The Gut Bacteria and Depression Connection
Research is increasingly showing a mind-body connection. Did you know, for example, that depression could be a result of bacteria in your gut? In 2012, scientists at University College Cork discovered that brain levels of serotonin, or the ‘happy hormone,’ are regulated by the amount of bacteria in the gut …
Living With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Back in 1988, when Anita Dueñas was 17, she was sent to the gynecologist for the first time because of symptoms she was experiencing. The doctor examined her and then took her into his office where he got out his Dictaphone and dictated medical and Latin jargon while she sat …
The Link Between IBD and Anxiety
Chalk another one up to the mind-body connection. Researchers out of the University of Toronto have discovered that people who have inflammatory bowel disease — inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine– like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have twice the odds of having a generalized anxiety disorder at …
Holistic Health: Treating the Whole Person
You may know the term best as “alternative” medicine, but this moniker is no longer accurate. Better described as holistic health, naturopathic or even complementary, this form of integrative medicine has become more mainstream. Rather than looking at just specific symptoms, holistic health is more comprehensive. Practitioners look at the …
The Lyme Disease and the Fibromyalgia Connection
Your chances of getting bitten by a mosquito are greater than by a tick. But if you like the outdoors and live in certain areas, your risk is higher. And if the tick is carrying one of the 14 major diseases it is known for in the U.S., you may …
Restless Legs Syndrome: Quiet Your Feet and Get Back to Sleep
Allie McIver is constantly bouncing her legs. It gets worse at night, especially if she’s been too sedentary that day. It’s a feeling she describes as similar to an itch — or an overwhelming desire to move her legs – that starts at the ankle and sort of runs up …
Your Omega-3 Source Matters: Supplements Vs. Foods
It’s well known that too much fat in the diet isn’t healthy, but there is a particular fatty acid that is necessary: Omega-3. This is considered an essential fat because it isn’t made by the body and can only be obtained from food. Read on to learn more about omega-3, …
The Long-Term Effect of Weight Teasing on Girls
Jennifer Leslie was always the tallest kid in her class, but also the heaviest. She was never an unhealthy eater, but was constantly ridiculed for her size. Once puberty hit, Leslie grew more height-wise and thinned out, but was still larger than many kids her age, so the teasing didn’t …
How Physical Therapy Can Help Pelvic Muscle Weakness
Pelvic muscle weakness is a condition that many women experience. A common treatment involves pelvic floor exercises. Kegels are the most well known, but by no means the only option. Doing these exercises can improve symptoms like pain and pressure, as well as bowel and bladder control. WomensHealth.com talked with …
What You Can Do to Relieve Heartburn and GERD
The fact that GERD Awareness Week occurs annually during Thanksgiving should be the first clue that it’s digestive related. Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This treatable disease affects up to 1 in 5 people, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders …