Repetitive strain injury (RSI) can affect anyone who uses his or her hands a lot and repeats the same movements over and over again. It can develop whether you’re working at a computer all day or spending hours of leisure time immersed in handicrafts. At first, symptoms — like pain and tingling — may go… read on >
A blood test may seem like a simple thing, but it can do so much. It can diagnose disease, reveal how well your organs work and whether a course of treatment is effective or not, experts say. Some blood tests require patients to fast before the blood is drawn. It’s crucial that you avoid eating… read on >
Be careful about what medications you take before you get behind the wheel. Most drugs won’t affect your ability to drive, but some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can cause side effects that make it unsafe to drive, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. Those side effects can include: sleepiness/drowsiness, blurred vision, dizziness, slowed… read on >
Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment developed to help people confront their fears, says the American Psychological Association (APA). When people are fearful of things, they tend to avoid what frightens them. With exposure therapy, psychologists create an environment to expose people to the things they fear. Exposure therapy has been shown to help phobias,… read on >
Many older men take testosterone to boost their sex drive, but new research suggests that postmenopausal women who struggle with a sagging libido might want to follow suit. Applied topically, the hormone appears to increase women’s sexual function and satisfaction, according to a new review of 36 clinical trials involving nearly 8,500 women. Women naturally… read on >
Turns out that the old adage — an apple a day keeps the doctor away — may actually be true. New research suggests that the more plant foods you eat, the lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. People who ate a mostly plant-based diet reduced their risk of diabetes by 23%, the study found.… read on >
For those with back pain, even daily activities can be uncomfortable. A common treatment option is chiropractic care, says Duke University. A chiropractor typically will use his or her hands to improve joint mobility, relieve muscle tightness and ease nerve irritation in certain areas. Though chiropractic care can be uncomfortable at first, serious side effects… read on >
Brian Duncan doesn’t know why his brain still works as well as it does. Duncan, 67, got his bell rung more than once during his life — as a professional football player, an amateur boxer and a bull rider at Texas rodeos. He remembers one time he got slammed into the ground by L.C. Greenwood,… read on >
Athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection that commonly occurs in people whose feet become sweaty in tight-fitting shoes. The infection typically begins as a scaly rash between the toes. To treat mild athlete’s foot, Mayo Clinic suggests using an over-the-counter antifungal ointment, lotion, powder or spray. If athlete’s foot does not respond to treatment,… read on >
Some parents may be reluctant to give their kids powerful stimulants to treat the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but a new review shows the medications bring significant benefits. In addition to helping kids calm down and concentrate in school, the review also found that the drugs help children avoid a lot of long-term negative… read on >
