High blood pressure and hypertension is far too prevalent in the United States. Nearly half of all American adults have hypertension. Of those people, only one in four have theirs under control. Though it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions if you have high blood pressure, there are foods you can use to help...
Poor circulation is a common problem caused by a number of conditions. Peripheral artery disease (PAD), diabetes, obesity, smoking, and Raynaud’s disease are some of the many causes of poor circulation (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Reduced blood flow can cause unpleasant symptoms, such as pain, muscle cramps, numbness, digestive issues, and coldness in the...
There’s a reason why kids are always more attached to their mums than to their dads. It’s because their cells never really entirely leave their mums’ bodies; some stay back and work several medical wonders, an obstetric phenomenon known as fetomaternal microchimerism. The word microchimerism was derived from the idea that a mother is sort...
In the past, a woman’s body was rarely talked about. Periods and sexuality were seen as taboo topics, which led many women to remain in the dark about their own bodies. Misconceptions like the saber-toothed vagina and periods that were so poisonous that they cause flowers to wilt were believed to be fact, and surprisingly...
A feeling excess of mucus in your throat is a highly unfavorable sensation. A buildup can have you feeling as if something is stuck, and the urge to clear your throat can be both persistent and frustrating. In many cases, an infection in the upper respiratory tract may be the cause, however, conditions like allergies,...
Colds, sneezing, and coughing are never fun. Probably one of the worst parts about getting a cold is the mucus that seems to linger in the throat and chest for seemingly forever afterward. While this usually does eventually clear, it can really disrupt your life. It can lead to persistent coughing, as well as make...
Gut bacteria, also known as the microbiome, refers to the trillions of microscopic organisms that reside in our digestive tract. These organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes, play a crucial role in our overall health and well-being. If these bacteria are out of balance, it can cause illness and disease. These are the...
A healthy vagina smells like a lot of different things — flowers isn’t one of them. Yes, we’ve seen those scented tampons ads too. And it seems to us like all that flowery sunshine is another example of the world getting vaginas all wrong. Just take a quick trip to your local drugstore. You’ll find...
People taking medications to help manage type 2 diabetes should talk to their doctor about their risk of a rare genital infection that has been linked to a certain class of diabetes medications. A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, led by doctor Susan J. Bersoff-Matcha, Christine Chamberlain, PharmD, CDE, and others...
Kids are cute, but kids are stressful! Whether you’re a parent, educator, caregiver or even camp counselor, you are no stranger to the stresses of taking care of children. Even though this stress is shared by people around the world, for some weird reason, they still find themselves comparing who is more stressed or who...
Professionals sometimes refer to our gut as the “second brain” of our bodies. Beyond just the physical sensations we have when trying to make a decision (aka the “gut feeling”), our gut has a large influence on our overall mental and physical well-being. But what exactly is our “gut” and how do we improve our...
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects women of reproductive age, resulting is disrupted menstrual cycles that can be either prolonged or infrequent. This is due to the growth of follicles on the ovaries which results in irregular release of eggs. PCOS is believed to be caused by endocrine dysfunction that causes an imbalance of sex hormones....
