Male infertility

This comprehensive overview covers causes and treatments of male infertility.

Definition

An estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of couples are classified as infertile, which means that they've been trying to get pregnant with frequent, unprotected intercourse for at least a year with no success.

In about half the cases, male infertility is a factor. Causes of male infertility include abnormal sperm production or function, impaired delivery of sperm, general health and lifestyle issues, and exposure to certain environmental factors.

Even if male infertility is a factor, the female partner also may have something going on that interferes with conception. You and your partner may both need treatment to achieve pregnancy. But don't get discouraged. A number of tests and treatment options make it possible to diagnose and overcome most causes of male infertility.

Symptoms

The main sign of male infertility is the inability for couples to get pregnant. There may be no other obvious signs or symptoms of male infertility. However, if male infertility is caused by a hormonal problem, you may have signs and symptoms such as reduced hair growth on your face or body, or a low sex drive.

Causes

Male fertility is a complex process that involves many factors, including the release of hormones that trigger the growth of reproductive organs and the production of sperm. To get his partner pregnant, a man must be able to deliver healthy sperm into the vagina that are able to reach, penetrate and fertilize a woman's egg.

Sperm must be properly shaped and able to move toward the egg for fertilization to occur. If the shape and structure (morphology) of the sperm are abnormal or the movement (motility) is impaired, sperm may not be able to reach or penetrate the egg.
There has to be enough sperm in the semen to make pregnancy likely. A normal sperm concentration is greater than or equal to 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen. A count of 10 million or fewer sperm per milliliter of semen indicates low sperm concentration (subfertility). Rarely, a man is unable to produce any sperm at all.

Your doctor may use number of tests to try to determine exactly what's causing the problem. In about half the cases of male infertility, an exact cause is never found. But even when the cause isn't entirely clear, treatment may still help. Causes of male fertility include impaired sperm production or function, impaired sperm delivery, lifestyle, and environmental exposure.

Impaired production or function of sperm

A number of specific conditions can cause problems with sperm:

Varicocele. A varicocele is a swollen vein in the scrotum that may prevent normal cooling of the testicle, leading to reduced sperm count and motility.
Undescended testicle. Undescended testicle occurs when one or both testicles fail to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum during fetal development. Because the testicles are exposed to the higher internal body temperature, compared with the temperature in the scrotum, sperm production may be affected.
Testosterone deficiency (male hypogonadism). Infertility can result from disorders of the testicles themselves, or an abnormality affecting the glands in the brain that produce hormones that control the testicles (the hypothalamus or pituitary glands).
Chromosome defects. Inherited disorders of the testes such as Klinefelter's syndrome—in which a male is born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome instead of one X and one Y—cause abnormal development of the testicles.
Infections. Infection may temporarily affect how your sperm moves. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, are most often associated with male infertility. These infections can cause scarring and block sperm passage. If mumps, a viral infection usually affecting young children, occurs after puberty, inflammation of the testicles can impair sperm production. Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis), urethra or epididymis also may alter sperm motility.
Hormonal disorders. These conditions, such as congenital GnRH deficiency (Kallmann syndrome), affect the release of hormones needed for sexual development or sperm production.

Impaired delivery of sperm

Problems with the delivery of sperm from the penis into the vagina can result in infertility. Examples of problems that can interfere with sperm delivery include:

Sexual issues. Often treatable, problems with sexual intercourse or technique may affect fertility. Difficulties with erection of the penis (erectile dysfunction), premature ejaculation, painful intercourse (dyspareunia), or psychological or relationship problems can contribute to infertility.
Blockage of epididymis or vas deferens. Some men are born with blockage of the part of the testicle that stores sperm (epididymis), or have a blockage of the tube that carries sperm (vas deferens) from the testicle out to the penis.
Retrograde ejaculation. This occurs when semen enters the bladder during orgasm rather than emerging out through the penis. Various conditions can cause retrograde ejaculation, including diabetes, bladder, prostate or urethral surgery, and the use of certain medications.
No semen (ejaculate). The absence of ejaculate may occur in men with spinal cord injuries or diseases. This fluid carries the sperm from the penis into the vagina.
Misplaced urinary opening (hypospadias). A birth defect can cause the urinary (urethral) opening to be abnormally located on the underside of the penis. If not surgically corrected, this condition can prevent sperm from reaching the woman's cervix.
Anti-sperm antibodies. Antibodies that target sperm and weaken or disable them usually occur after surgical blockage of part of the vas deferens for male sterilization (vasectomy). Presence of these antibodies may cause infertility.
Cystic fibrosis. Men with cystic fibrosis often have a missing or obstructed vas deferens.

General health and lifestyle

A man's general health and lifestyle may affect fertility. Some common causes of infertility related to health and lifestyle include:

Alcohol and drugs. Alcohol or drug dependency can cause reduced fertility. Anabolic steroids, for example, which are taken to stimulate muscle strength and growth, can cause the testicles to shrink and sperm production to decrease. Use of cocaine or marijuana may temporarily reduce the number and quality of your sperm.
Tobacco smoking. Men who smoke may have a lower sperm count than do those who don't smoke. Secondhand smoke also may affect male fertility.
Emotional stress. Stress may interfere with certain hormones needed to produce sperm. Your sperm count may be affected if you experience excessive or prolonged emotional stress. A problem with fertility itself can sometimes become long term and discouraging, producing more stress. Infertility can affect social relationships and your sex life.
Other medical conditions. A severe injury, major surgery or cancer can affect male fertility. Certain diseases or conditions, such as kidney disease, cirrhosis, sickle cell anemia and celiac disease can interfere with normal sperm production.
Age. A gradual decline in fertility is common in men older than 35.
Malnutrition. Deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin C, selenium, zinc and folate may contribute to infertility.
Obesity. Being overweight can cause hormone changes that reduce male fertility.

Environmental exposure

Overexposure to certain environmental elements such as heat, toxins and chemicals can reduce sperm production or function. Specific causes include:

Pesticides and other chemicals. Herbicides and insecticides may cause female hormone-like effects in the male body and may be associated with reduced sperm production and testicular cancer. Lead exposure also may cause infertility.
Overheating the testicles. Frequent use of saunas or hot tubs can temporarily impair your sperm production and lower your sperm count. Sitting for long periods or wearing tight clothing also may increase the temperature in your scrotum and reduce sperm production.
Exposure to radiation or X-rays. Exposure to radiation can impair sperm production. It can take several years for sperm production to return to normal. With high doses of radiation, sperm production can be permanently impaired.
Cancer and its treatment. Both radiation and chemotherapy treatment for cancer can impair sperm production. The closer radiation treatment is to the testicles, the higher the risk of infertility.

Risk factors

A number of risk factors are linked to male infertility. They include:

Age. Men older than 35 may have a gradual decline in fertility.
Tobacco smoking. Fertility may improve when you quit smoking.
Alcohol use. Heavy alcohol use can lower testosterone levels, cause erectile dysfunction and decrease sperm production.
Being overweight—or too thin. Being at an unhealthy weight can reduce sperm count.
Celiac disease. A digestive disorder caused by a sensitivity to gluten, untreated celiac disease can cause male infertility. Fertility may improve after adopting a gluten-free diet.
Prostate infections. Past prostate or other genital infections such as mumps or a sexually transmitted disease can affect fertility.
Exposure to toxins. Examples include heavy metals, industrial chemicals and radioactivity.
Exposure to certain drugs and medications. Examples include cancer medications and anabolic steroids.
High temperatures. Exposing the testicles to high temperatures—such as a hot tub or sauna—can temporarily reduce fertility.
Previous vasectomy. Some men who've had a vasectomy reversed remain infertile.

When to seek medical advice

In general, don't be too concerned about infertility unless you and your partner have been trying to conceive for at least one year. If you're a man with a known low sperm count or a history of testicular, prostate or sexual problems, consider seeking help earlier.

Tests and diagnosis

If you and your partner are unable to become pregnant within a reasonable time, see your doctor. Some infertile couples have more than one cause of their infertility. Your doctor will usually begin a comprehensive infertility examination on both you and your partner.

In some cases, the cause of your infertility may be unclear, or it may take a number of tests to determine the cause. Infertility tests can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance—find out what your medical plan covers ahead of time.

For a man to be fertile, the testicles must produce enough healthy sperm, and the sperm must be ejaculated effectively into the woman's vagina. Tests for male infertility attempt to determine whether any of these processes are impaired.

General physical examination and medical history. This includes examination of your genitals and questions about illnesses, disabilities and surgeries that could affect fertility. Your doctor will want to know what medications you take and your sexual habits. Your doctor may also ask about your sexual development as a boy and whether you've had any signs of low testosterone, such as decreased body or facial hair.
Semen analysis. This is the most important test for the male partner. Semen is generally obtained by masturbating or by interrupting intercourse and ejaculating your semen into a clean container. A laboratory analyzes the physical characteristics of your semen, the number of sperm present and looks for any abnormalities in the shape and structure (morphology) and movement (motility) of the sperm. The lab will also check your semen for signs of problems, such as infections or blood. Often sperm counts fluctuate from one specimen to the next, so your doctor may want to evaluate a few different samples. If your sperm analysis is normal, your doctor will likely recommend thorough testing of your female partner before conducting further male infertility tests.

