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Sleep is essential for good health. And most experts agree, between 7 and 9 hours a night helps the body operate at peak efficiency. But is there a threshold at which insufficient sleep causes the most harm, as in increasing the risk of multiple disease and death? Without a doubt….

Do you settle down in the evening only to discover your legs have other plans? That annoying twitching sensation can make it almost impossible to relax. Your doctor may have thrown his hands up but a way to treat the condition has been found in an old-time remedy…

From heart trouble to sleep apnea and Parkinson’s, doctors all too often fail to see the signs or flat-out misdiagnose women’s health. And they’re still doing it when it comes to thyroid problems, telling women the symptoms are in their heads or just one more problem of menopause. Here’s why…

10,000 steps a day seems like an impossible goal. And luckily, we’re finding you don’t have to really walk that much to get real-world benefits. Want to make a singificant dent in your dementia risk? You’ll be glad to know you can take that number way down…

The best way to combat damage from oxidative stress is with antioxidants. These powerful nutrients strike a balance against the perils of aging and inflammation that can destroy health. Now we’ve learned they can defend against a mechanism of metabolic disease that leads to insulin resistance…

Tooth loss is considered a serious health problem that sits right up there beside arthritis and cancer. It’s also been associated with a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and even death. So, the reasons to be extra vigilant about what’s behind your dental health go far beyond that pretty smile.

The human body is amazing. But a lot of little things can go wrong. Some are annoying, like rashes, while others, like fatigue, can wreak havoc with our daily lives. Many of these mishaps are set off by a poorly functioning immune system. Here’s how to know if yours is in trouble…

The ‘M’ in menopause stands for miserable. Hot flashes at the most inopportune times during the day and relentless sleep robbers at night. If HRT isn’t for you, discover the diet that works as well and helped women drop an average of eight pounds…

For consumers who suffer lifelong side effects after prescription drug use, the question that often arises first is: How could medication approved by the FDA cause them serious harm? A drug used to treat a painful bladder condition is just one example of what happens when the system goes terribly wrong…

Colon cancer can be especially difficult to eradicate. But help for patients fighting this battle may come from a simple vitamin.

Everyday items we come in contact with can impact our health. One of those is aluminum, long associated with breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. As a theory, it’s controversial, but researchers find it wrapped up in brain tau tangles. Do you know all the ways you’re exposed to it?

Plant sterols are natural substances produced by plants. Beta-Sitosterol is one type that’s well known for supporting prostate health. But the list doesn’t stop there. Here’s how to use this popular plant substance for your best male health and more…

Hardening of the arteries seems to be one of those things we just expect with age. It can destroy heart function, lead to heart attack, even death. But we’ve learned more about the process that causes arteries to harden, and that’s valuable information if you want to try to avoid this killer…

Night shift workers are prone to health risks based on the fact that their work hours are in direct contradiction to their circadian rhythm. From higher BMI to depression, these conditions can drag health down fast. Is the solution as easy as when to eat?

It’s no secret that more time spent sitting than moving shortens lives. That’s why experts encourage us to count our steps. They even nailed down how many daily steps you need to prevent a multitude of chronic diseases, ranging from obesity to depression, heart disease to GERD and more…

Sex. It’s a topic that’s all over TV, film and social media. Unfortunately, it’s one that many of us are uncomfortable discussing personally. And if you have diabetes, you may not even be aware that your blood sugar problems not only mess with your health but are also behind problems in the bedroom…

Who says sex after 60 stops? If you think you’re supposed to leave all that behind after a certain birthday, you’d be mistaken. Researchers say an active sex life can offer benefits that can make your life more satisfying with age, and they have some tips to help you get it on…

COPD is an umbrella term for a group of incurable inflammatory lung disorders. It carries higher risk for other serious conditions such as heart disease, memory loss, stroke or diabetes. But less has been known about its connection to vitamin deficiency and an aged immune system…

If you’re newly retired, or will be soon, some planning probably went into how you’ll spend this chapter of your life. Your finances may have been at the top of your list. But before you check anything off, be sure you don’t make the two mistakes that don’t leave room for second chances…

When a physician suggests a medication, you trust them. You’d never expect them to prescribe a drug that may not actually work — much less one with links to other diseases. But that’s just what has happened…

Some of us feel powerless about improving our odds of living long lives without the physical limitations that can make us dependent on others. A stroke is a perfect example of the kind of event that can change everything in an instant. But you can do something incredibly simple to lower that risk…

