Coughing is an act which helps to clear the foreign particles from the throat and the airway, where the foreign particles are usually germs, irritants, or mucus. It can be voluntary as well as involuntary. Coughs are of two types—productive and non-productive. A productive cough or wet cough involves phlegm and mucus whereas a non-productive cough or a dry cough does not include any phlegm and mucus. According to the American Lung Association, dry cough is a persistent medical condition for many individuals in the country. In this article, we will concentrate on the causes of a dry cough and treatment of this medical condition. What causes a dry cough? Medical conditions, lifestyle disorders, and environmental issues are the common causes of a dry cough among most people. Continue reading to know more about the causes of a dry cough and treatment thereafter. Upper respiratory tract infection In more than 25 percent of the cases, dry cough results due to upper respiratory infections including pharyngitis, laryngitis, and tonsils. These types of medical conditions are most common during the fall and winter. Asthma Asthma is another common cause of a dry cough where the airways of the patients become inflamed, and their thickness reduces. There is a condition cough variant asthma (CVA) which results in a chronic dry cough.

Phlegm is a thick, sticky substance that helps support and protect the respiratory system. The mucous membranes make phlegm that lines the lungs, sinuses, throat, mouth, and nose. It traps viruses, dust, and allergens. The problem arises when one gets sick. The phlegm gets thicker and much more noticeable when one is ill or exposed to too many foreign particles. It can stick at the back of the throat and cause immense discomfort. One may need to visit the bathroom on numerous occasions to clear the throat. While one has this mucus at all times, an excessive amount of it in the throat is clearly annoying. However, if one has phlegm in their throat, treatments are not too difficult. Mentioned below are a few tips to get rid of this mucus. Humidify the air  – Humidifying the air could go a long way in helping get rid the phlegm in the throat. It makes the mucus thinner and easier to rid of. Make sure to change the water in the humidifier every day and ensure that the humidifier is cleaned by following the instructions mentioned on its packaging. Drink lots of water  – Drinking lots of water and staying hydrated can help the mucus move around.

Seniors fight with a number of problems, which in turn affects their strength and stability. Medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, or heart condition can have an adverse effect on their body strength. To improve body balance and coordination, exercises are essential .  Here are some of the exercises for seniors that should be practiced to stay fit. Single Limb Stance This is the simplest exercise for seniors that involves holding onto a chair and balancing on one leg. This helps to develop the core stability by maintaining the center of gravity in the ankles. Perform this exercise for a few seconds, balancing alternately on each foot. Once comfortable doing it for a minute, hold the chair with a single hand, followed by a single finger and finally, letting go of the chair completely. Walking Heel to Toe Position one heel exactly in front of the toes of the other foot. Focus on something ahead of you to stay steady as you walk. Take a step forward by placing the other heel in front of the toes. Take 20 steps in this manner. Balance Walk Raise your arms to the shoulder height sideways. Now walk in a B-line, with one foot ahead of the other.

Flu or influenza is a viral infection caused due to the influenza virus. It is a respiratory problem and can be contagious. When a person with flu coughs or sneezes, the infection can spread through respiratory droplets. One must be very careful if anyone in the family has flu. Taking since close contact makes it easier for the virus to spread. the right medication is the best way to treat any kind of flu. There are various flu symptoms and remedies that should be known to get the proper and right treatment. Read on to know more about flu symptoms and home remedies. Symptoms of flu Here are some of the most common symptoms of flu. Sore throat, blocked or runny nose, and cough High body temperature Shivers and sweat Joint pain Headache Fatigue Home remedies and treatments for flu When the symptoms have been identified, it becomes easier to start an effective treatment. When one is infected by the influenza virus, it takes at least two days for the symptoms to show up. So, early diagnosis can be quite difficult. Here are some of the common ways to treat flu. Rest is one of the most important things to do when one has flu.

A recently concluded survey says that many citizens tend to wake up in the morning feeling immense pain and stiffness in their heels. A majority of such instances of heel pain are linked to a disease known as plantar fasciitis. This unique condition of the foot primarily affects the plantar fascia, which is the anatomical name for the band of tissues that connect the heel bond with the toes of a person. This part of the body is responsible for giving the natural arched shape to the foot. To choose the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, one should consider the following factors: Get the perfect fit If one wants to know about the details to get the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, then it is absolutely important for them to stick with the basics. In the beginning, the patient should make sure that the size of the shoe they are getting fits them perfectly. However, choosing the perfect size can be a little more daunting than one can possibly imagine. The first step is, measuring one’s foot and this might be somewhat awkward. The second factor is that the sizes of various types of shoes tend to vary from one brand to another.

Mucus is the annoyingly thick and sticky substance that helps to protect and support your respiratory system. It may seem unhygienic and quite useless to say the least, but its stickiness is a boon as it traps allergens, viruses, and dust. Hence, mucus is found on the lining of the nose, throat, mouth, sinuses, and the lungs. While mucus does not pose to be much of an irritant during normal days, it is quite the menace when we are sick. It tends to thicken when we are ill or exposed to foreign substances. Mucus sticking to the back of the throat causes immense discomfort and requires us to make frequent trips to the bathroom. Here are a few ways you can get rid of excessive mucus naturally and coughing up mucus will be made much easier. Treatment for Mucus in the Throat  Humidify the air You can get rid of excessive mucus in the throat by humidifying the air. It helps in thinning down the mucus, making it easier to get rid of it in the bathroom. Getting a good air humidifier is a good start if you don’t know how to clear mucus. Please note that you need to change the water in the humidifier on a daily basis.

