Real Health Winter 2014

REALHEALTH 10th A

YOUR GUIDE TO BLACK WELLNESS

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WINTER 2014 $2.99 US REALHEALTHMAG.COM

Do Condoms Protect Against All Sexually Transmitted Infections?

Actress

Adina Porter Reveals Her Approach To Alternative Treatments

Major Safety Issue Infectious Disease Outbreaks

The Strong Connection Between Diet And Diabetes

What Life Is Like For Two Women Living With Lupus

CONTENTS this month on REALHEALTHMAG.COM Entertainer Nick Cannon recalls a nasty encounter with the flu years ago that made him swear to never go through it again.

Health Basics A—Z

Want to lose weight, exercise smart, eat right, find good health care, sleep better or just get healthy? For tips, click on “Health Basics A–Z” on the realhealthmag.com home page.

Get Lean In 3-1-2-1

Here’s the weight-loss formula that’s proven to be successful for many contestants on The Biggest Loser who train with the show’s fitness coach Dolvett Quince.

Planting Seeds for Change How community activist Veronica Kyle helped a Chicago church teach members how to grow healthy produce in their own backyards.

Digital Real Health

Read Real Health magazine online exactly as it appears in print. Go to realhealthmag.com/ digital to view the current issue and the entire Smart + Strong digital library.

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editor’s letter

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Help us celebrate 10 years of bringing you Real Health!

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going case by case

When actress Adina Porter faces illness, she considers traditional and alternative treatments.

buzz

The Ebola scare; vaginal inserts to prevent HIV; on passing the virus; hep C genotypes; women hit harder

by Alzheimer’s; dirty linen

fitness

Build up to extreme workouts; bike-riding pain in your privates

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tummy tamers

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life with lupus

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holding the line

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thoughts

sex

Do you know if condoms always protect you from all sexually transmitted infections?; Ask Doctor Dee: A Q&A

nutrition

Eating these nuts may help type 2 diabetics reduce stress; satisfy your hunger; our protein needs

Findings show that gut bacteria can stop stomach problems as well as shield us from diabetes.

Two women, the same disease and very different reactions to their illness from employers.

How to keep the strands on our fragile hairlines strong and less prone to damage.

Simple ways to defuse anxieties and avoid feeling crazed

Real Health Question of the Month

How do you protect yourself during flu season?

During flu season, I maintain my usual routine to avoid getting sick: I wash my hands with soap and water often, and if that’s not possible, I squeeze hand sanitizer onto my palms to scrub away any germs that might be there.

—Jeanette Pinnace

reach out & click!

At realhealthmag.com, you can read more articles; access exclusive, online-only special reports; meet other health-minded black singles; and subscribe ($9.97 for four quarterly issues; you can also call 800.973.2376). Plus, sign up for the Real Health email newsletter to get the latest black health news!

(COVER) COURTESY OF ADINA PORTER/NICK HORNE PHOTOGRAPHY; (CANNON) COURTESY OF NOVARTIS; (SCALE) ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DNY59; (KYLE) DAVID BERNSTEIN; (PINNACE) MICHAEL HALLIDAY; (PROTECTIVE GEAR) ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ROOM_THEAGENCY; (CONDOM AND PISTACHIOS) THINKSTOCK

Floored

By The Flu

EDITOR’S LETTER

REAL HEALTH

Celebrating 10 Years of Real Health

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n 2008, when I joined Real Health magazine as its editor-in-chief, the publication was just 4 years old. I’d learned about Real Health while researching African-American health publications, and I became familiar with the magazine by reading its back issues. Wow! I was in love.

Where were you all my life, I wondered.

Back then, magazines totally dedicated to health and wellness that were aimed at the African-American community were rare. Today, that hasn’t changed appreciably. But I noticed that mainstream black lifestyle publications began slowly expanding their health sections. All of a sudden, health was becoming sexy. Still, surprisingly, newsstands lack health publications aimed at African Americans.

The few I did find seemed more like lifestyle magazines. There were no in-depth feature stories about people living with illnesses, study findings, sexual health issues and HIV. Nor was there general news about diseases, public health policies or reports on conditions that disproportionately affect our communities.

Also missing were articles that offered practical information on how to interact with our doctors and other medical professionals working in our health system.

I saw few stories about patients being their own advocates. There was no advice about being proactive in accessing care,

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kate Ferguson MANAGING EDITOR

Jennifer Morton DEPUTY EDITOR

Trenton Straube COPY EDITOR

Meave Gallagher EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Casey Halter ART DIRECTOR

Mark Robinson ART PRODUCTION MANAGER

Michael Halliday LEGACY ADVISOR

Megan Strub

ADVISORY EDITOR

Sean Strub

ADVISORY BOARD

Lee SaintMartin, MS, IIPA, CN, ND, naturopath; Goulda Downer, PhD, RD, CNS, and Nutrition Services, Inc.; Yuan Wan, licensed acupuncturist and doctor of traditional Chinese medicine; Dorothy Horton, PsyD, clinical psychologist; Lovell Harris, MD, internist; Terrie Williams, mental health advocate; Xavier Artis, campaign creator, Stay Strong: Healing Starts With Us (HSWU)

SMART + STRONG PRESIDENT AND COO

Ian Anderson

CHIEF DIGITAL STRATEGIST

John La

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES/PUBLISHER

Susan Mary Levey CONTROLLER

Joel Kaplan INTEGRATED ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Jonathan Gaskell

CDM PUBLISHING LLC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Jeremy Grayzel SALES OFFICE

212.938.2051

Here’s to your health,

Kate Ferguson, Editor-in-Chief katef@realhealthmag.com JOAN LOBIS BROWN

Issue No. 40. Copyright © 2014 CDM Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. If you are an individual or organization and would like to subscribe to Real Health, go to real healthmag.com or call 800.973.2376.

Send feedback on this issue to info@ realhealthmag.com or Real Health, c/o Smart + Strong, 462 Seventh Ave., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.

and no educational articles taught how to negotiate the health care system.

When I discovered Real Health, I found all these things. I was also amazed because the stories were informative, thought-provoking and very entertaining.

The publication was short enough to read in one sitting, but the information stayed with you way beyond the time spent in a doctor’s office waiting room.

Today, as I reflect on the early years of Real Health, I can see its growth. Real Health was created to dispense health news that educates, enlightens, entertains and empowers its readers, and it has fulfilled that mission.

As the magazine’s editor, I have had the privilege to continue to meet this challenging and satisfying goal. During my time with Real Health, I’ve met and worked with an assortment of talented professionals who are passionate about their roles as health educators.

In addition, I’ve had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life who willingly shared their stories with us in the pages of Real Health. From moms to music personalities and film stars, each and every one contributed to the health education effort that continues to touch other lives in ways that, perhaps, we will never have a chance to discover.

With this 10th anniversary issue, Real Health marks a milestone that places the magazine on the threshold of exciting new developments in the years to come.

I’m very proud to be a part of this health publication and its continued efforts to serve our community as a trusted resource of information to keep families healthy in mind, body and spirit.

I wish Real Health many more milestones to come.

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BUZZ

Guarded Optimism

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hen the Ebola virus leaped from Africa to infect health care workers in Europe and the United States, people expressed fear and concern.

Many asked just how prepared America is for emerging infections of this type.

The simple answer is that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acts as command central for pinpointing and protecting the nation from disease outbreaks, bioterrorism and other health emergencies.

In general, the CDC heads up a network called the Emerging Infections Programs that consists of health departments in 10 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Tennessee. The network includes a variety of support staff in local health departments, academic institutions, other federal agencies, and public health and clinical laboratories, as well as teams of infection prevention experts and health care providers.

But the most effective way to end

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an infectious disease incursion also requires that health care workers on all levels scrupulously follow guidelines and procedures. Workers who collect and handle infectious specimens must follow standards established by the CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In part, this means wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, such as those yellow or white hazmat suits, gloves, masks, and eye and head protection.

In addition, experts agreed that guidelines should ensure that health care workers in Wanted: hazmat America’s hospitals are suits, properly trained. goggles, After the first case gloves and masks of a patient stateside contracting Ebola was confirmed, National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest organization of nurses, warned that domestic hospitals weren’t ready for this outbreak. A survey of registered nurses across the country revealed that our health care facilities lack adequate

disaster planning and policy, education, and the proper supplies and manpower to effectively combat this outbreak.

“This potential exposure of patients and health care workers demonstrates the critical need for planning, preparedness and protection at the highest level in hospitals throughout the nation,” says Bonnie Castillo, RN, director of NNU. The CDC readily agreed and outlined the agency’s commitment to work closely with hospitals in controlling infectious disease outbreaks of this kind.

“We have staff there around the clock,” says Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, the agency’s director. “There are intensive efforts under way to train, retrain and supervise staff. The single most important way to get consistency is a site manager. And we have now ensured that 24/7 there will be a site manager who will monitor how personal protective equipment is put on, taken off, and what’s done when people are in it.” Sure sounds like a plan.

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ROOM_THEAGENCY

What stands between us and scary disease invasions such as the Ebola virus outbreak?

BUZZ

WORTH CONSIDERING HIV protection for women using vaginal inserts?

Some Men Are Different

A ALL IMAGES: THINKSTOCK (MODELS USED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY)

HIV transmission doesn’t necessarily depend on the amount of virus in a man’s blood.

lthough some HIV-positive men on antiretroviral treatment carry low levels of the virus in their blood, they may also produce more HIV in their semen. (This heightens their ability to transmit the virus.)

To find out why this phenomenon—called compartmentalization— happens, researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute conducted a study to find out how HIV could be compartmentalized in semen. Findings published in PLOS Pathogens, a medical journal, showed a link between higher levels of the virus in semen and raised levels of bacteria and biochemicals called cytokines in this bodily fluid. (Cytokines act as alarm bells for the immune system.)

Says Rupert Kaul, an immunologist from the University of Toronto and the senior author of the study, “We have taken the first step to show that bacteria, HIV and immune response in the semen may be connected.”

But what researchers want to know next is whether the imbalance of bacteria raises the viral load in semen, or whether the body’s immune response to the virus causes the production of more bacteria.

Stay tuned.

THE AMOUNT OF NEW HIV INFECTIONS IN WOMEN CAUSED

BY HETEROSEXUAL CONTACT. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Does a direct deposit of anti-HIV meds into the vagina minutes before sexual intercourse seem like an ideal way to protect women from HIV transmission?

The meds would saturate dissolvable fibers placed in a special tampon, an application tool familiar to women worldwide, or the fibers could be shaped into a ring for insertion into the vagina, according to recent findings from a study conducted by a team of University of Washington researchers.

Another insertable agent is a semi-soft suppository made from carrageenan, a food ingredient derived from seaweed. The suppository would come loaded with the HIV drug tenofovir (Viread).

The attractiveness of these methods of delivering HIV protection to women stands in stark contrast to messy microbicide gels, creams, tablets or films.

Women account for one in four people living with HIV in the United States, and African-American women and Latinas are disproportionately affected at all stages of HIV infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The hope is that with continued research of vaginal inserts, protecting women from the virus will be as simple as slipping a tampon, ring or suppository firmly into place.

How easy is that?

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BUZZ

THE BIGGEST BALLER What strain of hep C strikes most often all over the world?

When was the last time you changed your sheets and pillowcases?

Last year, findings from a British survey of more than 2,000 people showed that over half of them slept on dirty sheets. (“Dirty” equals sheets not changed once each week.)

But besides the unclean feeling generated by this statistic, there’s an even a bigger issue. If you snipped a piece of cloth from those soiled linens and placed it under a microscope, you’d probably find dust mites in addition to the bacteria-laden skin our bodies shed that these icky bugs feast on.

You’d also likely find excrement from the tiny critters.

Health problems caused by these invisible squatters are allergic diseases, such as asthma and rhinitis, a.k.a. hay fever. One study years ago suggested that over 45 percent of bedding in U.S. homes contained dust mite allergen concentrations exceeding a level associated with triggering allergic reactions.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, it’s essential that we encase mattresses, box springs, comforters and pillows in special allergen-proof fabric covers or airtight, zippered plastic covers. Wash bedding each week in water heated to at least 130° F, then tumble linens in a hot dryer.

Now, get some sleep!

THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES INFECTED WITH CHRONIC HEP C. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Gender Bias The unfortunate truth is Alzheimer’s targets females.

In a public service announcement about her 2010 report on Alzheimer’s disease and its effect on women, newscaster Maria Shriver revealed that she was one of the 10 million American women living with or caring for someone affected by this common type of dementia.

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tion group, women are harder hit by Alzheimer’s in ways that can affect their mental and physical health and well-being.

Check the stats: In their 60s, women bear an estimated lifetime risk of 1 in 6 for developing Alzheimer’s, compared with a 1 in 11 risk of getting breast cancer; almost two-thirds of realhealthmag.com

Americans with Alzheimer’s are women; there are almost three times more women than men who care for someone with Alzheimer’s 24 hours a day; and more than 60 percent of Alzheimer’s disease caregivers are women.

If this doesn’t qualify as gender bias, what does?

ALL IMAGES: THINKSTOCK (MODELS USED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY)

Sleeping Sickness

Generally, those who develop hepatitis C virus (HCV) are only infected with one of the six distinct genotypes of the virus. Of those six genotypes, genotype 1 is the most common. What’s more, it’s also the hardest to treat.

Hep C primarily spreads through contact with blood from an infected person. But treatment of the illness depends on which genotype is wreaking havoc.

Simply defined, genotype is a classification given to a virus based on genetic material found inside its strands. But each genotype also contains multiple subtypes.

One recent study published in the journal Hepatology checked the prevalence of hep C genotypes worldwide. Findings showed that genotype 1 accounted for 46 percent of all HCV infections.

This information, according to Jane Messina, MD, one of the study’s co-authors, is key to “developing new treatment strategies that may save millions of lives around the world.”

Of the remaining five genotypes, Messina and her colleagues found that HCV genotype 3 was the second highest among people worldwide. Next in order of prevalence were genotypes 2, 4 and 6.

FITNESS

BEAT THE VICIOUS CYCLE Don’t be tortured by your padded bicycle seat.

Before You Get Extreme If you aren’t ready for punishing pushups, ease into exercise.

