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Heartburn Might Signal a Drinking Problem
Frequent heartburn might be a sign that you have a drinking problem, a new study says. Patients had an 18% higher risk of diagnosis with alcohol use disorder if they suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also called acid reflux or heartburn, researchers...
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Dr. Crandall: What to Learn From Kim Kardashian's Aneurysm
When Kim Kardashian revealed she has a "little aneurysm," the news immediately drew attention to a condition that, while rare, can be serious and even deadly. The reality star attributed her diagnosis to stress, prompting many to wonder: how common are brain aneurysms, and...
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Study: Warm Foods Ease Anxiety, Improve Sleep
Feeling anxious or having trouble sleeping? A bowl of hot soup or a cup of tea may do more than warm you up - it could help calm your mind. A 2025 study from San Diego State University found that consuming cold foods and drinks in summer was linked to higher levels of...
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What You Should Know About Brain Aneurysms
Reality TV star, actress and mom Kim Kardashian, 45, disclosed in the season premiere of "The Kardashians" that a small aneurysm was detected in her brain. An aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel wall weakens and stretches, creating a balloon or bubble. While aneurysms can...
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Fitness Apps Undermine Motivation for Some
Fitness and calorie counting apps are meant to boost people's spirits, helping them become healthier by tracking their progress. But many find them to be a complete downer and an utter detriment, a new study says. Some experience a sense of shame, disappointment, frustration...
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Do This Now to Prepare for the Time Change
With autumn officially here, another change is on the horizon - the end of daylight saving time. The U.S. will "fall back" next weekend, on Sunday, November 2 at 2 a.m. Despite calls to eliminate the practice, daylight saving time remains in effect across most of the...
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Gum Disease May Raise Stroke, Brain Damage Risk
If you need another reason to brush and floss, here it is: Research suggests keeping your mouth healthy might also protect your brain and heart. Two new studies published Oct. 22 in Neurology Open Access linked gum disease and cavities to a higher risk of stroke and brain...
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Dr. Small: Chatbot Psychotherapy on the Rise
A growing number of Americans are turning to artificial intelligence for mental health support - and many say it's helping. A 2024 survey found that 28% of people have used AI as a personal therapist, signaling a major shift in how we approach emotional well-being. But can...
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Antidepressants Linked to Weight, Heart Changes
Antidepressants are widely used to treat depression and anxiety, but a new study finds that some of these medications can cause noticeable changes in weight, heart rate and cholesterol levels. The study, published Tuesday in The Lancet, analyzed data from more than 58,000...
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Doctors Overlooking a Common Symptom of Autism
Doctors aren't checking for or treating a common symptom of autism, a new study says. As many as 87% of autistic children have movement impairments like delays in crawling or walking, poor coordination, trouble with balance, abnormal walking patterns and problems with fine...
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What to Do When 'Sunset Anxiety' Strikes
As the days grow shorter and the sun sets earlier, you may notice yourself feeling anxious, irritable, or down. You're not imagining it - "sunset anxiety" is a real phenomenon that affects many people this time of year. Sunset anxiety refers to the unease, nervousness, or...
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Diabetes Drugs May Counter Early Alzheimer's Decline
Two widely available diabetes medications appear to safely improve brain health among people with early brain decline. The diabetes drug empagliflozin (Jardiance) and an insulin nasal spray both showed promising effects on memory, brain health and blood flow to the brain,...
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Music May Help Ease Pain from Surgery, Illness
Nurse Rod Salaysay works with all kinds of instruments in the hospital: a thermometer, a stethoscope and sometimes his guitar and ukulele. In the recovery unit of UC San Diego Health, Salaysay helps patients manage pain after surgery. Along with medications, he offers tunes...
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Shingles Vax Lowers Risk for Heart Disease, Dementia
The shingles vaccine does more than just protect middle-aged folks and seniors against maddening rashes, a new study says. The vaccine also lowers their risk of heart disease, dementia and death, researchers reported in Atlanta Sunday at IDWeek, the joint annual meeting of...
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Breathe Your Way to Calm
When stress and anxiety hit, many of us instinctively hold our breath and tense up. But experts say the key to calming your body and mind is to do the opposite: breathe slowly and evenly. A technique called "resonance breathing" can help bring your nervous system back into...
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How GLP-1 Drugs Might Reduce Alcohol Cravings
Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound appear to reduce alcohol cravings, but doctors have been at a loss to explain why - until now. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs appear to slow the speed at which alcohol enters the bloodstream, which also diminishes its...
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Dr. Small: Mind-Body Strategies Ease Chronic Pain
Billions of people around the world live with chronic pain - and a staggering 40% of them also experience depression and anxiety. "People usually assume that pain is a purely physical phenomenon," said Dr. Gary Small, a brain health expert and chair of psychiatry at the...
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Living Alone May Be Toxic to the Brain
A new study on rats conducted by researchers at the University of Florida and Providence College found that living alone acted like a toxin in their aging brains, speeding up cognitive decline. The study involved 19 rats divided into two groups and tracked over 26 months -...
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Walking Backward Adds Physical, Mental Benefits
Here's a simple way to switch up your walking routine: try walking backward. Taking a brisk walk is an exercise rich in simplicity, and it can have impressive mental and physical benefits: stronger bones and muscles, cardiovascular fitness and stress relief, to name a few....
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FDA Approves Roche, Lilly Blood Test for Alzheimer's
Roche Diagnostics said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared its and partner Eli Lilly's blood test as an aid in the initial assessment for Alzheimer's disease. This comes at the heel of FDA's nod for Fujirebio Diagnostics' blood test Lumipulse in May, the...
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This Supplement May Lower Stress, Anxiety
Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine rooted in Indian principles of natural healing. This ancient herb, also known as Indian ginseng, has been used for thousands of years and is now making a popular comeback in modern...
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COVID Changes Mice Sperm, Raises Offspring Anxiety
COVID-19 infection causes changes to sperm in mice that may increase anxiety in their offspring, a study released Saturday said, suggesting the pandemic's possibly long-lasting effects on future generations. Researchers at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental...
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Practice This Simple Skill to Boosts Longevity
A new study has revealed that verbal fluency may play a surprising role in longevity. By improving your verbal skills, you may also improve your lifespan. Verbal fluency refers to the ability to quickly and efficiently produce words in response to a specific prompt or...
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Virtual Reality Safely Mimics Psychedelic Drugs
A new study suggests that virtual reality (VR) experiences designed to mimic psychedelic visual effects could safely boost creativity and flexibility in thinking - without the use of drugs. Researchers from Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan found that...
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Inspirational Videos Rival Meditation to Ease Stress
YouTube or TikTok might offer a solid alternative to meditation when it comes to stress relief. People's stress dropped about as much from watching a short inspirational video as it did through guided meditation, researchers reported in the journal Psychology of Popular...