Bell’s palsy is a sudden muscle weakness on one side of the face causing the face to paralyze or become weak. The condition also causes one side of the face to droop and become stiff.  The condition is generally temporary and limited to a few months. Here are some of the Bells’ palsy treatment options, procedure, and more. Read on.

What is the Right Treatment for Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy is chiefly caused due to the weakness of muscles. Some of the symptoms and signs such as difficulty in making different facial expressions, facial droop, changes in the amount of saliva and tears, pain behind the ears and jaw, and a decreasing ability to taste. It is important to consult a physician immediately if the signs become evident. This condition generally resolves on its own within a span of six months. Nevertheless, Bell’s palsy treatment will help in quicker recovery. Moreover, only in a few rare causes does the condition affect the nerves on both the sides of the face.

The Treatment Procedure
Doctors diagnosing the condition generally observe the movement of the face muscles such as frowning, closing the eyes and lifting the eyebrows. Patients might be asked to undergo tests such as undergoing scans and electromyography. These are the tests that confirm the severity of the condition and nerve damage. Bell’s palsy treatment generally involves medication such as anti-viral medicines and corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids are basically anti-inflammatory medicines that help reduce nerve inflammation. These should be taken immediately after the symptoms of Bell’s palsy are diagnosed. Another effective treatment is physiotherapy. This is needed because the paralyzed muscles might shorten and shrink, resulting in permanent contractures of the muscle. There are different exercises of the facial muscles, which help avoid Bell’s palsy. Occasionally, plastic surgery might also be recommended to correct facial nerve problems.

Recovery Time
The signs of Bell’s palsy generally improve within two weeks and might take three to six months to go away completely. However, recovery might take longer in people suffering from severe Bell’s palsy. Some people might experience facial sagging for a very long time mainly because of the weak facial muscles.

The condition might be severe is some cases but there are cases wherein the symptoms of the condition have gone away without any treatments.

Spinal stenosis is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the spinal column, which compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots. The condition often results in local pain in the back or neck and piercing pain in the connected extremities.

The most common cause of spinal stenosis is the natural deterioration of the spine due to aging. Since the reason is natural, there are some tips that you can observe to prevent the occurrence of the condition.

How to Prevent Spinal Stenosis
There is no way to stop aging and, thus, prevent the development of spinal stenosis. However, researchers have found out that certain lifestyle choices and tasks can largely defer the progression of the condition and reduce its impact on people’s lives. Here are a few tips that can promote your overall spine health and prevent the condition.

• Stay Active
  Performing exercise regularly is crucial to fortify the muscles which support the spine. Furthermore, it helps in increasing spinal flexibility and keeping body weight under control. All these factors decrease the amount of pressure exerted on the spine, thus delaying the onset of spinal stenosis.
• Do Not Sit for Protracted Hours
  When you stand, your legs act as shock absorbers for your spine. On the other hand, when you sit, these shock absorbers relax and all your body weight is shifted to the spine. Therefore, it is important to not sit for long durations. Make sure to take a small walk after every 30 minutes.
• Take Driving Precautions
  Wrong driving postures can also lead to the quick progression of spinal stenosis. Therefore, make sure when you are driving, your seat is angled at 100 degrees so that it properly supports your back.
• Sleep Smart
  Sleeping on the right mattress is vital if you want to prevent all kinds of back problems. If you regularly wake up with a stiff back or neck, it may be a sign that your mattress is worn out and needs replacement. You can use a mattress that is firm and properly supports your spine as a solution to this.
• Use Accurate Lifting Techniques
  Lifting heavy objects can often result in a back pain. However, sometimes you can also hurt your back by lifting small and light objects if you try to bend or reach them improperly. It is advisable to perform squat lifting for heavy objects.

All these general healthy lifestyle habits will help in preventing the condition of spinal stenosis. Follow these steps to live a healthy life.

A bruise or contusion appears when tiny blood vessels get damaged or break due to injury. It is a medical condition where blood from the damaged vessels remains accumulated beneath the epidermal layer. The skin becomes discolored and leaves a bluish or blackish mark. You can get a bruise when you bump into hard objects, during rigorous exercise, while playing body contact games or due to bleeding disorders. In most of the cases, this injury of the skin results in inflammation and pain. For quick recovery from the injury, use one of these easy treatment methods to cure bruises.

