Health Bite

2006-03-17T11:29:00.000+08:00

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Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation

2006-02-14T10:27:00.000+08:00

I feel so sorry to heard that one of my friend's mum in ICU yesterday. In fact, her condation is quite bad that may due to allergy. There are blisters all over her body which made me hard to imagine...

Let's pray together for those poor sufferers.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation

Glaucoma and Your Eyes

2006-02-10T17:29:00.000+08:00

Glaucoma is an eye condition that develops when too much fluid pressure builds up inside of the eye. It tends to be inherited and may not show up until later in life.

The increased pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to the brain. If damage to the optic nerve from high eye pressure continues, glaucoma will cause loss of vision. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total permanent blindness within a few years.

Because most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain from this increased pressure, it is important to see your ophthalmologist regularly so that glaucoma can be diagnosed and treated before long-term visual loss occurs.

If you are over the age of 45 and if you have a family history of glaucoma, you should have a complete eye exam with an ophthalmologist every one to two years. If you have health problems such as diabetes or a family history of glaucoma or are at risk for other eye diseases, you may need to visit your eye doctor more frequently.

Macular Degeneration Risks and Smoking

2006-02-09T12:39:00.000+08:00

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that affects more than 1.65 million Americans over the age of 50, has no cure. Although several new promising medications are currently being tested, those who have been diagnosed can only treat the symptoms.

However, recent studies have shown that one way to reduce the risk of developing AMD is by not smoking. A study published in the British Medical Journal from the University of Manchester found that smokers were three to four times more likely to develop AMD than non smokers. And, non smokers living with smokers almost double their risk of developing AMD.

Fortunately, the research also showed that former smokers who had quit for over 20 years had the same risk level of those who had never smoked. Smoking impairs the effects of antioxidants, which then damage the retina.

In a recent survey commissioned by AMD Alliance International, only 32 percent of respondents who had heard of AMD were aware of the link between AMD and smoking. In addition to AMD, smoking has been linked to increases in the cases of cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Macular Degeneration Risks and Smoking

Cataract: What you should know

2006-02-08T00:10:00.000+08:00

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.

The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.

The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.

Allergies and Your Eyes

2006-02-07T09:19:00.000+08:00

Similar to processes that occur with other types of allergic responses, the eye may overreact to a substance perceived as harmful even though it may not be. For example, dust that is harmless to most people can cause excessive production of tears and mucus in eyes of overly sensitive, allergic individuals. Eye allergies are often hereditary.

Allergies can trigger other problems, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye) and asthma. Most of the more than 22 million Americans who suffer from allergies also have allergic conjunctivitis, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Allergies and Your Eyes

Healthy Vision

2006-02-06T08:26:00.000+08:00

Eye disease and eye injury can destroy your vision

Preventive eye care is important to everyone. Certain eye conditions and diseases can destroy your and your family's healthy vision and can strike at any time in life. Below are suggested guidelines on when you and your family should have your eyes checked.

Infants and toddlers should be screened for common eye problems, such as strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye), during their regular pediatric appointments. Vision testing is recommended for all children starting at around 3 years of age.

Most children and teenagers have healthy eyes, but they still need to take care of their vision by wearing protective eyewear when playing sports, doing yard work, working with chemicals or taking part in other activities that could cause an eye injury.

Even young adults and middle-aged individuals can be affected by eye problems. They, too, should use preventive measures to protect their eyes from injury and should have a complete eye exam at least once between the ages of 20 and 29, at least twice between the ages of 30 and 39 and every two to four years between the ages of 40 and 65.

Seniors over age 65 should have a complete eye exam by their Eye M.D. every one to two years for cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions.

Healthy Vision

Breastfeeding your Child Effectively

2006-02-03T00:04:00.000+08:00

In most cases, breast milk is the most perfect food for your baby. It contains easily digestible proteins, many factors that support your new baby's immature immune system, and other factors that aid in digestion. It is also low in cost and requires no preparation.

Breast fed babies are also less likely to have colic, upper respiratory infections, ear infections, constipation, asthma or allergies.

Breastfeeding will also burn up almost 500 calories each day, helping mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner. And it also reduces the mother's risk for developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer later in life.

Breastfeeding your Child Effectively

Birth Defects Testing -- What is birth defects testing?

2006-02-02T00:01:00.000+08:00

Birth defects testing is done during pregnancy to look for possible problems with a fetus (the medical term for a baby before birth). Birth defects develop when something is wrong with genetic material an organ, or body chemistry. A birth defect may have only a mild impact on a child's life, or it can have a major effect on quality of life or life span.

Birth defects include:

Genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome.
Inherited diseases such as Tay-sachs, hemophila, and cystic fibrosis.
Structural abnormalities such as heart defects and neural tube defects, including spina bifida.

Expectant parents can choose whether to have testing for birth defects. If you choose to have testing, you may want to seek genetic counseling with an expert trained to give you unbiased information about your risk of having a child with a certain condition. The counselor also can go over the reasons to have or not to have testing and provide other resources for support and decision-making.

Birth Defects Testing

Foods to Avoid during Pregnancy

2006-02-01T10:13:00.000+08:00

Eating well balanced meals is important at all times, but it is even more essential when you are pregnant. There are essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that your developing baby needs. Most foods are safe; however there are some foods that you should avoid during pregnancy.

What are the foods I should avoid during pregnancy?

Raw Meat
Deli Meat
Liver
Fish with Mercury
and more...

Foods to Avoid during Pregnancy

Pregnancy timeline

2006-01-31T08:51:00.000+08:00

"Pregnant? I am pregant! What should I do? How can I take care my little baby? What would the baby look like?" My friend was excited and shocked to ask us these questions when she just learnt that she will be mom soon.

Few days later, I found the 'Pregancy Timeline' witch is a weekly guide of prengancy. It talks about how the baby develops, changes to the mother's bady and key scan dates.

If you are in the same excited situation, check it out!

Pregnancy timeline

Advice for Moms-to-be

2006-01-30T12:51:00.000+08:00

As many new mothers can attest, the muscle strains of pregnancy are very real and can be more than just a nuisance. The average weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds, combined with the increased stress placed on the body by the baby, may result in severe discomfort. Studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers will develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies.1-3 This is especially true during late pregnancy, when the baby's head presses down on a woman's back, legs, and buttocks, irritating her sciatic nerve. And for those who already suffer from low-back pain, the problem can become even worse.

During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of her pelvis. Although a woman's sacrum-or posterior section of the pelvis-has enough depth to enable her to carry a baby, the displaced weight still increases the stress on her joints. As the baby grows in size, the woman's weight is projected even farther forward, and the curvature of her lower back is increased, placing extra stress on the spinal disks. In compensation, the normal curvature of the upper spine increases, as well.

While these changes sound dramatic, pregnancy hormones help loosen the ligaments attached to the pelvic bones. But even these natural changes designed to accommodate the growing baby can result in postural imbalances, making pregnant women prone to having awkward trips and falls.

Childhood obesity: What parents can do

2006-01-27T09:42:00.000+08:00

Obese children get a head start on health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, often carrying these problems into an obese adulthood. If this trend continues, obesity may soon top smoking as the nation's most preventable cause of death.

The reasons for a child's obesity are complex. But the most common factors combine too much screen time — including television, computers and video games — with too much junk food. And the best solution is to reduce your entire family's intake of both.

