Health

• Six Things Every Dad Should Know about Ear Infections

  MOST DADS WITH A TODDLER have experienced the eardrum game. For the minority who haven't, it goes something like this: Your child has a cold for a few days, but otherwise seems fine. Suddenly he or she spikes a high fever and clearly hurts somewhere. You take her to the doctor. He takes a quick look at her ears--only seconds, it seems--and says she has an ear infection. By the age of three, 80 percent of all children will have had such an infection, and half will have had more than one. Here are answers to six important questions about this common condition.

  
  

• 10 Habits for a Stronger Heart

  THE SMARTEST PLAN FOR attacking a heart attack is, of course, preventing one from ever happening. Choose three of the following strategies and make them a habit. Consider switching from coffee to tea, convincing your wife to stop smoking, and eating salmon on Saturday. Other good food choices include tuna, cornflakes, and watermelon. Plus, ask your doctor about Vitamin E and Aspirin.

  
  

• Top 10 Cosmetic Procedures for Men

  FEELING THE NEED to look youthful and appear dynamic? Re-thinking your attitudes towards diet, exercise, face-care products and cosmetic surgery? The male grooming market is growing. In fact, males are undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures that range from hair transplantation to male breast reduction.

  
  

• Anticancer 101: Secrets from Dr. Servan-Schreiber

  "THAT EVENING I DISCOVERED that I had brain cancer." David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., author of "Anticancer, A New Way of Life, "shares his personal experiences with a malignant brain tumor and explains how the combination of conventional medicine (early screenings, or chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, etc.) with an anticancer way of life can result in better cancer prevention or treatment.

  
  

• Masturbation: 5 Things You Didn't Know

  JUST ABOUT EVERY MAN who can masturbate does -- and why not? Solo sex feels good, relieves stress, and is a terrific sleep aid. But here are a few things you may not know about masturbation. It is safe -- but not entirely safe. Frequent or overly vigorous masturbation can irritate the skin, cause a penis fracture, or develop retarded ejaculation. That's a type of sexual dysfunction in which it is difficult or even impossible to climax during partnered sex. While solo sex teaches men about their own sexual response and helps them avoid premature ejaculation-- some men become so obsessed with masturbation that they lose interest in having sex with their partner. Plus, it may affect the risk for prostate cancer. In men over age 50, frequent masturbation helps drain the prostate of fluids that may contain cancer-causing substances.

  
  

• Helping a Loved One With An Alcohol or Drug Problem

  HOW CAN YOU HELP a friend or family member overcome a drug or drinking habit? It's not easy. In fact, it's difficult even under the best of circumstances, and it's impossible if your alcohol- or drug-abusing father, mother, brother, child, lover, friend or colleague doesn't really want to recover. If you are convinced that the person you care about is addicted, then how can you be of help? Richard S. Sandor, M.D., author of Thinking Simply About Addiction: A Handbook for Recovery offers advice on how to help a loved one with an addition.

  
  

• 7 Secrets for Better Sex After Prostate Cancer

  SEX AFTER PROSTATE cancer is just not the same as sex before prostate cancer. Let's say you’ve already undergone treatment, most likely one of the big three: prostatectomy, brachytherapy or radiation therapy, perhaps ADT, hormone deprivation. You've been through so much already. Now what? Should you wait until next year to reinvent your sexuality? Absolutely not. Research shows that the sooner you begin to resume some kind of sexual activity, the more erectile function you’re likely to preserve.

  
  

• How to Workout Without Hitting the Gym

  WHEN YOU CAN'T get to the gym, get your exercise by moving throughout the day. Real-world fitness—walking, lifting grocery bags, or climbing stairs—is cheaper and easier to incorporate into your daily life than going to a fitness facility. Plus, it works your body naturally. Start by doing forward folds in the shower-- fold forward to release tight hamstrings, calves and hips, keeping your knees slightly bent. Walk or bike to the station, take steps two at a time, take stairs instead of elevators. and stand while listening to phone messages or checking e-mail; it burns three times as many calories as sitting. Schedule "walking meetings" and get your heart rate going by running, jumping, and climbing with your kids.

