Female Care » Overweight and Diet

A Beginner’s Guide to Weight Training for Women

Martin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:57:48 +0000

When deciding on an exercise regimen, it is always important to pick something that involves resistance training. Even if you only do resistance training two days a week, it still offers many health benefits that are worth working for. Most of the time, resistance training refers to the use of weights, although other resistance training materials such as special bands, cords, etc. may sometimes be substituted. This type of exercise is especially important because it increases bone density and builds muscle. As you age and your body begins to replace muscle with fat, resistance training is especially beneficial for replacing and maintaining good muscle tone. Even when you are resting, muscles burn calories, and this is another fantastic reason to work at building strong muscles.

Another benefit of muscle is the fact that it takes up less space than fat, so the more muscle you have, the more compact your body composition will be. Some women worry that weight training will bulk up their muscles and cause them to look like men, but this is a myth. It is very difficult for a women to build her muscles to that type of level, and light weight training will instead cause a woman’s muscles to be lean and toned.

If you are unfamiliar with weight training, you don’t need to be wary about it. Most people don’t want or need to use the large barbells that weight lifters use to bulk up their muscles. Also, sometimes the large weight machines in gyms can tend to be a little intimidating. Although these can easily be explained to you by health club workers, if you instead prefer to work with weights in the privacy of your own home, there are easy ways to accomplish that. Hand held dumbbells work very well for average, everyday weight lifting purposes. These can be found in sports stores or department stores for a very reasonable price, usually about a dollar per pound.

Once you have chosen a workout video, book or magazine article outlining weight lifting exercises that you would like to try, it is important to begin with very light weights. You can always add more weight as you become comfortable with each exercise, but to learn the exercises properly without hurting yourself, it is wise to begin with the weights that are very light and easy for you to handle. Don’t be discouraged if this means you are only starting out with one, two, or three pounds. Weight training is something that takes time to accomplish, and each workout you complete will leave you a little bit stronger.

Another reason it is important to go slowly and use light weight is because learning the proper form for each exercise is crucial. When you do an exercise, you should know exactly what area of the body it is supposed to be toning, as well as at which angles and directions your body should be moving. It is important to move carefully, deliberately, and slowly at first, using the proper form to avoid injury. The first few times you do your workout, this method may seem frustrating, but it is the foundation on which the rest of your workouts are built, and it is extremely important. As you learn correct form and feel the appropriate muscle groups responding, you will be setting yourself up for health and success. Before you know it, you will be able to perform exercises easily and will be ready to move up to the next highest set of weights.

Once you have mastered correct form for each of your weight training exercises, it is important that you pick a set of weights that challenge you. If the weights feel too heavy to execute your moves with proper form, move down to the next lowest set of weights. If they are so light that you do not feel a challenge, move up. You should feel a slight burn, especially toward the end of your repetitions, but you should never be in actual pain. If you feel pain, stop immediately.

The best trick to remember is to try to push a little bit past the point of exhaustion with each muscle group. When you near the end of your repetitions and you reach a point where you begin to feel your muscles get extremely tired, try to push past the fatigue and work through another two or three repetitions. Although these last few are the hardest repetitions to accomplish, they are also the ones which bring the most benefits.

Another thing to remember, especially if you tend to work your muscles hard, is that you should not use weight training on the same muscles every day. Some people decide to weight train on one day, and alternate with cardiovascular exercise (like jogging, swimming, biking, etc.) the following day. Others work the muscles of the upper body one day, and then do the muscles of the lower body the following day. You can decide what works best for you, but be careful not to overtax your muscles by weight training every single day. The time you allow for your muscles to repair and rebuild themselves is just as important as the weight lifting itself.

There is no need to be an expert bodybuilder in order to enjoy the benefits of resistance training. With these tips and a little determination, any woman can change the shape of her body and increase her health with the use of weights!

Health Benefits of Red Wine

Martin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:36:39 +0000

Already linked to a reduced risk for a variety of heart-related ailments, an ingredient in red wine has now been found to have possible life extension benefits in a series of studies that have been hailed as groundbreaking.

Resveratrol, a chemical found in red wine and other foods, has been shown in mice to reverse the effects of obesity, help the animals live longer, and increase their exercise endurance as well. Articles published in November 2006 in the journals Cell and Nature have cited several research studies in which ordinary lab mice given resveratrol can run twice as far as mice without the components, have greater energy in their muscles, and also have a reduced heart rate: some of the same characteristics seen in trained athletes. Though the studies involved only mice, the researchers said they had no reason to believe that similar health and life extension effects couldn’t be achieved in humans as well.

