Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Summer Lymphedema Tips

Everyone is feeling the heat of summer right now. If you wear compression garments, then you are suffering even worse. Need tips for managing your lymphedema during the summer? Well here are a few:
-Put your night time garments in the refrigerator before bedtime, then you can slip into nicely cooled garments as you fall asleep.
-Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
-Do not eat salty foods that can increase swelling.
-Decrease exposure to the sun, and stay in air-conditioned areas whenever possible.
-Wear loose-fitting clothing, especially around the parts affected by lymphedema.
-Compression garments are useful when flying. Don’t forget to wash compression garments frequently to remove sweat and sunscreen.
-When travelling by car, stop often to stretch your legs.
-Choose suitcases and carry-on bags with wheels to avoid straining the arms.
-Pack a first aid kit when participating in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and cycling.
-Make sure that shoes fit properly to avoid cuts and scrapes.
-Wear gloves when working outside to avoid cuts and scrapes on your hands.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Two generic drugs shown to reduce breast cancer deaths

There's new evidence that two inexpensive generic drugs can improve survival rates for women who develop breast cancer after menopause.
In two large studies published Friday in The Lancet, a class of hormone-therapy drugs called aromatase inhibitors and bone-preserving drugs called bisphosphonates improved survival and recurrence rates in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.
read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-generic-drugs-shown-to-reduce-breast-cancer-deaths-after-menopause/

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

How Much Sugar Is In That Drink??

Check out these food comparisons to your favorite beverages.  From Gatorade to Sodas to your favorite Coffee.  CNN compiled a great visual guide.


Check it out:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/02/health/gallery/sugar-sweetened-beverages/index.html


Friday, July 17, 2015

Top 5 Mosquito Repellents!

Are the mosquitoes bugging you???
Consumer reports recently announced the top 5 insect repellents available. The good news is that the top 2 which repelled mosquitoes for over 7 hours are DEET free!
Here's the list:
• Sawyers Fisherman’s Formula.
• Repel Lemon Eucalyptus
• Repel Scented Family (which contains 15 percent DEET).
• Off! Deepwoods (25 percent DEET).
• Natrapel 8 Hour

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Top Sunscreens for 2015

Nearly a third of sunscreens tested by Consumer Reports fell short of the promised SPF protection, missing the mark by anywhere from 16% to 70%, according to the organization’s annual sunscreen report.

Here are the Top Sunscreens for 2015

-La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-in Sunscreen Milk, SPF 60. At $7.20 an ounce

-Vichy Capital Soleil 50 Lightweight Foaming Lotion, SPF 50, at $5.94 an ounce

-Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50, at $1.31 an ounce

-Equate Ultra Protection, SPF 50, at $.56 an ounce

-No-Ad Sport SPF 50, at $.63 an ounce

-Ocean Potion Protect & Nourish, SPF 30, at $1 an ounce

-Aveeno Protect+Hydrate, SPF 30, at $3.33 an ounce

-Up & Up Ultra Sheer, SPF 30, at $1.63 an ounce

-Banana Boat SunComfort Continuous Spray, SPF 50+, at $1.83 an ounce

-L'Oreal Quick Dry Sheer Finish (spray) 50+, at $2.44 an ounce

-Coppertone Sport High Performance AccuSpray, SPF 30, at $1.58 an ounce

-Equate Sport Continuous Spray, SPF 30, at $1.33 an ounce

-Coppertone UltraGuard, SPF 70+, at $1.38 an ounce

-Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection, SPF 70, at $1.62 an ounce

-Caribbean Breeze Continuous Tropical Mist (spray), SPF 70, at $2.75 an ounce

Friday, July 10, 2015

Does vitamin D deficiency cause hair loss?

Mary Frances

Seeing your hair strands falling off on your shoulders or sticking to your soapy hands while bathing could be a loathsome sight for you. While losing close to 100 of those everyday is reckoned to be normal, you might have to perform a closer inspection of your diet, or your nutrient deficiencies for that matter.

A recent study just made news by exposing a potential connection between hair loss and vitamin D deficiency. Let’s dig deeper into the connection.

“This is the first time vitamin D’s possible role in hair loss has been highlighted,” stated a dermatologist from Cairo University, Rania Mounir Abdel Hay.

Why is there a widespread vitamin D deficiency in America?

Vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin”, plays its part in warding off serious conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease and deserves its reputation of being vital for human health. But how is it produced? Well, as the name suggests, when the sun shines on you, it converts a chemical located in your skin into a form which is further transformed into active vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin. A big reason for vitamin D deficiency being so prevalent throughout the U.S. is not getting enough sunlight as “under-the-office-roof” jobs have taken over the modern society.

Important information about hair loss

Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the root causes of hair loss. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, androgenetic alopecia, aka male/female-pattern baldness or simply hereditary hair loss, accounts for the recurrent cause affecting almost 80 million Americans today. While low-protein diets, poor nutrition, stress, and genetics could be blamed for seeing hair strands stuck in your hairbrush, underlying problems or diseases like lupus, thyroid abnormality, and diabetes are major culprits.

Read between the lines: Vitamin D deficiency linked to hair loss

A 2013 study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology concluded a possible connection between types of hair loss and low levels of vitamin D coupled with low levels of ferritin. The study, which examined 80 female participants, had particularly unveiled telogen effluvium (TE), which is caused due to excessive hair shedding and female-pattern hair loss type and their relationship with serum levels of vitamin D and ferritin.

Hay explained the significance of vitamin D for hair growth. “It might regulate the expression of genes that promote normal hair follicle growth.” In addition, the effect of low iron levels inhibiting an important enzyme also explains how both nutrients could affect the health of your hair.

Vitamin D supplements could be alternative treatments

While clinical researches have been loud in announcing the potential link between hair loss and vitamin D deficiency, this does not present a cemented proof for direct cause and effect relationship. We need to understand that science is still making its way through the mystery of hair loss.

Vitamin D supplementation could be used as a treatment for reducing vitamin D deficiency symptoms for those who do not get themselves enough regular sunlight and lack a sufficient dietary vitamin D portion through fortified foods. Having said that, one should be cautioned about the excessive intake of these supplements as it may bring dreadful effects on the body such as abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, constipation, and mental confusion.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

7 Sunscreen Tips to Save Your Skin This Summer

1. Anything greater than SPF 50 provides the same protection "A 50 SPF blocks 98.00% of UVB light (the burning rays) while a 100 SPF will block 99.00%,” says Dr. Van Dyke. “This level of benefit [to either] is of course contingent on applying enough and reapplying frequently."

2. Makeup and moisturizers with sunscreen aren’t always enough Unless your makeup/moisturizer provides broad spectrum sunscreen and is reapplied throughout the day, it isn’t enough protection for all day sun exposure. According to ASDS, it’s fine if “you are only walking to your car from work or going into the store. But if you are going to spend a few hours outdoors, then you need to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen."

3. You need to reapply every 2 hours "The active ingredients in sunscreen break down when exposed to UV light," says Dr. Van Dyke. "To maintain the SPF on the label, you need to keep reapplying as the ingredients lose effectiveness: every 2 hours, more often if you sweat or swim."

4. You should use one ounce to cover your whole body According to ASDS, “Research shows that many people put on about half of the amount of sunscreen they need, so be sure to lather it on." And don’t forget the sensitive skin on your lips: Use lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher.

5. It’s not a free pass to suntan all day "Sunscreen is not 100% even in the best of cases," warns Dr. Van Dyke. "Realistically speaking, few of us follow guidelines perfectly. If you really want to save your skin, the best approach is to use sunscreen, cover up (hats, sunglasses, SPF clothing), and seek shade."

6. Tanning oil with SPF 10 doesn’t count “Less than an SPF of 15 doesn't protect you from the cancer-causing side effects of sun exposure,” says Dr. Van Dyke.

7. Don’t wait til you’re in the sun to apply “Sunscreen should be applied one-half hour before going outside, giving the skin time to absorb it,” says ASDS.

The next time you're picking out sunscreen, here's what you should look for: Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Minimum SPF 15, ideally 30-50 Broad spectrum UVA/UVB (UVB causes burns, but UVA is also damaging to the structure and health of skin) Water resistance if you'll be swimming or sweating