March 8-14, 2011 - Original Health Articles

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Watching television is old hat in most gyms. Even cardio machines equipped with individual screens and cable stations are routine. Now, many gyms are competing for clients by offering movie theater rooms.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Almost a quarter of a million Americans are diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma every year—and the number is growing. But what are the causes and warning signs? And what can you do to protect yourself? This kind of skin cancer may look like a red and scaly patch on your skin or a nodule.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Although it's one of the most common autoimmune diseases in this country, chances are you've never heard of Sjögren's syndrome. This condition occurs when a person's white blood cells damage the glands that produce moisture throughout the body.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Certain hormones send hunger signals to your brain that let you know when it's time to eat. Other hormones send signals that tell your brain you are full and it's time to stop. And just like the rest of your body, those hormones don't work as well when you don't get enough sleep.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common malignancy in postmenopausal women in the U.S. and the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death. Like so many cancers, it's highly treatable when caught early; however, few symptoms make it difficult to detect until it becomes advanced.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! If you've got something to say, and you're saying it while you're asleep, you're a member of a select group of adult sleep talkers. Although little is understood about sleep talking, researchers and medical experts agree that it is rarely more than a fleeting disturbance in the night.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! The memorable first word. The adorable first step. The gleaming first tooth. Unlike other firsts in your precious little one's life, the first time he uses the toilet isn't really a milestone at all.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Loose, bagged, home-brewed, or instant out of a bottle, tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. And, depending on the form it takes, it can also be good for you. Or not.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! The benefits of having great dental hygiene go beyond your teeth and gums. Researchers now believe your oral health can have an effect on how well your lungs will function. The Connection Between Oral and Respiratory Health You might not associate the health of your teeth with the strength of your lungs, but this correlation has been confirmed by a study included in the Journal of Periodontology in January 2011.

Do you ever enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, only to be marred by a headache, sneezing, rash, and other allergy symptoms? If so, you may be one of the millions of people coping with the effects of a wine allergy. Wine Allergy Findings Wine allergies affect about eight percent of wine drinkers today, but the good news is that scientists may have uncorked some new findings that could make it possible for you to drink red or white wine in the future without ill effects.

When Daylight Savings Time arrives, you can reset your alarm clock, your computer clock, and your wall clock, but it's not so easy to reset your internal clock.  The hormone melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland in your brain, regulates your sleep-wake cycle by responding to daylight.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Chances are you've experienced that unpleasant feeling of a sour, acid-like taste in your mouth. It can happen at the most inconvenient times, but is most common upon waking up in the morning and after eating fried, fatty, and greasy foods.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Have you ever stopped to take a deep breath (or two or three) in the midst of an anxiety-provoking situation? That's a smart move. Breathing is an effective way to tame the symptoms of anxiety.

While depression and other mental health disorders interfere in your quality of life, they are also highly treatable. Despire this fact, only about one in five people with depression receive adequate treatment. Minorities, especially Mexican Americans and African Americans, are even less likely to get the help they need.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Patients suffering with low back pain, sciatica, and herniated discs may want to ditch the smokes if they really want to get out of pain. The reason: cigarette smoking increases risks for developing herniated discs and low back pain.

Chronic pelvic pain isn't just a problem for women. Plenty of men suffer from it too. What are the common sources of pelvic pain for men and women?  It all has to do with what parts you have between your pelvic bones. The pelvis is a basin made from our two hipbones, sacrum and coccyx bones.

If sex hurts, a woman can find it hard to get into the mood for intimacy, her partner feels frustrated, and no one's happy. Discomfort during intercourse isn't uncommon, and, fortunately, there are effective treatments that can help you get your sex life back on track.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! It's one thing to take care of yourself. It's another when you're so self-focused that your partner is always taking a back seat while you do and say whatever you like without regard for his feelings.

Are you hoping to hear the pitter patter of little feet in the near future? If so, you may want to give some thought to the health of your sperm. It takes two to make a baby and you want to do your part to ensure your baby is healthy from day one. Sperm Did you know your body produces about 100 million sperm each day? A man has, on average, about 39 million sperm at any point in time, although sperm counts do typically decline as men age.

If you have unbearable intimate itching, you might have Lichen Sclerosus. This uncommon skin condition is usually a "girl thing," though men and children can get it too. Lichen sclerosus (LS) causes delicate skin in the genital area to become thin, whitened, wrinkled, and sometimes, unbearably itchy, primarily in postmenopausal women.

