Along with the flu, this is the time of year for sinus infections with their make-you-miserable stuffy, runny noses and blocked ears. Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, but bacteria can also be to blame, according to Dr. Jessica Grayson, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “When people…  read on >

When you hear the word diet, you might think only of weight loss. But a lifestyle diet can bring even greater benefits. One option that belongs on your radar is the MIND diet created by researchers at Rush University in Chicago. MIND stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. It’s a hybrid of those two…  read on >

Your energy-efficient washing machine could be harboring “superbug” antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a new study warns. The warning follows an investigation at a German hospital where drug-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca was repeatedly infecting newborns. Investigators traced the outbreak to a washing machine, and the infections stopped only after it was taken away. “This is a highly unusual case…  read on >

British researchers have good news for people with type 2 diabetes — you don’t need to lose a ton of weight to make a difference in your health. In fact, they found that losing just 10% of your body weight during the first five years you have the disease can lead to remission of type…  read on >

The normal range for a resting heart rate is between 60 and 90 beats per minute, says Harvard Medical School. An increase in the resting heart rate over time can be a sign of future heart trouble. To lower your resting heart rate, the school suggests: Exercise every day. Practice stress-reducing techniques, such as meditation.…  read on >

In recent years, the number of U.S. adults getting total hip replacements — meaning both a new ball and joint socket — following a hip fracture has soared to an estimated 500,000 annually. That’s nearly three times the rate at which these adults undergo a partial hip replacement, which only replaces the ball of the…  read on >

Could living near the coast be an inexpensive balm for mental troubles? “Our research suggests, for the first time, that people in poorer households living close to the coast experience fewer symptoms of mental health disorders,” said researcher Dr. Jo Garrett, from the University of Exeter, in England. “When it comes to mental health, this…  read on >

High blood pressure is a risk factor for many serious health threats, such as heart attack and stroke. The most recent guidelines from the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology and other health organizations reflect research findings that lowering the threshold for high blood pressure and starting treatment earlier does a better job…  read on >

Chronic migraine headaches plagued Adam Pressley from childhood, and by his 30s they had become a near-daily occurrence. Pressley, 31, had tried everything to stop them: blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, seizure medications, and even quarterly injections of Botox. Then his doctor suggested something surprising, saying plastic surgery could potentially relieve nerve pressure that was contributing…  read on >