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We lead busy lives—we work, spend time with our children or grandchildren, exercise, and even squeeze in date nights with our partners. There are only 24 hours in a day, and sometimes it’s hard to fit in regular health screenings. However, those appointments could catch gynecologic cancers early on—when it’s most treatable. There are five types of gynecological cancers: cervical, uterine, ovarian, vaginal and vulvar. Risk factors for these cancers include contracting HPV, being 60 or older, family histo...
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The CDC reports that over 34 million American adults have diabetes. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can cause long-term health complications like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, gum infections and even eye problems. Hyperglycemia can also damage blood vessels, thereby increasing the likelihood of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Because 1 in 3 adults have pre-diabetes (most of which don’t know it), we all can benefit from lower glucose levels to help lose weight, reduce blood pressure...
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Don’t let misinformation make waves. Knowing the facts about breast health can help keep you afloat in a sea of information. Myth: Only women have to worry about breast cancer. Fact: Though breast cancer is less common in men, it is more likely to be fatal. The CDC reported 2,300 new cases of male breast cancer in 2017. Myth: You can find all lumps with a self-exam. Fact: Breast cancer doesn’t always cause lumps, and if bumps do develop, it could mean cancer has spread to your lymph nodes. While y...
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The first thing that comes to mind for many when they hear diabetes is sugar. While sugar plays a big part in this disease, there’s much more to this chronic condition. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, meaning it affects how the body breaks down food to create energy through insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Food is converted into glucose when you eat. As the amount of glucose in the blood rises, beta cells in the pancreas trigger insulin release. This hormone acts like a key, unlocking and ...
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As a new mother, it can be hard to find your footing. According to the Pew Research Center, 45 percent of moms with kids younger than 6 years say parenting is tiring all or most of the time. How can you make the adjustment easier? You took breastfeeding and prenatal classes, read every book you could get your hands on, and soaked up all the advice you could get from friends and family. However, all of that pales in comparison to the reality of caring for a newborn. How can you handle this new world of m...
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More than 50 million Americans battle allergies each year—and pollen produced by trees, grasses and weeds is frequently the cause. While pollen is harmless to some, the immune system of someone allergic releases antibodies to eliminate what it perceives as a danger. The histamines released during that process cause your eyes, nose and throat to swell, itch and produce mucus. Even if you know all about pollen, you may not know the best ways to combat it. Avoid these common spring allergy mistakes that ca...
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You’re going about your day, working, exercising or spending time with family, when all of a sudden you feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your abdomen. You’ve been nauseated and haven’t had much of an appetite all day. If you’ve ever felt this way, don’t just dismiss it as something simple as overeating.These are all signs that you have appendicitis or inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis occurs due to infection, parasites or when the tube that joins your large intestine and appendix is blocked by tr...
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What’s That Sound? Clicking, cracking, grinding, popping, snapping — these are all common and generally harmless sounds our joints can make. It’s a natural part of aging, and the sound could be the result of one of these conditions: As cartilage wears away, your bones grind or rub each other. This causes the sound you are hearing. Tight muscles and tendons can make sounds when moving over bone or as it returns to its original position. When you pop or crack a joint like your knuckles, you’re releasing n...
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Whether it’s a springtime ritual, a way to remove pet hair or your toddler colored on the wall, cleaning is a good idea. However, what you’re using to get out that carpet stain or kill germs could pose a breathing risk to your or your family—especially if someone is asthmatic. Here’s what you can do instead. Avoid VOCs. Many cleaning supplies release chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that irritate the throat and eyes, spark headaches and are linked to cancer. According to the American L...
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Even simple actions such as getting out of bed or bending over to tie your shoelaces – can put you at risk for injury far more easily than you may realize. Learning to move properly can reduce your risk for accidents and injuries. Bending Bending forward to tie your shoes or pick something up off the ground can stress your spine and potentially cause injury. To avoid this, squat down to reach your feet. Also, when picking items up off the floor, squat or kneel rather than bending at the waist. Lifting I...
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