Went for a brief stroll to Edinburgh Castle, but decided not to explore the interior. Edinburgh Castle, a historic fortress in Scotland, is perched on Castle Rock—a site with human presence dating back to the Iron Age. The specifics of the early settlement remain somewhat mysterious.
14 comments
Take a moment to check your skin regularly for potential issues. A routine full-body skin exam can help catch early signs of skin cancer and other concerns.
Consider looking at your entire skin, not just your face. Regular self-exams every three to six months are recommended. Use a full-length mirror, a handheld mirror for hard-to-see spots, and a magnifying glass for smaller areas. If possible, ask someone for assistance to ensure you don't miss anything.
Here's a simple guide for your self-check:
- Examine your face, neck, ears (especially behind them), and scalp. Use a comb or blow dryer to improve visibility.
- Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror. Raise your arms and check your left and right sides.
- Bend your elbows and carefully inspect your fingernails, palm, back of each hand, forearms, and upper arms.
- Check the back, front, and sides of your legs. Also, examine the skin on your buttocks and genital area.
- Sit down and examine your feet, including the soles, spaces between your toes, and toenails.
Note any new or questionable moles, sores, painful or itchy spots, raised or firm bumps, dark flaky patches, and black or brown lines along fingernails and toenails. Pay attention to changes in firmness, as sometimes we feel something troubling before we see it.
Record the date of your self-exams and document findings, including exact locations. Take photos with your phone for reference. After six to eight weeks, reevaluate trouble spots. If they haven't improved or have changed color, size, become painful, or easily bleed, consider seeking professional advice.
As time passes, cosmetic changes like wrinkles, lines, bags under the eyes, age spots, raised rough lesions, and sagging skin may appear. Various cosmetic treatments, including injections, chemical peels, freezing sprays, laser treatments, prescription creams, and surgery, can address these concerns. Consult with a specialist to explore available options.
Keep an eye out for signs of skin cancer, particularly melanoma. Follow the ABCDE guide to recognize possible melanoma, and be aware of changes in existing moles or the appearance of new ones.
Additionally, during your self-exam, monitor freckles, especially large, irregular ones, as they may indicate a specific form of melanoma. Watch out for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in sun-exposed areas, as these are types of skin cancer that are usually slow-growing and treatable if caught early. Actinic keratoses (AKs) are rough, gritty growths that can appear in different colors. While initially not dangerous, have them checked, as they may lead to squamous cell carcinoma if left unattended.
Elevating Cardio Fitness: A Potential Shield Against Common Cancers in Men
Staying in good shape with activities like jogging or cycling might actually help guys fend off some serious health issues. According to a study shared in the journals on June 29, 2023, being in better cardio shape seems to reduce the chances of men facing a tough time with colon, lung, or prostate cancer.
Researchers checked in on over 170,000 guys, keeping an eye on their cardio fitness levels by measuring something called VO2 max while they pedaled away on stationary bikes. VO2 max is basically how much oxygen your body can use during exercise – the higher, the better.
Fast forward about 9.6 years of keeping tabs on these guys, and the ones with top-notch cardio fitness had lower risks of losing the battle against these types of cancers. So, beyond just keeping your heart happy, getting that heart rate up through some good, sweaty workouts might be a smart move for guys dealing with these common cancers.
Fast forward about 9.6 years of keeping tabs on these guys, and the ones with top-notch cardio fitness had lower risks of losing the battle against these types of cancers. So, beyond just keeping your heart happy, getting that heart rate up through some good, sweaty workouts might be a smart move for guys dealing with these common cancers.
Sometimes, certain thoughts just won't leave us alone – they keep playing over and over, like a song stuck in your head. If it's just a random tune, it's annoying but not a big deal. But a sticky thought is different; it causes distress, you can't shake it off, and it messes with your day, explains a mental health expert.
These persistent thoughts can pop up due to stress or an underlying issue like anxiety, depression, OCD, or PTSD. For example, if you're dealing with generalized anxiety, you might have sticky thoughts about upcoming events or financial worries. Depression can bring on thoughts of failure or loneliness, while OCD might have you obsessing over germs. PTSD, linked to traumatic experiences, can replay distressing scenes in your mind.
Sticky thoughts aren't just a mental annoyance – they can mess with your concentration, fuel feelings of shame and fear, and even harm your self-esteem. Over time, they might lead to social isolation, making some folks reluctant to leave home.
Sticky thoughts aren't just a mental annoyance – they can mess with your concentration, fuel feelings of shame and fear, and even harm your self-esteem. Over time, they might lead to social isolation, making some folks reluctant to leave home.
As people age, their metabolism tends to slow down, and burning calories becomes more challenging. Decreased testosterone levels and reduced physical activity may lead to a decline in muscle mass, contributing to an accumulation of body fat. A health professional notes that excess calories, when not burned off, get stored as fat, potentially resulting in increased body fat.
The critical issue lies in the type of fat and its location. While subcutaneous fat under the skin might not pose significant health risks, visceral fat, stored around vital organs within the abdominal cavity, can elevate heart disease risk factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Waist measurement is a practical way to gauge visceral fat, with a waistline of a certain measurement signaling excess visceral fat.
To measure visceral fat, a tape measure can be placed at a specific point, pulled around without compressing the area. Monitoring changes in pants tightness can also serve as an indicator of gaining visceral fat.
Combatting unseen fat involves a combination of aerobic exercise, strength training, and a healthy diet. Recommendations include a certain duration of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise two or three days a week, coupled with weekly sessions of weight or resistance training to build muscle mass. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is highlighted for its effectiveness, involving periods of intense activity followed by slower-paced intervals.
In addition to maintaining a healthy, plant-based diet, ensuring an adequate daily intake of protein is crucial for building muscle mass. A certain suggested amount of protein per kilogram of body weight is mentioned, with sources like fish, poultry, beans, and yogurt. Protein powder can also be incorporated into various foods and beverages for added convenience.
The critical issue lies in the type of fat and its location. While subcutaneous fat under the skin might not pose significant health risks, visceral fat, stored around vital organs within the abdominal cavity, can elevate heart disease risk factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Waist measurement is a practical way to gauge visceral fat, with a waistline of a certain measurement signaling excess visceral fat.
To measure visceral fat, a tape measure can be placed at a specific point, pulled around without compressing the area. Monitoring changes in pants tightness can also serve as an indicator of gaining visceral fat.
Combatting unseen fat involves a combination of aerobic exercise, strength training, and a healthy diet. Recommendations include a certain duration of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise two or three days a week, coupled with weekly sessions of weight or resistance training to build muscle mass. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is highlighted for its effectiveness, involving periods of intense activity followed by slower-paced intervals.
In addition to maintaining a healthy, plant-based diet, ensuring an adequate daily intake of protein is crucial for building muscle mass. A certain suggested amount of protein per kilogram of body weight is mentioned, with sources like fish, poultry, beans, and yogurt. Protein powder can also be incorporated into various foods and beverages for added convenience.
Depositphotos
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)