All posts by Sumana Rao

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How to prevent mold at home

Mold Prevention Tips

Mold can cause severe damage to the house. Having mold infection also means inviting infection inside home.  A small spot of mold that you notice at home, must not be neglected. Act today before it grows and cause problem to house. Why mold grows at home and how to prevent mold growth?

To control mold damage, one has to control the moisture and if any signs of mold growth is there, immediately work on to get rid of the mold.

Where and when can we expect mold?

  1. Humidity: Sometimes depending on location where your live, mold appears in and outside the house walls. Humid conditions can lead to mold growth outside the house.
  2. Leaks: Any type of leaks on and behind wall, water dripping under the sink, water leak from roof can damage the area and mold develops
  3. No air circulation: Fresh air is critical for house as well as for people live inside the house. No airflow leads to stagnant, damp air that supports mold.
  4. If you find water mark on roof, wall paper or feel musty odor – it could be due to hidden leaks from the poor plumbing.
  5. Steam in bathroom: Humidity accumulation in bathroom due to hot shower promotes mold growth. Dampness of wall and curtain causes this issue.
  6. Vents and duct: Moisture in vents an duct support mold growth.
  7. Basement: Having basement is great. In some places basement is used for vehicle parking, and many countries basement is an extra place. Basement is generally the wettest place and one will feel dampness.  If the air is not circulating or not kept dry, if downspouts are not fixed properly it could lead to severe mold.
  8. Water standing: When there is stagnant water and does not drain for long time, mold starts to grow and drainage pipe will turn black. Similarly if the water is sitting in a bottle, vessel or even coffee pot it could lead to mold development
  9. Wet floor and carpets: Dampness in floor and carpet leads to mold. If you are coming inside house in rain or snow boots, step onto floor or carpet or leave shoes on the floor or carpet- small water pool that is created could lead to mold development.
  10. Wet clothes: During rainy seasons drying cloth could be problem. And if the clothes are not dried properly, mold easily grows not only causing dots on cloths also, it gives musty, mildew odor and wearing such clothes could cause itchiness.

Mold prevention tips and preparation of mold removal solutions: First use methods to remove the mold and mold mark. If you don’t know how to remove mold, call professionals to address mold issues. You can also prevent mold growth using following tips.

  1. Check for visible as well as hidden leaks. Call plumbers if you notice any water mark and mildew growth. Any hidden leaks should be fixed properly.
  2. Run exhaust fan in bathroom or if it is safe, open the windows to allow fresh air and sun light to enter.
  3. Run humidifier in basement and if there is dampness in basement, use heater to dry the area.
  4. Remove stagnat water on the floor. Allow it to dry.
  5. Dry wet floor and carpets: Use paper towel or dry towel to suck the water from floor and carpet. Run a room heater to dry the area.
  6. Use wet vacuum and dehumidifier to clean the house and to remove dampness.
  7. Clean house plant trays. Standing water in the trays should be taken out and clean the tray.
  8. Open house windows whenever you can. Daily opening windows is a great idea. This allows fresh air to come in.
  9. Investigate the house from outside. Look at wooden structure, windows, pipes, gutter for mold signs.
  10. Use dehumidifier inside house to remove humidity and moisture.
  11. Clean vent and duct – call professional at least once in two years. Clean vent covers using vinegar and dry it off.
  12. Dry clothes properly. Don’t leave damp clothes anywhere in the house. Use dryer to dry clothes or dry clothes by properly hanging them.

Mold removal solutions: Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands while working with chemicals and other cleaning products. And, Do not mix ammonia and bleach solution ever as it causes toxic fumes breathing of which cause severe sickness.

Here are three mold removal solutions:

  • For kitchen and baths: Use undiluted white vinegar on hard surfaces. 
  • Bleach solution kills mold. To one gallon of water mix one cup of bleach and apply on surface. Leave it for 15 mins and wash using hot water. 
  • Mix ammonia and water at 1:1 solution. Spray on the surface, wait two to three hours, then rinse. 

Having mold infection can cause breathing issue. Those who have low immunity or moderate immunity should not be exposed to mold spores as inhaling mold spores could cause breathing problem. Take all necessary preventive measures to prevent mold growth.

