Protect Yourself Against the Ninja Disease - Sepsis

I was both shocked and saddened when a friend’s mother recently passed after developing sepsis from a urinary tract infection – a common and treatable bacterial infection. Prior to this incident, sepsis just seemed somewhat remote to me and nothing that I should be overly concerned about. And I wasn’t alone – almost half the people in the U.S. have never even heard of sepsis. Indeed, most people have heard of much rarer diseases like Ebola.

Taking Antibiotics? Be Sure to Protect your Digestive System!

Antibiotic use in the United States is among the highest in the world. In fact, this class of drugs is prescribed to four-out-of-five Americans every year. They are an effective treatment and prevention for a variety of bacterial infections ranging from pneumonia to UTIs. And most of us have taken antibiotics at some point in our lives.

Probiotics vs. Prebiotics: What’s the difference?

You may have heard about health benefits of probiotics, which have been rising in popularity in recent years. These “good” bacteria may help with constipation, diarrhea, anxiety, depression and more. But you may not be familiar with prebiotics. They are not the same thing.

To get the flu shot or not get the flu shot? That is the question

Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a contagious viral infection that causes an epidemic every one to three years in the United States. It starts in late fall and peaks mid to late winter. It usually spreads via aerosol droplets like when you cough and sneeze. Typically, you are sick for about five days, but children may be sick longer. Symptoms abruptly occur with chills, high fever, headaches, muscle aches, weakness and occasionally cough. It is more serious and even life-threatening if you are elderly, very young or have pre-existing illnesses like asthma or diabetes mellitus.

5 healthy reasons you may want to choose gelato over ice cream

Gelato recently went viral after i-Creamy, a gelato store in Sydney, Australia, posted the most gorgeous photos of their flower-shaped gelato on Instagram. However, though beautiful, it’s the health benefits we’re most excited about.

Sepsis: a major killer facing a new tech challenge

Working in the health care industry, I would be the first to admit our nation’s biggest health danger is the public’s lack of health education. You see, until seven weeks ago, I had never heard of sepsis. Sadly, neither had my mother Rosemary, a vivacious, go-go lady who had just celebrated turning 74 years old by leasing a brand-new car.

What are the “benefits” of acupuncture and does it really work?

Based in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture involves having thin needles placed in your skin. Practitioners say they choose specific areas of the body to modify the flow of energy in order to relieve physical or emotional ailments. They say that when an acupuncture needle is inserted into the body, the body releases endorphins that decrease sensations of pain and trigger the immune system to kick in.

Why your doctor said no to the antibiotic

You’ve got a cold and some body aches. You believe you may need an antibiotic, but your doctor doesn’t want to write the prescription. When doctors say not to take an antibiotic, they aren’t necessarily “denying” their patients. Rather, it’s a sign that they did a good physical exam and medical history, and determined that a virus is the cause of illness. Generally, the term “antibiotic “refers to medicine that is designed to kill bacteria.

Are you at risk for shingles? Be proactive

A diagnosis of shingles, also called “herpes zoster,” is one of the most common in the primary care and urgent care settings. The CDC says 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will develop it at some point in his or her lifetime. What can you do to recognize this infectious disease?

Watch out, vampires! We can’t get enough of garlic’s health benefits

Garlic has been in use at least since the beginning of recorded history. It’s been found in ancient Egyptian pyramids and Greek temples. Ancient medicinal texts show beneficial uses in Egypt, Greece, Rome, China and India. The Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed garlic for a number of conditions. Garlic was fed to Greek soldiers to give them courage for war and Olympic athletes to increase their performance. In ancient China and Japan, it was used as an aid for digestion and respiration and as a food preservative. In India, it was used for digestive diseases, parasites, arthritis and heart disease. In Europe in the Middle Ages, it was used as a treatment for the plague.

Diabetes: What’s your ‘type’?

Diabetes is described as a metabolic disorder in which the body cannot properly store and use glucose (a type of sugar) used by the body for energy. To use glucose, the body needs insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Insulin stimulates the removal of glucose from the blood and its uptake into muscle, liver and fat cells where it can be stored for energy. In other words, insulin is important for regulating blood glucose levels.

Douse inflammation by keeping infections under control

Your body constantly fights off a multitude of minor infections, but some still persist. And when they do, they may cause you problems. There’s increasing evidence that chronic low-grade infections may cause inflammation affecting the whole body. This is because inflammation is the body’s attempt to protect itself and remove the harmful issues. Let’s look at the heart for example. There appears to be a link between infections and heart disease. In certain cases, chronic infections may cause inflammation such as arteriosclerosis (“narrowing of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque”) in your heart and make your heart age prematurely. Infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses or even parasites.