Daily Health News Blog

(BPT) - The new year is widely accepted as a time to start fresh, and every year people make resolutions to better themselves. For many, this means vowing to make lifestyle changes to improve how they look and feel. However, sticking to restrictive diets and intense workout programs can be difficult and not sustainable for most people. Before you get hooked by the annual flood of diet tips and gym promotions, focus on a few key areas to commit to a healthier lifestyle for 2013. Consume whole foods  Adding more whole foods into your everyday diet is a natural way to obtain the nutrients your body craves without feeling like you're making a drastic change. One of the easiest ways to do this is by incorporating fresh juices into your daily routine. Whole-food juicing is a quick and easy way to get several servings of fruits and vegetables at once, making it a perfect on-the-go solution for those juggling hectic schedules. Simply toss whole fruits, vegetables, or a combinatio

It would be a dream come true if we could all be good sleepers. But for many of us who are not, sleeping pills are a help. Or are they? Actually, sleeping pills are usually of limited effectiveness, all have potential risks, and none have been tested for long-term safety. That’s why most of the pills have been approved only for short-term use. Now a study in the online journal  BMJ Open  has linked prescription sleeping pills to a surprisingly high risk of premature death. The risk of dying over a 2.5-year period was four times higher among pill users, a finding that held up after the data were adjusted for many health and lifestyle factors. Even occasional users had a higher death rate, though the risk increased with more frequent use. This is not the first study linking sleeping pills to higher death rates. Many factors are involved. The drugs can cause falls and car crashes, even the next day, and may worsen depression. The study also found that people taking at least

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(BPT) - Whether you're resolving to eat healthy, begin an exercise routine, save money or update your wardrobe, many of these resolutions are easier said than done, as people aren't sure where to start or how to get motivated to make these important life changes. Nearly one third of people who made resolutions in 2012 failed to sick with them, according to a recent survey by MSN and Impulse. Nationally recognized nutrition expert and published author Keri Glassman offers these tips for jumpstarting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle this new year. *New year, clean pantry - More than 30 percent of people want to eat healthier in the new year, either by eliminating junk food or pursuing a specific diet. Set aside a little time to raid the pantry and clean out items that are old, unhealthy or any that you might be prone to overconsume. Throw food out or, better yet, donate to a local food pantry and make room for new, healthier foods. This exercise also helps you get or

Small easy changes can lead to sustainable weight loss and healthier eating habits Previous research conducted by Dr. Brian Wansink through the Food and Brand Lab has shown that making small easy changes to our eating habits on a consistent basis can lead to sustainable weight loss. The challenge lies in figuring out which changes work for each individual and how to stick with them long enough to make them second nature. To find answers to these questions, Cornell University researchers launched the National Mindless Eating Challenge (NMEC), an online healthy eating and weight loss program which focused on simple eating behavior changes, instead of dieting.

There’s no magic fix for being overweight—no diet pill, supplement, or crash diet. But one promising approach to weight loss has been to identify factors that promote satiety, the feeling of fullness. If you feel full longer, you are less likely to overeat later, yet not feel deprived. In some cases, you may even be able to eat  more and still lose weight. Perhaps more important than any individual food or food component in increasing satiety is choosing foods that are low in “energy density.” First promoted by Dr. Barbara Rolls at Pennsylvania State University, the concept of energy density is the basis of her  Volumetrics Eating Plan  and has also been incorporated into other popular diets. According to Dr. Rolls, many studies show that lowering the energy density of a diet can lead to a decrease in food intake. How it works Since people tend to eat roughly the same amount of food a day, regardless of calories, eating foods that are low in energy density allows you to fill up

Hypertension named 'public health enemy No. 2' In many cases, high blood pressure has no symptoms, which could be why more than half of the 67 million Americans who have hypertension are doing little or nothing to control it. CDC Director Thomas Frieden has labeled high blood pressure "public health enemy No. 2." It's right behind tobacco. High blood pressure is defined as a reading greater or equal to 140/90. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. Moderately high blood pressure is 120 to 139 over 80 to 89. In hypertension, blood flows through your arteries with too much force. It stretches arteries past their healthy limit, causing microscopic tears, says the American Heart Association. Scar tissue that forms to repair the tears traps plaque and white blood cells, which can lead to blockages, clots and hardened or weakened arteries, according to the AHA. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the first and fourth leading causes o

Do highly stressed or angry people get more ulcers and backaches? Maybe, maybe not. People who develop these problems have a wide range of personalities and habits; some are very stressed, others are calm and contented. What about cancer and heart disease? Some studies suggest that pessimists or introverts are at higher risk, others that optimists or extroverts are no better off. Research into the relationship between personality traits and disease has created a lot of shifting ground over the years. Why the confusion? First, “personality types” are constructs by researchers and don’t necessarily correlate well with the real world. What’s more, dozens of overlapping traits, in various permutations, have been studied. There are countless ways to measure them, plus many theories of personality that use different terms and concepts. Most people don’t fit neatly into one type and may change over time. And just because there may be a link between a personality trait and a disease do

