Heart Attack:

Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies -- every second counts. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack or stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast! Today heart attack and stroke victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again, don't delay -- get help right away!

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.

Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.   

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.   

 

Blood Pressure:

One in every four adults has high blood pressure, and many don't know it. About 90 percent of middle-aged will develop high blood pressure in their lifetime, and nearly 70 percent of people with high blood pressure do not have it under control.

High blood pressure is also called hypertension. It has few symptoms, but many effects, including a very high risk of heart attacks, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. Everyone should have their blood pressure checked regularly. If the top number is higher than 140, or the bottom number is higher than 90, a person has high blood pressure and needs a doctor's advice about lowering it.

If the numbers are slightly lower (120 to 139, or 80 to 89), a person has borderline high blood pressure and should talk with a doctor.

Many factors make blood pressure go up, including genes that we inherit from our parents, as well as what we eat and drink, how much we weigh, how often and how hard we exercise, and whether we smoke. Blood pressure also tends to go up as people get older, although many young and middle-aged adults have high blood pressure.

To bring blood pressure down, or keep it from getting too high, doctors often recommend exercise, a diet low in salt and fat, moderate or no alcohol use, no tobacco smoking, and weight control. You can't control your genes or your age, but there are things you can do to prevent or reduce high blood pressure even if you have genes that might make you more likely to have it.

Medication can also lower high blood pressure, but it often takes trial and error, or a combination of medicines, to bring down blood pressure once it has gotten high.

Genetics research, such as that led by the University of Michigan, is trying to find out which genes, and gene variations, are linked to high blood pressure — and use that information to develop tests and treatments for blood pressure problems. The Tecumseh Blood Pressure Study is crucial to this effort; the families taking part have agreed to let U-M researchers study their health, lifestyle and DNA to look for patterns and links to blood pressure.

 

Vitamin supplements

A person who doesn’t require vitamins is a rare find. Our food production methods (over farming, use of pesticides) coupled with the burgeoning fast food industry and poor cooking methods (over cooking, deep-frying) play a key role in depriving our bodies of important nutrients. When nutrient deficiencies interact with high levels of stress and little or no exercise, they result in lifestyle diseases like type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure etc.

It is clear from the growing incidence of lifestyle diseases that the food that we eat today does not provide us with optimum nutrients required to maintain a positive state of health. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide adequate nutrients if they are picked when ripe and eaten immediately. Today that is not possible as they are picked before they are ripe and then treated with chemicals to “appear” ripe but do not have the nutritional value of ripe vegetables. These “fresh” fruits and vegetables lose further nutrients as they travel from the farm to your kitchen. 

Once in the kitchen, we overcook, deep fry, mishmash our food and even reheat the leftovers thus creating nutritional disasters. Such food has not more than 25 per cent nutrient value left in it. Therefore we cannot think of getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals only through food. Micronutrient deficiencies over a period of time reflect in terms of falling hair, lack lustre skin, weight gain, uncontrollable hunger, sugar cravings, low energy levels, mood swings, skin rash etc. 

The polishing of  rice into “polished white rice” and the refining of wheat into ‘maida’ has threatened our body into multinutrient deficiencies. Such food not only fails to nourish us, but also robs us of other nutrients in order to get metabolised, creating a shortage of chromium, B-complex, magnesium, zinc in the body. As we age, our capacity to assimilate nutrients decreases due to inadequate hydrochloric acid.

Frequent intake of antibiotics upsets the intestinal flora creating a shortage of beneficial bacteria.
 Many people don’t like taking vitamin and mineral supplements, as they want to get everything from their diet. I truly wish this was possible, but this route just doesn’t work in this modern world. Today we are exposed to more environmental pollutants than ever before. This causes more free radical generation in our body and our food does not give us enough antioxidants to defend ourselves against these toxins. Therefore the need to take vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants like vitamin A, C, E, selenium.

Antioxidants: The best way to get antioxidants is to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as your primary source of antioxidants and also take supplements containing vitamin A,C,E and selenium. Choose fresh fruits over canned juices. Avoid boiling or overcooking your vegetables. You must steam, stirfry, lightly cook or eat them raw.

Consume Omega 3 fats: These reduce the damage caused by pollutants. These fats are found in the alsi seeds, fish, soyabeans, pumpkin seeds, and almonds. Avoid cooking in oils that go rancid easily. PUFA based oils derived from sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, cottonseed, and corn get rancid easily and should be avoided. Olive oil is richest in MUFA and doesn’t go rancid easily. Other MUFA based oils are those derived from mustard seeds, tilseeds, and groundnut.

