If you suffer from knee arthritis and worry that walking will only worsen your damaged joint, a new study suggests you put your fears aside, slip on some sneakers, and take a brief but brisk walk. The researchers estimated that if older adults with the condition added just 5 minutes of brisk walking to their…  read on >

There’s a good chance a dose of tiny plastic particles has taken up residence in your gut, a new, small study argues. Microplastics, as they are called, were found in stool samples from a handful of volunteers located across Europe and Asia, researchers report. Every single person out of the group of 8 had microplastics…  read on >

With flu season imminent, U.S. health officials urge everyone 6 months and older to get a flu shot. Already, one unvaccinated child in Florida has died from flu, the officials warned. Not many cases have been reported so far, so it’s too soon to know if this year’s strains will be as severe as last…  read on >

About 10 percent of Americans get the flu each year, mostly as the weather turns colder. While for most people the flu is a major inconvenience but a minor health threat, for older adults and others with weaker immune systems, the flu can be life-threatening. The U.S. National Institute on Aging says you should contact…  read on >

Gum disease may interfere with high blood pressure control, a new study suggests. Researchers reviewed medical and dental records of more than 3,600 people diagnosed with high blood pressure. Compared to people with good oral health, those with gum disease were less likely to respond to high blood pressure medications and 20 percent less likely…  read on >

In some bad news for chocolate Labrador Retriever lovers everywhere, new research shows that they have shorter life spans than their black and yellow cousins. Not only that, but they also have higher rates of skin disease and ear infections. For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 33,000 Labradors in the United Kingdom.…  read on >

With the national shortage of primary care doctors and — in certain areas — specialists, and with a quarter of the population living in rural areas without easy access to care, telehealth has stepped in to help fill the gap. In fact, millions of Americans now use it every year. Telehealth involves virtual office visits.…  read on >

Childhood obesity has been linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and early heart disease, but new research now ties it to a sometimes crippling hip condition. It’s called slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), and it causes the hip to become deformed, occasionally so much so that the hip collapses. SCFE causes pain…  read on >

After a heart attack, your risk for a stroke is elevated longer than previously believed, preliminary results of a new study suggest. “A heart attack is a risk factor for stroke for at least three months,” said researcher Dr. Alexander Merkler, an assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.…  read on >

Fleas thrive in hot and humid temperatures. So depending on where you live, fleas can be a year-round problem or a seasonal worry. Adult fleas are no bigger than a sesame seed, making them difficult to spot. And they can easily jump from one pet to another, or even to a person. The American Veterinary…  read on >