Hair care tips for women with kinky hair

In order to understand how to best care for “kinky” hair, it is important to understand how it is structured.

First, all hair is made up of the same elements: A cuticle (or outer layer), a cortex (middle layer), melanin (color), a follicle (the name for hair before it emerges from the skin) and sebaceous and sudoriferous (oil and sweat) glands.

This is true, whether hair has a kinky (wiry, course, coily) look or a straight look. Black hair, though, usually has twice the amount of cuticle as other hair types, which makes it harder for the oil secreted from the scalp to reach the ends of the hair. Contrary to popular belief, the lack of oil and increased vulnerability to breakage and brittleness, makes black hair more fragile than other hair types, too.

Here are some “best practice” tips for keeping healthy kinky hair:

-Never over-relax the hair. Once you put chemicals from perms in black hair, you are weakening the hair and making it even more difficult than it already is for oil from your scalp to get to your hair.

Kinky hair is coily, meaning a single strand winds itself around another single strand, which winds itself around another single strand, until all the hair appears tightly curled.

Use perms and relaxers sparingly and never more than every six to eight weeks.

-Guard against natural tangling while you sleep by tying the hair down at night with a scarf, sleeping on a satin pillow or plaiting or braiding the hair and covering it with a scarf. This prevents rubbing the hair into a damaged state against a cotton pillow case and allowing the hair to be loose and coil even more while you sleep.

-Massage the scalp daily, either with the tips of your fingers (never the nails) or with a gentle brush. This promotes blood circulation and oil production by the sebaceous glands.

-You should also avoid heavy pomades, Vaseline (TM) and products that contain petroleum and “hair grease” that clogs your pores and prevents healthy hair growth. The scalp never properly absorbs these products. If you must oil your scalp regularly, use a natural oil like shea butter or some light black hair care moisturizers.

-Avoid heat damage and alcohol-based products. Both dry the hair and make it break. It is best to use a protein leave-in conditioner as a best option and to allow your hair to air dry.

-Rinse hair after exercising or sweating to get rid of salt that your body produces. Even if you choose not to wash your hair, this is a good idea.

Excessive Sweating Problem Can be a Herald of an Underlying Medical Condition

Not too many people have a sweating problem, but those people who do have this type of problem can find their lives revolving around it. Normally although a sweating problem would be thought of as excessive sweating, the reverse of this can also be true in that some people might also suffer from a lack of sweating.

And although people who sweat excessively might wonder how such a sweating problem as a lack of sweating, could be a problem, it is nonetheless so. Both of these conditions are known health conditions, with the sweating problem of excessive sweating being known as hyperhidrosis, and the lack of sweating being known as anihidrosis.

If you suffer from either of these conditions your best recourse is to first consult with a physician as soon as possible to seek help for your condition. This is especially true if your sweating problem is only a very recent occurrence. Excessive sweating or lack of sweating, can both be a herald of an underlying medical condition, and all precautions should be taken to rule out any and all possibilities.

Of course a sweating problem doesn’t always have to be linked with an underlying medical condition. It could be due to any number of other reasons which are perfectly harmless such as being a genetic trait in your family. Not everyone sweats in the same manner or in the same way, and the trait of sweating excessively, moderately or not at all, can, and has been, passed down the family tree, many times.

You might also find that a sweating problem such as excessive sweating can occur with the onset of puberty when hormonal changes are taking place, or at a time – and it doesn’t have to be during puberty – when a person’s hormones are changing or settling down.

For instance in the case of acne, sometimes a person can coast through puberty without one blemish on their faces and when they hit adulthood, they would find themselves breaking out regularly. And although this is only an example of how certain changes in a person’s body can come about, it can hold true for a sweating problem as well.

In this case, along with, or even before, consulting with your physician to seek relief from your problem, you might want to try a few things such as changing your diet to iron out any problems. Sometimes a simple change in lifestyle or diet can help you to deal with your sweating problem. You might even find that you get other health benefits from such a simple change as well!