Antioxidants help to rev up your immunity and decrease your chances of falling prey to disease. Those who exercise regularly also need to take supplements of antioxidants as exercise generates more free radicals. All this business of living in today’s modern, toxic world creates the need for supplementation. Without optimum food intake combined with appropriate vitamin supplements we cannot expect to live a healthy life.

 

Study suggests some deodorants can harm lungs

Certain deodorising products, including air fresheners and toilet bowl cleaners, contain a chemical compound which scientists say may be harmful to the lungs. Stephanie London and her colleagues at the National Institute of  Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) examined 953 adults exposed to various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and found that one compound called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) may cause modest reductions in lung function, reported science portal EurekAlert.

VOCs are a diverse set of compounds emitted as gases from thousands of commonly used products, including tobacco smoke, pesticides, paints, and cleaning products. VOCs are also released through automotive exhaust. The researchers found that of the common VOCs analysed, which included benzene, styrene, toluene, and acetone, only the compound 1,4 DCB was associated with reduced pulmonary function.

1,4 DCB is a white solid compound with a distinctive aroma similar to mothballs. It is typically used as a deodorant in products such as room deodorisers, urinal and toilet bowl cleaners, and as an insecticide fumigant for moth control.  “Because people spend so much time indoors where these products are used, it’s important that we understand the effects that even low levels might have on the respiratory system,” said researcher Leslie Elliott.

 

Aerobics:

Warm Up Before and Cool Down After
A good aerobics teacher will incorporate a warm-up and cool-down session into the class. Slow, gentle stretching before and after helps reduce your risk of injury and muscle soreness. It could be time  to dance on over to a different class if your teacher is big on bouncing but light on stretching.

Go at Your Own Pace
The beauty of exercising to music with a group and being led by a teacher is that you tend to work harder and longer than you would on your own. That's good -- but not if you overdo it. Bouncing and straining to keep up with the class can lead to injuries. Aerobics class is not a competition. Go at your own pace. Allow your strength and flexibility to build gradually.

Watch Your Form
Good form brings better results and fewer problems. Tuck in your pelvis a little so your lower back is elongated. This protects your lower back when standing. Make sure your knee is aligned over your ankle, and no farther forward, when doing a lunge. Don't do moves that require you to lock or hyperextend your knees or elbows. Remember to monitor your breathing.

Look Straight Ahead
Looking down at your feet can cause neck and/or back pain. Pain has no place in an aerobics class or any other fitness activity. You're overdoing it if you're feeling the burn.

Wear the Proper Shoes
Don't wear just any pair of athletic shoes to aerobics class. Running shoes and tennis shoes, for instance, don't provide the cushioning and support you need. Look for shoes that cushion the ball of the foot, with good arch support that minimizes pronation (inward rotation) of the foot. Some cross-training shoes work well, so shop around.

Don't Bounce on a Bad Floor
Dancing on concrete, hardwood or linoleum-covered floors is asking for trouble. They're too hard. Dancing on a floor with too much padding isn't good either, because it allows too much rotation and pronation of the legs and feet. Ask your aerobics teacher about the floor you're dancing on. You know you've got a problem if she or he ducks the question or makes excuses.

 

Cellulite:

Cellulite is a form of fat that builds up in the body especially near the thighs, buttocks, upper arms and stomach. The skin looks like an orange peel — lumpy and dimpled. Cellulite also causes sagging of the skin and on excess formation, the entire shape of the part in which it accumulates loses its natural shape. It’s common in ladies who are obese and the formation generally takes place during pregnancy and menopause.

Getting rid of cellulite is very difficult. In beauty parlours heavy duty vibrators and vibrating belts are used to break the same. One must follow a strict regimen — treatment, diet and exercise. Deep massage, taken twice a week followed by a steam or sauna bath or a warm water immersion bath also helps. Naturopaths recommend sitting alternately in hot and cold water bath tubs (3three minutes hot water and one minute cold water) three times in every session.

Though there are several expensive creams and lotions available across the counter claiming to break cellulite, nothing can beat a good massage.
Skin brushing with cotton gloves, both in the morning and evening is also a very valuable treatment. This technique helps in removing toxic wastes directly through the skin and helps in stimulating lymphatic circulation. The procedure is very simple. Put on cotton gloves made with a thick cloth and apply friction on the whole body, starting gently and then using a firmer action as you get used to the treatment.

