Dog Allergy: An overview
Dog Allergy: An overview

A dog is a man’s best friend. But if you’re allergic to these furry animals, what do you do?

There are many causal factors that are responsible for dog allergies. Dog allergies occur as a result of a weak immune system. The body of people with an allergy to dogs responds in the same way someone who is allergic to dust might respond.

Some of the major causes that trigger the infection

  • Flakes of dead skin
  • Saliva of the dog
  • Urine of the dog
  • Contrary to popular belief that most dog allergies are a result of shed dog fur, this is the least responsible factor.

Symptoms of dog allergy
How do you know you are allergic to dogs or that the allergy is underway? Here are some of the symptoms which will help you figure that out:

  • A runny nose
  • Continuous Sneezing
  • Pain in some parts of the face as a result of the congestion in the nose
  • Itchiness and redness in eyes
  • Watery eyes
    Hives or rashes on the skin
  • Tightening chest
    Continuous coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Some of these symptoms, like hives and rashes, occur mostly after physical contact with a dog.

Diagnosis Of The Allergy
The skin-prick test is the most common way to see if you have a dog allergy. The test includes putting a small amount of the allergen of dogs on your skin. The skin is then pierced to let the allergen seep in. After the process, you are monitored for the signs of allergy. At the most, it takes around 15-20 minutes for the symptoms to show up. Some people prefer a blood test rather than the skin-prick test for determining the allergy.

How To Treat Dog Allergy
Dog allergy treatments include medication sold mostly on prescription. If you see a sign of allergy surfacing, the first thing that should be done is get to your doctor.
Most common medicines recommended by doctors for dog allergy treatments are:

Antihistamines: This medicine is used to stop the chemicals that trigger infection. They come in the form of tablets, nasal sprays or drops.
Decongestants: This medication tones down the swelling in the nose and eases the congestion.
Nasal Steroids: These sprays are used to calm down the allergy and are the primary line of treatment.

Precautions for people suffering from dog allergies
The basic precaution which lays the ground for all other precautions is to maintain distance from dogs. Here is how you can do it:

Do not make any physical contact with a dog. Avoid visiting places which house pet dogs.
If you run into a dog or visit someone who has a dog, clean yourself when you get home.
Sometimes you will have to come in contact with a dog and there is no avoiding it, like a visit to a relative who owns a dog. If this is the case, then pay a visit your doctor, he might be able to give you some medication that could avoid the allergy from surfacing.

  • Three types of Operating Systems you need to know about

    Operating systems are used everywhere. From personal home computers to workstations, to office PCs, they are always in use. Are you in IT, an accountant, or someone interested in learning more about computers? Knowing how operating systems relate to one another and what they do could help you. Operating systems can improve your work speed and increase productivity by automating tasks. But one thing to keep in mind is that the use of OS’s is not restricted to personal computers. Networks and batch filing processes make use of operating systems.

    Here are the three different types of operating systems that tech users and computer enthusiasts may encounter.

    Batch processing operating systems: These are used for executing repetitive tasks or chunks of work using automation. An automated punch card is a good example of this. You simply program the task, and the computer will execute it. In this instance, the computer can be defined as any device that does computations or process. Don’t restrict your thinking to only personal computers. Batch processing operating systems do not have much user interaction. They are maintained by programmers. They work like programs, solving tasks by means of automated algorithms.

    Time sharing operating systems: Time-sharing operating systems usually involve multiple users utilizing the same OS. This cuts down on response times by carrying out tasks immediately. Think of it as sharing time with others and dividing up the work in the OS for others to view. You can work with your friends on the same task with time-sharing operating systems and keep track of progress. It’s like peer programming, and similar to collaborative working. The difference between time sharing OS and batch processing OS is that the processor is used more in batch processing. This is because you add piles of work, thus more processing power needed to get it done in a time-effective manner. Timesharing OS uses minimal processing power, thereby maximizing response time.

    Think of it this way – the computer needs more time to respond to the user when you use its resources heavily since there’s a lag or overload. However, if the resources are used minimally, then the computer can respond to the user much quicker without being overloaded with tasks. This is the key difference between time sharing OS and batch processing OS.

    Network operating systems: If you work in a startup or a company, chances are – you already know a bit about network operating systems. These allow you to share files over Wi-Fi and access work files over the network. Network operating systems run mostly with the help of a server, which allows admins to manage users, data, groups, security, apps, and much more. Examples of this include Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Mac OS X, Linux, and BSD. That’s where it starts to get complicated, but for most non-technical people, that’s all you need to know.

