Cervical Health Awareness Month

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month as advocated by grassroots organization: National Cervical Cancer Coalition. Cervical cancer is attributed to the exponential growth of abnormal skin cells on a woman’s cervix. While always a significant reminder for women to get their routine PAP tests, this January may also be an opportune time to research the recently introduced HPV vaccine: Gardasil. While the HPV vaccine may reduce your chances of developing cervical cancer, it is still necessary to get routine PAP tests.

Cervical cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer among women, and is the leading cancer killer among women in developing countries. In the United States, cervical cancer claims the lives of close to 4,000 women, and 10,000 women are diagnosed each year. The only effective prevention of cervical cancer is regular PAP tests. The HPV vaccine protects 70-80% of potential cervical cancer cases, due to the link between HPV, abnormal skin cells, and cervical cancer.

HPV is the virus that produces genital warts, and afflicts over 20 million Americans. HPV is also believed to be a link to anal and penile cancers, as well as cervical cancer. While HPV is one risk factor for cervical cancer, other known risks include a weakened immune system and smoking. The HPV vaccine is targeted towards women, and has not been effectively tested on men, but the HPV virus has a higher incidence among men than women.

Over 10% of women report they do not get regular PAP tests, so discuss with friends and family to insure they are doing all they can to prevent cervical cancer. Early detection is the best possible chance against cervical cancer, so make sure to get tested regularly. For more on Cervical Health Awareness Month, check out the National Cervical Cancer coalition website.

–Matthew Krajewski

Skin Tips: Inside Out

Unless you’re blessed with naturally clear skin, we all struggle with occasional breakouts and blemishes from time to time. Every now and again, you may stumble across just the right cleanser or product that can give you that flawless finish to your skin, but sooner or later the honeymoon is over and some new redness or irritation appears. So perhaps it is time to wage the blemish war on a different front: from the inside out.

 

Before shifting our focus however, let’s make sure we have the basics of skin care down. First, wash your face daily, using warm water since hot water can dry out the necessary oils you’ll need to maintain a healthy complexion. Use gentle soaps, such as Cetaphil, Neutrogena, or Dove. Avoid products with perfumes or dyes since they can irritate your skin. Always make sure to pat your face dry, never rub it dry since this also can eliminate necessary moisture. Speaking of moisture, use a moisturizer to replenish lost oils and nutrients on the surface. All these habits add up to the same equation: be gentle on your skin, and keep the levels of oil and moisture on your skin normal. Despite many products to the contrary, you don’t achieve clear skin by drying your face out, but by finding a balance between cleansing and cultivating natural oil and moisture.

 

Despite these fastidious skin techniques, you may still find your skin in rebellion. This is when you can fight the blemish war on a new front, using these helpful supplements:

 

Omega 3 & 6: Found in flaxseed and primrose oil, these powerful nutrients help fight skin inflammation associated with acne.

 

Goji Berry: This strong antioxidant from the Himalayas fights free radicals and can help ward off spot blemishes. A good snack to keep around that tastes like dried cranberry or cherry.

 

Zinc: Zinc is found in foods rich in protein, like meat or nuts, and helps skin heal itself.

 

Potassium: Plentiful in bananas, potassium helps build new skin cells.

 

Vitamin E: Another powerful antioxidant attributed not only with helping alleviate acne, but also in helping treat scars and burns.

 

So if skincare from the outside in isn’t working, try it from the inside out as well, and see if you can’t banish blemishes, redness, and acne once and for all.

–Matthew Krajewski

Keeping Those New Year’s Resolutions

Ah, New Year’s: a fresh start, a clean slate, and a time traditionally marked by insurmountable New Year’s Resolutions. That list made once the champagne hangover has passed, and the allure of 364 new days pregnant with possibility beckon our imaginations.

 

To fantasize about changing oneself for the better always holds promise (like losing that holiday pudge), as do lofty aspirations like world travel or writing that great American novel. For most however, the list of New Year’s resolutions rarely materialize, fading away into the routine, laziness, and stress of another year of hustle and bustle.

