At some point in your life, you may find a lump in your chest or abnormalities on your mammogram or ultrasound results. If the change seems suspicious, your doctor will want to perform a breast biopsy to test your breast tissue for cancer. While this may seem frightening, breast lumps are only cancerous in one out of five cases.
A breast biopsy is a very common procedure; almost one million are performed in the U.S. each year. Using a needle or surgery, a doctor will remove a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area. There are different methods of taking biopsies, such as with a vacuum, punch, excision (surgical), and wire-guided. You will be given local anesthesia to numb the area surrounding the lump.
The cells or tissue are studied under a microscope to see if they show signs of cancer. The pathology report may take one to two weeks to complete, and it is then sent to your doctor to provide a full picture of your situation.
If no malignant cells are found, the report will indicate that the lumps or abnormalities are benign, or non-cancerous. However, follow-up treatments may still be recommended by your health care professional because several non-cancerous conditions can cause these lumps to form. These include adenofibroma, fibrocystic disease, benign tumors of the milk ducts, and lumps of injured fat tissue. There are some questions you should ask your physician after receiving your breast biopsy results:
- Are the results final and definite?
- When should my next mammogram screening be scheduled?
If diseased cells are found, the report will detail more information to assist you in determining the next steps. More than likely, you will be referred to a cancer specialist who will order more lab tests, scans, and even surgery. Your pathology report is a tool for your medical team to determine the stage of your cancer and to design treatment options which best fit you. You could ask your physician some questions if your results show malignancy:
- Is the cancer growing slowly or quickly?
- Do I need more tests to learn the stage of the disease?
- Which type of breast cancer do I have? (Types can include ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, lobular carcinoma, or Paget's disease.)
- What are my treatment options? (This may include lumpectomy, radiation, or chemotherapy.)
- When will I need to start treatment?
- Will my growths respond to hormone treatments?
- Will surgery work in clearing up my condition?
Complications from biopsies are rare and the benefits of having your potentially cancerous lump inspected far outweigh the risks from any procedure. Some possible side effects from this procedure include an altered appearance in the area (depending on the size of the tissue removed), bruising and/or swelling of the tissue, soreness at the injection site, and infection at the injection site. Ensure that you follow your doctor's after-procedure instructions to reduce your chances of infection.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
The Standard American Diet Tips
Ever wonder why so many people are fat and sick? One reason has to be our diet. The Standard American Diet if filled with foods that are incredibly detrimental to your health. And this fact should be obvious! Obesity rates have skyrocketed over the last several decades. Today, one in five American deaths is associated with obesity. Obesity-related illnesses include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, liver disease, cancer, heart disease, etc.
All these illnesses can be traced to a metabolic dysfunction. What does that mean? It means people are eating the wrong foods. Just a few generations ago, the food available was mostly fresh and locally grown. Today, the majority of food is highly processed and filled with harmful chemical additives. Just look at the typical food served at home, in school, and in restaurants. Let's face it. Most of the food we eat is not healthy.
So why blame the Standard American Diet? Simply put, all the current research on obesity shows that diet is a very key component. When people abandon their traditional cultural foods - foods that their cultures have been eating for thousands of years - in favor of modern processed foods (high in sugar, refined flour, and vegetable oils), these people get fatter and sicker. For example, heart disease among native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders used to be nonexistent but today is one of the leading causes of death. Of all the lifestyle changes they have seen, a poor diet (i.e., the standard American diet) is the leading influence for the prevalence of heart disease.
In the United States (and most Western countries), diet-related chronic diseases represent the single largest cause of death. These diseases are epidemic in contemporary Western populations (affecting 50% or more of the adult population), yet they are rare in less Westernized people.
Now, I'm not recommending that you abandon modern society and live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Far from it. But if you want to lose weight and be healthier, avoiding the modern diet and eating more of a "caveman diet" or a Paleo diet would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Traditional culture studies are just one way of proving the dangers of the standard American diet. You can also look at correlations between factors of the modern diet and the rate of diseases. Of course, this begs the question. What is the standard American Diet?
While the Standard American Diet is not a food menu set in stone, it has certain characteristics that differentiate it from other diets. The foods tend to be high in sugar, salt, and vegetable oils and lower in healthy fats. As you might expect, the Standard American Diet is not good for your health. But this is only part of the story.
Click the link below to see 10 graphs showing why the standard American diet is bad for your health and waistline.
All these illnesses can be traced to a metabolic dysfunction. What does that mean? It means people are eating the wrong foods. Just a few generations ago, the food available was mostly fresh and locally grown. Today, the majority of food is highly processed and filled with harmful chemical additives. Just look at the typical food served at home, in school, and in restaurants. Let's face it. Most of the food we eat is not healthy.
So why blame the Standard American Diet? Simply put, all the current research on obesity shows that diet is a very key component. When people abandon their traditional cultural foods - foods that their cultures have been eating for thousands of years - in favor of modern processed foods (high in sugar, refined flour, and vegetable oils), these people get fatter and sicker. For example, heart disease among native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders used to be nonexistent but today is one of the leading causes of death. Of all the lifestyle changes they have seen, a poor diet (i.e., the standard American diet) is the leading influence for the prevalence of heart disease.
In the United States (and most Western countries), diet-related chronic diseases represent the single largest cause of death. These diseases are epidemic in contemporary Western populations (affecting 50% or more of the adult population), yet they are rare in less Westernized people.
Now, I'm not recommending that you abandon modern society and live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Far from it. But if you want to lose weight and be healthier, avoiding the modern diet and eating more of a "caveman diet" or a Paleo diet would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Traditional culture studies are just one way of proving the dangers of the standard American diet. You can also look at correlations between factors of the modern diet and the rate of diseases. Of course, this begs the question. What is the standard American Diet?
