They say only your hairdresser knows for sure. But what your hairdresser knows may save your life.
Think about it for a second. Who else gets that close of a look at your scalp. Now, in addition to helping you look good, they might also be looking for signs of skin cancer. A new study, just published in the medical journal Archives of Dermatology, has found that many more hair professionals are looking for signs of skin cancer while cutting or coloring your hair. And when they find something suspicious they have been recommending visits to a doctor to get that lesion checked out, saving lives in the process. According to this study, nearly 40% of these hair professionals already look at the scalp and some included the neck and face skin as well. Although they are looking for lesions, not many have been trained in what to look for. But experts feel that getting them trained in the ABC & Ds of skin cancer can help find more cases and probably save more lives.
Those ABC & Ds suspicious for skin cancer mean:
A for asymmetric shape, moles with irregular shapes or patterns.
B for irregular border.
C for growths with multiple colors or uneven spread of the colors.
D for diameter larger than 1/4 inch; about the diameter of a pencil eraser.
So, in the near future, as you get your hair done you might also be getting that all important skin check for your scalp.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
New ADHD Recommendations
When it comes to ADHD, new recommendations are out and researchers want it looked for earlier and longer.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has put out new recommendations for diagnosing and treating ADHD. They want it looked into earlier and for treatment to include non-medicine approaches as the first step.
Up until now, experts have concentrated on evaluating kids from 6-12 for Attention Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD. But since ADHD problems, including behavioral issues and lack of an attention span, can show up earlier, they want evaluations to start at age 4 and for those evaluations to continue until age 18.
Once diagnosed with ADHD, these guidelines also call for behavioral interventions as the first step in treatment for preschool children. This includes getting family members involved in the overall treatment. For older children, elementary school age and adolescents, they still recommend medication, but alongside behavioral treatments.
The important step is that ADHD is treated with a team approach this means involving the child, their parents, doctor, therapist and even teachers. This more robust approach should help them better control their symptoms and when needed medication can add to this treatment plan.
The main change with these guidelines is the earlier and later age of diagnosis and the concentrating on behavioral treatment instead of just medication.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has put out new recommendations for diagnosing and treating ADHD. They want it looked into earlier and for treatment to include non-medicine approaches as the first step.
Up until now, experts have concentrated on evaluating kids from 6-12 for Attention Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD. But since ADHD problems, including behavioral issues and lack of an attention span, can show up earlier, they want evaluations to start at age 4 and for those evaluations to continue until age 18.
Once diagnosed with ADHD, these guidelines also call for behavioral interventions as the first step in treatment for preschool children. This includes getting family members involved in the overall treatment. For older children, elementary school age and adolescents, they still recommend medication, but alongside behavioral treatments.
The important step is that ADHD is treated with a team approach this means involving the child, their parents, doctor, therapist and even teachers. This more robust approach should help them better control their symptoms and when needed medication can add to this treatment plan.
The main change with these guidelines is the earlier and later age of diagnosis and the concentrating on behavioral treatment instead of just medication.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Working Odd Hours & Your Health
Although 8-5 is still the norm, more of us are working odd hours. But what do those odd hours do to your health?
It seems like shift work, or even just working odd hours can cause your stress hormone to go up and that can take its toll on your health, especially if you are young.
According to a new Dutch study, doing shift work or working odd hours can cause a rise in the levels the stress hormone cortisol in your blood stream. Researchers involved in this study found that long term levels of cortisol were much higher in shift workers than regular day workers. This was even more pronounced in younger workers, those under 40.
This becomes important to your health because the hormone we are talking about, cortisol, can cause a rise in your blood pressure, increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes and contribute to an obesity problem. And if you are having a constant increase in this stress hormone over the years as you work those odd hours, then your health could be taking a hit as well.
So, what can you do? First off recognize that shift work, or working odd hours, might be causing this issue. Then take steps to reduce the impact from this stress hormone. This includes eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and veggies, along with foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids. It also means being a regular exerciser, one of the best methods to not only reduce your levels of stress hormones, but also your overall levels of stress as well. And doing what you can to relax both during and outside of work, especially if you work odd hours -- this can go a long way to keeping you healthy in spite of when you clock in for the day.
It seems like shift work, or even just working odd hours can cause your stress hormone to go up and that can take its toll on your health, especially if you are young.
According to a new Dutch study, doing shift work or working odd hours can cause a rise in the levels the stress hormone cortisol in your blood stream. Researchers involved in this study found that long term levels of cortisol were much higher in shift workers than regular day workers. This was even more pronounced in younger workers, those under 40.
This becomes important to your health because the hormone we are talking about, cortisol, can cause a rise in your blood pressure, increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes and contribute to an obesity problem. And if you are having a constant increase in this stress hormone over the years as you work those odd hours, then your health could be taking a hit as well.
So, what can you do? First off recognize that shift work, or working odd hours, might be causing this issue. Then take steps to reduce the impact from this stress hormone. This includes eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and veggies, along with foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids. It also means being a regular exerciser, one of the best methods to not only reduce your levels of stress hormones, but also your overall levels of stress as well. And doing what you can to relax both during and outside of work, especially if you work odd hours -- this can go a long way to keeping you healthy in spite of when you clock in for the day.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Migraine Relief Without Medication
When it comes to treating migraines, researchers have found a new method that is pretty much free of any side effects.
It's actually one of two new methods, relaxation and/or exercise, and yes, both are free of the side effects all medicines have.
If you've ever suffered from a migraine, or been around anyone that has, then you know it's much better to stop them from coming on in the first place. There are medicines that can help keep migraines at bay. But all medications, including those for migraines, have side effects, so not everyone can take them long term.
But, researchers out of Sweden found that two separate things worked just as well as the drug TOPAMAX, at keeping migraines at bay. Those were regular aerobic exercise and relaxation therapy. During the trial, scientists found that 1/3 of the women in the study reported medicine side effects including fatigue, depression and vertigo, some bad enough that they stopped taking the drug all together. But none of the women undergoing relaxation therapy or engaged in the exercise program reported any side effects.
The medicines used for migraines are still helpful, but this study shows us that simple, side-effect free, things like exercise and relaxation can be equally helpful. And while they are helping you with your migraines they can also help get you in better shape, both emotionally and physically.
It's actually one of two new methods, relaxation and/or exercise, and yes, both are free of the side effects all medicines have.
If you've ever suffered from a migraine, or been around anyone that has, then you know it's much better to stop them from coming on in the first place. There are medicines that can help keep migraines at bay. But all medications, including those for migraines, have side effects, so not everyone can take them long term.
But, researchers out of Sweden found that two separate things worked just as well as the drug TOPAMAX, at keeping migraines at bay. Those were regular aerobic exercise and relaxation therapy. During the trial, scientists found that 1/3 of the women in the study reported medicine side effects including fatigue, depression and vertigo, some bad enough that they stopped taking the drug all together. But none of the women undergoing relaxation therapy or engaged in the exercise program reported any side effects.
The medicines used for migraines are still helpful, but this study shows us that simple, side-effect free, things like exercise and relaxation can be equally helpful. And while they are helping you with your migraines they can also help get you in better shape, both emotionally and physically.
Daily Vitamins - Good or Bad?
If you're taking a daily vitamin you need to listen up because you just might be getting too much of a good thing.
Turns out that most of us who take daily vitamins and supplements are probably taking too much, and in some cases that too much could be affecting your health.
Two new studies looked at how we use vitamins and supplements and how that affects us. One study, looking at over 8,000 men and women found that those taking added supplements also tended to eat better than most people. That means they were less likely to need the added vitamins and supplements they were taking.
And this is important because a second study found that some of these vitamins and minerals might be causing more harm than good. Researchers looked at nearly 40,000 women over the age of 60 starting back in 1986. They followed them for 19 years and found that those taking a vitamin b6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper or a multivitamin also had a higher risk of dying during the study time frame.
Although they can directly blame these vitamins and supplements on the early deaths, they do point out that our diets are for the most part already rich in these vitamins and supplements, so taking more in the form of a pill can give us a bigger dose than our bodies can handle. But some things did seem to help keep us healthy, mainly calcium and vitamin d. But otherwise experts recommend checking with your doctor first to see if you really need to add anything to your normal daily diet to begin with.
Turns out that most of us who take daily vitamins and supplements are probably taking too much, and in some cases that too much could be affecting your health.
Two new studies looked at how we use vitamins and supplements and how that affects us. One study, looking at over 8,000 men and women found that those taking added supplements also tended to eat better than most people. That means they were less likely to need the added vitamins and supplements they were taking.
