As much as 70% percent of the population suffers from the cold sore virus, but do we even know what we’re up against? Here are five lip health beliefs trusted or busted for you by Healthista and lips’ latest solution, Prevasore Everyday Lip Therapy
You read that right – up to 70% of people contain the highly contagious virus, HSV-1, which is the virus that causes your cold sores to spring up at the least ideal times. While the virus itself may be incurable, its ugly symptoms are treatable. The first line of defense? Knowledge.
Lip Health: True or False?
Licking my lips will keep them hydrated, true or false?
False. Resist the temptation to lick your lips. It may provide temporary relief for sore lips but saliva evaporates quickly, leaving the lips drier than they were before. The digestive enzymes in saliva can actually damage the skin.
Cold sores can be contracted from kissing, true or false?
True. Cold sores are at their most contagious when they rupture, but remain contagious until they’ve completely healed. You should avoid close contact with others until your cold sore has completely healed as once you pass on the virus, they have it for life.
Lips don’t contain sebaceous glands, true or false?
True. Lips do not have sebaceous glands, also known as sweat glands, which are used by the body to secrete oils to help keep the skin moisturised. As a result, lips tend to dry out faster than other parts of the body. All the more reason to ensure Prevasore Everyday Lip Therapy is on hand at all times!
We are more susceptible to cold sores in winter, true or false?
Difficult to say. We are more susceptible during the cold winter months, any harsh environmental conditions can damage our lips making them more vulnerable. Cold sores are also triggered when the body is run down and/or stressed. Avoid extreme weather conditions. Very hot sun, strong wind and low temperatures can all take their toll. Hats, scarves and lip balm are your best defence! Prevasore’s specially designed formula softens and moisturises the skin on and around the lips, thereby maintaining the elasticity and barrier properties.
Over 70% of the population carry the cold sore virus, true or false?
True. The cold sore virus is easily contracted and is highly contagious. The best way to ensure you aren’t caught out by a cold sore is to maintain optimum lip health at all times. This can be achieved using Prevasore Everyday Lip Therapy daily to help keep the lips and surrounding area in good condition.
A doctor’s guide on ENDOMETRIOSIS
Endometriosis affects one in ten women and Girls star and feminist activist Lena Dunham, who has it was rushed to hospital following a ruptured ovarian cyst at the weekend. Dr. Xavier Santamaria, fertility specialist of IVI Fertility has what you need to know
We’re happy to hear that Lena Dunham, 29, is home safe and recovering after undergoing surgery for a ruptured ovarian cyst this past Saturday. The Girls creator suffers from endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects about 1 in 10 women. Dunham’s rep, Cindi Berger, released a statement on Saturday.
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Lena Dunham has been very public with her personal bouts with endometriosis. This morning, she suffered from an ovarian cyst rupture and has been taken to the hospital. Lena will be undergoing surgery at an undisclosed hospital. We thank you for your understanding and hope that Lena’s privacy will be respected.’
ENDOMETRIOSIS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Dr Xavier Santamaria, Endometriosis Awareness by healthista.comNews of this nature is all too relevant this month, as March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. In support of this cause, Healthista talked with leading fertility specialist Dr. Xavier Santamaria (left) of IVI Fertility, one of the world’s leading fertility groups, to find out everything you need to know in identifying, treating, and living with endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a common condition which affects 10 per cent of women worldwide, and is prevalent in 30-50 per cent of women who suffer from infertility. However, the cause of endometriosis is unknown and at present there is no definite cure.
Despite the fact that it is such a common condition, (the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK), there is often much confusion over what the condition actually is, the warning signs you should look out for, and if/how the condition can be treated.
What is endometriosis?
Dr Santamaria says: ‘Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb (the endometrium) are found elsewhere in the body. These tissues behave in a similar way to the tissue that is found in the lining of the womb, mimicking the menstrual process. Each month these cells build up and then break down and bleed. Unlike a period, this blood has no way to escape.
Endometriosis has the potential to affect all women and girls of a childbearing age
Endometriosis is a chronic, debilitating, and often painful condition, which can also lead to infertility, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems. This condition affects around 2 million women in the UK, and can manifest itself in a range of symptoms, varying from person to person. Endometriosis has the potential to affect all women and girls of a childbearing age.’
What causes it?
Dr Santamaria says: ‘Unfortunately, there is still some confusion throughout the medical world as to what causes endometriosis. However, the most widely accepted theory is retrograde menstruation. This is where the womb lining doesn’t leave the body properly during a period and embeds itself on the organs of the pelvis.
Despite this theory being the most popular, endometriosis can still occur in women who have had a hysterectomy, which cannot be explained by this cause.
We also know that endometriosis can be more common in the sisters and mothers of women who have endometriosis and therefore it is sometimes believed to have a genetic background.
Other potential causes of endometriosis have also been suggested to be the weakness of a woman’s immune system, environmental causes and metaplasia (in which cells can change into endometrial cells to adapt to their environment). However, none of these theories are a definite cause of Endometriosis and therefore its exact cause remains unknown.’
What are the main symptoms?
Dr Santamaria says: ‘The symptoms associated with endometriosis will vary from woman to woman, and some people will also suffer more severe symptoms than others. Generally speaking though, the most common symptoms experienced by women suffering from endometriosis include:
painful periods or heavy periods.
pain in the lower abdomen (tummy), pelvis or lower back.
pain during and after sex.
bleeding between periods.
difficulty getting pregnant.
