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• Top Home Remedies for Treating Dark Circles

  Are you facing the problem of dark circles under your eyes? Are you tired of using makeup and concealers to constantly hide these unsightly circles? Well, don’t worry, because you don’t have to live with them forever. Thankfully, there are some easy home remedies that can help you get rid of these unwanted dark circles naturally. Here, we have listed some effective ways to treat dark circles under the eyes at home. First, let us understand some potential causes of dark circles.

  Causes of Dark Circles Under the Eyes

  • Lack of adequate water intake
  • Reduced hemoglobin levels
  • Genetic factors
  • Lack of sleep or restlessness
  • High stress levels
  • Lack of proper diet
  • Prolonged illness
  • Long hours of working in front of the computer

  Home Remedies to Treat Dark Circles under Eyes
  Dark circles under the eyes not only make you look older than your age but also make you look unhealthy or ill. Using the following ingredients can help to treat these dark circles under the eyes.

  • Cold Cucumber Slices
    Cucumbers are a rich source of antioxidants. They serve as a natural astringent and help to reduce the puffiness around the eye area. Also, they act as a coolant, making the skin tissues around the eye area contract, making dark circles under the eyes less visible. Place two cucumber slices on top of each eyelid and let it stay for 5 minutes and then rinse.

  • Cold Tea Bags
    Tea bags contain caffeine that helps in shrinking the skin tissues around the eyes. Furthermore, they contract the blood vessels around the eyes and reduce fluid retention, making the area under the eyes appear radiant. Take two used teabags and put them in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes. Finally, place them on your eyelids and allow them to stay for about 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water.  For best results, repeat this process 2-3 times a day.

  • Milk
    Milk has a plethora of health benefits. It contains essential vitamins such as vitamin A, B6, and B12. These vitamins help in building new skin cells as well as lightening dark skin naturally. Also, it contains selenium, protecting the skin from free radicals and harmful UV rays.  Simply soak two cotton pads in cold milk and place them on your dark circles under eyes. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then rinse with clean water. For optimal results, use this home remedy three times a week.

  • Aloe Vera
    Aloe vera is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Being an effective moisturizing solution, applying aloe vera gel on your dark circles and massaging the under eye area can help in improving the appearance of dark circles. Simply massage the gel for 10 minutes and leave it on. Rinse only if you find the gel sticky.

  • Potato Juice
    Potato juice is a great ingredient as it has natural skin bleaching properties. It can effectively lighten the skin and reduce the puffiness around the eye area. Grate one potato and squeeze the juice. Dip two cotton pads in the juice and apply them on your eyelids for 20 minutes. Finally, remove and rinse.

  • Coconut Oil
    Coconut oil is a highly moisturizing solution that helps to combat skin dryness. It contains vitamin E and antioxidants that help to renew and rejuvenate the damaged skin cells. Moreover, it’s packed with lactic acid that tightens the skin. All these essential ingredients make it a perfect for getting rid of the unwanted dark circles under eyes. 

  Apply a small quantity of virgin oil under your eye area before bedtime. Gently massage in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. Leave it overnight.

  • Tomato
    Tomatoes are packed with antioxidants. These amazing natural bleaching agents work wonders for getting rid of the discoloration under the eyes. To use tomatoes in an effective home remedy, extract tomato juice and mix it with half a teaspoon of lemon juice and two teaspoons of gram flour. Thoroughly mix it to form a consistent paste. Apply the paste to your under eye area for 15 minutes and then rinse with cold water.

  • Rosewater
    Rosewater is highly suited for people with a sensitive skin type. It revitalizes the skin and has a calming effect on tired eyes. Due to its astringent properties, it works well for reducing the dark circles under eyes. Soak two cotton pads in rose water and place them over your eyes for about 15 minutes. Follow this remedy twice every day for a couple of weeks to see visible results.

  All the points mentioned above are effective home remedies for treating dark circles under eyes. However, it is important to understand that dark circles do not get cured overnight. A healthy skin care regime along with proper nutrition is the key to getting rid of these unsightly circles.

   

• Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

  PAH or pulmonary arterial hypertension is also known as primary pulmonary hypertension. It is a very rare hypertension disease that affects your capillaries and arteries. The blood from the right ventricles of your heart flows into your lungs through these vessels. When the pressure in your arteries arises, your heart has to work much harder to pump the blood and as a result, it weakens the heart muscles. This can result in death as well. You cannot be cured of primary pulmonary hypertension. However, there are treatment options available for you to cope with it.

