July 22-31, 2010 - Original Health Articles

What Causes Nocturnal Asthma? If you wonder what the connection is between asthma and nighttime, there are several possible explanations. Some experts believe that natural changes to the body's internal rhythm, which occur over the course of the night, can affect the respiratory system and trigger nocturnal asthma in certain people.

The key to a clear complexion lies in finding the right balance of cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting your skin from the sun. The following tips will help you restore the glow to your complexion. Start With a Smart Skincare Regimen Everyone's skin is different, but basic skincare is similar for most of us: Cleanse.

For several decades, researchers have associated pot (marijuana or cannabis) to an increased risk for developing schizophrenia, a severe and disabling brain disorder. Schizophrenic patients hear voices and believe others are broadcasting their thoughts to the world or plotting to harm them.

Despite what you may have heard, fatigue is not inevitable as you get older. While you may not have quite the energy you did when you were younger, there's no reason for you to go crawl through your days just because you've passed your 40th (or 50th or 60th) birthday.

You love yoga class, but your knees aren't so crazy about it. They're tender, achy, and feel less like downward dogs and more like underdogs. When done properly, yoga strengthens muscle to prevent injuries and slows progression of some musculoskeletal diseases.

Seniors who don't get enough vitamin D in their diets could be putting themselves at risk for developing diabetes. A recent study found that older adults with low levels of this vitamin are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases the risk of diabetes.

Do you snore? If so, this problem is probably keeping you from getting some quality rest. The fact is that people who snore may wake themselves (and their parner, too) multiple times during the night. Such constant waking can prevent the body from going into "REM sleep, which is the deep stage of sleep that allows you to feel truly rested in the morning.

Can your heart disease risk be influenced by your height? According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, the answer may be yes. The study, which analyzed data from 52 previously published studies on the height and heart problems of more than three million men and women, found that short people have a 50 percent greater risk of developing a heart problem or dying from heart disease than tall people.

You've heard of people who walk or talk while they sleep, and you're probably familiar with night terrors, too. Believe it or not, some individuals actually have sex during slumber, and even have an orgasm while sound asleep. Sexsomniacs don't remember anything about their night-time sexual exploits the next day, though, despite the fact that they engage in behaviors that range from fondling and masturbation to hyperarousal and actual sex.

Maybe you've decided your family is perfect and you don't want to have any more (or any at all) children.  You can either continue using contraception until you or your partner goes through menopause or have surgery (vasectomy or tubal ligation) to make that decision permanent.

There is potentially exciting news about colon cancer screening. Urine tests, which have been used to some degree to help screen for prostate, bladder, breast, and lung cancer, may also be effective for detecting and diagnosing colon cancer. A new study finds an increased level of metabolized tryptophan, one of the 22 amino acids found in proteins, in the urine of colon cancer patients.

Summer exercise opportunities are endless but they can also be dangerous if you're not careful about exercising in the heat.  How hot is too hot?  That depends on your individual ability to tolerate heat and whether or not you use a little common sense.

Envision the following situation: You go to the doctor to remedy a problem you're having and he prescribes a medication to treat it. A few months later, you're diagnosed with a disease that is a direct result of the prescribed treatment. Sounds counterproductive, doesn't it? Although this seems like a nightmarish scenario, studies suggest that this is the case with many men who took erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs.

Want a fun way to exercise? Then try gardening and its unique sense of satisfaction you get from digging in the dirt, transplanting your favorite perennials, or cutting homegrown flowers for summer bouquets. Even your kids will love it - and eating the healthy veggies that they help grow.

Smokers are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes after they give up their cigarettes, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The risk is due to the après-quitting weight gain that's so common, according to the researchers.

Do your hands look 10 years older than your face? It's not surprising—the delicate skin is under constant attack from the sun, harsh agents, and constant use. Try these lifestyle changes to keep your hands feeling young: 1.  Wear Gloves Rubber gloves will protect your hands from harsh soap, chemicals, and even water that can break down your hands' natural oils.

As if there weren't enough reasons to keep yourself at a healthy weight, researchers now say that being obese is a risk factor for fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a condition related to arthritis that causes pain in muscles, ligaments, and tendons all over the body.

Got a stuffy nose or headache? Perhaps you're also very congested and have lots of mucus when you sneeze or blow your nose. While such symptoms can make you feel quite miserable, they're also very non-specific. As a result, you could be left wondering if they're caused by a cold or by an allergy.

