Everyone may feel stressed or even overworked at times, but burnout is a whole other level. Burnout is a hyper-stress state induced by continued workplace pressures, elevated states of chronic stress and feelings of not being in control of your work environment. When you’ve surpassed stress and find yourself in the burnout state, everything suffers; motivation is replaced by apathy; excitement becomes depression; and hope is drowned by despair. And though it starts as an emotional drain, burnout has been shown to lead to coronary heart disease. In fact, it can boost your risk of heart disease by...

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Hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure, is quite common. This isn’t great news because when your blood pressure is high, your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke dramatically increases. As if that weren’t scary enough, you could have hypertension and not realize it. That’s why it’s known as the silent killer. For that reason, it’s highly recommended to have your blood pressure checked regularly. While there are blood pressure-lowering medications available, before going down this route, it’s better to start by implementing proven natural strategies. Besides, who needs one more pill to take — along...

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You know greens are good for you. That’s why you stock your fridge full of big, leafy bunches of romaine, kale, spinach and chard. But when it comes to greens, bigger isn’t always better. In fact, the smaller your greens are, the healthier they may be… Microgreens are up-and-comers on the greens scene because they pack a lot of nutrients into a small package. They have 40 times the nutrients you get in full-sized greens. That means every time you eat a plate full of microgreens, you’re getting 40 times more vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene...

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As an integrative physician, one of my top recommendations is to breathe deeply. In addition to oxygenating our cells, breathing calms us and reduces stress. In some ways, taking a deep breath is the simplest possible prescription—but not for everyone. For those struggling with asthma, breathing deeply can be an ongoing challenge. Asthma is caused by inflamed airways, which makes them sensitive to inhaled particles, generating more inflammation. During a flare up, asthma sufferers cough, wheeze and generally have trouble filling their lungs. In the U.S., as many as 25 million people have asthma. While there is no...

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Many folks claim that electronic cigarettes are an improvement over traditional smokes. But while these new devices emit fewer air-borne particles linked to cancer, they are still a source of toxins. First the good news: E-cigarettes eliminate about 90 percent of the carcinogens given off by conventional cigarettes. Consequently, some experts believe they create less of a health danger in the form of second-hand smoke that non-smokers inhale. A study at the University of Southern California (USC) shows that although tobacco smoke includes large amounts of what are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (carcinogenic organic substances), these are almost...

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Tuberculosis and other similar lung diseases are becoming more deadly and difficult to treat. But a vitamin that helps the immune system can speed the lungs’ recovery and make antibiotics more effective. Researchers at the Centre for Health Sciences at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry have found that taking vitamin D can help antibiotics wipe out Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. The study examined 146 people in England who had drug-sensitive tuberculosis. Taking vitamin D along with a course of drugs cleared tuberculosis from the lungs in an average of five weeks....

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Breathing is essential to life, but we rarely think about it. Because it’s usually automatic, we don’t have to focus on breathing like we do eating or exercising. For all the time and effort we spend on our diets, it’s interesting that we spend so little on breath. Perhaps it’s time to pay better attention though, especially since lung diseases are now responsible for up to one in eight deaths worldwide. Air pollution, both indoor and outdoor, is the primary cause of respiratory and numerous other health problems, which are manifesting themselves in greater numbers. The good news:...

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When researchers look into who suffers more from allergies and asthma, men or women, they discover a complicated situation. Your allergy and asthma situation depends on your age. In childhood, boys suffer more from allergies and asthma than do girls. But once women enter young adulthood, they are much more prone to these chronic health issues. “More prepubescent males have rhinitis (stuffy nose), asthma and food allergy than females,” says Renata Engler, M.D., allergist and a fellow with the ACAAI (American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology). “However, roles change. When females enter young adulthood, they outnumber men...

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