5 Ways Your Cell Phone is Completely Ruining Your Skin

Every time you talk or text on your cell phone, you’re putting your skin at risk (and if you’re reading this on your mobile device, you’re doing it right now, too).

In a culture where selfies are a daily occurrence, it’s inevitable that you use your cell multiple times a day. Acne, wrinkles, and dark spots are just a few of the negative side effects from constantly interacting with wireless phones. But don’t worry, we know you can’t give up your cell. So check out our simple skin-savvy solutions below:

Wrinkles

The problem: 

Constantly staring down at your cell keyboard is hurting you more than you know. Keeping your gaze downward for long periods of time can cause “techneck”: wrinkles underneath the chin and around the neck. Squinting at the too-small text can also cause crow’s feet around the eyes.

The solution:

The neck and décolletage are one of the first areas to show signs of aging. Make sure that you’re extending all your anti-aging skin care products to this area. You can also get a cream specifically for this area like face Firming and Lifting Neck Cream.

Skin Allergies

The problem: The next time you break out in a rash, consider that your phone could be the culprit. A recent study proved that the nickel and chromium in cell phone casings can cause a reaction on skin called allergic contact dermatitis.

The solution: Not all cell phone brands contain the rash-inducing nickel, and not everyone is sensitive to the mineral. If you do have sensitive skin, enclose your phone in a plastic case and cover your screen with a clear protector to prevent irritation on your face and fingers.

Acne

The problem: Did you know that your mobile phone carries more bacteria than the toilet seat handle? (Gross!) Just think about all that makeup and sweat that ends up on your screen after a lengthy conversation. That dirt can accumulate and cause breakouts on your skin.

The solution: There are many different ways you can clean your cell phone. You can whip up a water-based solution with 40 percent alcohol or use any monitor wipe. Also consider investing in an earpiece or a vintage handset attachment.

Undereye Circles

The problem: The LED light from your mobile phone can affect the way you sleep. The blue glow emanating from computer, cell, and tablet screens can throw off your internal sleep rhythm, meaning it’s harder to fall asleep and you spend less time in REM sleep. Not to mention the incessant notification chimes from social media, email, and text!

The solution: Less sleep means more under-eye bags. Prevent puffy, dark circles from your late-night Twitter rant with an anti-aging eye cream. Better yet, set your phone in another room after dinner and invest in an old-fashioned alarm clock.

Dark Spots

The problem: Remember talking to your high school boyfriend late at night until your phone burned your cheeks? Well, that overheating can cause major skin issues. The added heat can mess with your melanin production, causing dark spots and discoloration to form.

The solution: Don’t let your phone rub against your face for too long. If you’re in a private area, put your cell in speakerphone mode or switch to bluetooth for lengthier conversations.

4 Common Habits That May Be Damaging Your Skin

You’ve been eating the right kind of foods, maintaining a good sleep schedule, and even wearing sunscreen on a daily basis. So if your skin still showing some signs of damage, one or more of these common habits might be to blame.

1. Sleeping on your front or your side:

Going to bed in the prone position (i.e. sleeping on your stomach) could affect the quality of skin in certain individuals. As this position requires placing our face directly on the pillow, it exposes us to a whole night of direct friction as well as the dirt and bacteria in our pillowcases.

Of course, sleeping on your side might also have the same effect in a limited manner. “Side sleepers often see deeper wrinkles or creases on the side of their face that they naturally turn to each night, as well as vertical creases down their cheeks and chin,” said Joel Schlessinger, a board-certified dermatologist.

2. Not cleaning your phone screen:

Having a breakout only on one side of your face? It might be related to your smartphone.

It may come as a surprise to some that bacteria is not necessarily the trigger for acne here. The real culprits are other impurities and grime which build up on the phone screen, according to Dr. Estee Williams, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York.

They can contain the likes of oil, dirt, and makeup which end up on the surface of the device if it is not cleaned enough.

“If there’s a lot of buildup on the phone, theoretically that can clog your pores and that sort of plugging of the pores can trigger acne, but not because of the bacteria,” Williams explained.

3. Constantly touching your face:

It can be tempting to rub your eyes, especially when you feel tired. But when done excessively over a long period, the habit might damage the skin around your eyes (by breaking the “delicate capillaries under the skin,” according to an expert) and accelerate wrinkle development.

According to research from Brazil, people touch their faces an average of 3.6 times per hour. So just like smartphones, our hands can also transfer impurities onto our face after coming into contact with other people, doorknobs, stationery, shoes, and more. In some cases, it could also encourage the habit of unnecessarily picking at your skin, leading to scarring.

4. Using too many skincare products:

Certain skincare products, such as retinol paired with acne treatments and alpha hydroxy acids, can end up reacting in a harsh way when used together.

“Piling on multiple active ingredients can often lead to redness, inflammation, and peeling,” said Sonia Batra, a dermatologist based in Santa Monica, California.

Her recommendation is to wait a full minute between application of different products or opt for fragrance-free varieties that are less likely to react with one another. Even in the broader sense, the best skincare routines are said to be the most consistent ones. So try not switch between products too much without a good reason to.

What are the best diets for 2018?

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, eating better is at the top of our list. But which diet plan is the best? A panel of health experts — on behalf of U.S. News & World Report — reveal the top-rated diets for 2018.

It is estimated that around 45 million people in the United States go on a diet each year, with weight loss being the primary goal.

However, whether you’re dieting to lose weight or simply to improve overall health, sticking to a specific eating plan can be challenging. With so many diets to choose from, how can you tell which one will work for you?

U.S. News & World Report put together a panel of health experts every year to evaluate the most popular diets in the U.S.

This year, the experts assessed 40 diets, ranking them from lowest to highest in seven categories, including the best diets for weight loss, diabetes, and heart health. So, we take a look at some of the key results.

The best diets for weight loss

For the majority of dieters, weight loss is the ultimate goal, but losing weight and keeping it off is far from easy.

Research suggests that approximately 30–35 percent of weight lost from dieting is regained within 1 year. But it is possible to maintain weight loss. It’s just a matter of finding the right eating plan.

The U.S. News & World Report panel of experts evaluated 40 popular diets for their effects on both short- and long-term weight loss, noting that some people want to lose weight quickly, while others want to maintain their weight loss for years to come.

The health experts rated Weight Watchers as the best diet on both accounts, scoring 4 out of 5 for short-term weight loss, and 3.5 out of 5 for long-term weight loss.

One of the longest-running, well-known commercial diets, Weight Watchers incorporates a points system, wherein foods and beverages are assigned points based on their nutritional values, and dieters are assigned a daily points allowance.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the expert panel “appreciated the program’s support system, which helps dieters keep the pounds off.”

The Volumetrics Diet came in at second place for best weight loss diet, scoring 3.8 out of 5 for short-term weight loss and 3.3 out of 5 for long-term weight loss.

Designed by Barbara Rolls, who is a professor of nutrition working at Pennsylvania State University in Centre County, the Volumetrics Diet focuses on putting foods with low-energy density, such as low-fat milk, grains, and non-starchy fruits and vegetables, at the forefront of one’s diet, as well as limiting foods with high-energy density.

The best diets for heart health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., killing around 610,000 people in the country every year.

A poor diet can increase the risk of heart disease, because eating food high in fat can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and obesity, which are major risk factors for the condition.

But which eating plan is best for a healthy heart? For this category, the health experts analyzed each of the 40 diets and gave them average heart-health ratings.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet took first place in this category.

Developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute — a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — the DASH diet is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy, but it limits foods high in sugar and saturated and trans fats.

The DASH diet was also ranked the best overall diet.

