Smileband health topics

Eczema Treatment

The key to staying healthy while living with eczema is to keep symptoms under control. That’s why it’s good to know about the everyday “triggers” in your surroundings — like dry skin, irritants, allergens and stress — that might make your or your child’s eczema flare up, or get worse.

In many cases eczema is manageable, especially with a proper skin care routine. This includes bathing and moisturizing daily, sometimes in combination with prescription medications and/or alternative therapies.

Some basic things you can do to help control eczema:

• Establish a daily skin care routine — just like you would for other activities such as brushing your teeth. Try not to miss treatments, but be flexible if your symptoms change.
• Recognize stressful situations and events — and learn to avoid or cope with them by using techniques for stress management. You may do this on your own, or with the help of your doctor or psychologist.
• Be mindful of scratching and rubbing — and limit contact with materials or substances that may irritate your skin. Dress in soft, breathable clothing and avoid itchy fabrics like wool, that can further irritate your eczema. 

Smileband health topics

People Most at Risk
Children

Because of their weaker immune systems, children under the age of 5—and even more so under age 2—are especially vulnerable to influenza. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, each year, over 20,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for flu complications. “Children with the flu may show a decreased level of activity, fever, rapid breathing or coughing,” says Dr. Tincher. “Always be aware if they’re not interacting with you as they once were.”

Pregnant Women
Due to changes in their immune system, heart and lungs during pregnancy, pregnant women are at higher risk of severe flu. “Your physiology, blood pressure, blood flow, and heart rate are all different during pregnancy because the baby is taking up a lot of your blood flow and nutrients,” says Tincher.

This sensitivity lasts for up to two weeks after giving birth. The flu can even cause problems with the pregnancy, like premature delivery.

Adults 65 and Older
As people get older, their flu-fighting immune systems become frail. The CDC estimates that between 80 and 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in seniors over 65. “Their immune systems are not fully active, so it’s easier for them to pick up the virus,” says Tincher.

Those with Medical Conditions
The flu weakens your body and can exacerbate an already existing health problem, which is why people with certain conditions may have a harder time coping with the virus. Plus, these conditions make people more susceptible to flu complications like pneumonia, and having the flu can make these other health problems worse. The best example is diabetes. Infections like the flu make it harder to control blood sugar. Conditions that may worsen from the virus include:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Neurological conditions
• Chronic lung disease (i.e., COPD and cystic fibrosis)
• Heart disease
• Liver and kidney disorders
• Blood disorders (i.e., sickle cell disease)
• Weakened immune systems due to disease or medications (i.e., cancers or HIV and AIDS)
• Severe obesity. 

Smileband health topics

When thinking of minerals your body needs, magnesium probably isn’t the first to come to mind. Did you know it plays a part in energy production and your metabolism? In fact, magnesium is essential for overall health – I love it!

There are stacks of ways magnesium helps our body to perform. Check out these reasons why magnesium intake is important!

It helps keep us calm 

When we’re stressed, our body produces more adrenaline in an effort to boost energy and help us cope. That can cause our nervous system and heart rate to go into overdrive. Magnesium can help calm the nervous system.

Magnesium can also relax our muscles and plays an important role in the production of serotonin, a feel-good chemical that also helps regulate our appetite and sleep cycle.

It helps with cramping 

As I said earlier, magnesium helps our muscles and cells to relax! Sometimes low magnesium levels can cause our muscles to spasm, which can result in cramps. The relaxing properties of magnesium may also help reduce lactic acid, which can reduce Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, known as DOMS or post-workout muscle soreness.

Epsom salts, or magnesium sulfate, can be a great way to soothe sore or cramping muscles. Adding it to a bath gives your body a chance to absorb it and can help you relax before bed too.

It can reduce premenstrual symptoms 

I’m sure we’ve ALL experienced it at some point or another, but one of the most common symptoms at ‘that time of the month’ is cramping. Like the rest of your muscles, the relaxing properties of magnesium can help reduce these!

It helps develop healthy bones & tissue

While we’re all aware of the importance of calcium, magnesium is another important mineral that helps to keep our bones strong and helps to prevent osteoporosis later in life. Our cells require magnesium for development and growth as well.

Now that you realise how much your body relies on magnesium, you’ll see why it’s so important! Green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains are some of the best food sources of magnesium. Magnesium supplements are also an option, but as always, I recommend speaking with your doctor before taking them.

Smileband General News

The Royal Navy has escorted a Russian Destroyer out of UK waters after it was discovered off the north east coast of Scotland.  

It was picked up on Saturday after sonar technology detected a 'non-NATO warship' in the north sea. 

HMS Somerset was called to monitor the warship Vice Admiral Kulakov and a supporting tanker having been spotted off Scotland north east coast. The Plymouth-based Type 23 frigate had been trialling cutting-edge sonar equipment when called to locate and shadow the Russian units.

