Prevention

There is no way to sugar-coat it: May is the official start of Lyme disease season. Carried by the Black-legged, or deer, tick reported cases of Lyme disease are on the rise in Maryland, the state where I live. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 28,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease were reported nationwide in 2008. This is 5% more than reported in 2007, and double the number reported in 1991, with the most cases reported in the Northeast.

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Studies have long shown that married couples tend to have better health and decreased risk for heart disease, cancer, and other health risks, than unmarried people. Now, studies from Ohio State University throw a more nuanced light on the link between marriage and health, showing that the quality of a marriage and the nature of marital stress can have a profound effect on our health.

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It’s on your car, in your home, and even ends up in your hair, eyes, and up your nose. Like it or not, you pretty much cannot avoid it, at least at this time of year. The question is, what exactly is it?

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The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recently admitted that it was concerned about the possible health effects of Bisphenol-A (BPA), a compound widely used in manufacturing hard plastic bottles and food packaging. BPA is prevalent in the packaging of our food and in many products we use on a daily basis. What can you do to reduce your family’s exposure to the chemical?

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With a growing trend of obesity in children and teenagers, parents are increasingly concerned with the health of their children. Research from the University of North Carolina suggests that whether a mother is obese during pregnancy, and how much weight she gains during pregnancy, can affect whether her child will become obese later in life.

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Besides adding a bit of comfort, style and leisurely flair, it turns out that flip-flops may actually help you avoid osteoarthritis later in life. This is because footwear that has flexible soles, which include flip-flops and sneakers (and bare feet), are much easier on your knees than even special walking shoes, and stress on the knees can play an important role in the development of arthritis.

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Over ten years ago, scientists discovered a hormone secreted by the fat tissue that actually suppressed a person’s appetite. The hormone, known as leptin, offered the promise of an effective treatment for obesity and sparked a furious scramble to produce and market this purportedly miracle weight-loss compound.

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For men over the age of 50, prostate cancer is a legitimate health concern, affecting nearly 1 in 6 American men. Now, however, researchers believe that walnuts might decrease their risk for contracting the condition. In fact, walnut consumption was shown to slow the growth of tumors in animal models, as well as having some beneficial effects on the gene expression the underlies tumor growth and metabolism.

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Decades of fluoridated water and toothpastes has led to a significant decline in tooth decay, and a corresponding drop in dentists have to intervene with treatment for cavities. Cosmetic dentistry is quickly rising to fill this gap — no pun intended. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) 74% of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success, and the overwhelming majority of American believe a smile is an important social asset.

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Have you heard of radon? A colorless, odorless gas, radon is the byproduct of the radioactive decay of uranium naturally occurring in the soil and rocks in our environment. When you are exposed to radon in indoor environments, including in your home, you run an increased risk of lung cancer. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that about 21 000 people in the US die of cancer caused by radon every year.

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