Creativity is not restricted to producing a ground-breaking master art piece. Even a small gesture of creative act in the daily life counts. Nevertheless, being creative is nothing short of a grand gesture. Everyone we ever meet is creative - some more than others. But, does creativity have a dark side that is not much known? Are the famous artists and creative experts as happy as they could've been?
Simply put, an act of creativity is turning a novel idea in your head to reality. It happens when we think 'outside-the-box'. It doesn't mean starting something from scratch. Rather, it's about making connections to previously existing but totally unrelated concepts and identifying hidden patterns. Creativity is a talent that is inherent for most, but it is also something that can be cultivated.
In the early 1940, John Webb Young wrote a book called 'A technique for producing ideas'. According to the book, there are 5 steps involved in the process of creativity.
Stage 1 involves reading. As much as you can. On topics long and short. It first starts as a general reading, familiarising with many concepts and identifying a source of fascination. Then, like a funnel, the reading narrows - to topics of interest. Especially, the ones related to the task in mind.
This step is an important part of the creative process. The ideas and concepts learned in stage 1 are looked at from different angles. New combinations of ideas are given a shot. A mix-and-match happens during the second stage.
The third stage is as important as stages 1 and 2. It involves stepping away from the topic and letting your mind wander. Doing something relaxing helps. Even if you let your mind in a diffused state, your subconscious continues work. So, practically, you'll still be twisting and turning ideas without your conscious mind realizing!
When you take a break, as your subconscious still works, the new idea comes to you in sort of an Aha! moment. The flash of insight accompanied by a burst of energy are usually the tell-off signs.
Let the world know. Wait for the feedback. And when you do get it, be humble and learn from the criticism. Shape your ideas and make changes.
Apart from the tips mentioned above, the following 5 bonus tips will help you be more creative!
Being creative is often seen as a natural 'talent'. While it is not exactly a misconception, it is solely not the only base of creativity. Studies have shown that about 22% of genetic variants contribute to creativity. Of the several genes involved, the widely studied ones are NGR1 and COMT.
Neuregulin 1 (NGR1) gene is located on chromosome 8. There are several different isoforms of this gene, meaning they produce proteins that are functionally similar, but structurally different. The main function of this gene is to induce the growth and differentiation of brain cells. Variants of this gene have been implicated in creativity. A particular variation, the T allele, makes the individual highly creative, than the natural C allele. Dysregulation of this gene has also been linked to conditions like schizophrenia.
The catechol-O-methyltransferase gene, also called COMT, is located on the small chromosome 22. Their main role in the brain is to breakdown neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and norepinephrine. They ensure the balance of these chemical messengers. By doing so, they influence the transfer of information from one neuron to the next. A G to A transition in this gene is highly associated with creativity. The variation regulates the concentration of dopamine in the brain's prefrontal cortex.
Many studies conducted in recent years have tried to identify how creativity interrelates to the dark side. A study conducted showed that creativity and narcissism are closely interlinked. Moreover, it also made the person less honest and lose their humility. But that's not all. Studies also show that creative experts, such as artists and musicians, are more prone to depression.
A research from a university in Iceland also provided evidence that people in creative professions are 25% at more risk for carrying variants involved in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Compared to individuals with CC genotype in NGR1 gene, those with a TT genotype had a lower white matter density in the frontal brain. This increased their risk of schizophrenia.
Creativity is neither entirely negative nor totally positive. It's not all black and white regions. They're co-dependent on one another, and one may not exist without the other. It's all a big grey shaded area. In the words of a neuropsychologist, 'there is, after all, no light without the dark'.
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In recent times 'detox' has become a consumer buzz word.
The importance of staying hydrated is nothing new to most people.
The body relies on the water you drink to flush out the toxins.
Though water may not necessarily neutralize toxins, it does help the liver and kidneys function properly to get rid of the toxins.
Detox water, a glamorous name for infused water, comes with the claim of enhancing and accelerating this process.
This water comes infused with fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Detox water is also often recommended in weight loss plans, especially in place of high-sugar drinks like sugary soda and fruit juice.
The inexpensive and flavourful way of drinking water has revolutionized the world of fitness in a massive way.
Chop up some fruits, vegetables, and herbs of your choice and add it to hot or cold water according to your preference.
Crushing the ingredients can help with the faster infusion of flavor into the water.
