Important things to know about addictions
health

Important things to know about addictions

Addictions have become an extremely serious global issue. From different kinds of substances to alcohol and nicotine, people can be addicted to a variety of vices. Being addicted to something is a disorder, which affects the behavior and brain. When the addiction increases, one loses control over his/her urge to use the substance, even if they know how bad it is for them. Understanding it better First, one needs to understand that addiction is a disease. It can start from consumption on an experimental basis, which leads to more intake use until the person cannot control the urge any longer. While some substances may take time to become addictive, a few can be riskier and turn a person into an addict immediately. Like most other diseases, addictions can be treated, but it requires more support from loved ones, and one needs to develop the willpower to quit. Symptoms of addiction Sometimes it can become quite difficult to identify if one is addicted to any substance. Avoiding the consumption of alcohol or any other substance is the best way to save oneself from addiction. However, if a person has started consuming any of these substances, they must look for the following symptoms to recognize if they have become addicted.
Aging –  Its types, warning signs, symptoms, and risk factors
health

Aging – Its types, warning signs, symptoms, and risk factors

Aging is a natural process. All of us grow older with time, which is why it is crucial to lead a healthy lifestyle. This way, old age does not bring too many problems along. From pain in the joints to suffering from forgetfulness, there are a bunch of things that are associated with aging. Types of aging Cellular aging The aging process of cells is dependent on the frequency with which they replicate. A cell can replicate itself around 50 times, and after that, the genetic material cannot be copied properly. This happens because of shortened telomeres. Hormonal aging Hormones play a huge part in the aging process, more so when a person is in their childhood or adolescence. The levels of hormones keep fluctuating as long as we live. Puberty results in the formation of large pores and acne. As we get older, the change in hormones contributes to the formation of dry skin. Metabolic aging Cells are responsible for transforming food into energy throughout the day. The byproducts produced during this process can be quite harmful. The metabolizing process causes damage to the body. Some are of the opinion that the slow-down of the metabolic process through methods like calorie restriction could result in slowing down the process of aging.
Knowing the symptoms of common allergies and their risk factors
health

Knowing the symptoms of common allergies and their risk factors

An allergy is a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to a foreign substance. The immune system is responsible for producing substances referred to as antibodies. When an individual suffers from allergies, their immune system generates antibodies that help in identifying the harmful allergens affecting the body. The symptoms of allergies are dependent on the substance one has been affected with. The reactions can be mild, moderate or severe in nature. Hay fever Hay fever, which is also called allergic rhinitis, can result in sneezing, runny nose, itching in the eyes or the nose, and watery or swollen eyes. Food allergy An allergy, which has resulted from consuming a particular food item, can lead to a tingling sensation in the mouth, lips or face swelling up or anaphylaxis, which could pose a threat to one’s life. Insect sting allergy A sting from an insect can cause the affected portion to swell up considerably, cause an itching sensation across the body, and lead to shortness of breath. Medication allergy An allergy, caused by the consumption of some medication, results in an itchy skin, rash, hives, swelling on the face, wheezing, and anaphylaxis. Atopic dermatitis This is a skin condition, which also goes by the name of eczema.
Understanding Alzheimer’s disease
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Understanding Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s results in the unfortunate wasting away of brain cells, causing their premature death; it is a progressive ailment. It is the most common kind of dementia, wherein a person’s social skills, behavior, and thinking capabilities decline, disrupting their ability of independent functioning. The earliest signs of this disorder may be forgetfulness with severe memory loss as the disease progresses. Here are the common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: Memory loss Repeating questions and statements Difficulty in finding words to identify objects, participate in conversations, or express thoughts Forgetting events, appointments, and conversations Forgetting family members’ names and common objects Getting lost in known places Misplacing things Thinking and reasoning Losing the ability to make reasonable judgments and decisions Making uncharacteristic or poor choices in social gatherings Difficulty in responding to everyday situations Planning and performance Routine activities, such as cooking or planning becomes difficult Advanced stage patients may not be able to perform basic tasks, such as bathing or dressing Personality and behavioral changes Delusions Depression Loss of inhibitions Apathy Wandering Mood swings Modified sleeping habits Social withdrawal Aggression and irritation Distrust in others Why does Alzheimer’s occur? The patient’s brain changes due to Alzheimer’s disease. The brain becomes smaller as the disease progresses with lesser healthy brain cells.
A helpful overview on anemia
health

A helpful overview on anemia

Anemia refers to the medical condition in which the body does not produce enough red blood cells to transfer oxygen to the tissues in the body. When you suffer from anemia, you feel weak and exhausted all the time. This disease can be temporary in nature or have a long-term effect on a person’s health, in which case they will require continual treatment. Causes Inflammation Several kinds of diseases like kidney diseases, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and chronic inflammatory diseases obstruct the process of producing red blood cells. Iron deficiency anemia This is the most common kind of anemia. As the name suggests, it is a result of a deficiency of iron in the body. The bone marrow requires iron to produce hemoglobin. When there is a shortage of the nutrient, the body fails to generate a sufficient amount of hemoglobin to produce red blood cells. Vitamin-deficiency anemia Apart from iron, the body requires vitamin B-12 and folate to generate red blood cells. When your diet does not have any of these, there is a sharp drop in the red blood cell count. There are also cases of people who consume vitamin B-12 but not absorbing it properly. That gives rise to vitamin-deficiency anemia.
Arthritis – Types, signs and risk factors
health

Arthritis – Types, signs and risk factors

Arthritis is a medical condition that is marked by inflammation in the joints. It can affect a single joint or several joints in the body. There are different types of arthritis. Each one can be traced to a different cause, with various methods to treat them. Types Primarily, there are two main kinds of arthritis – rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. These can be broken down into several categories. Osteoarthritis This is the most commonly diagnosed form of arthritis. When a person is suffering from osteoarthritis, the cartilage of the joints gets severely damaged. The cartilage is the tough, coarse protective coating found at the end points where the bones come together to form a joint. Cartilage acts as a cushion to this part of the bones and facilitates the frictionless movement of the joints. When the cartilage gets damaged, the bones grind against each other, causing severe pain and restrictive movements. This damage can take place over a few years or in a short time. Rheumatoid arthritis In this type of arthritis, the immune system adversely affects the outer covering or the lining around the joint capsule. The joint capsule is a hard membrane that surrounds parts of the joints.
Common blood disorders – Symptoms, causes, and risk factors
health

Common blood disorders – Symptoms, causes, and risk factors

Blood disorders can be of various types. The most common ones include anemia, bleeding and clotting disorders like hemophilia, and cancers like lymphoma and leukemia. In this article, let’s look at the symptoms, causes, and risk factors associated with some of the common blood disorders. Read on to know more about three common blood disorders. Leukemia Among the most common symptoms of leukemia are extreme fatigue and feeling ill. Additionally, people with leukemia have a tendency to bleed easily; the urine or stool may be accompanied by blood, or patients might bleed from their nose or gums. One may also experience swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, and a loss of appetite. Causes: Leukemia typically develops when the DNA inside the blood cells starts getting damaged, which can cause the blood cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. In this situation, the healthy blood cells die and are replaced by new abnormal cells, which develop inside the bone marrow. However, abnormal blood cells do not die naturally and keep building up. This leads to the cancerous cells overcrowding and outnumbering the healthy cells, resulting in leukemia. Risk factors: The most common risk factor associated with leukemia is the presence of certain viruses (human T-lymphotropic virus) in the body.
Lung cancer – Types, symptoms, and causes
health

Lung cancer – Types, symptoms, and causes

When the cells in the lungs begin to abnormally multiply and grow, it results in cancer. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. And the risk of suffering from this life-threatening disease is even higher when one is a smoker. Herein, we discuss the various factors that come into play when it comes to lung cancer. Symptoms of lung cancer Usually, lung cancer does not present any symptoms or signs in the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, one may notice Headache Bone pain Loss in weight Hoarse voice Chest pain Shortness of breath Coughing of blood A new cough that persists One should consult a doctor if they notice these signs. If someone is unable to quit smoking, they should visit a medical practitioner for quitting techniques to help avoid this disease. Types of lung cancer There are two kinds of lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer This is a catchall term that includes many varieties of this disease, like large cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Small cell lung cancer This happens mainly to people who are heavy smokers, and it’s rarer than non-small cell lung cancer. Risk factors of lung cancer Various factors put you at risk of getting this disease.
6 top business credit card companies
finance

