Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

For infection prevention, hit the sheets

A lot of us don’t spend enough time in the bedroom. Then again, some of us could be spending a little too much time there. Why does it matter? Your time between the sheets has been linked to how well you can fight off infection.

Joyce Hollman

From postnasal drip to infection: Tips for a lingering cough

There are few things more annoying than a persistent cough, one that lasts for days or weeks and just won’t go away. Here’s what we know about chronic coughing, what it means, when you should be concerned and the treatments that work…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Is your thyroid causing your cholesterol trouble?

From muscle pain to kidney problems and double the dementia risk, it’s no wonder people are wary of statins. Besides those concerns, targeting high levels with statins, might not get to the root of your problem. That’s because cholesterol problems can start in a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland that produces some of the body’s most important hormones instead of your blood vessels.

Joyce Hollman

Is this trace mineral behind your blood sugar problems?

Type 2 diabetes is a major health issue that’s reached epidemic proportions. Exercise and diet are your main weapons against diabetes, but there’s a little-known mineral that could help in a big way…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The stroke risk linked to depression

Depression is considered a serious mood disorder. But there’s a big difference between having a blue mood occasionally and being depressed. It’s not usually something you can just push through, and that’s just one reason to seek help. Another is the increased risk for stroke…

Carolyn Gretton

Mediterranean diet improves cancer treatment for melanoma

Polyphenols are a subset of phytonutrients that are especially “bioactive.” They’re known for drug-like effects in human health. Considering the plethora of nutrition in the Mediterranean diet, finding it’s helpful in cancer treatment is no surprise…

Joyce Hollman

12 conditions that throw you off balance

As we get older, our sense of balance can weaken somewhat. But if you’ve seen your balance worsen in a way that’s not gradual, something else could be going on. Here are twelve health issues that can make you less steady on your feet…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Breaking the link between air pollution and osteoporosis

Is it any wonder that 80 percent of Americans living with osteoporosis are women? By nature, the odds are against us. And now we’re learning with every breath, it gets worse. Air pollution is eating away at our bones, but we’re not as helpless about it as it might seem…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The green fruit that keeps deep belly fat away

When we think about weight loss, we think about dropping body fat. But when you lose “deep” fat, you drop risks for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Problem is, it’s a lot harder to get rid of than regular fat, unless you eat this green fruit daily…

Carolyn Gretton

Is 11 minutes a day enough to keep early death at bay?

If you think you don’t have time to exercise, you’re far from alone. The recommended amount of 150 minutes a week often stops people cold. What if, in the amount of time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, you could reduce several risks that often lead to an early grave?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What any man can do to ‘last longer’

It’s no secret that having a good sex life can make your whole life feel better, your relationships run more smoothly and boost your confidence. But problems can sneak into the bedroom that create more frustration than joy. Here’s a secret every man should know…

Carolyn Gretton

Why skipping breakfast means getting sick more often

There are many proven reasons breakfast has earned the title of “most important meal of the day.” And the popular practice of fasting is proving yet another reason why: a chain reaction set off by inflammation that can make you sick easily and more often and set you up for heart problems…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Is revitalizing old blood the secret to slowing aging?

Research has demonstrated the power of young blood to rejuvenate older bodies, making hearts and muscles stronger and minds sharper. But you can’t walk into your doctor’s office and ask to be hooked up to an IV of blood from a 20-year-old. Here’s what you can do…

Joyce Hollman

How ultra-processed foods destroy your hunger hormones

Astrocytes are star-shaped cells in the brain that express receptors for hormones, including ghrelin, which signals hunger, and its counterpart, leptin, which signals fullness. But just 10 days of the wrong foods dismantles that whole system…

Carolyn Gretton

This early warning could save your heart years before signs of trouble

Given how deadly a heart attack or stroke can be, it helps to get as much advance warning as possible. But too often that’s not the case by the time the heart signals a problem. But there’s another part of the body where researchers have discovered a tell-tale sign that may save lives years in advance.

Carolyn Gretton

Conclusive: Vitamin D’s viral ‘protective effect’

During the pandemic, there was a lot of research into how nutrition might give us an edge, and one vitamin stood out. Now that the worst appears to be behind us, you may be wondering what was ultimately decided. Does vitamin D have exceptional clout or not?

