Are you waking in the morning with sore cheek muscles, loose or temperature-sensitive teeth, a headache, earache, or jaw pain? If so, you may be grinding your teeth or habitually clenching your jaw in your sleep (or even during waking hours). Known as bruxism, this is a fairly common problem caused by a misaligned bite (malocclusion) or nervous tension or suppressed anger. Left untreated, bruxism can eventually wear down your teeth.

If your dentist has found your bite to be normal, you may be stressed out or internalizing your anger. There are a number of ways to relieve stress or rage: Biofeedback training specifically aimed at reducing jaw muscle tension can be helpful. Breathing exercises are a must: they are an effective stress-reliever. Daily physical activity, such as a brisk 20-minute walk or practicing tai chi or yoga can also make a big difference. In addition, avoid consuming alcohol late at night. It has been shown to make people clench their jaw more frequently.

If unhealthy stress is impacting your overall health, take action.

Start by identifying the problems and situations that create stress and learn to manage them with general techniques of stress protection, such as breathing exercises, regular physical activity, and prudent supplementation. In addition, make these two dietary changes:

• Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish such as salmon, black cod, or sardines are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids - a deficiency in these essential fatty acids has been associated with increased anxiety and depression.
• Don't drink alcohol as a means to cope with stress. It is potentially addictive and not a healthy way to neutralize stress.

Last Wednesday I covered five lifestyle measures to promote healthy vision, and today I discuss five more. Add these to an antioxidant-rich diet and a prudent supplement routine to help maintain visual health:

1. Work in a well-lighted area. While dim lighting may not harm eyes, it can cause temporary eyestrain. When you do use artificial illumination, use full-spectrum light bulbs, which mimic natural light.
2. Keep your computer screen clean, at or below eye level, and about two feet away from your eyes.
3. Take frequent breaks. Look away from the computer screen or other reading materials every 10 minutes for about 10 seconds at a time. In addition, get up and move around or do some stretches every two hours or so.
4. Get enough sleep. Fatigue can increase eyestrain, while rest refreshes tired eyes.
5. See your eye doctor regularly. To catch potentially serious eye problems early, people ages 40 to 64 should have their eyes examined every two to four years and those who are age 65 and older should be tested every one to two years.

An estimated two million Americans have celiac disease, an inherited, autoimmune disorder that tends to run in families. Symptoms are caused by eating foods that contain gluten, and, like many autoimmune conditions, the disease itself can be triggered by physical and emotional stress.

If you are one of the one in 133 Americans with celiac disease, you should be following

Click to read more ...

The experts and faculty at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine (AzCIM) have created this highly informative and interactive one-hour online course for anyone interested to learn more about prostate cancer. We encourage you to talk with your primary care provider, urologist, and/or oncologist if you have additional questions. Although this course is primarily intended for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, we also discuss risk factors, screening, and preventive measures that can help you or a loved one.

Registration information.