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  • Things You Did Not Know About Portable Oxygen Concentrator

    People undergoing oxygen therapy are in need of oxygen with greater concentration. The functions of the portable oxygen concentrator are similar to that of the home oxygen concentrator but the POCs are more mobile in nature so that you can carry them anywhere you like. For traveling purpose, the POC serves a great deal as it can be fitted in vehicles easily occupying only a little space.

    Invention of a portable oxygen concentrator

    The portable oxygen concentrator was developed in the 1970s; however, they have become popular in the year of 2000. As people were struggling to channelize technology in proper ways, the first models of POC were bulky and hard to carry around. Moreover, the airlines never allowed carrying the portable oxygen concentrator in the airplanes. Reliability was even a bigger issue in the first generation of POC.

    • The improved portable oxygen concentrators can now be used widely as they are able to produce maximum six liters of oxygen in every minute.
    • Low-voltage and energy-efficiency are new features that the patients should look for in the new generation of POC.

    How does a portable oxygen concentrator function?

    These machines work as medical devices assisting people critical conditions when they suffer from a low level of oxygen in the body. They run on electricity and there is an electrical outlet for plugging in the device. However, there are other models that are able to run on battery as well. It takes five processes to complete the task that includes,

    • Taking air from the room or surrounding
    • Compressing oxygen
    • Taking out elements of nitrogen from the air
    • Adjusting the delivery of the air
    • Delivering purified air in the room for serving the main purpose

    As air is made of 20% oxygen and 80% nitrogen, the nitrogen needs to be eliminated while the air is being purified. After the purification of the air, only 5-10% of nitrogen is left in the air which does not cause harm to human body. Moreover, the people can inhale the air that is full of 90-95% oxygen.

    What are the benefits of using this device?

    If the users decide to purchase Inogen, Philips Respironics, Inova Labs or Invacare, they can avail a large scale of benefits that can cater to their needs.

    • If you take supplemental oxygen while exercising, you can exercise longer. This indicates the fact that you can get more health benefits out of it. In addition to the context, with a good exercise session, your stamina improves along with your mood.
    • If you take the POC manufactured by Inogen, you are guaranteed to get a multitude of perks including maintaining is super active social life. The lightweight device can be stored in the cars so that the diseases won’t let you stick to the bed all day long.
    • When there is lack of oxygen in the body, fatigues overpowers the body. Brain functions are hampered and there is a high risk of lung diseases that can jeopardize human life.
    • The survival chances of a human being increase as lack of oxygen can lead to critical human conditions. The supplemental oxygen used to work up to 15 hours but the improved portable ones contribute to the oxygen therapy for 24 hours in a day.

    What are the things to consider?
    When you are the portable oxygen concentrator for the first time, you need to consider the fact whether it comes with manufacturer warranty. Moreover, if there is an expiration date for the device. You should ask the manufacturer about from where you can purchase or repair the parts when the device fails to function properly. In addition to the context, the user needs to keep in mind that the size of the device and whether the device is compatible with the car or airplane journeys.

    The benefits and functions of the portable oxygen concentrator are invented to help people getting recovery as soon as possible. In order to lessen the risk factors related to impure air or lack of oxygen, the POC can be the thing for the users.

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  • Home remedies for constipation

    Almost everyone experiences difficult bowel movements from time to time. But when the condition becomes chronic, it can make life very uncomfortable. For quick constipation relief and to keep your digestive tract healthy, you can rely on some simple home remedies.

    Consider these natural remedies next time constipation comes knocking or to keep it at bay.

