Category: Personal Health & Social Care

What is Venous Reflux, and How is it Caused?

Posted on | by root

 

Venous reflux is a condition in which blood flow reverses direction in the veins, causing symptoms such as pain, inflammation, and swelling. While the exact cause of venous reflux is not known, it is thought to be related to valves within the veins that become damaged or dysfunctional. Venous reflux can often be diagnosed using ultrasound imaging, which can show the direction of blood flow within the veins. Treatment for venous reflux typically involves lifestyle changes and medications to improve blood circulation and reduce symptoms. In some cases, surgery may also be necessary to repair or remove damaged valves within the veins.

Many places, like a good Queens vein doctor can offer the latest and most effective treatments for venous reflux. Treatments for venous reflux, include endovenous laser therapy (EVLT), sclerotherapy, and phlebectomy.

What are the symptoms of venous reflux?

Venous reflux is a condition in which blood flow reverses direction in the veins and causes pooling. This can lead to a number of symptoms, including edema (swelling), leg cramps, pain that gets worse when standing, itchy legs, throbbing or aching sensations, weak legs, varicose veins, reticular veins, leg ulcers, changes in skin color, thickened skin, and tightness in the calves.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. With proper care, venous reflux can be managed and its symptoms controlled.

What causes venous reflux?

Venous reflux can happen when valves or veins are damaged, when blood clots block circulation, or in the case of certain blood disorders. In many cases, venous reflux is the result of an injury. When veins are damaged, they may not be able to close properly, which allows blood to flow backward. Over time, this can lead to a build-up of pressure in the veins and damage to the valves. If left untreated, venous reflux can cause pain, swelling, and eventually ulcers. However, with proper treatment, most people with this condition are able to manage their symptoms and live relatively normal lives.

What are the risk factors for venous insufficiency?

There are a number of risk factors for venous insufficiency, including pregnancy, obesity, and a family history of varicose veins. Other risk factors include deep vein thrombosis, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and age.

While venous insufficiency can be a serious condition, it is often treatable with lifestyle changes or medical interventions. If you are concerned that you may be at risk for venous insufficiency, speak with your doctor about ways to prevent or treat the condition.

How is venous reflux testing performed?

Venous reflux testing is used to diagnose a condition in which blood flow in the veins is not working properly. The test involves checking pulses at numerous different places in the body and using ultrasound to measure the speed of blood flow. A pressure sensor is also placed on the skin to measure the amount of pressure required to stop the blood flow. The results of the test help to determine whether the veins are functioning properly and whether there is any damage to the veins. The test is usually performed by a doctor or other trained healthcare professional.

How is venous reflux disease treated?

Both sclerotherapy and EVLT are minimally-invasive outpatient procedures that treat venous reflux disease. During sclerotherapy, a sterile solution is injected into the diseased vein, causing it to collapse and gradually fade away. EVLT involves the use of a laser to close off the affected vein. Once the vein is sealed, blood is redirected to healthy veins. Both procedures are effective in treating venous reflux disease and can provide long-term relief from symptoms. However, EVLT may be less likely than sclerotherapy to cause side effects such as bruising and swelling.

In addition, complementary therapies such as compression stockings and elevation can help to reduce symptoms and speed up the healing process. Ultimately, the best treatment for venous reflux disease will be determined by the severity of the condition and the preferences of the patient.


Young woman practicing yoga in the nature

4 Blue Zone Habits You Can Adopt Today For a Healthier, Happier Life

Posted on | by Magdalena Lew
Young woman practicing yoga in the nature

Did you know that there are five locations in the world where people are measurably happier, healthier, and live longer?

Dubbed blue zones, Okinawa (Japan), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Sardinia (Italy), Loma Linda (USA), and Ikaria (Greece) have the highest number of people who live past 100. Research has also shown these people are healthier and happier than the average citizen.

Short of moving to a brand-new country, there are ways you can incorporate blue-zoning into your life to reap the mood and health-boosting benefits of these long-living communities.


What’s different about blue zone locations?

National Geographic Fellow Dan Buetter discovered that these five locations have the longest life expectancy, and there are a lot of factors they have in common. Despite being spread across the globe, these locations all follow similar diets that are heavily plant-based and feature pulses, beans, and nuts.

The residents of these nations are also more physically active and get better rest – two activities that are becoming scarce in the UK. But if you think you need a gym membership to replicate the blue zone life, don’t worry – this exercise comes in the form of healthy daily habits including walking, gardening, farming, and chores.

Blue zoners tend to have a strong purpose in life, which has in part been attributed to the spirituality and religious roots of these locations, as well as their deep connections with friends, family, and their communities.

Now, we’ll cover some of the ways you can incorporate the blue zone lifestyle into your own life.


Find tranquillity in your home

Our homes are supposed to be restful environments, but they don’t always end up that way. Chores, family responsibilities and even work can impact our ability to rest and recharge at home. Creating a homely space where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life can help you to reset.

Spirituality and looking after your mental well-being are core to the blue zone lifestyle, so having a safe haven in your home where you can practice mindfulness and switch off is important. This could be a spare room, your bedroom, or even a little nook in your living or dining room that is designated for recuperation.

Making the time and space for meditation has been linked to improved sleep, which is another feature of blue zone living. So, curl up in your cosy spot, tea in your favourite floral mug in hand, and let your mind relax.


Introduce your diet to more variety

A diet filled with fish, fruits and vegetables, beans, pulses, and nuts is core to the blue zone way of life. While the meals of an Ikaria resident won’t be exactly the same as Okinawa, the same building blocks are there. Blue zoners limit red meat and processed foods, opting for fresh harvests and leaner cuts of meat.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire diet to make it more blue zone – and we’d encourage you to add to it rather than taking away from it. Instead of trying to cut out entire food groups, why not add more variety to your dinner plate? Adding additional vegetables to your meals and snacking on nuts is a great way to incorporate these nutrient-dense foods. Then you can look at swapping red meats for seafood or poultry to make your meals even more nutritious.


Get your steps in

Blue zoners aren’t gym bunnies, but they do get a lot of exercise. That’s because physical activity is built into their everyday habits. Whether they go on walks in their beautiful surroundings daily, own a farm that they tend to, or keep on top of their chores, they’re active groups of people.

Walking is a big part of life in these areas, and because the locations feature beautifully rolling hills and breathtaking mountain scenes, they’re naturally going to work inhabitants’ bodies harder, so people are reaping the health rewards. Walking more can increase cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and lung capacity, as well as reduce symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression, so it’s definitely worth fitting more steps into your day.

If you’re constantly busy, you could choose to walk to the local shops instead of driving, or add more walking on your way to work if you use public transport – try jumping off a couple of stops early. Don’t forget that all your chores add up too – even pottering around hoovering will contribute to keeping you healthy.


Get into gardening

Gardening is central to many blue zone communities and is another great way to make sure we’re building physical activity into our everyday habits. But there are plenty of other benefits to it. Gardening is great for our mental health for a number of reasons. Immersing ourselves in nature is one of the most powerful ways to boost mental well-being because it can “rest and recharge our brains”, according to Professor Alistair Griffiths.

