Anemia: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a medical condition, which causes a decrease in the amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. Anemia does not let your body produce enough blood cells and dismantles too many blood cells in your body.  It lowers the ability of the blood to carry oxygen, which often results in weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath. There are more than 400 types of anemia. Preschool children are at great risk of developing this disorder. 

Causes of Anemia

Anemia due to decline in the production of red blood cells

• The low level of iron and vitamin c is the main reason behind this type of anemia. Lack of iron and vitamin C also has a direct impact on bone marrow. 
• Bone marrow, located in the center of our bone, is responsible for the production of red blood cells.
• Dysfunctioning of bone marrow makes other blood related diseases inevitable.  

Anemia due to excessive destruction of red blood cells

• Red blood cells generally have a time span of 120 days in our body, but anemia destroys the red blood cells in advance, causing the shortage of red blood cells in the body.
• This is due to the fact, that sometimes-immune system of our body by mistake destroys the red blood cells of our body, because the immune system is not able to discern between foreign substances and red blood cells.

Anemia due to blood loss

• This is the most common type of anemia and caused to shortage of iron and excessive blood loss from the body. Rapid blood loss may be due to childbirth, trauma, surgery, disruption in the blood vessel.
• Because of excessive blood loss, your body tracts the water from tissues outside your bloodstream, in order to keep your blood vessels filled. The addition of water in the blood causes makes the red blood cells diluted. 
• Blood loss due to anemia can also result in cancer, tumor or stomach ulcers.

Symptoms of Anemia

Some common symptoms of anemia are:

• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heart beat
• Lack of Energy

In some types of anemia, there may be no or very little visible symptoms. Here are some symptoms of anemia according to their type.

• Hemolytic anemia Symptoms
  
• Fever
• Jaundice
• Abdominal Pain
• Dark colored urine
  
• Aplastic anemia Symptoms
  
• Skin rashes
• Fever
• Re-occurring Infections
  
• Sickle Cell anemia Symptoms
  
• Fatigue
• Jaundice
• Inflammation in hands and feet
  
• Folic acid anemia Symptoms
  
• Diarrhea
• Irritation
• Diagnosis of Anemia
  
• There are various methods are used in diagnosing anemia, but the most common method is Complete blood count (CBC). Complete blood count test (CBC) measures the level of hemoglobin in the blood, volume of red blood cells and volume of the total blood in the blood.
• If Complete blood count test (CBC), results in low levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells, this is an indication of development of anemia
• Complete blood count test (CBC) can also indicate the occurrence of other diseases in the body such as kidney diseases or leukemia.
  
• Treatment for Anemia
  
• All the treatments of anemia, are focused on increasing the amount of red blood cells in the body, so that; oxygen can be transported throughout the body without any hindrance. 
• Treatment of anemia involves medicines, dietary changes and medical procedures.
• Diet full of iron and Vitamin-C can help in treating anemia. You can add following food in your diet
  
• Fish
• Eggs
• Green leafy vegetables
• Pulses
• Brown Rice
• Nuts
  
• Procedure for severe anemia
  
• Bone marrow transplant
• Blood Transfusion

6 Effective Tips for Acne Removal

Acne is a skin condition that upsets the skin’s oil glands. Acne is very common among teenagers and young adults. The tiny pores under your skin are connected to oil glands, known as sebum. Acne starts during puberty and mostly affects people with oily skin. Blackheads, whiteheads, red swelled pimple or puss-filled pimple are result of acne. Acne can appear on face, chest, back and scalp. Unhealthy eating habit, sleep deprivation, stressful lifestyles are some factors that may contribute to acne. Though there is no specific cure for acne, there are numerous simple methods, which can help you in reducing the problem of acne.

1. Fuller’s earth (Multani Mitti)

• Fuller’s earth or Multani mitti is very potent in the treatment of acne and is used extensively in North India.
• Multani mitti has the propensity to ingest any form of oil and has beneficial absorbent properties.
• This remedy is also used in the treatment scars, pigmentation, pimples, skin discoloration, suntan, wrinkles, makes your skin glow, and enhances your complexion.
• Apply multani mitti face pack by mixing it with rose water, to get rid of acne and other common skin problems.

2. Toothpaste

• Using toothpaste is one of the simple methods to deal with acne; the elements of the toothpaste are favorable in reducing the swelling caused by acne.   
• Apply a small amount of peppermint paste on the affected area before going to sleep at night and rinse your face in the morning.
• However, using this remedy often may result in skin dryness, irritation and peeling of skin.

3. Lemon Juice

• Lemon juice contains citric acid, B-Complex vitamins and vitamin C, which are productive in the treatment of acne.
• It flushes out the dirt present in the skin pores and tightens the serbum, so that dirt cannot enter your skin pores.   
• You can mix lemon juice with your daily face wash or apply it all over the face using cotton. Let it dry for a few minutes and rinse off.

