How Long Should Wounds Heal?

Posted by Editor in Health and Wellness on Apr 24th, 2018 | Comments Off

You might wonder what goes on in the healing process and if there is a normal timeline for healing of different kinds of wounds. How long your wounds take to heal can tell you a lot of things about your body, so you need to understand the healing stages to make recovery faster.

Wound Healing Stages
There are three major types of open and closed wounds. Open wounds create an opening that will expose the tissues, while the closed wounds cause damages in the underlying tissue without the exposure to the outside environment. Wounds heal differently if it’s penetrating or non-penetrating, clean or contaminated, and internal or external.

Non-penetrating wounds include abrasions, lacerations, contusions, and concussions. Penetrating wounds are stab wounds, skin cuts, surgical wounds and gunshot wounds. Other wounds are classified as miscellaneous such as thermal wounds, chemical wounds, electrical wounds, and bites and stings.

So how do these wounds heal? Most doctors divide the healing stages into three; inflammatory, proliferation and maturation, but the four stages below are easier to understand.

Bleeding. Puncture wounds will usually bleed at first, so wait for the bleeding to stop because your body will form clots and this in turn will become a scab. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes even when pressure is applied, you should seek medical help immediately because your body might be unable to form clots.

Swelling. If your wound looks red and swollen, it’s natural because your blood vessels have expanded to allow more blood to flow to the injured area. The clear fluid that comes out of the wound is a natural defense system of the body to get rid of infection. This stage normally lasts for 2 to 5 days. If it’s still swollen for more than a week, you need to have it checked by a doctor to determine if it’s infected. Look out for excessive pain and redness, black edges (could be dead tissue), foul odor, and thick discharges of clear, green or yellow fluids on the wound.

Tissue Regrowth. After five days, the body will initiate tissue regrowth to repair any damages to the tissues and blood vessels. Tissue regrowth should be complete within three weeks for small wounds and you will notice that the wound will appear smaller over time. For deeper wounds, they should heal or begin to show signs of healing within 30 days.

Scar Formation. In some cases, scar formation can take up to 2 years depending on the type of wound. Scarring will begin once the area feels itchy and the scab falls off. Don’t worry about having permanent scars, because some will disappear over time if they’re from a small wound. There are people, however, who are prone to scarring and will have keloids or thick scars.

If your wounds have not healed or are not healing properly, you will need to see a doctor to determine if you have an infection or you were not diagnosed with diabetes. Other factors that will slow down the healing process include obesity, stress, alcohol abuse, and smoking.

What are Some Health Benefits of Milk Tea?

Posted by Editor in Health Watch on Mar 16th, 2018 | Comments Off

A combination of milk and tea drastically heightens the benefits you may reap off drinking milk tea, when consumed in a moderate amount, that is. There are different health benefits to both drinks respectively. They are already considered to be sufficiently beneficial when consumed as is, but when these two beverages are combined, what health benefits are you bound to enjoy in the long run?

Refreshes the body
Caffeine is habitually consumed by a lot of people who are always on-the-go to provide them with the energy they need to get work done. And thanks to the tea in the drink, milk tea gives you an ample amount of caffeine compounds you can use to refresh your body. There is also the presence of L-theanine in black tea, one of the most common base for milk tea, which proves to be a very effective mood booster.

Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidants found in tea can provide a number of health benefits to the body. For one, it prevents the damage of cells in the body and prevents your body from aging drastically. It can also detoxify your body of the harmful toxins you need to get rid of, such as cell-damaging chemicals lurking inside your system. The antioxidants in the tea compound of milk tea truly does wonders to your body!

Relieves stress
Drinking milk (as it is) is already a popular course of action when it comes to relieving one’s stress. As a matter of fact, it is widely believed that drinking a glass of milk before going to bed can release the accumulated stress you have and allow your body to relax after a long day’s work. In a world where it is inevitable for us to be stressful over a lot of things, drinking milk tea can be a good option for a stress release!

Skincare
Milk and tea combined can be beneficial to the improvement of your skin condition. Both are common ingredients in skincare products such as foam cleansers and lotions. How much more effective can they be if drank in their bare form? For one, milk is believed to be effective in keeping one’s skin bright and smooth. The antioxidants in tea also protects your skin from possible acne breakouts and other skin-related problems.

