Hair loss is a problem we have all faced in our lives at least once, if not a recurring one. Or we may also know someone who has faced it and continues to face it. While millions of people suffer from this common problem of hair loss, there could be more than one reason for the same. It is true that this could be a frustrating issue to deal with on a day to day basis, furthermore, without the right care, it can even worsen, and affect a person's not just appearance, but health, including mental health.

The causes could be many: stress, hormonal imbalance, or other factors like environmental pollutants, etc.

To get a better understanding, the Health and Me Team spoke to Dr Prashanth Shetty, who is the principal at the SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences.

"As seen by our lifestyle, stress is often seen as a contributing factor to hair loss. Our bodies release stress hormones like cortisol in response to emotional or physical stress, and they impact the hair growth cycle," says the doctor.

Telogen Effluvium

It is a temporary condition that happens due to stress, where hair follicles in large volumes enter the resting or the telogen phase, prematurely. This results in shedding. "This can be seen even a month later of a stressful event. Luckily, hair regrows after the stress diminishes and the cycle of hair growth returns to normalcy," explains Dr Shetty.

Another condition is Trichotillomania. This is a mental illness, where people feel pressured to rip their hair out when they are stressed or anxious. This also manifests as noticeable patches of hair loss, and requires psychological intervention.

So, does gender play a role?

The doctor explains that the cycle of hair growth is in fact, significantly regulated by hormones. This means that any changes in hormonal levels could lead to hair loss or hair thinning.

But, how does gender come to play? Androgenic Alopecia also known to as male or female pattern baldness, where the increase in male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) leads to thinning of hair and ending up in the person being bald, starting at the crown or temples. A similar pattern is seen in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that can cause excessive production of androgens.

For Women

Women undergo major hormonal changes during pregnancy and post-partum period. The lengthening of the hair growth phase, making the hair fuller and thicker, is seen in pregnancy due to high estrogen levels. But, usually after the delivery, shedding of hair speeds up due to a drop in estrogen levels; commonly known as postpartum hair loss, explains Dr Shetty.

Thyroid Imbalances, such as both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, can cause hair thinning or loss. The thyroid hormones regulate metabolism and influence the hair growth cycle, so when these hormones are out of balance, hair loss can occur.

There can be other factors too, like nutritional deficiencies of iron, vitamin D, zinc, and biotin can weaken hair follicles and lead to hair loss, for which a balanced diet is a must. Certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, anticoagulants, and antidepressants, can trigger hair loss as a side effect. Underlying health conditions like alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease) or scalp infections can also cause significant hair loss.

Being on flights can make some people nervous. As the plane gains momentum and speeds off the ground, some people feel an unexplained pressure in their stomach. The phrase ‘butterflies in stomach’ perfectly summarizes this feeling, as it is a mixture of excitement and anxiety. However, going through the entire flight with built-up gas and the bloated feeling can be one of the most uncomfortable experiences.

Why Do Flights Cause Bloating?

Airlines often caution people about how changes in cabin pressure during takeoff and landing on long-haul flights can lead to health problems. The air pressure inside the cabin is lower than at sea level. As the cabin pressure decreases during flight, gases in the body expand, which can cause pressure and bloating in the stomach and digestive system. Bloating often occurs when food isn't properly digested, leading to gas production by bacteria in the intestines. They echoed the advice to eat light, probiotic foods before flying and avoid gas-producing foods and carbonated drinks during travel.

Tips To Avoid Bloating

The best way to find lasting relief from bloating depends on what's causing it. Sometimes, getting a professional diagnosis is necessary to understand the underlying issue. However, if you're looking for home remedies to ease bloating today or prevent it tomorrow, here are some options you can try. According to the Cleveland Clinic,

Peppermint, Chamomile, Ginger, Turmeric, and Fennel Teas: These can aid digestion and help your body process gas more effectively.

Dandelion Tea: This tea may help reduce water retention, which can contribute to bloating.

Regular Exercise with Core Strengthening: Focusing on exercises that strengthen your core muscles can help improve digestive function and reduce abdominal bloating over time.

Should You Avoid Certain Foods Before Flight?

To help avoid gas problems and have a more comfortable flight, avoid certain things. Expert explains that the day before you fly, have a meal with seasonal vegetables. These foods contain fiber and help you avoid any gas build up on the day of the flight.

On the morning of your flight, make sure you do things like drink warm lemon water, avoid caffeine or choose herbal tea and limit carbohydrates. Doing things like walking around the airport while waiting, using the bathroom before boarding and avoiding oily and salty foods during the flight also helps.

Some other things you should do is to not eat things like fruits, legumes, and vegetables, or dairy products because they can contribute to bloating. Try only consuming non-alcoholic and non-carbonated drinks.

To avoid feeling anxious and stressed during the flight, move around the cabin every two hours on long flights, keep doctor-approved pills for digestive issues and consult a doctor if you have significant discomfort before or after flying.

