Hormone Replacement Therapy vs. the Natural Way

There seems to be some hype about this one and a lot of controversy. Should you do it? Shouldn’t you do it? Well I think that that is a personal decision but with most things in life there are going to be advantages and disadvantages and this subject is no exception. Well let’s dive righ...

There seems to be some hype about this one and a lot of controversy. Should you do it? Shouldn%26rsquo;t you do it? Well I think that that is a personal decision but with most things in life there are going to be advantages and disadvantages and this subject is no exception.

Well let%26rsquo;s dive right into it and note that to begin with some of the side effects that have been reported in women who go for the combination estrogen-progestin therapy are as follows; heart disease, breast cancer, dementia, blood clots to the lungs and legs and then to the Women%26rsquo;s Health Initiative.

Furthermore some women found no difference in their quality of life; they still had to endure the typical symptoms of perimenopause, such as hot flushes and night sweats. However the women who were on just estrogen therapy were more susceptible to experiencing strokes than those who were not.

They did however find that this particular hormone replacement therapy aided in decreasing the chances of them suffering from osteoporosis and in turn hip fractures.





Yet then back to the other side of the coin there is a higher statistic of women suffering from Uterine Cancer than those women who did not partake in estrogen therapy.

The less severe side effects yet side effects none the less vary from having tender and swollen breasts to migraines, nausea and vomiting to heavy menstrual bleeding and intolerable cramps. Sometimes these side effects will be separate or the individual will suffer from a combination of the above.

The safer and more natural way of dealing with perimenopause is to do it with a combination of diet and alternative or natural treatments. As far as the diet is concerned the more popular choice is to add more soy into your diet. Soy food has phytoestrogen which is a natural form of estrogen which helps bring back that imbalance of hormones experienced during perimenopause. Soy has also been known to promote a healthy and stronger heart.

When dealing with the hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia, cut back on caffeine. It may give you that added energy boost that you are looking for but once it wears off it will leave you feeling worse off than you did to begin with. Just as all stimulants do. Drink lots of water and do lots of exercise, even if you DON%26rdquo;T feel like it.

Vitamin B6 is said to increase the progesterone levels and is successful in treating headaches and moodiness. It produces serotonin in the body bringing on a happier mood and a feeling of calmness. It also alleviates water retention and is said to be really affective in subsiding hunger pangs. Good food sources of Vitamin B6 are bananas, potatoes, cauliflower, most breakfast cereals such as muesli and avocado.

Avoid spicy foods and alcohol as women have reported that these things make their perimenopausal symptoms worse.

The most popular herbal treatment in combating those perimenopausal symptoms is undoubtedly Black Cohosh. The root of this plant also contains phytoestrogen. It is only recommended to be used for 6 months. Black Cohosh is predominantly used for alleviating hot flashes, mood swings and insomnia. It has been reported to be rather effective with few side effects.

These side effects are dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting and aching joints. More recently repots have shown that Black Cohosh may cause an autoimmune hepatitis where the liver becomes inflamed and the cells attack each other. However the reports have been that there are not enough cases that prove that it is Black Cohosh that is responsible for this disease. Rather be safe than sorry and request a liver test from your Doctor.

Evening Primrose Oil has been claimed by some to have an ability to alleviate some symptoms experienced during perimenopause such as hot flushes, irritability, breast tenderness and insomnia. Some have reported great success while others have not had any noticeable differences. Evening Primrose Oil is more popular for treating Rheumatoid Arthritis and Asthma. Stomach upsets; headaches and rashes are the proposed side effects.

Whichever route you may choose to go it is always a good idea to have all your facts before you and weigh up the pros and cons. Nothing is without its disadvantages but in my opinion the side effects of dealing with Menopause the Natural Way is far less severe and not as potentially traumatic than Hormone Replacement Therapy.

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Relationships: When to Talk, When to Act

In my work with couples, I am often asked, "Shouldn't I communicate with my partner about this? Shouldn't we talk this over?"For example, Ginger noticed that when her husband, Ron, became demanding sexually or started to complain about not having enough sex, she would become defensive and try to tal...
In my work with couples, I am often asked, %26quot;Shouldn't I communicate with my partner about this? Shouldn't we talk this over?%26quot;

For example, Ginger noticed that when her husband, Ron, became demanding sexually or started to complain about not having enough sex, she would become defensive and try to talk him out of his feelings by explaining things to him.
She would then feel angry, distant and sexually turned off. She continually wanted to talk with Ron about this, hoping to get him to stop complaining. Yet nothing changed.

Sometimes Ginger thought there was something wrong with her sexually when she was not turned on, and other times she thought that if only Ron would change, everything would be okay.





Yet no amount of talking or exploring the issue changed anything.
Ginger and I discussed a new, loving action she could take when Ron complained about not having enough sex. Instead of defending and explaining, Ginger decided to just say, %26quot;Uh huh,%26quot; with a compassionate tone.

%26quot;But shouldn't I tell him why I am just saying 'Uh huh?'%26quot;
%26quot;Why do you want to tell him why?%26quot;
%26quot;I guess so that he will not get upset with me.%26quot;
%26quot;So once again, you want to explain yourself as a way to get Ron to feel a certain way.%26quot;

Ginger saw that much of her desire to %26quot;communicate%26quot; was really coming from an intent to control.

%26quot;When is it appropriate to talk about stuff?%26quot; %26quot;When you are sharing your own new learning without an agenda to change Ron.
Sharing your own learning can lead to deeper intimacy, while sharing your feelings in order to control generally leads to distance.