Start the friction from the soles of the feet and then come up to the legs, back and front, with sweeping strokes. On the thighs, all around, use small circular movements first and then sweeping movements from the lower part to the upper part of the thigh, extending gradually to the buttocks. Then apply friction on the hands starting from the palms to the shoulders using straight and circular movements.

Now, apply friction on the stomach with clockwise, circular strokes, extending gradually to cover the chest and neck. Take a dry cotton towel and holding the ends of the same in both the hands, apply friction across the back and also in criss-cross movements. Lastly, take a warm shower for 30 seconds followed by a cold shower for 30 seconds, repeating thrice at least. After bathing, keep yourself warm.

Diet should be strictly vegetarian consisting of fruits and raw salads. The following vegetable cocktail is rather useful.

100 ml beetroot juice
50 ml celery juice
50 ml cucumber juice
20 ml lemon juice
Mix the above four juices and drink it everyday, half an hour before breakfast.
One hour of brisk walking is recommended along with regular yoga practice.

 

Anti-Aging

Feeling like it’s time to correct years of sun damage, or do you just want to prevent wrinkles before they start? No matter what your goal is, here’s how to make your skin look fabulous

With all the recent advancements in skin creams, lately it seems as if the skincare industry has gone the way of rocket science (in fact, one creator of the pricey ‘cult’ cream Crème de la Mer used to work for NASA). Where once women made do with a dab of Pond’s Cold Cream, they now want anti-ageing products and lifestyle advice to help defy lines and wrinkles from a very young age. According to Nuala Briggs, skincare expert and founder of Harley Street’s Skin Therapy Clinic in London this is the right course of action – ‘you’re never too young to start taking care of your skin and protecting against sun damage with SPF creams’, she says. How, we wish we had listened to our mums and worn sunblock during all those summers as a kid.

Touch the mid-30s and everyone wishes that time stood still. Their biggest mistake? Taking their skin for granted when it was at its best. According to beauty expert Colleen Kirk, who has worked on famous faces like Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Vanessa Willams and Cher among others, abusing the skin at a younger age is the biggest beauty sin one can ever commit. She says, “When we are in our late teens and 20s we think we are invincible. We take our natural beauty for granted and wake up a little too late. Thankfully, with modern day beauty treatments, there is help even at late stages. But skin care should ideally start as early as your teens.” Here are some tips on age defying treatments.

Technology in skincare

One of the biggest advancements in skincare is the use of technology to make products that are powerfully intensive and help prevent further damage to the DNA so that your skin retains its youthful glow. These days new products are available in the market that are used on a seasonal basis. Says Coleen, “These are time defying intensive serums. They are meant to be used for 14 nights every season and they repair the skin, cutting down years.”

Stop wrinkles

The skin starts ageing right from the age of five. A good skin care regime right from your teens can make sure that you delay the onset of signs of aging and promote healthy skin. As skin ages, it loses its ability to restructure itself. An early skin care regime of proper cleansing and moisturising will be helpful in your early 20s. Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays is the most important aspect of caring for your skin. It not only protects you from cancer but is also required for a youthful appearance. After all, skin is the body’s largest organ and needs to be taken care of just like your heart. Never step out of the house without a sunscreen.

Tips:

I’ve been fortunate enough to be blessed with naturally beautiful skin. I never give it the attention it deserves. In fact I eat all kinds of junk food, drink aerated beverages and also enjoy heavy food.

Marooned on an island: The only beauty products I would want are a good moisturiser, a perfume and kajal. I don’t step out of the house without kajal.

Never forget to: Remove my make-up. I take as much time in removing it as I do in applying it. That’s the one important thing I always bear in mind.

Hair care: A warm oil massage once a week is necessary. I also pamper my hair with moisturising hair packs.

Home remedies: There’s nothing in particular that I follow, but I believe in the magic of fruits. I rub papaya and banana pulp on my skin regularly.

Favourite colours: Though I love vibrant colours, when it comes to make-up, I use neutral, earthy tones. I love light browns and beige. The best part is they go with all kinds of outfits and look good any time of the day.

Activate the Anti-Aging Process

The aging process begins when we enter the world and the effects of aging are evident in our bodies through out our lives.  Beginning in our 20's, the signs of aging start to become noticeable. Genetically programmed chronologic aging causes changes in collagen and elastin, the connective tissues that supply firmness and elasticity to the skin.  The genetic program of individuals is different, so the loss of skin firmness and elasticity occurs at different rates and different times in one individual as compared to another.  As skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier and underlying fat padding begins to disappear.  With the loss of underlying support by fat padding and connective tissues, the skin begins to sag; it appears less supple and wrinkles form.

