Category: Health Tips

D an enamel makes every day hard work. Thanks to it, you can eat a tough piece of meat yourself or grit your teeth during a workout. Tooth enamel is the hardest material in the whole body, and with the right care it stays that way.

If you neglect your enamel, however, it will eventually thin or even break off. This damage cannot be reversed and even little things like a cold drink or an apple can suddenly cause pain. Diseases such as tooth decay can also attack the tooth much faster. So that this doesn’t happen to you, we’ll show you how to strengthen your tooth enamel.

Why does tooth enamel dissolve?

The outer layer of the tooth, also called enamelum, consists of a grid-like compound of calcium and phosphate, the so-called hydroxyapatite. It’s pretty robust, but it has an archenemy: acid. Acidic pH in the mouth is most common when you eat acidic or high-carbohydrate foods. “This removes minerals from the enamel and the lattice of the enamel softens,” explains dentist Julia Seidler from the Berlin Dental Center . This makes it much more susceptible to external stress, for example when chewing or brushing teeth.

But it’s not just food that can make saliva more acidic. In around 20 percent of Germans, gastric juice runs up the esophagus while sleeping and ends in the mouth. “This reflux disease damages the mucous membranes and teeth because they are exposed to gastric acid for hours,” explains Seidler.

Time also leaves its mark. Whenever you eat or brush your teeth, the teeth rub against each other and are therefore rubbed off minimally. This is not a big deal, but if you grind your teeth due to stress or use a toothbrush that is too hard, this abrasion can become too strong and cause problems. 

Allergy sufferers repeatedly report that stress, anxiety, depressive moods and simmering emotional conflicts in a partnership, family or at work have aggravated or even triggered their allergic symptoms. Classical medicine is still struggling with this topic. The views range from the widespread doctrine that an allergy is primarily a purely physical and not a mental illness, to the position that many allergies have psychological causes.

More recent studies at least show that especially in the case of neurodermatitis , hives and allergic asthma, psychological processes have more influence on the course of the disease than the experts have long assumed. So had hay fever patients complaints increased during the pollen season, especially if they also had to deal with psychological conflicts during this time. And in atopic dermatitis, negative, emotionally stressful stress can demonstrably trigger flare-ups and sometimes make the disease considerably worse. Studies have shown that typical allergic complaints such as reddened skin, shortness of breath or swelling of the mucous membranes can be caused by suggestion, classic conditioning and under hypnosis, but can also be positively influenced in return.

Skin often reacts as a pressure relief valve for the soul

“At least a quarter of all allergic reactions also have a lot to do with psychological problems,” estimates Uwe Gieler from the University Clinic in Giessen. The physician is one of the few internationally recognized psychodermatologists and has been researching the language of the skin for almost 30 years. His scientific approach is that of all psychosomatics: The body expresses emotional and psychological conflicts through illnesses that the mind cannot or does not want to process.

Skin in particular often reacts as an “overpressure valve of the soul”, Gieler knows from his therapeutic practice: He observed women in whom suppressed anger turned into hives expressed. And men who are afraid of closeness, who unconsciously signal their partners with bright red neurodermatitis facial skin to keep a safe distance. A young woman who half-heartedly slipped into her marriage developed a gold allergy to the wedding ring on her honeymoon of all places. And a medical student got a watch containing nickel from both parents for his exam. But only his mother’s watch caused him to develop nickel-related contact eczema. The mother had left the family years ago for another partner, and the student has had a split relationship with her ever since.

As impressive as such stories are – Uwe Gieler warns against “hobby psychology”, which interprets a psychological background into every disease process. “There are clear congenital or contact-acquired allergies that occur in every mental state and have no connection with mental problems,” he says. Contrary to earlier assumptions by scientists, there is also no conclusive evidence that allergy sufferers have typical character traits, emphasizes Gieler. Not all asthmatics have a closeness-distance problem with their life partner and not all neurodermatitis sufferers are “particularly thin-skinned emotionally”. There is no such thing as an “allergy personality”.

The sense of allergy

Psychotherapeutic treatment as part of allergy therapy is therefore only useful if there is evidence of strong fears or emotional conflicts that perpetuate or intensify the symptoms. “In order to find out whether psychological factors play a role, the doctor and patient should always ask themselves what the meaning of the allergy has in the life of the person affected and whether the illness worsens in certain stressful situations,” recommends the psychosomaticist.

