Sexual Health & the presence of Viagra!

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Sexual desire is one of the most intrinsic part of our life and the most beautiful. It is difficult to suppress such desires but, certain sexual health conditions in men do not go in their favor. Men’s sexual health is not merely the absence of disease or dysfunction but also a positive approach to physical and emotional well-being related to sexuality. Sexual health in men involves conditions like physical issues, to reproductive and sexual functioning issues, to the effects of outside influences on male sexual health as well as pleasure.

Erectile dysfunction (E.D) commonly referred to as impotence, is a persistent condition where a man's penis will consistently not achieve erection or stay erect long enough to meet his sexual needs and/or the needs of his partner. Since its conception and approval by FDA in 1998, Pfizer Inc.’s brand drug Viagra has been a blessing to men suffering from the trauma of erectile dysfunction. Slidenafil citrate, the principal component in Viagra helps in the relaxation of arteries and improves the flow of blood to the penis thus facilitating a sustained erection, necessary for sexual intercourse.

Cellulite Removal Exercises

Cellulite is an embarrassment for many women. However, women need not fret, as there are cellulite removal exercises which help to get rid of the unwanted cellulite from the body. Let us discuss some of the cellulite removal exercises.

Cellulite is nothing but the fat cells that bulge out of the skin. It is present in the connective tissue of the skin and creates an unattractive and dimpled surface. As obesity increases, the cellulite in the body increases. There are many different ways to get rid of cellulite, however, exercising is the best way to get rid of cellulite. Exercise for cellulite removal tones the muscles and helps getting rid of the unwanted fat. As you lose weight, the cellulite also decreases. Now, you must be wondering, what are the type of exercises for cellulite removal. Let us take a look at what type of cellulite removal exercises. Read more on how to get rid of cellulite.

Lotensin

Lotensin

Generic Name: benazepril (ben AY ze pril)

What is the most important information I should know about Lotensin?

Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Lotensin could cause birth defects in the baby if you take the medication during pregnancy. Use an effective form of birth control. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can further lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of benazepril. Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking benazepril, unless your doctor has told you to.

What Healthy International Foods Do You Wish You Could Buy Here?

When I was in Paris in 2004, I fell in love with French yogurt--creamy, thick, tangy, and oh so much better than the American varieties. And then there were the little bananas I discovered on my honeymoon in Tahiti (the ones that taste exactly like lemon-vanilla custard--really). So, say that food manufactures read this blog (hey, they might!), let's tell them what they should start importing for us, ASAP!

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Does it ever seem like there are more exciting--even more nutritious--food products released in other countries, while we just keep getting barraged with more 90-cal snack packs? For instance, Pepsi just launched two interesting-sounding beverages in Japan: Pepsi White (a cola and yogurt drink) and Pepsi Ice Cucumber.

Sexual Intercourse - How to Make Love Whole night!

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Your Happiness: Are You Best Friend-less?

Do you have a best friend? No, not your boyfriend or your sister (though these are great stand ins!). I'm talking about the woman (or man) in your life--the friend--whom you have bestowed the hallowed title of "best friend." More thoughts on BFFs and our happiness after the jump ...

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I have an army of fabulous, supportive and wonderful female friends, but I don't consider any of them "best." Truth is, I'm a little gun shy about best friends after a horrible best friend blowup several years ago (and "blowup" is actually an understatement). But I can't help but wonder--especially when I hear people talking about "my best friend" this, or "my best friend" that--if I'm missing out. (And this photo slideshow of Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox-Arquette's long-running friendship doesn't help!)

Would You Ever Consider Permanent Birth Control Like This Celeb?

We've talked here about whether kids are in your future, whether motherhood = happiness, and the "lies" women tell each other about pregnancy and motherhood (check out the heated discussion in the comments section!). But what about birth control? Condoms and pills aside--would you ever consider permanent birth control, as in no going back? Find out which celeb is ruling out more babies--forever...

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Former Bachelorette star Trista Sutter--married to cutie-pie Ryan--has a 20-month-old son and recently delivered a baby girl. She tells US Magazine that she's done having children and will soon have a permanent birth control procedure to seal the deal.

Which Do You Prefer: Chocolate or Vanilla?

It's the age-old question: When it comes to flavor, are you a chocolate or a vanilla gal? As much as I love chocolate, and I really do, I tend to lean toward vanilla (check out this recipe for "hot vanilla"). Guess which flavor America prefers after the jump...

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According to one recent survey (don't click this link unless you're full--the cookies you'll see in the photo will make you get up out of your seat and head to a bakery), Americans overwhelmingly go for chocolate. (Here's a story I wrote a few years ago about how--exactly--to make sure the chocolate you choose is the healthy kind...yep, not all qualifies as healthful. And, be sure to read this Glamour article about chocolate dos and don'ts.

What Color Describes Your Mood Right Now? Here's What It Says About You

Before you click through to read this post, I want you to pick a color that describes how you feel right now. Are you thinking of a color? OK, here's what scientists say it could mean about your health and happiness ...

Green with jealousy. "Seeing red" because you're angry. Color has long been associated with mood. But now a new study published in the journal MBC Medical Research Methodology adds a little more to the topic.

Of the respondents in the study, those who were happiest chose the color yellow--bright yellow--to describe their moods. (Hello sunshine!) Those who were depressed and anxious more often chose dark blue or gray. Important to note: "A light blue is not associated with a poor mood, but a dark blue is," said the lead researcher. "The shade of color is more important than the color itself." (Interesting, huh?)

Tone Your Tummy With This Ballet Move

Do you want a toned tummy? Who doesn't, right? These abs of mine have survived two pregnancies and an awful muscle tear at a fitness boot camp last summer. Time for some tummy love! Here's an awesome little (ballet!) move you can do at your desk (or near your desk) whenever you think about it to strengthen your abs ...

WomansDay.com recently featured a piece on various moves to tone your belly, and I took note! My dears, 2010 is the year I plan to get my stomach back. Let me be clear, I have plenty of love and gratitude for this belly of mine, which gave me two beautiful children. No complaints there! But, would I be glad to get these abs back to the mostly fit and toned place they were at pre-kids? Oh yeah.

Human Anatomy – Bladder

After urine is formed in the kidney, it goes down to the urinary bladder for storage. This organ lets you control when and where you want to urinate.

Voluntary muscles line the bladder, which is located at the rear of the pelvic bone. The bladder muscles can expand to hold as much as 600 mL of urine. Emptied of urine, the bladder looks like a pear-shaped sac.

Whenever you urinate, the bladder’s muscles undergo a contraction, opening a pair of valves or sphincters for the urine to flow out. Urine then gushes down the urethra, which excretes the liquid out of the body.

Bladder conditions and diseases

Human Anatomy – Liver

One of the most vital human organs, the liver is essential for filtering the blood from the digestive system before relaying it to the body. The liver is also designed to metabolize medicines and detoxify chemicals. Furthermore, it forms proteins essential for blood clots, among others.

It is situated on the right side of the abdomen, protected by the ribcage. Brown to red in appearance, the liver is heavy, all 3 pounds of which are divided into the left and right lobes.

Under the liver are other important organs like the pancreas and intestines. The latter receive bile produced in the liver.

