July 22-31, 2009 - Original Health Articles

Benefits of Fish Oil for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) wonder if the benefits of fish oil for their condition are real or just hype. The results of several studies offer positive evidence that fish oil can relieve several symptoms of the inflammatory disease such as stiffness, pain and swelling.

The Asthma and GERD Connection

Two Related Conditions The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that as many as 70 percent of all people who are diagnosed with asthma also have co-existing GERD symptoms, too. In addition, many people with the most severe asthma symptoms that don't seem to respond to traditional treatment methods could find that their condition are actually related to their GERD.

Healthy and Tasty Frozen Treats

Summer heat inspires cool, summer treats.  But if you're not careful, your summer treats could contribute to unwanted weight gain.  One vente mocha frappuccino from Starbuck's provides a whopping 500 calories.  Just one of these every day would promote one pound of weight gain every week.

5 Benefits of Eating Slowly

In our fast-paced world, life seems to move at super speed.  And since the dawn of fast food, many spend less time purchasing, preparing, eating and enjoying food.  How is all this fast-paced eating affecting us? Unfortunately, eating quickly may lead to being overweight.

5 Ways to Test Your Body Fat

From low-tech and old fashioned to high-tech and cutting edge, there are many ways to determine your body fat percentage.  Health experts consider body fat percentage to be a more accurate measure of personal fitness than the number on the scale.

Water Safety Smarts

It's time to hit the water.  Whether your favorite water sport is swimming, waterskiing, boating, or simply wading in the lake, certain safety precautions will keep your fun from heading down stream. 1. Learn to swim. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 4000 Americans die annually from drowning.

Coffee May Not Aggravate Heartburn

  Anyone familiar with heartburn knows the term "trigger foods." They're the food and drink that aggravate heartburn, and although heartburn can come from a variety of different types of foods, chances are you know which are your own trigger foods-the ones you have a hard time keeping down.

What You May Not Know About Breast Cancer

You check for lumps on your own, dutifully visit your gynecologist every year, and never forget your annual mammogram. You even know that the little pink ribbon your neighbor wears pinned to her shirt is a breast-cancer awareness symbol. But do you know as much about the disease as you could? Probably not.

5 Best Anti-Aging Foods

When it comes to your health, the old saying "You are what you eat" really applies. You can't expect to inhale a junk-filled diet of empty calories and live a long, vibrant life. To stave off disease and reach a ripe old age, you have to incorporate good-for-you foods into your diet on a regular basis.

How to Prevent Long-Term Risks of Heartburn

Heartburn tends to flare up while we are engaged in an activity. And because these activities occur everyday—while we're eating a heavy meal, lying down after the meal, or jogging along the sidewalk—we tend to think of heartburn as an isolated event, something that happens once, or, if it does happen again, happens in a similar, rectifiable situation.

Are Hay Fever Allergy Symptoms Ruining Your Relationships?

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, as many as 36 million people in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies. And for those whose reaction to triggers such as ragweed and pollen is strong, the allergy symptoms can be debilitating and even interfere with his or her ability to perform well at school or at work and to participate in a variety of activities.

What to Do When Your Chest Pain Is Hard to Diagnose

Perhaps the most frightening fact about heart disease is that it can inflict a lot of damage before its victims become aware that there's a problem. High blood pressure, which taxes the blood vessels and stiffens the heart muscles, is famously known as the silent killer.

The Link Between Caffeine and Asthma

The Facts About Asthma and Coffee For more than a decade, researchers have been studying the effects that coffee has on asthma symptoms in a variety of situations. The findings of multiple studies reveal that asthma and coffee seem to have a strong correlation.

Should You Count Calories or Carbs?

With an ever-increasing number of books and articles touting the "right" way to shed pounds, it's hard to know which is the best way for your body. Should you cut out all sugar and processed foods and focus on lean protein and veggies? Or do you allow...

The 3 Worst Habits for Your Heart

If caring for your heart were easy, heart disease wouldn't be the number-one killer in the U.S., as well as many other countries. Unfortunately, we have lives to live, and in the course of doing so, we eventually wear out the cardiovascular system. But there is one way we can shield ourselves from heart disease: quit the bad habits that are wreaking serious damage on the heart.

Can the Cervical Cancer Vaccine Benefit Older Women?