While the Standard American Diet is not a food menu set in stone, it has certain characteristics that differentiate it from other diets. The foods tend to be high in sugar, salt, and vegetable oils and lower in healthy fats. As you might expect, the Standard American Diet is not good for your health. But this is only part of the story.
Click the link below to see 10 graphs showing why the standard American diet is bad for your health and waistline.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Coconut Oil For Skin Essential
With an inexhaustible list of benefits linked to its use, coconut oil may just be the new 'superfood' on the block. Several research studies have confirmed the efficiency of this oil in enhancing skin and hair health, and in improving overall health as well.
Top 5 Uses of Coconut Oil
Enhanced Energy Levels
Coconut oil, unlike other oils, is built by medium-chain triglycerides, which explains why, it gets transformed instantly into energy. Quickly gulping down 2 tablespoons of this oil each morning could boost your energy levels by up to 5%.
Stronger Immunity
It is surprising how the simple coconut oil could improve immunity and also protect your body against many disease-causing agents. It contains impressive amounts of lauric acid, which is an effective agent that kills bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi, thereby reducing your chances of getting infected by them significantly.
Improved Brain Function
When digested, the compounds contained in coconut oil get synthesized into ketone bodies, which have a positive effect on the brain and help protect the brain against several disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Better Heart Health
It may sound surprising, but indeed, this oil can actually help reinforce the heart as well as protect you against heart problems. The consumption of this oil has been found to increase the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, thus reducing triglyceride levels and the accumulation of plaque in the arteries.
Irresistible Skin Benefits
The fact that coconut oil is the most suitable tonic for the skin could be what makes it the most loved natural beauty product these days. You'll find it in lots of moisturizers as well as skin creams, and why not? This oil is an abundant source of vitamin E, which plays a huge role in healing damaged skin, minimizing the appearance of stretch-marks, safeguarding the skin against the harmful UV rays as well as preventing microbial and fungal diseases of your skin.
What Makes Coconut Oil an All-Rounder?
This oil is often identified as the healthiest oil on earth; but what exactly is it that makes this oil so loved?
• It makes for a quick moisturizer- it mildly nourishes the skin and makes it feeling smooth and soft.
• It functions as an efficient diaper rash cream- minus the chemical compounds that you would usually find in a standard rash lotion.
• It makes for an excellent makeup remover.
• It can be used as a supplement for energy.
• Its MCFA and lauric acid content help increase metabolic rate naturally.
• It works the best in keeping the hair in place and also reducing frizziness
• When mixed with granulated sugar, it makes for an excellent body scrub.
• It can repair damaged skin faster, and is most effective in reducing fungal and bacterial infections when applied topically.
• It possesses a high smoke point, which is great for most stir-frys and baked meals.
• It could help improve insulin levels.
• When applied directly onto the skin, it can reduce the appearance of varicose veins.
• It acts as an efficient lubricant without disturbing the normal bacteria of the vagina.
• It might help clear away persistent acne and also reduce the appearance of acne-related marks.
• It can speed up weight loss.
• Consuming this oil may possibly improve sleep.
• When rubbed onto the scalp, it can also encourage hair growth.
• It helps increase the absorption of calcium and magnesium by the body.
How Can I Utilize Coconut Oil?
The best method to utilize this oil would be to attempt to add more of it to your meals. Switch to coconut oil while cooking your food and try replacing simple skincare products with this pure oil.
Following a very simple routine of applying coconut oil on your face right before you go to bed can certainly help keep the skin moisturized and nourished, which will give you that healthy radiance you've always coveted.
You can even try creating your own coconut oil beauty products at home.
There are tons of reasons why you should be choosing coconut oil and making it an integral part of your skin care regimen.
So go ahead and use the best of nature for your skin and body and don't forget to check out these impressive coconut oil beauty products recipes you can re-create in just a few minutes.
Top 5 Uses of Coconut Oil
Enhanced Energy Levels
Coconut oil, unlike other oils, is built by medium-chain triglycerides, which explains why, it gets transformed instantly into energy. Quickly gulping down 2 tablespoons of this oil each morning could boost your energy levels by up to 5%.
Stronger Immunity
It is surprising how the simple coconut oil could improve immunity and also protect your body against many disease-causing agents. It contains impressive amounts of lauric acid, which is an effective agent that kills bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi, thereby reducing your chances of getting infected by them significantly.
Improved Brain Function
When digested, the compounds contained in coconut oil get synthesized into ketone bodies, which have a positive effect on the brain and help protect the brain against several disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Better Heart Health
It may sound surprising, but indeed, this oil can actually help reinforce the heart as well as protect you against heart problems. The consumption of this oil has been found to increase the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, thus reducing triglyceride levels and the accumulation of plaque in the arteries.
Irresistible Skin Benefits
The fact that coconut oil is the most suitable tonic for the skin could be what makes it the most loved natural beauty product these days. You'll find it in lots of moisturizers as well as skin creams, and why not? This oil is an abundant source of vitamin E, which plays a huge role in healing damaged skin, minimizing the appearance of stretch-marks, safeguarding the skin against the harmful UV rays as well as preventing microbial and fungal diseases of your skin.
What Makes Coconut Oil an All-Rounder?
This oil is often identified as the healthiest oil on earth; but what exactly is it that makes this oil so loved?
• It makes for a quick moisturizer- it mildly nourishes the skin and makes it feeling smooth and soft.
• It functions as an efficient diaper rash cream- minus the chemical compounds that you would usually find in a standard rash lotion.
• It makes for an excellent makeup remover.
• It can be used as a supplement for energy.
• Its MCFA and lauric acid content help increase metabolic rate naturally.
• It works the best in keeping the hair in place and also reducing frizziness
• When mixed with granulated sugar, it makes for an excellent body scrub.
