January 15-21, 2012 - Original Health Articles

There is growing interest in the possible benefits of medical marijuana in treating ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Unfortunately, the scientific research is sparse, in part because marijuana is illegal in most of the U.

Could the source of your pain be all in your wardrobe? Many chronic pain conditions are caused by common fashion mistakes. Finding a cure could be as simple as changing your outfit or accessories. Check out these head to toe tips to see if you're a fashion victim.

Do crackers give you hives? Does your stomach cramp from a slice of pizza? It could be the result of either an allergic reaction or intolerance to gluten. Unfortunately, it's often frustrating. What is Gluten? Gluten is a protein that's contained in a variety of wheat, rye, and barley products.

Herbs and spices are as at-home in your medicine chest as they are in your pantry.  That's because they possess powerful healing properties that have been used as medicinals for thousands of years.  Check out these 10 common herbs you may already have growing in your yard or sitting in your spice rack.

In a study published in the journal, Psychology and Aging, researchers from The Institute for Human Development in Berlin discovered the unusual byproduct of smiling. They recruited 154 people of various ages to examine more than 2,000 photographs. The photographs depicted young faces and older ones wearing a wide range of expressions—from sad to happy.

According to MarathonGuide.com, 503,000 people ran a marathon in 2010. With more and more Americans endeavoring the 26.2 mile trek, you may be wondering how you, too, can join the trend. Though much of how you train will be based on your previous experience and personal training preferences, there are a few tips that anyone willing to tackle the challenge of a marathon should follow.

You've probably heard the terms "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol" bandied about and may not understand their significance. Cholesterol is one of the risk factors for heart disease, so it pays to know what it is and how you can control it. Cholesterol Cholesterol is a naturally occurring waxy substance that attaches to proteins in our blood and travels throughout our body.

If you're going through menopause, you're undoubtedly familiar with moodiness, sleep difficulties, and hot flashes. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you've got a few additional concerns. Here's what you can expect during menopause-and what you can do to stay fit and healthy.

There's no disputing the importance of a good education. What often gets overlooked, however, is what parents can do at home to help their children succeed in the classroom. School-aged children spend nearly as much time in the classroom as they do in their homes.

Migraines aren't just for adults. In fact, approximately 10 percent of children suffer from them too and countless more go undiagnosed. That's because migraines often look different in children than they do in adults. The Migraine Research Foundation defines migraine as a neurological disease with head pain and associated symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to touch, sound, light, and odors, abdominal pain, and mood changes.

If you're trying to have a baby, acupuncture is one treatment you may never have considered to help increase your chances of conceiving.  The centuries-old Asian medical practice, in which sterile, ultra-thin needles are placed in various pressure points (or Qi, pronounced "chee" in the body), is believed to reduce stress and improve circulation.

It's been said time and again: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And cereal is a great morning choice, right? Well, not necessarily. The grocery store is filled with a barrage of cereal selections, and many are downright unhealthy. So how can you determine if the cereal's worthy of a place in your cart or if it should go right back on the shelf? Take a look at the label: If sugar is the first ingredient on the list, put it back on the shelf.

Two recent studies found that women who take contraceptive pills containing the hormone drospirenone (Yaz, Yasmine, Beyaz) have 2 to 3 times the risk of developing blood clots compared to those taking pills containing levonorgestrel. The FDA is still reviewing the research and conducting its own study of the contraceptive's safety.

The average cold can last up to two weeks, and that's way too long to go without a full night's rest. You know it's a cold—and not the flu—if you feel congested and your symptoms are confined to your head, nose, and throat. You're not congested because you're full of mucus, however, you're congested because the blood vessels in your upper respiratory tract are inflamed, causing the lining of your nasal passages and throat to swell up.

Hate that stuffy-nose feeling you typically get with a cold or allergies? It seems like your nasal passages are clogged, yet no matter how hard you blow your nose, you can't seem to clear them. The next time this symptom hits, try heading outside into the cold, dry air.

Cold temperatures and short days don't mean you have to take your run indoors. Follow these basic safety precautions and learn how to outsmart the risks of running in cold weather: Frostbite: Even if you run in extremely cold weather, you don't have to worry about freezing your core body.

Eating a balanced diet high in nutrients is a crucial step to manage asthma and keep your immune system working at its best. Foods for Respiratory Health While it's important to follow your asthma action plan and take your medications as directed, try adding some foods and supplements into your diet that can help keep asthma in check.

Anemia affects nearly 9 percent of the population, yet most people don't understand what it is. Even the term anemia is confusing because it indicates several distinct health conditions with different symptoms, causes, and treatments. So what exactly is anemia? Most of the time, when someone is diagnosed with anemia, she has a condition called Iron-Deficiency anemia.

If you suffer from ulcerative colitis, you know that food is a factor—not in causing a flare-up, but in aggravating symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and loss of appetite. However, with a little trial and error, you can determine the foods that best work for you when you're experiencing a flare.

If you have long-standing rheumatoid arthritis, you are at higher than normal risk of developing Felty syndrome (also called Felty's syndrome), a rare and complex condition that compromises your immune system and puts you at further risk of contracting an infectious disease.

"You are what you eat." A platitude used by parents and high school health teachers alike. And a new report published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has added credence to this adage. Research conducted by psychologists at the North Dakota State University in Fargo suggests that individuals who regularly eat sweets are more likely to help another person in need.