In 1944, an Austrian pediatrician, Hans Asperger, wrote about some characteristics he was seeing in some people, such as clumsiness, repetitive routines or rituals, different speech patterns (monotone, overly formal), inappropriate social behavior, and difficulties with non-verbal communication.
Over the years, not much notice was taken until the 1980s when a doctor in the United Kingdom, Lorna Wing, noticed children with similar characteristics and she named what she saw as Aspergers syndrome. Since then,  the disorder was studied more, and in 1994, Asperger syndrome was labeled as an autism spectrum disorder. With that, it was officially recognized in the “bible” of …read more

Yes, there is thimerosol in the H1N1 injectable vaccine. Yes, you are being encouraged to have the H1N1 vaccine to prevent the spread of influenza. Yes, there is a very tiny amount of mercury in thimerosol. NO, this does not cause autism.
Several years ago, some doctors made a claim that the vaccines given to children caused autism. As some parents of children with autism wanted to be able to identify a specific cause for their children’s disability, they latched on to the theory that there was a connection between the vaccines and autism. The problem is, the very doctor who …read more

Did you know that pneumonia is still a major cause of death among seniors? Did you know that pneumonia can strike down people of any age? Did you know that today is World Pneumonia Day?
There is more than one type of pneumonia – it can be caused by viruses or bacteria, the most common causes, but also by other means. For example, someone who develops aspiration pneumonia got it by getting  vomit, food or drink into their lungs instead of their stomach.
It’s not always obvious if you have pneumonia. You may just not be feeling well. But signs and symptoms …read more

Do you know what COPD stands for? Do you know what it is?
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It’s a respiratory disease that could be virtually eliminated from the world if we would stop smoking altogether. Imagine that. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis fall under the COPD umbrella.
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute,
COPD is now the 4th leading cause of death in the United States and also causes long-term disability.
The number of people who have COPD is on the rise — more than 12 million are currently diagnosed with it. And it is estimated that another 12 …read more

Not too long ago, many of us didn’t know anyone who had diabetes. Now, it’s almost impossible not to know someone who has it. Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, has exploded and continues to do so in the western world. A disease once rarely seen in children, type 2 diabetes is now affecting them in large numbers, grossly affecting their health as adults.
According to the American Diabetes Association:

24 million children and adults in the United States live with diabetes
57 million Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes
1 out of every 3 children born today will face a future with …read more

Interstitial cystitis, also called painful bladder syndrome, is a painful condition that affects more women than men. (Company’s calling – living with the pain of interstitial cystitis). Some people with IC have only mild symptoms (pressure or tenderness) but others have severe or intense pain in the bladder and pelvic area. It can be particularly painful when the bladder is full and during sexual activity.

October 31 has been designated as an awareness day for IC because so much isn’t known about it. The hope is that this will help women (and men) who may have this problem may recognize themselves …read more

Do you live in a vibrant, upbeat, city that never sleeps type of place? Or do you live in a sleepy backwater place where everything gets done in its own time, eventually? We may think we know what kind of place we’re in, but the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) decided to check it out for sure and have come up with a ranking of the 50 states to see where the sleepiest people live.
Which state would you think is the most tired or the least rested? New York? California? No and no. Would you believe, Utah? Yup, Utah came …read more

People who were hoping for medicinal marijuana to become legal in the state of New Jersey are waking up to dashed hopes today. The Senate fell short by two votes to be able to pass the bill. This happened despite the House’s clear message to pass (240 to 115) even over the Governor’s objections.
As usual, the opponents to legalizing medicinal marijuana say that there is the potential for abuse, use would set a “bad example” to children, and that the bill wasn’t restrictive enough.
Medicinal marijuana has been found to help some people manage chronic pain, nausea due to illness or …read more

The theme for the World Stroke Day 2009 is “Stroke, what can I do?”

Strokes. People have heard of them. Many think they know what they are. Many don’t know the signs of a stroke. Are you at risk of having a stroke? Would you know if you or someone else was having a stroke?
The World Stroke Organization is encouraging everyone to become more aware of strokes and to help prevent the disability and death that so often occur after a stroke.

The World Stroke Organization (WSO) was created on October 29, 2006, at the Regional World Stroke Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, when the International Stroke Society and the World Stroke Federation merged into a single organization. Since then, to commemorate its conception,the World Stroke Day is held on October 29.
According to their website:
Worldwide, stroke accounts for 5.7 million deaths each year and …read more

At 100 years old, some people may be grateful to be alive, but life for Helen Daniels of Poughkeepsie, NY, was difficult because of back pain from osteoporosis. Her osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) had led to fractures in her spine, making it difficult to walk. But thanks to a minimally invasive surgical procedure called balloon kyphoplasty, Ms. Daniels is now walking again.
According to this article, 100-Year-Old Woman Gets Relief From Debilitating Back Pain After Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, balloon kyphoplasty is a procedure where:
a needle and tube are used to create a small pathway into the fractured bone. Orthopedic …read more