Photo by Red-Licorice

“Age spot,” also known unkindly as “liver spot,” have little to do with your age and nothing to do with your liver. Well, okay, they are approximately the color of cooked liver or pate, but they still have nothing to do with your own liver. If you take a long look at the places on your body where these discolored spots appear, you probably can infer their cause. They appear most frequently on your face—especially your cheeks and forehead. They also pop-up like dandelions in springtime on your shoulders, hands, and arms. In other words, “age spots” appear in places most exposed to sun. If they do become more common as you age, chalk-it-up to more time in the sun, and therefore greater skin damage. Not only are “age spots” usually harmless, but also they indicate your body’s natural defenses are working:

Your body produces more pigment as a defense against sun exposure. Freckles differ very little from age spots except in coloration, the product of sun damage to “fair” skin.

Learn the Skin Spot Lexicon

In fact, your “age spots” come in five different varieties, all caused or aggravated by the sun. As you treat them and generally care for your complexion, watch your five different kinds of spots very carefully. “Ordinary” spots detract from your beauty but pose not health risks; extraordinary spots may be pre-cancerous lesions, and they put your health seriously at risk. If your ordinary spots change, or if a spot appears that does not look like one of the four most common spots you see in your most sun-exposed areas, call a dermatologist immediately. You would much rather hear your dermatologist say you over-reacted than hear her announcing, sadly, you waited too long. Skin cancer numbers among the leading preventable causes of death in women; early detection and timely treatment make all the difference.

Photo by TrubbleShots

Freckles are at the top list of common skin-spots. Freckles are small, reddish-tan little dots and ovals measuring no more than a quarter inch; overlaps do not count. A freckle usually grow darker and tend to multiply during the summer; they get lighter in the winter—that sun thing. Among physicians and dermatologists, your “age spots” officially are called “lentigenes,” appearing in all your sun-sensitive places. One southern California dermatologist encourages her patients to try a little experiment:

“Move your bra strap for a week,” she encourages, “and see what happens to that once very white skin.” It spots before it tans, because skin develops extra pigmentation as a defense against further sun damage. When spots grow into patches, they qualify as “uneven skin tone”—same problem with excess pigmentation in sun-damaged areas, different manifestation. “Post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation” develops when blemishes and bites bake in hot sun; they turn extra dark and persist long after the infection or bite has healed. And, finally, “melasma” comes from a conspiracy between sun and estrogens. Melasma appears on your forehead and cheeks or around your lips when your hormones spike because of pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, or starting on birth control pills or rings.

Face the “Face Facts”

Much as you love your golden summery glow and associate it with all things great-outdoors, the sun is not your friend Yes, you need a little bit of healthy sun time to maintain your body’s minimum Vitamin D requirement. Doctors say about twenty minutes per week will amp-up your Vitamin D just fine. The rest of the time, treat the sun as your sworn mortal enemy. Whatever you hate the most in the entire known universe, you hate the sun even more—not just because of unsightly age spots and freckles that never quite join all together in one even tan, but also because it wrinkles, dries, and triggers pre-cancerous growth in your skin. You want your face to remain sparkling fresh, radiant and beautiful; but the sun can make it look like an old cowboy’s leather wallet. Say it together: “eeeew!”

Photo by antomic

The number One Face Fact: Fortify and protect yourself against the sun. Buy a cute hat and wear it whenever you go outdoors; in fact, buy a whole collection of hats, making them an essential element in your signature look. The classic fedora, a fashion essential, has just enough brim to protect your forehead and nose from nasty UV rays. Or steal a page from Las Vegas fashionistas, who have adopted the straw cowboy hat as part of the official daytime uniform. Accessorize the hat and protect your face with over-size sunglasses. The designers seem to “get it,” because sunglasses have grown progressively larger season-by-season over the last several years. Designers also have improved their sunglasses’ UV/UVA protection, but make sure you read the labels carefully, and invest in the most protection you can find.

Face Facts, Too: Use all-natural products and genuinely skin-friendly make-up. Increase your SPF’s to the maximum. No matter what your skin tone or how easily you tan without burning, you want SPF 40 all over your exposed areas, and you want it in everything you put on your face. To reduce and heal all five kinds of bumps, beautifying your skin while you nourish it, use premium foundation and blush from the brands that genuinely give priority to skin care. Bobbi Brown and Bare Escentuals have earned endorsement from demanding dermatologists who tested the products in serious, double-blind clinical testing. Also keep strong medicine on hand for the rare occasions when you get sunburned. Aloe Vera gel and avocado oil stand out as by far the best all-natural remedies for all kinds of skin damage.

Finally, add “hydroquinone” to your daily beauty routine, applying it at night to “bleach” away all those evil spots. In fact, hydroquinone does not oxidize or whiten your spots; instead, it interferes with the enzyme that catalyzes production of skin pigment. No pigment, no spot. You may buy 2% solutions at your pharmacy; or your dermatologist can prescribe 4% solutions of hydroquinone.

