What exactly is Psoriasis?

Well, it is a skin complaint that manifests itself as flaky, white patches on your skin. The most common places that the disease breaks out are the scalp, knees and elbows.

Psoriasis occurs in varying levels of severity. There may be a minor occurrence and you may not even notice that you have been affected. Other, less lucky people can have a full blown outbreak of the ailment with large patches of their body covered by the signs of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is not contagious but its visual symptoms can cause embarrassment and stress in those afflicted by the disease.

So far, no cures are available for psoriasis, indeed, even the cause of the disease is not known for certain. However, there are a great many medicines and treatments available on the open market that claims to bring a temporary respite for sufferers. However, many of these treatments use potentially harmful chemicals and hormones, may lack proper medical supervision and do not guarantee long term relief.

One treatment, based entirely on natural materials that have been investigated thoroughly by scientists and doctors over the years, has continually show exceptionally favorable results – Dead Sea Spa treatments. According to data published in the International Journal of Dermatology, the effects of Dead Sea water, air, minerals and UV rays has a fast and long lasting effect on psoriasis with patients reporting significant improvement within a few days of starting treatment and effects lasting up to nine months.

Can psoriasis be inherited?

Sadly, yes! Whilst not contagious, research has shown that psoriasis does have a genetic connection.

Which branch of medicine covers psoriasis?

Because psoriasis is a skin disease, dermatologists are the doctors that specialize in its treatment. However, family doctors will also help. Some psoriasis sufferers prefer alternative medicine and turn to homeopathy, acupuncture and chiropody. One treatment that would appear to have the support of all those treating the ailment is a treatment regime at the Dead Sea.

Is psoriasis common?

Just in the US it is estimated that there are up to 10 million people suffering from psoriasis in some form or another. Studies point to nearly 130 million people suffering from psoriasis worldwide.

What makes the Dead Sea so special?

A 12 month research by the Dead Sea and Arava Research Center suggests that a mixture of bathing in the Dead Sea’s highly saline waters, controlled exposure to the sun and the use of mineral rich mud from the area have an amazing affect on psoriasis causing it’s outward symptoms to disappear almost entirely and putting off a reoccurrence for up to nine months.

Katerine Lev
http://dead-sea-health.org

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/psoriasis-everything-you-wanted-to-know-1395987.html

Do you know the causes of hair loss will determine the way it can be treated for maximum results? This is mainly the reason most people fail at finding the correct treatment.

They do not take the time to find out why their hair is becoming thin or falling out. Instead they panic and start grabbing products to put on their scalp.

This can actually make the situation worse. If they use a product that contains ingredients that are more harmful to their hair than helpful, it can make losing hair more dramatic.

Hair loss causes are not unlike any other problem that the body experiences. If you developed an unexplained pain, wouldn’t you find out what is causing this pain?

Loss of hair is no different. The reason behind the loss is going to be the key to addressing the solution.

Causes of hair loss can include an infection. These are not hard to treat and get your hair back to normal.

Hormones can be another of the hair loss causes experienced by men and women alike. These are usually caused by changes in levels of estrogen and androgen.

Many women can attribute causes of hair loss to pregnancy. This is not abnormal and will clear up within a few months of giving birth.

Stress is another major factor that will cause extreme loss of hair. In addition, a trauma, such as a death or major event in your life will also cause a shock to the system that will result in losing hair.

Some medicines you may be taking for other problems can be one of the causes of hair loss. Chemotherapy is one that is used for treating cancer and can result in the hair falling out, but this also is temporary.

Hair loss causes can be the result of your lifestyle. The body needs certain vitamins to function the way it is supposed to and if it does not get these vitamins, falling hair can be a result.

Another culprit is smoking. You are probably nodding your head and saying you knew this was going to come into play somewhere.

However, the truth is smoking causes the constriction of blood vessels. This can reduce the amount of blood that reaches the scalp and hair and may cause some hair to die.

Even though most women do not realize it, the way you wear your hair can be one of the causes of losing hair. When they pull their hair into a tight pony tail day after day, this can stress the hair follicles and cause loss of hair.

Probably the biggest hair loss causes is attributed to genetics. This can be passed from one generation to the next.

If you face facts, you will see there are so many causes of hair loss that it is impossible to say one product will work for every type. This is why it is imperative to narrow down the cause in order to find the right way of treating falling hair.

And, to help you solve hair loss problems, Kalpana shares with you a remedy to Thinning Hair and Hair Loss for both men and women that she found to be a safe and natural hair loss product. If you want to see results confirmed by other customers, visit her website, http://remedies-for-thinning-hair.com to find out more.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/if-you-know-the-causes-of-hair-loss-your-chances-of-correcting-this-problem-are-excellent-1364457.html

New medications are currently produced and introduced to the market to cater for the imposing obesity ailment in humans… The medications are in fact of herbal origin; extracts of plant parts and the purified active principles, which are presented in the form of pills, drinks, ointments and gels, with the view of reducing the body fat through excessive burning or undue release.

The slimming effects are successful in many cases, though the goal can be achieved through regular and moderate feeding with low calorie food and strenuous body exercise.

Overweight and obesity is related to an aggregate of technological, social, economic and environmental changes, including increase in sedentary activities, such as radio listening, TV watching or simply lazing about.

Obesity literally means that the body fat has accumulated to more than 25-33 % of the average content in a healthy body, and may lead to reduced life expectancy. It is also associated with diverse diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension, hiperlipidema, osterioarthertis as well as difficult breathing. Child obesity is often carried over into adulthood and may be difficult to treat later.

Obesity also increases the risk of death in current or former smokers as opposed to non-smokers. The increase in the body fat induces insulin resistance in diabetic persons, and increases the risk of thrombosis.

Anti-obesity drugs will help to reduce the appetite, or inhibit fat absorption. However, surgery may be necessary in certain cases so as to reduce the stomach volume or bowel length. This will inherently reduce the ability of absorbing nutrients from consumed food.

However, some people have a family tendency to gain weight through genetic factors which explain the dramatic increase in rates of overweight and obesity.

There are cases where both of the above treatments may not be successful, when obesity is endemic through gene expression. This kind of malicious kind of obesity cannot be strained through either bodily exercise or excessive intake of slimming action medications.

Now, recent evidence has led to  the discovery of a gene , Ad-36,called E4OBF-1.which causes precursor cells to differentiate into fat cells, and hence promotes obesity in humans as well as animals.. The viral gene is said to be responsible for triggering this process. When the expression of the E4 ORF-1  is blocked in cells infected by Ad-36, the cells failed to differentiate into fat cells. This is a proof that this gene is both necessary and sufficient for fat cell differentiation.

It is hoped that one day, researchers may be able to block E4  ORF-1 in humans to prevent Ad-36-induced obesity.

The gene also makes cells more responsive for insulin, in which drugs that mimic this part of the gene’s action may be useful in treating type 2 diabetes.

In spite of this genetic factor, one has to continue, through medication and exercise to fight it off, in at least to keep thing steady

http://www.slimmingactionimproved.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/obesity-and-treatments-1356859.html

The prickly ash plant is a tall shrub that is often described as a small tree. It can usually be found growing up to a height of twenty feet. The shrub can be distinguished by its barbed stalks and branches. The leaves of this plant are covered with fine hair-like material when they are young. As the leaves mature, they become smooth and develop spots of resins on the outer surface. When crushed, the leaves give out a fragrance that is similar to that of the lemon. The shrub is responsible for bearing green colored flowers. These appear in bunches on old wood before the leaves. Reddish-brown casings can be found on the wood, which house black seeds that are spicy to taste. The prickly ash shrub can be found in the region that ranges from Canada to Virginia and Nebraska.

The Native American tribes used prickly ash for toothaches and infection. Subsequently, it appeared in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1829 to 1926. It was also found in the National Formulary from 1916 to 1947 as a treatment for rheumatism. This herb was often used in the South during cholera and typhus epidemics. There, it was able to produce positive results. Prickly ash is often used in combination with a variety of other herbs.

Samuel Thomson, a nineteenth-century herbalist, considered prickly ash to be a valuable natural stimulant. It helps with problems such as rheumatism, cold hands and feet, ague, and fever. This herb is responsible for stimulating circulation, which is essential for a healthy body. Prickly ash can also help circulation that is impaired. This is the case in cold extremities and joints. Additionally, this herb can help with arthritis and lethargy because of its stimulant action and because it shows promise as way to enhance the immune system and relieve exhaustion.

Prickly ash can be used as a poultice to help speed up the healing of wounds and preventing infection. Also, it helps increase the production of saliva. This helps to eliminate mouth dryness. The bitter and sweet qualities of this herb are responsible for helping to heal deficiencies in the heart, lungs, spleen, and intestine. These qualities also help to strengthen them. As an example, prickly ash has been used to treat ulcers, asthma, and colic. Prickly ash is also used to aid digestion. Additionally, it helps in relieving feminine problems such as premenstrual cramps. This herb also is used to treat skin diseases.

The bark and berries of the prickly ash plant are used to provide alterative, anthelmintic, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, astringent, blood purifier, sialagogue, and stimulant properties. Primarily, prickly ash is extremely beneficial in dealing with poor circulation, fevers, paralysis, mouth sores, ulcers, and wounds. Additionally, this herb is very helpful in treating ague, arthritis, asthma, blood impurities, cholera, colic, uterine cramps, diarrhea, edema, gas, gastric disorders, indigestion, lethargy, liver disorders, rheumatism, primary tuberculosis, skin diseases, syphilis, thyroid problems, and typhus.

In order to obtain the best results when supplementing with this, or any herb, it is important to consult your health care provider before beginning any regimen while on prescription medications. For more information on the many beneficial effects provided by prickly ash, please feel free to consult a representative from your local health food store with questions.

More information on prickly ash is available at VitaNet ®, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/boost-your-health-with-prickly-ash-1347871.html

Matthew Pruitt is the owner of NuVision, a boutique medical spa with offices throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut that offers a range of laser-based procedures including LASIK, BOTOX, skin rejuvenation. He has helped countless men and women suffering from acne, and in this article, he offers advice on many of the newest acne treatments available.

For years, people who had severe acne had only one option after they had unsuccessfully tried using over-the-counter creams, which was taking a medication such as Accutane, which is no longer available. Unfortunately, these medications were not always that healthy, and often had side effects throughout the whole body. What actually is creating the acne, however, is an overproduction of oil glands.  We treat this problem specifically at NuVision, using the latest technology available. This technology has truly changed the way acne is treated.

Isolaz

One of the newest technologies for treating acne is called Isolaz, which is deep pore therapy. Isolaz is an impulse light that actually shocks the production of a patient’s sebaceous glands so we can really attack the acne right at the source. Many patients who have tried even Accutane unsuccessfully have seen good results and good outcomes with the new Isolaz laser.

Isolaz is actually a technology that we embraced early on and that we have seen tremendous results with at NuVision. We have a lot of really happy clients because of Isolaz. And from that, we have had a huge referral base from young people who come in while they are just starting to have acne problems, along with adults who come in with onset adult acne. So the Isolaz laser therapy is really changing the way that acne is being treated.

Isolaz works in two different ways. It clears the pores and it emits a pulse of light. When Isolaz clears the pores, what it is doing is it’s using a vacuum to pull the tissue into the machine and stretch it out, a little bit, so that it can get deep penetration. While the treatment is actually being done, it’s really not uncomfortable for patients. We don’t have complaints about pain or discomfort like you do with CO2 lasers or things that require more resurfacing. So Isolaz really is a painless option for people.

Vi Peel

A brand new peel just came out—one of our colleagues in California, Dr. Kalil, is the physician who actually invented it—and it’s called a Vi Peel.

Glycolic peels are pretty superficial—they take away the surface layer of dead cells so that you can reveal a more dewy look on your face. But the Vi Peel is a medium peel so it is going to go deeper into the skin and take deeper layers out to reveal more youthful skin. This is a really good alternative for our patients who may have some superficial scaring in addition to their acne.

For the people who have superficial acne and superficial scaring, what we’ll do is go through a course of Isolaz treatments and then we’ll follow up with a few Vi Peel. We do this so that:
You get to the source of acne that’s causing the problem and stop it from happening.
You get to the old damaged skin and you peel it away so that you can reveal new, more youthful layers of skin that are smooth.

In addition to that, the Vi Peel also provides better tone for the patients.