Sodium, found outside cells, and potassium, found mainly inside cells, are minerals that work together to maintain fluid balance in the body. They are also involved in the regulation of muscle contractions and nerve transmissions and play an important role in controlling blood pressure. Here is some advice on lowering sodium and increasing potassium in your diet. 1.  Consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium a day  (approximately two-thirds tsp of salt). While this recommendation previously applied only to those with hypertension (with 2,300 mg of sodium as the goal for the general public), the benefits of this lower limit for all individuals have been recognized. 2.  Don't add salt to foods.    3.  Shop for fresh foods rather than processed foods  that are high in sodium. For instance, choose fresh or frozen vegetables over the canned variety. 4.  Eat more meals at home , where you have more control over the sodium content of your food. 5.  Flavor foods with herbs, spi

If you have a regular prescription to fill you might be surprised to learn that you can now buy medicines online. Shipped right to your mailbox, getting your prescription drugs online is convenient and inexpensive. However, there are some common pitfalls that you should avoid. These include scammers, disreputable companies, and simple misunderstandings about how your products will arrive. Read on to learn the common pitfalls and successfully avoid them the next time you're shopping: Licensed Pharmacies Only! There are many pharmacies online that claim to be legitimate, reputable companies and many of them are. To be sure you're only dealing with good companies look for their license. Usually this will be at the bottom of the page somewhere, close to where the address of the company is located. Keep in mind that this doesn't mean your drugs will come that location, simply that the company is based there. It is a common practice for companies to use third-p

Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows how difficult it can be. Unfortunately, many times those who should support us the most, our family, make it even harder to succeed. No matter what the reason, family members can sabotage our weight loss goals without us even realizing it. They may sound like loving comments, but if you hear these lines, be aware and walk away. I Love You Just the Way You Are This line is killer. It implies that we don't love ourselves the way we are and that we are losing weight just to make them love us more. With health and self-esteem issues on the line, other people's opinions may be far down the list of reasons why you want to lose weight. The unspoken question behind this statement is, "Will you love me just as much if I change and get healthier?" You should have a frank discussion about this topic with your loved ones as soon as you begin your weight loss journey. You Deserve This One Treat This usually happens on holidays,

You may have caught recent news reports that fried fish can cause heart problems. But that's no reason to hang up the fishing reel. A large study in the journal  Circulation: Heart Failure  found that eating fried fish at least once a week was associated with a 48 percent higher risk of heart failure.  This wasn't the first study to raise red flags about fried fish. A 2005 Harvard study, for instance, linked frequent consumption of fried fish to a 44 percent increased risk of stroke. And findings from a study in  Neurology  suggested that one reason why people in the "stroke belt" states of the South have higher rates of stroke is that Southerners eat more fried fish than other Americans. Still, you shouldn't stop eating fish. After all, the latest study, which included only women, also reaffirmed that fish is good for your heart--if you broil or bake it. Those who ate five or more servings a week of baked/broiled fish over a 10-year period had a 30 perc

Garlic is a key part of the Mediterranean diet and many cuisines around the world. But do supplements really lower cholesterol, fight cancer, reduce arthritis, and have other health benefits, as touted? There have been thousands of studies on garlic, but its health effects remain something of a mystery. Garlic contains interesting compounds that have been linked to many proposed health benefits. One is allicin, a sulfur compound formed in raw garlic after a clove is cut or crushed. Allicin is a major source of garlic’s taste and smell. But not all scientists agree that allicin is the key ingredient, since it breaks down quickly into other compounds. And the enzyme that forms allicin can be destroyed if the whole clove is cooked before being cut (that’s why cooked cloves taste less garlicky). In fact, no one knows which, if any, component is most important. Lab and animal studies suggest that garlic (or compounds from it) has a range of benefits. For example, it keeps blood plat

"Is there anything I can do to relieve the chronic dry mouth that my medications cause?" Chronic dry mouth, or xerostomia, can be a major problem: Dry mouth can affect your ability to eat and enjoy food and can cause cracked lips, bad breath and sores in your mouth. Dry mouth can also lead to cavities, periodontal disease and tooth loss. Be sure your doctor knows about your dry mouth; sometimes medications can be changed or dosages reduced. Or, if a drug is causing dry mouth at night, you may be able to combat it by spacing doses throughout the day when it's also possible to brush your teeth often and drink plenty of fluids. Otherwise, see your dentist for frequent checkups and perhaps topical fluoride treatments and prescription oral rinses to prevent tooth decay and gingivitis. You can also try these self-help measures for dry mouth: Follow a low-sugar diet. Hard candies can help ease dry mouth, but use the sugarless kind. Include plenty of fruits, soup

Eating to Lose! Your body need nutrition each and every day so you can perform at your best. You need to consume calories or your body can’t function at its best. We gain weight because we take in too many calories that don’t have the nutrition that our body needs so we store this as fat. Eating the Right Foods Our diet needs to be high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, nuts, and seeds so we get the nutrition that we need. The main problem is that we have gone away from wholesome eating and instead rely on a diet of heavily processed and unnatural foods. These foods cause us to gain weight as we don’t get too many calories that lack nutrition. When we consume foods that are nutrient dense they give us the energy we need to get through the day and they also tend to be lower in calories. You actually east more food but still lose weight because you’re eating good nutritious food and not garbage processed food that is high in calories but very low in nutrition.