For some sufferers, it is therefore helpful to write down allergy symptoms and moments of stress in a diary as a first stepto note. Perhaps this reveals one or the other connection that is easily overlooked in everyday life. Relaxation methods and stress management, which those affected are taught in patient training, can also alleviate the suffering of many allergy sufferers. This was confirmed by a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Health, which examined the effects of relaxation techniques such as autogenic training and progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson on atopic dermatitis: In most of the participants, the inflammation of the skin decreased significantly, the itching decreased, and significantly less medication was required . This success does not occur immediately, but after a few months of regular practice.

Mental protective measures against allergies

The so-called Hildesheim health training, developed by psychologists at the Hildesheim / Holzminden / Göttingen University of Applied Sciences, goes even further. The aim is that allergy patients activate their self-healing powers – with the help of breathing, body and relaxation exercises as well as perception training, visualization and self-hypnosis. “Allergy sufferers can learn effective mental protective measures against hay fever, asthma, skin rashes or neurodermatitis,” says psychologist Klaus Witt from Bargteheide near Hamburg, who helped develop the method.

During training, patients could “reinterpret” potentially threatening situations and teach their organism new ways to react through self-hypnosis. The psychologist is convinced that the immune system can be trained in such a way that it no longer reacts at all to grass pollen, for example: “The allergy sufferer can imagine, among other things, a transparent cover or a source of power that protects him from the allergens. That may sound a bit flat, but it helps in many cases. ” Perhaps because the allergy sufferer is no longer at the mercy of the disease, but knows how to deal with it.

W -poor water is for wimps? Taking a cold shower hardens and strengthens the immune system? There are many myths around showering. Our experts clarify what effects different water temperatures have when showering.

How often and for how long should you shower?

“2 to 3 times a week are sufficient from a medical point of view. Because too much showering damages the protective layer of fat on the skin,” says dermatologist Dr. Athanasios Theodoridis from the Center for Corrective Medicine in Freiburg.

However, it also depends on your activities: an office job doesn’t require you to take a shower as often as a job that gets you dirty. By the way, it is not the shower temperature, but above all the soap that is decisive for hygiene: “Germs stick to the soap, so to speak, so that they are removed when you rinse,” says Dr. Ernst Tabori from the German Advice Center for Hygiene in Freiburg.

How long you should spend in the shower depends on the temperature: To protect the skin, warm showerers should shower shorter, a maximum of 7 minutes. Cold showerers can let themselves be sprinkled a little longer, up to 10 minutes is optimal.

Why do men shower so often?

Personal hygiene is not the main reason many men take a shower very often. “People shower mainly to feel more comfortable,” says dermatologist Dr. Hartmann from the Vein Center in Freiburg. Showering is part of everyday life for many people, although there is no need for hygiene at all. This is made clear by a study by the opinion research institute Kantar Emnid from 2017: half of all Germans even shower daily. “Unpleasant body odors also mean that many people shower more often,” explains Dr. Theodoridis. But it doesn’t have to be. A good alternative would be to wash the genital area and armpits with a washcloth, as unpleasant body odors usually only emanate from these areas.

How warm / cold can the shower be?

Basically: shower only as warm or cold as you can take it. Lovers of particularly hot showers should make sure that the temperature does not exceed 43 degrees. Excessively hot showers will dry out the skin too much. For cold showers, the following also applies: You should never suddenly shower yourself with cold water, otherwise you will give your body a cold shock. It’s best to start with lukewarm water and slowly reduce the temperature.

What are the advantages of which shower temperature?

If you are a shower fanatic, you should definitely worry about the warmth or coldness of the water. Because you can use the shower temperature specifically for your health:

1. What are the benefits of alternating showers?

When alternating showers, you always start with warm water to initially widen the blood vessels. Start with no more than 39 degrees for the first warm pass and do not increase the temperature above 42 degrees later. After about 30 seconds you switch to the cold water, i.e. about 14 to 18 degrees, depending on your individual pain sensation. Always start the casts on the legs, then the arms, then the upper body and finally the head. How often you change, for example 4 or 8 times, is up to you, the only important thing is that you finish the alternating shower with cold water.

