Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

Medications that can increase your skin cancer risk

I learned at a young age that my pale skin burns fast. So I have an arsenal of all the “right ways” to protect it. Imagine my dismay at discovering all the medications that could sabotage my efforts…

Carolyn Gretton

The answer to reversing Alzheimer’s may already be on the pharmacy shelf

One reason Alzheimer’s disease is such a dreaded diagnosis is there’s no effective treatment to halt its progression. But one research team has found potential in medications that have been used for years to treat other conditions that appear to reverse it. But is the answer in the medications or the conditions themselves?

Carolyn Gretton

High blood pressure? Lower it and your dementia risk

It’s become increasingly clear that the health of your heart can affect the health of your brain. In fact, studies have found a link between high blood pressure and dementia. How much can you lower it to reduce your risk?

Carolyn Gretton

An over-the-counter medication activates cancer-protective genes

There are upsides and downsides to daily medication. Take aspirin. It may help prevent a heart attack, but for some, the risk of bleeding or stroke goes up. But, with care, there’s one disease where daily aspirin’s possible side effects may pale compared to its prevention potential…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This one thing reduces Alzheimer’s plaques by 76%

Research shows it can beat back heart disease, stroke and cancer, and even slow brain aging and reverse age-related brain shrinkage. So, should we even be surprised it significantly reduces amyloid plaques?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Wearable devices help predict IBD flare-ups

Unpredictability might be the worst thing about an inflammatory bowel condition. There are times when pain and diarrhea are more than inconvenient. What if you could predict your next flare-up weeks in advance?

Carolyn Gretton

Glaucoma joins growing list of statin side effects

Statins are prescribed to millions of people. However, the drugs are not without downsides, including pain and heightened risks for diabetes and dementia. Now, there’s evidence they may lead to a sight-stealing condition…

Joyce Hollman

Art by the numbers boosts seniors’ mental health

Older adults are at higher risk for depression. They can also fall victim to anxiety. You may have heard of paint by the numbers, but it’s art by the numbers that can give them the mental health boost they need…

Carolyn Gretton

What women should know about pelvic organ prolapse and UTI

Pelvic organ prolapse affects roughly half of all women to some degree. Surgery can relieve its impact on quality of life, but surgery alone may not be the answer to the frequent UTIs…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The heavy metal making your allergies worse

Living with allergies, you might think your miserable symptoms are something you’re stuck with. Hold on to your socks. If you’ve noticed they’re worse, it’s not your typical trigger…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Eat this food to see why you can’t go #2

Gut problems are often revealed by your transit time — the time it takes for food to pass through. Depending on yours, you may be straining on or running to the toilet. This at home test will help you figure out why…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Common medications that increase migraine risk by 70%

Migraines are like headaches on steroids. Bigger and badder, and typically require serious medication. But ironically, some medications for another very common condition can give anyone up to a 70 percent greater chance of suffering migraine.

Carolyn Gretton

The night and day difference light makes on your lifespan

Before electricity, people went to bed at dark and rose with the sun. Today, light bombards every part of our lives, but little of it is natural. Depending on your exposure, it could increase or decrease you lifespan by 34%.

Carolyn Gretton

A closer look at the gut’s connection to Alzheimer’s

A new wrinkle in Alzheimer’s research: Discovering that the gut and the brain communicate through neurons in both organs. What does that mean for early detection, treatment and prevention?

Dr. Geo Espinosa

Six ways to deal with a prostatitis flare-up

Prostatitis is a common condition that can cause pelvic pain, urinary issues and sexual problems. In addition to conventional treatment, here are six ways to deal with a prostatitis flare up.

Joyce Hollman

What’s increasing stroke in women under 50?

Stroke is more common in people over 65. But younger people are not without risk. In fact, women under 50 are falling victim to stroke in increasing numbers. The reason may surprise you…

Joyce Hollman

What eating yogurt does to your colon cancer risks

Health benefits are linked to fermented foods, the most popular of which may be yogurt. If you eat it regularly, you’re risk may be lower for a type of colon cancer tumor known for poor survival rates.

Carolyn Gretton

Getting effective pain relief from cannabis

Cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years, including to treat pain. Thanks to the failure of opioids, renewed interest in cannabis may result in new and improved pain relief…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Spring into heart health: A cardiologist’s list of the season’s best

Spring is the season of renewal and the perfect time to renew your commitment to heart health starting with food. With so much to choose from, how do you pick the most heart-healthy? Here’s my list…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Type 1 diabetes: weight loss and kidney disease risk

Type 1 diabetes was considered a “lean” disease, but like the general population, more people with the condition are facing obesity. They also face a serious danger from the weight loss pitfall known as yo-yo dieting…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

These 5 changes could eliminate half of all cancers

The American Cancer Society says up to 50 percent of all cancer cases in the United States could be completely eliminated. No, they haven’t developed a cure, but have identified five changes they say are vital for cancer prevention, and they have the backup to prove it…

Joyce Hollman

The fitness combo for cancer survival & longevity

“Getting fit” is a generic term that leaves you wondering where to start. This makes it easy: A combo of two types of exercise won’t just get you fit, but has clout for cancer prevention, survival and longevity…

Carolyn Gretton

Got 4 minutes? Cut heart disease risk in half

Exercse can reduce your risk of heart disease. But committing to a daily routine can be daunting. If that’s what’s holding you back, VILPA is for you. All it requires is 4 minutes a day.

Carolyn Gretton

How potent antioxidants protect your hormones against microplastics

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that pervade our environment. Worse, they pervade our bodies, wreaking havoc on hormones, breaching the blood-brain barrier, lodging in blood clots and residing in our organs. Here’s how to fight back…

Joyce Hollman

The discovery that could make root canals obsolete

Your mouth is the gateway to either health or disease in your body. So, when I learned a nutrient with tons of health benefits may also save me from a root canal, I knew I had to share it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A strange connection: The immune system’s impact on blood sugar

Most of us only think of our immune systems when we’re worried about getting sick. But it’s tied to many processes in the body and may be a missing link in controlling blood sugar.

Carolyn Gretton

Harnessing the anti-aging potential of hormones

Beyond retinol and collagen, research knows hormones can slow the effects of aging. Take estrogen. But new research is about harnessing the body’s lesser-known hormones for their anti-aging potential. Discover how…

Joyce Hollman

‘Normal’ B12 levels linked to cognitive decline and stroke

Most people don’t worry much about their vitamin status. We let the experts set those levels. But are they getting it right? A high volume of brain lesions linked to stroke, cognitive decline and normal B12 levels casts doubt…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The one fruit moms-to-be and older adults need

What do moms-to-be and seniors have in common? These two groups may seem worlds apart but they have one very important issue in common: special nutritional requirements that can make or break their health. One fruit can help them both thrive…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why flossing could prevent stroke and atrial fibrillation

While we used to believe what happened in our mouths stayed in our mouths (like Las Vegas), the implications of poor oral health are far-reaching and alarming. Consider stroke and Afib…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The lasting damage anger does to your blood vessels

Emotions like anger, sadness and anxiety have long been associated with heart attack. We often imagine one big event that pushes our emotions over the edge and sends us to the ER. But it’s the short bursts of anger you should be worried about unless you’ve already got some protection…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The popular condiment linked to stomach cancer

Sodium is an essential nutrient the body needs — but only in small amounts. The problem is in the typical American diet, there’s no shortage of it, and it doesn’t just raise your blood pressure. It may be the missing link that explains why stomach cancer rates are on the rise.

Joyce Hollman

Why sleep trouble can lead to blood sugar trouble

While you’re asleep, restorative processes take place. If your sleep is interrupted so are these important processes. That’s just one link between sleep trouble and blood sugar trouble research has identified, even when following a healthy diet…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The strange cancer risk we share with our pets

Cancer doesn’t only strike humans. It can steal away the lives of our pets. In fact, one in three dogs will develop cancer in their lifetime. Research is revealing a strange factor that can make it more likely your dog will be one of the statistics — it’s a risk our pets share with us…

Margaret Cantwell

2 servings a day drops pounds, inches, BMI and disease risk

What if adding two specific foods to your day could not only help you drop pounds, lose inches and significantly lower your body mass index, but also rescue everything that’s wrong with your health? It sounds too good to be true, but these are the facts…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Should you be concerned about bird flu?

We’re hearing more about bird flu lately. The virus known for infecting poultry has jumped to cows, goats and even pets. Some experts also believe human transmission may be underreported. So, many of us are rightfully asking the question, “How concerned should I be?”

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Seniors beware: Loneliness is a fast track to frailty

Loneliness is something we’ve all experienced at one time or another. Maybe a friend moves away, a loved one passes away or a co-worker leaves and your lunch buddy is now gone. For seniors, however, loneliness isn’t always short-lived. And we’ve learned it contributes to a deadly cycle…

Carolyn Gretton

An unexpected effect of chronic pain: Brain aging

Chronic musculoskeletal pain can impact your muscles, bones, joints and ligaments. It can be unrelenting, and research shows a surprising connection between this type of pain, inflammation and brain aging. An essential fatty acid may attack all three…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The chemical connection between diet, diabetes and cancer

A study aiming to understand what factors elevate risk in families susceptible to cancer ended up discovering a deeper mechanism linking an essential “energy consumption pathway” to cancer development. Here’s how it works and what activates it…

Joyce Hollman

Heart-healthy benefits of exercise start in the brain

Everyone knows exercise benefits the heart. And we assume it’s because our heart muscle gets stronger and blood pressure, cholesterol and weight get lower. But there’s a key step that happens before that — and it starts in your brain…

Carolyn Gretton

8 proven benefits you only get from extra-virgin olive oil

After decades of research proving the many health benefits of olive oil, we’ve gotten the message. But it may be a little cloudy. To lower risk of heart and cognitive problems, cancer and risk of death with a spoonful a day or two, only one olive oil stands out…

