These days, it’s almost impossible to be without our phones. Whether it’s checking social media, responding to messages, or watching videos, we are constantly glued to our screens.....Read Full Article>>

Some of us even take our phones to the toilet, thinking it’s the perfect time to catch up on emails or scroll through social media. This may seem harmless, but taking your phone to the bathroom can be quite risky, and we’ll explain why.

Bathrooms are full of germs, and taking your phone with you to the toilet increases the chances of spreading those germs. When you use the toilet, flush, or touch bathroom surfaces, your hands come into contact with harmful bacteria.

If you touch your phone during or after using the toilet, those germs can transfer onto your device. Later, when you use your phone again, you’re bringing those bacteria close to your face, hands, and even your mouth. This can lead to infections or illnesses like stomach bugs or the common cold.

Unlike your hands, which you can wash easily, phones are much harder to clean properly. Most people don’t think about cleaning their phones regularly, which means germs can build up over time. Even if you wipe down your phone with a cloth, it might not be enough to remove all the bacteria. This is why it’s important to keep your phone away from the toilet, where germs are more likely to spread.

Taking your phone to the toilet comes with the obvious risk of dropping it into the toilet or sink. Water damage can completely ruin your phone, and even if you manage to retrieve it, it’s not a pleasant experience. The cost of replacing or repairing your phone is high, and the frustration of losing your phone to an avoidable accident is even worse. It’s better to leave your phone somewhere safe and dry to avoid this unnecessary risk.

Sitting for long periods with your head bent forward can strain your neck, shoulders, and back. Over time, this can lead to discomfort or even long-term health issues, like back pain. It’s important to maintain good posture, even in the bathroom, and using your phone while sitting on the toilet doesn’t help with that.

Using your phone in the toilet may distract you from what should be a quick and simple task. Many people find themselves spending more time than necessary in the bathroom because they get lost in whatever they’re doing on their phone. This not only wastes time but can also lead to other health issues, like haemorrhoids, from sitting too long on the toilet. It’s better to get in and out of the bathroom without distractions.

Scott Nass, M.D., MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS is a family physician and HIV specialist in California. He takes a holistic approach to healthcare, incorporating principles of functional medicine and using food as medicine when working with patients. We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines.....Read Full Article>>

Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links. There’s nothing like itchy, irritated eyes to throw your day off course. Maybe you’re dealing with seasonal allergies, or you have something stuck in your eye. Or maybe you stayed up way too late reading and your eyes are just plain tired (we’re guilty of that too). Truthfully, it’s normal to experience the occasional eye dryness—but if your eyes constantly feel like parchment, you might have dry eye disease.

Also known as dry eye syndrome, dry eye disease can trigger a variety of irritating symptoms. It’s also super common, affecting about 16 million people in the US. Here, learn everything you need to know about dry eye, plus the best treatment options available.
What is Dry Eye Disease?

“Dry eye disease is a condition where there are not enough quality tears to lubricate, moisturize, and nourish the eyes,” explains Rosalyn Perez, OD, FAAO, optometrist at Manhattan Eye, Ear, Nose Throat Hospital. This can happen because your eyes don’t make enough tears, your tears evaporate too quickly, or both, according to the National Institutes of Health1. The result? Dry eyes in a blink of an eye—no pun intended.

Since your tears are meant to hydrate and protect the cornea (the clear part that covers the eye), this lack of tears can cause inflammation and irritation. Over time, if left untreated, it may even damage the eye’s surface.

Causes

There are many possible causes of dry eye disease. Here’s a brief rundown:

As we get older, tear production naturally declines2, causing our tear glands to make less tears. Aging also reduces skin elasticity, making the eyelids sag, says Perez. This can prevent the eyelid from closing properly, which is key for spreading tears across the eye’s surface. Plus, aging increases the need for medication, potentially prompting side effects that further worsen dry eye, notes Perez.

2.
Meibomian gland dysfunction

The meibomian glands are found along the edge of your eyelids, right along the eyelashes. They release meibum, a type of oil, that prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. Meibomian gland dysfunction3 (MGD) happens when there’s something wrong with these glands, causing tears to dry up too fast.

Menopause causes a natural drop in androgens, male sex hormones that women naturally have. This can lead to dry eye, as androgens support the function4
of meibomian glands. Even the menstrual cycle can contribute to dry eye, as tear production tends to drop during the follicular phase5. This phase is marked by low levels of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that affect tear production.

