Multiple Sclerosis What is MS Autoimmune disease affecting the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.(the central nervous system (CNS). causes inflammation that damages the fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers (myelin), the nerve fibers themselves, and the specialized cells that make myelin. The effect is that messages within the CNS are damaged or stopped completely. This can […]

Vaccine Fears and Facts WHAT IS A VACCINE:  used to stimulate the immune system to create antibodies that will destroy the live organism introduces either a small part of a larger bacteria or virus that causes disease or a bacteria that is killed or modified so it can’t cause severe disease WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VACCINES Vaccines have reduced […]

Fasting Basics Fasting is to abstain from food and/or drink for a specific period of time. Fasting is a practice that has been around for centuries and is part of many religious/spiritual traditions. More recently fasting has been associated with weight loss. Studies are finding some health benefits to periodic fasting.  Benefits of Fasting Research shows that short fasts, lasting […]

Obesity The Problem Rates of obesity has been on the rise for decades. 1999-2000 30% American adults classified as obese; 2015-16 40% The annual medical cost of obesity estimated at around $149 billion. Health problems associate with obesity also on the rise: Hypertension Diabetes Increased rates of some cancers Joint pain Cardiovascular disease Causes Complex problem with multiple causes Workplaces […]

Every January, millions of people resolve to live better, eat better and exercise more. Every February millions of people abandon those goals, Here are some tools to help you keep at it all year. Plan Ahead Throw out the junk. Clean the pantry and refrigerator of all the things you don’t want to eat.  Stock up on ingredients for the new […]

Manage expectations – yours and others. Remember the reason for the season Spiritual Family/community Sharing Do not let Martha Stewart intimidate you Things are off the rails if: it feels like an obligation you are more stressed than happy you are spending more money than you have you are having fights or feelings are getting hurt Plan Make a list […]

Staying Healthy During the Holidays Boosting your Immune System Most people falsely think of the immune system like a muscle—work it giving it supplements and vitamins and it will get bigger and stronger. Immune system is very complicated and located in multiple places in the body. If you are otherwise healthy you can’t ‘boost’ your immune system. Large part of […]

November is Diabetes Awareness Month National Diabetes Month 2018 is focused on promoting health after gestational diabetes (GDM). What is Gestational Diabetes Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. During pregnancy, hormones change how a woman’s body handles sugars to allow her to builds a new human. In some women these hormones change sugar transport in […]

It is a good thing to have new experiences, see new places and have adventures but… Be Prepared for the Unexpected sudden illnesses can arise chronic illnesses can worsen undiagnosed problems can become symptomatic  Where you are going? what is the health care system like are there new environmental conditions— e.g altitude, allergens can you ask for help in an […]

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) An emergency The sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. If not treated immediately, it causes sudden cardiac death. With fast, appropriate medical care, survival is possible. With every minute that passes, the chances of surviving SCA drop rapidly. Causes Previous heart attack (75 percent of SCD cases are linked to a previous heart attack) […]