Category: Wellness

Whether you’re driving across the country or flying around the globe, traveling can expose the body to new and often-overlooked health risks that aren’t normal factors or considerations in our day-to-day lives. Taking time to prepare your body before and during your trip will go a long way in keeping your body’s systems functioning properly…

In public, we do our best to conform to society’s expectations of “normal” or “acceptable” behavior. We use manners, dress in clothing appropriate for the situations we encounter throughout the day, and behave in ways consistent with our surroundings and what is expected of us. But behind closed doors, the gloves come off, and we…

The word “jaundice” originates from the French word jaune, meaning “yellow.” Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of skin, mucus membranes and the white of the eyes. This condition is caused by elevated levels of bilirubin, a blood chemical. What most people fail to realize is that jaundice is a symptom of an underlying disease, not…

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” So goes the classic line in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It was not referring to medical conditions, but it might as well have been talking about them. For there are some strange things occurring in human bodies, some so bizarre…

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, known by the acronym, “TMJ,” are painful jaw joint and jaw muscle conditions. The disorder is named for the joint where the upper and lower jaws meet. Sometimes caused by injury but more often appearing without warning or obvious cause, TMJ is one of those physical annoyances that can crop…

There was once a best-selling book called You Are What You Eat. Research has proven that’s true when it comes to ingesting food. But it also shows that what we experience emotionally, particularly during childhood, can cause lasting lifetime trauma. There’s even an emerging body of research that indicates trauma can be passed down through…

It’s happened before — and now it’s happening again. You feel a weird tingling sensation. It’s like your legs and toes have gone to sleep. A visit to your doctor reveals some interesting information. You appear to be suffering from poor circulation. He orders a series of tests to determine the root of the cause…

Lightning has fascinated mankind since the first humans emerged from the primordial ooze. It was believed to be a finger of God, reaching out of the sky and often playing havoc with the surrounding landscape, causing fires, loud noises and usually angry storms. Today, we know that the lightning strikes are not caused by angry…

It’s no secret that you’re stressed out. Your friends say you’ve been on pins and needles for weeks. And your husband has been avoiding you like the plague. An Internet search on relaxation reveals the obvious tips: yoga, bubble baths, nature walks and soothing lavender oil. But later that evening, a Facebook post catches your…

No-see-ums are bugs that take their unusual name from their tiny size, which makes them barely visible. But you’ll know they are present by their bite, which can be painful. Formally known as midges but also referred to as punkies, biting midges and sand flies, they are often mistaken for mosquitos or fleas. The insects…