This Disease Is More Common in Women Than Breast Cancer

When you think of diseases and health disorders that primarily affect women, breast cancer is probably the first to pop into mind. While breast cancer certainly is very prevalent worldwide, it’s not nearly as common as the number of women suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition.

The National Institutes of Health defines fibromyalgia as “long-lasting or chronic disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue (feeling tired).”

“The hallmarks of fibromyalgia are exhaustion, insomnia, widespread pain, and brain fog,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. Symptoms typically look similar to that of arthritis or tendinitis with pain being the most common complaint. Find out the fibromyalgia symptoms you might be ignoring.

This National Fibromyalgia Association estimates that nearly 10 million people in the United States and three to six percent of the population worldwide suffer from this condition, with 75 to 90 percent being women. (Compare that to the 236,968 American women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) While the exact causes of fibromyalgia remain unknown, researchers believe it has something to do with a glitch in the nervous system. Some researchers believe that we’re seeing a steady rise over the years due to the increased stress people face in their daily lives.

“Fibromyalgia represents a very severe form of the human energy crisis, where the demand for energy outstrips our body’s ability to keep up,” says Dr. Teitelbaum. “When that occurs, we essentially blow a fuse/trip a circuit breaker called the hypothalamus.” That means your brain basically tricks your body into being hypersensitive to stimuli that you normally wouldn’t find painful.

While there’s no known cure for the disease, most medical professionals agree that a combined treatment plan of prescription drugs, a healthy diet, exercise, and enough sleep may help alleviate the pain associated with fibromyalgia. Numerous studies show that regular exercise is key when dealing with fibromyalgia as exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. Read on to learn natural treatments for fibromyalgia.

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The One Beauty Product You Should Avoid After Workouts, According to Dermatologists

More often than not, the first thing you want to do after a tough workout is shower and freshen up. We hear ya! But fitness fanatics, beware: One surprising part of your post-workout beauty routine might be damaging your skin. (No time for a shower? Here’s how to look, feel, and smell fresh after your sweat session.)

No matter how badly you want to revive your sweaty hair after exercising, dermatologists recommend avoiding hair products like hairspray after a workout. Why, you ask? “As your body is still warm, these products will melt and travel downward to your face and clog pores,” New York-based dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman told Byrdie.

Even worse, these products can cause acne and irritation in the long run. Clogged pores difficult to de-clog, and as a result, you’re much more likely to get blackheads, whiteheads, and acne, according to Dr. Todd Plott. Check out even more sneaky reasons for your acne breakout.

Bottom line: While you might want to get your hair in great shape after shaping up your body, put the products away.

Looking for more post-workout advice? Dr. Engelman suggests avoiding heavy, pore-clogging makeup after a workout, too. If you can’t do without a face touch-up, opt for light makeup products like tinted moisturizer, instead. Just look at this way: You’ve never had a better excuse to “let your natural radiance shine,” she said.

That’s not the only gym mistake you’re making. You should never, ever do these things after a workout, either.

[Source: SheFinds]

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The One Beauty Product You Should Avoid After Workouts, According to Dermatologists Health – Reader's Digest

10 Everyday Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Eyelashes

Sleeping with makeup on

We get it—nobody feels like washing their face after a long day, particularly struggling with stubborn waterproof mascara. But keeping your makeup on while you sleep not only leads to breakouts, but is also a top cause of eyelash damage. One of the ways mascara works is by making eyelashes stiff, so they are incredibly prone to breakage once it’s on. Hitting the bed with the formula on crunches your lashes against the pillow surface, and they may break in the process because of their already brittle state. Sharon Lipetz Gjieli, owner of Makeup By Lips LLC, shares, “Always have makeup wipes or makeup remover in your nightstand for the lazy nights when washing your face just isn’t an option.” As a rule of thumb, if you invest a lot of time into applying makeup, be sure to invest the same amount of time into taking it off. (In case you’re wondering, this is how bad it really is to sleep in your makeup).

