The Benefits of Hand Sanitizers During a Pandemic

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Today, the world is in shambles over the COVID-19 pandemic as it has cost thousands of lives across the globe. But there are ways you can protect yourself from the coronavirus. Proper hygiene is one of the best methods to protect yourself from getting infected. Aside from hand washing, hand sanitizers can help clean your hands. Let’s learn why hand sanitizers are important during this pandemic.

Benefits of Hand Sanitizers
Handwashing is important to reduce germ transmission. But there are moments when we cannot find access to soap and water. With the effectiveness of hand sanitizers to disinfect ourselves, they are now found in the entrances of establishments.

Reduces the Risk of Transmission
According to statistics, 1 out of 5 people does not regularly wash their hands. 3 of those who wash their hands do not use soap. Thus, the presence of hand sanitizers in key areas, like airports, public bathrooms, and offices, can help people clean their hands and kill harmful bacteria.

There are several studies conducted that claim that hand sanitizers have decreased the risk of spreading diseases. It has mostly helped those families who suffer from gastrointestinal infection and respiratory infection. Moreover, schools have presented their data. It shows that classrooms with hand sanitizers reduce student absenteeism.

Moisturizes the Skin
The routine of handwashing removes oils on our skin leading to dryness. Hand sanitizers are commercially prepared and have ingredients that help with skin dryness while fighting off germs. They have antioxidant and organic-formulated ingredients to soothe the skin cells.

Portability
Sometimes, we want to do things quickly which is why we do not practice good hand hygiene. Hand sanitizers are convenient to use as they are easy to use and portable. You can bring them anywhere to sanitize your hands. They are convenient, especially when you are outside the house without water and soap available for handwashing.

Reduces Waste
Some people use extra precaution by using paper towels or gloves to groceries, opening doors or touching something unsterile. More so, when these precautions are not properly used, this will lead to cross-contamination. Thus, using hand sanitizers after work, groceries, and doing chores will not only help reduce the chances of getting infected but also help in controlling waste.

When to sanitize your hands?
In the context of preventive measures for COVID-19, it is important to wash your hands and use hand sanitizers during the following situations:

• Before and after you eat a meal.
• Before, during, and after you nurse a sick person.
• After you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose.
• After you visit a public place.
• After touching surfaces outside the house.

For us to avoid catching the coronavirus, sanitization is the best prevention. If you cough or sneeze with people nearby, practice cough etiquette, and wash or sanitize your hands with hand sanitizers.

When you get home from grocery shopping, sanitize the clothes and shoes you use. Disinfect your home from time to time, as your movements from the outside will bring microorganisms to your home.

How much sanitizer should you use?
When using hand sanitizers, it is advised to only use a small amount. Thus, to effectively apply the hand sanitizer, only pour a thumb-sized amount on the palm of your hands and rub them thoroughly. Do not forget to include nail beds. You will know if you used enough sanitizer as it will take more than 15 seconds to dry on your hands.

However, before you use or purchase a hand sanitizer, make sure to check its active ingredients. The type of alcohol content should be isopropanol, ethyl alcohol, or ethanol. More so, be attentive to the alcohol concentration, it should be between 60 percent to 95 percent. Alcohol content that is less than 60 percent is not effective for killing microorganisms.

Handwashing vs. Hand Sanitizers

Source: Pixabay

The body parts that most in contact with surfaces, people, and ourselves are our hands. We need to keep them clean to prevent the spread of disease-carrying germs. With handwashing and hand sanitizers, we are already limiting the transmission of germs.

Hand sanitizers are stapled in bags and purses making them always accessible. You can immediately sanitize your hands in the absence of water and soap.

Most hand sanitizers are effective in neutralizing viruses and bacteria, but not all. Also, some have residues making them uncomfortable. Hand sanitizers are more expensive than hand soap. That us why it is best to check the quality of the hand sanitizer first.

Meanwhile, hand washing effectively kills and removes viruses from your hands. It can thoroughly remove debris and dirt on the skin by physically rubbing and rinsing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  As much as possible, washing hands with water and soap is recommended to ensure that all areas of the hands and wrists are clean.

When correctly used, handwashing and hand sanitizers are both good hand hygiene practices. They are both effective at killing pathogens, bacteria, and germs. But, when it is not convenient to wash your hands, such as in public places like grocery stores and banks, having a hand sanitizer is the most convenient option.

Final Thought

The COVID-19 pandemic has given stress to every aspect of our lives. Regular hand washing and hand sanitizers have a great role in preventing coronavirus. Proper hand hygiene with a hand sanitizer has several benefits - it reduces transmission, moisturizes the skin, and you can bring it anywhere. Keep yourself protected!

This is a guest blog entry.

How to Automate Patient Care Workflow

Laird Connectivity provides RF antenna solutions for a wide range of IoT and M2M applications.
This is a guest blog entry.

CBD Salve & CBD Topical - The Difference Between CBD Salve Products

For the longest time, people have suffered immensely through the problematic issues of having a chronic pain disorder and having to live with it daily in their lives. This can be problematic for a number of issues as those in manual labor jobs have to work and lift boxes and other products. This can be troublesome due to the immense pain and stress they have in the specific areas which are affected. 

Products such as deep heat and other muscle-relaxing products can only go so far to control the pain and have to be applied daily and early to really affect the person and improve quality of life.  Therefore, a lot of these people have been turning to CBD oil products such as topical creams for help in controlling pain when it is associated with either chronic pain disorder or arthritis. These products have been slowly but surely making the rounds as more and more consumers are becoming aware of the benefits and positives of the products available in the marketplace. As such, manufacturers and suppliers have been ramping up production of these products and trying to invite them so they are more consumer-friendly.  However, the main problem with these products is that there is not enough information out there as to what the benefits are to the consumer in question.

Many people still have a stigma around and CBD oil and its association with cannabis. There is still a very strong group of people who feel that CBD will get them high but this article is here to help deal with some of the myths and differences that can be found between CBD oil topical creams and CBD oil salves.

What are CBD topical creams?

Topical creams are that which moisturize the skin by means of applying it to a specific area that has been inflamed or has swelling within it. When the CBD oil-infused topical cream is then applied to the area, it helps with reducing the inflammation in the area and also provides soothing pain relief.  Some of these products are used in accordance with other moisturizing creams as sometimes they can contain other elements which users can benefit from. This can include essential oils that moisturize the skin or prevent spot outbreaks.

The main difference between CBD oil topical creams and CBD salve is that moisturizing creams are usually water-based whereas cells contain more fatty oils which in contact with the skin will not provide moisturization. They will provide a better feeling of contact on the skin when the area is inflamed and usually provide a better delivery method in terms of dealing with swelling. Therefore, when recommending a product for muscular pain, CBD oil salves are considered a superior product than that of CBD oil topical creams due to the fact that they better control pain than the latter. If you need to purchase any kind of lotions or creams then please visit here: https://www.akcannabisclub.com/best-cbd-salve-for-pain.

This is a guest blog entry.

Things to Avoid After Going to a Chiropractor

You go to a chiropractor for possible adjustments. You will receive an assessment first before the procedure begins. It could take a while, depending on the severity of the problem you experience. Some people start to feel better after only one visit to the chiropractor. Others require regular care to alleviate the pain.

The key to a quick recovery isn’t only the choice of a chiropractor, but on how faithful you are in doing the post-procedure care. These are the things to avoid after the adjustments.
 
