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Archive for July, 2008

Best Birth Control For Acne - Is There Such A Thing?

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

How Birth Control Works


Birth control is used to treat acne nowadays because of its ability to change hormone levels in a person’s body. Few people are aware that women, like men, have the male hormone testosterone inside their bodies. Now, testosterone has been identified as one of the causes for acne growth because increased levels of it cause a proportional increase of sebaceous glands and lead to excessive oil production.

When a woman takes birth control pills, they are able to stop her ovaries from producing more testosterone. Birth control pills contain progestin and estrogen - both female hormones - and these promote menstruation cycles to regulate and continue while balancing the levels of male and female hormones in the body. Although prevention of conception is the main purpose of birth control pills, they do have the power to reduce acne growth as well.

Potential Advantages of Using Birth Control for Acne


Convenience. With birth control doubling for acne prevention, you will only have to take one medicine for dual purposes. This is certainly easy to remember and beneficial to people with hectic lifestyles.

Affordability. Again, you get two for the price of one. Compared to the expensive costs of other acne treatments like light therapy and laser surgery, birth control as a possible acne cure certainly sounds inviting.

Potential Disadvantages of Using Birth Control for Acne


Most of the disadvantages cited by experts for using birth control to treat acne are directly concerned with the use of birth control and not its effectiveness or safety as a possible treatment for acne.

Worse Acne Problems. Until estrogen levels in your body normalize or become ideal, it is possible that you will have to suffer from worsening acne problems. You will have to wait for your birth control pills to take effect completely before you can enjoy flawless healthy skin.

Increased Risk of Cancer. People who smoke and take birth control pills for whatever reason should be aware that their decision increases their risk of having cancer in the future. This is due to the substances contained in birth control pills. If you are a frequent smoker, you might do well with a different acne treatment instead of using birth control pills.

Age. Minors and relatively young people are discouraged from using birth control pills as an acne treatment because doing so could lead to acne yeast infection. When this occurs, you will find it harder to cure than normal acne problems. If your child is suffering from serious acne problems, you would do better to advise your child to take other acne treatments.

Side Effects. Birth control pills are not without their share of side effects regardless of your health condition. When taking birth control pills, you could suffer from fatigue, abdominal pain and headaches. This can be quite a bother if you are leading a very active lifestyle.

Possible Medical Complications. Be careful when choosing which medication to use for both birth control and acne prevention. A teenage girl was reported dead due to blood clotting caused by a certain brand of contraceptives. The girl had used it for birth control and acne control. If you are determined to use birth control for acne, make sure you are using the right one.

Also, birth control can have dangerous chemical reactions when mixed in with other medications. If you are currently medicated, please do inform your doctor about your decision before proceeding any further.

Other serious side effects that may be experienced when taking birth control are increased heart risks, depression, melasma or having uneven coloring due to skin patches, problems with fluid retention, and vaginal bleeding.

In the end, using birth control for acne is not worth the risk if you do not take professional advice. A potentially wrong choice would not only damage your skin permanently but affect your chances of giving birth in the future. If you want to solve your acne problems with birth control, do so with the aid of your physician or dermatologist.

Flor Serquina is a writer and also a wife and a mother who has a great interest in maintaining the healthy skin of the members of her large family. For more information visit her website, where she discusses various subjects such as healthy-skin-today.com/best-birth-control-for-acne.html best birth control for acne and healthy-skin-today.com/ light therapy for acne and healthy-skin-today.com/new-acne-treatments.html zinc for acne

Melatonin and Sleep - Two Common Sleep Disorders You May Be Able to Cure

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

The natural hormone melatonin has several recently proven health benefits, but one stands out as the most immediate and practical use.

Sleep.

Melatonin is a hormone directly related to regulating the sleep cycle, and is produced by the body when light levels are low, and switched off when light levels are high. Now available as an over-the-counter supplement, you may seek it out as a sleep aid instead of the more common Benadryl or Ambien. But does it actually work?

For insomnia, it has limited usefulness. While several studies have been published showing no difference between insomniacs who took melatonin as opposed to those who took a placebo, it may still have some effect for you if you are suffering temporary insomnia. Some users on the popular health forum Healthboards.com have reported that it did not help them fall asleep as well as a traditional sleeping pill, but it did help them feel tired, sleepy, and ready for bed.

Other users reported greater success with a smaller dosage. For instance, one woman tried 1 mg, then 2, then 3. No effect. She then tried 1/2 a mg and it worked well for her.

There may be somewhat of a subjective process with this supplement. In other words, if you have insomnia, try it for yourself and see if it helps. And experiment with the lower doses. Even if it isn’t effective for your insomnia, there is one sleep disorder that it is invariably successful at treating.

And that would be jet lag. Long airline flights can throw your sleep cycle so out of sync that melatonin can get you back into a regular pattern much quicker than just time. This is the best use of melatonin that exists, and it’s aligned with its main purpose in the human body.

While I highly recommend the use of melatonin for the occasional insomnia, there is no guarantee it will work for you. But if it doesn’t, try a few different amounts of the supplement, and even see if a much lower dose works better. If you are going to be on a long flight, though, melatonin can be quite a useful supplement, re-aligning your circadian rhythm with your new day and night cycle.

Read about other health benefits of melatonin, as well as the possible dangers at supplementzone.org/melatonin supplementzone.org/melatonin Alan Glender is one of the chief editors and regular writers for SupplementZone.org, supplying you with the truth on supplements before you take them.

Misdiagnosis of Patients Unchanged Since 1930

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

You might think that with all the advances in Western medicine that misdiagnosis has become a rare occurrence. That’s not the case.

I recently read an article that appeared in the New York Times in February 2006, that stated that autopsies have shown that doctors seriously misdiagnose fatal illnesses about 20 percent of the time. Millions of patients are being treated for the wrong disease. The 20 percent rate of misdiagnosis has not really changed since the 1930’s. “No Improvement!” was how an article in the normally exclamation free journal of the American Medical Association summarized the situation. One seventh of our economy is devoted to health care and yet misdiagnosis is killing thousands of Americans every year.

Under the current medical system, doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and hospital executives are not actually paid to come up with the right diagnosis. Believe it or not, they are paid to perform tests and to do surgery and to dispense prescription drugs.

There is no bonus for curing someone and no penalty for failing, except when the mistake rise to the level of malpractice. So even though doctors have the best intentions, they have little economic incentive to spend time double checking their instincts, and hospitals have little incentive to give them the tools to do so.

Knowing this information, at a minimum, I would encourage you to get a second opinion if you find yourself facing an issue. Remember, knowledge is power. Research can also be very helpful in this situation. It is important to find a professional who truly takes quality time to asses all aspects of what may be impacting your health. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual issues may manifest themselves in the physical body.

Facial Laser Hair Removal: A Good Option?

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

What is facial laser hair removal?

Unwanted facial hair can be quite irritating, especially for the ladies. Some of the more unfortunate women can have very unfeminine facial hair growth that requires them to tend the areas on a regular basis, like every two or three days. However, removing unwanted facial hair can be annoying, and in the end, time-wasting. There are several solutions to this problem, and we will examine each in turn.

The first option for removing facial hair is to shave it. This is what most people do, because it is the easiest to do. Unfortunately, the effects of shaving are very temporary. Men and women who shave one day can expect some sort of hair growth the very next day. Thus, shaving can become a waste of time.

The second option is to tweeze unwanted facial hair. Technically speaking, tweezing off hairs is better than shaving it – it removes a larger portion of the hair strand, which will delay future hair growth. However, tweezing is also more painful, and due to the sensitivity of facial skin, may not a good idea foe those with low pain tolerance levels.

The third option is to use some sort of chemical to make hair removal easier. There are several creams and lotions in the market today that claim to fulfill this function. Using these products can make shaving or tweezing or shaving more effective, not to mention less painful. Of course, you must choose the products you will be using carefully.

