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Health x Body Wellbeing

Tired Of Feeling The Burn? Try These Remedies For Razor-Burn Relief

Think quick: What beauty routine do you spend the most time on, completing almost every day? Which grooming habit can make you feel instantly put together and poised? If you’re like most American women, the answer to both these questions is shaving. Over 99 percent of American women remove body hair, most commonly by shaving.  
We shave to feel smooth and sleek, but there can be an unintended—and counterproductive—side effect if we’re not careful: razor burn. This “burn” actually consists of that all-too-familiar series of small red bumps. Sometimes they itch or sting (hence the burn part of the name), but other times they just look unsightly.
Here’s what you need to know about preventing razor burn and treating it when it happens.

What is razor burn?

Razor burn is caused when a razor blade pulls and twists one or more hair follicles, damaging your skin. In addition to the irritation it causes, razor burn can also cause a twisted hair to grow back under the skin, which is known as an ingrown hair. This is uncomfortable and can lead to more pesky red dots and even infection.
You might have noticed that razor burn occurs more frequently in your armpits or on your bikini area. That’s because we have different types of body hair. The hair in our armpits and pubic areas—and on and men’s faces—is a thicker, coarser type known as terminal hair. Since terminal hair is tougher, it’s more likely to be pulled by a razor and to come back ingrown.

Preventing Razor Burn

The best way to avoid razor burn is to prevent it, and the most effective means of prevention is to use a sharp razor. If you’re shaving with a dull blade, it’s more likely to pull on your hair follicles, irritating your skin.
Another way to prevent razor burn is by keeping your skin well-moisturized before, during, and after shaving. This means using plenty of shaving cream, or even switching from a shaving cream to a shaving oil, which can provide more lubrication. Whatever you use, make sure you’re reapplying often. Also, avoid going over the same area more than once in a session. After shaving, moisturize again.

Treating Razor Burn

You hop in the shower to quickly shave your armpits, only to feel that burning sensation later in the day. Maybe you didn’t use enough shaving cream or you had a dull blade. Whatever the reason, now you’ve got razor burn. What next?
Luckily, there are plenty of treatment options. Try soothing the area with something cooling, like aloe vera gel (or better yet, aloe directly from a plant). To avoid having your hair follicles become infected, apply lemon juice to the area. Although it might sting if you have any small nicks, lemon juice is naturally antibacterial and can keep harmful bugs at bay.
If the bumps are large or bothering you, try dousing them with a topical anti-inflammatory. Witch hazel is a great natural option: Just put some on a cotton ball and dab the area. For something a bit more powerful, apply a hydrocortisone cream, which can be purchased at any drug store.
While you’re treating razor burn, it’s best not to shave the area since that can further irritate your skin. Practice patience and give your body time to heal!
[related article_ids=8718]

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Health x Body Wellbeing

What I Wish The World Knew About Fighting Cancer

Cancer. Just the word can strike fear into our hearts. It’s no wonder: Each year about 1.6 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the United States, and close to 600,000 people die of the disease. Nearly 40 percent of Americans will have cancer at some point in their lives.
However, there is good news. In the United States, cancer deaths fell by 13 percent between 2004 and 2013. That’s in part because treatment has advanced. It’s also because more people are catching cancer early, while it is still more treatable. Educating yourself on early cancer detection could save your life.
These advances mean that more people than ever are living with cancer for years or even decades.
We talked to seven cancer warriors and asked them one important question: What do you wish the world knew about fighting cancer? Here’s what they had to say.

Act normal, please

Amber Fallon, 34, is a horror author, podcaster, and lover of dogs. Just before she turned 30, she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. When her thyroid was removed, doctors told her the cancer has spread to the surrounding tissue. Here’s what she wants others to know:

We won’t break. Hug us. Talk to us. Don’t treat us differently because we’re fighting cancer. Normalcy can be the best gift sometimes.

[pullquote align=”center”]“Even though having cancer asks you to be strong and to live more boldly than ever before, we all benefit from our loved ones being able to recognize how vulnerable we feel.”
—Stephanie McLeod-Estevez[/pullquote]

We can’t always be strong.

Stephanie McLeod-Estevez, 43, was diagnosed three years ago with stage 3a breast cancer. Her children were 5 and 7 at the time, and the diagnosis was especially scary since her own mother had died from cancer when McLeod-Estevez was 26. That loss had an impact on McLeod-Estevez’s decision to become an art therapist specializing in working with cancer patients.

The one thing I wish the world knew about fighting cancer is that it impacts your body, mind, spirit and sense of self: It is not just a medical problem. Cancer survivors often feel lost, confused, and traumatized by the process of being diagnosed and treated. Even though having cancer asks you to be strong and to live more boldly than ever before, we all benefit from our loved ones being able to recognize how vulnerable we feel. Healing emotionally from cancer is possible; however, it takes time, attention, support, and processing of what we went through in order to feel like we are whole again.

There’s a lot that goes into wellness.

Kelly Gallagher, who describes herself as “ageless,” was first diagnosed with cancer in her twenties and has survived the disease five times. Now she produces health documentaries that focus on a holistic approach to wellness.

I honestly wish the world knew about all of the natural remedies available. I want people to understand that their food and environment impact their immune system. And that dental issues and emotional components are issues that need to be addressed if we want to regain optimal wellness.

I’m still me.

Courtney Parizo, 39, has battled chronic health issues for all of her adult life. But when she was diagnosed with cancer last year, she was shocked at how differently she was treated.

I wish I’d known the stigma that seems to be attached to people hearing that you have cancer and the way people seemed to immediately treat me differently, like I was suddenly made of glass where I had been concrete before.
I wish I could have worn a sign or handed out instructions to people that said, “Yes, I have cancer. No, it doesn’t mean I’m going to die or that I suddenly need to be sheltered or not told about the problems my friends and family are having. I don’t need to stay in bed all day, can still do most things I did before, but yes, I am often tired and worn down. I don’t need your sympathy, your platitudes, but I could probably use your help!”

[pullquote align=”center”]“I do not wish cancer on anyone, however I wish the world could understand how hard we fight to maintain a “normal” life despite living with cancer. Maybe the world at large would stop and realize the insignificance of petty things and maybe we as a society would be more humble and kind.”
—Fabianna Marie[/pullquote]

Fighting for your life is hard.

Fabianna Marie, 40, was diagnosed at 27 with metastatic (incurable) breast cancer. She has become a national speaker and advocate for cancer patients.

The one thing I wish the world knew about fighting cancer is that it is a full-time job that involves not only body but mind and spirit as well. I have devoted nearly 13 years to fighting, all while continuing to learn and grow as an advocate, mother, and wife. I have fought for my rights as a cancer patient, to have my voice heard by my doctors, and to have my choices for my body be acknowledged. I have learned that cancer does not define me as a person. Cancer has made me stronger spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I do not wish cancer on anyone, however I wish the world could understand how hard we fight to maintain a “normal” life despite living with cancer. Maybe the world at large would stop and realize the insignificance of petty things and maybe we as a society would be more humble and kind.

It leaves a lasting mark.

Lindsey, 36, was first diagnosed with leukemia when she was 10. She underwent three years of treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she now works in fundraising and awareness. She is now cancer free and participates in studies about the long-term effects of treatment for childhood cancer.

The one thing I wish the world knew about fighting cancer is that long after the treatment ends, the impact of cancer remains. Even though much of the physical effects of the illness and treatment may heal, there is a lasting mark that is left behind. Most often, these traces of my cancer journey are not visible at first glance. However, my cancer has changed the way I engage with the world and those around me.
While I refuse to allow my cancer to define me, it does deeply impact the way I experience life. I hold a little tighter, I laugh a little louder, and I take time to pause…to take a breath and find the beauty and wonder in that moment. Yes, the hectic schedules and the infinite pile of laundry and homework are all still there. However, I cherish that fact that I am able to experience all of life, with its joy and sorrow, with my children, with the love of my life (and fellow St. Jude survivor), and with my family and friends. This celebration of life is what called me to return to the hospital that saved me. As a survivor, it is my privilege to pass this gift along so that other children have the same opportunity to grow, to love, and to live.

[pullquote align=”center”]“I found out while sick the second time that of all the government money that goes into cancer research, childhood cancer receives less than 4 percent. I quickly realized that I was not only battling for my health, but battling for my worth. While I was lucky enough to go on to live a healthy life, many of my fellow ‘head shavers’ were not—and I can’t help but believe they are worth more than 4 percent.”
—Devin Duncan[/pullquote]

Kids get cancer too.

Devin Duncan, 25, was diagnosed with leukemia twice—once at 3 years old and once at age 17. She now lives in New York City and works in public relations. She hopes to raise awareness about childhood cancers.

The one thing I really wish the world knew about cancer is simple: Kids get cancer too. I’ve noticed through years of talking to people about my illness that nobody wants to talk about sick kids—it’s sad, it’s negative, and it’s downright scary. But it’s real.
I found out while sick the second time that of all the government money that goes into cancer research, childhood cancer receives less than 4 percent. I quickly realized that I was not only battling for my health, but battling for my worth. While I was lucky enough to go on to live a healthy life, many of my fellow “head shavers” were not—and I can’t help but believe they are worth more than 4 percent.

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Health x Body Wellbeing

“I Had Cancer In My Twenties”—Here’s What It’s Like

There’s no good way to find out you have cancer. With her toddler in her arms and her infant daughter in a car seat on the floor of the doctor’s office, Kara Passante started to yell at her husband to please just get their daughter out of the room so she didn’t have to hear that her 29-year-old mom had breast cancer.
I was in shock. I was terrified and furious. I was in a state of confusion that can’t really be explained. Everything I thought was normal was flipped upside down,” the co-founder of cancer charity Ride 2 Survive recalls. “It felt like a movie where everything suddenly goes in slow motion.”
There’s no good time to be diagnosed with cancer. Passante doesn’t wish it on anyone of any age. At 29, with a fairly new marriage, two small babies, and so many dreams yet to be fulfilled, she says it felt like being robbed of her future.

