Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Key player in kidney disease identified (and a supplement that helps)

37 million Americans live with chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes or hypertension, you’re at high risk of joining them. Luckily, a new treatment, and better yet, preventative, is on the horizon. Even better, it’s available right now without prescription…

Joyce Hollman

Newer cholesterol drugs linked to reduced lung function

Cholesterol-lowering drugs, especially statins, have been controversial almost from the get-go. After years of use, the list of side effects keeps growing. A newer class of drugs treats cholesterol differently, but it sounds like the same old story…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The truth about coffee’s effects on heart rhythm

If caffeine gives your brain a jolt to get your morning started, might it also give your heart a jolt that could cause rhythm problems, like atrial fibrillation? That’s been the subject of debate. After following more than 300,000 coffee lovers for 4 years, there’s an answer…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why New Year’s resolutions can backfire

Are you hearing less about your friends’ New Year’s resolutions? Experts say that’s because the practice can lead to stress no one needs. What can you do instead? Try just three simple habits for better days this year and beyond…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The ‘no-bloat, no-gas’ prebiotic that reduces liver fat and inflammation

Fatty liver is a stealthy condition with few, if any, signs or symptoms until it progresses. It’s also highly preventable with the right lifestyle choices, including a simple and inexpensive prebiotic that can help a fatty liver slim down…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The hidden hazards of burning candles in your home

Those candles you light before a relaxing bath or the ones that give your home a warm glow are doing more than you bargained for. Here’s what and why you need to know about the hidden health hazards of candles…

Jedha Dening

Two kinds of fat your brain needs to reduce stroke risk

Stroke is perhaps the scariest of all vascular conditions. Odds are one in six of us will suffer one at some point. But research says that adding two specific fats to our diets won’t only lower risks for the development of stroke but reduce the severity should one happen…

Margaret Cantwell

How pork fat contributes to your nutritional fitness

If you’ve been scared off fat and are considering a diet craze that ditches entire food groups, this is for you: Pork fat ranks in the top 10 for a higher nutritional score than “healthy” foods like kale, broccoli or salmon. Here’s why…

Joyce Hollman

How your blood vessels can accelerate your brain’s age

As we age, our brains age along with all of our other parts. But some people’s brains experience accelerated aging, and research has zeroed in on how their blood vessels could be responsible…

Carolyn Gretton

Coffee and tea’s connection to head and neck cancer

Many studies have been conducted to assess whether coffee or tea is linked with head and neck cancer, but results have been inconsistent — until now…

Carolyn Gretton

Barrett’s esophagus: The GERD and cancer connection

Barrett’s esophagus may seem like a benign condition. After all, it has few symptoms. But in actuality, signs of other conditions can mean it’s not far behind, nor is the risk for a type of cancer on the rise among people over 65. Here’s what to change now…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Here’s what we know about the first U.S. bird flu death

Bird flu has been on the perimeter of our minds. But the first severe case of human infection in a patient who has died as a result, has people asking “Is it time to worry?” It’s time to understand this flu and how to stay safe…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The bacterial infection with a growing colon cancer reputation

H. pylori is a nasty bacteria known for infecting the stomach and small intestines, causing bad breath, painful gastritis, ulcers and gastric cancer. But research indicates its cancer-causing reputation is growing, Good news, it’s a treatable risk…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How your poop schedule impacts your liver and kidneys

Once we’re out of elementary school, the poop jokes typically end. The childish humor is just that, plus the older we get we learn a fact: There’s nothing funny about not being able to go. And now we know our kidneys and liver can pay the price…

Dr. Mark Wiley

Norovirus: What to know and how to avoid it

It’s nasty. It’s miserable. And, it’s highly contagious. You might call it the stomach flu or the stomach bug, but the real name behind those unspeakable symptoms is norovirus. Here’s what to know and how to lessen risk of infection…

Joyce Hollman

How smokers can live longer at any age

If you’ve been a lifelong smoker, you might question whether it’s even worth the trouble to give up the habit now. A fifteen-year-long study found how to quit so you can live nearly as long as someone who has never picked up a cigarette in their life…

Joyce Hollman

Your diet and the inflammatory risk of GI cancer

The number of people under the age of 50 diagnosed with bowel and other gastrointestinal (GI) cancers has risen alarmingly in recent decades. Do you share this common factor found to fuel these types of cancers?

