Pneumonia: A brief overview
Pneumonia: A brief overview

Pneumonia is an infection that can affect one or both lungs. The most common causes of pneumonia are bacterial or viral infections. Depending on the factors triggering this disease, pneumonia may or may not be contagious. While bacterial and viral pneumonia can spread from one person to another, if breathing in toxic fumes is the primary cause of pneumonia, it is not contagious. A bad lifestyle that involves drinking too much alcohol and smoking cigarettes can also increase your risk of suffering from this condition.

Pneumonia symptoms can develop gradually or have a sudden onset. The most common symptoms of this disease include:

• High fever
• Phlegm that is yellow or greenish in color
• Bloody mucus
• Chills
• Breathlessness
• Fatigue
• Reduced appetite
• Sharp pains in the chest especially when coughing or deep breathing
• Excessive sweating
• Fast heartbeat
• A blue color on the nails and lips

Infants suffering from pneumonia may appear weak and listless, while elderly patients may show symptoms of mental changes such as confusion.

If not addressed in time, pneumonia can spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis, which further keeps oxygen from being transported to the other organs of the body and reduces blood pressure. Pneumonia can also lead to the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and lung tissue. This is known as a pleural effusion.

The first step towards diagnosing pneumonia is a thorough physical examination and understanding of the patient’s medical history. To treat this disease, the doctor must determine the cause of pneumonia. For this, you may need to undergo tests such as a chest X-Ray or CT scan, pulse oximetry, bronchoscopy and blood tests. Mild attacks of pneumonia do not usually last longer than two to three weeks, while if it attacks a person with a weakened immune system, recovery can take as long as eight weeks.

Most cases of pneumonia can be treated with oral antibiotics. For this, the patient may or may not need hospitalization. Hospitalization is usually suggested only in cases where intravenous antibiotics are required.

It is not possible to prevent all types of pneumonia, but one can get vaccinated against bacterial pneumonia caused by streptococcus pneumonia. These vaccinations may not completely protect you against pneumonia but can prevent complications if you do begin to show symptoms of the disease. You can also reduce your risk of suffering from this disease by avoiding contact with people who are suffering from viral infections or flu and by quitting nicotine. Washing your hands after you come indoors and before eating can also help reduce your risk of pneumonia.

  • The Evolution of the Ugly Christmas Sweater

    For anyone who has been noticing it, the fact that ugly Christmas sweaters have become a trend is probably a cause for no small hilarity. These garments, for ages considered an eyesore, are now making an appearance in wardrobes as a fashion apparel. No longer can one associate them with one’s great aunt or their second grade teacher. With Christmas symbolisms depicted in a manner nothing less than cartoonish, the snowman, reindeer or elf Christmas sweater, with felt appliqus and pompoms for the added amusement of the observer, is taking the country by storm during the holiday season.

    Though the ugly Christmas sweater has been in existence from way before the 20th century, people sat up and took notice of its hideousness only in the last few decades. One of the first few people responsible for making it trendy is probably Bill Cosby. He is, in fact, looked up to as an ugly sweater icon. But in the beginning of the ’90s, these Christmas jumpers lost popularity.

    However, in the last decade, these cheap Christmas sweaters is back again. There were books published on this even. The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On, for one, thanks to which, around the year 2001, these sweaters came into the limelight in a huge way. Now the sweaters are bigger, louder and trendier than ever before with even high-end fashion shops like H&M showcasing them.

    With people of all ages wanting to get in on the fashion train with the cheap ugly holiday sweaters, sweater themed parties have become the most popular during the Christmas season, with Christmas suits, and Christmas pajamas as viable alternatives for themed Christmas party wear. The sweaters are embellished with bows and frills and various form of decorations in an attempt to increases its tackiness. It has become so popular that the late night talk show host, Jimmy Fallon formed a segment around the theme called “The 12 Days of Christmas Sweaters.”

