The onset of spring and summer is meant to be all about sunshine, colors, and outdoor trips. But is that not the case with you? Do you associate change of seasons with watery eyes, loss of voice, red nose, and going through endless boxes of tissues? Do you notice that there is a pattern to your allergy and you see them arrive at the same time every year? If you nodded for the above questions, then you are highly likely to suffer from a pollen allergy, hay fever, or as the doctor’s like to address it, allergic rhinitis. But the good news is that you are not alone. It is estimated that more than 25 million Americans suffer from signs of pollen allergies. It is also observed that kids are more vulnerable to catch season allergies than adults. You might be looking for ways to make your life allergy friendly by looking up treatment methods. But if you want to know the best reliefs, you must need to know more pollens, its causes, and the signs of pollen allergies. Let’s start by knowing what are pollens and how do they affect us. What are pollens? Pollens are powdery substances found in flowering plants, which help the plants reproduce their own species. Though some of the population is neutral to these pollens, there is a whole different set of people who are highly sensitive to them. Note that not every flowering plant causes pollen allergy. This is because only some plants like ragweed, oak, maple, etc., transfer pollens by releasing it in the air. Other plants use insects as the medium to transfer the pollen. Symptoms and signs of pollen allergies The signs of pollen allergies can be as simple as sneezing and coughing to something as fatal as tightness in chest and difficulty in breathing.

Neuropathy is a condition or a disease where the nerves are affected by either a disease or a malfunction. An injury or disease anywhere in the body can damage the nerves as they are present everywhere in the body taking the signals from central nervous system (that is located in the brain) and sending it to the end organ that has to act or react. Neuropathy is often classified based on the nerves that are affected because of an injury or a disease. Neuropathy affects around 8 percent of people after they turn 55. Here are some types of neuropathy that you should know of to be able to identify the problem based on the causes and symptoms: Peripheral neuropathy – When there is a problem in the nerves and the effect is seen on the nerves that are outside the brain and spinal cord, it is called peripheral neuropathy. You can identify this with neuropathy symptoms like weakness, numbness, and pain in the feet and hands. At times, it may also affect other body parts as well. Proximal neuropathy – There are twelve cranial nerves. When any one of the nerves gets damages, it can cause proximal neuropathy. Cranial nerves come straight out of the brain and hence cause damage in these nerves which in turn can cause problems like Bell’s palsy and third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsy in which your eyes are affected. Proximal neuropathy symptoms can be found out by noticing the functioning of eyes and ears, and if there is abnormality felt, it could mean that one of the cranial nerves are impacted. Autonomic neuropathy – There are nerves in the involuntary nervous system and when there is damage to those nerves, one suffers from autonomic neuropathy. Functions that are controlled by these nerves include blood circulation, digestion, bowel function, bladder function, perspiration, and sexual response.

L-arginine is an amino acid which is present in food items such as white meat, fish, chicken, milk products, and red meat. It is also made in the human body and can be synthesized artificially in laboratories. L-arginine for erection-related problems is a great medical treatment for people who suffer from lifestyle or hereditary problems. After the intake, L-arginine is converted into NO (nitric oxide) that expands the blood vessels and promotes the blood flow in the body. L-arginine has various benefits. Many people take it as a dietary supplement for various reasons, such as: Lessening the blood pressure With L-arginine, erection function is boosted Boost circulation of blood in the heart ensuring a healthy heart Increase sperm count and motility Enhance the recovery process in injuries and surgeries Control pain in legs due to improper blood circulation L-arginine for erection-related problems is considered as one of the most popular treatments. The drug possesses a great potential of vasodilator. L-arginine for erection problems works similar to PDE5 inhibitor drugs such as Cialis and Viagra. One must take high quantities of L-arginine to find its performance such as erection strength and blood flow. Doses of about 6 grams, 8 grams or 10 grams must be taken depending on individual need. The dosage gives different results for different users. Therefore it is difficult to describe an exact dose value for the people. Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) can take high dietary supplements up to 1200 mg daily. You can even tray different doses of L-arginine different times a day. For example, a dose of 4000 mg in the morning and 5000 mg in the afternoon depending on your needs. If you combine the intake of pine bark along with L-arginine, erection function can be boosted. Being a great antioxidant, L-arginine enhances the blood flow.