Carolyn Gretton

Cheap supplements that payout big for an aging brain

Your gut is almost a universe unto itself, populated by trillions of microbes that help keep it and your whole body healthy and balanced. Keeping it nourished can have an especially big payout for an aging brain, without putting a dent in your wallet…

Joyce Hollman

Ozempic and Wegovy associated with vision loss risk

Side effects associated with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, keep piling up. Yet some experts say the benefits outweigh the risks. Even the potential for permanent vision loss?

Carolyn Gretton

How alcohol speeds aging (and which drinks are worse)

Anything you can do to slow the body’s biological aging process is a good thing. So if you’re hoping to slow the hands of time by putting a lot of effort into healthy living and nutrients that science shows can help, you may want to consider how alcohol factors in…

Joyce Hollman

The occasional sweet treat may be healthier than none

American adults consume about 60 pounds of added sugars a year. That’s almost 3 times too much. But one sugar source is worse for leading to heart problems. The good news is, there’s a sweet spot…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Biomarkers prove wine’s heart-supporting benefits

Conflicting reports about the benefits or harms of drinking wine came from studies relying on self-reported data that’s often flawed. But when researchers got serious about the science, it resulted in great news for wine lovers and their hearts…

Carolyn Gretton

The omega-3 fatty acid that essentially blocks pain

Omega-3s are essential fatty acids your body can’t make. Without them, you could be in a world of hurt if you don’t consume enough, not just because they’re essential for life, but because research is zeroing in on how one in particular blocks pain signals…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The weird connection between macular degeneration and calcified plaque

Calcified plaque deposits are a real problem when it comes to heart and brain health. But this harbinger of circulation problems doesn’t stop there. New researchs show how it steals your vision and the plan to beat it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to get more from your vitamins

Are you among the 80 percent of Americans supplementing? Most of us realize that to feel better, have more energy, fight the ravages of time and avoid chronic conditions, nutrition matters. But are you making these 13 mistakes that can sabotage this healthy habit?

Margaret Cantwell

The vitamin that fights a common contributor of unhealthy aging

Longer lifespans have researchers scrambling to keep an aging population healthier. One vitamin has emerged that experts agree may be helpful for several chronic conditions featuring a common denominator afflicting aging Americans…

Carolyn Gretton

How your doctor’s sex impacts the care you receive

It may be the 21st century, but gender bias remains a huge problem in healthcare. It means some of us aren’t getting the care we deserve and the number of deaths in certain populations is much higher. It may be time to switch doctors…

Carolyn Gretton

When wonder drugs lead to pancreatitis, gastroparesis and bowel obstruction

The GLP-1 agonist class of drugs appears to be a godsend for people looking to lose weight quickly and effortlessly. But there is a decidedly dark side to these medications, including several risky digestive side effects that could make life miserable…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Beer’s weird connection to rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful autoimmune disease that attacks the joints. What exactly triggers it is a mystery, though experts suggest it’s a combination of factors including lifestyle and diet, which makes one item on the prevention list stand out…

Carolyn Gretton

The sweet truth about dark chocolate, diabetes and weight

If you have a sweet tooth, there are worse things you can indulge in than a bar of dark chocolate. Especially if you want to avoid blood sugar trouble and weight gain…

Joyce Hollman

The daily trick for overcoming pain

Chronic pain can consume you, make you unable to concentrate on work or family, and ultimately keep you from doing things you enjoy. Drugs can be both disappointing and risky. But science says there’s a daily habit for overcoming pain that really works…