Strengthens our body
Since we were young, we’ve been told how the calcium in milk is essential for strong bones and healthy growth. This makes the milk compound in the drink beneficial — since it gives the body the strength it needs! The calcium empowers us to do more physical activities without the fear of abusing our bones. If they are in their prime condition, strong bones can help us achieve great things when it comes to activities such as sports.

Should you Avoid Drinking Milk Tea?

Posted by Editor in Health and Wellness on Mar 16th, 2018 | Comments Off

Milk tea is popularly enjoyed all over the world. Most prevalent in Asian countries, this drink can be relished anytime of the day — making it a perfect companion alongside your breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals. The sweet drink allows your body to relax, helps you achieve a good night sleep, and releases the accumulated stress you have after a long day.

However, there can be a downside to drinking milk tea. There are certain people who are notably better off not consuming the drink, and there are also general disadvantages when it comes to drinking milk tea regularly. This doesn’t mean milk tea is downright bad, but rather, it should be taken in moderation.

People who must avoid too much milk tea
Those are anemic are not recommended to consume a lot of milk tea. The drink may potentially trigger low blood flow, putting your health situation at risk.

Regular consumption of milk tea is also not recommended for people diagnosed with diabetes and gallbladder problems. The drink doesn’t help your situation, and if anything, it may only worsen it further.

While milk tea has some relaxing and soothing effects shortly after drinking, it isn’t advisable to consume for some cases — such as with pregnant women. A number of pregnant women who regularly consumed milk tea over the course of their pregnancy were found out to cause some effects to the growing baby.

People who are suffering from prostate diseases, like having an enlarged prostate in particular, are not recommended to consume milk tea daily. The drink may potentially cause the prostate disease to worsen and accelerate further in its later stages, putting yourself on the line.

Other disadvantages
While milk tea can bring more harm than good to certain people (especially to those with the cases presented above), there are disadvantages attached to the sweet drink in general. These disadvantages may burden just about anyone who likes to consume the drink on a regular basis.

Milk tea is notorious for drastically increasing one’s weight. While this can be a good thing among people who are trying to gain weight, this can be more of a hassle to those who are trying to shed off some pounds for the summer. Unwanted weight gain can be stressful, after all.

The drink does not only contains generous amount of fat, but it may also hurt the body’s iron levels. Combining milk and tea can inhibit iron absorption. The drink contains a polyphenol called tannins, which is known to be a hindrance in iron absorption.

Milk tea may also trigger a type of anemia since it causes a low blood flow. Furthermore, because of some iron deficient-factors in the drink, it may also trigger another common type of anemia: the iron-deficiency anemia.

Can an Expectant Mother Go Vegan?

Posted by Editor in Health and Wellness on Feb 13th, 2018 | Comments Off

You’ve probably read countless articles on the advantages and disadvantages of going vegan despite the variety of food available for everyone today. While there are undeniably some benefits of choosing such a lifestyle, there are also a lot of valid objections to its repercussions on a person’s health.

One of the most controversial issues is maintaining that lifestyle when you are expecting a child.

Varied Opinions
Unfortunately, the answer could be different for each woman, because not only will the amount of vitamins and minerals have to be monitored, the availability, price, and palatability of food should also be taken into consideration. A pregnant woman should never be forced to eat something she doesn’t like; however, an alternative healthy source should be substituted especially if it’s essential to the diet. Some mothers claim that they have had healthy pregnancies as vegans, while other testimonies reveal that some had to rely on supplements for nutrients not readily found in fruits and vegetables.

Prenatal Vitamins and Minerals
So, how do you decide if you can survive with a vegan diet while pregnant? Although there are anecdotal evidences to successful vegan pregnancies, you need to take into consideration your health, your budget, and the availability of healthy food. To know how much you and your baby will need for the next 9 months, you should keep in mind the recommended amounts for vitamins and minerals.

