Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that causes the body’s blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than is healthy. Basically, the body’s cells are unable to respond to insulin like they should. WHen left untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to continuously high blood sugar levels and cause various symptoms, and lead to serious complications. While changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle may improve blood sugar levels, oftentimes insulin, blood thinners, or other medications may be introduced. A low-sugar diet is the first step to manage type 2 diabetes. Since diabetics cannot properly process the sugar and carbs they ingest, it’s critical that they monitor what they eat every day, test their blood sugar levels, and potentially adjust their medications based on the results. Food items to include are snacks that are high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Whole foods and ingredients in general are wonderful to incorporate into your daily habits. Learn about the difference between complex and simple carbohydrates. It’s perfectly reasonable for a type 2 diabetic to eat complex carbs in their diet, as they can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. The trick is to think about minimizing the simple and empty carbs you consume.

Are you in the market for a new mattress? Oftentimes we see people with lower back pain looking for a new mattress to better support their body. We also see people with old mattresses that have lost their ability to support sleepers looking for a new mattress that has those quality benefits. We have also seen people looking for mattresses when their old spring mattresses began to wear down and the springs are close to the surface, poking people’s bodies as they sleep at night. Whatever your reason for a new mattress, these are some of the options and qualities you should consider when purchasing: 1. Size There are several size options when it comes to a new mattress: twin, twin xl, queen, king and California king. The best option will depend on the number of people sleeping in the bed as well as how much space you have in your bedroom. We would recommend the twin for any single 5’6” or smaller and the twin xl for any single person 5’7” and taller. We would recommend the queen, king and California king for two people with the California king offering the most luxurious comfort. The California king is also a great choice for couples with young kids who want to give them room to sleep in bed with mom and dad from time to time.

Asthma is a long-term disease of the lungs, but some doctors call it a chronic respiratory disease. The airways become narrow and inflamed, creating difficult breathing conditions. Symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath and severe cases can make physical activity daunting. Asthma is a serious and dangerous condition and without proper treatment you could end up making several trips to the emergency room. There are different types of asthma that can include occupational asthma, allergic asthma, and even exercise induced asthma. The foods we eat can have a huge impact on our breathing. Oxygen plays an important role in your metabolism because it helps to burn the food’s nutrient molecules. Different nutrients require varying amounts of oxygen, such as carbohydrates use more oxygen while fats require less. There are even foods that can help prevent asthma from developing in the first place: 1. Vitamin D-rich foods There is some research that suggests that people with asthma may have low vitamin D levels. Spending a few minutes outdoors can increase vitamin D levels, but there’s also delicious foods that contain the sunshine vitamin, such as milk, eggs, and fish like salmon. Unfortunately, asthma and food sensitivities go hand in hand.

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a digestive disorder that occurs when stomach acid flows back into the tube that connects the mouth and stomach, called the esophagus. The backwash is known as acid reflux and irritates the lining of the esophagus. While many people experience acid reflux from time to time, GERD will materialize at least twice a week and is more severe. Symptoms can include an uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest (heartburn), a bitter or sour taste in the back of the mouth, regurgitating food or liquid from the stomach into the mouth, and sometimes it causes difficulty swallowing and breathing problems. GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter, the circular muscle at the end of the esophagus, doesn’t tighten or close properly. Normally, this muscle relaxes and opens when swallowing, then tightens and closes afterwards, but when it doesn’t work properly, it allows digestive juices from the stomach to climb into the esophagus, causing acid reflux. To relieve and prevent GERD, there are various home remedies and lifestyle changes that can help, including the following: 1. Don’t lie down after eating Lying down after eating a meal might feel like a good idea, but it can cause acid reflux.

Sweating is normal; however, some people sweat more than others. Research studies indicate that there are some foods as well as activities that are associated with symptoms of hyperhidrosis or heavy sweating. People suffering from excessive sweating often have an underlying health condition (i.e., diabetes, thyroid issues, spinal cord injury, etc.). However, if you want to put a stop to heavy sweating, there are some foods you need to avoid: 1. Salt Physiologically, if you eat a lot of salt, the body disposes of the excess of salt via sweat and urination. Therefore, if you have symptoms of excessive sweating, make a point of avoiding foods with large quantities of sodium. Such foods include mostly Chinese foods. 2. Processed fatty foods Processed feeds such white bread, junk foods and fast foods are low in fiber hence hardly re-absorbed. Your body works harder to absorb nutrients from such foods. The aspects cause the body temperatures to rise hence excessive sweating. 3. Caffeinated drinks Research studies have indicated that caffeinated drinking drinks such as coffee not only weakens your body but also wakes the sweat glands. Such drinks stimulate the central nervous system that increases the rate at which the heartbeats. The metabolic activities involved causes one’s blood pressure to rise.

