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Sunday, March 31, 2019

Wonder Pore Freshner - Etude House - Good & Bad Review

Wonder Pore Freshner - Etude House - Good & Bad Review


Let's get started with this review!

Wonder Pore Freshner by Etude House is a toner that people with dry skin will love because, unlike it's typical counterparts, it doesn't dry the face.

This skincare product by Etude House leaves the skin fresh and hydrated which is great because a dry skin can make you prone to breakouts.

But, don't get me wrong, Wonder Pore Freshner is not just for individuals with dry skin. In, fact, it's perfect for all skin types. Even those who have oily skin can benefit from it's daily use. But, don't expect to see it's result overnight. Just like most skincare products, it usually takes several weeks to months before you notice good results.

Wonder Pore Freshner - Etude House - Good & Bad Review
Wonder Pore Freshner - Etude House - Good & Bad Review

Wonder Pore Freshner

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Another thing I like about this toner is it minimizes the appearance of skin pores. You know, when you have a cluster of big open pores hanging out on your face, they grab people's attention in a gross way.

One thing I like about Wonder Pore is you'll notice visible shrinkage of skin pores after just several days of application.

Do the math. Smaller pores equals less pore clogs, equals less outbreaks.


It drives dirt out of skin pores, removes dead skin cells, and leaves you with a mild cooling sensation on your face. Overtime, regular application of Wonder Pore Freshner reduced pimples and dark spots. It leaves the skin feeling soft and fresh.


10 in 1 Solution


Wonder Pore Freshner by Etude House claims to solve 10 skincare problems:

  1. Balance skin's ideal pH level
  2. Refine skin tones
  3. Keep the elasticity of pores
  4. Remove skin surface's dead skin cells
  5. Cleanse pore insides with cooling effect
  6. Deep cleanse pores
  7. Minimize appearance of pores
  8. Control a large amount of sebum
  9. Moisturize inside and outside of skin
  10. Complete smooth glass-like texture


If you think about it, these are actually the 10 promises Etude House is supposed to keep, which we can also use as judging criteria.

Balance skin's ideal pH level. CHECK!
Refine skin tones. CHECK!
Keep the elasticity of pores. CHECK!
Remove skin surface's dead skin cells. CHECK!
Cleanse pore insides with cooling effect. CHECK!
Deep cleanse pores. CHECK!
Minimize appearance of pores. CHECK!
Control a large amount of sebum. CHECK!
Moisturize inside and outside of skin. CHECK!
Complete smooth glass-like texture. wait a second, let me just touch my face. Oh, I'm feeling a lot of texture. I feel betrayed! Can somebody speak out about this.

No, you promised me 10!

Yep, making that promise is pretty intense. It raises people's expectations.

Again let's do the math. No pimple, no blackhead, no whitehead, equals glass-like texture. There's got to be something wrong with this formula because I see no pimple here, no blackhead, no whitehead, but I still feel those little bumps.


Wonder Pore Freshner (Etude House) packaging review

Wonder Pore comes in in a cute blue-tinged  plastic bottle, encased in a plastic box.

It comes in 250ml and 500ml bottle. The good thing about the bigger bottle is it will last you for up to 6 months. Some people even claimed, it lasted a year.


The Bad Things about Wonder Pore Freshner by Etude House

Wonder Pore Freshner has a lot of positive reviews, but no one is perfect. This cute thing over here does have it's share of flaws.

If you're looking for a magic formula that works perfectly fine for all people, then you've got the wrong bottle sis!

There's a chance that you skin will react to Wonder Pore Freshner. How would you know? This is one of those things that you just have to try to see the results for yourself. I'm afraid there's not shortcut for this.

But, if you're afraid of how your skin will react to a new skincare product, I suggest you start off by applying a minimal amount at a small portion of your skin. This way, you'll be able to tell if you are allergic or if your skin is irritated to Wonder Pore without sacrificing your entire face.

If you have an over sensitive skin, then there is a good chance your face will reject this product.


Starter pack for a start

If it's your first time trying out Wonder Pore Freshner, then you may want to opt for a starter kit instead of the big bottle. This way, you'll save yourself from the trouble of buying a full-sized bottle which you may ironically find irritating to your skin.


