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Sex Drive

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Is there anything I can do to revive my low sex drive?


Relaxation and Other Alternative Approaches for Managing Headaches

Relaxation and Other Alternative Approaches for Managing Headaches

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It’s common for people to attribute headaches to stress, but there’s no official headache classification of "stress headaches." However, stress certainly plays a role in causing a headache or making any headache worse. During stressful events, certain chemicals in the brain are released to combat the situation (known as the "flight or fight" response). The release of these chemicals can provoke vascular changes that can trigger headaches or make them worse.

Learning relaxation


What Causes Headaches?

What Causes Headaches?

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Headache pain results from signals interacting among the brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. During a headache, specific nerves of the blood vessels and head muscles are activated and send pain signals to the brain. It’s not clear, however, why these signals are activated in the first place.

There is a migraine "pain center" or generator in the mid-brain area. A migraine begins when hyperactive nerve cells send out impulses to the blood vessels, causing constriction,


How Are Headaches Treated?

How Are Headaches Treated?

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Your family physician may recommend different types of treatment to try, he or she may recommend further testing or refer you to a headache specialist. You should establish a reasonable time frame with your family physician to evaluate your headache symptoms.

Headache Treatment Options

The proper treatment will depend on several factors, including the type and frequency of the headache and its cause. Not all headaches require medical attention. Treatment may include:


Nighttime Urination

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I tend to urinate frequently, especially at night, sometimes three or four times a night. I have seen a Urologist and had a scope done. The doctor said that I was fine. What causes me to urinate this much at night?


What Are the Risk Factors of Breast Cancer?

What Are the Risk Factors of Breast Cancer?

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Breast Cancer Risks

Cancers have different associated risk factors, breast cancer included. From genetics to lifestyle, the list below details the risk factors associated with developing breast cancer.

Significantly Higher Risk
    History of previous cancer: already having cancer in one breast, especially if it occurred before menopause, increases a woman’s risk of developing a new breast cancer unrelated to the first one. Breast cancer


What Are the Stages of Breast Cancer?

What Are the Stages of Breast Cancer?

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The Stages of Breast Cancer

There are different stages in the progression of breast cancer.

Stage 0

Stage 0 breast cancer is when the disease is localized to the milk ducts (carcinoma in situ).

Stage I

Stage I breast cancer is when the cancer is smaller than 1 inch across and hasn't spread to other parts of the body.

Stage II

Stage II breast cancer is one of the following:

    The tumor is less than an inch across but


How Is Breast Cancer Treated?

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Breast Cancer Treatments

If the tests find cancer, you and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to eradicate the breast cancer, to reduce the chance of cancer returning in the breast, as well as to reduce the chance of the cancer traveling to a location outside of the breast. Treatment generally follows within a few weeks after the diagnosis.

The type of treatment recommended will depend on the size and location of the tumor in the breast, the results of lab tests done


How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

Health Information

During your regular physical examination, your doctor will take a thorough personal and family medical history. He or she will also perform and/or order one or more of the following:

Breast Examination

During the breast exam, the doctor will carefully feel the lump and the tissue around it. Breast cancer usually feels different (in size, texture and movement) than benign lumps. Certain tests can be used to view the tissue better:

    Mammography: An X-ray test of


FAQs: How Does Alcoholism Affect People?

FAQs: How Does Alcoholism Affect People?

Health Information

Is It Safe to Drink During Pregnancy?

No, alcohol can harm the baby of a mother who drinks during pregnancy. Although the highest risk is to babies whose mothers drink heavily, it is not clear yet whether there is any completely safe level of alcohol during pregnancy.

Does Alcohol Affect Older People Differently?

Alcohol's effects do vary with age. Slower reaction times, problems with hearing and seeing, and a lower tolerance to alcohol's effects put older people


What Can I Do if an Alcoholic Refuses to Get Help?

What Can I Do if an Alcoholic Refuses to Get Help?

Health Information

This can be a challenge. An alcoholic can't be forced to get help except under certain circumstances, such as a traffic violation or arrest that results in court-ordered treatment. But you don't have to wait for someone to "hit rock bottom" to act. Many alcoholism treatment specialists suggest the following steps to help an alcoholic get treatment:

Stop all "cover ups"

Family members often make excuses to others or try to protect the alcoholic from the results of his or her


Metabolizing Sugar

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What makes your body more efficient at metabolizing sugar?


Trying to Get Pregnant

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I’m trying to get pregnant but haven’t so far. How long should I wait before I see a fertility specialist?


Osteoporosis Drugs

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I recently heard that osteoporosis drugs can actually increase the risk of fractures in older women. Should I stop taking this medication?


Ask the Expert: Nonsteroidal  Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) for Arthritis

Ask the Expert: Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) for Arthritis

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What are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)?

NSAIDs are drugs that can reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s protective response to irritation or injury and is recognized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. NSAIDs can be used to treat the symptoms of many types of arthritis and soft tissue inflammation such as tendonitis, bursitis, and sprains. It can also be used for gout attacks.

It is important to remember that NSAIDs treat the


Calcium Levels for Women Over 40

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I recently read that women over 40 should stop taking calcium supplements. Is that true?


Skin Tags - A Concern?

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As I get older I seem to be developing more skin tags. Is this something to be concerned about? They aren’t misshapen or colored funny, just skin colored tags. Can I just clip them off?


Vitamin D Levels for Healthy Living

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I recently read that most people have acceptable vitamin D levels and don’t need to supplement. Is that true?


Reducing Fat Intake

Reducing Fat Intake

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Why is it important to reduce fat intake?

Eating a high fat diet may contribute to heart disease. Eating too much fat also contributes to excess body weight, since a gram of fat has about twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates and proteins. Being overweight may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (diseases of the heart and blood vessels) and certain forms of cancer.

Whether you are trying to lose weight, lower


What You Need to Know About Ibuprofen

What You Need to Know About Ibuprofen

Health Information

(Also Called ’Advil’, ’Motrin’, ’Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs’, ’NSAID’)

Common brand names: Advil, Nuprin, Motrin

Why is this drug prescribed?

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s protective response to irritation or injury and is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain.

How and when should it be used?

Ibuprofen is