The onset of winter brings with it chilly and dry winds. For some, it s the time to enjoy the chill weather with hot water baths and soothing drinks, and for others it s time to brave the long persistent cold and flu like symptoms which cause sickness and discomfort.

People who are allergic to the winter season can catch a cold on the slightest exposure to cold air. Sometimes, it s difficult to ascertain whether it is cold or an external allergen. In people prone to winter allergies, the allergies are mainly caused due to the allergens present in the environment. Mostly, winter allergies are also caused by the same allergens that are triggered in the summer season. 

Thus, people who have some or the other form of seasonal allergy is likely to suffer from allergies as the season changes.

Pet dander (flakes of skin in an animal's fur or hair) allergies are believed to escalate in winter since pets are mostly indoors during this season. The best way to deal with this is keeping the pet s area clean and dry, washing and changing of the bedding regularly, and avoiding physical contact as much as possible.
Dampness of clothes, blankets and shoes at home can be an allergy trigger for many people. The best way to control this type of allergy is to keep damp clothes and shoes in sun for some time. However, this may not work in many countries with extreme cold climates, which lack sunshine in their environment.
Decaying leaves and other yard waste can cause allergies due to mould and mildew. Mopping and sweeping the floors and garden can help alleviate the problem to some extent.
Dry climate can cause irritation in the nose and throat. It s important to replenish the body with adequate liquids and water rich fruits and veggies. It s important to choose your drinks wisely. Too much tea or coffee can also dehydrate the body. Go for ginger lemon honey infused in warm water for best results.
Allergy symptoms can also be caused due to too much moisture in the environment. It can give rise to a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Thus it s best to avoid sitting in a moist environment for long.
Sinus congestions are also common during the winter season. Steam inhalation and hot showers can help relieve the symptoms and provide relief.
Whether you are allergic to pets, moisture, dampness, dry weather or chilled winds, the thumb rule is twofold to understand what triggers your allergies and to avoid your exposure to those allergens. As we all know, allergies have no cure and they need to be managed. Drugs also help in controlling the allergy symptoms to some extent. However, it s best to prevent them as far as possible. If you are confused about what triggers your allergy, make sure to consult your doctor.

Allergy - Best Ways Ayurveda Can Help Manage It!

Is your child refusing to grab anything other than chicken nuggets? When your child s nutrition is an aching subject to deal with in your household, remember you are not the only one. Many parents are actually worried about the fussiness of their children over food. But your child s food preferences would also mature with age. Until then, you can consider trying out these following tips to avoid any kind of mealtime hassles.


Respect your child's appetite or lack of one: Respect your child s level of appetite and never force a meal, if your child is not hungry. Rather, serve small portions to give them an opportunity to ask for more, on their own.
Stick to the routine: Maintain a routine and serve snacks and meals at about the same time every day. Also, keep a check on the number of times you serve those mid meal snacks and try to stick to that count.
Be patient with new foods: Have patience with new food. Take time in introducing it to your child by talking about the food s shape, color, aroma and texture, if not the taste.
Make it fun: Try out innovative ways of garnishing your food so as to make the whole eating experience a fun and a thrilling one for your child.
Recruit your child's help: At the grocery store, ask your child to help you select vegetables, fruits and other healthy foods. But keep off those foods which you would not want you child to eat.
Set an example: Set an example by yourself by eating all kinds of nutritious and healthy foods, in order to set that perfect example for your child.
Cut Distractions: Make sure to switch off from any sort of a distraction, such as the television or the washing machine and other electronic gadgets while feeding your child.
Don't offer dessert as a reward: Do not reward your child with desserts at the end of the meal as this sends them an indication that the dessert is the best dish among all.
Do not cook a separate meal: Do not cook a separate meal for your child after he/she has refused the original one as this might encourage picky eating even more.

How To Deal With Picky Eaters (Children)?

