Author: Snehal Tanwar

As we age, we become more and more susceptible to a number of health problems, especially when it comes to our dental health. Our chances of developing root decay, gum disease, dry mouth, tooth loss, and a host of other dental issues increase the older we get. That’s why dental coverage is important for aging parents, and you should make it a priority to ensure your parents are getting the dental care they need to live out their golden years in good health. 

Here are four illnesses that can arise due to untreated dental issues:

1. Heart Disease

Good oral hygiene can prevent heart disease in seniors, and having adequate dental coverage can help your parents avoid getting it in some cases. Heart disease can occur when an infection in the mouth travels to the inner lining of the heart, leading to a condition known as endocarditis, which can put unnecessary strain on your heart. Make sure your parents are taking care of their oral health to avoid heart disease.

2. Gum Disease

Researchers believe there’s a connection between heart disease and gum disease. The latter is caused by food and plaque left in your teeth. Gum disease can also be caused by using tobacco products, so if your parents are smokers, that’s even more of a reason to get them the proper dental coverage they need. Poor eating habits (like an unhealthy diet), diabetes, cancer, anemia, or dentures and bridges that don’t fit properly are also causes of gum disease.

3. Root Decay

Root decay is common among seniors and can be caused by acidic foods that wear away the enamel of their teeth, such as soda, fish, grains, fresh and processed meats, high-protein foods and supplements, and certain fruit juices like lemon juice, pineapple juice, and orange juice. As we age, the gums can recede, which can lead to tooth roots becoming more exposed than usual. And our roots don’t have the same protective layer of enamel that our teeth do, which makes them more prone to decay.

4. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is another serious complication associated with poor dental health and hygiene. Since air has to pass through your mouth and throat in order to enter your lungs, oftentimes, it’s possible that you could inhale bacteria into your lungs. Seniors are more vulnerable because they have weakened immune systems compared to younger people. 

Finding the Right Dental Coverage

Skipping routine dental care, such as cleanings and fillings, can often lead to painful and unnecessary, unplanned dental procedures, such as root canals, bridges, or crowns. Finding the right dental coverage is important so that your parents get dental coverage based on their unique, individual needs. Certain Medicare plans don’t come with dental coverage (such as Medicare Parts A and B). However, you can get a Medicare dental plan through Anthem, a Medicare-approved insurance company. There’s also the option of adding on a dental insurance plan separately to a Medicare plan.

Once you get dental coverage for your parents, make sure they’re going to the dentist regularly and using an antibacterial mouthwash. Also, be sure they brush twice a day and floss once daily to avoid any of the previously mentioned diseases or ailments.

Dental coverage is important for anyone of any age, but it’s particularly important for seniors because of their weakened immune systems. That’s why it’s important to make sure your elderly parents are taking care of their overall health, which includes their dental health. Help them get the right dental care plan they need to ensure they live happy, healthy lives in their retirement years.

Our bodies thrive on blood circulation as that’s how cells, tissues, and body systems derive oxygen to work effectively. But, because we have to deal with various resulting diseases, our sedentary lifestyles have made it difficult for our bodies to stay healthy. Therefore, we have to come up against certain medical issues like varicose veins.

Another such disorder is called varicose veins, and this condition is so severe that one in four Americans suffer from it. In extreme cases, it is the swelling of veins in the legs and ankles which can lead to bleeding and ulceration. There are many surprisingly common causes that can result in varicose veins. However, you can start to fix them using sclerotherapy treatments.

What is Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy uses very fine, thin needle injections to enhance the cosmetic appearance of spider veins, treat small varicose veins in the legs, and relieve related symptoms such as pain, burning, swelling, and cramps. Usually, each therapy session results in 50% to 80% removal of the injected veins. 

How To Prepare for Sclerotherapy

Tell your doctor what medicines you are taking, including herbal supplements. List any allergies, especially to local anesthetics, general anesthesia or materials for contrast. Before your procedure, your doctor may tell you to stop taking aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or blood thinners.

You may be asked to stop taking supplements that contain iron. Remember to discuss recent illnesses or other medical conditions with your doctor. Also, ask your doctor about antibiotic drugs that you may be taking or ask for safe guidelines to discontinue these drugs. Before or after Sclerotherapy, no lotion should be added to hands.

What To Expect

Often, this operation is performed in outpatient. However, some patients may need admission after the procedure. Ask your doctor if you need to get admission beforehand. 

When therapy starts, the interventional radiologist will use a very fine needle to inject the venous-dissolving fluid into the varicose and spider veins. As the treatment progresses, you’ll experience tiny needle sticks and probably a slight sense of burning. The number of veins treated in a single session varies and depends on vein size and location.

In general, the procedure is performed within 30 to 45 minutes.

What You Will Experience

If larger varicose veins are injected you can feel a cramping sensation for one to two minutes. You will be advised to wear cover hosiery or wraps to “compress” the vessels being treated after the procedure.

After a sclerotherapy treatment, you might encounter some side effects. Before resolving, larger injected varicose veins can become lumpy and/or hard for several months. Injection sites that include elevated red areas, and should disappear within a few days. The injection sites will leave brown lines or spots on the skin. They disappear in most cases within three to six months, but about five percent of the time can be permanent. Bruising can occur around the site of the injection and can last for many days or weeks.

Spider veins generally respond to sclerotherapy in 3 to 6 weeks, and larger veins respond in 3 to 4 months. If the veins react to the medication, they won’t appear again. With time, however, new veins may appear, and you may return for additional injections unless necessary.

According to health experts, adding an avocado to your daily diet can help lower bad cholesterol, and in turn reduce the risk of heart disease. Avocado is known to be high in monounsaturated fatty acids. It is a cholesterol lowering food which has a wide range of benefits. The avocado has become an incredibly popular diet among health conscious people these days. It is often called a superfood which is not surprising given its safety characteristics. It is often referred to as “alligator pear,” which is very descriptive in that it appears to be pear-shaped and has rough, bumpy skin like an alligator.

Avocados Are Loaded With Fiber

Fiber is another item that is relatively rich in avocados. It is an indigestible plant matter which can lead to weight loss; decrease blood sugar spikes and is strongly associated with a lower risk of many diseases. Avocados tend to be fiber-rich — about 7 percent by weight, which is very high compared to most other foods. Fiber will bring significant benefits for weight loss and metabolic health.

Eating Avocados Can Lower Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels

Cardiac disease is the world’s most common cause of death. Some blood markers are considered to be related to an increased risk. It involves cholesterol, triglycerides, signs of inflammation, blood pressure and many others.

People Who Eat Avocados Tend to Be Healthier

We had a much higher intake of nutrients and were half as likely to have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that are a major risk factor for diabetes and high blood pressure. People who frequently ate avocados also measured less, had a lower BMI and significantly less belly fat. We also had the “healthy” HDL cholesterol levels higher. Correlation is not causation, nevertheless, and there is no certainty that the avocados have induced these individuals to be in better health.

Their Fat Content May Help You Absorb Nutrients From Plant Foods

When it comes to nutrients, it isn’t just the consumption that counts. You must also be capable of absorbing these nutrients — move them out of your digestive tract and into your bloodstream, where they can be used. Many nutrients are fat-soluble which means they need to be mixed with fat to be used.

Avocado Is Loaded With Heart-Healthy Monounsaturated Fatty Acids

In addition, fat accounts for 77 percent of the calories in it, making it one of the fattiest plant foods available. Yet they contain no fat whatsoever. Most of the fat in avocado is oleic acid— a monounsaturated fatty acid which is also a key component of olive oil and is considered responsible for some of its health benefits.  If you are having severe heart issues and are going through an IVC lawsuit, avocado can be a way to help you prevent future heart disease and medical costs.

Oleic acid has been associated with lower inflammation and has been shown to have positive effects on cancer-related genes. The avocado fats are also very immune to thermally-induced oxidation, making avocado oil a safe and healthy cooking option.

Avocado May Help Prevent Cancer

There is scant evidence that avocado can be of use in treating and preventing cancer. Studies of the test-tube indicate it may help to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy in human lymphocytes. It has also been shown that avocado extract prevents the development of breast cancer cells in the laboratory.

So, whether you’re working to live with a chronic illness or simply trying to live a little better, you should definitely eat avocado.

The CBD industry has exploded over the last few years. There are hundreds of products for people to buy, from capsules to vapes to oils, and the industry is worth well over a billion dollars. But do the products really work? And if you decide to try CBD, how much should you have?

Here is everything you need to know about CBD oil dosage.

Full Spectrum Or Isolate?

There are two popular types of CBD; full spectrum CBD and isolate CBD. It is important to be aware of the differences between the different types of CBD, as both types have a different effect on the human body.

Full spectrum CBD contains fairly high levels of CBD, as well as a few other components that are naturally found in the hemp plant. This includes various cannabinoids and essential oils, while isolate CBD is just pure CBD.

Lots of people prefer the isolate as it is pure, but studies have found that you need to take a high concentration if you want to feel the effects. On the other hand, research has found that full spectrum CBD is more effective as the elements work together. This is called the Entourage Effect.

The Entourage Effect

The Entourage Effect is the concept that one single molecule from the cannabis plant isn’t enough to help the human body; instead you need all of the compounds together to allow the “inactive” molecules to become more effective. However it is important to be aware that both products affect individuals differently – so you may find that full spectrum CBD is great for you, or you may find that you prefer isolate.

It also depends on what you are trying to achieve with the CBD; research has found that full spectrum CBD is more effective when treating epilepsy, reducing seizures by 71%. So full spectrum can be very effective – but if you are looking for something that will help you to sleep, you may find that isolate works better for you. 

To find out more, then search for CBD crude oil online.

How Much Should You Take?

So, how much CBD should you take? There isn’t an exact answer, as the product isn’t regulated by the FDA, so there are no official guidelines – but you’d need to take 20,000mg of CBD before it becomes toxic, so you don’t need to worry about accidentally taking too much. 

Most CBD suppliers suggest starting with a 10.5mg dose, and then upping it if you don’t feel any effects. As a useful guide, a 1.0ml drop equals around 21mg of CBD, so try a 0.5ml drop and see how that makes you feel. You can then stick to 0.5ml a day, or you can up the dose (or simply take the dose multiple times a day). It may feel a bit like trial and error to start with, but this really is the best way to work out which CBD dosage suits you and your body best.