ALL IMAGES: THINKSTOCK

The online infomercial for fitness expert Tony Horton’s P90 workout is unsurprisingly dynamic. According to the fast-paced promo, this exercise routine can help build endurance and prep you for Horton’s more arduous P90X program.

So is the buzz bona fide? RH contributor and podiatrist Jeanette Pinnace, DPM, sweated through a 30-minute P90 workout one afternoon at a barebasics gym in New York City’s busy midtown district. Although Pinnace regularly exercises, she agreed that no way could she just jump into Horton’s more extreme P90X workouts that shot him into prominence as a fitness guru. The P90 was perfect for her.

During this workout, Pinnace performed jump-kicks, pushups while moving sideways across the floor and squats just using her body weight. These modified movements define the P90 program.

Says Pinnace, “This is a good way to prepare for more intense exercises.

When you’re ready, just kick it up a notch.”

Experienced cyclists can make bike-riding seem effortless and pain-free. But, according to studies, bicycle seats can compress nerves and blood vessels in the very sensitive groin area between the anus and the base of the penis in men and the anus and vagina in women.

This delicate square of flesh is called the perineum and compressing it can lead to nerve damage, swelling and a stoppage of blood flow through arteries found there. What’s more, there’s the possibility that blood vessels can get blocked and lead to temporary or permanent numbness in the groin, uncomfortable tingling, less blood supplied to the penis, impotence, reduced organ sensitivity and a general upping of the ouch factor.

You can avoid these nasties if you take a few precautions: Change position while cycling and shift forward and backward, or stand on the pedals often, to ease pressure on the perineum; tilt your saddle slightly forward; wear shorts with padding in the groin area; adjust your bike’s handlebars and seat post for a more comfortable seated position; and limit the miles you ride each week.

AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WHO CYCLE FOR EXERCISE OR HEALTH. Source: National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors, 2012

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SEX Ask Doctor Dee Dorothy Horton, PsyD, answers your questions.

Don’t Just Cover Up, Protect Yourself By Getting Screened Prophylactics don’t stop all sexually transmitted infections.

Yes, condoms can protect against an array of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV and trichomoniasis, all of which are transmitted through sexual contact. But sheathing your genitals doesn’t necessarily stop all STIs. Chancroid is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection spread when you touch an open sore, or if infected fluid from someone’s oozing ulcer makes contact with your skin.

The reason condoms may not protect against chancroid is because the infection might occur on areas of the body that condoms can’t cover.

In addition, you can also contract HPV, genital warts and genital herpes through skin-to-skin contact. The

same goes for syphilis, even though this STI is also spread during vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Syphilis may be transmitted when direct contact is made with syphilitic sores, called chancres, that sometimes develop on the lips and in the mouth. What’s more, this STI can also spread from an infected mother to her unborn child.

HPV is found in the mouth or throat, and genital herpes can cause sores or breaks in the skin or lining of the mouth, all areas that can’t be covered with a condom.

What’s the takeaway? Doctors suggest you routinely get screened for STIs if you’re already sexually active or considering becoming so.

THE NUMBER OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AMONG U.S. ADULTS EACH YEAR. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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I’d try the direct approach. Let him know your true feelings, but don’t be judgmental about his habit. Ask him to work with you so you can resolve this sexual difference together. Try suggesting the two of you make love sometimes without using pornography as an added stimulation.

In addition, try compromising a little. Properly used to jumpstart desire, porn can be used much like a sex toy to add zest to physical intimacy between partners. You can still focus on your man when you and he make love with an arousing porn flick playing a supporting role.

Simply close your eyes and think about who you’re with and how he makes you feel.

Although excessive pornography can become addictive and backfire in a relationship, prudent use of it can also help to make you more receptive to sex with your partner.

Sometimes, if you relax a little, you may find that these sexual fantasies also serve to turn you on.

If your partner showers you with love and affection before, during and after your sexual encounters, and your relationship is sound, a little porn-watching usually won’t numb your desire for each other.

In all fairness, porn and fantasy can work to create more sexual heat during lovemaking. The trick is to avoid chronic reliance on these visuals in the bedroom.

(CONDOM) THINKSTOCK; (HORTON) COURTESY OF DOROTHY HORTON, PSYD

My man likes to watch porn when we’re having sex, but this makes me uncomfortable.

What’s the best way to negotiate this?

Read the real-life stories of people living with hepatitis C

Blogs LEARN MORE ABOUT HEPATITIS AT

hepmag.com

NUTRITION Be Fully Satisfied Don’t get so hungry you resort to sneaking a piece of cake.

Are You Totally Stressed?

Tasty pistachios may help get you through life’s hectic days.

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egend says the Queen of Sheba loved pistachios. But modern health fans may swoon more about the boost to heart health this pea-sized nut offers to type 2 diabetics, according to recent findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

For the study, researchers first fed patients who had well-controlled type 2 diabetes a typical American diet for two weeks. Next, scientists supplied participants with a standard heart-healthy diet along with about 150 pistachios (half salted, half unsalted) each day. Then, researchers measured blood pressure—in the lab and in a real-world setting—as well as blood vessel resistance during two stress tests. (In one test, participants dunked one hand into icy water for two minutes; in the other, they engaged in a challenging and confusing mental arithmetic test.)

Findings showed participants who ate the diet with pistachios as a treat suffered a much less negative physical response to the stresses of both tests compared with those who didn’t eat the nuts. In adults with diabetes, two servings of pistachios each day reduced tightening of the blood vessels during stress and improved the nervous system’s control of the heart.

There is a way to satisfy your hunger without scarfing down a whole lot of extra or empty calories. Just choose nutritious foods that fill you up faster and longer.

Many nutrition experts agree that to satisfy your hunger while still paring off pounds, the foods to reach for are those higher in lean protein—such as eggs, fish, poultry, beans and lentils—and fruits, veggies and whole grains that are rich in fiber and good fats. (Think extra virgin olive and coconut oils, avocados, nuts and seeds eaten in moderate amounts.)

What’s more, popcorn, fruits and veggies with a high water or fiber content, such as watermelon and sweet potatoes, or whole grains, such as brown rice, are also good food choices that fill you up. The idea is not to go hungry and to keep the metabolism stoked.

Advises Jessica Bartfield, MD, a clinical assistant professor who specializes in nutrition and weight management at the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care, “Dieting is a skill, much like riding a bicycle, and requires practice and good instruction.”

Beans, beef, chicken, fish and eggs.

Either from plants or animals, these sources of protein provide the body with the amino acids it uses for growth, tissue repair and immune function. Proteins produce hormones, enzymes and energy, and power chemical reactions in the body.

According to nutrition experts, the amount of protein each person needs differs based on factors such as activity level, sex, gender, height, weight, age and even health.

But, generally speaking, each day, children ages 1 to 3 need 13 grams of

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protein; ages 4 to 8, 19 grams; and ages 9 to 13, 34 grams.

Girls ages 14 to 18 require 46 grams of protein while boys of the same age need 52 grams. And women ages 19 to 70 need 46 grams of protein each day compared with 56 grams required for men of the same age.

Just make sure you choose quality proteins from a variety of healthy sources.

