SoMINN Fall Health 2022

The causes of hair loss and potential remedies

attributed to the condition.

Alopecia is the clinical term for any hair loss that occurs on the scalp or body. Hair loss can be temporary or permanent, and is attributed to various causes. Anything from hormones to medical conditions to heredity can dictate if hair loss occurs in men and women. Baldness, according to the Mayo Clinic, typically refers to excessive hair loss from the scalp. Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of baldness.

Thinning, shedding hair affects both sexes, and sometimes is a natural side effect of aging. But not all hair loss is natural, and the following are some factors that can cause people to lose their hair.

· Stress and illness: Extreme stress or illness can cause hair loss in a process known as telogen effluvium, according to Dr. Michelle Henry, a New York-based dermatologist. Mental and physical stress can cause hair loss in the body to be arrested. When this occurs, the body sheds the hair. Hair loss can occur up to three months following a stressful event or illness. Finding ways to manage or limit stress can alleviate hair shedding.

and eventually stop growing hair. Hair loss may start in teenage years, but tends to begin later in life. There are medical treatments in the form of shampoos, lotions and even hair implants that can stop or slow hair loss. Some may help regrow hair. The earlier treatment is started, the better its potential outcome.

· Alopecia areata: Alopecia areata is an immune system disorder that attacks the hair follicles. Since alopecia can affect hair anywhere on the body, even eyebrows or eyelashes may fall out. Treatment may help stimulate regrowth. Doctors may suggest immunosuppressant drugs as well as a course of treatment.

· Pregnancy: Hormones fluctuate greatly during pregnancy and after. Giving birth also can be a physically traumatic experience that can sometimes contribute to hair loss. Hair will likely grow back when hormone and stress levels return to normal.

Hair

loss became a widely discussed topic following the 2022 Academy Awards, when comic Chris Rock was verbally and physically assaulted on stage by actor Will Smith regarding a joke Rock made about

Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. PinkettSmith has alopecia areata, an immune system condition that attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss anywhere on the body. Pinkett-Smith now shaves her head to alleviate the patches of uneven hair loss

The health benefits 4of popular teas

Heredity: Genes will dictate if a person has blue eyes or is tall or short. Genes also play a role in hair loss. The American Academy of Dermatology Association says heredity can affect both men and women. In fact, hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss worldwide. Genes cause hair follicles to shrink

· Medications and supplements: Certain medications, such as those to treat cancer, heart issues, gout, high blood pressure, arthritis, and depression may cause hair loss. Taking too much vitamin A also may cause hair loss. Adjusting dosage or trying different medications may help.

Individuals concerned with hair loss can speak with a dermatologist who can assess the situation and plan a course of treatment.

When

in need of a beverage to warm them up, billions of people across the globe routinely look to tea. That choice has been made since ancient times, as various historians trace the habitual consumption of tea to ancient China.

Anything that has survived since ancient times no doubt has some good qualities, and tea is no exception. According to Penn Medicine, various types of tea each provide their own unique health benefits, some of which may surprise even the most devoted tea drinkers.

1. White tea: A 2010 study published in the Journal of Food Science found that antioxidant-rich white tea boasts anti-carcinogenic properties. Penn Medicine also notes that white tea is a significant source of fluoride, catechins and tannins, ingredients that can strengthen teeth, improve their resistance to acid and sugar and fight plaque.

2. Chamomile tea: Many people like drinking this herbal tea before bedtime because they feel it helps them fall asleep, and one study published in Molecular Medicine Reports in 2010 notes that chamomile tea is widely regarded as a mild tranquilizer and sleep-inducer. Chamomile tea also has been shown to improve heart health. A 2015 study of 64 patients with diabetes published in the Journal of

Endocrinological Investigation found that those who consumed chamomile tea with meals had improved triglyceride and “bad” cholesterol levels compared to patients who drank water.

3. Peppermint tea: The Mount Sinai Health System notes that peppermint calms the muscles of the stomach and improves the flow of bile. Made from dried leaves of the peppermint plant, peppermint tea can help to soothe an upset stomach and help people overcome conditions like constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and motion sickness.

