Hair loss prevention and treatment

Are you experiencing hair loss? Are you seeing your hair falling in the towel every time you dry it, or in your fingers, when you run them through your hair? Are you seeing your hair on your pillow cases? And the most important thing, are you noticing your head slowly becoming bald?...  

Just relax!!!

Yes, I am saying relax, because if you haven't noticed baldness yet, you are in time. If you have, than you will have to get used to it...
95 % of hair loss is due to Androgenic Alopecia, or otherwise known as the male pattern baldness. It is a genetic syndrome, so we can not do anything about it, except to postpone the hair loss. 

So let's suppose you have a genetic tendency to become bald in your thirties. If you take good care of your hair, than you can postpone it until your forties, or may be fifties or even sixties! And may be at that time, some magic cure against genetic problems would have been found, or may be you would not care so much...

If you are suffering from serious baldness, there is nothing you can do about your hair, because the hair follicles do not exist any more. The easy way out is just to embrace the fact... It will not grow any hair in that part of your head. Even hair transplantation may be difficult, although consult your doctor about the severity of your baldness.

In the medicine world, hair loss is measured by two types of scales: The HAMILTON-NORWOOD scale is more detailed on the intensity of hair loss, and the BOUHANNA scale that determines the type of hair loss (temples or vertex) and is mostly used by plastic surgeons. 

Like I said, you can not stop your hair from falling, if this is hereditary to you (sorry...), but you can postpone it or even let your hair grow for a while, before the balance between the fallen hair and growing ones, becomes again nasty, after some years. It is up to your care and in what degree you are affected by the above mentioned genetic disorder, that will determine the density of your hair.

I will list below some hair care advice for you. Follow carefully.

1 . Pat dry . 

Do not rub your hair with a towel. I am saying this because the towel is the number one enemy of your hair! When you rub your hair with a towel, it becomes tangled, and most importantly, your hair will break. Use the towel just to take out the excess water and than use hair dryer, to dry your hair. In the summer time always dry your hair with the hair dryer, or let it air dry. Wet hair makes the ideal ground for mucus to grow, and you don't want to get affected by some type of disease, like tinea capitis. 

2 . Wash your hair often. 

I would say that washing your hair often makes it stronger, gives more volume, cleans the scalp from the oils that stick your hair together and makes it thinner and weaker. But, do not wash that often, 3 to 4 times a week is ideal.

3. Don't use very hot water on your head! 

Hot water damages the scalp, affecting in this manner, the hair growth and its strength. There are many folks that love really hot showers, but I will recommend to you, to avoid hot water on your head.

4. Don't brush your hair when it is wet. 

Or make sure to use a wide-toothed comb and use it gently.

5. Don't use tight hats.

Using continuously tight hats, can damage permanently your hair, even if you are not suffering from Androgenic Alopecia. Continuous distress done to your scalp from your hat can damage your hair follicles.

6. Cut your hair.

The shorter your hair is, the stronger it will be, and less stress will occur in the hair’s follicle The longer your hair is, the harder it is for the follicle to feed the hair, or the keratin body with essential oils. So, try to keep your hair trimmed.

Treatment methods 

For the moment, there exist two types of cures for Androgenic Alopecia. The first drug is Finasteride, known under the generic names of Propecia, Finpecia etc. This drug is taken orally once, every day, for a long period of time. 

It is expensive if you consider that you will take it for a long period of time and e pill has an average cost of 1 to 2 dollars. But, this is not all, it has a side effect that is a man's nightmare. There are case reports of persistent diminished libido or erectile dysfunction, even after stopping the drug. 

Of course, this side effect is a rare thing, but usually a sexual dysfunction occurs in the first days of use and than it all goes back to normal. While taking this drug, you will see your hair grow normally, because that genetic malfunction doesn't occur anymore in the hair follicle. When you stop taking this drug the situation turns back the same, after some months. 

The second drug is called Meloxidil. It is an anti-hypertensive drug that has a really unusual side effect! When you apply it topically to the skin it stimulates hair growth! No one knows for sure its mechanism of action, but it is believed that this drug stimulates the blood flow under the skin and in this manner indirectly the hair follicle takes more ingredients for it needs. 

It is very ironic to know that this drug was invented in the same way as viagra. By watching the side effects of these drugs, which were originally used for other purposes, but when the side effects are better than the intended ones, than you can just switch the use of that drug for another purpose! 