%26quot;So, when do we talk and when do we act? %26quot; We talk when it is about sharing information or coming up with a plan.

For example, it is appropriate to tell your partner if you are going to be home late - that is sharing important information. It is appropriate to discuss what you both want to do on Saturday night, or what movie you might want to see, or if you want to go to the party you were invited to. This talking is about coming up with a plan that affects both of you.
However, if one partner gets controlling about the information or the plan, that is when you might want to stop talking and think about what action you need to take for yourself. Any discussion when one partner is controlling will always break down, because the other partner is now trying to get the first person to stop being controlling and open to learning.
This kind of talking is what does not work. This is when you need to open to learning about what you are feeling (sad, lonely because you cannot connect with your partner, and helpless over getting him or her to open), acknowledge and embrace your feelings, accept the loneliness and helplessness of the situation, open to learning with your inner guidance about what action you can take in your own behalf, and take the loving action.

Put simply, the time to talk is when both people are truly open to learning and there is no agenda to get the other person to change. The time to take loving action on your own behalf is when you find that you are feeling sad, lonely and helpless over the interaction. That is when you need to remember to take loving care of yourself. The challenge is in remembering to do it! After all the years of practicing trying to change someone else, it is very challenging to let go of that and remember to take care of yourself.

Yet this is what really works!

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The Cheater鈥檚 Guide to Look Naturally Younger and Beat Aging

There is a single belief that continues to be reinforced with every new clinical trial, every scientific study, and each new investigation into the underlying processes associated with the signs and symptoms of aging.This is the belief that each major process in the body is necessarily influenced by...

There is a single belief that continues to be reinforced with every new clinical trial, every scientific study, and each new investigation into the underlying processes associated with the signs and symptoms of aging.

This is the belief that each major process in the body is necessarily influenced by changes in the natural balance of all body processes combined, and that this combined balance is most influenced by the health of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

In other words, we really are what we eat%26mdash;as long as we maintain a happy, healthy GI tract. Since our modern diets make this increasingly difficult, traditional anti-aging foods and the nutrients they provide are increasingly limited by our own ability to utilize them, and this is what makes colostrum so unique.

Bovine colostrum is the only anti-aging food that can provide beneficial, anti-aging nutrients and contribute to the everyday maintenance and repair of the gastrointestinal tract.

The immune factors in bovine colostrum help maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract in several ways. Among them are the immunoglobulins, or antibodies, that provide local immunity in the gut and seal the intestinal walls to prevent the passage of pathogens into the bloodstream.

Another immune factor, lactoferrin, supports colonies of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and inhibits the colonization of harmful bacteria by removing the elemental iron essential for their proliferation. It is through these immune factors that supplementation with bovine colostrum can maintain a healthy GI tract, allowing the full breakdown and utilization of nutrients in the foods we eat, making anti-aging foods more effective, and so making colostrum much more than an anti-aging food.

Along with these immune factors, bovine colostrum contains growth factors that work to quickly restore health to a damaged or poorly functioning gastrointestinal tract. This is important because virtually all problems with the GI tract have a single root cause%26mdash;the irritation and chronic inflammation of the intestinal walls.

Chronic inflammation makes the intestine more permeable to the passage of undigested food particles, pathogens, and toxins into the bloodstream, and it damages the protective coating surrounding the immunoglobulins lining the intestinal walls.

An enormous burden is placed on the immune system as it is forced to address the influx of foreign particles and pathogens in the bloodstream, and this burden is further increased when the immunoglobulins in the gut are rendered inactive. The result is a severely weakened immune system that has lost perhaps its most important line of defense in the gastrointestinal tract.

Colostrum%26rsquo;s growth factors are able to repair damaged intestinal tissue and reduce inflammation, while its immune factors quickly go to work in restoring this line of defense. This makes colostrum much more than an anti-aging food, because its ability to heal the GI tract is important for the prevention of nutritional deficiencies, food allergies, autoimmune diseases, and several other chronic disorders related to the increased toxicity and weakened immune system accompanying a damaged or poorly functioning GI tract.

In this way, colostrum supplementation stops outward aging processes by stopping the inward processes that lead to premature aging%26mdash;there is no other anti-aging food that can do this.

For more info on Bovine Colostrum, Visit :

http://www.BuyBovineColostrum.com

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Kindness to Self and Others

One of the qualities that we often find compelling in another person is genuine kindness. When we meet someone who is very kind, we feel safe and valued. We feel safe and valued because kindness is the opposite of judgment, and judgment is what many people try so hard to avoid.Our Inner Child needs ...
One of the qualities that we often find compelling in another person is genuine kindness. When we meet someone who is very kind, we feel safe and valued. We feel safe and valued because kindness is the opposite of judgment, and judgment is what many people try so hard to avoid.
Our Inner Child needs to be treated with deep kindness, and often we judge ourselves to get ourselves to do things right in order to attempt to control getting kindness and acceptance from others.

%26quot;You are not good enough.%26quot; %26quot;If you fail, you are a failure.%26quot; %26quot;If you make a mistake, you are unworthy.%26quot; %26quot;If someone doesn't like you, you are not okay.%26quot;

The ego wounded self believes that self-judgment will get you to shape up, yet the truth is that self-judgment creates emptiness, neediness, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.





The more you judge yourself, the more you need kindness and acceptance from others. This will not change until you decide to be kind and accepting toward yourself.
Judging yourself is very unkind to yourself. You might get caught in a vicious circle of desperately needing kindness and acceptance due to your self-judgments, then judging yourself in an attempt to get others to be kind and accepting toward you, then feeling inadequate, anxious, and depressed as a result of the self-judgment, then judging yourself once again in order to get yourself to do it right in order to get the needed kindness and acceptance from others. This vicious circle of inner abandonment gradually leads to more and more anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, as well as an inability to be genuinely kind to others.

