Getting sound sleep is absolutely necessary for good health. It is considered that an average adult needs six hours of sleep to function properly and at full capacity, while children need eight hours of sleep for the same. At times, it is difficult to get sleep due to several reasons. You may be stressed out because of some assignment from your office. Sometimes there is too much noise or you just cannot sleep because of the ongoing thoughts. Being an insomniac, it is not healthy at all. What is the solution? There are several sleep-aid supplements available in the market today which can help you get the sleep you deserve and long for. While these sleep aids serve their purpose, make sure to not make a habit of them or overdose. They can be harmful to you if consumed on a regular basis. Think of them as a headstart to your journey to achieving the peace of mind you need. You can try a few of the following best sleep aids available in the market for that much desired and peaceful sleep at night. Melatonin Melatonin sleep aid is a great option, which is found naturally in the body. When used in the medicinal form, it is synthesized in a laboratory and is available in the pill form. Among several other available forms, some can be placed in the cheek or under the tongue. This is significant in its own way as it can be directly absorbed by the body. It is one of the best sleep aids and is used by insomniacs, people suffering from a jet lag, shift work disorders, or those who want to adjust the body’s internal clock. It is used for several other purposes and is multi-faceted in its own right. Valerian Valerian is a herb; it has been in use for hundreds of years and primarily treats nervousness and headaches.

Does your sleep often get disturbed by painful leg cramps at night? These cramps are a common problem experienced by many adults in the country. These ill-timed cramps usually affect the foot and the calf, although they can also cause pain in the hamstring. Although this is a widespread condition, its causes and remedies are far from certain. As you do your research, you will come across many different opinions and theories, but not all of them are true. This article will outline some common causes of leg cramps at night time. Failing to stretch certain muscles Our modern lifestyle is to blame for this. Although our ancestors spent most of their time squatting and walking, our contemporary lives have removed the need for such physical movements. We hardly do any activities that stretch the leg muscles and tendons. Moreover, our sedentary lifestyle decreases tendon and muscle length and reduces flexibility, which could lead to cramping. Sleeping in awkward positions Experts have also noticed that when you lie in bed with your face down, your foot is usually in a “plantar flexion” position. Your toe points are away from you, and this shortens calf muscles. If the foot stays in this position for a long time, even small movements of the feet could trigger a cramp. Consider sleeping on your side or in any other position that will keep your toes neutral. Multiple sclerosis Leg cramps at night may also be a symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) which is a nervous system disorder. People who have MS can experience spasticity which may include different types of involuntary muscle twitches and spasms, including leg cramps. Note that spasticity feels like a mild tingling or tightness in the muscles or severe cramping. Tough workouts Vigorous exercise routines are related to different muscle cramps.

Are you or someone you know suffering from chronic endometriosis pain? When the tissues of the lining of the uterus start to grow outside of the uterus, nodules or lesions appear on the nearby organs and tissues causing a severe pain. Well, even though this painful condition affects women both emotionally and physically, there are several ways to deal with severe pain. One of the main symptoms of this aching condition is chronic pelvic pain during, before or after the menstrual period. In our country, it affects around 1 in 10 girls and women between the ages of 12 years to 60 years. Most of the women experience cramping during their period, however, the endometriosis pain is worse than normal cramping. Till date, there is no proper cure for this chronic ache but there are some ways to cope with or to manage the chronic endometriosis pain. Read on to know more about the ways in which you can cope with the severe endometriosis pain. Regular work out If you engage yourself in regular work out, dealing with this severe pain becomes a bit easier. Regular exercise can help in: Maintaining oxygen and nutrient flow to all the body systems Encouraging the blood circulation to all the organs Reducing stress Decreasing the production of estrogen Releasing endorphins, the pain-relieving chemicals Swimming, running, cycling, biking etc., are high-intensity physical activities. Being engaged in such activities on a regular basis will help you to deal with chronic endometriosis pain. Maintain proper diet Estrogen activity, prostaglandin metabolism, inflammation etc., are closely linked to the endometriosis pain and a proper diet can deal with all these aforementioned aspects. Hence, having the right diet is one of the ways of reducing the suffering. Various medical research reports and studies have reflected the fact that the higher intake of green vegetables and fresh foods can diminish the chance of chronic endometriosis pain by almost 40%.

