Have you experienced your heart racing faster as a response to a stressful situation? Did your palms ever get clammy when confronted with an overwhelming event or task? These are all typical symptoms of anxiety. It is your body’s natural response to stress and gets triggered by an event, a memory, or by a multitude of things in general. It is essential to identify your triggers and seek ways to cope with or manage anxiety. 11 tried and tested ways to manage anxiety Practice deep breathing Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to the brain and helps calm the system down. So, if you feel yourself becoming tense, inhale and exhale multiple times, and you will feel relaxed. It is an excellent activity to slow down and recenter your mind. Write down your thoughts Maintaining a journal to regularly jot your thoughts on paper or in the notes app can help you process your emotions. It also paradoxically eases anxiety. When you dump the thoughts hovering in your head on the paper, you can string them apart and try and get a new perspective. It is known as cognitive defusion, wherein you develop an observer or witness perspective for your thoughts. From the mindfulness perspective, it is decentering, a skill vital for change. It also helps better your meta-cognition skills, which helps with cognitive flexibility, quintessential for mental fitness. Repeat it till you overcome it Do you have a fear of going on the stage? You may be able to get rid of it if you continually push yourself. So, go on the stage repeatedly and perform. Of course, you will be very anxious at first, but over time it will reduce and stop bothering you eventually. So, take the troublesome route and do it over and over again.

Dental implants are becoming increasingly popular among those looking to replace missing teeth. These implants are strong and durable and look just like natural teeth. Moreover, the procedure is simple. If you, too, are considering dental implants, it is essential to know all the facts before making an appointment with the dentist. This article discusses a few essential things you need to know about implants, from their types to the benefits they offer. What are dental implants? These are artificial teeth recommended for those with missing or damaged original teeth. The implants are affixed by dentists using a few tools. The look-alikes are made using biocompatible materials, such as titanium or zirconia, which blend with the bone over time. Dental implants are a long-term solution for replacing teeth. They are often considered the best option for people who cannot restore their teeth function using traditional methods, such as dentures or bridges. However, implants may need to be replaced if they wear down or are moved out of position due to chewing or dental issues. What are the steps involved in affixing dental implants? When considering dental implants, it is essential to understand the steps involved in the process. Dental surgery is complex and delicate and requires careful planning and execution. Here are the steps to be followed: Evaluation During this stage, your dentist will evaluate your teeth and determine which type of implant best suits you. This includes taking X-rays and performing a physical examination. Teeth extraction If necessary, the doctor will remove all your teeth before beginning the implant process. This is necessary to ensure no debris or other objects get in the way of implant placement. Grating After your teeth have been extracted, the dentist will use a special grater to create tiny grooves in each tooth surface.

Shopping for a mattress is an essential and supremely underrated purchase. Hence, it deserves a fair amount of thought beforehand. You must conduct adequate research and consider multiple factors before shopping for a mattress. A good bed helps you enjoy a good night’s sleep and is also essential for your body’s health in the long run. Read further to learn about factors to consider while buying a bed for your home. Know about the different mattress materials Before shopping for a mattress, you must be well-versed with the prevalent mattress types and their construction. Here are a few popular ones: Memory foam beds contour to your body, resulting in pressure relief. Air mattresses utilize an air pump for inflating the mattress and offering the necessary firmness level. Typically every bedside employs a separate air chamber that accommodates two side sleepers with varying preferences. Innerspring mattresses employ coils that offer solid support and a traditional bounce. Latex mattresses offer better responsiveness and bounce than the innerspring mattress and help you sleep cooler. Hybrid mattresses are an amalgam between the latex or the memory foam layers inside the innerspring mattress; hence they offer an excellent blend of support and softness. Beyond this, you may also find mattresses rated on their firmness level. For example, an old or soft mattress might not be best for people with spine issues. Firmness level The mattresses are classified as firm, medium-firm, medium, or soft. The medium-firm or medium beds are the most popular as they can cater to various needs. So, when deciding the firmness level, you must consider your body type and sleep position. Body type Lightweight sleepers If you have a smaller bed frame, consider opting for a softer mattress, as it will not exert heavy pressure on the bed. But, if the bed is too firm, it will not sink in well to relieve pressure on the joints.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the top causes of vision loss in people aged sixty and older. It is a disease that hampers your sharp, central vision. Central vision is pivotal to helping you see objects clearly and do tasks like driving and reading. AMD impairs your macula, the part of the eye that helps you see fine detail. It is not painful, but it kills the cells in the macula. It starts with blurred vision, but you gradually lose central sight. Seeing crooked lines is one of the initial AMD signs. In this guide, we will discuss everything related to AMD in detail. Types of AMD Dry People with dry AMD have drusen or yellow spots in the macula. Small drusen might not necessarily impair your vision, but as they grow in size and increase in number, they distort and dim your vision, especially as you read. Over time the condition worsens, and the light-sensitive cells in the macula get thinner and die eventually. If it is in the atrophic form, you will experience a blind spot in the center of the vision. Consequently, it worsens, and you lose central sight. Wet Blood vessels grow below the macula. These leak fluid and blood into the retina. So, when your vision is distorted, the straight lines look wavy. It might also lead to blind spots. At times, the blood vessels may bleed, leaving a scar and causing you to lose your central vision forever. Typically, people with age-related macular degeneration have dry AMD. But, sometimes, the dry form might eventually result in wet AMD. Only 1 in 10 people with macular degeneration get wet AMD. When you have macular degeneration, you must see your eye doctor frequently and closely monitor your eyesight. AMD symptoms The AMD symptoms depend on the stage.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition threatening one’s eyesight and general health. In AMD, the macula, the part of the eye that helps produce the most detailed and sharpest vision, starts to break down and thin, resulting in vision loss. It is one of the most prevalent causes of blindness in people aged 60 or older. Though there is no definite cure for AMD, some things can postpone its onset or lower its severity. Being aware of family history Family history and genetics are one of the leading causes of AMD. So, if you have a first-degree relative with AMD, your chances of developing it are also higher. Hence, you must be vigilant and educate yourself on the potential AMD signs, such as the inability to adapt to low light conditions, difficulty identifying faces, and straight lines looking wavy. Knowledge of these symptoms can help you reach out to an ophthalmologist and get timely treatment while AMD is still in an early stage. Getting routine comprehensive medical checkups In the early stages of AMD, you might not experience any symptoms. Hence, routine comprehensive eye exams with an ophthalmologist can help with timely diagnosis and treatment. It holds even for adults 40 or older with no risk factors or signs because this is when you may develop early AMD symptoms or experience changes in vision. After 65, consider increasing the frequency of eye examinations and get one every one to two years, even if you do not have any suggestive symptoms. Taking supplements A study found that supplementation with some micronutrients can lower AMD aggravation from the intermediate to the advanced stage by approximately 25%. In the market, one can find several vitamins sold over the counter claiming to help with AMD or eye-related diseases. If your eye doctor finds yellow spots on the retina in the eye dilation examination, they may prescribe them.

Dental implants are a major surgical procedure. Hence, you must take the necessary post-operative measures to ensure a speedy recovery. One of the first things you will feel after the surgery is hunger, as dental implants demand abstaining from food for six hours since the procedure temporarily impacts your chewing ability. So, you must adhere to selective foods and avoid some, especially for two weeks. Therefore, here’s a list of foods to eat and avoid: Foods to eat Smoothies In the initial days post-surgery, you may be unable to chew your favorite food. So, the next best thing is drinking it as a smoothie. Smoothies are wholesome and tasty meals. You can make them with whatever vegetable or fruits you like, ensuring they have a high nutritional value and are rich in vitamins. Muffins You might be unable to eat the muffins on the first or the second-day post-surgery, but after the initial few days, you can easily enjoy a good muffin. They are easy to chew and are very delicious. Hence, they can be an incredible snack or breakfast option following dental implant surgery. Potatoes They are versatile and soft. You can prepare them in different ways. So, even if you eat the same ingredient, you will not get bored. Moreover, you can enjoy potatoes in various recovery-friendly ways, like in boiled form or mashed. While preparing the potatoes, ensure they are as soft as possible to reduce chewing. Mashed potatoes are an excellent way to meet your protein requirement and taste delicious. If you like, you can cook them in gravy to make it a tasty option. Dairy products Dairy products like yogurt and cheese demand a little chewing, but they can be excellent for oral health. They are a must-have for someone adapting to life with dental implants.