As you approach retirement, most of your money has been invested in your home. A reverse mortgage is an excellent way to tap into your home’s equity. If you have paid off a home loan or have only a small amount to be paid, it is a good option to meet various financial goals. Here are the criteria for reverse mortgage eligibility: Personal criteria Age You must be 62 years or older, to apply for a reverse mortgage. Generally, as you grow older the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) amount increases. Property The home should be your primary residence, and you need to live there for the entire duration of the reverse mortgage. Rental properties and vacation homes do not qualify for such mortgages. Home equity You should be the owner of your home outright or possess a minimum of 50% home equity. There is a possibility that you may qualify for a reverse mortgage despite having some outstanding balance on your existing home loan. However, the criterion is that you must first pay off the remaining mortgage from the sanctioned amount and meet other liens. The balance funds may be used for any other purpose. Using a reverse mortgage to refinance existing debt is beneficial in reducing your monthly cash outflows. The home equity requirement varies from one borrower to another and is based on your individual situation. If you are younger and the only titleholder to the property, the home equity required may be more than 50%. We recommend using a reverse mortgage calculator to understand the requirement. Counseling Meeting with a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department-approved counselor is mandatory. The counselor will help you understand all about a reverse mortgage and all the associated expenses. This is to ensure you completely understand the terms and conditions and are familiar prior to applying for the mortgage.

A lot of people get stuck in debt due to many reasons. The interest rates keep adding up, taking a toll on an individual’s financial stability. In such a case, debt settlement can be quite helpful if you wish to settle a large amount. Here is a list of top 10 debt settlement companies that you can consider to help ease the burden off your shoulders. National Debt Relief National Debt Relief has the most detailed insights on their website that can help you with debt settlement. It talks about the debt qualification, the amount of money you need to pay for enrolments as well as the debt relief services that they offer. The average savings after the fees is around 30%. CreditAssociates This particular company is known for helping clients with the elimination of debt. They undertake this entire process between twenty-four to thirty-six months. They use enhanced software, and the outstanding expertise of their team to help their clients with great debt negotiation services. Pacific Debt Inc This is one of the top 10 debt settlement companies that you can consider. You need to have a minimum of $10,000 in debt to avail their services. They offer an affordable monthly program/plan with payment as well as upfront fees. The service fees can vary somewhere between 15% and 20% of the entire debt. United Debt Counselors If you are looking for an online debt settlement company, then this is a great option. It works specifically for personalized debt settlement. You need to pay about 30% to 40% of your debt to avail the reduction services. CuraDebt CuraDebt is another company that offers debt settlement services with a great savings average. It offers 40% reduction after fees. You can opt for any of their business debt solutions that they offer.

Addictions have become an extremely serious global issue. From different kinds of substances to alcohol and nicotine, people can be addicted to a variety of vices. Being addicted to something is a disorder, which affects the behavior and brain. When the addiction increases, one loses control over his/her urge to use the substance, even if they know how bad it is for them. Understanding it better First, one needs to understand that addiction is a disease. It can start from consumption on an experimental basis, which leads to more intake use until the person cannot control the urge any longer. While some substances may take time to become addictive, a few can be riskier and turn a person into an addict immediately. Like most other diseases, addictions can be treated, but it requires more support from loved ones, and one needs to develop the willpower to quit. Symptoms of addiction Sometimes it can become quite difficult to identify if one is addicted to any substance. Avoiding the consumption of alcohol or any other substance is the best way to save oneself from addiction. However, if a person has started consuming any of these substances, they must look for the following symptoms to recognize if they have become addicted. Using daily or maybe even more than once in a day An intense need to use it and lacking focus on anything else If one requires to take more than before for the same effect Always keeping supply at hand Spending more money on it than affordable Hampers work or social commitments Effects on mental and physical health Starting to do take part in risky behaviors under the influence Starting to feel the physical symptoms of withdrawal when not using the substance Causes of addictions Various factors can influence addiction. The two most powerful influences are the environment and genetics.

