by olympia on January 8, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Have you ever found yourself surrounded by something that you knew very little about but then suddenly bombarded by it and it is as if the universe is trying to tell you something and is using all media mediums in order to enlighten you on this topic? It first started when I was flicking through channels and was captivated by what I thought was another “medical” commercial for disease X and for medication Y. But then something clicked and I tuned in to the commercial to hear the announcer speak about Lupus. Then on the metro and in magazines I began to notice more posters and ads for Lupus and began to realize that I know very little about this autoimmune disease that 1.5 million Americans are living with and that strikes primarily women of childbearing age (between 15 and 44). Unfortunately, the topic of Lupus, didn’t really hit home until my son informed me that his former second grade teacher, who is only 27 years old, was diagnosed with the disease. So, for all our readers out there, who see the ads in magazines, on tv and on the metro and wonder “What exactly is Lupus?,” here is the 4-11 on Lupus. It is, as Joe Friday would say, “just the facts” about this disease courtesy of the Lupus Foundation of America (www.lupus.org).
Let’s start with the basis and break it down:
What is Lupus?
Lupus, known as the “wolf” in Greek, is a chronic autoimmune disease that damages any part of the body (skin, joints, blood, and/or organs inside the body, particularly the kidneys).
Right, so let’s break that down…chronic means that the signs and symptoms last longer then six weeks and often for many years. Autoimmune, (“auto” means “self”), means your immune system cannot differentiate between your body’s healthy tissue and viruses, bacteria and germs (aka “foreign invaders) and therefore the body creates auto antibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. This results in the auto antibodies causing inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body. Lupus is also a disease of flares (i.e. the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). The disease can range from mild to life-threatening and with good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life. There is no “exact” cause of Lupus but researchers have noted that genes, environment and hormones all can play a role in developing Lupus.
Other facts on Lupus:
Lupus is NOT contagious, not even with sexual contact. You can’t “catch” lupus or give it someone else.
Lupus is NOT like or related to cancer.
Lupus is NOT like or related to HIV or AIDS. In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.
Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age, however men, children, and teenagers can develop lupus.
People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus, however, women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.
If you like to understand and learn more about Lupus and or to donate funds to finding a cure for this disease check out the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. at www.lupus.org .
As always, stay healthy, get your regular check-ups and if your gut tells you something is wrong, then follow your intuition and consult a physician. You only have one body and one life so do your best to take care of it.
by olympia on December 27, 2009
Hello everyone,
My client had recently come in to see me after seeing a dermatologist for her hair loss problem. He did not find evidence of scalp disease, or anything skin related that would cause her to lose so much hair. During my consultation, I did find out that she had begun menopause about a year ago. I assumed that the hair loss was a result of declining estrogen in her system. Estrogen replacement therapy could very well reverse the problem, if she does not run the risk of heart disease or osteoporosis. Thinning hair alone does not warrant such a risk to ones health. Its hard to face,but ,aging is a natural process and we all should strive to face it gracefully.
I told my client to relax, start taking Omega 3 fatty acids, and possibly try a topical drug called Minoxidil (Rogaine) to be used twice a day on the scalp, it comes in a spray bottle and is easy to use.There’s also Propecia , but that is only approved for men and I cannot attest to it’s performance.
Using topical potions or creams is a long shot at winning the fight of hair loss. Clinical studies have shown that only one in five women with hair loss due to low estrogen levels, experience only modest hair regrowth.
After several months of the treatment,and several hundred dollars later, not to mention that it might cause itching and redness…I think you should really think about using this product after much careful thinking.
I see advertisements all the time for hair growing creams and potions. Bogus charlatans trying to get us to buy supplements, hair tonics, and electric devises that should be illegal to sell, except, that trying to enforce such business conduct, is nearly impossible to do.People ,be aware and think, before you take out that credit card.
Surgical hair transplants are a good choice for hair follicles that have been destroyed.They take small patches of scalp from the healthy areas and apply them to the balding or thinning sites of the scalp.It seems to work better for men than women and they are very expensive, about $10,000 USD for an average high quality procedure.It tends to be painful in both the pocket and the body.Make sure to consult with at least three qualified doctors before you make such a decision.
Wigs and hair pieces are another option, easy on the pocket, painless and the results are immediate. I highly recommend a better quality wig and make sure its human hair, not synthetic, it looks a whole lot more real and natural.
Here is what I recommend and suggest you do if you are having hair loss problems:
Schedule a doctors visit to make sure you are not sick.
Be gentle to your hair and scalp.
Towel dry and let it dry naturally if possible.
Do not use heat on your hair…it can damage the follicle.
Use a hat to protect the hair and scalp from the sun.
No chemicals. No color, bleach or perming the hair.
Rest, try to sleep well,and relax.
No new diet fads.Some diets can cause malnutrition and hair loss as well.
I also highly insist that you incorporate Omega 3 Fatty Acids into your daily routine.I have seen wonderful results from these supplements.It takes about four months for them to kick into your system,but there is nothing better than omega fatty acids for hair, skin and joint mobility. Try to have a positive mental outlook, remember ,we will all grow old and pass on one day.Its what we make of it while still here that really matters. I wish you wealth, health and happiness.
