Most Common Side Effects Of OTC Medicines And How To Avoid Them

Suppose you're in some emergency and you need medicines at the earliest. It can be pain from an injury, or a headache, or misery from indigestion or cold. You delve into your stash of over-the-counter medicines that you have stored over time and take one you've taken many times before. But, two hours later, you have a rash or stomach pain or some other odd new problem. Is it related to the medicine you've taken? But, you've taken it so many times in the past. Remember that, any medication, herb, supplement, oil, or food can work on your body both on positive and negative ways. No matter, how many times you've taken it in the past, it can give you just about any side effect you can think of at any given time. Here are some tips to avoid some of the most common side effects with over-the-counter medications.

Aspirin – Aspirin is a well known medicine to prevent inflammation, pain, and in some people, heart attacks and strokes. Here are some situations when you should avoid aspirin.

• If you have stomach issues such as ulcers, avoid aspirin.
• If you drink alcohol, never drink it with aspirin.
• If you have a bleeding disorder, avoid it. Aspirin increases the risk for bleeding.
• If you have an injury that can cause internal bleeding, like head trauma, stay away from aspirin.

NSAIDs – NSAIDs such as, ibuprofen (Advil, Midol, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naproxyn) are for pain & inflammation. Here are some cases, where you should avoid NSAIDs.

• If you have stomach issues, avoid NSAIDs.
• If you drink alcohol, never drink it with NSAIDs.
• If you take warfarin, NSAIDs may interact with it.
• If you have a bleeding disorder, or an injury that can cause internal bleeding, avoid NSAIDs.
• If you have water retention, avoid NSAIDs, because it may cause more swelling.
• If you have high blood pressure, avoid NSAIDs.
• If you have congestive heart failure, avoid NSAIDs.

Acetaminophen – Commonly known as Tylenol, Acetaminophen is also in a lot of combination over-the-counter medicines, including many cold medicines. Read labels carefully so that you don't mix two medicines that contain it and end up overdosing on it.

•  If you feel miserable, don't be tempted to take more of this than the label directs, as a little more than the dosage can cause liver damage.
• If you drink alcohol, never drink it with acetaminophen.
• If you take warfarin, then taking acetaminophen with it, will interact. So, don't take it, unless talking to a doctor.

Antihistamines – Antihistamines are often used for allergies and are found in some cold and sleep medicines.

• If you are in a stressful situation (likely during a disaster), keep in mind that though drowsiness is common with these medicines, they can actually make some people agitated instead.
• If you have urinary issues, antihistamines can relax the muscles in the bladder so much, that it can be difficult to urinate.

Decongestants – These can decrease swelling in the nostrils due to colds. Like antihistamines, decongestants are often found in cold medicines in combination with other medicines. Here are some situations, when you should avoid decongestants

• If you have heart problems, decongestants can raise blood pressure and cause heart palpitations
• If you have urinary issues, avoid decongestants because just like antihistamines, decongestants can cause trouble in urinating.

Nasal Spray Decongestants – These work like oral decongestants and can give the same side effects, but because they're sprayed locally to the nose, the side effects are less frequent. Here are some situations, when you should avoid them.

• If you have high blood pressure or BPH, be careful about using nasal spray decongestants.
• If you have long-term sinus problems, take a break on the OTC decongestant spray every few days.

Bismuth Subsalicylate – This is best known by its brand name of Pepto-Bismol. Here are some tips when you should avoid Bismuth Subsalicylate.

• If you have problems with aspirin, don't use, since it's related.
• If you have a possibility of internal bleeding, consider avoiding this medicine because it can cause black bowel movements.

Calcium – This mineral is found in some supplements and multivitamins, and is the main ingredient in antacids such as Tums and Rolaids.

• If you have issues with bowel movements, then avoid taking calcium as it may cause constipation.

Caladryl – Caldryl lotion, which contains diphenhydramine (an antihistamine sold in oral form as Benadryl and other brand names) and calamine, is used to relieve the itch from rashes.

• If you are stocking medicines for a disaster situation, when you won't want to take risks with your comfort, consider stocking Calamine Plain instead. Calamine doesn't carry the risk of causing local allergic reaction that Caladryl can, which results in more itching.

Antibiotic Ointments – These are used on skin wounds to prevent infection.

