Men

Let’s start by clearing up the confusion between arthritis and osteoarthritis. The term arthritis comes from the Greek words “arthron” meaning joint and “itis” meaning inflammation. It is a broad term that refers to a wide range of different medical conditions (gout, rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, etc.). In the past, the term “rheumatism” was used to describe the full range of disorders involving the joints.

When practising a sport, such as running or swimming, it is not unusual to develop a muscle cramp or side stitch. Here is what you can do.

Did you know that calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body? It accounts for 2 percent of total body mass and can be found almost entirely (99 percent) in bones and teeth.

Did you know that hypertension is the leading risk factor for death in developed countries, ranking ahead of smoking. In Canada, nearly 25% of adults suffer from hypertension. In those over 60, the number reaches 50%.

In Canada, a stroke occurs every 10 minutes; and, every year, 50,000 people die or are left severely disabled following a stroke.

Have you ever wondered whether exercise can help you better fend off all those pesky little infections, like the common cold? The question makes perfect sense since it does appear that those who keep fit have a stronger immune system, making them less vulnerable to viruses, such as colds.

In Northern countries like Canada, many people are deficient in vitamin D. Why is this? In fall, and even more so in winter, the rays of the sun are less intense in these parts of the world. Since the body manufactures vitamin D3 – or cholecalciferol – upon exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays (hence its nickname, “sunshine vitamin”), it goes without saying that less sun means less vitamin D.

When the body is exposed to cold for an extended period of time, the blood vessels constrict and circulation slows. As a result, the extremities (ears, nose, hands and feet) begin to freeze.

At important dinners, parties and other celebrations, we sometimes tend to overeat. For some of us, this leads to “heartburn.” In fact, an estimated 29 percent of Canadians suffer from occasional episodes of gastric reflux.

Checking your blood glucose levels can : Tell you what your blood glucose level is right away.

Sleep apnea is a chronic disorder caused by the collapse of the upper airway during sleep.

March is Pharmacy Awareness Month. When it comes to medication , pharmacists are THE leading expert on the subject.

A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function. It is caused by the interruption of flow of blood to the brain or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain. A stroke can impact any number of areas including your ability to move, see, remember, speak, reason and read and write.

Sleep apnea is a chronic disorder caused by the collapse of the upper airway during sleep. The blockage leads to a partial (hypopnea) or complete (apnea) reduction in airflow to the lungs, causing repeated drops in the quantity of oxygen in the blood and altering sleep quality due to frequent arousals.

Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by brief, frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes generally last 10 to 30 seconds and often occur more than five times per hour of sleep. Although this condition may seem minor at first, studies have shown that it can have serious long-term consequences.

Only when we lose our voice do we realize just how valuable the ability to speak really is. In fact, every day, this fragile organ allows us to communicate information and convey our emotions. Yet, almost everyone has experienced voice loss at some point or other.

Colorectal cancer – or colon cancer – is the abnormal proliferation o f cells in the large intestine (the colon and rectum) and the appearance of benign or malignant tumours in this area. Men are slightly more at risk for it than women.

For reasons yet unknown, kidney stones are three times more common in men than in women. They occur when the salts naturally found in urine crystallize and bind together. These stones can be present in the rest of the urinary system as well, including the kidneys themselves, the bladder or the urethra.

After the age of 60, many men will develop a disease of the prostate. Among the most common are benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)and prostate cancer.

Commonly referred to as “high blood pressure,” hypertension is characterized by elevated arterial pressure. It occurs when the arteries shrink or harden; the heart then has to work harder to keep blood circulating throughout the body.