Health news blog

Most men in our community are destined to develop receding hair lines. This is entirely genetically determined, and is not related to vitamin deficiency. Most people don’t realize that balding generally starts in the late teens or early twenties, rather than in middle age. It is not uncommon to hear boys in late teenage life complaining that their hair is thinning and they may blame this on shampoos, diet and various other irrelevant factors. There are many clinics in Australia promoting cures for baldness. Unfortunately, many naive young men have parted with thousands of dollars for nothing more than wishful thinking. It is advisable to thoroughly investigate the claims of so-called ‘professionals’ before parting with your money, and if possible speak to men who have already undergone the treatments. If such ‘cures’ really work, their promoters should not be averse to you doing this.There is no real preventative measure for this genetic process. Although many hair care products promise thicker hair, there is no special shampoo, tonic or vitamin preparation that will alter the process.A great deal of interest has recently focused around a new preparation called Minoxidil (Rogaine). This product does decrease hair fall and stimulate hair growth, although this usually takes one to two years. It is a very expensive preparation, but at the same time is the only one currently available which at least shows some definite benefit. Minoxidil appears to be safe, with no known side effects.
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• The relief of anxiety may greatly lessen pain.     Anxiety is a normal and universal emotion. As with depression, the distinction of abnormal anxiety in patients with physical illness is poorly defined. The clinical features and signs of anxiety are numerous. Patients with cancer may have fears relating to the uncertainty of the future, to bodily dysfunction, unrelieved pain or other symptoms, or it may be the fear of death itself. Panic attacks can occur which consist of sudden, unpredictable attacks of intense fear and physical discomfort, usually lasting 15 to 20 minutes.     Normal anxiety-Anxiety occurs normally in response to the stress and crises associated with cancer and its treatment. These episodes settle with time and general supportive care.     Adjustment disorder-reactive anxiety. Anxiety lasting longer than expected (more than 7 to 14 days) or exceeding the level regarded as normal and adaptive, may be classified as an adjustment disorder. Reactive anxiety follows a defined incident or stress and depressive symptoms frequently coexist.     Organic anxiety syndromes-In patients with cancer, anxiety can occur secondary to other medical problems.     Anxiety disorders-Generalised anxiety, panic disorders and various phobias may be precipitated or aggravated by cancer or its treatment. These patients have more severe and disabling symptoms which appear inappropriate and out of proportion to the medical situation. A generalised anxiety disorder is characterised by chronic unrealistic worries with autonomic hyperactivity, apprehension and hypervigilance.     Treatment-Patients with normal anxiety responses simply require good supportive care. Temporary use of a hypnotic at night and an anxiolytic by day is appropriate if the symptoms are severe. Brief supportive psychotherapy is frequently beneficial. Behavioural techniques including distraction, relaxation therapy and stress management techniques will help some patients. If significant depression is present, an antidepressant should be considered.     Benzodiazepines are the drugs used most frequently to treat anxiety. Drugs with short and intermediate half-lives (alprazolam, lorazepam, oxazepam) are preferred to longer acting drugs such as diazepam. Lorazepam has the advantage that it can be given sublingually. Midazolam can be given subcutaneously and can be included in a subcutaneous infusion with morphine.*80\55\2*

Note: do not follow these diets if they conflict with instructions from your medical practitioner.Plan OneThe Common-Sense Approach: For People who are Overweight or Normal Weight for their Height and Build.Your aims:1 to cut down the Candida’s food2 to build up the immune systemRemember: your loss is also the Candida’s lossCUT OUT OR RESTRICT:• Bread: one wholemeal slice daily• All food and drinks containing sugar• All refined cereal products such as white bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, cakes• Sweets, chocolate, ice cream, soft drinks• Alcohol• Foods containing yeast such as cheese, particularly blue cheese, and vinegar• Citrus fruits or drinks containing citric acid• Any vitamin preparations containing yeast, particularly brewer’s yeast.(You can use brewer’s yeast powder or tablets to help you determine whether or not you have a Candida problem. Take it for three or four days and if you have not developed an itchy rectum, bloated or uncomfortable abdomen, diarrhoea, rashes or insomnia, then it is unlikely you have a Candida overgrowth.)EAT:• Lots of vegetables, particularly green vegetables, salads and garlic• Fish, meat, poultry• Plain live yoghurt, cottage cheese• Lentils, peas, chick peas, beans, nuts, seeds, buckwheat, and all whole grains• Rice, oats, barley and millet• Peeled fruit (the bloom on the skin of fruit is fungus), limited to two pieces per day*72\326\8*