A blood glucose test gives a measurement of the glucose or sugar level in the blood. When it comes to energy in the body, there can be no better source than glucose; it’s the major generator of energy. The food we eat contains carbohydrates which are converted into glucose. Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. If the insulin production is inhibited, it causes diabetes. The sugar level builds up in the body and results in severe health complications. If the sugar level isn’t controlled, it leads to organ damage such as the kidney. Blood glucose test is used to find the kind of diabetes. Diabetes is caused when blood sugar level increases. Diabetes is of three types type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. A sugar test helps the doctors to keep a control on diabetes and recommend a better treatment. In some cases, the blood glucose level may reduce in the body resulting in health problem named hypoglycemia. Types of diabetes Type 1 diabetes: It occurs in children when their bodies fail to produce sufficient insulin. Type 1 diabetes is chronic which requires prolonged treatment. Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes occurs in adults and overweight people when their bodies don’t make enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed timely and can be prevented by healthy eating habits and weight loss. Gestational diabetes: It is diagnosed in pregnant women. With adequate treatment, the problem goes away. Causes of high glucose level in blood Kidney infections, pancreatic cancer, high thyroid (hyperthyroidism), inflammation in pancreas, stress, tension, and surgeries are potential causes of high glucose level in blood. When the blood glucose level increases, it produces cortisol which results in acromegaly. Low blood glucose levels have a bad impact on our health.

You might have had that experience where you hear a sound such as ticking or ringing to continuous pure tone that is not from outside of your body. It is also known as ‘ringing in the ears.’ It can affect one in ten adults and is more likely in those over the age group of 60 years. This sound that you hear is tinnitus. Minor disorders of the ear and the body can be accompanied along with tinnitus. Tinnitus has two origins which are the psychological origin and the neurological origin. Sometimes excessive amounts of stress can also lead to the cause of tinnitus. A proper diagnosis of tinnitus can help you understand the underlying cause and thereby assist in the adoption of healing treatments that help cure tinnitus naturally. Some medications have also been proven to cause tinnitus and therefore, sometimes leaving an aid medicine can assist in curing tinnitus. The first step towards the care for tinnitus is prompt care of a ear infection, discontinuing any medication or TMJ problems. Tinnitus can be cured by Cognitive and Behavioural therapy. Cognitive therapy focuses on the perception towards tinnitus, whereas behavioral therapy uses the systematic desensitization approach. Cognitive therapy involves coping with tinnitus by inducing more positive thinking. Cognitive therapy includes counseling and cognitive restructuring. Behavioural therapy focuses on several methods that involve attentive control. Sound therapy and music therapy have also proved as an effective way to cure tinnitus naturally. Acoustic therapy helps you mask the noise in your ears. This is done by turning on a background music or sound that has elements of white or pink noise in it. Massaging and stretching the neck and masticatory muscles have shown significant improvement in tinnitus. Some form of foods has been beneficial in alleviating tinnitus. An effective home remedy for tinnitus is ginkgo biloba, a plant extract.

