|
|
Integrative Medicine » Phobias Current Stories |
Today's Featured Doctor |
 |
Seven Anxiety-Fighting Foods
Step aside, Prozac and Valium, and make way for some natural alternatives that, while they might not do as dramatic a job at relieving anxiety, certainly have the anxiety-relieving benefit that they have no nasty side effects whatever. Berries. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries - any berries at all are loaded with vitamin C and other beneficial plant chemicals that counteract the human stress hormone cortisol. And the carbohydrates they contain are the good, complex kind. The body breaks them down into sugar slowly, so you don't experience a blood-sugar crash. Read more about Seven Anxiety-Fighting Foods
|
|
 |
|
Want a Good Sex Life? Drugs to Avoid
Today's pharmaceuticals have saved many lives and improved the quality of life for millions. But almost all such drugs have side effects that range from the merely annoying to the downright ugly. Such is the case with four common classes of pharmaceuticals that have been shown to have a disruptive effect on our sex lives. Following are some highlights about these medications and some ways of avoiding their use. Read more about Want a Good Sex Life? Drugs to Avoid
|
|
|
|
The Medicine Called Sleep
Deep, adequate sleep is like a healing medicine to the body. But the opposite is true, too. In fact, consistently poor or insufficient sleep can contribute to diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and weight gain, according to experts at the Cleveland Clinic. Blood pressure, for example, rises and falls during sleep. But when sleep is interrupted, there can be an unhealthy impact on the blood pressure's normal variability, causing it to rise and setting off problems with the heart and arteries. Read more about The Medicine Called Sleep
|
|
|
|
Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia
There is new hope for the millions of americans suffering from fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain, stiffness and fatigue for unknown reasons. It affects between three and six percent of Americans, mainly women. Treating the disorder using western medicine can be frustrating. This is why many are now turning to old, eastern medicine for an answer. Read more about Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia
|
|
|
|
Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There
A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people constantly worry about numerous things, and more than half feel they worry more now than five years ago. Half of the people surveyed this year, which is 6% more than in 2006, claimed they were more worried about their health and their family's health than about other concerning issues such as climate change or terrorist attacks. The survey finds that almost three quarters of people worry, but around 19% admit to worrying all the time or about a number of things. Read more about Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There
|
|
|
|
Rapid Rise in "Complementary" Medical Services
 Have you been to a practitioner besides your family physician? Whether chiropractic care, acupuncture, yoga or homeopathy, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has become increasingly common in the United States, and 72% of adults use some form of CAM therapies according to the US National Centers for Disease Control and US National Center for Health Statistics. A recent cover story in The New York Times Magazine highlighted how chronic pain tends to be under treated because doctors worry about over prescribing medications, and being liable for malpractice or even criminal penalties. Many doctors fear entering the field of pain management at all. Many patients are also concerned about becoming dependant on medication or about the invasiveness and dangers of surgery and anesthesia. CAM therapies, which are able to treat pain and help manage diseases without medication or surgery, are rapidly growing services as people search out better, safer approaches. So how effective are Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies?
Read more about Rapid Rise in "Complementary" Medical Services
|
|
|
|
Health Wrap:Snoring, Fetuses and Pain
A new study finds that habitual snoring in women is strongly tied to body mass index—a marker of fatness-- and age. Overall, 7.6 percent of women snore. The frequency of snoring reaches its peak in women ages 50 to 59. Frequent snoring was found to increase with alcohol dependence, smoking and physical inactivity. -- Read more about Health Wrap:Snoring, Fetuses and Pain
|
|
|
|