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NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO DON’T KNOW THEY HAVE DIABETES. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Diabetes Fact Sheet

ALL IMAGES: THINKSTOCK

Basic Needs How much protein mustt wee eat each eac day? day

M O R E

T H A N

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T O

P R E V E N T

D I A B E T E S

“Because type 2 diabetes runs in my family, I know it is important to take control of my health.

My first step was losing a small amount of weight. I started by making healthy food choices and eating smaller portions. I began using the stairs and taking walks during my lunch break. Now I’m on a roll to prevent diabetes! I feel like new and I have more energy for my wife and family.

That’s my big reward!”

Take Your First Step Today.

For free information about preventing type 2 diabetes, visit www.YourDiabetesInfo.org, or call 1-888-693-NDEP (6337); TTY: 1-866-569-1162.

Ask for “More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes.”

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org

A message from the National Diabetes Education Program, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RHWI_Diabetes_Ad_HY.indd 6

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(POGUE) DUSTIN FENSTERMACHER; (CHILDREN) COURTESY OF ERIC POGUE

(PREVIOUS PAGE) SARAH ORBANIC/COURTESY OF LIONSGATE

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS Like many Americans, actress Adina Porter isn’t opposed to exploring medical treatments that just a few years ago weren’t regarded as mainstream medicine in the United States.

But she also subscribes to traditional therapies.

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of friendly bacteria called lactobacillus, before antibiotic treatment is based on sound science. Studies show that acidophilus is a probiotic, a supplement that replenishes the beneficial bacteria destroyed by antibiotics when we take them to kill infections. (Antibiotics don’t differentiate between bad bacteria that sicken us and the good bacteria that help our bodies stay healthy.)

Research shows taking probiotics may help offset some of the negative effects associated with antibiotic use. For example, an evaluation of 22 different studies found that taking probiotics reduced the odds of developing diarrhea from taking antibiotics by 60 percent.

This practice of taking probiotics before, during or after treatment with antibiotics is a good example of complementary and alternative medicine, a.k.a. CAM. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines CAM as “a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.”

Recently, a national survey of com-

PORTER ONCE USED A HOMEOPATHIC SLEEP AID AFTER A DEVASTATING BREAKUP WITH A BOYFRIEND.

Adina Porter as Lettie Mae Thornton in HBO’s True Blood

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plementary health practices conducted

by NCCAM estimated that almost 4 million adults and nearly 1 million children used over-the-counter products labeled as homeopathic in addition to visiting a practitioner of homeopathy.

What’s more, people use any number of other complementary approaches to health, such as chiropractic manipulation and massage therapy, dietary supplements that aren’t vitamins or minerals, and meditation, NCCAM found.

At the end of the 18th century, a German

doctor named Samuel Hahnemann posed a theory that gave rise to homeopathy. Hahnemann theorized that you could treat and cure illnesses with medicines that produced milder symptoms of the disease. This gave rise to a saying credited to Hahnemann, “Like cures like,” which became the basis of his “principle of similars” and the “law of minimum dose” (the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness). These are two pillars on which homeopathy is based.

According to NCCAM, homeopathic remedies are derived from substances that come from plants, minerals or animals and are formulated into sugar pellets that are placed under the tongue. In addition, these remedies may also come in other forms, such as ointments, gels, drops, creams and tablets. But treatments are tailored to the individual, so “it’s not uncommon for different people with the same condition to receive different treatments,” explains NCCAM on its website.

Many people turn to alternative treatments such as homeopathy because they fear traditional therapies.

Some believe mainstream medicines are more toxic and do more harm than good. But there are also traditional doctors who use homeopathy and other alternative therapies to treat their patients. Pam Middleton, MD, is one of them. She is a holistic pediatrician in private practice in Newport Beach, California. Middleton took trainings in homeopathy as a way to provide safe and effective alternative therapies to treat children.

“In general, homeopathy is nontoxic and doesn’t interact with other meds,

PREVIOUS PAGES: (PORTER) COURTESY OF ADINA PORTER/NICK HORNE PHOTOGRAPHY; THIS PAGE: (TRUE BLOOD) COURTESY OF HBO/JOHN P. JOHNSON

dina Porter doesn’t quite remember when she learned about homeopathy. She says this unconventional approach to medicine may have first crossed her path when she went to Los Angeles alone; strapped for cash, she didn’t have money to see a regular doctor. Then again, maybe it was when Porter learned that destroying the bad bacteria in your body with antibiotics could also cause a nasty yeast infection. “That might have been a clue to me that maybe there are other ways to get well besides killing every single bacteria in your body,” Porter recalls. “I learned that you should take acidophilus before you start antibiotics, so that might have been my pathway into looking at other ways of healing healthier.”

Porter is perhaps best known for her role as the mostly malevolent mom Lettie Mae Thornton in the HBO vampire series True Blood. Currently, she appears in recurring roles on both the HBO series The Newsroom, as well as the CW Network’s The 100.

Porter’s practice of taking acidophilus, a type of microorganism from a family

so if you used conventional meds, or even herbal remedies, you could still use homeopathy and there’s no risk of overdosing,” she says.

But NCCAM supports a more cautious approach to homeopathy. The organization explains that “some products labeled as homeopathic can contain substantial amounts of active ingredients and therefore could cause side effects and drug interactions.”

Still, Middleton is guided by her experience using homeopathy. “A lot of the alternative treatments that are available to the adult population aren’t appropriate for children, not even herbal medication because that can be very strong,” she says. “But drugstores now carry homeopathic medications, so I’m OK with a parent going out to the store and finding what they need for their child’s cold or allergy, and I know it’s not going to do any harm.”

Boiron, founded in Lyon, France, is a leading maker of homeopathic medicines for children and adults. The company is especially busy during flu season, filling up to 1,000 orders each day. Boiron, established in the United States in 1983, makes homeopathic medicines available to both doctors and consumers. Hyland’s, another maker of homeopathic meds, was founded in the United States in 1903.

As makers of homeopathic medicines,

these companies are part of a growing multimillion-dollar industry that’s also regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the FDA, homeopathic products that are offered for treatment of serious conditions must be dispensed under the care of a licensed practitioner. Other homeopathic medicines offered for use to treat illnesses or conditions recognizable to the public may be marketed over the counter.

Middleton says although her patients tend to be fairly familiar with homeopathy, she’s “also found that a lot of people who have heard about it don’t really know exactly what it is, or they don’t really understand how it works.”

Porter says she once used a homeopathic sleep aid after a devastating breakup with a boyfriend. “Even

though my heart was broken, I fell asleep and had a good night’s sleep,” she says. “I was amazed.”

Although many different people use CAM, those who typically turn to these types of unconventional treatments are more likely to be wealthy white women, ages 35 to 55, who live in western states. Currently, many hospitals offer some form of complementary or alternative medicine, and doctors often refer patients to other physicians who specialize in CAM. CAM treatments are also covered by

many health insurance plans, especially those that are now regarded as more mainstream, such as acupuncture and chiropractic therapy. Like many people, Porter mixes her approach to health care, going mainstream in some instances then choosing more alternative therapies when she feels the need. She chose a nurse practitioner as her primary care doctor, but she also visits specialists to have them perform procedures. “I just had a colonoscopy with a physician who was formerly my primary care doctor,” she says. “But I look to nurse practitioners or chiropractors first.”