Don't single out the overweight members of your family for lifestyle changes. Eating healthier foods and getting more exercise is good for everybody. Children tend to mimic their parents, so it pays to be a good role model. If you don't want your children eating french fries, don't eat them yourself. Play basketball with the kids after dinner, or take a family walk. Organize family outings that involve physical activity — such as bike riding, skating or hiking.

Review of Popular Weight Loss Diets

2006-01-26T22:48:00.000+08:00

The following review examines the advantages and disadvantages of several popular diet plans. Most of the diets are based on low-carbohydrate approaches. These hotly debated low-carbohydrate diets were subject of a recent study in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" that found more research is needed on the safety and efficacy of such plans. The article analyzed hundreds of published studies about low-carbohydrate plans and found a lack of scientific evidence for or against the diets. "It is also important to note that in most of the studies contained in the analysis, weight loss occurred when study participants were on diets for longer periods, and when they ate fewer calories," according to a statement by Robert H. Eckel, a physician and chair of the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism Council.

Keeping that in mind, let's look at a few popular diets, and go through some of the pros and cons, and the theory behind their potential effects.

Obesity (Weight Loss)

Weight Loss and Obesity

2006-01-25T10:32:00.000+08:00

Improve your chances of losing weight and keeping it off with four realistic changes:

Ignore fads
Don’t just diet
Keep a food journal
Control portions

Self-care for weight loss and obesity can be approached in a number of ways—but it can be hard to know just where to start. To make it easier, our doctors recommend trying these simple steps first:

Find a diet that fits
For long-term success, choose a healthy diet that you can stay with

Find support
Improve your chances for long-term weight loss by joining a group while you adjust to new diet and exercise habits

Create a custom exercise plan
Exercise you truly enjoy is that much easier to stick to, so find activities that fit your personal style, fitness level, and work-out opportunities

Get a boost from pyruvate
Combining exercise with 6 to 10 grams a day of pyruvate may help speed up your metabolism

Try 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)
Taking 600 to 900 mg a day may help curb your appetite

Aim for total nutrition with a multivitamin-mineral supplement
Extra vitamins and minerals will help ensure your body gets the nutrition it needs, especially if you are avoiding certain foods

Weight Loss

How dose Obesity affect health?

2006-01-24T10:26:00.000+08:00

There are many physical problems related to obesity, including back problems, skin problems, breathing difficulties, pain in the knees and other joints that have to take the weight (see illustration above). Obese people are more likely to have high blood pressure and diseases related to hardening of the arteries. Obese people are at a far greater risk of developing non-insulin dependant diabetes, gallstones, some types of cancer and an overall increased risk of dying prematurely.

Obesity

Overweight and Obesity: Defining Overweight and Obesity

2006-01-23T13:15:00.000+08:00

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

Definitions for Adults

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.

An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

See the following table for an example.

Height	Weight Range	BMI	Considered
5’ 9”	124 lbs or less	Below 18.5	Underweight
	125 lbs to 168 lbs	18.5 to 24.9	Healthy weight
	169 lbs to 202 lbs	25.0 to 29.9	Overweight
	203 lbs or more	30 or higher	Obese

It is important to remember that although BMI correlates with the amount of body fat, BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though they do not have excess body fat. For more information about BMI, visit

Overweight and Obesity

Aspirin Benefit Differs for Men, Women

2006-01-20T16:30:00.000+08:00

Low-dose aspirin has a different cardiovascular benefit for women than it does for men, but the risk to both sexes is the same, according to new findings.

It has been shown that people who have had a heart attack can benefit from low-dose aspirin. But there's ongoing debate over who -- if anyone -- should take aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.

New information comes from an analysis of data collected in six large clinical trials. In those trials, more than 51,000 women and more than 44,000 men took daily aspirin tablets or inactive placebo pills. None of the men and women had previously had heart disease.

Aspirin Benefit Differs for Men, Women

Take Medication safely

2006-01-19T10:11:00.000+08:00

Drug mix-ups kill thousands of people every year.

Here's how to protect yourself.

In November 1999, the Institutes of Medicine released a report that focused public attention on widespread medical errors. Quite often, these errors are drug related and are fairly mild and resolve. Unfortunately, some adverse reactions are severe. Researchers had found that each year some 44,000 Americans die as a result of such errors.

Although not every possible mishap is within your control, there are plenty of ways to help keep yourself safe from harm — both in and out of the hospital.

Presbyopia--Aging and Vision

2006-01-18T11:25:00.000+08:00

As we age, the lens of the eye becomes increasingly inflexible, making it increasingly harder to focus clearly on near objects. This is called presbyopia. No one knows exactly what causes the lens to become inflexible, but it happens to everyone as a natural part of aging.

In order for us to see images clearly, light rays enter the eye, where the lens bends and focuses the rays on the retina. The lens changes shape to allow the eye to focu on objects at different distances. Beginning early in life — perhaps as early as age 10 — our lenses gradually stiffen and begin to lose the ability to change shape. By the time we are in our 40s, the lens has trouble focusing on close, and we begin to experience blurred vision when we try to do tasks that require up-close focus, such as reading or needlework. The lens continues to stiffen until about age 65, when nearly all its flexibility has been lost.

Healthy Aging for Older Adults

2006-01-17T00:32:00.000+08:00

Nearly 40% of deaths in America can be attributed to smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, or alcohol misuse-behaviors practiced by many people every day for much of their lives. Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or control the devastating effects of many of the nation's leading causes of death regardless of one's age.

Regular physical activity greatly reduces a person's risk from dying of heart disease, and decreases the risk for colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Physical activity also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and can decrease the need for hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications. Finally, physical activity does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial; people of all ages benefit from moderate physical activity. However, people tend to be less active as they age. By age 75, about one in three men and one in two women do not engage in any physical activity

Healthy Aging for Older Adults

Aging: What to expect as you get older

2006-01-16T16:42:00.000+08:00

Looked in the mirror lately only to find a few more wrinkles and gray hairs? Those are just a few of the changes you're likely to notice as you get older. But what exactly is going on with your body? Here's what you can expect as you age.

Regardless of how long you live, time takes a toll on the organs and systems in your body. How and when this occurs is unique to you. Some typical changes to expect as you age include Cardiovascular system
Bones, muscles and joints
Digestive system
Kidneys, bladder and urinary tract
Brain and nervous system
Eyes
Eare
Teeth
Skin, nails and hair
Sleep
Weight
Sexuality

Aging: What to expect as you get older

Common Health Problems in College Students

2006-01-13T21:58:00.000+08:00

Do you still remember those problems ever happened to you or happening now? Illnesses like colds, the flu, and sore throats are hard to escape while in college. With students living together in dorms and apartments, eating together in large cafeterias, and sitting together in classrooms, these respiratory infections spread easily. Washing your hands often will help you avoid these illnesses. Dust allergy and exposure to cigarette smoke will make you more likely to get cold symptoms.

How you treat a respiratory infection will depend on whether it is caused by bacteria or a virus. Colds and flu are caused by viruses. There is really nothing you can do to get rid of them quickly—the most you can do is rest, drink a lot of fluids, and treat the symptoms. How can you tell a cold from the flu? Colds usually cause milder symptoms than the flu. Coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, and mild fevers are common cold symptoms. The flu, on the other hand, is more serious. You will probably have a fairly high fever, body aches, and a dry cough with the flu. You may also have an upset stomach or vomit.

Common Health Problems in College Students

All About Menstruation

2006-01-12T21:42:00.000+08:00

When girls begin to go through puberty (usually starting between the ages of 8 and 13), their bodies and minds change in many ways. The hormones in their bodies stimulate new physical development, such as growth and breast development. About 2 to 2 1/2 years after a girl's breasts begin to develop, she usually gets her first menstrual period.

Menstruation (a period) represents a major stage of puberty in girls; it's one of the many physical signs that a girl is turning into a woman. And like a lot of the other changes associated with puberty, menstruation can be confusing for girls (and guys). Some girls can't wait to start their periods, whereas others may feel afraid or anxious. Many girls and guys don't have a complete understanding of a woman's reproductive system or what actually happens during the menstrual cycle, making the process seem even more mysterious.

All About Menstruation

Kids and Smoking

2006-01-11T13:49:00.000+08:00

The health risks of tobacco are well known, yet the rates of smoking and the use of chewing tobacco continue to grow. Many people are picking up these habits when they are young - in fact, 90% of all adult smokers started when they were kids. And each day, more than 4,400 kids become regular smokers.

So it's important to make sure your child understands the dangers that go along with using tobacco. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States and other countries as well. It can cause cancer, heart disease, or lung disease. Chewing tobacco (smokeless or spit tobacco) can lead to nicotine addiction, oral cancer, gum disease, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks.Thus, talk about smoking and future with your kids today.

Nutrition Guide for Teens

2006-01-10T09:01:00.000+08:00

Do you know what kind of food would benefit teens? This colored sections stand for the food groups and how much you need from each group. Orange is much wider than yellow because you need plenty of grains each day, but should limit how much oil/fat you have. The reason why all these colors are there is because you need to choose a variety of foods from each group. Don’t forget about red just because you love purple foods! Finally, the figure going up the steps is a reminder to get regular exercise.

The food guide calls for eating a variety of foods to get the nutrients you need and the right amount of calories to keep a healthy weight. There are many ways to eat healthy every day, but they all start with getting plenty of grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Nutrition - The MyPyramid food guide

Teenagers: How to Stay Healthy

2006-01-09T14:54:00.000+08:00

As a teenager, you have planty things to do, to learn, and to enjoy. So, a health body is essential to your life and future.

Do you know that 65% of all deaths in adults are caused by heart disease, cancer and stroke? In many cases, these diseases were preventable. Many of the behaviors that cause these diseases begin at a young age. For example, if you use tobacco as a teenager, you're more likely to get heart disease, cancer or stroke when you're an adult.

Avoid using any type of tobacco product. Try not to breathe second-hand cigarette smoke.
Get regular exercise.
Eat a healthy diet.
Always use your seat belt.
Don't drink and drive. Don't get into a car with a driver who has been drinking alcohol or using drugs.
Wear protective headgear, such as motorcycle or bike helmets when participating in sports.
Never swim alone.
Talk to your parents or your doctor if you're feeling really sad or if you're thinking about harming yourself.
Avoid situations where violence or fighting may cause you to be physically injured.
If you have sex, use condoms to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. (Remember, however, the "safest" sex is no sex.)
See your doctor regularly.

Wine and Health

2006-01-06T12:02:00.000+08:00

The medical profession has recognized the healthful and nutritive properties of wine for thousands of years. Hippocrates recommended specific wines to purge fever, disinfect and dress wounds, as diuretics, or for nutritional supplements, around 450 B.C. A French doctor wrote the earliest known printed book about wine around 1410 A.D.

Most of the pathogens that threaten humans are inhibited or killed off by the acids and alcohols in wine. Because of this, wine was considered to be a safer drink than much of the available water up until the 18th century.

Wine is a mild natural tranquilizer, serving to reduce anxiety and tension. As part of a normal diet, wine provides the body with energy, with substances that aid digestion, and with small amounts of minerals and vitamins. It can also stimulate the appetite. In addition, wine serves to restore nutritional balance, relieve tension, sedate and act as a mild euphoric agent to the convalescent and especially the aged.

Wine and Health

Coffee Health - Coffee Risk

2006-01-05T20:36:00.000+08:00

Despite 20 years of reassuring research, many people still avoid caffeinated coffee because they worry about its health effects. However, current research reveals that in moderation—a few cups a day—coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits. The September issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch weighs the pros and cons of this popular beverage and eases the concerns of moderate coffee drinkers.The latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption doesn't cause harm, it's also uncovered possible benefits. Studies show that the risk for type 2 diabetes is lower among regular coffee drinkers than among those who don't drink it. Also, coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance performance in long-duration physical activities.

Coffee Health - Coffee Risk

Tea -- Diet Detective

2006-01-04T21:21:00.000+08:00

Tea is the most-consumed beverage worldwide next to water. And according to the Tea Association, Americans consumed more than 50 billion servings of tea in 2004, or more than 2.25 billion gallons. About 87 percent was black tea, 12.5 percent green tea, and the rest was oolong tea. Whether you're a regular tea drinker or just starting out, here's what you need to know about tea.

Although it's hard to make a general comparison, a rough estimate suggests that two servings of tea equal one serving of your average antioxidant-packed veggie. Tea ranks among plants with the highest total flavonoid content.

Diet Detective

The Best Drinks For Dieters

2006-01-03T16:52:00.000+08:00

Water is an important topic, so today I’m revisiting the recommendations for healthy fluid replacement and explaining the recommendations that say just about everything you eat and drink daily can count toward your fluid requirements.

Are you drowning in advice about how much water you really need to drink to stay healthy? Most people think that it’s essential to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of H₂O daily, but many don’t accomplish that watery feat. So -- how much do you really need?

In addation, don't take the new report as an invitation to eschew water in favor of other beverages. As the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) noted, the NAS specifically did not make any intake recommendations or comment on the 8x8 guidance, at all. And the recommendations for women and men, 73 ounces and 100 ounces, respectively, actually exceed the previous general guidelines to drink 64 ounces. (Recommended fluid intake is 80 percent of 91 ounces or 73 ounces for women; 80 percent of 125 ounces or 100 ounces for men). 91 ounces is 11.3 glasses for women, and 12.5 glasses for the average man.

The Best Drinks For Dieters

Water: How much should you drink every day?

2006-01-02T12:04:00.000+08:00

How much water should you drink each day? — a simple question with no easy answer. Just as you are unique, so are your water needs. And how much water you need depends on m

any factors, including your health status, how active you are and where you live.

Though no single formula fits all people, several guidelines are available to help you estimate how much to drink each day. Delve into your daily fluid needs to learn how your body uses water and what factors may increase — or decrease — your water requirements.

Water: How much should you drink every day?

5 Healthy Holiday Foods

2005-12-30T19:00:00.000+08:00

On average, a traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner can contain more than 2000 calories. We often put our focus on what not to eat but there are still many nutritional goodies in our traditional dinner that we should not overlook.

Pumpkin - Pumpkin is rich in Vitamin A and also provides fiber. Pumpkin seeds are high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (the good fats). Pumpkin itself is quite low in calories - pumpkin pie becomes a high-calorie food only because it's often added with eggs, sugar, evaporated milk and baked in a high-fat pie crust. To make a lower-fat pumpkin pie, you may consider using an egg substitute, low-fat evaporated milk and sweeteners such as Splenda in your recipe.

