Information and opinions on health from ATsai 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/906496/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/906496/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/906496/index http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/906496/153375/affects Tue, 29 May 2012 11:56:00 -0400 ATsai A recent study published in The FASEB Journal looked at impairments to the Rev-Erb alpha gene, which is known to be responsible for our internal body clocks.  The researchers found that this can lead to excessive weight gain and other related health issues, such as diabetes.  This suggests that your risk of weight gain increases if your body’s internal timing and external  light cycles aren’t in sync.    How... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/906496/153375/affects http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/906496/153163/healthcentral Tue, 22 May 2012 11:53:00 -0400 ATsai What causes an asthma attack? People with asthma have inflamed airways that react by swelling and narrowing when triggers or allergens are present. Usually, the symptoms progress over several hours or days rather than abruptly developing. In some instances symptoms can be mild and go away on their own, or with minimal treatment, but they also can grow increasingly intense. This is called an exacerbation and it means you are having an asthma... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/906496/153163/healthcentral http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/153061/physician-steven Mon, 21 May 2012 14:49:00 -0400 ATsai   For Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, Dr. Steven Lamm, a medical expert on The View, and practicing internist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at New York University School of Medicine, talked to HealthCentral about the ABCs of allergies, including avoidance, natural remedies and the future of treatment. Watch our Skype interview for even more allergy expertise from Dr. Lamm.   HC: What are some of the common allergens... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/153061/physician-steven http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/906496/152948/copd-healthcentral Tue, 15 May 2012 11:31:00 -0400 ATsai A study published in Respiration has found that a protein--called HSP27--could be a blood biomarker for COPD, which would help doctors detect and diagnose the condition earlier. And early treatment of COPD could make a difference in quality of life.   How was the study done? Researchers in Austria recruited 94 male and female smokers, average age 43, who all appeared to be healthy. These volunteers then had high-resolution CT scans, lung... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/906496/152948/copd-healthcentral http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/906496/152783/fda Tue, 08 May 2012 14:24:00 -0400 ATsai   Pfizer officials will go before an advisory panel Wednesday to determine if the benefits of its  new rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug, tofacitinib, outweigh the side effects.  Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not required to follow the advice of its advisory panels, it generally does. Industry experts expect the panel to give the drug a favorable vote, but the FDA will make a final ruling in... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/906496/152783/fda http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/152748/healthcentral Tue, 08 May 2012 13:49:00 -0400 ATsai   What is food allergy? Food allergy is an overreaction of the immune system triggered by something you eat.  The response can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, life-threatening,  if anaphylaxis occurs. The allergic response typically takes place any time from within a few minutes to several  hours after exposure to the allergen. Symptoms include itching and swelling in your mouth or throat, vomiting, diarrhea,... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/152748/healthcentral http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/152527/central-explains Tue, 01 May 2012 13:41:00 -0400 ATsai   We may not think that we have much contact with nickel on a regular basis, but it often is mixed with other metals to create alloys that are used in common items. Constant contact with these items can cause an allergic reaction in nickel-sensitive people that results in a skin rash, or “allergic contact dermatitis.”  Nickel is the most common metal associated with this condition, though people can have allergies to other... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/152527/central-explains http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/906496/152525/rh Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:42:00 -0400 ATsai NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.  OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND D.C., AGE 18 OR OLDER. 1. ELIGIBILITY.  Remedy Health Media Rheumatoid Arthritis Comments Contest (the “Contest”) is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older as of the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/906496/152525/rh http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/906496/152329/6 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:53:00 -0400 ATsai   Myth: RA symptoms occur due to natural ‘wear and tear’ on the joint.   Fact: When people think of the “wear and tear” that causes arthritis, they are actually referring to osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, which means the body’s immune system attacks the joints and other tissues, and can even harm organs.  Joint destruction and bone erosion occur... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/906496/152329/6 http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/152159/medications Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:12:00 -0400 ATsai Allergies are a pain in the … face. Having one symptom - runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat - would be bad enough, but often those of us with allergies have to deal with them all at the same time. And  despite our allergy haze, we are still expected to function like responsible adults.  This is where allergy medications enter the picture, and why a pharmacy can seem both glorious and terrifying. While the shelves are stocked... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/152159/medications