Family Health Radio

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

What is epigenetics? Epigenetics is a relatively new field of study that may pay rich dividends in the future in mankind's fight against cancer. Simply defined epigenetics is the study of changes in gene function that come about without any change to ...

Can flu shots protect you from the stomach flu? A listener wrote and said the he and many of his co-workers had come down with the stomach flu. He said he was surprised to get the stomach flu because he had the flu shot last fall. Script Number: 30066 ...

Are pets really good for your health? A few years ago, archaelogoists found a twelve-thousand-year-old human skeleton in Israel buried with its hand resting on the skeleton of a six-month-old wolf pup. The relationship between humans and pets seems to ...

Is the acne medicine Accutane safe? The safety of accutane is an important topic for discussion. Accutane is a powerful drug, with serious potential side-effects. It's also proven to be the most effective treatment for severe acne, clearing up skin ...

What is bruxism? The term "bruxism" comes from the Greek "brugmos", which means "gnashing of teeth". It refers to habitual teeth-grinding, often accompanied by jaw-clenching. Typically the behavior is subconscious or even unconscious, occurring during ...

Can anti-bacterial products weaken the immune system? A number of years ago, just a few dozen consumer products contained anti-bacterial agents. Now, more than 700 products - from soaps to window cleaners - are marketed as anti-bacterial. This is not a ...