Can Melanoma Be Perfectly Round, Symmetrical, One Color?
Okay, we all know that “black and ugly” describes melanoma, and online images show melanoma to be evil-looking, dark, jagged, bumpy, the whole works.
But we must also consider that often, by the time a melanoma is photographed by a dermatologist, it’s at a later stage of development.
Who spots a tiny innocent-looking dot, says to their doctor, “I’ve never seen this before,” and the doctor decides to take a photo of it before excising it?
What more likely happens is that when what obviously appears to be a melanoma, with classic features, is presented to a dermatologist, the doctor THEN takes the photo. And it ends up online—looking mighty nasty.
Note that the dark pink melanoma in the lower left is quite round, symmetrical and all the same color.
In actuality, not all melanomas—by the time they’re diagnosed—are scary looking or have any of the classic features such as jagged edges and bumpy portions.
This one here below is relatively symmetrical, and keep in mind that it’s magnified — which accentuates asymmetry in any lesion.
Melanoma Has to Start Somewhere
And it can start as a tiny sane-looking dot. A melanoma doesn’t go from nothing to a pencil-eraser-sized purple and black cobbled spot overnight.
“Not all melanomas begin as the typical funny looking or sinister lesion,” says Sharyn Laughlin, MD, board certified dermatologist and co-founder of the DermaEnvy Skincare ™ line of sun protection products and medical director of Laserderm, a pioneering laser skin surgery clinic in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
“Some start out as a very small, innocent looking, pale, pink or black spot or nodule that will over time change in size — a vertical growth rather than the typical spreading lesion.
“Some resemble a skin tag or a seborrheic keratosis. If the patient says this is new – take them at their word regardless of what it looks like and follow it with photographs or biopsy it immediately.
“This is where the experienced dermatologist exercises intuition – call it a ‘gut feeling’ and usually does the right thing.
“My philosophy is simply to biopsy it if any uncertainty persists after looking at the lesion and using my dermatoscope to see it under magnification.
“Then neither you nor the patient need lose sleep or worry. The pathologist gives you the definitive diagnosis.
“The downside — the patient ends up with a small scar, which in my hands using my CO2 laser to deal with the excision base, is practically invisible.”
A melanoma’s only distinguishing feature may simply be an increase in size over several months, even though the color, symmetry and border remain the same. When it doubt, have it checked out.
In practice for 30+ years, Dr. Laughlin has been lead or co-investigator in many research trials and an innovator in developing new laser technology. dermaenvy.com.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/melanoma-an-overview1
Can a New Melanoma Start Out Looking Like a Blackhead?
Unfortunately, among all those blackheads on your nose, chin or cheeks could be a very early melanoma slyly blending in and going unnoticed.
If the new “blackhead” begins developing in an isolated area on your face, away from other blackheads, it’s more likely to be noticed and then surveilled.
Melanoma “can start as a small black dot that to an untrained eye could resemble a blackhead,” says Sharyn Laughlin, MD, board certified dermatologist and co-founder of the DermaEnvy Skincare ™ line of sun protection products and medical director of Laserderm, a pioneering laser skin surgery clinic in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
“It will not yield to squeezing — since most people cannot resist squeezing. This black dot will evolve and change along the ABCDE rules on melanoma.”
Melanoma. CDC, Carl Washington, MD, Emory Univ. School of Medicine, Mona Saraiya, MD, MPH
Blackheads, as you surely already know, don’t visibly progress beyond the appearance of a tiny black dot.
A melanoma in their midst will, over time, begin to stand out as it grows.
This doesn’t mean you should obsessively inspect every blackhead on your face.
But keep an eye on any that stand out, such as a new tiny dot that’s not part of your usual cluster of blackheads.
ABCDE Melanoma Rules
The new little black dot isn’t necessarily melanoma if it’s not a blackhead.
It could be the beginning of an age spot or lentigo, a seborrheic keratosis, a clogged pore or a new benign mole – even if you’re middle aged or older.
New spots or “blackheads” that look like moles, however, should be examined by a dermatologist.
Chances are they’re benign, but a new spot in middle age is more likely to be a melanoma when compared to new moles in young adulthood.
In practice for 30+ years, Dr. Laughlin has been lead or co-investigator in many research trials and an innovator in developing new laser technology. dermaenvy.com.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Motortion Films
Can a Melanoma Biopsy Spread Cancer Cells?
If you’re scared that an upcoming biopsy of what you think is a melanoma might spread the cancer cells, you’ve every reason to be worried.
Yes, a melanoma biopsy has the potential to “spread” the cancer. (more…)
Can You Be Physically Fit Without Working Out?