Alternative Medications For Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar is considered as a major disorder that can greatly affect an individual and his family. There are many definitions of this illness. One definition states that a person with bipolar disorder experiences extreme elations that alternates with deep depression. Bipolar disorder is also called manic depression. Generally, it is characterized by depressive episodes and accompanied by a manic episode.

To put it simply, bipolar disorder affects feelings, thoughts, behavior, and perceptions. Experts say that it is brought about by the chemical and electrical elements found in the brain that are not functioning properly. Some say that it runs in the family, so families having a history of bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses are more prone to having the disorder.

There are certain medications given for bipolar patients, and not all of them are quite comfortable in taking daily doses of different medications. Most of them are interested to secure supplemental or alternative therapies rather than taking prescription medications.

Omega 3

There are many researches showing that omega 3 found in fish oils and in certain fishes are excellent for bipolar patients, as well as those having mental illnesses. There was a significant research done in 30 bipolar patients for four months. It was a placebo-controlled and double-blind study. It aims to compare omega 3’s efficacy versus olive oil or placebo for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

According to researchers, bipolar disorder is a neuropsychiatic illness that has a high mortality and morbidity. In their preliminary study, it was proven that omega 3 performed better and resulted to longer remissions based on the four scales of symptom-severity. Further studies are still underway, and researchers are hoping that they can come up with new classes of psychotropic compounds that can be used as mood stabilizers.

Herbal

Most people resolve to the use of herbal supplements instead of taking prescribed drug medications. But not all herbs are good for the treatment of bipolar disorder. In fact, there are certain herbs that can worsen the condition of a bipolar patient. Some herbal supplements actually have a harmful reaction when used together with certain drugs. Consult your doctor first before taking any herbal medication in conjunction with other drugs.

Nutrition and Your Diet

You have to adjust your diet, and this means checking your meal menus everyday. The nutrients which the body receives are very important. Holistic physicians use b-complex, magnesium, and thiamin for episodes of depression.

Pastoral Counseling

If you’re suffering from bipolar disorder, you can also talk to your pastor, priest, or rabbi instead of talking to therapists. The religious community may be of great help during these times. In fact, the community is now recognizing the role of spirituality and prayers. In can even be included in psychotherapies and medication.

Art Therapies

If you’re always staying at home, then perhaps you might want to join expressive therapies. Through the arts, you can express freely your feelings and do so without inhibitions. You can enroll in a drawing class, sculpting, painting, and many others. Find an appropriate therapist in your locality who specializes in art therapies or expressive therapies.

If you want movement, enroll in a dance therapy. Let your feet fly and your spirit soar while incorporating your physical, cognitive, and emotional facets to the dance.

Soothing music can make a person relax. So why not enroll in sound or music therapy? Your body chemicals can be stimulated to improve blood pressure and flow, breathing, pulse rate, and changes in posture.

Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicines or the culturally based ones like shiatsu, reiki, acupuncture, yoga, Ayurveda, talking circles, and sweat lodge are only typical examples. All these healing arts are based on balancing the states of the physical, spiritual, and emotional for the wellness of an individual. If the forces in your body are imbalanced, you will likely get an illness.

If all these things are combined: omega 3, herbal, right diet, pastoral counseling, art therapies, and traditional healing arts, perhaps the forces of the body can be balanced and a bipolar patient can be treated effectively. But remember to consult your doctor for any problems that you may encounter, and don’t just stop your prescribed medication if you have one. Continue using it, and ask your doctor if you can also use other alternative medication.

Tips for keeping your pets safe in hot weather

High temperatures during summer months can create adverse conditions that can lead to significant health issues for our equine confidantes. Yet there is a bright side to all of this. By following simples precautions , many health concerns can be easily avoided. There are two specific health concerns all equestrians should look out for: impact colic and heat related afflictions.

