Strep meningitis refers to the enlargement or inflammation of the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain. This swelling can trigger a severe headache, stiff neck and high fever. In scientific language, these membranes enveloping the brain are called ‘Meninges’, thus giving the illness its name: Meningitis. This form of the disease can occur in three types, be it viral, bacterial or fungal. Bacterial strep meningitis is the most life-threatening form and if left untreated can lead to whole-body paralysis, sepsis, stroke and even death. Cause and symptoms of strep meningitis Having strep meningitis in the system may be the cause for certain other illnesses, like blood infections, sinus infections, pneumonia. This bacterium is highly contagious and may come in contact with another person via coughing, sharing cosmetics, sneezing etc. In strep meningitis, a bacterium, fungus, virus or parasite spreads through the bloodstream until it reaches the target organ i.e. brain or spinal cord. It tends to set base up in the membrane lining and slowly spreads through the vital body parts and develops into a much more advanced infection. The initial symptoms for meningitis mimic the symptoms of influenza which is usually just eyewash. Possible signs and symptoms include:

Hemorrhoids, or piles, is a medical condition where the blood vessels in the anus inflame and cause pain and discomfort to the individual. With time, these blood vessels swell up and enlarge in size, causing further inconvenience. Mostly, people around the age of 50 years tend to face this problem. Hemorrhoids might occur due to strain during excretion or pressure sustained by the veins due to obesity or pregnancy. The pain can either be internal or external. Although there are medical treatments to cure this condition, one can try various home remedies if they don’t wish to opt for medical treatment immediately. This article provides some home remedies that can help patients deal with the problem of hemorrhoids as well as its symptoms like itching. How to get rid of hemorrhoids using home remedies? The home-based treatments mentioned below have helped innumerable people and will help you as well if you follow them correctly: Essential oils: Essential oils play a significant role in reducing the size of the blood vessels, and it stops itching too. These oils have anti-inflammatory properties which are vital for getting relief from the burning sensation created around the affected area. One can use several types of essential oils for treating hemorrhoids such as chamomile oil, tea tree oil, geranium oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, juniper oil, and so on.

Pneumonia is an airborne disease that needs medical treatment to ensure complete recovery. It is a communicable disease that can be passed on from the diagnosed patient to other healthy people. Because of its lethal nature, one needs to deal with it carefully to ensure that it does not cause any further harm. The common symptoms of pneumonia include coughing, chest pain, chills, fever, shortness of breath, and muscle aches. Here are some home remedies that you can use to ease the symptoms of pneumonia. The body develops a cough while trying to expel the fluids to get rid of the infection. It is advisable to avoid using cough suppressants, and instead, you can use the following remedies to treat coughing caused by pneumonia. Eucalyptus and fenugreek tea If you are suffering from an itchy throat, then you can have warm herbal tea that can soothe the irritation. Herbal teas made from eucalyptus and fenugreek are immensely helpful in getting rid of respiratory tract infections. These herbs are known to break down the mucus and reduce the inflammation caused by pneumonia. According to recent studies, fenugreek seeds are found to be very effective in easing a persistent cough. Saltwater gargles You must have heard of the classic saltwater gargle remedy for a persistent cough.

Have you noticed the dark spots that develop on your hands, neck, and face as you get older? They are known as age spots or liver spots. Age spots are caused as a result of sun damage over the years. It is more common among people having a fair complexion and those who spend a lot of time in the sun. These spots are not harmful but make you look older, which is why people look for ways to get rid of them. There are a lot of age spots treatment options available out there, but these are expensive and may also cause side effects. However, you can also treat your age spots at home with the following methods: Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar naturally exfoliates your skin and helps in lightening age spots. All you need to do is to simply dab a little bit of apple cider vinegar on the affected area and leave it overnight. You might also mix olive oil with it so that it does not make your skin dry. Continue this practice every day for three to four days and you will certainly notice positive results. Apple cider vinegar is a great ingredient to be added to your beauty regime.

Testosterone is a steroid hormone which is the main sex hormone in men. But females also have a small amount of it. These are produced in men’s testicles, and for women, it is in their ovaries. A small amount of testosterone is also produced by adrenal glands. The physical changes that experienced in boys during their puberty phase like the change in voice, hair growth, and muscle development are due to the testosterone hormone. Having an optimal level of testosterone during adulthood and old age is vital. Healthy levels of testosterone in adults are important for their body composition, sexual functioning, and for avoiding risks of diseases. In addition to that, increasing the testosterone levels helps you to gain muscle mass and vitality within weeks. Testosterone plays an important role in the well-being of female sexual and physical health. Making your endocrine system work properly helps in optimizing the performance and maintain a healthy sex drive. Following are some of the recommended herbs to increase testosterone levels naturally and to maintain a healthy endocrine system. Tribulus Terrestris Tribulus Terrestris is the most common herbs that help increase testosterone levels. It is found in almost all the supplements that are designed to boost the men’s hormones and increase the sex drive.