Human Anatomy – Gallbladder

Bile, a substance manufactured in the liver, is used by the body to digest fats and absorb them into the bloodstream. It is stored in the organ known as the gallbladder.

Located just below the liver, the gallbladder appears like a deflated balloon after a meal. Before meals, bile blows the gallbladder up, which then looks like a pear.

Nerves signal the gallbladder whenever the body needs bile. The bile then drains through ducts onwards to the small intestine.

Gallbladder diseases and conditions

Due to unknown causes, bile can solidify in the gallbladder, creating gallstones (cholelithiasis). Fortunately, gallstones are not always harmful.

19 Keys to a Happy Relationship

As I ponder the years of my marriage to my husband of 13 years, I really get to thinking on why we stay together and what makes it work for us? I chose a partner that I can’t control, and who has really taught me about love, forgiveness, and not to take things personally. I don’t make it a habit to give advice but I will share the things that work for us and I think are helpful in all relationships.

1. Respect

I never talk to my husband in a snippy or bossy way. One he wouldn’t accept that from me, and two years ago he told me he had a Mother and she passed away. Got that message loud and clear.

Human Anatomy – Pancreas

Pancreas refers to a six-inch long gland at the back of the belly, just at the rear of the stomach. This organ is made up of cells called islets, which secrete the vital enzymes insulin and glucagon. These enzymes maintain healthy levels of glucose, a kind of blood sugar.

A pancreas is linked to the duodenum or the first part of the small intestine via a tubular structure named the pancreatic duct.

People have varying sizes of pancreas. In some, the pancreas may be larger than usual. This is normal, though enlarged pancreas may signal a condition.

Pancreas diseases and conditions

A pancreas must keep producing insulin, lest diabetes wreaks havoc on the body. Among the most fearsome diseases in the world, diabetes arises from undermined pancreas. There are two types of diabetes.

Stick A Fork In Us, We're Done!

4 Undeniable Signs That Your Marriage Is Over

Things haven't been so great between you and your hubby lately…well, let's face it…it's bad. Being that you took vows to stay together for better or worse / 'til death do you part, you may be wondering if this is just a rough patch or if it is really and truly over.

Presiding judge on television's, Divorce Court (and a Hybrid Mom), Judge Lynn Toler, gives you four tell-tale signs that your marriage has undeniably run its course.

1. 1. When a couple begins to live around one another as opposed to with one another. They are completely disengaged.

I Love You, But I Am Not IN LOVE With You

Last week I saw six couples. The majority of them were trying to make their relationship better. One of the couples is struggling with the feeling that the marriage is dying. During the session, the wife turned to the husband and said the 10 dreaded words, "I love you, but I am not IN LOVE with you." This means different things to different people, but to this woman's husband it meant the marriage was over. It meant that she no longer saw the man she once did when she looked at him. As the therapist, it meant restoring this marriage would take action and it had to begin now. It also meant that this woman was ready to face an ultimatum. She pulled out her big gun. She knew that by saying this, her husband would take notice and pay attention. She knew how to say, “I am ready to walk if you cannot change.” The truth is, they both have to change or their marriage will not survive.

7 Habits that Hurt Your Marriage

I was once so unhappily married that I planned my husband’s funeral on the off chance he might conveniently drop dead. During that time in my marriage, I was convinced that our problems were all his fault. If I could just get someone to fix him and turn him into a good husband? I was convinced everything would be fine.

We eventually worked on and improved our marriage. Today we’re happy. It was during that process, however, that I learned something dreadful. It was this: I was to blame for some of our problems. I’d contributed to our bad marriage by practicing the following bad habits.

1. The Silent Treatment. I’d failed time and time again to tell him what I wanted, what I was thinking, how I felt, and how his actions (or inactions) affected me. Once I started speaking up for myself, our marriage improved.

If Your Wife is the "Looker" you May Have a Happier Marriage

Most of my girlfriends are cuter than their husbands. We don’t talk about it. We accept it. Sometimes the guys look pretty good, but they never look as good as we do. We like it and we feel adored. What about those wives who marry guys who are better looking than they are? These are the ones we all talk about. “How did she get him?” or “Wow…she got herself a real looker”. We take it for granted when it’s the other way around, so it impresses us when we see a not so cute woman with a gorgeous man. Research from the Journal of Family Psychology reveals that how attractive a person is compared to their partner is very important immediately and after years of marriage. It is also the reason women choose not to date or marry men who are better looking than they are.

Judge Lynn Toler's Guide to Divorcing Through The Holidays

The holidays can be a difficult time for families with divorced parents. There can be a lot of stress on everyone involved even with the best of co-parenting arrangements. But what if you aren't divorced yet? Divorce Court's Judge Lynn Toler gives us tips on how to survive the holidays while in the process of divorcing.

Lynn TolerThe holidays can be a difficult time for families with divorced parents as you determine when and where and on what days the kids will spend with mom and dad. There still can be a lot of stress on everyone involved even with the best of co-parenting arrangements. But what if you aren't divorced yet? Maybe just separated. Maybe even still living in the same house! How do you survive the stress of the holidays while in the process of divorcing?

Ladies "Just Say No" To Holiday Driving With Your Man Aboard!

Holidays should be experienced in good spirits. During this time of year, we strive to usher in the New Year with resolutions of peace, harmony and good health. Driving in the car with your husband or male counterpart is the antithesis of this premise—on all fronts. In fact, it may lead to health concerns due to the accumulated stress involved, so my best advice? Just say no.

Stupidly, I offered to help my husband out with the driving en route home from our five-day stint to Disney World. He was complaining about his back, neck, had emails to answer, newspapers to read and I wanted to help him out a little.

What We CAN Change

My friend Rich came over to my office last week and we had a wonderful and authentic conversation about what’s going on in each of our lives right now. I’m so grateful to have people in my life like Rich whom I can talk to and get real.

Authenticity creates freedom and having people around us we can truly be ourselves with is so important.

Rich and I talked vulnerably about our relationships, our challenges, the things we’re most excited about, and some stuff we’d both like to change about ourselves and our lives.

As we were talking, Rich shared a great email with me he’d recently received about change:

The Importance of Celebrating

How do you feel about celebrating? If you’re anything like me and most of the people I know, you probably enjoy it.

However, I notice that as much as I like to celebrate, I sometimes find it challenging as well. Here are some of the reasons that I use not to do it:

* I don’t have the time or money to celebrate right now, there’s work that needs to get done

* Things aren’t yet as good as they “should” be for me to stop and celebrate

* People will think I’m weird, naive, or obnoxious if I celebrate too much

* With so much suffering in the world and people having a tough time these days, it’s not appropriate for me to celebrate

What is phentermine?

What is phentermine and how to use it?

In this article you will come to know about what is phentermine?
Phentermine is a drug that is used to control obesity and
also as a weight loss medication. A large number of people in this
world are suffering with overweight and finding an easy way to
lose their weight. If you are also one of them, then
phentermine is one of the best options you can go for. These drugs
have proved very successful in controlling obesity without any
major side effects. There are different types of phentermine diet
pills available in the market and have different roles to play in
losing weight. It’s better to consult a doctor before choosing any
of the phentermine diet pills as he can suggest you the best pill
suitable for your body.