But before you run out to the liquor store to stock up on wine, here’s a sobering fact: for a human to obtain the quantities of resveratrol consumed by the mice in these studies, he or she would have to drink hundreds of glasses of wine per day. That’s because the studies on mice involved concentrations of resveratrol that were far higher than can be found naturally.

Resveratrol is available in pill or capsule form from health-food stores, but there’s no agreed-upon dosage level that’s been indicated to be effective for life extension, or for any other purpose. And there are questions about whether high doses such as those tested on the mice would even be safe for humans.

With obesity and diabetes reaching record proportions around the world, though, scientists are examining whether resveratrol would offset the effects of a high-fat diet that so many people are consuming. The effects they are especially concerned about are the cluster of conditions known as metabolic syndrome, which includes a number of precursors of diabetes and obesity.

In his report published in Cell, French scientist Dr. Johan Auwerx and his colleagues say very large doses of resveratrol protected mice from weight gain and from developing metabolic syndrome. Mice fed a high-fat diet along with resveratrol did not lose weight, but they did experience the compound’s life extension effects, and lived much longer than mice on the same diet that were not fed the compound.

The research published in Nature, led by David A. Sinclair, a molecular biologist at Harvard Medical School, could help solve a number of questions that have baffled scientists, such as the so-called “French paradox”: why French people have lower rates of cardiovascular disease even though the have high-fat diets. The new findings indicate that red wine may be a major factor in this phenomenon.

The study found that more moderate doses of resveratrol protected mice from the metabolic effects of a high-calorie diet, enabling them to live much longer than mice fed the same diet but without the chemical.

It remains to be seen whether the amazing results seen in mice can be replicated in humans, but it just may be possible that scientists have found the life extension substance they have been searching for thousands of years. Some of the scientists conducting the research seem already convinced of the compound’s possible benefits: they are taking the substance themselves and have recommended that their parents do the same.

Weight training for Women with Weight Worries

lisitsa — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:56:05 +0000

Do you suffer from this misconception about women and their femininity when it comes to training and working out with weights?

You can be forgiven for believing that women don’t look very feminine when they work out with weights.

The wrong impression is given by the media when women bodybuilders are featured. They are generally shown when they are at their ripped and vascular contest peak or when actually training with weights in the gym. This is when their skin is thinnest and fat is lowest in order to show the most detail and striation of every muscle. On top of that, all the images people see are when muscularity is maximized by the poses. Rarely are they shown standing normally with muscles relaxed. They are instead shown pumped and tight from exercise.

Furthermore, women bodybuilders only look like that once or twice a year at the end of the training for competition cycle.

This misconception that if you work out with weights you are going to balloon out to look muscular and lose your femininity deters many women from even considering resistance training as part of their body shaping exercise and health program.

Also, many males and females think it is not ladylike for women to workout with heavy weights as in power lifting or bodybuilding.

Society ascribes various feelings and traits that should go with the words masculinity and femininity. Men for example have big muscles and don’t cry at the movies; women don’t have big muscles and do cry at the movies.

Life however, is not so straight forward because men can cry at the movies and women, at least some of them, can develop big muscles. Genetics plays a big role in how much muscle a woman can develop. Very very few, in fact, are actually able to develop the big muscles that lend to the impression that muscle building women look more masculine. Those who do build big muscles are very serious about their training and the exercises they engage in.

Women in general have much less genetic predisposition to building muscle than men.

A female bodybuilder for example may have about 5kg more lean muscle mass than the average woman. A male bodybuilder though could outweigh the average man by up to 50kg in lean muscle mass.

A male bodybuilder will often be recognized as such even when fully dressed in the street. Even competitive female bodybuilders on the other hand, are rarely identified as bodybuilders when they are dressed in normal street clothes.

Because women just don’t have the natural hormonal makeup to develop giant muscles, the changes they make from bodybuilding exercise are much less pronounced than in men.

An average 80kg (175lb) man who starts serious bodybuilding training might be able to put on about 15kb (35lb) of solid muscle in a five year period without using steroids. Over the same period a woman equally serious about training might be able to gain about 5kg, a third of the solid muscle that a man could gain. And that’s if she has favourable genetics and works out hard.