4. Baking Soda

• Baking soda has the properties of both acid and base, and help in neutralizing the effect of excessive oil released by the skin glands.
• Applying the baking soda on the skin soaks the excessive oil and, separate dirt from the pores and peels dead skin.
• Mix baking soda with little amount of water, stir it continuously to make a paste, apply that paste on your face and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse off completely.

5. Aloe Vera

• The antibacterial features of an aloe vera are very helpful in treating acne and decrease the redness of the skin.
• Aloe vera stops bacteria from damaging skin and speed up the process of healing by reducing the inflammation and boils on the face.
• Cut a leaf of an aloe vera plant and squeeze the gel out of it. Apply that gel on the face and let it dry for a few minutes and then rinse. 

6. Orange Peel

• Dried orange peel removes the extra oil and cleans the pores of your skin.
• Its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties obstruct the growth of bacteria by promoting the growth of healthy cells.
• Make a powder by grinding the dried orange peels, now mix that powder with honey to make a paste, apply that paste on your face and rinse it off after 20 minutes. 

Don’t let stress suppress your life

Know about stress and how be to be stress-free

Stress, tension, and anxiety have become part of our daily routines; it has impacted our lives hugely and has become everyone’s behavioral trait. We see every task of our life as a new tension. Even getting a few hours of rest seems like a mission to some of us. Being in stress all the time results in releasing of chemicals into the blood, thereby affecting our health and giving birth to a new form of tension related health problem. Tension and anxiety hamper your body and mind in different ways, for example, you sometimes even forget to drink water, skip meals and are not able to interact properly with others. Stress may lead to health problems like asthma, diabetes, headaches, indigestion, etc. If stress is not managed it may affect a person’s psyche. 

Signs of extreme stress

The trickiest thing about stress is you don’t realize you are getting used to it. You don’t understand what is going on inside. It may seem normal how your body reacts to certain situations but, eventually you get used to it. Therefore, it is important to know the signals and symptoms of stress. Symptoms of stress can be divided into four categories. 

• Emotional Signals- Feeling of isolation and loneliness, depression, agitation, always irritated, unhappiness, anxiety. 
• Behavioral Signals- Smoking a cigarette, consuming alcohol, taking drugs for relaxing, excessive or no appetite, lack of sleep or sleeping too much, nervousness.
• Physical Symptoms-Dizziness, constipation, pain and aches, infections, abnormal heart beat rate.
• Psychological Symptoms- Loss of memory, negative attitude, poor judgment, unstoppable thoughts, lack of concentration. 

Causes of Stress

The factors that contribute to stress are known as ‘Stressors’. Causes of stress can be of two types- internal causes and external causes. 

• Internal Causes of stress- Always expecting worse, stubborn mind sets, negative inner self, not able to accept reality.
• External Causes of stress- Peer pressure, relationship problems, financial burden, trauma or injury, poor work conditions, death of a close one.

Health Problems due to stress

Stress can damage almost every system in your body. From immune system to digestive system, reproductive or respiratory system and lead to health issues. Common health problems related to stress are-

• Heart Disease
• Skin infections
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
• Neurological Problems

How to cope up with stress 

• Healthy Diet- Tasty and healthy food is one of the best stress busters. A diet full of carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, vitamins can help you in combating stress and keeps you always energetic.
• Exercise- Engaging yourself in some kind of physical workout increases the amount of blood flow in your body and maintaining your heart beat rate. Regular workout involving running, walking, swimming, yoga, and aerobics can be beneficial in relieving stress.  
• Link with others- Hanging out with your friends and family can also help in dealing with stress. Complementing and helping others can bring a lot of change within you. Spending time your pet also keeps your mood fresh.

Brighter teeth in just a few steps

In the era of selfies where everyone wants to look nice, bright looking teeth have an important role to play.  We seek latest trends in fashion and styling, but we forget a smile can also make a big difference. A smile is the best makeup, only for those who have brighter ones.  Poor color of teeth can make any person less confident and reluctant to smile. 

Therefore, having whiter teeth don’t only make you look attractive but also boosts your confidence. People with whiter teeth and brighter smile stand out from the crowd and mostly liked by all.

How to get sparkle white teeth?

Given below are some simple methods that can help you get whiter teeth, so you can smile without hesitating, because a smile should never be concealed. 

1. Baking  Soda

Baking soda is an eminent constituent that you can use to get whiter teeth.  Baking soda detaches your teeth from plaque which can make your teeth pale yellow. 

• Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with water. Stir it to make a paste. Apply directly to the area you want to clean. You can use your brush or fingers to rub paste. You can mix baking soda with lemon or vinegar drops as well.
• You can also make a mouthwash by mixing one teaspoon of baking soda in one cup of cold water.
• Try this method on every alternative day for 15 days.