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DIY Homemade Activated Charcoal Toothpaste for Teeth Whitening

Most of us start our day by brushing our teeth, and many have strong opinions about which toothpaste they prefer. Some prefer plain white toothpaste, some like mint-flavored and some like bubblegum-flavored. There are numerous choices in the market. But are you sure that the toothpaste you are using is safe? You may be shocked […]

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DIY Homemade Activated Charcoal Toothpaste for Teeth Whitening

Most of us start our day by brushing our teeth, and many have strong opinions about which toothpaste they prefer. Some prefer plain white toothpaste, some like mint-flavored and some like bubblegum-flavored. There are numerous choices in the market. But are you sure that the toothpaste you are using is safe? You may be shocked […]

The post DIY Homemade Activated Charcoal Toothpaste for Teeth Whitening appeared first on Top 10 Home Remedies.

from DIY Homemade – Top 10 Home Remedies http://bit.ly/2lij6BY

The One Spot You Should Never Skip When Applying Sunscreen (But Always Do)

If there’s any one piece of advice to take from health and beauty articles, it’s that sunscreen is not optional. Not only does slathering up daily cut risk of skin cancer by half, but the sun protection can also keep your skin looking young by slowing aging. Even if you’ve stayed diligent, though, there’s one common spot on your face you likely always miss.

When you’re rubbing in sunscreen, you probably focus on your nose, cheeks, and forehead. But when was the last time you made sure to cover your eyelids? A small UK study found that volunteers were more likely to miss the areas around their eyes than any other spots. Nearly 14 percent left their eyelids unprotected, and 77 missed the spot between the inner corner of the eye and the bridge of the nose.

Skin cancer of the eyelids makes up about five to ten percent of all skin cancer diagnoses, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Most are non-melanoma, with 83 percent of eyelid skin cancer cases basal cell carcinoma and 17 percent squamous cell carcinoma. And while most eyelid growths aren’t cancer, a painless, asymmetric tumor that starts to bleed could be cancer, Richard Allen, MD, PhD, told MD Anderson Cancer Center. (Don’t miss these other 8 things everyone should know about skin cancer.)

Getting the product close to your eyes seems like a bad idea, but some cosmetic companies make eye creams with SPF or sunscreens specially formulated for the eyes. If trying to get sunscreen around your eyes without irritation isn’t going well, wearing a wide-brimmed hat or sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection can save your skin, too.

“Most people consider the point of sunglasses is to protect the eyes, specifically corneas, from UV damage, and to make it easier to see in bright sunlight,” Kevin Hamil, PhD, co-author of the UK sunscreen application study, said in a statement. “However, they do more than that, they protect the highly cancer prone eyelid skin as well.”

Check out these other 6 sneaky things that may be increasing your risk of skin cancer.

[Source: LifeHacker]

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Homemade Peel-Off Masks for Glowing, Spotless Skin

Do you want beautiful and flawless skin but are tired of buying the latest skin care product that only provides lackluster results? Then it is time to try some DIY peel-off masks. Peel-off masks are an important part of your skin care routine. These masks are not for daily use. Just use them once or twice […]

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Homemade Peel-Off Masks for Glowing, Spotless Skin

Do you want beautiful and flawless skin but are tired of buying the latest skin care product that only provides lackluster results? Then it is time to try some DIY peel-off masks. Peel-off masks are an important part of your skin care routine. These masks are not for daily use. Just use them once or twice […]

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from DIY Homemade – Top 10 Home Remedies http://bit.ly/2Cdz48v

This Is When You Should Schedule Surgery If You Want to Heal Faster

It doesn’t take much to injure yourself. A simple trip can have you flat on your face. You dust yourself off, reach for the antibacterial ointment and bandages, and prepare to answer a lot of questions about why you’re sporting a Frozen BandAid on your face. With the knowledge that time heals all wounds, you go on with your life, knowing eventually you’ll be good as new. But according to research, time isn’t the only remedy.

A new study, published in Science Translational Medicine, has concluded that timing of the wound also plays great importance in how long it takes to heal. And while you can’t exactly control when you’re going to trip and fall on your face, the findings suggest patients have a shorter time of recovery from surgery if it’s performed during the right time of day.

John O’Neill, a biologist at the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England, and his team found that skin cells help mend wounds more quickly in the daytime as opposed to at night. (Here’s another reason you’ll want to make sure you don’t have surgery at night.) This is thanks to our circadian clock.

Up until now, biologists and neuroscientists have believed our circadian clock lives solely in the brain. But recent research has found that cells in other parts of the body are also keeping their own time. Researchers have remained puzzled by such findings.