Affirm Multiplex Laser

For patients who have a long history of acne, we start with the Isolaz, of course. But if they have a scarring issue, then we may also use a laser called the Affirm, which is a little more intense than something like the Isolaz. If you’ve ever had laser hair removal, it has that similar type of feeling, like a rubber band snapping.

What the Affirm laser does, is it actually motivates the production of collagen, and at the same time, it is actually shedding the scars for patients. After two or three treatments, patients see dramatic changes in their complexion. This is a laser that actually also works for stretch mark reduction and scar removal, as well. It’s a really impressive laser that we have had a lot of success with.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Matthew Pruitt is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a plastic surgeon or more plastic surgery articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Treatments for Acne

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/treatments-for-acne-1326286.html

According to researched in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), three brain areas of a patient with panic disorder lack a key component which is a chemical messenger system that regulates emotion. Following a series of brain scans done on panic disorder patients to find anxiety disorder treatments, it is revealed that a type of serotonin receptor is reduced by nearly a third in three structures straddling the center of the brain. The finding published in January 2004 in the Journal of Neuroscience, is the first in living humans to show that the receptor, which is pivotal to the action of widely prescribed anti-anxiety medications, may be abnormal in the disorder, and may help to explain how genes might influence vulnerability. This research was conducted by Drs. Alexander Neumeister and Wayne Drevets of the NIMH Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program.

Statistics show that about 2.4 million Americans have panic attack strikes suddenly, and experience feelings of intense fear and physical symptoms sometimes confused with a heart attack. If these symptoms go unchecked, the disorder often sets in motion an unbearable psychological syndrome of agoraphobia, which is avoiding public places. Researches have long suspected that panic disorders are genetic components since it runs in families but the new finding suggests that genes might increase the risk of disorder by coding for decreased expression of the receptors. These findings have evidence in recent animal testing. In 2002, Dr. Rene Hen and her colleagues from Columbia University reported that a strain of gene “knockout” mice, engineered to lack the receptor during a critical period in early development, exhibit anxiety traits in adulthood, such as a reluctance to begin eating in an unfamiliar environment.

Various researches with successful results have enabled the scientists in overcoming panic disorder. Most of the anxiety disorder treatments are concerned with controlling the symptoms panic attacks, reduce their number and severity, and reduce the anxiety and fear associated with having another attack. The effect is doubled if the medication if it is combined with some natural methods of treatments; for example counseling and home treatment, therapy and relaxation courses. Medication choices to treat panic disorder come in the form of SSRIs which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. Benzodiapines such as Xanax, Valium,
Ativan and Klonopin are also prescribed besides SSRIs. Along with the above mentioned, antidepressants with mixed neurotransmitter effects, such as venlafaxine but this type of medication is only given in later stages. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as Tofranil, Norpramin, or Anafranil and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate are also given at a certain level to treat panic attacks.

Most of the medical professionals would prefer a combination of medicine and other approaches. However the best medication for panic disorder is considered to be cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on the way a person thinks and altering certain behavior patterns. It allows the person to build an optimistic approach and would tell the about some efficient ways to handle a panicky situation. Combining these two therapies results in less frequent panic attacks. A combination of anxiety attack medication would make the symptoms disappear in some time. The dosage of medicine and the therapy sessions are generally increased if the patient does not see the results within 6-8 weeks.

Overcoming panic disorder takes quite awhile as it depends on the severity of the case. Normally, medication is continues for a year or longer and then decreased gradually over several weeks. In some cases, panic attacks tend to occur after medication is stopped; hence doctors will continue the medication for a few more months for you just so that you can keep the symptoms under control. Most medical practitioners would advice and recommend patients to seek for therapy and self-relaxation techniques before administering medication to them. This is because once medication is given; the patient might be depended on the drug. Self relaxation methods come in the form of yoga and pilates. A walk on the beach and even jogging can help cope with panic attack and stress. Apart from that, patients are advised to join a group therapy in order to talk their feelings out and share with one another as well as help other people overcome their problems.

As a leading expert in the field of treating anxiety disorder, Beth Kaminski is always on the lookout for ways to treat panic attacks. Visit her site for more information on heranxiety treatment center and much more.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/key-areas-that-cause-anxiety-disorder-1321526.html