Jan. 16, 2024 – There is no shortage of reasons why getting health and lifeadvice from TikTok is a bad idea.  We’ve scoured the site to present you with a list that might horrify or amuse. But more importantly, it will hopefully provide fodder for important health conversations with your loved ones and, more ideally, […]

Everyone is familiar with all-out energy drain — that exhausted day (or night) when no matter how enticing that new movie, fabulous shoe sale, or friendly barbecue, we just can’t psych ourselves up to go. What can be harder to recognize is a low-grade energy drain. In this case, you may not necessarily feel the […]

Some kids seem to grow up faster than others. That’s even truer if your child has central precocious puberty (CPP). That’s sexual maturity that starts before age 8 in girls or age 9 in boys. Puberty can affect how your child looks, feels, and acts. And when it happens too early, kids may get confused […]

Parenting a child with any health condition is no small task. While your first priority may be to support them, it’s also important to know your needs throughout the process, from the moment you get the diagnosis to treatment and beyond. “It’s important because it makes us better parents and caregivers to take care of […]

Puberty can be a tough time for any kid. But it might be harder on those with central precocious puberty (CPP). That’s when kids show signs of sexual maturity early. In general, CPP is when puberty starts before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. Kids with CPP – which is more […]

By Paula Zimbrean, MD, as told to Hallie Levine Over the last 2 decades, there have been huge advancements in the treatment of bipolar disorder. We’ve learned that there are several types: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic. All present differently and require different treatments. We’ve gotten better at teasing out if symptoms are truly [&hell

It was a hot July day in Nashville. Sekou Writes, a 51-year-old writer based in New York, had just given a speech at a graduation ceremony for a youth summer program he had been leading. He stepped down from the podium when everything froze. “I dropped the [paper] program that I had been holding,” Writes […]

In the summer of 2005, Qasim Amin Nathari was giving the sermon for Jumuah (Friday prayers in the Muslim religion) to about 200 members of a New Jersey congregation. He wasn’t nervous. He had no reason to be. He knew these people and they knew him. They were part of the same religious community. He […]

Jan. 12, 2024 – The labels on prenatal supplements, commonly taken by people during pregnancy to promote maternal and fetal health, often misstate the amount of nutrients the product contains, according to a government report released Thursday. Experts from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan government agency providing fact-b

Jan. 12, 2024 – Sneezing, coughing, sniffling – it may seem that everyone you know is sick with some type of respiratory virus right now. At present, the United States is getting hammered with such illnesses, with visits to the doctor for respiratory viruses on an upward trend in recent weeks. Data from the CDC’s […]

When you need insulin to manage your diabetes, that often means learning how and when to give yourself injections. The good news is that it’s easier and less painful than ever before. Kathy Bostrom, 68, has been handling injections herself for more than 15 years. She says the shot quickly becomes no big deal once […]

Jan. 11, 2024 – What you already know: Physical activity helps ease high blood pressure.  What you may not know: Researchers have found that one type of exercise – and one single exercise in particular – helps lower blood pressure especially wall. A 2023 review of 270 prior studies including nearly 16,000 people found that […]

Chances are you already know that eating too much sugar isn’t good for you. Yet you’re probably still overdoing it. Americans average about 270 calories of added sugars each day. That’s about 17  teaspoons a day, compared to the recommended limits of about 12 teaspoon per day or 200 calories. Sugary drinks, candy, baked goods, and sweetened [&helli

Jan. 10, 2024 – Uncontrolled ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in your ear can seriously interfere with your quality of life. Just ask Jeff Grace, who has tinnitus.  “Tinnitus can be frightening, painful, irksome, isolating, stressful, overwhelming, depressing, distracting, and annoying,” said Grace, a 41-year-old California native who works as aa fit

Although advocating for yourself is essential with any health concern, when the diagnosis is human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, it’s even more important. On March 27, 2006, Janet Shomaker felt a lump in her breast. A few weeks later, she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. She also learned the cancer [

