The government provides Medicare and health insurance for older individuals over 65 or those with disabilities or life-long diseases like kidney failure. Medicare can pay for one’s treatments and take off some of the financial burden during emergencies. Medicare Advantage plans act as an add-on service approved by Medicare but provided by private health insurance companies. These provided all the benefits of Medicare plus added benefits that the federal government doesn’t cover. What is a medicare advantage plan? Medicare has different types of plans. The most common ones are Original Medicare, Part A, and Part B. Part A is also called hospital insurance. As the term suggests, it covers all inpatient service costs, home care services, and nursing expenses of the patients when admitted to the hospital. Part B is medical insurance and covers medical supply expenses, routine doctor visits, outpatient care, and preventive services. One can also sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). Apart from providing all the benefits of the previous two plans, Part C provides added coverage like vision, hearing, dental, and health and wellness programs. These plans are also referred to as “MA Plans,” and private companies approved by Medicare offer them to customers.

Nutrition plays a crucial in maintaining brain health and function. A healthy meal plan is believed to contribute to the prevention of cognitive decline, including conditions like dementia—a term for issues like the loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. Even when diagnosed with dementia, the right nutritional regimen can help in managing the condition, maintaining overall health, and minimizing the impact of the condition’s symptoms on daily life. Foods to consider 1. Leafy greens Leafy green vegetables like Swiss Chard, spinach, collard greens, and kale are rich in B9 and folate, which can boost cognition and mood. One can add these veggies to daily meal plans by making veggie salads, adding the greens to chilis, stews, and soups, and pureeing them and adding to hummus, pesto, and sauces. 2. Legumes Foods like peanuts, beans, and pulses contain protein, iron, and fiber, which can help improve insulin sensitivity, glucose regulation, and cognitive function. The nutrients can also help prevent blocked arteries that trigger strokes or increase blood pressure. One can cook legumes and add them to daily meals. 3. Berries Blackberries, blueberries, cherries, and raspberries are rich in fiber and antioxidants, which can help with digestion and reduce inflammation, respectively.

Adding certain foods to one’s daily meal regime can help one stay healthy. On the contrary, some foods may worsen one’s health. Further, the choice of foods in one’s meal is particularly crucial if one has multiple sclerosis. Poor food choices may trigger inflammatory changes that aggravate the condition. In addition, certain foods may result in worsening multiple sclerosis symptoms, such as bladder and bowel function, cognitive changes, and fatigue. Damage to the myelin sheath triggers this autoimmune disease’s symptoms. This sheath sends signals between the spinal cord and brain to other body parts. A faulty sheath can cause the nervous system to misfire messages. So, following a nutritious meal plan can be useful when one has multiple sclerosis. Ideally, low-fat, fiber-rich, heart-healthy meals can be beneficial. It is important to learn about the different types of foods to avoid with multiple sclerosis. Saturated fats Full-fat dairy Palm oil Coconut oil Why avoid them? Saturated fats cause inflammation and also also increase the probability of conditions, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases that make multiple sclerosis more challenging. In addition to this, it can also cause high cholesterol that can result in atherosclerosis, which can put one at risk of stroke and heart attack.

Tree pollen is a common trigger for allergies when plants start flowering around springtime. In some regions, trees may release pollen at the beginning of January and continue until June. Often, trees yield dry, light pollen carried for miles by the wind. Some think tree pollen will not affect them because they reside in a city, which is untrue. Tree pollen allergy can affect anyone because the fine particles travel quickly through the air. Symptoms of tree pollen allergy Pollen allergies from trees or plants can cause symptoms that resemble hay fever or allergic rhinitis. When the body comes in contact with pollen, it overreacts and soon releases a chemical histamine to shield against the allergen. This excess histamine release may trigger the following symptoms: – Itchy throat – Sneezing – Coughing – Runny nose – Itchy eyes – Watery eyes – Itchy nose – Itchiness on or at the mouth’s roof – Nasal congestion – Postnasal drip – Feeling irritated – Tiredness – Swelling around the eyes – Disturbed sleep Asthma can aggravate tree pollen symptoms. Sometimes, one may be confused between the two because their signs are almost the same. If a symptom appears in the first few months of the year, it is probably induced by a tree pollen.

