Considering a Clinical Trial When You Have COPD
By Jean Rommes, as told to Kendall Morgan I knew in 1985 that I probably had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I first came across the condition in an article, looked it up, and discovered I had all the classic…
Getting Cancer Care in Rural America
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are among the 1 in 5 Americans who live in a rural area, you may face challenges in getting the care you need because of where you live. The first step is to…
Misconceptions About Genomic Tests
Scientists can scan your entire DNA library. That’s more than 20,000 genes. This kind of testing, called genomic testing, has transformed the diagnosis and management of cancer and rare genetic diseases. But like other kinds of health care, racial and…
Where Will the Legit Health Info Go If TikTok Goes Dark?
April 23, 2024 – It’s becoming more of a “when” then an “if” TikTok will be banned in the United States, which would leave the 170 million Americans who use the social media app to find another option. Gone, too,…
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: What to Know
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can make you feel itchy and uncomfortable. It causes hives that come and go unexpectedly. You probably wonder why you get them and what to do about them. There’s no clear cause of chronic spontaneous urticaria,…
Are ‘Man Vans’ Coming to a Parking Lot Near Your Soon?
April 22, 2024 – In Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, a fleet of four RVs regularly pop up in parking lots at churches, libraries and other locations. Sometimes known as “man vans,” these mobile screening units offer prostate cancer screenings and…
Talking to Your Doctor About CLL Clinical Trials
You may be thinking about looking into clinical trials to help treat your chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These trials are research studies that help scientists study treatment safety and effectiveness. They could let you try cutting-edge treatments that aren’t yet…
Living With Advanced-Stage CLL
Most people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) get diagnosed before this cancer reaches its advanced stages. In fact, it might take several months or even years to get there. When the disease moves into the later stages, CLL cells crowd…
Heart-Liver Surgery May Help Patients Excluded from Transplant List
Ernest House needed a liver transplant. But a heart condition was keeping him off the transplant list. “I would have died,” he says. “There’s no doubt about that. My body was failing.” A former college football quarterback, House had always…
Menorrhagia, Skipped Periods, and More
As you probably learned back in middle school, menstruation is the monthly shedding of your uterine lining. Though it can be uncomfortable and sometimes inconvenient, your period is your body’s way of telling you that your reproductive system is working…
What to Do When Your Pain Is Dismissed
Migraine is a common neurological disorder, especially among women. But only about half of people who have it seek medical care for these intense headaches, and most wait before seeking help from a doctor. Fewer than that leave the doctor’s…
Hate Taking Pills? For Some Drugs, You Won’t Need To
A buccal patch stuck to the inside of the mouth might deliver drugs more quickly and with fewer side effects. One of the most common ways of taking a drug is to swallow a pill. However, young children and people…
Changing Entrenched Health Beliefs Is Not Impossible
April 18, 2024 – Turns out it’s not a Sisyphean task – or at least not impossible, like trying to roll a large boulder up a steep hill over and over again. Some people with deep-rooted beliefs on a wide…
Don’t Worry, Gen Z, Your Face Isn’t Aging Faster Than Others
April 18, 2024 – The explosive rise in skin care “influencers” hawking product after product on social media has led many young people to seek anti-aging products and procedures even as experts say there is no actual evidence that Gen…
Identify Your Triggers to Quit Smoking for Good
After 15 years of smoking, Adrian Diaz Bulibasa decided it was time to quit. “I wanted to have a baby and I didn’t want the health of my future baby to be affected by my choices,” he says. But quitting…
When to Call a Pediatrician
It’s 2 a.m. Your baby is crying and you can’t soothe them. They have a fever and a stuffed nose. Do you call the pediatrician, or do you wait until morning? New parenthood is full of uncertainty. When you’re a first-time…
The Truth About Whole-Body Scans
Take a drive around certain neighborhoods in Los Angeles and you may spot as many signs advertising body scans as burger joints. Or maybe you’ve seen the ads on TV or the internet: “Protect your health! Get a body scan…
How New Ideas Are Changing Advanced Breast Cancer Research
By Lisa Newman, MD, chief of breast surgery at New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, as told to Camille Noe Pagán Lisa Newman, MD There are many reasons for women who have advanced breast cancer to be hopeful. For starters,…
Living With Crohn’s: My Daily Routine
By Michelle Pickens, as told to Danny Bonvissuto As early as I can remember, I’ve had issues with my health. When I was little, I had severe constipation, nausea, vomiting, and food sensitivities. As I got older, those symptoms transitioned…
Coughing at Night: How to Stop
What can feel more frustrating than having a cough? Having a cough that happens more often or gets worse at night. It affects how much you can relax, fall and stay asleep, and get much-needed rest for recovery. “During sleep,…
How to Get Your Child Involved
Who knows better than parents that cleaning the house regularly helps keeps germs at bay and goes a long way toward preventing kids from catching colds, flu, and allergy symptoms? Sometimes, though, parents could use a helping hand when it…
Helping Your Child Come to Terms With Their ADHD
It’s not unusual to have mixed feelings about your child’s diagnosis with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The behaviors that led to it may create stress in your family and social life for quite a while. You might worry about…
Tylenol During Pregnancy Not Linked to Higher Risk of ADHD, Autism
April 12, 2024 – Scientists and researchers have long raised concerns about the potential increased risks of autism and ADHD from taking acetaminophen during pregnancy, even though the FDA and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have said it’s…
Even Women Doctors Find Their Symptoms Aren’t Taken Seriously
In early 2014, Ilene Ruhoy, MD, PhD, was not feeling well. She tired more easily than usual, had frequent headaches, and was sometimes dizzy and nauseous. A hospital-based neurologist, Ruhoy made appointments with several of her colleagues. “Everyone kept telling…
Emulsifiers Make Food Appetizing yet Bring Health Dangers
April 12, 2024 — Creamy, thick, and velvety: Without emulsifiers, your favorite ice cream or muffin might not taste the same. Yet research warns that there is a darker side to these substances, from polysorbate-80 to carrageenan. Evidence links emulsifiers with upset gut microbiome,…
Could U.S. Measles Cases Break a Record This Year? What to Know
April 12, 2024 – When a mother in Atlanta, GA, noticed measles symptoms in her son earlier this year after returning from an international trip, she knew just bringing him straight into a local emergency room may put others at…
Tips for Raising a Child With ADHD
When you think of treatment for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in children, medication probably comes to mind. That, or maybe therapy to work on school and social skills. In truth, the recommended first line of treatment isn’t a pill…
How to Manage Life With Children With ADHD
Penny Williams of Asheville, N.C., still remembers the day she got a call from her son’s kindergarten teacher. It was the second day of school, and the teacher requested a meeting for that same day. “He was always a really…
How to Find an OB/GYN Supportive of Transgender Pregnancies
A visit to the OB/GYN can leave you feeling vulnerable. Everyone should have a doctor who puts them at ease. But if you’re a transgender man or nonbinary person who’s pregnant or trying to be, it’s key that your doctor…
Have Health Questions? Ask S.A.R.A.H., an AI Health Assistant
April 10, 2024 – Got health questions about eating right, dealing with stress, or ways to stop smoking? You can ask S.A.R.A.H., and she’ll answer back. S.A.R.A.H. is a new interactive artificial intelligence resource from the World Health Organization. S.A.R.A.H….
