Your Health from Creators Syndicate

Weighing in Can Bring You Down for 09/11/2010

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Like most Americans, I have accumulated an assortment of household gadgets, electronic doo-dads and appliances over the years. I appreciate the fact that most of them make my life far easier than it might be otherwise.

I enjoy using these modern marvels of technology, with the notable exception of my bathroom scale. It has caused me more anguish than my vacuum cleaner, my electric can op ...

Updated: Sat Sep 11, 2010

Cranberry Juice May Help Ward Off Urinary Tract Infections for 09/04/2010

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

If you're plagued by urinary tract infections, you're in good company. Infections of the kidney and bladder send over 8 million Americans scurrying to their doctors' offices every year.

The infections typically occur when bacteria, called Escherichia coli, invade the urinary tract and set up housekeeping along the walls of the bladder or kidneys. Although the urinary system is routinely ...

Updated: Sat Sep 04, 2010

Baby's Umbilical Cord Blood May Provide Lifesaving Treatments for 08/28/2010

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Couples expecting a new baby will face dozens of important decisions and a seemingly endless to-do list.

Expectant parents will choose an obstetrician or midwife, a birth center and a car seat for their child. They'll spend hours haggling over baby names, preparing the nursery, shopping for baby clothes and stocking up on diapers and other newborn essentials.

One of the most crit ...

Updated: Sat Aug 28, 2010

New School Year Brings Rise in Head Lice Cases for 08/21/2010

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

As children return to the classroom for the beginning of a new school year, their risk of acquiring head lice increases dramatically. The incidence of head lice infestation peaks shortly after school starts, particularly among younger children.

Each year in the U.S., approximately 6 to 12 million children between the ages of 3 and 12 get head lice infestations.

Although it's entir ...

Updated: Sat Aug 21, 2010

Minor Memory Lapses Could Signal CRS Syndrome for 08/14/2010

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Sooner or later, it happens to everyone. Sometime in our mid- to late 40s, we succumb to CRS (Can't Remember Stuff) syndrome.

The condition is unavoidable, permanent and irreversible.

I've already been stricken. My husband, who suffers from a far more debilitating case of CRS syndrome, recently asked me a simple question.

"What was the name of that movie you made me wa ...

Updated: Sat Aug 14, 2010

Preventive Measures May Guard Against Hearing Loss for 08/07/2010

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

For many Americans, hearing loss is part of growing older. The condition affects approximately a third of U.S. adults ages 65 to 75, and nearly half of those over the age of 75.

Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, usually occurs gradually and affects both ears equally. In most cases, the condition is the result of damage to fragile sensory structures in the inner ear cal ...

Updated: Sat Aug 07, 2010

Seeking Shelter in Summer Storms Saves Lives for 07/31/2010

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

If your work or play takes you into the great outdoors this summer, there's a good chance that you may find yourself seeking shelter in a storm — and the lightning that accompanies it. In the U.S., lightning is the second most common storm-related cause of death, exceeded only by floods.

Lightning, defined as an atmospheric discharge of electricity, can travel from a thundercloud t ...

Updated: Sat Jul 31, 2010

Traveling This Summer? Be Prepared for Motion Sickness for 07/24/2010

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

If your summer vacation involves any type of travel, you may find yourself suffering from motion sickness. An estimated 90 percent of Americans will experience the condition at least once in their lives.

Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting information regarding movement from the eyes, the body and the inner ear. Motion sensors in your joints and tendons help your b ...

Updated: Sat Jul 24, 2010

Chemical in Plastic Poses Special Risk for Women With Hormone Imbalance for 07/17/2010

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

A chemical found in plastic household products may pose a significant risk to women with polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common cause of hormone imbalance in women of reproductive age and a leading cause of infertility in the U.S.

The chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA), is a known hormone disrupter present in a variety of polycarbonate plastic items used daily by most Americans. Familiar s ...

