One particular type of arthritis targets the joints and tissues around the large toe and foot. This form of arthritis is called gout and it can be quite painful. Attacks of gout can happen sporadically, but they usually occur soon after waking up or during the night.
To have a better ... Views: 755
Calcium is required in the body as an essential mineral. Its main use is I the bones and teeth to keep them strong. But when an excess amount of calcium is found within the body it can lead to a condition called hypercalcemia. In this case, when there is too much calcium, it can play an opposite ... Views: 678
The heart has many valves and chambers to allow blood to enter and be released in order for the body to work. Some major valves in the heart are the aortic valve, tricuspid valve and the mitral valve.
These valves play important roles and if there is a problem with one of them, it can affect ... Views: 798
What Is Urethral Stricture?
What is urethral stricture? Essentially, a urethral stricture is a constriction within your urethra, the thin tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. This is usually due to an inflammation of the urethra or scar tissue found within it. ... Views: 826
Vasospasm is a medical condition characterized by the gradual contraction of arteries that carry oxygenated blood. Abnormal contraction prevents normal blood flow affecting various parts of the body. A vasospasm definition will depend on the location it occurs in. For example, if it occurs in ... Views: 775
For decades researchers have studied the science of sleep. Sleep problems are common in North America, so the need to understand the suspension of consciousness is huge. Today, scientists say with confidence that sleep not only provides our bodies with the restorative rest it needs, it also ... Views: 1146
Regardless of religious denomination, many people attend some sort of service on a weekly or monthly basis. Religion is an important aspect in many lives and is a way to feel connected, not only to a higher power but also to each other.
Church services bring together people to pray and feel ... Views: 736
Ever been with a group of people and the next thing you know your stomach seems to be singing them all a song? It can be pretty embarrassing, but the truth of the matter is that our bodies make some pretty strange sounds.
Sometimes bodily sounds can indicate hunger or that you have to visit ... Views: 592
If you have ever watched a baby you may have noticed how they spit-up or drool quite a bit. Sure, it may look cute on an infant, but you wouldn’t want to see an adult doing the same thing. Saliva is one of those human functions which many of us find gross, but the majority may not even ... Views: 541
You may have been told that all those years of enduring loud noises is the reason your hearing may be going. But new research is offering some good news for those of us who are hard of hearing. Given our aging population, that’s a lot of us!
Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) ... Views: 531
You toss, you turn, and you close your eyes for a moment only to be suddenly awake. Not getting proper sleep can ruin your energy, mess with your emotions and greatly impact your health. But you've tried everything to get to sleep and still can’t get the proper shut-eye your body needs. Maybe ... Views: 594
Perfume, cologne, body washes and deodorant, all of these help to make us smell desirable. But even though we mask our natural scent with manufactured elixirs we still have a unique smell and it can reveal a lot about us.
4 amazing facts that our body odor reveals
Bug appeal
Read more ... Views: 783
Did you know that music can be used as a form of therapy? It’s true. Music therapy is often used to promote wellness, reduce pain, manage stress and overall improve quality of life.
Even if you haven’t taken a music therapy session, you may have noticed a change in yourself when you listen to ... Views: 723
We all love French fries, but deep down inside, we also know that they’re unhealthy in one way or another. And the first health concern is the use of partially hydrogenated oils. If hydrogenated oils are bad for health, then what’s the best oil for french fries? In this article, we will ... Views: 552
There are many reasons why someone would choose not to consume meat. If you’re currently a meat eater you may find it hard to believe someone may give up steak, sausage and other forms of meat. But indeed there are people who go by a vegetarian lifestyle which omits meat.
But is being a ... Views: 2157
To live a long healthy life, food plays a main role. We know that fast-food and too much sugar are bad for us, and lean protein and vegetables are ideal.
But there’s one food item that can actually reduce mortality – whole grains.
Although bleached and white breads are not good for us, ... Views: 609
Maybe you don’t live in an area that experiences hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanoes and so you’re probably not too concerned with climate change. But you should be.
