Does inflammation contribute to infertility?
Infertility is a remarkably common problem. It affects up to one in five people in the US who are trying to become pregnant, and 186 million people worldwide. A thorough medical evaluation can spot key contributing issues in many cases — whether in a woman, a man, or both partners — that might respond to […]
Shift work can harm sleep and health: What helps?
We can feel groggy when our sleep schedule is thrown off even just a little. So what happens when shift work requires people to regularly stay awake through the night and sleep during the day — and how can they protect their health and well-being? What is shift work disorder? Mounting evidence, including several new […]
5 numbers linked to ideal heart health
How well are you protecting yourself against heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death? A check of five important numbers can give you a good idea: blood pressure, blood sugar, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and waist circumference. Those values provide a picture of a person’s overall health and, more specifically, what factors they […]
Late-stage cervical cancer on the rise: What to know
When caught early through routine screening, cervical cancer is curable. In the US, roughly 92% of women with early-stage cervical cancer survive five years or longer, compared with only 17% of women with late-stage cervical cancer. So recent research that shows a steep rise in new cases of advanced cervical cancer among white Southern women, […]
What makes your heart skip a beat?
Love isn’t the only reason your heart may skip a beat. While abnormal heartbeats can be alarming, they’re usually harmless. They occur for different reasons. Which types are common — and when should you be concerned? Palpitations Your heartbeat normally keeps a predictable pace: speeding up when you’re active and slowing down when you rest. […]
Does your child need to gain weight?
Understandably, the sensitive topic of weight in children and teens often focuses on the health costs of overweight and obesity. Sometimes, though, a child needs to gain some weight. And while there are lots of ways to make that happen, not all of them are healthy. What to do if your child seems underweight If […]
Close relationships with neighbors influence cardiovascular health in Black adults
Feeling rooted in community and socializing with neighbors may strongly contribute to better cardiovascular health by improving diet, exercise habits, and weight control, new research among Black adults in Georgia suggests. And better cardiovascular health may add up to fewer heart attacks and strokes, two leading causes of disability and death. “There’s a range of […]
Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: When and where is it safe?
Ketamine is an unusual type of psychedelic drug — called a dissociative — that is undergoing a resurgence in popularity. Originally derived from PCP, or “angel dust,” ketamine has been used in hospitals and veterinary clinics as an anesthetic for decades, and has been cited as a drug of misuse under the moniker “special K.” […]
A mindful way to help manage type 2 diabetes?
Lifestyle changes like regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep are cornerstones of self-care for people with type 2 diabetes. But what about mind-body practices? Can they also help people manage or even treat type 2 diabetes? An analysis of multiple studies, published in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, suggests they might. […]
Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Get your hearing checked today
Are you having a little trouble hearing conversations? If so, you’re not alone. An estimated 23% of Americans ages 12 and older have hearing loss. Although most of those people have mild hearing loss, for people ages 80 years and older, it’s more common for hearing loss to be moderate to severe than mild. But […]