Impact Colic: Increased perspiration, drier pastures, higher fiber in dry pastures, and decreased water consumption combined can lead to this condition. However, there is a simple preventative anyone can follow. Simply provide the hrose with an abundance of clean water. If you see a dirty tank, rinse it out. Put simply if you wouldn’t want to drink it, don’t expect your horse to.

What To Look For: A mild case of colic may be indicated by the horse if the animal’s head is lowered, behavior is uncommonly lethargic, has a slightly elevated pulse, is breathing faster, and is picking at the flanks. There is little to no appetite, but the horse may still be consuming water. As time progresses, the pain worsens and the horse begins to pace, paw the ground, and perspire. Both pulse and respiratory rates elevate, and the horse will start to lie down, and roll. Its mucus membranes will turn either bright red or blue.

How To Treat It: A veterinarian should be called out immediately. Meanwhile, keep the horse walking. Afterwards, keep a close eye on the horse for 24 hours. Fresh hay, salt, and water is fine, however avoid feeding grain for the next two days just to be on the safe side.

Heat Exhaustion/Heat Stroke: Horses don’t fare well in hot, humid conditions. One rul of thumb is to never work your horse during the hottest part of the day. If you do choose to train at this temperature peak, then remember that if the rider is tired, so is the horse. Throw in a towel, and call it a day.

What To Look For: Breathing and respiratory rates increase even after the horse has had an ample amount of rest. There may be excessive amount of sweat, or none at all. The body temperature is over 103 Fahrenheit. The equine possesses an irregular heart beat, and depressed demeanor. Finally pinch some skin along the horse’s neck. If this doesn’t bounce back immediately, and takes a while, the animal is dehydrated.

How To Treat It: Once again its vital to call the vet. Meanwhile, place your horse in the shade, keep sponging the belly and legs (large blood vessels), and offer

small amounts of water.

Simple Steps:

-Due to an increase in sweat levels, its vital that a horse have access to a salt block at all times. For animals that are languid, feed them an additional ounce of salt. Sport horses, or those with a strenuous work schedule should receive two ounces in their feed daily. An electrolyte supplement may be given in addition to the salt to equines with demanding work schedules.

-Avoid working during the hottest portions of the day instead opting for early morning, or late evening workouts.

-Offer plenty of drinking water, and shade.

-Properly cool down an animal after each work out.

By following simple precautions, you can easily save yourself hundreds in vet bills, and layers of worry.

Tips on Cold Weather Running

Tips on Cold Weather Running
by Hut Allred

Your alarm goes off a 6:00 AM; you jump out of bed to get ready for your run. You look out the window and notice that it’s snowed, the thermometer says its 35 degrees Fahrenheit outside. For a fleeting moment you think about postponing your run, but just for a second, the avid runner that you are won’t let you miss a day, unless of course there’s a blizzard. While being dedicated to your sport is admirable, here are some tips on cold weather running from a personal fitness & nutrition trainer Dallas you should know in order to avoid injury and have a safe run. You might also consider using the expert skills of personal fitness & nutrition trainer

• What to wear? Layer when your run. When you layer you will be able to take clothes off if you become too warm, keeping you safe and just warm enough.
• Be Seen? Make sure you wear clothes that are noticeable especially if you’re running at night or in the snow.
• What is too much? Before you leave on your run if you feel very warm and comfy you are more than likely overdressed for your run.
• What type of clothing? Pick clothing that is made out of a moisture wick material. This will help keep you dry and warm and will also prevent irritation and chafing from sweating. It also minimizes loss of body heat.
• Extremities? Make sure to wear a hat and mittens, (gloves are fine, but mittens are warmer). Heat tends to escape quickly through the top of your head. Be sure to wear a hat to keep your ears war and the heat in. Be sure to wear mittens, this will help to avoid frost bite.
• Hydrate? Whether you realize this or not you need to drink fluids just as much in the winter as you do in the summer. You’re running and your body is working vigorously expending energy, you need to hydrate, whether its water or a sport drink throughout your workout.
• Warm up? Remember to stretch before and during your run. Loosening up your muscles before you run raises your body heat helping to avoid injury.
• Fuel? Running on an empty stomach is like driving your car on a long trip without any gas. You need fuel for energy to have a great run. It’s best to eat simple fruit a couple of hours before your run. Simple sugars are easily digestible and change to fuel rapidly.

