Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Hair Loss and Its Causes

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 3 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 3 to 4 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive  hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

What causes excessive hair loss?

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, high blood pressure or heart problems, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.

Can certain hairstyles or treatments cause hair loss?

Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.

What is common baldness?

"Common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. It is also called androgenetic alopecia. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.

Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?

Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.

Is there any treatment for hair loss?

Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride, is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.



Another Birthday!

When I look in my mirror, something strange I see
I don't recognize that person looking back at me.

I see brown eyes, that I knew I had,
I see light colored hair, and I feel glad.

But things are changing, wrinkles are showing 
the body is sagging,  am I still glowing?

Now I know that many a year has passed,
And I know I’m losing my hair real fast.

Most things don't stay the same,
But gee, do I have to play this game?

Do I have to have it thrown in my face
In my house, and all over the place?

That things are not as they used to be?
Who is this person looking back at me?

Why can’t I see what other's see
 a heart of gold and ivory.

Even though my mirror is not my friend
I will love myself anyway, until the end.

©Yolanda Pacheco Garcia
www.victoryp.com

Monday, July 12, 2010

Eating on a date


Dating is fun, but it comes along with a whole set of stressors: What should I wear? What should I talk about? What should I eat? And that third question can be really loaded.
You don’t want to starve yourself so much that you can’t think about anything but food. On the other hand, eating too much or eating the wrong foods could make you feel lethargic or even self-conscious. Luckily, Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian, American Dietetic Association national spokesperson and president of the Dietetic Association, was able to give us some pointers for a smooth dinner date.
Garlic & Onions
We know these foods can give us foul breath, and that’s more than enough reason to avoid them on a date. “They’re notorious offenders for causing bad breath because the oils that come from garlic and onions get into the bloodstream and hang out,” she says. “They can linger for two to three days.” So if you eat a garlic-heavy meal two days before the big night, your breath could still have a hint of garlic when your date picks you up. To top it off, garlic and onions are difficult to digest, so if you eat them on your date, you may suffer a little stomach trouble.  And you definately won't get kissed!
Beans
“Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart…” Anyone who finished second grade can fill in the rest. Says Moore, “If you eat beans on a regular basis, you can have them without gas or bloating, but if you’re not a regular bean eater, you might not want to have them on a date,” Moore say, adding encouragingly that they’re “a little better stewed or in a soup.”
Mashed Potatoes
A baked potato won’t necessarily cause a problem, but Moore recommends skipping the mashed variety when you go out to dinner. “They’re usually loaded with heavy cream or milk,” Moore says, noting that while this can spell disaster for lactose-intolerant diners, it can also make even milk-lovers feel a little bloated. If you’re dying for a potato on a date, it’s best to stick to the baked variety.
Pasta
What isn’t wrong with this on a date? Spaghetti and linguine can be quite messy, and the last thing you want is to get food on yourself (or the guy sitting across from you). While plain pasta shouldn’t make you feel too lethargic, heavy pasta sauces like alfredo and Bolognese will weigh you down.  Moore has one more reason to skip pasta on a date: “When we eat out, pasta is served on a huge plate, so we may have a tendency to overeat.” (And don’t even think about asking for a doggie bag. When you’re just getting to know your date, that’s plain tacky.)
Cheese
Can’t get enough cheese? You might want to pass – at least if you’re early in the dating game. Aside from the fact that fatty cheeses can be heavy, the dairy product won’t do any favors for your breath. “Some cheeses just have a stronger odor, like bleu or aged parmesan,” Moore notes. That odor can leave a bad taste in your mouth. Santa Cruz-based food blogger Damaris of kitchencorners.comrecommends skipping dairy in general on dates. “Dairy is something that people should definitely stay away from,” Damaris says. “You wouldn’t be able to notice it offhand unless you’re kissing someone, but since a lot of dates end up with a smooch, I would recommend staying away from dairy for sure.”

