First aid is medical care that is done right away at the site of the injury or illness. It may be done as a short-term treatment until emergency care arrives or it may be the only treatment you need. Examples of conditions you can treat with first aid include cuts … Read More
Colon cleansing is in fashion—and it’s a big business. You’ve likely heard people talking about having a colon cleanse as if they were going to a spa for a massage. But be very careful! There are no scientific studies that support any benefits from this practice—except for the bank accounts … Read More
You no doubt have found yourself tossing and turning at night, failing to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. If that sounds too familiar and happens too frequently, you may be suffering from insomnia. Any insomnia definition describes an inability to fall asleep. However, the condition—which effects an estimated 60 … Read More
If you’ve ever screeched to a halt to avoid an accident and felt your heart race and your breathing quicken, you’ve felt some of the effects of norepinephrine, a key player in the fight-or-flight response. But that’s not all norepinephrine does. This neurotransmitter (in the nervous system) and hormone (in … Read More
Forgetfulness—a part of aging as familiar as wrinkles and graying hair—can be a source of worry for many seniors. Is the growing tendency to forget words, recall names, or lose track of car keys normal... or is it an early sign of dementia? The good news is that in most … Read More
The pain, stiffness, and restricted movement that accompany arthritis may seem like a good reason to curl up in bed, but exercise is beneficial in mild-to-moderate arthritis. Arthritis exercise benefits include: Healing. Exercise increases blood circulation and oxygenation within joint tissue, promoting repair. Lower risk of complications. Exercise helps protect … Read More
We all dread the day when we hear that the flu is going around—and then start to feel the first strains cropping up somewhere in our body. Every time you sneeze, cough, or feel a tingle in your throat, you wonder, “Is it my turn?” If and when you do … Read More
An annual physical and a blood test go hand in hand. Blood tests can help a doctor to diagnose multiple medical problems and diseases, sometimes before a patient notices any of the tell-tale symptoms. Conditions such as cancer, liver disorders, diabetes, thyroid problems, anemia, blood cancer, heart disease, stroke, and … Read More
A relatively new classification of depression is known as persistent depressive disorder (PDD), or dysthymia. The dysthymia definition helps distinguish between people suffering from a single episode of major depressive disorder (MDD) and those whose depression lingers much longer. Dysthymia symptoms, while longer-lasting, are less intense than those associated with … Read More
Every year in the United States, 1.5 million people are diagnosed with diabetes, and it's the seventh-leading cause of death, according to the American Diabetes Association. Can diabetes be cured? Let's first consider the two main types: Type 1 (or juvenile) diabetesaccounts for 5 percent of all cases. Type 2 … Read More
