According to experts, a person’s mental health and wellness have a positive effect when a substantial time is spent in the outdoors. The outdoors, in this case, generally implies any place close to nature—surrounded by rivers, hills, mountains, or woods, or even great open fields. Nature is known to prove a health buffer against stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health illnesses. This has positive ramifications on other aspects of a person’s life. Here are the scientific backed benefits of nature on depression and mental health: 1. Lowers cortisol As stress levels reduce, physical health improves. This because a walk in the park will not only lower the production of stress hormones (known as cortisol), but also increase the strength of the immune system. 2. Improves emotional resilience Being close to nature also helps people with depression to develop increased levels of resilience. 3. Increases social connection Children and teenagers who have mental health disorder experience increased engagement with learning. Additionally, their self-esteem also improves over time. They also begin to engage more socially. 4. Elevates empathy Being amidst nature also improves the overall state of mind leading to reduced fluctuations in mood. There are also elevated levels of empathy.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder of the brain characterized by a continuous pattern of impulsivity, inattention or hyperactivity, thereby interfering with development and daily functioning. The condition was believed to be common only in children, but studies have shown that it is prevalent in adults too. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD affects around 4% to 12% of school-aged children, across the globe, as well as around 4% to 5% of college-aged students and adults. Although there is no cure for ADHD, there are several treatment options that can help in managing the symptoms of ADHD in children and adults. Right from prescribed medications to behavioral intervention, a range of treatments may be suggested by the doctor. However, in some cases, prescribed medications alone can prove to be effective for treating ADHD. On the other hand, the National Institute of Mental Health recommends including other treatment options along with medications. Here are some of the popular treatment options for ADHD in children and adults: 1. Prescribed medications In most cases, medications for ADHD lead to a reduction of hyperactivity and improvement in focusing, learning, and working. Medications have also shown improvement in physical coordination in the people with ADHD.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is caused by acid reflux. This means acid from the stomach flows back into the esophagus. It is quite normal to experience mild or moderate reflux once in a while. In fact, most people experience a little acid reflux at least twice or once a week. However, chronic GERD is a problem and requires treatment. Acid reflux can occur due to multiple reasons: 1. Malfunctioning esophagus One of the common reasons is the malfunctioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES closes and opens the lower part of the esophagus. It blocks the contents of the stomachs from going up the food pipe.  Malfunctioning occurs when the LES relaxes. Other reasons include eating certain foods and taking certain medications. 2. Medications The long-term use of certain medications increase the risk of GERD and acid reflux. Many often experience gastrointestinal side effects when they take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These medications can cause heartburn, esophageal irritation, peptic ulcers, and acid reflux. For people who already have GERD, the severity of symptoms is aggravated by these medicines. Certain prescription medications can also trigger acid reflux. These include calcium channel blockers, anticholinergics, beta-adrenergic agonists, and antihistamines.

A wax-like substance, cholesterol is present in the fats that are part of the blood stream. It is an essential chemical compound of the body and contributes in the process of building healthy body cells. However, the high levels of cholesterol can increase the risk of suffering from different kinds of heart conditions. This is because excessively high levels of cholesterol can cause deposition of fatty acids in the blood vessels. The deposits in turn cause a hindrance in the flow of blood through the arteries leading to the possibility of developing several health issues. High cholesterol may not only trigger cardiovascular disease but also disrupt blood flow to the brain. Thus, it increases the risk of suffering from a stroke. Fortunately, high cholesterol can be effectively treated and managed to keep its harmful effects at bay. Here are some common medications used to treat high levels of cholesterol: Statins Statins work by blocking out the substance used by the liver to make cholesterol. The liver removes the cholesterol from the blood while the medication makes the body reabsorb the cholesterol that is built-up on the walls of the artery. This in turn reverses the effects of coronary artery conditions.

It can seem like a hit or a miss for some of us trying to get a good shave. If you love a relatively hairless body, you might perform some means of hair removal on your legs, armpits and bikini area at least once a week. Of course, one of the cheapest and the easiest ways to go about it is shaving. However, there are numerous other ways for removing unwanted body hair at the surface or at the root. While some women may stick to just one type of hair removal technique, others might use a combination of techniques to get a smoother finish. Either way, learning different techniques can ensure you choose the right hair removal technique. Here are effective hair removal and shaving techniques that can help you get a smoother skin: Exfoliate Exfoliation lifts the hairs for a better shave. It also helps in getting rid of dead skin cells as they won’t gunk up the razor and hinder a close shave. You can also use portable sonic face cleansing brushes that exfoliate legs to get a good scrub before using the razor. Beauticians also suggest to exfoliate skin at least three times a week to prevent ingrown hair after performing waxing or other hair removal techniques.

