I've been writing since the age of 7, when a serious operation put me in a wheelchair for 6 months and there was nothing to do so I started writing stories to entertain myself. By the end of my 6 months of home schooling during my recovery from surgery, I was so good at English, I became the top of my class.
I had my first piece of work published at the age of 13 (poetry). In 1997 I set up a support group for people injured by vaccines and it was then that I realized I perferred to write about health topics so I have written on a variety of health related subjects, including pregnancy and childbirth, breast feeding, vaccination, disability, infertility, sexual health and women's health problems. I have regular columns at Suite 101 and The Mother magazine in addition to writing one off articles for other publications and helping with the creation of reference material on disability, for students of social studies.
Most headaches are not dangerous and resolve without risk to your health, but if you’re pregnant, a headache may be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a potentially life threatening condition for you and ...
February 2, 2012 - 8:53am
Silent thyroiditis is swelling of the thyroid gland in a person who fluctuates between having hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
Unlike many other ...
January 31, 2012 - 5:22am
A patient may be diagnosed with euthyroid sick syndrome if he has low levels of thyroid hormones and abnormal thyroid function test results but his thyroid gland is in normal working order. ...
January 30, 2012 - 7:14am
Treatment for goiter is not often given unless other symptoms develop and one has a thyroid disease such as hyperthyroidism. If symptoms occur, you may be given hormone replacement pills or ...
January 25, 2012 - 7:29am
It is estimated that there will be 56,460 new cases of thyroid cancer diagnosed in the United States and of those, 1, 780 will die in 2012. It is devastating and frightening to be diagnosed with ...
January 25, 2012 - 4:59am
Toxic nodular goiter occurs when a simple nodule grows and begins to independently produce its own thyroid hormones, resulting in hyperthyroidism. It was first described in 1913 by American ...
January 24, 2012 - 7:36am
A radioactive iodine uptake test is done to check how well the thyroid gland is functioning. You may be offered this test if you are having symptoms of thyroid disease.
The thyroid uses ...
January 24, 2012 - 6:04am
Goiter is the medical term for an enlarged thyroid gland. Sometimes this occurs because the thyroid is not producing enough hormones, so it increases in size to try and counter this. ...
January 23, 2012 - 6:05am
If you have been diagnosed with thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer, you may be offered surgery. There are different types of surgery available depending on whether you have nodules or cancer, the ...
January 20, 2012 - 10:40am
Thyroid nodules are small lumps in the thyroid gland. Often they go unnoticed until they have grown and cause the thyroid to become enlarged.
Nodules are usually harmless but if you notice ...
January 18, 2012 - 1:54pm
Hypothyroidism is a disorder where the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones are responsible for metabolism (the way your body breaks down ...
January 18, 2012 - 10:13am
Postpartum thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland that occurs at any point within the first year after childbirth. Around 5 percent of new mothers will experience it.
During ...
January 17, 2012 - 10:39am
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, lying in front of the trachea and larynx. The gland produces two hormones called triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).
These ...
January 14, 2012 - 7:46am
Osteoarthritis, commonly known as "wear and tear" arthritis, usually occurs in older people but can occur at any age. There are an estimated 27 million American’s aged 25 or older who have ...
January 12, 2012 - 9:18am
Hi, unfortunately at some point in the near future I have to have a total hip replacement. I am only 34. I can't have minimally invasive surgery like I wanted because the surgeon says that my ...
January 11, 2012 - 5:48am
A couple from Ellensburg, Washington State, are suing the pharmaceutical company, Johnson & Johnson, after their two-year-old son, River, died of sudden liver failure the day after taking ...
January 10, 2012 - 4:43pm
UCLA Health System researchers have discovered that a component of the Hovenia plant counteracts the effects of alcohol intoxication and withdrawal symptoms caused by alcohol addiction.
The ...
January 7, 2012 - 3:37pm
Researchers from Southwestern Medical Center have found that a lack of vitamin D is associated with the development of depression.
Depression currently affects one in 10 American people at some ...
January 7, 2012 - 9:03am
Did you know that happy people have fewer illnesses and they live longer? A review published in Applied Psychology, Health and Well-Being looked at over 160 studies on human and animal behavior. ...
December 31, 2011 - 10:17am
The number of American children who are obese has increased substantially from 7 percent in 1980 to nearly 20 percent in 2008.
This is a worrying trend because children who are overweight are ...
December 31, 2011 - 8:49am
Partners the world over who complain that they aren’t getting enough sex have a legitimate reason to ask for more. It’s good for your health, and not just emotionally.