It’s well-known that stroke can cause damage to the brain. But once the stroke is treated, it seems logical that the damage would stop there. Unfortunately, researchers have discovered a process deep within your body that can lead to more destruction. But it may be possible to dial it back…

In our 40s, our list of health concerns begins to grow. It doesn’t take long before that shortlist gets longer and longer. It would be easy to get overwhelmed trying to rein them all in, unless you’re familiar with one powerful phytonutrient that tackles them all, including hormone imbalance, sluggish metabolism, immune health and so much more…

Nothing is more frustrating than seeing numbers on a scale tipping in the wrong direction, no matter how much calorie counting you’ve done. Is it your diet? Hormones? Or the air you breathe? It’s not high in calories, but it’s high in something else science says packs on the pounds…

Unless you grew up in a family where mothers and grandmothers suffered heart attack, like mine, I can see why many think heart disease is a man’s disease. But once you know what fueled the stereotype, you’ll understand
it’s an equal opportunity threat..

This juicy red fruit is packed with antioxidants and possesses rich levels of a compound found to revive aging and defective mitochondria to help keep muscles stronger longer and extend lifespan. Now its cancer-fighting potential has gotten the attention of the scientific community…

If mom, dad or granddad had cancer or diabetes, most of us believe we’ll suffer the same fate. Well, you can worry a lot less about that if you’ve reached 55. That may seem counter to everything you think you know about aging. But it could be a game-changer if you’re ready to play.

Isn’t aging grand? Not only do you have to worry about wrinkles, blood sugar problems, osteoporosis, hormones and a laundry list of other issues, but there’s a reason your immune system just doesn’t function like it used to either. That one’s easier to fix…

Muscle cramps are a common problem with a lot of potential causes. But no matter what’s causing your muscle cramps, regular cramping isn’t something you should ignore. It’s your body’s way of telling you something’s not right…

Lipitor is the biggest-selling drug in the history of the pharmaceutical industry, even though the evidence for using statins to lower heart attack and stroke is not as strong as once thought. But, if you’re a statin-taker, you know they do far more than just that…

We know by now that exercise is not an option… but not for the reason most often associated with exercise, like getting in shape. Without some form of regular exercise, most of will find it hard to live a long, full, healthy life, avoid cancer and weak bones and the telltale signs of frailty creeping in…

For far too long, saving our hearts has focused on one thing: cholesterol. But heart research into another growing health problem may intersect this blind spot of cardiovascular research to provide an answer for two very serious health conditions that both lead to vascular calcification… and hearts that give out.

I don’t know about you, but I was so sad to hear that actress Shannen Doherty’s cancer is back… and with a vengeance. It’s a risk many of us worry about, and some, more so than others, have an elevated risk. Though there is no cure, we can lessen those risks, starting with these simple habits, backed by research…

When you’re admitted to a hospital, whether for surgery or an illness, you expect to come out healthier than you went in, or at least not sicker. Unfortunately, for one in every ten people, just the opposite happens. While in the hospital, those people contract a nosocomial infection.

It’s one of the most popular ingredients in packaged foods… from bread to protein bars to chips to lunch meat. And then there’s restaurant food. So even if you don’t cook with it, you’re likely eating it. Research links it to diabetes and fatty liver disease, and now the brain…

Once you’re exposed to perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAs, they end up in your bloodstream forever. In fact, PFAs can be seen in the bloodwork of 99 percent of Americans. PFAs are carcinogenic. They’re linked to thyroid, liver and kidney disease. Here’s how to cut down on exposure and detox what’s there already…

Fat is normally stored under our skin, but when there’s too much, we run out of room. The amount of fat that you can store under your skin varies from person to person. But what happens once you run out of room? Scientists discovered it gets caught up in an overspill mechanism that can be reversed…

Some people say we should avoid milk completely. Others will tell you to only go with whole milk because the fats in it are good for your brain. How do you know what’s right? Well, a new study is shedding more light on the subject, at least when it comes to how fast you age…

Phenacetin was a popular painkiller until 1983 when the FDA banned it because of its connection to cancer. Good riddance, right? Not so fast… it’s connected to a very popular OTC pain killer on our drugstore shelves right now that may increase the risk of several cancers, including kidney, bladder and blood cancer…

From “natural” to “non-GMO,” food labels can make almost any item in the grocery store appear good for you. But we know that most processed foods are far from healthy. If you’re confused in the grocery store aisles, here’s Dr. Klodas’ guide to exactly what all the labels mean…

It’s no secret that a sedentary lifestyle, where the most exercise you get is standing up from your chair, can be deadly. Just doing any sort of exercise regularly can protect your best years. Because staying active does much more than control blood pressure and prevent strokes and heart attacks.

