Types of Yeast Infections and How to Treat Them
Our body naturally contains a certain number of microorganisms. These fungi and bacteria remain in the body and help our digestive system, immune system, and bodily functions. The good bacteria in our body helps in maintaining our biological ecosystem by regulating the number of fungi and harmful bacteria.
However, hormonal imbalances, blood sugar levels, stress, and other factors can affect the healthy balance of microorganisms in our bodies. Sometimes taking a lot of antibiotics kills both good and bad bacteria, disrupting our biological ecosystem.
This can lead to an overgrowth of fungi resulting in yeast infection. Most fungal overgrowths are caused by Candida, especially its most common variant called Candida Albicans.
The yeast grows on moist and warm areas of the body and can lead to infection of various kinds. Let us discuss different types of yeast infections and how you can treat them.
1. Vaginal yeast infection
This is the most common type of yeast infection and affects three out of four women. Itching, discomfort, and abnormal vaginal discharge are some of the telltale signs of vaginal yeast infection.
Most vaginal infections are mild and can be treated with an over-the-counter pill for yeast infections. You can buy an antifungal medication from your local medicine shop or even online. A single dose of fluconazole can clear up the signs of infection and provide relief.
However, in some cases, the issue can become severe, resulting in swelling, redness, and cracks on the wall of your vagina. Also, you can experience recurring episodes of infection. In such a case, you need a prolonged treatment with fluconazole, or topical medications to apply inside the vagina.
For chronic and recurring issues, you can also use a boric acid suppository that can help in treating vaginal yeast infections. If you experience severe discomfort or pain, you must consult your health care provider, who can suggest a suitable course of treatment.
2. Oral Thrush
Yeast infection in the mouth and throat is called oral thrush. If you have white patches on your tongue, throat, inner cheeks, and roof of the mouth, chances are you have a yeast infection. You can also experience redness, soreness, loss of taste, and pain in eating or swallowing.
Oral thrush can be treated with a topical antifungal medicine applied to the inside of the mouth for a couple of weeks. If you experience severe symptoms, you should consult your health care provider, who can suggest an oral antifungal pill or an intravenous medication.
If you have a yeast infection in your esophagus, taking fluconazole can be beneficial. However, your doctor may also suggest other prescription medicine.
3. Invasive candidiasis
When Candida spreads to the bloodstream or organs, it is known as invasive candidiasis. It is the most severe form of yeast infection that can affect the heart, eyes, brain, bones, blood, joints, and other body parts.
Hospitalized patients, infants in neonatal units, and people with weak immunity are more susceptible to the disease. As invasive candidiasis affects people who are already sick, it is difficult to distinguish the specific symptoms of infection.
However, most patients experience fever and chills that do not go away with antibiotics. The disease has a high mortality rate and needs immediate attention.
Your health care provider will choose a suitable treatment based on your age, immune system, and severity of infection. Your doctor may suggest an intravenous echinocandin. However, for some patients, fluconazole and other antifungal medications can also be helpful.
4. Small intestine fungal overgrowth
A small intestine fungal overgrowth can result in gastrointestinal symptoms like indigestion, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and other discomforts. To ascertain that you are suffering from SIFO, your doctor may take a fluid sample from your small intestine via an endoscope.
The treatment usually consists of antifungal medication for 15-20 days.
These are some of the common types of yeast infections and their treatment methods. Most yeast infections are treatable with over-the-counter oral pills. However, you need to consult a doctor if you experience severe discomfort.
Cord Blood – A Precious Gift to Your Child
Cord Blood – A Precious Gift to Your Child
The general awareness as regards cord blood and the benefits of storing the same for future usage gets increased steadily. Umbilical cord blood, which hitherto was a waste, has gained high significance these days. Because of this increasing familiarity with the subject, a sizable section of the population is coming forward to preserve the umbilical cord blood as it should be. Experts say that stem cells have a typical curative capacity. This capacity is because of the intrinsic ability to replicate, and this will solve the various types of physical ailments that are par for the course in human life. The list of such diseases includes critical ones like strokes, cerebral palsy, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. You can also check with your doctor and get an expert opinion regarding the cord blood banking option.
