Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

One a Day

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Aloha! It’s been a while :) How have you all been?

I thought as a come-back post, I would like to share some good stuff with you all, the wonderful, fabulous babes out there :)

Not a lot to ask, just One a Day.

This is the US version.

I bought the one in pink bottle and it was through a young pharmacist at Guardians/Watsons (I can’t remember now) who recommended this. At that time, there was no huge banners of display or any mega advertisements going on for this brand. She said this would be good.

Now before going further, let me share with you why I needed her advice and why this was recommended.

I did some readings and wanted to look for the right supplements for myself.

Not a big secret to reveal, I am not a very disciplined person. All I need is something easy, just one type of supplement so I don’t have to curse and swear if I forget to take one other supplement. I learn about other brands but I wasn’t convinced because I needed something for women. Something that is catered for women, to help me with my PMS, my hormones, my bones, hair, etc.

My aim at that point of time was to find something of high calcium, but not so much of just Calcium supplement. Read here. But my time at the racks of multivitamins, I just couldn’t decide what would be good for me. Then I met her, the pharmacist. I asked for her advice and she directed me to this One a Day (Women). She grabbed it from the lowest shelf and handed that over to me. I took a look at it, dubious at its reliability but upon reading what was on the label, I decided to give it a shot!

And since then, I have no regrets.

To be frank, I have pretty bad PMS symptoms. I’m sure many women experience this and it varies to a great degree. On a personal experience, I had days when I felt so depressed with lots of crying spells over any reasons I could pick on.  On some days, I would have huge appetite, craving for food with high sodium such as instant noodles. Not forgetting severe backache that I had to lie in bed for 2-3 days, swollen or sore breasts, bloated, sluggish, oily skin, sleepless nights or never-enough sleep. Oh my! The list can go on. Sometimes these days (a combination of symptoms) would last up to 2 weeks! Yes 14 days! Horrible! Horrible! Horrible!

So can you imagine my relief after consuming One a Day?

The first month was great. I didn’t have any of those symptoms, maybe too minor that I didn’t even realize they exist. And I definitely feel better. It was good for my emotional health too! I have not stopped taking One a Day and I hope you will start if you haven’t.

I bought a bottle each for my sister, my brother’s girlfriend and my mom. And I decided to buy this for my other girlfriends as Christmas gifts :) What’s better than living healthily and feeling good about oneself?

Disclaimer: This entry is purported to share the benefits of One a Day without carrying any intentions or whatsoever to promote for sales or to rank it as the best multivitamins in the market. The knowledge and understanding of this product are solely the author’s personal experience and blabbering. If One a Day would like her to be the Ambassador for well being, you would hear her screaming YES!

Have you got sunscreen?

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Did you know that exposure to sunlight for a long period of time actually promote more wrinkles to your skin? Besides wrinkles, we have high risk of getting skin cancer if this goes on without proper use of sun protection or sunscreen in our daily beauty regime. I choose to present this important information in the format of a table, for an easier read.

What is sun protection?

It is simply guarding a body from the adverse effects of sunlight. Aside from the hazards of heat, the sun poses the danger of sunburn, which can permanently damage the skin and cause skin cancer, precancerous changes in the skin, as well as premature wrinkling and signs of aging.

What is sunscreen?

 

Sunscreen is any substance or material that protects the skin from UV radiation. Sunscreens are available in the forms of topical lotion, cream, ointment, gel, or spray that can be applied to the skin; a salve or stick that can be applied to the lips, nose, and eyelids; a moistener in towelettes that can be rubbed against the skin; sunglasses that protect the eyes; certain types of sun-protection clothing; and film screen that can be affixed to the windows of a car, room, or office.

What is meant by SPF?

 

SPF, an abbreviation for sun-protection factor, is a number such as 15, 30, or 50 that indicates how long a topical sunscreen remains effective on the skin. A user can determine the duration of effectiveness simply by multiplying the SPF by the length of time it takes for him or her to suffer a burn without sunscreen.

What is the best sunscreen?

Overall, the safest and most effective sun-protection products are pure zinc and/or titanium-based sunblocks. These two ingredients have been around a long time and boast great safety data. The ideal sunscreen blocks both ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays, is stable, doesn’t break down in the sun, and doesn’t get absorbed through the skin.

Is there any difference between sunscreen and sunblock?

Physical sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are sunblocks; they physically (like a brick wall) block both UVA and UVB rays. Besides these two, all other sunscreens are chemical-based sunscreens. Not all sunscreens effectively block UVA as well as UVB rays. The chemical sunscreens break down with sun exposure and may need more frequent application.

When should I use a sunscreen?

Dermatologists recommend that everyone use sunscreen of at least SPF 15 or greater every day, year-round. If you plan to be in the sun more than 20-30 minutes a day, you should wear sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Even on cloudy days, about 80% of the sun’s rays pass through the clouds. Nowadays, so many moisturizers, lotions, and makeups have sunscreen built in that it doesn’t make sense to use any products that don’t contain sunscreen. It just makes it so mush easier. I recommend, for example, if you wear any foundation, that there be at least an SPF 15 built in. If not, you may want to change brands.

What about sensitive skin? I break out with almost all kinds of creams. What can I use?

