Best Throat Infection Remedies

Throat infection can be caused by various factors, including viruses, bacteria and fungal infections. It can be very frustrating because even if only a small part of the body is affected, it does impact your entire day. You can’t eat and drink as easily and you tend to feel tired more easily. The good news, however, is that you can get rid of such problems with some simple yet effective throat infection remedies. Here’s a look at some of them.

Honey

This is a proven traditional remedy for a sore throat. The anti-bacterial properties of honey help speed up the healing process. It is easily available and affordable. All you need to do is add a teaspoon of honey to a cup of hot water or have it with herbal tea.

Salt Water Gargles

The most effective and easiest way to relieve pain and inflammation of the throat is to gargle with hot water that has some salt dissolved in it. Make sure you gargle at least twice a day or more if the pain persists. It will soothe your throat, and in case you have postnasal drip, increase the frequency.

Hot Fluids Give Relief

Switch the cold beverages for hot ones, such as tea, coffee and soup. Ginger tea is one of the best options in this situation, since it is known to flush out toxins from the body and boost blood circulation. The anti-inflammatory properties of this beverage also help in killing the bacteria. Make sure you keep your body hydrated, since the lack of liquid will only increase the irritation in the throat.

Medicines and Adequate Rest

Most of the times, throat related problems are cured with time and proper rest. So, make sure you get enough hours of sleep at night and try to take a nap during the day as well. Don't participate in too many exhausting activities, since this could lead to a worsening of the pain and irritation.

If the symptoms are not severe, take nonprescription medicines, such as throat lozenges or sprays, that offer instant relief from the pain. If the problem lasts for more than a week, consult a doctor and take the prescribed medicines.

Turmeric and Water

Studies have revealed that turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and has the strength to fight off many serious diseases. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of turmeric in hot water and use it to gargle. It will give you quick results.

If the situation doesn't get better in few days with these throat infection remedies, don't hesitate to pay a visit to the doctor. 

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

In 2007, two girls in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, died because their father used an industrial insecticide, not meant for home use, to kill bed bugs in their home. This was one of the most tragic incidents of the year and while the two of his three daughters lost their lives, the third one had to be hospitalized.

Bed bugs are known for injecting an anti-coagulant chemical in the blood, which prevents clotting, allowing the bug to suck the blood till the time it wants to. And while they are a major problem in the country, using products sold at the local stores might not always be the right solution. The products used to kill them should be from a trusted brand and the directions for use should be read carefully before use.

If you are wondering how to get rid of bed bugs, here are a few easy steps.

Prepare the Area for Treatment

Remove the clutter from the bed to make the inspection of the area easier. This is the first step and makes the rest of your work easy.

• All the furry items, such as stuffed animals, soft toys and blankets, should be removed and cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Make sure you don't transfer the bugs with them.

• Remove all the drawers and desks from the bed and inspect the area thoroughly to make sure no bugs are hiding anywhere.

• Use a flashlight to expose them from tight spots.

Inspect Thoroughly

Most of the bed bugs are about ¼ to 5/8 inches long and are hard to seen with the naked eye. Their flat shape makes it easy for them to hide in gaps and spaces in the bed. So, use a magnifying glass to better spot them. The best wat to find them is to look for the eggs. The eggs are normally found in the areas close to where the host sleeps.

Treat the Furniture

This is where the elimination process begins. Use spray liquid insecticides or aerosols and:

• Spray around and under the bed. After removing the drawers, the insides need to sprayed as well.
• Wash the bed sheet, pillow cases and all the clothes kept in the drawers.
• Spray around all the doors, windows and the furniture of the room, like tables and chair.
• If there are any posters or frames in the room, spray them as well.
• Spray the whole frame of bed as a precaution.

Do not apply the spray to any of the mattresses or furniture where people are sitting. The first rule of how to get rid of bed bugs is to remove all human beings from the area being treated.

Flu Concerns in Saudi Arabia

According to the Saudi Gazette, influenza is among the most common diseases that appear during the winter season. The influenza virus affects 30% of all children and 5-10% of adults in Saudi Arabia. The higher levels of prevalence of this virus in winter is caused by the fact that low temperatures and higher levels of humidity during this time provides conditions favorable to the virus.

How Easily Flu Spreads

Influenza is highly contagious. It can spread from direct contact as well as breathing contaminated air. It takes barely minutes for the virus to take hold after coming in contact with an uninfected person. The maximum period of incubation of the virus is two days, during which symptoms of fever, running nose and coughing, headaches and body or muscle pain and fatigue and nausea are common. Those segments of the population who are above the age of 65 as well as children below the age of two are particularly susceptible to the virus.

There are three types of seasonal flu that are categorized as type A, B or C. Type A flu virus is further classified into two types, AH1N1 and AH3N2. Most flu vaccines focus on type A and B as type C flu virus is less common. There is a difference between the child flu vaccine and adult flu vaccines. Children between the ages of 6 months to 8 years that have never had the vaccine before require two doses.

