Archive for the 'Gender Issues Information' Category

Curing My Hair Loss

Although my father had a receding hairline, I never thought hair loss would affect me. I was stunned to find out that my hairline was receding shortly before my 30th birthday. I cannot believe I was losing my hair. I even started balding on the rear of my head.

For the first time in my life, I felt that age has eventually caught up. I felt like the best years of my life were behind me. I even stopped seeing girls. My love life was virtually non-existent. There was one girl I had been seeing nonchalantly and even though I liked her, I just stopped returning her phone calls. I figured that I hadn’t found the woman of my dreams with a full head of hair so there was no way I was going to find somebody with my growing bald spot. I was too deflated to even try having a romantic relationship.

Hair loss taken a toll on me enormously, it changed me from a confident person to a depressed loner. I was persistent to get the problem solved and started looking for a remedy. I started trying several hair loss treatments that are accessible in the counter. Nothing I got from the drug store worked and believe me, I gave them all a go . After spend lots of money on products, I stopped trying for a while. It was a real low point in my life. I even stopped going out with my friends, I was so lonely.

As Luck Would Have It, one night a good friend of mine took me out for a few beverages. Throughout the night, he observed was I looked a little down. It took him a little while to figure out why. He mentioned to me about the hair loss studio in the city. My friend had gone there for hair loss treatments and had been impressed with the results. I was even more impressed. He had no sign of hair loss, he had a full head of hair. He made me promise to give them a go and I agreed.

I could not have been happier with the hair loss studio recommended to me. Only after a few treatments, I had a full head of hair again. The results were excellent, they did not just give me my hair back but also my self-confidence.

Facial Hair in Women - What Can You Do About It?

Facial hair growth in women is something that many of us find concerning. Assuming that you are not genetically inclined to facial air (Mediterranean, Jewish and Eastern European ancestry) or have a family history of facial hair growth in women), it could be a number of things.

One of the most common is hormonal imbalance. Women have both estrogens and androgens (male hormones). As we age, the levels of both hormones naturally decline. However, the ratio between the differences declines and it can look as if we suddenly have more of the male hormones, and therefore stray hairs. In addition, there are some medications that can stimulate the growth of stray, darker, coarser hair such as phenytoin, cyclosporine, anabolic steroids, combination medications with testosterone such as estratest, and minoxidil (used for high blood pressure as well as baldness in men).

Sometimes though, excessive facial/body hair can be a result of physical and medical issues. For example, polycystic ovarian syndrome and obesity (adipose tissue can produce androgens). Occasionally it can be related to adrenal tumors. In these cases one will see more than just the occasional stray hair on the face. If this is happening to you, see your health care provider.

So what can do you about it? Women have been looking for ways to permanently remove hair for years. There does not seem to be an easy fool-proof permanent way to deal with facial hair.

Treatments include:

  • Makeup Radio frequency
  • Hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
  • Shaving
  • Waxing
  • Laser
  • Electrolysis
  • Medications - Vaniqua - a prescription cream

According to many dermatologists, electrolysis seems to be the only method for permanent removal. Vaniqua, which is relatively new in the past few years does not seem to work for all women. The long term effectiveness is unknown at this time.

As with most things, there does not seem to be a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem of the stray facial hair. You will most likely need to try various treatments and see what works for you. However, keep in mind if the hair seems excessive or you have concerns, please speak with your health care provider for further evaluation.

EzineArticles Expert Author Barbara C. Phillips

©2005 Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP

Are you living with Vibrant Intent? Do you want to experience the Joy, Magic, and Wisdom of Successful Aging? Celebrate with us as we explore these issues and more. Receive your complimentary copy of “Celebrating You: 50 Tips for Vibrant Living” at http://www.OlderWiserWomen.com

Indigestion with Acid

General Indigestion is a typically caused by eating too quickly, especially when the food is high in fat. Indigestion can be felt as a burning sensation in the upper portion of the stomach, general nausea, bloated, heartburn, and among others a bitter taste can result in the month from stomach acid that is coming up into the esophagus. The most commong way to relieve indigestion is to take indigestion tablets, that battle to neutralize the extra acid, so that the indigestion can be eliminated.

