What recent findings are there about the rheumatic heart disease? Are there new information or findings on the causes of rheumatic heart disease which are worthy to take note of? In the light of the recent findings related to the causes, here are some you may find interesting:

1. It has been affirmed that not all sore throats lead to rheumatic fever; a mere five-percent does. Rheumatic fever may also be a result of other causal factors. Viruses and other bacteria may also precipitate the disease. The disease may also be triggered by leukemia, malarial infection and malignant lymphoma.

2. It has been validated that not all strains of Streptococcus pyogenes can trigger all these body reactions which progresses in the life-damaging rheumatic heart disease.

3. These bacterial strains of streptococci are now known to carry a special protein sequence called PARF or Peptide Associated with Rheumatic Fever. These are generally located on the surface or membranes of bacteria for easy recognition.

4. PARF functions in attaching the strep bacteria to the host cells to begin the invasion or infection process. Without any medical intervention, PARF can be confused and attach to the collagen found in skin, cartilages, blood vessels and heart valves and thus damage these instead. The infection of the heart is easiest by virtue of its location which is very near the source of infection- the throat.

5. The attachment of PARF to the collagen also confuses the body’s immune system. The immune system then start working against the body’s healthy cells and not the strep infected cells. It is now a recognized fact that it is PARF’s and the immune system’s mistaken identification of the infected cells make up the principal causes of rheumatic heart disease.

6. These information is now prompting science towards the development of a fast and efficient method to immediately detect the presence of PARF to determine early if the strep belongs to the dreaded strain.

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We all know that it is really important to get an uninterrupted sleep of seven to nine hours every night, and once we experience a couple of restless nights in a row and go through the feelings of tiredness and difficulty concentrating, we can only marvel at how truly essential sleep is. Insomnia can happen for many reasons, and the best way to get your sleeping rhythms back to their regular routine is through natural solutions. Yes, going natural isn’t just best for foods and makeup looks; for natural cures for insomnia are considered the most effective.

Keep your bedroom as uncluttered and neat as possible.
That pile of work papers and folders don’t belong on the floor of your bedroom or even on the bedside table. Keep every single unnecessary object out of your room, for you certainly don’t need the presence of a radio, a TV set, or your suitcase to give you a good night of sleep, and in fact these things may just distract you and remind you of worries and problems that are best saved until daytime. In fact all you really need in your bedroom is a comfortable bed with the sheets and pillows you need, an electric fan or thermostat to keep the room cool, and of course total silence and darkness. By keeping your room tidy and free from distracting objects, you can start feeling relaxed and ready for sleep the moment you start preparing for bed.

Don’t drink coffee within six hours of your bedtime.
If you go to bed at ten, then as much as possible stop drinking coffee at four pm. Why the long time period? Doctors believe that caffeine affects people differently, and while some can experience a quick energy boost that will disappear in an hour, some may end up still feeling active hours after the last sip of coffee. You can also choose tea over coffee in the afternoon, which provides a smaller caffeine concentration and more antioxidants and health benefits. Remember that your body doesn’t consider caffeine as important as any vitamin or mineral, so try not to drink more than one or two cups of coffee a day.

Drink only warm milk and water in the hours between dinner and bedtime.
It’s a common practice to enjoy a soda or glass of wine with dinner, but you get zero benefits from carbonated beverages, while the alcohol in wine can perk you up even until bedtime. Go for pure water and if you like, warm milk too, for it is a natural source of the B6 and B12 vitamins that control the hormones in your body that regulate your sleeping patterns. Drinking milk regularly also helps keep your metabolism high, so you won’t find yourself needing to get vitamin B12 injections for weight loss or insomnia anytime soon.

Natural Remedies for Insomnia

Posture is something that we technically take or bring along with us everywhere we go and no matter what we do and that is the main reason why this is something that we should really go ahead and regard with particular importance. The thing with posture is that the effects that come along with it, good or bad, are cumulative in nature and that is usually where a lot of people go wrong in gauging it because more often than not, they will only turn around and inspect their posture and look into correcting it once they see the effects of years and years of bad posture such as back misalignments, stiffness in different areas of the body, constant numbness, and so on and so forth.

