A well-organized backpack helps ensure that your child has everything needed for school. Problems start when it becomes overloaded. Lugging around a heavy pack can lead to bad posture, back pain and worse. The problem is so pervasive that the American Occupational Therapy Association created National School Backpack Awareness Day. It’s held every September to… read on >
Scheduled for surgery? Don’t forget to take your dentures out. According to a new report, one 72-year-old man who had abdominal surgery in England swallowed his dentures during the procedure. They got stuck in his throat — and were only discovered eight days later. The initial surgery was to remove a harmless lump in the… read on >
When men have both advanced prostate cancer and heart disease, treatment may pose a dilemma: Newer hormonal therapies that can slow the cancer down might also be risky for their hearts, a new study finds. Once prostate cancer spreads beyond the gland, one of the mainstays of treatment is hormone therapy. The aim is to… read on >
A nap can improve mood, performance and alertness, says Mayo Clinic. But sleeping at the wrong time or for too long can backfire. Mayo suggests the best way to nap: Keep naps between 10 and 20 minutes. Take naps in early afternoon. Nap in a quiet, dark place with few distractions. Before resuming activities after… read on >
Hypochondria is a preoccupation with physical health. People with the condition obsess on physical symptoms and take them as signs of serious illness, despite lack of medical evidence. People with the condition do not purposely create these symptoms, says MedlinePlus. For those living with hypochondria, talk therapy can be helpful. Recognizing what make symptoms flare,… read on >
A vaccine against the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia appears safe and potentially effective, an early trial suggests. The phase 1 study included 35 healthy women. Those who were given injections of two possible vaccines developed antibodies to the chlamydia bacteria, but a lot more testing is needed before the vaccine would be ready for the… read on >
You don’t have to have the talent of a Rembrandt or Yo-Yo Ma to express creativity and get some very special benefits from doing so. Everyday creativity boosts well-being and can give you a stronger sense of purpose and engagement, and everyone can tap into it. So why don’t we do more of it? The… read on >
Guacamole is one party dip that’s actually good for you, and it’s easy to make at home. Hass avocados — with green skins that turn brown-black when ripe — are rich and creamy. They’re filled with healthy fats, vitamins and fiber. The rest of the fresh ingredients in guacamole are filled with nutrients and few… read on >
Binge-watching episodes of your favorite shows does no favors for your brain, an expert warns. “It’s important to recognize that the brain is not an isolated organ — it responds to its environment,” said Dr. Randall Wright, a neurologist at Houston Methodist in Texas. “When we binge-watch, we create an unhealthy environment for the brain… read on >
If you often find yourself dosing off during the day, new research suggests it might be an early warning sign that you have Alzheimer’s disease. Areas of the brain that keep you awake during the day are damaged in the early stages of the memory-robbing disease, which is why people with Alzheimer’s may nap excessively… read on >