Dry skin

It doesn't mean that when you have a dry skin, Wonder Pore Freshner will be your perfect skin mate. Wonder Pore Freshner contains alcohol which can actually aggravate dryness of the skin in some people.


Nothing at all

There are people who regularly use Wonder Pore Freshner who have seen no negative result, but it's quite disappointing that they did not see any positive results as well.

One of the reason we change our routine skincare formula is when that particular skincare product fails to solve our skincare problem. So, if a skincare product fails to show any skin improvement, then, it's no good. Chances are, it will be replaced.


The Smell

Wonder Pore has a strong smell. For some people, it's unbearable. I can't even begin to describe or point out what that smell is. At first, I thought there was something wrong with the product, but in the end, I found out it's the real deal. How did Wonder Pore end up smelling like that?

I'm just relieved that "the smell" is not something you carry around every time you use Wonder Pore. In fact, you'll eventually get used to it. It's a bit weird but that smell has become my golden standard in determining if a particular Wonder Pore is fake or not. Yep, sounds just about right. If it doesn't have that familiar stink, then it's not the real deal.


You promised a glass-like texture!

A lot of people in the world wants that glass-like Korean face. How did they made it so doll-like?

I don't know about you, but me, I never got the glass-like texture Wonder Pore promised! It didn't help even out my skin texture! It's still a rocky road. Maybe I need a better formula. Tell me which other toner makes the promise to deliver a glass-like skin texture.


Overall, even with these negative feedbacks and reviews, Etude House's Wonder Pore Freshner is a very good skincare product. I guess, you'll just have to try to see.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Is it alright to wear a bright bloody red lipstick in an office work?

Is it alright to wear a bright bloody red lipstick in an office work?

Is it alright to wear a bright bloody red lipstick in an office work?


Office work usually portrays employees reporting to work in corporate attire. It's usually a formal working-environment in which there are certain standards when it comes to clothing, shoes, and makeup.

It can be tempting to wear a red lipstick at work. Why wouldn't it be when it's beautiful and fabulous. A bright red color certainly grabs people's attention. But, will wearing such a strong shade of red lipstick at work get you into trouble?

This is a complicated question. You see, what an employee can wear during working hours is mandated by the respective company at which that person is working.

Red lipsticks gives the woman wearing it a bold impression of being daring, fearless, and, glamorous. It's a shade endeared to most women.

I know companies who allow their company to wear even the brightest shade of red lipstick at work, but if you're not sure if you will be allow to wear lipstick at work, then make sure to check your company policy just to make sure you're on the safe side.

If you'd like to know if your company allows men to wear makeup at work, then you'll have to revisit your company policy, as well.

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Stress during Pregnancy: How Bad is it? - @healthbiztips

Ill effects of stress during pregnancy


Pregnancy can be both a momentous and challenging period in a woman's life so it should be take with utmost care, right? But, certain highly stressful life events like sudden death of a loved one, loss of job, or divorce can compromise the development and well-being of both the mother and the unborn child.

Stress during Pregnancy: How Bad is it? - @healthbiztips
Stress during Pregnancy: How Bad is it? - @healthbiztips
photo credit: @homarosa Kewei Hu @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Prolong high levels of stress can have negative impact to the unborn child like still birth or miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.

The health and well-being of the pregnant mother is also endangered when she suffers from high levels stress. It can predispose the mother to develop preeclampsia--a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and organ damage.


The negative effects of a stressful pregnancy has on the child carries over even after birth. High levels of maternal stress during pregnancy can Increase the child's risk of developing diseases and health problems later in life like asthma, attention deficit disorder, and obesity.


Stress during pregnancy and child's brain development


Maternal stress can tamper with the child's brain development. High levels of stress during pregnancy can cause the child to have short attention span and lower IQ.


Stress can be inherited?


Stress and it's bad effect to the mental, metabolic, and cardiovascular health can be passed on to offspring for up to four generations.

If a mother has an extreme fear or anxiety over something, then her child has a high probability of developing fear of it as well, which holds true even though the child has not experienced the event that could have lead to the development of that particular fear.



