Rising levels of cholesterol among young adults is strongly tied to long-term odds for the number one killer, heart disease, a new study finds. The new global study involved data on more than 400,000 people from 38 different trials. Their health was tracked for an average of more than 13 years, but some were followed…  read on >

American ginseng is an herb that people take by mouth as a stimulant, to reduce stress, or to boost the immune system, says MedlinePlus. American ginseng has different medicinal effects from the Siberian and Asian varieties. Here’s what MedlinePlus says about American ginseng: Side effects may include diarrhea, itching, insomnia, headache and nervousness. Never take…  read on >

Breathing exercises can help you relax and manage stress, says the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. The center suggests using the 4-7-8 breath exercise: Exhale completely through your mouth. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose to a mental count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7. Exhale through your mouth…  read on >

Headache and migraine patients, take note: medical marijuana may help ease your pain. The findings follow an analysis of data collected by a Canadian phone app that gathered feedback offered by 1,300 headache sufferers and nearly 700 migraine sufferers who used marijuana to treat their head pain. “We found that self-reported headache and migraine severity…  read on >

Got travel plans abroad? Spending just a short time in a highly polluted city can harm your health, researchers warn. “It’s widely known that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increased cardiovascular disease. But it was unknown whether a short-term visit to a location with severe air pollution could have any significant impact,”…  read on >

Knee pain is common, especially in highly active people, says the Cedars-Sinai hospital system. Women, people with a high body mass index and the elderly are at a greater risk of knee pain. Cedars-Sinai mentions these common causes: Overuse of the knee. Inflammation in tissues around the knee. Misalignment of the kneecap. Damage to ligaments,…  read on >

Millions of Americans have the potentially dangerous irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation. Now, research suggests that being obese might undercut the effectiveness of certain drugs meant to treat AFib. The new study followed more than 300 patients listed in the University of Illinois at Chicago’s AFib Registry. Researchers found that a class of medicines…  read on >

MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019Brushing your teeth may be good for your heart, a new study suggests. It included more than 161,000 South Korean adults, ages 40 to 79, with no history of heart failure or the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation. Between 2003 and 2004, participants had a routine medical exam and were asked about…  read on >

Christina Herrera was 44 years old when she felt the symptoms of a heart attack. “I was sweating, having heart palpitations and out of breath,” the high school teacher said. “My school nurse said, ‘I have to call an ambulance for you,’ and I said I’d go later. I had to get back to my…  read on >

Playing cards and board games like chess, bingo and Scrabble might be the mental workout you need to keep your wits as you age, Scottish researchers suggest. People in their 70s who regularly play board games score higher on tests of memory and thinking skills than those who don’t. And 70-somethings who step up their…  read on >