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When To Call a Doctor ?

Call 911 or other emergency services if:

* A baby younger than 3 months has a high fever.
* You are having trouble breathing or feel very short of breath.
* You have a severe headache or stiff neck and are confused or having trouble staying awake.

Call your doctor if:

* You have an extremely high fever.
* Your fever lasts for longer than 3 days.
* You are finding it harder and harder to breathe.
* Wheezing develops.
* New pain develops or pain localizes to one area, such as an ear, the throat, the chest, or the sinuses.
* Symptoms persist in spite of home treatment.
* Symptoms become more severe or frequent.

Watchful Waiting

In most healthy people, the flu will go away in 5 to 7 days, although fatigue can last much longer. Although you may feel very sick, home treatment is usually all that is needed. If it is flu season, you may just want to treat your symptoms at home. Watch closely for symptoms of a bacterial infection, such as nasal drainage that changes from clear to colored after 5 to 7 days and symptoms that return or get worse.

Early treatment (within 48 hours of your first symptoms) with antiviral medicines may reduce the severity of influenza and may prevent serious flu-related complications.2 Babies, older adults, and people who have chronic health problems are more likely to have complications from the flu, and they may need to see a doctor for care beyond home treatment. But not all antiviral medicines work against all strains of the flu. Talk to your doctor if you think you may need an antiviral medicine.

Call your doctor if you think your symptoms are caused by something other than the flu.

What is hearing loss?

Hearing loss is a sudden or gradual decrease in how well you can hear. Depending on the cause, it can range from mild to severe and can be reversible, temporary, or permanent. Hearing loss is also known as hearing impairment, which includes being born without hearing (congenital hearing loss). This topic focuses only on gradual hearing loss.

Gradual hearing loss affects people of all ages and is the third most common long-term (chronic) health problem in older Americans.1 It affects up to 40% of people age 65 and older and up to 80% of people older than 85.2

If you have hearing loss, you may not be aware of it, especially if it has developed gradually. Your family members or friends may be the first to notice. For example, they may notice that you are having difficulty understanding what people are saying, especially when many people are talking at the same time or there is background noise, such as a radio playing.

Hearing loss can affect what and how much you do in the workplace and at home and can also affect your personal safety. Because it may result in less social interaction, hearing loss may contribute to loneliness, depression, and loss of independence. However, hearing aids and other devices are available to help you hear.
What causes hearing loss?

In adults, the most common causes of hearing loss are:

* Noise. Noise-induced hearing loss can affect people of all ages and most often develops gradually over many years. Over a long period of time, the noise you experience at work, during recreation (such as listening to very loud music), or even during common chores (such as using a power lawn mower) can lead to hearing loss.
* Age. In age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), changes in the inner ear that occur as you grow older cause a gradual but steady hearing loss. The loss may be mild or severe, but it is always permanent.

Other causes of hearing loss include earwax buildup, an object in the ear, injury to the ear or head, ear infection, a ruptured eardrum, and other conditions that affect the middle or inner ear.
What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms of hearing loss include muffled hearing and a feeling that your ear is plugged. You may have difficulty understanding what people are saying, and you may listen to the television or radio at higher volume than in the past and avoid conversation and interaction with other people. Other symptoms may include ringing, roaring, hissing, or buzzing in the ear (tinnitus). Or you may have ear pain, itching, or irritation, or fluid leaking from the ear. You may also have a feeling that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no movement (vertigo).
How is hearing loss diagnosed?

Your doctor will diagnose hearing loss by asking questions about your symptoms and past health and by doing a physical exam. If your doctor thinks you have hearing loss, he or she may use a "whisper" test or tuning fork to test your hearing. If these tests suggest or show hearing loss, your doctor will do a more complete hearing (audiologic) test to see whether you have hearing loss, how severe the loss is, and which part of the ear is affected.
How is it treated?

You treat noise-induced or age-related hearing loss by using hearing devices (such as hearing aids) and learning how to live with reduced hearing, such as paying attention to people's gestures, facial expressions, posture, and tone of voice. In other types of hearing loss, treating the problem that caused the hearing loss, such as removing earwax or taking medicine for an infection, results in the return of normal hearing.
Can you prevent hearing loss?

You can prevent noise-related hearing loss by avoiding loud noise such as that made by machines in the workplace, power tools, very loud music, and very loud motorcycles. Wear hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs, if necessary. To protect yourself from hearing loss because of injury, avoid putting objects in your ear, wear seat belts when you drive, and wear helmets when you bike, ski, or participate in similar activities in which there is the potential for ear injury.

What is naturopathic medicine?

Naturopathic medicine (or naturopathy) is based on the belief that the body can heal itself naturally. Naturopathic medicine attempts to improve health, prevent disease, and treat illness by promoting the use of organic foods and exercise; encouraging a healthy, balanced lifestyle; and applying concepts and treatments from other areas of complementary medicine (such as ayurveda, homeopathy, and herbal therapies).

