Losing Hair

What causes hair loss in women?

May 17th, 2012 admin No Comments »

Although most people see hair loss as a male problem, it’s just a prevalent in females. In women, hair loss normally starts in late 50s, however, in rare cases, it can occur in younger females as well. It’s a pretty complicated condition, because there are so many different causes of hair loss and each individual case is somewhat different. Let’s look at the most common causes of hair loss in women.

It’s important to understand the complexity of hair growth. Hair grows in cycles and if anything happens that disturbs one of the cycles, you may experience hair loss. The longest and most common cycle is the growth phase known as anagen, which can last anywhere from a couple years to nearly a decade. The other two phases – telogen and catagen – are resting and transition stages and last only a couple months each. Think of it like a garden – a well kept and looked after garden will flourish, while a poorly cared for garden is likely to slowly die out.

The most prevalent cause of hair loss and thinning in women lies in the genes. About 50% of all women have a genetic predisposition for hair loss, where each lost hair follicle is replaced with a thinner version, until eventually it disappears completely. Typically, this only becomes a problem once a woman gets older. Such hereditary conditions are normally diagnosed by checking whether a woman’s mother and/or grandmother also had hair loss problems.

There’s a whole set of medical conditions that can cause sudden hair loss. Some of these include anemia, psoriasis, dermatitis, thyroid problems and even pregnancy. If your hair loss starts suddenly, that’s a pretty good indication that the cause is a medical condition and not genetic predisposition.

Other common causes of hair loss in women are extreme stress & anxiety, trauma and sudden weight loss. Such experiences can have a pretty big toll on the body and cause severe hair loss and thinning.

Don’t forget that each condition needs to be treated differently and it’s absolutely crucial that you see a qualified professional to discuss any hair loss problems you might be having.

This guest post was written by Jennifer Thomas, a freelance writer for TempusHair Orlando, a hair transplant clinic.

coffee

Health benefits of drinking coffee

May 14th, 2012 admin No Comments »

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks among people of all age groups today. It provides many of us with a much needed energy boost in the mornings as well as tastes great! However, have you ever thought about the health benefits of drinking coffee regularly? How much coffee should you be drinking daily and why? Let’s try to answer some of those questions.

In the recent years there has been a spur of studies showing that regular coffee drinkers are at lower risk of dementia, Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes. There are many studies that show decreased risk of developing certain cancers and heart related problems.

It’s important that people understand that there’s no clear evidence that coffee can prevent any of the above mentioned conditions from developing. In these studies, cause and effect is very hard to prove and many times there are dozens if not hundreds of other factors at play.

Most of the health benefits of coffee come from nutrients known as antioxidants which help to protect out body cells from free radicals and damage. Coffee is a very strong antioxidant, second only to some types of green tea. Each cup of coffee also contains minerals such as magnesium which help us control our blood sugar levels.

While caffeine found in coffee has no benefits when it comes to preventing heart problems or diabetes, it has been shown to help prevent Parkinson’s disease from developing. The reason for this is not very well known and more research needs to be carried out.

Even though the effects of coffee on our health are not very well researched (despite the large number of studies done), it’s fair to say that there are definitely some positive health benefits to drinking a cup of coffee once a day or so. Overconsumption of coffee is not recommended and can cause more health problems than good. Since most health benefits of coffee seem to spring from its high antioxidant content, the drink can be substituted for high quality green tea or even decaf coffee (especially if you have anxiety or depression issues).

Foods and fatigue

Foods that can help you fight fatigue

May 9th, 2012 admin No Comments »

If you constantly feel tired and exhausted, especially in the mornings, there’s a very good chance that you’re suffering from excess fatigue. I feel that it’s very important to realize that fatigue can sometimes be assign of underlying medical conditions that need immediate professional attention.

If, on the other hand, you feel that your fatigue is merely a side-effect of a stressful job or hectic lifestyle in general, there are foods that can help you fight fatigue away! Below I’ll list a few such foods that, together with some lifestyle changes, have helped me greatly in coping with daily exhaustion.

Oatmeal and whole grain breakfast cereals. Choose high quality, sugar free, high in fibre breakfast cereals or oatmeal in the morning. These foods are packed with carbohydrates, which are processed much faster than fats. This provides a substantial energy boost without the sugar crash and the long lasting feeling of “fullness” which is common when eating other cereals or breakfast foods.

Have some yoghurt! This is probably the best any time snack that you can have during the day. It doesn’t leave you feeling full and sluggish, yet provides a healthy amount of carbs and protein to keep you going for hours! Most types of yoghurt also contain probiotics, which are good for your tummy (keeps it well balanced).

Another healthy snack – nuts and seeds. Having some nuts, such as walnuts, almonds or cashews, is very beneficial to you. These little snacks pack a lot of energy and essential minerals, such as magnesium, iron and various B complex vitamins. And while you’re at it, don’ forget to grab a portion of seeds – pumpkin or sunflower seeds are both very healthy and nutritious snacks! Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of eating nuts & seeds regularly is the fact that they help you fight off emotional fatigue and mild depression.

Once again I’d like to mention that while changing your diet can help you combat fatigue, it’s also important to consult a professional when in doubt. Chronic fatigue can pose many long and short term health risks or even be a symptom of an underlying health condition.