Some commonly used recipes include:
Detox products are often consumed with the aim of eliminating toxins from the body for a healthier life.
But the truth is your body has got the toxin elimination process pretty sorted.
The six organs that play a huge role in detoxifying the body are:
There's no published report about any particular diet/product that speeds up this process.
Water, in general, aids this process by working with the kidneys and the liver.
However, throwing in a few fruits and vegetables into water doesn't seem to make any difference.
Handpicked article for you: Is Dr. Rhonda Patrick Diet For You? Analyze Your DNA Raw Data To Find Out Your Nutritional Needs!
Drinking water increases your metabolic rate and helps with weight loss.
According to a study, overweight individuals who had half a liter of water before their meals lost 40% more weight than those who didn't.
This can be attributed to the rise in metabolism and reduction in appetite after water consumption.
Drinking the recommended amount of water at regular intervals is itself sufficient to aid weight loss.
Packing it with some flavor does not necessarily contribute to increased weight loss, but just might make people consume more water due to the flavorful taste.
The infused flavor may also make you reach out for sugary drinks less.
Drinking infused water is a wonderful option if you are looking for a way to add more water to your diet.
However, as the sole vehicle to weight loss, detox water just won't cut it.
Genetic factors influence how your body processes certain nutrients.
This may have a direct or indirect effect on weight loss or weight gain. For instance, the gene "Apolipoprotein A2" (APOA2) is involved in the production of a particular protein, which affects how your body responds to saturated fats.
If you happen to be one who possesses a variant of this particular gene, no matter how much you control your calorie intake, you could still be gaining weight.
Yet, if you cut down saturated fat from your diet, weight loss may just as well be a cakewalk!
It may not always be this straightforward.
It is important to note that there are other genes, variables, and lifestyle habits that impact your weight.
While genetic testing may not have answers to all your questions, it can serve as a guide for outlining a diet plan that is based on results as opposed to generic, cookie-cutter plans.
Upload your DNA raw data here for some insightful nutritional tips
This advantage is attributed to the nutrients from the infused fruits and vegetables.
When eaten by themselves, fruits and vegetables indeed help the immune system of our body.
In fact, there is a lot of research to support enhanced immunity on regular consumption of vitamin C.
But merely the infusion of fruits and vegetables in water does not provide enough nutrition to support this claim.
Some people claim that detox water flushes toxins from your skin and improves its appearance.
Hydration, in general, is important for healthy skin.
A Nutrition and Health Research on skin hydration revealed that additional water intake resulted in improvements of softness, smoothness, and moisturizing of the skin.
Adding those fruits and vegetables serve as a fancy embellishment to make water more flavorful, thereby resulting in increased consumption of it.
MC1R or melanocortin-1 receptor gene plays an important role in the normal pigmentation process in the body. Several SNPs are associated with this MC1R gene.
They are primarily linked to fair skin, red or light hair, and freckles.
They also show a varying risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
Research has identified several other mutations, which result in alterations to the normal structure and function of a gene, in many skin conditions, from eczema to melanoma.
Even acne, a researcher named Hugo Hecht found in 1960, has a hereditary component.
While lifestyle can overtake what your genes are capable of, it is also important to address the problem from its roots.
Upload your DNA raw data here to get one step closer to achieving a healthy-looking skin
It is no secret that hydration is vital for maintaining good health.
So the bottom line here is that anything that helps you drink more water is a good thing.
Adding fruits to the water is more of a personal preference rather than a health benefit.
There is no research that actually backs up any nutritional advantages from drinking detox water.
All the benefits that have been associated with drinking detox water are merely the effects of increased water consumption.
That being said, a good thing about detox water is that it does not do you any harm; no downsides to drinking detox water have been reported so far.
So, if infusing water with fruits and vegetables helps you drink more of it and reduces your cravings for sugary drinks, then you should continue doing what works for you.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163888/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=17446329
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25522674
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16827695/
Covering over 33 categories, this report is the final ingredient you need to complete the recipe for healthy eating.
It helps identify your genetic risk for 9 vitamin deficiencies.
The report also gives insights into the requirements of many minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, etc.
It contains information about your tendency to gain and lose weight upon consumption of the essential nutrients, including carbs, proteins, and fats.
Each category covered also comes with some food recommendations which can help highly optimize your diet.