Acid indigestion on the other hand, is similar to ‘general indigestion’ above, however it involves an excess of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. if Acid indigestion is experienced frequently it can wear on the duodenum and the lining of the stomach, both which are aggravating and can lead to conditions such as ulcers, which can be life threatening. It is important to know that acid indigestion is different from heartburn, which is the aggravation more specifically of the esophagus.

Acid indigestion is most commonly attributed to eating foods that have too much fat in them, but can also be do to too much spice, or an excess intake of caffeine or alcohol, smoking, overeating, or simply just eating too late in the evening(like right before going to bed).

Antacids can help to relieve the problem short term, however, it is known that a dependence can develop on these over the counter remedies, and isn’t recommended as a long term solution. Be smart with your dietrary habits as your life is depending on you!

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Ryan Fyfe is the owner and operator of Indigestion Area - www.indigestion-area.com, which is the best site on the internet for all indigestion related information.

How to Raise Testosterone Levels

Testosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland in both males and females. As we age, testosterone production slows down and the body has a decrease in the amount of free testosterone that is available in the bloodstream. These reduced levels of testosterone can cause a variety of problems including hair loss, irritability, growth of unwanted body hair in women, a reduced libido, and the inability to maintain all of your muscle mass. If you want to counteract some of these problems, there are several ways to increase your testosterone levels naturally so that you can look and feel better.

Raising your testosterone levels can happen if you eat the right kinds of foods. Studies have shown that the proteins in eggs and whey allow the adrenal glands to keep the levels of testosterone in the body steady. Eating fruits and vegetables can also have a positive effect on the levels of testosterone in your body. Because fat contains enzymes that convert testosterone to estrogen, having a lot of fat on your body increases your chances for developing low testosterone levels. Eating fruits and vegetables can help you lose fat and also develop a stronger immune system. Eating meat can also help you to raise your testosterone levels. In a research study, one group of participants ate a vegetarian diet while others ate a diet of meat. Those who ate the meat diet experienced an increase in their testosterone levels. The protein in nuts can also be very beneficial for raising your testosterone levels. Studies have shown that nuts, particularly peanuts, can raise testosterone levels better than other foods.

Weight bearing exercises are also an excellent way to help increase the levels of testosterone in your body. Instead of training one or two of your small muscles, you should concentrate on training large muscle groups to get the maximum effect of these exercises on your testosterone levels. When you are doing these exercises, doing a heavy workload can also maximize the benefits of this type of exercise when it comes to increasing your testosterone levels. Instead of doing many repetitions with a low amount of weight, do five repetitions with a weight that is difficult for you to lift. Working large muscles groups by using a heavy workload has been shown to help with your efforts to increase testosterone levels in your body.

Several ways of increasing your testosterone levels are actually very common-sense approaches to health and wellness. One method of increasing your levels is to limit the amount of alcohol you consume. Consuming alcohol makes your body slow down its production of testosterone and other hormones because it is busy processing the alcohol to clear it out of your system. Another method of raising your levels is to get enough sleep at night. Scientific research shows that people who get a good night’s sleep are able to maintain higher testosterone levels than those who are sleep-deprived. If your levels are low, try changing your sleeping habits to get a better night’s sleep. Following all of these natural methods of increasing your testosterone can raise your levels and make you look and feel better.

Mike Westerdal is the President of Critical Bench, Inc. He earned his BS from Central CT State University and holds certification as a personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise. His articles are published throughout the Web and in numerous weight lifting magazines. His best RAW gym bench press is currently 450 lbs. He is the author of the Critical Bench Program which can be found at http://www.criticalbench.com

The Mystery And Essence Of The Pearl

The pearl has always been a rather prim and proper piece of
jewelry - classic and seeped in tradition that never goes out of
style. Well things they are a changing! This year not only has
the pearl is had a very glamorous make over it’s a front and
center fashion statement! Yes, the classic strand still exists
as it always will. But we warned we are seeing some vary daring
looks from the pearl this season. Extra long lengths, tasseled
multi strands, pearls with semi precious stone accents, pearls
on gold or silver chains. The pearl has been transformed into a
fun and fashionable accessory.