    They are now trending in pop culture, fashion runways, and MTV documentaries. And this is not just limited to the United States alone. Thanks to Coin Firth and his cringe-worthy Christmas sweater from Bridget Jones’ Diary, the ugly holiday sweater has risen in popularity in the United Kingdom too.

    Naturally, more than it looks, what the cheap ugly Christmas sweater has going for – is the warm, fuzzy feeling along with the fun memories of Christmas which makes it all worthy.

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  • The best alcohol treatment centers in the US

    When battling with drug or alcohol addiction, it is essential to avail the best treatment you can afford. This article compiles some of the well-known, best alcohol rehab centers across the country:

    Addiction Solutions of Florida: It is a specialized and one of the best drug and alcohol treatment centers. It is located in South Florida. This is a private facility where they offer a tranquil environment that helps start the healing process. They also offer individual and affordable treatment options. It is a small 24-bed, male-only guest center. Treatment is done on a one-on-one basis and is completely personalized. The clients are not left alone. They can opt to also go home with their solutions facilitator to help them integrate into the community again.

    Hawaii Island Recovery: It is an 8-bed, luxury alcohol rehab and treatment facility located in Hawaii. The staff includes highly trained and licensed professionals. They utilize evidence-based treatment protocols and treat patients dealing with opiate, opioid, alcohol, cocaine, and many other illicit substance abuse. They also treat behavioral addictions for food, sex, pornography, and gambling. They encourage and support AA and NA fellowship.

    Sober College: This rehab is for young adults, aged from 18 to 26. This is a long-term treatment facility which provides an academic experience with comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment. The college has a dual purpose addressing every part of the young adult’s life. The youngsters are given individual attention. They accept health insurance plans; programs are gender specific and designed for young adults.

    APEX Recovery Rehab: They offer a holistic and psychological approach to treat addiction. The addiction treatment programs consist of yoga, meditation, dietician counseling, physical fitness, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and much more.

    Northeast Addictions Treatment Center: This is a private treatment center located in New England. With a highly qualified and professional team, this center stands tall.

    Broadway Treatment Center: Based out of Huntington Beach, it has the highest standards of addiction treatment. They have designed their program to help clients to recover from drug and alcohol addiction by providing daily support and treatment. Clients are supervised 24 hours and have programs for male and females.

    Indiana Center for Recovery: Located in Indiana, they are bang in the center of luxurious addiction treatment centers. Here, they make sure that you spend your time to focus on recovery. They have a five-pronged approach physical fitness, mentally sound, emotionally mature, socially responsible, and spiritually resilient.

    Arrow Passage Recovery: This is a small, intimate facility that offers luxurious treatment facilities to their clientele. They have medical detox to Residential Treatment services and have all levels of outpatient care. This is a secluded mansion-style home providing comfort, elegance, and a friendly staff. The clinical team is skilled with a minimum of Masters Degrees and licensed professionals.

    The Ranch at Clear Springs: They offer full service care beginning with medical detox, residential care, and outpatient care.  The Ranch has one of the finest treatment facilities in the country.

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  • 3 popular KitchenAid mixer models you must consider

    If you are planning to buy a KitchenAid mixer and do not know which one to pick, then here are a few popular options that you can consider. Take a look!

    KitchenAid Professional 600 Series For the home chef
    Are you someone who is looking to expand the menu with professional food items at home? If yes, then a bowl-life mixer from KitchenAid can offer you expert results. If you choose this KitchenAid mixer, you would get a 6-quart bowl with a lift that allows easy work even when you are working with heavy mixtures. The powerful motor of the mixer is best when it comes to mixing faster and effectively.

    Also, the big-size mixing bowl allows room for big recipes.

    The KitchenAid Professional series mixers feature a mechanism that lifts the bowl where the beater is and this happens with the lifting of the lever. Similarly, when the bowl is resting at its place, you can easily mix all the ingredients without the beater coming on your way.

    There are additional features that come along with the KitchenAid Professional 600 series of stand mixer. The planetary action of the beater ensures that there is even beating and mixing of the ingredients and it can reach to 67 touch points in the mixing bowl.

