There is still a common but erroneous belief that infertility is a female problem. Male infertility factors account for approximately 30% of all infertility cases. The most common causes that lead to infertility in men are problems in testicles function (in about 40% of male infertility, the man produces less sperm than normal), but hormone imbalances or blockages in the tubes leading sperm away from the testes to the penis […]
Excess body fat (obesity) is harmful for health, because it is associated with high levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides, low levels of good cholesterol, and with increased blood sugar levels (all of them risk factors for several diseases). Methods for evaluate obesity have changed over the time, and currently it is recognized that what matters is not body weight but body fat; moreover, one type of excess fat is […]
The typical Western diet and lifestyle promote the emergence of several chronic disorders; one of them (related to aging) has a very long name: osteosarcopenic obesity, which translated means deterioration of bone health, decline in muscle strength and mass, and increased presence of fat tissue in muscle and bone. The main causes of this problem are chronic diseases, drug therapy, genetic predisposition and environmental factors, but poor nutrition and lack […]
Migraine reduces the quality of life, is related with professional absenteeism and is associated with other health problems. Several medicines are used in the prevention of headache attacks in people suffering from migraine, but people with chronic daily headache often achieve only transient relief with conventional medical management. There are also non-pharmacological treatments (acupuncture, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, psychotherapy, and dietary therapy). In relation to dietary therapy, it has been observed […]
Obesity and the disorders associated with it (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, etc.) are a growing health problem in the developed world. They are related with a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which in turn, can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Furthermore, obesity is associated with non-medical issues as diminished mobility, and social stigmatization. Adipose tissue (fat) has a very important […]
Risk factors for stroke (high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and diabetes) have been associated with dietary intake of contaminants, including synthetic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs were marketed for nearly 50 years (from 1929 until the end of the 1970s, when they were banned in most parts of the world because of environmental concerns), being used in electrical equipment, surface coatings, inks, adhesives, flame-retardants, and […]