5 Healthy Holiday Foods

Low-Carb Extra: The Best Beef Cuts

2005-12-29T18:56:00.000+08:00

This week, dear low-carb-loving carnivores, I’m delivering the beef. After a crazy year of wildly escalating prices and a mad cow scare, beef is still in demand and still expensive.

I discovered something interesting while checking out beef prices at Wal-Mart. Many of the packages had labels saying they contained an injected saline solution of 10 to 20 percent. I had heard of injecting Thanksgiving turkeys with saline, to plump them up and enhance the flavor, but had never heard of it being done to beef.

Turns out this has become an increasingly common practice at some grocery store chains during the past few years. As stores are moving away from in-house butchers to “case-ready” meat that comes prepackaged from a factory and ready to put in the cold case, beef (and pork and chicken) is routinely injected.

Low-Carb Extra: The Best Beef Cuts

Season's Pick: Carrots

2005-12-28T18:38:00.000+08:00

What's not to love? Carrots are delicious chomped raw and taste fabulous cooked on their own or in a range of dishes, from stews to baked goods. Versatility isn't their only strong suit—carrots are incredibly nutritious. It's no wonder people have been saying carrots are tops for 2,000 years.

Carrots are the roots of a plant from the parsley family. Most people are familiar with orange carrots, but there are also purplish-red, yellow and white varieties. In Asia, the Japanese carrot is three feet long or more. The name comes from the Latin carota. The ancient Greeks claimed carrots were a good stomach tonic.

For a long time, Americans often thought of carrots as snack food for horses rather than humans. But in the past 25 years, carrot consumption has nearly doubled.

Season's Pick: Carrots

Family matters - Children and sweets

2005-12-27T15:23:00.000+08:00

Children always seem to find chocolate, wherever you hide it, but there are certain times of year when they really don't have to look too hard. Easter eggs appear in the shops weeks before the holidays, birthdays bring boxes of sweets and as for December...

All year long parents nag about how sweets are bad for teeth, and struggle to limit the supply of chocolate. But come Easter and Christmas, chocolate eggs and advent calendars are whisked out of secret hiding places and sweets start to appear in little bowls strewn around the house.

But just how much damage can all those goodies do, and how can you persuade your children back to healthy eating habits?

Family matters - Children and sweets

Dietary fiber: An essential part of a healthy diet

2005-12-26T18:17:00.000+08:00

Eat more fiber. You've probably heard it before. But do you know why fiber is so good for your health?

Dietary fiber — found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes — is probably best known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation. But fiber can provide other health benefits as well, such as lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

If you need to add more fiber to your diet, don't worry. Increasing the amount you eat each day isn't difficult. Find out how much dietary fiber you need and ways to include more high-fiber foods into your meals and snacks.

Dietary fiber: An essential part of a healthy diet

Hints and tips on holiday health

2005-12-23T21:56:00.000+08:00

Holidays are supposed to relax, rejuvenate and refresh us. But what happens if you get sick? An upset stomach is the thing you're most at risk from, whether you're in Tromsø or Tuvalu - here's how to help make your holiday as healthy as possible.

* Before you go
* While you're there
* What to do if you do get sick

Let's think about what do we need to be prepared.

hints and tips on holiday health

Holiday Health Tips- Depression & Stress

2005-12-22T22:12:00.000+08:00

Holidays are times when people remember important and happy occasions and at the same time look forward to the future. But if there has been a death in the family, serious illness or concerns about aging, the holidays can magnify feelings of isolation, loss and loneliness. Anticipation of any holiday is much worse than the actual holiday, and planning can help you get through these times, or help others get through them. Sit down with family and decide what each member wants to do for the holiday season and can handle comfortably. Realize that it isn't going to be easy; just do the best you can. If you live alone, invite someone over for a meal, go to a movie, or select a special book to start reading that day. Have someone else shop for gifts, or postpone gift-giving altogether. Decorate as much as you are ready for. Let someone else cook the main holiday meal, or change the time of day when it was traditionally served. Be sure to take care of your needs; get adequate rest and exercise.

Holiday Health Tips

Christmas Health and Safety Tips

2005-12-21T22:15:00.000+08:00

General Safety Topics

# Always turn off outdoor, indoor, and tree Christmas lights before you go to bed or before leaving your home.

# Keep space heaters away from the tree, presents, curtains, bedding materials, etc., or try not to use them. Remember to turn them off before leaving your home.

# Purchase smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors for your home. Read package labeling for proper placement and proper number of units for your home.

Women's Health - Holiday Health Tips

2005-12-20T22:00:00.000+08:00

The holidays are a time to celebrate, give thanks, and reflect. They are also a time to pay special attention to your health. Give the gift of health and safety to yourself and others by following these holiday tips.

Appropriate hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. When you are sick, stay home and avoid close contact with others. Also, get a flu vaccination, and if you are 65 years of age or older, make sure you’ve had a pneumococcal vaccination.

Women's Health - Holiday Health Tips

Avoiding Holiday Health Hazards

2005-12-19T22:05:00.000+08:00

The holiday spirit can quickly be dashed by injury if you're not careful.

The Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay says injuries at this time of year are more common than you may think, but can also be avoided.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is made up of the doctors who often deal with injuries such as sprains and breaks during the holidays, and the group has released some cold, hard facts to alert people about the dangers of seasonal bone, joint and muscle-related injuries.

Avoiding Holiday Health Hazards

Eating Healthy--Holiday Turkey with Rice Stuffing & Herbed Gravy

2005-12-16T00:03:00.000+08:00

Holidays are usually the time we throw caution to the wind, and just enjoy ourselves with all our friends and family. We created this holiday menu and recipes so you can do just that without compromising health. The rice stuffing is delicious and a very satisfying alternative to the heavy bread stuffing usually served. Enjoy the holiday feasting, knowing that you are nourishing your body at the same time.

The World's Healthiest Foods: Eating Healthy

Calculators : Blood Alcohol Content

2005-12-15T18:13:00.000+08:00

As anyone who's been to a cocktail party has found out, we absorb alcohol at different rates. Weight is the chief reason, but a number of other factors affect Blood Alcohol levels, including your body type, metabolism, and any medication you're taking, not to mention the strength of your drinks and if you've eaten recently. For almost everyone, impaired physical and mental acuity arrive on the heels of that first drink.

Drinking responsibly means knowing how alcohol affects you and the amount you can drink without endangering yourself or others. A person with a Blood Alcohol level in the range of .08 to .10 is considered legally intoxicated, and it takes only a few drinks to get there. Use this calculator to estimate your own blood alcohol content under different circumstances.

Calculators : Blood Alcohol Content

Partying too much?

2005-12-14T18:24:00.000+08:00

For many people, the holidays are a time of celebration and family gatherings. It means braving holiday crowds at the shopping mall and airports to purchase gifts and travel to far away family. People are often confronted with the abundance of the season, however, which often leads to excess. Abundance in food, abundance in family time, abundance in travel, and abundance in stress. How can you cope with all of this without going to extremes?

Partying too much?

Health Gifts for Christmas

2005-12-13T23:32:00.000+08:00

Choosing gifts for others is not easy. There is a reason why magazines have gift catalogues this time of the year. And why you end up buying something inappropriate and expensive, and possibly unhealthy, on the 24th of December.

So what do you do if you're into healthy things, yet have a long Christmas list of friends and relatives? Do you bow down to Christmas hype out of desperation and end up buying chocolates, plastic toys and booze? If that's not the way you want to go, here are some creative suggestions.