2. Lemon

Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C and has few bleaching properties that can clear the pale yellow color of your teeth. Its sweet flavor also acts a mouth freshener.

• Mix one teaspoonful of lemon juice with one spoon of water. Dip your brush in this solution and apply it your teeth for one minute.
• Peel a lemon and rub that lemon peel on your teeth and rinse after 5 minutes.
• Repeat this process twice a week.

3. Salt

Salt is one of the basic tooth cleansers. Nowadays toothpastes also contain salt. Salt also restores the strayed mineral components in the teeth and help bring back its original color.

• You can apply salt directly to your teeth, as a tooth powder and rub gently all over.
• Salt removes stains and whitens your teeth, but its excessive use can damage your enamel.

4. Strawberries

Strawberries contain a vitamin C and an enzyme called malic acid. Strawberries contain elements that can remove surface strains and plaque.

• Mash at least 10 strawberries make a paste. Apply that paste to your teeth leave for a couple of minutes and then wash.
• Repeat this method twice a daily for a few days and start noticing results.
• You can also chew strawberries in a way allowing them to do the brushing on their own. 

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most typical disinfectants used in households. It has a light bleaching effect that can turn your yellow teeth white.

• You can opt for a mouthwash containing hydrogen peroxide and gargle and rinse with it every time you had a meal.
• Hydrogen Peroxide helps removing germ that causes bad breath and stains.
• However, this should be done with caution; its excessive use can have reverse effects on your teeth and gums.

Treat Yourself at Home with Acupressure Therapy

People nowadays often complain about frequent pains and strain in different parts of the body like neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, joint pain and headache, strain in eyes. These problems mainly happen due to our unhealthy lifestyles and lack of proper rest.

But these problems can be easily treated at home with an ancient Chinese therapy called Acupressure. There are several pressure points in our body. These pressure points are linked with proper functioning of our body. If these pressure points are massaged properly, they can give relief from pain and suffering.

Acupressure can be used as a natural healing process to obtain relief from pain and illness. Here are 5 problems which can be treated by massaging acupressure points and the problems associated with it.

1. Toothache- 

• Many of us have gone through toothache at some point in our life. This pain is due to lack of proper dental care resulting tooth decay and swelling in the gums.
• 3 points related to toothache are:
  
• Point between the thumb and the index finger.
• Point underneath the cheekbone.
• Point in between the skin of 2nd and 3rd  toe.

2. Shoulder Pain-

• Shoulder is one of the moveable joints of the body, and vulnerable to pain and injuries due to instability, inflammation and frozen shoulder.
• Here are 4 points connected to shoulder pain.
• The point is located on the side base neck and at the end of the shoulder muscle.
• • Another Point is on the back of shoulder and neck around the pointed bone in your upper back.
  • Point in between the skin of 2nd and 3rd  toe.
  • Point between the thumb and the index finger.

3. Neck Pain-

• Neck pain is the result of hours of sitting in a same posture, inaccurate sleeping position, injury or whiplash. 
• Neck Pain includes massaging these 4 points.
• This point lies in the wrist joint, at the backside end of your hand and in the middle of your wrist.
• On inclining the head forward, you can feel two bones stand out, the pressure point is located between these bones.
• This point lies on the outer border of the forearms, 2 finger-widths above the wrist joint.
• Point between the thumb and the index finger.

4. Headache-

• Excessive use of cell phones, laptops and computers now a day’s often results in severe headaches and eyestrain. Sometimes headache can also be due to strain in the neck.
• Points for treating headache are:
• Point is located at the end of your foreheads and on the outer sides of your eyebrows.
• Another point is located on just above the middle of your eyes.
• Point in between the skin of 2nd and 3rd  toe.
• Point between the thumb and the index finger.

5. Back Pain-

• Common causes of back pain are poor posture or pressure on back for example, lifting heavy weights, twisting back suddenly. 
• 4 points for treating back pain are:
• Point between the thumb and the index finger.
• Two points located just above your hips on both sides of your spinal line.
• Point in between the skin of 2nd and 3rd  toe.
• Two points beneath the exact middle end of your hips.

Home Remedies for Painful Gas

An overflow or disproportion of gastric acid in your stomach can lead to formation of gas, ulcers, stomachache, indigestion, vomiting, heartburn and other problems. Acidity is common among all the age groups. The main reason behind stomach acid may be eating excessive spicy foods, physical inactivity, inconsistent eating habits, stress, or alcohol consumption. If problems related to acidity are not treated, they may have an impact on your body in future. 

