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Family Health Radio

Family Health Radio

Family Health Radio

A daily series of 2 1/2 radio programs heard on over 250 radio stations.Providing practical, easy-to-understand, honest health information on common health problems and the latest health care developments. A production of The WOUB Center For Public Media. And supported by the Osteopathic Community

Age's Effect on Muscles

How are muscles affected by aging? It seems clear that as we grow older, it becomes more difficult to build and maintain muscle. The ebbing of musculature has been a known consequence of aging for some time. However, as new research comes to light, ...
3 days ago

Running Gait

Can your running gait cause injury? "Pronation" is the medical term for what many runners call the "running gait." It describes the motion of the foot as it touches the ground, and it contrasts the term supination. Both words refer to the foot's ...
4 days ago

Sleeping With the Lights On

Is it unhealthy for children to sleep with the lights on? At some point, most people have been woken up by sunlight streaming into their rooms. Bright lights have a stimulating effect, sometimes to a fault, which is why most people opt for dark ...
5 days ago

Natural Fiber

Are all fibers created equal? Dietary fiber, also known as indigestible plant roughage, serves to clear out the digestive tract. As it passes through, fiber absorbs water and eases defecation. It also seems to lower both cholesterol and blood sugar ...
6 days ago

Too Much Protein

Can too much protein be bad for you? Protein is essential for healthy muscles, bones, and cartilage. Unlike fats and sugars, our body is unable to store away proteins for future use, se we must continually replenish our protein supply. If you were to ...
7 days ago

Eating light for life

How can you make healthier substitutes for the foods you eat? Whether eating out or staying in, you should strive to control calorie, saturated fat, trans fat and sugar levels. Though all of these are important, the most crucial is probably calories. ...
1 week ago

Panic attacks

What should you do if you have a panic attack? A person having a panic attack experiences the sudden onset of feelings of intense fear. This overwhelming fear can trigger a variety of physical symptoms -- including chest pain, sweating, shortness of ...
2 weeks ago

Tonsillectomy

Is it a good idea to have your tonsils removed? Tonsillectomy, having the tonsils surgically removed, used to be one of the most common childhood surgeries in the United States. It is still done, but much less often. Records show that tonsillectomies ...
2 weeks ago

Tonsillectomy

Is it a good idea to have your tonsils removed? Tonsillectomy, having the tonsils surgically removed, used to be one of the most common childhood surgeries in the United States. It is still done, but much less often. Records show that tonsillectomies ...
2 weeks ago

A traveling blood clot

What is a traveling blood clot? A traveling blood clot, as its name implies, is a clot that originates in one part of your body but ends up in another part. Clots often can develop in the legs, then travel through your veins to the heart and then the ...
2 weeks ago

Self-diagnosing anorexia

How can you tell if you're anorexic? A listener wrote and said that she was wondering if she might be anorexic. She said that she's just not interested in food. She told us: (quote) "Many people think I am too thin, but I think I am just about the ...
2 weeks ago

Soy and Natural Protein

Is soy a complete protein? Soy protein, which contains antioxidants and essential amino acids required in a healthy diet, is also one of the few natural protein sources for vegetarians and vegans. Script Number: 30075 For archived Family Health ...
2 weeks ago

Charley Horses

What are charley horses, and what causes them? Although the origin of the phrase "charley horse" is unknown, some link it to nineteenth century major-league pitcher Charley Radbourne, nicknamed "Old Hoss", who suffered a leg cramp during a homerun. ...
3 weeks ago

High-fructose Corn Syrup

What is high-fructose corn syrup, and is it dangerous? To produce high-fructose corn syrup, manufacturers first mill corn into corn starch then process it further to yield a clear liquid consisting almost entirely of the simple sugar glucose. After ...
3 weeks ago

Age-related Macular Degeneration

What's the connection between diet and age-related macular degeneration? Macular degeneration, an uncurable eye disease, is the leading cause of blindness in older adults. It damages the macula, the part of the retina that controls the center of the ...
3 weeks ago

The Mediterranean Diet

What is the Mediterranean diet and what makes it healthy? In recent years, the so-called "French Paradox" has given way to the "Mediterranean diet" in the headlines of popular media. Both terms relate to the low rates of heart disease among ...
3 weeks ago

Coping with a long car trip

What can you do to relieve the strain of a long automobile trip? My first piece of advice about a long car trip is similar to what I would give for airplane travel. Don't sit still in your seat for long periods of time. This can lead to stiff, aching ...
3 weeks ago

Eating fish and the risk of dementia

Can eating more fish reduce your risk of dementia? On a past program, we told you that eating fish a few times each week may not only benefit your heart and cardiovascular system but your brain as well. Now, three new European studies -- highlighted in ...
4 weeks ago

Exercise and the risk of cancer

Will exercise reduce your risk of dying from cancer? In the past I've told you about the many benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of a variety of diseases -- from diabetes, to heart disease to many forms of cancer. Today, I'd like to tell you ...
4 weeks ago