Patients used to see doctors as kindly-but-firm professionals — experts who knew what they were talking about and whose advice should be heeded, even if it wasn’t necessarily welcome. But these days, people have become demanding health care consumers, and they don’t respond well when a doctor disagrees with them, a new study shows. The… read on >
Seasonal allergies make life miserable for millions of Americans. So, in a bid to ease some of that discomfort, experts from two leading groups of allergists created a task force that has just issued new practice guidelines on the best ways to quell those bothersome symptoms. The consensus? For most people, nasal steroid sprays are… read on >
Weight loss from dieting can slow the progression of knee arthritis in overweight people, according to a new study. But losing pounds from exercise alone will not help preserve those aging knees, the researchers found. Obesity is a major risk factor for painful knee osteoarthritis — degeneration of cartilage caused by wear and tear. Weight… read on >
Many of us will care for a parent at some point in our lives. If you’re shopping or cooking for Mom or taking Dad to doctor visits, you’re already a caregiver. Caregiving is often in addition to raising kids, running your own home and holding down a job. That means your stress level can soar.… read on >
Before heading out to shop this holiday season, steel yourself for an onslaught of tempting aromas that might lure you into a fast-food restaurant. Food-related cues, like the smell of burgers or eye-catching menu displays, stimulate brain activity. This tempts people to eat more, a new study finds. University of Michigan researchers conducted lab experiments… read on >
More younger Americans experience the aches and pains of arthritis than once thought. Roughly 91 million adults had arthritis in 2015. But the most surprising fact was that nearly one-third of sufferers were aged 18 to 64, a new study found. Those estimates are 68 percent higher than previously reported, said lead researcher Dr. David… read on >
Using marijuana when you have HIV could lead to problems with brain function if you also abuse alcohol or drugs, a new study finds. “People with HIV infection have many reasons to have cognitive dysfunction, from the virus itself to medications for HIV infection and related conditions, particularly as they age,” said lead researcher Richard… read on >
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty blood substance that your body needs to keep cells healthy. It’s produced by your liver and also is found in animal-based foods. There are two kinds of cholesterol: “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Too much “bad” cholesterol can clog your arteries and raise your risk of… read on >
Getting a better night’s shut-eye may be as easy as cracking open a bedroom window or door, a small new study suggests. Dutch researchers used high-tech methods to track the nighttime movements of 17 healthy volunteers over five nights. Some of the participants slept with a bedroom door or window open, allowing for better ventilation… read on >
Doctors, don’t be afraid to deliver bad news. Telling cancer patients the truth about their chances of survival does not harm a physician’s relationship with those people. It could even make it better, according to a new study. “We hope this information will reassure clinicians about any negative impacts of these discussions on their relationships… read on >
