Food cravings – we all get them. But did you ever wonder why some people crave salty, crunchy snacks like potato chips, while others want high-carb side dishes such as mashed potatoes or sugary treats like chocolate? What you crave, when you crave it and how often you crave it says something about your health.

If you’re on Medicare and take prescription drugs, this won’t surprise you: The costs of medications are rising fast. Up an estimated 12.6 percent in 2014, prescription drug costs are projected to rise by an average of 7.3 percent annually, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

But that doesn’t mean you have to bear the brunt of these increases. With the right planning and strategy, you may be able to lower your Medicare drug costs—or at least prepare for rising costs. It starts with choosing the right prescription plan for you.

During a woman’s transition into menopause, a period often referred to as perimenopause, her progesterone, testosterone and estrogen levels begin declining. This raises a woman’s risk for CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) because estrogen increases good cholesterol (HDL), decreases bad cholesterol (LDL), relaxes blood vessels and absorbs free radicals in the blood that can potentially damage blood vessels, according to Cleveland Clinic. 

You’ve tried warm milk. You’ve tried medications. You even bought a new mattress; but you’re still not getting enough sleep. What’s going on? 

Insomnia is a common problem in the United States. Almost one-third of American adults complain that they can’t fall asleep, stay asleep or wake up too early in the morning, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Kidney disease and related ailments, like diabetes, high blood pressure and anemia, can be worsened by overindulgence over the holidays. Enjoy the celebration by planning ahead, discussing any concerns with your nephrologist or dietician, and knowing when to say “no.”

Practice portion control. The holidays don’t need to mean “indulgent.” Reduce your portions so your kidneys don’t struggle to digest and metabolize proteins.

Although pre diabetes and diabetes may sound like different conditions, the reality is, they are actually the same disease with the same risks. Yet, many people don’t take controlling their blood sugar seriously until they are actually diagnosed with diabetes.

What causes diabetes? It's high blood sugar, isn't it? Actually, That's not the real case of diabetes.

The real cause of Diabetes is excess insulin, not excess blood sugar. In other words, high blood sugar is a symptom, but not the root cause.

For patients hoping a better relationship with their primary care doctor will make them healthier and keep them out of the hospital, the evidence is in. A landmark new study of personalized, preventive primary care medicine finds that a model like MDVIP can significantly reduce hospital visits and costs. Patients say it even improves their quality of life.

Starches…

Most of us love our starches and we usually eat plenty of them during the holiday season. Starches are complex carbohydrates that provide the body and gut bacteria with energy. It’s important to understand how many carbohydrates your body needs and that some types of starches are better than others.

When John Bach walked into Dr. Michael Monaco’s office, the doctor was very impressed with the man he saw. Mr. Bach, who’d always struggled with his weight, had lost more than 40 pounds. His body mass index – or BMI – improved, taking him from a 42-inch to a 34-inch waist. His cholesterol and A1C, or blood sugar, were lower. Aches and pains he’d long complained of in his knees and back seemed to have disappeared. His wife even said his snoring was almost gone. “The result was phenomenal,” exclaimed Dr. Monaco.

While muscle pain has many causes—tension, stress, overuse, strains, minor injuries and sprains—a new study says commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs may also cause our sore muscles.

The study, published by Cleveland Clinic researchers in the American Journal of Cardiology, found that muscle soreness, ranging from mild aches to debilitating pain, is a common side effect of statins.