http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog Building Better Health for Every Aspect of Your Life Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:25:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en We all know that to keep our bodies healthy and our immune systems in top shape, it's smart to eat lots of fruits and veggies, drink plenty of water and keep the junk food to a minimum. But as summer draws to a close and cold and flu season looms, ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/12-foods-boost-immune-system/ Angina is discomfort in the chest that occurs when there is not enough blood oxygen flowing to an area of the heart muscle. In the majority of cases, the lack of blood supply occurs when the coronary arteries have become narrowed due to arteriosclerosis. Symptoms of angina include tightening, pressure, aching, squeezing or ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/mens-health-angina/ What are lice? Head lice are insects that feed on the blood of humans and cling to the neck and scalp. Lice are tiny (about the size of a sesame seed) and aren't always easy to see. Lice eggs (known as nits) are even harder to spot and are found near the ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/parents-lice/ Allergies are an immune system response where the body’s defenses react to a substance in the environment. Countless things can trigger an allergic reaction, which can range from mild to life-threatening. Here are 5 of the most common triggers for allergies. 1. Pollen: Grass, tree and weed pollen can trigger allergies ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/top-10-common-allergy-triggers/ Yes, it's true.  Post World War II, bedbugs were for the most part eradicated with DDT--a pesticide that has since been banned because of its toxic effects on the environment. However, they seem to be in the news more and more lately, perhaps due to increased frequency in international travel, ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/bedbugs/ One of the largest shell egg recalls in recent history is currently underway. Through the middle of July 2010, the CDC said that they had received approximately 2,000 reports of illness from Salmonella, which is the bacteria that is causing the outbreak. According to the acting director of the CDC division ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/egg-recall/ Asthma is a disease involving inflammation of the air passages that makes breathing difficult. This results in symptoms including shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing and wheezing. Asthma affects more than 22 million Americans and causes nearly 2 million emergency room visits ever year. What causes it?  No one really ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/asthma/ What's a "food fraud?" Recently, University of Pittsburgh nutritionist Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, shared with WebMD the foods that have us fooled. While many of us think these foods sound healthy, they can actually be wrecking our diets in a very sneaky way. The first example?  Caesar salad, which sounds like a ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/food-frauds/ Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes cells to build up on the skin's surface, forming scales and itchy red patches that can be painful. Psoriasis is a chronic disease, and symptoms can alternate between getting worse and going into remission. Depending on the person, symptoms of psoriasis vary.  Common symptoms include: * ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/deal-psoriasis/ There's no doubt that summer can be a fun, active time for many people.  It's also a delicious time, filled with barbecues, baseball games and beer--and even though people may be more active during this season, they are also more likely to be indulging in some not-so-healthy foods. WebMD recently gave ... http://www.alleghenymedical.com/blog/general-health-care/10-most-fattening-foods-of-summer/