Joyce Hollman

Vitamin B12’s impact on multiple sclerosis treatment

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that current treatments can only slow. But a missing link between B12 signaling and MS has the potential to fight neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, not only for MS but also for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s…

Jedha Dening

A simple trick to lower morning blood sugar

Gaining tight control over your daily blood sugar levels by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, stressing less and getting good quality sleep, will all help control your morning readings. But there is one simple trick that may help even more…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How heart disease, anxiety and depression feed off each other

The sympathetic nervous system is part of the involuntary nervous system that increases heart rate, blood pressure and also contributes to anxiety and depression. Finally research is realizing how heart disease, anxiety and depression can promote each other and worsen outcomes…

Joyce Hollman

13 ways to make the holidays safe for your pet

Having a pet is not only heart-warming, it’s good for you. So it’s only fair we protect our pets and keep them safe, too. This can be especially challenging during the holiday season. Here are more than a dozen tips for making the season safe for your furry friends.

Carolyn Gretton

Supplements that fight 4 roadblocks to healthy aging

Who doesn’t want to keep their health and independence as we get older? But our bodies tend to deteriorate in ways that make that difficult. Luckily, a review of supplements shows we don’t have to sit back and let these conditions wreck our lives…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Smoking’s link to dangerous belly fat

Despite all we know about the dangers of smoking, nearly one in 12 U.S. adults still does. And while many of them may want to kick the habit, concerns about weight gain is one excuse holding them back. If only they knew the irony of what smoking does to their belly fat…

Joyce Hollman

Think twice about beta-blockers after a heart attack

Beta-blockers are often prescribed to prevent a second heart attack. But they come with risks of their own. And research shows not everyone benefits from them. This new information will help you talk to your doctor before you decide if they’re right for you.

Carolyn Gretton

How heart disease fuels cancer growth

There are a few risk factors that heart disease and cancer have in common, including smoking, diabetes and obesity. But a new connection that has surfaced goes deep inside the body and involves an injured or diseased heart’s release of tiny bubbles that promote the growth of cancer cells.

Carolyn Gretton

ACV: From ancient remedy to social media sensation

Social Media’s favorite new health fad, apple cider vinegar, is actually thousands of years old. But it’s experiencing a resurgence for its potential in treating some modern ailments that have grown in prevalence over the past several years…

Joyce Hollman

The daytime secret to better sleep at night

If you have trouble sleeping, or you feel tired in the morning, and you’ve tried everything under the sun (and moon), it’s time to examine what your day looks like. It may hold the secret to the elusive and essential sleep your health depends on…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The free solution to ‘dry eye’ you can do at home

When you blink, your eyes are awash with a substance known as “tear film.” It keeps your eyes moist and feeling great. But when it’s compromised, you suffer from dry, irritated eyes. You’ve probably tried the prescription and even the over-the-counter drops to find relief. Save your money, and try this…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

When benign essential tremor spells trouble

When the word “benign” appears before essential tremor it implies “not harmful.” But the word “mild” before “cognitive impairment,” doesn’t mean you’re only “mildly” losing your memory. It can get worse, and a surprising association with tremors is why you need to know that…

Carolyn Gretton

Healthier ‘made with real fruit’ products to reach for in a crunch

Most of us still aren’t eating enough fruit. That’s why in a crunch you may reach for a “made with real fruit” alternative. But how much fruit is really there is anyone’s guess. The only thing for sure is the added sugars. Here’s how to tell the good from the bad choices…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Sex-specific activities drive men’s higher risk of ALS

While most of us probably think that Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS is genetic, the truth is 90 percent of people who get the disease have no family history. But research has honed in on the toxic secret driving ALS and the sex-specific link…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Are you sleeping enough to finish your brain’s wash cycle?

When you fall asleep tonight, the dishwasher in your brain will turn on. It won’t keep you awake while it silently washes out metabolic waste left from the fuel your brain needs to run on. But if you’re not sleeping well and your neurons aren’t up to the task, waste buildup could spell trouble…

Joyce Hollman

Trouble exercising to lower blood pressure? Just sit less

Exercise isn’t easy, even if you’re young, fit and healthy. But it can get even harder with age. If you’re worried about your blood pressure but find exercise difficult, you can still lower your numbers practically as much simply by sitting less…

Carolyn Gretton

The unique way polyphenols improve heart and brain health

Polyphenols may keep cardiovascular and neurodegenerative conditions at bay, but how they do what they do in the body has been a mystery, until now. Researchers have nailed it down and provided a nice list of benefits you don’t want to miss out on and the foods that supply them.

Joyce Hollman

A blood test could predict how fast you’re aging

Some of us are healthy agers, while probably a lot more of us are rapid agers. Being in the latter group means your body is much older than your driver’s license may say. What if a blood test could clue you in to heading off that destruction and deterioration?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The symptoms that predict whether MCI turns to Alzheimer’s

Living with mild cognitive impairment can keep you up at night wondering if memory lapses are just that, or if they will progress. In other words, if you have MCI how likely are you to develop Alzheimer’s and will you or family members be able to see it coming?

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