The presence of dark circles under the lower eyelids is quite common among men and women. When you have dark circles, you may look much older than your actual age. This visible discoloration of skin is quite hard to eliminate. Most people will face this situation at some point in time. It is essential to know how you could prevent this and what are the various treatment options available. In this article, let’s have a look at the causes and treatment options for dark circles. Risk factors for dark circles Dark circles could affect anybody. Primarily, they affect the following people: People who are old People with a family history of dark circles Causes of dark circles Many people associate fatigue as the sole reason for the appearance of the dark circles. However, apart from fatigue, there are numerous reasons because of which dark circles could appear. Here are some of them: Age Aging is one of the causes of dark circles. When you start to get older, your skin naturally becomes thinner than before. You will start losing collagen and fat which are needed to maintain your skin’s elasticity. When this happens, the dark vessels inside your skin will become more and more visible. Because of this, dark circles will appear underneath your lower eyelids. Too much strain on your eyes When you work on your computer for about 10 to 12 hours per day, you tend to strain your eyes. Also, watching television for a long duration of time will put similar pressure on the eyes. Because of this strain, the blood vessels in and around your eyes will become enlarged. As a result of this, you start getting dark circles. Fatigue Fatigue is one of the more prominent causes of dark circles. Oversleeping, staying awake after your usual bedtime or being extremely tired could result in dark circles.

The human body has a peripheral nervous system that connects the nerves from the brain and the spinal cord with the rest of the body. They are connected everywhere including hands, legs, mouth, face, and internal organs. These nerves deliver signals of physical sensation back to the brain. Neuropathy or peripheral neuropathy refers to a disorder that occurs due to the malfunctioning of the nerves. If they get damaged or destroyed, they send wrong signals, like signals of pain when there is no pain and no signal when there is a pain. An injury, infection, inherited disorder or systemic illness may cause peripheral neuropathy. This disorder is a troublemaker and obviously uncomfortable, but with proper diagnosis and treatment, it can be cured. For the accurate neuropathy treatment, it is of utmost importance to find the root cause as the causes are different for different people, and their treatment is also different. Types and symptoms of neuropathy There are around 100 different types of neuropathy. Each of them has unique symptoms as well as treatments. They are classified into two types based on the type of nerve damage involved. The three types of peripheral nerves are sensory nerves that connect with the skin, motor nerves with muscles and autonomic nerves with the internal organs. Peripheral neuropathy affects one or all nerve groups. Mononeuropathy is the condition of one damaged nerve; on the other hand, multiple nerves are damaged during polyneuropathies which are more common. Various symptoms can be noticed like tingling and numbness in hands and feet, sharp stabbing pain, buzzing sensation, drop of blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, thinning of skin, diarrhea, and difficulty in digestion, constipation, and excessive sweating. When you go to the doctor, make sure to tell him about all the symptoms to get proper treatment. Diagnosis In order to determine the required treatment, it is important to diagnose the causes behind the disorder.

Nowadays, people depend on non-prescription pain relief medications for making their day tolerable. Whether it is a toothache, headache, arthritis, or period cramps, everyone depends on painkillers to get quick relief. It is essential that everyone knows how to choose a pain reliever that is appropriate for them as a significant number of people live with pain every day. Most consumers do not consider safety factors such as the current medicines they are taking, pre-existing medical conditions, and their age while choosing a pain reliever. People think that all the pain relievers are interchangeable and suitable for everyone. However, this is not true. How can you be sure that the pain relief medication you are taking is effective? How can you ensure that it is safe for you? Here are some things you should remember while choosing medications for pain relief: Carefully read the medicine’s label Reading the label on medications is the single most important thing that one must do while picking a painkiller. It is mandatory to list the active ingredients and their amounts present in medicines. The labels should also state the medication’s proposed use. Check the ingredients and the indications before picking an over-the-counter medication for pain relief. You should also check the inactive ingredients to ensure that you’re not allergic to any of its components. Avoid medicines that have a combination of ingredients Pick the medicine to mitigate the symptom rather than take one with a combination of ingredients. If you are not sure as to which medication to take for treating your symptoms, it is recommended to ask the pharmacist. Using a combination of ingredients can increase the risk of an accidental overdose. For example, if you only have diarrhea without gas, don’t take a medicine for gas and diarrhea. Read the warnings on the drug labels If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, or some other underlying health condition, make sure to read the warning label.