Cultivating your crops of flowers, fruits, and vegetables gives your mind something to focus on, meaning there’s less mental space for negative thoughts and feelings. What’s more, as you see the literal fruits of your labour grow and develop, you’ll get a self-esteem boost. It’s rewarding to see your hard work flourish into something beautiful (and sometimes edible!).

Our lives are hectic, and that can sometimes leave us feeling like we don’t have the time to practise healthy habits. But by taking a leaf out of blue zoners’ books and building health into our everyday activities, we can boost our mental and physical well-being. Will you be adopting these blue zone habits?

Mens Health

Genital Lumps and Bumps: When to Seek Medical Attention

Posted on | by Akeela Zahair
Mens Health

From time to time, it’s common to develop bumps and lumps around your genitals. While most of them shouldn’t be a cause for concern, sometime, these can be signs of a severe health condition, like skin cancer. It’s, therefore, essential to seek a doctor’s advice whenever you have lumps that won’t go away, even with home remedies.

As already stated, most genital lumps and bumps are harmless and might not require treatment, unless they make you uncomfortable. Nevertheless, to give you peace of mind and rule out any threatening health condition, you should seek medical help.

 

Harmless Genital Bumps

Pimples, mollusca, pearly penile papules, cysts, and angiomas are among harmless genital bumps.

  • Pearly Penile Papules

These are small bumps that occur around a penis, with the same color as the skin around the area. The cause of pearly penile papules (PPP) is yet to be discovered. Mainly, these develop around the penis head and don’t itch or produce fluid. Their appearance resembles pimples, and might appear more prominent or disappear as one ages.

While these bumps might be harmless, you might be required to seek treatment if they make you uncomfortable. Luckily, there are several ways to remove pearly penile papules, and the doctor can help you decide on the best removal procedure for your case. PPP can also be removed at home with home remedies. For instance, this site says you can apply toothpaste on the glans to remove PPP.

  • Cysts

Cysts are lumps under the skin that are yellowish in color, resembling pebbles and moving around easily. While cysts might enlarge a little, mostly, they remain the same size and cause no harm. Since cysts are usually a result of blocked hair follicles, they’re harmless and don’t require treatment.

  • Mollusca

Mollusca are virus-caused genital bumps. These bumps are sexually transmitted and have the same color as the skin around the area. Mollusca are usually characterized by tiny bumps that disappear after some time. Nevertheless, in some cases, these bumps might disappear after three years. Although mollusca might not require treatment, it’s advisable to seek the doctor’s advice for a precise diagnosis. The doctor might also prescribe some medication to help the bumps disappear first. Besides, you wouldn’t want genital bumps for three years, would you?

While mollusca might be harmless or less likely to progress to skin cancer, these can indicate unprotected sex. Therefore, it’s vital for anyone with these bumps to visit a doctor to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases or infections, including HIV, chlamydia, hepatitis, HIV, or syphilis. However, besides syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, and hepatitis don’t cause genital bumps or lumps.

Individuals at risk of developing sexually transmitted infections are the ones who have multiple sexual partners and don’t practice safe sex.

  • Angiomas

These bumps are small collections of blood vessels that appear bright red or purplish. These bumps don’t enlarge or breed. Since they’re harmless and don’t interfere with life’s quality, they don’t require treatment.

 

Harmful Bumps

Some bumps and lumps are caused by severe infections that might worsen and affect the quality of your life if left untreated. Such bumps include:

  • Genital Warts

Genital warts are tiny skin-colored bumps. These bumps might go away or multiply. Genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that also contributes to throat cancer in men and cervical cancer in women. Genital warts are contagious.

HPV is the most common infection transmitted through sex. Luckily, there’s an HPV vaccine for boys and girls who haven’t started having sexual relationships. If you think that the lumps on your genitals might be genital warts, seek treatment as soon as possible before developing a serious health condition.

  • Skin Cancer

Skin cancer on one’s genitals starts as a black spot that continues enlarging. While this disease might be rare in teens, it can be possible. Unfortunately, melanoma or skin cancer spots can develop on skin that isn’t exposed to the sun. If you have the following symptoms, seek your doctor’s advice:

  • A spot that’s wavy, uneven, or rigid on the borders
  • If the spot changes color as time passes or is of different color than the skin around
  • If the spot has a diameter that’s larger than a pencil eraser
  • If the spot is elevated over the skin

 

Conclusion

Lumps and bumps on the body might not indicate severe health conditions. However, they must be checked to determine if they’re signs of severe health conditions. Don’t hesitate to visit your trusted physician for accurate diagnosis and the best solutions.

Fever

Fever Detection and Treatment: 5 New Trends and Technologies

Posted on | by Akeela Zahair
Fever

It’s an entirely new world once you step outside your home and expose yourself to different elements. From the air you breathe down to the people around you, everything can affect your health one way or another. It doesn’t help that the elements are often against you, with extreme temperatures working on wearing you down as you move along further.

All these factors contribute to one’s weakening immunity, eventually resulting in sickness. Although it’s trickier to identify the specific reason behind your sickness, sometimes symptoms are visible so they become a cause for concern. Fever is one of the signs you must look out for as it raises the patient’s body temperature, rendering them immobile at times. Before that happens, you must prioritize how to bring temperature down.

 

New Digital Trends to Detect Fever

Before you apply any treatment, you need assurance that what you’re dealing with is an actual fever. After all, misreading one’s temperature can happen, especially if done by depending on touch alone. Therefore, use technology to detect the exact temperature properly.

  • Thermal Cameras

It’s not uncommon for camera systems to be installed in public or private establishments. As long as many people come and go as they please, it’s only natural for security measures to be taken. Because they’re common pieces of technology, experts found a way to utilize the camera’s software to detect those who are feeling feverish by setting up infrared cameras.

If you don’t know yet, infrared is energy that contrasts with visible light. Whereas visible light can be seen, infrared energy is not visible to the naked eye. Regardless, you can still sense the heat coming from infrared, while visible light is only evident once it reaches extremely high temperatures.

Because infrared radiates heat, they’re used to sense the infrared energy (heat) from any object within the vicinity. With this, infrared cameras can easily detect abnormal heat signatures and identify how many there are. However, as this is still a work in progress, there’s no way to differentiate whether or not someone’s fever is a sign of something more severe or if it’s as simple as a common cold.

  • Wearable Detectors

Although stationing infrared camera systems in establishments effectively identifies potential cases, only the authorities would be aware of one’s vitals. So, instead of leaving it up to them, you might want to consider wearing temperature-sensitive technology to monitor yourself. Because not only are you brought up to speed over what’s going on with your body, but you can also take the necessary precautions and separate yourself from the crowd when you’re in public.

Like your own reader, wearable detectors are designed to monitor several health metrics, such as respiratory and pulse rate, activity levels, and even body temperature. These devices are much more thorough than infrared cameras as manufacturers design them to be worn around the user’s wrist or fingers. This proximity to the user makes it easier for the device to track down their metrics.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Health data are considered essential information for every individual. Because they contain your medical information, any data leak can harm you. Fortunately, programmers have designed frameworks to cultivate AI and handle privacy issues. Besides that, AI is employed for detectors to identify those symptoms. Hence, infrared cameras can’t identify symptoms such as difficulty breathing as they only aim to detect abnormal heat signatures.   