A fiery sting is the best term that describes the bite of a fire ant. Living up to their name, these ants are the color of fire. When you are caught in an army of fire ants, they swarm onto your skin and pack a powerful, fiery sting that can be quite an ordeal! Symptoms of fire ant bites range from mild rashes to allergic reactions like breathing difficulty. Treatment for fire ants’ bite depends on the severity of the sting. You’d be surprised to know that a tiny fire ant can pack a sting that delivers a venom that contains 46 proteins at least! Fire Ants These ants come in different colors, like red-brown or black, and usually grow up to lengths of a quarter of an inch. They live in sand mounds that are built on lawns and pastures. Fire ants can get very aggressive when their nest is disturbed. If you accidentally disturb their nest, you will probably end up in a burning stream of painful stings. The sting causes pain and itching long after you are bitten by fire ants. Fire ants sting by clamping their mandibles on your skin; hence, it is difficult to remove ants that have actually latched onto you. You need to rub them off your skin with fingers or a rag. What do Fire Ant Bites Look Like? When fire ants are provoked, they swarm onto the skin and anchor themselves strongly with their mandibles. Once they latch onto your skin, they sting repeatedly injecting a toxin called solenopsin. Fire ant sting looks like a swollen red spot with a blister on top. Fire ant stings can be painful and itchy for nearly a week. As soon as you are stung by the ant, you will experience an intense pinching or burning sensation.

A cold sore appears as a blister that is filled with fluid beneath the skin surface on the lips or around the mouth. This source can break open and ooze. Sometimes it can last up to ten days, and during these days feeling uncomfortable and excess pain is common. How to get rid of cold sores? Cold sores are a symptom of the herpes simplex virus, even though HSV-2 also causes cold sores. When you first contract the virus, you will experience a break out in a few days, and sometimes the breakout is accompanied by a sore throat, headache, fever, as well as aches and pains. If the virus doesn’t leave your body after that initial breakout, it remains dormant in the nerve cells. Due to this, flare-ups occur at any time, and they can be triggered by surgery, hormonal fluctuation illness, fever, sun exposure, and stress. Although cold sores are unavoidable, you still have some things you can do to shorten the cold sore breakout duration. Listed below are some of the best cold sore remedies you can consider to help you get rid of cold sores. Tea tree oil One of the best cold sore treatments is tea tree oil because it contains strong antiviral properties capable of killing the HSV-1 and can fasten the healing process. Take a cotton swab, and apply some tea tree oil then apply it on the sore directly. Make sure you repeat this process several times throughout the day before you retire to bed. This will dry up the sore and make it disappear. Ice Ice is a remedy that works wonders for most simple irritations. It reduces the swelling and makes the cold sore heal. To get relief, rub an ice cube on the sore, and this will reduce the itching and swelling.

An allergic reaction is often a result of detection of a foreign substance that is harmful to the immune system. As a reaction to these allergens, the immune system reacts with symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and inflammation. If the allergy is mild then it can be treated with the help of over-the-counter medications and home remedies. However, if the allergy is chronic, then it requires medical intervention. In case the allergy is severe then it might need emergency medical care. The following allergy treatment options can help in reducing allergies or managing them. Nasal decongestants Sinuses, sore throats or coughing can be treated with nasal decongestants. There are pills, sprays, and liquids that are used to help with swollen and stuffy sinuses. However, these nasal decongestants should not be taken for more than 72 hours continuously. They are one of the most popular allergy treatment options. Often times, due to allergy, you might not be able to breathe and these nasal decongestants will clear the nasal track and ensure normal breathing. Saline sinus rinse The sinuses can be rinsed with saline in order to clear the way and remove the allergens. Here is a method recommended by the AAAAI for preparing the saline rinse. Take 3 tablespoons of salt without iodine and mix well with 1 tablespoon of boiled water. Next, add one tablespoon of this mixture to 8 ounces of hot water. Then dissolve this mixture in water and use as a saline. The saline gets rid of all the allergens and reduces the symptoms of allergy. You can also buy sinus rinsing devices from a pharmacy or online. If the allergy does not recede, then you are advised to see a doctor for further treatment. Immunotherapy Some allergies are not completely relieved by treatments and so the doctors might suggest allergen immunotherapy.

Diabetes, which is also referred to as diabetes mellitus, is a health disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels. This is caused due to fluctuating insulin levels in the body. It is a long-term condition that affects various parts of the body like heart, kidneys, and limbs in the long run. But what is the relation between diabetes and foot related issues? Diabetics are prone to foot issues because the disease damages the nerves and affects the blood flow to your feet. Diabetic feet problems require periodic checkups almost as often as you check your blood sugar levels. Regular and consistent foot care is vital for a diabetic patient. Even the slightest neglect or postponement of foot checkups may lead to serious complications like loss of limbs. Taking good care of diabetic feet goes a long way in the prevention of infections and other complications. Foot Complications Due to Diabetes Diabetes affects vital organs in the long run. Maintaining sugar levels through medication and active lifestyle can prevent health complications due to diabetes to a large extent. Uncontrolled and unmonitored diabetes leads to several life-threatening complications. Unregulated diabetes can lead to eye, foot, skin, hearing, cardio, and renal complications. Common diabetic feet complications are neuropathy, foot ulcers or sores, and gangrene, which lead to amputation of the limb. Prolonged diabetes affects the nerves (diabetic neuropathy) and hampers the blood supply to the feet. Also, wearing ill-fitting footwear can also lead to diabetic feet problems. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves of the feet, resulting in numbness and complete loss of sensation if left untreated. People with long-term diabetes or uncontrolled diabetes are likely to develop peripheral neuropathy. What starts as a tingling sensation and occasional periods of numbness becomes a permanent loss of sensation to the feet. As a result, walking and balancing become difficult for the person.

