Treating Hairloss

Hair loss is incredibly common. But how many people are affected with it and why does it occur? Hair loss and a receding hairline are just one of the signs that age is starting to take a toll on our bodies. For men, there is a very good chance that it's only a matter of time before you start to notice that your hairline is receding. For a fifth of men, androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness as it commonly know as, starts as they reach puberty. They will probably have extensive hairloss by the age of 30 or even younger. For them, male pattern baldness is extremely rapid and extensive. For a further 60% of men, the hair loss process is more gradual, and starts later on in life. Regardless of the time frame however, near total baldness across the majority of the head areas affects most of the male adult population. Female Hair Loss Hairloss for men is more socially acceptable. Women on the other hand, often face a more traumatic experience from unexpected hair loss. While early adolescence and the 20s are potential problem times for women susceptible to generic hair loss, menopause is an equally critical time. Hair Growth The rate of hair growth is 3mm per week (faster than any other part of the body except bone marrow). This process of hair loss and hair regrowth is continuous and natural - it is only when daily hair loss greatly exceeds this rate that an unnatural condition may be present. The human head has an average of around 100,000 hair follicles, which can each produce about 20 hairs in a lifetime Does Hair Colour Make a Difference? People with red hair have 25% fewer scalp hairs than those with brown hair; whilst blonds have over a quarter more scalp hairs than brunettes. This fact may account for the belief that men with red hair are more likely to go bald than anyone else. Normally, this would be an ample amount of hair for one person, if it weren't for many factors, including particularly D.H.T. or Dihyrotestosterone. DHT - A Factor in Male Hair Loss This is a powerful hormone in our bodies, which can adversely affect the hair on our head. It is very important for a person to have proper nutrition to maintain hair. When DHT reaches the hair follicles and dermal papilla, it tends to prevent proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing the necessary nourishment to sustain life in the hair of these follicles. Due to this, the hair follicles tend to reproduce at a slower rate and this in turn either shortens the growing phase of the hair follicles or lengthens its resting stage. This can result in a shrinking of the hair follicle, which makes hair growth more difficult and makes hair more vulnerable to falling out. Other Hair Loss Factors In addition to the chemical effects of D.H.T. other factors can affect the growth of hair. Stress, poor nutrition and of course old age also affect adversely an individuals ability to reproduce hair at fast enough rates. Hair Loss Treatment, Prevention and Hair Loss Products If you want to reverse or prevent hair loss, what can be done? - There are a lot of treatments available from creams to Hair Transplants - many are quite costly, and all achieve mixed results. It is essential that you do your research into all of the alternatives that are available on the market. Remember always that new / improved treatments are constantly being developed. This means that even if you have had no success in the past a solution that works for you may become available at any time.

