Prevention

The Australian Cancer Council found ejaculating more than five times a week in your 20s and 30s cuts the risk of prostate cancer in later life by a third. The report said masturbation is more effective than sex, so take matters in hand.

Blotchy skin is a common complaint in Asian country. What are the causes?

Cumulative sun damage causes premature aging and pigment formation, this result in sun and age spots. Some people are genetically predisposed to pigmentation like freckles, while melasma ( “the mask of pregnancy”) is due to hormonal changes. Another unique feature of Asian skin is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation in which the skin darkens after injury from, for example, too strong an acid peel. I encounter these conditions daily in my practice.

Any treatment?

Some doctor would need to assess  with their patient and discuss the possible options and outcomes. Using a good sun-block will definitely prevent worsening of the pigmentation. You can use creams — a good start although the results are slow. I usually use Photo-rejuvenation which involves an energy source either from light or laser to fragment the pigment under the skin without burning the outer skin layer. Hence, there is no reddening, pain or downtime.

Lightening of the pigment can be noticed within a week but results vary from 20%-80% depending on the individual. Consistent use of creams and sun-block will improve the final outcome. The results, though never perfect, are about as good as what medical technology can offer. That’s probably why we get many new patients by way of recommendation.

How has it affected your treatment of pigmentary disorders?

When first started aesthetic practice, treatment options were limited to just creams, chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Some lightening could be seen after a few months. Technology has improved tremendously and I have been using a combination of mild burning ablative lasers and non-burning non- ablative lasers with much better results.

Step 1:

Begin by pinching from tips and bottoms of each finger and thumb of both your right hand and left hand. The pressure applied to your fingers should be firm, but not painful. A few seconds for each finger tip will do. Pinch them again, but this time squeezing from side to side.

Step 2:

Vigorously rub back and forth from the base to the tip of each linger & thumb.

Step 3:

Grasp each finger & thumb at its base and pull firmly. Allow your grip to loosen slightly, graduating it from the base to the finger tip until your finger slips out of your grasp completely.

Step 4:

Using your thumb and forefinger firmly grasp the webbed area between your thumb & forefinger of your other hand. Keeping a firm hold, pull at the skin gently until the fleshy web snaps away from your grasp. Repeat this process for the webbed-between areas on all your fingers.

Step 5:

Rest the palm of your hand inside the fingers of your free hand. Use your thumb to massage the back of your hand. Slowly work on the knuckles and in between knuckle area first. Continue thumb’ massaging each area on the back of the hand.

Step 6:

At the end of your session press your thumb deeply in the centre of your palm. Take a few deep breaths. This would help to relax, clear your mind, and focus on your healing intentions.

Prevention

Your piriformis muscle controls hip rotation and is the most common cause of sciatica. Keep it loose with regular stretches: lie on your back with bent knees, Lift your right ankle over your left knee and pull into your chest.

It is the most common tea served in Chinese restaurants, as a batch of leaves can be steeped up to five times — the third and fourth brews give the best flavor. Reddish- brown when brewed, it is generally stronger, more roasted and full- bodied in taste and aroma than other types of tea.

They are dried naturally before being gently bruised and roasted over charcoal. The Tie Guan Yin is one of the most well-known while the Da Hong Pao is the finest and most expensive. Oolong tea prices vary greatly. Most high-quality oolong teas are made in China’s Fujian province.

Yellow Tea

Tea drinkers who find the grassy taste of green tea too strong may prefer yellow tea instead. Milder and sweeter, with a fresh and flowery aroma, it is harvested early in the year, and has younger and smaller leaves than green tea. Tea makers briskly fry small batches with high heat before drying them between special papers, a tedious process which removes the grassy flavor. Because it is time-consuming, it is rare and expensive. Not commonly available at regular retailers, we found a yellow tea called Meng Shan Huang Ya at Tian Fu Teahouse.