Luckily, you don’t really have to wait for that time to come because the best time to start repairing your posture is right now; not tomorrow, not a week from now; but right now. If you are someone who is not exactly the most determined person in the world when it comes to things like these, there is no need for you to worry. Something like this does not exactly call for a lot of work. You can have posture exercises scheduled for as seldom as once a week or somewhere within that timeframe and it will still work for you.

Another option you can go for is for you to fix your posture while you are asleep. You can start sleeping with good neck pillows tucked snugly under your neck. You will be surprised at how good you will eventually feel due to getting your spine properly positioned and supported even during your sleep. You can say goodbye to stiff necks, back aches, and so on and so forth. Look into it today and see it work for you.

Fix your posture while you are asleep: Start sleeping with a good neck pillow

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Castor oil has immense benefits, from hair to bodily functions; castor oil is beneficial in a number of ways. It is most popular in hair treatments, firstly because it is all natural and secondly because castor oil on its own is full of nutrition and does not require to be mixed with other oils or substances (although you can if you want to).

What Castor Oil is Capable of?

The benefits of castor oil, especially for hair are numerous, its like a whole hair treatment, and if you use it regularly and take care of your diet you will be able to increase the growth of your hair, reduce hair breakage, thicken hair that is starting to thin out, reduce dry hair, moisturize your scalp, reduce flakiness, give your hair a natural shine and make them more fuller. If you have frizzy hair you an apply castor oil to the tips of your hair and reduce their frizziness as well, in addition to this split ends wont be a problem anymore and you hair will have increased strength. As you can see the benefits of castor oil are numerous and incorporating it with your hair care treatments is must.

How to Use castor Oil to Keep Your Hair Healthy?

It’s important to know just how you should use castor oil to benefit your hair, since castor oil is relatively thicker than other oils you should take care in applying it to your hair and making sure you apply it evenly other wise you might have trouble washing it off.

To start off with your hair treatment, it’s advisable to warm the oil just a bit before applying it, use your finger tips to apply the oil and make sure you spread it evenly.

To insure this, lightly dip your finger tips in oil and massage one area first and then move on to the other. After you have applied castor oil all over your scalp keep on massaging for a few minutes (make sure you are gentle) and then cover your hair with a towel or a shower cap and wash it off after an hour or so, you can keep it overnight as well if you like.

Wash it off and continue doing this once a week for around 10 weeks and you will notice the impact of castor oil.

Castor Oil is a great hair treatment

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post that does NOT necessarily represent the opinions of our editorial team.

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HCG is the abbreviated form of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, and it has a variety of uses, from weight loss to pregnancy tests, markers for cancerous tumors and treatment for female infertility. HCG is present in all human beings but in very small quantities in the brain’s pituitary gland, and production of the hormone only goes into overdrive during ovulation, when an embryo implants itself on the uterus and starts growing into a human baby. The uterus, the placenta, and the fetus all release HCG, which is why the hormone is associated with pregnancy. Scientists have also observed that some malignant tumors release HCG, and this is why testing for the presence of the hormone is also done during cancer tests.

What are the available forms of HCG?

Through injections, women having problems with conceiving a baby can increase their chances, for scientists have discovered that a high presence of HCG makes it more likely for an egg cell to be fertilized and a healthy conception to begin. In some cases, HCG injections are also administered to men, for the hormone can influence their testosterone level and increase sperm count. HCG oral supplements are also available in the form of drops, and this is more popular among those taking the hormone for weight loss as in the case of the HCG diet, although there is no solid scientific evidence that HCG encourages weight loss. Other HCG products are specialized to sense the presence of the hormone, as with pregnancy kits and cancer markers in hospitals and clinics.

