If you’re prone to depression, the holidays can be the worst of times.
The stress of travel and seeing relatives can be overwhelming.
And if you’re susceptible to seasonal affective disorder, lack of sunlight can also be a factor in causing mood issues this time of year.
Sixty-four percent of people with depression report that the holidays make their condition worse.… Read More
Anybody who has tried to learn to play golf, to dance, do yoga, or to play the piano will tell you that it’s not easy learning a new physical skill.
Sometimes your body just won’t do what your mind wants it to do. It’s easy to give up when frustration sets in.
But researchers have discovered a simple trick that might help.… Read More
You go into the hospital for one reason…
To get better.
But an alarming study shows that many seniors are coming out in worse shape than when they went in.
The reason?
Doctors are sending them home with an overdose of blood pressure medications.
A University of California study revealed this troubling trend.i
Researchers looked at the records of almost 15,000 patients admitted to a Veteran’s Affairs hospital.… Read More
You may have read the news stories about cities in India and China that have air pollution so thick that people have to stay inside their homes to avoid getting sick.i
Anyone who has visited Los Angeles can tell you that the U.S. has its own air pollution problems.
You may figure you’re not being harmed by air pollution if you don’t live a big city with smog. … Read More
There is a simple heart test that doctors often give as part of routine physicals.
It’s cheap, painless, and easy. It takes just a couple minutes.
But this screening actually does more harm than good in most patients. And you should avoid it unless you have symptoms.
It’s called an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG for short).
The doctor or a nurse puts electrodes on your arms, chest, and legs to record your heart’s electrical activity. … Read More
For tobacco smokers, e-cigarettes can seem like a win-win.
E-cig vapor does not contain the carcinogenic tars in tobacco smoke. So the risk of cancer is likely lower.
Vaping also doesn’t produce secondhand smoke that can poison people around you.
And e-cigs save money. They are 40% cheaper per puff than regular tobacco cigarettes.i
But a major study has found that vaping carries an unexpected—and potentially deadly–health risk.… Read More