Sunday, November 25, 2012

Common Sleep Mistakes Can Wreak Havoc on Your Health, and Increase Risk of Migraines and Dementia

Sleep is such an important part of your overall health that no amount of healthful food and exercise can counteract the ill effects of poor sleeping habits. Researchers have linked poor sleep to a number of health ailments, from short-term memory loss and behavioral problems, to weight gain and diabetes, for example.
There are many reasons for not getting a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, most people tend to reach for a sleeping pill instead of doing the work to figure out what's got them tossing and turning.
The featured article lists1 10 common sleep mistakes you can address without drugs. Here are five of them:

  1. Using the snooze button. While a few minutes more in bed may be tempting, using the snooze button could backfire as interrupted sleep can increase your fatigue. It's best to just get up on the first alarm
  2. Irregular sleep schedule. A regular routine of going to bed and getting up around the same time each day will help promote better sleep, while constantly interrupting your schedule around can easily lead to insomnia and fatigue
  3. Taking long naps during the day
  4. Eating sugar before bedtime. Sugar alters the chemical balance in your body, which can contribute to impaired sleep
  5. Drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages too late in the day.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE

Friday, November 23, 2012

The Truth About Eggs – What Commercial Egg Farmers Don’t Want You to Know

A massive scale egg producer in Pennsylvania has made the news for inhumane treatment of chickens and unsanitary conditions.
 Kreider Farms, which houses seven million hens, appears to be the next sickening example of what allegedly happens behind the scenes at CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations).

The Humane Society recently released an undercover video that exposes the horrific conditions endured by the birds in this operation. This includes filthy living conditions, overcrowding with up to 11 birds per cage, dead birds apparently left untended, and a severe fly infestation capable of spreading salmonella across the chicken population...............CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE

Friday, November 16, 2012

How Fitness Protects Aging Brains

Aging Americans are experiencing cognitive decline in numbers never before seen. Alzheimer’s disease has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Consider these troubling statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association1:
  • 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s estimated that up to 16 million will have the disease by 2050.
  • One in eight Americans age 65 and over has Alzheimer’s. Every 68 seconds, another American develops Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the 5th leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older.
  • Alzheimer’s deaths increased by 66 percent between 2000 and 2008.
  • One in seven of the estimated 800,000 people with Alzheimer’s lives alone, left to fend for himself/herself............READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Your Waist Size Can Be a Powerful Predictor of Hypertension and Other Chronic Diseases



The size of your waistline may be the key to a long life, according to an observational study conducted by the Mayo Clinic1, involving nearly 13,000 Americans who were followed for about 14 years.......READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE

Friday, November 2, 2012

Regular Mammograms Save Lives for Women Older Than 50

An expert panel in the United Kingdom said this week that regular mammograms save lives for women older than 50. But that comes at a cost. Three women are treated for breast cancers that would not have harmed them for every life saved, the panel said. 

A review of research released this week found health benefits as a result of public smoking bans. It found that hospital stays for heart attacks and strokes drop in places with the bans. Another review published this week questioned the benefits of taking antidepressant drugs during pregnancy. It found that risks to the baby may outweigh the benefits. 

During the storm Sandy this week, New York University Langone Medical Center had to evacuate 300 patients. The exodus began after the power went off and backup generators failed. Researchers reported promising results this week for a new drug to reduce LDL cholesterol. People in the study already were taking a statin. Adding the new drug lowered LDL more than just raising the statin dose.