One of the new hot button issues being discussed in the medical community is inflammation and its affect on the body in terms of chronic illness. Recent studies have pointed to chronic inflammation as a root cause of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression and allergies.

Let's review a little science on inflammation. Inflammation all starts with the immune system. The immune system is the body's first line of defense against harm. When you are injured or sick your bone marrow releases white blood cells to search out infection and jump start the healing process. Sometimes the immune system gets a faulty distress signal and deploys unnecessary white blood cells. Those misguided white blood cells mobilize to fight, but because there is no infection for them to attack, they end up clustered.

Dear Wellness RN,

My brother recently returned from Iraq after being deployed for 18 months. He was having difficulty sleeping and hanging out with his old friends. My mom had him meet with our family doctor who diagnosed him with PTSD.

With the turning of a new year comes the desire for renewal and change. One of the common resolutions that are made with each coming new year is the desire to lose weight and get back into shape. Gone should be the days of an unattainable goal that requires starvation and killing yourself at the gym.

I decided for my first column of the new year that I wanted to share with you the tools I use to maintain a healthy weight and overall healthy lifestyle.