With summer around the corner and erratic weather conditions becoming somewhat of the norm, heat waves are a more common occurrence these days. While it may seem like a good idea to spend the day outdoors, you may be at risk of heat-related illnesses. Your body has several ways to keep cool in order to prevent overheating, but sometimes this is not enough. When dealing with hot weather that you are not acclimatized to, try not to do what you normally would on a hot summer’s day. The reality is that a little too much of ‘fun in the sun’ can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

continue reading How To Prevent A Heat Stroke And Stop It

Not every person has the ideal bowel habit which is as regular as clockwork. It is inconvenient to have to pass stool at an unexpected time, experience loose watery stool or pass very hard stool infrequently. These are signs of poor bowel habit. It is important to first see a doctor to find out if these disturbances may be due to any bowel diseases, be it acute of chronic. If there is no apparent bowel abnormality then you should look at various ways to improve your bowel habit. The reality is that good bowel habit is frequent, regular and somewhat predictable bowel movements with the passage of soft and firm stool that is easily evacuated. If your bowel habit is not as “picture perfect” as this, then consider these tips for better bowel habit.

continue reading 7 Tips For Improving Bowel Habit

Our kidneys are working all day and night to ensure that toxic substances and waste products are filtered from our body. It also regulates the amount of fluid in the body as well as the different minerals and salts that are essential for various processes. Although we can remain healthy even if we only have one kidney, both kidneys are constantly working to maintain the state of balance (homeostasis) that marks health. As with any part of the body, the kidneys can become dysfunctional, damaged and diseased. The symptoms may not be immediately obvious unless it is a severe kidney problem that strikes suddenly. But identifying the early and subtle signs of kidney disease and seeking medical attention as soon as possible can drastically improve the outcome.

continue reading 6 Signs of Unhealthy Kidneys

Not all of us are bursting with energy when we rise in the morning. This is not a problem unless it continues throughout the day. For some people, feeling tired and drained every morning is a chronic problem. It can affect every part of life, lead to depression and even contribute to overall poor health. While it takes a little while to “get started” after waking, you should be the most energetic in the morning after having rested properly and the least energetic at night when it approaches bedtime. It is a culmination of several factors from physiological changes in the body to food that you eat and the level of physical activity.

There are several reasons for morning fatigue, some common and not considered to be abnormal while others are actually a sign of some underlying problem. It is important to realize that during sleep your body was in a low metabolic state for several hours without any food or water. Even your heart rate and breathing was significantly depressed compared to when you are awake and active. Your body has to shift from this deep state of rest to now “power” you through the day. The transition is not going to be instantaneous. It will take some time. But there are a few things that you can do to get the process started.

continue reading Ways To Boost Your Energy Levels After Waking

Are you planning to travel soon to a high risk area for malaria? Have you educated yourself about this dangerous infectious disease? Malaria is a life-threatening infection caused by the Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes. It can be prevented and even cured but malaria claims the lives of over 600,000 people every year. Travelers who are not immune and do not take the necessary precautions are very vulnerable to contracting malaria. There is currently no vaccine to protect you against malaria although there is ongoing research in the field. A few practical tips can make all the difference in preventing malaria.

Check Malaria Areas

It is important to find out if the area you are visiting is in fact a malaria-endemic area or not. Do not depend on travel agents and the advice of friends or family who may be seasoned travelers. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has detailed malaria map applications that will provide accurate information for travelers. Malaria may occur throughout some countries, or only in certain regions of a country. However, you need to be fully aware of the high risk areas even if you are traveling to parts of a country where malaria transmission is not known to occur. You may change your travel plans while on vacation and find yourself inadequately prepared in a high risk area.

continue reading 10 Malaria Prevention Tips for Travelers