Alternating showers strengthens the immune system: not cold, but alternating showers strengthens your immune system: “The blood vessels are trained by the cold-warm alternating shower, so to speak, which hardens”, says Dr. Hartmann. In a 2016 study at the Jena University Hospital, researchers tested the alternation of warm and cold showers in people with chronic bronchitis. After 10 weeks they had 13 percent fewer respiratory infections because their blood contained more lymphocytes, which are responsible for defense against disease. So if you are particularly sensitive to the weather, alternate showers are ideal for you.

• Alternating showers make you happy: Do you know the relief when you come into the warm apartment in winter, frozen through? Exchange showerers feel similarly. Dr. Hartmann: “The greater the temperature differences when showering, the more intense the feelings of happiness are perceived.” It is therefore worthwhile to start the day with a change shower. One possible explanation for the feeling of happiness: “Because the lymphatic system can work better, more toxins are transported out of the body,” says the shower expert.

• Alternating showers helps against sore muscles: Relieve your muscles after the workout: “Similar to compression stockings, the narrowing of the blood vessels during alternating showers can reduce the pain caused by sore muscles,” says Dr. Hartmann. A study, which was published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology 2011, supports the thesis: The sore muscles complaints in cyclists were less if they had showered alternately with cold and warm water after training.

• High blood pressure is lowered by alternating showers: Alternating showers also pay off for your circulation. Because: “By exercising the blood vessels, the blood pressure lowers a little”, explains Dr. Hartmann. So ideal for people with circulatory problems.

2. What are the advantages of cold showers?

Cold water in the morning? A nightmare for many! But these arguments speak for it:

• Cold showers are good for your skin and hair: dry skin? Straw hair? The cause could not (only) be the shampoo, but also water that is too hot. When the water is warm, the protective layer of fat on the skin comes off, causing it to dry out faster. Here, too, cold shower pays off: “Especially people who are prone to neurodermatitis or dry skin should take a cold shower,” advises Dr. Theodoridis. The hair also benefits: cold water deepens the hair follicles, making the hair look stronger and healthier.

• Taking a cold shower boosts fat burning : the shower temperature also has an impact on your weight loss success: cold water activates the brown fat cells, which, in contrast to fat-making white fat, do not store calories but burn them. However, brown fat is not particularly active in our body – however, these fat cells can be activated with cold water.

• Cold showers are less likely to be on sick leave: the belief that cold showers strengthen the immune system is widespread. Dr. Theodoridis: “But there are no studies that prove this”. But what researchers found out in a study by the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam in 2016: Among the almost 3,000 participants, cold showerers were 29 percent less likely to be on sick leave than warm showerers.

• Taking a cold shower can help with depression : You are also doing something good for your mental health, because cold showering has an antidepressant effect. In the North American Journal of Medical SciencesIn 2014, the effectiveness against depression is explained by the increased release of beta-endorphins and norepinephrine during cold showers. The neurotransmitter norepinephrine, for example, regulates our attention, concentration and motivation – things that depressed people often lack. Therefore, a lack of the messenger substance is also associated with depression. So: If you have depressive moods often, daily cold showers can alleviate your symptoms. However, you have to do this consistently for several weeks, because overnight there will be no improvement.
• Cold showering protects you from germs: If the temperature is too warm, at most the germs will thank you. “Hot water dries out the skin – that’s how bacteria can eat you,” says hygiene expert Tabori. Especially if you already tend to have dry skin, you should rather take a cold shower – and not too often.

3. When is a warm shower healthy?

About 45 percent of all Germans take a warm shower, according to a survey by the opinion research institute Kantar Emnid. The term “warm shower” does not have a good image. But a warm shower is better than its reputation – if you don’t turn the temperature up too high.

• Taking a warm shower is the perfect stress reliever : Had another hard day at work? Then off to the shower! In the evening the water can also be hotter. “The higher water temperatures cause the vessels to widen – this relaxes the muscles,” says Hartmann. However, if you are under constant stress, a warm shower in the evening is not a long-term solution, otherwise your skin will suffer.

• Taking a warm shower fights colds: The water vapors that are created during a warm shower help to loosen the mucus in your nose. “In addition, if you have a cold, you should take a warmer shower for your physical well-being,” advises Dr. Hartmann. Because when you are sick, the cold puts a strain on your immune system. Tip: Shower oils with eucalyptus and thyme loosen the mucus in the airways even better.