6 top business credit card companies

The right business credit card can help you save thousands of dollars. Business accounts can earn more rewards like discounts, hotel stays, and cashback offers. You may also use these cards to meet short-term financial requirements. In case you haven’t applied for one yet, you must check out 6 of the top business credit cards that you can apply for to make your life easier. American Express Blue Business® Plus Card This is an ideal business credit card offered by one of the leading credit card companies and does not levy any annual fees. You receive twice the Membership Reward ® points upto $50,000 with no category restrictions, which reduces to 1% thereafter. The cashback earned automatically gets credited in your statement. The regular APR on this card is 13.24% to 19.24% variable. CitiBusiness® AAdvantage® Platinum Select ® MasterCard® This is an excellent option if you undertake frequent business travel with American Airlines. You earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Additionally, the card offers 2 AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent on telecommunications, fuel, car rental, and cable and satellite services. All other purchases earn you one mile for every dollar spent. The annual fee is $99 (waived in the first year) and regular APR varies between 15.99% and 24.99%.
Top 6 NNN properties for sale in the country
finance

Top 6 NNN properties for sale in the country

NNN properties are known as triple net lease properties and can be categorized as single-tenant properties that are available for lease. In these properties, the maintenance fees, taxes, and insurance have to be paid by the lessee instead of the landlord. These costs have to be borne by the lessee in addition to the rent. Here are some of the top NNN properties for sale: 7-Eleven, Texas There are plenty of 7-Eleven properties that come under the category of NNN properties. This one is our top pick at the moment, as it serves two commodities that are always in demand: gas and foods. The property is on the 3601 West Freeway in Fort Worth, Texas, making it quite a hot spot for sale. The current annual rent for this property is $267,500, while the cap rate is 5.75%. Burger King, Florida Burger King is one of the country’s favorite fast-food chains. The current annual rent for this property is about $140,000, and the cap rate is 5.15%. This property was built quite recently as compared to the other options on our list, and it has the potential of providing good returns quickly, as it is in a strategic location on SW Port St.

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Top 5 retirement investment funds for your portfolio
finance

Top 5 retirement investment funds for your portfolio

Most people work for decades so that they can make investments and collect sufficient funds for their retirement years. Having enough savings for the golden years is ideally the most significant goal for you as an investor, but the volatile market may make it difficult to understand which retirement funds are suitable for you. To help you out, here are the best retirement investments that you can include in your portfolio: Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund This retirement fund is created for investors who want to retire early so that they can enjoy the benefits of their investment within 15 years. However, even if you don’t want to retire that early, this fund has various offerings that make it one of the best retirement investments available in the market. As of now, this retirement fund offers a current yield of over 2%, and the expense ratio is 0.14%. Plus, Vanguard is quite a trusted name for keeping your money safe. Northern Global Tactical Asset Allocation Fund This fund offers one of the best diversifications and a lot more protection in case the fund underperforms. So, it invests in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds and aims to provide long-term capital appreciation at an expense ratio of 0.58%.
Top 5 capital providers for your business
finance

Top 5 capital providers for your business

People who wish to set up their business ventures need additional funding to get going. Many banks and financial institutions help promising businesses with the same and in this article, we would be covering guaranteed business loan providers. You can check the following list out when looking for business loan providers. Wells Fargo Wells Fargo is one of the best financial institutions when it comes to guaranteed business loan providers in the market. It offers various other financial products. It claims to be a leader when it comes to small business loans. The unsecured business loan has varied loan amounts starting from $10,000 and going up to $100,000. The term for this product is between one to five years. Additionally, you can go for other loans offered by Wells Fargo, such as the Equipment Express Loan or the Advancing Term Loan. Capital One Capital One does not only offer good deals on business credit cards, its business loan is worth considering too. If you are looking at a funding source that can help expand your business or get going with the operations, then we highly recommend you to choose the business loan offered by Capital One. Starting at a minimal amount of $10,000 and a maximum term length of 5 years, the repayment term is simple and can be done on a monthly basis.
All you need to know about home insurance policy
finance

