Ask Hanna Answers, Health Channel
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Ask Hanna answers

How can I protect my eyes and preserve my vision?

How can I protect my eyes and preserve my vision?

 "The eyes are the window to the soul" ― Old English Proverb It has been estimated that up to 80% of our perception, learning, cognition and activities are mediated through vision.  Additionally, most activities, whether work-related or for pleasure, are enhanced by visual input.   Since vision is such a precious sense, problems affecting the eyes are…...
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What is a Sports Physical?

What is a Sports Physical?

The sports physical, also known as the pre-participation examination (PPE), is an annual rite for millions of students who participate in school athletics. Even though the necessity of these exams in the young, healthy population in which they are performed has been questioned, most states in the U.S. require some form of physical evaluation before…...
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Should antibiotics be used for respiratory infections?

Should antibiotics be used for respiratory infections?

Recently, I wrote a Health Tip on the topic of "Summer Colds".  That particular tip was actually inspired by the viral upper respiratory tract infections that both my wife and I experienced a few weeks ago. While I usually try to avoid writing in first person in my Health Tips, an interesting side issue related…...
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Are asthma cases on the rise?

Are asthma cases on the rise?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by episodes of airflow obstruction known as asthma attacks. During an asthma attack, small muscles surrounding the airways contract, resisting the flow of air into and out of the lungs. Inflammation and swelling of the airways is also a consistent feature among asthmatics. Asthma attacks can be triggered by…...
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Is there a way to manage my anxiety without medications?

Is there a way to manage my anxiety without medications?

From time to time, everyone experiences anxiety. We worry about our security, our families, our jobs, and our health. Often, these fears are appropriate and help to keep us and our loved ones safe and secure. But when anxiety develops without provocation or persists when the threat or concern is no longer present, counterproductive thought…...
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What is the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day?

What is the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day?

If you have expired, unused, or unneeded prescription drugs in the house, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) wants to make it easier for you to dispose of them.  Saturday, September 26th has been designated as the 10th annual National Drug Take-Back Day.  Sites throughout the United States have been chosen for unwanted prescription drug disposal from…...
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Is using a microwave oven dangerous for my health?

Is using a microwave oven dangerous for my health?

According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 90 percent of U.S. households have a microwave oven. This method of cooking, which was introduced in 1947 with the "Radarange", uses a form of electromagnetic radiation, not unlike the radio frequency waves used in broadcasting. Microwaves cook food by causing water molecules within the food…...
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Is it just a cough?

Is it just a cough?

Almost everyone has had a cough. Typically, this occurs in association with an acute infection such as a cold or the flu. Once the infection runs its course, or following effective treatment, this type of cough goes away within a matter of a few days to a couple of weeks. A cough that lasts longer…...
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