Uric acid is a waste generally carried in the blood, travels through the bloodstream, filtered out through the kidneys and finally excreted in urine. It is mostly produced by the natural breakdown of our body’s cells and foods which we consume. Uric acid is a by-product which is created during the breakdown of a naturally occurring compound like purines found in foods like beans, mushrooms, liver, etc. There are various causes of an increased level of uric acid in our body where kidneys won’t be able to filter out all of the uric acid or the level of uric acid will be too much for the kidneys to handle. Various medical conditions like hypothyroidism, leukemia, hypertension, obesity, and other genetic tendencies can lead to increased levels of uric acid. Moreover, certain medications, such as vitamins, diuretics, and cancerous drugs or drugs to suppress the immune system, often react with the body and affect the digestive system, thereby affecting the breakdown of uric acid. Sometimes eating wrong food or excess food like meat can cause an increase in the amount of uric acid as it contains a lot of purines. How to lower uric acid in our body A uric acid test helps measure the uric acid levels in our body. It’s a chemical that’s produced when our body breaks down purines during the natural breakdown of cells in the body. Most of the uric acid leaves the body through urination or defecation. When this natural process is hampered, the body produces too much or less of uric acid. If you are wondering how to lower uric acid levels, the following tips would be beneficial. Excess consumption of alcohol and caffeine can increase the uric acid level and promotes uric acid production. Vitamin C-rich lemonade or orange juice can reduce uric acid levels in case of a kidney stone.

Testing the blood sugar is vital for a person if their diabetic blood sugar level is critical. For people who are diabetic, self-testing of the blood sugar can help them manage the kind of treatment which might be required. This blood sugar level can be tested at home with the use of a small glucose meter which can measure the diabetic blood sugar level. Need for testing the diabetic blood sugar levels People who suffer from diabetes and their diabetic blood sugar level is critical benefit a lot from testing. In addition, the blood sugar testing or the self-monitoring of blood glucose can also provide a range of ways in which management of diabetes can be done. This checking of diabetic blood sugar level will help a person judged on how he or she is reacting to the treatment goals. Such testing will also help in understanding on the exact course in which diet and exercise are affecting the blood sugar levels. This testing will also help in understanding the ways in which illness is affecting the blood sugar levels. In addition, high and low blood-sugar levels are also checked through such testing. When blood sugar testing should be done A doctor is an appropriate person to decide the timing as to when this diabetic blood sugar level testing is to be done. This blood sugar testing also depends upon the intensity of diabetes and the treatment plan to be followed. Type 1 diabetes In case a person is suffering from type 1 diabetes, the doctor might recommend blood sugar testing four to eight times a day. This testing should ideally be done before a person takes meals, before or after any kind of exercise has been done and occasionally during the night hours. If illness strikes a person with impunity, this checking for the blood sugar level might be carried out more often.

A bone density test is done to check whether you have osteoporosis or not. Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone which causes them to become fragile and susceptible to damage easily. Previously, osteoporosis could only be detected after the patient has broken a bone. However, by the time it was found out, it was already very late as the bones become quite weak. A bone density test accurately determines how susceptible you are to breaking bones. The bone density test uses X-rays to determine the amount of calcium and other bone minerals in grams present into a particular area of the bone. The bones in the hip, spine, and forearm are mainly checked in this test. Why is the bone density test conducted? Doctors conduct bone density test to: – Monitor the treatment of osteoporosis. – Identify any decrease in bone density and prevent the advancement before one has a broken bone. Your bones are believed to be denser and less likely to break when you have high mineral content in your bones. It must be noted that bone scans and bone density tests are completely different things. Bone scans are characterized by injections being administered to patients before the procedure, and it is done to detect cancer, fractures, infections and other bone abnormalities. Osteoporosis is more common to women especially elderly people. However, osteoporosis in men is not uncommon at all. Regardless of your age and gender, your physician may suggest you a bone density test if you have: Lost height: People with underlying osteoporosis have experienced a loss of height. Osteoporosis causes compression fractures in the spines causing people to lose 4 cms in height generally. Fractured a bone: Fragility fracture is a term used to describe the situation when the bones become so weak that they break very easily.