All you need to know about home insurance policy

Buying a home comes with a lot of responsibilities. There are a lot of risks that come with owning a home like the risk of theft and property damage. Investing in the right kind of home insurance policy is important so as to be financially prepared for these risks. There are several different companies in the market that offer home insurance policies with different kinds of terms and coverages. Remember the following points before choosing a home insurance policy. Explore your options As mentioned earlier, there is a wide variety of home insurance policies available to homeowners at this time. When selecting one, it is important to consider factors like what potential risks are being covered in the policy. It is also important to consider the company’s record in your area, whether they are reliable as insurance providers, and their response time. Ask about discounts Home insurance policy in 2021 offers additional services and discounts. They may offer discounts on additional safety installment services such as installing an alarm system, smoke alarm, or better locks. There may also be certain offers for old and retired personnel as well as some discounts for policies when taken via your employer’s or organization’s reference.
5 technologies revolutionizing financial services
finance

5 technologies revolutionizing financial services

For any industry to sustain itself in today’s world, implementing digital strategies has become indispensable. This holds particularly true for the financial services industry. The good news is that digital transformation in financial services has already begun, and we’ll likely see more and more innovative technologies underpinning banking and financial institutions in the coming years. Keep reading to learn about the latest digital transformation trends in the financial services industry. Big data and artificial intelligence The combination of big data and artificial intelligence is a revolutionary digital strategy that is shaping the future of banking and financial services. The technology helps institutions process, store, and drive valuable insights from the data they gather from their customers’ activities. Big data and artificial intelligence allow institutions to create a highly personalized experience, helping businesses attract and retain customers. Blockchain Blockchain is a fairly new technology that is becoming increasingly popular in the financial services industry. With blockchain technology, all transactions are permanently stored in the blockchain network, providing the highest level of transparency and security. Nobody can tamper with these transactions, which nearly eliminates the risk of error and fraud. Besides security, the technology is being explored for use in a wide variety of banking and investment applications.
5 easy steps to make a successful VA loan application
finance

5 easy steps to make a successful VA loan application

Veterans or those on active duty can avail of VA loans for any financing purposes. The federal government guarantees these loans. However, to get them, there are specific steps to be followed for successful application. These steps include everything from looking for the best VA loan lenders to maintaining a stable credit score. Here are a few easy steps to make a successful loan application for veterans. 1. Get preapproval for the VA loan With preapproval, you can determine your budget. This process involves telling your VA loan lender about your homebuying goals, employment history, and military service. Some documents required during this process include copies of your driver’s license, DD-214 or Guard/Reserve points statements, recent pay stubs, and bank statements. 2. Look for VA-approved loan lenders Always shop for a lender who is an active participant in the VA loan program. The best VA loan lenders would offer several options and deals. The deals generally differ based on discount points, interest rates, and VA closing costs. If you face any difficulty, a loan officer can help you find the right VA loan lender. 3. Get an eligibility certificate A certificate of eligibility or COE is proof that you have met all the eligibility criteria for the VA loan.
5 reasons to get commercial vehicle insurance
finance

5 reasons to get commercial vehicle insurance

Insurance helps cover unexpected costs and liabilities that may incur in the future. Investing in a decent insurance policy also protects your assets, be it rental or owned. If you are a business owner and own or rent vehicles that transport goods and consumables, you must invest in commercial vehicle insurance for the following reasons. There are several monetary benefits, some that also save tax in the long run. Some of them are mentioned below: Get additional cover Your regular auto insurance may not cover all costs that arise out of accidents or personal injury involving commercial vehicles. Also, most personal auto insurance policies are not valid for liabilities accrued out of vehicles used for business purposes. This is where commercial truck insurance will provide customized, comprehensive insurance suited to your business needs. Follow regulations The law in many states requires business owners to get a commercial vehicle insurance policy. The insurance is mandatory if your business transports goods and hauls heavy-duty equipment. Even if your company provides service from a vehicle, your auto insurance policy will not cover the liabilities. Any business, partnership, or corporation that owns vehicles for commercial use must buy this additional cover. Customized coverage One of the main advantages of buying commercial insurance is that you get custom cover for specific damage, repairs, or the replacement of certain parts.