Effective tips to lower your A1C score The A1C test is a type of blood test which gives information about a person’s levels of blood sugar, over a period of three months. The A1C test is derived from the relation between the glucose and the hemoglobin, which is a component of the red blood cells (RBCs) and supplies oxygen to different organs. In a human body, RBCs are constantly being formed and also dying, but generally their life span averages to 3 months. Hence this information is used to test if a person has diabetes or not. For people who don’t have diabetes, a percentage below 5.7% is believed to be normal; whereas 5.7% to 6.4% indicates pre-diabetes and that the person is prone to it. 6.5% or higher percentage means that the person has diabetes. If you have diabetes, then a score of 7% or lower is preferred. For controlling diabetes, reducing A1C is the most crucial and important part. Below are some ideas to inculcate in your daily life to lower A1C levels: Exercising It is very important for all the diabetics to make up their lack of stamina which has occurred due to this problem. It is recommended to obtain a 30-minute exercise for around 5 days a week.

LINZESS – Uses, dosage, effectiveness, and side effects LINZESS or Linaclotide is a medicine used to treat bowel-related symptoms, disorders, and diseases. As it is widely used as a prescription drug for treating chronic constipation and chronic cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults, it has the street name of LINZESS for constipation. It is preferably used for cases where an adult has constipation as the primordial symptom. The medicine works by stimulating bowel movements in patients. Do note that the medicine is ineffective for treating constipation cases in children and minors. Moreover, you must avoid having LINZESS when there is a blockage in your intestines. How does it work? The secretion of water and chloride in the intestines is increased due to LINZESS. It leads to softening stools, as well as stimulating bowel movements. For better results, the dose should neither be less nor more than the amount prescribed by the doctor. Consult a professional and well-trained medical authority immediately in case of an overdose. Usage You need to take the exact amount of LINZESS as prescribed by your doctor as taking smaller or larger amount might result in undesired side effects. Usage of LINZESS for constipation LINZESS is prescribed to be taken in the morning, at least 30 minutes before the very first meal.

Treatment for kidney stones Kidneys help in extracting waste and fluid from the blood which results in urine. When there is a lot of a particular type of waste in the blood and not enough fluid it can result in clogging the kidney. These come together and form lumps/stones. Few people are more prone to getting kidney stones; men are more prone than women. You may get stones if the following are true. You have a previous history of kidney stones. Family history indicates kidney stones. You do not drink enough water. Your diet contains more of sodium, sugar or potassium You may be obese. You have had an intestinal surgery. You have polycystic kidney disease Your condition causes your urine to have high contents of uric acid, oxalate, calcium, and cystine. Your condition causes swelling in the joints and bowels. If you take diuretics/water pills or antacids with calcium If you suffer from a large kidney stone, you will have the following symptoms: Pain while urinating Blood in the urine Sharp pain in the back / lower abdomen Nausea and vomiting If you have these symptoms, contact your doctor for advice. Preventing kidney stones They always say that “prevention is better than cure.” While dealing with kidney stones, prevention is the best option.

Foods to eat and avoid when suffering from irritable bowel syndrome People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are quite often confused about their food intake. Though IBS can take different forms in different people, most affected people suffer from constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. It is difficult to understand which food will prevent both constipation and diarrhea along with the other symptoms. As such, it is good to have some idea about what to eat and what to avoid in order to prevent irritable bowel syndrome. In order to help you understand the implications of different food items on IBS, let’s divide the food items in three broad categories—foods that may trigger irritable bowel syndrome, foods that may worsen irritable bowel syndrome, and foods that are good for irritable bowel syndrome. Foods that may trigger irritable bowel syndrome Foods that may trigger IBS include the following: Breads made with refined grains Processed foods like cookies and chips Diets with high protein content Dairy products especially cheese Food containing too much of insoluble fiber like skin of vegetables and fruits Food and drinks containing fructose Alcohol and other carbonated drinks Chocolate Caffeine/coffee Fried and fatty foods You should also abstain from eating large meals, eating too quickly, eating while working, etc.

Tips for immediate relief from gout pain Gout is a painful metabolic disease that causes inflammation and deposition of uric acid in the cartilage of the joints. The main cause of gout is the defective metabolism of purine (a nucleic acid). Under normal circumstances, the purine is metabolized by the body into uric acid and then expelled through the kidneys. However, in this metabolic disorder, metabolic defects cause excessive production of uric acid, but they are not expelled properly. In almost all cases, gout develops due to the inadequate rate of uric acid excretion through the kidneys. When the uric acid level in the blood is abnormally high, it leads to the formation of urate crystals that are needle-shaped. Uric acid is organized into needle-shaped crystals in the joints and produces redness, intense pain, sensitivity, and swelling. The deposition of urate crystals irritates the lining of the joints and triggers the painful inflammation of the joints. This is also known as an acute gout attack. The deposit of urate crystals in the joints is called tophus. The joint of the big toe is affected in about three out of four patients with gout, but any joint can be affected, including ankles, wrists, knees or elbows.