Naturopathy was developed in the late 1800s in the United States. Today, a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) attends a 4-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school and studies the same basic sciences as a medical doctor (MD). However, the ND also studies alternative approaches to therapy, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and bodywork.

Most traditional naturopathic physicians (naturopaths) believe in natural therapies, such as nutritional and lifestyle counseling. They generally avoid prescribing medicines or performing surgery. Some naturopaths prescribe herbal medicines, homeopathic dilutions, nutritional supplements, or perform minor surgeries. The disagreement over specific practice guidelines and licensing requirements in different states has led to some public confusion about the role of the naturopath.
What is naturopathy used for?

People use naturopathic medicine for promoting good health, preventing disease, and treating illness. Most naturopaths can treat earaches, allergies, and other common medical problems. Naturopathic medicine tries to find the underlying cause of the condition rather than focusing solely on treating symptoms. A properly trained naturopathic physician works with other health professionals, referring people to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate.
Is naturopathy safe?

Two common concerns about naturopathic medicine are the use of dietary fasting and a bias against immunization (vaccinations).

* Talk with your medical doctor before fasting (not eating or drinking, or consuming only liquids for a period of time). Fasting can be dangerous, especially if you have a disease such as diabetes.
* Some naturopaths do not believe that immunization is necessary. Before immunizations became available, childhood illnesses caused large numbers of deaths and long-term health problems but provided survivors with natural immunity. The benefits of immunization greatly outweigh the risks.1

Always tell your doctor if you are using an alternative therapy or if you are thinking about combining an alternative therapy with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on an alternative therapy.

Naturopathy licensing varies from state to state. Not all states require naturopaths to be licensed. Also, not all naturopathic educational programs are the same. Some schools grant degrees that are not accepted by state licensing boards. In the United States, the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is the only agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit naturopathic programs and colleges.

Before you choose a naturopath, find out whether the person graduated from an accredited college. Also check to see whether your state has licensing laws that govern the practice of NDs. If your state licenses NDs, ask your prospective ND whether he or she is licensed.

Just forget what your mom told you: A glass of warm milk before bed might actually keep you up, rather than lull you to sleep. See, the protein in the milk will boost alertness--and unless it's skim, the fat will slow your digestion, making your rest more fitful. Not exactly the best shut-eye remedy. (Sorry, mom.)

Nothing makes it harder to fall asleep than knowing how important it is to fall asleep. So when the pressure's on, try chowing down on one of these snacks before bedtime to ensure some serious shut-eye; they're all hand-picked and approved by the Eat This, Not That! nutrition team. These 8 sleep-better foods and drinks have been shown to induce feel-good relaxation chemicals, calming your nerves and slowing your racing brain. You can thank us ... tomorrow morning--after a long, restful night.


NONFAT POPCORN
Pop a bag half an hour before bedtime: The carbs will induce your body to create serotonin, a neurochemical that makes you feel relaxed. Skipping the butter-fat will slow the process of boosting those feel-good chemicals, and, as mentioned above, will also slow digestion in general.


OATMEAL WITH SLICED BANANA
Sleep is inspired by the hormone melatonin, but stress or excitement can disrupt melatonin's release. Bring your brain back down to earth by whipping up a bowl of instant oatmeal and topping it with a sliced banana, which is rich in melatonin.

Related: Something else that helps you sleep: A good workout, early in the day. Click here for the upgraded Men's Health iPhone app. You'll always have workouts on hand!


1 CUP OF PLAIN YOGURT WITH 2 TABLESPOONS MIXED NUTS
Scientists in Slovakia gave people either 3 grams each of two amino acids (lysine and arginine) or a placebo and asked them to deliver a speech. Blood measurements of stress hormones revealed that the amino acid-fortified speakers were half as anxious during and after the speech as those who took the placebo. Yogurt is one of the best food sources of lysine; nuts pack tons of arginine. Because both contain alertness-inducing protein, you're best off eating this combo a few hours before bed (or even at midday, before a big, stressful presentation at work). It'll reduce the residual stress you feel later in the evening, meaning you won't replay your day over and over again in your head as you try to fall asleep.


A PILE OF SESAME SEEDS
Sesame seeds are one of the best natural sources of tryptophan, the sleep-inducing amino acid responsible for all of those post-Thanksgiving turkey comas. Hold off on the turkey sammies, though-the protein in the turkey might offset the tryptophan's benefit.


A HANDFUL OF PRETZELS
Pretzels are a low-calorie, low-fat source of carbohydrates, which will make you feel sleepy, but won't pack on the pounds or give you belly-aching indigestion.

Related: Check out which pretzel made it onto our list of the 125 Healthiest Supermarket Foods in America.


1 GLASS OF WINE
It's called a "nightcap" for a reason--a glass of wine really does take the edge off. University of Toronto researchers discovered that one alcoholic drink caused people's blood vessels to relax--but two began to reverse the effects, so limit your intake. Relaxed blood vessels means lower blood pressure, slower heart rate, and greater ability to relax in general.