One of you jobs as a loving adult is to become aware of when you are judging yourself and to move into kindness toward both your essence %26ndash; your true Self - and your wounded self who is judging. However, kindness does not mean indulging. You can kindly and gently stop your wounded self from judging yourself by consciously changing your judgmental thoughts to kind thoughts. Since your self-judgments are lies meant to control, they will always make you feel badly. If you stay staying tuned into your feelings, you can know immediately when you are judging yourself.
At that moment of awareness, you can go to your wise inner self %26ndash; your source of inner guidance - and ask whether the judgment is really the truth, and what is the truth. Once you tune into the truth, you can tell this to yourself. Telling yourself the truth is kind. Judging yourself is not.
Becoming aware of your intent is vital if you are going to change from self-judgment to kindness, compassion and acceptance toward yourself. As long as your intent is to get others to be kind, compassionate and accepting toward you, you will judge yourself to try to get yourself to act right in order to control getting what you want from others. Once you shift your intent to loving yourself instead of controlling others, you will start to be aware of your feelings that come from your self-judgments. Everything changes when you move from self-judgment to kindness toward yourself.

The more you come from the truth that comes from your inner guidance rather than from the lies of your wounded self, the safer and worthier you feel. Eventually anxiety and depression are replaced by peace and joy. When kindness to yourself is your highest priority, you will treat yourself kindly in all areas of your life - physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, organizationally, and in relationships with others. You will discover that the kinder you are to yourself in all areas of your life, the kinder you are to others. When you no longer need others to validate you and make you feel safe, you will find great joy in being kind to others.
Start today by noticing your self-judgments and choosing instead to be kind to yourself.

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Why Botox?

For time and memorial people have wanted to live forever. People have tried potions, lotions and every trick in the trade and then some. People don’t want to pass on, they don’t want to age and more and more lately men and women alike do not want those wrinkles that betray our age. So no...

For time and memorial people have wanted to live forever. People have tried potions, lotions and every trick in the trade and then some. People don%26rsquo;t want to pass on, they don%26rsquo;t want to age and more and more lately men and women alike do not want those wrinkles that betray our age.

So now due to the great demand for it we enter the age of Botox, Botox Parties, surgery and putting ourselves through insurmountable pain in a quest to hold onto the eternal spring of youth. We are bombarded by the media all the time telling how we %26ldquo;should%26rdquo; look and then how we can achieve that look.

Botox gets rid of those unwanted lines and people love it, some just can%26rsquo;t get enough. At what cost and surely there are safer options out there?

Yes Botox is the safer, cheaper and less painful option (with no needed recovery time) to surgery, but what is Botox and what exactly is a person injecting in their face when they %26ldquo;treat themselves%26rdquo; to Botox?

Botox is a natural purified protein which is a POISON produced by the Clostridium Botulinum bacterium, type A.





The bacterium causes botulism which is a form of food poisoning. It works by relaxing the facial muscles by blocking the nerve impulses, smoothing the look of the skin. The toxin is what paralyses the injected muscle. When done excessively it can leave your face looking paralyzed as it inhibits the movement.

So now we know how it works, what about the side effects? Well some are minor yet annoying as they take away from ones appearance, which I%26rsquo;m sure you would agree is ironic as Botox is invariably used to improve ones appearance.

Some people have reported a weakness in their muscles leading to droopy eyebrows and or eyelids. Patients have complained about eye irritations, dry eyes and light sensitivity. Others have complained of headaches and a painful feeling as well as bruising and lumping (again defeating the original purpose of Botox) in their face. More common complaints have been that of nausea, upper respiratory infection, speech disorders, fevers, neck and back pain and some have had all the symptoms of flu. Some have suffered with skin rashes while others have had anxiety attacks.

Botox is not suited for people who are pregnant, are breast feeding or who suffer with any type of neuromuscular disorders as cardiovascular complications may arise. Likewise those who already have cardiovascular problems should consult their doctor first.

There are medical reasons which Botox is necessary for. There have been studies that have proved that Botox has been rather effective in treating patients suffering from Cerebral Palsy, controlling muscle stiffness allowing then to have smoother control of their muscles and movement. It was originally approved to treat two eye muscle disorders, Blepharospasm and Strabismus and subsequent to that it was approved for treating Cervical Dystonia.

All that said the thought of paying someone to inject toxins into my face does not thrill me. Then of course there are the repeat visits as Botox only lasts 3%26ndash; 4 months and then it looses its affect. Botox has been labeled has being the most poisonous occurring substance in the world, and even though the amounts used are so minute that it is said to be relatively harmless, I%26rsquo;d rather not take my chances.

If you still ready and willing rather go to a reputable doctor as too many people are flocking to these Botox parties and are ending up all the more worse for it. Alcohol makes a person bleed more, needles aren%26rsquo;t always properly sterilized, the environment is certainly not sterile, people aren%26rsquo;t always trained to do this and so you have people being injected in the wrong areas. Remember at the end of the day, they are sticking needles in your face so make sure it is a qualified Doctor that administers the injection to you.

For reasons cited above Botox would never be my first choice but it has continued to grow in popularity as men and women alike try to grab onto a answer, any answer that will bring them closer to eternal youth.

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Cognitive Therapy Exercises

IntroductionCognitive therapy helps you to change how you think in certain situations, and making the appropriate adjustments. This therapy is highly practical approach to problem-solving. With cognitive therapy you change patterns of thinking or behavior and so you change the way you feel. We conti...

