Constipation is a condition of the digestive system due to which an individual faces difficulty in bowel movements. It generally means tougher or lesser bowel movements than normal. Causes of constipation can vary. Generally, when the food we eat passes through the digestive tract, the colon absorbs more water from the food. As a result, the stool becomes dry and hard. Constipation is the state when it becomes difficult to excrete such a stool. Apart from this, there are various other common factors that might cause constipation. Here are a few reasons that cause constipation. Fiber deficiency in diet The lack of fiber enriched food in a person's diet is one of the basic causes of constipation. A person who eats lots of fiber rich food in his or her diet is less likely to feel constipated than a person who doesn't. Less physical activity Physical inactivity is another common cause of constipation. Physical activities boost a person's' metabolism. Hence it makes it easier for the food to digest and exterminate from the body. Intake of certain medicines The intake of narcotic pain drugs, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, aluminum-containing antacids, and diuretics can cause constipation in certain individuals. Milk intolerance Intolerance to milk and dairy products are also a common cause of constipation. IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome People suffering from IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome are at a high risk of suffering from constipation. Expectant mothers Expectant mothers are vulnerable to constipation due to various hormonal changes during pregnancy. Old age Metabolism slows down in older people. This results in lesser intestinal activities. The muscle of the digestive tract fails to function well. Interchanging daily schedules A sudden change in the daily activities of a person might also cause constipation. For instance, a change in eating, traveling, and sleeping schedules. Misuse of laxatives Laxatives are helpful in bowel movements. However, the dosage of laxatives needs to be increased to get the desired results. An over usage of laxatives can be highly addictive. So, there is a high risk of constipation when a person stops the intake of laxatives. Ignoring the urge to excrete When an individual ignores the urge to excrete, the urge gradually subsides. This might lead to dry stools and hence constipation. Dehydration Lack of body fluids due to dehydration is a very common cause of constipation. How to treat constipation? Although constipation does not have any health risks, it is too difficult to tolerate the inconvenience. Constipation problems mostly cease itself without any medical attention. However, to keep the problem of constipation at bay, a person can monitor the following things in their day to day activities.

1. Change your lifestyle.
2. Include more exercise, eat more fiber rich food, and drink lots of water.
3. Use laxatives only under a registered medical practitioner's prescription.
4. Find out the reason of your constipation by observing the occurrence.

Atopic dermatitis is a kind of inflammation, which results in redness, itching, cracking and swelling of the skin. This is seen in adults but more commonly in children. This condition usually starts in childhood and its severity increases with age. Often, the rashes may ooze and thicken over time. Even though this is an incurable disease, atopic dermatitis treatment options can help to relieve various symptoms such as severe itching, skin inflammation, skin infection, and scaly lesions. Treatments can also help to prevent the formation of new lesions. The symptoms can be controlled to some extent using various home treatments such as the ones given below:

• Mild atopic dermatitis treatment can be done at home using skin barrier repair moisturizers, which help to prevent dry skin. It is advisable to use thicker creams instead of lotions and ointments like petroleum jelly, which helps to lock in the moisture of the skin. These must frequently be used.
• Preventive care measures for atopic dermatitis treatment include bathing in lukewarm or warm water instead of hot water to prevent the skin from drying out, avoiding allergens such as harsh detergents or soaps that may trigger rash formation, and avoiding scratching of the affected areas.

Depending on the severity of the rashes, a doctor may prescribe any of the following treatments:

• When the rash covers large areas of the body, the doctor may prescribe high strength topical corticosteroids or oral corticosteroids. These are also used if there are skin infections.
• Treatments like phototherapy or psoralen plus ultraviolet light therapy (PUVA) which use exposure to ultraviolet light, with or without medication may be helpful.
• If other treatments don’t work, then interferon (a type of protein that the body produces and helps to fight infections; also available as a drug) or cyclosporine (a drug to suppress the immune system) is sometimes used in adults.
• Antihistamines (drugs used to treat allergies) are often prescribed to reduce itching.
• Another effective atopic dermatitis treatment method involves the use of wet bandages and topical corticosteroids for wrapping the affected area.

If the rashes don’t get better with these home treatments, it is better to seek medical attention immediately.

