Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

Peripheral artery disease: How sleep contributes to the pain in your legs

The most noticeable symptom of peripheral artery disease is pain and cramping caused by poor blood flow to the muscles in the legs. It occurs most often when walking, but you may be surprised how much sleep has to do with it…

Joyce Hollman

7 medications that make your bladder work overtime

About half of all adult women deal with some level of incontinence. Many men do too. A surprising cause is often medication that’s taken for other conditions. Here are seven classes of medications linked with urinary incontinence, and some natural ways to take back control of your bladder.

Craig Cooper

I took metformin for a week and this happened

Metformin, the leading prescribed “wonder” drug for type 2 diabetes, is reported to be anti-aging, anti-cancer and even helpful with weight issues. So, truth be told, I wasn’t looking at metformin as a drug — I was looking at it more as a “superfood.”

Dr. Mark Wiley

Simply press these points for headache relief

Headaches don’t have to ache. Before your head starts hurting again, check out this quick and easy guide to the acupressure points that can head off headache pain before the suffering intensifies. You may be amazed at how well and fast these points quell pain.

Carolyn Gretton

Why experts say this is the prostate cancer prevention diet

Prostate cancer is one of the most common and fatal cancers in men. For men with low blood levels of lycopene and selenium, there’s an increased risk not just for the cancer, but the damaging effects of the radiation used to treat it. There’s a diet that can help that and more…

Carolyn Gretton

‘First of its kind’ study: Restricting calories slows pace of aging

By far, the most convincing evidence for slowing aging has come from calorie restriction. For years, studies involving fruit flies, worms and even mice have shown it can extend lifespan and delay onset of age-related disorders. Finally we know what it can do for us too…

Joyce Hollman

The ‘invisible’ chemical increasing Parkinson’s diagnoses

Trichloroethylene is a chemical used in manufacturing as a solvent and degreaser. Up until the 1970s, it was used to decaffeinate coffee, of all things. Now, there’s a strong possibility it’s increasing cases of Parkinson’s disease…

Joyce Hollman

The one factor that outweighs obesity-related cancers

Obesity has been synonymous with poor health, especially cancer, for decades. But does the label hold? After a review of 40 years of data, the picture of health might change. There’s more than weight behind these cancers…

Easy Health Options Staff

Alert: Blood thinner recalled for cancer-causing impurity

Another drug recall is in effect due to high levels of the cancer-causing impurity nitrosamine. This follows on the footsteps of two similar recalls over the past two years. This time, it is the blood thinner Dabigatran. Here’s what you need to know…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Reading: The guilty pleasure that could save your memory

There’s nothing better than getting lost in a book. Whether it’s a steamy romance novel or a seat-of-your-pants mystery that keeps you turning those pages late into the night, never feel your “guilty pleasure” is a waste of time. The truth is, it just might save your memory…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Using microbes to shrink your waist and cardio risks

Live microbes, and not just probiotics, from food have finally gotten the credit they deserve: the first real-world evidence that consuming more of them could be the easiest way to not only shrink your waist and BMI, but take down a whole host of health complications with them…

Carl Lowe

To make vitamin D work better, eat this superfruit

Vitamin D offers serious health benefits, from heart disease to autoimmune problems and lots in between. But there’s a superfruit you should eat to make its head to toe benefits even more powerful…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The sneaky gland causing cholesterol problems

If statin side effects weren’t bad enough, there’s the fact you may not even need those drugs in the first place. Your high cholesterol could actually be the result of a completely different health problem.

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.

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…

Jenny Smiechowski

The alarming connection between gut fungi, Alzheimer’s and the diet that can help

When you read about supporting a healthy gut microbiome, bacteria may be stealing too much of the spotlight. That’s because your gut contains a lot of fungi too. And the type and amount of fungi in your gut could have just as big an influence on disease risk as bacteria do. In fact, fungi could even play a big role in your Alzheimer’s risk…

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

Exploring the benefits of green tea for your skin

We’ve all heard about the many benefits of drinking green tea. But did you know that the polyphenolic compounds present in green tea have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties that promote healthy skin? Not to mention catechins that have potent therapeutic effects on various skin conditions. Grab your tea bags and start the bathwater…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How living with chronic pain damages your heart

Millions of Americans wake up every day to pain that won’t go away. From low back pain to arthritis, chronic pain engrains itself into the life of the sufferer. Now research has found that if you’re living with chronic pain, you might be facing something even worse, a dramatically higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Time to stop the pain…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

How to lower LDL cholesterol

LDL cholesterol is the cholesterol that’s parking in your arteries and causing blockages to build up. It is also the cholesterol that’s toxic to the lining of your arteries (the endothelium), increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Obviously it’s nasty stuff, so let’s talk about how to get less of it, and dispel some myths while we’re at it…

Joyce Hollman

The dried fruit that prevents and restores bone loss

Prunes have been associated with constipation for so long that they’ve almost become a joke. But if you’re concerned about osteoporosis, you can stop laughing right now. Even in the worst of circumstances, like the bone loss that happens with spinal cord injury, prunes have shown incredible bone-saving power…

Joyce Hollman

Why weight around the middle shrinks the brain

Obesity is associated with a long list of adverse health effects including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. But research is showing that extra weight, especially around the middle, can not only shrink the brain but make recovery harder if you suffer a stroke or other brain injury.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Can exercise really help you live longer?