Depending on initial findings, your doctor may recommend additional, more specialized tests that can help identify the cause of your infertility. These can include:

Scrotal ultrasound. Ultrasound, which uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body, can help your doctor look for evidence of a varicocele or obstruction of the epididymis.
Hormone testing. Hormones produced by the pituitary and hypothalamus glands and the testicles play a key role in sexual development and sperm production. Your doctor may recommend a blood test to determine the level of testosterone and other male hormones that affect fertility. A number of infertility problems can be caused by an underlying condition that affects hormone levels.
Genetic tests. These tests are used if your doctor suspects your fertility problems could be caused by an inherited sex chromosome abnormality. When sperm concentration is extremely low, genetic causes could be involved. A blood test can reveal whether there are subtle changes in the Y chromosome.
Testicular biopsy. This test involves removing samples from the testicle with a needle. It may be used if your semen analysis shows no sperm at all. The results of the testicular biopsy will tell if sperm production is normal. If it is, your problem is likely caused by blockage or another problem with sperm transport.
Anti-sperm antibody tests. These tests are used to check for immune cells (antibodies) that attack sperm and can affect their ability to function. You are especially likely to have anti-sperm antibodies if you've had vasectomy reversal.
Vasography. In some cases, contrast dye is injected into each vas deferens to see whether they are blocked.
Specialized sperm function tests. A number of different tests can be used to evaluate how well your sperm survive after ejaculation, how well they can penetrate the egg membrane, and whether there's any problem attaching to the egg.

Treatments and drugs

Treatment of male infertility depends on the cause, how long you've been infertile, your age, and personal preferences. In all cases of infertility, the female partner also will need to be evaluated and may need treatment. In some cases, treatment of the female partner can compensate for male fertility problems. Your doctor may try to improve your fertility by either correcting an underlying problem (if one is found) or trying treatments that seem like they may be helpful. Sometimes an exact cause for fertility can't be identified. But, even if an exact cause isn't clear, your doctor may be able to recommend treatments that work.

Treatments for male infertility include:

Surgery. For example, a varicocele can often be surgically corrected, increasing fertility, or an obstructed vas deferens can be repaired.
Treatments for sexual problems. Treating conditions such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation can improve fertility. Approaches can include medication or counseling.
Hormone issues. In cases where infertility can be caused by too much or too little of certain hormones, or problems with the way the body uses hormones, your doctor may recommend treatment with hormones or medications that change hormone levels.
Assisted reproductive technology (ART). For blockage of the vas deferens, retrograde ejaculation, or other problems with sperm delivery, sperm can be taken directly from the testicles or recovered from the bladder and injected into an egg. The most effective ART treatment is in vitro fertilization (IVF). This procedure involves surgically removing an egg from a woman's ovaries, combining it with sperm in the lab, and then placing the fertilized egg into the uterus.

When treatment doesn't work

Sometimes male infertility problems cannot be treated at all, and it's impossible for a man to father a child. If this is the case, your doctor may suggest that you and your partner consider either using sperm from a donor or adopting a child.

Prevention

Many types of male infertility aren't preventable. However, there are a few things that you can avoid that are known causes of male infertility:

Don't have a vasectomy. If there's any possibility you'll want to father a child in the future, opt for other forms of birth control. Even if reversed, a vasectomy may still affect fertility.
Avoid illicit drugs. Use of anabolic steroids, marijuana and cocaine can impair sperm production.
Don't drink too much alcohol. Heavy drinking can impair fertility and sexual function. Drink no more than two drinks a day.
If you smoke tobacco, quit. Smoking is linked to impaired fertility.
Avoid exposure to heat. Steer clear of extended or regular use of hot tubs, saunas and steam baths. High temperatures are thought to temporarily impair sperm production.

Lifestyle and home remedies

There are a few steps you can take at home to increase your chances of achieving pregnancy:

Increase frequency of intercourse. Having intercourse two to three times a week may improve fertility. However, ejaculating more than a few times a week can reduce fertility. Sperm survive in the female reproductive tract for up to 72 hours, and an egg can be fertilized for up to 24 hours after ovulation.
Have intercourse when fertilization is possible. A woman can only become pregnant during ovulation—which occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, between periods. Experts generally recommend having intercourse every two days near the time of ovulation. This will ensure that sperm, which can live several days, are present when conception is possible.
Avoid the use of lubricants. Products such as Astroglide or K-Y jelly, lotions, and saliva have been shown to impair sperm motility. If lubrication is needed, use a minimal amount of vegetable oil, which is less likely to impair sperm motility.

Coping and support

Coping with infertility can be difficult. It's an issue of the unknown—you can't predict how long it will last or what the outcome will be. Infertility isn't necessarily solved with hard work. The emotional burden on a couple is considerable, and plans for coping can help.

Planning for emotional turmoil

Set limits. Decide in advance how many and what kind of procedures are emotionally and financially acceptable for you and your partner and attempt to determine a final limit. Fertility treatments can be expensive and often not covered by insurance, and a successful pregnancy often depends on repeated attempts. Some couples become so focused on treatment that they continue with fertility procedures until they are emotionally and financially drained.
Consider other options. Determine alternatives—adoption, donor sperm or egg, or even having no children—as early as possible in the fertility process. This can reduce anxiety during treatments and feelings of hopelessness if conception doesn't occur.
Talk about your feelings. Locate support groups or counseling services for help before and after treatment to help endure the process and ease the grief should treatment fail.

Managing emotional stress during treatment

Acupuncture. This ancient therapy may benefit some couples who are undergoing fertility treatment. Although it's not clear exactly how acupuncture may improve fertility, it's thought that acupuncture reduces stress.
Practice relaxation. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which uses methods that include relaxation training and stress management, has been associated with higher pregnancy rates.
Express yourself. Reach out to others rather than repressing guilt or anger.
Stay in touch with loved ones. Talking to your partner, family and friends can be very beneficial. The best support often comes from loved ones and those closest to you.

Injury-Proof Your Workout- Diet & Fitness: Fitness: Men's Fitness

Fitness should boost your body, not break it down. "Most nagging injuries are caused by pressure, friction, or tension," says Sean Collins, P.T., Sc.D., physical therapy chairman at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. Adjust your approach with this guide.
Problem: Burning eyes from swimming
Cause: Even if you suction-pumped your goggles to your eye sockets, chlorine-infused water could still infiltrate during your flip turns.
Fix: Before kicking off the wall, squeeze your outstretched arms against your ears and lead with the top of your head. "This creates a hole in the water that your body can flow through," says Richard Quick, head swimming and diving coach at Auburn University. You'll minimize drag and keep your goggles glued down.
Problem: Discomfort from the squat bar
Cause: The metal bar, combined with the pressure of the weight and insufficient cushioning, can rub the bony vertebra at the base of your neck.
Fix: Position the bar a half inch to an inch lower than you usually would, to take pressure off the bony protrusion, says Joseph M. Warpeha, director of the exercise physiology laboratories at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. If the bar has no padding, wrap a gym towel around it.
Problem: Tender skin after pull-ups
Cause: The portion of thicker flesh just below your fingers jams beneath the pressure of the bar, pinching with every shift in weight.
Fix: To reduce impact, "slide your hand up to the bar to push the fleshy part down and out of the way," says Collins. Be sure to grip the bar at the crease where your fingers meet your palms, and then wrap your fingers around it.
Problem: Bloody boxing knuckles
Cause: Skilled boxers throw punches fast and frequently. But your skin doesn't always toughen as quickly as your muscles do.
Fix: Build tolerance by hitting the bag harder but less frequently and for shorter time frames, says Julien Baker, Ph.D., a professor of applied physiology at the University of Glamorgan, in Wales. If you usually punch for three minutes at 50 percent strength, say, try one minute at full strength until your knuckles can last longer.
Problem: Tennis thumb blisters
Cause: You have those nasty fluid bubbles because you're gripping your racket too hard, causing friction between your skin and the handle.
Fix: Relax your hand. You'll hit with surprisingly greater racket speed while reducing postmatch pain, says Kris Berg, Ed.D., a professor of exercise physiology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. You can increase your sessions to Nadal-like lengths after your skin develops tolerance.
Problem: Deadlift shin scrapes
Cause: The rough gripping area of the bar (called the knurling) drags against your legs as you lift, grating your skin.
Fix: Before liftoff, "position your shoulders in front of the bar and your shoulder blades directly over the bar," says Alexander Koch, Ph.D., an associate professor of health and exercise sciences at Truman State University, in Missouri. You'll avoid pulling the bar into your shins, resulting in a cleaner, safer lift.

