Causes: A reaction to pollen released by plants is the main cause of hayfever. The body believes erronously that the pollen is harmful and releases antibodies to fight off these foreign invaders. Antibodies are proteins that attach themselves to foreign invaders allowing them to be cleared. In the of hayfever sufferers a special type of antibody, known as Immunoglobulin E (IgE), is released to attack the pollen triggering the release of further chemicals, including histamine. Histamine is a substance which attaches to the cells in your body and irritates them. It is the histamines that cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Symptoms: 

• An itchy throat 
• Runny or blocked nose,  
• Watery or/and itchy eyes  
• Violent Sneezing 
• Lethargy  
• Loss of concentration.

Prevention: There are a few things that can be done to reduce your exposure to pollen. These include:

• Keep an eye on the pollen count and avoid going out if possible on days the pollen count is high. The pollen count is usually highest in the early morning, late afternoon and early evening.
• Protect your eyes with wraparound sunglasses to prevent pollen from entering the eyes.
• Take a shower and change your clothes once you get back indoors if you have been outdoors.
• Buy a pollen filter for your car and keep the windows shut when driving.
• Dry your clothes indoors , especially on days when the pollen count is high.
• Wash and towel down your pets before they come back indoors if they’ve been outdoors.
• Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom.

Treatment: Ideally, the best way to treat an allergy is to avoid it in the first place. In the case of hayfever though, it is not ideal to lock yourself up in a room to avoid the pollen! There are different medicines on the market that can help to cope with hayfever. These include:

• Antihistamines: These work by blocking the effect of histamines which are released during an allergic reaction including sneezing, itchy or runny noses. They are not so effective with blocked noses however. Although they can be obtained without a prescription over the counter, always consult your GP before starting any medication and be sure to follow the leaflet that accompanies the medicine. If using antihistamine tablets, it is advisable to go for a non-drowsy one that won’t affect normal everyday occurences such as driving.
• Nasal sprays and eye drops:  These are applied directly either to the eyes or nose. They work in different ways.
  Decongestants shrink the blood vessels in the nose thereby unblocking the nose. A rare side effect of decongestants is an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. They should be used only a few days at a time after consultation with your GP.
  Anti-inflammatory nasal sprays and drops as their name suggests reduce nasal inflammation and contain corticosteroids, which are based on cortisol but are altered to improve their effectiveness in treating hay fever symptoms. They are especially effective at dealing with the sneezing, itching, soreness and watery discharge associated with hay fever. For an even more effective relief, they can be combined with anti-histamine tablets.
  Sodium Cromoglycate: These work by preventing tissues becoming inflamed when an allergic reaction occurs and are also used in eye drops.
• Immunotherapy or Desensitisation:  Is a vaccine given over a course of years to get the body used to the pollen. The frequency of injections get further and further apart and the amount of trigger pollen you are given with each injection is increased so that your body slowly adjusts and gets used to it, realising that it is not a threat to you.
• Acupuncture: There have been claims that these relieve or prevent hayfever but they have never been scientifically proven. It is thought to work that by inserting needles into ‘pressure points’ the body’s immune system is stimulated helping it fight off an allergen.

Hayfever is a nuisance but you needn’t let it ruin your life. With the information above, we hope you can still get the best out of summer and if all else fails…book a flight to some exotic destination free from those pesky plants that cause all these problems. Now where’s my passport…

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A diet shouldn’t be a fad which one goes on to reduce weight only to put it back on once the ‘diet’ is over. Rather it should be taken as part of lifestyle changes to lose the weight and keep it off permanently. There are many types of diets including the Atkins diet, the Zone diet, the South Beach diet and many more. When considering a diet, it is important to ensure that the body gets all the nutrients and nourishment it needs from the said diet. Diets that exclude certain types of food can adversely affect the body as the body needs different types of food in order to fight disease and maintain a state of positive wellbeing. One has to beware of any program that purports to lose weight too quickly as these programs might be dangerous due to sudden changes in the body’s physiology. In general, things to consider to ensure a successful diet regime include: monitoring the amount of food intake, ensuring the right types of food is eaten, exercising and addressing the mental attitude that weight loss is a quick fix solution rather than a lifestyle change.