• If you notice increased itching or redness after using the ointment, consider stopping or switching to another type. It's ingredient 'neomycin' is the main culprit. So, stop using an ointment with 'neomycin.'

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How To Improve Back Pain Using Back Massagers

The most common pain that we hear of people suffering, is back pain. Back pain can occur due to various reasons in any part of the back, but mostly it affects the lower back. This is because the lower back supports the maximum weight of the body. If the pain lasts less than one month, it is a short term pain and if it stretches for more than a month, it is termed as chronic back pain. Any type of pain can be better treated, if you know the causes behind it. Here are some of the common causes of back pain.

Stress – It causes tension in the back muscles resulting in back pain
Smoking – It damages the tissue in the back. If you are a regular smoker, and lead an unhealthy lifestyle, then, it can be one of the causes of back pain.
Pregnancy – The extra burden of carrying a baby can put strain on the back which can lead to severe back pain.
Obesity – Overweight puts extra pressure on the spine, resulting in back pain. It can also lead to osteoporosis, a common disease of the bones. When structural architecture gets compromised, it may result in fracture. Vertebral fractures are quite painful.

Roles & Benefits of Back Massagers – As said, back pain is very tedious. But it's not that, there is no cure to it. There are various back massagers which alleviate back pain, both physically and mentally. These massagers are unique machines that operate with the help of a motor that offers a nice and relaxing massage. A good back massaging equipment can offer the following benefits -

• Reduce depression
• Alleviate tension
• Boost immune system
• Relieves back pain
• Improves the circulation of the affected area

Types of back massagers -

OSIM uMama Warm – It is a unique wearable massager which gives you a soothing massage for the pain areas. It is equipped with a wide variety of massage programs and it has an exclusive warmth function. The massager helps you to complete a 360° upper body massage experience that covers back, shoulder, tummy and neck. Here are it's features -

• Offer simultaneous massage to the shoulder, neck and back
• Alleviate stiff neck
• You get to enjoy targeted massage
• Ease up tummy discomfort

OSIM uRelax -  This massager helps to ease your strains and pain from shoulder and back while driving. The massager is light and portable and the best part of it, is, it easily fits on to the standard chairs. You get to enjoy a relaxing massage anytime and anywhere. Here are it's features -

• Portable and lightweight
• Get to enjoy effortless back massage
• Offers vibration massage
• Improves blood circulation and relaxes sore muscles
• Offer multi massage choices

OSIM uPapa – This massager helps you to enjoy rhythmic massages and massage intensities offer a well-balanced massage that rejuvenate the human body. It offers relief to the tense muscles. The best thing about it, is that, it can be placed under the calves and thighs and behind your back for a soothing massage. Here, are it's features -

• It has an automatic massage program
• Choose massage options using a remote control
• Re-energizes tired and sore muscles

So, this time, you get back pain, try to get hold of any of the back massagers depending on the nature of the pain. Also, try to avoid the causes of back pain.

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What To Do When You Are Out Of Your Diabetic Medication?

If you are suffering from Type 2 diabetes, then your diabetic medication is the most important thing. You should always keep it handy whether you are at home or when you are traveling. However, you might be in a situation, when you run out of your medicine stock or you might have lost your medication completely. Things can get quite tough at that point of time. You should always update yourself about the various alternative way outs that can help you support yourself when you run out of diabetes medication.
 

Save yourself when you run out of diabetic medication

Here are some of the alternative way outs which can help you to a great extent when you run out of diabetic medication. Let's take a look at them:

Continue your diet and exercise: If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then the doctor must have suggested you with a specific diet and exercise. You should ensure that you eat small meals after regular intervals. Try to avoid simple sugars in your meals. Apart from this, you should stay hydrated with water. Avoid juices or other aerated drinks as they might contain sugar. You should also indulge in a little bit of exercise.

Alpha-lipoic acid: This is an important supplement which can help you keep your blood sugar levels under control. This is an excellent option for people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This acid can be easily found in spinach, broccoli, liver as well as potatoes. You will also be able to find medicinal supplements for these. It should be noted that the recommended dose for these medicinal supplement is 200–300 mg per day.

Coccinia indica: Commonly known as ivy gourd, this is one of the effective remedies to control blood sugar levels to a great extent. If you cannot consume it as a vegetable, then you should try to take extracts of it in the form of supplement. It is better to take 1 gram of the extract per day, or 2 ounces of the gourd.

