The holidays are all about treats and most pets are thrilled to partake in the indulging, but some foods you might give them could make them sick or worse. “Pets tend to get more treats at holiday time — from their owners or from houseguests — which can put them at risk for health issues…  read on >  read on >

Over 15 million Americans have signed up for health insurance using the Affordable Care Act’s federal marketplace, a 33% increase from the year before, preliminary government data shows. On Dec. 15, the deadline for coverage that starts Jan. 1, a whopping 745,000 people picked their health insurance plan using the healthcare.gov website, the U.S. Department…  read on >  read on >

An exhaustive review of sleep research spanning five decades underscores the importance of getting your Zzzzzs. Sleep loss undermines emotional functioning and increases a person’s risk for anxiety and depression, the study found. It also takes a toll on positive emotions like joy, happiness and contentment.   “In our largely sleep-deprived society, quantifying the effects…  read on >  read on >

Believe it or not, your spinal cord may be a pathway to better mood and even an end to depression, new research suggests. Investigators at the University of Cincinnati stressed that their pilot study — to see whether tweaking the spinal cord can ease depression — is in its very early stages. However, 20-minute sessions…  read on >  read on >