The Faces of Young Adult Cancer

Cancer in young adults is rare in America, where the median age of cancer diagnosis is 66. Annually, a quarter of the Americans diagnosed with cancer are already of retirement age.
And yet, rare does not mean non-existent. Rare does not mean women in their twenties are guaranteed a cancer-free decade. In fact, an estimated 2.7 percent of new cancer diagnoses made this year will be in people ages 20 to 34.
[pullquote align=”center”]“I was terrified and furious. I was in a state of confusion that can’t really be explained.”
—Kara Passante, Co-Founder of Ride 2 Survive[/pullquote]
The medical community calls them AYAs, adolescents and young adults. They’re people like Passante. People like Allyson Strong, who was a 24-year-old graduate student when doctors diagnosed her with small cell cervical cancer. People like Erin Mast, who spent the first few months of her twenties applying a cream to her vagina that would burn through the cancer cells on her vaginal walls—a cream that killed the cancer but left her unable to walk without extreme pain.
The cream was still in a clinical trial phase, and the side effects were excruciating, Mast says, but it was her only hope of having kids. At 19, when she was diagnosed, her doctors told her she could undergo radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancer in her vagina, but it would almost definitely render her infertile. She opted for the cream instead.

Decision Making in the Face of a Cancer Diagnosis (as a 20-something Woman)

While older women are typically past their childbearing years, a cancer diagnosis for a woman in her twenties often means suddenly having to face egg retrieval and egg freezing (which can be costly and is rarely covered by insurance), or giving up the possibility of ever having children and grieving that loss.
“I was considered ‘lucky’ to have already had children,” Passante recalls. “I was told cancer treatment would destroy my ability to have any more. So what if I wasn’t so ‘lucky’? Chemotherapy wrecks havoc on the reproductive system of both women and men. These young people are potentially being stripped of their ability to produce children. That’s a huge, terrifying concern when you’re young.”
Fertility is just one of the issues that sets cancer in a person’s young adult years apart from cancer during any other life stage, says Barbara Strong, CEO of the Allyson Whitney Foundation, a national non-profit that provides grants to young adults battling cancer.
[pullquote align=”center”]“These young people are potentially being stripped of their ability to produce children. That’s a huge, terrifying concern when you’re young.”
—Kara Passante, Co-Founder of Ride 2 Survive[/pullquote]
Strong is Allyson Whitney’s mom. She lost her daughter in 2011, just 14 months after her diagnosis. She knows, as a parent and advocate, what it’s like for a woman in her twenties to have her future ripped out from under her.
“Emotionally, you’re isolated,” Strong says. “You’re going to these places where you’re not going to see [familiar] faces in the lobby, in the waiting room.”
Other cancer patients are typically much older. People your age are in college. They’re having bridal showers and welcoming babies. You’re getting a port implanted in your chest for chemotherapy. You’re shaving your head so your hair doesn’t fall out in clumps.
Even your friends don’t know what to do, Barbara says. “You come back [home], and your friends have never experienced having a friend with cancer. They don’t know how to talk to you,” she says.
For many young people, a cancer diagnosis comes at a time when they’re just beginning to establish themselves in a career. Sick days are few and health insurance limited.
[pullquote align=”center”]People your age are in college. They’re having bridal showers and welcoming babies. You’re getting a port implanted in your chest for chemotherapy.[/pullquote]
If they’re lucky, Strong says, they can move home to live with their parents, but their parents are still typically young enough to be in the workforce. The parents of AYAs with cancer often find themselves turning their own lives upside down, taking time away from work to care for their adult children.
“It’s your child,” Strong says. “You’re stopping life to get this done.”
The rates of survival for AYAs vary depending on the type of cancer they face. AYA survival tends to be worst for those with female breast cancer (regardless of estrogen receptor status), acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). When compared to survival rates for younger and older people with the same diagnoses, AYA rates in these cases are the worst.
In part, misdiagnosis is to blame. When a woman in her twenties walks into a doctor’s office complaining of pain, cancer is not the first thing doctors think of. Mast was diagnosed first with pelvic inflammatory disorder, then a spastic colon. Neither diagnosis was accurate. Ultimately, it was her family physician who trusted Mast’s gut and referred her to multiple specialists who eventually diagnosed her correctly.
[pullquote align=”center”]“It’s your child. You’re stopping life to get this done.”
—Barbara Strong, CEO of the Allyson Whitney Foundation[/pullquote]
In Passante’s case, it was her own advocacy.
In your twenties, mammograms aren’t even a thought,” she says. “It’s never okay to be given a cancer diagnosis, but in your fifties and sixties there are known risk increases, so prevention is more diligent. In your twenties, you are going in blind, and by the time it’s determined cancer, it’s often progressed to an advanced stage because there was no prevention at all.”

A Message for Women

With World Cancer Day taking place on Feb. 4, Passante, Mast, and Strong have a message for women: Trust your body. Be your own advocate. If you feel something, say something.
The American Cancer Society lists these signs of cancer that are most likely to occur in the AYA stage:

  • An unusual lump or swelling in the neck, breast, belly, testicle, or elsewhere
  • Unexplained tiredness and loss of energy
  • Easy bruising
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Ongoing pain in one part of the body
  • Unexplained fever or illness that doesn’t go away
  • Frequent headaches, often with vomiting
  • Sudden eye or vision changes
  • Loss of appetite or unplanned weight loss
  • A new mole or other spot on the skin, or one that changes in size, shape, or color

If you or a loved one receives a cancer diagnosis, Passante offers this advice: “One day at a time. Break it all down. When you’re in your twenties and you hear cancer, chemo, medi port, surgery, radiation, hormones, drugs, reconstruction, etc., it is beyond overwhelming. Everything in your life suddenly becomes about what doctor you have to see next, what procedure is next, what’s next, what’s next. Break it down. One day at a time. Don’t obsess over the whole picture: It’s too much. One day at a time. Little victories.”   
If you’re facing a cancer diagnosis in your twenties and need somewhere to turn, the Allyson Whitney Foundation’s Life Interrupted grant applications are processed twice a year. If you’ve battled cancer and come out the other side, The Samfund offers financial assistance and other forms of support to help you get back on your feet.

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Health x Body Wellbeing

Liver Disease Symptoms Can’t Be Ignored: But Do You Know Who’s At Risk?

Robin West needs a liver. At 34 years old, the U.S. military veteran and mom of a rambunctious toddler spends her days waiting for a call that will change her life—a call that her name on the Colorado transplant list has been matched with someone whose organ can be transplanted into her body.
Born with a rare gastrointestinal disorder called biliary atresia, a condition that progressively destroys the bile ducts that carry bile from the liver to the intestine. She underwent surgery when she was just 8 weeks old, when doctors performed a procedure sometimes known as a Roux-en-Y or a Kasai procedure. It was meant to reroute her bile drainage system and take pressure off her liver.
It bought West’s body time. She had a normal childhood. She went to college. She signed up to serve her country. But she was serving in the U.S. Army in 2016 when she thought she’d caught the flu.
A trip to the emergency room said something different. She was experiencing liver disease symptoms. “My liver enzymes were off the charts,” West tells HealthyWay.
She was diagnosed that day with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a progressive liver disease that has since landed her on the transplant list. She is one of millions of people in America who live every day with liver disease and its symptoms.
West’s childhood diagnosis with biliary atresia was a harbinger that she may have trouble in her future. It’s the most common liver disease that requires transplantation.
 

But for millions of Americans, a liver disease shows up unannounced, and it’s not caused by a childhood illness.
In fact, everything from our weight to our sex lives could eventually lead to damage (or even disease) of the liver. And the numbers of people diagnosed are growing.

What the Liver Does

Located in your abdominal cavity, above the stomach, the liver is one of the body’s biggest organs, and we can’t live without it. The liver is responsible for converting the nutrients we take in into substances the body can use, and when it’s functioning properly it will break down the fats we eat to help make energy.
A healthy liver also helps our bodies to handle toxins, removing things like alcohol and the byproducts of certain medicines from the blood and processing them so they can be released back into the blood or the bowels.

Maybe there’s a problem?

As a society, we tend to think of liver disease as something that crops up in aging alcoholics. The internet is rife with memes that poke fun at the idea that one’s “liver light” might come on after a weekend of partying and t-shirts warning “shut up, liver, you’re fine.”
Tastelessness of the jokes aside, the idea that liver disease is singular to people who drink excessive amounts of alcohol is patently false.
The most common cause of liver disease in America is actually viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis C, says Lauren Nephew, MD, a hepatologist at Indiana University Health. The chronic (aka lifelong) disease infects some 4.6 million Americans, and an estimated 2,000 die from it every year in the U.S.

“Some risk factors for hepatitis C include [intravenous] drug use, intranasal cocaine, blood product transfusions before 1987, and non-professional tattoos,” Nephew explains.
Hepatitis B also kills some 2,000 Americans annually, although rates of infection are rapidly declining, thanks to vaccinations created in the early 1990s that are now given to babies (and are available to older Americans). Whether hepatitis B is contracted via sex, contact with an infected person’s blood, or birth (it can be transmitted from mother to child), estimates of how many people are affected with it vary wildly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) puts the figure anywhere between 85,000 and 2.2 million Americans.
Another cause of liver disease that’s taking root in America is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), sometimes called just fatty liver disease.
“This is expected to be the leading cause of liver disease in the U.S. in the next decade,” Nephew notes. Linked to America’s growing obesity problem, risk factors for fatty liver disease include obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. According to the National Library of Medicine, “as the rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol are rising in the United States, so is the rate of NAFLD.” It now affects some 25 percent of the global population.