 

So then you may ask, how does fantasy become reality? It is very simple, but just think about and detail your list more carefully. First, start with things that you could actually achieve. If you have always wanted to lose weight, shoot for losing five pounds instead of twenty; you’ll feel better once you make your goal and may actually keep progressing naturally towards better weight management. If you want to write a novel, start with short stories or character sketches. Whatever you want to achieve, cultivate the habit of change by starting small.

 

Second, choose goals or resolutions that truly resonate with who you want to become. Often times, the fantasy of New Year’s resolutions encourages us to craft entirely new images of ourselves that have little bearing on who we actually are as people, and thus those resolutions are that much easier to abandon. Don’t resolve to cycle ten miles a day if you don’t even know how to ride a bike. Instead, start with just learning how to ride that bike!

 

Third, detail your list of New Year’s resolutions with steps to achieving those goals. Sometimes, even the small goals you set seem insurmountable without a battle plan to make them happen. If you want to travel, create your fantasy itinerary, research the trip and travel deals, and create a budget to make you dreams a reality. Don’t just resolve to travel and keep it as a castle in the air.

 

If you follow these simple tips, you might actually keep your New Year’s goals, and be ready to start yet another year prepped for change and self-fulfillment.

 

–Matthew Krajewski

Do You Have Seasonal Affective Disorder?

It is not uncommon to get the “winter blues.” With shorter days, longer nights, and the holiday stress that tends to increase as December wears on, at least occasional “winter blues” are almost a guarantee. For some, however, these feelings of depression are a constant throughout the season, and may be indicative of a condition called seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression triggered by the changing of seasons, most frequently when summer turns to fall and then winter. This depression can include anxiety, fatigue, lethargy, increased weight gain, loss of interest in usual activities, social anxiety, or oversleeping. Doctors speculate that SAD is related to melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, due to the longer nights during the winter. These longer nights could also disrupt natural circadian rhythm, another possible cause for the onset of seasonal affective disorder.

If just can’t shake what you thought was “winter blues,” you may want to consult your doctor about seasonal affective disorder, or depression. As with other depressions, it is more frequent in women than men, and is thought to affect people more in northern areas. If your sleep patterns or eating habits have changed, and especially if these are accompanied by thoughts of suicide or increased alcohol consumption, seek advice from a medical professional.

Seasonal affective disorder can be difficult to diagnose, but can usually be pinpointed if you can recall annual bouts of depression followed by periods without depression. Treatments can include light therapy, anti-depressant medication, or psychotherapy.

The holidays are no time to be plagued with depression, especially if it is brought on by the changing of seasons. If you exhibit any of the signs of seasonal affective disorder or depression, make sure to consult your doctor, so that you can get your holidays back on track and enjoy the New Year!

–Matthew Krajewski

Alzheimer’s & The Holidays

Holidays change over the years. The mystique that surrounded holidays during childhood may fade, but they nevertheless remain a treasured time to spend and enjoy quality time with family; perhaps more so as both parents and grandparents advance in years. If you have little ones, you get to recreate the magic of the holidays your own parents created for you. And if your parents and grandparents are getting along in years, than you may have to work equally hard to manage a frustrating holiday guest: Alzheimer’s.

 

It is estimated that over 4.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. The disease is at present incurable, and typically afflicts those over the age of 60, with risk of contracting the disease increasing with age. Those that develop Alzheimer’s can live anywhere from 10 to 20 years after their initial diagnosis, depending on specific symptoms, progression, treatment and support.

 

Alzheimer’s may be first identified as Dementia, an umbrella term that refers to changes in brain function. Some Dementia is reversible, but at present Alzheimer’s is not. Alzheimer’s refers to when nerve cells in the brain die, making it difficult for the brain to transmit proper signals. This inhibited brain function most typically impairs memory, thinking, and judgment.

