December 8-14, 2011 - Original Health Articles

Considering a colon cleanse? You may want to think twice. According to a report published in the August 2011 issue of The Journal of Family Practice, colon cleansing can do more harm than good. Researchers at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C, analyzed 20 studies and found no evidence to support the purported benefits of colon cleansing.

If your asthma doesn't respond well to conventional treatment methods, the problem may not be with your respiratory system, but your breathing troubles could be caused by something similar called vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). Both conditions appear with the same types of symptoms: shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing.

Did you know that the kind of neighborhood you live in can have a direct impact on the health of your respiratory system? That's because lungs are one of the primary ways people's bodies interface with their surroundings, according to researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Your nose is congested and your head aches. Is it a bad cold or a sinus infection? It's often hard to tell the difference, but there are some telltale signs that can help you determine what's causing your symptoms. What is a Sinus Infection? When you have a cold that doesn't seem to get better, you could be suffering from sinusitis, which is another name for a sinus infection.

So you finally booked that vacation you've been dreaming about for years. But if you're traveling to a new place, it's important to remember that you will still be exposed to a range of asthma triggers, which is why it's a good idea to invest in a good travel insurance protection plan.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), defining what is a "lifestyle drug" actually is a subject of much debate. However, according to the NLM it's typically thought of as a drug taken to satisfy a non-medical or non-health-related goal.

What if you could stop your allergy symptoms from occurring without having to shut off your immune system's functioning? That's the goal of a new groundbreaking allergy treatment that's being developed by researchers from Notre Dame. The Promise of This New Allergy Treatment Most allergy treatments today work by weakening the immune system's reaction to allergens, which means that in the process of avoiding your allergy-related symptoms, your body may not be able to fight off other illnesses.

Does the itchiness that comes with eating an apple, peach, or carrot deter you from getting your necessary servings of fruit and veggies? If so, you may have oral allergy syndrome—or an allergy to fruits and vegetables. What's worse is that if you're also allergic to ragweed, grass, pollen, or birch, you're more likely to have this kind of allergy.

If your kitchen cabinets hold cans dating back to the last century and your freezer is home to unrecognizable lumps of ice-coated leftovers, you may be due for a crash course on food storage. Knowing where and how to store food is tricky. Some produce thrives in the refrigerator, while other types wilt and lose flavor.

Laboratory studies have found that the skin on an apple contains a substance that not only promotes muscle growth and prevents the loss of muscle that comes with aging, but may also lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides. In addition to vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other substances such as antioxidants and phytochemicals that are known to protect against cancer and other forms of chronic disease, apples contain a chemical called ursolic acid.

When you and your partner or significant other are happy together, your stress level plummets, and your heart thanks you for it. Conversely, a toxic relationship puts considerable stress and unhappiness on a couple, and their hearts can show the strain, experts say.

If you have Erectile Dysfunction (ED), getting your sex life back on track is probably a big concern. The condition often has a lot to do with lifestyle, experts say. "Erectile dysfunction is a subject that is near and dear to our hearts," says Carol Ash, a hospitalist at Meridian Health New Jersey in Red Bank, NJ.

Guys whose sex life isn't exactly red-hot may want to examine their diet as a possible culprit. Individuals who don't consume enough protein actually risk having a low testosterone level, according to recent research. And low levels of this important hormone can cause not just poor sexual function, but muscle loss, damage to bones, and reduced red blood cells, according to the research, reported by the BBC.

Becoming a dad has a definite sexual downside, research shows. Fatherhood causes a drop in testosterone, according to the study, which was reported in The New York Times. Researchers measured the testosterone levels of single men at the age of 21, and again some years later.

In a society obsessed with beauty, most of us don't want to stand out because of our appearance. Whether you have a physical deformity, or are just unhappy with some aspect of how you look, insecurities about your appearance can negatively affect your quality of life and mental well-being.

Sadness is the most universal and widely recognized symptom of depression. And, while sadness is a significant symptom in many cases, individuals can be clinically depressed without being sad. Depression vs. Sadness: What's the Difference? The criteria mental health professionals use to diagnose depression include the appearance a depressed mood or loss of interest in once enjoyable activities, plus at least four of these additional symptoms.

For many adults, there's nothing like a good, hot cup of coffee to get you going in the morning. Caffeine, the ingredient in coffee that helps to wake you, is the most widely used stimulant in the United States. Americans consume about 80 percent of their caffeine in coffee.

Are you wondering if you can make it through this New Year's morning without suffering from the dreaded party hangover? Whether you have a couple of glasses of wine or go for a hard boozing night of holiday revelry, a hangover can get you. According to experts, signs and symptoms of a hangover typically begin several hours after your last drink.

If you've ever been hit with the 3 p.m. sleepies (and who hasn't?), you may have been tempted to head to the nearest coffee bar for a caffeine infusion. But while java will give you a jolt, you have other pick-me-up options that may be less jarring to your system.

So you've got a high-school reunion coming up in three weeks, or a Caribbean vacation planned, or a wedding to go to. You absolutely have to drop 10 pounds immediately. There's nothing wrong with trying to slim down, but make sure you're doing it in a healthy way.