Category: Medicine

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…

When LJ Ingram was taking care of her aging parents, she thought about what she and her wife wanted for their future. “We prefer to enjoy our senior years with less worry”…

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…

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….

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…

When treated in a timely and effective manner, scoliosis — or curvature of the spine — can be almost invisible. Shailene Woodley, 17, for instance who stars as the pregnant Amy Juergens…

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…

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…

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.”…

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…

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 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…

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…

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….

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

Mood problems, including depression and bipolar disorder, are no laughing matter. More than 20 million American adults have a mood disorder and 40 million an anxiety disorder. And these numbers don’t include…

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….

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Lynne DeMarsh woke one morning in 2017 with pain and discharge from one nipple. A decade earlier, the Rockledge, FL, resident had had a lumpectomy and radiation therapy for triple-negative breast cancer….

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’s a regular day in her mid-40s, and Rochelle Pagano is on her way to work. But during the drive to the martial arts studio she runs with her husband on 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,…

At age 62, April Dawson lives every day with chronic pain from wrist arthritis. “There are a lot of everyday things I just can’t do now,” she says. “I can’t open packages…

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…

When you think about improving your heart health, food and exercise may come to mind. Sleep is just as crucial – even though many people treat it like a luxury, not a…

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:…

At the height of the pre-Delta variant COVID-19 pandemic, Stephen Rawlings, MD, PhD, was doing HIV and SARS-CoV-2 research when a pair of men, a couple, came to him. Both of them…

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…

When most people think about the field of medicine, art and drawings may not come to mind. Yet, the medical illustration field (which now includes digital media and animation) is a thriving…

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…

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…

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….

When skin warts appear, it can seem as if the harmless growths came out of nowhere. But common warts are actually an infection in the top layer of skin, caused by viruses…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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….

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…

March 21, 2024 – For Courtney Stinson, ensuring her daughter’s comfort is a constant battle against the challenges of congenital myopathy. At 9 years old, she relies on a ventilator to breathe,…

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…

When the COVID-19 pandemic propelled the world into lockdown 2 years ago, a recent college graduate in New England – let’s call her Julia* – suddenly realized that her daily obsession with…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

By Gonzalo Laje, MD, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson I’m a psychiatrist, board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. After my own personal experience with depression during my 20s, I’ve…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

March 6, 2024 – It turns out there may be something to the “weekend warrior” mentality after all.  A recent study suggested that concentrating all your exercise into just 1 or 2 days…

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…

Masonia Traylor was 23 when she was diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2010. “The first couple of weeks, I just cried every day,” Traylor says. “I was reflecting on…

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…

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…

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…

By Anthony Wu, as told to Lisa Fields When our 3-year-old son, Eugene, was 2 weeks old, he was diagnosed with Pompe disease. My wife, Jung, and I found out this important…

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…

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…

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….

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…

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.

Maybe your child hates sports, or gets more excited about video games than the kickball field. Or maybe they feel too out of shape to keep up with other kids their age….

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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. …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

Advances in Diabetes Treatment By Camille PeriWebMD Feature WebMD Feature Archive Diabetes treatment is getting better every day. Scientists may be just a few years away from making an artificial…

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…

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…

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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….

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…

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…

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.,…

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…

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,…

Jan. 17, 2024 – When it comes to alcohol consumption, moderation is everything. Many studies over the past 20 years have suggested that people who have a drink a day or less may…

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…

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…

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…