Shingles is a type of viral infection that causes highly painful rashes. They may occur anywhere on your body. Generally speaking, you can find them as a single stripe of blisters, and they wrap around the right or left side of the torso. The virus that causes shingles is known as varicella zoster, and you need to start taking treatment at the early stage to make the recovery truly effective. It is always advisable to choose the best shingles medication to enjoy the best results. Diagnosis of shingles This problem is often diagnosed on the basis of the history of pain experienced on the one side of your body, and the telltale rashes and blisters are taken into consideration. Tissue scraping may also be done, and, on certain occasions, blister culture is also performed laboratory. Early treatment is better Effective shingle treatment reduces the symptoms, and the condition improves within a period of two to four weeks. Seeking the help of your doctor is always advisable when you start experiencing the symptoms of shingles. Early treatment lowers the severity of the problem. Moreover, it reduces the risk of potential health complications. Self-care options for shingles You can come across a good number of ways to reduce the symptoms. The first thing you must do is to maintain the rash clean and dry. This will help protect you against the risk of the rash getting infected with bacteria. It is a good practice to wear loose clothes so that you can stay comfortable. If you use topical antibiotics or apply adhesives like plasters, the healing process becomes slower. You can use a dressing that does not stick to the rash, and it can be done to cover the blisters. A calamine lotion is not a bad option because it induces a cooling and soothing effect on the skin.

The best liquid diet plans are based on the idea that solid foods are eliminated from your diet and all your calorie intake comes from liquids. You can replace all your meals with fruit or vegetable juices, or you can choose to replace one or two meals of a day along with a few healthy snacks. The best liquid diet plans can be used for a variety of purposes from weight loss to being diets after certain surgeries. Liquid diet for weight loss There are many kinds of liquid diets that will help with weight loss. Consulting with a physician and educating yourself about these diets will go a long way in ensuring that you get the right plan for yourself. At its simplest, weight loss occurs when more calories are burnt than consumed. An average person requires 2000 calories a day. Most liquid diets provide a calorie count that is much lesser than that. Hence, once you put yourself on a liquid diet, you are bound to lose weight. Most liquid diets for weight loss will recommend consuming fruit juices. You can opt for juices that you make at home, or you can even buy juices outside. If you choose the latter, remember to choose juices that are low in sugar, or else it will be counterproductive to your weight loss objective. Other liquids you can choose to take are smoothies, soups, and vegetable juices. Remember to consult with your physician before embarking on the best liquid diet plans for weight loss. Cut up some pineapple, beets, cabbage, carrots, spinach, and orange. Dump it in a blender and blend until smooth. Keep any pulp in for its high fibrous content. This recipe is not just healthy; it is tasty too. Liquid diet for detoxification Everyone you know and their grandmothers are talking about going on a detox diet.

Experiencing severe pain in the head, which is primarily of a disabling nature, is known as a migraine. A migraine can often be accompanied by nausea, difficulty to perform due to sensitivity to light and sound, inability to bear the pain above the eye sockets, etc. A migraine may feel like a headache but the attack includes a variety of symptoms. The International Headache Society recognizes various types of migraines. Migraines can also be diagnosed by keeping track of your symptoms and by taking tests such as an MRI, eye exam, etc. There are various home remedies for migraine headache. A migraine does not have a universal treatment option, and the treatment has to be adopted individually. Caffeine has several benefits and is believed to block certain receptors that might lead to migraine headaches. Caffeine is also popularly combined with various medications with other painkillers. Certain people are recommended to not take caffeine as the brain can learn to develop tolerance to the intake of caffeine. A strong cup of coffee can help stop or control an attack. Caffeine in high doses can also lead to a rebound headache, therefore, has to be consumed in limited intakes. Tea also has caffeine in it. Green tea has been used for relieving migraine headaches but for some migraine sufferers; chamomile tea has been helpful in relieving certain migraine sufferers. Flaxseed and Flaxseed oil are rich in Omega-3 which is an essential fatty acid and lignans. It is a superfood that can help evacuating the bowels properly, and therefore help some migraine sufferers. These can be used as great home remedies for a migraine headache. Increasing your intake of water is the easiest thing to do and helps control the trigger for a migraine. Water intake that is recommended for each individual is half of the body weight, as 70 percent of our body is made up of liquid.