The Power of Empathy

Empathy is one of the most important aspects of creating harmonious relationships, reducing stress, and enhancing emotional awareness - yet it can be tricky at times. I consider myself to be quite empathetic, but notice that with certain people (especially those I don’t like or agree with and also with myself at times) and in particular situations, my natural ability and desire to empathize can be diminished or almost non-existent.

I also notice that when I feel empathy for others and for myself, I feel a sense of peace, connection, and perspective that I like. And, when there is an absence of empathy in a particular relationship, situation, or in how I’m relating to myself, I often experience stress, disconnection, and negativity. Can you relate?

Why is This Happening FOR Me?

Do you ever ask yourself the question, “Why is this happening to me?” Most of us do, especially when things aren’t going the way we want them to or we’re dealing with something that’s difficult or painful.

A few years ago I was talking to my friend Brian about this and he said, “If you change the word ‘to’ to the word ‘for’ in that question, it can change your life.” When Brian said this, it really resonated with me and I never forgot it.

Instead of asking ourselves, “Why is this happening TO me?” we could instead ask, “Why is this happening FOR me?” Wow - there’s a world of difference in those two questions. The first one leads us down a path of victimhood, martyrdom, or feeling as though there’s something wrong with us. The second one takes us in a direction of deeper growth, awareness, appreciation, responsibility, and healing.

Human Anatomy – Spleen

Spleen refers to that fist-like organ situated to the left of your stomach, in the upper left of your abdomen. Usually 4 inches long and colored purple, the spleen has several vital functions.

In a healthy lifestyle, the spleen is crucial for filtering the blood; through it, red blood cells are recycled. Also, the spleen stores white blood cells and platelets.

Other than its importance to the blood, the spleen is invaluable to the body for keeping pneumonia and meningitis causing bacteria at bay.

Some people have a tiny additional spleen, but this is not abnormal.

Common spleen conditions

Because the spleen is protected by the ribcage, you could feel your spleen only when it is enlarged, which is not a normal condition. An enlarged spleen, also known as splenomegaly, may be the result of any of several underlying conditions: liver disease, lymphoma, leukemia and mononucleosis.

What Baseball Can Teach Us About Life

With all the excitement of the playoffs and the World Series (which, thanks to the success of the San Francisco Giants, we get to experience directly here in the Bay Area), I’ve been thinking about, watching, and appreciating the great game baseball a lot these past few weeks. As someone who spent eighteen years of my life (from the age of seven until the age of twenty five) playing organized baseball and who has been a huge fan all my life, the game has taught me a great deal.

Whether you’ve played (or still play) baseball yourself, watch it as a fan, or even if you don’t particularly like it, understand it, care about it, or think it’s boring (which I know some people do), the game of baseball can teach us so many important things about life.

Lessons in Teamwork from the SF Giants

I have been so excited and inspired by this year’s baseball post-season and the big World Series victory by the San Francisco Giants. As a Bay Area native, a lifelong baseball fan, and someone who has been fortunate enough to have the Giants as a client this year, of course I was rooting for them with passion.

The fact that the Giants had not won a World Series since moving from New York to San Francisco (in 1958) and that we haven’t had a major sport championship here in the Bay Area since the 49ers won the Super Bowl in 1994, made it that much more exciting and meaningful.

But, the biggest reason I’ve so excited and inspired this year is because of this incredible San Francisco Giants TEAM. I’ve probably followed this season and this team as closely as any other sports team or season in my entire life – and, for me, that’s saying a lot. With their great young pitching staff, cast of interesting and unique characters, and lack of huge superstars and egos, I liked them a lot, right from the start of the season – and began to fall in love with them as the season went on. It wasn’t simply because they won games, which they did (although not excessively or even impressively at times); it was how they won their games and, more important, how they played the game and worked as a team that impressed me most.

How to Move Through Your Fear

Fear is something that we all experience, especially on our journey toward deeper authenticity, fulfillment, and success in life. Being who we really are, expressing ourselves boldly, and going for what we want in life can cause a great deal of fear in us.

I get scared all the time - especially when I’m taking risks, doing new things, and putting myself out there. When I was younger I thought there was something really wrong with me because I would get so nervous - in sports, in school, in social settings, and more. I now understand that everyone else experiences their own version of the same basic fears I have (being judged, making mistakes, looking bad, failing, disappointing others, and more). It’s just part of being human.

Step Out of Your Box

One of our greatest sources of authentic power in life comes from our willingness and ability to act - especially in the face of obstacles and fear. To be truly successful and fulfilled, we must challenge ourselves to take bold and courageous actions and to go for what we want. Legendary author Ray Bradbury said, “First you jump off the cliff and then you build your wings on the way down.”

In the summer of 1998 I was in the midst of a major life transition. I’d blown out my pitching arm a little over a year earlier and had gotten released by the Kansas City Royals that March. I was home in Oakland, CA collecting workers comp insurance (and not working), recovering from simultaneous elbow and shoulder surgery that I’d had at the start of that summer, reeling from what was sure to be the end of my dream of becoming a Major League baseball player (even after my arm rehab was completed), and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life.

How to Have a Great Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving upon us, I’ve been thinking about my own love/hate relationship to this great holiday. It can be a wonderful celebration of gratitude, appreciation, and family connection. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving also tends to be about feeling obligated to spend time with the people we’re “supposed” to, eating too much food and feeling guilty about it, and pretending to be grateful when we’re actually annoyed and stressed out.

What if we could make this Thanksgiving less stressful, more fun, and actually be able to enjoy ourselves, appreciate our family and friends (even the ones who drive us nuts), and focus on what we’re grateful for in a genuine way?

When You Fall Down, Get Back Up

Have you ever seen a small child learn how to walk? If you have, you know what a remarkable experience it is. I’d heard about this, but had never witnessed it first hand until Samantha, our (almost) five year old, took her first real steps when she was just over a year. She and I were playing in our family room one night and although she’d taken a step or two here and there, and could get around okay while holding onto an adult or a piece of furniture, she hadn’t really “walked” yet.

That night I was holding her hands and pulling her across the room with me, as she took some steps. I decided to let go to see what would happen. I did and she took a step or two and then fell down, face first, on the soft carpet. She was fine. She looked up at me and although she couldn’t speak, she made it very clear that she wanted me to pick her up so she could try again. I did and this time when I let go she took about four or five real steps and then fell down. I screamed, “You did it!”, started clapping wildly, and yelling for my wife Michelle to come into the room.

Hysterectomy Options – Alternatives To Hysterectomy

By the time they reach age 60, about 1/3 of American women would have had some form of pelvic disorder at some point in their lives. Of these women, over 20 million have elected to have their uterus removed through hysterectomy to relieve themselves of pelvic disorder symptoms.

If you are currently suffering from painful menstrual cramps with excessive bleeding or you were diagnosed with fibroids in your uterus or are suffering from endometriosis, you should know that there are now options to hysterectomy.

Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are tumors usually found on the smooth muscles of the uterus. Though most of the time found to be benign, these tumors cause pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. In worst cases, it could lead to infertility. The cause of uterine fibroids remains a mystery but they are known to be the major contributor to the big number of hysterectomies in any given year.

A Second Look at Hysterectomy

About a year ago, Diane used to complain that she was always suffering from unbearable cramps and heavy periods. When she finally had herself checked she found out there was something wrong with her uterus and bladder, which explains the abdominal discomfort she was always feeling. The prognosis was promising but her doctor told her she needed a hysterectomy.