The Mediterranean diet — which emphasizes consuming fish and seafood at least twice weekly, alongside regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains — took joint second place for best heart-healthy diet, alongside the Ornish diet.

With the Ornish diet, fat is limited to 10 percent of daily calories, and foods are divided into five groups, from the least to most healthful.

The best diets for diabetes

The Mediterranean diet not only ranked highly for one of the best heart-healthy diets, but it also took the crown for the best diabetes diet, scoring 3.7 out of 5.

It is estimated that around 30.3 million people in the U.S. are living with diabetes, wherein blood glucose levels become too high due to the body’s inability to produce or effectively use insulin.

Although eating a healthful diet is important for all of us, people with diabetes need to be extra cautious; skipping meals or eating the wrong foods may lead to problematic highs and lows in blood glucose levels.

According to the panel, “The Mediterranean diet is a great option for preventing or controlling diabetes. […] Some research has shown that diabetics on a Mediterranean diet may improve their levels of hemoglobin A1C, a measure of blood sugar over time.”

The DASH diet makes yet another appearance here, ranking second in the best diabetes diet category, with the experts noting that “its menu looks a lot like widely accepted nutritional guidelines for those with the condition.”

Whichever eating plan that you decide is best for you, it’s important to note that physical activity is just as important as the foods you eat.

Current guidelines recommend that adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity every week.

 

8 Early Warning Signs of Cervical Cancer

“Cancer is awful. It took 10 years until I didn’t think about it every day. Nobody should go through this. Nobody.” – Hans Rosling

Like all other cancers, cervical cancer happens when there are abnormal cells that develop. In this case, these cells develop in the cervix. All women can be at risk of developing cervical cancer, and when these cells grow out of control they can be managed or detected with a Pap smear test.

According to Mayo Clinic, “Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer. When exposed to HPV, a woman’s immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small group of women, however, the virus survives for years, contributing to the process that causes some cells on the surface of the cervix to become cancer cells.”

When it’s discovered early enough, cervical cancer can be treated with success, like many other cancers. The important thing is to be aware of the signs of cervical cancer so you can get checked out and improve your chances of getting successful treatment.

HERE ARE 8 SIGNS OF CERVICAL CANCER YOU SHOULDN’T IGNORE

1. LEG PAIN WITH SWELLING

Not all leg pains can be attributed to cervical cancer, this is true. However, barring a recent workout or injury, leg pain that cannot be attributed to something else may very well be a sign of cervical cancer, especially if the leg pain comes with swelling.

According to Unity Point Health, “As the cancer grows and becomes more advanced, it may start to press against nerves in the pelvic wall, resulting in leg pain and sometimes swelling.”Therefore, if there’s unattributed leg pain, it’s important to get checked out.

2. ABNORMAL VAGINAL DISCHARGE

Any abnormal discharge should be looked at by a gynecologist as soon as possible. All vaginal discharge should be colorless and mostly odorless, though you may very well smell some faint ‘body’-like smell. However, if the discharge is a strange color or smells strongly, it’s important to get that checked out.

But why does this happen?

According to Unity Point Health “If cervical cancer lacks oxygen, some cells may die off, infecting the tumor. The infection creates a foul smelling vaginal discharge which serves as another symptom of cervical cancer. This continuous discharge may be pale, watery, brown, or mixed with blood.” It may not be cervical cancer, but strange discharge isn’t normal in the first place.

3. VAGINAL BLEEDING

Those who don’t keep track of their menstrual cycle may confuse vaginal bleeding with normal spotting or period blood. However, bleeding outside of the normal period cycle isn’t normal. Women who bleed after sex, or who are postmenopausal, may want to get checked out for cervical cancer, or abnormal cervical cells. Vaginal bleeding is a red flag to something being wrong.

4. UNCOMFORTABLE URINATION

Women who are prone to urinary tract infections may mistake uncomfortable urination with a UTI. Normal urination should not be uncomfortable, and it should not sting or burn in any way.

Based on Unity Point Health, “Blockage of the kidneys can occur from cervical cancer. This blockage will cause urination to become uncomfortable and sometimes difficult. You may even experience frequent urges to use the restroom without cause.”

Therefore, if urination becomes uncomfortable or painful, getting checked out with a physician is the first step. While it may be nothing as serious as cancer, it’s still a sign of cervical cancer that shouldn’t go ignored.

5. SEX IS LESS ENJOYABLE

This doesn’t have to do with your libido, but rather has to do with how comfortable, enjoyable or painful sex is. If sex suddenly becomes painful, it could be an indication that you have cervical cancer. If painful intercourse happens abruptly and with no other explanation for it, you may just be experiencing an overgrowth of cells in your cervix.

6. PELVIC PAINWhen women have their menstrual cycles, pain from cramps that radiate out from the pelvis is rather normal. Pelvic pain in and of itself isn’t an immediate sign of cervical cancer. However, when the pain becomes extremely intense, or lasts for longer than the menstrual cycle, this could be a red flag for cervical cancer.

According to MD Anderson Cancer Center, “Ongoing abdominal pain or discomfort — including gas, indigestion, pressure, bloating and cramps — can signal ovarian cancer. And, constant pelvic pain or pressure can be a sign of endometrial cancer.”

You will want to get checked out for an abnormal pain in the pelvis, especially if other symptoms are arising.

7. WEIGHT LOSS AND FATIGUE

If you’re not trying to lose weight, then you will always want to get checked out for sudden or extreme weight loss, especially if there has been no change in your diet. Coupled with fatigue that you can’t quite seem to overcome, it could be a red flag for cervical cancer. Any change in weight or energy levels should always be checked out by a doctor, especially if you’re having other symptoms that could be attributed to cervical cancer.

8. INFREQUENT MENSTRUAL CYCLES

Most women have pretty regular cycles. Ever 25-28 days seems to be the average for most women going through their cycle. While there may be other reasons, including other health issues, medication or diet, that can cause irregular menstrual cycles, this is also a sign of cervical cancer. Especially if the menstrual cycle has always been regular before, suddenly skipping a month or bleeding longer than usual can be a red flag.

Final thoughts

While the idea of having cervical cancer can be scary, it’s important to remember that if the cancer is caught early, there’s a high chance that it can be treated successfully. Being aware of your body’s natural rhythms, and when something seems wrong or out of place can give you the heads up for when to make an appointment with your doctor and get checked out for any abnormalities in your cervix.

11 Signs Your Body Has Too Much Estrogen (And How to Fix It)

Estrogen dominance: a condition where a woman can have deficient, normal or excessive estrogen, but has little to no progesterone to balance its effects on the body. Even a woman with low estrogen levels can have estrogen dominance symptoms if she doesn’t have any progesterone. ~ John Lee, M.D.

What is Estrogen?

Per Medical News Today, estrogen – the primary female sex hormone:

 “plays an essential role in the growth and development of female secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts, pubic and armpit hair, endometrium (membrane that lines the inside of the uterus), and the regulation of the menstrual cycle and reproductive system.”

Men Have Estrogen Too!

We’ll start off by clearing up a big misunderstanding: men produce estrogen and women produce testosterone! We’re all one big hormone-producing happy human family! (Sorry.)

The difference, of course, is that your sex determines the dominant hormone.

Estrogen Complications in Men

Though estrogen dominance overwhelmingly affects women, imbalances of the hormone have triggered health problems in men.

While the rest of this article focuses on female estrogen dominance, we include some info on excess estrogen in men. (The “fixes” included at the article’s conclusion are also applicable to us guys!)

Per BodyLogicMD.com, high levels of estrogen in men usually correspond to low levels of testosterone. This hormone/estrogen imbalance can lead to health problems:

“High estrogen levels … contribute to prostate cancer and heart disease as well as gynecomastia (enlarged breasts).”

