Fitness. All about fitness

Cosmetic Surgery And Reconstructive Surgery – What Are The Differences?

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:02:00 +0000

Plastic surgery includes two broad fields, namely cosmetic (or aesthetic) and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery is performed to enhance the appearance of a person, who finds his/her body parts, though otherwise fully functional, to be unattractive. Thus cosmetic surgery is performed with a purely aesthetic intent. On the other hand, reconstructive surgery focuses on concealing the destructive effects of trauma, disease or accident. That is, it strives to improve function and impart a standard look so the patient may lead a normal life. Reconstructive surgery is a way of veiling defects by using skin implants and tissue flaps. Either local tissue is used or tissue is transferred from another part to the problem area. Reconstructive tissue flaps comprise of skin, muscle, fat, bone or a combination of these elements. The most common reconstructive surgery is to cover the defects of burn survivors and other accident victims. Another common reconstructive surgery is breast reconstruction for women who have had mastectomy – surgical removal of one or both breasts, either partially or completely. Mastectomy is performed to combat breast cancer, or to circumvent the disease if a woman is at a high risk of acquiring it. Rhinoplasty may also be considered as a reconstructive procedure if the extent of damage to the nose cartilage and bone is rather grave. In such a case, tissue is moved from another body part and grafted in the damaged area. One of the most prevalent uses of reconstructive surgery can be found in the field of professional contact sports. Players are likely to suffer injuries during vigorous contact sports, and such injuries can only be treated by reconstructive surgery. Though rare, sexual reassignment surgery is another example of reconstructive surgery. There is a certain gray area between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, and distinguishing one from another can be confusing at times. But in a gist, reconstructive surgery is usually performed to correct an abnormality, and not to enhance an otherwise normal appearance.

Oily Skin- Why Some Of Us Have Oily Skin?

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:04:00 +0000

Oily Skin- A Trouble? Oily skin is a big trouble for many of us. Why our skin oozes more oils than others is a big mystery for the sufferers. The skin attracts more dirt and is more prone to acne. it has shining look and causes all types of cosmetic problems. Why do we have that kind of skin? Can we do something to eliminate this problem forever? Let us find out. Skin- Why Does It Produce Oils? Our skin produces sebum. This sebum is mainly made of lipids. The sebum protects us from microbial infections and keeps our skin moist. Along with sebum, we also produce sweat. Our skin also sheds dead skin cells. All these combine and form a layer on the skin. Those who have oily skin, produce more of sebum. Hormones mainly activate the sebum production and some of us are genetically conditioned to produce more oils. You should talk with your doctor if anything can be done with the hormones. Oily Skin Management- To manage oily skin the only common way is to use oil free products. Wash your face at least twice a day with soap. Use oil absorbing blotting papers. Use more of powder products. Astringents will remove lot of oil and so do the toners. Look after your oily skin because you will get fewer wrinkles than those who have dry skin. They will envy you after some years. This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Acne- When It Becomes Severe

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:18:00 +0000

Acne Vulgaris- We all know of common acne that is called acne vulgaris. But there are severe forms of acne that have different names. They are difficult to treat and cause lot of mental agony and skin scars. Let us find out something about the severe forms of acne. Acne Conglobata- If acne vulgaris suddenly flares up and instead of settling down begins forming more inflammation and nodules with deep cysts that infect the deep insides it is called Acne Conglobata. You will find many body parts full of blackhead sin this and a nodule with surrounding comedones. The nodules get infected, and after treatment leave scars. This form of acne cannot be treated with OTC medication. You must approach a doctor and get it treated. Acne Fulminans- This acne type generally follows untreated acne conglobata. This causes fever and forms deeper abscesses. Doctors may use steroids and other anti-inflammatory agents to treat this condition. Gram Negative Folliculitis- This is not acne, but inflammation of the hair follicle. It causes pustules around the hair follicle and may even form boils around them. This is treated with antibiotics. Isotretinoin is commonly used for all severe forms of acne with other medications. This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Steroids use in sports and their effects