One can find a lot of companies that offer cord blood storage. The doctor who attends the delivery will be able to advise you as regards this topic. That said, an internet search is the best way these days to locate a reliable cord blood bank company. However, you must go for a resourceful company from the list of the cord blood bank companies that stay within a proximate area. The company must have the required financial strength and technical expertise, apart from reliable nature. You must consider some practical points while selecting a cord blood bank company. These will be of much help to you to pick the right company.
Points to Ponder While Selecting Cord Blood Bank Companies
An internet search will fetch you the list of leading cord blood bank companies. Thus you will get a feasible option to pick the most suitable company.
• The cord blood bank company must be prompt in its actions. They must make arrangements to collect the cord blood in time and dispatch the same to their office swiftly.
• The lab facility must be super and must have all the technical stipulations. This point is vital, and so you must not overlook it.
• Experience counts a lot. If the company with whom you plan to hand over the cord blood for safe-keeping has relevant practical experiences, you can trust the company. There will not be any functional faults. Accreditation is another main factor. You must check whether the company has received accreditations such as FACT, AABB, ISO, CAP, etc., by which you can check the professional proficiency and reliability of the company.
• The pricing must be reasonable and must be within the budget of all people. It’s a reality that the cost for securing the efficacy of cord blood will be immense. The cord blood bank company will have to invest a large sum of money for buying related machinery and technical expertise. You can compare the pricing and the provided services of some of the companies to pick the best option.
What will be the best gift that one can give to their babies? Of course, something that will offer great assistance to a large extent as regards the preservation of their heath as long as they live here. That’s exactly what you can do by storing the cord blood of your baby. Of course, you will have to find one of the best and reliable cord blood bank companies. Once you do that, it will be, indeed, a precious gift to your child. Cord blood banking is a grand opportunity, which you will get only once in a blue moon. This is one of the best ways, according to the professional opinion of medical experts. They say that this method will help to protect the health of the child in his or her later years. Sure enough, you will have to invest some money for this option as only public cord blood banks will accept the cord blood for free. For getting the assistance of private cord blood banks, one will have to pay the required fees. However, this spending is negligible when compared to the benefits your child will get in the future life.
Five Reasons to Use Indoor Tanning Lotion for a Healthy Tan and Smooth Skin
Everybody wants to get out into the sun this summer as places open up for more people, but what if you haven’t been getting out in the sun for the last year? Well, sometimes that pale, reflective skin can be a bit embarrassing for some people, especially on the first beach trip of the year, when they are looking for a way to get a base tan before hitting the sand and water. That’s where an indoor tanning bed lotion comes in.
Indoor tanning is a popular method for getting that good first base tan of the season, or for maintaining a tan during times when you can’t get to the beach. Setting up an appointment at the local salon or spa can be quite easy, but you need to make sure you are prepared before hitting the tanning bed. The number one item you are going to need for a good tanning session is indoor tanning bed lotion.
Indoor tanning bed lotion is a must for indoor tanning. Not only does it make the process easier and more convenient for you, but it also ensures your skin can remain radiant and healthy after a session with UV lights tanning your skin. These are the top five reasons you should use indoor tanning lotion for every indoor tanning bed session you have.
Deeper Toned Tan
If you go into a tanning bed session with nothing on, you can still get a tan, but it’s not going to be as easy as you would hope, and you are likely to need multiple sessions for the tone you are looking for—even for a base tan. With the use of indoor tanning bed lotion before your tanning sessions, you are going to be taking advantage of the chemicals in the lotion to help your skin get a deeper tone from your tanning sessions. Depending on the type of lotion, you’re either going to get it to help your skin naturally build up more melanin through increased blood flow to the area, or you are going to be applying an actual darkening agent, which will last a few days to keep your tone darker.
Speed Up Tanning
When you book indoor tanning sessions, you will likely be booking in half-hour segments, and if you aren’t using indoor tanning lotion, you may need two full half-hour segments a couple times in the same week to get to the tone you want. With indoor tanning bed lotion, the moisturizers will help keep your skin hydrated through the tanning process, and dry skin is the enemy of UV light tanning. This means indoor tanning bed lotion will drastically reduce the amount of time you need in the bed.