Being frail comes with age, your joints become weaker, your muscles lose their strength, and your skin slowly loses its elasticity. A lot of people wonder why aging people move so slowly or have difficulty doing simple tasks, but as they age, they realize that it's because there is a constant pain that accompanies moving.

There are a lot of things that can affect aging, something that many people have raised concern over. Certain foods, lifestyle activities and conditions that can age your body and organs faster than their biological age. Experts and studies have explained that to slow this rapid aging, one must incorporate many changes in their life, things like eating unprocessed food, and avoiding foods with excess saturated fats, added sugar and sodium etc., one must also live a healthy lifestyle with proper exercise and healthy choices like early mornings and appropriate sleep.

Coffee Consumption And Healthy Aging

People also suggest one should avoid things like coffee and drinks with excess caffeine. However, a new study shows that it could help you slow down aging. Published in the European Journal of Nutrition, the study suggests that regularly drinking coffee might play a role in delaying physical ageing and frailty. The research indicates that coffee drinkers could potentially experience fewer of the undesirable symptoms associated with getting older.

Specifically, the study revealed that consistently consuming four to six or more cups of coffee (each 125ml) daily is linked to a lower risk of developing frailty in older adults.

What Is Considered Frail and How Does Coffee Affect It?

This study was funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) and they wanted to find the relationship between coffee consumption and how it is linked to frailty. Using Fried’s five component of frailty, which has been determined as a useful criteria for inpatient assessment by Clinical Interventions in Aging, which are,

• Unintentional weight loss
• Feelings of weakness
• Exhaustion
• Slow walking speed
• Low levels of physical activity.

What Did The Study Find?

Building on previous studies that associated coffee with benefits like improved brain function and protection against inflammation-related diseases, they looked into long term benefits of coffee.

Researchers conducted a thorough seven-year analysis of 1,161 adults aged 55 and over, using data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA). The study focused on the relationship between how much coffee participants drank and the presence and development of frailty.

The researchers suggested that the antioxidants present in coffee may be a key reason for its potential to reduce frailty. These antioxidants could help lessen inflammation, combat muscle loss (sarcopenia), and protect against muscle damage. Furthermore, coffee might improve how the body uses insulin and absorbs glucose in older individuals. Their findings showed that daily coffee consumption can reduce frailty in older population.

Food Safety Regulations To Keep In Mind

These findings should be considered alongside the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) guidelines on caffeine consumption. EFSA considers up to 400mg of caffeine daily (equivalent to three to five cups of coffee) to be a moderate and safe amount for most adults. However, individuals with high sensitivity to caffeine or high blood pressure should limit their coffee intake. The NHS also advises pregnant women to limit their caffeine consumption to no more than 200mg per day, roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee.

Beds are usually considered a safe place for people; it is a place that you can always count on to help you rest and recuperate no matter how tough things get. However, sometimes this safe place can become home to some unwanted guests. While our parents would often urge us to make sure our beds remained clean and no food articles remained on it, sometimes leaving things here and there does not seem like a big concern for us. However, this could also be an invitation for bed bugs to enter the equation.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bed bugs are public health pests. While they do not transmit any diseases, they can cause our physical, mental as well as economical health to suffer. Severe health consequences to them can include allergic reactions which could be on the spectrum of small rashes to anaphylaxis, which is a full body reaction. It can also cause anxiety, insomnia and impact people’s mental health. However, how does one distinguish bed bug bites to normal insect bites?

NHS Guidance on Bed Bugs and Their Bites

The National Health Service (NHS) highlights that bed bugs can hide in various locations, including bed frames, mattresses, clothing, furniture, behind pictures, and under loose wallpaper. They identify three key signs of a bed bug infestation:

Bites: Often appearing on exposed skin areas during sleep, such as the face, neck, and arms.

Blood Spots: Small spots of blood on bedding, resulting from bites or crushed bed bugs.

Brown Spots: Tiny brown spots (bed bug excrement) found on bedding or furniture.

On fair skin, bed bug bites typically appear red, while on darker skin, they may look purplish and can be less noticeable. Reactions to bites vary; some people experience intense itching and painful swelling. Generally, bed bug bites resolve on their own within a week or two.

How Can You Treat Bed Bug Bites?

To manage bed bug bites, the NHS recommends several self-care measures. Applying a cool, damp cloth to the affected area can help alleviate itching and swelling. It's also important to keep the bite area clean to prevent any potential infections. Finally, resisting the urge to scratch the bites is crucial in minimizing the risk of further irritation or infection. Some over the counter products that you may get for relief may include mild steroid creams like Hydrocortisone cream can help ease the itching associated with bed bug bites. NHS notes that children under 10 and pregnant women should consult a doctor before using hydrocortisone cream. You may also be given Antihistamines, which provide relief if the bites are severely itchy and interfere with sleep.

How Can You Get Rid Of Them?

The NHS suggests that if you have bed bugs, it's best to get in touch with your local council or a pest control company. Getting rid of bed bugs on your own can be really tough because they can hide well and some bug sprays don't work on them. While there are a few things you can try yourself, they probably won't completely solve the problem.