Osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative disorder that causes pain and inflammation the joints of the body. This type of disease has no cure, but it can be managed well with medical intervention comprising OTC painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and injections. However, apart from professional osteoarthritis treatments, you can take the help of several natural measures to deal with this condition. They are mentioned as follows
- Exercise and weight loss Certain types of exercises can help alleviate the stiffness of joints and pain. However, ensure the kinds of exercises you are planning on doing aren’t demanding. The best way to get this right is by consulting a physiotherapist who can guide you about the suitable workout methods to increase flexibility. Simple yoga and water-based exercises can encourage movement without straining the joints.
On the other hand, if you are overweight, strive to shed some pounds as it will minimize the stress on your joints and help make osteoarthritis treatments more effective. - Anti-inflammatory diet A wholesome diet will help you manage an ideal weight as well as make you more active. Design a diet which includes anti-inflammatory foods such as broccoli, low-fat dairy products, herbal teas, garlic, seafood (tuna, mackerel, salmon, etc.), citrus fruits, nuts, ginger, turmeric, etc. These foods are rich in essential vitamins and antioxidants. Also remember to refrain from consuming excessive amounts of refined sugars, alcohol, saturated fats, white bread, artificial sweeteners, etc. These tend to slow down the progress of the osteoarthritis treatment and worsen the symptoms by increasing the inflammation levels in the body.
- Hot or cold therapy An excellent natural remedy to gain short-term relief, hot or cold compression can reduce the pain and swelling in the joint area. Typically, warm compresses are ideal for easing stiffness whereas cold compresses can be used to assuage the pain.
- A warm bath with Epsom salt Epsom salt baths are offer relaxation from bothersome joint pain. This is because the magnesium in the salt helps reduce inflammation. These baths are safe, and you can take them two to three times a day.
- Analgesic creams You can apply over-the-counter topical creams that can help in numbing the pain. However, before using creams containing elements like capsaicin ensure that you seek counsel from your specialist.
- Get a massage A joint massage every week can help soothe the pain and relieve stiffness by increasing blood circulation. Although only hire professionals who have an experience in dealing with arthritic patients.
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When should you replace Baxi back boiler fires?
Read moreAre you fed up with your Baxi back boiler fire? Then why not replace it? Back boilers have become outdated and are being replaced by new ones mainly because they have the tendency to increase your bills. But if you are planning to replace them, then you should know certain things. So, for your convenience, here are some factors you should keep in mind while replacing your Baxi back boiler.
Call a proper heating engineer
Once your Baxi back boiler has died or is not working properly or your simply want to upgrade your boiler, you must at first do a little bit of self-research on the internet before taking any final decision. After you have enlightened yourself with a little bit of knowledge on the subject, you should call at least three to four different heating engineers and take their opinion about the boiler you should buy next and get a price quote. Make sure you call a good heating engineer; otherwise you won’t get the best advice.Keep in mind your new boiler’s location
You have to think about a new location for your new boiler because you cannot fix it in the exact location as the old boiler. This is because if the flue from your previous back boiler was through the chimney, the new flue might have to be installed somewhere else preferably outside the wall or you can even put it vertically through the roof. There are several options where you can install your new boiler. You can install it in your kitchen in one of the cupboards, in a bedroom cupboard, attic or even your garage. The installation of your new boiler will largely depend on the design of your house. It is best if you ask a heating engineer for a safe location.Decide which type of boiler you want
You must take all facts into consideration and think carefully as to which type of boiler you really need. Do you want a regular or system boiler so that you can connect it to the hot water tank that already exists? Or do you want to remove all of them, including the boiler, cold water tank, and hot water tank, and instead install a combi boiler which is all-in-one? A combi boiler has two advantages. Firstly, removing all those separate components means freeing up some space in your house; secondly, a combi boiler means whenever you need hot water, you have it right there flowing through your taps. Baxi back boiler fires were indeed long-lasting but they blocked a lot of space in your house.A condensate drain will be needed
All the new boilers require a condensate drain which means they have a higher efficiency, unlike the Baxi back boilers which have very low energy efficiency. Higher efficiency means lower power consumption.Choose the brand carefully
Baxi boilers are very popular and provide great service. They are in trend even today with their new models. So, keep Baxi boilers in mind in addition to other boilers that you might prefer. -
Causes and Diagnosis of Armpit Lumps
Read moreAn armpit lump is the enlargement of one of the lymph nodes under your armpit. Lymph nodes play a very important role in maintaining your body’s immune system. These are oval-shaped small glands that are located throughout the body. Sometimes the lump may feel very small and go unnoticeable. However, there are occasions when the lump may become large and noticeable.
These lumps may be the result of an antiperspirant you used or an after shaving lotion. It could be the result of cysts or any infection in your body. You need to go for a medical check-up if the lumps become large, do not pain, and stay for a longer period of time. Here are some of the causes of lump in armpit:
Causes of armpit lumps
In most of the cases, lump in the armpit is a harmless issue which happens due to abnormal tissue growth and generally goes away with time. However, there are certain instances that may indicate a more serious underlying medical issue. Let’s have a look at some of them:- An adverse reaction to vaccinations
- A response to breast cancer
- A fibroadenoma (non-cancerous fibrous tissue growth)
- Bacterial or viral infections
- Leukemia (cancer of the blood cells)
- Lupus (a disease that targets your joints and organs)
- Lipomas (harmless fat tissue growths)
- Allergic reactions
- Fungal infections
- Lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system)
Diagnosis of armpit lumps
A thorough physical examination is needed in order to diagnose a lump in the armpit. Your doctor might ask you several questions or massage the area of the lump in order to find its texture. In some instances, the physical examination will prove that the lump is not harmful. In such cases, you don’t need any additional treatment. However, if the case is different and the doctor assesses by the primary examination that there is a need for additional treatment then, he/she might recommend that as well.Test for armpit lumps
Based on your primary physical examination of the lump in the armpit, the doctor may ask you to do some tests so that he/she could rule out any serious underlying disease. These tests include:- Complete blood count
- Chest or breast X-ray
- Biopsy
- Allergy testing
If you have a lump under your armpit then you should not worry because normally it will go away. However, going to a doctor will be beneficial because in this way you will be certain that you don’t have any hidden disease.