 

How to Treat Fever

Now you know how digital trends can detect fever, treating them is the next step.

  • The Internet Of Things

It’s impossible to keep up with anything anymore without the internet. The same applies to medical care. Without the internet, any data received by infrared cameras or wearable devices will only be stored inside them instead of getting sent out to the officials. With the power of the internet, relaying information to help patients treat their fever and other symptoms has become easier.

  • Gene Editing

Humanity owes a lot to technological advancements. Previously, editing one’s genetic information seemed an extremely far-fetched idea. Yet modern technology has made it possible for experts to start creating medications that accommodate patients’ needs. Thus, improving the chances of their effectiveness and avoiding allergic reactions from happening.

 

Takeaway

Even the slightest rise in your body temperature should be worrying enough because sometimes, getting a fever is a prerequisite to another disease. Fortunately, with the help of technology, multiple options are now available to help the public detect any abnormalities in their temperature and handle any treatment.

Doctor Looking at Patients Hair Through Microscope

Happy Hair at Juvida Clinics

Posted on | by Magdalena Lew

The world of hair is one that many people approach with no small amount of caution, whether it be considering a new trim, thinking about a new colour, or making a drastic change to its length. Taking care of your hair can give a person no small amount of confidence, and it is this confidence that people take with them into all manner of life experiences. However, when a person loses their hair, that does not mean that the confidence has to go altogether. Instead, hope endures in the form of Juvida Clinics. Discover why we awarded this outstanding clinic the title of Most Trusted Hair Transplant Clinic of 2020, the UK, last year.

Hair is something that many people place a great amount of emphasis on, as it can seriously affect an individual’s confidence and feelings about themselves. For those that lose their hair, whatever the circumstances surrounding that, there can sometimes come feelings of inadequacy or a distinct lack of self-confidence. It is at times like this the team at Juvida Clinics can help restore some of that lost confidence, providing life-changing hair transplants that result in quality looks and ultimate comfort. The team at Juvida Clinics is wholly dedicated and committed to ensuring that every patient that walks into the clinic is able to receive nothing but the best in terms of natural-looking results that are achieved using the very latest innovations in hair transplant treatment. Being able to look youthful, vibrant, and full of life is exactly what the team strives for, and the clients can have their hairline and confidence restored at the same time.

The firm’s name, “Juvida”, is an amalgamation of words that represent what it stands for, with “Juve” acting a prefix to youthfulness, and “Vida” meaning life. This combination of youthfulness and life is what the clinic seeks to give to every client that walks through its doors. Restoring a hairline is about more than just giving someone back their hair; it is about creating a sense of confidence that has possibly been lost with the loss of hair. Juvida Clinics understands that a lack of confidence may also stop people from seeking out the services of the clinic itself. That is why the staff team takes great care and enormous pride in their ability to be caring, professional, and deliver a stress-free service at all times. Ensuring that a patient feels calm enough to seek out professional help regarding their hair loss is imperative to Juvida Clinics, and it has certainly achieved that today.

At Juvida Clinics, the facility is a purpose-built clinic that boasts a spa-like feeling for those that are seeking a peaceful and tranquil environment in which to consider their various hair-related choices. The serenity of the facility means that every client feels at ease and comfortable throughout the duration of their consultation, treatment, and aftercare plan. All of the staff members also drive themselves to succeed for their clients. Everything is done for the clients. The hair transplant surgeons themselves are driven by a passion to maintain youthfulness, as per the name of the firm itself. Surgeons always work a key aim of restoring a hairline and, by default, a youthful appearance, and confidence that clients once had.

One of the ways that Juvida Clinics ensures that the client feels at ease from the get-go is by offering a free consultation with its knowledgeable team. This no-obligation and totally free consultation represents the perfect opportunity for prospective clients to ask those burning questions and find an ideal treatment that works for them. Hair transplant treatments take many forms and can serve many purposes, and finding the ideal treatment is absolutely imperative. This allows the client to do that before jumping into any decisions about what to do with their hair following a treatment. With treatments that have been meticulously designed to suit all manner of budgets and conditions, Juvida Clinics has quickly carved out a reputation for being the instant choice for many clients, including celebrities.

Focusing on several key areas of service, the team at Juvida Clinics specialises in hair loss treatments. What makes the clinic unique to the myriad of others on the market is its ability to treat patients over a long treatment time, actively trying to prevent hair loss on a more permanent basis than its competitors. Rather than treat problems as they arise, the clinic instead seeks to solve the problems on a long-term basis and give clients their confidence and hairline back for good. Juvida Clinics always strives to do what is best for client. Simple, yet effective. It is this philosophy which has seen the firm go from success to success, delivering outstanding service to every client that seeks it.

There are a number of treatments that Juvida Clinics offers, and each one offers something different to each patient. When people first begin to look into the possibility of hair transplant surgery, one of the first and most prominent treatments they discover is that of Follicular Unit Extraction, or FUE. Though it may initially appear as quite complex and intimidating, FUE is actually neither of those things and has no reason for the patient to feel anxious. Many individuals around the world have undergone this treatment with great success, and Juvida Clinics can ensure that same success for its patients. FUE is the most common advanced hair transplant technique, and involves the doctor administering a local anaesthetic prior to creating a circular incision around a follicular unit in the donor area. The hair unit is then removed from the skin using forceps, before being transplanted to the area that requires extra growth. Small holes are created in the recipient areas, and the follicle units are then reinserted.

Post-operative hair growth will occur for up to twelve months after the surgery has been completed, and Juvida Clinics will do everything it possibly can to ensure that every FUE hair transplant results in a natural finish that is tailored to the patient’s exact needs. Understandably, going through a surgery and process such as this is not an easy decision to make, and that is why Juvida Clinics addresses all questions, concerns, and queries at its consultation. The patient’s sense of relaxation, comfort, and confidence are of the utmost importance, and the clinic pays great attention to those areas. FUE may be a popular procedure for so many people that has changed their lives, and it could very well do the same for any patient that chooses it through Juvida Clinics.

Another of the key services provided by Juvida Clinics is that of ARTAS hair transplants. ARTAS is a piece of robotic machinery that was developed to perform the FUE procedure with maximum efficiency. The introduction of robotics into this field has revolutionised hair transplantation, for Juvida Clinics is one of a limited number in the UK that can offer robotics-based FUE. What separates ARTAS from regular FUE is that the machine utilises specific algorithms to identity the most suitable follicle units for transplantation, and boasts enough intelligence to choose the number of follicular units for extraction. It is at the very forefront of innovation in machinery and robotics, and Juvida Clinics’ patients can make full use of its fantastic power.

