Hot 4 Health

Achieving a toned, sexy tummy might seem like a pipe dream this time of year. Baggy sweaters abound, egg nog is served and Frosty the Snowman doesn't offer much in the way of flat-belly inspiration. But getting a sleek, sexy stomach is easier than you think. Spend just five minutes a day on toning your abs and you'll get an amazing middle. We rounded up five of the most effective tummy toners around. Work three or four ...

No one can live a long and healthy life without the will to go on; sometimes mood swings can make us feel that life is too much for us. A bad mood not only gives you a gloomy outlook, it also lowers your immune function, leading the way to illness. Here are some suggestions to lift your mood, your spirit, and your health.1. A Laughing Matter"Laugh Therapy," pioneered by Norman Cousins, has turned out to have real substance. Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer. Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being ...

During the postpartum period, about 1 in 15 women develops thyroiditis, a transient autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid gland marked by an accumulation of certain white blood cells in that gland. (The immune system usually guards against foreign invaders—for example, by destroying dangerous bacteria—but in an autoimmune disorder, the immune system inappropriately targets and damages some of the body's own healthy cells.) In about one quarter of these women, the disorder begins 1 to 4 months after delivery. Mild symptoms caused by an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) last for 2 to 8 weeks, followed by an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) that lasts for 2 weeks to several months. ...

Like millions of other Americans, I often have trouble with insomnia — either I can't fall asleep, or I awake prematurely and am unable to get back to sleep. The following sleep tips, compiled from various sources, may prove helpful to some of my fellow insomniacs.Only use your bed for sleeping or having sex, not for reading, doing paperwork, watching TV, snacking, or making phone calls.If you've been lying in bed but ...

Influenza Influenza (flu) is a viral infection. People often use the term "flu" to describe any kind of mild illness, such as a cold or a stomach virus, that has symptoms like the flu. But the real flu is different. Flu symptoms are usually worse than a cold and last longer. The flu usually does not cause vomiting or diarrhea. Most flu outbreaks happen in late fall and winter. Causes the flu The flu is caused by influenza viruses A and B. There are different strains, or types, of the flu virus every year. Symptoms The flu causes a fever, body aches, a headache, a dry cough, and a sore or dry throat. You will probably feel tired and less hungry than usual. The symptoms usually ...

When so much is uncertain in the world around us, it is natural for our anxieties to rise and our emotions to fluctuate. But when your emotions run wild, the imbalance can spell trouble for your long-term health. Read on for 6 natural ways to get grounded and balance your emotions.The Chinese healing tradition classifies emotion into five predominant states: joy, rumination (including worry), sadness, fear, and anger. Experiencing these emotions is a normal part of life, and you usually shift naturally from one to the next in reaction to events that pop up in your day. However, when one single emotion dominates, it brings your entire body out of balance and can produce illness. Learning to manage ...

Depression affects millions of Americans each year, with 2 to 3 times as many women as men diagnosed between the ages of 25 to 44. Although depression is common, treatment options vary, and many people may need medication and/or therapy. It is believed that either psychological or physiological factors can cause depression. The physiological factors of depression may be linked to the "monoamine hypothesis," which stems from the belief that imbalances of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, epinephrine, and nor-epinephrine, may be to blame.Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies may not only worsen depression in certain people, but research shows they may be the ...

SweatingSweating is a term which refers to the production and evaporation of a fluid that is secreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Sweat is made up of Water (H2O, HOH) and Sodium Chloride (NaCl), and also contains the chemicals odorants 2-methylphenol and 4-methylphenol. In humans, sweating is primarily a means of temperature regulation, although it has been proposed that components of male sweat can actually ...

Everyone loses some hair every day. Losing up to 100 hairs a day is normal. But if hair loss runs in your family, you could lose a lot more hair. Over time, you may end up with bald spots or hair that slowly gets thinner. About half of all people have this type of hair loss by around age 50. Other factors, such as diseases and medicines, also can cause you to lose more hair than normal. Although hair loss is ...

Other problems (like bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis) can cause vaginal symptoms that may seem like a yeast infection. If you need help finding out which problem you have, see the Check Your Symptoms section of the topic Vaginal Problems. Vaginal yeast infection Yeast is a fungus that normally lives in the vagina in small numbers. A vaginal yeast infection means that too many yeast cells are growing in the vagina. These infections are very common. Although they can bother you a lot, they are not usually serious. And treatment is simple. Causes a vaginal yeast infection Most yeast infections are caused by a type of yeast called Candida ...

During perimenopause or postmenopause, call your doctor about: Menstrual periods that are unusually heavy, irregular, or prolonged (1½ to 2 times longer than normal).Bleeding between menstrual periods, when periods have been regular.Renewed bleeding after having no periods for 6 months or more.Unexplained bleeding while you are taking hormones.Perimenopause symptoms, such as insomnia, hot flashes, or mood swings, that aren't responding to home treatment and are interfering with your sleep or daily life.Vaginal pain or dryness that does not improve with home treatment, or you have signs of a urinary tract infection.If you have concerns about ...

Depression is an illness that makes a person feel sad and hopeless much of the time. It's different than feeling a little sad or down. Depression can be treated with counseling or medicine, or both. Positive thinking also can help prevent or control depression.Guidlines If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, you need to see your doctor or therapist right away. Positive thinking can help with depression. But you may also need medicine and therapy.Negative thoughts can make depression worse or can raise your chance of having depression.Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a type of therapy that can help you replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Changing your thinking ...

Soda, pop, cola, soft drink — whatever you call it, it is one of the worst beverages that you could be drinking for your health. As the debate for whether to put a tax on the sale of soft drinks continues, you should know how they affect your body so that you can make an informed choice on your own.Causes of Soft drinksSoft drinks contain little to no vitamins or other essential nutrients. However, it is what they do contain that is the problem: caffeine, carbonation, simple sugars — or worse, sugar substitutes — and often food additives such as artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives.A lot of research has found that consumption of soft drinks in high quantity, especially by children, ...