  
  

• Six Steps to Cure Insomnia

  FIND YOURSELF fighting insomnia? Sleep better tonight. To improve sleeping habits comfort is essential. Start with the mattress. For beds with extra coils and cushioning look to hotel chains-- such as Four Seasons, Westin, and W-- for the coziest sleep surface. Like the coffee, they're for sale. Stop looking for sheets with quadruple-digit thread counts, instead pay attention to the fabric. Go with natural fibers and avoid synthetics. Pillows need to keep your neck aligned with your spine -- try memory foam. Avoid taking over-the-counter sleeping pills. If you still can sleep, talk to your doctor about a pharmaceutical fix.

  
  

• Should YOU Be Taking a Statin?

  LATELY THERE'S BEEN a lot of buzz about cholesterol--and cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. And no wonder. The latest research suggests that the number of men who could benefit from taking a statin is far bigger than previously thought. Some docs have been asking, and not entirely in jest, whether everyone should be taking a statin. Which raises the question: Should YOU be taking a pill to lower your cholesterol? As you might expect, the answer to this question is, "It depends."

  
  

• 10 Ways to Protect Your Brain and Fight Memory Loss

  IT'S SO EASY to be forget stuff. Your keys. That dentist appointment. Where you parked your Prius. Was it just a moment’s absentmindedness…or is your mind preparing to take a permanent leave of absence? Johns Hopkins neurologist Majid Fotuhi, M.D, director of the Center for Memory and Brain Health at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, says men of all ages come to his office concerned that forgetting names is the first sign of their mind’s inexorable slide. A dementia expert, he's eager to reassure them. “In the 1960s and 70s, we realized that taking care of your heart could dramatically reduce cardiac deaths. In the decades since, it’s become clear you can take care of your brain as well,” he says.

  
  

• Six Ways to Get Better Care from Your Doctor

  DOCTORS DON'T HAVE much time for their patients these days. Office visits now last about 10 minutes. Annual exams? They run about 30 minutes--distressingly brief, given how much ground has to be covered. And with the economic downturn, there's reason to believe that doctors will have to cram even more patients into their daily schedules—meaning the time allotted for each patient will get shorter still.

  
  

• What to Eat to Keep Blood Sugar Low

  If you're worried about your blood sugar --or if you already have diabetes--it's time to swap your whole-grain toast for something lower on the glycemic index, such as pumpernickel or rye. A new study of patients with type 2 diabetes revealed that those following a low-glycemic diet controlled their blood sugar better--and consequently reduced their risk for cardiovascular disease.Foods to greenlight include beans, peas, lentils, pasta, rice boiled briefly, quinoa, flaxseed, fruits, vegetables, and cereals such as large-flake oatmeal and oat bran. But put on the brakes for high-fiber goodies such as brown rice, whole-grain cereals and potatoes with skins.

  
  

• How to Beat Wintertime Depression

  Are the season's short, dark days turning your mood dark as well? You may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Hallmarks of SAD--caused by overproduction of melatonin in the brain--include fatigue, sadness, and difficulty coping with work and family responsibilities. In many cases, it's possible to overcome SAD by sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, consuming lots of vitamin-rich foods (read veggies and fruits) and avoiding caffeine and refined carbs. Vigorous exercise is often particularly helpful. If symptoms persist, ask your doctor about using a light-box (exposure to bright light helps reset brain chemistry), or trying antidepressants or psychotherapy.

  
  

• 7 Ways to Clear Your Sinuses Before Flying

  Stopped-up sinuses making you hesitant to fly? Don’t cancel that trip. A few simple home remedies will have you breathing easier. Several times a day, inhale some steam. No need for a hot shower--just drape a towel over your head as you bend over a pot of boiled water. Breathe slowly and deeply through your nose. Drinking lots of water will loosen mucus, as will spritzing your nasal passages with salt water. Sleep with your head elevated. Antihistamines, which thicken mucus, should be avoided, but decongestants get the green light. If you’re utterly miserable, press warm compresses to your face or the side of your nose, and don’t be afraid to pop a few over-the-counter painkillers before boarding that flight.

  
  

• Better Way to Lose Weight

  Checked your spare recently--the spare tire around your waist? If it's been getting bigger,maybe it's time to go green--as in cold, hard cash. A recent study shows that men who are PAID to lose weight drop more pounds.So you might set up a weight-loss compensation program. Arrange for your wife to pay you for each pound you shed. Or round up colleagues who also need to lose and start a pool. Each gym visit entitles you to a certain amount, with a bonus thrown in for choosing salad over pizza at lunch meetings.