Photo by T. Rob Brown

Similar viruses cause the common cold, “common flu,” and H1N1 flu, and the three different kinds of viral infections have very similar symptoms. Paradoxically, your cold and flu viruses are more contagious and virulent immediately before your symptoms appear than while they rage and ravage your body.

Once the tell-tale symptoms attack, do not try to work through them or “gut it out,” because you risk infecting others, and you seriously risk complicating your own infection. Give in, go to bed, rest, and give your body fair opportunity to recover.

An Ounce of Prevention

Although they will not protect you against the common cold, you should get flu shots. Immunization against the flu protects you, your family, friends, and colleagues. Lots of people depend on you and cannot afford to have you out of commission. Just as importantly, you do not want to pass a cold or the flu to them. For maximum protection, get both vaccinations—H1N1 and “common” flu.

Develop two healthy habits; you even may let them develop into obsessions. First and foremost, wash your hands frequently; when in doubt, wash them again. The viruses that cause colds and flu travel from host to host by ingestion and inhalation. Therefore, be careful about touching your nose and mouth after you have handled anything that might transmit the viruses. Second, learn the “proper” way to control a sneeze. Do not sneeze into your hand. A sneeze has the force of a Category 5 hurricane; when you sneeze into your hand, you blast all your pathogens right into the place where you most easily can spread them. Sneeze into a tissue or handkerchief if you can, or sneeze into your sleeve at the elbow. Clean hands and careful sneezes may keep you healthy and happy all season.

Maintain your immune system. Even if you face constant exposure to cold and flu viruses, you will not get sick if you are well-fed, well-rested, and generally healthy. Sleep deprivation and exhaustion devastate your immunity. Eat your vegetables and get your full eight hours rest.

Do NOT Take Anti-Biotics

Viruses cause the common cold and all the different flu strains. They also account for more than 90% of upper respiratory infections. Anti-biotics have no effect on viruses. None! They combat only bacterial infections. Reckless use of anti-biotics does considerably more harm than good, because it contributes to proliferation of drug-resistant strains of bacteria. In women and girls, excessive use of anti-biotics promotes frequent urinary tract and “yeast” infections.

You may elect to keep Tami-Flu or another anti-viral drug on hand in case flu strikes. Because flu comes-on suddenly and unmistakably, take your anti-viral medication at the first sign you are sick. When those unmistakable body aches and those uncontrollable chills attack, take your meds, and continue taking them as directed.

Photo by deanspic

You can check your symptoms and learn more about how to manage the flu by visiting CDC.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm. The site offers in the information in several languages and lists toll-free numbers you can call for even more information. Unless you develop serious complications from your cold or flu, do not call the doctor or visit the emergency room. Physicians can do very little to treat you, and you put other people at-risk of contamination with your viruses. Stay home, rest, and treat your symptoms.

Safely, Effectively Relieve the Symptoms

With either a cold or the flu, you will run a fever about 100.5° F, and you will suffer brutal body aches and serious chills. Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to reduce your fever and relieve your aches. If you take statins or other heart medications, check with your doctor to see which non-aspirin pain reliever will work best with your meds. In extreme cases, you may alternate two aspirin and two acetaminophen every two hours.

Stay hydrated! In addition to water and clear soups, drink electrolyte replacement beverages to maintain your energy and biochemical equilibrium. Especially if you suffer frequent diarrhea, drink all the clear liquids you can. But be aware of one very important exception to this rule. Extreme vomiting is one of the distinctive symptoms of H1N1 flu. If you cannot drink even a little bit of liquid without vomiting, immediately call your doctor or advice nurse.

Saline nasal spray safely and effectively reduces nasal and sinus congestion. If nasal spray alone does not bring all the relief you need, you may use pseudo-ephedrine. In many states, however, “cold and flu” medications containing pseudo-ephedrine require prescriptions, because the powerful decongestant doubles as the prime ingredient in meth-amphetamine. Anti-histamines and histamine blockers will not relieve viral sinus congestion, because they combat only common allergens—pollen, dust, and pet dander.

If you develop chest congestion and a cough, use cough syrups containing dextro-methorphan to calm the cough reflex and guiafensen to reduce congestion. Try not to use cough syrups containing alcohol, because many are higher proof than straight Irish whiskey. If you begin wheezing, you may use an over-the-counter inhaler. Follow the printed instructions very carefully, because excessive use of the inhaler not only affects your heart but also your state of mind; the active ingredients in the bronchial mist can cause anxiety, irritability, and sleeplessness.