Celebrities have also changed the game, with Kim Kardashian being almost single-handedly responsible for the mainstream introduction of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment, also dubbed the “vampire” treatment. Now, the treatment has become increasingly popular as a method of treating hair thinning and loss, despite being originally introduced as a way of achieving a youthful skin complexion. Today, PRP Treatment can be used as an effective treatment for those in the early stages of hair loss. It can potentially encourage hair regrowth, resulting in visibly thicker-looking hair. There are no allergy risks, and the blood used in the treatment is taken from the patient’s own veins. Rather than be used as a method of regrowing hair, the PRP Treatment is used best on hair that are thinning, rather than those which have already been lost.

How exactly does the treatment work though? During the treatment, trained professionals at Juvida Clinics take blood from the patient and process it in a machine. The processed blood is then injected back into the patient, at the site of the scalp hair loss. What happens during the machine process is that the machine removes the platelet-rich plasma from red blood cells, which is believed to stimulate new cells. Taking less than forty minutes in its entirety, the full process is considered to be extremely safe and non-invasive. In order to see good results from this PRP Treatment, it is usually recommended that a patient has eight individual sessions of this treatment. However, this can vary and is dependant on the extent of hair loss and the condition of the affected area.

Finally, another key procedure that Juvida Clinics can provide is that of Semi-Permanent Scalp Micropigmentation. This is a treatment that is open to almost everyone, including those that have already had a hair transplant and want to further densify their look, or those that have been already deemed ineligible for a hair transplant. Scalp micro-pigmentation is the next best option for patients that fall into these two categories. In practice, it is a non-surgical procedure that can improve the appearance of hair loss. Instead of transplanting hair and bringing it back, the area is simply disguised to look like hair through tattooing pigments to the dermal layer on the skin in order to mimic the appearance of follicles. This process is also perfect for those looking to cover up scars and other imperfections around the hairline.

When dealing with the world of hair loss and hair treatment, it pays to have access to the best possible technologies, and that is exactly what Juvida Clinics has done. It is home to the world’s only robotic hair transplant system, called “ARTAS”, and the firm is soon looking to be in a position where it can purchase the NEOGRAFT, a highly advanced piece of machinery that would make Juvida Clinics the only clinic in Europe to have such machinery at its disposal. The clinic has actually spent more than one and a half million on the latest technologies, ensuring that every patient has access to nothing but the best in hair loss and haircare treatment. Technology is one thing, but having the knowledge and expertise to apply that technology in the right ways is another thing entirely.

Results are an important part of what Juvida Clinics has to offer to its clients. In order to guarantee that the results delivered are of the highest possible standard, the clinic reviews its clients at three, six, nine, and twelve months after their initial treatment date. If there are obvious gaps, or something fails to meet the exceptional standards that the clinic sets for itself, then the client is able to have those gaps filled in without being charged anything extra. There are no hidden fees or surprising charges that can leave a client with a sour taste in their mouth. Instead, Juvida Clinic guarantees results and the peace of mind that goes with having a beautiful head of hair.

Juvida Clinics has also been in a position where it is able to take enormous pride in the awards and industry recognition that it has achieved over the years. Though the clinic’s primary aim is, and always will be, the pursuit of incredible result for its clients, the awards and industry recognition serve to demonstrate that it is doing everything right and achieving the best possible results for its clients. Just recently, in 2019, the clinic received two awards which have only ever been granted to a small number of clinics across the entirety of the world. Last year, Global Health & Pharma Magazine awarded the clinic the title of The UK’s Most Trusted Hair Transplant Clinic 2020, and the successes just continue to come for the clinic and its staff.

Outside of the United States, Juvida Clinics is the only clinic in the world to have earned the ARTAS Platinum Status, and it is also an ARTAS Clinical Centre of Excellence. These awards are a fitting testament to the success of the clinic, and could not be awarded to a more deserving facility. The vast amounts of investment in the latest technology and the personability of the staff have all come together in a culmination of clinical excellence that ensures Juvida Clinics will long remain a staple of the hair loss treatment community and industry. Patients can have every option, and the staff’s willing to go above and beyond in administering the latest results shows with these awards.

Looking to the future, Juvida Clinics is currently undergoing a rebranding of sorts; a transplant, if you will. No doubt that will soon come to fruition and clients can look forward to a brand new, exciting future for the clinic. Juvida Clinics is also in the process of opening its own academy, where it will train other doctors in the art of hair transplants. With high-profile success cases inspiring more people than ever before to consider hair transplants, this academy will empower and enable doctors to have more open and honest discussions with patients about what their hair transplant needs may be.

Ultimately, Juvida Clinics is one of the finest hair loss treatment clinics not just in the United Kingdom, but in the world. Its exclusivity is matched only by the excellence it has achieved over the last several years. By working with some of the latest advancements and the most innovative techniques, Juvida Clinics continues to stand itself apart from the competition and deliver hair loss treatment services that are second to none. It is an outstanding facility, and is fully deserving of this latest success from Global Health and Pharma Magazine.

For business enquiries, contact Juvida Clinics on their website – https://juvidaclinics.com/

Dermatologists Treating a Patients Face

Worldwide Skincare Excellence

Posted on | by Magdalena Lew

Professor Firas Al-Niaimi, the ‘Consultant Dermatologist of the Year’ for 2022, has once again claimed the title for his expert work in laser treatment and dermatology. Having made himself a front-runner in all things skincare, his Harley Street clinic serves clients with diligence and efficiency, providing safe, well-researched, and effective treatments in everything from laser scar reduction to skin rejuvenation technology. With his work having been included in a vast number of journals, papers, and educational documents, his efforts as a practitioner and tutor have secured him his place as a cornerstone of modern dermatology.

As a renowned professor of dermatology and laser treatments, Professor Firas Al-Niaimi has been trained in the top institutions for his craft, both in the UK and USA. With a pedigree for excellence that he has built up over years of effort, his world-renowned and award-winning research has secured his place in over 220 scientific journals, 10 chapters across various books, 400 lecture spots in more than 55 different countries, and the publication of his own book. Professor Firas Al-Niaimi, thanks to the reputation he has built up over the course of this research, has become one of the UK’s most prolific and well published dermatologists as a result, one with widely renowned international standing.

Additionally, he has accumulated 20 years of medical experience with some of the UK’s top hospitals, including the world-renowned St. John’s Institute of Dermatology at St. Thomas’ hospital; here, he completed a laser and Mohs surgical fellowship before continuing to work as a one of their top consultants. Between this and his advanced training in the USA, he has cultivated a close following both of clients and fellow professionals who seek to learn from him. Recently, the accreditation he has received from the Global Excellence Award for the Consultant Dermatologist of the Year in 2019 for London has emboldened the good grace he consistently receives from the international community, allowing clients to get an idea of the trust afforded to him.

Presently, in addition to his private practice, he is involved in academic research and international teaching in order to train the next generation of doctors, having been awarded the above title for his proven abilities in a vast range of specific specialties that his students benefit from training in. Of course, the direct result of this training is that the end patient can receive these treatments. He wishes to ensure that as many people as possible have access to expert dermatology solutions that are both well researched and effective, hoping to shape the future of his industry by giving budding new professionals all the correct tools to be able to succeed.