Jenny Smiechowski

Drink away high blood pressure and bad cholesterol

If you follow a few simple rules, you can drink tomato juice until your heart’s content (and your heart will be very content — and healthy — with lower BP and cholesterol!). That’s what people in this study did, and look how it worked out for them? Ready to give it a go?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to lower sleep apnea risk in 20 minutes

Snoring, waking up gasping for air or with a headache in the morning and feeling tired and irritable are all signs of sleep apnea, a condition that affects more than 29 million Americans. A new study has found an easy way to reduce your risk of sleep apnea in under 20 minutes per day…

Joyce Hollman

5 ways eating a banana could save your life

Will a banana a day keep heart disease away? Let me count the ways… bananas are high in potassium, a mineral that plays a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy heart. Without enough of this mineral, your heart and arteries simply cannot function the way they’re supposed to.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How forever chemicals set you up for disease later in life

If you think forever chemicals are new, you’d be wrong. PFAS have been around since the 1940s. That means most of us have been around long enough for PFAS to have taken advantage of a vulnerable window of time when they set us up for disease later in life…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why omega-3s came out on top of COVID-19

The health and longevity of people in blue zones is just one reasons for tons of research on omega-3 essential fatty acids. They’ve held an ancient secret that in today’s world is still proving they’re not only essential because we can’t produce them on our own, but good health depends on them.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Erythritol: The sugar substitute linked to sticky blood and stroke

Blood clots in response to an injured blood vessel. It’s a normal response even to a paper cut. As the bleeding stops, the clot is no longer needed and dissolves. Things don’t always go as planned, but who would have thought an artificial sweetener could make things worse…

Jenny Smiechowski

Golf lovers do this better

You wouldn’t think being a spectator at a sporting event would have a positive impact on your health. But it does — at least when it comes to one sport in particular, whose fans could put just about anyone’s Fitbit score to shame…

Joyce Hollman

How irregular sleep hardens arteries

Studies have shown that not sleeping enough and having irregular bedtimes and wake-up times can put your heart at risk. Now, researchers have connected the dots between poor sleep and a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke…

Joyce Hollman

Laxatives linked to high dementia risk

Chronic constipations affects more Americans than care to admit. If you’re one of them and reach for laxatives for relief, take a close look at the type and how many you use. Your future brain health may depend on it…

Carolyn Gretton

The link between your toothbrush and silent brain damage

Over the years, we’ve learned more about how the health of your mouth can affect your entire body. But oral health risk factors that contribute to stroke prompted research into how caring for your mouth could save your brain from silent damage…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising truth about olive oil’s benefits

A daily spoonful of olive oil could tame a lot of health ills. But what makes it so healthy? For years polyphenols, phenomenal plant compounds, got all the glory. But a component that makes up almost 80 percent of olive oil’s composition is stepping forward…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The silent surgery risk your doctor may not know about

If you’re age 65 or older and considering surgery, know your risks. Especially if the surgery is elective. You’ll need to weigh the chances of a newly recognized risk and what it could do to your life… against the potential benefits you’ll get from having the surgery. And it’s a threat your doctor may not be aware of yet…

Joyce Hollman

Forget dieting: Adopt an ‘eat more-live better’ food style

The word “diet” conjures up images of deprivation, tasteless foods, and constant cravings for what we can’t have. But deprivation diets set you up to fail… unless you have willpower like Superman. Instead of starting a new “diet,” pledge to gradually change your “eating style,” and you’ll have greater success.

Joyce Hollman

Obesity causes brain changes that mimic Alzheimer’s

Strange as it sounds, obesity is a form of premature aging. But though that’s been well established, experts were still shocked to see how similar obesity-related neurodegeneration is to changes in an Alzheimer’s brain…

Joyce Hollman

Heart disease? Eat fish twice a week to save your life

A diagnosis of heart disease is a serious wake-up call. Some people heed that call, while others wonder if the diagnosis is the beginning of a downward spiral they have little control over. Well, a very large study has proven it doesn’t have to be, as long as fish is part of your diet…

