How to Treat Acne During Pregnancy

Pregnant women often struggle with acne, especially since many are unsure which acne medications are safe to use during pregnancy and which ones should be avoided. This page provides an overview of treatments approved for pregnant women; however, always consult a doctor before using any medication during pregnancy.

Hormonal changes during early pregnancy often result in acne inflammations. Even if you have been blessed with clear skin all your life, you may experience terrible acne during your first trimester.

Luckily, acne tends to clear up as the pregnancy progresses, and if you struggled with acne before your pregnancy then your skin may look better in your second and third trimester than it ever has before. (Doctors speculate this is due to increased levels of estrogen.)

Does that mean you have to grin and bear the acne for three, four, or five months? No way! Topical medications like Benzoyl peroxide or Azelaic acid are typically safe to use during pregnancy. Oral medications, however, should be avoided during pregnancy, with the exception of oral erythromycin, which your doctor may prescribe if your acne is severe.

Tetracycline, oral isotretinoin, and topical retinoids MUST be avoided during pregnancy. These can have a harmful effect on the fetus and should be avoided even if you are trying to get pregnant.

Some herbal remedies for acne are safe to use during pregnancy, but again, always consult your doctor. Don't assume that "herbal" means "safe" - it doesn't! Herbal medications and supplements can be very powerful, so always talk to your doctor.

How to Treat Anxiety

Learning how to treat anxiety can be of great benefit to many over-stressed people around the world. There are a number of natural remedies you can familiarize yourself with, most of which you can perform on yourself as needed. First of all, learn for yourself what triggers your anxiety. Develop some non-invasive coping strategies--such as taking a bath, asking your husband to watch the kids, putting on a favorite CD, or treating yourself to a massage. These two simple methods can go a long way towards alleviating anxiety.

One of the latest strategies for how to treat anxiety is called the Emotional Freedom Technique. This easy-to-learn technique is effective and free. Using the energy meridians in your body (the same used in acupuncture), you tap certain points in a certain order while citing affirmations in a particular form out loud. To learn where to tap and how to formulate your affirmations, check out Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) on YouTube or Google. There are also classes available where you can learn EFT in person as well as certified EFT practitioners you can visit.

While acupuncture is a bit more complex, it is another effective method in treating anxiety. Again, utilizing pressure points along energy meridians, acupuncture places thin needles in these points, helping to re-align and balance the body, creating a heightened sense of well-being. Acupuncture also provides 15-20 minutes of quiet, meditative time one can use for visualizing anxiety-free living while the needles are working their magic.

How to Treat a Complex Ovarian Cyst

Treatment of a complex ovarian cyst depends on the type and nature of the cyst. If benign, there is little or no treatment that is required at all.

On the other hand, if the condition is serious, conventional treatment must be followed.

Included in conventional treatment are birth control pills, and pain relievers. Birth control pills stop FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone) which inhibits ovulation thus, repressing ovarian cyst. This drug also reduces the hormones that promote growth and prevent formation of large cysts; the size of the follicles and size of existing cysts are reduced. It is a fact that birth control pills hinder ovulation but as soon as the woman stops taking the pills, she returns to square one. Prolong use of this pill may pose another health problem. Meanwhile, pain relievers are prescribed to diminish or minimize the pain caused by the cysts.

If the cyst is cancerous there are other complications, surgery will be the only option. In most cases the cyst is removed but in other cases, ovaries are removed to eradicate the cysts. However, there are risks involved. Surgeries are expensive, leave scars, and leave the body open for infection. Sad to say, this does not prevent the formation of new cysts.

A single treatment plan is not possible when dealing with large complex ovarian cysts. Other form of cyst requires immediate surgical removal of such. There are some forms that need to be controlled by drugs. However, some medications do not eliminate complex ovarian cysts, leaving women affected by this condition, emotionally and physically concerned. More complicated varieties of ovarian cysts treatments do not usually help in dealing with this condition as it only targets the symptoms and not the cause of the disease.

How To Treat Anal Itching

If you are suffering from the problem of itching in the anal area there is no need to feel embarrassed because you are not alone. There are millions of people in the world who suffer from this embarrassing condition which is medically known as 'pruritus ani' and strangely enough it is a very common ailment but not many people feel comfortable talking about it publicly. In this article we are going to discuss about the symptoms of anal itching, its causes and some of the remedial measures available in the alternative form of medicine which can provide instant relief in the comfort of your home.

Symptoms

If there is irritation in the anus or rectum area it could be anal itching. This feeling of irritation makes a person scratch the area to experience relief but this scratching makes the condition worse. It is generally caused due to increased moisture, rubbing caused by sitting and clothes and continuous pressure. Anal itching at its worst causes high discomfort and can also cause soreness and burning.

