10 Things At Home That Are Making You Unwittingly Sick

Can your house make you sick?

Being sick can derail our life for a short period and depending on what you do for a living, it can really have an impact on your livelihood. It is something we all want to avoid, yet there are many things in our environment that put us at the risk of falling ill.

And some of those things are in our own homes. From dirty door knobs to silverware, a lot of the things we have at home have the potential to become breeding grounds for bacteria.

Here are some of the nastiest items.

1Bad Vacuum Cleaner

Problem: If you don’t clean your vacuum filters regularly, you risk microbes and bacteria making their way into your vacuum system. This can put you at risk of allergies and other breathing problems.

Solution: Be sure to clean the filter out often and open the windows when you vacuum.  Consider wearing a mask when you clean. Also think about purchasing a HEPA filter, which gets rid of 99% of the particles in the air.

2Heating and Cooling Systems

Problem: If the temperature in your house is not regulated, then your body temperature has to constantly adjust to the hot or cold. This could disrupt the blood supply going to your heart.

The heating system could also affect the natural oil gland in your eyes, which will dry them out. Constant coughing at night is a sign that your lungs are not getting enough moisture.

Solution: If you install a humidifier, this will counteract any irritations you may be having. Also, make sure all your rooms are set to the same temperature.

3Bedding Sheets

Problem: Sheets are a prime spot for dust mites. These make it easy for you to catch a cold, worsen allergies or even hay fever. Dust mites tend to accumulate when your bedroom environment is enclosed, such as when your windows are constantly shut.

Solution: You should air out your room daily and wash your sheets regularly. Regular vacuuming of your room is also a must.

4Cleaning Products

Problem: Most cleaning products are packed with chemicals that can irritate our skin, damage different parts of our body, and depress the central nervous system. The scary thing is that only a small percentage of companies make the toxicity information of their products available.

Solution: For the cleaners that you have in your home, be sure to use gloves when you are using them. When cleaning, make sure to open the windows for proper ventilation. You can also dilute the products with water to make them less toxic and nasty.

If you are the DIY type of person, look up homemade cleanser recipes on the Internet.

5Hidden Mold

Problem: It is easier than ever for mold to build up, especially on surfaces such as drywall, wood and wallpaper because homes are now sealed up to be energy efficient. Any excess moisture can cause mold to form and grow.

Mold buildup can cause reactions in 1 in every 3 people, as well as aggravate asthma in people who already have the condition. However, not all molds are bad. In fact, only 50 out of 100,000 mold species are toxic.

Solution: If there are visible signs of mold, such as discoloration, peeling or water intrusion, you should have your home professionally cleaned. A faint musty smell is another indicator that you should call in an expert.

6Refrigerator shelves and drawers

Problem: There are some sneaky things in your fridge that don’t always get cleaned. For instance, if you have a spill in your fridge, that can become moldy and infect your fresh food.

The fruit and vegetable drawers are easy to ignore. They can be harboring bad microorganisms without you even knowing. In your freezer, there is also a metal coil that melts every few hours with the liquid dripping into a little pan. There is dust in that pan and when its water evaporates, the dust gets carried with it and that can cause you to have a cough.

Solution: Be sure to give your refrigerator some TLC by cleaning your shelves and vegetable drawers with warm water and baking soda. Also, be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables before placing them in the refrigerator.

7Your Bath Mat

Problem: They can contain mold, dust mites and bacteria. All of which can lead to exasperating allergies and common colds.

Solution: You need to clean your bath mat a couple times a month. Consider drying it off with a towel in the tub/shower so that you aren’t stepping on the mat extremely wet.

8Your Blender

Problem: The gadgets at the bottom of your blender can collect spillage and leftover liquids over time. Microorganisms can collect there, causing E.coli and Salmonella to form.

Solution: You should take apart your blender with clean hands and rinse or wash it before you put it away. This should be done after each use.

9Pet Fur

Problem: The dander that they leave behind can potentially make you sick. It can cause you to sneeze and sniffle and it can affect people with allergies.

Solution: The best way to prevent flare ups of allergies is to keep pets off of furniture, fabrics and carpets as much as you can. Dust your home and clean it often to prevent dander from piling up.

10   Shower Head

Problem: Shower heads contain bacteria called mycobacterium avium. If swallowed, they can cause lung infections and pulmonary diseases.

Solution: Clean your shower head regularly and think about replacing it every so often.

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How you can Get Rid of BACK PAIN

Relieving lower back pain should not be approached using the “band-aid” method: focusing on the exact site of the chronic pain as the source of the problem. Here are three ways to kill lower back pain that you may not have thought of before.

1. Foam Roll Your Hip Flexors

Tight hip flexors can be the culprit of back pain because when they’re short and tight, they can pull the spine into an overarched position and cause unwanted forward flexion. To really increase hip range of motion, you’ll need a foam roller.