Introduction

Cognitive therapy helps you to change how you think in certain situations, and making the appropriate adjustments. This therapy is highly practical approach to problem-solving. With cognitive therapy you change patterns of thinking or behavior and so you change the way you feel. We continue to hold on to the same old thoughts and fail to learn anything new. Cognitive therapy is not a cure for depression or bipolar disorder. This therapy introduces you with some principles that you can apply whenever you need to. Cognitive therapy focuses on the thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes that we hold and how this relates to the way we behave, as a way of dealing with emotional problems. This therapy is typically used in combination with drug treatment, and last 3 to 6 months, cognitive therapy isn%26rsquo;t over night process.

Cognitive Therapy Theory

Cognitive Therapy is based on the theory that how we think how we feel and how we act all interact together. Our thoughts determine our feelings and our behavior. When you say %26quot;I'm useless. I can't do anything right%26quot;, this impacts negatively on your mood, making the you feel depressed. The problem may be serious if the you react by avoiding activities. The therapy identify those irrational thoughts that lead to negative emotion and identify what it is about them is not helpful.

When you in depression all kinds of negative thoughts could overtake your life. There is theory that it's not events themselves that upset us, but the meanings we give them.





The thinking patterns are set up in childhood, and become automatic. Cognitive therapy could help you to understand your thinking patterns. It helps you to step outside your automatic thoughts and test them out. This therapy would encourage you examine real-life experiences to see what happens to you, in similar situations.

You must be aware that negative things can and do happen. You may be basing your predictions and interpretations on a biased view of the situation, making the difficulty that you face seem much worse. Cognitive therapy can help you with exercise to correct these misinterpretations.

How does it work?

We all too easily fall into the kind of thinking that can take us one-way down. We usually filter out positive feedback and assume the worst based on little or no evidence. There are some examples. We assume that we are stupid when we misplace book, keys, or lose some other thing. When we don't see life is going as we expect, are thought are seriously negative.
In cognitive therapy, therapist is likely to ask you to recall what you were thinking as you plunged down into your last depression, and work with you in recognizing them before they can cause future damage. Cognitive therapy will help you to develop skills for dealing with your problems. If you have anxiety you may learn that avoiding situations helps to fan your fears. Confronting fears in a gradual way helps give you hope in your own ability to cope. If you are in depression you may learn to record your thoughts and look at them more realistically.
Cognitive therapy may teach you a new approach to dealing with problems that have their basis in an emotional disturbance.
You should be observer of your own nearly automatic worst thoughts. When you recognize those thoughts, you can turn these thoughts around and substitute new ones.
Cognitive therapy is way for long-term recovery. Also is early warning system against future depressions and manic episodes. For more moderate forms of depression cognitive therapy may be a preferred option to drugs. In cognitive therapy you aren%26rsquo;t a passive recipient of care. There are cognitive therapy exercises, homework; they are tools which help you to deal with negative thoughts.
Cognitive therapy has a highly educational component, much use is made of reading material in individual therapy and this has been expanded into a large self-help literature over recent years. Cognitive therapy could be done individually or with a group of people. Therapy can also be done from a self-help book or computer program.
If you have individual therapy, session will last between 30 and 60 minutes. You will need between 5 and 20 sessions. In the first sessions, the therapist will check that you can use cognitive therapy.
You should know that the therapist will also ask you questions about your past life and background.
With the therapist, you break each problem down into its separate parts. You should to keep a diary. This will help you to identify your individual patterns of thoughts.
Together you will look at your thoughts, feelings and behaviors to work out unrealistic or unhelpful thoughts. After you see what you can change, your therapist will recommend %26quot;homework%26quot;. You should practice these changes in your everyday life. Depending on the situation, you might start to: recognize negative thoughts and replace it with a positive (and more realistic), recognize that you are about to do something that will make you feel worse and, instead, do something more helpful. In each session you will discus with your therapist about your progress. The goal of Cognitive therapy is that you can continue to practice and develop your skills even after the sessions have finished. This makes it less likely that your symptoms or problems will return.

Examples of Cognitive Therapy Exercises

According to Mary Ellen Copeland, cognitive therapy's greatest asset is the simple knowledge that we are not helpless bystanders that in the unending battle for control of our own brains there is still an %26quot;I%26quot; that can put up a fight. And where there is %26quot;I%26quot; there is hope.
You could applied cognitive therapy is a do-it-yourself program called WRAP (wellness recovery action plan), popularized by Mary Ellen Copeland, MS, MA.
To start, on the first tab you should write, %26quot;Daily Maintenance List,%26quot;. On the next pages describe what it's like when you are feeling fine and what you need to do to keep yourself that way.
On the second tab, write down, %26quot;Triggers,%26quot;. On the following pages you should write down events that might result in an increase in your symptoms, together with an action plan. An action plan is what you need to do to get back on track again. Your toolbox should also include things to avoid, such as caffeine, alcohol, and certain people who are not good for you.
On the third tab, you should write down, %26quot;Early Warning Signs,%26quot;. You should use the following pages to list the internal signs of change, along with an action plan.
On the fourth tab, write, %26quot;When Things are Breaking Down,%26quot; . You should make a list of symptoms that signal the onset of the crisis stage, together with an action plan.
Use the last tab and pages for %26quot; Crisis plan,%26quot;. You should set out instructions for others to follow when you are not well. Others will know what to do when you aren%26rsquo;t well. You should develop this plan slowly when you are feeling well.

