Health Expert Christina Lasich, MD shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/240381/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/240381/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/240381/index http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160820/endometriosis Mon, 20 May 2013 18:00:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD If you see a woman doubled over in pain, she may have endometriosis. This silent inflictor of pain affects millions of women worldwide and accounts for many lives spiraling into an abyss. The basic pathology behind all this pain involves tiny islands of endometrial tissue lying in abnormal places around the body causing a severe inflammatory reaction.   This basic pathology leads us to an interesting solution: melatonin. This powerful... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160820/endometriosis http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/240381/160432/dietary-extracts-lose Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:28:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD According to a certain doctor on television, all you need to lose weight is a dietary supplement containing the extract of one of these three ingredients: green coffee bean, raspberry or green tea. As soon as a recommendation is made, everyone floods the market looking for that miracle weight loss pill. On television, you’ll hear testimonies that offer nothing but anecdotal evidence. Instead of believing everything you hear, you might want... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/240381/160432/dietary-extracts-lose http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160548/back-exercise-program Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:42:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD In 1999, low back pain crippled me. I stopped working. I stopped playing. My life stopped suddenly in its tracks. When I saw my MRI, I cried. Good grief, why me? Bound and determined to get my life restarted, I eventually connected with an amazing, yet stern, physical therapist. He pushed me, challenged me and held me accountable for my body. After a grueling six months in physical therapy, I was released to continue my home exercise program... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160548/back-exercise-program http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160449/cooking-control-grains Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:04:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD All that’s brown is not necessarily whole. This discussion about whole grains can be summarized in that one statement. But we should not stop here because this is just the beginning of the whole grain story.   Before milling techniques were developed, before sliced bread, and before cereals came in a box, our ancestors ate whole, unprocessed grains. Our bodies are designed to digest these seeds in all their glorious goodness of... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160449/cooking-control-grains http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160396/portable-computers Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:50:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Are you using a laptop computer right now? If so, I want you to turn your attention to your body position. Are you sitting or lying down? What are shoulders doing? Are they slouched and droopy? What about your neck? Is it careening forward as you strain to see the screen? Your body posture can look pretty darn awkward while working on a laptop computer.   If you spend a great deal of time using a portable computer, then you’re... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160396/portable-computers http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160282/doc-avoid-back-surgery Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:48:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Of course, the best way to avoid surgery is to avoid getting hurt. But life is not perfect and you know what they say about things happening. In this imperfect world, a low back injury can occur even when you are trying to careful by bending your knees while lifting or by not lifting more than you can handle. Unfortunately, the cards may be stacked against your back because you have a family history of low back problems or you were made a... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/160282/doc-avoid-back-surgery http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/160296/vitamin-level-checked Sat, 13 Apr 2013 20:08:54 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Hey Doc, Should I have my Vitamin D Level Checked?   You may not know it, but your Vitamin D level might be running a little low. It’s a little hard to say for sure because you don’t have a warning light or dip stick to serve as an indicator. The number of people in this world with Vitamin D inadequacy (less than 30ng/mL of 25OHD) or deficiency ( less than 20 ng/mL of 25OHD) is growing to epidemic proportions. Studies have... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/160296/vitamin-level-checked http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/159805/top-5-related-problems Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:04:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD What is stress doing to you? Before you can answer that question, you need to define what is stressful in your life. It’s useful to think of stress as if it is an actual “lion” in you life. Lions stalk their prey, provoke fear, and pounce at any opportunity. The natural reaction to a lion is to run, hide or fight. These survival instincts are controlled by the body’s built-in protective response called the “fight or... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/159805/top-5-related-problems http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/159942/improvements-prevent Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:47:49 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Falling down can be a life changing event, usually for the worse. As with most accidents, falls can be prevented. This spring you may want to consider making some home improvements to improve the safety of your environment inside and out.   Inside the house, there are three key danger zones: the bathroom, the kitchen and the entry way. Each zone can be modified to reduce the chances of you tripping and falling. First, look at your... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/159942/improvements-prevent http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/240381/159806/comfort-food-habit Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:56:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD What do macaroni and cheese, ice cream, and potato chips have in common? They’re all considered comfort foods. Emotional eaters can consume an entire package, container or bag in just a fraction of time. Consuming all that food usually does not solve the dilemma that has lead to depression, anxiety and worry, but it sure feels good while you’re eating. Well it feels good until you step on your bathroom scale and realize that your... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/240381/159806/comfort-food-habit