Chapped lips result from cracked, dry skin on your lips due to dry or cold weather, sun exposure, frequently licking of your lips, or dehydration. You can quickly treat chapped lips at home with lip balm , petroleum jelly, coconut oil, or ointment to ease any discomfort.

While it might seem that dry, cracked lips are something you must live with until spring. But you can have soft, supple lips year-round. You only need to take care of your lips. To know more about chapped lips, read below.

What are Chapped Lips? 

The skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive compared to the skin on the rest of your body. The reason being your lips do not contain any oil glands. As a result, they are at risk of becoming chapped and dry. 

Moreover, your lips are exposed to the elements more than the rest of your body and may become chapped from sun exposure (sun damage), cold or dry weather conditions. Chapped lips are known medically as cheilitis, which often occurs from contact with an allergen or a medical condition.

Chapped or cracked lips are commonly used to describe dry lips. Your lips may become chapped  – which can be caused by several factors that include:

• weather
• excessive licking of both the lips
• certain medications

Chapped lips are a common condition that may occur in most people. But some people might develop a more severe form of chapped lips called cheilitis. Cheilitis is a condition caused by an infection characterized by cracked skin, especially at the corners of the lips.

You can usually treat dry lips with simple treatment options and preventive measures. You should visit your dermatologist if your lips continue to be severely dehydrated and cracked.

How Common are Chapped Lips?

Chapped lips might occur in anyone at any age. Adolescents and children who lick their lips are often susceptible to chapped lips. They could develop a condition called lip licker’s dermatitis. The condition may result in a rash around the mouth as well as chapped lips.

People living in an area where the weather is dry may also be affected. In hot places or in a climate where the temperature is cold (lips don), people may experience cracked lips frequently. Seasonally cracked lips occur in the winter and might be expected in individuals who experience dry skin.

Many people mistake discomfort, such as stinging, burning, or tingling, as a sign that the active ingredients in a product are working. No, the story is different. You are actually irritating your lips, so you should stop using any product that irritates your lips.

Do chapped lips hurt?

The condition can be very uncomfortable as your lips become dry and tight. Severely chapped lips might cause painful stinging reactions when eating. It might happen especially when you eat citrus fruit and spicy and salty foods.

What is The Best Remedy?

Most people get chapped lips from time to time. There is much you can do to treat and prevent chapped lips.

Consider these tips:

• Protect your lips. Before going out in dry, cold weather, you must apply a lubricating lip cream or balm that may contain sunscreen. Then cover your lips with a scarf to retain the moisture. Reapply often while outdoors.
• Avoid licking your lips. Saliva on your lips evaporates quickly, thus leaving your lips drier than before you licked them. Therefore, avoid flavored lip balm if you have the habit of licking your lips. As flavored lip balms may tempt you to lick your lips even more.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and fluids. You may also try to moisten the air in your home with a humidifier.
• Avoid allergens. Avoid contact with allergens or irritants, like fragrances or dyes. They are generally found in cosmetics or skin care products.
• Breathe through your nose. Did you know that breathing through your mouth can cause your lips to dry out? So always try to breathe through your nose.

If chapping is severe and does not respond to these home treatments, consult your doctor. Rarely, persistent chapped lips might indicate an underlying problem.

What Causes Chapped Lips?

Lips do not contain oil glands like other parts of the skin. It means your lips are more susceptible to drying out and becoming chapped (cracked). 

Moreover, lack of moisture can make the problem worse. It could be weather-induced or related to a lack of self-care. As you may know, little humidity in the air during the winter months may lead to this condition. Frequent sun exposure during the summer months can also worsen your condition.

Another common cause is habitual licking. Saliva from your tongue can further strip your lips of moisture, causing more dryness and cracking.

How Often Should You Apply Lip Balm or Ointment?

Lip balm usually seals cracks in your lips, and ointments help keep your lips hydrated for longer. It is possible as the – based on the ingredients and thickness of the ointment you use. 

You can apply lip ointments and lip balms as needed throughout the day – when you notice your lips are dry. Using ointments at night will keep your lips hydrated throughout the night. But always reapply lip balm or ointment, especially after eating and drinking. Even when outdoors, apply balm or ointment with SPF 30 or higher after every two hours.

What Should You Do If Your Chapped Lips are Bleeding?

Bleeding occurs when cracks or fissures in the lips break and turn into cuts and sores, often known as split lips. The skin on your lips is prone to cracking, and untreated chapped ones may bleed, causing pain and stinging.

You can also treat your bleeding lips at home with an ointment explicitly designed for lips. If the bleeding is frequent and at-home treatment does not help, then visit your doctor. They will prescribe more advanced treatment.

When to Seek Medical Treatment

Cheilitis

You should see a dermatologist if the severe dryness and cracking do not improve with self-care or home remedies. Cheilitis may cause severely chapped lips. Cheilitis is a condition marked by cracked skin at the mouth corners, and you may notice several cracks on your lips. 

If you have this condition, you may notice your lips become dark pink or red and might have a lumpy texture. They may develop ulcers and may even have white plaques on the surface. 

You may not be aware that cheilitis is often attributed to infections and inflammatory diseases, similar to Crohn’s disease. Excessive saliva production and dental trauma may also turn a regular case of chapped lips into cheilitis.

Even bacteria can enter through the cracks causing infection. Children and adults who have orthodontic braces,  use pacifiers, or wear dentures – are all susceptible to developing cheilitis.

A dermatologist can only determine whether your dry lips are simply chapped or if you have any condition similar to cheilitis.

Dehydration and malnutrition

Note that dry lips can also be caused by malnutrition or dehydration. Dehydration may cause symptoms like constipation, lightheadedness, decreased urine production, dry mouth, and even headache.

In severe cases, individuals suffering from dehydration may experience low blood pressure, rapid breathing, fever, or a rapid heartbeat.

As you might be aware, malnutrition is characterized by many symptoms like dehydration. Additional symptoms include muscle weakness, bloated stomach, decaying teeth, and bone fragility.

Vitamin deficiencies may cause malnutrition – so those on limited diets like vegetarians need to make sure that they get enough of the vitamins they need.

People with alcohol addiction are more susceptible to malnutrition primarily due to vitamin deficiencies. Probably because excessive alcohol could interfere with your body’s vitamin absorption. Older adults may also be at a higher risk for malnutrition because they commonly have decreased appetite. If you suspect you are malnourished or dehydrated, see your doctor immediately.

How Soon After Treatment Should You Feel Better? 

Applying lip balm and ointment regularly should ease discomfort until your lips get time to heal. Severely chapped ones might take longer to heal. But the average time is two to three weeks to recover completely. You will notice a problem if you treat chapped lips at the earliest. Your lips will heal much faster, and you can avoid potential complications like inflammation and infection.

When to See a Dermatologist?

Most of the time, your above self-care can heal dry especially in case of chapped lips in 2 to 3 weeks. You do not need to see a board-certified dermatologist.

It is important to note that your chapped lips could be caused by something aside from dry weather. An allergic reaction like yeast infection, or something more serious could make your lips feel uncomfortable and dry. Actinic cheilitis is a precancerous condition with symptoms that may turn one or both lips dry and scaly. Only a board-certified dermatologist can diagnose the cause.

It is important to know that chapped lips may be irritating, but they are temporary and can be easily treated at home. Awareness of your env and the changing weather helps reduce the likelihood that you will experience long-term chapped lips. You only need to take extra care and keep your lip balm or ointment in a convenient location at the first sign of chapping.

Mood swings are sudden or intense changes in an emotional state.

During a mood swing, you may quickly switch from feeling happy and upbeat to feeling sad, irritable, or angry.

Moreover, a number of things can affect how your mood changes throughout the day.

For instance, due to body rhythms, you can feel upbeat and energetic around noon.

However, tend to have more negative feelings during the early afternoon or evening.

In some cases, mood swings can also be a symptom of a mental illness.

Or they can be a potential clue that something is happening in your body.

Serious mood shifts, however, can threaten your well-being.

For these, you will need medical professionals, to help.

Furthermore, lifestyle changes can help in case you have mild ones.

Keep on reading to learn more about mood swings in men and women in detail.

Common Causes of Mood Swings

In most cases, lifestyle factors play a role in the onset of mood swings.

People may have changes in their mood if they are:

• experiencing a significant life change like moving home or changing job
• feeling stressed or overwhelmed
• not getting enough sleep
• not eating healthily
• taking medications that affect mood or sleep

Moreover, regular and severe mood changes can indicate an underlying condition.

Some conditions that lead to mood swings can affect both men and women, while some only affect women.

Moods Swings in Males and Females

Some common mood-altering conditions that affect both genders are:

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder occurs when someone experiences periods of extreme emotional highs, i.e. mania, and lows, i.e. depression.

These highs and lows can occur rarely or several times a year.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 4.4% of adults in the United States experience bipolar disorder at some point in their lives.

Major Depressive Disorder, MDD

MDD tends to affect more than 16.1 million adults in the U.S. and is more common in women than in men.

Moreover, people with MDD experience persistent feelings of sadness and a loss of interest in things that are often enjoying.

Depression affects your mood, everyday life, and relationships.

With depression, you can experience a number of episodes of low mood during your life.

However, you may also have periods of happiness and a good mood in between.

Cyclothymia

Cyclothymia or cyclothymic disorder occurs when you experience emotional highs and lows.

it is just like bipolar disorder, however, is less severe and less frequent.

Persistent Depressive Disorder, PDD

PDD is a form of depression, also known as Dysthymia.

If you are among people with PDD, you can experience long-term feelings of low mood that persist for at least 2 years.

Moreover, PDD symptoms are not as severe as MDD.

However, they can significantly affect your life and relationships.

About 1.5% of adults in the U.S have this condition.

Borderline Personality Disorder, BPD

With BPD, you can experience intense mood swings and self-image issues.

And you can also have difficulty managing your behavior.

Furthermore, with BPD, you will have an intense fear of abandonment and tend to have unstable relationships.

According to some studies, about 5.9% of people experience BPD at some point in their lives.

Other Mental Health Conditions

Some other health conditions common in both men and women causing mood swings are:

Schizophrenia

If you are among people with schizophrenia, you can have hallucinations or delusions.

