Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. It is a dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, and leaves of the plant Cannabis sativa. A stronger form of marijuana called hashish (hash) looks like brown or black cakes or balls. The many street names for marijuana include pot, herb, weed, grass, Jane, reefer, dope, and ganja.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Anabolic Steroid Abuse
Anabolic steroids are drugs such as testosterone or substances that work like testosterone. Doctors prescribe them to treat problems such as delayed puberty and other medical problems that cause the body to make very low amounts of testosterone. Steroids make muscles bigger and bones stronger. They also may cause puberty to start and can help some boys who have a genetic disorder to grow more normally.
Exercise: How to Get Started
Why should I exercise? Increased physical activity can lead to a longer life and improved health. Exercise helps prevent heart disease and many other health problems. Exercise builds strength, gives you more energy and can help you reduce stress. It is also a good way to curb your appetite and burn calories. READ MORE…
Blood Test May Spot Alzheimer's Before Symptoms Appear
A new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease is 96% accurate at identifying the disease and can perhaps detect it even before symptoms such as memory loss appear, says the test’s developer.
Male Pattern Baldness
An inability of stem cells in the scalp to develop into the type of cells that make hair follicles may be an underlying cause of male-pattern baldness, according to a new study.
Thinking About Pregnancy After Miscarriage?
Thinking about pregnancy after miscarriage? You may be feeling anxious or confused about what caused your miscarriage and when to conceive again. Here’s help understanding pregnancy after miscarriage, and the steps you can take to promote a healthy pregnancy.
Birth Control After Pregnancy
Being pregnant has many benefits. If you’re currently in the stage of nausea or vomiting, it may be harder to see those benefits — and if you’re close to your due date, you might think I’ve lost my mind! You could be right about my lost mind, but think about it. When you’re pregnant, you don’t have any periods and you don’t have to worry about birth control!
Steroids and Your Child
Stories about athletes and steroids seem to pop up regularly in the news. Some professional baseball players, cyclists, and track stars have been accused of — and in some cases have admitted to — using steroids to give them an edge competitively.
Scientist Sees Aging Cured
If Aubrey de Grey’s predictions are right, the first person who will live to see their 150th birthday has already been born. And the first person to live for 1,000 years could be less than 20 years younger.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Digestive Disorders and Fertility
Stephanie Cook Osheim, 36, was told years ago that she might never be able to get pregnant. But the Bossier City, Louisiana, resident is now a happy, stay-at-home mom with a 2-year-old daughter and a brand-new baby, born in August. “All my doctors told me it was unlikely that I’d conceive,” says Osheim, who was first treated for the serious gastrointestinal (GI) disorder Crohn’s disease in 2000.
Mom's Low Iron Levels Can Affect Her Baby's Lungs
Anemia caused by iron deficiency is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, with 9.3 percent of moms suffering from the disorder. But it’s not just the mother who’s affected by it. According to a new study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, being anemic during pregnancy can lead to asthmatic babies.
Birth Control Pills For Acne?
Yes, birth control pills (oral contraceptives) may improve acne in women. Birth control pills for acne are typically considered when acne doesn’t respond to other treatments, such as prescription medication.
Compulsive Exercise in Teens
Rachel and her cheerleading team practice three to five times a week. Rachel feels a lot of pressure to keep her weight down — as head cheerleader, she wants to set an example to the team. So she adds extra daily workouts to her regimen. But lately, she’s been feeling worn out, and she has a hard time just making it through a regular team practice.
Does Eating Late Make You Gain Weight?
Checking a clock may be as helpful as counting calories when it comes to controlling body weight, a new study suggests.
Childbirth Classes
Like painting the nursery or stocking up on disposable diapers, attending childbirth classes is often part of a couple’s preparation for a baby’s arrival. Although such classes differ in their focus and philosophy, they typically provide education about labor, delivery, and postpartum issues along with non-medication methods of managing the pain of childbirth, such as relaxation, breathing, and imaging (natural childbirth).
Is Your Child Too Busy?
These are typical explanations and complaints from kids and parents. Clearly, some kids have too much to do and not enough time to do it. And it’s hard to tell if it’s due to parents pushing or kids trying to keep up with their peers.
Breakfast Basics
You probably heard it from your own parents: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But now you’re the one saying it — to your sleepy, frazzled, grumpy kids, who insist “I’m not hungry” as you try to get everyone fed and moving in the morning.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Your Teen and Alcohol
It’s easy to underestimate how early underage drinking starts — sometimes even in the preteen years — as well as the amount of alcohol teens drink and the risks involved. Still, underage drinking isn’t inevitable. You can encourage your teen to avoid alcohol by talking to him or her about the risks of underage drinking and the importance of making good decisions.