Strategies to Conquer Treatment-Related Side Effects
Bob Dickey was determined not to let the side effects of cancer treatment — namely, nausea — get in the way of his routine. Dickey, a freight broker who lives in Menifee, CA,was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010, after…
Expert Q&A With John Whyte, MD
As WebMD’s chief medical officer, John Whyte, MD, is in a unique position to see both the current state of medical care for America’s older adults and the way things are trending for the future. We asked him to share…
Collagen Supplements for Skin, Hair, and Nails: What to Know
April 8, 2024 — When Mary Claire Haver, MD, became interested in the potential of collagen supplementation about a decade ago, she struggled to find many gold-standard studies that showed major improvements in the aspects that mattered most to her…
Why Saying ‘Hello, Stranger’ Could Be Key to Better Health
April 8, 2024 — Some people love to chat. I learned this 15 years ago when I moved to a small village in France. They chatted with the boulangerie owner, with the grocery clerk, with the town hall official, and…
How Finding Her Voice Inspired a Community of Self-Healers
By Alexa Federico, as told to Skylar Harrison Before I became an advocate for those with Crohn’s and IBD, my mom was mine. “Her nails are blue. She’s lost weight. She’s really cold,” she’d tell doctors again and again about…
How to Pick the Right Supplements for You
SOURCES: Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD, chief of nutrition; professor, department of preventive medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Donald Boyd, MD, RDN, assistant professor of medicine, Yale School of Medicine. Jerlyn Jones, RDN, spokesperson, Academy of Nutrition and…
Tips to Feel Better All Day
What are the most important steps to follow if you want to feel good from morning to night? David Rakel, MD, spends his days helping people figure that out. He’s the director of the integrative medicine program at the University…
Yoga for Stress Management
Somewhere along the line you may have decided you are simply not the yoga type. Sure, you’ve heard the raves about yoga for stress management, but you can barely touch your toes. So there’s no way you’re going to stand…
Fitness from the Inside Out
Many people who want to get into shape are unaware that there is more to fitness than well-toned muscles and a tight abdomen. There is no shortage of exercise regimes that strictly promote the perfection of the body. Centuries ago,…
How My New Golf Hobby Made Me Healthier in Unexpected Ways
April 5, 2024 – For decades, I resisted invitations to try, learn, and play golf. Too frustrating, I said. Too expensive. Too much to learn. Too time-consuming. I too-too-too’d myself out of giving it a shot. A lifelong hobby dabbler,…
Why Drink More Water? See 6 Health Benefits of Water
Americans seem to carry bottled water everywhere they go these days. In fact, it has become the second most popular drink (behind soft drinks). But water lovers got a jolt recently when we heard that a new report had found…
How the Body Reacts to Grief, and What It Can Mean
April 4, 2024 – Fatigue, headaches, stomach pain and a higher risk of heart disease. Although these things may not make you think of grief at first, many people who experience a significant loss have these and other physical symptoms. People…
What Medications Treat Nasal Polyps?
Tired of living with a stuffy nose, postnasal drip, sinus infections, facial pain, poor sense of smell, and the other symptoms that come with nasal polyps? It’s time to seek treatment. “There are a full array of treatments available for…
How Therapy Can Help During Life-Changing Events Like COVID
April 3, 2024 — When the COVID-19 pandemic hit 4 years ago, Jenn Kearney felt extra thankful for her years of therapy. The 34-year-old digital communications manager from Boston said her 11 years of doing therapy — specifically cognitive behavioral…
What You Should Know Today
In 1996, Doug Olson learned he had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells. This cancer often grows slowly, so his doctor decided to watch it and wait to treat him. But when…
Lower-Income Americans at Higher Risk of Death From Excess Salt
April 2, 2024 – Eating food with high amounts of salt has long been linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. But much of the research on salt’s effects have been with middle- and upper-income…
How to Keep a Bladder Diary
Overactive bladder (OAB) is an umbrella term for several urinary symptoms. The most common symptom is a sudden urge to urinate that you can’t control. Other symptoms include leaking urine, frequent urination, and waking up at night to urinate. If…
IgA Nephropathy and Social Support
IgA nephropathy is hard to predict. But there’s one thing experts know. People with strong emotional and social support systems tend do better in the long run. And it’s best to live your life to the fullest no matter how…
How and Why Teens Manipulate Their Parents
Teenagers know how to push their parents’ buttons. Instinctively, they come with an arsenal of tools to get what they want, avoid getting into trouble, or cause their parents to blow a fuse out of frustration. How do you prepare…
How to Transition Your Baby from a Bottle to a Cup
Whether you breastfeed, bottle feed, or do a combo of the two, at some point you’ll wonder: Is it time to move on to a cup? If you just breastfeed, the easiest switch is to skip bottles entirely and go…
Get Morning Light, Sleep Better at Night
Ask clinical psychologist Michael Breus, PhD, a.k.a. The Sleep Doctor, for his No. 1 tip for having more energy and sleeping better, and he doesn’t hesitate to share his own morning routine: He rises at 6:15 a.m. daily, drinks a…
When Hyperhidrosis Means Something Serious
Did you recently start excessively sweating even in comfortable temperatures? Do you wake up at night soaked in sweat? These may be signs of secondary hyperhidrosis — excessive sweating due to medications or a medical condition. Normally, your body sweats…
How to Talk With Loved Ones About It
Vincent Macaluso, MD, found out he had multiple sclerosis (MS) when he was in medical school. Today, he treats people who have MS at his clinic in New Hyde Park, NY. He understands that MS can change the way you…
How WW, Noom Say They’re Filling Obesity Medicine Gaps
March 29, 2024 – It could be a case of: if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Commercial weight loss companies like WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Noom, and Calibrate, which were around before the explosion in popularity of some weight…
Finding Time for “Me” Time
Women today have been told we have it all — careers, families, kids, community involvement, and relationships. But all too often, having it all leaves us with no time or strength left for ourselves. Recent research has shown that women…
A Bowel Resection Is Not an Obstacle to Love
By Alexa Federico, as told to Lisa Mulcahy. I’m 27, I live in Boston, and I’m a certified nutritional therapy practitioner, an AIP coach, an author, and the owner of my own business, Alexa Federico Wellness. And I have Crohn’s…
Hearing Loss: Can Mine Be Reversed?
Losing your hearing can be an inconvenience — sometimes a major one that makes you worry. While some forms of hearing loss aren’t reversible, many are. But how does it stack up? Earwax helps clean and protect the ears. Normally,…
How Keeping In Touch With Relatives Is Good for You
Families, almost from their start, face forces that could pull them apart. When a family begins to mature, that potential loss of connection, that feeling of something changing, is difficult to confront. And it makes communication even more important. “This…
Does Magnesium Glycinate Really Help You Sleep Better?
LaShawn Wiltz LaShawn Wiltz hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in decades. She’s had chronic sleep-maintenance insomnia since high school, meaning she has trouble staying asleep through the night. So when Wiltz, who’s now in her mid-40s, heard about the…
After Years of Sleepless Nights, an Insomnia Diagnosis
George Galioto blamed his sleepless nights on his schedule. He often worked two jobs, putting in long hours at bars and restaurants where his shifts ended long past midnight. He also juggled work and school, studying late into the evenings….
How to Tell Your Kids About Your Cancer
Kate, Princess of Wales, recently revealed a cancer diagnosis and a course of chemotherapy. In a recent video, Kate said that it has taken time “to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis,” her children with her husband William, Prince…
Fasting Study Under Fire After Heart Conference
Does intermittent fasting raise your risk of death from heart disease? That’s what you might think from headlines about early research presented at a recent American Heart Association conference – drawing skepticism from experts and cautions from the researchers themselves. …
The Emotional Effects of OAB
The physical effects of overactive bladder are obvious. But the emotional impact isn’t talked about as much. You might avoid going on road trips with friends, playing sports, or visiting your grandchildren because you’re self-conscious about leaking or having to stop…
Major Depressive Disorder: How I Manage
By Deborah Serani, PsyD, as told to Hallie Levine When it comes to talking about how depression affects relationships, I’m the expert. And it’s not just because I’m a psychologist. I’ve lived with major depressive disorder since I was 19….
The Future of Major Depressive Disorder Treatments
By James Giordano, PhD, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen major strides in the treatment options for major depressive disorder. We now understand that depression isn’t the same for everyone. The idea is…
How I Manage Depressive Episodes
By Dan Collins, as told to Hallie Levine I’ve been living with major depressive disorder since I was 16. My moment of critical mass was in the spring of 1991. I was 28 and still living at home. My life…
Sci-Fi Tech Could Solve World’s Water Crisis
UC Berkeley’s harvesting box can extract water from air in the middle of the desert. Imagine a small box that can harvest drinking water from the air, even in the Mojave Desert. It’s just one of the new mind-bending technologies…
Treatments for Moderate to Severe COPD
There’s no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But there are things you can do to stay active, breathe easier, and live longer — even if your condition is more advanced. Ask your doctor about all of your treatment…
Best and Worst Supplements and Herbs
People in some parts of the world have used herbal remedies to treat diseases for centuries. But in the United States, we tend to rely heavily on traditional Western medicine. Still, the use of dietary supplements has taken off in…
Wandering Risk Rises in Summer
It happens quickly: A child on the autism spectrum bolts from supervision and disappears – an emergency called “autism elopement.” While any child can wander off, children on the autism spectrum face particular risks. These include the lure of water…
Pandemic and Costs Limited Use of Shingles Vaccine
March 20, 2024 — Since its rollout, the Shingrix vaccine has been hailed as a breakthrough in preventing shingles. But its path to widespread adoption has been strewn with obstacles, from pandemic-related disruptions to insurance complexities. The consequences can be…
Sensual vs. Sexual: What’s the Difference
Sexuality and sensuality have a lot in common — but they’re not the same thing. What is the difference between being sexual and being sensual, and how do the two relate to each other? “Sexual” is pretty straightforward: When people…
When ‘Good Vibes Only’ Goes Too Far
When Hanna Olivas was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017, at age 42, she was angry at first, and then she was terrified. Her doctors agreed on one thing: This kind of blood cancer is incurable. But they couldn’t forecast…
Best and Worst Snacks
We all snack. But some snacks are better than others, especially if you’re managing type 2 diabetes or obesity. An ideal snack gives you protein or fiber — or both — to help you feel full, says Gillian Culbertson, RD,…
This Mutation Likely Saved a Colon Cancer Patient’s Life
March 18, 2024 – When Ken Aaron, 51, woke up from his first-ever colonoscopy last February to his doctor mouthing the words “we found a tumor,” there was no one more surprised than he was. The married father of two…
Nike Mannequins Come in All Sizes
The sportswear brand Nike introduced new, inclusive mannequins to their Niketown stores in London earlier this month that include representations of physically disabled and plus-sized athletes. Other brands have come out with plus-sized mannequins and disabled mannequins in the last…
Tips to Prevent Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