    KitchenAid Commercial Perfect for service kitchens
    If you want a bigger mixing bowl and a powerful motor then KitchenAid Commercial can be your perfect pick. Thee 500-watt, 1.3 HP motor is what makes this model one of the most powerful in KitchenAid series of stand mixers. The KitchenAid Commercial series of mixers are the only ones in the line-up that are specifically designed for foodservice kitchens. The 8-quart capacity of mixing bowl has enough space for preparing 12 dozen of cookies.

    The KitchenAid Commercial stand mixers come with the beater, whip and dough hook that is made using stainless steel, which is also dishwasher-safe. Now no more worrying about hand washing mixer’s attachments. Also, the metal knobs are made with heavy duty material quality that is resistant to consistent and repeated use.

    All the KitchenAid mixers are durable and long lasting, while the motor is sturdy and high-quality one that offers an extended life of the mixer.

    KitchenAid Ultra Power A beefed-up version of the Classic mixer
    Flaunting the same design style of the Classic stand mixer from KitchenAid, the Ultra Power also features a more powerful motor of 250-watt, a wire whip, flat beater and burnished-steel dough hook. The motor is specially designed to mix dense ingredients well while the mixer attachments have a smooth finish that allows easy cleaning.

    The 10-speed control helps you to get a range of mixing options such as stirring, whipping, creaming, beating, to name a few.

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  • Overview Of Smartphones In Peoples Lives

    From waking up to keeping in touch with people, all smartphones play a huge role in everybody’s life in the modern world. Moreover, a life without a smartphone is unthinkable. The benefits of these devices are witnessed every second in life; however, the disadvantages are not to be overlooked.

    Concept of all smartphones
    With the conception of a handheld computer, the definition of all smartphones is indicated to a device that can perform various functions of a computing device. There is a touchscreen in all smartphones that make its use easy, and internet access enables us to know what is going on in the world within a nanosecond. Running on particular operating systems like iOS or Android, these mobile phones can download applications that care for your needs and demands in life.

    Development of all smartphones

    The inception of this kind of mobile phone dates back in the 1970s, but IBM eventually came up with a prototype of a mobile phone that has personal digital assistant features in 1992. The early operating systems that were provided with the PDA features were Palm OS and Blackberry OS. However, with the course of time, development of technology was soaring high which led to the emergence of Android devices and iPhones in the market.

    • 2007
      The world was introduced to the iPhone and Google offered the world Android, which is an OS that can be manipulated or developed by anyone.
    • 2010
      Tablets from Apple and Samsung emerged in the market during this period. Additionally, Microsoft introduced the smartphones that run on Windows Phone OS; however, the figure of sales was not remarkable.
    • 2011
      Android has been conferred the title of highest selling smartphones, whereas Apple became the largest vendor across the globe. People were more inclined to buy smartphones as opposed to personal computers.

    Market sales

    One of the leading competitors in the market is Apple, and Chinese tech giants Huawei undertake the strategy of penetrating the market this year. Huawei may sell its product via online stores; however, the rate of share in the market is considerably minimal. The latest figures indicate that the shares of Apple and Samsung hold 39% and 32% of shares, respectively. The launch of new Apple devices has recently boosted sales, leaving other Android phones behind.

    Advantages of having a Smartphone

    From listening to music to watching movies, from reading e-books to writing notes, you can wish to use your smart devices in any way you like.

    • Easy internet access
      WiFi-enabled smart devices help people send emails and find a location through GPS within a second. You can check news or find out what the World Wide Web is talking about in no time. Wi-Fi has helped save you more money because you do not need to pay extra for exorbitant mobile network data plans. Additionally, you can save and, more importantly, backup data to via cloud memory owing to internet access.
    • Communication
      Communication is the key component that has led to the success of all smartphones. People can call anyone from any corner of the world and chat with anyone they like. The use of social media has become easier, enabling people to stay in touch.
    • Unlimited applications
      Millions of applications available in various application stores help can fulfill everyone’s basic needs. If you wish to cook lunch but do not know the recipe, there is an app for the recipe and its possible variations.

