Seasonal influenza has shifted early this year, and public health agencies are now tracking a rapidly growing H3N2 lineage called the K-variant flu. The scientific label is influenza A(H3N2) subclade K, but the CDC also uses the genetic name J.2.4.1 for this branch. According to the WHO, they have observed a “recent and rapid rise”...

Sex is one of those subjects everyone has opinions about, but very few honest conversations. Timing, stamina, and expectations come up quietly in people’s minds, often late at night or after an awkward moment. One question keeps returning across ages and relationships: how long should a man last, and most answers floating around come from...

In recent decades, we have come to realize the powerful effect that consuming excess sugar can have on our health. For this reason, non-nutritive sweeteners have blasted onto the scene. From “zero-calorie” soft drinks to diet snack bars and keto-friendly baked goods, alternatives like sucralose, aspartame, stevia, and erythritol have flooded the market. They promise...

“Christmas food comas” are almost a festive tradition. Someone leans back, rubs their stomach, and declares defeat. The phrase sounds dramatic, but for most people, it describes a short-lived crash after overeating. Dr Fuad Jafarov, a gastroenterologist with the ACIBADEM group, says most post-meal bloating and sluggishness come from overindulgence. People eat more, drink more,...

Processed meat is designed for convenience. It is salty, shelf-stable, and engineered to taste strong even after weeks in a fridge. That same processing also changes what ends up in the body. Over time, frequent intake can raise the risk for colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. The goal is not panic or...

The American Medical Association has been sounding alarms about cannabis health risks, and one of the physicians leading that effort is Dr. Michael Suk. As co-chair of the AMA Cannabis Task Force, Dr. Suk has spent the past year educating doctors about the ways cannabis affects the body. One condition the task force wants physicians...

Blood clots help the body stop bleeding after an injury, which is a normal and protective response. However, a clot becomes dangerous when it forms inside a vein or artery without a cut or wound. In these cases, the clot can narrow a blood vessel and slow circulation. It can also block blood flow entirely,...

For decades, the narrative around breast cancer has been clearly defined: it is primarily a disease of older age, something to be vigilant about after age 50. While crucial, this narrative is rapidly being rewritten by unsettling scientific data. A dangerous trend is emerging from clinics and research labs across the world, forcing oncologists and...

Collagen powders, drinks, and gummies promise firm skin and fewer wrinkles, so it is no surprise they fill bathroom shelves and social feeds. People stir the powder into coffee, smoothies, yoghurt bowls, and even water bottles at their desks. Marketing often frames collagen as an effortless shortcut to youthful skin, which sounds tempting during busy...

Morning routines can either ease pressure on your heart or push it harder from the moment you wake up. Blood pressure rises naturally in the early hours, while hormones like cortisol increase. If you already live with hypertension or high cholesterol, the choices you make during this window can raise risk even further. Small shifts...

There are a few health-related things that are generally inevitable as we age. We might move a little slower, require more recovery time between activities, and many of us will eventually need glasses, at least for reading. What has been normalized, but shouldn’t be so normal, is cognitive decline. This is especially when things like...

A U.S. teenager landed in the hospital this January after secretly vaping for 3 years. 17-year-old Brianne Cullen was taken to the hospital after she began to struggle breathing during cheerleading practice. She was diagnosed with “popcorn lung”, also known as bronchiolitis obliterans. The condition is rare; however, it is chronic and irreversible, causing permanent...