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Disorders of the upper and lower respiratory tract

Disorders of the upper and lower respiratory tract

The upper respiratory tract consists of the nose, the sinuses, and the pharynx. The pharynx has a large number of lymph gland distributed around, the important ones being the adenoids and the tonsils. The diseases encountered in this are viral or bacterial infections. These lymph glands do a very efficient job of arresting bacteria and viruses and get inflamed. Nose is the first organ the incoming air encounters. The hair in the nose filters out gross impurities. When there are overwhelming loads a large volume of mucus is produced to wash them out. This is the usual harmless common cold. Sinusitis. The air then enters the maxillary sinuses, frontal sinuses and the sigmoid sinuses where air gets warmed up, humidified and filtered of the fine particulate, bacterial and viral impurities. When there is overwhelming viral or bacterial load, the sinuses get inflamed and causes the often bothersome sinusitis. In severe cases, one needs to resort to antibiotics or even surgical intervention. Pharyngitis is the inflammation of the lymphatic glands there. The important ones are adenoids and tonsils. Severe cases one has to undergo their surgical removal. The lower respiratory tract diseases are diseases affecting the organs below the level of the larynx.
5 quick home remedies to get rid of fungal infections

5 quick home remedies to get rid of fungal infections

Although fungal infections are quite benign, they can be annoying. If a fungal infection affects a visible patch of your body, you might feel uncomfortable when you go out of your house. It is said that prevention is better than cure. You can avoid fungal infection ensuring that your surrounding including you are in in a clean and hygienic condition. The best way to avoid fungal infection is to keep every little nook and cranny of your body dry: fungal infection occurs as a result of a side effect of antibiotics, weakened immune system, diabetes, poor hygiene, living in a warm environment, poor blood circulation, a skin injury and coming in contact with someone who has a fungal infection. However, despite taking all precautions and best efforts, you might get infected with a fungal disease. In such situations, it is best to arrest the infection in its initial stages before it spreads and its intensity becomes worse. Here are five remedies that you can use instantly. These remedies will be easily available in your home. Tea Tree Oil: Combine tree tea oil with sweet almond oil or olive oil and apply the mixture to the infected part of your body.
Important things to know about toenail fungus

Important things to know about toenail fungus

Toenail fungus is a common infection which makes the toenail brittle, thick and crumbly. Although it is very common and treatable by a medical professional, which does not necessarily need a lot of diagnosis, there are a few things you should be aware of this infection. There are chances that infection can be chronic, which means the infection can last for a very long time. The fungus does not spread: As the name suggests, this infection is toenail fungus which tends to spread and stay only the region where it is affected. Although the infection is chronic, it doesn’t necessarily spread and lingers only in the area where it is prominent. But there is a good chance that if one toenail is affected, the surrounding nails are also at risk of developing the infection. The best way to stop the infection from spreading elsewhere is to wear a clean pair of socks after you taken and applied proper medication to the affected area. Age is a huge factor: This infection does not necessarily affect your routine and can be properly cured with regular care, but the older you get the more are your chances of contracting this infection. Studies have shown that people who are above the age of 60 are more easily prone to being a victim of toenail infection.
Causes of thrombosis

Causes of thrombosis

Thrombosis can sometimes occur for no apparent reason at all. However, the risk of developing thrombosis is increased in certain circumstances or lifestyle. Inactivity of the body tends the blood to collect in the lower parts of the body, usually in lower legs. There is nothing to worry about if this happens normally as when you start to move, the blood flow increases and circulates evenly in the body. However, if you are unable to move after a longer period of time, such as before and after an operation or during an illness or an injury or during a very long journey, the blood is forced to slow down considerably. This is when the chances of formation of blood clots increases. While in hospital, during the operational procedure, the risk of getting blood clot increases. The chances of developing thrombosis increases if an operation takes longer than 90 minutes and if it involves leg, hip and abdomen. If the operation is to treat inflammatory or abdominal condition such as appendicitis the chances of thrombosis may increase. When admitted to hospital, you will be assessed for your risk of developing a blood clot and would be given necessary preventive treatments for the same.
A few treatment options for asthma and coughing

