By Jean Rommes, as told to Kendall Morgan I knew in 1985 that I probably had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I first came across the condition in an article, looked it up, and discovered I had all the classic symptoms. But I didn’t do anything about it until 2000, when I finally went to […]

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are among the 1 in 5 Americans who live in a rural area, you may face challenges in getting the care you need because of where you live. The first step is to work with your primary care doctor to find specialists with experience in treating your type […]

Scientists can scan your entire DNA library. That’s more than 20,000 genes. This kind of testing, called genomic testing, has transformed the diagnosis and management of cancer and rare genetic diseases. But like other kinds of health care, racial and ethnic minorities are underserved when it comes to all kinds of genetic services and researc

April 23, 2024 – It’s becoming more of a “when” then an “if” TikTok will be banned in the United States, which would leave the 170 million Americans who use the social media app to find another option. Gone, too, would be the growing community of health care professionals who use the platform to share […]

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can make you feel itchy and uncomfortable. It causes hives that come and go unexpectedly. You probably wonder why you get them and what to do about them. There’s no clear cause of chronic spontaneous urticaria, or chronic hives, but you and your doctor can manage it. “When I diagnose a […]

April 22, 2024 – In Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, a fleet of four RVs regularly pop up in parking lots at churches, libraries and other locations. Sometimes known as “man vans,” these mobile screening units offer prostate cancer screenings and education as a way to reach patients who lack solid access to health care.  The […]

You may be thinking about looking into clinical trials to help treat your chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These trials are research studies that help scientists study treatment safety and effectiveness. They could let you try cutting-edge treatments that aren’t yet widely available — and by taking part, you could help other people with yo

Most people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) get diagnosed before this cancer reaches its advanced stages. In fact, it might take several months or even years to get there.  When the disease moves into the later stages, CLL cells crowd out the healthy cells in the bone marrow, which could lead to problems such as […]

Ernest House needed a liver transplant. But a heart condition was keeping him off the transplant list.  “I would have died,” he says. “There’s no doubt about that. My body was failing.” A former college football quarterback, House had always strived to stay active. That didn’t change when he reached his golden years. As a […]

As you probably learned back in middle school, menstruation is the monthly shedding of your uterine lining. Though it can be uncomfortable and sometimes inconvenient, your period is your body’s way of telling you that your reproductive system is working properly. Just as every woman is unique, every woman’s period has its own personalit

Migraine is a common neurological disorder, especially among women. But only about half of people who have it seek medical care for these intense headaches, and most wait before seeking help from a doctor. Fewer than that leave the doctor’s office with the right diagnosis and a treatment plan that works well.   While lack […]

A buccal patch stuck to the inside of the mouth might deliver drugs more quickly and with fewer side effects. One of the most common ways of taking a drug is to swallow a pill. However, young children and people with health conditions ranging from Parkinson’s disease to throat cancer can have trouble getting down […]

April 18, 2024 – Turns out it’s not a Sisyphean task – or at least not impossible, like trying to roll a large boulder up a steep hill over and over again. Some people with deep-rooted beliefs on a wide range of health topics – from COVID vaccination to mental health stigma to foods including […]

April 18, 2024 – The explosive rise in skin care “influencers” hawking product after product on social media has led many young people to seek anti-aging products and procedures even as experts say there is no actual evidence that Gen Z is aging faster than normal.  Worries about things like frown lines and wrinkles often serve as […]

After 15 years of smoking, Adrian Diaz Bulibasa decided it was time to quit. “I wanted to have a baby and I didn’t want the health of my future baby to be affected by my choices,” he says. But quitting was hard. Bulibasa, who lives in London and is the editor-in-chief of the website bestformyfeet.com, […]

It’s 2 a.m. Your baby is crying and you can’t soothe them. They have a fever and a stuffed nose. Do you call the pediatrician, or do you wait until morning? New parenthood is full of uncertainty. When you’re a first-time parent, it’s easy to second-guess every decision you make. “It can be hard sometimes to […]

Take a drive around certain neighborhoods in Los Angeles and you may spot as many signs advertising body scans as burger joints. Or maybe you’ve seen the ads on TV or the internet: “Protect your health! Get a body scan now!”  Are whole-body CT scans really able to do that – and what are the […]

By Lisa Newman, MD, chief of breast surgery at New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, as told to Camille Noe Pagán Lisa Newman, MD There are many reasons for women who have advanced breast cancer to be hopeful. For starters, the way we treat and study advanced, or metastatic, breast cancer is improving. Even in […]

By Michelle Pickens, as told to Danny Bonvissuto As early as I can remember, I’ve had issues with my health. When I was little, I had severe constipation, nausea, vomiting, and food sensitivities. As I got older, those symptoms transitioned into diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, and pain. I was always very fatigued and my immune […]

What can feel more frustrating than having a cough? Having a cough that happens more often or gets worse at night. It affects how much you can relax, fall and stay asleep, and get much-needed rest for recovery.  “During sleep, the body regulates our production of cytokines, signaling proteins our immune systems produce to fight […]

Who knows better than parents that cleaning the house regularly helps keeps germs at bay and goes a long way toward preventing kids from catching colds, flu, and allergy symptoms? Sometimes, though, parents could use a helping hand when it comes time for cleaning the house. Although you might not expect members of the toddler […]

It’s not unusual to have mixed feelings about your child’s diagnosis with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The behaviors that led to it may create stress in your family and social life for quite a while. You might worry about how your child (and others) will react to being “labeled,” on top of all your […]

April 12, 2024 – Scientists and researchers have long raised concerns about the potential increased risks of autism and ADHD from taking acetaminophen during pregnancy, even though the FDA and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have said it’s safe to use when you’re carrying a child. But new findings should bring co

In early 2014, Ilene Ruhoy, MD, PhD, was not feeling well. She tired more easily than usual, had frequent headaches, and was sometimes dizzy and nauseous. A hospital-based neurologist, Ruhoy made appointments with several of her colleagues. “Everyone kept telling me that I was working too hard, that I was too stressed out, that I […]

April 12, 2024 — Creamy, thick, and velvety: Without emulsifiers, your favorite ice cream or muffin might not taste the same. Yet research warns that there is a darker side to these substances, from polysorbate-80 to carrageenan. Evidence links emulsifiers with upset gut microbiome, inflammation, and several conditions, from heart attacks to

