weight. Diet helps you break unhealthy patterns and develop a new way of life. The environment and the packaging of a diet program can be even more impactful than the lesson. While choosing a diet program, the most important elements that we should keep in mind are food logging, goal-setting, education, and community support. Food logging helps in staying informed of your daily calorie intake and brings a level of self-awareness as to what can be a mindless or habit-driven act. You’ll get bored and stop seeing results if your wellness routine remains the same day after day. Therefore, the best weight losers are the ones that automatically set daily goals or encourage us to set them. Focusing to attain your target daily steps or earn points keeps you striving. Here are five of the best weight losers you can rely on: Weight Watchers Weight Watchers is the most highly rated weight losers’ program. They encourage making sensible choices rather than drawing hard lines for good and bad food. They have a Smart Points value for every food, and they allow a certain number of Smart Points in a day. Rather than indulgent, high-point foods, they get the most out of your budget by suggesting healthy, low-point foods. The breakfast package includes Starbucks coffee with sugar, spinach, and a feta breakfast wrap. Their lunch is packed with hummus and crackers, vegetable tikka masala, white rice and as a snack they recommend a peach. For dinner, they encourage eating flank steak, asparagus, sugar snap peas, and pineapple salsa. Noom Noom helps you figure out how to prioritize or limit food items with its color-coding system.

Chemical waste known as creatinine is produced in the blood that passes through the kidneys to be separated and excreted in urine. A by-product of normal muscle function and the chemical waste, creatinine produce depends on the muscles in a person’s body. More muscles mean more creatinine produce. The level of creatinine in a person’s body reflects both amount of muscle and their kidney function. A healthy kidney function for most men has approximately 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams/deciliters (mg/dL) of creatinine. Women with normal kidney functions have 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL of creatinine. The reason levels of creatinine are low in women is because an average woman has lesser muscle mass than compared to a man. Other factors that may contribute to the low level of creatinine in the blood include body size, activity level, and medications. A higher level of creatinine can cause impaired kidney function, kidney dysfunction or kidney disease. Hence, it is essential to keep a check on your creatinine levels and take the necessary steps to maintain good health and well-being. Here are a few home remedies on how to reduce creatinine naturally: Reduce vigorous exercise Regular exercise is vital for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, if an individual does an excess amount of physical activities or tasks, it can spike the creatinine levels in the blood. As muscle metabolism initiates creatinine production, overusing muscles through strenuous exercise might raise levels. A recent study indicated that an individual who does intense workout had increased levels of creatinine and this was in response to increased muscle breakdown. Consult your doctor about types of exercise and the number of sets you can or should do. Walking instead of running and yoga instead of lifting weights are better ways of maintaining a healthy life and yet keeping the creatinine levels under control.

A medical condition characterized by a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate is called overactive bladder (OAB). An overactive bladder leads to involuntary passage of urine, also known as urge incontinence. Apart from physical discomfort, an overactive bladder causes embarrassment for the affected person. Healthy functioning of the bladder requires a healthy urinary tract. Also, the communication channels between the nerves and the bladder muscles need to be uninterrupted. An improper communication passage or unhealthy urinary tract causes involuntary contractions of the urinary bladder. These involuntary contractions trigger overactive bladder symptoms. Causes of Overactive bladder Involuntary contractions of the bladder lead to urge incontinence. It may not always be possible to pinpoint the exact cause of these contractions. Based on the accompanying symptoms, the doctor may identify overactive bladder causes as the following: Neurological conditions Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis cause interruption between your nerves and bladder, which leads to urine incontinence. Damage to nerves Any damage to the nerves leading to the bladder causes overactive bladder. These nerves may be damaged due to an injury to the spine, abdomen or pelvis. In some cases, surgery to these parts may accidentally damage the nerve leading to the bladder. Urinary tract infection An infection of the urinary tract affects the activity of the bladder wall. As a result of the infection, the bladder becomes overactive causing urine incontinence. Medication Side effects of certain medicines cause OAB. Consumption of water pills or caffeine pills or diuretics causes increased bladder activity. Blockages Obstructions in the urinary tract could trigger symptoms of OAB. Enlargement of the prostate, tumors, and bladder stones are overactive bladder causes. Pregnancy The uterus of pregnant women expands to accommodate the fetus. Expanded uterus pressurizes the bladder, which in turn causes frequent urination. For some women, urge incontinence continues even after childbirth.