A 4-OZ GLASS OF UNSWEETENED CHERRY JUICE
Cherry juice has serotonin-inducing carbohydrates, which will help relax you. Down the cherry juice an hour before bedtime, in case you feel a small jolt of energy from the sugar. There's not enough to keep you up all night or destabilize your blood sugar levels.


RED BELL PEPPERS
Researchers at the University of Alabama fed rats 200 milligrams of vitamin C twice a day and found that it nearly stopped the secretion of cortisol, a hormone released in your body when you're stressed. Calorie for calorie, red bell peppers give you more vitamin C than any other fruit or vegetable.

And for more great advice like this, get the next book in the best-selling series: Eat This, Not That! 2010 Edition. It's completely updated and expanded to include all of the latest restaurant and supermarket foods! Sign up for your free Eat This, Not That newsletter--with daily no-diet weight-loss tips delivered straight to your inbox, losing weight has never been easier.

Weight loss starts with shopping. Taking control of what you eat begins with taking control of what you buy.

Every time you toss a low-calorie food into the cart, you're taking responsibility for losing weight—even before you sit down to a meal.

There's a very simple formula for low-calorie eating: Stock up on low-calorie staples. These are the basic packaged, canned, and frozen ingredients that you'll reach for to create tasty, healthful, low-calorie meals anytime.

The Picture Perfect Anytime List is a menu of the lowest-calorie produce, soups, sauces, condiments, marinades, dressings, dips, candies, desserts, and beverages available. Stuff your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer with them, and reach for them anytime. Feel free to go to the foods on the Anytime List when you want a snack or are planning a meal. Eat any amount of them for any reason. When the Anytime List becomes the core of your eating—in other words, the main dish around which you build your meals—you'll have no trouble staying thin for life.

The Anytime List
Fruits and vegetables
All fruits and vegetables—raw, cooked, fresh, frozen, canned—belong on the Picture Perfect Anytime List. Avoid any packaged fruits that have added sugar. Otherwise, the more fruits and vegetables you eat, the better.

Soups
You've heard of value for your money. Soups give you very good value for the calories. They are filling; a bowl of soup can be an entire meal. They are satisfying. For many people, they are more satisfying than raw vegetables, while many give you all the benefits of veggies (if you choose the soups chock full of vegetables). They are inexpensive, convenient, easy, and quick to make. Soups don't make you feel like you're on a diet. Above all, soups are versatile. They can serve as a snack, as part of a meal, or as a cooking ingredient.

Sauces, Condiments, and Marinades
Put the following items at the very top of your shopping list. They're invaluable for adding flavor, moisture, texture, and versatility to every food and every meal.
# Salad dressings: oil-free or low-calorie (light or lite)
# Mayonnaise: fat-free or light
# Sour cream and yogurt: fat-free, plain, or with NutraSweet (or low-fat nondairy substitutes)
# Mustards: Dijon, Pommery, and others
# Tomato puree, tomato paste, and tomato sauce
# Clam juice, tomato juice, V8 juice, and lemon or lime juice
# Butter Buds or Molly McButter
# Cooking sprays (such as Pam) in butter, olive oil, garlic, or lemon flavors
# Vinegars: balsamic, cider, wine, tarragon, and others
# Horseradish: red and white
# Sauces: salsa, cocktail sauce, tamari, soy sauce, A1, Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, ketchup, duck sauce, chutney, relish, and others
# Onion: fresh, juice, flakes, and powder
# Garlic: fresh, juice, flakes, and powder
# Herbs: any and all, including basil, oregano, tarragon, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, dill, chives, sage, and bay leaves
# Spices: any and all, including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cumin, nutmeg, coriander, curry, paprika, and allspice
# Extracts: vanilla, almond, peppermint, maple, coconut, cocoa powder, and others

Dressings and Dips
I recommend fat-free or light dressings and dips. The light category—low-fat, reduced-fat, and low-calorie—is midway between totally fat-free and regular, and it's often more pleasing to the palate than fat-free.

Dressings can be used as all-purpose condiments, dips, toppings, even cooking liquids. They already contain a mixture of ingredients, so just slather them on vegetables, seafood, and pretty much anything else. Or cook with them to make up for the lack of butter or oil.

I recommend keeping several varieties of dressings and dips on hand, including at least one creamy version. Try brushing a light creamy dressing on seafood, then broiling; the dressing adds moisture and flavor.