Although the recently developed cervical-cancer vaccine, known as Gardasil, has been heavily marketed to preteen and teen girls as well as young women in their early to mid twenties, it has not gained a foothold among the population of older women. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration currently approves the vaccine only for girls and women aged 9 to 26.

The Truth About Wrinkles

No one wants wrinkles, but like it or not, everyone gets them sooner or later. The question is, how can you minimize the amount and the severity of the wrinkles you get? There are a host of miracle solutions there, but according to experts, many of them are simply wishful thinking.

How to Prep for an Endoscopy

The first person to enjoy a doctor's visit for an endoscopy may be the last. Lying in an exam chair, having anesthetic sprayed on your throat, having a tube travel down your throat-none of this is very appetizing. If you're suffering from a constant burning in your chest, your doctor may order an endoscopy to determine what's going on.

How to Leave an Abusive Relationship

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States. Every year more than one million women seek medical assistance for injuries sustained in an abusive relationship. And about one in five female high school students have been physically or sexually abused by someone they're dating.

Shock Therapy Reborn to Treat Depression

Even before the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was released more than 30 years ago, electroconvulsive therapy-or shock therapy-was falling out of favor as a cure for depression. And once the movie was released, people had a hard time seeing the treatment as anything but cruel and inhumane.

4 Ways to Avoid Exercise Injuries

You've finally gotten motivated to exercise.  You've bumped past that plateau.  You've taken it to the next level and...you've gotten injured.  Exercise injuries sideline too many players, but most can be avoided.  Read on for four ways to avoid exercise injuries and keep yourself in the game.

The Facts About Dust Allergies

If you suffer from dust allergies, you know that they are certainly nothing to sneeze at. In fact, dust mites, which are one of a variety of substances contained in household dust, are one of the most common indoor allergens. They lurk in most people's homes, no matter how often you clean.

The Harmful Chemicals in Cigarettes

Degreasing engines, dry cleaning clothes, removing nail polish, preserving dead bodies and controlling pests: do you know what these seemingly unrelated activities have in common? They all use toxic, hazardous chemicals-chemicals you subject your body to every time you smoke a cigarette.

Could Your Child Have GERD?

For parents, nothing is more important than their child's health. Any ailment, no matter how severe, deserves special attention--a sore throat, a stomach pain, an aching head. Even something seemingly benign, such as a burp or a small amount of reflux, should be taken into consideration, for you may not be aware that children, not just adults, can have acid reflux.

Allergies: Are African Americans at Greater Risk?

Does race matter when it comes to allergies? The experts say yes-- our ethnic background can indeed make a difference when it comes to how indoor and outdoor allergies affect you. In fact, a recent study shows that African American children are at greater risk than other groups for suffering from the effects of seasonal triggers.

5 Fruits That Fight Disease

There's a world beyond the same old apples and oranges you've been buying forever. For starters, certain fruits have been shown to lower cholesterol levels and even ward off certain cancers. So, the next time you're in the produce aisle or the local farmers' market, don't pass the following fruits by.

Health After 40: What You Need to Know

Forty may be the new 30, but turning the big 4-0 can still trigger health questions and worries. Do you wonder if weight gain, hypertension, and osteoarthritis are looming in your immediate future? Get some answers to your most pressing - and worrying - questions about health after 40.

Simple Ways to Get More Fiber

Fiber is found in all plant foods.  Foods high in fiber can help reduce your risk of heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels, help keep your digestive tract healthy, prevent and treat constipation, and help you control your weight by helping you feel full on fewer calories.

The Adult Asthma-Bacteria Connection

Do you remember how old you were when your asthma was first diagnosed? If you are one of the many Americans with adult onset asthma, which means that your asthma symptoms didn't occur until you were older and they may have come on after you had a cold or other illness, then you may be interested in learning about some new—and highly controversial—research findings about possible asthma causes that could change the course of your treatment.

How Safe Are Breast Implants?

Breast augmentation is growing more popular each year. With more than 300,000 women undergoing the procedure in 2008, it's important that implants—the medical devices inserted either under breast tissue or the chest muscle to enlarge the breasts—be safe.

The Best and Worst Vending Machine Snacks

Quick and convenient, vending machines offer an array of food choices that may make or break your healthy diet.  Being prepared with your own healthy options can help you save money and steer clear of vending machine pitfalls, but if vending machines are your only option, here are some tips: Best Choices: 1.

