That’s annoying to see blackheads in your face including on cheeks. Some people try to squeeze at the blackheads, besides others cover them by wearing a lot of make-up. However, these ways make you become worse such as pain, redness, or even inflammation. Therefore, seeking out how to remove blackheads on the cheeks is very important.

There are tons of ways to get rid of blackheads, but you need to find which approach is suitable for you. Trying to follow some solutions below and see the results.

How to Get Rid of Blackheads on Cheeks

Start with cleaning the face with salicylic acid

Wash your face carefully and gently twice a day when you wake up and before going to sleep. Wash your face more than two times make your skin more irritated and easy to get infected. Don’t use something hard to scrub blackheads. It’s going harder to remove and injuring the skin.

Using over-the-counter medications including salicylic acid is the right answer for the question ‘how to get rid of blackheads on the cheeks?’ Salicylic acid helps to dry oils and removes dead skin cells.

Using products that contain salicylic acid daily can avoid dirty and make skin aerate. However, this way does not affect people who are allergic to salicylic acid.

Don’t believe in the benefits of pore strips and home taking out methods

You may know that squeezing which can be tempting doesn’t help blackheads go away. Therefore, it is true that masks, pore strips, and extraction tools are useful. Is this true? If not, do you know how to get rid of blackheads on the cheeks?

Pore strips and masks can help discharge oils and hair follicles, so it helps your skin obviously. However, your skin will drier and more irritated than the past; therefore, it is a good chance for having more blackheads when skin becomes annoyed.

Some dermatologists use many extraction methods such as metal or plastic tools, which is useful to take off blocked blackheads without scoring the skin. Nevertheless, if you are not trained to do that, it is possible to cause scratches and wounds. Therefore, extraction methods have to do professional and with proper sanitation.

A skin brush is an excellent choice for you

The first benefit of a skin brush is exfoliating skin naturally by losing and removing dead skin cells. I have to remember that it is applied once a week, which doesn’t irritate the surface. Moreover, a specialized smaller dry brush cleans oil and dirt in the skin.

Tropical medication

How to get rid of blackheads on cheeks when nonprescription products don’t have effects? In some severe cases, topical medications are recommended to prevent clogging of the hair follicles. There are many types such as creams, gels, or lotions.

You will have the best results when applying to clean, dry skin about 15 minutes after washing. Using it in the evening and onset three times a week, then you can use it daily.

However, you have to follow to your consultant strictly because they have side effects also. Only use them when you have your advice from dermatologists.

Use clay or charcoal masks

Both clay and charcoal masks help to draw out dirt, oil, and other elements, like dead skin cells for example, deep in your skin. You can use this way once or twice a week that depends on you.

Don’t use non-comedogenic products

Noncomedogenic products mean things don’t cause acne and blackheads. Using cosmetics in the right way is necessary stuff. Choose which moisturizer is good for skin, don’t give blackheads a chance to come.

Don’t forget to clean your makeup before sleep

That is a good idea and easy answer which you have asked this question ‘How to get rid of blackheads on cheeks?’ After a long day, you just want to sleep afterward and sometimes forget to take off your coverage. That’s how blackheads appear. During the nighttime, your makeup will block your pores, keep dirt, oil, and cosmetic products inside.

Remember to take off your makeup with a gentle product that doesn’t make your skin irritate and have healthy skin and beautiful cheeks.

Visit your consultant

If you try to do all this way and no more changes, you need to see your dermatologist. They will have you deal with your problems and find out how to eliminate blackheads on cheeks efficiently.

Final thoughts

Numerous ways are figuring out how to get rid of blackheads on the cheeks. However, the key is not only on treatment but also on prevention. When you suffer from this problem based on how worse are you to find the best solution to apply.

Many parents are becoming familiar with the concept of self-cutting and self-harming, particularly in pre-teens and teens. However, there can still be a very big difference between cutting the arm or leg with minor lacerations and behaviour focused on cut wrists.

Historically, cut wrists has been a precursor or an outright attempt at a violent suicide. The act has been seen for centuries, often used as a means of private suicide when poison was not available in ancient times.

Unfortunately, our media teaches people the concept of characters in movies or on TV shows with bandaged wrists or stitched wrist arms. As a result, kids figure out pretty quick that cutting your wrists must be the way to cause serious self-harm.

The Difference Between Self-Harm and Suicidal Harm

Self-cutting is often minor, superficial cuts to the body, usually on the forearms or upper leg thigh area. The amounts may be in small parallel rows or spell out words.

The wounds are not deep and usually heal within a few seconds of cutting. That leaves a tell-tale scab and cut mark, which heals completely within a few days. The appearance is not as serious scarification, but it has the same visual appearance.

Teens use the act of repetitive self-cuttingTeens often use the act of repetitive self-cutting as a pressure valve or release of internal mental pain. The physical discomfort temporarily takes the place of the mental pain and then goes away.

The act can release endorphins in a person’s body, giving them a brief moment of feeling better, creating an addictive pattern, ergo repeat cutting. However, in the large majority of cases, the teen involved is nowhere near the idea of suicide.

Also Read: How to Hide Cuts and Heal Self-Harm

Cut wrists or the attempt to learn wrist cuts is a far more serious matter. This is targeted self-injury playing with the idea of suicide or the effect of serious bodily harm through a wound and major blood loss.