This causes you to experience an altered state of reality.

Moreover, it significantly impacts your quality of life.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD

Children and adults with ADHA can struggle to manage their emotions.

This leads to mood swings, while other symptoms are:

• impulsiveness
• hyperactivity
• difficulty paying attention

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, DMDD

DMDD is a childhood condition where you may experience intense moodiness, including anger, extreme irritability, and temper outbursts.

These symptoms need to persist for 12 months, or more for a diagnosis of DMDD.

Substance Misuse or Abuse

Excessive use of alcohol or drugs can affect your mental health and leads to significant changes in your mood.

Physical Health Conditions

Certain physical conditions especially chronic or terminal illnesses can have an effect on your mood.

These changes can either be direct, i.e. through alterations in hormones or brain functions, or indirect, i.e. by triggering depression or anxiety.

Examples are Alzheimer’s disease, coronary heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV, and Multiple Sclerosis.

Moreover, Parkison’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, and thyroid disorders can cause mood swings.

Causes of Mood Swings in Females

Hormonal shifts in women can lead to significant changes in mood.

Moreover, females tend to be more prone to symptoms of hormonal changes than males, especially during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

Common causes are:

Premenstural Syndorme PMS

PMS causes a number of symptoms just before the onset of the menstrual period.

These are mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness, depression, fatigue, and food cravings.

More than 90% of women report PMS symptoms.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, PMDD

PMDD tends to be a more severe form of PMS and affects about 5% of women during childbearing ages.

Moreover, it often co-occurs with depression or anxiety.

Symptoms are extreme changes in mood, persistent irritability, or anger, and depression or anxiety.

It also causes physical symptoms that are just like that of PMS.

Mood Swings during Pregnancy

Hormonal changes in pregnancy can cause sudden shifts in mood, as well as feelings of anxiety and vulnerability.

Also, physical changes can also affect your emotions.

These changes are more apparent during the first trimester and level off once your body adapts to fluctuating hormone levels.

However, in some cases, you may experience mood swings throughout the pregnancy.

Menopause

It is a natural life transition when your menstrual cycle ends. It often happens between the ages of 40 and 58, however, the average age is 52.

According to the North American Menopause Society, up to 23% of women experience mood swings during or after menopause.

Other symptoms are hot flashes, sleep problems, and loss of libido.

Treatment Options

In most cases, treatment is not necessary for occasional mood swings that are mild to moderate and when they do not affect your quality of life.

However, in case of severe or persistent mood swings, they can indicate an underlying condition that can benefit from treatment.

The treatment depends on the underlying causes, and options are:

Psychotherapy

In case mood swings are resulting from mental health conditions, therapy can help, especially if changes in mood affects your everyday life or relationships.

Moreover, therapy can help you to better manage your emotions, work on issues that contribute to mood swings, and understand the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

Also, it can help:

• learn more helpful coping skills
• improve communication skills, which can help benefit relationships

Therapy can help in the case of chronic or terminal physical illness as well.

it helps to deal with the situation and better manage emotions.

Medications

Your doctor can prescribe medications to treat the symptoms of mental health conditions like depression or schizophrenia, which can lead to mood swings.

These options are:

• antianxiety medication
• antidepressants
• sleep aids
• and antipsychotic drugs

Treating physical conditions like thyroid disorder with medications can also help reduce mood swings.

Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Mood Swings

Lifestyle changes, whether alone or in combination with other treatments can help improve your mood.

Moreover, you can also see benefits from doing one or more of the following:

Creating a sleep schedule and aiming for 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night

Eating a Healthful diet and having meals at regular times.

Engaging in regular physical activity.

Managing stress through meditation, mindfulness, yoga, or other sessions.

Keep a journal to track changes in your mood, and potential triggers for such changes.

Maintaining an active social life and connecting with family and friends regularly.

Seeking Medical Advice

It is common to experience a change in mood occasionally or to go through a short period of feeling elated or blue.

However, if your behavior is unpredictable for a number of days or longer, it can be a sign of something serious.

You may feel grumpy one minute, and happy the next.

Moreover, you may also have emotions that can cause damage to your life.

You should seek medical advice or see your doctor if your mood swings are:

• intense
• regular
• persistent or lasts for more than a few days
• affects your work, relationship,s or other aspects of your life
• causes you to engage in risky behaviors
• causes you to have thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Patterns of these types can be symptoms of more serious health conditions.

Thus, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss the feelings and they can work with you to find out why you feel in particular what and what you can do to resolve it.

Outlook

In most cases, your emotions will level out within a few hours or days. However, if mood swings occur as a result of an underlying mental or physical health issue then treating the condition can help manage your emotions.

Mental health disorders often respond to psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of all three. In some cases, however, it can take time to find the best treatment to alleviate symptoms.

Read this interesting article on stiff neck here.

You finally got whitening at the dental clinic, now the results will only last as long as you take care of your teeth. There is more oral care involved after teeth whitening than it is before it.

Therefore, you should begin looking after your teeth meticulously post-procedure.

This article highlights what you should be careful of after the procedure and what to avoid to prevent the teeth from staining again.

Keep reading below to know more.

Why Should You Get Teeth Whitening?

If your teeth are stained due to extrinsic and intrinsic stains then they will appear yellow.

Extrinsic stains are a result of food and drink consumption that stains the outer surface of the teeth.

these stains affect the enamel and usually occur because of colored food and drinks.

For instance, berries, coffee, tea and red wine.

Since these are only present on the outer surface of the teeth, you can easily get rid of them through teeth whitening procedures.

OTC whitening kits and natural home remedies can also work on extrinsic stains as they are only surface-level stains.

Hence, you can get cleaner and whiter teeth by only removing the visible stains.

This is not the same for intrinsic discoloration.

This discoloration occurs beneath the enamel and not on the surface level.

Underneath the enamel, there is dentin.

This layer is naturally darker than the enamel. However, the enamel covers it hence, hiding the yellower color.

As you age, the enamel starts to weaken. It can also thin out due to acidic food consumption.

Bacteria and acids can weaken the enamel leading to enamel erosion and exposing the darker layer of dentin underneath.

Besides that, illness and injury also play a part in discoloration. If a specific tooth is darker then it could point to an injury that needs attention.

Since, the intrinsic stains are not present on the enamel and are due to serious causes, it is harder to remove them through natural remedies.

Though, a few OTC kits may be able to penetrate the enamel and whiten the discoloration.

You will achieve the best results by getting professional dental whitening.

One such option is to get Teeth whitening Zoom.

Whitening teeth up to 8 shades.

However, the results will only last if you take good aftercare.

Longevity of Results After Teeth Whitening

The results after a teeth whitening treatment differ across procedures.

Moreover, it all also depends on the patient, the extent of discoloration of their teeth and how they will take care of it afterward.

The results will last longer for a dental procedure than with OTC kits.

For instance, results after using teeth whitening strips and gels, last as long as 4 months.

The process involves applying the product for 2 weeks, twice a day. It will not instantly whiten teeth but you will start to see the results in a few days’ time.

Since the bleaching agent is not as strong in these OTC kits, their results will last just as long.

The same cannot be said for professional dental whitening treatments.

Dentists will say that the results of an in-office treatment can last up to years.

Dentists use professional, high-grade whitening products and treatments that contain a stronger concentration and larger amount of the peroxide-based bleaching agent.

These high levels of peroxide base can only be administered by the dentist in a professional setting.

This amount of peroxide bleaching agent is not present in OTC products as it can lead to sensitivity.

Thus, your dentist will administer it carefully and apply anti-sensitivity gels so that you do not undergo tooth sensitivity.

Either way, it is hard to state that teeth whitening results will last a lifetime.

The care involved affects how a person’s whitening results will last.

For instance, some people come with heavily stained teeth. They will require more than one whitening treatment to get rid of the stains.

Though, their results will not be as long lasting either.

People with mild stains will only need one or two rounds. Plus, with proper oral care, they can achieve life-long results.

The severity of stains matters too.

White Diet

If you want your teeth to stay whiter for a long time, then the first thing to do after the procedure is to make changes in your diet.

After getting professional teeth whitening, the dentin layer of the teeth is exposed and they become slightly porous.

This means that acidic and dark foods will easily absorb into your teeth causing staining.

Hence, for the next 48 hours, you should strictly follow the White Diet.

This will prevent you from consuming foods and drinks that contain dyes and pigments at least till the time the sensitivity goes away.

These natural pigments or artificial dyes build up on your teeth over time resulting in discoloration.

If you want to maintain results, you can limit these foods but you do not have to cut them off forever.

These include:

Drinks 

• Soft Drinks
• Wine/ Alcoholic Drinks
• Hot beverages such as coffee and tea

Soft drinks also known as carbonated drinks are full of acidic and sugary content.

These two can erode the enamel over time.

Moreover, they also contribute to leaving behind a stain because of their dark pigment.

It is a good idea to avoid these even if you are not following a white diet currently.

Alcoholic drinks may have their share of harm to teeth, however, red and white wine especially contribute to staining.

Red wine has a very dark pigment that can stick to the teeth to discolor it.

White wine does not have a stronger pigment however, it is acidic enough to break down the enamel. Red wine too is highly acidic.

Coffee and tea contain tannins.

These stick to the teeth, build up and darken over time.

After teeth whitening, tannins can stick to porous teeth even faster.

Hence, do not drink any coffee or tea for few days.

Foods to Avoid After Teeth Whitening

While beverages that discolor teeth are easier to guess, we are here to help and identify the foods that will stain your teeth.

Dark Colored Foods 

This is obvious. Like dark-colored drinks, you also want to avoid foods whose dark pigment will stain your teeth.

Fruits with dark pigments and dark juices come in this category.

These include cherries, pomegranates, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Moreover, these fruits may also be high in acidic content so you want to avoid both fruits that are highly pigmented and highly acidic.

Such as lemon, mangoes, kiwis, lime, plum and oranges.

Though, fruits are generally healthy to eat so you can resume eating them after 48 hours.

Chocolate and Candy 

As your teeth are sensitive post-whitening, it is important that you refrain from refining sugars.

These are present in candies, chocolates and other junk foods.

Some candies are sticky and contain natural or artificial dark pigments. It is certainly not a good idea to eat them right after whitening.

They can lead to erosion, discoloration and tooth sensitivity.

Hence, it is best to avoid them right after the procedure.

Vegetables and Spices

Besides these, avoid the use of colorful spices such as paprika turmeric and curry.

These are highly pigmented. While they add flavor to your foods, not eating for a while will not render your treatment useless.

Besides food, there are also colorful vegetables that can leave a stain on your teeth because of the pigmentation.

These include the likes of tomatoes, spinach and carrots.

Vegetables are usually good for your teeth. However, these have a darker color that can stain the newly whitened teeth.

Therefore, it is best to avoid them while you are giving your teeth a chance to recover from stains.

What Else Should You Be Doing?

Food and drinks are not the only precautionary measures to take.

Teeth also discolor because of smoking and poor oral health conditions.

Let’s find out what else you should refrain from.

Colored Dental Products

This is a surprising one, isn’t it?

Though, it should be an obvious one.

When you are refraining from colored drinks and foods then why not oral hygiene products.

Most dental products are not colored but you will find color in toothpaste and mouthwashes.

Colors such as blue, orange, purple and red are commonplace in both these products.

They can restain your teeth comparatively much faster than light-colored products.

Instead, you should go for toothpaste and mouthwash that is specifically made to counter sensitivity.

Smoking/ Chewing Tobacco 

If you really want to maintain the whiteness of your teeth then you will have to quit smoking and other tobacco products such as chewing tobacco.

These will stain and restain your teeth fastly.

Moreover, it causes heavy yellow and brown stains that clearly look unappealing.

Hence, you will have to quit them to see long-lasting results.

Finally, 

Maintaining results after teeth whitening treatment is not difficult.

All you need to do is to keep a check on your diet and ensure that you are properly following a good oral care routine.

Skipping on brushing and flossing teeth will also quickly discolor your teeth after the treatment. Hence, keep up with your oral hygiene routine, don’t eat and drink dark-colored foods and beverages and quit smoking for the results to last longer.

Are you aware that tooth crowns are among the most common restorative procedures dentists perform today? Crowns have been around in dentistry for a very long time. Hence, most individuals are familiar with what a tooth crown does and how it can protect a damaged tooth. It can also serve as a substitute for tooth fillings. 

However, you need to understand that some cost is associated with dental crown. Even though the insurance may pay only a portion of it, this cost often makes some wonder – if they need to get crowns or if the dental filling is sufficient. 

Note that your dentist will always recommend the best for your teeth, whether a crown, filling, or dental implant. Therefore, it is vital to understand why you may need a crown and what purpose it may serve.  

What is a Tooth Crown?

Over time, your teeth may slowly get damaged due to several reasons. The damage might happen for a variety of reasons. It could be due to tooth injuries, decay, or even tooth use. As a result, the natural tooth can lose its size and shape. Note that the design of the crown will be such that it often covers your damaged teeth.

Just relax. The crowns are generally tooth-shaped “caps” that your dentist will fit over your tooth. You can think of them as a hat placed on your teeth. It helps restore not only your teeth’s size but also their shape, strength, and appearance. While preparing the tooth crown – your dentist will usually take care of all the necessary parameters.

Towards the end of the procedure, your dentist will cement the crown on your tooth. It fully encapsulates the visible portion of your tooth that lies just above the gum line.

Benefits of Tooth Crown 

You can understand that a dental crown is similar to a cap-like structure placed on top of your damaged teeth. The height can protect, cover, and restore the shape of your original teeth when dental fillings can not solve the problem. 

The crown is usually made of resin, metal, porcelain, and ceramics. Moreover, you will not require special care over time other than regular oral hygiene.

In a scenario when your natural tooth has an undesirable appearance due to shape, color, or spacing between teeth – then crowns can make it look beautiful and realistic.

When to Choose Dental Crown or Dental Filling?

The next question then arises, when should you have a crown, and when can it be done with just a filling? Yes, the ultimate decision to get a crown belongs to the dentist and the patient. 

Your dentist will give you all the necessary info and advice to help you make an educated decision. At the same time, they will also examine your damaged tooth’s condition and suggest the crown’s pros and cons. 

In the end, you need to remember that protecting the teeth, and keeping them in the best condition, is the most healthy choice. Your dentist may suggest a crown, especially after a root canal procedure or RCT, to protect your tooth’s integrity. Root canal teeth often become brittle and weak because the nerve is no longer viable, and the teeth do not have a blood supply.

When Do You Need Tooth Crown?

You may need a teeth crown, especially when you encounter any of the following situations:

• Your dentist will use a crown to restore a tooth that might have been severely worn down.
• If you have a weak tooth – a crown can protect it. For example, a decayed tooth from breaking down.
• Your dentist may use the crowns to hold together parts of your cracked tooth.
• They may opt for it – to hold a dental bridge in place.
• They will also use a tooth crown to support a tooth that might have a large filling. Especially when the tooth has not much portion of the tooth left.
• Crowns can also cover – severely misshapen or discolored teeth.
• You might also need a crown for a cosmetic dental procedure.

You should note that the anatomy of the human teeth is such that the crown is the only visible section of the teeth. A false crown is necessary to restore your tooth if the natural crown is destroyed.

In addition, it has functional benefits too. There might be various reasons you need the tooth to be restored with a crown. 

What are the Types of Tooth Crown Available?

You can choose from a variety of permanent crowns these days.

They are often made of different substances such as porcelain-fused-to-metal, stainless steel, all resin, metal (such as alloy or gold), or ceramic.

1. Stainless steel crowns – Your dentist might use a stainless steel crown on your permanent teeth. But it is only a temporary step. A temporary crown will protect your tooth temporarily during the period when the permanent crown is under preparation.  
2. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns – You can choose porcelain-fused metal crowns to match your adjacent teeth’ color. Such crowns have a natural tooth color and hence are pretty popular. One can choose these crowns both for your front as well as your back teeth. Your dentist might choose porcelain fused metal crowns for long bridges where the metal provides support and strength.
3. Metal crowns – These days, different metals are used to make crowns. They may include gold, nickel,  palladium, and chromium. The crowns are often made from metal alloys with a high content of gold or platinum. Some crowns also use base-metal alloys like nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium alloys. These metal crowns are designed to withstand your biting and chewing forces in the mouth. They rarely break and often last longer in terms of wear down.
4. All-ceramic or all-porcelain crowns – People opt for this type of crown as it provides a better natural color match. In addition, individuals who are allergic to metal also prefer these crowns.
5. All-resin crowns – You may also choose them as they are less expensive than the other types. The crowns made from resin usually wear down over time and may likely break.

What are Onlays and 3/4 Crowns?

As you may know, there are different dental crowns your dentist might use on your teeth. Onlays and 3/4 crowns are also categories that your dentist uses to partially cover much of your underlying tooth, similar to traditional crowns. 

A traditional crown will cover your entire tooth. On the contrary, onlays and 3/4 crowns are perfect – especially when you still have a left solid tooth structure. 

You can opt for traditional methods to cover your teeth if you want your teeth to be restored. They will remove the affected section and perform a reshaping of your tooth to fit the crown perfectly.

Problems You May Develop with a Tooth Crown

You might start to experience several issues over time with your crown, which includes:

1. Discomfort or sensitivity: 

The newly placed tooth crown might be sensitive just after the procedure. Once the effect of the anesthesia begins to come down, the crown tooth may still have a nerve in it. There could be chances you may experience some heat and cold sensitivity. 

Your dentist will recommend using toothpaste specifically for sensitive teeth. If you experience sensitivity or pain when you bite down, your dentist will fix the problem.

2. Chipped crown: 

Sometimes you may notice porcelain crowns chip off. Your dentist will repair such chips, and the crown can remain in your mouth.

If your chipped tooth is large enough, your dentist may replace the crown. 

3. Loose crown: 

At times, the crown’s cement may wash out from underneath the crown. If any such thing happens, the crown will become loose, allowing bacteria to leak in. In the long run, it may also cause decay in your remaining teeth. If your crown feels loose, contact your dentist at the earliest.

4. Crown falls off: 

Yes, it can happen. It happens due to an improper fit or a lack of cement. When it happens, visit your dentist’s office immediately to fix the problem. In such a scenario, your dentist will give you specific instructions on caring for both the tooth and the crown. In addition, they will re-cement your crown in place. They may also make a new crown if they can not return your tooth crown.

5. Allergic reaction: 

Crowns are made from several metals. Therefore, you might have an allergic reaction after the procedure because of the porcelain or metal used in the crown. Though, the chances of any allergic reactions are pretty scarce.

How to Take Care of Your Tooth Crown?

After the procedure, you should take special care of your treated teeth. It is necessary to note that your crowned tooth is not protected from tooth cavities or gum disease. 

Therefore good oral hygiene practices become compulsory – especially regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash. Additionally, you should also visit your dentist every six months. Especially for the examination of your crowned teeth and their adjoining area.

If you follow a few easy tips, it can prolong the life of your crowned teeth. In general, try avoiding hard food, especially after the procedure. Hard food may cause your crown to crack. Especially if you have a porcelain crown.

If you have the habit of grinding your teeth at night, your dentist may recommend a night guard. It protects your crown and teeth from the damaging effects of grinding.

How Long Does a Tooth Crown Last?

On average, your crowns last for 5 to 15 years. Moreover, it depends on oral care and oral health. You should also note that the lifespan of a crown may depend on the amount of wear and tear. 

Furthermore, it is also linked to your mouth-related habits. It might include biting your fingernails, grinding your teeth, chewing ice, and using your teeth to open the packaging. All these activities may harm the crown in one way or the other.

Nowadays, most dentists manufacture the crown on their premises instead of sending it to dedicated labs. Hence you can easily opt for same-day crown placement procedures. It is beneficial as it saves on the number of visits to your dental clinic.

A stiff neck can be due to soreness and cause difficulty moving the neck.

This happens especially when you try to turn your head to the side.

It may also be accompanied by a headache, neck pain, shoulder pain, and/or arm pain.

Moreover, in order to look sideways or over the shoulder, you may need to turn your whole body instead of the stiff neck.