It’s difficult to imagine a more contagious disease than whooping cough. For adolescents and adults, whooping cough, or pertussis, is a huge bother: cold symptoms, followed by a cough that takes weeks or months to resolve. Missed work and school…
How to Stretch, When to Stretch
Do any of these lines sound familiar? You have to hold a stretch to get the benefit. Don’t bounce in the stretch — you’ll tear your muscle. If you don’t stretch before a workout, you’ll hurt yourself. Well, they’re all…
A Parent’s Guide to Vaccines
The tears and screaming, as upsetting as they are, are well worth the effort. A simple prick of the skin provides children with lifetime protection against diseases like chickenpox, meningitis, and hepatitis. With a schedule starting at birth and lasting…
Make Shots Less Painful for Your Baby
By the time your baby is a year old, they’ll need at least 16 vaccinations. The pain of each needle stick is fleeting for them, but the stress of seeing your baby cry can stick with you. Fear of shots…
Doctors Wary of Young Adults Using Ozempic for Bikini Season
March 15, 2024 – Summer is fast approaching, and the pressures of “bikini season” have some young adults looking to GLP-1 medications like Ozempic to shed weight. And while data shows that obesity is skyrocketing among U.S. teens and young adults,…
The Scientist: A Physician Who Heals Himself and Others
The breakthrough studies of a world-renowned Crohn’s researcher have helped millions – including himself
A Wake-Up Call for Women
March 14, 2024—Actress Olivia Munn’s candid disclosures on Instagram about her aggressive breast cancer — a surprise discovery after a “clean” mammogram and negative genetic tests — were a poignant mix of details about her cancer journey and a cautionary tale…
I Will Always Be a Runner Even on Days When I Can’t Run
By Alison Feller, as told to Candy Schulman When I was 7, I was on a family vacation, living my best life. Or so I thought. I wasn’t sick – until I was. There were no symptoms that indicated Crohn’s…
Why Immersion in Very Cold or Hot Water Can Be So Healthy
March 13, 2024 – There’s a good chance you’ve come across this popular 10-second social media narrative: Hard-bodied individual looks into the camera. Zooms out to show they’re wearing only a beanie and a bathing suit. Hey, I’m about to…
Why Aren’t More Teenagers Fully Vaccinated?
Too many U.S. children and teens are not getting their full roster of vaccinations, says H. Cody Meissner, MD, director of pediatric infectious disease at Tufts Medical Center and a professor of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine. Lack…
Why Some Groups Vaccinate Less
“I heard there’s a microchip in the vaccine.” That’s what a surprising number of people tell Rupali Limaye, PhD, about why they don’t want to vaccinate their child. They might also say they’re worried that certain vaccines cause autism (a…
How Exercise Can Help Ease Osteoarthritis Joint Pain
March 12, 2024 — It hurt to walk. So Dianne Rosenbluth saw a surgeon that friends recommended at the Duke University School of Medicine, had an X-ray, and found out she has osteoarthritis. Rosenbluth’s pain went away after a hip…
Are They Right for You?
March 11, 2024 – At-home medical diagnostic testing has exploded in recent years. NASDAQ reports that the market for at-home testing has reached a staggering $45.6 billion and will continue to grow at a rate of over 10% per year up…
Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression: One Person’s Story
When Imadé Borha graduated from Columbia University in 2015 with a master’s degree in nonfiction creative writing, she thought the last thing she’d have to worry about was finding a job. It didn’t happen. “That was around the time of…
Medication Strategies for Treatment-Resistant Depression
If you have treatment-resistant depression, you’ve already tried taking antidepressants without much success. But you shouldn’t give up. It can take time to find the medication, dose, or mix of medicines that work for you. “There are more than two…
How Diabetes Affects The Heart
Heart disease is common in people with diabetes. In general, the risk of heart disease death and stroke is more than twice as high in people with diabetes. While all people with diabetes have an increased chance of developing heart…
5 Love Languages, 7 Days, 1 Couple
What makes for a good, lasting marriage? I can’t speak for everyone, and I don’t believe there’s just one magical thing. But my husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and I can share something that’s helped us:…
What to Expect as a Parent
As your child reaches the 8- to 12-year-old age range, you may begin to notice subtle and obvious signs that they’re no longer a youngster but not quite a teen. Welcome to the “tween” years! This in-between stage of development…
Mindfulness Can Beat Tech Stress at Work
Editor’s note: Doctors get burned out, too. Read the Medscape Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2024: ‘We Have Much Work to Do’ March 8, 2024—Texts. Emails. Video meetings. Texts to remind you of upcoming video meetings. And on and on…
What to Know About Treatment-Resistant Depression
Standard treatments ease depression for a lot of people, but they don’t work for everyone. At least 30% of those who try two or more antidepressants continue to have serious symptoms. That’s called treatment-resistant depression. If it happens to you,…
What Are Vaginal Gummies? Debunking the Latest Health Craze
March 7, 2024 – Let’s start with this: Your vagina “is naturally self-cleaning, meaning that it does not need to be washed or rinsed in order to be ‘fresh,’” That’s the bottom line from Karen Adams, MD, an OB-GYN and clinical…
"Fall Back": When Daylight Saving Time Ends
Time changes, whether from traveling or daylight-saving time, can greatly affect your restful sleep. Here’s how to make the shift.
Is the Faith in Aspirin to Prevent Cardiac Events Warranted?