Carolyn Gretton

The nutrient deficiency driving age-related memory loss

There’s an idea emerging among researchers that the aging brain requires specific nutrients for optimal health, just as the brain of an infant needs certain nutrients for proper development. That’s led them to discover one particular deficiency that drives age-related memory loss…

Joyce Hollman

The vitamin your spine needs the most to battle disc degeneration

If you live in the northern hemisphere, you’re most susceptible to a vitamin deficiency that can have far-reaching health consequences, mostly involving your bones. If you’re a woman that makes you especially vulnerable to a perfect storm that sets you up for disc degeneration…

Joyce Hollman

The diet habit exercise can’t save your heart from

To avoid just about any ailment, you’ll find some research that shows how exercise can shut it down. When it comes to heart disease, it may just be the Holy Grail. But there are heart health risks associated with one diet habit that even exercise may not help…

Jenny Smiechowski

Boost this hormone to banish fibromyalgia pain

When you suffer from fibromyalgia, pain and fatigue can be your constant companions. But for people suffering this debilitating condition, there’s a straightforward way to push back, ease your aches and get your life back…

Carolyn Gretton

The double danger moms face from ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods bear little resemblance to their original form. They’re unhealthy, but what makes them dangerous are chemicals known as phthalates tied to problems ranging from the heart to hormones. They seep into the bloodstream, and in moms-to-be, don’t stop there…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

3 steps to make exercise a habit you can stick to

Everyone needs a little motivation and get-up-and-go just to get started with an exercise routine. Then, if we can get up and do it again the next day, with a little help — before we know it we’ve formed a habit. That’s the ticket. Here are three steps to do just that…

Joyce Hollman

6 supplements a scientist who studies aging swears by

Most doctors advise geting nutrients from food and only supplementing for deficiencies. But an expert in the anti-aging space says he and others like him are willing to throw caution to the wind, especially on supplements with little risk, for the best shot at a long, healthy life…

Margaret Cantwell

What do blood sugar, Alzheimer’s and cancer have in common?

You may have heard that people with diabetes are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and vice versa. What’s not as widely-known is the connection between diabetes and cancer. Research shows it may all come down to…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The furry green fruit that chases away the blues

A blue mood isn’t quite depression. Sometimes we may feel blue for short-term reasons, ones that you may not need a risky medication for. That’s where this once-a-day snack comes in. Discover the impact a little green can make on your mental health and why…

Carolyn Gretton

Too much of a good thing: HDL and dementia

It’s been the mantra of health experts for a long time: LDL is “bad” cholesterol and should be kept low, while HDL is the “good” kind that you should have plenty of. However, the reality is much more complicated. The truth is when it comes to HDL, there can be too much of a good thing…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Why you shouldn’t lower cholesterol with OREOS

A published study showing that eating OREOs can lower cholesterol better than statins is getting a LOT of attention. But before you reach for a sleeve of the black and white disks, there’s more than meets the eye about what led up to this crazy story and the 71 percent drop in LDL…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why the ancient Greeks didn’t get dementia, but Romans did

Most of us know at least one person who suffers from cognitive decline, dementia or Alzheimer’s. But was it always like this? Researchers who stepped back in time don’t believe so, but helped pinpoint when and why that changed…

Carolyn Gretton

Your organs may be aging faster: What it means for you

Scientists have shifted their focus from chronological age to biological age. They’re finding biological age is a much more accurate measure of our health. That’s even more relevant when you know your organs can experience accelerated aging. Here’s what that could mean for you…

Joyce Hollman

A step closer to solving women’s autoimmune connection

Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect the lives of women. They’re also among the top 10 causes of death for women under 65. A new discovery that may finally solve the connection has also revealed a shocking reason they’ve been so hard to diagnose…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Fasting’s inflammation-fighting trigger may work like aspirin

A unifying theory of disease strongly suggests that inflammation is the major contributing factor to disease and aging. Fortunately, scientists are fast on track to identifying what cools it down to support healthier aging…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Potentially deadly fungus on the rise: What you need to know

A potentially dangerous fungal infection is in the news again. Though cases have cropped up recently, they’ve actually been on the rise for a few years in the U.S. So what do you need to know about C. auris and how can you determine whether you or your family is at risk?