Essentially, Porter has been using a common-sense approach depending on the illness she’s facing or how serious her health issue is. “I take things on a case-by-case basis,” she says. “I get my mammograms, so I kind of have a foot in both camps. If I can cure something homeopathically, I’ll do it. Luckily, I haven’t faced a serious illness, like some friends of mine who tried to beat cancer homeopathically. Treating a grave illness with traditional medicine versus alternative treatments, that’s a serious choice to have to make.”

Porter’s approach is supported by NCCAM. The organization advises people who are considering homeopathy, or other unconventional approaches to treatment, to always get checked by their health care providers. The organization believes that the current research on homeopathy lacks enough evidence to support such alternative methods of treatment as being effective for any specific condition.

And although Middleton practices homeopathy, she agrees that people

shouldn’t take any chances with their health when considering any alternative health treatment. Her professional advice says it all: “If you have medical concerns, you always want to consult with your physician.” ■

Do Your Homework IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT USING HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES, READ THIS FIRST. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), those who wish to try a homeopathic approach to therapy should err on the side of caution and common sense. Here are their suggestions for you.

■

Do not use homeopathy as a replacement for proven conventional care or to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.

■

If you are considering a homeopathic remedy, show it to your health care provider. He or she can help you determine whether the product might pose a risk of side effects or drug interactions.

■

Follow the recommended conventional immunization schedules for children and adults. Do not use homeopathic products to replace conventional immunizations.

■

Women who are pregnant or nursing, and anyone thinking of using homeopathy to treat a child, should consult their (or their child’s) health care providers.

■

Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Giving them a full picture of how you manage your health will ensure coordinated and safe care.

For tips about talking with your health care providers about complementary health approaches, go online to see NCCAM’s Time to Talk Campaign.

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DIGEST THIS Slowly but surely science is showing that good bacteria in our gut supports gastrointestinal health and shields us from a whole slew of diseases.

By Jeanette L. Pinnace

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our gut require proper nourishment.

These tiny microorganisms need us to eat a nutritious, balanced diet so they can keep our bodies healthy and free from digestive problems that can lead to diabetes and a host of other illnesses.

“Many people don’t realize that the gut is the core of our health,” says Brenda Watson, a certified nutritionist, naturopathic doctor and author of The Skinny Gut Diet. “When the amount of bad bacteria, or what we call pathogenic bacteria, in our gut overwhelms the

Watson also suggests eating low-sugar fruits, such as berries and Granny Smith apples. “People assume that all fruits are great, but when you’re having problems with blood sugar, you need to stick to low-sugar fruits.”

Watson says she’s found that people who develop diabetes often also suffer from an overgrowth of bad bacteria.

“Once you begin to build your good bacteria level back up in your gut— your lactobacillus and bifidobacteria— then you begin to have your immunity restored, too.”

Some common foods that can provide

nourishment for the good bacteria in our gut are Jerusalem artichokes, dandelion greens, garlic, leeks, onions and asparagus. The fiber in these veggies and greens are known as prebiotics and act as nutrients to promote the growth of good bacteria called probiotics.

Prebiotics and probiotics help to keep our intestines healthy by assisting our bodies in digesting food, and doctors believe they also help support the immune system. “While probiotics are inside your digestive tract, they’re making vitamins C and K, helping you fight off any type of virus or bacterial infection and making sure you have healthy bowel movements,” Watson explains. “There are so many things these friendly bacteria do, and there are absolutely no side effects to them.”

The most common probiotics originate from the two groups previously mentioned, lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. But other bacteria are classified as being probiotics too. According to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), each group of bacteria contains different

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Just like human beings, the bacteria in

good bacteria there, people develop a condition called leaky gut [syndrome], an inflammation of the digestive tract, as a result of diet.”

According to Watson, a big part of the problem with the American diet is that it lacks enough fiber. Dietary fiber is the indigestible part of plant foods that barrels through our digestive system.

Fiber, a.k.a. roughage, is of two types: soluble and insoluble.

Soluble fiber dissolves in water and becomes gel-like after it’s fermented by bacteria in the digestive tract and absorbs water. Insoluble fiber remains unchanged as it moves through the digestive tract.

Both types are key to good health because neither soluble nor insoluble fiber is digested. Good sources of these indigestible carbs are whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, legumes and nuts.

When we don’t eat enough roughage, problems can arise. “Over a period of time, the lack of fiber in our diet, and the overconsumption of more processed foods and sugar, causes blood sugar to become unstable,” Watson says.

Fiber slows down the way sugar enters the bloodstream, she adds, so blood sugar levels don’t spike. (Elevated blood sugar level is a key symptom of diabetes.) “We need anywhere from 25 to 35 grams of fiber in the diet,” Watson explains. “But the average American gets about 10 to 12 grams of fiber each day.”

When she wrote her book, Watson says she worked with a group of people and tested their fasting blood sugar levels each morning and after they ate a meal. “As we began to change their diet, surprisingly, many people who were prediabetic moved off that chain,” she says.

species and each species has different strains. These different strains have different benefits for different parts of your body.

The association explains that, “in general, not all probiotics are the same, and they don’t all work the same way.”

For example, some of these microorganisms support the immune system and help food move through the gut, while others may help relieve symptoms of lactose intolerance, a condition that occurs when people cannot digest the lactose found in most milk and dairy products.

In recent years, manufacturers have deluged consumers with a flood of probiotic products. But scientists and doctors are clamoring for more studies “to help determine which probiotics are beneficial and which might be a waste of money,” notes the AGA. At health food stores, bottles of probiotic supplements line the shelves with dosages of 25, 50, 75, even 90 billion strains. How do you know what to choose? Watson says it depends on what health issue you have. “If you’re suffering from a problem, I suggest you at least take 50 billion per capsule,” she says. “If you’re doing maintenance, I’d say take 30 billion.”

Watson also focuses on the havoc wreaked by antibiotics and other substances that we unknowingly consume in our food. “People are eating dairy and protein from animals that are fed antibiotics in their water,” she says.

“We’re getting pesticides on our food that destroy the friendly bacteria [in our gut], and people take acid-blocking medications like they’re candy. These things destroy good bacteria. I call probiotics the multivitamin for the digestive tract.”

Specifically, probiotics prevent gastrointestinal problems, such as gas and bloating, diarrhea, candida overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and acid indigestion. “But they’re also good at building immunity, especially during the times of year when we have cold or flu season,” Watson says. “A lot of people don’t realize that probiotics boosts the immune system when you travel, and they’re also helpful for many people with skin problems such as eczema.”

Currently, scientists are studying gut bacteria in connection with a host of conditions and illnesses, including obesity, inflammation, anxiety and even depression.

Watson’s Skinny Gut Diet program is based on the link between gut bacteria and the immune system.

In her book, she theorizes that when bad bacteria overwhelm the good microorganisms in the gut, this imbalance creates inflammation, and this, in turn, causes obesity.

When there’s a balance between bad and good bacteria in the gut, Watson says, this quells inflammation and makes people much less likely to become obese.

In her family, Watson says type 2 diabetes runs rampant. “On my mom’s side, my grandfather and great grandfather were diabetic,” she reveals. “I haven’t become diabetic because I’ve understood the real effect that food has on how healthy or well I’ll be. Changing the diet can actually reverse diabetes and help type 2 diabetics to become normal.”