External hemorrhoids also known as piles affect the veins present outside the anus, resulting in bleeding, itching and cracking. These cause the veins to swell and get inflamed due to an increase in pressure in the lower rectum. There are a variety of reasons which can cause hemorrhoids like sitting on the toilet for long periods of time, being obese, anal intercourse, low fiber diet, straining to have bowel movements, pregnancy, poor posture and more. Here’s how to treat hemorrhoids with some home remedies: Eating high fiber food Fruits, whole grains and vegetables soften the stool and increase its bulk, which aids in avoiding the straining that can worsen existing symptoms of hemorrhoids. Apart from this, adding fiber to the diet will also aid you in avoiding problems with gas. Also, make sure to drink lots of water and avoid caffeine. This is one of the best hemorrhoid treatments. Witch hazel This hemorrhoids treatment with its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce pain, swelling, and itching which are the two big problems of hemorrhoids. It can be found in liquid form as well as wipes too. Aloe Vera Used historically as a treatment of hemorrhoids, Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory properties which may help in reducing irritation. It is advisable to use pure Aloe Vera and one of the ways of getting it is by harvesting the inside of an Aloe plant’s leaves. If you want to check if you are allergic then just rub a small portion on your forearm and wait for 24 to 48 hrs for reactions. Cleaning the affected area The affected area should be cleaned using warm water or with moist towelettes. Don’t use dry toilet paper, perfumed or alcohol-based wipes since they can irritate the area. Apply cold Use cold compresses or ice packs on the anal area to reduce swelling and get relief from irritations.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition resulting from a disease, injury or infection. In most cases, it is not caused by one single factor. Generally, the pain manifests after some illness or injury. For instance, if you drop something heavy on your foot, your nervous system will immediately send signals of pain to the brain. However, with neuropathic pain, no specific injury or event causes the pain. Instead, the body sends unprompted pain signals to the brain. Neuropathic pain is often categorized by a burning or shooting sensation, and this pain can be intermittent or persistent. Medications for neuropathic pain can give you some relief. Symptoms of Neuropathic Pain While each person may experience different indications, there are a few symptoms that are usually common for all. The ones seen on a general note are as follows: Shooting, stabbing, or burning pain Sharp tingling and numbness Unprompted pain that triggers on its own Evoked pain caused by events that are generally not at all painful such as clapping your hands, being in cold temperatures, etc. Unpleasant or nauseous feeling Difficulty in sleeping Loss of sensation Treatment for Neuropathic Pain Neuropathic pain is often a debilitating and serious condition. People suffering from it regularly need to consult expert medical practitioners and take prescribed neuropathy medications on the basis of their specific symptoms. Alternatively, there are also some non-prescription treatments that may help to relieve the symptoms of neuropathic pain. If the pain is mild, these over-the-counters medicines will generally prove to be helpful. Over-the-counter Medications for Neuropathic Pain Topical painkillers This is one of the most effective medications for neuropathic pain . Topical painkillers are available in the form of ointments and creams that can be precisely applied over the affected area for instant relief. Most of these painkillers contain Capsaicin, a natural ingredient derived from chili peppers that works as an excellent painkiller.

Back pain is one of the most common health problems that affect a large number of people in the country. The pain can range from a minor, constant ache to a sudden, sharp, and penetrating sensation that makes the person unable to move. Back pain can strike at any time. It can result from a strain or injury in the back due to an accident or heavy lifting or can develop over time due to changes in the spine as we age. Moreover, a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to chronic back pain. In most cases, stress or tension in the back muscles causes pain. In this article, we will explore different ways of treating back muscle pain without surgery. Treatment options for back pain If you are experiencing unbearable pain, you need to visit a healthcare professional. However, a lot of times, the pain is short-term and can be effectively treated with a combination of non-surgical options that offer instant relief. Benefits of non-surgical treatments The chief benefit of non-surgical back pain treatments is that you can manage your pain and move towards an active lifestyle. Some of the other advantages are: The ability to work and treat your pain simultaneously Better flexibility Improvement in the body’s posture Learning effective ways to prevent back pain in the future Effective non-surgical treatments Physical therapy Exercise is the best solution to get relief from chronic back pain. It is the first line of treatment that you should try under the guidance of a trained spine physical therapist or physician. Different people have diverse problem areas. So, the physical therapy should be tailored according to your specific symptoms and condition. By performing the prescribed set of exercises regularly, you can prevent backaches in the future. The following activities will be included in a physical therapy routine to get relief from back pain: