Weight Loss-The Do's and Don'ts

Weight loss journeys are hard no matter where you start or how far you have come. At some point, most people have tried to lose weight and ended up quitting due to plateauing or receiving improper guidance. Check out these Do's and Don'ts to help keep you on track!

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Obesity and Strokes

Every year, we find several people suffering from a stroke all around the globe. Out of these, many strokes prove to be fatal.

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6 Home Remedies to Treat the Bacterial Vaginosis

Typically, bacterial vaginosis is a type of vaginal infection. It occurs because of the overgrowth of bacteria. Naturally, the vaginal area has both good and bad bacteria.

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Huey Lewis Suffered An Attack of Meniere's Syndrome Causing Loss of Hearing and Balance

Huey Lewis the popular R&B singer recently cancelled all future concert dates when he suffered an attack of Meniere's Syndrome. "The doctors believe I have Meniere's disease and have agreed that I can't perform until I improve," Said Mr. Lewis. The condition causes irregular, cyclic episodes with varying levels of hearing loss, sensitivity to certain sounds, especially metallic sounds, tinnitus, that is, ringing in the ears. Patients often describe it more like a hissing sound or a compressed air leak. Huey Lewis described it as a loud whooshing sound. Meniere's sufferers also experience dizziness and nausea. Otologists trace the problem to the calcium carbonite rocks in the middle ear and their relationship to the microscopic sacs called utricle and saccule, the vestibular nerve connected to the lower portion of Semicircular Canals, and the brain. That is the mechanism that controls balance in humans. Medical researchers believe that pressure caused by a blockage of the electrolyte flow, or an imbalance in the electrolyte, disturbs the motion of the rocks moving over the hairs sending a distorted signal to the brain. We have other senses to help us keep our balance.

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Can Vaping Actually Help Quit Smoking Cigarettes?

Experts are of the opinion that people who use some kind of assistive methods improve their odds of success. It is not advisable to quit smoking cold turkey, which means without any medicine or counseling. Nicotine withdrawal is difficult and those who decide to quit cold turkey are likely to relapse.

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Relocate Your Emergency Patient From Kolkata To Anywhere By Vedanta Air Ambulance

We have picked up trust with years of diligent work and can offer commendable administrations to move your friends and family anywhere generally or simply with no bother. We've got wind of correspondence frameworks which will assist you to reach for us foursquare and acquire speedy and dependable medical facilitate directly.

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Secure Treasure Of ICU, CCU Emergency Services From Siliguri With Advanced Medical Team

This Ambulance fare has the deepest booking amount and revealed cost by which the guests do not have any extra burden due to their reversals. There are the most of the air ambulance service companies in India as well as in the city but they have either high booking charge or hidden cost by which the middle-class people have to face additional load by disbursing the booking cost.

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Hire Most Affordable And Reliable Global Air Ambulance Services From Bagdogra

We are available rounds the clock available on phone to offer multiple spare services; the best team of medical administrators possesses great coordination from the time of reservation to furnish of the evacuation. Latest ICU & CCU equipment, Feedback in the due course of patient transportation and on calls Support, Bed to Bed patient transmission. We are always available for serious and critical patients.

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The Power-Packed Ingredients Dermatologists Recommend for Every Skin Type

A few short years ago, my friends and I thought the height of skincare was remembering to wash our faces at night. Now, people are embracing 10-step routines, and Instagram is littered with face masks and miracle cures. So what should we actually be using?

In an attempt to end some of the confusion — for myself and others — I spoke to dermatologists to get their expert recommendations for the best ingredients for every skin type. Though there are still mountains of products out there, at least now you’ll know what ingredients to look for as you sort through the wild world of skincare.

When you’re on the lookout for new cleansers, serums, moisturizers, or toners, here’s the best stuff to give you a chance at the J.Lo-esque skin of your dreams.

Acne-prone and oily skin: Salicylic acid

“Salicylic acid works inside the pores to loosen clogs and kill acne bacteria,” says Dr. Jacqueline Schaffer, MD, dermatologist and creator of Schique Skincare. “The acid is antibacterial and contains the same anti-inflammatory ingredients as aspirin.” By fighting the germs that cause acne and reducing the inflammation that arises with clogged pores, salicylic acid helps clear the skin without adding shine or oil.

“This is ideal for those who have acne and want to clear up blackheads and whiteheads,” says Schaffer. Still, you can’t drown yourself in this stuff whenever you see a pimple. “Don’t forget to use in moderation because it can cause mild stinging and skin irritation.”

Oily skin: Beta hydroxy acid (BHA)

If acne isn’t a problem, but oiliness is, go for beta hydroxy acid over salicylic acid. Schaffer calls it a “beauty weapon” that works for acne but is especially good for reducing oil. This acid is a little tamer and can be found in everything from facial scrubs to moisturizers.

Dry, sensitive skin: Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)

With sensitive skin, make sure to always test new products carefully. What works for one sensitive-skinned soul, may not work for another. Still, Schaffer finds that alpha hydroxy acids are a great bet. “Glycolic, lactic, mandelic, and citric acids are considered AHAs, and they’re best on skin where breakouts are not a problem.”

Acid and sensitive skin may sound kind of like strawberries and ranch dressing — aka a horrible combination — but these acids are very gentle. Glycolic acid comes from sugar and penetrates deeply into the skin. “It regenerates collagen, thickens the epidermis, dermis, and evens out the skin tone,” says Schaffer. Lactic acid is becoming more widely available and is great for gentle exfoliation. “Mandelic acid is the gentlest one of all. It’s oil-soluble, allowing it to work within the pores as well as on the surface of the skin.”

Dry skin: Honey

Though you could use AHAs for dry, but not necessarily sensitive skin, Schaffer recommends this pantry favorite. “The composition of honey is considered a humectant that attracts moisture and keeps it locked inside,” says Schaffer. The Central Asian Journal of Global Health found that honey also has powerful antimicrobial properties and it might help modulate the skin’s immune system.

Combination skin: Hyaluronic acid

Finding that perfect ingredient that doesn’t dry out your skin or clog your pores can be tough for folks with combo skin. Dr. Arisa Ortiz, MD, recommends hyaluronic acid because it both “hydrates the skin and smooths the appearance of fine lines without feeling greasy.” This ingredient is able to fight both oiliness and dryness, which sounds like some serious skin voodoo. But hyaluronic acid’s ability to work both ends of the spectrum earn it enthusiastic reviews from dermatologists as a treatment for combo skincare.

Hyperpigmentation: Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone may sound like a forgotten Marvel character or a super craft cocktail, but it helps with dark spots. “Hydroquinone turns down the volume on melanocytes that are producing too much melanin that causes the hyperpigmentation,” says Schaffer. She cautions that you shouldn’t use this to “bleach your skin” or expect hyperpigmentation to disappear. “Using hydroquinone only helps prevent future pigmentation, so be sure not to fall for any gimmicks.”

Blotchy skin: Tea tree oil

Uneven skin tone can strike at any time, though in my experience it seems to pop up whenever you’re going on some super Instagram-worthy trip. To combat blotchiness, Schaffer recommends tea tree oil. “Sticking to soft ingredients like tea tree oil nurtures the skin and helps provide an even skin tone.” You can use the essential oil on its own or in a cleanser or moisturizer of your choice.

Aging skin: Retinol

While we embrace our unique beauty at every age, many of us would prefer to downplay lines and wrinkles. And there are a lot of products that promise to do just that, but most are scientifically iffy, at best. A study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that retinol is one of the best options.

The study found that 0.4 percent topical retinol showed anti-aging effects by improving the homeostasis of the epidermis and dermis, stimulating the proliferation of keratinocytes and endothelial cells, and activating dermal fibroblasts. The study showed evidence that 0.4 percent topical retinol is a promising and safe treatment to naturally improve aged human skin.

Last but not least, everyone should use a toner

“The purpose of a toner is to really clean the skin,” says Dr. Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD, medical director of Mudgil Dermatology. “It’s best used after cleansing with your usual face wash, which sometimes can leave behind some impurities and dead skin cells.”

I was very skeptical about this whole toner deal until my friend (who has incredible skin and doesn’t seem to have aged in the last 14 years) said a good toner was her No. 1 recommendation. Since then, I’ve used a toner every night, and my super dry skin seems to hold in a bit more moisture and generally just feels nice.

But you don’t have to trust just me or my random friend — Mudgil is also adamant about toners. Here are the toner ingredients he recommends for the most common skin types:

• Dry skin: Opt for emollient-based toners. Look for essential oils or glycerin, but avoid alcohol.
• Oily skin: Choose clay-based toners. The clay helps remove excess oil.
• Acne-prone skin: Toners containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid work best.

Sensitive/eczema-prone skin: Aloe-based toners are soothing and nonirritating.

Of course, if you have another ingredient you swear by, use it! Doctors know their stuff, but everyone reacts differently to skincare products. So, stick with the things you love, but give these ingredients a try if you want something new and doctor-approved.

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For Years I Focused on Being Skinny — One Day, I Realized It's About Being Healthy

I’m not what you may consider a thin person. I’ve got thick thighs, a doughy middle, and a double chin. Even at my thinnest, which was sometime in high school when I took my metabolism for granted, I still had a small pooch in my lower abdomen. It drove me crazy. I wondered why I couldn’t have the same body as everyone else.

Despite my personality, I thought guys were never going to go for me because of the way I looked. And I was right. I was told that I was friend material, not dating material. The fat funny friend, some would say. I had a dance teacher that told me I was too fat to be a ballerina. I had judgmental family members who would point out when my weight would fluctuate.

Those comments stick with you. They carve out little spaces in your brain that make you think that who you are is dependent upon how you look — and what you’ll do to look better. It created an unhealthy relationship with me and food and me and my weight. It most certainly created an unhealthy perception of my value. My worth became dependent predominantly on my waistline.

After high school, I stayed home and went to school while all of my friends went away. I read books and watched movies and wasn’t concerned with my weight. I got into a good workout routine and had maintained a pretty good weight. But when my friends would come home, I would revert back to feeling like that fat, funny friend. I loved my personality, but wanted — just once or twice — for someone to compliment me on how I looked instead of telling me I was funny. That’s how much stock I had put into my fitness — it wasn’t about health, it was really about my looks.

By the end of college, I had started dating my current boyfriend and let my workouts fall to the side in favor of spending time with him. I put on “relationship weight” from the late-night snacks and the tour of Mexican restaurants we always seemed to be on. I realized too late that I had gone up two pant sizes and began feeling self-conscious. I would get frustrated and fed up when pushing myself at the gym wasn’t working. I’d give up soda, stop eating sweets. I’d deprive myself and still my waistline wouldn’t change.

It started to upset me more and more. I was so wrapped up in how I looked that I didn’t even want to be seen. I wouldn’t change in front of my boyfriend. I would freak out before weddings and bridal showers and baby showers and tell my friends that I didn’t want to go because I didn’t want anyone to see me like this.

I was so mad at my workouts for not producing results that I was willing to miss milestones in my friend’s lives because of how I looked in a dress.

The whole process got to be so exhausting. I hated working out and not seeing results. I hated reading that stress was making everything worse, which only stressed me out more. I wasn’t getting enough sleep due to my workaholic tendencies. All of the meal prepping and gym sessions in the world wasn’t enough anymore. So, I started to stop caring. Stopped being diligent about what I ate and what I was doing.

I just gave up.

When August rolled around last year, I started to freak out for another reason. I realized I had only one year left of my 20s and I wanted to do a major overhaul. I would still retain all of the wonderful qualities I possessed, such as my humor and loyalty, my empathy and intellect — but I would take a good hard look at myself and see what needed to be changed.

I didn’t want to drag all of the negative energy of my 20s into my 30s. I wanted to go into the next decade of my life with better intentions, better energy, and most importantly: a better body.

So, I started meal prepping again. I upped my veggie intake, only used lean meats or tuna, made my snacks fruit or nuts. The only beverages I was allowing myself were water and green tea. I’d have a margarita here or a Dr. Pepper there, but I drank enough water to outweigh it.

I started taking the long way at work so I could get more steps in. I repurchased BeachBody hoping I could find a program that would really help me go for it and be thinner and looking better. Over the next few months, I stuck with it. I indulged here and there, but never anything that offset all of my hard work.

Then the holidays came.

December was such a busy month that I barely had time to breathe let alone find the time to stick to my workout plan. Then the holiday parties started and with them the delicious desserts and decadent dinners. I had always looked forward to these once-a-year treats and this year was no different. During my holiday break from work, I stopped eating healthy and stopped working out. And I felt terrible.

A few days before I was due back at work, I started to feel sick. My stomach was always in knots and I wasn’t sleeping through the night. I was irritable and couldn’t figure out why. Until it dawned on me that I hadn’t touched a vegetable in nearly two weeks and the only fruit I’d had was baked into a crumble. And while the laziness was welcome, I soon felt like I needed to get up, move around and be active.

That’s when it clicked. I wasn’t feeling terrible for any reason other than I had stopped taking care of myself. That’s when I realized that if I wanted to make a change in the way I was thinking, I had to stop seeing what I was doing as a weight loss journey, but rather a health journey.

It wasn’t about vanity and how I looked, though that never hurt anyone either. It was about changing habits and making better choices for my health and how I feel on the inside. I realized that half of the battle was knowing that what I was doing was going to keep me feeling better and stronger in the long run.

If I took care of myself and focused on being healthy rather than skinny, I’d feel better mentally and physically. Now I look at my meal prep and think, I’m giving my body what it needs to stay strong.

I choose workouts that are going to be enjoyable and challenging, but won’t push myself to do something I can’t. I remember that everyone’s body is different and that their bodies react differently to workouts than mine do. I think about how great I feel after a workout and how well I’ll sleep after.

Changing my perspective on what I was doing to change my physical health had an impact on my mental health that I hadn’t anticipated. I now see myself in a different way. Sure, I’d still like to look like Blake Lively on the red carpet, but I don’t have her budget or personal trainer. Outward physical changes will happen over time, but it’s knowing that you’re fixing your unhealthy tendencies and living a healthier life that’s so much more important.

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Tomatoes Have a 'Secret' Ingredient That Your Skin Loves

Looking for really healthy, beautiful skin? You might want to eat more marinara sauce.

It sounds like a joke, but it turns out the classic combo of olive oil and tomatoes is filled with goodies that may give your skin an antioxidant boost to calm inflammation, reduce sun damage, and fight back against fine lines.

Sadly, this doesn’t mean we get to binge on pizza or penne in the name of glowing skin. At this point, scientists haven’t found any proven skin benefits of mozzarella cheese and wheat flour (yes, it makes me sad too). But more and more dermatologists are telling people to get on the tomato train because of the many benefits of something called lycopene — the nutrient your skin never even knew it needed.

To find out more about the connection between tasty tomatoes and super skin, I spoke to dermatologists to get the straight scoop on lycopene.

Lyco-what?

Lycopene is a red nutrient in the carotenoids family that gives tomatoes, watermelons, and guavas their signature hue. Though it’s found naturally in a few red and pink fruits and vegetables, tomatoes have the most lycopene by far. As the tomato ripens, its lycopene content gets higher and higher.

So why are these ripe, red tomatoes so good for us? “Lycopene is a great food-derived antioxidant with many skin benefits that span the entire skin wellness spectrum,” says Karin Hermoni, PhD, head of science & nutrition at Lycored. “The nutrient not only quenches free radicals but also induces the body’s own protection mechanism against oxidative stress and inflammation, enhancing skin resilience and allowing skin cells to better cope with the environment.”

In simpler terms: When you have too many free radicals, it stresses the body. Antioxidants render the free radicals harmless, helping reduce stress, inflammation, and signs of aging.

Lycopene is an especially strong antioxidant, so it can help your overall health along with the appearance of your skin. Plus, antioxidants help reverse signs of aging, which means plumper skin and reduced fine lines. All in all, tomatoes help you look a little younger and feel a little better.

What exactly does lycopene do for skin?

“Antioxidants help prevent and undo damage to collagen in the skin. Lycopene specifically helps prevent skin discoloration, texture changes, and fine lines and wrinkles,” says dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse of Stay Skin Safe.

Lycopene can’t turn back the clock, but by increasing your lycopene intake, you can boost the health of the collagen in your skin and stop some of the fine lines before they start.