  
  

• How to Survive a Hotel Terrorist Attack

  High-end hotels aren’t just cocoons of luxury--increasingly, they’re terrorist targets. As the recent attacks in Mumbai demonstrate, travelers are vulnerable no matter how many thread counts they’ve shelled out for. How to protect yourself when journeying overseas? Throw an emergency kit in with your weatherproof shoes and multipocket pants. Have a flashlight with an LED bulb, handheld water purifier, portable radio, and cellphone or Blackberry with international service. Ask the the hotel for a room between the second and seventh floors--any lower and gunmen can hop in through your window, and any higher will put you out of reach of rescue ladders. Try to be placed near an exit door. And make sure your cell is loaded with the number of the nearest U.S. Embassy.

  
  

• Why You Shouldn't Ignore Heartburn

  If a bottle of Maalox has long been your steady dining companion, consider getting your esophagus checked. Why? Doctors now know that heartburn (acid reflux) can lead to cancer of the esophagus. The good news is that the new techniques used to diagnose and treat the problem are a lot less unpleasant than the old ones. With transnasal esophagoscopy, a slim tube kitted out with a camera is inserted into a nostril and down the esophagus. This eliminates the need for surgery, a lengthy hospital stay, and even spares you a sore throat.

  
  

• How to Avoid 'Hidden Salt'

  Sodium lurks in surprising places, including foods that don’t taste salty. Would you believe Twizzlers black licorice contains more sodium than mixed salted nuts? Excess salt also is hiding out in some brands of bagels, pasta sauce, and cheeses. Restaurant meals? One order of Chili’s fajita chicken quesadilla with rice and black beans, sour cream and pico de gallo will blow your sodium budget out of the water for days. What to do? Read food labels very carefully, especially if you favor low-fat foods, in which added salt is often used to compensate for lack of flavor. Keep an eye out for products labeled “low sodium.” And hit restaurant web sites before you leave the house so you know just how many milligrams of the white stuff is in whatever meal you’re hankering for.

  
  

• Can Peanut Butter Save Your Life?

  Eating more peanut butter these days? Maybe that's not such a bad thing. Recent studies show that eating peanut butter or peanuts (roasted seem to be healthiest) four times a week means a 37 percent lower risk of dying of heart disease. What's more, the niacin in peanuts might just help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Finally, researchers say that men who eat nuts at least twice a week are 30 percent less likely to gain weight than nut abstainers.

  
  

• Five Myths about Flu Shots

  It's not too late to get a flu shot--and you absolutely should. Although flu season begins as early as September, it lasts until March. December isn’t even close to being too late to get a shot. And as for the vaccine itself making you sick, this is a myth. it contains inactive--as in dead--flu strains. If you feel sick after getting the shot, you may have already been exposed to the flu and would have contracted it anyway. Or you could have a cold. But even if you’re such a prime physical specimen that getting the flu barely fazes you, consider that the kids you live with or those aging parents you visit regularly might get socked if they’re exposed. For their sake--and everyone else’s--face down the needle and be done with it.

  
  

• 10 Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting

  If you did nothing else but reduce your portions by 10%-20%, you would lose weight. Most of the portions served both in restaurants and at home are bigger than you need. Pull out the measuring cups to get a handle on your usual portion sizes, and work on paring them down. Get instant portion control by using small bowls, plates, and cups, says Brian Wansink, PhD, author of Mindless Eating. You won't feel deprived because the food will look plentiful on dainty dishware.

  
  

• Herbal Remedy Works as Well as Anti- depressants

  Taking high-quality St. John's wort can be as effective as standard prescribed antidepressants for some severely depressed people, German researchers report.

  
  

• Pets Help Keep You Cancer-Free

  Owning a pet can reduce the chances of developing a form of cancer by nearly a third, researchers claim.

  
  

• 6 Biggest Threats to Your Health

  More boys than girls are born every year in the U.S. But any lead in health men start with vanishes with the first dirty diaper. From infancy to old age, women are simply healthier than men. Out of the 15 leading causes of death, U.S. men lead women in all of them except Alzheimer's disease, which many men don't live long enough to develop. Although the gender gap is closing, men still die five years earlier than their wives, on average.

  
  

Showing 1 - 25 of 142 Articles | Page 1 of 6