How to Treat Blisters

Whether it’s because you started running more or just got a new pair of sandals, it seems like summer is the season for blisters. And while we often think of blisters on our feet, dermatologists say that these painful skin irritations can occur anywhere on the body where body parts rub together or rub against… Continue reading How to Treat Blisters

Give Cardiac Patients More Time to Come Out of Coma

Physicians may be drawing conclusions too soon about survival outcomes of patients who suffered a cardiac arrest outside the hospital, according to new research. A study led by Bentley Bobrow, MD, professor at the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine in Tucson and Phoenix and co-director of the Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center – Phoenix,… Continue reading Give Cardiac Patients More Time to Come Out of Coma

Staying Hydrated in The Heat

Editor’s note: It’s always good to stay hydrated, but it’s absolutely essential in the hot weather, where you can become thirsty without even realizing it. Here, from the experts at Go4Life, a division of the National Institute on Aging, offer background information, as well as some tips, to help you make sure you’re drinking enough… Continue reading Staying Hydrated in The Heat

E-Cigarettes: More Dangerous than You Thought

A new study suggests that e-cigarettes may not be significantly safer than tobacco cigarettes. The research, which was conducted on cultured cells, found that e-cigarettes contain toxic substances and nanoparticles that could kill the top layer of skin cells in the oral cavity. Based on their findings, the researchers, from UCLA, believe that similar results… Continue reading E-Cigarettes: More Dangerous than You Thought

A New Genetic Clue to Bipolar Disorder

Researchers from Johns Hopkins have identified 84 potential inherited gene mutations that could contribute to the most severe forms of bipolar disorder. The study is one of the first of rare genetic variations in people with bipolar disorder, which affects about 5.6 million Americans. The work, published in JAMA Psychiatry, was led by Fernando Goes,… Continue reading A New Genetic Clue to Bipolar Disorder

Dating After 50: Why You Should Go Offline

Navigating the online dating world can be intimidating – and for newly single women over 50, it presents its own set of challenges. Sites like eHarmony and Match are brimming with photos of 20-somethings and old profile pictures taken 15 years ago. Because men tend to gravitate towards younger women on the Internet, it’s both… Continue reading Dating After 50: Why You Should Go Offline

Raw Dough Can Be A Raw Deal

Do you find it hard to resist gobbling up a piece of raw dough when making cookies, or letting your grandkids scrape the bowl? Do children in your family use raw dough to make ornaments or homemade “play” clay? If your answer to any of those questions is yes, that could be a problem. Eating… Continue reading Raw Dough Can Be A Raw Deal

A Crucial Discovery about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

For the first time, researchers have identified biological markers of chronic fatigue syndrome in both intestinal bacteria and inflammatory microbial agents in the blood. Chronic fatigue syndrome is  condition where normal exertion leads to debilitating fatigue that isn’t alleviated by rest. There are no known triggers, and diagnosis requires lengthy tests administered by an expert.… Continue reading A Crucial Discovery about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

African-Americans with AFib Face Higher Risks than Whites

Black people suffering from atrial fibrillation (AFib) have nearly double the risk of their white counterparts of having stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease and mortality from all causes, according to a study in JAMA Cardiology. The study, funded by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation and led by Jared Magnani, M.D., associate professor… Continue reading African-Americans with AFib Face Higher Risks than Whites

Diet Soda and Hypertension

Does drinking diet soda raise blood pressure? Despite what you might have heard, the answer is no, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Irvin Cohen, a nephrologist at Mayo in Scottsdale, Arizona, says that there have been several studies on a possible connection between diet soda and hypertension but that none of them… Continue reading Diet Soda and Hypertension

Monitoring The Body’s Energy Production

Exercise and fasting do not change the location of a key enzyme involved in energy production, a study in Experimental Physiology found. SIRT3 is an important enzyme involved in fat metabolism and energy production. Located within the mitochondria of human skeletal muscle, it acts by targeting certain proteins and altering their activity. Nearly every cell… Continue reading Monitoring The Body’s Energy Production

Existing Drug Could Help Women with Breast-Cancer Gene

Australian researchers have discovered that an existing medication could have promise in preventing breast cancer in women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene. People who carry that gene are at high risk of developing aggressive breast cancer. Currently many women with a gene mutation choose surgical removal of their breast tissue and ovaries to reduce their… Continue reading Existing Drug Could Help Women with Breast-Cancer Gene

Hairstyling without Damage

Editor’s note: Many of us stress about which hair products are healthiest, and which can help us look our best. However, it’s just as important that hair be styled safely. Here, from the American Academy of Dermatology, are tips to help style your hair without causin it to become lackluster – or even fall out.… Continue reading Hairstyling without Damage

Broccoli Gets Even Better

Broccoli, an undisputed superfood, has just become more super. University of Illinois researchers have identified genes that control the accumulation of phenolic compounds in broccoli. Consumption of phenolic compounds, including certain flavonoids, is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, asthma, and several types of cancer. The findings were published… Continue reading Broccoli Gets Even Better

Computer Model May Help Treat Congestive Heart Failure

Researchers have created a detailed computer model that shows how the heart’s electrical signals are affected by congestive heart failure.  The model will help medical researchers study new drug therapies for the condition. The model, developed at UCLA, can simulate tiny, subtle changes in the heart’s cells and tissues as well as the larger impact… Continue reading Computer Model May Help Treat Congestive Heart Failure

Beware of Bad Plastic Surgeons

There are literally thousands of plastic surgeons in The United States alone.  Any surgeon practicing cosmetic procedures can call themselves a “cosmetic surgeon,” however, to be considered an actual plastic surgeon one must be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This requires additional residency and training. There are also other board certifications that… Continue reading Beware of Bad Plastic Surgeons

Preventive Steps Substantially Reduce Cancer Risk

If people follow cancer prevention recommendations on diet and physical activity, overall cancer incidence and mortality will be reduced, according to results of a systematic review published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Adherence to the guidelines set by leading cancer organizations also was associated with… Continue reading Preventive Steps Substantially Reduce Cancer Risk

Exploring Options for Relieving Chronic Pain

Maybe your knees aren’t what they once were, and a leisurely walk around the block has become a painful ordeal. Perhaps too much time hunched in front of the computer has left your shoulders an aching mess. Young or old, you’re in good company. More than 11 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain, according… Continue reading Exploring Options for Relieving Chronic Pain