Recently, Watson has been working

on programs for public television that explore these types of issues.

In one segment, she talked to a patient who had been on antidepressants throughout college and during her professional years as an attorney and an executive at a major corporation.

After the woman decided she no longer wanted to use drug therapy, Watson recalls, she went to see a psychiatrist who used diet and probiotics to wean her off the antidepressants. “It was very interesting to see the level of health that she achieved, especially coming off those heavy drugs. She became a healthy person mentally and emotionally,” Watson says. “Her story was very enlightening.”

Interestingly, long ago, traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine recognized the importance of good digestion as the basis for good health.

Says Watson, “I’m happy that science is catching up. That's been exciting for me to see.”

Tummy Troubles DIGESTIVE DISEASES AFFECT NEARLY 60 TO 70 MILLION AMERICANS EACH YEAR. The gastrointestinal tract (GI), or gut, is a long tube that runs through the body from the mouth to the rectum. Along the way are organs such as the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, pancreas and gallbladder. In addition, muscles surround the gut, and they are continuously contracting.

Some of the most common illnesses of the GI tract are constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease, a.k.a. GERD, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease. All are affected by what and how we eat, and the proper diet is key to treating them.

Some symptoms of digestive disease include bloody stool, changes in bowel habits, severe abdominal pain, unintended weight loss, and heartburn not relieved by antacids.

Another GI condition called leaky gut syndrome is one that digestive health expert Brenda Watson finds particularly troublesome because it triggers the symptoms previously mentioned.

Leaky gut syndrome occurs “when digestion is impaired as the result of poor diet and lifestyle habits,” Watson explains.

“The digestive tract becomes inflamed, then other areas of the body begin to suffer.”

Poor diet and lifestyle habits can make the mucosal lining of the small intestine too porous and allow unwanted toxins to enter the bloodstream. “Then an inflammatory condition starts in the body,” Watson says.

Leaky gut syndrome may also begin when the GI tract is aggravated by eating refined carbohydrates and chemical food additives, and swallowing medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, acetaminiphen, ibuprofen and aspirin), antacids, steroids and antibiotics, parasites and bacteria from contaminated water, environmental toxins and stress.

Your best bet for treatment? Remove all of the above from your diet and lifestyle.

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SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH FOR TWO WOMEN LIVING WITH LUPUS, THE EXPERIENCE COULDN’T BE MORE DIFFERENT.

By Kate Ferguson

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hen Michelle Gadsden-Williams first suffered unexplained fever, body aches and chills, she was sure she had the flu. Soon she developed chronic fatigue, swollen ankles and stiff, painful joints. Next, her walks up and down a flight of steps brought on chest pains. In addition, she lost an excessive amount of hair and became ultra-sensitive to the sun.

“I went to the doctor, and he actually diagnosed me as having the flu,” she recalls. “So I took my medication and went about my business.”

But after about a month, Gadsden-Williams’s symptoms returned.

Then the frequency of these signs escalated. “It was happening once a month, and then it started progressing in a very rapid fashion,” she says.

In 2005, Gadsden-Williams, then a pharmaceutical industry executive, went to see a specialist. She and her husband were considering having a family, but she was unable to get pregnant. After the specialist and a reproductive doctor conducted comprehensive tests, they both noticed that her inflammation levels were high. One doctor asked her if she’d ever suffered from Lyme disease. Maybe this was a plausible possibility, Gadsden-Williams thought. She did live in an area where a lot of deer roamed in her backyard. Her doctor prescribed three days of antibiotic treatment. But about two months later, her symptoms returned.

Puzzled and uneasy, Gadsden-Williams returned to see her primary care physician. He thought her illness might be something autoimmune, so he ordered more aggressive testing. Then she went to see a rheumatologist who specialized in lupus and learned she had systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, one form of the disease.

Gadsden-Williams says at that time she didn’t react to the diagnosis because now her illness had a name. In addition, she also had a decision to make. “I was just about to relocate to Switzerland to assume a new position,” she says.

As she thought about her iff y health status, questions ran through Gadsden-Williams’s mind. Should she stay home, or should she go abroad? And if she went overseas, what would she do if she became ill?

Eventually, she decided to go to Switzerland and take the promotion at the company where she’d worked for 10 years. But Gadsden-Williams stayed mum about having lupus. She was afraid. “I had just assumed the position of my dreams, and I didn’t want to be labeled as fragile, or have people think I was sick and wouldn’t be able to do my job effectively,” she says. “So at that particular time, I decided to keep that information to

A

ccording to the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation, lupus affects 1.5 million Americans and millions more worldwide.

The autoimmune disease most often strikes women, and African-American, Asian-American, Native American and Latina women are more likely than Caucasian women to develop the illness. What’s more, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status also play a role in the health outcomes for people living with lupus. Says Edward H. Yellin, PhD, author of a paper on lupus and health disparities published in The Rheumatologist, “persons with SLE of lower socioeconomic status have poorer outcomes of disease and higher death rates.”

In 2009, Yolanda Randolph, a culinary school graduate living in Brooklyn, New York, learned she’d developed SLE. “Lots of sores appeared on my left thigh that just came out of nowhere,” she says of the symptoms that began in 2001. “That happened several times, and doctors didn’t know what it was.”

After Randolph got a tetanus shot to start a job as a cook at a local family services agency, her health worsened, so she went to the doctor. That’s when she tested positive for lupus. “I knew something was wrong because these sores just kept coming,” she says. “But lupus was the last thing I expected it to be.”

Randolph knew about lupus; the illness runs in her family.

“I had a cousin who died of lupus; she was 26,” Randolph says. “And one of my aunts had it, but she had very little

Michelle Gadsden-Williams (left) and Yolanda Randolph had extremely different responses when they disclosed they had lupus to employers.

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difficulties from the lupus. Other things kicked in, and she had problems with her organs and then cancer.”

Besides the genetic risk factor, no one knows exactly what causes the disease. “Many (but not all) scientists believe that lupus develops in response to a combination of factors both inside and outside the body, including hormones, genetics and environment,” says the Lupus Foundation of America.

But for Randolph, how she developed lupus was the least of her concerns. She was more worried about how she’d be able to afford treatment. She had no health insurance. When she suffered lupus flares—a period of time when symptoms occur— she’d seek care at the emergency room. Then, after getting signed up for Medicaid, sometimes her coverage would lapse.

“The doctors in the emergency room would give me medication to hold me for seven days until I could get to a doctor,” she says. “But, in most cases, you don’t get to see a doctor without insurance. I would experience a domino effect, get sick, go back to the emergency room and let the doctors give me more medication until I could get back on Medicaid.”

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andolph’s experience mirrors the fi ndings of studies that show nonwhite people living with lupus who are of a lower socioeconomic status have higher incidences of the disease, more severe forms of the illness and higher death rates from lupus. Findings also show that race, socioeconomic status and closely associated factors—such as decreased access to quality health care, reduced comprehension of disease and the medical system, increased competing home and work demands, and a reduction in self-confidence and social support—were closely connected and predicted SLE activity, organ damage and the ability of lupus sufferers to function.