“As the testosterone is transformed into estrogen the low levels of testosterone can cause many unpleasant symptoms including loss of muscle mass, fatigue, low libido, erectile dysfunction.”

What is Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen dominance is a condition wherein females experience an imbalance of their estrogen and progesterone levels.

Progesterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone produced in the ovaries, the placenta (when pregnant), and the adrenal glands. The hormone helps prepare the body for conception and pregnancy, aids in stimulating sexual desire and regulates the menstrual cycle.

Progesterone imbalance also has repercussions. High progesterone levels are thought to be partially responsible for symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Low levels of the natural steroid hormone may lead to ovulation failure or menstrual irregularities.

11 SIGNS OF ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

1. WEIGHT GAIN

One of the main symptoms of estrogen dominance is weight gain, especially in the hip area. Estrogen homeostasis is essential for maintaining a healthy weight. It’s also common to experience bloating or difficulty losing weight.

2. SWOLLEN OR TENDER BREASTS

Female breasts are sensitive to hormonal changes, as evidenced by the swelling and sensitivity during menstruation. Soreness and swelling around the nipples, particularly off-cycle, could be due to high estrogen levels.

3. PERIOD IRREGULARITY

High estrogen levels throw a loop in the hormonal apparatus responsible for maintaining regular periods. As a result, your period may show up earlier or later than usual.

4. MOOD SWINGS

Under normal circumstances, estrogen increases cerebral blood flow and promotes neuronal activity, which helps us think. However, elevated estrogen levels are linked to anxiety, depression, and even panic attacks.

5. DECREASED SEX DRIVE

Not much research has been done on the relationship – if any – between high estrogen levels and sex drive. However, given the myriad physical and psychological complications caused by estrogen dominance, this finding doesn’t surprise us in the least.

6. HEADACHES

Hormones influence how we humans perceive and process pain. The typical human biochemical reaction to pain is the release of endorphins, which helps to block the brain’s pain signals. However, hormonal fluctuations throw a wrench in this system. More frequently occurring headaches are often the result.

7. HAIR LOSS

When hair follicles are exposed to excess estrogen, they may shut down and stop responding to growth “commands.” Too much progesterone, thyroid, and DHEA supplements can also cause hair to shed.

8. COLDNESS OF THE HANDS AND FEET

As mentioned, estrogen stimulates the body’s circulatory system – and too much of it slows down blood flow. The scientific rationale for this effect isn’t fully understood, but there’s a general consensus that a relationship exists.

9. SLEEP DIFFICULTIES

Estrogen is an ‘excitatory’ hormone – it hypes us up. However, just like caffeine, too much estrogen keeps us awake. Unfortunately for those who deal with estrogen dominance, sleep troubles are a recurring problem.

10. FORGETFULNESS

Per Healthline, “Estrogen is one major hormone that can impact memory before or during menopause.” As the hormone assists in regulating our neurochemistry, it’s predictable that estrogen imbalance may affect short-term memory.

11. HEAVIER PERIODS THAN USUAL

Known as Perimenopause, the lining of the uterus becomes thicker than usual. The disproportionately higher levels of progesterone relative to estrogen cause this effect.

REBALANCING YOUR HORMONES

Dr. Josh Axe recommends the following seven steps to naturally rebalance hormones, including estrogen (testosterone, adrenaline, and insulin).

1. Replace simple carbs with healthy fats.
2. Use adaptogen herbs – a class of healing plants (ashwagandha, holy basil, medicinal mushrooms, rhodiola.)
3. Practice acupuncture or breathing exercises.
4. Try essential oils or aromatherapy.
5. Consume healthy amounts of vitamin D, omega-6 fatty acids, and probiotics.
6. If you take prescription meds, ensure you’re aware of potential side effects.
7. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep.

6 Signs Of Low Estrogen Levels

It’s clear that estrogen is closely linked with women’s emotional well-being. Estrogen is also linked to mood disruptions that occur only in women. 

Estrogen is one of two vitally important hormones in women (the other being progesterone). It turns out that this hormone is not only responsible for a normal functioning of a woman’s body, but also for proper mental functioning.

WHAT IS ESTROGEN?

Estrogen is the primary hormone that helps a girl develop into an adult woman. This time period is known as puberty. After this period of a woman’s life, estrogen helps to regulate cholesterol levels, regulate mood, and protect bone health among other things.

This hormone is produced in the ovaries, which are the main source of estrogen in a woman’s body. The adrenal glands, located near the top of the kidney, also produce estrogen but in significantly lesser amounts. Estrogen moves through the body via the circulation of blood, and is an acting agent in many areas of the body.

The female body produces three different types of estrogen hormone: (1) estradiol – the predominant type during childbearing years, (2) estriol – produced during different phases of pregnancy, and (3) estrone – the lone type of estrogen produced after menopause, or when menstrual cycles stop.

The timing of estrogen production is relative to a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels peak during the mid-cycle phase, which produces ovulation. Following the ovulation phase, estrogen levels decline sharply. Throughout the rest of the month, estrogen levels gradually increase and then decrease.

Estrogen abnormalities

Medical professionals are clear about one thing: estrogen levels strongly affect a woman’s mood and emotional well-being. WebMD cites the fact that women are more susceptible to depression and anxiety during their estrogen-producing years than both men and postmenopausal women. Certain mood-related conditions occur only in women during this phase, which increases the likelihood that a woman will experience emotion-related distress during this phase of their life.

Estrogen plays a role in a variety of medical conditions, including: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Postpartum Depression, Perimenopausal Depression and Postmenopausal Depression.

Subsequently, a variety of symptoms can arise from abnormal levels of estrogen.

HERE ARE 6 SIGNS YOU HAVE LOW ESTROGEN LEVELS (WAYS TO INCREASE THEM ARE ALSO BELOW):

– Hot flashes and/or night sweats

– Mood swings

– Dry skin

– Trouble sleeping

– Infrequent or erratic menstrual cycles

– Decreased sexual desire

Another symptom that is worth mentioning is called a “menstrual migraine,” a severe headache that occurs shortly before a menstrual cycle due to a sudden drop in estrogen.

Increasing estrogen levels

Contrary to popular belief, certain actions can be taken to help balance out estrogen levels.

HERE ARE 5 WAYS TO INCREASE ESTROGEN LEVELS:

1. REDUCE SUGAR INTAKE

Consuming high amounts of sugar can result in estrogen (and other hormonal) imbalances. Simply opting for diet soda instead of regular can help balance hormonal levels. The ideal solution is changing to a diet that consists of lesser amounts of simple carbohydrates and more whole grains.

2. DEVELOP AN EXERCISE ROUTINE

Believe it or not, getting regular exercise can aid in correcting hormonal imbalances. Light to moderate exercise is healthy for hormone levels, and has been linked to decreased risk of developing breast cancer. For women with low levels of body fat (e.g. athletes), it may be worthwhile to consult a doctor for alternative estrogen therapies.

3. STOP SMOKING

Well, there are already a countless number of reasons not to smoke, but here’s another one. Smoking has been shown to suppress the endocrine system, which makes it more difficult to produce estrogen. How about going to the gym or heading out for a walk instead?

4. DRINK COFFEE (YAY!)

It has been shown that women who drink more than two cups of coffee per day may have more estrogen than those who do not. To help reap the benefits of java on your estrogen levels, here are a couple tips: (1) drink coffee in moderation, no more than two cups, and (2) buy the organic variety to reduce the presence (if any) of pesticides or herbicides.

