Archive for the ‘Health’ category

Women Hair Loss – A Symptom or a Disease?

August 3rd, 2010

women hair lossWomen hair loss is a complex and traumatizing condition. It affects both our emotional and physical well-being, being a direct threat to our image, confidence and self-esteem.

The huge amount of information on hair loss present on the internet can make anyone dizzy. What is hair loss – a separate illness or a symptom of another disease? Which is the best treatment? Which are the best hair loss products? Many websites provide different answers to these questions, but how can we be sure that they are accurate? Fortunately, there are a few general considerations that will help you have a better understanding of this dysfunction.

Hair loss is not a separate disease. It is a sign, a symptom used by our organism to warn us that there is something wrong. Everything is connected in our body, but the modern medical system often forgets this simple truth, ‘treating’ (or better said – hiding) the symptom without eliminating the cause. For effectively solving our hair loss problem, we have to do exactly the opposite – eliminate the cause and the symptom will disappear as well! In order to understand why our hair is falling, we have to analyze the overall state of our health. Only after figuring out what is causing the hair loss, we can find and apply an appropriate female hair loss treatment.

We can classify the causes of hair loss in three main categories: hereditary predisposition, hormonal imbalance and unhealthy lifestyle. Some of these factors can cause an irreversible hair loss, while others are usually temporary, depending on our habits and lifestyle choices.

The genetically inherited hair loss (or androgenetic alopecia) is a result of the sensitivity to the hormones called androgens. For men, this is a common condition – also called male pattern baldness. Women with this dysfunction usually experience an overall thinning of their hair.

Hormonal imbalance often causes hair loss: pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills create many changes in a woman’s body, which can also affect the health of her hair.

An unhealthy lifestyle can easily cause or aggravate hair loss. Stress, exhaustion, incorrect nutrition (and crash diets), improper hair-care, a polluted environment or a scalp infection can make your hair lose its original thickness and shine. We can also add to this category the hair loss developed as a side-effect of another disease (thyroid disease, iron deficiency, alopecia areata) or harsh medication (antidepressants, antiarthritics, anticoagulants, cholesterol lowering drugs, chemotherapy etc.). After all, if you’re leading a balanced, stress-free life, you’re preventing the occurrence of most of these diseases and you have no need for harsh medication!

While androgenetic alopecia is irreversible most of the time (unless your dermatologist can find an effective treatment), hair loss caused by hormonal problems and an unhealthy lifestyle is usually temporary. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you identify the correct cause before following a certain treatment. In most cases, eliminating the cause – reducing stress, having a healthy diet, exercising or simply changing your shampoo can solve the problem. But all these solutions will be totally ineffective when it comes to genetic hair loss. In this case, you should find a good dermatologist specialized in hair loss and discuss with him/her which are your best options.

Quit Smoking Options Available on the Market

July 29th, 2010

There are several tools and tips that can help you tremendously when it comes time to quit smoking. Many people will opt for simply going cold turkey; however the success rate using this method is somewhat less than other methods available on the market today. Your doctor should ultimately guide you into helping you decide which way you take to quit smoking, but hopefully by the end of this article you’ll have a few ideas about the possible directions you can go down to help you quit smoking. Some of the methods that I’ll be looking to help address and outline to stop smoking with a little more ease include acupuncture, hypnotherapy, prescribed medication and nicotine patches. These are the most common methods that people opt to employ when they look for helpful treatments to aide them in the fight against cigarettes. But first things first, how can acupuncture help?

Acupuncture is the process whereby needles are inserted into various parts of the body. The needles and their locations are meant to stimulate energy flow to by and large, help the body get rid of toxins and chemicals. With respect to smoking, many acupuncturists will claim that they can help the body get rid of the addictive chemicals as well as the stressful systems that arise in quitting – therefore making the process much more easier. If you’re looking at this option, be sure to speak to your doctor for his or her thoughts on the matter. Another common alternative treatment is hypnosis.

Hypnosis is the process in which the critical faculty of a person’s mind is lowered, therefore creating the ability for a person’s unconscious mind to bring into alignment with the conscious desires of the individual seeking treatment for stopping smoking. Hypnosis is essentially pain free and quite relaxing, the way the process works is via the hypnotherapist giving the client hypnotic suggestions that promote a lifestyle without the need of cigarettes and tobacco. Some people are more susceptible to hypnosis than others but by and large, many people can benefit from the use of hypnosis and hypnotherapy in the treatment of smoking.