We often take things for granted in our life such as our body and the body parts that are involved in performing some basic functions.
For example, we use our hands and legs to perform many day-to-day activities, but we never pay attention to them unless or until we lose the ability to use a hand or a leg due to an injury.
Focusing on the hand, have you ever given a thought about your hand’s grip strength?
Handgrip strength is a vital force that is required to pull, push, or suspend objects.
It is a part of hand strength or physical strength that is utilized by animals or humans, especially athletes such as rock climbers.
Rock climbers require muscle power and the force that is generated by hands, which makes the handgrip strength extremely critical for their sport.
Hand-grip strength from one person to the other varies based on the ability of the hand to grip objects in many different ways or positions.
Hence, the handgrip is classified into three types:
This grip is usually required by the hand to perform functions involving a handshake or gripping an object against the palm and wrapping the fingers around the object.
Did you know a stronger variant of this grip can be used to break objects?
In this grip, the fingers are on one side of the object, and the thumb is on the other side of the object, so the object will not be in contact with the palm.
This grip is comparatively weaker and is usually required by the hand to grab an object.
This grip requires muscular strength and muscular endurance so that the hand can generate a proper grip and hold on to objects for a long time.
Any normal and healthy individual has some amount of grip strength in his/her body.
But, some athletes and professionals need to have a higher grip strength due to the activities they perform daily.
This needs them to increase or improve their grip strength, and this is possible by using different types of grip training methods.
Grip strength training requires a form of exercise that is different than what is necessary for muscular training.
All parts of the hand must be exercised to have a steady hand with a strong grip.
Working on a thick grip bar that is over 2 inches and performing activities such as deadlifts, pullups, or the farmer’s walk can help train the support grip.
This exercise involves grabbing plates smooth-side out and pinching them.
This activity includes levering a sledgehammer using the wrists to train the fingers and wrists.
This involves grabbing a plate and doing wrist or regular curls with them by placing the fingers on the bottom and the thumb on the top.
This helps train the wrists, fingers, and the thumb for a pinch grip.
This can be used for a full-crimp grip, a half-crimp grip, and an open hand grip, all of which are required for climbing.
To strengthen one’s opening grip, the extensor muscles (that are the opposite of the flexors of the hands) need to be trained to achieve the right balance between opposing muscle groups.
These extensors are significant in grip because they contract to support finger flexion.
To train these muscles, you can shove your hand into substances like rice and try extending it or placing an object like rocks in a coffee can and put your hand in the box and try to reach it to pick up the coffee can.
This is a great way to train the extensor muscles in your hands.
These are now sold by many companies and are a great way to strengthen your extensor grip.
Wrist extension exercises(also called as reverse wrist curls) are useful to stimulate the finger extensor fibers.
Another exercise that is good to improve the opening grip is fist pushups, done on the backside of the first finger bone that would increase the pressure put on the extensor muscles.
Handstands wherein the gripping strength is used to stabilize the hand to prevent the body from falling towards the front, and the extensor muscles prevent the body from falling backward.
Exercise using metal rods help to strengthen and stabilize one’s hand grip indirectly.
Fingertip pushups are useful to improve stabilization as they would use the opening as well as closing grip muscles to keep the fingers from sliding and help focus bone density in hand.
Hand-grip strength tends to reduce as individual ages.
Men’s grip strength starts to deteriorate post 55 years of age.
However, some exercises can be done to improve hand-grip strength, such as:
To improve grip strength, one must go through all these types of exercises and training and spread them out throughout the week.
Handgrip strength has genetic links and is used as a market for the degree of one’s frailty and helps predict a wide range of morbidities.
Some genes and SNPs increase one’s susceptibility to good or poor handgrip strength.
| RSID | Gene | Risk Allele |
|---|---|---|
| rs72762373 | DEC1 | A |
| rs2273555 | GBF1 | A |
| rs4926611 | GLIS1 | C |
| rs78325334 | HLA | C |
| rs2288278 | HOXB3 | A |
| rs374532236 | MGMT | T |
| rs10861798 | SYT1 | G |
The A allele of SNP rs72762373 is associated with better hand-grip strength as compared to the G allele.
This SNP is present in association with the DEC1 gene, the exact function of which is still unknown.
The A allele of SNP rs2273555 belonging to the GBF1 gene is beneficial for a better hand-grip strength because this allele is associated with higher levels of strength, muscle mass, and muscle fiber size.
