Primary dysmenorrhea is the most common kind of menstrual pain, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. It is typically caused by an overabundance of chemicals produced by the uterus. These chemicals, called prostaglandins, trigger cramps when the uterus contracts and relaxes. Pain associated with menstruation can start a day or two before your period… read on >
When it comes to so-called good foods and bad foods, it’s pretty easy to separate a green salad from a piece of pie. But some healthy foods can become less beneficial for you simply because of the way you cook them. Researchers analyzed three years of eating patterns of kids between the ages of 7… read on >
Alcohol. It’s a fixture at New Year’s parties, but it’s also is a calorie guzzler — one drink can eat up 10 percent or more of a dieter’s daily allotment, depending on how fanciful the beverage is. And there are other ways booze can undermine your wellness efforts. The calories in every gram of alcohol… read on >
One of your New Year’s resolutions should be to be good to your skin, and dermatologists have 10 ways to help. “All the stresses and excesses of the holidays can leave your skin in bad shape, which makes you feel low, too,” said Dr. Megan Rogge, an assistant professor of dermatology the University of Texas… read on >
Caffeine in limited amounts is OK for most people, but too much of the stimulant can be dangerous to your health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. The FDA adds: Caffeine is found in many foods, including various beverages and dietary supplements. Coffees and teas labeled “decaffeinated” can actually contain 2 to 15 milligrams… read on >
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy is a relatively new treatment for pain, the American Association of Orthopaedic Medicine says. It has shown promise, the association says, for treating ailments including osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip and spine; rotator cuff tears; chronic plantar fasciitis; and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The association explains how the therapy… read on >
Regular bedtimes and adequate sleep during childhood may contribute toward a healthy weight in the teen years, a new study finds. The study included nearly 2,200 kids in 20 U.S. cities. One-third of them had consistent, age-appropriate bedtimes between ages 5 and 9, according to their mothers. Compared to that group, those who had no… read on >
Some people who receive botulinum toxin injections for disorders that cause muscle tightness and contractions develop resistance to the treatment, researchers say. The new study included nearly 600 patients with dystonia or spasticity who had been receiving botulinum toxin type A (commonly known as “Botox”) for about three to five years. The researchers found that… read on >
A new study suggests that an occasional drink won’t harm, and might even help seniors with heart failure. Heart failure patients who drank in moderation — a drink a day for women, two for men — had an average survival that was a year longer than nondrinkers, the researchers found. “My patients who are newly… read on >
In the past two decades, opioid overdose death rates among U.S. kids and teens have tripled, a new study shows. Young children have either died from accidental ingestion of narcotics or from intentional poisoning. Meanwhile, teens have died from unintentional overdoses, using their parents’ prescription painkillers or narcotics bought on the street, said lead researcher… read on >