Sitting down for a long time

You have to try your best to avoid sitting for a long time. Try walking around first to give your spine more range of motion. As you start to keep walking, your body adapts to the adjustment. It enables you to recover and avoid pain when you change your movements quickly.

Not drinking enough water

You have to keep yourself hydrated all the time. Water is essential in helping your body heal. You need to drink at least half your body weight in terms of ounces each day. After the adjustments, you might need even more.

Sleeping on your stomach

Be conscious of your posture when sleeping. You need to sleep on the side or back, and not on your stomach. It helps align the spine and keep the adjustments in place. Make sure that you choose a pillow that allows your head to stay even with your shoulders. If you continue this proper posture even while asleep, it helps in maintaining correct spinal alignment.

Doing rigorous activities immediately

You have to wait for a while before getting back to your routine. If you love going to the gym, you need to select the equipment to use. Don’t strain your body. If you feel exhausted or if the adjusted area hurts, you have to stop. You can return to your regular schedule later once you fully recovered. It might take a while, but it’s best for your long-term recovery.

Not having another appointment

You might feel a lot better on the first appointment with your chiropractor. It might send the wrong message that you don’t need help anymore. The truth is that if you wish to recover fully, regular chiropractic care is necessary. If you don’t, the pain goes away for a while before it comes back. You also need to update your chiropractor about how you feel. The next adjustments depend on the success of the previous sessions.

Hopefully, you will soon recover from the pain and start to feel better. Don’t hesitate to contact your chiropractor if you suddenly feel pain. You can also compare the choices if you’re uncertain whom to partner with. Check out the best chiropractor Surrey has to offer - if you live in the area.

Several people stopped feeling bodily pains because of regular chiropractic care. There’s no need for you to undergo surgery or medication if you will start feeling better with chiropractic.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/a9pFSC8dTlo

This is a guest blog entry.

Why Fitness Is the Essence of Overall Wellness

Fitness, fitness, and fitness! Why does everyone always talk about fitness? Because it is the bottom-line when it comes to keeping up with our overall wellness. A great many people carry the idea of fitness in the wrong way. They think that it is very daunting to stay fit and well whereas it is not as difficult as it seems. Fitness is not calculated by the outer side of a person. Fitness levels are not something that the fittest people cherish about. This is why it is absurd to have impractical views towards fitness. The health of your heart determines how  fit you are in reality.

There are times when people happen to be fit without a fit-looking body. It is not always important to look fit. The internal fitness is something that actually matters. In other words, cardio fitness is the king when we talk about fitness. A person who is serious regarding his fitness will surely direct his energies to enhance his heart health. The overall wellness depends on how healthy your heart is. All other aspects including strong muscles, lung capacity, strong bones, weight loss, etc. highly depends on your heart health.

The Theory of Fitness
In this modern world, the idea of fitness has been complicated. We have already forgotten the legitimate definition of fitness. What we often think is that a fit-looking body is everything that fitness revolves around. Well, that’s not quite true. The ability to carry out all of our daily chores without any complication is what the legitimate definition of fitness is.  A person who is cautious about his/her fitness will surely be able to accomplish all daily chores with vigor and alertness. People in the 80s or 90s used to be a lot more fit than we are right now. They had been quite active both physically and mentally.

In the old days, fitness was almost unknown to a great many people. However, in today’s world, we are filled with a lot of diseases in the world. Many people do not engage enough with physical activities. Many people also sit down on the chair at the office all day long and do not get a chance to engage in any physical activity throughout the day. This is the main reason that we are jampacked with plenty of lifestyle diseases. The diseases that pop up within our bodies are the main reasons that we talk about fitness levels a lot these days. The absence of physical activities in our lifestyle made us susceptible to numerous health problems in today’s world.

The Importance of Fitness
Many of us tend to lead a life that resembles laziness. The lazy or sedentary lifestyle is the main culprit behind many of the diseases that we come across throughout our lives. People have already come to a point where they admit that physical activities and exercises are important to remaining fit and well. But, unfortunately, all of us cannot engage in these exercises as we tend to have a hectic job life. One method of staying away from some diseases is to engage in regular cardio exercises.

Cardiovascular diseases or heart diseases are the silent killers that have been killing a lot of people all over the globe to a great extent. There are some other health issues such as diabetes, stroke, colon cancer, etc. that are led by the lack of physical activities in our daily life. Regular exercises can help us with numerous health advantages. More importantly, these exercises can help us to fight our ageing as well. For people who  are super-busy with their job life, there are programs like SETINC that may come in handy to manage a daily eating routine, or exercise routine so that they don’t miss anything by any chance.

Exercises for Mental Health
Not only is physical health benefited by exercise but mental health is as well. Regular exercises helps release feel-good hormone endorphins throughout the body. As they release, our brain becomes able to get rid of the stress that we carry. It helps to boost our mood and fight depression and anxiety as well. One secret to having a positive attitude towards life is doing exercise regularly. These exercises can also help to improve our self-esteem. We can finally become able to get rid of insomnia by doing exercise and it can also reduce fatigue, It likewise helps to have a better memory over the long haul.

How Long Should I Do Exercise to Stay Fit?
This is one of the striking questions that keeps the debates going on for years and years. Of course, you are not going to get the same answer from everyone. But, one thing you can be sure that many people are going to suggest is that you engage in exercises regularly. Regular exercises, okay, but how long? Half an hour every single will do the job for you for sure. It is even better if you can continue doing workouts for more than half an hour. Some might also say that doing workouts five days a week is a good strategy. But, if you can manage to engage in those exercises every day, then do it.

Doing exercises makes you feel enthusiastic. Once you start feeling good by engaging in them, you may become addicted to them. Your brain also starts reminding you of doing workouts every day because it can determine what it takes to remain fit and healthy. Hence, engaging in regular physical activity is what you need to make your life easier and more beautiful.

Fitness is the king when it comes to keeping up with your overall health. It is high time that instead of steering clear of it, we embrace it to lead a happier life!

Image Source:
https://pixabay.com/photos/sports-persons-running-people-731506/

This is a guest blog entry.

Your DNA Holds the Secret to Healthier Food Shopping

Not many people are aware that their DNA plays a significant role in eating healthy. Cases of overweight and strange health conditions are commonly attributed to genetic disorders, but that is not always the case. What you should know is that understanding your genetics is one of the best ways through which you can improve on your overall health by eating what is right, and making informed lifestyle choices. It has everything to do with improving the quality of your life.

Introducing DnaNudge

To help you understand the relationship between your DNA and what you should or should not eat, a tech company produced the latest and probably the best news to individuals worried about their constant ill health and unattractive bodies. DnaNudge is a new technology that helps you to be in total control of your health by informing you just what your body requires. It has been termed as the ultimate secret to healthy food shopping due to its value in improving people’s lives.

How it works

Your DNA samples must be collected first, after which they are run through a special machine which analyzes which aspects of your DNA are affected by nutrition. It is a fascinating process that takes less than one hour to get your genetic code established.

Once the code has been established, it is entered into a module attached to a mobile app from the associated company. The module is in most cases worn as a stylish wrist band to monitor your activities, after which it submits data to the app. The app has all of the DNA information required. Therefore, it helps in examining if perhaps you suffer from conditions like heart disease, chronic diseases, diabetes, or any other diseases. From the examination, you’ll be notified if you are under any potential risks, and whether you may increase these risks by eating particular foods.