Carolyn Gretton

6 ways to keep from having another kidney stone

Why do some people produce kidney stones multiple times, while others may only once? Those unfortunate folks are “stone formers,” and there are a few reasons frequency is a problem for them. Good news? Six of them can be managed to drastically reduce anyone’s risk of this dread experience.

Carolyn Gretton

Stoking the body’s fat-burning furnace

White fat makes up more than 90 percent of the body’s fat and is right where we don’t want it: the abdomen, buttocks and thighs. But brown fat uses energy and heat to eliminate unwanted fat. Harnessing it for weight loss may be the next big thing…

Joyce Hollman

The one thing women should eat for healthy aging

On average, women outlive their male counterparts by 6 years. And when it comes to the truly long-lived, those who live to at least 100, women make up 85 percent of the centenarian club. The challenge is decreasing the chronic disease that happens in those extra years…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Why winter raises cholesterol levels

Heart health is always in season. But during the winter season, there are a few reasons to pay it special attention. According to experts, just like the snow, some health-related factors can pile up to increase cardiovascular risks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Did mild COVID zap your ability to exercise?

Long COVID has left some people with perplexing symptoms. But the most surprising may be how, in adults with only mild infections, it appears to steal their ability to keep fit, leaving them with extreme fatigue and pain even weeks after a single round of exercise…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

When eating a banana is a bad idea

Americans could really afford to increase our uptake of fruits, especially those containing flavanols that support brain, heart and blood vessel health. But the one fruit that surveys say is our favorite can undo all of that. Here’s when to avoid eating it…

Carolyn Gretton

The symptom that pushes metabolic syndrome over the edge

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of five conditions that can add up to serious health threats. You only have to have three to get a diagnosis. But one surprising factor not previously connected to the syndrome has been found to act on the body to accelerate aging and damage to your health…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why you should take fish oil with your antibiotic

A growing number of germs are becoming harder to treat with antibiotics, like those that cause drug-resistant pneumococcal pneumonia, staph or even MRSA. But scientists may have the answer: next time you’re prescribed antibiotics, you should supplement omega-3s, too…

Margaret Cantwell

What you should know about lead levels and high blood pressure

Exposure to heavy metals comes in many forms. But when it comes to threats we can’t see or put a finger on, it’s easy to put them out of mind. We can’t do that with lead, even at low levels, since researchers have seen how strongly it impacts blood pressure…

Joyce Hollman

12 reasons and conditions that make you cold all the time

Winter doesn’t agree with me anymore. When I’m indoors and warm, it’s OK. But you can’t stay inside all winter. For some people, though, feeling cold seems to be a year-round thing, no matter where they live. Here are some of the conditions that might be making you cold all of the time…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Tinnitus: Helping the brain learn to filter sound again

Less is known about what causes tinnitus than about the risk factors associated with it. That’s why people with the condition are often told nothing can be done about it. Luckily, researchers who understand how the brain filters sound haven’t given up…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How a car ride raises BP as much as a high-sodium diet

Long-term exposure to air pollution, like that caused by traffic, has been linked to dangerous health conditions, from heart disease to lung cancer. But what about in the short-term? You’ll be shocked at what a single car ride can do to your blood pressure…

Carolyn Gretton

The diet that takes diabetes down, except when it doesn’t

It can be tough to separate the good from the bad when choosing a diet plan. That’s why scientists are paying closer attention to the health impacts of certain ones. And when it comes to diabetes, they’ve discovered something interesting about plant-based diets…

«SPONSORED»