American ginseng: Consuming around 3 grams of this ginseng within two hours of a meal has been shown to lower blood sugar levels to a great extent. You can consume ginseng tea in order to get 3 grams of this ginseng. Regular consumption of this supplement will have good effect on your health and will help you control blood sugar levels easily.

Apart from the above mentioned options, you should also note that there are various studies which has shown that mineral chromium and garlic will also help to lower blood sugar levels to a great level. You will have to give it a try in order to know whether they will have a positive effect on your health. However, you should always be careful about your health and ensure that you carry all your medicines with yourself when you are traveling or have a stock of them when you are at home. With the option of e-commerce becoming popular, you will now be able to order the medicines sitting at home. You will simply have to upload your prescription, choose the right medicine and order the medicines when at home. The medicines will be delivered at your home within 72 hours.

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Your Child Has Rash. Do You Know What To Do?

There's no compromising when it comes to your child's health. Every parent has more or less faced the situation when their child has suffered from rashes. In the midnight, your child suddenly wakes up and complains that he/she is not feeling well. You see that your kid looks like as he's been in a naked paintball fight – red splotches everywhere. What do you do? You may think of calling the doctor or going to a hospital. What if, the doctoris not available or the telephone line is busy or the roads aren't travelable to go to a hospital. Almost all children get high fevers some time or other. Many will get a rash or two. Sometimes, even, professionals can't make out which one is serious and which one is routine. In this blog, I'll share with you some informations on different types of rashes and how well you can diagnose them.

First, consider your general clues
Before getting into the rash specifics, first consider what you know and what you don't know. Ask yourself these two questions.

1. Does the child look sick? Forget the rash and fever for sometime and watch the child. If the child is lying down, not going out to play, he/she may be pretty sick. Get him/her to a doctor as soon as possible.

2. Has your child been exposed to a virus you know is going around? If you know how sick the other children are, this can make for an easier diagnosis.

Now, look at the Rash. Take a good look at the rashes. Ask yourself three questions,
1) Where is it?
2) Is it raised, flat or blistered?
3) Does it itch?

These three questions will tell you a lot of what you need to know. Then you can match up those clues with your knowledge of common childhood rashes. Here, are some clues to seven rashes.

Rash 1
Where is it? On the palms, on the soles of the feet, and/or in the mouth

Is it raised, flat or blistered? Blistered

Does it itch? No, It hurts.

Possible cause: Think virus – specifically coxsackie virus, otherwise called hand, foot and mouth disease. Viruses don't respond to antibiotics. Make your child drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. Any fluids without caffeine will do.

Rash 2
Where is it? It began on the face and trunk and may have spread to the extremities.

Is it raised, flat or blistered? It started as raised bumps, but they'll get tiny blisters on top, then break and crust over. More bumps will develop, so you'll usually see all stages on the skin at once.

Does it itch? Yes, badly.

Possible cause: The chickenpox virus, which lasts a week to ten days. Treat the itching with diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cool compresses, or oatmeal baths.

Rash 3
Where is it? All over

Is it raised, flat or blistered? Raised. It's fine, red ash all over the body that feels a little like sandpaper.

Does it itch? A little

Possible cause: This is Scarlet fever. This is merely a strep infection with a rash. The symptoms are sore throat, but not always. That's because the strep infection can be on the skin, even in the urine. Treat with an antibiotic like amoxicillin, penicillin, or erythromcin. The child will start feeling better in 72 hours. The medicine should be taken for 10 days to prevent rheumatic fever.

Rash 4
Where is it? All over, random

Is it raised, flat or blistered? It consists of raised, red splotches

Does it itch? Usually

Possible cause: Allergic reaction. It could be even from the antibiotic. Stop the antibiotic and give diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Rash 5
Where is it? As soon as cold symptoms, such as mild fever, disappeared, the child's cheeks turned bright red. Next came a fine, red lacy rash over the body.

Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat

Does it itch? Sometimes

Possible cause: It is called slapped cheek disease. Official name is erythema infectiosum. This viral illness is usually mild. The child usually feels fine, so do nothing. The rash will go away in a few days.

Rash 6
Where is it? After a high fever that lasted two to five days, your child broke out all over in a pink rash.

Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat

Does it itch? No

Possible cause: This is Roseola. The rash will last a couple of days

Rash 7
Where is it? It can be anywhere on the body, but there will be more than just one or two splotches.

Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat. It looks like tiny blood blisters or red splotches underneath the skin. If you press on them, they don't blanch or fade.

Does it itch? No.

Possible cause: This is Petechiae. Those blood blisters or red splotches are actually blood that has leaked out of the child's tiniest blood vessels (capillaries). They can be a sign of serious disease like meningitis or sepsis. If this is the case, seek medical help at the earliest. One exception is if the child has been vomiting but looks pretty good otherwise. The strain of vomiting can cause the capillaries to bleed around the mouth. But the petechiae won't be on the rest of the body.

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Sinus Infection – Know Some Remedies Apart From Antibiotics

Headaches are quite normal and have now become a part of our lives considering the type of lifestyle we lead these days. However, if the headache is due to sinus infection, then things can become quite tough.  A headache resulting due to sinus infection can irritate you for 2-3 days. Headaches resulting from sinus can be very painful and distressing. Your mood will be up for a toss and you might not be able to do any of your regular work. Thus, it is very important for you to know some home remedies which will be helpful for you to get rid of sinus infection.

Sinus infection remedies apart from antibiotics

Here are some of the remedies apart from antibiotics which can help you in getting rid of sinus infection. Let's take a look at them:

Stay indoors: You should stay indoors and maintain your cool. When the heat is on, the membranes can get dry and might create more problems for you increasing the chances of aggravating sinus infection. So, you should make sure that you stay indoors during this time and avoid any kind of heat. Moreover, staying indoors will help you get ample rest during this time and boost your energy and immunity levels.

Try to humidify your environment: In order to get relief from the sinus infections, you should try to humidify the environment of your room. The environment should not be too dry or too humid. Do not over humidify your home.

Inhale steam: You should definitely inhale steam when you are suffering from sinus infection. This will help you to moisten your sinuses. A hot steamy shower will also help you in relieving yourself from the symptoms of sinus.

Stay hydrated: Drink water, soups, chicken stews, etc. in order to keep yourself hydrated during sinus infections. Staying hydrated will help you keep your sinuses moist and reduce the irritation and headache. However, you should avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages as they can aggravate the symptoms.

Spice up your food:  In order to get rid of sinus infection, you should include different types of spices in your food like mustard, hot pepper, horseradish, wasabi, etc. This will help you open up your nasal passages and will give you relief from sinus infections.

Apply warm compress: In order to deal with your sinus infection in a better way, you can take help of warm compress. This will help you moisten your nasal tissues thereby helping you get relief from sinus infection. You can also follow up your warm compress with a cold compress to get better results.

Clear your nasal passage: During sinus infection, you should keep your nasal passage open. So, flush your nasal passage in order to make sure that you can breathe properly. This will also help you keep your sinus infections at bay.

Following the above mentioned home remedies will help you to get rid of sinus infection as well as help you keep yourself away from the required irritation. Thus, without consuming the antibiotics you will be able to get rid of this problem. Moreover, you will be able to avoid the side effects which might affect your health after consuming antibiotics. Thus, you will be on the safer side.

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Common Cold – Know Some Natural Remedies To Get Relief

Whether it is the winter season or the summer season, cold & flu can effect your health anytime. Normally bacterial or viral infections may lead to common cold & flu. You will have to be careful enough and ensure personal hygiene in order to keep cold & flu at bay. If you still get infected with cold & flu, then it will be better to take help of natural remedies to get rid of it. Gulping down antibiotics can have negative impact on your overall health due to their side effects. So, natural remedies and ayurvedic medicines are best to get rid of common cold as well as flu.

Natural remedies to help you get relief from cold and flu

Here are some of the natural remedies which will help you to get relief from cold and flu. Let's take a look at them:

Drink hot liquids: When you have developed symptoms of cold and flu, you should start drinking hot liquids. This can include soups as well as chicken stew. Home made soups can help you a great deal in reducing the symptoms of cold and flu and will keep you warm.

Take ample rest: When you are suffering from cold and flu, you should make sure to take ample rest. You can get infected with such infection only when your immunity levels are low due to extreme stress and tiredness. So, once you feel feverish and have cold and cough symptoms, you should take ample rest. If required, take off from work and improve your health.

Gargle: In order to get rid of sore throat during cough and cold problems, you should gargle on a regular basis. Put a pinch of salt in the hot water and gargle your sore throat with this mixture to get better results within a short span of time.  You will get great relief. Try to gargle just before you go off to sleep at night. This will help you sleep better without coughing throughout the night!