Impact of daily stress during pregnancy


Stress is something we can't totally avoid. But don't worry, stressors that people usually encounter in their day-to-day life, like traffic and working, usually do not cause adverse effect mother and fetus.


Psychological impact of unwanted pregnancy


Unwanted pregnancy can have devastating effect to the mother's mental health. A study has shows that it actually increases the risk of depression by 20% to 22%.


In conclusion, we see that high levels of stress during pregnancy can have undesirable effects to both the mother and child, so it is crucial that the pregnant woman encountering extreme levels of stress to reach out and seek help.


Resources:

Bahk, Jinwook et al. “Impact of unintended pregnancy on maternal mental health: a causal analysis using follow up data of the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC)” BMC pregnancy and childbirth vol. 15 85. 3 Apr. 2015, doi:10.1186/s12884-015-0505-4

Tate, E B et al. “Do stressed mothers have heavier children? A meta-analysis on the relationship between maternal stress and child body mass index” Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity vol. 16,5 (2015): 351-61.

González-Ochoa, Raquel et al. “Evaluating Stress during Pregnancy: Do We Have the Right Conceptions and the Correct Tools to Assess It?” Journal of pregnancy vol. 2018 4857065. 1 Feb. 2018, doi:10.1155/2018/4857065

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Eating Shrimp / Prawn with Vitamin C can Kill via Arsenic poisoning: Fake or Real?

Eating Shrimp / Prawn with Vitamin C can Kill via Arsenic poisoning: Fake or Real?


I've just received a message on my social media account claiming that Vitamin C should not be taken with too much shrimp or prawn since it can lead to arsenic poisoning which can kill a person overnight. I was concerned because Vitamin C is supposed to be healthy and shrimps don't sound deadly, unless you're allergic to it.

Shrimp and Vitamin C duo. Does this sound like the kind of combo that kills?

So, I did some research. Lo and behold it's fake health news!

Eating Shrimp / Prawn with Vitamin C can Kill via Arsenic poisoning: Fake or Real?
Eating Shrimp / Prawn with Vitamin C can Kill via Arsenic poisoning: Fake or Real?
photo credit: @srilanka Sri Lanka @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Is there arsenic in shrimp or prawn?


Yes there is,

Seafoods contain a form of arsenic called arsenobetaine, however, this should not be a cause of alarm, since it is considered as non-toxic to humans.

Humans are not able to metabolize arsenobetine so we eliminate it from out body as it is.


How about if Shrimp is taken with Vitamin C?


The only facts we can gather regarding this matter is a study done in 1985 by the University of Illinois claiming that when large dose of Vitamin C is combined with shrimp or prawn, it's harmless content "pentavalent" compound transforms into highly toxic trivalent arsenic.

And even with that finding, they did not associate taking large dose of Vitamin C and seafood with sudden death. In fact, they associate taking mega dose Vitamin C and too much shrimp with an increased risk of developing cancer.

Since 1985, we are left hanging with Baker's words. "We now must wonder whether megadosing with vitamin C increases the risk of cancer by changing the form of arsenic in food."


Can megadose of vitamin c combined with lots of seafood intake cause cancer?


Now, the revelation of this 1985 research, although a very long time ago, is not a reassuring one. Although it doesn't say anywhere in this research that high doses of Vitamin C combined with seafood intake can be fatal overnight, it does raises a serious concern: Can mega doses of Vitamin C coupled with high amount of seafood intake cause cancer?

Unfortunately, further research is still needed to shed light in this topic.


The use of arsenic and vitamin c in cancer treatment


Arsenic is a toxic substance, but surprisingly, it is used for it's medicinal property for over 2 millennia.

Arsenic trioxide, it's highly toxic form, is used in leukemia treatment for it's ability to induce cancer cells to self destruct.

Studies shows that adding vitamin c to arsenic trioxide in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia potentiates it's cell destructive effect.

Several research has also tackled the efficacy of taking mega doses of vitamin c in conjunction to conventional cancer treatment.


Signs and symptoms of arsenic poisoning


Symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning includes:

headache
confusion
dizziness
decrease in level of consciousness
diarrhea
nausea
vomiting
abdominal pain
hemolysis of red blood cells

Arsenic poisoning can ultimately lead to seizure, shock, coma, and death.


