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Symptoms and Treatments for Shingles

Generally, shingles heal well and problems are few. However, on occasion, the blisters can become infected with bacteria, causing cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the skin. If this occurs, the area will become reddened, warm, firm, and tender. You might notice red streaks forming around the wound. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your health-care professional. Antibiotics can be used to treat these complications.

Shingles isn't infectious in the same way as chickenpox, where the virus can be passed on to other people by coughs and sneezes. However, the virus can be passed on by direct contact with fluid from shingles blisters, until they dry up and crust over. This can cause chickenpox in people who aren't already immune to it. People with shingles should avoid contact with people who have a lowered immunity, babies or pregnant women (see Who is most likely to get shingles?). If the rash is covered, the virus is less likely to be spread.

Shingles symptoms generally disappear within three to five weeks. However, treatment is recommended to help encourage shingles pain relief. Your health care provider can offer you oral antiviral medications, including acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, in order to speed up the course of the shingles disease. You may also be prescribed pain relieving medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

Shingles symptoms happen in stages. At first you may have a headache or be sensitive to light. You may also feel like you have the flu but not have a fever. Later, you may feel itching, tingling, or pain in a certain area. That's where a band, strip, or small area of rash may occur a few days later. The rash turns into clusters of blisters. The blisters fill with fluid and then crust over. It takes 2 to 4 weeks for the blisters to heal, and they may leave scars. Some people only get a mild rash, and some do not get a rash at all.

Doctors can distinguish shingles from chickenpox (or dermatitis or poison ivy) by the way the spots are distributed. Since shingles occurs in an area of the skin that is supplied by sensory fibers of a single nerve--called a dermatome--the rash usually appears in a well-defined band on one side of the body, typically the torso; or on one side of the face, around the nose and eyes. (Shingles' peculiar name derives from the Latin cingulum, which means girdle or belt.) If a diagnosis is in doubt, lab tests can confirm the presence of the virus.

The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be significantly reduced by immediate treatment with antiviral drugs, which include acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famcyclovir. Antiviral drugs may also help stave off the painful aftereffects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia (see section entitled "What are the Complications of Shingles?). Doctors now recommend starting antiviral drugs within 72 hours of the first sign of the shingles rash. Early treatment is believed to reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia and may speed up the healing process.

How to Get Rid of Cold Sores

Having cold sores can be depressing. It's also frustrating and a hassle trying to cure them. So, what I'm going to do is share with you some tips on how to get rid of cold sores. That way, you will know how to cure your sores and have more confidence in yourself.

Instead of trying to get rid of cold sores, it is better if you can prevent getting the virus in the first place. Cold sores can be spread from person to person through skin contact, such as kissing, touching, and oral sex. It is important to not use personal items of a person with HSV-1 such as drinking glasses, toothbrushes, or towels.

Another technique on how to quickly get rid of cold sore is keeping the cold sore as clean as possible. The application of hydrogen peroxide in the area affected will do the trick. It is also important to avoid foods that are the common offenders with regards to cold sore. These foods are those that contain acids.

If getting rid of cold sores for you means healing a current cold sore fast, or preventing cold sores before they can occur, this article will help. The key to success is deactivating the herpes virus. Keeping it in this dormant stage will prevent future cold sores.


Using petroleum jelly is the third way to get rid of cold sores. Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly (or vaseline) to your cold sore. This will help prevent your sores from cracking and spreading. So, apply it to your sores at least two times a day, once in the morning and again at night.

Using ice is the first way to get rid of cold sores. Ice will help keep your sores from spreading and becoming worse. Also, it will help prevent a breakout. So, if you feel that you are about to have a breakout, rub ice on the area to prevent the sore from developing.

If you want to get rid of cold sore fast, you must try lysine ointment. The ointment is very effective and up to a reduction of 50% time in recovery has been noticed and you will get all right within three to four days with this medicine. You will be perfectly ok by fourth day and there will be no symptoms any more. The medicine is available over the counter and is very cheap.

