A type of fat, cholesterol is lipid is essential for the body to function properly. However, too much cholesterol is bad for the health and can have an impact on the most vital organ of human body, the heart. Bad cholesterol often causes heart stroke and other heart-related diseases. Medical terms used by doctors to signify bad cholesterol include lipid disorder, hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia. Cholesterol level diagnosis is made with a simple blood test called lipoprotein profile or fasting lipid. Following are the four numbers that are taken into consideration while performing cholesterol level diagnosis. These are: Total Blood or Serum Cholesterol This takes into account the total sum of High-Density Lipoprotein and High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol scores.It is also a good indicator of whether the patient has a risk for heart disease. Optimal – Less than 200 mg/dL Borderline high – 200-239 mg/dL High – 240 mg/dL or higher High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Known as good cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) helps in keeping the arteries clear of blockage caused by low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. It is also known to protect people against heart disease. For this reason, higher HDL score is always good. But, if HDL falls below the marked range, it is considered that the patient is prone to suffer heart diseases. Low – Should be less than 40 mg/dL(men) and 50 mg/dL (women) Normal – 45 mg/dL + for men and 55 mg/dL + for women Optimal – 60 mg/dL and above lower danger of heart disease Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) High level of bad low-density lipoprotein cholesterol leads to blockage in arteries and increases chances of heart diseases. Thus, low level of bad LDL is always good to protect health. Optimal – Less than 100 mg/dL Normal/Near Optimal – 100-129 mg/dL Borderline High – 130-159 mg/dL High – 160-189 mg/dL Very High – 190 mg/dL and above People suffering from metabolic syndrome or heart diseases should ensure that their LDL is lower than the optimal number recommended.

Everyone wants thick and lustrous hair, and this holds true for men and women alike. However, not everyone has the good fortune of having the desired kind of hair naturally. If you are not so lucky to have a thick and bouncy hair, or you are amongst those who are worried about excess hair fall, don’t lose heart. Nowadays, you can find different products for hair regrowth. All you need to do is to select the best hair regrowth products for yourself and apply it according to the directions. While selecting the best hair regrowth product can certainly ensure desired hair growth, you should not expect to get any overnight results. Dedicate some time to feel the difference. Availability of a wide range of hair growth products in the market leaves you confused at times. That is why a few tips for selecting the best hair regrowth products are listed below: Hair oil – Like every other part of the human body, hairs need proper nourishment to maintain its length and volume as well. When it comes to a healthy hair growth, there is certainly no alternative for hair oil. You need to apply oil to your scalp regularly for holding the hair roots firmly. Also, you need to apply oil to the entire length of your hair. It is always better to go for natural oils like coconut oil or olive oil. Castor oil can also be helpful, but that is not for everyday use. Whatever be the type of oil you select, it should not be any synthetic oil or artificial oil with perfumes, as these do not offer many benefits. Hot oil treatment- An oil massage or applying oil to scalp every day is not enough for ensuring hair regrowth. You need to massage hot oil into your scalp once in every ten to fifteen days, depending on the condition of your hair.

Helicobacter pylori are one of the most common types of bacteria to cause infection in the stomach lining and upper part of the small intestine. It’s the primary cause of ulcers across the globe, and about two-thirds of the world population have it inside their body. It is infamously referred as the “ulcer bacteria,” however with it can be avoided efficiently with healthy habits. Until the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, researchers believed spicy food, stress, smoking and other bad lifestyle habits are responsible for ulcers. But in 1982, experts found that this bacteria attacks the stomach lining that protects the stomach from acids which help in digesting food. It produces a cytotoxin named vacuolating cytotoxin A. After damaging the lining, it may bleed or cause infections and even keep food from moving through the alimentary canal. How can H. Pylori enter the body? Typically, this bacteria can enter the body via contaminated food or water. It’s most predominant in developing and underdeveloped nations where a shortage of proper facilities and infrastructure which ultimately leads to lack of basic sanitation. It is contagious and easily infects other people. Both adults and children are susceptible to this condition. The H. Pylori infection symptoms don’t arise instantly. So the condition can stay in a dormant state for years. What are the H. Pylori infection symptoms? In several cases, symptoms of infection don’t manifest. However, acutely infected people may have symptoms like: Belching Bloating Burping Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting, in severe cases the person might throw up blood Abdominal uneasiness Chronic abdominal pain In case of ulcers, a burning sensation may come and go and mostly when the stomach is empty. Ulcers bleed the linings of stomach and duodenum, thus show some symptoms like: Bloody, dark red or black stools Fatigue without no reason Anemia Breathing problems Diarrhea Dizziness Feeling full even eating minimal amounts of food Unexplained weight loss How are H.