The trouble with treating or preventing the flu virus is that if one family member falls sick, that person can very easily (and usually does) infect the rest of the members of the family. Since the virus spreads through direct contact, simple actions such as using a TV remote, using a door handle and pressing an elevator button can be conduits for spreading the virus.

Flu Precautions in Saudi Arabia

Influenza vaccines are the primary weapon against flu. In Saudi Arabia, the vaccine is recommended during winter season. The Saudi Thoracic Society (STS) has created the Scientific Committee for Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination (SCIPV) guidelines based on international recommendations on influenza vaccination best practices with special attention for specific situations like the Hajj and Umrah. The Saudi Ministry of Health has mandated that pilgrims are to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza before their arrival into Saudi Arabia, especially children against child flu. All persons aged above 6 months of age, including pregnant, and breastfeeding women must be vaccinated. 

Ketchup is so yum…and it’s here to stay!

The good old tomato ketchup has the reputation of being a painful food to erase from your clothes. We present a sure-fire way to get rid of ketchup stains.

You’re about to bite into a really delicious-looking sandwich you just made. You take a hearty bite, closing your eyes to savour the taste of meat, veggies, herbs and sauce in it. But when you open your eyes, you see something so nasty that all thoughts about your sandwich are driven out of your head: you’ve spilled ketchup on your shirt!

Oh, the horror! But you haven’t seen anything yet. When your back was turned, your toddler smuggled your ketchup bottle and took it away to his room to ‘play with’. Then he squeezed ketchup on his face, his clothes and the floor. Wading through the mess, you looked with dismay at his clothes – and at yours. ‘Our clothes are doomed’ you thought, because ketchup always leaves a stain.

Not if you get in there first.

The key to getting ketchup stains off your clothes is to take quick action so that the stain does not set. Once set, ketchup will always leave an orange discolouration behind. So you will be forced to junk your stained clothing.

But if you want a good ketchup stain remover routine, try these steps in the same order as presented:

·         Rinse the clothing at once, with cold running water. Flush the stain at the back, turning the fabric inside out.

·         While still wet, treat the stain to a liquid detergent and tamp with your fingers. Let it stand for five minutes.

·         Flush with cold water till the detergent is completely washed.

·         Blot white vinegar on the stain. Let it stand for five minutes.

·         Flush with cold water. Now repeat the above steps till most of the stain is removed.

·         Treat the stain with a fabric stain removal system. Use as directed on the package. Let it stand for at least half an hour, then wash in the washing machine.

·         Make sure the stain is completely removed before you put the clothing in the dryer; otherwise the stain will set permanently.

Some dried stains might require harsher measures to be completely removed. Use bleach if your clothes can stand the abrasive nature of the product. You might need to use bleach in your wash after the garment has been treated to the above steps.

There are excellent stain removal liquids and powders available today – these are effective ketchup stain removers, and they work on a variety of stains, from grass to coffee ones. The trick lies in taking quick action and using the right product to protect your clothes from stains.

8 points that define your personal finance goals

We present eight ways in which you can create a sound financial plan for yourself and your loved ones.

Life has a way of throwing unexpected twists and turns in your path. But instead of fretting over the future, it helps to be financially prepared for life’s unpredictability. Consider the following ways to plan your financial future:

1 Set goals and act on them wisely. No dream is ever accomplished without a goal, and the same is true of personal finance as well. If you want to have an extra Dh 10,000 every year, you must proactively save money every month and follow that plan diligently. Create a financial roadmap for the year that includes all the major financial milestones you wish to achieve and act on it.

2 Explore your bank’s personal finance products. Your bank has many useful personal finance products for your use. Your personal banker may also advise you of new products and services from time to time. Sign up for products that help you further your financial aims. 

3 Save to invest. Merely saving money is not enough – it must be invested in the right instruments to create wealth for the future. Visit your bank to get more information about the best investment avenues for your age, risk appetite, income and lifestyle. Creating the right investments helps augment your money for the future.

4 Spend within your means. This is an important habit that every person must inculcate: spend only what you have. This applies especially to credit card spending, in which people tend to spend beyond their means. Use debit cards instead of credit cards, and set a spending limit for yourself every month.

5 Settle all bills within due date. Not only does settling bills on time give you brownie points with your utility service providers, it also gives you a good credit score. Be sure to settle all payments on time so that your finances remain in check and you do not need to pay late payment penalties. Settling credit card bills on time is most important.

6 Buy insurance for the future. Taking an insurance policy that covers you and your loved ones is an important personal finance decision. Not only does it provide life coverage, it also ensures your family’s financial safety in case you are absent from their lives.

7 Insist on the family following good financial practices. Not just you, your partner and children must also be careful about spending money. Discourage all wasteful spending habits and teach your children how to save money. Children are quick to emulate their parents, so it is never too soon to impart lessons in personal finance.

8 Plan your retirement. This is a crucial step in your financial journey. While you pay for your family’s dreams and make sure each of your loved ones is well cared for, you must also ensure that you have a comfortable sum of money laid away for your retirement years. Your retirement planning must include having a home for yourself and your partner, as well as monies from investment and pension plans to take care of your expenses.