Your Health in Your Hands

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Very dry skin on the hands can be a sign of an underactive thyroid. Women’s skin also tends to dry out as levels of oestrogen drop after the menopause. Dryness could also be a sign of essential fatty acid deficiency or dehydration. What to do about dry skin on your hands Medical help is essential if liver disease is the culprit, and it’s vital to cut out alcohol, take regular exercise and switch to a healthy diet. Liver problems can be linked to zincand other nutrient deficiencies, so seek advice on taking a supplement.

If your thyroid isn’t functioning well – something that often happens as we get older – you may also experience tiredness, weight gain, depressionand even heart problems. Doctors usually prescribe a drug called levothyroxine to counteract this, but it’s vital to eat a healthy diet, including selenium, a trace element that is found in Brazil nuts, seeds, lentils and shellfish, and can also be taken in supplement form. Red palms What red palms could mean My approach to healing became a daily rhythm: morning meditation, journaling, prayer, movement, proper rest and sleep, and deep breathing. I focused on making nourishing, organic meals that restored my energy and wellbeing, and drank plenty of pure water. Rheumatoid arthritisis treated with steroids, anti-inflammatories, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to slow joint damage and, if severe, ‘biological’ drugs that target specific parts of the immune system. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joint linings can well, because of inflammation, and may become hot and painful when touched. These are a classic sign of liver damage, especially in the over-50s,’ explains Dr Denning. The redness usually affects the outer edge of the palms in a band from the wrist to the little finger. The exact cause is unknown but is thought to be due to blood vessels dilating as a result of changes in hormone balance. Red palms can also be a sign of an overactive thyroid or rheumatoid arthritis. Your hands might feel hot for a variety of reasons, for example inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis (see above). In some cases fibromyalgia can also cause hands to feel hot and uncomfortable. One known but rare cause of hot, blotchy hands as well as hot arms, legs, feet and face, is erythromelalgia. Erythromelalgia can range from a mild tingling feeling to severe burning, and flare ups typically last from just minutes to several days. What to do about hot hands

Dr Mark Porter answers a reader's question about tingling fingers Brown marks What brown marks could mean In the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, US public health policy remains at a crossroads. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) May 28, 2021 guidance [1], which lifted masking recommendations for vaccinated people in most situations, exemplifies a troubling shift-away from public health objectives that center equity and toward a model of individual personal responsibility for health. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky emphasized that “your health is in your hands” [2], undermining the idea that fighting COVID is a “public” health responsibility that requires the support of institutions and communities. The social impacts of this scientific guidance, combined with the emergence of new variants, have exposed the fallacy of this approach, with most local mask restrictions lifted and infections rising dramatically among disadvantaged populations [3]. Rapidly rising cases prompted the CDC on July 27th to recommend resuming indoor masking even for vaccinated people in “areas of substantial or high transmission,” [9] but US policy continues to frame the pandemic largely as a matter of individual responsibility – to the detriment of public health. As public health professionals and advocates, we call for a renewed commitment to core public health principles of collective responsibility, health equity, and human rights. During the darkest days of my health collapse, I took great solace in poetry. It was a healer and companion that gave me rich meaning during the most difficult times. I would like to share one poem in particular with all of you, my fellow healers. You are not alone, we are in this together, and we will reclaim our vitality and wholeness. Because our health is in our hands. An overactive thyroid speeds up the metabolism, causing anxiety, a fast heartbeat, sweating, weight loss and insomnia, and is another potential cause of trembling. Anxiety, stress, strong coffee and too much alcoholare culprits, too. Shaky hands may also be a sign of Parkinson’s. What to do about trembling hands

Worried about anything to do with your health? Our nurses are there for you, all day, every day. Just call our Anytime HealthLine. Visit a local farm or farmer’s market: supporting farmers in our community and securing a local food system will strengthen our communities, revitalize our local economies, and make us more resilient against future pandemics. And like other small businesses, many farmers will be hurt by restaurant and market closings and can use your support. You could even consider signing up for an organic CSA this season, helping farmers receive a cashflow at this critical time.Plant a garden: getting your hands in the soil and growing your own food is one of the healthiest acts that you can do for yourself and for your family. Wash hands regularly with soap, paying attention to areas between the fingers and around the nails, for 20 seconds. Rinse and dry thoroughly. NHS Western Isles' Dermatology Nurse has issued some top tips for the public to keep their hands healthy in response to COVID-19.

If your hot hands persist you should speak to your GP to rule out any underlying conditions. If your hot hands are caused by erythromelalgia there are oral and topical medications available. White spots/patches on hands What white spots or patches could mean There are several dermatological issues that could cause white spots or patches on your hands. For example white patches on your hands could be caused by eczema, sun spots or pityriasis versicolour, a fungal infection that causes patches to develop on your skin. These discoloured areas could also be white, red brown or pink. The patches will be itchy, but are harmless. What to do about white spots on hands

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Drink 64 oz of clean water daily to flush toxins from the body and revitalize your cells. (No plastic bottles, please!) And promote clean water in your community by supporting organic farmers who don’t leach toxic chemicals into our vital water supply. Reconnect with nature: take time to get outside, breathe fresh air, take your shoes off and feel the soil on your feet, get into the sun and absorb the Vitamin D which strengthens our immune system. November 2023 Health insurance gives you more control over your health. That’s why we’ve designed our Bupa By You insurance to work around your lifestyle. With Bupa By You, you can choose the level of cover you need. And, ICAS members save 10% on Bupa By You health insurance.* What is health insurance? Sharing his plan for a better, brighter future for us all, Dr Emeka will overhaul the way we look at and take charge of our own health through his evidence-based guidance. Bohannon RW. Grip strength: An indispensable biomarker for older adults. Clin Interv Aging. 2019;14:1681-1691. doi:10.2147/CIA.S194543

Nails aren’t the only part of the hand that can reveal ill health, though. The palms can tell a story too. As we face the uncertainties of the Coronavirus, and are called to a time of isolation, I challenge all of us to reframe this moment. We are living in “the moment before the moment,” where we do not yet have all of the answers. These times can create feelings of deep anxiety and unrest.Avoid unnecessary tasks that add extra stress to the hands eg. use of bleach, painting and decorating, gardening, car washing etc.