Cognitive therapy is a psychotherapy used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, delusional disorder and other forms of mental disorder. If you have some of those problems you should find a good therapist. Cognitive therapy is not an overnight process. With patience and a good therapist, cognitive therapy can be a valuable tool in recovery.

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alopecia areata

Although not too many have heard about it- the fact is that Alopecia areata is a very common and specific autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, normally designed to protect the body from foreign invaders, now attacks its own tissue, the hair follicles- in this case. Hair follicles are tho...

Although not too many have heard about it- the fact is that Alopecia areata is a very common and specific autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, normally designed to protect the body from foreign invaders, now attacks its own tissue, the hair follicles- in this case. Hair follicles are those tiny cup-shaped structures from which our hairs grow. Of course- the result is- hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere. Unlike other types of Alopecia, in this case- hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. It is also a fact that the clinical picture can also vary in different people because, some experience really extensive hair loss. Good thing is that disease rarely causes some serious health problems, although it can progress to total loss of hair on the head - alopecia areata totalis or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body %26ndash; condition called alopecia areata universalis.

Alopecia areata is sometimes called spot baldness.

Alopecia types

1. Alopecia areata monolocularis

It is important to point out that this type is characterized by baldness in only one spot which may occur anywhere on the head.

2. Alopecia areata multilocularis

Unlike the previous type- this type refers to multiple areas of hair loss which can sometimes cover up the whole body!

3. Alopecia areata totalis

This is the uncommon type but it is important to know that, if the patient loses all the hair on scalp, the disease is then called Alopecia areata totalis.

4. Alopecia areata universalis

This is the most expressed type of this disease and it is characterized by all body hair loss, including pubic hair.

5. Alopecia areata barbae

The fact is that the disease may also be limited only to the beard and in this case- it is called Alopecia areata barbae.

6. Diffuse alopecia areata

Almost everyone have heard about some case where patient's hair to appear to have turned white overnight.





This is called diffuse alopecia areata and, in most cases, it happens due to the psychological trauma.

Possible causes of alopecia areata

• Autoimmunity

Everyone should know that there are many evidences that support the hypothesis that Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition. How come? Well, most of the scientists believe that the process is T-cell mediated but antibodies directed to hair follicle structures also have been found in patients also directs to the B-cell response.

If we talk about histological structure %26ndash;then we should know that lesional biopsies show a perifollicular lymphocytic infiltrate which is mostly made out of T-helper cells and T-suppressor cells.

• Genetics

If we talk about possible cause of Alopecia Areata, then we should know that many scientists favor a genetic predisposition for disease. It isn%26rsquo;t hard to understand this because the frequency of positive family history for Alopecia Areata in affected patients has been estimated to be 10-20% compared to 1.7% in control subjects. This is pretty secure sign! Are there any other proofs! Well, two recent studies demonstrated that human leukocyte antigen DQ3 was found in more than 80% of patients with Alopecia which suggests that it can be a marker for general susceptibility to this condition. So, the right conclusion would be that genetic factors are likely to play an important role in determining susceptibility severity of this disease.

• Cytokines

Substances called cytokines among which the most famous -Interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor were shown to be potent inhibitors of hair growth. Microscopic examination of hair follicles showed increased concentration of these substances.

• Innervation and vascularisation

Everyone should also know that another very important area of interest is the modification of perifollicular nerves-nerves that surround the follicle. The scientist came to this conclusion because of the fact that patients with this condition occasionally complain of itching or pain on affected areas.

It could also have a lot with the local circulation and some specific blood factors! It is proven that circulating levels of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide were decreased in 3 patients with AA compared to control subjects. This peptide has multiple effects on the immune system, including chemotaxis and inhibition of Langerhans cell antigen presentation and inhibition of T-lymphocyte proliferation. CGRP also increases vasodilatation and endothelial proliferation.

• Viral etiology

Patients should know that none of these hypothesis or facts is final and that many other hypotheses have been proposed but more evidence is needed to support them. Scientists also believe that the disease could possibly have an infectious origin, but no microbial agent has been isolated consistently in patients.

Symptoms of Alopecia Areata

Although symptoms can vary- there are some common symptoms which are characteristic to this condition. Some of the most commons are:

• Hair loss, which is most often is localized and patchy



• Experts are saying that hair loss on other hair-bearing areas also favors the diagnosis.



• Scientists claim that the most common presentation is the appearance of 1 or many round-to-oval denuded patches.



• No epidermal changes are associated with the hair loss.



• Alopecia Universalis occurs with complete loss of hair on all body areas with hear on it



• Alopecia Totalis occurs with 100% hair loss on the scalp



• Nail involvement is also very common characteristic and in most cases it includes:






• Pitting



• Several other: trachyonychia, Beau lines, onychorrhexis, onychomadesis, koilonychia, leukonychia, red lunulae

Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata

• Bald patches

Every patient should know that in most cases the first symptoms are small, soft, bald patches. Although they can have almost any shape %26ndash;they are most usually round. If we talk about common age of onset Initial presentation most commonly occurs in the late teenage years but can happen with people of all ages. Every patient should also know that it also may go into remission for a time, or permanently. There is one rule- the longer the hair loss persists, the smaller the chance that it will grow back.

• Exclamation point hairs

Important thing to point out is that another very common presentation of the condition is exclamation point hairs. What exactly are these points? Well, exclamation point hairs are hairs that become narrower along the length of the strand closer to the base. Therefore, they are producing a characteristic exclamation point appearance which is very easy to recognize.

