Seasonal flu is quite common, but the symptoms can vary among individuals. What’s more, it’s a contagious illness that can result in complications if not managed properly.

Seek Treatment if Necessary
Although most people will recover from flu after several days, it’s important to seek treatment if you experience any of the following symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, stomach pain, pressure on the chest or stomach, dehydration, vomiting, and inability to hold down fluids. A child with the flu must be sent to the emergency room if you see the following signs: fever, rashes, inability to produce tears, and purplish or bluish tinge to the skin. Children younger than 5 years, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with existing health conditions are at risk of developing complications, that is why they will need attention from a doctor.

Treat Mild Symptoms
The usual flu symptoms include fever, muscle plain, headache, sore throat or cough, and fatigue. These can be managed at home even without getting help from a doctor as long as the symptoms don’t worsen or if the affected person isn’t at risk of developing complications. Rest and drinking enough fluids will help the person feel a lot better, but the other symptoms can be relieved with acetaminophen or cough medicines (however, cough medicine isn’t advisable for children under 4 years). Sometimes the latter will not ease the symptoms, that is why hydration is a better option. Be careful when taking aspirin, however, because it is not advisable for people younger than 19 years.

Steam Baths Can Help Ease Symptoms
To ease congestion and sore throat, fill a tub with hot water and add 1 teaspoon of menthol rub. Then, breathe in the steam from the mixture. You can also have a warm shower to ease some of the aches and pains, but make sure to use a humidifier or a vaporizer to avoid dry air.

Stay at Home
Flu is contagious, that is why you will be advised to stay at home and rest. After all, you wouldn’t be able to complete any task if you have a fever and a headache. The fever is a signal that your body is fighting the virus, but you can manage the aches and pains with over-the-counter medication. Getting enough sleep will help your body fight off the virus, as well as making sure you are hydrated. Fluids not only include water and sports drinks, but soups and fruit juices. It will also help you manage sore throat and cough even without taking cough medicine.

Ask About Antiviral Treatment
If it is necessary to seek help from a doctor, your doctor might mention antiviral treatment if there is a chance of developing complications. Antiviral medication is different from antibiotics and are effective only during the first 48 hours of the onset of the symptoms. Antiviral treatment can also be used to prevent flu infections, but you should ask your doctor about the possible complications.

Diarrhea is nothing to be embarrassed about although there are some of us whose most humiliating stories involved loose bowels.

Causes
There are three known types of diarrhea. Secretory diarrhea includes water in the stool. Osmotic diarrhea happens when the water from the body is absorbed in the stool. Exudative diarrhea has pus or blood in the stool.

Most cases of diarrhea are not life-threatening. If it doesn’t get better after a few days with over-the-counter drugs, diarrhea might be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition.

The most common cause is viral gastroenteritis or stomach flu. A number of viruses including rotavirus and norovirus are the culprits. It can be passed from an infected person to another through food and water. Gastroenteritis can also be bacterial.

There are other causes as well, the most serious of which requires medical attention. If watery stools are accompanied by recurring fever, vomiting, and pain, it needs medical attention.

Prevention
Common diarrhea can be avoided by proper handling of food and water. Contamination can be prevented by practicing good hygiene like washing your hands before and after eating, drinking clean water and making sure the food is cooked and prepared cleanly.

Sometimes it’s tempting to try so many types of food available in Singapore. Always watch what you eat and drink and never try something you’re not sure you can handle especially if you have a sensitive tummy.

Diarrhea in Children
The frequency of bowel movements for every child should not be the only factor you should consider. The same goes for adults. If the child is experiencing pain, gas and sometimes vomiting, it could be diarrhea.

Keep the child hydrated by providing clean drinking water and food rich in potassium like potatoes and bananas. Children less than a year old should be nursed more often than usual. You can ask the pediatrician about using an oral rehydration solution for the infant.

Kids aged one to eleven are usually much easier to feed. Avoid sugary, fatty and salty food. Fruits are a good source of fluids and can easily be digested. Children can sometimes be picky especially if they’re not feeling well. If you think the kid is not getting enough fluids, give him or her an oral rehydration solution. Be careful about giving medication to children, so ask the pediatrician first.

Diarrhea in Adults
Treatment of diarrhea in adults is pretty much the same as treating diarrhea in children. Make sure thatt you don’t get dehydrated. If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, it is usually harder to hold down food and water. You will still need to drink water or an oral rehydrating solution by increasing the amount gradually. Eat small meals consisting of easily digestible food. If the problem worsens, you will need an intravenous fluid to replenish nutrients lost.