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According to this recent Journal of Sport Rehabilitation study, foam rolling followed by static stretching provides maximal passive hip flexion range of motion compared to stretching alone. Also, add spiderman walks to your warmup routine. It’s a great way to mobilize and open the hips up at the same time.

2. Look at Your Shoulder Mobility

It sounds strange, but improving the range of motion you can achieve at the shoulder joint can actually reduce low back stress. Whenever you press something overhead or reach above the body to pull something down from above, you’re extending the shoulder joint through a long range of motion. A person with poor mobility may try to compensate for limited ROM by placing their back into extension. This can cause spinal compression, pull the hips forward and cause back pain.

Opening up the shoulders through shoulder dislocates can serve as a quick mobilization strategy pre-workout. 

3. Engage Your Glutes

The gluteal muscles contract downwards so they actually decompress the spine. That can get rid of a lot of back stress. Focus on exercises that activate the glutes, and work on keeping a relatively neutral spine while doing them. 

TOP EXERCISES FOR GLUTES

1. Barbell Hip Thrusts
2. Deadlifts
3. Single-leg Glute Bridges
4. Step Ups
5. Pull Throughs

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10 Dangerous Reasons You Should Never Eat Junk Foods Again…No 9 Will Shake You

Eating of junk foods comes at a very high health cost as they end up being detrimental to the proper functioning of the human body.

 

Images of a junk food

 

Junk foods are easily accessible, some of them are even cheap but the number of harm they do to the body is infinite. There is nothing as good as well cooked home made foods and fruits. Fruits are very essential to the body.

 

Most junk are enriched in sugar which probably make you want to eat more but before you buy the next one, read this very well.

 

(1) Risk of cancer

 

Lack of fibre is the main reason why junk food consumption is linked to an increased risk of cancers of the digestive system. A study published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention revealed that consuming too much of fast food that are high in sugar and fat can increase your chances of developing colorectal cancer. Another study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle showed that men who ate fried foods more than twice in a month had increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

 

(2) Risk of type 2 diabetes

 

One of major contributing factors for the emerging diabetes epidemic is unhealthy diet full of junk and fast food. When you eat a healthy diet, your body gets a steady supply of glucose, which helps maintain insulin sensitivity. On the other hand, when you eat only junk food, the excessive stress exerted on your metabolism affects the ability of your body to use insulin properly. Since junk food lacks fibre content, its consumption directly results in a spike in sugar levels. Further, junk food consumption leads to obesity, one of the main reasons for insulin resistance and development of diabetes.

 

(3) Risk of digestive problems

 

Those who are addicted to fatty junk food are bound to suffer from digestive problems like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). That’s because junk food is deep fried. The oil soaked in junk food gets deposited on the walls of the stomach lining, increases acid production. Spices loaded in them irritate the stomach lining, worsening GERD and digestion. Lack of fibre in them hampers digestion, increasing problems like constipation and haemorrhoids. Try this yoga pose to improve digestion.

 

(4) Risk of kidney disease

 

The reason why you can never say no to fries and chips is because they contain high amount of finely processed salt which increases salivation and secretion of enzymes that enhance your cravings for these foods. High amount of bad fats and sodium from salt disrupts the sodium-potassium balance of the body and causes hypertension. Since the kidney have to filter all the toxins from the blood, eating a lot of junk food has a direct effect on the kidney functioning.

 

(5) Risk of heart disease

 

Junk food items are loaded with saturated fats and trans fats that directly increase triglyceride and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in the blood, contributing to plaque formation and heart disease. Further, causing a sudden spike in blood sugar level increases, junk food damages the linings of the blood vessels causing chronic inflammation.

 

This inflammation causes bad cholesterol to stick to the walls of the arteries, blocking blood flow to the heart. When they’re blocked enough, heart attack occurs. Fats from junk food can accumulate over a period of time in your body to make you obese. The more weight you put on, the higher your risk of suffering from heart attack. Refer to these heart healthy diet tips for people with heart diseases.

 

(6) Causes fatigue and weakness

 

Junk food lacks most of essential nutrients like proteins and vitamins required for maintenance of overall health and functioning of all the systems in your body. Although it makes you feel full and satisfied, it fails to provide you with instant energy, making you feel weak and tired after a while. If you eat junk food items for all your meals of the day over a period of time, you could be suffer from chronic fatigue. Junk food can lower your energy levels to an extent that it may become difficult for you to even perform your daily tasks.

 

(7) Causes depression among teenagers

 

A lot of hormonal changes occur in teenagers, which makes them susceptible to mood swings and behavioural changes. And a healthy diet plays an important role in maintaining that hormonal balance. Because junk food lack those essential nutrients, the likelihood of teenagers to suffer from depression is increased by 58 percent. Here are some facts you need to know about depression.

