Gastric bypass surgery changed your life or the life of someone you love – but were all those changes actually good ones? While this surgery for obesity can significantly reduce the risk of chronic, life-threatening conditions, like diabetes and heart disease, it may raise the risk for another chronic, potentially life-threatening condition: alcoholism. The Gastric…
Fast food is the generally accepted term for food sold in restaurants that emphasize easy ordering, rapid preparation and quick service for their customers. Many of the foods served in these restaurants contain substantial amounts of two forms of fat — saturated fat and trans fat. Studies have shown that regular consumption of these fats…
Individuals who struggle with a mental disorder are at an increased risk for multiple other conditions, including additional mental health issues substance use disorders. A recent report from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health indicates that much of the cigarette consumption in the United States is by those who have a mental disorder.…
Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by some sort of problem with the timing of the body’s circadian rhythm, which establishes the basic day/night cycle that governs sleep. Several different types of these disorders are officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), a professional organization that plays a…
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a sometimes debilitating mental health condition that appears in the weeks following an overwhelmingly stressful life event. At one point, this disorder belonged to a larger group of conditions called anxiety disorders; it now belongs to a group of conditions called trauma- and stressor-related disorders. While most people probably associate…
Coming out of rehab and filled with ideas about how to embark on a life that is clean and sober is an ideal situation. For many newcomers to sobriety, however, the reality is something a bit less clear-cut. For one thing, there is bound to be a lot of doubt and confusion, uncertainty over what…
Politics can be a tough game, especial in high-profile seats in Congress where the stakes are high and political advisors will do anything to get their candidate in office or do anything to keep their opponents out. Sex scandals are usually the top issues that can bring a campaign to a halt quickly, but recently,…
Indoor tanning is a term that describes skin tanning achieved through use of equipment such as sun lamps, tanning booths, or tanning beds. Numerous studies have linked this practice to increased risks for developing several form of dangerous or deadly cancer. Despite growing public awareness of these risks, large numbers of people in the United…
One half of the ‘90s rap duo Kris Kross, Chris Kelly, has died at age 34. Paramedics found Kelly at home the day after he took heroin and cocaine, in an unresponsive state, and took him to the hospital. He died just an hour and a half later. The star’s sudden death has left his…
Health care is a controversial and complex issue, especially now as political wrangling is hitting full tilt in states that are reluctant to accept Medicaid expansion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Today, only one penny of every dollar that is spent on health care will go to assist a person facing debilitating…