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:18:00 +0000

With the development of society, competition grows harder in every aspect of life. Competitive sports are no exception. Athletes, bodybuilders, models etc. are always looking to enhance their performance in their respective fields, naturally or otherwise. Driven by their obsession to reach higher levels in their careers, many sportspeople are willing to use any means necessary to make sure they gain the competitive edge. The use of steroids in sports has been recorded as early as 2000 years ago. Back then, athletes were known to consume various herbs and even ram testicles. Apparently, these were sources of testosterone, from which the modern-day anabolic steroids are derived or processed. Today, due to the advent of these anabolic steroids, overdose and wrong usage are the major problems concerning steroids. Many athletes fail to consider the side effects and abuse these substances. This leads to a variety of health-related repercussions, including chronic diseases. Due to this form of abuse, major sports bodies of the world have now explicitly banned the use of anabolic steroids. These bodies include the Olympics, FIFA, NHL, NFL etc. These organizations require athletes to undergo various doping tests before they are allowed to participate in any events. Athletes found guilty of steroid intake are immediately banned from competition. It has been discovered by various surveys that steroids are used in large quantities by high-school athletes who are barely over their adolescence. This, combined with popular abuse, forced governments around the world to impose severe restrictions on these substances. The United States now reserves anabolic steroids under “controlled substances”. It is illegal for anyone to purchase them without proper medical prescription. So, you must be extremely careful if you wish to buy or use anabolic steroids, as any illegal dealings can potentially land you in prison. You must also consider the harmful effects and be responsible when considering these drugs. Steroids in sports Steroids are used in almost all levels of bodybuilding and competitive sports. These include baseball, basketball, track and field events, cricket, boxing, wrestling, soccer and even the Olympics. Recent studies show that a high concentration of steroid usage has been found in high schools and amateur sporting events. This means that athletes are ready to do whatever it takes to take achieve success in their athletic careers. Until the 1950’s anabolic steroids in sports were relatively unknown. Ancient athletes stuck to using special herbs or meat to increase their hormone levels and give them the athletic boost they wanted. In recent years, sportsmen have taken to anabolic steroids, although they know how harmful these substances can be when used without proper guidance. The first instance of steroid use in sports was discovered in the 1954 Olympics. Immediately, hordes of athletes caught on to this trend, and recognizing the dangers, the Olympic committee banned their use. But, the savvy sportsmen weren’t ready to give up yet. They began using disguised or stealth steroids which could not be detected by the standard doping tests. This was when all major sports bodies began banning anabolic steroids. Hence, the battle began to make sure that doping was stopped. Even today, athletes continue to cloak their steroid usage and benefit from them in competition. Despite many attempts by activist organizations to increase public awareness, sportspeople, including aspiring high-school athletes still use anabolic steroids without realizing the deadly side-effects. These range from heart-diseases to emotional imbalances to infertility. Thanks to all the controversy created by these substances, major world governments have now imposed serious bans over the usage of anabolic steroids. They are now considered “controlled drugs” and are no longer available for purchase without proper medical prescription. It must also be noted that once purchased, steroids must be consumed or injected only with professional guidance.

Today’s Obesity Research

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:47:00 +0000

Obesity increases a person’s risks for high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as cancers of the breast, endometrium, colon, kidney, and oesophagus. This is why world health officials are putting more money into obesity research and making sure that they get the information that they need to provide us with new ways to battle the new worldwide epidemic that is evolving. Obesity research is crucial in telling us what cause obesity and how we can tackle it. New medical research has shown us that obesity isn’t all down to unhealthy living but it is also narrowed down to what our DNA is made up like. Many people who have had members of their family that have suffered from being overweight or obese will be at a very high risk to suffer the same problems and therefore need to take extra steps to help prevent that from happening. Although genetics play a part in obesity research has shown that unhealthy living with bad diets and no exercise also plays a major part when it comes to obesity. To burn fat we need to burn more than we take in, if we do not exercise then we don’t burn fat therefore inevitably we will end up overweight then obese. Research helps us to know more about the complexities of obesity. Yet, there is so much more for researchers to explore, more time and investment needs to put be into obesity research so we can find more conclusive solutions to battling obesity. Obesity causes major health problems and researches have made note that unless the situation is addressed we can be facing a worldwide problem and breakdown due to obesity. It is a major complication in terms of operations as many doctors and consultants will not anaesthetize any one who is grossly overweight as this is extremely unsafe. Therefore more important medical problems can’t be solved or helped when obesity is a problem. Obesity research is crucial and extremely important when it comes to obesity and its finding needs to have action taken, there are far to many people grappling with the problem of being overweight and loosing the struggle and turning obese. Research finding should be made available in forms of books, television adverts, leaflets and school topics, doing this we will try to save the next generation from falling susceptible to the world wide problem that is obesity!