4.
Autoimmune disease

In an autoimmune disease, the dysfunctional immune response can cause inflammation in the eye6, triggering dry eye disease. Examples of autoimmune conditions linked to dry eye include Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and lupus.

5.
Certain medications

Dry eye disease is a side effect of many medications, including antihistamines, diuretics, beta-blockers, decongestants, oral contraceptives, oral isotretinoin, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs. Depending on the medication, it can cause dry eye by reducing the function7

of the tear gland or meibomian gland (or both).

6.
Environmental factors

Living in a dry or windy area can make your tears evaporate quickly. You might also be more prone to dry eyes if you spend a lot of time in air-conditioned rooms, have pollen allergies, or are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke.

Some habits, like prolonged reading, driving, and looking at screens, can dry out your eyes. Regularly wearing contact lenses can also worsen your symptoms.
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8.
Chronic conditions

Chronic conditions like Bell’s palsy, diabetes, and hepatitis C are associated with dry eye. The risk is especially high with Parkinson disease, as the condition reduces how often you blink.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of dry eye disease include:

Eye dryness
Eye fatigue
Scratchy sensation in the eye
Stinging or burning in the eye
Red eyes
Blurry vision
Difficulty driving at night
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Feeling like something is stuck in your eyes
Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Difficulty driving, reading, or using a computer

Diagnosis

An optometrist or ophthalmologist can diagnose dry eye disease. At your appointment, they can evaluate the quantity and quality of your tears and rule out possible diseases.

Typically, your eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam, which might include the following tests:

Slit lamp test: Special drops will be added to your eyes to make your tears more visible. Next, your eye doctor will examine your eyes using a bright light and microscope called a slit lamp.

Schirmer test: Your eye doctor will insert “little strips of paper at the edge of your eyelid, which measure how much tears are being produced,” says Perez.

Tear break up time test: This test measures how quickly your tears evaporate, notes Perez. It involves putting dye in your eyes, which spreads over your entire eye as you blink. Your eye doctor can determine if you have dry eye disease depending on how long the dye lasts.

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Treatment Options for Dry Eye Disease

Eye drops

Over-the-counter drops: According to Perez, the first line of treatment for dry eye is over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears. These are available without a prescription, so you can stroll into your local drugstore and buy them right off the shelf. OTC tears are designed to “maintain the moisture you do have [in your eyes] and prevent your symptoms from getting worse,” says Perez. They’re also considered a short-term treatment, as they’re meant to relieve mild symptoms in the moment.

Prescription drops: Whereas OTC drops add artificial moisture to the eyes, prescription drops target the underlying cause—i.e., poor tear production, inflammation, or even tear evaporation, says Perez. This is a long-term treatment that can provide relief for folks who deal with it chronically.

Lifestyle and environmental changes

Humidifiers: Use a humidifier at home. This will add moisture to the air, preventing tears from evaporating too quickly. Just be sure to clean it on the reg!

Protective eyewear: Protect your peepers from wind, dust, and pollen by wearing protective eyewear. This is particularly helpful if you live in a windy area or spend a lot of time outdoors.

Hydration and diet: “Staying hydrated will support the body’s ability to [properly] produce tears,” says Perez. A well-balanced diet is also key for overall eye health, though it doesn’t hurt to focus on vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids for vision and anti-inflammatory support, respectively.
Lid hygiene: If you have MGD, your doctor might recommend cleaning your eyelids regularly. This might involve warm compresses, mild cleansers, and gentle massages to help the meibomian glands release oil.

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Advanced therapies

Prescription medications: As mentioned, your doctor can prescribe medicated eye drops, like those that target tear evaporation or tear production. Another option is medicated nasal spray, which improves tear and oil production. And ICYW, there are no oral prescription medications for dry eye disease, says Perez.

Therapeutic contact lens: Special contact lens can protect the cornea and keep the eye hydrated, potentially improving dry eye symptoms.
Intense pulsed light: Intense pulse light8

(IPL) therapy uses light to unblock meibomian glands. This helps the tear film stay on your eye a bit longer. Usually, IPL is used for folks with both MGD and rosacea9.

Meibomian gland expression: For severe MGD10, your healthcare provider can clear blocked meibomian glands using heat or a probing device. This can improve the production and quality of your tears.

