IIHS Health Care

29/05/2015

Effects of Stress on Your Skin
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Stress can affect your whole body, including your skin, hair, and nails.
Your emotions have a powerful effect on your skin. Since stress is a part of life, what matters is how you handle it.
woman touching forehead

How Stress Affects Skin
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Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. It can also make it harder for skin problems to heal.
Have you ever noticed that when you are stressed, you break out more? This is because stress causes your body to produce cortisol and other hormones, which tells your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Oily skin is more prone to acne and other skin problems.
Stress can also:
Worsen skin problems. For example, stress can worsen psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema. Stress can also cause hives and other types of skin rashes and trigger a flare-up of feverblisters.
Interfere with daily skin care. If you are stressed, you might skimp on your skin care, which can aggravate skin problems.
Skin problems can also be stressful. Some people are so embarrassed by their skin that they keep to themselves, which adds more stress, worsening the problem.
If you have a skin problem that doesn't heal or keeps coming back, rethink how you handle stress.

8 Ways to Reduce the Effects of Stress on Your Skin
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Although it's impossible to avoid stress completely, there are ways to handle it better. Try these approaches:
*Don't neglect your skin. Take care of your skin, even if you're tired or stressed.
*Get regular exercise. It's good for your skin and the rest of your body.
*Take time for yourself to do something you enjoy, even if you only have ten minutes.
*Take a bath or read an article.
*Take a walk around the block.
*Practice stress management techniques, such as breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, or visual imagery.
*Get enough sleep. Seven to eight hours each night is ideal.
Say no. It's OK to set limits and boundaries to lower your stress.
*Talk to someone. Seek support from a friend or a professional therapist.

04/01/2015

29/11/2014

26/10/2014

24/10/2014

HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLEs

• Delicious And Crunchy Apple Fruit Is Notable For Its Impressive List Of Phtyto-nutrients, And Anti-oxidants. Studies Suggest That Its Components Are Essential For Normal Growth, Development And Overall Well-being

• Apples Are Low In Calories; 100 G Of Fresh Fruit Slices Provide Only 50 Calories. They, However, Contain No Saturated Fats Or Cholesterol. Nonetheless, The Fruit Is Rich In Dietary Fiber, Which Helps Prevent Absorption Of Dietary-ldl Or Bad Cholesterol In The Gut. The Fiber Also Saves The Colon Mucous Membrane From Exposure To Toxic Substances By Binding To Cancer-causing Chemicals Inside The Colon

• Apples Are Rich In Antioxidant Phytonutrients Flavonoids And Polyphenols. The Total Measured Anti-oxidant Strength (ORAC Value) Of 100 G Apple Fruit Is 5900 TE. Some Of The Important Flavonoids In Apples Are Quercetin, Epicatechin, And Procyanidin-B2. Additionally, They Are Also Good In Tartaric Acid That Gives Tart Flavor To Them. Altogether, These Compounds Help The Body Protect From Deleterious Effects Of Free Radicals.

• Apple Fruit Contains Good Quantities Of Vitamin-c And Beta-carotene. Vitamin C Is A Powerful Natural Antioxidant. Consumption Of Foods Rich In Vitamin C Helps The Body Develop Resistance Against Infectious Agents And Scavenge Harmful, Pro-inflammatory Free Radicals From The Body

• Further, Apple Fruit Is A Good Source Of B-complex Vitamins Such As Riboflavin, Thiamin, And Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6). Together These Vitamins Help As Co-factors For Enzymes In Metabolism As Well As In Various Synthetic Functions Inside The Body.

• Apple Also Contains A Small Amount Of Minerals Like Potassium, Phosphorus, And Calcium. Potassium Is An Important Component Of Cell And Body Fluids Helps Controlling Heart Rate And Blood Pressure; Thus, Counters The Bad Influences Of Sodium



IIHS Health Care

24/10/2014

21/11/2013

Q. What does the research say about coffee and health? Is coffee good or bad for me?

Answer. (Donald Hensrud)

Coffee has a long history of being blamed for many ills — from the humorous "It will stunt your growth" to the not-so-humorous claim that it causes heart disease and cancer. But recent research indicates that coffee may not be so bad after all. So which is it — good or bad? The best answer may be that for most people the health benefits outweigh the risks.

Recent studies have generally found no connection between coffee and an increased risk of cancer or heart disease. Why the apparent reversal in the thinking about coffee? Earlier studies didn't always take into account that known high-risk behaviours, such as smoking and physical inactivity, tended to be more common among heavy coffee drinkers at that time.