Regular exercise is a vital part of a life bestowing health, energy, and, if you're lucky, a chiseled set of abs. But occasionally, a guy finds himself face to face with some of the less savory aftereffects of a hard workout-namely, athlete's foot and jock itch.

"What was I thinking?" We've all uttered these words from time to time when we say the wrong thing, make a stupid decision, or engage in some other temporary lapse in judgment. Despite our tendency to joke away our gaffes, they can be quite embarrassing.

Despite all the medical advances of the last century, there comes a time when even the most cutting-edge care may not be enough to prolong a life. At this time, hospice care should be considered. But what exactly is hospice care and how does it differ from hospital care? And how do you make the decision to place your loved one into hospice? Broadly speaking, hospice care refers to specialized care for terminally ill patients.

If you're living with diabetes, the skin you're in needs extra TLC. Not only are diabetics more prone to skin infections, but dry, flaky skin is a problem, too. And while some areas are dry, other areas, like the armpits, can be too moist.   Here's advice from dermatologists on how to care for your skin:  Wash skin gently and pat it dry, says dermatologist Michele Green, MD, who has a private practice in New York City and works at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Chances are that when you worry about diabetic complications, kidney disease is at the top of your list. But diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease (also called microalbuminuria) in the United States. The disease damages these amazing organs, which function as filters in the body and remove waste products from the blood.

Children who drink milk every day at school may have a decreased risk of getting colon cancer later in life, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Researchers reported that those who consumed milk at school on a daily basis had a 30 percent lower risk of developing this cancer than those who didn't.

Radiation and chemotherapy can cause side effects that range from simply annoying to very serious. While most eventually disappear after treatment concludes, understanding and learning to cope with typical and unexpected side effects will help you better navigate the challenges of cancer treatment.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! Many people only discover they have cancer when something turns up on an x-ray, ultrasound, or other routine test. Unfortunately, the disease may then be in its later (and more difficult-to-treat) stages.

Since we've moved from an agricultural society to a commercial one, we have moved further from harvesting our own food products to relying on mass production to feed our families. And that means we have less insight into what we're eating. The agents that can cause food poisoning are almost too many to count.

If your four-legged friend sleeps with you at night, he could certainly be to blame for making you itch and sneeze. The Facts About Pet Allergies You might be surprised to know that it's usually not your pet's actual hair that sets your immune system into overdrive.

If ever a food could literally tingle your taste buds, it would be vinegar. Like many fermented foods—cheese, yogurt, wine, and pickles—vinegar's distinctive flavor is the result of a process called alcoholic fermentation, in which sugar is converted to alcohol (similar to wine or ale).

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! You've seen them: the coworkers who, during their lunch break, forgo the trip across the street to the local café and plow through lunch at their desks while never diverging from work.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! When Christine Pirello was diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia, her physician gravely told her she had three to six months left to live. She was only 26. A friend introduced her to Robert Pirello, who claimed he had a diet that could cure cancer.

According to experts, it's possible for indoor allergies to aggravate your airways. And while not everyone with asthma has allergies, there still exists a big overlap. For people with indoor allergies and asthma, common triggers such as dust mites, cockroach droppings, pet dander, and mold can certainly spark their symptoms.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! What if you suddenly found yourself in the throes of a severe allergic reaction-all alone? Would you know what to do and how to help yourself? If you're at risk for anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions), the experts say that the difference between life and death depends upon you following these crucial steps: Recognize the danger signs.

You may think you only need to worry about managing spring allergies once the snow melts away and the air gets milder. But the truth is that seasonal allergies can begin brewing while winter is still going strong. Seasonal Allergy Facts Experts from the National Jewish Health explain that trees already begin releasing pollen through their buds before you even notice any growth or flowering.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! If you're a middle-aged woman with high blood pressure, you're at an increased risk of heart attack. What can you do to lower your blood pressure (and your risk)? Why Middle-Aged Women Are at Risk "Having high blood pressure is not a good thing, especially for this age group," says Furqan H.

See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! If you suffer from arthritis pain, you know the toll it can take on all areas of your life—your work, your social life, and your family life. It may especially affect the quality of your relationship with your partner, since chronic pain can cause you to be more irritable and less receptive to intimacy.