The glow or radiance of a pearl is the most important quality.
Avoid pearls that are chalky or dull as they will be weak and
may crack or peal. The surface of the pearl should be blemish
free - no bumps or cracks. Inspect under a bright light. Baroque
pearls are the exception to this rule - their charm is in their
irregularities.

Pearls are measured in millimeters. The larger the pearl the
higher the cost. A 6 mm pearl is going to be much less than a 12
mm pearl. The least expensive pearls are the freshwaters which
mainly come from China. They come in all shapes, sizes, and
colors. Average size is around 7 mm

The best way to care for your pearls is simply to wear them. The
natural skin oils keep them moisturized. Do not put them on
until you are done with your cosmetics. This includes hair,
facial, and perfume. The residues from these products will ruin
your pearls. Do not wear your pearls in the water - chlorinated
and salt water will damage them. Polish with a soft cloth and
never use jewelry cleaning products on your pearls.

Quality pearls are not cheap but they will last a lifetime.
Freshwater pearls are becoming very affordable. Not all of us
will be in the market for “Real Pearls” and lucky us there are
plenty of options. Swarovski makes a crystal pearl that is of
the finest quality and quite difficult to tell from a true pearl
for a fraction of the cost and they are available in a variety
of colors. There is an endless supply of imitation pearl or
costume jewelry pearls on the market. These are offered in a
wide variety of styles and colors. Great fun at affordable
prices.

So you ask what’s “In Style” this season? Well I’m glad you
asked! Pearl rings get the green flag - from low settings to
monster large solitaire pearls, they are all the rave. A pearl
ring can go from romantic and simple to sleek and stunning. The
Bib Necklace makes a very dramatic statement. A broad necklace
that tapers towards the back just like a baby’s bib [thus the
name]. They range from extremely wide to as narrow as a “. This
style works great with a simple black dress or strapless
neckline.

The multi-strand necklace is ever so preppy. They range from 12″
to 18″ and pearls are usually small to medium. The object of
these necklaces is for every pearl to be in perfect placement.
Very versatile and fashionable. The opera length necklace simply
never disappears from the fashion scene. They measure 36″ or
longer and they can be worn as a long single lean line, doubled
up, tied in a knot, wherever the moment takes you. These long
strands are terrific for dressing up a pair of jeans or semi
casual look.

The tassel necklace from the footloose and fancy free1920s has
made a come back, and rightly so! Today tassels are often made
from tiny seed pearls or irregular baroques. They range in
length fro short at 16″ to navel length at 36″. The tassel
necklace swings and sways with your movement making it a must
have for those night of dancing.

This season for first time, we are seeing pearls mixed with
colored gems such as amethyst, peridot, or topaz. They
compliment each other nicely - pearls with their soft and subtle
shades mixed with semi precious gems with their vibrant and bold
color. Picture it - what a fashion statement!

Pearls mixed with silver is also new this season. Long silver
chain dangle earrings accented with pearls, or freshwater
droplets set on silver. This season the pearl is all about the
color. Pearls are available in many hues but this season the
“hot spot” is “lavender” and the lavender family ranging from
pale iris to plum.

If you already own a beautiful classic pearl necklace its very
easy to transform it into something from this season. Try adding
a group of charms or pendants, fastening a vintage brooch or
clip[ on earring at the bottom. You could mix various lengths or
sizes of pearls together or entwine a silver or gold chain. How
about mixing your real pearls with your fake pearls? The options
are as endless as your imagination.

Remember when you freshen your wardrobe for the spring, freshen
your costume jewelry too and Make Your Fashion Statement!