You need to clean your washing machine regularly so that it keeps your clothes fresh and hygienic and doesn't become a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus, and other allergens. Dirty washing machines give off bad odors when the liners and rim of the tub collect soap-scum and mold. We often forget that our cleaning appliances also need cleaning themselves. This is a part of regular maintenance, it keeps the appliance in good working condition and can extend its life. A cleaning schedule also helps you spot potential problems early on so you can avoid expensive repairs and replacements later. Let's look at some great washing machine cleaning ideas that you can try at home: Soda bicarbonate and vinegar Mix 4 oz soda bicarbonate and 16 oz white vinegar and pour it into your top-loading machine. Run a regular heated cycle. The drum and the hoses get super clean. You can wipe the outside of the machine with a damp cloth and dish-washing liquid soap. Wipe the inside and outside dry thoroughly and leave the top open for a couple of hours. The same method can be used for your front loader, but change the mix. You need 2 tablespoons of soda bicarb and 4 oz vinegar instead. This is one of the most effective washing machine cleaning ideas out there. Liquid bleach Keep the lid or door slightly open on your top-loading/front-loading machine. This prevents dampness and mold growth. Pour in one cup of liquid bleach and run the regular cycle to get rid of moldy odors. Make sure all the bleach has been removed before you put clothes in to wash. Clove oil If your machine has been cleaned but still gives out a stink, get a bottle of clove oil from a pharmacy and pour about 10 drops of it into the washing machine. Run a regular cycle. This washing machine cleaning idea keeps your machine smelling fresh. Oxy bleach/enzyme detergent Add enzyme detergent and oxy-bleach to your regular washing cycle. This washing machine cleaning idea prevents grease build-up following hot cycles. Citric acid This universal cleaner is a great way to get rid of hard water deposits, mineral deposits, lime-scale, soap scum etc. You can mix citric acid crystals with baking soda in the proportion of 1:2 and set your machine to a long, full with-soak wash cycle. Easy home remedies Keep a set of small brushes handy to regularly scrub seals and gaskets where mold collects. Bleach dispensers and lint collectors are also great places for soap scum and mineral deposits to sit. 2 cups plain baking soda mixed in warm water in a quick cycle helps prevent odors. We hope this list of washing machine cleaning ideas help you maintain your washing machine!

An oil change can a task when there are so many aspects that need to be taken care of. The most appropriate time to change, how frequently it should be changed, and the right type of oil are a few things that matter. Here is a list of considerations that you want to ponder over before getting oil change specials.

• Inspect oil levels: It is advisable to keep a check on the oil level by reviewing it once every month. Even new vehicles should be checked from time to time to keep them in good health. Early detection of an oil leak, change in oil color or reduction in oil level is helpful for taking necessary steps in advance. These aspects can point towards other issues in the vehicle such as leakage of coolants and damage to the engine.
• Oil change intervals: Various drivers suggest different intervals within which oil should be changed, such as once in three months or once in six months. Note that while excessive use of the vehicle causes a need for a regular oil change, not using the engine for a considerable period of time also makes the oil less efficacious. Past experiences can help, but they should not be relied upon entirely. Always consult the vehicle’s manual in order to take a more informed decision
• Type of oil: You have to be intelligent enough to not fall prey to the mechanics’ tactics of selling expensive oils. Do a bit of research and know which one is right so that you don’t end up buying an oil that your vehicle does not require in the first place. Synthetic oil is always better, although it is more expensive since it is capable of tolerating high temperature and has a longer life.

Today, vehicles are equipped with a system that notifies the driver when the oil needs to be changed. To encourage drivers to get the oil changed regularly, a large number of companies offer oil change specials. These are designed in a manner that increases the rate of walk-in customers and lets them get their cars serviced without hesitation. In case you are looking for oil change specials, opt from the following options offered by different brands.

• Firestone: You can avail $15 off on standard oil change and $10 off on synthetic blend oil change if the payment is made via Visa® prepaid card. Full synthetic oil can be changed at $15 off again if paid by a Visa® card. At Firestone, while getting the oil changed, one can also get a set of tires at a discounted price. For example, four Bridgestone tires are available at $50 off. Similarly, four Firestone Destination tires are available at $40 off. Firestone FR710 can be purchased at a discount of 10%.
• Jiffy Lube®: It is one of the most prominent brands that offer oil change specials. One can get a discount of $5 on their signature oil change service. The company has tied up with Shell and offers Platinum and Fleet cards for their regular customers. Oil change specials are available according to the user's location and nearest Jiffy Lube® vendor.
• Midas: A massive $20 off can be availed on a conventional oil change. Moreover, on hiring services worth $100, $200 and $300, straightaway a $10, $20 and $30 discount is provided respectively. Specials for wheel alignment and brake services are also offered by Midas.

Therefore, do not delay the process of getting your vehicle's oil changed since it can harm your engine in the long run and a damaged engine can prove to be very costly. At times, automobile companies make it easier for their customers to get their vehicles serviced by offering oil change services at discounted prices so that customers don’t have to look for oil change specials elsewhere. They can simply schedule an appointment and visit the service center to get their cars back in order.