Aside from a heavy period and menstrual discomfort, indications that necessitate hysterectomy are uterine fibroids, severe vaginal bleeding, uterine prolapse, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain and uterine or cervical cancer.

Scared of surgeries, Diane sought a second opinion. Unfortunately the second opinion she got did not give a different recommendation, but the second doctor did offer a better and less invasive procedure than the typical hysterectomy. It was laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Hysterectomy 101

Hysterectomy is the most common non-obstetrical surgical procedure done in the United States wherein a woman’s uterus or womb is removed.

What necessitates a hysterectomy?

Several medical conditions necessitate hysterectomy, the most common of which are the presence of uterine fibroids, severe pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, pelvic relaxation and uterine prolapse.

Uterine fibroids or uterine leiomyomata are the number one reason hysterectomy is performed. Although benign growths in the uterine lining, uterine fibroids are often associated with heavy bleeding and a lot of other menstrual discomfort experienced by women who elect to have a hysterectomy.

Living A Healthy Lifestyle Post-Hysterectomy

These days, the level of stress and pollution in our midst necessitates living a healthy lifestyle just to keep up, what more if you just had a major surgery like hysterectomy.

Post-hysterectomy, health concerns such as weight gain, irritability and not being able to sleep well might suddenly become an issue.

Fortunately, a regular regimen of exercise and proper diet can help you control your weight, de-stress and protect you from diseases often associated with weight gain and poor nourishment.

More importantly, if you have been identified as a candidate for hysterectomy, you should seriously consider living a healthy lifestyle as part of your pre-surgery preparations.

Human Anatomy – Appendix

Just where the large intestine and the small intestine meet, in the lower right part of the belly, is a four-inch, finger-like organ called the appendix.

No one knows exactly what this organ is for. Healthy lifestyle pros believe that the appendix serves as a depot for good bacteria, helping digestive organs recover from diarrhea and similar conditions. Still others say the appendix is an organ rendered unimportant by evolution.

Truly living up to its name, the appendix can be surgically removed without impairing the body’s overall health.

Appendix conditions and diseases

When inflamed or infected, the appendix is said to be suffering from appendicitis. An inflamed or infected appendix can readily burst, the effect of which is profound pain in the abdomen, accompanied by vomiting and nausea. The cause of appendicitis is largely unknown though.

Celebrity Tattle Treats – Celebrities With Diabetes

Hollywood celebrities are the modern demigods of our time. They have this inexplicable influence over people and practically anything albeit a statement or a product they are endorsing. We praise, idolize and try to be like them in many ways. These “stars” are the moving perfection and art altogether and much as we enjoy seeing their talents, we also relish on the juicy gossip and the drama behind their glamor.

An actor’s health condition always makes it to the tabloid headline. Among the top health issues attached to the Hollywood lifestyle includes either excessive eating or not eating anything at all. What most of you are not aware of is that there is one hardly noticed health condition that most of our celebs are battling with.

Stones In Your Kidneys

Kidney stones have been afflicting humans since the time of the Egyptian pharaohs. They have been found in a 7,000-year-old mummy. Kidney stones are the most painful of the urologic disorders and one of the most common diseases of the urinary tract. Patients who complain of kidney stone problems to their doctor number in millions every year. Hundreds of thousands, on the other hand, are sent to the emergency rooms. More men than women tend to get affected.

Most of the time kidney stones pass out of the body without medical intervention. There are also nonsurgical techniques available for stones that cause lasting symptoms or other complications. The many factors that affect stone formation have been the focus of many studies to better understand this disease.

Parasomnias – Types Of Sleep Disorders

Parasomnias or sleep disorders are disruptive disorders that can occur during arousals from REM (rapid eye movement) sleep or partial arousals from Non-REM sleep. Parasomnias often include somnambulism or sleepwalking, nightmares, night terrors, confusional arousals and many others.

Types of Parasomnias

Nightmares

Nightmares are vivid nocturnal events that cause feelings of fear and terror, with or without feeling anxiety. In most cases, a person having a nightmare will be abruptly awakened from REM sleep and is able to give a detailed account of what he dreamt about. Also, the person having a nightmare has difficulty returning to sleep.

Diagnosing For Vitamin D Deficiency

We have been exposed to too many vampire films that we’ve somehow managed to adapt avoiding sun exposure and shutting ourselves inside and instead engage in an indoor lifestyle which includes online games, online social networking and Teevo. Who needs to go out anyway?

Majority of the population rarely gets the chance to bask under the sun but on the occasional exposure, some would immediately slather up with sun block, cover up with wide-brim hats and long-sleeved tops, dab the lips with an SPF Lip Balm, protect the eyes from UV rays with aviator shades and top it off with a stylish bohemian scarf around your hair or even cover an exposed neck – these are just a few of the allegedly, “Everyday Sun Protection Essentials” and in effect, we now face serious Vitamin D deficiency.

10 Most Formidable Diseases

Modern medicine entered a period of rapid progress during the turn of the 20th century. More advances have been made in the last half of this century than in all of modern history. As we enter the 21st century, we continue to make spectacular progress at an amazing rate but it still can’t seem to keep up with our medical needs. However far medicine has come, there are still some diseases that have planted a firm foothold on our lives, so much so that they have survived the centuries and remained incurable. The following is a list of these diseases.

Influenza Virus

Influenza is the technical name for one of the most common and most contagious diseases, the flu. It is a viral illness of the respiratory tract that is characterized by a high temperature, sore throat, running nose, headache, dry cough, and muscle pain.

Are You Vitamin D Deficient?

A patient was treated for pneumonia for more than a month in the hospital. When he was ready to be discharged, he felt nauseous and vomited several times. Over the next three years, he frequently visited the emergency room because of his constant vomiting. He also suffered from diarrhea and aching muscles and joints. He got a bad case of anxiety and had difficulty sleeping. He was tired all the time.

The doctors gave him a battery of tests but could not come up with any definite diagnosis for all his symptoms. All they could do was prescribe him Motrin and advised him to reduce his stress. Nothing helped.

How To Manage Your Body’s Embarrassing Problems

It often happens at the worst possible moment. You’ve always thought that you have full control of your bodily functions, but sometimes, your body just has a mind of its own. At those times when you need to be at your best, that’s when your body decides to embarrass you.

From the simple ill-timed yawns or cotton mouth, to the mildly embarrassing hiccups or belch, and farther still, excessive sweating, an overactive bladder, or expelling gas; it happens to everyone. And it happens more common than you think.

Your body has the tendency to act on its own when you don’t want it to. It can be from an existing problem your body already has, such as incontinence. Most of the time, though, stress makes your body respond in ways you don’t want it to, like producing excess sweat or gas, when you feel pressured to be at your best.

Acupuncture – Poke Away That Chronic Back Pain

Normally people (be it a child or an adult) become uneasy at the slightest hint of needles or syringe poked into their bodies to either draw or transfuse blood. Until this “multiple-needle-piercing-through-the-skin” technique was first introduced as an acceptable medical option particularly for relieving stress and easing chronic low back pains.

Acupuncture is one of the ancient techniques with gathering evidence that suggests relieving chronic back pain as opposed to the standard treatments such as physical therapy or medications.

Nowadays, this kind of needle poking to the skin treatment is considered as a component of a healthy lifestyle in aid of relieving the stress from your body. Each needle pierced through the skin are strategically targeting pressure points and in effect emanates a very restful and calming sensation.

Neo Healar – Natural Hemorrhoids Relief From Hemorrhoids Help

I sometimes refer to it as my own little tail. Most times it doesn’t really bother me but when the pain hits, it hits really hard. I remember one time I felt like I had a prickly pineapple between my buns. I couldn’t wear pants because it just makes things worse.

Another unbearable episode would be doing your daily movement. I feel like I’m literally giving birth again but through another canal. You can’t imagine the anxiety I had or the fear I was feeling because it feels like I have ruptured a vein or something.

Surgery was out of the question. Aside from the expense, I’m just too chicken to lie down on an operating room table and go through such a humiliating operation.

10 Things Women Must Avoid During Pregnancy

A pregnant mother always wants the best for her unborn child. Birth defects and deficiencies can be very damaging both to the mother and the child; defects are not only present upon delivery of the child, some may be detrimental to the child’s growth and development and cause the child to be sickly later in life. To avoid these birth defects, here are ten things that pregnant women should stay away from:

1. Must Not Smoke!

Smoking is bad for the health and it can be very bad for pregnant women and their unborn infants. Other than firsthand smoke, second hand smoke should also be avoided. Pre-term births can be a painful consequence of inhaling cigarette smoke. The same could also cause spontaneous abortion, low birth weight in full term babies and even fetal death. Other than these grim effects, inhaling cigarette smoke can also have a number of developmental repercussions, like causing blood vessels of the fetus to constrict resulting in reduced oxygen supply to the fetus’ brain. Many would-be mothers still smoke despite warnings.

Human Anatomy – Intestines

Described as a long tube stretching from the stomach to the anus, the intestines are in charge of absorbing nutrients and water from food. It is comprised of the small intestine, large intestine and rectum.

As long as 20 feet when uncoiled, with a 1-inch diameter, the small intestine (or small bowel) absorbs the bulk of nutrients from food, by then digested by the stomach. Next to the small intestine is the large intestine, also known as the large bowel or colon. Measuring 5 feet in length, two inches wider than the small intestine, the large intestine saps water from the materials in the small intestine. Consequently, the colon forms the stool, which is ejected out of the rectum.

Should You Take Estrogen After Your Hysterectomy?

Until the early part of 2000, Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT used to be the routine post surgery treatment recommended by doctors for women who have also had their ovaries removed together with a hysterectomy procedure.

Things changed drastically in recent years after the risks of estrogen therapy were exposed and the supposed benefits seemed to have disappeared when further studies were conducted.

Although for most women experiencing “surgical” menopause, doctors still recommend hormone therapy, the public’s acceptance of the treatment has declined.

If you are faced with a tough decision on whether to get HRT or not, this list of pros and cons would be helpful to you.

Recovering From Hysterectomy

After you have had a hysterectomy, your recovery time at the hospital will generally be brief, only about a few days or at most a week. Your recovery time at home, how fast you can resume doing your normal everyday activities, will vary depending on the type of procedure you had.

Abdominal hysterectomy

Most patients who have undergone abdominal hysterectomy go home within three days after surgery, but complete recovery takes anywhere from six to eight weeks. During this time, patients are advised to fully rest at home. You should not be doing any chores not even light housework. Neither should you be lifting for the first two weeks. You are highly encouraged to walk as soon as you feel able enough to do so. In six weeks times, you can already get back to your regular activities, including having sex.

Bipolar Disorder Myths – What You May Think You Know

Awareness about bipolar disorder has been increasing but, as with any medical condition that has gotten a lot of attention only recently, both the people with the disorder and the general public are still under some false impressions regarding the condition.

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. It is a mental disorder in which a person’s mood alternates between severe mania and depression. These extreme mood shifts affect a person’s normal day to day activities.

The following are some of the myths about bipolar disorder that persist today.

Myth #1: Bipolar disorder is rare.

How To Stop Panic Attacks

We all have our fears. And each of us has our own way of dealing with these fears.

Some people let their fears take over their lives. Some people are brave enough to face their fears head on. These people are the ones who succeed in squashing their fears for good.

Maybe it will help to know that 90% of everything that we fear does not come true. But even if we know what makes sense and what doesn’t, most of us still tend to worry too much.

Here are some tips to help you hit the breaks when you feel a panic attack coming.

Remember To Breathe

First things first, take control of your breathing. Concentrate on breathing in and out in equal intervals. Take long breaths and focus all your energy on the way you are breathing. This will help calm down your nerves, slow down your heart rate, and relax your body. You also focus your attention away from the source of your panic attack and you avoid making it worse.

Attack Of Asthma

Breathing difficulty, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and difficulty in performing normal daily activities are symptoms of an asthma attack.

Bronchospasm is a sudden worsening of the symptoms. The muscles around the airways tighten, the lining becomes swollen or inflamed and thicker mucus is also produced more than normal.

Some other asthma attacks symptoms include:

* Retractions

* The tightened of the neck and chest muscles

* Sweaty pale face

* Pressure or chest pain

* Talking difficulty

* Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out

* Very rapid breathing

Serotonin – How It Affects Your Health

Serotonin is a neural chemical that is responsible for sending signals across the brain. Though this type of neurotransmitter is synthesized in the brain, where its major functions are performed, about 90% of serotonin supply is found in digestive tract and blood platelets. It is estimated that an average adult body has five to 10 milligrams of serotonin.

Serotonin Production

Serotonin is synthesized through a unique biochemical conversion process involving tryptophan, the building blocks of proteins. Tryptophan hydroxylase is used by serotonin-producing cells along with tryptophan to form serotonin, otherwise known as 5-hydoxytryptamine.

Top 10 Misconceptions About The Common Cold

There are several beliefs and thoughts that becomes a part of our growing up process. Most of these beliefs differ from home to home, though the fact is that most don’t have a sound scientific basis. The article is a compilation of 10 such myths surrounding common cold and flu and which aims to prepare us better to cope with them in future.

Sweat it out

Covering up with hot blankets with the head sticking out over a bowl of hot steaming water expecting to sweat the cold out is a practice that we have all engaged in, or at least, we have seen others do it. Unfortunately, the fact is it does not have any effect whatsoever on the cold. The best it will do is to alleviate you of some of the discomfort that you are having, since it addresses the symptoms.

Toning Down Consumerism This Holiday Season

Children have become an attractive marketing niche, which can cause unavoidable stress around the holidays if parents' pocketbooks can't keep up with kids' gift expectations. Parents can take steps to insulate their kids from the commercial hype, says Indiana University family studies expert Maria Schmidt, while making the holidays meaningful, enjoyable and affordable.

The key is for parents to understand their financial limits -- and the importance of staying within them -- while managing their children's expectations.

"Keep it positive. You don't have to give the kids a dollar amount. But you can say, 'We are going to have a budget this year so we can be financially healthy,'" Schmidt said. "It's important to say you'll give gifts and acknowledge each other but it will look different this year."