You cannot be physically fit in the absence of exercise, even if you’re naturally on the thin side.
Physical health is synonymous with exercise.
Having an efficient cardiovascular system and strong joints come only with structured, rigorous workout sessions, not from luck or “good genes,” though the so-called good genetics come in very handy when pursuing a particular sport.
Strong muscles and bones typically result when a person has been carrying around a lot of extra body fat for a while, even if he or she doesn’t exercise.
The musculoskeletal system is forced to become strong to support all the excess weight.
But this kind of strength can also be achieved by a lean person who works out.
Depositphotos.com
Certainly you’d rather be strong because you work out, not because your body has been forced to carry excess fat around for years.
Never think that you don’t need to exercise because you’re “naturally” thin or because you think you look good in a swimsuit or certain clothes.
And very tall people need to exercise as much as average height people, and very short people need to exercise as much as average height people.
This is because height is not a factor in who needs to work out.
Every BODY needs to exercise: And it needs to be structured activity with rhyme and reason rather than haphazard movements that strain one side of the body more than the other.
If you do construction work for a living, or serve tables, are a nurse, a tree worker, roof worker or are a stay-at-home mother of seven kids under the age of 12, you STILL need to devote special time just for cardiovascular exercise and strength training workouts.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Can Healthy People Benefit from Avoiding Gluten?
Is gluten really the monster that celiac disease makes it out to be?
Or if you’re normal can you eat gluten without worrying?
Do you even KNOW what gluten is? (more…)
Thin People Having Heart Attacks Won’t Make Obesity Healthy
The body positive very overweight women need to stop pointing out that thin people have heart attacks in an attempt to validate obesity.
This is like saying that smoking is okay because nonsmokers get lung cancer! (more…)
Can Fat Be Healthy just Because Marathon Runners Drop Dead?
A most weak defense by obese people who claim they’re healthy is when they point out deaths from marathon running.
Obesity or being significantly overweight is a well-proven health hazard; you cannot be healthy and very overweight at the same time. (more…)
Biceps Exercises for Women: Tone, Strengthen Flabby Arms
Biceps exercises help prevent saggy, crinkly and jiggly skin in the upper arms of women.
But few women really know the most effective way to tone the biceps via strength training.
This looks fancy to onlookers who don’t know better, and these onlookers then start inquiring about training from that trainer.
Biceps exercises that actually WORK do not involve difficult balance moves.
The most effective biceps exercises for women are simple to learn.
The perfect exercises do not involve “burning” from all those biceps curls or even sitting at arm machines.
Routines for Toning and Shaping the Upper Arms
Deadlifts with palms facing away from you.
Chin-ups (keep trying and be persistant!)
Seated rows with palms up. The image below shows the most common position, but a palms-up position will engage the biceps more.
Incline dumbbell curls (sit on an adjustable weightlifting bench with the back support slightly set back).
You must keep the upper arm immobile and vertical as the lower arm moves. This isolates the biceps muscles.
Everkinetic, CreativeCommons
Amount of Resistance
It should be challenging enough to make 8-12 repetitions difficult – while maintaining great form. If you can do more than 12 reps, the weight is too light.
Form is so important. I’ve seen women swinging their entire bodies into arm curls while they stand, whether using a barbell or dumbbell.
All too common are women who use a barbell that is way too light to induce much of an effect on their muscles.
You will not bulk up with heavier weights. In order to force your body to bulk up, you’d have to be curling something like 100 pounds.
Most women starting out will get a challenge with just a 30 pound barbell.
These routines should be done twice a week for optimal toning and strengthening effects on the biceps muscles.
Note: Working the BACK of the arms is also very important for women who want to tone and strengthen their entire arm.
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
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Top image: Shutterstock/ Improvisor
Five Simple Steps to Stroke Prevention for Women and Men
Stroke doesn’t strike out of the blue; this condition, in large part, can be prevented by taking a handful of measures and sticking to them, says the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines.
Stroke is extremely common, striking nearly 800,000 Americans every year.
This third-leading cause of U.S. deaths is a leading cause of disability in adults.
The following prevention tactics don’t just apply to a full-blown stroke.
They also apply to transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
TIAs are “mini strokes” and one out of three people who have a TIA will have a stroke within the year.
Guidelines for Stroke Prevention
Exercise. The human body evolved to be on the move. Exercise should be both cardio-aerobic and weight-bearing in nature and done at least four times per week.
Weight management. “People with obesity have high cholesterol levels in their body,” says Sashini Seeni, MD, a family medicine practitioner with DoctorOnCall, an online doctor and pharmacy.
