A reverse mortgage provides the elderly access to equity in their homes and supplements their income. With its flexible repayment option, it gives homeowners more control over their money. However, the government has laid out strict rules and guidelines concerning reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. So, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage, read on to know the reverse mortgage eligibility criteria and the types of reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgage eligibility criteria The first criterion for a reverse mortgage is that the primary homeowner must be at least 62 years of age. If your spouse is under the age of 62, you might still be eligible if you meet other reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. If you’re not 62 or older than 62, then you won’t qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you satisfy the criteria mentioned below. You must be the primary resident of the home you’re seeking a reverse mortgage for. Note that vacation homes or rental properties do not qualify. You must either entirely own the house or have at least 50% equity in it. If you have any mortgage balance remaining while applying for a reverse mortgage, you must be in a financial position to pay off that balance.

Blood disorders are a type of disease that affects both solid and liquid parts of the blood. Plasma, the liquid portion, contains water, salts, and proteins. The solid portion contains white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Multiple organs and tissues help blood function normally in our bodies. This includes the bone marrow, clotting proteins, lymphatic system, liver, kidneys, and spleen. Any problem with one or more of these tissues or blood cells can cause blood disorders. All blood disorders are taken care of by medical experts called hematologists. They are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating blood disorders. Hematologists examine your medical history and your symptoms to determine the most probable diagnosis. The procedure may involve a blood test, urine test, bone marrow biopsy, and others. Keep reading to know more about some common blood disorders and their treatment methods. Anemia Anemia usually results from iron deficiency, sickle cell disease, or thalassemia, and its treatment depends on the type, cause, and severity of the condition. Possible treatment can include vitamin and nutritional therapy, and medicines to boost the production of red blood cells in the body. In extreme cases, your doctor may take you through a blood transfusion procedure to quickly replenish red blood cells in your blood.

An elevated cholesterol level is a huge risk factor for developing heart disease in the long run. One of the best ways of lowering your cholesterol levels is by following a heart-healthy diet. The key is to include foods in your diet that mainly lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol content in your blood. So, here are some foods that can help lower cholesterol levels and eliminate some risk factors for possible heart disease. Dark chocolate and cocoa This is something that many people might love. Research has revealed that dark chocolate and cocoa can lower bad cholesterol content in your blood. However, you must choose dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 75–85% or higher, or cocoa alone to enjoy the benefits. Milk chocolate and white chocolate are high in sugar content, which can negatively affect your heart health. Whole grains Including whole grains like oats, barley, and others in your daily diet is an easy way of lowering cholesterol levels. Whole grains, especially oats and barley, are loaded with vitamins and minerals, plant compounds, and fiber that can help manage cholesterol. So, don’t forget to have a bowl of oatmeal or oat-based cereals for breakfast every day.

Imagine working in a high-security building that uses facial recognition technology to keep out intruders. It works well until the intruders figure out how to breach the security system. It does not matter how often the intruders are caught, new intruders will find new ways to infiltrate. The same analogy can be applied to our body’s immune system and the flu virus. The building is our body, the security system, our immune system, and intruders are the virus trying to enter the body. Whenever a new influenza vaccine is formulated and distributed, more potent viruses develop ways to evade them, making it difficult to treat cold, flu, cough & virus symptoms. So until there is a definitive cure for the infection, it is imperative to take steps to get relief from symptoms and keep the immune system intact. Following are some ways which can provide relief from symptoms and strengthen immunity: Hydration Consuming plenty of fluids helps thin your mucus and breaks congestion. It also prevents headaches and fatigue that is caused by dehydration. Keep a glass or reusable bottle in hand, and refill it with water. Salt water gargles A salt water gargle soothes a throbbing throat. It eases swelling and loosens mucus.

While luxury cars are all about style, there is much more to them than just leather upholstery and wood trim. Luxury cars are synonymous with top-notch performance, safety, comfort, and the latest technology. The best luxury cars are replete with high-grade features and manufactured using the best spare parts and materials. Some of the basic features in the best luxury cars include automatic climate-control systems, power amenities, and audio systems with Bluetooth connectivity. Additionally, they usually offer an all-wheel drive, spacious cargo, and extra legroom and headroom. However, while shopping for one, ensure that you consider its performance apart from comfort and style. To help you identify the best luxury cars in the market, here are three important performance features you should consider. Fuel economy and engines The best luxury cars usually have a large gas tank and require premium gasoline. This can be expensive; therefore, ensure that the car gives you good mileage and is fuel-efficient. Go for luxury cars that have the latest technologies such as cylinder deactivation. This shuts off certain engine cylinders under low power demands, giving you better mileage while driving on the highway. Another feature is the automatic engine shutoff, where the engine powers down while idling at a traffic light.

Raising a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD can be overwhelming for parents. Some parents might have realized that the conventional child-rearing process won’t work for children with ADHD, and they need to adopt different approaches. There are many ways in which you can help your child overcome daily challenges, and channel their energies into areas that bring some amount of calmness and stability within them. That said, here are some tips that can help ease disruptive behaviors and deal with ADHD related challenges in children. Praise and encourage good behavior Each time your kid behaves well, you must praise their action and encourage them so they get an idea about what behaviors are acceptable. However, you must also ensure that you speak to them whenever they behave inappropriately and let them know clearly that their behavior is unacceptable and considered irritating to other people. Develop structure Creating a structure with a daily schedule can help reduce distractions. Knowing what they’re expected to do can be extremely calming for children with ADHD. So, you must create a routine for your child and ensure that they follow it every day. You need to get them accustomed to daily activities like homework, meals, playtime, and bedtime.

How many times have allergies caused you to sneeze every time you take a ride in the open air? Or rashes on coming in contact with a plant? Or swelling as a result of a peanut allergy? Sneezing, running noses, watery eyes, rashes, swelling all these reactions due to allergies can be quite distressing. Allergies are more common and can be caused by various things. The cause of allergies is still unknown, it could be genetic or just a singular development. However, they can be easily detected by just visiting your doctor and undergoing some tests. Read on to know more about what are allergies and how to detect them. What are allergies? The immune system is designed to fight any entrant in the body that it recognizes as foreign. However, at times, the immune system becomes over vigilant and starts fighting foreign entrants that are not harmful. Substances that cause the immune system to react this way are called “allergens”, and when you display symptoms of these interactions, you are diagnosed “allergic” to the substance. Allergens can include plants, grass, pollen, dust, food, animal dander among others. While symptoms like running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes, itching, and others, are all attributed to allergic reactions.

A common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and progressive disease that affects the brain and motor functions of the body. The disease progresses through stages. It begins to affect the regions of the brain that control language, thought, and memory. In most of the cases, it begins with a slight memory loss. In the final stages, Alzheimer’s disease leads to the loss of various abilities including motor skills, speech, and independent movement. Here are a few frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s. What are the causes? Alzheimer’s disease does not have any definite cause. Research has been unable to conclude whether Alzheimer’s is developed by one cause or multiple ones. The exact cause of the ailment is not yet known. However, there are multiple factors that may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the major causes is ageism. Also, a family history of Alzheimer’s is another major risk. This may lead to the inheritance of genes that cause this disease. Some other possible risk factors that can cause Alzheimer’s include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol. What are the symptoms? In most cases, the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive ability.