December 22-31, 2010 - Original Health Articles

A new year always feels like a fresh start, a blank slate, a perfect reason to resolve to get healthier. It's also a time to move forward and put the past behind—so even if you've been less than vigilant about your blood sugar testing in the past, think of 2011 as a brand new opportunity to get your health back on track.

It's estimated that as many as 1.4 million Americans suffer from an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with that number split between the two most common IBDs, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Although Crohn's disease mainly affects adolescents and young adults, it can also occur in people over age 70.

Typically, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with soldiers who have returned from combat; however, new information has found that the most common cause of PTSD is car accidents. Car accidents are also the most frequent kind of trauma experienced by American men and the second most frequent trauma experienced by American women.

If you have mild asthma and take a control inhaler that contains a combination of corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonists (LABAs), you could be overmedicating, according to the experts. The latest research reveals that adding LABAs to corticosteroids for patients with mild asthma doesn't bring any extra health benefits and could increase the risk for life-threatening effects.

Sneezing, coughing, itching. These are just a few words that can describe your life with allergies. The good news is that you don't have to fall prey to this misery. There are steps you can take to minimize your discomfort and maximize your quality of life.

We are saddened to share the news of Jennifer Wilson Cooper's death on June 6, 2012. Jennifer's spirit lives on through her posts on her blog Fourseeds.com and through her generous spirit that touched so many. We are honored to have helped to bring you her inspiring story.

In discussing substance dependence, most individuals focus on the use of only one substance at a time. On the other hand, some individuals do not have a drug of choice and will use any substance in order to achieve intoxication.  The diagnosable term for the indiscriminate use is polysubstance dependence, sometimes more commonly and inappropriately called polysubstance abuse.

The bone-chilling temperatures, blizzard-like conditions and icy roads that keep everyone hibernating indoors for the long winter months can actually have a positive effect on your sex life. Unlike summer, when people are busy with a variety of outdoor activities with friends and family, winter can be a good time for couples to reconnect.

It's a condition that occurs in men that's so unusual—and so embarrassing—that chances are you may not have heard of it. But priapism is a painfully real disorder, and one that can be uncomfortable to have treated. Fortunately, there is a way to remedy it.

You can feel blue about getting older, but that won't change the fact that we all do it. And while there may be some things about aging that are less than lovable, it turns out that hitting those milestone birthdays often means there are plenty of positives to celebrate.

You know "the neck bone's connected to the back bone," but new studies indicate the "back bone" is also connected to your immune system. Scientists and doctors are making new discoveries every day about how the immune and autoimmune systems are intricately involved in all areas of our health, including our skeletal system and back health.

Alcohol can have a dehydrating effect on your skin, increasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. But some research shows that drinking red wine (in moderation, of course) can have the opposite effect. Scientists have been exploring "The French Paradox" for decades, trying to figure out what keeps their population so comparatively healthy despite a diet traditionally high in fat, cholesterol.

Money can't buy you love, as the song goes. But can it buy you happiness? The answer to this riddle has been the topic of extensive interest and study. The answer is yes...and no. Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard University psychologist and author of Stumbling on Happiness, has extensively studied whether money makes people happy.

Millions of Americans suffer from frequent headaches and millions more suffer with Temporo-mandibular Joint  (TMJ) Disorder.  For many people, there's a direct link between the two. Read on for a TMJ primer and tips for how to alleviate TMJ-related headaches.

One of the first things experts advise for getting restful, restorative sleep, is to make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet. But what if that kind of darkness scares you? If you are fearful, experience sweating, shaking or heart palpitations, or feel that you are losing control and can't think rationally when the lights go out, it's time to get help.

Mental health professionals have many tools at their disposal to treat patients with depression, anxiety, and other mind disorders. Psychodynamic therapy is one of the oldest forms of psychological treatment, and one that some psychologists and social workers still use.

Changes in sunlight trigger SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a type of depressive disorder. Symptoms often appear in the fall and winter but generally disappear in the spring when the days begin to lengthen. About three fourths of SAD sufferers are women, and people with SAD may suffer from other mood disorders as well.

Although there are more than 100 kinds of arthritis that can affect all parts of the body, the majority of cases include just a handful of varieties. Below are the most common types of arthritis diagnosed by doctors today, including reasons why they typically occur and how they're best treated: Osteoarthritis.

Unfortunately, there's no magic cure for asthma. It is a lifelong chronic condition that requires you to master ways to avoid asthma attacks. But this doesn't mean that your respiratory challenges should hold you back from achieving your goals. These small lifestyle changes can make a big impact in helping you manage your asthma effectively.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a list of foods that are safe for everyone with allergies to eat? While the concept may sound appealing, in reality, there isn't a "one size fits all" approach to deal with allergens. That is why it's essential to know which foods set off your immune system to help guide your own shopping strategy.

If you want to have a sizzling sex life, take a good look at how healthy the other aspects of your life are, experts say. And remember, you're never too young to make changes in your lifestyle that will promote health and vigor, says Maria Ordonez, MD, urological surgeon at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Medical Center in New York City.