Chronic stress can lead to serious health and emotional concerns. A healthy solution to reduce stress hormones and effectively deal with the body's response to stress is exercise. During exercise, the body releases feel-good chemicals called...
You don't have to put up with a sore neck while reading, watching television or sleeping. Using materials from around the home, you can create a bean bag neck pillow that you can heat up or freeze to soothe aching muscles. It's a fairly easy...
People are not designed to face stress alone. One of the most natural responses to stress is to engage with someone you love. It's actually a survival instinct. A loving touch, a kind word and a gentle reassurance are some of the most helpful...
Stress is the feeling of tension when a person is affected by daily pressures of work, school and everyday activities. Stress causes the body to change both mentally and physically. The body's natural fight-or-flight response is activated when it...
A study by California State University found that children who practiced yoga regularly not only had improved overall health, but also performed better academically. Yoga is a gentle form of exercise that can be modified to accommodate just about...
Dandruff, also called seborrheic dermatitis, is a common scalp condition that is identifiable by the telltale signs of flaking and itching. Sometimes dandruff can cause a reddening of the skin, according to the University of Maryland Medical...
If you have a burning sensation in your chest that becomes worse when you lie down, you're likely suffering from heartburn. This condition may also become worse when you bend over, and it may be accompanied by a bitter or sour taste in your mouth,...
The correlation between vitamins and stress is hotly debated, according to Stressfocus.com. Vitamins do assist enzymatic and metabolic processes in the human body. The controversy, however, is whether they actually combat stress. According to...
Acne is the most common skin condition, and the majority of people will experience it—at least when they're teenagers. It also can persist into adulthood in a significant minority of people, often causing psychological distress, scarring and...
Changing how you breathe can profoundly impact how you feel. Visual breathing exercises are a good way to relax and reduce stress. Such exercises require you to literally visualize your breathing or focus on an object or scene in a way that helps...
Perimenopause is a term that describes the changes that occur in a woman's reproductive system as menopause approaches. A woman enters menopause when she has not had a menstrual period for one year. Although it is not an illness, the signs of...
In 1994, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stopped regulating the sale of vitamins, minerals and supplements. Manufacturers operate on an honor system to disclose certain information on their labels to consumers and must notify the FDA if they...
Smoking takes a toll on your quality of life and increases your risk of various life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. Although it can be challenging, quitting smoking has immediate health benefits, including increasing...
Exercise might be the last thing on your mind when pregnant, but if you're feeling stressed, it may be your ticket to relief. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, exercise can relieve stress, boost your mood,...
For many adults, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can be a real struggle---one that often lasts a lifetime. Although most know the secret to weight lose is eating a healthy diet and exercising on a regular basis, more adults are losing...
Experiencing stress is a normal part of life. Mild stress can be beneficial and even motivating. Stress comes in several varieties, according to the Mayo Clinic: Some stressors are short-term, others long-term. Stress may come from external...
When you set a goal to lose 20 pounds it can seem daunting. But, if you break it down into weekly goals, you'll feel more confident about being able to meet it. Remember, weight loss isn't a quick-fix solution; it's a long-term commitment. Putting...
Two of every three Americans are overweight, and the nation spends around $50 billion each year on weight-loss programs and products, according to Harvard University Medical School. But a diet that peels away pounds is only the first step to a...
Stomach fat can be categorized into two main types. Belly fat, also known as visceral fat, is the accumulation of fat cells between the organs in the abdominal cavity. This type of fat increases risks for heart disease, diabetes and some types of...
Sodium bicarbonate is a compound that is more commonly known as baking soda. You may know baking soda as a refrigerator or carpet deodorizer. But this simple compound has a wide variety of other uses, including medicinal ones. In Ayurveda, which...
The World Health Organization reports that heart disease is the number one cause of death globally, killing over 17 million people a year as of 2004. That number is expected to continue to rise. Heart disease is definitely preventable, because...
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands--often referred to as the "stress hormone." Cortisol is important to many bodily functions, says Nikki Jackson of Neurogistics.com, "but too much secretion due to stress can result in adrenal...
Hypertensive, or high blood pressure-causing, herbs are few and far between. Generally, before taking any type of herbal supplement, you should check with your health care provider regarding any existing conditions and to have your blood pressure...
It is easy to reach for a sugary snack or more coffee when we are stressed and on a work deadline out of habit. Instead, use breathing exercises to reduce stress. Many breathing exercises are variations of classical breath work found in pranayama,...
Treadmills are excellent for general cardiovascular fitness: building a strong heart and lungs. Even people who have had open-heart surgery, when appropriate, are given heart monitors and instructed to walk on a treadmill to regain cardiovascular...
Cortisol is a hormone that is produced in the body's adrenal glands. It is released during times of exercise, eating, awakening and stress. During these processes, cortisol is responsible for energy regulation, but too much cortisol has been...
Schedule an evaluation with your doctor to determine if you fall into a high-risk group for arterial embolism. If you have a past history of blood clots or have just recently had surgery, you have a higher-than-average chance of developing another...
Walking on a treadmill is good for your mind and body, particularly if you're consistent. Getting an appropriate amount of exercise is a key component to a healthy lifestyle. And using a treadmill, as well as other types of equipment, can help you...
Everyone worries from time to time, but sometimes anxiety can become all-consuming, inhibiting everyday life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults every year. If you suffer...