“Cholesterol levels that are too high will form a layer on the walls of blood vessels.
“As a result, blood vessels become narrow, making it difficult for blood cells to flow throughout the body.
“If blood flow is blocked, the risk of dangerous diseases such as stroke increases.”
Overweight people who exercise and eat lots of fruits and vegetables would be in better shape if they lost some fat.
Shutterstock/Kzenon
This also means that thin people who don’t exercise and eat a lot of junk would be much healthier if they exercised and ditched the junk food.
Don’t smoke. You already knew that. If you’ve never smoked, don’t start!
“Smoking and chewing tobacco can increase a person’s risk of having a stroke,” says Dr. Seeni.
“The reason is, the nicotine contained in tobacco can increase blood pressure to rise.
“Do not stop there: Cigarette smoke can also increase fat buildup in arteries.
“In addition, smoking and consuming tobacco can also make the blood clot and clot easily.”
Diet: Avoid bad fats (or at least, restrict them) and eat many fruits and vegetables.
Alcohol: Drink moderately if you must drink. What’s moderate? The standard recommendation by major medical establishments is one “glass” a day for women, and two for men. One “glass” is 4 ounces (half a cup).
Following the above guidelines will help prevent stroke as much as an impressive 80 percent.
The remainder of the stroke prevention measures are not dependent on the patient, but rather, on extraneous sources.
It’s been suggested that emergency room doctors identify people at high risk, and then initiate therapy for preventing stroke.
Another possibility is that of using stents to treat narrowed carotid arteries, but how useful this would be remains uncertain.
The carotid artery feeds blood to the brain. A narrowed carotid can choke off blood supply to the brain.
As for the daily aspirin for stroke prevention? This is something you need to discuss with your physician, since medical history would factor heavily into this.
DoctorOnCall is the largest digital healthcare platform for citizens of Malaysia, allowing patients to consult doctors for advice, book appointments and place orders with local pharmacies.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik.com pressfoto
Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101202161925.htm
Exercise vs. Mental Activities for Dementia Prevention
So when it comes to preserving mental function in old age, which wins out between physical exercise and mind activities?
Brain shrinkage is associated with dementia or declining cognitive abilities, and exercise has been shown to prevent or delay brain shrinkage, even reverse it.
On the other hand, mental activities like crossword puzzles have been tied to lowering Alzheimer’s disease risk.
A study (Neurology, Oct. 23, 2012) gives the win to physical exercise — physical activity done in old age on a regular basis.
Exercise trumps mental workouts in guarding against brain shrinkage. Brain shrinkage can lead to memory problems and issues with thinking.
The three-year study by Gow, et al, showed that men and women in their 70s who exercised more had less brain shrinkage and other signs of aging when compared to less active people.
MRI scans showed that the size of their brains was not affected by mental exercises including socializing.
The study was small, following 638 people, all receiving an MRI brain scan at age 73.
Subjects reported their physical activities and mental/social habits. The physical activity habits ranged from sedentary (moving only when necessary) to heavy exercise or competitive sports participation several times weekly.
After the three years, the subjects who were the most physically active had less brain shrinkage (atrophy) than those who did minimal exercise.
Exercise Tips for Older Beginners
Though the younger you are, the better results you’ll get with exercise, the fact remains that it’s never too late for exercise to deliver benefits.
Freepik/pch.vector
So even if you’re old and get around with only a shuffle, nobody says you must sprint down a street for exercise.
Join a gym, have a seat and start pushing and pulling at weight. Work on your pushups at home. Try free weights too: dumbbells, kettlebells, weighted balls.
Consider hiring a personal trainer. However, you should be leery of personal trainers who have their clients lying or sitting on the floor for much of a session.
This is because activities of daily living take place while you’re on your feet (or seated in a chair) rather than seated or lying on a floor.
Put generous stock in leg exercises, such as those shown below.
Shutterstock/Mladen Zivkovic
Shutterstock/Wendy M. Simmons
And of course, there’s always walking — either outdoors or on a treadmill. Below shows how you should walk on a treadmill: swinging the arms, good posture.
Shutterstock/Dmytro Zinkevych
I’ve always known, intuitively, that exercise has a profound impact on brain function, but it’s nice to see more studies showing this.
For a healthy brain, do not just rely on crossword puzzles or mingling with people.
The brain is an organ as much as the heart is an organ. It needs the increased blood flow from exercise to be at its best.
Nevertheless, it’s important to continue keeping the brain stimulated with mental tasks to help stave off dementia.