by admin | Apr 23, 2018 | Health Awareness
Psoriasis is a chronic condition in which the immune system triggers an overproduction of skin cells. While it is a lifelong disease, its sufferers know to expect certain periods of flare-ups and other times when the condition’s symptoms are more manageable. Around this time of year, one question psoriasis patients often have is: How will the warm weather affect my skin? While the answer varies from one individual to the next, here is some information to help you stay comfortable through the coming heat waves.
Does Sunlight Help or Hurt Psoriasis?
Some individuals find that moderate exposure to natural ultraviolet light (sunshine) can lead to an improvement in psoriasis. In fact, light therapy is sometimes even performed under medical supervision as a means of controlling the condition. With that said, the National Psoriasis Foundation warns of overexposure: too much sun can actually cause a flare-up. Of course, prolonged exposure to sunlight can also increase skin cancer risks.
If you’ve experienced positive results with light therapy in the past, you may also find sunlight exposure to be beneficial. However, it’s a good idea to start slowly and gradually increase exposure times to no more than 15 minutes. Try getting five minutes of sunlight first, then build up durations over several weeks.
What Are Some Common Summertime Skin Irritants?
Unfortunately, the benefits of summer sun can be easily offset by increased sweating. In particular, people with psoriasis often experience increased flare-ups on their face and scalp as a result of the heat. Loose-fitting, breathable fabrics are best for keeping the skin cool. If you have scalp psoriasis, consider wearing white clothing during the summer time to keep any flakes undetected. Also, while air conditioning can provide relief, it may also cause skin to dry out. Be sure to moisturize daily if you’re staying in the A/C.
Bug bites are also known summertime irritants. While mosquito bites can be a nuisance for anyone, they can actually exacerbate symptoms in psoriasis sufferers. If you decide to apply bug spray, make sure it’s DEET-free, as the ingredient can also aggravate psoriasis. Should you prefer to keep your skin free of all insect repellents, try using citronella candles to ward off pesky insects instead.
Will Swimming Help?
Swimming can aid in the removal of dead skin, but both salt water and chlorine can also create dryness. To combat these effects, be sure to rinse off and moisturize shortly after getting out of the water. Hot tubs may also cause itchiness as a result of the heat, but for some people, the softening effect it creates on harder patches of skin makes the temporary discomfort worthwhile. Of course, if you have open sores it is best to stay out of the water until they have healed.
Ultimately, many people with psoriasis find that increased humidity levels and sunlight actually tend to outweigh any of the irritants summertime brings. In fact, most individuals find that warmer weather is a relief after cooler, dry winter months. With that said, each person responds to factors differently, so it’s always a good idea to listen to your body first and foremost.
by admin | Apr 20, 2018 | Health Awareness
Any time your body recognizes a foreign entity – whether it’s pollen, a chemical, a microbe, or something similar – it responds with inflammation. Persistent inflammation is a problem, because as Harvard Medical School explains, it is linked to serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. For individuals already living with chronic conditions such as arthritis or diabetes, limiting inflammation is essential to controlling the impact of the disease. Thankfully, there are a few effective ways to reduce inflammation naturally, which we’ve shared here.
Eat Inflammation-Fighting Foods
One of the most effective ways to stop inflammation is to refine your diet to include inflammation-fighting foods. The Mediterranean diet has become popular in recent years due to its high volume of foods that fight inflammation. The diet comprises olive oil, fatty fish like salmon, and leafy greens, along with fruits like berries and oranges. Tomatoes, nuts, and whole grains can also help to keep inflammation under control. If you enjoy seasonings, try turmeric. It contains curcumin, which can help reduce the presence of free radicals and inhibit the production of inflammation.
Limit the Intake of Known Inflammation Triggers
Reducing your consumption of inflammation-causing foods is just as important as incorporating healthier options into your diet. No amount of fruits, vegetables, fish, or other nutritious foods can reverse the impact of foods known to trigger inflammatory responses. Try to avoid refined carbs like white bread and pasta, processed meat, soda, butter, and fried foods whenever possible. Additionally, make it a priority to reduce your intake of foods stored in plastic containers and select organic produce to limit your exposure to chemicals.
Stick to a Moderate Exercise Routine
Cardiovascular exercise gets your heart pumping, which boosts blood flow and helps you maintain a healthy body weight. Fat cells release cytokines, which prompt immune cells to create inflammation. Thus, the better you are able to maintain a healthy weight, the less inflammation you’ll experience. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity, five days per week. To stick with your routine, consider partnering with a workout buddy, signing up for a class, or even committing to a daily walk.
Improve Sleep Quality
Sleep is essential for cell repair and keeping the immune system on track, but most individuals aren’t getting enough high-quality, uninterrupted slumber each night. To facilitate deep sleep, be sure to shut off the TV before going to bed, and put your phone or tablet away at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light from screens can interfere with melatonin, a hormone which helps regulate sleep.
Adopt Healthy Stress Management Practices
Stressors are a natural part of life, and while it would be ideal if we could avoid them entirely, it simply isn’t realistic for most people. Because inflammation can be triggered by stress and anxiety, finding healthy ways for managing stressors can boost your overall wellness. From meditation to journaling, there are many options for alleviating tension. You may also want to try diffusing essential oils known for their calming effects (such as lavender), listening to music, or practicing yoga.