Continued Tan After Session
Many tanning lotions, such as bronzers, actually continue to work after the tanning bed sessions. With a good indoor tanning bed lotion, you can not only lower your exposure time to UV light, but you can also keep tanning after the session is done for a few hours to get that deep tone you want. Remember not to wipe off the lotion until a few hours after the session.
Moisturizes Skin
Keeping your skin moisturized while tanning is very important to keeping your skin healthy, as is reducing the amount of time that is needed in the UV light to get tanned. All the best indoor tanning bed lotions have a good percentage of moisturizer in them, reducing tanning times, the appearance of wrinkles, and giving your skin a healthy glow after the session.
Protects the Skin
While the moisturizers in indoor tanning bed lotion help speed up tanning sessions, good quality lotions also will include antioxidants and other nutrients to help build up your skin to a healthy glow, reducing the risk of wrinkles and helping to fight the signs of aging.
Always remember to read the instructions when you are trying out a new indoor tanning bed lotion. By properly following instructions, including exfoliation steps, you can make sure that your next tanning bed session is a successful one. Getting that base tan for the new summer seasons shouldn’t be hard, and maintaining your tan all year round with indoor tanning can be a breeze with a good indoor tanning bed lotion protecting your skin.
Do Adaptogens Actually Work?
Amazon adaptogens seem to be listed on so many different types of energy drinks and health beverages. They come with multiple health claims and benefits that almost sound too good to be true. Is it just buzz and hype or should people pay closer attention to these natural ingredients?
Why Use Adaptogens?
Amazon adaptogens are naturally occurring herbs that come from non-toxic plants in the Amazon rainforest. Adaptogens are meant to help people’s bodies adapt to both emotional and physical stress. There are many, many different types of adaptogens, and they have different benefits. In general, Amazon adaptogens help people find balance.
Amazon adaptogens offer a wide range of herbal remedies. They can help promote a more restful sleep; they can aid in staying alert during the day; they can help with focus, headaches, dry eyes, and high blood pressure; and the list goes on. Whatever someone is struggling with, there is probably an adaptogen herb that could help.
Adaptogens and Their Uses
There are many different types of Amazon adaptogens with many different herbal uses. Here are the top four adaptogens that can be found in popular health beverages:
1) Yanomami Mushrooms
Yanomami mushrooms are actually a blend of mushrooms found in the Amazon rainforest. They are used most commonly for the nutritional balance they offer. Originally collected and used by Yanomami people, they can now be found in gourmet restaurants. Yanomami mushrooms are a uniquely flavored Amazon adaptogen.
2) Suma Root
Suma root, also known as Brazilian Ginseng, is an Amazon adaptogen that is used to help people’s overall wellbeing. It is said to help fight disease, relieve stress, and is even sometimes used as an aphrodisiac.
3) Acerola Cherry
Acerola cherry grows in areas around Southern Mexico and the Caribbean. Since it does not come from the Amazon, it is not an Amazon adaptogen, but it is still a very powerful adaptogen. Acerola cherry has a very pleasant flavor and is often one of the main adaptogen ingredients in health drinks. It is traditionally used to treat liver health, diarrhea, colds, and coughs. It is also very high in vitamin C.
4) Guarana
Guarana is an Amazon adaptogen that holds its power in the seeds. Guarana extract comes from a powder made out of the seeds of the fruit. This powerful plant is used in many energy drinks because it contains a range of stimulants, including theobromine, theophylline, and caffeine. It is also high in antioxidants. Guarana is also high in tannins, which can help with chronic diarrhea.
Do Amazon Adaptogens Work?
As is the case with many natural remedies, more studies need to be done on the efficacy of adaptogens. So far, though, the research looks promising. Studies have been done that show adaptogens working well to reduce fatigue, improve focus, and soften the effects of anxiety and depression. There are some studies that suggest that adaptogens may be able to help reduce inflammation, too.
Emotional and physical stress cause all sorts of physical side effects within the human body. People may experience achy muscles, exhaustion, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, shaking/jitters, high blood pressure, muscle tension, digestive issues, or even a weaker immune system. Prolonged stress can lead to serious medical complications. Researchers believe that Amazon adaptogens work within people’s systems in order to reduce the body’s stress response.
