August 22-31, 2010 - Original Health Articles

For years, researchers have tried to figure out if drinking coffee is bad for your health, but study after study has shown just the opposite. In fact, time and again, both coffee and tea have been linked with good health. Now we know there's something in these brews that may help control insulin production and that, in turn, can help prevent diabetes.

Green tea has been touted as a miracle beverage for years, helping with everything from weight loss to longevity to cancer prevention. But can it help protect against rheumatoid arthritis? A 2008 animal study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, points to the possibility that the drink may indeed curb the disease.

Although the terms cardiac arrest and heart attack are often confused as being the same medical condition, there's actually a big difference between the two. A heart attack occurs when the arteries supplying blood-carrying oxygen to the heart gets blocked.

The appendix is a small, three-and-a-half-inch long tube of tissue that projects out from the colon on the lower right side of the abdomen. Although there is no known essential purpose that the appendix serves, if the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus causing appendicitis, the consequences can be deadly unless treated quickly.

Some studies estimate that up to 88 percent of women have breast assymetry. While it's usually harmless and likely not noticeable, many women feel self-conscious nonetheless. So, what can you do about uneven breasts? Desiree Bley, MD, OB-GYN in Portland, OR says, "I'd say almost every woman has some level of breast asymmetry and there's nothing wrong with that.

Most people only think of insulin as helping to manage diabetes, but it's now proving to be something of a memory booster as well. A recent study has revealed that insulin can help restore memory and cognition in people affected by Alzheimer's disease.

It's three hundred times sweeter than table sugar, it doesn't add any calories, and it doesn't cause a lot of unpleasant side effects. So is Stevia a sweet dream come true for people with diabetes? "There have been pros and cons about it over the years," says Daniel Baxter, MD, chief medical officer of the Ryan Community Health Center in New York City.

As you age, your body changes. Your memory begins to slip. Your joints may ache. Your afternoon jog might have to turn into an evening stroll. And the list goes on: your eyesight, hearing, and cognitive ability may not be what it once was. Even though these changes may be unwelcome, the majority of them are normal.

You've heard it all before. You get it from your mother's father. Wearing your favorite baseball cap is making it happen. Oh, and not to add to your stress, but work is contributing to it as well. With all the information (and misinformation) surrounding hair loss, it's hard to get to the facts.

It's hard to imagine anything positive about having asthma or eczema. However, a recent study suggested that men who have either immune system disease have a lower risk for common types of cancer. Researchers suspect the over-reactive immune system may enhance our body's ability to remove malignant cells, which lowers the risk of cancer.

Do you-or does someone you know-feel distrustful of others, suspecting their motives and finding hidden meanings in their comments? This persistent and unfounded mistrust is the cornerstone of paranoia disorders. Paranoia is common in many personality disorders, including schizophrenia, delusional disorder, paranoid personality disorder, and, to a lesser degree, depression and dementia.

Fish oil is known for purported cancer prevention properties. One study showed that DHA (decosahexaenoic acid—one of the fatty acids in fish oil) stopped or reversed tumor growth of neuroblastoma, a deadly tumor that affects children. Six to nine percent of childhood cancers are neuroblastomas.

Bipolar disorder, a debilitating mood disorder, is often misdiagnosed, delaying appropriate treatment and even increasing the severity of a patient's illness. People with bipolar disorder alternate between episodes of major depression and mania, sometimes with periods of relative stability in between.

"Backache" isn't a one-size-fits-all complaint. Its location, severity, how fast it comes on and how long it hangs around say a lot about their causes, their cures and your health.  Read on for four types of backaches and what you should do about them.

Heroin is a highly addictive drug. As a derivative of morphine, it is a member of the opiate family. Injection is the most popular means of using heroin. Users who inject the substance regularly over a long period of time are at risk for a number of other negative health effects.

Back pain is responsible for 65 percent of disability claims and is a leading cause for missed work and school days. While most people head to their family practice doctor for back pain relief, they might have better results with a chiropractor.  What is a Chiropractor? Chiropractors are primary care doctors, just like medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy.

Chemotherapy is one of the main components of cancer treatment for many patients. Oncologists often prescribe chemotherapy in conjunction with surgery or radiation to eradicate tumors and help prevent recurrence. If you've been diagnosed with cancer, you probably want to start-and complete-treatment as soon as possible.

If you're considering adding a bundle of joy to your family, you may be in for a surprise to find that getting pregnant isn't necessarily as easy it seems. Still, there are plenty of low-tech ways that you and your partner can increase the odds of becoming parents.

For many people, admitting they have a digestive condition is embarrassing and they're usually reluctant to talk openly about their concerns. But rest assured. Millions of people each year see their doctor because of digestive problems and, often, there are simple fixes.

What does it mean when your body hurts all over, when your muscles are so sore that the slightest pressure causes pain in numerous spots and you can't figure out what's causing it? You might have a condition known as fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia affects about one out of 50 people, with women much more susceptible than men.

If you need another reason to convince you it's important to manage stress, here's one you might not expect: stress takes a toll on your teeth and gums and can cause long-term damage and subsequent oral health problems. Stress is a normal part of life.

If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, you join the estimated 60 million Americans (about 30 percent of the population) who have this condition. But rather than despair that you're now destined to develop fullblown type 2 diabetes,  take action.

Scientists have been accumulating evidence that a poor diet is a strong risk factor for colon and rectal cancer (colorectal). A new study provides additional, convincing support. Researchers found that dietary fiber and the density of fiber consumed (fiber intake density) are inversely associated with risks for colorectal and colon cancer.

Literature states that marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. Its popularity is likely a contributing factor to its reputation as a gateway drug. The gateway label is based on a statistical correlation between the use of harder drugs such as cocaine or heroin, and a prior history of marijuana use.

There's no getting around the fact that the best-tasting cheeses are high in fat, so here's how to get around that. If you're a cheese lover, chances are you're not madly in love with low-fat cheeses. Sure, there may be a variety or two that passes the taste-test, but a true cheese addict is looking for the rich, creamy flavor and texture associated with full-fat varieties.

If summer sun has left you burned, dry, and peeling, try these seven tips to restore your skin to its natural beauty. Take a Cool Bath or Shower. Bathing in cool water can help cool down your skin and slow down the peeling process. Choose a moisturizing soap; don't use any that could irritate skin.

Belly dancing is sensuous, alluring and one heck of a workout.  This ancient dance form is quickly becoming the latest fitness trend, but can it really get you in shape?  You bet, say experts. Belly dancing is one of the most ancient art forms, designed specifically for women, not men.

Ask any guy and he'll tell you that he believes it's the women in his life who are the emotional or vulnerable ones. Though that may be true in some circumstances, a recent study has found that men are actually the ones who are most affected by rocky relationships.

You didn't get enough sleep last night, did you? And now there's that long stretch ahead until the end of the workday. How are you ever going to stay awake? You could consume massive doses of caffeine, but that's likely to leave you wired and even more exhausted at the end of the day.

According to the American Journal of Gastroenterology, people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to test positive for food sensitivities than people without the condition. And now there's new research showing a strong correlation between IBS and sugar intolerance.

As far as science and medicine has come along with treating, preventing, and managing various diseases and ailments, it's surprising that so little is known about sleep, including dreams, sleep patterns, and habits. One of the most fascinating (and sometimes comical) occurrences associated with sleep is sleepwalking.

If you've been suffering from arthritis in your basal joint, the joint located at the base of the thumb, your doctor may have recommended surgery. But what exactly is involved in basal-joint surgery? And is it something you should consider? Normally very mobile, the basal joint allows you to move your thumb into all kinds of positions that allow you to pick things up, button clothing, open lids and the like.

If your eyelid is painful, red or swollen, you might have an eye stye. They're common, annoying, and not pretty but they're also not difficult to treat and usually aren't dangerous. In fact, most styes can be treated at home and don't require medical attention.

If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the studio.  The hot yoga studio, that is.  Hot yoga, also called Bikram yoga, can be dangerous for some people.  It can also be a challenging, safe and exhilarating way to practice yoga.  It all depends on the yogi and her body's unique ability to respond to intense heat.

Herbal weight loss supplements are made from natural ingredients. So they can't hurt you, right? Wrong. In the past, "natural" weight loss supplements often contained ephedra, an herbal  stimulant that may help with short-term weight loss but is also associated with heart attack and stroke.

Is it time to hoist a toast to the pleasures of drinking? If you're diabetic and you don't already imbibe, you won't find any medical authority recommending that you start consuming alcohol. However, it appears that people who consume alcohol in moderation have a lower incidence of diabetes, reports Meena Murthy, MD, FACE, of Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.

The results of a recent study made news with scary, attention-grabbing headlines such as "Household cleaners may double risk of breast cancer," and "Could being too houseproud raise the risk of breast cancer?" The study in question stated that women with the highest self-reported use of household cleaning products had twice the risk of developing breast cancer.

Knee injury and chronic knee pain are among the most common complaints people of all ages bring to their doctor's office. The four bones and four thick ligaments that make up our legs' main hinges are vulnerable. As our body's biggest joint, they bend, twist, pivot, turn and withstand a lot of weight.

There are more than 70 different types of sleep disorders, Harvard experts say, and up to half of all children diagnosed with ADHD suffer from at least one of them. Sleep disorders are also commonly reported in adults with ADHD. Brain researchers are working hard to find out why.

Nausea and vomiting are not diseases but rather the symptoms of an underlying health problem. Nausea is that queasy feeling you get in your stomach when it wants to empty itself, whereas vomiting, or throwing up, is forcibly spitting up the contents of the stomach.