This type of behaviour kicks in when a teen is experiencing a level of overwhelming mental pain and hurt and can’t cope with it.

The anger and frustration at helplessness is intense and drives out rational thought. Attempts to find a quick way to stop it all become apparent.

What to Look For

The signs of cut wrists are not going to be advertised usually. A teen involved with this type of self-harm will likely be hiding it, knowing that it will trigger a big reaction from people if seen. Symptoms can often include:

• Signs of older cuts in the area, such as fresh scars.
• Smaller, new cutting from prior attempts.
• A tendency to have sharp tools on hand, such as a knife or razor.
• A need to stay covered up, even when its hot weather outside.
• Dismissing injuries as accidents.
• Being alone, quiet, and acting depressed when previously being energetic.
• Having big problems getting along socially.
• Showing or expressing feelings of identity loss.
• Unpredictable behaviour.
• Expressing low self-confidence, being hopeless, serious depression.

Reaction and Response

Most parents are going to find out about wrist-cutting by surprise. The wrong approach is to start yelling, getting emotional, or insulting the child to somehow “shock” it out of them.

These behaviours only make a teen more defensive and angry and add to the fuel inside that is mentally pushing the teen toward self-harm in the first place.

To get to this point, something has already pervasively attacked the teen, and a parent’s yelling and anger only add more attacks in areas where the teen is supposed to feel safe, at home.

The first step any parent needs to follow is to get over being shocked at the behaviour found. A parent needs to shift into a calm approach quickly, resist the urge to yell or make demands, and instead be objective in finding out the root of the problem.

This involves talking, calmly asking questions, and getting a teen to open up up, which can be hard if up to now serious talks of this nature have not occurred recently. A teen needs to know that their parent is aware of the behaviour and genuinely wants to help the child instead of ignoring the problem.

Parents should also be seeking help resources where they are available. This can be from a pediatrician, psychology resources, and medical sources. However, one of the biggest sources with the most direct information about what’s going is a teen’s close friends.

At this age, they are more likely to know what’s happening with a teen and her life than any other source. This doesn’t mean a parent should start in inquisition to get the information. That will make everyone calm up.

Keep in mind, however, while doctors and schools seem like the logical route to go for help, they are very quick to categorize and label a teen, which can cause more damage.

This is because both work in institutional settings that follow set procedures for teen self-harm. It is common for experts in both areas to immediate peg a child as a psychological case that needs to be separate from other kids and isolated.

Doing so makes the teen suddenly the problem instead of a child reacting to a situation. That can ultimately drive a teen further into isolation instead of helping them, which is why doctors and schools have such a poor track record at dealing with these types of cases.

Parents are a key influence on their children. They are the closest to the teen, they have raised the teen since their baby years, and they can make a conversation happen by that bond.

It can seem hard at first if the parent has not had serious discussions with a child or been close in recent years, but the glue is still there. After some rough patches, a teen will still respond to a parent far more than a school official or a doctor.

Causation

The anger that drives a teen to cut wrists is usually rooted in something. That’s the goal to figure out. Without identifying what creates anger and self-harm, no attempt at stopping the behaviour is going to work. That anger can be driven by guilt at something, being rejected socially, self-image hatred, sexuality issues, or more.

It’s usually rooted in a case that is pervasive and chronic versus one-time and then goes away. In other words, the problem confronts the teen almost every day.

There are also conditions or issues growing up that will create self-harm more in some teens than others. These are not automatically red flags but are often associated with the activity:

• Girls going into teenhood are extremely sensitive and self-conscious about their bodies, appearance and social status. Loss of any of these issues can create depression, chronic mental pain, and loss of self-worth.
• Pre-teens and early teens up to 16 are the most likely to self-harm. This is because they are mentally changing with hormones out of balance, being exposed to adult issues but not yet developing mental defences to deal with those issues personally.
• Friends can be a big influence positively or negatively. When a teen’s friends begin to self-harm, it’s likely a teen will do so as well. So look for signs on friends as well.
• Deep-seated pain such as physical harm, bullying, sexual assault, ridicule, and emotional scarring can often be the fundamental driver of cut wrists and serious self-harm. Parents need to be on the lookout for major dynamic changes in children as a tell-tale sign.
• Self-harming teens are often passionate and mentally struggling. This is often mistaken as mentally unhealthy, and then drugs are thrown at the problem, which doesn’t solve the underlying issue. The emotions are often due to struggling with adult issues but not yet having the tools to do so. Working through issues with teens in discussions usually works far better.
• Alcohol and drug abuse often escape from pain. These are classic escape tools used and can trigger depression afterwards.

Suicidal Signs

Wrist-cutting must be treated seriously. Once the root cause is found, everything else can wait. This is a serious form of self-harm, and parents need to get to the root cause as soon as possible. Avoiding the issue of having a doctor prescribe treatment will only delay the need for discussion.

Teens will only make changes if they are mentally ready to change. A teen who waits for self-harm can find other ways.

If discussions are challenging or hard one-to-one, there is nothing wrong with bringing in a third party to help. That could be a relative, a friend or a trained counsellor. In any case, any mention or sign of the idea of suicide needs to be addressed seriously.