Aging is a natural process. All of us grow older with time, which is why it is crucial to lead a healthy lifestyle. This way, old age does not bring too many problems along. From pain in the joints to suffering from forgetfulness, there are a bunch of things that are associated with aging. Types of aging Cellular aging The aging process of cells is dependent on the frequency with which they replicate. A cell can replicate itself around 50 times, and after that, the genetic material cannot be copied properly. This happens because of shortened telomeres. Hormonal aging Hormones play a huge part in the aging process, more so when a person is in their childhood or adolescence. The levels of hormones keep fluctuating as long as we live. Puberty results in the formation of large pores and acne. As we get older, the change in hormones contributes to the formation of dry skin. Metabolic aging Cells are responsible for transforming food into energy throughout the day. The byproducts produced during this process can be quite harmful. The metabolizing process causes damage to the body. Some are of the opinion that the slow-down of the metabolic process through methods like calorie restriction could result in slowing down the process of aging. Early warning signs of aging Sunspots Sunspots, also referred to as age spots, are spots found on the surface of the skin. These are caused when one is exposed to the sun for years. These are hyper-pigmented spots that form on the back of one’s hands, face, or forearms. Most people suffer from this condition after they turn 40. Gaunt hands With time, the uppermost layer of the skin becomes thin. When this happens, the protein content in the skin that gives it a structure starts withering away.

An allergy is a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to a foreign substance. The immune system is responsible for producing substances referred to as antibodies. When an individual suffers from allergies, their immune system generates antibodies that help in identifying the harmful allergens affecting the body. The symptoms of allergies are dependent on the substance one has been affected with. The reactions can be mild, moderate or severe in nature. Hay fever Hay fever, which is also called allergic rhinitis, can result in sneezing, runny nose, itching in the eyes or the nose, and watery or swollen eyes. Food allergy An allergy, which has resulted from consuming a particular food item, can lead to a tingling sensation in the mouth, lips or face swelling up or anaphylaxis, which could pose a threat to one’s life. Insect sting allergy A sting from an insect can cause the affected portion to swell up considerably, cause an itching sensation across the body, and lead to shortness of breath. Medication allergy An allergy, caused by the consumption of some medication, results in an itchy skin, rash, hives, swelling on the face, wheezing, and anaphylaxis. Atopic dermatitis This is a skin condition, which also goes by the name of eczema. Apart from causing an itching sensation in the skin, it can also result in it peeling off. Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a severe form of reaction that could pose a serious threat to the patient’s life if not controlled in the early stages. Some of the commonly observed symptoms of anaphylaxis are losing consciousness, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, light-headedness, skin rash, weak pulse, and nausea. Causes of allergies A person suffers from an allergy when their immune system considers a harmless material to be a threat. The immune system then proceeds to generate antibodies that keep a close watch on the substance that has been identified as an allergen.

Alzheimer’s results in the unfortunate wasting away of brain cells, causing their premature death; it is a progressive ailment. It is the most common kind of dementia, wherein a person’s social skills, behavior, and thinking capabilities decline, disrupting their ability of independent functioning. The earliest signs of this disorder may be forgetfulness with severe memory loss as the disease progresses. Here are the common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: Memory loss Repeating questions and statements Difficulty in finding words to identify objects, participate in conversations, or express thoughts Forgetting events, appointments, and conversations Forgetting family members’ names and common objects Getting lost in known places Misplacing things Thinking and reasoning Losing the ability to make reasonable judgments and decisions Making uncharacteristic or poor choices in social gatherings Difficulty in responding to everyday situations Planning and performance Routine activities, such as cooking or planning becomes difficult Advanced stage patients may not be able to perform basic tasks, such as bathing or dressing Personality and behavioral changes Delusions Depression Loss of inhibitions Apathy Wandering Mood swings Modified sleeping habits Social withdrawal Aggression and irritation Distrust in others Why does Alzheimer’s occur? The patient’s brain changes due to Alzheimer’s disease. The brain becomes smaller as the disease progresses with lesser healthy brain cells. The brain forms two kinds of flaws, which are neurofibrillary tangles and beta-amyloid plaques. This damages the healthy cells, resulting in their death and shrinking of the brain. Beta-amyloid plaques These are leftover fragments of a larger protein. Clustering of these fragments has a toxic effect on the neurons, disrupting intercellular communication. These clusters additionally form larger deposits (amyloid plaques) that include other cell debris. Neurofibrillary tangles Tau proteins are an important internal support and transport system in neurons for carrying nutrients. When a person suffers from Alzheimer’s, the tau proteins modify their shapes and form neurofibrillary tangles.

