Healthiwayz

Highlights 1 Malic acid is a common ingredient in anti-aging creams. 2 It’s great for hydrating and brightening the skin. 3 It can even help with health issues like fibromyalgia. Despite its sinister sounding name, the word malic acid comes from the Latin word malum , which means apple. Malic acid was first isolated from apple juice in 1785, and it’s what gives some foods and drinks a tart taste. If you’re a fan of slightly acidic wine, malic acid probably played a huge role. It’s also a common ingredient in many hair and skin care products that include: • shampoos • body lotions • nail treatments • acne and anti-aging products Malic acid is part of a family of fruit acids, called alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Alpha hydroxy acids stimulate exfoliation by interfering with how your skin cells bond. As a result, dull skin is removed to make way for newer skin. Skin care products that contain malic acid can provide benefits that include: • skin hydration • exfoliation, or ...

Diabetes is a condition that leads to high levels of blood glucose (or sugar) in the body. This happens when your body can’t make or use insulin like it’s supposed to. Insulin is a substance that helps your body use the sugar from the food you eat. There are two different types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. People with both types of diabetes need medications to help keep their blood sugar levels normal. The types of drugs that can treat you depend on the type of diabetes you have. This article gives you information about drugs that treat both types of diabetes to help give you an idea of the treatment options available to you. Medications for type 1 diabetes What Is The Goal Of Treatment If I Have Type 1 Diabetes? If you have type 1 diabetes, your body can’t make its own insulin. The goal of treatment is to replace the insulin that your body can’t make. Insulin Insulin is the most common type of medication used in type 1 diabetes treatment. It’s also use...

The human heart is one of the hardest-working organs in the body. On average, it beats 72 times a minute. As the heart beats, it provides pressure so blood can deliver oxygen and important nutrients to tissue all over your body through an extensive network of arteries. In fact, the heart steadily pumps an average of 2,000 gallons of blood through the body each day. Your heart is located underneath your ribs, and between your two lungs. The Heart’s Parts The heart’s four chambers function as a double-sided pump. The right side of the heart takes in oxygen-depleted blood from the organs. This blood is delivered to the heart through the veins. The chambers on the left side pump oxygen-rich blood out to the body through arteries. The heart’s four chambers are: Right atrium: This chamber receives oxygen-depleted blood that has already circulated around the body and pumps it into the right ventricle. Right ventricle: The right ventricle pumps blood from the right atrium to the pul...

Heart disease in children Heart disease is difficult enough when it strikes adults, but it can be especially tragic in children. Many different types of heart problems can affect children. They include congenital heart defects, viral infections that affect the heart, and even heart disease acquired later in childhood due to illnesses or genetic syndromes. The good news is that with advances in medicine and technology, many children with heart disease go on to live active, full lives. Congenital heart disease Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a type of heart disease that children are born with, usually caused by heart defects that are present at birth. In the U.S., an estimated 1 percent of babies born each year have CHD. CHDs that affect children include: • heart valve disorders like a narrowing of the aortic valve, which restricts blood flow • hypoplastic left heart syndrome, where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped • disorders involving holes in the heart, t...

What’s behind the signs and symptoms of kidney cancer The symptoms of kidney cancer appear in places like your urine or lower back. Most likely they have to do with your kidney function and tumor growth. The kidneys are two bean-shaped, fist-sized organs under the backside of your rib cage. They help: • filter waste from your blood • create urine • control blood pressure • create red blood cells Your body can function normally with only one kidney. But when there’s a tumor growing, your kidney’s normal functions may be disrupted. Kidney cancer, also called renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. But symptoms don’t often appear until later stages or until the tumor is large. In fact, kidney cancer is most commonly diagnosed in people over 60 years old. It’s often found by accident during routine imaging tests. Blood in the urine Hematuria, or blood in the urine, is one of the most common symptoms. It appears in 40 to 50 per...

