What Is Known About OsteoporosisHealthy Steps: Osteoporosis—First StepsHealthy Steps: Osteoporosis—Full ProgramPreventing OsteoporosisFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk “It wasn’t even a bad fall, but my wrist just snapped!” The only good news in that pronouncement was that it was her wrist and not her hip. My new patient, Edith, came to see if there were natural solutions […]
What Is Known About Breast CancerHealthy Steps: Breast Cancer Prevention—First StepsHealthy Steps: Breast Cancer Prevention—Full ProgramBreast Cancer DetectionFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Most women aren’t thinking about breast cancer when they’re taking a shower, yet that is the moment when their whole world can change. A new hard lump sends a shock wave from the fingertips […]
Inflammation is a key part of all of these problems, and the inflammation derives from over-activity in the part of the immune system that produces antibodies to tissues within the body.
What Is Known About InsomniaHealthy Steps: Insomnia—First StepsHealthy Steps: Insomnia—Full ProgramPreventing InsomniaFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Revised 22 August 2020 When was the last time you had trouble sleeping? Too much screen time, emotional stress, loud neighbors, or the anticipation of leaving on a trip can all interfere with a good night’s rest. But if you […]
What Is Known About Constipation Healthy Steps: Constipation—First Steps Healthy Steps: Constipation—Full Program Preventing Constipation From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Tallying up the sale of laxatives in the US—over $750 million a year—constipation appears to be quite a problem for a lot of people. From infants to the elderly, irregular bowel movements interfere with health and […]
Aging is a complicated topic. As we get older, the truth is that some changes in our health are almost predictable based on the number of birthdays we have had! Here’s a handy dandy quick guide to details about “what wears out” in a few selected sections of our physiology. Each line merits a little […]
You’ve tried everything. You’ve read through my sleep articles here and here and of course, here, and you’re still not sleeping well. This column is for you. Five insomnia fixes that work for some of the most stubborn sleep problems around. And three important reasons to keep looking until you find something that works for […]
No one would ever imagine that Julie was pre-diabetic. Tall and slim, consistently athletic, she looked like the picture of health for a woman in her 40’s. She, however, knew that wasn’t the case. She ran into people in the store who seemed to know her—she didn’t have a clue who they were. Several times […]
“How can I stop these repeated urinary infections I’ve had in menopause?” If you read my previously posted “Solutions for Urinary Tract Infections,” you may have easily skipped over a line that deserves an article all its own: “For menopausal women, local hormone applications can strengthen the bladder’s natural defenses against infection.” This topic comes […]
What Is Known About Metabolic SyndromeHealthy Steps: Metabolic Syndrome—First StepsHealthy Steps: Metabolic Syndrome—Full ProgramPreventing Metabolic SyndromeFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk “You’re telling me I have a condition I’ve never heard of, but it’s dangerous because now I’m likely to get diabetes, or heart disease…or cancer?” I’d hoped to raise the subject more delicately, but it was […]
What Is Known About Macular Degeneration Healthy Steps: Macular Degeneration—First Steps Healthy Steps: Macular Degeneration—Full Program Preventing Macular Degeneration I imagine you already know one or more people dealing with macular degeneration. The good news is that doctors can “deal with” the problem once it arises; the bad news is that treatment can slow the progression of […]
In a way, high blood pressure is like every other health problem: it can usually be resolved through lifestyle changes. When those don’t work, attending to some systemic problems (lack of sleep, low thyroid, and others) can often solve the problem. Supplementation directed by a knowledge of genetics and general supplement principles is a good next step. […]
“I swear I look pregnant after I eat!” If this has happened to you, you know the rest of the lament. You eat a little food, sometimes even just have a drink of water and your upper abdomen swells without limit. You might burp or experience heartburn, or you might just feel as if your […]
Healthy Steps: Winter Skin—First Steps Healthy Steps: Winter Skin—Full Program Preventing Winter Skin Dry skin begs for extra attention during the winter! What was once just dry and flaky can become red and inflamed, even painful and cracking. Some simple steps in your life and in your medicine chest can make a big difference for […]
What Is Known About Breast Cancer RecurrenceHealthy Steps: Breast Cancer Recurrence Prevention—First StepsHealthy Steps: Breast Cancer Recurrence Prevention—Full ProgramBreast Cancer DetectionFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk You had been doing everything right, and you still got breast cancer – how many times have we heard that story? Too many, that’s for sure. Traversing the complex world of […]
At the recent Ancestral Health Symposium in Berkeley, California, one morning hosted an array of international experts on muscle health. Although I’ve previously written about “Sarcopenia,” I now have more to say about “dynapenia!” Read on – and you can view the talk that inspired this column on the AHS14 video site here. How do […]