 

(8) Causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels

 

Junk food is high in refined sugar which exerts stress on your metabolism. Refined sugar causes the pancreas to secrete more amount of insulin in order to prevent a drastic spike in your blood sugar levels. Because junk food lacks sufficient levels of good carbohydrates and proteins, the levels of blood sugar drop suddenly after you eat. This makes you feel irritable and further increases you craving for more junk food.

 

(9) Affects the Brain

 

A study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity shows that one week of eating junk food is enough to trigger memory impairment in rats. Recent research suggests that bad fats (trans fats) from junk food tends to replace healthy fats in the brain and interferes with its normal signalling mechanism. Studies in animals have also shown that fats from junk food slow down the ability to learn new skills. Try these home remedies to boost your brain power.

 

(10) Spoils your liver

 

Surprisingly, junk food consumption over a period of time can have similar harmful effect on the liver as alcohol consumptions does. A study reported that people who ate junk food and shunned exercise showed changes in liver enzymes within four weeks. These changes were similar to those observed in people with alcohol abuse.

 

According to some studies, it’s the high level of trans fats found in a number of junk food which cause liver dysfunction due to deposition in the liver.

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5 Medical Causes For Not Getting Pregnant

sometimes the inability to conceive can also be attributed to some deep seated medical conditions that could need deeper analysis and prolonged treatment with proper health care. Some of the common medical conditions are listed below

1. Irregular Periods

As mostly, we start with women when it comes to getting pregnant, women should monitor their cycles more carefully to note if there are high levels of irregularity. If there are irregular periods, the couple should reach out to the doctor to find out the underlying reason(s) and get treatment if required. Irregular periods are the most contributing factor when couples are unable to conceive a baby

2. Adhesions:

Sometimes, the inability to get pregnant can also be due to adhesions in the reproductive organs of the female. Sometimes, these adhesions exist, but women might not have any symptoms at all. These can also be caused due to some injury or trauma to the cavity of uterine. Sometimes, usage of intrauterine devices to avoid pregnancy can also lead to this medical condition. The only way to fix this is to contact your doctor for treatment.

3. Blockage in Fallopian Tubes:

In many cases, the biggest reason couples are unable to get pregnant is due to some lockage in fallopian tubes. How does this affect conception? Well, the egg and sperm might not be able to unite if the fallopian tubes are blocked. Alternately, sometimes the pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tubes which gets terminated on its own or can lead to medical trouble as well. Sometimes, causing the fallopian tube to burst which is a cause of grave concern.

4. Cervical Mucus Problems:

Sometimes the mucus does not change its consistency during the time of ovulation and provides a natural barrier for the sperm from entering the female reproductive organ. Also, there are cases where the body reacts by producing antibodies that kill the sperm and lead to failure in pregnancy despite repeated efforts. For this to be deduced for sure, there are some pretty complex tests that a professional doctor will advise to undertake.

5. Endometriosis and Fibroids:

While the first is a medical condition in which a woman’s endometrial tissue implants itself outside the uterine cavity which causes pain and leads to inability to get pregnant, the second scenario is one in which there are tumors that grow in the uterine wall.

These are a few reasons and causes for not getting pregnant, though there could be a more complex problem at hand that needs more evaluation and understanding. Having a kid is perhaps one of the most satisfying and gratifying experience in one’s life and no person would love to forgo this, until and unless all possibilities have been exhausted.

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7 Shaving Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Skin

Here are the most common mistakes dermatologists see women make—and how to never screw up again.

1. You Don’t Lather Up
Dry shaving—ouch. Even though it saves time, it almost always causes little red bumps that last for days. Shaving cream and gel were designed to help your razor glide gently across your skin without tugging or pulling

2. You Use Your Disposable Razor for More Than a Week
Yes, you need to toss it once a week if you’re shaving every single day. Dull blades are more likely to cause razor bumps, irritation, nicks, and cuts, and old blades can harbor bacteria, which can lead to infections.

3. You Shave in the Opposite Direction of Your Hair Growth
True, it might help you get a slightly closer shave, but it’ll also cause pain. Plus, the blunt-tipped end of the hairs can grow back into the skin rather than up and out.

4. You Do It as Fast as You Possibly Can
You’re more likely to nick yourself, irritate your skin, or miss spots when you’re trying to shave too quickly

5. You Apply Too Much Pressure
When it comes to how hard you should be pressing the razor blade down on your skin, always remember less is more. The harder you bear down, the more uneven the skin surface becomes, because you are essentially creating dimples where the blade falls.

6. You Don’t Exfoliate Beforehand
To avoid razor bumps, you should use an exfoliator before whipping out that razor. That’s because it removes dead skin cells, allowing your razor to glide over areas easier.

7. You Skip Moisturizing Afterwards
It’s best to moisturize your skin as soon as you step out of the shower, since applying moisturizer while your skin is still damp helps lock everything in. If you skip this step, the top layers of your skin can quickly become dry and dehydrated from the combo of exfoliating and shaving.

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