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11A LIFESTYLES / The Charlotte Post Thursday, April 17,1997 HEALTHY BODY/ HEALTHY MIND Hair loss could be sign of alopecia If you have trouble receiving your subscription to the Post please contact us at 704-376-0496 Aprella Bridges, R.N. Mair loss or alopecia involves partial or total hair loss that usually affects the scalp but may also affect other body areas. Alopecia may progress slowly and irreversibly with changes in hair structures, or it may progress rapidly and temporari ly from a disruption in the nor mal hair growth cycle. A healthy person loses about 100 hairs a day simply from brushing, combing, shampooing and shedding. The hair grows back at the same rate. Problems arise when hair loss occurs at a faster rate than new hair growth. There are two types of hair loss, scarring and nonscarring. Scarring alopecia involves inflammation and destruction of the follicular (root) structure, which may cause irreversible (no cure) hair loss. Nonscarring alopecia rarely involves inflam mation and destruction of the follicular structure. This means that the hair follicle can usually reproduce hair. Tests for alope cia are simple and painless. The doctor starts by observing the patients hair and scalp. He or she will do a “pluck” or “pull” test, firmly and smoothly tug ging a group of 8 to 10 hairs. If more than 4 hairs come out, the patient probably has alopecia. Other tests include laboratory procedures, biopsies and possi bly blood test to rule out dis eases such as syphilis. Treatment depends on the amount of hair loss and the type of alopecia. Unfortunately, for some, no treatment can restore hair loss. For others, medication or surgery (hair transplantation) may help. Hair loss from chemotherapy can be minimized with the use of scalp cooling and scalp tourniquets. Other alternatives include hairpieces, hair weaving or bonding. A healthful diet, and proper hair care is always an advantage. Hair care tips: cals, such as permanent wave solutions or relaxers. These can damage hair, causing splitting and shedding. •Avoid burning hair devices such as curling irons and hair dryers at high settings. •Try smooth rather than toothed rollers and avoid hot curlers. •Change hairstyles if hair loss comes from traction caused by tight braids or ponytails. •Camouflage hair loss by restyling hair to cover thinning spots. ADULT>DAY-CARE NOW TWO NEW LOCATIONS TO BETTER SERVE THE WORKING CARE-GIVER Placa PALS Pritchard PALS 5600 rise Plaza 1201 South Blvd. 567-2900 3700093 •Do not use harsh hair chemi- For those of us that are into naturalNherbal medicine, there ia a multiple vitamin available especially for hair, skin and nails available at Kamit Natural Foods. Osteoporosis preventable for women Vicki L. Seltzer, MD Osteoporosis, the condition in which bones become so brittle that they break easily, was once thought to be inevitable in many older women. Now we know that women can take steps to protect against bone loss that leads to osteoporosis, and those who already have the condition can help strengthen bones to reduce further dam age. The diet and exercise that help older women preserve their bones can also help mid dle-aged or younger women lessen their chances of getting osteoporosis in later years. In fact, protection begins in adoles cence when a girl is building her bone mass. Health-con scious parents can give their daughters the knowledge and habits that will help them build and maintain strong bones throughout their lives. Diet. Calcium is critical. From their teens to their mid-20s, women need about 1,200 milligrams (mg) of calcium each day, and pregnant and breast-feeding women need the same amount, ether women who have not yet reached menopause need about 1000 mg of calcium a day. For post menopausal women not on estrogen replacement therapy, the recommended daily intake of calcium jumps to 1,500 mg. Dairy products (regular, lowfat or nonfat), leafy green vegeta bles, nuts and seafood are important sources of dietary calcium. Women who cannot digest milk, or who, for other reasons, do not include adequate calcium in their diets can take supplements. Exercise. Because it strength ens bones, regular weight-bear ing exercise such as aerobic dancing, or even walking sever al blocks, is important for women of all ages. Many doc tors recommend forty-five min utes a day of such weight-bear ing exercise, three days a week. Older women, or women who have never exercised, should start out slowly and build up to the recommended guidelines. When constructing an exercise regimen, women of all ages should consult their doctor. Hormone Replacement Therapy. Women are most vul nerable to rapid bone loss after menopause, when their bodies' natural supply of estrogen drops dramatically. Estrogen protects against bone loss, improves calcium absorption, and enhances the effect of exer cise on the bones. Many doctors now prescribe estrogen replace ment therapy for post menopausal women and for some women who experience severe menopausal symptoms. Women in these categories should consult their doctors to determine if estrogen replace ment is suitable for them. If women remember these steps to protect