Category Archives: General Health

Our ability to smell is something we all take for granted. It allows us to enjoy the aroma of the foods we eat, warns us of the dangers of smoke or leaking gas, and can even trigger certain memories linked to particular smells. However, approximately two million Americans suffer from some degree of loss of ...click here to read more

Locked-in syndrome is a neurological condition where the body experiences complete paralysis, except for the eyes. These individuals are usually completely conscious of the environment around them but are “locked-in,” unable to move any muscle in their body, only retaining their eye movements. Their ability to speak is also compromised, and their most effective way ...click here to read more

As we all know, practice makes perfect, and this is definitely the case for athletes—many hours of training go into perfecting their talents. According to a new study, patients should also train both their body and mind when prepping for a hospital stay, as it may actually shorten the length of time required and even ...click here to read more

As we age, we begin to lose control over many things. Some are things that bring us eventual pride, such as our children leaving the nest and starting their own lives, but others are things we thought we would never lose control of, as is the case of urinary and fecal incontinence. Incontinence is when ...click here to read more

Those who live in the city know all too well that living in a densely-populated area brings with it a ton of air pollution. Industrial factories, cars, and power plants burning fossil fuels all contribute to the increase of air pollution in our environment, putting people at risk. However, a new study suggests that your ...click here to read more

Spider angiomas go by many names, including spider veins, spider nevus, and nevus araneus. They are a collection of small, dilated blood vessels (arterioles) clustered very close to the skin surface. This clustering may take the appearance of a spider web, hence the name. These clusters of blood vessels occur due to skin injury, sun ...click here to read more

We all strive to be the healthiest we can possibly be, or at least we try. Eating a balanced diet and getting a modest amount of exercise every day can be challenging, but we usually make some effort. We may choose to take the stairs instead of the elevator, or even choose foods that are ...click here to read more

Nocturia (nighttime urination) can be quite annoying, as it keeps you awake at night with frequent trips to the bathroom. The worst part is that even though you may feel as if you have to go, by the time you reach the bathroom, nothing happens. Nocturia, or nocturnal polyuria, is a condition characterized by excessive ...click here to read more

Having to urgently use the bathroom but not making it to the toilet is something we do not like to experience, yet it’s a problem we all face at one time or another. We at Bel Marra recognize this problem and have decided to give our readers an overactive bladder update. We’ve compiled a list ...click here to read more

A blood clot, also referred to as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is the result of activated clotting factors and components found in the blood stream. Blood clots can appear in the arm, but can also present elsewhere in the body. They have a multitude of causes, but one of the most common is prolonged immobility, ...click here to read more

Even though aging is a very gradual process, the realization that you’ve grown old often comes suddenly and leaves you confused. Maybe you notice your supply of energy is not enough to get you through a day full of chores. Or, your joints start aching from time to time. Or, perhaps, you notice that your ...click here to read more

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme in the body that assists in turning the sugar we consume into energy. This enzyme is present in a multitude of organs and tissues throughout the body, including the blood cells, skeletal muscles, and even the brain. The presence of elevated levels of LDH can be used as a ...click here to read more

Much of our knowledge and skills are gained through education and trial and error, and this is often thought to dictate how well we perform in the world and our overall level of happiness. However, according to new research led by the University College London, life skills like persistence, conscientiousness, and control are as important ...click here to read more

The times we live in are truly interesting. Take, for example, our attitude towards health and healthy living. Modern lifestyles are anything but healthy. Busy schedules don’t leave much time for home cooking, and long aisles of ready-to-eat processed foods at the supermarket promise a delicious dinner within two minutes. Our increasing reliance on technology ...click here to read more