Eating Healthier Over the Holidays

By cooking with healthy ingredients, monitoring portion control and prizing quality over quantity, it's possible to eat like a queen or king and stay lean.
by Rebecca Ruiz for Forbes.com
Between Thanksgiving and Super Bowl Sunday, Americans indulge in food and drink like no other time of year. But they pay for it over the long haul.
While those buttery mashed potatoes, marshmallow-topped yams and endless glasses of wine may taste heavenly, for the average adult, that translates into an extra pound of weight gain each year, according to the National Institutes of Health.
One pound may seem little, but this extra weight accumulates and may later contribute to obesity, which currently affects one-third of Americans.
The trick to staying slim during the holidays, however, is not deprivation or suffering through flavorless food. With tips from a few experts and nutritionists, who advise cooking with healthy ingredients, monitoring portion control and prizing quality over quantity, it's possible to eat like a queen or king and stay lean.
You don't want to feel that you can't enjoy your holiday meals, but you do have to pay attention," says Diane Rossen Worthington, author of the cookbook Seriously Simple Holidays: Recipes and Ideas to Celebrate the Season (Chronicle Books, 2007). "It's not just a free-for-all."
Healthy ingredients
Paying attention means substituting healthier ingredients for processed foods. If Worthington had to quickly plan a healthy holiday meal, for example, she might serve baby greens with dried autumn fruit and warm goat cheese; roasted Cornish hens with salt, pepper and fresh cranberry sauce; sautéed green beans with caramelized red onions and crimini mushrooms; a yam and butternut squash purée; and roasted pears with a cranberry glaze.
"You're using vegetables and not a lot of butter and cream. You're getting the sweet taste without extra calories," she says. "It's just a well-moderated menu."
Worthington's use of orange marmalade in the yam and squash purée (instead of sugar) and olive oil in sautéing and roasting (instead of butter) not only add to the flavor, but also to nutrition. She says simple renditions of green beans and pears, for example, also taste great without heavy dressing or ice cream, respectively.
When preparing a health-conscious holiday meal, try incorporating like-minded concepts and choose nutritious recipes instead of ones full of fat and salt. Before planning a menu, make a list of missing ingredients from the pantry—including quality olive oil, sea salt, peppercorns, low-sodium chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, dried fruits and nuts—which add nourishing flavor to any meal. With these and more of the basics on hand, you'll avoid resorting to boxed mashed potatoes or canned cranberry jelly.

Awareness campaign for Dengue

District health department has started awareness campaign against dengue fever that is continuously spreading across the country, particularly in Punjab where more than 4,000 confirmed cases of the infection have been reported so far. The district health department started placing banners across main roads and crossings containing advices that how the infection could be avoided, however, there is much criticism in the general public that the local governments are slow to take preventive action.
It is important that the cases of dengue fever have already been reported in all seven tehsils of Rawalpindi district proving existence of female mosquito namely ‘Aedes Aegypti’ there.“We have displayed banners across all main roads in town to make public aware that the infection can only be controlled by eliminating breeding places of mosquitoes in homes,” said District Health Officer Dr Khalid Randhawa while talking the infection could not be controlled without active role of community.He said people should be aware that dengue fever is caused by a female mosquito namely Aedes Aegypti that breeds only in clean water containers like barrels, buckets, drums, tanks, flower vases, water coolers, discarded tires, toilet bowls and other such places, including the ones where rainwater collects, which is a practice contrary to that of the malaria-causing mosquito that thrives and procreates in dingy waters. “The Aedes Aegypti’s breeding places can be eliminated by various means such as by tightly covering water storage containers, draining rainwater regularly and disposing off garbage.”With no proper vaccines available to combat Dengue, the only effective and available method of controlling and eventually eliminating the disease is by destroying the mosquito breeding places along with effectively treating patients identified as carriers.
“Inside the home, precautionary measures such as regular use of quality pest control products like household insecticide sprays, coils, mats and liquid electrical devices are advised to be taken as seriously as possible in order to ensure adequate prevention from these disease carrying mosquitoes,” said Dr Randhawa.
A number of health experts, however, are of the view that if the government had taken necessary measures well in time, the situation would not have been as alarming as it is. They say that awareness campaigns against dengue fever should have been started soon after the confirmation of occurrence of dengue fever some four months back.The health experts also believe that a rare complication of dengue fever, a more fatal form of the infection, dengue haemorrhagic fever, can occur, most often in small children and elderly adults. If DHF occurs it usually does so by day 3-5 of the fever.Experts say that uncontrolled bleeding distinguishes DHF from uncomplicated dengue fever. Bleeding can occur from the gums, nose, intestine, or under the skin as bruises or spots of blood especially under a tourniquet — this test should be employed if there is any suspicion. The liver is often enlarged. Patients can have rapid onset of marked drowsiness, lethargy or restlessness or the presence of shock as manifested by a rapid and weak pulse, low blood pressure and cold clammy skin. Such patients should be immediately referred to a good hospital for further management. DHF shock can be a mortal illness and requires rapid and careful in-hospital management with assiduous correction and replacement of fluid, electrolytes, plasma and sometimes, fresh blood/platelets transfusions. Mortality from DHF ranges from 5-30% (in untreated native populations) and the highest risk is to infants under one year.
Dr Randhawa said that public should be aware that dengue fever could be prevented by mosquito control measures and personal protection measures (long sleeves and mosquito repellents). The use of mosquito deterrents in bedrooms is effective to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the room, but it does not prevent mosquito bites all together.
Experts advise to avoid use of dark coloured clothing, perfumes and colognes in the evening and at night, as all these attract mosquitoes.He added that the use of mosquito repellents such as oils, mosquito coils, vapour mats etc are recommended to reduce human-mosquito contact. During the peak biting time of the mosquito, Aedes Aegypti, at dusk and dawn, families should avoid human-mosquito contact by the use of protective clothing, long sleeve shirts, full-length pants, socks, and boots to avoid mosquito bites.

Your Secret Power Foods

It's your moment of truth: the tipping point when you either bring home a win or totally blow it. Whether you're explaining why you're the best person for a job, pushing across a 10-K finish line, or climbing toward your between-the-sheets peak, success can often come down to what you've been eating.
According to Elizabeth Somer, R.D., author of Food & Mood (Holt, 1999), our ability to excel is directly linked to the contents of our shopping carts. "When life is overflowing with stress, deadlines, or competitive events, it's crucial to go into these challenging situations fueled by foods that allow you to perform at your best." From compounds in carbs that calm nerves to minerals that sharpen mental acuity, the following foods will up your chances of getting the results you're gunning for.
Your a.m. job interview
Yerba Maté: This South American tea revs you up with caffeine and two other stimulants—the phytochemicals theobromine and theophylline—so you're wide awake for your big meet-and-greet. Try Guayaki fair-trade loose-leaf ($9 for 0.5 lb, guayaki.com).
Pumpkin seeds: Jack-o-lantern castoffs are a stellar source of magnesium, which keeps your energy and metabolism running like a jaguar, says Susan Kleiner, R.D., Ph.D., author of The Good Mood Diet (Springboard Press, 2007). Sprinkle a quarter cup into scrambled eggs, yogurt, or cereal.
Dried apricots: Glucose is your noggin's fuel of choice. Natural sugars in apricots boost blood-glucose levels, which sag while you get your ZZZ's, Kleiner says. You also get a healthy dose of the iron that's essential for transporting oxygen to your gray matter and muscles.
Plain lowfat yogurt: Acting as coenzymes that break down food, the B vitamins plentiful in this creamy cultured treat help generate the energy stored in whatever carbs you have for breakfast. Wolf it down no more than an hour before go time.
Killer combo: Before the meeting, combine one cup of yogurt with a quarter cup of unsalted pumpkin seeds and a half cup of chopped dried apricots.
Your first date with Mr. Could-Be-Right
Nibble nosh that'll take the edge off and gorgeous you up.
Brown rice: Carbs help the amino acid tryptophan cross from the blood into the brain, where it's used to make the mood-boosting, calming compound serotonin, Kleiner says. Beware the bleached-out bread basket, she adds: Refined carbs can make your mood go sour by dessert.
Rainbow trout: Burned out on salmon? This catch has almost as much eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid that stops the stress chemical cortisol from boiling over. EPA makes trout true vanity fare, Kleiner says, because it stimulates the repair of skin cells.
Dark chocolate: German white coats reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that flavonoid-rich dark chocolate relaxes blood vessels, holding stress-induced blood-pressure spikes in check. Another German study found that chomping on chocolate reduces negative moods, so you'll be able to tune out the annoying waitress.
Acerola juice: Feed your face with this tart treat. It packs 3,000 times as much vitamin C as OJ, and women who get a lot of C have more vibrant skin and fewer wrinkles, reports the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (Try Bolthouse Farms C-Boost, $4.50, bolthouse.com.)
Killer combo: Scour the menu for grilled or baked fish and a whole-grain side.
Your $100 training session
Get the most out of every pricey minute with foods that power and repair muscle.
Whey protein: Researchers at Charles Sturt University in Australia report that consuming the types of essential amino acids found in whey powders during resistance exercise suppresses cortisol—a stress hormone that can hinder muscle building. Before weight workouts, mix half a scoop into your water bottle. (We like EAS 100% whey protein, $20 for 2 pounds, eas.com.)
Lowfat ricotta cheese: The protein in this lasagna star comes mainly from whey (not true of other cheeses), so it's full of the best amino acids around to pump you up and speed recovery. Scientists in Finland tested the effects of different types of protein before and after exercise and found that whey protein was the best for building lean muscle.
Cherries: Studies show that anthocyanins squelch muscle inflammation and the pain that can come with having an overzealous trainer. Cherries are full of 'em. Stash a couple dozen (fresh or dried) in your bag to have after your last set.
Killer combo: After hoisting iron, put a half cup of ricotta cheese in a blender along with a half cup of skim milk, a scoop of whey protein, and a handful of pitted cherries and whirl.
The big presentation
Sage: In a study in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, researchers in England showed that young adults taking sage-oil extract had noticeably better word recall. Sage contains phytochemicals that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.
Blueberries: A daily blueberry fix can help you do away with those shaky-cue-card hands, report researchers at the UK's University of Reading. In another study, aged animals fed the blue gems for 12 weeks saw a 26 percent increase in memory performance.
Edamame: Greener than Al Gore, immature soybeans are plump with iron and folate, which keep your cerebral power lines humming. Among 113 women tested in a Pennsylvania State University study, even mild iron deficiency produced a case of "where the eff are my keys?" When iron levels were revived, test scores improved. Also, the journal Neuroepidemiology reported that scientists in France studying nearly 4,000 subjects found a connection between low folate levels and poor cognitive performance. Folate has been shown to reduce the amino acid homocysteine, too much of which can impair brain function.
Killer Combo: To boost your brain power, try this snack: Toss boiled, shelled edamame with dried sage, cayenne, and sea salt.
Anniversary night
Feast on libido-boosting foods to set off sparks in the sack.
Coffee: A cup of joe is more likely to put you in the mood than a set of silky drawers. "Stimulants like caffeine arouse you mentally and physically, which can help enhance a sexual encounter," says researcher Fay Guarraci, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Southwestern University. We suggest sipping java during verbal foreplay.
Chili peppers: Consider ordering pad thai instead of pasta primavera. According to Australian scientists, red-hot capsaicin, found in chili peppers (and therefore in curries and other fiery comestibles), stimulates the release of pleasure-boosting endorphins from the brain's hypothalamus. Endorphins behave like Dr. Feelgood opiates, upping your odds of feeling frisky.
Watermelon: The picnic perennial might be the best aphrodisiac in the produce aisle. According to Texas A&M's Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, a phytonutrient in watermelon called citrulline helps relax and dilate blood vessels in some important areas (just like that little blue pill).