• It can repair damaged skin faster, and is most effective in reducing fungal and bacterial infections when applied topically.
• It possesses a high smoke point, which is great for most stir-frys and baked meals.
• It could help improve insulin levels.
• When applied directly onto the skin, it can reduce the appearance of varicose veins.
• It acts as an efficient lubricant without disturbing the normal bacteria of the vagina.
• It might help clear away persistent acne and also reduce the appearance of acne-related marks.
• It can speed up weight loss.
• Consuming this oil may possibly improve sleep.
• When rubbed onto the scalp, it can also encourage hair growth.
• It helps increase the absorption of calcium and magnesium by the body.
How Can I Utilize Coconut Oil?
The best method to utilize this oil would be to attempt to add more of it to your meals. Switch to coconut oil while cooking your food and try replacing simple skincare products with this pure oil.
Following a very simple routine of applying coconut oil on your face right before you go to bed can certainly help keep the skin moisturized and nourished, which will give you that healthy radiance you've always coveted.
You can even try creating your own coconut oil beauty products at home.
There are tons of reasons why you should be choosing coconut oil and making it an integral part of your skin care regimen.
So go ahead and use the best of nature for your skin and body and don't forget to check out these impressive coconut oil beauty products recipes you can re-create in just a few minutes.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Healthy Care For Women Over 40
Women over 40 often suffer many unpleasant side effects of approaching menopause. Their bodies turn into furnaces with no temperature regulation valve. PMS can become a semi-permanent state. Their skin simultaneously returns to spotty puberty and advancing age wrinkles. A good night's sleep can become a distant memory as night sweats, palpitations and insomnia hold them in an unrelenting grip of steel. Waistlines expand, sometimes alarmingly, and clothes start to pinch and squeeze. Life can be very unpleasant for a decade, or often even longer.
While simple to moderate lifestyle and dietary changes can bring relief for many, some of the recommendations might just exacerbate symptoms for others. I became one of those others. In the end, it was a totally unrelated incident which gave me the key. After some further research and immediate self-experimentation, I knew what was wrong. I also realized that I was not alone and that thousands of other women were finding immediate, and pretty much total, relief from many, if not all, symptoms.
I am not talking about any new wonder drug or fad diet. Nothing of the sort. I am talking about nature. About histamine, to be precise. A surprising number of women over 40 are, to some degree or another, histamine intolerant. By eliminating histamine from your diet for a month and then slowly introducing foods again you can see what foods you might be reacting to and how.
Histamine is in a lot of foods, most notably: strawberries, raspberries, cherries, citrus fruit, many exotic fruits, grapes, nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants/aubergines, etc.), chocolate, alcohol (except gin and vodka), red meats, dairy products, wheat, eggs, many beans and pulses, tea and green tea, fermented foods, many kinds of fish and seafood, processed food, soy products, some spices, and MSG.
If you think that histamine might be contributing to your symptoms (hot flashes, palpitations, headaches, migraines, indigestion, heart burn, bloating, abdominal discomfort, insomnia and irritability), or are not sure if it could be a cause, try eliminating many sources and see if you notice any improvements. It could also be a good idea to reduce consumption of grain products (bread, pasta, baked goods), processed foods, fast foods, MSG, artificial sweeteners and sugar. See what you react to and slowly introduce other foods back in.
While simple to moderate lifestyle and dietary changes can bring relief for many, some of the recommendations might just exacerbate symptoms for others. I became one of those others. In the end, it was a totally unrelated incident which gave me the key. After some further research and immediate self-experimentation, I knew what was wrong. I also realized that I was not alone and that thousands of other women were finding immediate, and pretty much total, relief from many, if not all, symptoms.
I am not talking about any new wonder drug or fad diet. Nothing of the sort. I am talking about nature. About histamine, to be precise. A surprising number of women over 40 are, to some degree or another, histamine intolerant. By eliminating histamine from your diet for a month and then slowly introducing foods again you can see what foods you might be reacting to and how.
Histamine is in a lot of foods, most notably: strawberries, raspberries, cherries, citrus fruit, many exotic fruits, grapes, nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants/aubergines, etc.), chocolate, alcohol (except gin and vodka), red meats, dairy products, wheat, eggs, many beans and pulses, tea and green tea, fermented foods, many kinds of fish and seafood, processed food, soy products, some spices, and MSG.
If you think that histamine might be contributing to your symptoms (hot flashes, palpitations, headaches, migraines, indigestion, heart burn, bloating, abdominal discomfort, insomnia and irritability), or are not sure if it could be a cause, try eliminating many sources and see if you notice any improvements. It could also be a good idea to reduce consumption of grain products (bread, pasta, baked goods), processed foods, fast foods, MSG, artificial sweeteners and sugar. See what you react to and slowly introduce other foods back in.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Cellulite Treatments
Cellulite - All women know what this is, right? Yet there is great disagreement and some controversy in the medical community as to what it is and whether or not it is actually a real thing, a real diagnosis! The WebMD website says that "its name makes it sound like a medical condition"! Well, this "non-medical" condition seriously affects and deeply troubles some 80- 90% of adult women! Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year trying to treat it. If all that doesn't qualify cellulite as a true condition worthy of respect and attention by our physicians then something's very wrong! Even so, there are many scary sounding "medical condition" names which have been applied to what we commonly call cellulite including adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy. Common nicknames for cellulite include orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, quilted mattress skin, and seat cushion skin.
Multiple "causes" have been implicated (including genetic) but we still don't really know for sure. Cellulite is rarely seen in men - is it a hormonally linked condition? Why does cellulite predominantly affect the abdomen, buttocks and thighs - why these areas? No one knows but it does suggest a hormonal mediated mechanism; reminiscent of stretch marks (striae atrophica) and their common areas of distribution - remarkably similar! Cellulite also seems to appear during hormonally active periods in women's lives - adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause.