Inhale steam: When you are suffering from cough & cold, you should inhale steam from time to time. This will help you keep your body warm and will also help you de-clog your nose. Clogged noses can create huge problems while sleeping. Moreover, inhaling the steam will help you loosen up the cough that have accumulated in your chest.

Consume honey and ginger: Well, honey and ginger are ingredients that have medicinal properties and can be of great relief if consumed during cough and cold. Rather than consuming it during cough & cold, it will be better if you could consume it all round the year. Both of them are powerful healers with anti-inflammatory properties.

Apple cider vinegar: The viruses that lead to cold and flu make your body overly acidic. Thus, it becomes difficult for your immune system to fight against the bacteria and viruses that lead to cough and cold. Apple cider vinegar is alkaline and help you deal with cough and cold and tend to cut the acidic nature of your body.

Now that you know some of the natural remedies to get rid of cough and cold, you will be able to deal with these symptoms in a better way. So, before you visit the doctor, take help of some of these natural remedies.

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Dark Circles – Simple Ways That Can Help You Remove Them

Many of us have the problem of shallow, dark circles under our eyes. Its a botheration for all of us as it affects our appearance negatively. Dark circles can be hereditary, can result due to stress or can develop due to the ageing process. However, it should also be remembered that dark circles can occur at any age. One of the best ways to prevent dark circles is to consume a nutritious diet which should include salads, yogurt, fresh fruits, vegetables, sprouts, dairy products, unprocessed milk, lentils and beans. Apart from this, daily exercise, especially breathing exercises, can help a great deal in reducing dark circles.

Quick and simple ways to remove dark circles

Here are some of the quick and simple ways to remove dark circles:

Look out for home remedies: Dark circles can be easily cured through home remedies. You can apply a mixture of tomato juice, lemon juice, turmeric and gram flour and apply the mixture under your eyes. Keep it for some time and wash it off. Regular application will remove dark circles. Application of cucumber and potato juice can also help you in removing dark circles. Apart from this, eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and iron. Regular application of these home remedies will help you in reducing the dark circles to a great extent and they will also have a beneficial impact on your overall face.  

Exercise regularly: You should indulge in daily exercise along with breathing exercises. This helps to improve blood circulation, oxygenation and controls stress. With this healthy lifestyle, you will be able to reduce the chances/occurrences of dark circles. Apart from this, one should gently massage the under eye area with an under eye cream or gel to remove the darkness.

Dark circle treatments: Chemical peeling is one of the effective treatments to get rid of dark circles. It is also known as chemosurgery. A dermatologist and an anesthetist will help you with the process. Apart from this, Intense Pulse Treatment also reduces dark circles by destroying pigment cells. Laser treatment is another way out to treat the dark circles. You can opt for any of these options depending upon your choice and affordability.

Creams and gels for dark circles: In order to cure dark circles to a great extent, a lot of beauty creams have come up in the market. Depending upon the suitability and the affordability of the creams, you can use them. Various national and international brands of cosmetics have come up with under eye gels and creams. You will have to buy any of these creams and gels and massage your under eye with these creams. Use soft hands to massage your under eye or else you can develop lines and wrinkles. It will be better to massage your eye at night time and then go off to sleep. This will have better impact on your under eyes and will reduce dark circles.

The above mentioned ways will help you get rid of dark circles to a great extent. However, whichever technique you follow, you should consider doing it regularly in order to get the best results. Once you are able to get rid of the dark circles, your overall face will glow and look good. Thus, you will not have to use a concealer on a regular basis.

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6 Things You Need To Know About Malaria, Just In Case

“The malaria parasite has been killing children and sapping the strength of whole populations for tens of thousands of years. It is impossible to calculate the harm malaria has done to the world.” - Bill Gates

The 'little monster' has managed to create threat to the entire population. Millions of people die because of malaria throughout the world. One who gets malaria will never forget those days of typical fever, teeth-chattering chills and drenching sweats. The point is, we don't have a vaccine for malaria, but, we do have effective drugs. Here, in this blog, I'll discuss some important facts about malaria which will help you take necessary steps against the disease.