What's in a Cigarette?
There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. When burned, they create more than 4,000 chemicals. At least 50 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are poisonous.
Middle-Aged Women Happier with Moderate Exercise
Middle-aged women encouraged to exercise at moderate intensity were much happier and more likely to continue working out than peers who exercised more intensely, according to a study.
Control Your Environment, Control Your Allergies
Families of kids with allergies should use environmental control measures that reduce exposure to the child’s allergy triggers. Some require few changes in the home, while others can be costly or fairly time-consuming.
Headaches
There are four types of headache: vascular, muscle contraction (tension), traction, and inflammatory. The most common type of vascular headache is migraine. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head, an upset stomach, and, at times, disturbed vision. Women are more likely than men to have migraine headaches. After migraine, the most common type of vascular headache is the toxic headache produced by fever. Other kinds of vascular headaches include “cluster” headaches, which cause repeated episodes of intense pain, and headaches resulting from high blood pressure. Muscle contraction headaches appear to involve the tightening or tensing of facial and neck muscles. Traction and inflammatory headaches are symptoms of other disorders, ranging from stroke to sinus infection. Like other types of pain, headaches can serve as warning signals of more serious disorders. This is particularly true for headaches caused by inflammation, including those related to meningitis as well as those resulting from diseases of the sinuses, spine, neck, ears, and teeth.
Is Your Antidepressant Making You Gain Weight?
Seeking help for depression — and following through with antidepressant medication — is a courageous and important first step on the road to recovery. But too often, those who take that step find themselves faced with another troubling problem:weight gain.
Safe Soaps and Cleansers for Acne
If you have acne, choosing the right cleanser can help rid your skin of the bacteria that make their way into clogged hair follicles and lead to breakouts. A thorough cleaning also removes dead cells on the surface of your skin, which makes it easier for your acne medication to be absorbed. READ MORE…
Can I Prevent Acne?
Contrary to what you may have heard, acne is not caused by dirty skin. Acne is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin and an accumulation of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, which leads to inflammation in pores.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The Difference Between Acute Pain and Chronic Pain
Pain is an uncomfortable feeling and/or an unpleasant sensation in the body. The presence of pain often is an indication that something is wrong. Pain can appear suddenly or can come about slowly.
Curry Spice Offers Hope for Tendinitis Pain
Curcumin, which gives the curry spice turmeric its bright yellow color, could be helpful in treating painful inflammatory conditions, such as tendinitis and arthritis, according to researchers at the University of Nottingham in the U.K. and Ludwig-Maxmillians University in Munich, Germany. Their studies show that curcumin can be used to suppress inflammation in tendon diseases.
Chronic Pain Medicines
Treatment of chronic pain usually involves medicines and therapy. Medicines used for chronic pain include pain relievers, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Different types of medicines help people who have different types of pain. You usually use long-acting medicines for constant pain. Short-acting medicines treat pain that comes and goes.
Five Fun Exercise Tips For College
Memorial Day has come and gone, and swimsuit season is in full swing, prompting many college students to up their workout routines and exercise regimes in anticipation of beach vacations and poolside weekends.
Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Alzheimer's
The evidence linking the most common form of diabetes and the risk for Alzheimer’s disease has been growing for years. New research recently released in the journal Neurology makes the case even stronger.
The Third Trimester
By the end of the second trimester, all of your baby’s organs and body parts are present and working correctly. Now everything needs to grow and mature.
The Second Trimester
The second trimester is week 13 through week 26 of your pregnancy. During this time, your baby continues to grow, develop and change almost daily.
The First Trimester
From the moment of conception to the time of delivery, your growing baby goes through several stages of development before he or she is ready to be born. Here’s what happens during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Friday, December 23, 2011
21 Ways to Boost Your Energy
Feeling rundown and foggy on the job? Does the prospect of an afternoon’s worth of housework seem unspeakably grim? It’s time for a break to refresh and boost your energy.
Do You Suppress Anger?
Anger is a very powerful emotion that can stem from feelings of frustration, hurt, annoyance, or disappointment. It is a normal human emotion that can range from slight irritation to strong rage.
After a Cesarean Delivery
Like any new mother, you’ll probably feel both euphoric about and overwhelmed by the new person in your arms. But you’ll also be recovering from major abdominal surgery while dealing with typical postpartum issues such as engorged breasts, mood swings, and vaginal discharge.