When should you use HCG?

HCG should not be treated as if it were an essential nutrient, for our bodies really don’t need to be injected with the hormone to stay healthy. Avoid going through HCG diet side effects and look for safer and more effective weight loss methods if you want to go on a diet.

How should you purchase HCG products?

Although HCG solutions for injections and drops are sold online, the only way you can make sure that what you are getting are real HCG products is through your doctor, who also won’t prescribe the hormone to you if you don’t need it.

HCG injections are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration only for helping those with fertility problems, and if you get tempted to try them for weight loss, read up first on the dangers of the HCG diet as well as healthier means like how low-carbohydrate diets are effective and how green tea benefits weight loss, and consult your doctor first to see if your health will benefit and not be harmed by the hormone.

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post that does NOT necessarily represent the opinions of our editorial team.

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It is true that most protein supplements are meant for men. However, you should know that women can consume the same protein powder supplements as well. This is due to the fact that the base level of these supplements is protein and this is essential for both men and women. The only issue here is that, protein powder supplements that are meant for women contain additional ingredients that are meant for the woman’s body alone. These ingredients are iron, folic acid and vitamin B6 which are helpful in balancing women’s metabolism. When looking for a protein powder supplement that is suitable for you, you also have to consider your fitness goal.

In case your goal is to lose weight, then the protein powder supplement that you should opt for must contain low amount of calories, high amount of phosphate compounds that are essential in speeding up your metabolism for faster fat burning, low amount of sugar and a well-balanced combination of other essential nutrients, thus making it suitable as a meal replacement. On the other hand, if you are aiming for more body muscles then that is a different story. for this goal, make sure to find a protein powder supplement that contains high amount of calories, contain at least 80% protein, contains good amount of fats with medium chain triglycerides and with high amount of essential nutrients. Protein powder supplements for muscle gain should also be good as a meal replacement.

Finding the best protein powder supplement for you is really not that hard even if there are hundreds or thousands of choices available in the market. To make it easier, you just have to know what it is that you are looking for. You should also determine your fitness goal to easily find the protein powder that you can include in your daily diet. If you are still having a hard time determining which protein powder to go for, you may visit some fitness blog for more help or consult your dietitian for more information. But do not forget that before adding protein powder supplements in your diet, make sure that you are aware of your body’s maximum protein needs to prevent excessive consumption of protein.

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post that does NOT necessarily represent the opinions of our editorial team.

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Castor bean plant is basically found in East Africa and has been used since ancient times. It is saturated with fatty acids and contains anti-bacterial properties.

Castor oil laxative is an age-old solution to constipation which helps you in preventing bowel movements. It loosens the stool and takes out waste materials from the intestine. The castoroil laxative is normally used as a temporary relief and is even used to make beauty products. It is an effective solution to induce labor and to cure diseases. It helps you prevent from gastrointestinal problems, constipation etc.

Useful Ways for Castor Oil Laxative

Castor oil for constipation loosens the stool and by drinking a castor oil laxative induces bowel movement. It also helps in removing waste material found in the small and large intestine. One will surely feel better in few hours after drinking the solution and the defecation will not happen until two to three days. As castor oil is highly effective so it must only be taken in small doses. Otherwise it may result into diarrhea and vomiting by taking large amount of castor oil. Castor oil may relieve muscle aches and strains, swollen joints and even bursitis. Thus, it is useful in many ways.

Castor Oil Side Effects

Castor oil should only be taken by consulting a doctor because asking a doctor is definitely a better way to make sure if you are really suffering from constipation. Or else it may lead to complications. But if you are sure that you really are suffering from constipation, you may use it but in small amount. Castor oil is even available in groceries at a very cheap price and a bottle may even last you for a long time.

Castor oil laxative can also be useful in easing your stomach problems by cleansing the colon and intestines carefully. It is even convenient to use as it is very cheap. Thus, Castor oil is considered safe in proper doses for conventional uses as a laxative.

