Going to the gym is supposed to improve your health, but it can also be a hotbed of cold and flu bugs, an expert warns. “The biggest thing about the gym is there are a lot of areas where germs, viruses and fungus can be year-round,” said Bryan Combs, a nurse practitioner in the University…  read on >

Like the mighty grizzly bear that hibernates in winter, many people spend more time sleeping during this cold, dark season, a new survey reveals. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 34% of Americans say they sleep more in winter, compared with 10% who claim they sleep less during this time of year.…  read on >

New research involving the DNA of 200,000 U.S. veterans suggests that there really is such a thing as a “worry gene.” Researchers have identified six genetic variants linked to anxiety — a discovery that may help explain why anxiety and depression often go hand in hand. “This is the richest set of results for the…  read on >

How teens see their family’s social status may play a part in their mental health and success at school, a new study suggests. Social status appears to be more important than what their parents do for a living, how much money they have or how educated they are, the researchers said. “The amount of financial…  read on >

Gymgoers who’ve accidentally left their headphones at home might be all too familiar with this frustrating feeling: Exercising without music is a much harder go. And now a broad new review of nearly 140 studies — the first of its kind — suggests there’s real science to back that up, with clear evidence that music…  read on >

Can television teach kids how to eat healthy? Maybe, suggests new research. Watching cooking shows that featured healthy recipes seemed to encourage healthy eating in children, the study showed. “The findings from this study indicate cooking programs can be a promising tool for promoting positive changes in children’s food-related preferences, attitudes and behaviors,” said lead…  read on >

Minimum wage laws can be a literal lifesaver for people who are struggling to get by, a new study suggests. The suicide rate declines among less-educated folks when the minimum wage is increased, researchers discovered. States experience as much as a 6% decrease in their suicide rates for every $1 increase in the minimum wage,…  read on >

Testosterone therapy is no fountain of youth for older men, though it might help some who are impotent. That’s according to new guidelines from the American College of Physicians — the first from the group to address the issue of treating age-related “low T.” It’s known that men’s testosterone levels decline with age. And for…  read on >

High levels of ozone and wood smoke each increase the risk for lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among smokers and nonsmokers alike, two new studies find. People with COPD gradually lose their ability to draw a decent breath. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause, but COPD also can be caused by regular…  read on >

You made your resolution — this year was finally going to be the year you lost weight. But then your neighbor stopped by with a plate of cookies, and well, your resolve didn’t even last a day. Maybe next year? But instead of looking at your resolutions as a sweeping year-long project, what if you…  read on >