28th July is considered to be World Hepatitis Day. Viral hepatitis can invade the human body in a variety of ways, but it is in your hands to prevent this infection from intruding your body and mess with your health. Hepatitis is a disease that takes a toll on the human liver. There are 5 different types of hepatitis from Hepatitis A to E, but there are ways you can take to prevent yourself against the same, such as:

Know how the Hepatitis spread: On the basis of the different types of Hepatitis, there are two main ways by which hepatitis gets its way from one person to another, contact with infected blood and body fluid as well as contact with the infected stool. It is important to note here that Hepatitis A and E are carried through the faeces of the affected individual. Also, a person may get infected with Hepatitis A and E even if you consume contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B, C along with D can also spread through the infected blood. 
Get the proper immunization: There are vaccines available all across the world to prevent spreading Hepatitis A and B. But it is crucial to point here that it is not possible to prevent Hepatitis C and D and sometimes Hepatitis E as well. But the Hepatitis C can be cured when the patient has received effective anti-viral medications. There are no vaccinations for Hepatitis D but the virus causing this infection requires Hepatitis B for survival. Therefore, getting vaccinated against Hepatitis B will help prevent the disease from affecting you.
Get the right precautions while travelling: When travelling, no one can tell whether you will get access to clean and purified water. Water contaminated with impurities can lead to Hepatitis A as well as E. You should take proper precautions and immunizations in the first place. If you are going to a place that doesn t have access to clean water, you should steer clear from ice cubes, running tap water, cut fruits and raw vegetables which may have been cleaned in the water with impurities.
By being aware and taking necessary precaution, getting affected by hepatitis can be prevented.

World Hepatitis Day - How You Can Prevent Yourself?

Anger is an inherent part of human nature. Regardless of whether a person is consciously or subconsciously aware of the feeling, our emotions are often overpowered by violence, hatred, and aggression. Much has been studied and said about the primitive negative fantasies of a child that later stems itself in the form of anger and aggression. In a modern-day world, it is crucial to managing one s anger by allowing positivity to take control and purge out the negative emotion.

Why is anger management crucial?
If one is not able to manage their anger, it can affect one s mental health while directly hampering professional and personal relationships. Anger management is a must for people who are not able to exercise control over their temper and allow this emotion to take control over their lives. Lack of anger management is one of the root problems in most urban countries including India. Steps should be taken to reduce its effects for so that there is an overall benefit for an individual and society at large.

How to manage anger?
Anger management is meant to help people control their anger practically while boosting the physical and mental wellness of the affected person.

Here are six effective tips to manage anger-

One should not pressurize oneself to be perfect. You should expect others to do their job well while avoiding anger and frustration in case there is any underperformance or failure in living up to the specified standards.
If one has gone through a traumatic past, it is important to confide in someone rather than sulking or brooding over it.
It is important to provide quality time for oneself so that one can derive pleasure and happiness and therefore be surrounded by a positive emotion.
One must try to handle the situation diplomatically rather than getting angry and allowing the situation to go out of hand.
The age-old remedy of counting backwards plays a commendable role in this regard. You should allow yourself some time to regain the composure and not lose the temper completely. Developing a positive outlook towards people and situations offers a new perspective on life and can save the day.
Expression of anger need not always be violent; you can choose to be quiet or avoid a particular situation if possible. This can save your relationships as well.
Both anger and stress are co-related, and their management also works in similar ways. This may be attributed to the fact that both these emotions comprise of similar constituents and can affect any person in detrimental ways. Prolonged stress and anger can take a toll on both emotional and physical health and therefore, it is necessary to control them and reduce its impact.

6 Effective Tips For Better Anger Management!

The gastrointestinal tract is a large muscular tube that extends all the way from the mouth to the rectum in human beings. It is also called the digestive tract or alimentary canal. The muscles in this tube move the food, all the way to the stomach, from the mouth and then, due to the release of enzymes, the food is digested. The components of the gastrointestinal tract are the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder etc. 

Symptoms of gastrointestinal tract problems include:

Pain
Abdominal distension
Heartburn
Bloating
Nausea
Vomiting
Constipation 
Diarrhea
Some of the most common gastrointestinal tract problems are:

Chest Pain: Also known as Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease, this happens if the stomach acids travel back into one s esophagus. This phenomenon is commonly called an acid reflux. Often, it could occur after meals. It is quite common to experience this every once in a while. However, having these on a daily basis or at least thrice a week should not be ignored, as it could be a symptom of GERD.
Celiac Disease:  This refers to severe gluten sensitivity, a protein present in rye, wheat and barley. People who suffer from this disease are advised to avoid consumption of gluten in any form. The consumption of gluten sends the immune system on attack mode, damaging the villi which are found in the small intestine, that help to absorb nutrients from the food consumed. 
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The feeling of discomfort and stomach pain, at least thrice a month for a prolonged period of time, maybe a symptom of IBS. What causes IBS  is unknown, but the treatment is to avoid foods which produce gas. A diet low in fats and high in fiber content is also advised. 
Hemorrhoids: Blood during bowel movements is a sign of hemorrhoids. It happens when the blood vessels present towards the end of one s digestive tract get inflamed. The causes may include diarrhea, chronic constipation, or a low fiber diet. OTC creams may give temporary relief. A high fiber diet, drinking a lot more water, and exercising regularly is advised. 
Crohn s Disease: This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks cells in your own body. Crohn s disease is part of a group of digestive conditions called inflammatory bowel disease. Some symptoms include weight loss, rectal bleeding and abnormal pain.       
Gallstones: These are hard deposits that form in the gallbladder. They occur when there is a high amount of waste or cholesterol in your bile. Gallstones block the passage from the gallbladder to the intestines, which may result in a sharp pain felt in the upper right region of the abdomen. Medication to dissolve the gallstones or surgery is advised.
The gastrointestinal tract is very important and should be taken care of properly. Any discomfort shouldn t be ignored. 

6 Most Common Gastrointestinal Problems!

Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis occurs due to the presence of extremely sensitive sweat glands in certain body portions. It is a condition in which you sweat more than the normal amount and this can be attributed to temperature, anxiety levels and daily routine.

Symptoms: If the excessive sweating is limited within the underarm, the feet, the face and the palm of your hand, then it is diagnosed as primary focal hyperhidrosis, which is relatively harmless in nature and does not presuppose any serious medical condition. However, excessive sweating might cause severe mental and emotional problem for the affected person. In most of the cases of primary hyperhidrosis, the person suffers from a very early age, but is too embarrassed to check it up by a doctor. Primary hyperhidrosis can also be part-hereditary in nature. However, an early diagnosis might eliminate Primary Hyperhidrosis completely.

But, if excessive sweating occurs at a later stage and all around your body that interrupts your daily schedule, then you should check up with your doctor, as that might be a warning sign for far more serious medical conditions like cancer, malaria, diabetes, heart attack, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, thyroid problems, serious nerve and hormonal anomalies, etc. Also, if you experience excessive sweating at night and that too all of a sudden, you must go for a check-up. This form of Hyperhidrosis, known as Secondary Hyperhidrosis is sometimes accompanied by symptoms of nausea, giddiness in the head, the sudden rise of temperature up to 40 degrees Celsius and an intense pain in the chest.

Treatments: Primary Hyperhidrosis is diagnosed with antiperspirants which have high aluminum salt content like Drysol, Xerac AC; these are to be applied to the affected regions at night with a suitable prescription from the doctor. A prescribed dosage of anti-depressants and Botulinum toxin injections can be used to treat excessive sweating. Surgical procedures like removal of sweat glands can be applied, if excessive sweating occurs only in the underarm regions. You can also opt for nerve surgery if Hyperhidrosis is limited to your hand.

Excessive Sweating - Know the Signs!

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