It happens every holiday season. You have to buy a present for someone who’s fussy or has everything. It’s never easy, but it can be manageable, if you follow some simple steps. For example: 1. Psyche out your friend. Is the friend practical or flighty? Is eclectic your friend’s middle name? Buy for the personality. 2. Figure out in advance what you are prepared to spend. This focuses you and helps prevent last-minute panic buying, which can be expensive. 3. What’s changed? Has your friend moved or signed up for an exciting trip? A travel diary or a housecleaning service gift certificate might be appreciated. 4. Give the gift of you. Offer to sew curtains or cook a special dinner. A photo album with pictures of the two of you or a special event or trip is thoughtful. 5. Don’t overlook donations. Many people with everything would appreciate a donation in their name to a favorite charity.

Brushing your teeth, buttoning your shirt, opening a jar -- these are routine daily activities that most people take for granted. But if you have arthritis and it affects your hands, performing these and other basic tasks can be challenging. Fortunately, "exercising" your hands can help reduce the pain, improve your range of motion and, ultimately, enable you to perform more easily the various tasks of daily living.   Where does it hurt?  Arthritis of the hands manifests differently depending on what kind of arthritis you have.  Osteoarthritis.  The most common cause of hand arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA). In osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage that covers the ends of your bones gradually deteriorates due to wear and tear or, in some cases, to injury. If your hand pain is caused by osteoarthritis, the affected joints are painful and may swell or develop hard bony nodules. The joints most likely to be affected in hand osteoarthritis are the trapezio-metacarpal (ba

We all know that fashion changes with the seasons, but did you know that you should also change your beauty regime based on the month of the year? The cold, dry winter air can be bad news for your skin and hair, so here's 9 tips for making sure you stay looking just as beautiful in December as you do in June. 1. Moisturise Frequently The winter air can quickly dry out your skin, so it is important to moisturise reguarly throughout the day. For an extra moisture boost you might also want to use a body lotion in the shower in the morning, which will help to lock extra moisture into your skin. 2. Cut Down On The Alcohol Don't worry, we don't mean the kind you drink! Hair and skin products with high alcohol content can strip away moisture, so they should be avoided where possible in the winter. 3. Turn Down The Water Temperature When you wake up on a winter morning and it's freezing cold while you wait for the heating to kick in it can be tempting to turn the wate

Did you know that if you had chicken pox as a child, the infection can stage a painful reappearance later in life in the form of herpes zoster -- better known as shingles? Your risk of shingles increases with age: As you get older, the virus can reactivate and migrate along the path of a nerve to the surface of the skin. This can cause severe burning or shooting pain, tingling and itching that's typically concentrated on one side of your body, usually on your chest or back, but sometimes on your face. Within a day or two, a rash of blisters may form in a band or strip pattern on your skin and persist for up to 14 days.   The immune system link.  Shingles is thought to be caused by a weakened immune system owing to aging or illnesses such as chronic lung or kidney disease and cancer. People with autoimmune diseases are at increased risk as well: Several studies suggest that immune-suppressing drugs used to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel synd

Everyone knows that it's unhealthy to be overweight or, especially, obese. But what if you are physically fit? Could fitness cancel out the health risks? Some studies suggest this, including a recent one in  Circulation . The study looked at 14,345 middle-aged men; 47 percent were overweight, another 10 percent obese. Those who maintained their cardiorespiratory (aerobic) fitness levels during a six-year period were 30 percent less likely to die over the next decade, notably from heart disease, or stroke, than those who became less fit; those who became fitter, 40 percent less likely. This was true regardless of their weight status. Simply put, overweight or obese men who became fitter, on average, fared as well as or better than lean men who became less fit. So fitness may trump weight when it comes to life expectancy. Some previous research found this is less true for women, however, and it may not apply to very obese people, who were underrepresented in this study. Sti

There have been thousands of studies on garlic, but its health effects remain something of a mystery. Garlic is a key part of the Mediterranean diet and many cuisines around the world. And it has been used medicinally since ancient times. Some people still eat it, at least in part, because they think it is good for them. But does it lower cholesterol, as well as fight cancer, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and the common cold, as it's touted to?   Allicin Wonderland Garlic contains interesting compounds that have been linked to many proposed health benefits. One is allicin, a sulfur compound formed in raw garlic after a clove is cut or crushed. Allicin is a major source of garlic's taste and smell. But not all scientists agree that allicin is the key ingredient, since it breaks down quickly into other compounds. And the enzyme that forms allicin can be destroyed if the whole clove is cooked before being cut (that's why cooked cloves tast