We are aware that Mosquitoes attack some people more than the others.
You become a sort of magnet for them.
Why?
Mosquito Alert (Photo credit: Travis S.)
Researchers seem to have come to some conclusions.
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Although researchers have yet to pinpoint what mosquitoes consider an ideal hunk of human flesh, the hunt is on. “There’s a tremendous amount of research being conducted on what compounds and odors people exude that might be attractive to mosquitoes,” says Joe Conlon, PhD, technical advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association. With 400 different compounds to examine, it’s an extremely laborious process. “Researchers are just beginning to scratch the surface,” he says.
Scientists do know that genetics account for a whopping 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites. They’ve also identified certain elements of our body chemistry that, when found in excess on the skin‘s surface, make mosquitoes swarm closer.
“People with high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on their skin surface attract mosquitoes,” Butler tells WebMD. That doesn’t necessarily mean that mosquitoes prey on people with higher overall levels of cholesterol, Butler explains. These people simply may be more efficient at processing cholesterol, the byproducts of which remain on the skin’s surface.
Mosquitoes also target people who produce excess amounts of certain acids, such as uric acid, explains entomologist John Edman, PhD, spokesman for the Entomological Society of America. These substances can trigger mosquitoes’ sense of smell, luring them to land on unsuspecting victims.
But the process of attraction begins long before the landing. Mosquitoes can smell their dinner from an impressive distance of up to 50 meters, explains Edman. This doesn’t bode well for people who emit large quantities of carbon dioxide.
“Any type of carbon dioxide is attractive, even over a long distance,” Conlon says. Larger people tend to give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes typically prefer munching on adults to small children. Pregnant women are also at increased risk, as they produce a greater-than-normal amount of exhaled carbon dioxide. Movement and heat also attract mosquitoes.
So if you want to avoid an onslaught of mosquito bites at your next outdoor gathering, stake out a chaise lounge rather than a spot on the volleyball team. Here’s why. As you run around the volleyball court, the mosquitoes sense your movement and head toward you. When you pant from exertion, the smell of carbon dioxide from your heavy breathing draws them closer. So does the lactic acid from your sweat glands. And then — gotcha.
With a long track record — mosquitoes have been around for 170 million years — and more than 175 known species in the U.S., these shrewd summertime pests clearly aren’t going to disappear any time soon. But you can minimize their impact.
While it is necessary for the metabolism ,some times it is reported to be responsible for health problems like heart ailments,Hypertension ,Renal Disorders and Diabetes.
Contradicting Study results have been obtained regarding Salt intake and cardiac,hypertension and diabetes.
It is better not to meddle with salt intake excepting in the case of Renal Disorders.
” A high salt diet isn’t bad for you, it’s good for healthy people, European researchers suggest.
Jan A. Staessen, MD, PhD, of the University of Leuven, Belgium, led a study that measured urinary sodium levels in 3,681 healthy, 40-ish people and then followed their health for about eight years.
Their finding: People with the highest sodium levels had a significantly lower risk of dying from heart disease than did people with the lowest sodium levels.
“Our current findings refute the estimates of computer models of lives saved and health care costs reduced with lower salt intake,” Staessen and colleagues conclude in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “They do also not support the current recommendations of a generalized and indiscriminate reduction of salt intake at the population level.”
These recommendations come from the American Heart Association (AHA), which advises everyone to limit their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day — a substantial cut from the 3,600 to 4,800 milligrams of sodium most Americans get each day.”
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We now know conclusively that the U.S. government’s war on salt consumption will cause harm,” Lori Roman, president of the Salt Institute, says in a news release. “This study confirms previous research indicating that reductions in sodium lead to an increased risk of disease and death.”
Nothing could be further from the truth, says Ralph L. Sacco, MD, president of the American Heart Association and chairman of the neurology department at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
“We need to take this article with a large grain of salt,” Sacco tells WebMD. “There are major problems with it, and there is only this one article with these findings, which are contrary findings to what we and others have found.”
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Sacco notes that the study looks only at relatively young, white Europeans, with no sign of high blood pressure or heart disease, over a relatively short period of time. He suggests that the measure on which the study is based — collection of all urine output over a 24-hour period — is subject to large variation if even one sample is missed during the collection period.
More to the point, Sacco notes a long string of studies linking high salt intake to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
“The AHA recommendation to reduce salt intake is based on strong science, not just extrapolations or complex math,” Sacco says. “There have even been randomized trials, the strongest evidence we have that show people who follow lower-sodium diets have lower blood pressure and fewer heart attacks and strokes.”