  Symptoms
  During the early stages of the primary pulmonary hypertension, you will not get any such noticeable symptoms. However, as your condition gets from bad to worse, there will be some symptoms that will get more and more noticeable. These symptoms include:

  • Dizziness
  • Chest pressure
  • Fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Heart palpitations
  • Rapid pulse
  • Chest pain
  • Bluish spots on your skin and lip
  • Swelling of legs and ankles
  • Swelling of your abdomen towards the later part of your disease

  You will find it difficult to breathe when you exercise or perform any other type of physical activity. Also, you might find it difficult to breathe even at the time when you are taking rest.

  Causes
  PAH happens when the capillaries and the arteries which carry the blood from the heart to the lungs gets destroyed or constricted. This happens due to multiple reasons. But the exact reason for primary pulmonary hypertension is yet to be discovered by the doctors and scientists. According to research, almost 15% to 20% of the people who suffer from PAH in the country have it hereditarily. This is due to the mutation that takes place in the BMPR2 gene or other genes. This genetic mutation can continue to happen from generation to generation leaving someone a chance to develop this disease at the later part of their life. However, there are other medical conditions that can be associated as the potential cause for PAH. These medical conditions include:

  • Disorders with certain connective tissue
  • Some infections, such as schistosomiasis or HIV infection
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Certain drugs such as recreational drugs
  • Fat burners
  • Certain toxins in your body

  These are not the only causes for PAH to develop. As already stated, there is no specific cause for PAH, or even if it’s there, it is still unknown to the doctors and scientists. When PAH develops without any related reasons, it is called idiopathic PAH.

  Diagnosis
  When your doctor thinks that you have primary pulmonary hypertension, he or she will ask you to do certain tests to assess the condition of your arteries and heart. These tests for PAH diagnosis will include:

  • Chest X-ray: To know whether the pulmonary arteries have got enlarged or not.
  • MRI or CT scan: To search for blood clots in your pulmonary arteries.
  • Electrocardiogram: To identify any sign of abnormal rhythm or strain in your heart.
  • Echocardiogram: To check the structure of your heart and how it is functioning and also measure the pressure of your pulmonary artery.

  You doctors will make you go through these tests just to find out the signs of PAH and also other causes for the symptoms you are having. Doctors generally look to rule out any other probable causes before determining that you are suffering from PAH.

  Treatment
  At present, there is no permanent cure for primary pulmonary hypertension. However, there are certain treatment options which will decrease the risk of complications and get you a prolonged life.

  • Medications: PAH is sometimes related to other medical conditions that you may have. In such a case, your doctor will prescribe you certain medications. Also, if you are currently taking any medication, then the doctor will try to adjust these PAH medications along with them.
  • Surgery: Surgical treatment is another option for PAH treatment. But, this treatment option will depend on the severity of the condition you have. Arterial Septostomy could be done in order to reduce the pressure on the right side of the heart. Also, the replacement of the heart or lungs could be an option too.
  • Changes in lifestyle: Another important aspect of PAH treatment is the lifestyle change without which no treatment option will be effective. The patients of PAH need to start living a more healthy lifestyle. This will include developing healthy food habits, exercising daily, maintaining the right weight according to the height, and finally quit the habit of tobacco smoking once and for all.

  PAH is one such disease that worsens with time. Therefore, early detection and treatment will increase the life expectancy of the patient. That is why a medical consultation with your doctor is extremely important if you have any of the aforementioned conditions.

• 5 foods that can help fight lung cancer

  Different foods can have positive effects on our body and mind. There are foods that may help fight lung cancer and other types of cancers. However, patients who are already affected by lung cancer should be more careful with their dietary habits and food choices.

  Some vitamins and minerals may be beneficial for the body during the course of treatment – chemotherapy, medication, and radiation. Studies show that there are potential cancer-fighting fruits, vegetables, and food items that could make a significant difference in the health of a person.

  Let us now look at those specific foods that inhibit the growth of cancer cells or stop them from becoming metastatic.

  Foods that may help fight lung cancer
  Is there anything as a lung cancer diet? Technically, there isn’t anything such. However, some foods may help fight lung cancer or even prevent the disease. It is debatable.

  There’s no reason to fret. Multiple studies are still looking into the effect of diet on cancer cells already present in the body. The lists of foods given below discuss the nutritional value and their effects on lung cancer. If you are already affected by lung cancer and are going through chemotherapy and radiation therapy, this information might prove to be helpful.