Cancer has been and continues to be one of the most formidable, incurable health ailments that can be treated only if it is diagnosed in its early stages. Part of the trepidation that is associated with cancer is due to its ability to affect any part of the body, and the rest is induced due to the lack of explanations about its origins. For instance, it is often believed that lung cancer stems from the individual’s habit of smoking incessantly, which is quite true. However, people who haven’t smoked even once in their lives or gave up smoking are diagnosed with lung cancer. There are two major types of lung cancer, and they are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. The non-small cell lung cancer constitutes about 85 percent of the total number of lung cancer cases diagnosed in the country. Non-small cell lung cancer is further divided into adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma, out of which adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer. Like every other form of cancer, non-small cell lung cancer is treatable when it is in its initial stages; once the cancer metastasizes, the treatments are more focused on curbing the symptoms of lung cancer rather than trying to cure it completely.

Menopause is a natural process of aging in which a woman ceases to be fertile after a certain age. This age tends to vary from person-to-person as it is based on a number of factors. While perimenopause is a stage that is also known as “pre menopause” it happens before menopause and hence, is known as the transitional phase. Even though both may sound similar, there are differences observed between them in terms of symptoms and treatment. Let’s take a look at the difference between the symptoms and treatment of perimenopause and menopause: Signs of perimenopause During the period of perimenopause, the body process less and less of the hormones that control a woman’s periods namely, estrogen and progesterone. The symptoms of perimenopause usually include: Periods heavier or lighter than usual Tenderness of breasts Having an irregular menstrual cycle PMS being worse than usual Increase in heartbeat Gaining weight Changes in hair Difficulty in concentration Having severe headaches Loss of sex drive Having pain in muscles Forgetfulness Urinary tract infections Issues in fertility for women who are trying to conceive Symptoms of menopause As estrogen levels further drop in menopause, along with the symptoms of perimenopause, there are also some other symptoms one might experience.

Iron is an essential mineral of the body that is primarily responsible for the transportation of oxygen throughout the body. It is an essential component of hemoglobin and lack of the same affects the healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen. Iron is also essential for maintaining healthy cells of the skin, nails, and hair. Deficiency of iron causes shortness of breath, paleness of the skin, headaches, dizziness, unusual fatigue, swelling of the mouth and tongue, and restlessness of legs. These symptoms are the common ones a person with iron deficiency anemia experiences. Iron deficiency is most commonly seen in vegan or vegetarians people who have a low iron consumption in their diet. However, one can boost the absorption of iron by including a source of vitamin C along with a plant-based source of iron. Iron deficiency is common in the following populations: Those who consume a diet that is extremely low in iron (i.e., vegans and vegetarians) People who have been diagnosed with conditions that use-up iron more than usual (i.e., pregnancy and kidney failure). People who have suffered a significant loss of blood because of conditions like cancers, heavy menstrual, and ulcers. People who consume medications that affect the ability of the body to use iron to make hemoglobin.

Bacterial infection usually causes inflammation of the gums known as gingivitis. If the inflammation is not diagnosed and left untreated it can cause a serious infection known as periodontitis (also known as gum disease). Gingivitis and gum disease are major causes of tooth loss in the case of adults. While the leading cause of gum disease is plaque, some of the other factors that contribute to this condition include: Medical conditions There are certain conditions that affect the condition of one’s gums. This includes serious medical conditions that influence the immune system like cancer or HIV. Also, conditions like diabetes tend to affect a person’s ability to utilize sugar, this in turn increases the risk of risk of developing infections like cavities and periodontal disease. Lack of oral hygiene If one does not take care of his/her teeth by brushing and flossing regularly, it becomes easier to develop conditions like gingivitis. Certain medicines The oral health of a person is impacted because of certain medicines that tend to decrease in the flow of saliva. This is because saliva has a protective effect on gums and teeth. Some antianginal medications and anticonvulsant medications may cause abnormal growth of gum tissue leading to gum disease.

Tooth decay or cavity is permanent damage that occurs on the hard surface of a tooth, enamel, making its way to the roots by developing holes in the tooth. The cavity is formed when plaque, bacteria in the mouth, constantly forms on the teeth and produces acid when it comes in contact with foods and drinks that contain sugar. The acid attacks the teeth enamel and breaks it down over time. Cavities can be found in children as well as adults. People who practice poor dental hygiene often fall prey to cavities as they don’t successfully remove the formation of the acid layer off their teeth. Cavities do not cause any pain initially, but as it grows deeper into the tooth and reaches the nerves, or cause a fracture in the tooth, it can cause unbearable pain. Everyone dreads dental surgeries and painful treatments; which become a common reason most people do not visit the dentist despite having cavities in their teeth. When the cavity is left untreated for too long, it reaches the roots of the tooth that can lead to nerve damage and infections. The pain caused by nerve damage can be treated by performing a root canal or a tooth extraction.