3 signs to know if you are really fat or just bloated

Look out for these signs!

For most people, belly fat is the first sign of weight gain. If they see even the slightest change around their abdomen, they consider it as a sure shot sign of added kilos. No wonder then a large majority of people are conscious of their mid section. However, sometimes swollen belly can be due to bloating and not fat accumulation.

Stomach bloating happens when your belly grows in size with fluid or gas. This can make you feel uncomfortable and super full all the time. Here are 3 signs that can easily tell if you have really gained weight or are just bloated.

If your stomach size keeps changing
  Do you feel big particularly after having your meal or on fixed dates like when you are menstruating? If yes, then it might not be weight gain, you are just bloated. If you have really gained weight, your belly will stay enlarged all the time. Your belly can swell when you are bleeding or when you have not pooped or even after consuming too much salt. 

If only your stomach is bulgy

The first thing to determine if you have gained weight is to examine your belly visually. Can you see bulges in other parts of the body or is it only around the middle portion of the body? If it is widespread then you should start exercising to lose weight. But if it is localised then you are just gassy and you need to take appropriate measures for some relief.

If your stomach is hard

 The next is the pressure test. Gently press your stomach specifically around the swollen area. If your abdomen feels hard and tight, it means you are bloated. Generally, our stomach is soft and spongy and it remains the same even after gaining weight. If you can easily gasp an inch of your stomach, it can be due to excess of fat. 

Tips to deal with bloated stomach

Stay hydrated: Dehydration is one of the common reasons why you feel bloated all the time. Lack of sufficient amount of water in the body leads to constipation, which makes you feel uncomfortable.
Consume less salt and carbs: Excess of salt intake causes water retention in the body. Even some carbs can make you feel stuffed.
Exercise regularly: You should not only eat correctly but exercise every day to stay healthy and fit. Staying physically active is important to lose weight and easy bowel movement.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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A new phone app detects ear infections in children

Researchers have created a new smartphone app, which can detect fluid behind the eardrum by using a piece of paper, the phone's microphone and a speaker.

According to the study, infection in ear occurs when fluid builds up in the middle ear behind the eardrum.

This build-up is also common in another condition called otitis media with effusion. Any kind of fluid build-up can be painful and make it hard for children to hear, which can be especially detrimental when they are learning to talk.

These conditions are hard to diagnose because they have vague symptoms. Sometimes children tug on their ears or have fevers, and sometimes there are no symptoms. In addition, young children may not be able to describe where are they feeling hurt.

Now, with the invention of new Smartphone app parents can detect fluid behind the eardrum.
The Smartphone makes a series of soft audible chirps into the ear through a small paper funnel and, depending on the way the chirps are reflected back to the phone, the app determines the likelihood of fluid present with a probability of detection of 85 per cent.

This is on par with current methods used by specialists to detect fluid in the middle ear, which involve specialized tools that use acoustics or a puff of air.

"Designing an accurate screening tool on something as ubiquitous as a Smartphone can be game-changing for parents as well as health care providers in resource-limited regions. A key advantage of our technology is that it does not require any additional hardware other than a piece of paper and a software app running on the smartphone," said co-author of the study.

Once diagnosed, ear infections can be easily treated with observation or antibiotics, and persistent fluid can be monitored or drained by a doctor to relieve symptoms of pain or hearing loss. A quick screening at home could help parents decide whether or not they need to take their child to the doctor.

This app works by sending sounds into the ear and measuring how those sound waves change as they bounce off the eardrum.

"It's like tapping a wine glass. Depending on how much liquid is in it, you get different sounds. Using machine learning on these sounds, we can detect the presence of liquid, "said co-first author.

Because the researchers want parents to be able to use this technology at home, the team trained parents on how to use the system on their own children. Parents and doctors folded paper funnels, tested 25 ears and compared the results. Both parents and doctors successfully detected the six fluid-filled ears.

The team also tested the algorithm on a variety of smartphones and used different types of paper to make the funnel. The results were consistent regardless of phone or paper type.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

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Hydrocelectomy: All you need to know

Hydrocelectomy is a kind of surgery used to remove fluid-filled sacs called hydroceles. These form in the scrotum, the muscular pouch of skin that holds and protects the testicles.

 

A hydrocele forms when fluid from the abdomen flows into the scrotum. A hydrocele causes swelling but is usually not painful. Some people describe it as feeling a little like a water balloon.

