Compression socks are specialized hosiery designed to support, guard and prevent the occurrence of venous conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), phlebitis, and edema. They are elastic garments that are worn just like socks to support the lower leg, hence compressing the area. Compression socks are designed to apply pressure to the lower legs, thus helping maintain blood flow and reducing swelling and discomfort. There are several benefits to wearing compression socks, such as: 1. Prevents blood from pooling Generally, every human being has blood circulating through the entire body. As the blood circulates, tiny valves help prevent the backflow of blood to the legs or rather refluxing, towards the legs or the other body parts. If valves are faulty or become damaged, blood flows back to the legs, which is referred to as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). This blood pooling often results in cramps, ulcers, and swelling over time. Generally, compression socks are beneficial because they help prevent the flow of blood back into the feet and the legs where blood may pool. 2. Reduces swelling The buildup of fluid in the legs may cause a lot of pain and result in fatigue and mobility issues. In addition, pressure due to swelling may cause bursting blood vessels, and possible infections and ulcers.

When it comes to our furry friends, we have to be sure we are taking care of them. Dogs can’t tell us when something is wrong with them, so we need to make sure that we don’t feed them something that would make them ill. You may think that your dog can eat whatever you eat, but you’d be mistaken. You may be tempted to give your dog a treat from your plate, but some human food can make dogs ill and may even kill them. If your pet accidentally ingests any of the foods listed below, they may experience the following symptoms of pet toxicity: restlessness, increased thirst and urination, vomiting and diarrhea, seizures, breathing issues, and even sudden kidney or heart failure: 1. Grapes and raisins Grapes and raisins may seem safe to give to your dog because it’s a fruit, but that is not true. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure. It’s not known what in grapes makes them so toxic to dogs. A little or a lot can be fatal to dogs, so it is best to keep grapes and raisins as far from dogs as possible. 2. Onions and garlic Onions and garlic can irritate a dog’s stomach and may cause damage to their red blood cells.

For many people around the world the daily first cup of coffee is almost a ritual that sets them up for their day ahead. Aside from a comforting taste that so many love the caffeine in coffee helps people wake up, become more alert and feel more energized. Beyond this initial boost to the system, however, there are actually a number of other health benefits to the popular morning drink: 1. Reduces type 2 diabetes risk It is uncertain exactly why, but in 15 different published studies high daily consumption of coffee has been connected to a decreased risk for type 2 diabetes. People who drink between six to seven cups a day exhibited a 35% decrease in the risk of diabetes. This result was consistent across all the demographics tested so it seems to work although nobody really knows why. 2. Prevents heart disease and stroke As an after effect of minimizing the risk of type 2 diabetes, coffee also helps avoid heart disease and stroke. Additionally, studies have shown that it decreases the risk of irregular heart rhythms. In fact, studies show that one to three cups a day decreased the risk of a heart rhythm based condition by 20%.

Dementia is a general term that refers to memory loss and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to affect someone’s daily functioning. People often mistake dementia as a single disease. However, it is a general term that is used to describe grouped disorders that cause brain changes. These changes are adverse such that they change cognitive and thinking abilities. The most common dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, dementia changes feelings, behaviour, and relationships with other individuals. The early symptoms of dementia include the following: 1. Short-term memory loss Loss of memory is the most common early symptom of dementia. These changes involve short term loss of memory, particularly with the elderly. For instance, an individual may remember activities that happened some few years ago, but they are unable to recall what they did some few hours ago. Other examples of memory loss include forgetting important dates and forgetting where they placed some items. With dementia, individuals rely on memory aids such as reminder notes and electronic gadgets. You notice that they keep on asking the same questions over and over again. In some cases, individuals at early stages of dementia tend to go to rooms and forget the reasons they visited the place or what they are supposed to do on a particular date.

With type 2 diabetes, the body has problems metabolizing sugar (glucose) normally. It either doesn’t produce enough insulin, which would help maintain normal glucose levels. Or it resists the effects of insulin. Complications from it include cardiovascular and immune system problems. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include blurred vision, fatigue, increased thirst, frequent infections, and unintended weight loss. As a result of these symptoms, patients with this condition have to be careful and watch what they eat. A healthy breakfast, excluding these foods, is especially important for diabetics: 1. Avoid processed meats Processed meat includes various types of sausage, bacon, and hot dogs. Studies show that the risk of diabetes increases with eating these food products. It’s thought that the high amount of nitrate preservatives contained in these foods may contribute to insulin resistance. 2. Don’t drink sweetened juices Many fruit juices contain a significant amount of sugar. This can rapidly raise blood sugar levels. Recent research shows that someone with diabetes should limit or totally avoid drinking sweetened fruit juices. A large spike in blood sugar levels may increase the risk of hyperglycemia, where the blood sugar level is too high. In general, a better choice would be to eat whole fruit.