Monitoring the amount and type of food intake:
The average woman according to the UK Department of Health needs around 1940 calories a day. Any excess food is stored as fat.  One pound in body weight is equal to 3500 calories. In other words, to lose one pound in weight, you need (if you are an average woman) to consume 3500 calories less than you do at the moment over a period of time. Before you go out rushing to reduce the amount you eat however, remember that to lose weight, you need to make lifestyle adjustments. Do not go out starving yourself to lose this weight. If the body’s needs aren’t being met nutritionally, it tends to go into starvation mode and it hoards food the next time you eat. When you do eat, it is stored as fat which means you will get flabbier and unhealthier with all the fat piling into the wrong places. One of the side effects- love handles! You will also tend to crave sugary and fatty foods. The recommended rate of weight loss is one to two pounds a week. This means that if you can reduce your calorie intake by 500 calories a day, you are well on your way to reaching your goal.

Ensure the right type of food is eaten:
The body is a complex machine. Imagine you win the lottery and you decide to some of your money on buying that dream car you’ve always wanted. You wouldn’t fill its tank with diesel if it happened to be a petrol engine. It is the same with the body. Diets that advice that a certain food group is bad is are to be avoided. All food groups are to be included in a balanced diet. Try to avoid too much processed food as these contain high levels of salt and fat. When cooking chicken for example, try to avoid using the skin as this has high levels of fat. Reduce the amount of foods that have saturated fat in your diet such as hard cheese, butter, cakes and biscuits as they increase the amount of cholesterol in the body which can in turn lead to heart disease. Base your meals on starchy foods such as Cereals, Potatoes and Rice as they are a good source of energy and contain fibre, calcium and Vitamin B. It might sound clichéd but try as much as possible to get your five portions of fruit and vegetables. Eat more oily fish like fresh tuna, trout, salmon and mackerel as they contain omega 3 oils which keep the heart healthy.

Exercising:
The benefits of exercising has been stated probably from the dawn of time. The idea of pumping iron tends to put a few off but in reality, exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous. Choose a workout which you find to be fun and you are likely to stick to it. Learn a new dance like the Salsa or Waltz if you fancy. If you find that you are getting bored with it, it might be time to change it. Cardiovascular exercises which as the name suggests increases your heart rate include running, jogging, skipping and spinning and are the best exercises to lose weight. If you are unable to do these, a fast walk from the station home is better than nothing. The higher metabolism involved in performing these exercises causes the fat to drop off. Added benefits include longevity as studies have found a link between doing cardio exercises for 25 to 60 minutes a session and 3 to 5 sessions a week and longer life compared to those who don’t. The exercising also relives stress and boosts self confidence. As with all things though, be sensible and wear the right gear such as padded trainers to reduce injury to joints. Also be sure to consult a medical practitioner such as your GP before you embark on any type of exercise.

With these tips, you have more than a fighting chance of losing weight and more importantly keeping the weight off without succumbing to a lose weight quick fad. Whatever you do, enjoy your plan to keep the weight off…

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Before embarking on any new course of physical exercise, you should always seek medical advice from your GP. Depending on any complications that might have arisen during labour ie Caesarean, it might be advisable not to undergo any strenuous exercise until after the body has recovered which in some cases can take up to three months or longer. If you feel any pain, numbness or other abnormality, immediately discontinue and contact our your GP as soon as possible.

In order to lose the dreaded “Mum Tum” you will need to strengthen your core muscles. These are the Rectus Abdominis, External Oblique, Internal Oblique and the Transverse Abdominis better known to you and I as the six pack. The innermost of these muscles are the Transverse Abdominis or TvA. Do not make the mistake that crunches are the be all and end all in acheiving that flat tummy. In fact, crunches work out the the external layers, the Rectus Abdominis and the External Oblique. If you focus only on crunches, you will end up developing these layers with the result that your abs grow stronger but do NOT flatten. During pregnancy a hormone called relaxin is released, which made your ligaments more elastic so they could stretch as the baby grew. Because your ligaments and joints have become more supple and pliable, it’s easier to injure yourself by overstretching or twisting. After pregnancy it’s all too easy for these external layers to overpower relatively weaker TvA.
Rather start with an exercise called the plank.

.Lie on a mat and get down on your elbows and knees
.Place your elbows under your chest.
.Now prop yourself on your toes and forearms.

Keep your body in a straight line and tighten your abs for about 15 seconds (if you are a beginner) or until you tire. Repeat a few more times.