In most cases, you are aware of the stiff neck.

It could occur when you wake up in the morning, or later in the day after some strenuous activity.

This may include moving furniture, lifting heavy weight, etc.

In most cases, a stiff neck goes away in a week.

However, how you manage and care for your stiff neck, recovery time, and the likelihood of the returning pain will help prevent it.

Keep on reading to learn more about it.

Common Causes of Neck Pain

A stiff neck can be painful and can also interfere with your daily activities.

Your symptoms may even make it hard to get a good night’s sleep.

Most of the time, the neck pain is temporary, however, without proper treatment and proper care, it can become chronic.

According to statics from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey Data in 2016, over 14% of American deal with neck pain or problems.

Moreover, though neck pain can be traced to injury or specific health conditions, work and home routines are the culprits as well.

Some of the common causes of neck pain are:

• poor posture
• osteoarthritis
• muscle strain
• stress, muscle tension
• fibromyalgia
• a compressed or pinched nerve
• disc degeneration
• whiplash
• a spinal cord injury
• concussion

Moreover, the neck is also associated with high-stress levels, anxiety, and depression.

In order to prevent neck pain from becoming chronic, it is important to address it right away.

With the help of stretching, lifestyle adjustments, and medications, you can help alleviate muscle pain and tension in the neck.

Other Conditions causing Stiff Neck

It is important to note that neck pain can also arise from muscle tension or injuries.

However, certain medical conditions can also cause neck pain as a side effect.

This includes viral and bacterial infections, which can cause the lymph nodes to become inflamed and swollen.

Neck stiffness or pain can be a sign of conditions like:

• meningitis
• tonsilitis
• common cold or flu

• Epstein-Barr virus or mononucleosis, i.e. mono
• thyroid conditions including thyroiditis, i.e. inflammation of the gland
• heart disease or a heart attack

While it is important to note that symptoms of heart attack also include chest pain, trouble breathing, and feeling lightheaded.

If you believe you have a heart attack, make sure to contact 911 or local emergency services immediately.

Neck Pain Treatment and Remedies

It is important to note that any pain, stiffness, or mobility issues involving your neck should be evaluated by your doctor.

Moreover, it is important to rule out injuries and infections.

Make sure to seek medical advice before trying approaches on your own.

With the help of a physical evaluation, your doctor can identify the cause of the pain.

Also, X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound can help in making a diagnosis.

Apply Heat or Ice

ice can help reduce inflammation and swelling by lowering blood flow to the area.

While heat does the opposite, and stimulates the blood flow.

Bith ice and heat can work together to help soothe strained, or torn muscles and give them time to heal.

Moreover, they can provide timely pain relief for an overworked spot on the body, like your neck.

According to the suggestion by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, AAOS, applying ice for 20 minutes a few times a day for soft tissue injuries helps.

Make sure to buy or make a cold compress that keeps the ice touching your skin directly.

You can also alternate between applying ice and heat.

Furthermore, taking a warm bath or shower or using a heating pad can also help to alleviate pain.

Over-the-Counter, OTC Pain Relievers

OTC pain relievers do not need a prescription and can help reduce general pain and inflammation in your body.

Moreover, OTC pain relievers include a class of medication: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.

Common NSAIDs are:

• iburophe, Motrin, Advil
• Naproxen sodium, Aleve

Another OTC pain reliever is acetaminophen or Tylenol, however, this medication can help relieve pain, but it does not have anti-inflammatory properties.

Make sure to take these medications as directed by your doctor or by following the instruction on the bottle.

NSAIDs and other OTC pain relievers have side effects, including upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea.

Some other options are:

Stretch but Avoid Sudden Movements

Stretching can help relieve pain and stiffness and even prevent them from recurring in the future.

it is important, however, to gently stretch, making sure you always breathe in and out fully.

However, sudden movements or over-stretching can cause more pain or injury.

Exercise can help relieve neck pain and stiffness.

These are often straightforward and you can do them at home or at your desk.

Moreover, talk to your doctor or physical therapist, PT about creating a manageable routine that works for you.

Stretches often help to neck stiffness are:

• rolling your shoulders backward and then forward in a circle
• pressing your shoulder blades together lightly, holding the position for a few seconds, and then repeating
• slowly turning your head from side to side, as far as it is comfortable

See a Physical Therapist, PT for Stiff Neck

Your doctor can refer you to a PT if you need help regaining strength and mobility in your neck after an injury.

PTs can help you with chronic pain management and relief.

Moreover, they will assign helpful exercises to train your muscles.

A PT can create a treatment regimen specifically for you depending on the cause of your stiffness or pain.

You will see the therapist during regular sessions.

And you can also do these exercises as directed at home.

In most cases, PT exercises can be done anywhere for a couple of minutes a day.

Consider a Chiropractic Care or Book a Massage for a Stiff Neck

A licensed chiropractor will manipulate your muscles and joints to provide pain relief.

They often specialize in working on specific areas of the body.

Their patients include everyone from people recovering from injuries to pregnant individuals.

Make sure to talk with your doctor about whether seeing a chiropractor may be the next best step for you.

Moreover, massage by a trained practitioner can also help to loosen and stretch your neck and back muscles.

Try Acupuncture for Stiff Neck

Acupuncture involves inserting needles into specific pressure points on your body to relieve stress, tension, and pain.

It is a form of traditional Chinese medicine and has been practiced for thousands of years.

Some researchers are of the view that acupuncture can trigger the natural pain relievers in your body.

While others think that it only creates a placebo effect.

Regardless, acupuncture continues to be a popular holistic treatment approach across the world.

Moreover, many consider it safe, however, going to an expert is the key.

Make sure to visit only a board-certified practitioner, and ensure that the needles are fully sterilized.

Both the American Society of Acupuncturists and the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine offer online directories.

Limit Physical Activity that bothers your Neck

In case your stiff neck and pain begin after doing physical activity, you should limit that activity until the stiffness resolves.

These physical activities can include activities you do either as a part of your job or as a recreational exercise.

Moreover, you should limit heavy lifting and activities that can aggravate your neck muscles any time you have neck pain.

However, if you have a muscle strain, you will likely need to rest in order to heal fully.

Your ideal rest period depends on the injury and may range from days to weeks.

This window can be determined by your doctor or other healthcare professionals.

Preventing Stiff Neck

You can take steps to prevent stiff neck with the help of lifestyle changes and ergonomic workplace tools.

Prevention can also mean breaking some bad habits, like chronic poor posture.

Additionally, regular exercise can help to strengthen your muscles and make them less likely to be strained or injured.

It is important to note that smoking is also a risk factor for back and neck pain, especially if you have long-term nicotine dependence.

Talk with your doctor and consider making a plan.

Reduce Stress

Stress can cause you to tense muscles in your neck, shoulders, and back.

Thus, reducing stress can help treat and prevent neck pain and stiffness.

You can also choose to reduce stress in a number of ways, including:

• listen to music
• practice a type of meditation
• taking a vacation or break, even if it is just a short trip
• do something you enjoy, like a hobby

It can also help to set healthier boundaries in your professional and personal life.

Practice saying ‘no; to demands in your time when you are already overloaded.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly has a number of health benefits.

Many of these can help to prevent injury and pain due to weak muscles in your relieve or can alleviate tension from stress.

Overall benefits of exercise are:

• strengthen muscles and bones
• boosts immune system
• helps to sleep better

• improves your mental health
• relieves stress
• increases your life expectancy

The World Health Organization, WHO recommends the following guidelines for exercise:

• Children ages 5 to 17 should aim to get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day.
• Adults ages 18 to 64 should aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or at least 75 to 150 minutes of higher-intensity aerobic physical activity.

However, it is important to remember that exercise does not have to look like weightlifting or running marathons.

Walking, yoga, or playing with your dog o cat are all examples of great ways to get active minutes in your daily routine.

The best type of exercise for you can depend on your age, location, and ability among other factors.

Create an Ergonomic Workplace

Ergonomics refers to adjusting your workspace, schedule, or responsibilities in response to your individual needs.

It is basically about making changes to your job so that you can work better.

Moreover, ergonomics is often used to adapt jobs to people with chronic health conditions, or disabilities.

It can offer different management options and solutions when it comes to neck pain. These are:

Purchasing or Requesting a High-quality Chair for your Office Space: An adjustable office chair is ideal.

Adjusting your Chair into a Comfortable Position: Make sure to keep your feet flat on the floor and your knees a bit lower than your hips.

Using Proper Posture while Sitting: Maintain a proper posture by keeping your back straight and your arms level with the desk.

Moving your Computer at Eye Level: Make sure you are not craning your neck up or down.

Use an Adjustable Desk or Standing Desk: This way you can alternately sit and stand to work.

Moreover, changing your position can help lower the strain long hours of sitting have on your body.

Make sure of Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse:  This may look like a split keyboard or a mouse that positions your hand vertically.

However, these changes can help improve posture, should cramping, and hand and wrist pain.

Standing to Stretch and Move every Hour: When on a break, try to walk around a little to loosen up.

In most cases, ergonomic solutions go hand in hand with a regimen from a physical or occupational therapist.

Limit how you Look at the Smartphone

Currently looking down at your phone can pull your neck muscles, putting a constant strain on them.

In some cases, it can also lead to neck pain.

This phenomenon has even earned its own term: tech neck, or text neck.

A small study identifies that sitting while texting causes the largest amount of flexion or bending in the neck.

While a larger 2019 study of 500 students in Jordan states that the length of mobile phone use was positively correlated with increased pain severity and duration.

Researchers found that more than 24% of students assigned their neck pain a score greater than 4 on the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale, NRS-11 for pain, indicated ‘moderate pain’ or worse.

Overall, the authors stress the importance of mindful use of mobile devices as these can contribute to neck pain.

And that changing positions and reducing the usage duration may be advised.

In case you have to use a smartphone, try some of the tips to reduce neck strain:

• hold your phone at eye level
• do not hold your phone between your shoulder and ear use ear bids or headphones
• take a break from your phone regularly
• adjust your position or take a break if you notice pain
• after using your phone, stretch to relax your muscles

Avoid Driving for long periods of Time without Breaks

Just like sitting at a desk can cause a stiff neck, sitting behind the wheel of your neck can also cause neck pain.

