“Rent-a-drip” IV lounges are popping up across the country, promising speedy recovery for hangover sufferers, jet lag victims and others seeking an intravenous solution to modern dilemmas. But experts say these lounges are at best a waste of money and at worst potentially dangerous. “The whole thing is really nonsense,” said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a… read on >
Taking steps to eat a healthier, more balanced diet should be a gradual lifestyle change and shouldn’t be too difficult. The American Heart Association suggests: Do not attempt to change all of your eating habits in one day. By setting smaller goals, such as eating more vegetables and fruit, you are more likely to be… read on >
Obesity can change how prescription drugs work, but many medications used to treat children don’t say so on their labels, researchers report. Federal lawmakers offered drug manufacturers incentives to study how drugs affect kids, but many have not provided safety guidelines for those who are obese, the researchers found. In the United States, one in… read on >
Still looking for a New Year’s resolution? Consider strength training. It’s important for everyone, regardless of age, gender and how developed you do and don’t want to get. Strong muscles make everyday activities easier and allow you to maintain your independence throughout life. But you don’t have to go to a gym to get in… read on >
If you think your battle against obesity ends on the operating table, you’re mistaken. “Exercise and eating smaller portions have to be part of your lifestyle change in order to be successful” after weight-loss surgery, said Dr. Ann Rogers, director of Surgical Weight Loss at Penn State Medical Center, in Hershey, Pa. It’s also important… read on >
Could the so-called Mediterranean diet boost success of infertility treatment involving in vitro fertilization? Maybe, a very small study suggests. Greek researchers report that younger women who followed this heart-healthy eating plan in the six months before trying IVF had better odds of a successful pregnancy than women who didn’t. IVF is the process of… read on >
Seniors are at heightened risk of hypothermia, the medical term for low body temperature. Older adults lose body heat faster than when they were younger, the U.S. National Institute on Aging says. Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body temperature drops to 95 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Typical warning signs include slowed or slurred speech, sleepiness… read on >
If children adopt active lifestyles at a young age, they are less likely to become obese as adults, research shows. One in three children is overweight or obese, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. The group adds that children and teens spend an average of seven hours per day using TVs, computers, phones and other… read on >
It seems like “gluten-free” labels are popping up everywhere, including on foods that never had any gluten to begin with. Is this a health bandwagon you should jump on … or shy away from? Gluten is a protein found mostly in wheat, barley and rye. A gluten-free diet is a must for the 2 percent… read on >
An experimental saliva-based HIV test shows promise, researchers report. The new test may be able to detect early evidence of HIV antibodies in saliva as reliably as a blood test, according to the scientists who developed it. The antibodies are produced by the immune system to fight HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. “The earlier… read on >