Women reshape their bodies without adding muscle bulk. As a woman training with weights you are more likely to improve your shape, tone and proportions than build great muscle mass.

The last thing you need to be concerned about with exercise is developing large muscles if you don’t want them. Even if you did want them, they are incredibly difficult to build. Instead you can look forward to body changes that make you sexy and attractive as well as fit and healthy.

The Benefits of Calcium

lisitsa — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:07:33 +0000

Calcium is well-known for its connection to healthy, strong bones and teeth. Calcium is a major contributing factor to the prevention of bone density loss and osteoporosis. These are by far the most obvious benefits of this important mineral, but there are actually many other benefits to consuming an adequate amount of calcium in your daily diet.

Calcium directly affects the hormones that control the condition of your arteries. Healthy arteries and low blood pressure are associated with healthy calcium levels in the body. Since your arteries and blood pressure affect the heart, calcium is highly beneficial in maintaining a healthy heart. Calcium is also connected with the health of your colon, and particularly the prevention of colon polyps and colon cancer. Calcium has an important role in maintaining a healthy weight, as well. The same hormone that influences the health of your arteries affects the way your body absorbs nutrients and fat. When this hormone is properly regulated by calcium, it is easier to maintain your weight.

Maintaining healthy levels of calcium is easy to do by monitoring your diet and, if necessary, taking a calcium supplement every day. Dairy products, dark green vegetables, and lintels are just some of the foods that are high in calcium. The body absorbs calcium best from the food we eat, so it is important to have a high-calcium diet even when you take a calcium supplement. Talking to your doctor is a good way of determining how much of a calcium supplement you need to stay healthy. Keep in mind that other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus are crucial in the body’s absorption of calcium, so it is important to have enough of these in your diet, too.

Menopause Diet

lisitsa — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:38:06 +0000

The female organism experiences specific changes in the certain period. These changes is called menopause. Menopause is a process experienced by every woman at the certain age of physical and psychological origin.

Climax is the physiological state of the woman’s organism when hormonal background is changed, ovaries and hypophysis functionality is lowered. The main clinical symptom of climax is termination of menstrual periods.

However some problems, such as depression and body weight changes during menopause may be observed. It happens because the metabolism process in the woman’s organism is decreased, therefore healthy food and physical exercises have a great value. The prophylaxis of overweight is important for one more reason: fast body weight gain is scientifically proved to increase a fatal breast cancer number during the menopause.

After menopause many women continuously fight against overweight. The questions regarding the problems associated with menopause remain without satisfying answers. However two Canadian food specialists have written a book about a diet for woman during this period and how certain vitamins and minerals containing in food can substitute for hormones.

Diet is the best decision of overweight problem during menopause. First of all, it allows not using medicines, and second of all, it is safe and has no side-effects which can harm in this state.

Symptoms of menopause in different women are experienced in different way, nevertheless, there are general rules of healthy food to follow. The healthy food with sufficient amount of necessary vitamins and minerals give the same results as hormonotherapy. There are more recommendations regarding a diet during menopause.

Try to avoid stressful situations and have a long rest. High hydrocortisone level (stress hormone) stimulates fat storage around the belly. Especially it is observed in women during menopause. Do not overeat and do not go hungry. An insufficient daily ration lowers metabolism and complicates weight loss. Refuse high-calorie alcohol. Clinical researches have revealed that there is a correlation between consumption of alcohol and overweight after menopause. One of the most important things is to keep good physical shape. Supporting muscle tone will allow avoiding the fat storage. Physical exercises (even walking) will help to improve blood circulation.

There are many various diets specially created for women in the menopause stage. However they depend on general state of the woman.

Over-the-counter topical treatments

lisitsa — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:38:12 +0000

OTC topicals are available in pharmacies, drugstores, supermarkets or directly from the manufacturer without a doctor’s prescription. They come in many different forms. Two active ingredients, salicylic acid and tar, are approved by the FDA as treatments for psoriasis.

Salicylic acid is classified as a keratolytic, or peeling agent, and works by causing the outer layer of skin to shed. It is a common and effective treatment for a wide variety of skin problems. As a psoriasis treatment, it acts as a scale lifter, helping to soften and remove psoriasis scales.

Strong salicylic acid preparations can cause irritation if left in contact with the skin too long. The body may absorb too much salicylic acid if used over large areas of the skin. Salicylic acid may also weaken hair shafts and make them more likely to break, leading to temporary hair loss.

