June 15-21, 2010 - Original Health Articles

If you suddenly start feeling pain in your lower back or hip that radiates down your buttock to the back of your thigh and into your leg, you may have what's called "sciatica." Sciatica is not a disorder in and of itself, but rather a symptom from another problem involving the sciatic nerve.

Nicotine, one of the components of tobacco, stimulates the blood vessels in the brain to constrict, contributing to headache pain. While there is currently no study data specifically addressing the link between smoking and migraines, the link between smoking and chronic headaches has been proven.

A Japanese study has found that dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B6 reduces the risk of dying from stroke and any cardiovascular disease in women. It may also lower the risk for heart disease in men. The researchers analyzed data from over 23,000 men and over 35,600 women, ages 40 to 79, who answered food frequency questionnaires.

Many individuals diagnosed with mental health issues take psychotropic medications.  Most people struggle with medication compliance and consistency.  Usually people struggle because they do not like the side effects psychotropic medications can cause.

Flying. Snakes. Heights. Enclosed places. Crowds. The list of things and situations that trigger anxiety is endless. We all have things that make us fearful or nervous. However, if fears are interfering in your life, you probably have a phobia. Fortunately, there are many ways to get over your phobias.

Health experts have long linked processed foods, such as hot dogs, sausages, and most lunchmeats to many forms of cancers, including esophageal, lung, pancreatic, stomach, colorectal, endometrial, and prostate. Now they've added ovarian cancer to the list.

Though they make look disturbing and make your child uncomfortable, childhood rashes are very common and can be caused by a number of factors. The good news is that many of them are easy to treat and  won't put your child in any danger. Common Rashes Most rashes can be addressed at home, although a few types could require a trip to your pediatrician.

If you are going in for surgery—whether it is a hip replacement, knee replacement, intestinal surgery, cancer surgery, amputation, or some other surgery—it is reasonable to be concerned about post-surgical pain. While the level of post-surgical pain varies greatly depending on the specific surgery and a patient's risk factors, everyone can take valuable steps to prevent or reduce post-surgical pain.

A team of Australian researchers from the Centre for Vision Research at the University of Sydney has found that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) doubles the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke. Macular degeneration is a chronic eye disease that affects the center of the retina, known as the macula, inside the back wall of the eyeball and while it doesn't cause complete blindness, the disease worsens quality of life by making reading, driving or doing detail work difficult.

Eating outdoors as the weather heats up is one of the hallmarks of summertime activity, but before you fire up your barbecue grill or send out invitations to the family picnic, there are some precautions you should take to avoid a common occurrence: food poisoning.

Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder in which the stomach doesn't function normally, taking too long to empty its contents. Under normal circumstances, strong stomach muscle contractions, which are controlled by the vagus nerve, propel food through the digestive tract.

Do you find that your asthma symptoms often interfere with your daily living? Then the latest asthma guidelines offered by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) may be just what the doctor ordered. NHLBI regularly reviews the latest clinical data and uses these findings to develop some of the best practice guidelines for doctors and patients.

A persistent cough can disrupt your life, make it difficult to sleep, and put a wrench in your relationships. When you can't stop coughing, it is not only annoying, it also drains your energy and disturbs your quality of life. Possible Causes A cough begins when an irritant such as perfume, dust, or even spicy food, stimulates nerves in your respiratory tract.

Fruits and vegetables are some of the healthiest foods you can eat—unless they're contaminated with dirt or harmful bacteria. Since foodborne illnesses have sometimes been linked to fresh produce, it's important to wash what you eat. The first rule for washing fresh produce is to wash your own hands.

How safe is the air you breathe? If you live in a major U.S. city, the chances are that the answer is, "Not very." A study for the American Lung Association (ALA) finds that six out of ten Americans today live in areas where high rates of pollutants can put them at risk for suffering from related health consequences.

You're bored with the treadmill and the stationary bike, and you don't feel like taking up golf or tennis. Still, you'd like to incorporate some form of exercise into your routine. If you've never considered tai chi, you just may want to give this traditional Chinese martial art a try.

Have you ever wondered what helps certain people live extremely long lives? As you may have guessed, evidence suggests longevity is strongly related to genes. But the surprising finding is that the genes aren't only about physical characteristics. Science now says that specific personality traits are inherited, and those personality traits may be what help people reach a ripe old age.

Stroll down any drugstore aisle, and you'll find beauty masks that promise everything from intense hydration to clearing your complexion. They can be effective, whether you buy them or make them from everyday ingredients. What Beauty Masks Do Beauty masks give your skin an intense treatment in a 10-30 minute period of time.

Next time you reach for a slice of watermelon, you may be interested to know that this tasty treat may also provide a variety of health benefits, including keeping your respiratory system functioning at its best. Watermelon Benefits Much attention has been paid in recent years to the miracle properties in watermelon.

You had surgery several months ago, but you still have pain that won't quit even after you're supposed to be healed. Or you were in an accident and can't seem to get rid of your discomfort. Perhaps you have a progressive disease, such as arthritis, that's causing you pain and you need help managing it.

When Evan Handler was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in 1985, it was considered an incurable disease. That was pretty devastating news to the then 24-year old actor who was a rising star. Since then, Handler has accumulated an extensive resume of TV roles, including his current role on Californication.

People with anxiety have a significantly higher incidence of insomnia, and insomniacs are at much greater risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Insomnia disorder is common—affecting up to 30 percent of adults. Mental health experts generally define insomnia as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, waking too early, sleeping poorly, and reporting daytime impairment or distress.

Bacteria. Viruses. Yeast. Yuck! These microorganisms can play a big part in making you sick. Yet are you aware that to the other extreme, some forms of bacteria may also help your body function at its best? You may not know it, but a host of helpful bacteria and yeasts make their home right in your gut, where they play an important role in regulating your digestive system.

When your traditional allergy medications seem to cause too many side effects, you may want to try some natural allergy remedies that can aid even the most severe symptoms. Natural Allergy Remedies More people today than ever before are turning to alternative remedies to treat allergies and other health problems—many of which are having success.