A few treatment options for asthma and coughing

Chronic asthma management involves identifying the triggers, avoiding them and using rapid action medicines for relief. The use of long-term medication depends on the patient’s age, the symptoms, the triggers and what works best for them to keep asthma under control. The long-term medication generally is a drug taken daily. These help in keeping asthma under control on a day to day basis which reduces the risks of periodic flare-ups. Inhaled corticosteroids that are based on fluticasone, mometasone or beclomethasone are anti-inflammatory drugs. Their use has to be for several days to weeks. The advantage of these is lesser side effects in the long-term use. Combination inhalers are combinations of corticosteroids and a long-acting beta agonist. The beta agonist may increase the risk of severe attacks. Always consult your doctor before starting any medication. In addition to doctor-prescribed medicines, you can always follow certain home-based natural treatments on the sideline. Cloves have been known to provide relief from chronic coughing. Boil 4-5 cloves in one glass of water. Add a teaspoon of honey and drink this solution twice daily. Ginger is another natural remedy that acts against ailments of the lungs. Soak two tablespoons of dried fenugreek seeds overnight. Take a spoonful of this the water residue and mix in one tablespoon of ginger juice and one tablespoon of honey.
How probiotics work and what are their benefits

How probiotics work and what are their benefits

Yogurt is probably the first probiotic that was ever identified and used. Although other types of probiotics were discovered and unearthed, the public association is so strong that a mere mention of probiotic will still bring yogurt to mind. That being said, the probiotic yogurt benefits are numerous in number. However, as mentioned earlier, yogurt is not the only probiotic in use now. The WHO (World Health Organization) has defined probiotics as any living microorganism that has a health benefit when ingested. CFU, or colony-forming units, is the microbiological term for the density of viable bacteria in a product. CFU also happens to be a measure of the probiotic richness that a food item has. Probiotics products and their working Some of the rather well-known probiotic products are unpasteurized and non-flavored plain yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, pickles, tempeh, kimchi and kombucha tea, among others. These bacteria belong to different groups and are selectively effective with each different strain offering a varying degree of benefits. Scientists are trying to find specific bacteria for treating specific conditions. The exact mode of their action is still being studied. When naturally-occurring bacteria are lost, it is the probiotics that can help replace them as in the case of antibiotic treatment for diarrhea.
4 top-rated probiotic products for a healthy life

4 top-rated probiotic products for a healthy life

Live bacteria and yeast come under the category of probiotics. Probiotics are helpful bacteria that aid in digestion and improves your immunity system. Probiotics help in preventing and curing urinary tract infection (UTI). So probiotic-based products should be a regular part of women’s diet since UTI majorly affect women. If you are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, probiotics can help to regulate your bowel movement. Also, a probiotic-rich diet can help in preventing eczema in young children. Apart from these health benefits, a regular intake of probiotic-based products aids in fighting diseases that might occur due to consumption of unhealthy or contaminated food. Probiotics should be a part of your regular diet. Periodic intake of probiotic-based products will help to keep your body healthy and fight diseases. Here are four top-rated probiotic-based products that you can include in your regular diet.Yogurt-based products: Yogurt is one of the most essential and simplest probiotic-rich food. It is full of live active bacteria culture, which is very healthy for your gut. You can get store-bought yogurt-based drinks and beverages. Or you can make your own yogurt-based drinks. You can whip up smoothies and shakes, which you can have it on-the-go or to satiate your snack cravings.
What you need to know about chronic bronchitis