Why Should You Try A Weight Loss Program?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Well the short answer to this question is that a weight loss program and be a literal life saver. They actually help you to lose weight and keep it off, unlike the typical “go-it-alone” dieter who can lose weight no problem for relatively short periods of time but cannot keep it off. The sad fact about this, far too common, type of dieting is that it confers no health advantage to remaining fat. In some ways it is worse for you especially in the mental health realm. I want to spend the next several paragraphs in this article giving you some helpful advice that will not only leave you looking and feeling better but living longer. That weight loss programs are important because fat is a killer is becoming more apparent everyday in the medical research fields. There are so many organ systems affected by the different processes that both contribute to obesity and are a direct result of obesity that it will take ages to sort out all the complexities. Obesity is both an associated comorbidity of a lot of things and also a direct cause of many things that are serious and life threatening diseases. Lets talk about a few of the major ones like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. If you aren’t convinced to start a weight loss program read on! Heart disease, caused by coronary atherosclerosis, has several risk factors that are directly related to being obese. High cholesterol and high fat diets contribute to atherosclerotic pathophysiology and are very associated with obesity. Hypertension is another major risk factor for heart disease and is much more common in an obese person. And lastly diabetes, namely type II or adult onset diabetes, is another huge risk factor for heart disease and affects mostly obese people whose bodies have lost the sensitivity to insulin. This combination of events in an obese pt. make obesity a very high-risk, but gladly a modifiable risk factor for early death secondary to heart disease. Diabetes is already mentioned as being in large part caused by obesity. I just want to list some of the other morbidities that an obese person can look forward to other than heart disease. Diabetics who don’t control their sugars have renal failure and eventually are dialysis dependent. They go blind due to retinal vascular complications, they have painful neuropathies, or they simply can’t feel their legs which eventually ulcerate and require amputation. A weight loss program sounds nice now doesn’t it?

Irrational Fear? Chill Out!

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:59:00 +0000

While the whole world was masquerading in scary and outrageous costumes during Halloween, a team of scientists was making progress with the latest study on irrational fear. Results of this study are expected to expand current knowledge about treatments for major medical problems concerning irrational fear. “We’re taking all of what we learned from the basic studies of animals and bringing that into the clinical practices that help people. Things are starting to come together in a very important way,” said Stephen Maren, a psychology professor from the University of Michigan. The National Institute of Mental Health revealed that about 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. Being a basic primal emotion, fear is a key to evolutionary survival which we share in common with animals. Aside from genetics, traumatic events are closely associated with the development of overwhelming and needless fear. Ted Abel, a fear researcher at the University of Pennsylvania considers fear to be a funny thing. “ One needs enough of it, but not too much of it,” said Abel. According to Armi Rowe, a Connecticut freelance writer and mother, she used to be one of those rational types who are usually calm under pressure. She is not afraid to downhill ski the treacherous black diamond trails of snowy mountains. One day, however, while coping with some serious illnesses in her family, she felt fear closing in on her while she was driving alone. She thought that the stab of pain on her chest was a heart attack and called 911. Later on, it was learned that what happened was an anxiety attack. With the help of counseling, self-study coping exercises and introspection, Rowe learned to manage such attacks early on. David Carbonell, a Chicago psychologist specializing in treating anxiety disorders, said that there’s a trick to panic attack. “You’re experiencing this powerful discomfort but you’re getting tricked into treating it like danger”, said Carbonell. There is a possibility that by learning how fear runs through the brain and body, scientists can improve on how to dampen fear. Amygdala, an almond-shaped part of the deep brain, is the fear hot spot. New York University psychology and neural science professor Elizabeth Phelps said that amygdala is not the one responsible for all fear response but acts like a burglar alarm that connects to everything else. It was found that a certain chemical reaction in the amygdala is vital in the way mice and people learn to overcome fear, according to Emory University psychiatry and psychology professor Michael Davis. Mice never learn to counter their fears when that reaction is deactivated. D-cycloserine, a drug already used to fight hard-to-treat tuberculosis, was found to strengthen that good chemical reaction in mice. When combined with therapy, it produces the same effect on people who have a fear of heights, and is now being tested in survivors of the World Trade Center attacks and the Iraq war. Recent studies have shown that people easily recognize fear in other humans faster than other emotions. Other studies have suggested that bodily functions change just by being very afraid. One study found that very frightened people can withstand more pain than those not experiencing fear. Another found that experiencing fear or merely perceiving it in others improved people’s attention and brain skills. According to Carbonell, since the normal response for dealing with a real threat is either to flee or fight, the best way to deal with fear when the threat is unreal is to do just the opposite: “Wait it out and chill.”

