December 8-14, 2009 - Original Health Articles

New research from Great Brittan and the United States is showing that being severely obese—80 pounds or more above a normal weight—can reduce your lifespan by up to 12 years, similar to the effect of a lifetime of smoking. And even moderate obesity can cut life expectancy by about three years, according to the British study, which analyzed data from nearly one million people from around the world.

You may have heard of tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that utilizes deep breathing and slow, graceful moves to bolster balance and coordination. Groups of Chinese regularly perform tai chi together in parks and other public spaces, and the practice has been catching on in America and other locales.

Experts say for many people, the cold air can be as much of a trigger as high humidity. Wonder what the connection is? The fact is that when you breathe cold air into your sensitive airways, it can cause them to constrict and can trigger your asthma symptoms.

I thought I would provide the readers of this column a first hand account of how medical standards can fall short when it comes to pain at the hip region. My office is located in New York. I was asked to examine a woman who lived in Texas who was told that she required a total hip replacement.

Speech Language Therapy If your child is slow to talk, doesn't string as many words together as you think would be appropriate at his age, or has trouble pronouncing some sounds and words correctly, these are common developmental concerns that can often be addressed with the help of a trained speech and language therapist.

There's no time of year more hazardous for getting around than winter. Layers of ice and frozen snow make walking difficult and downright dangerous. Furthermore, slip and fall cases are most common during the coldest months. No matter how diligent you may be about shoveling and blowing snow, surfaces may still be slick.

If you have one chronic inflammatory condition, are you more prone to develop others? According to two studies published in the journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, Gastroenterology, the answer may be yes. The separate British and...

"Stomachache" is a generic term used to describe a variety of common ailments in the abdominal area that can develop suddenly or be chronic in nature. They can include everything from a knotty feeling to sharp, stabbing pains or worse. The causes of stomachaches are just as varied, ranging from viral infections to urinary tract infections or food poisoning caused.

Roughly one million Americans develop kidney stones each year, and approximately 15 percent of adults in the U.S. will be diagnosed with a kidney stone in their lifetime. The pain can be throbbing to severe and some even say "worse than labor" as it is continuous, unlike a contraction that comes and goes.

Allergies and Coughing A new cough that comes on suddenly could be a sign of a cold, infection or other illness that will usually go away in a week or two. But when you seem to be coughing for weeks on end with no relief in sight, it's very possible that you aren't sick but have a bad case of allergies instead.

If you've ever suffered through a bout of diarrhea, it may be comforting to know that you are not alone. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, the average adult experiences acute diarrhea about four times a year, and children will have seven to 15 episodes of diarrhea by the age of five.

While dementia is most commonly thought of in relation to Alzheimer's disease, it can also be caused by a number of other medical circumstances. Dementia is a degenerative condition, which means that it continues to worsen over time. The exact symptoms of dementia vary depending on the cause of the condition; however, loss of memory is commonly the first and most obvious sign to appear.

A consumer poll carried out by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) revealed that 78 percent of men who shave suffer from razor bumps, which are really ingrown hairs or pseudofolliculitis barbae. These skin irritations primarily affect men with curly or kinky hair and cause irritation and scarring.

If you reach for the potato chips, pastries, cookies, candy or ice cream when you are feeling down, you're not alone. People tend to crave certain foods when they are feeling blue. Research shows that many people eat (or overeat) carbohydrates in an attempt to try and make themselves feel better--and there is a reason for it.

It's got the rather ungainly name of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Childhood (LADA) but many people call it Type 1.5 diabetes. It's a "rather common and often underrecognized form of diabetes whose clinical presentation falls somewhere between Type 1 and Type 2," says S.

With decking the halls, shopping in crowded malls, wrapping gifts, baking cookies, and trying to keep the peace among all the family members. With all that pressure it's no wonder the holiday season can be a time to feel a little underappreciated. If your special someone is a little out of sorts these days, there are small but meaningful ways to tell her or him that you think they're wonderful.

If you think a fading memory is an inevitable part of aging, you're wrong. Science shows there are plenty of things older people can do to stave off forgetfulness and mental fuzziness. Try the following tips and you may find yourself more clear headed after just two weeks: Challenge your brain.

Despite what you may have heard, real men do stretch. This misunderstood exercise provides several health and fitness benefits. However, research and guidelines about stretching are often conflicting, leaving many men confused about whether to include it in their fitness routine or not.

According to new research published in Psychosomatic Medicine, overweight and obese women are more likely to have antisocial personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, and extreme social phobia than their leaner peers. Dr. Jitender Sareen of the University of Manitoba and his colleagues suggest in their report that obesity in women could cause antisocial and paranoid personality disorders and vice versa.

Numerous studies have compared weather and pain in patients with chronic diseases, such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. The results are not always consistent, but one thing is clear: weather sensitivity exists along a continuum and is highly individual.

Million of women are going through "the change" and dealing with menopause symptoms that can last a long time. The four-to-six years leading up to your final period are called Perimenopause.  The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists  (ACOG) says, " Menopause happens around age 51, but every woman's body has its own timeline .

Since many of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus overlap, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose which disease is afflicting a patient. In fact, many patients go from one doctor to the next without getting a definitive diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are two different conditions, but both are autoimmune diseases that attack the body in a similar fashion.

Melanomas are the most serious type of skin cancer. However, melanoma also shows up in unusual places. Doctors often call them hidden melanomas because they are found in places you don't normally expect or check. Eye. Although rare, melanoma can occur in the middle of the three layers of the eye, called the uvea or uveal tract, which includes the iris (colored area), ciliary body (muscles that change size of pupil and shape of lens) and choroid (blood vessels that feed the eye).

Recognizing the warning signs of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, which takes the lives of more than 325,000 Americans each year, and getting help within the first few minutes of someone becoming ill can save the person's life. Although sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is often confused with a heart attack (myocardial infraction), the two events are different.

Over the years, red meat has been linked to many serious medical conditions, including heart disease, cancers and even age-related macular degeneration, a condition that leads to blindness. Research shows again and again that the more red meat you eat, the higher your risk of developing a chronic disease and the greater your risk of dying an early death.

It's been well documented that chronic high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can lead to a series of serious medical problems, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. Now, results from a study published in Neurology show that it may also cause memory problems-and raise the risk of Alzheimer's disease, an irreversible, progressive brain disease.

Would you like to inspire thousands by sharing your story? There are no better, more inspiring stories than those that are personal. At QualityHealth, we understand that you, our readers, have your own tales that are both unique and powerful, but most importantly, can serve as an inspiration to others.

The next time your child has a fever, there's no need to get heated up with concern. The experts say that an elevated temperature in a healthy child is usually nothing to worry about; it's simply the body's way of fighting off germs. Fever Facts Although most fevers aren't cause for you to lose your cool, when your child feels warm, you'll want to take her temperature to monitor the situation and know when it's time to call the doctor.

Whether you're removing hair from your legs or bikini line, there are several ways to ensure your results are as smooth as possible. Here, tips to keep your shave clean and free from irritation: Never shave dry skin. If you're not going to shave in the shower or tub, be sure to moisten your skin with hot water for at least 2-3 minutes before you pick up the razor.

Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) has been in existence for more than two decades.  Dr. Nambudripad herself suffered horribly from multiple allergies her entire life and therefore, began a quest to discover how to improve her health by eliminating allergies and to dramatically improve her quality of life.

It seems as though we just put away last year's holiday decorations, doesn't it? Nevertheless, it's that time of year again. The holidays are stressful under the best of circumstances. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, navigating the holiday season may feel overwhelming.

It's very tempting to go back with a previous partner. After all, there might be very good reasons why you were attracted to this person in the first place as well as very understandable reasons why you broke up. But can you really re-kindle old love?  Unfortunately, there is no right answer for everyone.

Didn't we just put away the holiday decorations, make New Year resolutions and resume our normal, everyday lives? Believe it or not, it's that time of year again. Chances are you've had a challenge or two navigating your relationship through the (sometimes) stormy holiday season without springing a few leaks.