Eating can be a chore if you don’t have the appetite. Food may be a lot less appealing if you’re sick or taking certain medications. But it’s still important to eat a balanced diet. The U.S. National Institute on Aging suggests how to restore your appetite: Get more exercise, which should make you hungrier. Add…  read on >

High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease and stroke, yet has no symptoms of its own. That’s why having your blood pressure checked regularly is a must, as is controlling it if it’s high. But identifying the right high blood pressure drugs can be a challenge. According to research…  read on >

Obesity is no picnic for those who struggle with it, but new research sheds some light on why so few ever find their way to a healthy weight. It turns out that overweight and obese folks hold starkly different views on diet and exercise than their normal-weight peers, the study found. Namely, taste is their…  read on >

Bicycling or other regular exercise may help reduce harmful inflammation in obese people, a new study suggests. Physical activity tames inflammation by changing blood characteristics, according to a team led by Dr. Michael De Lisio, of the University of Ottawa in Canada. Chronic inflammation is behind many of the health problems associated with obesity, such…  read on >

If you’ve been diagnosed with a food allergy, it is important to develop a food allergy plan so you and others know what to do in an emergency. Milder symptoms of food allergy include itching, sneezing, hives or rashes. More severe symptoms, such as trouble breathing or swallowing, may indicate a life-threatening emergency, the Food…  read on >

(HealthDay News) — To some people, keeping a food diary might seem old hat or just another busy-work task on your diet to-do list. But when done correctly (and diligently), it’s a very effective tool for losing weight and keeping it off. Studies show that dieters who monitor their eating and weight the most consistently…  read on >

Fewer than 14 percent of American adults smoked cigarettes in 2017, the lowest level seen since data collection started in 1965, government health officials reported Tuesday. “Certainly, it is fantastic that the U.S. smoking rates continue to drop,” said Dr. Adam Lackey, chief of thoracic surgery at Staten Island University Hospital. “I suspect education is…  read on >

Using the psychiatric drug lithium early in pregnancy may raise the risk of birth defects — but not as much as previously thought, a large new study suggests. Researchers found that women who used lithium during the first trimester were more likely to have a baby with a birth defect, compared to pregnant women who…  read on >

While some might be wary about the cancer risks of searing a steak on a flaming grill, a few simple changes can lower that risk, a nutritionist advises. Cooking beef, pork, fish or poultry over high temperatures can lead to the formation of chemicals that can trigger changes in your DNA that increase the risk…  read on >

You’d better think twice before taking booze to the beach or out on a boat. Alcohol increases the risk of injury and death in and on the water, safety experts warn. For example, alcohol is a factor in up to 70 percent of all water recreation deaths of teens and adults, according to the U.S.…  read on >