While others are decking the halls, many people find the holidays trigger anxiety and depression. Stress can arise from financial strain, dealing with difficult relatives or trying to create the perfect holiday, said Michelle Martel, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. Also, the holidays can bring up sad memories for people…  read on >

The exhaustion of a new baby can have negative fitness consequences as you lose the motivation to exercise and feel there’s no time to get to the gym. But not exercising actually worsens fatigue, makes it harder to lose your baby weight, and increases the risk of chronic health problems down the road. Don’t fret,…  read on >

Taking care of your health is one of the best gifts you can give yourself this holiday season, a medical expert suggests. “This festive time of year can be a lot of fun, but may also hurt our mental and physical health,” said Dr. Joseph Cooke, chairman of the department of medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens…  read on >

The hangover is bad enough. But for binge-drinking young people, embarrassing social media posts can be another headache. College students often show signs of social media “addiction” and can suffer significant consequences, according to the authors of a new study. “During these times when young students are feeling disinhibited by alcohol, they may be even…  read on >

Paronychia is an infection of the skin around a fingernail that can be red, inflamed and occasionally produce pus. Most cases can be treated at home, the Nemours Foundation says. The infection typically emerges after the skin surrounding a nail is injured and allows germs to penetrate. Biting or sucking nails, clipping nails too short…  read on >

Growing pains occur as kids exercise more and their muscles try to keep up. Ironically, these pains aren’t directly caused by the process of growing, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Generally, parents shouldn’t be too concerned, the academy advises. These muscle aches tend to occur at night as kids are sleeping or are trying…  read on >

New research shows that marijuana causes genetic changes in sperm, though it’s not clear what effect those changes have, or if they’re passed on to a man’s children. But the scientists said their findings suggest that men trying to have children should consider avoiding marijuana. In experiments with rats and a study involving 24 men,…  read on >

Vaping among American teenagers increased dramatically in 2018, with nearly two of every five high school seniors reporting they’ve tried an e-cigarette during the past year, a new survey reveals. There was a bit of good news in the report, with teens reporting decreased use of alcohol, tobacco and opioids. But the vaping trends remained…  read on >

Doctors should screen women for depression during and after pregnancy, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says in an updated policy statement. Undiagnosed and untreated depression among pregnant women and new mothers can put a baby’s health at risk, and is one of the most common and costly pregnancy-related complications in the United States, according…  read on >