Have you been battling with high cholesterol problems and are wondering how to lower LDL cholesterol levels? High cholesterol increases the risks of heart attacks and diseases. Although treatment may help improve your cholesterol levels, you still need to make essential lifestyle changes to boost the cholesterol-lowering power of the treatment. To help you make healthy lifestyle changes, some effective tips have been listed below on how to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Making some changes in the diet can help reduce the level of fat in the body and help enhance your heart’s health. The following changes can help you be on your way to having a healthy heart: Eliminate trans fats  – Often labeled as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, trans fats are used in store-bought crackers, cookies, cakes, as well as in margarine. They raise the levels of cholesterol in your body and that’s why most hydrogenated vegetable oils are not recommended for use when the LDL levels in the body are high. Reduce saturated fats  – Primarily found in full-fat dairy products and red meat, saturated fats can raise your cholesterol levels. By decreasing consumption of saturated fats, you will be able to reduce LDL cholesterol levels in your body.

Home Remedies and Medical Treatments to Cure Pityriasis Rosea There are several infectious diseases that make us their host on account of our negligence. One such disease is pityriasis rosea, which is a viral health condition that leads to the occurrence of rashes on the body. It is usually faced by individuals falling in the age group of 10-35 years. Most of the times, the rashes disappear on their own in 6 to 9 weeks. However, the root cause of this medical problem is not known. The maximum time that a person can suffer from pityriasis rosea is 12 weeks. Sometimes, it can be followed by a flu-like situation as well. Once a person suffers from the disease, there are high chances that they would not fall prey to the same condition again in the future. People who are looking for pityriasis rosea treatment for themselves or others should first consider relying on home remedies. The following home-based treatments for pityriasis rosea can be of great relief: Aloe Vera The antimicrobial properties of aloe vera can be significant to deal with the germs present on the body, which ultimately leads to faster cure of the disease. For better and faster results, apply aloe vera three times a day on the affected area.

A significant statistic was recently released on the number of Americans suffering from diabetes or pre-diabetes. Over 100 million Americans are suffering from one of these two conditions and this number is only expected to rise with time. Processed food and junk food does us more harm than good and sadly, many people do not know their limits. If you continue to consume junk foods, it will lead to weight gain and you might suffer from either high blood pressure or high levels of sugar in the blood. Why suffer from these diseases in the first place when you can control what you eat? Living a life dependant on pills and medications is not appealing and hence exercising and following a proper diet is essential. Of the many diet plans available in the market today, the 1200 calorie diet plan is quite popular and with good reason. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of this diet plan and help you determine whether it is worth taking up or not. What is the 1200 calorie diet plan? The 1200 calorie diet plan is believed to be very effective when it comes to tackling weight loss. Our bodies require a certain amount of energy to function and in order to maintain a healthy look.

Both men and women produce testosterone. Low levels of testosterone in the body can be an indication of an underlying health issue. Having too low levels of testosterone can impact bodily traits in both men and women. The substance is responsible for traits such as strength, body hair and muscle mass. Too little of it in men can cause a reduction in these traits, while too much of it in women can cause these traits to be more predominant in appearance. If you are suffering from the symptoms of low testosterone levels in the body, you can choose to either visit a doctor to get yourself tested, or make use of testosterone test kits. Taking a test to determine your testosterone levels is recommended so that you can take a course of action to get it back on track as it can be having a telling impact on your day to day activities and routine. It may affect your mental health as well. In this article, we will explain the utility of testosterone test kits and why you need to purchase one today. Testosterone Test Kits There are several testosterone test kits available in the market today. These devices are used to test your testosterone levels at home before visiting a doctor to seek treatment in case your testosterone levels are low.

Recently, there has been a lot of hype on the role of probiotics in promoting health. Almost everyone with a digestive problem is prescribed probiotics. They are essentially bacteria which are good for your health. Probiotics contain good bacteria that are very similar to the bacteria found in the human gut. Certain types of bacteria like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria are present in the intestinal flora and the gut lining. The lower digestive tract is home to complex and varied strains of healthy bacteria that are more in number than the cells in one’s body. These healthy bacteria help with digestion of food and also enhance immunity against infections. What are probiotics made of? They are foods that contain bacterial strains having similar properties as the healthy bacteria present in the intestinal lining. FDA regulations treat probiotics as foods and not medications. Probiotic foods Infection of the intestinal tract or consumption of an unhealthy diet that destroys healthy bacteria in the gut generates more “bad” bacteria than “good” bacteria. This imbalance may lead to weight gain, diarrhea, constipation, and other chronic health conditions. Probiotics are prescribed to restore the balance. Popular natural foods containing probiotics are as follows: Certain yogurts Yogurt is the most popular source of probiotics.