O’Neill and his team wanted to uncover how cells in organs like the liver and lungs are able to maintain their own 24-hour schedule, so they began studying skin cells known as fibroblasts, which are essential for wound healing.

When you trip and scrape your knee, fibroblasts come to the rescue, filling the gap in the skin to create a foundation for new skin to grow. These cells seem to have their own 24-hour clock, so O’Neill and his colleagues looked for proteins within the cells that are in cohesion with daily rhythms.

What they found was that proteins that orchestrate the creation of the cell’s actin-based skeleton worked the daytime shift, directing the fibroblasts to slip into the injury hole and commence the healing process.

The researchers then tested their hypothesis with cells grown in a flat layer in a petri dish. As they assumed, fibroblasts were more diligent at their job during the day.

“You can see by eye, when the cell is wounded only eight hours apart from each other, in a different circadian phase, the [daytime] wounded ones take off, and the [nighttime] one drags,” O’Neill told Science Mag.

The researchers then revealed that mice who suffered wounds in the day healed better than those who suffered them at night. The real test was in humans, however.

O’Neill and his team took their hypothesis to the human level, analyzing data from the International Burn Injury Database for information on the time of day an injury occurred. The results were fascinating: people who suffered burns during resting hours took an average of 11 days longer to heal than people who suffered burns during waking hours.

O’Neill believes that their findings could help people better recover from scheduled surgeries. The study’s findings also point out that our bodies are likely made to respond quicker in the daytime. Find out how to speed up healing, no matter what time of day you’re injured.

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10 Diabetes Symptoms in Men Every Man Should Be Aware Of

You notice dark patches on your skin

Your skin is a window into the health of your insides—check out all the conditions your skin can reveal. Diabetes is no exception. The back of your neck, groin, or underarms may look “dirty,” but the dark, velvety patches in these areas are actually a symptom of insulin resistance. It’s called acanthosis nigricans (AN). “The hormones involved in insulin resistance are also thought to contribute to the skin condition,” says Margaret Eckert-Norton, RN, PhD, CDE, chair of the Endocrine Society‘s Advocacy and Public Outreach Core Committee and associate professor at St. Joseph’s College in New York City. “It’s something that tends to happen gradually over the years,” she adds. Treatment for AN involves addressing the underlying cause—in this case, regaining control over blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes and you’re looking to reverse, check out this step-by-step plan.

The tip of your penis is red and swollen

There are many warning signs that you could be developing type 2 diabetes, including erectile dysfunction. When you have uncontrolled blood sugar, however, you’re at risk for a condition called balanitis. (Blood sugar in your urine provides an ideal environment for bacteria and yeast to grow.) Symptoms include swelling of the foreskin and tip of the penis, and it may be painful or you could experience a discharge. See your doctor, who will instruct you on the best way to keep the area clean and may recommend treatment with an anti-fungal or antibiotic cream (depending on the source of the problem).

Shaving nicks don’t heal quickly

While shaving your face you get a tiny cut that seems to linger forever. “When your sugars are on their way up, it may take longer for a cut to heal,” explains Eckert-Norton. You may also notice more shaving bumps and white heads in your hair follicles in your beard. The sebaceous oil glands in your face are also vulnerable to low-grade infections that you’re at risk for when you have type 2 diabetes, she says. Check out these smart and safe hygiene habits all men should follow.

Your hands and feet are numb and tingly

A more advanced complication of type 2 diabetes is nerve damage, a condition called peripheral diabetic neuropathy. You may feel tingling or pins and needles in your feet, pain or numbness and weakness, according to the American Diabetes Association. Eckert-Norton says that it presents in a “stocking, glove” pattern. “Where your socks go on, peripheral neuropathy happens first, and it eventually gets to your fingertips later on,” she says. Keeping blood glucose levels on target is key to lessening pain and numbness.

You’re so thirsty

Thirst is common with type 2 diabetes—in fact, it can be a sign of at least eight medical problems. You may notice that no amount of water can quench your thirst. That’s due to rising blood sugar levels, which forces your kidneys to get hard at work trying to filter out the excess sugar by ramping up urine production, says Eckert-Norton. You’ll pee more, which can potentially lead to dehydration, and you’ll want to drink more, too. If you notice that you’re running to the bathroom all day or are excessively thirsty (or dealing with a dry mouth), talk to your doctor about your glucose levels.