You see all these natural disasters continue to affect your health. You may not have thought about it much but every time ... Views: 658
Whether you drank a fizzy soda too quickly, or swallowed too much air, these habits can lead to hiccups. Not only are hiccups annoying, sometimes they seem impossible to get rid of. The majority of the time hiccups are harmless, but new research suggests that hiccups may be a potential symptom ... Views: 460
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is my skin so oily?” Oily skin is the result of your skin’s glands secreting more sebum than usual, leaving the surface with a shiny and greasy appearance. So, what leads the sebaceous glands to produce excess sebum? The causes of oily skin range from a ... Views: 893
Our two kidneys are vital organs that perform many powerful functions. Most people know that they remove waste products and excess fluid from our body, but they also release hormones that regulate blood pressure, produce an active form of vitamin D, and control the production of red blood ... Views: 457
You may have been hearing more and more about Lyme disease as the summer presses on. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently put out a report indicating cases of Lyme disease are on the rise in certain parts of the U.S.
Lyme disease is an illness caused by being bit by a deer ... Views: 558
I’m sure you can relate to this. My parents want to stay in the house they’ve lived in for over 40 years – the house where my sisters and I grew up – as long as they can. It’s their home, the center point of family memories, holiday dinners in the dining room, cribbage games on the back porch, ... Views: 898
I’m sure you can relate to this. My parents want to stay in the house they’ve lived in for over 40 years – the house where my sisters and I grew up – as long as they can. It’s their home, the center point of family memories, holiday dinners in the dining room, cribbage games on the back porch, ... Views: 906
Sleep serves both physical and psychological functions. We all need sleep. Sadly, in our culture, work and social pressures don’t always allow us to get enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation reports that most Americans suffer from sleep deprivation. While many joke about it, Swedish ... Views: 382
ging is a big factor when it comes to vision loss. Getting older can lead to such vision-related ailments such as macular degeneration and cataracts. But new research shows that age might come secondary as a major cause to vision loss.
New research has linked socio-economic status to the wear ... Views: 504
The summer season has finally arrived and you’re likely looking for deliciously healthy fruits to enjoy in smoothies, juices or on their own. But with the large variety of fruits in season, how do you know which ones to choose from?
Let us introduce you to the stone fruit—this type of fruit ... Views: 622
Some of us merely eat when we’re hungry while others like to stick to a schedule (8 a.m. breakfast, 12 noon lunch, 6 p.m. dinner). Well, new research has come out showing that those who plan their meal ahead – and pack it themselves – eat healthier overall.
Schedule and pack meals to eat ... Views: 576
On the stage of life, our emotions tend to mimic classic theatre masks. Representing the division between comedy and tragedy, the masks are symbols of drama. Simply put, when something is funny, we laugh. When something is sad, we cry. These are typical reactions to an event or story. But, for ... Views: 486
Do you cringe when you hear your voice in a video or voicemail? Don’t feel ashamed because many of us react the same way. That playback of our voice sounds completely different, and most of the time we hate it. Even when friends and family assure us we don’t really sound like that, we can’t help ... Views: 643
If I were to ask you if you were healthy, you would answer based on how you’re currently feeling.
So if you weren’t coughing, sneezing, dizzy or have a headache, you would probably say you were quite healthy. But having symptoms to an illness isn’t necessarily the only way to measure your ... Views: 703
Nothing can ruin you summer nights more than getting bit by mosquitoes. Not only do they leave your skin itchy and irritated, but mosquito bites can carry some serious illnesses. If up until now you’ve accepted them as inevitable, you may want to reconsider and work harder to avoid bites from ... Views: 491
In my many years of practice, the number of times I’ve advised patients not to hold in their urine is countless.
Going to the bathroom when nature calls can be a nuisance when we’re busy or nowhere near the facilities, but it’s important. You’ve likely heard the same advice from a doctor, or ... Views: 786
For most people, it sounds strange to make yourself throw up. Indeed, self-induced vomiting can produce all sorts of harmful side effects, including dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, digestive disorders, and more.