Grandma Knew Best

The entire traditional home remedies work well for quick, safe, long-lasting relief of your symptoms. Chicken soup keeps you hydrated, soothes your sore throat, and calms digestive symptoms. Hot tea with honey and lemon not only soothes your throat but also gives you vitamins and anti-oxidants to help battle your virus. A humidifier with essential mint and eucalyptus will ease your congestion at least as well as your inhaler. And grandma’s patented aromatherapy pillow spray with lavender and chamomile will help you get the deep, recuperative sleep you need. If grandma prescribes it, you know it will do you a world of good.

Photo by roger_mommaerts

As the “baby boom” generation ages and enjoys longer life expectancy, some of their vanity issues become medical and psychological issues. Hair loss, as common among women as men, tops the baby boomers’ list of medical complaints that contribute to depression and low self-esteem. Men naturally associate a full head of hair with peak potency, and women recognize their flowing tresses contribute to their appeal.

Although genetics may predispose some men and women to hair loss, hormonal changes trigger mid-life thinning and balding. Currently, androgenic alopecia or “male pattern baldness” is the most widespread form of hair loss. People suffering from this have significant and progressive thinning of hair, which continues for years before it slows or stops. Because of the hair commonly being lost in an “M” shape; it was called pattern baldness.

Standard Treatments for Hair Loss

According to medical researchers, excessive levels of androgenic hormone called “dihydrotestosterone” or DHT is the major cause of hair loss among men. Similar changes in the balance of androgens and estrogens in women triggers their hair loss. During puberty, DHT plays a vital role in the enhancement of male secondary sex traits. Women must have some DHT in their systems, too, because it contributes to their assertiveness and healthy libido. However, excess production of DHT causes follicular miniaturization: the hair shaft width decreases continuously, so that the hair gets thinner and thinner. DHT also acts on hair follicles, slowing or stopping hair’s growth.

In the last decade, prescription drugs–Finasteride (or Propecia) and Minoxidil—have become the most popular means of reversing or preventing hair loss. Both topical treatments correct male pattern baldness in approximately 90% of cases. In some extreme cases, these androgen-blocking medicines lead to serious side effects–erectile dysfunction, acne, gynecomastia and headache.

Natural Alternatives to Prescription Drugs

Luckily, researchers recently have discovered natural alternatives to Finasteride and Monoxidil. Using plant hormones, isoflavones, the natural remedies work as well as synthetic treatments, and they carry no risk of side effects. In double-blind clinical studies, more than 90% of men and women grew thicker, fuller, healthier hair when they applied plant-based remedies according to their doctors’ instructions. As long as they continued applying the medicines, the benefits persisted

Men Feel the Urgency of Preventing Hair Loss

Hair loss can be caused by stress, vitamin deficiency, thyroid medication goes over- or under- active, poor hair health, and autoimmune diseases. And because of this, it is very much significant for you to consult your doctor when you start seeing hair falling out from your head as it can be an indicative effect of a much worse medical problem. Genetics and biochemistry limit hair restoration treatments’ effectiveness in approximately 10% of men and women over forty. Dermatologists advise, however, proper hair care in your twenties and thirties can minimize your hair loss regardless of your chromosomes and chemicals. Men especially feel the importance of preventing or reversing hair loss, and many psychologists suggest hair restoration not only boosts mature men’s self-esteem and assertiveness but also sustains their potency.

Both men and women can limit their hair loss by eating a diet rich in vitamins, nutrients and fatty acids as these natural nutrients such as vitamin A, B and folic acid, magnesium and zinc, stimulates hair growth. Vitamin deficiencies and biochemical imbalances frequently cause patches of hair loss to appear on your head; left uncorrected, these deficiencies may result in compete baldness. Physicians and dermatologists emphasize that your hair keeps a biochemical record of all you ingest, imbibe, and inhale. A healthy diet in combination with moderate alcohol consumption and ordinary daily vitamins generally minimizes hair loss despite genetic predisposition.

When men and women use all-natural shampoos and conditioners enriched with essential botanticals, they significantly increase their chances of maintaining thick, full, healthy hair. Recent studies have proven Burdock’s and Bergamot’s special effectiveness in stopping and often reversing male-pattern balding. Specialists warn men and women of all ages to avoid soaps and shampoos that contain alcohol and stearates. Although both clean exceptionally well, they also leave hair stripped of its vital nutrients, and few conditioners can repair damage from harsh chemical shampoos

Women’s Styles May Increase Hair Loss

Women’s hair styling frequently takes a heavy toll on their tresses, and dermatologists recognize scalp damage from harsh hair-treatment chemicals accounts for a significant percentage of hair loss among mid-life women. Bleaches, dyes, and curling chemicals also thin and break hair, and they rob it of vital nutrients essential to its continued growth. A large body of mostly anecdotal research indicates “hampoo-in” hair dyes, which do not strip hair before tinting it, seem safest and least likely to contribute to hair loss later in life.