- By: Christopher Evans

Alcohol Use, Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction

There are many types of alcohol consumption ranging from the healthy to the deadly. Some people of the prohibitionist persuasion will ague that any use is destructive, but neither medical research nor personal experience supports that conclusion. Unhappily, most "screening" protocols are heavily weighted towards a diagnosis of addiction justifying punitive treatment approaches and "abstinence only" outcomes. In reality, many different degrees of alcohol use exist, and the following thumbnail guide can be helpful in deciding what category is appropriate, and in predicating various – as well as usual - outcomes. Healthy alcohol consumption has been found to be approximately two drinks of distilled spirits, two bottles of beer, or one half bottle of wine per day for an adult man, and half that for an adult women. These amounts confer the most health benefits without any associated detrimental effects. Obviously, not everyone consumes these set amounts, nor do most people who drink necessarily always stop at one or two. Certain social settings may find one consuming more over the duration of an event, for example, but the average should remain within the recommended parameters. People who clearly fall into this category may, unfortunately, still find themselves in need of help. Particularly in child custody disputes, but in other legal matters as well, unfounded accusations are frequently hurled and difficult to refute. As John Donne noted, "Two things will be believed of any man whatsoever, and one is that he has taken to drink." Alcohol abuse is defined as consumption which consistently exceeds the recommended levels and/or is done in isolation rather than socially. Frequent contributing factors include loneliness, exhaustion, and a paucity of peers or activities. At this stage, remediation is common enough to be the norm, with a return to healthy use the usual outcome. Counseling may expedite the process and help with the underlying causes. Clients who find themselves at this level can usually benefit from a process of assessment, skill building through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the adoption of non-alcohol related activities. As in more serious conditions to follow, the key lies in the creation of a life with reduced alcohol use that is more satisfactory than the current one. An onerous life, or a continued focus on alcohol, will nearly guarantee a return to misuse. Alcohol dependence occurs after long periods of excessive use leading to social, physical, and emotional dependence. Drinking becomes a primary coping mechanism across multiple categories; for example, socially, recreationally, vocationally, and spiritually. Symptoms may include physical withdrawal following cessation, depression, increased isolation, significant weight gain, decreased liver function, and possible legal, financial, and/or employment problems. As multiple problems need attention, counseling can help with the reorganization, prioritization, and systematic accomplishment of necessary changes. While a return to moderate or healthy use is normal, a period of abstinence, possibly one to two years, is recommended. Many people who do this never return to drinking at all, having successfully modified their lives in satisfactory ways. Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, results when a person's physical, emotional, and psychological being is permeated by alcohol and its consumption. Distinct withdrawal symptoms – physical (i.e. tremors, seizures) and psychological ones (i.e. blackouts) – are present and alcohol related disintegration in several areas of life (i.e. financial, legal, vocational, marital, recreational, social, medical) is present. While approximately a third of diagnosed alcoholics return to moderate drinking, this is not generally recommended. At this stage both medical and counseling help is usually necessary given the physical, social, emotional, and psychological aspects. Recovery prospects are uncertain at best and outcomes vary. As always, motivation, spousal support, and a belief in personal efficacy, as opposed to "powerlessness," are the primary factors in success. In general, alcohol problems of all magnitude are remarkable for both their persistence over time (being stabile rather than progressive) and their frequent spontaneous remission. While some individuals do follow a path from use to abuse to dependence to addiction, and death, they are the exception, not the rule.

- By: Mary Ellen Barnes, Ph.D.
Mary Ellen Barnes, Ph.D., is a therapist with offices in Rolling Hills Estates who approaches all clients as unique individuals capable of overcoming difficulties through the development and redirection. Mary Ellen can be contacted through her profile here:

LIVING HEALTHY – THE BEGINNING OF HOPE

A sound physical and mental health is the state of being free and well from illness and sickness in the body and the mind. A sign of wholeness in your body and mind is shown in your vitality and high energy level to accomplish any task or goals. Taking control of your well being is of utmost importance because the soundness of your body and mind is your most valuable asset. You can improve or maintain your personal wellbeing by practicing some common sense and a few self help techniques.

· Eating right and getting adequate Nutrition

Getting proper and adequate nutrition is important. Your body requires fresh food and lots of water. Fresh food, vegetables and fruits provide nutrients, enzymes and are water rich. They act as your body cleansing agent to eliminate waste. Other than consuming lots of water rich food, you need to feast on a healthy combination of food to help you with your digestive system. Too little water rich food – having too much food consisting of carbohydrates, proteins and high fat food and consuming beyond moderation are among the causes of weight problem and low energy. When you are dieting or working on weight gain or loss plans, you need to watch your nutritional intake so that it will not give you an adverse effect.

· Physical fitness and exercise

Aerobic exercise and other forms of moderate to vigorous body movements improve physical fitness and the soundness of the mind. Your brain and other internal organs will function effectively when you choose to engage your body in activity. Regular and organized exercise like walking briskly or gardening affects your brain mechanism. Activities involving cardiovascular fitness help you avoid depression and other mood and personality disorders and enhance your wellbeing. Having regular exercise outdoors provides you with sufficient sunlight and plenty of fresh air.

· Rest and recreation

You need to make it a daily habit to sit quietly and relax you body and feel calm inside. Sufficient rest includes getting sound sleep. It helps you reduce stress and allows your body to renew. Regardless of your time pressures, you need to take a break and practice the habit of making your own leisure time for rest and recreation.