There are a number of different products on the market at the moment that a doctor can prescribe to help a person to quit smoking. The first product that came on the market a couple of years back is a product by the name of Zyban. Zyban is a medication that a person can take which lowers the chemical need for the substance of Nicotine. Another more recent product that has come onto the market which is similar to Zyban, is Champix. Champix like Zyban is a product which helps individual’s lives without Nicotine therefore making it possible for people to not feel the withdrawal symptoms of stopping smoking.

Nicotine patches are also on the market that people can buy to stick onto their body. These patches release nicotine into the skin which gives people the nicotine that they used to get from smoking. Since their getting the nicotine, the withdrawal symptoms from stopping have lessoned and therefore the product make’s it easier to quit smoking.

Regardless, its best to consult your doctor before you make this decision as they’ll be able to help point you in the direction of a stop smoking aid that will help the process of finally kicking the habit!

Orthopedic Pillow: A Means for a Healthier Body

July 23rd, 2010

orthopedic pillow for neckWe as humans need to have a good healthy sleep. Without sleep, we would not be able to think clearly, function appropriately, and attend to our responsibilities aptly. If we don’t sleep, we deprive our body the right to recover from exhaustion and regain the energy that we have lost from strenuous activities. Through sleeping, we become more productive and healthy individuals. That is why, the best thing that we could do to satisfy our innate appetite for sleep is to have a sleeping aid that guarantees us the slumber that we deserve. And in the realm of medical technology, what could be more beneficial to our sleep than the comfort given by orthopedic pillows?

Orthopedic pillows are sleeping aids that cradle our body (or just specific parts of our body) when we lie down on any surface. They correct our posture thus providing us a more comfortable and healthier sleep. There are also claims that orthopedic pillows help in reducing symptoms of sleep disorders like insomnia, snoring, and sleep apnea. They are also believed to improve one’s blood circulation and breathing, and lessen pains in different areas of the body. That is why these pillows are also called ‘therapeutic’.

An ordinary pillow is different from an orthopedic pillow. The latter is made from fiber or foam which enables it to conform to the contours of the body. For instance, foam orthopedic pillows are usually used as a cervical support. Consequently, orthopedic pillows made from fiber are best for people who typically sleep on their side.

There are different kinds of orthopedic pillows available nowadays. The most common are:
Cervical pillow – This pillow adapts to the head, neck, and shoulders. It can be used by both side and back sleepers.
Neck pillow - Shaped like a horseshoe, neck pillows conform to the contours of the neck. They can be used in the office or while traveling. That is why they are also called travel pillows.
Wedge pillow - This pillow is best for sleepers who want to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD during sleep. Unlike the neck pillow, wedge pillows are shaped like an isosceles triangle.
Lumbar pillow – As the name implies, lumbar pillows are used to give relief to the lower back. They are mostly used by people who usually sleep on a sitting-down position.

In choosing an orthopedic pillow, what you should always keep in mind is the extent of comfort that the pillow will give you. Always remember that a body that experiences more comfort will also most likely be healthier.

Causes and Prevention of Whiplash

July 15th, 2010

how to prevent whiplashWhiplash may rather seem a minor neck injury; however it does not exempt anyone to disregard it ― even you. You have to prevent having whiplash and all the symptoms that come along with it such as neck pain, headache, dizziness, and worst, weeklong numbness of limbs. If you’ve had whiplash, you’re more likely familiar with the feeling. But if you are one of the blessed ones who have never had this injury, you still need to be a little prudent and apply necessary precautions. Whiplash, after all, is not just a neck injury; it is a damage, a damage to one’s both physiological and social well-being,: physiological, in the sense that a part (or parts) of your body (tissue, muscles) are impaired; and social, since victims of whiplash tend to exhibit agitation and trauma-related behaviors, not to mention that they also have to leave their work for recovery and undergo expensive medical treatments.

What causes Whiplash?
Whiplash may be caused by different activities, usually when your neck is thrown suddenly forward and then sharply back to its original position like a whip. It is normally equated with motor vehicular accidents. That is the reason why whiplash is one of the coverage of most driving insurances. It can also occur in falls, biking, and horse-riding.

How to Prevent Whiplash?
There are a number of ways to prevent whiplash injury. The general rule is to have something that will protect and support your neck, may it be your hands, arms, seatbelt ― anything! If you are riding a roller coaster ride, where many whiplashes occur, you can support your neck using your hands instead of extending them up in the air.

If, on the other hand, you are just riding your car, wear a seatbelt. Of course, this car protection device is not tied around your neck; nevertheless it still avoids super extended movement, which might aggravate the situation. Seatbelts prevent your body from jerkily going forward too much. As such, it has been proven that 60 percent of vehicular accidents are reduced because of wearing a seatbelt.

You can also anticipate the occurrence of whiplash accidents. Do this by exercising your neck to make it stronger. Although exercising does not directly avoid whiplash, it, however, prevents the worsening of damage.

You can also install headrests on your car. These comfortable devices are ergonomically structured to prove the head with comfort and to lessen the possibility of whiplash. Also, if you are driving, it is mandatory that you follow all traffic signs and observe your surrounding. If whiplash injury is mostly caused by vehicular accidents, then you have to drive as safely as possible.

Natural Ways to Help You Sleep Better

July 13th, 2010

As people become more health conscious, there’s a growing interest in natural products to treat various ailments, including insomnia. Many people are learning that going to bed with sleeping pills in their system does not always equal a quality night’s sleep because of its side effects. Remember, it is important to get at least 8 hours of sleep to keep your immune system strong and free from any harmful diseases that are associated with such event. Listed below are natural ways to beat troubles in falling asleep.

• Recognize stress, worry and anxiety. Usually, they keep us from having a good night sleep. Avoid such by slowing your life down. Do your work in the office and avoid bringing them home.

• Take a look at your daily living habits to see if something could be preventing you from getting the sleep you need. Identify these habits and try to provide corresponding solutions to help you sleep and rest well than the usual.

• Exercising 3-4 hours before bed will fatigue your muscles and make you relaxed enough to fall asleep. Exercise does raise stress hormone and adrenaline levels in the body, but then falls down dramatically hours after the workout. It makes you feel tired, which will make you want to sleep so that your body can replenish its reserves. With proper exercise and a healthy diet, one can slowly but surely beat the symptoms of insomnia as the body fights back the bad effects caused by lack of sleep.

• Watch what you eat before bed. For example, spicy foods can give you heartburn. Also, avoid large meals. Have light snacks instead. Have milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, red meat, eggs, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas. These foods are enriched with tryptophan, an amino acid which has a sedative effect and contains calcium. Calcium helps the brain utilize tryptophan to promote sleep.

• Cut out caffeine. Caffeine can have a pronounced effect on sleep, causing insomnia and restlessness. It has diuretic effect. It is actually a bladder irritant, triggering frequent urination that causes recurrent awakenings at night.
• Avoid sweets. Although sugar can give a burst of energy, it’s short-lived and can cause uneven blood sugar levels. This can disrupt sleep in the middle of the night as blood sugar levels fall.

• Eat magnesium-rich foods. Magnesium is a natural sedative. Deficiency of magnesium can result in difficulty sleeping, constipation, muscle tremors or cramps, anxiety, irritability, and pain which impede sleep. Foods rich in magnesium are legumes and seeds, dark leafy green vegetables, wheat bran, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, brewer’s yeast, and whole grains.

• Avoid taking naps during daytime. This will condition your body for a better sleep at night.

• Sleep with lights turned off. Bright lights usually stimulate senses and often can be disturbing. Turn the lights off after you have decided to lie in bed; this will help you fall asleep faster.

• Follow a regular sleeping routine, this means you should sleep nearly at the same time every day. If one has relatively unbalanced sleeping pattern during the week, this might result in the possibility of developing severe respiratory instability during sleep. Getting at least seven hours of sleep per night is a good help.

Fixed and Portable Ambient Oxygen Monitors

June 26th, 2010

oxygen deficiency monitorAn ambient air oxygen monitor is a device that measures the level of oxygen in any given area and at the same time identifies its oxygen concentration. Gadgets of this kind send off an alarm as a warning when the oxygen level reaches a specific limit.

Studies indicate that the normal and acceptable atmospheric pressure is 20.9 percent. Just a little decrease that is lower than 20 percent is regarded as detrimental to health most especially to people who have certain frailties in well-being.

Typically, factories and other industrial units are the ones that are most susceptible to shortage in oxygen levels in the air. Chemical processing done in refineries often replaces the oxygen in the ambient air and thus causes suffocation. One extreme scenario that is being feared is the possibility of an explosion caused by a gas leak in a confined working area.

Good thing though; this condition or any related scenarios as such could be prevented by an oxygen deficiency monitor. Once the monitor detects a significant loss of oxygen supply in the area, it will alarm to warn everyone to vacate the place as soon as possible before conditions get worse.

Many companies all over the world, most especially in the United States, install oxygen monitor gadgets in areas that are hazardous and prone to gas or toxic leaks. These tools are permanently installed in the building. The readings of each oxygen monitor unit are connected to a central monitoring device where all pieces of information are analyzed one by one.

