Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

COVID’s blood clot risk persists in long-COVID syndrome

If you’ve had COVID-19, you thought you were out of the woods once your PCR test came back negative. Enter long COVID syndrome and symptoms from shortness of breath and fatigue to brain fog and even sexual dysfunction, and yes, that blood clot risk that persists…

Joyce Hollman

Red meat’s effects on the heart may have little to do with cholesterol

If your doctor isn’t harping on you to cut down on red meat, everyone else is. Because the age-old wisdom” says cholesterol clogs your arteries and causes heart disease. Well, red meat is a problem, but the culprit that makes it harmful to your heart resides in your gut…

Carolyn Gretton

A ‘food compass’ for healthy eating made easy

Healthy eating is overwhelming, what with trying to avoid salt, sugar and fats while trying to balance the right nutrients. What if a compass could guide you, especially one that found your favorite chips are not that bad in the big scheme of things?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why thinking hard makes you so tired

Hard physical work can leave you exhausted. That’s because physical activity causes a buildup of a toxic muscular sludge known as lactic acid, that contributes to muscle fatigue. Surprisingly, thinking hard can affect your brain the same way…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Can you really tame tinnitus in just 12 weeks?

For decades, experts have been trying to find an effective treatment for tinnitus, that infernal condition where sufferers hear phantom ringing, buzzing and even clicking. Much of it has been hit or miss. But the latest may offer relief in as little as 12 weeks…

Joyce Hollman

Low vitamin D linked to chronic disease biomarker

For years, research has backed vitamin D’s powerful effects on inflammation, but now researchers have uncovered a direct connection between low levels of the vitamin and a key biomarker known for signaling high disease risk…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Two minerals that could help prevent kidney stones

Kidney stones are excruciating. One second you’re fine, the next a stone trying to pass through the tiny channel of the ureter can drop you to your knees. If you’ve had one, you’ve got a 30 percent chance of another one within the next five years. Decrease that risk with two important nutrients…

Joyce Hollman

10 superfoods for seriously healthy smoothies

What’s not to love about smoothies? Quick, convenient, delicious — and when done right, bursting with nutrition. Here’s a list of ten superfood choices and their little-known benefits for enlarged prostate, ED, cholesterol and more…

Joyce Hollman

How acupuncture may prevent a diabetes diagnosis

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are abnormally high, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, yet. Lifestyle interventions can change that course, and additional support has been found in a surprising practice…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How your microbiome affects your athletic performance

What’s bacteria got to do with fitness? A lot. In fact, taking probiotics before working out could be the secret to increased muscle growth. And now there’s proof problems with your gut microbiome can knock you off your game affecting performance too…

Carolyn Gretton

Stroke danger: Why plaque thins and breaks off

Strokes can happen in an instant. And the mechanisms that lead to some strokes and most heart attacks involve ruptured arterial plaque. But until recently, researchers haven’t been able to determine exactly why that happens…

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘other’ B vitamin that beats depression and stress

You may have read the serotonin connection to depression is under fire. And herbal options can leave you a little too relaxed. Just in time, the benefits of another B vitamin have been confirmed for both depression and anxiety…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Wine or beer: which is safer for your heart?

AFib is a condition that causes heart palpatations and carries a higher risk of stroke or heart failure. If you have AFib, drinking alcohol is a big no-no. And drinking too much can cause the condition to develop. But if becoming a teetotaler is not on your bucket list, research says all alcohol is not created equally.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How a fatty liver can exponentially raise dementia risk

Fatty liver affects 1 in 4. The inflammation and damage may eventually lead to cirrhosis or worse. But if you’re one of 30 million with another common condition plus fatty liver, your risk for dementia skyrockets to insane levels. Trim your liver and your risks today…

Joyce Hollman

3 keys to better aging: Mitochondria, energy and muscle

Skeletal muscle constitutes 40 percent of your body and a world of metabolic activity. Research shows just how important it is to maintain those muscle cells, and igniting a process that leads to energy, endurance and longevity could help make that happen…

Joyce Hollman

Dizziness upon standing? How to stop it and why it happens

Orthostatic hypotension literally means “low blood pressure caused by an upright posture.” For some people, it can be an unpleasant experience, even without any underlying causes. It can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. Here’s how to cut down on episodes…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Having a cat could protect you against a staph infection

Bacteriotherapy is a cutting-edge approach to fighing MRSP, or methicillin-resistant staph. And a strain of bacteria has been identified that’s especially good at inhibiting it. You could say it’s a cat’s superpower…

Carolyn Gretton

Ultra-processed foods: The more you eat, the higher your dementia risk

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere, and they’re not doing you any favors, except making it easy to develop insulin resistance, obesity, inflammation, high blood pressure, heart disease — oh and did we mention the strong link to dementia?

