Food and Health

Different Period Blood Colours And What It Says About Your Health

The colour of your period blood may indicate an infection you should not ignore

The colour of your period or monthly flow can actually tell you if everything is working smoothly in your body system or if you’ve got a serious health situation you should pay attention to.

During menstruation, the body sheds tissue and blood from the uterus through the vagina. This bloody discharge can vary from bright red to dark brown or black depending on how old it is.

Hormonal changes and health conditions can also affect the color and texture of period blood. Different colors of period blood have different significance for your health.

Healthy period blood typically varies from bright red to dark brown or black. Blood or discharge that is orange or grey may indicate an infection.

Here’s a guide to determine what your period colour could mean for your health:

Bright Red Blood

This is usually the colour at the start of your cycle. Your uterine lining is shedding, and fast, and usually comes with the painful cramps. In very uncommon cases, this could also indicate a ruptured ovarian cyst or miscarriage.

After women deliver a baby, they experience bleeding for four to six weeks, which is called lochia. Lochia bleeding begins with a heavy flow and bright red blood. After around day four, lochia may be pinkish or brownish in color.

However, bright red blood is also associated with an infection, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. These infections can cause bleeding between periods. If you see bright red blood before your period, contact your doctor.

Brown or Black Blood

Most common at the very end of your period (light flow or spotting), is when blood has been stored up the longest. Brown discharge of all shades is typically a sign of old blood.

Black or brown is usually old blood, which has had time to oxidize, changing the hue. The blood may also be leftover from your last period.

Dark Red Blood

This means your blood has been around inside you for longer. This colour blood appears at the end of your cycle due to high estrogen levels, thick lining and a slower shedding rate, all of which are completely normal.

Orange Blood

If there is an orange colour in your menstrual blood, check for these signs to see if it’s a problem. A ‘slippery’ texture is normal but anything else – especially a bad smell, could be a sign that your blood has mixed with cervical fluids, which is usually the indicator of an infection or STD. If you notice this, go straight to your doctor to get it sorted as soon as possible.

Pink Blood

If right before your period, you notice light red or pink spotting, this could indicate low estrogen levels. Hormonal issues can lead to other issues later in life (infrequent periods and dryness to name a few).

Some causes of low estrogen include being on hormonal birth control that doesn’t contain estrogen or perimenopause.

If you’re pregnant, a gush of clear or pink fluid from the vagina may be a sign of miscarriage. Other signs including cramping, the passage of tissue, and loss of pregnancy symptoms.The best thing is to quickly see a doctor.

Gray Blood

If you see gray or off-white discharge, call your doctor. Gray blood is associated with infections like bacterial vaginosis. Other signs of infection include fever, pain, itching, or a foul odor. If you’re pregnant, a gray discharge may be a sign of miscarriage.

During pregnancy, pink discharge that contains tissue and occurs alongside cramps may indicate a miscarriage. It is important for women who experience vaginal bleeding while pregnant to see their doctor or obstetrician.

Changes in the color of your period blood are not anything to worry about but you should pay attention to your flow volume, changes in cycle length, and pain, or any bleeding that doesn’t have a pattern, as these can indicate underlying conditions.

Period blood can have a metallic smell, like a copper coin. This is typically due to the presence of iron in the blood and is not usually a cause for concern. However, it should not persist much longer after your period ends.

Food and Health

Side Effects Of Morning After Pills You Need To Know

The morning after pill may prevent unwanted pregnancy, but it can also cause some side effects like an irregular period, fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

The main unpleasant side effects that the emergency contraceptive pill can cause are:

Nausea and vomiting;
Headache;
Fatigue;
Bleeding between periods;
Breast tenderness;
Abdominal pain;
Diarrhoea;
Irregular period, coming earlier or later than usual.

What to do

Some side effects can be treated, or even avoided, as follows:

Nausea and vomiting

Food should be eaten as soon as the pill is taken, to reduce the urge to vomit. If nausea occurs, a home remedy may be prepared and taken, such as ginger or clove tea with cinnamon, or antiemetic medication.

Headache and abdominal pain

If the pill causes side effects like headaches or abdominal pain, painkillers such as paracetamol or dipyrone are recommended.

Breast tenderness

To relieve breast pain, apply warm compresses or take a warm bath, massaging the breast area

Diarrhoea

In case of diarrhoea, drink plenty of fluids and avoid greasy foods, eggs, milk and alcohol, giving preference to black, chamomile or guava leaf tea.

Food and Health

Home Remedies To Get Rid Of A Stubborn Cough At Home

A dry cough is also called an unproductive cough. Unlike productive, wet coughs, dry coughs are unable to remove mucus, phlegm, or irritants from your lungs or nasal passages.

Dry coughs can linger for weeks after you’ve had a cold or the flu. They may also be caused by a number of conditions, such as:

postnasal drip
asthma
acid reflux or GERD

They may also be a long-lasting side effect from exposure to environmental toxins, such as cigarette smoke.