Updating his own teaching as the ever-learning sector of laser treatments and skincare changes around him, his Harley Street practice is a place of consistent growth and development; nominally, its professionals promise to never rest on their laurels. Instead, they continuously strive to become better at their own skills and proficiencies, creating an environment in which they remain highly competitive and incorporate Professor Firas Al-Niaimi’s own dedication to learning, teaching, and research into their work.

With the Harley Street practice’s laser dermatology in particular, Professor Firas Al-Niaimi promises that clients will be able to benefit from the best innovations available. Bettering this as new and bold movements happen across dermatology as a research sector, it presently boasts laser treatments that can resurface, rejuvenate, and treat damaged skin, including reducing the appearance of scar tissue and pigmentation problems. Each of these can be highly beneficial for the skin health of a patient, and are easy, safe, and well-developed. No matter the individual difficulties faced by each patient, Professor Firas Al-Niaimi promises that he will be able to proffer a treatment that will be suitable for them, depending on the current condition of the skin and the desired look the client wishes to achieve.

In short, he and his staff consider every little detail when working with a client on their skin treatment. Nominally, Professor Firas Al-Niaimi turns skincare into the highly tailored and personal experience that it should be, taking it back to its roots and showing each client how one size cannot fit all, explaining how the skin as an organ develops differently depending on certain factors, and reacts differently to certain stressors. He will also take a client through the recovery times associated with certain treatments. Each of these efforts not only allows a client to approach their skincare with confidence, but allows them to plan around the treatment, with Professor Firas Al-Niaimi working alongside them to make it feasible according to their schedule and lifestyle.

For example, laser resurfacing can be used to tackle and rejuvenate this skin by way of thermal energy technology being blasted at the skin, tackling the deeper, more damaged layers rather than the initial layer of skin. By doing this, it triggers the restorative process of the skin cells in order to increase the production of elastin and collagen in the organ tissue, leaving the skin looking brighter, younger, fuller, and fresher, allowing it to heal faster than would have been possible prior to treatment. Whether a client is looking to renew and rejuvenate sun-damaged skin, rid themselves of spots or scars, or heal other damage from childhood, operations, cuts, or harsh lightening creams, Professor Firas Al-Niaimi promises that he and his staff will be able to help. Consequentially, as the industry grows and develops further, he is looking forward to seeing just how he can help the new clients it will be welcoming aboard in the new year, excited to see how the quickly changing future will evolve next.

For business enquiries, contact Firas Al-Niaimi from Professor Firas Al-Niaimi on their website – drfirasalniaimi.co.uk

Dr Firas al-Niaimi
Dr Firas al-Niaimi
Treatment Chair in a Aesthetic Clinic

Breaking Down the Barrier Between Eastern and Western Aesthetic Treatments

Posted on | by Magdalena Lew

Peonia Medical, the company that has become widely known as ‘Nottingham’s Leading Doctor-Led Aesthetic Clinic’ for 2022, also has clinics in Leicester and London. Additionally, with another clinic on the way – this one to focus on the training and teaching of UK aesthetic professionals in treatments popular amongst East Asian nations – it has been thrust to pre-eminence in its industry in the eyes of both clients and peers. Working with diligence and rigour, its dedication to science, innovation, and customer service has secured it a place at the head of the pack in its sector.

A leader in advanced aesthetics and skin treatments, Peonia Medical has clinics across the UK, from Nottingham to Leicester and even London. Nominally, it was created by and is still run by Dr Tracy Xu, one of the foremost professionals in her field, who has developed it into a great example of modern aesthetic medicine. Combining oriental aesthetic practices and complete compliance with UK medical and treatment law, it offers wrinkle-reduction injections, dermal filler face contouring, non-surgical rhinoplasty, precision tear-through correction, thread-lifting, medical-grade skin treatments, and wellness treatments from intravenous therapies to weight management.

Fundamentally, during offering each of these services to its clientele, it takes great pains to show its commitment to the values and principles that Dr Tracy Xu has ensured make up the beating heart of the clinics and the team of professionals that run each of them. To boil it down to a singular phrase, these values could be summed up in the want to ‘create a natural, healthy, and balanced look for everyone’. It does this – with the help of the extraordinary team it has assembled – in a manner that allows it to tailor its services to each client, educating them on the nitty gritty of its treatments in order to ensure that they can give fully informed consent before it proceeds.

Similarly, as it has its clients’ health and wellbeing in mind as the foremost priority, it will never go ahead with a procedure if it is unsafe to do so, or if said procedure doesn’t fit its client’s goals. It works these goals out by way of consultation, sitting down with its client in a no-pressure, no-obligation environment that allows them to get all necessary information and have their concerns assuaged. Consequentially, it has developed a loyal client base of people who agree with its aesthetic ethos and who use Peonia Medical as their one-stop-shop for aesthetic medical procedures, all of whom have left glowing reviews or go on to give positive word of mouth referrals to family, friends, and peers.

It is thanks to this that Peonia Medical’s client base is forever growing, as more people find out about it through how many people speak to the excellence of its services. With principles that have stayed constant since the practice was established, Peonia Medical serves a diverse group of people and with a diverse array of treatments, aware that medical aesthetics is not one-size-fits-all and happy to guide a client through what certain solutions may entail. Many of its clients are East Asian people living in the UK, but it has gained the trust of a wide variety of people from all different walks of life, backgrounds, and career paths, with its offerings of non-invasive skincare to intensive surgery meaning it has something for everyone.

With a healthy online digital footprint that ensures it remains a foremost voice in the digital epoch that has secured itself even further as a result of the pandemic, it has carved out its niche across several platforms. This includes WeChat, Facebook, Instagram, and through email subscription. Moreover, 10% of its clients come through partnering training companies, 10% from its website and these other platforms, and the rest through the above word of mouth referrals. Critically, having made itself such a front-runner in its industry and garnered such trust in the wider market segment, Dr Tracy Xu’s efforts have ensured that she and her team stand out from the crowd with their continued insights and dedication to progressing the sector further.

With a commitment to client wellbeing, it continually demonstrates an in-depth understanding of East Asian aesthetic medical treatments, too. This has been made possible by Dr Tracy Xu herself, as she trained in China, and thus has a breadth of knowledge regarding the medical procedures popularised in East Asian countries and how to apply them so that she can offer them in her UK clinics. Most aesthetic practitioners in the UK, regardless of background, have training in UK based aesthetic treatments only.

Therefore, Peonia Medical has ensured that it can retain pre-eminence in its industry in the nation by holding the title of one of the only – and certainly one of the best – treatment providers when it comes to treatments developed in East Asia. Thus, a big part of the reason it has been able to develop such a large client base is because it provides treatments that so many of its clients simply struggle to find elsewhere, giving them a safe, contemporary, and rigorous solution to aesthetic skincare solutions.

Certified in Asia and here in the UK, Dr Tracy Xu’s training has been thorough and systematic, and she has used the knowledge she earned during her training to further educate her staff. Due to this, the team she has built around herself is each highly knowledgeable and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the industry, made possible due to Dr Tracy Xu’s experience with systemic specialty-based training that go above and beyond the usual one-day courses in the UK proper. Moreover, with each staff member taking on a myriad of pivoting roles within the company, it ensures that everyone within its ranks is excited to face the challenges of the workday and can take on any number of roles within the company.