What is malaria? Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that gets into our body and destroys red blood cells. Apart from destroying red blood cells, it also causes jaundice (yellowish skin & dark urine) due to red-cell breakdown. It can damage your kidney causing confusion, seizures and death.

What causes malaria? Malaria is caused by a parasite that enters our body and gets into our blood, usually, via, the bite of a certain mosquito, the female Anopheles. When a mosquito bites and feeds the blood of someone who is affected with malaria, the parasite gets transferred into the mosquito, but doesn't make it sick. When the same mosquito, bites another person, it regurgitates the parasite into the new person's blood. This is how, malaria spreads. It can also be spread by a blood transfusion or transplant from someone with the disease.

Where is malaria found? In some tropical and sub-tropical climates, especially in Africa, malaria is still rampant. In 2013, over 200 million people came down with malaria and over 600,000 people died. In the U.S., around 1500 are treated each year, while in India, the total annual number of cases may be about 9.7 million with about 30,014 – 48,660 deaths.

Could malaria come back to countries thought to have eliminated it? Yes, malaria can come back to countries thought to have eliminated it. But, the count would be less. There are still occasional small outbreaks of malaria in the U.S. Fortunately, they have good treatment and there aren't enough cases for many mosquitoes to get infected and cause a widespread outbreak. Of course, that could change in a prolonged disaster or if, for any reason, the medical system broke down.

How do we treat malaria? Although we have pretty good drugs to treat malaria, but, if a day comes when those drugs are not available, prevention will be the best medicine. That would mean keeping mosquitoes from getting to you. Put screens on open windows, and use mosquito nets. Apply mosquito repellant on the nets, your clothes, and your skin. Commercial repellants containing DEET are effective, but, be sure to read the complications and side effects before using. Also, get rid of standing water near where you live, because, that may be the breeding ground for mosquitoes.

What about a vaccine? Lots of research have been going on for developing an effective and safe malaria vaccine. There was never been a vaccine for parasite infection before, and apparently the body's immunity response to these parasites, which a vaccine would build on, is pretty complicated.  But, some scientists seem to be getting close. In fact, there are rumours that there may be a malaria vaccine within a year or so.

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8 Tips For How To Treat A Knee Injury And How To Know If It’s Bad

Any type of injury in any part of the body can be very painful. One injury, we often hear of people suffering, is knee injury. Knee injury can happen anywhere, be it home, at work, during any recreation. Sometimes they happen when you are standing still and twist the wrong way. When you hurt your knee, it's evident that you've done major damage. It is very hard to move a swollen, painful knee. So, even doctors have a tough time telling a sprain from a tear. In this blog, I'll mention some instant treatments that you can do in case of a knee injury, when no medical help is around. But, before that, it's better to know the anatomy.

The knee is a hinge joint. It uses tendons attached from muscles to bones to flex and extend your lower leg. Ligaments connect bone to bone, and the knee has four. Without them, your knee will buckle with the least little shift in weight. A thick cartilage called meniscus

Here are some immediate tips that you can apply when doctor is not around.

Get off your knee. Sit or lie down where you are. The first steps that you can apply with any sprain or tear are RICE (rest, ice, compression with an elastic bandage, and elevation).
Next, evaluate what may be wrong.

Look at the injury. If the area looks distorted, you think that you've broken a bone or dislocated your knee joint, and you're going to need to stabilize and stay off it. Get to a doctor if at all possible.

Feel around the joint and the bone. If you find any point of exquisite tenderness, it is likely you've broken or torn something.

Move the knee around by flexing it and extending it. If you can't and it hurts really badly, you've probably got a significant injury. In the next steps, you'll keep evaluating the injury but also deal with your mobility.

If the leg is not distorted, slowly get up to see if weight bearing hurts badly or the knee feels unstable. If it does, don't try to walk. You're going to need help or a makeshift crutch or cane.

If you've stabilized the knee in the straight position (per step 2) and it still hurts to bear weight, a bone may be broken. You need a crutch or crutches so that you can walk bearing weight on the injured leg. (Putting weight on it may make things worse)

If it only hurts badly when you try to walk with the knee flexing, and the knee seems stable, something still may be torn. (A lot of swelling is another sign of a possible tear). It's not as essential, but a brace, even an ace bandage may help.

If you've stabilized the knee and it doesn't hurt to bear weight, you may still benefit from some sort of cane. Use it in the hand of the unhurt side, swinging the hurt leg forward and bracing with the cane on the opposite side to keep your balance as you walk.