Although wrinkles, lines and age spots are formed by the natural effects of getting older, one way to prevent them from appearing early on in life is to avoid direct sunlight and use sunscreens with SPFs 15 or higher.  And, although most of us have some form of sun-damaged skin, there are ways to regain healthy, smooth skin. After many years of research, scientists, dermatologists and plastic surgeons have discovered that a variety of natural ingredients and vitamin extracts significantly help slow down and even reverse the signs of aging skin.  These ingredients are now found in many physician developed and physician recommended anti-aging skin care products, which are specified below.

Vitamin A (Retinol) - Topical Vitamin A has been suggested to help build collagen fibers within the skin in addition to its more superficial exfoliating property. This is the basis for its use in minimizing the appearance of fine wrinkle lines.  Vitamin A or Retinol is the main ingredient found in TYK Young Again, M.D. Forte, DDF and  SkinScience products.

Vitamin C - Vitamin C or ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant and is considered vital in wound healing because it aids in stabilizing collagen. When applied topically, vitamin C can reduce fine lines and wrinkles and may lessen the severity of sunburns.  This healing ingredient is found in SkinCeuticals, Cellex C and Obagi Cffectives skin care products.

Vitamin E - Vitamin E is another antioxidant that shows to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. When applied topically, vitamin E has been shown to improve moisturization, softness and smoothness and also provides modest photo protection.  Vitamin E is found in Cellex C, Exuviance and MD Forte products.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) - AHAs are designed to smooth fine lines and surface wrinkles, to improve skin texture and tone, to unblock and cleanse pores, to improve oily skin or acne, and to improve skin condition in general. AHAs are the main ingredients found in MD Forte, TYK Young Again, Super Skin and SkinScience products.

Glycolic Acid - Glycolic acid is the most active and beneficial of the Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids (AHAs) in skin care.  Once inside the cells, the acid triggers new formations of collagen to plump cells and the ground substances in the skin to reduce wrinkles on the skin's surface. Glycolic acid is proven to be very effective in the treatment of acne as well as in cosmetic uses.  Glycolic acid is found in products by Gly Derm, MD Forte, Z. Bigatti and Super Skin.

Idebenone -Idebenone is the synthetic variant of the natural compund ubiquinone. Both powerful antioxidants, idebenone and ubiquinone shield skin from environmental damge, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce dryness and smoothe skin texture.

N-6 furfuryladenine (kinetin) -  The nature-identical plant growth factor, furfuryladenine, retards the aging of plant cells as well as in vitro human skin fibroblasts. This natural, anti-aging ingredient has been proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines and is exclusively found in Kinerase creams and lotions. This is a proven alternative for people with sensitive skin or people who are sensitive to products containing Retinol and Vitamin C.

Copper Peptides - Copper Peptides are the latest scientific breakthrough in skin rejuvenation. Copper has been found to naturally firm the skin, enhance elasticity, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Copper is the main ingredient in products by Neova and Osmotics.

Pal-KTTKS - Pal-KTTKS is an effective ingredient for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It's found to promote a smoother, younger complexion quickly, without with out expensive and painful chemical peels, surgery or injections. This patented peptide solution is found in StriVectin-SD.

Green Tea Extract - Green tea's anti-inflammatory and anti-growth qualities are found in many skin care products designed to reduce the appearance of puffiness, wrinkles, fine lines and large pores.  Green Tea is found in the Dr. Brandt skin care line, Z. Bigatti and Gly Derm products.

TNS - The biotechnology of the skin's natural healing process has arrived with the first tissue repairing complex containing growth factors found in normal, healthy skin.  Unlike anything else currently on the market, TNS is the next level of skin rejuvenation that delivers dramatic results, for smoother, softer, younger looking skin.  TNS is found in SkinMedica's TNS Recovery Complex.

Many customers ask which anti-aging product is best and we always respond by saying that there is no "best" product.  Since every individual's skin is different, the results of using anti-aging products will be different as well.  We recommend that you consult with a skin care professional prior to use of any new skin care product to determine your skin type, skin condition and possible sensitivities to active ingredients.  Your skin care professional may recommend specific products, or you can try a few on your own based on your consultation.  If you are not happy with the first product you try, try another one.  It's important that you choose a product and skin care regimen that makes you feel 100% comfortable with the look and feel of your skin.  