Most of us, doctors and patients alike, would recognize cellulite to be a dimpled, puckered, irregular appearing skin surface affecting large areas. Dimples may be cute on the face, but not on your thighs! The thighs, especially the outer thighs, seem to be the most commonly affected areas. At the microscopic level we know that something is happening to the architecture of the skin causing it to appear uneven, puckered and so unappealingly unsmooth. There seems to be a pseudoherniation (a bulging out without a true bulging through) of the superficial subcutaneous fat poking nearly through the tight fibrous connective tissue bands (which are supposed to act as retaining walls for the fat) underneath the skin. We see the sum total of all these bulges as an overall lumpy, bumpy look to the surface of the skin. It is very reminiscent of the way pillow material bulges in between the buttons of a seat cushion!
Doctors studying this dimpling phenomenon also recognized that depending on its severity, body position could also affect the appearance of cellulite. In 1978, the Nurnburger-Muller Scale was published:
The Nurnburger-Muller Scale(1978) for Cellulite Classification:
0 - no visible dimpling
1 - dimpling visible on pinch/squeeze only
2 - dimpling visible on standing only (not when lying down)
3 - dimpling always present/visible (whether standing or lying down)
There are a multitude of "options " available for treating cellulite today. A recent Google search on "treatments for cellulite" revealed 1.4 million hits! But do any of them really work? Dr. Molly Wanner (noted Harvard dermatologist) said "there is no treatment for cellulite". Noted dermatologist Michael McGuire of UCLA concurred (NY Times article, 2009).
Weight loss and strength training should help, but are not always the answer! Cellulite is not always associated with being overweight or out of shape. Skinny or overweight - you can still have cellulite. Many slender women in great shape are plagued with cellulite.
Nutritional changes and dietary supplements reportedly of assistance in the fight against cellulite include the use of gingko biloba, sweet clover, grape seed bioflavonoids, bladderwrack extract, oil of evening primrose, fish oil, omega 3's & 6's, soy lecithin, green tea, milk thistle, and niacin. Goals of these: boost metabolism, increase circulation, increase cellular nutrition, and increase fat metabolism/breakdown. So called anti-cellulite diets are designed to decrease inflammation, increase circulation, and increase fat metabolism. It is very tough to prove or disprove any of these claims or to determine if any of these intended effects are actually happening.
Anti-cellulite creams typically contain forms of methylxanthines (theophylline, aminophylline, caffeine) known to decrease blood vessel flow, decrease tissue fluids and to increase fat metabolism - but do they even get through the skin? Do the concentrations reach a level where they can be effective? Are they around long enough to effect any real changes? The evidence is very inconclusive for these creams and their effectiveness. Decreasing tissue fluids does have the effect of temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite. As you will see throughout this article, any technique temporarily decreasing tissue fluids will temporarily "work"!
Retin-A/retinols show some benefit via the overall improvements in skin quality that come with the better skin tone and smoothness they can effectuate. There is some evidence that incorporating Retin-A with some of the methylxanthine-containing creams might create a synergistic effect better than either one alone for reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Tanning does help minimize the appearance of cellulite. But tanning rays from the sun or from a salon booth work via a UV radiation damage to the skin! This carries more real disadvantages (skin aging, skin looks even worse long term, skin cancer risks) than any potential benefits. Artificial or spray-type tanning techniques are a much safer alternative!
Herbal, seaweed and other types of body "wraps" work by decreasing tissue fluids (i.e., they do work, but it is only temporary).
Deep tissue massage will theoretically increase local blood flow, eliminate toxins, and decrease the tissue fluids. The only one of these three which have proven (albeit temporary) effectiveness is the "decrease the fluid" claim! Massage as a part of any treatment method will result in at least temporary improvement in cellulite because it causes a temporary decrease in tissue fluids and a temporary "redistribution/shifting" of the subcutaneous fat as well.
The Endermology device uses a special roller vacuum/massage technique. This does help - but like many treatments - it is temporary. Short term, temporary treatments like Endermology seem effective because they decrease tissue fluids in the area, and/or effect a temporary fat "redistribution". As you will continue to see, this strategy is the basis for many cellulite treatment options.
The Silhouette device is essentially similar to the Endermology technology, utilizing the massage principles of decreasing tissue fluids and shift/redistributing of fat for temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Mesotherapy is very controversial as to its efficacy or consistency for fat removal alone. A lot of needles and injections are involved. The injected chemical cocktails are intended to induce fat "melting" not really for the treatment of cellulite. And even more irregularities in skin surface texture can result from a mesotherapy treatment because the melting is not necessarily uniform or even - i.e. more cellulite! Other reported problems include infection, rashes, and allergic reactions.
Radiofrequency (RF) is an integral part of several of both the non-invasive and minimally invasive machines and techniques available today. RF works by creating heat. This heat can melt fat and "shrink wrap" loose skin to various degrees. It makes sense that this should have benefits for cellulite - or does it? The results are inconclusive thus far and RF has therefore not yet been approved or cleared by the FDA as anti-cellulite treatment.
Vanquish uses RF to heat and kill fat cells in way similar to HIFU( see below). The skin can get very warm/hot (like an intense sun tanning exposure). A series of 6 - 8 treatment sessions, each lasting about 45 minutes is needed. Total cost is about $3000 -$4000.
Pellevé uses RF and massage for the (as expected) "temporary improvement" of cellulite.
Infrared light/red light as a type of non-invasive low level laser therapy (LLLT) seems to actually work - but (as all the research has shown) it must be the right wavelength of light to work.