And this is important because a second study found that some of these vitamins and minerals might be causing more harm than good. Researchers looked at nearly 40,000 women over the age of 60 starting back in 1986. They followed them for 19 years and found that those taking a vitamin b6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper or a multivitamin also had a higher risk of dying during the study time frame.
Although they can directly blame these vitamins and supplements on the early deaths, they do point out that our diets are for the most part already rich in these vitamins and supplements, so taking more in the form of a pill can give us a bigger dose than our bodies can handle. But some things did seem to help keep us healthy, mainly calcium and vitamin d. But otherwise experts recommend checking with your doctor first to see if you really need to add anything to your normal daily diet to begin with.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Being Embarrassed Is Good
Are you an easily embarrassed person? If so, you may be a better person than you think.
They might seem shy and easily embarrassed to most of us, but it turns out this might actually be a good thing. A new study, just published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology used college students to study how well embarrassed people got along in society.
They had students give a speech about an embarrassing moment. Then they played a game used to measure selflessness. According to the researchers involved in this experiment, those participants who were most embarrassed also showed the most generosity.
According to one the authors of the study, moderate levels of embarrassment are a sign of virtue, more of a good thing than a bad thing. In other words, people that get easily embarrassed tend to also be more trustworthy and generous. They are also more likely to be monogamous.
But, the authors of this study do point out that this doesn't mean those of us that don't get embarrassed are just the opposite. They need more studies to look at that. But for now, they feel that embarrassment is a good thing and not something that anyone should fight.
They might seem shy and easily embarrassed to most of us, but it turns out this might actually be a good thing. A new study, just published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology used college students to study how well embarrassed people got along in society.
They had students give a speech about an embarrassing moment. Then they played a game used to measure selflessness. According to the researchers involved in this experiment, those participants who were most embarrassed also showed the most generosity.
According to one the authors of the study, moderate levels of embarrassment are a sign of virtue, more of a good thing than a bad thing. In other words, people that get easily embarrassed tend to also be more trustworthy and generous. They are also more likely to be monogamous.
But, the authors of this study do point out that this doesn't mean those of us that don't get embarrassed are just the opposite. They need more studies to look at that. But for now, they feel that embarrassment is a good thing and not something that anyone should fight.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Facebook - Do Your Kids Need Help?
Facebook is a great tool to keep in contact with your kids, but it also might be one way to see if they need help.
We love seeing the pictures on sites like Facebook; a great way to get a peek into our kids lives away from home. Those same pictures might help point to a drinking problem, but at the same time give us a way to help get it under control.
College drinking has been an issue for just about as long as colleges have been around. But over the last few decades it seems to have gotten worse, with more college students getting injured and even nearly 2000 getting killed every year because of alcohol.
According to the authors of a new study just published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, one way we might be able to help them is by seeing what types of pictures they post on Facebook type sites. These researchers looked at what students posted on social network sites and how much they admitted drinking on a separate survey. Those students who posted pictures and updates on Facebook about being intoxicated, or things that happened to them because of drinking too much, like long hangovers of accidentally ending up in someone's room overnight, also were considered to be in an at-risk category for problem drinking.
And even though many college students block their parents from seeing these pictures over relatives often aren't blocked and should recognize these issues as well. The goal here, according to these researchers is, if you find troubling photos or posts on Facebook, to simply ask your college student, "are you doing alright." A big first step to stop a big problem.
We love seeing the pictures on sites like Facebook; a great way to get a peek into our kids lives away from home. Those same pictures might help point to a drinking problem, but at the same time give us a way to help get it under control.
College drinking has been an issue for just about as long as colleges have been around. But over the last few decades it seems to have gotten worse, with more college students getting injured and even nearly 2000 getting killed every year because of alcohol.
According to the authors of a new study just published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, one way we might be able to help them is by seeing what types of pictures they post on Facebook type sites. These researchers looked at what students posted on social network sites and how much they admitted drinking on a separate survey. Those students who posted pictures and updates on Facebook about being intoxicated, or things that happened to them because of drinking too much, like long hangovers of accidentally ending up in someone's room overnight, also were considered to be in an at-risk category for problem drinking.
And even though many college students block their parents from seeing these pictures over relatives often aren't blocked and should recognize these issues as well. The goal here, according to these researchers is, if you find troubling photos or posts on Facebook, to simply ask your college student, "are you doing alright." A big first step to stop a big problem.
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