Daily Health News Blog

Sleep is a foundation of good health. When I treat patients, I always emphasize the importance of sleep whether one is recovering from a common cold or from major surgery. Why is sleep so important? Your body requires 7 to 9 hours of rest every night in order to repair and renew all its systems. When you don’t get enough sleep, you feel irritable, lack energy and are less able to cope with stressors. You may have tried lifestyle modifications like spending an hour before bed relaxing and unwinding, getting more exercise, or giving up caffeine after 4 p.m. If sleep is still a problem, you might turn to sleep aids. While these prescription and over-the-counter medications can be helpful to many, there is the possibility of becoming dependent on these substances. What Sleep Aids Do Various sleep aids may be obtained by prescription from your doctor. They work by helping you fall asleep or by helping you stay asleep. The most popular brand name drugs like Lunesta, Rozerem, Sonata

Your feet take a pounding every day. With every step you take, they bear the weight of your whole body. Yet people are often shy about problems they have with their feet and toes. I see it all the time in my practice. For whatever reason, people think they should be embarrassed by their feet. In some cases, this might cause you to delay getting help with a problem you’re having with your feet. For example, many people silently suffer through  ingrown toenail  pain, unsure what they can do about it and reluctant to ask for help. If you find yourself living with an ingrown toenail, or if you get recurrent ingrown nails, there are things you can do that will help your feet. Imagine being able to slip your feet into your shoes without wincing. Imagine being able to go on a long walk with your spouse without that throbbing ache in your toe when you’re done. You can put an end to ingrown toenails. But first, let’s look at what causes them to start with. Understanding Why Ingrown To

Alzheimer’s disease affects over 13 million people worldwide. Many of my patients fear this most common form of dementia, and with good reason. The disease is not completely understood, and it is not possible to predict who will fall victim. With treatment costs for Alzheimer’s topping 100 billion dollars in the United States alone, the medical community is eager to unlock the mysteries of this disease. In my review of recent studies on Alzheimer’s, I found plenty of promising news. A handful of studies show that your eating habits in middle age can have an effect on your Alzheimer’s risk. Some of you may already be consuming the foods that researchers believe can ward off the disease, particularly antioxidant-rich fruits. Fruit: The Proven Alzheimer’s Foe Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease of the brain. Many scientists believe that plaque build up causes nerve cell damage from oxidative stress. This leads to the decrease in cognitive function that characterizes Alzheimer’