Smart Grocery Shopping Tips from Expert Ellie Kay

The economy is taking a bite out of grocery budgets, but there are ways to pinch pennies without squeezing family favorites from the grocery list. For more than a decade, Ellie Kay, author of the upcoming "Living Rich for Less," has helped families save money with her practical pointers. Ellie teamed with the Oscar Mayer brand to develop the following tips to help families navigate the grocery aisles to maximize savings during these tough times.

Better Brown Bagging

Bag-up More Variety -- "Brown bagging it" can be a great way to save time and money, but make sure you mix it up. You can save an averageof $3 per person per day by taking a lunch to work or school, that can add up to as much as $260 per month for a family of four! The key to reaping those rewards? Choose a varietyof lunch options your family enjoys -- this will keep them brown bagging and keep you saving.

America's Most Literate Cities Ranked

A national survey announced in “USA Today” measures a key component in America’s social health by ranking the culture and resources for reading in America’s largest cities. The study’s author, Dr. Jack Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University, also reports on the impact of the internet on the decline of newspapers and also finds the US doing less well than its global competitors on a key index of literacy.

The study -- “America’s Most Literate Cities 2008” -- identifies the top ten cities in this order:

Minneapolis, MN 1.5

Seattle, WA 1.5

Washington, DC 3

St. Paul, MN 4

San Francisco, CA 5

Human Anatomy – Colon

Your feces are formed in the colon, the organ otherwise known as the large intestine. The small intestine essentially passes digested food to the colon. In turn, the colon strips the digested substance of salt, water and nutrients, eventually creating stool.

This organ is made up largely of muscles, allowing it to squeeze substances along. Innumerable “good bacteria” deck the walls of the colon.

Ileum, the last section of the small intestine, ends where the first part of the colon, the cecum, begins. From here, the colon ascends to the right side of the abdomen, before traveling across it. The colon then descends down the left side of the abdomen, towards the sigmoid, a brief curve marking where the rectum begins.

Risk Of Diet Lack In Fiber

Are you at risk? Find out the dreadful warning signs if you are at risk and protect your health. Is your diet lack fruits, vegetable, and whole grains? If you answer is yes, you may not getting all the fiber you need. This will increase your risk of having many kinds of illnesses like heart disease, cancer and even weight gain.

Though signs and symptoms of having poor fiber diet are not always clear, there are four warning signs for you to watch for:

1. Weight Gain

Fiber also known to contribute to satiety. Satiety is the mood of fullness you get after having a meal. Failure of experiencing this feeling it means that you are eating more than your body needs.

What Scientific Data Say About Hormesis

Can exposure to low level of stress or toxins make you stronger? There are a good number of scientific evidences that associate disease resistance with exposure to certain levels of health hazards. The medical community calls it the theory of hormesis.

After decades of being dismissed as purely anecdotal, the scientific community finally acknowledged hormesis as a fundamental principle in biology and medicine.

One study has demonstrated the validity of hormesis among laboratory animals. Rats that were bombarded with radiation showed less susceptibility to develop cancer when they had been exposed to minor gamma rays. A similar response was observed when dioxin was given to rats.

Making Your Breath Fresher Than a Sea Breeze

When it comes to bad breath, most of us have a story to tell. You ever had an acquaintance whose breath could make you eye twitch. You hold your breath for so long to avoid inhaling the unpleasant smell emanating from their mouths since looking away would be rude. If that is you or a close friend then these guides may make their breath as fresh as can be.

Water is your friend.

With age comes dehydration. You don’t have to be thirsty to have a reason for taking in some water; your body needs it for a lot of mechanisms and keeping you going. An understated effect of water is that it helps reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth. It does this by washing them away and keeping them far from the mouth where they create the not so pleasing smells. Bacteria are one of the causes of bad breath and keeping them at a minimum is a sure way of guaranteeing a fresher breath.

12 Embarrassing Body Problems

Stinky Feet

Our feet have their share of normal bacteria, which produce stinky sulfurous odor when they come into contact with moisture from socks and shoes or when your feet become sweaty. The solution is to always keep your feet dry. Your socks should be made of absorbent cotton and your shoes from breathable materials, like canvas and leather. Sprinkle a drying powder in your shoes every morning, and place a desiccant in them when you put them away. Treat your feet to a relaxing and cleansing soak in a basin of regular tea to let the tannins in the tea to inhibit sweat production temporarily. You may have fungal or bacterial infection if your feet are red, swollen, or scaly, and you should see a doctor for proper treatment.

Most Common Misdiagnoses Doctors Make

Common sense and instinct do not tell you to get a second opinion for nothing. Like anyone, doctors can go wrong too. According to the National Patient Safety Foundation, misdiagnoses constitute 40 percent of doctors’ mistakes.

One could easily chalk it up to the fact that multiple diseases may share one symptom. A person may get fever from both cancer and flu, runny nose from both SARS and tuberculosis, and so on. Only medical tests would be able to set one condition apart from another.

Visiting a doctor does not make for passive activity, wherein you just sit in the waiting room and leave with the prescription in hand. You need to take control of how doctors treat you, stat! As a rule, the doctor must let you take tests before giving a tentative diagnosis.

Human Anatomy – Stomach

On the left side of the abdomen is your stomach, a sac-like, muscled organ designed to digest your intake. Filled with acid and enzymes, the stomach is lined with muscles called rugae, which contract every so often to churn food, hastening digestion.

From the esophagus, food enters the stomach through a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter. After the stomach has achieved its purpose, the food is then ferried down to the small intestine through yet another valve called the pyloric sphincter.

Since the stomach is a very acidic environment, a healthy lifestyle underscores the importance of eating enough and on time.

Human Anatomy – Teeth

By far the hardest part of the body is the teeth. These structures are very important for chewing and speaking.

A tooth is composed of the enamel, dentin, pulp, cementum and periodontal ligament. The enamel is the hard white “shell” of the tooth. Made of a hard mineral called calcium phosphate, the enamel encases the dentin, a layer of live cells. Underneath the dentin is the pulp, which holds nerves and blood vessels. A connective tissue called the cementum plants the root of the tooth firmly in the gums and binds it to the jawbone. Another tissue, the periodontal ligament, holds the teeth against the jawbone.

Human Anatomy – Tonsils

Palatine tonsils, or simply, tonsils, are the two masses of tissue you see at the back of your throat. They form part of the lymphatic system, the organs in the body which serve to fend off infections. Made up of cells not unlike those in the lymph nodes, the tonsils grow in size whenever the body is fighting an infection.

Common tonsil conditions

However, the tonsils themselves can succumb to infections. For one, you probably had to endure a bout of tonsillitis at some point in your life.

If your tonsils swell, seem to be coated with white or gray spots, you probably have acute tonsillitis. This condition happens when a virus or bacterium attacks the tonsils. As a result, your throat becomes sore, and you have trouble swallowing food. If it becomes recurrent, this condition may worsen to a chronic tonsillitis.

Human Anatomy – Tongue

One of the strongest muscles in the body is the tongue, the organ that gives you the sense of taste. In addition, the tongue is imperative for speech as well as chewing food.

A tongue is covered with innumerable taste buds, clusters of cells that link to nerves connected to the brain. As a result, the tongue is able to distinguish four tastes: sweet, bitter, salty and sour.

There is purportedly a fifth taste, known as umami. This taste supposedly manifests itself when the food is mixed with MSG or monosodium glutamate.