Randolph understands lupus very well, and she is still highly functional. But she doesn’t know why getting health care for her chronic condition is so difficult. “It’s so hard to get into an insurance program. It doesn’t matter whether your illness is chronic or minor; everybody has criteria that you don’t meet,” she says. “The system doesn’t seem to help people who really have a chronic illness and need medication

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(GADSDEN-WILLIAMS) COURTESY OF MICHELLE GADSDEN-WILLIAMS; (RANDOLPH) COURTESY OF YOLANDA RANDOLPH

myself. When my legs would swell, I wore pantsuits. I did everything to hide the fact that I was battling a chronic illness.”

Finally, Gadsden-Williams shared her situation with her co-workers when it became clear they knew something was wrong. “I decided to just speak the truth,” she says.

When she told her boss, she was surprised by his reaction.

“He said, ‘I’m disappointed in the fact you didn’t feel that you could trust me with that information and you have a lot of support here. People care about you and we want to support you in any way we can,’” she says. “In hindsight, I think I would have at least told those individuals who really needed to know my situation.”

Lupus sufferers are often sensitive to sunlight, and they face episodes of severe joint pain in their fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and toes.

and hospital visits often.”

She’s also facing difficulty securing a safe place to live and finding and holding onto a job. Shortly after being hired by a major food retailer, she became ill and wound up in the hospital. “Two days after I gave them my doctor’s notes, I was fired,” Randolph says.

Another hired-then-fired episode saw Randolph lose her job at a popular family restaurant franchise. By then, she had enrolled in a clinical trial and was receiving weekly infusions of a new lupus drug. Says Randolph, “Jobs don’t work out all that well because once employers find out you’re sick, that’s it.”

Even managers at a federally funded program that works with companies who hire employees with disabilities cautioned her not to tell employers about her illness, Randolph says. “I’m just trying to fi nd employment with an employer who understands that I have an illness, but I am employable.”

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adsden-Williams regularly speaks to women with lupus about how to disclose they have the disease to employers.

“You must have that courageous conversation in a way that’s going to be most meaningful for you because you’re revealing your truth to a perfect stranger,” she says. “I coach them in terms of how to have that constructive conversation because they’re asking for what they need in order to be successful and they’re asking for people to be patient.”

But she also concedes that companies should be more sensitized to their employees’ health issues by having “internal conversations about how to lead and engage with people in general.” And there needs to be a support system in place, especially for employees living with chronic illnesses. Says Gadsden-Williams, some companies, such as Credit Suisse Bank, where she’s the global head of diversity and inclusion, offer their employees wellness programs and institutionalized support systems. But she understands

that not all companies provide these benefits.

“We’re starting to have more of these conversations, but it’s still a challenge,” she says. “People don’t like to talk about health in the workplace.” ■

LATELY IN LUPUS THERE ARE PLENTY OF PROMISING FINDINGS FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM THIS AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. Recently, the Cancer Therapy and Research Center in San Antonio, Texas, received a $1.12 million federal grant to figure out the precise set of hormonal signals that allow estrogen to interfere with the body’s healthy immune function. This work could lead to an important breakthrough in lupus treatment.

“Your immune system has a really complicated job. It’s got to figure out what’s supposed to be there and what’s not,” said Tyler Curiel, MD, MP, an oncologist and immunologist at the center. “It’s the Homeland Security of your body.”

Interestingly, Curiel was trying to solve a mystery in ovarian cancer when the search showed him that estrogen and the immune system play a role in the development of lupus.

“What’s cool is that insight in one area led to a discovery in another area, and both can benefit,” Curiel says.

Earlier this year, a multicenter study conducted in China found that stem cells from the umbilical cord showed promise in treating patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are resistant to current therapies.

Most commonly, SLE causes joint pains, skin rashes and fatigue, and the illness may also damage the kidneys and other organs. SLE is much more common in women than men. It may occur at any age, but it appears most often in people ages 10 to 50. African Americans and Asians are affected more often than people from other races.

CROSSING THE (HAIR)LINE (POGUE) DUSTIN FENSTERMACHER; (CHILDREN) COURTESY OF ERIC POGUE

Are precious strands missing from the front of your head?

By Gerrie E. Summers

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“Your hairline is made up of some of the most fragile and delicate hair on your head,” says Robert Dorin, DO, a New York City hair specialist and restoration surgeon. “Any thinning is very apparent early on, since it is at a place everyone sees easily.”

Although there are many reasons why people suffer from thinned-out hairlines, some folks inherit genes that predispose them to hair loss in this area, much like others who inherit genes that cause them to lose hair at the top and back of the head.

“Women tend to retain their hairline and thin in the top of the scalp, unlike men, who usually thin in both regions,” Dorin explains. “But women can and do also thin in a pattern similar to men.”

Additionally, hair loss can also be triggered by health conditions, such as a hormonal imbalance. What’s more, medications and lifestyle factors, such as stress or a poor diet, may cause the loss of precious strands from our heads.

Sometimes, what a person may think is hair loss is actually the hair follicles simply at rest. “The only practical way [to tell if hair is in a resting stage] is time,” Dorin says. “If a follicle sheds due to it cycling through a telogen [resting] phase, it will re-grow in time, usually 6 to 12 months, unlike a dead follicle.”

Although women rarely develop a receding hairline, they

are susceptible to hairline damage. One cause for loss in this area is repeated tension on the scalp, which can result in thinning hair. Often, the culprits for this disastrous damage are hairstyles such as tight cornrows, braids, buns and extensions. These styles can trigger traction alopecia, typically characterized by hair loss around the hairline, according to Dorin.

Traction alopecia results when excessive pressure or tension is placed on the hair follicles. These cell-lined sacs shoot out the strands that we seeing growing from the scalp. They are easily damaged by too much tugging or pulling; if the tension continues over a period of time, the hairline can begin to grow weaker. This means strands shed faster than normal, so hair isn’t allowed to grow to its full length.

Indeed, the hair may even stop growing completely if the pressure continues for a long period of time. “Typically, traction alopecia occurs right at the front of the hairline, at the temples or the hairline right above the ears,” Dorin says.

To avoid traction alopecia, Dorin suggests discontinuing hairstyles that cause this tension. Also “avoid using hard bristle brushes that tug on the hair, and reduce extreme heat usage, especially around your edges,” he advises.

Dorin also recommends using a product with 18-methyl eicosanoic acid, or 18-MEA, a fatty substance on the outside of the hair cuticle that protects its surface and minimizes future damage.

This substance also helps to prevent shaft damage to the viable hairs that remain and supply moisture to the surHOW TO REPAIR OR REGROW YOUR HAIRLINE rounding hair and scalp.

If you’ve already suffered a partial loss of your crowning glory, there’s still Keep your scalp clean. Hair loss can can be brewed like a tea to use as a good news. Hair can be restored in part be caused by dandruff. When scales rinse after shampooing. or whole with the use of medications on the scalp become encrusted with and cosmetic surgery. Some treatments What about hair vitamins? Says excess sebum, an oily substance, this to consider include topical medications, Robert Dorin, DO, a hair specialist can push hair follicles into a resting such as minoxidil and Propecia (finasand restoration surgeon based in New stage, resulting in thinning and teride) to help stabilize, prevent and, in York City: If you have a true deficiency baldness. Jojoba oil can clean debris some cases, recover lost hair. (Currently, in vitamins such as iron, biotin or from the hair follicles, stimulate cells Propecia is only FDA-approved for use vitamin D, proper supplementation in the scalp and accelerate growth. by men.) can help hair grow fuller and at a more But, Dorin cautions, “These mediMassage your scalp. Rubbing your constant rate. But a deficiency should cations tend not work on restoring hair head increases blood circulation to be determined by proper blood tests. loss in the hairline.” What’s more, they the hair’s roots. Try using fragrant “Unnecessary vitamins can build up in need to be used on a daily basis to concoconut oil. It’s said to keep bacteria the body if they are not water soluble, tinue working. from building up on the scalp; it also and they could cause detrimental side In addition, there are laser treatprevents hair loss and reduces protein effects,” Dorin cautions. ment caps men and women can use to loss in hair. stop their thinning hair from totally In addition, avoid excessive styling disappearing. These caps help stabilize Use oils that stimulate growth. and heat styling, tight hairstyles, hair loss and thicken the diameter of Massage your scalp with a few drops of styles that pull on the hair and strands, making tresses appear fuller. If tea tree (which has antibacterial and excessive manipulation of the hair. trauma is very severe and permanent antifungal properties), rosemary oil Give tresses a rest with styles that damage has occurred, however, a hair (which stimulates hair follicles) or don’t need handling each day. Also, transplant may be your best bet. jojoba oil. Lavender oil has healing and avoid harsh hair products, steer clear Ultimately, the best treatment of antibacterial properties and encourages of stress, exercise, get enough sleep all, Dorin says, “is to prevent hair loss hair growth. Fresh lavender or rosemary and eat a healthy diet. in the first place.” ■

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THOUGHTS

Extreme Discomfort How one couple handled their worst moment of anxiety

Although interracial couples strolling the streets together may no longer seem noteworthy, there are still places where these folks are treated with hostility and contempt.

I learned that firsthand when I visited Boston with my significant other at the time, an older white man with whom I had been in a relationship for two years.

He was Italian and I’m African American, and in addition to the racial difference there was also an age gap. We both lived in New York City, and we’d encountered uncomfortable ogling before—quick glances and even long, rude stares. But Boston was another challenge entirely.

In that city, I actually felt threatened by the reaction some people exhibited when my boyfriend and I walked down the street. One evening, all the negativity crystallized when my boyfriend and I decided to chance dinner at an Italian bistro that seemed as good as any other.

I’ll never forget when we opened the door and stepped inside. All conversation ceased, and a hush descended on the eatery. It seemed as if every eye in the place was on us.

My boyfriend wanted to tough it out and stay. But I convinced him otherwise. In my mind, we did best to walk out while we could and live to fight bias and prejudice another day.

—As told to Kate Ferguson

How to deal with this crazy thing called life

Merriam-Webster defines anxiety as a “painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill.” This normal reaction to stress can be helpful in certain situations. But when the agonizing feelings anxiety can produce become excessive and hard to control, we may begin to feel crazed and overwhelmed.

The good news is that simply being anxious doesn’t mean you now have a mental disorder requiring treatment. But who wants, or needs, to become paralyzed with terror because of anxieties that sap your energy and stoke your fears?

And here’s more good news: There are ways to cope with anxiety.

Four key ways, according to mental health experts, entail easy changes that can help you deal with anxiety-producing incidents. This boils down to either changing the situation or reacting in more positive ways to what’s happening.

Here are four key steps to handling anxious moments: Avoid stressors; alter what happens that makes you anxious; adapt instead of reacting to stress; and simply accept what you can’t change.

These guidelines have been proven to actually help you eliminate much of the stress in your life. Also, these easy steps can help you regain control when you feel totally overwhelmed, and they help you understand that some things in life aren’t under your control.

Hope you feel better now.

3 4 REAL HEALTH WINT E R 2014

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realhealthmag.com

According to experts at the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million Americans ages 18 years and older.

Who is more at risk of suffering an anxiety disorder?

Women are 60 percent more likely than men to experience an anxiety disorder. In addition, about 8 percent of youth ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder. African Americans and Hispanics are less likely than whites to suffer an anxiety disorder during their lifetime.

How are anxiety disorders diagnosed?

First, doctors use a diagnostic evaluation to see whether someone’s symptoms are caused by a physical problem. If the symptoms don’t have a physical cause, doctors try to identify the type of disorder present. They also try to check for any other issues, such as depression or substance abuse, that might contribute to a patient’s high anxiety.

What are some treatments used for anxiety disorders?

Therapy for anxiety disorders depends on the problem and what treatment method a patient prefers—drugs or psychotherapy.

THINKSTOCK

Anxious All the Time?

The Expert Says

READER SURVEY

SPEAK YOUR MIND! (And Win Free Stuff)

How you argue with your significant other says a lot about your relationship. Indeed, one study showed that researchers who evaluated married couples could predict with almost 95 percent accuracy whether partners would stay together or get divorced just by the way they argued.

What’s your argument style? Please take the survey below and let us know.

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As a thank-you, we’ll select one winner at random from among the completed surveys we receive and send that person a fitness DVD (suggested retail price from $18.99 to $24.99). For official contest rules, please visit realhealthmag.com/survey/rules.

1. When I get upset, I raise my voice.

12. What is your household income?

❑ Yes ❑ No

❑ Under $15,000 ❑ $15,000–$34,999

2. I curse at my partner when I get upset.

❑ $35,000–$49,999

❑ Yes ❑ No

❑ $50,000–$74,999 ❑ $75,000–$99,999

3. I tend to say mean things to hurt my partner personally when we argue.

❑ $100,000 and over

❑ Yes ❑ No

13. What is the highest level of education attained? ❑ Some high school

4. If I realize I’m wrong during an argument, I admit that to my partner.

❑ High school graduate

❑ Yes ❑ No

❑ Bachelor’s degree or higher

5. After an argument with my partner, I tend to nurse resentments.

14. What is your ethnicity?

❑ Yes ❑ No

❑ Arab or Middle Eastern

❑ Some college

❑ American Indian or Alaska Native ❑ Asian

6. I tend to walk away if an argument with my partner goes on for too long.

❑ Black or African American

❑ Yes ❑ No

❑ Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

❑ Hispanic or Latino ❑ White

7. I tend to get overly emotional when I argue with my partner.

❑ Other

❑ Yes ❑ No

15. Where do you get Real Health? ❑ I’m a subscriber

8. If I’m still angry after an argument with my partner, I tend to withhold affection.

❑ My doctor’s office

❑ Yes ❑ No

❑ A community or college organization

❑ My church ❑ It was mailed to me

9. When arguing with my partner, I tend to bring up issues that have nothing to do with the stuff we’re talking about.

❑ Other:_______________________

❑ Yes ❑ No

❑ Yes ❑ No

10. What year were you born?_________

17. Name:___________________________________________ 18. Organization (if you represent one):______________________ 19. Street address:_____________________________________________ 20. City & state:________________________________________________ 21. ZIP code:____________________________________________________ 22. Email:_______________________________________________________ 23. Phone:_______________________________________________________

11. What is your gender? ❑ Female ❑ Male ❑ Transgender ❑ Other

16. Do you have Internet access?

Winter 2014