Effective Ways to Relieve Back Pain

Effective Ways to Relieve Back Pain

Back pain can be caused due to lack of exercise or prolonged or frequent bending. In our 9 to 5 sedentary lifestyle, we tend to develop a poor posture by slouched sitting which can trigger back pain. Sitting and standing for long hours, a high and common demand of a working lifestyle is also a contributory factor to back pain. Poor footwear or wrong footwear has also revealed as a cause to back pain. A common phrase, ‘sitting is the new smoking’ is on the lips of the generation which succumbs to back pain. The chiropractor has warned of increased incidents of debilitating back pain. Moreover, many studies say that men experience back pain earlier than women. In a study conducted between the age group of 20 to 60 years, it was revealed that 69% of the patients were prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 35% were given muscle relaxants, 12% narcotics and 4% acetaminophen. 20% received no medication. It was also seen that patients who were keen to receive medication were prescribed the same. The report concluded that Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often augmented by muscle relaxants, are the primary care for back pain. The symptoms that you feel are a persistent ache in the back which does not go away with rest. In some cases, you may suffer from weight loss, fever and difficulty in performing daily tasks. In some cases, back pain may take several weeks to go away, but in some cases, it may persist. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are provided if the pain continues. These are also available over the counter and therefore are called OTC drugs. OTC painkillers for back pain can be bought without a prescription. Most health care providers would recommend Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the swelling around the swollen disc in the back. If these painkillers for back pain are taken in high dosages or for a long time, it may cause serious side effects.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options to Ensure Chronic Back Pain Relief

Non-Surgical Treatment Options to Ensure Chronic Back Pain Relief

If you are suffering from back pain for three months or longer, it is termed as chronic. You may have pain at times, while at other times, you may not experience any pain thereby enjoying temporary relief; this would be followed by frustration when the pain comes back again. These things happen when you suffer from chronic back pain. It is quite trying a situation especially if you do not know the reason for the pain. Causes Common causes of chronic back pain include: – Spinal stenosis – Spinal stenosis – Myofascial pain syndrome – Disc problems like bulging or herniated disc Before you opt for surgical procedures to get chronic back pain relief, you must opt for the non-surgical ones to see how it helps you. Nonsurgical treatments for chronic back pain relief include: Physical therapy Exercising is believed to be the first line of treatment in getting chronic back pain relief. You must go about the same only under the guidance of your physician and spine physical therapist. It is to be noted that the same set of exercise does not work for everybody. Thus, the same has to be tailor-made as per your specific condition and symptoms. This is the main reason why you should see a professional physician or physical therapist. It is important to continue with the exercise schedule at your house as well to accelerate relief from back pain. Physical therapies for a patient suffering from chronic back pain include: – Testing the limit of pain threshold – Retraining the posture – Aerobic exercises – Flexibility and stretching exercises – Core strengthening Meditation and mindfulness Chronic back pain is straining emotionally as much as it is physically. To manage the depression, irritability, frustration, and other psychological issues of people dealing with chronic pain, they may be referred to a rehabilitation psychologist.
Effective Ways to Treat Toe Fungus

Effective Ways to Treat Toe Fungus

A sudden yellow or white spot under the toenail can get you alarmed in the first instance. Yet, it is not something to be really worried. The yellow or white spot is generally an indication of the toe fungus and can affect one at any age. The symptoms keep on changing with the spread of the infection and can get the nails discolored in many people. Crumbling of the edges or thickening of the skin is also quite common in case of a toe fungus. As the infection mostly affects toenails, it is referred as toe fungus, yet it can affect the other fingers of hands or feet as well. Patients mostly get healed by following some self-care tips and seldom require medications. Whether it is a self-care toe fungus treatment or medicinal cure, toe fungus can relapse at any time. Therefore, just getting the toe fungus treatment is not enough. Identifying and avoiding the cause of infection is also essential. Toe fungus treatment The mild fungus is generally treated at home. However, in severe cases, it may appear as psoriasis and need proper diagnosis done by a podiatrist. In case, you cannot find a podiatrist, you may consult a dermatologist. Doctors may prescribe medicines by checking the extent of infection or may also scrape some skin from the affected region and send it for a test in a laboratory. Medicines vary from one patient to other and should be taken according to the prescription only. Oral antifungal medicines – In most of the cases, doctors prescribe antifungal drugs for the cure as these offer quick relief from the infection. Depending on the severity of the condition, doctors may prescribe itraconazole or terbinafine medicines. Apart from curing the infection, these medicines also help in the replacement of the damaged part with a new nail.
Effective Remedies for Heel Pain