Chronic exposure to arsenic can lead to the development of cancer, liver problems, and kidney problems.

Noticeable signs of chronic arsenic exposure includes changes in the color of the skin, formation of hard bumps on the palm of the hands and soles of the feet , and appearance of whitish Mee's lines in the fingernails.


The circulating health news about eating too much shrimp or prawn combined with daily Vitamin C intake supposedly lethal overnight is an exaggeration that is meant to scare people.

When is there a real risk of arsenic poisoning?


Arsenic is a naturally occurring toxin that can be found in the soil, rocks, and water in certain geographic locations. Arsenic poisoning is most commonly caused by drinking contaminated unfiltered water.

Arsenic can be an ingredient in pesticide, thus increasing the risk of agricultural workers. People involved in mining work are also at higher risk of arsenic poisoning.


Not all information circulating online are true.

The hoax health advice has been circulating in the internet courtesy of people who don't verify facts before sharing to their love ones. Here's a copy of the message:

A woman suddenly died unexpectedly with signs of bleeding from her ears, nose, mouth & eyes. After a preliminary autopsy it was diagnosed that death was due to arsenic poisoning. Where did the arsenic come from? The police launched an in-depth and extensive investigation. A medical school professor was invited to come to solve the case. The professor carefully looked at the contents. In less than half an hour, the mystery was solved. The professor said: 'The deceased did not commit suicide and neither was she murdered, she died of accidental death due to ignorance!' Everyone was puzzled, why accidental death?

The professor said: 'The arsenic was produced in the stomach of the deceased.' The deceased used to take 'Vitamin C' everyday, which in itself is not a problem. The problem was that she ate a large portion of shrimp/prawn during dinner. Eating shrimp/prawn is not the problem that's why nothing happened to her family even though they had the same shrimp/prawn.

However at the same time the decease also took 'vitamin C', that is where the problem was! Researchers at the University of Chicago in the United States , found through experiments, food such as soft-shell contain much higher concentration of five potassium arsenic compounds. Such fresh food by itself has no toxic effects on the human body. However, in taking 'vitamin C', chemical reaction occurs and the original non-toxic elements change to toxic elements.

Arsenic poisoning has magma role and can cause paralysis to the small blood vessels. Therefore, a person who dies of arsenic poisoning will show signs of bleeding from the ears, nose, mouth & eyes. Thus as a precautionary measure,

DO NOT eat shrimp/prawn when taking 'vitamin C'. After reading this; please do not be stingy. It's our duty to take care of our friends.


Resources:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-08-25-8502250437-story.html

Karasavvas, Nicos et al. “Vitamin C protects HL60 and U266 cells from arsenic toxicity” Blood vol. 105,10 (2005): 4004-12.

 Biswas, Sabyasachi et al. “Arsenic trioxide and ascorbic acid demonstrate promising activity against primary human CLL cells in vitro” Leukemia research vol. 34,7 (2010): 925-31.

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Green coffee bean extract for Weight loss

Green coffee bean extract for Weight loss

Green coffee bean extract for Weight loss


Green coffee bean extract has gained popularity as a weight loss supplement.

It's key content is chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol which aids in weight loss by lessening the absorption of carbohydrate and impeding the formation of new fat cells.

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Green coffee beans is simply coffee beans that is not roasted, hence, it retained it's green color. Like regular coffee beans, green coffee bean extract also contains caffeine that boosts the body's metabolism which enables the body to burn more calories


Depending on the variety of a coffee bean, roasting it can either decrease or increase it's amount of polyphenol content.

Green coffee bean extract is a rich source of antioxidants in the form of polyphenols which prevents DNA damage and gene mutations.


Studies in mice revealed that even decaffeinated green coffee bean extract exerts weight loss, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic property. Taking green bean extract reduces visceral fat thickness, reduces lipid in the blood, and enhances insulin sensitivity.


Resources:

Priftis, Alexandros et al. “Comparison of antioxidant activity between green and roasted coffee beans using molecular methods” Molecular medicine reports vol. 12,5 (2015): 7293-302.

