Growing up was not easy for Laura Gill as she was born with a birth defect called congenital facial paralysis. This condition caused her nasal cavity to collapse and her vision was severely compromised. Thus, she lived a life filled with emotional distress and physical challenges. Despite her condition, though, Laura achieved a successful career in sales; but that was until the financial crisis hit the country. Laura lost her job, and along with it, her medical insurance. While she previously went through procedures that helped correct her collapsed nasal passage and vision, more physical...

Twenty eight-year old Joanne Whittle had always been happy with her slender figure. However, her body contour significantly changed after she gave birth to her son. After putting on four stones to her weight, Joanne had lots of sagging skin and fat, especially around her abdominal area. This was even when she religiously exercised to lose weight. This made Joanne very self-conscious of her tummy. She would even wear baggy clothes just to cover up the protruding stomach. While Joanne was losing her self-esteem, her boyfriend was not worried and even asked for her hand in marriage in 2007. The...

Lymphoma, a form of cancer that arises in the lymph nodes, is usually malignant and deadly. Yet, 14-year old Simon struggles on and continues to receive therapy for his medical condition. As a result of his health problem, Simon has to be in isolation for about 10 months, which means he will not get to see friends and do his usual daily activities for several months. For this reason, he asks for one unique wish – indulging in shopping at his favorite store, Williams Sonoma, a kitchen and cooking gadget shop (unlike most kids his age, Simon enjoys cooking as a hobby). However, with his...

Cosmetic plastic surgery does more than enhance physical features. It allows patients to feel better about their bodies, thereby improving self-esteem. Thirty four-year old Christine Destefano, for instance, was the subject of much teasing during her childhood years because of her nose. While the teasing stopped as Christine grew, her self-confidence was affected so much that she would feel uncomfortable when facing others. This all changed after her nasal reconstruction surgery, more commonly known as a nose job. Christine’s lack of confidence inspired her to turn to nip and tuck surgical...

Fiona Beaumont always had a lack in self-confidence because of her small breast size. Too add to her woes, when she gave birth to her daughter, her breasts vanished altogether. With a crushed self-confidence and a wedding fast approaching, Fiona then decided that it was high time to undergo breast enlargement surgery. Amazingly, Fiona’s partner was very supportive and both of them took out a considerable amount out of their savings to pay for the operation. Today, Fiona has a shapelier buxom figure and she is so glad that she had the boob job done. She also looked fantastic on her wedding...

According to a new study, some anti-hypertension medications, including those produced by popular brands like Novartis AG, Merck & Co and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, are linked to heightened cancer risk. The study, which the Lancet Oncology medical journal published online, warned that there is not enough data that can gauge the exact cancer risk. The researchers did state that further investigations should be done for this issue is alarming. Researchers looked at blood pressure drugs called angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), which are recommended for patients with heart disease, high...

Autism, also called autistic disorder or infantile autism, is known to attack some children before they reach three years of age and is characterized by repetitive behavior and difficulty in speech and social interaction. It is also one of the most common illnesses. Now, a new research, which will be featured in the March issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, said the symptoms of autistic disorder cannot be identified in infants before they reach six months. However, signs can be recognized by the time they turn one. The research holds that...

According to a ConsumerLabs.com online survey, fish oil supplements have become more popular than other supplements and multi-vitamins. It contains Omega 3 fatty acids, which have been said to keep hearts healthy. Specialists also believe the fatty acids in fish oil reduce the risks of a stroke and getting cancer. Now there is a new research that claims it may be even more beneficial. The Archives of General Psychiatry study, which was authored by researchers with the Orygen Youth Research Center in Australia and the Medical University of Vienna in Austria, revealed that Omega 3 might combat...

According to a study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, preschool children who are exposed to certain household routines including getting adequate sleep, limited screen-viewing time, as well as eating regular family meals are 40% less likely to develop obesity as compared to kids who are exposed to none of these routines. The study, which was entitled “Household Routines and Obesity in US Preschool-Aged Children”, will be published in the March issue of Pediatrics. The researchers studied the connection between the aforementioned household routines and childhood obesity...

According to a group of Canadian researchers, eating a bar of chocolate each week may reduce the person’s chances of having strokes. The study, which was conducted on 50,000 people, has shown that people who ate chocolate were 22% less likely to have a stroke as compared to those who did not. While regular chocolate eaters who suffered from stroke were 46% less likely to die as compared to non-chocolate eaters. The researchers stated that one of the main reasons for the results of the study is the certain amount of flavonoids found in chocolate. As most people know, flavonoids are...