Effective Remedies for Heel Pain

A sedentary lifestyle coupled with obesity has put extra weight on our hips as well as heels. Comprising of 33 joints 26 bones, and over 100 tendons, the heel is the largest bone in the foot. Overusing any part of the body can cause injury and the same holds for heels as well. With increasing weight, extra weight is put on the heels, thus affecting blood circulation in heels. Pain usually experienced on the underside of the heels can make it difficult to perform daily tasks with same vigor. In this article, the causes along with different heel pain remedies are discussed. A common foot problem, heel pain is usually felt in the arch of the foot, at the bottom of the heels and increases with body movements. Heel pain is usually worse in the morning and can be due to several reasons. For instance, wearing flat shoes or worn-out shoes can cause discomfort and trigger the pain. Causes of heel pain There are some of the common causes of heel pain, such as: Plantar fasciitis: When too much pressure is put on the heels, it causes stiffness and damages plantar fascia ligament. It is a web-like ligament, which connects the heel to the front of the foot. If this ligament is injured, it causes severe pain, and the person finds it difficult to move. Sprains and strains: Extreme physical exercises with proper guidance often cause sprains and internal injuries.Sprains usually occur at joints and can have a negative effect on ligaments connecting bones. Fracture: A case of medical emergency, fracture implies a broken bone. A fracture is a broken bone. It usually occurs when a person has experienced a fall, accident, or injured themselves while playing sports. Achilles tendonitis: In Achilles tendonitis, tendon attaching the calf muscles to the heels get swollen up and cause severe pain.
Select the Right Eye Solution for Dry Eyes

Select the Right Eye Solution for Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are commonly found in people in their middle and old age. It is a common condition. Around 4.88 million people in the country are suffering from dry eyes in their 50s. Of the estimate, more than 3 million women and 1.68 million men are dealing with dry eyes. It is observed that women are more prone to dry eyes than men. Side effects of estrogen fluctuation could be one reason causing more number of women to suffer from dry eyes than their gender counterparts. Women those pregnant, taking birth control pills and those suffering menopause can suffer dry eyes. There are several other reasons for a dry eye to occur. Most prominent of all can be age and symptom of some other illness. An extreme dry environment or medications such as antihistamines can also cause dry eye in people. Through a serious health concern, dry eyes can be cured with proper medication, precaution, and care. Today, there are a number of eye solutions for dry eyes. Most popular method of curing dry eyes are eye drops. A doctor may recommend a patient suffering from dry eyes with over-the-counter eye solutions for dry eyes and a variety of prescription depending on the cause and intensity of the problem. There are multiple ways by which eye drops give relief to those suffering from dry eyes. Some of them are listed below. Use of artificial tears. To prevent dryness in eyes, use of artificial tears proves fruitful. However, it is important to find the right artificial tears to suit one. A type of eye drop is cyclosporine. It is designed to assist treatment of certain eye infection that results in dry eyes. Use of cyclosporine makes an eye produce excessive tears. Thus, this medication can provide great relief to the sufferer if applied twice in a day.
7 Natural Cures for Overactive Bladder

7 Natural Cures for Overactive Bladder

The urge of frequent urination is often considered to be a symptom of type 2 diabetes. Though the increased frequency of urination is a condition commonly associated with increased blood sugar level, it is not just the lone cause. People with overactive bladder problem also need to urinate at frequent intervals as their bladder loses the capacity of retaining urine for prolong period. In most of the cases, people get this condition with age, yet some also develop it as a side-effect of some disease. Whatever be the reason, medication can help in dealing with the problem to some extent. However, a majority of patients these days are searching for natural cures for overactive bladder instead of relying on the prescription pills. Change in diet – The natural cures for overactive bladder are the best choice for complete treatment of the condition, as it heals the conditions from within. Before taking any herbal supplements or medication, it is important to take care of the diet. Foods like artificial sweeteners, chocolate, spicy dishes and even tomatoes should be avoided by people with overactive bladder as these worsen the condition. Apart from that, patients should also maintain abstinence from alcohol, caffeine, citrus juices or fruits, cranberry juice, dairy products, corn syrup, fizzy drinks or soda, vinegar as well as sugar and honey. The effect of the abovementioned foods may vary from one person to other. Therefore, it is better to maintain a strict watch on the diet to understand what is triggering the condition. Monitor fluid intake – As the fluid retaining capacity of bladder decreases, it is better to restrict the consumption of liquids. Drink water as much as you need and stay away from juices or any other fluids. This will help in healing the bladder condition gradually, which in the long run will increase the capacity of fluid retention.
Effective Home Remedies for Dust Allergy

