Morning routines are ingrained in our systems—waking up, turning on the coffee/tea machine, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, and so on. The coffee/tea is then accompanied by a range of choices— books, news, or the ever-present phone. But here is our question: while we have been at it for ages, how good a shape are our mouth and teeth in? And what can we do to make it better? Our mouth is home to about a billion different bacteria. These microorganisms that live inside our oral cavities can prove to be dangerous to the mouth and teeth. That is exactly why parents around the world keep reminding their kids to brush their teeth before getting into bed as well. The last time we learned how to brush our teeth was when we were toddlers and we more or less know how to go about it. But how often do we floss? It’s important to remember that flossing is just as important as brushing. The best means of maintaining impeccable oral health is by keeping your mouth and teeth food-free. Sugar acts as a storehouse of bacteria in our mouth and teeth. Similarly, there is a range of food products or ingredients that help in maintaining oral health.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that occurs due to damaged nerve cells, which causes an imbalance in the dopamine levels in the brain. Nearly 1 million Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a condition closely related to the dopamine levels. So, apart from being aware of the symptoms and the treatment options for the disease, it is imperative for patients to make the right dietary choices to get relief from the symptoms. Foods to eat with Parkinson’s disease Here are some foods that should be eaten to keep the symptoms at bay: Foods rich in antioxidants Eating foods rich in antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress, which is defined as the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant defenses. When a person has Parkinson’s disease, the reduced dopamine levels can result in tissue damage, but foods rich in antioxidants can help alleviate this. Some antioxidant-rich foods that should be included in the diet are tree nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios, pecans, blueberries, goji berries, blackberries, cranberries, spinach, and kale. Omega-3-rich foods Foods like salmon, oysters, halibut, soybeans, kidney beans, and flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help improve cognitive function. Regularly consuming these can help relieve symptoms like confusion and dementia, which are commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Leading a healthy life when suffering from diabetes can be challenging, especially with diet restrictions. Reports suggest that diabetes has now attained epidemic proportions. Some very severe consequences of uncontrolled diabetes include kidney and heart diseases and other health complications. Therefore, while it is frustrating to be watchful of everything you eat, it is also necessary. Considering that diabetes is associated with blood sugar and insulin levels, it’s necessary that one is always aware and takes care of their insulin and sugar levels. One of the easiest ways to do that is by following a rigid diet and eating right. However, avoiding everything is not the answer here, the simplest way of eating right is by making healthy food choices. Here are some diet tips to help you eat right and manage your diabetes. Carbohydrates can be healthy All types of carbohydrates directly affect the levels of blood glucose in your body. Therefore, it is important to be aware of foods that are rich in carbohydrates. However, with controlled portions, and healthier carb sources, there is no reason for anyone to give up carbohydrates completely. Substitute whole grains in your meals in place of processed grains for a much healthier diet.

Of the five senses bestowed, vision is considered to be one of the most precious. Healthy vision ensures that you witness all the wonders of the world; therefore, you must not take your eye health for granted. While some eye conditions are inevitable as we grow older, there are a few things that you can do to maintain your eye health. Here are seven tips to follow for lifelong optimal eye health. Eat vitamin-rich foods Diet plays an important role in keeping your eyes healthy. You must ensure that your meals are rich in vitamin C and E, zinc, lutein, and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients help prevent age-related eye problems like macular degeneration and cataract. Some healthy food options for eye health include leafy greens, fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, eggs, nuts, beans, and citrus fruits. Wear sunglasses The right pair of sunglasses can protect your eyes from retinal damage, and reduce the chances of developing cataracts. It also protects your sensitive eyelid skin from wrinkles and skin cancer around the eye. To get these benefits, you must ensure that your sunglasses can provide 100% protection against UV-A rays and UV-B rays. Take breaks from screens Exposure to blue light from a computer, tablet, or phone screen for long can cause dry eye, eyestrain, neck pain, and headache.

Eye infections, when not treated timely and properly, can be extremely damaging for your eye health. Eye infections take place when there is an invasion of any harmful organism in any part of the eye.  While usually, the sources of these eye infections are viruses or bacteria, sometimes there can be other factors that can contribute to it. The treatment of the infection depends on the type of infection a person has contracted. Therefore, to ensure complete eye health, it is important to stay aware of all the symptoms, causes, and risks associated with eye infections. Symptoms of common eye infections Although the symptoms can vary based on the type of eye infection, certain symptoms are commonly found. They include Redness Pain Discharge Watering Dryness Heightened sensitivity to light Swelling or inflammation Itchiness Blurry vision Small and painful lumps beneath the eyelid Tenderness of the eyelids Crust formation on the eyelashes and lids after waking up To make sure that you get proper treatment, you must rush to see a doctor as soon as you notice any of the symptoms. If you try to self-diagnose the infection at home and avoid going to a doctor, it will only delay the treatment and can cause severe damage to the eye or even complete vision loss.  Causes of eye infections Depending on the type of eye infection that you have contracted, the causes can vary.  Conjunctivitis This extremely contagious eye infection is also called pink eye.