Hemorrhoids are blood vessels that are located in the smooth muscles in the anal or rectum walls. The exact location of hemorrhoids is at the junction of small arteries and veins. When hemorrhoids swell up, they become painful, itchy and may cause bleeding. They can be extremely painful and cause a lot of discomforts while passing stools. Hemorrhoids can either be internal or external. Internal hemorrhoids develop within the rectum or anus, while external hemorrhoids develop outside of the anus or rectum. When pressure builds up in the small vessels that make up the hemorrhoids they swell up and engorge with blood. This buildup of pressure may be due to a number of reasons like diarrhea, obesity, colon cancer, constipation, or pregnancy. Hemorrhoid relief creams are the most commonly followed treatment method for relief from pain and itching due to hemorrhoids. Symptoms of hemorrhoids The symptoms of hemorrhoids vary with the severity of the condition. Common symptoms of hemorrhoids are as follows: Painless bleeding Itching Severe pain Swelling or inflammation Feeling a lump at the anal opening Difficulty in passing stools Treatment for hemorrhoids Treatment options for hemorrhoids depend on the severity of the condition. Internal hemorrhoids are classified into 4 grades based on the extent of prolapse below the pectinate line into the anus. There are a number of medical and natural treatment methods for hemorrhoids based on the grade of hemorrhoid. Grade I hemorrhoids can be treated with over-the-counter medications, warm Sitz baths, and by consuming less spicy food. Stool-softening medicines enable easy passage of stools by increasing the water and fat content of the stool. Hemorrhoid treatment creams are effective in reducing the inflammation or swelling at the anal opening. Over-the-counter suppositories are also available for reducing the inflammation at the anus. The severe form of hemorrhoids or Grade 4 hemorrhoids that do not clear with above remedies may require surgical treatment.

Nothing can refresh you as much as a good night’s rest. It rejuvenates your body and gets you ready for working hard the next day. Sleeping well is as important as your diet and exercise. However, many people all over the world face sleep deprivation. Inadequate sleep will result in weight gain and increase the risk of falling ill due to low immunity. At the same time, sleeping well will ensure that you have a hearty appetite, it will improve your health, and increase your stamina. It is crucial to remember the importance of adequate sleep. Let’s discuss five ways to help you sleep better. Get your smartphone out of the bedroom The first thing you have to do to sleep well is to make sure that you don’t use your smartphone in your bedroom. Remember that the bedroom is only for sleeping and resting. When you get to your bed after a long day, your body will want to sleep. However, when you browse the internet and use various apps on your phone, you’re making sure that your body does not get enough rest. The white light of your smartphone’s screen sends signals to your brain indicating that it’s not the time to sleep. In this way, your body doesn’t get the sleep it requires, and in turn, it increases the risk of diseases due to fatigue. If you want to prevent your body from becoming vulnerable, then you have to stop using your smartphone at least one hour before you need to go to sleep. Most smartphones have an option of a nightlight. Turn that on as it will give signals to your brain indicating that it is time to sleep. Thus, reducing your mobile usage is one the ways to help you sleep better. Avoid caffeine late in the day Caffeine has a lot of benefits, and almost 90% of the population consumes it to boost their energy, focus, and performance.

When you feel pain in your lower back, you will find it difficult to do some of the basic chores of your daily life like walking, bending your back to pick up something, or even climbing stairs. The condition of your lower back hip doesn’t have to be like this all the time. You can improve this condition with the help of some simple measures. Here is what you can do to control your lower back hip pain. Hot And Cold Treatment Using both ice and a hot water bag are very much beneficial as far as your lower back hip pain is concerned. You need to keep order if you need maximum results. After you have an injury, first you have to apply ice, and then you need to use a hot water bag. As you feel pain on your lower back, ice it for the first 24 to 48 hours. There are some ways you can apply ice and reap maximum benefits. Here is how you should be doing it: Buy a cool pack or get a plastic bag and fill it with ice. Now, wrap the ice pack or bag in a cloth to protect your skin. Apply the ice bag on the lower portion of your back for more than 10 minutes at a single time. Repeat this throughout the day when you feel the pain. Give yourself a break of at least 10 minutes before each application of the ice. You could get tempted to apply heat on the point where you feel pain at first. Doing so will increase more inflammatory compounds that might worsen the situation. After 48 hours of applying ice, you can start applying heat on that place of your pain. You should also be avoiding the application of heat all night because that might burn your skin.

Aches and pains are almost inevitable no matter how hard you try to stay healthy. Pain can be caused due to a lot of conditions and even diseases. Moreover, it can be mild or can go on to be really troublesome. Thankfully, there are a variety of pain relievers available in the market today. These pain relievers can help you get through the pain and you can get on with your daily activities. Whether it is your back that is bothering you or a headache, painkillers always provide the much needed temporary relief. TYLENOL® Extra Strength Caplets This is the best pain reliever that you should have at all times. While this pain reliever comes in different formats and formulas, these tablets are highly recommended by the best doctors and are tried and tested. This tablet is specially made to treat pains as well as minor aches. However, if you have pain that is associated with swelling, then Tylenol is perhaps not the best option. You can go for this option when you are dealing with backaches, headaches and the like. Aleve Caplets If you are facing back pain, then Aleve is a great choice as it is considered one of the best pain relievers. It targets inflammation that often contributes to back pain. The medicine is perfect for back pain associated with arthritis. Just by taking one caplet, you can get rid of pain for 12 hours. It contains naproxen sodium that is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and is indeed a powerful pain reliever. The drawback of Aleve Caplets is that they can cause stomach irritation in some people. Before consuming the caplets, you should carefully read the instructions and also consult your doctor. It is also very effective if you are facing toothache or menstrual cramps. Excedrin® Extra Strength Caplets According to a lot of customer surveys, nothing provides relief for a headache like the Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets.