Pregnant women should avoid food that can worsen diarrhea. If the stools have blood or mucus or are all liquid, it’s time to call the doctor.

Slimming diets and workouts are so popular these days that it’s almost unforgivable if you still make up excuses to not lose weight. But what about those people who have the opposite problem?

What is Metabolism?
To understand how the body breaks down and stores fat, we should define metabolism. Metabolism has two processes. The catabolic reaction will break down food so that the nutrients can be distributed throughout the body. The anabolic reaction happens when the nutrients are used to build new tissues.

The ability to lose, maintain and gain weight is attributed to the body’s metabolic processes. It is measured by the basal metabolic rate. Metabolism also regulates body heat and energy levels. A person who finds it difficult to lose weight usually has slow metabolism. Those who struggle to gain weight have fast metabolism.

What is Fast Metabolism?
A body with fast metabolism demands more nutrients to keep it functioning. Metabolism can be influenced by diet, trauma or surgery, stress, diseases and genes. Those who have fast metabolism are usually underweight. While this may sound attractive to those who struggle with keeping their weight, it causes health problems too. They are also often called out for not eating enough food and having eating disorders even if they eat five proper meals everyday.

What are the Effects?
The body is burning off energy faster than normal so besides retaining fat in the body, the person will also find it difficult to promote muscle growth. Women will have irregular menstruation because the cycle will be disrupted for lack of nutrients.

There is also a tendency to overeat. Some will rely on fatty food, sugar, fried food and processed food to compensate for their body’s fast metabolism because those are slower to break down. But eating too much of those types of food can lead to other diseases.

What are the Other Causes?
Hard gainers might also be suffering from any one of the following problems: thyroid problems, eating disorders, diabetes, cancer, infections, and Celiac disease.

If you have lost weight significantly in a short span of time, you should seek medical help immediately.

How do I Gain Weight?
Make sure that you are not suffering from other illnesses before you start on a diet plan. Go for a check-up to eliminate other causes.

If you are underweight, your goal should be to gain subcutaneous fat and muscle mass the healthy way. If your body mass index is normal, you may also want to consider gaining some weight. Ask your doctor about supplements to help you. Pick a diet with healthy protein, fats and carbohydrates. Protein-rich food include meat, eggs, fish, legumes, nuts and dairy products. Energy-rich food include grains, tubers, fats and oils, and dark chocolate.

The doctor might also advise weight training but this should be done with supervision. Don’t worry if you still look thin as long as you are not underweight. Remember that your body mass index should be greater than 18.5.

Waking up feeling groggy and unprepared is a perfect formula for an exasperating morning. Avoid such feeling early in the morning by incorporating these night time rituals into your evening routine and immediately reap off its positive benefits the following day.

1. Drink Different. While a boozy nightcap and a glass of wine can make your night better, these drinks won’t really support your goals of waking up to a happier morning the following day. Instead of downing these drinks, opt for before-bed drinks like chamomile or peppermint tea, or just a glass of warm milk to ensure that you’ll get a good night’s sleep and a happier morning.

2. Snack Right. Smart snacking is another great way to support your goal of having a healthy night sleep and happy morning. For healthy snack options, opt for foods that only contain around 150 calories like a bowl of oatmeal with mashed bananas, or a six-ounce serving of a plain non-fat Greek yogurt.

3. Pack Up Your Things. Another good way to wake up to a happier and more relaxed morning is to tidy up your home and pack all the things you’ll need for work and for the gym the next day. This way, you’ll wake up to a cleaner space and you’ll have more time to prepare yourself and savour your breakfast.

4. Create a List. While creating a mental list of the things you’ll need the next day saves more time, it’s still inevitable that you’ll forget something. Instead, list down all the things that you’ll need for the following day, especially the ones that you tend to forget. By adopting this habit, you can already wake up to calmer and more organized morning.

5. Turn Off Your Gadgets. Keeping your gadgets on all night is what affects your sleep patterns, zapping your energy the next day. Break this habit by skipping on your Netflix binges and unwinding with a magazine or book instead.

6. Sleep at the Right Time. One thing that will surely make you feel energized and happy in the morning is to ensure that you get at least seven hours of sleep each night. With this, you’ll wake up feeling fabulous and ready to face whatever the day brings.

Waking up in a better mood is actually pretty easy. Just practise these rituals each night and see how much it can change your mood the following day.