A cough is a reflexive maneuver of the body that is caused involuntarily, to send out any fluids or irritants (foreign particles) from the throat. When coughing, the body inhales and then forces an exhalation in quick succession, against the closed glottis . With the release of air and the glottis opening, the throat produces a sound that we know as coughing. Coughing is one of the most common medical complaints for which people consult a medical health practitioner. The purpose of this reflex action is to obstruct irritants or allergens, which enter the respiratory tract and expel them out. Your state of well-being and quality of life becomes affected if a dry cough becomes sub-acute or chronic. Dry Cough Allergies When your body is not producing mucus, and yet if coughing persists, it is known as a dry cough. This is mostly caused by the allergens present in your immediate environment, that can cause inflammation or irritation of the pharynx— the rear region of the throat. Allergies are the most common cause of a chronic cough in almost all medical cases, except for people who smoke. When allergy causing irritants are removed from your environment, and if your exposure to their presence is decreased, the dry cough can be relieved. This type of a cough has a characteristic sound that is intense and forceful and lasts for a few minutes to days. You are at risk of developing dry cough allergies if: You have a family/hereditary history of having allergies You have a sensitive skin You have periodic bouts of coughing that extend and go away with/without treatment Causes Dry cough allergies involve the release of a chemical called histamine , that is formed as a part of your body’s immune response to an allergen/irritant. The overall reaction of your body to any allergen consists of an itchy throat, coughing, sneezing and runny eyes.

The most common cause of back pain on the right side is the straining of muscles. Back pain could sometimes occur due to serious medical conditions. So it is very important to understand the root cause of the same. This would allow one to know whether this has occurred due to a serious underlying condition. Primary types of back pain on the right side: Acute Back Pain: Acute back pain occurs in specific situations. This is the most common type of back pain. It has a sudden onset and could be sharp and intense. Chronic Back Pain: Chronic pain afflicts one for a longer duration. It is often not as intense as acute back pain. This type may be consistent in some rare cases. What causes back pain towards the right side: An infection of the urinary tract: This is a common cause of back pain which occurs towards the right side. It occurs due to an infection in bladder, kidney or urethra. While back pain is a commonplace symptom, other symptoms include: Stress over the pubic bone A sharp sensation during urination Frequent urination Slight fatigue Reduction in urine output A scapular fracture towards the right side of the body: When one suffers from a scapular fracture towards the right side of the body, it leads to pain. Such fractures arise in the shoulder blade. But these seldom arise. In most cases, scapular fractures occur following an accidental fall. Some of the accompanying symptoms include: Reduction in movement of arm Swelling of shoulder Strain in the lumbar muscle: Strain in the Lumbar muscle could lead to a sharp back pain towards the right side. This often comes into play upon making a sharp movement. Or lumbar muscle strain could come to fore upon workouts such as lifting weights. This pain could be:

The characteristic symptom of pneumonia is coughing. A cough happens because of infection in the lungs, due to bacteria, virus or fungus. The inflammation in the air sacs is filled with pus. The pus blocks the airway and leads to difficulty in breathing. Home treatments for pneumonia are essential for fast recovery. A cough, chest pain, fever, and shortness of breath are symptoms of pneumonia. The infection varies from person to person. It is best to get yourself checked if you have any of these symptoms. However, there are pneumonia cough treatments that will help you recover fast. If the symptoms are mild, it will clear up with home treatments itself. Here are a few ways by which you can reduce the discomfort caused by pneumonia. Garlic The infection is caused by bacteria, fungi, or virus. Garlic is known for its antimicrobial properties. It will help reduce the body temperature and eliminate the phlegm from your lungs and chest. You can add garlic to many dishes. It is sure to help you recover in no time. You can either consume it or apply crushed garlic on your chest. If you don’t prefer garlic, you can always have drink ginger tea. Cayenne Pepper Cayenne pepper has high amounts of capsaicin which helps in releasing the mucus from the respiratory passages. Cayenne pepper is one of the best pneumonia cough treatments. It also has beta-carotene that helps keep the mucus membranes in good condition. You can make a mixture of lemon juice and a small amount of cayenne pepper. It is a very effective blend that is sure to provide you relief when you drink it few times a day. You can also mix it with carrot juice. Fenugreek Seeds Fenugreek seeds are known to have mucolytic properties that will break the congestion.