So, this time when you hurt your knee, simply follow these steps. These steps will help you understand the intensity of your injury and to get instant relief. Still, after all these, seek medical help as soon as possible.

separates and cushions the thighbone (femur) and lower leg bone (tibia) so they won't crunch together and wear down. The way how you get injured and your symptoms help indicate which part of the knee you've damaged. A cartilage can be torn by a twisting of the knee or a direct hit on the side. This can create pain and swelling. Walking may be difficult. Sometimes the torn cartilage can twist out of position causing the knee to lock. Tearing a ligament usually takes more force, either with a direct hit or falling awkwardly. It, too, causes pain and swelling and sometimes the knee feels unstable. In addition to these, you can fracture a bone. The most common fracture is a crack on the upper tibia. You can also sprain a knee ligament, tendon or muscle without tearing it.

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Lower Cholesterol – Know 5 Natural Ways To Help You With The Process

The problems of cholesterol have grown quite common in the present times. Due to the problems of cholesterol, many people face heart problems and associated diseases. Considering the kind of lifestyle that we lead these days, it is very essential for us to know how we can lower cholesterol levels and remain stress free in order to stay safe and healthy.

Here are 5 natural ways which will help you lower cholesterol and stay safe for the rest of your lives. Let's take a look:

Quit smoking: Well, smoking has various negative effects on the overall health of any person. It can also lead to an increase in cholesterol levels. In order to be on the safer side and reduce cholesterol levels, it will be better to quit smoking. Initially you will find it tough to quit smoking, but you should never stop trying. If you are mentally strong, then you can definitely be able to quit smoking. If you cannot stop smoking immediately, you can use smoking filters which can help you reduce the intake of tar and nicotine to a great extent.

Exercise regularly: If you wish to lower your cholesterol levels, then you should make sure that you exercise regularly. You should make sure that you include at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday in your daily schedule. This will help you keep your weight in control. Moreover, unnecessary fat will not accumulate in your body. All this will in turn help you avoid the chances of cholesterol development in your body. Even if you cannot exercise regularly, you can include walking in your daily activity. This is one of the best exercises and can help you keep your weight in control to a great extent.

Eat healthy: In order to lower cholesterol levels, you should opt for healthy food habits. Make sure to avoid junk food and fried foods to a great extend. Try to use less oil while cooking food. It will be better if you cook food in olive oil. It is good for your heart health. Apart from this, include lot of fruits and green vegetables in your diet.

Consume natural supplements to lower cholesterol: In order to lower the cholesterol levels, you can consume natural supplements. Garlic is one of the natural supplements which can reduce cholesterol levels to a certain extent. You can have 1 clove of garlic everyday. However, before you do so, you can consult your doctor as well to know if there are any side effects of consuming garlic. Similar to this, you can even consume red yeast rice after consulting your doctor.

Take good multivitamin: When you include good fat in your diet along with more of fibres and cut aside the bad fat, you might end up facing a nutritional gap in your diet. In order to avoid this nutritional gap, you should definitely take good multivitamins. However, before you consume any kind of multivitamin, you should ensure that you consult a doctor and take his opinion in this regard. The doctor can provide you with prescription medicine which might be a better option rather than store bought multivitamin.

So, you can follow the above mentioned steps in order to lower cholesterol levels and lead a healthy life. A routine and disciplined life will increase your life span and will be a relief for your near and dear ones.

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Causes Of Dark Circles

“The soul fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye.” - Charlotte Bronte

So, keeping your eyes beautiful and noticeable is your prime responsibility. But, as all of you know, dark circles can be a barrier to your lovely eyes. Before you try to cure dark circles, let us find out the factors which cause them. Heredity, stress or a part of the ageing process can be few factors behind the formation of this disease. Dark circles are a problem that occurs irrespective of your skin colour and type. They make you look much older than you actually are! Dark circles are much more prominent because the skin around your eyes is very thin & delicate. As this region does not have oil glands, it needs special care and attention. Dark circles are characterized by the blood vessels present underneath the skin's surface around the eyes. The blood leaks out from the capillaries making the vessels visible through the skin. Though, few are mentioned above, but, there are actually numerous causes of dark circles. Information about the different causes of dark circles will help you choose a better treatment plan. Here are some of the most common causes.