Only You Can Prevent Christmas Tree Fires

2005-12-12T23:07:00.000+08:00

Every Christmas season, many families tragically lose their homes because of Christmas tree fires. Here's how to prevent them.

To choose a tree:

Pick the freshest tree you can find. Hold the tree by the trunk and tap it against the ground. If needles drop profusely, look for another tree.

Keep the tree outdoors with the trunk in water as long as possible. Once you bring the tree into a heated building, it will dry out more quickly.

Indoors, keep the trunk in water. Check the water level daily, and refill when needed.

Don't stand the tree near a fireplace, wood stove, heat register, or electrical wires. And....

HIV and Its Transmission

2005-12-09T17:33:00.000+08:00

HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily for drug injection) with someone who is infected, or, less commonly (and now very rarely in countries where blood is screened for HIV antibodies), through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding after birth. In the health care setting, workers have been infected with HIV after being stuck with needles containing HIV-infected blood or, less frequently, after infected blood gets into a worker’s open cut or a mucous membrane (for example, the eyes or inside of the nose). There has been only one instance of patients being infected by a health care worker in the United States; this involved HIV transmission from one infected dentist to six patients.

HIV and Its Transmission

AIDS - HIV and AIDS information

2005-12-08T17:37:00.000+08:00

People have been warned about HIV and AIDS for over twenty years now. AIDS has already killed millions of people, millions more continue to become infected with HIV, and there's no cure - so AIDS will be around for a while yet. However, some of us still don't know exactly what HIV and AIDS actually are.

HIV is a virus. Viruses infect the cells of living organisms and replicate (make new copies of themselves) within those cells. A virus can damage the cells it replicates in, which is one of the things that can make an infected creature become ill.

People can become infected with HIV from other people who already have it, and when they are infected they can then go on to infect other people. Basically, this is how HIV is spread.

HIV stands for the 'Human Immunodeficiency Virus'. Someone who is infected with HIV is said to be 'HIV+' or 'HIV positive'.

AIDS - HIV and AIDS information

Yeast Infection (Candidiasis) - Urologychannel

2005-12-07T17:22:00.000+08:00

As many as 75% of women experience genital candidiasis, also known as vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), candidal vaginitis, monilial vaginitis, monilial infection, and vaginal yeast infection during their lifetime. Overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans, normally present in vaginal flora, causes an allergic reaction that produces symptoms. It most commonly occurs in sexually active young women and is the most commonly diagnosed vaginal infection.

Genital yeast infection generally is not considered to be a sexually transmitted disease, but it is possible to acquire infection from a partner with genital or oral colonization. Men with genital yeast infection are usually asymptomatic.

Yeast Infection (Candidiasis) - Urologychannel

Syphilis

2005-12-06T17:42:00.000+08:00

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It has often been called “the great imitator” because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It has often been called “the great imitator” because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Guide

2005-12-05T17:05:00.000+08:00

Sexuality is a crucial aspect of human life and functioning. Many issues, both physical and mental are interwoven together to form our sense of sexuality. This online guide focuses on some of the physical aspects regarding sexuality, namely illness and disease associated with sexual activity. Though some of the photographs and depictions that follow may be uncomfortable for those unaccustomed to such graphic medical images, keep in mind that all of these disease states are avoidable, treatable, and many are curable.

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Guide

AMBLYOPIA (LAZY EYE)

2005-12-02T18:29:00.000+08:00

Amblyopia is an important condition that affects young children. If detected early enough, which usually means before the age of 5, it can be treated successfully. If not detected in time it can result in permanent loss of vision from one eye.

Amblyopia happens when a baby's eyes do not produce a single message to the brain. Normally both eyes focus whatever the baby is looking at on to the same part of the retina at the back of the eye. The brain then ‘sees’ a single picture. But if the eyes are not perfectly aligned, as in strabismus (squint), or if one eye is longer (or shorter) sighted than the other, the brain receives 2 messages. In an adult this would result in double vision or blurred vision.

AMBLYOPIA (LAZY EYE)

Nappy rash

2005-12-01T18:33:00.000+08:00

Very few of us would fancy having a red-raw, stinging bottom; so imagine how it feels to a tiny baby. Most babies under 18 months will suffer from nappy rash at some point, and this is what you can do to help prevent and treat it.

Nappy rash is a skin irritation that occurs on the skin of a baby in the nappy area. Various things can cause the irritation including:

ammonia, which is found in urine and faeces
alcohol, which is sometimes used in baby wipes
a change in diet eg from breast milk to formula
strong detergents/soap additives, which have been used to clean terry nappies

However, not all nappy conditions are nappy rash. Other conditions that can cause similar symptoms include heat rash, dermatitis (eczema) or thrush.

Baby health information

Allergy proofing

2005-11-30T18:25:00.000+08:00

One of the most important parts of allergy management is to avoid allergens, the substances that cause the allergic reaction. This includes reducing and minimizing the number of potential allergens in your home. Find out what you can do in the...

Allergy proofing

Diarrhoea

2005-11-29T18:07:00.000+08:00

Many parents wonder if their child has diarrhoea because bowel movements in a newborn tend to occur frequently. Your baby's ordinary bowel movements will depend very much on whether she's being breast or formula fed. The bowel movements of breastfed babies are usually yellowish, on the soft or liquid side and may occur up to five times daily. Sometimes a breastfed newborn will have a bowel movement during or immediately after each breastfeeding session. This occurs because as her stomach fills up, the milk stimulates her entire intestinal tract, prompting a bowel movement. Within a month, most breastfed babies are down to one or two bowel movements a day. The bowel movements of formula-fed babies tend to occur once a day and are fairly firm.

Occasional loose stools are normal. If your child begins frequently passing smelly, watery, mucus-streaked stools (one doctor describes this as looking like you blew your nose in your child's nappy) — as much as a bowel movement per feed after the first month — or if she has a fever or appears to be losing weight, it may be diarrhoea, so consult your GP or health visitor.

Diarrhoea

Fever Pitch

2005-11-28T18:16:00.000+08:00

Your child is brewing an infection, running a high temperature and has a convulsion. Paediatrician Dr Kerry Robinson advices on what to do

Febrile convulsions are quite common. 5% of children under 6 have them and they do run in families. Basically when children develop an infection, their temperature can shoot up and stay up, and then they’re at risk. The convulsion may last less than five minutes, but it’s an alarming experience when your child’s whole body twitches or jerks uncontrollably. Their eyes may roll back in their sockets and their speech can also be affected. Sometimes children froth at the mouth, go blue around the lips and their breathing becomes shallow. Panic is a natural reaction.

Febrile convulsions

Snoring

2005-11-25T13:03:00.000+08:00

Forty-five percent of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight persons, and it usually grows worse with age.

More than 300 devices are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as cures for snoring. Some are variations on the old idea of sewing a sock that holds a tennis ball on the pajama back to force the snorer to sleep on his side. (Snoring is often worse when a person sleeps on his back). Some devices reposition the lower jaw forward; some open nasal air passages; a few others have been designed to condition a person not to snore by producing unpleasant stimuli when snoring occurs. But, if you snore, the truth is that it is not under your control whatsoever. If anti-snoring devices work, it is probably because they keep you awake.