Coal tar

Tar derived from both coal and wood (e.g., juniper, pine) are both used for medicinal purposes. However, coal tar is the type used most commonly to treat psoriasis. Tar can help slow the rapid growth of skin cells and restore the skin’s appearance. In addition, it can help reduce the inflammation, itching and scaling of psoriasis. Tar products can vary dramatically from brand to brand. Generally, the higher the concentration of tar, the more potent the product.

Tar can irritate, redden and dry the skin. Test a tar product on a small area of the skin first. If reddening occurs, try applying the tar on top of a moisturizer. Tar can stain clothing, bed linen, and light-colored hair. Tar makes skin more sensitive to sunlight, so be sure to wash it off thoroughly, use sunscreen and monitor your sun exposure. Tar remains active on the skin for at least 24 hours, and you are at increased risk of sunburn during this period.

Studies show some of the chemicals in coal tar may cause cancer, but only in very high concentrations, such as in what is used in industrial paving. Anyone using tar regularly should follow a regular skin cancer checkup schedule. California requires OTC coal tar shampoos, lotions and creams that contain more than 0.5 percent coal tar to be labeled with cancer warnings. However, the FDA maintains that OTC products with coal tar concentrations between 0.5 percent and 5 percent are safe and effective for psoriasis, and there is no scientific evidence that the tar in OTC products is carcinogenic.

Other OTC treatment

There are other products which don’t contain salicylic acid or coal tar that are beneficial for treating psoriasis. Ingredients such as aloe vera, jojoba, zinc pyrithione, capsaicin and others, are frequently used to moisturize, soothe, remove scale or relieve itching.

The effectiveness of some of these products is not known. Be aware that “natural” ingredients can also cause side effects or allergic reactions. If irritation occurs, discontinue use.

Inverse psoriasis can be treated with Castederm, a liquid that is painted on the affected skin to help to dry moist lesions of psoriasis in folds. The use of powders may also help to dry the moist lesions associated with inverse psoriasis.

Moisturizers

Keeping the skin lubricated on a daily basis is an important part of psoriasis care because it reduces redness and itching and helps the skin heal. Dermatologists recommend heavy creams and ointments to lock water into the skin. Cooking oils and even shortening can be effective and economical substitutes for commercial moisturizers.

Bath solutions

Bath solutions can be beneficial in treating psoriasis. Adding oil, oilated oatmeal, Epsom salts or Dead Sea salts in a bath can help remove psoriasis scale and soothe itching. Soak for around 15 minutes and apply a moisturizer or oil to the skin immediately after getting out of the bath.

Scale lifters (keratolytics)

Scale lifters help loosen and remove scale allowing medications to reach the psoriasis lesions. There are scale-lifting products designed for the scalp, body or both. Note that scalp products are usually stronger and may be too harsh for other skin sites. OTC products that contain an active ingredient of salicylic acid, lactic acid, urea or phenol can be used as scale lifters.

Occlusion

Some topical medications or moisturizers can be occluded (or covered) to increase their effectiveness and the amount absorbed into the skin. With occlusion, the topical is applied to psoriasis lesions and the area is covered with plastic wrap, cellophane, waterproof dressing, cotton socks or a nylon suit. Always check with your doctor before occluding a steroid or other prescription medication.

Anti-itch

There are several ingredients that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating itch. Some of these include calamine, hydrocortisone (a weak steroid), camphor, diphenhydramine hydrochloride (HCl), benzocaine and menthol. Beware that these ingredients may increase irritation and dryness.

A Healthy Diet Leads To Healthy Skin

lisitsa — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:48:26 +0000

What does your diet do for your skin’s health? If you are eating a well balanced diet, you may be impressed with the quality of your skin. The two interact with each other, just like every other organ in your body performs only as well as the nutrients it is provided. When it comes to eating healthy, there are several things to keep in mind in terms of what you should eat to help improve your skin quality. In fact, your skin is a direct reflection of the quality of foods you do consume.

Hydration Is Number One
Before looking any further, remember this. In order for your body to have healthy skin, each of the skin cells needs to provided with enough water. There is no easier way to do this than to just drink enough water each day. What you may not realize, too, is that water plays an extra role in the process of keeping skin looking young. It aid in flushing away all of the cells that have died. This helps to keep your outside layer of skin as healthy as it can possibly be.