Each staff member is proficient in being the friendly first point of patient contact, the positive showcase window of its clinical work, the source of patient referral, and the epicentre of what drives expert patient care; due to this, it looks for honest, hardworking people who will fit into this culture of excellence. Additionally, it holds regular meetings and group brainstorming sessions to ensure everyone’s ideas are heard. Therefore, it has been able to rally this outstanding team around itself in order to survive the pandemic by implementing the correct PPE and doing regular webinars whilst treatments were on hold, allowing it to hit the ground running once again when it re-opened. In 2022, it will be continuing to power on through with its work, launching a new line of cosmetic surgery services to its patients, educating peers about East Asian aesthetic procedures and continuing to break down the barrier between Western and Eastern aesthetic treatments.

For business enquiries, contact Dr Tracy Xu from Peonia Medical via their website – peoniamedics.co.uk

Dr Tracy Xu Sitting on Chair in the Aesthetic Clinic
Dr Tracy Xu
Menopause Workplace

Menopause In the Workplace

Posted on | by Akeela Zahair
Menopause Workplace

With the conversation around menopause and the workplace becoming a focal point in recent months, workplace discrimination and employment law solicitors Beecham Peacock reveal the current status of employment rights relating to menopause and how these might change in the future.

Key findings:

  • Despite 1 in 10 women in the UK who worked during the menopause leaving jobs as a result of menopausal symptoms, menopause is currently not a protected workplace characteristic in its own right.
  • As recently as May 2022, it was confirmed that there were no plans for menopause to be introduced as a further protected characteristic under the Equality Act, 2010.
  • However, some aspects of menopause may already be protected under the Equality Act, 2010, whilst other Legislation acts also place obligations on employers to ensure those experiencing menopausal symptoms do not suffer a detriment.
  • 8 in 10 UK women employed during menopause say their workplace had no basic support in place.
  • Thankfully, with conversations around menopause and a more open culture in the media and workplaces starting to appear, it is hoped that more support will be available. Several large employers, including NHS England, the Civil Service and the House of Commons, have already signed up to the Menopause Workplace Pledge.
  • Huddersfield Town Football Club recently became the first football club in the UK to achieve “Menopause Friendly Employer” status, whilst larger employers such as HSBC UK, M&S Bank and First Direct have also been accredited.
  • As light continues to be shed on the issue, Tribunals have seen a 44% increase in menopause-related employment tribunals year-on-year in 2021 according to research by the Menopause Experts Group.

 

Where Does Workplace Law Currently Stand on Menopause?

Whilst important discussions have been taking place in recent months around menopause and its impact in the workplace, menopause is currently not a protected characteristic and there are no plans for this to change in the immediate future. It was confirmed as recently as May 2022 in a letter from The Minister for Work and Pensions (Lords) and the Minister for Women, Baroness Stedman-Scott, to the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Caroline Noakes MP, that the Government has no plans to introduce menopause as a further protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

This does not mean that an employee who is impacted by the menopause and its symptoms cannot take action under current UK Law. Protection can be found under the Equality Act 2010 as the menopause and its symptoms may be covered under other protected characteristics such as sex, gender reassignment, age and disability (for example, where the symptoms of the menopause have a substantial and adverse impact on day to day life). However, this is, of course, not as straightforward as recognising menopause as a protected characteristic in its own right.

In addition to the Equality Act, 2010, other Legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and Public Sector Equality Duty also place obligations on employers to ensure those experiencing menopausal symptoms do not suffer a detriment.

 

What Workplace Support Currently Exists?

Historically, there has been little formal workplace support in many UK companies, with the subject almost being seen as taboo. 8 in 10 UK women employed during menopause say their workplace had no basic support in place. This has led to menopause being referred to as the ‘Silent Career Killer’, with 1 in 10 women in the UK who worked during the menopause leaving jobs as a result of menopausal symptoms according to a 2022 Report by the Fawcett Society into Menopause and the Workplace.

An increase in Employment Tribunal claims by 44% from 2020 to 2021 shows that employers have not been getting things right and that employees are beginning to take action where the correct support is not in place.

 

What Circumstances Breach Your Employment Rights?

The symptoms and effects of menopause, including but not limited to fatigue, hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, concentration and memory issues (often referred to as ‘brain fog’) and mood swings, may fall within the definition of a disability under the Equality Act 2010 where they amount to a “physical or mental impairment…[that] has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [their] ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”.

It is generally accepted that long-term means lasting, or likely to recur, for 12 months or longer for the purposes of this definition, meaning that workplaces treating employees less favourably or failing to make reasonable adjustments for those experiencing menopause symptoms could in many cases face a discrimination claim. This may include issues relating to uniform, toilet breaks, time off for medical appointments and increased flexibility in working arrangements.

Those who are treated less favourably or victimised due to their sex, gender reassignment or their age, which can be linked to the menopause, may also have grounds to make discrimination and harassment claims.

 

How Is the Climate Changing When It Comes to Workplace Menopause Support?

Thankfully, the increasing openness to discuss issues surrounding the menopause, both in the media and in workplaces, has led to a number of employers, including HSBC, M & S Bank, First Direct and Huddersfield Town FC being granted ‘Menopause Friendly Employer’ status, whilst Huddersfield Town Football Club recently became the first football club in the UK to achieve “Menopause Friendly Employer” status. Likewise, several large employers, including NHS England, the Civil Service and the House of Commons, have already signed up to the Menopause Workplace Pledge. We are likely to see many more follow suit in the coming weeks and months.

This has led to an increased and more open discussion of menopause and its impact in the workplace. Increasingly employers are introducing a menopause policy and/or training to deal specifically with the symptoms and impact of menopause, rather than including this under existing policies. This tailored approach enables employers to better support employees. Menopause and Wellbeing Champions are also being introduced into some workplaces.

 

Could Menopause Workplace Support Be Formalised Through UK Law?

Although there is presently no legislation that requires employers to have a menopause workplace policy, and no existing workplace laws specifically relating to workers experiencing menopausal symptoms, as the conversation progresses we are seeing positive changes in practice even though there are currently no plans for formal changes to UK law.

At present, those facing workplace issues in this regard can still receive professional advice on their working rights and support specific to their situation, including the option of filing a discrimination claim in many cases.

Work Injuries

Four Common Work-Related Minor Injuries that Often Go Unnoticed and Can Lead to Long-Term Health Issues

Posted on | by Akeela Zahair
Work Injuries

In the workplace, accidents can be quite frequent, and some can result in serious and minor injuries. It has been estimated that 270 million workplace injuries occur across the world each year.

When it comes to Britain, work-related injuries and health issues tend to be on the daily agenda too. Every year, about 1.7 million employees will suffer from some sort of occupational ill health, and 0.4 million will end up picking up non-fatal injuries.

In the event of an accident that has happened due to the employer’s negligence and has had a negative impact on the person’s life, workers can file a work accident claim to receive well-deserved compensation.