Jan. 5, 2024 – U.S. regulators on Friday approved a plan to allow Florida to import medicines, describing this as a step toward allowing the state to purchase medicines directly from Canada at a lower cost. The FDA authorized Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration’s drug importation program. The state must next fulfill several obligations,

Jan. 5, 2024 — Eli Lilly, maker of the anti-obesity drug Zepbound, announced this week the launch of LillyDirect, a direct-to-patient portal, allowing some patients to obtain its drug for as little as $25 a month. The move is seen as a major shift in the way these popular medications can reach patients.  For many […]

SOURCES: EPA: “Indoor Air Quality,” “What are the main ways to control moisture in your home?” “Improving Indoor Air Quality,” “The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality,” “Health and Environmental Effects of Particulate Matter (PM).” Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Health and Medicine Division; National Academies of Sc

Let’s face it: Kids are microbe magnets. They also like to share. These tiny humans don’t enter the world knowing that spraying a sneeze into your face or wiping their runny noses and then putting their grubby little hands into their mouths are a big “No-no.” But they can learn from you. “Kids mirror the […]

By Carl Gay, MD, PhD, as told to Hallie Levine When patients hear the term “inoperable lung cancer,” they often think that that means their cancer is incurable. But thanks to advances in treatment over the last several years, this diagnosis doesn’t mean a death sentence. There are many treatments available to slow its spread, […]

Jan. 3, 2024 – Losing weight and eating healthier aren’t at the very top of the list of 2024 New Year’s resolutions, at least according to one survey. Saving money is, cited by 59% of more than 400 respondents. But 47% said eating healthier was a resolution, and 35% picked losing weight. Guidance for both goals […]

What I’ve Learned About the Challenges of MG 091e9c5e820faac4091e9c5e820faac4FED-Footermodule

Advice That Helps and Advice That Hurts When You Have Myasthenia Gravis 091e9c5e820faac4091e9

Runny noses. Stomach aches. An itchy rash. These are a few of the typical ailments that occur in children everywhere. But what if something more serious develops, like a fever above 103 degrees or a stiff neck? You may not know whether to rush to the emergency room, call the doctor, or simply wait it […]

Most lists of “super foods” don’t include beet juice, or beetroot juice as  it’s called in some countries, but maybe they should. Beet juice may boost stamina to help you exercise longer, improve blood flow, and help lower blood pressure, some research shows. Why? Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through

When a heart attack strikes, it doesn’t always feel the same in women as it does in men. Women don’t always get the same classic heart attack symptoms as men, such as crushing chest pain that radiates down one arm. Those heart attack symptoms can certainly happen to women, but many experience vague or even […]

Did you know that nearly half of women report having at least one problem with sexual function — whether its low desire, loss of arousal, trouble having an orgasm, or pain during sex? Probably not, since it’s not something you hear much talk about. When Lyndsey Harper, MD, first went into practice as an OB/GYN, she […]

For many women, sexual desire goes up and down over the years, often tied to changes in relationships, stress, and physical changes like pregnancy and menopause. But roughly 10% of women deal with a low sex drive that causes them distress. It’s a condition known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). There are a few […]

The age-old question of whether or not size matters is typically directed at men. But although they might not talk about it, some women may worry about the size of their vagina and how it affects sexual pleasure, particularly after having a baby. Not a lot of research has been done in this area. Because so […]

Nighttime heartburn affects four out of five people who suffer regular heartburn and acid reflux. The discomfort and bitter taste can make sleep uncomfortable, even elusive. While over-the-counter and prescription drugs can treat symptoms once you have heartburn, “the cornerstone of treatment for any disease or disorder is prevention,”

Newest Treatments for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma 091e9c5e820faac4091e9c5e820faac4FE

Dec. 28, 2023 – The market for dietary supplements – vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbs, and other products promoted as ways to help you feel better, look better, perform better, sleep better, and stay healthy – is booming, and that boom isn’t done. In 2021, U.S. consumers spent more than $48 billion on supplements; that number […]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term illness that you’ll likely live with for decades. Most people have mild to moderate symptoms, but they can be unpredictable — flaring and then tapering off. So, what can you expect in the future, and can you better control your symptoms? Can UC Go Into Remission? Ulcerative colitis is […]