5. GET THOSE “PHYTOESTROGENS”

Yes, this is an actual word…and it may be the most powerful “cure” for low estrogen levels. Phytoestrogens are essentially substitutes for the actual estrogen hormone. As such, they are terrific for reducing the symptoms associated with menopause or low estrogen.

As an added benefit, consuming healthy foods are all one needs to get them. Here some foods high in phytoestrogens: flaxseed, fruits (apricots, cranberries, prunes), herbs (licorice, oregano, sage), legumes (pinto beans, peas), vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower), and whole grains.

Why You Should Never Hold Your Bladder, According to Science

A healthy bladder can hold one and a half to two cups (300-400 milliliters) of urine during the day and about four cups (800 milliliters) at night. It is normal to pass urine five or six times a day if you drink between 6-8 glasses of fluid. ~ Continence Foundation of Australia

About the bladder

Our bladder is a fluid storage organ situated within the pelvis. While roughly the size of a large grapefruit, it can stretch from two to over six inches in length.The primary function of the bladder is to store urine produced by the kidneys. Urine is transferred to the bladder from the kidneys following a blood filtration process. Urine is then passed from the ureters to the bladder, where it is stored.

The bladder is connected to the kidneys through two long tubes called ureters and is capable of holding 16 to 24 ounces of fluid. The “urge” to urinate is felt when the bladder is about 25 percent full.

Diseases and conditions

The bladder, despite widespread perception, is a highly complex organ. Consisting of four separate layers – made up of connective tissue, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, and muscle – the most commonly-cited problems involve the frequent urge to urinate and involuntary urine leakage.

An overactive bladder is another common disorder and is caused by a wide range of conditions, including constipation, excess caffeine usage, and other causes. Urine leakage may be caused by bladder spasms or stress.

Cystitis, or bladder infections, are one of the most common bacterial infections. It’s estimated that around one-third of all females acquire a bladder infection at least once in their lifetime.

Bladder cancer affects around 580,000 people in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Cancer of the bladder primarily affects older adults.

Holding your bladder

 Sometimes we have no choice but to hold urine, but it’s probably not good for bladder health.

HERE ARE A FEW REASONS WHY:

1. URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)

When we make a habit of holding urine too long, it inevitably puts pressure on the kidneys. If you’re a female, your chance of developing a UTI is as high as 50 percent. Women are at a higher risk of a UTI because they have shorter urethras, which need only to travel a short distance to the bladder.

Now, holding urine is not the direct cause of UTI. But if we habitually delay emptying the bladder, the risk of infection increases. Symptoms of UTI include mild fever, cloudy or bloody urine, and an urge to urinate.

2. INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS (IC)

Holding your urine may irritate the bladder’s lining, a condition known as interstitial cystitis. While many health experts aren’t for sure that delaying urination is the cause, some doctors believe it increases the risk of developing IC.

Symptoms of IC include a painful pelvis and frequent urination.

 

3. DISTURBANCES OF THE URINE RESPONSE

The bladder is responsible for signaling to the brain that it’s time to answer nature’s call. When we continuously delay urination, this automatic feedback mechanism that sends the signal may become faulty.

As a result, though our bladder is reaching its maximum throughput, the brain doesn’t correctly register and translate the bladder’s signal.

Which leads to this:

4. PEEING YOUR PANTS

Hey, it happens more often than you think. If our brain doesn’t recognize a stimulus, we aren’t consciously aware of what we need to do. Namely, go to the bathroom in enough time to take care of business.

Lauren Streicher, M.D. and OB/GYN, says “As your bladder gets fuller and fuller, there’s a good chance you aren’t going to make it to the bathroom on time.”

Uh, yeah. Don’t pee yourself.

Holding for a short period is okay

Dr. Adam Ramin, a urologic surgeon and founder of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles, California warns against holding urine:

“Holding your urine for a short period of time, usually up to one hour, is typically okay.” Said Ramin. “However protracted and repeated holding of urine may cause over-expansion of bladder capacity, transmission of excess pressure into the kidneys, and the inability to completely empty the bladder. These problems, in turn, may lead to UTI [urinary tract infection], cystitis and deterioration of kidney function.”

Determining urine health

Dr. Michael Robinette, a urologist at Toronto General Hospital, says there are several ways to determine a healthy urine color.

“Healthy urine is a pale yellow. If your urine is white, you’re drinking too many fluids. However, if your urine is too dark, your urine is concentrated, and you should be drinking more fluids.” he says.

We should aim for seven to eight 16-ounce glasses of water daily. An excellent piece of advice: make sure there’s a water bottle within arm’s reach. If you haven’t already, consider buying a separate water bottle for every place you spend a considerable amount of time, e.g., your workplace.

Or, make headway to the bath

7 signs you are with best partner

“I think for any relationship to be successful, there needs to be loving communication, appreciation, and understanding.”

“One of the more ridiculous myths about “true love” is the idea of the soulmate – that there is someone out there who is your perfect match. A good relationship is about navigating the numerous differences between you – over politics, food, money, how to raise children,” says author Kate Figes.

Everyone wonders about their relationships, and some people often find themselves comparing their relationship with their significant other to the relationships of people around them. Common questions that run through people’s minds include whether or not their relationship is happy and healthy.

Certainly, they can feel that way, but relationships can feel differently to people while they’re in them, versus after they’ve ended. While there’s no right way to have a relationship, there are some standard things that most happy relationships meet every day. People who are in happy and healthy relationships will have a lot of the same qualities in their relationships.

HERE ARE 7 SIGNS YOU’RE WITH BEST PARTNER 

1. YOU’RE ABLE TO SPEAK YOUR MIND

Healthy relationships are all about communication, and you know you’re in a great one when you’re able to speak your mind. You won’t have to feel afraid of upsetting your partner by staking your opinions and speaking the truth. And, your partner feels the same way. After all, communication in a relationship is a two-way street, and a happy, healthy relationship means you’ll both feel free to say what’s on your mind.

2. YOU HAVE SPACE TO YOURSELF

Even if you’re so in love you miss each other all the time, you still have the space to be yourself and do what you want to do without your partner hovering over your shoulder 24/7.

A healthy relationship means giving one another time to miss each other. If you’re able to go out on your own without having your partner texting you every five minutes to ask where you are or when you’ll be back, chances are you’re in a pretty good relationship.

3. YOU LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP AS IS

The sign of an unhappy relationship is discontent and hoping that it will eventually change and work itself out. When you’re in a healthy and happy relationship, you like it just the way it is. There’s no waiting on your end or your partner’s end for something to work out.  You’re accepted for who you are by your partner, and you’re not expected to change a part of your personality to suit them – and you don’t expect that from your partner, either.

4. YOU MAKE DECISIONS TOGETHER

In a happy relationship, you and your partner make decisions together. This means that you’re not left surprised when your partner makes all of the big decisions for the both of you – where to live, what to do with the house, or anything else like that. You and your partner are making decisions, both big and small, as a unit, and keeping one another informed of your thoughts and opinions.

Like Dr. Sue Johnson mentions, “It is clear that when we know someone has our back, we are more confidant and more adventurous. We achieve our goals more easily and are less derailed by disappointments.”

5. THE RELATIONSHIP IS BALANCED

Unbalanced relationships can cause a lot of stress and strain on one partner or the other. A relationship that has one partner doing all of the household chores while the other makes all of the money can be unsettling for one reason or another.Relationships become happier and healthier when there is balance.

Sometimes this means giving up and compromising together.

6. YOU TRUST ONE ANOTHER

Relationships don’t last if there’s mistrust between partners. Your relationship is probably amazing if you can trust your partner and tell them everything, and they can do the same with you. You can also trust them not to hurt you, or do things that would upset you. Trust is a variation on respect, and when you and your partner respect and trust one another, the relationship is bound to be happy.

