Unravel the truth about male pattern hair loss

Male hair loss is an unfortunate and extremely demoralising problem which many young men face just as they are about to venture into the realms of socialising. Male pattern baldness causes more concern that other types of hair loss. For many men, it usually starts at an early age, sometimes during the late twenties, and continues for more than 20-25 years. Hair loss can be fairly rapid, causing guys to go bald in as little as 5 years. But the good news is that the condition can be treated successfully and with timely and effective treatment, it is even possible to trigger hair regrowth. But sadly, people are fed with tons of incomplete and wrong information about hair loss. Here are 5 commonest misconceptions that are embedded in most people's mind.

Hair loss is a maternal inheritance

Male pattern baldness, which is caused by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is mainly a genetic problem. So there is no reason to spare the father! If anybody from your father's family ever suffered from the problem, you may also pick it up.

Wearing a hat may trigger pattern hair loss

Many men like to put on hats or fancy headgears. For them this myth sounds really scary. The truth is unless you wear a hat so tight that it cuts off circulation to the hair follicles, you won't go bald.

Cut and shave more to make it thicker

When you cut hair from your scalp, it only appears that you get a thicker look on the top! But in reality, nothing of that sort happens. Frequent shaving too does nothing in favour of hair growth on the head.

Sometimes I see hairs coming off while combing. This is a sign of male pattern baldness.

On an average basis, a normal person with no testosterone-dihydrotestosterone problem may experience hair fall. It is estimated that about 100 hairs come off every day. So occasional stray hairs on your comb should not bother you at all.

Genetic hair loss is not treatable

This is another gross misconception. There are trusted and 100% safe non-surgical means to prevent hair fall and even to restore your full-grown look. Propecia finasteride is one of the most sought after drugs when it comes to prevention and renewal of hair growth.

5 tips on how to get the best out of Viagra

Viagra is one power-packed pellet of potency that has made impotence treatment easier and more effective than ever.

While its popularity is skyrocketing everyday, misconceptions are also mounting. Here are 5 tips on how to maximize the benefits of Viagra.

Tip 1: Take the tablet at least 30 minutes before sex. It will give you enough time to indulge in foreplay or other means to get aroused and be ready for intercourse.

Tip 2: The blue pill works best when taken on an empty stomach or with a meal which is low in fat. Fat may inhibit absorption of the drug into the system. Even if you cannot avoid a fatty meal, make sure you have it 2 hours before taking the medicine.

Tip 3: Do not panic if you are not successful at your first or second attempt. For most men with erectile dysfunction, Viagra works right away. But in case it does not, you may need to relax a bit mentally. Taking your mind off sex for some time may help. If this too doesn't help, talk to your doctor. A little adjustment in the dosage may solve your problem.

Tip 4: Do not hurry as if it is the end of the world. Take your time and build the mood both for yourself and your partner. You have 4 hours to enjoy sex, so start kindling the fire slowly and rest assured, you will have your partner caught in heat of the moment very shortly.

Tip 5: It sometimes helps to even ignore that you are on Viagra, because if you become too self-conscious about the medicine, your emotional involvement may not be at its best.

How to prevent male pattern baldness

Male pattern baldness, medically known as androgenic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss experienced by men. The term 'pattern baldness' indicates a specific type of male hair loss – first hairline starts to recede from the crown, which is followed by disappearance of hair from the mid-anterior region of the scalp. This type of hair fall is triggered by androgenic hormones. An individual can suffer from it any time – be it in his twenties or fifties. But the condition is preventable with medicines such as Propecia finasteride, which, if used as prescribed, can in fact encourage hair regrowth.

What causes hair to fall off?

An androgenic hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is responsible for male pattern baldness. Actually the normal growth rate of hair is an inch in every couple of months or so. This rate continues for about 2-6 years, after which hair no longer grows and comes off. Each hair is rooted in a follicle, which contracts over time, slowing hair growth. Shrinking of follicles also makes hair thinner. The end result is a shrunk follicle without any hair rooted in it.

According to experts, when a man has male pattern baldness, his follicles become genetically sensitive to androgenic hormones. As a result of this, the follicles no longer respond to the hormones and hair starts to fall off. So to prevent the problem, it is important to use a medicine that can keep the follicles alive. Propecia has finasteride as its active ingredient, which is a synthetic anti-androgen. It reduces androgenic hormones and in doing so, prevent male pattern baldness and even encourages new hair growth.

What does Propecia do to prevent male hair loss?

Manufactured by Merck and Co., Inc., Propecia is an FDA-approved prescription only medicine. It is basically a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor which can prevent the hair follicles from getting exposed to the DHT hormones. This makes sure the hair follicles stay alive and capable of producing new hair. But for the medicine to work effectively, you need to use it for about 3 months at a stretch. Only then you will notice any significant change on your scalp. But do not stop taking the medicine as soon as you see the positive results. You should complete the course to get long-term benefits of the treatment.