Image credit: Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 20, 2024
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multifidus muscle improvement by yoga

Improve Your Spine Health By Strengthening Multifidus Muscles Through Yoga

The multifidus muscles are a series of small but crucial muscles along the spine that provide stability and support. They run from the sacrum at the base of the spine up to the cervical region, attaching to the vertebrae. Strong and functional multifidus muscles are essential for maintaining proper posture, spinal alignment, and overall back health.

Importance of multifidus muscles:

  • Spinal Stability: They help stabilize the spine during movement.
  • Posture: They support the vertebrae, aiding in maintaining an upright posture.
  • Injury Prevention: A strong multifidus reduces the risk of back injuries and pain.
  • Movement Efficiency: They assist with controlled and efficient movement, especially in the lower back.

Yoga poses to strengthen and engage the multifidus muscles:

Yoga can be particularly effective in strengthening and engaging the multifidus muscles. Here are some poses that can help:

Bird-dog pose (Parsva Balasana):

  1. Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
  2. Extend your right arm forward and your left leg back, keeping your spine neutral.
  3. Hold for a few breaths, then switch sides.

This pose engages multifidus by requiring stability and balance.

Locust pose (Salabhasana):

  1. Lie on your stomach with your arms alongside your body, palms facing up.
  2. Lift your chest, arms, and legs off the ground, engaging your back muscles.
  3. Hold for several breaths before lowering back down.

This pose strengthens the entire back, including the multifidus muscles.

Bridge pose (Setu Bandhasana):

  1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart.
  2. Lift your hips towards the ceiling while pressing your feet into the ground.
  3. Engage your core and glutes to maintain stability.

This pose targets the lower back and engages the multifidus muscles.

Side plank (Vasisthasana):

  1. Begin in a plank position.
  2. Shift your weight onto your right hand and the outer edge of your right foot.
  3. Stack your left foot on top of your right and lift your left arm towards the ceiling.
  4. Hold for a few breaths, then switch sides.

This pose challenges the multifidus to stabilize the spine laterally.

Cat-cow pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana):

  1. Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
  2. Inhale, arch your back (cow pose), lifting your head and tailbone towards the ceiling.
  3. Exhale, round your spine (cat pose), tucking your chin to your chest.

This dynamic movement helps to mobilize and strengthen the multifidus muscles through flexion and extension of the spine.

Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III):

  1. Stand on one leg, extend the other leg back, and lean your torso forward.
  2. Extend your arms forward or out to the sides for balance.
  3. Keep your spine neutral and engage your core.

This pose requires balance and strength, engaging the multifidus to maintain stability.

Tips for practicing yoga to engage multifidus muscles:

  • Focus on alignment: Proper alignment ensures that you are engaging the correct muscles and not straining other parts of the body.
  • Engage the core: A strong core supports the spine and helps engage the multifidus muscles effectively.
  • Breathe deeply: Deep, controlled breathing helps to stabilize the core and maintain focus.
  • Move mindfully: Slow and controlled movements ensure that you are using the multifidus muscles rather than relying on momentum.

By incorporating these yoga poses into your routine, you can help strengthen and engage the multifidus muscles, contributing to better spinal health, improved posture, and reduced risk of back pain.

Image credit: All 3 images – pxhere.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 19, 2024
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Gluteal tendinopathy hip pain

Lateral Hip Pain Gluteal Tendinopathy Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Gluteal tendinopathy, also known as gluteal tendinitis or lateral hip pain, is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation of the tendons in the gluteal muscles, particularly the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. These muscles are located on the outer side of the hip and are important for stabilizing the pelvis during walking, running, and other activities.

Causes: Gluteal tendinopathy is often caused by overuse or repetitive stress, but it can also result from acute injury or trauma. Contributing factors include:

  • Overtraining or sudden increase in physical activity
  • Poor biomechanics, such as excessive hip adduction or internal rotation
  • Weakness in the hip abductor muscles.
  • Prolonged periods of sitting or standing
  • Previous hip or lower limb injuries

Symptoms: The primary symptoms of gluteal tendinopathy include:

  • Pain and tenderness on the outside of the hip
  • Pain that worsens with activities such as walking, running, climbing stairs, or lying on the affected side
  • Stiffness and reduced range of motion in the hip
  • Swelling or warmth over the affected area

Diagnosis: Diagnosis of gluteal tendinopathy typically involves a combination of:

  1. Clinical evaluation, including a physical examination and assessment of symptoms.
  2. Imaging studies, such as ultrasound or MRI, visualize tendon inflammation or damage.
  3. Functional assessments to evaluate hip strength and biomechanics.