• Protein = 71 g
• Iron = 27 mg
• Calcium = between 1,000 to 1,300 mg
• Vitamin A and Beta Carotene = between 700 to 1,000 mcg
• Vitamin D = between 600 to 4,000 IU
• Vitamin E = between 15 to 1,000 mg
• Vitamin C = between 80 to 2,000 mg
• Vitamin B12 = 2.6 mcg
• Folic Acid or Folate = between 400 to 1,000 mcg
• Zinc = between 11 to 13 mg
• Thiamin or B1 = 1.4 mg
• Riboflavin or B2 = 1.4 mg
• Niacin or B3 = between 18 to 35 mg
• Pyridoxine or B6 = between 1.9 to 100 mg

Vegan Diet
Simply put, this diet is limited, which is why most vegans use supplements and accompaniments to get all the nutrients. Typically, a vegan mother’s diet consists of the following: green peas, quinoa, buckwheat, oatmeal, pinto beans, chickpeas, whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread and cereals, soy milk, tofu, nuts, and miso. To get calcium, eat green leafy vegetables and orange juice, while iron sources can be found in beans, soy products, barley, bulgur, pumpkin seeds, dried fruits, spinach, kale, collard greens, and seaweed. Other vitamins can be found in fortified cereals, fortified meat substitutes, and fortified soy milk.

Non-Vegan Diet
If you decide to set aside your vegan diet, your meals will have more variety. Vitamins and minerals can be found in milk, eggs, cheese and most dairy products, high-protein food, liver, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes, fatty fish, nuts, spinach, wheat germ, green beans, strawberries, broccoli, whole grains, organ meats, pasta, rice, berries, legumes, pork, chicken, beef and most red meats, bread, bananas, cantaloupe, shellfish, oysters, cauliflower, cereals, canned fish with bones, fruit juices, dried beans, dried fruits, and other fruits and vegetables.

Avoiding Weight Gain on Holidays

Posted by Editor in Fitness on Feb 13th, 2018 | Comments Off

The holidays are the most exciting time of the year for most of us who spend our time at work. It’s the right time to get together with friends and family to party, eat, drink, and catch up with conversations. It’s also the most stressful time for people who are trying to keep their weight manageable, because holidays are the perfect excuse to eat.

What can you do to avoid gaining weight during the holidays?

Don’t Skip Your Fitness Routine
If a gym membership is a hassle for you, motivate yourself to spend between ten to twenty minutes daily to do exercises, especially in the morning just before breakfast. Although that’s not going to make a lot of difference when it comes to burning those fats, at least you’re on the right track to keeping yourself fit because you’ll notice the differences in how heavy your body is whenever you move.

Try Different Activities
Partying isn’t the only event that’s common during the holidays, but it’s also the perfect time to participate in office or family activities, such as; teambuilding, recreation, holiday programs, and reunions. It’s also a great time to catch up on your cleaning duties at home or to travel and check out places in Singapore that are ready for the holidays. Ask your friends to go on hiking or biking or schedule a sports tournament with your co-workers during the weekends instead of going to the club.

Avoid Unnecessary Snacks
Food is plenty during the holidays, making it easy to grab the nearest snacks you can find even if you’re not hungry. If you do feel hungry in between meals, stick to healthier snacks, such as fruits, seeds, and nuts instead of the cookies, candies, cakes, and pastries. Don’t eat large portions either even if you’re trying to justify your eating habits by not wanting the excess food to spoil. Limit your food to smaller portions, after all, there are portion size recommendations on the food labels for that purpose.

Do Not Skip Meals
Start each day right by eating a full, healthy breakfast, because skipping meals can lead to binging as you, whether consciously or not, compensate for your hunger. High-protein meals such as beans, roasted chicken, and lentils, for example, can make you feel full for hours, making it easy to avoid having small snacks. For snacks in between meals, stick to high-fiber food such as vegetables, so you don’t keep coming back to the table for an extra serving.

Use Strategies to Trick Your Mind
Chew slowly to avoid consuming more food than you can burn, because you’re giving your mind time to assume that your tummy is full. When dining with your family at home, make sure to serve the food restaurant-style using serving plates instead of placing the entire meal course on the table. Then use smaller plates for dining to trick your mind that you require only small portions of the food; and thin, tall glasses to serve alcoholic drinks, so you don’t end up getting drunk.