Pampering Products That Feel Like Paradise

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:39:00 +0000

Whether you’re climbing your way up the corporate ladder or overwhelmed with the organizational tasks of home and kids, a luxurious vacation to an exotic paradise may seem like an impossible dream. You can only fantasize about an outdoor massage among fragrant island flowers or a nap after enjoying a brunch ripe with fruits fresh from the vine. You might not have the time or the money for a sublime spa jaunt, but today, all it takes is a trip to your local supermarket, pharmacy or health food store to help you pretend. The newest grooming and personal care products are bursting with pampering exotic fruit and plant ingredients that won’t just make you feel amazing, you’ll look amazing as well. Exotic fruits possess a host of beauty benefits. For example, pomegranate and lychee help rid your skin of toxins, smoothing texture and tone. Who knew that kumquat was so rich in ultra-moisturizing vitamin C? Fig can actually calm stressed-out skin. Plus, all these rich ingredients create luscious fragrances that soothe your soul and lift your spirits. The newest “crop” of exotic personal care products includes Nature’s Gate Organics Fruit Blends – shampoos, conditioners, body lotions and hand soaps – all infused with certified organic plant essences. Exotic fruits and herbal ingredients, including patchouli, rose geranium, wild ginger and red tea, work together to create an amazingly delicious, pampering experience. In addition, these products smell divine and are free of harsh chemicals and animal ingredients. So, lay back in your bathtub, close your eyes and let the fragrance of faraway lands take you on a journey. You might not end up with a T-shirt souvenir, but you won’t have to hassle with your passport or airport chaos either. And you’ll look marvelous!

Getting Out of the Black Hole

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:32:00 +0000

Postpartum depression, also referred to as postpartum non-psychotic depression is a serious condition afflicting mothers who have just had a baby. It interferes with a woman’s ability to care for the baby, and the condition attacks all mothers regardless of whether it’s their first, fifth or twentieth child. Some medical researchers believe that this condition may be caused by the fluctuation of hormones during pregnancy and after childbirth. While it is natural to feel stressed out, tired and anxious about childcare, such feelings should disappear quickly after childbirth. Postpartum depression may present itself with symptoms that include tearfulness, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts, trouble sleeping, fatigue, appetite problems, inability to enjoy pleasurable activities, feelings of inadequacy as a parent, and impaired concentration. Some women with postpartum depression may worry incessantly about the baby’s health and wellbeing, feeling that they cannot cope with the baby for fear of causing physical harm while having negative thoughts about him or her. Some confuse postpartum depression with a condition known as the “baby blues,” because they have similar symptoms, which contributes to the reason why so many frequently dismiss their feelings. But the baby blues is a passing state of heightened emotions peaking around three to five days after giving birth and may last from several days up to two weeks. If a woman experiences a prolonged period of experiencing these negative thoughts and emotions then it is possible that they have postpartum depression instead. Unfortunately, while women can recover naturally from the baby blues, postpartum depression needs medical attention. Some treatments for postpartum depression may be as simple as taking care of yourself and your body. Depression has been linked to sleep deprivation, and because you need to be up when the baby is, you also need to sleep when he or she does as well. Because most women are conditioned from childhood to expect that pregnancy and childbirth is a natural process, you often feel too ashamed to seek help for what may be seen as a made-up affliction. It is not shameful to ask for help or advice from family and friends who are also parents themselves or have experience with childcare especially if you are a new mother. Support is very important for women during this time, and talking often helps alleviate the sufferer’s feelings of fear and anxiety, reassuring them that they are not alone in experiencing such a distressing condition. Remember that you are not Superwoman, and that during this time of great upheaval in your life, juggling the responsibilities of work, family and running the household will be impossible without help. Medical treatment may differ from a case to case basis, depending on the severity of the condition. Many doctors may refer you to a psychologist for individual or group therapy or encourage you to join a support group. They may be helpful in making family and friends to understand that this is not a trifling or made-up condition. In more severe cases, doctors may prescribe antidepressant drugs such as Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) to help you manage your condition. Whatever treatment is prescribed, it must be one that is the most beneficial to you. The most important thing is that you seek help before its too late.