Catching the tingles quickly is the best way to get rid of a cold sore fast. If you wait till it reaches the blister stage, it is already full-blown and in it's ugly red inflamed appearance.Taking l-lysine internally is very good prevention, but if you've forgotten to do so, it is still worth taking it orally after you notice the tingle. Just as it's easier to pull out a weed that is one inch versus six feet, the same with any health problem. The earliest stages are the easiest to uproot it.

Home Remedies For Sore Throat

A sore throat, also known as pharyngitis, is inflammation or redness of the tissues, sometimes with yellowish/white pus on the tonsils. It is a common problem that each one of us faces in our lifetime. Sore throats are mainly caused by bacteria or viruses, affecting mostly children and young adults. Sore throat can continue for more than 48 hours. Sore throats can also be caused by allergic reactions or allergies and tobacco smoke.

The symptoms of a sore throat include pain, particularly on swallowing, painful swollen glands in the neck and drooling of saliva. For both a cough and sore throat, it's essential to get medical guidance and a diagnosis early, particularly if the child has a fever or is normally unwell, or if the cough is frequent.

User Recommended Home Remedies for Sore Throat:

1) Steep 1 teaspoon dried chamomile in 1 cup of hot water. Strain and let it cool to lukewarm and gargle as required.

2) Bishop's weed is valuable for sore throat cure. An infusion of the Bishop's weed seeds mixed with common salt can be used beneficially as a gargle in a sharp condition caused by a cold. This is good Home Remedy for Sore Throat.

3) Prepare the gargle of fenugreek seeds by putting two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in a litre of cold water and allowed this to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. This should then be allowed to cool to a supportable temperature, strained, and then used completely as a gargle.

4) Tamarind is also beneficial in the treatment of sore throat. A powder of the dry tamarind leaves and an infusion of the bark can be used for preparation of a gargle for sore throat cure. This is another effective Home Remedies for Sore Throat.

5) Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup cider vinegar and mix in 1 cup warm water. Gargle after every 15 minutes as required.

6) Mix lemon juice and 1 tablespoon each of honey in 1 cup warm water. Sip this mixture little by little.

7) The curative herb sage is a great sore-throat gargle. Mix 1 teaspoon of sage in 1 cup boiling water and steep for 10-15 minutes then strain. Add to it 1 teaspoon cider vinegar and honey, and then gargle four times a day. This is also very good Home Remedy for Sore Throat.

8) Listerine mouthwash can be used as gargle. Pour a small amount of it into a cup for gargle.

9) Raspberry leaf tea can be used as gargle. Pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons dried leaves and steep for 10 minutes then strain. Allow to cool. This gargle can also be used as a fever-reducing drink. This is another effective Home Remedy for Sore Throat.

Symptoms and Risk Factors of High Cholesterol

High cholesterol is bad for your health and even can be one of major warning signs that your risk of heart disease increases. Therefore, it is important to consider what you eat and do regularly tests (once in five years if you are over the age of 20 or should be more frequently for men who are over the age of 35 & women who are over the age of 45)! And one of frequently asked questions when talking about cholesterol is the symptoms of high cholesterol!

You might also like to read about normal cholesterol levels by age, how to lower cholesterol naturally and foods to lower cholesterol, before continuing!

And before discussing about the signs or symptoms of high cholesterol, it's much better to completely understand what actually high cholesterol is!

What is high cholesterol?

The body needs certain amounts of cholesterol. But if the level of this fat-like substance is too over -- this can be a serious problem that can interfere with the function of your arteries. High cholesterol will generate more plaques in the arteries, which eventually will influence the performance of the heart muscle.

These plaques can make the arteries harden. Poor performance of arteries can cause shortness of breath and chest pain, and even these plaques can make the arteries stop working (in the severe stage) which then can cause a serious heart attack!

LDL or low-density lipoprotein is a kind of cholesterol that can create more plaques in the arteries (artery clogging). That’s why LDL is always referred to ‘bad cholesterol’.

There is also another type of cholesterol that familiar called HDL or high-density lipoprotein. Unlike LDL -- HDL is always referred to ‘good cholesterol’. Higher levels of HDL are better for your health, because it can be so helpful for your body to remove low-density lipoprotein from the blood.

In other words, the ideal of your cholesterol to promote good health is higher in HDL and lower in LDL!