 

This impaired brain function manifests to the onlooker as different shades of forgetfulness. A person with Alzheimer’s could forget simple things like where they put their keys, or significant things like “fire can burn you” or even what their name is.

 

While the behavior of those with Alzheimer’s can be disturbing, it is important to remember, especially as you gather together for the holidays, that they are still the person you love. If they forget who you are, do not take is personally, and above all continue to be friendly and caring towards them.

 

Communicating with loved ones that have Alzheimer’s can be challenging. Maintain eye contact when speaking to them, you will be able to tell if they can understand you by their facial expressions. Try to be attentive, upbeat, and gentle in tone; this should make them feel comfortable and secure. Remember they are not a child, so do not be patronizing or belittling in words or tone, this can cause frustration and anger. Remember simplicity is best in words you choose, and be patient when communicating with them, trying to adapt to whatever mode of communication they choose to use. Above all, remember they are still your loved one, treat them with respect and dignity, and cherish what time you have with this holiday season.

 

For more on Alzheimer’s, check out the Alzheimer’s Association homepage.

 

–Matthew Krajewski

World AIDS Day

While most people associate December 1st with an excuse to finally put up holiday decorations, snuggle up close to the fire, and spend time with loved ones, it also marks an important international holiday that increasingly gets under represented: World AIDS Day.

World AIDS Day was founded in 1988, and each year a campaign slogan is chosen by the World AIDS Campaign, this year’s being, “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise, Leadership.” The slogan serves as a reminder for all governments across the world to meet goals they have set in HIV & AIDS funding public programs for research, care, and awareness, as well as for everyday people to also do what they can to prevent the spread of the disease, raise awareness, donate money, or volunteer in the fight against HIV & AIDS. Additionally, World AIDS Day is a yearly day of reverence to mark the passing of 25 million people that have died from AIDS since 1981. Today, there are 33 million people living with HIV, and 95% of those infected live in developing countries.

How far we have come

The red ribbon is the symbol synonymous with AIDS awareness, so familiar in fact that it has blended into our cultural understanding of the disease. When the disease broke in the early 1980s, spreading like wildfire in urban populations of gay men in New York City and San Francisco, the disease was first termed “gay cancer.” Since so little was known about the diseases, and it was afflicting an already stigmatized population, people generally feared even touching those infected with HIV. The Regan and Bush administrations did little to fund research and awareness of the disease, and major newspapers were silent on the topic for years, so it fell to the public sector to take action, raise funds, and get the word out about the disease. The grassroots organization Visual AIDS invented the red ribbon to mimic the yellow ribbon for soldiers overseas. Awareness and funding fell into the hands of celebrities, like activist Elizabeth Taylor, to amplify the original message of the red ribbon, in order to bring awareness and funds to the fight against HIV & AIDS.

How far we have to go

Today both private organizations, charities, and governments around the world are engaged in the fight against HIV & AIDS. To combat the spike of HIV & AIDS in developing countries, some $8 billion was spent in 2005, although close to $20 billion will be needed to maintain the fight by 2008. Differences of cultural understandings and controversies over distributing birth control for protection in developing countries, combined with inadequate funding, inhibit effective control over the pandemic. There is still no cure for AIDS, although there are antiretroviral treatments can prolong and improve the quality of life of HIV infected persons.

What to do

While wearing the red ribbon promotes solidarity, there are other things that can be done, in keeping with this year’s “Leadership” slogan for World AIDS Day. The international AIDS charity Avert features a How to Help page, to donate money and offer tips on what you can do. Also check out the World AIDS Day Campaign page on Taking the Lead. Also look for events or organizations in your area that help those living with HIV & AIDS in your area, or around the world, because there is usually something you can do in your own neighborhood that can make a difference. Most importantly, if you are sexually active, make sure to get tested.

