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The month of February is usually used in many countries to focus on the heart and disorders of the heart. Many residents of Anguilla continue to die from disorders of the heart. Unfortunately, heart disease is often silent, hidden and misunderstood. Education goes a long way in preventing many disorders of the heart. Healthy eating and regular exercise are important in preventing many heart ailments.

Many residents of Anguilla suffer from varicose veins of the legs, and sometimes the associated symptoms can cause much discomfort if not correctly treated. For some people, the veins can be a cosmetic nuisance, but for others they can cause much psychological distress as well.

Many women in Anguilla are affected by uterine fibroids. While some might not be aware of their disorder and might not have any symptoms, many others have severe symptoms that severely affect the quality of their lives. The emotional effects of fibroids can be enormous as well.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition often associated with secretaries and older people but in the age of technology, with desktops, laptops and other handheld games, it is a syndrome that is now common place in society. To many people it may not be a serious problem, but without proper care and precaution it can become a debilitating condition.

Despite significant research there is still much controversy about the changes that occur in men around the age of 50, similar to the changes in women known as menopause. Many experts believe that male menopause is a myth.

This is the time of year when we often take a moment to reflect on our private lives and in particular our health and goals/resolutions for the future. A time when we sit down and plan for the next twelve months and beyond - a sort of personal development plan.

After all the eating for the Christmas holidays many of us would have suffered heartburn, and this is likely to continue to happen for the next few weeks as the partying and eating continue. Occasional heartburn is common and no cause for alarm, but if it persists and becomes chronic it may indicate a more serious condition.

Tis the season of parties and lots of eating. It is a time of great temptations to overeat -- and the evidence suggests most of us give in. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows the average person in the United States of America puts on a pound during the holidays and never loses it, and it appears that it might be more for individuals living in Anguilla. This adds up to serious weight gain over the years.

Many individuals in Anguilla use many analgesics, without a prescription, for a variety of reasons. Like other drugs, many over-the-counter (OTC) drugs have drug interactions with prescriptions drugs and other over-the-counter drugs. If used correctly side effects can be minimized, but very often individuals fail to read the labels and some individuals also abuse these over-the-counter analgesics resulting in many complications, some of which can be fatal.

Anguilla joins many countries of the world in having activities for Worlds AID Day 2011 on December 1st. Despite much advancement HIV/AIDS continues to be a major problem affecting many individuals everyday. World Aids Day is important for reminding us here in Anguilla that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

Menorrhagia, also referred to as heavy periods, continues to affect many females despite the fact that many options are now available for successful treatment. The large amount of blood loss can interfere with everyday activities and cause reduced quality of life.

November 14 is World Diabetic Day. Several groups and organizations use the month of November to bring greater awareness to diabetes mellitus. There is no doubt that diabetes is a major public health problem in Anguilla and much more needs to be done to educate residents about this chronic disorder. About 285 million people from all over the world are affected by diabetes, and it is expected that this figure may rise to 435 million by year 2030 if no action is implement to stop it.

The death of Michael Jackson and the subsequent trial of Dr Conrad Murray have drawn much attention to insomnia. It is estimated that about one in five people has some difficulty with sleeping. Insomnia can have serious consequences if not treated.

Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is very common in Anguilla and, sadly, many persons are walking around the island not aware that they have this disorder. Individuals with hypertensioncanhave few or no symptoms for many years before complications develop. When they do have complications they can be deadly.

An ectopic pregnancy is a serious medical condition that if not treated correctly can result in the death of the pregnant woman. An ectopic pregnancy can be difficult to diagnose in some cases, but it is important to make the correct diagnosis so that the appropriate treatment can be carried out.

The deaths recently of Apple founder Steve Jobs and Nobelist Ralph Steinman bring unusual attention to this less-well-known type of cancer.Pancreatic cancer often has a poor prognosis, even when diagnosed early. Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages which is a major reason why it is a leading cause of cancer death.

Many countries around the world, including Anguilla, use the month of October to bring greater awareness to breast cancer. Almost everyone in Anguilla knows someone who has or had breast cancer. Breast cancer is many women’s worst fear. Experts have made great progress in treating cancer worldwide. If it is found early, breast cancer can often be cured and is no longer considered a death sentence.

It is estimated that almost half of all pregnancies end in miscarriage — many occurring just weeks after conception. Once a woman knows she is pregnant, the chance of a miscarriage is 15-20 percent, with most miscarriages happening in the first 10 weeks.

Prostate cancer is a common cancer affecting many men in many countries including Anguilla. There is no sure way to prevent prostate cancer — but you can make diet and lifestyle choices that might aid in prostate cancer prevention.

Many countries around the world had activities on September 12 to mark World First Aid Day 2011. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is one life-saving technique everyone should know how to perform.Could you save a life? Would you know what to do if someone had a heart attack? One in three victims of heart attack dies before reaching the hospital. Knowing what to do in an emergency could stop someone dying. Giving someone who has cardiac arrest CPR can double a person's chances of survival.