August 8-14, 2009 - Original Health Articles

Every fall or winter, your child probably comes down with the same type of symptoms: sneezing, coughing, aching bones and a fever. And each time you may be left wondering if it is a cold or flu. Telling the difference can be very hard to do. The Similarities A cold and the flu (also known as influenza) can present themselves in almost the same way.

No one likes being stung by bees or insects, but if you suffer from an insect allergy, you're probably worried about more than just the pain that goes with it. Today, about three percent of the population in the United States has an insect allergy, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Workplace-Based Triggers If you are one of the many people who experiences occupational asthma, determining exactly what it is that makes you sick can pose a large challenge, particularly if you work in a varied workplace and come into contact with many different potential triggers.

Allegies and Infections When it comes to allergies and infections, it isn't unusual for the nasal symptoms that accompany an allergy attack to linger and spread. In fact, you may find that when the sneezing and itchiness lessens, you're left with more intense congestion, a severe headache, and possibly tenderness or pain when you touch your cheeks or forehead.

Did you know that asthma actually discriminates by age and by sex? And while this may sound surprising, it is actually the finding of several recent studies. In childhood, boys are more likely to suffer from this chronic lung condition than their female peers.

It's been common knowledge for quite some time that vitamin D helps to build strong bones. But, research in recent years has shown that low levels of vitamin D is associated with fibromyalgia pain, musculoskeletal and bone pain, and other chronic pain conditions.

Cancer and Sex Cancer and cancer treatment, regardless of the type of cancer, can cause physical and psychological sexual dysfunction. Your hormone levels may change; therapy may make you tired or cause pain; and medications, depression, changes in body image and some types of surgery may directly affect your sex life.

Rebounds are only good in sports.  But when it comes to break ups, the word "rebound" should be flashing in your mind as a big, red warning sign about your next attempts at love. But how do you know if you are falling into the top traps of rebound love?  If you've just ended a relationship, here are the top two missteps to recognize.

Night pain affects about one in three adults. It's the number one cause of disturbed sleep and puts a real damper on your after-work activities. Fortunately, there are several ways to suppress night pain, which will help you get those 40 winks you desperately need.

For millions of couples there truly is no mountain high enough or river wide enough to keep them apart. They're living proof that a long distance relationship works. In 2005, there were about 3.5 million people in long distance marriages, a 30 percent increase since 2000, according to the Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships, an online information clearinghouse.

Drink more water. That seems to be standard nutrition advice for consuming a well-balanced diet.  Why is water so important?  More than half of the weight of the body is water.  The body loses about 2-3 quarts of water every day.  If you're exercising or doing physical work in the heat, the loss can be much more.

With green tea being mentioned as a panacea for so much of what ails us, from cancer to heart disease, it's no wonder that it's touted in some circles as an antidote to depression. But does this impressive beverage actually have an impact on clinical depression? Can you cure yourself of depression simply by steeping some tea several times a day? Probably not.

If you’re suffering from memory problems, poor concentration, and have widespread pain—in your back, shoulders or neck—you could be suffering from fibromyalgia, which may be relieved by natural and alternative treatment. However, the first step to treating this condition is knowing that you have it, which may be a challenge.

Lean beef is a nutrient-dense food.  In other words, it is a nutritionally rich food that provides a substantial amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients with relatively few calories.  It also has many nutritional benefits.  It is a rich source of high quality protein and an excellent source of vitamin B12 and selenium and a good source of vitamin B6 and iron.

Neck pain is the third most common type of pain for Americans, according to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Health Statistics (NIHS). About two-thirds of the population will experience neck pain in their lifetime. Its side effects can be mild or devastating, and interfere with normal daily functioning such as sitting, turning and sleeping.

Whether you're tucked into bed before the 10 o'clock news or like to putter around until the wee hours of the morning, you probably never thought your nocturnal habits had any connection to your risk of depression. But a new study suggests that your sleep preferences may be closely tied to the state of your mental health.

If you have Crohn's disease, you've probably found that certain foods aggravate your digestive system and may even trigger a flare-up. Medical experts suggest you keep a food diary for a while to identify your trigger foods so you can eliminate, or reduce, them in your diet.

GERD can be a hard disease to gauge. Heartburn is the number one symptom of GERD, and it typically flares up during moments that we all have every day (heavy meals, lying down after a meal). As such, millions of Americans experience it a few times a week, which is normal and is not suggestive of any worse malady.

If you have cancer, surviving the disease is naturally your first priority. But some patients also need to know how to preserve fertility from cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Unfortunately, research suggests that many oncologists are not properly advising cancer patients about their fertility options—even when those patients are just children or adolescents.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis and are considering having a baby, you're likely to have concerns. Will you pass the disease on to your baby? Will halting your meds make your arthritis worse? Which arthritis drugs will hurt your baby? We've got some answers for you on how to cope with rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy.

Osteoporosis affects about eight million women and two million men in America, reports the Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (MARRTC). Over 18 million others have low bone density and are at risk for developing the disease, which is marked by low bone mass, and makes bones brittle and weak.

Are personal trainers just for the super-rich and super-fit? Do you have to have one if you want to get fit? The answer to both questions is "no." Anyone can hire one and they don't always have to be super expensive. With the right determination, you can certainly get fit without one but personal trainers provide motivation and guidance, save you time, and reduce injuries by customizing programs for your fitness goals and training on proper equipment use.

One of the most important tools in the exercise world can fit in the palm of your hand. Pedometers, which can measure everything from steps taken to calories burned to the elevation at which you're working out, can help you get in the shape of your life.

Affecting more than 10 million Americans, osteoporosis can lead to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures. Fortunately, a bone mineral density (BMD) can help detect osteoporosis in its early stages so that treatment can begin. What exactly does this test entail? At what age should you get this important test, and how often should it be repeated? According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), "A bone mineral density test uses a special machine to measure bone density.

The evidence is mounting about women and alcohol. Even when we take differences in weight into consideration, it's a fact:  women get drunk faster, with less alcohol than men.  There's no way around it: drink for drink, women can't hold their liquor like men.

Learning about the swine flu virus was scary enough this past spring, when it made headlines for the first time. Summer has given the nation a bit of a reprieve in terms of new cases diagnosed, but health experts say that the virus is poised for an aggressive comeback in the fall, just when children will be settling back into their school routines.

The Living Together Quiz  1.  Why are we moving in together?   ___Because of having financial issues ___We're trying out a "pre-marriage" ___I'm hoping that living together will "fix" a problem ___I fear I'll lose my partner ___We feel like it's the "next step" 2.

If you're worried about the effects bullying may have on your child, the results of a recent study suggest they could be even worse than you suspect. Children who are persistently bullied are more likely to develop psychotic symptoms in early adolescence, according to a report in the May issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Daydreaming gets a bad rap. How many times were you scolded by teachers or parents for letting your mind wander when you were supposed to be paying attention to something else? And even now, while you're at work, you may feel flashes of guilt when you realize you've been far, far away mentally.

Although your lifestyle can go a long way toward keeping your heart healthy as you age, some cardiac changes are inevitable. Below, some of the most common things that happen to your heart as you pass through your middle years into your senior ones: A slower heart rate.

If you have acne scars, wrinkles, fine lines, or any type of pigmentation from sun damage, you may have considered a chemical peel. This is a procedure that uses a chemical solution to "peel" away the damaged outer layers of skin, usually on the face.