Song, Su Jin et al. “Decaffeinated green coffee bean extract attenuates diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice” Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM vol. 2014 (2014): 718379.

Monday, March 18, 2019

Intelligent people Daydream More - Healthbiztips

Intelligent people Daydream More


At first glance, daydreaming may sound like a useless distraction, but research debunks this common notion and actually associates mind wandering with intelligence. Curious isn't it?  Daydreaming may be the last thing in your mind when you think about an intelligent person. I mean, how can you accomplish a goal if your mind keeps on wandering?

Remember Bruce Lee's famous line "The successful warrior is the average man, with laser focus."

Intelligent people Daydream More - Healthbiztips
Intelligent people Daydream More
photo credit @filmape Jay @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Studies shows that daydreaming points to intelligence and creativity.

Daydreaming may look like a no-brainer, but it actually involves complex parts of the brain.

Even when you are not doing anything, certain areas in your brain becomes active. This area of your brain is called the default mode network (DMN) which includes the medial prefrontal cortex, medial temporal lobe, and posterior cingulate cortex. The default mode network deactivates during tasks that require concentration.

I have to point out that people with high intelligence are not stuck in their daydream, but instead, can easily get back to reality when needed. The brain do not stop working even when the person is on standby, another part of the brain enables daydreaming, but when it's time to get real, they can quickly get back to reality.

MRI scan reveals that intelligent people are very good at juggling between their daydream and real life tasks.

Research shows that people with higher intelligence tend to daydream more compared to average people. They also show more creativity. But, daydreaming is not a rare phenomenon.

In fact, daydreaming engages our mind, so much, that it consumes about 30% to 50% of our waking hours. In a sense, daydreaming keeps our mind healthy.

Daydreaming have positive mental health benefits like enabling problem solving, lifting the mood, and planning future actions.


Resources:

CA, Goodwin, et al. "Functional connectivity within and between intrinsic brain networks correlates with trait mind wandering." Neuropsychologia. Aug;103:140-153. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.07.006. Epub 2017 Jul 10.

McMillan, Rebecca L et al. “Ode to positive constructive daydreaming” Frontiers in psychology vol. 4 626. 23 Sep. 2013, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00626

Sunday, March 17, 2019

12 Home Remedies for Warts

12 Home Remedies for Warts

12 Home Remedies for Warts


Most warts disappear without any intervention, but it can take a lot of time. But, if you'd like to take care of those warts at a faster, cheaper, and economical way, then there are alternative home remedies that you can give a try.

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Warts are skin growth that appear when the top layer of the skin gets infected by human papilloma virus (HPV). It's a common dermatological problem that can resolve on it's own or not at all. Warts are contagious so you can spread it to other parts of your body. How about we get rid of this nasty viral skin growth with these amazing home remedies:


1. Apple cider vinegar


Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial property. It's safe and effective against warts. To use it, simply dip a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar then use a band-aid to hold it in place over the wart. Let it soak into the warts for about 1 to 2 hours per day. Do this everyday for over 1 to 2 week until the wart falls off. If you'd like a faster result, leave the apple cider vinegar soaked cotton ball overnight over the wart.


2. Aloe vera


Aloe vera is soothing and healing. Apply aloe vera gel into the warts several times a day for 1 to 2 weeks.


3. Castor oil


Apply castor oil into the warts several times a day, everyday for over 2 weeks until you get rid of the wart.


4. Tea tree oil


Apply tea tree oil directly into the warts several times a day for 1 to 2 weeks to shrink or completely destroy the warts.


5. Garlic


We'll need fresh crushed garlic for those hideous warts. Put it over your warts and let it stay for about 15 to 30 minutes everyday. Do this for the next 2 to 3 weeks.


6. Potato


Who says potato is only for making fries? It's a good home remedy for warts as well. Cut off a thin fresh raw potato slice then gently massage it into the wart. Repeat this everyday for over 2 weeks.


7. Banana peel


Gently rub the inside of the banana peel into the wart. Banana peel contains enzyme which is effective in removing warts. Do this everyday for about 2 weeks to shed off your warts.



8. Honey


Soak a cotton ball in honey, then place it over the wart and secure it with band-aid. Leave it overnight. Do this every night for 1 to 2 weeks or until the wart disappears.


