Decking the halls can take a lot out of you, but don’t become so frazzled that you start skipping meals. “During the holidays, we are often so hurried we don’t have time to sit down for a meal,” says Haley Robinson, a Piedmont clinical dietitian. “Some people also tend to think that if they skip breakfast and lunch, they will… Read More »
This leaflet looks at types of muscle weakness and discusses the wide range of problems which may cause them. These range from the very common to the very rare. Some are mild and reversible; others are not. Most can be improved by exercise and physiotherapy. Muscle weakness is a common complaint but the word weakness has a wide… Read More »
To diagnose anemia, your doctor will likely ask you about your medical history, perform a physical exam, and order blood tests. You can help by providing detailed answers about your symptoms, family medical history, diet, medications you take, alcohol intake, and ethnic background. Your doctor will look for symptoms of anemia and other physical clues that might point to a cause. There are basically three… Read More »
About one in five people on this planet are Muslim, and most of them soon will be preparing for a month of fasting. The terminology for fasting in Islamic doctrine is “sawm.” For Muslims it means to abstain from eating, drinking and engaging in sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset. The only requirements for fasting in Ramadan are that one… Read More »
Have you ever wondered why bananas have those obnoxious little strings that you have to methodically peel off every time, or — gag — eat? Turns out those fibrous bits actually have a name. They’re called “phloem bundles.” If you’ve retained anything from biology class, you might remember that phloem has an important function in the growth of… Read More »
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health problem that affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. Women with PCOS have a hormonal imbalance and metabolism problems that may affect their overall health and appearance. PCOS is also a common and treatable cause of infertility. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a common health problem… Read More »
Some wander more than others, but human ones wander a lot. A much-cited estimate, due to Killingsworth and Gilbert (2010), has it that the awake human mind spends from a third to half its time wandering. That’s a big range, a rough estimate, and there are good reasons to be suspicious of it (see Seli et al. 2018). The actual number will… Read More »
This paper discusses the increasing incidence of mental health problems in Pakistan, and specifically in the Swat Valley, in relation to the growing insurgency and current violence in Pakistani society. The paper argues that the health care system’s response in Pakistan is not adequate to meet the current challenges and that changes in policy are needed to build… Read More »
With every birthday through my late 30s and into my 40s there’s been a growing relief. Each passing year brings fewer occasions to contend with the dreaded question: “Are you going to have kids? No? Why not!?” No answer is the right answer because if this is a person who will ask such a profoundly personal question, it’s a… Read More »
A new day is dawning on the world of nutrition. Our nutrition potential has finally caught up to our technology. Shipping, communication, computers, and increased knowledge about nutrition are allowing us to access incredible quality food products from around the planet in a way that had heretofore been impossible or simply unknown. More and more people are opening… Read More »