Platelet-rich plasma makes it possible to heal painful knee injuries, using a person's own blood.Athletes such as Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal are rumored to have undergone a relatively new treatment that involves injections of platelet-rich plasma. Proponents say the therapy offers cutting-edge treatment for previously debilitating injuries, including painful knee problems due to osteoarthritis. Contents of this article: What is platelet-rich plasma? Protein-rich plasma knee treatment vs. platelet-rich plasma? Does platelet-rich plasma knee treatment work? What to expect during and after treatment Platelets in the blood are what help with blood clotting, they also contain growth factors that may help healing. Platelets are fragments of cells in the blood and are best known for their ability to help the blood clot. However, they also contain a … [Read more...]

Restrictive lung disease refers to a group of lung diseases that prevent the lungs from fully expanding with air. This restriction makes breathing difficult.Many forms of restrictive lung disease are progressive, getting worse over time. However, some causes of restrictive lung disease can be reversed. Restrictive lung disease treatment focuses on eliminating the causes, improving quality of life, slowing progression of the disease, and preventing complications. Contents of this article: Restrictive lung disease treatment options Types of restrictive lung disease Outlook for restrictive lung disease The main treatment for restrictive lung disease is supportive oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy helps people with lung diseases get enough oxygen, even when their lungs cannot fully expand. Some people may need oxygen only at night or after exerting … [Read more...]

A low libido can be caused by several things including stress, being overweight, busy schedules, or an underlying medical condition. Dealing with the underlying cause of low libido can definitely get it started once again. Or you could eat fatty foods as a means of boosting your libido, according to research. Fatty foods are often frowned upon as they can contribute to health problems including cholesterol and obesity, but experts are now claiming that they can give your libido a boost. The researchers suggest that sex hormones are boosted with the consumption of fatty foods. Leading nutritionist in the UK Dr. Marilyn Glenville explained, “Fats are important for overcoming low libido because sex hormones (such as testosterone) are manufactured from the cholesterol contained within those foods.” Dr. Glenville also explained that consuming more fatty foods will improve sexual sensation too. “Fats will also help to keep tissues like the vagina lubricated and soft. … [Read more...]

Every woman will eventually reach an age of infertility called menopause, a transitory period that may present with distressing but temporary symptoms. Menopause does not occur over night, rather, it is a gradual process that can present differently from woman to woman. To give you some information, here you will learn how long menopause lasts, what menopausal fatigue is, and how menopause can lead to brain fog. We believe that having the knowledge about menopause will give our readers the tool necessary to live a happier life. Menopause is a natural part of aging for women, beginning on average at the age of 51. The period that is often referred to as menopause is actually called perimenopause, one of the three stages of menopause. Perimenopause is the time when a woman’s body begins to transition into menopause, and it is marked by hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. This lasts until the last menstrual period, which is typically three to five years after … [Read more...]

(Natural News) Utilizing solar power can save homes around 600 British Pounds ($775) in electricity bills every year. This was the conclusion made by a team of researchers from the Swansea University who found that installing solar storage technologies in buildings could cut energy consumption by more than 60 percent. The concept has already been proven in the U.K.’s first energy-positive classroom, which they called the “Active Classroom.” This structure combined solar roof and battery storage to collect heat from their south-facing walls. In only six months, Active Classroom has generated more energy than it has consumed. U.K. engineers are looking to apply the same technology in homes. If the transition is successful, it could have a dramatic impact not only to how we build structures but how we can preserve the environment. The social housing development, named Active Homes Neath, will be developed by Pobl Group, the largest housing … [Read more...]

(Natural News) Leading retail pharmacy chain, CVS, is being implicated in an overcharging scheme which used “clawbacks” to jack up prices for supposedly inexpensive generic drugs. According to the plaintiff, Megan Schultz, some of the “affected” prescriptions include lithium, naproxen, and zolpidem. Lawyers of Schultz have said that the public remains unaware of this repulsive behavior, in which pharmacy chains charge more for customers who use their insurance to pay for generic prescriptions. The class-action lawsuit also included Walgreens in its description, citing the company’s apparent lack of ethics as it blatantly overcharged customers through industry middlemen. The fraudulent system took advantage of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who act as the intermediaries between pharmacies and insurance companies. The main role of a PBM is to negotiate prices between both parties so that the customer would have the lowest … [Read more...]

A stroke is a medical emergency. Quick intervention may increase a person's chance of survival and reduce the risk of long-term disability.Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or limited. Each year, over 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke - that's about one every 40 seconds. If someone is having a stroke, quick action is vital. Call 911 immediately or have someone else make the call. Contents of this article: What are the first steps in dealing with stroke? Know the symptoms of a stroke Causes and risk factors Follow-up treatment Outlook Fast facts on first aid for stroke: There are different forms of stroke with each one having a different cause. How quickly the stroke was treated plays a significant role in stroke recovery. Stroke symptoms vary in … [Read more...]

Photo: Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD I like to keep things simple in the morning. That's why I'm usually a smoothie or oatmeal kind of gal. (If you're not an "oatmeal person" yet, it's because you haven't tried these creative oatmeal hacks.) But after a while, "simple" can start to mean taste more like "boring." So when I heard about a new food trend that combines my two favorite foods, I had to jump on the breakfast bandwagon. The end result is what you'd call "smoatmeal." It might sound silly, but this combination of oatmeal and a smoothie bowl in one decadent and nutrient-packed dish is so genius you'll wonder how you never thought to combine them yourself.  The fiber- and protein-rich oats with the antioxidant-rich fruits and high-protein Greek yogurt makes a satisfying breakfast that will power you through the busiest of mornings. Plus, all the ingredients are staples in the kitchen, so you won't have to go searching the aisles of your local, expensive health food … [Read more...]

We all know the importance of protecting ourselves from the harmful effects of the sun. Not only does sunburn hurt, but every burn increases our risk of developing skin cancer.Our lips are particularly sensitive, yet despite this, people often overlook the importance of protecting their lips from the sun. In this article, we learn about how to treat sunburned lips at home, and how to avoid burning them in the future. Contents of this article: Why do lips burn easily? Symptoms of sunburned lips How can I treat my burns at home? When to see a doctor Risks and complications Prevention A person's lips are very sensitive to the sun's UV rays. The lips have a thin layer of skin and very little melanin, the pigment that helps protect against the sun. They are one of the most vulnerable parts of the body because they are … [Read more...]

(Natural News) The total eclipse of sanity is now under way across America. Mass hysteria has gripped the minds of the gullible, many of whom now hallucinate their “reality” on a moment-by-moment basis. Before the Charlottesville violence, the entire Left of America was hallucinating Russians behind every corner. Now, they’re hallucinating Neo-Nazis everywhere they look. This isn’t hyperbole, either: The hysterical Left is quite literally hallucinating almost everything they now believe: That all Trump supporters are Hitler-saluting Nazis; that all White people are racists; that America is still a slave-ownership nation; that Civil War statues might come to life and put them all back in chains, and other absurdities. Never in the history of our country have so many people been brainwashed to believes such obvious absurdities and lies. That’s because never before in our nation’s history has the globalist-run fake news … [Read more...]

Phytophotodermatitis happens when certain plant chemicals cause the skin to become inflamed following exposure to sunlight.Phytophotodermatitis gets its name from the terms 'phyto' meaning plant, 'photo' meaning light, and 'dermatitis' meaning skin inflammation. Also known as lime disease (which is not the same as Lyme disease), phytophotodermatitis symptoms include skin inflammation, itching, and blistering. Contents of this article: What are the symptoms? Causes and risk factors How is it diagnosed? Treatment options Can it be prevented? Outlook Fast facts on phytophotodermatitis: Most cases resolve on their own, but some require medical treatment. Symptoms include blisters and patches. It is often misdiagnosed. Avoiding the sun is a method of … [Read more...]

(Natural News) The disgustingly dishonest “mainstream” media consists primarily of Left-wing ideologues who will stop at nothing to advance their Marxist agenda, even if it means advocating violence against patriotic Americans who are fighting to preserve the country’s heritage. As noted by SHTFPlan, an op-ed in the Washington Post this week is indicative of the kind of violence being advocated by the media. The writer, N.D.B. Collins, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, literally called for Left-wingers to “throw rocks” as a way of ‘protesting’ alleged social injustices: [I]n April 1968, amid a flurry of other “rocks,” riots shook American cities following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. It took that rolling unrest, not the promise of further economic growth, to spur President Lyndon Johnson and Congress to action. Within a week they had passed the Fair Housing Act. Over the … [Read more...]

(Natural News) In a world colored by drugs and sex, alcohol is a tame choice. There is no longer a seductive glamour in drinking; relics of the past overshadowed by convenience and accessibility. In fact, one could argue that having that late-night session with your buddies after work has become so standard that it’s all become part of a routine. Clean outside wounds with rubbing alcohol, and inside wounds with a little whiskey. Yet for all our bravado about drinking, mental health professionals say that we are currently facing a health crisis, with one in every eight of us abusing alcohol. A review of our drinking habits reveals a compelling case on the way we live and how dangerously close we are to dying in a drunken haze. Researchers from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) have stated that alcoholism in our country has reached catastrophic proportions, exceeding even the opioid epidemic. In only 11 years, the number of … [Read more...]

(Natural News) Last July 31, Senator John McCain returned to Arizona to undergo chemotherapy and targeted radiation, both standard post-surgical treatments for his brain tumor. The Arizona politician, 80, was diagnosed with a primary glioblastoma following a craniotomy to remove a blood clot below his left eyebrow. The July 14 procedure was scheduled after McCain complained of dizziness and headaches. Closer examination of the clot, which was discovered during a routine physical, confirmed the presence of brain cancer. Though the tissue was removed, doctors revealed that there’s a high chance that it will return. “By the time a glioblastoma is diagnosed, microfibers can spread to the rest of the brain which an MRI would not spot. So even if the main tumor is removed and the patient receives radiation and chemotherapy, it will come back,” Dr. Babcar Cisse, Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center neurosurgeon, explained to the … [Read more...]

(Natural News) It should be obvious to even the casual political observer that the Alt-Left media is the driver of so-called “progressive” idealism. Once the media begins pushing a concept, it becomes part of the Left’s modus operandi. In recent years progressives have been pushing the concept of a “universal basic income” — that is, a monthly stipend from the government that would replace actual employment. The idea is that everyone would be taken care of, no one would go without, and income equality would finally be achieved. What they never tell you, however, is that a basic income is just welfare by another name. Also, when you essentially pay people to do nothing, that’s exactly what society gets in return: Nothing. Like every other government (taxpayer) program, cradle-to-grave welfare breeds irresponsibility, saps initiative and drive, destroys any sense of self-worth and more importantly, permanently limits … [Read more...]

Feet can take a person from point A to point B, but they are subject to aches, pains, and smells along the way. While most people will experience a case of smelly feet from time to time, some people live in fear of taking their shoes off. The medical term for smelly feet is bromodosis. The good news is that there are many treatments available to reduce the incidence of the condition. Contents of this article: Footwear tips Home remedies Medical treatment Outlook Fast facts on smelly feet Here are some key points about smelly feet. More detail and supporting information is in the main article. The underlying reason for most cases of smelly feet is bacteria and moisture. Smelly feet are not usually a medical concern, but they can affect a person's relationships with others and cause … [Read more...]

The thyroid is a gland found in the neck that is responsible for secreting thyroid hormone, which primarily influences metabolic rate and protein synthesis. An estimated 20 million Americans have some sort of thyroid disease, with 60 percent of those individuals unaware of their condition. We at Bel Marra feel that we should inform our readers about this condition by providing you articles on the subject. We have relevant information on how hyperthyroidism (increasing thyroid hormone) is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer as well as how hyperthyroidism is linked to atrial fibrillation and atherosclerosis. To better round off your knowledge on abnormalities of the thyroid gland, we have also included an article on hypothyroidism vs hyperthyroidism. A link has been found between overactive thyroid and breast cancer whereby women who have hyperthyroidism have been found to have an increased risk of breast cancer. According to researchers, the risk is 11 percent higher, compared … [Read more...]

Approximately 45 million Americans complain of headaches each year, with more than eight million visiting a medical professional as their pain causes them distress. There are several reasons why a person may develop a headache, with most being benign causes that are of no concern. However, there are instances that warrant more investigation and should be brought to the attention of your doctor. To better equip our readers with the information they need, we have provided you some of our best articles on headaches. While we can’t say for certain, some experts suggest that as many as 10 million Americans may be suffering from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, including TMJ headache. TMJ syndrome is pain in the jaw joint that can lead to headaches and starts with a variety of other symptoms. The TMJ connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull (temporal bone) in the front of the ear. It comprises muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and bones. TMJ headaches are common in people … [Read more...]

Photo: Maarten de Boer / Getty ImagesIf you still exercise by the maxim that fitness needs to hurt to work, you're doing it wrong. Sure, there are mental and physical benefits to pushing past your comfort zone and getting used to feeling uncomfortable. I mean, burpees? Not exactly a cozy nap on the couch. But the upsurge of tough AF workouts (à la CrossFit or HIIT) and programs (like Insanity and P90X) can make even the toughest, fittest, strongest badass out there wonder, "Am I doing enough?" "Should I be doing more?" "If I'm not sore the next day, did it even count?"After his shocking heart attack back in February, Bob Harper, health and fitness legend and The Biggest Loser alum, had to ask himself the same questions and totally reevaluate his entire fitness philosophy. After all, if someone that physically fit—Bob was and still is a regular in the CrossFit scene—could experience that kind of life-changing setback, … [Read more...]

Photo courtesy of Livia To put it bluntly, I think periods are *the worst.* Don't get me wrong—it's cool that people are obsessed with periods right now and it's becoming more and more acceptable to talk about it. Still, I hate having my period because it makes me feel pretty crummy...to put it mildly. Bloating? Check. Mood swings? Check. And worst of all: cramps. Double check. No matter how many hormonal birth control methods I've tried, it still feels like there's a little troll stomping around in my uterus every time I get my period. (If you can relate, I'm so sorry.) Normally, I load up on Advil or Motrin every eight hours so I can function during the first few days. But I've always felt weird about popping pain pills so often since there are some risks (like heart and stomach problems) associated with prolonged usage. To be fair, these risks are mainly associated with large doses and prolonged use, but I'm a less-meds-is-more type in general, anyway. (And in case you … [Read more...]