Preventative Health

Understanding and Managing Your Stress

Stress is the body and mind’s response to the demands of life. In a biological sense, stress can enhance survival (our reaction to meeting a bear in the woods, for example). In small amounts in everyday life, stress can be positive, such as when it helps you conquer a fear or provides extra endurance or motivation to complete a difficult task. Prolonged or intense stress however, can contribute to serious health problems (such as heart disease, obesity, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure and diabetes) through the release of hormones that were meant to protect us against threats.

Action Requested Not an Apology – Lyme Forum

What’s going on here?

On Monday, I attended a forum hosted by Honorary Chairman Congressman Chris Gibson and the LymeNext Organizing Committee at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. I was struck by the association one of the speakers made between the current treatment denial by insurance companies for  LYME Disease and  the government sponsored Tuskegee research performed from 1932 to the 1970′s which looked at the long term effects of syphilis in the black population.

Tips for Letting Go of Stress

Allow Change

Ever try to capture a moment and put it in a bottle, or try to stop the seasons from changing? It just can’t be done. The simple truth is that everything of this world is subject to change. Change is the only constant. You are subject to change. Your body changes, your circumstances change. You are quite literally not the same person you were a year ago, physically, emotionally or in your life circumstances. With all this change we have the choice of moving with the flow of change or resisting it.

The Challenges of Weight Loss, Part 1

As drugs for weight loss are currently seeking approval by the FDA, one has gone the way of Fen-Phen and has been pulled off the market. The drug Meridia has been on the market since 1997 and boasted claims of at least 5 percent weight loss over placebo. However, Abbot Laboratories, the maker of the drug, voluntarily pulled the drug off the market due to clinical trials showing increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

New Antibacterial and Antiviral Herbal Formulas

Integrative Herbals Have Come to the Center
For the first nine years of our practice at the Center, we the practitioners have relied on the herbal combinations and products that were available on the market. Now, we are proud to announce a new line of supplements, Integrative Herbals, designed specifically to meet the needs of our patients.

Acid Reflux Drugs: Over the Counter or Over The Top?

A ground-breaking study made public recently has revealed that common over the counter acid-reflux drugs such as Prilosec and Nexium can be detrimental to users’ health and have potentially fatal side effects.  Petitions have been presented to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration urging law enforcers to place the strongest warning labels possible on these over-used over the counter drugs.

Acupuncture Proven to Reduce Nausea and Vomiting…Again!

The July 2011 issue of the Journal of Anesthesia features an article comparing acupuncture to the anti-emetic drug odansetron for reducing emetic episodes (vomiting) in women having cesarean sections. Odansetron is also known as zofran, and is a very commonly used drug to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery.  The study followed 450 patients, and found acupuncture to be just as effective as zofran during, and following the surgery.

What Moves Your Heart?

Often we hear the expression “Home is where the heart is”. These are wise words that ring with truth. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner I can’t help but wonder if we wouldn’t be better served by asking ourselves what moves our hearts?

Is Red Wine Good for You?

There is much debate regarding whether red wine is beneficial for your health or not. The debate began with the observation that the French population has lower rates of heart disease compared to the American population, even though the French diet is higher in saturated fat consumption. This has been termed the “French Paradox”. The cause of this paradox is believed to be due to the higher consumption of red wine by the French.

The Challenges of Weight Loss, Part 2

As we explored in part 1, diet and exercise remains a key factor in weight loss. But what happens when these are not enough? When what has worked in the past is no longer working? There could be other factors involved that could be hindering your ability to lose weight.