Treatment and home remedies for gum disease Gum disease is often caused by neglect of regular dental hygiene. You have to brush and floss your teeth every day, in the morning and at night. Also, you must maintain a healthy diet. If you have dental problems, see your dentist at once to prevent it from degenerating and get good gum disease treatment. Gum disease – What causes it? The human body is a host to a lot of microorganisms, and the mouth is no exception. The mouth can contain friendly microorganisms that help in keeping our gums and teeth healthy, as well as other organisms that cause infection. Gum disease can start as Gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums accompanied by gum bleeding. If you ignore it, Gingivitis may progress into periodontitis or advanced gum disease. Gingivitis is triggered by the buildup of plaque, which is caused by bacteria colonizing the food debris left in your gums and teeth. This causes a thin build up on your teeth. This can harden into tartar which is harder to remove. Plaque and tartar eventually cause enamel breakdown and damage your teeth and gums, causing gum infection, inflammation, bleeding and eventually periodontal disease or gum disease.

7 home remedies for gas and bloating Gas and bloating are common stomach related problems faced by people these days, mostly due to change in lifestyle. These kinds of problems come when they are uncalled for just like uninvited guests. Bloated stomach a day before an important event or party, gastric problems, while you are out on vacation, sound as irritating as they are and we never really want them to happen. A few little things around you can help you get rid of that. Here is a list of seven home remedies you can find easily, which would help your system to get back to its normal functioning as early as possible, without putting in a lot of effort. Home remedies for gas relief and bloating Here is a list of gas treatment: Drink plenty water : We hear very often from our mothers and elders to hydrate ourselves, but little do we realize how very right they are. You might think how water could cut back water, but there is an actual science behind it. In the state of dehydration, our body tries to retain water to make up for the amount which is not being received and this sometimes, causes the stomach to swell.

Top 10 flea control treatments and methods Fleas are parasites, and these things are one of the biggest problems for your pet. Dogs and cats are both at risk of catching fleas. Once fleas infest on your pet’s fur, it may get extremely hard to get them out. However, it is quite easy to get rid of them in the early stages. And with modern products, one can easily treat the fleas when they first appear. Fleas and danger Fleas are parasites which live in your pet’s fur. This parasite, like any other parasites, feed on your pet’s blood. Furthermore, they use your pet’s blood vessels to make a meal for themselves and lay eggs. Infestation of these fleas can be dangerous. Plus, while scratching continuously, your pet may wound themselves. How to know your pet has fleas? There are many signs, which tell whether your pet has fleas or not. However, all signs may not fit for every pet out there. The most common sign is that your pet will begin constant scratching. With immediate flea control treatment, you can avoid serious flea problems. Signs of weight loss in your pet could also indicate the existence of fleas. If your pet starts to massage itself against various objects, that may also indicate the presence of flea on their skin.

Hemophilia is an inherited genetic disorder that is passed on from the mother. A mutation in the X-linked recessive chromosome causes this and since females possess two X-chromosomes and males possess one X and one Y-chromosome, a female with the mutation may not be affected. This is because the other X chromosome in the female will produce the clotting factors necessary for normal clotting. But, a male with deficient X chromosome has chances of developing the disorder since he does not have another X to make up for the mutation. This illness impairs the body’s ability to clot blood effectively and results in those suffering from it to bruise easily and bleed longer. Types of Hemophilia There are three types of Hemophilia – Hemophilia A , B and C with A being the most common. Eight out of 10 people who suffer from hemophilia suffer from this type. Hemophilia A is caused by a deficiency in factor VIII, Hemophilia B, is caused by a deficiency in factor IX and Hemophilia C, which is a mild form of the disease is caused by a deficiency in factor XI. In this, spontaneous bleeding does not occur, but heavy bleeding occurs after surgery or trauma.

Blood clotting is a necessity when it comes to the normal functioning of a body. When you cut or injure yourself, clotting is essential to prevent you from losing too much blood. But, what happens if blood clots inside a vein or an artery? It could cause a medical emergency if it ever reaches your heart and lungs (pulmonary embolism). A clot that forms inside a vein is called a venous clot and such clots could build up over time. Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a serious form of venous clots. An arterial clot is one that is formed inside the artery. This sort of clot requires immediate treatment as it could lead to a heart attack or stroke. Symptoms The symptoms that indicate a blood clot can come right out of the blue and clots in different parts of the body have different symptoms. Symptoms of blood clot in the leg If a major vein in your body suffers from a blood clot it is called a deep vein thrombosis or DVT. Most common in the hip and leg area, these clots can be a serious threat to your health as they could break lose and travel to your lung or heart.

Dupuytren’s contracture is a type of hand deformity that causes the shortening and hardening of muscles, tendons, or other connective tissue. In this, the layer of tissue underneath the skin of the palms becomes knotted. This eventually creates a thick cord that pulls one or more fingers into a bent position. Since the affected fingers cannot be straightened completely, it becomes difficult to perform day-to-day activities. There’s no complete cure for Dupuytren’s contracture, but in addition to the treatment procedures such as needling or opting for enzyme injections, there are certain hand exercises that help with this slow, progressive deformity. They are as follows: Finger lifts This is a relatively simple exercise. You will have to place your hand down on a table and exercise just one finger at a time. Try lifting each finger off the table and hold it up in that position for a few seconds. In case your fingers feel too stiff or curled to do this exercise, do not try and forcefully stretch them. Finger spreads Typically, Dupuytren’s contracture affects the digitus medicinalis (fourth finger) or the little fingers, but it can affect all of them. To improve flexibility, you can try this easy exercise.