March 1-7, 2009 - Original Health Articles
Wish you could get your allergies under control for once and for all? If so, getting regular shots to desensitize or “turn off” your reaction to various allergy triggers shots may be a worthwhile treatment option to explore. Some of the latest studies find that in addition to controlling allergies, this treatment method can even prevent asthma from developing in some patients.
There’s a reason hypertension is called the silent killer—of the one in three adults who suffer from the condition, the American Heart Association estimates that about a third of them haven’t a clue since the symptoms can range from subtle to nonexistent.
Once you’ve come to terms with the fact that you’re among the 17 percent of Americans over the age 20 whose total cholesterol has been clocked at or above 240 milligrams per deciliter, you need to make a plan as to how you’re going to reverse this number and put a stop to the heart disease that is now encroaching upon your arteries with clogging plaque.
Depressed? Feeling blue or just down right despondent? The good news is that depression, even the most severe cases, is a highly treatable disorder. As with any disease early detection is helpful in increasing the effectiveness of treatment and preventing a recurrence or relapse.
Cooking in the comfort of your own kitchen should be a painless process: you make and eat what you want. Those who suffer from heartburn need not be sidelined by symptoms—so long as they know which foods are safe. Abiding by a few standard rules limits the chance you will experience heartburn when reaching for a recipe.
When a meal must adhere to specific dietary guidelines, a single phrase should sum up the guideline’s essence. Those who suffer from GERD should, above all, remember this: go easy on the fat. The GERD Information Resource Center suggests making a number of lifestyle changes for those with the disease.
You’ve read it on health blogs, diet websites, and fitness magazines: Drink eight glasses a day—every day. For the majority of us, we struggle just to make this mark, let alone exceed it. But could you actually ingest too much water? The answer is simply: Yes.
Having a hard time going green? Maybe you think it’s too time consuming, expensive, or not really worth it. Think again. There are hundreds of ways to be eco-friendly, which means it can fit into any lifestyle. Here are eight reasons why green living is worth it — none of them have to do with assuaging guilt.
In the 2008 National Poll on Children's Health adults ranked obesity as the number one health concern. For this poll conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital adults rated 20 health concerns for children in their communities along the following criteria: Big problem; somewhat of a problem; not much of a problem; and not a problem at all.
Power saws and car horns, at 110 decibels each, are jarring noises that cause you to cover your ears. They’re annoying and obnoxious. Yet neither of them is louder than what an Englishman did in 2001—burped at 118 decibels, the loudest belch ever recorded.
Choosing organic products for your little one isn’t about being chic or getting a green award. It’s simply another way to keep her safe and healthy. Babies and toddlers take in more pesticides than adults do; opting for organic products can significantly reduce their exposure.
Arthritis among children can take many forms but the most common type is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Young patients diagnosed with this, or with the host of other types of arthritis that exist, often experience swelling, tenderness and pain in one or more joints, making it difficult to move, especially in the mornings.
If you suffer from arthritis, you are in good company. The National Institutes of Health estimates that about one out of every five Americans today have some form of this condition, which causes inflammation of the joints and can make it painful to complete your activities, depending on the severity and type of your symptoms.
The most satisfying aspect of cooking is when all the time you've put into shopping for ingredients, preparing the ingredients, sneaking the samplers, ruining the kitchen, watching the oven, and working up an appetite finally comes together-because you get to eat it.
Are your allergies making you miserable? If the itchy eyes and nose, scratchy throat and sneezing that comes with seasonal or year-round allergies is getting you down, you may want to seek relief from one or more of the over-the-counter and prescription drugs available today that can make you feel better.
The Lowdown The prevalence of allergies has been on the rise in the United States over the past few decades, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, but the good news is that the latest crop of nasal inhalers are helping patients to fight back against their most uncomfortable symptoms.
Let's face it: We need oil—cooking oil, that is. It makes food flavorful and moist, and without it, we couldn’t sauté or fry or whip up a cake from a store-bought mix. But it’s our insatiable desire for fried foods and baked goods that has given oil a bad name, one associated with type-2 diabetes, clogged arteries, and hearts strained by love handles gone wild with excess fat.
Want to go green when it’s time to eat, shop and clean? If so, you are part of a growing trend of people who are opting for earth-friendly products that are better for their health, and also better for the health of the environment. Further, if you suffer from asthma, eating organic food, buying unscented makeup and clothing that is not treated by chemicals, and selecting cleaning products that are free of toxic fumes can make you feel much better.
Although we've all heard people joke about having a "senior moment" when they can't remember something simple, the truth is that getting older is in no way synonymous with losing our memories. While certain diseases may cause memory impairment and be out of our control, there's plenty we can do to keep our brains sharp and stave off forgetfulness—even if we're genetically programmed to be at higher risk for conditions such as Alzheimer's.
It’s not something most of us want to think about. After all society — from alcohol commercials to Dr. Ruth—promotes sex as a pleasurable activity that’s a natural part of life. For the most part, they’re right. Unfortunately, in some cases sex can lead to conditions that will kill you.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) came under fire after initially hiding the fact that melamine was found in infant formula sold in this country. Eventually, the extent of the problem became apparent: Melamine was present in 90 per cent of the infant formula on the market, including brands from Enfamil, Mead Johnson and Nestlé.
Achieving extraordinary success in any field requires dedication, discipline and intense focus. So how did Michael Phelps, a kid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), reach the pinnacle of Olympic success? At nine years old Michael was diagnosed with ADHD.
Seeds—they're for the birds, right? Sure, but they're also great for you. Whether you're a vegetarian, a vegan or a meat-eater, seeds have a place in your diet. You can eat them in larger quantities as a main course, grind them into butters, or use them in smaller quantities as garnishes for other foods.