In any case, all areas of the tongue are able to sense the four common tastes. Contrary to popular belief, a tongue does not have a clear-cut “taste map.”

Human Anatomy – Esophagus

From the throat, food comes down to your stomach through the esophagus, an 8-inch long muscular tube lined with mucosa. It is situated in front of the spine, just behind the heart and the trachea. It passes through the diaphragm just before entering the stomach.

Esophagus muscles are divided into two: the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Located above the esophagus, the UES is a group of muscles responsible for keeping food and other contents from entering the trachea or windpipe. It is controlled consciously by the body, whenever you breathe, eat, vomit, or even so much as belch.

Human Anatomy – Abdomen

Known also as the belly, the abdomen refers to the space between the chest (thorax) and the pelvis. It holds the kidneys and spleen as well as the entire digestive system, which includes the colon, small intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and stomach. Special abdominal tissues called mesentery loosely keep these organs together, leaving just enough space for them to expand.

Besides skin, the abdomen is protected in the front by a thin crust of tissue known as the fascia. The flipside of the abdomen is covered with back muscles.

Several vital blood vessels ply through the abdomen, such as the aorta and the inferior vena cava.

Surprising News: Germs May Be Making Us ... Fat (or So Say Researchers)

The latest word in weight loss? Germs. A new study that's getting a lot of buzz points out that germs may play a role in weight gain. Grab your hand sanitizer and read on ...

Surprising research news: Scientists from Emory University in Atlanta who published a study in the journal Science, say that certain bacteria could play a role in the obesity epidemic.

Their study of mice found that specific bacteria that may cause gut inflammation may also increase appetite and possibly play a role in weight gain. Put simply, certain germs may make you hungry, the scientists say.

"Previous research has suggested that bacteria can influence how well energy is absorbed from food, but these findings demonstrate that intestinal bacteria can actually influence appetite," the lead researcher said to Reuters Health.

Spice It Up--For Your Health

Are you like me--a spice-aholic? I can't get past the condiment bar at the cafe without sprinkling a little cinnamon on top of my latte or enjoy a dinner without a dash of red pepper or maybe some oregano--mmm. It's all good, say experts. Spices have all kinds of health benefits. More after the jump ...

The bloggers over at That's Fit recently posted something on the health benefits of spices--some of which you've probably heard: "Using spice has been linked to weight loss," they write, "and using herbs and spices in place of salt can benefit your blood pressure."

But, there's more: One recent study, which That's Fit points out, found that many herbs and spices may protect your body from inflammation, a big concern for diabetics. The most effective spices, according to the researchers were cloves, cinnamon, allspice, apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice--among others. (Mmm ... don't you feel like having a slice of pie right now? What is with me and pie these days? Oh, I forgot: I'm pregnant.)

Reader Dilemma: "Help! I Want to Look Amazing When I See My Ex Next Month. What Can I Do to Get in Shape--Fast?"

Oh, isn't this the--secret--concern of every person everywhere (whether you want to admit it or not, or whether it's an ex or just an old pal)? If you have some big event on the calendar in the next few weeks or month and want to do what you can to get svelte beforehand, Jessica Simpson's trainer has some advice for you ...

Vitamin G reader Tanya asks: "I'm going to be seeing my ex next month at a wedding. We're both single again, and I still have feelings for him. I gained a little weight over the winter, and I'd really like to slim down and look great for our meeting. Help!! What can I do?"

Open Enrollment Time: What You Need to Know About Your Health Insurance Plan Choices

It's a popular time of year for open enrollment--when companies allow you to pick your insurance plan and other benefits. Andrew Rubin, Vice President for Medical Center Clinical Affairs and Affiliates NYU Langone Medical Center, estimates that 25 percent of people don't even open their benefits book and just go with the default plan. But this year it's more important than ever to analyze your options. Here are a few things to know:

What's different this year?

Most employers have changed their plans this year due to the economy, say Rubin, and you'll have to foot a much larger portion of the bill. Health care costs have soared, and in flush times, employers have absorbed those increases. But when companies are choosing between layoffs or passing health care costs to employees, they often pick the latter (or both).

Let's Talk About Brooke Shields Virginity Comments, and Her Sex-Weight Connection

I think Brooke Shields is pretty much great. In fact, her Volkswagen minivan commercials have almost convinced me that I need one. Note, the word "almost." But what do you make of her comments in the new issue of Health magazine about virginity, sex and weight? Let's talk about this...

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(P.S. Come on over to Little Miss Fortune today to see photos of my self-haircutting exploits!)

Brooke Shields is speaking out in this issue of Health about losing her virginity at 22. Here's what she had to say about wishing she'd lost it sooner:

"I think I would have had sex a lot earlier!" the actress jokes in the June issue of Health magazine. "I think I would have lost my virginity earlier than I did at 22. I had the public and this pressure, and I wish I had just gotten it over with in the beginning, when it was sort of OK. I think I could have been much more in touch with myself."

Koga: A Fitness Do or Don't?

Some fitness hybrids sound like fun. Yoga + ballet? Sign me up! While I'm all for trying new things, I'm just not sure I could get into this newish yoga hybrid called koga. Want to guess what it's all about?

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Koga = Yoga + Kickboxing.

If you enjoy the fast-paced nature of a kickboxing workout, and you also love yoga, Koga might be for you. Fans say it gets you lean like nothing else (one woman, in this video, raved that it helped her shed 40 pounds fast).

A fitness do? Maybe--if you're the type that likes a lot of action in your workout. I have to admit, I'm just not sure I could get into Koga. I love the meditative and relatively peaceful nature of regular yoga. The idea of jumping around and doing kicks with some guy wearing a headset coaching in the distance, well, doesn't sound that appealing to me.

J Lo Crosses the Finish Line: Could You?

Yesterday, Jennifer Lopez completed in a triathlon (and let's all remember the not-so-minor fact that the gal delivered twins not too long ago!). I don't know about you, but she's just jumped up to the top of my list of celebs who I admire for their gutsy health and fitness choices. Because, seriously people, we're talking about a triathlon here. A triathlon!

Here's the backstory on J Lo's fitness feat: When she was eight months pregnant (describing herself as "beached like a whale"), she saw a triathlon on TV and decided that she wanted to compete in one after the birth of her twins. True to her word, the 39-year-old pop star competed in the 22nd Annual Malibu Triathlon over the weekend (past participants include Jennifer Garner and Felicity Huffman) and raised money for the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in the process.

Is Your Birth Control Making You Fat?

Most women assume that when they start taking birth control, their weight will creep up. Now, we finally know the truth. Researchers recently put this theory to the test and analyzed three types of contraceptives. Find out which one packed on the pounds...

Scientists at the University of Texas at Galveston followed more than 700 women on birth control over the course of three years. Some of them took oral contraceptives, others used non-hormonal methods (like condoms or getting their tubes tied) and the last group used the birth control shot, called DMPA. Researchers discovered that women on the birth control shot gained an average of 11 pounds, increased their body fat by 3.4 percent and were more likely to become obese.

Health Controversy: This Woman Calls Herself an "Abortion Addict"

No matter where you stand on the abortion issue, I think we all can agree that this story is very, very sad...