April 12, 2024 – When a mother in Atlanta, GA, noticed measles symptoms in her son earlier this year after returning from an international trip, she knew just bringing him straight into a local emergency room may put others at risk. She kept him in the car outside the ER while alerting staff inside. “We […]

When you think of treatment for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in children, medication probably comes to mind. That, or maybe therapy to work on school and social skills. In truth, the recommended first line of treatment isn’t a pill or training for your child — but rather training for you.   “There are effective […]

Penny Williams of Asheville, N.C., still remembers the day she got a call from her son’s kindergarten teacher. It was the second day of school, and the teacher requested a meeting for that same day. “He was always a really rambunctious boy, but he was also so sweet and caring,” says Williams, an author, podcaster, […]

A visit to the OB/GYN can leave you feeling vulnerable. Everyone should have a doctor who puts them at ease. But if you’re a transgender man or nonbinary person who’s pregnant or trying to be, it’s key that your doctor know and respect your medical needs.  “Pregnancy should be an exciting time,” says Amanda Kallen, […]

April 10, 2024 – Got health questions about eating right, dealing with stress, or ways to stop smoking? You can ask S.A.R.A.H., and she’ll answer back. S.A.R.A.H. is a new interactive artificial intelligence resource from the World Health Organization. S.A.R.A.H. can also provide information on mental health, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, an

Bob Dickey was determined not to let the side effects of cancer treatment — namely, nausea — get in the way of his routine. Dickey, a freight broker who lives in Menifee, CA,was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010, after he fell to the floor during an otherwise regular workout at the gym. His bones […]

As WebMD’s chief medical officer, John Whyte, MD, is in a unique position to see both the current state of medical care for America’s older adults and the way things are trending for the future. We asked him to share his insight on a few topics, along with a bit of advice. WebMD: What are […]

April 8, 2024 — When Mary Claire Haver, MD, became interested in the potential of collagen supplementation about a decade ago, she struggled to find many gold-standard studies that showed major improvements in the aspects that mattered most to her patients, such as cellulite, wrinkles, and bone health. Now the data seems to be more […]

April 8, 2024 — Some people love to chat. I learned this 15 years ago when I moved to a small village in France.  They chatted with the boulangerie owner, with the grocery clerk, with the town hall official, and with each other: joking, gossiping, bantering. For me, fresh from urban North America, this was […]

By Alexa Federico, as told to Skylar Harrison Before I became an advocate for those with Crohn’s and IBD, my mom was mine. “Her nails are blue. She’s lost weight. She’s really cold,” she’d tell doctors again and again about her 12-year-old daughter’s alarming symptoms, but they never seemed to take us seriously. “She’s just […]

SOURCES: Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD, chief of nutrition; professor, department of preventive medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Donald Boyd, MD, RDN, assistant professor of medicine, Yale School of Medicine. Jerlyn Jones, RDN, spokesperson, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. FDA: “FDA 101: Dietary Supplements,” “Vitamin an

What are the most important steps to follow if you want to feel good from morning to night? David Rakel, MD, spends his days helping people figure that out. He’s the director of the integrative medicine program at the University of Wisconsin and to him, feeling good means that your body and mind are working […]

Somewhere along the line you may have decided you are simply not the yoga type. Sure, you’ve heard the raves about yoga for stress management, but you can barely touch your toes. So there’s no way you’re going to stand on your head or twist your foot behind your neck like a human pretzel. And […]

Many people who want to get into shape are unaware that there is more to fitness than well-toned muscles and a tight abdomen. There is no shortage of exercise regimes that strictly promote the perfection of the body. Centuries ago, Western culture lost its focus on the interconnectedness between the body and the mind or […]

April 5, 2024 – For decades, I resisted invitations to try, learn, and play golf. Too frustrating, I said. Too expensive. Too much to learn. Too time-consuming.  I too-too-too’d myself out of giving it a shot. A lifelong hobby dabbler, I finally decided to give golf a whirl last summer.  I bought cheap clubs and […]

Americans seem to carry bottled water everywhere they go these days. In fact, it has become the second most popular drink (behind soft drinks). But water lovers got a jolt recently when we heard that a new report had found that the benefits of drinking water may have been oversold. Apparently, the old suggestion to […]

April 4, 2024 – Fatigue, headaches, stomach pain and a higher risk of heart disease. Although these things may not make you think of grief at first, many people who experience a significant loss have these and other physical symptoms. People might expect the emotional and psychological one-two punch that grief can deliver. Anger, numbness, walking

Tired of living with a stuffy nose, postnasal drip, sinus infections, facial pain, poor sense of smell, and the other symptoms that come with nasal polyps? It’s time to seek treatment. “There are a full array of treatments available for nasal polyps,” says Cecelia Damask, DO, an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Lake Mary, […]

April 3, 2024 — When the COVID-19 pandemic hit 4 years ago, Jenn Kearney felt extra thankful for her years of therapy.  The 34-year-old digital communications manager from Boston said her 11 years of doing therapy — specifically cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT – prior to the pandemic had given her skills and “ways to […]

In 1996, Doug Olson learned he had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells. This cancer often grows slowly, so his doctor decided to watch it and wait to treat him. But when Olson’s cancer started to grow a few years later, he had several rounds of chemotherapy. […]

April 2, 2024 – Eating food with high amounts of salt has long been linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. But much of the research on salt’s effects have been with middle- and upper-income populations.  A study says large portion of low-income African Americans and White Americans exceed the […]

Overactive bladder (OAB) is an umbrella term for several urinary symptoms. The most common symptom is a sudden urge to urinate that you can’t control. Other symptoms include leaking urine, frequent urination, and waking up at night to urinate.  If you think something might be going on, keeping a bladder diary could be really helpful […]

IgA nephropathy is hard to predict. But there’s one thing experts know. People with strong emotional and social support systems tend do better in the long run. And it’s best to live your life to the fullest no matter how kidney disease affects you.  “Whether it’s skiing or knitting or going to football games as […]

Teenagers know how to push their parents’ buttons. Instinctively, they come with an arsenal of tools to get what they want, avoid getting into trouble, or cause their parents to blow a fuse out of frustration. How do you prepare to parent all of that? There are smart ways to counteract the manipulation. Here’s what […]

Whether you breastfeed, bottle feed, or do a combo of the two, at some point you’ll wonder: Is it time to move on to a cup? If you just breastfeed, the easiest switch is to skip bottles entirely and go straight to cups around the 1-year mark, or whenever you decide to stop nursing. If […]