• Hair pulling

Although it may seem brutal, hair pulling is one very good diagnostic tool. This technique is always applied by medical professionals and it is based on gently pulling at a handful of hair along the edge of a patch with less strength than would be required to pull out healthy hair. The fact is that, when we talk about a healthy hair, no hair should fall out or ripped hair should be distributed evenly across the tugged portion of the scalp. Every patient should know that in cases of Alopecia, hair will tend to pull out easy along the edge of the patch where the follicles are already being attacked by the body's immune system.

Therapy of Alopecia Areata

Unfortunately- there is no definite cure for Alopecia areata! But, the fact is that while there is neither a cure for alopecia areata, some patients find that some specific medications approved for other purposes can help hair grow back. But, nothing represents a definite solution!

• Corticosteroids

Almost everyone has heard about these famous medications! The fact is that corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs which suppress the immune system if given orally. It is important to know that corticosteroids may be administered in three ways:

%26middot; Local injections

It is very important to know that injections of steroids can be administrated directly into hairless patches on the scalp and sometimes the brow and beard areas are effective in increasing hair growth in most people. Injections deliver small amounts of cortisone to affected areas, avoiding the more serious side effects. What are the common side effects which could occur from using these medications? Well, the main side effects of injections are pain, mild swelling, and changes in pigmentation, as well as small indentations in the skin.

%26middot; Oral corticosteroids

Every patient should know that the corticosteroids taken by mouth are the mostly used type of treatment for many autoimmune diseases. But it is also important that, because of the risk of side effects, such as hypertension and cataracts, they are used only occasionally for alopecia areata.

%26middot; Topical ointments

Everyone knows that creams rubbed directly onto the affected area are less traumatic than injections and, therefore, are sometimes preferred for children. These creams or ointments contain all needed steroids and could be extremely helpful!

• Minoxidil (5%)

Several researches done in the past have shown thattopical minoxidil solution promotes hair growth in several conditions in which the hair follicle is small and not growing. Good thing is that this Minoxidil is FDA-approved for treating male and female pattern hair loss. It may also be useful in promoting hair growth in alopecia areata.

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Diabetes type 2 - Causes and Prevention

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a metabolic disorder primarily characterized by the following symptoms:* insulin resistance* relative insulin deficiency* hyperglycemiaThe condition is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), obesity-related diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes. Presently there...
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a metabolic disorder primarily characterized by the following symptoms:

* insulin resistance
* relative insulin deficiency
* hyperglycemia

The condition is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), obesity-related diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes. Presently there is no cure for this condition, which is rapidly increasing in the developed world, and there is some evidence that this pattern will be followed in the rest of the world in the coming years. That%26rsquo;s why scientists like to say that diabetes is increasingly showing the characteristics of an epidemic.

Different types of Diabetes

The three main kinds of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

* Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. That%26rsquo;s why some call it juvenile diabetes. The beta cells of the pancreas make no insulin because the body%26rsquo;s immune system has destroyed them. That%26rsquo;s why the treatment for type 1 diabetes is based on replacing the insulin by taking insulin shots or using an insulin pump.

* Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop this type of diabetes at any age, even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance; at first the pancreas keeps producing insulin. After some time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals.







* Gestational Diabetes

Some women develop gestational diabetes late in pregnancy. This form of diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin. Research has shown that although this form of diabetes usually goes away after delivery, a woman is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Incidence of the condition

Recent research has established that 90-95% of all North American cases of diabetes are type 2, and about 20% of the population over the age of 65 has diabetes mellitus type 2. The incidence and frequency of type 2 diabetics in other parts of the world varies substantially depending on environmental and lifestyle specifics.

Possible causes and pathophysiology of the condition

Genetic factors, usually polygenic, are present in great majority of patients. Scientists believe that some environmental factors such as obesity, lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle could also contribute to insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which body cells do not respond appropriately to the presence of insulin. Although it may sound simple, this is actually a far more complex problem than diabetes type 1. It is sometimes easier to treat, especially in the initial years when insulin is still being produced internally. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is presently of unknown etiology. Diabetes mellitus with a known etiology, such as secondary to other diseases, known gene defects, trauma or surgery, or the effects of drugs, is more appropriately called secondary diabetes mellitus.

Other associated conditions

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is often associated with:

* obesity and hypertension
* elevated cholesterol
* Metabolic syndrome (also known as Syndrome X, Reavan's syndrome, or CHAOS)
* Acromegaly
* Cushing's syndrome
* other endocrinological disorders

Risk factors for developing DM-type 2

Scientists still don't fully understand why some people get type 2 diabetes and others don't. However, certain factors increase the risk of developing DM-2:

* Weight

Being overweight is one of the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The more fatty tissue a patient has, the more resistant his or her body becomes to its own insulin. Not only that, weight distribution is also believed to be of critical importance.

* Inactivity

The less active a patient is, the greater the risk of type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps control weight, uses up glucose, makes cells more sensitive to insulin, increases blood flow, and improves circulation in the blood vessels.

* Family history

The risk of type 2 diabetes increases significantly if the patient%26rsquo;s parent or parents also suffer from the disease.

* Age

There is also an expressed correlation between age and onset of the disease. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as the patient grows older, especially after age 45. Unfortunately, this isn%26rsquo;t a hard-set rule because diabetes incidence is also increasing dramatically among children and adolescents.

* Race

People of certain races are believed to be more likely to develop diabetes, although scientists still can%26rsquo;t really explain or confirm this.

* Depression

Depression seems to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes as well. Experts believe that it could be because people with depression often gain weight and lack physical activity.

Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus type 2

Controlling blood sugar is essential for an effective management of diabetes type 2, and avoiding long-term complications. Some people are able to control blood sugar levels with diet and exercise alone, while others require medications.