If your skin looks older, duller, and more uneven than it should, bad choices could be to blame. Break these common habits to bring out big improvements in your skin. 1. Tanning or Skipping the SPF Shielding your skin from the sun is the best way to battle premature aging.

Are the heat of your summer allergies more than you can bear? As summer winds to a close, if there's no sign of your allergies cooling down, you may be one of the 36 million Americans that the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) estimates may suffer from a ragweed allergy.

While packing for vacation, you probably wish you could leave your asthma behind. Unfortunately, asthma symptoms go with you wherever you go. In fact, a change of weather and location can even make your respiratory problems more severe. This doesn't mean you need to forego your desire to explore the world.

In late 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) created a brouhaha among cancer organizations, physicians, women's advocacy groups, and patients when it released its updated mammography screening recommendations. Here are the highlights from these guidelines.

If you already have erectile dysfunction, chances are you feel like you've got enough on your plate. But here's something else to worry about: you also run an increased risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Studies show that erectile dysfunction (ED), a common condition, is primarily a vascular disease and may be a marker for hidden cardiovascular disease, according to research in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

On warm summer days, do you find your asthma symptoms heating up along with the temperature? Asthma and the weather are often related and days that are particularly hot can leave you scrambling for your fast-acting inhaler. If you find that your asthma peaks in the summer, it's likely not a coincidence.

Warning: cleaning a dirty house may be hazardous to your health. If you typically reach for the strongest cleanser you can find to stop the spread of flu and other contagious illnesses, you may want to consider recent findings by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

When you are suffering from depression, the last thing you want is someone to be cavalier and tell you to smile and cheer up. But what if there really is something to this seemingly dismissive directive? Believe it or not, there's scientific evidence that forcing a smile, even when you don't feel like smiling, can really change your mood-for the better.

Exercise does a body good.  Not only is it the key to losing weight, it's also the key to healthy, happy golden years.  That's because exercise provides lifelong benefits for our health, wellbeing and appearance.  According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, more than 60 percent of adults don't get enough exercise and 25 percent don't exercise at all.

Neglected to use a condom or miscalculated your "safe days?" Don't stress out. Emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, gives women some extra options, and a new one may be coming soon. If you're weighing your options about backup...

Next time you whip up some stir-fry, you may want to reach for the brown rice rather than the white variety. Doing so could reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health that was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

If you take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for minor aches and pains, you may be putting yourself at risk for cardiovascular disease.  At least that's what researchers say in a new report published in the July issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Devotees claim that evening primrose oil can help with a host of ailments, from relatively minor problems such as eczema and menstrual distress to biggies like cancer and diabetes. But can it affect the progression of rheumatoid arthritis? And should you take evening primrose oil, usually sold as oral capsules, if you suffer from this condition? The answer is "maybe.

Does your child panic when he gets a splinter? The good news is that you don't have to have a surgeon's steady hands to successful remove one. You just need to know what techniques will be the most successful for the situation at hand (or foot). Splinter Removal Techniques Here are some simple, but effective, ways to remove a splinter at home: Soak the skin on the affected area in a bowl of warm water for several minutes.

While the danger of swallowing small objects certainly exists for young kids, food-—from hot dogs and candies to certain fruits and raw vegetables—is one of the biggest choking risks for kids. When Foods are Choking Hazards People of all ages can be at risk for choking on food, but children under the age of 5 are especially susceptible.

It sounds like the kind of questionable "fact" that kids love to throw around at the lunchroom table: The first letter of your name can determine how long you live. Sounds farfetched, right? But a group of scientists at Wayne State University have published an article claiming that your longevity is, in fact, linked to your name.

The warmer weather and longer days of summer are great inducers to be outdoors and be active. In addition to being fun, maintaining an active physical routine can also keep you heart healthy by reducing your risk of heart disease, improving your blood cholesterol levels and preventing and managing high blood pressure.

The word on the street is that a gelatinous, mushroom-shaped colony of micro-organisms, known as kombucha, produces a tonic that boosts immunity and energy levels, improves digestion, prevents liver toxicity, repairs kidney damage caused by environmental pollutants, relieves arthritis pain, and fights underarm odor.

As a result of growing concern about the impact of pesticides on the central nervous system in children, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health recently took a closer look. Their findings were published in the May 2010 issue of Pediatrics journal.

Most of us are aware of the health benefits of using olive oil, including the protection it offers against heart disease by helping control LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while raising HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Now, new study is showing that increasing your intake of olive oil may also help protect against ulcerative colitis.