Staessen and colleagues note that blood pressure did go up a bit in people with the highest sodium levels. They agree that people with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure by lowering their salt intake. But they suggest that previous studies have overestimated the effects of salt intake on healthy people who are not oversensitive to sodium.”
“A modest reduction in the mounds of salt consumed by the typical American each year could lead to 155,000 fewer heart attacks and strokes annually, according to a new analysis.
The benefit would come from reductions in blood pressure that would result from cutting about 3 grams of salt a day.
The average man and woman now consume 10 grams and 7 grams a day, respectively.
That’s about 8 pounds of salt a year for a man.
While some groups such as African-Americans, older people and those with high blood pressure would benefit the most, reducing salt would lower blood pressure throughout society, said lead author Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco.
“Everybody benefits to some extent,” she said. “Everybody has slightly lower blood pressure when they reduce salt.”
“Having diabetes puts you at greater risk for high blood pressure. High levels of salt (sodium) in your diet can further increase that risk. So your doctor or dietitian may ask you to limit or avoid high-salt foods”
“If you have cirrhosis, you may need to reduce your sodium intake by eating less salt. You’ll feel better and lower your risk of fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites) and legs (edema) and other complications by following the suggestions in this Actionset. You may also want to visit with a nutritionist (registered dietitian) to help you get started or find more ways to cut down on salt and eat a healthful diet.”
“We have reviewed the role of salt intake in kidney diseases, particularly in relation to renal hemodynamics, renal excretion of proteins, renal morphological changes and progression of chronic renal failure. High salt intake may have detrimental effects on glomerular hemodynamics, inducing hyperfiltration and increasing the filtration fraction and glomerular pressure. This may be particularly important in elderly, obese, diabetic or black patients, who have a high prevalence of salt-sensitivity. Changes in salt intake may influence urinary excretion of proteins in patients with essential hypertension, or diabetic and non diabetic nephropathies. Moreover, high sodium intake may blunt the antiproteinuric effect of various drugs, including angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and calcium antagonists. Experimental studies show a direct tissue effect of salt on the kidney, independent of its ability to increase blood pressure, inducing hypertrophy, fibrosis and a decrease in glomerular basement membrane anionic sites. However, no firm conclusion can be drawn about the relationship between salt consumption and progression of chronic renal failure, because most information comes from conflicting, small, retrospective, observational studies. In conclusion, it would appear that restriction of sodium intake is an important preventive and therapeutic measure in patients with chronic renal diseases of various origin, or at risk of renal damage, such as hypertensive or diabetic patients.”
Puffiness and under-eye bags: Why they occur and what you can do
The problems with eye bags usually start small. You may notice a barely visible “pillow” of puffiness just below the lower lid. If you leave it untreated, it can billow out further. Then, over time, it gives way to a full-blown bag.
But how and why does the puffiness start? One cause, experts say, is the natural aging process. “There is a certain amount of fat naturally in the under-eye area,” Antell says. “It’s held in place by ligaments. As you age, the ligaments get weaker, allowing the fat to push forward, forming that little puffy pillow under your eye.”
As time goes on, the puff gets bigger, he says. Then skin loses elasticity, allowing the formation of those loose wads of skin we call “bags.” How soon that happens, however, depends a lot on how many bags Mom and Dad had — and when their problems began.
“A lot of it has to do with heredity,” Marmur said. “It can be a structural, anatomic, genetic issue that simply causes some people to develop this problem sooner than others.”
But it’s not just heredity. Lifestyle factors matter too. Do you consistently cheat yourself of sleep? Do you eat a lot of salty food snacks and retain a lot of water? Are you getting enough exercise? Marmur tells WebMD all these things can cause bags to form a lot sooner.
Apply co coconut oil to body 15 minutes before bath daily.
Apply turmeric powder to body before bath.
Shun beauty creams, lotions and skin care products.
Include coconut in food daily.
“Dry skin is extremely common,” says Barney Kenet, MD, a dermatologist from New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center. “There are probably close to 100 million dried out, itchy people in this country right now.” And if the itching weren’t bad enough, a dry skin problem can be more than just a superficial issue, experts say.
Your intact, healthy skin is your body’s primary defense against infection,” says Claude Burton MD, professor of dermatology at Duke University School of Medicine. If you let your skin get dried out and cracked, you could be giving all sorts of nasty bacteria a way in. That can lead to more serious problems.
