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Self-Care: It’s Good for Your Health
Does this sound familiar: you make time to take care of everyone else but you “don’t have time” to do something nice for yourself? Occasionally you might manage to eat a balanced meal or workout. Guess what: self-care is as important to your health as nutrition and exercise.
Since being healthy means functioning at your best in all areas of life, it’s important to do things to improve mental, emotional, social and spiritual well-being in addition to physical wellness. One way to do this is to choose activities that help you manage stress and feel balanced. Practicing self-care accomplishes this… Continue reading
Eczema
What is Eczema?
Eczema is also known as dermatitis, or an inflammation of the skin. It is characterized by itching, blisters, red bumps, swelling, oozing, scaling, and crusting. Though eczema is not life threatening, it can be uncomfortable and impact the eczema sufferer and those around the eczema sufferer.
Eczema occurs more often in people with families histories of hay fever, allergies, asthma. In other cases, eczema may be situational.To avoid further irritation of the skin, wear natural fabrics, nonirritating fibers, avoid irritating substances, excess chemicals, and scented fabric softeners. Look for hypoallergenic, organic, natural fabric detergents and softeners, soaps, shampoos, lotions, and anything else in contact with the skin.
The causes of eczema are hard to determine because it is multifaceted, meaning that it is the visible symptom of deeper problems such as food allergies, leaky gut syndrome, or other conditions. Determining food allergies and removing from the diet are extremely important, as well as changing the diet to prevent flare-ups. Trying alternative treatments and therapies are one way to remain proactive without subjecting the body continually to steroid (hydrocortisone) creams to relieve the itching and antihistamine drugs.
Symptoms of Eczema
- itching
- blisters
- red bumps
- swelling
- oozing
- scaling
- crusting
Types of Eczema
1. Contact eczema or dermatitis – occurs only where the irritant comes into contact with the skin. irritants such as chemicals, perfumes, exposure to light, etc.
2. Atopic dermatitis or eczema – commonly in families with allergies, hay fever, B12 problems, asthma, and other allergy respiratory problems.
infants – 2-18 months – red spots on face, scalp, and extremities; weeping, crusty.
children, adults – localized, chronic. may subside in children aged 3 – 4, recur in adolescence or adulthood.
3. Seborrheic dermatitis or eczema - face, scalp, chest.
4. Nummular dermatitis or eczema – chronic, coin-shaped red spots, crusting, scaling. Occurs after aged 35, associated with emotional stress, and winter dry skin.
5. Chronic eczema – hands or feet, very severe.
6. Generalized eczema – widespread over all the skin.
7. Statis eczema – on the lower legs due to poor blood circulation, skin turns brownish.
8. Localized scratch dermatitis or eczema - darker patches surrounded by whitish areas on areas such as arms, legs, angles, genitals. Scratching makes it worse. Frequent for women aged 20-50 years old.
Complications for Eczema
- Leaky Gut Syndrome
- Allergies, Food Allergies
- Vitamin B deficiencies
- Adrenal fatigue
- Hay fever, Allergies
- Food allergies
- Rosacea
- Seborrheic dermatitis
Anorexia nervosa, Eating Disorder
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia is an eating disorder with an obsession with weight loss, refusing to eat, and where starvation affects the personality. It is also associated with bulimia. Anorexia is more common for teenaged girls in developed countries.
For bulimia and anorexia, the main causes are understood to be a fear of becoming overweight, an obsession with body fat, and a fixation with perfection.
An anorexic may see themselves as fat, obsessed with death and exercise.
Recent studies suggest that a zinc deficiency plays a role in the perpetuation of bulimia and anorexia.
Complications of Anorexia
- nutritional deficiencies, especially zinc
- food allergies
- imbalances of amino acid
Symptoms of Anorexia
Bulimia nervosa, Eating Disorder
What is Bulimia?
Bulimia is an eating disorder with overeating and then self-induced vomiting. It is also associated with anorexia nervosa, obsessive weight loss and starvation.
Bulimia is more common for adolescent girls and women aged 12 – 30 in developed countries. However, it is difficult to know how prevalent bulimia truly is, because the eating disorder is done in secret.
For bulimia and anorexia, the main causes are understood to be a fear of becoming overweight, an obsession with body fat, and a fixation with perfection.
Recent studies suggest that a zinc deficiency plays a role in the perpetuation of bulimia and anorexia.
Complications of Bulimia
- nutritional deficiencies, especially zinc
- food allergies
- imbalances of amino acid
Symptoms of Bulimia
Hypothyroidism
Functions of the Thyroid
The thyroid is a small ductless gland weighing less than one ounce, located in the neck along the trachea or windpipe. The thyroid is the only place where iodine can be absorbed into the body.
Iodine comes from the different foods we eat and is necessary in small quantities to make thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones are then circulated throughout the body where they control metabolism in every cell. Metabolism is the body’s conversion of oxygen from the air we breathe and calories from the food we eat to energy.
Ovarian Cysts, Tumors
The ovaries are two small reproductive organs in a woman’s body located on the left and the right of the uterus. The ovaries produce an ova or egg each month, release hormones like estrogen, and bring about menstruation.
Various kinds of cysts can form in or around the ovaries. Most ovarian cysts occur during the childbearing years. 75 – 85% of the ovarian cysts being benign, or non-cancerous, and would not require surgery.
Ovarian cysts cannot be prevented, but they mostly do not cause any symptoms, are not cancerous, and go away on their own.
Vaginal Infections (Vaginitis)
Vaginal infections or Vaginitis is a condition that causes the inflammation and infection of the vagina. If the vulva and vagina are inflamed and infected, the condition is called Vulvovaginitis.
Symptoms of Vaginal Infection (Vaginitis) May Include:
- Itching around the vagina
- Burning during urination
- Irritation of the vaginal and vulvar
- Abnormal vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor
- Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse