Being from the great State of Ohio, it is time to start to bundle up and get ready for the freezing winter months. During these cold months, many people decide to spend most of their time inside and do not get outside enough to maintain their workouts.

I am fortunate to have a workout room that offers free weights, a weight machine plus I also have a treadmill. So since the dreadful time of the year is approaching fast, I wanted to share some information on how to keep physically fit even inside the home.

(HealthDay News) -- Having asthma doesn't necessarily mean an unhealthy pregnancy. The key is to control symptoms and prevent attacks.

The University of Virginia Medical Center offers these suggestions for asthmatic women who are pregnant:

* Avoid anything that triggers asthma symptoms, such as tobacco smoke or pet dander.
* As prescribed by your doctor, keep taking your asthma medications throughout your pregnancy.
* Keep exercise moderate. If you have exercise-induced asthma, use your asthma medication. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen.

I ran across an article that I thought was important to share. Heart disease is the leading killer in the world and any information on prevention would be helpful.

Yahoo news reported that smoking, obesity and high cholesterol are the most common culprits, but the new research shows that neglected gums can be added to the list.

You can read the article here http://news.yahoo.com/story//afp/2008091...

The information indicates that neglecting your gums can raise your risk of heart disease.

How do you prevent Vaginal Dryness?

(HealthDay News) -- A jarring and forceful blow to the head can result in a brain injury called a concussion.

The American Academy of Family Physicians lists the following warning signs of concussion, which should be evaluated as soon as possible by a doctor:

* Headache.
* Difficulty seeing.
* Dizziness.
* Difficulty concentrating, memory loss or confusion.
* Problems retaining balance.
* Nausea.
* Ringing in the ears.

I have a friend who is 31 years old and has the worst irritable bowel syndrome. She cannot go in a car longer than about 30 minutes without having to (well you know what).

Does anyone have any suggestions on what she can do? I am not well versed in the subject.

Thanks.

The kids are going back to school. Woopee! I do not have children but most of the people that are employed with me do. All week, I have heard the wonderful exaggeration of excitement that the children are back in school.

(HealthDay News) -- Many an advertiser touts products that purport to keep your skin looking young.

But as AARP says of products that can cost more than $100 for a small tube: "Even if the ingredients aren't harmful, at often exorbitant prices they could remove more cash from your wallet than wrinkles from your skin."

AARP offers these less expensive and probably safer alternatives:

* Moisturizers can help keep the skin from drying out, and may temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

(HealthDay News) -- Routine heavy bleeding during menstrual periods shouldn't be ignored. It may be a sign of a bleeding disorder that can be treated.

The National Women's Health Information Center says the following symptoms may indicate a bleeding disorder, and should be evaluated by a doctor:

* Having very heavy periods.
* Bleeding frequently in the mouth or gums.
* Having frequent nosebleeds, or nosebleeds that continue for long periods.
* Bruising easily.
* Bleeding excessively after an injury or after surgery.

(HealthDay News) -- A herniated (sometimes called "ruptured") disk in the back or neck can cause severe pain and numbness.

Disks are the soft, rubbery pads found between the spine's vertebrae. When stressed or overused from wear-and-tear, the center of the disk can push through its outer edge, putting pressure on nearby sensitive nerves.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons lists these common risk factors for herniated disks:

* Lifting objects the wrong way.
* Smoking.
* Being overweight, which causes stress on the spine.