Most women with endometriosis experience pain in the area between their hips and the tops of their legs. In some cases, this pain can be relentless and without respite.
In addition to the most common symptoms listed above, women suffering from endometriosis can also find themselves susceptible to some more serious health problems such as, persistent exhaustion and tiredness, discomfort when going to the toilet, bleeding from the back passage (rectum), or coughing blood.
It is interesting to note that the severity of symptoms is dependent on where in a woman’s body the abnormal tissue is, as opposed to the amount of tissue found.’
How can endometriosis affect fertility?
Dr Santamaria says: ‘Anatomical distortion and adhesions caused by endometriosis reduces the chance of natural conception. This is a more serious problem in those who suffer severe endometriosis, as the increased number of adhesions means there is higher possibility the egg will get trapped and prevented from getting down the Fallopian tube. It is particularly significant if the ovary is wrapped in adhesions or if the Pouch of Douglas (the lowest area of the peritoneal cavity) is covered by adhesions.
‘Endometriosis is classified into minimal, mild, moderate and severe using the American Fertility Society Revised Classification of Endometriosis (AFS) score, and this score helps dictate the chance of conceiving naturally.’
What should you do if you think you may have endometriosis?
Dr Santamaria says: ‘If you are suffering from any of the symptoms associated with endometriosis then in the first instance it is advisable that you book in to see your GP who will often refer you to gynecologist.
The average length of time it takes to diagnose is 7.5 years from the initial symptoms
However, it is often difficult to diagnose the condition, because the symptoms can vary considerably, and many other conditions can cause similar symptoms. Due to this, the average length of time it takes to diagnose is 7.5 years from the initial symptoms.
The gynecologist might carry out an ultrasound scan, alongside asking about your symptoms and sexual activity. However, the only way to diagnose endometriosis is through a procedure called a laparoscopy. This procedure is done under a general anesthetic, in which a small telescope with a light on the end (the laparoscope) is inserted into the pelvis through the belly button. The laparoscope has a camera which transmits the images to a video monitor, where the surgeon can look for endometriosis. Often biopsies are taken for analysis. Following a diagnosis you may be referred to an endometrial specialist who will be able to help advise you on the best way to manage the symptoms.’
How is endometriosis treated?
Dr Santamaria says: ‘Sadly, there is no cure for endometriosis however; there are a number of ways in which patients can manage their symptoms effectively.
This can include surgery, hormone relief and pain relief. Hormone relief can include the contraceptive pill, as an attempt to mimic pregnancy and reduce symptoms, and surgery can excise endometriotic nodules and release adhesions.
If you are over the age of 30 and suffer from endometriosis then it is recommended that you visit a fertility specialist – regardless of whether or not you are currently trying to conceive. A specialist will be able to test your ovarian reserve via a simple blood test, which can help predict an individual’s ability to conceive, and can also provide insight into the best treatment options available – such as IVF, which we know has superior pregnancy success rates for women with endometriosis.
It is known that surgery to destroy endometriosis can have a positive effect on fertility in certain cases. However, repeated surgery can actually be detrimental and have a negative impact on your ovarian reserves so it’s important for your doctor to monitor this.
Another option which may be recommended, particularly for those endometriosis sufferers who are not currently looking to conceive, is egg freezing, which will preserve eggs so that they can be used later down the line in combination with IVF and other fertility treatments should a women discover they are struggling with infertility.’
IVI Fertility is a European leader in assisted reproduction, and to date has helped over 100,000 children to be born all across the globe. With 40 clinics, in 10 different countries, IVI are pioneers within the fertility industry and are at the forefront of medical development and advancement within the field.
How Misleading Drug Claims Can Interfere with the Medical Care of Diabetics
Over the last decade, there has been the development and approval of a group of medications that fall in the broad category of “incretins.” They are off-shoots of a natural product that we produce called “glucagon like peptide”(GLP). The background observation was that if you administer glucose intravenously vs. orally, the oral route evokes a stronger insulin response from the pancreas. Thus, when glucose enters the body through the GI tract after being swallowed, it stimulates another substance that enhances the beta-cell response to glucose and there is a greater increment in insulin release. Thus, the name incretin.
When given from the outside, GLP is destroyed very rapidly, so two techniques were developed to deliver GLP as a drug. First, give a substance that blocks the enzyme that breaks down GLP so that the natural GLP would last longer. Second, create an analogue by altering the GLP and give it as an injection. Both have been very effective. The injectable analogue has been very effective in assisting with weight loss. All of this is geared to facilitate normalizing blood glucose and reducing the risk for diabetes complications such as heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney failure, loss of limb, and many others.
There had been a question about whether or not inflammation of the pancreas was a complication of this treatment, as well as whether or not there was an increased risk for pancreatic cancer. To date, there has been no evidence to support either of these questions. The FDA in the US, the major diabetes and endocrine organizations, and the European diabetes community all have stated that there is no credible evidence for the association of these drugs with pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.
Nevertheless, there is incessant inappropriate lawyer advertising that if you took even one dose of these medications and you develop either pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer you may be eligible for a financial award. Some patients as a result have been wary of taking these medications. In as much as there is no evidence for these consequences, it is inappropriate and misleading to advertise that these are real observations. If this continues and enough people are affected, the numbers who will develop the aforementioned diabetic complications will rise, preventable outcomes on the heads of those who recklessly use scare tactics to keep people from the best treatments.