That said, it is common for less resounding incidents to go unnoticed. But the truth is, in the long run, they can gradually escalate into a bigger problem, causing extended pain and suffering.

Here, we take a look at habitual, work-related minor injuries and health problems that are often overlooked when, in reality, they shouldn’t be.    

 

1. Slips, trips and fall-induced injuries

Slips and trips are the most recurring cause of injury in the workplace. In fact, they are responsible for more than one-third of all significant injuries and can often lead to further accidents, such as falls from height and into machinery.

Slips and trips are so common because they can easily happen in any environment, from ‘standard’ offices to construction sites. Tendentially, they occur when floors are wet or contaminated due to poor maintenance and housekeeping. As they are a very frequent form of accident, it is easy to brush off the episode if there is no noticeable, immediate consequence.

However, slips, trips, and falls can originate an array of severe injuries and health issues. For instance, they may result in head and brain injuries, cuts, lacerations, soft tissue injuries to the back, and fractures. Some of these injuries may show very feeble symptoms at first. But if ignored and left untreated, they can quickly worsen and have a negative impact on the lives of those affected.

 

2. Whiplash injury

The nature of some jobs may require workers to hit the road on a daily basis. From couriers and florists to dog groomers and street food restauranteurs, there are many occupations where driving is an inescapable part of the job description.

When out and about, especially during rush hours, mishaps can take place at every turn. Even slamming the breaks to avoid colliding with another vehicle or a pedestrian can be harmful. You are likely to suffer an abrupt movement of the head and neck, which may result in whiplash injury. The effects of whiplash can take up to 24 hours to manifest and could be confused for tiredness or a normal headache. However, in some instances, whiplash can become a serious, long-standing condition that causes chronic pain, concentration and memory problems, and inability to sleep soundly.

Susanne McGraw, Head of Personal Injury at Watermans, said: “As part of a team of personal injury lawyers, I support many people who have suffered a whiplash injury when at the wheel of their vehicle. Most of them will recover within days, whereas others have to deal with its effects for weeks or even months.

“My recommendation is to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. This will give you the chance to get the treatment you need and alleviate feelings of discomfort in a timely manner.”

 

3. Noise-induced hearing loss

Work-related hearing problems affect about 14,000 employees in the UK every year. This is usually the result of spending prolonged hours in a loud environment, especially when sounds surpass 85 decibels. For instance, workers who handle electric hand tools or other sound-emitting equipment have a good chance of suffering from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

The problem with NIHL is that it tends to happen and escalate gradually. This means it is difficult to catch before the damage has ultimately been made. It is likely that the sufferer will not even realise that it’s occurring until it is too late. It is important to look out for subtle symptoms such as sensations of ‘fullness’ in the ears and an intermittent or continuous buzzing. If you notice you are struggling to hear people talking a few feet away, you should start asking yourself why, especially if you work in a noisy environment.

To prevent NIHL, make sure you always wear noise-reducing earmuffs. Where possible, it is wise to collaborate with your employer to find methods to both measure and control noise levels.

 

4. Repetitive strain injury

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a common injury that happens when muscles, tendons, and nerves carry out the same action. Manual occupations often require you to perform specific motions repeatedly. This, in turn, can favour physical damage over an extended period of time.

Because the damage is gradual, RSI can go unnoticed for a long time, and it usually affects the hands, wrists, elbows, neck, and shoulders. If not diagnosed early, RSI can deteriorate and become chronic, making the recovery process very challenging. Some of its most prominent causes are constant movements such as typing, poor ergonomic conditions, and not taking regular breaks.

One of the problems with RSI is that its symptoms are easily neglected. At the start, it will only manifest itself through tingling and sensory disturbances in the forearm and hand, which quickly subside as you rest your limbs for a short while. This can wrongfully tempt people to postpone seeking medical advice.

One of the best ways to prevent RSI issues is to assume a straight sitting posture with relaxed arms and shoulders. Not only that, but it’s also to vary your movements as much as possible and avoid repetitive motions.

 

From whiplash and repetitive strain to noise and slip-induced injuries, there are many issues that can emerge as a result of work accidents and habitual job duties. If you start experiencing mild symptoms that you cannot explain, don’t put up with it – make sure to see your doctor. A medical appointment can nip the problem in the bud, sparing you from chronic pain and suffering in the long term.

Counselling

How to Choose a Clinical Counsellor Vancouver

Posted on | by Akeela Zahair

Counselling

A clinical counsellor offers counseling and psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Whether you’re experiencing relationship difficulties, struggling with anxiety or depression, or dealing with a life transition, a clinical counsellor can help. In other words, this mental health expert can provide the support, guidance, and tools you need to cope. You can talk to them when you need someone to lend a professional, unbiased ear.

Choosing a clinical counsellor needs to be done with utmost care because the success of therapy or counselling sessions depends, to a large extent, on the rapport that you share with your counsellor. While various counselling Vancouver options are available, it can be overwhelming to identify the best one.

To help you get started, here are some tips.

1. Check their license and credentials

In Vancouver the title “clinical counsellor” is not legally protected, and this is why it’s important to see a therapist or has Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) designation. These professionals must have completed a master’s or doctoral degree in clinical training standards from an accredited institution. The registration guarantees that the counsellor met the necessary academic requirements and is qualified to provide counselling services.

Furthermore, a registered clinical counsellor in Vancouver pertains to a mental health expert who received the education and training required by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). The organization upholds a strict code of ethics and sets high clinical standards that its members must follow. That means their peers have vetted the competence of your potential counsellor.

Having these excellent qualities ensures that you’re getting quality counselling services, giving you a better chance of meeting your therapy goals.

2. Verify the counsellor’s experience

It’s no secret that experience is essential in every field. The same goes for clinical counsellors. The more years they’ve been in the counseling field, the more likely they have a solid understanding of their clients’ different challenges. To sum it up, an experienced counsellor has more in-depth knowledge of handling various mental health conditions.

When checking a counsellor’s experience, pay attention to the following:

  • The number of years they’ve been practicing
  • Types of clients they see regularly
  • Success rate

Verifying these factors will give you an idea of the counsellor’s capabilities. It’s best to choose someone who has extensive experience supporting issues similar to yours. That way, you can be confident that they know how to address your concerns and are focused on providing you with the best care possible.

3. Consider their counselling techniques

Every clinical counsellor is unique in their approach and techniques. Some use traditional talk therapy, while others combine different methods to tailor their services according to their client’s needs. The important thing is that the counsellor’s practices are evidence-based and backed by research. After all, you want to make sure that the therapy sessions are productive and helpful.

The best way to know which technique is right for you is to schedule an initial consultation with your potential counsellor. During this meeting, you can ask about their methods and feel their counselling style. Whether it’s cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), emotion-focused therapy (EFT), or something else, ensure you’re comfortable with the counsellor’s approach before making a decision.

Aside from CBT, here are some other counselling techniques and approaches you may want to consider:

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Interpersonal therapy (IT)
  • Adlerian therapy
  • Psychodynamic therapy
  • EMDR

Knowing about their approach will give you a better idea of whether or not they’re a good fit for you.

