Just like other health issues, your oral health can ruin your vacation. It would be impossible for you to step ahead with a toothache or any other dental emergency. If the situation gets worse, the problem can be life-threatening. So before you plan a vacation with your family and friends, you should go for a thorough examination. Also, you should prepare yourself for handling dental emergencies in your journey.

Things to do before you travel

Along with booking airplane tickets and hotel rooms, you should book an appointment with a dental clinic. You should explain the reason for the dental check-up. It’s because you aren’t suffering from any dental issues currently.

While going for the dental check-up, you should carry all your health records so that dentist gets a clear idea of your health. It will help him decide the current condition and give advice for your journey.

If you are suffering from any dental issue, you should be a bit more careful.

For a decayed or cracked tooth, you should complete the treatment before travel. The tooth will get worse if delayed.
If you are congested with sinus problems, chances are that it might be from or affecting the teeth. You might not feel the impact now, but it will worsen your condition if not treated on time.
If you are suffering from any type of periodontal disease or bad breath, schedule a cleaning appointment. Even if you got it done in your last dental visit, you should go for it before traveling. There is nothing wrong with a frequent dental cleaning.
If you love trying new dishes, don’t forget to get your sensitive teeth checked. Your journey will not be exciting if you are unable to eat different cuisines. So control your teeth sensitivity before traveling.
If your root canal treatment is in process, then get it complete. If the process is left incomplete for long, it will lead to other health problems. Also, it will difficult to continue and complete the treatment later on. Most important, you will be uncomfortable and suffer from severe pain if the process is not complete.
If the traveling date is near and you are unable to get an appointment for a dental check-up, you should opt for emergency dentistry.

Tips to prepare for dental emergencies during travel

Firstly, you should keep the contact details of the dental clinics offering emergency dentistry near your hotel. You should research online or communicate with the hotel management for the details.
Secondly, you should learn first-aid for handling dental emergencies. You should take tips from your dentist and make a note of it.
Thirdly, you should carry a mini emergency kit so that you can manage the situation before reaching the dental clinic. Based on the advice given by your dentist, you should carry the things in the kit.
Fourthly, you should carry all your health records, especially if you are suffering from or have suffered from any dental issue in the past. A glance at your report will help the emergency dentistry experts to know the past and present.
Whatever happens, your vacation should not get spoiled. It’s because this is the time which you spend with your family and friends without any stress and worries. So get your dental examination done and enjoy the journey!

Your anniversary or her birthday is near, and you want to give her anything else but perfumes, jewelry, and watches. If you feel you have given your partner the same types of gifts in a row, then it is time you change that. You can either think back to a time she told you she wanted something, or you can come up with a whimsical gift idea yourself.

However, we have also prepared a list of wonderful gift ideas that you can give to your partner, even at random. Maybe something that reminds you of her, or your bond with her:

A map of constellations

This is one of the coolest gifts on our list. You can commemorate a special day in your relationship by giving her a map of stars. This would be how the stars looked when you met when you both said told each other: “I love you,” and when you both moved in together.

Athleisure

This might sound lame but hear us out. Slim-fitting yet comfortable athletic clothes are such a versatile option for the day. Whether you are lounging around the house, going out for a walk, or a lunch date, with just a couple of carefully chosen pieces of jewelry and makeup, you can really amp up your look. It would be a wonderful gift for her, and if she has never tried it before, then give her a chance to do so now.

Glass teapot with infuser

If she is a fan of crockery and tea, then she will love these. There are some of the most beautiful glass teapots with infusers in the market that will act as a great show piece in your kitchen as well. She will absolutely love these if she is a fan of tea. She can just add the tea leaves in the infuser, pour hot water over them, and let them steep for a while. You can have little tea rituals as a part of your day too.

Sound Wave Art

If you two have a favorite song or have a favorite song, why not turn it into visual art and gift it to her? You can hang it in your room, over your bed, and it would be a lovely sentimental gift for the both of you.

Preserved roses

These are wonderful to showcase around the house. Since they are preserved, they will last you a whole year, and they come in a variety of colors as well. You can get a preserved bouquet of roses from your local flower shop and even have them packaged beautifully.

A mini fire pit

Fire pits are an amazing addition to the house, and they are handy during the winter season. Why not add to that and get her a mini fire pit for your room? They are usually gorgeous and would make for a convenient s’mores roaster too.

A zodiac pendant

If she is into horoscope or isn’t, a zodiac necklace would be a wonderful gift for her. You can have the stars of her zodiac engraved on the necklace, and they can be a piece of fabulous jewelry to wear daily.

Orally Dissolving Pharmaceutical Drugs

December 1, 2019 – a day that will be remembered in history when Corona (COVID-19) was first identified.

It is nearing the end of 2020 and we are still working on successful clinical trials of any drug or vaccine for COVID-19. Experts have claimed that the vaccine might require a year or two to be successfully formulated and administered to the global population at large.

This situation brings with itself a bigger problem – that of administering the vaccine.

As we are already aware, COVID-19 is extremely contagious and can be easily transferred from one person to another through surface contact, it makes sense to be skeptical of the current existing modes of drug administration, almost all of which require some sort of surface contact with a non-organic material (syringes, droppers, etc.).