If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not eggs are not only healthy but safe when it comes to your heart, you’re not alone. After all, it’s been a head-spinning debate for the last two decades. Finally, the controversy about whether eggs are good or bad for your heart health looks to be solved…

How is the FDA doing at “protecting the public” from the opioid crisis? And how quickly are they making headway against the growing threat of antibiotic resistance? One could argue that they need to focus on the real problems here, and not worry about a substance that could actually be the answer to it all.

Your body needs muscle for more reasons than just movement. It needs muscle to regulate hormones, perform metabolic functions and maintain organ function. So, losing muscle quickly creates a dangerous domino effect that makes your body unable to perform critical tasks for survival.

The interconnectedness of your brain, your gut, and your immune system is a well-known fact, but maybe one that’s not completely familiar to you. The more you know about it, the more you can do to hold onto your health and keep your independence as you age. And it starts at your belly…

About 80 percent of people deal with low back pain, and most of the time, it’s not caused by a strain or injury. A new study from researchers at John Hopkins Medicine may have finally figured out what’s behind our aching backs…

You have a stressful job. You get home from work, exhausted. You watch TV until you fall asleep, forgetting to brush your teeth. These are just a few of the common habits most of us are guilty of. What’s the harm? These are just a few of 8 behaviors that shave years off your lifespan…

It’s an industrial food product and a far cry from the ‘natural’ label claimed for it. In fact, it’s prepared by a secret formula — that the food industry will not reveal (even to government agencies or health workers). And it’s part of an explosion of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Here’s what you should know…

Even if you always avoid the potato salad at summer picnics, one day you’ll find yourself crouched next to a toilet cursing the suspicious food that made you so uncomfortable. Luckily, food poisoning doesn’t strike that often. It’s even possible to stack the deck against food-borne pathogens to lower your odds more…

Have you taken a good look at the ingredient list on your shampoo lately? How about your toothpaste? I’m willing to bet there’s an ingredient they all have in common. The problem? It’s a harsh chemical the Environmental Protection Agency considers a “probable human carcinogen.”

Did you know that 70 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by just three lifestyle diseases — heart disease, cancer and lung disease? But what if lifestyle wasn’t the whole story behind so-called “lifestyle” diseases? What if there was something else causing these diseases… something contagious?

It’s also no secret that refined carbs like white bread, soda, white rice, and pastries with their added sugar, have a high glycemic index. Eating them raises blood sugar much too rapidly, setting us up for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. But that’s not all they do…

Hands-down, one of the easiest exercises to fit into your life is walking. In fact, when you choose to walk your way to weight loss, you don’t need special equipment, a gym membership, or expensive new clothes. You just get going. But how far do you actually need to walk to lose weight?

You stop to grab a quick drink and see all those colorful soda cans and bottles behind those frosty refrigerated glass doors. You’re tempted, but you stick to bottled water for your health’s sake. But you might have just picked a heart attack waiting to happen…

This may seem obvious, but chronic back pain can wreak havoc on your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Many people turn to both pain medication and sleeping pills. But taking sleep and pain medications together can be a recipe for disaster. Boston Medical Center found two things that work…

METs stands for metabolic equivalents. Using METs is a way of comparing the energy expenditure of different activities. One MET is defined as the energy you use when you’re resting or sitting still. When I climb the stairs, I could be expending as much as 4 METs. When they add up, you send cancer walking.

Researchers have identified 10 vitamins, minerals and nutrients most of us aren’t getting enough of in our diets. In some cases, you may want to take a supplement to get your levels of these nutrients up to snuff. In other cases, you may not. Either way, make sure you don’t ignore these critical nutrients…

Certain areas of your brain may be more at risk and play a bigger role in cognitive decline as they lose volume with each passing year, especially your brain’s grey matter. As it shrinks, so can your ability to remain independent. But you can pump it up…

Having a little foot pain here and there is not generally something you need to worry about. However, If you live with certain types of foot pain, day in and day out, there could be something more going on. That’s because certain health problems cause foot symptoms that you should never ignore, like these…

Chronic pain can bring depression and a feeling of hopelessness. It can even cause changes in your brain that can lead to cognitive decline. So the connection between pain and your brain go hand in hand. What if those pain centers of the brain could be deactivated? Would you volunteer to see how it works?