In immediate need situations, Who can reach trained counsellors via a suicide hotline number. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) provides free help any hour of the day, even if a teen wants to talk to someone disconnected for hours into the night.

Health professionals such as doctors are trained to help, but parents need to be proactive to ensure their child is not just routed to symptom-treating and labelling.

This is when the parent has to be the strongest advocate for the teen, not a bystander. Mental health care is often the case, which can be extremely useful, but the parent remains the closest care figure for a teen in trouble.

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are microangiopathic disorders—that is, they are characterized by abnormalities (chiefly blood clots) that occur within the small blood vessels of the body.

Hemolytic anemia results from the fragmentation of the red blood cells when they pass through areas of thrombi (masses or clots) or turbulence in the circulation. Such forces shear the cells in half, producing cell remnants that appear as helmets and other odd shapes when viewed under a microscope. In fact, the diagnosis of HUS-TTP is aided by microscopic examination of the blood for sheared red blood cells.

Causes and Risk Factors for HUS and TTP

Although the exact cause(s) of HUS and TTP are unknown, experts believe that an abnormal, inflammatory reaction within the blood stimulates the deposition of platelet-rich thrombi. It has been observed that a circulating and/or missing factor in the blood perpetuates the process. Therefore, HUS/TTP patients often benefit from treatment that removes the plasma (fluid, non-cellular part of the blood) and replaces it with donor plasma.

Many diseases and conditions have been found to spur the development of HUS and TTP, including:

• Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection. EHEC is a diarrhea-producing bacterium that has been associated with epidemic outbreaks of HUS in children. This particular bacterium (OH157:H7) has been identified in undercooked meat as well as other foods.
• Pneumococcal pneumonia infection
• AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
• Drugs, for example, oral contraceptives, chemotherapeutic medications (mitomycin C, bleomycin, cisplatinum), immunosuppressive agents used during organ transplantation (cyclosporin, tacrolimus), stroke-preventing drugs (ticlopidine hydrochloride), quinine
• Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
• Pregnancy and the postpartum period

Signs and Symptoms of HUS and TTP

The general symptoms associated of HUS-TTP are quite variable. Purpura (bleeding into the tissues) sometimes can be seen in the skin, and patients often complain of tiredness due to anemia. Some individuals with TTP may have neurological symptoms and fever.

Children who develop hemorrhagic colitis (colon inflammation and bleeding) due to E.coli may become infected as an isolated incident or as part of a large outbreak (e.g., identifiable exposure to food such as undercooked meat). Bloody diarrhea often occurs 3 to 4 days after exposure, with abdominal pain but usually no fever.

HUS and TTP usually are diagnosed by the combination of low platelets and anemia caused by hemolysis. Other findings may include fever, renal failure, and neurologic abnormalities.

Treatment for HUS and TTP

It is essential to treat HUS and TTP, as the mortality rate without treatment is close to 90 percent.

Treatment involves:

• Plasma exchange with fresh plasma—Plasma should be replaced on a daily basis until the platelet count normalizes—typically after 5 to 15 treatments.
• Plasma exchange with cryosupernatant of plasma—Individuals who are resistant to plasmapheresis (plasma removal and transfusion) with fresh plasma may need this more intense, twice daily regimen with plasma cryosupernatant (plasma derivative).
• Additional medication with vincristine and intravenous gammaglobulins

Relapses are relatively common in people who have had HUS or TTP. Such cases may require another course of treatment. One study reported a relapse risk of 36 percent over a 10-year period. Therefore, patients need to be followed-up indefinitely.

Children with ECHC associated HUS tend to have a self-limited disease and only require supportive care, unless there is severe or persistent disease. Prolonged follow-up in these patients is usually not necessary. Unfortunately, adults with ECHC associated HUS often require full treatment similar to that required by patients who have HUS-TTP unrelated to ECHC.

Strengthen Your Leg Exercises at Home:

The work of the lower limbs is important because it involves a large muscle mass, the most powerful muscles of the body are those of the legs. That is why doing leg exercises not only allows toning but also burn many calories.

These 6 exercises to tone the legs are also characterized by being polyarticular (involving more than one joint) and that makes them very good exercises to lose weight, burning many calories.

There are many exercises of legs, we will highlight our 6 favorites:

1.Squat

It is a very complete exercise, works the hamstrings, quadriceps, and buttocks mainly. It is also an exercise that closely resembles the activities of daily life and/or works so it has a useful transfer. In this way, you can do more day-to-day tasks with less fatigue.

3. Wall Stitches

The squats on the wall that you will see below are a kind of isometric exercise, where the contraction of the muscle occurs without there being the movement of the joint.

Therefore, these squats on the wall are extremely useful for working the muscles of your knee and therefore useful to prevent and recover from injuries such as patellar tendonitis, iliotibial belt syndrome, quadricipital tendonitis, and other injuries that a runner Can suffer in this area.

All you need to do the squats will be a wall in which you can support your back during the execution of the squats, being able to perform the exercise both barefoot and shoes with our running shoes.

4. Hip abductions

It is a key exercise to reduce the risk of suffering from low back pain because it focuses on the gluteus medius, a usually weak muscle.

5.Scissors or Lunge

Like squats, you work all the muscles of the lower limbs and have a lot of transfer to daily activities. It’s the way you should bend down to pick up objects from the ground.

