Did you know? Eye drops have preservatives in them to ensure the sealed product remains sterile until the expiry date. After opening however, the preservative can only ensure the drops are safe for the eye for a period of 28 days. After this, using the drops can cause serious damage to the eye as bacteria may have been introduced. The ingredients themselves will also not be as effective and could be dangerous. Always record the date eye drops are opened and do not use them after 28 days. Some eye drops now have longer expiry dates after opening - always check the packet.

Hormone Imbalance Symptoms and Signs Hormonal Imbalance in Women Bloating, fatigue, irritability, hair loss, palpitations, mood swings, problems with blood sugar, trouble concentrating, infertility -- these are just a few symptoms of hormone imbalance. These compounds affect every cell and system in the body. Hormone imbalance can debilitate you. Some hormonal shifts are normal, like monthly fluctuations responsible for menstruation and ovulation or the changes that occur during pregnancy. Menopause is another time for a normal hormonal shift in a woman's life. Other times these fluctuations may be due to a medication or a medical condition. Cortisol is an important hormone that may become imbalanced with stress or illness. Low intensity exercise can help lower elevated cortisol levels. Stress impacts adrenal function and hormone levels. Get acquainted with hormone imbalance symptoms and signs so you can notice when things in your body and mind don't seem right.

Slow or Prevent Diabetes Nerve Damage If you have nerve pain or peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes there is some evidence exercise may either improve or worsen nerve damage. Consequently, people with diabetes should always speak with their doctors to see which exercise program might be the best for them to participate in. People with diabetes will need to make exercise a regular part of their ongoing treatment.

What Do Hemorrhoids Look Like? Hemorrhoids are clumps of dilated (enlarged) blood vessels in the anus and lower rectum. The rectum is the last area of the large intestine before it exits to the anus. The anus is the end of the digestive tract where feces leaves the body. Sometimes hemorrhoids swell when the veins enlarge and their walls become stretched, thin, and irritated by passing stool. Hemorrhoids are classified into two general categories: internal, originating in the rectum, andexternal, originating in the anus. Hemorrhoids (also termed piles) have caused pain and irritation throughout human history. The word comes from Greek, “haimorrhoides,” meaning veins that are liable to discharge blood. If you’ve had a bout of hemorrhoid pain, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that three out of every four people will have hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. Even Napoleon suffered from hemorrhoids, which distracted him with severe pain during his defeat at Waterloo. Enlarged Hemorrhoid Symptoms Enlarged hemorrhoids are associated with symptoms such as itching,mucus discharge,burning at the anus,severe pain,a sensation that the bowel is not really empty, andbleeding without pain.

Common Sore Throat or Strep Throat? Your throat aches and burns. It’s painful to swallow. You know something is wrong, but how bad is it? Will it get better without antibiotics? Or will you need to visit the doctor? This article is designed to help you find relief from your sore throat, and discover whether or not you likely have strep throat symptoms. You will find the telltale signs of strep throat and the common sore throat, as well as treatment options for both. What Is Strep Throat? Unlike the common sore throat, strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection. A Streptococcus bacteria (called "group A strep") infects the throat and the tonsils, and it will quickly respond to antibiotics. It’s important to distinguish strep throat from sore throat because treatment for both is very different. What Is the Common Sore Throat? A sore throat can be quite painful, but it is not as painful as strep throat. Unlike strep throat, the common sore throat is usually caused by a virus. This means it will not respond to antibiotics. Even if it’s not strep throat, you may need to see a doctor for sore throat relief. It’s time to see the doctor if your sore throat lasts longer than a week,keeps coming back,makes your voice hoarse for more than two weeks,causes dehydration, orworries you in some other way.