9. Baking soda


To use baking soda as a home remedy for warts, you'll first have to activate it by combining it with a acid like vinegar or lemon juice. Combine equal parts baking soda and vinegar to make a paste, then apply the paste over your warts everyday for 1 to 2 weeks.


10. Pineapple juice


Pineapple's natural acidity is key to eradicate warts. Apply pineapple juice into your warts 2 to 3 times a day. Do this for 1 to 2 weeks.


11. Lemon juice


Apply freshly squeezed lemon juice on the wart 2 times a day for 1 to 2 weeks.


12. Duct tape


Cut out a small portion of duct tape enough to cover the entire wart. Now, place this over the wart and only remove it when you have to replace it with another duct tape. Do this for over 2 weeks. At time, it can take up to 2 months for this method to work.


Saturday, March 16, 2019

Can Anger in Negotiation Make you Victorious?

Can Anger in Negotiation Make you Victorious?

Negotiation. At some point in our life, we have to talk with another to come up with a compromise.

Showing anger while negotiating seems like a childish and unprofessional behavior, but according to research, if you're gonna be arguing with the other party to get what you want, then there's a chance that you'll yield victorious by being disagreeable.

Be warned, depending on the situation and the person you're dealing with, the use of anger can backfire -- you can end up loosing dearly. Showing anger during a negotiation can also lead to loosing future deals as the incident is seen as maltreatment and inappropriate. In the end of the negotiation, you can loose your credibility and trustworthiness.

The key is to use anger in a subtle way. Don't do it over the top. Do not shout, Direct your anger towards the argument and not directly to the other person.

Be mindful of the who you're dealing with. Appearing angry gives you the benefit of appearing tough, but if you're speaking to a person with the rightful authority (let's say your boss), then speaking in an angry tone may actually make the matter worse for you.


Resources:

Kung, Franki Y H and Melody M Chao. “The Impact of Mixed Emotions on Creativity in Negotiation: An Interpersonal Perspective” Frontiers in psychology vol. 9 2660. 11 Jan. 2019, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02660

Cause of High Eosinophil Count

Cause of High Eosinophil Count

Cause of High Eosinophil Count


An increase in the number of eosinophil, a type of white blood cell, is commonly associated with an allergy or infection. Eosinophil count can be seen in a routine complete blood count.

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

High eosinophil count can signify a number of reasons:

  • infection caused by parasitic worm (such as ascaris and hookworm)
  • allergy
  • asthma
  • allergic rhinitis
  • atopic dermatitis
  • automimmune disease
  • hay fever
  • drug allergy
  • eczema
  • cancer
  • fungal infection
  • cushing syndrome
  • lymphoma
  • leukemia
  • lupus
  • organ transplant rejection
  • adrenal insufficiency
  • addison's disease
  • mastocytosis

Eosinophilia is a condition in which eosinophil count is more than 500 µl.

Hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES) is a rare condition in which eosinophil count is high (more than 1500/µl) and persists for 6 months or more. It is associated with damage to organ.

Eosinophil composes about 1-3% of white blood cells. Eosinophils are produced in the bone marrow which later migrates to tissues where they can last for 8 to 12 days.


Sunday, March 3, 2019

Facebook addiction can point to Social insecurity

Facebook Addiction is linked to Social insecurity. 


Many of us can be guilty of this -- we tend to compare our lives with others. It seems there are people whose standard is to exceed other's accomplishment. Do you doubt yourself and question your accomplishments to the extent that you have to look at the success of others? This is where social insecurity comes in.

In spite of their inferiority complex, people with social insecurity have a defense mechanism to ease their feeling of self-doubt. They brag about their accomplishment, and try to make others feel insecure.

Now, if you think about it, Facebook, the social media giant, sounds like a very good platform for people with social insecurities.

In fact, a study has revealed that Facebook addiction is linked to social insecurity.

Facebook addiction can point to Social insecurity
Facebook addiction can point to Social insecurity

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Let me clear our what Facebook addiction is. Millions to billions of people check their Facebook account every single day. But, merely browsing Facebook is not yet an addiction. A person who has Facebook addiction spends the majority of his/her time on Facebook to the extent that it harms his/her personal, social, work, or school responsibilities.


