April 22-30, 2010 - Original Health Articles

Many people have delayed anaphylactic responses and can't seem to trace them back to the triggers. But scientists from several institutions, including the University of Tennessee, University of Virginia, and the John James Medical Centre in Australia, conducted a study examining the experiences of 60 people who had unexplained reoccurring anaphylactic reactions to see if any patterns existed.

One might not typically think that exercise would be the best treatment for pain; however there is evidence that exercise may be one of the best things you can do to manage chronic pain. 4 Reasons Why Exercise Helps When you exercise, you produce endorphins which are natural chemicals in your body that have the same kind of effect as painkilling opiates like morphine or codeine.

Embarrassment, shame, or the fear that your partner will want to end your relationship. Any of these could be the reason for not being forthright about a particular health condition. Whether it's a sexually transmitted disease, a chronic disorder like multiple sclerosis, or an invisible but life-impacting illness such as fibromyalgia, there just hasn't been the right time to discuss it.

According to new findings from a British study released at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta in March, fluctuations in blood pressure levels over time can be a key indicator of increased stroke risk.   These findings confirm similar results from earlier studies.

Painkillers come in many forms and potencies, are available by prescription or over-the-counter (OTC), and treat all sorts of physical pain. Over-the-counter pain pills such as aspirin and ibuprofen are staples in just about every medicine chest in the country.

Inflammation is the body's natural response to an attack, whether from an infection or some other irritant. And one of the markers of bodily inflammation is a blood protein known as C-reactive protein. Basically, the higher your level of C-reactive protein, the more inflammation is occurring somewhere in your body.

Yeast infections can be annoying, irritating, and itchy, but are they dangerous? Well, not usually. But sometimes, persistent yeast infections can signal other health problems and in very rare cases, can cause infections in other parts of the body. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 75 percent of women will get a yeast infection at some time in their lifetime, and nearly half will get more than one.

Researchers have recently discovered that black currant berries bring a multitude of health benefits, including improving asthma symptoms. The Benefits of Black Currant You're probably got at least one or two things in your cupboard that contain black currant berries.

Pregnancy is normally a time of joy and anticipation. For women who suffer from depression, it can also create confusion and concern about how antidepressant medications might affect their baby's health. Fortunately, acupuncture may be a good alternative for treating pregnancy-related depression.

An easy way to help prevent breast cancer and increase survival in breast cancer patients may be as close as your medicine cabinet. Two new studies add to the growing body of evidence that aspirin could possibly play a role inhibiting the development and recurrence of breast cancer.

Roughly 3 million people in the United States stutter, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Scientists have been looking for the cause of stuttering for thousands of years, and the condition has been considered a longtime medical mystery.

Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in New York City have identified genes linked to ulcerative colitis, one of the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)-the general name used for diseases causing inflammation in the small intestine and colon.

She's not the only public person to have diabetes. Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, and Sonia Sotomayor on the Supreme Court all have the disease, Mary Tyler Moore, however, not only has Type 1 diabetes, she has written a book about her own experiences, Growing Up Again: Life, Loves And Oh Yeah, Diabetes, and she has campaigned tirelessly for more research to find a cure.

The changes in season can bring welcome moisture to your skin-but also a whole new set of challenges. Follow these tips to put your freshest face (and body) forward.   Slough Off Dry, Dead Skin Months of dry air both indoors and out can leave your skin dull and pasty.

What's the fastest route to slimmer thighs?  Overall weight loss. Genetics determines where fat gets stored on our bodies.  Some people carry it in their tummy, some in their thighs.  The only way to get rid of excess fat is the old fashioned way-increased exercise and decreased calorie intake.

Feeling down? Or so irritable you could scream? Chances are that your blood sugar's too high or too low. And not surprisingly, it affects your mood. "When diabetics have low blood sugar, they may not even act like themselves," says Olga Calof, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist in the Los Angeles area.

So you think eating healthy means emptying your pockets on grass-fed meat and organic vegetables. Well, think again. There are many ways to work around a budget and still be able to provide your family with wholesome cuisine. Jeff Yeager, author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Roadmap to True Riches, says he tries to only spend $1 per pound on food.

