Wellness Vista

Directions Website Contact the practice

Wellness Vista Embracing health, nutrition, and fitness for holistic wellbeing. Be part of our health and wellness community 🌿 ☀️

10/07/2026

Like your skin, your nails can say a lot about your health. Ten changes and what each one can point to, from the American Academy of Dermatology, NIH's MedlinePlus and the NHS:

1. Thin, spoon-shaped nails: low iron
2. Small pits or dents: psoriasis, eczema or alopecia areata
3. Deep grooves across the nail: something slowed nail growth for a while, like a fever, an injury or major stress. They grow out
4. Lines running the length of the nail: common and usually nothing to worry about
5. Pale nails: anemia
6. Blue nails: not enough oxygen in the blood (cold can do it too)
7. Yellow nails that thicken and seem to stop growing: a nail infection or lung disease. Polish and smoking also stain nails yellow
8. A nail lifting off its bed: often a fungal infection, psoriasis or an injury; thyroid disease is on the list too
9. A new or changing dark streak: it could be melanoma, a skin cancer. Not every dark streak is, but this is the one to have a dermatologist look at
10. Nails curving down over rounded fingertips: can run in the family, and can be a sign of heart or lung disease

The catch: a nail can't diagnose anything. The NHS says nail problems are not usually caused by anything serious, and most come from injuries, nail biting, water and cleaning products, or a fungal infection.

Worth a doctor's visit: a nail that has changed shape or colour, or fallen off, and you don't know why. Blue nails or lips with trouble breathing or chest pain are an emergency.

Be honest: when did you last look at your bare nails? Save this and check tonight.

Sources in the pinned comment.
General wellness education only - not medical advice.

You're probably brushing your teeth wrong (most people get No. 6 backwards).Ten toothbrushing mistakes, and what the NHS...
10/07/2026

You're probably brushing your teeth wrong (most people get No. 6 backwards).
Ten toothbrushing mistakes, and what the NHS and the American Dental Association say to do instead: hard bristles (go soft), scrubbing hard (gentle, short strokes), stopping too soon (about two minutes), skipping the bedtime brush (last thing at night), brushing straight after acidic food or drinks (rinse with water and wait an hour), rinsing with water afterwards (spit, don't rinse), mouthwash straight after brushing (use it at another time), never cleaning between your teeth (floss or interdental brushes, daily), capping a wet toothbrush (store it upright in the open air) and keeping a frayed brush (a new one every 3 to 4 months).

No. 6 is the one that surprises people. The NHS says rinsing straight after brushing washes away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste left on your teeth, so spit and leave it there.

The catch: not every rule is settled. The NHS says floss before you brush; the ADA says either order is fine as long as you do both. The ADA also says mouthwash before or after brushing may come down to personal preference. And the trials on cleaning between teeth are mostly short: a Cochrane review of 35 of them found that floss or interdental brushes may reduce gum inflammation, with low certainty. Your own dentist's advice comes first.

See a dentist if your gums bleed when you brush, are sore or swollen, or you have bad breath, and keep up regular check-ups.

Which of the ten were you taught the other way? Save this and send it to the person who rinses straight after brushing.

10/05/2026

Plague scare in Siberia: a microbiologist on the real risk.
As of October 5, 2026. A laboratory worker at the Irkutsk anti-plague research institute in Siberia died in hospital last week with severe pneumonia, and nearly 200 people who may have had contact with her were placed under medical observation. Local media reported suspected pneumonic plague.

Plague is not confirmed. Russia's public health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, gives the diagnosis as "pneumonia of unknown aetiology" and says testing found no microorganisms linked to her work and no lab accident. On October 2 the regional governor said the contacts showed no signs of illness and had tested negative.

In the video: Dr. Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, tells Sky News that pneumonic plague is nearly always fatal without quick antibiotics, but that the infection is "very treatable with antibiotics", so tracing and treating contacts matters most. His view is that any spread would be regional and "won't race around the world." The WHO says the same about treatment: antibiotics are effective, so early diagnosis and treatment can save lives. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: "I don't think it's cause for alarm, but it is cause for focus."

These are an expert's and an official's views on a developing story, not confirmed findings. We'll update when test results are confirmed. What should we explain next about how outbreaks are contained?

Ginger has been used in folk medicine since ancient times, and it's one of the few home remedies that has been tested in...
10/05/2026

Ginger has been used in folk medicine since ancient times, and it's one of the few home remedies that has been tested in many studies.

What holds up: the NIH's complementary health center (NCCIH) says research shows ginger may be helpful for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The NHS lists foods or drinks containing ginger among the things to try for morning sickness.

What doesn't: most studies of ginger for motion sickness haven't shown it to help, and it's uncertain whether it helps with nausea after chemotherapy or surgery. Most studies tested supplements rather than food, and some weren't high quality.

Safety: ginger can cause heartburn, stomach discomfort, diarrhea and mouth irritation. If you take any medicine, or you're pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your provider or pharmacist before using ginger supplements. Severe or lasting vomiting needs medical care, not a kitchen remedy.

How do you take your ginger: in tea, in cooking, or not at all?

Address

Los Angeles, CA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wellness Vista posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Wellness Vista:

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category