Trick out Your Triceps

Strengthen your biggest little muscle with these targeted moves

Fact: Your triceps make up more of your arm than your biceps do. Yet they often get shortchanged at the gym. Before you can give them the attention they’re due, you need to know that they’re made up of three different parts--the medial, long, and lateral heads. This trio works together to bend the elbow.

The best way to make them stronger is to do exercises that isolate each head. "Compound movements like pushups and bench presses recruit larger muscle groups, too, so the triceps don’t work as hard," says Holly Rigsby, a personal trainer in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

The exercises here work each part of the muscle to exhaustion. Do this workout two nonconsecutive days a week and you’ll notice a very sexy back-arm bump within four weeks

Energize My Life

Three exhausted women recharged their routines with simple diet, exercise, and sleep tweaks from our top medical expert. Learn how you can bust fatigue, too.

By Camille Noe Pagan, Prevention

Energy: You need it to exercise, to cook, to live healthy. And getting it is easier than it may seem, says Mark Liponis, MD, medical director of Canyon Ranch Health Resorts and author of UltraLongevity: The Seven-Step Program for a Younger, Healthier You. "Simply shifting your thinking and making small changes to daily habits can increase your mental and physical stamina," he says. Here, he helps three women identify what's sapping their energy and offers tips on how to get it back.

Lisa Zaslow: In a Funk

The less Lisa does, the less she feels like doing. As a professional organizer, she often works from home and may stay there all day. Lisa knows it's time to expand her 8-year-old business, but she feels trapped in a black hole—and can't find the energy or motivation to pull herself out.

Expert advice

"Feeling blue can trigger hormonal and chemical changes that lead to exhaustion," says Liponis. Though Lisa doesn't have clinical depression, she is down in the dumps—and her environment and daily habits are largely to blame. Simple tips to help brighten her mood:

Make the home office "homier." Since she spends so much time in her apartment, she should feel that the space is appealing. Lisa can start by buying fresh flowers. It's not a cliché—a recent Harvard study found they help people feel happier and more enthusiastic. Also, she needs to clear piles of paper, which can be psychologically overwhelming, and hang inspirational images.
Take a breather—outside. Studies show spending time in nature can improve mood. Liponis suggests Lisa start the day with a 10-minute walk outdoors, then take at least two 5-minute walking breaks later on. Talk to positive people. You're less likely to get depressed if you have a strong support network, according to recent research. Lisa feeds off the energy of loved ones, but her work keeps her isolated. At least twice a week, she should connect with a friend who has a healthy outlook on life.

How I did it

"I'm a professional organizer, yet I forgot just how sensitive I am to clutter! Making my office beautiful made working at home feel like fun rather than a chore. I also try to get out and meet friends for coffee or go for a walk during the day—if not to the park, then at least around the block. That's given me a major mental and emotional boost, and even more physical stamina: I recently had to climb six flights of stairs with a big bag of organizing supplies to a client's apartment, and I was surprised at how easily I did it."

Lisa Marshall: Buried by her schedule

As a business owner and mother of twins, Lisa has a killer routine that is jam-packed and unpredictable. She's never without her laptop, squeezing in work between car pools and client meetings. As a result, she eats takeout often, barely exercises, and is constantly tired.

Expert advice

"Lisa's schedule and stress levels are so exhausting that she can't work efficiently," says Liponis. Every task takes longer to finish, leaving her no time to nurture her health. But by making self-care a priority, she'll have more energy to accomplish her to-do list. To get healthy habits into her routine, Liponis suggests:

Schedule workouts as appointments. A recent study found that regular exercise dramatically increased energy levels in healthy people. Lisa can combine 30 to 40 minutes of cardio five times a week with family time by biking with her twins, for example.
Simplify meals. Wholesome foods provide long-lasting energy—and dishes don't have to be complicated to be healthy. Lisa ought to stock up on staples that require minimal prep, such as precut veggies and frozen shrimp—sautéed, they make a great stir-fry.
Keep a curfew. Lisa was getting between four and six hours of sleep a night; she needs seven or eight. To get more shut-eye, she should turn off her laptop a few hours before bedtime—the light from the screen stimulates the brain, making it harder to fall asleep.

How I did it

"Now I take a dance aerobics class that I consider mandatory, and I eat much better, especially since I discovered frozen veggies. I used to think only fresh ones were healthy, but now I know that the frozen kinds have tons of nutrients and are simple, so I make them for every meal. Turning off my laptop at night has been tough, but I am trying to at least read a book before bed. I'm starting to feel good again—and people notice: After a few weeks, my friend said I seemed really 'up' about life. I couldn't believe the change was so obvious."

Veronica Eady Famira: Sedentary but tired

Her days are always the same: Veronica wakes up dragging, struggling to get out of bed, then spends eight to 10 hours chained to her desk, after which she heads home to collapse on the couch and watch TV. She knows her sedentary lifestyle saps her energy, and she also knows working out would help—but she can never seem to make the effort.

Expert Advice

"Veronica's right—exercising would help her energy levels, but so would just getting up a few times during the day," says Liponis. Even three 10-minute cardio sessions every day would trigger the release of brain chemicals that increase energy. To help boost her mornings and nights:

Let in some light. Pull back the curtains first thing in the morning. Just 10 minutes of natural light is enough to alert her internal body clock that it's time to wake up.
Eat a carb-and-protein breakfast. She had only coffee in the mornings, but this combination will give her body the fuel it needs to start the day and keep blood sugar even for steady energy. Try wheat toast with peanut butter, or fruit and cheese.
Limit after-work sofa sessions. Before flipping on the TV for the night, Veronica should do one thing that makes her feel "alive," says Liponis. She could volunteer at a community center, sample CDs at a music store, or browse a new art exhibit.

Are You Running Yourself to Death?

On the first Monday of November 1994, if you happened to be in Ardmore, Penn.—actually, anywhere near 7 East Athens Avenue—at about 8:30 in the morning, you would have heard the following sound coming from an aging red-brick apartment building.

Thud. Arghh. Thud. Arghh ...

Ax murder? Not exactly. No, this was the sad, solitary sound of me, walking down three flights of steps the morning after running the New York City Marathon. As my feet landed on each step, pain spiked into my race-fatigued thighs. By the time I reached the bottom, 48 steps later, I was so exhausted that all I wanted to do was go back to bed. But that would have required climbing back up three flights of steps. I drove to work and slept at my desk instead.

New York '94 was my third and last marathon. Since then I've downgraded my running efforts to more manageable distances like the half marathon and 10-K. Secretly, I've come to wonder if I didn't do damage to myself in each of the marathons I ran. I don't have any scars or permanent injuries (that I know of), but where pain and exhaustion typically fade from memory, my post-marathon distress is as vivid to me now as it was on that horrific morning after.

Which is why it's kind of strange, you'll have to agree, that lately I've found myself wanting to run another one.

Over the course of a generation, the marathon has undergone a startling change in status. What was once a loopy stunt attempted by only a few weirdos is now a rite of passage for many men, the coolest test out there of fitness and health.

My buddy McDade actually put running a marathon on his list of "Things a Man Must Do in His Lifetime," right there alongside reading War and Peace and seeing the Grateful Dead. (This was before Jerry Garcia croaked.) McDade is hardly alone. Last year, nearly 400,000 runners finished marathons in the United States, up from 300,000 in 2000 and a mere 25,000 in 1976.

On one level, you can file our current marathon mania under "extremely good news," since there's little doubt that training for the race is one of the best ways to improve your health and fitness. Over the years, studies have shown that regular exercise decreases everything from high LDL cholesterol to high blood pressure.