Dry coughs can be very uncomfortable and may occur in both children and adults. While there are a number of clinical treatments you can use to alleviate them, there are also at-home remedies which can be just as effective in many cases.

Here are a few home remedies for a stubborn dry cough you can try.

Herbs and supplements

At-home remedies for dry cough aren’t one-size-fits-all. You may have to experiment with several before you find the ones that work for you.

In addition, not all of these remedies have been fully researched and proven to be effective. Some treatments are also inappropriate for babies or children.

Honey

For adults and children ages 1 and up, honey can be used to treat day and nighttime dry coughing.

Honey has antibacterial properties and can also help to coat the throat, alleviating irritation.

You can try taking honey by the teaspoon several times daily, or add it to tea or warm water to drink.

Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound which may have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. It may also be beneficial for several conditions, including a stubborn dry cough.

Curcumin is best absorbed into the blood stream when taken with black pepper. You can add 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper into a beverage, such as cold orange juice, to drink. You can also make it into a warm tea.

You can get turmeric in its spice-form, as well as a capsule.

Ginger

Ginger has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been shown to boost the immune system and relieve pain and discomfort.

Ginger can be found in many teas as an ingredient. You can also make ginger tea from ginger root by steeping the peeled or cut root in warm water. Adding honey may make it even more beneficial for dry cough.

You can also take ginger in capsule form, or chew on ginger root to alleviate dry cough.

Peppermint

Peppermint contains menthol, which helps to numb nerve endings in the throat that become irritated by coughing. This may provide pain relief and reduce the urge to cough.

There are a number of ways to take peppermint. These include drinking peppermint tea or sucking on peppermint lozenges. Try drinking peppermint tea right before bed to help alleviate nighttime coughs.

Aromatherapy with eucalyptus

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to soothe and heal.

Eucalyptus essential oil may help ease dry cough by working as a decongestant. Try adding eucalyptus to a diffuser, spritzer, or inhaler. You can also add a few drops to hot water in a bowl and inhale the steam.

Scenting your room with eucalyptus may help you get a better night’s sleep if nighttime coughing has been keeping you awake.

Gargle with salt water

Gargling with warm salt water will help ease the discomfort and irritation caused by a dry cough. Salt water also helps kill bacteria in the mouth and throat.

To do this, dissolve 1 teaspoon of table salt in a large glass of warm water. Then gargle several times a day.

If you wake up with an irritated throat from coughing during the night, gargle with salt water immediately after brushing your teeth to help numb and soothe the nerve endings in your throat.

Food and Health

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Always Have Honey At Home

Honey is filled with a lot of nutrients to keep you healthy and glowing. So, stay at home and make the best use of it.

You have no idea that your home is a hidden treasure of beneficial ingredients. From the kitchen to your refrigerator, there are a lot of ingredients present with you to help you in various ways.

Honey is one of them. You might treat it as a natural sweetener but it is way more useful than that.

Honey contains a lot of antioxidants and vital nutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium copper, potassium, manganese and zinc.

These all are great to boost up your diet, skin and health naturally. So folks, here we are going to talk about five amazing ways to use honey at home.

Here are the five ways you can use honey. From a healthy diet to skincare and health remedies, honey is the jack of all trades.

Reduces Acid Reflux

Honey contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents that are great to boost your gastrointestinal system.

By keeping the bacterial interference at bay, it helps in digestion well. Honey can also help reduce acid reflux. Take 1 teaspoon of honey and mix it in a glass of lukewarm water.

Great For Skin And Hair

Honey has a lot of benefits for your skin and hair. It is not just a natural moisturiser but it is loaded with many skin benefits. To tackle dull, dry skin or acne, honey works wonderfully.

Whatever skin pack you use, adding a spoon of honey will prove to be beneficial. For the hair, it helps in reducing dandruff naturally. You can use 2 tablespoons of honey with 1 egg white to make a hair pack. Apply it on your scalp as a pre-wash hair mask.

A Better Substitute For Artificial Sugar

Honey is considered to be a better choice rather than refined sugar. Honey contains a lot of antioxidants which lowers the risk of cardiac issues as well as high blood pressure. To use it, you can have it with a cup of green tea regularly.

Reduces Sore Throat, Nausea And Cold

A common cold and sore throat remedy in most Indian households is honey. Its anti-bacterial properties can help reduce throat infection and cold. It is also known to curb nausea effectively. You just have to drink a solution of 1 tablespoon honey and ginger in water.

Reduces Hangover

What can be worse than a hangover? The sweetness present in honey helps the body to trigger its metabolism and prevent sudden changes in blood sugar level. Also, it minimises the side effects of alcohol consumption. You can drink a glass of honey water to tackle hangover.