Typically, diseases that damage the liver eventually result in cirrhosis, a swelling of the liver that is usually the result of years’ worth of damage to the liver. It can be (and often is) caused by alcoholism, but it’s also caused by hepatitis C, bile duct diseases (such as cholangitis, which West is currently suffering from), or a genetic condition such as Wilson’s disease or hemochromatosis. Exactly what sort of disease might affect a liver can be related to lifestyle, to genetics…or to gender.

Liver Disease and Women

“Women are more prone to certain types of liver disease, such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and toxin mediated liver injury, which includes alcohol-induced liver injury.” explains Seth Levin, DO, a gastroenterologist with the OhioHealth Physician Group. “They are also more likely to present with acute liver failure and to develop benign liver lesions.”
While (cisgender) men are considered more likely to abuse alcohol than women, women are more susceptible to its toxic effects on the liver, Levin says, regardless of how much we drink. What’s more, compared to our male counterparts, if a woman develops an alcoholic liver disease, she’s likely to see it progress more rapidly.
 

The difference in body size can’t be ignored here—and it’s one reason scientists think women are taking a bigger hit. But researchers into the gender divide in liver diseases also put the blame on our immune systems, noting differences in the way the female body reacts to toxins.
“Alcohol is toxic to the liver cells called hepatocytes,” Nephew explains. “Over time, that reoccurring damage can cause other cells to attempt to repair the damage and lay down scars. Scar or fibrosis in the liver can progress to cirrhosis.”

What’s happening? Common Symptoms of Liver Disease

Many diseases that affect the liver are asymptomatic, meaning liver disease symptoms won’t show up until someone has reached advanced stages. But if your liver is malfunctioning, there are some basic signs and symptoms of liver disease to look for.

Common symptoms of liver disease include:

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin)
  • Swelling in the lower extremities or abdomen
  • Confusion
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Bloody or black stools


Some milder liver disease symptoms include itching and fatigue, Nephew says. It’s important to call a doctor immediately if you’re observing some of the common symptoms of liver disease, so your healthcare provider can run blood tests and begin treatment if necessary. Even diseases such as hepatitis C can be treated if they’re caught early enough.

Liver Damage or Liver Disease?

Unsettling as this all may sound, the liver has an amazing trick up its sleeve that’s not present in many other body organs. The liver can repair itself from certain harms.
In other words? Sometimes damage to your liver can be undone…depending on the cause and amount of liver damage.
“We describe liver diseases as acute and chronic,” Nephew explains. “Acute means that the condition is likely reversible when the cause of injury is removed. This could be alcohol, a medication, or a virus that the body quickly clears. …After an acute injury, the liver can repair and be normal again,” she continues.
Chronic liver diseases, on the other hand, are conditions that are not immediately reversible and require treatment or monitoring.
“Over time, a chronic liver disease can cause enough damage to the liver that that damage is not reversible,” Nephew says. “We call this damage fibrosis. If there is enough fibrosis present we call this cirrhosis.”

Still, there is hope with a chronic disease. Chronic liver disease does not (always) immediately lead to death. There are people walking around living with chronic liver diseases. There are people receiving treatment for chronic liver disease and living relatively normal lives. The outcome depends, once again, on the reason for the disease and sometimes on a patient’s willingness to adjust their lifestyle.
But people like West fight a stigma that comes with chronic liver disease every day.
“I get a lot of people thinking I drank a lot or have hep C,” she says. “Not all of us are alcoholics, some are born this way or develop problems over time.”
In West’s case, lifestyle changes aren’t enough. Because her liver was affected by biliary atresia, the disease she has had since birth, the development of cholangitis was a natural progression of the disease.
“Basically, it means I need a new liver, because my old one will not last very much longer,” West says.
 

West has a drain on her side for the bile that builds up in her body, bile that a healthy liver would process. She can’t work. She has to be careful when playing with her little girl because she fears the drain will fall out and she’ll land back in the hospital. Infection could kill her. Infection also pushes her down the transplant list.
This is life with a chronic liver disease. For thousands of Americans, this is the way it is. For thousands more, there’s still hope.

Ch-ch-changes

If you’re fortunate enough not to be born with a liver condition or genetic predisposition, prevention is key…and relatively simple for the bulk of conditions that affect the liver.
Because of the spike in fatty liver disease diagnoses on the horizon, lifestyle changes can make a real difference. Ask your doctor to run blood tests to determine your cholesterol levels. Keep your weight in line with your doctor’s recommendations. Address any blood pressure concerns.
If you’re on regular medications, ask your doctor if they can affect the liver. Antidepressants, in particular, are often linked to liver damage, especially those classified as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. If you’re taking an antidepressant regularly, your doctor may recommend regular blood tests to determine your liver’s health. Acute damage from a medication can be repaired, Nephew says, so it’s important to follow up on blood testing recommended by your doctor rather than putting it off because you hate needles!
If you haven’t already received the hepatitis B vaccine, the CDC recommends calling your general practitioner and scheduling the shot immediately to protect yourself from the blood-borne disease.

Hepatitis C risks, such as intravenous drug use, should be avoided for simple health reasons, but if you had a blood product transfusion before 1987, Nephew suggests asking your primary care physician to do a hepatitis C screening.  
And if you indulge in alcohol at all, it’s wise to keep your drinking in check. Although it’s not the only cause of liver damage and disease, Mommy’s wine time can quickly become a problem, not least because of the role our gender plays in risk factors.
“Women should make sure not to drink more than the recommended amount of daily alcohol,” Nephew says. “Women should know that our livers are more sensitive to the toxic effects of alcohol than men’s livers; therefore it takes a smaller amount of alcohol to damage the liver.”
The recommendations from the doctors are strict: Women should have no more than one alcoholic beverage per day, and that doesn’t mean one bottle of wine. One 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor is the limit.

“Levels higher than that can over time damage the liver,” Nephew warns.  
A final piece of advice comes from West: Be vigilant if you are noticing what you think might be symptoms of liver disease.
“I wish I would have gone to the doctor when I first got sick,” she says. “I thought I had the flu and it would pass. I was wrong. If you have any unusual symptoms, I’d suggest getting them checked—particularly, yellow skin, fevers, abdominal/back pain, flu-like symptoms.”

Help for Those Who Need It

If your liver is in good condition, you can help out those who are struggling. Most transplants come from deceased donors, but the liver is one of the few organs that can be transplanted from a living donor. That’s because only a section of the liver needs to be transplanted, as it will regrow in both the donor’s body and the transplant recipient’s body.

If you know someone who needs a liver, you could consider being tested to see if you’re a match for a living transplant. You can also sign yourself up as an organ donor to help someone after you die.  
Even if you’re not a candidate for donation, it’s important to ignore the myths about liver disease…for your sake and for those who suffer.
Someone who doesn’t exhibit the most common symptoms of liver disease isn’t necessarily abusing drugs or engaging in risky behavior. “Just because someone doesn’t look sick doesn’t mean they are not or [they don’t] have issues going on. So be nice and kind to everyone,” West says.
[related article_ids=3095]

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Living A Sedentary Lifestyle? Advice From A Medical Researcher And A Personal Trainer Will Get You Moving Despite Your Busy Schedule

How many hours in a day do you spend sitting? If you’re like many American women who work in an office, it may be enough to sabotage your health. More American women are living sedentary lifestyles than ever before. Our jobs, our neighborhoods, and the amount of time we spend interacting online have changed the way we think about physical activity.
Where activity was once built into our lives, now it’s extremely common for the walk from the house to the car, the car to the office, and then the car back to the house to be the primary physical movement we get in a day. But our bodies just aren’t built to live that way.
Never mind weight, clothing size, or judgment. What really matters is your health and happiness, and with our real, practical advice sourced directly from experts and tested by women like you, you’re closer than ever to ditching a sedentary lifestyle and feeling like your most vital self in 2018.

Are you sedentary without even knowing it?

More of us are routinely sedentary than you’d think. In fact, research says at least 25 to 35 percent of all American adults have chronically sedentary lifestyles. There are lots of ways to define a sedentary lifestyle, but one of the clearest involves a measure of the steps you take daily. If you’re routinely moving fewer than 5,000 steps a day (or the equivalent), which is about two and a half miles, your lifestyle is considered sedentary by researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
That said, there’s a difference between sedentary behaviors and leading a sedentary lifestyle. We all have sedentary behaviors, like working at a desk for several hours a day, commuting in traffic, jamming out to Netflix on the couch, or (I’m looking at you, Chrissy Teigen) lying down and playing Animal Crossing on our phones.
[pullquote align=”center”]If you’re routinely moving fewer than 5,000 steps a day, your lifestyle is considered sedentary by researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.[/pullquote]
A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology also found that women who sit inactively for more than six hours every day are nearly twice as likely to experience life-threatening health conditions as women who sit less than three hours per day, meaning women are even more susceptible to the negative effects of sedentary life than men. Yikes.
And if you’re thinking the average female with a desk job falls into this category, you’re right: She does.

Sitting is the New Smoking (and How to Ditch the Habit)

It turns out that even women who get some regular exercise can be affected by “sitting disease,” a term coined to describe the negative impact of too much time spent sitting still in a day. In fact, the World Health Organization says, “Insufficient physical activity is one of the leading risk factors for death worldwide.” Okay, that’s definitely unnerving, but don’t freak out yet. There is hope, even if you’ve tried before and failed to change your sedentary lifestyle.
As Esther Avant, a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer, tells HealthyWay, “About 99 percent of the women I work with have been in that exact situation.” She goes on to share that she has personally witnessed hundreds of formerly sedentary women go on to kick ass and live active lifestyles by working on making small, sustainable changes, rather than focusing on quick, all-or-nothing fixes.
[pullquote align=”center”]Hundreds of formerly sedentary women go on to kick ass and live active lifestyles by working on making small, sustainable changes, rather than focusing on quick, all-or-nothing fixes.[/pullquote]
It’s so important to remember that a little movement is better than none. In fact, a 2015 study found that as little as 20 minutes of brisk walking daily can significantly reduce your risk of an early death related to physical inactivity, not to mention giving you an instant mood boost.