The problem? Lately, evidence has begun to mount that running the race is, as I've feared, anything but good for your health. Not only did two high-profile marathon deaths occur in fall 2007 (one in Chicago, the other at the Olympic trials in New York), but recent studies have shown that pushing your body to run 26.2 miles can cause at least minor injury to your heart.

"We didn't find any gross injuries, such as blocked arteries or blood leakage. But we did find some enzymes leaking through the heart membrane, which is consistent with significant stress on the heart," says Malissa Wood, M.D., the lead author of a 2006 study in the journal Circulation.

Now, hardly anyone is suggesting it's time to pull the plug on America's marathon obsession. A handful of deaths versus hundreds of thousands of happy survivors every year aren't horrible odds. (And a new study found that closing roads for marathons prevents more traffic deaths than the running causes.) Even Dr. Wood remains an active marathoner. But if you're one of those men with "run a marathon" on a current to-do list (or, like me, on a "maybe-do-again" list), the latest news should definitely give you pause. Could the race you're running as a demonstration of your health and fitness actually make you unhealthy? Or, to put a finer point on it: Could this stunt you're attempting in order to give meaning to your life end your life?

The Chicago marathon and Olympic Trials in 2007 weren't the only races marred by casualties in the past couple of years. There have been several others, including the Little Rock Marathon in March 2008, the London Marathon in 2007, and the Tucson, Twin Cities, and Marine Corps Marathons in 2006. (Also in 2006, two runners died at the Los Angeles Marathon.) And that's not counting the races during which runners suffered cardiac arrest but managed to survive.

Any historian of running will tell you there's nothing new about death and the marathon. Legend has it, remember, that the original marathoner, Pheidippides—the Greek courier who ran 25 miles to deliver news of victory at the Battle of Marathon—dropped dead immediately after his job was done. At the inaugural Boston Marathon in 1897, authorities were so concerned about fatalities that they had two attendants on bicycles trailing closely behind each of the runners—all 15 of them.

It's a risk that has persisted through the decades. "There was actually a cardiac arrest at one of the first Boston Marathons I ran, in the 1970s," says Arthur Siegel, M.D., director of internal medicine at Harvard's McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. In addition to running the Boston race some 20 times, Dr. Siegel has published many studies on the health consequences of marathons. He's an engaging man in his late 60s with white hair and a round belly. It's late on a Tuesday afternoon, and I've come to visit him for one simple reason: to understand what exactly happens to a man's body when he forces it to run 26.2 miles.

Researchers have identified a number of physical effects of running a marathon, including changes in immune system and kidney function. But Dr. Siegel says the brunt of the damage falls exactly where you'd expect: on your muscles. As the miles pass, skeletal muscles stiffen and leak injury-signaling enzymes into the blood.

Now, a certain inability to (ahem) walk down steps the next day notwithstanding, this may not seem like such a big deal, particularly given that the damage is self-inflicted. But your body's internal balance is deeply affected. As Dr. Siegel puts it, "Your body doesn't know whether you've run a marathon ... or been hit by a truck." This is why, as you go deeper into the race, your body reacts to injury by mounting an emergency-repair response. Your adrenal glands and brain produce the stress hormones cortisol and vasopressin; your damaged muscles churn out proteins called cytokines, which trigger your liver to start producing C-reactive protein.

The result is what Dr. Siegel calls "an inflammatory storm" throughout your body, one that sets the stage for some potentially adverse consequences. Early on, marathon researchers weren't sure if the heart was among the muscles being stressed, but in recent years they've confirmed that it most definitely is. In a 2001 study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, Dr. Siegel and his colleagues analyzed the blood of marathoners less than 24 hours after a race and found high levels of inflammatory and coagulation markers that are also associated with heart attacks.

Then came the 2006 Circulation study, led by Dr. Wood, which upped the ante. Using ultrasounds and blood tests of 60 marathon finishers, the researchers found that after the race, some runners' hearts experienced difficulty refilling chambers. The researchers also noticed abnormalities in how blood was pumped from the right side of the heart to the lungs.

Before you go into full freak-out mode, there is some good news. First, proper training seems to go a long way toward protecting you from heart injury during the race. The Circulation study found that people who'd averaged at least 45 miles a week in training were significantly less likely to suffer heart damage than those who ran 35 miles a week or less. That makes sense to Dr. Siegel, who notes that training is an injury-and-repair process: Your body suffers damage when you exert yourself during training but then repairs itself and becomes stronger. So runners who log lots of training miles are able to withstand more punishment during the race than those who train less.

10 Winter Skin Care Tips

For many people, the cold clear days of winter bring more than just a rosy glow to the cheeks. They also bring uncomfortable dryness to the skin of the face, hands, and feet. For some people, the problem is worse than just a general tight, dry feeling: They get skin so dry it results in flaking, cracking, even eczema (in which the skin becomes inflamed).

"As soon as you turn the heat on indoors, the skin starts to dry out," Bonnie LaPlante, an esthetician with the Canyon Ranch resort in Lenox, Mass., tells WebMD. "It doesn't matter if you heat your home using oil, wood, or electricity. The skin gets dry."

Sound familiar? Read on to get WebMD's top 10 tips for boosting your winter skin care regimen, so that your skin stays moist and healthy through the winter months.

1. Seek a Specialist

If you go to your local drugstore, you'll be hard put to find a salesperson who can give you good advice. That's why going to an esthetician or dermatologist even once is a good investment. Such a specialist can analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skin care regimen, and give you advice on the skin care products you should be using.

But that doesn't mean you'll be stuck buying high-end products. "Inexpensive products work just as well as high-end ones," says David Voron, MD, a dermatologist in Arcadia, Calif. "In fact, the extra price you pay for the expensive stuff is often just for packaging and marketing. What's most important is how your skin responds to the product -- and how you like its feel, not how much money you paid for it."

2. Moisturize More

You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer. But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine. Find an "ointment" moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams" are oil-based.)

But choose your oils with care because not all oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for "nonclogging" oils, like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. Shea oil -- or butter -- is controversial, because it can clog facial pores. And vegetable shortening, LaPlante says, is a really bad idea. "It would just sit on the skin," she says. "And it would be really greasy."

You can also look for lotions containing "humectants," a class of substances (including glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) that attract moisture to your skin.

3. Slather on the Sunscreen

No, sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun -- combined with snow glare -- can still damage your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time.

4. Give Your Hands a Hand

The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause.

5. Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks

Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.

6. Hook Up the Humidifier

Central heating systems (as well as space heaters) blast hot dry air throughout our homes and offices. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home; they help disperse the moisture more evenly.

7. Hydrate for Your Health, Not for Your Skin

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Drinking water helps your skin stay young looking. In fact, it's a myth. Water is good for your overall health and "the skin of someone who is severely dehydrated will benefit from fluids. But the average person's skin does not reflect the amount of water being drunk," Kenneth Bielinski, MD, a dermatologist in Oak Lawn, Ill., tells WebMD "It's a very common misconception."

LaPlante agrees. "I see clients at the spa who drink their 10 to 12 glasses of water a day and still have superdry skin. It just doesn't do that much."

8. Grease Up Your Feet

Yes, those minty foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.

9. Pace the Peels

If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are "deeply hydrating," rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.

10. Ban Superhot Baths

Sure, soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. "You're better off with just warm water," LaPlante advises, "and staying in the water a shorter amount of time."

A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda, can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become itchy, Bielinski notes. So, too, can periodically reapplying your moisturizer. If those techniques don't work, go see a dermatologist. "You may need a prescription lotion to combat the dry skin," Bielinski says. "Or you may have a condition that isn't simply dry skin and that requires different treatment."

Vitamins won't prevent heart disease

Vitamins C and E do nothing to prevent heart disease in men, one of the largest and longest studies of these supplements has found.

Vitamin E even appeared to raise the risk of bleeding strokes, a danger seen in at least one earlier study.

Besides questioning whether vitamins help, "we have to worry about potential harm," said Barbara Howard, a nutrition scientist at MedStar Research Institute of Hyattsville, Maryland.

She has no role in the research but reviewed and discussed it Sunday at an American Heart Association conference. Results also were published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Male smokers taking vitamin E had a higher rate of bleeding strokes in a previous study, and several others found no benefit for heart health.

As for vitamin C, some research suggests it may aid cancer, not fight it. A previous study in women at high risk of heart problems found it did not prevent heart attacks.

Few long-term studies have been done. The new one is the Physicians Health Study, led by Drs. Howard Sesso and J. Michael Gaziano of Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

It involved 14,641 male doctors, 50 or older, including 5 percent who had heart disease at the time the study started in 1997. They were put into four groups and given either vitamin E, vitamin C, both, or dummy pills. The dose of E was 400 international units every other day; C was 500 milligrams daily.

After an average of eight years, no difference was seen in the rates of heart attack, stroke or heart-related deaths among the groups.

However, 39 men taking E suffered bleeding strokes versus only 23 of the others, which works out to a 74 percent greater risk for vitamin-takers.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and several vitamin makers. Results were so clear that they would be unlikely to change if the study were done in women, minorities, or with different formulations of the vitamins, Howard said.

"In these hard economic times, maybe we can save some money by not buying these supplements," she said.