Interesting facts about GPS technology Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are a critical component when it comes to the use and application of many of the technologies, on a daily basis. Although the system was primarily designed to navigate using signals which accurately pinpoint your location, nowadays GPS and navigation systems are a common technological fixture. However, there are many things you didn’t know about proprietary GPS and navigation systems although we are pretty much relying on the same for proper guidance. Here are a few interesting facts about this three-decade-old technology. GPS and navigation technology: The concept which revolves around GPS technology may be similar, but the technology is not unique. This means GPS is not the only space-based radio navigation systems. It is one of the much popular and used systems globally. Russia has its own navigation system known as the GLONASS, along with Galileo in Europe and BeiDou in China. However, presently GPS and GLONASS are the only two satellite-based space radio systems that offer global coverage. The Galileo and BeiDou systems are yet to be made fully functional for global coverage. Number of Satellites in orbit: Since GPS and navigation systems heavily rely on global satellites for positional and coverage accuracy of the signals, there are currently 32 satellites orbiting our planet. Global coverage is only possible when a total of 24 satellites work together in cohesion to provide uninterrupted signals and coverage, which was achieved back in the 90’s itself. However, today with the additional eight satellites, extra coverage is possible without any downtime when the GPS satellites are undergoing scheduled maintenance and repairs. GPS visibility and line of sight concept: We may have 32 satellites orbiting at any given point of time, however, for GPS and navigation systems to function properly, we only need a minimum of four satellites to achieve positionally and signal accuracy. Four satellites in our line of sight will ensure uninterrupted coverage and accurate location mapping since there is constant communication between the signal sender and receiver. The signals travel at the speed of light which is constant and based on these factors it is easy to determine an accurate position for mapping. Relativity plays a key role: Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity in simple terms states that time tends to move faster in places where there is the minimum effect of gravity, which is why the time onboard GPS and navigation satellites will be different when compared to our clocks back home. In fact, the difference of 38 microseconds faster per day will not sound so significant, but in reality, if this factor is not taken into account, the locations mapping could be off by more than a couple of miles thus affecting positional accuracy. This is also one of the main reasons why we need four orbiting satellites in line of sight to determine accuracy. The government owns and operates GPS system: The technology might have been invented and developed by the military, to be used for advanced warfare and systems, but it was made freely available to the public after 2000. The technology is owned and operated by the government as a public domain for everyone to benefit from GPS and navigation systems which have become a major part of our routine. Other uses of GPS:

• GPS is not just for determining your location, but also can be used to find out the exact time also with the help of onboard atomic clocks.
• GPS and navigation shoes are designed for people who are suffering from Alzheimer's so that they can be tracked in case they lose their way.
• Not only automobiles, but ships and planes are also very dependent on this technology to navigate safely across continents.

The kitchen is one room in your house where everything needs to be in the right place. The kitchen appliances need to be in a great state for your food to remain delicious and hygienic. For this, it is best to invest in good brands with reliable appliances. You can buy the kitchen appliances individually or as a complete set. The advantage of going for kitchen appliance sets is that a single set will fulfill all your needs and you won’t have to look for each appliance individually. The entire ordeal of buying appliances becomes a lot simpler if you invest in a full kitchen appliance set. What to expect in a full kitchen appliance set There are many brands that give you all that you need in a single bundle. This way you won’t have to run around to find the best appliances individually. Here are some brands that offer the best full kitchen appliance sets: The Samsung package Samsung is a brand that has been in the home appliance business for decades now. You can expect nothing but the best quality from all appliances offered by Samsung. The Samsung package is a 4-piece set. They offer an all-black stainless steel set that can fit right into the decor of your kitchen. These are the appliances you get as a part of the Samsung package

• 36-inch French Door refrigerator with energy star rating
• Electric range with a warming center, storage drawer, and even a bake element
• Dishwasher with top control
• 30-inch microwave

The Samsung package comes with high quality, superior design, and excellent performance. The Frigidaire package This leading brand offers a five-piece set of high-quality kitchen appliances. They are known for their French Door refrigerators. This luxury brand's appliances come at an affordable price when you invest in the entire kitchen appliance set. These are the appliances that come as a part of this package.

• Electric wall oven
• French door refrigerator
• Glass wall-mount hood
• Gas cooktop with 4 burners
• A dishwasher that is fully integrated

The Bosch package Bosch is one of the top three companies for household appliances in the world. They are the front-runners when it comes to electronic appliances. They offer high quality and durable appliances that you can use for years together without any problems. Here are the appliances that come as a part of the Bosch package.

• Electric slide-in range with warming drawers, convection, and self-clean functions
• Counter-depth refrigerator
• Wide canopy chimney hood
• Energy star rated dishwasher.

A great way to ensure that you are buying the right kind of appliances is by reading kitchen appliance reviews. These reviews can give you an idea about how good and long lasting the products are. You can avail of deals and offers when you buy a full kitchen appliance set from one brand. Kitchen appliance sets will last for years to come, so make sure that you are investing in the right one.