July 8-14, 2013 - Original Health Articles

If you're significantly overweight and can't seem to shed those extra pounds on your own, you may be tempted to try bariatric, or weight loss, surgery. But before you head for the operating room, it's important to understand that such surgical procedures come with real risks, according to Joshua Leichtberg, MD, of Medicus International, Inc.

Weight loss plans such as WeightWatchers, Atkins, and the Paleolithic (or caveman) diets claim to provide weight loss and health benefits to anyone willing to stick to the plan. However, recently there has been a move away from the one-diet-fits-all model to food plans tailored to an individual's body type.

If you're hurt—or just feeling bored with your workout—it may be time for a change. Before you start looking for a new gym or personal trainer, slow down. Sometimes just taking the intensity down a notch is all that's needed. A one-size-fits-all fitness plan doesn't work for anyone and most exercises can be modified to fit your specific needs.

Myths about masturbation have been around for as long as people have been well, masturbating. Common myths—possibly created to discourage below-the-belt activity—include blindness or growing hair on your palms as a consequence of self-indulgence.

Gases are produced as natural byproducts of various activities on earth. These gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, rise up into the atmosphere. There, they hover over the earth like a chemical blanket, threatening to warm up the planet to an unprecedented degree and permanently change our climate patterns.

Cellulitis appears as a rash on the surface of your skin, but the infection goes deeper. To prevent complications, it is important to understand the causes, recognize the symptoms, and get treatment as soon as possible. Causes of Cellulitis Cellulitis is most often caused by streptococcal or staphylococcus bacteria that normally lives on your body but enters your system through a break in the skin.

Being in an intimate relationship that causes fear or pain is not normal, yet abuse—defined as when one person dominates the other physically or emotionally—is often denied or ignored.  The majority of victims are women, but men can also be abused as well.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot use the sugars and starches (carbohydrates) it takes in as food to make energy. The body either makes no insulin or too little insulin, or cannot use the insulin it makes to change those sugars and starches into energy.

Jealousy is a basic human emotion, and one that can rear its head even in the best of friendships. And though it's called "the green-eyed monster," jealousy is not always negative, says LeslieBeth Wish, psychologist, clinical social worker and author of Smart Relationships (New Horizon Press).

Twins come into the world at the same time, and go through the same developmental stages side by side, learning to crawl, walk, and talk together. Twins share many things, including birthdays, siblings, and parents. And in many instances, they also have a remarkable ability to communicate.

If you and your partner are feeling underappreciated by the other, you may want to take a look at how much shut-eye you get at night. Sleep deprivation can actually diminish your appreciation of your partner, according to research at the University of California at Berkeley and reported in U.

For some, the end of their monthly period is liberating. Others feel sadness about the closure of their childbearing years, which is more often than not accompanied by unpleasant menopause-related conditions such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and irregular heartbeats.

When businessman Robert Rosen was diagnosed with a Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) back in 1997, he discovered treatment options were quite limited for this rare and progressive type of blood cancer. In fact, few people had ever heard of MPN, which actually refers to three related disorders, Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocythemia (ET), and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF).

If you want to incorporate more "green" into your life, using a product-review web site is a good idea. After all, there are myriad products out there claiming to be natural and/or organic, and it can be difficult to tell the legitimate ones from the posers.

If you are an older adult contemplating a new sexual relationship, you may be surprised to learn you are still very much at risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Maybe you no longer worry about preventing pregnancy, but as long as you are sexually active, you will always need to be concerned about your sexual health.

A British study has discovered new information about how the brain ages. Turns out, it's a lot like apples—one cell can spoil the whole basket. The researchers conducted studies on mice that indicated brain cells might age much like skin cells do, with one aging skin cell affecting many of its neighbors.

Long the fodder of jokes among couples and comedians, snoring—it appears—is no laughing matter. Researchers from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit believe snoring could be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease. These findings—on the risks of snoring—were presented earlier this year at the Triological Society in Scottsdale, Arizona (January 2013).

Does being too thin in midlife give you an older appearance? According to a 2009 study, it may be. The study asked an independent panel to look at photos of female twins and judge each twin on her appearance. Among other differences, women over the age of 40 who had heavier body weights than their twins were judged to be younger.

More than nine million children and teens in the U.S. are obese. But you can help your child develop healthy eating habits and prevent obesity with a few nutritional tweaks. Here are 10 easy ways to help your child stay fit and eat well: 1. Don't force your child to clean her plate.

If you're a woman with diabetes, you need to be extra vigilant about your health. That's because diabetes can be particularly hazardous for women, according to research reported in the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Forecast. While a man with diabetes can expect to live an average of 7.

These days sugar gets a bad rap. Super-sized sodas and too much junk food in the diet are blamed for this country's obesity problem. Eating carbohydrate-rich foods like bread, rice, and pasta—which the body converts to glucose (sugar) for energy—is often frowned upon, but without sugar your body wouldn't function properly.

Mono affects an estimated 45 out of every 100,000 people. While it is rarely serious, symptoms can persist for up to two months, and can be debilitating. What Causes Mono? Mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, or less frequently, by cytomegalovirus.

Fatty acids are essential—but which one(s) should you take? Omega-3 fatty acids are known as "essential" fats because your body cannot produce them: They must come from your diet. Experts think these fats may help prevent heart disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases associated with inflammation, and may also affect your mood and memory.

Meningitis is a serious and often contagious disease, most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infection. The illness, which can be deadly, is more likely to spread in situations where large groups of people congregate, such as daycare centers, dormitories and barracks, and to affect people with weak immune systems or head injuries.

With the popularity of photo sharing sites, like Flickr, Facebook and Instagram, you feel that you have to be camera-ready 24/7. But that's no reason to hide from snap-happy friends and family. Here's how to help them capture your best self. 1. Think happy thoughts.

Chips and chocolate. Wine and cigarettes. Facebook and too much bad TV. Every day we are tempted by foods and activities we shouldn't indulge in, yet moods and appetites easily overpower us. Willpower is the ability to resist our desires. Giving in to temptations—instead of remaining firmly committed to a worthwhile goal—is why we put aside concerns about how we'll look in a bikini this summer, and have that dish of ice cream anyway.

Maybe you've got achy joints and muscle pain courtesy of too much time pounding the pavement or training for that upcoming triathlon. Or perhaps your workout routine is getting boring and you just want to switch things up. If the water is calling to you, dive in.

What do you know about healthcare reform? Not much? You're not alone. To help you understand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and separate fact from fiction, we've gathered some facts from industry experts to clarify some common misconceptions. Myth #1: The ACA cuts Medicare Fact: According to the AARP, the ACA prohibits cuts to guaranteed Medicare Benefits.