Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful viral infection that is caused by the chicken pox virus that remains dormant in your body for many years. Anyone who has had the chicken pox could, at some time, develop shingles.
The rash caused by the shingles follows along a nerve line in the body, so you could have it along the belt line, but only on one side, for example. Some people have it on the face and near the eye – again only on one side – while others may have it around their ear. The blisters vary from being very painful …read more

If you’re a middle aged lady who gets frequent migraines, you may be at a higher risk for stroke. A migraine is defined as “the flashing lights, a certain smell, or other sights or sounds that can signal oncoming pain.” Research suggests that the more frequent your migraines, the greater the risk.

Five percent of women had migraines once a week or more. These women were “four times as likely to have had a stroke” as women without migraines.
Image: sxc.hu

Are you more tempted to eat fast-food style if there’s a quick dining spot near your home?
If so, that could help explain recent findings.
New research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2009 suggests that “the more fast-food restaurants in a neighborhood, the higher the stroke risk for area residents.”
People living in neighborhoods with the highest number of fast-food restaurants saw a 13% higher relative risk of suffering ischemic strokes, compared with those living in places with the lowest numbers of these restaurants.
However, the study didn’t prove a relationship between eating fast foods and increased risk of stroke. …read more