against bone loss -- diet, exercise and (for many Mega doses of ‘E’ harmful By Paul Recer THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - Most vita min E supplements have only one form of the nutrient and taking large doses of pills may block the natural benefit of another form of the vitamin, researchers say. In a study published today, food scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, said they have found that alpha-toco pherol, the form of vitamin E found in pills, does an incom plete job of neutralizing some damaging chemicals and that high doses of the supplement blocks the action of another form of the vitamin, gamma- tocopherol. Stephen Christen, a bio chemist and lead author of a study today in the Pi-oceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said people would be better off taking only modest doses of the pill and then eating foods rich in gamma-tocopherol. Earlier studies have shown that vitamin E protects against heart disease and cancer and slows aging by absorbing oxy gen free radicals, destructive chemicals that form during metabohsm and when the body fights disease. But to get full benefit from the vitamin, people also need gamma-tocopherol, found in soybeans, nuts and grains, said Christen. The researcher said he hopes vitamin pill companies soon will add gamma-tocopherol to their vitamin E formulas. Christen said that of the E vit amins, only gamma-tocopherol gets rid of peroxynitrite, a high ly destructive nitric oxide radi cal formd at sites of inflamma tion. Where there is chronic inflammation, he said, peroxyni- trite can start processes leading to cancer and heart disease. In laboratory tests. Christen said, California researchers found that gamma-tocopherol also was the only form of vita min E that could permanently trap and remove nitrogen oxide, a chemical common in polluted Additionally, the studies showed that high levels of alpha-tocopherol reduce the lev els of gamma-tocopherol in the blood. Thus, said Christen, high doses of current vitamin E pills actually can block a beneficial natural nutrient. “The initial evidence is pretty clear,” he said. “We should not be taking only alpha-tocopherol in supplements.” Since few pills now contain both the alpha and gamma forms of vitamin E, Christen said people should limit the amount of the supplement they take. Amounts above 100 inter national units may be harmful, he said. John Hathcock, of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade association for vitamin pdl makers, disagreed. He said high doses of vitamin E have been found to lower the “bad” type of cholesterol in the blood. Hathcock said Christen’s study was “an important expan sion” in understanding gamma- tocopherol, “but what is lacking is any proof that this makes any clinical difference.” He said a healthy diet of fhiits and vegetables has nutrients that will neutralize destructive chemicals missed by vitamin E in supplements. Christen said he recommends that vitamin pill companies make a vitamin E supplement that is half-and-half, alpha and gamma tocopherol. “Both are readily extracted from plants such as soybeans, ” Christen said. C.W.Williams HEALTH CENTER Growing with the community since 1981. OFFICES 3333 Wilkinson Boulevard * (Eastway/Plaza) 508 Eastway Drive * (Grier Hts.) 3100 Leroy Street CWW new satellite offices 'Providing (Primary & Preventive (MedicaC Care for the Pntire famiCy FOR APPOINTMENT OR INFORMATION CALL: 393-7720 Medicare ❖ Medicaid ❖ Maxicare ❖ Sliding Fee ❖ Private Insurance “WHERE CARE AND COMPASSION COME TOGETHER" postmenopausal women) hor mone replace ment therapy — osteoporosis could become a rare condition. Selwyn LIFE Center at Mercy Adult Day Health Services • Saturday Program Dementia Program • Caregiver Support Group (704)379-5005 1921 Vail Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28207 Need A Lift? Call Us - We Can Help • E-Z Lift chairs • Wheelchairs • Walkers • Hospital Beds • Ostomy Supplies • Incontinence • Bathroom Safety • Diabetic Safety • Respiratory Therapy 4231 Monroe Rd. M-F 9-6 1347-1 993 MC VISA Sat 9-2 AMEX DIS As a Maxicare/Medicaid Member choices abound! Now, you have an option to long waits and never seeing the same doctor twice. WITH MAXICARE, YOU GET: Your own private doctor. One hour (or less) service with scheduled appointments Access to our complete network of specialists. Medical Advice line available to you 24 hours-a-day! Discover the difference between ordinary care and MAXICARE!! Maxicare’ Maxicare North Carolina, Inc. The company that wants you to be choosy!! 1-800-350-6294 BIG LEAGUE SPORTS ARE HERE WHICH WILL COME FIRST? CHARLOTTE HASN’T HAD EITHER ONE N.B.A. CHAMPIONSHIP? BUT WE’VE A WORLD Cl||JVlPlpN 'IjtyjrTr'wth. ' 4; n KELWSEABROOKS, and KELVIN SEABROOKS COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR ms CHIROPRACTOR DR. WATTS OFA&WCUNIC, HELPS KEEP KELVIN’S BACK IN SHAPE IF YOUR BACK OR NECK IS INJURED 3S>3-3333 DR. DENNIS WATTS. D.C. WITH 3 OFFICES ON: BEATTIES FORD, WILKINSON & THE PLAZA OUR STAFF WILL TREAT YOU LIKE A WORLD CHAMPION
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 17, 1997, edition 1
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