Daily Health News Blog

Wrinkles can be defined as- A small furrow, ridge, or crease on a normally smooth surface, caused by crumpling, folding, or shrinking. A line or crease in the skin, as from age. A clever trick, method, or device, especially one that is new and different. A problem or imperfection; a fault. What are the causes of Wrinkles? Some known causes of Wrinkles are- Cigarette smoke produces oxygen-free radicals and is known to accelerate wrinkles and aging skin disorders. A 2001 study also found that smokers have considerably higher levels of metalloproteinases than non-smokers, which may help account for the skin-aging effects of smoking. Air pollution. Ozone, a common air pollutant, may be a particular problem for the skin. One study reported that it might deplete the amount of vitamin E in the skin; this vitamin is an important  anti  oxidant. Rapid weight loss can also cause wrinkles by reducing the volume of fat cells that cushion the face. This not only makes a person loo

Stevia is the common name for extracts from the plant Stevia rebaudiana. In the U.S., a purified component form of the plant — called rebaudioside A (rebiana) — is "generally recognized as safe" by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may be used as an artificial sweetener in foods and beverages. Refined stevia preparations (Pure Via, Truvia, others) are considered nonnutritive sweeteners and, as such, may appeal to people trying to lose weight. But there's no evidence that they offer an advantage for weight loss over other artificial sweeteners. In addition, these highly refined stevia extracts may cause mild side effects, such as nausea or a feeling of fullness. The FDA hasn't approved whole-leaf stevia or crude stevia extracts for use as food additives because of concerns about possible health effects. In particular, the FDA has concerns about the effects of whole-leaf or crude stevia on blood sugar control, the kidneys, and the cardiovascular and rep

I drink diet soda every day. Could this be harmful? Drinking a reasonable amount of diet soda a day, such as a can or two, isn't likely to hurt you. The artificial sweeteners and other chemicals currently used in diet soda are safe for most people, and there's no credible evidence that these ingredients cause cancer. Some types of diet soda are even fortified with vitamins and minerals. But diet soda isn't a health drink or a silver bullet for weight loss. Although switching from regular soda to diet soda may save you calories in the short term, it's not yet clear if it's effective for preventing obesity and related health problems. Healthier low-calorie choices abound, including water, skim milk, and unsweetened tea or coffee. Answer from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

Fitness doesn't have to be drudgery. These tips can help you add focus and fun to your routine. Have you ever started a fitness program and then quit? If you answered yes, you're not alone. Many people start fitness programs but stop when they get bored or results come too slowly. Here are seven tips to help you stay motivated. 1. Set goals Start with simple goals and then progress to longer range goals. Remember to make your goals realistic and achievable. It's easy to get frustrated and give up if your goals are too ambitious. For example, if you haven't exercised in a while, a short-term goal might be to walk 10 minutes a day three days a week. An intermediate goal might be to walk 30 minutes five days a week. A long-term goal might be to complete a 5K walk. 2. Make it fun Find sports or activities that you enjoy, then vary the routine to keep you on your toes. If you're not enjoying your workouts, try something different. Join a volleyball or

Is it possible to be overweight because of a slow metabolism? Probably not. There is such a thing as a slow metabolism. But slow metabolism is rare, and it's usually not what's behind being overweight or obese — that's usually a matter of diet and exercise. Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. Even when you're at rest, your body needs energy for functions such as breathing, circulating blood and repairing cells. The number of calories your body uses for these basic functions is known as your basal metabolic rate (BMR). Several factors determine your basal metabolic rate: Your body size and composition.  If you weigh more or have more muscle mass, you will burn more calories, even at rest. So overweight people are more likely to have a faster metabolic rate — not a slower one. Your sex.  If you're a man, you probably have less body fat and more muscle mass than does a woman of the same age, so you burn

No on both counts. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised consumers to steer clear of over-the-counter weight-loss products that contain HCG. HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced during pregnancy. As a prescription medication, HCG is used mainly to treat fertility issues. HCG is not approved for over-the-counter use, nor has it been proved to work for weight loss. Companies that sell over-the-counter HCG weight-loss products are breaking the law. So why has there been so much talk about the HCG diet? Perhaps it's because the diet recommends severe calorie restriction — typically just 500 to 800 calories a day. People who follow such a very low calorie diet are likely to lose weight, at least in the short term. However, that level of calorie restriction has risks, such as gallstone formation, irregular heartbeat, and an imbalance of the electrolytes that keep the body's muscles and nerves functioning properly. If weight loss is you

- About 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States each year, making it the leading cause of death for men and women. - Every year about 935,000 Americans have a heart attack. - Coronary heart disease costs the United States $109 billion each year, including the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity. - Only 27 percent of people are aware that there are other warning signs of a heart attack besides chest pain. - About 47 percent of Americans have at least one of the three major warning signs for heart disease: high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking. Source: CDC

Q:   I take Tylenol PM to help me sleep. Are there any risks, such as liver damage, from taking it every day? A:  Yes. Such nighttime pain relievers contain a “first generation” antihistamine (usually diphenhydramine), which causes drowsiness. Unless you need a pain reliever, you’re better off skipping the Tylenol (acetaminophen) and just taking the antihistamine (such as Benadryl or a generic). That’s what’s in most over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids (such as Sominex or Unisom). Acetaminophen can indeed cause liver problems if taken in high doses and/or with alcohol. It’s easy to inadvertently get harmful amounts, since acetaminophen is found in many headache and cold/flu remedies and other OTC drugs. It can also interact with certain other medications. Nighttime pain relievers such as Advil PM and Motrin PM contain ibuprofen along with the antihistamine. Ibuprofen also has potential side effects, so don’t take it in a sleep aid unless you also need pain relief. More

In greatly enlarged photographs, dust mites look like something from a horror movie. Invisible to the naked eye, mites inhabit more than 80 percent of all U.S. households, no matter how clean and neat. They are actually on the clean­up committee: they eat our discarded skin cells, as well as ani­mal dander, pollen, fungi, bacteria and other microscopic organic material in the domestic environment. They thrive in mattresses, pillows, carpets and clothing. Thousands of mites can live in just one gram of dust. Dust mites don’t carry disease and don’t bite, fortunately, but they can trigger asthma, hay fever and skin reactions in some people. In fact, dust mites are prob­ably the most common indoor allergen, especially in warm, humid climates and for people with asthma. They are virtually non­existent in very dry climates. There’s a surprising amount of debate about how to reduce dust mites and the symptoms they cause. In recent years, much of the conventional wisdom has been

What’s baking soda doing in your toothpaste, deodorant, antacid and refrigerator? Also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda, baking soda is often employed as a leavening agent, since it’s involved in the chemical reaction that causes dough to rise. But this household staple has hundreds of uses. Baking soda is somewhat alkaline—that is, it has a pH above 7 and thus helps neutralize acids, including acidic scent molecules. That’s why baking soda comes in handy in the following (and surprising) ways: An open box of baking soda can help deodorize a refrigerator or room. You can make an air freshener by mixing baking soda and water in a spray bottle. It has various uses in cooking, not just baking. Adding a pinch to the soaking water of beans speeds the cooking process and helps reduce compounds that cause flatulence. A pinch added to tomato sauce while cooking, or coffee while brewing, reduces acidity. It’s also an effective meat tenderizer, since it breaks down p