The DnaNudge design is very simple and easy to translate even for the layman. Foods that pose any sort of danger are shown in a red color, while safe foods are indicated in green. Foods that are safe but must be eaten with extreme caution are indicated in an amber color. There is certainly no room for error with the system as analysis is purely individualized. Data submitted is accurate, and so is the examination carried out. What’s better? The wrist band is not just a monitor, but also a fitness tracker that sends signals of your daily activities to the app. It is through the report that the app gets to determine the foods that are right for you.

Eating for purpose

The purpose of using DNA to aid in food shopping is to transform and save the lives of individuals. The DnaNudge must, however, not be misconceived as a weight loss solution. With millions of people suffering with obesity and overweight conditions, the perfect solution has not been forthcoming. Healthy eating is everything, and that begins with understanding your body make up better. To that effect, getting valuable help on the ideal foods for perfect health, and leading healthy lifestyles is priceless.

This is a guest  blog entry.

Cancer From Zantac: What To Know If You Have It

Zantac, also known as ranitidine until it was recalled in 2019, was a popular over-the-counter medicine for heartburns. With a sizable number of the American population suffering from heartburn, drug producers cashed in on these existing disorders by releasing Zantac into the market in 1981.

Zantac soared in sales and became one of the most significant selling prescription drugs by 1988. Zantac didn’t disappoint when it was released to the market just before it had become accessible for over the counter use.

However, in late 2019, the production and distribution of Zantac would be curtailed. Closer scrutiny of the drug chemical composition by the U.S Food Drug Administration showed that it contained carcinogens, a cancer-causing element by the name N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Hence, it resulted in many people contracting cancer from Zantac.

What is NDMA?

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is labeled as a possible carcinogen. This is mostly found in food, water, vegetable, meat, and dairy products.

Zantac (ranitidine) is unstable and tends to break down its chemical components to form NDMA. So, when ranitidine gets into contact with gastric juice and nitrites, which acts as a catalyst during the digestion process, higher amounts of NDMA are produced. The level of these NDMA, according to Laboratory test by FDA, was beyond their FDA-approved acceptable amount, which is 96 nanograms.

The additional hypothesis suggested that it could be a possibility that the generic model of the Zantac was contaminated with NDMA because they were manufactured from other countries that have less strict controls on quality standards.

Cancers linked to NDMA

Experiments by the World Health Organization conducted on animals indicated that exposure to NDMA for a long time would lead to lung cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, or even non-cancerous liver danger.

Additional exposure during the pregnancy period revealed that NDMA can cause death to a newborn infant.

Several other cancer-related diseases that are linked to NDMA include:

• Stomach cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer

Symptoms of Zantac Related Cancer and Need To Visit A Doctor 

Anyone who happened to use the Zantac medication in the past should be on the watch for interpretive signs. Self-awareness and ability to identify such symptoms early can be a lifesaver.

Since you’ll be able to start your treatment before the cancer element becomes more pronounced, this gives you the ability to at least contain the diseases for a much more extended period.

Example of such symptoms include:

• Unintentional weight loss
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Light-colored or greasy stools
• Blood in urine and painful urination
• Itchy skin

If you happen to have taken Zantac a while back, or even more recently, it’s advisable to visit your doctor and consult them on how the revelation on Zantac can affect you. But, more importantly, ask them to give you a test.

Additionally, you can inform them of any cancer-related symptoms that you have been feeling, and they’ll offer you the best advice on how to carry on. 

Joining the Zantac Cancer Lawsuit

Families and persons who have been affected by either the death of their members or are currently suffering from cancer as a result of the use of Zantac can file a Zantac case lawsuit. The lawsuit is meant to get compensation for damages caused by these medications.

With the sole objective being to hold the Zantac brand companies, such as Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim, accountable for taking human health for granted in their quest to increase their market share in Zantac drug production. The Zantac medical malpractice has, therefore, resulted in numerous lawsuits, which means it’s undoubtedly going to be an extensive litigation process.

It’s important to note that you can join the lawsuit for you to be appropriately refunded. But, even then, you must be able to substantiate your claim. This can be achieved in the following ways:

•    Proving that you’ve been using the Zantac or ranitidine drugs. The best way to go about this is by presenting your medical records, drug purchase receipts, as well as doctor notes.
•    Ascertaining a cancer-related diagnosis. You’ll need to show that your diagnosis is linked to NDMA in the form of colorectal, liver, esophageal, or any other cancer-related diseases caused by Zantac (mentioned above).

Alternatively, besides the Zantac case lawsuit for personal injury that helps gain compensation in terms of medical bills, pain, and suffering, you can also join the class-action lawsuit.

The Zantac class-action lawsuit, unlike the Zantac case lawsuit, allows anyone who happened to purchase the antacid to get refunds. With the argument based on the fact that the manufacturer was ignorant in failing to warn people about the existing risks of contacting NDMA cancer.

Conclusion

In case you’ve been taking Zantac, it’s high time you consult your doctor on a viable alternative medication. Other important things you need to know if you have cancer from Zantac are identified as the specific type of cancer that you’re suffering from, understand how cancer came about from NDMA, the symptoms of Zantac cancer and why you should talk to your doctor.

Additionally, you can make consideration to join the Zantac case lawsuits so that you can get compensated for the damage caused.

Violet Altherr is a lawyer who specializes in Zantac lawsuits. Violet has worked with individuals who experienced severe side effects from the long-term use of Zantac and is now seeking compensation and justice in court. Most of Violet’s clients are seniors who have used Zantac for their stomach ulcers.

When Violet is not busy working, she shares her expertise by writing articles about Zantac lawsuits online.

What to look for when ordering CBD Lotion

CBD lotion has become a great product for those that suffer from a lack of pain control. As such, the lotion can be applied to an affected area in order to reduce swelling and improve the circulation of the blood which decreases the pain factor in that area. Thus, CBD Lotions are flying off the shelves for good measures, but with this consumer demand means increased manufacturing of products.

Therefore, suppliers are constantly pressuring manufacturers to produce a great range of CBD Lotions to ensure that they fully capture the CBD marketplace while enticing in new potential customers. However, with an increase in products it means greater choice for the consumer which is a positive but the variety does make it hard to identify which product is the right one for you. As such, we have put together this article to ensure that CBD Lotion consumers new or existing are able to know what to look for when purchasing such products via in-store or online stores.

When Ordering CBD Lotion Take Care With The Price Of The Product?
Price is such an important thing to consider when purchasing or ordering CBD lotion as with the marketplace continuing to grow competition between suppliers and manufacturers just keeps increasing to new heights. This creates continued price wars between them to which it does benefit consumers. The problem is that it can, therefore, be hard to identify whether or not you are getting a good deal price wise. As such, utilizing websites that are there to help with price comparisons. These websites are a godsend as they can swiftly find the website offering the cheapest priced product. Therefore we urge consumers to make use of these websites to ensure they are getting the best bang for their buck.

Ensuring the Quality of the Product is the Best You Can Get?
No one is ever happy if the quality of their lotion is poor. If this happens, it could be due to the application of the CBD lotion. As such, being able to differentiate between products in terms of quality for the outside consumer or the newer one can be hard. Thus, making use of forums is a great way to gain information and reviews on specific CBD lotions. These forums utilize user-generated reviews in order to identify the quality of the product and ascertain where the product stacks up in other categories. These reviews can be relatively general and provide consumers with a zero to five scale to give a final ultimatum on the quality of the CBD Lotion.

