Understanding blood donation – Eligibility criteria and benefits

Understanding blood donation – Eligibility criteria and benefits
Blood donation is an important part of healthcare, as it enables blood transfusion—a treatment option that can sustain and save lives. Data suggests that there are 11 million donors in the country, and over 11.5 million units of blood are collected in a year. Before the process begins, each donor is asked questions to assess the risk of bloodborne infections. Blood can be donated every 56 days and up to six times a year. Eligibility criteria One must meet the following criteria to be eligible to donate blood: One must be fit and healthy on the day of the blood donation. Depending on state law, one should be at least 16 or 17 years old. Some states enable legal minors to donate with parental approval. Although there is no legal maximum age, donor facilities may have different policies. You must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds. You must be able to pass the health history and physical exams. Benefits Blood donation can benefit both the recipients and the donors. Some of the key benefits of blood donation are: Contributing to society: The only way to supplement blood loss is through donated human blood. Donating blood is seen as a noble cause, as it can help in the treatment of cancer, bleeding disorders, sickle cell anemia, and genetic blood abnormalities.

Pneumonia – Causes, symptoms, types, and management

Pneumonia – Causes, symptoms, types, and management
Pneumonia is a prevalent illness that infects the air sacs in one or both lungs, leading to inflammation. Depending on the severity of the infection, the air sacs may get filled with pus or fluid. This, in turn, can cause coughing with phlegm or pus and difficulty breathing in patients. Here, we look at the common causes, symptoms, types, and treatment options for pneumonia to help manage the ailment better. Causes The condition mainly results from viruses or bacteria: Viral pneumonia The disorder can be caused due to viruses like the rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and other viruses that cause the flu or influenza. Viruses are responsible for one third of cases. Bacterial pneumonia The condition can be caused by various bacteria, but the most common trigger is Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacteria usually attack an immune system that is already weak, maybe due to a fever, cold, or another illness. While it can affect anyone, people with unhealthy habits are at higher risk of contracting this bacteria. Mycoplasma pneumonia Often called atypical pneumonia, this is a mild but wildly spread pneumonia caused by the Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria. It can affect people of all age groups. Symptoms The signs include chest pain while breathing or coughing, fatigue, fever with sweats and shaking chills, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, cough with phlegm, and shortness of breath.

Top 7 foods to help ensure a healthy scalp and hair growth

Top 7 foods to help ensure a healthy scalp and hair growth
Healthy long hair is a dream for many, regardless of age. But hair strength and growth rate depend on several factors such as overall health, genetics, environmental exposure, and age. Although individuals cannot control all these factors, they can control their nutritional consumption and food habits, which also influence hair health. Read on further to know more about the foods that can help one achieve healthy and strong hair growth. 7 foods to consume for healthy hair While there are many products to help boost the look of your hair, eating healthy food can add to the nutritional levels of the body. Here are some options one can add to their regular meals to help benefit hair health: Eggs Eggs are a rich source of a B vitamin known as biotin, whose deficiency can lead to increased hair loss. Furthermore, eggs provide the body with iron that helps carry oxygen to grow and repair hair cells. Spinach Spinach consists of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. These nutrients work together to provide a healthy scalp and hair and avoid hair breakage by keeping the hair follicles moisturized. Additionally, spinach is also rich in iron which aids in hair growth and repair.

9 best creams to relieve eczema

9 best creams to relieve eczema
Around one in ten people in our country develop eczema during their lifetime. Eczema is a chronic skin disorder characterized by dry, scaly, and red skin that, more often than not, itches badly. While it has no definitive cure, certain creams can provide relief. Since a diverse range of eczema-relief creams, lotions, and balms are available, patients must choose wisely. Here are the nine best creams to use for eczema after a doctor’s approval. CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream This cream helps soothe eczema flare-ups on patients’ hands. It has several ingredients with hydrating properties that form a protective layer over the skin and fight inflammation. The cream also provides much-needed moisturization and reinforces the skin barrier, making it one of the best creams to use for eczema. Reserveage Nutrition Hydrating Hand & Foot Cream This premium hand and foot cream with glycerin helps keep the skin moisturized. It uses copper-encapsulated peptide technology to repair the skin damage caused by eczema. Further, this cream has collagen-boosting capabilities to maintain skin flexibility. Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream The Vanicream cream is ideal for those with sensitive skin. What sets it apart is its incredibly soft and soothing effect on application and the fact that it does not contain fragrances, dyes, or chemicals that can trigger irritation and allergies.