    • Drink enough liquids throughout the day for relieving constipation. You can start with warm water and lemon and continue to sip healthy beverages throughout the day. Warm beverages such as mint tea or lemon-ginger tea can also be helpful in treating constipation.
    • Eat healthy fats for constipation relief. Consuming nuts and olive oil regularly can help with bowel movements. One spoonful of sesame seeds after lunch can provide healthy oils to lubricate the bowels and provide easy passage for stools.
    • Consume high-fibre foods to keep your digestive system robust. During constipation, add extra fibre to your daily diet in the form of whole grains, vegetables, beans, lentils and fruits. You can also try nonprescription constipation medications like fibre laxatives to treat severe constipation. But use laxatives with restraint.
    • Any physical activity can help to stimulate bowel movements. You can try to include 15-20 minutes of mild to intense physical exercise as per your health. Even gentle workout or a short walk can be helpful for inducing bowel movements.
    • A handful of prunes or raisins every night before bed can prepare your bowels for passing stools the next morning. Raisins act as natural laxatives due to their tartaric acid content. Prunes also help with intestinal contractions. Both are rich in fibre too. If you are prone to bloating, eat dried figs instead of prunes.
    • Good intestinal health is necessary for normal bowel movements. When the intestines are not healthy, often constipation can occur. If your intestines are inflamed or irritated due to poor diet, eat plain and unsweetened yoghurt for a quick remedy. The good bacteria in yoghurt can heal the intestines and help you to have normal bowel movements.

    Consult your doctor if your constipation doesn’t get better with home remedies. The cause could be another medical condition.

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  • 3 tips to consider before installing a walk-in tub shower

    Currently, walk-in tub showers are increasingly gaining momentum among consumers. This because they are unique and multipurpose. Apart from providing functionality, walk-in bathtubs come with additional features, which can bring the ultimate spa experience to your home. Although before installing a walk-in tub showers, here are some factors that you need to take care of so that you could make the most of your therapeutic experience with a walk-in tun shower.

    Keep it white and pastel
    White is the color of all seasons. Team it up with earthy pastel shades, and you got yourself the perfect color combination. For instance, adding white walk-in tub showers will incorporate more light to your bathroom. You can then accordingly use complementary lights and cabinets to accessorize the space further. Similarly, use fixtures that are easy to look at as well as simple to use for walk-in tub showers. Avoid faucets, and shower handles, that come across as complicated to use.

    Maintain minimalism
    Ensure that you keep the area around your walk-in tub shower as free as possible. Cluttering it with additional shelves and hooks can spoil its overall look. Just add racks for keeping soaps, shampoos, loofahs, etc. Although you can incorporate a large single mirror or glass partition to enhance its appearance.

    Have walk-in tub showers with spa features
    If you love to unwind after a stressful day of work or have to deal with body aches on a frequent basis, then get a walk-in tub showers which include features such as hydrotherapy, whirlpool. etc. These might comes across as pricey, but they can be an incredible form of long-term investment.

    Getting a walk-in tub can be an exciting decision, as it saves space and adds an edge your bathroom space. Just ensure that you get your walk-in tub installed properly so that you can enjoy its benefits for years to come.

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  • Understanding the symptoms, causes, and risk factors of Parkinson’s disease

    Parkinson’s disease is a form of a progressive nervous system disorder that directly impacts the movement of the body. While symptoms may start to appear gradually, sometimes they begin with a mild tremor in any of the hands. Tremors are quite common, the disorder can also cause slowing down the movement as well as stiffness in the body. In this article, we would be looking at the different symptoms, causes, and risk factors associated with this medical condition.

    Symptoms

    The signs of this disorder differ from one person to another. While early symptoms may be unnoticed, they appear on one side of the body and worsen that area. Some of the most common ones include:

    • Tremor
      The most common sign of Parkinson’s disease is tremors. It usually starts from any of the limbs. It can occur in the fingers or even the hand.
    • Change in speech and writing
      If you speak quickly or mumble and experience difficulty in writing, you may be suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
    • Rigid muscles
      Muscle stiffness typically occurs in any part of the body. The stiff muscles can be quite painful, limiting the range of motion.
    • Impaired balance or posture
      A change in posture and balance issues are also the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
    • Bradykinesia
      While this disease may slow down your movement, it can also make simple tasks quite difficult. You may find it time-consuming to do simple tasks. Your steps keep becoming shorter while walking.

    Causes

    • Genes
      Researchers have made genetic mutations, which can result in Parkinson’s disease. However, this is quite uncommon and can happen only in rare instances wherein many members of the family are affected by this disorder.
    • Environmental triggers
      Exposure to certain triggers or even toxins with environmental factors may increase the risk of getting this disease. However, the risk is quite small.

