The Organic Life

Dry socket, also known as alveolar osteitis, is a painful dental problem that can develop 4 to 5 days after having a permanent adult tooth pulled out. The socket refers to the hole in the alveolar bone that is left after the tooth is extracted. Once the tooth is removed, a blood clot typically forms at the site to cover and protect the underlying bone and nerve endings. This protective layer allows the wound to heal by shielding it from further injury or irritation. The blood clot also promotes the growth of new bone and fresh soft tissue at the site. In the event that this protective layer fails to develop, becomes dislodged, or dissolves, the nerves and bone in the socket will be left exposed to air, food, fluid, and anything that enters the mouth. Additionally, a person with a dry socket may find it impossible to keep his/her tongue from mechanically stimulating the exposed bone, which is acutely painful to touch, resulting in frequent acute pain. This total or pa...

What is Blepharitis? Your eyelashes have hair follicles that contain oil glands. When these glands become clogged or irritated due to some kind of infection, it triggers inflammation. This is known as blepharitis, or, in simple terms, eyelid inflammation. This eye condition is relatively common and characterized by noticeable redness and swelling, particularly along the edges where the eyelashes are attached to the eyelids. [1] According to the American Optometric Association, there are two types of eyelid inflammation – anterior and posterior. Anterior blepharitis affects the base of the eyelashes on the outside and front edge of the eyelid. Posterior blepharitis, on the other hand, occurs on the inner corners of the eyes, where the eyelid meets the eyeball. [2] The most prevalent form of blepharitis, however, is a mix of both anterior and posterior blepharitis. [3] Blepharitis is generally chronic in nature, which means that the condition persists for a long time...

Note: Do not self-treat this condition at home if you suffer from conditions like diabetes, poor blood circulation to your foot, or nerve damage in your leg or foot. An ingrown toenail, also known as onychocryptosis, is a common problem. When the corner or side edge of a toenail grows into the soft flesh of the nearby skin, it causes a lot of discomfort. It is most common in toenails but, in rare instances, fingernails can also become ingrown. Causes of ingrown toenails include wearing tight-fitting shoes, improper trimming of nails, a nail injury and having unusually curved toenails. People suffering from diabetes or other health problems that cause poor blood circulation to the feet are at a higher risk of developing this painful nail problem. Some symptoms include persistent pain, redness and swelling. If left untreated, onychocryptosis can soon lead to infection. Signs of infection include redness and swelling around the nail, drainage of pus and watery d...

Yellow jackets are often mistakenly called “bees” due to their striking similarity in size and appearance. However, yellow jackets are actually wasps that have black and yellow stripes on the body. These small insects are often seen foraging for food and usually do not sting unless physically threatened. If they feel their nest is in danger, they start defending it and in the process may attack people around them. The sting of a yellow jacket is painful, and each of them is capable of delivering multiple stings. A mild sting can cause redness, swelling, pain, itching and inflammation in the affected area. Such minor cases can be treated at home with basic first aid and simple kitchen ingredients. However, yellow jacket stings may lead to severe allergic reactions in some individuals, causing symptoms like difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, confusion, weakness, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the tongue, vomiting and fainting. If you expe...

Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is a chronic condition that arises when the nerves or muscles in the stomach become impaired such that the stomach takes too long to empty itself of the food contents. It is not a very common disorder. It has been found that out of 100,000 people, only about 10 men and about 40 women suffer from gastroparesis. [1] The most common forms are diabetic, idiopathic, and post-surgical gastroparesis. [2] Contents Causes of Gastroparesis Experts have not conclusively identified what leads to gastroparesis. As such, most cases of gastroparesis are idiopathic. However, damage to the vagus nerve that controls the stomach muscles, and thereby the movement of food through the digestive tract, can lead to this condition. On account of a damaged vagus nerve, the proper contractions of the muscles in the stomach and intestines are hindered and they fail to function properly or not at all. This ultimately results in the slu...

In simple terms, loose motion means you are having watery stools that occur more frequently than usual. It is also known as diarrhea, which most people have experienced. It can be acute or chronic. This common problem occurs when the food and fluids you ingest start passing too quickly or in too large an amount through the colon. Along with frequent loose, watery stools , you may even have symptoms like abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, a fever, bloating and weakness. Due to having too frequent bowel movements, there may also be itching, burning, soreness or pain in the rectal area. There can be many reasons behind this sudden change in your bowel movements, including a viral infection, bacterial infection, parasitic attack, food poisoning, a side effect of antibiotics and lactose intolerance, to name a few. In most cases, loose motion last a couple of days. However, if it continues for a week or more, it is important to consult a doctor. It can be a sign of a serious ...