Animal's Bite, First Aid Tips

I am going to tell you a little a story that happened to my mother a while ago. She was walking down the street, when she saw a group of children running in front of her screaming and trying to hide behind her.

Then she felt a sharp pain down her leg. When my mother turned to see, there was this large street dog that was staring at her somehow surprised. It was like it bite her accidentally and it didn't mean to and then the dog ran away immediately. Later it was found that the children teased the dog, while it was eating something. That was the reason, why the dog was angry. But it was yet 'ashaimed', since my mother was just passing by and it confused its 'enemies'... 

Enemies or not, this can happen to anyone walking peacefully down the street. Not only from dogs, but from different types of animals ranging from, cats, hamsters, raccoons, ferrets, and squirrels can bite adults and children. Many times, bites are from the family pet. If the bite is from a wild animal or from a domestic animal whose immunization status is unknown, rabies is a concern. To end the story my mom had to get the rabies shots in her tummy done... :( 

If a person has been bitten by a rabid animal, the disease can be prevented by an injection of rabies immune globulin and a course of vaccinations. This must preferably be given within 48 hours to be effective. You should seek prompt medical attention from a physician, even if the bite is mild and the skin barely broken, because immediate vaccination can prevent tetanus and rabies from developing.

Rabies is a fatal viral infection carried in the saliva of warm-blooded animals. Symptoms in an infected animal include unusual behaviour, aggressiveness, excessive drooling and paralysis. Symptoms in humans appear about 20 - 60 days after being bitten by a rabid animal. Deep or multiple bites, particularly to the head and neck, result in symptoms appearing sooner. An early symptom is tingling, pain or intense itchiness at the bite site, even when the wound has healed. Other early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and behavioral changes. 

While rabies in humans is rare, it is fatal.

First aid for minor bite wounds:

1. Thoroughly wash the wound with soapy water.
2. Apply an antibiotic cream (such as bacitracin) to the affected area.
3. Cover the wound with a clean bandage.
4. Watch for signs of infection (ie, the affected area is very red or warm to the touch, painful, oozing pus, or blood-filled).
5. If the bite is on the hand or finger, call your doctor, as antibiotics are often given for bites in this area.

First aid for severe bite wounds:

(Severe bite wounds are wounds that are torn, deep, or bleeding badly)

1. Attempt to stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the affected area with a clean, dry cloth.
2. Seek immediately medical assistance.

Stay safe and be well!

Abdominal Pain, First Aid Tips

Abdominal pain can range in intensity from a mild stomach ache to severe acute pain. 

Since there are many organs within the abdominal cavity, the pain is often nonspecific and can be caused by a variety of conditions. 

Sometimes the pain is directly related to a specific organ such as the bladder or ovary. Usually, abdominal pain originates in the digestive system. For example, the pain can be caused by appendicitis, diarrheal cramping, or food poisoning.

Home care for mild abdominal pains:

1. Drink water or other clear fluids.
2. Avoid solid food for the first few hours. If you have been vomiting, wait 6 hours. Then eat small amounts of mild foods such as rice, applesauce, or crackers. 
3. If the pain is high up in your abdomen and occurs after meals, antacids may provide some relief, especially if you feel heartburn or indigestion. Avoid citrus, high-fat foods, fried or greasy foods, tomato products, caffeine and alcohol, because they may make the pain worse. 
4. Place a hot water bottle or heated wheat bag on your abdomen.
5. Soak in a warm bath. Take care not to scald yourself.
6. Get plenty of rest.
7. If you have stomach ache drink a glass of milk, because it will neutralize the acid in your stomach.
8. Sometimes the abdominal pain is plainly caused by an accumulation of gas in the intestinal tract. When that is the case, the easy and immediate remedy is to drink a gas of soda, or aerated drink. The soda helps to bring out the accumulated gas, turning so in an immediate cure for abdominal pain.  
9. You may also try H2 blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, or Zantac) available over the counter. 
10. If any of these medicines worsen your pain, CALL your doctor right away.
11. AVOID aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications, and narcotic pain medications unless your health care provider prescribes them. If you know that your pain is not related to your liver, you can try acetaminophen (Tylenol).
12. If you suffer from PMS (premenstrual syndrome)  take immediately a pain killer, drink chamomile tea and try to have some sleep. You can put your feet in hot water. That would help, too.