6 common cycling mistakes to avoid

6 common cycling mistakes to avoid
Starting a new hobby is quite exciting, especially one as fun as cycling. But we may forget important details in the rush with equipment to purchase, routes to map out, and rules to follow. These may be due to a lack of knowledge or experience or overconfidence. However, just like other hobbies, there is a learning curve to the world of cycling. Here are six common cycling mistakes beginners make and how to avoid them: Looking for extremely specific equipment It is great to have stylish equipment, but the lack of ideal clothes or accessories shouldn’t stop you from exploring cycling as a hobby. While high-waisted padded cargo bike shorts and padded bike liner shorts guarantee comfort during cycling, options like Spanx® shorts, spandex shorts, or baggy shorts also offer comfort and support. The most important things are a sturdy bike and a sturdier helmet. Cycling without a helmet Bike helmets are crucial at all times. They can be found at most local stores, with advice on how to choose the right one. Ensure that you wear it correctly and put all the buckles in the rear. Not knowing your limits As with any new hobby, it is important to test the waters.

Best time to explore top attractions in North America

Best time to explore top attractions in North America
Although you can plan to visit certain destinations in North America throughout the year, certain attractions are best enjoyed during specific seasons. While spontaneous trips to the continent might work out for some, many tourists may not enjoy their vacation due to extreme weather conditions or other hurdles. If you are planning to visit any North American countries, here are the top attractions and the best time to visit them: November to March: Aurora borealis in the Yukon, Canada The best time to see the Aurora Borealis in the Yukon, Canada, is during the winter. This is a year-round phenomenon, but the skies are too bright to see the lights. Between November and March, the skies are clear and at their darkest, making the lights more vivid to the human eye. While the ideal time to see these lights is between 10 pm to 2 am, consider confirming the duration with a guide. March to November: Whale watching in Maui, Hawaii If you love the open seas and whales, Maui in Hawaii is a great place to visit on your next trip. Consider planning your trip between March and November, as this is when the whales migrate south for the winter.

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Black Friday 2023 – Top 10 Smartphone Deals to Watch Out For

Black Friday 2023 – Top 10 Smartphone Deals to Watch Out For

Even during non-festive periods, smartphones sell like hotcakes in online and offline stores. Most tech enthusiasts routinely feel the need to get their hands on the latest models of their favorite smartphones. With Black Friday 2023 still several weeks away, shoppers can check out the features of their favorite smartphones. All the estimated deals listed in this article are based on the existing retail discounts, and buyers can expect similar bargains this Black Friday. High-range smartphones 1. Different variants of Apple’s iPhone make up the top 4 of the bestselling smartphones in the country. On many retail sites, devices such as the Apple iPhone SE 5G are being sold with discounts that range from about $200 to $250. This means that there is a high percentage chance that similar or better deals will likely emerge for such devices when Black Friday looms closer. The Apple iPhone SE 5G offers fantastic features such as lightning-fast processors, 5G connectivity, 4K video recording capability with 60 FPS, the unique Dynamic Island display, IP67 water resistance, and many more. 2. Samsung’s Galaxy devices come second in the sales pecking order after Apple’s iPhones when it comes to the smartphone market leadership. With the presence of Black Friday looming on the horizon, users can expect great deals on their favorite Galaxy smartphones. For instance, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available on many retail sites with existing discounts ranging from 10% to 15%. Shoppers may possibly find such (or better) discounts during the upcoming sale period. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a one-of-a-kind foldable phone packed with incredible features such as a massive display, dual-app viewing, immersive gaming experience, super AMOLED screens, and many other niceties. 3. A device that is likely to offer massive discounts during Black Friday is the Google Pixel 7.
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10 Incredible Black Friday Deals to Expect on Laptops in 2023

10 Incredible Black Friday Deals to Expect on Laptops in 2023

Laptops combine the power of desktops with the portability of smartphones, making them suitable for several tasks. But this is also why they tend to be pricey. Unsurprisingly, many wait for sales like Black Friday to buy the model of their choice. Below are ten types of laptops and the Black Friday 2023 deals one can expect on them in the coming months. The discounts listed are based on last year’s sale and current prices. 1. Dual-screen laptops Unlike older dual-screen models, newer ones are much more efficient and non-gimmicky. They have secondary displays with anti-glare capability that perfectly complement the primary screen. A great option is the ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581. It comes with a 15.6-inch 4K UHD NanoEdge touchscreen glossy main display, a cutting-edge Intel Core i7-9750H Quad Core Processor, and a 14-inch 4K matte touchscreen for seamless scrolling and usability. Last year, Amazon sold specific variants of the Zenbook Pro Duo for a discount of 15% in the run-up to Black Friday. 2. Gaming laptops Gamers need laptops that are responsive, less prone to overheating, and armed with high-end graphics cards. In short, they seek devices that will not leave them high and dry in the middle of a high-octane, graphics-heavy game by being laggy and annoying. Thankfully, several gaming laptops tick these boxes, an example being Lenovo’s IdeaPad Gaming 3. The device has incredible features, such as the latest AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processors, GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs, and Rapid Charge technology to boost battery by 40% in just 15 minutes. Amazon reduced the price of specific IdeaPad Gaming 3 models by $300 last Black Friday, so gamers can hope for similar savings in 2023. 3. Chromebooks Those who prefer the ultra-reliable Chrome OS can check out Acer’s Chromebook 315. It has a powerful Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core processor, a full HD IPS touchscreen, and over 12 hours of battery life!
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