How should we tackle this simple, yet unavoidable, dilemma?

The answer might not have been that simple a decade ago, but today we indeed have a seamless solution for this problem – Oral Thin Films.

Oral Thin Films (OTFs) are polymeric films designed to deliver therapeutic elements into the oral cavity or the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where they are absorbed and routed to the circulatory system directly. As such, OTFs can rapidly deliver hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic active compounds.

Types of OTF

There are two types of Oral Thin Films:

OROMUCOSAL

This type of thin film is characterised by its ability to stick to the oral cavity while slowly releasing the drug into the patient’s systemic circulation. The medication enters the patient’s bloodstream directly and can thus be transported to the target organ faster.

ORODISPERSIBLE

In contrast to the previous type, this type of film is characterised by its instant breakdown immediately upon coming into contact with the patient’s saliva. These can be further sub-classified into two types: Orally Disintegrating & Orally Dissolving.

Orally Disintegrating disintegrate in the mouth upon contact with saliva, then dissolve and get absorbed in the gastro-intestinal tract (a method highly effective to transport hydrophobic drug compounds that would otherwise be very difficult to be dissolved and absorbed into the body through other conventional methods).

Orally Dissolving disintegrate and dissolve simultaneously into the saliva (more appropriate for water-soluble compounds that are easier to be absorbed into the body).

Some More Benefits of Using Orally Dissolving Pharmaceutical Drugs

1. Precision

Since the films can be directly absorbed through one of the methods described above, it makes it easier to have a precise dose that can be altered depending upon the target patient. For example, in the case of dealing with children, who need a smaller dosage compared to adults, the same film can be altered to a lower dosage.

2. Easier Manufacturing

These films are developed using powderless and aqueous-based processes that do not use solvents. This not only helps in accelerating the manufacturing process but also makes the process seamless, ultimately saving on time and cost.

3. Customization

The drug delivery system through OTFs is an ideal option for patients as they do not need to chew, swallow, or use water to ingest the drug. Furthermore, the films are highly customisable and can have flavors and colors added to them to make them more palatable.

Following the above-mentioned discussion, one can only appreciate the effectiveness, ease of manufacture, and customisability of this relatively new method of drug administration. Oral Thin Films are expected to ensure a seamless, more efficient, and hassle-free future in medication.

Stress protects us from danger by allowing us to quickly decide whether to “fight-or-flight” during emergency situations. It speeds up our action and decision-making helping us to perform better under pressure. However, this supposedly helpful reaction of our body can lead to serious problems if not handled properly.

Stress happens when we encounter things that are beyond our control such as being chased by a wild tiger or losing a job. This alerts our body releasing cortisol and adrenaline hormones that makes the heart pump faster resulting to high blood pressure, muscle tension, and rapid breathing. These physiological effects activate the necessary organs of the body especially the brain and muscles to act quickly and correctly .

Short-term stress such as: running out of gas in the middle of nowhere, approaching deadlines, and missing a flight can be a good thing. It improves thinking skills and boosts energy allowing us to make the necessary actions and take control of the situation. It also lets us prepare for an exam, job interview, or sports match as it improves our focus and drives us to get ready.

The body returns to its normal state after a short burst of stress but not when it is prolonged. Long-term stress also known as chronic stress which can have negative effects on our health – physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Long-term stress causes increased blood sugar levels, weight gain, suppressed immune system, digestive problems, heart disease, and neurological problems. During stress, the body is triggered to release blood glucose which is necessary to supply immediate energy into the muscles. Too much releasing of blood glucose in the course of long-term stress and the body is unable to cope with excessive supplies. The unused blood sugar supplies are stored as body fats resulting to weight gain and diabetes. In addition, over supply of glucose also makes us feel hungry which contributes to weight gain.

Too much exposure to stress suppresses the immune system making us susceptible to diseases such as cold and contagious illnesses. Moreover, it affects the digestive tract making it difficult to digest and absorb food. The irregular pumping of blood caused by stress also elevates heart rate and blood pressure which may lead to blood vessel damage and build-up of plaque in arteries that are the primary reasons of heart disease.

Chronic stress is mostly caused by emotional problems such as divorce, death of a loved one, financial burdens, moving to a new home, and accidents. These introduced worrying resulting in psychological exhaustion leading to depression and anxiety.

Signs of unhealthy stress includes frequent headaches, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, irritability, digestion problems, memory loss, and poor concentration. These can greatly affect not only health but also our career and relationships with people.

Being healthy, focused, attentive, and having a peace of mind are necessary to be efficient at work. On the other hand, being irritable or isolating yourself from others makes you difficult to deal with – pushing people away.

If you feel that your stress levels are high and affecting your productivity, job, and relationships, its time to take actions. Taking control of your stress in highly important to take control of your life. Strengthen your support system by talking to your friends and family especially when you have problems, develop a hobby or take up sports to have diversions, and exercise to promote relaxation are just few simple techniques to help you fight against stress. You can also seek for a professional help if stress is worse than what you can handle.