The C allele of SNP rs4926611 belonging to the GLIS1 gene is associated with a better hand-grip strength compared to the T allele of the same gene.
SNP rs78325334 is located on chromosome 6 in association with the HLA gene.
This SNP has been linked to handgrip strength, and the presence of the C allele is a risk whereas, the T allele is beneficial to the same.
SNP rs2288278, located on chromosome 17 in association with the HOXB3 gene, is associated with handgrip strength.
The presence of the A allele is beneficial to people for better handgrip strength as compared to those who have the G allele.
rs80103986 is an SNP that is associated with the KANSL1 gene.
The presence of the A allele is beneficial and gives a better hand-grip strength as compared to the T allele.
The presence of the T allele of SNP rs374532236 belonging to the MGMT gene is beneficial for hand-grip strength.
A allele of the SNP rs10861798 belonging to the SYT1 gene is beneficial for hand-grip strength whereas, the G allele is a risk for the same.
The SYT1 gene is responsible for the release of neurotransmitter release at the synapse, which means that it is essential for the muscle movements and nerve signals.
In SNP rs958685, the A allele is beneficial for a better handgrip compared to the C allele.
Handgrip strength can be used to measure the risk of an individual with the onset of cardiovascular disease in adults.
Research studies have shown that a better handgrip is associated with healthier heart function.
An 11-pound decrease in grip strength is linked to:
The association between gip strength and heart disease was a strong irrespective of age, exercise, smoking, and other factors.
Grip strength could be an easy and inexpensive test to assess an individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease, said Dr. Darryl Leong.
You might also be interested in: The Secret To A Healthy Heart Lies In Your Genes: Analyze Your DNA Raw Data
Apart from the training methods and exercises mentioned to improve grip strength.
Diet plays a significant role in increasing the hand-grip strength.
Dietary protein intakes are proven to increase muscle strength in older adults, as the muscle strength increases the hand-grip strength, which is a part of it also tends to increase.
Protein, in combination with a healthy diet, can be useful in maintaining muscle strength.
Hand-grip strength is one of the characteristics used to identify adult malnutrition.
Clinically hand-grip strength is used to measure the risk of functional impairment of hands in older adults.
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Varicose veins are swollen, enlarged veins that commonly occur on the legs and feet and appear bluish-black through the skin.
They occur because of improperly functioning, blocked valves that either cause accumulation or pooling of blood, or flow of blood in the wrong direction, thereby causing the legs to swell up.
About 23% of all adults are believed to suffer from this condition, and in severe cases, it can be painful too.
The condition usually does not need treatment in its initial stages, but if the pain, swelling, or pain in the legs is causing extreme discomfort, it might need medical attention.
Varicose veins are large, swollen, and twisted veins in the legs and appear bluish-black through the skin.
They look different from spider veins that are smaller, red, purple, or blue blood vessels and are also visible through the skin.
However, as mentioned earlier, they have differences that tell them apart:
Spider veins are thin, more delicate, appear redder along with purplish-blue color whereas, varicose veins are much larger, thick and tortuous and appear bluish-black, and also often bulge from the skin.
Spider veins never have symptoms such as pain or discomfort but can cause itching, burning sensation, or lead to secondary skin infections.
Varicose veins, on the other hand, are often more painful, cause heaviness, swelling, throbbing, night cramps, and fatigue in the legs.
People with spider veins seek treatment mainly for cosmetic purposes, and in many cases, the tiny blood vessels burst and bleed when the skin is rubbed too hard.
If this bleeding occurs under the skin, it can cause bruising too.
However, it rarely leads to swelling of the affected area.
In the case of varicose veins, people are often troubled by its many secondary troubles such as ulcers, changes in the skin, frequent swelling in the legs, etc.
Haemorrhoidal tissue is present in everyone and is made up of arteries, veins, and connective tissues surrounded by muscles.
When this tissue gets enlarged or swollen, it is referred to as hemorrhoids.
They are more common than we think, but people are often as uncomfortable talking it as they are living with it.
This tissue is found in the rectal area, and this condition is most commonly diagnosed when there is pain or bleeding while using the restroom.
Hemorrhoids are of two types:
Varicose veins, on the other hand, are quite similar to hemorrhoids, but they are primarily found in the weight-bearing areas of the body, i.e. the legs.
