Latest Stories

Longer warmer seasons are making ticks a year-round menace rather than just a summertime scourge. That could be one reason why rates of a certain tick-borne illness known as “American malaria” are on the rise…

Autoimmune disease turns your body’s once-balanced immune system into an overactive nightmare that begins attacking your own healthy cells and organs. Even with medication, many can be hard to manage. But an ancient spice may be what the doctor orders to improve your treatment plan…

Before trying a high-protein diet to get healthy and lose weight, think again, especially if blood sugar is an issue. It’s advice that could backfire for those at higher risk for underlying kidney disease who may not even know it…

Strokes seem to strike from nowhere. But in truth the risk of having one doubles every 10 years after age 55. Bad habits take it higher. But all of us know someone seemingly hit by one out of left field. Or was it? It could have been their favorite beverage.

Alzheimer’s is almost twice as common in women, which makes identifying female-specific risk factors vital. Especially since experts estimate 40 percent of cases can be prevented or, at the least, delayed. These are the symptoms that need urgent attention…

There are a lot of differences between men’s and women’s heart attack symptoms and heart disease risk factors. But getting caught up in the differences makes it easy to miss lifesaving similarities, like a biomarker that may lead to a vaccine for heart disease….

Emulsifiers do magic things to foods. They make them creamy, thick or even velvety smooth. They also keep our snacks on the shelves longer, so they’re always there when you have a craving. But that’s just the beginning of their bad side…

Manuka honey comes from Australia and New Zealand, but what really makes it unique are anti-cancer compounds and that it blocks estrogen receptors. Here’s what researchers believe breast cancer treatment with Manuka honey could look like…

One in 31 American women dies of breast cancer yearly, but heart disease kills one in three. While tools to assess women’s unique signs of heart trouble have been lacking, a routine medical procedure has identified a common denominator that could save more lives.

There’s nothing “mild” about mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia. Early detection may slow it but that’s relied on ruling out other conditions. But blood vessels in the brain reveal clues on how it could be prevented…

Rates of type 2 diabetes just keep going up, and a lot of finger-pointing is aimed at the standard American Diet. Is your only choice to give up convenience for whole-food home cooking? Not necessarily…

Despite decades of mounting evidence on vitamin D’s prevention potential, the medical community has held fast to a very meager RDA. But change is in the air, at least for certain people and conditions. Did you make the cut?

Chances are we all know a weekend warrior: someone who gets in little activity during the week, but hikes, climbs, kayaks, or the like, every weekend. We could learn a lot from them, like how to avoid more than 260 diseases.

Cancer isn’t as random as you might think. There are five types of cancer that are caused by four common viruses and bacteria. Knowledge is half the battle. Prevention can help you win it…

Obstructive sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night. It can raise the odds of several cardiovascular complications. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is the latest to join that list…

An underactive thyroid can make you tired, achy, overweight and lead to mysterious symptoms including anxiety. That’s why it’s important to know if your thyroid is working as it should. If not, it could be due to an increasingly common and misdiagnosed autoimmune disorder…

We’ve known for a while that coffee has loads of health benefits, especially for the brain. But what about tea? Well, it’s time for tea lovers to celebrate, because their beverage of choice looks to be just as good for the brain as that cup of joe…

It looks looks like cancer is here to stay, in spite of all the money going into research. In fact, for men, the numbers are expected to double. What can you do? Pay attention to these 4 factors fueling the rise…

Many factors influence mood swings. Some are external, like a lost job or a disagreement. Others are internal, like an imbalance in hormones. Who would have thought blood sugar could have such an impact on one in particular…

Erections aren’t just about a healthy sex life. They’re important for a man’s health. An essential trigger for strong erections previously ignored, is in the spotlight: special cells that decline with age. But there’s a way you can generate a youthful number of these cells for, you guessed it, youthful erections…