The fourth method is waxing. In this method, you apply hot or cold wax to the area that you want to treat. The hairs will stick to the wax, and when the wax is removed, so will the hair. The downside is that this can be very, very painful. So like tweezing, it might not a good idea for some people.

The fifth and final option is facial laser hair removal. In this method, a laser is used to treat the hair follicles. The laser effectively burns and damages the hair follicles, which severely constrains their ability to grow more hair. It’s like pulling out grass by the roots. By killing off the hair follicles, facial laser hair removal makes sure that you won’t be having facial hair ever again.

Despite the description, facial laser hair removal is not painful at all. Even when the laser is burning the hair follicles, all patients will feel is a slight irritation at most. Painkillers and anesthetics are not even required. In short, facial laser hair removal is an excellent long-term solution to the problem of unwanted facial hair.

Magdalena Witkowska is a successful Webmaster and publisher of nohairsolution.com nohairsolution.com To find out more about nohairsolution.com/facial-laser-hair-removal.php Facial Laser Hair Removal, please visit her website.

The “Stop Snoring” Pillow

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Sleeping on your back can cause your mouth to fall open and as a result you tend to breath through your mouth. And taking breath through your mouth makes you more prone to snoring. Also in this posture, gravity flattens out the passages for the air increasing the affinity to vibrate. Devices such as a snoring pillow can keep your body in a position more conducive to restful sleep.

It has been found that sixty percent of the snorers snore because of the incorrect sleeping position. If this position was corrected then their snoring also stopped. Why have a sleepless night for your partner when the problem can be corrected so easily with the use of a pillow? Actually it is not only your partner who gets a sleepless night but because of your snoring, you also suffer. Although you may not realize it, if you snore it means that you are not able to breath properly. As a result your body does not get sufficient oxygen. Also if you are pregnant, insufficient oxygen can be dangerous for your unborn child.

Snore Pillow to reduce snoring has been in the market for years and was initially launched to effectively ease mild symptoms of acid reflux. While it worked flawlessly for acid reflux sufferers, they took hold of it to stop their snoring. The anti snoring pillow was designed by doctors to help reduce snoring by making your sleeping posture better.

The stop snoring pillow may not work or be suitable for everyone but, for many it has helped ease the distressing symproms of snoring.

For more help and information on the difficult problem of snoring and snorers visit 1800bestbuy.com/snoring.php snoring resources

Multi Vitamin Supplements

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Many people are understandably trying to find and choose among quality multivitamin supplements.
Many people are aware that taking a multi vitamin can improve their health, but with so many products on the market, it’s hard to separate the good from the bad.

We will discuss here some reasons why this is so, and some things you should consider when looking for a quality supplement.

First, many multivitamin supplements on the market do not contain what is stated on the label — and, worse, even often harbor contaminants.

It’s hard to believe but both private and government agencies that have tested many of these products have shown this to be true.

Many people also mistakenly believe that buying a brand name will help them avoid this problem but it turns out that some of the most well known brand name products are the worst offenders when it came to not containing the amount of ingredients stated on the label or contamination.

Another reason why it’s hard to find high quality multi vitamin supplements is because many manufacturers use very cheap ingredients. Why do some do this?

Simply because the less they spend on the ingredients, the higher the profit margin for them. Many companies spend most of their money on advertising and marketing the product rather than on the quality of the product itself!

So, next time you see all of those TV commercials for those multi vitamin supplements, just remember: the cost of the product is going to reflect all of that expensive advertising.
Bottom-line: don’t settle for subpar supplements.
Multivitamin supplements are supposed to improve your health, not impair it.

The product we personally use called Total Balance - health-product-we-use.com health-product-we-use.com is the most natural and effective supplement we have come across. We have been using this product for over 3 years with excellent health results.

We highly reccomend you learn more about our health-product-we-use.com best natural nutritional supplement if you are interested in improving your overall health.

Jean Helmet runs a series of health websites, We offer a free health book for subscribers to our websites newsletter. We cover everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your general overall health. Check out our nutritional-supplement-guides.com/nut-ebook.html nutrition e-book, for more information on nutrition and the products we use.

Reverse the Effects of Aging

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

The Free Radical Theory of Aging is probably one of the most popular theories of aging. It’s about how oxidative stress brought on by free radicals results in aging and the development of a variety of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders and some cancers.

A free radical is an atom with an unpaired electron. The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by a ring of paired electrons. Sometimes an atom loses an electron (referred to as oxidation), leaving the atom with an unpaired electron. The atom is then a free radical and is said to be highly reactive; it sets off a chain reaction of damaging events in the search for an electron to fill its outer ring. Free radicals damage DNA, proteins, cell membranes and other structures.

The presence of too many free radicals creates a condition called “oxidative stress.” Andrew Weil, in Healthy Aging, says that “oxidative stress is simply the total burden placed on organisms by the constant production of free radicals in the normal course of metabolism…”

Free radicals are produced in the body in a number of ways but the most common production occurs in the mitochondria (oxygen furnaces) through the electron transport chain. This is significant because this energy system is used to produce ATP (the energy currency of the cell) during aerobic metabolism. So when you spend endless hours doing aerobic exercise, you increase free radical production, oxidative stress and the likelihood of aging more quickly over time.

To reduce oxidative stress, cut back on aerobic exercise and do more anaerobic exercise, such as interval training. And, include an abundance of plant foods, which are loaded with antioxidants, in your diet. Our bodies have enzymes (antioxidants) that intercept free radicals, convert them to less harmful substances and remove them from the body. These antioxidants are derived from foods which are rich in vitamin E, beta-carotene and vitamin C.

And if you’re not currently eating an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, supplement with Vitamins E, beta-carotene, Vitamin C and the minerals zinc and selenium. The best anti-oxidation strategy is to eat an abundance of plant foods and supplement your diet.

Feel free to use this article in your publication or website. The only requirement is the inclusion of the following, after the article…

Article by Mikki Reilly, BA, MFS, of FitnessTransform. Visit her web site, fitnesstransform.com fitnesstransform.com, and her fitnesstransform.blogspot.com/ blog, for the the most up-to-date news, information and tips that will help you transform your health, fitness and overall quality of life.

Top 5 Ways to Get Rid of Acne

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Acne is a problem that affects a large amount of people across the world. Contrary to popular misconceptions it does not discriminate completely against age or sex. It’s true that it does seem to be closely associated with hormones and people who are suffering from high hormone levels and for this reason teens are more likely to develop acne than any other age group. However, over a quarter of adults will also develop acne at some point in their adult lives. Adult acne can cause depression and social anxiety so treating it can be vital to sufferers. There have been many different treatments for acne in the past but many have failed to regularly and consistently get rid of acne.

1- There are a number of cleansing lotions and moisturizers that can be bought over the counter in chemists or supermarkets. These have a varied degree of success and some will work better than others. Unfortunately they can be expensive, especially if you need to try several before you have any success.

2- Antibiotics can work well with some patients, but the body quickly builds up an immunity to most antibiotics rendering them useless. Also, while antibiotics might work to get rid of acne they can also produce undesirable side effects in users. You may become more light sensitive or suffer from dizziness or nausea.

3- Acne seems to be closely related to increased levels of hormones. For this reason many women suffer from acne at the same time each month during their menstrual cycle. A doctor may prescribe a birth control pill that balances hormone levels and therefore works effectively to get rid of acne.

4- Vitamin derivatives and nutritional supplements work very well to get rid of acne as long as you buy the right ones. Vitamins A, C and E as well as Iron work well in the fight against acne and are readily available from most grocery stores. Some of these supplements and derivatives can have some notable side effects. The gels and creams will make you more sensitive to light so you should always combine them with sun screen.

5- Short treatments of intense light have been proven to be very effective in helping your get rid of acne. usually conducted over a four week period many patients have shown excellent progress, especially when compared to medicines and other techniques.

John Mancini has been writing about acne online and offline for a long time. Visit bye-bye-pimples.com bye-bye-pimples.com or acne-no-more.com acne-no-more.com to read more about matters like adult acne.

Cosmetic Surgery Surgeons: How To Select A Good One

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Making the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery can be an overwhelming and life-changing decision. However, the question of choosing the right surgeon for the job can leave you equally perplexed. There is no dearth of cosmetic surgeons, but it is imperative that you chose a surgeon with loads of experience in the field of cosmetic surgery. You may find an expert surgeon in your vicinity, or you might have to travel a few hundred miles in your quest for the best. But the initial botheration will surely yield fruitful results.

To expedite your search for an expert cosmetic surgeon, it is crucial that you crosscheck their credentials prior to undergoing surgery. Check if they are certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or some other prominent cosmetic surgery board. You could crosscheck your state’s medical board to verify the surgeon’s credentials. Having narrowed down on one or two superlative surgeons it is time for an elaborate consultation.

The most common aspects that you may focus on during an initial consultation are as follows:-

- You may inquire about the cosmetic surgeon’s area of expertise.

- Ensure that the surgeon has performed a substantial number of cosmetic surgery procedures.

- Make sure that the surgeon wields the best technological equipment available.

- If price is a factor, check if the expenses incurred meet your budget.

- Ask the surgeon for pictures of his/her earlier patients, depicting both pre and post-surgery images.

- Cosmetic surgery, like any other surgical procedure, involves risks and complications. The surgeon must not dismiss the risks of surgery, and should be willing to discuss any possible complication of cosmetic surgery.

- Most importantly, ensure that the surgeon will be actively involved in post-operative care.

- And finally, shun away any sales gimmicks or unrealistic bargains.

On the whole, an excellent result largely depends on the expertise of the cosmetic surgeon. Hence, choose a surgeon with discretion, since a successful cosmetic surgery could give you a huge boost.

Nicola publishes an informational site about liposuction surgery, with articles and news, tips and views to help you make the correct choice about lipo.plastic-surgery-info.net Liposuction Surgery at lipo.plastic-surgery-info.net lipo.plastic-surgery-info.net

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Plastic-Surgery-Info.net Plastic-Surgery-Info.net

Find Out The Truth About Taking Herbs For Anxiety

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

There Are Enough Answers In Nature:

Anxiety is a normal part of life, yet it can also be a symptom of a psychiatric disorder. Anxiety can occur with different medical conditions like hyperthyroidism. Commonly, anxiety is associated with nervousness, ‘always on edge’ or feeling ‘wired’. Anxiety may also come from insomnia, depression or result from side effects of certain drugs. To effectively combat anxiety, people often take drugs that can set the body clock backward. Natural herbs, on the other hand can provide relief if administered properly.
Natural Remedies

People suffering from anxiety are now turning to natural remedies since there are no harmful side effects, compared to traditional medications. Like any other health problem, anxiety is a disorder too, and there are natural herbs that can safely treat the problem. But changes in your lifestyle may also be needed.

Stress, the number one criteria for anxiety may come in many forms like tackling more work than you can manage, problems at home, financial insecurity, health related issues, etc. Stress brings along sleeplessness and with it anxiety and therefore most herbs for anxiety will work to help you calm stress.

Herbs for anxiety - where to find them

If you are looking for herbs that may provide you relief from anxiety, you may have to visit some specific stores that deal in natural products. You may also try Homeopathic centers for this kind of natural product. However, it is important that you don’t self medicate even though natural herbs for anxiety are not known to produce any side effects. Please note that traditional medication might give you faster results than natural herbs for anxiety. But keep at it as prescribed by the doctor and your anxiety will surely be a thing of the past.

As a remedial measure for anxiety, herbs may be consumed through tea, nourishments or pills - all depending on your preference and convenience or both. However, please keep in mind that in order to achieve the potential power of the herbs, you must not break the cycle, even if you do not see results immediately. Some herbs take time to be fully effective, once you break the cycle, you may have to start all over again.

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herbalbuyersguide.com Herbs for Anxiety stop on by the herbalbuyersguide.com Herbal buyers guide