Many older adults in the United States continue to take daily aspirin in hopes of reducing cardiovascular disease risk, despite updated guidelines advising against it for most people. This practice, while once widely recommended, now comes with significant risks and is advised only for certain high-risk patients.1 Cardiovascular Benefits and Risks of Aspirin Aspirin is...

Antidepressants are prescription medicines for depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other mental health conditions. There are different kinds of antidepressants, although the most common are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Generally, antidepressants can effectively treat mental health conditions by affecting neurotransmitters involved with serotonin and norepinephrine to better regulate mood and behavior. Of course, each...

Atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema, is a condition that makes your skin red and itchy. It tends to be chronic, and long-lasting, and flare-ups will occur periodically, sometimes accompanied by asthma or hay fever [1]. Over 31 million people in the United States suffer from irritating skin conditions, and one in ten people...

Periodontal disease (also known as gum disease) occurs when the gums and bone around your teeth become infected and inflamed. According to the CDC, 47.2 percent of adults in the United States over the age of thirty have some form of periodontal disease. This increases with age, and more than seventy percent of US adults over...

After she had been feeling a severe burning sensation in her legs for two days, a 24-year-old woman went to an outpatient clinic. The feeling was traveling from her toes to the middle of her thighs. Her feet had begun to discolor, and she was having difficulty walking. The doctors who examined her noticed that...

What’s the first thing you do in the morning? If it’s drinking a coffee, you’re not alone. For many of us, asking us to get anything accomplished before that first cup of joe is nearly impossible. This is especially true after a night of poor sleep. While that morning dose of caffeine may help you...

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in America, second only to heart disease [1]. Advancements in technology and years of research into the disease and all its various forms have made early detection much more possible, however, it is still important as an individual to watch out for changes in your body that...

Over the last decade, coconut oil has become a common household product. It initially burst onto the health food scene in 2011 with promises that it would boost your immune system and help with weight loss, and enjoyed continued popularity until 2015 [1]. However, its stardom began to falter after questions were raised about its...

Ginger has been a long-standing member of the “superfoods” club. Its anti-inflammatory, immune-supporting properties have made it a staple in the kitchens of many health-conscious individuals, and the potent spice is a common ingredient in many Asian dishes. While it can be incorporated into many recipes, one of the easiest ways to capitalize on the...

Every year, cancer remains on the list of top causes of death for humans around the world. For this reason, scientists are still searching for solutions. In 2021, researchers discovered that a certain type of collagen seems to prevent dormant cancer cells from becoming active. This could change how we treat cancer in the future....

Cold and allergy seasons bring their own set of challenges, especially for people with high blood pressure. It’s essential to understand the potential interactions between decongestants and medications to avoid exacerbating hypertension or compromising the effectiveness of prescribed treatments. Understanding the Risks Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, naphazoline, and oxymetazoline can increase blood pressure...

When most women think of “the big change”, our minds go straight to menopause. But there’s another huge hormone shift that happens up to 10 years before menopause, and it can be unsettling for women in their 40’s (to say the least) because it’s not very widely discussed. Mother and author, Aileen Wentraub, puts it this way: “As...