Obstructive sleep apnea can increase seven cardiovascular complications that can skyrocket risks for heart trouble. Fortunately, getting diagnosed may be easier if you start with a dentist who recognizes the signs and gets to the root of the problem…

Prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer is known for a high rate of false positives that can lead to routine biopsies that can do more harm than good. A new, simple and highly accurate test may put an end to all that…

It’s hard to tell sometimes if health problems are on the rise or just underdiagnosed. Both could apply to atrial fibrillation, a condition that substantially increases risk of stroke. With such dangerous stakes, it a good thing researchers are taking a closer look…

Mobile phone usage is gaining a reputation for trouble. Two studies in as many years link it to cardiovascular diseases through disrupted circadian rhythm, endocrine and metabolic disruption, and increased inflammation. Here’s what you need to know about the data and your risk…

Depression in older adults is common, but contrary to popular belief, it’s not a normal part of aging. Illness, medication, loneliness and limited mobility can play a part. But the biggest contributor? Foods that you should be eating now to boost production of happiness hormones later…

While GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are having their moment, we’re learning they can lead to intestinal damage and the possibility of “life-long treatment” to keep weight from returning. Why risk it when researchers say another evidence-based strategy is safer and works?

Carotenoids are pigments in brightly colored fruits and vegetables. They’re also powerful antioxidants with a serious capacity to scavenge free radicals and guard against cellular damage. But their anti-aging effects don’t stop there…

Do you spend several hours a week working out to lose weight? Maybe you’ve been at it for a while but aren’t seeing the results you hoped for in the mirror. You may even question if it’s worth it. These findings will leave no doubt in your mind about the benefits you’re reaping…

Depression causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anger and more. But depression isn’t confined to the mind. It can manifest in physical symptoms that can make it hard to understand what’s going on and interfere with getting the right kind of help…

There’s no cure for Parkinson’s, but research provides insight into steps we can take to reduce our risk. The most compelling is the free radical assault that puts Parkinson’s into motion and strong evidence the right antioxidant can prevent it…

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: it’s important to keep your body hydrated for reasons like termperature regulation, waste elimination and much more. But its effects on sodium may be the best kept secret yet…

You’ve probably heard weight loss is 80 percent diet/20 percent exercise. So, if you want to lose weight, focus on cutting calories and complement that with a modest calorie burn in realistic daily workouts. But for maintaining the loss, the same rules may not work…

Blood tests are part of annual health physicals for most of us. Sometimes, though, tests may be needed beyond the basics, including more advanced and in-depth tests for disease risk profiling. Here’s your insider’s guide to blood tests…

There’s just no denying the power of a healthy diet to reduce disease risk. But the payout gets bigger when you stick with it, as in reducing your risk of early death, period. But there is still the stroke conundrum…

Is your doctor overlooking the most curable cause of high blood pressure? Nodules affect one-in-twenty people with the condition. Researchers found that a urine test and new scan help detect patients who come off all their medicines after treatment.

There’s a one in four chance, unbeknownst to you, you’re living with a common liver condition, and it’s damaging your heart right now. Researchers are so concerned, they say we can’t view the heart and the liver as completely separate functioning organs any longer…

Sister André was a supercentenarian, someone who lives significantly beyond 100. When she passed at 118, it reignited a well-known longevity theory. You may think you know all about the French Paradox. But what it does for artery health is its best-kept secret…

Frailty increases risks for infection, disability and hospitalization. This makes preventing frailty a vital part of healthy aging. You may still be active, but there’s an easy way to know if frailty is sneaking up on you, in time to do something about it…

Loads of research says coffee is protective against heart failure, heart attack and stroke. But depending on your blood pressure range, it could be a dangerous mix and do just the opposite. That’s why it’s important to know how much is too much…

Cough is the most common complaint most doctors see this time of year. So, I thought it would be helpful to look at the different types and causes of cough and their treatments. Just remember, it’s always best to err on the side of precaution…