6. Highs

This exercise is only suitable for people already trained, at a certain level. It is very important to go in progression, from small jumps to higher jumps. It is a very good muscle power exercise. In addition, it has a positive effect on bone mineral density due to impacts, so it is recommended to prevent osteoporosis.

7. One-Leg Seats

It is a variant of squats. Very similar but more demanding in terms of stabilization. It is a complicated exercise, which must be performed after a phase of acclimatization to training. This exercise prevents injuries to ankles, knees, and lowers back thanks to proprioceptive improvement (the connection between your brain and your muscles).

8.Glute Exercise

It is important to work this muscle so important in daily life and in sports performance. Both men and women must. In addition, it should be done with a load (e.g. elastic band) that hinders the movement, adjusting it to your possibilities. It is very common to do so without any additional resistance and is an error since the stimulus will be insufficient to cause adaptations.

The basic technique of these workout exercises is to keep your back straight (natural physiological curvatures), to bend your knees up to 90 degrees, that the tip of the knee never exceeds the tip of the foot and that the knees do not extend completely.

Also Read: Sexy Legs Workout For Women

During exercise, the muscles in the lower leg enlarge and press against the compartment formed by the two bones of the lower leg (the tibia and fibula). Repeated stress and pressure can cause irritation of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones. Most commonly, the result is tendinitis. Initially, the pain generally starts during exercise, then after days or even weeks it may disappear during exercise but occur later and then continue during daily activities.

Symptoms of shin splints

Persistent pain—from mild tenderness to severe aching—in the front or side of the lower leg. The pain generally starts during exercise, but sometimes begins several hours later.

What causes shin splints?

The pain from shin splints is caused by damage to the tissues in and around the tibia that typically results from repeatedly pounding the feet on hard surfaces while running or jumping. Often, shin splints occur when there’s a sudden change in the amount or intensity of activity. People with various biomechanical problems, including overpronation (in which the foot rolls too far inward), are more likely to get shin splints. Seasoned athletes as well as beginners can develop the problem, and it can be compounded by such factors as running on concrete (rather than a softer surface such as grass) or uneven surfaces, as well as by wearing poorly cushioned shoes. Muscle imbalance in the lower leg, differences in leg length, and a weak core can also contribute to shin splints.

What if you do nothing?

At the very least, you will probably need to stop the activity and rest the muscles and connective tissue in the lower leg. Otherwise, the condition is likely to grow progressively worse and become chronic.

Home remedies for shin splints

For mild cases of shin splints, self-treatment measures can usually alleviate the problem. But if you haven’t had this type of pain before, it’s a good idea to consult a physician to get an exact diagnosis, since the cause could also be a stress fracture.

• Rest is essential. Refraining from running and/or jumping for three to six weeks will allow the damaged tissue to heal.
• For pain, use ice and NSAIDs. Applying ice every couple of hours—for no more than 20-minute intervals—can help reduce pain and inflammation. You can use a cold gel pack, ice bag, or a bag of frozen vegetables. Over-the-counter pain relievers (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen can also help relieve pain and swelling.
• Wear shoes that are well-cushioned. The shoes should provide good support and have plenty of impact-absorbing material to cushion the ball and heel areas of your feet.

How to prevent shin splints

These precautions can help you safely return to a full complement of activities—and lessen your risk of reinjury.

• Switch to low-impact activities. Engage in activities such as bicycling, swimming, and pool running until you can resume running or jumping without pain.
• Don’t run in worn-out shoes. If you run regularly, consider replacing shoes every three to six months. Studies have shown that regardless of brand, price, or construction, running shoes lose about 30 percent of their ability to absorb shock after approximately 500 miles of use.
• Don’t run on hard surfaces. Try to avoid cement and concrete, and instead run on grass, school tracks, well-cleared paths, or boardwalks.
• Take it easy. Keep in mind that running more than 20 miles a week doesn’t greatly increase your fitness, but it does increase your chance of injury. Don’t suddenly increase the intensity of your workout. Also avoid excessive downhill running, which places additional stress on the front part of the lower leg. And be sure to warm up before you work out.
• Stretch and strengthen your calf muscles. Do toe raises and foot rolls several times a day; lie on your back and flex your feet; or sit on the edge of a table and flex your foot with a weight attached to it. If you’ve been plagued by shin splints, you should ask your physician to refer you to a physical therapist who will analyze the problem and devise a targeted exercise program.

When to call your doctor

For a first case of shin splints, especially if the pain grows worse or the shin muscles are inflamed and swollen, call your doctor. You should also get medical evaluation if the pain is concentrated in a small area along the inside part of the tibia, rather than extending to the surrounding tissue. This may mean you have a stress fracture—a microscopic break in the shin bone itself. An x-ray or bone scan may be used to diagnose a stress fracture.

Also Read: Strains and Sprains: Causes and Treatments

Also, see your doctor if symptoms persist for more than seven days after self-treatment measures or if pain occurs when you resume running or jumping. You may have tendon or muscle damage that needs additional treatment.

What your doctor will do

In diagnosing the problem, your doctor or a physical therapist will examine your feet and legs to see if an anatomical problem, such as flat feet, might be a factor. Sometimes a podiatrist may recommend an orthotic device (a specially fitted shoe insert), but not everyone benefits from this.