· Managing your emotions

Handling your emotions promotes good mental health. Women who are going through menopause may experience mood swings due to sleep disturbance caused by hot flashes. Negative emotions will affect your thinking and show up in the form of illness and ailments. The ability to manage your emotions will allow you to maintain a positive self-image and esteem yourself as worthy. Your optimism and physical vitality will soar and allow you to grow in your relationship and career. Suppressing your emotions worsens illness and disease in mind and body, while releasing them helps you improve your well being.

· Balanced refined breathing and meditation

Focusing your attention on your breathing quiets your mind. A quiet mind permits creativity and helps in the healing process from stress and other disturbing thoughts. Refined slow breathing promotes a complete balance between your body and mind and allows you to focus within, relax and contemplate.
Breathing affects your emotions. Rapid heart rate causes muscle tension and high level of stress and is hazardous. Practicing simple breathing exercise three times a day will relax your mind and influence your body to function effectively.

· Living a healthy lifestyle and practicing good and clean habits

Creating quality relationships and having worthy goals to live for help you become robust and wise. Living with good morals and behaviors that are aligned to your personal values can enrich your mind, body and spirit. Make it a habit to emphasize on your personal hygiene. Cultivate habits that encourage you to avoid infections and improve your general wellbeing. Avoid excessive toxic food and drinks like coffee and alcohol that can affect your wellbeing. Stay away from cigarettes. Quit if you are indulging in that habit. Smoking shortens life expectancy. You can create personal healthy lifestyle by making conscious choices. Taking control of your health will result in more energy, mental alertness, enthusiasm, creativity and improved personal growth, success and wisdom. The inability of balancing your life will show in major afflictions like heart disease and cancer. Give yourself the life you deserve. Read, ask questions and gather information that will help you avoid fatigue and improve your vitality, energy and life itself. Practice the common sense practical actions that are within your control.


14. SIMPLE AND STRATEGIC STRESS BUSTERS

Stress can kill. Take it as a mantra. Most of the killer diseases prevalent today have been directly or indirectly linked to sustained physical, emotional and mental stress.

Stress has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (the leading cause of death among humans), diabetes, cancer, arthritis, etc.

Obvious signs that stress is getting the better of you include:

- Insomnia (inability to fall asleep), or waking in the middle of the night and staying awake till dawn;

- Palpitations – irregular heartbeats such as a racing heart or skipping a beat;

- Cold sweats – excessive sweating especially on the palms, foreheads or soles of the feet for no apparent reason;

- muscle spasms – feelings of tightness in the muscles of the neck, or back shoulders;

- Headaches – persistent headaches that don’t seem to get better with pain killers;

- Mood swings – sudden feelings of irritability, depression, anger, helplessness etc;

- Fatigue – a constant feeling of tiredness, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, loss of libido.

If you have some or all of these symptoms, then you should act now. See your healthcare provider for a consultation. Moreso you can try these self help strategies.

- Don’t take work home or take home to work.

- Take time to make a transition from a cue part of your life to the other.

- Spend time in your car to decompress before entering your office or your home.

- Watch less TV. Avoid violent or depressing movies. Opt instead for comedies, cartoons and jokes. Watch the Discovery Channel. Look for humour in every situation. Learn to laugh at yourself and don’t take the world too seriously. Listen to music that will relax your nerves – Instrumental, classical and jazz are good choices.

- Use Aroma therapy. Have flowers put in your office and home. Spray perfume into the air. Light a scented candle. Fragrances can help to reduce anxiety.

- Get a pet – maybe a dog, cat etc. Activities like these have been used to lower blood pressure and increase longevity.

- Choose to be happy. Being happy is a decision that is entirely within your power to make.

- Take charge of your life. Let people around you know your likes and dislikes.

- Tackle your challenges with a positive volition. Worrying will never make things better.


On a significant note, laughter is indeed the best medicine. There are benefits that can be derived from laughing heartily several times a day.