Shingles is a disorder is also known as herpes zoster. It’s a viral infection that leads to a rash. One in three people in the country develops shingles at some point in their lifetime. The underlying cause of shingles is the VZV or the Varicella zoster virus. This is the same as the virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve had chickenpox in your childhood, shingles virus could be in your system. But it is likely that the virus would be in an inoperative state. It is also possible that the virus reactivates at a later point of time and forms a shingles rash. Risk of developing shingles increases with your age. Around half of people who develop shingles are over 50 years of age. While the rash could show up in any part of the body, it is likely to affect smaller areas. The first symptom of shingles is the pain. After a couple of days of onset of pain, a rash might appear over the afflicted section. Fluid-filled blisters might appear along with the rash. Some other symptoms that accompany with shingles include: Fever Over-sensitivity towards the light Tiredness Here are the top 3 shingles treatments. Taking a soothing bath This is one of the easiest and top 3 shingles treatments. By cleaning the blisters every day, you can reduce the risk of spreading the infection. A cool bath or a shower would also work towards soothing the irritated skin. While this reduces pain, it helps reduce the itchiness as well. You could devise a soothing bath for healing and treatment of shingles. Put 1 or 2 cups of cornstarch into lukewarm water. Let it soak for 15-20 minutes. Avoid hot water. This might worsen the shingles rash by increasing blood flow. After the bath, dry your body well.

A woman will experience menopause during her 40s or 50s. It is when she no longer gets her period and is unable to get pregnant naturally. It is usually confirmed when the period stops for more than 12 months. Once the ovaries stop functioning, there is an imbalance of hormones in the body. While the body adjusts to this change, there will be many uncomfortable symptoms to deal with one of which is menopause hot flashes. Over two-third of women experiencing menopause have to deal with hot flashes. What Is A Hot Flash? It is a sudden and unexpected experience of feeling hot. The blood vessels on the surface of your skin dilate, causing you to sweat profusely. The exact reason for menopause hot flashes is unknown. However, many theories point that hormone imbalances could be affecting the circulatory system. Menopause hot flashes can sometimes cause excessive sweating in the night time, making sleep uncomfortable. Some women may also have a high heart rate. Many women experience menopause hot flashes for a short period while others will experience it for the rest of their lives. Triggers Knowing what triggers your hot flash can be critical in managing it. Each woman has different triggers, but here are a few common ones. Caffeine Alcohol Cigarettes Spicy food Tight clothes Stress and anxiety High temperatures Note whenever you have a hot flash in a diary. Once you recognize a pattern, take steps to avoid exposing yourself to your triggers. Remedies For Hot Flashes There are several options when it comes to the alleviation of the symptoms of menopause hot flashes. Here are a few: Hormone Replacement Therapy Small amounts of estrogen can be taken to restore the hormone balance which causes hot flashes. Estrogen can be taken with another hormone called Progesterone to reduce the risk of cancer.

Shingles are painful itchy rashes caused by the herpes zoster virus. Various cures for shingles rash that can alleviate the symptoms and bring faster recovery are discussed below. If your immune system is weak, your shingles outbreak can get out of hand and spread to other parts of your body. Hence, it is essential to boost up your immune system by adding immunity enhancing foods to your diet and avoiding foods that can worsen your condition. An immune booster diet would include foods rich in: Vitamin A – The beta-carotene content of this vitamin helps to maintain your skin, membranes, and tissue linings. An enhanced intake of this vitamin helps in speeding the healing process of the shingles rash. Foods such as leafy green vegetables, carrots, and beef liver are a rich source of vitamin A. Vitamin B12 – This vitamin is essential for the functioning of the nervous system. It preserves the functioning of the nerves as well as protects the nerves from damage that can be caused by the shingles rash. Vitamin B 12 rich foods include sardines, lamb, eggs, and cottage cheese. Vitamin C – One of the most popular cures for shingles rash, vitamin C enhances the immunity levels in your body acting as an antiviral agent. It is recommended to increase the intake of vitamin C foods such as oranges, papaya, bell peppers, kiwis, throughout the infection and recovery period. Vitamin E – Vitamin E is known to accelerate the healing of the shingles breakout. It works towards protecting the nerves from damage and acts as prevention against scarring from the rashes. As vitamin E protects the cell membranes from the attacking virus, it can be applied directly onto the rashes. This provides relief to the burning sensation and also helps reduce the pain from postherpetic neuralgia (residual pain).