Now that you know the tips on cold weather running here’s something else recommended by a personal fitness & nutrition trainer Dallas you might like to know. Have you ever felt a sharp pain in your throat when you were running? This is caused by cold air hitting your lungs when you breathe: it doesn’t have time to warm up. You can help eliminate this by breathing through your nose. (This is also a good technique to learn whenever you run.) This technique will not eliminate, but will help decrease the painful sensation in your throat.

One more thing, try running in the middle of the day if you can, it’s the warmest part of the day when it’s winter. Follow these tips for cold weather running, use your common sense, keep warm, and have a safe run.

What Is Heart Attack?

In case angina pectoris is ignored, and the disease is allowed to progress, the blockage in coronary arteries/or in its branches may go on increasing. The end-result of such a severe blockage in coronary arteries/branches would be that the blood supply of a part of heart muscle (supplied by the respective branch of coronary artery) may suddenly stop completely leading to severe damage / injury / necrosis / death of the affected portion of the heart muscle. However, the patient may directly go into the stage of heart attack without undergoing the stage of angina pectoris.

There may be only sudden spasm/narrowing/constriction of a coronary artery or its branches, either of a normal vessel or already involved coronary artery as a result of atherosclerosis. If the spasm is momentary, the patient may get only angina, but if it is a prolonged one, blood supply of a portion of heart muscle will suffer adversely, leading to a heart attack.

As regards clinical manifestations in a heart attack, the patient suddenly gets very severe pain in the centre of the chest (retrostemal) which may radiate to the left upper arm. In some cases, the pain may radiate to the back of the chest or towards the neck/lower jaw. In atypical cases, the pain may only be present in any of these areas i.e. back of the chest or the neck, etc.

Unlike the pain in angina, the pain in a heart attack is not relieved by rest, or by the administration of quick-acting coronary dilator drugs like glyceryl trinitrate. It may last more than half an hour, and may be accompanied by profuse sweating. The pain, truly speaking, may be highly unbearable, the worst the patient has ever suffered/experienced and may be only relieved by a strong analgesic/pain-killer. The patient may even get breathlessness/syncope/vertigo. Some patients may quickly go into shock called cardiogenic shock which becomes a grave emergency, and the patient may die if proper aid is not given. However, a patient may die even instantaneously if the heart attack is very severe. Hence, after the immediate first aid he should be shifted to the hospital. Such patients are treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital. The sooner the patient is given aid, the lesser will be the damage to the heart. For this reason, in some of the places, there are mobile cardiac care units. The van, duly-equipped, reaches the place of emergency in no time, and the patient receives proper treatment in the van itself on the way to hospital. If some fatal complications occur on the way, they are also tackled right in the van. Many lives can be saved with such timely treatment.

Hence, early diagnosis as well as treatment is important to save the life of a patient in a case of a heart attack. One must bear in mind the solitary important warning signal to detect cases of heart attack, in most of the cases, that whenever there is pain in chest/difficulty in breathing/syncope (transitory unconsciousness)/vertigo (dizziness), especially in middle age, the physician should be consulted for an immediate check-up. Further, cases of stable/unstable angina pectoris may precede a heart attack and thus should be considered a most important early warning signal.

Tips on avoiding fires in the homes

You can help in preventing fires at your homes by simply being careful. Make your home fire safe by being aware of potential fire hazards in your home. Think safe and be safe by finding fire hazards and getting rid of them. Remember a safe home is your hand.)