Effective Home Remedies for Dust Allergy

In today’s world, people end up having a reaction to a range of substances which was not a common phenomenon in earlier times. Whether they are food allergies, dust allergies, pollen or smoke, people with a weak immunity system fall prey to allergies. There is a host of reasons for dust allergies, and these may include dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, pet hair or fur. Primarily, the reason behind almost all dust allergens is dust mites, which are tiny bugs that survive in almost all climates. The onset of a dust allergy can be realized by certain symptoms. These include: Frequent sneezing Watery or teary eyes Runny nose Itching The most effective dust allergy treatment is to prevent exposure to allergens. Allergens are the foreign bodies such as dust mites and pollen, which tend to trigger allergies. Limiting exposure to such allergens is an effective way, to prevent the onset of your allergy. The following are some dust allergy treatments, that are bound to help: Medications for dust allergy treatment The use of medications such as several over-the-counter and prescription ones. The reduction of inflammation with fewer side effects than the oral medication is what makes nasal corticosteroids an effective dust allergy treatment. To help relieve a runny nose, sneezing, and itching, antihistamines have proven extremely useful. Shrinking the nasal passage to make it easier to breathe, which is done by decongestants, is another dust allergy treatment Antihistamines and decongestants are present in certain medications like Actifed, which is also an effective dust allergy treatment. Immunotherapy is long-term dust allergy treatment that involves getting allergy shots, or a prescription medicine that acts as an allergy shot. Home remedies for dust allergy treatment In addition to the medications mentioned above, there are a number of home remedies that one may use as an effective means of dust allergy treatment.
Types of Meningitis You Should Know

Types of Meningitis You Should Know

What is meningitis? An inflammation of the membranes and fluids that cover the spinal cord and brain is known as Meningitis. According to statistics, over 1 million people every year get affected by different types of meningitis. The most common cause of meningitis is the infection, and this infection can be caused by different kinds of germs like parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria. What are the different types of meningitis? Bacterial meningitis Bacterial meningitis is an aggressive type of meningitis that can develop quickly – often within a few hours. Bacterial meningitis is so dangerous that it leads to death or permanent disability within a few hours. In 10-20% of the cases, bacterial meningitis is fatal, accounting for about 170,000 deaths around the world every year. Most of these deaths occur within 24-48 hours of the onset of the symptoms. Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus), Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) are the main causes of bacterial meningitis. These bacteria are divided into groups of three that are known as serotypes or serogroups. To state an example, 95% of meningococcal meningitis and septicemia cases are caused by meningococcus serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y. Septicaemia, also known as blood poisoning, is a potentially life-threatening infection that is caused when meningitis-causing bacteria gets into the bloodstream. The infection can occur on its own or in addition to meningitis. It is very common to find meningitis bacteria in the throat and nose area in people. The bacteria that live in these areas of the human body usually cause no harm and help build immunity against infections. In case the bacteria invade the body, in a rare case, the disease manifests itself. Through respiratory droplets released through coughing, sneezing and making close contact, the bacteria becomes contagious as it can spread from person to person.
A Guide to Treating Migraine Headaches

A Guide to Treating Migraine Headaches

A headache is a physical condition, which every individual has to experience sometimes in their life. While a headache can be quite disturbing and get you impaired, it generally does not have a severe impact on your life. However, getting a migraine headache is something different. A migraine headache can get the affected person completely disabled for a minimum period of six hours to one day or even more. Some also complain of vision loss, while others get to see the halo, flickering lights, wavy lights, etc. Though it affects both men and women, reports indicate that women are at a higher risk than men. Even though a migraine headache is quite painful and can recur at any time, it can be controlled with treatment. Nowadays, you can find different treatments for migraine headaches, and you just need to act a bit carefully, to save yourself from the painful condition. As the condition gets triggered by different factors, it is essential for you to learn about abortive as well as preventive treatment for a migraine headache. Abortive treatment – As the name indicates, abortive treatment for migraine headaches helps in checking the migraine pain as and when it starts. It is always recommended to start with abortive treatment as soon as you feel the onset of the condition. Depending on the extent of your pain as well as the cause of your onset, doctors may prescribe medicine pills, nasal sprays, skin patch or self-injection. While the medications are mainly aimed to curb a headache, it also works wonderfully in controlling vomiting or nausea-related problems. However, the selection of medicines should be made only under the guidance of a doctor as each has different compositions meant for different purposes. Triptans are mostly used for controlling migraine headache, while Droperidol, Chlorpromazine, Prochlorperazine, and Metoclopramide are prescribed to treat nausea related conditions.
The Best Natural Vitamins for Overall Health

