May 1-7, 2009 - Original Health Articles

Your quest for green living doesn't have to stop at home. Why not detox the place where you spend so many of your working hours—your workplace? Get your coworkers involved and make it an office project. Below, some tips from Mother Nature Network, an environmental news and information community: Recycle everything.

Grass pollen is a common allergy in the spring and summertime that can cause you to sneeze and cough, your nose and throat to itch and your eyes to water. Allergic Reaction There are as many as 1,200 different types of grasses that can be found in the United States and surrounding areas.

When you're feeling depressed, sometimes the last thing you feel like doing is reaching out to other people. But experts agree that regular contact with a supportive network of friends can do wonders for your mental health—and your health in general.

If you've ever hesitated to buy a generic drug instead of the brand name equivalent, you're certainly not alone.  Despite the fact that nearly 70 percent of the drugs sold around the country are generics, many people still aren't sure how they differ from the name brands, which can affect their treatment decisions and budget.

Studies find that between 15 and 50 percent of patients who have Inflammatory Bowel Disease are also likely to have osteoporosis. Unlike Crohn's disease, however, there are no visible symptoms of osteoporosis. Doctors often do not diagnosis the disease until after bone damage has already occurred.

You can definitely call it a comeback---after over 50 years of eradication, bed bugs are cropping up in homes, hotels, hospitals, dormitories, shelters, and even cell phones. In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held a summit to develop a plan to deal with these pesky critters.

Is it a Gluten Allergy? Do you think you could have a gluten allergy? Or do you have a digestive problem called celiac disease? Both conditions are caused by eating things containing gluten and both have very similar symptoms, making it difficult to differentiate.

Once upon a time urine testing was the only method available to gauge blood glucose levels for patients with diabetes. Urine tests however do not tell the whole story of glucose levels for diabetes management. For the most part, glucose levels in the urine are undetectable unless they reach high levels.

Right after receiving a diagnosis of hypertension or high cholesterol, you might feel as if all the new restrictions and requirements will mean that you’ll never be able to dine out again. And though it’s safe to say that most fast food is now forbidden fruit for you, with an attitude adjustment and a greater nutritional awareness, you can score a heart-healthy meal even at the greasiest restaurant.

A Common Problem As many as 20 percent of athletes today are either formally diagnosed with asthma or grappling with the symptoms, which have not yet been officially named. With this condition such a widespread problem, and also a potentially serious one as well, the experts are urging people who participate in sports, and those who coach them, to be proactive when it comes to staying in control of this issue.

If you are an athlete who has recently been diagnosed with asthma, you may worry that the possibility of taking your sport to the professional level is slipping away with each labored breath you take. You’ll be glad to know, though, that many athletes with asthma are able to manage their symptoms and still excel at their game.