Dec. 27, 2023 – Sleep deficit is a global problem. Perhaps nowhere is this truer than in Omagh, a small city in Northern Ireland, where residents have been kept awake since September by a sustained, persistent buzz or hum at night that often comes with a vibration. Reports of hum-related sleep disruption are not a […]

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma 091e9c5e820faac4091e9c5

My Journey With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer 091e9c5e820faac4091e9c5e820faac4FED-Footermodul

Most people never give a thought to the health of their gallbladder. The pear-shaped organ does have an important job, collecting and storing bile — the fluid that helps the body digest fats. But unlike the heart, liver, and kidneys, the gallbladder isn’t necessary to keep the body healthy and functioning. Even when it isn’t [&hel

You can still live a full life with geographic atrophy (GA). Even though your vision may be different, GA doesn’t lead to total blindness. You can use your remaining vision and make certain adjustments to stay active and independent.  How You May Feel at First If you’ve been diagnosed with GA, it’s normal to struggle […]

By Maya Guglin, MD, as told to Mary Jo DiLonardo Your heart’s job is to pump blood around your body to supply all your organs with the oxygen they need to work well. When your heart doesn’t pump as strong and as efficiently as it’s supposed to, you have heart failure. As your heart struggles […]

By Bouba Diemé as told to Keri Wiginton I started to get coughs and chest pain that seemed to come out of nowhere. Exercise got a lot harder. I was 26 and ran a fitness boot camp, so I was relatively fit. But one day, I couldn’t keep up with the group during a warm-up run. […]

By Steven Schiff, MD, as told to Stephanie Booth My patients’ concerns about heart failure are usually, “What is my prognosis?” “What are the treatments, like medication and surgery, that are available to me?” But some people will ask me for their ejection fraction (EF) number if they’ve read about it, or had it discussed with […]

Dec. 22, 2023 – For many, ’tis the season for nonstop holiday and family gatherings, lasting from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. While some wish those nonstop parties would continue, others feel an overwhelming desire to just be alone and bask in peace and quiet. Memes on social media nail the need for “me” time, […]

While the holidays can be a time of celebration and joy, they can bring up tough emotions for some people. These feelings, called the “ holiday blues ,” can be confusing to work through. But the good news is, there are plenty of ways you can protect your mental health this […]

Dry January: It means you don’t drink alcohol for the month of January. Experts say it gives your body a chance to reset and allows you to re-evaluate your relationship with alcohol – and it’s getting more popular.  What began when U.K. resident Emily Robinson paused her drinking to train for a half-marathon in 2011 […]

Dec. 21, 2023 — In 2013, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos went on 60 Minutes to make a bold announcement: In 5 years, Amazon customers would be getting deliveries by drones. People could receive just about any item they wanted in only 30 minutes.  A decade later, drones haven’t exactly become ubiquitous. As one headline teased, the company’s […]

By Richard Josephson, MD, as told to Stephanie Watson Back in the middle of the 20th century, there was a concern that people with cardiovascular disease could hurt themselves if they exercised. People with heart failure used to be confined to their bed for long periods of time. Now we know that exercise, when done […]

By Michael Balk, MD, as told to John Donovan When we talk about heart failure, the first thing I do with people is ask a number of questions about diet and other potential conditions that may cause the heart failure. The most common probably is high blood pressure. Then there’s coronary disease. Diabetes. Some viruses […]

Heart disease is the top cause of death for U.S. adults. And for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AIN) women, the risk is particularly high during pregnancy and spans generations.  To help lower that risk, the American Heart Association (AHA) recently released its first set of scientific guidelines for cardiovascular health in American Indian/Alas

With the right social support around you, managing life with geographic atrophy (GA) may be easier. GA can affect many of your daily activities, such as cooking, driving, paying bills, using your computer, and working. You might not be able to do everything the same way you used to. “Social support is critical to adapting, […]