However, there are still dangerous areas that do no provide this type of oxygen monitor. Yet, anyone can still monitor the level of oxygen in any place where he stays through the portable oxygen monitor.

A portable oxygen monitor is almost similar to the fixed monitor that is directly installed in the location. The only difference is, as the name implies, it is portable. These devices are normally compact and lightweight that one can even clip them on his shirt or place them inside his pocket― needless to say that this gadget is functional even if you are mobile and are going from one place to another. Through this monitor, anyone can check if the place where he goes has enough supply of oxygen.

This device is also very beneficial to verify the findings of the fixed oxygen monitor. It can function simultaneously with the installed oximeter so in case one monitor malfunctions, someone can still check the oxygen levels or confirm the veracity of the warning given. This lessens the delay of production while maximizing the available time.

Effective Ways to Keep Dentures in Good Condition

June 25th, 2010

Taking care of your dental implants is as important as taking care of your natural teeth. Because cosmetic dentistry prices prove they are worth it in appraising your self esteem, you need to keep your dentures sparkling, white, and clean to forever wear the perfect smile you always wanted. Here are some simple steps to keep dentures in good condition.

Choose what you eat.
As much as possible, avoid eating hard and crunchy foods in excessive amounts. When you eat hard foods on a daily basis, it may cause damage to your dentures leaving you no choice but to spend big amounts of money to have them corrected.

Keep your gums healthy.

Clean your gums and tongue after removing your dental prosthesis. Avoid mouth gargles and solutions that are too strong. Massage your gums to help promote circulation and keep them healthy.

Clean your dentures daily.
As with natural teeth, dentures must be brushed daily to remove plaque. Brushing also helps prevent the development of permanent stains on teeth implants. It is advisable to use a brush with soft bristles that are specially designed for cleaning dentures. Avoid hard bristle brush because it can cause damage. Gently brush all surfaces of your denture, but be careful you might damage the plastic or bend attachments. When you are doing your regular cleaning, hold the dentures over a container with water to avoid dropping and breaking it.

Store it properly.

The artificial teeth should be kept moist when not worn so as not to run dry or lose their form. If not in use, when you are not wearing them, your dentures should always be kept in water or in a denture solution recommended by your dentist. Dentures should never be placed in hot water, as it can cause them to go out of shape.

Never make adjustments by yourself.
Consult your dentist if you find your dentures uncomfortable to wear. Wearing a prosthesis does not mean you must feel pain when eating. When it becomes too tight or too loose, always seek for professional help to make the adjustments. Never make them yourself. You can probably do more harm than good. It can seriously cause you to spend more for the repairs.

Be extra careful.
You may have to wear your artificial teeth almost all the time during the first days to allow it to get accustomed to your mouth. After a few weeks you should remove your dentures at night before you go to sleep. Sleeping make your muscles relax. Wearing your dentures overnight may cause accidental swallow and choking.

Control Your Life by Breathing Properly

April 8th, 2010

There are many different ways that people take into consideration when it comes to health improvement and life changing decisions. Knowing how to properly breath means a lot in this life. I assure you that if one manages to control his breath he or she will certainly be able to manipulate most of the things that happen with him during this life. I believe that it is necessary to pay attention to how animals breath in order to relax themselves.

We people say that we are smarter but often ignore certain basic things that could make our life better and live much longer. It’s a pity, but it seems that there is nothing that we can help the “crowd”. If you are serious about doing something useful in this life, no matter what you really do, follow me while I explain several cool facts about training to breath deeply here on this health blog.

In a world as ruckus as ours is today, thank goodness for relaxation methods such as deep breathing. A “normal” day consisting of getting up at six in the morning, getting the kids off to school, rushing through your morning routine, and grabbing your cup of coffee before you scurry out the door is no surprise.  Then, of course, you have to hustle to work through traffic that seems like it’s getting worse by the day. And, your day hasn’t even started! Again, I say, “thank goodness for deep breathing!”

Just recently, I started looking up relaxation methods. By the end of a regular day without much stress, I was feeling frazzled. Of course, there are a plethora of great methods out there to practice when you are feeling the nerves crawling through your body, and most of them are wonderful choices. Unfortunately, quite a few of them require you to be in a quiet place at a quiet time in order to get yourself relaxed. Let’s just say yoga or meditation, for example. Truthfully speaking, if I had the time and the quiet space that they required, I don’t believe that I would be as tense as I am.

The beautiful thing about most deep breathing exercises is that you can easily do it anywhere at anytime.