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“Long COVID” has become a well-known potential consequence of COVID infection, with symptoms that can last weeks, months or even years. Now it appears that “long flu” is also possible, with some patients developing long-lasting health problems following a severe infection, a new study finds. But before panicking, know that “long flu” isn’t as bad…  read on >  read on >

Smoking shrinks the human brain, and once that brain mass is lost then it’s gone for good, a new study warns. Brain scans from more than 32,000 people strongly link a history of smoking with a gradual loss of brain volume. In fact, the more packs a person smoked per day, the smaller their brain…  read on >  read on >

Regular exercise appears to enhance and even grow crucial areas of the human brain, new research using MRI scans shows. It’s long been known that physical activity is a brain-booster, but this international study illustrates ways this could be happening. “With comprehensive imaging scans, our study underscores the interconnected synergy between the body and the…  read on >  read on >

Knives, vegetable peelers, blenders: There are plenty of ways to injure yourself in the kitchen during the holidays. To keep things merry, cheery and safe, experts at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH (MOR) in Chicago say there are simple steps you and those who are helping you cook can take to stay safe. They point out…  read on >  read on >

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey confirmed Wednesday that she has used a weight-loss medication to help her shed pounds and get healthy. Winfrey has added the drug to a regimen that includes regular exercise and other lifestyle tweaks, People magazine reported. Weight fluctuations “occupied five decades of space in my brain, yo-yoing and feeling like why…  read on >  read on >