Symptoms of high cholesterol

Unfortunately there are no any symptoms that you experience when you have high cholesterol. Therefore, as mentioned before you should regularly screening test to keep monitoring your cholesterol. The cholesterol tests are also familiar called lipid profile blood tests.

No any symptoms of high cholesterol are the reason why this condition can be so lethal because people with high LDL are more likely to don’t know it, especially for those who don’t have regularly screening tests!
For more detailed information how often you should do a cholesterol test, talk with your doctor!

Risk factors

There are some conditions or factors that can increase your risk of having high cholesterol which then can cause heart disease! Some of these conditions may include:
  • Eating a lot of unhealthy foods that are high in cholesterol (poor diet), like full-fat & red meat dairy products.
  • You are an individual who have a family history of heart disease.
  • You have high blood pressure! Increased pressure in the walls of arteries can speed the buildup of fatty deposits.
  • You are smoking. Some studies found that smoking may decrease the level of your HDL /good cholesterol!
  • You have diabetes! High level of blood sugar can contribute to decrease HDL and increase LDL!
  • Poor exercise! We all agree that having regular exercise is so important for your health, including for helping your body to lower LDL and boost up HDL.
  • Being overweight! If BMI (Body Mass Index) of your body is 30 or more -- your risk of having high cholesterol is higher.

Tips to Stop Under Eye Wrinkles Naturally

Although wrinkle can signify understanding, most populace these days would quite not have them.Many crop and events promise to decrease wrinkles. Some do little or not anything (like the crop that claim they decrease "the look of fine lines," which income that they don't decrease the lines themselves).Others can attain a fair amount of success.The epidermis is the outer layer and function as a barrier to the outside surroundings.

The cells of the epidermis, keratinocytes, move from the base layer of the epidermis to the top layer structure up a large amount of keratin and rising a tough outer shell.Once these cells arrive at the top layer, they flake off. If this procedure becomes abnormal the skin can look scaly.

Wrinkles are weak creases which are chiefly caused by thin and flabby skin.They usually appear on the face, neck and hands and come into view as you start receiving aged and your body starts loosing its tightness and shape.Wrinkles are part of rising old and are natural; it is a non-stop procedure which you simply cannot stop.

Causes of Wrinkles
  • Genetic (family) influence
  • Normal aging change in the skin
  • Smoking
  • Sun exposure
Symptoms of Wrinkles
  • Deeply shaped lines and fine
  • Crinkling crosshatch marks
  • Skin that is furrowed may also have a tough, leathery appearance if the person has had a lot of exposure to the sun.
Treatment of Wrinkles
  • The most critical step in the action of wrinkles is sun evasion and sunscreen use. Without these steps, more destructive wrinkle treatment may be futile.
  • Some physicians may recommend daily moisturizing creams, including those with hydroxy acids as well as sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater).
  • It is difficult to repair extremely furrowed skin that appears with photo aging, but thinner wrinkles, dark spots, and rough skin may be better with the use of topical medications.
  • Over the counter creams containing retinol or glycolic acid may help somewhat.
Home Remedies for Wrinkles
  • Massaging the face with coconut oil before disappearing to bed prevent wrinkles. This is one of the resourceful wrinkles remedy.
  • Other vitamins like A, C and E act as antioxidant and gives the skin a healthy look. So these vitamins should also be inspired in liberal amounts. This is a very good diet for wrinkles.
  • Make a mixture of honey, olive oil and cream and apply on the face. This is one of the good home remedies for wrinkles.
  • Avoid excess of smoke and alcohol as it causes inflammation of the skin. Thus, leading to wrinkles.
  • Application of lemon juice
  • several times a day will fade missing the blemishes and wrinkles.
  • Rubbing the core of pineapple on the face and leaving it for 5-10 minutes will help in the treatment of wrinkles.
  • Simmer half-cup aromatic plant leaves in 2 cups of water for about 30 minutes. Add half cup of brandy and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Strain the combination and store it to wipe the hide twice a day. This is a good natural remedy for wrinkles.

Natural Treatments to Prevent Cracked Lips

Why do our lips become chapped? The main reason that our lips become chapped is due to moisture loss. The lips are a very sensitive, thin layer of skin that is susceptible to the damages from the outside environment. The lips have a very thin layer of natural oil that protects it from injury. However, this layer of protection is easily removed, damaged or lacking which causes infection, cracking, bleeding or swelling. Chapped lips are very unappealing but can also be painful and tender if swollen or bleeding. The best way to reduce chapped lips is to restore moisture to the lips as quickly as possible. Keeping lip balms, and lip moisturizers on hand are ideal to eliminate chapped or dry lips. 

Here are some natural ways to keep your lips most and beautiful!

  • Oil based lip balms and lip creams are best to restore and hold moisture into the lips. Next time you buy Chap Stick make sure it has an oil base.
  • Cocoa butter, shea butter and ghee are all three natural butters that moisten the lips and revive them back to life. The skin easily absorbs these oils to rejuvenate dried cells.
  • Honey is a natural humectant, which allows the lips and skin to maintain moisture. It is a great antioxidant and will keep the lips from drying out.
  • Petroleum or beeswax lip balm can be applied to the lips to create a protectant layer that keeps moisture in and dryness out.
  • Use sunscreen. Excessive sun will remove the moisture from skin and lips. Wearing a lip balm or lipstick with sunscreen will reduce the moisture that is lost from the lips.
  • Mix cream of milk with a few drops of rose water and limejuice. This will exfoliate dead skin cells and moisturize the dryness of chapped lips.
  • Mix vegetable glycerin with vitamin E to nourish the lips and create a barrier against the environment.
  • Papaya is a natural exfoliant. Mash a ripe papaya into a paste and apply to the lips for 15 minutes. Rinse off the lips and apply a moisturizer.
  • Use a humidifier in your house. This keeps cold and dry air away during the winter months. It keeps the air moist, which will keep lips from drying out and becoming chapped.
  • Keep your body hydrated. By constantly replenishing the body with water and fluids, you can keep from becoming dehydrated, especially your lips.
  • Avoid irritants and allergens, which can cause an allergic reaction. Fragrances and dyes are normal causes of such irritation.
  • Nutritional deficiencies can be the cause of persistent chapped lips. A lack of vitamin B and iron can the cause. Take a multivitamin to maintain  proper levels of essential nutrients in the body.
  • If you drool at night, it can cause your lips to dry out and become chapped. Apply zinc oxide ointment on the lips before you go to bed at night. This will protect the lips from drying out while you sleep.
  • If you get stranded without any treatment for your chapped lips, rub your finger along the side of your face. It will pick up natural oils that your skin produces to protect the skin. You can apply this directly onto the lips to restore and protect your lips until you can use one of the other natural treatments. The skin produces more natural oil than the lips and will replace the oil overtime throughout the day.
Credit : Sarah Labdar

Symptoms and Compensation Claims for Mesothelioma

Of the many injuries and work related diseases, mesothelioma is perhaps the one that draws much attention. Every other day a case is reported or a compensation claim is filed. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is almost always caused by earlier exposure to asbestos, approximately in ninety percent of cases.

People normally working in industries where asbestos was used extensively, such as construction work, plumbing, ship yards, old houses and at power stations, were more likely to have been exposed to breathing in asbestos fibrous materials often over a period of years and thus are more likely to suffer from either asbestosis or mesothelioma among others.

In the United Kingdom alone almost 2300 people a year are diagnosed with mesothelioma. At least 3,500 people in Great Britain die every year from asbestos related lung cancer and mesothelioma as a result of past exposure to asbestos fibers.

Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that affects the Mesothelium, which is a thin membrane that covers the lungs or the lining of the abdomen. There are two main types of mesothelioma.

1. Peritoneal (if present in abdomen)

2. Pleural (if present in the chest wall)

Pleural Mesothelioma is more common than peritoneal mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are microscopic and once swallowed or breathed in tend to stay in human body. With time they undergo changes and start damaging the body. Thus mesothelioma does not appear suddenly but takes several years before the symptoms start becoming evident.

Mesothelioma is often confused with asbestosis. Asbestosis is also a disease of the lungs that is caused by again the presence of deadly asbestos fibres but it is not cancerous and thus can be treated more effectively if diagnosed at an early stage.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to spot as they are very comparable to pneumonia. It is important for a doctor to ask a patient if he has a history of being exposed to asbestos related materials. Early diagnosis can prolong life and improve the chances of survival. The main symptoms of mesothelioma are:
  • Shortness of breath, especially during excercise
  • Coughing
  • Chest pain
  • Weakness
  • A feeling of tightness in the chest.
  • Other symptoms that sometimes occur are vomiting, nausea, nail abnormalities, constipation or diarrhea and clubbing of the fingers.
After Diagnosis

The occurrence of mesothelioma is constantly increasing and is expected to surge in the next 15 years. Once the diagnosis is confirm the doctor will decide to start treatment. The main treatment used in asbestosis is oxygen therapy but surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are also used to increase the life span of the patient. The survival from mesothelioma is improving but is still not very promising and varies by area of diagnosis.

Asbestos Compensation Claim

Once a patient has been properly diagnosed and have started treatment he will need specialist care and support. The family should look for the services of a solicitor who specializes in these cases. The matter should be investigated and the responsible party should be held accountable. If needed an asbestos compensation claim should be filed so as to provide monetary help to the suffering family who have to struggle with pain, bills and loss of wages.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection is not only observed in females but also in males and children. Read on to know about the symptoms of urinary tract infection, the causes of urinary tract infection and tips for preventing it.

A urinary tract infection is caused due to inflammation of the urinary bladder or urethra. In majority of cases, this common infection is caused because of a bacterial infection. Urinary tract infections are also referred to as bladder infection, cystitis or a UTI. This infection affects more females than men. It is common in women because the urethra is shorter and closer to the anus and thus easily prone to infection. Usually males who develop urinary tract infections are boys who are uncircumcised.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection

Have a look at some of the common symptoms of a urinary tract infection.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection may vary from person to person. In fact small children suffering from this infection may only have fever or absolutely no symptoms at all. Some of the common symptoms of this infection in adults include:
  • Pressure in the lower pelvis
  • Painful urination
  • Urgent need to urinate
  • Cloudy urine
  • Blood in the urine
  • Painful sexual intercourse
  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Chills and fever
  • Vomiting
  • Foul or strong urine odour
Causes of Urinary Tract Infection

Here are some of the known causes of a urinary tract infection. A urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria enter the urethra and bladder causing inflammation and infection. In normal healthy people, the urethra and bladder have no bacteria. Whenever bacteria enter the bladder it automatically gets eliminated at the time of urination.

The most common factor responsible for UTI especially in women is medical instruments inserted into the urinary tract during certain medical procedures like cystoscopy or catheterization in case of women who are:
  • Pregnant
  • Diabetic
  • Have a medical history of analgesic nephropathy or reflux nephropathy.
Tips for Preventing Urinary Tract Infections

Have a quick look at the tips for preventing urinary tract infection.

Maintain Personal Hygiene- The single most important thing to bear in mind is to maintain personal hygiene so as to stay away from urinary tract infections, bladder, and kidney infections. Simple things like ensuring that you always wipe from front to back after a bowel movement or urination, and washing the skin around and between the rectum and vagina everyday can long way in ensuring that you do not contact any bacterial infection.

Drink Plenty of Water - To flush out infection causing bacterium from the system drinking plenty of fluids particularly water is very useful

Do Not Hold Back Urine - Never make the mistake of holding back urine. It is important to empty the bladder as soon as you feel the urge to urinate. This can significantly decrease the risk of bladder infection or UTI.

Include Vitamin C in Diet - Including natural sources of vitamin C in your daily intake will ensure that the urine is acidic thereby reducing the number of potentially harmful bacteria in the urinary tract system.

Use Cotton Panty or Underwear – Panty or underwear made of synthetic material makes you sweat more and trap the moisture and create an ideal environment for infection causing bacteria to breed and multiply. Therefore, it is essential to wear cotton panties which can absorb well and ensure good air circulation in the vaginal area.

The above are some simple self care tips to prevent UTIs. However, despite following these tips do not be surprised if you still get a UTI. In fact if you are prone to UTIs, it is best to consult a doctor about your treatment options. You may be required to take a small dose of medicine every day so that the infection is prevented.