Hereditary – Heredity can be one of the major causes of dark circles. If your parents suffer from dark circles, you are also likely to develop the same. It happens because your family might have a tendency of having thin skin layer around the eyes or having more blood vessels than the average lot. Even, both the cases can be present. These can be the reasons for awfully bad dark circles.

Broken Blood Vessels – If the blood vessels which supply blood underneath the eyes break, it leads to limited blood supply. When the haemoglobin level, oxygen carrying molecule, within the blood is reduced, the result is skin darkening.

Anaemia – Shortage of oxygenated blood caused due to iron deficiency often lead to dark circles. Therefore, the capillaries under the eyes supply insufficient oxygen. But, it doesn't mean that dark circles alone signifies that a person is suffering from anaemia. There may be other reasons as well.

Hyperpigmentation – A condition called Perorbital Hyperpigmentation may occur in which the production of melanin around the eyes is more active than average, thus resulting in dark circles.

Nutritional causes – Lack of proper, balanced diet can be a major cause of dark circle. Deficiency in some nutrients, like iron & Vitamin E can lead to dark circles. Also, the type of medications which dilate blood vessels & make them more apparent, cause the emergence of dark circles.

Allergies – Allergies like hay fever, dust allergy and mild allergy not only cause itchy eyes, but can also cause skin discolouration which appears as dark circles under the eyes. Some allergies can be treated with medicines, but most of these drugs cause dehydration, which may cure the itching, but leaves behind dark circles around the eyes.

Dehydration – Dehydration can be another feather in the cap behind the formation of dark circles. In mild cases, drink electrolyte rich beverages and consume adequate sodium, which might solve the problem.

Smoking – Smoking leads to vascular problems constricting the blood vessels. This leads to poor circulation of blood which makes the under eye darkness more prominent.

Lack of sleep – Lack of sleep can lead to stress causing health related problems like pale, fatigued skin and hollows under the eyes making the dark circles more noticeable. Take a minimum 8 hours good sleep which will help to fend away exhausted looking eyes.

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Food Poisoning – Know 5 In-Home Treatments

Many a times, we cook plenty of food, irrespective of whether we have guests at home or not. However, we do not finish off eating the food and end up storing it in the refrigerator. If the extra food is not covered and kept properly, then it can get contaminated. If you consume the contaminated food or serve it to your family members, albeit without knowing, then it will definitely lead to food poisoning.

Irrespective of whatever the cause of food poisoning is, initially, it leads to dehydration. Thus, the initial treatment of food poisoning should be aimed at avoiding dehydration. However, you should clearly note here that there is hardly much to do in order to lessen the bouts of diarrhoea or vomiting. Also, it should be noted that in most cases, the severity of food poisoning can get over in around 24-48 hours. So, you will have to agree to the fact that time will be the ultimate cure.

Here are some suggestions which can help you keep vomiting and bouts of diarrhoea under control:

Do not do anything: When you get the first bout of food poisoning, don't do anything. Many people, without knowing, start drinking and eating right away. This, in turn, leads to more vomiting and  diarrhoea. Constant eating and drinking can make things worse. You will lose more fluids and electrolytes in this process. So, it will be better if you do not drink or eat anything for few hours.

Start sipping into water after few hours: After few hours have passed, start sipping into water. If required, you can even suck on a chip of ice. Never gulp down the ice cube. If you gulp down the ice cube, then you might end up bringing the fluids right back up.

Take ample rest: Food poisoning can lead to dehydration. Moreover, you will lose all your energy due to this. Thus, you should allow your body to use all its defenses to fight off this dehydration and low energy levels. In order to do so, you should take ample rest and keep yourself away from strenuous activities. Consider avoiding less essential activities.

Gradually drink more fluids: Once you can sip in some water and keep it within yourself rather than vomiting, then you can think of drinking more fluids. Water is the best fluid that you should consume when you suffer from food poisoning. You can even have ORS solution in order to regain the lost energy levels.

Don't start off with solid food immediately: Do not be in a hurry to start off with solid food. You should wait for around 24 hours after food poisoning before you start off with solid food. Before starting off with solid food, try eating bananas, rice, toast or applesauce and check out if you can retain them. You should also stay away from dairy products for few days.

Once you follow these home remedies, it will be easier for you to deal with food poisoning and its after effects. You may consult a doctor if you find that the symptoms of food poisoning is not reducing.

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