Category: Health

May 16, 2024 – Multiple U.S. agencies are working to contain the recent bird flu outbreak among cattle to prevent further spread to humans (beyond one case reported in early April) and use what we learned before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic to keep farm workers and the general public safe.  Fingers crossed, the bird flu will be contained and peter out. Or the outbreak could continue to spread among dairy cattle and other animals, threatening the health and livelihoods of farmers and others who work with livestock. Or the virus could change in a way that makes it easier ... Read more

May 10, 2024 – When we’re young, we take our macula for granted. At the center of our retina – the deepest layer of the eye that’s chock-full of photoreceptors and that confers color to our world – the macula is like a high-resolution camera. As light hits our eyes, the retina’s macula recasts our world in a bloom of color with astoundingly high visual sharpness. But as you age, your vision dulls. What once stood out sharply becomes foggy, like condensation on a windowpane. After some time, a coal-black smudge or cloudy circular area begins to affect your central ... Read more

Orleatha Smith is the consummate go-getter. This Los Angeles-based dynamo holds a biology teaching credential and a master’s degree in education, and she is a published author who has written books about healthy eating. She’s also a certified holistic lifestyle and wellness coach, with expertise in e-commerce. During the pandemic, she co-founded Sip Herbals, which makes a gluten-free, acid-free, caffeine-free coffee substitute that became an instant bestseller. Orleatha Smith All of that would be impressive under any circumstances, but now consider this: “I was born covered from head to toe with eczema and have dealt with it for the last ... Read more

May 15, 2024 – Despite encouraging drops in overall colorectal cancer rates in the past 2 decades, one group stands out as an exception: Americans younger than 45.  Colorectal cancer cases increased a whopping 333% among 15- to 19-year-olds and 185% among 20- to 24-year-olds from 1999 to 2020, according to new research being presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024, a major medical conference in Washington, DC.  As high as those percentages appear, the number of people affected at these ages remains small compared to rates in Americans 45 and older, said Loren Laine, MD, professor of medicine (digestive diseases) ... Read more

Blue Zones, an organization that studies regions around the world where people live longer, happier lives, has partnered with The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) to help train and certify health care professionals.  The “Blue Zones certification” for doctors and health care workers will add another layer to ACLM certification, which already confers lifestyle medicine training around six pillars: whole-food, plant-rich diet; exercise, sleep; stress management; social connection; and avoiding substance misuse. The new designation will require prior certification from the ACLM, the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM), or the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM), according to ... Read more

Studies have long shown that if you carry two copies of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 gene, your chances of developingAlzheimer’s disease are much higher. Now, researchers say in a new study that gene pair isn’t just a risk factor, but a genetic form of the disorder.  With two APOE4 genes, you’re almost certain to developAlzheimer’s, and you’ll likely start getting symptoms at an earlier age, according to new findings published in Nature Medicine. With the stronger link between APOE4 and Alzheimer’s, the study’s authors say different ways to help prevent and treat the disease may be needed.  What do ... Read more

May 14, 2024 – So far, the unexpected jump of bird flu to cattle has not emerged as a new human flu pandemic. Yes, a dairy worker got pink eye this year after being infected, but a larger threat to all of us has not yet materialized. That doesn’t mean experts are not keeping a close eye on the situation. WebMD & CDC Live Briefing on Bird Flu 2024 Bird Flu Outbreak — What to Know Join WebMD and federal health experts to learn more about the dangers bird flu may pose. Live on WebMD.com from 12 p.m. to 1 ... Read more

If you have eczema, you know what it’s like – that frustrating struggle to catch some ZZZ’s. The problem is at once physical and emotional. “When my eczema is flared, nighttime often fills me with anxiety,” says Nicola Johnston, a digital content creator who lives in Carlisle, England, near the border of Scotland. “I have experienced nights in so much pain that I cannot sleep, and I’ve scratched so hard that my sheets were covered in blood. This is why I’ve worked to establish a good evening routine that will allow me to have a comfortable night’s sleep and get ... Read more

A loving mother wants, above all else, good health for her child. Imagine, then, the emotional impact of discovering that your baby has eczema, of wishing more than anything to take away the itching and irritation. And imagine the worry when a woman with eczema becomes pregnant. The what-ifs are huge. Fortunately, there is excellent information — and inspiration — to help a woman in either situation. Here, two moms reveal the great lengths they went to in their determination to give their children relief and good health. Meghan Elliot Meghan Elliott, who lives in Kankakee, Illinois, is a busy ... Read more

Morning exercise offers many benefits, but for people with eczema, hitting the gym and then going to work presents a complex set of challenges. Getting hot and sweaty can lead to flare-ups. The breakfast you eat for post-workout energy may do more harm than good. And after a heavy workout that taxes your body, the stress of deadlines and other workplace pressures can be a trigger as well. Bottom line: If you like to jump-start your workday at the gym, you need a smart strategy that will keep eczema at bay. Matt Knight Enter Matt Knight, one of London’s most ... Read more