A lot of these rules fly out the window once you’re in a serious relationship (who wants to avoid fettucine alfredo forever?), but when it’s still early in the dating game, it’s best to save these foods for solo meals.
In the meantime, there are a few ways you can avoid the pitfalls of heavy or bloat-inducing foods. “Make sure that you stay hydrated – it keeps you feeling alert,” Moore says. “It can [also] keep your tummy full so you don’t eat so much food.” And what if you notice your breath feeling less-than-fresh after a meal? You don’t necessarily need to chomp on gum or mints. “You can always finish the meal with a hot tea,” Moore says. “And a wedge of lemon or lime will also help to get rid of bad breath.”
Other than that, she suggests you stay within your culinary comfort zone while you’re on a date. 

Dinner 

Succulent and soft
yet big balls
covered and textured
hidden underneath
the main attraction.

Colorful blend 
of savory delights
awaken the palate
as they burst out,
“I am tantilizing
and delightful--
eat me!”

Spaggetti and
meatballs for dinner...
tonight!

Written by Yolanda Pacheco Garcia
from the book Awakening Love
www.victoryp.com


Thursday, July 8, 2010

What is Love?


As you know there are many types of love. In my quest to find out about love, I sought the help from Wikkopedia, our online encyclopedia and learned some new terms.   Unrequited love refers to those feelings of love that are not reciprocated. Interpersonal love is most closely associated with interpersonal relationships. Such love might exist between family members, friends, and couples.
Love should not be confused with Lust, which  is the initial passionate sexual desire that promotes mating, and involves the increased release of chemicals such as testosterone and estrogen. These effects rarely last more than a few weeks or months.  Lust is a momentary itch, whereas Love never lets you go. Attraction is the more individualized and romantic desire for a specific candidate for mating, which develops out of lust as commitment to an individual mate forms. Recent studies in neuroscience have indicated that as people fall in love, the brain consistently releases a certain set of chemicals, including pheromones, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which act in a manner similar to amphetamines, stimulating the brain’s pleasure center and leading to side effects such as increased heart rate, loss of appetite and sleep, and an intense feeling of excitement. Research has indicated that this stage generally lasts from one and a half to three years.
Since the lust and attraction stages are both considered temporary, a third stage is needed to account for long-term relationships. Attachment is the bonding that promotes relationships lasting for many years and even decades. The (love) Attachment is generally based on commitments such as marriage and children, or on mutual friendship based on things like shared interests. It has been linked to higher levels of the chemicals oxytocin and vasopressin to a greater degree than short-term relationships.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.” (1 Cor. 13:4–7, The Bible – NIV) (Excellent book– I highly recommend it.)
There is the internal (self-love) component that for some reason determines or limits the amount of love that you are willing to accept from others (external). According to some you can only accept love on a level that you are willing and able to extend to yourself.
I have always thought that the true measure of love is the degree someone is willing to put their wishes and desires to the side in favour of the one they love.  When  your heart flows in love, you naturally feel happier. In the (very good) book, Happy for No Reason, by Marci Shimoff, she states, "You can start your heart's flow by sending lovingkindness to anyone and everyone you see.  It does not have to be dramatic."  Something as simple as wishing others well generates love in the heart.  You begin by creating a strong current of love and happiness because a heart overflowing in love is continually being filled with more love.  Choosing to feel love and think positively cultivates more happiness and love in your life. Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness. 
So, is Love floating on air? butterflies in your stomach? riding on cloud nine? a bouquet of flowers?  
Love is...


Love is not a look or
Something felt at first sight.
Love is not a kiss
Or a hug so tight.
Love is not a word 
Romancing the moon
Or something absurd.
Love is a series of 
Memories shared
Someone to do for
Someone that cares.
Love is the compatibility
Of two through
the good and the bad.
Someone to laugh with and
Someone that wipes 
The tears when you are sad
Love is YOU!

Written by Yolanda Pacheco Garcia from
Lost and Found : LOVE, a book of Love Poems
Purchase your copy at:
www.victoryp.com