There are lots of good reasons to do something about your dry, itchy skin — your looks, your health, and your sanity. So it’s time to put down the back scratcher and really figure out what’s really causing your dry skin problem.
For many, dry skin is not a sign of a skin condition or disease, but is simply caused by harsh soaps, itchy clothing, misusing moisturizer, and long, hot showers. But the medications you take — and even medical conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, and malnutrition — can also cause severe dry skin. Read on to understand how and why these problems dry out your skin.
Let’s start with some skin basics. Normal, healthy skin is coated in a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. They keep in moisture, leaving the skin soft and supple.
What causes dry skin — or xerosis, as it’s known medically? Usually, something in the environment — or something you’re doing to your skin — is stripping away these fatty oils, leaving your skin unprotected. Less often, the cause is internal; a health condition or genetic predisposition is making your skin dry out.
While patches of dry, itchy skin can appear anywhere, it’s most common on the arms, hands, lower legs, and abdomen. Dry skin is often felt more than it’s seen, but on some people it can be noticeable and embarrassing. For many African-Americans, dry skin is a special concern, since the flakes of skin can look gray, or “ashy,” says Vesna Petronic-Rosic, MD, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic at the University of Chicago Medical School.
If untreated, dry skin can sometimes lead to dermatitis — inflammation of the skin — swelling, and infection. The good news is that just as most causes of dry skin are external, most cures for dry skin are external. With careful dry skin care, you can usually solve the problem.
f you’ve been contending with dry skin, you’ve probably already tried a moisturizer — if not dozens. But while moisturizers are a crucial part of dry skin care, experts say that we don’t always use them very well.
The biggest mistake we make is applying moisturizer on dry skin, when it’s least likely to help. “You have to put on moisturizer when your skin is still damp,” says Kenet, author of How to Wash Your Face. “That way, the moisturizer is trapping the moisture still on your skin.” Your skin shouldn’t be sopping wet — just pat yourself dry with a towel and put it on. Let it soak in for a few minutes, and then towel off the excess, Kenet says.
You’ve also got to get the right type of moisturizer. Experts recommend that people with dry skin get mild moisturizers that have no perfumes or alcohols. Often, the cheaper stuff you can get at the drugstore is better than the high-end products, Kenet says. The moisturizer must also be thick and greasy in order to seal in the moisture needed for good dry skin care.
Petronic-Rosic has a simple moisturizer test. “Put some of your lotion in the palm of your hand and flip your hand over,” she tells WebMD. “If it runs or drips, it’s not thick enough for dry skin.
“Dry air is probably the most common cause of dry skin, especially during the winter,” says Kenet, “It draws the moisture right out of the skin.” Dry skin during winter even gets its own name: winter itch.
While cold, harsh weather does dry your skin, another big problem in the winter lies indoors — the dry heat churned out by your furnace. (During the summer, air conditioning can have a similar effect.) To counteract the dry heat, start with a moisturizer. Turning down the thermostat a bit in the winter can also help, Kenet says.
Other dry skin care tips include using a humidifier in your bedroom, and bundling up — with hats, scarves and gloves, when you’re outside. Petronic-Rosic recommends that people wear socks that go high up their shins during the winter. “Cold air can actually get under the pant leg and dry out the skin on the legs,” she tells WebMD. “I see it all the time, but it’s the sort of thing people don’t think about.”
Dry Skin Problem: Long, Hot Showers & Baths
Prolonged exposure to water — especially hot water — can wash away the natural oils that protect your skin. If you get out of the bath or shower and your skin feels tight, it’s dried out.
So what should you do? First, choose showers over baths. But that’s not all. If you’re accustomed to waking up in the morning with a long, languid shower, dermatologists have some brutal advice: limit showers to a few minutes and skip the hot water.
“The water doesn’t have to be cold,” says Kenet. “But it should be lukewarm rather than hot.” Kenet also recommends angling the shower head away from you while you shave or soap up. It’s another way of reducing the time your skin is being pounded by the water.
Afterward, pat your body dry with a towel — rather than vigorously rubbing it — and put on a moisturizer right away.
Dry Skin Problem: Soap
“One of the biggest problems people have with dry skin stems from their soap,” says Burton. Soap can quickly strip away your skin’s protective oils, and we tend to use way too much of it.