Pelvic Tilt: Lie on your back with your eyes looking at the ceiling, knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
Inhale and tighten the abdominal muscles and slightly squeeze the buttocks and lift your pelvic bone. Imagine trying to pull your tummy in enough to zip a tight pair of trousers. Your lower back should flatten to the floor. Hold for ten seconds then relax. Inhale as you roll your pelvic bone back down to the floor. Continue to keep your abdominal muscles tight, it shouldn’t bulge out and your buttocks remains clenched.
Repeat ten to fifteen times.
Next on the to do list are Kegel Exercises: These consist of tightening and releasing the muscles used to control urine flow. They strengthen the pelvic muscles and return these muscles to the state they were in before childbirth. To do this exercise, hold your pelvic muscles for about 10 seconds and slowly release. Repeat this three or four times every day. The beauty of this exercise is that it can be performed anywhere without the need for any apparatus.

Eat a balanced Diet: Your body has been through a lot during the nine months you were pregnant and it still needs a variety of nutrients to enable it function and produce the nutritional needs of your baby. Avoid drinks filled with loads of sugar ie fizzy drinks as these are full of empty calories which you will have to burn off if you are ever going to regain your shape. Stick to fruit and Vegetables, Carbohydrates such as pasta and potatoes for energy, and wholegrain breads and cereals.Protein as found in lean meat and chicken without the skin are also important. Also try to include fish in your diet but avoid too much oily fish as they may include high levels of mercury.

Abdominal Crunches: Crunches should work the four main pairs of muscles in the abdomen.  A properly done abdominal crunch returns your tummy back to its pre pregnancy state. However do not be fooled into thinking that you are guaranteed a six pack. Genetics plays an important role in that! Many exercise regimes fail because of the posture of the abdominal wall during crunches. The abs need to be pulled in, aided by exhaling during extertion. This ensures that all the muscles are worked increasing the effectiveness of the exercise and aiding the development of core strength.

Finally, drink water. Lots of it. Water prevents dehydration and some studies claim it can speed up metabolism. Go out to park with your baby and power walk with his buggy to lose calorires. Eat sensibly and slowly but surely, you will regain the figure you once had.

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Cleanse and exfoliate: Find out what skin type you are and clean it accordingly. There are 5 different skin types (Oily, combination, sensitive, dry and sun-damaged) and this in turn determines how you cleanse your skin. As a rule of thumb though, try to avoid bars of soap as they are likely to wash away all the natural oils your skin needs thereby drying your skin out. Instead use a face cleanser twice a day in the morning and at bedtime. The temperature of the water is also important and cold or lukewarm water is kinder to the skin.

Exfoliate using a loofah in circular motions and if possible, use grainy exfoliating cleansers. Exfoliating cleansers need not be expensive. Mix sea salt, olive oil and lemon juice together, or mix ground almonds and powdered milk. Another very good one is mashed papaya as it contains enzymes that aid exfoliation. One note of caution though always exfoliate when your skin is soft and wet and exfoliate about once a week. Doing it any more could make your skin dry!

Moisturize: Everyone should moisturise regardless of skin type. “But I have oily skin!” I hear you go. Yep, you still need to moisturize. Cleaning the skin gets rid of all the oils on the face and body. However there’s nothing to keep the body’s own natural water inside hence the need to moisturize. If you have oily skin, then a gel or lotion might be the way to go. They preserve the moisture in the skin without making it an attractive prospect to oil prospectors! Do be careful not to go overboard with the moisturiser though as the result could be clogged pores – a sure way to end up with acne.

Diet: This has been talked about so much some might think it is not worth stating the obvious. Diets cannot be over emphasised. A balanced diet should provide all the essential nutrients the body (and skin) needs. Avoid over processed foods that can be high in sugar, saturated fat and salt and go for healthier options that your body over thousands of years has evolved to digest. Fish contain Omega 3 fatty acids and protein that will nourish the skin. Fruits with anti-oxidants like Strawberries, Peaches and Nectarines can protect the skin from UV rays. The anti-oxidants in these fruits also fight free radicals which we encounter in our daily lives from pollution, cigarette smoke and neutralise them. Green vegetables contain a variety of vitamins and minerals and other bioactive substances that include lutein, vitamins C and E, flavonoids, folic acid, and fiber which studies claim can reduce skin cancer.You really are what you eat.

Water: Drinking enough water helps the skin remain hydrated. But how much is enough? Well the average adult is recommended about two litres of water a day. This depends on other external factors though. You might need more on a hot day or if you’ve been exercising than on a day you’re taking things easy. While the moisture of the skin is not determined by the amount of water you drink, water is essential in removing harmful toxins from the body. It aids in blood circulation and digestion which increases metabolism and aids weight loss. Dark circles around the eyes can be caused by lots of things including dehydration. Ensuring you take enough water can be a way to get rid of them. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to refill. By then you are already dehydrated!