Diode laser based systems depend upon a series of treatments to be most effective, as most treatments do. However, diode lasers can be a key component of a non-invasive LLLT system and will have benefit if the proper wavelength is utilized.
Smooth Shapes uses a vacuum massage plus a 650nm light and a 915nm laser. The massage effects are temporary. The low level laser therapy (LLLT) has more of basis for long term effectiveness but there is no research supported/peer reviewed published data on these light or laser wavelengths.
The TriActive machine uses a form of LLLT plus vacuum massage.
Liposuction is a great option for recontouring the body via the removal of troublesome localized fat deposits, but it is a poor choice for treating cellulite itself. Liposuction is very unlikely to make any areas of cellulite any better and can actually make areas of overlying cellulite worse!
SmartLipo laser lipolysis (fat melting) technology is a minimally invasive (not non-invasive) procedure. Theory: laser melts the fat, tightens the skin, causing overall smoothing. In practice - pretty good for getting rid of stubborn fat, rarely helps the cellulite.
Cellulaze is from the same company (Cynosure) that manufactures the SmartLipo machines. Cellulaze is similarly promoted as a "minimally invasive" procedure - but these are surgical procedures! A thin laser cable is inserted under the skin through an incision to melt the subcutaneous fat and snip the fibrous bands tethering the skin. It works - sort of - but not great. All the risks of a surgical procedure- recovery/downtime issues, infection, scarring - must be considered.
Subcision is a very old method developed to try to "release" and correct bound down, depressed, tethered scars via the actual surgical cutting of the fibrous scar bands under the skin. This technique is sometimes recommended in one form or another to treat cellulite. As a matter of fact, Cellulaze depends substantially on this strategy. The effectiveness of the subcision technique for treating cellulite has never been clearly established.
Collagenases are actual connective tissue dissolving enzymes which are applied to or injected under the skin, intended to loosen the tight, fibrous bands as a way to potentially smooth out the bumpiness. There are many ongoing studies, but this is still completely experimental.
HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. This is a non-invasive, non-surgical way of targeting fat deposits for melting. The focused ultrasound generates intense heat under the skin, killing and melting the fat cells as a possible alternative to liposuction - but it really hurts! CoolSculpt uses fat freezing technology instead of heat to kill fat cells. Neither technology has been shown to have any positive effect on cellulite. For all we know, the effects of ultrasound or freezing on cellulite could be similar to that often seen for liposuction - not good!
The Verjú Green Laser is a completely non-invasive, non-painful, elegant technology that actually works! Please see our article, "The Verjú Green Laser: Non-Invasive Fat and Cellulite Reduction" to learn more about this exciting, new anti-cellulite technology!
Multiple "causes" have been implicated (including genetic) but we still don't really know for sure. Cellulite is rarely seen in men - is it a hormonally linked condition? Why does cellulite predominantly affect the abdomen, buttocks and thighs - why these areas? No one knows but it does suggest a hormonal mediated mechanism; reminiscent of stretch marks (striae atrophica) and their common areas of distribution - remarkably similar! Cellulite also seems to appear during hormonally active periods in women's lives - adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause.
Most of us, doctors and patients alike, would recognize cellulite to be a dimpled, puckered, irregular appearing skin surface affecting large areas. Dimples may be cute on the face, but not on your thighs! The thighs, especially the outer thighs, seem to be the most commonly affected areas. At the microscopic level we know that something is happening to the architecture of the skin causing it to appear uneven, puckered and so unappealingly unsmooth. There seems to be a pseudoherniation (a bulging out without a true bulging through) of the superficial subcutaneous fat poking nearly through the tight fibrous connective tissue bands (which are supposed to act as retaining walls for the fat) underneath the skin. We see the sum total of all these bulges as an overall lumpy, bumpy look to the surface of the skin. It is very reminiscent of the way pillow material bulges in between the buttons of a seat cushion!
Doctors studying this dimpling phenomenon also recognized that depending on its severity, body position could also affect the appearance of cellulite. In 1978, the Nurnburger-Muller Scale was published:
The Nurnburger-Muller Scale(1978) for Cellulite Classification:
0 - no visible dimpling
1 - dimpling visible on pinch/squeeze only
2 - dimpling visible on standing only (not when lying down)
3 - dimpling always present/visible (whether standing or lying down)
There are a multitude of "options " available for treating cellulite today. A recent Google search on "treatments for cellulite" revealed 1.4 million hits! But do any of them really work? Dr. Molly Wanner (noted Harvard dermatologist) said "there is no treatment for cellulite". Noted dermatologist Michael McGuire of UCLA concurred (NY Times article, 2009).
Weight loss and strength training should help, but are not always the answer! Cellulite is not always associated with being overweight or out of shape. Skinny or overweight - you can still have cellulite. Many slender women in great shape are plagued with cellulite.
Nutritional changes and dietary supplements reportedly of assistance in the fight against cellulite include the use of gingko biloba, sweet clover, grape seed bioflavonoids, bladderwrack extract, oil of evening primrose, fish oil, omega 3's & 6's, soy lecithin, green tea, milk thistle, and niacin. Goals of these: boost metabolism, increase circulation, increase cellular nutrition, and increase fat metabolism/breakdown. So called anti-cellulite diets are designed to decrease inflammation, increase circulation, and increase fat metabolism. It is very tough to prove or disprove any of these claims or to determine if any of these intended effects are actually happening.
Anti-cellulite creams typically contain forms of methylxanthines (theophylline, aminophylline, caffeine) known to decrease blood vessel flow, decrease tissue fluids and to increase fat metabolism - but do they even get through the skin? Do the concentrations reach a level where they can be effective? Are they around long enough to effect any real changes? The evidence is very inconclusive for these creams and their effectiveness. Decreasing tissue fluids does have the effect of temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite. As you will see throughout this article, any technique temporarily decreasing tissue fluids will temporarily "work"!