The Best Natural Vitamins for Overall Health

Vitamins are elements that make the body grow and develop as you transform from a child into an adult. Including various food items in your diet or basking in the early morning sunlight can help fulfill only some part of the daily requirements of the body. As you grow, the nutritional value needed increases at a high rate, and this cannot be satisfied by a normal adult diet no matter how many additional portions you add to it every day. Doctors advise the use of supplements for these natural vitamins to cover up the gap and maintain overall well being. First of all, it is important to know the best natural vitamins that make up a balanced diet. Vitamin A This fat-soluble element is known by its scientific name Retinol and found in food items such as pumpkin, fish, spinach, etc. Ripe yellow fruits are responsible for fulfilling the requirement of Carotenoids. On the one hand, a deficiency of the same can cause night blindness; on the other hand, too much Vitamin A can cause hypervitaminosis. Vitamin B This is a complex water-soluble vitamin that is further divided into eight parts: Vitamin B1: Vitamin B1 or Thiamine is found in potatoes, eggs, and oatmeal. While beriberi is said to have been caused by a lack of this vitamin in the body, excessive intake of the same can result in drowsiness. Vitamin B2: Riboflavin, as it is known in the medical world, is essential to prevent stomatitis and anemia. Food items such as bananas, asparagus, and dairy products help attain the required nutritional value. Vitamin B3: The onset of a disease called pellagra can be triggered if Vitamin B3 or Niacin is not included in the diet. However, it should be noted that if taken immoderately, this vitamin can also result in liver damage.
5 Effective and Natural Treatments for Cough

5 Effective and Natural Treatments for Cough

Fundamentally speaking, coughing is a normal activity. It is an activity to clean your throat from phlegm and other types of irritants. Nevertheless, a prolonged cough needs to be treated properly because it can be a symptom of health problems such as viral infection, bacterial infection, allergy, or GERD. Although there are over-the-counter medications available, you can treat a cough with the help of natural remedies. Here are the five best natural options for the treatment for cough: Licorice root tea Licorice root is one of the best natural remedies available to treat a cough. It is a well-known expectorant, and excellent demulcent properties can also be associated with licorice. This tea creates a soothing effect on your airways, and it also gets engaged in the process of thinning and loosening mucus. Treatment for cough becomes effective when the congestion is addressed, and the best remedies also control the inflammation effectively to reduce the throat irritation. That is what exactly happens with this licorice root tea. Two tablespoons of dried licorice root must be placed in a jug, and 8 ounces of boiling water should be poured into the jug. The water needs to cover the root completely, and you must steep it for 10 to 15 seconds before taking a full cup two times a day. Tea thyme Thyme has always been an excellent natural remedy for a wide range of health problems. The anti-microbial properties of thyme are excellent, and it relaxes the bronchi and trachea muscles with utmost efficiency. Opening up the airways also becomes a less complicated process with this wonderful natural remedy. First of all, you need to bruise two tablespoons of dried thyme (you can also use fresh thyme), and it should be placed in a mug. Eight ounces of boiling water should be poured over the bruised thyme, and then, you need to steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
4 Important Factors You Need to Know about Partial Onset Seizures

4 Important Factors You Need to Know about Partial Onset Seizures

What is a partial onset seizure? An abnormal electrical activity in the human brain causes these types of seizures. Specific underlying medical conditions can also lead to a seizure, and the patients have to keep a record of their seizures to assist the doctor to find out the triggers in a more efficient way. Here are the four important aspects you need to know about partial onset seizure: Learn about major symptoms of partial onset seizures Partial onset seizures can be classified into two categories, and they include simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures. As far as a simple partial onset seizure is concerned, you do not have to worry about losing consciousness. However, you may have to deal with a change in feelings or emotions at the same time. The way in which you hear, smell, or see things is also going to change. It can often be compared to a focal seizure without losing consciousness. When it comes to complex partial seizure, you may have to deal with the loss of consciousness and awareness. Meaningless or non-purposeful movements can be associated with a complex seizure. Rubbing your hands and smacking your lips are good examples and this type of partial seizure can also be referred to as focal dyscognitive seizure. Create better understanding of the leading causes Different types of lifestyle factors, underlying medical conditions and behaviors play an important role in triggering a seizure. If you can manage to find out the trigger, you will become successful in preventing future seizures. You can control some of the triggers in an easy way, but some others are really difficult to control. When you have to deal with a seizure, you have to consult with your doctor. You can take notes about the past seizures you have encountered, and this method helps your doctor find out the frequency of seizures and your pattern of behavior during each seizure.