One of the key members of your health-care team might not be a doctor or a nurse, but a physician assistant. A physician assistant — or PA — is a specialist with training to fill gaps in primary care, not only in rural communities, but also in busy practices in other areas. If you call… read on >
Exercising on a budget can be as simple as buying a good pair of walking shoes. But when you want to make an investment in fitness equipment, new options can make your workouts interactive as well as high-energy. Look for exercise bikes, treadmills and ellipticals that offer pre-set workouts, often with incline adjustments and/or increases… read on >
MONDAY, Sept. 24, 2018Reminding people to eat less or exercise usually gets their back up. That’s one reason why public health messages fall on deaf ears, researchers say. But investigators think they’ve found a better way. They suggest leaving your ego behind because it might open your mind to healthy activities that your natural defensiveness… read on >
If you have high cholesterol, you are at greater risk of developing a number of health problems, such as heart disease and stroke, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. High cholesterol often lacks symptoms, so cholesterol should be checked early in life, between ages 9 and 12, between ages 17 and 19,… read on >
It may be tempting to squeeze a large pimple, but doing so could make the zit worse, skin doctors say. Up to 50 million Americans struggle with various forms of acne, particularly red, swollen, painful bumps that develop deep in the skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. There are better, more effective ways… read on >
For many children with asthma, coughing is an early warning sign of a flare-up, an expert says. Understanding asthma and knowing what to expect can help parents prevent or lessen the severity of asthma attacks, said Dr. Ronald Ferdman, a pediatric allergist-immunologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He provided the following tips to help parents… read on >
Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment with only a vague idea of what was said? You’re not alone: A new survey finds many Americans, and their doctors, are turning to recordings for help. Researchers found that almost 30 percent of the doctors they surveyed had ever recorded a visit for a patient’s use. And… read on >
As important as getting close to eight hours of sleep a night is, new research suggests that going to bed and waking up at the same time every day is just as critical for your health. The study of more than 1,900 older adults found that those who didn’t keep to a regular bedtime and… read on >
Varicose veins and spider veins typically occur in the legs and can cause significant pain, swelling and an itchy rash, the Office on Women’s Health says. Varicose veins are often caused by weak or damaged valves in the veins. Spider veins are typically caused by the backup of blood. They can also be triggered by… read on >
If you’ve been near or touched poison ivy, you may develop an itchy, blistering rash within 12 to 72 hours. Most everyone reacts to an oil in the poison ivy plant called urushiol. The rash typically goes away on its own in a few weeks, but some people have a more serious reaction that requires… read on >