Toenail fungus is a common problem that begins with a white or yellow spot under the tip of your toenail. Nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken, and crumble at the edge as the fungal infection goes deeper. It can attack any nail. You may not need a treatment if your condition is light and not disturbing you. If the nail fungus becomes painful and makes the nails thickened, home remedies and medications may be effective. Nail fungus usually comes back even if the treatment is successful. Read on to know the symptoms nail fungus and methods on how to get rid of it: Symptoms Although the fungus mainly affects the toenails, nail fungus can affect any fingernail. If properly treated, fungal nail infections don’t usually lead to serious long-term problems. However, in certain individuals who have diabetes or a weakened immune system, they may be more serious. There is no pain associated with the infection, but if you find your nails thickened or show discoloration from white to yellowish brown, you may have fingernail fungus. Nails becoming brittle, crumbly, ragged or distorted in shape are also its symptoms. Debris may build up under the nail and make the nail dark. Sometimes, the nail may generate a slightly foul smell. Treatment Medications Usually, doctors prescribe antifungal medications that you can take orally or apply to the nail for fingernail fungus treatment . In some cases, the oral and topical antifungal therapies may be combined. Oral Antifungal Medication This is the best toenail fungus treatment as it clears the infection more quickly than anything else. However, the treatment success rates with these medications appear to be lower in adults over age 65. These medications stimulate a new nail to grow free of infection by slowly replacing the infected part.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria and live microorganisms that help to keep your brain and body healthy. Reducing depression, keeping heart health in good condition, improving digestive health are some of the benefits of consuming it. According to some medical studies and reports, probiotics can help you get better-looking skin as well. Here is a list of the probiotic foods that are very healthy and can be consumed on a daily basis. In case you are suffering from any health condition, consult a doctor before consuming these. Yogurt One of the best probiotic-rich foods is yogurt. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help you to stay healthy. Yogurt is made from fermented milk and bacteria like bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria help in that. Here are some stellar benefits of including yogurt in your diet. Beneficial for patients with high blood pressure Improves bone health Helps to diminish diarrhea in children caused by antibiotics Helps to relieve symptoms of IBS Yogurt is beneficial for those who are lactose intolerant Sauerkraut This food is rich in probiotics containing live bacteria and is made from shredded cabbage fermented by lactic acid bacteria. Apart from having probiotic qualities, this food is rich in vitamin K, B, and C, fiber, manganese, iron and, sodium. Also, antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein, which are beneficial for eye health, are available in Sauerkraut. Kefir It is a fermented dairy product and a unique amalgam of fermented kefir grains and goat’s milk. Along with antioxidants, Kefir is rich in bifidus bacteria and lactobacilli that are good for health. It is one of the best probiotic sources that contain different major strains of yeast and friendly bacteria. Kefir helps in improving bone health, protecting against infections and dealing with digestive problems. Lactose intolerant people can consume kefir without any problem. Kimchi It is a spicy, fermented Korean dish mainly made from cabbage along with other vegetables and mixed seasonings of scallion, garlic, red chili pepper flakes, ginger, and salt.

A hernia is a condition where an internal body part pushes into an area where it doesn’t belong. The hiatus is an opening in the muscular wall which separates the chest cavity from the abdomen called the diaphragm. It is through the hiatus that the esophagus (food pipe) attaches itself to the stomach. The stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening in a hiatal hernia (also called hiatus hernia). There are two types of a hiatal hernia, sliding hiatal hernias and fixed or paraesophageal hernias. When your stomach and esophagus slide into and out of your chest through the hiatus, it is known as a sliding hiatal hernia. This condition is relatively common, and usually, doesn’t cause any symptoms. This type of hernia may not even require treatment. In a fixed hiatal hernia, a part of your stomach pushes through your diaphragm and stays there. This condition is not dangerous in most cases. However, if the blood flow to your stomach is blocked, then it could cause damage. Following are some treatment options for a hiatal hernia: Lifestyle and dietary changes A hiatal hernia occurs most commonly in people who are overweight or obese. Losing weight relieves the abdominal pressure that promotes herniation. Even though this won’t necessarily reverse a hernia, it may prevent a mild hernia from developing into a grave paraesophageal hernia. Consuming a low-fat and high fiber diet helps normalize bowel function and relieves constipation that contributes to herniation. Eating high-fiber foods is the most effective treatment for a hiatal hernia. Proper hydration can further reduce the risk of constipation and dilute the concentration of acid in the stomach. So, one must ensure that they drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Whatever your age may be, you should avoid trigger foods like red meat, fried foods, spicy foods, whole-fat dairy products, tomato-based sauces, citric foods, carbonated drinks, caffeine, alcohol, and excessive salt.