Hair Loss and Its Causes

2005-11-24T12:57:00.000+08:00

At any one time, about 10 percent of the hair on your scalp is in a resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place. This growing phase lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

Hair Loss and Its Causes

Understanding Prostate Changes

2005-11-23T12:48:00.000+08:00

The prostate is a small gland in men. It is part of the male reproductive system.

The prostate is about the size and shape of a walnut. It sits low in the pelvis, below the bladder and just in front of the rectum. The prostate helps make semen, the milky fluid that carries sperm from the testicles through the penis when a man ejaculates.

The prostate surrounds part of the urethra, a tube that carries urine out of the bladder and through the penis.

Understanding Prostate Changes

Athritis and Rheumatic Disease

2005-11-22T13:15:00.000+08:00

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are over a hundred different rheumatic diseases that cause pain and swelling in the joints and connective tissue. We often use the word "arthritis" to refer to such diseases. All told, an estimated 40 million Americans are affected with some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease. The latest study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) places the numbers even higher with an estimated 70 million people, or almost one in three in the United States, reporting arthritis or chronic joint symptoms. Follow the links below to learn about some of the most common forms.

Health News and Information

Mens health - Obesity

2005-11-21T12:40:00.000+08:00

More than 50 per cent of men in the UK are denting their seats because they're too fat - and the numbers are increasing. You can work out whether you are a healthy weight or putting your health at risk by calculating your body mass index (BMI). You can use our BMI calculator to check yours, or perform the calculation by hand:

Take your weight in kilograms and divide it by your height in metres and then divide the result by your height in metres again.

Healthy weight BMI = 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight BMI = 25 to 29.9
Obese BMI = 30 to 39.9
Severely obese BMI = 40-plus

Mens health - Obesity

Anemia

2005-11-18T11:33:00.000+08:00

Anemia happens when your blood doesn't have enough hemoglobin (he-mo-GLOBE-in). Hemoglobin helps red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body.

Anemia takes some time to develop. In the beginning, you may not have any signs or they may be mild. But as it gets worse, you may have these symptoms:

fatigue
weakness
not doing well in work or school
low body temperature
pale skin
rapid heartbeat
shortness of breath
chest pain
dizziness
irritability
numbness or coldness in your hands and feet
headache

Urinary Tract Infections are common in Women

2005-11-17T11:29:00.000+08:00

Urinary tract infections are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year.

Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection in the body. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year.* Women are especially prone to UTIs for reasons that are not yet well understood. One woman in five develops a UTI during her lifetime. UTIs in men are not as common as in women but can be very serious when they do occur.

Urinary Tract Infections in Adults

Womens reproductive system disease information: Endometriosis

2005-11-16T11:20:00.000+08:00

Endometriosis is one of the most significant diseases affecting reproductive-age women. The prevalence of endometriosis is about 10 to 15 percent of women aged 15 to 45. Endometriosis is a women's disease in which endometrial tissue or the tissue resembling the lining of the uterus is found in the pelvic region. Through each menstrual cycle, this aberrant tissue will bleed cyclically. Such bleeding is intimately connected to menses and eventually results in fibrosis. Active and fibrotic endometrial tissue can cause severe pain during each menstrual cycle. Cycles of bleeding and fibrosis, especially in endometriosis nodules around the ovaries and fallopian tubes, may lead to infertility.

Womens reproductive system disease information: Endometriosis

Breast Health

2005-11-15T11:24:00.000+08:00

The primary function of breasts is to produce milk following the birth of a baby. Each breast is made up of 15 - 20 lobes. These contain the milk producing glands and ducts along which the milk travels to the nipple. Fat and fibrous tissue surrounds these structures and gives the breasts their individual size and shape.

Breasts come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and one is normally slightly larger than the other. Size, however, has nothing to do with the amount of milk produced.

Blood vessels, lymph glands and nerves are also present in the breasts. Breast tissue is sensitive to touch and can provide sexual pleasure for ourselves and our partners.

Breast Health

Women, Heart Disease and Stroke

2005-11-14T11:17:00.000+08:00

Heart disease isn't just a man's disease. Heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are devastating to women, too. In fact, coronary heart disease, which causes heart attack, is the leading cause of death for American women. Many women believe that cancer is more of a threat, but they're wrong. Nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease and stroke as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer.

The American Heart Association has identified several factors that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. The more risk factors a woman has, the greater her risk of a heart attack or stroke. Some of these risk factors you can't control, such as increasing age, family health history, and race and gender. But you can modify, treat or control most risk factors to lower your risk.

Women, Heart Disease and Stroke

Viral Hepatitis: A Through E and Beyond

2005-11-11T21:16:00.000+08:00

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Several different viruses cause viral hepatitis. They are named the hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses.

All of these viruses cause acute, or short-term, viral hepatitis. The hepatitis B, C, and D viruses can also cause chronic hepatitis, in which the infection is prolonged, sometimes lifelong.

Other viruses may also cause hepatitis, but they have yet to be discovered and they are obviously rare causes of the disease.

Viral Hepatitis: A Through E and Beyond

Caring for Your Liver

2005-11-10T19:12:00.000+08:00

Your liver depends on you to take care of it . . . so it can take care of you. It serves as your body's engine, pantry, refinery, food processor, garbage disposal, and "guardian angel." The trouble is, your liver is a silent partner; when something's wrong it does not complain until the damage is far advanced. So it needs your help every day to keep it healthy and hepatitis-free. To do that, you need to eat a healthy diet, exercise, get lots of fresh air, and avoid things that can cause liver damage.

Basic Liver Care, Diet and Your Liver

How Is Hepatitis C Spread?

2005-11-09T17:06:00.000+08:00

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread through contact with infected blood. Common routes of infection include blood transfusions before 1992, needlestick accidents among healthcare workers, and use of recreational injection drugs (eg, sharing needles). Each of these routes of transmission is discussed in further detail below. HCV is not spread through casual contact such as hugging, sneezing, coughing, or sitting next to someone.

To determine if you may be at risk for hepatitis C, see Are You At Risk? For information on preventing the spread of the virus, see Preventing Transmission.

Basic of Hepatitis C

About Hepatitis B

2005-11-08T17:03:00.000+08:00

Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus that attacks the liver. The virus is transmitted through blood and infected bodily fluids. This can occur through direct blood-to-blood contact, unprotected sex, use of unsterile needles, and from an infected woman to her newborn during the delivery process.

The good news is that there is a simple blood test to find out if you have been infected. There is also a safe and effective vaccine to protect you and your loved ones against hepatitis B. Finally, there are promising new treatments available for those who have developed chronic hepatitis B infections.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis A

2005-11-07T19:59:00.000+08:00

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can affect anyone. In the United States, hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics.

Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent hepatitis A. Vaccines are also available for long-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in persons 12 months of age and older. Immune globulin is available for short-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in individuals of all ages.

Hepatitis A

Depression, Family & Friends

2005-11-04T19:43:00.000+08:00

What is depression? - some definitions
How can you help? - some ideas on things you can do to help
Ideas - From sufferers about things that have helped
Poetry - from, and for, family and friends
Stories & Experiences - from family and friends
Stories - from people who suffer depression
Books - written specifically for family and friends
Messageboard - for you to ask questions, get support, learn
ARAFMI - you need support too!
Carers Associations - More support options.

You are not alone !

Family & Friends

Depression--Treatments

2005-11-03T18:33:00.000+08:00

Treatment for depression can involve a variety of different approaches, and often people find that a combination of these work best. For more information about self-help options such as attending a self-help group, making changes to your diet or relaxation techniques please contact Depression Alliance to ask for an information leaflet.

