November 8-14, 2013 - Original Health Articles

For people who have tried—perhaps multiple times—to quit smoking, the electronic cigarette may seem like the answer to a prayer. The cigarette, which is not lit but battery operated, uses an atomizer that heats a mélange of liquids, nicotine, and flavorings into an inhaled mist.

If you or a loved has received treatment for cancer, you've probably heard the term "chemo brain". It's a non-medical expression patients use to describe cognitive difficulties they experience during and after cancer treatment, especially chemotherapy.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects 500,000 Americans. A major complication of Crohn's disease is the development of fibrosis. That's when the bowel lining hardens and thickens and causes the intestine to lose its mobility.

Arthritis is the all-encompassing name for more than 100 different types of rheumatic diseases and conditions that share similar symptoms affecting various joints and organs in the body. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that approximately 50 million people in the United States are living with some form of arthritis, making this crippling disease the country's most common form of disability.

Matt Iseman, a comedian, television actor, and former physician, was just 31 years old when he developed rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that affects 1.3 million individuals in the United States. The diagnosis turned his world upside down at first, but he never lost his positive outlook—or his passion for making people laugh.

Even if you've never heard of phytonutrients, chances are you eat them every day. And chances are that you probably should eat more of them. That's because phytonutrients are the organic compounds found in plants that are believed to enhance and promote wellness.

Chances are that you already sprinkle cinnamon on toast or add it to oatmeal. If you have diabetes, you may want to consider consuming even more of this sweet spice. New research suggests that taking cinnamon supplements may help improve blood sugar levels, according to a study in the Annals of Family Medicine that was reported on in LiveScience.

How well do you recognize and empathize with other people's emotions? The answer could be an important indicator of your emotional intelligence, which may be affecting the level of satisfaction you experience in your life. While in the past intelligence...

When you look in the mirror and one or both of your eyes has a pinkish, swollen look, you could have a condition called conjunctivitis, which is commonly referred to as "pink eye." The Different Types of Pink Eye There are different forms of pink eye and most them look pretty similar, but there are some subtle differences, explains Linda Hsueh, MD, an ophthalmologist affiliated with Summit Medical Group in New Jersey.

Asthma has many potential triggers, and if you've suffered from the condition for a while, you may be well aware of what makes you wheeze. And while taking your asthma medication on a regular basis can go a long way toward minimizing attacks, there is more you can do to keep the condition at bay.

In the past, allergy injections were typically reserved only for people who had tried extensive environmental measures and medication therapy without success. Today, though, many allergists are willing to use allergen immunotherapy right at the start for people with persistent symptoms.

If you've recently been diagnosed with cancer, you may be feeling stressed and anxious about the future. Kevin Stein, PhD, managing director of the Behavioral Research Center for the American Cancer Society says it's common to be overwhelmed with the process of working with your doctor to determine what course of treatment to take.

A serious car accident; the death of a family member; a natural disaster or an act of terrorism are all traumatic events. But sometimes more commonplace experiences, such as getting lost as a child or having surgery, can have just as strong of an impact on your psyche.

The latest research reveals that when mindfulness meditation is used in conjunction with psychotherapy and medication, it can be an effective technique to manage depression. As the name implies, mindfulness meditation involves becoming aware of the moment without judging the experience—just accepting it for what it is, explains Linda Wasmer Andrews, MS, author of several books about depression and meditation.

If you've recently been diagnosed with cancer, you may be tempted to keep this information private. The desire for secrecy is a common one, and there are many reasons for it. Some patients "are in denial, don't want to face their fears or mortality, and are afraid of the pitying looks they'll get from people," says Carole Lieberman, MD, a Beverly Hills-based psychiatrist.