4. Green tea: Green tea is loaded with flavonoids, which Penn Medicine notes improve heart health by lowering bad cholesterol and reducing blood clotting. In addition, the National Cancer Institute notes that the polyphenols in green tea may protect people against the damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet B radiation. One study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association also associated green tea consumption with a reduced risk of stroke.

Tea has been consumed for millenia. Though many people drink tea simply for its taste, those same people may drink even more after learning about the effects this beloved beverage can have on their overall health.

Health

Health care screenings for men between the ages of 18 and 39

Preventive

health care is a multifaceted approach to a healthy lifestyle that incorporates various strategies to reduce risk for illness and disease. Screenings are a vital component of preventive care, even for young men. Regardless of how fit a young man is or how healthy he feels, these screenings should be part of health care regimens for all men between the ages of 18 and 39.

· Blood pressure: The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health urge men between the ages of 18 and 39 to have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years. Many men already have their blood pressure checked during annual wellness visits, which all men should schedule regardless of their fitness levels and overall health. Men with preexisting conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and kidney problems, may need more frequent blood pressure screenings. In addition, annual screenings are recommended if the top number is between 120 and 139 and/or the lower number is between 80 and 89.

· Cholesterol: Men with no known risk factors fo coronary heart disease are urged to get annual cholesterol screenings beginning at age 35. Men with known risk factors should begin receiving annual screenings at age 20. More frequent screenings might be necessary for individuals with diabetes, kidney problems or heart disease.

· Diabetes: Risk factors and warning signs will dictate if men between the ages

of 18 and 39 require diabetes screening.

For example, the U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that a BMI over 25 is considered overweight, which is a risk factor for diabetes. Men who fall into this category should be screened for diabetes starting at age 35 (the USNLM urges Asian American men to be screened if their BMI exceeds 23). Providers also may test men’s blood sugar levels if their blood pressure is 130/80 or higher and/or if they have a first degree relative with diabetes or a history of heart disease.

· Infectious disease: The USNLM urges all individuals, including healthy young men, to be tested for hepatitis C at least once between the ages of 18 and 79. Doctors also may recommend additional screenings for sexually active young men, who may be tested for syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and other infections.

· Testicular cancer: The National Cancer Institute reports that testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 34. The USNLM advises against testicular self-exams, so young men should discuss testicular cancer screenings with their physicians, especially if they notice any changes in the size or shape of their testicles.

· Dental checkup: Men are encouraged to visit the dentist twice a year for an exam and cleaning. Dentists can determine if more frequent visits are necessary.

Preventive health care is vital for everyone, including men between the ages of 18 and 39.

Did you know?

Deep breathing exercises can help individuals maintain personal health and well-being. According to the American Institute of Stress, 20 to 30 minutes per day of “belly breathing,” also known as abdominal breathing or diaphragmatic breathing, can reduce stress and anxiety.

The American Sleep Association reports that focusing on breath might be able to help induce sleep for people struggling to fall asleep. In addition to helping reduce stress and promote relaxation, breathing techniques are useful during labor to focus and release tension. Individuals with COPD often find it difficult to breathe, which can compound anxiety and make it even harder to breathe. But the COPD Foundation notes that two different breathing techniques can help an individual take in air without working hard: abdominal breathing and pursed-lips breathing.

ways to reduce cancer risk every day

human toll cancer takes is significant, both on the lives it claims and on the friends and family of those victims. Estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer indicated 10 million individuals across the globe lost their lives to cancer (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) in 2020. New research indicates those numbers could be on the rise.

A study published in the journal The Lancet in 2020 found that deaths from cancer are now more common in some high- and middle-income countries than deaths from cardiovascular disease. Authors of the study, which examined incidences of cancer among adults between the ages of 35 and 70 in 21 countries across five continents, concluded that can cer is like to become the leading cause of death in middle-age.

Though cancer is a formidable disease, many cases of cancer are preventable. In fact, the things people do every day can go a long way toward lowering their cancer risk by a significant margin. Certain behaviors, like avoiding smoking, are widely known to reduce cancer risk. But some lesser known actions also can help individuals lower their risk.

· Quit when you hear the click at the gas station. The Air Pollution Control

District of Santa Barbara County in California notes that gasoline vapors include a variety of toxic substances, including benzene. Benzene is an air pollutant that adversely affects the central nervous system, the respiratory tract and the immune system. Modern automobiles now click when the gas tank is full and it’s vital that drivers avoid adding any more gas after they hear that click. Drivers may be accustomed to topping off after the click, but doing so can affect the vapor recovery system in a car. That system is designed to keep toxic chemicals like benzene out of the air. Topping off can needlessly expose drivers and their passengers to benzene, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers a carcinogen, or cancer-causing chemical.

· Grill wisely. Millions of people anxiously await the return of warm weather so they can once again fire up their backyard grills. Various studies have suggested there’s a link between well-done grilled meat and cancer. One study conducted by researchers at Vanderbilt University found that high intake of well-done meat increases exposure to heterocyclic amines (HCAs), a type of carcinogen that forms in cooked red meat. That doesn’t mean individuals should put away their grills, but a change in grilling habits could help

lower cancer risk. For example, one study from researchers at Kansas State University found that adding antioxidant-rich spices such as rosemary and thyme to marinade and soaking meat for at least an hour before cooking can reduce HCAs by as much as 87 percent.

· Drink more fluids. Drinking more fluids is one of the easier things people can do every day to reduce their cancer risk. The American Cancer Society recommends individuals consume eight cups of water per day, but millions likely fall far short of that amount. That’s unfortunate, as research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research in 2011 found that high fluid intake was associated with a

24 percent reduced bladder cancer risk among men. In addition, a separate study funded by the Strauss Institute and published in 2020 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that women with breast cancer consumed less water and total fluids than women who did not have breast cancer. The researchers concluded more investigation into the link between drinking more water and reducing breast cancer risk is necessary, but noted that drinking water is harmless, convenient and beneficial to many aspects of health.

Though cancer could soon become the leading cause of death in various parts of the globe, many of those deaths can be prevented. And even the simplest measures can make a difference in cancer risk.

Graston: A Different Approach to Soft Tissue Injuries

You

might have heard of the word Graston before, but not been completely sure what it is.

How do I know if Graston/ IASTM is right for me?

make sure to talk with your provider about other ongoing health conditions.

or another IASTM technique will utilize the stainless-steel tools along with an emollient. These tools have beveled edges that allow them to apply a deep pressure to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. The provider has knowledge on different types of strokes with the tools along with different amounts of pressure to make an impact on the soft tissues. The variation of strokes and pressures allow for changes at a neurological level. These changes lead to decreased tension and for elongation of the soft tissues to allow for a greater stretch tolerance, and therefore pain reduction.

What are the benefits of Graston/IASTM?

The biggest benefit of Graston or another IASTM technique is pain relief. Along with this, other benefits from Graston include an increase in range of motion, a decrease in tightness and restore function from soft tissue injuries.

Graston is a great conservative, noninvasive approach to reduce pain and help you return to the activities you love. If you have additional questions about Graston or other IASTM techniques, make sure to reach out to your provider to see if this is the best approach for you.

Graston Technique is one of the many styles of instrumentedassisted soft tissue mobiliza tion techniques (IASTM). The instrument portion of this is one of many stainless-steel tools. This technique and other IASTM techniques are utilized by a variety of providers ranging from physical therapists to chiropractors to athletic trainers.

By Alexis Thode, DC CCSP®, Hulsebus Chiropractic

Graston works best for people who are dealing with a soft tissue injury. Soft tissue injuries occur in muscles, tendons and ligaments. A wide variety of conditions can have symptoms improve with the utilization of Graston. Injuries can range from acute, chronic and post-surgical at scar sites. Most commonly, these injuries tend to be from repetitive motions and cumulative stress on different muscles and tissues. With this stress, there is a reduction in the mobility of different tissues. The reduction of mobility can be a large reason for the cause of pain. Different conditions that can benefit from Graston include but are not limited to: plantar fasciitis, trigger points, golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow and tech neck. There are some contraindications for Graston, so to make sure it is okay for you to receive Graston,

Did you know?

