Latest Stories

More than 37 million Americans now take medications for depression. And for far too long experts focused on chemical imbalances in the brain these drugs treat. But another imbalance is proving just as powerful at affecting your mood. And the medicine is much easier to swallow…

Specific limits on dietary cholesterol were lifted from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans back in 2015. But that move may have been too hasty. Turns out there’s an odd connection between dietary cholesterol and your susceptibility for viral infection…

As scientists will say, just because there seems to be a link doesn’t mean there is, especially without proof. But now, when it comes to diabetes and breast cancer, they’ve got the proof connecting cancer’s sweet tooth and a dangerous feedback loop…

Have you ever noticed something strange when you go to your doctor? No matter what your health problem, their answer is always in a pill. But physicians everywhere are being put on notice by one of their own — and she’s got a better prescription with lots of clout…

Aging is not automatically accompanied by hair loss. But there are lifestyle and other factors that could cause you to see more hair in your hairbrush than you’re used to. I was surprised to find that several of these may be behind my own hair loss.

I had a problem with constipation for years. Whatever the cause, going to the bathroom was my nemesis. I would go days without “going” and then when I did, the strain was awful. After many, MANY doctor’s visits, and getting no help, I decided there had to be a better way. And, I found it…

Atrial fibrillation can raise your risk of several heart and circulatory issues, including heart failure and stroke. But what’s been less clear is whether AF increases the risk of dementia not caused by stroke. So far, this is what they’ve found…

People with cancer are known to have a higher risk of dangerous blood clots known as venous thromboembolism or VTE. These clots are a leading cause of death in people with cancer. Because prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, this is a risk they need to be aware of…

Inflammation is a huge factor when it comes to Alzheimer’s. It’s triggered by a build-up of proteins that kill your brain cells. And it may cause the build-up in the first place. One thing’s for sure, inflammation causes the disease to progress quickly and severely.

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t just spell problems for your blood sugar. It acts as a gateway disease in many respects. And while there have been concerns about its connection to cognitive decline for a while, you may be surprised to learn how much diabetes ages the brain…

When women undergo menopause, they experience a decline in estrogen that kicks off a host of unpleasant symptoms. But what has been less clear is estrogen’s specific role in heart disease risk, and how the “change” is connected to cholesterol, until now…

Most people that develop inflammatory bowel disease do so by the age of 30. But IBD is on the rise — and it’s targeting a vulnerable population: folks aged 60 and older. IBD is painful, difficult and debilitating. And if you’re a senior, the risks are even higher…

Gout has been established as a risk factor in certain cardiovascular conditions, including stroke and heart attack. But what about heart failure? Exploring a potential link between these two conditions may offer heart failure patients a new lifeline…

We’ve been warned to avoid eating much fish over concerns about mercury. But now, Canadian researchers say the chemical form of mercury consumed from a high fish diet is completely different from the form found in the brains of those who were poisoned by mercury. What gives?

Zinc is one of those nutrients you don’t hear a lot about. People are all over vitamin C, but zinc, an equally important nutrient for a strong immune system tends to take a back seat to all the hype. But supplementing can be tricky…

About 20 percent of people with high blood pressure are resistant to treatment, leaving them vulnerable to heart attack and stroke. Researchers trying to get to the bottom of why are onto something…

Remember how for years, doctors warned us not to eat eggs? They would raise our cholesterol, give us heart disease and leave us to die of a heart attack or stroke? Forget that old-school advice. The new-school lists three ways eggs do a heart good…

It’s no secret that the choices you make have a profound impact on your health. From protecting your heart to guarding against dementia and disability as you age, lifestyle modifications are taking center stage, and these four can add years to your life…

We all want to age like those people who get laugh lines, not wrinkles, hold on to their memories and become more vital as the years pass. But it doesn’t always go that way. There’s a way to measure your odds — just in time to do something about it.

A drink with dinner — no big deal. What about two or three beers? If you’ve had enough to drink that you get a hangover the next morning, you’re setting yourself up for a potentially fatal heart problem, even if you’ve never had heart issues before.

Women are at much higher risk of dementia than men, and declining estrogen may have something to do with it. But it gets more alarming: The earlier menopause happens, the higher that dementia risk goes. What can we do about that? You’d be surprised…

I’m not body-shaming. My concerns stem from knowing that certain kinds of fat and where it’s carried, like around the middle, can do real damage. But there’s another type of fat we never see that goes after the heart. Surprisingly, the leanest among us may be most at risk.

Exercise should be part of any weight-loss strategy. But can it do more? Scientists have looked into how it may help us resist the foods that often sabotage our best efforts. And it’s promising enough that you may start disliking exercise a whole lot less…

When bacteria become resistant, the original antibiotic can no longer kill them. The chances of experiencing an antibiotic-resistant infection are only increasing. But what you eat can shift the balance of antibiotic resistance genes in your gut…

Pancreatic cancer is tough. Often diagnosed late, survival rates are low. Knowing your risks can help. And now a predictor of elevated risk has been identified — a condition that could mean cancer isn’t far behind. But like those other risk factors, you can take control…

None of us want to face dementia. So we do crosswords and brain teasers and hope we’ll maintain a sharp brain. But there’s actually a simple action that a lot of us aren’t taking that can make a big difference in our dementia risk…

Ever wonder how much sleep you need for your best shot at overall health, including strong mental faculties? A huge study has answered that question for those of us middle-aged and up. Here’s the scoop, plus some tips for natural ways to help you achieve it…

Did you know the immune cells that are generated to fight gum disease often turn up in heart valves and heart muscle? And that’s not the only crazy connection to your dental hygiene. Most recently, it’s been found that your lungs are another target for mouth bacteria…

One of the most promising fields of anti-aging research is fecal transplants. Sounds gross, but amazing things happened when old mice were transplanted with poop from young mice. How far would you go to turn back the clock? Luckily, you don’t have to go quite this far, but it’s where you should start…

Dramatic improvement for type 2 diabetes is just the tip of the iceberg for what may be possible to achieve with water fasting. But it shouldn’t be approached lightly. If you’ve considered it, here’s what you should know…

There’s an Alzheimer’s risk factor that most people don’t realize is a risk factor. And it affects millions of Americans. Luckily, it’s a risk factor that can easily be abated — your cholesterol level. It turns out that high LDL cholesterol could be putting you at risk for Alzheimer’s…

It stands to reason that having heart disease, suffering a stroke, or having cancer could lead to feelings of depression. But it works the other way too… people with depression are more likely to also suffer certain physical disorders. It boils down to this common denominator…

If you’ve ever struggled with stiff, achy joints, you’ve probably tried glucosamine supplements. They’re by far the most popular joint supplement around… If you’re dealing with your joint condition in other ways, you’re missing out. This supplement has more major benefits than you can shake a stick at…

Thanks to research at Emory University, help for the antibiotic resistance epidemic may have been discovered in the most unlikely of ways — not in cutting edge medical techniques or the latest drug development — but in the past…

Sleep apnea is a common condition that’s still grossly underdiagnosed in women. A dangerous trend considering women with sleep apnea are at much higher risk for heart problems. And now, a new study has confirmed that for women, our sleep apnea danger doesn’t stop at our hearts.

I love a high protein meal. The good news here is that higher protein foods reduce obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, muscle wasting (in the elderly), and more. But that is far from all the benefits. Studies also back up the role of protein in weight loss and weight maintenance…

Aspirin continues to be routinely prescribed to patients at risk of heart disease. But research is starting to question whether this is OK for everyone. If you’ve been regularly popping an aspirin, particularly if you are at high risk of stroke or have had a stroke, you’ll want to pay close attention…

This summer fruit isn’t just juicy and sweet, it’s also chock-full of nutrients that ward off fatigue and its hidden causes. Let’s take a look at all the ways eating watermelon can give you more energy.

There’s no question that your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. And, if you don’t keep it healthy, you’re at extreme risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack and even heart failure. This antioxidant powerhouse offers the multi-faceted protection your heart needs…

When it comes to reducing your dementia risk, you don’t have time to waste… Every year, 10 million more people worldwide are diagnosed with this devastating disease. And that number is expected to increase in the coming years. So why mess around? Start lowering your risk today…

One quarter of new cancer diagnoses are in people ages 65 to 74. Given these numbers, prevention efforts should be focused on addressing the particular challenges and cancer risk factors faced by older adults. That’s why experts came together to examine how cancer in this age group could be better prevented…

There’s probably been a point in your life where you took a Z-pack from your doctor without second guessing it. Maybe your throat was ablaze with strep bacteria or any other number of nasty infections. At those times, a Z-pack feels like a life-saver. But this common antibiotic can also be a life-ender…

Every day, more proof arises that what we put in our mouths can have a profound effect on our health, now and in the long run. Despite all the news and research about the importance of eating whole foods with names you can spell, Americans are reaching for foods that make them fat and sick — one in particular…

Most of us have heard of the shingles virus, especially if you’re past middle age when your risk of being diagnosed goes up. Basically, if you’ve ever had chickenpox, you’re at risk for shingles. And, there’s something else you should know… It’s putting more and more baby boomers at serious risk for blindness…

Women have a much steeper heart disease risk once menopause strikes. But your estrogen levels start dipping long before you enter full-blown menopause which means your heart attack risk skyrockets a lot sooner than you realized.

Sitting is the new smoking. That’s because while the rates of smoking have fallen to their lowest point in recorded history, we spend more time than ever sitting… at our computers, in our cars, on our couches to watch TV and at the kitchen table eating. And it’s making us sick.

Investigators found that even among individuals who would be deemed low risk based upon LDL cholesterol levels, those with elevated inflammation levels had double the risk of a subsequent cardiac event. This supports what we already know about coronary and vascular disease… and a missed opportunity to save lives.

Most of us think of liver problems in relation to how much alcohol we drink. But, while alcohol can damage your liver, there is a much sneakier cause of liver damage that you could be living with right now and not even know it. It’s called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD for short.

You may never have even considered the fact that men can get breast cancer. But breast cancer is breast cancer, folks, regardless of gender. It operates pretty much the same way and can kill anyone. But men can also be survivors, provided they know the signs, take action, and don’t let stigma stop them…

Genes. It’s easy to curse fate for giving you less than perfect ones… Unfortunately, some are more serious than a painful pair of fallen arches or skin that doesn’t make for stunning selfies. Hidden somewhere in your genetic code may be a tendency toward cancer. That doesn’t mean you can’t beat those odds…

Had I known that high fiber foods heal intestinal diseases, like ulcerative colitis, I might have been spared a complete proctocolectomy, the complete removal of my large intestine. My experience served as a catalyst to investigate healing through fiber… something I didn’t learn in med school and am glad to share…

Caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s is unlike any other stressor. It has multiple layers, and it’s not like you can wait to deal with the physical strain while you’re taking care of the way it affects every other aspect of your life, including depression. But there’s help in these eight skills…

If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and the way to your heart is through the bedroom, then the way to satisfy both is also through his stomach. Your husband can achieve a stronger sex drive and better sexual performance by eating these five foods…

As we age, cognitive problems can start to creep in… and no one wants to see that happen. But one of the areas that can become especially challenging is decision making. Yet, the decisions we make in later life can substantially affect our finances, our health, and our independence. This can help…

It seems that the relationship between exercise and well-being, both physical and emotional, travels in both directions. Those who exercise are happier, healthier and more emotionally stable. But there are three well-being factors that fuel that drive from the start — and they make all the difference…

Let’s say you start feeling a little itchy in your lady parts. You figure you have a yeast infection, buy an antifungal like Monistat and call it a day. But when the itching doesn’t stop you take a closer look. And you notice strange white patches taking over your nether regions. What the heck is happening?

Without enough estrogen, cells known as osteoblasts aren’t able to make new bone tissue at the level necessary to keep your bones strong. But what you may not know though is that after menopause there’s something that can raise your chances of ending up with weak bones even more — diabetes.

You’ve probably heard about the dangers of metabolic syndrome. Low levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol), fat around the waistline, insulin resistance, hypertension and chronic inflammation are its hallmarks. But there’s a curious relationship between this stroke syndrome and migraines, too…

Protein powders aren’t always as healthy as they seem. In fact, new research shows that one popular protein powder ingredient could make you heavier, crankier and shorten your lifespan if you use it too much.

When I ask my patients what goal they have for their health, most say they want to feel — and look — better. People who feel better naturally look better. But are there foods you should be consuming to directly improve the appearance of your skin? The answer is… yes!