    Risk factors
    The risks associated with Parkinson’s disease include:

    • Age
      This disease can develop in middle-aged men/women. The risk increases with age. People over the age of 60 are at a higher risk of getting this disorder.
    • Gender
      Even though there is no exact cause behind this particular risk factor, men are more likely to get Parkinson’s disease as compared to women.
    • Heredity
      Many people who get Parkinson’s disease are related to somebody who is inflicted with this disorder. However, the risk is quite minimal. Chances may only increase if you have many relatives in the family who have Parkinson’s disease.
    • Exposure to toxins
      Ongoing exposure to different pesticides and herbicides may increase your risk of getting Parkinson’s disease. Hence, you should be aware and conscious of your surroundings.

    If any of your loved ones start to show symptoms of this disease, we recommend you to get it checked at the earliest. An early diagnosis will be helpful in following an effective treatment plan. Various medications and surgical procedures can help you in improving the condition.

    Carbidopa-Levodopa
    Carbidopa-Levodopa clinical trials have solidified the role these compounds have to play in the management of Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa acts as a dopamine substitute, while carbidopa prevents levodopa from being broken down before it reaches the brain. This, in turn, enhances its impact on the nerves and brain. However, it is difficult to find an option that is completely devoid of side effects. Similarly, Carbidopa-Levodopa clinical trials also presented some unwanted results, like nausea, low blood pressure, hallucinations, and more. 

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  • 4 Best Teeth-Whitening Toothpaste For A Glowing Smile

    Are your teeth yellow despite regular brushing? Well, a bright white smile is always sought after, but not all are blessed with pearly dentures. Yellowing of the teeth is a sign of poor oral hygiene. There are some causative factors that cause your teeth to yellow. These include smoking, aging, genes, and certain foods like coffee, soy sauce, red wine, and curries, which can lead to discoloration of the teeth.

    Fortunately, it is easy to reverse the yellowing effect on the teeth and get back your pearly whites right at home. Yes, with the best teeth-whitening toothpaste. Use it regularly and you can smile your way to shiny, bright, white teeth.

    So, if you’ve been scouting for the best teeth-whitening toothpaste that whitens your teeth and maintains high levels of oral hygiene, try out the below-mentioned brands.

    Blanx White Shock

    This is a low-abrasion toothpaste that needs to be used daily for visible effects. The ideal way to ensure teeth whitening is to brush for at least 5 minutes, allowing the toothpaste to have optimum contact with your teeth. Brush thrice a day and in about 4 weeks, you will see your yellowed teeth transform to pearly whites.

    The toothpaste’s patented ActiluX ingredient ensures that your teeth stay white and bright. ActiluX — a titanium dioxide hydroxyapatite cluster has a photocatalytic action when exposed to light. This aids in the removal of organic molecules like dirt, bacterial membranes, and color from your teeth, thus restoring your teeth to their natural color. This is the best teeth-whitening toothpaste that removes pigments from your teeth, fillings, and implants.

    Rated really high by dentists, Blanx White Shock ought to be your choice for pearly whites.

    Arm and Hammer Advance White

    It contains baking soda and peroxide and is best to remove the stains on your teeth left behind by black coffee and red wine. The baking soda in the toothpaste is what gives a different texture compared to other types of toothpaste. With regular usage, there is a noticeable change in the color of your teeth. Your smile will reveal them as bright and white. Touted as the toothpaste that offers extreme whitening, the Arm and Hammer Advance White toothpaste delivers deeper cleaning and freshening breath along with fluoride cavity protection.

    SuperSmile Professional Whitening Toothpaste

    Transforming your teeth into pearly whites and maintaining gum health are best achieved using Supersmile Whitening Toothpaste. Recommended by cosmetic dentists, SuperSmile, with its proprietary formula – Calpro removes any stain on your teeth (from coffee, nicotine, red wine) in a non-abrasive manner. Hence, there is no risk of sensitivity. In addition to teeth whitening, the toothpaste also re-mineralizes your teeth with calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and fluoride that fight off cavities and restore enamel. With regular usage, your teeth will turn 4 shades lighter. Supersmile toothpaste is suitable to be used for bonded teeth, veneers, dentures, and caps – restoring them to their natural shade. The toothpaste is free of parabens, silica, and BPA. Regular brushing with Supersmile is an easy way to sport healthier and whiter smiles.

