When most people think of influenza, they imagine a few days of fever, body aches and bed rest. Flu is often regarded as a threat to the very old, the very young or those with compromised immune systems. The rest of us are reassured we'll recover quickly. After all, 'it's just the flu'. Seasonal influenza doesn't appear in the top ten causes of death in the United States. During the 2023-24 flu season, there were an estimated 28,000 flu-related deaths.
Each step dumps impact equivalent to several times your body weight straight through your feet. Small problem: feet weren't designed for concrete. They evolved for dirt, grass, and uneven natural surfaces that absorb some shock. Pavement absorbs nothing. Your feet handle everything. That stabbing pain in your heel the next morning? Plantar fascia-the ligament running along your arch-got inflamed from repetitive pounding. Takes about 15,000 steps before it starts protesting. You went 10,000 past that point.
when my cardiologist friend-the one who runs marathons and tracks his heart rate variability like it's the stock market-turned to me and said, "You know who's going to live longest? You." I laughed. Actually laughed. "Seth, you're literally the picture of health. You've got perfect labs. You eat salmon and blueberries. I had wine for breakfast." (Kidding. Mostly.) He looked at me with that doctor face, the one that means he's about to tell you something that matters.
For years, researchers have suspected that excess sugar in food and drinks can cause depression. One reason it was suspected was because people with diabetes have an increased incidence of depression that is beyond what would be expected only from the challenges of dealing with a chronic illness. Having diabetes is associated with two to three times the rate of depression compared to the general population.
Magnesium may not get the hype of iron or protein, but it's what keeps your muscles from locking, your heart from racing, and your nerves from short-circuiting. It's a mineral that steadies the current. Most people are low on it, especially those who drink coffee, live on stress, or sweat a lot. But, most foods rich in magnesium tend to be a little bland - nuts, grains and seeds - and in different hues of beige. Tart cherries, though, are the vibrant outlier.
For people living with diabetes, caring for their gums can be just as important as managing blood sugar. Research has shown that there is a two-way relationship between periodontal disease - more commonly known as gum disease - and diabetes. People with periodontitis have a higher risk of diabetes, and patients with diabetes are three times more likely to develop periodontal disease.
The Mediterranean diet - long known to fight off cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer - can also protect your gum health and ward off inflammation, scientists have found. A new study, published in the Journal of Periodontology, revealed that the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and olive oil, can slash your risk of gum disease and inflammation by up to 65 per cent.
I love investigating and debunking things that are trending on social media. As a former Scientific American intern, Youmshajekian has an affinity for reporting stories on consumer health that pique her personal curiosity: I think you ask better questions when you're in the shoes of your reader because you want the same questions answered. You want to get to the bottom of things.
Some people seem to understand they are dying a few months or weeks before death through an intuitive sense, even without discussing it. This is particularly remarkable in patients with severe illnesses, such as cancer, or following a major myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, as well as in older individuals. Studies in hospitals have shown that more than 80 percent of cancer patients who died were aware of their terminal condition.
When the lungs are attacked by a virus, the damage doesn't stop there. The body's natural defenses cause inflammation while fighting the virus, often leaving lasting problems. The cells that make up the lungs' mucosal lining are exposed to the environment with every breath - both highlighting the risk of infection and emphasizing the need for a robust response. In a paper published recently in Science,