Swelling can cause pain in any part of the body. Your feet and ankle support your whole body weight as you stand or move around. If your feet and ankles suffer from inflammation and pain, look for possible causes and consult your doctor on how to treat the condition. Causes of swollen feet and ankles There can be many reasons for your feet and ankle to become swollen and painful. A few of them are listed below: Pregnancy Pregnancy puts pressure on the abdominal region and causes various pains and discomfort. One of these can be fluid retention in the legs. It is a normal occurrence. However, if there is excessive inflammation, consult your doctor. It could indicate a condition called Preeclampsia. Preeclampsia could lead to high blood pressure and buildup of protein in the urine. If your ankle swells and you experience headaches and abdominal pain, you need immediate medical attention. Infected wounds If you have injured your feet resulting in open wounds, these could get infected and cause swelling. In addition to this, if you have a chronic condition like diabetes, it can complicate matters further. Diabetes can cause nerve damage which can affect the sensation of pain. So, wounds may go unnoticed, and then the swelling and infection can advance quickly. Therefore, always inspect your feet for injuries. Chronic diseases A heart, kidney or liver condition could also cause swelling in your feet and ankles. Heart diseases can lead to fluid retention in the body, especially in the extremities. Kidney failure is another cause of fluid retention. The kidneys get rid of wastes and toxins in the body through urine. When they fail, a fluid buildup occurs. The liver produces a special protein called albumin. Albumin prevents fluid from leaking out of blood vessels. When the liver does not produce albumin, fluid leaks outside from blood vessels.

If the changing seasons make you sneeze your head off, instead of putting a spring in your step, you might have a pollen allergy. Pollen allergies or hay fever is an allergic reaction to the pollen released by plants. Pollen is a fine powder released by plants during their reproductive cycles. Pollen is fine enough to travel through the air, which helps plants to reproduce. However, the protein in the pollen can be easily inhaled or ingested via the nose, mouth, ears, or eyes which can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Approximately 30% of adults have some level of pollen allergy. Pollen is not only released by flowering plants but also by grass, trees, and weeds. Flower pollen allergies are more common in spring. Grass pollen allergies are more common in summer, and in autumn, pollen allergies from weeds are predominant. This makes pollen allergies a year-round ordeal for some people, that can be quite uncomfortable and impedes their daily lives. Pollen allergy signs and symptoms If you have a pollen sensitivity, every time you breathe in or come in contact with pollen, you might notice pollen allergy signs such as: Sneezing Itching Redness of the eyes A runny nose Coughing Watering eyes Difficulty breathing Pollen allergy signs can also include worsening of asthma and other respiratory conditions in people who are predisposed. Allergens such as pollen, trigger an immune response in the body. The immune system releases a chemical called Histamine, that works to eliminate this allergen, which is perceived as a threat to the body. Histamine causes the blood vessels to dilate which produces pollen allergy signs such as sneezing, runny nose, and redness of the nose and eyes. The nasal blood vessels also expand which can cause nasal congestion and sinus infections. Conversely, the veins of the face constrict in response to histamine, which causes characteristic pollen allergy signs called ‘allergic shiners’ like dark circles under the eyes.

Diabetes patients who require regular insulin shots have a difficult time managing the medications. While they could give themselves the needed insulin injections at home, they had to keep the syringes, vials, and disposable needles ready. One also needs to be careful about the dosages and the times they need to give themselves the medications. If they need more than one type of insulin medication, that complicates the matter even further. Keeping track of the times, dosages, and the paraphernalia needed could be hard. To solve this purpose, insulin pens were designed around twenty years back. The pens made the medications easy to take and keep track of. Insulin injections Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by the pancreas. In diabetes patients, insulin production is reduced, causing more sugar to collect in the blood. This can affect various organs in the body eventually. To offset this, patients are advised to take insulin shots. It compensates for the reduction in natural insulin levels in the body. There are many types of insulin medications used in the shots. These differ by the time to take effect (onset), the time when the medicine is most effective (peak), and the period it stays in effect (duration). Thus, there are Short-Acting Insulins, Rapid-Acting Insulins, Intermediate-Acting Insulins, Long-Acting Insulins, and Pre-Mixed Insulins. Insulin pens for diabetes Diabetics were allowed to self-medicate after instructions from their doctor. It helped save several trips to a medical center. However, handling syringes and giving themselves injections was still a difficult task. Especially for people with joint problems or other afflictions that curbed dexterity. The invention of insulin pens made life easier for diabetes patients. The pens came preloaded with several units of insulin, and they just had to insert a disposable needle into the pen for each shot and inject themselves.

Our feet go through quite a lot each day; from helping you commute to various destinations, to putting up with the stiletto heels that you choose to sport, and from standing in queues at malls to rehearsing for your dance. Not only will you face difficulties in walking, but foot pain may need you to take painkillers, or compel you to stay in bed the whole day. However, foot pain can happen in a lot of places and can be triggered by many factors; starting from a fracture to stone bruise and a simple heel pain, to an irksome corn pain These can be treated to get some immediate relief from the severe foot pain. In this article, we take a look at the various foot pain relief therapies available, but first, it is important to analyze and diagnose the reason for your pain and what the main cause for the same. Most common types of Foot Pain and Healing Remedies Heel Pain: How Do I Get Complete Relief from It? In case you are suffering from heel pain, you might be having plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is actually an inflammation or irritation of the bonds of strong tissues, that are connecting the toes with the heel bones. The heel pain worsens during the morning when you hit the floor after waking up from your sleep. You might feel it in the arch, or in the heel. Treatment Let your footrest for a while. Do foot and heel muscle stretches. You can resort to painkillers. Try buying shoes that have a comfortable cushioned sole and also lends good support to your arch. Heel Spurs Heel spurs are simply a kind of foot pain and are characterized by strange bone growth on your heel’s bottom. Heel spurs are triggered by wearing a bad pair of shoes, an abnormal walking posture, or from running, as well.