CBD Lotion Final Thoughts On What To Look For When Ordering
As mentioned, there are several factors that are important to consider prior to purchasing CBD lotion. These have been identified as both the quality and price of the product. Make sure when looking at the price to compare and contrast and when looking at quality have a look at reviews on forum sites.

This is a guest blog entry.

How to Help Shrink Pores: 10 Ways

Pores play an important role in your skin health, and they are there for a good reason - releasing the sebum or skin oils that help keep your skin happy and moisturized.

But, for the sake of beauty, many are looking into ways to make pores at least appear a little smaller.

While the size of your pores is largely genetic and cannot be actually adjusted, there are some things you can do to make sure they are clear, clean, and appear the smallest that they physically can.

Wash your face twice a day

While this may seem like basic skincare 101, it really does make a huge difference in overall skin appearance.

Without regular washing of your face, there will be a natural build-up of the oils produced every day mixing with dead skin cells and lodging themselves in your pores - clogging pores and making them appear larger.

Choose a gentle cleanser and wash for 30-60 seconds with warm (not hot) water before gently patting your face dry.

Always remove makeup before bed

Even if you are using the highest-quality non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging) makeup, it will still   be a net beauty negative if you leave products on overnight to make their way into (and clog up) your pores.

If you know you are going to have a long night where you will want a quick and easy cleansing, have an emergency pack of facial cleansing wipes next to your bed.

Use non-comedogenic products

Non-comedogenic is a beauty industry term for products that are less likely to clog your pores, and since a clogged pore will always look bigger than an unclogged pore - these are the products that you want.

Look closely on the packaging, and you will often find the term printed somewhere.

Products that are oil-based often tend to be pore-clogging as well, so find ones that say oil-free for the best shot at your smallest pores possible.
                                                                                                     
Wear sunscreen

When your skin is dried out by the sun, it will try to rehydrate itself by producing even more sebum than usual.

This means that you may have even larger pores post beach vacation than before if you don’t wear the proper sun-protection.

Aim for applying an at-least 30 SPF non-comedogenic sunscreen to your face every day (and maybe an even high SPF if it’s going to be a really sun-filled day).

Exfoliate regularly

Pores appear larger when they get clogged with a combination of oils, bacteria, and dead skin.

So, always make sure that you are limiting the amounts of extra dead skin cells around.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you find a good exfoliation schedule for your skin, and to always apply a moisturizer afterward to help rehydrate.

In general, an exfoliation schedule of 1-2 times weekly will work for most people.

Hydrate

With making your pores appear as small as possible, it’s all about balance.

You want your skin to be hydrated and moisturized, but not super oily or dry and dehydrated.

The first steps to healthy skin hydration come from within, by making sure that you are drinking your recommended at least 8 cups of water per day.

And if you exercise or are out in the sun a lot, you need to up that number to maintain proper hydration.

Eat healthily

If your diet is a steady stream of greasy high-fat foods, it may be showing up on your face in terms of more sebum production.

And, since too much sebum production generally means larger and more clogged pores, you may want to adjust your current eating habits.

Find tasty fruit and vegetable replacements for your usual greasy favorites and your pores may thank you for it.

Reduce inflammation

When skin is inflamed it can make the surrounding pores swell open and appear larger.

And, since acne often comes along with an inflammatory element, you may have some luck making your pores look smaller by taking control of your breakouts.

Talk to a medical professional in person about treatment options for your acne to help keep your pores in check as well. Or, have a free online visit with U.S. licensed doctors at Strut Heath to see if a medicated acne formula is a good choice for you.

Use clay masks

Clay masks tend to work well as a wicking agent to help extract extra oils out of pores and make them appear smaller.

For some, these masks may make their skin feel drier, so if you have a problem with dry skin areas, you may want to spot treat with clay masks by only using them on your large pore problem areas.

Moisturize daily

Regular moisturizing is a must to help balance the hydration levels in your skin.

Dehydrated skin can make pores appear larger and make the skin appear more sagged.

As a plus, moisturizers can help pull extra skin oils into a deeper level of your skin and help keep them out of your pores.

As with all other skin products - try to find a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic for the best pore minimizing results.

Conclusion
   
Try out a combination of these tips based on what you think may be contributing to your larger-than-you-like pores. Everyone’s skin is a little bit different, so while one person’s pore problems may be stemming from not drinking enough water during the day, yours may be from skipping your nightly face washing. It may take some trial and error to figure out the best skin routine tips for you. But, step number one is looking into ways that you can make your skincare better, so you are on the right track!

Bio Text: Jill Barat, is a Doctor of Pharmacy at Strut Health (StrutYours.com) with a unique background in specialty pharmacy, innovative compounding products, supplements, and integrative medicine with a passion for helping patients live their best lives.

Understanding Stem Cell Therapy: Science Made Simple

Most people have heard of the innovative, exciting and potentially revolutionary medical procedures that are involved in stem cell therapy, but not many understand exactly what it entails and how it could benefit their lives and conditions that they currently suffer with.

Stem cell therapy, also known as regenerative therapy, has the potential to help treat a wide range of conditions in the future including spinal cord injury, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Interested to know more?

Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about stem cell therapy; from what exactly stem cells are, to how they can help regenerate specific areas of your body, to what the process involves, plus, find out how this highly advanced treatment could potentially help you.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are body cells that are able to become the cells for many different types of bodily tissues. In fact, no other cells in your body have the natural ability to generate new cell types other than stem cells.

Furthermore, under the right conditions, either in the body or in a laboratory, stem cells can divide to form more cells. These are called daughter cells. Once you have daughter cells, then these have the ability to be either new, self-renewal stem cells or to become specialized cells for a particular function such as blood, brain or bone cells.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is a type of alternative medicine also known as regenerative medicine. It involves the promotion of the repair response of any diseased, dysfunctional or injured tissues using stem cells.

In a way, it is similar to organ donation, but instead of having to rely on donors, which are often in limited supply, this process utilizes cells that are in abundance.

The process works by researchers growing stem cells in a laboratory where they are then manipulated into specialized cells such as heart muscle cells or nerve cells. These cells can then be implanted into the affected area of the patient where they will then have the ability to repair any defects. For example, if the person suffered with heart disease, the stem cells could potentially be able to regenerate the defective heart muscle.

Why is there such an interest in stem cell therapy at the moment?

Although adult stem cells have already been used for many decades to treat certain blood cancers and genetic disorders through the process of bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, ongoing research and development now means that they have the potential to:

• Increase our understanding of how diseases come about
• Generate healthy cells to replace any diseased ones (regenerative medicine)

What else can stem cell therapy help with?

As well as having the potential to help cure a wide variety of diseases that kill hundreds of thousands of people each year, stem cell therapy is also able to help combat a range of other health concerns including:

• Chronic pain
• Tendonitis
• Concussions
• Occipital migraines
• Broken bones
• Osteoarthritis
• Sexual health issues including dyspareunia and urinary incontinence
• Effects of ageing including wrinkles and fine lines

The most exciting element of stem cell therapy is that it is progressing every day with the potential to cure a whole host of diseases and conditions. Therefore, if you have a health concern that is not responding to other treatments, you may want to look into how stem cell therapy could potentially help you.

This is a guest blog entry.

Here Are Top 4 Healthy Ways to Handle Medical Wastes Sustainably

There's a need to dispose of all waste products in the best way possible. It will not only reduce the spread of ailments but also improves the sustainability of this planet in which we live. Medical waste plays a significant part in materials that end up in dumpsites each year. If these wastes weren’t properly handled, the results can be disastrous. Are you searching for the best healthy ways to take care of these hospital waste products? Here's what you ought to do.

