Health in a Heartbeat

You might want to put down the steak knife once in a while: People who eat larger quantities of red meat are at greater risk of dying from one of nine diseases. That’s the upshot of a study published recently in the journal BMJ.  After studying responses from more than 500,000 people, researchers from the […]

Dog’s status as man’s best friend may begin before the human half of that duo is even born. When there’s a furry pet in the home during a woman’s pregnancy, and especially when a dog or cat is present after the baby is born, the child has more diverse gut bacteria that can protect against […]

Medical marijuana could be saving U.S. taxpayers major bucks when it comes to Medicaid expenses. That’s according to a new study released on HealthAffairs.org. As of December, 28 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana. Two researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study analyzing the impact of these […]

You’re craving your favorite cookies as you browse the aisle at the local grocery store. To your delight, you find a low-fat version. Should you pile a few boxes in your cart and head home with what you believe is a healthier version of your favorite treat? Maybe not, says a team of researchers from […]

The number of people who die from a drug overdose or opioid usecontinues to rise in the U.S. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day 91 Americans die from an opioid overdose. But results from a new study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology suggest a naturally occurring […]

For some people, feeling good after a workout doesn’t have to include a painful or exhausting routine. If you lead a sedentary life, even light physical activity can produce benefits, researchers at the University of Connecticut have found. They studied the habits of more than 400 middle-aged adults and tracked their activities for four days. […]

Ketamine, a drug used as an anesthetic and pain reliever in hospitals and also taken illegally as a recreational hallucinogenic, has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression faster than some existing antidepressants. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects an estimated 350 million people globally, making it one of the most common […]

As if losing your job isn’t stressful enough, a new study shows it could also greatly increase your risk of having a fatal stroke. Researchers at Osaka University in Japan studied over 40,000 workers, men and women ages 40 to 59, for more than 15 years. They found men who lost their jobs had a […]

For many of us, a cup of coffee is part of a morning ritual to shake off sleepiness or as a pick-me-up during a late-afternoon slump. But can it help decrease a man’s risk of getting prostate cancer? A study conducted by a group of Italian researchers suggests that might be so. The study involved […]

First came smartphones, then smart TVs, smart cars and even smart refrigerators. With tablets and watches joining cell phones as communication tools, it’s easy to be connected 24/7. The digital age just keeps getting more amazing. Health care is no exception. In what may be an indication of things to come, the Food and Drug […]

Grandparents often play a vital role in their grandchildren’s lives. But according to new research, having been a parent doesn’t necessarily make them experts when it comes to children’s health issues. A study by the Northwell Health network in New York showed certain parenting practices have evolved since the grandparents were younger. For example, 44 […]

Gluten-free is a term you’ve likely heard but may not fully understand. Gluten-free foods are rampant in grocery stores and on restaurant menus. But what does the term mean? Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It damages the small intestine of people who have celiac disease, a rare autoimmune disorder affecting […]

A bad diet can bring with it a host of ills, including heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. Now a new kind of pharmacy operated by Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania is offering a different kind of prescription to help people with these conditions: It prescribes fresh food to patients and offers a meeting […]

Summertime is here, and Americans are reaching for something to beat the heat and quench their thirst. Years of warnings about possible negative health effects from sugary drinks have led millions to opt for diet sodas as a way to have a refreshing, cold drink without the guilt. But a new study has shown a […]

Once people are told by a health care provider they have high cholesterol, most seem to understand they need to manage their condition. But many are not at all sure how to do it. Also, there is a disconnect between people’s perceptions about cholesterol and the significant impact it can have on their health. These […]