3 Major Blood Cancer Types You Should Know Cancer in any form is life-threatening; approximately 38.5% of men and women in the country are diagnosed with one or the other type of cancer. It is common knowledge that when cancer is detected in its initial stages, there’s a possibility of curing it. However, when cancer becomes metastatic, it can only be controlled to a certain extent; it cannot be cured completely. Studies indicate that 10.2% of the total cancer cases are that of blood cancer. Approximately every 3 minutes an individual is detected with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. These are the different types of blood cancer that can affect an individual, and if left undetected can have life-threatening consequences. Blood cancers, or hematologic cancers, are known to affect the production and functioning of the blood cells. This form of cancer originates in the blood marrow before it starts affecting the blood cells. Before a disease can affect the individual in a full-fledged manner, various symptoms surface. An individual might display the following symptoms even b efore blood cancer makes itself evident. Persistent fatigue or weakness Fever and chills Night sweats Sudden weight loss Joint pain Loss of appetite Headaches Frequent infections Nausea Itchy skin or rashes on the skin Abdominal discomfort These are the common symptoms that surface when an individual suffers from blood cancer. Types of blood cancer As mentioned earlier, blood cancer originates from the bone marrow and later affects the production and function of the blood cells. Blood cancer is of three types- leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Leukemia It is a type of blood cancer that affects the blood cells especially the white blood cells and affects the production of these cells and prevents them from performing their functions. When a person suffers from leukemia, the bone marrow starts producing abnormal white blood cells, called leukemia cells.

Metastatic breast cancer is also known as Stage IV breast cancer or advanced breast cancer. This is the most advanced stage of breast cancer, where the cancerous cells have spread to the other parts of the body and are no longer present only in the breast region. In most cases of metastatic breast cancer, the cancerous cells have spread to the brain, liver, bones, or lungs. Despite spreading to the rest of the body, it is treated under metastatic breast cancer treatments. Nearly 154,000 people have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in the US. It has been observed that metastatic breast cancer reoccurs a few years after the completion of treatment for early stages of breast cancer. Thus, a person with a previous history of breast cancer is at extremely high risk of metastatic breast cancer. No metastatic breast cancer treatment ensures a complete cure for cancer. All treatments are aimed at improving the quality and length of life of the patient. The goal of every type of metastatic breast cancer treatment is to slow down the progress of cancer with minimal pain and side-effects. The type of metastatic cancer treatments depends on the characteristics of the cancerous cells, the extent to which the cancer cells have spread, general health of the patient, age, the symptoms of the disease, and previous treatments of breast cancer. Hormonal therapy This type of metastatic breast cancer treatment is used in cases of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. This is usually the first treatment for this type of metastatic cancer. In this treatment, hormone therapy drugs are administered to prevent cancer cells from receiving estrogen required for their growth. Depending on their menopausal status and previous hormonal treatment for early stages of breast cancer, women can choose the type of hormonal therapy they want.

A type of degenerative condition, arthritis is a painful disease characterized by the inflammation and stiffness of joints. At the moment around 55 million adults in the country are diagnosed with this condition. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis are some common types of arthritis. Medical professionals mostly treat arthritis with anti-inflammatory medicines and pain-relievers. However, due to the medications’ potent nature, their long-term use might not be suitable for all patients. In such a situation, individuals should also consider implementing healthier lifestyle changes like dietary modifications and exercise. Likewise, one can try using herbal remedies for arthritis pain mentioned below. These can help gain fast relief in case of any unexpected flare-ups. Eucommia – Native to China, Eucommia bark is an exotic herb that is used for alleviating arthritis symptoms, especially joint pain. Moreover, Eucommia benefits by fortifying the tendons, ligaments, and bones which makes it a useful herbal remedy for arthritis patients. Usually, Eucommia is consumed in the form of supplements. This herb can also be beneficial for regulating diabetes and preventing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. However, before consuming Eucommia one should seek their physician’s guidance, particularly, if they are suffering from blood pressure problems. Thunder god vine – Like Eucommia, thunder god vine is also a primitive Chinese herbal remedy. The extracts from the roots of this exotic herb encourage restraining an overactive immune system. Therefore, this type of herbal remedy of arthritis can be instrumental in managing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disorder. For gaining the best outcome, one should topically apply its extract to the inflamed joints. The long-term use of thunder god vine is not recommended as it could cause skin rashes. Likewise, individuals dealing with osteoporosis should abstain from using this herb as it could diminish the bone strength.