Health Expert Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. 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/8534/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/8534/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/8534/index http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149957/pitfalls Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:33:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. Remember that song by Huey Lewis? "I want a new drug, one that does what it should. One that won't make me feel too bad, one that won't make me feel too good." One of my "drugs" of choice: eating while sitting in front of the television. It's oh-so-bad and oh-so-good all at the same time. It's one of my go-to bad behaviors when I'm stressed...when I am trying to unwind from the day...when I'm bored...just when there's nothing else to do...etc.... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149957/pitfalls http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149670/overcoming Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:26:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. In my first ever group weight loss/maintenance meeting this month, one of the main topics was "What are your road blocks to success?"   Some of the answers from the group included:   • Old patterns ("I'm the fat one in the family.")• Complacency ("Too hard to make and keep changes.")• Laziness ("Eating healthy and exercising is just more work.")• A mean sweet tooth ("People who don't have one just don't... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149670/overcoming http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149613/resolution Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:44:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. Here it is again...a new year. A fresh start, the air ripe with possibilities. But haven't we been here before? I know I have. In fact, this is my 40th time coming into a new year, armed with resolutions. And my resolutions are probably pretty similar to yours: lose weight/keep it off, get more fit, eat better, meet my professional and personal goals. All great stuff. But not necessarily easy to accomplish and/or sustain. Sometimes you just need... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149613/resolution http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149450/kick-health Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:16:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. Two of the biggest health resolutions, for good reason, are quitting smoking and losing weight. Quitting smoking Smoking is a major risk factor in overall health. Tobacco use not only increases your risk for a number of cancers - including head/neck, oral, lung, breast, bladder, cervical - it also ups your risk of cardiovascular disease and lung disease, among other issues. Your smoking status could also translate into radically different health... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149450/kick-health http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149131/40-watchers Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:26:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. "Your first time...ever?" she asks incredulously. Others hear this and chime in. "No way!" "You mean you've NEVER done it?" "Not even in the '80s?" "Or in college?" "But you've had two babies, how is that even possible?!"   Yes, it's true. I have never been to a Weight Watchers meeting before this year. I have always been one of those people who like to set my mind to something and just do it. And so it was over the years of up and down the... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/149131/40-watchers http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/8534/148959/habit-real-killer Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:30:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. If you keep your eyes open for bumper stickers, every once in awhile you might see this one: Kill Your Television. A revised version might also be apt: Your Television May Be Killing You.   Well, sort of.   In a study reported recently in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers made a discovery that should not come as a huge surprise: People who watch a lot of television do not live as long as people who don't watch a lot... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/8534/148959/habit-real-killer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/8534/148940/high-caregivers Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:42:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. Alzheimer's disease robs people of their quality of life. It is expensive to treat. And it takes over all aspects of their day-to-day routine. But these changes don't just affect the people who have the disease - they also impact their caregivers, too.   According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 15 million people provide care for loved ones with Alzheimer's or dementia, and their time adds up to 17 billion unpaid hours per year. It is... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/8534/148940/high-caregivers http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/8534/147812/television-show Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:57:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. If you’ve ever said to yourself, “This is depressing” while flipping through the TV channels looking for something worthwhile to watch, you may be on to something.   New research finds that sitting in front of the tube may actually raise your risk of depression. And many Americans are watching enough TV every week to have this effect.   The study involved 49,821 women involved in the long-running Nurses’ Health... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/8534/147812/television-show http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/147811/exercise-zs Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:45:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. Lack of sleep -or lack of enough quality sleep- has been linked to a whole host of medical issues, including problems with weight loss and weight maintenance. And sleep has been a hot topic for quite some time.   In fact, even Ben Franklin was known for sharing words of wisdom about the importance of a good night's sleep. But here's some advice he left out: "Get a workout during the day, and you'll sleep the night away." Americans are a... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/147811/exercise-zs http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/147290/overweight Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:00:00 -0500 Dr. Cynthia D. Haines, M.D. Parents do all kinds of things for their kids to help them thrive as adults. We often put braces on their teeth, teach them good manners and study habits, and stick money in a college fund for them.   Unfortunately, many parents don't seem to be able to help their kids reach adulthood at a healthy weight. The percentage of kids who are obese has roughly tripled in the past three decades. Now more than 1 out of 3 kids and teens is overweight... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/8534/147290/overweight