A stroke happens when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted. If oxygen-rich blood doesn’t reach the brain, brain cells begin to die and permanent brain damage can occur. There are two types of brain stroke. With an ischemic stroke, a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. If you have a hemorrhagic stroke, a weak blood vessel bursts and you experience bleeding into the brain. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., affecting approximately 800,000 people each year. Many people survive a stroke and recover with rehabilitation such as occupational, speech, or physical therapy. Depending on the severity of the stroke and how long the blood flow to the brain was interrupted, a stroke can cause temporary or permanent disability. The sooner you recognize signs of a stroke and seek medical attention, the better your chances of recovering and avoiding serious brain damage or disability. Symptoms of a stroke Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke and getting...

What Is Okra? Highlights 1 Okra belongs to the same plant family as hibiscus and cotton. The term “okra” most commonly refers to the edible seedpods of the plant. 2 Okra contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium. It’s low in calories and has a high dietary fiber content. 3 Popular forms of okra for medicinal purposes include okra water, okra peels, and powdered seeds. Okra, also known as “lady’s fingers” and “gumbo,” is a green flowering plant. Okra belongs to the same plant family as hibiscus and cotton. The term “okra” most commonly refers to the edible seedpods of the plant. Okra has long been favored as a food for the health-conscious. It contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium. It’s low in calories and has a high dietary fiber content. Recently, a new benefit of including okra in your diet is being considered. Okra has been suggested to help manage blood sugar in cases of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Incidences of ...

Diabetes is a condition that leads to high levels of blood glucose (or sugar) in the body. This happens when your body can’t make or use insulin like it’s supposed to. Insulin is a substance that helps your body use the sugar from the food you eat. There are two different types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. People with both types of diabetes need medications to help keep their blood sugar levels normal. The types of drugs that can treat you depend on the type of diabetes you have. This article gives you information about drugs that treat both types of diabetes to help give you an idea of the treatment options available to you. TYPE 1 DIABETES Medications for type 1 diabetes What Is The Goal Of Treatment If I Have Type 1 Diabetes? If you have type 1 diabetes, your body can’t make its own insulin. The goal of treatment is to replace the insulin that your body can’t make. Insulin Insulin is the most common type of medication used in type 1 diabetes treatment. It’...

Asthma is a chronic disease of the air passages in the lungs. The actual cause of asthma is not known. Asthma experts believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors can cause asthma or at least increase sensitivity to asthma triggers. These factors include: • family history • childhood viral infections • early allergen exposure • living in urban settings Allergies often are associated with asthma. But not all people with allergies suffer from asthma. Causes Doctors have identified the two main conditions that cause asthma symptoms: inflammation and airway constriction. Inflammation With asthma, the inside walls of the airways are swollen, or inflamed. This inflammation makes the air passages particularly sensitive to irritants and asthma triggers. The swelling narrows the air passages, making it difficult for air to pass through the airways. This makes it hard to breathe normally. Airway constriction When the airways come into contact with certain as...

How good are alternative treatments? The goal of asthma treatment is to prevent attacks before they start. People often turn to alternative treatments for asthma as a means to bolster their body’s ability to protect itself. Lung problems rank in the top 15 medical conditions people use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for. When it comes to asthma, many alternative treatments claim to strengthen your lungs and immune and hormonal systems. But it’s important to know that CAM isn’t as effective as traditional medications. Avoid replacing your asthma medication with alternative therapies. Regarding their effectiveness, these therapies have shown little or mixed results. Research is also minimal in comparison to that for traditional medicine treatments. However, many people report benefit from using CAM for asthma. Read on to learn about which treatments may work. And be sure to check with your doctor before trying any asthma alternative treatments. Herbs and supplements fo...

Thyme is an herb from the mint family that you probably recognize from your spice set. But it’s so much more than an after-thought ingredient. Its range of use is impressive, and it has over 400 subspecies. Ancient Egyptians used it in their embalming practices, while ancient Greeks used it as incense. Thanks to its distinctive taste, thyme has remained a culinary staple to this day. But thyme is also fast gaining a reputation for its medicinal qualities, such as its ability to help treat acne and high blood pressure. It’s about thyme If you’re tired of buying and trying over-the-counter acne medication with no good results, you may be in luck. Thyme is known for its antibacterial properties and it might have a future as an acne-fighting ingredient. When thyme is steeped in alcohol for days or weeks, it turns into a solution known as a tincture. Researchers in the U.K. have tested the effects of thyme tinctures on acne. In the one study done on thyme tincture, the f...