This following incident is true and is one of the many occurrences that happen through carelessness, thoughtlessness and just plain stupidity. It was on a Halloween night and all the children in our neighborhood were dressed in costumes going around in the traditional trick or treat’ custom. When we answered the knock on our door my wife was ready with a plastic bowl of candy to pass to the children when suddenly out of the blue an older boy appeared from the shadows and threw a firecracker. His laughter ended with screams as the sparks of the cracker ignited the muslin costume of a little girl. Fortunately my wife was quick in her reaction; she took hold of her sweater and wrapped it around the girl and smothered the flames. The little girl was not badly burned but she could have been – she fully recuperated after a short stay at the hospital.

This accident would not have happened if the parents of that naughty boy would have told him of the dangers of firecrackers, and equally of the parents of the little girl not to use flammable material for a Halloween costume or a dress of any sort. Many homes are destroyed by fire by just such careless behavior because most people don’t understand fire. Only when we know the true nature of fire can we prepare ourselves and our families.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration of the Homeland Security that each year more than 4,000 Americans die and approximately 20,000 are injured in fires, many of which could be prevented by taking a few precautions (correct procedures to take in advance to prevent and remedy dangerous fire hazards). For example, it is a habit for a few thoughtless people to leave newspapers and oil-soaked rag in a closed space, such as a garage or in a basement workshop. Such oil-soaked materials build up heat and finally reach their kindling point and fire flares up spontaneous combustion. Download the U.S. Fire Administration and learn about fire the nature of fire and of prevention. Download for information: Homeland Security U.S. Fire Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 (301) 447-1000 Fax: (301) 447-1346 Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1441 http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citize ns/all_citizens/about_fire.sht m’

Excessive Underarm Sweating How To Stop Excessive Underarm Sweating And Never Be Embarrassed Again

Excessive underarm sweating is downright embarrassing. People who suffer from axillary hyperhidrosis (another term for excessive underarm sweating) are very limited in their movements. They cant confidently raise their arms, wave to their friends, drive comfortably, or even pick up an object on the ground – without feeling conscious of other people noticing their sweaty armpits mark.

This is damaging to their self-esteem, especially when their excessive underarm sweating becomes the laughing stock of the office. As a result, their social life and career might suffer the consequences of this embarrassing perspiration problem.

Excessive underarm sweating usually occurs during puberty. Most people think that the hot weather is the main cause of sweaty armpits, but there are other reasons when you see your underarms perspiring in a perfectly cool environment.

If you often feel anxious, nervous, or uncomfortable in the company of certain people, this might be a reason for extreme underarm perspiration. Such situation is more embarrassing, because people will think youre abnormally sweaty (and may have body odor) if youre perspiring excessively while everyone else is dry and comfy.

If others are sweating because its a hot day, that could give you an excuse; but its very humiliating when youre perspiring non-stop (especially if you have sweaty armpits) when others are not.

Another factor for extreme perspiration could be the foods youre eating. If you love foods with lots of garlic, onions, chili or exotic spices, you might want to cut back from those dishes and see if it will cure your excessive underarm sweating problem.

Some people have tried antiperspirants with aluminum chloride, but they dont seem to work for everyone. Some have opted for expensive (and often painful) treatments such as botox injections and surgery. Not only can this be agonizing for the body and may entail some risks, but can also deplete your savings.

If youre suffering from extreme underarm perspiration due to anxiety or stress, you might want to try meditation, hypnosis, and other methods to help you relax your nerves.

If your sweating problem is accompanied by body odor, make sure to shave your armpits hair, as the smell could cling to it.

Excessive underarm sweating could kill your chances of having a normal life, unless you do something that will cure it once and for all.

Save Your Skin by Following These Tips

Many people think that beautiful skin is something that you’re either born with or born without. To a certain extent that’s true, because genes undeniably play a role in how well your skin looks. But many believe that the environment is just as if not more important to your skin’s health than your heredity.

Here are some easy tips towards achieving great skin and protecting the skin that you already have.