Having arrived in the Moray Firth on Saturday, the vessel escorted the ships through UK waters and north along the coast of Norway.  Commander Timothy Berry, HMS Somerset's Commanding Officer, said: 'As with all Royal Navy ships operating in UK waters, HMS Somerset was at a high state of alert to deal with any maritime security task such as this.

'Monitoring transits of non-NATO warships through UK territorial waters is part of what the Royal Navy does all year round to keep Britain safe. We now continue with our original tasking having seen the Russian ships safely through the UK's area of interest.'

The Vice Admiral Kulakov is a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer and it is believed to have been returning from a deployment in the Mediterranean.

The warship was accompanied by a tanker, which is standard procedure for Russian ships.

It was not the Kulakov's first visit to UK waters, as the destroyer was also shadowed by HMS Somerset from the same position in the Moray Firth in March last year.

Russian warships of the northern and Baltic fleets routinely pass through UK territorial waters en route to or from deployments in the Mediterranean and Gulf regions. 

Smileband Health issues

Heartburn or heart attack: When to worry

Severe heartburn and heart attack can be hard to tell apart. Understand how they typically differ, and learn when to get immediate help. You've just eaten a big meal and feel a burning sensation in your chest. Heartburn, right? Probably, but there's a chance the chest pain is caused by reduced blood flow to your heart (angina) or an actual heart attack.

How much do the symptoms of heartburn and heart attack overlap?

Heartburn, angina and heart attack may feel very much alike. Even experienced doctors can't always tell the difference from your medical history and a physical exam. That's why, if you go to the emergency room because of chest pain, you'll immediately have tests to rule out a heart attack. 

What's the best thing to do if you have chest pain and you're not sure what's causing it?

If you have persistent chest pain and you aren't sure it's heartburn, call 911 or emergency medical help.

Call your doctor if you had an episode of unexplained chest pain that went away within a few hours and you did not seek medical attention. Both heartburn and a developing heart attack can cause symptoms that subside after a while. The pain doesn't have to last a long time to be a warning sign. 

Smileband Health issues

The former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna has died from cancer aged 49. The Czech player, who won the 1998 singles title at SW19, lost her battle with the disease on Sunday, the WTA announced on its website on Monday morning.

A statement read: “It is with deep sadness that the WTA announces the passing on Sunday, November 19, of Jana Novotna. After a long battle with cancer, Jana died peacefully, surrounded by her family in her native Czech Republic, aged 49.  She was known for her battling qualities, though, and overcame another final defeat in 1997, this time to Martina Hingis, to finally get her hands on the trophy in 1998, beating Nathalie Tauziat. That ended up being her only grand slam title in singles, though she was prolific in the doubles, winning 24 grand slams and ticking off the full set of Wimbledon, the French Open, the Australian Open and the US Open. Novotna also represented her country with success, claiming silver medals in the doubles at the 1988 and 1996 Olympics as well as a singles bronze in Atlanta. She was the world No1 ranked player in doubles in 1990 and got as high as No2 in singles in 1997.  The former British No1 Jo Durie paid tribute to Novotna’s spirit on court. She said on Twitter: “Oh no how terrible sad. All thoughts to her family and friends. So glad Jana won Wimbledon. Such a fighter on court & a wicked sense of humour.”

The former American doubles player Pam Shriver added: “Jana was as kind as she was athletic, as smart as she was competitive. I can’t believe she is gone this soon. Her smile lives forever young.”

The former British player Andrew Castle, now a commentator for the BBC, said: “What a terrible shame. She was good fun of an evening, a champion on court, so tough to play against. And her smile was wonderful. 

Smileband health issues

Hepatitis H

Hepatitis H will undoubtedly be the name given to the next hepatitis virus to be isolated. Scientists are at a loss and are trying to understand why 10-15% of chronic hepatitis patients do not fit into any of the other hepatitis virus categories. So this may be a category waiting for a virus to claim it. There is evidence, however, of another hepatitis virus that has been temporarily labeled “non-A,non-E”. A patent is in progress for it to be called S.E.N.-V.   

1. Safer sex means using a latex or polyurethane barrier for all forms of sex.
2. Having a conversation about sexual health with your partner is key, but not everyone with STDs knows they’re infected.
3. When using condoms and other barriers for safer sex, follow the instructions on the box. 

   Key points

   1. Safer sex means using a latex or polyurethane barrier for all forms of sex.
   2. Having a conversation about sexual health with your partner is key, but not everyone with STDs knows they’re infected.
   3. When using condoms and other barriers for safer sex, follow the instructions on the box.
   A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an infection that’s spread during sexual contact with another person. This includes touching, since some STDs can be spread from skin-to-skin contact.
   In general, STDs are highly preventable. Almost 20 million new STDs are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the centres for disease control and prevention (CDC). However, a large number of those infections could be avoided if people made different decisions about their sexual health.
   The only guaranteed method to prevent STDs is to abstain from all sexual contact. However, most people don’t find this to be a practical solution. When engaging in sexual activity, there are steps people can take to limit their risk of STDs.