Hemorrhoids, or piles, is a medical condition where the blood vessels in the anus inflame and cause pain and discomfort to the individual. With time, these blood vessels swell up and enlarge in size, causing further inconvenience. Mostly, people around the age of 50 years tend to face this problem. Hemorrhoids might occur due to strain during excretion or pressure sustained by the veins due to obesity or pregnancy. The pain can either be internal or external. Although there are medical treatments to cure this condition, one can try various home remedies if they don’t wish to opt for medical treatment immediately. This article provides some home remedies that can help patients deal with the problem of hemorrhoids as well as its symptoms like itching. How to get rid of hemorrhoids using home remedies? The home-based treatments mentioned below have helped innumerable people and will help you as well if you follow them correctly: Essential oils: Essential oils play a significant role in reducing the size of the blood vessels, and it stops itching too. These oils have anti-inflammatory properties which are vital for getting relief from the burning sensation created around the affected area. One can use several types of essential oils for treating hemorrhoids such as chamomile oil, tea tree oil, geranium oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, juniper oil, and so on. These oils have several nutrients and vitamins which enhance a patient’s overall health. However, you must consult a doctor before using any of these oils. Sitz shower or bath: If you want to know how to get rid of hemorrhoids using home remedies, then you must give this method a try. The affected person should sit in lukewarm water to get relief from the itching and pain caused in the lower regions of the body. Several doctors and medical professionals recommend sitz baths to get rid of hemorrhoids.

A significant statistic was recently released on the number of Americans suffering from diabetes or pre-diabetes. Over 100 million Americans are suffering from one of these two conditions and this number is only expected to rise with time. Processed food and junk food does us more harm than good and sadly, many people do not know their limits. If you continue to consume junk foods, it will lead to weight gain and you might suffer from either high blood pressure or high levels of sugar in the blood. Why suffer from these diseases in the first place when you can control what you eat? Living a life dependant on pills and medications is not appealing and hence exercising and following a proper diet is essential. Of the many diet plans available in the market today, the 1200 calorie diet plan is quite popular and with good reason. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of this diet plan and help you determine whether it is worth taking up or not. What is the 1200 calorie diet plan? The 1200 calorie diet plan is believed to be very effective when it comes to tackling weight loss. Our bodies require a certain amount of energy to function and in order to maintain a healthy look. We get this energy from the food items we eat and following an intake of just 1200 calories per day encourages the burning of stored fats in the body. Hence, this way, your body will lose weight while compensating for your limited calorie intake. While maintaining the requirement of nutrients, avoiding junk food and maintaining a lowered calorie intake, the body should respond well and help you achieve the weight you dream of. While this will take time, the method is spot on. The details of the 1200 calorie diet are given below:

Diabetes can take a toll on every organ of your body if not controlled. Diabetic foot pain is one of the complications of severe, uncontrolled diabetes. First, diabetes restricts the blood flow to your feet, which then deprives them of nutrients and oxygen. The second complication is numbness of feet due to peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. Diabetic foot pain or sores, when left untreated, may even lead to amputation of the limb. Diabetic foot pain treatments are based on the severity of the condition and the causes. It is important to discuss diabetic foot pain and sores with your doctor in order to ensure it does not lead to serious complications. Most diabetics develop foot pain and ulcers, but good foot care measures can help prevent serious complications. What causes diabetic foot pain? Diabetic foot sores commonly occur under big toes and the balls of your feet. They are caused due to the breaking of skin tissue and exposure of layers underneath. Severe sores may even affect the bones of your feet. Infected foot sores may even lead to amputation of your feet. First signs of foot sores are drainage from your feet, unusual swelling, redness or irritation, and bad odor from one or both feet. Diabetic foot pain and ulcers are mainly caused due to a lack of healthy blood flow to the feet. This blocked blood flow results in the formation of a black tissue that surrounds the ulcer. Diabetic foot pain is usually caused due to the following. Poor blood flow – Poor blood flow is a vascular disorder that makes it difficult for wounds or ulcers to heal. High blood sugar – Hyperglycemia or high sugar levels hamper the healing of an infected foot ulcer. People with type 2 diabetes find it extremely difficult to manage infected ulcers.

Lower back pain is a problem that almost everyone experiences at some point in their life. Characterized by severe pain, it may need treatment until it subsides on its own. The severity of lower back pain may vary from case to case. Some people may experience a dull ache, while some other may get a sharp, shooting pain. Sometimes, the pain is so severe that you may find it difficult to stand straight or even stand-up. You may experience acute back pain due to injuries caused by sports or as a result of heavy lifting. If you face symptoms like loss of control over the movement of your bowels, inability to control your bladder, a fever, or pain while coughing or urinating, along with pain in the lower back, you must visit a doctor. Common causes of lower back pain If one experiences lower back pain, it is advisable to visit a doctor, especially if the patient has lost weight unexpectedly, has a family history of cancer, or other such complications. Lower back pain may result from a muscle strain that leads to bulged discs which will cause pain from your hips down to your legs. Lower back pain may also be associated with lifting objects every day, pulling things down and other such tasks which could a part of a patient’s job. At the same time, sitting at the same place for a long time, in a slouching posture, can also contribute to lower back pain. Going overboard while working out can also lead to lower back pain. People also face a high risk of lower back pain-related problems if they are overweight. One may need to perform exercises for lower back pain regularly if they have a sedentary lifestyle. Lower back pain can also be attributed to some chronic problems such as fibromyalgia and spinal stenosis.