Hepatitis C is one of those diseases that are quite hard to detect. It affects the liver and the immune system. The symptoms occur sporadically over a prolonged period. Also, most of the symptoms tend to overlap with other diseases such as flu, jaundice or diarrhea. This makes the diagnosis of Hepatitis C difficult for doctors. Also, patients confuse the symptoms with those of common sicknesses and tend to neglect the early signs of infection. Only later, after a lot of time has passed, they are in for a rude shock when their liver starts malfunctioning. Hence, this disease is also known as a silent killer. Sometimes, the symptoms might go away and sometimes they persist. So, a person may suffer from acute Hepatitis C infection or from persistent or chronic Hepatitis C infection. Acute Hepatitis C: The initial six months of the infection is referred to as acute Hepatitis C. The common symptoms include body aches, fatigue, pain in the upper abdomen, nausea accompanied with vomiting, occasional fever and poor appetite. The symptoms occur within the first three months of infection. They usually last for about two to twelve weeks. Severe symptoms include jaundice, dark urine, and light stool.

Many people have different variations about bipolar disorder. For some, it could be a state of depression whereas for others, they could interpret it as a state of frequent mood swings. The truth is far from these variations and doctors usually agree that bipolar disorder is one of the most severe forms of mental disorders that a person might endure. The reason is that, in most psychological conditions, a person may be affected and the suffering has to be undergone within oneself. But in the case of a bipolar disorder, the sufferings are usually channeled out, thus causing harm and distractions to the surroundings. In many instances, people with bipolar disorder have to be hospitalized and the appropriate treatment has to be imparted as quickly as possible. Diagnosis and symptoms The biggest drawback of bipolar disorder is that it cannot be cured completely. The treatments can aim to keep the conditions under control so that a person can lead a normal life. In many instances, people do not know that they have the condition and it can often go unnoticed. If you are experiencing periods of depression or periods of mania, get medical help immediately as in the long run they can hamper your health and passively the health of others around you.

Many of us are quite familiar with the age-old saying – prevention is better than cure, which has been proven right. The onus here falls on the fact that you do not have to wait till you fall ill and are forced to take drastic measures. Instead, you can start taking measures that would help you maintain a healthy body. Our organs function in unison with one another to help us lead a healthy and normal life. But, what happens when they stop functioning? You are diagnosed with a serious disorder and you walk on thin ice when you acting as per your doctor’s instructions. Kidney disorders are something that plagues a majority of the population. Contrary to popular belief that you can only undergo treatment for kidney disorders and cannot prevent it, there are some popular preventive measures which would hold your kidney disorders at bay. Here are some preventive measures that would help prevent kidney disorders in the long run. Go easy on salt- Salt is known to be the cause of a variety of ailments, kidney disorders being one of them. The sodium built-up in your body would result in water retention, which in turn would cause swelling and breathlessness.

Cholesterol is a chemical compound found in the bloodstreams of the human body. It is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body and is mostly composed of lipids and fats. The human body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help digest food. The food being consumed is also responsible for the levels of cholesterol in the body. Common food products that contain cholesterol The common food products such as milk, cheese, butter, eggs, meat and fish produce a high amount of cholesterol in the body. Even low-fat milk is said to have some content of cholesterol in it. Liver is the organ that handles the generation of these lipids. Types of cholesterol Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Having healthy levels of both types of lipoproteins is important. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL): HDL cholesterol sometimes is called good cholesterol because it lowers the risk of a heart attack, strokes, and many other heart diseases. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL): LDL cholesterol sometimes is called bad cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries making you prone to life-threatening ailments such as a heart attack, stroke and other heart ailments.

Schizophrenia is one of the most disturbing chronic mental disorders. Neither the exact cause of the disease is known nor is there a cure. However, if a diagnosis is made at the very beginning and a holistic treatment is instituted immediately, the individual can lead an active, productive and socially acceptable life. The biggest problem is the periodic, unpredictable episodess the disease has. A commitment of a very high order is required by the family in looking after the patient. The medication has to be continuous even during the remittance period as the disease relapses quiet immediately after the interruption in treatment. Researchers have suggested that the disease has no single cause but is actually a combination of heredity, immune system disorder, developmental defects in the neuron connections and pathways in the brain during gestation. Exposure to severe viral infections like children born to mothers who had severe viral infections during their pregnancy and people who were exposed to severe viral infections during hospitalization run a heightened risk of getting schizophrenia. Most importantly, schizophrenia happens because of an imbalance between the three neurotransmitters: dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin. This imbalance makes these people handle sensory inputs like loud sounds, very bright lights, and strong smell in a different way than the ordinary people who take these things in their stride.