Roughly 1 out of every 10 boys is born with a hydrocele, according to the doctors. 

Studies indicate that the condition resolves itself by the time the majority of these boys are 2 years old.

Fast facts on hydroceles Here are some key points about hydroceles. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.
Hydroceles can also develop in adult males, often following an injury that causes swelling.
A physical exam is the first step in diagnosing a hydrocele.
Hydrocelectomy is usually considered minor surgery and performed on an outpatient basis.
Without a hydrocelectomy or other forms of treatment, hydroceles may continue to swell, though most resolve on their own.
In children, a hydrocele is treated mainly to prevent a hernia from developing.

What are hydroceles?

Hydroceles are sacs of fluid that form around the testes. Hydrocelectomy is a surgical procedure to treat them.

Hydroceles can be either communicating or non-communicating.

Communicating hydroceles
In a communicating hydrocele, there is a direct path between the abdomen and the scrotum. Also, an inguinal hernia, where part of the small intestine drops into the scrotum, may be present.

A communicating hydrocele may change its size during a day, growing larger as fluid drains into the scrotum from the abdomen.

Non-communicating hydroceles
In a non-communicating hydrocele, the fluid stays inside the sac but is not absorbed by the body.
Hydrocele of the cord is a particular kind of non-communicating hydrocele, where the condition develops further up in the scrotum. This type of hydrocele may sometimes be confused with an inguinal hernia,cyst, tumour or other problem with the groin area.

Hydroceles in children
For infants with congenital hydroceles, the condition develops between the 28th and 32 weeks of pregnancy, when a muscle in the scrotum opens to let the testes drop.

In some cases, the muscle stays open longer than is needed, doesn't close properly, or opens again, allowing fluid from the belly to flow into the scrotum and form a hydrocele.

Premature birth, cystic fibrosis, and other conditions may increase the likelihood of problems with closure of this muscle.

Hydroceles in adults
In adults, hydroceles affect about 1%  of men over 40 years. Radiation treatment for prostate cancer may increase the risk of developing a hydrocele.

When non-communicating hydroceles develop in adult men, the cause is usually unknown. A hydrocele itself does not cause pain, but men may experience discomfort due to the size and weight of the swollen scrotum.

Even in adults, the condition may disappear on its own in a few months, but if it does not, medical attention is needed and a person should consider having a hydrocelectomy.

Hydrocele diagnosis

Upon examination, a doctor will attempt to feel the condition of the testicle. Ordinarily, this is not possible, due to the surrounding sac of the hydrocele.

Before performing a hydrocelectomy, a doctor may carry out a procedure called transillumination, which involves:
Shining a light through the scrotum, looking for fluid, which would indicate the presence of a hydrocele.
Conducting an ultrasound examination to determine whether the observed swelling is a hydrocele.
Treating the hydrocele with aspiration, using a needle to drain fluid out of the scrotum.

After a positive diagnosis, a doctor may recommend a hydrocelectomy.

What is the procedure for hydrocelectomy?

There are different steps involved in a hydrocelectomy. The procedure used will depend on the type of hydroceles being treated.

The procedure takes place under a general anesthetic. If an infant has a hydrocele that does not go away on its own, surgeons will wait until the child is at least 1 to 2 years old before operating.
The steps involved with a hydrocelectomy depend on whether the hydrocele is communicating or non-communicating: 

Non-communicating hydrocele: Surgeons make an incision in the scrotum, remove the sac, drain the fluid, and close the incision. 

Communicating hydrocele: Treatment is slightly more complicated; doctors make an incision through the groin so that they can treat a hernia, if present, at the same time as removing the hydroceles. Even if there is no hernia, doctors take this approach to prevent a hernia from developing in the future.

Laparoscopic hydrocelectomy

Some surgeons will conduct a hydrocelectomy through laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, inserting a tube equipped with a camera through the abdomen.

In some cases, individuals and their doctors opt for draining the hydroceles, which can be effective. However, this procedure carries a greater risk of the hydroceles returning.

Procedure

A hydrocelectomy requires a general anesthetic, and most people go home a few hours after having the operation. So, it is important to talk to the surgeon about what to expect for themselves or a child during recovery. It is a good idea to find out what, if anything, merits a call to the doctor.