4. Don’t forget the service fee structure

Service cost is probably one of the first things you’ll think about when searching for a clinical counsellor. After all, you want to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth. When it comes to service fees, there are three common billing structures:

  • Per session fee: As the name suggests, you’ll be charged per counselling session. This fee structure is the most common type.
  • Package fee: You’ll be charged a lump sum for several sessions. This option is ideal if you want to commit to long-term counselling but very few therapists provide it.

Knowing these fee structures will help you select a clinical counsellor that suits your budget. The most important thing is getting the help and support you need.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to choose a clinical counsellor, it’s time to start your search. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be on your way to finding the best professional to help you achieve your counselling goals.

Japanese Face Mask

5 Health Benefits of Wearing Japanese Face Masks

Posted on | by Akeela Zahair
Japanese Face Mask

Face masks have become commonplace in society today, not only in Japan but worldwide. There are many reasons people don their masks before dashing out of the home, with some ladies even using them to hide their faces when they don’t have time for makeup. 

People have ingenious ways of incorporating their face masks into their daily routine, and there are many adjusted clothing items and gadgets to facilitate wearing masks. So why are so many drawn to wearing the masks?  

Most face mask wearers have varied ideas of why they are keeping themselves healthy, but here are some of the health benefits listed by the Japanese citizens: 

 

1. Prevents the Spread of Illnesses

As everyone knows, the face mask protects the wearer and those around them from spreading airborne bacteria and viruses. Coughing or sneezing hurls the illness-causing agents into the air, and passers-by then inhale these pathogens. 

Once in the body, the microorganisms start to multiply, and soon, the person carrying them can spread them on to others. To minimize the risk of a sick person or carrier spreading the disease to others, people can wear Japanese-style masks like those from https://masaomask.com.au/ as protection. 

With most flu-like diseases or conditions having an incubation period of a few days, some people may not know they’re infected and some show no signs of illness at all. During this time, the microorganisms can be spread to others much quicker if people don’t take precautions like wearing masks in social settings.

 

2. Improves Hay Fever Symptoms

Some wearers of the Japanese face masks noted an improvement in their allergies when wearing their masks outside of their homes. The face covers aren’t equally efficient in keeping out pollen, but the Japanese variants seem to bring some extra relief. 

The air quality in big cities is poor because of various pollutants, increasing the likelihood of upper airway infections and hay fever. Although masks are not a surefire way to prevent these conditions, they contribute to a diminished risk for them. 

Japanese masks are known to filter out up to 99% of particles in the air, making them some of the best to buy for someone suffering from hay fever or allergies.

 

3. Assists Mental Well-being

The Japanese are a hard-working nation known to keep their heads down and mind their business. Many people value their privacy and sometimes need solitude to gather their thoughts. 

For introverts, the face mask has become socially acceptable for use when they feel overwhelmed. Communication hinges on reading people’s facial expressions, so individuals naturally avoid conversations with someone wearing a mask unless needed. 

In the long run, this isn’t a great strategy to prevent interaction, and communication with others is needed. But when the situation calls for some alone time and the person feels their anxiety well up, donning a mask is an easy solution.

 

4. Keeps the Airways Moist and Warm

The human body relies on the air we breathe to be moist and warm when inhaling it into the lungs. The cold air could cause upper airway and respiratory infections in colder climates because the airways are more susceptible. 

The Japanese face masks keep the mouth, nose, and cheeks warm during the cold, decreasing the possibility of contracting minor or more severe infections. 

 

5. Could Improve Eating Habits

Although this isn’t an official benefit of the Japanese face masks, people who wear masks said that it prevents them from sticking food into their mouths all day. It has caused people to think more about their actions and plan meals instead of grabbing something on the go. Most people will still eat their meals and snacks, but planning helps them avoid fast food and unhealthy options they could grab without thinking.

 

The Final Word

Japanese face coverings have been around for more than a hundred years, leading some to believe that their masks are some of the best designs among other options on the market today. After all, they have had a few years to perfect their craft.

Whether the person wears a mask for physical or mental health reasons, they remain one of the top-selling items worldwide. Looking at the benefits of these Japanese-style masks, it isn’t hard to see that they will be around for the next hundred years.

Prevention is always better than cure, no matter the health issue, so remember to grab your mask and contribute to your safety and those of others.

Hair Health

7 Things Your Hair Can Tell About Your Health

Posted on | by Akeela Zahair
Hair Health

Our hair showcases our style and personality as well as boosting our self-esteem. However, it’s not just a weapon of vanity as  Clip Hair prove. Here, Brenda Lee Intignano at the brand presents the 5 things your hair can tell you about your health.

 

Shedding some light on your health

The average person sheds around 100 strands of hair when they wash it. If you notice that your hair is shedding a lot more than usual, it may indicate a health condition.

Telogen Effluvium is temporary hair loss that can occur when a person experiences severe stress or trauma. The hair follicles encounter the telogen, otherwise known as the resting phase, of the growth cycle. Telogen Effluvium sees that the hair stays in the resting phase, not entering the next phase. The hair then sheds, without new growth developing.

Hormonal changes, events such as childbirth or persistent stress can lead to Telogen Effluvium. The condition can last several months and usually resolves itself without treatment.

 

A vitamin ‘dry out’

Just like our skin, our hair adjusts to our environment. The warmers months can lead to dryer strands of hair, that in turn, can lead to breakage. Other external factors can be the use of excessive heat, harsh shampoos, and lots of dying. However, dry hair that rapidly appears and leads to the hair becoming brittle may suggest an internal health condition.

Deficiencies in Vitamin E, Iron or Vitamin C can all lead to brittle hair. Vitamin E is essential for a healthy scalp as it aids in the production of sebum, without iron the hair follicles cannot fully function, and vitamin C ensures that the body produces sufficient collagen which is essential for healthy hair growth.

 

Earl-y Greying

Grey hair is often part of the ageing process as the hair follicles produce less pigment. Although genetics is a contributing factor to greying of the hair, stress can also play a role. Research shows that consistent stress can manipulate DNA, impacting the cells that produce pigment for the hair. As a result, grey hairs begin to appear. If you notice grey hair appearing at an accelerated rate, this may be the result of severe stress.

 

A bit of a flake

Dandruff is caused when the scalp sheds its cells at an accelerated rate. However, persistent flaking may not be dandruff, but Psoriasis. The cause of Psoriasis is not fully understood however, it’s thought that it’s the immune system fighting healthy cells by mistake. Genetics and environment play a role in the occurrence of Psoriasis.

Several over-the-counter medicines can remedy Psoriasis. If the condition persists, medical shampoos and ointments can be prescribed.

 

Splitting up

A strand of hair is 25% water, seeing that if your body is dehydrated, your hair will feel (and show) its occurrence.  When the body is dehydrated, it uses its much-needed to water to help operate its critical organs. The body doesn’t consider hair critical, so will not direct its much-needed moisture its way. As a result, the hair will experience ongoing dryness, leading it to break and incur split ends.

If you notice that your hair is breaking at an unusual rate, it may be time to increase your water intake. Avoid consistently using heat on the hair as this will cause further dryness.