Yet, if you are one of the 30 million Americans of all ages and genders ... Views: 4329
If you suffer from constipation, you probably don’t visit the washroom very often. If you don’t have constipation, or diarrhea for that matter, but visit the bathroom numerous times a day, it that normal?
When it comes to bowel movements it’s hard to know for sure what’s normal or not because ... Views: 745
Flu season is right around the corner, and those over the age of 65 have a higher chance of catching it than other age groups. For this reason, many seniors opt to get the flu shot, but if you’re like the many older adults who are on cholesterol-lowering statins, it may be ineffective.
Two ... Views: 1116
Latest findings suggest that women have better protection and are better defended against the flu compared to men. Estrogen is found to help ward of the flu virus which may explain why men experience the flu worse than women. Furthermore, the findings may help create more effective flu ... Views: 835
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can lead to infertility in women, but research suggests exercise and weight loss can help women regain fertility. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an endocrine system disorder affecting female fertility and reproduction. Ovaries become enlarged and small ... Views: 635
In the realm of sex it seems matters which affect men are more commonly talked about. For example, it’s men who have the little blue pill for sexual dysfunction, and nothing for women. But don’t worry ladies an option for women is now coming to light.
Women experience sexual dysfunction just ... Views: 582
In America, odds are you’re at risk of diabetes. That’s a fact. And what if your job was putting you at even higher risk for the disease?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 29.1 million Americans have diabetes. Of those, 8.1 million of them are undiagnosed, just ... Views: 724
As we age we experience many more aches and pains. Some may be a natural part of aging, while others may be the result of injury. But sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of the pain. When symptoms overlap it can make diagnoses more difficult. Take wrist pain for example. There ... Views: 1385
Eating yogurt at night snack will not make you feel full and give you a good dose of nutrients and some sleep-inducing amino acids such as tryptophan. So, having a serving of yogurt for dinner or at late at night may help you sleep better. To avoid the consumption of excess calories, you can opt ... Views: 554
Find yourself in the dairy aisle considering a good yogurt? The choices can be a little overwhelming – with extra-creamy and fancy fruit and coffee flavors – but one thing is for certain: Yogurt does a body good!
Yogurt is known as a superstar for digestive health, proteins, and new research ... Views: 545
Take a second to look at your feet and legs. How do they look? Do they appear to be swollen? If so, does this happen often? Swollen feet and legs are often overlooked as symptoms because we associate them with aging. But ignoring swelling could be detrimental to your health.
Diagnosing ... Views: 683
Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when menstrual periods end. It is a process that happens gradually and includes a lot of different symptoms, but recent research suggests those symptoms can be worse if you suffer from incontinence.
You are not truly in menopause until you have gone ... Views: 438
Does your morning routine involve reaching for a cup of fresh brew from your coffeemaker? For many of us it does. Nothing starts our mornings off better than a warm java that gives us a much needed jolt to get us moving.
Although the habit is routine and we don’t really think much about it – ... Views: 598
I’m sure at some point you’ve experience that burning sensation after a meal. It’s uncomfortable and also a nuisance, but you pop an antacid and that burning feeling fades away.
You may never have been too concerned about it before, maybe you just enjoyed food that was too spicy or acidic, ... Views: 524
There is a slew of health conditions which are plaguing Americans. From diabetes, to blood pressure these are just some health concerns wrecking havoc on the health of Americans. Some health concerns are related, so much so that if one area is unhealthy it can lead to additional health concerns. ... Views: 820
Take a moment to think about where you are currently dwelling. Is it a rural area with lots of green landscape and stress? Or is it a city dwelling with high-rise buildings and tons of traffic? Does your neighborhood have a high crime rate or is it more peaceful and calm? Why are we asking these ... Views: 670
More than half of senior Americans have prediabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Prediabetes puts people at a higher risk of developing diabetes because they have elevated blood sugar. The good news is that prediabetes does not have to result in type 2 diabetes as long as ... Views: 775
Diabetes affects roughly 29.1 million Americans, and with such a high prevalence most people think they know just about everything in regards to the disease. For example, you probably know diabetes is a condition that affects blood sugar. You also know diet and exercise are essential for proper ... Views: 959