Black Tea

Assam, Earl Grey and western style breakfast – most of the teas that we drink in cafes are single estate or blends of black tea. Infused to a clear shade of dark red, most black teas are hearty and boast the strongest flavors among all tea. As it’s fully oxidized, it can retain its flavor for several years. It also has the highest caffeine level at about 3%. The best black teas are the young shoots of each branch, with silver or golden tips.

Green Tea

Popular for antioxidant properties, the taste ranges from refreshing and mild, to grassy and full-bodies. The golden yellow brew is the most natural tea – freshly plucked leaves are dried and packed without being oxidized; it retains its green color as chlorophyll is not broken down.

It should be consumed within six months as it loses its flavor quickly. Japanese green tea is pan- or even dried. Well know ones include Sencha and Matcha from Japan, and Long Jing from China. Steep green tea uncovered as high temperature destroys the nutrients.

White Tea

More delicate than other teas in taste and aroma, white tea has a natural sweetness. Uncommon and expensive, it lightly fermented buds and leaves produce a light golden color and mildly sweet aroma and flavor when brewed. Like Green Tea, it’s not oxidized and retains much of its antioxidants. The tea leaves are streamed or fired after being air dried. The BaiHao YinZhen and white Peony are two more well known white tea varieties.

On Your Hot Seat

• Sit with your feet comfortably flat on the floor and elbows level with the keyboard.
• Keep your arms parallel to the floor.
• Recline chair slightly to reduce pressure on the lower back.
• Push your hips very close to the back of the chair.
• De-clutter the area below your desk so you have room to stretch your legs.

On the phone

• Avoid holding the receiver between the shoulder and the ear as it strains the neck.
• Use a headset if you use the phone frequently.
• Make sure the phone is within easy reach to avoid over-stretching.
• Use both thumbs to type messages on your mobile phone to minimize the strain on one thumb.

Using the keyboard

• Type lightly. Heavy pounding stresses the fingers and may result in elbow pain.
• Adjust the keyboard so it’s in the middle of your body.
• Type with straight wrists; adjust the height of the keyboard if your wrists are bent when typing.
• Use a desktop rather than a laptop for prolonged typing — it has a bigger and higher screen and more well-spaced keys.

Monitor safety

• Make sure your monitor is placed at least an arm’s length away.
• Keep the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level.
• Tilt the screen slightly so the base is closer to you than the top.
• Place the monitor perpendicular to the window if you are relying on natural light.
• Keep your head straight when working — tilting it causes neck strain.

Take a time out

• Follow the 20/20/20 rule — work for 20 minutes, take a break for 20 seconds and look 20 feet (6 meters) away.
• Mix sedentary and mobile tasks. Sitting still for long periods inhibits blood circulation.
• Stretch your neck, shoulders, wrists, arms and back occasionally.
• Make it a habit to blink every two to four seconds — this ensures your eyes are constantly lubricated, and prevents strain.

What should I do??? Most people facing the same problem with: Whenever they sit down, their stomach spills over my pants, skirt or jeans. How can they get rid of this roll of fat?

Eating a balanced diet and cutting down on your intake of carbohydrates will help reduce overall body fat. Regular exercise will also help increase energy expenditure and tone abdominal muscles.

Fat that doesn’t budge with diet and exercise can be treated with Slim Laser Body Contouring, which is suitable for areas like the abdomen, love-handles, thighs, arms and back. It is a minimally invasive procedure with minimum downtime. It uses a powerful io-watt Nd:YAG laser to melt and destroy fat cells before they are removed from the body.

But most people also worry about the painful while process?

The entire treatment is performed under skin anesthesia, but if you are concerned about pain, a mild sedative can be administered. Although pain thresholds differ in individuals, most women report minimal discomfort.

Will I have to take time off from work after the procedure?

The entire treatment is done in one session of a few hours, and you’ll be able to return home on the same day. Most people return to work in a day or two.

What kind of results can you expect?

As with any treatment, results vary between individuals, although most people notice a noticeable reduction in the treated area immediately after the treatment.