Everyone has heard that high cholesterol is bad for heart health. But as it turns out, the association between cholesterol and cardiovascular disease has been somewhat misrepresented. Doctors are starting to accept that cholesterol levels do not necessarily predict risk for heart disease as much as we thought. Consider the following: Continue reading
Category Archives: General Info
ME/CFS: A new name for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), a condition of severe, chronic tiredness, is a well-known term in the medical world and affects between one and four million people in the United States. However, since it was coined in 1988, considerable controversy has arisen over the term CFS. Continue reading
Common Sense Health: What Do Cigarettes, Sugar and Childhood Vaccines Have in Common?
By Maureen McDonnell, RN
What cigarettes, sugar and vaccines have in common is the fact that behind each one stands a well-funded, cleverly constructed PR campaign designed to convince the public that these products are safe and questioning their use is completely unnecessary. Continue reading
Common Sense Health: Facts, Not Fear Should Guide Our Decisions about the HPV Vaccine
By Maureen McDonnell, RN
With a new school year starting, parents are under pressure to get their children vaccinated against HPV and other infections. Additionally, the CDC is about to launch a new PR campaign aimed at convincing the public that the HPV vaccine is necessary, should be given to young children and will protect against cancer. But facts, not fear must guide our decisions. Continue reading
Can your brain breathe?
Even though you can breathe normally your brain may not be getting enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen in the brain is not something the average person can recognize. However it can cause poor brain function and increase the risk of vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s. Continue reading