A second study found that vitamins B-12 and B-9 (folic acid) did not prevent heart disease either, supporting the results of previous trials. That study involved more than 12,000 heart attack survivors and was led by Dr. Jane Armitage of the University of Oxford in England.

Treating ADHD in Children and Adolescents

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder in children. It affects at least 3 percent to 5 percent of American children, although two nationwide surveys suggest that the percentage has been increasing, and it may currently affect as many as 8 percent to 9 percent.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), defines three ADHD subtypes: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-compulsive, or combined. Although symptom severity varies, ADHD can be devastating, wreaking havoc with attention and causing irrepressible energy and impulsive behavior that can strain family relationships and impair achievement at school.

Co-occurring disorders are common. For example, 54 percent to 84 percent of children and adolescents with ADHD also meet diagnostic criteria for oppositional defiant disorder, and about 45 percent have a learning or language difficulty. Anxiety, conduct disorder, and substance abuse problems also frequently develop in youngsters with ADHD.

Given the multiple challenges facing children and adolescents with ADHD, the most effective treatment involves some combination of psychoeducation, medication, behavioral interventions, parent training and school support—an approach known as multimodal treatment because it encompasses different modes of therapy. Both research and clinical practice indicate that components of a treatment plan may change as a child develops, and as symptoms or circumstances evolve.

Evaluation and diagnosis

Experts recommend a rigorous approach to diagnosis. The consensus remains that a comprehensive evaluation involves an assessment of symptoms, a detailed personal and family medical history, and determination of a child's functioning at home, at school, and with peers.

In its updated guidelines, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) discourages ordering any routine laboratory, neurological, or psychological testing unless something in the child's medical history or symptoms indicates such testing may be necessary. Neuropsychological testing may be necessary in some patients, however, to better define symptoms or to identify co-existing disorders. This is best carried out by clinicians experienced in ADHD.

More controversial is whether routine electrocardiogram (ECG) testing is necessary before a child starts taking a medication for ADHD. In April 2008, the American Heart Association (AHA) released a scientific statement recommending that it was reasonable—although not mandatory—for clinicians to consider ordering an ECG in children diagnosed with ADHD before beginning treatment with stimulants or other medications. In August 2008, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a statement recommending against routine ECG testing—supporting the earlier recommendations of the AACAP. In its position paper, the AAP cited data that sudden cardiac deaths, while tragic, are also rare. Such deaths occur in about two children for every million taking ADHD medications—fewer than the eight to 62 sudden deaths per million that occur in the general pediatric population.

The discussion about the relationship between cardiac risk and ADHD is likely to continue, however. Stimulant medications in particular raise blood pressure and heart rate, and some drugs carry warning labels for patients with heart problems. For now, the best advice is for pediatricians and other clinicians to assess heart disease risk by doing a physical exam and taking a careful medical history (for example, asking about fainting spells, palpitations, and family history) while a mental health professional does an evaluation for ADHD.

Newborn Screening Tests

What diseases should all babies be tested for?

Newborn screening is the practice of testing every newborn for certain harmful or potentially fatal disorders that aren't otherwise apparent at birth. Many of these are metabolic disorders, often called "inborn errors of metabolism," which interfere with the body's use of nutrients to maintain healthy tissues and produce energy. Other disorders that may be detected through screening include problems with hormones) or the blood.

In general, metabolic and other inherited disorders can hinder an infant's normal physical and mental development in a variety of ways. And parents can pass along the gene for a certain disorder without even knowing that they're carriers.

With a simple blood test, doctors can often tell whether newborns have certain conditions that could eventually cause problems. Even though these conditions are considered rare and most babies are given a clean bill of health, early diagnosis and proper treatment can make the difference between lifelong impairment and healthy development.

Newborn screening: Past, present, and future

In the early 1960s, scientist Robert Guthrie, Ph.D., developed a blood test that could determine whether newborn babies had a metabolic disorder known as phenylketonuria (PKU). People with PKU lack an enzyme needed to process the amino acid phenylalanine. This amino acid is necessary for normal growth in infants and children and for normal protein use throughout life. However, if too much of it builds up, it damages the brain tissue and can eventually cause mental retardation.

When babies with PKU are put on a special diet right away, they can often avoid the mental retardation that children with PKU experienced in the past. By following certain dietary restrictions, these children can lead normal lives.

Since the development of the PKU test, researchers have developed additional blood tests that can screen newborns for other disorders that, unless detected and treated early, can cause physical problems, mental retardation, and in some cases, death.

Most states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands now have their own mandatory newborn screening programs (in some states, such as Wyoming and Maryland, the screening is not mandatory). Because the federal government has set no national standard, screening requirements vary from state to state, as determined by individual state public health departments.

Consequently, the comprehensiveness of these programs varies, with states routinely screening for anywhere from four to 30 disorders. The average state program tests from four to 10 disorders.

State requirements tend to change periodically as well. In fact, the pace of change is speeding up, thanks to the development of a new screening technique known as tandem mass spectrometry (often abbreviated as MS/MS). This technology can detect the blood components that are elevated in certain disorders, and is capable of screening for more than 20 inherited metabolic disorders with a single test.

About half of the states are offering expanded screening with tandem mass spectrometry on every baby. However, there's some controversy over whether the new technology has been tested adequately. Also, some experts want more evidence that early detection of every disease tested for will actually offer babies some long-term benefit. Equally important, parents may not want to know ahead of time that their child will develop a serious condition when there are no medical treatments or dietary changes that can improve the outcome. And some questions about who will pay (states, insurance companies, or parents) for the newer technology have yet to be resolved.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the federal government's Health Resources and Services Administration convened a task force of experts to grapple with these issues and recommend next steps. Their report identified some flaws and inconsistencies in the current state-driven screening system and proposed the following:

All state screening programs should reflect current technology.
All states should test for the same disorders.
Parents should be informed about screening procedures and have the right to refuse screening, as well as the right to keep the results private and confidential.
Parents should be informed about the benefits and risks associated with newborn screening.
All of this can be a little confusing (and anxiety-provoking) for a new parent. The inconsistencies among state requirements mean that there's no clear consensus on what's really necessary. On the one hand, it's important to keep in mind that the disorders being screened for are rare. On the other hand, no parent wants to take any unnecessary chances with the quality of his or her child's life - no matter how small the risk.

How do states and hospitals determine which tests they offer?

Traditionally, state decisions about what to screen for have been based on weighing the costs against the benefits. "Cost" considerations include:

the risk of false positive results (and the unnecessary anxiety they cause)
the availability of treatments proven to help the condition
financial costs
And states often face conflicting priorities when determining their budgets. For instance, a state may face a choice between expanding newborn screening and ensuring that all expectant mothers get sufficient prenatal care. Of course, this offers little comfort to parents whose children have a disorder that could have been found through a screening test but wasn't.

So what can you do? Your best strategy is to stay informed. Discuss this issue with both your obstetrician or health care provider and your future baby's doctor before you give birth. Know what tests are routinely done in your state and in the hospital where you'll deliver (some hospitals go beyond what's required by state law).

If your state isn't offering screening for the expanded panel of disorders, you may want to ask your doctors about supplemental screening. Keep in mind, though, that you'll probably have to pay for the additional tests out of your own pocket.

If you're the parent of an infant and are concerned about whether your child was screened for certain conditions, ask your child's doctor for information about which tests were performed and whether further tests are recommended.

Lack of sleep cause heart disease

Cutting back on sleep could increase the risk of heart disease, a study published Monday found.Sleeping less than 7.5 hours a night was associated with a 33 percent higher rate of cardiovascular incidents such as strokes and heart attacks, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine.Japanese researchers monitored the sleep of 1,255 people with hypertension for an average of 50 months.
They tracked daytime and night time blood pressure, sleep duration and cardiovascular disease events such as stroke, heart attack and sudden cardiac death.They recorded 99 incidents of cardiovascular disease, and found the rate among those who slept less than 7.5 hours was 2.4 per 100 person-years. Those who got more sleep had an incident rate of 1.8 per 100 person-years.Subjects whose blood pressure rose at night also were more prone to heart disease, the study found."Shorter duration of sleep is a predictor of incident cardiovascular disease in elderly individuals with hypertension," wrote lead author Kazuo Gucci of Niche Medical University. Inadequate sleep has also been associated with increased likelihood of obesity, diabetes and several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including night-time hypertension and sleep-disordered breathing.

Economic Downturn and Your Marriage

Money has much to do with why marriages might fall apart in an economic slump, but there's more to it than the almighty buck.

Marriage and money are inextricably linked in America, from how married people are taxed differently all the way to the perception of those who married for money, or earned it or lost it once they were married. In economic times like these, it's only natural to wonder what happens to the family when the family finances take a nosedive.

The bad news is, statistically, money is typically the driving force behind a marriage meltdown. The good news, however, is that it's not everything. In other words, a marriage surviving a downturn depends more on what a couple's finances and relationship were like before money truly mattered.

In polls of what couples fight about, money is regularly in the top three reasons for marital discord—and that's especially the case among people who have a lot of it.

"When you have a lot of money, the wealth can offset a lot of other issues that come up," says Russ Alan Prince, president of market research firm Prince & Associates. "When things are going well, if you don't like the other person, you can go shopping. When things go bad, all of a sudden people have to talk to each other."

A Prince & Associates survey of 93 divorce lawyers for high-net-worth clients found that 83 percent of wealthy people would call it quits if their finances drastically deteriorated.