For the first week or so after the procedure, most individuals will experience pain that requires medication. In addition to pain relievers, using an ice pack on the affected area can also help.

Some individuals may need to use special bandages or a drainage tube during their recovery process.
For a few weeks after surgery, swelling may continue. Activity should be limited, depending on the individual's age and the extent of the procedures performed.

Give children sponge baths, rather than a soak in the tub, for around 10 days after a hydrocelectomy.
For about 3 weeks after the procedure, children should not play with rocking horses, ride bicycles and other straddle toys, or take part in sports.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Brushing your teeth can lower heart disease risk

A new study has revealed that taking care of your gums by brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits could keep heart disease at bay.

Researchers  have shown for the first time that as gum health improves, progression of atherosclerosis slows to a clinically significant degree.

Atherosclerosis or the narrowing of arteries through the build-up of plaque is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and death.

"These results are important because atherosclerosis progressed in parallel with both clinical periodontal disease and the bacterial profiles in the gums. This is the most direct evidence yet that modifying the periodontal bacterial profile could play a role in preventing or slowing both diseases,"  lead author of the paper  said.

The researchers followed 420 adults and randomly sampled prospective cohort of residents. Participants were examined for periodontal infection.

Overall, 5,008 plaque samples were taken from several teeth, beneath the gum, and analyzed for 11 bacterial strains linked to periodontal disease and seven control bacteria.

Fluid around the gums was sampled to assess levels of Interleukin-1a, a marker of inflammation. Atherosclerosis in both carotid arteries was measured using high-resolution ultrasound.

Over a median follow-up period of three years, the researchers found that improvement in periodontal health—health of the gums—and a reduction in the proportion of specific bacteria linked to periodontal disease correlated to a slower intima-medial thickness (IMT) progression, and worsening periodontal infections paralleled the progression of IMT.

Results were adjusted for potential confounders such as body mass index, cholesterol levels,diabetes, and smoking status.

There was a 0.1 mm difference in IMT change over three years among study participants whose periodontal health was deteriorating compared with those whose periodontal health was improving.

Previous research has shown that a .033 mm/year increase in carotid IMT (equivalent to approximately 0.1 mm over three years) is associated with a 2.3-fold increased risk for coronary events.

"When it comes to atherosclerosis, a tenth of a millimetre in the thickness of the carotid artery is a big deal. Based on prior research, it appears to meet the threshold of clinical significance," a co-author of the study said.

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'Brain training' boosts working memory, but not intelligence

Brain training games, apps and websites may strengthen your ability to hold information in mind, but they do not benefit the kind of intelligence that helps you reason and solve problems, according to a new study.

"It is hard to spend any time on the web and not see an ad for a website that promises to train your brain, fix your attention, and increase your IQ," said psychological scientist and lead researcher.
   

"These claims are particularly attractive to parents of children who are struggling in school," he said.
   

According to him, the claims are based on evidence that shows a strong correlation between working memory capacity (WMC) and general fluid intelligence.
   

Working memory capacity refers to our ability to keep information either in mind or quickly retrievable, particularly in the presence of distraction.
   

General fluid intelligence is the ability to infer relationships, do complex reasoning, and solve novel problems.
   

The correlation between WMC and fluid intelligence has led some to surmise that increasing WMC should lead to an increase in both fluid intelligence, but "this assumes that the two constructs are the same thing, or that WMC is the basis for fluid intelligence," he noted.
   

The team asked 55 undergraduate students to complete 20 days of training on certain cognitive tasks. The students were paid extra for improving their performance each day to ensure that they were engaged in the training.
   

Students in the two experimental conditions trained on either complex span tasks, which have been consistently shown to be good measures of WMC, or simple span tasks.
   

With the simple span tasks, the students were asked to recall items in the order they were presented; for complex span tasks, the students had to remember items while performing another task in between item presentations.
   

A control group trained on a visual search task that, like the other tasks, became progressively harder each day.
   

The results showed that only students who trained on complex span tasks showed transfer to other WMC tasks. None of the groups showed any training benefit on measures of fluid intelligence.
   

"For over 100 years, psychologists have argued that general memory ability cannot be improved, that there is little or no generalisation of 'trained' tasks to 'untrained' tasks," said the lead author of the paper.
   

"So we were surprised to see evidence that new and untrained measures of working memory capacity may be improved with training on complex span tasks," he said.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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