What Is Known About Parkinson’s DiseaseHealthy Steps: Parkinson’s Disease—First StepsHealthy Steps: Parkinson’s Disease—Full ProgramPreventing Parkinson’s Disease The first signs of something wrong might be as simple as a trembling noticed in your hand, or perhaps a feeling of weakness or stiffness affecting one body part. You might notice that your balance just isn’t what it […]
What Is Known About Women’s Heart DiseaseHealthy Steps: Women’s Heart Disease—First StepsHealthy Steps: Women’s Heart Disease—Full ProgramFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Margaret thought of herself as fit, despite carrying a few extra pounds. She worked full time and was active in various community projects. When she felt a heaviness in her chest as she walked on […]
What Is Known About Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Healthy Steps: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis—First Steps Healthy Steps: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis—Full Program From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Something is not quite right, but it’s not necessarily dramatic. Some feature of your vitality is, well, just a little bit under the weather. It could be a sinking of mood or energy, a little […]
What Is Known About GERDHealthy Steps: GERD—First StepsHealthy Steps: GERD—Full ProgramFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Reflux can be a totally silent illness, with symptoms so mild or confusing that you barely think about it. Perhaps you have just a nagging cough, a hoarse voice, or an occasional sharp pain in your chest after eating. It all […]
What Is Known About HypertensionHealthy Steps: Hypertension—First StepsHealthy Steps: Hypertension—Full Program You were feeling just fine, not even thinking when the dentist offered to check your blood pressure, obviously not the cause of your visit. Imagine everyone’s surprise when the number came out definitely high: 160/100. Not just a little high, but getting into the […]
What Is Known About SarcopeniaHealthy Steps: Sarcopenia – First StepsHealthy Steps: Sarcopenia – Full ProgramSeeking CarePreventing Sarcopenia Count me among those who celebrate every effort to keep our hearts and minds healthy as we age! I enjoy puzzles and games, reading books to discuss with friends, as well as reading all the contentious literature about […]
Physiology Eating for a Healthy Heart: First Steps Eating for a Healthy Heart: Full Program Supplements Lab Tests Lifestyle Revised January 26, 2015 Let’s take a good look at the basics of sound nutrition for a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. The blood vessels throughout your body and the ones supplying circulation to your heart […]
Do you have a friend or family member who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer? For most of us, the disease has touched someone close to us or in our lives. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States in both men and women. This year we can expect to […]
What Is Known About DementiaHealthy Steps: Dementia—First StepsHealthy Steps: Dementia—Full ProgramPreventing DementiaFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Updated December 21, 2023 Dementia, or memory loss, is a concern to all of us. We all want to maintain the health of our brains, yet often encounter some degree of confusion and/or denial when we think about how to […]
What Is Known About MigrainesHealthy Steps: Migraines—First StepsHealthy Steps: Migraines—Full ProgramFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk A little twinkle in your field of vision catches your attention, perhaps, or a familiar uneasy or dizzy feeling. Unattended to, these seemingly harmless little symptoms can progress to a headache that is impossible to ignore. The pain becomes moderate to […]
What Is Known About Osteoarthritis Healthy First Steps Osteoarthritis—Full Program Seeking CarePreventing OsteoarthritisFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Updated October 21, 2015 Some mornings, the pain is bearable. You creak out of bed and tough it out for another day. Other times, the achy stiffness, joint pain, and swelling are cripplingly intense. If you’re one of the […]
What Is Known About UTIs Healthy Steps: UTIs—First Steps Healthy Steps: UTIs—Full Program Preventing UTIs From Dr. Deborah’s Desk It starts as a twinge right after you urinate. Then you notice a burning during the next trip to the bathroom, which happened painfully soon after the last trip, and yielded little urine. Pretty soon you […]
What Is Known About DepressionHealthy Steps: Depression—First StepsHealthy Steps: Depression—Full ProgramPreventing DepressionFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Not to be confused with sadness lingering after a grievous loss, depression arises without apparent cause and drains us of vitality and casts a gloomy pall on everything we experience and do. It makes the simplest tasks seem daunting and […]
What is Known About Allergic Rhinitis Healthy Steps: Allergic Rhinitis—First Steps Healthy Steps: Allergic Rhinitis—Full Program Prevention From Dr. Deborah’s Desk How does fresh spring air feel at your house? If you’re one of the unlucky ones, despite a beautiful balmy day, you can barely drag yourself out of bed and when you do, it’s […]
What Is Known About Herpes Simplex Type 2 Healthy Steps: Herpes Simplex Type 2—First Steps Healthy Steps: Herpes Simplex Type 2—Full Program Preventing Herpes Simplex Type 2 From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Updated January 7, 2013 The first time someone catches herpes the infection may go completely unnoticed or be asymptomatic. Equally as common however is […]
