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Can a person be addicted to technology? As defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, “addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry… This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors…Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response.” We understand how this definition applies to alcohol, drugs, gambling or even sex addiction. But what about smartphone technology? Is it possible that those little

As we age, muscle mass naturally declines and it becomes more challenging to maintain it. The medical term for this condition is sarcopenia; it can be seen in older adults who appear frail, thin, and have muscles that are not well defined. It takes a well-planned effort to overcome sarcopenia; consuming adequate protein, strength training and exercise are some of the most beneficial steps to take. It sounds simple, but for seniors, there are challenges such as poor appetite, loss of  taste buds, poor cognition, joint pain, loss of mobility or range of motion, and even depression, all which make

Almost one hundred years ago, the US instituted a salt iodine fortification program in order to rectify a goiter endemic throughout the country. The plan worked. Since then, one-by-one, countries around the world have been fortifying foods with iodine.

It was only 15 years ago when China instituted a fortification program. Recently, researchers in China conducted a study as a check-in to be sure the program was working as planned. They tested 4 different populations (each with different iodine requirements) from different regions of the country: children, pregnant women, lactating women, and adults. The goal was to evaluate any possible changes

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fats that should be consumed daily, but unfortunately they are one of the more neglected categories of foods in the American diet. Omega 3 oil has an anti-inflammatory action throughout the body, which is particularly important for Americans in order to counteract the abundance of inflammatory foods that we tend to consume. Chronic inflammation is at the root of the majority of chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and signs of accelerated aging. Research also shows that omega 3 fats are beneficial in preventing or relieving conditions such as depression, anxiety, dementia,

The list of symptoms related to Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome (WTS) is long and varied; one of the many possibilities is diminished memory. Some WTS patients may say that they feel like they are in a mental fog, and forget simple things, like what they were going to retrieve when they walked into another room. They may also experience difficulty with concentrating on tasks and completing them. These changes in brain function are linked to low body temperature and underperforming thyroid function, but usually, resolving temperatures to normal will resolve the problems.

The question is, are there long term consequences

Cell phones and computers have taken over our lives, without a doubt. Every part of our life is connected to those little devices- our calendars, news, shopping and communicating with friends. It’s to the point where it’s hard to imagine living without these electronic lifelines! They help bring us organization and information, but there are also some downsides, particularly to our health.

A recent study evaluated the health effects of the light emitted from electronic devices. Nighttime artificial light has been a cause for concern for several decades, and researchers have been focused on identifying the specific detrimental effects it

A large study called REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) collected data about what people eat every day. 18000 adults over 45 years of age submitted information on their daily diets. The study was funded by NIH (National Institutes of Health) and was designed to determine if there is a correlation between typical diet patterns and the risk of developing heart failure.

Heart failure is a chronic condition that tends to worsen over time. It’s when the heart cannot effectively pump enough blood throughout the body, therefore reducing the amount of oxygen that goes to the various tissues.

Infertility can be a very challenging condition for women who want to become pregnant. They face the daunting task of going through a long list of potential causes, each needing to be evaluated and eliminated in order to identify the exact issue that needs to be resolved. The extensive process of elimination can involve lab tests, clinical examinations and uncomfortable invasive procedures. The distressful process can be emotionally and financially draining, and in about 10- 30% of the cases, no cause is even identified.

Doctors most commonly look for ovulation problems caused by health issues such as uterine fibroids, blocked

As Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rates continue to increase, researchers are desperately working to identify the causes of this destructive disease in order to find ways for better prevention. The list of possible causes currently being explored includes brain inflammation, hormonal factors, oxidative stress, environmental toxins, and even infection. Regardless of the specific cause, the resulting damage to the brain is demonstrated by two hallmark signs of AD: the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaque accumulation.

“Neurofibrillary tangles” are deformed fibers found inside the brain’s cells. Normally, tau protein helps stabilize microtubules which help transport nutrients throughout the