Lucid dreaming By Maria (Gidig) Certainly you can remember a dream you’ve had at least once in all the years you’ve been sleeping. Perhaps it was something realistic, such as going swimming with a friend or doing your homework. Perhaps it was something crazy like buying a mansion in another dimension where Antarctica is the hottest place on Earth. Dreams are a natural part of sleeping and people over the age of ten have about four to six dreams per night. Lucid dreams are something...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 1 (July 2010). Eye Injury Prevention Month & UV Safety Month by Stephanie (Konstantine) Our vision is vital. From seeing your loved ones and your environment, to watching your favourite films, eyesight is something that we use everyday and something that we may take for granted. July is Eye Injury Prevention Month and UV Safety Month, which aim to spread awareness of how to protect your eyesight. A massive ninety percent of eye injuries...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 12 (June 2010). National HIV Testing Day by Marie (Rie) June 27th 2010 is National HIV Testing Day, or NHTD. NHTD aims to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS and to encourage early testing. It is estimated that one in five people in the US are unaware of whether or not they have HIV. Lack of care and the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS can make it difficult for those in need to get appropriate health care and may discourage others from...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 8 (February 2010). Understanding Type One Diabetes By Jessi (Spazola) The Big Q: What Is Diabetes? Diabetes (medically known as diabetes mellitus) is the name given to disorders in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. There are two major types of diabetes: Type One Diabetes, also known as Juvenile or Insulin Dependent Diabetes (treated by manually injecting insulin), and Type Two, which involves...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 6 (December 2009). The Benefits of Yoga By Katrina and Maria (Gidig) Salutations, everyone! As we've all learned by this point in our lives, stress, especially that comes with the holidays, can be overbearing; one can nearly be attacked by the strength of stress at times. Around this time of year, our homes can be hectic with Great-Aunt Eleanor coming to stay for a week. We feel rushed to find the money for presents, food and other...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 5 (November 2009). Lung Cancer and Smoking by Jessie Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, killing over one million people each year. This cancer is most prevalent in North America and Europe, and among people ages fifty and older with a history of smoking. In fact, lung cancer was rare before cigarette smoking became popular. November is Lung Cancer Awareness month, and each year on the third Thursday of November the...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 2 (August 2009). Immunizations By Gidig (Maria) We’ve all heard of immunizations, vaccinations, or just plain old “shots” from the doctor. It’s almost every kid’s worst nightmare—going to the doctor to get a needle poked into your arm. That doesn’t sound all that fun, even for adults. However, vaccines are seen as the one of the most successful medical advancements in history. Why is this, and how do they work? Furthermore, should you have a...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 12 (June 2009). Communicating With Your Doctor By drowningangel The following article contains tips and answers on:

Going to the Gynecologist: What to Expect by Jessie This guide contains answers to the following questions: - When should I start to see a gynecologist? - What should I expect during my first visit? (A step-by-step discussion on what happens before, during, and after the exam room.) - How do I choose the right doctor? - What do I do, if I’m not insured?