Candy
Yup, candy. The real thing—not the dietetic variety—is best when your sweet tooth starts aching. Dietetic candies have almost as many calories as regular candies, often lack flavor, and are an incentive to eat more. Stick to the real thing.
# Chewing gum or gum balls: any and all
# Hard candy: any and all, including sour balls, candy canes, lollipops such as Tootsie Pops or Blow Pops, Jolly Ranchers, Werther's Original, and TasteTations

Frozen Desserts
Any fat-free frozen yogurt, frozen nondairy substitute, or sorbet is a fine addition to the freezer. Try the lower-calorie choices. Here are some examples:
# Soft serve: up to 25 calories per ounce, including Skimpy Treat; TCBY, Colombo nonfat frozen yogurt, and Tofutti
# Hard pack: up to 115 calories per 1/2-cup serving, including Sharon's Sorbet, Low-Fat Tofutti, all Italian ices, and Sweet Nothings
# Frozen bars: Creamsicles, Fudgsicles, and Popsicles; any others containing up to 45 calories per bar, including Welch's Fruit Juice Bars, Weight Watchers Smart Ones Orange Vanilla Treats, Tofutti Chocolate Fudge Treats, Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chocolate Mousse, Dolly Madison Slender Treat Chocolate Mousse, and Yoplait
# Individually packaged frozen bars: up to 110 calories each, including FrozFruit, Hagen-Dazs bars, and Starbucks Frappuccino Blended Coffee Bars

Beverages
Avoid beverages labeled "naturally sweetened" or "fruit-juice sweetened," but help yourself to these:
# Unsweetened black coffees and teas
# Diet teas and juices: Crystal Light, Diet Snapple, Diet Natural Lemon Nestea, Diet Mistic, and others
# Noncaloric flavored waters: orange, chocolate, cream, cherry-chocolate, root beer, cola, and other flavors of bottled or filtered water
# Seltzer: plain or flavored, but check the calorie count if the product is labeled "naturally sweetened," since this usually means that the product has sugar in one form or another
# Hot cocoa mixes: 20 to 50 calories per serving, including Swiss Miss Diet and Fat-Free and Nestle Carnation Diet and Fat-Free; avoid cocoa mixes with 60 or more calories per serving

Let's Go Shopping
Today's supermarkets are filled with choices for the weight conscious. Here are some of the lowest-calorie choices for a variety of food categories that aren't covered in the Anytime List.

Cereals
# Cheerios: a whole grain cereal with 110 calories and 3 g fiber per cup
# Kellogg's All-Bran with Extra Fiber: 50 calories and 15 g fiber per 1/2 cup
# Original Shredded Wheat: 80 calories and 2.5 g fiber per biscuit
# Fiber One: 60 calories and 14 g fiber per 1/2 cup
# Wheaties: 110 calories and 2 g fiber per cup
# Whole Grain Total: 110 calories and 3 g fiber per 3/4 cup

Spreads
# Peanut butter
# Low-sugar or sugar-free jams and jellies with 10 to 40 calories per tablespoon

Breads
# Light breads with 40 to 45 calories per slice: oatmeal, premium white, wheat, rye, multigrain, sourdough, Italian
# Whole grain regular breads or rolls

Rice and Pasta
# Whole wheat/whole grain pastas: Hodgson Mill, Ancient Harvest
# Brown rice
# Whole wheat couscous
# Pearled or hulled barley
# Other whole grains: quinoa, whole grain cornmeal, kasha, bulgur, millet

Frozen Meals
# Low-calorie frozen breakfast foods such as those from Kellogg's, Aunt Jemima, and Pillsbury—and a special mention for the low-calorie, whole grain offerings from Van's
# Low-calorie, vegetable-focused frozen meals in the 150- to 350-calories-per-package range, especially the Amy's brand

Beans
# All beans, dried or canned
# Health Valley canned bean/chili combinations
# Low-fat or fat-free refried beans

Snacks
# Make it a point to eat starchy, crunchy snacks only in conjunction with a food from the Anytime List. For example, have fruit with popcorn or soup with crackers. Fill up on the former, and go easy on the starchy snack.

Protein Foods
# Legumes: beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas
# Soy products: bean curd/tofu, meat-replacement products by Boca, Gardenburger, Yves, and Lightlife
# Seafood: fresh (do not fry!), smoked, canned, frozen

Hair loss that is caused by medicines, stress, lack of protein or iron, or hair care may be prevented. Avoiding certain medicines, reducing stress, getting adequate protein and iron in your diet, and using hairstyles that do not damage your hair may reduce or prevent hair loss.

You may have seen recent news reports about Sheryl Crow's advice to limit toilet paper use to one square at a time to help protect the environment.

Recent controversy about the safety of ingredients in some skin care products - hydroquinone and paraben, for instance - and their effect on the environment caused some to take a fresh look at organic skin care products.

Many of my patients choose organic products just to be on the safe side. The USDA enacted new organic standards for skin and body care in August 2005. If a product contains 95 percent organic ingredients, it can be labeled "organic."

If it only contains 75 percent to 94 percent organic ingredients, then it is labeled as "made with organic ingredients." For skin care ingredients to be labeled organic, they have to follow the same rules that foods do. These rules require manufacturers to avoid using prohibited pesticides and fertilizers, and employ positive soil building, conservation, manure management, and crop rotation practices.