The Hour of Power - Motivating Kids to Be Active
Sixty minutes — that’s how much physical activity kids should get each day. But as kids get older, increasing demands on their time can make getting a full hour of exercise a challenge. And some kids get caught up in sedentary pursuits like watching TV and surfing the Internet. Even doing a lot of studying and reading, while important, can contribute to inadequate physical activity.
10 Ways to Improve Your Day in Just 5 Minutes
Five minutes. True, it’s not a heck of a lot of time. But it’s just long enough for you to do one thing — and maybe that one thing that will turn your day around.
Muscle Foods For Men
Want to look buff in your swimsuit this summer? Building abs and sculpting muscles starts in the kitchen before you ever hit the gym. Achieving muscle growth is a formula based on adequate calories, fluids, protein, and muscle-fatiguing strength training.
4 House Plants That Clean The Air
That pretty plant perched atop your windowsill may be doing more than just decorating your home. While they brighten up your living space, potted plants can also combat indoor pollution and boost your creativity. Read on to discover which plants will improve both your home and your wellbeing!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!
Being assertive is a core communication skill. Being assertive means that you express yourself effectively and stand up for your point of view, while also respecting the rights and beliefs of others. Being assertive can also help boost your self-esteem and earn others’ respect. This can help with stress management, especially if you tend to take on too many responsibilities because you have a hard time saying no.
An Unhealthy Diet Can Send Your Aging Process Into Overdrive
Did you look in the mirror this morning and think, “Wow, I look great?” Or instead, did you glance in the glass and think, “When did I get so old?”
Allergies
You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that don’t cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens. Your body’s overreaction to the allergens is what causes symptoms.
Do Fertility Herbs Work?
Infertility can be a difficult problem to treat, and modern interventions — while sometimes effective — can be expensive. So it’s not surprising that some people look to herbs and supplements as a possible alternative treatment to this vexing problem. However, there’s no compelling evidence for any herbal therapy or supplements as a treatment for infertility.
Will You Still Be Fertile in 5 Years?
Thinking of having another child? You may have less time than you imagine to conceive without difficulty. Still, you may be able to take steps now to improve your chances.
Why Fitness Matters
Exercise is an important part of a lifetime of good health! Exercising is also fun and is something you can do with friends. Regular exercise provides both mental and physical health benefits.
The link between academic success and sports for women and girls
Playing sports can help you through tough periods and put you on the path to a healthy adult life. The Women’s Sports Foundation has conducted research on the link between academic success and sports for women and girls. Their research shows that:
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Cooking With Kids
The kitchen can be a fascinating place for young children. They see grown-ups working briskly in there, watch the steam rise from pots on the stove, and smell what’s on the menu that night. Even older kids might be intrigued by how baked goods and meals come together. It isn’t always convenient to invite them into the kitchen to help, but consider doing so when time allows.
Is Your Daughter a Bully?
Because girls tend to bully in less obvious ways than boys, it is often hard to determine if your daughter is a bully. Talk to your daughter regularly and be on the lookout for signs of bullying, such as suddenly dropping a close friend.
Hazing
Hazing is when a group — like a club or a sorority — requires that others who want to join do certain things. Sometimes these things are silly and are not harmful, such as wearing crazy clothes or a lot of makeup. Other times, the people in charge of the group make the newcomers do dangerous and even life-threatening things, such as drinking too much alcohol.
If You See Someone Being Bullied
Whether or not you have been bullied, there are things you can do to stop bullying. The first thing you should do is to tell a teacher, nurse, or other trusted adult at your school if bullying happens at your school. This may seem like tattling, but it’s not. The victim of a bully is someone you can protect. By telling someone at school about bullying, you are protecting the victim the same as if you stood up to a bully yourself.
Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur in people who have been drinking heavily for weeks, months, or years and then either stop or significantly reduce their alcohol consumption.
Living in Denial
If you’re in denial, you’re not being realistic about something that’s happening in your life — something that might be obvious to those around you.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Pap Test
The Pap test, also called a Pap smear, checks for changes in the cells of your cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that opens into the vagina (birth canal). The Pap test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cervical cells, or cervical cancer.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread.
Get Tested For Cervical Cancer
The best way to prevent cervical cancer is to get regular Pap tests. A Pap test (sometimes called a Pap smear) is a screening test for cervical cancer. It’s done in a doctor’s office or clinic. READ MORE…
How Do Clinical Trials Work?
Clinical trials are research studies to test ways to detect, prevent or treat disease. You might have a family member involved in a clinical trial, or you might be considering whether a clinical trial is an option for you. Choosing to participate in a clinical trial can be a complex decision. You first need to understand what clinical trials are and how they’re used to test new treatments.
Do You Have Lower Back Pain?
When your lower back is achy and sore, everything you do — from reaching into a kitchen cabinet to bending over to pet the dog — can trigger an excruciating jolt of pain. At that time, it may feel as if nothing is more important than finding relief. Medications, like the ones listed in this guide, may help. But they should be used along with exercise and physical therapy for effective pain relief.
The Truth About Acne
People may tell you that eating French fries, chocolate, or pizza causes acne. But there is no proven link between diet and acne. Even intense stress does not cause acne, although it can make it worse.
How Pregnancy Can Affect Body Image
Some women welcome their pregnant bodies, while others are in complete shock over the different changes. Naturally, your body is going to be different than it was before you were pregnant. Hormone fluctuations will cause your uterus to expand, your breasts to grow, your feet to enlarge, and your skin to break out. You may suffer increased fatigue and incredible food cravings. Let’s not even mention varicose veins and mood swings!
Aerobic Exercise Beats Weights
For the eight-month study - published in the August 25 issue of the American Journal of Physiology -196 overweight and sedentary adults, ages 18 to 70, did aerobic training, resistance training, or a combination of the two. Study participants weren’t allowed to slack - aerobic exercisers had to jog 12 miles per week at 80 percent of their maximum heart rate, and resistance trainers had to lift weights for 8-12 reps, three times a week.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Women, Aging and Sexual Difficulties
Menopause and aging bring physical and emotional changes that can affect a woman’s sex life. As a woman ages, her vagina becomes shorter and narrower. The walls of the vagina also become thinner and a little stiffer. Most women will have less vaginal lubrication as they get older because estrogen levels drop greatly after menopause. Estrogen helps keep the vagina moist. Changing estrogen levels also might affect a woman’s desire for sex. Other factors that could affect sex drive or function in aging women include:
Antidepressants During Pregnancy
Deciding to continue or stop using antidepressants during pregnancy is one of the hardest decisions a woman must make. Untreated depression can have harmful effects on both the mother and the baby. But, taking antidepressants while pregnant may increase the risk of problems for the baby.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa, or anorexia, is a type of eating disorder that mainly affects adolescent girls and young women. A person with this disease has an intense fear of gaining weight and limits the food she eats. She:
Menstruation, Menopause and Mental Health
Hormones can affect a woman’s mood throughout her lifetime. Sometimes the impact on mood can affect a woman’s quality of life. Many times the symptoms that result can be managed with medicine and/or therapy.
Common Chemicals Threaten Male Fertility
A leading scientist has warned that chemicals found in many food, cosmetic and cleaning products pose a real threat to male fertility. Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council, says that these hormone-disrupting chemicals are “feminizing” boys in the womb, leading to rising rates of birth defects, testicular cancer, and low sperm counts.
Consider Your Family Tree When Trying to Conceive
You may have inherited your mom’s freckles, or your grandfather’s eyes—but do you know what else was passed down through the generations that you can’t see?
Are You Considering Cosmetic Surgery?
If you are considering cosmetic surgery, you must be honest with yourself. Why do you want surgery and what do you expect surgery to do for you? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there are two categories of patients who are good candidates for surgery:
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Minority Women's Health Issues
Lack of access to health care, language barriers, and discrimination are all factors contributing to minority health disparities. These issues are often greatly magnified in recent immigrants and migrant workers.
If You Have a Child With a Disability, You Are Not Alone
If you have a child with a disability, you are not alone. Millions of parents in the United States are raising children with disabilities. Many resources (including fellow parents) can help you along the way. Here are some tips for parents:
Should I Get a PSA Test?
Cancer screening tests - including the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to look for signs of prostate cancer - can be a good idea. Prostate cancer screening can help identify cancer early on, when treatment is most effective. And a normal PSA test, combined with a digital rectal exam, can help reassure you that it’s unlikely you have prostate cancer. But getting a PSA test for prostate cancer may not be necessary for some men, especially men 75 and older.
Lupus and Women
Lupus (LOO-puhss) is a chronic, autoimmune disease. It can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and other germs (“foreign invaders,” like the flu).
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Age Related Eye Problems
Age sometimes brings changes that weaken your eyes, but there are things you can do to maintain lifelong eye and overall health. The solution may be as simple as using brighter lights around the house to help prevent accidents caused by weak eyesight or seeing your doctor more frequently to screen for age-related diseases.
What The Heck is Plyometric Training All About?
Plyometrics - also known as jump training - is a training technique designed to increase muscular power and explosiveness. Originally developed for Olympic athletes, plyometric training has become a popular workout routine for people of all ages, including children and adolescents.
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