Self-Motivation: Bidding Self-Judgement Farewell and Embracing Positives (Even When You’ve Failed Before)

Michelle Segar, PhD, master of public health, and director of the University of Michigan’s Sport, Health, and Activity Research and Policy Center says that even though there are tons of scary statistics thrown around in an attempt to frighten people away from living a sedentary lifestyle (like worsening depression and anxiety, increasing your risk for cancer, causing blood sugar spikes, and generally increasing aches and pains), scare tactics don’t generally work to change behaviors long term.
Instead, “we want to promote [movement] for its immediate benefits,” she says. So rather than trying to shame yourself into moving more, Segar encourages women to focus on all the benefits movement can have. “Let’s tell people it will immediately generate energy and help them lift their moods. Now isn’t that a more compelling reason to get out of the chair?”
[pullquote align=”center”]Even though there are tons of scary statistics thrown around in an attempt to frighten people away from living a sedentary lifestyle, scare tactics don’t generally work to change behaviors long term.[/pullquote]
Avant agrees that focusing on the positives, like how good gentle exercise can make you feel, and avoiding pushing yourself too hard at first are the secrets to succeeding in a fitness regimen that addresses physical inactivity, even if you thought you’d never be able to. “The key to successfully going from sedentary to active is starting small, even smaller than you think,” she emphasizes.
“Start small and prove to yourself that you can do it. Set small goals and then accomplish them. That empowers you to realize that you can do a little more the next week, so maybe you add a fourth day or one day of bodyweight exercises. Each week, you build your confidence and motivation when you accomplish your goals and you do a little bit more. This sure beats the old approach of trying to change everything at once week one, falling short, getting disappointed, and quitting.”

Change your “why” for working out.

In her book, No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness, Segar writes about how we’ve been taught we need to work out to lose weight, look a certain way, and avoid bad health. “But those are logical and pragmatic reasons to move,” she says, “not the type of emotional motives and hooks that [actually help women] stick with it long term.” So rather than thinking about all those “shoulds” for why we need to get exercise, what would work better? “We need to help people learn the immediate emotional and positive, feel-good benefits they’ll get from moving instead, like joy, vitality, and connection,” she emphasizes.
[pullquote align=”center”]“Let’s tell people it will immediately generate energy and help them lift their moods. Now isn’t that a more compelling reason to get out of the chair?”
—Michelle Segar, PhD, MPH[/pullquote]
So being kind to yourself works—even when trying to combat what can sometimes feel like a stigmatizing sedentary lifestyle? Sounds good to me! It seems that if you truly want to change your sedentary behavior, focusing on the potential negatives of physical inactivity rather than on how good you can feel when you’re active will likely backfire.
It’s not about weight. It’s not about appearance. It’s about remembering to give yourself the best care and nurturing that you can. It’s about body positivity, feeling healthy and vivacious, and making changes that make you feel good—both in the moment and over the long term. In many cases, the biggest barriers to addressing a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary behavior, and physical inactivity are your thought patterns, so get ready to start small—and with honest introspection—to make lasting change.

Starting Small and Winning Big: A One-Month Beginner’s Plan

Even if your starting point is a truly sedentary lifestyle and you’ve already tried (and maybe even failed) to get active, we’ve got your back. Avant designed and shared this step-by-step routine to take HealthyWay readers from deskbound and binge-watching to vital and capable movement mavens.
Here’s what she recommends:

Week 1

Pick three days when you’ll walk for 30 minutes. Pencil these walks into your calendar like important appointments so you make them happen. Shooting for three walks during the week gives you plenty of opportunities to make up a walk you might miss—so have a backup day planned in case something pops up.

Week 2

Pencil in three walks and add in one day of bodyweight exercises. A quick, total-body workout could include the following exercises performed in a circuit for two sets of 10 reps: push-ups, squats, bench (or chair!) dips, lunges, and 30-second plank holds.
[pullquote align=”center”]“We need to help people learn the immediate emotional and positive, feel-good benefits they’ll get from moving instead, like joy, vitality, and connection.”
—Michelle Segar, PhD, MPH[/pullquote]

Week 3

This week, commit to three walks and two days of the same bodyweight workout you completed once during Week 2.

Week 4

Add a third set to your bodyweight workout circuit and increase the length of your three walks by five to 10 minutes each.
Initially, you committed to 30 minutes of exercise, three times a week—by the end of the month, you’ll be up to 30 to 45 minutes of exercise a day, five days a week, with a combination of strength and aerobic training, which Avant calls a major improvement! Talk about busting out of your sedentary lifestyle and committing to an endorphin- and confidence-boosting routine!

Common Excuses (and High-Impact Solutions)

I asked both Avant and Segar about the most common reasons women don’t exercise, and what their most motivating responses have been. Here are some of the best motivational rebuttals inspired by the pros.
Excuse: I don’t have time.
Solution: Redefine how much time it takes to work out. If you’re truly strapped, just take a brisk one-mile walk around your neighborhood. You won’t need to change clothes or drive all the way to the gym, so you’ll save that time. And if you’re willing to be a bit introspective here, think of it this way: It’s not necessarily that you don’t have time to work out, it’s that you have other priorities that you’re putting before overcoming your sedentary lifestyle. Ask yourself: Am I willing to change around any of my priorities to address my physical inactivity? Your answer to yourself should be enlightening and may lead to a shift in priorities.
Excuse: I can’t afford a gym membership, or when I get to the gym I don’t know what to do and feel silly.
Solution: Just start with walking. You can walk outside, or even around a mall if it’s miserable out. After you’ve done that for a while, you might move on to slowly running, or following one of the many couch-to-5k programs out there (I recommend this one from famous running coach Hal Higdon, which I used once upon a time when I was a newbie to fitness). Once you gain confidence in your base fitness, go ahead and try the gym again if you can afford it. If not, troll YouTube for free no-equipment-needed workout videos or check out HealthyWay’s free Holiday HIIT series or ultra low-cost wellness plan advice.
[pullquote align=”center”]Ask yourself: Am I willing to change around any of my priorities to address my physical inactivity?[/pullquote]
Excuse: I just don’t like exercise.
Solution: Well, you may be working out too hard. Yes, really. If you hate running, for instance, you may be trying to run too fast for your current fitness level. Exercise should feel mostly good, so slow down, don’t compare yourself to others, choose activities that fit your interests, and learn to love the boost exercise can give you, especially when it means freedom from deeply entrenched patterns of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior.

Finally: 6 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Moving More

We think nearly everyone will be able to succeed by making small changes, focusing on the positive feels, and giving themselves as many chances as they need to address their sedentary lifestyle or sedentary behavior. That said, if all else fails, what’s wrong with simply fooling yourself into moving more and reaping the benefits? Here are some ways to sneak activity into your week:

  1. Buy a standing desk converter. Okay, so you may not be able to control what desk your office provides for you, and you may not want to stand all day long anyway. But with an adjustable standing desk, you can convert your existing desk into a standing work station for part of the day, then just push it back into place when you need to sit back down.
  2. Schedule walks with friends instead of coffee shop chats.
  3. Track your movement (I love my Fitbit, which also tracks heart rate and calories burned) and share the data with friends or co-workers for a little friendly competition and support. Lots of people find that they get kind of obsessed with the data and that it keeps them motivated.
  4. Make exercise a seamless part of your day by trying a human-powered commute. This won’t work in every circumstance, but if you live close to work, try walking a few days a week. If you live a little further (but not crazy far) try strapping your helmet on and riding your bike. It may take some time to start this new habit and convince yourself to leave the car keys or MetroCard on the shelf, but you can change your ways slowly by starting with doing the human-powered commute just once or twice per week. I’ve gone so far as to leave my kid’s car seat at a friend’s house so I would have no choice but to bike my daughter to and from her daycare (with helmets and kiddy bike seat, of course)!
  5. Even if you can’t commit to an entirely human-powered commute, park further away and walk more. The stress of finding a spot close to the office, school, or grocery store dissipates, and you’ll get more steps in. You can also commit to avoiding your building’s elevator in favor of climbing the stairs.
  6. Download an exercise motivation app like MyFitnessPal to incorporate your love of tech with your health and fitness pursuits.

Do you need a sign to inspire your commitment to making 2018 the year of you? Consider this it. We’re rooting for you.