Retin-A/retinols show some benefit via the overall improvements in skin quality that come with the better skin tone and smoothness they can effectuate. There is some evidence that incorporating Retin-A with some of the methylxanthine-containing creams might create a synergistic effect better than either one alone for reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Tanning does help minimize the appearance of cellulite. But tanning rays from the sun or from a salon booth work via a UV radiation damage to the skin! This carries more real disadvantages (skin aging, skin looks even worse long term, skin cancer risks) than any potential benefits. Artificial or spray-type tanning techniques are a much safer alternative!
Herbal, seaweed and other types of body "wraps" work by decreasing tissue fluids (i.e., they do work, but it is only temporary).
Deep tissue massage will theoretically increase local blood flow, eliminate toxins, and decrease the tissue fluids. The only one of these three which have proven (albeit temporary) effectiveness is the "decrease the fluid" claim! Massage as a part of any treatment method will result in at least temporary improvement in cellulite because it causes a temporary decrease in tissue fluids and a temporary "redistribution/shifting" of the subcutaneous fat as well.
The Endermology device uses a special roller vacuum/massage technique. This does help - but like many treatments - it is temporary. Short term, temporary treatments like Endermology seem effective because they decrease tissue fluids in the area, and/or effect a temporary fat "redistribution". As you will continue to see, this strategy is the basis for many cellulite treatment options.
The Silhouette device is essentially similar to the Endermology technology, utilizing the massage principles of decreasing tissue fluids and shift/redistributing of fat for temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Mesotherapy is very controversial as to its efficacy or consistency for fat removal alone. A lot of needles and injections are involved. The injected chemical cocktails are intended to induce fat "melting" not really for the treatment of cellulite. And even more irregularities in skin surface texture can result from a mesotherapy treatment because the melting is not necessarily uniform or even - i.e. more cellulite! Other reported problems include infection, rashes, and allergic reactions.
Radiofrequency (RF) is an integral part of several of both the non-invasive and minimally invasive machines and techniques available today. RF works by creating heat. This heat can melt fat and "shrink wrap" loose skin to various degrees. It makes sense that this should have benefits for cellulite - or does it? The results are inconclusive thus far and RF has therefore not yet been approved or cleared by the FDA as anti-cellulite treatment.
Vanquish uses RF to heat and kill fat cells in way similar to HIFU( see below). The skin can get very warm/hot (like an intense sun tanning exposure). A series of 6 - 8 treatment sessions, each lasting about 45 minutes is needed. Total cost is about $3000 -$4000.
Pellevé uses RF and massage for the (as expected) "temporary improvement" of cellulite.
Infrared light/red light as a type of non-invasive low level laser therapy (LLLT) seems to actually work - but (as all the research has shown) it must be the right wavelength of light to work.
Diode laser based systems depend upon a series of treatments to be most effective, as most treatments do. However, diode lasers can be a key component of a non-invasive LLLT system and will have benefit if the proper wavelength is utilized.
Smooth Shapes uses a vacuum massage plus a 650nm light and a 915nm laser. The massage effects are temporary. The low level laser therapy (LLLT) has more of basis for long term effectiveness but there is no research supported/peer reviewed published data on these light or laser wavelengths.
The TriActive machine uses a form of LLLT plus vacuum massage.
Liposuction is a great option for recontouring the body via the removal of troublesome localized fat deposits, but it is a poor choice for treating cellulite itself. Liposuction is very unlikely to make any areas of cellulite any better and can actually make areas of overlying cellulite worse!
SmartLipo laser lipolysis (fat melting) technology is a minimally invasive (not non-invasive) procedure. Theory: laser melts the fat, tightens the skin, causing overall smoothing. In practice - pretty good for getting rid of stubborn fat, rarely helps the cellulite.
Cellulaze is from the same company (Cynosure) that manufactures the SmartLipo machines. Cellulaze is similarly promoted as a "minimally invasive" procedure - but these are surgical procedures! A thin laser cable is inserted under the skin through an incision to melt the subcutaneous fat and snip the fibrous bands tethering the skin. It works - sort of - but not great. All the risks of a surgical procedure- recovery/downtime issues, infection, scarring - must be considered.
Subcision is a very old method developed to try to "release" and correct bound down, depressed, tethered scars via the actual surgical cutting of the fibrous scar bands under the skin. This technique is sometimes recommended in one form or another to treat cellulite. As a matter of fact, Cellulaze depends substantially on this strategy. The effectiveness of the subcision technique for treating cellulite has never been clearly established.
Collagenases are actual connective tissue dissolving enzymes which are applied to or injected under the skin, intended to loosen the tight, fibrous bands as a way to potentially smooth out the bumpiness. There are many ongoing studies, but this is still completely experimental.
HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. This is a non-invasive, non-surgical way of targeting fat deposits for melting. The focused ultrasound generates intense heat under the skin, killing and melting the fat cells as a possible alternative to liposuction - but it really hurts! CoolSculpt uses fat freezing technology instead of heat to kill fat cells. Neither technology has been shown to have any positive effect on cellulite. For all we know, the effects of ultrasound or freezing on cellulite could be similar to that often seen for liposuction - not good!
The Verjú Green Laser is a completely non-invasive, non-painful, elegant technology that actually works! Please see our article, "The Verjú Green Laser: Non-Invasive Fat and Cellulite Reduction" to learn more about this exciting, new anti-cellulite technology!