Antioxidants Are Essential
If you are hoping for a way to help reduce the signs of aging, you can do so through antioxidants. Antioxidants are the very powerful element that is found in vegetables. They work to keep skin cells as healthy as possible. These are the cleaners of the body. They work to remove waste product from cells which in turn allows the skin to remain great looking. Antioxidants are a type of exfoliation for the skin that comes from the inside out. They also are great at removing build up in your arteries and blood vessels, which can prevent cancers and aid in the removal of dead cells.

To get these benefits, eat a diet that is rich in antioxidants. Choose vegetables and fruits that have deep colors. For example, deep greens are important. Choose a wide range of colors, too. Yellow squashes, orange melons, and blueberries are full of antioxidants that can provide this benefit to your skin.

When it comes to your diet, it does play a role in the health of your skin. There is never a time when you want to consider over the counter medications and anti aging products if you have not taken the time to improve the quality of your diet. Your diet has a direct affect on the quality of your skin.

Change your Diet, Change your Skin

lisitsa — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:46:44 +0000

You may have heard that your skin is an outward reflection of what is going on inside the body. It’s true. The skin is your body’s largest organ, and what you put into your body can determine how your skin reacts. Changing your diet can improve the appearance of your skin. However, it will not cure ALL of your skin care problems. That’s why it is still important to have a healthy diet AND a good skin care routine that matches your skin type. Together, you will get the best results. Here are a few small changes you can make to your diet to get YOUR best results.

Look for “ACE”. Vitamins A, C, and E are the most important for your skin. Vitamin A helps prevent the signs of aging, Vitamin C helps promote clear skin and repairs it, and Vitamin E helps protect your skin from the environment. Did you know that Mary Kay was the FIRST brand to add Vitamins A, C, and E to its mineral makeup line? Talk about ahead of the trend!

Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol. These dehydrate your body and the deep layers of your skin. If you MUST have that cup of coffee in the morning or that glass of wine with dinner, make sure you follow it up with a glass of water to keep your body and your skin hydrated.

Add Vitamin A to your diet for age fighting benefits. Vitamin A is found in vegetables such as carrots, spinach, broccoli and sweet potatoes.

Add Vitamin B for exfoliation and firmness. You can find Vitamin B in vegetables, eggs and products with yeast.

Add Vitamin C for clear skin. You can find Vitamin C in many citrus fruits as well as in broccoli, berries, tomatoes, peppers and leafy greens.

Add Vitamin D for skin renewal. Vitamin D can be found in egg yolks, salmon, milk and other dairy products.

Add Vitamin E to maintain healthy skin tissue. You can find Vitamin E in Wheat, leafy greens, nuts and whole grains.

Add Zinc to promote healing and reduce inflammation. You can find Zinc in whole grain foods, nuts, dairy, fish and beans.

Add Biotin for healthy skin, hair and nails. Biotin can be found in Peanut Butter, whole grains and eggs.

Add healthy fats for supple skin, and soft, shiny hair. Use Olive Oil and Avocado and other Omega-3 fats such as Salmon and seeds into your diet to reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) as well as give you soft, shiny hair and nice, supple skin.

Below is a list of safe snacks to keep on hand. These are healthy, Skin Diet approved snacks.

#Almonds

#Low-fat yogurt

#String Cheese

#Protein Powder

#Protein Bars

#Hard Boiled Eggs

#Water with a bit of lemon juice or unsweetened cranberry extract.

Grooming and Hygiene

lisitsa — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:04:30 +0000

Sweating

You might think that you are only supposed to sweat when you are hot, but once you hit puberty, you also will sweat when you are nervous. Your sweat glands (which make sweat) become more active during the teen years, causing both more sweat and also some smell. You actually have 2 million to 4 million sweat glands all over the body. Most are on the soles of the feet, the palms, forehead, cheeks, and in the armpits. Don’t panic, though. Sweat and smell are normal parts of becoming an adult. Sweating also does an important job – it helps to cool your body down when you are hot.

How to help keep sweat from smelling badly:

Shower or take a bath every day.

Use a deodorant (covers smell) or an antiperspirant (decreases sweating), or a product that has both.

Talk to your doctor if these things do not work or you are worried.

Worried About Bad Breath?

Bad breath, also called halitosis, is caused by bacteria that grow in your mouth. The bacteria gather on the small food pieces left in your mouth, especially between your teeth. The bacteria release sulfur compounds, which is what makes your breath smell. Strong-smelling foods such as garlic and onions can cause bad breath, and so can smoking.