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Health x Body Wellbeing

Acupuncture Explained: Why This Ancient Practice Should Be A Part Of Your Holistic Health Routine

When you think of acupuncture, what comes to mind? If you’re like most Americans, the first word you think of after hearing acupuncture is needles. Many of us have seen acupuncture portrayed in movies or other media and have formed our own skeptical or fear-based ideas about the practice. After all, don’t those needles hurt? And isn’t acupuncture some kind of outdated treatment that should have been shuttered once modern medicine came around?
Although you’ve probably seen depictions of acupuncture, most people don’t understand the theory behind the practice, or the fact that acupuncture has proven health benefits (yes, even according to Western medicine). With more Americans looking into alternative wellness and putting a focus on preventative healthcare, now is a great time to learn about acupuncture and the positive effects it can have on your life.
So, keep an open mind and read on. We promise that this treatment is about so much more than being stuck with needles! If you give it a chance, acupuncture might just become one of your favorite parts of your holistic health routine.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an approach that is part of traditional Chinese medicine. The process itself involves very intentionally stimulating certain parts of the body. Most often this is done using thin metal needles that are inserted into the skin, but there are other approaches that don’t involve needles at all (so if fear of needles is holding you back, it’s time to reconsider acupuncture).
“Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago as part of the region’s healthcare traditions,” says Yunuen “June” Beristain, a licensed acupuncturist and founder of Amplify Acupuncture in Los Angeles. “For thousands of years, it has remained as one of the region’s widely used therapeutic methods due to its efficacy.”
Traditional Chinese medicine is grounded in the idea that everything in nature is powered by qi, or energy, Beristain explains. This includes our bodies, which should function as a perfectly balanced system. When that system becomes disrupted or unbalanced, health ailments can emerge. Acupuncture aims to realign the system, allowing qi to flow as it should.
[pullquote align=”center”]“For thousands of years, it has remained as one of the region’s widely used therapeutic methods due to its efficacy.”
—Yunuen “June” Beristain, Amplify Acupuncture[/pullquote]
“By understanding this energy along with its functions, mechanisms, and pathways in the body, acupuncture is able to stimulate it. In doing so, it effectively stimulates the body’s own healing mechanisms,” Beristain says.
Rather than healing ailments, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe acupuncture allows the body to access its own healing powers and rebalance its systems.
“Our bodies know how to heal. They are constantly healing themselves. Acupuncture uses our own body’s wisdom and healing mechanisms to improve health,” Beristain says. “It works with the body, not against it. This makes acupuncture an excellent choice for natural medicine, with little to no side effects but with excellent results.”

What does Western medicine have to say?

All that talk about energy flow and natural healing sounds wonderful, but if you’re like many savvy health consumers, you probably want to know what Western medical research says about acupuncture, like how it functions and whether it works.
The short answer? It sure does.
According to research reviewed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acupuncture is an effective treatment for many ailments, particularly chronic pain and menopause-related symptoms including hot flashes, sleep interruptions, and anxiety. In fact, one study found that acupuncture reduced menopause symptoms by nearly 37 percent. Women who received acupuncture during the study also reported improved quality of life.  
When it comes to certain chronic conditions including chronic pain, one review of studies involving nearly 18,000 individuals being treated for chronic pain found that those who had acupuncture experienced less pain than people who received simulated acupuncture—a placebo situation designed to make them believe they were getting acupuncture when they weren’t.
[pullquote align=”center”]According to research reviewed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acupuncture is an effective treatment for many ailments, particularly chronic pain and menopause-related symptoms.[/pullquote]
An in-depth NIH resource on acupuncture reports that “results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain. It also may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches. Therefore, acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider.”
The resource goes on to say, “The effects of acupuncture on the brain and body and how best to measure them are only beginning to be understood.”
While studies have shown that acupuncture can be effective for pain relief, Western doctors don’t entirely understand why it works so well. It is believed that acupuncture affects the electronic transmissions that take place in all areas of our bodies, explains Joseph Feuerstein, MD, director of integrative medicine at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut, and assistant professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University in New York City.
“Research suggests that acupuncture is working on multiple different parts of the central nervous simultaneously, including releasing pain-modulating substances in the local area and also work[ing] at the level of the spinal cord and higher areas of the brain,” Feuerstein says.
Beristain agrees with this characterization.
[pullquote align=”center”]“Acupuncture is working on multiple different parts of the central nervous simultaneously, including releasing pain-modulating substances.”
—Joseph Feuerstein, MD[/pullquote]
“Acupuncture stimulates the minuscule electrical impulses that energize every cell, every tissue, and every function in our bodies,” she says. “For example, connectivity tissue, which is prevalent throughout the entire body, has high electric activity. By the strategic insertion and manipulation of tiny needles, acupuncture stimulates the electric activity in the body that stimulates healing.”

Who should try acupuncture?

Given your new understanding of both the Western and traditional Chinese explanations of how acupuncture operates, you might be wondering if you should give it a try. Most Americans who try acupuncture come to it when other medical options have failed to give them relief or help them heal. However, Beristain points out that in traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture is an important preventative health measure.
“You don’t have to experience any health challenges to benefit from acupuncture,” she says. “Just like a healthy diet, exercise, and mindfulness, acupuncture is a great practice to maintain your health.”
That said, since acupuncture has been shown to relieve chronic pain and alleviate symptoms of menopause, people with those conditions could benefit from therapeutic acupuncture.
Many people turn to acupuncture for help with fertility issues, too, and all the experts who spoke with HealthyWay for this piece say that acupuncture can help with fertility. However, the research is not clear-cut around this issue. One study found that acupuncture can improve coping for women who are having difficulty getting pregnant and that it may positively influence female reproductive health. Another study found that acupuncture did not increase pregnancy rates for women undergoing in vitro fertilization overall, although it did result in some improved pregnancy rates at IVF clinics with lower success rates.

What to Look for in an Acupuncture Provider

Opting for acupuncture can be scary, especially since Western medicine can’t fully account for how it works. Mysteries aside, it’s also not easy to find a person who you can trust to poke and prod you with a bunch of needles!
That’s why it’s important to find a qualified acupuncturist who can help set your mind at ease. Ralph Esposito, a naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist, and functional medicine doctor with offices in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and New York City, says it’s important to go with someone who is a licensed acupuncturist or LAc. Other doctors can be trained in acupuncture without understanding the basics of traditional Chinese medicine, which are essential for making acupuncture work, he says. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can help you find a licensed acupuncturist in your area.
[pullquote align=”center”]“Just like a healthy diet, exercise, and mindfulness, acupuncture is a great practice to maintain your health.”
—Yunuen “June” Beristain, Amplify Acupuncture[/pullquote]
Beristain points out that licensed acupuncturists have undergone years of training in order to provide you with top-notch care.
“The amount of training to become a licensed acupuncturist is vast and challenging,” she says. In California, where she practices, licensed acupuncturists have to complete a four-year program and go through a multi-level certification exam.

What to Expect

When you go for your an acupuncture appointment you can expect to spend about half an hour with your practitioner, although the first appointment will take longer as you talk about your health conditions and what brought you in.
Then, it’s time to get started. You’ll relax (usually lying down), while your acupuncturist inserts between five and 20 needles depending on the type and site of treatment. Those are left in for 10 to 20 minutes, during which time you can just sit back and relax. After that the needles are removed and you’re ready to be on your way.
One of the biggest misconceptions about acupuncture is that it hurts, Beristain says. Because acupuncture needles are very thin, they shouldn’t cause you pain when they are inserted.
“One might experience a needle that is uncomfortable, but most people are surprised at the fact that acupuncture can be virtually painless,” she says.
Esposito adds that many people believe the needles are targeting nerves, which is not the case.
“Yes, these needles are very close to specific nerves and they work on the autonomic nervous system but they don’t ‘hit’ nerves,” he explains. “That actually would be very painful.”
Instead, the needles calmly stimulate your body’s qi energy or electrical pulses, depending on whether you’re looking at it from the Eastern or Western viewpoint. Overall, the process is very gentle, so it may take a few sessions to begin experiencing relief.
“Acupuncture is gentle. It works with the body’s own wisdom to, in most cases, go to the root of the issue,” Beristain says. “Therefore, it is rarely used as a therapeutic method that one can do once and expect immediate results.”
Most people treating a specific condition will require two session a week for about six weeks. After that you’ll evaluate your needs with your practitioner and set up a maintenance plan.
It’s ok to go to your acupuncture appointment right after exercising, but it’s important to make sure you’ve eaten recently, Esposito says.
[pullquote align=”center”]Acupuncture needles calmly stimulate your body’s qi energy or electrical pulses, depending on whether you’re looking at it from the Eastern or Western viewpoint.[/pullquote]
“Acupuncture can be great to lower blood sugar and blood pressure, and doing it without any food can cause lightheadedness and low blood sugar,” he explains.
After your session light movement is suggested, but it’s best to hold off on heavier exercise for the rest of the day.

Acupuncture at Home (and on the Road)

To get the full benefits of acupuncture you have to visit a licensed practitioner who has spent years studying the complex theories behind the practice. However, there are some benefits of acupuncture that you can experience at home, no needles required.
For relief from headaches, Esposito recommends activating your large intestine point (LI4), which is located between your thumb and index finger.
“Straighten all your fingers to have them touch and there will be a bump between your thumb and index finger. This is LI4,” he says. “Press here for a few minutes for headache relief.”
Another popular acupuncture point is pericardium 6 (PC-6), also known as the Inner Pass. This is located about two inches up your forearm from the point where your wrist meets your hand, in between the two tendons. You can press on that point until you feel a pulse to relieve nausea. In fact, this is the idea behind the popular motion sickness relief bands that many people wear.
Next time you have a headache or are feeling queasy, give the principles of acupuncture a try for yourself, whether you’re at the office, in the comfort of your own home, or on the go.
Whether you’ve been fighting headaches or hormonal issues, or are just curious about how ancient healing traditions can boost your overall health and wellness, you might want to give acupuncture a try in 2018. After all, there’s got to be a reason that the treatment’s popularity has lasted for thousands of years and spread all the way around the globe.
“It is important to know what a powerful tool acupuncture is for preventative medicine,” Beristain says. “Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine focus on achieving balance in the body in order to prevent disease and maintain optimal health. Therefore, the consistent practice of acupuncture is really a great addition to the wellness regime of any person.”
[related article_ids=1001219]