Nothing is more loyal and dedicated as belly fat—whatever you do, it just never seems to leave, it always overstays its welcome. Unfortunately, a majority of the world’s population suffers from belly fat issues. A lot of people try ab crunches, crash diets, detox diets, and many tricks to lose belly fat, but here’s the thing—you need to work hard to lose belly fat. Good exercise, healthy eating, and a good lifestyle are important if you want a flat stomach, there is no easy way out. Many factors are responsible for abdominal fat or belly fat. A few of them include: Your genes play an important role in your body type. If you have a family history of obesity, you’re more likely to be obese and have belly fat as opposed to those who don’t have a family history of obesity. If you have a hormonal imbalance or if your hormones are going haywire, you’re more likely to end up with belly fat. This is the reason why a lot of women experience bloating during their menstrual cycle. Also, women above 40 are more prone to belly fat because menopause includes hormonal imbalance, which, in turn, can lead to belly fat. Not getting enough sleep can cause a weight gain as it decreases your metabolism. Stress causes weight gain as well. When stressed, your body releases a hormone known as cortisol, which can alter the chemical balance of your body, and make you crave for comfort foods that are usually sugary and junk foods. Lose the flab – How to get rid of belly fat Belly fat is one of the most stubborn fats in your body, so if you’re wondering how to get rid of belly fat, then dedication and willpower is much needed. You need to make a few lifestyle changes and follow these tips if you want the perfect stomach.

There can be many causes for swollen fingers, but when it occurs, it causes a lot of pain and discomfort. It becomes difficult to flex and move your fingers. Even simple tasks like picking up a pen, or writing becomes difficult. Swelling can occur due to injuries, allergies and also as symptoms of other diseases like arthritis. It can also be because of fluid retention. Blunt force injuries, injuries that cause a hematoma, a condition in which packets of blood accumulate outside the blood vessels after a finger trauma. Injuries can also occur if a thorn, a wood splitter or if other foreign objects penetrate your skin. Strains, fractures, sprains and other traumatic injuries on the hand, can also cause swollen fingers. Other causes may include – Animal bites on the finger can cause wounds and swelling. Insect bites and stings can also trigger finger inflammation. Tight gloves, rings that have become a tight fit on your finger, and other such constrictions can interrupt blood flow and cause swelling. Paronychia and Cellulitis are infections that can occur in the region of the hands and fingers, and cause swelling and pain. Septic Arthritis is caused by bacterial infection in the joints. This can also affect finger joints. Septic Bursitis can be another main cause. Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs near your joints. These cushion the muscles, tissues, and tendons and prevent friction in the joint regions. When there is inflammation of the bursae, it is called bursitis. Bursitis in your finger joints can be extremely painful. Lymphedema is a condition, where the Lymph fluid does not drain out of your body properly and starts collecting in places like your feet and hands. This can lead to the swelling of your hands and fingers. Heat can cause blood vessels to expand, leading to inflammation, redness, and soreness in the fingers and hands.

Have you spent one too many days with a runny nose? If nasal congestion has been putting you down, read on. Nasal congestion is caused by the inflammation of the nasal membranes. The blood vessels that supply blood to the nasal membranes get inflamed, which causes the lining to swell. In most cases, nasal congestion is accompanied by nasal discharge, commonly called ‘a runny nose’. Nasal congestion could be a minor inconvenience to some people, but in rare cases, it can be life-threatening. Nasal congestion interferes with breathing, speaking, and sleeping. Nasal congestion during sleep can manifest itself in the form of sleep apnea, snoring, or the individual might experience difficulty in sleeping. This is especially hard on children who would find it hard to concentrate in school in the next few days. Adults could also suffer from performance deficits in their work. Nasal congestion can also interfere with hearing. Apart from the difficulty breathing, nasal congestion can cause headaches, pain in the face, sinusitis, and generalized discomfort. Nasal congestion can occur due to a variety of causes, ranging from the common cold to severe gastric reflux. Severe nasal congestion relief involves the use of over-the-counter or prescription medication. Some cases also benefit from home remedies. Causes of Nasal Congestion Apart from the common cold and influenza, nasal congestion can be caused by hay fever or other conditions like— allergies, a deviated septum, nasal valve collapse, sinusitis, or nasal polyps. In some instances, nasal congestion can turn into a chronic condition. Severe Nasal Congestion Relief: Treatment Options The most effective way to get an instantaneous severe nasal congestion relief is to blow your nose. If there’s too much mucus present, this is a fast and effective way to provide temporary relief. Severe nasal congestion relief can be attained by using both medication and homemade remedies.