Viruses and bacteria cause ear infections, and these occur more commonly in children rather than adults. Upper respiratory infections, wax buildup, environmental allergies, genetics, food allergies, fetal alcohol syndrome, nutritional deficiencies and internal injuries are some of the most common causes of ear infections. The common signs that point towards the ear infection include: Difficulty sleeping Ear tugging Poor or lack of response to sounds Fluid drain from the ear High fever Headache Diarrhea Pain in the inner part of the ear Minor bleeding in the ear The ear has inner, middle and outer parts. Each of these parts has a specific function, and together they help a person with the hearing. The outer ear is shaped like a leaf and captures traveling sound waves. There is also a section known as the pinna from which the sound waves enter the ear canal. The sound waves then reach the ear canal through the eardrum located in the middle part. This middle part of the ear also includes other ear organs like the anvil, hammer, middle canal, stir up and semicircular. The sound waves travel through this part into the inner sections of the ear. The inner part consists of parts like the Eustachian tubes, nerves, and cochlea. Sound waves travel through the canal and are sent to the nerves, from where the brain processes the sound. Considering the complex mechanism and structure of the ear and its three parts, the ear infection can occur in any one of these three parts. Out of all the infections that can occur, the one that occurs in the inner ear is the most serious. Ear infections need to be treated immediately to prevent further complications and damages like rupturing of the eardrum. Deafness and constant recurrence can also occur as a result of untreated ear infections.

Fewer than three bowels movements a week is referred to as constipation. Constipation also implies having to strain too much to create bowel movement or pass stools that are dry, hard and small. But once the s evere constipation causes are known, there are various steps and treatments that can be implemented to cure and prevent it. The main causes of severe constipation are usually associated with diet and lifestyle, although there may occur some medical conditions that can also become a cause. In terms of lifestyle, a poor diet and sedentary, inactive lifestyle are the common s evere constipation causes . The human digestive system suffers greatly when consumption of junk food is not monitored, and unhealthy eating habits can wreak havoc on the human digestive system. Factors directly linked to the diet that can create conditions for constipation are: Foods containing high levels of fat and sugar Low levels of water Low levels of other fluids Dairy products Lack of foods that contain high fiber like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Too much caffeine or alcohol Another very important factor is the importance of defecating as soon as the need arises, instead of putting it off for a more convenient time or place, since delays can make the body move into a phase of constipation. Sometimes, changes in the normal routine also cause digestive and bowel problems, as the human body is designed for routine. Sporadic use of bathroom, inconsistent activity, dietary changes, inadequate water consumption and general lack of exercise are some examples. It is therefore important while traveling or changing the schedule to eat high fiber foods that are healthy and drink enough water, along with a little bit of exercise to help the body maintain its physiological habits. Medications can be another cause of constipation since frequently prescribed medications can serve constipation as a common side effect.

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.

The lower parts of our legs are the ones that keep us standing, walking and running as we go through everyday life. There are many factors that affect the health of our legs—the kind of surfaces we walk on, the kind of shoes we wear, our posture, occupation, overall weight, etc. All this means that on more than one occasion, a person may experience leg pain symptoms. Some common leg pain symptoms and causes include: Aches related to the bones, joints, and muscles Muscle cramp A muscle cramp is also known as Charley’s horse and can occur any time on its own. It can occur in the middle of the night or during the day. The pain due to a muscle cramp is often described as a tight grip around one’s muscle, usually the calf muscle. Once it takes a group, it can get worse in the form of an intense, tight lower leg pain. The main cause of this type of leg pain is dehydration and general tiredness. Some common remedies to deal with leg pain symptoms of this sort is to increase the intake of water, massage the affected muscles, and also to do a good round of stretching and warming up before exercise. Shin splints Shin splints are a kind of pain usually experienced on the front of the calf muscle. It usually occurs when the flesh and muscles along the edge of the shin bone get inflamed, making walking, running, or jumping very difficult. Shin splints usually occur when the same activities are repeated over and over again on hard surfaces. People with flat feet or feet turned outward also tend to experience shin splints. Some common remedies to fix the pain related to shin splints are the intake of anti-inflammatory medicines that include naproxen, aspirin, and ibuprofen and the application of ice.