What you need to know about chronic bronchitis

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) in the lungs. This condition causes excessive mucus to be secreted into the tubes and narrowing or closing of the bronchial tubes. People suffering from bronchitis may experience wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Persistent cough with thick, discolored mucus is the most common symptom. When the inflammation of the airways resolves within two or three weeks, the condition is termed as acute bronchitis. If, however, the cough with mucus persists for more than three months to at least two years, the condition is known as chronic bronchitis. The mucus may be yellow, green, or white in color. What Causes Chronic Bronchitis? The causes of chronic bronchitis include: Smoking is the one of the chief causes of chronic bronchitis. Smog, industrial pollutants, and solvents may cause chronic bronchitis as well. Acute bronchitis due to viral and bacterial infections may result in chronic bronchitis, if the person suffers from repeated bouts of infection. Moreover, underlying diseases such as asthma, congestive heart failure, cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency, genetics, and bronchiectasis are the other causes. What Are The Symptoms Of Chronic Bronchitis? The hallmark symptom of chronic bronchitis is the persistent heavy cough that brings up mucus from the lungs.
Who needs a low FODMAP diet and why?

Who needs a low FODMAP diet and why?

FODMAPs are small carbohydrates that are found in many food items we eat daily. These carbohydrates do not come under healthy carbohydrates and are poorly absorbed by the small intestine. Due to this poor absorption, many people face various digestive problems. Not everyone needs a low FODMAP diet as not everyone’s body reacts the same way to these carbohydrates. Some people consume FODMAP food without any digestive problems later while some face issues like indigestion, constipation, or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polylos. There are many foods in which FODMAPs are present in higher quantity and when consumed, contribute to the symptoms of IBS. FODMAPs do not necessarily cause IBS, but they may trigger the symptoms of the syndrome. When you intake FODMAPs in the form of drinks or food, and when they pass through the large intestine and get poorly absorbed by the small intestine, two things happen: the FODMAPs are fermented in the bowel leading to gas problem and brings water into the bowel troubling the normal bowel movements. When you are intolerant to these carbohydrates, you may turn to a low FODMAP diet. Many digestive problems can be curbed by a low FODMAP diet.
Be healthy with Nutribullet products and accessories

Be healthy with Nutribullet products and accessories

Nutribullet has a few competitors, out of which none are nutrition extractors. Juicers and blenders are fundamentally different from Nutribullet in their functions, and the end processed food. This article examines the various products under the Nutribullet umbrella and how each has been designed and made for a very specific purpose. Nutribullet 600 Nutribullet 600, an entry level machine, is powered by a 600-watt motor and intended as a single serve, compact, high-end blender capable of shredding, chopping, grinding, as well as acting as a nutrition extractor for smaller quantities. It comes with a separate milling blade to ensure dry grinding as well. It is slightly low-powered and the product smoothness suffers depending on the ingredients used. It comes with only one extractor blade, one milling blade and a jar of 24-ounce capacity. It is the quietest of the three models. Nutribullet 900 Nutribullet 900 is the next higher level blender. It has a 900-watt motor, operates at higher speeds and higher capacity and gives better smoothness of the smoothies produced even with harder ingredients. It does not have a separate milling blade. It comes with 2 extractor blades and a 32-ounce jar. It is the most popular model. Latest models have redesigned the extractor blades and are able to handle ice cubes also.
4 advanced inhalers types for asthma

4 advanced inhalers types for asthma

Asthma inhalers are classified into different types depending on the mechanisms of their working. The various types include pressurized metered dose inhalers, breath actuated inhalers, inhalers with spacer devices and nebulizers. Each of these have their own merits and demerits. Pressurized metered dose inhalers or SMDI: This type of inhaler was very popular and was unchallenged for about 40 years. Its biggest advantage is its simple operation. It can be used with almost all medicines. It consists of a pressured, inactive, carrier gas that propels the medicine in each puff when the piston is depressed. It is an L-shaped equipment with the longer arm containing the carrier gas and the shorter arm the mouthpiece. The common factors that made this inhaler less popular are listed below. The inhaler should always be well shaken before use. Inhalation and pressing the cylinder were not synchronized. The breath could not be held for long enough after the puff was taken in. Breath-activated inhalers: Some of them are still MDIs but pressing of the canister is eliminated. One inhales hard at the mouth piece to get the medicine powder released and into the lungs. One needs to breathe in fairly hard to get all the medicine released and into the lung.