However, the research appears to bear out some risks. High consumption of unfiltered coffee is associated with mild elevations in cholesterol levels. And another study found that two or more cups of coffee a day can increase the risk of heart disease in people with a specific — and fairly common — genetic mutation that slows the breakdown of caffeine in the body. So, how quickly you metabolize coffee may affect your health risk.

Newer studies have also shown that coffee may have benefits, such as protecting against Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer. And it has a high content of antioxidants. But this doesn't mean you should disregard the old maxim "Everything in moderation." Although coffee may not be very harmful, other beverages such as milk and juice contain nutrients that coffee does not. Also, keep in mind that coffee accompaniments such as cream and sugar add fat and calories to your diet. Finally, heavy caffeine use — on the order of four to seven cups of coffee a day — can cause problems such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness, particularly in susceptible individuals.

03/04/2013

Osteoporosis Series 15

Osteoporosis At A Glance

• Osteoporosis is a condition of increased susceptibility to
fracture due to fragile bone.
• Osteoporosis weakens bone and increases risk of bone
fracture.
• Bone mass (bone density) decreases after age 35 years and
decreases more rapidly in women after menopause.
• Key risk factors for osteoporosis include genetic factors, lack
of exercise, lack of calcium and vitamin D, personal history of
fracture as an adult, rheumatoid arthritis, cigarette smoking,
excessive alcohol consumption, low body weight, and family
history of osteoporosis.
• Patients with osteoporosis have no symptoms until bone
fractures occur.
• Diagnosis can be suggested by X-rays and confirmed by using
tests to measure bone density.
• Treatments for osteoporosis, in addition to prescription
osteoporosis medications, include stopping use of alcohol and
ci******es, and assuring adequate exercise, calcium, and
vitamin D

03/04/2013

Osteoporosis Series 14.g

Prevention and Treatment: Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Menopausal hormone therapy (previously referred to as hormone replacement therapy or HRT) has been shown to prevent bone loss, increase bone density, and prevent bone fractures. Estrogen is available orally (Premarin, Estrace, Estratest, and others) or as a skin patch (Estraderm, Vivelle, and others). Estrogen is also available in combination with progesterone as pills and patches. Progesterone is routinely given along with estrogen to prevent uterine cancer that might result from estrogen use alone. Women who have had a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) may take estrogen alone. Due to adverse effects of menopausal hormone therapy, such as increased risks of heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the veins, and breast cancer; menopausal hormone therapy is no longer recommended for long-term use but rather short-term use to relieve menopausal hot flashes. Every woman should have an individualized discussion regarding estrogen replacement with her doctor

03/04/2013

Osteoporosis Series 14.f

Prevention and Treatment: Vitamin D

An adequate calcium intake and adequate body stores of vitamin D are important foundations for maintaining bone density and strength. Vitamin D is important in several respects:
• vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium from the intestines;
• a lack of vitamin D causes calcium-depleted bone
(osteomalacia), which further weakens the bones and
increases the risk of fractures; and
• vitamin D, along with adequate calcium (1,200 mg of
elemental calcium), has been shown in some studies to
increase bone density and decrease fractures in older
postmenopausal but not in premenopausal or perimenopausal
women.


The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has recommended the following as an as adequate vitamin D intake:
• 200 IU daily for men and women 19 to 50 years old;
• 400 IU daily for men and women 51 to 70 years old; and
• IU daily for men and women 71 years and older.


Good sources of vitamin D include natural sunlight, fortified milk, cheese, butter/margarine, cereal, and fish.

03/04/2013

Osteoporosis Series 14.e

Prevention and Treatment: Calcium-Fortified Foods

Excluding dairy products, the average diet contains approximately 250 mg of calcium. As mentioned on the previous posts, here are some examples of calcium-fortified foods and their respective calcium intake

03/04/2013

Osteoporosis Series 14.d

Prevention and Treatment: Calcium Supplements

Building strong and healthy bones requires an adequate dietary intake of calcium and exercise beginning in childhood and adolescence for both sexes. Importantly, once osteoporosis is present, a high dietary calcium intake or taking calcium supplements alone is not sufficient in treating osteoporosis and should not be viewed as an alternative to or substituted for more potent prescription osteoporosis medications. In the first several years after menopause, rapid bone loss can occur even if calcium supplements are taken.
Unfortunately, surveys have shown that the average woman consumes less than 500 milligrams of calcium per day in her diet, less than the recommended amounts. Additional calcium can be obtained by drinking more milk and eating more yogurt or cottage cheese or by taking calcium supplement tablets as well from calcium-fortified foods, such as orange juice