February 8-14, 2011 - Original Health Articles

Sleep problems seem to be a national emergency, and neither gender has a lock on bad sleep habits. But there are a few behaviors of which men seem to be particularly guilty. Check out this list and see if any of these unsound practices sound familiar: Overdoing the caffeine.

When it comes to vaginal discharge, how do you know what's normal and what's not? Well, it's all a matter of color, smell, quantity, and feel.  Here, all the  information you need to understand what's going on down there. What's Normal? Every woman past the age of puberty has vaginal discharge.

It's easy to think of vitamins as a form of no-hassle health insurance: pop enough of them and you won't fall victim to colds or the flu, plus you'll have extra energy even if you're not eating right or sleeping enough, right? And if you've got diabetes, you may be tempted to pop some extras.

In 2001, the National Cancer Institute began producing the NCI Cancer Trends Progress Report. Since then, it has updated it annually. The Report gives us an overall summary on the incidence and mortality of different types of cancer. So, if you're wondering whether cancer rates are going up or down, here are a few highlights from the most recent update (2009/2010)  Death rates for prostate, lung, breast, and colorectal cancers (the four most common types) continue to decline.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! You're finally feeling better after that nasty flu or cold, and the last thing you want is to get sick again or infect someone else. Therefore, it's time to do a serious assessment of the five main areas where you and your "bug" hung out together.

The terms are so similar that it's easy to confuse being allergic to insulin with insulin resistance. But these days, an allergy to insulin is exceedingly uncommon. "It is extremely rare," says Shahla Nader-Eftekhari, MD, professor of internal medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health.

Our spines are made up of a series of vertebrae that are connected by soft discs made of tissue. They act as "shock absorbers" and allow the back to stay flexible as we move. They also allow our bodies to resist great forces such as those that occur during athletic pursuits and even car accidents.

Ever find yourself at a party and suddenly realize you are wearing nothing but your underwear or, worse yet, standing there stark naked? Such is the stuff of recurring dreams. But what does it mean? The purpose and meaning of dreams is debatable; no one really knows for sure.

Being part of a couple always means compromise, but sometimes your sleep-sex cycles simply aren't in sync. Here's what you can do. Think about it. What's making you so tired? If lack of sleep is a chronic problem, or if you are getting enough sleep but you are still tired most of the time, you need to get to the root of the problem.

We know baking soda is good for taking the stink out of refrigerators and shoes. It's also an age-old remedy for tummy aches.  But could it be the latest sports-enhancing ingredient as well?  Maybe so, according to a new study that says baking soda might fight fatigue during sports.

Winter may be well underway but that doesn't mean your family has to stay cooped up inside in front of the TV. In 2008, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established guidelines. For children age 6 and up and adolescents, one hour or more of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a day, including vigorous intensity physical activity at least three days a week are recommended by the HHS.

One of the benefits of growing old used to be a reprieve from seasonal allergy symptoms. But many people are finding that the itching, sneezing, and coughing accompanied with allergies continues even with advancing age. The Connection Between Allergies and Age You'd think that in your golden years, you'd be able to count on your allergies to cease.

Last December, the world was shocked to learn that veteran diplomat and special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard C. Holbrooke had suddenly died after suffering a tear in his aorta. Aortic tears are rare, killing about 2,000 Americans a year, and are more common in men than women.

Mold tends to breed in all sorts of warm, damp, and humid areas both inside and outside of your home. But did you also know that certain molds can grow right inside your lungs? Researchers now believe that Aspergillus fumigates, a mold commonly found in soil and compost piles, can seep into the lungs and begin to grow, leading to long-term damage.

Swallowing may seem like a simple task, but, it takes about 50 pairs of muscles and nerves to bite, chew, and swallow. When you swallow, your tongue pushes food to the back of your throat where muscle contractions quickly move the food through the esophagus (the tube connecting your throat and stomach).

The humble and ubiquitous aspirin may play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment. In a review of 10 studies of aspirin and prostate cancer, aspirin reduced the risk of prostate cancer in eight studies; while two showed an increased risk.

When we think of arthritis, we almost always think of the joints. After all, that tends to be the most common and obvious manifestation of this disease. But did you know that certain types of rheumatoid arthritis can affect your eyes? Here's a list of eye problems you may experience with rheumatoid arthritis and how you can treat them: Dry eyes.

Spare time is at a premium these days. If you find it difficult to find time to wor kout, worry not; we've provided you with calorie-burning gold. 1. Rise and stretch. While in bed, position yourself so that your right foot is on the opposite side of your left knee.

When you live with chronic pain, it's easy to feel cranky and hard to see the glass as half full. Mood and pain are strongly connected. Controlling your mood however, is essential to dealing with pain. Both will get worse if you let your mood dominate your life or alienate the people you share it with.

It's not the first disorder that comes to mind at the mention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). But some forms of hepatitis are STDs, too. Just as with gonorrhea or chlamydia, it's possible for an individual to pass on hepatitis during unprotected sexual intercourse.

Typically, baldness is thought of as a problem that rests solely in the male population. While losing what was once a triumphant head of hair is more common in men, women actually make up approximately 40 percent of American hair loss sufferers. Although the hair loss patterns for men and women are a bit different, many of the causes and treatment methods are the same.

Is it true that you are what you eat? Your body odor may provide the answer. Most of the time, off-putting body odors and bad breath are normal conditions that clear up once you take a shower or brush your teeth. Some smells that emanate from within signal a medical problem, however, while others simply reflect the contents of your last meal.

Ah, romantic love; that all-consuming, butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling you so enjoy when you first fall in love with someone. New lovers attribute their passionate feelings to matters of the heart. However, scientists are unraveling the science of falling in love and linking it directly to the brain.