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Hair Loss Treatment Tips
MEN HAIR LOSS TREATMENT - WHY MEN LOSE HAIR
A lot of men experience alopecia at some point in their lives; in fact research indicates that 4 in 7 men have the baldness gene. Baldness can start at different ages; most men experience it at around the age of 35, however today there are several cases of early hair loss in men, starting as early as 20s. The venture in to hair transplantation is becoming a really common medical practice, since men are seeking solutions to curb hair loss. Many men assume that baldness is a result of excessive testosterone but they are completely wrong. We will look deeply into this hormone causing the male pattern baldness i.e. androgenic alopecia, as well as other factors that cause it. This will make you more enlightened and well-informed to practice preventive measures against losing hair early enough.
Common causes of Male Hair Loss
Androgenic alopecia triggered by Di Hydro Testosterone (DHT)
This is a pattern of hair thinning in men which results in a receding hairline and a thinning crown, leaving a horse shoe shaped ring at the back and sides of the head. This is caused by a hormone called dihydtotestosterone (DHT) which affects hair growth and prostate as well. DHT acts on genetically vulnerable follicles, causing them to shorten, miniaturize and eventually disappear hence thinning in the specific areas of the scalp until the hair completely stops growing. However the hair at the back of the head is less susceptible to DHT and more permanent. During hair transplantation, the permanent hair is transplanted to the balding area, and since the follicles retain their DHT effects resistivity characteristics, they continue to grow normally.
To prevent the effects of DHT, medications like Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) can be taken to reverse miniaturization.
Physical and Emotional Stress
Physically stressing the hair strands by pulling hair tightly either braiding or pony tails called traction alopecia and other activities like excessive styling using lots of heat or harsh chemicals cause hair loss by weakening the strands that eventually break off. Some people also have the habit of pulling off their hair unknowingly; this is known as trichotillomania; a habit that results in alopecia.
Chemotherapy while targeting rapidly growing cells affects the growth phase of hair, slowing growth and eventually hair thinning. Radiotherapy of the scalp causes trauma to the affected areas causing baldness. Stressful experiences like accidents, severe illness, surgery poisoning, cause temporary shock loss where a lot of hair enters resting phase at the same time telogen effluvium, resulting in severe shedding and balding.
Emotionally stressful periods like death of a loved one, break ups and divorce can also cause hair loss.
Medication and Drugs
Some drugs which affect the natural hormonal balance can cause permanent or temporary loss of hair. Such medications are for example anabolic steroids and drugs that are used to cure blood pressure, acne, diabetes, blood thinners, anti depressants, heart disease, cholesterol and mycotic infections.
Seasonal Hair Loss
Seasonal hair loss occurs during the changes of seasons, because the skin is trying to adjust itself to the new weather. Maximum hair loss is experienced during winter, the scalp gets too dry and flaky and sheds hair. In summer, the skin sweats a lot, blocking pores and preventing healthy hair-growth. Excessive UV rays from the sun damage the hair.
Immune system diseases and Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland regulates the metabolism of the body by releasing some hormones. Birth abnormalities and removal of thyroid gland causes hypothyroidism which is under production of some hormones resulting in patchy loss known as alopecia areata.
Diseases where the immune system attacks healthy body tissue are known as autoimmune diseases e.g diabetes and arthritis. Cicatricial alopecia is hair loss that results from the immune system attacking the hair follicles causing permanent hair loss scars.
Poor Nutrition
Hair is made from protein called keratin. Poor nutrition affects hair-growth. Deficiencies in nutrients like protein, iron, vitamin B, zinc, biotin. Excess vitamin A intake can also cause hair loss.
Infections
A common fungal infection of the scalp commonly known as ring worm (tinea capitis) that arise due to poor hygiene causes hair loss scar. Other infections that cause alopecia secondary syphilis, dissecting celullitis and folliculitis. In a more oily scalp, a microscopic mite called demodex follicullorum is likely to thrive; it feeds on sebum, denying hair its nutrients causing thinning and falling.
Unhealthy Lifestyle
Poor habits like insufficient sleep, smoking and excessive drinking can also affect hair growth adversely. Carbon monoxide from smoke prevents circulation of oxygen to the follicles, while excess drinking of alcohol causes dehydration stopping the body from absorbing essential nutrients.
A lot of men experience alopecia at some point in their lives; in fact research indicates that 4 in 7 men have the baldness gene. Baldness can start at different ages; most men experience it at around the age of 35, however today there are several cases of early hair loss in men, starting as early as 20s. The venture in to hair transplantation is becoming a really common medical practice, since men are seeking solutions to curb hair loss. Many men assume that baldness is a result of excessive testosterone but they are completely wrong. We will look deeply into this hormone causing the male pattern baldness i.e. androgenic alopecia, as well as other factors that cause it. This will make you more enlightened and well-informed to practice preventive measures against losing hair early enough.
Common causes of Male Hair Loss
Androgenic alopecia triggered by Di Hydro Testosterone (DHT)
This is a pattern of hair thinning in men which results in a receding hairline and a thinning crown, leaving a horse shoe shaped ring at the back and sides of the head. This is caused by a hormone called dihydtotestosterone (DHT) which affects hair growth and prostate as well. DHT acts on genetically vulnerable follicles, causing them to shorten, miniaturize and eventually disappear hence thinning in the specific areas of the scalp until the hair completely stops growing. However the hair at the back of the head is less susceptible to DHT and more permanent. During hair transplantation, the permanent hair is transplanted to the balding area, and since the follicles retain their DHT effects resistivity characteristics, they continue to grow normally.
To prevent the effects of DHT, medications like Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) can be taken to reverse miniaturization.
Physical and Emotional Stress
Physically stressing the hair strands by pulling hair tightly either braiding or pony tails called traction alopecia and other activities like excessive styling using lots of heat or harsh chemicals cause hair loss by weakening the strands that eventually break off. Some people also have the habit of pulling off their hair unknowingly; this is known as trichotillomania; a habit that results in alopecia.
Chemotherapy while targeting rapidly growing cells affects the growth phase of hair, slowing growth and eventually hair thinning. Radiotherapy of the scalp causes trauma to the affected areas causing baldness. Stressful experiences like accidents, severe illness, surgery poisoning, cause temporary shock loss where a lot of hair enters resting phase at the same time telogen effluvium, resulting in severe shedding and balding.
Emotionally stressful periods like death of a loved one, break ups and divorce can also cause hair loss.
Medication and Drugs
Some drugs which affect the natural hormonal balance can cause permanent or temporary loss of hair. Such medications are for example anabolic steroids and drugs that are used to cure blood pressure, acne, diabetes, blood thinners, anti depressants, heart disease, cholesterol and mycotic infections.
Seasonal Hair Loss
Seasonal hair loss occurs during the changes of seasons, because the skin is trying to adjust itself to the new weather. Maximum hair loss is experienced during winter, the scalp gets too dry and flaky and sheds hair. In summer, the skin sweats a lot, blocking pores and preventing healthy hair-growth. Excessive UV rays from the sun damage the hair.
Immune system diseases and Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland regulates the metabolism of the body by releasing some hormones. Birth abnormalities and removal of thyroid gland causes hypothyroidism which is under production of some hormones resulting in patchy loss known as alopecia areata.
Diseases where the immune system attacks healthy body tissue are known as autoimmune diseases e.g diabetes and arthritis. Cicatricial alopecia is hair loss that results from the immune system attacking the hair follicles causing permanent hair loss scars.
Poor Nutrition
Hair is made from protein called keratin. Poor nutrition affects hair-growth. Deficiencies in nutrients like protein, iron, vitamin B, zinc, biotin. Excess vitamin A intake can also cause hair loss.
Infections
A common fungal infection of the scalp commonly known as ring worm (tinea capitis) that arise due to poor hygiene causes hair loss scar. Other infections that cause alopecia secondary syphilis, dissecting celullitis and folliculitis. In a more oily scalp, a microscopic mite called demodex follicullorum is likely to thrive; it feeds on sebum, denying hair its nutrients causing thinning and falling.
Unhealthy Lifestyle
Poor habits like insufficient sleep, smoking and excessive drinking can also affect hair growth adversely. Carbon monoxide from smoke prevents circulation of oxygen to the follicles, while excess drinking of alcohol causes dehydration stopping the body from absorbing essential nutrients.
Friday, January 9, 2015
The Benefits of Using Biochemic Homeopathic Medicines
We are all familiar with homeopathic medicines, aren't we? Based on a simple science of stimulating the body from within to recover and cure the diseases, homeopathy uses medicines that are not harmful to the body. Even in case of chronic illnesses, homeopathic medicine will always be a safer option as there is no risk of damaging the body. Today, homeopathic medicine offers cure for several types of diseases. This cure is effective, pain-free, long lasting, apart from coming with a guarantee of zero side effects.
Biochemic medicine is also a branch of homeopathy. This was introduced by Dr. Schuessler way back in the year 1873. Being a homeopath was also well versed with the body's natural ability to heal. However, during his research, he formulated a theory. According to this theory, every disease that is troubling the human body is a result of lack of one of the basic organic salts in the cells. The simplest approach to cure the disease was to complete this requirement of organic salts. In his theory, he claimed, the body works properly if there is a balance of 12 organic salts. Later on, he also identified 12 homeopathic medicines that qualified to being used as biochemic medicine.
Here is a brief preview of relying on biochemic medicines to cure the body:
1. It's safe: Since biochemic has originated as a branch of homeopathy, it comes with a guarantee of being safe and secure. The dosage that you take does not pose any type of threat to the other organs of your body.
2. It's not expensive: Biochemic medicines are not cheap. However, when compared to the allopathic cure options, this treatment does not focus on drilling a hole into the customer's pocket. In the simple terms, this treatment is affordable across echelons of the society.
3. Stimulates the immune system: When patients are treated with biochemic medicines, their body is not pumped with alternative compounds. Instead, the doctors stimulate the immune system to initiate the healing process. This ensures greater effectiveness and also guarantees better cure.
4. All age groups can rely on it: whether you are young or old, this type of medicine will not affect your body adversely. This comes in handy for the old people who sometimes find it difficult to rely on allopathic medicines. In fact, even children can safely consume this medicine without being worried about any side-effects.
Biochemic medicine is also a branch of homeopathy. This was introduced by Dr. Schuessler way back in the year 1873. Being a homeopath was also well versed with the body's natural ability to heal. However, during his research, he formulated a theory. According to this theory, every disease that is troubling the human body is a result of lack of one of the basic organic salts in the cells. The simplest approach to cure the disease was to complete this requirement of organic salts. In his theory, he claimed, the body works properly if there is a balance of 12 organic salts. Later on, he also identified 12 homeopathic medicines that qualified to being used as biochemic medicine.
Here is a brief preview of relying on biochemic medicines to cure the body:
1. It's safe: Since biochemic has originated as a branch of homeopathy, it comes with a guarantee of being safe and secure. The dosage that you take does not pose any type of threat to the other organs of your body.
2. It's not expensive: Biochemic medicines are not cheap. However, when compared to the allopathic cure options, this treatment does not focus on drilling a hole into the customer's pocket. In the simple terms, this treatment is affordable across echelons of the society.
3. Stimulates the immune system: When patients are treated with biochemic medicines, their body is not pumped with alternative compounds. Instead, the doctors stimulate the immune system to initiate the healing process. This ensures greater effectiveness and also guarantees better cure.
4. All age groups can rely on it: whether you are young or old, this type of medicine will not affect your body adversely. This comes in handy for the old people who sometimes find it difficult to rely on allopathic medicines. In fact, even children can safely consume this medicine without being worried about any side-effects.
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