You’ve set your sights on running a 5K, and you’ve got your training plan in place. But how much attention have you given to your nutrition? When training for an athletic event, no matter your skill level, nutrition plays a major part in your success. After all, it’s the food you eat that will fuel you on race day and the weeks leading up to it. Can you run a race on Cheetos or french fries? Probably. But you certainly won’t perform as well, and you definitely won’t feel as good as if you had followed a good training diet. Short vs. Long Distances Knowing The Difference • Before a marathon, runners want carbs, carbs, and more carbs. • Shorter distances, like a 5K, require a more balanced dinner the night before, and a light but substantial breakfast. The food you eat when training for a 5K is different than what a marathoner would eat, says Jarrett Jarmar Moore, owner of APT Fitness in Wilmington, North Carolina. But not necessarily in the way you think. “The food itself doesn’t ...

Losing weight is no easy task, but maintaining a trim body often presents a new set of difficulties that leads many dieters to regain their lost weight. Studies have shown that between 80 to 95 percent of dieters regain lost weight, often gaining more than when they started (Tremblay, 2013). The key to maintaining your weight is adopting healthy lifestyle habits that are repeated day in and day out. Keeping extra weight off requires effort and commitment, through changes in eating habits, exercise and state of mind. These five tips will help you maintain, and keep pursuing new challenges to improve your health and fitness. Tip #1: Stop Restricting Calories Losing weight through extremely low calorie diets can wreak havoc on your metabolism, leading to chronic fatigue, suppressed immune and thyroid function, and adrenal stress. If you eat less and exercise more in order to lose weight, your body responds by increasing your appetite and lowering your resting metabolic rate, maki...

From an allergic reaction to oral cancer, there are many possible causes of lip bumps. Lip bumps can visually range from red and irritated, to flesh-toned and hardly noticeable to anyone but you. Recognizing potential causes of lip bumps can help you determine if a condition is cause for concern or simply a harmless skin variation. CAUSES What causes bumps on lips? Bumps on the lips can range in size, color, and texture. Causes may include acute and chronic conditions. Examples of causes of bumps on the lips include: • allergic reaction • bacterial infections • canker sores (or cold sores ) • Fordyce granules , harmless white spots • hand, foot, and mouth disease • milia (a tiny benign cyst or “milk spot”) • mucoceles , or bumps that form when the salivary glands are blocked • oral cancer • oral herpes • oral thrush • perioral dermatitis , a face rash due to skin irritation While many lip bumps are harmless, conditions like oral cancer can have serious health risks. Discover the ...

A single energy drink can contain more sugar and caffeine than you should have in a day. Many energy drinks contain ingredients that haven’t been researched thoroughly. There are plenty of alternatives to energy drinks that offer a healthy energy boost without the risks. Whether it’s before a long day at the office, a hard workout, or an all-night study session, many of us turn to energy drinks when we need a little boost. Energy drinks are a multi-billion dollar industry. If their popularity is any indication of their effectiveness, they appear to be working. But are these drinks doing us more harm than good? Despite how popular energy drinks are, the term “healthy energy drink” is still an oxymoron. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 20,000 emergency room visits in the United States in 2011 involved energy drinks. More than half of those visits were due to energy drinks alone. The other cases involved people mixing a...

What Is Processed Food? Ideally, we’d shop the farmers’ market every day for fresh, local foods, and make all of our goodies from scratch. In reality, we live far from our food sources, have to buy foods we can store on the shelf, and barely have time to eat dinner, much less prepare it. Processed foods are convenient, and not all of them are bad for you: pre-chopped vegetables, or fruits canned in their own juice, are just two examples. Sometimes, however, convenience can mean large amounts of hidden sodium, fats, and sugar, which are always bad news. Read on to learn which processed foods to avoid and why. What processed foods do you avoid in the grocery store? Bacon Bacon contains high levels of sodium, which can lead to high blood pressure. And sodium is just the beginning. Part of the reason why bacon is so delicious is because it’s loaded with saturated fat. Saturated fat is linked to heart disease and obesity. Danger also lurks in virtually all store-bought bacon bec...