March 5, 2024 — There’s a widespread – and long-held — belief that swallowing a low-dose aspirin pill every day can help protect you from heart attacks and strokes. Almost 30 million Americans take aspirin to prevent a first cardiovascular…
Top 10 Protein Foods
No doubt about it, protein is good for you — and can even help you shed those unwanted pounds. But (and you knew there was a “but,” right?), it’s important to eat the right amount and the right kind of…
Thunderstorm Asthma Could Strike More Often With Climate Change
March 5, 2024 — Thunderstorm asthma can strike with little warning, leaving people with the symptoms of an asthma attack during or after the dark clouds pass. If you’re unfamiliar, the risk for a thunderstorm asthma attack grows when heavy storms…
Staying With Your Depression Treatment Plan
If you have depression, antidepressants and talk therapy could be part of your treatment plan. Antidepressants modify levels of serotonin and other chemicals in your brain. They can be an effective way to relieve sadness and other depression symptoms, but…
Ways to Change Negative Thinking
We all have thoughts that invade our brains from time to time and mess with our moods. We all get down. Whether it’s your job, your social life, your family, or something completely different, sometimes the negativity can be too…
The Healthy Way to Be Angry
You have an important dinner to attend tonight after work and the clothes you need are at the cleaners. The dry cleaner will be closed by the time you leave the office, so your partner has graciously agreed to pick…
How Is Pompe Disease Diagnosed?
Getting a diagnosis of Pompe disease can be tricky. That’s partly because the disorder is so rare. It affects only about 1 in every 40,000 people in the United States. “It’s really not on most pediatricians’ radar,” says Gerard Vockley,…
Multiple Myeloma in Black and Hispanic Communities
Doctors and scientists have made big breakthroughs in treating multiple myeloma. They’ve helped people with the disease to keep it in check and live longer, healthier lives. Despite this, the condition still affects some groups unequally. These populations face differences…
The Need for Better Minority Enrollment in Multiple Myeloma Clinical Trials
Multiple myeloma can be a deadly disease. But if you’re Black or African American, you’re particularly vulnerable. Research shows you’re more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with this blood cancer and to die from it. There are several reasons…
As Fires Rage, Survivors Struggle to Find Care
By Sarah Amandolare With vast forestland, suburban developments, and urban high-rises alike burning in recent months and years, it can feel as if few places in the U.S. are safe from fire. Around the world, experts warn that fires are…
The Science Behind the Increased Risk for Black People
A look at possible reasons why multiple myeloma affects Black people more than white people, including genes, health care disparities, and the role of MGUS.
How Do Age, Gender, and Other Social and Economic Factors Affect Sleep?
When you think about what’s likely to keep you from getting a good night’s sleep, you might picture noisy neighbors, a fussy child, or a snoring partner. But some things that aren’t so easily dealt with – like your age,…
How to Stay on Top of Your Diabetes
Growing up, Carol Gee saw the side effects of type 2 diabetes firsthand. “One family member had to get a limb amputated, and another always came down with yeast infections,” says Gee, who lives in the Atlanta area. She was…
What Is a Lactation Massager?
While shopping for breastfeeding gear, you may have noticed lactation massagers in addition to breast pumps, nipple cream, and nursing pillows. What are they? And do you need one? A lactation massager is a handheld device that’s intended to help…
Are There Exercises That Benefit Women More Than Men?
Feb. 28, 2024 – We know that we have to exercise. It boosts our cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, and ultimately contributes to our longevity and quality of life. But according to new research, women may benefit more from physical activity…
Baby Development Stages: The First Year
From helpless newborn to active toddler: It takes just 12 short months for your baby to undergo this incredible transformation. Babies grow and change at an astounding pace, and every month brings new and exciting developments. New moms and dads…
Shopping for Groceries With Diabetes
Whether you’re a meal planner and grocery list maker or figure-it-out-as-you-go shopper, you’ll see the grocery store through different eyes when you have type 2 diabetes. “It was a difficult process,” says Christina Herrera de Banchs, an educator in Dallas….
Metastatic Breast Cancer: Be Heard
Photo Credit: FatCamera / Getty Images Yale School of Medicine Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor Moffitt Cancer Center SOURCES: Andrea Silber, MD, assistant clinical director for health equity and diversity, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer hospital; professor of clinical…
Factors That May Affect Care
Many women get breast cancer. But the disease is deadliest for non-Hispanic Black women. And when it comes to metastatic breast cancer, women of color are less likely to get timely treatment that follows national guidelines. According to Grace Suh,…
The Mystery Behind Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a rare neurological disorder. Treatment can help, but there’s no cure. You may snooze upwards of 9 hours a night without feeling refreshed. You may fight to wake up in the morning. Your sleepiness may persist or…
Adjusting to Life With It
Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a sleep disorder without a cure. It’s not well-understood. Even experts don’t know what causes it. Your sleepiness might get in the way of your daily life. When that happens, you might find that people around…
Hospitals Turn to Farm-Fresh Food for Better Health
Hospital food isn’t known for tasting good or even being all that good for you. But some U.S. hospitals are teaming up with farms to change that. You probably think of hospital food as premade, prepackaged, bland, and colorless —…
How to Build a Support Network for Schizophrenia Care
If you’ve become a caregiver for a family member or friend with schizophrenia, it’s tough to go it alone. The demands on your psychological and physical well-being, and on your personal life and finances, can be heavy. “A lot of…
CDC Could Cut COVID Isolation Time: What It Could Mean
Feb. 23, 2024 – Is shorter better? Or just more practical? The CDC is reportedly going to cut its COVID-19 isolation recommendations down from 5 days to 24 hours starting in April. The agency appears to be walking a fine…
Stroke Risk in Black Americans: Expert Q&A
Black people in the U.S. are more likely to have a stroke than people who are White, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian – and with worse outcomes. The odds of dying of a stroke are 3 to 4 times higher for…
Focusing on Gut Health Can Aid Weight Loss
Feb. 22, 2024 — Injectable weight loss drugs like Wegovy, Saxenda, and Zepbound have been getting all the glory lately, but they’re not for everyone. If the inconvenience or cost of weight-loss drugs isn’t for you, another approach may be…
Wegovy for Obesity in Kids?
To understand whether Wegovy should be used as part of the solution for childhood obesity, you first have to understand the problem. Megan Kelsey, MD That’s not always easy, even for a doctor, says Megan Kelsey, MD, medical director of…
What Are the Long-Term Effects of B-Cell Therapy for MS?