• Taking a warm shower helps you fall asleep: once again not turning a blind eye? If you just can’t find peace in the evening, it’s best to sprinkle yourself with warm water. After a warm shower, the body temperature drops and the sleep messenger melatonin is released.

Conclusion: there is the right shower temperature for every situation

Whether warm, cold or alternating: all water temperatures when showering have various health benefits. If you want to strengthen your immune system, you should prefer alternating showers. After a stressful day, a warm shower is a great way to unwind. For dry skin, we recommend cold water to protect your skin.

The lockdown is over, the number of infections in Germany is stable at a low level, you can meet up with your buddies again and holidays in sunny holiday destinations such as Spain and Italy are possible again.

For many Germans, the corona pandemic feels almost over, or as if they had taken a summer break. But that’s not correct. On the contrary: it is becoming more and more evident that an infection is not only still easily possible, but also that it can have unforeseen long-term consequences. We’ll tell you which.

Is the danger from the corona virus over?

The impression is deceptive. The virus is still there and contagious as before. Parties on Mallorca, Ibiza and Sylt can turn into super-spreader events in no time. And just because you’re young and healthy doesn’t mean you can get away with mild flu if you get infected. The symptoms subside for most people, but is this really over with the Covid-19 lung disease? It would be nice.

Because Covid-19 brings with it a number of problems that are different from the usual flu. More and more studies show that patients still suffer from consequential damage – even if they were already considered cured or had mild progress. We’ll tell you what long-term consequences of Covid-19 are possible.

Beer belly, Dad Bod or Christmas paunch? How you accumulated your extra pounds doesn’t matter. It is important that you get rid of it – both from an aesthetic and a health point of view. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and reduces life expectancy. In this respect, the question arises: Look good and live to a great age or visit the doctor in a staccato rhythm? The choice is yours and you can now set the course for a healthy future with an attractive body. The beginning has already been made because you are reading this article that will lead you to your goal.

Why do I need an exercise and nutrition plan to lose weight?

Sure, a nutrition plan will help you lose weight, provided you follow it consistently. A training plan also contributes to your fat-off success. But only the combination of the two plans ensures quick and, above all, safe results – a quasi-bacon-away guarantee. Both would work overnight, by stopping eating immediately and walking on the treadmill for hours. But we want to bring you lasting success without the often cited yo-yo effect. For this reason, both plans are designed for 12 weeks, in which you consciously move closer to your goal.

What is our training plan like?

What exactly does the weight loss training plan look like? Strength training clearly dominates here as the most effective method for burning fat. And instead of repeating the same sequences of movements over and over again as when jogging, pure variety awaits you here. After all, the fun factor is extremely important in order to stay on the ball over the long term. A total of 67 effective exercises await you, including detailed instructions. In addition, crisp interval units bring you into the maximum fat burning mode. This mix is ​​simply unbeatable because it maintains your muscle mass. This in turn ensures a higher basal metabolic rate. so lets you burn plenty of calories even when you are at rest

What is an ideal diet plan for weight loss?

Deine Energiebilanz bestimmt, ob’s auf der Waage rauf oder runter geht. Ein Überschuss in puncto Kalorien sorgt für mehr, ein Defizit für weniger Körpergewicht. Unterschätzen solltest du jedoch auch nicht den Gehalt an Inhaltsstoffen, die in einem Lebensmittel stecken. Künstliche, von Menschenhand erzeugte, komprimierte Lebensmittel machen dick. Vitaminreiche, natürliche, großvolumige Lebensmittel nicht. Und genau an diesen darfst und sollst du dich satt essen.

On this basis, our nutrition experts have created a 12-week plan for you, divided into weeks 1 to 4, 5 to 8 and 9 to 12. In the entire 12 weeks you can lose between 6 and 12 kilos – because one Weight loss of 0.5 to 1 kilo per week is realistic and healthy. What is clear is that you don’t have to slavishly follow the plan for this. Instead, the plan will provide you with a basis and inspiration from which to develop your own personal plan and new recipes. You will also receive an orientation in terms of quantities and portion sizes so that you can stay slim and sporty on your own afterwards.

Children’s skin is particularly sensitive to light and can react irritated to too much UV radiation. You can find out here how you can recognize the symptoms, treat them and prevent sun allergies.