Photo by Dr_Alan_Bauman

Allergic reactions to harsh shampoos account for a significant percentage of women’s hair loss, sometimes burning tender scalp tissue and inflicting permanent damage. Worst among these scenarios, some extreme cases of hair and scalp injury result from men’s and women’s use of alcohol shampoos while they are taking prescription medication to control their alcohol use; the interaction sometimes causes permanent hair loss.

Ironically, some of the most popular hair conditioners make hair appear beautiful in the short term at the expense of its long-term health. One of the most popular products currently on the market is made-up of more than 50% silicone and waxes, both of which coat hair and make it resist both proper cleansing and healthy nourishment. In other words, these conditioners contain exactly the same active agent as the popular lubricant “WD40.”

Stylists also encourage you to shampoo in clean water heated only to lukewarm. Urban tapwater pours in as many chemicals and contaminants as shampoo washes away, so that you should filter your water if you can. If you are washing your hair with very hot water very frequently, it might be another cause of hair loss. It is generally suggested that you wash your hair around three times a week in lukewarm water with gentle shampoo and conditioner. Many stylists encourage their clients to mix their own shampoos and conditioners, suggesting they use pure glycerin cleansers and add lavender, chamomile, and aloe for cleansing and nourishing. The best stylists insist their clients use nothing but all-natural shampoos and conditioners enriched with essential oils to protect and nourish hair.s

Losing weight fast and quick is one of the most important searches to day. In their frantic lifestyle people often forget to take care of their health. This way, weight problems are being one of the most important health phenomena to look into. There are many ways through which one can take care of this problem and bring oneself back into healthy weight range. Losing weight quickly can mean you gain it back quickly as well. But the strategy can be utilized to serve as a lifestyle change rather than something quick and quirky. It is sometimes quite dangerous to get into sad diets. Many fad diets can bring you rapid weight loss but may also be injuring your heart, lungs and overall immune system.

Photo by juliagriggshavey

At best it is not quite the right thing to look for a quick solution for weight loss that in fact harms one’s health. The goal of weight loss is not just making you firm and toned but also healthier. Any sudden change to your body must be well supported through following a plan. There can never be miraculous changes working place overnight and thus rapid fat loss cannot be expected to happen for keeps just like that. No matter what the high number of diet pills in the market promise you, this is not the thing to happen. Sustainable weight loss occurs through long term maintenance and this takes place by getting nutritious whole foods, cutting out the junk and maintaining a good exercise regimen.

Determining your calorie intake should be one of the 1st steps to get into weight loss that is successful over the long run. Obesity occurs when excess calories are consumed through junk food. One has to activate oneself through daily work outs as well as control of calories. When the calories come from whole foods it is assimilated better by the body. So make sure one says no to junk which does not get used by the body one bit but only piles up as excess body fat and weight. Trimming down or losing weight is overall good for excess weight in any form only serves you as something that is unwanted. It is not good for health on the whole and one’s immunity gets to be at stake.

People who are overweight are most prone to diseases of different forms, including that of cardiovascular problems, respiratory ones, blood pressure problems, joints and bone malfunction, etc. Simply make a plan that lets you have the minimum calorie requirement for losing your weight and not by just maintaining it. Make sure that the calories come from nourishing whole foods only and not through empty junk food. Losing weight can be simple matter when you are having unprocessed, mostly fresh fruits and vegetables with some proteins thrown in. This will really balance your meals and bring you high burst of energy. You will be totally amazed at the kind of differences they bring you. Freeing your body from taxing, high carb and junk food is really a rather liberating experience. Exercise and make daily activities fun. When you are doing things that are fun, you are exercising as well as having pleasure. So this way it is going to be one of the most pleasurable experiences that you would like to bring on your day and something that you would look forward to. This way losing weight becomes fun than a chore or something that you would want to do!

Food journaling or honest logging of your food intake in a tiny notebook is one of the most effective ways to bring out the hidden junk in your typical day right out of the closet! Most people are quite adamant and in denial about the amount of sugar, carb and refined flour that they have in their day. Sometimes it is not easy to deconstruct your favorite treat as something that might bring you more harm than pleasure. It might feel batty as well as obsessive but the real digging of the nature of your food, right below the surface, takes place through food cataloging or journaling. The hidden things in menus in restaurants that you might overlook during a social occasion or the simple load that your mid-day snack could bring you are all found out on truth on later reflection of a day journal.

Now with this tool in hand, you can aim for some serious tracking of the food that you are having throughout your day. You can aim to replace your high calorie snack with something that is lighter as well as filling. Remember it is of primary importance to enjoy food. When you find yourself gorging on something that is not optimally healthy, then you can always replace it with something that is tasty as well as healthy. Bringing out a food journal will always make you look for options and treats that work your creative sides. With things coming real on pen and paper this is really some good work that you can do for yourself. Remember that you have to log down every scrap of snack, every meal as well as drink that you are having. It will also be noteworthy to bring the feeling part with every meal or snack. Whether you feel good and light after a meal or unnecessarily heavy or even sapped out, and noting these feelings can be a good way to guide you in your way to weight loss and health.