A dental hygiene routine is incomplete without using toothpaste. While it seems quite easy to use toothpaste, many people commit a few mistakes that can put their dental health at risk. These mistakes involve not checking the label of ingredients, using too much whitening toothpaste, etc. Toothpaste generally contains several compounds and chemicals that might harm the teeth and overall health. So, one must watch out for these harmful ingredients for better dental hygiene. 1. Not paying attention to the ingredients Every brand has a different list of ingredients that they use to make their range of toothpaste. Some of these ingredients might not be suitable for every person. For example, certain toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which usually helps to build up the soapy foam consistency. For some people, this ingredient may trigger irritation. Besides this, many toothpastes contain fluoride. Some percentage of this compound is considered essential in toothpaste for the prevention of cavities. However, some people may have fluoride sensitivity, which can trigger allergies or other symptoms if they use fluoride-based toothpaste. So, in such cases, fluoride-free options are more suitable. This is why it is important to always check the label for the ingredients and know whether all of these are safe for use.

Exercising has a lot of benefits, some we are already aware of, some most of us overlook. Either way, its importance in our lives is not a secret. Why, then, do we choose to scroll through our phones or mindlessly jump between shows instead of using that time to build a healthier mind and body? Regular exercise not only helps you build muscles, it also helps you build resistance to various issues, such as migraines. So, here are seven exercises to sweat the migraine attack away. Stretching Stretching for as little as 10 minutes daily can significantly improve your headache. Migraines can be a pain to deal with, and exercising might be the last thing you want to do when in pain. When you don’t want to take time and exercise, try some simple stretches to help relieve your migraine. It will help improve blood circulation and, in turn, ease the tension. Some simple and effective stretches include: Chin tucks This is most effective in people that work at a desk and have poor posture as their constant companion. Chin tucks help realign the neck, head, and shoulders, improving your posture. Sit with your back against the back of the chair or the wall with your spine long while performing this exercise.

The lungs are one of the most vital organs in the human body. Thus, they must remain in good shape to live a healthy life. However, many foods can unknowingly cause them harm and worsen breathing difficulties, whereas adding the proper nutrients to the food regime can help one breathe easier and minimize symptoms of conditions like asthma and COPD. Here are some of the worst foods for lung health that may worsen breathing difficulties: Processed meat Processed meats such as bacon, ham, hot dogs, sausages, and other lunch meats are often treated with additives and preservatives to add flavor and extend their shelf life. This can harm lung health and function. According to certain research, processed meats have been linked with an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which may cause breathing difficulties. Additionally, processed meats also contain sodium nitrite, a known carcinogen that can increase one’s susceptibility to lung cancer. Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are used in most households to cook food. However, certain oils, such as canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, and safflower oil, can be dangerous for the lungs. This is because they contain unhealthy fats that can lead to heart disease, increased inflammation, and excessive mucus production, which may impact one’s breathing.

Esophageal cancer affects the esophagus. It is the long tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. In this tube, cancerous cells grow for various reasons leading to tumors. As the tumor grows, esophageal cancer signs start to become evident. As soon as the symptoms show up, it is recommended to start treatment to prevent the cancer cells from metastasis. Here are a few esophageal cancer signs, causes, and treatments to make note of. Esophageal cancer signs Starting in the inner layers of the esophagus, the cancer cells grow outward, spreading to the esophageal wall. In the early stages, no symptoms are noticeable or detectable. However, as the cancer cells grow to the lymph nodes, the blood vessels in the chest, and other organs, some of these esophageal cancer signs start to manifest. Chest pain This is one of the most common symptoms of esophageal cancer. A person will start to feel pain, specifically in the middle area of the chest. The pain is similar to feeling pressure build up in the chest or like a burning sensation. After some time, the pain radiates to other areas, such as below the throat, between the shoulders, and behind the breastbone.