Money equals stress

Financial conflict isn't limited to the rich, however. Nationwide, stress over housing costs and job stability have increased by 6 percent and 8 percent, respectively, since April of this year, according to the American Psychological Association's Annual Stress in America poll. And with all that increased stress comes the increased likelihood of irritability, anxiety and sexual dysfunction, all of which can take their toll on interpersonal relationships.

"It's more about what fears are underneath, about what losing money means to people," says New York City–based marriage and family therapist Dana Gallante. Fear about losing status in the neighborhood, not being able to send your child to a good college or not being able to retire as early can build tension, she explains.

And so can missing out on the fun couples feel they've earned together over the years.

"If you've been paying your mortgage for 20 years and deferring a lot of pleasure for later, to have that suddenly taken away, well, that can be hard on people," says Jonathan Rich, Ph.D., psychologist and author of The Couple's Guide to Love and Money (New Harbinger,2003). So hard in fact, that in Orange County, Calif., where housing has depreciated exponentially in recent months, the number of divorce cases opened in July and September of this year has increased 5 percent from the same months in 2007.

Vaccines during pregnancy: Are they safe?

Some vaccines are safe during pregnancy, while others are not. Generally, vaccines that contain only killed viruses are considered safe. Vaccines that contain live viruses are not recommended for pregnant women.
The only vaccine routinely recommended during pregnancy is an influenza shot for women who are pregnant during flu season—typically November through March. The flu shot is made from a killed virus, so it's safe for both you and your baby. However, be sure to request the shot and not the nasal spray vaccine, which is made from a live virus.
Your doctor may recommend a tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster shot if you haven't had one in 10 or more years or if you have a deep cut during your pregnancy. Another form of the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine—called the Tdap—also offers protection from pertussis (whooping cough). Although the Tdap vaccine generally isn't given during pregnancy, it may be warranted in special situations.
If you're at increased risk of certain infections, your doctor may recommend other vaccines—such as hepatitis B, meningococcal or pneumococcal vaccines.
Similarly, it's important to avoid certain vaccines during pregnancy. Generally, vaccines for the following conditions are not recommended during pregnancy:
Anthrax
Chickenpox (varicella)
Hepatitis A
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Japanese encephalitis
Measles
Mumps
Polio
Rubella (German measles)
Smallpox (vaccinia)
Typhoid
Yellow fever
Consult your doctor to determine which vaccines you might need during—or after—pregnancy.

Child's play 'better than a jog'

Running around like a child in a playground may be better for you than traditional grown-up ways of taking exercise like jogging and cycling.Researchers have found short sharp sprints of up to 30 seconds could be as beneficial as doing up to five sessions of an hour's exercise a week.Fewer than one in three adults in Wales follow recommended exercise guidelines.
The University of Glamorgan research found shorter bursts of exercise could be more practical to follow.The university studied the exercise patterns over several years, comparing short high-intensity sprints to longer endurance training, such as cycling and jogging.Prof Julien Baker, who conducted the research with Prof Bruce Davies, said: "Six 30-second sprints three times a week can have the same health and weight-loss benefits as jogging or cycling for up to 45 minutes several times a week.The university said according to the latest figures reveal only 29% of adults in Wales last year said they were doing 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity at least five days a week.Only 41% of primary school children and about 25% of secondary school children in Wales achieve the current hour-a-day activity target.Prof Baker said a 30m to 100m sprint, lasting up to 30 seconds, with four-minute rest periods in between, would be beneficial."High-intensity programmes are much easier to administer and more practical in terms of adherence."For children who are overweight or obese, it may be better to put them on an intermittent programme of high-intensity exercise for a short period."He added: "This type of activity may also be used as a defence for cardiovascular disease, and research carried out in the laboratory has shown significant reductions in post exercise blood pressure."These findings indicate that intermittent exercise may provide similar benefits as prolonged moderate exercise in the treatment for hypertension.The academic said more research is need to fully understand the mechanisms involved in providing maximum results from high-intensity exercise as a possible treatment for people with high blood pressure."The exciting aspect of this type of exercise is that this can be performed anywhere - in the street or on a pavement - and you do not need to have sophisticated equipment or buy expensive trainers and kit."The energy is expended so it will also be good for weight management."Sebastian Navarro, 25, an ex-army officer and a sports conditioning instructor at the Fitness First gym in Wrexham, said the idea worked on a similar principle to some exercise routines used by the military."It's called interval training. It's a very useful way of training for the majority of people, because few people in the general population are going to do an hour or an hour-and-a-half of constant training."When it comes down to it, most people do some form of short bursts of exercises - running for the bus or dashing to pick the kids up, said Mr Navarro."It's a useful training aid and it encourages people to have fun - that's always a good thing."Student Kayleigh Ryle, 16, from Mold, Flintshire, said: "I think it's a bit stupid. I do walking and horse-riding, I don't go to the gym or anything."I think most people would find it stupid and would be embarrassed."But Jessica Evans, 17, a student from Wrexham, said: "It makes sense to me. I would do it. I wouldn't worry about being embarrassed if it was good for me."The University of Glamorgan researchers are collaborating with McMaster University in Canada to examine the potential benefits of high intensity exercise and its usefulness in the management of cardiovascular disease.

7 Must-Know Details About Your Pregnant Body

Your belly is going to grow larger, and perhaps your feet will too. This much you already know about pregnancy. But what else happens to your body? And is there anything you can do to manage it?
Having a baby will be, by far, the best thing that ever happened to you. But the rearranging of various body parts that comes along with this miracle can catch you by surprise. It helps to know what’s going on so you can maintain at least some semblance of control. Here’s an insider’s guide to seven common body changes.
1.A mucus plug is not a stuffy nose.
Drinking wine is discouraged during pregnancy-and yet, in an ironic twist, when pregnant we are, essentially, corked. Let me explain. Pregnant women have a mucus plug, a snot-like glob clustered around your cervix that seals the cervical opening and protects the developing baby from bacteria and infection. My doctor had not mentioned to me that the mucus plug was there and could potentially “fall out” as my body prepared to birth. Fortunately, I’d read about it in a pregnancy book. My plug came out a few days before labor during a bathroom break at work and looked like a thin spread of mucus on my panties. Another friend lost her plug in a similar way a few weeks before she delivered. It usually happens when your cervix begins dilating, but not every woman loses it—or notices it—before she gives birth.
2.Support your legs so your veins don’t pop.
I once ran into a friend at the community swimming pool who was pregnant with her second child. Her first pregnancy had left her legs smooth and unmarred. Her second pregnancy produced different results. “Veins are popping out all over the place,” she said, in a hushed, private tone that implied the legs of which she spoke belonged to someone else: Surely hers would return at some point. Your blood circulation increases when you’re pregnant, and this can create more stress on your veins. Your growing uterus puts pressure on the veins leading to your legs. You are also producing more progesterone, which relaxes your blood vessels. The chance of getting varicose veins increases with each pregnancy, and tends to be hereditary. If you care, make sure you wear support hose as much as possible during your pregnancy. Don’t stand for long periods of time, and support circulation by elevating your legs when sitting for long stretches. Exercise helps, too, as does staying within the recommended weight range for your pregnancy stage.
3.Say good-bye to your vagina as-is.
It’s sad to bid farewell to an old friend. Those of us who grew up after the book Our Bodies, Ourselveswas published may have spent some time with a mirror getting to know our private anatomy. You may even love yourself down there. If this is true, be prepared to fully let go of what once was. After a vaginal delivery, your genital area will never again look the same. It’s not that it looks bad, it’s just that it looks different—especially if your skin tore during birth, or if you had an episiotomy. The space inside of your vagina will always be a little larger, your vaginal lips stretched open, especially right after birth. Over time, you regain muscle tone, and kegel exercises help, still it’s never the same. Had I thought this through, I would have planned a grieving ritual, or at least taken a Polaroid of my pre-birth anatomy, to place on a private photo shrine along with pictures of loved ones no longer with me. Even after you’ve moved on, you can fondly remember the way things were.
4.Body fat creeps everywhere, then goes away
You may naturally have little dimples of fat on your bottom, or your tummy, or the underside of your arms. It’s part of you, and not a problem: In fact, it adds to your womanly beauty. Well, when you’re pregnant, these fat dimples creep out from their normal resting spots, the ones you’ve come to accept as uniquely you. They push forth to claim areas you’re not yet willing to relinquish. The backs of your legs. The fronts of your legs. Your calves, your upper arms. Have they no mercy? Pregnant fat creep happens to even the fittest among us, in large part due to pregnancy hormones. This past summer, I saw a formerly svelte and toned yogini at the neighborhood swimming pool, still fit yet enveloped in a thin layer of just such pregnancy fat. The good news is that, miraculously, about seven months to a year after you’ve given birth, if you’ve been eating reasonably and exercising moderately, the fat creep goes away. Just because it ventured forth once, you’re not stuck with it for the rest of your life.
5.Baby leaves tummy, tummy sticks around.
I birthed my daughter on a Wednesday, and invited my team of employees over to my home to meet her the next day on Thursday. Thinking I looked pretty good, just one day after birth, I pranced around in my workout pants as I showed her off. Later, one of my single co-workers said to me, “You are the first person I’ve seen who’d just given birth, and I didn’t realize women still looked pregnant, even after the baby is out.” My shoulders drooped when I heard this, but I realized it was true. I still had my belly. Long before I had my own baby, a friend had once described for me her tummy after birth, and I was shocked. “The baby is out, but you still have this soft mound of belly that’s rolling around and you don’t know what to do with it,” she’d said. Compared to when the baby was inside you, your tummy does look smaller, but even if you normally have a flat stomach, be prepared to have a pregnant-looking belly for at least a month or so after your child is born. Your tummy is like a balloon that has been inflated and needs time to deflate. Post-birth hormones kick in to help this happen, but it takes time. Your uterus takes about four weeks to contract to normal size. Cells that swelled during your pregnancy release their fluid, and gradually your belly shrinks back down.
6. Support your breast area; it’s much bigger than you think.
If you thought your breasts were small, they’re not. If you already have large breasts, then prepare to bring in the industrial harnesses. Most of us have no idea of the actual area of our breasts until they fill with milk. The milk-filled ducts swell over into our armpits. They creep up toward our chins. Your self-breast exams to screen for cancer will never be the same, now that you fully realize how large your breast area is. Your milk-engorged breasts could stand on their own—but don’t let them, unless you don’t mind sagging once the milk is gone. I spent one day walking around my house, fully immersed in the beauty of my bare milk-filled breasts, once a B-cup and now miraculously a triple D, until a close friend, also a mother, informed me that it is the stretching of the Cooper’s ligaments, not the filling of the milk, that makes breasts sag. When these ligaments lose their strength and tension, breasts lose their structural integrity. A proponent of integrity in all areas, I immediately popped my newly large breasts back into their cases—a sturdy nursing bra by day, and a more relaxed nursing bra for night—and am happy to report the ligaments were saved.
7. Birth hurts, but post-birth sleep deprivation hurts more.
I’d heard the details of birth that you aren’t supposed to hear before having your own. When my sister birthed her first child, I asked how it had gone and she reported, wide-eyed from her hospital bed, after back pain and a large-headed infant, “It was bone against bone.” Hey. Wasn’t she supposed to protect not-yet mothers from this information? Another friend had described the ring of fire—the moment the baby’s head crowns and starts to push through the cervix. Sure enough, that’s exactly what it felt like, a burning circle of stretched-out skin. Expecting this ahead of time allowed me to actually savor the experience, pain and all. I was unprepared, however, for a more difficult part of having a baby: sleep deprivation. Not the kind that happens right after birth, when you feel so euphoric you don’t care whether you’re getting enough. No, the impact of sleep deprivation that compounds over time. You hit a no-sleep wall at about six weeks. The novelty wears off and you desperately require your ZZZs. For some, if your child is not a sleeper, this need stretches on and on. One, two, sometimes up to three years. Take it seriously right after birth, and do what you need to do to teach your baby healthy sleep habits so you can sleep too. It’s natural to want to tend to every cry, but over time you’ll be a better parent if you are present and well-rested.