In case you have to drive for long periods of time, follow the tips below for preventing a stiff neck:

Take Breaks to Stand up and Stretch: Consider setting an alarm to remind you when to stop.

Adjust your Seat Properly: Set the driver’s seat and headrest in a position that provides you the most support and puts you in a good posture.

Never Text and Drive: It is illegal, dangerous, and bad for your neck to repetitively look up and down from the phone to the road.

Change your Sleep Position

One of the most important things you can do for your health is get a good night’s sleep.

The position you sleep at night can also affect your neck.

Sleeping on the side or your back, i.e. supine can put less strain on your neck than sleeping on your stomach, i.e. prone.

However, in side sleeping, the alignment of your thoracic and cervical spine is also important for preventing neck pain.

According to a study, lying supine with your dominant hand raised by your forehead is associated with increased neck pain in participants.

Moreover, side sleeping with a good pillow for proper alignment can help to enhance sleep quality.

Certain pillows claim to provide extra next support.

These claims are not always backed up by science.

However, you may find the right pillow that can make the difference in the neck’s comfort during sleep.

Moreover, you may also consider changing your mattress.

When to See a Doctor?

In case your neck pain interferes with your regular daily activities, you should seek medical advice or see a doctor.

According to AAOS, you should look for medical care for neck pain right away if:

• pain starts right after an injury or car accident
• you have pain that spreads down your arms or legs
• numbness or weakness in your arms, hands, or legs
• headache along with neck pain

These symptoms can be due to a more serious underlying health condition.

Final Thoughts

Neck stiffness and pain is a common problem that affects millions of people each year. In most cases, a stiff neck with minor pain can be treated at home with ice, OTC pain relievers, and light stretching.

With the help of light adjustments, you can reduce and prevent neck pain as well. Try to break from your computer or phone and be mindful of your posture. Consider adjusting your sleeping position or try a new pillow if you find yourself consistently waking up with a sore or stiff neck.

However, if the pain persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms, reach out to your doctor. This is especially important if you recently experienced an injury. Taking action can help prevent the problem from worsening and help you develop preventive tactics.

Do you want to know more about mood swings, read this article.

Conscious of your yellow teeth? A teeth whitening gel can be the solution in order to smile freely.

These gels contain a bleaching agent that can make your teeth whiter.

Almost every teeth whitening product contains a whitening gel.

The other option is to use abrasives which only remove the surface stains and will not change the color of the teeth.

The gel also prevents dehydration and shade relapse.

Let’s find out more about the teeth whitening gel and how it helps to whiten your teeth.

Here, we begin!

Ingredients in Teeth Whitening Gel

The ingredients in the gel determine how strongly can it whiten your teeth.

The main ingredient is a peroxide base, either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

Usually, gels contain carbamide peroxide which is a source of hydrogen peroxide.

Carbamide peroxide reacts with stains and bleaches them. It changes its chemical structure to give your teeth a whiter look and remove stains.

Just like carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide removes stains and penetrates deeper into the teeth to counteract discoloration as well.

However, hydrogen peroxide is stronger than carbamide peroxide.

Therefore, most at-home whitening kits may contain carbamide peroxide instead of hydrogen peroxide.

This is also why there are slow-acting and quick-acting gels.

The slow-acting gels contain carbamide peroxide.

The gels contain a low concentration of the peroxide base, hence, it is safer to use at home.

This will not irritate your gums and teeth. However, that also means that it will act rather slowly.

If you want a faster result, going to the dentist is the safest option.

Dentists use gels that contain hydrogen peroxide.

Hence, they are quick-acting and can whiten teeth in one session.

These gels contain a typically higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than that found in OTC kits.

The gels have around 15 to 38 percent of the peroxide base.

Hence, the whitening process is much faster. However, the higher concentration means that there can be greater sensitivity.

That can be dealt with.

Gels also contain ingredients that help in decreasing tooth sensitivity.

Common ones include potassium nitrate and amorphous calcium phosphate.

These may also contain fluoride to combat the sensitivity and strengthen the enamel.

However, sensitivity is not a huge concern as it is temporary.

You can use gel in several ways when it comes to whitening products.

Use on its own or in strips. Find below!

How to Use Teeth Whitening Gel?

On Its Own

An OTC whitening gel can be applied on its own. All you need is a small brush that will help in the application.

The peroxide-based gels apply directly to the surface of the teeth, however, the instructions may differ for every product.

Evenly apply it on all teeth for 14 days, 2 times each day.

Once you are done with applying it for 2 weeks, the results can last up to 4 months.

However, there are other products whereby the gel is present in them as you apply the product.

Such as…

Strips 

These are transparent strips that are full of whitening gel.

Apply the strips to your teeth covering all of them with the peroxide-based gel.

You will see the results fairly quickly and they will also last for about 4 months.

Ideal application is for 2 weeks, twice a day, though follow the instructions on the label to see best results.

Pen 

A teeth whitening pen is actually a small brush with whitening gel.

This pen has a brush tip and you rotate it to bring out the gel on the surface of the tip.

This gel polishes the teeth and works on the stains to change their chemical structure, hence removing the stains.

Tray Based or Mouthguards 

Tray-based whiteners or mouthguards involve the process of adding a whitening gel into the tray and wearing it for some time.

Follow the instructions on how long to wear it, which ranges from a few hours during the day or the night.

Do it consistently for 4 weeks to see considerable results.

You can buy the teeth whitening system and the concentration of the gel depending on the extent of whiteness you need.

If you want too many shades of lighter teeth, then get a dental checkup.

Tips on Using Teeth Whitening Gel

Now that you know how you can use whitening gels at home, you should be aware of tips and side effects while applying them.

Before using any product, it is advisable to see your dentist.

They can recommend the products for your use.

However, if they advise you to use tray-based whiteners, then your best choice is to get them custom-made by the dentist.

This will allow you to get a tray that fit the contours of your mouth.

If the tray does not exactly fit in your mouth, then the gel can leak and spread to your gums and lips.

This will cause irritation as the gel consists of bleaching agents.

So getting a custom-made mouthguard is the way to go to ensure the best application of the gel.

The gel may also leak from the strips and can be unevenly applied through a brush.

Hence, your best option is to use a custom-made tray and insert a few drops of the gel in it, let it spread evenly and then wear it.

For some gels, even a single drop is enough. Ask your dentist for more guidance.

Brush your teeth before you wear the trays.

You will have to wear the trays for a few hours in the day or overnight.

Though, be careful that you do not swallow the gel while you are sleeping.

Hence, it is important that it fits.

The ideal time for seeing any results is 2 weeks.

You should wear the trays at least 2 times a day for these 14 days.

Don’t accidentally ingest the gel and when you are done, clean the area.

Carefully remove the trays and clean any residue left behind on the teeth and gums with a clean finger, cloth or a toothbrush and finally rinse your mouth.

Side Effects

Irritation to gums 

This is one of the main side effects of using any whitening products.

The gels are peroxide-based.

These are strong chemicals that can bleach your teeth and remove stains, whitening them in the process.

The gel can, however, leak when it is in an ill-fitting tray.

The OTC trays may not fit well in your teeth.

Hence it can leak from the trays and come into contact with your lips and gums.

That will cause irritation as the chemicals are strong enough.

Tooth Sensitivity

As the concentration of the peroxide base in the gel increases, the chances of tooth sensitivity increase too.

However, the sensitivity will only last a while.

Once you rinse off the residue gel, the sensitivity will start to diminish.

Since the teeth come in contact with the gel, the sensitivity is felt strongly.

Though, your teeth will feel fine after a while.

Besides these, the whitening gel is usually safe to use.

The best way to avoid these side effects is to use them under the instructions and supervision of your dentist.

However, you can also choose to get a dental treatment by your dentist that carefully whitens your teeth without any risks or side effects.

Let’s find out more about that below.

At The Dental Clinic

When you go to a dental clinic for a teeth whitening treatment, you will have the option of choosing between laser dental whitening or dental zoom whitening.

Both of these will inevitably use a gel to whiten teeth.

However, the application of the gel and the technology used to whiten your teeth will be different.

In zoom, all teeth are whitened at once.

On the other hand, laser whitening whitens one tooth at a time. Hence it is better for targeting a few teeth whereas Zoom whitening is better for an even whiteness on all teeth.

You will get several shades of brighter teeth when you exit the dental clinic.

This is because the gel used has a higher concentration than OTC kits that you have to use over a period of 2 weeks.

Moreover, your dentist will apply the product carefully and also cover your gums and lips so that no product comes in contact with them.

This means there will be lower chances of irritation.

Furthermore, they may apply an anti-sensitivity gel to prevent sensitive teeth following the treatment.

Once you are done with this treatment and any other whitening procedures, take care of your oral hygiene to prevent the stains from accumulating again.

Brush your teeth twice a day regularly and floss once.

Also refrain from foods, drinks and smoking that will cause the surface levels stains to resurface.

If you are investing time, money and effort on your teeth then make sure your efforts are not rendered useless soon.

Finally,

A teeth whitening gel is the most important aspect of whitening teeth.

The bleaching agent present in it will remove stains and whiten your teeth.

You can use it at home in OTC kits or in a dental teeth whitening treatment.

Read similar articles on after teeth whitening, whitening toothpaste and more.

Do you have spider veins in your legs that do not look good at all?

Spider veins and varicose veins occur due to weakness or damage in the veins.

It is important to note that varicose veins are often larger, however, both are extremely visible.

Spider veins can be blue, purple, or red, and can appear in the form of thin lines, webs, or branches.

Moreover, people also refer to them as thread veins.

Often they are not painful, however, some people may want to treat them for cosmetic reasons.

With the help of different treatment options, you can remove spider veins or reduce their appearance.

Keep on reading to learn more about the causes of spider veins, or telangiectases, how they are different from varicose veins, treatment, and prevention tips.

Causes of Spider Veins

Spider veins in your legs can occur when the valves inside the veins stop working properly.

Veins carry blood back to your heart. In order to prevent blood from flowing backward, they contain a one-way valve.

This valve closes once the blood passes through it.

