August 8-14, 2010 - Original Health Articles

Do you command attention? Are you quick to get into a fight? Did you engage in sex at an early age? While these questions may seem inquisitive, various studies suggest that these queries, among others, can be answered simply by the sound of your voice.

It's scary to say, but genital herpes is incredibly common: nationwide, 16.2 percent, or about one out of six, people 14 to 49 years of age have genital HSV-2 infection. Most cases of genital herpes are caused by a herpes simplex virus called HSV-2, though some cases of this sexually transmitted disease are caused by another herpes simplex virus,  HSV-1.

These simple, "homemade" frozen treats will cool you off without killing your diet. You can find plenty of diet-wise frozen fruit pops and other frozen desserts at the supermarket that contain no more than 100 calories per serving. With few exceptions, however, these goodies get their low-cal count from artificial sweeteners and fats.

People affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are all too familiar with its symptoms: cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea-a sudden urgent need to have a bowel movement that results in loose and watery stools. People with a primary symptom of diarrhea have what's called diarrhea-predominant IBS or IBS-D.

When we think of arthritis, we often think of it affecting the larger joints, such as the knees or hips, or obvious places such as the hands and fingers. And while those are common "hot spots" for the condition, did you know it can also affect your jaw? While the jaw may not seem like a likely place to experience arthritis pain, it can and does happen.

For the last 20 years, the diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-and the use of the drug Ritalin for its treatment-have been steadily on the rise. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC) estimated 5 million children (ages 3 to 17), or 8 percent of that population, were diagnosed with ADHD.

Is your asthma keeping you up at night? If so, you certainly aren't alone. As many as 20 million Americans suffer from asthma according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. And many of them find that their symptoms worsen after dark. In fact, this condition is so common, it's often referred to as "nocturnal asthma.

Since there's no specific test that can confirm whether a person has fibromyalgia, physicians often must perform a variety of tests in order to rule out hypothyroidism and multiple sclerosis, among other conditions. The following are the top criteria that health-care professionals consider when making a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Mental health professionals have used lithium for years to treat people with bipolar disorder, especially to prevent the major depressive episode so characteristic of that disease. But is lithium also effective for depression without bipolar disorder? It may be for some patients.

If you're looking for a workout that's really different, maybe you're ready for some pole dancing. When we think of this activity, many of us probably conjure up ideas of strip clubs but it's actually an art form that combines dance, gymnastics, and acrobatics.

Most women are all too familiar with the moodiness, food cravings, cramps and bloating that accompany their monthly menstrual cycle. But for many women suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease, their symptoms appear to be worse.

When it comes to cancer, prevention is the best medicine. Not smoking, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and having the appropriate tests taken are essential to limiting your risk of developing cancer. Testicular cancer, however, seems to complicate this fact.

The longer you have diabetes, the more likely it is that you'll need additional medications to keep you feeling fit and healthy. Combination therapy--mixing a variety of medicationsmay be just what you need to get your blood sugar right where it belongs.

Millions of Americans live with constant pain. The good news is that pain medication usually does a good job controlling it. But what if pain suddenly gets worse, your pain medication wears off too soon or you do something that aggravates your pain condition? That's called breakthrough pain.

Normally the heart beats between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If you exercise on a regular basis or take medications that slow the heart, your rate may be below 55 beats per minute. A heart palpitation is having a sensation that your heart is pounding, fluttering or racing.

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, each year between 250,000 and 450,000 Americans-mostly between the ages of the mid-30s and the mid-40s-have sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating. Because SCA causes blood to stop flowing to the brain and other vital organs, death can occur within minutes-95 percent of SCA sufferers will die from it-which is why rapid treatment with a defibrillator is so important.

You probably have a list of foods to avoid because they can worsen your asthma symptoms. Fortunately, there are foods you should eat that will help to alleviate your asthma. Foods for Asthma Benefits There's no magic recipe to reverse this chronic condition.

Enzyme supplements sold in health food stores and through online retailers claim to help ease digestion and fight disease. Here's what you need to know. In the body, the pancreas produces digestive enzymes that break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates from food into smaller parts that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

It's every parent's worst nightmare. A seemingly healthy baby dies suddenly—without recognizable cause or explanation—leaving the family stricken with grief, loss, and confusion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the leading cause of death among infants ages 1 to 12 months, with the majority of deaths occurring between the ages of 2 and 4 months.

Got a poison ivy rash? If so, you're probably wondering if this ailment is contagious. The answer is yes—at least somewhat. There's always a danger that poison ivy could spread to others. However, the method in which it's typically transferred is quite different from what you'd expect.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the addition of a patient's coronary artery calcium (CAC) score to their other risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, age and cholesterol levels, led to a better prediction of their category of risk-low, intermediate or high-for developing heart disease than traditional factors alone.

How do you treat the skin you're in? If you're diabetic, hopefully you take extra care to examine yours often and see a doctor at the first sign of any abnormality. People with diabetes are more prone to certain skin conditions so it pays to be vigilant.

Could taking your vitamins ease your pain? It might if you're deficient in vitamin D.  If you live north of San Francisco or Richmond, VA, have dark-colored skin, are diligent about using sunscreen or are getting a little older, you might not be getting enough vitamin D.

We all know, "milk does a body good," but how about chocolate milk?  Good news: Chocolate milk is good for you too, especially after you work out.  Low-fat chocolate milk is being hailed as a world-class sport drink.  Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, advertised the benefits of drinking chocolate as a way to boost workout benefits and aid muscle-recovery after exhaustive exercise.