Here are some remedies for instant relief from acidity

Cinnamon (Daalchini)

·    Cinnamon is healthy for your gastrointestinalsystem. Cinnamon is one of the most useful spices available. It has the ability to break up intestinal gas. People have been using cinnamon for ages to cure flu and diarrhea.

·         You can take a teaspoon of cinnamon after meal, with warm milk or tea.

·         Cinnamon powder can also be added in salads and soups.

Clove (Laung)

·         Clove is one of the most popular ingredients used in cooking; besides this it has many medicinal benefits too.

·    Cloves can aid in easing gas and stop the flow of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

·      Chewing cloves or eating clove powder can help in the production of enzymes suppressing the production of extra gas contributing in the bloating of the stomach.

Butter Milk (Chhaach)

·     A glass of buttermilk is a perfect soothe for your acid stomach.  It contains lactic acid, which cools down the stomach and aids in digestion.

·  Buttermilk reduces the level of bad cholesterol and prevents vitamin deficiency.

·    It lowers the high blood pressure and is the effective tool against acidity and dehydration.

       Banana

·       Banana is an abundant source of potassium and controls production of acid in your stomach.

·       This fruit also has lots of fiber to aid digestion and repairs your normal bowel function.

·       Banana is also a good source of probiotics and promotes internal cleansing and protection against diseases. 

 Cumin Seeds (Jeera)

·       Dried cumin seeds can also help in digestion and treating stomach ache.

·      Cumin seeds counterbalance the excessive flow of acid by the glands. It is also a source of iron, calcium and vitamin antioxidants.

·       Having a teaspoonful of cumin powder, empty stomach can immune you from various gastric troubles and viral infections.

 Tulsi (Basil)

·         Tulsi has antiulcer properties and can prevent the effect of gastric acids.

·     Eating raw Tulsi leaves, tablet or Tulsi juice with water is very beneficial for your digestive system. 

·        Tulsi plays a vital role in the treatment of intestinal and problems related to the rectum and colon.

Aniseeds (Saumph)

·      Chewing aniseeds after every meal helps in the easy digestion as it causes glands to secrete juice fast for the digestion of food.

·    It can be taken to treat disorders such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and gastritis.

·     Aniseeds cool down the lining of the stomach minimizing the inflammation during acidity.

Post workout pain is a thing of past

Most of the people are not satisfied with their body shape, someone wants to lose weight and someone wants to gain muscle and get in shape. However, the era of technology has resulted in less physical inactivity. Therefore, many people join gym to maintain their overall health and get engaged in some sort of physical activity. But initial days of workout in gym can be extremely sore resulting in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and puts you in the dilemma whether you can carry on with your fitness goals or not? Don’t worry. Here are 7 tips that can help you overcome post workout pain, so that you can continue with your workout and stay healthy and in shape.

1. Ice Pack- For new gym goers starting days are quite regressive and may have repercussion like unnecessary swelling of muscles. Applying ice pack on your muscles can reduce inflammation. Ice Pack scales down the swelling in the muscle tissues lowering your metabolic activity letting your muscle to recover after work out.
   
   
2. Stretching- After work out your muscles become stiff, and the muscle fibers get shorter. When you do stretching your muscles becomes more responsive and flexible. Stretching allows oxygen to circulate through your muscles, leading to rapid recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Stretching should be done before and after workout.
   
   
3. Massage-The main cause of the muscular pain after gym is lactic acid produced by the tissues in your muscles. Massage can aid muscles by breaking down the lactic acid and helping you recover from after workout pain. Massage can be done for at least 15 minutes to soothe pain after a tough workout.
   
   
4. Hot Steam Tub- A dip in a hot tub can help you sore muscles to relax. The heat from the hot tub causes the body to release endorphins which can have calm effects on your muscle. Steaming your body at bearable temperature also helps to increase blood circulation which further soothes your aches and pains.
   
   
5. Caffeine- Caffeine has the capacity to reduce DOMS by holding the central nervous receptors that cause pain. Caffeine elevates your performance in gym and reduces fatigue and helps in burning excessive calories. Caffeine also aids aging muscles to keep producing power. A cup of coffee should be taken 5 minutes before starting your daily workout to reduce soreness.
   
   
6. Eat berries and cherries to make your muscle merry- Blueberries and cherries help in producing melatonin hormone, resulting in sound sleep and faster recovery from sore and torn muscles. Blueberries and cherries also have potential of eliminating toxins from your body produced during a gym session. Strawberries, blackberries, plums and raspberries are also loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.
   
7. Foam Roller- After a vigorous session of workout foam roller can be used to lift muscle pain, soreness and fatigue. Foam roller is also the most conventional way to get rid of muscle spasm. Pressure the sore muscles using the foam roller to relive soreness in the tissues and promoting blood flow. Rollin can be done for 5 minutes, divided in 30 seconds sessions on a concentrated muscle.