When you have multiple sclerosis (MS), your immune system works against you. Left unchecked, immune cells attack the protective layer that surrounds your nerve fibers. Doctors used to think your immune T cells were the main culprit in this. Immune…
Lessons From My Journey With Relapsing-Remitting MS
By Darbi Haynes-Lawrence, PhD, as told to Evan Starkman It’s been 13 years since my neurologist diagnosed me with relapsing-remitting MS, and I still forget that I’m disabled a lot. I’m 47, but in my brain I’m still a college…
Are You Hungry? Or Just Full of Hot Air?
Whether you notice them or not, your body makes lots of noises. The pop and creak of your joints, or the sound it makes when you pass gas, may not alarm you. But it may feel odd to hear your…
What Are Death Doulas?
When people say someone had “a good death,” they usually mean that someone was comfortable and not in pain. But what if you could help their final days include the things they treasure — like their favorite song playing, who…
8 Workouts for Strong Bones
What are the best ways to exercise and improve your bone health when you have osteoporosis? Try weight-bearing workouts to build stronger bones. Talk to your doctor and make sure the workout you choose is safe for you. Then give…
Matcha: Elixirul atemporal al liniștii și sănătății
Matcha: Elixirul atemporal În domeniul băuturilor, matcha se remarcă ca o bijuterie verde vibrantă, venerată pentru istoria sa bogată, aroma de neegalat și nenumăratele beneficii pentru sănătate. Originar din vechile ceremonii japoneze ale ceaiului, matcha a depășit granițele culturale pentru…
Learn How to Manage Stress
Life is stressful and sometimes the stress can overwhelm you, but there are steps you can take to learn how to relax. Normal everyday activities like grocery shopping or traffic jams can make you tense. You might find it hard…
Lung Detox: Does It Really Work?
If you’ve had years of breathing in cigarette smoke, pollution, viruses, and other toxins, the idea of cleaning out your lungs and getting a fresh start can sound very appealing. But if you’re tempted to buy vitamins, teas, or essential…
8 Mistakes After Surgery That Slow Your Recovery
It was just after surgery for diverticular disease, and Greg Saggio, 48, was feeling good. That night he was already walking around. By the next morning, he started to eat. But then he went home and — ignoring his doctor’s…
What You Need to Know
Keeping a healthy weight is a worthwhile goal at any age. As you get older, it can get trickier. You might not be burning calories like you did when you were younger, but you can still take off extra pounds….
Age-Friendly Health Care: A New Approach
America’s senior population has grown by 34.2% in the last 10 years, and today about 54 million Americans are 65-plus. If you’re in this group, you may take four or more medications, see as many as five doctors each year,…
Heart Risks After Pregnancy-Related High Blood Pressure in Latinas
Monica Cantu and her husband were overjoyed to learn they were expecting twins, a boy and a girl. The couple couldn’t wait to meet their babies. At a doctor’s appointment, Cantu learned her baby boy was measuring small. At 23…
A New Guide to Healthy Eating
Feb. 16, 2024 – When it comes to your diet, your plate is important. Experts say it should include a healthy protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. But rather than ration those ingredients, it might be easier – and healthier…
Bloating 101: Why You Feel Bloated
Bloating 101: Why You Feel Bloated WebMD Feature Archive Bloating, gassiness, and abdominal discomfort aren’t limited to the occasional holiday feast. It can happen even if you haven’t eaten a large meal. In some cases, bloating can even cause…
Exercising When Sick: A Good Move?
You have been so great about your new exercise routine, rarely missing a day since you started up again. Then all of a sudden you are waylaid by a cold or flu. What should you do? Should you skip the…
Living With Major Depressive Disorder
By Elena Sledge, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson I’ve been living with depression for almost 12 years. I’m 31 now and I found out I had major depressive disorder when I was 19. I had a miserable freshman year…
Sperm Donors May Not Be as Anonymous as They Think
In 2018, Michael B. Greene, PhD, received a letter that took his breath away. A woman who might be his biological daughter was looking to connect. He knew it was possible. In the 1970s, he donated sperm many times to…
How to Deal With Side Effects of Medicine
Prescription drugs heal us when we’re sick, ease our pain when we ache, and prevent or control long-term conditions. But sometimes, even when they do the job they’re supposed to, they have unwelcome side effects. Don’t let that make you…
Weight Loss Health Benefits Start Sooner Than You May Think
If you are overweight or have obesity, you might think you need to lose a lot of weight to improve your health. It can feel daunting. But actually, you can start to get health benefits from a small amount of…
New Developments in Cholesterol Treatment
By Joyce Oen-Hsiao, as told to Keri Wiginton Joyce Oen-Hsiao, MD, FACC, director of clinical cardiology, Yale Medicine, New Haven, CT Right now, cholesterol treatment is more about finding ways to combine current cholesterol drugs a little bit differently and target…
‘Clean’ Beauty: What to Know
Feb. 12, 2024 – Clean. Natural. If the labels on your cosmetics and skin care products don’t include these descriptors, you’re not looking as great as you could and perhaps even jeopardizing your health. At least that’s the marketing message…
Do You Need Advanced Treatment?
The redness, discoloration, dryness, and itch of atopic dermatitis (AD) could send you to your dermatologist in search of solutions. Your doctor will start by taking stock of your symptoms. “The first thing is assessing disease severity,” says Lindsay Strowd,…
Atopic Dermatitis: Help for Broken Skin
Atopic dermatitis (AD) can be a long-lasting condition that causes severe, itchy rashes. At times, you may feel like you can’t stop scratching, which can lead to other problems. “With scratching, breaks in the skin can also get infected, causing…
How to Get Enough Sleep
Claire Park, a pediatric nurse and mom to a 2-year-old in Atlanta, has been battling atopic dermatitis (AD) on her hands for years. But in the last 5, it’s gotten so bad that nighttime itching keeps her awake. During the…
Atopic Dermatitis and Food Triggers
Is your red, itchy skin flare linked to your diet? Maybe, but foods or drinks aren’t always the trigger for a skin condition called atopic dermatitis (AD). So before you cut out certain foods, get a diagnosis and tests to…
Is It Dry Skin or Atopic Dermatitis?
