August 15-21, 2013 - Original Health Articles

Be Smart About Sex (at Any Age)

Most young adults grew up learning about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and know how to avoid getting them. However, safe sex practices haven't caught on as well in the over-50 crowd. A study done by the Indiana University Center for Sexual Health Promotion revealed that adults over age 50 are having sex with casual partners or friends more often than was previously thought.

Unwanted Facial Hair? Try Dermaplaning

Peach fuzz, also known as "vellus hair," can grow on your body and also your face. Over time, genetics and hormones can also cause it to become more prominent. "Vellus hair helps to regulate body temperature and sensory function," explains Teri Kotantoulas, Licensed Esthetician of Face To Face Esthetics in Colorado.

7 Tips for Safe Shaving

Shaving can be one of the quickest, easiest, and cheapest ways to get rid of unwanted hair. But this method also comes with some minor risks. Most common? Women who shave their legs, underarms, and bikini line, or men who shave their face, may find themselves left with razor burn, bumps, and irritated skin.

5 Beat-the-Heat Beauty Secrets

One-hundred-degree days? No sweat! These tips will help you put your freshest face forward no matter how hot and humid the weather: 1. Tame an unruly mane Got frizz? Your best bet is to buy a hair sealant specifically for calming down this humidity-related condition, according to Jessica J.

The Buzz About Coffee Bean Extract and Weight Loss

Researchers have long investigated the many benefits of coffee beyond the jolt that caffeine provides. Among its potential benefits: reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. While the mechanism isn't clear, studies have linked coffee consumption to a reduced risk of the disease.

The Mediterranean Diet and Melanoma

Everywhere you turn you hear about the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. It's been associated with lower rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and many other serious diseases. Now, studies suggest it might even provide protection against skin cancer.

Beyond Protein: 4 Foods That Feed Muscles

Everything we do—from walking to digesting our food—involves our muscles. Even our heart, which pumps blood, is a muscle. Many people mistakenly believe eating a lot of protein builds big muscles. While muscles definitely need protein, it's resistance training that promotes muscle growth.

7 Must-Know Facts About the New Health Insurance Law

Curious about how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will affect you and your family? Signed into law in 2010, this multi-year plan is designed to change the current health insurance system and make it more accessible to a larger number of Americans, according to Arthur Tacchino, JD, assistant professor of health insurance at The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Bigorexia: A Dangerous Pursuit of the Perfect Body

A person living with bigorexia is a person who lives with shame. Although he works out compulsively—and would be considered fit and muscular by most people—he never feels satisfied with his body and is overcome with the irrational perception that he looks small and puny.

Air Pollution May Up Your Cardio Risk

Live or work in a congested area? You may need to take extra precautions to protect your heart health. Evidence shows that air pollution is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In fact, there is a measurable increase in deaths and hospitalizations when city smog levels are high.

How to Handle Seizures in Pets

Your furriest companion probably doesn't require much beyond the basics—food, water, affection, and regular walks—but if he's epileptic, he needs your calm, loving support, too. Epileptic seizures in pets are scary and heartbreaking to witness.

Unlock the Mystery of Adolescent Sleep Patterns

Does your teenager stay up late? Have a difficult time getting up for school? Sleep in till all hours on the weekends? Don't be too hard on him. Both biological and sociological factors drive these sleep patterns. Adolescents and Sleep Everyone has an internal clock that influences body temperature, sleep cycles, appetite, and hormonal changes.

Is the Flu Different for Women and Men?

Because of chemical and anatomical differences, women and men experience various conditions differently. From migraines to depression to heart disease, gender plays a large role in how we undergo, and recover from, various ailments. According to some studies, influenza is no exception.

Can Berries Prevent Parkinson's Disease?

Berries are bursting with flavor and available year round, thanks to frozen selections. If strawberry shortcake, blueberry cobbler, and ripe red raspberries aren't enough, then maybe preventing Parkinson's disease will tempt you to increase your berry consumption.

How to Recover From the Flu

The worst of your flu symptoms are behind you and you look forward to getting back to your normal activities. However, you're still not feeling 100 percent. What should you do? The flu, or influenza, is a viral infection in your respiratory or digestive system.

A Closer Look at Laryngitis

Lost your voice? No worries. It will turn up again...eventually. Vocal cords vibrate to create the voice. When they get irritated, inflamed, or damaged, they swell up and vibrate differently, causing your voice to change. Laryngitis—the clinical term used to describe this inflammation and swelling—can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), depending on the underlying cause.

When to Clean, When to Disinfect

To clean or not to clean isn't the question. The question is: to clean or disinfect? Knowing the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing is key to winning the war on germs. Here's an explanation: Cleaning removes germs and involves using soap (or a detergent) and water to physically take them off of surfaces.

A Closer Look at Bronchitis

When your airways are swollen and inflamed from bronchitis, you know it. Breathing becomes difficult, and a dry cough becomes productive with thick mucus. Depending on the type and nature of bronchitis, symptoms can last anywhere from several days to several weeks, or even months.

A New Diet Tool?

For those of us addicted to the buzz, the benefits of a good old cup of coffee are nothing new. But a recent study indicates that unroasted, or "green," coffee beans might do more than just help us start the day and stay awake: They may also help some people lose weight.

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