They appear engorged, swollen, ropy, and bluish-black through the skin.
Though they can occur anywhere in the body, they primarily occur in the legs and feet.
The leading cause for varicose veins as damaged or blocked veins in the legs.
In the human body, the veins are blood vessels that are responsible for returning the blood to the heart.
The veins of the legs need to do so by working against gravity. Veins contain small valves that prevent the back-flow of blood and allow the blood to return upwards towards the heart.
However, if these valves do not function properly, are weak or damaged, the blood flows backward and begins to pool in the legs.
This causes varicose veins.
How do you know if you are suffering from varicose veins?
Some common symptoms include:
Some reasons predispose one to develop varicose veins.
These include:
An increase in age increases the risk of developing varicose veins because of the gradual wear and tear of the valves that occur as we grow older.
An increase in weight and obesity increases the pressure on the veins in the legs, increasing the risk of varicose veins.
The increase in blood volume, along with hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, increases a woman’s risk of developing varicose veins.
Women are more prone to varicose veins as compared to men.
Hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause cause the veins to dilate due to hormones.
Using hormonal pills such as birth control pills increase the risk even further.
Individuals who stand a lot as part of their job – traffic police, teachers, etc., are more prone to developing varicose veins over a period of time.
Having a family member with varicose veins increases an individual’s risk of developing the condition.
Women are at a higher risk of developing varicose veins due to the hormones progesterone and estrogen, which causes the veins to dilate.
During pregnancy, these hormones cause dilation of smooth muscles, including the uterus and event the veins in the legs, causing the veins to get larger.
This dilation of the veins causes the valves inside them to get damaged, and they are unable to function properly to help the veins return the blood to the heart.
This leads to the pooling of blood and varicose veins.
Another situation that can arise during pregnancy is that the increase in the blood volume during this time puts immense pressure on the veins of the legs leading to varicose veins.
The increase in blood volume during pregnancy can be up to 30% than the usual volume in her non-pregnant body.
Bodybuilding is a physical activity that involves controlled and progressive strength training to develop muscular definition in the body in individuals who are interested in bikini, fitness, or other similar aesthetic competitions.
One thing that we see among bodybuilders is the vascularity or the superficial blood vessels.
It often appears like they have thin skin with bulging veins.
This is mainly due to the extreme reduction of subcutaneous fat that brings about muscle definition.
There are many different ways that bodybuilders attain vascularity; this has always been controversial.
However, this vascularity is not the same as varicose veins. But, bodybuilders are very highly prone to varicose veins.
The reasons for this are:
The treatment options include treating the cause as well as the many symptoms.
However, no extended hospital stays or extensive surgical procedures are needed to treat them.
The current treatment options for varicose veins are:
This involves self-care measures such as regular exercises, weight management, wearing light, and loose, breathable clothes, keeping your legs elevated while sitting or sleeping, avoiding long periods of sitting and standing.
These can be done to reduce the symptoms of pain and discomfort.
This is a very commonly used clothing that you see many people with varicose veins wear.
These are tight stockings that are worn on the legs and help to squeeze the legs that support the veins and muscles of the leg to move the blood smoothly towards the heart, thereby preventing pooling or accumulation of the blood.
More severe cases of varicose veins are treated using methods like sclerotherapy laser treatments, Ambulatory phlebotomy, high ligation, and vein stripping, catheter-assisted procedures using radiofrequency, and endoscopic vein surgery.
The symptoms of varicose veins may worsen on exposure to sunlight.
This facilitates the cooling down of the body as the veins widen to bring blood to the skin’s surface.
However, in the case of varicose veins, the enlarging of the already faulty valves ends up heightening swelling and pain in the legs.
Do you experience extra pain in your varicose veins just before your periods?
The surge in the progesterone a week or two before your menstruation results in the loosening of veins to aid better blood flow.
But this imposes a strain on the valves in the veins present in the legs to adapt to the excess blood flow.
As a result, varicose veins emerge, or the existing ones worsen.
Compression stockings are the best way to manage the pain if your varicose veins flareup during the premenstrual stage.
Exercises that work your calf muscles also help pump the blood better without it pooling in the veins.
We all are aware that an increase in weight and obesity are high-risk factors for many heart and cardiovascular diseases.
An increase in weight is also a prime causative factor for varicose veins.
An excess amount of weight, more than that your body is built to carry puts immense pressure on your legs and the veins in them.
To support the excess body weight, the veins begin to dilate. The larger the vein diameter, the valves get stretched and damaged.
This results in improper functioning of these valves, leading to pooling of blood in the legs, leading to swelling and pain in the legs.
Some people also suffer from fatigue, restlessness, and itchiness in the legs.
One can prevent the development of varicose veins by maintaining a healthy weight.
Those who are obese and already suffer from it can prevent their condition from worsening by reducing their weight and ensuring regular physical exercise.
One of the popular treatment options for this condition is laser treatment.
In this method of treatment, the heat from the lasers is used to damage the veins in the legs and leading to scar formation.
This scar formation blocks the veins, and in a year or two, these blocked veins disappear.
There are two types of laser treatments that are done for varicose veins:
The recovery time after these laser treatments is typically short, and one can return to a routine in a day to a week.
This is a standard treatment method used to treat both varicose veins and spider veins.
This procedure involves injecting a salt solution directly into the veins.
This irritates the veins and causes them to collapse and stick together and the blood to clot.
Gradually over some time, this results in the formation of scar tissue, and the vein disappears.
This method of treating has been in practice since the early 1900s.
This is also a commonly used treatment.
In this procedure, many tiny cuts are made in the skin to remove the varicose vein.
It is done under local anesthesia and does not require a hospital stay.
However, this procedure needs to be accompanied by other methods for more effective results.
Compression socks are a special kind of stockings that are meant to be worn on the legs to ensure healthy blood circulation.
For this reason, they are beneficial to relieve symptoms in conditions such as chronic venous insufficiency, spider veins, and varicose veins.
When these stockings are worn, they are said to improve the symptoms because of the pressure that they apply on the ankles and legs, which compresses the superficial arteries and veins, thereby helping the blood flow to the heart and prevent backflow without any problems.
It is advised to wear these compression socks in the morning, before lowering your feet to get out of bed.
Your doctor will prescribe the best stockings for your condition.
Varicose veins tend to run in families. Heredity is one of the most important risk factors for developing varicose veins.
| RSID | Gene | Risk Allele |
|---|---|---|
| rs2911463 | PIEZO1 | A |
| rs3101725 | SLC12A2 | C |
| rs11135046 | EBF1 | T |
| rs7773004 | HFE | G |
| rs9880192 | GATA2 | C |
This SNP is associated with the PIEZO1 gene that is located on chromosome 16.
The presence of the A allele increases the risk of the individual to develop varicose veins.
The PIEZO1 gene is associated with encoding a vascular mechanosensory channel, and a disruption in this channel has shown to cause disorganization of the vascular system.
This SNP is associated with the SLC12A2 gene located on chromosome 5.
The SLC12A2 is associated with maintaining the vascular tone and cell volume in the body.
The presence of the C allele increases the individual’s risk of developing circulatory disorders such as varicose veins.
This SNP is located on chromosome 5 in the EBF1 gene.
The T variant of this gene increases the risk of varicose veins.
This SNP is located with the HFE gene on the short arm of chromosome 6.
The HFE gene is also known as the human Homeostatic iron regulator.
The presence of the G allele in relation to the SNP rs7773004 increases the risk of developing primary varicose veins.
SNP rs9880192 is located on the RPN1 gene on chromosome 3.
The C allele increases the risk of developing varicose veins.
There are many natural remedies and tips that one can try to relieve the symptoms. Some of these are:
Foods that contain flavonoids may also help.
Flavonoids-rich foods are:
Butcher’s broom is a medicinal plant, whose roots are popularly consumed to relieve blood circulation problems like poor circulation in the legs, chronic venous insufficiency, leg cramps, swelling, heaviness, and pain.
It is usually taken by mouth and is also said to be helpful for gallstones, kidney stones, and atherosclerosis.
In the case of varicose veins, consuming butcher’s broom is said to cause narrowing or constriction of blood vessels, thereby preventing the pooling of blood.
Here’s what you can do:
Regular physical activity is said to be essential for a long and healthy life.
Regular fitness regime and exercise are also said to be useful to prevent its development and relieve symptoms in those with the condition.
Though there is no conclusive evidence that exercise improves the condition, it is said to have some visible effects.
Performing physical activity regularly improves blood circulation in the body, especially the legs, and prevents blood from pooling in the legs.