Ask clinical psychologist Michael Breus, PhD, a.k.a. The Sleep Doctor, for his No. 1 tip for having more energy and sleeping better, and he doesn’t hesitate to share his own morning routine: He rises at 6:15 a.m. daily, drinks a big glass of water, and meditates as he waits for the sun to come up. […]

Did you recently start excessively sweating even in comfortable temperatures? Do you wake up at night soaked in sweat? These may be signs of secondary hyperhidrosis — excessive sweating due to medications or a medical condition. Normally, your body sweats to regulate its temperature, and you sweat more during exercise, hot conditions, and str

Vincent Macaluso, MD, found out he had multiple sclerosis (MS) when he was in medical school. Today, he treats people who have MS at his clinic in New Hyde Park, NY. He understands that MS can change the way you think, feel, and act better than most people. He also knows firsthand how hard it […]

March 29, 2024 – It could be a case of: if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Commercial weight loss companies like WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Noom, and Calibrate, which were around before the explosion in popularity of some weight loss medications, now offer them to their members.  Providing glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agon

Women today have been told we have it all — careers, families, kids, community involvement, and relationships. But all too often, having it all leaves us with no time or strength left for ourselves. Recent research has shown that women today are less happy than they have been over the past 40 years. There are […]

By Alexa Federico, as told to Lisa Mulcahy. I’m 27, I live in Boston, and I’m a certified nutritional therapy practitioner, an AIP coach, an author, and the owner of my own business, Alexa Federico Wellness. And I have Crohn’s disease. I was 12 when I was diagnosed. Many of my close friends have only […]

Losing your hearing can be an inconvenience — sometimes a major one that makes you worry. While some forms of hearing loss aren’t reversible, many are. But how does it stack up? Earwax helps clean and protect the ears. Normally, your ears will clear it out on their own. If you use cotton swabs to […]

Families, almost from their start, face forces that could pull them apart. When a family begins to mature, that potential loss of connection, that feeling of something changing, is difficult to confront. And it makes communication even more important. “This idea of feeling connected becomes very reinforcing, to all of us, and it contributes to [&he

LaShawn Wiltz LaShawn Wiltz hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in decades. She’s had chronic sleep-maintenance insomnia since high school, meaning she has trouble staying asleep through the night. So when Wiltz, who’s now in her mid-40s, heard about the “sleepy girl mocktail” on TikTok, she was curious. Might this do-it-yourself concoction made with

George Galioto blamed his sleepless nights on his schedule. He often worked two jobs, putting in long hours at bars and restaurants where his shifts ended long past midnight. He also juggled work and school, studying late into the evenings. “I wasn’t even attempting to go to sleep until well after midnight and sometimes not […]

Kate, Princess of Wales, recently revealed a cancer diagnosis and a course of chemotherapy. In a recent video, Kate said that it has taken time “to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis,” her children with her husband William, Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, “in a way that’s appropriate for them.”  […]

Does intermittent fasting raise your risk of death from heart disease? That’s what you might think from headlines about early research presented at a recent American Heart Association conference – drawing skepticism from experts and cautions from the researchers themselves.    Here’s what you should know. The American Heart Association issued a new

The physical effects of overactive bladder are obvious. But the emotional impact isn’t talked about as much. You might avoid going on road trips with friends, playing sports, or visiting your grandchildren because you’re self-conscious about leaking or having to stop a lot to use the restroom.  “People start to live their lives around management of

By Deborah Serani, PsyD, as told to Hallie Levine When it comes to talking about how depression affects relationships, I’m the expert. And it’s not just because I’m a psychologist. I’ve lived with major depressive disorder since I was 19. I not only work on this issue with my patients, but I encounter it in […]

By James Giordano, PhD, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen major strides in the treatment options for major depressive disorder. We now understand that depression isn’t the same for everyone. The idea is to identify and diagnose what’s happening in a person’s neurochemistry so we can target our […]

By Dan Collins, as told to Hallie Levine I’ve been living with major depressive disorder since I was 16.  My moment of critical mass was in the spring of 1991. I was 28 and still living at home. My life revolved around getting up, going to work, and returning to my house. I fell down […]

UC Berkeley’s harvesting box can extract water from air in the middle of the desert. Imagine a small box that can harvest drinking water from the air, even in the Mojave Desert. It’s just one of the new mind-bending technologies aimed at solving the global water crisis, the scale of which demands science fiction-level innovation. […]

There’s no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But there are things you can do to stay active, breathe easier, and live longer — even if your condition is more advanced. Ask your doctor about all of your treatment choices. You might need medicine, pulmonary rehab, oxygen therapy, or lifestyle changes. Your health care [&hel

People in some parts of the world have used herbal remedies to treat diseases for centuries. But in the United States, we tend to rely heavily on traditional Western medicine. Still, the use of dietary supplements has taken off in the last few decades. A 2011 survey from the CDC found that more than half […]

It happens quickly: A child on the autism spectrum bolts from supervision and disappears – an emergency called “autism elopement.” While any child can wander off, children on the autism spectrum face particular risks. These include the lure of water and the risk of drowning. Some youngsters on the spectrum will follow this strong attraction [&helli

March 20, 2024 — Since its rollout, the Shingrix vaccine has been hailed as a breakthrough in preventing shingles.  But its path to widespread adoption has been strewn with obstacles, from pandemic-related disruptions to insurance complexities. The consequences can be seen in vaccine numbers: Only about 30% of adults eligible for Shingrix hav

Sexuality and sensuality have a lot in common — but they’re not the same thing. What is the difference between being sexual and being sensual, and how do the two relate to each other? “Sexual” is pretty straightforward: When people talk about sexual activity, they’re usually referring to the process of physical intimacy between consenting [&h

When Hanna Olivas was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017, at age 42, she was angry at first, and then she was terrified. Her doctors agreed on one thing: This kind of blood cancer is incurable. But they couldn’t forecast how much time she had left to live. “One doctor told me you have about […]

We all snack. But some snacks are better than others, especially if you’re managing type 2 diabetes or obesity. An ideal snack gives you protein or fiber — or both — to help you feel full, says Gillian Culbertson, RD, certified diabetes educator at the Cleveland Clinic. It should give you plenty of energy without […]

March 18, 2024 – When Ken Aaron, 51, woke up from his first-ever colonoscopy last February to his doctor mouthing the words “we found a tumor,” there was no one more surprised than he was. The married father of two had some very mild GI discomfort before he booked the scan, but, besides that, there […]

The sportswear brand Nike introduced new, inclusive mannequins to their Niketown stores in London earlier this month that include representations of physically disabled and plus-sized athletes. Other brands have come out with plus-sized mannequins and disabled mannequins in the last year, including Target, Nordstrom, and Old Navy. Fans of the manne

It’s difficult to imagine a more contagious disease than whooping cough. For adolescents and adults, whooping cough, or pertussis, is a huge bother: cold symptoms, followed by a cough that takes weeks or months to resolve. Missed work and school are common. But for infants who haven’t yet been immunized, whooping cough can be serious […]

Do any of these lines sound familiar? You have to hold a stretch to get the benefit. Don’t bounce in the stretch — you’ll tear your muscle. If you don’t stretch before a workout, you’ll hurt yourself. Well, they’re all wrong. But first, there’s a bigger question to answer. It’s a good idea, says the [

The tears and screaming, as upsetting as they are, are well worth the effort. A simple prick of the skin provides children with lifetime protection against diseases like chickenpox, meningitis, and hepatitis. With a schedule starting at birth and lasting into childhood, millions of kids in the United States are vaccinated each year, usually before

By the time your baby is a year old, they’ll need at least 16 vaccinations. The pain of each needle stick is fleeting for them, but the stress of seeing your baby cry can stick with you. Fear of shots shouldn’t steer you away from the recommended vaccination schedule. Vaccines are all that stand between […]

March 15, 2024 – Summer is fast approaching, and the pressures of “bikini season” have some young adults looking to GLP-1 medications like Ozempic to shed weight. And while data shows that obesity is skyrocketing among U.S. teens and young adults, Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications are very rarely the first or best option to lose […]

The breakthrough studies of a world-renowned Crohn’s researcher have helped millions – including himself

March 14, 2024—Actress Olivia Munn’s candid disclosures on Instagram about her aggressive breast cancer — a surprise discovery after a “clean” mammogram and negative genetic tests — were a poignant mix of details about her cancer journey and a cautionary tale for women.   Munn earlier this week revealed her 10-month battle with breast cancer, which

By Alison Feller, as told to Candy Schulman When I was 7, I was on a family vacation, living my best life. Or so I thought. I wasn’t sick – until I was. There were no symptoms that indicated Crohn’s was coming. I was losing weight, but I was a super active kid. Suddenly I […]

March 13, 2024 – There’s a good chance you’ve come across this popular 10-second social media narrative: Hard-bodied individual looks into the camera. Zooms out to show they’re wearing only a beanie and a bathing suit. Hey, I’m about to dunk myself in freezing water. Voluntarily! Because I love-hate-love-hate it! Really! You should too.  Should [&h

Too many U.S. children and teens are not getting their full roster of vaccinations, says H. Cody Meissner, MD, director of pediatric infectious disease at Tufts Medical Center and a professor of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine. Lack of information, socio-demographic disparities, and mistrust in science may all be reasons. The HPV

“I heard there’s a microchip in the vaccine.” That’s what a surprising number of people tell Rupali Limaye, PhD, about why they don’t want to vaccinate their child. They might also say they’re worried that certain vaccines cause autism (a persistent myth that has no basis in fact) or that recommended vaccine schedules are dangerously […]

March 12, 2024 — It hurt to walk. So Dianne Rosenbluth saw a surgeon that friends recommended at the Duke University School of Medicine, had an X-ray, and found out she has osteoarthritis.  Rosenbluth’s pain went away after a hip replacement, but she struggled to get her stamina back. She knew she had to “keep […]

March 11, 2024 – At-home medical diagnostic testing has exploded in recent years. NASDAQ reports that the market for at-home testing has reached a staggering $45.6 billion and will continue to grow at a rate of over 10% per year up to 2031.  COVID-19 testing may have gotten the ball rolling, but new home tests for […]

When Imadé Borha graduated from Columbia University in 2015 with a master’s degree in nonfiction creative writing, she thought the last thing she’d have to worry about was finding a job. It didn’t happen. “That was around the time of the first suicide attempt,” recalls Borha, 34, now a Durham, NC-based communications p

If you have treatment-resistant depression, you’ve already tried taking antidepressants without much success. But you shouldn’t give up. It can take time to find the medication, dose, or mix of medicines that work for you. “There are more than two dozen safe and effective antidepressants,” says Jonathan E. Alpert, MD, PhD, c

Heart disease is common in people with diabetes. In general, the risk of heart disease death and stroke is more than twice as high in people with diabetes. While all people with diabetes have an increased chance of developing heart disease, the condition is more common in those with type 2 diabetes. In fact, heart […]

What makes for a good, lasting marriage? I can’t speak for everyone, and I don’t believe there’s just one magical thing. But my husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and I can share something that’s helped us: We’ve learned how to express our emotions in ways that are meaningful to each other. […]

As your child reaches the 8- to 12-year-old age range, you may begin to notice subtle and obvious signs that they’re no longer a youngster but not quite a teen. Welcome to the “tween” years! This in-between stage of development is a time of change. Your kid starts to be more independent. They may hit […]

Editor’s note: Doctors get burned out, too. Read the Medscape Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2024: ‘We Have Much Work to Do’ March 8, 2024—Texts. Emails. Video meetings. Texts to remind you of upcoming video meetings. And on and on it goes, until what technology experts and psychologists call the digital dark side of te

Standard treatments ease depression for a lot of people, but they don’t work for everyone. At least 30% of those who try two or more antidepressants continue to have serious symptoms. That’s called treatment-resistant depression. If it happens to you, keep in mind that there are still ways to manage your depression. Talk to your [&helli

March 7, 2024 – Let’s start with this: Your vagina “is naturally self-cleaning, meaning that it does not need to be washed or rinsed in order to be ‘fresh,’” That’s the bottom line from Karen Adams, MD, an OB-GYN and clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Yet, […]

Get ready to gain an hour of sleep. The “fall back” time change happens on Sunday, November 5, 2023 in most of the U.S. How the time changes actually affect you depends on your own personal health, sleep habits, and lifestyle. Moving our clocks in either direction changes the principal time cue — light — […]

March 5, 2024 — There’s a widespread – and long-held — belief that swallowing a low-dose aspirin pill every day can help protect you from heart attacks and strokes.  Almost 30 million Americans take aspirin to prevent a first cardiovascular event (“primary prevention”), and nearly 40% of those over 50, around 49 million people, are [&he

No doubt about it, protein is good for you — and can even help you shed those unwanted pounds. But (and you knew there was a “but,” right?), it’s important to eat the right amount and the right kind of protein to get the lifelong weight-loss results you want. Here are 10 terrific sources of […]

March 5, 2024 — Thunderstorm asthma can strike with little warning, leaving people with the symptoms of an asthma attack during or after the dark clouds pass.  If you’re unfamiliar, the risk for a thunderstorm asthma attack grows when heavy storms arrive on a day with very high pollen or spores. The storm uplifts these particles, […]

If you have depression, antidepressants and talk therapy could be part of your treatment plan. Antidepressants modify levels of serotonin and other chemicals in your brain. They can be an effective way to relieve sadness and other depression symptoms, but only if you take them. What often happens is [people] just stop taking their medication. [&hel

We all have thoughts that invade our brains from time to time and mess with our moods. We all get down. Whether it’s your job, your social life, your family, or something completely different, sometimes the negativity can be too much. It does tend to snowball. And that’s the part where it can become problematic. […]

You have an important dinner to attend tonight after work and the clothes you need are at the cleaners. The dry cleaner will be closed by the time you leave the office, so your partner has graciously agreed to pick the clothes up for you. But when you get home, your partner looks up, claps […]

Getting a diagnosis of Pompe disease can be tricky. That’s partly because the disorder is so rare. It affects only about 1 in every 40,000 people in the United States. “It’s really not on most pediatricians’ radar,” says Gerard Vockley, MD, PhD, chief of genetic and genomic medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. DID […]

Doctors and scientists have made big breakthroughs in treating multiple myeloma. They’ve helped people with the disease to keep it in check and live longer, healthier lives. Despite this, the condition still affects some groups unequally. These populations face differences in care. Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer. It happens when white b

By Sarah Amandolare With vast forestland, suburban developments, and urban high-rises alike burning in recent months and years, it can feel as if few places in the U.S. are safe from fire. Around the world, experts warn that fires are a worsening global crisis. In the United States, 8% more fires broke out in 2020, […]

Multiple myeloma can be a deadly disease. But if you’re Black or African American, you’re particularly vulnerable. Research shows you’re more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with this blood cancer and to die from it. There are several reasons for this, but one concern is that Black people aren’t adequately represented in clinical trials.

A look at possible reasons why multiple myeloma affects Black people more than white people, including genes, health care disparities, and the role of MGUS.

When you think about what’s likely to keep you from getting a good night’s sleep, you might picture noisy neighbors, a fussy child, or a snoring partner. But some things that aren’t so easily dealt with – like your age, gender, and where you live – could also affect how well you sleep, according to […]

Growing up, Carol Gee saw the side effects of type 2 diabetes firsthand. “One family member had to get a limb amputated, and another always came down with yeast infections,” says Gee, who lives in the Atlanta area. She was told that too much sugar was the culprit, so she always watched how many sweets […]

While shopping for breastfeeding gear, you may have noticed lactation massagers in addition to breast pumps, nipple cream, and nursing pillows. What are they? And do you need one? A lactation massager is a handheld device that’s intended to help women overcome certain breastfeeding challenges, like engorged breasts or clogged milk ducts. Should you

Feb. 28, 2024 – We know that we have to exercise. It boosts our cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, and ultimately contributes to our longevity and quality of life. But according to new research, women may benefit more from physical activity than men do. Does that mean there should be sex-based guidelines around exercise?  It turns [&hellip

From helpless newborn to active toddler: It takes just 12 short months for your baby to undergo this incredible transformation. Babies grow and change at an astounding pace, and every month brings new and exciting developments. New moms and dads often wonder what to expect next and how to know if their baby’s development is […]

Whether you’re a meal planner and grocery list maker or figure-it-out-as-you-go shopper, you’ll see the grocery store through different eyes when you have type 2 diabetes.  “It was a difficult process,” says Christina Herrera de Banchs, an educator in Dallas. “No one really tells you what to look out for, especially foods high in sugar. […]

Photo Credit: FatCamera / Getty Images Yale School of Medicine Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor Moffitt Cancer Center   SOURCES: Andrea Silber, MD, assistant clinical director for health equity and diversity, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer hospital; professor of clinical medicine (medical oncology), Yale School of Medicine. Christin

Many women get breast cancer. But the disease is deadliest for non-Hispanic Black women. And when it comes to metastatic breast cancer, women of color are less likely to get timely treatment that follows national guidelines.  According to Grace Suh, MD, medical director at Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor, lack of access to health educati

Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a rare neurological disorder. Treatment can help, but there’s no cure. You may snooze upwards of 9 hours a night without feeling refreshed. You may fight to wake up in the morning. Your sleepiness may persist or get worse, even when you take lengthy naps during the day. If you live with […]

Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a sleep disorder without a cure. It’s not well-understood. Even experts don’t know what causes it. Your sleepiness might get in the way of your daily life. When that happens, you might find that people around you don’t get how hard your symptoms are to manage. But remember that IH is […]

Hospital food isn’t known for tasting good or even being all that good for you. But some U.S. hospitals are teaming up with farms to change that. You probably think of hospital food as premade, prepackaged, bland, and colorless — except for the Jell-O, of course. Maybe you’ve brought a friend or relative soup or […]

If you’ve become a caregiver for a family member or friend with schizophrenia, it’s tough to go it alone. The demands on your psychological and physical well-being, and on your personal life and finances, can be heavy. “A lot of caregivers experience uncertainty about what the future will look like, not just for their loved […]

Feb. 23, 2024 – Is shorter better? Or just more practical? The CDC is reportedly going to cut its COVID-19 isolation recommendations down from 5 days to 24 hours starting in April.  The agency appears to be walking a fine line between reducing COVID transmission, including the JN.1 variant, and the reality that many people struggle […]

Black people in the U.S. are more likely to have a stroke than people who are White, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian – and with worse outcomes. The odds of dying of a stroke are 3 to 4 times higher for Black Americans, compared to White Americans.  Many things affect someone’s chances of having a stroke, […]

Feb. 22, 2024 — Injectable weight loss drugs like Wegovy, Saxenda, and Zepbound have been getting all the glory lately, but they’re not for everyone. If the inconvenience or cost of weight-loss drugs isn’t for you, another approach may be boosting your gut microbiome. So how does one do that, and how does it work? […]

To understand whether Wegovy should be used as part of the solution for childhood obesity, you first have to understand the problem. Megan Kelsey, MD That’s not always easy, even for a doctor, says Megan Kelsey, MD, medical director of lifestyle medicine and adolescent bariatric surgery at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  Kelsey admits that early in

When you have multiple sclerosis (MS), your immune system works against you. Left unchecked, immune cells attack the protective layer that surrounds your nerve fibers. Doctors used to think your immune T cells were the main culprit in this. Immune B cells, which make antibodies, were considered innocent bystanders. That changed as scientists starte

By Darbi Haynes-Lawrence, PhD, as told to Evan Starkman It’s been 13 years since my neurologist diagnosed me with relapsing-remitting MS, and I still forget that I’m disabled a lot. I’m 47, but in my brain I’m still a college track athlete who ran marathons on the weekends. I’ve always been a big goal-oriented person.

Whether you notice them or not, your body makes lots of noises. The pop and creak of your joints, or the sound it makes when you pass gas, may not alarm you. But it may feel odd to hear your stomach growl or gurgle. “We get asked this a lot,” says Ben Levy MD, a […]

When people say someone had “a good death,” they usually mean that someone was comfortable and not in pain. But what if you could help their final days include the things they treasure — like their favorite song playing, who is at their bedside, even the scent of a candle in the room — so […]

What are the best ways to exercise and improve your bone health when you have osteoporosis? Try weight-bearing workouts to build stronger bones.  Talk to your doctor and make sure the workout you choose is safe for you. Then give these latest trends a try! 1. Tai Chi Tai chi — a form of slow, […]

Life is stressful and sometimes the stress can overwhelm you, but there are steps you can take to learn how to relax. Normal everyday activities like grocery shopping or traffic jams can make you tense. You might find it hard to unplug from digital devices and streaming services in a 24/7 world. Work deadlines, handling […]

If you’ve had years of breathing in cigarette smoke, pollution, viruses, and other toxins, the idea of cleaning out your lungs and getting a fresh start can sound very appealing. But if you’re tempted to buy vitamins, teas, or essential oils that say they will “detox” your lungs, save your money, says Joshua Englert, MD, […]

It was just after surgery for diverticular disease, and Greg Saggio, 48, was feeling good. That night he was already walking around. By the next morning, he started to eat. But then he went home and — ignoring his doctor’s advice — went right back to work. Just 1 week after surgery, he was commuting […]

Keeping a healthy weight is a worthwhile goal at any age. As you get older, it can get trickier. You might not be burning calories like you did when you were younger, but you can still take off extra pounds. The golden rules of weight loss still apply: Burn more calories than you eat or […]

America’s senior population has grown by 34.2% in the last 10 years, and today about 54 million Americans are 65-plus. If you’re in this group, you may take four or more medications, see as many as five doctors each year, and have at least one chronic health condition. You may also feel that your doctors […]

Monica Cantu and her husband were overjoyed to learn they were expecting twins, a boy and a girl.  The couple couldn’t wait to meet their babies. At a doctor’s appointment, Cantu learned her baby boy was measuring small. At 23 weeks, doctors noticed something wrong with the baby’s umbilical cord. Blood wasn’t flowing properly through [&hellip

Feb. 16, 2024 – When it comes to your diet, your plate is important. Experts say it should include a healthy protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. But rather than ration those ingredients, it might be easier – and healthier – to mix and match colors.  Not only does this rainbow-driven strategy fuel the body […]

Bloating 101: Why You Feel Bloated WebMD Feature Archive Bloating, gassiness, and abdominal discomfort aren’t limited to the occasional holiday feast. It can happen even if you haven’t eaten a large meal. In some cases, bloating can even cause distention, or a perceptible swelling of the abdomen. Bloating and gas are usually not signs [&

You have been so great about your new exercise routine, rarely missing a day since you started up again. Then all of a sudden you are waylaid by a cold or flu. What should you do? Should you skip the treadmill or forsake that Pilates class for a late afternoon nap? Will it be hard […]

By Elena Sledge, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson I’ve been living with depression for almost 12 years. I’m 31 now and I found out I had major depressive disorder when I was 19. I had a miserable freshman year of college, but I didn’t really know what was wrong. I saw a therapist and […]

In 2018, Michael B. Greene, PhD, received a letter that took his breath away. A woman who might be his biological daughter was looking to connect.  He knew it was possible. In the 1970s, he donated sperm many times to make some extra cash as a graduate student in New York City. At the time, […]

Prescription drugs heal us when we’re sick, ease our pain when we ache, and prevent or control long-term conditions. But sometimes, even when they do the job they’re supposed to, they have unwelcome side effects. Don’t let that make you automatically rule out a medication, especially if it’s an important part of managing a h

If you are overweight or have obesity, you might think you need to lose a lot of weight to improve your health. It can feel daunting. But actually, you can start to get health benefits from a small amount of weight loss. Research shows that it’s possible to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, cut […]

By Joyce Oen-Hsiao, as told to Keri Wiginton Joyce Oen-Hsiao, MD, FACC, director of clinical cardiology, Yale Medicine, New Haven, CT Right now, cholesterol treatment is more about finding ways to combine current cholesterol drugs a little bit differently and target treatment based on the person themselves. It’s not just standardized — giving

Feb. 12, 2024 – Clean. Natural. If the labels on your cosmetics and skin care products don’t include these descriptors, you’re not looking as great as you could and perhaps even jeopardizing your health. At least that’s the marketing message behind many “clean” and “natural” cosmetics and skin care products, from eyeliner to foundation to […

Feb. 8, 2024 — New and effective weight loss drugs have been a game changer for people with obesity or who are overweight with a related health condition. But patients taking these drugs should not neglect diet and exercise, experts say.  In approving GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound, the FDA has specified that […]

The redness, discoloration, dryness, and itch of atopic dermatitis (AD) could send you to your dermatologist in search of solutions. Your doctor will start by taking stock of your symptoms. “The first thing is assessing disease severity,” says Lindsay Strowd, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and vice chair of the Department of

Atopic dermatitis (AD) can be a long-lasting condition that causes severe, itchy rashes. At times, you may feel like you can’t stop scratching,  which can lead to other problems. “With scratching, breaks in the skin can also get infected, causing impetigo, blisters, and swelling,” says Adam Mamelak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, TX

Claire Park, a pediatric nurse and mom to a 2-year-old in Atlanta, has been battling atopic dermatitis (AD) on her hands for years. But in the last 5, it’s gotten so bad that nighttime itching keeps her awake. During the day, Park can keep her mind off the itch. But when she’s falling asleep it’s […]

Is your red, itchy skin flare linked to your diet? Maybe, but foods or drinks aren’t always the trigger for a skin condition called atopic dermatitis (AD). So before you cut out certain foods, get a diagnosis and tests to be sure what you’re eating is really causing your skin flares. Atopic Dermatitis and Food […]

For years, George Kramb, who’s 29 and lives in San Diego, CA, thought he had a severe case of dry skin. “I had dry skin basically my whole life. It was always flaky, irritated, and even got to the point of cracking,” he says. Sometimes, in the winter, his fingers were so cracked and dry […]

By Natalie Brown, as told to Kendall Morgan When I was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at age 33, I had to make a lot of tough decisions quickly, including whether to freeze my eggs before treatment started or not be able to have kids. We decided to go ahead with treatment immediately. In […]

Pain that lasts more than a few months is chronic pain. Some types can’t be cured. But treatment can help you find relief. The right choice for you depends on: How long the pain has lasted How bad it is What’s causing it Where you hurt Treatments have changed a lot over the years, says […]

By Susan Rahn, as told to Lauren Evoy Davis I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in August 2013. It was exactly 9 months after a clear mammogram. I didn’t find a lump or even suspect that I had breast cancer. Back pain sent me to the doctor and eventually led to my shocking diagnosis. […]

Feb. 7, 2024 — Atkins, keto, the Zone, the paleo diet – it seems like low-carb diets have been around forever, and they’ve only grown in popularity over the years. But despite their renown, it remains unclear what exactly “low carb” really means.  A study recently published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition [

Feb. 6, 2024 — What if there  was an easy way to enhance your brain function, reduce stress, boost your mood, and protect yourself against a host of health conditions — and that anyone can do it, even you?  Science says it’s not too good to be true: Recent research has linked yoga to all […]

Feb. 6, 2024 — Nutritionists are sounding the alarm on just how much your dietary consumption can affect your risk — or lack thereof — for cancer.  A whopping 25% of the 18 million cancer cases in the U.S. could be prevented by improving your nutrition, according to research out of the Harvard T.H. Chan […]

By Bassel H. Mahmoud, MD, PhD, as told to Susan Bernstein Vitiligo is mainly an autoimmune disease of the skin that targets pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. This results in patches of depigmentation in the form of chalky white areas on the skin that can range from very small to very large, even covering most of […]

Feb. 5, 2024 – “Beep — Beep – Beep”: Your alarm clock signals that it’s time to slip on your workout clothes and head to the gym. You’re trying to muster the motivation to get up so your pricey gym membership doesn’t go to waste, like it really did last year.  Day after day, adults […]

By Mark Braxton, as told to Kendall Morgan In 1996, I discovered a small white spot on my thumb. It itched. I thought it was a scab or something. I didn’t think too much about it. Then, I started noticing other small white spots. They were spreading. The first dermatologist I went to looked at […]

By Erika Page, as told to Hallie Levine I’ve been living with vitiligo since I was 7 years old. It started as small spots on the back of my spine but quickly spread, first to my knees and elbows, then all over my body. By the time I reached my early 20s, I’d lost all […]

By Linda Chernek Moore, as told to Keri Wiginton Whether you live with someone or not, the role of caregiver can be all-consuming. But like they say before takeoff: Put your oxygen mask on first. In other words, you can’t care for others if you don’t care for yourself. I also caution people about being […]

Feb. 2, 2024 – Andisheh Nouraee was having trouble sleeping.  “I was waking up a lot at night, so I tried to optimize things in my life to improve sleep,” said Nouraee, who first tried to track his sleep with a wearable band but was skeptical about its accuracy. If he woke up at night […]

Feb. 2, 2024 – If you’re in the minority of Americans who received the most recent COVID-19 vaccination, chances are you’re in the majority not experiencing any COVID symptoms now or in the near future.  The CDC announced the first numbers on the XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccines protection against developing symptoms, including from the JN.1 variant. [&

A new study shows taxes on sugary beverages like soda reduce demand and are likely to improve public health. Soda is the No. 1 source of added sugar in the American diet. Aside from the tooth decay your mother warned you about, soda and sugar-sweetened tea, fruit, and sports drinks and their added calories increase […]

By Joan Kathryn, as told to Keri Wiginton  I’m 79 now, and my doctor diagnosed me with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2008. Over the past 15 years, I’ve developed wet AMD in my left eye and geographic atrophy (GA) in both eyes.  I don’t like to call attention to myself, and people often don’t […]

By Diane Marshall, as told to Keri Wiginton The choice to get treatment for the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a no-brainer. You have to get shots to save your vision. Fast intervention may even improve your eyesight. And for those of us with geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry […]

By Christina Orlovsky For many mothers-to-be, pregnancy is a time of excitement and expectation, as they eagerly await the arrival of their newborn. For many more, however, it is also a time of uncertainty, anxiety, and unanswered questions. This is especially true in diverse communities across the United States – the only developed country whose [

April Williams remembers when her doctor told her she should weigh 140 to 150 pounds. At the time, she was 326 pounds, her highest weight to date. “I didn’t even weigh that in elementary school, but he still thought that’s where I should be,” says Williams, the founder of BariNation, a website for people considering weight […]

Jan. 30, 2024 – It may be reassuring to think that serious measles outbreaks are a problem we conquered in the past or something that only affects people over there – like in Europe, which last year reported 42,200 cases. But complacency here in the United States could come at a price, experts said.  While […]

Traditional Western medicine hasn’t typically concerned itself with spiritual well-being. But that might be changing as a growing body of evidence shows spiritual and religious practice can have profound health effects, especially in regard to mental health.  Higher levels of spirituality and religiousness are associated with lower levels of depres

By Ian Trabuco, as told to Hallie Levine I’ve been living with chronic migraines for 3 years. They began my junior year of high school. The symptoms go well beyond just a headache. When I’m in the full throes of a migraine attack, I feel dizzy, nauseous, and my whole body is achy and fatigued, as […]

By Merle L. Diamond, MD, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson As a physician and lecturer specializing in headache medicine, I’m always looking for ways to help patients better manage chronic migraine. Chronic migraine means you have more than 15 days of headache per month, with eight that are migraine. In the past decade, the FDA has […]