Is FAD, which stands for Facebook Addiction Disorder" a real thing?


Although Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) is not a valid diagnosis, it's coinage makes us realize the extent at which Facebook influence the lives of a huge number of people across the world.

Social media sites is a place for people to interact with one another, yet even in this virtual environment of people interaction, their are people who get addicted. Facebook, a popular worldwide social media site, has gained  an enormous craze and mania, so much that it has become an obsession.

We see the emergence of a generation in which people spends so much time engaged in social media sites. Facebook addiction is a strong word that points to those people who spend tremendous amount of time on Facebook, to the extent that it interferes with their normal life. Facebook addiction can lead them to neglect their family, friends, school activity, work, and even themselves.


Social media sites like Facebook offers a convenient and fast way to express yourself and to connect with people, however, a trends can easily turn into an obsession for a number of reasons which can include social insecurity.


Resources:

Shensa, Ariel et al. “Problematic social media use and depressive symptoms among U.S. young adults: A nationally-representative study” Social science & medicine (1982) vol. 182 (2017): 150-157.

What is Emotional Intelligence

What is Emotional Intelligence

What does your emotional intelligence tell about yourself? 


Most humans have the innate ability to read emotions.

Happiness, anger, sadness, fear, disgust...they're all emotions. We discern these feelings through cues such as facial expression, body language, gesture, and intonation of voice.

The recognition of these emotions affects our thinking, behavior, and actions.

By being aware of one's own feeling and that of others, it is possible to empathize, think better, control these emotions, and react appropriately in a given situation.

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan


Emotional intelligence


This is where emotional intelligence or emotional quotient comes in.

According to Peter Salovey and John Mayer, emotional intelligence is the:

"the ability to monitor one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior"  

Emotional intelligence is a controversial topic. It is widely debated that people with higher emotional intelligence fare better in personal and work life compare to those with lower emotional intelligence. There are skepticism about this notion considering emotional intelligence is not a measure of what a person knows, academically speaking.


Measure of emotional intelligence


The popularity of emotional intelligence can be seen among companies and schools that choose to use this concept as a valid measure of one's success, which they critically assess among job applicants and students.

There are various tools used to measure emotional intelligence, although not a single one is universally recognized:

  • Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i 2.0) 
  • Situational test of emotion management (STEM)
  • Situational test of emotional understanding (STEU)
  • Malovey-Salovey-Caruso-Emotional Intelligence test (MSCEIT)


Progress in HIV vaccine

Progress in HIV vaccine

Is there an HIV vaccine?

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Creating HIV vaccine is a challenging task. While attempts are underway, currently, there is no approved vaccine to prevent HIV / AIDS.

Human immunodeficiency virus has several characteristics which makes the creation of HIV vaccine difficult:

  • HIV is encased in a protein coat that  can evade antibodies.
  • A person can be infected with several strains of HIV.
  • HIV can hide in reservoirs throughout the body.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) destroys the body's immune system, which particularly targets and destroys CD4 cells.

When the body's immune system is no longer effective, the last stage of HIV infection, called AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) emerges, in which the body develops opportunistic disease like tuberculosis.


The creation of HIV vaccine doesn't stop


At the time of writing this blog post, there is an ongoing clinical trial for a potential vaccine for HIV prevention.


HIV statistics


According to the World Health Organization, 36.9 million people are infected with HIV across the globe in 2017. That's a staggering large number of people.


Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)


At the most, what we have is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and  post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) for HIV is a pill taken by people who, with the nature of their lifestyle or work, have a high risk of contracting HIV infection. PrEP's medication of choice is called Truvala (a combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine). When the medication is taken daily, it offers 70% to 90% protection against HIV.

On the other hand, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an antiretroviral therapy by people who were accidentally exposed to HIV virus like in cases of needle stick injury of healthcare workers. PEP should be taken within 72 hours from exposure in order to be effective. Treatment usually lasts for 28 days.


Why do we continue to create an HIV vaccine?


Throughout history, the use of vaccine is the cheapest and most effective way to prevent an infection. Diseases like chickenpox and measles, which can be prevented with a simple vaccine nowadays, were terrifying killers back in the olden days.


Antiretroviral therapy


Currently, while a safe and approved HIV vaccine is not yet available, there is an antiretroviral therapy that HIV infected individuals can take to keep HIV at bay and prevent the disease from progressing into AIDS.

However, HIV antiretroviral therapy does come with risks like kidney toxicity.


Saturday, March 2, 2019

Why you shouldn't share your earphone - Healthbiztips

Why you shouldn't share your earphone. 


I'll tell you what you'll get when you're fond of sharing your earphone -- an ear infection.

Why you shouldn't share your earphone - Healthbiztips
Why you shouldn't share your earphone - Healthbiztips

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

A lot of people are not aware that sharing earphone is something that shouldn't be done. It's unhygienic.

Sure, it may seem such a harmless goodwill, but, let's take a look at this "semi-barbaric act" in a new light: How would you like to continue sharing the bacterial inhabitants of your ear to other people, and those people sharing back their ear's germs  to you.

A lot of people doesn't realize that each of us has a unique bacterial flora residing in our ears. Normally, these little germs doesn't cause us harm, but if they are altered like when a new bacteria colony  is introduced, then, their is a potential risk of acquiring an ear infection. Shockingly, even family member and close friends have unique bacterial flora in their ears.

How would you like ear pain, muffled hearing, and ear drainage?

Compounding this problem is the fact that earphones can get in contact with a lot of surfaces that can add up bacterial diversity in the earphone itself like desks, bags, wallet, and the floor. Who cleans their earphones anyways? I have to admit that the thought of cleaning my earpiece didn't really hit me until now.

The earpiece should be cleaned with a alcohol or hydrogen peroxide using a cloth or a cotton ball. Just make sure your don't soak the drivers or you'll destroy it.


Earphone is a personal thing!

How would you like sharing your underwear? Sounds gross? That's exactly what I'm trying to point out in this blog post. You see, you really have to start treating your earphone like a private stuff because it really is. It's filled with bacteria and ear wax which you don't see with your naked eyes.



Friday, March 1, 2019

Take Slow Deep Breaths to Calm your Nerves

Take Slow Deep Breaths to Calm your Nerves


Take Slow Deep Breaths to Calm your Nerves
Take Slow Deep Breaths to Calm your Nerves
photo credit Carol Oliver @caroliveer @unsplash

When you feel shaky and your mind starts to go blank, wouldn't you hope that their's something you can do to prevent yourself from going downhill.

How about this tip to calm your nerves: Take slow deep breaths.

A lot of stuffs in life can cause a person to feel nervous and anxious, like speaking in public, taking an examination, and talking to an interviewer. If you're wondering that in spite of all these serious stuffs, you're only getting a simple advice that tells you to breath slowly, then don't take this lightly...

There's an actual science behind this. You see, when you take slow deep breaths, you activate your brain's parasympathetic system which creates a sense of calmness and relaxation. Your heart rate and blood pressure decreases. Meanwhile, your blood oxygenation is enhanced. You regain control.

You may notice that when you're anxious, your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing increases. This is because stress activates your brain's sympathetic center. The opposite happens when your parasympathetic nervous system is activated.


How to take slow deep breaths?
  • 1. Breath in slowly through your nose for about 4 seconds.
  • 2. Hold your breath for about 2 to 3 seconds.
  • 3. Exhale slowly through your mouth for about 4 seconds.
  • 4. Hold your breath for about 2 to 3 seconds before inhaling.
  • 5. Repeat step 1.
Continue doing slow breathing for about 10 to 15 minutes to ease your mind.


Did you know that controlled breathing techniques to calm the nerve and reduce stress is actually an ancient practice that often goes along side with meditative practices in the eastern world.


Resources:

Zaccaro, Andrea et al. “How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life: A Systematic Review on Psycho-Physiological Correlates of Slow Breathing” Frontiers in human neuroscience vol. 12 353. 7 Sep. 2018, doi:10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353

Russo, Marc A et al. “The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human” Breathe (Sheffield, England) vol. 13,4 (2017): 298-309.

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