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, lung cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second most common cancer in women. But even families affected by lung cancer may be surprised to learn that children are not immune to the disease. Though lung cancer is very rarely found in children, kids can get it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, which could be why the disease is so often associated with adults. However, the National Cancer Institute reports that incidences of lung cancer in children could be genetic. According to the NCI, a specific change in the DICER1 gene increases the risk for a childhood lung cancer known as pleuropulmonary blastoma, which forms in the tissues of the lung and pleura (the organs between the lungs). Families with a history of DICER1 syndrome, a rare, inherited disorder caused by a mutation in the DICER1 gene, are urged to speak to a physician about testing children for pleuropulmonary blastoma.

How does Graston/IASTM work?

A treatment session involving Graston

Contact Hulsebus Chiropractic for more information on soft tissue injuries. Located at 206 W Walnut Street, St. Peter, MN, 507-934-2400or visit them online at hulsebuschiro.com.

IN TOUCH

I have a concussion; now what?

Ifyou know someone who participates in sports, and experiences a head injury resulting in a concussion, there may be a cause for concern. Concussions can happen at any time, especially if someone is involved in a high impact sport such as football, hockey, or soccer.

Data have uncovered an alarming number of head injuries and concussions. Prominent head injuries have been noted in professional sports such as football and hockey. Many questions have been raised about the safety and well-being of athletes who participate in high impact sports.

Due to the limited availability and significant impact of concussion care, physical therapists can become certified as Complete Concussion Management (CCMI) Clinicians and provide advance care in management and rehabilitation of concussions.

Health care can be centered around specific treatment for the cervical spine, vestibular, visual, and cardiovascular system. Physical therapists utilize evidencebased treatments that are for persistent concussion symptoms that include cervical spine treatment, vestibular rehabilitation, psychological interventions, a controlled symptom-threshold, and submaximal exercise. All of which can assist in acute concussion care whether it be a motor vehicle accident, fall or sports injury.

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a vigorous, unnatural acceleration or deceleration of the brain.

The impact causes trauma to the head and neck, which leads to a biochemical

imbalance of the brain cells.

The imbalance decreases the amount of blood flood, resulting with impaired energy deficits which can impair brain function. There is a wide range of symptoms that can be noted with concussions, including headache, fatigue, fogginess, sensitivity to light and sound, difficulty concentrating, or difficulty fixating your vision, to name a few.

The length of recovery can vary, but even after symptoms have reduced, the risk of reinjury is still high, and if another hit to the head is sustained during this timeof healing, the length of recovery can jump from 2-3 weeks to multiple months and even years.

Concussion prevention

It’s almost impossible to prevent concussions, but it is possible to reduce the risk. One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of concussion is to wear a protective helmet. Along with wearing a helmet, it’s crucial for athletes to learn neck-strengthening exercises.

The strength and stability of the muscles of the neck and trunk will help minimize the impact of injuries and the likelihood (and severity) of concussions in high-impact sports. For those who are participants in sports programs, they can benefit from an evaluation from of a physical therapists, who will help determine potential areas of weakness and instability.

Information from the evaluation will help your physical therapist design a neck-strengthening program that can help avoid serious injury and possible concussions due to weak neck muscles. Testing can also be performed with the Com-

plete Concussion Tracker app on your smartphone. This testing can be taken an unlimited number of times and can help assess the need for further care. The test is free on the app, and the results can be sent to the physical therapist or health professional to assess focus of care.

How can physical therapy help?

A trained physical therapists can offer early intervention with a personalized approach to significantly improve recovery. They can have an extensive, specialized background in concussion care and can be certified in a complete concussion care program (CCMI) , allowing the therapist the opportunity to create a strategy for care that could include nutrition intervention, vestibular rehabilitation, vision, exercise, and manual therapy, multimodal baseline testing.

The sooner you are seen, the faster you will recover and discover the healing you need. CCMI training provides parameters for comprehensive preseason testing, return to play management, multistage physical exertion testing, and re-testing of injured individuals, and treatment of persistent symptoms.

The test results are secure within the electronic health records system that is accessible by any Complete Concussion Management partnered clinic worldwide. Seeing a therapist early on will always decrease your likelihood of developing post concussion syndrome, that may bring mental processing problems long after the date of the actual concussion injury. Search the Complete Concussion Management online to learn more about the program itself.

Contact In Touch Physical Therapy for more information on concussions and CCMI. Located at 123 W Broadway St, Owatonna MN, 507-451-7888 or visit them online at intouchpt.com.