How To Allergy-Proof Your Home

It’s a jungle out there, but it’s pretty wild inside too. Indoor allergies are just as nasty as the outdoor kind and even harder to evade. Plus, experts estimate that someone born in the 1990s spends almost 90 percent of her life indoors. That’s a lot of QT with dust mites, mould and pet dander, all of which can cause the same delightful symptoms as the most powerful pollen – and, like plant allergies, indoor ones can crop up at any age. Once you know exactly where in-home allergens live, you can evict them.

Bathroom

Mould can grow around leaks from the toilet and tub.
The Fix: Use a solution of one cup bleach to 3.5 litres water, then caulk around the bases to seal cracks.

Kitchen

Gas stoves can emit formaldehyde fumes that can cause headaches, wheezing and rashes.
The Fix: An exhaust fan that vents to the outside. Don’t have one? Cook during the evening (when pollen counts drop) and open a window.

Bedroom

Pet dander and dust mites love cosying up to pillows and mattresses. In fact, the latter can harbour up to 10 million mites, according to a US study, while another study found that after two years, dust mites make up 10 percent of the weight of your pillow (shudder!).
The Fix: Use hypoallergenic mattress and pillow “encasements” and wash sheets weekly in hot water (over 54°C).

Lounge

Wall-to-wall carpeting traps dirt, dead skin and pet dander.
The Fix: Leaving shoes at the door curbs the amount of outdoor allergens you track in by up to 80 percent. Run an air purifier, which can absorb nearly 100 percent of home allergens, and switch to washable area rugs (bonus points if you also vacuum twice a weak with a machine that has suction and filtration technology designed to eliminate allergens).

Garage

Mould develops from leaks around windows, walls and ceilings.
The Fix: Clean visible mould (small, musty-smelling spots of any colour) with your bleach and H2O solution, then plug with caulk or spray foam. Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity at a mould-inhospitable 40 to 60 percent.

Study

Clutter can collect dust.
The Fix: Purge stuff you don’t need and store what you can in cabinets or sealable bags or bins. Once a week, wipe down picture frames, vases and knickknacks with microfibre cloths, which trap dust instead of launching it into the air.

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Woman Loses Her Vision After Getting Mosquito Bites on Vacation in the Caribbean

According to Live Science, a 69-year-old woman lost the vision in her right eye after contracting the chikunyunga virus from mosquito bites she received while on vacation in Grenada. It took six days after her original symptoms for doctors to diagnose and treat her, but by that point, her optic nerve had been permanently damaged.

Chikungunya is transmitted solely to people from mosquitos, the CDC reports. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, but headaches, muscle pains, joint swelling, and rashes have been associated with the virus as well. Though vision loss had been seen in late stage chikungunya before, doctors first began testing the woman for HIV, syphilis, Lyme disease, and dengue fever when she originally complained of the symptom, Live Science reports.

Though they were able to diagnose the chikungunya in six days and began her on a high dose of steroids to calm her swollen optic nerve, Dr. Abhijit Mohite told Live Science that the patient's vision loss would be permanent.

There is no way to prevent chikungunya and there are no treatments or vaccines specifically for the virus, according to the World Health Organization, but when caught early, chikungunya can be dealt with completely. Those who are traveling to Africa and Asia are encouraged to prevent mosquito bites as best they can through bug spray and covering up.

This woman was the first patient to be treated in the United Kingdom for the virus; Last year, a man contracted chikungunya for the first time in the United States. Lindsay Lohan contracted it while on vacation in Bora Bora earlier this year.

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Home remedies to cure low blood pressure

While high blood pressure is much talked about and people are aware of its symptoms and effects, not many know about low blood pressure.

In fact, it affects a large number of people worldwide. Very often people don't realise they are suffering from it and often dismiss it as an one-off case of feeling dizzy or ill. It could be a sign of a serious issue with the heart, endocrine or even signal neurological disorders. Severe low blood pressure can block oxygen and vital nutrients from flowing to the brain and hence shouldn't be taken lightly.

Causes
There can be plenty of reasons why you may be suffering from low blood pressure.

Dehydration: Drinking enough water is extremely essential for your well-being. If you are one of those who gets dehydrated easily, you must do something about it. One needs to drink more fluids than one loses. If you are one of those who works outdoors, ensure you keep sipping on liquids like nimbu paani. This will help keep the weakness in check.

Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, there's a good chance your pressure might drop. This is normal but get yourself checked if it becomes too frequent.

Heart issues: Some heart problems could cause blood in your body to not circulate properly.
Deficiency of nutrients: A lack of some essential vitamins such as B-12 and iron can lead to anaemia, which is turn can result in low blood pressure.

Solution
- Increase your salt intake: Generally people are told to avoid using too much salt in their diet. For people suffering from low blood pressure, salt can help. Check with your doctor though before turning to salty foods.

- Drink more water: Water is necessary for your basic body functioning. It also helps prevent dehydration. Don't forget to increase your water intake if you're constantly feeling giddy.

Home remedies: Take a cup of the raw beetroot juice twice daily. It is one of the best home remedies for low blood pressure. Drinking a cup of strong black coffee can also help. Some people suggest making a paste of almonds and drinking with lukewarm milk.

Exercise: Include a little exercise in your daily regime. A walk or a quick swim can help circulate the blood.

(collected : Times Of India )

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