April 15-21, 2010 - Original Health Articles

According to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, those that followed a low-carb diet lost as much weight as those who followed a low-fat diet and also took a popular weight-loss drug called orlistat (marketed as Xenical in a prescription form and Alli, as an over-the-counter drug).

If you used to hit the gym with complete dedication and now don't want to go at all, you probably have a case of exercise burnout. But you're not alone. Approximately 50 percent of people who begin an exercise program quit within a few months. While daily exercise seems doable in theory, few of us can sustain that bite into our already busy schedules.

Fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to treat and, according to some studies, only 35 to 40 percent of people with the condition get relief from the available medications. Although there is controversy surrounding its use, some fibromyalgia patients are trying marijuana (legally and illegally) and are finding good results as it helps relieve some of their pain.

We all experience the occasional evening where we can't seem to fall asleep or we toss and turn all night. It's frustrating, but generally not detrimental. However, chronic insomnia can be harmful to our health, and stress is often the behind-the-scenes culprit.

For people living with RA or osteoarthritis, the idea that the symptoms of the disease could disappear-or at least go into remission--without invasive surgery might seem like a dream. But thanks to some hardworking researchers, that dream may soon be a reality.

I have recently had an increase in the number of patients I am treating for knee pain who were informed by their physician that the cause of that pain is a meniscal tear and that surgery is necessary. How was this diagnosis achieved? The MRI. In most cases, the patients told me that no clinical evaluation was performed.

Do an internet search of “genetics and dementia” and you’ll find a slew of information about how having a family history of Alzheimers disease increases your risk. But there’s been precious little published about whether certain inherited characteristics may actually reduce your risk of Alzheimers—until now.

Catching a disease from a toilet seat is just an urban myth, right? Most of us are careful in public restrooms anyway, using seat liners whenever possible or avoiding ones that don't seem clean. But a new study shows that our backsides may be at risk for developing a painful skin irritation--and the culprit is much closer to home.

Although we like to trust our doctors, misdiagnoses can happen. It's up to us to stay on top of our health and get a second opinion if warranted. Consider some of the following common misdiagnoses for men, and take action if you suspect a misdiagnosis of your condition.

Sally Field has been the face of the boomer generation ever since she landed the role of "Gidget" in 1965.  The Oscar winning actress won our hearts portraying strong-willed women such as Norma Rae. Equally impressive is her ability to play women we all relate to, like Nora, the matriarch in the hugely popular television drama, Brothers and Sisters.

Tired of the same-old routines when it comes to love making? Wish there was a way to spice up your sex life? It may be time to take a virtual world tour to find out what's sizzling hot and sexy in the far-flung corners of the globe. The Netherlands Women here are much more comfortable than Americans with body image that they're totally fine with initiating sex when they want it.

According to urologists Andrew McCullough, M.D., director of male sexual health, fertility, and microsurgery at the New York University Medical Center, and James Barada, M.D., of the Albany College of Medicine, premature ejaculation (PE) is the number one sexual-health problem afflicting men, and is three times more common than erectile dysfunction (ED).

Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with leukemia? If so, chances are you're overwhelmed with information and are wondering what's next. Here's what you need to know. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in the tissues that form blood cells. Most blood cells originate in the bone marrow and differentiate to become white blood cells (lymphocyte or myeloid), red blood cells, and platelets.

Perhaps you had Chinese food last week and shortly afterward, you felt your tongue swell, you broke out in hives and started wheezing. If this sounds familiar, you could be allergic to soy beans, a common ingredient used in some of the popular dishes.

A group of international scientists, led by Chinese researcher Wang Jun of the Beijing Genomics Institute, have found that some of the hundreds of types of bacteria in the digestive system may be linked to the causes of specific diseases, including cancer, diabetes and Crohn's disease.

Aging may be unavoidable, but why speed up the process with bad habits? Avoid these common mistakes and keep your skin from revealing its true age. Skipping the SPF No matter what the weather, your skin needs protection from UV rays. These rays accelerate the aging process and lead to more wrinkles and discoloration.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), about 47 million adults in the U.S. suffer from metabolic syndrome, a condition that includes a cluster of risk factors specific for heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The underlying causes of metabolic syndrome are being overweight or obese and physically inactive and having genetic factors such as a family history of hypertension and heart disease.

It may be time to add mangoes to the growing list of superfoods. This delicious tropical fruit has long been known for its high fiber, potassium, and vitamin C content. Now, a laboratory study is showing that it may also be effective in preventing or killing certain colon and breast cancer cells.

Caffeine boosts your energy, lifts your spirits and improves your physical and mental performance. But is it bad for you? Caffeine is considered a drug because it acts as a mild stimulant on the central nervous system. Because of its drug-like action, caffeine has been studied for many years for potential side effects.

You've seen him or her at work: aggressive, racing against the clock, competitive, always multitasking. The typical type A personality type. Recently, experts have examined whether personality type plays a role in workplace stress. They found personality type did-and didn't-correlate to stress.

Millions of Americans suffer from lower back pain. In many of these cases, individuals turn to pain medications to relieve some of their suffering. While these medications may provide some temporary relief, they do not treat the underlying causes of lower back pain.

What if you could use electrical currents to "shock" your severe asthma symptoms away so you can breathe better? Some researchers believe that for some cases, this is actually possible-and they've had success using electrical stimulation under very controlled conditions to help asthmatics who presented in real distress and didn't respond to more conventional asthma treatments.

Do you worry that your child could be sneaking some of your prescription medications; perhaps thinking it'll give her more energy or help curb her appetite?  If so, before she knows it, she may be in over her head in a cycle of drug abuse. The fact is that using prescription and over-the-counter drugs for nonmedical reasons is a growing problem among teens today and it can lead to a host of serious consequences, including addiction.

How many times have we heard lately that obesity has been shown to be a significant contributor to disease and early death? Now, flying in the face of that knowledge are the results of a new study out of Australia that claims a little extra meat on the bones might just mean a longer life.

Bladder cancer is more prevalent than you might realize, although it does not get as much public attention as breast and other types of cancer. Fortunately, bladder cancer is highly treatable when caught early; so it pays to be familiar with its common symptoms.

According to a Japanese study published in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, having widespread access to public automated external defibrillators (AEDs) raises the chances of surviving a heart attack with little neurological damage The study found that 31.

You may have heard of gout, a chronic, common form of arthritis. Gout occurs when there's a buildup of uric acid in the blood, causing urate crystals to form and lodge in a joint. Uric acid production is normal, and happens when your body breaks down purines, substances found in organ meats such as liver as well as other foods such as dried beans, asparagus and mushrooms.

If visions of verdant vegetables, nutty whole grains, and fresh fruit are tempting you to give up meat in favor of a healthy, plant-based diet, you may well wonder if a vegetarian diet can work for a diabetic. After all, carbs comprise the bulk of a vegetarian eating plan, and when you're diabetic, they have to be carefully tallied up in order to keep the blood sugar as close to normal as possible.

The G-spot is an elusive pleasure zone that some women swear provides them with an intense sexual experience and some researchers doubt even exists. While it has never been definitively located, many women believe they have a small area in the front of their vagina that, when stimulated, results in an intense orgasm.

If you have sensitive skin resulting from eczema and also use scented soap, you probably know that the combination can make you scratch and itch. This is largely due to the fact that some of the popular cleansing bars on the market today contain fragrances and chemicals that can trigger the telltale eczema and soap rash.

What is Hoarding? Hoarding is an illness that not only affects the hoarder but their loved ones as well. Hoarding is considered to be an excessive collection of items; however, the person who only has an extensive collection of baseball cards or Star Wars collectibles would not fall into this category.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects between 8 to 12 million people in the U.S., with African-Americans more than twice as likely than Caucasians to suffer from the disorder. This condition occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries (called atherosclerosis) that carry blood to the head, organs and limbs.

Our sense of smell is so powerful that a whiff of a freshly baked apple pie brings us right back to the warm security of Grandma's kitchen, a piney aroma evokes Christmases past, and the lingering scent of cologne or perfume can be a turn-on or a turnoff.

Gyms are crowded with cardio machines comprised of rolling belts, whirling petals, gliding footplates, and handlebars. Each one promises a great cardio workout, intense muscle toning, exceptional calorie expenditure, and maximum effect with varying degrees of impact.

Mother's Day is supposed to be a day to honor and celebrate the efforts of your mother or stepmother.  But for many of us, the holiday can seem like a chore and emotional torture at worst.  Here are three of the most common "Mother-Adult Child" scenarios in families on Mother's Day.

Having a morning when your hair won't cooperate? Before you reach for a hat, try these tips from Slope Suds Salon stylist Jocelyn Dunnavant to tackle your particular problem. Bed-head and cowlicks: Use a spray bottle filled with water to re-wet the problem areas, comb it into place, and re-dry it.

If you've been with a few women, you may think you know a lot about sex. But as you gain bedroom experience, you'll soon learn that what is a turn on for one woman is a deal-breaker for another. Good sex means using your brain as much as your body. Sex Mistake #1: Thinking sex is only physical Guys tend to get caught up in the physicality of sex.