August 15-21, 2011 - Original Health Articles
If you're craving sugar, the problem may be more serious than merely trying to satisfy an occasional sweet tooth. You may be addicted to sugar. Researchers at Princeton University conducted several laboratory studies on rats and found that when the rats were given too much sugar, they suffered from withdrawal.
If your sex life feels limp and lackluster these days, resolve to spice it up. No, not with dietary supplements or prescription pills, but by exercising with a purpose. Certain exercises can help rev-up your performance and level of satisfaction, experts say.
Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen are readily available on your grocery and drug store shelves. No prescription is needed. Pop a couple and your pain, fever or headache disappear. While these common over-the-ounter (OTC) medications are generally safe, they're still powerful chemicals.
Everyone can benefit from having a well-organized home. But when you have food allergies, organizing your kitchen and other food storage areas isn't just convenient—it's essential. An organized fridge and pantry can make it easier to locate your safe foods and can save you from making life-threatening mistakes.
For every two hours that people watch TV each day, they increase their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 20 percent and their risk of getting heart disease by 15 percent, according to a recent analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Having cancer is scary, overwhelming, and can leave you feeling isolated, despite the dedicated attention of your cancer care team and the love of your family and friends. That's why many patients turn to support groups. In a support group, patients can share their cancer experiences and frustrations.
It's normal to feel tired after a workout. Mild muscle ache is common, too. But what if you're completely exhausted? Post-workout fatigue that persists after you cool down or interferes with your lifestyle is not normal. Vigorous exercise is a healthy challenge for every body.
Although the heart-health benefits of getting plenty of fiber in the diet each day has been well documented, a new study is showing that loading up on fiber when you're young or middle-aged may be especially heart protective. The study from Northwestern University's medical school found that adults between the ages of 20 and 59 with the highest fiber intake had a significantly lower estimated lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease compared to those with the lowest fiber intake.
Many men may find this to be startling news, but breast cancer doesn't happen only in women. Although men don't have breasts in the sense that women do, they do have breast tissue and enough of it to make breast cancer possible. In men, breast tissue is primarily composed of tubular passages called ducts which are located under the nipple and in the areas surrounding it.
It's been well-documented that smoking ruins your health, affecting everything from your lungs to your taste buds to your heart. A persistent smoking habit might even kill you. But did you know that puffing on cigarettes can also wreak havoc on your looks? Actors may appear sultry and glamorous when lighting up on-screen, but in real life, the tobacco habit can downgrade you from hot to "not.
Many women incorporate blush into their daily makeup routine to accentuate their cheekbones with a rosy-red look. But for the millions of people living with the skin condition rosacea, unintentional blushing and flushing can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing problem.
You have the right to know what's in the food products you buy, but you can't know if it's not on the label. Genetically modified (GM) or engineered, foods have been scientifically altered to develop more desirable traits. These traits might include better resistance to destructive insects in the field, or increased nutritional value.
While the concept of exercising away your allergies sounds appealing, in reality no amount of running, swimming, or lifting weights will make your allergies magically disappear. However, engaging in regular exercise can help alleviate bothersome symptoms.
Digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) disorders can cause a variety of stomachaches and are common occurrences—especially among those over the age of 50. Although the GI system usually does its job without any glitches, as you get older, the risk for digestive disorders that affect the stomach and small or large intestine can increase.
Wish you could play like a child again? Then hula-hooping might be the perfect workout for you. It's not just kids' stuff, though. Hula-hooping provides boot camp-quality exercise. Hula-hoops have been popular since they were invented in the 1950s.
Complementary and alternative healing practices are becoming mainstream as people search for ways to support health naturally. While acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic garner most of the attention, Reiki quietly benefits patients in its own gentle way.
If your doctor diagnoses you with metabolic syndrome, don't panic and think you've come down with some fatal disease. Instead, consider it a warning sign that your long-term health is at risk, and resolve to take action. While metabolic syndrome puts you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, a variety of lifestyle changes can help put it behind you.
Life is full of ups and downs. Some of us handle the downs better than others. Now, researchers are investigating whether a difficult childhood could impact how adults react to stress. Of course not all downs are created equally. Losing a job, for example, is a much bigger downer than feeling disappointed when a friend doesn't promptly return a call.