I am not convinced that organic ingredients are always better for your skin, but you may be inclined to consider them for several reasons. Organic products aim to exclude or minimize any ingredients that could be considered potentially harmful to people, animals, waterways, or the environment.

Organic products often are sold in recyclable containers. If more people buy organic skin care products, then more companies will begin to supply these products. I invite you to share your favorite organic skin care products.

Have you ever carefully applied your favorite lipstick ... only to look in a mirror an hour later and discover that it's bleeding through the edges of your lips?

There are ways to slow the signs of lip aging! Time and time again, I've encountered patients and friends who invest tons of time and money in skin care - only to virtually ignore their lips. Don't make that mistake.

1. If you smoke, stop! The repeated action of pursing your lips around a cigarette creates "wrinkles in motion," that is, wrinkles caused by repeatedly moving your skin a certain way. Eventually, those wrinkles will remain even when your lips are at rest.

2. For that same reason, limit your use of drinking straws and anything else that causes you to repeatedly purse your lips.

3. When you're slathering SPF on the rest of your body, it can be easy to forget your lips. If your signature shade of lipstick isn't sun-friendly, always start with a base of SPF lip balm.

4. In fact, the lips are a very common site for skin cancer because they don't naturally secrete vitamin E-rich sebum - the oil that helps protect your skin. Pick up a bottle of vitamin E oil or lip balm with vitamin E. Not only will it help protect your pout against skin cancer, it will also prevent the signs of aging.

5. If your lips feel flaky, it's perfectly fine to exfoliate them, although there's no need to exfoliate on a regular basis. Use a fine scrub (nothing too abrasive), and be sure to follow it with a hydrating product. In addition to vitamin E, I love glycerin-based balms, which will help lips hold on to water.

6. Curious about "lip plumping" glosses? In general, they do work - by irritating the delicate skin on the lips and causing them to swell slightly. (They're not dangerous, but a word of warning: When I tried one, my lips burned for an hour, even though I'd washed it off immediately!)

7. If you're really interested in plumper lips, consider dermal fillers. Contrary to common fears, the latest dermal fillers (like Restylane, Juvederm, Hylaform, and the newly approved Perlane) can look very natural when a skilled doctor performs the procedure. Ask him or her to go easy on you - a little goes a very long way when it comes to lips.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration approved for the first time a drug-free product for the treatment of baldness in males with androgenetic alopecia, a progressive, diffuse, symmetric loss of scalp hair.

The Hairmax Lasercomb®, a hand-held laser device manufactured by Lexington International, is sold on the Internet for $545. According to the company, as the device is drawn through the hair, its laser beam strikes the scalp to promote new hair growth.

In light of this new product, here are a few myths about hair growth and loss to consider.

1) Shaving the hair on your face or legs makes it grow faster. This myth has caused many a young boy to delay that first shave and has struck fear into the hearts of young ladies concerned about hair on their legs.

2) Frequent brushing is good for the hair. Excessive brushing can in fact damage the hair.

3) Brushing can make thinning hair fall out more quickly. Genetic factors are the major determinants of when hair loss begins and how rapidly it progresses.

4) Tight hats cause baldness. In fact, it's a good idea to wear a hat while at the beach. A heavily sun-burned scalp can speed hair loss.

5) Taking frequent showers causes baldness.

6) A frightening experience can turn hair gray or white almost overnight.

7) Dandruff is contagious. Not true, but you can get some nasty critters from using another person's comb.

8) Split ends can be repaired without cutting them off.

9) Hair should not be washed every day.

10) Baldness is inherited from the mother's side of the family.

11) It is harmful to color your hair during pregnancy. Although most experts agree that the fetus cannot be hurt if the mother colors her hair during pregnancy, some doctors disagree - so it's best ask your obstetrician.

12) Straightening the hair can lead to breast cancer.

13) Going to sleep with wet hair can cause scalp infections.

14) Hair shouldn't be combed when it is wet.

15) For thick shiny hair, eat a diet rich in protein and iron.

Many women become depressed while they are pregnant, or shortly after the baby is born.

The U.S. National Women's Health Information Center says these factors increase the likelihood of developing depression during or after pregnancy:

* Having been depressed or had another mental illness prior to pregnancy.
* Having a family history of depression or other mental illness.
* Getting inadequate support from loved ones.
* Feeling anxious or negative about being pregnant.
* Having had problems with a prior pregnancy.
* Dealing with financial or marital problems, or other major life stresses.
* Being pregnant at a young age.
* Abusing drugs or alcohol.

Introduction

This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor's recommendation.
Key points in making your decision

Insomnia can be caused by other conditions such as stress, menopause, depression, anxiety, or old age. Sleep problems like sleep apnea, addictions like alcoholism, and using too much caffeine can also cause insomnia. After you and your doctor have treated other health problems leading to your insomnia, there are many steps you can take to break the cycle of sleeping poorly and feeling tired during the day. One of these steps may be to take sleeping pills.

