As every weekend warrior or gym rat knows, stiff joints and aching muscles are a small price to pay for working out and staying healthy. According to health experts, sore muscles are the result of microscopic injury to the cells in the muscles, surrounding tendons and connective tissue. Damage to the cells causes biological chemicals to leak out and stimulate nerve endings, causing pain. The bad news is that the pain -; otherwise known as delayed onset ... [full story]

They come from all over the country in search of the small luxuries busy women don't usually get: a break from the hassles of work and home, pampering massages and pedicures, genuine peace and quiet.  Moms, sisters and daughters of all ages are flocking to Camp GetAway in Southern California, a magical place where they get away from it all - at least for a weekend. The camp's mission, according to its Web site, is "to ... [full story]

(NewsUSA) - Do aches and pains have you out of joint? Concerns culminating in the withdrawal of several selective Cox-2 inhibitors, like Vioxx, have many arthritis sufferers turning to the supplement aisle in search of relief. Could diet and exercise provide more reliable solutions?  Here's a roundup of recent research into those foods that help support healthy joints: * Pineapple: Bromelain is an enzyme that can help ease joint pain and relieve muscle soreness. Scientists ... [full story]

Generally, older people are at a higher risk for medication-related problems because they have more chronic conditions and are taking more medications. At least 243,000 seniors end up in the hospital each year due to adverse reactions caused by the combination of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Whenever two or more medications are taken concurrently, there is a chance that there will be an interaction among the drugs. The interaction may increase or decrease the ... [full story]

(NU) - There has been an increase recently in Americans' obsessions to look and feel better. Reality makeover programs such as "Extreme Makeover" use cosmetic surgery to erase signs of aging or to change the size and shape of specific body parts. However, for some people, invasive procedures are not an option. Many are afraid to undergo surgery because of the risks or the expense that is often associated with these cosmetic procedures. Fortunately, there are ... [full story]

According to national surveys, most Americans know that massage therapy can help relieve stress and pain and benefit their overall health. If you've decided to get a massage but haven't had one before, you may have questions about what to expect during your session. The American Massage Therapy Association offers the following information for first-time recipients of massage: * Massage is beneficial whether fully or partially clothed. It's your choice whether to remove some of your ... [full story]

The market is saturated with low-fat, low-carb and sugar-free foods. But despite the popular diets, "magical" pills and the latest, greatest fitness machines that all promise to melt away the pounds, more than half of American adults are overweight. For true weight-loss success, health experts stress the importance of changing your lifestyle for the long term and exercising regularly. Here are some creative ways to make fitness fun again and help you win the battle ... [full story]

A mumps outbreak that first appeared to be confined to one state has spread, and federal health officials are investigating airline travel as a potential source of exposure. All states have been advised to be on the lookout for additional cases, public health officials in the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) said today. As of Thursday, 605 possible mumps cases were reported in Iowa with additional cases reported in six neighboring states. Two of ... [full story]

Picture an office teeming with workers who couldn't be more on the ball. Chests open, shoulders straight, trunk muscles offering plenty of anti-slouch support. Each is perched atop a round, inflatable plastic object, variously known as an exercise ball, stability ball or Swiss ball. Each is practicing the art of active sitting, turning a chairless workplace into a fitness-conscious ballroom. Chalk it up to the ingenuity of a sedentary society: a strategy to combat the hunched shoulders, ... [full story]

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food"- Hippocrates, father of medicineThere are a few key concepts that must be understood before we discuss wellness nutrition.  The goal of any wellness intervention including nutrition is to increase health and well-being. So we must start out with, what is health?Health, by definition, is a state of consistent balanced cell function. All living things, including humans, are composed of individual living cells working ... [full story]

Healthy By Choice, Not by Chance “The truth is that people are eating ten dollars worth of food that is only giving them ten cents worth of nutrition” - Dr Scott Hannen Are you a “carboholic”?  Foods can be broken down into three main categories; Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Generally speaking, proteins are used for cellular repair and replication.  Fats, which form the layers of the cell walls, are used for insulation and lubrication. And carbohydrates are ... [full story]

Eight months ago, Heather Thelen's idea of a heavy workout was lifting 320 pounds - every ounce of it her own - onto an elliptical trainer. Thirty seconds later, breathless and exhausted, she could barely remain upright. Nothing, though, could be as draining as falling off one structured diet program after another, from Jenny Craig to Optifast. "I would lose, then hit a plateau, get discouraged, quit and gain everything back and more," she said. Thelen, 33, was ... [full story]

Beware the sun! It started out as a tiny bump on her forehead. Maybe a pimple, she thought, although at 65, she was a tad old for it. But the bump stayed and stayed and stayed. And it changed in shape over time, becoming asymmetrical. Finally, about a year later, our friend figured she should go to her dermatologist, Dr. Richard Castiello, to have it checked out. When the doctor's nurse took her into the exam room, ... [full story]