A migraine is a moderate to severe headache. Migraine symptoms may include nausea, blurred vision, light and sound sensitivity, and dizziness. Although once believed to be a vascular disorder, migraines are now thought to be a neurological disorder that can be triggered in a number of ways. Some suspected migraine triggers are flashing lights, dehydration, stress, loud sounds, medications, barometric pressure changes, chemical odors, certain foods, and cigarette smoke to name a few. Some common odors that can trigger migraines are examined below: 1. Food smells Certain food components and additives are believed to trigger migraines by causing the constriction or dilation of blood vessels. It is also believed that foods can cause changes in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain which affects pain modulation. 2. Cleaning products The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) often found in cleaning products can trigger migraines. Strong VOC odors can cause blood vessels to constrict or dilate which results in migraine head pain. 3. Cigarette smoke The carbon monoxide found in cigarette smoke is thought to trigger migraines either by allergic reaction or changes in blood composition. Also, the nicotine found in cigarette smoke may be a migraine trigger. Nicotine is known to cause decreased blood flow to the brain which could result in a migraine.

Overactive bladder or OAB is a disorder where one feels the desire to urinate so frequently that it disrupts daily life. This can include the unintentional loss of urine through incontinence of varying degrees. It is common to feel like you need to urinate but don’t really have to and this can be frustrating as well. Symptoms of overactive bladder OAB can range from mild to severe but are all a difficulty many people face with older age. Below we will explore some of the most common telltale signs that one may have the early symptoms of OAB: 1. Uncontrolled and sudden urge to urinate Perhaps the most common symptom constitutes a sudden feeling like you just drank a gallon of water. It can be a tingling sensation that you have to urinate on a more frequent basis than usual. This urge can happen multiple times throughout the day and could be indicative of the underlying problem of OAB. These involuntary bladder contractions are among the most common warning signs that you may need to get things checked out to properly address the situation. 2. Urinary incontinence or loss of urine Involuntary loss of urine due to incontinence of the bladder is an obvious sign that some trouble may be afoot, and should be addressed with the proper and prompt medical attention.

Breathing problems can often be triggered by environmental factors. These factors may include car exhaust fumes, pollen, dust, and even mold. Therefore, it is in your best interest to reside in a city with few triggers. However, to do so, you first need to know what your triggers are. With that said, certain U.S. cities intensify the symptoms of various breathing problems. Below, we discuss five cities that make life with breathing issues and respiratory illnesses unbearable: 1. Springfield, MA In 2018, this city topped the asthma charts. It is the top asthma capital due to the high number of asthma prevalence. The city also held the greatest number of emergency room visits that are asthma-related. That is probably due to the high number of pollen in the area. But there’s also more to say about the housing stock in the city. Springfield has some of the oldest housing stock, which doesn’t help much with asthma and allergic reactions. The hot and humid air doesn’t help either. 2. Dayton, OH Once again, pollen is the highest aggravator of asthmatic individuals. Pollen such as ragweed pollen and tree pollen can make life in Dayton, Ohio unbearable. It is no wonder this city is in the top 10 worst cities to live in for asthma and allergies.

High cholesterol occurs when your body is depositing excess cholesterol into the blood, which causes many diseases, including stroke and heart disease. You have probably come across the acronyms LDL and HDL when reading or talking about cholesterol. HDL, high density lipoproteins, is considered “good cholesterol” and LDL, low density lipoproteins, is referred to as “bad cholesterol”. To lower bad LDL cholesterol there are many foods you can avoid that will in turn boost your HDL cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart attack: 1. Fatty meats When considering ways to reduce your LDL cholesterol there are two things to keep in mind. Eating foods that are low in cholesterol and low in fat. Lamb, beef and pork are three meats that have the highest fat content. In addition to avoiding these meats, avoiding too many eggs is also recommended. They have an extremely high cholesterol content. However if you happen to love eggs and other meats, consuming lean meats as well as only the whites of eggs is better as there is no cholesterol in that part of the egg. Sorry folks, bacon is off limits too! Unless it’s turkey based. 2. Lard and shortening Avoiding these two fats is crucial in the fight to lower bad cholesterol.

Battling the discomfort of dry eyes is a challenge that many people face globally. Many turn to prescription remedies such as Restasis and Xiidra for relief, or they seek comfort in high-quality contact lenses like Dailies Total 1, Acuvue OASYS, Bausch & Lomb ULTRA, or Alcon Air Optix Aqua Multifocal. However, these are not the only paths to relief from dry eyes. In fact, there are plenty of home remedies available. Here are 10 DIY remedies that can help bring you some much-needed comfort: 1. Incorporate omega-3 fatty acids into your diet Omega-3 fatty acids are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and can help mitigate dry eye symptoms. Incorporate more fish, flaxseeds, or chia seeds into your diet. Supplements are also a viable option. 2. Do blink exercises The digital era has reduced our natural blinking rate, leading to dry eyes. Regular blink exercises can help to counteract this. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds and blink 20 times. 3. Use a humidifier The humidity level in your environment can have a significant impact on your eyes. Using a humidifier can help maintain moisture in the air, which can reduce eye dryness.