There are approximately 150 hormones in the human body. However, most of us can name only a few of them.

Many people jokingly refer to an adolescent’s emerging sexuality as “hormones” or a menopausal woman’s hot flashes as “hormones.” However, hormones are responsible for a lot more: a child’s growth, a woman’s reproduction, and – as they cease to function properly – hormones are related to the ageing process.

In essence, hormones perform critical life functions throughout our lives.

When hormones are not functioning at optimal levels, your body will not function at optimal levels. These naturally occurring chemicals in the body have a major effect on a variety of life processes. They are critical to good health.

Here are five essential hormones that you’ll want to keep in check.

Cortisol

If you’ve heard of the “fight or flight” response, you’re well aware of the function that cortisol plays in our lives. Cortisol is released when we experience stress. If you have low glucose levels, your body will release cortisol to increase blood sugar.

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How old are you?

Most likely, when asked this question, you respond with your chronological age – the number of years you’ve been alive since birth.

However, what’s most important when speaking of your health is your biological age – the physical condition of your body. Your biological age is measured by the rate at which your cells are aging, as well as other physiological changes.

For instance, have you ever seen someone who looked much older – or younger — than his or her age? This is a good example of how biological age can manifest differently in people.

This means that people born in the same year vary considerably in biological age, depending on the factors listed below.

• Gender
• Build/body type
• Body fat
• Cholesterol level
• Blood pressure
• Smoker/Non-smoker
• Physical activity level
• Stress level
• Medical conditions
• Medications
• Eating/drinking habits
• Overall mental health/psychological factors

It’s important to know your number because the higher your biological age, the worse your health may be. Here’s why.

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Each year, approximately 300,000 people in the United States are affected by Lyme disease. With spring approaching later this month, many of us will take advantage of the warmer weather and venture outside.

While most of us will never develop Lyme disease, many others will worry – unnecessarily – about contracting it.

Here are five Lyme disease myths – debunked – that will help you rest a little easier when enjoying the great outdoors.

MYTH: You can contract Lyme disease anywhere in the United States.

FALSE.

Approximately 96 percent of Lyme disease cases originate in these 13 states:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

If you live in a state other than one of the states listed above, your chances of contracting Lyme disease are very low.

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Macular degeneration of the eye is one of the leading causes of vision loss. In fact, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, more than 10 million Americans are diagnosed with this disease.

Macular degeneration is a painless condition that causes you to lose central vision – what you see when you focus straight ahead. When you lose central vision, your eye cannot send detailed images to the brain.

Individuals with macular degeneration often show severely decreased blood serum levels of zinc, B-complex, and vitamin A. (The most common deficiency is a zinc deficiency.)

Poor calcium metabolism, as well as diets deficient in antioxidants, can also cause the water in the eye to form a “sludge” and prevent absorption of nutrients and removal of waste products – a critical issue in individuals diagnosed with this condition.

Types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There are two types of macular degeneration, known as “wet” and “dry.”

The most common type of macular degeneration is “dry” or atrophic. Atrophic degeneration occurs when deposits form beneath the macula (central portion of the retina) and cause deterioration.

Atrophic degeneration affects up to 90 percent of individuals who are diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration.

Ordinarily, individuals who develop “wet” (exudative) macular degeneration do so after developing atrophic macular degeneration. This condition occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow toward the macula.

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Sleep. For some of us, it can be painfully elusive.

The problem is that the more we chase sleep, the harder it can be to catch a few ZZZs.

Why?

It’s because lack of sleep stresses our bodies, and stress can interfere with falling asleep or staying asleep.

It’s a frustrating cycle, to say the least.

Regardless of whether you experience frequent bouts of insomnia or an occasional toss-and-turn night, there is hope.

Here are three of our best tips for getting the restorative sleep you need to thrive.

How Much Sleep Do We Need?

For most adults, 6-8 hours of sleep is optimal. According to the National Sleep Foundation, so many of us suffer from sleep debt that we’ve forgotten what it feels like to be well rested.

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Unless you work at a construction site or in an industrial plant, you may not give much thought to heavy metals. However, you may be exposed to more metal than you realize. When your exposure becomes acute or chronic, your health may be affected.

More on that in a moment….

Here are a few places where you may come in contact with heavy metals:

• Working at a site where heavy metals are present
• Living near or working in an industrial plant that uses or produces metals
• Exposure to lead-based paint
• Drinking well water that contains arsenic
• Eating fish that contain high levels of mercury
• Inhabiting a home that contains arsenic in the wood
• Exposure to pesticides

Keep in mind that we’re exposed to metal every day. In fact, our bodies need trace amounts of certain metals to thrive. That’s why limited exposure is not likely to cause illness or disease. However, when metals build up in our bodies, they can cause harm to our health.

Commercial products, food, water, medicine, improperly coated food containers, and air pollution can contain metal. It’s impossible to avoid exposure. That’s why it’s a good idea to be aware of your surroundings as well as the symptoms of metal toxicity.

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Cancer. It’s that dreaded diagnosis no one ever wants to receive during an exam.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common cancer in the United States is skin cancer. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is its most prevalent form.

How do you get Basal Cell Carcinoma?

BCC affects men twice as often as women and is most common in individuals over the age of 40.

There are many factors that contribute BCC. Here are a few.

• Tanning Beds
• Long-term sun exposure throughout one’s life
• Intensive, short-term sun exposure resulting in sunburn

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