Remember that food is not just for health but also for pleasure and there are hundreds of ideas through which you can have a tasty as well as healthy meal. For these reasons digging on some healthy menus and their creative ideas can be great to ponder upon. After the journaling work, which can be quite shocking and revealing, depending on the stage of weight loss you might be at, you can always work onto finding tasty ways to treat yourself into fun and health. Some of the ideas that can work are having a rainbow salad before a meal. Keep the dressing really light and minimal. This way having a rainbow salad with more greens as its base will definitely make you full quicker and easier while giving you lots of nourishment. Then one can always have a soup that is not cooked in any bad oil or loaded with fat. A light soup with steamed, crunchy vegetables and some protein is always great enough to bring healthy nourishment and even filling you without giving you added calories.

Drinking lots of plain or naturally flavored green tea throughout the day as opposed to coffee, is always healthier and keeps hunger in control. Green tea is effective in giving you fast metabolism while coffee along with their load of sugar, cream or milk, can be quite calorie dense. Caffeine also makes you jittery and edgy making your nerves swing. You can even go through spells of depression through loads of caffeine. In any case caffeine is not good for health overall and switching to tea will not only trim you down but make you look great as well!

Accidental Injury

must be something that should be clearly understood by the insurer. There are many types around but to learn more about these insurances means one has the freedom to choose by knowing. Different accidental insurance policies offer different patterns of coverage. These insurances may cover medical expenses, death related incidents or sudden accidents. Almost every organization now has its members or employees enrolled into that accidental insurance policy scheme. A guide to accidental injury insurance involves in education and training with both individuals as well as groups.

There are many training policies, provisions and opportunities for accidental injury insurance. Some of the avenues through which one can get guidance are through:

1. Classroom training programs
2. Online training and guidance programs
3. State licensing policies and learning about them through accidental health insurance

Some of the basic action steps that will let you know the steps to online coverage are:

Learning to Sell through Online Courses: Online courses come as a big help in letting you understand the ways to get across your sales of the coverage for accidental injury. Through this process one can prepare insurance providers to get to have different ways to retail online. Many of these options are also offered through online study programs. So a proper guide to insurance policy is really important if you have a company and wish to lead your business in a big and appropriate way. Preparing for your insurance is one of the very 1st steps that you can take to secure the position of your company’s employees. Online classes on these are short and less expensive and you are comprehensively made aware of the different insurance terms, their focal points and utility as you get to know them.

Insurance Schools are places that offer a virtual classroom with different packages and well tailored requirements for such a preparation. ABTrainingCenter.com is also another pre-licensing certified course that enables you to powerfully deal with the differing issues of life, health and insurance sales areas. Insurance Licensing of America is another one of the greatest information providers. They help you sort out any of the insurance related problems required in US as well as Canada.

Attend Classroom Training Courses: Short classroom training courses are also some of the most effective ways of bringing awareness for accidental and health insurance. These are some of the means of bringing in pre-licensing and licensing requirements with some of the trainings being posed with tests at the end. In any case practical learning coming from these classrooms bring you great dividends that you would cherish thoroughly. Your company’s brand name value increases due to the appropriate people being appointed to look after the insurance deals in relation to its varying needs. Different training approaches are in fact great ways to introduce you to varied schemes to learn these new approaches.

Continued Help with Insurance Understanding: Even though you are trained with dealing about insurance policies there are ways to extend your education with continued help. Continuous educational information on the latest kinds of policies that help you with coverage charges are all very important for those who sell insurance. Having the perfect kind of certification with as many organizations and learning about them is really important. One does not have to get recertified with the educational process but it is always about staying updated with the latest on the trend. Many schools provide continued insurance guidance and opportunities as well as support for educational purposes. There are many states with hospitals or schools with specific number of hours per year basis of class to bring you educational value on these respects. Long Island University offers continued value on educational classes with accidental insurance coverage. These keep up to current trends as well as state regulations that look after insurance frauds or any problems that new insurance policies might be causing. WebCE is also another way to extend your current education on insurance policies which is always important if you are running a big company that needs to look after its insurance schemes. Knowing your state insurance sellers’ regulations is also important for every one.

There happens to be some most helpful guide for most states with their own specific regulations that come with accidental insurance provision. This license can be renewed from time to time or every two years, according to the regulations. Checking with your governmental information every year is one of the first things that you can do to be well armed with the current knowledge. Pursuing auto accident injury claims can be one of the first things that can work well from these insurance policies.

Automobile accident cases

Automotive Accidents

happen to be so random that it is good for everyone to claim for the insurance. Automobile accident cases are well handled and appropriately settled by lawyers when there is a claimed insurance to your name or vehicle.

Eye Chart

It is really important for us to know how to properly care for our eyes. The saying is true that eyes are indeed the windows of our soul and we need to be extra careful to have the best done to take care of our eyes. There are certain eye conditions that should never be neglected. From congenital eye disorders to temporary eye conditions, every thing needs to be taken care of and protected well. Protecting your eyes so that you do not get any major eye problems is one of the main things that you can do.

Eyes are one of the dearest possessions that we have and if you are lucky enough to have perfect vision, one should ask a blind man to know what it feels like to not have that gift. It is indeed important to take care of our vision as best as we can. Surveys show that out of the 5 senses the most important one happens to be our eyes. It is one of the greatest senses that any of us fears losing.

Eye Testing

Getting your eyes tested from time to time is a great habit. This should be done at least once every year even if you think you have perfect vision. Learning how you can make your vision work best for you is also important. Any minor vision impairment can be totally taken care of through proper nutrition, medication and care. There are many interactive segments that ophthalmologists can use today in order to take care of your vision. This helps to know better about your vision and the status you are in.

Eyes are very important to us and keeping our overall system healthy as well as our eyes healthy is our genuine duty. We can protect our eyes better through the following ways:

• We should always get to take care of our eyes and consult a doctor immediately in case of any injury.
• Proper nutrition and optimal care for eyes will definitely help our way to heal.
• Carrot juice is one of the main things that help us get great eyes.
• Strong eye power does not just come easy in today’s age of junk food, TV watching and straining them over computer.
• To make sure that we are optimally taking care of our eyes, we really have to keep good nutrition in check.
• Doctors can even suggest supplements in addition that should get you to have them feeling great. You will be surprised how these little differences can give you long term benefits.
• Wearing safety glasses while doing house work, cleaning or dusting is also important. Dust particles often get inside you giving you problems and to prevent eye injuries or unnecessary damage, these things are important.
• Wearing dark shades and glasses are also important in order to take care of your eyes when you are out in the sun. Many a time strong sun can cause damage to your eyes that you could avoid wearing the right kind of protection glasses
• UV protection glasses are one of the first things that you can possess to take adequate care of your eyes when out in the sun. in very polluted cities these are great choices too!
• If you have anything stuck or got inside your eye then the first thing is to splash clean water to it which should be cool but not ice-cold. This is the very first step one should do without rubbing or putting anything else in the eyes.
• Always keep a note of a couple of good opthalmologists near your area who can be contacted in case of emergency. If conditions persist they should be consulted without further delay.
• It is important to note that we cause most of our eye injuries by neglecting them. We should never do anything on our own to our eyes. The best solution is better left with the eye specialists.
• A diligent doctor should be able to guide you on the right kind of protections that you require for your eyes.
• Congenital eye disorders may occur in certain cases with people born with defective eyes. Like many eye problems, when these get handled by experts only, they get corrected in a major way. These disorders can become quite a problem if you do not get to the root fast. They might not get fully corrected in some cases but largely reduced.

Some very advanced treatments are available today that can correct one’s vision through laser therapy and other options. If anybody is getting failing vision, many of such cases also get corrected through modern technological approaches.

Certain temporary eye conditions or syndromes can be rectified through proper care. Often eye-drops, appropriate medication and rest are able to deal with these pesky little problems. They could crop up from anything like a virus, to blurriness or stress.

There are many such temporary conditions that include:

• pink eye
• dry eyes
• conjunctivitis
• sties
• red eyes

All these are curable and easy to handle when consulted well by an expert.

Acne and Scar Treatment

Are you looking for a right dermatologist? Who would be able to do acne treatment – scar reduction, the dermatologist you select should be knowledgeable as well as friendly. You could find a right dermatologist by asking few questions.

Which dermatologist does your doctor recommend?

Dermotologist

Your doctor could play a main role in this process, by suggesting you the right dermatologist.  It would actually be better to get an opinion from him or her. He is one person who could guide you and lead you in a right direction or at least give a hint as to where you could start from. Remember to ask nurses as well. Usually they also have a fine recommendation and insights.

The insurance company normally covers the acne treatment. But they do not cover cosmetic related procedures. Are you interested in anti aging treatments or laser hair removal treatments too? You could ask your doctor as to how much these would cost. The cost may differ and it depends on the place as in where you are getting it done.

What if you haven’t insured? Inform the office of dermatologist as to in which way you will be paying the cost of the treatment. If you are paying out of your pocket then your doctor could help you in minimizing the cost like he might prescribe you generic drugs or could work along-with you on the payments.

Is your physician board certified?

Dermatologists that are board certified have finished additional training as well as have got through board exam which are conducted by American Board of Dermatology. Board certified dermatologist are considered to be knowledgeable as well as competent when it comes to the following treatments such as hair, skin, skin surgeries, nails and so on.