Is Propecia safe for all?

Propecia is only indicated for men. It does not work for women suffering from any kind of hair loss problem. Pregnant or expecting women shouldn't even handle the pill if its crushed or broken, as it may affect the foetus. Keep the drug away from children's reach.

Can men prevent pattern hair loss without medical assistance?

Studies have so far unearthed that mostly genetic factors cause androgenic alopecia or pattern hair loss. So it is not possible to prevent it without treatment. Similarly, do not get alarmed if you see a few stray hairs on your comb occasionally. All types of hair loss is not genetic and you can prevent non-genetic hair fall by making a few small adjustments in your hair care regime.

What you can do and do without when you're on a slimming regime

Weight loss programs are tried and tested ways to achieve long-term weight loss goals and remain healthy. But overweight or obese people are often fed with incomplete or wrong information about how to go about their slimming regimes. Resultantly, they end up putting more weight and developing other health conditions. Relying solely on slimming pills to lose weight and cutting down on diet in an irrational manner may do you more harm than good when you are under obesity treatment. Let us cast light on some do's and don'ts while you're on a weight loss program.

Do take a diet that works best for you

Everyone's body is different and there is no rule of thumb to know for sure how your body is going to react to certain food. So it's up to you to know which type of food you like and most importantly, your body can accept without rebelling.

Do stick to your diet

When you're prescribed a low-calorie diet by your physician, it takes time for your body to get accustomed to the new food. Also, if you're taking weight loss pills such as Xenical, there is a fair chance that your slimming program will take at least 90 days before you see any significant reduction in your BMI, body fat or waist circumference.

Do take your new diet as a permanent solution to your weight-related problem
 

Hopping across various types of diets is not recommended when you're on a weight loss program. It's like needlessly blowing hot and cold when all you need is a steady, nutritious diet coupled with regular exercise and weight loss pills, if any.      

Do take veg 'filler' foods

Vegetables that do not contain starch are perfect when you're on a slimming program. They are low-calorie food with plenty of water and fibre. Baby carrots, cauliflower leaves and green beans are recommended in particular.

Don't snack between principal meals

This is a strict no-no if you're serious about losing weight. Most snacks and junk foods contain a very high percentage of fat and carbohydrates and you won't do yourself any good if you keep on munching potato chips and cheeseburgers all the time.

Don't deprive yourself of sleep

The most basic things about life are simple. If you don't get adequate sleep, production of a hormone called ghrelin increases, making you feel more hungry. Lack of sleep can also make you feel irritated and tired, which effectively takes away your focus from things you should be thinking about on priority basis. And when that happens, chances are very high that you'll be drawn into eating to compensate for your intellectual or spiritual deficits.

Don't use exercise as an excuse to eating more

You may walk, run, swim, or dance, but none of them will fetch you any benefit if you can't resist the temptation to go on frequent binges.    

Don't eat when you're not hungry

Hunger is the best cuisine and amen to that. Many people have a tendency to eat when they feel unhappy, angry or bored. Emotional eating violates the body's natural requirement. So learn to distinguish between craving and hunger. Also, avoid peers who always eat no matter what the occasion is. You may find it difficult to not eat when you are in their company.

Is there something fishy about your diet pills?

• Are there any good diet pills? - Yes.
• Are there any pills that don't work? - Absolutely yes.
• Can weight loss pills be dangerous? - Quite a few, yes.

Diet pills can be over the counter pills or prescription pills and more often than not they fall in the last two categories. Either they don't work or they are useless and dangerous. The advertisements and mass emails of pills that flood your spam folder are the ones that you should be careful about. What your instincts tell you about these pills is right and there is definitely something fishy about them. You will never find a genuine diet pill in your spam box.

Watch out for shady pills

Spam emails are illegal and punishable in most countries; the fact that the companies have to market their products by such means speaks volumes about the effectiveness of their product and their business ethics. Sometimes, fake pills trading on the name of prescription pills are also sold on the market. If you come across spam emails of popular prescription pills like Xenical orlistat, you must stay away from that particular website. Websites that offer Xenical orlistat on discount or generic orlistat pills might be selling fake pills under the name of Xenical.

Make sure you find a reputed website before you buy any pills. Avoid scams like the plague. The pills that are marketed thus can not only affect your pocket but also cause serious problems such as heart failure, renal failure, stroke, convulsions, addiction, anxiety and depression. If you suspect even a little that your diet pills are not safe, talk to a doctor, do some research online and only then proceed to buy them.