Stress symptoms are rising, and loneliness may be why
Stress symptoms often show up in the body before the mind admits anything is wrong. The most common physical signs are headaches, tight or aching muscles, an upset stomach, fatigue, trouble sleeping, a racing heart, jaw clenching, skin flare ups, appetite changes and catching every cold that comes around, according to Mayo Clinic and doctors […]
Heart health tips that hit different for Black families
The lifestyle changes that do the most for heart health are simple. Quit smoking, eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains while cutting salt, get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, sleep seven to nine hours, manage stress and drink less alcohol. Doctors at UC Davis Health and Kaiser Permanente point to […]
Liver damage signs Black adults can’t afford to miss
What are the signs of liver damage? Early on, there often aren’t any. The liver can lose a lot of function before it shows obvious symptoms, and much liver damage goes unnoticed until it reaches cirrhosis. When signs do appear, the most common are fatigue that won’t go away, yellowing of the eyes or skin, […]
Bone density loss starts earlier than most women think and these 7 signs prove it
Most people associate bone loss with old age, but the reality is considerably more unsettling. Bones typically reach their peak density around age 35, and from that point forward the process of losing mass can begin, sometimes as early as a person’s 40s. For women, the transition through menopause accelerates that decline significantly, with some […]
7 hidden causes of chronic congestion that most people never think to check
If your congestion seems to stick around long after cold and flu season has passed and antihistamines are making little difference, your body may be pointing to something deeper. Chronic stuffiness that does not respond to the usual remedies is more common than most people realize, and the causes range from what you are eating […]
3 tiny habit shifts could protect your heart in a surprisingly big way
It does not take a complete lifestyle overhaul to start protecting your heart. Researchers from the University of Sydney have found that three modest daily adjustments, when made together, are associated with a meaningful reduction in the risk of serious cardiovascular events including heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. The study, which tracked more than […]
4 serious body mass index limitations that every patient should understand
Body mass index is the health metric that has been doing the most work in clinical medicine for the longest time with the least justification for that level of trust. Developed by Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetelet in the 1830s as a statistical tool for describing population distributions, it was never designed as a clinical diagnostic […]
Medicare open enrollment. Why AI may hide your best plan
Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, and the choices you make generally apply to your 2027 coverage. More people are turning to AI chatbots to sort through the options, but a new test suggests the exact words you type can change what you see. In a two-month experiment, a Medicare data researcher […]
Self-medicating and the mental health care gap in Black America
Self-medicating means using alcohol, drugs or other substances on your own to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma or stress, without a doctor’s guidance. It can feel like relief in the moment. Over time, it tends to make mental health symptoms worse and can lead to dependence, addiction and dangerous withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal, for example, can […]
GLP-1 pills could shake up your drive thru next
GLP-1 drugs aren’t stopping Americans from eating out, but they are changing what ends up on the tray. People taking medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro order fewer items, skip more sides and bread and look for protein, according to market research firm Circana. A Gallup poll in July found that 11% to 12% of […]