Sunblocks with pure zinc or titanium are the best choices for sensitive skin. (Remember that zinc oxide is actually safely used on a baby’s skin for diaper rashes.) Wash off the sunscreen as soon as you get home in the evening.

Are all sunscreens equally effective against UV radiation?

 

No. Some sunscreens protect against only one type of ultraviolet radiation: ultraviolet-B (UVB). Others protect against both types of ultraviolet radiation that reach earth’s atmosphere from the sun: ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-A (UVA).

Sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB, and are thus classified as “broad spectrum,” are recommended for everyone

 

Should everyone use sunscreen protection?

 

As a general rule, babies 6 months of age or younger should not have sunscreen applied to their skin because their bodies may not be capable of tolerating the chemicals in sunscreens. Instead, they should be kept away from sun exposure.

Everyone over 6 months of age should use a sunscreen regularly unless they and their doctors decide it would be better to protect the skin in other ways.

 

Do all tanning products contain sunscreens?

 

No, some don’t. Tanning products that don’t contain sunscreen will be required by the FDA to carry a warning label alerting consumers to the dangers of unprotected sunbathing.

Is sunscreen protection necessary in the winter / cloudy day?

 

Yes, UV radiation, though not as intense in the winter / cloudy day, still poses a threat, especially when rays reflect off snow. There is no safe time of year when it comes to UV radiation.

What general skin care tips do you give your patients?

The sun is not your friend! Our main prevention measures are aimed at sun avoidance and sun protection. These include

1. using zinc sunscreens with at least SPF 30,

2. using wide-brimmed hats (6 inches),

3. using physical barriers when possible like sun-protective clothing and sunglasses – denim jacket / white t-shirt

4. avoiding the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and

5.seeking shade and staying indoors.

 

My favourite sunscreen pick

Neutrogena SPF 50+ Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock

Information gathered from:

Sun Protection and Sunscreen

Truths, Lies and Sunscreens

HIV – Learn it the ABC way

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Ok, I am just wondering how much we know about STIs (now known as sexual transmitted INFECTIONS as defined in the wikipedia for it has a broader range of meaning; a person may be infected, and may potentially infect others, without showing signs of disease.) and how much do we understand HIV. Today, we shall learn or re-learn this with the ABC method, not that there are 3 different steps, but there are 3 different options which one is definitely the answer :) I will put up the questions here and when you are done with the Qs, you can check the answers in the comment link :) All the best :D

Avert Women and HIV Quiz 

1. What is the only method of HIV prevention currently available that women may have some control over?
a. Microbicides
b. Condoms
c. The pill
2. In heterosexual sex, who is more likely to become infected with HIV from an HIV positive partner?
a. The man
b. The woman
c. Both are at equal risk
3. Can someone who abstains from sex until marriage get HIV?
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not if they stay faithful
4. Contraceptive pills are widely available for which people?
a. Women
b. Men
c. Both men and women

5. At the end of 2007, how many women were living with HIV worldwide?
a. 1.5 million
b. 15.4 million
c. 54 million
6. When was the first woman diagnosed with AIDS?
a. 1979
b. 1982
c. 1991
7. HIV can be transmitted from mother to child through…
a. Using the same toilet
b. Delivery/breastfeeding
c. Sharing food or drink
8. A lesbian can be infected with HIV.
a. True
b. False
c. Only if she has sex with a man
9. In South Africa a teenage girl is…
a. Five times more likely than a boy to be HIV positive
b. Five times less likely than a boy to be HIV positive
c. Just as likely as a boy to be HIV positive
10 . What can the contraceptive pill protect a woman from?
a. Pregnancy
b. HIV
c. Herpes

11 . Why are poor women vulnerable to becoming infected with HIV?
a. Poverty causes HIV
b. Women cannot be treated for AIDS
c. Poverty can cause women to engage in more risky behaviour such as commercial sex
12 . Women represent what percentage of HIV positive people in the world?
a. Almost 20 percent
b. Almost 50 percent
c. Almost 70 percent
13 . In the future, how might a microbicide gel help women protect themselves against HIV?
a. By killing HIV inside the vagina without a partner knowing
b. By stopping HIV developing in the body
c. By reducing viral load
14 . Globally, most women become infected with HIV through…
a. Blood transfusions
b. Unprotected heterosexual sex
c. Sharing injecting equipment
15. If an HIV positive pregnant woman takes the correct drugs and doesn’t breastfeed, how likely is her baby to be born with HIV?
a. Less than 2 percent
b. Around 15 percent
c. Over 40 percent
16 . What percentage of women living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa?
a. Around 24 percent
b. Around 52 percent
c. Around 76 percent
17. Which of the following women founded a leading paediatric AIDS charity?
a. Elizabeth Taylor
b. Elizabeth Glaser
c. Queen Elizabeth II
18 . Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, how many women in the USA have been diagnosed with AIDS?
a. Over 420,000
b. Over 182,000
c. Over 55,000
19. In 2006, what percentage of HIV positive pregnant women in poor countries received drugs to prevent HIV being passed on to their babies?
a. 72 percent
b. 23 percent
c. 49 percent
20. In what year did the female condom first become available in Europe?
a. 1982
b. 1992
c. 2002