July 1-7, 2009 - Original Health Articles

Do you ever notice a connection between what you eat and when your asthma kicks in? If so, you could be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is also called GERD or acid reflux. Doctors today seem to recognize a strong link between asthma and reflux, making it important to treat both conditions when they occur hand-in-hand, in order to relieve discomfort and also to help you to breathe better.

Your body's immune system is your natural defense system, fighting off thousands of attacks daily.  While research reveals the important role that nutrition plays in improving immunity, there's still much to learn.  Phytochemicals, which are beneficial compounds found in plant foods, probiotics and omega-three fatty acids all seem to play leading roles in boosting immunity.

Marriage is scary.  We're too good at hiding our fears, feelings and secrets from our partners—and ourselves.  So, it's no wonder so many people are putting off finding a mate until later in life. There is no guaranteed list of do's and don'ts about making a wise choice, but relationship research provides some sound advice.

You've heard of being allergic to dust, pollen and pets, which are common triggers that can make you sneeze, cough and feel miserable. But did you know that even modern technology can be to blame for causing your allergies to kick in? Some people today who are reliant on the latest technological items such as iPods and cell phones are finding out the hard way that they are actually allergic to these favorite devices.

Looking for the secret to a better quality of life, or longer life? Some of us think the answer lies in a bottle of herbal pills, a better diet, or more aerobic exercise. Few of us would think sex could have the same benefits. But according to research, sex does much more than satisfy desire - it can have a significant impact on your health and increase your lifespan.

It's understandable that a chronic illness such as Crohn's can make you feel depressed. The occasional blue days are normal and we all experience them from time to time. When depression becomes severe or prolonged, however, it can negatively affect symptoms caused by other existing illness, such as Crohn's disease.

What if you could go back in time to those carefree days before you had to worry about bladder control issues? While you can't really turn back the clock, you can try a new technique that may help relieve some of those bothersome symptoms. GelniqueTM  is the first topical gel recently approved by the U.

Most of us want to feel chosen, connected and cared for. Unfortunately, it's easy to be fooled into thinking you are falling in love, and one of the sure ways to cloud your judgment about your new partner is having sex too soon.  Here are the top reasons how a hasty decision to have sex endangers your relationship health.

Few feelings in the world can top the sheer exhilaration of finding your other half or soul mate. But unlike the blissful Hollywood portrayals, romance isn't always all it's cracked up to be. In real life, love can be challenging and difficult. Has your relationship taken a few wrong turns? These six couple-saving strategies can help you get your love life back on track.

The benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are complex and confusing. HRT, used to relieve symptoms of menopause, was the subject of the famous Women's Health initiative, a large-scale study that was halted in 2002 when HRT was shown to increase a woman's risk-and delay diagnosis-of breast cancer.

The procedure to remove both breasts is called contralateral (the corresponding part on the opposite side) prophylactic (preventative) mastectomy. Women choose prophylactic mastectomy to reduce their risk of, and their fear that, they will develop cancer in their other breast.

What is secondhand smoke? Secondhand smoke comes from two sources: the smoke exhaled by a smoker, and the smoke given off by the actual cigarette as it burns. Inhaling secondhand smoke is also called passive or involuntary smoking. Like Reeves, approximately 10 percent of men and 20 percent of women with lung cancer never smoked.

We have nearly eradicated many serious and deadly diseases such as measles, mumps and polio thanks to the widespread use of vaccines. Researchers are now working hard to also developing vaccines to treat or prevent cancer. If you or a loved one has cancer, or you are at higher risk for developing cancer, here's the low down on cancer vaccines.

Do you believe you can write your way to better health? Scientists say that writing in a journal confers numerous, documented health benefits-one of which can be quitting smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, only four to seven percent of people who try to quit smoking on any given attempt are successful without medications or some form of help.

The sensation you feel in your stomach, behind your breastbone, or in the back of your throat is unpleasant. You know it has something to do with the digestive system, but it's difficult pinpointing the exact location and the exact sensation. Which makes determining the exact cause of your digestive problems difficult.

People who practice Complimentary and Alternative Medicine have long used probiotics to treat various illnesses. Recently, however, they have been in the limelight, especially by manufacturers touting the health benefits of foods that contain probiotics.

You do almost everything to maintain healthy hair: You wash and condition it regularly, you stay away from blow dryers, curling irons, and all manner of other heat-styling devices, you neither perm nor bleach it, you use a scrunchie rather than an elastic when pulling it up into a ponytail, you wear a bathing cap when swimming, you've even invested in satin pillowcases and a boar-bristle brush.

In the quest for ever-lasting beauty, Americans spend about $1 billion a year on assorted creams that claim to provide a fountain of youth in every bottle. And some charge dear for this service: ReVive Intensite Volumizing Serum is perhaps the most expensive at $600 per fluid ounce.

People with diabetes are cutting back on care during the recession, according to an analysis conducted by the Associated Press (AP). The report indicates that diabetics have been going without doctors' visits, blood-sugar testing, insulin, and other medicines as they lose income and health insurance in these tough economic times.

Intensive insulin therapy assists people with diabetes to achieve tight control of blood sugar levels. As a result, it reduces several diabetes complications, and helps to improve long-term health. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) revealed the impact this treatment has on diabetes.

Over the last decade we've gained more insight into the diabetes and menopause connection. Menopause is a natural process women go through and is marked a reduction in estrogen and progesterone. The process ends when you have your last period. The transition can last for 10 years and familiar symptoms include hot flashes, irregular periods and mood swings.

Last year a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed a new link between diabetes, obesity and being overweight. For years health professionals have warned about the adverse effects of a high body mass index (BMI) on the body, which includes insulin resistance that leads to type 2 diabetes.

One of the worst aspects of acid reflux is that it can occur at any time-on the way to work, while eating lunch, during a workout, in the middle of the night. But there is good news: you have the power to control your symptoms. Consistent acid reflux relief is possible.

If the naysayers had their way, we'd still be living in caves, our greatest technological achievement being the mastery of fire. A recent target of the doubting Thomases is the idea of a polypill, the nickname of a heart medication that combines aspirin with a cholesterol buster and blood pressure medicine.