Medications

* Sulfonylurea drugs

These medications stimulate human pancreas to produce and release more insulin. Most commonly used medications of this kind are second-generation sulfonylureas such as glipizide (Glucotrol%26reg;, Glucotrol XL%26reg;), glyburide (DiaBeta%26reg;, Glynase%26reg;, Micronase%26reg;) and glimepiride (Amaryl%26reg;).

* Meglitinides

These medications are extremely effective, and not as likely to lead to hypoglycemia. One of the most common is repaglinide (Prandin%26reg;).

* Biguanides

Metformin (Glucophage%26reg;, Glucophage XR%26reg;) is the only drug in this class available in the United States. It works by inhibiting the production and release of glucose from the patient%26rsquo;s liver, which means that the patient will need less insulin to transport blood sugar into the cells. It has side effects such as metallic taste in mouth, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, abdominal bloating, or pain, gas and diarrhea.

* Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors

These medications block the action of enzymes in human digestive tract that break down carbohydrates, so less sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream. This could be extremely helpful because it prevents the rapid rise in blood sugar that usually occurs right after a meal. Most common medications in this class are acarbose (Precose%26reg;) and miglitol (Glyset%26reg;).

* Insulin

Some people with type 2 diabetes must take insulin every day to replace what their pancreas is unable to produce. Unfortunately, unlike other medications, insulin can't be taken in pill form because enzymes in the stomach break it down.

Prevention

The best way to prevent diabetes type 2 is to make healthy lifestyle choices. Even in the cases when diabetes runs in the family, diet and exercise can help a patient prevent or delay the onset of the disease. Not only that - those diagnosed with diabetes can also benefit from making healthy lifestyle changes by preventing potentially serious complications.

Eating healthy is crucial in prevention; only food low in fat and calories should be eaten and the focus should be on fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
Physical activity is another key point of prevention. Although losing excess pounds could be difficult, in order to keep weight in a healthy range, a patient should focus on permanent changes to his eating and exercise habits.

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Snoring Can Be A Silient Killer!

Snoring is definitely a nuisance, not to the person who snores but, to the sleeping partner. If snorers’ spouses do not complaint about the noise or they simply get used to it, then the snorers will not feel anything wrong. After all, they cannot hear the beautiful music composed and played by...

Snoring is definitely a nuisance, not to the person who snores but, to the sleeping partner. If snorers%26rsquo; spouses do not complaint about the noise or they simply get used to it, then the snorers will not feel anything wrong. After all, they cannot hear the beautiful music composed and played by them during their sleep. Only when the sleeping quality of their spouses has been adversely affected or they themselves find that they are excessively tired during the day even after sufficient hours of sleep, they will then start realizing that they should do something about this. So what cause people to snore?

Snoring is a signal that indicates the possibility of a sleep disorder known as sleep apnea (apnoea). An apnea is defined as a cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds.

There are generally two groups of patients. Simple snorers are those who snore without excessive daytime tiredness. The other group consists of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), who snore and have pauses in breathing during sleep with excessive daytime sleepiness. OSA refers to a condition characterized by recurrent apneas due to upper airway obstruction during sleep.





The upper airway (air passage behind the tongue) collapses due to excessive relaxation of the upper airway muscles, which occurs during sleep. This will in turn lead to a temporary interruption of breathing causing a fall in oxygenation of blood. The snorer will struggle to breathe until these efforts arouse his brain and breathing then he or she will resume with a few loud snorts. The whole process can be repeated hundreds of times a night that cause disruption in both breathing and sleep resulting in so called %26ldquo;sleep fragmentation%26rdquo;, which causes snorers to feel extremely tire during daytime.

Sleep apnea is usually associated with obese men and women. These people have thicker necks, which are due to fat deposition and this additional weight, often further narrow the upper airway and aggravate obstructive apneas. Obese males tend to have a higher chance of sleep apnea than obese females. This may be because of the different pattern of fat disposition between male and female: Obese male has more fat tissues in the neck and upper torso (%26ldquo;apple shape%26rdquo;) while obese female is more endowed in the lower half (%26ldquo;pear shape%26rdquo;).

Sleep fragmentation will make patients experience increased daytime sleepiness. Patients will fall asleep inappropriately while driving, reading and in severe cases even during conversation. Research has shown that sleep apnea patients are 4 to 5 times more prone to having road accidents as normal population. This will affect work performance and increase work place accidents where patients operate heavy machinery.

OSA can have profound effects on the cardio-respiratory systems. The blood pressure tends to rise during this period accompanied by changes in the heart rate and rhythm. The Sleep and Heart Health Study and the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort have demonstrated a strong link between OSA and hypertension. Patients with OSA will have a higher chance (1.6 to 2.3 times) of a heart attack and stroke than normal patients. In addition, symptoms like early morning headache, irritability, short-term memory loss and even impotency can also be experienced in some patients.

Snoring patients with a history of excessive tiredness, especially those with a history of hypertension, heart disease, and strokes, should seek diagnosis with the help of polysomnogram or sleep test. This involves setting up various small sensors on the body to monitor and record the breathing and sleep parameters during sleep.

For people with simple snoring and mild OSA, simple procedure such as synthetic Palatal Pillar Implants can be used as a treatment. It is an office-based, day procedure and can be done within 10 minutes under local anesthesia with minimal pain and short recovery time. The results are said to be very impressing and encouraging.

