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The vagus nerve, which carries information between the brain and heart, lungs and other organs, might regulate the activity of a tiny brain region called the locus coeruleus. Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

Vagus nerve stimulation shows promise as a way to counter Alzheimer’s disease- and age-related memory loss

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Most people think of Alzheimer’s disease as an illness of aging. But in fact, the brain changes that characterize it begin much earlier – sometime around the third decade of life.

In the earliest of these changes, a tangled version of a protein called tau starts building up in a tiny region deep in the brain involved in sleep, ...Read more

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North America/TNS

Editorial: What's essential: Hochul must reduce the pain with Essential Plan changes

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that she had no choice from a hostile federal government and had to change the state’s Essential Plan health coverage and thus potentially remove nearly a half-million New Yorkers from this zero-premium plan. The request to alter the program received preliminary approval from Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers ...Read more

John Galvin/John Galvin/TNS

Rising health costs push some middle-aged adults to skip the doc until Medicare

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

John Galvin knows he needs a colonoscopy. But he’s waiting to schedule the procedure until December, when he turns 65 and qualifies for Medicare.

He was already thinking about delaying it — then his monthly Obamacare insurance premium payment tripled this year to $2,460, about a third of his income, he said. And with a $2,700 deductible, he...Read more

Blake Farmer/Nashville Public Radio/TNS

Even with dental insurance, you still could face a large bill

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Russell Anthony made eight trips to the dentist last year. The 65-year-old retiree in Nashville, Tennessee, hopes to go less often in 2026, but he’s already made a few visits.

“I had a root canal just last week that was like $500,” he said. “The week before that, I had a crown that cost me several hundred dollars. And as we speak, I ...Read more

Hamilton County Quick Response Team/Hamilton County Quick Response Team/TNS

Drop in opioid overdose deaths nears 50% since 2023

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Since their peak less than three years ago, opioid overdose deaths dropped nearly by half as of October, according to a Stateline analysis. The drop comes as a shrinking fentanyl supply has made the drug weaker and less deadly and volunteer efforts get more people into treatment.

The weaker fentanyl tracks to a crackdown on materials used to ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Understanding myeloma treatment

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've been diagnosed with myeloma. What can I expect going forward?

ANSWER: Myeloma is a cancer that affects specialized antibody-producing cells called plasma cells. Over your lifetime, your body produces hundreds of thousands of different types of plasma cells that protect you from a broad range of bacteria ...Read more

Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

COVID in Florida 6 years later: Another new variant, milder infections, fewer deaths and vaccines

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Six years ago this month, Florida schools and beaches closed, cruise ships reported their first COVID outbreaks, and shoppers scrambled to get whatever toilet paper remained on the shelves.

Almost overnight, the COVID lockdown went into effect, triggering isolation of the elderly, drive-through testing sites and social...Read more

Cosmetic Results Of Surgery For A Fatty Tumor Can Vary Greatly

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with a large fatty tumor on my left thigh. It's very ugly. What can I do to get rid of it? -- V.O.P.

ANSWER: Lipomas are common fatty tumors that may occur on the trunk or the limbs. The vast majority are benign, but very large tumors can possibly be liposarcomas. So, an ultrasound or MRI prior to treatment ...Read more

Slashing your cancer risk

Around 40% of Americans develop cancer. But there's a lot you can do to reduce your risk. Some smart moves seem obvious: Wear sunscreen daily. Don't smoke or hang around folks who do. Don't drink too much alcohol (or any). Avoid red meats and foods laced with toxins, preservatives and sugars.

But here are some equally powerful, lesser-known ...Read more

Sean Rayford/Getty Images North America/TNS

Measles outbreak in Michigan's Washtenaw County has grown to 7 cases, officials say

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DETROIT — A measles outbreak in Washtenaw County has grown to seven cases, health officials confirmed Wednesday.

The Washtenaw County Health Department on Wednesday confirmed the seventh case of measles in the county was contracted by an unvaccinated child who is a close contact of the first case on March 11.

"Unfortunately, this most recent...Read more

Across cultures, languages and economic systems, feeling connected to the natural world is consistently linked to living a more hopeful, purposeful and resilient life.  nymphoenix/iStock via Getty Images Plus

A connection to nature fuels well-being worldwide, according to a study of 38,000 people

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

When life feels overwhelming, many people instinctively turn to nature. A walk in a park. Sitting by the ocean. Watching a sunset. Is this just a pleasant feeling, or is there something deeper at work?

A multitude of studies have linked spending time in nature with different aspects of mental health and wellness. For example, ...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Macronutrients are important when it comes to a healthy diet

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Q: What percentage of my diet should come from each macronutrient?

A: Macronutrients — carbohydrates, proteins and fats — are the building blocks of a healthy diet. The right balance can improve energy and support muscle growth, as well as overall wellness.

Health experts recommend the following daily macronutrient distribution for adults ...Read more

Think sugar is the worst for your teeth? These 5 popular foods are just as bad

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

When we snack on delicious foods like candy and popcorn, we don’t always realize what happens once they enter our bodies. However, problems occur when these foods begin negatively affecting our health, specifically, our teeth. “Food plays a major role in oral health, often more than most people realize,” says dentist Sandip Sachar, DDS. �...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Men’s health: Why am I leaking urine?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: This is kind of embarrassing, but, for a while, I’ve been leaking urine. Can something be done to fix this problem?

ANSWER: You don’t have to live with this issue. The three main types of urinary incontinence are:

Incontinence can be treated with behavioral changes, exercises, medications, nerve stimulation and injections...Read more

Is it safe to dermaplane my face?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Q: I’ve got a lot of peach fuzz on my face, which makes me self-conscious. My friend told me I should try dermaplaning. But is it safe?

A: Dermaplaning has gained popularity as various “influencers” tout it on social media. While a variety of at-home gadgets are now available to perform it, all of them are essentially shaving the face. If...Read more

Lasting Pain

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

Generally speaking, chronic pain lasts longer for women than it does for men. New research suggests differences in hormone-regulated immune cells called monocytes may explain why.

Some monocytes release a molecule that switches off pain. These cells are more active in males due to higher levels of sex hormones such as testosterone; they are ...Read more

Dusan Zidar/Dreamstime/TNS

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Sports injury prevention strategies that boost performance

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: For the past several years, I've been competing in half-marathons. This year, I've decided to challenge myself and enter full marathons. What recommendations do you have for preventing sports injuries as I go to this next level?

ANSWER: Congratulations on continuing to stretch your goals — and for thinking about preventing ...Read more

Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images North America/TNS

Lawmakers seek to protect crisis pregnancy centers as abortion clinic numbers shrink

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Conservative lawmakers in multiple states are pushing legislation drafted by an anti-abortion advocacy group to increase protections for crisis pregnancy centers, organizations that provide some health-related services but also work to dissuade women from having abortions.

The legislation would prohibit state and local governments from ...Read more

Skypixel/Dreamstime/TNS

Psychiatrists' use of biomarkers could open a new window into mental health diagnoses

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Amanda Miller was 30 and pregnant with her second child in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when she developed depression. After she gave birth, her depression worsened. It was joined by a slew of unexplained health problems.

Miller, a neuroscientist, said she saw several psychiatrists and got prescriptions for drug after drug. Over two years, she tried ...Read more

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Commentary: Being insured in America is not the same as having access to care

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

In April 2022, my mother-in-law, Karla, went for a routine physical therapy visit for carpal tunnel pain. The clinic was full and nearly turned her away. Only after she insisted that something felt wrong did a therapist send her to the emergency room.

A CT scan revealed a mass in her brain.

Karla was 50 years old. She was a first-generation ...Read more

 

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