Latest Stories

The average American consumes almost 19 teaspoons of added sugar a day. And that’s tied to more than 45 serious health problems. No wonder many of us turn to low-calorie sweeteners, like xylitol. But practicing moderation may be safer than risking blood clots…

A mild stroke could be a wake-up call. But a severe stroke changes your life in ways you can’t bounce back from. Before it’s too late, do something about the most important risk linked to severe stroke…

If you have risk factors for heart disease, including hypertension and diabetes, a case of pneumonia can increase the stress on your heart further leading to some serious complications. But if your doctor approves, you can start working to prevent that possibility now…

Aging gracefully is about more than just adding years to your life. It’s about enriching those years with health, vitality and connection. Golf can help because it’s more than just a sport — it’s a pathway to a longer, fuller life. 

Vitamin D is linked to positive impacts from healthy aging to prevention. Its effect on blood pressure has been inconclusive, however. But new research finds it may be a matter of when and who vitamin D can help the most…

Obesity is at the root of most disease, from cancer to heart disease. But it’s most closely linked to is diabetes, hence the term ‘diabesity.’ But another hidden factor driving that connection has been recently uncovered…

Gabapentinoids have been seen as a safer alternative to opioids for pain. However, they carry with them their own risks — including one debilitating condition that could be a death sentence for older adults…

Coming out on the other side of a cancer diagnosis is no small feat. But survivors often live looking over their shoulders. Scientists have identified one particularly high risk factor that could leave cancer in the rearview mirror…

Avocados have long been considered a superfood. Yes, they’re high in fat and calories but also contain some valuable nutrition. That’s what caught the attention of researchers looking to put the blood pressure-busting effects of avocados to the test…

Visits to the ER for heart attacks increase during the winter months. Experts say there are three levels of people for whom this is more likely, and one group never sees it coming. Here’s how to avoid being one of them…

Menopause is a dangerous time for women, beyond breast cancer. So how can you keep ‘the change’ from stealing your health? Whether you’re perimenopausal or post-menopausal, start now to avoid these 5 threats…

Licorice is candy. But in traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s a medicinal herb. Its powerful effects are why guidelines determined how much was safe to eat. But they were wrong about how little can have deleterious effects…

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to slow aging. Understandably, there’s some skepticism when products claim to. But it can be as simple as avoiding the things that accelerate your rate of aging — like these foods…

For years, people with gout have been shamed for causing their own pain. It was thought their poor diet elevated uric acid which contributes to painful crystals in joints, like the big toe. Now we know there’s more to the story.

If you can bang out close to 10,000 steps a day, more power to you. But there’s a more effecient way to rev up your metabolism and burn 60 percent more calories. This is one health hack that may sound too good to be true, but here’s why it works…

Thanks to genetics, even diet and exercise may not lower high cholesterol. And since many people ditch medication, researchers seek alternatives. After a study with 400,000 people, they’ve hit on one that’s effective even when it starts with your genes.

Garlic has long had a place at the table and in traditional medicine, where the potent bulb is linked to heart health, reduced inflammation and a strong immune system. Now, taming aggressive cancer cells can be added to the list…

After a heart attack, it makes sense that you’d want to sleep more. But the need for sleep is more than the physical exhaustion of going through a traumatic health event. It’s a signal for healing that if not heeded could mean a 2nd heart attack…

The “cold sore” virus is extremely common. It’s believed to be present in more than half of all Americans. That doesn’t make it any easier to deal with when cold sores flareup. Gaining a better understanding of the virus may…

Apple cider vinegar is a versatile household staple, from brightening salad dressings to unclogging drains. It’s also touted as a health elixir. How can you separate the hype from the real benefits? See what the doctor has to say…

Environmentalists have sounded alarms about the harm it’s doing. But a more dire warning may be the estimated nine million premature deaths that happen each year because it’s hardening our arteries. As a doctor, this is how I’m protecting myself…

