By now, most health-conscious people know to stay away from BPA.
It’s a chemical in some plastics linked to hormone problems, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, infertility, and migraines.
BPA (bisphenol A) was once in a wide range of products…the lining of food cans, water bottles, food storage containers, and many other items.
But there was such strong evidence of BPA’s dangers that manufacturers started to phase out the chemical.… Read More
Depression is a frustrating illness.
The cause is difficult to pin down. Episodes seem to come and go at random times. The standard treatment, antidepressant drugs, often don’t work.
That’s why a new study is so important.
It pinpoints a surprising cause—and the cure—for many cases of depression, especially those that don’t respond to antidepressants.
Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University looked at 125 patients with depression and how their sleep affected their mood.… Read More
Diverticulitis can make your life miserable.
It’s a common intestinal condition caused by small abscesses in the bowel which become inflamed or infected. This can lead to severe stomach pain and cramping. Constipation, bloating, and nausea are other symptoms.
The most frustrating part?
Doctors often can’t pinpoint the cause. That makes it difficult to treat effectively.
But a new study may reveal the hidden cause of diverticulitis in many people. … Read More
Your bed is supposed to be a safe haven. Most of us spend a third of our lives there. Restorative sleep keeps your mind sharp and your body strong.
But new research shows that many of us are sleeping on a mattress that may be harming our health.
Chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the problem.
Mattresses have long been known to emit them in gaseous form.… Read More
Hospitals have a phrase they use to describe their mistakes. It’s “preventable patient harm.”
That doesn’t sound so terrible.
But here’s what it really means:
Follow-up tests revealed that her doctor had read her genetic test wrong.… Read More
By now we all know that soda and other sugary beverages are just about the worst thing you can drink.
Study after study shows that soda—diet or regular—makes you obese.
But new research shows that getting fat is not the worst health effect.
The study was published in The BMJ’s Clinical Research Edition. Researchers analyzed health data from 100,000 people. Scientists tracked the participants’ foods, drinks, and medical information for nine years.… Read More