July 8-14, 2012 - Original Health Articles

Why Men Have High Cholesterol and What to Do About It

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that's made naturally in the liver. In addition to being a component of cell walls, cholesterol is needed to make vitamin D (essential for strong bones) and create bile, which aids in the digestion of fat. Although a healthy liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs, extra cholesterol is often added through our diets.

Contact Dermatitis? Yes, You Can Get It This Way

You may know it's easy to develop contact dermatitis from common allergens like perfumes, detergents, and—of course—poison ivy, but this skin condition can occur from other causes too. Contact dermatitis can manifest itself in different ways, including a dry and itchy rash, blistered skin, or even hyperpigmentation that can last for months.

Do Dental X-Rays Put You at Risk for Cancer?

A study published in Cancer reveals evidence that frequent exposure to x-rays can double your risk of developing a certain kind of brain tumor. It's important to note that the risk is very low and that some medical experts question the studies' methodology.

Carcinoid Syndrome: A Silent and Serious Digestive Condition

Carcinoid syndrome is a cluster of symptoms—such as flushing, wheezing, and fast heart rate-associated with a rare, slow—growing tumor commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms occur when the tumors release too much of the hormone serotonin as well as other chemicals that cause varied symptoms, such as flushing, wheezing, fast heart rate, and diarrhea.

Ice Baths For Sore Muscles: Is It Worth It?

Ice baths involve submerging your body (or just the over-used body part) into a tub of chilly water at 59 degrees or less for about 5 to 15 minutes. Athletes who take ice baths do so shortly after their run or game to prevent getting a condition called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).

Are You Getting Enough Magnesium?

Magnesium is finally getting the attention it deserves. This mineral can help treat everything from acute attacks of asthma in children to migraine headaches, and depression. Magnesium also protects against the development of type 2 diabetes, provides pain relief for people suffering from fibromyalgia, and may even prevent hearing loss.

How Your Gut Protects You From Disease

A leaky gut may be the cause of some cancers in the body, according to researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. A new study, published online in PLoS ONE, suggests that guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C)—a hormone receptor in the intestinal tract that has tumor-suppressing qualities—also plays a key role in strengthening the intestinal barrier and can possibly prevent cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

8 Strongest Fitness Motivators

Nothing motivates people to get in shape like the thought of shorts, tanks, and bathing suits. Warm weather is almost as motivating as a New Year's resolution. Whatever season inspires you to get fit we know how hard it is to stay on track. That's why we've created a list of the eight best fitness motivators to keep you hitting the gym year-round: Make It Personal: Think about what it was that got your attention and made you decide to finally get fit.

Why Sleep Apnea Can Be a Road to Depression

Does your spouse complain about your frequent snoring? Are you still tired when you wake in the morning? Do you often take afternoon naps? If so, you may be suffering from a condition called sleep apnea, or obstructed sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is the most common sleep disorder.

How Myofascial Release Could Relieve Your Pain

Deep inside your muscles, wrapped around your nerves and nestled next to your bones is a protective layer of tissue called the fascia. Myo is a prefix that means, "related to muscle." Myofascia's job is to protect and help your muscles, nerves and bones to glide, move and function in harmony with each other.

Nasal Allergy Advice From an Olympic Athlete

Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Misty May-Treanor is a frequent traveler, hopping from country to country for training and beach volleyball competitions. And while her nasal allergies can worsen in certain climates, she never lets them slow her down. "I always team up with my doctor before peak allergy season instead of waiting for the symptoms to start," says May-Treanor, who will compete this summer in the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Could a Blood Test Reveal Depression?

Depression is a mental health disorder that affects millions of people in the U.S. Individuals who have depression experience changes in mood, such as persistent sadness, anxiety, and empty feelings; sleep or eating disruptions; and suicidal thoughts or actions.

A Depression Treatment Now Used for Pain

New treatment options for depression and anxiety are creating a lot of buzz and giving some patients a real jolt. That's the impact Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is making and studies now support tDCS as a safe, effective treatment option for even tough cases of depression and anxiety.

Downsides to Using Spermicides

It's certainly not uncommon to become fed up with birth control pills, and wonder if jellies, foams, condoms, and sponges containing spermicides would be a great alternative. Yet it turns out that some foams, films, and so forth contain the spermicide N-9, the short name for nonoxynol-9.

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