Tips for preventing bad breath:

Don’t smoke! It is good for your health in many ways to avoid smoking.

Brush your teeth (and tongue!) for at least two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, especially after meals.

Floss every day.

Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.

Visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings and an exam to check for cavities.

Eat right. Avoid foods and drinks that can cause bad breath such as cabbage, garlic, raw onions and coffee. Don’t diet. Not eating enough or cutting out certain foods (such as carbohydrates) can cause bad breath.

Bad breath that won’t go away also can be a sign of a medical problem, such as a sinus infection or gum disease (gingivitis).

Be sure to talk to your dentist if your bad breath does not go away. It’s normal to be embarrassed, but it’s a very common problem and a dentist can help you try to fix it.

Your Skin

Your skin is just one more thing that changes when you go through puberty. Acne often starts in your early teen years because your body is making more oil glands, which is normal. A few different skin problems are a part of acne: whiteheads, blackheads and cystic acne.

Whiteheads are made when a hair follicle (root) is plugged with oil and skin cells.

If this plugged up stuff comes up to the surface of the skin and the air touches it, it turns black and becomes a blackhead. So, blackheads are not caused by dirt.

If a plugged follicle breaks, the area swells and becomes a red bump. If this happens close to the surface of the skin, the bump most often becomes a pimple. If it breaks deep inside in the skin, nodules or cysts can form, which can look like larger pimples. This is cystic acne.

Acne is common among teens, but not everyone will have the same troubles. It may be worse in boys because they have more oils in their skin. Also, it can run in the family. If your mother or father had bad acne, the same may happen for you. Some people also just have more sensitive skin.

How Is Acne Treated?

First, wash your face regularly. If the acne does not go away, there are over-the-counter products (you can buy these without a doctor’s order) available in different forms, such as gels, lotions, creams and soaps. Common ingredients used in these products to fight acne are benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur. If you have a bad skin reaction to any products you buy on your own, tell your doctor. Also, it can take time for these products to work. If they do not make your acne better after two months, ask your doctor for help. The doctor can give you stronger medicines, including antibiotics or other pills and creams that have either retinoids or adapalene in them. Retinoids can make you very sensitive to the sun, so avoid those rays or use a strong sunscreen to protect yourself. Another word of caution: the medicine isotretinoin (the product is called Accutane) can cause birth defects and miscarriages (losing a baby while pregnant) if taken when a woman is pregnant.

What Can Make Acne Worse?

Oil-based make-up, suntan oil, hair gels and sprays
Stress
Your period
Picking at your pimples
Scrubbing your skin too hard
Getting too much sun

What Doesn’t Cause Acne?

Dirt, fried foods or chocolate, and sexual activity do not cause acne. These are myths!

Hair Care

The same kind of oil that causes breakouts on your face also comes out of the pores on your scalp. In the right amount, this oil keeps your hair shiny and healthy looking. When there is too much oil, your hair can look greasy. If your hair is oily, wash it every day. You also may want to try shampoos that are made for oily hair. It also can help to stop using hair products that have oil in them.

On the other hand, if your hair is dry, you may want to shampoo less often and use a moisturizing shampoo. If you see white flakes in your hair or on your shoulders, you most likely have dandruff. There are special shampoos to treat dandruff that are sold near other hair products.

Do You Need to Douche?

No. The vagina actually cleans itself on the inside with natural fluids. The best way to clean the outside of your vagina is to wash with warm water and gentle, scent-free soap during a bath or shower. Products you might see on T.V. or at the drug store, such as feminine hygiene soaps, powders and sprays, are not needed. And they may even be harmful to you.

Douching is rinsing or cleaning out the vagina by squirting water or other fluids (solutions made with vinegar or baking soda that you can buy at the drug store) into the vagina. Women douche to rinse away blood after their periods and to generally feel cleaner. Many women douche, but doctors do not recommend it. Douching changes the balance of natural chemicals in your vagina and can make it easier for you to get dangerous infections.

If you have any of the following problems, tell your doctor right away:

Itching in and near your vagina
Burning or pain in your vagina
Pain when you go to the bathroom
Discharge, or fluid, from your vagina that is not normal, such as thick and white (like cottage cheese) or yellowish-green discharge that is foul smelling. Normal discharge changes throughout your menstrual cycle, but may normally look clear, cloudy white and/or yellowish.

If you are not sure if the discharge or fluid is normal, have your doctor check you out.

