It would be an unequivocal understatement to say that the month of January has been a momentous one for me in my health journey. It was during the second week of January some 17 years ago, when I got into the bike-car accident that resulted in muscle tears, bone bruises and a vicious cycle of chronic pain, insomnia and stress that eventually triggered the full-blown manifestation of autoimmune, … [Read more...]
Yesterday, like so many of you, I woke up in a state of shock and sadness. When I got out of bed, it was after hours of insomnia followed by restless sleep of nightmare after nightmare, from which I could not force myself to wake. When I did finally regain consciousness, I was covered in sweat, congested, driven crazy by neuropathic itching and muscle twitching, and feeling disoriented. That … [Read more...]
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the largest public health concerns facing an aging American population. An estimated 5.2 million Americans have this progressive, neurological disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the most common form of dementia. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which gradually interferes with a person’s ability to … [Read more...]
Like a lion hiding in the underbrush before it pounces on its spied prey, the symptoms and severity of lupus and other auotimmune diseases can sneak up you when you are least prepared for it. One day you may be feeling like your old self before the disease took root, super strong, active and as healthy as the next person. The next day you may literally collapse, a rash spreading across your skin, … [Read more...]
Most of us at or above a certain age can count at least one “silver” filling in our mouth from getting cavities when were kids. And really, when one grows up with the option of sugar-laden cereals for breakfast, like Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch and Apple Jacks, it’s more surprising not to have a mouth full of cavities. But today we’re not talking about the blight of sugar, unhealthy bacteria and … [Read more...]
Increasing numbers of teens and young adults are using self-injury as a strategy for dealing with negative emotions. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative study found the number of teenagers who self-harmed in England had tripled in the last decade. The 2013-2014 survey found 20 percent of 15-year-olds had self-harmed over the past year, as compared to 6.9 percent of 15- and … [Read more...]
The doctors of the band N.E.D. (No Evidence of Disease) are turning up the volume on the healing power of music by reaching out to women with gynecologic cancers and raising awareness of these lesser-known diseases. The Emmy Award-winning, self-titled documentary, which follows the six gynecologic oncology surgeons who span the country and the women they treat, aims to educate an even bigger … [Read more...]
Cynthia Toussaint was a promising, 21-year-old ballerina when she was struck by a seemingly simple hamstring injury that ultimately led to a lifetime of widespread pain. After being a performer for so many years, Toussaint was accustomed to the bright lights and action of the stage. Now she would have to learn to manage the burning heat and immobility of chronic pain. “I had just had gotten a … [Read more...]
This is a guest post by Reid Jenner, an acclaimed naturopathic problem-solving specialist: These days, the typical doctor’s office (or hospital emergency room) is busier than ever, often at the expense of quality care for patients. Healthcare providers, who see increasingly more patients in a day and have less time to spend with each one, often conduct rushed, superficial medical exams and have … [Read more...]
After the rush of bargain buys from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, today the focus of the holiday season shifts to celebrating the charitable spirit with Giving Tuesday. This is the third annual global day of giving and generosity, where all are invited to give back to communities or charitable organizations in whichever ways they can—whether by donating their time and services, goods or … [Read more...]