Punctal plugs: Tiny plugs are inserted into the tear ducts, helping reduce tear drainage so the eyes stay moist. The plugs can be temporary or semi-permanent, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Tarsorrhaphy: In severe cases, dry eye might be related to poor eyelid closure or blinking. This might warrant a tarsorrhaphy11, which involves sewing part or all of the eyelids together to shield the cornea and reduce tear evaporation. A tarsorrhaphy can be temporary or permanent.

The takeaway

If you think you have a dry eye disease, chat with an eye doctor. They can determine the cause of your symptoms, along with a personalized management plan. After all, there are a lot of treatment options, so following your doc’s recommendations is the best way to find relief. And as always, talk to your healthcare provider before trying a new treatment for dry eye disease. Your eyes will thank you!

Anyone who knows the important of dreams to our life, we not take his revelation for granted. In dreams, God may be showing you something that will help your life and destiny. Likewise, devil will use dreams to delay you. When you come across some dreams, it is important you relate it with your emotion. Our emotion are like a spirit, sometimes, they cannot lie.....Read Full Article>>

There are forces that are working to frustrate a man’s destiny with terrible dreams. When God wants to save your life, He will reveal some dreams that will warn you not to do something or be careful.

I want to urge every believer to follow their dreams and relate the meaning with the word of God. With the Holy Spirit in you, no evil shall destroy you. Above all, be obedient to Him.

Whenever you wake up from a bad dream you don’t like, for example, if someone stole your car in the dream, go back to sleep, and collect your car back from the person and then wake up to pray against the bad dream.

The devil will think twice before he comes to attack you again in the dream. Your victory has come, in Jesus name

Enough is enough!
Enough of spiritual defeat!
Enough of spiritual ignorance!
Isaiah 7:14a, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;

Did you Notice Any Of These Warning Dreams, Be alert and prayerful.

1. If you are expecting a visitor in your house, and you had a nightmare, be alert and prayerful.

2. If you accept a man’s proposal, and the following day, you had terrible dreams, be alert and make prayer of enquiry immediately.

3. If you gave someone money in the real life, and the following day, you had a disturbing dream, be alert and pray.

4. If you had a serious quarrel/arguement with someone in real life, and the following day, you had a disturbing dream, be alert and pray.

5. If you are trying to meet somebody, and the following day, you had a fearful dream, be careful.

6. If you are about to embark on fasting and prayers in the physical life, and you keep having nightmares, you are being watched!

7. If you enter a house and later, you had a sad dream, be alert and prayerful.

8. If you are about cohabit with someone or someone is cohabiting with you, and this scary dream shows up or keeps reoccuring, be careful and prayerful.

9. If after your deliverance, you keep having same nightmares, something is wrong somewhere.

10. If you slept with a person whether your spouse or future spouse, and you keep having trouble dreams, be alert, this is a redflag. Be prayerful.

11. If your dream reveals that someone you know is a witch or behind your problem, make a prayer of enquiry immediately they stop you.

12. If you gave someone something like a gift in the real life, and you keep experiencing dreams of losses, be alert and prayerful.

13. If you had it in mind of sharing some secrets with someone and this warning dream show, be careful.

14. If you are trying to travel to the village, and you had some battle dreams, please pray well.

15. If something strange is happening in your life after meeting someone, please, pray.

16. If you pray for someone and later you had some bad dreams, the evil spirit is coming after you.

17. If you are trying to go for an exam, and you had some weird dreams, please pray. Spirit of failure is at work.

18. If after kissing a person, and you came across a terrible dream, please beware of that person and pray.

19. If after moving out of your house, you had a disturbing dream, is the packing out a divine arrangement?

20. If before or after seeing a pastor, you had a bad dream experience, be alert and prayerful.

21. If before or after going to a funeral, you came across a frightening dreams, for the sake of your destiny, please pray.

22. If you tell a person “I will help you financially”, then you came across a warning dream, please be careful and pray more.

Your dream is a voice speaking something to you. Take action before the devil will use it against you. God bless you.

PRAYER POINTS

I cancel every operation of darkness against me, in the name of Jesus.
I deprogramme anything that the devil has programmed to occur in my life, in the name of Jesus.
I paralyz every move of the enemies against me tonight, in the name of Jesus.
I evict from my life anything the devil has projected there, in the name of Jesus.
I overcome every dream of wickedness working against my destiny, in the name of Jesus.
Every strongman assigned against my proogress, die, in the name of Jesus.
Every dream designed to destroy my destiny, die, in the name of Jesus.