Definitive planning

Medical waste keeps piling up with each passing day. Thus, it would help if you had an ultimate strategic plan in place to handle it.

Laying out a solid waste management plan is a chance to delegate responsibilities and roles to each member within the healthcare facility. You get to provide different bins for specific waste products that are clearly labeled. Thus, each person can exercise due diligence.

Through the planning, you get to narrow down and know the amount of waste that your institution produces. From there, you get to act using the best way forward to reduce these wastes.

Minimizing

Waste products produce a pungent smell that isn’t pleasing. However, it would be difficult to say that waste products should not be generated. Wastes are bound to happen, no matter the situation. Nonetheless, it doesn't mean that one can’t come up with useful and crafty ways to mitigate the situation.

The healthcare institution ought to be smarter and join the green movement, even when handling waste. Thus, one can adopt a green initiative method to curb excess waste production. One can implement the use of recyclable objects that medical waste disposal agencies can come and advise on the best possible way forward.

Segregation

The healthcare facility ought to be kept clean and tidy in all situations. Thus, one needs to adopt a waste segregation method when implementing proper handling.

Segregation is critical and needs to be severely treated. Each person who produces the waste needs to be held accountable. They should separate, label and use color-coded containers to place all the trash. Through this method, the environment becomes safe, and best practices get adopted in due course.

Dispose

Each hospital waste needs to pass through various treatment procedures before it gets released into the environment. It's an excellent chance to reduce any potential risk to animals, people, and their surroundings. It also reduces legal lawsuits and environmental activities breathing down your neck.

There needs to be proper disinfection, autoclaving, encapsulation and chemical disinfection depending on the waste at hand. It will ensure the waste sanity of an institution gets upheld at all times. Proper disposal ensures environmental sustainability which is a top priority in ensuring their custodians already to protect the lives of the future generation. 

For you to effectively dispose of any medical waste, you need to contract a medical waste disposal company. It will enable you to get expert services as you focus on other sectors of your business. It will also lower infection rates; thus, the patients, employees as well as the general public are in safer hands. 

This is a guest blog post.

5 Ways To Find The Best Chiropractor College

Chiropractors use natural methods of healing and manual manipulations of the back, neck, and spine. It is the technique used to treat various maladies in patients, particularly those that occur within the musculoskeletal system.

Doctors of chiropractic also treat their patients with a combination of exercise, diet, and other lifestyle methods in addition to the manual manipulations.

For an individual to become a chiropractor, he or she has to graduate from an accredited chiropractor school. The course for becoming a doctor of chiropractic has a total of four years typically, although some programs can be shorter or longer.

But how do you choose a chiropractic school? Ponder on these five ways to find the best chiropractor college:

1.    Look For A School With A Student-Focused Environment

A chiropractic college can’t and shouldn’t offer a bare-bones program. A school needs to ensure the success of its students, and that should be its primary focus. Of course, that calls for a strong commitment to the necessary student support services. These services include the following:

• Comprehensive library services on-campus and online (through the school website)
• Study centers and student lounges
• Fully equipped lab facilities and training rooms
• Tutoring for educational skills development
• Student clubs
• On-campus cafeteria
• Wellness programs and a fitness center
• Preceptorship and internship

Aside from the services above, also check the website of the chiropractor college for its curriculum to see if it goes beyond simple resume writing and career guidance. While it’s true that chiropractic college isn’t a business school, the best ones provide its students with easy access to business resources. The purpose is to help them write a marketing or business plan, identify opportunities for practice, and implement the best operation practices.

2.    Ensure The Qualifications, Skills, And Experiences Of The Faculty

The truth is that most chiropractor graduates eventually choose to go into private practice. That said, you need to learn not only how to become a good doctor of chiropractic but also a great business person.

Look for a school that stresses the importance of business in its curriculum since your success after graduation relies on more than adjusting and book smarts. A chiropractic program needs to incorporate both business and chiropractor skills.

The essential skills of a doctor of chiropractic are the business and chiropractor skills. If you want to have these things in you, enroll in a school that has well-qualified and experienced faculty to teach these skills.

3.    Check For School Accreditations To Ensure Quality Standards

It’s also essential to seek out assurances that a chiropractor college has what it takes to prepare its students for future demands of the profession. You can confirm such a quality guarantee by checking the institutional accreditation as well as third party accreditation that the school has. Look for a D.C. program that got accredited by CCE or the Council on Chiropractic Education.

Aside from the accreditation from the CCE, it would also be best to confirm if the college is accredited by a recognized U.S. accreditation agency. Some ways that an agency is reputable is by setting strict standards of excellence and quality.

Accreditations also help ensure that the school is eligible to offer any financial aid to qualified students. And most importantly, it shows that the college delivers the appropriate training necessary to pass the licensure exam for the doctor of chiropractic.

4.    Choose A Chiropractor College With A World-Class Clinic

A vital part of the education required to become a doctor of chiropractic is the clinic. You’d want a chiropractor college that can offer you a clinical experience that will help you prepare for the real-world practice.

The chiropractic clinic of the college should allow you to apply what you’ve learned from the classroom, such as providing chiropractic care for back pain and others.
Always remember that a world-class clinic is one that emulates what’s in the real world. It allows you to develop both skills and confidence in a technologically-advanced setting.

5.    Ask If The School Teaches Its Students The Top Chiropractic Technique

You absolutely must opt for a chiropractor college, which gives its students a genuinely excellent ability to provide chiropractic adjustment to patients. It means that the school should have a wide variety of techniques in its arsenal and teach them at a very high level.

The chiropractic profession has the chiropractic techniques as its fundamental tools, so don’t ever take it for granted.

Final Thoughts

Since you’ll get very immersed in the culture of the school you choose, you’ll want to select a chiropractor college that will surround you with individuals who support and inspire you. To become a well-developed doctor of chiropractic, you need to enroll in a school that offers an excellent support system, on top of the other things mentioned above.

As a chiropractor for more than ten years, Kassandra Hollick works by making spinal adjustments and improving the mobility of her patients. Kassandra is responsible for realigning the bones and joints so her patients can restore their range of motion and reduce pain.

Kassandra regularly writes health-related articles online to educate more and more people about the importance of chiropractic care.

Looking for instant approval installment loans with poor credit?

People with serious health problems may find themselves in need of a loan, especially if they do not have insurance. Have you attempted looking for finance installment lending? Obtaining a quick guide to online installment finances is simpler and also convenient than any kind of loan, visit here.

If you are seeking financing, applying online is a fast as well as hassle-free means to obtain quick cash money. In this blog post, you'll discover how you can request unprotected finance as well as how you can obtain authorized finance.

What are installment fundings?

Installation loans are loans that you have to pay consistently on a month-to-month basis over a certain period. Since the application is made online, everything can be achieved within a few hours to some days.

Various lending institutions supply different car loan quantities as well as terms. All you need is to qualify initially. Prior to getting the funding, guarantee that you completely recognize what it is, and also exactly how it functions.

Types of Installation Loans:

1. Auto lending. You can obtain an installment credit provided by financial institutions, car dealerships, as well as a lending institution when obtaining auto lending. The interest rate typically ranges from 3 to 15 percent.
2. Home mortgage. You can obtain funding to pay your residence on an installment basis. Payment is done in between 15 years and also three decades that can be either fixed or a flexible rate of interest.
3. Individual car loans. This is sort of financial loan supplied by online loan providers, financial institutions as well as credit unions. It can be utilized for any type of objective you want. It is paid back month-to-month with rates of interest of 6 to 36 percent in a period of approximately five years.
4. No credit scores check loans. Some lenders don't do a tough credit check when you apply for the loan. Nevertheless, you need to be careful with these sorts of lenders because some may provide car loans that feature an extremely high rate of interest.