Customers also inquire about when they should expect to see results from using anti-aging products.  Again, we respond by saying that results will be different for each individual, generally due to the condition of one's skin prior to use.  However, across the board, we say not to expect a miracle, as there is no anti-aging product on the market that provides overnight results.  Whether you are trying to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness or age spots, the process is gradual and takes anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks depending on the severity of your problem areas. After allowing the products time to take effect as well as following product directions, you can be sure to notice significant improvement in the appearance of your skin.

To see the quickest results, you will have to undergo professional cosmetics procedures.  While procedures such as laser treatments, injections and dermabrasion produce the fastest, most noticeable improvements, they are all are somewhat painful or uncomfortable and very costly.  In addition, pre and post treatment plans are required to achieve maximum results, which consist of using skin care products, that are also proven to be safe, effective, painless and less expensive alternatives to professional cosmetic procedures.

Please note that with the use of any new skin care product, it is highly possible that your skin will react to the ingredients.  You may experience irritation, redness, dryness or a mild breakout, which should only last for the first 3-5 days of use.  If you experience any of these reactions for a longer period of time, please discontinue use and consult a skin care professional.  It is also recommended that prior to using any new skin care product to consult with a skin care professional.

 

Facials are good

Contrary to what most people think, having a facial at a beauty salon is not a luxury. Professional facials help in a deep-cleansing routine that you cannot possibly do for yourself at home. Facials involve:

• Steaming, which helps to open out pores
• Cleansing to remove black heads and white heads.
• This is followed by a mask for skin rejuvenation.
• Then finally a skin dehydration treatment with a moisturiser.

Our skin regenerates cells about every three weeks, leading to an accumulation of dead cells. Facials help get rid of them. So a facial once a month would help you maintain healthy and glowing skin.
It's a good idea to mark a day off during the week to get a home facial. Follow these simple instructions for an exhilarating home facial:
• Place a head band or scarf just above the forehead along the hairline and tie it at the nape of your neck. This is to protect the hair.
• Start by cleansing the skin thoroughly. Choose a cleanser according to skin type. Apply on face and wipe off with damp cotton wool.
•  While the face is still damp, apply a facial scrub for deep pore cleansing. If suffering from pimples or eruptions avoid using a scrub.
• If you have a normal to dry skin, apply a nourishing cream, wet your hands with water and massage the cream into the skin using outwards and upwards strokes.
• Wipe skin with damp cotton wool or a clean, moist face towel.
• Avoid applying cream if skin is oily but nourish neck area.
• Apply a face mask leaving out area around the eyes.
• Soak two cotton wool pads in rosewater and place these on eyes. Lie down, and relax as the mask dries off.
• After 20 to 30 minutes wash off face mask with water.
• Wrap an ice cube in a clean cloth and rub this on face.
• Do not apply ice directly on the skin, or keep it on one spot for long.

Laser Resurfacing

Cosmetic laser resurfacing, also called "laser peel", is a procedure that smoothes the facial skin by using a laser to refinish damaged areas and shrink fine wrinkles. It also corrects areas of uneven pigmentation. The result is a fresher, smoother complexion.

In laser resurfacing, a beam of laser energy is used to vaporize the upper layers of damaged skin with accurate precision. As new cells form during the healing process, a smoother, tighter, younger-looking skin surface appears.

You may be a good candidate for laser resurfacing if you have any of the following conditions:

·  Fine lines, especially around the eyes
 

·  Vertical lines around the mouth
 

·  Facial scars caused by injury or accident
 

·  Scars caused by acne
 

·  Areas of uneven pigmentation, such as "age spots"
 

·  Line on the cheeks caused by sun damaged.

To achieve maximum results from the laser procedure mentioned in this article, Physicians often recommend that a skin care regimen consisting of products that contain anti-aging active ingredients like Vitamin A,E,C, Glycolic Acids, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, etc. be started approximately two months prior to the procedure and should continue post-treatment as directed by your Doctor. These products and skin care regimens are also proven to be effective, painless and inexpensive alternatives to laser procedures and other professional cosmetic procedures.

Our most popular anti-aging skin care regimens are from TYK Young Again, M.D. Forte, GlyDerm, SkinMedica, SkinCeuticals and Obagi.

Please note that before beginning any skin care regimen or use of new skin care products, it is recommended you consult with a skin care professional.