Latest Stories

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…

The list of long COVID symptoms is extensive. And one of them is a specific type of hair loss known as telogen effluvium. This excessive hair shedding can be disconcerting. But understanding the surprising symptom may ease your mind and your hair loss.

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…

If you’ve ever sought help for depression, then you’ve likely walked away with a prescription for Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft or Lexapro. They’re SSRIs and not very effective. And with a long list of side effects, it’s a wonder anyone is still taking them…

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.

Snot — it’s certainly not something you would discuss at the dinner table. But it’s something we should be more aware of, especially since you can tell a lot about your health, from colds to molds, from what color your mucus is…

Much research exists about how to hold onto a sharp mind as we age. But the bottom line comes down to protecting the grey and white matter of your brain. Norwegian researchers whittled down the three best ways to do that…

If you’re supplementing your omega-3s, it’s probably because you know they’re tied to heart health, a longer life and a super brain. Need I say more? Well, what if I told you that one in particular killed cancer cells and slowed development of tumors?

Breaking a bone, especially a hip, is a real concern for women as we age. So it stands to reason that if there’s something you can do to help prevent that issue later in life, you’d want to do it. Research says a key factor is a forgotten nutrient that drastically reduces that risk….

If you’ve set a goal for the new year, whether it’s a fitness plan, quitting smoking, drinking less or having more fun, the odds are against you. Most resolutions fall to the wayside by the 2nd Friday in January. But here are five research-backed tips that can give you your best chance…

Just before Christmas, the FDA announced, as a public service, that drug manufacturer Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. has issued a voluntary recall for Quinapril — a blood pressure-lowering medication that may contain a cancer-causing impurity. Here’s what we know…

As someone who’s suffered from insomnia, I know how difficult finding safe, satisfying sleep solutions is. That’s why research from Sweden recently caught my eye. It was about a natural insomnia remedy that can make a serious dent in insomnia in just a short time — maybe even send it into remission.

When you hear the words “immune system,” you probably think immediately of your body’s defense against seasonal maladies like cold and flu. A strong immune system is definitely an asset in protecting you from these and other invaders. But it turns out the immune system does a lot more than protect against microbes and infection.

We all know stress can ruin health and bring on disease. But who has the downtime to combat it? With a never-ending list of tasks to accomplish, scheduling time to relax seems like a distant dream. Lucky for us, researchers found it only takes 10 minutes to boost your body’s physiological engine of relaxation — and they’ve identified the most effective way to do it…

Humans are omnivores who can survive on a long list of foods… plants, meat, fish, dairy, fruit, grains, nuts and even whatever the heck is in those processed, packaged foods we eat. But which of these foods will help you not only survive — but thrive… especially when it comes to heart health? Loads of research points to this diet as the ideal for omnivores who want to keep their hearts ticking…

A “runner’s high” is a reference to a feeling of euphoria brought on following a strenuous run or even after engaging in other intense forms of exercise. It’s triggered when the brain releases endocannabinoids — fantastic molecules that research shows could be key to giving your memory a boost and even preventing Alzheimer’s.

When you get a cholesterol test back, you’re typically given four numbers: The total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Your doctor is probably great about going over your results with you, but it can be confusing to remember all the details once you leave their office. Here’s what you need to know to interpret the results like a pro…

Your bone health isn’t something to be taken lightly. A hip break can land you in the hospital, even shorten your life span. But it’s not a heart attack, right? Not so fast. The development of mineral deposits in your arteries, which can lead to arterial stiffness, and bone mineralization share many overlapping processes. That’s why weak bones may be a sign of serious heart trouble…

There’s no denying that diabetes is hard on the kidneys. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. About one in four people with diabetes has it. And as a result, they often go on to develop kidney failure. Why exactly is diabetes so damaging to the kidneys? It turns out that diabetes prevents them from performing one of their most critical functions…

Your microwave can be your best friend. Use it to make life easier, more flavorful, and more aromatic. Here are seven things your microwave can do that you may not have thought of, and here’s one good reason why: Mounting evidence shows that microwaving may help foods and beverages retain nutrients and beneficial compounds better than other heating methods.

Coffee has received recognition as a serious superfood in recent years for boosting energy and metabolism and enhancing mental and physical performance. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk for diseases like Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes and dementia, not to mention reducing colorectal cancer by 26 percent. But coffee may do even more than just help prevent colorectal cancer… it may help people survive it.

Living with pain can make all aspects of your life more difficult… from the dread you feel just getting out of bed in the morning knowing the stiffness, aches and discomfort will be there… to having to give up the activities you love. Luckily, a new study might have the answer to reducing your pain, and it’s as easy as counting down.

Since I entered my 60s, my hearing isn’t what it used to be. I find myself asking people to repeat things. They don’t seem to mind and neither do I. After all my hearing is not that bad. But what does bother me is this: Research establishes a firm connection between age-related hearing loss and memory problems, possibly even Alzheimer’s. This is what we can do to combat that threat…

Feeling lonely and being alone are very different things. Loneliness is a strong predictor of the onset of type 2 diabetes. Loneliness also elevates blood pressure and blood sugar and puts us at greater risk of early death than either obesity or alcoholism. Loneliness isn’t a weakness, it’s a health warning to heed…

With people spending more time at home than ever before during the pandemic, it’s important to have a clean, safe dwelling. But if you live with a smoker or in a home where smokers once lived, coronavirus isn’t your only concern. Thirdhand smoke and its carcinogens can become deeply embedded in carpets and drywall and later be released back into the air you breathe.

Raw honey is probably the sweetest health food out there. Unfortunately, even as a natural, unprocessed product, raw honey may still arrive on your store shelves with pesticides, herbicides and bacteria. But there are simple ways to make sure you’re eating “clean” honey and getting all of its health benefits.

There are plenty of ways to reduce your risk of osteoporosis, a condition that thins and weakens your bones. You can eat calcium-rich foods, practice weight-bearing exercise or take a supplement to bulk up your supply of bone-supporting vitamin D. But there’s one way to take better care of your bones that’s kind of strange — turning up the heat…

We would all like to live happy, fulfilling lives. So, some scientists recently set out to discover how we could all grab a little more joy in our lives — pandemic or not — and where, with whom or in what our happiness lies. What they found is pretty eye-opening, and I hope you can put it to good use, especially during these trying times…

I’ve never met a cat who doesn’t love playing with laser pointers. And the good news is, these popular pet toys give your cat plenty of exercise. But there’s also something you should be concerned about if you have one of these lying around the house… they could permanently blast away cells in your eyes in just a few seconds…

When you’re feeling sick and just want to find relief, you trust that the prescription your doctor sends you home with is not only going to help you feel better but that it’s also safe. But a word of caution… there is a common antibiotic you need to think twice about if you take other medications regularly, even if your doctor says you need it, or you could end up with a heart attack.

Does a normal weight protect you against adverse health outcomes even if you don’t eat particularly well? And what if you’re obese? Is your outcome equally poor regardless of what lands on your plate? A 17-year study may have finally helped us get the answer that most of us have been struggling with. And it may be the most freeing news you get all day…

If you have diabetes, you’ve probably wrestled with sleep issues from time to time. Diabetics often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep and often do not get enough sleep as a result. But even people without diabetes often struggle to sleep well. So is it any worse of a problem for diabetics? Research shows being a night owl or an early bird certainly affects disease management…

Not all fat is created equal. In fact, some fat deposits, like the ones around your abdomen, can be far more dangerous to your health than the fat padding your hips and thighs. This abdomen fat skyrockets your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Now, new research has found a way to lose that fat in just eight weeks without starvation or exercise.

Turmeric is a spice used in curry. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat any number of conditions. Recent research confirms that it’s also a good substitute for dangerous NSAIDs if you suffer from the knee pain of osteoarthritis.

A 54-year-old man in Massachusetts died after his heart stopped suddenly. The cause? Eating too much black licorice over the course of a few weeks. How could overindulging in candy cause someone’s heart to stop? Well, it turns out black licorice contains a compound that can trigger high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and put your life in serious jeopardy…

Having cancer is scary. But the word “chemotherapy” can be just as worrisome for different reasons, including dreadful side effects like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight loss, fatigue, anemia and infection. Perhaps the worst, though, is when cancer becomes resistant to chemo. What then? Well, research shows a Chinese herb is proving a potent helper in just this situation…

For many, seasonal affective disorder can soon hit hard. The fatigue, sadness, hopelessness and social withdrawal (compounded this year by COVID-19) can make a long winter feel even longer. But if you’re looking for a safe, scientifically-backed way to fend off depression, this fragrant herb can be a big help…

Did you know that how you sleep can keep you from losing weight? Research shows that sleep directly impacts your appetite hormones and your ability to say no to fattening snacks. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to counteract this effect…

If you’re living with diabetes, you already know how important it is to embrace a healthy lifestyle. But there’s one more change you might need to make to be sure you don’t add high blood pressure to your list of diagnoses…

A calorie restricted diet isn’t easy. But they can lower blood pressure and inflammation, balance cholesterol, reduce insulin resistance and promote a longer lifespan. Why is cutting calories so good for you? That’s the million-dollar question, but it may not be the only way to get these benefit.

You probably consider yourself to be level-headed, right? Sure, you like to be adventurous, but you draw the line at risky behavior because it’s the smart thing to do. But if you’re among the 1 in 4 who turns to a popular OTC pain reliever for minor aches and pains, you’re unknowingly putting something in your body that can muddy your perception of risk…