Is this possible?

Yes, for a person with Alice and wonderland syndrome, this is the reality of their daily life. They are not taking drugs to induce such hallucinations. These false interpretations of reality, happen in Alice Wonderland syndrome without warning and especially impact the lives of children suffering from this disease.

Distorted Reality

The Alice in Wonderland syndrome symptoms create a strange world, where the person’s perceptions of reality differ significantly from actual reality. Things that are small seem large and the reverse is true. Sometimes the perceptions of a person with the Alice in the Wonderland syndrome switches back and forth between things being distorted to appear bigger than they really are and things being reduced in size.

The Alice in Wonderland syndrome is a rare affliction, named after the young girl character of Alice in the book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll published in 1865. The character of Alice falls down a rabbit hole and discovers many amazing things. In the book, Alice goes on an exciting adventure, but for a person in real life who has Alice in Wonderland syndrome, it is not necessarily an adventure, but more of a torment. The author Lewis Carroll may have actually suffered from the disease, because in his journals he describes that he was afflicted with severe migraine headaches, which are related to this disease. Perhaps his inspiration for Alice’s adventures came from his real experience of this disease.

Feeling like a giant amidst everything else is a form of Lilliputian hallucinations. This label also comes from a book called Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships (later shortened to Gulliver’s Travels) written by Jonathan Swift and published in 1726.

Gulliver, like Alice finds himself in a strange world, first in the hands of the Lilliputians, who are tiny people, the size of one of his fingers, then in the land of the Brobdingnags who are giants when compared to Gulliver. Even though the Alice and Gulliver stories are pure fantasy, they do represent what it feels like for a person who has the affliction of Alice In Wonderland syndrome.

Symptoms

In addition to distortions of shape and size, people who experience Alice in Wonderland syndrome may feel like time is distorted. Everything can be in ultra slow motion or everything can be moving along too quickly. Some sufferers mention that the ground becomes “sponge-like” or that the sense of touch is also distorted. It is possible that sounds are affected as well. Frequently the attacks happen just before going to sleep.

Abigail Moss suffered from this condition since childhood. For her, the episodes occurred almost on a daily basis when she was a young child starting from about age five. They came without warning and lasted for around twenty minutes each time. During an attack, she felt like her body was growing in comparison to the rest of the things in her room.

Her father also had these attacks, so the propensity for having this disease has some genetic determinant. Luckily, for Abigail, the attacks became less frequent as she grew older. Nevertheless, she still has an attack about six times per year, even though she is now twenty-four years old.

For many years, this disease has tormented Abigail. Her doctors were not able to determine the source of her affliction. She was only able to understand what was actually happening to her after she watched an episode of the television program called “House,” where a character on the program had the same problem she was experiencing.

What is Alice in Wonderland Syndrome?

According to How stuff works, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is also called Todd’s syndrome. A psychiatrist John Todd who lived from 1914 to 1987 named it. He described this rare affliction as Alice in Wonderland syndrome or Lilliputian hallucination. This is a neurological affliction, which causes distortions of the perception resulting in confused orientation and misinterpretations of the real world by the senses.

Excessive Brain Electricity

AIWS comes from the excessive electrical activity of the brain, caused by increased blood flow to the brain. The Alice in Wonderland signs include hallucinations, loss of time, and self-image distortions where a part of the body seems to be rather large or extremely small in relation to the other parts of the body.

Migraines

There is a strong correlation between AIWS and migraines. People who get migraines frequently notice some visual abnormalities right before a headache. Many migraine sufferers experience flashing, brilliant spots of light in their eyes. Those are referred to as having a “aura.” AIWS has to do with the perception of “auras.” The areas of the brain that process shapes, sizes, textures, and noises are impacted by a sudden, increased blood flow to the brain.

Prognosis

The onset of the disease usually occurs in childhood. Many children who have this disease naturally overcome it when they become teenagers. However, it is possible that this disease continues into adulthood. Adults typically feel the attacks right before going to sleep.

The condition is very rare. Dr. Grant Liu, who works as a pediatrician in Philadelphia’s Children’s Hospital has made an extensive study of children with this condition. When examining forty-eight patients with the condition, Dr. Lui found that about one-third of the cases arose from some kind of infection, six percent were caused by trauma to the head, and half the cases had an undetermined reason for occurring.

Contributing Factors

AIWS is related to other disruptive brain conditions, such as migraines, epilepsy, and diseases that infect the brain like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or brain tumors. Those who suffer from EBV, which is a precursor to mononucleosis, can have the symptoms of AIWS.

Another disease that creates AIWS is temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). TLE is a form of epilepsy that only affects the temporal lobes, which is the area of the brain responsible for processing perceptual information. When a person has an epileptic seizure in the areas of the temporal lobes, they may experience euphoria and pleasure or in the alternative paranoia and fear.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome Treatment

Treatment for this condition is in alignment to how a person with severe migraines or epilepsy is treated. Following a strict diet that eliminates food triggers is helpful, such as not eating dark chocolate, red wine and strong cheeses. Having a regular sleeping pattern and not using alcohol is also helpful as an Alice in Wonderland syndrome treatment.