Lenders might or may not request collateral in getting installment fundings.

•  Collateralized: An instance is automobile finance, where the auto is the collateral for the finance. Another is a mortgage loan where the house is the security with the finance.
•  Non-collateralized: You don't require security to obtain accepted for the financing. An example of this is unprotected car loans like payday advance loans.

Car loans that do not call for security are based on the customer's credit reliability. On the other hand, loans that need one are based on their credit rating. In addition, if lending institutions don't request collateral, anticipate getting a higher rate of interest.

What is the process for getting installment lendings?

1. The consumer fills up the form on the lending institution's internet site and also sends the easy requirements.
2. When authorized, the debtor obtains information about the loan, including the term of the funding, settlement quantities, interest, fees, as well as payment timetables.
3. The borrower pays the car loan normally on a regular monthly basis with their checking account.

What are the benefits of obtaining the funding?

Since repayment is foreseeable, you can prepare for the payment and stay clear of the problem. The repayment is consistent monthly.

When you know the amount to pay, you can manage your funds better. You can additionally refrain from late settlements and sustaining huge charges and also a passion.

Settlement of your lending consistently can help you plan your finances. Since you recognize when you'll begin and finish your financing, it allows predictability of your spending plan.

Last but not least, this type of loan comes with low-interest lock-in prices. If you are qualified and also have an excellent debt standing, this car loan can aid you to conserve a lot of cash.

What are the downsides of obtaining finance?

There are some predatory lending institutions on the internet that provide installment car loans for individuals with bad credit history. However, do not jump into this opportunity due to the fact that you may end up paying more because of covert costs.

It is not adaptable like the various other kinds of loans. When you get approved, there is no chance that you can renew or increase your financing. You are required to obtain a brand-new one.

An additional thing to consider is that the terms and rates of interest can rely on your credit rating account. If you have poor debt in the past, you can endure the consequences of paying higher interest than other borrowers that have a great credit history.

While you may be caught in obtaining installment car loans online, you need to consider points up initially. You may consider other choices like credit unions, different payday financings, or credit-builder lending that offer lower interest rates.

This is a guest blog entry

How Often Should I Schedule an Oral Cancer Screening?

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral Cancer is not only confined to the mouth, as the name would lead you to believe. Oral cancer is the most common form of head and neck cancer meaning it can begin anywhere in the mouth, tongue, lips, throat and sinuses. It is also a cancer that can often go overlooked, as the most common symptom of oral cancer is often an ulcer or sore which lasts for over three weeks.

Many documents link smoking and certain lifestyle habits to oral cancer, yet the condition is equally as common in non-smokers and those who do not consume alcohol. However limiting these habits, or better still cutting them out of your lifestyle altogether could greatly reduce the risk of you getting any form of oral cancer.

What are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?

As stated above, the most common symptom of oral cancer is a sore or ulcer within the mouth that is still there after three weeks. Whilst this may not necessarily mean you have oral cancer it is always best to get a lingering sore checked out by your dentist.

Other symptoms of Oral cancer can mimic that of other conditions, so just because you may have one of the ailments named below, it doesn’t automatically mean that you have oral cancer.

Other symptoms may include:

• Difficulty or pain with chewing, swallowing or speaking
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• White patches or red patches that do not go away
• Numbness or bleeding in the mouth
• Ill-fitting, loose teeth or dentures
• Thickening or a lump in the mouth or on the lip
• Losing a lot of weight over a short period.
• A lump in the neck

If you are concerned about any of the above symptoms please contact your local dental clinic to schedule an Oral Cancer Screening.

How Can an Oral Cancer Screening Save My Life?

We are all sadly well aware of the devastating effects cancer can have on a person and their families. We also know that the key to surviving cancer is finding and treating it at its earliest stages, so awareness of the symptoms and knowledge of how to get an oral cancer screening is paramount for treatment success. In fact, 80-90 per cent of oral cancer sufferers have a great survival rate when the cancer is caught early. However once the cancer is in its advanced stages that survival rate drops significantly to 20-30 per cent.

Is Oral Cancer Screening Painful?

Oral cancer screenings typically are not painful. The screening process is mainly made up of a visual inspection, where a dentist will inspect your mouth, throat, gums and tongue for any unusual signs. If your dentist finds anything suspicious then typically biopsies of the area will be taken, with your consent, and sent to the lab for testing. You will then usually get a follow-up appointment to talk through your results.

How Often Should I Schedule Oral Cancer Screening?

It’s recommended that you see your dentist at least once a year for a regular check-up, however there is no definite timeline when it comes to booking an oral cancer screening. For people over the age of 18 who smoke or drink heavily, it is advised that they attend a screening more regularly than those who don’t. It is recommended to receive screening every 3-5 years unless you have cause for concern, in which case it’s advised to book a screening as soon as a problem arises. Some Factors that can increase the risk of oral cancer are:

• Gender (oral cancer is more common in males than females)
• Age (over 40s are at greater risk)
• An unhealthy diet
• Any kind of tobacco use, including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, or chewing tobacco
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• A previous oral cancer diagnosis

You should contact your dentist as soon as possible if you experience any of the symptoms we mentioned earlier that can be found above.

This is a post by Bohdan Hrynyk, a family practice dentist working in Niagara Falls Ontario.

Want Younger Looking Eyes? Here's What You Need to Know

As you get older, your appearance starts to show the effects of aging. Among the most obvious changes you may begin to notice are fine lines and wrinkles. Crow’s feet are very common around your eyes in your 30s and beyond. However, you can take certain steps to make your eyes look younger. Here are a few great tips.

Use Eye Cream Two Times Per Day

One of the first positive steps you can take toward making your eyes look years younger is to apply eye cream two times per day. You should aim to apply a liberal amount to your upper lids, lower lids and the outer corner of your eyes in the morning and at night before you turn in for bed. Over time, you will begin to notice a remarkable difference as the skin around your eyes begins to smooth out and look more youthful.

You may also want to experiment with a few different creams before you ultimately settle for the one that works best for you.

Limit Your Screen Time

Although it can be difficult in the digital age we live in, you should limit your screen time as much as you can manage. This might not be possible if you are in a line of work where you have to use a computer for seven or eight hours per day, but you can give yourself a break from time to time. Rest your eyes when you can by limiting the use of your smartphone, tablet and TV screens. Using these devices for too many hours can cause eye strain and lead to the development of wrinkles.

Most of all, if you have to use a computer for work, you should aim to avoid using screens at night at least two hours before you go to bed. If you have trouble falling asleep once you turn in, you can use the cbdMD PM Product of the Year, which won the award in the first-ever CBD Sleep Aid category. Enough sleep can have a twofold benefit in helping you feel rested and improving the look of your eyes as well.

Give Yourself a Facial Massage

A facial massage can work wonders to ease your stress. It is also great for making your eyes look more youthful. There are facial massagers you can buy that allow you to improve the quality of your skin tone and elasticity. Using one can even improve your blood flow.

One of the best ways you can use your facial massager to make your eyes look younger is to store it in the refrigerator and use it in the morning to reduce dark circles under your eyes.