7. YOU’RE INTIMACY IS CLOSER THAN ANYTHING YOU’VE EVER FELT

Healthy relationships have a level of intimacy that unhealthy relationships don’t.

Dr. Patricia Thompson says, “From the time we are born, we are meant to be touched. Touch is linked with feelings of safety, trust, and support, and individuals who receive more physical affection report feeling more positively about their relationship and their partner…”

When a relationship has run its course, being physically intimate with one another might be the first thing to stop. However, if you find that you and your partner are still being intimate, and still enjoy it just as much as the first time – then congratulations, your relationship is going strong.

Happy and healthy relationships all have some of the same key ingredients that unhappy relationships don’t. Relationships aren’t all the same, and they don’t benefit from being compared to the people around you. But comparing your relationship to a healthy relationship can help make sure that you’re getting everything that you need emotionally, intellectually and physically out of a relationship.

 

 

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose) — an important source of fuel for your body.

Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, but today more children are being diagnosed with the disorder, probably due to the rise in childhood obesity. There’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, but losing weight, eating well and exercising can help manage the disease. If diet and exercise aren’t enough to manage your blood sugar well, you may also need diabetes medications or insulin therapy.

With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. Look for:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Increased hunger
• Unintended weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing sores
• Frequent infections
• Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck

Causes

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. Exactly why this happens is unknown, although genetics and environmental factors, such as being overweight and inactive, seem to be contributing factors.

How insulin works

Insulin is a hormone that comes from the gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas).

• The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream.
• The insulin circulates, enabling sugar to enter your cells.
• Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream.
• As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas.

The role of glucose

Glucose — a sugar — is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

• Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver.
• Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters cells with the help of insulin.
• Your liver stores and makes glucose.
• When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven’t eaten in a while, the liver breaks down stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range.

In type 2 diabetes, this process doesn’t work well. Instead of moving into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. As blood sugar levels increase, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas release more insulin, but eventually these cells become impaired and can’t make enough insulin to meet the body’s demands.

In the much less common type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly destroys the beta cells, leaving the body with little to no insulin.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes include:

• Weight. Being overweight is a main risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, you don’t have to be overweight to develop type 2 diabetes.
• Fat distribution. If you store fat mainly in the abdomen, you have a greater risk of type 2 diabetes than if you store fat elsewhere, such as in your hips and thighs. Your risk of type 2 diabetes rises if you’re a man with a waist circumference above 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) or a woman with a waist that’s greater than 35 inches (88.9 centimeters).
• Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.
• Family history. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases if your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.
• Race. Although it’s unclear why, people of certain races — including black, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian-American people — are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than white people are.
• Age. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45. That’s probably because people tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass and gain weight as they age. But type 2 diabetes is also increasing dramatically among children, adolescents and younger adults.
• Prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Left untreated, prediabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes. If you developed gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. If you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (4 kilograms), you’re also at risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome. For women, having polycystic ovarian syndrome — a common condition characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth and obesity — increases the risk of diabetes.
• Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck. This condition often indicates insulin resistance.

Complications

Type 2 diabetes can be easy to ignore, especially in the early stages when you’re feeling fine. But diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Controlling your blood sugar levels can help prevent these complications.

Although long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually, they can eventually be disabling or even life-threatening. Some of the potential complications of diabetes include:

• Heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and narrowing of blood vessels (atherosclerosis).
• Nerve damage (neuropathy). Excess sugar can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward. Eventually, you may lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs.Damage to the nerves that control digestion can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, erectile dysfunction may be an issue.
• Kidney damage. Diabetes can sometimes lead to kidney failure or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
• Eye damage. Diabetes increases the risk of serious eye diseases, such as cataracts and glaucoma, and may damage the blood vessels of the retina, potentially leading to blindness.
• Slow healing. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can become serious infections, which may heal poorly. Severe damage might require toe, foot or leg amputation.
• Hearing impairment. Hearing problems are more common in people with diabetes.
• Skin conditions. Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.
• Sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in people with type 2 diabetes. Obesity may be the main contributing factor to both conditions. Treating sleep apnea may lower your blood pressure and make you feel more rested, but it’s not clear whether it helps improve blood sugar control.
• Alzheimer’s disease. Type 2 diabetes seems to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, though it’s not clear why. The worse your blood sugar control, the greater the risk appears to be.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent type 2 diabetes, and that’s true even if you have diabetes in your family. If you’ve already received a diagnosis of diabetes, you can use healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent complications. If you have prediabetes, lifestyle changes can slow or stop the progression to diabetes.

A healthy lifestyle includes:

• Eating healthy foods. Choose foods lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Getting active. Aim for a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate physical activity — or 15 to 30 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity — on most days. Take a brisk daily walk. Ride a bike. Swim laps. If you can’t fit in a long workout, spread your activity throughout the day.
• Losing weight. If you’re overweight, losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can reduce the risk of diabetes. To keep your weight in a healthy range, focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise habits. Motivate yourself by remembering the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem.
• Avoiding being sedentary for long periods. Sitting still for long periods can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. Try to get up every 30 minutes and move around for at least a few minutes.

Sometimes medication is an option as well. Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, others), an oral diabetes medication, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. But even if you take medication, healthy lifestyle choices remain essential for preventing or managing diabetes.

Welcome to the Gutenberg Editor

Of Mountains & Printing Presses

The goal of this new editor is to make adding rich content to WordPress simple and enjoyable. This whole post is composed of pieces of content—somewhat similar to LEGO bricks—that you can move around and interact with. Move your cursor around and you’ll notice the different blocks light up with outlines and arrows. Press the arrows to reposition blocks quickly, without fearing about losing things in the process of copying and pasting.

What you are reading now is a text block the most basic block of all. The text block has its own controls to be moved freely around the post…

… like this one, which is right aligned.

Headings are separate blocks as well, which helps with the outline and organization of your content.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Handling images and media with the utmost care is a primary focus of the new editor. Hopefully, you’ll find aspects of adding captions or going full-width with your pictures much easier and robust than before.

If your theme supports it, you’ll see the “wide” button on the image toolbar. Give it a try.

Try selecting and removing or editing the caption, now you don’t have to be careful about selecting the image or other text by mistake and ruining the presentation.

The Inserter Tool

Imagine everything that WordPress can do is available to you quickly and in the same place on the interface. No need to figure out HTML tags, classes, or remember complicated shortcode syntax. That’s the spirit behind the inserter—the (+) button you’ll see around the editor—which allows you to browse all available content blocks and add them into your post. Plugins and themes are able to register their own, opening up all sort of possibilities for rich editing and publishing.

Go give it a try, you may discover things WordPress can already add into your posts that you didn’t know about. Here’s a short list of what you can currently find there:

• Text & Headings
• Images & Videos
• Galleries
• Embeds, like YouTube, Tweets, or other WordPress posts.
• Layout blocks, like Buttons, Hero Images, Separators, etc.
• And Lists like this one of course 🙂

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Visual Editing

A huge benefit of blocks is that you can edit them in place and manipulate your content directly. Instead of having fields for editing things like the source of a quote, or the text of a button, you can directly change the content. Try editing the following quote:

The editor will endeavor to create a new page and post building experience that makes writing rich posts effortless, and has “blocks” to make it easy what today might take shortcodes, custom HTML, or “mystery meat” embed discovery.

Matt Mullenweg, 2017

The information corresponding to the source of the quote is a separate text field, similar to captions under images, so the structure of the quote is protected even if you select, modify, or remove the source. It’s always easy to add it back.

Blocks can be anything you need. For instance, you may want to add a subdued quote as part of the composition of your text, or you may prefer to display a giant stylized one. All of these options are available in the inserter.

• 

• 

• 

You can change the amount of columns in your galleries by dragging a slider in the block inspector in the sidebar.

Media Rich

If you combine the new wide and full-wide alignments with galleries, you can create a very media rich layout, very quickly:

Sure, the full-wide image can be pretty big. But sometimes the image is worth it.

• 

• 

The above is a gallery with just two images. It’s an easier way to create visually appealing layouts, without having to deal with floats. You can also easily convert the gallery back to individual images again, by using the block switcher.

Any block can opt into these alignments. The embed block has them also, and is responsive out of the box:

You can build any block you like, static or dynamic, decorative or plain. Here’s a pullquote block:

Code is Poetry

The WordPress community

If you want to learn more about how to build additional blocks, or if you are interested in helping with the project, head over to the GitHub repository.

Help build Gutenberg

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Thanks for testing Gutenberg!

“Aim if reached or not, makes great your life”

( Robert Brown )

“Every new day is a chance to live and to explore the world and to solve the  mystery of your creativity , so live at your fullest and never compromise on your dreams”

Health Risks of E-cigarettes, Smokeless Tobacco, and Waterpipes

Cigarette smoking has slowly been declining in the United States. But many alternatives have been gaining popularity.

Alternative tobacco and nicotine delivery products are:

• E-cigarettes
• Smokeless tobacco
• Waterpipes

These come in various forms, sizes, and flavors. They are often marketed as being relatively safe. However, alternative tobacco products contain potentially harmful chemicals and toxins. These may cause serious health problems, including cancer. Because of these risks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) started regulating these products in 2016.

If you smoke or use these products, talk with your doctor. Find out about ways to quit.

E-cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes are also known as e-cigarettes or vapor cigarettes. They are battery-operated devices. Some e-cigarettes are made to look like traditional cigarettes.

Other devices such as tank systems do not look like cigarettes. E-cigarettes do not burn tobacco. Instead, they have cartridges filled with nicotine and other chemicals. The liquid chemicals turn into a vapor or steam that a person inhales.

E-cigarettes may contain harmful substances. But the types or concentrations of chemicals a person is exposed to will vary by brand, type of device, and how it is used.

E-cigarettes have only been readily available in the United States since 2006. As a result, there’s limited research on their health risks.

It is important to note that the FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking. Doctors and the FDA recommend evidence-based methods for quitting smoking.

Learn more about the options available to quit smoking.

Smokeless tobacco

Smokeless tobacco products contain tobacco or tobacco blends. They have many names. And they fall into several categories.

Chewing tobacco.

 This is tobacco in the following forms:

• Loose leaves
• Leaves pressed together, commonly called plug
• Leaves twisted together to resemble a rope, commonly called twist

Chewing tobacco sits between the cheek and gum. Usually the person spits out the tobacco juices. But long-time users may swallow some of the juices.

Snuff.

This is finely ground tobacco. It comes in dry or moist forms. It is sometimes packaged in ready-to-use pouches. People usually sniff or swallow dry snuff. In contrast, people place moist snuff between the gum and lip or cheek. Then, it slowly absorbs.

Snus.

This is a tobacco product that originated in Sweden. Typically, the moist tobacco powder is packaged in a pouch. People place it inside the cheek for absorption. The pouch isn’t made to be swallowed. It must be thrown away after use.

Tobacco companies often market snus to people who smoke cigarettes because it is allowed in smoke-free areas.

Public health advocates worry that snus undermines efforts to reduce tobacco use. Currently, laws ban smoking in certain public places. But the option to use snus may promote continued tobacco use.

Dissolvable tobacco.

 This is powdered tobacco that’s compressed. It resembles a small, hard candy that dissolves in the mouth.

Dangers of smokeless tobacco products

Prolonged use of smokeless tobacco products contributes to serious health issues such as, cancer and heart disease. Some smokeless tobacco products contain 3 to 4 times more nicotine than cigarettes. And these products contain substances that increase risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Chewing tobacco may cause white patches, called leukoplakia. They appear on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth. Most of these are noncancerous, but some show early signs of cancer. Oral cancer often occurs near patches of leukoplakia.

Smokeless tobacco products also cause dental problems and contribute to gum disease and tooth decay.

Many people claim that these products are less harmful than smoking and can help people stop smoking. But these alternatives are not evidence-based methods for quitting smoking and are not supported by the FDA.

Waterpipes

Another popular alternative tobacco product is the water-pipe. Waterpipes are also called hookahs, among other names. People worldwide have smoked them for centuries. Particularly in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Modern-day waterpipes are composed of 4 main parts:

• A small bowl on top of the waterpipe. This holds a mixture of shredded tobacco and sweetener
• A broad base to hold water
• A pipe connecting the bowl to the base
• A rubber hose attached to a mouthpiece through which smoke is pulled

Small packets of the tobacco mixture are sold in various flavors. People can smoke waterpipes alone. However, waterpipes are often used in social settings. Multiple people commonly share the same mouthpiece.

In the United States, waterpipes are especially popular among college students and young people. Unfounded assumptions about their relative safety fuel the trend. People think that water can “filter” tobacco smoke, making it less harmful. But there’s no proof of this.

Potential health risks associated with waterpipes:

Exposure to the same toxins as cigarettes but in higher quantities. Waterpipe smoke contains high levels of many toxic compounds found in cigarettes. These include carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and chemicals linked to cancer.

Cancers associated with the toxins and chemicals:

• Lung cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Esophageal cancer

Other conditions associated with the toxins and chemicals:

• Heart disease
• Respiratory diseases like emphysema, which causes difficulty breathing

Typically, waterpipe smoking sessions last up to 1 hour. This exposes people to higher toxin levels than cigarettes.

Potential to spread infectious disease. Sharing a waterpipe with other people increases the risk transferring diseases and viruses. Especially if the mouthpieces are not cleaned properly.

Nicotine addiction.

 The tobacco in waterpipes and cigarettes contains similar levels of nicotine. And nicotine is highly addictive.

A single blood test for 8 types of cancers

For many cancers, diagnosis is a long and challenging process. A new blood test, however, could offer a much-needed simpler and more effective diagnostic technique. Called CancerSEEK, it has the potential to identify eight cancer types from one blood sample.

In the new study, researchers reveal how the blood test demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for cancer detection in more than 1,000 people with the disease.

The team — from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD — recently published their results in the journal Science.

Worldwide, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of cancer deaths will have risen from 8 million to 13 million.

Early diagnosis is key to reducing cancer-related deaths; the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the higher the chances of treatment success. But sadly, many cancers are not caught until the later stages, and this is largely due to a lack of fast and effective diagnostic tools.

• However, the Johns Hopkins researchers believe that CancerSEEK could bring us closer to a quick, simple way to detect cancer in its early stages.

Test produced high sensitivity and specificity

When cancerous tumors form, they release small fragments of mutated DNA and proteins into the bloodstream, and these can act as markers for cancer.

The new blood test works by identifying the markers for 16 gene mutations and eight proteins that are associated with eight different cancer types.

• These include breast, lung, and colorectal cancer, as well as five cancers — ovarian, liver, stomach, pancreatic, and esophageal — for which there are currently no routine screening tests for people at average risk.

“A novelty of our classification method is that it combines the probability of observing various DNA mutations together with the levels of several proteins in order to make the final call,” explains study co-author Cristian Tomasetti, Ph.D., an associate professor of oncology and biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University.

9 ways to get relief from Arthritis pain Naturally

 

Arthritis pain

Arthritis is a group of painful and degenerative conditions marked by inflammation in the joints that causes stiffness and pain. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, gets worse with age and is caused by wear and tear over the years. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the immune system attacking the joints as if they were foreign tissues. Because of this, rheumatoid arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease.

Doctors traditionally treat arthritis with anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers. However, some medications cause side effects, and a natural approach to pain relief is becoming more popular. Remember to consult your doctor before trying these natural remedies.

1. Lose weight

Your weight can make a big impact on the amount of pain you experience from arthritis. Extra weight puts more pressure on your joints — especially your knees, hips, and feet.

Reducing the stress on your joints by losing weight will improve your mobility, decrease pain, and prevent future damage to your joints.

2. Get more exercise

There are more benefits to exercise than just weight loss. Regular movement helps to maintain flexibility in your joints. Weight-bearing exercises such as running and walking can be damaging. Instead, try low-impact exercises such as water aerobics or swimming to flex your joints without adding further stress.

3. Use hot and cold therapy

Simple hot and cold treatments can make a world of difference when it comes to arthritis pain. Long, warm showers or baths — especially in the morning — help ease stiffness in your joints. Use an electric blanket or moist heating pad at night to keep your joints loose.

Cold treatments are best for relieving joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. Wrap a gel ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and apply it to painful joints for quick relief.

4. Try acupuncture

 

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body. This is supposed to reroute energies and restore balance in your body. Acupuncture is the most researched complementary therapy and is recommended by the World Health Organization for treatment of over 100 different conditions.

It is thought that acupuncture has the ability to reduce arthritis pain. If you want to explore this treatment method, be sure to find a licensed and certified acupuncturist in your state.

5. Use meditation to cope with pain

Meditation and relaxation techniques may be able to help you reduce pain from arthritis by reducing stress and enabling you to cope with it better.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studies have found that the practice of mindfulness meditation is helpful for some people with painful joints. Researchers also found that those with depression and arthritis benefitted the most from meditation. When stress is reduced, inflammation and thus swelling and pain drop.

6. Include the right fatty acids in your diet

Everyone needs omega-3 fatty acids in their diet for optimum health. These fats also help your arthritis. Fish oil supplements, which are high in omega-3s, have been shown to reduce joint stiffness and pain.

Another fatty acid that can help is gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA. It’s found in the seeds of certain plants such as evening primrose, borage, hemp, and black currants. You can also buy the oils of the seeds as a supplement. However, be sure to check with your doctor before taking them.

7. Add turmeric to dishes

Turmeric, the yellow spice common in Indian dishes, contains a chemical called curcumin that may help to reduce arthritis pain.

The secret is its anti-inflammatory properties.The NIH reports that turmeric given to lab rats reduced inflammation in their joints. More research on use of the supplement for humans is needed, but it can’t hurt to add this tasty spice to your dinners. Spice up your life by grabbing some online today.

8. Get a massage

 

According to the Arthritis Foundation, regular massaging of arthritic joints can help reduce pain and stiffness and improve your range of motion. Work with a physical therapist to learn self-massage, or schedule appointments with a massage therapist regularly.

9. Consider herbal supplements

There are many kinds of herbal supplements on the market that claim to be able to reduce joint pain. Some of the herbs touted for arthritis pain include:

• boswellia
• bromelain
• devil’s claw
• ginkgo
• stinging nettle
• thunder god vine

Always talk to your doctor before trying a new supplement to avoid side effects and dangerous drug interactions. Herbs are not monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for quality, purity, or safety. Be sure to buy from a reputable source.

5 Reasons: Why you feel tired all the time?

Do you often ask yourself, “Why am I so tired all the time?” If so, this article may be the perfect read for you

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 15.3 percent of women and 10.1 percent of men regularly feel very tired or exhausted in the United States.

Tiredness can cause an array of problems. For example, around 1 in 25 adult drivers report falling asleep at the wheel each month.

About 72,000 crashes and 44,000 injuries each year are a result of drowsy driving, and that’s not to mention the estimated 6,000 fatal crashes caused by drowsy drivers.

Everyone feels tired at some point in their lives — whether it’s due to a late night out, staying up to watch your favorite TV show, or putting in some extra hours at work.

Often, you can put your finger on the reason you’re not feeling your best, but what about those times when you can’t pinpoint the cause of your tiredness? What makes you feel tired then?

1. Lack of sleep

A lack of sleep may seem an obvious reason for feeling tired, yet 1 in 3 U.S. adults are consistently not getting enough of it.

Tiredness increases the risk of accidents, obesity, high blood pressure, depression, and heart disease.

People aged between 18 and 60 years need 7 or more hours of sleep every day to promote optimal health, according to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

Getting under the recommended hours of sleep each night is not only associated with fatigue, impaired performance, and a greater risk of accidents, but it also has adverse health outcomes.

These include obesity, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, stroke, and an increased risk of death.

If you struggle to fit in 7 hours of sleep, here are some tips to help you achieve a full dose of much-needed slumber:

• Maintain a consistent sleep routine. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time each morning — even on the weekends.
• Avoid naps. We need a certain amount of sleep within a 24-hour period and no more than that. Napping reduces the amount of sleep that we require the following night, which might lead to difficulty getting to sleep and fragmented sleep.
• Limit time awake in bed to 5–10 minutes. If you find that you are lying awake in bed worrying or with your mind racing, get out of bed and sit in the dark until you are feeling sleepy, then go back to bed.
• Ensure that your bedroom is quiet, dark, and a comfortable temperature. Any light that enters your room could disturb your sleep. Ensure that your room is dark and that light emitted from digital devices is out of sight. Cooler room temperatures are considered better to promote sleep than warmer temperatures.
• Limit caffeinated drinks. Try not to consume caffeinated beverages after noon. The stimulating effects of caffeine can last for many hours after intake and cause issues with initiating sleep.
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol before bed. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol before going to bed may cause fragmented sleep.

If you practice all the sleeping habits listed above and still wake up tired, it might be a good idea to contact your healthcare provider and discuss whether you have a sleep-related medical problem.

2. Poor diet

The easiest way to banish tiredness is to make adjustments to your diet. Eating a healthful and balanced diet can make the world of difference to how you feel.

Eating a healthful and balanced diet can help to combat fatigue.

To improve your health and get all the nutrients you need— as well as eliminate fatigue — it is vital to choose a healthful mix of food from the five food groups, which are: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.

You can switch up your eating style today by implementing some of these small changes:

• Eat the right amount of calories for your sex, age, weight, and activity level. Eating either too much or too little can make you feel sluggish.
• Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Be sure to focus on eating whole fruits and a selection of vegetables.
• Ensure whole grains make up half the grains you consume. Examples of whole grains include brown rice, oatmeal, whole cornmeal, bulgur, and whole-wheat flour.
• Shift to low-fat and fat-free dairy to help limit your calories from saturated fats.
• Vary your protein routine. Try to choose lean poultry and meat, limit processed meats, choose unsalted nuts and seeds, and select some omega-3-rich seafood.
• Cut down on sugar. Sugar can give you a quick rush of energy, but it wears off fast and might make you feel more tired. Avoid foods and drinks that have lots of added sugar.
• Never skip breakfast. Regularly skipping breakfast can lead to you missing out on key nutrients and the energy that you need to kick-start your day.
• Eat at regular intervals. Sustain your energy levels by eating three meals per day and limiting unhealthful snacks.

Drink enough water. Drinking water can help to prevent dehydration, which results in fatigue, unclear thinking, mood changes, overheating, and constipation.