When talking to your doctor about the most appropriate treatment for you, it’s often useful to have a basic understanding of the options. Antidepressants work by normalising the activity levels of brain chemicals which affect our mood. Current medical advice is that antidepressants are not addictive. There are several different types of antidepressant treatment available.

Depression Types

2005-11-02T15:29:00.000+08:00

Depressive disorders come in different forms. There are several different diagnoses for depression, mostly determined by the intensity of the symptoms, the duration of the symptoms, and the specific cause of the symptoms, if that is known.

Psychology Information Online provides information on the following depressive disorders. Follow the title link for more information about each type of depression.

Depression Types

A free and confidential depression-screening Test

2005-11-01T16:25:00.000+08:00

Life is full of good times and bad, happiness and sorrow. But if you've been feeling "down" for more than a few weeks or are having difficulty functioning in daily life, you may be experiencing more than just the "blues." You may be suffering from a common yet serious medical illness called clinical depression.

The good news is clinical depression is highly treatable. Most people with depression, however, do not seek the professional help they need -- often because they don't know the symptoms, think depression will go away on its own, or are embarrassed to talk about how they're feeling.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you have symptoms of depression is by taking a free, confidential depression-screening test.

Welcome to depression-screening

Understanding Depression

2005-10-31T16:14:00.000+08:00

If you've been diagnosed with depression, you may wonder why it had to happen to you. The fact is that anyone can get depression.

The first step in fighting depression is to understand what it is, how it affects you, and what causes it. This section covers the basics, and you'll find Look, Listen & Learn™ features like these...

Understanding Depression

Your Children's Sleep Problems

2005-10-28T14:06:00.000+08:00

Sleep problems are some of the most common problems parents face with their kids. You may wonder about how to get your child to sleep through the night. Maybe you have a new baby and want to learn how to help them develop good sleep habits that will last a lifetime. Some children may have chronic sleep difficulties, and many children (like most adults!) are actually going through their days sleep-deprived. Read on for information on all these issues and more, and for lots of links to even more resources to help your kids (and you) get a better night’s sleep.

Your Child | Sleep Problems

Teens' common sleeping problems

2005-10-27T15:03:00.000+08:00

Research shows that teens need 8 1/2 to more than 9 hours of sleep a night. You don't need to be a math whiz to figure out that if you wake up for school at 6:00 AM, it means you have to go to bed at 9:00 PM to reach the 9-hour mark. Studies have found that many teens, like Garrett, have trouble falling asleep that early, though. It's not because they don't want to sleep. It's because their brains naturally work on later schedules and aren't ready for bed.

Common Sleep Problems

How to sleep without Stress?

2005-10-26T17:53:00.000+08:00

We are all familiar with the word "stress". Stress is when you are worried about getting laid off your job, or worried about having enough money to pay your bills, or worried about your mother when the doctor says she may need an operation. In fact, to most of us, stress is synonymous with worry. If it is something that makes you worry, then it is stress.

Your body, however, has a much broader definition of stress. TO YOUR BODY, STRESS IS SYNONYMOUS WITH CHANGE. Anything that causes a change in your life causes stress. It doesn't matter if it is a "good" change, or a "bad" change, they are both stress. When you find your dream apartment and get ready to move, that is stress. If you break your leg, that is stress. Good or bad, if it is a CHANGE in your life, it is stress as far as your body is concerned.

Even IMAGINED CHANGE is stress. If you fear that you will not have enough money to pay your rent, that is stress. If you worry that you may get fired, that is stress. If you think that you may receive a promotion at work, that is also stress. Whether the event is good or bad, imagining changes in your life is stressful.

What is a Sleep Disorder?

2005-10-25T11:49:00.000+08:00

Getting a good night's sleep is essential for feeling refreshed and alert during the day. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to get the restorative sleep they need.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, chronic, long-term sleep disorders affect at least 40 million Americans each year. Left untreated, sleep disorders, and the resulting sleep deprivation, will likely interfere with your work, driving, and social activities and have negative effects on your physical and mental well-being.

Sleep Disorders

Sleeping Well

2005-10-24T18:35:00.000+08:00

Sleep is the regular period in every 24 hours when we are unconscious and unaware of our surroundings. There are two main types of sleep:

* Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep

It comes and goes throughout the night, and makes up about one fifth of our sleep time. During REM sleep, our brain is very active, our muscles are very relaxed, our eyes move quickly from side to side and we dream.

* Non-REM sleep

The brain is quiet, but the body may move around. Hormones are released into the bloodstream and our body repairs itself after the wear and tear of the day. There are 4 stages of non-REM sleep:
1. The muscles relax, the heart beats slower and body temperature falls - “pre-sleep”.
2. Light sleep - we can still be woken easily without feeling confused.
3. “Slow wave” sleep - our blood pressure falls, we may talk in our sleep or sleep walk.
4. Deep “slow wave” sleep - we become very hard to wake. If we are woken, we feel confused.

We move between REM and non-REM sleep about five times throughout the night, dreaming more as we get toward the morning.

Sleeping Well

Preeclampsia, Eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome

2005-10-21T16:40:00.000+08:00

Preeclampsia (also called toxemia) is a pregnancy-induced condition that includes hypertension (high blood pressure). It can be serious for both mother and baby. The main signs of preeclampsia are high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Women with preeclampsia may also have swelling (edema) of the hands and feet, sudden weight gain (a pound a day or more), blurred vision, severe headaches, dizziness and intense stomach pain. Rarely, preeclampsia progresses to a life-threatening condition called eclampsia, which includes convulsions and sometimes leads to coma and death of the mother and baby.

Preeclampsia, Eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome

Treatments: Guide to Lowing High Blood Pressure

2005-10-20T16:34:00.000+08:00

It is important to take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. The treatment goal is blood pressure below 140/90 and lower for people with other conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is an effective first step in both preventing and controlling high blood pressure. If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in keeping your pressure controlled, it may be necessary to add blood pressure medications. In this section you will learn about blood pressure-lowering lifestyle habits and blood pressure medications.

Treatments: Guide to Lowing High Blood Pressure

The Risk Factors of High blood pressure

2005-10-19T16:29:00.000+08:00

There are four major risk factors for high blood pressure that you can't control. They are:

* Age. Your risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older.
* Race. High blood pressure occurs far more frequently in blacks than in any other racial group in the United States. High blood pressure in blacks generally develops at an earlier age than it does in whites. Plus, it's more likely to lead to serious complications such as stroke or heart attack.
* Sex. In young adulthood and early middle age, high blood pressure is more common in men than in women, but the opposite is true for men and women age 60 and older.
* Family history. High blood pressure tends to run in families.

However, there are some risk factors you can control or manage... include:

High blood pressure (hypertension) -

High Blood Pressure

2005-10-18T16:22:00.000+08:00

There is no "ideal" blood pressure reading. However, there is a range of "normal" blood pressure reading. Generally, a reading that is less than 140 over 90 indicates that you don't need to worry. If either or both numbers are equal to or greater than 140 over 90 for an extended period of time, you have high blood pressure, or hypertension.

Hypertension is dangerous because it causes the heart to work extra hard. This strain contributes to heart attacks and stroke. When the heart is forced to work extra hard for an extended period of time, it tends to enlarge. A slightly enlarged heart can function well, but a significantly enlarged heart cannot. High blood pressure also causes damage to the arteries, causing arterial disease.