“The average person who goes to school or work just doesn’t get very dirty during the day,” says Petronic-Rosic. “But [in the shower] many people scrub at their skin like it’s the bottom of their shoes.” Unless you’re a child or a ditch digger, the only parts of the body that need any soap or cleanser at all are the face, hands, feet, groin and underarms. The rest of the body can usually just be rinsed off with water.
While our doctors — and our mothers — always told us to wash our hands frequently, that can also lead to trouble. Ironically, while done in the quest to rid ourselves of germs, excessive hand washing can dry out the skin and cause it to crack and bleed, making infection much more likely.
Many of us choose unwisely when we’re in the soap aisle of the supermarket. We go for harsh soaps, such as deodorant or antibacterial soaps, that generate lots of lather and leave us feeling squeaky clean. “The bubbling and lathering from soap removes the oils from the surface of the skin and dries it out,” says Petronic-Rosic.
For dry skin care, look for milder, “fragrance-free” soaps. That’s not the same as “unscented,” which may still have perfumes, Kenet says. For many people with dry skin, the best choice is a mild skin cleanser rather than soap, experts say.
Whatever you do, don’t use any harsh implements to wash yourself. “People will get these incredibly abrasive sponges and brushes,” says Burton. “Sanding your skin is not a good idea.” It can strip away that thin layer of natural oils that keeps our skin moist and healthy.
Dry Skin Problem: Itchy Clothing
Kenet says that many people obstinately wear clothing that they find itchy. But no matter how much you might love the look of a sweater, it’s not worth it if it’s uncomfortable. “If a sweater is itchy when you try it on, it’s never going to get any less itchy,” Kenet says.
In fact, it might get more itchy. Dry skin is especially sensitive to contact irritants, so continually exposing your skin to uncomfortable clothing could make your skin drier and itchier, Petronic-Rosic says.
Go with clothes that feel comfortable the first time you put them on. “Instead of wool, choose cashmere if you can afford it,” says Kenet. “But cotton is just fine.” Make sure your clothing isn’t too tight either, since chafing can also cause and irritate dry skin. And remember, if your skin feels irritated, use detergents without perfumes or dyes.
Dry Skin Problem: Medications and Drugs
A number of medicines have the side effect of drying out the skin. They include drugs for
High blood pressure, like diuretics
Acne and other skin conditions, like retinoids
If you notice the onset of a dry skin problem after starting a medication, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to help by changing the dose or switching the medication.
Dry Skin Problem: Medical Conditions
Usually, dry skin is caused by external factors. But sometimes, it can be a sign of a something going on internally, whether it’s a natural physiologic change or an illness.
For instance, dry skin often develops when people get older, especially in women. “Changes in hormone levels can cause dry skin as we age,” says Petronic-Rosic. As many as 75% of people over 64 have dry skin. Other people, regardless of age, are simply genetically prone to dry skin.
A number of medical conditions can result in dry skin. Some of the more common of these medical causes are:
Skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis. While they usually need direct treatment, careful use of moisturizers often helps.
Diabetes. Fluctuations in glucose levels can lead to dehydration, and that dries the skin out. Given that diabetes can also slow healing and increase the risk of infections, it’s especially important for people with this condition to keep their skin healthy.
Hypothyroidism. Low levels of thyroid hormone can reduce the amount of oil produced by your skin. As a result, skin becomes dry and rough and moisturizer is unlikely to help. Hypothyroidism is usually accompanied by other symptoms, like fatigue and weight gain, Kenet says.
Malnutrition. Not getting the nutrients you need can leave your skin dried out. One possible cause is an eating disorder.
Other diseases, both minor and serious, can also cause dry skin problems. The best way to treat these cases of dry skin depends on the illness. Sometimes, getting medication for the underlying condition directly will resolve the dry skin. But in other cases, you might still need to follow some of the basic dry skin care tips outlined above. Ask your doctor for advice.
While dry skin can be a sign of these more serious health conditions, it’s usually nothing more than run-of-the-mill dry skin — regardless of how horrible it feels.
“I see a lot of people who are in so much discomfort from their dry skin that they think that they must be really sick,” says Kenet. “But they’re not, and it’s actually so easy to help them.”
So if your dry skin problem is making you miserable, it’s time to talk to a doctor. He or she can help you identify the causes and get you the treatment you need. Doctors can recommend medicine if you need it, which could include antihistamines for itchiness or prescription creams, including steroids.
“If you’ve been struggling with dry skin, and you’ve tried various things and none of them work, don’t hesitate to see a doctor,” says Petronic-Rosic. “There’s just no reason to suffer when we can help in so many ways.
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