Mens_Health_UK_March_2017

22 MEN’S HEALTH MENSHEALTH.CO.UK

CLOCK COURTESY OF NEWGATE CLOCKS

Q

CAN BLOOD-PLASMA

TREATMENTS REALLY STOP

ME FROM LOSING MY HAIR?

Q

I’VE HEARD THAT MOUTHWASH
RAISES YOUR CANCER RISK.
SCAREMONGERING, SURELY?
HARRY, MIDDLESBROUGH
It’s certainly a debate worth getting
your teeth into. In theory, if you gargled
an alcohol-based mouthwash several
times a day, you could become more
vulnerable to oral carcinogens, says
Dr Brian Schmidt, of NYU College of
Dentistry. That’s why oral cancer rates
are particularly high among heavy
drinkers who smoke. But everything is
relative – assuming you’re not gargling
with White Lightning, mouthwash
evidently has its benefits. But being
selective makes a big difference. Much
like antibiotics, traditional mouthwash
obliterates bacteria in the body without
discrimination, and many of the bugs
in our mouths are essential to our health.
Try an alcohol-free product, such as
Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield
mouthwash. Or just stick to flossing.

KEITH, DAGENHAM

For once, we can say yes: the latest

development in hair-loss therapy might

be the first one that truly works. It’ll cost

you a few painful injections and the best

part of £800, but it’s showing promising

results, and can be used in combination

with products such as Rogaine. It works

by spinning your blood in a centrifuge so

only platelet-rich plasma remains. That

plasma (chock-full of growth stimulants)

is then injected or ‘microneedled’ (ouch)

into your scalp, where it revives lazy hair

cells. “This is not some kind of miracle

where you’re completely bald one day

and have a full head of hair six months

later,” warns dermatologist Dr Cameron

Rokhsar. “This is for people who have

some decrease in density and want to

make their hair thicker.” But the bald fact

remains: it’s a good option if you want

to add body. If you’ve already gone the

full Varys, however, the game is up.

DOES IT

WORK?

AM I

NORMAL?

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ASK MH

RINGING THE CHANGES IN 2017

night. Trouble is, when it’sdone

processing (and this happens

surprisingly quickly) your brain

continues to expect the sedative

it’s no longer receiving and wakes

you up to search out more. And

no, that doesn’t mean you should

sleep with a bedside bottle of pinot

noir. But you can outsmart your

compromised brain by employing

the countermeasures below.

Ah, the old five-pint paradox.

Alcohol is a sedative, boosting the

early slow-wave stage of sleep.

That’s why your partner is wont to

find you on the sofa after a heavy

DAVID, REIGATE

CALL TIME ON YOUR

DRAININGFRIDAY

NIGHT ROUTINE

WHYISITTHATBOOZE

KNOCKS ME OUT FLAT

BUT THEN WAKES ME

UPAGAINAT2AM?

HIT THE RELEASE VALVE

Alcohol inhibits

antidiuretic hormone,

producing more urine,

so pee before bed –

even if you don’t need it. The

longer you wait, the more the

deep muscles of the pelvis clamp

down around your bladder, says

urologist Elizabeth Kavaler.

EATING ISN’T CHEATING

Improve the speed

at which your body

processes booze by

swapping the post-

pub kebab for asparagus and

eggs. They contain l-cysteine,

which helps to metabolise alcohol.

If that sounds like a hassle make

it your pre-party dinner instead.

PL AY IT BY THE BOOK

Avoid crashingout

the moment you step

through the door, and

wind down by reading.

Even an extra hour awake sipping

water could be enough to help

your body metabolise the booze.

You’ll be forgiven for forgetting

what you’ve read come breakfast.

RECLAIM THE NIGHT Sleep deeper with our preemptive strategies

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