Television ads for drugs are filled with glowing images of people living their best lives, all thanks to that new med they’ve been prescribed. But drugs being touted on TV often have little to no benefit compared to other treatments, a new study published online Jan. 13 in JAMA Network Open finds. Fewer than one-third… read on > read on >
While childhood obesity gets a lot of attention, some kids struggle with the opposite issue — they have trouble gaining weight. So, how can parents know if their child is “too skinny?” While the best resource is likely a child’s pediatrician, experts have also weighed in on the topic. “Underlying health conditions can result in… read on > read on >
The key to losing weight sounds simple — eat less. Regardless of the diet you follow, dropping the pounds means burning more calories than you eat. That begs the question, how many calories should I eat to lose weight? According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, for most people, cutting about 500 calories a… read on > read on >
Not all prescription drugs and dietary herbal supplements work well together. It’s important to be aware of possible drug/supplement interactions that could be harmful, according to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a part of the National Institutes of Health. The organization offered tips on six potential issues. The supplement St.… read on > read on >
It’s no secret: The standard American diet is at the root of the obesity epidemic and many of its associated diseases. But why is American food so unhealthy? It’s not just that Americans eat too much, which they do, but it’s also what they eat that’s unhealthy: fat, sugar, salt and ultra-processed foods. According to… read on > read on >
A Texas-based education initiative has found that enrolling children in poor communities in gardening and cooking classes may help boost their long-term health. Called “Texas Sprouts,” the program covered one full academic year and exposed elementary school children in 16 low-income schools access to outdoor gardening instruction, nutrition information and cooking lessons. Parents were offered… read on > read on >
A common eating plan with a catchy acronym — the DASH diet — is designed to help you lower your blood pressure, but exactly what can you eat while on it? The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet has been around for almost 25 years and it’s still one of the top diets recommended… read on > read on >
If you have frequent heartburn or think you may have acid reflux disease, see an expert before you suffer serious complications, one expert warns. “Gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] is when you get acid and chemical damage to the lining of the esophagus,” said Dr. James East, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London. While… read on > read on >
Moving a heavy object or even coughing can result in a medical condition known as a hernia. While it’s common, many people don’t know what a hernia is, according to an expert at Penn State Health, who offered details on causes, symptoms and treatment. “While we typically associate heavy lifting or strenuous activity with the… read on > read on >