Basically, what is known in specialist circles as “polymorphic light dermatosis” (PLD) is not a real allergy at all. Rather, the skin overreacts when exposed to too much sunlight: redness, swelling, wheals, scales, spots or blisters on the affected parts of the body (mostly on the face and shoulders) are the result. Similar to a strong sunburn, only that the skin does not “burn” due to the radiation, but rather overreacts due to the special light sensitivity in the UVA range – the UV light spectrum that does not necessarily lead to sunburn. In addition, the sun allergy is usually triggered by external factors, such as a high-fat sun cream. Both skin reactions have in common that they can be very painful. It is all the more important to treat the symptoms quickly and effectively. How you can best proceed and avoid a sun allergy in the future is explained below.

Causes and symptoms

Since the sun allergy is an overreaction of the skin to too much exposure to light, UV radiation is the primary cause. The immune system reacts accordingly by triggering a kind of allergic reaction – and with it typical symptoms , which, however, can vary in strength and appearance in every child. Hence the term “polymorphic”, which translates as multiform. Here it is important to quickly treat the affected parts of the body such as the cleavage, shoulders, neck, arms and legs. Even if the sun allergy doesn’t show up until a few days later and your child’s skin shows any of the following symptoms:

First and foremost, you need to relieve the itching, as children can quickly run the risk of scratching the affected areas – and causing minor skin injuries. This makes it easy for pathogens to penetrate the skin and cause inflammation. The best way to treat the symptoms is explained in the next paragraph.

Note: If the skin is reddened or swollen over a large area and your child also has a fever, you should consult a doctor immediately! He uses antiseptic ointments.

How to treat sun allergy in children

First and foremost, it is essential that your child avoid the sun for a few days, then the symptoms will usually subside on their own. To relieve the itching, you can cool the affected areas of the body with wet compresses (the cold constricts the blood vessels and the skin swells) or with some Bepanthengrease. If the skin is very irritated, you can also use a cortisone spray if necessary  (only from the age of six!) or use Fenistil to reduce skin irritation. However, apply both very sparingly and only thinly to your child’s skin.

If you want to do without medical aids entirely, you can rely on the following home remedies: chamomile or green tea, yogurt or quark (never flour, powder or oil). You can spread the milk products on a towel as thick as a finger and wrap it around the skin for at least 30 minutes. If the cooling effect subsides, you can renew the envelope if necessary. Also make sure that your child drinks enough. Sunburn literally dries out the skin and requires a lot of fluid.

Note: If small blisters form on the skin, do not open them under any circumstances, as this can lead to infection.

This is how you can prevent a sun allergy

Basically, it is best not to expose your baby to the sun in the first year of life – and if so, then only with appropriate sun protection. You can look at the face with a wide-brimmed sun hat Protect your arms and legs with long, opaque clothing and your skin with sunscreen. It is best to use a high sun protection factor here(ideally 50) and apply cream to your child 30 minutes before exposure to the sun and after each contact with water so that they have enough time to take effect. A parasol with special UV protection also helps on the beach, providing shade and protecting the skin from the strong radiation. Here you can find a suitable model, for example.

If your child already has a sun allergy, the chances are very high that they will suffer from it every year. In order to permanently alleviate the symptoms, it makes sense to get your child used to the light step by step. This works best if you use the spring to expose your child’s skin to the sun – but only for a short period of time. Over time, you increase the amount of time you spend outdoors so that the skin can produce more melanin (dyes or pigments) to protect itself from the dangerous UV radiation. You can support this process by taking carotene and calcium. Discuss this with the pediatrician in advance.

Other preventive measures are:

Sunglasses with UV protection for children’s eyes

Not only is the skin particularly sensitive at a young age, but also the eyes. That is why proper UV protection is essential for sunglasses and everyday glasses. “The lens of the eye and cornea can filter a large part of the UV radiation. However, additional protection is important! That means: For children with ametropia, make sure to wear glasses with certified UV protection,” explains Dr. Michael Petrak, specialist in ophthalmology at the University Hospital Bonn. Because even if there are no proven diseases of the eye that are clearly triggered by UV radiation (as in skin cancer), Petrak still points out: “It cannot be ruled out that UV exposure in childhood has an impact on a person Has eye disease in old age,

For  this reason, the Zeiss brand has been offering UV Protect protection up to 400 nanometers in clear plastic glasses since 2018. Sunglasses for children should offer the same protection – you can recognize them by the correct marking, the UV 400 label. You can find suitable models for boys and girls at every ZEISS optician and, for example, here.