Use a Peeling Facial Mask

There are many peeling facial masks available on the market that can improve the quality of your skin. These are also great to use after you have performed your regular daily ritual of applying eye cream. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and remove it. Your skin will feel softer, smoother and healthier overall.

You can also use lukewarm teabags on your eyelids to reduce inflammation of the skin. Cucumber slices can also do the trick.

Use a Concealer

Another good step you can take to help your eyes look younger is to invest in a good concealer. This is an essential makeup product that can hide dark circles under the eyes and give them a fresher appearance overall. Get a concealer that has a brush and moisturizer for application. It will make it easier to apply and can add much-needed hydration to the sensitive skin around your eyes.

These five vital steps can help you to get beautiful, healthy, younger-looking eyes.

This is a guest blog entry.

Benefits Of Following A Strict Diet Plan To Achieve Your Goal Weight

Some people claim that it only takes regular exercise and you don’t need to follow any diet plan to lose weight, while others say limiting your food intake is the only way, even without exercise. On the other hand, perhaps the majority would say it’s 50-50. Confusing, right? So, what’s the real deal?

According to Harvard Medical School, around 70% of US citizens are overweight or even obese and that losing weight is not the only solution to have better health. It stresses the importance of going for healthier food to improve your overall well-being more than anything.

But what exactly are the benefits of following a strict diet plan in achieving your desired weight? Consider the following.

Assists Those Who Cannot Exercise

Although achieving optimum weight loss can only be achieved through a combination of exercise and controlling your food intake, the latter takes the bigger chunk of the credit. If you put it in actual numbers, 75% of weight loss comes from diet and only 25% comes from exercise (or as much as 80/20 for some). Couch potatoes, rejoice!

Burning more calories than what you take in is said to be the key to achieving your desired weight. This may be interpreted as the lesser you exercise or move around, the more you should cut down your calorie intake. The idea behind it is to sustain a negative energy level which is essential if you want to continue to lose weight.

Helps You Become Healthier

Besides the fact that you can tremendously benefit from weight loss, sticking with your diet plan can help you achieve your ideal health status. Constantly adhering to a well-balanced diet can help replenish different key nutrients like vitamins A, B, C, E, iron, selenium, and zinc.

Eating healthy also helps you avoid a plethora of illnesses that are associated with too much or too little nutrients coming from food intake or lack thereof. These include health issues concerning the heart, bones, teeth, and other chronic conditions like metabolic syndrome that includes diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders, among others.

Improves Metabolism

The metabolic rate of your body significantly drops as you lose muscles during weight loss. When it gets to the point where your metabolism drops to a very low level, the brain tends to hold on to the calories to prevent your perceived starvation. That’s the main reason why, even if you continuously exercise or you are physically active, you eventually stop losing weight after some time.

A protein-rich diet like those of Diet Delivery Plans can greatly aid when there is a drop in your metabolism rate, which is prevalent when trying to lose weight via crash diet or extreme workout. By sticking with this kind of diet, you can improve and regulate your metabolism, which eventually makes you lose weight consistently.

Prevents Gaining Back Lost Weight

When planning to lose weight, you sometimes tend to think of restricting yourself to the kinds of food that are known to be fattening. Foods rich in sugar, salt, and fats are some of the usual suspects.

While this strategy can work at first, your body isn’t used to being deprived of these guilty pleasures, especially when you’re so used to taking them every so often.

This tends to be unsuccessful in the long run as your body will have a tendency to crave the familiar diet. By utilizing a strict diet plan that covers most of the food groups in moderation, your body isn’t going to miss anything, which will make it work as usual.

Strategies to Achieve Weight Loss Goal

You can have your own weight loss plan or you can ask somebody else, especially an expert, on how to go about it to ensure success. However, the biggest factor to this is yourself as the ball is solely in your court.

Below are some of the expectations to ensure the achievement of your weight loss goal.

•    Establish your motivation. Why are you doing this?
•    Set sensible, reasonable, and achievable goals. Are they even possible?
•    Make a compromise. Are you up to it?

Parting Words

In the end, there’s really no one-size-fits-all type of weight loss regimen. Every individual is different in terms of body type, metabolism, health condition, activity level, etc. What works for you may not work for another person, hence, individualized diet plans are encouraged.

With the unhealthy diet being the biggest factor in weight gain, it’s natural to solve the issue through the same route more than anything. This is especially since people can be too lazy to
exercise. As long as you are not overdoing things, you’re going to be just fine.

Merilyn Zayac 

As a nutritionist for more than ten years, Merilyn Zayac has worked with individuals in improving their eating habits in order to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Merilyn considers the hormonal imbalance, food allergies, and weight goals of her clients in creating a meal plan for them.

Merilyn shares her expertise in food and nutrition by writing articles online.

5 Myths About IVF Debunked

In-vitro fertilization is a medical procedure that helps women struggling with pregnancy. Both medical and surgical procedures are utilized to allow a sperm to successfully fertilize an egg. During this assisted reproductive process, a woman’s egg is removed from the body and fertilized in a clinical lab setting. From here, doctors help the fertilized egg implant in the uterus. According to Conceive Health, a fertility clinic in Waterloo and Toronto, there are many myths perpetuated about IVF, which might prevent a woman struggling with pregnancy from looking further into the procedure. With that in mind, here are five common myths about IVF debunked:

Young Women Don’t Need IVF
One of the biggest myths surrounding IVF is that young women don’t have infertility issues. However, age is just one of many potential causes for infertility. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 9% of women between the ages of 15 to 29 report difficulties staying or getting pregnant. Fourteen percent of women between the ages of 30 and 34 also reported these difficulties. Although difficulty increases after 35, it’s clear that one out of ten women before 35 struggle with pregnancy.

You’re More Likely to Have Multiple Babies
You may have heard that pregnancy through IVF means you’re more likely to have high-order pregnancies, which involve at least two implanted eggs. What many people don’t realize is that IVF is associated with twins because individuals undergoing the treatment elect to have two embryos transferred to increase the chances of a successful surgery.

If one of those embryos were to split, the result would be one set of identical twins and one fraternal sibling. Naturally, the more embryos you transfer, the higher the chance of multiple offspring. Many people undergoing IVF opt for a single transfer, though identical twins are still possible in this case, at roughly the same chance rate as with a normal pregnancy.

Fertility Lubricants Can Fix Fertility Issues
Research has shown that traditional lubricants can kill sperm or inhibit their movement. While it won’t hinder your ability to get pregnant, it can lessen the chances. This is where fertile friendly lubricants come into play. These lubricants are safe for sperm and embryos, and have been lab-tested to ensure they don’t have a negative impact on fertility.

However, the myth comes into play when people start to believe fertility lubricants increase their chances of pregnancy; this is only true when compared to traditional OTC lubricants. If you struggle with fertility, these lubricants will not act as a cure.

Lifestyle Changes Cure Infertility
In some cases, lifestyle and diet changes can decrease your chances of fertility. However, this is very rare; in cases where it works, it’s likely because the lifestyle change was highly significant (like addressing an eating disorder or quitting smoking). The issue is that many publications and products promote the idea of “fertility diets” that involve lifestyle changes. However, these are almost never backed by scientific evidence, and even when lifestyle changes do work, they have a very small percentage of success. Furthermore, it is very difficult to determine where a successful pregnancy came from for women with fertility issues.