What is Known About Herpes Type 1 Healthy Steps: Herpes Type 1—First Steps Healthy Steps: Herpes Type 1—Full Program Preventing Herpes Type 1 From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Type 1 herpes apparently happens to almost everyone when they’re young. You or may or may not remember an episode of one or more painful herpes blisters around […]
What Is Known About Irritable Bowel Syndrome Healthy Steps: Irritable Bowel Syndrome—First Steps Healthy Steps: Irritable Bowel Syndrome—Full Program From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Updated June 9, 2015 How complicated can digestion be? If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you know that one of the body’s natural processes can seem to go all haywire […]
What Is Known About Hives Healthy Steps: Hives—First Steps Healthy Steps: Hives—Full Program Prevention From Dr. Deborah’s Desk That little welt itches and you try your best not to scratch it because when you do, it grows before your very eyes! If you are a truly hive prone person, just running your fingernail over normal […]
What Is Known About Aging Skin Healthy Steps: Aging Skin—First Steps Healthy Steps: Aging Skin—Full Program Preventing Aging Skin The signs of aging appear slowly, but once you notice a few, you become vigilant looking for new ones. You examine your face from different angles and are perhaps seduced by cosmetic anti-aging products or have […]
What Is Known About AcneHealthy Steps: Acne—First StepsHealthy Steps: Acne—Full ProgramPreventing AcneFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Updated October 2017 Acne takes many forms, but even what a physician might see as mild acne can be a serious problem for the person suffering with it. Problem skin is generally considered an adolescent right of passage (albeit an […]
What Is Known About Sinusitis Health Action: Sinusitis—Quick Start Health Action: Sinusitis—Full Program Preventing Sinusitis From Dr. Deborah’s Desk So much pressure in the head it’s hard to know whether it’s pushing in, out or all of the above. Sniffling, snorting, headaches, head congestion, postnasal drip, and using up an entire box of tissues—all of […]
What Is Known About the Flu Healthy Steps: Flu—First Steps Healthy Steps: Flu—Full Porgram Preventing the Flu From Dr. Deborah’s Desk One minute you are feeling fine and the next minute your whole body aches, your head, ears, and throat hurt, you get the hot and cold shivers, and generally feel like you have been […]
What Is Known About Coughs and Bronchitis Healthy Steps: Coughs & Bronchitis—First Steps Healthy Steps: Coughs & Bronchitis—Full Program Cough and Bronchitis Prevention From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Even when reassured that your nagging cough is harmless, the nagging part is no fun at all. Interrupting meals, conversations, and worst of all – sleep, a week […]
What Is Known About Type 2 DiabetesHealthy Steps: Type 2 Diabetes—First StepsHealthy Steps: Type 2 Diabetes—Full ProgramPreventing Type 2 DiabetesFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Type 2 diabetes is epidemic, both in the United States and around the world. Although common in the obese population, we are seeing a new and troublesome trend of diabetes and pre-diabetes […]
What Is Known about Obesity Healthy Steps: Obesity—First Steps Healthy Steps: Obesity—Full Program Obesity Prevention From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Have you noticed a slowly increasing waist size? The first sign may be that last year’s bathing suit doesn’t fit, but the steps to follow are much worse. For both men and women, even loose shirts […]
What Is Known About Acute Indigestion Healthy Steps: Acute Indigestion—First Steps Healthy Steps: Acute Indigestion—Full Program Preventing Acute Indigestion From Dr. Deborah’s Desk For some people it’s pain, and for others digestion just seems to be working upstream instead of downstream. It’s not a condition anyone wants to talk about, but nearly everyone—male and female, […]
What Is Known About Middle Ear Infections Healthy Steps: Ear Infections—First Steps Healthy Steps: Ear Infections—Full Program Preventing Ear Infections From Dr. Deborah’s Desk You can tell that normal looking ear must be hurting when you see cranky behavior, tears, and ear-rubbing, all of which tell the story of an ear infection. You may even […]
What We Know About PsoriasisHealthy Steps: Psoriasis—First StepsHealthy Steps: Psoriasis—Full ProgramPsoriasis PreventionFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk If you suffer from psoriasis, you know how devastating this inflammatory skin condition can be. You may have tried various over-the-counter treatments and prescription medications, only to find that the scaly skin patches characteristic of psoriasis recur despite your best […]
What Is Known About Dry Skin Healthy Steps: Dry Skin—First Steps Healthy Steps: Dry Skin— Full Program Dry Skin Prevention From Dr. Deborah’s Desk Have you ever wondered whether your skin looks more human or reptilian, you have probably complained about dry skin. You represent the one out of three Americans with dry skin, and […]
What Is Known: The True Cause of EczemaHealthy Steps: Eczema—First StepsHealthy Steps: Eczema—Full ProgramPreventing EczemaFrom Dr. Deborah’s Desk Updated December 8, 2012 Scratch, scratch, “don’t scratch!” If you’ve ever wished you could unzip from your old skin and step into a brand-new epidermis for one night just so you could get some sleep, you are […]