Sex Helps Fight Obesity ...
December 30, 2011 - 11:33am
Do you dash to the freezer section of the local supermarket on your way home from work to get that microwave dinner or something quick for the kids? It’s an understandable part of modern life that ...
December 30, 2011 - 8:26am
An adult needs on average eight hours of sleep a night in order to remain healthy. Some need around 10 hours of shut eye before they can function without feeling sleepy. Children and teenagers ...
December 29, 2011 - 11:16am
A healthy resolution idea would be to cut down on sugar this New Year. Sugar can cause many health problems, particularly when taken in excess. Some of the problems sugar can cause ...
December 29, 2011 - 7:47am
Did you know, your body is made up of 60 percent water? In order to function properly your body has to regularly replenish its water supply.
Problems Caused by Dehydration
There are lots of ...
December 26, 2011 - 10:52am
My children recently asked me what I want for Christmas. Most people want MP3 players and games consoles, or clothes or boxes of chocolates but I want something you can’t buy from a shop. I want ...
December 21, 2011 - 8:27am
Do you want to quit smoking in 2012? Are you tired of being addicted or of spending your spare cash on cigarettes? Perhaps you are worried about the effects of passive smoking for your ...
December 19, 2011 - 4:51am
Christmas and New Year is not always a time of good will and cheer and is not always enjoyable to everyone. Some people may be separated or divorced, there may be disagreements over where the ...
December 18, 2011 - 9:04am
Are you fed up of making failed resolutions every year? Maybe you’ve planned to lose weight and never quite managed it. Let’s face it. Christmas and New Year are the worst times of the year to ...
December 16, 2011 - 7:08am
Teeth whitening was invented in the 1960s by a dentist called William Klusmier, after he had instructed a patient to use an antiseptic called carbamide peroxide to help his gums heal. The patient ...
December 15, 2011 - 4:48am
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been scared of dentists. The antiseptic smell of the dental office is enough to have my stomach going over in knots.
Listening to the sound of the ...
December 13, 2011 - 8:10am
Dental veneers are tooth-colored coverings that are cemented to the surface of your teeth to improve your smile. Veneers can be sought if:
• You have mildly crooked teeth – veneers can make ...
December 13, 2011 - 6:17am
In a previous article I discussed using essential oils to help heal inflamed and receding gums and prevent tooth decay. Herbal preparations, diet and supplementation can also help.
Vitamin ...
December 7, 2011 - 6:30am
Essential oils can sometimes be used as a treatment for gum disease, plaque control, inflammation and bleeding. It can also be used to maintain implants and to prevent cavities.
This approach ...
December 6, 2011 - 9:17am
Composite fillings (known as white fillings) can be put in if you have nerve sensitivity due to tooth decay. The decaying part of the tooth will be removed and the filling placed into the gap. ...
December 6, 2011 - 5:23am
If you have moderate or severe gum disease, you may be eligible for surgery to help correct the problem. Surgery can improve the look of your mouth so that you don’t have to be self-conscious ...
December 4, 2011 - 10:18am
If you’ve got periodontal disease and are dreading the gum grafts or suturing, there is now a less painful way of dealing with the problem. The dentist can use a laser to remove any bacteria and ...
November 30, 2011 - 6:48am
If you are suffering from gum disease and you’ve tried everything to stabilize or reverse the situation and it doesn’t seem to be helping, you may be a candidate for regenerative gum surgery. ...
November 30, 2011 - 5:34am
Babies develop their first tooth at around 6 months of age, although sometimes it can happen earlier or later. Rarely, a baby may be born with a tooth. Around 1 in 2,000 babies are born with a ...
November 29, 2011 - 8:31am
Official dental opinion states that once your gums start receding, they cannot recover and all that can be done is scale and polishing to prevent any further gum loss. However, some dental ...
November 29, 2011 - 5:15am
If you have a good dental hygiene routine and you do everything you’re supposed to do to take care of your teeth and gums, but you still have gum disease, you may want to check your stress ...
November 23, 2011 - 6:15am
It is very important to have a good oral hygiene routine or you may develop tooth decay or gum disease, which may result in tooth loss.
You should:
• Brush your teeth at least twice a ...
November 22, 2011 - 4:17pm
A recent whooping cough epidemic in California has affected 4,223 people and sadly resulted in the deaths of nine young babies. But while some pediatricians are keen to blame parents who don’t ...
Joanna Karpasea-Jones commented on Joanna Karpasea-Jones' post Whooping Cough Epidemics and the Role of Vaccines