Health

Pneumonia is one of the most common diseases that infect man. And if neglected, it can be fatal. Pneumonia is caused by many factors but the most common are due to bacteria, fungi and viruses. Due to that, there are also many types of pneumonia which results in people of every age group and society being subject to some type of the ailment. However, there are certain age groups which are more prone to pneumonia because of their low immune system. Those groups belong to the very young ones and the very old ones.

While it is true the certain age groups are of high risk in becoming infected with pneumonia, still all of us must be vigilant about this illness because there are so many different types. We may find that we are somewhat immune from one type but not others. Thus, it is important to know the different ways on how we can be healthy and work at preventing this disease. The following are a few tips that will be helpful in avoiding pneumonia.

1. Keep Yourself Clean. By keeping yourself clean, you are avoiding the spread of germs and bacteria, thus avoiding promoting pneumonia. In addition to that, washing the hands before and after eating as well as after being outside will be helpful in preventing the spread of viruses that may carry pneumonia.
2. Eat Healthy. Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants will be a great move in preventing pneumonia since antioxidants are a good tool in cleansing the body. Thus, it is recommended to include fruits and vegetables on the daily diet. Fruits that are fresh and are in dark color such as cranberries, blueberries, pomegranates and eggplants are much preferred.
3. Exercise. Cardiovascular exercises are good in improving the heart condition as well as the lungs. Thus, engaging in this kind of exercises will also help in improving the capacity of the lungs. Having healthy lungs helps prevent pneumonia. For that reason, having a brisk walking, running, jogging, swimming and even aerobics will be beneficial for you.
4. Quit Smoking. Tobacco smoking can damage the lungs as well as the body’s ability to fight the infection (and others).
5. Vaccinate! You should be aware that there is already a vaccination against pneumonia for children and there are proofs relating to the effectiveness of this inoculation. For that reason, asking your doctor about the vaccination will be the best course of action. Also remember that since babies and seniors are more prone to pneumonia than any other age group, it is best to learn when and how often persons in these age groups should be vaccinated. For infants, the vaccination should be given while they are below two years of age and no earlier than the age of two months. In addition, a booster dose must be given after 12 to 15 months in order to complete the process of vaccination. For adults aged 65 and over, anti-pneumonia vaccines should be given, and the vaccine are recommended for anyone with a lowered immune system.

And here one more review all about Pneumonia and Its Causes

Diabetes symptom, The Typical Signs and Symptoms

You are probably like the majority of people, you avoid going to the doctor for as long as you can. For some of us it’s because of the expense and for others it’s because we don’t want to take the time and for still others, it’s due to a fear of doctors. That fear might be the fear of a diagnosis of a dreaded disease or a fear of needles. Whatever the reason for the avoidance, there are some signs and symptoms that we should not ignore.

Diabetes, if left untreated can lead to some terrible outcomes. In fact, diabetes can sometimes result in problems with loss of feelings in the feet and there may be an impairment in the secretion of oil and sweat which normally lubricates the skin. The impaired immunity system can result in the development of sores that don’t heal and in the worst cases amputation can become necessary.

When your blood sugar is not well controlled, the blood vessels in the eye become weak. This leaks fluid into the part of the eye responsible for vision. Eventually the blood vessels close off, stopping blood flow to the retina. As the disease progresses, new blood vessels form. These vessels are quite fragile and bleed into the eyes causing severe vision problems and blindness.

Retinopathy is a vision problem that is common in diabetes, and sadly, it sometimes results in blindness. This issue is related to problems with the blood flow to the eye. It causes decreased vision and when left untreated leads to blindness. But once again, it should be stressed that with treatment these problems are usually avoided.

Diabetic ketoacidosis can come on very suddenly and the signs can be frightening. However, if you don’t know that they are associated with diabetes they could easily be mistaken for something else. Please see the list below:

• Low blood pressure
• Occasional loss of consciousness
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination (more than is normal)
• Abdominal pain
• Shortness of breath
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Stiff, painful muscles
• Nausea & vomiting

If someone that you know is a diabetic is suffering with two or more of those symptoms you should consider it a medical emergency and seek help immediately. Never take risks with your own or anyone’s health.
Less severe symptoms of diabetes include weight loss. This is associated with the fact that many of the calories consumed are not properly processed in the body and there is a loss of sugar and water in the urine. Excessive thirst is common in this disease. As the blood sugar level rises the body compensates by signaling thirst in an effort to dilute the blood sugar. This of course contributes to increased frequency of urination.
With proper care and treatment diabetes can be controlled. If you suspect that you are suffering with signs and symptoms of this disease you should seek medical help immediate

Warts are caused by a type of a virus; they are not caused by frogs. They are a small area that is usually raised above the surrounding area and the skin feels rough. Most warts are found on the hands or feet, however, warts can also show up on the knees, face, neck and genitalia. Because they are caused by a virus they are contagious so coming in contact with an infected person can result in the spread of the virus, leading to warts on other individuals. The virus can even live on linens and other items used by an infected person and the virus can be spread through contact with those items.

Just as with other illnesses and health issues, some people are more sensitive to the virus than others. Warts are often spread via handshakes. Neither person shaking hands necessarily has warts but one may have come into contact with the virus prior to the handshake. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing other people’s habits when it comes to hand washing or the use of hand sanitizers.

There are lots of prescription medications available for the treatment and removal of warts. Some of the medications work slowly, over a period of weeks and others are made to work within a few minutes. Obviously the quicker methods are a little harsher in some ways but they are very effective. A dermatologist can recommend the best treatment for you. Suggestions may range from removal of dead surface skin, or freezing the wart, to laser treatment.

Many people choose to use over the counter medications. Modern medications provide us with many choices that are effective. Most of the drugs use salicylic acid as an active ingredient. There are two main types of products; one is adhesive pads treated with the acid. This procedure involves a slow regimen of cleaning the area, applying the acid, and then removing the dead skin with an emery board or pumice stone. This process may take several weeks.

Silver nitrate is the other most common form of over the counter wart remover. Silver nitrate can usually be found in the form of a caustic pencil at drug stores. This method may take 3 to 6 daily treatments to be effective.

Another ‘at home’ technique is that of the duct tape occlusion therapy. With this method you simply cover the wart with duct tape for a period of 5 – 6 days. When you remove the tape you should soak the area in water until softened and then scrape with a pumice stone or emery board.