Lips Care in Winter

the cool winter winds prick our skin, which is first evident from the dry and chapped lips. Lips have the thinnest skin and tend to loose moisture three times than the rest of the face that leads to dry and cracked lips.

Moisturize your lips

As lips do not have oil glands it is essential to moist them with lip gel particularly in winter. Keep moisturizing your lips with good lip gel or balm during the day.. To keep dryness at bay, generously apply lubricating lip guards or ghee / white butter during the night to for smooth lips. Make it a part of your regular routine skin care. While going out a lip balm with SPF 15 is good to prevent sunburn.

Softly exfoliate your lips

Apply a thick layer of Vaseline on your lips and then with the help of a soft toothbrush remove the flaky skin. Lemon juice can be used to remove the dead skin and retain smoothness. Olive oil with sugar is also a good lip exfoliate.

While applying lip color

While wearing lip color follow these instructions. After applying a thin coat of Vaseline apply lipstick and then blot it with a tissue paper. Then gently powder your lips with some loose or pressed powder and finally reapply the lip color. Besides giving the glamorous look it will ensure that you do not get dry, cracked or chapped lips.

Say No!

Do not lick your lips as it dries the lips all the more Avoid biting the upper surface of the lips Drink plenty of water to hydrate your lips Avoid wearing matte lipsticks when you chapped lip

Aloe Vera: a wonder Plant for Skin

Aloe is a lily-like, green, and sometimes spiny shrub with very little, if any, stem. Aloe Vera derives its name from the Arabic word 'alloeh', which means bitter. With a high water content of nearly 96%, the aloe Vera plant has been hailed as a medicinal plant with many a beneficial property. The aloe Vera plant can easily be grown at home - it is virtually maintenance free.

Aloe Vera gel is a mixture of antibiotic, astringent, coagulating agent, pain inhibitor, cell growth stimulator and scar inhibitor. It contains a total of 70 "essential ingredients" including most vitamins including B12, minerals, enzymes, protein and amino acids.

It is used to heal both internally and externally.

Uses of Aloe Vera to the Skin:

Aloe Vera is beneficial for burns, blisters, frostbite, allergic reactions and insect bites.
Aloe Vera gel is used to shrink warts and lessen the painful effects of shingles.
Products that contain aloe Vera contain high concentration of curative agent which is useful for the skin.
Aloe Vera is useful to treat cracks and beneficial for dry skin.
All products of aloe Vera are utilized as an area of skin cure contingent and maintain the healthy skin.
People who have dry skin utilize aloe Vera oil for making the skin shiny and normal.
It is the best skin moisturizer that keeps the skin flexible by providing oxygen to the skin cells which in order improves the synthesis and strength of skin’s tissue.
It makes the skin glowing and smooth.
Aloe Vera products are very famous amongst the consumers because of the moisturizing qualities which are good for the skin diseases or skin. It is utilized to treat many skin diseases such as burns, inflammations, eczema, wounds, psoriasis etc. The symptoms of psoriasis can be reduced with aloe Vera gel. You can then break off a part of the leaf and use the fresh gel to apply on any burn or other wound. .
When the aloe Vera leaf is broken, it oozes a thick sap that drips from the open end. This bitter sap is used to accelerate wound healing and reduce inflammation.

It is beneficial to remove dead skin cells.
Aloe Vera is beneficial to prevent the aging of the skin.
It decreases the intensity of pigmentation and lightens dark spots on the face.
Aloe Vera increases the capability of the skin in order that it can hydrate itself.
It is useful for the cosmetic products such as anti-wrinkle creams, skin conditioners, makeup

, lipsticks, makeup and facial masks.
Aloe Vera gel is beneficial to improve the skin lesions.
Gel from the Aloe Vera leaf has shown good results in treating facial edema. When used a mouth rinse, aloe Vera offers benefits for treating lockjaw and cold spores.
It can also be used as a hair styling gel and works especially well for curly or fuzzy hair.
Therefore, aloe Vera offers many benefits not only to the surface of the skin but other advantages such as treatment of many skin disorders.

Skin care products with aloe Vera increase the availability of oxygen to the skin and thereby aid synthesis and strength of the skin tissues. Aloe Vera lotions are widely used for cleansing the skin. Many of the skin care products containing aloe Vera are also fortified with Vitamin E and collagen to maintain the skin's elasticity and suppleness and keep the moisture in. You can pick up suntan lotions with aloe Vera. The anti-burning properties of Aloe combined with SPF factors make this an excellent skin care product

This comprehensive overview covers causes and treatments of male infertility.

Three exhausted women recharged their routines with simple diet, exercise, and sleep tweaks from our top medical expert. Learn how you can bust fatigue, too.

Money has much to do with why marriages might fall apart in an economic slump, but there's more to it than the almighty buck.

It is used to heal both internally and externally.Uses of Aloe Vera to the Skin:

Aloe Vera is beneficial for burns, blisters, frostbite, allergic reactions and insect bites.

Aloe Vera gel is used to shrink warts and lessen the painful effects of shingles.

Products that contain aloe Vera contain high concentration of curative agent which is useful for the skin.

Aloe Vera is useful to treat cracks and beneficial for dry skin.

All products of aloe Vera are utilized as an area of skin cure contingent and maintain the healthy skin.

People who have dry skin utilize aloe Vera oil for making the skin shiny and normal.

It is the best skin moisturizer that keeps the skin flexible by providing oxygen to the skin cells which in order improves the synthesis and strength of skin’s tissue.

It makes the skin glowing and smooth.

It is beneficial to remove dead skin cells.

Aloe Vera is beneficial to prevent the aging of the skin.

It decreases the intensity of pigmentation and lightens dark spots on the face.

Aloe Vera increases the capability of the skin in order that it can hydrate itself.

It is useful for the cosmetic products such as anti-wrinkle creams, skin conditioners, makeup

, lipsticks, makeup and facial masks.

Aloe Vera gel is beneficial to improve the skin lesions.

Gel from the Aloe Vera leaf has shown good results in treating facial edema. When used a mouth rinse, aloe Vera offers benefits for treating lockjaw and cold spores.

It can also be used as a hair styling gel and works especially well for curly or fuzzy hair.

Therefore, aloe Vera offers many benefits not only to the surface of the skin but other advantages such as treatment of many skin disorders.

Blog Archive

Search This Blog

About Me

Subscribe To Health Care

It is used to heal both internally and externally.

Uses of Aloe Vera to the Skin: