Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

A biological reason to hate Mondays: It’s a stress amplifier

Does a cloud of gloom descend on your Sunday nights? There’s a biological reason for that. Our complex relationship with Mondays is deep-seated and dangerous and poses a real health threat, even after we’re retired…

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

The 10 most frequently misdiagnosed conditions

Never leave a doctor’s office until you’re satisfied with the answers you get. A misdiagnosis can happen more often than you’d think, especially if you present with symptoms linked to conditions doctors frequently dismiss…

Joyce Hollman

The connection between dementia and the shingles vaccine

Discussing vaccines can put people on opposites ends of the spectrum, but if you’re somewhere in the middle and you’ve been thinking about the shingles vaccine, a growing connection to dementia may be the deciding factor for you…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The hidden link between heart health and bone strength

When we think about heart health, bones usually don’t come to mind. But growing research shows a powerful connection: the same choices that impact your heart can affect the strength of your bones…

Carolyn Gretton

The vitamin scientists call a ‘game changer’ for aging skin

With age, skin cell production declines, resulting in thinner, paler and less elastic skin, which contributes to the signs of aging, as well as the bruises and cuts that take longer to heal. A vitamin could reactivate the genes essential for skin renewal…

Joyce Hollman

Forget reading tea leaves: How poop predicts mortality

Statistically, becoming an intensive care patient means you’re more likely to die. Researchers have found a unique way to identify those patients at greater risk so they can turn that around. But it starts before you end up there…

Joyce Hollman

The indestructible toxin attacking your immune system

PFAS are “forever chemicals” that poison your drinking water and sneak into your body via furniture, clothing, take-out and dental floss, too. They’re hard to avoid. And now we know how they cause disease: by destroying the most important parts of our immune system…

Joyce Hollman

The drink that helps keep cancer from coming back

There’s just something about the world’s most popular beverage. And this time it’s too good to pass up, especially if you’re a colon cancer survivor or just looking for that special ingredient to live your longest best life…

Joyce Hollman

What a high-fat diet does to the brain in just 3 days

Obesity has been linked to cognitive decline, even Alzheimer’s, but researchers questioned if it really was the weight, which can take years to gain, or the high-fat foods harming the brain. In just three days, they had their answer.

Carolyn Gretton

A cholesterol cure to save your heart and your vision

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has no known cause and no known cure. But scientists are seeking to change that. Their explorations into AMD’s mechanisms have uncovered a surprising link between AMD and heart disease….

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Young-onset colon cancer and heart disease: A concerning parallel

You might be surprised that a cardiologist has something to say about colon cancer. But we’re seeing a parallel: what causes heart disease earlier in life may also be a setup for aggressive colon tumors.

Joyce Hollman

The Japanese secret to avoid brain shrinkage

One factor related to cognitive decline is brain shrinkage, also known as brain atrophy. As brain size decreases, connections between brains cells are lost and that leads to problems with thinking skills, memory and even performing daily activities, But a Japanese diet may keep your brain plump and sharp…

Joyce Hollman

Is CoQ10 the answer to chronic fatigue syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome has puzzled doctors for decades. People with the debilitating condition have felt left out in the cold and worse, told “it’s all in their head.” But several recent studies have found that low blood levels of an important nutrient may be to blame…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising benefits of regular sex in menopause

Women in menopause tend to lose interest in sex. Considering it can become painful, that’s no surprise. What is surprising is that a “pleasure prescription” may be just what’s needed to overcome this challenging time of life…

Carolyn Gretton

This ancient Chinese herb could be the next big thing in cancer treatment

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has millennia of evidence backing up its remedies. Which is why when searching for the next cancer breakthrough, researchers have turned to an unusual medicinal herb with a solid reputation for acting against cancer cells…

Joyce Hollman

Diabetes + obesity = a recipe for serious liver damage

Metabolic syndrome can lead to serious trouble impacting different organs in the body. But it’s the combination of diabetes and obesity that can wreak significant harm on the liver. Here’s what you need to know…

Carolyn Gretton

The cellular longevity switch tripped by caffeine

After climbing for decades, it looked as though human longevity had hit a ceiling. But sometimes you can accidentally trip a switch that triggers a protective mechanism. When you drink coffee, it’s an ancient longevity switch hidden in your cells.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Meds for certain chronic conditions trigger heat-related dangers

Medications for four categories of conditions make it difficult for the body to handle hot weather by reducing its ability to sweat or increase blood flow to the skin. That can result in heat-related illness or increase risk of heart attack. Are your meds on this hot list?

Carolyn Gretton

The edge that could keep you out of the dentist’s chair

For a healthy mouth and avoiding gum disease, oral hygiene matters. So do regular checkups. But who couldn’t use an edge to stay out of the dentist’s chair, especially to avoid those procedures we dread the most…

Joyce Hollman

When dementia starts with your liver

When is dementia, not dementia? When it’s a liver disease that attacks the brain and leaves surprisingly similar symptoms in its wake. Good news? When this liver condition attacks your brain you can fight it with laxatives and medication…

Joyce Hollman

How the Keto diet may help treat Autoimmune Disorders

Scientists have suspected the Keto diet holds answers to treating autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. Changes in the gut show they’re on target, but if the diet’s too extreme, a supplement mimicks the helpful effects.

Carolyn Gretton

3 ingredients that stop hot flashes, start weight loss in menopause

Menopause is not fun. Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain… it all adds up to a really unpleasant time. But researchers have identified three key elements that can relieve the worst symptoms, and know exactly why they work…

Carolyn Gretton

Two molecules explain Alzheimer’s ‘mystery’ and enable early detection

Women are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as men. While the exact reason has been a mystery, there are plenty of plausible theories. But a connection between two molecules is strong enough to even lead to a blood test for early detection…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The stem cell secret behind middle-age spread

At middle age, some things are just expected, including the dreaded middle-age spread. But the more we understand about how that fat gets there, the better our chances of doing something about it, starting now…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Cold water immersion: Adapting your cells to live longer

It may not be your cup of tea, but evidence links cold water immersion to living longer. After taking a deep dive, researchers know why: It enhances a critical cellular protective mechanism that promotes health and longevity.

Joyce Hollman

The major impact of mini-stroke on the brain

Stroke can change or take your life in an instant. But one type, known as a mini-stroke, is often referred to as a warning stroke. Heed it and you might escape significant harm. But that adage no longer holds up…

Joyce Hollman

Semaglutide melts muscle: Why that’s bad news for blood sugar

The list of harmful effects tied to semaglutide keeps growing. Sure, it melts fat, but almost half the weight loss may come from muscle loss. That’s trouble for anyone, but especially if you have blood sugar problems…

Carolyn Gretton

How antibiotics wreak lasting damage in your gut

The good news is that antibiotic use is on the decline after years of discovering the damage they do to the gut microbiome. But, there are times they’re necessary, and that means the risk of another sinister way they cause harm long after their use…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising risk AFib carries for early-onset dementia

Atrial fibrillation is more common in people over 65. But trends in certain risk factors are changing that, and linking the condition with more than a 50% increased risk for early-onset dementia, even without stroke…

Joyce Hollman

Why the red meat-colon cancer link is higher for some

The colon is the last stop in your digestive system, so it stands to reason that food can significantly impact the risk of colon cancer, especially red and processed meats. But new research shows why that risk is even higher for some of us, and how we can take it down…

Carolyn Gretton

10 reasons your leg could be hurting

Sometimes if you have leg pain, the cause is obvious. But there are times when you may not be sure what’s going on. And whatever the source, no one wants to suffer through pain, wondering if the cause is anything serious or not. Here are 10 reasons you could be experiencing leg pain…

Carolyn Gretton

New prostate cancer therapy offers fewer side effects, more hope

Prostate cancer therapy hasn’t provided many choices other than surgery or radiation. And given the life-altering side effects those options cause, it’s time for some good news — as in less-invasive and fewer side effects…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The significant link between blood pressure, anxiety and depression

There are multiple factors that can contribute to high blood pressure that are reversible. The ones that come to mind include excess weight, smoking, inactivity and poor diet. But have you considered the impact of anxiety, stress and depression on your numbers? Here’s why you should…

Joyce Hollman

Women’s advantage for cheating heart disease

Men and women are different in many ways, including heart disease: Men may have the higher risk, but women face a higher rate of mortality. But women have an unfair advantage that can reduce that risk as much as 30 percent with much less effort than men…

Joyce Hollman

9 natural allergy remedies that won’t put you to sleep

For most allergy sufferers, spring can be absolutely miserable. If you’re tired of antihistamines that put you to sleep, give these natural allergy remedies a go, and watch out for the dehydration factor that can make your symptoms worse…

Carolyn Gretton

The leisure-time activity that sabotages a man’s sex life

A lot of things can impact a man’s ability to achieve an erection, including age and health. But there’s another factor that you may not have considered — and it involves an increasingly popular activity common among young and old alike…

Carolyn Gretton

When stroke triples the risk of dementia

The idea of suffering a stroke is a scary one. And what makes it even scarier are the potential long-term consequences. Researchers have known a link exists between stroke and higher dementia risk, but now they know that risk triples in a surprisingly short period of time…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diet that ‘detoxes’ diabetic kidney danger

For many people dealing with type 2 diabetes, kidney problems will crop up. Diabetes injures the kidneys, keeping them from cleaning the blood properly. But if you can eliminate one food compound you’ve likely never heard of, you might stop that threat in its tracks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Green cleaning’s not-so-green harmful chemical link

When it comes to living healthy in a polluted world, most of us will go out of our way. That may mean choosing organic produce or grass-fed beef. But when it comes to green cleaning, it looks like most of us are paying a premium for a false sense of security.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Women’s Health Alert: Rapid ovary aging, menopause and heart disease

The menopausal transition usually begins between 45 and 55. But a growing threat has been connected to rapid ovary aging as much as 10 years before a woman’s last period. Speeding up the biological clock is one thing, but harsher menopause symptoms and a higher risk for heart disease is another…

Joyce Hollman

The health and relationship benefits of a sleep divorce

A sleep divorce may not sound like a good thing. But sleeping separately could be great for your relationship. Here’s what experts say about the pros and cons and how to approach it so it’s a successful strategy for you, your partner, your relationship and your health.

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘cluster condition’ that raises kidney cancer risk almost 5 times

Most of us know that metabolic syndrome encompasses several conditions and is sort of a stern warning to get your “house” in order or face the serious threat of heart disease. But the worse metabolic syndrome gets, the worse your cancer risk gets too…

Carolyn Gretton

Microplastic discovered in artery-clogging plaques

Plaque buildup clogs arteries and can lead to stroke and heart attack. This nasty mixture consists of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste, calcium and fibrin. But a shocking new ingredient seen in surgically removed plaques may make them even more dangerous.

Joyce Hollman

Remove microplastics from water in your own kitchen

Microplastics are inescapable. They invade pretty much every system in the body and ferry other toxins in. But when they’re in our food and water what can we do? Reduce them by 90 percent right in your kitchen, no special equipment needed…

Joyce Hollman

The underrated benefits of stretching that rival strenuous exercise

Most people stretch to warm up cold muscles before they jump into some heavy-duty exercise. But what if stretching IS exercise? Check mark! And even better: what if it reduces arterial stiffness at the same time it reduces stiffness in your body, and helps you live longer?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The statin that more than doubles dementia risk

Statins are commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol. But while it may seem like a no-brainer to take a medication your doctor says will reduce risk of heart attack or stroke, you could be increasing the danger to your brain…

Joyce Hollman

Daily blueberry powder changed brains in just 6 months

The particular phytochemical compounds blueberries contain, known as anthocyanins, have been shown to decrease dementia risk and increase blood flow to the brain. But you can imagine how excited researchers were to see changes in just 6 months — and they weren’t even fresh berries!

Carolyn Gretton

Real or artificial: The sweet drinks linked to AFib

Sugar may taste sweet. But its health impacts are anything but. And artificial sweeteners have lots of problems of their own. The best advice? Unless you want to risk AFib and stroke, quench your thirst, not your sweet tooth…

Carolyn Gretton

What Kundalini yoga does for those at high risk for Alzheimer’s

One out of nine Americans over 65 has Alzheimer’s. The odds of becoming that ‘one’ grow with every risk factor you may have. Some risk factors can be managed, while others can’t be changed: Almost two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women.

Joyce Hollman

The ‘other change’ behind menopausal weight gain and disease risk

If you’re post-menopausal, you’ve experienced a lot of change, but one’s recently been identified that helps explain why weight gain and higher risk for metabolic disease are among them. The loss of those hormones impacts a certain organ more than anyone thought…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Move over fish and krill oil: Is this the omega-3 for you?

The fact that fish oil is packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids is no secret. Because it’s got its drawbacks, we can also reach for krill oil. But hold on to your hat… there’s a third contender in the ring. Is this what you’ve been waiting for to transform your health?

Joyce Hollman

From kidney disease to heart disease: How much salt matters

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for people with Chronic kidney disease (CKD). And CKD can raise the risk of CVD significantly. They often occur together and share many of the same risk factors — and one popular spice…

Carolyn Gretton

Lose fat exercising just two days a week

For optimal health and weight, experts say we have to get anywhere from 75 to 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week. But who has time for that much exercise? That’s why scientists have been exploring whether it’s truly necessary to get that much…

Easy Health Options Staff

FDA Alert Concerning Cinnamon: Check your spice rack for lead-tainted brands

The FDA has issued an official alert concerning certain ground cinnamon products due to the presence of elevated levels of lead. We’re sharing the six brands you need to check for and dispose of, as well as a link to their full statement concerning the scope of the problem.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The down-the-road dangers of heart attack

Experts say quick emergency treatment is why seven in ten people now survive a heart attack. But the road they face post-heart attack won’t be an easy one. It’s the beginning of working even harder to secure their health, and why anyone should try that much harder to avoid a first attack…

Carolyn Gretton

Depressed? Your immune system may have been hacked

Your immune system defends against injury and disease. It attacks pathogens, neutralizes harmful substances and fights disease-causing changes in the body. But less has been known about its role in depression, until experts realized it can get hacked — by stress.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The menopause-migraine link to heart attack and stroke

Heart problems in women are risky enough for reasons like having symptoms doctors are slower to recognize. But a life transition there’s no escape from and higher odds for migraine makes matters worse. Here’s what you need to know about this risky combination and how to protect yourself…

Carolyn Gretton

Is it IBS or IBD?

IBS and IBD have a few things in common: they both affect the GI tract and can cause constipation, diarrhea, pain and fatigue. They’re both difficult to diagnose and can make life miserable. Here’s your guide to understanding the differences and getting relief…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising truth about medications and driving

If you take certain medications, you may have seen “Do not operate heavy machinery” on the label. For sleeping pills, that may seem like a given. But there are others you may be surprised to learn could get you into trouble if you take them before driving…

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