The idea of a healthy diet has been based on older dietary measures that steer us towards food groups or specific macronutrients. But it’s the effect of food inside the body that’s the common denominator fueling disease…

With cold and flu season approaching, you need to hear an ugly truth: Many decongestants we’ve turned to for sinus pain and pressure have been deemed ineffective and will leave drugstore shelves soon. Here’s why some work and some don’t…

The virus season is here. That means you need to ready your defenses against respiratory infections and the potential for pneumonia. As odd as this advice sounds, seeing your dentist may make the biggest impact…

A supplement that fights respiratory infections has been overshadowed by vitamin C, even though studies show it can reduce the likelihood of getting the flu by more than 50%. But its power to starve cancer might help it stand out…

The low FODMAP is as effective as medication in managing IBS symptoms, but it can be difficult to follow because it is so restrictive. What if you only had to restrict two things to get the same symptom relief?

Do you live with never-ending congestion and recurrent sinus infections? Feel like you can’t get enough air through your nose? Nasal polyps may be to blame. Your doctor can remove them, but to keep them from returning, do these 2 things…

How well do you think you’re aging? Considering all we now know about slowing the rate of aging so we can reduce risks for functional decline and disease, we’d be foolish not to try. The first step is to gauge your biological age…

Deciphering cholesterol readings can be complex but we all know HDL is the good stuff, or so we thought. For women, menopause can help bring out the bad side of HDL that could lead to the first sign of Alzheimer’s…

Heart disease is not always top of mind. Maybe because we’ve become numb to it. Yet it remains the leading cause of death. While that almost makes it almost seem “normal”, it’s time to get scary serious about it…

If you have heart surgery coming up, the last thing you want is complications. If everything goes smoothly, you can get home and back to normal life faster. But before the hospital will discharge you they have some criteria you must meet. That’s where a stick of gum will come in handy.

Once hair goes gray, there’s no going back. Or is there? Scientists exploring what lies at the root of the process made a discovery about the cells responsible that could potentially mean the end of gray hair and provides a big clue about melanoma…

Whether you suffer from migraines or cluster headaches, when the pain hits, everything stops. And for many, these headaches come with incredible regularity, even down to the time of day they start. It’s a fact that’s led researchers to some startling findings and potential relief…

The number of people suffering from type 2 diabetes is rising globally, and at a much faster rate in developed countries like the U.S. Research has honed in on three dietary factors responsible for 7 out of 10 cases…

Obesity has been blamed for putting a wear-and-tear load on joints that can lead to and affect the progression of arthritis. If that were all that was going on, weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing joints would not be equally affected. Here’s what’s really happening…

In Rome, walnuts were considered the food of the gods. Considering what we now know of their exceptional heart health benefits, there’s good reason to hold them in such high regard. But the biggest benefit may come from the nuts special relationship with your gut…

Obstructive sleep apnea steals your sleep and worse, the oxygen your body needs. That struggle to breathe may be your brain’s biggest enemy. That’s because even if you’re otherwise healthy, sleep apnea can put you squarely in the crosshairs of premature cognitive decline.

If you live near a busy road, listening to the sounds of traffic may be something you’ve learned to live with. But if your blood pressure keeps going up and up, it may not be for long. Here’s what you should know about the connection and how to reduce its dangerous effect…

Have you ever wondered why some people live to 100 with their health, while most of us are lucky to make it to 50 before developing multiple health conditions? While longevity research has focused on wine and chocolate, a new revelation says it starts with your immune system…

African American men face a higher risk for prostate cancer. Not only are they more likely to develop the disease, but twice as likely to lose their lives to it. Genetic differences in cellular processing of one very important vitamin are to blame…

Skincare is a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S., in large part due to anti-aging products. Many companies in the industry have investigators on the hunt for the next big anti-aging breakthrough. And they may have found it in a plant largely considered to be a pesky weed…

Many acid reflux drugs have been found to increase stroke risk by as much as 94 percent! Luckily, researchers identified 5 easy steps to reduce GERD symptoms without the threat of stroke.

