Health Pass

Osteoarthritis is a common condition which affects many people as they get older. It is defined as a progressive decline in the joints, which means protective cartilage starts to degrade, causing pain and stiffness in the joints. Conventional treatment has traditionally been a mix of exercise, pain relief medication and a change in lifestyle, and in severe cases joints may have to be completely replaced by surgery.

Apart from the conventional treatments, the dietary supplement of Glucosamine has been medically proven to have benefits to those suffering with osteoarthritis. Glucosamine naturally occurs in the body, but the rate of production declines with age. Replacing and boosting the glucosamine levels in the body can help the cartilage repair and lessen the pain and discomfort of osteoarthritis. Many people take supplements such as glucosamine before symptoms appear, especially if there is a history of the condition in the family. It is always wise to consult your doctor before taking any supplement, but you can easily buy Glucosamine over the counter at most large health food shops, or in bulk on the internet. Effects will take a few months to build up, and the supplement must be taken every day to provide maximum benefit.

The most common form of male hair loss is androgenic alopecia, commonly referred to as male pattern baldness. Hair loss as a result of male pattern baldness the result of a man’s body turning testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes hair follicles to shrink in some men. Men whose hair follicles that respond to DHT by shrinking can blame both their parents.

Minoxidil is the most common, and only effective, ingredient in topical hair growth treatment products. It works by stimulating the hair follicles which stops hair loss and may lead to new hair growth. Twice a day, men apply this hair growth treatment directly to their scalp and in as little as 8 weeks, they should start seeing results. There are many other products on the market that can be applied topically which claim to grow hair but unless Minoxidil is the active ingredient, they do not work. Any results are likely to be psychosomatic, not the result of any specific ingredient.

Sometimes men using Minoxidil based products dye their hair after hair regrowth starts. The new hair comes in very fine at first, so dying the hair a dark color makes it more noticeable. Men no longer have to be resigned to male pattern baldness, it can be stopped in it’s tracks with a hair growth treatment, however the treatments must be continued indefinitely or the hair loss will resume.