Tanning

You might think you look better with a tan, but the truth is, there is no such thing as a safe tan. When your skin becomes tan, it is really a sign that your skin cells have been hurt. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are what damage your skin and these rays play a big role in the growth of skin cancer, the most common kind of cancer in the United States. Today, more young people than ever are getting skin cancer.

To protect yourself:

When possible, avoid outdoor activities during midday, when the sun’s rays are strongest. This usually means the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt and long pants.

Wear wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection to protect your eyes.

Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen and lip screen with at least SPF 15. Follow the directions on the bottle to reapply and check the expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date will last no more than three years. Sunscreen will not last as long if it is stored in very hot or very cold temperatures.

Tanning Indoors

Trying to get that tan is dangerous both outside and inside. Indoor tanning salons use light bulbs in the “beds” that give off dangerous UV rays, the same rays found outside.

There are other indoor methods that do not use UV rays, including “spray tans” you can get at a salon and tanning lotions or gels that you can buy at a drugstore or department store. While there is no known risk for skin cancer with these products, you do have to be careful. Spray tans, lotions or gels use a color additive (what makes your skin look tan) called DHA that is approved – considered safe – for use on the outside of your body by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you use a sun-less tanning product on your own or go to a salon for a spray tan, make sure that your eyes and mouth are covered.

Foam Sclerotherapy in Treatment of Varicose Veins: Results From Europe

lisitsa — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:52:17 +0000

Philip Coleridge Smith DM FRCS Reader in Surgery, UCL Medical School, The Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, London, W1N 8AA, UK.

The concept of foam sclerotherapy was originally introduced by Orbach in 1944 who described the use of a froth made by shaking a syringe of sclerosant with air.He found that this was 10% more effective than the sclerosant used alone.

Little was heard of this technique until Cabrera published an article in 1997 describing his experience in 261 limbs with long saphenous varices and 8 patients with vascular malformations. Some of the varicose veins reached 20 mm in diameter. He considered that foam greatly extended the range of vein sizes which could be managed by ultrasound guided sclerotherapy. He felt that the increased efficacy of foam was attributable to it displacing blood from the treated vein and increasing the contact time between the sclerosant and the vein. He used a ‘microfoam’, that is a foam made of very small bubbles. His method of preparing this foam was not published.

Subsequently a series of authors has described methods of preparing ‘home-made’ foam which may be used for ultrasound guided sclerotherapy. Monfreux described a method necessitating a glass syringe which produced small quantities of polidocanol foam which he used in a series of patients with truncal varicose veins.Sadoun described a method of preparing foam using a plastic syringe avoiding the need for reusable glass syringes.

In 1999 Henriet reported his results in 10,000 patients with reticular varices and telangiectases of the lower limb treated between the years 1995-8. He found that the outcome of foam treatment in small varices was excellent and that reduced volumes and concentrations of sclerosant could be employed compared to liquid sclerosants. Benigni reported the findings of a pilot study comparing liquid and foam sclerosants. He measured the outcome using a visual analogue scale to describe the improvement in appearance. He found that foam resulted in a 20% improved appearance compared to liquid sclerosant.

Subsequently Tessari has described a method of preparing foam using two disposable syringes and a three-way tap.This method can be used to produce large quantities of foam suitable for treating saphenous trunks and large varices. Frullini has added his own method of producing foam to this increasing list.

No randomised clinical trial comparing this technique to surgery has so far been published. However, a large multi-centre trial is currently in progress in Europe comparing surgery to a commercial pharmaceutical foam (Varisolve^®, Provensis, UK). Cabrera has published a clinical series of 500 lower limbs treated by foam sclerotherapy. He reported that after three or more years 81% of treated long saphenous trunks remained occluded and 97% of superficial varices had disappeared. This required one session of sclerotherapy in 86% of patients, two in 11% and three sessions in 3% of patients. No DVT or pulmonary embolism was encountered in this series. Frullini and Cavezzi have reported similar data in a series of 453 patients. Early observations showed that 93% of veins remained occluded after treatment with Tessari foam. A number of instances of limited calf vein thrombosis have been observed following foam sclerotherapy.

Currently ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy is being taken up by an increasing number of phlebologists. In the short term its efficacy is probably equivalent to that of surgery. It has the advantage that it requires no general or regional anaesthesia to perform and takes much less time than equivalent surgical techniques. The long term efficacy of this treatment in comparison to surgery is unlikely to be established for several years.