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Health x Body Wellbeing

Your Guide To Natural Antihistamines: What To Know When Allergy Symptoms Arrive

When it comes to treating allergies, prescription and over-the-counter antihistamines can be a lifesaver. They can also have multiple side effects, including drowsiness.
For this reason, many people are opting for natural antihistamines. But how do they work? And are they really effective?
Most people know that antihistamines provide allergy relief—but many people aren’t sure what histamines are. In short, histamines are chemicals made by your body. When we encounter something we’re allergic to, our immune system sees it as a threat and tries to attack it. Things like pollen or dander aren’t really threats, but an overactive immune system might assume that they are.
When you encounter an allergen, your body’s mast cells (immune cells found in connective tissue) will release histamines. These histamines increase blood flow to certain parts of your body, causing inflammation. The result? Common allergic reactions are runny nose, dry and sore eyes, skin rashes, wheezing, and general discomfort.
Antihistamines prevent the histamines from affecting our body too badly. And while prescription and over-the-counter antihistamines are easily available at every drug store, many people experience problematic side effects and might want to look for an alternative in a natural antihistamine.
There are a variety of reasons that people want try natural supplements instead of using pharmaceutical antihistamines, says Ralph Esposito, a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturalist. For one, natural antihistamines typically have very few side effects and seldom make you drowsy.
Esposito notes that many of his patients become tolerant of pharmaceutical antihistamines, meaning the effect gets weaker after a while. With natural antihistamines, this seldom happens, he says.
One downside of using natural antihistamines? They don’t always provide immediate relief. “Over-the-counter antihistamines often work much quicker than natural antihistamines,” Esposito says. “However, after about two weeks of use they are equally effective.”
There is very little research that directly compares the efficacy of natural antihistamines with pharmaceutical antihistamines. And of course, not every natural antihistamine works in the same way. Some are more effective than others, and some have been studied extensively, whereas others are not well researched. The potential side effects will differ from one natural antihistamine to the next.
It’s important to consider all the available research before you decide to take any supplement.
If you’re interested in trying natural antihistamines, read on!

Which supplements and ingredients are natural antihistamines?

Fortunately, nature provides us with multiple forms of natural antihistamines in vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Although many of these nutrients are found in food, Esposito says that taking natural antihistamines in capsule or pill form is the most effective way to treat allergies.

  • Quercetin

    An antioxidant found in apples and onions, quercetin is one of nature’s most celebrated natural antihistamines. Multiple studies have found that quercetin supresses histamines and soothes allergy-related inflammation and asthma. Esposito says it works by inhibiting the mast cells that trigger the histamine response in our bodies.
    “I have noticed some patients may be sensitive to quercetin, where their complaints may worsen for a day or two but these soon resolve,” Esposito says. “I advise starting with a low dose and then increasing it.”

  • Bromelain

    Bromelain, which is found in pineapple, is another well-known natural antihistamine. Two different scientific reviews—one specific to bromelain and another focusing on herbal medicines—have shown that bromelain is especially good at treating allergic rhinitis. (Allergic rhinitis is another term for hay fever, and it includes having a runny and stuffy nose caused by allergic reactions.) Bromelain also acts as a natural antihistamine by soothing respiratory distress and inflammation caused by allergies.

  • Vitamin C

    We’re all familiar with vitamin C, the immune-boosting nutrient found in citrus. Many people don’t know that it’s also a natural antihistamine. In one study, patients who were given 2 mg of vitamin C a day found that it treated their allergic rhinitis. Esposito advises using vitamin C in conjunction with other natural antihistamines.
    “Alone it may not help with allergies or as an antihistamine, but in combination with the aforementioned, yes it can help,” he says. Be careful not to overdose on vitamin C, he warns, as it can lead to diarrhea.

  • Stinging Nettle or Nettle Leaf

    Stinging nettle is a plant native to North America. It’s often considered a weed, but it has useful health properties and is commonly used as a natural antihistamine. It’s interesting to note, then, the plant actually contains histamines in itself.
    Using it as a natural antihistamine might seem counterintuitive, but in truth, histamines are sometimes an effective treatment for allergies. In one double-blind study, 58 percent of participants using freeze-dried stinging nettle found that it relieved their symptoms, and 69 percent found it better than the placebo. Another study found it is an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis.

  • N-Acetyl Cysteine or NAC

    NAC is an antioxidant derived by your body from cysteine, which is found in chicken and turkey, eggs, garlic, and yogurt. Although NAC doesn’t reduce your histamine levels, it helps to break up mucus, says Esposito. Since the overproduction of mucus is a side effect of being exposed to allergens, NAC could be useful for those struggling with allergies.

  • S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe)

    SAMe occurs naturally in the body and is made by the body from amino acids found in food. People who have abnormal levels of SAMe may be prone to depression and liver problems. It is often used as a treatment for osteoarthritis, liver disease, and depression, but studies on its effectiveness are not conclusive.
    SAMe isn’t typically used for allergies, Esposito says, but he finds it to be helpful. “It’s in my tool box because it works on an enzyme called HNMT (histamine N-methyltransferase), which helps detox the body from histamine,” he explains.

  • Butterbur

    Butterbur, which is also effective at treating migraines, is another natural antihistamine. A shrub found in Europe, Asia, and North America, it was once used to treat the plague and asthma. Several studies have shown that butterbur extract can treat allergic rhinitis effectively. However, not much is known about the long-term effects of butterbur, and it could cause some side effects, such as headaches, itchy eyes, and dizziness.

Natural Antihistamines and Your Skin

There are natural alternatives to topical antihistamine creams too. If you have itchy skin or a rash because of allergens, Esposito recommends nettle leaf and quercetin as natural antihistamines that work from the inside out. That said, they won’t get to work immediately.
“For immediate relief I utilize a mix of aloe vera, calendula, and tea tree oil,” he says. “Although most natural therapies are best taken as supplements, I find calendula oil to be helpful topically to help reduce the histamine-like skin reactions.”

How can I include natural antihistamines in my diet?

If your symptoms are mild, certain dietary changes might help you. Amanda Frick, lead naturopathic doctor at Harvey Health, says this could help you take a preventive approach to allergies.
“You could add more citrus to your diet for increased vitamin C,” she says. “Bromelain is found in high amounts in pineapple. Quercetin is found in dark-colored fruits and vegetables like berries, cherries, apples, and wine and can be found in smaller amounts in leafy greens and onions.” Additionally, cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts contain NAC. Stinging nettle or nettle leaf is available in tea form, but Esposito believes you’d have to have about eight cups a day to treat moderate allergies.
A number of other vegetables and herbs can be used as natural antihistamines to treat allergic reactions. This includes ginger, which has been shown to prevent and treat allergic reactions; watercress, which inhibits histamines; and peaches, which slow down the inflammatory response of the mast cells.
Generally, though, these studies focused on concentrated amounts of those foods. This means you’d have to eat a lot of it before you notice an effect. Eating a bowl of pineapple isn’t going to make your hives disappear immediately. But when these foods form a part of a balanced diet, they can have a preventive effect, as Frick notes. However, as Esposito says, natural anthistamines in capsule or pill form are much more effective than food if you want to treat moderate or severe allergies.

What to Know Before You Take Natural Antihistamines

Natural antihistamines have fewer side effects than pharmaceutical antihistamines, say Frick and Esposito. However, just because something is natural doesn’t mean it is without risk. One such risk is that you might be allergic to some of the antihistamines. For example, bromelain should be avoided by those who are allergic to pineapple. As always, it’s important to use [linkbuilder id=”357″ text=”everything in moderation”].
“You should exercise caution with all supplements for cross reactivity with other herbs and prescriptions,” Frick suggests.
It’s very important to tell your physician if you’re taking supplements of any kind, even if they’re natural or available over the counter. Many people don’t think to tell their doctors if they’re taking supplements, but it’s important that they do so in the event that their supplements might interact with other medicine.
Although many natural antihistamines have been studied thoroughly, there’s a lack of evidence when it comes to others. “The truth is we often don’t know how to measure the risks and likelihood of having side effects with many of these herbal treatments,” says allergist and immunologist Clifford Bassett, MD. Bassett is the founder and medical director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York. He points out that although quercetin has been studied and found to be effective, some other herbal treatments were associated with a few short-lived side effects.
“We do know the likely benefit and risks of both over-the-counter and prescription allergy medicines, such as oral, ocular, and nasal antihistamines.” In other words, pharmaceutical antihistamines are more predictable than natural antihistamines.
Always exercise extra caution if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s important to consult your doctor or midwife before taking any sort of supplement. At present, there are too few studies that test the effects of natural antihistamines on pregnant or breastfeeding women.
When it comes to dosing children, you should check with your pediatrician first, says Frick. “These natural ingredients are generally considered safe for pediatric use with adjusted dosing,” she says. Incorporating foods rich in quercetin and other antihistamines could be a good approach. Frick suggests adding dark-colored berries and vegetables in your child’s diet to prevent mild allergies.

Natural Antihistamines for Pets

Someone else who may benefit from natural antihistamines? Your pet.
According to integrative veterinarian Martin Goldstein, DVM, your cats and dogs can also benefit from the natural antihistamine effects of nettle and quercetin. Goldstein, popularly known as Dr. Marty, has 40 years of experience as a veterinarian and authored the book The Nature of Animal Healing.
Other treatments for allergies would include high levels of omega-3 rich oils like fish or krill oil, and even coconut oil is favorable,” Dr. Marty says. “A supplement containing beta-sitosterol is one of my favorites, as it has a natural steroid-like effect again with no side effects,” he adds.
Dr. Marty advocates changing your pet’s diet to one that contains primarily fresh meats, reducing the grain and starch in their diet. He also recommends running blood tests to check for food allergies if possible. If your dog is prone to allergies, Dr. Marty suggests trying acupuncture.

Prevention is better than cure.

