After your cancer diagnosis, you put your chin down and plowed through the task at hand — beating it. But you didn’t necessarily expect to be smacked with another huge challenge soon after: survivor’s guilt. This psychological phenomenon, which includes strong, persistent feelings of sadness and remorse, is an unwelcome intrusion at the end of […]
Is sugar unhealthy?
It depends on the amount and the food source. Sugar has a complex relationship with health. On one hand, many healthy whole foods contain natural sugar. But the greater concern is the abundance of refined sugar often added to processed foods. “Sugar is a carbohydrate that provides the body with energy, so it has an […]
Beyond hot flashes
Falling estrogen and rising inflammation can fuel a surprising array of menopause symptoms, We’re told what to expect when we’re expecting — but not so much at midlife, when we might not expect to inhabit a body that no longer feels quite like our own. Yet that’s exactly what happens to a startling number of […]
Women more likely than men to show atypical stroke symptoms
Research we’re watching Women are more likely than men to have stroke symptoms such as confusion and weakness in addition to “classic” signs such as movement and speech problems, a new analysis suggests. The study, published online April 12, 2022, by the International Journal of Stroke , looked at data on nearly 37,000 people diagnosed […]
Even a little socializing is linked to longevity
Among its many health benefits, socializing is tied to reduced risks of early death. But how much socializing might it take to live longer? Maybe just a little, suggests a large Chinese study published online March 6, 2023, by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health . Scientists evaluated the health, lifestyle habits, and self-reported […]
Fighting the most common skin cancers
Heading outside on a sunny day is a bit like going into battle. To protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, you’ll need armor (sunscreen or sunblock, and sun-protective clothing), tactical strategy (avoiding peak sun hours), and a place to retreat (the shade) — especially during the summer months, when UV intensity is highest. […]
Battling a “brain storm”
Official statistics indicate nearly 40 million Americans cope with migraines — throbbing headaches so disruptive that those stricken often retreat to a dark, quiet room. But the real numbers affected by this “brain storm” are likely about 50% higher, Harvard experts say, meaning tens of millions haven’t formally been diagnosed and aren’t benefiting from ever-improving […]
How high a fever is too high?
Ask the doctors Q. Everyone gets a fever sometimes, but at what point does an elevated temperature warrant medical attention? A. It’s true that fevers are incredibly common, and COVID-19 certainly brought its share of thermometer-raising days to those infected. As with COVID, fever — defined as a temperature of 100.4° F or higher — […]
IBS in the crosshairs
Up to 45 million Americans have a condition that people affected may only reluctantly mention: irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. Despite its prevalence, IBS is still somewhat mysterious when it comes to who gets it — two-thirds of patients are women — and why. But scientists are steadily peeling this proverbial onion, with newer treatment […]
National task force updates recommendations on hormone therapy after menopause
Updated national guidelines on hormone therapy after menopause recommend that women use it only to relieve menopause-related symptoms, not to prevent chronic conditions that become likelier as women’s hormone levels drop after menopause. The latest guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, published Nov. 1, 2022, in JAMA , recommend against the use of […]