Consider the following when making your decision:

* Sleeping pills may quickly relieve the symptoms of insomnia.
* Sleep medicines work best and are safest as a short-term treatment combined with lifestyle changes.
* You can try sleeping pills for a short time while you work on the problems that are causing your insomnia.
* Some sleep medicines have side effects, such as daytime drowsiness and nausea.
* Sleeping pills may not work as well when your body gets used to the medicines.
* You can become addicted to some types of sleeping pills if you take them for more than a few weeks.
* You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the medicines.
* Lifestyle and behavior changes can work as well as or better than medicines in helping you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Medical Information
What is insomnia?

People with insomnia have problems falling asleep or staying asleep. You may wake up during the night or wake up too early the next morning. Without enough sleep, you may feel sleepy during the day. This can make you more likely to have an accident, and it also makes driving dangerous. You may feel grumpy from lack of sleep. Some people have trouble remembering things, don't get as much done, and don't enjoy being with family and friends. Some people use caffeine to help them get over feeling tired, but this may make their insomnia worse.

Insomnia is a common problem that affects almost everyone at some point. Having trouble sleeping from time to time is often linked to short-term stress. It can last for days to weeks. It often gets better in less than a month.

But insomnia can turn into a long-term sleep problem, especially when you worry about not sleeping well. This is called chronic insomnia. It is often a symptom of another health problem, such as depression or chronic pain. Chronic insomnia is less common than short-term sleep problems.
How can sleeping pills help?

Sleep medicines may provide fast relief from the symptoms of insomnia. They can help you break the cycle of poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue while you work on the problems that are causing your insomnia. Sleeping pills can also be helpful when you just have trouble now and then falling asleep. But they work best as a short-term treatment.

There are different types of sleeping pills. Talk to your doctor about your choices.
What are the risks of taking sleeping pills?

Sleeping pills do not work as well over time as do lifestyle and behavior changes, such as getting more exercise and changing your sleep environment, your schedule, or what and when you eat and drink. Sleeping pills can also become habit-forming. You may come to rely on them so much that you can't sleep without them.

When you take sleeping pills, you may have side effects such as feeling anxious or sick to your stomach (nauseated) or feeling sleepy or drowsy during the day.

Medicine works best and is safest as a short-term treatment combined with lifestyle changes. In the long run, lifestyle changes are the most helpful treatment for insomnia.

When so much is uncertain in the world around us, it is natural for our anxieties to rise and our emotions to fluctuate. But when your emotions run wild, the imbalance can spell trouble for your long-term health. Read on for 6 natural ways to get grounded and balance your emotions.

The Chinese healing tradition classifies emotion into five predominant states: joy, rumination (including worry), sadness, fear, and anger. Experiencing these emotions is a normal part of life, and you usually shift naturally from one to the next in reaction to events that pop up in your day. However, when one single emotion dominates, it brings your entire body out of balance and can produce illness. Learning to manage your emotions is essential for your happiness, health, and longevity.

1. A nerve-calming neurotransmitter
A healthy brain has a balanced chemistry that can cope more effectively with emotional stress. Some neurotransmitters in the brain excite the nerves, while others have a calming effect. One such neurotransmitter, GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) is a chemical that is especially helpful when emotional turmoil strikes. As the primary neurotransmitter for calming nerve signals, it prevents anxiety-related messages from reaching the brain. However, over time the body's production of the chemical wanes, and when you have low levels of GABA, you may begin to feel an increase in anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and depression. When you take it as a dietary supplement, pair it with vitamin B6, which helps your body use the GABA.

2. Herbal therapy for balance
The liver is thought to be the seat of emotional expression according to Chinese medicine. When healthy, the liver network naturally balances your emotional state and releases suppressed emotions. A blockage of liver energy can manifest as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Some herbs that can give the liver an added boost are:

* Dandelion cleanses the liver and helps release built-up anger.
* Milk thistle protects and restores the liver.
* Schisandra berry protects the liver and soothes emotional anxiety.
* Chrysanthemum flower is used to cleanse the liver and neutralize toxins.
* White peony root is a Chinese herb often used to soothe the liver and balance the mood.

These herbs are available from health food stores and Eastern medicine practitioners. Consider trying our formula Internal Cleanse, which lifts emotional stagnation and promotes liver health.

3. Exercise releases pent-up emotions
When people do not use a healthy outlet to release emotions, they are stored in the body and can eventually result in physical pain. Common symptoms that may point to trapped feelings in your body are pains in the back, neck, shoulders, jaw area, or stomach, congestion in the ear or nose, a lump in your throat, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Often unrecognized as pent-up emotions, these blockages may cause more serious harm to your health down the road—manifesting as chronic pain or even growths. Free negative emotions and use massage therapy, exercise, yoga, tai chi, or qi gong to get your energy flowing freely.