    Disadvantages of all smartphones

    The drawback of smart devices is that they can be addictive, and one may develop compulsive behavior due to the urge of continuous checking. Additionally, there are health hazards of using all smartphones as one should not talk to a phone while the device is being charged. This can lead to unfortunate accidents. The security risk is high as people tend to save essential details on the phone without installing proper anti-virus software and this is why hackers try to hack personal details.

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  • Introduction to Beats headphones

    Headphones were invented in 1881 for the use of telephone operators. The very first model was merely functional but freed the operator’s hand, which was the main requirement. It would be difficult to believe today that the first models sat on the operator’s shoulders and weighed around 10 lbs. As industries and technologies developed and found way into sound reproduction, improved materials, and miniaturization of components, headphones with improved sound qualities also were realized. From the ten-pound shoulder breaking behemoths, they were metamorphosed into invisible plugs that sat discreetly in the ear canal. The twentieth century saw many technological breakthroughs like high-fidelity sound, dynamic headphones, stereo sound headphones portability, and miniaturization in the form of in-ear earphones, etc. By the late twentieth century, design started gaining importance. Improved sound reproduction and lighter stronger materials started to impose demands for better sound, aesthetics in designs, comfort, and sound isolation

    It was in 2008 that Dr. Dre, a rap enthusiast and creator of quite a few famous groups, and his associate at Interscope records, Jimmy Iovine, came together and decided to change the way music is reproduced in headphones. They roped in Monster Cable, with decades of experience in speaker and AV manufacturing. Dr Dre gave the engineers a new perspective on sound reproduction in headphones. He wanted people to hear music the way an artist heard it. The engineers achieved this by wizardry in hardware and software. High efficiency drivers and magnetic technology boosted the volume without the distortion or interference giving a boost to the bass hitherto without sacrificing the mid and treble performance. Sound cancellation technology made sure that music lovers could isolate themselves using over-the-head earphones from the surroundings and enjoy their music as long as the wanted. The high bass produced less hearing fatigue.

    The designers made sure that the products were very elegant that they admirably met the customers needs and went beyond the limit to create a need for the brand. They ensured that Beats became one of the leading brands of headphones available in the US. It is head hugging and incredibly comfortable. The headphones come in a variety of colors including blue, black, white, and red. These headphones have great flexibility, no sound leakage, and it always give you a crisp, clear quality of sound. Beats headphones are great to mute out the outside world. They are of a good size and easily portable.

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  • Top 10 benefits of staying hydrated

    The adult human body is made up of at least 60% water. And growing up, we’ve been told to drink lots of water to maintain the level of this liquid to stay healthy. But many people often wonder about what is genuinely received from drinking water. Individuals should note that there isn’t just one but several benefits of staying hydrated daily. Therefore, here are the ten positives one could expect from drinking enough water daily.

    Joint lubrication
    Sometimes people feel like their joints’ cannot absorb shock effectively and experience mild or severe pain in this region. The symptom is a potential indicator of dehydration, which may result from insufficient water. Therefore, by drinking enough water, one could ensure that the cartilage found in joints and disks stays lubricated, which may keep it free from complications.

    Saliva and mucus creation
    Drinking sufficient water each day may result in the production of saliva and mucus. These properties help digest food and moisten the nose, eyes, and mouth. Saliva and mucus also help prevent friction of these organs and avoid damage. Furthermore, water consumption helps keep the mouth clean and prevents tooth decay.

    Regulate body temperature
    When an individual drinks water, some of it gets stored in the middle layers of the skin. The liquid then rises to the skin’s surface as sweat when the body heats up. As sweat evaporates, the process cools the body down, which helps maintain optimal body temperature. However, the lack of ample water in the body may produce less sweat, resulting in a rise in heat storage. The phenomenon could make an individual less tolerable to heat strain, which could affect them physically, especially during strenuous activities.

