As we all know Vitamin D is needed for healthy bones but vitamin D may also help fight depression and other mood disorders.  There is speculation among some researchers that low levels of sun exposure, which lead to Vitamin D deficiency, can be connected to depression. Several studies have indicated that there is an association between major depression, premenstrual syndrome and seasonal affective disorder and Vitamin D. It is thought that... 

When a person has Alzheimer’s disease , physical changes occur in the brain that will affect how the brain functions. Two types of brain lesions – amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles – are responsible for these changes and this has been well documented by medical research. CT and PET scan may reveal changes in brain tissue that is caused by Alzheimer’s. A naturally occurring protein, beta-amyloid usually causes no difficulties to... 

When a foreign substance is accidentally inhaled into the lungs, pneumonia by aspiration can occur especially if these objects are infected with viral, bacterial or fungal organisms. Reports have shown that as many as 15 percent of pneumonia cases are caused by aspiration. Anyone can develop aspiration pneumonia but certain circumstances can increase the risk. Some of these causes include: alcohol abuse, drug overdose, swallowing problems and... 

Our bodies are host to a range of viruses, fungi and bacteria. If a person has a healthy immune system most of these organisms are harmless. However when the immune is weak from disease or from receiving treatments such as chemo or dialysis these organisms can grow out of control and produce a type of pneumonia called “ opportunistic pneumonia .” Some medical professionals say that opportunistic organisms…  Read More →

Hospital acquired pneumonia is the types of pneumonia that a person develops after being admitted to a hospital. It usually develops about 48 hours after admission and can be quite serious, especially in combination with the problems that required hospitalization. The term “hospital-acquired pneumonia ” usually refers to one of the subtypes. These include: pneumonia in hospital patients that are not on a ventilator, pneumonia acquired after... 

There is no known cure for cancer , however it is has been studied recently that having an adequate level of Vitamin D in our systems can help prevent the development of breast, prostate and colon cancer. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, meaning that a small amount of it is stored in our bodies and is not eliminated through the excretory system. It is used by the immune system …  Read More →

Almost all children and adults have at one time or the other suffered from the common cold . More than a billion people each year get a cold and it is estimated that 22 million days of school are missed by children each year because of a cold. “ Rhinovirus” is the most common of the 200 viruses that cause colds. The word “rhino” is Greek for “nose” and therefore rhinovirus means “nose virus”. These viruses love a temperature... 

Rubella measles also known as “German measles” or “3-day measles” is a contagious viral infection. It is far less serious than measles in children; however, if a pregnant woman is exposed to them it can infect her unborn child and lead to defects of the heart and eyes, mental retardation, stunted growth and even deafness. Low grade fever (around 99-100 degrees) and swollen lymph nodes below the ears and behind the neck are usually the... 

Any time a child coughs, sneezes, or cries and says “I don’t feel good” a parent begins the task of trying to figuring out what is wrong and how serious it is. There are many childhood diseases that are more common than others and at some point in a child’s life they will probably get one of these. Some of the more common ones and the signs and …  Read More →

One of the most important vitamins used to help build strong bones is Vitamin D. It is the nutrient our bodies uses to absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are essential to bone growth. It is the only vitamin that our systems can produce on its own. The production of this vitamin is easy and can be achieved by being out in the sun about 15-30 minutes most days of the week. Skin cancer awareness has caused many …  Read More →

Alzheimer’s disease gradually robs a person of their ability to care for themselves, but most saddening is the loss of memory that occurs with this dreaded disease. Some memory loss as a person ages is a natural part of life. Forgetting what you came into a room to do, where you put your keys, or who you just met is not a sign of dementia. Forgetting to turn off the stove, dressing for the wrong type of weather (dressing for winter in the... 

Between fifty and seventy percent of all dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease . About four million people between the age of 60 and 80 have some symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Memory loss may be seen as a natural sign of aging, however, a person may really be suffering from Alzheimer’s. As the disease gets worse more and more mental abilities are lost. Some of these may be the ability to speak what the mind is trying to convey (for... 

The ability to hear is a precious sense and the system responsible for this gift is the auditory system. It includes not only the ear, which is visible, but structures that include certain areas of the brain. This system also has a function that has nothing to do with hearing . It helps to control balance. Problems with the auditory system can occur with any of its structures, but there are many options available to help with these problems.... 

Hearing a sound involves a set of structures that extends from the ear all the way to the brain. Many components are used in the transfer of a sound, most of which are not visible. The outer ear which is known as the “pinna” is like a funnel that traps and transmits sound waves to the other parts of the ear structure. This is the only structure in the mechanism of hearing that is visible to the normal human eye. The middle ear is where sound... 

The link between blood clots , also known as brain embolisms, and dementia-related illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, is currently being studied in greater detail. If a link is definitively established, it may lead to more and better treatment or prevention methods for this condition. It has already been established that cerebro-vascular attacks or CVAs, more commonly known as strokes, are caused by blood clots in the brain. More severe strokes...