Also question the dermatologist as to what is his area of expertise regarding treatment. Even though all the dermatologists can treat acne, but you will be tension free and satisfied if you are getting it treated by a dermatologist who is expert in the acne treatment, rather opting for that dermatologist who specialises in skin cancer or hair loss treatment.

Are the working hours accommodating?

If you have a tight schedule which makes it completely impossible for you to take out time in the morning or afternoon, make sure that the dermatologist you select has an evening or weekend shift as well. So you could easily take appointment and visit him.

Also ask as to how much time it will take to get the appointment. But we are all aware that all the good dermatologist are quiet busy. But don’t forget to ask that if there is a problem and it needs to be treated immediately then how much time will it take to get an appointment?

It’s a normal psychology of humans that if they like a dermatologist and find his treatment has suited them, then they don’t mind waiting for longer hours. However it is important that the doctor should check you up as soon as possible.

Your comfortness with the dermatologist should also be considered

You must have such kind of relationship with your dermatologist that you can feel the convenience of asking him anything and discuss with him any kind of health issues you are facing. A fine relationship with the dermatologist is significant. Have you felt rushed at the time of your appointment? Or you prefer the doctor for his bedside manner? At times 2 people merely don’t click. Anyways take it easy and that is okay. Go for some other dermatologist with whom you feel comfortable or comfy.

Breast Cancer

Despite all the development and advancement in medical science, the complete causes of breast cancer have not yet been fully comprehended and it’s a fact that any woman or even men can become a victim of this one of the biggest women killer worldwide. If breast cancer is not detected and cured earlier, it can be a fatal disease and there is not one certain way to prevent this disease. You need to take several steps to avoid this fatal disease and if you have become a victim of it, these steps can really help you to enhance your survival chances.

These steps include:

• Eat healthy
• Exercise daily
• Don’t smoke
• Restrict your alcohol intake
• Regular breast self-exam

Results of some studies indicate that anti-estrogen pill like tamoxifen may prove effective to decrease breast cancer risk in those women who have a family history of the disease. As mentioned earlier, the chances of survival can greatly increase if breast cancer is detected earlier and this is where self-exam and mammograms become quite important for detection of the disease early.

Self-exam

It’s better to conduct a self-exam of your breast once in a month and you must consult your physician if you notice any change in the shape and size of your breasts.

Mammograms

Women over forty years of age must undergo mammogram at least once in a year, as this procedure can find out those lumps and growths that can’t be found with normal hand touches. Those women who have a family history of the disease must tell about that to their doctors, as your doctor can tell you better whether yearly mammograms are better you or you need to do them early.

CBE

Those who aged between 20- 40 must undergo CBE at least once in three years. It can prove very effective to determine the risk of getting the disease. Similarly, those who aged over 40 must undergo the process, at least once in a year and one must pick a right health care professional for this test.

Smoking the biggest cancer threat

Results of some studies show that carcinogens found in tobacco can affect nearly 50% women as they are quite sensitive to these cancer-causing agents and these women are often at higher risk of developing breast as well as some other types of cancers.

Eat healthy

Vegetables and fresh fruits contain almost all those important minerals, vitamins and various other nutrients that are considered very important to shield against any type of cancer including breast cancer. Similarly, those foods that have good amount phytoestrogen can provide better protection against breast cancer. Phytoestrogen is abundantly found in whole grains, flaxseed and various soy-based products. It’s better to consume fruits and vegetable of different colors.

Take exercise regularly

Regular workout can not only protect you against breast cancer, but many other diseases like hypertension, diabetes and heat attack as well. Results of some studies indicate that women with increased body weight can become an easier victim of breast cancer and its exercise which comes to your rescue to avoid getting excess lard.

Alcohol intake

Some study show that women with higher alcoholic intake have increase of developing breast cancer, and those who consume alcohol moderately often have lower risk of developing breast cancer. So, if you also have higher alcoholic intake, it is better to reduce its intake to avoid becoming the victim of breast cancer which can be fatal if not treated at time.

1. Apple plus beetroot juice: Take half cup of apple juice and mix an equal amount of beetroot juice in it; you can also add some honey in this mixture for sweetening if you like. Drink two cups of it everyday and you would really feel the difference. Many nutrients like calcium, iron, potassium and vitamins are abundantly found in beetroot juice.
2. Honey: Honey has been found quite effective to enrich blood and get rid of the condition. It is better to use the darker forms of honey for this purpose. You can add honey to juices like orange juice, apple and pomegranate fruit. Similarly, it can be used with other foods like bananas and apples as well. Honey with egg yolk also proves very effective to get rid of anemia.
3. Herbal mixtures: There are many herbs, like yellow dock, parsley, bilberry, dandelion and gentian, which can be very effective to treat anemia. You make an herbal infusion of these various herbs and can add some honey in it to treat the condition.
4. Cold water baths: An effective remedy to treat anemia is to take two cold water baths daily, as it has been found quite effective in treating anemia. Similarly, sunbath also looks quite useful in treating the condition, as it can stimulate red blood cells production in the body.
5. Citrus and other vitamin C rich fruit: Iron absorption in the body can be increased by consuming good amounts of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Various fruits like citrus, lemons and oranges are rich in vitamin C and they can also prove beneficial to treat the condition.
6. Organ meats: Various organ meats like kidneys and liver can provide you more iron than all other known iron rich foods. Similarly, there are many other foods like diary products, milk, whole grains and legumes that can provide sufficient amount of iron to your body.
7. Use of iron pots: It has been found that iron pots can increase the iron content in your meals, and patients with anemia can be benefited with foods that are cooked in iron pots.
8. Blackstrap molasses: Black molasses is a nice source of iron and folk healers have been using blackstrap molasses as a “blood builder” so you must replace pancake syrups with them.

To some extent, a cancer can be prevented. Several causes and risk factors for cancer were identified so far.

Smoking

It is the tar in the smoke that causes lung cancer, cancer in the throat (laryngeal cancer), and cancer in the stomach (gastric carcinoma), and bladder cancer.

Second-hand smoking also represent cancer risk.

Tobacco, smokeless.

Alcohol

Alcohol, among other, causes pancreatic, liver, colon and breast cancer (3).

Low-Fiber Diet

Low fiber diet may cause constipation, thus prolonging contact time of harmful substances in the food with the intestinal wall, and increasing the risk for colo-rectal cancer.

Meat

High intake of red (beef, pork, veal and lamb), or processed meat (salami, hamburgers..), over a long period of time increases the risk for colo-rectal cancer (3).

Other Foods (1)

• Areca nut
• Salted fish (Chinese-style)

Obesity (3)

Obesity and sedentary life increase risk of cancer.

Sunburn

Heavy (blistering) sunburn increases the risk for skin cancer (basal and squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma) at any later time in life. Any exposure to ultraviolet UV-B and UV-A rays (sun, tanning saloons) theoretically increases risk for skin cancer.

Melanoma (besides on the head and arms) often appears on the skin areas that were not regularly exposed to the sun but were affected by a single episode of sunburn. Details of skin cancer risk factors.

Microbes

• Aflatoxins, produced by some fungi
• Epstein-Barr virus – Burkit’s lymphoma (rare)
• Helicobacter pylori – stomach cancer
• Hepatitis B and C virus – liver cancer
• HIV (AIDS)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 66 represents a risk for cervical cancer
• Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type I
• Schistosoma haematobium

Asbestos

Asbestos is a well known cause of mesothelioma. Several years/decades of exposure are usually needed for cancer to develop.

Dioxin

Dioxin appears in the air and water mainly after waste combustion, and even after big forest fires (2).

Medications (1)

• 8-Methoxypsoralen (Methoxsalen) plus UV-A radiation
• Cyclosporine
• Estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy and oral contraceptives increase risk for the breast cancer (4)
• MOPP and other combined chemotherapy including alkylating agents
• Phenacetin
• Tamoxifen (may reduces the risk of contralateral breast cancer though)

Radioactive Substances (1)

• Neutrons
• Plutonium-239
• Radioiodines, like iodine-131, from atomic reactor accidents and nuclear weapons detonation
• Radionuclides, a- and  b-particle-emitting, internally deposited
• Radium-224, -226, -228
• Radon-222
• X- and Gamma (g)-Radiation

Other Chemicals (1)

• Arsenic
• Benzene
• Beryllium
• Cadmium
• Chromium
• Formaldehyde
• Mustard gas (Sulfur mustard)
• Nickel
• Silica particles, when inhaled
• Talc containing asbestiform fibres
• Vinyl chloride
• Household combustion of coal, indoor emissions from
• Mineral oils
• Plants containing aristolochic acid
• Shale-oils
• Soots
• Wood dust

Work Environment (1)

People working in the following environments are at increased risk to develop a cancer:

• Aluminium production
• Arsenic in drinking-water
• Boot and shoe manufacture and repair
• Chimney sweeping
• Coal gasification
• Coke production
• Furniture and cabinet making
• Iron and steel founding
• Magenta production
• Painting
• Paving and roofing with coal-tar pitch
• Rubber industry
• Sulfuric acid production

Conclusion

Avoiding smoking, excessive drinking, excessive sun exposure (or, if not possible, using sunscreens with sun-protecting factor 15+ instead), red/processed meat, obesity, and sedentary life are main measures to prevent cancer.

Avoiding of long term exposure to cancerogenes substances should be also considered.

References:

1. Substances, carcinogenic to humans (monographs.iarc.fr)
2. Dioxin is carcinogenic (ejnet.org)
3. Risk factors of common cancers (yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu)
4. Risk factors of common cancers (II) (yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu)

Article reviewed and edited by Jan Modric on April 07, 2009