Carolyn Gretton

The stress ‘vital exhaustion’ can place on your heart

Vital exhaustion, or burnout syndrome, is usually characterized by persistent stress, excessive fatigue, feelings of demoralization and sleep problems. This syndrome is linked to a number of health issues, including Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes, but its biggest impact appears to be on the heart…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The daily habit that eases migraine, depression, anxiety and sleep loss

Migraines, depression, sleep loss and anxiety can fast become an endless cycle that seems to have no end. Medications may work for some, but especially when it comes to migraines, the side-effects can rival the pain. But there’s one daily habit that might provide the relief you need…

Carolyn Gretton

The damage a high-fat diet can do to your heart

There are benefits to high-fat, low-carb diets, particularly for weight loss and brain conditions like epilepsy. But there’s no denying the damage fat can do to your heart. Researchers have uncovered a connection between diets high in fat and a certain protein that can wreak havoc with your cardiac health…

Eddie Perry

The dangerous link between herbicide and Parkinson’s

Scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors may contribute to Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that usually affects a person’s motor skills and movement. When it comes to environmental concerns, a certain herbicide has a strong connection to the disease.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

An apple a day to keep aging brains sharp

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, we hear. But could it also keep brain aging at bay? That’s what some new research indicates. But if you don’t like apples, no worries. There are other sources of this brain-boosting nutrient…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Red ginseng shown effective at suppressing lung cancer

Red ginseng has quite a reputation in traditional Korean medicine. It’s used as a tea, extract and supplement for various ailments, and is reported to have strong anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer properties. Now, scientists have discovered two molecules in the root that can stop the spread of lung cancer, with the help of a microwave.

Joyce Hollman

The stroke danger that masquerades as vision loss

Strokes don’t only happen in the brain. Retinal artery occlusion is a stroke that happens in the eye. The only symptom may be diminished vision. But an “eye stroke” is considered a medical emergency, meaning minutes count not only to avoid permanent vision loss but to prevent another serious event…

Joyce Hollman

The one drink breast cancer survivors should avoid

Despite increased awareness of the downsides of soda, half the population consumes sugary drinks on a given day. One in four people gets at least 200 calories from soda, while five percent get at least 567, the equivalent of four cans of soda a day. For a breast cancer survivor, that could be a death sentence. Here’s why and the drink to toast your longevity to instead.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What doesn’t work against belly fat — and what does

Fasting has become popular of late. Recent research, though, has shown that even intermittent fasting might not be enough to bust belly fat. But the research did get the fat to give up the skinny on why it’s so difficult, and that’s information you can use to master your strategy to win the battle of the bulge…

Carolyn Gretton

A low-dose aspirin a day may keep the worst of COVID-19 away

Aspirin has been around as an anti-inflammatory for more than a century. And new health benefits associated with this old-school medicine are still being uncovered today. In fact, researchers may have found a link between low-dose aspirin use and protection against COVID-19…

Joyce Hollman

You’re never too old to change your diet and save your brain

The Mediterranean diet is well known for its multiple health benefits, including heart health, weight loss and cancer prevention. Now, researchers in Scotland have added brain health to that list. Sticking to a Mediterranean style of eating can keep your brain sharp well into your senior years.

Carolyn Gretton

How type 2 diabetes may increase risk for Parkinson’s disease

Aging can come with higher risks of many diseases, including type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. These two diseases may seem unrelated, but they share a lot of the same characteristics inside the body. And now it appears there may be a definite link between type 2 diabetes and your risk for Parkinson’s.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Tea’s blood pressure-lowering compounds identified

Lowering blood pressure can be challenging. After all, to get it down, most doctors recommend changing your diet, getting more exercise or taking loads of medications, sometimes stacked one on top of another. But lowering your BP a few more notches can be as simple as a cup of tea.

Joyce Hollman

How a plant-based diet cured an ‘incurable’ skin disease

There’s tons of evidence that eating mostly fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help prevent and even cure many conditions, from eczema to arthritis to diabetes and heart disease. But some people remain skeptical. Here’s one woman’s true story of what can happen when you switch to a plant-based diet.

Carolyn Gretton

Why espresso could negate coffee’s heart-healthy benefits

Much has been written about coffee’s health benefits, but one area that’s been murky is whether coffee helps or hurts heart health. Now, another study has confirmed that drinking coffee made a particular way, and used as the basis for some of our favorite coffee house beverages, can actually raise the risk of cardiovascular disease…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Spirulina may reduce severity of a COVID-19 infection

We owe a debt of gratitude to all the frontline workers who’ve taken care of the sick, and to the scientists developing vaccines so we can begin returning to some sense of normalcy. But during this crisis, it’s also been great to see research come out proving the power of nutrition.

Joyce Hollman

Warning: Spring flowers spell danger for your pets

Those blooms you bring into your home this spring could spell discomfort and even worse for your furry friends. Here’s the lowdown on some popular flowers, how they can poison your pet and what to do if you think your cat or dog has eaten them.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How urinary tract infections can lead to bladder cancer

Pain, burning, urgency — each of these symptoms will sound familiar if you’ve ever suffered from a urinary tract infection. And the likelihood is, you have. And while the pain and symptoms of the infection themselves are bad enough, according to a new study, having a urinary tract infection could be a signal of far worse to come…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

When a heart attack ‘comes out of the blue’

Do you know someone whose heart attack seemed to “come out of the blue? While it’s hard to understand how someone can seem fine one day and suffer a major heart event the next day, it happens. Cardiologist Dr. Elizabeth Klodas explains how, why and what’s lurking below the surface that even a stress test can miss — and how to help guard against it.

Carolyn Gretton

The juice/supplement combo that eases rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, chances are you’ve experienced side effects from your medication, so you may be aware of alternatives that relieve your symptoms. One such alternative, fish oil, has shown the ability to ease RA symptoms. You can ramp us those effects by taking it with the right juice…

Carolyn Gretton

Why people with blood type A may be more susceptible to COVID-19

Scientists have found that certain blood types seem to be more susceptible to COVID-19, but so far they haven’t really been sure why. A recent study may shed more light on the connection between blood type and contracting COVID-19…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

For women only: Fiber could be the key to happiness

There’s no doubt fiber’s part of a healthy diet. Yet, we mostly think about what it does for the gut, like promoting regularity or stopping the bloat. There’s one more way adding the power of fiber to your life could improve your health (and even your happiness)…

Joyce Hollman

What energy drinks do to your heart muscle

Energy drinks are loaded with caffeine and sugar. For that reason alone, they’ve always been questionable at best when it comes to your health. But now, research has pinpointed other chemicals in these drinks that damage your kidneys and set you up for heart failure.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Protective psychedelics may rewire the brain following stroke

In the United States, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. For survivors, the road to recovery can be long and hard. But trials are underway to test a hallucinogenic drug that may minimize the damage to the brain that occurs during a stroke.

Carolyn Gretton

The not-so-sweet way fructose damages the immune system

Fructose has been a common food additive for decades, and its overconsumption is known to cause issues with the liver and insulin resistance, a precursor to obesity and diabetes. What hasn’t been as clear is how fructose impacts the immune system, and that’s a gamble with high stakes right now.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The truth about HDL: ‘Good cholesterol’ isn’t so good

For years we’ve been told to watch our cholesterol, keeping our so-called “bad” cholesterol down and our “good” cholesterol up. But what if that advice was wrong and we’ve been operating under a false sense of security? There’s much more banking on HDL than we ever realized.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5+ reasons women over 50 should weight train

Walk into any gym and you’ll notice a great divide, with women hitting the treadmills and ellipticals, while the men lay claim to the weight machines. It’s a divide that seems to only get greater with age. But if you’re a woman over 50, skipping the weights in favor of just cardio could be a big mistake.

Joyce Hollman

High protein for weight loss? Make sure your kidneys can handle it

A high-protein diet can be an extremely effective weight loss plan. It usually goes hand in hand with a low-carb diet. But before you jump into changing your ways, consider the health of your kidneys. If not, you could end up with a bigger problem than a few extra pounds.

Carolyn Gretton

The link between nighttime light and your thyroid

We use more artificial light than ever at night, both indoors and outdoors, and it’s affecting our health. Night light use is connected with a higher risk of obesity, depression, sleep disorders and diabetes. And according to researchers, it may be raising our risk of a particular type of cancer…

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