Carolyn Gretton

The truth about exercise and dying early

Exercise has been established as a clear path to a longer life. But there’s been some debate about whether more is better or worse. Now we finally know just how much we need to avoid dying early, especially from a heart condition…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diet that boosts men’s happiness hormone

Close to one in three men will experience depression in their lifetime. That not only affects mental health but also increases chronic disease risk. And men are less likely to seek help. But what’s that saying about the way to a man’s heart? It may be key to happiness too…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Only one type of plant-based diet decreases breast cancer risk

Switching to a plant-based diet is one of the best ways to stay healthy, from weight loss to avoiding diabetes. They’ve even been found to guard against cancer. But when it comes to breast cancer, not all plant-based diets are equal…

Carolyn Gretton

How a gout flare-up signals a countdown to stroke

People with gout tend to be at a higher risk of cardiovascular issues. That’s a connection research made a while ago. What’s more alarming is that a gout flare-up can actually begin the countdown to heart attack or stroke within months…

Carolyn Gretton

Cocoa’s leg up on healthy blood pressure

Plenty of studies confirm cocoa’s benefits. But results from controlled studies don’t always translate to real daily life. That’s where cocoa’s effects on blood pressure and arteries differ. Not only does it work, it laid to rest a concern doctors have about traditional BP treatments…

Joyce Hollman

Sourdough: The ‘better digestion, blood sugar and heart health’ bread

Just about anyone who tries sourdough bread becomes a fan. But there’s more to the light, chewy distinctively-flavored bread. Not only is it loaded with nutrition but it has unique properties that offer big heart, blood sugar and digestive benefits…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

This thyroid condition could raise dementia risk 80 percent

Your thyroid regulates many functions, including metabolism. That requires a steady flow of thyroid hormones circulating in your bloodstream. Too much, too little and you have problems, like weight gain and fatigue. But it looks like your thyroid has a broader impact than we ever thought…

Carolyn Gretton

Metastatic memory: Another reason to avoid palm oil

Palmitic acid, found in palm oil, has been linked with heart disease and cancer. Scientists have been working to unravel the reasons behind the latter, and they may have uncovered how palmitic acid turns regular tumor cells into aggressive spreaders of disease…

Joyce Hollman

When frequent napping may be a stroke warning

Is there anything more enjoyable than a nap on a rainy afternoon? You wouldn’t think there’d be any risk in that. Yet over the past twenty years, scientists have discovered frequent naps carry health implications that may be serious…

Craig Cooper

When low testosterone is actually a simple vitamin problem

Whether you want sustained strength in the gym, more brainpower in the boardroom, better performance in the bedroom, or other overall health benefits, you need to keep this vitamin at optimal levels, especially if you’re concerned about low T…

Margaret Cantwell

What a week of pain relievers does to your heart

You may not realize just how quickly some painkillers can take a toll on your heart. You don’t have to take these drugs for years and years to experience an elevated heart attack risk. Damage can be done by taking them for just one week.

Carolyn Gretton

COVID’s surprising legacy: Making other infections more dangerous

Imagine getting sick and the one antibiotic shown to fight your infection no longer works. In COVID’s wake years of caution took a backslide, and some antibiotic-resistant infections have jumped as much as 78 percent. Here’s what to know going forward…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Don’t let your autoimmune medication give you cancer and Crohn’s

I still remember sitting in my rheumatologist’s office. He was recommending a medication that could increase my risk for deadly cancers for a condition he thought I might have — but wasn’t actually sure. And that’s the trouble with many autoimmune diseases. But what else could I do?