Saying that exercise is good for your health is nothing new. But saying and doing are totally different things… Considering that the stakes are pretty high — including a longer life span — a comparison of different forms of physical activity has discovered which one best holds up its end of the bargain…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Could poop be the secret of eternal youth?

When you think about the fountain of youth, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t poop. But what if I told you, researchers now think it’s the key to halt age-related decline and preserve cognitive function? Ponce de León would roll over in his grave! Here’s how scientists are using it, why, and what you can do to get the benefits without the ick factor.

Joyce Hollman

10 science-based tips for keeping produce fresh longer

Do you often buy fresh veggies and fruits only to have them rot before you can eat them? The problem may be with some common mistakes most of us make when washing or storing them. Here are ten pointers on how to keep your produce fresh until you’re ready to eat it.

Joyce Hollman

Eating by the numbers: A simple way to make the best food choices

Did you ever paint by the numbers? When you have a guide to follow, anyone can be a Picasso, right? Did you ever wish eating better could be that simple? It can. You can put more nutritional value on your plate and fewer calories. Best part, no complicated diet plan to follow…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

One more reason to read product labels: Hormone interference

Endocrine disruptors are everywhere. In the clothes we wear, the furniture we sit on and the products we slather on our skin. They lurk, waiting to tip our hormones from a healthy balance and cause disease. Luckily, a brand-new study found a simple way to lower the levels of these disruptors in your body. ..

Carolyn Gretton

Calming the anxious mind through conscious movement

Generalized anxiety disorder is common, and in these difficult times, more of us are getting a taste of what it’s like. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the best treatments, but it can be difficult to access. And medication isn’t ideal for long-term use because of side effects. Luckily, there’s an easy way to relieve anxiety symptoms in the privacy and safety of your own home…

Joyce Hollman

Diet tips for dodging prostate cancer

One out of every nine American men will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer during his lifetime. Prostate cancer is survivable, but once it spreads, survival rates plummet. That’s why avoiding prostate cancer in the first place is your best chance. And the best place to start is with what you eat and don’t eat…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

8 ways to raise your good HDL cholesterol

HDL, high-density lipoprotein, is the good cholesterol. This is the particle that’s moving cholesterol out of your body, so you want to keep it high. But it turns out there’s not much good news about it… Low baseline HDL numbers are a potent risk factor for developing early or more aggressive heart disease. So let’s talk about getting them up…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This listeria danger (and possible cure) from fish

Everyone knows that eating fish is good for you. There’s the brain- and heart-healthy omega-3s, good fats and protein, not to mention the vitamins and nutrients many of us don’t get enough of, like iodine and vitamin D. But before you put fish on the table, there’s a growing risk you need to consider — and help from a surprising source…

Joyce Hollman

Breakfast first, or coffee? The wrong answer could lead to diabetes

If you’re someone who looks forward to that first cup of coffee in the morning, especially if you haven’t slept well, there’s good news. And there’s bad news. Plenty of research shows the potential of coffee to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, but the caveat is “when” you drink it…

Carolyn Gretton

Olive oil comes to the rescue for heart condition that drugs failed

Heart failure is notoriously difficult to treat, which is why so many doctors focus on preventing it from developing in the first place. But if you suffer from a specific type of heart failure, there may be good news on the treatment front — and it may be as close as your kitchen pantry…

Carolyn Gretton

What women should know about the estrogen-atherosclerosis connection

Hormone replacement therapy can be helpful to many women for relieving the symptoms of menopause. However, it’s not without risk. But considering that the number one killer of women is heart disease, more women need to understand what the loss of estrogen does to their blood vessels and that they have natural options to both ease menopause and avoid heart disease.

Jenny Smiechowski

The real reason it’s so hard to quit junk food

To put it bluntly, eating junk food makes it harder to stop eating junk food. It sends you into a downward spiral of bad food and poor health that takes a will of steel to break free from. And research has proven just how it happens. It goes straight for the part of your brain that manages appetite control and wrestles it away from you. Here’s how to get it back…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How oatmeal can ease some side effects of radiation treatment

For years, cancer survivors have been told one thing – eat less fiber. That’s because doctors believed that added fiber went hand in hand with the bloating and diarrhea that is so common after radiation. But guess what… According to a new study, they were dead wrong! Here’s why fiber and the humble oat could be the answer to radiation-induced gut inflammation.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Supplement combo turns bad fat to good fat to help stave off obesity and diabetes

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that obesity and diabetes go hand-in-hand. And the process all begins two types of fat in the human body. Now, a brand new study has found a way to turn the bad fat good and in the process burn more calories, curb obesity-related inflammation and even put a halt to blood sugar problems.

Jenny Smiechowski

The easiest way to send your insomnia into remission

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.

Carolyn Gretton

Is your immune system causing your depression?

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.

Carolyn Gretton

Got 10 minutes? Try these self-care hacks proven to destress and relax

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…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why the Pesco-Mediterranean diet is the ultimate heart-healthy diet

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A ‘runner’s high’ triggers brain receptors that could protect against Alzheimer’s

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.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

How to interpret your cholesterol test results

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…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why your bone health may be a sign of stiffening arteries

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…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why diabetes leads to dirty, damaged kidneys

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…

Joyce Hollman

7 delicious things to do with your microwave

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.

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