How Safe Are Proton Pump Inhibitors?

If you've ever popped a couple Rolaids after dinner, you've experienced acid reflux, or heartburn. The burning sensation in behind the breastbone can be painful and frustrating Wouldn't it be nice to have a stronger medication that staved off these attacks at all times of the day? Proton pump inhibitors, which temporarily stop the stomach from producing acid, are a more intense form of heartburn medication.

Teen Asthma: What You Can Do

Teen Asthma If you have a child who is dealing with this chronic health condition, you know that it can affect him or her on so many levels. As a result, teen asthma can be a real cause for concern, and not just for your teen, but also for you as the parent.

Could You Have Atypical Depression?

When most of us think of depression, it calls to mind a persistent feeling of gloom and despair—one that doesn't quit no matter what happy events are occurring in a person's life. While that is the scenario for most depression sufferers, it is by no means the case for all of them.

Be Aware of Your Heart Health

Though the sudden deaths of pop legend Michael Jackson and infomercial personality Billy Mays were untimely and tragic, they have provided us with yet another reminder of why we need to be aware of our cardiovascular health. A recent study published in the May issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice found that less than one in five heart problems are caught before they become serious enough for symptoms to surface.

Is Red Wine the Answer to a Longer Life?

There are so many theories floating around about how to live a longer life. Exercise is a definite life extender, doctors confirm. Eating healthfully, with a focus on fresh produce and unprocessed foods, also buys you time. Avoiding the sun. learning how to deal with stress, and maintaining a healthy weight-all of these things can help you reach your eighties and beyond.

Children's Vaccines 101

Vaccinations are some of the most important tools available for preventing disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Not only do they protect individuals from developing a potentially serious disease, but they also protect the community by reducing the spread of infectious disease.

5 Alternative Approaches to Treating Asthma

What are Alternative Treatments Natural remedies are alternative therapies, or a natural cure, that people try instead of, or in addition to some of the more traditional approaches that are recommended by modern medicine. Alternative treatment options that people try today can range from using different herbal treatments to eating certain foods to engaging in exercises to strengthen breathing.

The ABC's of Childhood Asthma

Asthma currently affects approximately 6.8 million children in the United States and is one of the leading reasons that kids are admitted to the hospital, since when childhood asthma isn’t well managed, it can lead to all sorts of health complications.

Bicycling Tips for Beginners

You've heard the saying, "it's as easy as falling off a bike," but bicycling really is simple and learning to ride isn't just for kindergartners. Bicycling provides great no-impact aerobic exercise and green transportation. Here's how to make cycling for beginners fun, safe, and easier than falling off.

Protect Kids from Swine Flu

Turn on the news these days and you will likely hear about the dangers of swine flu. And if you are like most parents today, it's likely you are quite worried about the threat this illness poses to you and your family. But you don't have to hide away, or miss school or work, in order to stay safe from swine flu.

Allergy Control Products for Your Home

Allergy Control Products A main source of allergies can often be found in the everyday items that people use to eat, sleep and play.  But if you think the things you use on a regular basis, such as your bedding, your pillows, your carpets and even your cleaners may be causing your most troublesome symptoms, you can learn more about some of the latest alternatives, which many users say makes a big difference in how they feel on a daily basis.

Are You Eating Hidden Calories?

If you're choosing your meals carefully and exercising on a regular basis but still not seeing the scale move, there's something you may not have considered: Some foods and beverages carry a lot of hidden calories-so you could be consuming hundreds of extra calories a day without even knowing it.

7 Exams Every Post-Menopausal Woman Should Have

For many women, life after 50 is an exciting time. Their careers are at their peak and they're enjoying time with family. They feel great and are cruising through menopause with minimal problems. Some, however, face health concerns resulting from disease, unhealthy habits, genetics, or simple wear and tear.

Recently Diagnosed with Depression? Next Steps to Take

You've just been diagnosed with depression. While it may be a relief to finally have a name for the feelings you've been having, hearing the word "depression" may also conjure up some pretty negative images. Are you crazy? Doomed to feel bad for the rest of your life? The only person who feels this way? What's the next step to take? The first thing to do is remind yourself that you are far from alone.

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