When Nina Beaty had a low-dose CT scan to check for lung cancer in 2014, she didn’t expect the radiologist to find anything. Although she smoked as a young adult for about 13 years, she’d kicked the habit more than 30 years ago and prided herself on living a healthy life. But since her mom […]

Dec. 18, 2023 – The autopsy report of 54-year-old Friends actor Matthew Perry issued Friday by the Los Angeles County medical examiner has drawn attention to the possible risks of ketamine use, a drug traditionally used as an operating room anesthetic but more recently touted as a possible treatment for depression and other mental health […]

Anju Chandy was 18 years old when she left her Bakersfield, CA, home for a college far away. After years of frustration, the more miles she could put between her and her narcissistic mother, the better. “I knew I didn’t want to be anywhere near my mother. I needed to forge a path of my […]

After his father died, Paul Marlow, a 36-year-old mental health advocate in Surrey, British Columbia, was at a turning point. “I saw I needed a change,” Marlow says. He wanted to let go of unhealthy habits and start fresh. “I found myself yearning to move away from the old me, the depressed and anxiety-filled me,” […]

As the saying goes, “Hindsight is 20/20.” When I finished chemo in February 2011, I knew a lot more than when I walked in for my first infusion 4 months earlier. I had learned things about myself and about cancer that I had never expected to learn. Because, of course, at the beginning, I didn’t […]

Coughs send more people to the doctor’s office than any other specific symptom. And Americans spend billions of dollars every year on over-the-counter medications like suppressants and expectorants to treat them. Clearly we’re concerned about our coughs. Clearly lots of us rely on medications to treat them. What’s unclear is the a

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Dec. 15, 2023 – For much of his life, 32-year-old Michael Smith had a war going on in his head. After a big meal, he knew he should be full. But an inexplicable hunger would drive him to pick up the fork again.  Cravings for fried chicken or gummy bears overwhelmed him, fueling late-night DoorDash […]

The Mental and Emotional Impact of Hearing Loss 091e9c5e820faac4091e9c5e820faac4FED-Footermod

Dec. 13, 2023 – You may have read articles about how a glass of red wine a day can improve heart health, or a study that showed how light to moderate drinking, in general, is linked to a lower risk of heart and blood vessel problems. The reality, however, is much more complicated, new research […]

Hearing Loss: What You Can Do About It 091e9c5e820faac4091e9c5e820faac4FED-Footermodule_FED-F

Dec. 13, 2023 – Children with obesity issues should undergo “comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions,” including supervised physical activity sessions for up to a year, a federal task force said.  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force – a team of independent, volunteer experts in disease prevention that guide doctors’ decisions and infl

Dec. 12, 2023 — Wearable technology has been a game-changer for consumers. From rings and watches to wristbands, patches, and clothing, information that once required a bunch of confusing calculations is now available anytime, anywhere with a flick of the wrist or a glance at a smartphone.  Continuous glucose monitors – devices that help peop

Delicious foods that help you diet? It sounds too good to be true. No doubt: Weight loss involves math. You have to eat fewer calories than you burn. “Certain foods can help you shed body weight,” says registered dietitian Heather Mangieri, RD, “because they help you feel full longer and help curb cravings.” Some even [&hell

By Olga Irwin, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson I don’t remember the exact date when I found out I was HIV positive, but I remember the first conversation I had with my doctor very well. He diagnosed me with AIDS and said I had only 3 months to live because my T-cell count was under […]

Dec. 11, 2023 – An experimental device containing millions of stem cells significantly reduced the need for insulin shots among people with type 1 diabetes, according to a new study – a treatment researchers say may someday provide a cure for the chronic, life-altering condition. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coa

Looks can be deceiving. Just ask Melissa Drake. The 50-year-old author and consultant from Southern California says she had a good job, owned a home, and was raising a wonderful son. On the outside, her life looked pretty good. But nothing could’ve been further from the truth. On the inside, Drake was in a life-and-death […]

Major depressive disorder is the most widespread mood disorder in the world. Also called clinical depression, or just depression, it’s when you have symptoms of low mood or hopelessness for at least 2 weeks. Scientists still don’t know what causes it. But they know that treating it is complex and that people who have it […]

As a dietitian at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Ilisa Nussbaum worked on the front lines of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. One of her responsibilities was to make sure patients on ventilators with COVID-19 got their nutritional needs met. She quickly realized she needed psychological support to help her get through this tough time. […]

Psoriasis treatment has come a long way. New medications like biologics have helped more people achieve clearer skin.  But everyone with psoriasis is different. What works for one person won’t always help someone else. A certain medication might clear your skin for you for a while, then stop working. Some may have side effects that […]

Dec. 7, 2023 — No one planning holiday gatherings or travel wants to hear this, but the rise of a new COVID-19 variant, JN.1, is concerning experts, who say it may threaten those good times.  The good news is recent research suggests the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine appears to work against this newest variant. But so […]

Dec. 8, 2023 – Michelle Pridgen sometimes finds tiny black bugs called aphids in her Christmas tree, and usually a bird’s nest as well. “I just incorporate the nest into my decorating,” she said cheerfully. Pridgen manages the farmers market in Independence, VA, and coordinates the preorders for pesticide-free Christmas trees, one of which she [&he

Winter is almost here, and with it may come runny noses, coughing, and congestion. But how do you know if you just have a common cold, or if you have one or more of the three respiratory viruses that make up the “tripledemic” – RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), COVID-19, and influenza?

Dec. 7, 2023 – How worried should you be about outbreaks of “white lung syndrome” pneumonia in children reported in Ohio, Massachusetts, and several countries in Europe?  WebMD asked experts this question, as well as if the cases are related to a similar outbreak in China, what symptoms are most common, and what advice they […]

Agitation can be one of the most troubling symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. You’ve probably tried everything you could think of to bring calm to your loved one.  Keep in mind the behavior is part of the disease and a form of communication and often is triggered by relatively minor events, says Sam Fazio, PhD, senior […]

Maintain your relationship with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s through relationship-centered care.

If you’re looking for a multiple sclerosis (MS) app, there are a lot of choices. On Google Play and on Apple’s App Store, a search for “MS apps” could yield more than 1,000 results. After you filter out all the ones that aren’t in English or aren’t designed just for MS, you’ll still have around […]

Prices for medications may be very different from pharmacy to pharmacy, even within the same ZIP code. So you may be able to save money on your medicines by shopping around for the best price. “Prescription and over-the-counter medication prices vary, depending on where you go,” says Kyle Manera, the chief operating officer of Co-Immunity, [&hellip

NSCLC: Advances in Treatment 091e9c5e820faac4091e9c5e820faac4FED-Footermodule_FED-Footer_091e

Dec. 4, 2023 – The holiday season is upon us, and with it, a flurry of activities and obligations. There are gifts to buy, parties to attend, cookies to bake, latkes to fry, and families to entertain. The stress can be relentless, and expectations can be off the charts. Amid the hustle, a new study […]

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects your blood flow. But its signs and symptoms can show up on your skin. Many people with PAD notice changes on the skin of their feet and legs, such as: Cool to the touch Redness or changes in color Changes in texture (skin can be brittle or shiny in spots) […]

More than eight million Americans have peripheral artery disease (PAD), in which narrowed or blocked arteries lead to circulatory problems in the arms and legs (especially the legs), making it hard to walk without pain. Yet what people with PAD may not realize is that the condition also puts them at a higher risk for […]

For the first time in what seems like forever, Judith Taylor sleeps without interruption. She’s not awakened by pain or numbness in her feet caused by the peripheral artery disease (PAD) she was diagnosed with 3 years ago. She doesn’t need an extra blanket and socks to keep her left foot, which had the poorest […]

You’ve probably heard that “getting your steps in” can help you stay healthy. But for people with peripheral artery disease (PAD), walking even a few blocks might feel as challenging as a 10-mile run. This common circulatory condition, which affects an estimated 8.5 million Americans, happens when the blood vessels that carry blood from the [&helli