Pain is a common occurrence with increasing age, but pain due to an injury or underlying medical condition can be experienced by anyone. This pain, however, is temporary since it alleviates as the injury heals or the condition is treated. Having said that, chronic pain does not ease with time and causes severe discomfort. Let’s understand pain by looking at its common symptoms and causes, along with effective ways for pain management. Signs of chronic pain Chronic pain syndrome can lead to mild pain in some people, whereas it can be extremely unbearable for others. Some of the main symptoms are: Stiffness in the body Soreness in the affected areas A throbbing or burning sensation Searing pain Other factors can also cause chronic pain, leading to mood swings and a lack of energy and motivation. Loss of appetite or having trouble sleeping are also symptoms of chronic pain syndrome, which can cause weight loss or irritation and anxiety throughout the day. Causes of chronic pain More than 1.5 billion people experience chronic pain, and this is one of the most common causes of long-term disability in the country. Also, although the causes of chronic stress differ from one person to another, some of the most common reasons are mentioned here:

Multiple sclerosis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease of the spinal cord and brain. It can also affect the optic nerves in the eyes. This disease affects each patient differently. Some patients can continue with their regular life, while others may require treatment and support. Multiple sclerosis hampers the central nervous system. Let us take a look at the symptoms, causes, and risk factors associated with this disease. Symptoms Multiple sclerosis causes damage to the nerves and brain which leads to a variety of symptoms such as Walking troubles Constant exhaustion Poor bowel or bladder control Trouble with memory Blurry vision Tingling and numbness Weakness in the muscle The symptoms of multiple sclerosis tend to get worse as the years pass by. The primary symptoms usually start anywhere between the ages of 20 to 40. Some patients experience the onset of symptoms in middle age. Causes Speaking of the causes of multiple sclerosis, there are no definite ones. There is a lot of research being conducted in the field of medicine to determine them. Currently, only the possible causes can be mentioned, and some of them are Infection by the Epstein-Barr virus Genetic factors Smoking Infection of measles and herpes Consuming foods that contain saturated fat Risk factors There are certain risk factors that increase a person’s chances of getting multiple sclerosis.

If a woman has been trying to conceive for a long time, she would constantly be wondering about the symptoms to be aware of to know whether she’s pregnant. The pregnancy symptoms may differ between women and change as the pregnancy advances, but we’ll take a look at the most common symptoms that all women experience: Skipped menstrual cycle This is the most common pregnancy symptom, but it’s advisable to confirm it with a pregnancy test as skipped menstrual cycles may also be a sign of ill health. Morning sickness The fluctuating hormones can lead to a feeling of nausea, which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting. This symptom commonly occurs around two weeks into the pregnancy, and although called morning sickness, it may occur at any time of the day. Changes in bowel and bladder habits Pregnant women feel the need to urinate more frequently as there is increased blood flow in their body to support the growth and development of the baby, which makes the kidneys work overtime. Additionally, women may also experience constipation, which is associated with a slowing of the digestive function during pregnancy. Exhaustion Exhaustion is a common symptom experienced due to any illness, so women should not rely on this symptom as a sole indicator of pregnancy.

A sexual disorder refers to the individual or couple not being able to achieve satisfaction from sexual activities. A good sex life involves the couple being able to arouse excitement and achieve an orgasm. Failure to do so maybe because of various reasons, and a common reason is one of them or both the partners suffering from sexual conditions. Now, this is never an easy topic to discuss; however, it is very important to address these issues. Let us try and understand more about the symptoms, causes, and risks of sexual conditions. Symptoms Some of the main symptoms are Lack of sexual desire When a person finds themselves not wanting to have sex, it is a sign that they might have a sexual condition. The lack of sexual desire causes problems in the intimacy of a couple, affecting their sex life. Inability to climax In this case, the person is not satisfied with their sexual interactions. They might still have normal sexual interest but find it difficult to climax. This is a problem for the couple who start losing their intimacy. Sexual stimulation leads to pain In this case, a person feels pain every time during sex. This is a big problem, as the feeling of discomfort will hamper their interest, and they start avoiding such situations altogether.