The biggest pay off seems to be a relieve of tension followed by a relaxation of the skeletal muscles. Laughter has a beneficial effect on all the body systems such as the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, central nervous system, endocrine system and immune system.
Laughter releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, thus producing a general feeling of euphoria or well being. Little wonder that in ancient Greece, hospitals were built next to amphitheatres to help cure the patients.
Stress constricts blood vessels, increases heart rate and blood pressure and increases the sugar levels in the blood. Studies have shown that laughter reduces levels of the stress hormones and adrenaline, and in effect reduces the constriction of blood vessels.
Laughter also provides a good cardiovascular workout. It also forces us to inhale and exhale more forcefully, thus cleansing the lungs of stale air and making room for fresh clean life oxygen to permeate our body cells.
The moment you give a good laugh, all hardness yield, all irritations and resentment slips away and a sunny spirit takes their place.
So the next time you feel stress creeping up on you, take a break and roar in laughter, be happy and find excitement and amusement

REDUCING CHOLESTEROL NATURALLY

We must have all heard that high cholesterol can kill us. Most physicians react by reaching for their prescription pads. Drugs to lower cholesterol especially the statin drugs, are among the most commonly prescribed drugs on the market. Unfortunately, like all drugs, they come with side effects. We would be much better off if we take control of our cholesterol without resorting to drugs. Fortunately, there are ways to do just that.

· The first step is a healthy life style. You already know it, but exercise is part of it too. Exercise has so many benefits – maintaining function, controlling weight, lowering blood pressure, fighting depression, etc – that, if it were a drug, it would be a blockbuster. Most people look for a pill instead of making healthy choices and taking action. Don’t be like them. Exercise is the best way to stay healthy.

· Diet is next. Reduce the saturated fat in your diet and absolutely avoid fat. Nutritionists have vilified beef and other red meats because of their saturated fat content. That is a valid point for most beef, but grass-fed beef is a different matter. That is because naturally, cattle eat grass. Feed them grain, and their meat changes drastically. The total fat increases. Even worse, the ration of omega-3 (the healthy fat associated with fish) changes from 4:1 to 20:1. And that is not good. If you are a meat eater, switch to grass fed beef. Be sure your diet is high in fiber. Five to ten grams of soluble fiber a day lowers the cholesterol by 5%. Oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber. Also, soluble fiber supplements are available now. As a bonus, soluble fiber can also be taken as a weight loss aid. People who take a serving of soluble fiber in 8 oz of a calorie free liquid 30 minutes or so before every meal tend to eat less. They lose weight without changing anything else.

· After reducing the bad fat, the next step is to increase the good fats. Almonds and nuts are a good way to do this – they both lower cholesterol. Nuts are very calorie dense, but ideally, the saturated fat calories you eliminate from your diet will more than make up for adding them to your diet. Other good fats include omega-3 fatty acids. These are the fats found in fish, as well as in flax seeds. Adding them to your diet helps lower triglycerides. I suggest using both. Eat fish such as salmon once a week and take a fish oil supplement daily (2 – 4 grams a day – more if your doctor recommends it). Also, grind up 2 tablespoons of flax seed every day and have it on cereal, mixed in yoghurt, or any other way you enjoy it. Grind it fresh and don’t heat it – the oil spoils easily. I recommend the whole flax seed rather than just the oil because of the benefits of the fiber and other nutrients in the whole seed. Garlic or garlic supplements are another cholesterol-lowering addition you can make to your diet. If using fresh garlic, let it sit for 5 minutes or so after chopping, before you cook with it. Heat destroys enzymes activated by chopping that form beneficial compounds in the garlic. If you use a supplement, take 600 to 1200 mg a day divided into 2 or 3 doses. Taken together, these recommendations will not only lower your cholesterol, they will contribute to your overall health and vitality. No statin drug can make that claim.

STROKE CAN BE PREVENTED: YOUR LIFESTYLE MATTERS

What more can be more frustrating than when an individual tries to speak, and what should have been words came out as meaningless sounds. Paralysis of the body means experiencing difficulty with the basic things – getting out of bed, eating, getting dressed, and going to the bathroom. But perhaps most frustrating is the inability to talk. I mean after several years of happy and productive life, it becomes heart rendering to see a person with a stroke.

Some strokes are fatal, and many consider that a blessing if they have seen the disabilities survivors have to live with. And although the risk of stroke increases with age, it can happen to anyone. A stroke occurs when an area of the brain dies. 80 percent of stroke are caused by blockage of blood flow. Most of the rest are caused by bleeding in the brain. Apart from that, hardening of the arteries causes stroke too. As plaque builds up, it narrows the artery, reducing flow. This happens slowly, since the body is remarkably adaptive, even a very marked narrowing might not cause any symptoms for some time.