Also, exercising helps you to maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity, which is a high-risk factor for this condition.
Some common exercises that are both light and useful exercises that you can do for are:
A large number of women experience varicose veins during their pregnancy.
An increase in the blood supply and hormones are jointly responsible for this.
During pregnancy, a woman’s body has about 20% more blood than her non-pregnant body, which causes all the blood vessels to dilate, including the veins in her legs.
Due to this dilation of blood vessels, the valves that prevent the backflow of blood get stretched and damaged, thereby leading to the pooling of blood and subsequently, the condition.
Also, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, further cause dilation of smooth muscles, including those of the blood vessels, which further aggravates the condition.
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Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes loss of skin color in blotches.
Based on the pattern of patches, vitiligo can be of two types, namely- segmental and nonsegmental.
The condition can develop at any age but usually starts above the age of 20.
Discoloration of various parts of the body is the primary manifestation of this condition, the symptoms include:
There are a few health complications that may put you at risk for the skin condition. These complications include:
Other conditions which may trigger vitiligo are:
There is no particular way to determine the spread of a patch.
However, in most cases, the vitiligo patches tend to spread to different parts of the body.
The spreading may occur either gradually over time or rapidly.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition.
An autoimmune disorder is that in which the body’s immune system identifies its healthy cells and tissues as foreign and attacks it, ultimately destroying it.
The leading underlying cause of vitiligo is that the body's immune system attacks the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes.
The melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color, hair color, eyeball color, etc.
The attack of melanocytes by the immune system leads to loss of melanin in different parts of the body, and that appears as pale patches in vitiligo.
Genetics has been identified as the main reason behind this faltered immune mechanism.
There have been several genes that have been reported causative of this autoimmune disorder.
The most commonly reported genes are:
The gene codes for tyrosinase, which is an enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of melanin
| GENE | RS Id | RISK ALLELE | IMPLICATIONS OF THE RISK ALLELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| TYR | rs4409785 | C | Altered tyrosinase protein is encoded, inhibiting melanin biosynthesis. |
The gene encodes a cell surface glycoprotein, which, when altered, is associated with lupus and vitiligo.
| GENE | SNP ID | RISK ALLELE | IMPLICATIONS OF THE RISK ALLELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| CD44 | rs736374 | A | The gene codes for an immune component, which gets elevated in case of the risk allele. |
Melanocortin receptor is encoded by MC1R, which is a regulator of melanogenesis.
| GENE | RS Id | RISK ALLELE | IMPLICATIONS OF THE RISK ALLELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| MC1R | rs4785587 | A | Risk allele carriers encode for a mutated receptor involved in melanin synthesis. |
It codes for an immune cell surface protein and takes part in the immune response of the body.
| GENE | RS Id | RISK ALLELE | IMPLICATIONS OF RISK ALLELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| CD80 | rs59374417 | C | Responsible for hyper-immune response in vitiligo. |
Elevated IL2RA levels have been associated with increased T-cell activation in autoimmune diseases.
| GENE | RS ID | RISK ALLELE | IMPLICATIONS OF THE RISK ALLELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| IL2RA | s706779 | A | Risk allele implies T-cell overactivation in vitiligo. |
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene have been implicated in various autoimmune disorders.
| GENE | RS ID | RISK ALLELE | IMPLICATIONS OF RISK ALLELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPP | rs13076312 | T | An increased immune response has been identified in risk allele carriers. |
The human leucocyte antigen family gene has been associated with an elevated immune response against melanocytes.
| GENE | RS ID | RISK ALLELE | IMPLICATIONS OF RISK ALLELE |
|---|---|---|---|
| HLA-G | rs2975033 | T | The risk allele is implicated in elevated immune response against melanocytes. |
Though the skin condition may seem to be simple patches on the skin, there have been several psychological complications associated with the condition.
People with the condition have been reported to suffer from depression, social phobia, etc.
This condition cannot be cured and therefore, it is crucial to treat the condition.
The most common treatment options available for this autoimmune disorder currently are:
It is important to manage the condition efficiently, and the following supplements may help with it:
Recommended fruits and vegetables for vitiligo are:
Upload your DNA raw data to Xcode Life. Our Gene Health Report analyzes, vitiligo, alopecia, dermatitis, and more than 47 such categories.
