If you suffer from allergies, asthma, nasal polyps, or cold and flu, chances are you’ve experienced issues with breathing at one point or another. There are many ways to help treat and medicate breathing issues, whether that be with an air purifier, puffers, Flonase, Stiolto, Spiriva, Allegra, Claritin, Dupixent, or in more serious cases, oxygen therapy. But did you know that there are certain foods and changes you can make to your diet that will help you with breathing issues? Based on what you eat, different nutrients make you produce more carbon dioxide for the amount of oxygen used, and others make you produce less. Read on to see what foods and nutrients you should incorporate into your diet to help with your breathing: 1. Whole grains Whole grains are packed with important vitamins and nutrients like vitamin E, fatty acids, selenium, and fiber that are all great for lung health and have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Avoid refined grains and instead reach for whole-wheat bread, quinoa, oats, barley, and other whole grain products. 2. Garlic Garlic is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to the compound known as allicin. What’s more, garlic has been shown to improve lung function by decreasing oxidative stress.

Menopause marks the completion of menstrual cycles and is diagnosed after 1 year with no period. It typically occurs between 40 and 50 years of age and is a result of naturally declining reproductive hormones—meaning your fertility declines. Most women don’t need to see a doctor to receive a diagnosis, as signs and symptoms are usually enough of an indication; however, you may want to visit your reproductive doctor or healthcare provider to help manage symptoms. There are a few options to treat symptoms if you are struggling, such as hormone replacement (like estrogen therapy), supplements, or medications like Imvexxy, Relizen, and Vylessi. If you think you may be reaching menopause, read on to see if these 8 early signs and symptoms match how you feel: 1. Dyspareunia Dyspareunia, persistent or recurrent genital pain experienced before, during, or after intercourse, is a sign of menopause. The decrease in estrogen levels can cause vaginal atrophy, the tissues lining the inside of the vagina may thin and become dry or inflamed, and in turn result in dyspareunia. 2. Hot flashes Hot flashes are the most common symptom of perimenopause and are quick bursts of sudden warmth and drenching sweat that lasts between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.

Good skin and skin care is important for people of all ages, whether you want a clear complexion or to combat declining collagen and reduce fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes or on your neck. Depending on your age and skin type, dermatologists can recommend serums, botox, fillers (like Juvederm), Zemoin, natural treatments, supplements, and more. There are also many makeup brands that create products, like concealers and foundations, for specific skin types and issues, such as Clarins, Estée Lauder and Shiseido. Whether you’re worried about your frown lines or are struggling with blemishes, here’s 6 secrets to flawless skin that will have you glowing in no time: 1. Collagen and other supplements If skin aging is your concern, you should look into collagen and other skin-supporting supplements. Collagen is a protein found in connective tissues, skin, tendons, and cartilage—as you age, collagen decreases and elasticity and hydration declines. Taking collagen supplements, or other forms of collagen like creams, can rehydrate the skin, improve elasticity, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Other good supplements for the skin include vitamin C, Omega-3, CoQ-10, and more 2. Sunscreen Sunscreen is the most important and effective product for flawless skin at any age.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease that results in inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract—mainly affecting the lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. There is no known cure, but there are new treatments and medications available to reduce symptoms, including Entyvio and Stelara. With UC, it’s important to monitor your diet as certain foods can be triggers that cause flare-ups. Read on to learn what foods you should avoid with colitis: 1. Spicy food Spicy food like hot sauce, hot peppers, chilis, and more can trigger symptoms or worsen an ongoing flareup by affecting the digestive tract. Diarrhea and other symptoms associated with UC are likely to get worse with the consumption of spice, so try to avoid it. 2. Dairy products Avoiding dairy products will likely be in your best interest if you have UC. Due to the lactose properties in many dairy products, like milk, cheese, and yogurt, consuming them can be a trigger for UC symptoms such as diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain. This becomes worse if you’re lactose intolerant as your body has a harder time digesting the lactose. If dairy is a big part of your diet, try reaching for lactose-free dairy products or try a Lactaid before eating.

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the brain that directly affects the nervous system and causes dyskinesia, unintentional or uncontrolled movements. This can include stiffness, shaking, balancing and coordination difficulties. Symptoms come on gradually and progressively worsen over time—while there is no cure, these symptoms can be managed with medications and treatments such as Gocovri ER, Rytary, Ingrezza, and Austedo. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should see your doctor to get tested for Parkinson’s disease: 1. Tremors Tremor’s as a result of Parkinson’s often begin in the hands and ‘spread’ to the rest of the arm and could eventually go down to the foot on the same side. While there is no cure or way to completely stop the tremor, there are medications and treatments that can make it more manageable as well as different products that can help make daily tasks easier for those with tremors. 2. Muscle stiffness Muscle stiffness can make your body feel more inflexible and rigid as well as making daily tasks, like tying shoelaces, writing, and turning over in bed, more challenging to complete. It can be difficult to relax your muscles or to stretch. 3. Slowed movement If you notice it’s taking you longer to do things and move around, this is one of the main  symptoms of Parkinson’s known as bradykinesia.

If you’ve had allergies, you’ve definitely experienced itchy, dry eyes at one point or another—-this can be an incredibly uncomfortable feeling. Luckily, humidifiers and eye drops may help to bring moisture back into your eyes and ease the discomfort. But allergies aren’t the only reason you can get dry eyes, so if you’re experiencing the issue and aren’t sure why it’s happening, read on to learn potential causes: 1. Allergies Environmental factors like pollen, dust mites, smoke, and pet dander can cause allergies to flare up, which then results in inflammation of the eyes, itchy eyes, and decreased tear production which turns into dryness of the eyes. If you know you suffer from environmental allergies, it would be a good idea to take allergy medications or carry eye drops on days when external factors live pollen levels are high. 2. Hormonal changes Hormonal changes, typically estrogen and progesterone, occur most commonly in women after menopause or pregnancy. With changing levels of these hormones, it can impact your meibomian gland and can lead to dryness of the eye. Hormonal changes can also come with your menstrual cycle and the use of birth control, so if you are experiencing significant issues with dry eyes, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

Water, whether you consume it as sparkling water, bottled water, fresh purified water, or seltzer water, is essential for hydrating your body. Every living thing needs it, from tiny bacteria, to plants, to giant blue whales—water is a key component of life. Tap water can sometimes get contaminated, so to consume the healthiest water possible you should look for the best water filters to ensure you get clean hydration. You might wonder if there’s ever a certain time that you should be drinking water, and there is! Here’s the 6 best times to drink water for maximum health benefits: 1. When you wake up Start your day off right by enjoying a refreshing glass of water when you wake up in the morning. This sets healthy habits and makes maintaining good hydration habits throughout the day much easier. 2. Before meals If you’re trying to lose weight, drinking water before a meal can enhance fullness and prevent you from overeating. Not only this, but creating a schedule where you drink water before meals can up your hydration and water intake, making good, healthy habits. 3. Before and after exercise When you exercise, you lose water and electrolytes through sweat. To maintain your hydration, it is recommended that you drink water before and after a workout.

For many of us, water is a constant companion, whether it’s distilled water from a jug in the refrigerator, tap water filtered through a high-tech water filter, sipping on a fruity flavoured water during a midday break, or grabbing a bottled water on the go. However, do we ever pause to think if there’s an optimal time to drink water for maximum health benefits? The answer may surprise you. This article delves into the best times to hydrate ourselves, harnessing the power of H2O for enhanced well-being: 1. When waking up Starting your day with a glass of water is akin to giving your body a head start. After a long period of sleep, your body is slightly dehydrated. Drinking water first thing in the morning rehydrates the body, jump-starts your metabolism, aids in flushing out toxins, and boosts brain function. 2. Before you eat Drinking water approximately 30 minutes before your meals can be incredibly beneficial. This habit aids digestion by preparing your stomach for food, stimulates the production of digestive juices, and can even help control your calorie intake, as the water fills up some space in the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness. 3. When you exercise The body loses water through sweat during physical activities, so it’s vital to replenish the lost fluids.

Lung cancer is cancer of the lungs, and it can take on a few forms, ranging from small cell carcinoma to advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and many variations in between. Like any type of cancer, it’s essential to catch it early on and start medications and treatments right away for the most optimal outcome, but unfortunately many individuals ignore their symptoms. Lung Cancer Treatment Options While there is currently no cure for lung cancer, there are many options for medications to help treat it and assist with symptom management. Medications your doctor may prescribe include Zepzelca, Alecensa, Rybevrant, and ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) or ROS1 inhibitor. Certain medications work together, like OPDIVO (nivolumab) combined with YERVOY (ipilimumab), for the most effective outcome. In addition to medications to help manage symptoms, you likely will also require targeted treatments to directly fight against the cancerous tumors. One may endure therapies such as immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies. These can be mentally and physically exhausting, so it’s helpful to have a support system there to encourage and help you through it, like close friends and family. There are also cancer support groups you can join to talk to people that understand exactly what you’re going through.

Osteoporosis is what occurs when more bone gets broken down than replaced, resulting in brittle bones, or easily breaking bones, weaker grip strength, back or neck pain, receding gums, weak or brittle finger nails, stooped posture, and more. There are some medications and treatments that can help reduce these symptoms such as Evenity, Forteo, Fosamax, Prolia, and Boniva, but one of the best ways to improve bone strength is through your diet. Just as there are some foods you should eat more of, there are some foods you should try to avoid entirely. Here are 5 foods to avoid to keep osteoporosis at bay: 1. High sodium foods High sodium foods can result in a loss in calcium in your body, the mineral associated with healthy bones and teeth. With a lack of calcium, you will suffer from bone loss, causing your bones to become weak and you to develop osteoporosis. Processed foods and canned foods are typically very high in sodium, so make sure to read your labels and try seasoning your food with spices as opposed to added salt. 2. Wheat bran Wheat bran contains what’s known as phytates, something considered an anti-nutrient that makes it harder for your body to absorb calcium and other essential nutrients.