However, plaque in the carotid artery (the main artery supplying the brain – there’s one on each side) is a ticking bomb. At any time it might cause the artery to clot off, starving the brain of blood. Or a portion of the plaque might break off, traveling downstream in the blood flow until it wedges in a smaller artery, blocking it and causing the part of the brain supplied by that artery to die. Physicians call this an embolus.
Joseph McCaffrey noted that the exact symptoms of stroke vary with the part of the brain affected. The person may or may not lose consciousness. An arm or leg or both may become paralyzed or lose feeling. Damage to language processing areas can render the person’s speech garbled or confused. Another possible symptom is the sudden loss of vision in one eye, caused by a tiny bit of plaque – embolus lodging in the artery to the eye. The first part of the retina to die is the area farthest from the blockage. Vision fades there, and then the darkness spreads as more of the retina dies. The person experiencing this often describes it ‘as if a shade was pulled down.

WAYS TO PREVENT STROKES

Perhaps the most disturbing thing about strokes is that the vast majority ought not to have occurred in the first place. They are preventable.

1. Stop Smoking

If you smoke, do whatever you can to stop. Simply put it’s one of the most self destructive habits you can have, and has an increasing risk of stroke.





2. Drink Alcohol in moderation, if you must drink.

The relationship between drinking alcoholic beverages and stroke is quite unclear. It appears that one drink a day may slightly reduce the risk of stroke, while a drink a day more than doubles the risk. It is another reason to refrain from drinking heavily.

3. Control your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure contributes to both heart disease and stroke. It is also a major cause of kidney failure. Most physicians recommend maintaining the systolic blood pressure at 120 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure at 80 mmHg or lower. However, even a reduction in blood pressure (i.e 9 mmHg systolic and 5 mmHg diastolic) can reduce the relative risk of stroke about one
third.
Ideally, you control your blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle. A diet emphasizing fruits and vegetables and low salt intake helps. So does maintaining a normal weight and exercising regularly. The balance between sodium and potassium in the body is important for blood pressure regulation. Most people get too much sodium from salt and not enough potassium. An easy way to add potassium as well as other nutrients to your diet is to regularly drink a no salt or low salt tomato-based vegetable juice with a little potassium chloride salt substitute added. Magnesium contributes to blood pressure control as well. It won’t do the job by itself, but is a part of an overall program – 500 mg a day is a reasonable dose for most people.

DEHYDRATION – HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU DRINK?

You have been jogging for 20 minutes. You are hot and sweaty, and you are beginning to get tired. What is the problem? The most likely answer is that you are beginning to feel the effects of dehydration. Generally, the average person is not 100 percent hydrated. Add exercise and a warm climate, and it spells dehydration in a big way. Do not depend on thirst as a signal to avoid dehydration. Your body’s drive to drink is not nearly as powerful as its drive to eat, and the thirst mechanism is even less powerful during exercise. Therefore, you must plan to drink early and often.

How much should you drink?

Follow these guidelines:

Before exercise: Drink one to two cups of fluid two hours before exercise to make sure you are well hydrated. Then drink another one-half to one cup immediately before exercise.
During exercise: Drink one-half to one cup every 15 – 20 minutes during exercise. Although this might seem tough at first, once you schedule it into your regular training routine, you will quickly adapt to having fluid in your stomach. In fact the fuller your stomach is, the faster it will empty.
After Exercise: Replace any fluid you have lost. Drink two cups of fluid for every pound of body weight you lose during exercise.
In hot, humid weather, you need to drink more than usual. But do not forget that dehydration also occurs during cold weather exercise – you body temperature rises, and you still lose water through perspiration and respirations.

What should you drink?

Should you just reach for the water bottle when you need to hydrate, or are sports drinks better?
The answer to this question depends on how much and how hard you exercise – and how much you like water.
The ideal fluid replacement beverage should encourage fluid consumption and promote fluid absorption. If you exercise less than one hour, water should be fine. If you exercise longer than one hour, the fluid should also supply energy to your working muscles. In this case, drink about two to four cups per hour of fluids with carbohydrate concentration of 4 to 8 percent (Most sports drinks fall into this category.