However, if this valve weakens or sustains damage, the blood may have difficulty flowing in the correct direction.

It can begin to pool inside the vein, as a result.

Over time, this can cause a bulge in the vein that branches out, thus, resulting in spider veins.

Moreover, spider veins on the face often result due to tiny blood vessels bursting.

An increase in pressure or sun damage can cause these to occur.

Varicose Veins vs. Spider Veins

It is important to note that spider veins and varicose veins are different forms of a medical condition: venous insufficiency.

Both conditions result from having weakened or damaged valves in the veins of your legs.

However, both of these issues have different symptoms.

Spider veins are usually small, thin lines that can be flat or slightly raised.

They are often blue, red, or purple, and though they can cause some discomfort, they are painless in most cases.

While varicose veins are larger and deeper than spider veins and can appear lumpy or twisted.

Depending on their severity, varicose veins can cause a number of symptoms.

These are:

• pain
• itching
• bleeding
• swelling of the legs or ankles
• an achy or heavy feeling in the legs

Moreover, varicose veins can also increase your risk of blood clots and circulation problems.

Stages of Development of Varicose Veins

Though each case is slightly different the following six stages of symptoms tend to appear and are as follows:

Spider Veins – Stage 1

These small, reddish-purple veins are visible on your legs, ankles, neck, face, and other areas.

However, these are not necessarily related to varicose veins.

They can occur due to the same underlying chronic venous insufficiency, CVI.

Moreover, they tend to be more common in women than in men.

Enlarged, Ropy Varicose Veins – Stage 2

In most cases, doctors can also refer to them as stage 1 as they are spider veins that do not precede them.

This is the stage at which you first become aware of the vein disease.

The swollen veins can also be accompanied by:

• itching
• burning
• numbness along the veins themselves
• tired, weak, or achy legs

Moreover, this is the best stage at which you should get treatment.

Edema or Swelling without discoloration – Stage 3

In this stage, you will notice swelling of your legs and ankles that increases due to CVI.

During this stage, CVI impairs the ability of your circulatory system to reabsorb fluid.

Elevation of the limbs can help, however, will not cure the disease or reduce the swelling.

Skin Changes and Discoloration – Stage 4

During this stage, you can observe scratches or injuries to the tough skin that may heal with treatment.

But it often leaves scars.

Skin Changes with Active Ulceration – Stage 6

This one is the final stage of the CVI, and injuries to the skin and leg ulcers are unable to heal even with the help of treatment.

Furthermore, this can leave your legs covered with bleeding, and open sores.

Risk Factors of Developing Spider Veins

Some of the factors that can increase your risk of developing spider veins are:

Genetics: Up to 90% of the people with spider veins have a family history of them.

Pregnancy: An increase in blood flow and the extra weight of the fetus on leg veins can put you at an increased risk of developing spider veins.

Sex: Spider veins tend to occur in 41% of females with age 50 and over.

Moreover, they affect females almost twice as much as males.

Age: The valves in your veins get weaker as your age over time.

The calf muscles help to support the veins in your legs and enable you to pump blood upward.

It may also lose some of its strength as you age.

Being Overweight: Extra body weight can add more pressure to your leg veins.

Hormones: Hormonal birth control and hormonal treatment for menopause can increase your risk of spider veins.

This happens because estrogen can weaken the vein valves.

Sitting or Standing for a Long Time: Veins in your legs have to work harder to pump blood up toward your heart when you remain in the same position for more than 4 hours.

Past Blood Clots or Vein Damage: This can cause damage to the valves and make them unable to work correctly.

Sun Damage: UV light from the sun can damage your skin and cause broken vessels or spider veins, especially on your face.

Treatment Options

Though in most cases, spider veins are harmless, you may want to treat or remove them for cosmetic reasons.

The different treatment options you can try are;

Compression Stockings or Socks

Wearing compression stockings or socks will help place pressure on the veins in your lower legs.

This pressure can help to improve the blood flow and even prevent further spider or varicose veins.

Moreover, compression stockings can also help relieve leg swelling and lower the risk of blood clots in the legs.

Types of compression stockings are:

• Support Pantyhose: These provide only light pressure but are available in a number of stores
• Gradient Compression Stockings and Socks: These will provide medium pressure around your feet, ankles, and calves. These are often available at specialist stores and pharmacies
• Prescription Compression Stockings: This type will provide the most pressure on the feet and legs. Moreover, they come in varying sizes and strengths, as well as footless varieties. Prescription compression stocking, however, is not suitable for some people including those who had heart failure or other heart problems.

Sclerotherapy and Closure System for Spider Veins

Sclerotherapy involves injecting an irritant directly into the affected vein.

Due to irritation, the veins will stick together.

Moreover, this will keep your blood from flowing into the area.

This procedure can help reduce swelling and cause the vein to shrink.

Over time, the spider veins will fade or vanish.

However, you can get different treatments to obtain the desired results.

Just like sclerotherapy, you can opt for closure system treatment.

This treatment also involves injecting a substance into the affected veins.

Furthermore, this substance is sticky, and it will help close the vein off from the blood flow.

Thus, causing the spider vein to fade or disappear with time.

Just like sclerotherapy, you will need a number of other treatments to produce the desired outcome.

Other Treatments for Spider Veins

Some other treatment options are:

Laser Treatment

A healthcare professional can use a laser to treat small spider veins close to the surface of the skin.

The laser is a strong, focused beam of light that causes the spider vein to clot and dries up.

Moreover, laser treatment is less invasive than sclerotherapy and closure systems are there is no injection.

However, they can be less effective in reducing spider veins.

Endovenous Laser Therapy, EVLT

EVLT is a newer procedure for treating spider veins and small varicose veins.

During this procedure, your healthcare provider will make a small incision in the affected vein and insert a laser fiber.

Then, the laser applies heat directly to the vein and causes it to collapse.

Moreover, the vein will take several months or up to a month to disappear.

It is important to note that EVLT will involve the use of local anesthesia.

Surgery

Though some surgical treatments can be effective in the case of larger varicose veins, many doctors often do not perform them on spider veins.

Prevention Tips

With the help of certain lifestyle changes and self-care tips, you can prevent new spider veins from appearing or stop existing ones from getting worse.

These are:

Wearing Sunscreen: Applying sunscreen every day can help to prevent spider veins, especially on your face.

Moreover, you can use sun-protective hats and clothing when outdoors for extended periods.

Reaching or Maintaining a Moderate Weight: This will help to reduce pressure on your veins and keeps the blood flowing well.

Compression Stockings: In case spider veins or varicose veins are a concern or run in the family, you can consider wearing compression stockings or socks.

Staying Mobile: It is important to avoid sitting or standing for extended periods of time without taking a break.

Avoid Tight Clothing: Clothing that is too light, especially around your waist, legs, or pelvis, can restrict blood flow.

Moreover, it can also increase the risk of spider veins.

Using Hot Tubs and Saunas: Excessive heat can cause your veins to swell, thus, increasing the risk of dilated and bulging veins in your legs.

Alcohol Consumption: Drinking alcohol can cause flushing in your face and broken vessels in some cases.

Regualr Exercise: Physical activity can help to improve circulation and prevent blood from pooling in your legs.

Elevating the Legs: Raising your legs when sitting or lying down can help to prevent the blood from pooling downward in your legs.

Contracting a Dermatologist: If you have a skin condition that may increase the risk of spider veins like rosacea, you may want to consider contacting a doctor.

Or seek medical advice or talk to a dermatologist to discuss treatment options.

Cover-up Products: In case the appearance of spider veins is a concern, you can use body or leg makeup to mask or minimize them temporarily.

Self-tanning products can also work for this purpose.

Final Thoughts

Spider veins tend to result from damaged veins or burst blood vessels, are usually painless, and do not cause health problems. However, you may want to treat them for cosmetic reasons.

With the help of different treatment options, you can help improve the appearance of spider veins or remove them altogether. For medical procedures, it is always crucial to contact a licensed healthcare professional who specializes in dermatology, vein care, or cosmetic or plastic surgery.

There are tonnes of unhealthy and healthy snacks to eat. Unhealthy snacking will lead to oral problems as well as weight gain.

Whereas healthy snacking can lead to weight loss and improve oral health.

While these are the smaller portions you consume between meals, they can have their own benefits and harms.

For instance, eating a sugary snack is enough to damage your teeth.

That said, increasing your meals through snacking can help to manage hunger and improve blood sugar regulation.

This article discusses what snacks are good for adults and which ones you should avoid.

Keep reading below to know more!

How Does Snacking Affect Oral Health?

Whenever you are hungry between meals, you may resort to eating a sugary treat in hopes that it curbs hunger.

However, sugars, acids and starchy snacks can cause damage to your teeth.

They will lead to the accumulation of plaque and bacteria.

Moreover, the acids will start eroding the enamel.

Hence, the enamel will become weaker and this gives way to bacteria to penetrate it further leading to decay and cavities.

Some of these sugary treats are sticky.

The longer they stay on your teeth, the greater the bacteria have the chance to feed on it and harm your enamel.

Hence, you should stay away from snacks that are sugary, acidic, sticky or starchy.

Rather go for nutritious and healthy foods that will remineralize the enamel and keep the oral ecology in balance.

One example of a healthy snack is cheese.

Cheese not only suffices hunger, but it can also be good for your teeth. Similarly, other dairy products such as milk and yogurt are also good for oral health.

Eating healthy snacks will spare you a trip to the dentist and getting procedures such as dental fillings or root canals.

Furthermore, they can provide you with the energy to go on with the day.

Let’s find out more about them below!

Healthy Snacks to Eat On the Go

Dark Chocolate and Almonds 

Thinking about what is chocolate doing in an article about oral health and healthy snacks?

Well, among the sweeter snacks, chocolate is actually better as it does not stick on your teeth for longer, unlike candy. Hence, it can be washed away.

Plus, if there are any slightly healthier chocolates among all, it is probably dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and little sugar. Paired with almonds that have numerous healthy fats, these make for a portable and heart-healthy snack.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Eggs are a rich source of protein. They are also filling so they make for good weight-loss food. Its yolk also contains nutrients like choline and Vitamin D.

Moreover, eating around 3 to 4 eggs per week can benefit arterial stiffness which happens to be a risk factor for heart disease.