    Prevent headaches
    Individuals are often susceptible to health conditions like headaches, including migraines. While there are many underlying causes of migraines, they could stem from the lack of proper hydration. So when an individual drinks ample water, it may help relieve these symptoms.

    Complements digestive processes
    There are several elements to digestion. The body is susceptible to other uncomfortable symptoms like bloating, heartburn, and gas without proper hydration. Improved fluid intake could help break down soluble fibers to keep the digestive process regular.
    And so drinking water also tackles constipation, a common problem that complicates bowel movements, resulting in a limited ability to pass stools. And while one could resort to treatments to improve their condition, experts may also recommend increasing daily water intake. Higher amounts of healthy fluid in the body may relieve constipation and help one pass stool. One should consider drinking mineral water, as this is rich in magnesium and sodium, which is essential in improving bowel movements and consistency in people with constipation.

    Improved brain performance
    Studies show that even mild dehydration may affect aspects of the brain, such as memory, concentration, reaction time, and mood. Therefore, one could ensure their body stays hydrated, which is essential to improve brain performance. Drinking sufficient healthy liquids like water could contribute to stabilized emotions, improved cognition, and tackles feelings of anxiety. Staying hydrated could be crucial for older adults at a higher risk of dehydration and impaired cognitive function.

    Better energy levels
    A dehydrated individual may suffer from deteriorated blood circulation, which could reduce oxygen flow to the brain. The lack of healthy fluid may also compel the heart to work harder to pump oxygen to all body parts throughout the day. These situations result in extensive loss of energy, which could make one feel sluggish, tired, and lose focus. Therefore, by drinking enough water daily, an individual can maintain their energy levels, essential to indulge in various tasks. Drinking sufficient water also reduces oxidative stress that usually occurs during high-intensity exercise.

    Prevention of kidney stones
    Clumps of mineral crystals that develop in the urinary tract are known as kidney stones. Those who develop these stones may experience symptoms, including severe pain in the back or side that does not go away. Other symptoms include blood in urine, fever, chills, and vomiting. So one of the benefits of drinking ample amounts of water is the prevention of these kidney stones. The water helps dilute the concentration of minerals in the urinary tract, which could reduce the chances of its formation. Drinking sufficient water also helps flush out unhealthy bacteria from the bladder, which is necessary to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

    Enhanced detoxification
    The human body produces harmful toxins and removes them as waste material eventually. The properties are flushed through one’s breathing, bowel movements, urination, and perspiration. Drinking enough water could help support the body’s natural cleansing process, which enhances the detoxification process.

    Maintain healthy pounds
    Most individuals are habitual in snacking in between meals which may increase the number of pounds they gain. So drinking water throughout the day may help them feel full in between meals, which could prevent such unhealthy snacking. Studies also indicated that staying hydrated may help boost metabolism. Furthermore, increasing water intake could help one reduce and balance other harmful properties in the body, such as cholesterol, sodium, saturated fat, and sugar.

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  • Coupon Tires To Ease Up Buying

    Vehicles cannot run without tires; therefore, tires form an integral part of a vehicle. Unfortunately, most of the time, people fail to realize that tires require special attention. Each tire, depending on its type, needs to be treated differently. A winter tire’s needs are different from those of an all-season or summer tire. The only common element is that any type of tire servicing will burn a hole in your pocket. There are many who avoid the servicing due to this reason, and this mistake later falls heavily on the driver! Tire coupons can come to the rescue in helping customers and marketing the tires.

    Thus, tire coupons are gaining much popularity these days, and are provided by sellers who have associations with big tire-manufacturing companies. Branded tires are costly and are not affordable to many. As a countermeasure, tire coupons ensure that a good percentage of the population have access to branded tires. They, therefore, enable an individual to buy a good-quality tire that runs for long and is efficient.

