National Institute of Health provides a database of commercial household products. Ever wonder what is in that air freshener you just bought, but the print was too small to read without a magnifying glass. Or what is in your laundry, kitchen, or bath soap? How about the laser toner cartridge or the pen in your… Read more

Fibromyalgia patients frequently find their way to the doctor’s office because of unexplained pain in their neck, shoulder, and/or back. The cause for the chronic pain has baffled the medical profession for decades; often resulting in a diagnosis that the brain in in the patients head. Richard E. Harris, PhD, research assistant professor, Division of… Read more

Rush University Medical Center’s, Rush Memory and Aging Project, reports in the online edition of Neurology, that often older adults who read newspapers, play chess, or engage in other mental stimulating activity reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. They also found visiting a library or attending a play reduces risk of mild cognitive impairment… Read more

Cognitive health has been added to the risk associated with obesity caused disorders. Researchers have convincing evidence that dietary practices throughout adulthood are important contributors to age related cognitive decline and dementia risk. Adults with diabetes are especially sensitive to the foods they eat with respect to cognitive function. Specifically, an adult with diabetes will… Read more

Canada’s CTV reports that Alzheimer’s disease experts recommend a new criteria for establishing the probability of Alzheimer’s disease. They suggest patients demonstrate progressive memory loss over a 6-month period plus one of the following: Atrophy in a particular part of the brain shown by MRI. Abnormal biomarker proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid. A specific pattern… Read more

The National Center for Health Statistics reports 26% of Americans over the age of 20 have had a problem with pain. According to the Pain Management Research Institute estimate that the treatment for pain cost $1.85 billion per 1 million people. Michael J Counsins AM, MD, DSc, professor and director of the Pain Management Research… Read more

When you’ve broken a leg, and are using crutches, no one expects you to run to catch a cab. Most people will take your disability into consideration and try not to cause you undue difficulty. When you are in pain it is an entirely different matter. You may look normal. There is no neon sign… Read more

University of Kentucky reports that professor of rheumatology, Dr. Leslie Crofford, and Director of the Center for the Advancement of Women’s Health, Gloria W. Singletary, wrote the first prospective study of Lyrica’s (pregabalin) effectiveness for the relief of fibromyalgia pain and sleep problems. In a double blind study patients were given either Lyrica or a… Read more

A University of Michigan reportsays that fibromyalgia pain is from an imbalance between the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Although there are currently no FDA approved drugs to combat the condition’s symptoms it is likely that three or four drugs will be approved within three years that specifically address the issue… Read more

When Dr. David Dryland began his rheumatology practice he found that he identified with one group of patients. At the time those patients suffered what was loosely defined as fibromyalgia. It was a perplexing experience that he was unable to effectively treat his patients or himself. He set out to find the cause and treatment… Read more

Business Week, June 13, Kerry Capell reports that conservatives agree with Michael Moore’s recent film that blasts the U.S. health-care system. In his film, Sicko, Moore’s premise is that the U.S. health care system is worse than any other modern country. His premise is supported by a Commonwealth Fund study that compares the U.S. health-care… Read more

Pain is always associated with negative emotions. When pain extends over a long period of time and becomes chronic it changes one’s outlook on life. One issue that rises when treating chronic pain is that the interpretation of the pain levels is always subjective. Most often diagnosis is done with the patient describing when the… Read more