  Green tea: Green tea is believed to be very effective in fighting lung cancer. Not only does it play a preventive role but it may also benefit people living with this disease. Green tea contains caffeine in very less quantity. So, if you have caffeine sensitivity, you have to look for a caffeine-free option.

  Pears: A recent study showed that fruits like apples and pears induced apoptosis which is programmed cell death in cancer cells. These fruits contain phloretin, a phytochemical, which may be used as an adjunct for the treatment of non-small lung cancer cells. Phloretin also enhanced the effect of anti-cancer cisplatin – a chemotherapy medicine used for lung cancer patients. Besides this, phloretin may also reduce lung fibrosis associated with radiation.

  Ginger: Ginger is a great aid to side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea. It may even play a bigger role for people living with the disease. Ginger contains 6-shogaol, a compound that may prevent lung cancer development and lowers the risk of metastases in patients living with lung cancer. Dietary ginger evidently reduces the risk of metastases and has immense health benefits. You can either add ginger to your diet, drink ginger tea, or have crystallized ginger.

  Salmon: Salmon is an excellent source of vitamin D. A diet rich in vitamin D is essential for patients with lung cancer. Fatty fishes like salmon, herring, and mackerel are loaded with health benefits. Of all the vitamins and minerals, vitamin D is the most difficult one to find in its dietary form.

  Turmeric: Turmeric is an essential ingredient mostly used in Asian food. Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which lends a yellow color. Research shows that curcumin inhibits invasive traits of lung cancer cells. It also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, as well as immune-stimulatory properties besides causing apoptosis or cell death in cancer cells.

  In addition, foods that may help fight lung cancer include carrots, berries, capers, red grape juice, oysters, flaxseeds, and watercress to name a few.

• Home remedies to help deal with dry eyes

  Have your eyes been stinging, burning, or looking red? If yes, you might have a condition called dry eyes. It happens when tiny glands in and around the eyelids do not make enough tears to keep your vision clear. Additionally, tears help keep the eyes moist and hydrated. They can wash away any grime and debris and protect it from infection. The cause for this condition could be due to certain medicines, diseases, or simply one’s age. Usually, the treatment process depends on the cause of this condition.

  Before you consider taking eye drops or other medicines, try these natural and home remedies for dry eyes, as they are safer.

  • Warm compresses
    It is one of the best natural and home remedies for dry eyes. At times, inflamed and flaky eyelids clog the oil-making glands that are on the edge of the eyelid and cause dry eyes. To release these clogged eyelids, you can use a warm, wet cloth over your eyelids, pressing it gently on the edges to help release the clogged oils. The heat and moisture help loosen the clogged oils in the glands and also reduce inflammation, if any. Do it a few times in a day until you get relief.
  • Fatty fish
    Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that are ideal if one needs to increase moisture in the oil-making glands. The other foods you could try are vegetable oils (soybean and canola), walnuts, and flaxseeds. This is one of the easiest remedies for dry eyes.
  • Blink more
    Research shows that people who blink often are less prone to dry eyes. Usually, people who use computers, smartphones, or any other bright screens for a long time are more likely to suffer from this condition, as they do not blink as often. So, it is important to make a conscious effort to blink more often when using these gadgets. Additionally, gently squeezing your eyelids together to blink helps spread a fresh layer of tears over the eyes. It is one of the most effective methods for dry eyes.
  • Castor oil
    It contains high levels of ricinoleic acid that improves the natural lubricating properties of the eyes. It also works as an anti-inflammatory agent that reduces the burning and itching associated with dry eyes. Use 1-2 drops of cold-pressed, organic castor oil, about two-three times a day and you will notice a difference.
  • Cucumber
    Cucumber is a great vegetable to have around at all times and is one of the best natural home remedies for dry eyes. It is rich in water and vitamin A, and its topical application is known to soothe dry eyes. Slice chilled cucumber and place them on your eyelids 2-3 times a week to relax and soothe the eyes.
  • Chamomile tea
    Chamomile is recognized to have relaxing and calming effects on the body. It also has natural soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that help replenish the lost moisture from the eyes. This, in turn, prevents irritation of the eyes. All you need to do is add a teaspoon of dried chamomile herb in hot water and let it soak for some time. Later, strain it and cool it in the refrigerator. Dab some cotton pads in this solution and place them over the eyes. Your eyes will feel refreshed and hydrated.

  Try these natural and home remedies for dry eyes and you will see the difference it makes.