What about the sodium in most sports drink? The average exerciser does not need to replace sodium or other electrolytes during exercise. Even well trained marathoners will reserve enough sodium to complete a competition. After heavy exercise, however, it is best to eat a meal that contains some sodium to replace what you may have lost. Follow your cravings – do not worry about restricting the sodium in your food immediately after running a marathon.
If you are participating in an ultra-endurance event that lasts fours or more, you should consume a sports drink that contains sodium. 50 to 120 milligrams consumed during exercise should be efficient. (Sodium content in sports drinks can range from 8 to 116 milligrams)
If you are just an average exerciser, you might think sodium in drinks is just a waste. However, sodium may play a different role for you. Sodium helps your body absorb fluid, and along with sugar, sodium may enhance a drink’s taste, which can encourage you to drink more.

Therefore, if you are an avid water drinker, you will benefit little from using a sports drink unless you are exercising for at least one hour. However, if you do not like water, sports drinks that taste good and contain less than 8 per cent carbohydrate and some sodium might offer you a performance advantage. At the very least, if they encourage you to drink more, they would have done their job.

NUTRITIONAL CLEANSING: AS A WAY OF MAINTAINING HEALTHY LIVING

Nutritional cleansing is a process whereby we simultaneously cleanse and replenish the body internally. This is so important because most of us have many impurities in our body and we are naturally depleted. This combination is like an accident waiting to happen! In this state, our bodies tend to retain extra water and fat as a way to dilute toxins. Our energy levels will drop as cellular efficiency decreases. Nutritionally depleted bodies are not well equipped to undertake the process of cleansing the body internally – a vicious cycle indeed.

Most of us have already heard something about cleansing. Fasting has been a part of most of the world’s major religions. The challenge is that most of us do not have the ability to divest ourselves of our worldly obligations and commit a week to completely relax and fast. In addition, in our depleted and stressful state, a radical fast can overwhelm our organs of elimination, producing uncomfortable symptoms including severe headaches, itching, aches and weakness. Fortunately, there is a way out of this conundrum! We can cleanse and replenish at the same time – a dual process of nutritional cleansing, you may say!

There are transformational evidences of nutritional cleansing which include – energy levels rise, mental clarity increases, mood swings level out and hope is renewed. But that’s not all. Lean muscle mass increases, while extra fat and water are no longer necessary. It is not uncommon for people to need a whole new wardrobe after only a month or two of nutritional cleansing. With nutritional cleansing, the body’s own healing power is liberated and lives seem to be changed at a very deep level.

It is often difficult for people to believe this is possible. But studies have shown that the synergy of high-quality easily absorbable protein, essential fatty acids, low-glycerin carbohydrates, vitamins, macro-minerals and ionic trace minerals, fiber, good bacteria, enzymes, naturally occurring folic acid, healing and cleansing herbs and generous amounts of high quality water combined with moderate caloric restriction and the avoidance of foods that tend to trigger an inflammatory response produce these amazing results.

Suggestions for Effective Nutritional Cleansing

Use a protein powder that is undernatured and that comes from grass fed cows as a good protein source. This will ensure maximum bio-availability and effectiveness. Make sure you are getting plenty of essential fatty acids. Monitor the quality and quantity of your carbohydrate intake by keeping your carbohydrate intake by keeping your carbohydrate count between 100 and 150 grams per day of the following foods – all green vegetables, beans, berries, apples and small amounts of whole grains (if you are not sensitive to them), and sweet potatoes. These low-moderate glycerin carbohydrates will help to re-establish proper insulin response. Drink at least one ounce of water per day for every two pounds of body weight. Consider supplementing with a good multiple vitamins and mineral and vitamin supplement that includes enzymes and beneficial bacteria. Include herbs that are known for their cleansing properties. A good one is Aloe vera. Make sure you are getting at least 20-25 grams a day of a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber. This will help to ensure proper elimination of what your body is released. Use a blender to make your life easier as many nutritious and good tasting meals can be made easily and quickly with the help of a blender.