HEALTH 101

Discover the most germ infested room in the house (it's not the bathroom)

Considering the nature of a bathroom, people generally think that most germs reside there. However, kitchens tend to be the most germ-filled room in the average home, and many kitchen items and surfaces can harbor bacteria and viruses that make people sick.

Although the average toilet bowl has 3.2 million bacteria per square inch, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, frequent disinfecting and cleaning of the bathroom helps reduce germ infestation. According to health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola, there could be up to 200 times more fecal bacteria on your kitchen cutting board than on your toilet seat. Even a kitchen tabletop contains an average of 344 bacteria per square inch compared to 295 per square inch for a toilet seat.
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Sun safety guidelines get an update

For years doctors and safety experts have preached the importance of being smart about sun exposure. Considering skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Canada and the U.S., according to statistics published by the leading cancer organizations in both countries, many people have long heeded the warnings. Although many of the precautions remain the same, this season individuals may want to pay attention to some of the newer information about sun safety.
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Remedy vision impairment in children

Childhood can be an exciting time filled with growth and change. For youngsters experiencing vision trouble, childhood can also be a challenging time. While there are many eyesight problems that can occur during childhood, some are more common than others.

It can be difficult for parents and caregivers to diagnose a child's vision difficulties before the child is able to communicate successfully. That's why vision ailments in younger people may go undiscovered until a child has reached toddler age or enters preschool.
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Understanding How Fighting Gingivitis Can Help You Ace Your Next Dental Check-Up

Those who faithfully brush their teeth each morning and night might feel as though they're doing enough to achieve a healthy smile. However, even people with good oral care habits may hear from their dentist or hygienist that they have signs of gingivitis, an early form of gum disease.

Arming yourself with a better understanding of gingivitis and tools to help fight it can help improve the health of your mouth and make your next dental visit a more positive experience.
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Understanding adult ADHD

Thanks in part to widespread media coverage of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorde among children, many inaccurately assume these conditions are exclusive to children. However, there are adult's who experience similar symptoms.

ADD and ADHD are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Characteristics of both conditions can be carried over into adulthood. ADD is the colloquial name given to the ADHD condition when hyperactivity or impulsive behaviors are not present. However, the American Psychiatric Association formally recognizes ADHD as the clinical term for all attention deficit or hyperactivity issues.
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Fifth disease: A condition of childhood

When kids get home from school, parents may be anxious to see what assignments and keepsakes their sons and daughters have brought with them. What they may not anticipate are sick days due to infectious diseases.

Most parents have heard about mono, lice, pink eye, and H1N1, or swine flu. They may not be familiar with another contagious illness called fifth disease.
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What to do when sickness strikes while traveling

Before going on vacation, few people consider what might go wrong. Instead, travelers are understandably preoccupied with all the exciting things that await them on their travels.

For some travelers, however, what awaits is memorable for all the wrong reasons. Getting sick while traveling is something no traveler expects and, as a result, few are prepared for sickness when it strikes. Insect-borne diseases and gastrointestinal illnesses are some of the major health risks for travelers, particularly those visiting developing nations. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, travelers should heed the following advice, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, should an unexpected illness rear its ugly head while away from home.
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Possible ways to reduce risks for cataracts

While doctors still don't know what causes cataracts, there might be ways men and women concerned about their eyes can reduce their risk for cataracts. Though the following tips can't guarantee a person won't get cataracts, they might just help individuals reduce their risk.
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Did you know?

Children as young as infants can begin wearing contact lenses. Some infants are fitted with contact lenses because of congenital cataracts, a condition in which the eye's natural lens is cloudy instead of clear. Though such a condition is not common, occurring in less than one percent of all births, doctors might fit infants with congenital cataracts or other eye conditions for contact lenses. But it's not only infants born with certain conditions who can wear contact lenses.
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