1) Keep your skin clean. If your face or body is dirty, the skin’s pores may become blocked – restricting its ability to rid itself of toxins. Many times, outbreaks on your skin such as acne or pimples is the direct result of your body’s inability to detox itself.

So every night, before you go to bed, remove the dirt build up or makeup from your skin to let it breathe.

2) Exercise. Many people think that exercise is only good for body strengthening and skin toning. But it’s also good for your skin. Exercise makes you sweat. Toxins leave your body through your sweat. The less toxins in your body, the healthier your body and your skin.

3) Drink water. You have to drink lots of water. Without water, your skin dries out and ages faster. Water also helps with elimination and helps prevent constipation – both of these things are good for the skin. It’s hard to say exactly how much water someone needs a day, because it depends on so many factors such as body mass, physical exertion, weather, and so on. So you have to be your own guide.

4) Eat a balanced Diet. Diet is critical. Bad diet leads to poor digestion which leads to toxic build up in the body. In addition to water, your need to include lots of fiber in your diet to help cleanse your system. Avoid sugars and salt except in small quantities. The more garbage you put into your system, the more your body is going to have to work to get rid of it.

Other good foods to eat include green leafy vegetables and other vegetables and fruits that are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to both retard cellular decay and to repair cell damage.

5) Avoid too much sun. Sunlight is good – it helps to provide vitamin D to your body’s cells. But too much sun is bad for the skin. Staying in the sun too long without protection is a sure recipe for prematurely aging skin. Too much sun will dry out your skin. If you are in a profession that requires you be out in the sun for long periods, make sure you use sunscreen lotion, sun-blocking clothes, and drink plenty of water.

Following these rules will give you a good start towards improving and keeping the health of your skin.

Excessive Underarm Sweating — Is There An Easy Cure?

Nobody wants to talk about excessive sweating or sweaty underarms, although it’s a common problem for a lot of people. It’s a visual embarrassment and also a smelly concern! A lot more people suffer from excessive sweating than you might realize. It is not a problem only confined to teenagers, whose hormones are changing. It can be a life long problem for grown adults, and a very frustrating and annoying issue. There are so many products on the market that claim to work, including commercial strength antiperspirants, but nothing aprt from surgery claims to work permanently, and surgery is certainly not always the best option.

Sweating is one of the ways we regulate our body temperature, and sweating also keeps our skin moist. If you suffer from excessive sweating, it’s not because you have too many sweat glands, it’s because of the nerve cell activity of those glands. There are two types of sweat glands, apoccrine and eccrine glands.

Not surprisingly, at least 1% of the population suffers from excessive sweating, especially excessive underarm sweating. Everybody sweats more when they are hot or nervous, but excessive sweating may be partly due to our genes.

It’s important to control excessive sweating, and there are many different opinions and views on how to achieve this. If you suffer from excessive sweating, you’ve probably already tried the commercial antiperspirants and deodorants, and you’re still looking for a cure for your problem.

Diet control alone will not cure excessive sweating, but can help reduce it somewhat. Certain foods, such as onions, fish, garlic, and spicy foods like curry, can be smelled in the sweat. Try to reduce your intake of these types of foods.

Underarm hair holds sweat and can make the problem worse. If possible, shave your armpits to reduce the bacteria build-up.

There are other expensive and more painful cures available, such as Botox injections given in very small doses into the skin which can stop excessive sweating for 2-8 months. However, Botox is a poison, and it’s natural to have concerns about the long term effects of such treatment.

As a last resort, surgery is often considered, where the sympathetic nerves that control sweating are cut. This type of operation requires general anesthesia, and is not guaranteed to work. The success rate is approximately 30%. Underarm skin can be removed and can be quite effective, but this is not a common operation due to the scarring and is not encouraged or performed very often.

Natural ways to cure excessive sweating are by far the easiest and cheapest way to control the problem. It’s definitely safer to try diet control and natural remedies first.

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