Causes

Apart from above causes it is also caused by chemicals present in our food, pinworms, hemorrhoids and anal fissures. It is a condition which can affect any person of any age. It is common both in men and women.

Treatment Options

The remedy for anal itching depends mainly on the cause of itching but because there are so many factors that can lead to this problem it is advisable to get a medical checkup in order to find the exact cause which will help in using the right treatment options.

How to Thicken Soups with out the Fat

Smooth and creamy soups are so pleasing to the pallet with there smooth texture and buttery taste. However these types of soups are often times high in fat and cholesterol. There are easy ways to still be able to enjoy hearty thick soups with less fat and less cholesterol.

Here are four alternatives to heavy cream, butter or coconut milk when thickening soup.

Alternative One

Substitute plain yogurt for the cream, butter or coconut milk. Simply make the soup as normal holding back the fat. At the end of cooking add enough plain yogurt to make the soup creamy and smooth. Plain yogurt has a tangy taste and may alter the flavor of the soup. To combat this add a spoonful of honey or sugar with the plain yogurt. But keep in mind yogurt will curdle if boiled. Never boil soup with yogurt.

Alternative Two

Whisk in sour cream. Sour cream is not exactly low in fat or low in cholesterol but it does have the smooth creamy taste and texture many soups require. The trick to using sour cream is to only use 2-3 tablespoons and to whisk it in just before serving. By whisking in the sour cream at the end of cooking the smooth creamy taste will still be full bodied when the soup is served. But just like yogurt sour cream will separate if boiled, never boil soup with sour cream.

Alternative Three

Use less fat. Often a recipe will call for ½ cup to 1 cup of heavy cream. This amount is often times not necessary to achieve the same smooth creamy flavor and texture. Simply lower the amount of heavy cream to 2 tablespoons and the soup will still maintain the desired finish.

How to Test For Blood Glucose Levels and What They Mean

When someone has diabetes, it is important that they test their blood glucose levels on a regular basis. Knowing what their healthy level is and noticing any changes could give them an important head start on controlling any issues that may arise. Testing the levels of glucose in the blood is very easy and can be done at home with simple tools.

There are many things that can be determined from looking at the levels of glucose that someone has in their blood. For example, the reading might indicate how elements such as exercise, diet, stress and illness have affected their blood sugar levels. It can also help a patient's doctor determine how much insulin they should be taking before meals or if their insulin levels need to be adjusted.

It is important to have the proper equipment for testing blood sugar levels, but it can be found easily at any grocery store or pharmacy. The two most important pieces of equipment are the blood glucose meter and the testing strips. It is very important that patients make sure to get the correct testing strips for the brand of meter that they are purchasing.

When testing and maintaining equipment, there are a few things that someone can do to make sure they are getting an accurate reading every time. It is important to store unused testing strips in the container since exposure to air could affect the results. Expired products should not be used because they are not likely to give an accurate reading. It is also important for users to read all of the directions carefully before beginning and following them exactly while performing the test.

How to Test Your Fitness Level

Below are some steps you can follow to determine which level you're on.

1. Run or brisk walk to test your aerobic fitness.

Run a mile or two as fast as you can. You can do it anywhere but make sure you run on a level path. A sign of top aerobic ability which is your body's capacity to transport oxygen to your working muscles is breaking the 10-minute mark. If your time is 12 minutes or above, it means you are quite slow, between 10 and 12 minutes indicates ordinary ability and 10 minutes or less indicates peak endurance.

Remember to practice running farther than your record speed to develop your aerobic capacity. Regular aerobic exercise lowers your body fat and cholesterol and thus lessens the risk of heart disease.

2. Do push-ups to test your upper body strength and muscular fitness.

When doing push-ups, lie face down on the floor with elbows bent and palms next to your shoulders. Then push up with arms until arms are extended, all the while keeping your back straight. Lower body until chest touches floor and then push it upward as you return to your starting position.

If you can do 13 to 15 push-ups at one time, your upper body strength is considered good. If your count is six or less, that means your upper body muscles need work. Remember that beginners are usually on their hands and knees while those who are more advanced are on their hands and toes.

3. Sit and reach to measure flexibility.

This is a simple method to measure the flexibility of your body, in particular your lower back, hips, and the backs of your legs. To do this, place a yardstick on the floor. Secure it with a piece of tape across the yardstick at the 15-inch or 38-centimeter mark. Place the soles of your feet even with the mark on the yardstick. Ask someone to place his or her hands on top of your knees to secure them and then reach forward as far as you can, staying in that position for two to three seconds. Repeat two more times, recording each distance you have reached.