• Cold compress
  It is one of the most effective ways to manage bruises. Take some ice-cubes in a plastic bag, and place it on the injured area for 20-30 minutes to reduce the inflammation and pain. Do not apply the ice-cubes directly as it may cause frostbite. The cold treatment reduces the blood flow and stops any internal bleeding due to the bruise. Alternatively, you can use commercial ice packs available at the pharmacy store, which can be frozen and re-used.
• Apply tincture of arnica
  Massaging the area with a tincture of arnica or arnica gel is another easy treatment method for bruises. It reduces the soreness associated with the bruise.
• Place the injured area in a raised position
  This easy treatment method for bruises involves keeping the injured area in a raised position. This method works if you have bruises on your hands or legs. It decreases the blood flow to the site and promotes clotting of the damaged vessels. The heart cannot pump much blood into the area since it is above the body level. Thus, the fluids drain away from the injured area.
• Pain-relieving medicines
  If you experience intense pain in the bruised area, consult a doctor and ask them to prescribe a pain-relieving oral medication or topical cream. In most cases, Acetaminophen helps to improve the condition. Avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen as it delays the clotting of the wound.
• Hot press
  After two days from the occurrence of the injury, you can apply a hot press to the bruise. Heat a small cloth over an oven and place it on the wound for 10 minutes, two to three times a day. It increases the blood flow and helps the skin heal quickly.

If you’re looking for an easy and convenient way to treat bruises, you can choose any of the methods mentioned above.

Pain in the gums is an annoying issue that can occur for several reasons such as canker sores, brushing too hard, and wearing dentures, braces, or retainers. In the case of women, pregnancy, hormonal changes, and menopause can be some of the reasons. Other than these, due to certain oral health issues such as thrush, periodontitis, or gingivitis, you may suffer from severe gum pain. Here is a list of some easy and effective gum pain remedies that you can employ at home. Until you can see a dentist, these home remedies will help you to deal with the severe gum pain.

Compress
You can use either a cold or a hot compress to reduce the pain. For a hot compress, soak a cloth in hot, but not boiling, water; then squeeze out the excess water and press it gently on the face near the affected area, but do not apply directly to the gums. For the cold compress, wrap a pack of ice in a cloth and apply it in the way mentioned above.

Saltwater Rinse
Rinsing with salt water is one of the most effective gum pain remedies that help in preventing the bacterial growth in the mouth. Also, it helps in reducing the bacteria on the gums, which may be the reason behind the swelling gums.

Teabags
Get tea that is high in the astringent tannins, like green tea, black tea, or hibiscus tea to deal with the pain. Ginger or herbal mixed tea is one of the most useful home remedies.

Herbal Poultice
Spilanthes and clove are pain-relieving herbs. Also, powdered turmeric comprises the anti-inflammatory properties and is used in making the ultimate gum pain remedies at home. You simply need to mix any of the powdered herbs with warm water until a paste consistency is there. Now, apply this paste directly to the gums. Until the pain subsides, you need to apply it. Then, rinse the mouth with clean water.

Homemade dental spray
To address with the pain in the gum, another popular way is to apply a dental spray that has been made in a natural way by diluting essential oils.

Other than all the aforementioned natural gum pain remedies, different painkillers and oral anesthetic gels are available in the market. However, before taking any medications, it is always advisable to consult a dentist first as these medications might have side effects. Until you manage to get an appointment with the dentist, these home remedies will be helpful to keep the gum pain in the control.

Neuropathy in feet is a condition which leads to the feeling of little to no sensation in the feet. Damage to your peripheral nerves leads to a feeling of numbness, weakness, and pain. You may touch a hot or cold appliance and feel no sensation at all. In many cases of the disease, your symptoms can improve with time. The treatment for neuropathy in feet is aimed at reducing the pain involved with the disease. It is advisable to seek medical attention if you experience the symptoms of this disease. Read on to know the options for the best treatment for neuropathy in feet.

Treatment for neuropathy in feet
If you are suffering from progressive pain and numbness in your feet, it is quite likely that you are having trouble standing and walking. Imbalance issues are one of the major causes of concern with respect to this disease. Working with a physical therapist could go a long way in helping you discover lost balance. While carrying a can may not be appropriate according to your age, prevention from further injury is always the best option. You can improve blood circulation to the affected nerves by performing some basic exercises. Seek other treatment for neuropathy in feet as well, to avoid further development of the disease as it increases the likelihood of falling, tripping and hurting yourself. Treating the underlying cause of the disease is necessary and this can only be determined when you undergo a medical check-up. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind to help you on a day to day basis:

• Try wearing shoes that fit your feet well. This protects your feet and prevents them from suffering from further wounds.
• Place a mirror on the floor or at a lower altitude to inspect the soles of your feet regularly.
• Inspect your feet for cuts and wounds regularly.

Neuropathy in feet should be taken seriously as its progression could lead to serious consequences; numbness in the feet is also a serious matter. The most common underlying cause of the disease is diabetes. If you are suffering from neuropathy in feet as a result of it, it may last longer than usual. Seeking immediate medical attention is the best way forward. You may also follow the treatment for neuropathy in feet options mentioned above. Remember, early treatment can go a long way in reducing pain and helping you recover.

Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that causes many diseases that could be life-threatening. This bacterium mostly affects old men and women who are in the hospital or long-term healthcare facilities. It generally happens after the use of antibiotics. However, according to some recent studies, there is a huge growth of Clostridium difficile or C diff infection among those who are not considered to be at such high risks as these individuals, are younger and healthier, have no medical history of antibiotic use or have not been exposed to healthcare facilities. Every year, almost half a million people get affected by the C diff bacterium and with each passing year, the Clostridium difficile infections are becoming more and more severe and difficult to handle.

Here are some of the C diff symptoms that might help identify its effects on the body.

Symptoms
There are many people who carry C diff bacterium in their intestine. However, they never fall ill because of it. The C diff symptoms will start to appear within 5 to 10 days from the start of the antibiotic course. However, there are occasions when its symptoms start appearing after months of finishing the antibiotic course.

When the Infection is Mild to Moderate
Some of the C diff symptoms that appear when the infections are mild to moderate are:

• Watery diarrhea that may occur three or more times in a day for a minimum of two consecutive days.
• You can also get some mild abdominal cramping and tenderness as a symptom of Clostridium difficile infection.

When C Diff Infection is Severe
When C diff infection becomes severe, people affected might get dehydrated and need to be hospitalized. Clostridium difficile might cause the colon to become inflamed and because of this it may form patches of raw tissues that might bleed or produce pseudomembranous colitis. Some of the C diff symptoms in such cases are:

• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Weight Loss
• Loss of Appetite
• Swollen Abdomen
• Fever
• Rapid heart rate
• Diarrhea 10 to 15 times per day
• The increment in the white blood cell count

Shortly after finishing the antibiotic course, you might have loose stools. This happens mostly because of Clostridium difficile. If a person has watery stools three to four times a day for two days or more, then it is necessary to consult the doctor, as this is one of the primary symptoms of C diff infections.

Newborn kids are quite prone to bacterial and viral infections. Their body is not used to the outside environment when they are born, and because of low resistance to these infections, they can fall sick quite easily. One such issue that kids are known to face these days is pneumococcal pneumonia. It is a kind of bacterial infection that happens due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacterial infection is so severe that it can cause infections in various parts of the body including the brain, bloodstream, lungs, middle ear, and sinus.

How does the infection spread?
Research shows that about fifty percent of the people are carriers of this bacterial infection at any given point in time. However, kids are more likely to contract this disease because of their low immunity. Pneumococcal pneumonia spreads when kids inhale the bacteria from the infected air or physically consume something that might be infected. The contagion can be passed on by normal activities like sneezing, coughing, or through the exchange of saliva. It is one of the reasons why you should not share food, straw or drinks with your child. Try to avoid shared dishes as well. Preventing your child from putting everything in their mouth will also help in warding off this disease.

What are the symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia?
As mentioned before, the disease can affect various parts of the body. Depending upon the area affected by pneumococcal pneumonia, the symptoms have been explained as follows:

• If the bacteria infects the brain, then the child can suffer from meningitis. The symptoms of meningitis are vomiting, nausea, seizures, headaches, persistent crying, and drowsiness.
• If the bacteria get into the bloodstream, it can result in high fever, headache, nausea, and loss of appetite in your child. If your child is exhibiting these symptoms, you should visit a doctor for further references and tests.
• In the case of lung infections, the child experiences chest pain due to a persistent cough and discharge of yellow mucus.

How to prevent the infection?
The best way to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia is to make sure that your child gets vaccinated. The pneumococcal vaccine has all the necessary ingredients that can ward off the disease as well as the related bacteria within a stipulated span.