4. Take a time-out
Every parent can pinpoint when their children are about to have an emotional breakdown—they are overtired, hungry, and hurried. Unfortunately, adults do not consider the impact of stress on their own emotional lives. Rest and relaxation are essential for emotional balance. Just as junior has restful activities scheduled like story-time or naptime, create some of your own relaxing rituals. Take a bath in Epsom salts, scent the air with lavender, or read quietly in a calm corner.

5. Keep a journal
One of the best ways to work with your emotions is also one of the simplest. Write down your feelings to release them. Try writing for at least 10 minutes a day for a month. This will give you enough time to spot some patterns in your emotions—and to note if they correspond to any physical symptoms in your body. Write from the position of observer and record your emotions without judgment or editing. The next step is to identify the source of any anger, sadness, or other unhappiness so you can begin to make changes.

6. Breathing brings balance
Use deep breathing and rest to restore your metabolic equilibrium. Sometime during your busy day find time to close your eyes and take ten deep breaths. Even better, meditate on a daily basis and head off emotional extremes before they start. Studies show that people who meditate are calm, slower to anger, and better able to see through problems to good outcomes. Try spending 10 to 15 minutes in meditative relaxation each day and watch your emotional elasticity expand! There are many meditation guides and cds that can help you learn the practice.

Ovarian cancer cannot be prevented, but you may be able to reduce some of your chances for developing it.

Studies have found that the use of a combined estrogen and progestin birth control pill for more than 5 years reduces a woman's risk of ovarian cancer.

One study showed that the low-dose combined pills are most effective for reducing risk.Another showed that the protective effect lasts for several years after the woman stops taking the combined pills. 19 Women who have a family history of ovarian cancer may also lower their risk by using birth control pills. The results are not clear from studies on the use of birth control pills in women who have BRCA gene changes.

Having surgery to close or tie off your fallopian tubes (bilateral tubal ligation) will lower your chances of developing ovarian cancer.But, you will not be able to become pregnant after having this surgery. Talk to your doctor about whether this choice is right for you.

Having one or more babies lowers your chances for ovarian cancer. Breast-feeding for at least one year also lowers your chances.

A small number of women with ovarian cancer have a first-degree female relative—such as a sister, mother, or daughter—or a second-degree female relative—such as an aunt or grandmother—who has had ovarian cancer. Changes (mutations) in two major genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are most closely related to a higher lifetime chance for ovarian cancer in these families.You may consider a BRCA gene test if you have a family history of ovarian cancer. Most experts recommend that women with known BRCA mutations have their uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes removed while these organs are still healthy, to reduce their lifetime chance of developing ovarian cancer. You will not be able to become pregnant, but studies have shown that this surgery lowers your chance of getting ovarian cancer by about 95%.

There is still a small chance of getting ovarian cancer, even after the ovaries are removed. This is because there can already be a tiny cancer growing before the ovaries are removed. Those cancer cells can remain in the body after the surgery, where they continue to grow.It is also possible to develop cancer on the smooth tissue lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). This type of cancer—called peritoneal cancer—looks like ovarian cancer, has similar symptoms, and is treated in the same way.

The cause of ovarian cancer is not known. Genetics are a risk factor for some women. A family history of ovarian or breast cancer is found in 10% to 20% of women with ovarian cancer.

In general, fewer than 2 in 100 women (less than 2%) will get ovarian cancer in their lifetime. That risk goes up to 4 or 5 in 100 if one family member has had ovarian cancer, and 7 in 100 if two relatives have had it. But if at least two first-degree relatives (meaning mother, sister, or daughter) have had ovarian cancer, the risk is 25 to 50 in 100 (25% to 50%).

Women who inherit changes (genetic mutations) in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Women who inherit the gene change in BRCA1 have a lifetime chance of 20 to 60 out of 100 of getting ovarian cancer. For women who inherit the gene change in BRCA2, the lifetime chance is 10 to 35 out of 100.

You have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer if you:

* Are unable to become pregnant (infertility).
* Have never had a baby.
* Have not used hormonal birth control methods. Hormonal methods change the normal cycle of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, so ovulation does not occur each month.

If you have a strong family history of ovarian or breast cancer, you may want to talk with your doctor or a genetic counselor about having a blood test to look for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene changes. Women who inherit these changes in one or both of these genes have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or both.

Ovarian cancer does not cause many symptoms in its early stages. This is why most cases are not found until the cancer has spread. 4 Most women do have symptoms in the 6 to 12 months before ovarian cancer is found. Symptoms that occur in later stages are most likely caused by the pressure of the growing cancer. Symptoms include:

* Ongoing cramps or pain in your belly.
* Ongoing pain in your pelvis or lower back.
* Abnormal bleeding from your vagina, especially after menopause if you are not using any hormonal medicines.
* Abnormal discharge from your vagina, containing mucus that may be tinged with blood.
* Pain or bleeding during sex.
* Nausea or loss of appetite, or you cannot eat normally.
* Ongoing bloating or intestinal gas that is not relieved by home treatment measures.
* Bigger belly size or a lump that can be felt in your belly.
* Decreased energy level.
* A change in your bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea.
* A change in your bladder habits, such as urinary frequency or urgency.
* Weight loss.