By Katie M. Golden, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson As someone living with chronic migraine, every day is different. There’s no cure for this genetic neurologic disease, but there are things I do to manage my day-to-day life. I’m 40 years old and I live in Santa Monica, CA. I’m a professional writer and an […]

By Dawn Buse, PhD, as told to Keri Wiginton Headache disorders, including migraine, consistently rank among the leading causes of disability worldwide, especially for those ages 15-49. That’s a big deal. Yet people often don’t think of migraine as a significant disease. It’s often minimized and ignored. Migraine is incredibly burdensome. But less t

Fast-acting migraine medication can wipe out a headache. But according to Christopher Gottschalk, MD, director of the Yale Headache & Facial Pain Center, this pain-free possibility often comes as a surprise to many who live with the neurological condition. The speed and success of each drug may vary with each attack.  “But one of the […]

Jan. 23, 2024 – Kasey Vaillancourt and her husband were trying to get pregnant when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36. Her oncologist told her she may not be able to safely carry a pregnancy due to the risk of her cancer coming back. Vaillancourt and her husband used a fertility clinic […]

Illustration by Iris Johnson John Birmingham, a magazine editor, was startled to find his wife, Lola — dressed for work and for a birthday gathering afterward, in a jacket with a large fabric flower — perched on the edge of their bed, peering at her outfit in bewilderment. “Why am I dressed this way?” she […]

Jan. 26, 2024 – The cravings feel inevitable and unavoidable – you stand up, walk to the kitchen, open the fridge or pantry, and ponder. Although you remind yourself to consider a piece of fruit or some protein, your eyes linger on the potato chips and cookies. If fats and sugars sometimes seem irresistible, you’re […]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) often strikes between the ages of 20 and 40 — during your prime working years. And more often than not, the disease affects women. Over 70 percent of women with MS who were surveyed said they feared their condition would affect their ability to work. More than 60 percent said they’d tried […]

At 27 years old, Julie Stamm was a young woman in the world of finance. All of the exciting young adult milestones lay ahead of her. But with a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the unknown effects of a chronic, degenerative condition lay ahead of her as well. “I remember what it was like when […]

How long do you need to take a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis before it’s fully effective? It depends on which one you use. But they all take a while, says Eric M. Ruderman, MD, a rheumatologist at Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology in Chicago. In fact, he says, DMARDs used to be called SARDs, […]

Jan. 24, 2024 – If old bottles of prescription medicines and over-the-counter pain relievers are gathering dust behind your bathroom mirror, you’re not alone. But it’s important to take stock of what medications you have, what you can get rid of, and figure out how to store and discard your pills with care.  Let’s start […]

Jan. 23, 2024 — Loneliness has been known to be a serious health problem, and a new report makes the case that the suffering is worse for people who are obese. “To date, dietary and lifestyle factors are the major focus in preventing obesity related illness,” said Lu Qi, MD, lead author of the study published […]

Jan. 23, 2024 – You’ve got the symptoms, but your test for COVID-19 isn’t positive. You’re not alone.  JN.1, the now-dominant variant that accounts for nearly 86% of all circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains, may take longer to show a positive result on home antigen tests. Some infectious disease doctors and patients have reported that tests taken d

If you think migraines timed to your menstrual cycle are just something you have to suffer through month after month, think again. “Menstrual migraine is a common phenomenon and there are very useful treatments to make this a more comfortable time,” says Huma U. Sheikh, MD, a headache specialist and CEO of New York Neurology […]

Jan. 22, 2024 – In the 1979 comedy Manhattan, Mary (played by Diane Keaton) tells Isaac (Woody Allen) to vent his frustrations so they can finally get their feelings out in the open. “I don’t get angry,” Isaac replies. “I grow a tumor instead.” Allen’s characters are often neurotic, prone to excessive worry, anxiety, and stress. Hollywood has [&hel

The question “What’s for dinner?” becomes more complicated when you have diabetes. Along with budget and time, you need to think about how many grams of carbs, fat, and sugar are in a recipe, and what the meal might do to your blood sugar level. That’s where a diabetes meal delivery plan can be your […]

By Kim Lewis, as told to Stephanie Watson As a single mom, I did a lot of juggling. I had an active son and a job at a health and sports facility. I was busy. Making time for doctor appointments and taking care of myself weren’t high on my list. I learned the hard way […]

When Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet eating her curds and whey, she may have been doing more than filling her tummy. “Curds” is an old word for yogurt, and evidence is mounting that some of the bacteria contained in yogurt can prevent and treat diarrhea. They may also ease other ailments of the […]

No matter where you are on the gender spectrum, you might choose to use birth control if there’s a chance you could get pregnant and you don’t want to. Not all people who are transgender, nonbinary, or gender expansive choose to get gender-affirming care. But some people do take hormone therapy as part of their […]

SOURCES: Cara King, DO, director, benign gynecologic surgery; associate program director of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS), Cleveland Clinic. Ken Sinervo, MD, medical director, Center for Endometriosis Care, Atlanta. Patrick Yeung Jr., MD, director, SLUCare Center for Endometriosis; assistant professor, department of obstetrics &

Jan. 19, 2024 – The familiar symptoms are back again – a runny nose, coughing, aches, congestion, and maybe a fever. When the at-home COVID-19 test comes back negative, you head to the doctor to see if they can figure out what you’ve caught. At the doctor, though, the typical COVID and flu tests also […]

Illustration by Iris Johnson By Paul Rogers In 2016, CIA officers in Havana, Cuba, started having unexplained health issues. They reported a persistent piercing sound followed by symptoms including headaches, nausea, vertigo, trouble concentrating, and memory loss. Was it a new condition? Or was it the latest incidence of the centuries-old phenomen

Jan. 18, 2024 – We’ve been through this before. A new COVID-19 variant emerges somewhere in the world, grows in strength, and comes to dominate, bringing with it an increase in hospitalizations and deaths.  It’s happening now. But so far, the JN.1 variant, while causing a spike in cases and worse outcomes, isn’t expected to […]

By Carolyn Deming Glaviano, as told to Alexandra Benisek I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on my birthday. I had some eye pain and went to my optometrist, who then told me I needed to see my ophthalmologist. After being in the eye doctor room for a few hours, and seeing many doctors, a resident […]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable neurological disease. No two people will have the same exact symptoms. When you have this chronic condition, symptoms can range from mild to severe. You could get problems such as fatigue and weakness, blurry vision, mood disorders, muscle spasms, or balance and focus issues. Depending on the type of [&he