The diverticular disease was sporadic before the 20th century but now it is quite common especially in the western countries. Diverticulitis is the most severe kind of diverticular diseases. The diverticula or pouches are formed in the intestinal wall, they are bacterially infected and inflamed and they form diverticulitis. The diverticulitis often comes with many complications. The diverticulitis treatment guidelines should be followed to combat diverticulitis; otherwise, it can lead to some serious health complications. Here are a few things related to diverticulitis. The common symptoms of diverticulitis There are several stages of diverticulitis. They vary from mild to severe with simple to complicated symptoms. These are: Abdominal pain occurs typically in the lower left side of the abdomen Fever Nausea Vomiting The increased urge for urination, frequent urination, or feeling of a burning sensation at the time of urination Constipation Diarrhea Blood in stool The causes of diverticulitis There are multiple factors responsible for causing diverticulitis. These are: A low-fiber diet The lack of dietary fiber in food is considered one of the main reasons for diverticulitis. Heredity From research, it is seen that there is a link of heredity with diverticulitis. There is at least 50 percent of the potential risk of diverticulitis which comes from genetics. Obesity Obesity is one of the main reasons for diverticulitis. It raises the risk of diverticulitis and its bleeding. Lack of physical workout The lack of physical exercise and living a sedentary life always increase the chance of diseases like diverticulitis. Smoking From studies, it is proven that smoking can cause diverticulitis and its complications. Certain medications Regular intake of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs may raise the chance of diverticulitis. The opiates and steroids can increase the risk of the perforation, the severe difficulty of diverticulitis. The deficiency of vitamin D From the studies, it is proven that people with less amount of vitamin D are more prone to diverticulitis and its complications.

What is a seizure and what are the types? A seizure occurs when the electrical signals sent through the neurons in the brain start behaving abnormally. There is a sudden surge in the electrical activity that takes place in the brain. This sudden spike is what causes a seizure. There are two categories of seizures, the partial seizures and the generalized seizures. Generalized seizures take place when the entire brain is affected, and partial seizures take place when only a certain part of the brain is affected. A partial seizure is also known as a focal onset seizure. It may occur due to many reasons. The main causes of a partial seizure are a stroke, brain injury, high blood pressure, epilepsy, congenital brain defects, kidney failure, and liver failure. Additionally, a partial seizure may be caused by bites, stings, phenylketonuria, drugs, and infections. Partial seizures are more common in people who are 65 years old or above. What are the common symptoms of a partial seizure? A partial seizure affects an individual emotionally and physically. The symptoms can occur in anyone who is older than 1 year. There are times when the symptoms of partial seizure resemble the symptoms of mental or nerve disorders. The symptoms may last anywhere between a few seconds to a few minutes. There are several different symptoms of partial seizures. There are three types of partial seizures, including simple, complex, and secondary that are generalized. The symptoms of partial seizures are as follows: One performs repetitive movements. This includes rubbing one of the hands excessively. One feels sick and nauseated for no apparent reason. This feeling refuses to go away. One might experience jerk movements affecting the head, the arms, or the legs that becomes unstoppable. One feels like something is walking on their skin when there is nothing.

Postherpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles, caused by the chickenpox virus. It affects nerve fibers and skin, causing burning sensations that last long after the rash and blisters of shingles disappear. The danger of postherpetic neuralgia rises with age, primarily concerning people older than 60. There is no permanent cure, but treatment can help to ease the pain. The signs and symptoms are limited to the first occurrence of shingles outbreak on your skin. The shingles mostly break around the trunk or usually on one side of your body. These three signs and symptoms can be of concern: You have been experiencing pain from the last three months or longer post the shingles rash has healed. One experiences burning, sharp and jabbing, or deep and aching pain. Skin becomes sensitive to touch. People often cannot stand the slightest of sensation or contact like cloth rubbing the affected area. Some experience Itching and numbness around the affected area. Diagnosis Most cases do not require any tests to be done. Doctors touch the border of the affected area on your skin to determine the severeness. Treatment No particular postherpetic neuralgia treatment can help relieve all people. For many affected patients, it takes a combination of treatments to reduce the pain. Lidocaine skin patches Small patches like bandages that contain the topical, pain-relieving medication lidocaine. These patches can be cut to fit the affected area, and these are available by prescription. Apply directly on the affected area where you experience pain and burning sensation to get temporary relief. Capsaicin skin patch High concentration from an extract of chili peppers (capsaicin) is another available skin patch option that is known to relieve the pain from postherpetic neuralgia. The patch is available only at a doctor’s clinic and has to be applied by trained professionals post using a numbing medication on the affected area.