If you often feel ravenous by noon despite a good breakfast, try drinking some of this with your morning meal: skim milk.

In a small study of overweight people, those who drank about 20 ounces of skim milk with breakfast ate less at lunch than the folks who drank fruit juice in the a.m.

An Appetite-Dousing Drink
The milk drinkers also felt fuller and more satisfied after their morning meal. Most likely thanks to the whey and casein proteins that are in milk; they’re better at quelling hunger than the carbs in fruit drinks.

Other Hunger Crushers
If you don’t like the taste of milk, have lactose intolerance, or don’t drink milk for other reasons, don’t worry. There are lots of other ways to introduce lean protein into your morning meal. For example, try making this quick, protein-rich, milk-free smoothie: Banana-Cocoa Soy Smoothie.

Pasta salad. Summer isn’t complete without it. And here’s the noodle you should use to do your blood pressure some good at the same time: whole-wheat pasta.

How’s it work? Well, whole-wheat pasta contains glutamic acid, a vegetable protein that has been linked to better blood pressure in recent research.

Protective Protein
In a study released last month, the more glutamic acid people got in their diets, the better their blood pressure was. In fact, just a 4.7 percent increase in the proportion of protein people got from glutamic acid instead of other sources was associated with systolic numbers that were 1.5 to 3 points lower on average. And diastolic readings were lower, too, by about 1 to 1.6 points. The effect occurred in both men and women but was strongest in women.

Great Glutamate
Researchers aren’t sure how glutamic acid affects blood pressure, but it’s possible that components of glutamic acid enhance the blood-pressure-lowering effects of nitric oxide or help blood vessels relax. And whole-wheat foods are only one source. You also can get glutamic acid from rice, beans, and soy products like tofu. Here are a few more ways to lower your blood pressure:

* Change your attitude. Discover the thought process that aids blood pressure.
* Take a few steps. Find out why a short walk is so good for your blood pressure.
* Just breathe. Check out this simple six-step breathing exercise that can help your BP

Not feeling like much of an athlete these days? Eat an onion.

New research suggests that quercetin -- an antioxidant found in onions (and tea, and broccoli, and apples) -- may help your body work harder longer.

Taking a Cue from Quercetin
The small study in question compared healthy college students on stationary bikes. Those taking quercetin supplements pedaled 14 percent longer than the placebo group. Still, it’s not yet clear how this information translates into real-world use, because the supplement takers were getting really large doses -- about 500 milligrams twice a day. That is far more than a person gets in a regular diet. Still, the results are pretty impressive, especially considering how much fitter the students were able to get with little effort. Feeling lazy ?

Secret Energy Source
Besides possibly giving your workout a boost, quercetin has countless other health benefits. A growing body of research shows quercetin may help prevent everything from asthma and allergies to cancer and heart disease. And the latest research has scientists speculating as to whether quercetin may also help the body build mitochondria -- those all-important energy centers found inside each of your cells. So sip some tea and get invigorated!

If you’ve got a testy lower back, here’s something you can do in your sleep that might help: Sleep on your side.

Health experts say that this position puts less strain on your spine than sleeping on your back or your stomach does.

Less Painful Positioning
Joseph A. Abboud, MD, and Soo Kim Abboud, MD, coauthors of No More Joint Pain, contend that sleeping on your side is better for your back because it produces less curve in the spine. Also helpful: a firm mattress that supports your lower back. Tucking your legs up a bit and placing a pillow between your knees can help keep your spine comfier, too.

More Back Issues
Another novel way to protect your back: Avoid cigarette smoke. Aside from all the obvious reasons that tobacco smoke is bad for you, it could also decrease blood flow to your spine and even fuel disc degeneration, according to the book’s authors. Smoking also slows down your body’s ability to heal and recover from injuries.

Keep your spine feeling fine with these other back tips as well:

- Feed it the good stuff
- Get a buff backside
- Sit strong in front of the TV

You wanna try ?

If you’re in the middle of a long-term relationship with your treadmill, stationary bike, or elliptical trainer, do whatever it takes to keep that love alive.

New research shows that staying committed to exercise over the long haul gives you the brain structure of someone years younger.

Good-Looking Gray Matter
When researchers performed brain imaging tests on adults between the ages of 60 and 80, the noggins of the most active people looked similar to the brains of people years younger. The exercisers’ small blood vessels looked less twisty, suggesting better cerebral blood flow -- which translates to healthier mind muscle and better brain function. Been off the workout wagon for a while?

Mind-Body Strength
In the study, the heavy exercisers didn’t just go through the motions. They had gotten at least 3 hours of exercise a week for 10 years. It’s not clear yet whether the long-term exercise caused favorable changes in the study subjects’ brain anatomy or if the people with healthier brains were simply more likely to exercise. But loads of other studies show that working up a sweat is good for your longevity.