If you’re living with depression and anxiety, don’t suffer in silence or from the unwanted side effects of prescription antidepressants. Two vitamins have been shown to boost a depressed mood and relieve anxiety — especially when combined. Get your groove back, naturally…

Exercise is such a powerful tool, but we’re still not doing it. So researchers are working on creative ways to make it easier without sacrificing benefits. They may have hit upon the perfect formula: increasing the intensity of everyday activities a minute at a time, with huge results…

If you’re worried about your heart, look in the mirror and say “ah!” Not because it’s time to relax. But because the tongues of people with heart failure look totally different from those of healthy people. Here’s what to look for…

Who wouldn’t like to have a crystal ball that could predict your health over the next decade? That way, you’d know exactly what areas need improving. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health may have found the next best thing — pushups.

Food allergies can be uncomfortable and even life-threatening. But is it possible to have a food allergy and not know? Here’s evidence silent food allergies can cause problematic changes in the brain you might chalk up to something else…

Generalized anxiety disorder can be challenging, often leading to isolation, physical illnesses, chronic pain and fatigue. Risky antidepressants have been the go-to treatment, but a drug-free alternative just went head to head against the pills and the news is good…

Prostate cancer is the second most deadly cancer in American men. Previous research has shown an exercise program could release chemicals that control the growth of prostate cancer. Now the news is even better…

Blood sugar problems that lead to diabetes are most common around the age of 45. That spells big trouble, including an increased risk of heart disease, nerve damage and even sexual problems. Lifestyle changes can improve things, but this one gets powerful results…

Breast cancer deaths are declining. If we stop right here, that’s certainly great news. But even though fewer women are dying from the cancer, their treatment may set them up for another disease they should be followed closely for…

Drinking tea warms the soul. I find it one of the most soothing things I do for myself. What’s even better? Knowing this guilty pleasure has lots of researched benefits—many among the biggest health issues we face today.

Exercise and health go together like PB and J. Typically, people choose one kind of exercise that works for them. I’m not knocking that because getting any exercise is a good thing. But adding in a little yoga can balloon benefits for blood pressure…

Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass, strength and functionality associated with aging. But have you heard of dynapenia? If you want to keep fraily, falls and decline out of your future, you need to understand how deep age-related muscle loss goes.

A lot of us suffer from allergic rhinitis or hay fever. There’s nothing that unique about seasonal allergies, except maybe this: If you have hay fever, you are at risk for a serious event called “thunderstorm asthma,” even if you don’t normally have asthma.

The old standby, PSA testing, isn’t 100 percent accurate, leading to unnecessary biopsy and treatment and loads of anxiety. But when it was scaled back, metastatic prostate cancer cases rose. The key is identifying men by risk level—and a new tool may be the answer to saving lives…

Too many Americans suffer from chronic bloating — that tight, heavy, swollen feeling in your abdomen that can be caused by a number of conditions. What’s worse, few are seeking help. If you’re one of them, you don’t have to suffer in silence…

Walking is my exercise of choice. No equipment or special skills required! But what really inspires me to lace up my walking shoes is the documented benefits. But guess what? Walking backwards is even better, especially if you have joint or low back pain…

Researchers have found that though fats, salt and sugar are the quickest recipe for poor health, one among them does the most damage at making your body ripe for metabolic disease, especially when your natural protection is missing…

Your gut microbiome needs a variety of bacteria to do its job and keep you healthy. And spice is, as they say, the variety of life. After learning what spices can do for the diversity of your microbiome, that saying may take on a whole new meaning…

In the 1950s, a convenient chemical made non-stick pans the best thing since sliced bread. Or so we thought. But perfect omelets and easy cleanup came with a hefty price: our health. And if you’re still using old non-stick pans, here’s why that threat is even greater…

Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer and men tend to have a higher risk than women. Caught early, it’s treatable. That’s what brought a group of scientists to re-examine the power of diet to prevent colon cancer specifically in men.