Starting a new exercise or increasing the intensity of physical activity may leave you with sore muscles, says the American Academy of Family Physicians. To minimize the soreness you feel, the academy suggests: Warm up your muscles before exercise. Drink water to loosen your joints. Rest your muscles two days before working them again. Use… read on >
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, says the American Stroke Association. The association mentions these warning signs: Face drooping. Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided? Arm weakness. Is one arm weak or numb? Speech. Is speech slurred or hard to understand? Additional… read on >
A small, preliminary study suggests that a brain area called the hypothalamus appears to be about 6% smaller in women who use birth control pills. But exactly what that means isn’t yet clear. In this study, women on the pill had statistically significant increases in anger. Researchers also found a possible link with depression symptoms.… read on >
Rising levels of cholesterol among young adults is strongly tied to long-term odds for the number one killer, heart disease, a new study finds. The new global study involved data on more than 400,000 people from 38 different trials. Their health was tracked for an average of more than 13 years, but some were followed… read on >
American ginseng is an herb that people take by mouth as a stimulant, to reduce stress, or to boost the immune system, says MedlinePlus. American ginseng has different medicinal effects from the Siberian and Asian varieties. Here’s what MedlinePlus says about American ginseng: Side effects may include diarrhea, itching, insomnia, headache and nervousness. Never take… read on >
Breathing exercises can help you relax and manage stress, says the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. The center suggests using the 4-7-8 breath exercise: Exhale completely through your mouth. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose to a mental count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7. Exhale through your mouth… read on >
Headache and migraine patients, take note: medical marijuana may help ease your pain. The findings follow an analysis of data collected by a Canadian phone app that gathered feedback offered by 1,300 headache sufferers and nearly 700 migraine sufferers who used marijuana to treat their head pain. “We found that self-reported headache and migraine severity… read on >
Got travel plans abroad? Spending just a short time in a highly polluted city can harm your health, researchers warn. “It’s widely known that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increased cardiovascular disease. But it was unknown whether a short-term visit to a location with severe air pollution could have any significant impact,”… read on >
Knee pain is common, especially in highly active people, says the Cedars-Sinai hospital system. Women, people with a high body mass index and the elderly are at a greater risk of knee pain. Cedars-Sinai mentions these common causes: Overuse of the knee. Inflammation in tissues around the knee. Misalignment of the kneecap. Damage to ligaments,… read on >
Millions of Americans have the potentially dangerous irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation. Now, research suggests that being obese might undercut the effectiveness of certain drugs meant to treat AFib. The new study followed more than 300 patients listed in the University of Illinois at Chicago’s AFib Registry. Researchers found that a class of medicines… read on >