In her book, Impossible Motherhood, Irene Vilar writes, writes about her "addiction" to abortion. Over the course of 15 years (she's married), she's had 15 abortions.

While the details of Vilar's life are both sad and shocking, it's clear that her repeated trips to abortion clinics gave her sense of "control" that she couldn't find elsewhere.

"I would take my pills and skip a day, a few, and often give up on the whole month, promising myself I would do better the next time," she writes. "Not knowing how a pill or a handful of them would affect my fertility, my days took on a balancing act, and a high of sorts accompanied the days before my period was due. [...] At times the high took place before pregnancy, waiting for a missed period, my body basking in the promise of being in control. At other times it was the pregnancy itself, the control I embodied if only for a couple of months, and still other times it was leaving the abortion clinic, feeling that once again I had succeeded in a narrow escape. The time of my drama was my time, no one could interrupt it, and what was more important, I could not interrupt it to meet other's needs."

Guess The Most Stressful Part of the Day--For Everyone--And What You Can Do About It

If you had to name the most stressful time of the day for you, what would it be? I caught a Good Morning America Weekend segment on Saturday while sipping coffee and was surprised to hear this...

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According to Dr. Woodson Merrell of Beth Israel Medical Center and author of The Source, the most stressful part of your entire day is the moment when you wake up. More heart attacks happen in the morning hours, he says, than any other time of the day. The logic is that transitioning from sleep to wake is quite stressful on our bods (loud, obnoxious alarm clocks aren't much help either).

Still we have to get up (nothing healthy about staying in bed all day, as comforting as this sounds sometimes--ha!). What can you do? He suggests resisting the urge to bolt to the shower first thing. Instead, sit on the side of your bed for a few minutes and take several deep breaths.

Got Belly Fat? Good News For Women Who Want It Gone

We all have some degree of belly fat--but some of us more than others. I'll admit, I'm far from bikini ready thanks to my sweet little four month old, Russell. A new study sheds light on how to blast that annoying belly fat...

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Belly fat is no good. Not only is it embarrassing and a downer to the ol' body image, it may also be dangerous. Researchers have long known that visceral fat (sounds gross, doesn't it?), which is the technical term for belly fat, may be linked to heart disease and diabetes.

But here's the news that's kind of interesting: In a study that looked at rodents and belly fat, researchers from the University of Illinois found that you don't have to work out like Madonna to zap fat around your mid section (but, here's how to get sculpted arms like hers--that is, if you want them). Moderate exercise works just fine, say researchers.

Do You Want to Be a Mother? New Stats Show a Decline in Women Having Babies

Are you a mother? Do you know if you want to have kids or not? I was on the fence for a long time until I had my two boys, but new research sheds light on a surprising trend. Apparently fewer women are becoming mothers ...

The Washington Post reports that nearly one in five American women in her early 40s is childless. That's double the childless 40-somethings compared to the 1970s, marking a shocking increase in women who either are uninterested in becoming mothers or just don't plan to have children (the study focused on biological kids, not adopted). (Oddly, those with an advanced degree--master's or higher--were more likely to have children by their 40s.)

Body Image: Are You Obsessed With Looking and Staying Young? (Why Many of Us Are)

I have a confession: The other day at the store I bought some anti-aging beauty products--for the first time. Did I mention that I'm 30? Maybe I've gotten to "the age" when you start checking for gray hairs and smile lines and under-eye puffiness--things I never really thought about much in my twenties. The quest to hang on to our youthfulness, it turns out, is a new American phenomenon...

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In this article about how more people--even younger people--are turning to anti-aging cosmetics, treatments, surgeries, even new clinics specializing in "age management" to maintain their youthfulness, I found this quote from a 23-year-old woman in Chicago: "I'll age until I'm 25. Then I'm over it." In other words, she'll allow herself to age to 25, then it's time to start getting serious about turning back the clock.

Are Your Friends Making You Fat?

It might sound like an outrageous idea, that your pals may be to blame for the extra 10 pounds you've gained this year. But think about it: Isn't it tempting to order chocolate ganache cake with the gals, especially when everyone's doing it? Research, in fact, shows a correlation between the friends you keep and your weight.

A study last year found that obseity is actually "contagious"--well, socially contagious. In other words, if your friends are packing on pounds, you're likely to do the same. Not too encouraging, is it?

Find out if your pals are a bad influence on your diet and weight loss goals by taking Glamour.com's new quiz.

4 Things You Didn't Know About Julianne Hough

My new girl crush? Julianne Hough! Yesterday I talked to the super-sweet dancing sensation (and singer!), who has a new fitness DVD coming out soon, about staying grounded and healthy ...

Her new fitness DVD, "Dance With Julianne," is out on December 15 (affordable holiday gift alert!). I talked to her yesterday and can confirm that she is as adorable, friendly and down-to-earth as she seems on TV. Here are four little things you may not have known about her:

1. She hates breakfast. It's easy to assume that she's a health nut (I mean, look at those photos!), but Julianne admits that she frequently breaks one of the biggest health rules: thou shalt eat breakfast. "I hate breakfast," she admits (don't fret, the girl loves to eat--she told me about her love affair with ranch dressing!). It's just breakfast that she despises. "If I try to eat a full plate of eggs and pancakes, I'll be sick." Instead, the 21-year-old reaches for smaller bites most mornings, like fruit, yogurt, or cold cereal.

Gamma Knife Snips OCD in Bud

High-Tech Procedure ‘Cuts’ Abnormal Brain Wiring Linked to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

May 8, 2008 (Washington) -- A high-tech procedure that delivers radiation deep within the brain relieved symptoms in half of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder who got no help from medication or talk therapy, a small study shows.

The procedure uses a gamma knife to target brain circuits that work overtime in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), says Antonio Lopes, MD, PhD, of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

"In people with OCD, the network of areas that communicate is always working, working, working. Medication and behavioral therapy can lower the activity of this brain circuitry. But some people don't respond, and we use the gamma knife to try to cut the connection," Lopes tells WebMD.

Not really a knife at all, the gamma knife is a machine that emits powerful, highly focused gamma radiation beams. This helps the doctors target a specific area of the brain while sparing healthy surrounding tissue. It's used to treat people with brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders.
Gamma Knife Relieves OCD Symptoms

At the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Lopes presented early results of a study that pits the gamma knife against a sham procedure in 48 patients.

Two years after undergoing the procedure, two of four patients continue to have significant relief from symptoms, he says. Their memory has improved. And they are better able to pay attention to tasks at hand.

In contrast, there has been no improvement among patients who got the sham procedure.

The procedure was relatively safe, with transient headaches and dizziness among the most common side effects.

However, one patient suffered a manic episode about three months after the procedure, which was followed by a bout of hallucinations and delusions a few months after that.

"There are some complications, so this is not for everyone," Lopes says. "This is for people who fail to respond to other treatments."

But for such patients, the procedure can mean the difference between being homebound and functioning "moderately well," says David Baron, DO, professor and chairman of psychiatry at Temple University in Philadelphia.

"These are patients who have failed every single drug and are essentially nonfunctioning, so even a little improvement is a big deal," he says.

Baron tells WebMD that in the U.S., "surgery [for OCD] is an old idea that is coming back because of the gamma knife. It allows you to be much more selective and precise with less adverse effects."