October 15-21, 2014 - Original Health Articles

If you work nights or your job requires you to rotate shifts, you may be at a heightened risk for developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, the odds of developing the chronic illness are 9% higher for shift workers than for those who didn't work shifts. The research, published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, was a compilation of data from a dozen earlier studies focusing on more than 225,000 individuals, including nearly 15,000 with diabetes.

Exercise is good for the heart. We all know that, mostly because of the research on the relationship between exercise and heart disease risk. But recently, a Swedish study looked at the less examined link between exercise and the odds of developing heart failure.

Do you head to your nearest coffee bar every day to jump start your morning? If so, you’re not alone! In 2011, there were an estimated 20,000 coffee businesses in the US, with combined revenues of about $10 billion, according to the Small Business Development Center.

Anaphylaxis is a sudden and serious allergic reaction that can present with a variety of symptoms. In the most severe cases, a patient’s blood pressure falls, airways constrict, and there is difficulty breathing. Common sources of this allergic reaction include certain foods (especially peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish), medications, insect bites, rubber latex, alcohol (ethanol), and food additives.

If you've ever suffered from any kind of inflammation of your esophagus, the "pipe" through which food travels from your mouth down to your stomach, then you've experienced the condition known as esophagitis. Various factors can cause the esophagus to become irritated and painful.

You may have heard of atrial fibrillation (a-fib), an irregular heartbeat that slows the flow of blood from the upper chambers, or atria, of the heart into the lower ventricles. This slowdown increases the risk that blood will pool and form clots, which in turn increases the risk of stroke and other heart-related conditions.

The typical American dinner plate consists of a protein (usually in the form of meat), a vegetable, and starch, which are complex carbohydrates like cereals and potatoes. However, with the growing popularity of low-carb diets, many people are (reluctantly) cutting down on these comfort food staples.

Regular physical activity helps prevent and manage many chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Most research on exercise and diabetes focuses on continuous, or steady state, physical activity. This is the exercise most of us are familiar with: walking, biking, or running, for example, performed at a consistent effort over some period of time.

Maybe you’re searching for the perfect look for Halloween or perhaps you’re the ultimate Twilight fan. Or possibly you’re looking for a new way to freshen up your complexion. Is the vampire facial on your radar? Vampire facials (also known as vampire facelifts) first hit the news in a big way when Kim Kardashian was videotaped having one, her face covered with blood.

For some people, the crisp snap in the air and changing leaves mean just one thing—it’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season! That is, until the jeans get too tight. These delicious cups of autumn goodness pack in so many calories, sugar, and fat that if you drink too many, you might pack on some extra pounds.

If you have diabetes, you may have a slightly increased risk for developing head and neck cancer, according to a recent study. The study, from Tainan University of Technology in Taiwan, found that people with diabetes had a nearly 50 percent higher risk of head and neck cancers compared to people without the condition.

If you end each day wondering where the time went, why your “to-do” list never seems to get any shorter, or why you always seem to have too many things on your agenda, you may simply not be as productive as you could be. Follow these tips from our experts and you’ll get more accomplished—and have more time for yourself.

Rare is the hot breakfast in which eggs are not included in some form. They find their way onto our plates next to pancakes, slices of French toast, and of course, crispy strips of bacon. Despite their popularity at breakfast (and brunch), eggs have come under much scrutiny for their high levels of cholesterol.

When the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first introduced food labels in 1993, it was a revolutionary concept. By requiring manufacturers to provide certain dietary facts and list ingredients in a standard manner, nutritional information became accessible to everyone.

Breast cancer has become one of the most visible and well-publicized diseases. That’s a good thing, since nearly a quarter of a million women will be diagnosed in 2014. However, despite three decades of attention, breast cancer, "remains a public health crisis and a social justice issue," according to Breast Cancer Action.

There has been increased attention focused on breast cancer recently, thanks in part to a few high-profile celebrities who have shared their personal battles with this life-threatening disease. But despite the growing awareness, there are still huge strides to be made, according to Otis Brawley, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society (ACS).