Category Archives: Health Facts

5 Ways to Eliminate Holiday Stress Eating

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Greg Asseff

With the holiday season fully upon us, two things are probably a whole lot more prevalent in your life: stress and tempting, rich foods. Throughout the year, and especially during the holidays, many dieters face the issue of stress eating.

When we consume food, our brains release chemicals called serotonin and endorphins that relieve stress and make us feel happier. Of course, these short-term gains in mental well-being, while reducing holiday stress, come at the expense of gains in excess body weight. The holidays, in particular, can be a troubling time for chronic stress eaters. Adjusting to the colder season, purchasing gifts, balancing budgets and making arrangements for holiday gatherings add plenty of stress, and we’re conveniently presented with tempting sweets and feasts that make it easier to cope.

Posted in Diet, Exercise, Food, Health, Health Facts, Mental Health, News, Nutrition, Weight Loss | 2 Comments

Fathers Who Smoke Increase Leukemia Risk of Children

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Greg Asseff

If you’re a male smoker and you plan on conceiving a child in the near future, now may be the time to kick your habit based on new research into the causes of leukemia in children.

New Research from Australia indicates that men who regularly smoke are 15% more likely to father a child who will develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of childhood cancer.

The National Cancer Institute states that ALL affects at least 6 children per 200,000 born. While rare relative to other childhood diseases it is quite common when compared to other childhood cancers. In addition, roughly 1,000 children die of ALL each year. The news shines a light on the fathers impact on the child’s health, which was initially thought to be less significant.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, Men, News, Parenting, Studies | 8,241 Comments

Indoor Tanning Exposé Part 2: Basal Cell Carcinoma

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Greg Asseff

Yesterday, we reported that many young individuals, especially women between the ages of 14 and 22, regularly participate in indoor tanning despite understanding the documented health risks.

As previously reported, indoor tanning can lead to as high as a 75% increase in the risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer and a common subject of indoor tanning melanoma studies.

Today, we continue our indoor tanning exposé with additional information revealing that tanning bed use can increase your chances of developing early-onset BCC (basal cell carcinoma) by 69%. The findings come courtesy of a study conducted at New Haven, Connecticut’s Yale School of Public Health.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Skin and Beauty, Studies, Women | 1 Comment

Indoor Tanning Prevalent Among Young Women Despite Risks

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Greg Asseff

If you are like many Americans, you may frequent a tanning salon during the fall and winter months as a way of maintaining your summer complexion without access to warm, sunny beaches. Or, perhaps you typically visit the tanning salons during the mid spring months to establish your base tan prior to the upcoming hot summer months. The more important question to ask is why is it that so many individuals tan anyway? Whether it is routinely tanning at a salon, in your backyard, or at the beach, literally millions of people tan each and every year.

In both cases, indoor tanning salons and outdoor tanning will expose the skin to both UVA and UVB rays of light, albeit at different ratios. While there are health and wellness benefits related to exposing the skin to UVA and UVB rays of light, as with virtually everything in life, moderation is the key.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Skin and Beauty, Studies, Women | 12,217 Comments

5 Tips for Staying Healthy Over the Holidays

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Greg Asseff

Holiday stress, a lack of sleep and the changing of the seasons can put a strain on your immune system, making you vulnerable to cold and flu germs that run rampant in crowded retail outlets. Add to that, families with children will have to ensure that they are taken care of as they will be on vacation from school. Your boss will undoubtedly have to adjust the office responsibilities and priorities as other individuals will most likely be using some of their vacation time to spend with their families.

In addition, many individuals and families will either have guests that will be spending the holidays with them or they are planning on traveling to spend the holidays with their friends or family. Either way, the commitments and effort required to entertain guests that are visiting or to pack up the family and visit relatives adds an additional level of stress to your holiday season.