Dr. Michael Cutler

How your gut influences full body health and how to help it

Your gut is one valuable organ. For years it wasn’t given much thought. We were busy keeping hearts, brains, kidneys and other vital organs healthy… until research caught up and keyed us in on just how much the health of your entire body depends on your gut.

Joyce Hollman

Cruciferous vegetables: The good, the bad and the gas

Broccoli. Kale. Brussels sprouts. Cruciferous vegetables… the holy grail of health. It’s pretty much a fact of life by now that including enough of this family of vegetable in your daily diet is a sure ticket to health, and that not eating them at all is asking for problems. But there are some dos and don’ts…

Margaret Cantwell

The major heart disease warning this diet sends your gut

It’s a diet some call life-changing. There are more than a few studies that show its effect on health is purely positive. It helps balance blood sugar, reverse serious autoimmune disorders, and even shed stubborn pounds. But the results of a new study throw a scary prospect on the table.

Joyce Hollman

6+ super antioxidants that stop inflammation cold

As with many health problems, the good news is that our eating habits can reverse and control this process. Here are half a dozen of the foods and herbs you can include in your diet to help stop and even prevent chronic inflammation from taking hold.

Jenny Smiechowski

How resveratrol helps fight muscle loss and fatigue

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass that occurs with age. It can start as early as your 30s, but it really kicks into high gear in your 50s and 60s. Because anstronauts. For astronaughts, it kicks in everytime they go to space, Tht’s why helping them can offer you a sure-fire solution too…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Testosterone therapy may hurt men’s hearts

Testosterone therapy is a rapidly growing market – one that’s expected to hit $1 billion by 2024. In addition to improving sexual health, it can boost a man’s general health. But, just like HRT for women, male testosterone replacement therapy is not without risks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How antibiotics now may affect you next flu season

Summer is almost over. And, while the fall brings a lot to look forward to from cooler days, the vibrant colors of changing leaves, and holidays with pretty decorations and even pumpkin pie, it also brings with it a reason to be worried…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Joint replacement surgery on your horizon? Do this NOW

The majority of joint replacement surgeries occur in people over the age of 65. If you’re getting ready to undergo a knee or hip replacement, there something very important you should start doing now to lower your risk of a complication that could put you back in the hospital…

Joyce Hollman

When facing a mental health crisis, labels can hurt you

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was created as a guideline to help mental health professionals diagnose and treat mental health problems. But findings are these labels may be hurting patients. Keep these in mind if you or a loved one is facing a mental health issue…

Jenny Smiechowski

The blood pressure myth that could mess with your heart

Decades of research showed that high systolic blood pressure was more likely to cause serious cardiovascular problems. So cardiology guidelines focused way more on the upper number. There are even some experts who think diastolic blood pressure can basically be ignored. That’s advice that could kill you.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The low-cholesterol stroke danger no one’s talking about

We’ve all heard the warnings… If you don’t watch your cholesterol and keep it low, you’re putting yourself at risk for heart disease and even stroke. So, we eat better, get more exercise, take the meds, and in general think that the lower our numbers are, the healthier we are. But, that may not be true…

Joyce Hollman

The weird reason light makes you heavy

We place a lot of emphasis on how diet affects health. Selecting whole foods over processed foods is really not optional, not if you want to increase your odds of living a long, healthy life free of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But there’s something you’d never expect sabotaging your best health efforts…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

What you need to know about coronary calcium scans

Sometimes, deciding whether someone should be on statins is very clear. In a patient with documented heart disease, diabetes, or genetically-driven very high cholesterol, meds make sense. But many people without known risks are advised to take cholesterol-lowering drugs. If that’s you, what should you do?

Jenny Smiechowski

4 reasons to wash your new clothes before you wear them

Nothing feels better than stepping out in a brand new outfit. But as great as it feels to rip off the tags and head out the door, there’s one question that’s always plagued me… do I need to wash new clothes before I wear them?

Jenny Smiechowski

How the U.S. military may have created the Lyme disease epidemic

People with Lyme disease suffer fatigue, brain fog, aches, pain and a host of other symptoms, while millions of people (including doctors!) tell them that there’s no such thing as chronic Lyme disease. But do you know what’s crazy about all this? The Lyme disease epidemic might not be an unfortunate act of nature.

Joyce Hollman

How inflammation in your body makes your brain impulsive

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to stress. When you sprain your ankle, it becomes inflamed in order to cushion and protect your joint from further damage. If you eat something too spicy, your intestine may become inflamed, protecting your digestive tract. But inflammation has its downsides, too…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Try double cleansing with oil and water for smaller pores and radiant skin

I first read about the double cleanse in a beauty blog. It’s a system based on the Korean regimen of skincare and it promised to deliver clearer, healthier skin and smaller pores. To break it down to its simplest form, you use an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. Here’s what it did for me…

Jenny Smiechowski

The single strain of bacteria that fights insulin resistance, high cholesterol, obesity and more

Science has shown how “beneficial” bacteria can improve health. It’s exciting stuff! In fact, studies show that bacteria can protect you from everything from cancer to autoimmune diseases to heart disease. Need proof? The latest study found that a single strain of bacteria could curb cardiovascular disease risk.

Joyce Hollman

The daily habit that prevents ‘brain shrink’

With age comes wisdom, they say. But other things come with age, too. Like less room in your brain to hold all that wisdom. The unfortunate truth is that, the older we get, the less grey matter we have. But what if you could slow down this “brain shrink”? What if you could find a way to make your brain younger?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Intermittent fasting can prevent diabetes

Diabetes can damage your blood vessels, steal your vision, and raise your risk of kidney disease, heart attack and stroke. What makes it especially scary is that it can sneak up on you. Luckily, there is something you can do to prevent diabetes before it starts or to gain control over your blood sugar if you’ve already been diagnosed…

Jenny Smiechowski

What coffee really does to your cancer risk

When it comes to coffee and cancer, you get a lot of mixed messages. Several studies show coffee can reduce the risk of different cancers. Yet, there was that controversy last year requiring coffee shops to post carcinogen warnings. A new study shows that you can drink your coffee without a single cancer-related thought crossing your mind.

Jenny Smiechowski

The sleep aid that could turn you into a zombie in mid-air

You’ve probably never heard the term “Ambien zombie” before. So, let me explain this growing problem… When you take Ambien or other sleep aids, they do two things that can get you in trouble: They give you Teflon brain, meaning new memories won’t stick. They also release your inhibitions…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Weed killer now linked to rise in liver disease

You’ve probably heard about the lawsuits over Roundup causing cancer. Its nasty reputation is finally catching up to it… Could you have been exposed? The answer is most certainly, yes. Here’s what you need to know about past exposure and protecting yourself from the newest glyphosate danger… liver disease.

Joyce Hollman

The triple-toxin danger in your perfectly polished nails

Ladies, the next time you think about pampering yourself with a manicure, you may want to skip the part where they polish your nails. Three of the chemicals known to be most toxic to humans are in that cherry red polish (all of the colors, actually!), and make no mistake, they’re getting into your body.

Joyce Hollman

Choosing the right wine for your healthier lifestyle

People who drink wine moderately have lower rates of heart attacks and diabetes, live longer and have healthier brains. There are hundreds of studies that show this. However, not all wines are created equal. So, how do you go about finding a wine that offers you the best health benefits possible?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Androgen deprivation therapy raises Alzheimer’s and dementia risk

One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. This means many men will face a particularly difficult choice between cancer treatment and the possibility of Alzheimer’s or dementia. There are ways to reduce your risk of prostate cancer and the possibility of androgen therapy…

Joyce Hollman

6 research-backed ways to avoid Alzheimer’s no matter what your genes say

Researchers found the “high-risk” version of an Alzheimer’s gene actually responds more favorably to certain lifestyle changes that could lower risk. So, here’s a “plain talk” explanation of the genetic factors that can increase or decrease your risk, and how to outsmart those genes to stay clear of Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Got milk? 3 reasons your answer should be ‘yes’

Milk’s benefits have been hotly debated over the last decade. But a review of 14 scientific papers points to solid evidence that milk and dairy in your diet provide some hefty health benefits you don’t want to go without — especially if you want to avoid some of the biggest disease risks of our time…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

5 things you need to know about belly fat

If there’s one thing most people have learned about visceral fat (think “beer bellies” and apple-shaped bodies), is that it’s bad. And they’re right… A new study confirms visceral belly fat is connected to heart disease, above and beyond any risk related to excess weight. So what can we do about it?

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