It is believed that Amazon adaptogens work by altering the body’s hormone responses to stress. It is these responses that cause the unpleasant side effects. Each adaptogen causes different reactions in the body, so many more studies are required to show the exact effects and processes that are involved.
Where to Find Amazon Adaptogens
Amazon adaptogens are becoming more and more common in mainstream grocery stores. They can be found in many energy drinks and health beverages. Since adaptogens commonly grow in sensitive ecological areas, it is important to purchase products that have been harvested responsibly. Look for products that are proud of their sustainability as well as those that pledge to pay the farmers and plant collectors a fair wage.
Look for delicious drinks that include Amazon adaptogens like guarana, Yanomami mushrooms, and suma root in the ingredient list. These adaptogens are especially delicious when paired with flavors like lemon ginger, peach mango, and acai blueberry.
When people are trying Amazon adaptogens for the first time, it is best to start slowly and to always keep moderation in mind. Those interested in the health benefits of adaptogens should consult with a healthcare professional.
Is Vaping Safe? What the Latest Research Says About the Cigarette Substitute
Prolonged smoking harms millions of people around the world annually. There are several thousand toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 70 of which are known carcinogens. Exposure to these chemicals—nicotine, lead, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, polonium-210, arsenic, and others—can give rise to a wide range of health conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease, oral disease, cancer, and many other serious issues.
For the sake of your health, you might want to consider kicking the habit. Giving up smoking is easier said than done, however. The addictive nature of tobacco and the distressing withdrawal symptoms you experience when you stop cold turkey can make for an uphill struggle. To cope better in the transition from tobacco products, many smokers take to vaping.
What is vaping?
Vaping involves the use of e-cigarettes, vape pens, and other vaping devices that contain liquid-filled cartridges. The vaping device heats the liquid, which is infused with nicotine, flavoring, and other chemicals, and the user can then inhale the resulting vapor. It is similar to what you would experience with smoking regular cigarettes and cigars, except without the smoke and smell of burning tobacco. There is no issue of second-hand smoke with vaping and that has been making it more socially acceptable than traditional tobacco products.
In many states in the United States, vaping is legal for people above the ages of 18, 19, or 21. They can buy and use vaping devices, but they are required to follow state-issued laws about where they can engage in vaping in private and public places.
Is vaping safe?
Vaping has been marketed as a safer alternative to smoking. Since vaping devices contain fewer harmful chemicals than regular cigarettes and cigars, the effect on your health will be comparatively less. Does that mean vaping is healthier than smoking? Not necessarily. If you indulge in too much vaping, you could still end up injuring your lungs. It could also activate the bacteria present in your lungs and lead to bacterial infection.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the people most likely to experience lung injuries are those who either modify the vaping devices or alter the vaping liquids.
If you are going to try vaping as a cigar or cigarette substitute, the CDC has the following recommendations:
• Choose high-quality vaping products and devices.
• Do not modify the e-cigarette, vaping pen, or other vaping devices. Use it exactly as instructed by the manufacturer.
• Do not alter the content of the vaping liquid and don’t try to refill cartridges with cheaper black-market stuff.
• Make sure that you do not use vaping liquid containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC vaping products make use of Vitamin E acetate as a thickening agent. According to the CDC, it is a chemical that can harm your lungs.
Other tips for safe vaping
It may also help be moderate in your vaping practice. Since vaping products also contain nicotine, they can get addictive too, just like regular tobacco products. You might also end up inhaling more nicotine than what you would normally get from cigarettes or cigars if you use extra-strength vaping liquid cartridges.
If you are using vaping to quit your smoking habit, make sure that you stop smoking cigarettes and cigars. Otherwise, as with many people, you will end up both smoking and vaping. And the combination won’t bode well for your health.
Recent studies show that people who use both regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes have higher levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress profiles. The levels are significantly lower if you only use e-cigarettes, and much more so if you don’t vape or smoke at all.
So, is vaping safe? Well, as discussed, it depends on how you intend to use it and how determined you are to quit smoking and not get addicted to a new habit. At present, with smoking being frowned upon in many public places around the country, vaping is on the rise. There are currently over 40 million people in the United States who use vaping devices. It seems to be particularly prevalent with the youth, many of whom have never smoked traditional tobacco products and find vaping flavors appealing.