    Rembrandt Deeply White Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste

    The mint-flavored toothpaste has a dual action – surface stain removal as well as deep cleaning the enamel. When used daily, the toothpaste gently cleans off the surface stain without affecting the enamel. The toothpaste contains active dental peroxide, the one used by dentists which whitens the enamel by removing the deep stains. The rapid-release peroxide gets into action, the moment it gets contact with the teeth. The fluoride in the toothpaste helps to restore and strengthen the enamel, in addition to preventing cavities.

    The best teeth-whitening toothpaste can do wonders for your teeth. They remove stains effortlessly and with regular usage, you’re privy to whiter teeth and strong gums that promote oral hygiene. Whether it’s surface stains or deep stains, whitening toothpaste is your answer to getting rid of them without the risk of sensitivity.

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  • An overview on health insurance for small businesses

    If you are a small business owner, you need to be aware of a health insurance specially designed to meet your business as well as employee needs. For a business with less than 50 employees, it is optional to provide health insurance to your staff. However, businesses with more than 50 employees are required to provide a health insurance mandatorily and are also expected to provide a proof of the same. In either case, if you decide to provide a health insurance to your employees, there are many options for you to choose from.

    The healthcare cost is affected by many variables. A health insurance for small business may cost anything between $600 to $1500 per month. The premium varies according to the policy you choose and the number of employees present in your business. Once you choose the provider and the type of coverage you want to purchase, estimating the healthcare cost will be simple.

    There are hundreds of plans available for small businesses. They are designed to meet the needs of small businesses and they vary by the state you reside in. Hence, there are no specific health insurances for small businesses that are recommended for your business. You will have to study the market and make a comparison of the products in terms of their costs and features before you zero in on one. Inquire about all the plans available for your organization and compare the costs of the same.

    You need to shop for the best insurance plan keeping your requirements and budget in mind. The Small Business Health Options Program is an initiative by the government for employers who are looking to offer a health insurance to employees through the Affordable Care Act. It will help small companies remain competitive in the market and provide a cover to the employees.

    A lot of employees prefer being a part of the small business which provides for a health cover. Some of the types of plans that you may offer your employees include the following:

    • Traditional employee benefit plans where you will pay a fixed amount to the insurance company in anticipation of a claim
    • Healthcare spending accounts (HSA) where you grant a predetermined amount to each employee, which may be used by them for various healthcare-related costs
    • Hybrid plans which are ideally a combination of a traditional and an HSA plan.

    However, in order to make a well-informed decision, it is best to have patience and do a thorough research of the market.

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  • Best email monitoring tools and software

    Everyone who sends emails would have experienced blocked or undelivered emails. When there is a lot of traffic created in the email server or emails sent in bulk do not get delivered, the emails get blocked or they will be marked as spam. With the invention of email mentoring tools, you can check the mail status which gives the information of guarantee email delivery. Listed below are some of the best:

    Glock App
    Glock is one of the most famous tools that checks deliverability of your email sent and checks if your emails are not passing through and are getting blocked or filtered for some reasons. Most of the time, the reason is that permission-based emails often don’t get delivered to the recipients intended. Glock tests and monitors such problems and fixes the problem before the emails are sent out to the recipients. They have also created a free spam test that shows the deliverability of email through three famous email providers like Amazon SES, Mailgun, and SendGrid, that let the user compare the inbox rates and how reputation affects deliverability.

    250 OK
    It is yet another brand responsible for maximizing email marketing performance. With 250 OK monitoring tool, you can collect advanced insights into email deliverability, sender reputation, fraud protection and consumer engagement. They transform email management software keeping in mind the size of the business and create new tools for users who may be advanced or beginners. It helps you to easily filter spam and also test the spam by previewing the campaigns before sending.

    Return Path
    Return path gives you the exact details when and where your message has been delivered and filter emails from spam. With the tools provided, you can increase the inbox delivery and improve the performance of sending the emails. There are hundreds of users who get benefited by optimizing their email marketing. Return Path partners with over 70 world class email service providers of mailbox and security solutions, covering 2.5 billion inboxes and help the user to experience the next level of emails programs with more response and increase revenue.

    Email Reach
    You can track down your emails and improve their performance with Email Reach’s testing tools. You can check email deliverability whether it has reached the inbox or bounced back without getting delivered. Along with monitoring services, Email Reach has many other features like list checker, email verifier, blacklist checker and lots more. You have an optimized viewing experience in any mobile platforms including iOS, Android and more. It monitors each and every email that you send and see that it is successfully delivered and warns you about failed delivery and junk file issues.

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