Medications such as anticonvulsants, anti-depressants, and those that create beta blocking or calcium channel blocking effects may be helpful. Rest and simply waiting for an attack to pass (about twenty minutes) is the most effective way to deal with this affliction. Driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery is not appropriate when experiencing an attack.

Some people, who have this condition, especially when it is not diagnosed properly, may have the feeling they are going insane due to the hallucinations. This is not true. This disease is not a mental disorder, but is a physical imbalance in the brain chemistry. One woman, Helene Stapinski, recounts her experiences with the disease and discovered that her ten-year old daughter also has the same affliction.

Pharmaceuticals, such as those used for the treatment of TLE, may also be useful in reducing the symptoms of Alice in Wonderland syndrome, such as:

• Gabitril (tiagabine)
• Keppra (levetiracetam)
• Lamictal (lamotrigine)
• Neurontin (gabapentin)
• Topamax (topiramate)
• Phenobarbital
• Zonegran (zonisamide)

Summary

The good news is that while there is no specific cure for Alice in Wonderland syndrome, persons who have it typically experience its worst symptoms when they are young and eventually outgrow it. They are not delusional. The medical community now recognises the illness, despite the fact that it is uncommon.

There is a genetic determinant, so that if a person has this disease, it is likely that their children may also experience this disease. Often the disease goes unnoticed because the sufferers do not feel comfortable describing what is happening to them to their physicians.

The bouts of these attacks are short. Most last only a few minutes. The average is about twenty minutes, even though there are examples of where the attacks have lasted for days. Luckily, most people learn how to “ride out an attack.” The attacks dissipate in terms of frequency and severity as a person gets older.

1. Retained Tampon

2. Carpet Burns

5. Foreign Body in the Rectum

6. Irritation from Spicy Food

Most UTIs are caused by bacteria (usually E. coli from feces) that make their way through the urethra—the tube that carries urine out of the body—into the bladder, where they multiply. This may result in a bladder infection called cystitis. Infrequently, bacteria migrate from the bladder to the kidneys, which can lead to a kidney infection (pyelonephritis), a more serious problem. In men, bacteria can also get into the prostate, causing prostatitis.

The signs of cystitis are a frequent and urgent need to urinate, accompanied by pain and burning. Your urine may be cloudy, even slightly tinged with blood. Additionally, you can experience some lower abdomen ache and not feel good at all. Fever is rarely associated with cystitis, but is typical with pyelonephritis and prostatitis.

Are you at risk for UTIs?

Frequent intercourse, use of a diaphragm and/or spermicide, obesity, incontinence (urinary and fecal) or a bladder that doesn’t fully empty can all contribute to UTIs in women. You may be more susceptible if your mother had UTIs. If you’ve had several episodes, recurrences are likely. The increased risk in postmenopausal women is probably due to reduced estrogen, which has an effect on the quantity and types of bacteria living in the vagina and the area around the urethral opening. Compared to premenopausal women, older women tend to have lower levels of Lactobacillus, in particular. The pH of the vagina is lowered by these “good” bacteria, making it less favourable for E. coli and other “bad” bacteria, and thus help prevent their spread to the urinary tract.

Risk factors for men include having unprotected vaginal intercourse with a partner who has a UTI or unprotected anal sex. Men don’t get nearly as many UTIs as women perhaps because of the greater distance between the opening of the urethra and the anus. Plus, the urethra is much longer in men (making it harder for bacteria to migrate), and prostatic fluid has antibacterial properties. UTIs are frequently linked to prostate enlargement in older men.

People who have catheters placed in their urethras are very vulnerable to infections. Anatomical anomalies and kidney or bladder stones also raise risk in both men and women.

Testing for UTIs: a home advantage?

A simple dipstick urinalysis at the doctor’s office can help diagnose a UTI; the urine may also be cultured to see which specific organism is responsible for the infection and thus determine which antibiotic should be used to treat it. Urinary analgesics, such as phenazopyridine (Pyridium), can provide some immediate relief of symptoms but do not treat the infection.

There are also home tests, available over the counter at drugstores. According to a paper published in BMJ in 2010, self-diagnosis of cystitis by women with recurrent infections can be safe, convenient and accurate. The kits are inexpensive and easy—all you do is urinate on the strip and wait for the color change. Look for brands that check for both nitrite (produced by infectious bacteria) and white blood cells (present when there is an infection) in urine.

Your doctor may be able to prescribe treatment without your having to go to the office, based on home test results or your history of UTIs. However, if home test results are negative and you still have symptoms, you need to see your doctor. The test can produce false-negative results—or something else may be causing the symptoms, such as a vaginal infection or a sexually transmitted disease, which needs treatment. And if your symptoms continue after treatment, the bacteria causing the UTI may be resistant to the prescribed antibiotic, so you would also need to see your doctor.

Can you prevent UTIs?

There are no proven ways to keep UTIs at bay, but several steps are commonly recommended, including drinking plenty of fluids and not delaying urinating. Women are also advised to wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering the urethra, and to cleanse their genital area before and after sex. If you frequently experience UTIs and use a spermicide or diaphragm, you may want to consider switching to a different method of birth control. For women who are especially prone to infections, doctors may prescribe a single dose of an antibiotic to use after intercourse or continuous low-dose antibiotics for several months—though a 2011 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that daily use of these drugs increased antibiotic resistance. Vaginal estrogen may also be an option for postmenopausal women with recurrent UTIs.