You Can’t Have IVF With a High BMI
Women considered overweight may have heard that they will be turned away for IVF if they have a higher body mass index (IVF). While there is some merit to this conclusion, it’s important to understand that there is also plenty of gray area when it comes to high BMI and IVF. On the one hand, some clinics do refuse surgery on women who have average height and a BMI higher than 40. This is because certain prenatal conditions and complexities, like stillbirths and miscarriages, increase as body weight increases.

To ensure a successful process, some clinics do have that BMI placeholder. However, many modern clinics are taking a holistic approach to IVF, preferring to see every patient regardless of BMI. This is because subjects vary from case to case; one person with a BMI of 40 could be extremely healthy compared to another, and may have struggled with weight since birth. High BMI does not equate to an unhealthy lifestyle, particularly when it comes to food intake.

Because of this, women who are overweight shouldn’t refrain from seeing a specialist simply because they assume they will be turned away. A great doctor will explore all options, examine your health from a high-level overview, and offer suggestions on how to move forward.

This is a guest blog entry.

Have You Seen the First Signs of Alzheimer’s?

It starts with something small. You notice in a conversation that your parent asks a question that you swore you answered ten minutes ago. Later during the visit, they ask you the same question again. You know you answered it. So, what’s going on?

Sadly, this could be one of the first signs that your parent is dealing with memory loss. If it continues to progress, they could be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Read ahead to find out the common signs associated with Alzheimer’s and what you can do to take care of your parent now and in the future.

What Are Some Other Signs?

Repeating questions or phrases is not the only sign that your parent could be developing Alzheimer’s disease. These are some other common symptoms to look out for:

•    Misplacing items in strange places (keys in the refrigerator, wallet in the linen closet)
•    Misremembering or forgetting conversations and events
•    Forgetting important tasks (paying bills on time, missing appointments)
•    Getting lost in familiar locations
•    Wandering off without remembering why
•    Difficulty concentrating on tasks and conversations
•    Changes in behaviour (mood swings, loss of inhibition, delusions)

If your parent doesn’t seem to be remembering things as well as they used to or repeat sentences more often, do not panic. Approximately 40% of people above the age of 65 live with memory loss of some kind — that’s close to half of all seniors. Their small lapses in memory could just be a part of their natural aging process. They might not have Alzheimer’s.

If you notice more than a few of these symptoms, suggest that your parent visit their doctor. The doctor will make a note of the current signs, do physical exams, and do brain imaging tests to check for cognitive changes. The disease is progressive, so you may need to keep a close eye on your parent from now on.

What Can You Do If They Have Alzheimer’s?

Patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s may not be safe to live at home alone. If you’re worried that they’re at risk of accidentally harming themselves or wandering off, you should talk to them about moving to a retirement facility. A top-quality facility will have services for assisted living, full care, and memory care. So, you can get them the help they need and rest easy knowing that they will be around a professional nursing staff that’s available 24-hours a day. 

Moving into a retirement facility does more than provide your parent with around the clock care and security. The decision could improve their health and well-being. Living in isolation can intensify feelings of loneliness and depression and worsen symptoms of memory loss. On the other hand, social interaction can improve their quality of life. So, a facility that encourages residents to participate in activities could be the best thing for them.

After making sure that your parent has help, you need to make sure that you get help, too. Loving a person with Alzheimer’s can be very hard. Check out support groups or reach out to a mental health professional when you get overwhelmed. Think of it this way: taking care of yourself will make it easier for you to be there for your parent.

This is a guest blog entry.

5 Ways to Prevent Infections When Doing Micro-Needling At Home

Loved by celebrities across the globe, micro-needling has fast-become the go-to treatment option due to its amazing benefits, fast results, and little downtime. Until recently, it was an expensive treatment that could only be performed by high-end aesthetic medical professionals. Today, however, innovations in the beauty industry have made it possible for anybody to perform micro-needling at home. Like any other skin treatment procedure, you should be aware of the right micro-needling practices to ensure safety and optimal results.

Here are the top ways you can leverage to prevent infections when doing micro-needling at home.

When Infections Can Occur 

Infections occur when bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens gain entry into your skin while performing micro-needling or after the procedure. For instance, if you failed to sterilize the micro-needling device before using it, you risk getting infections because it may harbor pathogens that may cause inflammation or skin irritation. You may also be exposed to obnoxious harmful materials after treatment. This may interfere with your healing process and expose you to more infections.

Practical Things to Do To Avoid Infections Before and After Micro-Needling

•    Sanitize your micro-needling device every after use 

Endeavor to sanitize your micro-needling device before and after using it to avoid potential growth of microorganisms. One of the simplest ways to do this is to rinse the device with hot water or isopropyl alcohol to kill potential disease-causing organisms. You can also buy derma roller that are specifically designed for cleaning the devices.

•    Avoid doing micro-needling if you have an active skin infection or existing skin lesion

Skin lesions or active skin infections are risk factors for spreading infections. So, if you do a micro-needling treatment, you are likely to exacerbate the existing skin condition. Remember that when doing micro-needling, you will be creating tiny holes in your skin, which can act as a point of entry of a wide range of microorganisms.

Before performing micro-needling at home, consider consulting a dermatologist to help you treat the existing condition. Some of the most common skin conditions that contraindicated in any kind of micro-needling treatment include eczema, skin cancer, fungal infections, rashes, warts, herpes, bruised skin, bacterial infection, and keloids among others.

•    Avoid exposing yourself to too much sunlight after a micro-needling procedure  

Exposing your skin to too much heat after a micro-needling procedure puts you at risk of erythema, which may delay your healing process. Besides, considering that the wounds or pores that were created during the micro-needling procedure have not fully closed, you will be exposing your skin to dirt, smoke, pollen, and many other materials that may harbor pathogens. To prevent infections, avoid prolonged outdoor activities, and if you have to stay in the outdoors for long, protect your skin.

The good news is that micro-needling treatment has minimal downtime. So, you only need to do this for a few days. After the redness in the treated areas has disappeared and you confirm that the areas are completely healed, you can resume your regular activities.

•    Avoid strenuous exercise

Another thing you should avoid after a micro-needling procedure is strenuous activities. Whenever you exercise or do any kind of strenuous tasks, your body tends to sweat a lot. This may cause irritation, which exposes you to risks of infections if the treated areas become swollen or erythematous. Sweating also open your skin pores to dust, pollen, and smoke, and other foreign materials. So, if you plan to exercise after a micro-needling procedure, you better postpone it a bit. Remember that the slight changes in your daily routines are only temporary. Just postpone a few routines and give your skin time to heal completely.

•    Apply antibiotic creams as prescribed by your dermatologist

Most dermatologists usually prescribe antibiotics for 3-4 days after a micro-needling procedure. The antibiotic creams are meant to help prevent the growth of bacteria and pathogens that may come into contact with your skin. So, don’t forget to apply them as prescribed by your dermatologist if you want to get the most out of your micro-needling treatment at home. Additionally, purchase and use only creams that have been prescribed by your dermatologist or doctor.  It is also vital to buy any skin cream from reputable vendors to avoid the many risks that are often associated with counterfeit creams. Most importantly, don’t be tempted to try and self-medicate as the prolonged or wrongful use of antibiotic use may make your body resistant.

There you have it; some of the most practical ways of preventing infections when performing micro-needling at home. Like any other treatment out there, if you can follow the proposed precautionary measures, you are likely to get optimum results from the micro-needling procedure. In any case, any inconvenience or discomfort that you may experience during and after the procedure is only temporary. You will get back to your normal routines as soon as your skin is healed.

This is a guest blog entry.