5 fast-fixes for common health problems

5 fast-fixes for common health problems

Source: realbuzz.com

Common health problems: Bloating

Bloating is a common health problem and can be caused by lots of things, including lactose intolerances, digestion problems, and certain foods, drinks and medications. Although seeing your doctor and keeping a food diary will help you tackle your bloating issues, for a fast fix to alleviate the symptoms you can take a probiotic, which contains good bacteria. A probiotic may help you banish bloating because when our good bacterium gets low, we are unable to break down food and prevent yeast overgrowth; this leads to bloating. Try to have a probiotic yoghurt with some berries for breakfast.

Flax seeds are also great for bloating. They have high levels of fiber and can help keep the digestive system running smoothly.

Common health problems: Hay fever

Hay fever affects 10 to 20 per cent of people living in the U.S. and is an allergy that is typically caused by pollen. Although hay fever can affect people all year-round, people usually suffer from hay fever symptoms in spring and sometimes summer because trees and other vegetation pollinate at this time of the year.

If you’re fed up of sneezing and want to enjoy those long, sunny days a fast-fix for hay fever is to plug in an air conditioner. Air conditioners can filter out 99 per cent of airborne pollen. For a sweeter remedy, you could also eat one tablespoon of honey from your local area a day. Although researchers have been unable to prove honey’s effectiveness in relieving hay fever symptoms, lots of people swear by it, claiming that the honey desensitizes you to the pollen.

Common health problems: Anxiety 

Did you know that one in 50 adults in the UK are thought to suffer from an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives? Although it’s natural to worry, anxiety can become a disorder if people overly worry without necessary triggers or causes. The common term for anxiety disorders is Generalised Anxiety Disorder and it is thought to be cause by many things including a chemical imbalance in the brain, the environment you are in and your genetics.

Although medication and cognitive therapy are typically used to treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder, if you want a quick-fix to anxiety you can do some aerobic exercise. According to a report on the influence of exercise on mental health from Arizona State University, aerobic exercise is the best choice for anxiety reduction. Or, if it’s not possible to slip on your running kit, maybe do some breathing techniques.

Common health problems: Insomnia

Sleep disorders are complex, varied and affect millions of people around the world. Insomnia normally involves being unable to fall asleep or being unable to stay asleep. Although insomnia can be a symptom of other conditions, if you want to have a quick-fix solution you might want to try shutting down your Facebook and Twitter accounts. A poll found two-thirds of the people who took part in the poll had trouble sleeping after using the social networking sites, whilst others found it hard to relax.

If you can’t live without your social media fix then you could always pop on the kettle and have a cup of tea instead. The University of Maryland Medical Centre found that drinking chamomile tea can relax you so that you can fall asleep quicker.

Common health problems: Dandruff

Dandruff is not ideal if you want luscious looking locks and it can be a nightmare when it itches, but it is a common problem and is caused by the skin on your scalp flaking. Although most of us suffer from a little dandruff as our old skin cells are replaced by new ones, severe dandruff can be an embarrassing and painful problem. Severe dandruff is caused by fungi that grows on your scalp.

To treat more severe dandruff you may need to see a doctor, but you can try shampoos that contain zinc, coal tar or tea tree oil. Anti-fungal shampoos have also been proved to help alleviate the symptoms of dandruff. Other self-medicated treatments include warm olive oil, which you apply to your scalp before rinsing, as well as apple-cider vinegar.  Mix apple-cider with water and apply to your scalp, leaving it to dry. Don’t wash out the apple-cider, but leave it in.