June 1-7, 2013 - Original Health Articles

Everyone experiences highs and lows in their moods over time, but if you're one of the 5.7 million people in the United States with bipolar disorder, the problem can be magnified. There are two main types of bipolar disorder. Bipolar I disorder causes extreme mania and/or depression, while bipolar II disorder causes milder shifts from hypomania to depression.

"Kind of a long-term assumption really is that once you have diabetes there's no turning back on it, and there's no remission or cure," said Edward Gregg, lead author on the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Reuters. However, the study reinforced the notion that following a healthy diet, maintaining a normal weight, and getting adequate exercise can help individuals manage their diabetes better.

In order to be healthy, we humans need a balance of macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and trace elements), phytochemicals (bioactive compounds in food), and water (to replenish fluids). Unfortunately, much of the food we consume today is deficient in these essential elements.

Super saver Dede Z blogs about getting a lot for a little at her website Savings in Seconds and says the best way to stretch your tight budget is by knowing when-and where-to get the best deals on items you're likely to need throughout the year. Here are Dede's top shopping deals for each month: January Put your New Year's resolution into action by investing in sporting goods like ellipticals, treadmills, and stationary bikes.

Practically speaking, a lot of the strength training we do at the gym isn't all that useful. Sure it makes individual muscle groups stronger (and you look leaner), but how often do you stand perfectly still and lift a gallon of milk a dozen times?  How often do you do isolated squats or perfectly formed lunges?  Probably not as often as you grab your suitcase and hoist it into the car or as often as you pick up the laundry and hulk it up the stairs.

As you may have noticed, when you tell someone you, or a close family member, have cancer, they begin to act in a different manner. It's not in your mind. The National Cancer Institute says talking with others about cancer is difficult. Communication can be easier—or harder—depending on the relationship before your illness.

To older adults, being able to eat at home can mean the difference between staying in their own homes as they age, or moving to a nursing home or assisted living facility.  If food preparation has become too difficult for an aging, but otherwise independent friend or family member, you can get help from local community agencies.

If your commitment to healthful eating is derailed for a day (or two or three), don't give up. Eating well is not an all-or-nothing proposition, and you can bounce back from some less than optimal indulgences with a little forethought and resolve. Remember that it isn't one day of bad eating that will harm you, but rather habitual bad eating.

You may be considering participating in a clinical trial, but have questions or concerns. Clinical trials are biomedical or health-related research studies in humans. Every current Parkinson's treatment is the result of earlier clinical trials with volunteer participants.

The sun is shining, the air is warm, and it's a perfect day to have a summer picnic. But if you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may find that your outdoor plans quickly lead to your worst symptoms. Summer Allergy Triggers Summer allergens can easily put a damper on your favorite summer activities.

Back pain is so common that 80 percent of the population experiences it at some point in life. While most people recover from their backache within a day or two, some people suffer with chronic back pain that in some cases is disabling. Now, scientists are discovering, that chronic lower back pain may be hereditary.

Those tiny pollen particles that float through the air? You know, the ones that cause itchy eyes and a runny nose if you suffer from seasonal allergies? They attach to the fibers in your clothes and continue to aggravate your symptoms—wherever you go.

While there's no evidence that drinking eight glasses of water every day is the perfect prescription for good health, it's a reasonable guideline for most people. Flavored waters can help you reach that goal. A wedge of lemon in your water is classic, but there are more creative ways to add fun and flavor to your drink.

If you've ever had a cold, you know the symptoms: Congestion, pressure, headache, mucus, and a clogged up feeling that leaves you miserable. For many people, those symptoms aren't limited to when they have a cold. Sinusitis affects almost 30 million Americans and some of them have it chronically.

Some of the most exciting research in diabetes management centers around the Artificial Pancreas Device System (APDS), an automatic blood glucose monitoring appliance, worn on the body, that will take the place of both a continuous glucose monitoring and insulin infusion pump used by everyone who lives with type 1 diabetes.

Ear folds, yellow bumps under your eyes, balding. These may look like the typical changes that come about as you get older, but a recent study by Danish researchers discovered that people who exhibit such visible aging could be at increased risk of poor cardiovascular health.

The word "arthritis" conjures images of old, gnarled hands and grandparents walking with canes, but arthritis isn't just a disease that affects the elderly. Young adults, teens and even children get arthritis too. To understand how arthritis attacks young joints and how to prevent it from becoming disabling, it helps to start with an arthritis primer.

You know the cliché—all things in moderation. It applies to all kinds of activities, but nothing more so than with what we eat and drink. But is it true? Can you eat all things in moderation? And what does moderation mean anyway? For most of us, the word moderation means it's OK to have something (say, a steak, ice cream or BBQ chips) once in a while.

Being well and staying fit isn't just about eating fewer calories. It's important to make sure that the calories you consume are working for you, providing the most nutritious bang for the buck. In other words, you want the maximum amount of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and essential fatty acids for the fewest calories.

If you have arthritis in your hands, you know how difficult it can be to pick things up and hold onto them. Hand arthritis can make everyday activities like opening a jar, holding a pen, and turning a key in a door difficult and painful. Assistive devices and specially designed products help make some of these tasks easier and, according to Dr.

Pizza—who doesn't love it? Whether it's ordered by the pie or the slice, it's a delicious, convenient, inexpensive staple of the American diet from small towns to big cities and everywhere in between. But as countless people know, too many trips to the local pizza parlor can take a toll on your waistline.

Mononucleosis, a.k.a., the kissing disease, is more prevalent in children and teenagers. But kissing isn't the only cause of this infection, and its flu-like symptoms may delay a diagnosis. There is no cure for mononucleosis, and self-treatment is usually the only way to manage most cases.

Whether your challenge is impaired mobility or you're just deconditioned and out of shape, you can still improve muscle strength. In fact, if you're living in a wheelchair or have difficulty getting around, maintaining and gaining muscle mass and strength is crucial for your overall health and safety.

Can your sense of smell play a role in the amount of food you eat-and whether you gain weight if you eat those foods? Scent and Satisfaction There are many reasons why we eat the way we do. One strong eating trigger is the smell of food: research suggests that the more aroma a food has, the more flavorful it is perceived to be—and an intense aroma may suggest that just a small bite of that food will be satisfying.

Running late again? You're certainly in good company: more than 20 percent of Americans are chronically late, according to a study from San Francisco State University. Time management problems affect people of all ages, professions, and ethnic groups.

Nearly everyone has a friend who would never skip their Sunday morning Zumba® class for brunch with the girls. But that's not you. In fact, you loathe the idea of logging miles on a treadmill at the gym or stretching your hamstrings in downward dog at the local yoga studio.

Few things in life can compare to the joy you get from becoming a grandparent. "I've heard it said that you love your children, but fall in love with your grandchildren," says Vicki Panaccione, PhD, a child psychologist and "The Parenting Professor" at the Better Parenting Institute.