With these small lifestyle changes, you can make improvements in your inflammation levels to promote better overall wellness. Feel free to start slowly to see which tactics deliver the greatest results for you.
by admin | Apr 19, 2018 | Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cell Research
Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs when the immune system attacks the material that insulates nerve cells. As the immune system breaks down these myelin sheaths that coat the nerves, it becomes progressively more difficult for cells of the nervous system to communicate with one another. A new study on the potential use of stem cells to treat multiple sclerosis has led to promising results.
Because stem cells – and specifically, mesenchymal stem cells have been used to treat other immune conditions and inflammatory conditions successfully, scientists have reasoned that these stem cells may be able to help with multiple sclerosis. In this recent study, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine this year, scientists aimed to determine if umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are safe in patients with multiple sclerosis and if they may have any impact on the disease.
The study involved a full year investigation into 20 participants who had multiple sclerosis. The mean age for enrollees was approximately 41 years, and 60% of participants were female. One-quarter of the subjects did not take any medications for their multiple sclerosis over the course of the study. All subjects received seven infusions of stem cells over the course of one week. Their neurological and imaging tests to assess subjects’ neurological status were implemented before the infusions, as well as one month after and one year after the treatment.
The researchers determined that the stem cell regimen was safe, as no patients suffered any serious adverse side effects during the course of treatment. There were some complaints of headaches and fatigue, however. The researchers also concluded that the stem cell therapy was effective in helping the multiple sclerosis patients, as several of their scores improved one month after the treatment. In addition to performance measures, reported quality of life also improved with the treatment. Impressively, inactive lesions were observed in the majority of MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord (83.3%) one year after treatment.
Twenty percent of the participants reduced their medication in the follow-up period. These promising results suggest that stem cells may be able to help multiple sclerosis patients and that these types of treatments need to be further explored for their potential to help this set of patients.
by admin | Apr 17, 2018 | Alzheimer’s Disease, Health Awareness
Whether you have been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or you’re caring for someone with the condition, maintaining a high quality of life often means adjusting daily routines. While the precise types of adjustments needed will vary at different points in time, one way to manage stressors is to find coping strategies that effectively alleviate each challenge as it arises. Here, we explore some daily living tips you or your family members may find helpful.
Create & Follow a Daily Routine
Sticking to a routine can help ensure daily tasks get accomplished. It may help to follow a written plan each day. Also, many Alzheimer’s patients find that important appointments and other key tasks are best scheduled in the morning, when alertness is at its peak.
Focus on One Task at a Time
The Mayo Clinic explains that reducing distractions can help individuals improve their focus. Instead of doing housework while talking on the phone, for instance, devoting attention to one activity at a time may make it easier to concentrate.
Connect with Others
Socializing doesn’t just improve mood; it can also support mental health. According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, even just ten minutes of social interaction can boost cognitive performance. Make a point to share meals with others, see friends, or stay active in the community to get plenty of interaction with others.
Find a Support System
Whether it’s church, a group that meets in person, or an online, there are many outlets for people living with Alzheimer’s to go for support. Family, friends, and even pets can also be sources of strength on particularly challenging days.
Recognize Triggers
Pinpoint any stressors that trigger anxiety or other negative feelings and find ways to actively avoid them. For instance, if feeling rushed leads to frustration, make sure others know that you need more time.
Keep Your Doctor’s Appointments
Attending doctor’s appointments can be difficult with transportation challenges, but according to the Alzheimer’s Association, doctors play a critical role in helping both patients and their families. Thus, it’s important to maintain scheduled visits whenever possible. Physicians and specialists can help patients select optimal medication for specific symptoms, recommend tailored disease management strategies, and provide treatment for any coexisting conditions. They may also have information about local clinical studies, which are becoming more prevalent as a result of accelerating research progress.
by admin | Apr 4, 2018 | Stem Cell Research
Diabetic foot ulcer, which, by 2030, is projected to occur in 25% of patients who suffer from diabetes, does not currently have an attractive treatment option. The therapies that are used today are expensive, require long-term stays in the hospital, and are often not associated with complete recovery. As such, cell-based therapies have been under investigation for their potential to help with the development of an effective therapeutic approach for diabetic foot ulcer. A recent case report describes the use of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem-cell hydrogel in a patient with diabetic foot ulcer and demonstrates the potential promise of this strategy.
The patient covered in this case report is a 57-year old female who has type 2 diabetes and had suffered from diabetic foot ulcer on her right foot for 20 days. Conventional therapies had made no impact on the foot ulcer. Following conventional approaches, the patient received stem-cell hydrogel topical wound treatment, where the clinicians filled the entire wound surface with gel and observed and cleaned the wound daily for 3 weeks.
The ulcer significantly improved with the use of the hydrogel treatment. Not only did the wound almost fully heel, but the patient’s foot function was also well preserved. The patient was able to walk normally. The treatment was not associated with any complications, and there was no recurrence of the ulcer during the 6-month follow-up period.
Based on their observations of the effect of the placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell hydrogel on a patient’s diabetic foot ulcer, the authors of this case study concluded that the hydrogel may be an effective strategy for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer. According to the authors, this was the first patient in the world to receive this hydrogel treatment for diabetic foot ulcer. Thus, the results set the stage for more research into how this hydrogel and other stem cell treatments may be used to help with diabetes complications such as diabetic foot ulcer.
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