Everybody wants to have that perfect set of lips, as lips significantly contribute to our appearance. Men may just want their lips to compliment their jawline and women on the other side fancy a pout worth dying for. But there happen to be situations when your lips get swollen or sore due to a natural or an unnatural cause, and you suddenly get conscious of yourself and your appearance. Well, you need no longer fret. Check out these home remedies that will make sore lips or swollen lips a thing of the past. Application of Ice-Cubes Ice-cubes are the traditional remedy in cases of swelling, be it eyes, legs or swelling in any area of the body. Application of ice-cubes on the affected areas will always give you relief. In this case, you would need around 2 -3 ice-cubes and a clean washcloth, then, you would have to wrap the ice-cubes in the washcloth and apply it gently on the affected area for around 10-12 minutes and repeat the process after an interval of 10 minutes. Regular continuation of this process would help you a great deal and would surely provide relief to the sore and swollen areas of your lips.

Squat challenges are all the rage these days. Squats have long been used to shape the butt, thighs and legs. Squats can also work on your core muscles, increasing your flexibility and helping you burn calories. If you do squats, chances are you won’t have to include any other lower body workouts in your exercise plan. If you incorporate a 30-day squat challenge in your regular workout plan, you can see dramatic results on your lower body by the end of the month. Here is a sample plan for a squat challenge you can take up over 30 days. There are many variations of squat challenges. You can tweak the type of squats as per your preference. The Squat Challenge Plan Exercises You can include one or multiple squat exercises in your plan, depending on your preference. A basic squat challenge plan can include air squats, back leg lift squats, and a side lift squat. Air squats  Stand straight with your feet apart and in line with your hips. Keep your arms by the sides, letting them hang loose. Bend your knees and push yourself lower (like you’re sitting on a chair). Make sure to keep your weight on your heels.

Travelling after surgery can be risky. Air travel after surgery can be particularly dangerous, if you do not follow proper post-operative care protocols, as recommended by your doctor. In fact, your doctor is likely to advise you not to travel after surgery unless absolutely necessary. So, you might be wondering ‘when can I fly after surgery’ or ‘is it safe for me to travel by road/or by other means instead?’ Here are some tips to help you travel safely after surgery. Road Travel If you are using a car to travel after your surgery – be it from the hospital to your home or a longer distance, you must always have someone else driving the vehicle. It is also advisable to take frequent breaks, to move your body, when traveling on the road, over a longer distance. If your surgery has been on the upper part of the body, you may not have much difficulty in sitting, when traveling on the road. But if you have had surgery on the lower body or any other extensive procedure, it is better to travel by train or to take a flight back home. Train Travel If you are traveling by train, it is again better to have someone accompany you.

Massage therapy involves maneuvering soft tissues in the body to promote relaxation. It involves applying pressure, with hands, both with or without oil. Some massages can also involve use of rollers or other techniques such as application of pressure using feet or elbows. There are different types of massages such as aromatherapy, Swedish, Thai, deep tissue, reflexology, hot stone, and more. Rubbing the muscles and ligaments not only helps the body but also calms the mind. In fact, massage therapy is now being used as one of the best natural remedies for depression. Massage therapy is different from Muscle Activation Therapy. The latter is a technique developed to treat injuries by strengthening weak muscles. If you have ever wondered how to deal with depression naturally, then massage therapy may prove useful for you. Benefits of Massage Therapy for Depression and Anxiety Reduces Cortisol Levels Massages can lower cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone produced as a response to stress. During extreme stress, cortisol levels can increase, causing several physical and mental health problems. Elevated cortisol in the long run can cause anxiety and severe depression as well. Increased cortisol levels can also result in sleeping problems and weight gain, which can both lead to or augment depression.

Smoking is one of the most serious health hazards. But smoking while pregnant can be particularly dangerous to both the mother and the unborn child. Quitting smoking while pregnant is certainly not easy. Ideally, you should quit it before you plan your pregnancy. But if your pregnancy was unplanned, you may need to quit it as soon as possible. So, how to quit smoking while pregnant? What are the hazards of smoking while pregnant? Read on to find out! The Risk from Harmful Chemicals Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals such as carbon monoxide and nicotine , among several others. Both these chemicals can reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood. When you smoke while pregnant, these chemicals reach your baby through your bloodstream. Nicotine can even constrict the blood vessels and reduce blood supply to your baby. The effects of smoking while pregnant can be really serious.These chemicals can deprive your child of oxygen and affect his or her brain development. Smoke from tobacco inhalation can adversely affect your child’s weight at birth, cause birth defects such as cleft palate and lip, and affect the development of the brain and other organs. Recommended Read:  Smoking Cessation and Nicotine Withdrawal Smoking while pregnant during the first trimester or in the later stages – both are harmful for the baby.