If you want to take a holistic approach to your health, dealing with allergies shouldn’t just include taking natural antihistamines when you’re struggling. Avoiding allergens whenever you can and maintaining good overall health is important.
“Whether the antihistamine is natural or not, you want to remove the obstacles to heal[ing], and that requires a complete holistic approach.” Esposito says. “My goal is not to have people on these herbs or medications their whole life, as benign as they may be, because our body has its own innate ability to heal.”
To prevent allergies, Esposito advises practicing good hygiene, avoiding allergens where possible, and taking care of your general health.
Other than consuming natural antihistamines, you might want to try other natural remedies for allergies. This can include clearing your stuffy nose with a neti pot, using a HEPA filter to reduce dust and mold spores in your home, and sipping anti-inflammatory peppermint tea.
Many essential oils can also be useful when it comes to treating and soothing allergic reactions. This is because they often ease inflammation. Eucalyptus oil, for example, has been shown to reduce nasal congestion. Studies have suggested that peppermint oil is a relaxant that soothes spasmodic coughing and an anti-inflammatory that can ease the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.
Lemon and tea tree oil can also be useful for people with allergies. You can use them in your home in a diffuser or to clean surfaces. Both lemon and tea tree oils kill allergens like mold and bacteria, which can help prevent allergic reactions. 
Allergies are always a struggle to deal with, and over-the-counter antihistamines aren’t for everyone. Fortunately, though, nature has given us many useful tools to help our bodies soothe themselves, enabling us to take a holistic approach to allergies. If the side effects of traditional antihistamines are bothering you, speak to your physician about trying a more natural alternative.

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Health x Body Wellbeing

What Is Cupping Therapy? And Is It Right For You?

When Vivian Manning-Schaffel leaves her acupuncturist’s office after a cupping session, her back is covered in cup-shaped bruises, and she’s sore. But the NYC-based writer says she knows what’s coming: Her muscles will start to ease out of their clenched position, and she’ll suddenly feel like she has a whole new back.
“Cupping is so amazing,” Manning-Schaffel says. “It’s the part of the [acupuncture] treatment I look forward to the most.”
Looking forward to a bruised back covered in big red marks might sound a bit…odd. But thanks to a degenerative disease that can leave her back in spasms, Manning-Schaffel has found herself among a growing number of Americans who’ve made cupping a regular part of their wellness routines.
Rooted in Chinese medicine, cupping has been around for centuries, but the practice has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. Photos of Olympians with skin that looks like it’s covered in grade school hickies pop up regularly in the media, proving that some of the nation’s most elite athletes turn to cupping. And then there are those Facebook friends who are crowing about the miraculous new treatment that’s cured their back pain.
If you’ve been tempted to try cupping, you’re not alone. Here’s a look at what it really is…and what the scientists say it can do for you.

What is cupping, anyway?

Remember when you were a kid, and you use to place your mom’s vacuum hose on your arm or leg before flipping the switch? Then you’ve got at least somewhat of an idea of what cupping is all about.
As the name implies, cupping involves small cups (typically made of glass, bamboo, or silicone) that are placed on the skin in areas where someone feels pain. A vacuum pump is used to create suction so the small cups grip the skin, pulling the blood toward the skin’s surface.
It’s that increased blood flow that’s credited with most of the practice’s healing properties, but different practitioners offer techniques that will enhance the therapy. Some acupuncturists use typical acupuncture needle techniques in conjunction with cupping, while others will move the cups around on the surface for a suction-based massage.
Although cupping traditionally has been offered in acupuncturists’ offices, the spike in wellness centers in the U.S. and the surge in alternative pain treatment popularity have cupping moving into the mainstream too. These days you’ll find cupping offered at some pain clinics and physical therapy offices as well as alternative wellness centers.
No matter where you go, though, it’s wise to ask if the cupping procedure will be dry or wet.
With wet cupping or hijama, therapists typically make small incisions in the skin to allow blood to escape. That step is skipped in the dry version of the practice.

What the Science Says

Thousands of years of practice doesn’t always mean something is scientifically sound (see also: throwing salt over your shoulder or knocking on wood). But when it comes to cupping, researchers have dug deep into whether there are therapeutic benefits and come up with good news.
One look at 75 different randomized controlled trials of traditional Chinese medicine practices concluded that cupping is “relatively safe” and “could be efficacious in treating the pain and disability” associated with chronic neck pain and chronic low back pain, specifically.

Is cupping for you?

Because it’s not a traditional Western modality, it’s no surprise that the National Institutes of Health recommends against using cupping in place of traditional doctor’s visits, and it’s always wise to visit your physician before embarking on any new wellness plan.
But if a doctor signs off, cupping could prove promising for countless people. Studies have found cupping therapy beneficial for migraine sufferers, people with lower back pain, and even those with skin conditions like psoriasis.
If your pain clinic or physical therapy office has a cupping practitioner on staff, the hunt is made easy. No such luck? The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine hosts an easily searchable directory that can help you find a practitioner.
After your visit, you can expect to feel some soreness like Manning-Schaffel does, and you’ll likely get a warning that you should up your water intake, similar to a post-massage regimen. But you may just find yourself looking forward to that back covered in red marks…for the sake of the relief that comes next!

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Health x Body Wellbeing

Therapy Can Benefit Everyone; Here’s Why You Should Consider It

We all go through emotionally trying times at various points in our lives—some more than others. Whether your troubles feel big or small, and whether they’re current or in the past, you might consider therapy to help you process your feelings.
Talk therapy—also known as psychotherapy—can be beneficial for many people, but it can be difficult to figure out whether you should go. You might be discouraged by the stigma around therapy or the cost and time commitment required. You or your loved ones might think you can process your problems without professional help.
In reality, no matter how close someone is to you, though, they don’t occupy your headspace. Nobody understands your mind and soul like you do. If you feel like therapy is worth trying, go for it!
Of course, you may have talked to people who went to therapy but didn’t find it helpful. And that’s okay: Not everybody winds up needing therapy at a given point in their life. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it—after all, there’s a lot to gain.

How does therapy help?

Talk therapy helps you by giving you space to process your feelings, thoughts, and experiences with a professional. Have you ever had an “a-ha!” moment when discussing your feelings with a friend? That’s one of the things that happens in therapy: When we talk about something, we reflect on our behavior and thoughts, and sometimes things click. We become aware of patterns and make connections we couldn’t see before.
Therapy isn’t just good for your emotional health, though. It can be an investment in improving your physical health, too. Mental wellness often has a positive impact on our physical wellness while stress—an issue therapy often addresses—has a negative effect on the body. Positivity can improve your health and your immune system.

Kinds to Consider

Different types of therapy address issues using different methodsCognitive behavioral therapy, for example, is an effective means of addressing mood disorders as it aims to help clients address and alter unhealthy patterns and behavior.
There are plenty of other kinds of therapy, too, including art therapy, play therapy, animal-assisted therapy, hypnotherapy, group therapy, biofeedback, and more. Therapists usually list the kinds of therapy they offer and the schools of thought that inform their practice on their websites. Exploring approaches in and of itself can be fascinating and empowering and will invite you to imagine what benefits you might afford yourself if you commit to pursuing therapy.

Do I really need a therapist?

I’ve talked myself out of going to therapy many times because I wasn’t having a crisis. My problems didn’t feel bad enough to necessitate therapy, so I avoided it.
The problem with this approach? Therapy isn’t only about managing a crisis. It’s also about maintaining good mental health so that you avoid the next potential crisis altogether. Even when you’re functioning well, you might have underlying issues such as anxiety, past trauma, or depression.
Think about it: We’re told to visit our dentist twice a year even if we have no noticeable problems with our teeth. Similarly, seeing a therapist can help you identify and work on issues before they become emergencies.
Many people feel that they aren’t mentally ill—or aren’t mentally ill enough—to need therapy. Truthfully, though, you don’t have to be mentally ill to legitimate scheduling an appointment or even developing an ongoing relationship with a therapist. We can all benefit from talking to a professional sometimes.
You might feel that you can work through your issues alone or rely on your family and friends to help you. Having a support network of people who care about you is important, as is working through problems on your own. Both of those are good mental health tools, but they can’t replace having a trained professional share informed insight and introduce you to new techniques you can use to care for yourself and interact healthfully with others. Likewise, a therapist can’t replace introspection or a good support network!
Also important to keep in mind: Relying on friends and family to work through emotional issues isn’t always sustainable. If your friends are having a rough time, they might struggle to help you. Therapists also offer a relatively objective perspective since they don’t  know you or your loved ones—or your work situation or family history—personally. They will approach your concerns from the background of their training and experience, meaning they bring something to the table that you won’t have access to otherwise—no matter how supportive and diverse your circle of support is.

How to Find a Good Therapist

Deciding to go to therapy is a great start—but many people are unsure of how to find a therapist who can meet their needs. Before committing to therapy with a specific healthcare provider, ask yourself what you want out of therapy and who you’d feel comfortable talking to.
You might prefer to speak to someone of the same gender, sexual orientation, race, or cultural background as you. As a bisexual person, I prefer to speak to queer-identifying therapists because they’re more likely to understand how tough it is to deal with homophobia.
Ask for referrals from trusted friends and family members, or your GP or another medical practitioner might be able to refer you to someone. You can also look online for referrals and reviews of local therapists.

Advocating for Yourself and Thinking Outside the Box

Meeting with a therapist once doesn’t mean you have to see them again. If you feel like the therapist isn’t a good fit—even after one or two or three sessions—it’s totally okay to look for another therapist. If you feel comfortable, explain what’s working and what isn’t. Be bold and ask the therapist you’ve been seeing to refer you to someone else. Their professional network may include someone who would be a better fit.
If you find a great therapist but you can’t afford their fees, let them know. Many therapists offer discounts or work on a sliding fee scale.
If you’re struggling to find a good therapist in your town, you can even consider online therapy. Thanks to modern technology, it’s now possible for you to talk to a trained professional thousands of miles away. Take a look at online therapy options like Talkspace and BetterHelp. While some people prefer face-to-face interactions, online therapy can be a convenient alternative. In many cases, it’s also more affordable than in-person appointments.
The idea of going to therapy can be scary, but it doesn’t need to be! Deciding to go to therapy can be one of the smartest and best decisions you can make.

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Health x Body Wellbeing

Panic Attack Symptoms To Keep In Mind (Even If You Haven’t Been Diagnosed With Anxiety)

You’re going about your daily routine, just like any other day when all of a sudden, it hits you: A wave of dread envelops your body. A sense of impending doom that you can’t escape or pinpoint. You can’t breathe. Your chest hurts. Your heart feels like it’s beating out of your chest. You break into a sweat. You feel numb and dizzy, like you’re just about to faint. And the worst part is you have no idea why, or what is making you feel this way.
Are you having a heart attack? Are you dying? And then, just as quickly as it came on, the feeling dissipates. The world hasn’t ended. Things come back into focus. So what the hell just happened?
Odds are, you had a panic attack.
Panic attacks can come on at any time, very often for no discernible reason and without warning. And while they affect people of both genders, women are more prone to panic attacks than men.
Suffering from panic attacks can become an isolating experience, while the causes of attacks can be confusing to pinpoint. Because of this, panic attacks are often mistaken for other anxiety disorders, but it’s important to note there are distinct differences between the two and that, if left untreated, panic attacks can lead to panic disorder, a more serious and debilitating condition.

So what is a panic attack exactly?

While having a panic attack may feel like you’re dying (with symptoms including, but not limited to, difficulty breathing, pounding heartbeat, chest pains, and dizziness), it is something else entirely. It’s actually a chemical reaction caused when the bloodstream is flooded by adrenaline. This signals to the body that a threat is imminent and triggers a fight or flight response. The result is an overwhelming feeling of discomfort and often terror.
According to Gerard Lawson, President of the American Counseling Association, what primarily distinguishes panic attacks from generalized anxiety disorder and phobias is that “Anxiety disorders do not typically have the profound experience of panic with them and present more as worry and preoccupation. Specific phobias will have a have an identifiable trigger, which is not the case with panic attacks.”
He adds that it’s also important to distinguish panic attacks from PTSD. “Post-traumatic stress disorder will have similar features, but a professional counselor will be certain to assess for a trauma history, which may better explain the symptoms of PTSD and not panic.”
It should be noted, however, that PTSD, panic attacks, and panic disorder aren’t mutually exclusive. Those who suffer from PTSD have much higher rates of panic attacks than the general public, which is just one of the reasons why it’s important to reach out to a healthcare professional to help determine the root cause of any recurrent panic or anxiety you’re experiencing.

The Difference Between Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

Panic attacks and panic disorder are two closely linked conditions, but their relationship is often misunderstood. The easiest way to explain the difference between the two is that those who suffer from isolated panic attacks don’t have panic disorder, but those who have panic disorder suffer from repeat panic attacks.
Repeat panic attacks can cause a snowball effect, and if left unchecked, the sufferer can experience a vicious cycle of constantly worrying about the onset of the next attack. This constantly anxious and exhausting mental state can eventually give way to panic disorder.
When panic attacks lead to panic disorder, it causes many chronic sufferers to withdrawal from normal activities. Lawson says panic disorder can best be described as “a vicious cycle of feeling panic, and then crippling anxiety over whether and when the next one will occur… The very experience of the panic attack causes people to begin to think about not engaging in the activity that caused the panic.”
Lawson adds that early prevention is the key to prevent isolated attacks from developing into panic disorder. “Even if you do not have a panic disorder, if you have had more than one panic attack, it is important to reach out to a professional counselor for assistance. Counseling can help, [but] without treatment, the isolated attacks can begin to develop into a full-blown disorder.”

What are the symptoms of a panic attack?

According to psychologist Anna Prudovski, clinical director of Turning Point Psychological Services, the primary symptoms of a panic attack include “racing heart, shaking, shortness of breathing, sweating, chest pain, dizziness, nausea, and feelings of unreality. Often there’s a fear of dying or a fear of going crazy or losing control.”
The Anxiety and Depression Center of America says other reported symptoms include “feelings of choking, chills or heat sensations, and numbness or tingling.”
Contributing to a U.S. News and World Report piece on panic attacks, Todd Farchione, research assistant professor at the Boston University Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders, said that all these symptoms “are tied to an evolutionarily sound response to protect the individual. It’s really designed to get that person to either fight or flight; it’s primarily to escape.”
So approximately how long does a panic attack last? Normally about 20 to 30 minutes, but it can feel like a lifetime for the sufferer, so it’s no wonder that these symptoms can be extremely alarming and disconcerting to the person who’s experiencing them—necessitating both professional help and personal support.

What triggers a panic attack?

One of the most frustrating aspects of panic attacks is that determining an exact cause is often difficult. But there are a variety of causes and conditions that may contribute to occurrences.
While anyone can experience panic attacks (and panic disorder), certain groups may have a higher risk factor than others, including those who suffer from agoraphobia, alcoholism, and bipolar disorder. Experiences of childhood trauma and abuse—particularly emotional abuse—are also linked to an increased likelihood of an individual developing various anxiety and panic disorders in adulthood.
Research suggests that panic attacks can also be hereditary. According to a 2011 study from The Journal of Korean Medical Science, “Linkage studies have implicated several chromosomal regions. …In addition, an anxious temperament and anxiety-related personality traits may represent intermediate phenotypes that predispose to panic disorder.”
Many people who experience panic attacks recall encountering them early in adolescence. And, as mentioned before, women tend to experience them more than men.
In fact, according to “Gender Differences in Panic Disorder,” a 2004 study published in Psychiatric Times, panic disorder is actually more than twice as prevalent among women as it is in men. Younger participants (those ages 15 to 24) had more occurrences than those ages 35 to 44, which suggests that age may also be a factor in the severity of panic attack symptoms.
Major life transitions are another potential trigger for panic attacks, including milestones like college graduation, getting married, or having a baby. Panic attacks are also associated with divorce or loss of a loved one and can even occur as a result of being overwhelmed by overcommitting or taking on too many responsibilities.
Those with sensitivities to certain medications or oversensitivity to external stimuli also may be at greater risk. Self-care is of utmost importance for panic attack sufferers since smoking, drug use, lack of sleep, and caffeine intake can all contribute to an increase in incidents.

Treatment and Prevention

The first step in treating panic attacks and preventing recurrence, according to Prudovski, is getting properly diagnosed by a healthcare professional. Once you’ve been properly diagnosed, the next step is seeking care from a psychologist or mental health professional. She says, “In many instances, panic attacks are related to another anxiety disorder, such as social anxiety, phobia, OCD, etc. In those cases, you may be diagnosed either with one of the anxiety disorders, or a panic disorder, or both. Correct differential diagnosis is crucial for treatment.”
While not every instance of a panic attack can be avoided, therapy (either cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, or both) can prove beneficial. Certain medications (including antidepressants and anxiety medications) can also be helpful, but as noted by Lawson “because the onset is unpredictable, they are usually after the fact, trying to manage the physical symptoms.”
Prudovski says that in addition to breathing, relaxation, and grounding techniques, exposure therapy can also be helpful, and when used in concert with cognitive behavioral therapy “is very effective and has a high rate of success.”
One reason so many mental health professionals are fond of exposure therapy for panic attacks and panic disorder is that it helps to lessen the power panic attacks hold over the sufferer. So how does it work? By inducing the symptoms of an attack in the confines of a safe environment, the shock and hold they have can be addressed and lessened.
For example, by inducing one of the most common panic attack symptoms, hyperventilation (through rigorous exercise), a therapist can then show the patient breathing techniques that can help slow and control their oxygen intake so the patient can be better prepared at the onset of another attack.
According to Jill Howell, Board Certified Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and author of Color, Draw. Collage: Create Your Way to a Less Stressful Life, “One of the best tips that I tell my patients to use when they are feeling panicked is a mindfulness trick to bring them back to the here and now. I ask them to name everything that is around them out loud. To describe in detail everything that is on the wall, the floor, the counters. Naming colors, textures. Describing everything helps them to become more centered and focused which in turn distracts them from the feeling of panic.”

Potential Health Risks for Panic Attack Sufferers

There’s another very important reason to go visit your doctor if you believe you’re suffering from panic attack symptoms—you could be mistaking them for other potentially life-threatening conditions.
According to Lawson, “Some medical disorders, particularly cardiac or respiratory issues, can masquerade as panic disorders because the physical sensation is similar.”
Other illnesses that might be confused with panic attacks include mitral valve prolapse, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, and even medication withdrawal. This makes it all the more important to check with your doctor if these symptoms keep recurring, as all the aforementioned conditions require proper medical diagnosis and supervision, and can even be fatal if left untreated.
And while many people think panic attacks are benign, research suggests the symptoms might not only feel like a heart attack—they could actually be linked to heart disease. In a piece for Harvard Health Publishing, psychiatrist Christopher Celano, MD, says that instances of panic and anxiety disorders are higher among those who have coronary heart disease and heart failure. Additionally, panic and anxiety disorders are also linked to other health issues including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, and asthma.

When it comes to panic attacks, knowledge is power.

While those who experience panic attacks may feel that relief is unachievable, sufferers should know that there is hope that their condition can improve or even be eliminated. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help an individual suffering from panic attacks manage their symptoms or even stop experiencing them entirely.
If you suffer from panic attacks or are a caregiver for someone who does, seek advice from a doctor or mental health professional to learn techniques and tools that can help those who suffer from panic attacks and disorders live a healthier, happier life.
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