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You’re seeing “floaters”

Though uncontrolled diabetes can damage eyes, it’s usually not until diabetes is more advanced that you start experiencing symptoms. Over time, high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina, causing them to bleed and leading to diabetic retinopathy, according to the National Eye Institute. You may notice black floating spots dotting your field of vision, and you may also have blurred vision. If you notice these type 2 diabetes symptoms in men, see a doctor for a dilated eye exam. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you will need an eye exam at least once a year to ensure eyes stay healthy.

Your appetite is out of control

If you inexplicably have an enormous appetite, it may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance means it’s harder for the body to shuttle glucose into cells where it produces energy. As a response, your body also produces more insulin, and that ramps up your appetite and triggers cravings. This is also how weight gain happens, Eckert-Norton explains. She adds that some patients will keep candy bars in their desks to pull out when they feel like they have low blood sugar. The problem is, it’s easy to overcompensate by eating too much—and the wrong types of foods (see: candy bar). Along with seeing your doctor, there are several strategies you can try to keep hunger at bay.

Your mood is low

Among the problems triggered by poor blood sugar, mood disorders are notorious. In a 2012 study in Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, men with type 2 diabetes were more likely to have a depressed mood compared to healthy men. Blood sugar balance is important for maintaining a pleasant mood; when it dips, low blood sugar can contribute to irritability.

Your gums are bleeding

You’ve heard that one reason to stay on top of your oral health is because gum problems can put you at risk for chronic diseases like heart disease. Your teeth can reveal a lot of issues with your body, and one of those issues is diabetes. Gum disease can be one of the diabetes symptoms in men. People with diabetes are three times more likely to develop periodontitis (an infection that damages gums and can lead to tooth loss) compared to those who don’t have the disease. Red, swollen, bleeding gums are a few signs of the condition. It’s important to see a dentist and get this under control, since the infection also works the other way, and can increase blood sugar levels.

You’re dizzy

When you’re thinking about possible diabetes symptoms in men, balance issues may not come to mind. They should be—in fact, there are at least eight medical reasons you might feel dizzy. Inner ear disorders, which can show up as dizziness and balance problems, are 70 percent higher in people with type 2 diabetes compared to those without, according to a 2009 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Diabetes damages small blood vessels, which may, in turn, affect the blood flow to the inner ear structures. The lesson: Even seemingly unrelated problems can be a clue that your blood sugar levels are on the rise.

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These 2 Bad Habits Can Make Your Face Look Way Older, Study Says

The older we get, the more we obsess over looking younger. While genes are the main indicator of how well (or poorly) you’ll age, there are ways to actively fight the visible signs of aging, like adopting these everyday habits that can make you look way younger. But if you happen to indulge in two less-than-healthy habits, your face will age much faster, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

Danish researchers tapped data from the Copenhagen City Heart Study to track visible aging signs of 11,500 adults for 11.5 years. The study participants were periodically queried about how much they drank and smoked as part of a general review of their lifestyle habits. Researchers also examined their ears, eyes, and hairlines.

The results revealed that, yes, hard living equals fast aging: Women who downed 28 or more drinks a week were 33 percent more likely to develop discoloration in the eyes linked to aging, compared to women who had less than seven drinks a week. For men, the risk jumped to 35 percent when they had 35 or more drinks a week. Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for more than 15 years raised the likelihood that a woman’s eyes would betray signs of aging by 41 percent, compared to a non-smoker; the risk jumped 12 percent for male smokers.

“This is the first prospective study to show that alcohol and smoking are associated with the development of visible age-related signs and thus generally looking older than one’s actual age,” the researchers told Science Daily. “This may reflect that heavy drinking and smoking increases general aging of the body.” If you need to cut back on your drinking habits, read these 17 tips for drinking less alcohol.

Because the study only observed the changes, drawing firm and fast conclusions isn’t possible, note the study authors. For example, the researchers couldn’t rule out the impact of stress on the participants.

There is some good news though. Light to moderate drinkers didn’t have any greater visible aging signs than non-drinkers, so drinking in moderation gets a pass. Not a drinker or a smoker? You could still be aging your face with these makeup mistakes that make you look older.

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These 2 Bad Habits Can Make Your Face Look Way Older, Study Says Health – Reader's Digest