Two possible preventives:

Cranberries: Proanthocyadins in cran­berries may help keep bacteria from stick­ing to the lining of the urinary tract. A 2009 review by the independent Cochrane Col­laboration found cranberry modestly efec­tive for women with recurrent infections. But in 2011 a large, well­-designed study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found the juice no better than a placebo in reducing UTIs in young women. Fewer studies have looked at cranberries and UTI prevention in older people, but some research suggests they may benefit less. A common recommendation is to drink 10 to 16 ounces daily of cranberry cocktail (which has sugar added to combat its tart­ness), less if you buy undiluted unsweet­ened juice. Artificially sweetened cranberry drink has fewer calories. Cranberry supple­ments have been less tested, though a study in Current Bioactive Compounds found that capsules of whole cranberry powder reduced E. coli concentrations and de­creased symptoms in younger women (18 to 40) with recurrent UTIs.

Probiotics: Lab research has shown that certain strains of Lactobacillus inhibit the growth of E. coli that can colonize in the urinary tract. And in a recent study in Clinical Infectious Diseases, Lactobacillus sup­positories reduced UTIs in young women with recurrent infections. Though such studies are limited and inconclusive, a 2008 review in Clinical Therapeutics noted that the use of Lactobacillus probiotics for UTI prevention in women holds some promise.

Taking the following eight strategies into account should help you overcome the hurdles associated with adjusting to this new form of parenting.

1. Focus on your goals

If you want to do co-parenting work, you need to stay focused on what you want to get out of the arrangement. Presumably, you are looking to promote safety, security, and good health for your children, so remind yourself of this as often as you need to.

Try to set aside other potential goals (such as reconciling with your former partner or hashing out old issues) until you have a stable co-parenting strategy in place.

If you think it might be helpful, remind your ex-partner of the need to put the children first, and agree to call a truce for the sake of their well-being.

2. Keep emotions out of the arrangement if necessary

When a separation has been volatile and evoked strong feelings like anger, resentment, or betrayal, you may find it useful to view co-parenting as more of a business arrangement. For example, you might choose to interact with your spouse only when discussing parenting, you may opt to keep phone calls out of the equation and use text messages or emails instead, or you could even draw up an informal contract outlining how you plan to approach co-parenting. It’s particularly important to keep intense negative emotions in check around your children and maintain respectful communication in a family setting.

3. Help yourself heal

If your separation has been painful, you will be better able to tackle the task of co-parenting if you make time to help yourself heal. For example, you may benefit from seeking the help of a counselor, or you might need to write daily journal entries to vent your feelings.

Meanwhile, make sure you regularly engage in stimulating activities (like seeing friends and pursuing hobbies) and vow to treat your body kindly as you go through this difficult transition.

4. Be mindful of your motivations

Even if you and your ex-partner have agreed to focus on the children, other motivations can start to creep into your interactions. Monitor what you say and do to ensure that you are taking the adult path. For example, when you negotiate time spent with the children, are you using them as bargaining trips?

When you try to forbid something, are you trying to hurt your former partner? Asking yourself these questions will help you to keep an unhealthy desire for revenge in check.

5. Consider family mediation

If you struggle with co-parenting to the extent that you can’t agree on any useful strategies, it’s worth considering family meditation. In this setting, a professionally trained mediator will listen to both parents and engage in collaborative discussions that help you to co-parent more effectively.

A mediator can enable you to see possible solutions you haven’t considered and commit to maintaining complete neutrality throughout.

6. Act like an adult even if your ex-partner does not

If your ex-partner is petty, cruel, or uncooperative, it can be tempting to stoop to the same level. However, it is best for you and your children if you take a deep breath and stick to your principles.

Use respectful language, try to stay calm, ask genuine (rather than combative) questions, and try to remember that your ex is also struggling with their own set of complicated, difficult emotions surrounding your separation.

7. Help your children understand

Another vital part of co-parenting involves deciding how you will explain your separation to the children. Your approach will naturally vary depending on their ages, but the key message you will want to convey is that the separation is not a reflection of your feelings about the children.

Children often believe they could have done something to keep the family together or that they somehow ‘caused’ the separation, so be firm and clear when explaining that the issues are between you and your ex-partner.

In addition, stress that the children do not need to take sides, don’t pump them for information about the other parent, and reassure them that your love for them remains entirely unchanged.

8. Agree on parenting strategies

Finally, many parents get so caught up in negotiating time spent with the children that they neglect to discuss the parenting aspect of co-parenting until a major issue presents itself. Children need to receive consistent messages about boundaries, so make time to talk to your partner about what the children should do and how to approach discipline.

Read More:- Overcoming The Stay-At-Home Parent Blues

• Strains. Some muscle fibres may rip when a muscle is overextended. A pulled muscle is a common term for this. Mild strains are typically simply bothersome; the tears are minute and easily mend with rest. Sharp discomfort with a loss of strength and movement are signs of more severe strains, which also cause a greater amount of fibre breakdown.
• Sprains. Unlike sprains, which harm joint capsules and ligaments (the bands connecting the bones), strains affect the muscles. Sprains, like strains, can range in severity from tiny tears to full ruptures. However, sprains are usually more severe than strains because a ruptured ligament can cause bones to move out of place and harm the tissues in the area. They also frequently take longer to recover.

Any joint can be sprained, but because of its construction and the fact that it must support your body weight, the ankle is the most frequently sprained joint—in fact, an ankle sprain is probably the most common sports injury. The knee, too, is vulnerable because it must absorb twisting stress every time the body rotates from the hips.

Symptoms of strains and sprains

Strain

• Muscle stiffness, soreness, and generalized tenderness several hours after the injury.
• Swelling of the injured muscle.
• In some cases, skin discoloration appearing several days later.

Sprain

• Mild to severe pain when the injury occurs.
• Joint tenderness and possible swelling.
• Bruising that can be noted immediately or up to several hours after the injury.
• Inability or difficulty moving the injured joint.

What causes strains or sprains?

Strains occur when muscles or their tendons are stretched to the point that their fibers actually start to tear. This can happen when you lift a heavy weight or suddenly overextend a muscle—for instance, when swinging a golf club, sprinting to catch a bus, or stretching to catch a Frisbee, or when doing jumping activities in the gym. The most common sites for strains are the hamstring and quadriceps muscles in the thigh, and the muscles in the groin, shoulder, and calf —all large muscles that are used for sudden powerful movements. Strains also occur to a muscle that has been previously injured—even slightly—and never properly rehabilitated. Cold, fatigue, or immobilization in a cast reduces blood flow to the muscles and lessens muscle elasticity, increasing the risk of strains.

Sprains are most often the result of a sudden force, typically a twisting motion, that the surrounding muscles aren’t strong enough to control. As a result the ligaments, which usually wrap around a joint, get stretched and torn.

What if you do nothing?

In most cases recovery from a minor muscle strain requires nothing more than rest. However, if you are active and exercise regularly, strengthening and stretching will usually be necessary after recovery to prevent a recurrence of the injury. Sprains usually require attention (see Home Remedies section below) to reduce swelling and lessen pain and reduce the risk of a recurrence. When severe pain or swelling occurs, you need to consult a doctor; the injury may turn out to be a severe sprain or a fracture, either of which require medical attention and possibly a splint or cast.

Home remedies for strains and sprains

Mild to moderate muscle strains and minor sprains can usually be self-treated at home with these measures. But it can be difficult to determine the severity of a sprain on your own. And even minor ankle sprains shouldn’t be taken lightly. Without proper treatment and rehab, ankle sprains can lead to long-term problems—notably chronic ankle instability and leg muscle weakness.

• RICE the injured area. The acronym RICE—rest, ice, compression, and elevation—is the key to treatment. These steps reduce swelling, slow internal bleeding, and reduce pain. With most injuries, swelling starts immediately; to reduce it, apply ice right away to the injured area. Wrap an elastic bandage snugly over the ice and around the injured site. Leave the ice and bandage in place for 20 minutes, then remove the ice, rewrap the injury, and elevate the injured part above the heart to help drain excess fluid from the damaged part. Depending on the severity of your injury, continue with the ice therapy every two hours for up to 24 hours to 48 hours. Keep the muscle or joint elevated as much as possible until the swelling subsides.
• Take OTC pain relievers. Nonprescription NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen) will alleviate minor pain symptoms, though they won’t promote healing.
• Keep the injured muscle or joint compressed. It should remain in an elastic bandage or elastic sleeve except when bathing.
• Start gentle exercise. Once pain and swelling have stopped, you can begin gentle stretching exercises to restore flexibility. Gradually add strengthening exercises to strengthen muscles and connective tissues around the affected joint. In the case of muscle strains, eccentric exercises—in which the muscle lengthens when contracting—may be recommended. Speak with your physician, who may refer you to a physical therapist who can recommend specific exercises.

How to prevent strains and sprains

• Exercise regularly. Participate in regular, moderate exercise to keep your muscles and joints strong and flexible. Stretch your muscles after exercise. Also include several weekly strength-training sessions focusing on your major muscle groups. Strong muscles are an injury safeguard.
• Warm up sufficiently. All the muscles needed for your future action should first be warmed up. Blood flow and body temperature are increased during exercises like stationary cycling for 5 to 10 minutes or place-based jogging. You can warm up by practising the sport or exercise you’re going to do gradually. The typical sign that you’ve warmed up enough is a light perspiration.
• Consider taping or wrapping a weak joint. Good taping can add stability to an injured joint or muscle and make it less likely to be reinjured.

When to call your doctor

Contact your physician if you are in great pain or if the injured area becomes severely swollen and/or badly discolored. Also contact your doctor if pain or swelling persists or increases more than two or three days after the injury despite your self-care measures.

What your doctor will do

A careful assessment will be done for a mild to severe muscle tear. The physician will feel the injured site and compare it with the uninjured side to determine the degree of damage. The course of treatment will depend on how serious the injury is.

Also Read: Shin Splints: Causes and Treatments

For a moderate to severe sprain, an x-ray of the injured area may be taken to rule out a broken bone. A cast may be applied to a severely sprained joint; surgery may also be recommended, though this is rare.

In less severe cases pain medication may be prescribed and crutches or a sling may be recommended until the injury heals. After the pain has subsided, your physician or a physical therapist can help develop an appropriate program of exercise to regain mobility and strength and prevent reinjury.