June 15-21, 2013 - Original Health Articles

Bone Density Test: Who Needs It and How Often?

Bone densitometry, or bone density testing, uses low energy x-rays to precisely measure the mineral content of the bones in your arms, hips, and spine, from which your doctor can determine their thickness and strength. The test lasts only 15 to 20 minutes, during which time you will have to lay still on your back with your arms at your sides.

Got IBS? Lower Your FODMAPs For Relief

Up to 20 percent of Americans are estimated to have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). They put up with symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. While there is no cure for IBS, it can be controlled by identifying personal food triggers. Of those affected, emerging data suggests that up to 70 percent may find relief by following a low-FODMAP diet.

The Health Risks of Caffeine for Kids

Caffeine has been picking people up for centuries and its popularity continues today. Many of us rely on that morning cup of Joe to jumpstart the day. Recent research has revealed this country's favorite stimulant seems to have health benefits, too. Caffeine, and the antioxidants in coffee, has anti-cancer and cardio-protective properties.

Secondary Eating a First-Rate Problem

Like second-hand smoke, which you end up inhaling because someone close by lit up, secondary eating is when you eat food because someone close by is eating it, sharing it, or pressuring you to indulge. (The food itself is sometimes called second-hand junk food.

Kitchen Wisdom: Food Dos and Don'ts for Raising Healthy Kids

Could the obesity epidemic be ending? In spite of alarming statistics about the unhealthy state of our kids—1 in 3 children are now considered obese (nearly triple the rate in 1963)—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has new evidence that America's kids are slimming down.

6 Myths About Dwarfism

Chances are, everything you know about little people you may have learned from television. As it turns out, there's a lot of myths, and a lot to understand about the condition. Myth #1: Dwarfism is a disease Dwarfism is not a disease, but a genetic anomaly that occurs during prenatal development.

Living With Cancer? 10 Healthy Habits to Follow

When you're facing a serious illness like cancer, taking these healthy steps every day can help you feel more in control, and perhaps even ease your concerns a bit. Here are some practical and emotionally beneficial daily activities to consider: 1. Exercise.

Milk Allergy or Intolerance: What's the Difference?

Not milk? If you regularly develop digestive symptoms, such as abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or nausea shortly after drinking milk or consuming food with dairy, you're not alone. But is it an allergy or an intolerance? Here's the difference.

Are You Covered? The Case for Cancer Insurance

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year 12.7 million are diagnosed with cancer and 7.6 million people die from the disease worldwide. Cancer can be devastating, not only to the mind and body but to your finances, too: A 2007 study by researchers at Harvard University found that medical expenses were responsible for 62 percent of personal bankruptcies in this country.

Can Overthinking Lead to Depression?

We've all done it: late at night when we're trying to fall asleep and a thought keeps playing in your mind. Maybe it's the memory of a conversation you wish had gone differently, a problem you hope to solve or an opportunity you wish you'd jumped on. Your brain hits replay again and again and you rehash the information over and over.

Leaky Gut Syndrome and Its Connection to RA

While eating a poor diet can play a role in the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), eating a normally healthful diet rich in whole grains can also be inflammatory for some people. That's because whole wheat, rye, barley, and some varieties of oats contain a protein called gluten that causes intestinal inflammation and damage in people who have a condition known as celiac disease.

Thyroid Disease Treatments: An Overview

Treatments for thyroid disease are just as varied as the different manifestations of the disease. Here's an overview of treatment options.Thyroid disease isn't a black and white diagnosis. The condition comes in many shapes and forms, and variations will dictate a person's course of treatment.

The Health Benefits of Milk Thistle Herb

Mother nature may hold the answer to whatever ails you. Take the milk thistle herb, also called Silybum marianum, which people have relied on for centuries to treat liver problems and related symptoms. "There is good scientific evidence of the milk thistle herb's efficacy for conditions such as cirrhosis and chronic liver disease," says James Roza, a certified nutritionist and director of Product Development for Reliance Vitamin Company.

Growing Up With Cows Helps Kids Breathe Easier

Multiple scientific studies have found that being raised on a farm exposes and desensitizes children to specific toxins and other particles in the air, which, in turn, may protect them from developing allergic and asthmatic responses to their natural environment.

Mittleschmerz: A Pain in the Pelvis

Aches and pains during menstruation are par for the course for many women. But some women experience pain in the middle of their cycle, which is caused by a condition called Mittleschmerz, a.k.a., painful ovulation. What causes painful ovulation and what can you do about it? Ovulation typically occurs about two weeks after the start of your period and two weeks before your next period starts.

How to Reset Your Food Clock

Our bodies have a master clock called the circadian oscillator. It's timed to the rhythm of a 24-hour day and governs other body clocks, which oversee biological processes like sleeping and eating. One of these clocks, the food-entrainable oscillator (food clock), is responsible for sending signals (i.

Your Daughter's First Gynecologic Visit: What You Both Need to Know

No doubt your daughter has had many well-child check-ups in her life, but moving on to well-woman check-ups is a big transition. That's why it's so important to make your daughter's first trip as comfortable as possible. The key? Communication. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend teenage girls see a doctor specifically for reproductive health between the ages of 13 to 15 or when they become sexually active, whichever comes first.

Could Your Child Be Nutritionally Deficient?

In the resource-rich United States, children are more likely to be overfed and undernourished than starving and skinny. But not commonly understood is that obesity can also be the result of poor nutrition. According to the U.S. Department of Health...

Top Foods That Relieve Breast Tenderness

Bloating, bleeding, breast tenderness...the pleasures of the menstrual cycle. But we do have some control. For instance, the types of food we choose to eat (or not eat) may help relieve menstrual-related breast tenderness. The Link Between the Menstrual Cycle And Breast Tenderness Breast tenderness is usually caused by changes that happen in relation to a woman's menstrual cycle, especially during the days leading up to her period.

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