April 8-14, 2011 - Original Health Articles

Considering that there are 7 million undiagnosed diabetics in the United States and about 1.9 million new cases of diabetes diagnosed each year, it's likely that someone you know has the disease. In fact, you or a family member could be at risk for developing diabetes.

Aromatherapy is a type of complementary therapy and one that many cancer patients use in conjunction with traditional medical treatment. Aromatherapy 101 For centuries, humans have used essential oil for healing. Many essential oils, which are derived from the stems, leaves, flowers, and roots of plants, have pharmacologic actions, which is why they are used in aromatherapy.

If you're having trouble falling asleep at your normal bedtime every night, sleeping through the night, and waking up when you need to every morning, you may need to reset your inner clock. Your circadian rhythm is the internal biological clock that helps you fall asleep in darkness and wake up to sunlight, in a constant pattern that repeats itself every 24 hours.

Just one out of 1,900 people evaluated in a study published in Circulation, met the criteria for ideal cardiovascular health set by the American Heart Association (AHA). The study, initiated by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania, evaluated 1,933 people, ages 45 to 75, through surveys, physical exams, and blood tests.

It's an uncommon condition—many physicians never see a case in their lifetime. And insulinoma, which is an insulin-secreting tumor of the pancreas gland, can be very difficult to diagnose, says Jerome V. Tolbert, MD, Ph. D., medical director of the Outreach Team for the Friedman Diabetes Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.

Spinal manipulation is no longer considered an alternative medical practice. Now it has become a common treatment for many patients with chronic pain. In fact, as many as 60 percent of patients who see a traditional doctor for back pain will also see a chiropractor for spinal manipulation.

How many times have you instinctively turned on music to soothe and distract you during times of stress or emotional pain? Using music as a tool to heal dates back to Aristotle and Plato. Its modern day renaissance began after World Wars I and II when musicians performed for wounded veterans and physicians found it significantly enhanced their recovery.

Your partner is undergoing a painful, traumatic experience—the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, or a business failure. While you want to be supportive, he's not the easiest person to help. So the two of you start going at it, and before you know it, you've got a crisis brewing between you that just seems to grow worse by the day.

Even when classes are advertised as appropriate for "all levels," instructors and students know that's not always accurate information.  That's why fitness centers are now tailoring classes to fit the needs of specific demographics.  Age-appropriate exercise classes are gaining ground and bringing people back to the gym.

When former president George H.W. Bush publicly proclaimed his dislike of broccoli, he wasn't doing himself any favors. This ubiquitous vegetable is part of a family of vegetables that is a veritable powerhouse when it comes to cancer prevention. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, which is part of the cabbage family.

If you're suspicious that your partner has broken your trust, it can be a heavy burden to carry around. After all, trust is what your entire relationship is built on. Without it, you may well wonder what the two of you have. "The two biggest things people hide from a partner are definitely an affair or money problems," says Stacy Kaiser, MA, MFT, author of How to Be a Grownup.

Headaches can occur for a variety of reasons, including stress, caffeine withdrawal, excessive noise, fever, and—more ominously—conditions such as brain tumors and aneurysms. But did you know that joint wear and tear, also known as osteoarthritis, may be the cause of some head pain? We don't normally associate osteoarthritis with headaches.

It's an ongoing debate: Does running lead to arthritis? Some health professionals say the continual pounding on knee and ankle joints leads to wear and tear, and eventually arthritis. Others claim that the same wear actually helps keep joints and tissues healthy.

Although prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men (lung cancer being number one) it's not clear if the benefits of screening outweigh the risks of treating what is generally a slow-growing and treatable (in the early stages) cancer.

Chances are that even if you're not diabetic, you have a friend or relative who is. Some 285 million people worldwide have the disease, and that figure is expected to jump to 438 million by 2030, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), as reported on MedicalNewsToday.

No meat, no poultry, no eggs, no fish, no dairy, no animal products of any kind.  For some, a vegan diet is unimaginable; for others it is a path to good health. You may like the idea of a Meatless Monday or a No-Face Friday, taking one day out of every week to skip meat and eat only plant foods, no food from anything that ever had eyes, ears or a nose.

It's no secret that knowing a second language brings multiple benefits. You're able to get around more easily if you visit a country in which that language is spoken, you can communicate with friends and family who speak that language, and you might even have an advantage in the job market.

Everyday occurrences such as drinking coffee and alcohol, physical exertion and even breathing can help spur a heart attack, according to a Belgium study published in the journal The Lancet. The study researchers analyzed data from 36 separate studies of potential triggers for heart attack in people ranging in age from 44 to 72 years old.

Answer honestly: If you're a woman, Is your ideal man one who can "protect" you from the woes of past relationships? If you're a man, do you constantly feel the need to "rescue" women who have been wronged? If you answered "yes" to either question, you may have Knight in Shining Armor Syndrome--a relationship faux pas that can take you down treacherous paths.

Panic attacks are frightening and disruptive enough; you don't need the additional stress of worrying about whether common misconceptions about panic disorders are true. Panic disorders cause sudden and repeated attacks of fear despite the absence of any real danger.

Good posture is important for everything we do, from making a good impression to preventing pain, but it means more than just standing up straight. It's the foundation for how the body moves, works and prospers. What exactly is good posture and how can you achieve it? Read on to become a posture perfectionist.

Diagnosing mental health disorders is not quite as clear-cut as diagnosing a physical problem, such as diabetes or cancer. Many symptoms of mental illnesses overlap and can fluctuate from day to day, or week to week. Unfortunately, this means physicians frequently diagnose patients incorrectly, prolonging the start of appropriate and effective treatment.

Attitude matters, especially when it comes to managing your asthma. In fact, the latest research reveals that your mind can be an important factor when it comes to coping with this chronic respiratory condition. Therefore, the more confident you are in handling your symptoms, the better able you may be to keep your asthma under control.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women with menopausal symptoms can be divided into two eras: Before 2002 and After 2002. That's when the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) halted studies of a specific type of estrogen/progesterone therapy because they were linked to significant health risks.

You know that an unhealthy lifestyle can eventually show up on your skin, but what if a simple, painless test could reveal the physical evidence? Would it encourage you to change your habits? Some scientists believe that it will. Until recently, doctors would need to biopsy skin in order to get a picture of a patient's health and habits.

It's hard to find time for fitness, a sensible diet, and health screenings—especially when you work full time.  That is, unless health and fitness opportunities come directly to you. Employee fitness and health programs are par for the course at many large companies.

Your allergies will begin blooming right along with the flowers and other greenery. Experts say that avoiding your triggers is always the best way to head off your seasonal suffering. But if you can't escape pollen, mold, and other allergens, it's essential that you find the right allergy medication to tackle your allergy symptoms.

Cirrhosis is the final phase of chronic liver disease when the liver begins to function poorly due to scarring. The liver is a large organ that carries out essential functions such as detoxifying harmful substances in your body, purifying your blood, and manufacturing nutrients vital to your health.