–Matthew Krajewski

Avoid the Holiday Weight Gain

Holiday weight gain. Everyone fears it, in that dreaded holiday rush between Thanksgiving and New Year’s that so often has people professing the diet starts New Year’s Day. The reality is that people put on less than three pounds during the holidays, but it can feel like a lot more. To avoid even this slight gain, and make the most of the holidays and your health, heed these simple pointers:

 

Change your fitness routine…temporarily

Days are short and free time is even shorter, reorganize any fitness routine you have to reflect that. Get up earlier to run with the sun, or do a quarter or half your normal workout in order to save time. Don’t make it a permanent change, but be willing to be a little flexible so that you at least do some working out, and don’t cut it out completely due to lack of energy or time. Make the holidays a time to maintain your current weight, and don’t expect any miraculous weight losses during this time with lofty diet/fitness goals.

 

Work out with the family

There is always the temptation to hit the couch and turn on “It’s A Wonderful Life” after a holiday meal, but whether with friends or family, take a stroll around the neighborhood to work off a little of those potatoes and stuffing. It will also inspire some conversation with your loved ones, and make the best use of time spent with them during the holidays.

 

Eat beforehand

There are always tons of festivities and get-togethers during the holidays, with family or friends, which include indulgent food. The holidays only come around once a year, so feel free to give yourself a little break and enjoy the season, but don’t over-indulge. How do you walk that line effectively? Think about Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone With the Wind,” and the advice she is given before attending the Twelve Oaks barbecue: eat before the party. That way you won’t feel famished halfway through and overindulge in chocolates, liquor, and appetizers as a substitute for a complete meal.

 

Eat healthier

There are always options for eating healthier, even with the traditionally rich holiday meals. Salad with vinaigrette dressing, cranberries, and substituting low fat sour cream or low fat butter in that baked potato are a good way to start. Also, if turkey is a tradition for you and your family, reach for the white meat rather than dark meat since it is a good source for lean protein.

 

Cheat sheet

If you are plagued by worries of holiday weight gain, there are two simple tricks to curb the temptation. First, make sure to drink plenty of water. Oftentimes people will overeat because they are dehydrated, not because they are hungry. Second, brush your teeth after each meal. You may pass on the chocolate cake or pumpkin pie if you brushed your teeth after the main course; no one wants to mix that toothpaste taste with food.

 

Above all, remember that the holidays only come around once a year, so don’t sacrifice anything at the cost of enjoying yourself. ‘Tis the season, after all!

RightHealth Introduces Updated Look and Feel

If you haven’t already, do check out our site today: http://www.righthealth.com. We’ve introduced a new look that takes into account all the things that we’ve learned over the past five months. Think of it as a cleaner, slicker, better version of us. Sort of a RightHealth-went-spring-cleaning, ya know? Okay, I’ll stop stretching this to the breaking point, but you get what I mean.

Here is a teaser screenshot to get you started:

It’s Articles Like These…

It really is articles like these that make us want to get outta bed and work extra hard every day. A recently published study affirms that low health literacy (lack of information caused by inability to read prescriptions, etc.) can increase chance of death.

Check out the USA Today article here.

While the article isn’t directly applicable to health information finding, it reminds us that a lot of what we do has a direct impact on people’s lives.

What do you think?

RightHealth Introduces Videos!

RightHealth is committed to providing the most relevant health information to our users. So we heard what you had to say and – voila! RightHealth is excited to introduce videos as part of our topic portal pages.

Ready to see it in action? Try this link – which will take you to the topic page for “allergies”. Okay, so now that you’re warmed up and somewhat impressed, we are ready to really wow you – check out this link – which will take you to the topic page for “excessive daytime sleeping”, which isnt as popular a query as, say, “diabetes”. RightHealth is still able to present highly relevant videos for sleep apnea and others. Cool!

Now, head over to Truveo (a video search engine) and see the results for the same query.

Ooops – you ended up with videos about Paris Hilton in jail! So how in the world did we do it? Secret sauce, baby!

Note that we are still testing out this feature, so you won’t be able to see videos on every single search. But if you like what you see, drop us a line! We want to hear from you.