The health benefits of eating yogurt, from helping build stronger bones to warding of infection, have been touted for years. Now, there's even more reason to reach for that container of yogurt from your grocer's shelf. Studies are showing that the probiotics ...

When it comes to arthritis, one type definitely doesn't fit all. There are dozens of different variations of arthritis, but the two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid, affecting millions of people a year. What are the differences between...

Dizziness. Depression. Anxiety. Headache. Weight gain. If someone suggested you do something that might cause these, and other, unpleasant symptoms, you'd likely run the other way. But what if a few days of discomfort could have a profound affect on your health? These symptoms describe some of the potential side effects from nicotine withdrawal, which occurs when you quit smoking.

Thought that your hearing loss was due to too may loud concerts back in the day? Maybe, but something else might be contributing too. A new study in men hints that taking over-the-counter painkillers regularly can also lead to hearing loss, especially in younger men.

Researchers say you can add weight control to the ever-growing list of potential health benefits that come from drinking a single glass of red wine. Although alcohol contains calories, research has suggested again and again that those calories don't necessarily contribute to weight gain.

For years, many people have believed that arthritis sufferers do best in dry, warm climates and worse in areas that are typically cold and wet. In fact, some doctors have even prescribed moves across the country for patients. But is it a fact that the conditions outside affect arthritis symptoms? The short answer is yes, for some people.

The association between what we eat and our mental health is growing--adding to the evidence that diet can play a key role in preventing depression. The most recent data comes from a study that compared the long-term effects of very low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets on mood and cognitive function.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) aren't something that most people take lightly. They conjure up visions of dire complications, they hurt and, let's face it, they are embarrassing to talk about with your partner or your doctor. They're also very common.

You've done every abdominal exercise in the book, used every machine, done Pilates and Yoga, crunched, balanced, lunged and still - your abs aren't flat.  Where's your six-pack?  Will exercise alone ever give you flat abs?  Unfortunately not.

Are you allergic to seafood? If so, then you may be concerned about having a Computed Tomography (commonly referred to as CT) scan done. This procedure often uses a contrast dye that can trigger a dangerous immune system response in some people. The Basics about CT Scans If you've ever had a CT scan performed, you know that this is a diagnostic screening tool that uses a computer-enhanced machine to analyze two-dimensional photos of your body.

As stated in last week's article, hoarding has to do with being compelled to collect things or failing to get rid of a reasonable number of certain objects. Even when storage becomes a problem, hoarding tendencies leave the sufferer with the inability to fix the problem and often effects social interactions with loved ones and others.

Perhaps you experience asthma on a regular basis but haven't actually paid attention to exactly when, and how often, it occurs. Scientists have long recognized that for some female asthma patients, their respiratory symptoms do seem to flare on a predictable monthly basis.

Many researchers believe that babies are born with a natural instinct for empathy, but as they grow, this trait needs to be reinforced at home and in school in order for it to continue to develop appropriately. Taking a Closer Look To better understand how empathy works and what other attributes that seem to go along with it, scientists from the University of Michigan took a closer look at the behaviors and traits of middle-school children who participate in athletics regularly.

Did you know that your teenager's weight today could affect her risk of getting multiple sclerosis, or MS, later in life? That's the message from a study that was conducted by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. The scientists looked at women who had MS to understand how their weight as a teenage correlated with developing this disease in adulthood.

They take a lot of abuse, and they cover a lot of ground. So it's hardly a surprise your feet may start to act up. If you're starting to experience foot problems, it could certainly be part of the aging process. Wear and tear on the feet, over the years, can not just make the feet spread, but can cause the fatty pads that cushion the bottom of the foot to thin out, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Fibromyalgia affects about two percent of people today who live in the United States, and women are affected more often than men. If you fall into this group, you probably have pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as highly-tender spots spread throughout your body.

Unfortunately, there is a link between breast cancer and depression. In fact, about 25 percent of women with breast cancer suffer from significant depression. That's the bad news. The good news is that you can offset your risk of developing depression with two simple lifestyle modifications: drink green tea and exercise regularly.