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) develops over time. And in the early stages, you may not realize it’s happening. But there are things you can do to lower your odds of ever getting PAD. The first step is to understand how it takes hold, if you’re at risk, and how it happens. PAD happens when certain […]

Ruth Zalta, right, with her children Cradling her newborn son, Erin F. saw herself tripping and falling down the single step to her living room, knocking the scissors off the handrail. As the scene vividly played out in her mind, the shears stabbed through her arm into the infant she carried, killing him. (Erin asked […]

By Steven R. Feldman, MD, PhD, as told to Jodi Helmer When you have psoriasis, your immune system overreacts and causes inflammation. It can cause plaques — red, thick, itchy, inflamed patches of skin — along with silver-colored scales, cracked skin, and swollen and stiff joints. These can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, and may leav

By Allison C. Billi, MD, PhD, as told to Jodi Helmer For the 7.5 million Americans diagnosed with psoriasis, it can be disheartening to hear that there’s no cure. But there are several treatments that can help keep this autoimmune disease under control. Your dermatologist may prescribe skin (topical) creams, ultraviolet light therapy, or oral

By Neil M. Bressler, MD, as told to Keri Wiginton Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss for people over 65. We have excellent treatments for the wet form of AMD. But until recently, we haven’t had any therapeutics to target the root cause of geographic atrophy, an advanced form of […]

You are ready to get pregnant. Now. Once you are ready to start a family, waiting is the last thing you want to do. Although Mother Nature has a hand in the timing, there are some things you can do — or not do — to help increase your chances of getting pregnant ASAP. Read on […]

Your little one is congested. What should you do? In a child age 3 or under, this can be a challenge. For starters, it’s not always obvious what’s causing that stuffy nose. Infants and toddlers often catch colds because they are just starting to build up their immunity to common viruses. But there are many […]

Nov. 28, 2023 — The “sunscreen paradox” has confounded doctors of late: As more and more people use sunscreen, rates of melanoma and other skin cancers are going up.  The statistics on all types of skin cancer are sobering: Invasive melanoma cases diagnosed annually increased 27% over the past 10 years.  The rate of basal [&hellip

If you have high cholesterol, you’re also at higher risk for heart disease. But the good news is, it’s a risk you can control. You can lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol and raise your “good” HDL cholesterol. You just have to make some simple changes. “I tell patients that you have to start somewhere and […]

Do you want a bigger penis? In one large survey a few years ago, about 45% of men said they did. And you can buy plenty of over-the-counter and even medical treatments that promise a larger penis. But do any of them really work? Some of the things men use to try to increase penis […]

Melatonin use is skyrocketing, especially among children, leading to a spike in poison control center calls and emergency room visits. Last year, poison control centers received 44,538 calls about melatonin ingestion in people 19 and younger – up from 8,258 in 2012, according to the America’s Poison Centers, which represents 55 centers across the U

They were just going to the movies. But the theater was way too hot. By the time they left, he couldn’t even hold his head up. He couldn’t speak. And he certainly couldn’t walk. “Fortunately, I had my wheelchair,” says Zach McCallum. “But I was a mess.” McCallum, 55, was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) […]

Nov. 22, 2023 – Winter is almost here, and with it may come runny noses, coughing, and congestion. But how do you know if you have just a common cold or one of the three respiratory viruses that make up the “tripledemic” – RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), COVID-19, and influenza?  Based on symptoms alone, it’s […]

Ready or not, the holidays are here. For many people, especially those trying to lose weight, it’s not an easy time. High expectations of holiday happiness can give way to loneliness, sadness — and greater vulnerability to the rich foods that are everywhere this time of year. But take heart: If you’re prone to holiday blues, [&hel

Trays of cookies and tins of assorted popcorn at work. Holiday parties laden with sugary desserts. Family gatherings with tables overloaded with turkey or ham, all kinds of potatoes, and buttery rolls. There’s no way around it: The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s pose all kinds of challenges for anyone trying to maintain a […]