Health Tip: Understanding ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive disease that gradually causes its victims to lose control of their muscles. It's eventually fatal.


According to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, symptoms usually start as a gradual weakening of the muscles. People with ALS usually lose control of their arms and legs, and finally the muscles in their chest, which causes them to stop breathing.


There is no cure, although treatments may be prescribed to improve quality of life and reduce some of the discomfort and symptoms of ALS, including pain, depression, and difficulty sleeping

Health Tip: Reducing Allergy Symptoms

Although you may be among millions of Americans with allergies, there are things you can do to tame your symptoms, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology says.


Make sure your home is thoroughly and regularly cleaned. Mold, dust and other allergens can build up in the linens, furniture and air ducts. It's also best to use air conditioning rather than open windows in the house and the car. And you should shower and wash your hair before you go to bed, the academy says.


If you still have symptoms, the AAAAI recommends an over-the-counter or prescription antihistamine. If that doesn't help, talk to an allergist about other treatment options, including allergy shots.

Fast Food Restaurant Nutrition Links page

This is a page that links to some of the most of the popular fast food restaurant nutrition info page, very handy for health conscience minded / allergenic guide / gluten / diary intolerance...etc. Let me know what other places you wanna add to the list!

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Study eyes obesity-prostate cancer link

Being overweight hurts men's chances of having successful radiation treatment for prostate cancer, according to a study released Monday.


The study by researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is being called the first to examine the link between obesity and prostate cancer progression after radiation treatment.

Researchers found that moderately and severely obese men had a 70 percent higher risk of having a tumor recur after radiation treatment than thinner men did.

The same researchers last year looked at men who had surgery for prostate cancer, and found that heavier men were more likely to have rising levels of PSA, a blood protein that can signal prostate cancer, after treatment than thinner men were...more

More defibrillators, pacemakers recalled

Boston Scientific Corp. on Monday said it is recalling some defibrillator and pacemaker models that could fail because of an electrical flaw.


The recall is the latest in a string of product problems Boston Scientific inherited when it bought Guidant Corp. in April for $27 billion.

Boston Scientific said it was asking its sales force and managers of hospital inventories to return some units of six models of defibrillators and pacemakers that have potentially faulty low-voltage capacitors, which are used to store electrical charges...more