Health

Did you know this:

 Could air conditioning be a cause of your neck pain?

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Many of us have suffered from neck pain from sleeping wrong. But did you also know that this pain can be caused by the one thing that keeps us cool during the summer: our air conditioners? This is because of the quick changes in temperature, the chilling of the muscles, which causes our muscles to contract painfully. There are other causes of this pain as well, such a whiplash, which is caused by a violent movement of your spinal column. Emotional tension and working or driving in the same position for many hours can also cause neck pain. Most of the time, your nerve endings become compressed or inflamed. However, there is hope. There are many ways to help you relieve your sore neck so that it does not have to ruin your day completely. Some of these include an anti-inflammatory medication, acetaminophen, application of heat or ice, or simply movement exercises. Sometimes a local injection is required, or in severe cases, surgery is needed. It is a bummer to know that your air conditioning can cause some of the pain that you are experiencing. But knowing what can cause your neck pain is half the battle. The other half is knowing how to fix the issues, and make yourself feel better.

Crude oil and cooking oil: What harm do they do?

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We have all heard of the BP oil spill, and know that this crude oil is very harmful. But do we really know the harms? Crude oil is filled with toxic properties, and when these toxins become airborne, they can travel for many miles. These toxins cause problems such as trouble breathing, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and confusion. If people with COPD or asthma even come into brief contact with these toxins, they can cause health problems. There are some potential long-term effects of these toxins, which can include kidney, liver, blood, reproductive, or immune system damage. There are also risks of birth defects and cancer. Oils used for cooking can also cause harm to people. To begin with, vegetable oils can cause your good cholesterol to turn into bad cholesterol. Diseases such as heart diseases and breast cancer are caused by the trans-fats in these oils. Another potential issue that can come from eating these oils is intestinal damage, or the chance of food allergies popping up. Auto immune problems can also show up. The chemicals in vegetable oils can cause infertility or sterility. Children can also develop behavioral problems. Staying away from crude oils, and limiting your intake of vegetable oil will help you stay healthy and live a much better life.

Do your lips produce melanin?

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Melanin, also known as pigment, is the substance in our bodies that gives color to the skin, eyes, and hair. People with darker skin have much higher amounts of melanin, and those with pale skin have much less. Melanin also helps protect you from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is produced in nearly all organs that are vital to our bodies by melanocytes. These metabolize tyrosine, which is an amino acid. These formation sites include the heart, liver, muscles, and arteries. One of the places on your body that you must protect the most, especially from the sun, is the lips. This is because the lips produce no melanin, unlike the rest of the skin on your body. Using a lip balm that has a good sunscreen in it is essential to preventing not only sun burns, but also will protect from sunspots and skin cancer on the lips. The color in the lips instead comes from the blood vessels underneath. These capillaries are close to the skin, giving them their red or pink color. There are certain foods that you can eat to help your melanin levels, but do not forget that the lips must be protected because they produce none.

Dark Spots On The Skin

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Melanin is what gives our skin color, or pigment. Dark spots on the skin, hyper-pigmentation, is caused by the overproduction of melanin. This condition occurs in all races. Sometimes these are referred to as “age spots” and are typically caused by sun damage which is acquired over a long period of time. The sun is the most common cause of these darkened skin patches. This darkened skin can also be caused by changes in the hormones, which is commonly caused  by pregnancy or birth control pills. There are also disorders which can cause this, such as Addison’s disease. These dark skin spots can also  be caused by a combination of an allergic reaction and sun exposure. These dark spots can sometimes be temporary, such as when taking birth control pills or during pregnancy. This is not a life-threatening condition, but can be the symptom of another disorder that you should get treatment for. If you have these dark spots, and also have symptoms such as loss of appetite, fatigue, or depression, you should see a doctor. If the dark spots are also appearing in your mouth or out mucus membranes, or notice diarrhea or constipation, these symptoms are also serious and require you to see a doctor. There are some ways to help with these areas of the skin, such as medication or lasers.  If you have these dark skin spots and are concerned, you should consult a doctor. These spots can be embarrassing, but usually are not going to harm you. With technology today, you can be helped.

5 ways to relax

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Many people use medications as a way to relax, but this can be dangerous. Finding a good, natural way to relax can not only improve your quality of life, but can also help you lower your stress and deal with health and emotional problems. Finding a good way to relax will help you slow your breathing and heart rate, lower tension, and even help with chronic pain. There are five great ways to relax, the first being autogenic relaxation, which involves body awareness and visual imagery. This is done by choosing a calming word or phrase and repeating it silently to relax. Next, visualization requires you to think of calming and peaceful images. Third, progressive relaxation is a technique that relaxes the groups of the muscles. This is a two step process, and involves first laying on a flat surface, and then starting at the head, tensing the muscles for five seconds, and then relaxing them for thirty seconds. Continue this throughout the body until you make it to the toes. The fourth technique is to take a breathing break. Taking a 5-10 minute break to sit in a comfortable chair and taking a couple of deep breaths and then exhaling is a great way to relax. Lastly, exercise is one of the best ways to help you clear your mind and body. Finding natural ways to relax, and staying away from prescription drugs, will not only help you feel better, but will help you life a much healthier life as well.

Henna for hair: What are the colors?

Picture by Hasna Lahmini

Henna for hair is a wonderful product that will help get rid of your grey. The best part is that henna is completely natural, with no chemicals, and is fast and permanent. Henna for hair will also help repair damaged hair, making it full, glossy, and healthy. Henna is one of the best things you can use as a hair conditioner, helping your hair become think and silky. These dyes are used around the world by people of all cultures and ethnicities. Henna is one of the first hair dyes known to man. Henna dyes are safe for pregnant women, those with allergies, and even cancer patients. There are many colors available, and is great for both men and women. Henna can be used in your hair, eyebrows, and even beards for men. There is a wide array of colors, so finding that perfect one is simple. These colors are a mixture of henna and indigo, and different mixtures create different colors. Some of these colors include: natural red, strawberry blonde, brown (light and dark), black, mahogany, and indigo. These colors can be mixed and balanced to create new colors. The actual hair color will vary with your current or natural color, so a strand test is always recommended. Henna colors typically take about 48 hours to fully set, so keep this in mind. Henna hair dye will allow you to color your hair without the scalp burn from nasty chemicals. And application is simple: add tap water to the powder, and apply. Most heads only require one application, so pick up some henna, cover that grey, and improve the health of your hair and scalp.

What is your skin type?

Picture by Samantha Jade Royds

Finding good skin products for you requires you to first determine what skin type you have: dry, oily, or something in the middle of these two. However, once you find a you skin type and a good product, do not change that product. You should also use a daily sunscreen, be it a moisturizing type for dry skin, or an oil-free type for oily skin. The different skins types are as follows. You know your skin is dry when it cracks easily, making it easier to get infections and/or premature wrinkling. The best way to treat dry skin is to stay hydrated, keep away from alcohol-rich products, and use a good moisturizer. Those with normal skin can use almost any non-soap cleanser or products that feel right on the skin, as well as keep your skin balanced. Moisturizing is not required except during specific occasions. Many times when we think of oily skin, we think of the teen face full of zits; however, having greasy skin as you age is great because it can help you look young longer. Treating oily skin requires you to wash typically more than once a day, and using products with alcohol will help reduce the oil. Combination skin is just that: some parts are dry, such as the cheeks, while other parts such as the nose, forehead, and chin are oily. Knowing your skin type and treating it will help your skin look amazing, and will help you feel more comfortable in your own skin.

10 tips for weight loss

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Many people in today’s society want to lost weight, and worry about their looks. Here are some tips that will help. Think less about taking foods out of your diet, and more about adding healthy foods. Things such as grapes, snow peas, and cherries are great to add in a lunchbox or soup. Adding exercise, even just small physical activities, will help. Forget about “working out” if that creates no incentive to do it. Do things such as walk, riding bikes, playing Frisbee, and washing the car. Take a walk, which does not have to mean a full walk. Get a push instead of ride mower, park in the back of the lot, or take the stairs. Keep with the foods you currently eat and drink, but try a lower fat version. Stay hydrated, and drink a good glass of water before meals and exercise. Sharing your meals when out at a restaurant will help you eat less; also think about sharing bike rides or runs. It’s much easier to do these things with a buddy rather than alone. Turn on the TV or radio and dance or do some boxing. As long as you are up and being active, it will help. Use smaller dishes and silverware, as perception is everything. Being bored makes many people eat more. Finding things that will keep you busy will help you lose weight, and get you up and going. Be patient because you will not lose the weight you want  right away. It will take time. Keep up the hard work, and get the body that you want. You will look great, and feel better about yourself

Can carbohydrates make you fat?

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If you are looking for a way to get energy, carbohydrates are the way to do it. This is because they are converted easily into glucose, which is the type of sugar that is transported and used by your body. However, a diet high in carbs can mess with your body’s blood sugar, which can create ups and downs in your energy levels and your mood. The best solution is to balance your carb intake with protein, fat, and fiber. Research shows that we should get about half of our energy needs from carbohydrates. But can they make you fat? Well, that’s a little more uncertain. Eating too much of anything will make you fat. However, it has been shown that carbohydrates contain less calories than protein, alcohol, or fat. In order to not allow yourself to get fat, all you have to do is keep your diet balanced and healthy. A good rule of thumb is to have about twice as many carbs on your plate as protein. Eating a complex carb such as beans, potatoes, rice, or pizza for each meal, along with a vegetable and fruit will guarantee that you will get the proper amounts of carbs and nutrients in your body. Keep a good balanced diet, get the right amount and types of carbohydrates in your body, and make sure that you are living a well-balanced and healthy life.

Will the sun damage your hair?

Picture by Joe Shlabotnik

We all know that the sun is bad for our skin, but many don’t know that it can also damage your hair. The sun’s UVA and UVB rays can destroy your hair from the cuticle to the inner structure. Hair that is in the sun too long or excessively can become brittle, weak, and dry. Hair that is colored or bleached has a higher risk of damage from the sun, but healthy hair is at risk as well. If you leave your head unprotected in the sun, you not only risk damaging your hair, you also risk burning your scalp. Putting sunscreen on the scalp that is exposed will help, but the best option for protecting your head is to wear a hat when you are out in the sun. A large and wide-brimmed hat will not only protect your scalp, but could also protect the face and reduce the chance of skin cancer. Always wear a hat like this if you are going to be in the sun for more than a couple hours. One great way to protect the hair from discoloration is to use a leave-in conditioner containing zinc oxide. When exposing yourself the sun, be it your skin or your hair, stay inside between 10am and 3pm; this is the time of day when the sun is hottest and the rays are strongest. Research has shown that brunette hair that has been exposed to the sun can turn reddish, and chemically treated hair can turn yellow, fade, and become dull. While we love the sun as human beings, the sun does not always love us. When exposed to the sun for long periods of time, be sure to keep your skin and hair protected.