Category: Viral

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My cleaning routine usually involves making a few sprays of my own because I want something powerful that will cut through grease and grime. My MIL was visiting and saw me mix bleach and ammonia. She said the chemical smell was too strong and harshly criticized me for mixing these.

Is there a real danger here?

Bleach + Ammonia

There is a danger to mixing bleach and ammonia, but many people don’t know this. It all has to do with the chemical reactions that are likely to occur.

Both bleach and ammonia are powerful on their own. Then they get mixed together, a toxic gas known as chloramine is produced. It can pose various health risks.

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Toxic Fumes Occur

Chloramine gas, when formed, is toxic. It can lead to such problems as:

• Irritated eyes
• Severe respiratory distress
• Watery eyes
• Chest pain
• Nausea

If exposed to the toxic chemical reaction long enough, it can even cause damage to the respiratory tract!

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Added Dangers

Often, people mix the chemicals without knowing of the dangerous chemical reaction. Then, they start cleaning in a room where there isn’t sufficient ventilation. The more you inhale, the more serious the conditions can be. Plus, it can exacerbate other health problems, such as asthma.

Mixing ammonia and bleach doesn’t lead to a more powerful cleaning agent.

Here are a few best practices:

• Read the labels
• Create plenty of ventilation
• Contact local poison control if you’ve experienced exposure and serious symptoms.

While it can be scary to learn that you created a toxic chemical reaction, there are plenty of products that you can mix – like vinegar and baking soda. If you’re not sure what chemicals you can mix, it’s best to stick with a store-bought cleaning product (and don’t mix it with anything).

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I’ve been experiencing acid reflux more frequently. When I talked to my doctor about it, he suggested going on meds. However, I was determined not to be on medications. I knew that there were lifestyle changes I could make, so I began exploring.

Let me share what I found.

First, let’s talk about what acid reflux actually is.

What is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is also referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It happens when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, which can lead to irritation, heartburn, and regurgitation. Depending on frequency, it can be quite uncomfortable.

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Establishing a Good Diet

A healthy diet is critical when it comes to managing acid reflux. Various foods will trigger reflux.

Here are some foods to avoid:

• Spicy foods
• Fatty & fried foods
• Onions and garlic
• Citrusy fruits
• Caffeine
• Carbonated beverages

There are also foods that can help to manage acid reflux. These are the ones you want to incorporate more of throughout your daily eating:

• Oatmeal
• Green veggies
• Lean meats
• Ginger
• Whole grains

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Practicing Portion Control

You don’t want to eat too much as it will put pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter, causing the reflux to occur. It’s better to eat smaller meals more frequently. You should also eat slowly and chew thoroughly.

Here are a few more best practices:

• Avoid eating large meals close to bedtime
• Manage your weight
• Reduce your stress & anxiety
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol to boost digestive health

By making a few changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can often get GERD under control. If you’ve done everything you can and the symptoms continue (or get worse), it might be time to talk to your doctor to see if medication is the best answer or if there are other medical conditions that need to be addressed.

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Adopting a dog can be so much fun, especially as you get to know who they are and what makes them such a great dog. Black spots on a dog’s tongue is definitely an interesting trait, and if you’ve never come across it before, your dog becomes that much more unique.

I’ve never seen black spots on a dog’s tongue before, and I’ve owned a number of dogs over the years. So, I decided to explore why that is and if my new dog is okay.

Dog Tongues: Normal Variations

Just as humans have a number of features that can vary, the same can be true of dogs. The “normal” color for a dog’s tongue is pink. However, breed, genetics, and pigmentation can all impact their tongue.

Think about it. Some humans have freckles or birthmarks, so why can’t a dog’s tongue have spots?

In most instances, the spots are harmless. It’s just due to pigmentation.

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Why Are There Black Spots?

The black spots are usually because of pigmentation. It’s similar to how a dog may have a batch of black fur or skin. Most of the time, the spots are flat and don’t cause any discomfort for the dog.

Interesting fact: sometimes, due to pigmentation, the spots can also be blue or purple, too.

There are a few breeds more likely to have black spots on their tongues, including:

• Chow Chow
• Shar Pei
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• German Shepherd

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When to Worry

As mentioned before, most of the time, spots on a dog’s tongue is nothing to worry about. However, if the spots are raised or there are changes in the size of the spots, it is time to talk to your vet. Also, if you think that the spots are causing your dog any kind of discomfort, you should schedule an appointment.

The next time your dog decides to give you kisses, pay attention to their tongue. See spots? Don’t worry. Though, if you see different spots the next time, then and only then should you be concerned.

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I never knew that there was a “correct” order to do chores until my mother-in-law scolded me for dusting after vacuuming. It sparked quite a debate about vacuuming before or after dusting. Does it really matter? Let’s take a look at some of the reasonings.

Why Dusting and Vacuuming Are Important

Let’s start off by saying that dusting and vacuuming are two separate chores and both important when trying to maintain a clean home. Dusting helps to remove dust from various surfaces like fan blades, tables, and shelves. Vacuuming focuses on cleaning the floors and carpets by sucking up debris.

They target different areas, so is the order important?

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Dusting Before Vacuuming

There’s a reason why dusting is typically done before vacuuming. Dusting can loosen particles that will then fall to the floor. Vacuuming after dusting ensures that everything is sucked up. Otherwise, if you dust afterward, your floors could become dirty again.

There are a few things to consider:

Science: Dusting will cause particles to become airborne. At least some will land on the floor.

Efficiency: Depending on the tools being used, it’s more efficient to dust and then vacuum so that tasks aren’t being redone.

Use of a HEPA filter: If you have a HEPA air filtration system or even a vacuum with such a filter, it will capture airborne particles. This means the order isn’t as important.

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Choose What Works for You

Ultimately, it’s your home and you know what works best. If you prefer to change up the order, you can absolutely do that. In fact, some say that by vacuuming first (and using various handheld attachments), they can see what needs to actually be dusted.

As long as your home is getting clean, you get to choose the order.

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death around the globe. There are countless risk factors, and understanding those make it easier to be proactive to prevent heart disease in the first place.

My doctor said that I am at risk of developing heart disease. Meds were mentioned, but I’d rather make a few lifestyle changes.

The good news is that I was given a lot of good information. Let me share…

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Risk Factors

First off, it’s important to identify the most common risk factors:

• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle

Age and family history also play a role, but you can’t really do anything about those.

Once you look at the risk factors that apply to you, it’s easier to see how you can make changes to your lifestyle.

Establish a Heart Healthy Diet

If you want to prevent heart disease, a heart-healthy diet is critical. This means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, as well as lean proteins (like chicken and turkey). You should also limit saturated and trans fat, which can often lead to artery blockage.

A few things you can include in your diet are avocados, nuts, and olive oil as these are all considered “healthy fats.”

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A Few Tips to Help with Being Heart Healthy

A few lifestyle changes can go a long way to prevent heart disease.

• Become more active and focus on activities that improve circulation and help you to maintain a healthy body weight.
• Manage your stress so that you don’t end up increasing your blood pressure.
• Avoid unhealthy “coping” mechanisms such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake.
• Get a good night’s sleep, ensuring that you’re getting between 7 and 9 hours every night.

In the end, it’s up to you to maintain your health. Schedule regular doctor’s appointments so that you can receive the necessary screenings. When you make a few lifestyle changes and focus on your health, you will live a healthier and longer life.

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My doctor recently talked to me about high blood pressure, often known as hypertension. Meds were discussed, but I don’t want to be on medication for the rest of my life. That’s when I started to do some research.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’ because the symptoms aren’t present until there has already been significant damage to the heart. What happens is that there’s too much force to the blood against the artery walls. Stroke and heart disease can occur if this continues for too long.

Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers: systolic / diastolic.

Systolic: The pressure when the heart is beating.

Diastolic: the pressure when the heart is resting between beats.

A normal reading is 120/80, and you are considered hypertensive when you’re at 130/80 or higher.

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What You Can Do to Prevent Hypertension

According to the CDC, healthy living habits are critical to prevent high blood pressure.

Here are some of the things that you can do:

• Focus on a healthy diet with lean protein, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables
• Reduce salt intake to less than 2300 mg per day
• Introduce regular physical activity, including 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week
• Maintain (or achieve) a healthy weight
• Limit alcohol use
• Reduce or eliminate tobacco use

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Discuss Your Concerns with a Doctor

It’s important to regularly monitor your blood pressure. If your blood pressure isn’t going down as you make various lifestyle changes, talk to your doctor. There may be underlying conditions that require attention.

By focusing on your health and making changes, it’s often possible to avoid hypertension – and the sooner you start, the healthier you can be.

Fans of Gracie Abrams are growing concern with the “That’s So True” singer’s health. Today (March 3), Abrams to Instagram to announce two more of her The Secret Of Us: The Deluxe Tour dates have been postponed.

In the Instagram stories post (obtained by Rolling Stone), Abrams revealed that due to an undisclosed illness she could not move forward with her Nottingham show at Motorpoint Arena today or her Leeds’ gig at First Direct Arena tomorrow (March 4).

“I hate that I have to write this again so soon,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, I am really still struggling with this illness and have been advised that I cannot perform these next two nights.”

She continued: “I can’t tell you how much this breaks my heart,” Abrams wrote in her latest note. “This tour is something I’ve been dreaming of since the album came out and the shows we’ve played so far have meant more to me than I can tell you. The moment we have any concrete details about these two shows in your cities, we will be in touch. Please know I’d give anything to be able to be with you. Thank you for understanding. I’m sending all my love and my deepest regrets.”

Late last month, Abrams pulled out of her February 28 show at Forest National in Brussels, Belgium. “Fighting off something gnarly for the past week, and despite doing everything in my power to keep it contained, it has gotten to a point where all medical advice I’ve received says I cannot perform and need to rest,” she announced.

At this time, the new date for Gracie Abrams’ Nottingham and Leeds performances have not yet been announced. Ticket holders are encourage to check their email for future details.

View the remaining The Secret Of Us: The Deluxe Tour dates here.

Yesterday (March 2), the 2025 Oscars was all about honoring stellar cinematography. Still, the coveted ceremony was sure to extend a warm invite to music’s biggest name–including Doja Cat.

During the 007 tribute, Doja Cat, Lisa, and Raye’s mission was to celebrate the beloved spy franchise. However, viewers were not fond of the musical story being told–specially by Doja Cat.

Today (March 3), over on her official Instagram page, Doja Cat responded to the criticism of her 2025 Oscars performance.

“I never get to sing like that and what I did was brave and scary as f*ck for me,” she wrote. “I know a lot of people didn’t like it, but a lot of people did, and I feel good that I pushed myself.”

She continued: “The song is a classic and I put a lot of work into it, but the nerves got to me and a b*tch hit some flats. I can’t wait to do something like that again. What a blessing that was. I feel amazing about the whole thing. Bye. ”

In a separate comment, Doja showed love to all the evening’s performers, writing: “Also ALL the girls chewed down last night God BLESS them all. Absolutely gorgeous performances from everyone .”

Followers are applauding Doja Cat for standing up for her artistic choice under the post and taking an uncharacteristically gentler approach to shut down haters.

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Type 2 diabetes is more common than you might think. It occurs when your body cannot metabolize glucose (sugar) properly. My doc said that I’m at risk, so there are things that I can do now to be proactive and prevent being diagnosed with the chronic condition.

Why is Type 2 Diabetes a Concern?

There are plenty of reasons to avoid being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Your body may resist insulin or not produce enough, which can lead to a number of health problems. You may encounter higher than normal blood sugar levels. Over time, this can lead to kidney problems, heart disease, and even nerve damage.

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The Risk Factors

Understanding the risk factors can help you to take charge. While some things are out of your control, plenty can be controlled.

• Sedentary lifestyle
• Abnormal cholesterol levels
• Certain ethnicities (including Hispanic, African American, Asian, and Native American)
• Being over the age of 45
• Family history of diabetes

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What Can Be Done

Don’t just assume because you fall into a risky category that nothing can be done. There are actually plenty of things you can do. Try making a few changes:

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Exercise regularly with biking or walking
• Reduce your weight and maintain a healthy BMI
• Manage your stress with deep breathing and yoga
• Get 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night
• Monitor your blood sugar levels

When you are proactive and make modifications to your lifestyle, you can reduce many of the risks and (hopefully) prevent ever being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Ultimately, it comes down to having your blood sugar levels reviewed by your doctor on a regular basis. Early prevention really does make a difference!

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Migraines are the absolute worst. It can lead to light and sound sensitivity, a throbbing head, and more. If you encounter migraines on a regular basis, you know that it can be absolutely debilitating.

Chronic migraines are when you get them at least 15 days a month.

While medication is an option, there are ways that you can manage (and even prevent!) migraines naturally.

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Determine the Various Triggers

Believe it or not, many times, migraines are triggered by something. Some of the most common triggers include:

• Disturbance in sleep
• Certain foods and drinks
• Strong odors
• Bright or strobing lights
• Stress
• Hormonal changes

It’s not just triggers to be aware of. Various risk factors like gender, age, and family history can also lead to more frequent migraines.

Try a Few Lifestyle Changes

By making a few changes to the way you live your life, you may be able to reduce migraines or say goodbye to them once and for all.

• Make changes to your diet to get rid of such things as caffeine, processed meats, artificial sweeteners, and even aged cheeses
• Focus on being more active
• Stay hydrated by drinking more water throughout the day
• Manage stress with mindful thinking, nature walks, yoga, and more
• Exercise more frequently so that you can enjoy the release of endorphins

You may also want to explore a few alternative therapies. This can include chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture.

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Track Your Migraines

The best way to improve your migraines is to start a journal. Track when you have the migraines so that you can begin to identify patterns. Is it a certain time of the month? After doing a certain activity?

Relief for migraines is out there, so by identifying when they occur, you can start to change your lifestyle. Pretty soon, you may be able to lead a healthy and happy life without wondering if you’ll experience a piercing migraine again.