Years After it Took One of Our Great Tennis Stars, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Continues to Be a Problem

If you are a tennis fan, you might remember Vitas Gerulaitis. He died from carbon monoxide poisoning at the age of 40 while visiting a friend's home in Long Island. A defective pool heater caused carbon monoxide gas to seep into the guesthouse where he was sleeping and caused his death. According to this report, Gerulaitis failed to show up for a dinner at 7 p.m. that evening, and his body was found the following day by a maid who went to the guesthouse.

Pregnant or Not, You Need Folate!

There are so many nutrients our bodies need to function at its best, and for us to feel our best. The amount of nutrients we need may depend on our age, sex, lifestyle and genetics. For example, some of us may need more vitamin C than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) because of a defective gene.

Is Happy Hour Hurting Your Health? A Few Ways to Drink Smarter

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conclude that excessive alcohol use is responsible for approximately 88,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and cost $249 billion in economic expenses in 2010.

5 Benefits of Eating Kumquats Everyone Should Know

Recently, I visited Armstrong Garden Centers in my neighborhood to add some fruit trees to my existing collection of guavas, oranges, lemons and grapefruits. My goal was to diversify and add some other fruit trees that would be low maintenance and be equally, or more, nutritious than the ones I currently have. With the help of the salesperson, I discovered kumquats and took a few of them home to plant in my garden.

Having Surgery? Speed Up Recovery With This Powerhouse Vitamin

So you’re “going under the knife” as they call it. Even if it’s a minor surgery, when you have to undergo an operation it can be very unnerving. Perhaps what’s even more unnerving than the operation itself, is the pain we may experience post-surgery and the healing time required when we wake up from the operation.

Be Aware and Be Proactive for Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month, and April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. Autism is a developmental disorder that usually becomes apparent in children between the ages of 2 and 3 (sometimes as early as 18 months) It is also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in order to reflect the differences or variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, (NIH), “[s]ome people are mildly impaired by their symptoms, while others are severely disabled.” This disorder may continue throughout the whole life of the person affected.

How Can You Be Proactive About Your Bowel Health?

A healthy gut is critical for your overall health, energy levels, fighting off diseases, properly absorbing healthy nutrients and eliminating toxins. The average small intestine length ranges from 9 to 15 feet, the large bowel is about 5 feet. Both parts of the intestinal tract have large surface contact with the outside world, much greater than the skin or the lung surfaces. So as you can imagine, taking care of your gut is extremely important.

Follow Your Heart. Ask Your Doctor About Alternatives to Heart Stenting

We cannot stress enough there is no one size fits all approach to health care and the treatment of diseases. A recent study on the use of stents to treat coronary artery disease stresses the importance of properly diagnosing each individual and administering the right treatment.

Prone To Heart Attacks? Be Careful How Many Daily Cups of Coffee You Drink

March is Caffeine Awareness Month! Since caffeine is probably one of the most frequently consumed drugs in the world, it is important we educate ourselves about it. Education allows us to make informed decisions about whether and how we consume caffeinated products.

New Research Suggests that Diabetes is More Deadly than Commonly Thought

The fourth Tuesday in March is Diabetes Alert Day! It is a one day wake-up call to inform the public about the seriousness of diabetes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 29 million Americans are affected by diabetes. “About 1 in every 4 persons with diabetes, or 8 million Americans, are unaware that they have the disease,” NIH reports.

Could Lack of Colorectal Screenings be to Blame for the Spike in Cancer Rates Under 50?

Colorectal cancer may be most prevalent among people over the age of 50, but that doesn’t mean younger people are immune to it. In the late 90s, Katie Couric and husband Jay Monahan learned he had colon cancer. He died nine months later at the age of 42. Since then, Couric has been a dedicated advocate for colon cancer screenings. If you’re over 50, there’s a good chance your doctor has already talked to you about colonoscopies and the importance of screening for colorectal cancer.

Slow Caffeine Metabolism: The Reason Some People Who Drink Coffee Could Be at Higher Risk for a Heart Attack

Some of my favorite beverages contain caffeine. Besides coffee, my delicious, caffeinated drinks include lattes, macchiatos, green tea, Thai iced tea and Tia Maria (a dark liqueur made originally in Jamaica with Jamaican coffee beans).