Articles written by Sharon Kirby

The main cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is obesity. Other causes include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and weight loss.

Mar 16, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation can alleviate anxiety. Herbal remedies such as passionflower and kava may also be helpful.

Mar 16, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Essential oils such as mandarin, ginger, neroli, sandalwood and frankincense can help you cope safely with physical and emotional changes during pregnancy.

Mar 15, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Fungus gnats are small, black flies which may be seen in large numbers flying around your house plants. Get rid of them by letting the plant soil dry out.

Mar 9, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

How much alcohol is safe to drink if you are pregnant? Alcohol consumption can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and birth defects such as facial deformities.

Mar 8, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pains, shortness of breath and coughing. Pulmonary embolism is caused by a blood clot in the lungs.

Mar 4, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Lavender essential oil is a calming, relaxing, healing oil with many uses. Consider using lavender oil to treat headaches, insomnia, minor burns and flu.

Mar 3, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Essential oils for happiness include bergamot, geranium, rose and grapefruit. Add oils to massage oil, bath water or a vaporiser to help you feel happy.

Mar 2, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited eye disease. Signs include poor night vision and loss of peripheral vision. New treatments are under investigation.

Feb 28, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Foods high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, green peppers, kiwi fruit and broccoli. Ascorbic acid is important for the growth and repair of body tissues.

Feb 23, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Supplements may be necessary to meet vitamin D requirements. Here are the facts about vitamin D supplements, vitamin D toxicity and hypercalcaemia.

Feb 4, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Brain aneurysms are caused by inherited disorders, congenital abnormalities and head injuries. Symptoms of brain aneurysms include pain and vision changes.

Feb 2, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Statins reduce cholesterol but may have side effects. Side effects of statins include muscle pain, muscle weakness, liver damage and digestive problems.

Jan 26, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Hay fever symptoms often require treatment with antihistamines. Herbal remedies for hay fever include butterbur extract and stinging nettle.

Jan 20, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

There are usually no symptoms of liver cirrhosis until the disease is advanced. Living with cirrhosis requires the avoidance of alcohol.

Jan 19, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Heart palpitations feel like a fluttering in the chest or a fast heartbeat. Palpitations are not usually serious but in some cases may indicate arrhythmias.

Jan 18, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Quick and easy healthy snack ideas for when hunger strikes between meals. Choose from healthy whole grains, nuts and seeds, low-fat dairy and fruit snacks.

Jan 17, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Cigarette smoke is a deadly mixture of cancer-causing chemicals, poisonous gases and toxic metals. Smoke inhalation damages every part of the body.

Jan 14, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Some foods including meat and seafood are high in purines and may cause gout. A low-purine diet could help prevent gout and reduce the severity of symptoms.

Jan 13, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Gout symptoms include extreme pain, inflammation and stiffness in a joint. Gout is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and uric acid-lowering medications.

Jan 12, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Gout is a painful type of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid. Gout produces tenderness and swelling in a joint, often in the big toe.

Jan 11, 2011 - Sharon Kirby

Fertility health begins with a balanced diet containing a variety of nutrients. Eating foods to increase fertility may improve the chances of conception.

Aug 6, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

Acute stress disorder is triggered by a traumatic event. Symptoms include dissociation, anxiety, and re-experiencing the event.

Aug 4, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

People with type 2 diabetes can help their condition by keeping to a healthy diet. Here are some diet tips for a person with type 2 diabetes.

Jul 6, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

Type 2 diabetes occurs due to high blood sugar levels. Information about type 2 diabetes is important as this condition can cause serious health problems.

Jul 6, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

Natural ways to lower cholesterol include eating less saturated fat, losing weight if necessary and taking regular exercise.

Jun 21, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

People who have a high risk of heart disease or stroke may be prescribed statins to lower their blood cholesterol levels.

Jun 16, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

LDL and HDL blood cholesterol numbers are important because they provide an indication of a person's risk of heart disease or stroke.

Jun 14, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

The best foods to eat for a healthy heart include fruits and vegetables, and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, fibre and unsaturated fats.

Jun 12, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

Aromatherapy essential oils are used for healing many different physical and psychological symptoms and improving health.

Jun 10, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

It is important to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer. The sooner it is detected, the greater the chance of successful treatment and a full recovery.

May 22, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

Like other diets before it, there are advantages and disadvantages of the Dukan diet. Here are some pros and cons of this French weight loss programme.

May 20, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

The Dukan diet includes foods high in protein to lose weight quickly. Dieters must then eat nothing but protein on Thursdays to maintain their new weight.

May 19, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

Many people have little understanding of cancer until they are unexpectedly faced with the disease. Definitions of the basic terms associated with cancer can be helpful.

Feb 4, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

Cancer is a disease caused by abnormal, uncontrolled cell division. The four major types of cancer are sarcoma, leukaemia, lymphoma and carcinoma.

Feb 3, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

A person with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) frequently feels anxious and worried for no particular reason. GAD has various symptoms, causes and treatments.

Jan 6, 2010 - Sharon Kirby

When setting up an online shop to accept credit card payments from customers, it is important to have a user-friendly shopping cart as well as a secure payment system.

Dec 4, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

There are six types of asbestos fibres. These are chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral.

Nov 27, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

Although listeriosis is rare, pregnant women are more susceptible to contracting it than the general population. Listeria infection must be prevented during pregnancy.

Nov 25, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

Pregnant women should reduce their consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, as large amounts of these beverages may be harmful to an unborn baby's development.

Nov 24, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

Some foods should be avoided during pregnancy because they may contain harmful bacteria which can lead to food poisoning, and damage the health of a developing baby.

Nov 24, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

St George's Chapel, the State Apartments and Queen Mary's Dolls' House are inside Windsor Castle. The castle is the Queen's official residence in the UK.

Nov 13, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

Windsor is just outside London, and is home to Windsor Castle, the residence of the Queen. There are many places of interest to visit in Windsor, including the castle.

Nov 3, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

The structure and content of web pages affects a website's ranking in Google. White hat search engine optimisation techniques may improve web page search results.

Oct 29, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

Mute swans are large water-dwelling birds capable of flight. Male mute swans are called cobs, female mute swans are pens, and young mute swans are known as cygnets.

Oct 27, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

A flying fox is a large fruit bat. The large flying fox, or Pteropus vampyrus, is the largest flying mammal in the world.

Oct 15, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

Vampire bats get their name because they feed at night, and exclusively on the blood of mammals and birds. There are three species of vampire bat.

Oct 13, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

It is important to wash the hands properly with soap and water. This helps to prevent the spread of infections such as colds and flu, and bacteria such as salmonella.

Oct 10, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

Colds and influenza are contagious viruses that are transmitted from person to person. There are some differences between cold and flu virus symptoms.

Oct 8, 2009 - Sharon Kirby

People can minimise their chances of catching colds and influenza. They can also help to prevent the spread of these viruses by washing their hands frequently.

Oct 7, 2009 - Sharon Kirby