Tremor is an unintentional, rhythmic muscle movement, most often affecting the hands.  In some cases, tremor can be a sign of a neurological disease but the most common type of tremor occurs in otherwise healthy people.  Today's Health Tip will focus on this common type of tremor, known as "essential tremor". Causes for tremor – There…...

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is present in cells and tissues throughout the body.  In excess, it has received the deservedly bad reputation of being capable of blocking blood vessels. Indeed, having too much cholesterol does place you at higher risk for the development of heart attack and stroke. Misconceptions about cholesterol, however, may…...

Although you might expect this Health Tip to be about large carnivores like polar bears or mountain lions, a tiny insect---the mosquito---is responsible for more deaths each year than all the 'man-eating' animals in the world combined.  These deaths do not occur due to a venomous bite or a sting causing an allergic reaction but…...

The immune system is a complex system of specialized cells, tissues, and organs designed to defend the body from germs and other invaders.  Central to the normal function of the immune system is its ability to distinguish between what is part of our own healthy bodies from a potentially harmful agent.  The part of the…...

While changes in the normal configuration of nails usually indicate a problem affecting the nail itself, certain changes may also provide clues to an underlying medical condition.  Brittle nails, nails containing “pits” or small depressions, nails that are discolored yellow or green, or dark lines beneath the nail are examples of the changes that could…...

While cigar-smoking, mint julep-drinking Mark Twain may not seem like a paragon of healthy living, he did provide us with some thought-provoking quotes directed toward health. “Be careful about reading health books.  You may die of a misprint.” ~ Mark Twain This quote, written prior to the development of personal computers or the World Wide…...

The term "summer cold" is something that most of us have heard about, but aside from its seasonal occurrence, is there anything really different about this type of cold? What causes the common cold? Colds are viral infections of the nose and throat that affects up to a billion Americans each year. The common cold can…...

Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the most complete form of nutrition for infants, with a range of benefits for infants' health, growth, immunity and development. -- Healthy People 2010, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Most authorities including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Practice, and the American College of Obstetrics and…...