For years, George Kramb, who’s 29 and lives in San Diego, CA, thought he had a severe case of dry skin. “I had dry skin basically my whole life. It was always flaky, irritated, and even got to the point…
Lower Your Cholesterol in 11 Easy Steps
If you have high cholesterol, you’re also at higher risk for heart disease. But the good news is, it’s a risk you can control. You can lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol and raise your “good” HDL cholesterol. You just have…
The Emotional Side of Treatment I Wasn’t Prepared For
By Natalie Brown, as told to Kendall Morgan When I was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at age 33, I had to make a lot of tough decisions quickly, including whether to freeze my eggs before treatment started or…
New Treatments for Your Chronic Pain
Pain that lasts more than a few months is chronic pain. Some types can’t be cured. But treatment can help you find relief. The right choice for you depends on: How long the pain has lasted How bad it is…
I Am More Than My Medication
By Susan Rahn, as told to Lauren Evoy Davis I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in August 2013. It was exactly 9 months after a clear mammogram. I didn’t find a lump or even suspect that I had breast…
What Counts as a ‘Low Carb’ Diet and Is It Right for You?
Feb. 7, 2024 — Atkins, keto, the Zone, the paleo diet – it seems like low-carb diets have been around forever, and they’ve only grown in popularity over the years. But despite their renown, it remains unclear what exactly “low…
Yoga May Be Even Healthier Than You Thought. Here’s Why
Feb. 6, 2024 — What if there was an easy way to enhance your brain function, reduce stress, boost your mood, and protect yourself against a host of health conditions — and that anyone can do it, even you? Science…
Lowering Your Risk for Disease
Feb. 6, 2024 — Nutritionists are sounding the alarm on just how much your dietary consumption can affect your risk — or lack thereof — for cancer. A whopping 25% of the 18 million cancer cases in the U.S. could…
Innovations in Treating Vitiligo
By Bassel H. Mahmoud, MD, PhD, as told to Susan Bernstein Vitiligo is mainly an autoimmune disease of the skin that targets pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. This results in patches of depigmentation in the form of chalky white areas on…
Too Exhausted or Busy to Hit the Gym? Check Out These Tips
Feb. 5, 2024 – “Beep — Beep – Beep”: Your alarm clock signals that it’s time to slip on your workout clothes and head to the gym. You’re trying to muster the motivation to get up so your pricey gym…
My Life With This Skin Condition
By Mark Braxton, as told to Kendall Morgan In 1996, I discovered a small white spot on my thumb. It itched. I thought it was a scab or something. I didn’t think too much about it. Then, I started noticing…
Find Others Who Share Your Journey
By Erika Page, as told to Hallie Levine I’ve been living with vitiligo since I was 7 years old. It started as small spots on the back of my spine but quickly spread, first to my knees and elbows, then…
Caring for a Loved One Losing Their Sight
By Linda Chernek Moore, as told to Keri Wiginton Whether you live with someone or not, the role of caregiver can be all-consuming. But like they say before takeoff: Put your oxygen mask on first. In other words, you can’t…
Can Smart Technology Really Improve Your Sleep?
Feb. 2, 2024 – Andisheh Nouraee was having trouble sleeping. “I was waking up a lot at night, so I tried to optimize things in my life to improve sleep,” said Nouraee, who first tried to track his sleep with…
New COVID Vaccine 54% Effective at Preventing Symptoms
Feb. 2, 2024 – If you’re in the minority of Americans who received the most recent COVID-19 vaccination, chances are you’re in the majority not experiencing any COVID symptoms now or in the near future. The CDC announced the first…
Can ‘Soda Taxes’ Improve Our Health?
A new study shows taxes on sugary beverages like soda reduce demand and are likely to improve public health. Soda is the No. 1 source of added sugar in the American diet. Aside from the tooth decay your mother warned…
How I Plan for Specific Tasks With Geographic Atrophy
By Joan Kathryn, as told to Keri Wiginton I’m 79 now, and my doctor diagnosed me with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2008. Over the past 15 years, I’ve developed wet AMD in my left eye and geographic atrophy (GA)…
Treating Geographic Atrophy: What to Consider
By Diane Marshall, as told to Keri Wiginton The choice to get treatment for the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a no-brainer. You have to get shots to save your vision. Fast intervention may even improve your…
Putting the Power of Motherhood in Your Hands
By Christina Orlovsky For many mothers-to-be, pregnancy is a time of excitement and expectation, as they eagerly await the arrival of their newborn. For many more, however, it is also a time of uncertainty, anxiety, and unanswered questions. This is…
Happy Weight vs. Healthy Weight
April Williams remembers when her doctor told her she should weigh 140 to 150 pounds. At the time, she was 326 pounds, her highest weight to date. “I didn’t even weigh that in elementary school, but he still thought that’s…
How Concerned Should We Be?
Jan. 30, 2024 – It may be reassuring to think that serious measles outbreaks are a problem we conquered in the past or something that only affects people over there – like in Europe, which last year reported 42,200 cases….
Can Medicine Integrate Spiritual and Religious Practice?
Traditional Western medicine hasn’t typically concerned itself with spiritual well-being. But that might be changing as a growing body of evidence shows spiritual and religious practice can have profound health effects, especially in regard to mental health. Higher levels of…
How I Got Control Over Chronic Migraine
By Ian Trabuco, as told to Hallie Levine I’ve been living with chronic migraines for 3 years. They began my junior year of high school. The symptoms go well beyond just a headache. When I’m in the full throes of a…
Chronic Migraine: The Future of Treatment
By Merle L. Diamond, MD, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson As a physician and lecturer specializing in headache medicine, I’m always looking for ways to help patients better manage chronic migraine. Chronic migraine means you have more than 15 days…
A Day in the Life
By Katie M. Golden, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson As someone living with chronic migraine, every day is different. There’s no cure for this genetic neurologic disease, but there are things I do to manage my day-to-day life. I’m 40…
The Stigma of Chronic Migraine
By Dawn Buse, PhD, as told to Keri Wiginton Headache disorders, including migraine, consistently rank among the leading causes of disability worldwide, especially for those ages 15-49. That’s a big deal. Yet people often don’t think of migraine as a significant…
Quick-Acting Migraine Medication: What to Know
Fast-acting migraine medication can wipe out a headache. But according to Christopher Gottschalk, MD, director of the Yale Headache & Facial Pain Center, this pain-free possibility often comes as a surprise to many who live with the neurological condition. The…
Post-Breast Cancer Pregnancy Rate Boosted by Egg Freezing: Study
Jan. 23, 2024 – Kasey Vaillancourt and her husband were trying to get pregnant when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36. Her oncologist told her she may not be able to safely carry a pregnancy due to…
Transient Global Amnesia Is an Experience You’ll Never Forget
Illustration by Iris Johnson John Birmingham, a magazine editor, was startled to find his wife, Lola — dressed for work and for a birthday gathering afterward, in a jacket with a large fabric flower — perched on the edge of…
New Study Reveals Why Fats and Sugars Are Irresistible
Jan. 26, 2024 – The cravings feel inevitable and unavoidable – you stand up, walk to the kitchen, open the fridge or pantry, and ponder. Although you remind yourself to consider a piece of fruit or some protein, your eyes…
Multiple Sclerosis in the Workplace: Tips for Women
Multiple sclerosis (MS) often strikes between the ages of 20 and 40 — during your prime working years. And more often than not, the disease affects women. Over 70 percent of women with MS who were surveyed said they feared…
MS: Life Tips for Women
At 27 years old, Julie Stamm was a young woman in the world of finance. All of the exciting young adult milestones lay ahead of her. But with a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the unknown effects of a chronic,…
Why Do DMARDs Take Time to Work for RA?
How long do you need to take a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis before it’s fully effective? It depends on which one you use. But they all take a while, says Eric M. Ruderman, MD, a rheumatologist at…
Stop Using the Medicine Cabinet. Oh, and Now Clean It Out
Jan. 24, 2024 – If old bottles of prescription medicines and over-the-counter pain relievers are gathering dust behind your bathroom mirror, you’re not alone. But it’s important to take stock of what medications you have, what you can get rid…
Home Tests Detect the New COVID Variant, But May Take Longer
Jan. 23, 2024 – You’ve got the symptoms, but your test for COVID-19 isn’t positive. You’re not alone. JN.1, the now-dominant variant that accounts for nearly 86% of all circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains, may take longer to show a positive result on…
Study Shows Loneliness Raises Mortality Rate for Obese People
Jan. 23, 2024 — Loneliness has been known to be a serious health problem, and a new report makes the case that the suffering is worse for people who are obese. “To date, dietary and lifestyle factors are the major…
Menstrual Migraine Tips
If you think migraines timed to your menstrual cycle are just something you have to suffer through month after month, think again. “Menstrual migraine is a common phenomenon and there are very useful treatments to make this a more comfortable…
Neuroticism Isn’t Funny and May Impact Your Health
Jan. 22, 2024 – In the 1979 comedy Manhattan, Mary (played by Diane Keaton) tells Isaac (Woody Allen) to vent his frustrations so they can finally get their feelings out in the open. “I don’t get angry,” Isaac replies. “I grow a tumor…
Diabetes-Friendly Meal Delivery Plans
The question “What’s for dinner?” becomes more complicated when you have diabetes. Along with budget and time, you need to think about how many grams of carbs, fat, and sugar are in a recipe, and what the meal might do…
What I Wish I’d Known
By Kim Lewis, as told to Stephanie Watson As a single mom, I did a lot of juggling. I had an active son and a job at a health and sports facility. I was busy. Making time for doctor appointments…
The Good Bugs
When Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet eating her curds and whey, she may have been doing more than filling her tummy. “Curds” is an old word for yogurt, and evidence is mounting that some of the bacteria contained…
What You Need to Know About Birth Control if You’re Transgender or Nonbinary
No matter where you are on the gender spectrum, you might choose to use birth control if there’s a chance you could get pregnant and you don’t want to. Not all people who are transgender, nonbinary, or gender expansive choose…
Self-Care With Endometriosis
SOURCES: Cara King, DO, director, benign gynecologic surgery; associate program director of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS), Cleveland Clinic. Ken Sinervo, MD, medical director, Center for Endometriosis Care, Atlanta. Patrick Yeung Jr., MD, director, SLUCare Center for Endometriosis; assistant professor,…
Many Respiratory Viruses Peaking in Early 2024
Jan. 19, 2024 – The familiar symptoms are back again – a runny nose, coughing, aches, congestion, and maybe a fever. When the at-home COVID-19 test comes back negative, you head to the doctor to see if they can figure…
Is Havana Syndrome Real? Here’s What History Can Tell Us
Illustration by Iris Johnson By Paul Rogers In 2016, CIA officers in Havana, Cuba, started having unexplained health issues. They reported a persistent piercing sound followed by symptoms including headaches, nausea, vertigo, trouble concentrating, and memory loss. Was it a…
If the COVID Threat Grows Again, How Prepared Are We?
Jan. 18, 2024 – We’ve been through this before. A new COVID-19 variant emerges somewhere in the world, grows in strength, and comes to dominate, bringing with it an increase in hospitalizations and deaths. It’s happening now. But so far,…
How Multiple Sclerosis Affects My Relationships
By Carolyn Deming Glaviano, as told to Alexandra Benisek I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on my birthday. I had some eye pain and went to my optometrist, who then told me I needed to see my ophthalmologist. After being…
Fitting MS Into Your Schedule
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable neurological disease. No two people will have the same exact symptoms. When you have this chronic condition, symptoms can range from mild to severe. You could get problems such as fatigue and weakness, blurry…
Top 10 Ways to Boost Your Energy
Everyone is familiar with all-out energy drain — that exhausted day (or night) when no matter how enticing that new movie, fabulous shoe sale, or friendly barbecue, we just can’t psych ourselves up to go. What can be harder to…
Eight Examples of Why Tik Tok Is Not Great for Health Tips
Jan. 16, 2024 – There is no shortage of reasons why getting health and lifeadvice from TikTok is a bad idea. We’ve scoured the site to present you with a list that might horrify or amuse. But more importantly, it…