Anemia refers to the medical condition in which the body does not produce enough red blood cells to transfer oxygen to the tissues in the body. When you suffer from anemia, you feel weak and exhausted all the time. This disease can be temporary in nature or have a long-term effect on a person’s health, in which case they will require continual treatment. Causes Inflammation Several kinds of diseases like kidney diseases, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and chronic inflammatory diseases obstruct the process of producing red blood cells. Iron deficiency anemia This is the most common kind of anemia. As the name suggests, it is a result of a deficiency of iron in the body. The bone marrow requires iron to produce hemoglobin. When there is a shortage of the nutrient, the body fails to generate a sufficient amount of hemoglobin to produce red blood cells. Vitamin-deficiency anemia Apart from iron, the body requires vitamin B-12 and folate to generate red blood cells. When your diet does not have any of these, there is a sharp drop in the red blood cell count. There are also cases of people who consume vitamin B-12 but not absorbing it properly. That gives rise to vitamin-deficiency anemia. Aplastic anemia This is a rare kind of anemia that could pose a serious threat to your life. This is, again, a result of the body not producing red blood cells in sufficient quantity. Some of the common causes of aplastic anemia are taking certain medications, being in contact with toxic chemicals, suffering from autoimmune diseases, and infections. Hemolytic anemia Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells get destroyed or die faster than they can be replaced by the bone marrow. If a person is suffering from a blood disease, it increases the rate at which red blood cells are being destroyed.

Arthritis is a medical condition that is marked by inflammation in the joints. It can affect a single joint or several joints in the body. There are different types of arthritis. Each one can be traced to a different cause, with various methods to treat them. Types Primarily, there are two main kinds of arthritis – rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. These can be broken down into several categories. Osteoarthritis This is the most commonly diagnosed form of arthritis. When a person is suffering from osteoarthritis, the cartilage of the joints gets severely damaged. The cartilage is the tough, coarse protective coating found at the end points where the bones come together to form a joint. Cartilage acts as a cushion to this part of the bones and facilitates the frictionless movement of the joints. When the cartilage gets damaged, the bones grind against each other, causing severe pain and restrictive movements. This damage can take place over a few years or in a short time. Rheumatoid arthritis In this type of arthritis, the immune system adversely affects the outer covering or the lining around the joint capsule. The joint capsule is a hard membrane that surrounds parts of the joints. When a person is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis , the outer covering swells up or suffers from inflammation. This results in destroyed cartilage and bone present inside the joint. Signs and symptoms Since arthritis affects joints, all the symptoms of this condition are found in joint areas, like knees, ankles, elbows, and more. Some of the most commonly found symptoms of arthritis in the joints are listed below. Stiffness Pain Swelling Redness Immobility Risk factors Age As a person gets older, the risk of suffering from arthritis increases. If you are young and are suffering from pain in your joints, you must get it checked by a doctor immediately.

Blood disorders can be of various types. The most common ones include anemia, bleeding and clotting disorders like hemophilia, and cancers like lymphoma and leukemia. In this article, let’s look at the symptoms, causes, and risk factors associated with some of the common blood disorders. Read on to know more about three common blood disorders. Leukemia Among the most common symptoms of leukemia are extreme fatigue and feeling ill. Additionally, people with leukemia have a tendency to bleed easily; the urine or stool may be accompanied by blood, or patients might bleed from their nose or gums. One may also experience swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, and a loss of appetite. Causes: Leukemia typically develops when the DNA inside the blood cells starts getting damaged, which can cause the blood cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. In this situation, the healthy blood cells die and are replaced by new abnormal cells, which develop inside the bone marrow. However, abnormal blood cells do not die naturally and keep building up. This leads to the cancerous cells overcrowding and outnumbering the healthy cells, resulting in leukemia. Risk factors: The most common risk factor associated with leukemia is the presence of certain viruses (human T-lymphotropic virus) in the body. In addition, chemotherapy or exposure to benzene may also increase one’s risk of developing leukemia. People with a family history of this blood disorder are also quite susceptible to developing it. Hematoma Since there are different types of hematoma, the symptoms may vary depending on the type of the disease. However, some common symptoms associated with all types of hematoma are neurological problems, headache, seizures, and confusion. On the other hand, the symptoms of epidural hematoma can include loss of vision on one side, vomiting, seizures, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Subungual hematoma may manifest as nail weakness, pain in the nails, and disfiguring or discoloration of the nails.