Castor oil for constipation: castor oil can be used as laxative

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post that does NOT necessarily represent the opinions of our editorial team.

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Since the menstrual cup does not dry out the mucous membrane, you can practice with it even when you are not menstruating. In this case, you should wet the menstruation cup with water and use a water-soluble lubricant to help position the cup. However, during menstruation, there is naturally more moisture in the vagina so it is usually easier to practice inserting the cup during your period.

Menstrual Cup - a reusable silicone cup

Menstrual cups are very comfortable to wear and sporting activities can be performed with no ill effect. If they don’t work for you in the beginning, don’t give up. They take a little practice and getting used to.

Inserting a Menstrual Cup

1. After washing your hands, hold the menstrual cup upright and simply fold the upper and larger end of the cup in half. Then, once it is halved, fold it in half again.
2. Now hold the folded menstrual cup between your thumb and index finger.
3. Stay relaxed and try not to tense your muscles. This may make it painful or difficult to insert. Be patient; the first time inserting it is always the hardest, so don’t give up if you’re having trouble at first.
4. Sit on the toilet or squat in a comfortable position and insert the menstrual cup into your vagina.
5. Let the cup unfold by releasing your fingers from the cup and allowing it to expand inside your vagina. The base of the cup (often called the tab) should be within the inner lips of your vagina. Pull the tab slightly downward and forward until the menstrual cup fits firmly into place.
6. The cup follows the natural slant of your vagina. It does not touch the cervix but rests comfortably below it.

Removing the Menstrual Cup

1. Sit on the toilet and bear down with your muscles. This makes it easier to remove the cup.
2. Grasp the stem firmly so that the tips of your fingers pinch the base of the cup. This action is very important as it allows air to enter around the cup, releasing the suction, and making it easy to remove.
3. As you are sitting on the toilet, pull the cup forward and downward to prevent spilling. Empty the contents into the toilet, wipe and reinsert. Ease your cup gently forward and downward, supporting the bottom of the cup with your fingertips to prevent spilling.
4. Empty the contents of the cup into the toilet.
5. If you are still having your period and want to reinsert your cup, simply rinse it or wipe it with a tissue and reinsert.
6. At the end of your period, wash the menstrual cup in hot soapy water. Or it can be rinsed (not soaked) in dilute vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 9 parts water). Rinse it in this solution for no more than 3 minutes.
7. Let your cup air dry. Place your cup in the fabric bag it came in to store it between periods or store in a plastic bag or purse.
8. DO NOT rinse or soak in any solution stronger than 1 part vinegar to 9 parts water or in any other chemical solution. Exposing your cup to such solutions can damage it.

Tips & Warnings

• When properly inserted, you should not be able to feel the cup inside your body. If it feels uncomfortable, you may need to push it a little deeper.
• If you find the stem on your menstrual cup is too long, it can be trimmed to a shorter length for comfort by using a standard pair of scissors.
• Empty and rinse at least every 12 hours. If you leave it in longer, watch out for signs of infection.
• On heavier days, when the cup is full it can leak. Wearing pads for these days can help.
• There are many different types of menstrual cups. Always follow the instructions that come with your particular brand.
• Follow your brand manufacturer’s instructions for removing and cleaning your cup.
• Although it is preferable to wash your menstrual cup each time you empty it, if you cannot access water it is fine to wipe it with a piece of tissue, ensuring it is thoroughly cleaned the next time.
• The menstrual cup fits the natural tilt of the vagina below the cervix. If inserted properly the lower portion of the cup (or the tab) should fit inside the entrance of the vagina.
• You may want to use a lubricant for easier insertion however, stay away from petroleum based jellies as they will damage the cup.
• In case you were wondering, menstrual cups are NOT a form of contraceptive, and must be removed before sexual intercourse.

Here is a video I found that explains this process:

Read more about various types of reusable menstrual cups, and various types of feminine hygiene products.

Shop for a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups