There’s no disputing the fact that regular colonoscopies, now suggested to start at age 45 for those with an average risk of colorectal cancer, can help prevent the disease by finding — and removing — precancerous growths. And a study of 77,000 adults published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that you can also lower your…  read on >

Sweating is the body’s natural reaction to keep itself cool during warm or hot conditions. But when it’s excessive — especially from the hands, face, underarms and feet — it may be a symptom of a condition called hyperhidrosis, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. The academy mentions these possible treatments for excessive sweating:…  read on >

Survivors of serious bloodstream infections called sepsis are at increased risk for stroke and heart attack for four weeks after leaving the hospital, a new study finds. The study included roughly 42,300 sepsis patients in Taiwan. Of those, 22 percent died within 30 days of hospital admission. Among the survivors, 1,012 had a cardiovascular event,…  read on >

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. About one in four women is predicted to die from heart disease, the agency laments. As women age, their risk rises. But the Food and Drug Administration says there are things women can…  read on >

Starting college can be daunting, but there are a number of things new students can do to ease into this experience, a psychologist suggests. “As freshman — and their parents — begin the first semester of college, it’s important to realize that not all learning takes place in the classroom,” said Luis Manzo, executive director…  read on >

LGBT people in the United States are more likely than their straight counterparts to be poor, and this is especially true for women, a new study says. Wealth plays a key role in health and well-being, and it’s one factor in the poorer health for this group that could be changed, according to the researchers.…  read on >

Though psoriasis is not contagious, many Americans shun people with the skin condition, new research indicates. The study included a cross-section of about 400 Americans who viewed images of people with visible psoriasis. Large numbers wrongly thought psoriasis was contagious or only affects the skin, and about one-third said they wouldn’t want to invite people…  read on >

U.S. voters’ despair over poor health and premature deaths might have tipped the 2016 presidential election in Donald Trump’s favor, a new analysis argues. Counties that voted Republican more heavily had a 15 percent higher age-adjusted death rate than counties that voted heavily Democratic, researchers found. In particular, counties that shifted toward Trump had much…  read on >

No one looks forward to surgery, but if you’re able to have an elective procedure — meaning on your schedule — rather than an emergency operation, taking certain steps in the weeks beforehand will lead to a better outcome and easier recovery. Work on getting healthier through aerobic exercise, which improves lung function by expanding…  read on >

Your parents’ jobs likely had a strong influence on what you do for a living, according to a study that questions the belief in social mobility in the United States. “A lot of Americans think the U.S. has more social mobility than other western industrialized countries. This makes it abundantly clear that we have less,”…  read on >