Common, somewhat embarrassing and disruptive, it's also something almost half of adults do at least occasionally. I'm talking about snoring, of course. The bearlike sounds one emits when snoring are caused by air flowing past relaxed tissues in the throat, causing...
From birth to bifocals, our eyes play a significant role in the quality of our lives. When you consider how much we depend on our eyes to navigate and make sense of the world, it’s staggering to know somewhere in the world someone goes blind every five seconds. Of the...
When did the holidays become all about food, rather than focused on friends and family? It seems from Halloween to Valentine’s Day, it’s one food-filled event or celebration after another. Even the most resolute find it difficult to say “no thank you” to the endless...
Forget the stock market. If you want to see real return on an investment, start banking on your health. Follow these simple strategies, and you’ll realize regular dividends in the form of good health and a long life. Review your portfolio Think about your current...
As 2008 morphed into 2009, many of us surely made the most popular of the usual New Year's resolutions: Lose weight, or at least get more fit. Of course, diet and/or eating healthier would help, but that's the subject of another article. Now, about the quest for...
In the January/February issue of SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, I wrote about the mind-body connection from an historical perspective. In this article, I am writing about experiences I have had in life that have moved me to the view that a better term for mind-body connection is,...
For many, a breath of fresh air is hard to come by. More than 35 million Americans are living with, and dying from, lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. In fact, lung disease is one of America’s most serious...
So you meet someone and you can't help noticing their facial features — particularly the eyes and then the mouth. You'll remember their smile as being pleasant — or perhaps for some rather unsavory teeth, dulled by stains from years of coffee or tea consumption,...
When you hear the words "cancer" and "women," pink ribbons probably pop into your mind — the ubiquitous symbol of the fight against breast cancer. For years it's been a high-profile and well-supported disease, and the result shows in the myriad of detection methods...
Knuckles, fingers, elbows and palms — from head to toe, massage "types" range from a kinder, gentler technique to the take-no-prisoners form. The most common type is known as the Swedish massage, which is not named after the country. It's very gentle and relaxing...
The adage "When momma's not happy, ain't nobody happy" can also be applied to Mother Earth. She's giving us all kinds of passive aggressive and sometimes downright aggressive signals that our guardianship has been less than stellar. Normally the Health Matters section...
The start of a new year represents a new beginning, so what better time to assess how nice you are (or aren't) being to a very special person — you? If you're like most people, you spend most of your energy focusing on what needs to be done for everyone else — your...
Overweight, chunky, fat, husky, obese — no parent wants to hear their child labeled with adjectives like these. Never mind the gut-wrenching sadness you experience seeing a child's self-esteem whittled away by our shallow society; what's really heartbreaking is a...
Losing your keys, running late, interrupting conversations or forgetting what you need at the grocery store happens to everyone at one time or another. For some, all of those things and more are an everyday reality, a source of constant aggravation, guilt and anxiety....
Good things come in threes, it's said, and so does hair. It occurs in three layers and three growth cycles. Hair's a special form of protein called keratin, which also constitutes the nails on our toes and fingers. Its outer layer is called the cuticle, and it...
Has your skin become tight, dry and maybe itchy? Yep, your skin is under attack. Welcome to winter, where the temperature outside drops and the heating goes up in our homes, offices, stores, restaurants, cars — everywhere! This then causes the moisture to evaporate...
Does your spouse seem to fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow while you ponder how you can avoid another night of restlessness? Insomnia visits many people throughout the year but seems especially prevalent during the holidays. There’s so much going on with...
Oh, the fun, the eating, the chocolate, the toasting, the chocolate. If the holidays left you with hefty hips, thunder thighs or other protruding parts … well, join the club! And we mean that. You could, of course, walk or jog or bike on your own. You could hire a...
