Daily Health News Blog

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer. Beginning at age 50, anyone with an average risk should be screened for this disease. If there is a family history of this type of cancer, your doctor will probably want to do this screening earlier. You may also have a higher risk if you have a personal history of colorectal polyps or chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Many people believe that colorectal cancer affects men more than women, but in fact, it is just as common among women as men. Colon cancer almost always starts with a small growth called a polyp. This can be removed by a doctor if detected early. If colon cancer does develop, it is highly treatable if found early, with a five year survival rate of 90 percent. Unfortunately, only 39 percent of cases are found at this early stage, making diagnostic testing so important.  What is the best way to prevent colon cancer? Besides screening, some lifestyle changes can help prevent this disease. Physically active adults are ...

(BPT) - Holidays are supposed to be fun. But the struggle to find the right gift can put a damper on even the happiest celebration. Good news: It doesn't have to be that way. With a few simple tips and tricks, learn how to take the stress and hassle out of shopping for presents and focus on the joy of giving. Lizzie Post, etiquette expert and paid Bank of America spokesperson, offers these simple tips for stress-free gifting: * Get creative: Not sure what to buy? Sometimes it's as simple as a little investigating on social media. Friends or family members often post clues on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest that indicate their interests or "must have" items. * Stay organized: Make a list of stores throughout the year where you've seen gift ideas and presents you'll want to purchase for the holidays. This will cut down on the number of trips you make to the mall. Also, keep blank cards on hand for any occasion, as well as envelopes and stamps, so th...

For those being treated for depression, and for those who suffer SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during the less sunny months of the year, the holidays can make coping with depression become more difficult. While people being treated for depression know the holidays should be a happy time, the additional stresses, hard on anyone, can be even worse for people battling depression. How To Cope With Depression During The Holidays Recognize your personal triggers, those things that heighten your depression. The Mayo Clinic staff has defined the following as major triggers: Relationships:  This trigger can be two-fold. While family tensions and misunderstandings stand out more during the holidays, especially when members spend several days together or attend the traditional gatherings, the absence of those same loved ones during the holidays can magnify feelings of loneliness. The key is finding a balance that works for you. Finances:  When you factor in additi...

If you've picked up a newspaper, surfed or watched TV recently, you've probably heard about Pinterest – the online photo pinboard and community. The new social media kid on the block is growing so quickly that its popularity has been touted as “Pinsanity”. The moniker for its success is well deserved; the site has more than 11 million unique visitors, and it's growing. It gets more referral traffic than YouTube, Linkedin and Google+. The demographics of the site are interesting too. Most of its users are young women. But what's the appeal? Think of it as an online scrapbook or inspiration board – minus time spent rifling through magazines and newspapers and cutting and pasting. You can share pins, re-pin from others and organize your boards by themes such as food, travel, home decor and personal style. Users can pin items from websites they like, using “Pin It” buttons on their browsers. In the wake of Pinterest’s success, many large corporations are...

If you hate the holiday season, you’re not alone. Research shows that a significant number of people actually become downright depressed as feelings of loss or loneliness, anxiety over money, and even stressful situations like parties take a toll.    Following are three timely tips to help you survive the season: Slow Down: One of the most commonly cited reasons for hating the holidays is the combination of pace and expectations. Everything from shopping to hosting a holiday party can quickly become overwhelming. Learn how to slow down. Have It Your Way: Sometimes the traditions that we know and love are the ones that bring back the toughest memories. Experts suggest replacing them with new memories by doing something different like going to the beach, splurging on a spa visit or pursuing other unique activity distinctly your own. Budget: Financial difficulties are another cause of holiday stress. Establish realistic expectations or simply opt out of gift giv...

With the holidays approaching, it’s time to make a list and check it twice. But after a tough economic year, everyone is trying to get the biggest bang for their buck. So how do you pick the perfect present? Planning and preparation are the keys. The following tips might also help: Personality Matters: Take the time to learn what friends are interested in, then use the information to form the foundation for your shopping list. Make the gift meaningful by giving something that enhances the person’s life or solves a problem. Dual Use: Gift ideas that fill more than one purpose are a great way to provide practical yet fun gifts, especially for college students or busy parents. Popular choices this season include MP3 players with built-in microphones, electronic reading devices like the wireless Kindle, and Portable Global Positioning System navigation devices.    A Little Luxury: Upgrade needed items by splurging on an extra-special version of common items. Fo...

Modern dietary wisdom recommends snacking between meals. Yet snacking on the wrong foods adds calories without providing nourishment. What we need are tasty, portable treats that satisfy without fattening.    What to Eat There are so many healthy snacks that the answer to “What do I eat?” is “Eat what you like.” Ideas are abundant online, with selections listed by food group and calorie count. Snacking information is commonly posted for students, who need constant streams of energy and have irregular habits.    You’ll find mention of fruit bars, dried apricots, popcorn cakes, celery with bean dip, pretzels dipped in mustard or chocolate syrup, baby carrots and cottage cheese, baked tortilla chips, frozen yogurt, spiced applesauce, animal crackers and dozens of others. There are brand-name snacks that get the nod, such as V8 100% Vegetable Juice, Fig Newtons and Del Monte Fruit Cups. Drying foods at home provides much scope for munching. A dehydrator ...