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Dr. Small: Feel Younger, Live Longer
We've all heard the saying, "You're as young as you feel." Now, research suggests that this may actually be true. Dr. Gary Small, brain health expert and chair of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, says studies show that people who feel younger...
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This Common Habit Can Lower Immunity
In your quest to ward off colds, the flu, and COVID this fall you may be doing more harm than good, experts warn. While using hand sanitizers protects against germs, frequent use of alcohol-based sanitizers can strip away natural skin oils - killing not just harmful...
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Colleges Welcoming Pets in Dorms to Ease Anxiety
Crossing paths with dogs, cats and other animals is part of campus life for students at Eckerd College, a liberal arts school in Florida that allows pets to live in dormitories. Sophie Nocera, an Eckerd senior, said she probably knows the names of pets better than her fellow...
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Mindset Shift Protects Against Depression, Stress
Struggling to cope with today's catastrophe-filled world? Changing your mindset can help protect you from the stress caused by disease outbreaks, wildfires, earthquakes, political uproars and traumatic life events, researchers say. People given a one-hour class in shifting...
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MRI Shows Talk Therapy Alters Brain Structure
Talk therapy has the power to alter a person's physical brain structure, a new study shows. Psychotherapy caused measurable changes in the brains of people with severe depression, MRI scans revealed. Specifically, most patients experienced growth in brain regions responsible...
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Hydrate to Beat Stress
Even mild dehydration can make stress worse, according to surprising new research. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that drinking less than 1.5 liters of water daily significantly raised cortisol levels - the body's main stress hormone - during...
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Mediterranean Diet Lowers Type 2 Diabetes Risk
A Mediterranean-style diet can significantly decrease risk of Type 2 diabetes in people who are overweight or obese, a new study says. People had 31% lower odds of diabetes if they adhered to a Mediterranean diet, cut their calories and exercised regularly, researchers...
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When to Worry About a Nosebleed
Everyone gets a nosebleed at some point, and most stop within minutes. But in rare cases, they can signal a serious health emergency. A nosebleed, or epistaxis, happens when the tiny blood vessels inside your nose rupture. Common triggers include: Dry...
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Most Pain Patients Quit Medical Weed Within a Year
More than half of people prescribed medical weed for chronic muscle or joint pain quit using it within a year, a new small-scale study says. About 58% of a group of 78 Pennsylvania patients certified for medical cannabis decided to discontinue treatment within a year,...
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Chronic Pain Linked to Vitamin, Mineral Deficiencies
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain, and new research suggests that the cause may be hiding in their diets. A study from The University of Arizona Health Sciences found that deficiencies in key vitamins and minerals - including vitamin D, B12, folate, and...
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5 Habits That Can Make You Happier
We all want more happiness in our lives - and according to new research, it may be more within our control than we think. A survey by researchers at Northern Illinois University found that happiness is not determined by outside circumstances but can be cultivated through...
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Dr. Small: Alzheimer's Disease Can Be Delayed
More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and that number is projected to nearly double by 2051, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Older Americans are more fearful of developing this memory-robbing disease than any other condition, including...
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Omega-3s May Protect Against Nearsightedness
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have a variety of potential health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease, dementia and some forms of cancer. Now, new findings indicate omega-3s might help ward off the development of nearsightedness (myopia) in children,...
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Safest, Most Effective Way to Clean Your Phone
Your phone may be one of the dirtiest things you own. Studies show it can harbor thousands of germs, making regular cleaning essential. The good news is if you follow some simple expert advice, disinfecting your device can be done quickly, easily and safely. What the...
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Study: Volunteering Slows Brain Aging
Want to keep your brain healthy as you age? Regularly volunteer some of your time to your community, neighborhood, friends or family, a new study suggests. People who regularly lend a hand slow their rate of aging-related brain decline by 15% to 20%, researchers report in the...
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Dr. Crandall: Vitamin D More Critical Than You Think
You probably need more vitamin D - even if you live in sunny Florida. Vitamin D, often called the "sunshine vitamin," is vital for bone health, immunity, heart health, and overall wellness. While we can get it from sunlight, egg yolks, and certain fortified foods, many...
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Dr. Small: Change Your Personality in 30 Days
For decades, psychiatrists believed personality was set in stone from childhood - fixed for life. But new research is turning that idea on its head. "The recent science is pretty compelling that we can make meaningful change to our personality," says Dr. Gary Small, brain...
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How to Get Kids Back on a School Sleep Schedule
After a summer of vacations and late nights, it's time to set those back-to-school alarms. A good night's sleep helps students stay focused and attentive in class. Experts say it's worth easing kids back into a routine with the start of a new school year. "We don't say ' get...
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How to Manage the 'Summer Slump'
The hot, humid days of summer are not letting up. And even in August, many people find themselves experiencing an unexpected dip in energy, focus, and enthusiasm. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as the "summer slump," affects children, teens, and adults alike. Whether...
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Slight Changes in Walking Stride Ease Knee Pain
Slightly altering your stride while walking could considerably ease pain caused by wear-and-tear knee arthritis, a new study says. Foot positioning while walking can reduce stress on a person's knee joint, researchers reported Aug. 12 in The Lancet Rheumatology. People...
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Using an Air Purifier Lowers Blood Pressure
Folks fighting high blood pressure might receive some help from a household air purifier, a new study says.Even in areas with relatively low air pollution levels, using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier at home might significantly lower a person's blood...
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Study: Conch Blowing Effective Against Sleep Apnea
Want to ease your sleep apnea and get a better night's sleep? Blow through a conch shell, a new pilot clinical trial says. Regularly blowing through a conch shell (shankh) for six months, like Disney princess Moana or Anchorman legend Ron Burgundy, significantly improved...
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Dr. Small: Practical Tools to Ease Anxiety
Amid the pressures of work, family, finances, and an unrelenting news cycle, anxiety has become a constant companion for many Americans. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 19% of U.S. adults currently suffer from an anxiety disorder. Editor's...
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Healthy Lifestyle Changes After 60 Preserve Cognition
Two years' involvement in programs focused on healthy eating, regular exercise and "brain training" exercises appears to have helped a wide range of older adults - even those at heightened risk for Alzheimer's - avoid cognitive decline, a new study finds. The findings,...
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Why Just Thinking About Bugs Makes You Itchy
It begins as a friend is telling you a story about spiders in her attic or a mosquito buzzes by near your ear. Before you know it, an invisible itch blossoms somewhere on your skin, compelling you to scratch. But why does simply thinking about bugs seem to conjure real,...