Partners in Health – Personal Body Check

Hair loss is a common problem and is dependent on various causes. It not only affects your looks but your self esteem too. Seeking treatment for hair loss can help you get rid of this problem.

Causes of hair loss and male pattern baldness

The causes of hair loss and male pattern baldness include a number of factors. Serious illness or major surgery, for instance, can cause your hair to fall out in large amounts. Hormonal problems, too, are major reasons for excessive hair loss. Hair loss is likely to be a symptom of an under active or overactive thyroid gland. Hair loss that occurs due to an imbalance of estrogen or androgens can be treated by correcting the imbalance. Other causes of hair loss include certain medications as well as fungal infections on the scalp. Many women experience hair loss after pregnancy. Hair loss can also be an early symptom of an underlying disease.

Also known as androgenetic alopecia, male pattern hair loss is largely a hereditary or a hormonal condition that occurs only in men. This kind of hair loss has a typical pattern that consists of thinning hair at the top of the head along with a receding hairline that eventually forms an ‘M’ shape. The hair that is mostly concentrated along the sides of the head will become finer in texture. Some of the possible psychological complications of male pattern hair loss include loss of self-esteem and stress due to a change in appearance.

How effective is Propecia in treating male pattern baldness?

Consisting of the active ingredient finasteride, Propecia is one of the most popular prescription medications used in the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Finasteride is usually recommended for the treatment of mild to moderate hair loss in men. Men suffering from severe hair loss see little or no improvement with Propecia. Propecia treatment is prohibited for women, particularly those who are pregnant or planning to conceive. This is because any kind of contact with Propecia, specifically in a broken or crushed form, is known to have an adverse impact on the sex organs of an unborn male fetus.

Finasteride works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone – the primary male sex hormone – to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). High levels of DHT promote hair loss in men by breaking down genetically predisposed hair follicles. Propecia interferes in this process in order to stop further loss of hair and to encourage the growth of new hair follicles. Because Propecia can only be taken with a doctor’s prescription, your doctor needs to do a comprehensive evaluation of your medical history before prescribing it to you. Find out if you are allergic to finasteride or any of the ingredients in Propecia before taking this medication.

Do you smoke? Do you smell like an ashtray? If yes, then there are chances that your bad breath is a result of smoking. Smoking causes bad breath. If you smoke, you will have a stale smell in your mouth, which will linger on for a long period of time. Smoking also leads to gum disease, which in turn leads to bad breath. Most smokers are aware of these side effects of smoking, but are unable to quit because cigarettes are addictive. But, if you have a strong resolve, you can quit smoking with the help of smoking cessation aids like Champix varenicline.

Gums and tooth decay

It is also noted that smoking inhibits the production of saliva and as saliva plays an important role in multiplication of anaerobic bacteria, volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) are produced. Smoking decreases saliva and increases the production of VSC in your mouth. This way, the likelihood of gum disease and tooth decay increases. Statistics show that smokers have more cavities than non-smokers. Gums of smokers tend to detach from the teeth giving rise to VSC, which flourish and cause further decay. It is recommended, that you quit smoking for a healthy life ahead.

Be strong – Quit smoking

Champix varenicline tablets are used to help individuals who are addicted to smoking and want to give it up. Though it acts in the brain, it is different from nicotine replacement therapy. Varenicline stimulates the nicotinic receptors in the brain, and produces an effect that relives a person’s craving for tobacco. Even while taking this medicine to stop smoking, it is recommended that you seek help and support so that your goal to become smoke free becomes easier.