Doctors have been telling us for years to watch our weight and sugar and carb intake to avoid blood sugar problems, but something clearly isn’t working: The staggering number of Americans suffering from diabetes continues to climb. Turns out they were missing something…

Few things are sweeter than spring after a long, cold winter. It just makes you want to start cleaning everything! But with a little planning, you can make your home a healthier living space by cutting down on endocrine-disrupting toxins hiding in plain sight…

Frailty is a word we associate with aging. But did you know it’s also a measurement of 52 factors that can lower your lifespan? Depending on your score that could mean illness or a life cut short. And for women, there’s one more thing working against them…

When your doctor prescribes drugs for your low back pain, he’s working with what he’s got. But whether analgesic medicine provides meaningful relief is still an open question, a new study has found. You may be surprised at what may work better…

A study has confirmed that not only can a little-known lipoprotein accurately predict your risk of developing atherosclerosis (where fatty deposits clog your arteries), it can be measured by at-home genetic testing just as accurately as bloodwork done in a doctor’s office. But if you’ve got good cholesterol numbers, your doctor isn’t looking for it…

If you have high blood pressure, your heart’s not the only thing you have to worry about. It can also impact your brain. In a “world first,” researchers have mapped specific brain regions impacted by high blood pressure and how that can increase your odds of dementia…

It turns out that playing golf just once a month can have a positive impact on heart attack and stroke risk. And, let’s face it, the older we get, the harder it is to participate in other sports that could lower that risk as much. But there’s even more to golf than meets the eye. Find out how it plays into longevity…

When you hear the word “bacteria,” the first thing you may think of is a disease-causing organism that needs to be eradicated. But without the bacteria in your gut microbiome, it’s your health that could disappear. And science says we should all be worried about that…

Some foods contain natural sugars, But unless you follow a strict whole foods diet, daily added sugar is setting you up for disease, and not just diabetes or obesity. 45 adverse health conditions have been linked to added sugars prompting a new limit…

Depression is more than a mental state. People with depression are at far higher risk of chronic disease and even early death. However, no one knew why until an undeniable link between depression, disease and something called senescent cells was uncovered…

When men over a certain age start making multiple nightly bathroom trips, two things usually enter their minds: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate, and that other serious prostate problem no man wants to face. But often it’s a condition they’ve never considered…

Few of us are exposed to high-dose radiation (unless it’s to kill cancer cells). But what about the exposure that comes from X-rays or CT scans? We’ve been told for years not to worry about low dose radiation. But the effects on the heart aren’t so benign…

Bone loss and dementia are both health problems we have a higher risk of as we age. So for years, there’s been speculation about a connection between these issues. What they’ve found will have you running for your next bone density screening.

Studies show stress affects physical health. But not just stress in the moment. Anticipatory stress is stress you’re anticipating, and politics is a big trigger. If this sound like you, there are a couple of ways to manage it and avoid the harmful effects…

The EPA has taken the first step to regulate forever chemicals in our drinking water. These chemicals get stored in our bodies and wreak havoc on our health. So is it too little too late? Here’s how to protect against this dangerous exposure…

Hypertension is a risk factor for heart attack, stroke and premature death. For years, we’ve been told exercise can help. In some analyses, exercise was as effective as drugs. But a 29-year study came to a surprising conclusion about exercise, blood pressure and man’s risks for heart trouble…

Losing weight and then putting it back on is something most of us can relate to. But don’t get too down on yourself. If improving heart health is your goal, you may be surprised to find how long even temporary weight loss does a heart good…

Exercise is one of the healthiest habits we can practice. You know it protects the heart, but there’s a strong connection between cancer and exercise too. Even following diagnosis, find out why you should start moving as much as possible…