The Cost of Salt in Your Diet How dangerous is sodium, and is the amount you’re eating too much? That’s a major health question that is still being debated among nutrition scientists. While some say a diet high in sodium poses greater heart risks, others claim the greater danger comes from recommending less salt than your body requires. So who is right? It’s hard to say, as much of the information in this ongoing controversy is still being determined. Here are a few things that are widely agreed upon. Blood Pressure Extra salt draws more water into your blood stream, and this increases blood pressure, also called “hypertension.” That’s worrying because hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, the no. 1 killer worldwide. One in three American adults suffers from high blood pressure. As we age that percentage rises astronomically, with some 90% of us expected to develop high blood pressure at some point in our lives. How Much Do We Eat? According to new US health standards, anyone over age 2 should be eating no more than 2,400 mg of sodium each day as part of a 2,000-calorie diet. However, men over the age of 20 are eating about 4,100 mg on average, and women over 20 eat about 3,000 mg. US standards for men and women over age 50 are stricter, as this population is more at risk of high blood pressure. Adults over age 50 are recommended no more than 1,500 mg of sodium each day. But they’re eating a lot more—between 2,200 mg and 4,000 mg each day on average, depending on the demographic. Where’s it all coming from? The vast majority of our sodium comes from processed, prepared, and packaged foods, either at home or in restaurants. In fact, only 6% comes from the salt shaker. How Dangerous Is Salt? Some nutritionists and researchers have concluded that the dangers of a high-sodium diet have been over-emphasized. The Institute of Medicine looked at several studies related to the saltiness of American diets. These researchers concluded that there was no reason to lower the recommended daily allowance either for the general population or for those at risk of hypertension. They further concluded that lowering sodium too much could leave a person vulnerable to other health risks. To make matters more complicated, some individuals are especially salt-sensitive. These people see their blood pressure rise and fall more dramatically based on the sodium in their diets. That would be fine if there were a convenient test to determine who is who. But there’s no such test available right now. Salt is a necessary mineral required for daily health. It lets your body’s muscles relax, it allows your nerves to send signals, and it keeps your body’s fluids in balance. When your diet becomes saltier, the excess is flushed away by your kidneys. But when the kidneys can’t get rid of the excess, it accumulates in your body fluid, requiring more water which increases your blood volume. This leads to a heavier load on your heart that over time can stiffen your arteries and raise your risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. This article will show you many of the everyday foods where sodium tends to hide. Becoming familiar with these foods—along with a few tips for avoiding them—will help you take better care of your heart’s health, and the health of your family.

Health Tip: Protect Your Feet From Warts (HealthDay News) -- Warts are small bumps, caused by a virus, that are highly contagious. The American Podiatric Medical Association suggests how to reduce your risk of developing warts on the feet: -Don't walk around barefoot. -Each day, wear a clean pair of socks and alternate your shoes. -Wash feet regularly, and dry them thoroughly. -Regularly inspect children's feet. -If someone else has warts, avoid direct contact with their skin. -Let your doctor know about warts, growths or other changes in your skin. -- Diana Kohnle

Common Painkillers Tied to Slight Rise in Heart Attack Risk View the Heart Disease Slideshow Heart Disease Slideshow Illustrations of the Heart Heart Disease Quiz Page 1 of 5 News Picture: Common Painkillers Tied to Slight Rise in Heart Attack RiskBy Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, May 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Commonly used painkillers such as Motrin, Advil and Aleve might increase your risk for heart attack, even in the first week of use, a new study suggests. Overall, these drugs and others known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increase the risk of a heart attack by 20 to 50 percent, compared with not using them, researchers found. For most people, however, this represents only a small increased risk -- about 1 percent a year, the researchers said. Still, "from the viewpoint of public health, even small increases in risk of heart attack are important because use of NSAIDs is so widespread," said lead researcher Michele Bally. She's an epidemiologist at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Center. The increased risk of heart attack associated with NSAIDs was seen at any dose taken for one week, one month or more than one month. And the risk rose with higher doses, the study found.

Eating "gluten-free" when there's no medical need to do so won't boost your heart health -- and might even harm it, a new study warns. Gluten-free diets have soared in popularity in recent years. But, shunning gluten has no heart benefits for people without celiac disease, and it may mean consuming a diet lacking heart-healthy whole grains, according to the quarter-century study. "For the vast majority of people who can tolerate it, restricting gluten to improve your overall health is likely not to be a beneficial strategy," said study leader Dr. Andrew Chan. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. People with celiac disease -- less than 1 percent of the U.S. population -- have an immune system reaction when they eat gluten, triggering inflammation and intestinal damage. They also have an increased risk of heart disease, but that declines after they begin eating a gluten-free diet, according to background information in the study. Recently, researchers have reported that some people may have what's known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, a condition that's not totally understood. "I don't want to dismiss the fact that there are people who have the sensitivity," said Chan, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. But, the rest of the population should not think that going gluten-free will help their health -- at least not their heart health, he said.

What is celiac disease? Celiac disease is an uncommon disease in which your immune system attacks the cells lining the small intestine. The reaction is provoked by gliadin, one of the proteins in gluten that is found in wheat and some other grains. The immune reaction results in inflammation and destruction of the intestinal lining cells. The destruction of the lining affects the ability of the lining to function normally, particularly in the absorption of food including macronutrients (fat, protein, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins, and minerals). Thus, although some of the symptoms of celiac disease may be a result of the ongoing inflammation and destruction, most of the symptoms are the result of the malabsorption. The presence of celiac disease usually is suspected on the basis of symptoms, but the diagnosis is confirmed with a combination of blood tests and biopsy of the intestine. It is common in both men and women.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI): a condition characterized by a deficiency of the digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas, leading to impaired digestion of food. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can occur in association with other diseases that affect the pancreas, like chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis. The symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are related to the defect in digestion and include abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, and unusually foul-smelling stools. Weight loss and vitamin deficiencies can also result from EPI. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) medications are the primary treatment.