Entries by Elena M. Marquina

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Is Your Family Getting Enough Sleep?

Sleep, snooze, shuteye. We spend one third of our life sleeping. A waste of time? Absolutely not! And don’t take it for granted either. Sleeping is essential for our survival, for physical and mental well-being. If you have the misfortune of something disrupting your sleeping habits—a new baby, a puppy or a noisy neighbor—you will […]

Raising Testicular Cancer Awareness

Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer among men 15 to 35 years old, but it can also affect younger boys and older men. For reasons not yet understood, the incidence of this type of cancer has increased considerably in recent years. Fortunately, if detected early it is one of the most treatable […]

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World Health Day: A Closer Look at Hypertension

World Health Day—celebrated every year on April 7—marks the anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO), founded in 1948. This day is dedicated every year to a different theme representing a worldwide health concern. In 2013 the theme for World Health Day is hypertension, one of the most common diseases around the globe. WHO objectives […]

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Spring Health Checkup / Tune-Up: A Chance to Bloom!

The sun is shining, a sweet breeze is blowing, nature blossoms all around… It’s spring! Okay, maybe if you can’t stop sniffling and sneezing you don’t need any reminders. For many of us, myself included, spring is allergy season; for some it’s a gloomy time of the year despite the vibrant surroundings; and still others […]

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The Healing Power of Social Networks

What better way is there to chase away the winter blues than getting together with your friends for a fun evening? Have you ever called a pal just to chat on a day when your spirits were down? The instant gratification we feel when socializing is the result of “feel good” hormones released during social […]

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The Meaning of Popular Classic Baby Names

Lately it seems if you don’t give your child an original name, you haven’t made enough of an effort. What’s wrong with a simple Anna, Julia, Sebastian or Daniel? Now colors, fruits, geography or the calendar are the source of inspiration for names that would be more appropriate for a pet. Celebrities are at the […]

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The Soy Debate: Miracle Food or Misinformation?

Soy, once limited to traditional Asian cooking, is showing up in all types of products marketed as a “healthy alternative”—soy milk, soy yogurt, soy pudding, mayo, burgers, cream cheese, protein bars, cereal—you name it. And many other foods contain ingredients derived from soy we are not even aware of—to the extent that, in one way […]