High Blood Pressure

What Is Blood Pressure?

2005-10-17T16:17:00.000+08:00

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers—the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80."

What Is Blood Pressure?

Thyroid Cancer

2005-10-14T15:24:00.000+08:00

Your thyroid is located in the front of your neck, just under your Adam's apple. The thyroid produces several hormones, including one called thyroxine which helps regulate a number of bodily functions. The American Cancer Society (ACS) says that about one third of all adults will find they have a lump in their thyroid. Ninety-five percent of those lumps are not cancerous, but they can cause the thyroid to malfunction and need to be checked by a doctor. The other 5 percent will be diagnosed as cancer.

Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment

2005-10-13T14:04:00.000+08:00

cute lymphoblastic leukemia is a quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells (called lymphoblasts) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (also called acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated. It is the most common type of cancer in children.

Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment

Colon Cancer - Risk Factors

2005-10-12T13:57:00.000+08:00

The cause of colorectal cancer is unknown. Age is the primary risk factor. Incidence of the disease increases significantly after the age of 50.

Some people have a genetic predisposition to carcinogenic (i.e., cancer causing) effects of the diet on the digestive tract, which increases the risk for colorectal cancer. When this predisposition is combined with a high dietary intake of fat and red meat and a low dietary intake of fiber (e.g., bran), vitamins (e.g., folate), and minerals (e.g., calcium), the risk is even higher.

Colon Cancer - Risk Factors

Self Test Exams for Breast Cancer Prevention and Detection

2005-10-11T13:51:00.000+08:00

It is very important to examine your breasts each month, at the same point in your menstrual cycle every month. Do not examine your breasts during your menstrual period. Before your period, your breasts may swell and become tender or lumpy. This usually decreases after the period. The breasts also become larger and firmer during pregnancy and breast feeding. Familiarize yourself with the normal feel of your breasts so that you can detect any changes such as enlargements of a lump. If you are very familiar with the feel of your breasts you will be more apt to notice any subtle changes or developments in your breasts. Any changes in your breast should be reported to your health care professional and should be checked as soon as possible after discovering the change. Since men get breast cancer as well, they can benefit from self examination of the breast as well. The following is recommended as a procedure to follow for breast self-examination.

Self Test Exams for Cancer Prevention and Detection.

What Causes Lung Cancer?

2005-10-10T13:35:00.000+08:00

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or family history, can't be changed. Several factors can increase the risk of lung cancer.

Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. Tobacco smoke causes more than 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer. The longer a person has been smoking and the more packs per day smoked, the greater the risk. If a person stops smoking before lung cancer develops, the lung tissue slowly returns to normal. Stopping smoking at any age lowers the risk of lung cancer.

What Causes Lung Cancer?

Diabetic Retinopathy

2005-10-07T13:26:00.000+08:00

Most people with diabetes see well and have no major eye problems. Some people develop 'cataracts'. These cause misty vision, and can be removed with a relatively quick operation.

Retinopathy is the name given to 'disease of the retina' due to diabetes, and is described below. Blindness from retinopathy can in theory be prevented, and has in Iceland. See. This has been done by regular eye checks and people controlling their diabetes.

Remember, if you have 'no' retinopathy you should still look after your diabetes, because this reduces your chance of getting it, and you may even feel better for it.
Many people with diabetes do go on to develop retinopathy, and this can damage the sight severely. The different types of retinopathy are described in adjacent pages.
Controlling your diabetes and blood pressure also helps to prevent other problems such as neuropathy and kidney damage.

about diabetic retinopathy

Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime

2005-10-06T13:17:00.000+08:00

Do you want to avoid serious foot problems that can lead to a toe, foot, or leg amputation? Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime tells you how. It's all about taking good care of your feet.

Foot care is very important for each person with diabetes, but especially if you have:

* Loss of feeling in your feet.
* Changes in the shape of your feet.
* Foot ulcers or sores that do not heal.

Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. You may not feel a pebble inside your sock that is causing a sore. You may not feel a blister caused by poorly fitting shoes. Foot injuries such as these can cause ulcers which may lead to amputation.

NDEP | Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime

Diabetes: Your diet's role in blood sugar control

2005-10-05T12:54:00.000+08:00

If you have diabetes, following a daily meal plan will help you stay on track with your blood sugar goals. Find out how to get the most from your meal plan.

Have you just learned you have diabetes? Or have you been living with the condition for years? In either case, you probably know how important what you eat is to managing your blood sugar.

Being consistent in the timing and amount of food you eat each day will help you keep your blood sugar within your target range. By controlling when you eat and how much you eat, you can influence the peaks in blood sugar levels that arise after eating and the lows that occur when you haven't eaten for a while.

Diabetes: Your diet's role in blood sugar control

Diabetes Prevention

2005-10-04T12:31:00.000+08:00

Is it possible to delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes from ever developing? Yes it is. There is a lot you can do yourself to know your risks for pre-diabetes and to take action to prevent diabetes if you have, or are at risk for, pre-diabetes.

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" -- blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 41 million people in the United States, ages 40 to 74, who have pre-diabetes.

Understanding diabetes

2005-10-03T12:25:00.000+08:00

Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. Glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread, rice, potatoes, chapatis, yams and plantain, from sugar and other sweet foods, and from the liver which makes glucose.

Insulin is vital for life. It is a hormone produced by the pancreas, that helps the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as fuel by the body. The main symptoms of untreated diabetes are increased thirst, going to the loo all the time – especially at night, extreme tiredness, weight loss, genital itching or regular episodes of thrush, and blurred vision.

Understanding diabetes

Heart Attacks

2005-09-30T12:21:00.000+08:00

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. CHD is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, and often results in a heart attack.

Each year, about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. About 460,000 of those heart attacks are fatal. About half of those deaths occur within 1 hour of the start of symptoms and before the person reaches the hospital.

Fortunately, everyone can take steps to protect their heart–and their life or that of someone else. The key is seeking medical care as soon as possible.

Heart Attacks

Cardiac Risk Assessment

2005-09-29T19:56:00.000+08:00

What is a cardiac risk assessment?
This is a group of tests and health factors that have been proven to indicate your chance of having a coronary event. They have been refined to indicate the degree of risk: slight, moderate, or high.

What is included in a cardiac risk assessment?
Perhaps the most important indicators for cardiac risk are those of your personal health history. Age, hereditary factors, weight, smoking, blood pressure, exercise history, and diabetes are all important in determining your risk. The lipid profile is the most important blood test for risk assessment. There are other tests, non-invasive and invasive, which may be used in cardiac risk assessment. Non-invasive tests may include an EKG stress test, thallium stress test, EKG, CT scan, and echocardiogram. Invasive tests include an arteriogram and cardiac catheterization.

Cardiac Risk Assessment

31 Tips and Comments on Health & Heart Disease

2005-09-28T19:31:00.000+08:00

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what would it take to avoid a heart surgeon? Would you believe a good vitamin + mineral supplement + some omega-3 oil (canola-rapeseed, flax, fish)? Add a diet naturally high in fiber but low in processed food and hydrogenation hardened fats, and maintain a good lifestyle (in this order : 1. don't smoke, 2. control waist size, 3. manage stress well, 4. some exercise), and you will improve your general health and prevent or help heart disease.

31 Tips and Comments on Health & Heart Disease