When the cells in the lungs begin to abnormally multiply and grow, it results in cancer. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. And the risk of suffering from this life-threatening disease is even higher when one is a smoker. Herein, we discuss the various factors that come into play when it comes to lung cancer. Symptoms of lung cancer Usually, lung cancer does not present any symptoms or signs in the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, one may notice Headache Bone pain Loss in weight Hoarse voice Chest pain Shortness of breath Coughing of blood A new cough that persists One should consult a doctor if they notice these signs. If someone is unable to quit smoking, they should visit a medical practitioner for quitting techniques to help avoid this disease. Types of lung cancer There are two kinds of lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer This is a catchall term that includes many varieties of this disease, like large cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Small cell lung cancer This happens mainly to people who are heavy smokers, and it’s rarer than non-small cell lung cancer. Risk factors of lung cancer Various factors put you at risk of getting this disease. While some of them can be controlled, others cannot. One should watch out for these top factors in their day-to-day life and environment: Family history If one’s family has a history of this disease, perhaps in a parent, child, or sibling, then they may get it as well. Exposure to radon gas It could be a part of the air or the risk could be in the natural breakdown of uranium in the water, rock, or soil. These can be found in any building or home. Exposure to carcinogens or asbestos Workplaces that are exposed to these substances are quite harmful.

Cholesterol can be understood as some waxy substance in your blood, which is needed by the body to build its healthy cells. However, when the cholesterol increases to an uncontrolled level, it can put you at risk of heart diseases. Furthermore, as a result of high cholesterol, there can be a fatty deposit in your body’s blood vessels. Because of this, it gets hard for the blood to flow through the arteries. What can high cholesterol lead to and how does it develop? At times, the deposits break down and lead to a clot formation, which can either result in a stroke or a heart attack. Though high cholesterol mainly develops as a result of your unhealthy lifestyle choices, it can be inherited too. However, it is both treatable and preventable. With the inclusion of regular exercises, a nutritious diet, and proper medication, you can reduce cholesterol levels. Symptoms As such, there are no definitive symptoms of high cholesterol. The only real way to diagnose it is via a blood test. Causes Cholesterol is attached to proteins and is transported into the body via the blood. This amalgamation of cholesterol and protein is known as a lipoprotein. Depending upon what the lipoprotein carries, there are two different types of cholesterol. These include: HDL i.e. High-density lipoprotein It is good cholesterol and helps carry the surplus cholesterol and transport it back to the liver. LDL i.e. Low-density lipoprotein It is the bad cholesterol, which carries the particles around the body. Over time, this cholesterol accumulates in the walls of the arteries and makes them narrow and hard. To determine the presence of triglycerides in your blood, you’ll have to undergo a test known as the lipid profile. In people who have high fat (triglyceride) levels, the probability of heart disease is more.

Typically, viruses cause the common cold. This includes head cold, chest cold, and even seasonal flu. Most people tend to simply use over-the-counter medicines to relieve the symptoms, which include a runny nose, cough, as well as congestion. In the following article, we will cover the symptoms, causes, and risks associated with cold, flu, cough, and virus. Symptoms Waking up coughing or sneezing are just some of the common symptoms associated with cold, flu, cough, and virus. Also, it is crucial to figure out the difference between cold and flu. While a cold is mild, the flu can be a little more intense. Here are some of the common symptoms associated with these conditions: Cold Cough Stuffy or runny nose Low-grade fever Having frequent body aches Mild headache Flu Runny nose Body aches or muscle pain Tiredness Sore throat Cough Stuffy nose A frequent sensation of throat clearance Shortness of breath Wheezing Heartburn Viral infection, on the other hand, can create a host of symptoms depending on what you contract, but the main symptoms would typically be from the lists above. Causes While the causes may seem similar, they differ for all three: cold, flu and cough. Here are the common causes for all of these conditions: Cold Rhinovirus Contraction through towels Contraction by touching utensils Touching the nose and mouth Flu The main cause of the flu is the influenza virus. It can not only infect the throat and nose but also the lungs. These viruses typically spread when people who have flu, sneeze, talk, or even cough. They can send out the droplets containing the virus in the air ,which are eventually inhaled by others. Cough Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Blood pressure medicines Lung cancer Cystic fibrosis Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Laryngopharyngeal reflux Postnasal drip GERD (Gastro-Intestinal Reflux Disease) Sarcoidosis A viral infection, on the other hand, occurs when the body contracts a virus.