Lycopene can benefit any skin type, but works especially well for sensitive and aging skin. “Tomatoes act as an astringent and can reduce the appearance of large pores,” says Shainhouse. Also, the antioxidant calms the body’s inflammatory process, reducing redness and irritation, according to Hermoni. Add the anti-aging properties and lycopene has something to offer for all kinds of skin.

But what really sets lycopene apart from all the other antioxidants is its potential effect on sun damage. A study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that lycopene supplements helped protect the skin from UV rays.

The small study found that participants who took extra lycopene had significantly less sun damage compared to the placebo group. That doesn’t mean you can chomp on a tomato and forgo the sunscreen. “The use of sunscreen and tomato carotenoids may increase skin resilience and support a healthy relationship with the sun,” says Hermoni.

The best ways to get more lycopene

Though you can get more lycopene through your diet, will that really help your skin? Hermoni says yes! For best results, she suggests using both topical and dietary treatments. That might mean adding a lycopene-rich serum or a mask to your skin care routine. But the dietary piece of the puzzle is still the most important.

“It was shown that carotenoids from ingestible products contribute more to the accumulation of carotenoids in the skin, compared to the topical,” says Hermoni. “So, if you are going to choose only one, opt for a healthy diet over a carotenoid mask.”

That said, a lycopene topical treatment won’t hurt, so if you’re in the mood to try a different ingredient in your serums or toners, give a tomato-based product a try.

“It’s important to note that lycopene works best for skin when it can team up with other tomato phytonutrients. Eating the whole tomato or supplementing with tomato-based products will provide better nourishment to our body and skin compared to supplementing with lycopene alone,” says Hermoni. Since lycopene is oil-soluble, she suggests cooking tomatoes in olive oil for optimal absorption. So yep, marinara sauce is good for your skin.

Lycopene: Love it or leave it?

There are lots of antioxidants and vitamins out there that can help your skin, but lycopene is an exceptionally easy ingredient to add to your diet — and skin care routine. A few extra bowls of tomato soup won’t transform your skin, but regular added lycopene seems to show real promise for preventing damage and protecting your skin from the sun.

Beyond helping your skin, lycopene helps reduce stress and inflammation in the entire body, and you can get the benefits with only the additional cost of a few ripe tomatoes. “Lycopene lays a foundation for different systems in our body to function in an optimal manner. This includes healthy blood flow, metabolism, and more,” says Hermoni. “Today we know that health is the foundation on which beauty can thrive. When our entire body is balanced and well, this is reflected on the outside.”

With a few extra tomatoes a week, you could reap double benefits: a bit more balance within plus glow-worthy skin.

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How Medical Coding Is Helping the Healthcare Industry?

Medical coding has become one of the most crucial parts of the healthcare industry these days. These medical codes are used to enhance the overall effectiveness of operations in this industry. There are different types of codes that are used for different types of activities and billing purposes, so that there are no redundancies and aberrations in healthcare operations. This is the reason why being a medical coder has become an attractive career choice, as many young professionals are getting trained for this career path. There are several advantages of medical coding in different industrial aspects, and they are discussed below.

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Medical Coding: A Career in the Healthcare Industry to Look Out for

There are plenty of opportunities when it comes to the field of medicine, with a recent demand in medical coding and billing. Medical coding has become a very important part of operations in the healthcare facilities and various other medical requirements such as, research and funding. For more insight continue reading below.

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Electronic Medical Records: Ensuring Effective Treatment and Patient Safety

With a wide digital advent across every industry, it is no surprise that the medical and healthcare field has followed suit. Most work in a healthcare facility is done online using the various softwares and tools. Similarly, recordkeeping in the hospital or a medical unit has also shifted from the conventional paper-based technique to the digital version - electronic medical record (EMR).

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Reasons Why a Career in Medical Coding and Billing Have Become So Popular

The medical industry can be counted as one of the most difficult fields to enter. This is due to the long periods of training and courses to excel in this field. We tend to forget, however, that other than being a physician or a specialist, there are many other alternative careers available, such as a medical coder or a medical billing specialist. Today, medical coding and billing jobs have become one of the most important back-office work in healthcare institutes, clinics and research.

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