Updated: Sat Jul 17, 2010

Beetroot Juice May Be a Better Sports Drink for 07/10/2010

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

The best performance-enhancing beverages for seasoned athletes and weekend warriors may not be sports drinks, after all. If you're willing to experiment, you may find that you're able to exercise longer and recover more quickly after downing a glass of beetroot juice or even a cup of coffee.

The results of a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology showed that drinking beetr ...

Updated: Sat Jul 10, 2010

Monthly Injection May Boost Success in Treatment of Alcoholism for 07/03/2010

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

A once-monthly injection of an abstinence-promoting drug, known as Vivitrol, may help people suffering from alcoholism break the chains of addiction and reclaim their lives.

Alcoholism is a potentially deadly disease with staggering personal, social and economic costs. Nearly 18 million Americans currently abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent.

According to data published by the ...

Updated: Sat Jul 03, 2010

Refreshing Summer Fruits Offer Important Health Benefits for 06/26/2010

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Summer offers a perfect opportunity to enjoy a bounty of delicious, fresh fruits. Like other plant foods, fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidant compounds known as phytochemicals.

These health-promoting agents help protect plants from environmental hazards, including insects, fungi and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Although the human body isn't capable o ...

Updated: Sat Jun 26, 2010

Feeling Stressed? Time for a Nature Break for 06/19/2010

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

If you're like most Americans, you probably spend the vast majority of your time indoors, whether you're working, sleeping or watching television. Data published by the Environmental Protection Agency suggest that adults in the U.S. typically spend about 90 percent of their lives in some type of building.

All this time spent cooped up inside could be causing us to miss out on some import ...

Updated: Sat Jun 19, 2010

Treatment of Dry Mouth Can Boost Health and Happiness for 06/12/2010

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Unless you've ever suffered from dry mouth, you may take your saliva for granted.

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is more than just a minor annoyance. The condition can have a tremendous negative impact on an individual's health and happiness.

The healthy human mouth comes equipped with three major salivary glands, which exist in pairs and produce different types of saliva. H ...

Updated: Sat Jun 12, 2010

Ginger Spices Up Health for 06/05/2010

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Ginger does more than just add a snap of flavor to foods and beverages. For centuries, the root of the plant has been used as a remedy for a variety of illnesses ranging from the common cold to cancer.

The spice has long been prized for its potent anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, but scientific evidence to support these properties was scarce. In a recent study at the Univers ...

Updated: Sat Jun 05, 2010

Regular Exercise Still Important for Older Americans for 05/29/2010

Sat, 29 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

No matter how old you are, it's never too late to start exercising. In fact, if you're an older adult, stepping up your activity level is one of the best ways to improve your health.

Regular exercise is known to reduce the risk of developing many age-related diseases. In a study of older Americans, Harvard researchers found that regular physical activity can increase life expectancy, eve ...

Updated: Sat May 29, 2010

Natural Pheromones Can Enhance Romance for 05/21/2010

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Unless you've ever observed a sow rooting for a truffle, you might not fully appreciate the power of pheromones. One tantalizing whiff of the truffle scent transforms a normally placid creature into a love-crazed maniac.

In her frenzy to locate the object of her fascination, she will dig, root and wallow the earth — apparently oblivious to the effort and personal discomfort involv ...

Updated: Fri May 21, 2010

Problematic Gallstones May Require Surgery for 05/14/2010

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

You probably haven't given your gallbladder much thought, especially if it's never attacked you. You may go through life blissfully unaware of where your gallbladder lives or what it does.

But if your gallbladder suddenly turns on you, you'll undoubtedly find out exactly where it resides. If the pain of the attack is severe, you may not be able to think of anything else.

Your ga ...

Updated: Fri May 14, 2010

Eating Breakfast Boosts Weight Loss for 05/01/2010

Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

If you're skipping breakfast in an effort to slim down, it might be wise to rethink your weight-loss strategy. Studies show that folks who eat breakfast tend to be thinner and healthier than those who don't.

In a study of nearly 3,000 individuals enrolled in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), 78 percent reported eating breakfast every day of the week. All NWCR subjects had main ...

Updated: Sat May 01, 2010

Eating Breakfast Boosts Weight Loss for 04/30/2010

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700