Oatmeal 

Oatmeal can serve as breakfast but also as a light snack between meals.

These nutritious whole grains are filling. Plus, it also contains a greater amount of fiber and protein than other cereals.

Plus if you really want to eat something, you can top the oatmeal with fruits, cocoa powder, chocolate chips or vegetables.

Spicy Avocado 

Avocados contain a higher fiber and fat content.

Hence, they are both filling and nutritious.

If you are feeling extremely hungry, simply eat a medium avocado by sprinkling some cayenne pepper and salt.

There you have a filling snack below 120 calories.

Mixed Nuts 

While these may stick to your teeth, mixed nuts are usually healthy to eat.

They have a balance of protein, fiber and fat. Eating a variety of nuts provides you with collective nutrients.

They may be high in calories and fats, but they still aid in weight loss.

Choose from walnuts, hazelnut, almonds, cashews, pistachio, macadamia nuts, pine nuts and many others.

Fruits and Vegetables with Dips

Apple and Peanut butter

Cut an apple into slices and pair it up with peanut butter as a dip.

Apples and peanut butter make a healthy combo.

Apples are rich in fiber. Moreover, their crunchy texture allows for producing more saliva in the mouth.

Hence, that washes away the food particles and keeps the teeth clean.

Peanut butter, on the other hand, may be sticky but peanuts contain healthy fats fiber and plant-based protein.

As far as the sugar content goes, you can actively avoid that and choose a peanut butter that contains salt instead.

So there you have a crisp, creamy and filling snack in the middle of the day without any hassle.

Hummus and Cucumber 

Like apples, cucumber slices are also crunchy making them a good snack for your teeth.

Hummus is a dip that is made of chickpeas, tahini, garlic and olive oil.

Hence, it contains several nutrients such as proteins, healthy fats and fiber.

Slicing half a cucumber and dipping it in 2 tablespoons of hummus is enough to fill you up under 100 calories.

Cheese in the form of Dip 

• Celery sticks and cream cheese

The crunchy texture of celery makes it a good vegetable for your teeth.

Combine the crunchy texture with the creaminess of the cheese and there you have a fiber-filled snack.

Dip 5 celery sticks in one ounce of cream cheese for a light snack.

You can also alter that with peanut butter or almond butter.

• Tomatoes and Mozarella

Mozzarella cheese and tomatoes can make a good combo for a salad.

Add some balsamic vinegar and olive oil to have a salad that can substitute as a snack.

Plus it contains healthy fats, fiber and protein content. So that you have a delicious as well as a healthy snack.

Using Cheese as Healthy Snacks

Olive and Feta Cheese 

Olives contain monosaturated fats. These are heart-healthy fats. Moreover, it also contains antioxidants.

Add some cheese to it to get your dose of protein and healthy fats.

If you are also looking for some complex carbs, enjoy the two on whole-wheat bread.

Blue Cheese Dressing and Baby Carrots 

Pairing carrots with a creamy sauce or cheese dressing helps to increase the absorption of fat-soluble micronutrients.

These micronutrients like carotenoids absorb easily due to the dips because they contain a high-fat content.

You can have 100 grams of carrots with 2 tablespoons of blue cheese so that you can benefit from all the nutrients present in the carrots.

Cheese with Fruit 

A good way to par up fiber with healthy fats and protein is to eat cheese with fruit.

Cottage cheese for instance has a high protein content. Combing that with fruits such as watermelon, pineapple and papaya will provide the fiber and watery content to your body.

You can also choose to go for a cheese string and pair it up with fruit.

You can also combine pear with ricotta cheese. Yet another way to get both protein and fiber in your light snack.

Cheese has high protein and calcium content though it differs across all forms of cheeses.

You can also combine cheese with whole-grain crackers to get fiber content similar to that of fruits.

Cheese is a great snack not only for its high protein and calcium content but also because it is good for your oral health.

Munch on it more often when you are feeling hungry between meals instead of going for an unhealthy snack.

Try these several combinations with cheese that you can eat without any preparation, fill up your stomach and enjoy a light snack.

Other Healthy Snacks to Munch On

• Roasted Chickpeas

Similar to nuts and almonds, roasted chickpeas are a crunch snack to curb your hunger in the middle of the day.

This delightful snack contains a high amount of plant-based proteins and fiber.

• Trail Mix

Instead of buying trail mix in packets from the grocery store, you can combine your favorite nuts in one place.

Try mixing dried fruits with nuts such as dried apples with almonds, dried mangoes with cashew nuts and dried cherries with peanuts.

Hence, you get healthy fats, protein and fiber.

This is a good way to fill you up on the go. However, limit the portion size as these dried fruits are high in calories and also sugar.

• Toast and Fish

Canned fish such as salmon and tuna may not be considered a snack. However, it is a light meal that does not require refrigeration either.

These fish such as sardines and salmon are full of omega 3 fatty acid content.

These fatty acids help to reduce the risk of inflammation and heart disease.

You can pair it up with crackers or whole-wheat toast.

• Beef Jerky

This is a high in protein and portable snack.

However, some of the commercial beef jerky also contains higher sodium and sugar content.

Before buying, check for the label and buy jerky with less than 300 mg of sodium per serving.

That said, you will still get 7 grams of protein content per ounce.

Besides these, there are other healthy snacks to eat, such as:

• Turkey roll-ups
• Chia pudding
• Bell pepper with guacamole
• Kale chips
• Greek yogurt with berries

Eating these healthy snacks instead of starchy and sugary treats will be good for your physical and oral health.

Next time, you are hungry between meals, go for these.

 

In theory, sunscreen with super-high SPF would give you the best protection. It means protection against damaging UV radiation. But in practice, it does not really work. Sunscreen SPF 50 is just the right one for your skin. SPF is the short form of “sun protection factor” – a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect you from UVB.

At best, most high-SPF sunscreens will give you only slightly better protection than a sunscreen with SPF 50. It was according to the annual sunscreen report published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). At worst, high-SPF sunscreens could give you a false sense of security. In the end, you spend more time in the sun – increasing your risk for burns and skin cancer thinking that you are better protected.

Hence we discuss in detail all you need to know about SPF to keep your skin safe.

What Does it Mean – Sunscreen SPF 50?

An SPF 50 product protects you from 98 percent of the UVB “burning” rays that generally penetrate your skin. 

Before the FDA introduced its new labeling requirements a few years ago, SPF levels often caused a lot of confusion for buyers and customers.

Some individuals thought that the SPF number frequently corresponded to the number of mins the sunscreen protects your skin. In simple terms, the percentage of rays the sunscreen filtered, or there was other misguided logic. 

The SPF number theoretically correlates to how long an individual can stay in the sun without burning. For instance, when you wear an SPF 30, you could remain outside for 30 times longer than if you were unprotected. 

However, this condition does not consider your skin type, toweling, sweating, swimming, or the level of the UV index on that particular day. Confusing, right? Means there could also be other factors that may affect your sensitive skin even if you are wearing sunscreen. 

Now, if you see the packaging, all sunscreen for face (face sunscreen) will have mandated directions and water resistance testing results which are easily visible. Most sunscreen can either be effective for up to 40 minutes or even up to 80 minutes in water.

Mineral sunscreens will effectively shield skin against the sun as they have zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. You can also choose sunscreen lotion, chemical sunscreen, physical sunscreens, and even pet supplies. 

One must also understand that they must reapply it every 2 hours. You can refer to the directions written on the packaging. Consult your skin doctor in case you need any clarifications.

Choose a Sunscreen With an SPF Between 15 and 50 

The EWG generally recommends choosing sunscreens within the SPF 15–50 range. Experts recommend sticking with the lower SPF products. You should apply a liberal coating and reapply it often. “Often” generally means every two hours and anytime after toweling off, swimming, or excessive sweating.

SPF will only measure protection from UVB radiation. It has nothing to do with deep-penetrating UVA radiation. In fact, in the US, no labeling system tells consumers how much UVA protection they might get after applying sunscreen. 

It is essential to know that it is another major downside of higher-SPF products. Remember that a product with SPF can protect you from sunburns. At the same time, it could still leave you vulnerable to doses of UVA radiation. 

Therefore, to ensure equal protection from both types of radiation, you should check the ingredients list. The product should contain about 3 percent avobenzone or at least 15 percent zinc oxide. Both these ingredients block UVA.

Lastly, do not let your sunscreen do all the heavy lifting. Always use shade, hats, sunglasses, and clothing as part of your.

What Does the SPF Number Mean?

The SPF number will tell you how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to redden your skin. It applies when you use the product exactly as directed versus the time duration without sunscreen. So ideally speaking, with SPF 30, it would take you 30 times longer to burn compared to a scenario when you were not wearing sunscreen.

An SPF 30 will allow about 3 percent UVB rays to hit your skin. Whereas SPF of 50 allows about 2 percent of those rays through. That might seem a slight difference, but later, you will realize that the SPF 30 will allow 50 percent more UV radiation onto your skin.

Under ideal conditions like in a lab, a sunscreen with higher SPF protection and broad-spectrum coverage offers more protection against sunburn. It means UVA and DNA damage are less than products with lower SPF values.

But, in real life, the story is different outside the lab. In real life, products with very high SPFs create a false sense of security. People who use them tend to stay in the sun much longer. 

They may skip or forget to apply sunscreen. And they may think they do not need to seek shade, wear a hat or cover up with clothing. Finally, such people end up getting a lot more UV damage, which, of course, defeats the purpose.

Especially for individuals with a history or high risk of skin cancer, genetic diseases such as albinism, or certain immune disorders, SPF 50 may not be enough. Even for similar scenarios, such as skiing, hiking at high altitudes, or vacationing near the equator.

You should know that the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, especially for any extended outdoor activity. Regardless of the SPF, you should apply one ounce (two tablespoons) – 30 minutes before sun exposure. In addition, you should reapply it every two hours or immediately after sweating or swimming.

Experts Say You Should Avoid Sunscreen SPF 50 and Higher

Experts say high-SPF products do not give you a whole lot more protection. Do you know that two kinds of UV radiation hit your skin when you are out in the sun? UVA and UVB. 

UVB is the kind responsible for sunburns. But UVA radiation is the kind that reaches deeper into your skin and causes skin aging. Both of these radiation increase your risk of skin cancer. 

SPF, which means sun protection factor – is the measurement of how well a sunscreen will protect you from UVB. You may think that an SPF 100 sunscreen will give you double the protection of an SPF 50 sunscreen. But the truth is that the higher-SPF products will only marginally be better and will only shield you from UVB radiation. It has been confirmed by the EWG and the Skin Cancer Foundation. 

In reality, SPF 30 products will block nearly 97 percent of UVB radiation, whereas SPF 50 products will block about 98 percent, and SPF 100 blocks about 99 percent of the radiation. In 2011, the FDA even called sunscreen SPF 50 and greater as “inherently misleading”.

Experts also worry that high SPF products may make people spend more time in the sun because they automatically start to think they are getting extra protection.

Does a Sunscreen With a High SPF Protect Your Skin Better Than One with a Lower SPF? How High Should You Go?

Many of you may ask this question. But there is no simple answer to this question. It could be a little complicated. Several studies have studied the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the human skin and ways to protect against them. 

You should also know about a few important points that will make you more of a sun protection expert!

Ultraviolet light is invisible to humans as it has shorter wavelengths compared to normal light we can see. Within the UV spectrum, two types of rays could sun damage the DNA in your skin cells. Damaged skin cells may lead to skin cancer. Hence it is important to protect your skin from both types: 

UVB rays often cause sunburn and play a vital role in developing skin cancer. A sunscreen’s SPF number often refers to the amount of UVB protection it may provide.

UVA rays may cause skin damage that leads to tanning, wrinkles, and aging. The shortest wavelengths of UVA rays may also contribute to sunburn. Therefore, looking for the words “broad spectrum” on your product’s label is essential. It means that these ingredients can protect you from UVA and UVB rays.

What is The Easiest Way to Know if a Sunscreen Provides Proper Protection?

When you buy sunscreen, you must look for ones that provide broad-spectrum protection and say so on the label. Note that only broad-spectrum sunscreens will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. 

If you use sunscreen products that contain antioxidants – it will give you another layer of protection. Wearing sun-protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses is also important in total sun protective care.

As you read the nutrition facts on foods before eating them, similarly you should always check the drug facts on sunscreens. It is just as important to understand what you are putting on our skin to protect your skin. 

Now that you are armed with a higher SPF it is time to pack those beach bags and enjoy a fun, sun-safe summer .But when you go to the supermarket check out the top-selling sunscreens with SPF 50 below.

Beyond Sunscreen

You may have several questions regarding sunscreen SPF 50. Sometimes when you ask a question, you realize it is the wrong question. You may also ask – what should be the best overall strategy to protect your skin? 

It is important not to rely on high-SPF sunscreens alone. Meaning no single method of sun defense can protect you perfectly. You need to understand that sunscreen is just one vital part of a strategy. In addition, you should try seeking shade and covering up with clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, CFS is a complicated disorder that is characterized by extreme fatigue that tends to last for at least six months.

It cannot be fully explained by an underlying medical condition.

Moreover, this fatigue tends to worsen with physical or mental activity, however, does not improve with rest.

Some other characteristics are sleep that is not refreshing, difficulties with memory, focus, and concentration, and dizziness that worsens with moving from lying down or sitting to standing.

It is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, ME.

In some cases, doctors may also abbreviate it as ME/CFS.

The most recent term is systemic exertional intolerance disease, SEID.

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown.

Though there is a number of theories ranging from viral infections to psychological stress causing it.

Some experts are of the view that chronic fatigue syndrome may occur due to a combination of factors.

There is no single test to confirm the diagnosis.

You may need several medical tests to rule out other health conditions that have similar symptoms.

While treatment aims to improve your symptoms.

Keep on reading.

Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The cause of CFS is unknown.

However, researchers speculate that contributing factors may include:

• viruses
• a weakened immune system
• stress
• hormonal imbalances

It is also possible that some people are genetically predisposed to develop chronic fatigue syndrome.

Thus, CFS in some cases develops after a viral infection. No single type of infection has been found to cause CFS.

Some viral infections that may have relation to CFS are:

• Epstein-Barr Virus, EBV
• human herpesvirus 6
• Ross River Virus, RRV
• rubella virus

Moreover, infections that occur due to bacteria like Coxiella burnetii, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are also have relation to CFS.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC also suggests that CFS may be the end-stage of multiple different conditions, rather than one specific condition.

In fact, about 1 in 10 people with EBV, Ross River virus, or Coxiella burnetii infection with developing this condition that meets the criteria for a CFS diagnosis.

Additionally, researchers are of the view that those who have severe symptoms with any of these three infections are at a higher risk for later developing CFS.

Furthermore, people with CFS have weak immune systems.

However, doctors do not know whether this is enough to cause the disorder.

If you are among people with CFS, you may also have abnormal hormone levels in some cases.

Doctors have not yet concluded whether this is significant or not.

Risk Factors for CFS

It is important to note that CFS is common among people in their 40s and 50s.

Moreover, sex also plays an important role in CFS.

Women are two to four times more likely to have a diagnosis with CFS than men.

While some other factors that can increase your risk of developing CFS are:

• genetic predisposition
• allergies
• stress
• environmental factors

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome depend on the individual and the severity of the condition.

The most common symptom is fatigue which is severe enough to interfere with your daily activities.

Moreover, to diagnose CFS, there must be a significant reduction in your ability to perform the usual daily activities with fatigue that lasts for at least 6 months.

It must not be curable with bed rest as well.

Furthermore, you will also experience extreme fatigue after physical or mental activities which are referred to as post-exertional malaise, PEM.

This can last for more than 24 hours after the activity.

It is important to note that CFS can also introduce sleep problems like feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep, chronic insomnia, and other sleep disorders.

Additionally, you may also experience:

• loss of memory
• reduction in concentration
• orthostatic intolerance to going from lying o seated to standing positions makes you lightheaded, dizzy, or faint

However, physical symptoms of CFS are muscle pain, frequent headaches, multi-joint pain without redness or swelling, frequent sore throat, and tender and swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits.

CFS tends to affect some people in cycles with periods of feeling worse and then better.

Symptoms can, in some cases, even disappear completely which is referred to as remission.

However, it is also possible for the symptoms to return later, which is relapse.

This cycle of remission and relapse can often make it difficult for you to manage your symptoms, however, it is possible.

Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a challenging condition to diagnose.

According to the Institute of Medicine, as of 2015,  CFS occurs in about 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans.

However, it is estimated that 84 to 91% have yet to receive a diagnosis.

Moreover, there are no medical tests that can help screen for CFS.

Its symptoms are just like a number of other conditions.

Thus, many people with CFS do not look too sick so doctors may not be able to diagnose or recognize that they may have a health condition.

Ruling out the potential causes of your fatigue is a key part of the diagnosis process.

While some conditions with symptoms that resemble those with CFS are mononucleosis, Lyme Disease, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia.

Moreover, major depressive disorder, severe obesity, sleep disorders, Lupus, SLS, and hypothyroidism, also have symptoms like CFS.

The side effects of certain drugs like antihistamines and alcohol can also mimic the symptoms of CFS.

Bacease of the similarities between CFS and a number of other conditions, it is important not to self-diagnose.

Talk to your doctor or seek medical advice about your symptoms. They can work with you to get relief.

Treatment Options

There is currently no specific cure for CFS.

Each person has different symptoms and will therefore need different types of treatment to manage the disorder and relieve their symptoms.

Make sure to work with the help of healthcare providers to create the best treatment plan for you.

Moreover, they can go over the possible benefits and side effects of therapies with you.

Addressing Post-Exertional Malaise, PEM Symptoms

PEM occurs when even a minor physical, mental, or emotional exertion results in CFS symptoms that become worse.

Worsening symptoms often occur 12 to 48 hours after the activity and last for days or even weeks.

Moreover, with the help of activity management or pacing, it can help balance rest and activity to avoid PEM flare-ups.

You will have to find your individual limits for mental and physical activities, plan them, and then rest to stay within these limits.

Some doctors may also refer to staying within these limits as the ‘energy envolope’.

Furthermore, keeping a diary of your activities can help to find your personal limits.

It is also important to note that while vigorous aerobic exercises are good for chronic conditions if you have CFS, you will be unable to tolerate such exercise routines.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

With the help of certain lifestyle changes, you can help reduce your symptoms.

Limiting or eliminating caffeine intake can help you to sleep better and ease your insomnia.

Moreover, you should limit or avoid nicotine and alcohol as well.

Try to avoid napping during the day if it is hurting your ability to sleep at night.

Create a sleep routine. Go to bed at the same time every night and aim to wake up around the same time every day.

Medications for CFS

Typically, no medication can help to treat all the symptoms of CFS.

Also, your symptoms can change over time, so your medications may have to as well.

In a number of cases, CFS can trigger or be a symptom of depression.

Thus, you may need a low dose of anti-depressant therapy or a referral to a mental health provider.

In case lifestyle changes do not give you a restful night’s sleep, your doctor may suggest a sleep aim.

Moreover, pain-reducing medications can also help you to cope with aches and joint pain that occur due to CFS.

In case you need medication therapy, your doctor will have to tailor it for your needs.

Work closely with your doctor.

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for CFS.

Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture, tia chi, yoga, and massage may help to relieve the pain associated with CFS.

However, always talk to your doctor before beginning any alternative or complementary treatments.

Long-Term Expectation

Despite the increase in research efforts, CFS remains a complex condition with no exact known cause and cure.

The recovery rate is only 5% and managing CFS can therefore be challenging.

You will most likely need to make lifestyle changes to adapt to chronic fatigue. As a result, you may also experience depression, anxiety, or social isolation. You may also find that joining a support group can also be helpful as you are making decisions and transitions.

Moreover, CFS progresses ifferently in everyone, so it is important to work with your doctor to create a treatment plan that meets your needs.

You can benefit from working with a team of healthcare providers which includes doctors, therapists, and rehabilitation specialists.

You can also refer to CDC for recommendations for managing and living with CFS.

Do you want to know about mouth breathing, read this article.