Conservative therapy includes reducing alcohol intake, avoiding sedatives, decreasing smoking, sleeping on one%26rsquo;s side, regular exercise, and reducing weight if the patient is obese. It has been shown that mild to moderate weight loss of 10 percent may lead to significant improvement in the severity of sleep apnea. The most effective and frequently used treatment for OSA is by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). It requires the patient to wear a nasal mask that is connected to a machine that supplies continuous positive airway pressure throughout the night. The issue of compliance is a major problem. But, if used correctly, it can relieve the apnea and all the symptoms and normalize the risks of developing cardiovascular complications. Another non-invasive method is to use Oral Appliances (OA), which are mouthpieces that are worn while sleeping to prevent the airway from collapsing. It works by repositioning the tongue or mandible forward.

Surgical treatment can also be used to correct OSA. It ranges from reduction of soft tissues in the mouth to the enlargement of the skeletal framework of the jaw. The traditional uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) operation has always been used with other procedures for patients with moderate to severe OSA.

OSA is a common sleep disorder. Studies have found that 24 percent of males and 9 percent of female have such disorder. However, it is estimated that about 82 percent of males and 93 percent of females with moderate to severe OSA do not seek diagnosis. Based on the severe consequences that may possibly bring to snorers, it is inevitable that snorers, especially those with extensive daytime tiredness and with history of hypertension or heart disease, should seek diagnosis and treatment if necessary.

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Understanding So-Called Stabilizer Muscles

Within the fitness and exercise community, there has been for some time now an increasing amount of interest in the body’s “stabilizer muscles.”Some trainers believe that these mythical entities are responsible for increased strength, power and athleticism.There’s just one pr...

Within the fitness and exercise community, there has been for some time now an increasing amount of interest in the body%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;stabilizer muscles.%26rdquo; Some trainers believe that these mythical entities are responsible for increased strength, power and athleticism.

There%26rsquo;s just one problem though: There is no distinct, mysterious group of %26ldquo;stabilizer muscles.%26rdquo; In fact, every muscle in the body can play a stabilizing role. Take the biceps muscle, for example. During a barbell curl, the biceps are the primary working muscles, also known as the motive muscles. But during deadlifts, the biceps stay stiff and taut to steady the forearm, and in doing so take on the role of stabilizer.

Don%26rsquo;t misunderstand me. I%26rsquo;m not saying that we should ignore the role of muscular stabilization, but rather that we should understand it better if we want to design the most effective strength, fitness and conditioning programs possible.

What Stabilization Is

According to the American Council on Exercise, %26ldquo;Stabilizing muscle contractions are generally isometric contractions that act to support the trunk, limit movement in a joint, or control balance.





%26rdquo; In other words, muscles acting in a stabilizing role aren%26rsquo;t directly involved in lifting a weight, but instead keep certain parts of the body steady so that the primary working muscles can do their job properly.

Why do we care about this? There are a few reasons:

• The inability to stabilize the body during strength training may reduce the amount of weight you%26rsquo;re able to use on exercises. For example, the military press exercise directly works the shoulders and triceps. The lower back muscles, though, help stabilize the trunk, and if they%26rsquo;re weak, then the amount of weight you can use on the exercise is reduced %26ndash; regardless of how strong your shoulders and triceps are. This then reduces the effectiveness of the exercise on the target muscles.

• Athletic movements outside of the weight room depend largely on the ability of the body to stabilize itself. A football lineman throwing a block drives forward with his hips, but if his feet, calves, torso, and shoulder girdle aren%26rsquo;t tight, then the power of his block is vastly reduced. Even everyday activities, like picking up a bulky sack of groceries or walking up steps, requires the body to balance and steady itself, which in turn requires strong stabilization abilities.

• Stabilizing contractions in and of themselves build muscle. Competitive powerlifters rarely do direct abdominal flexion work, such as crunches, but they often have very impressive abdominal muscles because they train extensively in the squat and deadlift. Both squatting and deadlifting put the ab muscles in a stabilizing role rather than a motive role, but nevertheless cause the abs to get stronger and more muscular. Using any of your body%26rsquo;s muscles in a stabilizing capacity can directly result in added muscular size.

How to Train for Stabilization

There are three ways you can train if you want to increase your body%26rsquo;s stabilization abilities.

1. Perform exercises that sufficiently tense the entire body. Please notice the word %26ldquo;sufficiently.%26rdquo; Practically any exercise will tense your entire body to a degree, but some exercises are particularly effective at causing your entire body to stay tight. For your legs and hips, try squats, deadlifts and weighted lunges instead of leg presses and leg extensions. The former exercises require the muscles of your back and shoulders to support and steady a barbell, while the latter exercises allow you to shift much of the stabilization responsibility to the seat on which you recline. For similar reasons, pull-ups are better than machine pull-downs, dips are better than bench presses, and standing military presses are better than the seated equivalent.

2. Incorporate unilateral movements into your workouts. Do exercises with one arm or one leg at a time. Try one-armed dumbbell bench presses, one-legged squats, one-armed dumbbell rows, and whatever else seems appropriate. One-armed work causes the abdominal obliques and the lower back muscles to fire, to keep the trunk from excessively rotating. One-legged work causes all of the muscles of the planted leg to work in a stabilizing capacity, to help maintain balance.

3. Experiment with unstable loads. This is an advanced technique that%26rsquo;s not appropriate for beginners. But some trainees would benefit from lifting unstable loads such as sandbags, kegs and barrels half full of water, and unevenly packed boxes. When lifting unstable loads, as the weight shifts, the muscles have to take on the role of stabilizer, then prime mover, then stabilizer again. This teaches your body to recruit muscles in a stabilizing capacity as rapidly as possible. If you do decide to use this technique, proceed with caution.

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