    Availability of tire coupons

    Tire coupons provide a rebate on tires, depending on factors like the type of tires one wishes to install. Customers exchange used tires with new ones at seasonal offers, and that is when the golden opportunity arises for them to use tire coupons. Changing seasons often cause damage to tires. An extremely cold area requires winter tires, but when the vehicle is shifted to a tropical zone, the tires become rough on such roads. Therefore, tires need to be changed with the change of place and season. Tire coupons provide an endless option for the purchase of new tires of specific types and sizes that can survive in that particular season.

    Tire coupon companies make these coupons available both online and offline. These companies have websites that are easy to use, giving the best results to suit a requirement. The only thing one needs to do is to enter the details of car tires and the area where the tires will be used. The website then provides many tire coupons, giving a rebate of certain percentages on the purchase. The options presented help a customer to choose from many of the best-suited tire coupons. They can be then saved and printed to be used in auto-servicing stores or in tire-selling shops.

    Coupon tires: establishing relationships with consumers

    Tire coupons have different levels of rebates. Premium coupons benefit the customer the most and are given to regular customers, only on a high-cost purchase. There are other types of coupons that give enough discount, but it mostly depends on the customer and the purchase.

    The greater significance of tire coupons, apart from saving a customer’s money, is that they establish a relationship between customers and service providers. Customers are bound by the policies of the seller. The tire coupon that a customer uses also becomes a link to buy other services from the manufacturer. They also ensure increased customer interaction with the manufacturing companies or service providers. This interaction has accelerated the growth of the car-maintenance business. Tire coupons not only provide a rebate on the cost but also allow the exchange of old tires with new ones and even polishing of old tires for better use. Regular customers or premium-card holders enjoy several other services only when they enter this valuable interaction with their service provider.

    Everyone likes to save money, and tire coupons let you keep more money in your pocket. So, go out and explore the market, online and offline, for the best tire coupons to keep your car running stronger and longer.

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  • Popular Android smartphones to stay ahead of the game

    Are you looking for the best smartphones in town? Do you prefer Android-based phones more? If so, here is a list of 10 best smartphones in the market.

    • One Plus 5: The One Plus 5 tops the list of Android phones. It’s the fastest Android smartphone out there. With a decent camera, superb features, and a prolonged battery life, this one belongs to our list of top smartphones. The OnePlus 5 is a great smartphone.
    • Google Pixel: Google has finally created a masterpiece that makes the Pixel one of the 10 best smartphones in the market. From the software to the design, everything is Google-made. The phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, making it the best Android smartphone that money can buy. A familiar design, brilliant camera, and 2K display make this model one of the best smartphones out there. It can stand alongside the likes of the iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
    • Samsung Galaxy S8: Hands down, the Samsung Galaxy S8 has one of the best designs, this year. Running on a speedy, up-to-date Exynos 8895 SoC that is built on the 10nm processor, this smartphone offers incredible performance. Samsung has ramped up its camera as well. Though the enhancement still doesn’t bring it to Google Pixel’s levels of awesomeness; this phone is for those who want a phone that makes them look good.
    • Motorola Moto Z2 Play: One of the popular phones among 10 best smartphones on the market today, the Moto Z2 Play has one of the strongest battery life and cleverest software. It also features some magnetic Mod add-ons that make it a compelling mid-range choice.
    • LG G6: The LG G6 follows the latest Univisium standard, which allows it to be compact. The Snapdragon 821 SoC makes it more powerful. So you can expect a superb performance. Its wide-angle dual camera setup at the back clicks amazing photos. Seamless zoom was made possible with the same sensors on both cameras. The overall camera quality is phenomenal. This smartphone, with all its features, ticks all the right boxes.

    The other phones in the list of 10 best smartphones include Motorola Moto G5 Plus, Motorola Moto E4, LG V30, HTC U11 Life, and Sony Xperia XZ Premium. If Android is your cup of tea, then this is a comprehensive list of the best smartphones you will find in the market.

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