3. Sedentary lifestyle

When tiredness sets in, sitting on the couch and relaxing could seem to be the only answer. But getting up and moving may be the best thing you can do to re-energize and eradicate fatigue.

Exercising can help to increase energy and reduce tiredness.

Research by the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens discovered that compared with sitting quietly, one single bout of moderate-intensity exercise lasting for at least 20 minutes helped to boost energy.

An earlier study by UGA also found that when sedentary individuals completed an exercise program regularly, their fatigue improved compared with those who did not.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans suggest that all adults need 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week and muscle-strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups on 2 or more days per week.

This may seem to be a lot of time spent exercising, but you can spread out your activity across the week and, in total, it is just the amount of time that you might otherwise spend watching a movie.

4. Excessive stress

Many situations can cause stress. Work, financial problems, relationship issues, major life events, and upheavals such as moving house, unemployment, and bereavement — the list of potential stressors is never-ending.

Excessive stress can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion.

A little stress can be healthy and may actually make us more alert and able to perform better in tasks such as interviews, but stress is only a positive thing if it is short-lived.

Excessive, prolonged stress can cause physical and emotional exhaustion and lead to illness.

Stress makes your body generate more of the “fight-or-flight” chemicals that are designed to prepare your body for an emergency.

In situations such as an office environment where you can’t run away or fight, the chemicals that your body has produced to protect you can’t be used up and, over time, can damage your health.

If the pressures that you face are making you feel overtired or giving you headaches, migraines, or tense muscles, don’t ignore these signals. Take some time out until you feel calmer, or try some of these tips.

 

• Identify the source of stress. Until you can recognize what is causing you to create and maintain stress, you will be unable to control your stress levels.
• Keep a stress journal to identify patterns and common themes.
• Learn to say no. Never take on too much — be aware of your limits and stick to them.
• Avoid those who stress you out. If there is someone in your life causing you a significant amount of stress, try to spend less time in their company.
• Communicate your concerns. Learn to express your feelings and concerns instead of keeping them bottled up if something is bothering you.
• View situations in a different way. Try to look at stressful situations in a more positive light. For example, if you’re stuck in a traffic jam, see it as an opportunity to have some alone time and listen to your favorite tunes.
• Look at the bigger picture. Think about whether the stressful situation will matter in a month’s time. Is it worth getting upset about?
• Accept the things you are unable to change. Some sources of stress, such as an illness or the death of a loved one, are unavoidable. Often, the best way to deal with stress is to try and accept things the way they are.
• Learn to forgive. We are all human and often make mistakes. Let go of anger, resentments, and negative energy by forgiving friends, family, and colleagues and moving on.

• Physical activity is a significant stress reliever and releases feel-good endorphins. If you are feeling stress build up, go for a walk, take your dog out, or even put on some music and dance around the room.

  5. Medical conditions

  If you have made lifestyle changes to do with your physical activity, diet, stress levels, and sleep but still feel tired all the time, there could be an underlying medical condition.

  

  Many medical conditions, such as anemia, can make you feel tired.

  Some of the most common conditions that report fatigue as a key symptom include:

• Anemia
• underactive thyroid
• Diabetes
• Anciety
• depression
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Urinary Track Infection
• food intolerance
• heart disease
• Glandular Fever
• pregnancy
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

 

If you are concerned that you have a medical condition that is causing you to feel tired, arrange an appointment with your health care provider to discuss your worries as soon as possible.

How Coffee Affects Your Body (And Brain) In Just 6 Hours

“A growing body of research shows that coffee drinkers, compared to nondrinkers, are: less likely to have type 2 diabetes Parkinson’s disease, and dementia; have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problem, and strokes.” -WebMD

Besides water, coffee is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Plants from which coffee beans are derived are refined in more than 70 countries. Drank as a morning “eye-opener” or to burn the midnight oil lamp, billions of people around the world enjoy this dark and tasty beverage.

Ever wondered what happens to the body after drinking coffee? Well, we know it provides a much-needed jolt in the early hours – but why? Well, this article will provide these answers and more.

We’ll take a look at coffee’s effect on the brain and body, the time window of its effects, and the proven health benefits.

Got your cup filled? Good, let’s go!

COFFEE AND THE BRAIN

The main reasons people drink coffee are for its alertness, focus, and mood-boosting properties. Here’s the science behind these properties:

– Certain chemicals within the coffee cross the blood-brain barrier.

– Chemicals effectively block the activity of adenosine, the neurotransmitter that makes us drowsy.

– The transmission of dopamine increases, which elevates and improves our mood, and increases alertness.

– The levels of acetylcholine increase as well, which increases muscle activity.

– It raises serotonin levels, creating an energetic yet relaxed feeling.

Researchers continue to study the potential long-term benefits of coffee on the brain, including improved memory, protection against age and disease-related brain degeneration, and the reduced risk of depression.

COFFEE AND THE BODY

While most people consume coffee for its neurological benefits, the drink also possesses certain properties that improve other functions of the body. Here are some of those benefits:

– Coffee boosts our metabolic rate, which accelerates the burning of fat.

– Chemicals within coffee can significantly improve physical performance and strength.

– Coffee is the single-largest source of antioxidants (disease-fighting compounds) in the world.

– One cup of coffee contains 11%, 2%, and 6% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamins B2, B3, and B5, respectively.

– Properties within coffee appear to have a protective effect on the liver.

– Coffee helps to support blood vessel health.

THE TIME WINDOW OF COFFEE’S EFFECTS

Let’s put all of this information together and explain what happens from the moment you take your first sip of coffee to the time it exits the body:

Within 10 minutes: The caffeine from coffee enters your bloodstream, causing your blood pressure and heart rate to rise.

Within 20 minutes: Two of the above-described neurochemical reactions take place. First, the caffeine binds to the brain chemical adenosine, which neutralizes fatigue while increasing our energy. Dopamine levels then increase, which provides the alert and focused feeling. 

Within 30 minutes: The adrenal glands kick into high gear and produce more hormones. Our pupils dilate and may sharpen vision for a short time.

Within 40 minutes: The body produces more serotonin, which improves the functioning of neurons within the spinal cord called motoneurons. This leads to improved muscle strength and coordination.

Within 4 hours: Cellular metabolism increases, which initiates the expedited burning of energy. The body will break down stored fats as a result. Levels of acid within the stomach increase.

Within 6 hours: Caffeine produces a diuretic effect, promoting the act of urination. During this time, approximately half of the caffeine consumed earlier is expelled. (This is called a drug’s half-life – or the amount of time needed for its chemical presence in the blood to drop to 50%.)

WRAPPING UP

As you can see, coffee possesses many powerful health benefits. Affectively, it improves our mood and relieves boredom. Cognitively, it enhances alertness and focus, and helps with decision-making. Physically, coffee promotes fat-burning, and improves muscle coordination and strength.

Perhaps more exciting than the short-term benefits of coffee are the potential benefits in the long run. Accumulating amounts of research continue to demonstrate and espouse the benefits of coffee against cancer, depression, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and other serious ailments.

Relatedly, it’s important to understand that the properties of coffee beans provide most of the abovementioned benefits. Energy drinks, energy “shots,” and many other caffeine-laden products on the market are loaded with sugar, unnatural chemicals, and preservatives. The same applies to canned or bottled coffee.

The Food and Drug Administration recommend limiting caffeine intake to 400 milligrams (mg) or less per day, or the equivalent of about 4 cups (the average adult consumes about 200 mg.) Also, make sure to supplement your coffee with plenty of water and a healthy diet to mitigate the notorious side effects (e.g. jitters, crashing out, or heartburn.)