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‘Tis the season for the invasion of the germs. Seasonal flu usually peaks in late fall and can last until May 1st. According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), last years’ H1N1 virus spread worldwide, causing the first flu pandemic in over 40 years. While it’s hard to make it through an entire cold and flu season without so much as a sniffle, the following habits can minimize the chances [...]

What would you do if you were told that your favorite foods like pizza, pasta and muffins were making you seriously ill? That’s a reality for 1 out of every 133 people when they learn they have Celiac Disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder that causes potentially life threatening damage to the intestines when glutens are consumed. Found in products that contain wheat, barley and rye, glutens [...]

What do The View’s Elizabeth Hasselbeck and MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann share, other than television air time? Both have Celiac Disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder that affects an estimated 1 out of 133 people. When those with Celiac Disease eat certain types of proteins called glutens, their small intestine loses the ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients found in food, leading to malnutrition [...]

Hollywood actress Gloria Stuart passed away recently at the age of 100. Recognized by the current generation as the elder Rose in the movie Titanic, she retired from acting in 1940 only to stage a strong come back several decades later becoming the oldest Academy Award nominee in history.  She joins the ranks of fellow centenarian celebrity actors Bob Hope and George Burns who also had the stamina [...]

Busy schedules and never ending to-do lists make it easy to place a low priority on getting enough sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 60% of adults report feeling sleep deprived on a regular basis. Getting enough sleep and waking up feeling rested are as important as eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A good night’s [...]

A competitive spirit, the desire to stay physically fit, and a passion for the game are some of the reasons we love to participate in sports. Along with the many rewards, from victories earned to friendships forged, a major downside is the risk of a sports injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 7 million sports and recreation related injuries occur every year and more than [...]

When is a tummy ache a minor ailment or something more serious? Our appendix serves no vital purpose, but the small, narrow pouch that sits next to the large intestine can still cause problems. An obstruction caused by food waste or even a gastrointestinal infection can cause the inflammation that leads to appendicitis. Appendicitis occurs when the inflamed appendix swells and becomes infected. There [...]

Cafeterias, all-you-can-eat buffets and late night pizza deliveries are just a few of the temptations facing college freshman as they adjust to their new found freedom and life on their own for the first time. Weight gain and poor eating habits are the likely outcomes for many, but a growing number of college students, primarily females, suffer from eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia [...]

A nagging stomachache, diarrhea and nausea are symptoms that can lead to a number of different diagnoses from food poisoning to the stomach flu. Those symptoms can also indicate Colitis, an inflammation of the colon (large intestine) that can be caused by an infection, poor blood supply, or an autoimmune reaction. Additional symptoms can include abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody stools and fever. Because [...]

Whether he actually had wooden teeth is debatable, however it’s widely believed that George Washington died from peritonsillar abscess complications. Also referred to as PTA or quinsy, peritonsillar abscess is most often a complication of tonsillitis and occurs when an abscess forms next to one of the tonsils. The swollen abscess can cause the uvula, the soft tissue dangling from the back of the [...]