Treatment: Treatment for gluteal tendinopathy often includes a combination of conservative measures aimed at reducing pain and inflammation, improving tendon healing, and correcting contributing factors.

  1. Rest and activity modification: Avoiding activities that aggravate the condition and incorporating rest periods.
  2. Physical therapy: Exercises to strengthen the hip abductor muscles, improve flexibility, and correct biomechanics. This may include specific exercises like clamshells, side-lying leg lifts, and hip bridges.
  3. Pain management: Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and inflammation.
  4. Ice therapy: Applying ice packs to the affected area to reduce swelling and pain.
  5. Corticosteroid Injections: In some cases, corticosteroid injections may be used to reduce inflammation and pain.
  6. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT): A non-invasive treatment that uses shockwaves to promote tendon healing.
  7. Surgery: In severe or refractory cases, surgical intervention may be considered to repair damaged tendons or correct underlying structural issues.

Prevention: Preventing gluteal tendinopathy involves maintaining good hip strength and flexibility, avoiding overtraining, and addressing any biomechanical issues. Regular exercise, proper warm-up and cool-down routines, and attention to proper technique during physical activities can help reduce the risk of developing this condition.

With appropriate treatment and rehabilitation, most individuals with gluteal tendinopathy can recover fully and return to their normal activities. However, recovery times can vary, and it is important to follow a tailored treatment plan to ensure optimal healing and prevent recurrence.

Image credit: Image by Milius007 from Pixabay (Free for use under the Pixabay Content License)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 14, 2024
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Retinal detachment

Retinal Detachment Symptoms, Precautions and Treatment

Retina is a light sensitive layer of tissue situated in the back of the eye. Retinal detachment is an eye issue that happens when the retina is pulled away from its position at the back of the eye. Retinal detachment is an emergency and need to immediate attention. If not treated on time, more detachment happens resulting in permanent loss of vision.

Symptoms of retinal detachment:

When there is a small detachment, a person may not notice any types of symptoms. If the detachment is more then following symptoms one might face:

  • Small dark spots or blurred lines that float across the eyes. Small floaters in front of the eyes
  • Flashes of light in one or both eyes
  • Experiencing dark shadow on sides or in the middle of the vision field

Who is at risk of retinal detachment?

Some people with certain conditions are more at risk of retinal detachment. But it can also happen to anyone.

  • People who have family with history of retinal detachment
  • Person with serious eye injury
  • An eye surgery like treatment to cataracts
  • Diabetic condition called retinopathy where high blood sugar affects blood vessels of the retina
  • Person with extreme nearsighted condition called myopia
  • A person with posterior vitreous detachment where the gel like fluid in the center of eye pulls away
  • Degeneration or thinning of retina
  • Condition called retinoschisis where retina separates to two layers
  • The most common causes is aging
  • Tumors in the eye
  • Regular inflammation inside the eye
  • Rare eye disorder where abnormal development of blood vessels in retina – coats disease.

The three types of retinal detachment are:

Rhegmatogenous : When the retina has a tear or break, the gel-like fluid in the center called citreous can get behind retina and pushes retina away from the back of the eye.

Tractional: Tractional detachment is when scar tissue on retina pulls retina away from the back of the eye.

Exudative: When the fluid builds up behind the retina, but there aren’t any tears or breaks in your retina

Prevention of retinal detachment:

  • When it is age related there is no way to prevent retinal detachment. But one can lower the risk of the retinal detachment by wearing safety goggles or by protecting eye with eye gear during daily activities.
  • If you are falling in any of the risk factor, it is highly recommended to get your eyes examined. An ophthalmologist will dilate eye and exam the eyes for retinal detachment before it starts affecting the vision.
  • If you suffer from eye trauma it is important to see the eye doctor. Trauma could be an accident to head, hitting eyes, chemicals reaction etc.
  • If you start seeing floaters and black shadows in your vision, immediately make an appointment for eye test.

Tests for observing retinal detachment:

Apart from dilating and examining eyes, your doctor may ask you to go through detailed examination. An ultrasound or optical coherence tomography (OTC) will give details. These tests are painless and will help doctors to understand retina condition.

Treatment for retinal detachment:

Treatment for retinal detachment depends on how much retina is detached and which type of detachment a person is suffering from.

Eye surgery, laser treatment, freezing treatment or treatment to fix tears and reattach retina in the back of eye might be performed. Sometimes doctor might use more than one treatment.

  • Eye surgery: If more retina is detachment a surgery is helpful in putting back retina in place.
  • Freeze treatment or laser surgery: Also known as cryopexy is helpful in fixing tear or small hole in retina by using medical laser or freezing probe tears will be sealed.

If caught early and treated immediately retinal detachment can be taken care to get back the proper vision. If you see floaters, shadows or any symptoms of change in your vision contact your eye doctor today for further testing and protect your vision.

References:

https://www.eyesongenes.com/

https://www.nei.nih.gov/

https://stevegallik.org/

Image credit: Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay (cc by 0) & Image by Juraj Varga from Pixabay  (cc by 0)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 12, 2024
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Tomato In Traditional Medicine

Tomato In Traditional Medicine

In various traditional medicine systems, tomatoes have been used for:

·         Digestive Issues: Treating constipation and promoting healthy digestion.

·         Skin Problems: Treating sunburn and minor skin irritations.

·         Detoxification: Believed to help cleanse the body of toxins.

While tomatoes offer numerous health benefits, it is important to consume them as part of a balanced diet and consult healthcare professionals for specific medical conditions.

References:

·         https://www.liveeatlearn.com/tomatoes/#75-types-of-tomatoes-with-photos

·         https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/tomatoes

·         https://www.britannica.com/plant/tomato

·         https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/cooking-tips-tutorials/g40517177/types-of-tomatoes/

·         https://www.gardenstead.com/the-history-of-the-tomato/

image credit: Image by Renáta Adrienn Uri from Pixabay  ( Free for use under the Pixabay Content License)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 10, 2024
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How To Consume Tomato

How To Consume Tomato

Incorporating tomatoes into your diet can be done in several ways, such as adding them to salads, sandwiches, sauces, or enjoying them fresh as a snack.

Tomatoes can be used in numerous ways:

·         Raw Consumption: Eating raw tomatoes in salads or as snacks can provide direct health benefits.

·         Cooked: Cooking tomatoes increases the bioavailability of lycopene. Therefore, consuming tomato sauces, soups, and stews can be particularly beneficial.

·         Juices and Smoothies: Tomato juice is a trendy way to consume tomatoes and can be fortified with other healthy ingredients.

·         Topical Applications: In traditional medicine, tomato pulp or juice is sometimes applied to the skin to treat minor burns, reduce inflammation, or promote healing.

Image credit: Image by Crafter Chef from Pixabay ( Free for use under the Pixabay Content License)

 

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Anti Inflammatory, Good For Bone And Eye Health

Anti Inflammatory, Good For Bone And Eye Health

8. Anti-inflammatory properties: The antioxidants in tomatoes have anti-inflammatory effects, which can help reduce chronic inflammation and lower the risk of various inflammatory diseases.

9. Bone health: Tomatoes contain vitamin K and calcium, which are essential for maintaining healthy bones and preventing osteoporosis.

10. Eye health: Tomatoes are rich in beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are beneficial for eye health. These compounds help protect against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Have you heard about tomato allergy? Tomato allergies can happen to an individual just by touching fruit. It provokes a reaction. Two types of allergies are: OAS and skin reactions due to latex type allergy. It results in stomach bloating, pain, diarrhea, skin rash, tingling in lips, itching, tiredness, aches, and pains. Allergy to tomato is also cross linked to allergy to potato since they are related plants. (Read more here)

Image credit: Image by Alexa from Pixabay ( Free for use under the Pixabay Content License)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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