Insider Things to Know About Hiring a Plumbing Contractor

Posted by Editor in Home Improvement on Feb 1st, 2018 | Comments Off

There are certain types of home repair and maintenance work that an average homeowner can perform. When it comes to the plumbing system, however, it’s an entirely different story. Doing even the smallest mistake in your DIY plumbing repair could end up in a disaster. This is why it’s crucial that you call in a professional when something awry is happening with your plumbing system. But before you proceed on contacting the nearest plumbing contractor in your area, be sure to know the following information that your prospective plumber might not want you to know.

1. Getting a Recommendation is the Best Way to Go

There are several ways on how you can look for a reliable plumber like http://www.superplumbers.sg in Singapore, and perhaps the easiest way to find one is through knowing someone who is informed about the best person in the field. So rather than combing through the lists of plumbers found in the internet, contact a plumbing supply or a home repair store in your area to get an idea as to which plumbing companies in your area offers the best services.

2. Every Plumber Should be Licensed and Insured

Although it’s considered as a requirement by some, some plumbing contractors in Singapore are not licensed and insured. This is the reason why it’s crucial for you to ensure that the plumber you are planning to hire is licensed, since the license certifies that the individual is following the standard building codes and regulations in your region. Aside from that, the licenses and other certifications also verify that the contactor provided by the company has undergone all the necessary training and tests before being allowed to perform an actual plumbing system repair.

3. Certain Plumbing Issues Can Be Prevented

While some plumbing contractors provide preventive and maintenance care tips for your plumbing system, there are also others who will not inform you that your current issue is something that can be prevented. In most situations, you will need the help of a professional plumber, but there are also certain plumbing issues that you can avoid by just performing some preventive care.

Instead of immediately calling for the plumbing services of a plumber, try looking up your plumbing issue on the internet and see if you can perform any preventive measures to keep the issue from worsening or recurring later on. Not only will you be able to learn something about your plumbing system, you will also be able to avoid the costs of hiring a plumbing contractor.

4. An Assistant Plumber Will Work on the Job

Whenever a plumbing contractor books a job, it is always his intention to do the work himself. However, most plumbers get more repair jobs than they can actually handle, causing them to dole out some of their jobs to their assistant or apprentice.
While you may think that the contractor should prioritize your plumbing needs, if he is overbooked, he will likely prioritize his work based on how complicated each repair job is. This means he will likely send his assistant or apprentice to provide plumbing services to clients who only need some minor repairs.

5. You Get to Choose the Materials to be Used

The plumber usually has the say on the kinds of plumbing parts that will be used on the job. In some instances, he might prefer using a low quality version of a particular material, such as using a PVC pipe instead of copper. Sure, this might be a more cost-effective option, but it might not be the best choice when talking about the lifespan of a material. So if you prefer using high quality materials, but does not want to pay a pricey bill, consider discussing the ordering process of these materials with your contractor.

It’s similar as dealing with an automobile parts and automobile mechanic. Although purchasing cheaper parts will make the repair job easier and will be more profitable for the plumber, keep in mind that your own interest is what matters the most.

6. Paying Professional Repair Job Cuts Down Your Costs

Equipped with a hands-on experience and all the necessary certifications, a professional and reliable plumber knows very well what they are up against. To ensure that your plumbing problems are taken care of by professionals, call http://www.superplumbers.sg/contact-us/ from Singapore. Paying for professional work is far more worth it than paying for an unsure job executed by an unlicensed worker.

7. You Will Clean Up the Remaining Mess

One problem with most plumbing works is that a demolition work needs to be done first to get the repair job started. Unless you’ve had a conversation with your plumbing contractor as to who will be responsible for cleaning the mess, you will likely end up doing the clean-up yourself.

Keep in mind that a contractor’s job is to give plumbing services, and not rebuild any wall that he took down to do his job. So make sure that you initiate this conversation with your service provider beforehand so you can hire additional workers to handle all the clean-ups once the plumbing work is done.

While there is a good number of regular and 24 hours plumber whose plumbing services you can trust, knowing and keeping these things in mind is one way of educating yourself about the basics of plumbing, as well as keeping yourself protected from the fraudulent plumbing contractors.

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