Sleep: Sleep relaxes the facial muscles reducing wrinkles on the face. It also gives the body a chance to rejuvenate, grow and repair itself. This growth and repair combats stress which is a known cause of aging. As there is no attack from the sun’s UV at night, the body can repair itself quicker leaving you younger looking.

The quality of sleep is also important as the length of time sleeping. Studies recommend that an adult on average needs about 8 hours of sleep a day. Tips to aid sleeping include:

• Having a light meal a few hours before going to bed. Avoid alcohol or sugary foods that will give you a rush of energy but hinder sleep.

• Ensure the room is quiet and dark and there are no stimuli i.e a TV that can disturb sleep. Also make sure the temperature is right for sleeping. Studies recommend a room temperature of 21 degrees centigrade. 

• Read a book or develop a relaxing routine that soothes you. This may be breathing techniques or listening to relaxing music. 

• Have a warm bath with scented oils about an hour before going to bed. Just to get you relaxed and in the mood to sleep. Remember to moisturise afterwards!
• Finally try to leave the worries of work behind. This might seem impossible in our frentic, fast paced lives but if work is interrupting your thoughts, write he chores that cause you stress are down on paper, leaving your mind is free to relax and think more pleasant thoughts.

With these tips applied on a daily basis, you are bound to achieve your goal of radiant, beautiful youthful looking smooth skin.

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Thousands of Women suffer Period pains.

Period pains affect most women but as many as 10% of women experience severe enough pain that it impacts on their ability to perform day to day functions. In some women, the pain has been likened to pain experienced during labour.
Causes: There are 2 types of period pain. When there is no disease of the uterus, it is referred to as Primary or Spasmodic dysmenorrhoea. Classic symptoms include cramps in the lower abdomen area radiating out towards the back and thighs, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. It is the most common type and affects teenagers and women in their early twenties. It usually starts on the first day of your period and is caused by the uterus contracting to shed its lining to make way for a new one that will help in a fertilized egg becoming implanted in the womb at the beginning of your period. Chemicals called prostaglandins build up in the lining of the uterus. These prostaglandins help the uterus contract in order to dislodge the lining. In some cases, too much Prostaglandis have built up in the lining causing the muscles of the uterus squeeze and contract harder than normal to dislodge the thickened lining. The contractions can also restrict blood flow to the uterus making the pain worse.
Coping with Primary Dysmenorrhoea:

·         Over the counter medicines like Ibuprofen have proven effective in helping to cope with pains associated with Primary Dysmenorrhoea. It works by stopping or reducing the amount of Prostaglandis produced by the body.

·         Painkillers ie Paracetamol can also produce quick relief  from period pains

·         Oral contraceptives (the Pill) can also help by causing the lining of the uterus to thin reducing the amount of prostaglandis produced. As with all medication, consult your GP beforehand.

·         Resting in bed and heat treatment ie with a hot water bottle or in a hot bath with aromatherapy oils can also in some cases relieve pain.

Secondary Dysmenorrhoea. This is also known as congestive Dysmenorrhoea is when a disease or some structural abnormality either within the uterus or outside causes painful periods. Diseases such as Fibroids – (benign tumours made of muscle and tissue, which grow inside the uterus) influenced by the sex hormone oestrogen or an infection of the uterus (pelvic infection) can be underlying causes. In this type of period pain, the symptoms can start a week or more before the actual period itself. Symptoms include heavy bleeding, pain during sex, and irregular cycles. Secondary Dysmenorrhoea may not start until the mid twenties but is particularly prevalent among women between the ages of 30 and 45 and is not restricted to a particular time of the month. If for any reason you begin to experience period pain as an adult, then visit your GP.

Coping with Secondary Dysmenorrhoea:

As this is caused by some general underlying cause, the best treatment is to consult your GP who will diagnose the problem and decide the best course of treatment.

In general, there are a couple of lifestyle changes that could help ease the discomfort of period pains. These include

·         Quitting smoking: By reducing Oxygen to the pelvic area, period pain is believed to increase.

·         Exercising

·         Use supplements, containing gamma linolenic acid (GLA) such as evening primrose oil or starflower oil or vitamin B6. These help by maintaining hormonal balance and reducing breast pain.

·         A week before your period, cut down on salt, alcohol and caffeine to reduce water retention.

·         Drink plenty of water. If your consumption is less than you need, your body hoards the little it has leading to water retention.

·         Have sex. An orgasm relaxes your muscles and your body produces helpful hormones. Plus it takes your mind off the pain you might be feeling

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