Acupuncture For Asthma – Fact Or Fiction

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:36:00 +0000

Acupuncture for asthma may sound like an odd combination. One is a common disease that affects approximately 20 million Americans; the other is a mysterious, esoteric, alternative medicine technique. Lots of people have asthma, but not many people have tried acupuncture. But if you are an asthma sufferer, it can seem at times that anything – even something as mysterious as acupuncture – is worth trying. Breathing is something that most us never think about. It’s an unconscious process and unless we’re ill, we easily get the oxygen we need. But for people with asthma, breathing is always on their minds. There is always the chance that an asthma attack will leave them gasping for air. Sometime these attacks are predictable and sometimes they are not, sometimes they are minor and easily handled at home, and sometimes asthma suffers end up in an emergency room. It’s no wonder that some asthma sufferers have turned to acupuncture for asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease with no cure. There are different types of asthma, but they all produce the same signs and symptoms: rapid breathing, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and the uncomfortable sensation of suffocation. The exact cause of asthma is not known (there may be a genetic factor at work), but there is no doubt that environmental factors – cold, dust, pollution, etc – trigger the attacks. During the attacks, inflammation and constriction of the respiratory passages limit the amount of air that can be inhaled, the attacks can last for minutes or hours and as mentioned earlier, there is no cure. But although there is no cure, there are constant efforts to find new methods of treatment, and there are practitioners and patients who believe that acupuncture for asthma is the answer. Acupuncture (the word comes from the Latin words acus, meaning needle, and pungere, meaning to puncture) is a very old system of medicine. It is not clear where acupuncture originates from, but it has been most closely associated with China. In acupuncture, very narrow needles are inserted into the skin (just barely penetrating the surface) at certain key points in the body. The needles are said to correct a disharmony in the flow of energy through the body, a disharmony that is said to be the cause of disease. Traditional, Western medicine has several theories about how acupuncture works (e.g., it may stimulate the release of natural pain relievers, endorphins) but has not yet completely explained how acupuncture. Of course, the big question is, does acupuncture work? And can acupuncture successfully treat asthma? Well, not unlike the search for an explanation for how asthma works, the answers are not clear – and they depend on whom you ask. According to traditional acupuncturists, yes, acupuncture for asthma is an effective treatment, especially with asthma in young children. There are dozens of websites and thousands of testimonials that all attest to the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for asthma. Acupuncture, they say, has worked where nothing else has. But ask the same question – does acupuncture for asthma work – of doctors and scientists who have been trained in traditional, Western medicine and scientific methodology, and the answer will be quite different. Acupuncture, they say, is as interesting phenomenon, but the question of how it works is less important than the question does it work, and their answer to that is no. There is no conclusive evidence that acupuncture for asthma works, and a review of the scientific studies that have attempted to answer this question have not proven acupuncture to be a viable technique for treating asthma. If there are reports that it works, these can be explained by the placebo effect (The placebo effect states that medications or medical techniques/ procedures may be perceived by the patient as effective because they believe they are effective, but there is no measurable effect). So can acupuncture truly help someone who suffers from asthma? That seems to depend on your point of view. If you feel that illness is caused by disruption in energy flow and you are convinced by anecdotal reports, the only reasonable answer is: try it and find out. Acupuncture for asthma is very safe; serious adverse effects are very rare. But if you are the type of person who needs proof in the traditional sense, it may make more sense to stick with the medications/therapies you are taking and wait for solid evidence that acupuncture can help treat your asthma.