Blood Interpretation
Cholesterol Cholesterol values should only be analyzed after a 12 hour fast. Further, the physician must be aware that the patient's posture prior to the blood draw is significant. If the patient has been in a recumbent posture for more than 20 minutes, cholesterol values may be up to 15% lower than normal. Cholesterol is a blood fat which is the prime building block component to make...
Everything in Moderation
"Everything in Moderation" - Is this a good nutritional habit? What common food ingredients are truly safe to eat "in moderation"? What are the side effects? And when can we really allow ourselves to eat in moderation?
Parathyroid Conditions
Hypoparathyroidism There are four parathyroid glands, located near each of the two lobes of the thyroid gland. The parathyroids produce parathyroid hormones that regulate blood levels of calcium necessary for strong bones and teeth, nerve function, and blood clotting. Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disorder associated with insufficient production of parathyroid hormone, the inability to make a...
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
What is polymyalgia rheumatica? Polymyalgia rheumatica (pronounced pah-lee-my-al-jah room-at-i-ca) is a type of arthritis that affects the muscles. It does not affect the bones, or the joints, which are the spots where two bones come together. It causes muscles to become stiff, tender and very sore. This is called inflammation. Even though the muscles are sore they do not become weak.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Natural Approach Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the entire body but especially the synovial membranes of the joints. It is a classic example of an "autoimmune disease," a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the body's own tissue. Although rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, it affects primarily the joints. The...
Nepali Nectar - by Amanda Heidemann
As the plane soared through the beauteous expanse frosting the tips of the mighty Himalayas and then glided across the towering Kathmandu valley so crowded with metallic and candy-colored structures and girdled by a sea of cascading terraces, I remained unaware that the theme for the rest of the journey had already been put in place - immensity. Immensity of not only the external landscapes...
