Health in a Heartbeat

You've likely heard this old adage: No pain, no gain. For some committed gym goers, there are no days off when it comes to staying active. Sure, every day at...

For decades, nutritional guidance has suggested eggs aren't all they're cracked up to be. Whether it was raising cholesterol or increasing the risk of heart disease, the fridge staple acquired...

At this point, everyone and their mother are begging you to go outside and spend time in nature. There's decades' worth of research to support it making you feel better,...

You experience it while playing the newest edition of your favorite video game. You notice it after a good run or workout.  Whether you're gardening, painting, meditating or even savoring...

Pardon this nosy question, but how clean are your sheets? With so much chatter about sleep's key role in our overall health, it's notable that the state of our sheets...

Stepping inside a perfectly air-conditioned room during the summer sends a pleasant tingle across your skin. It's refreshing, and a sensation whose mechanisms are now becoming less of a mystery....

Scores of Americans increase exercise in the fight to lose weight. Yet, scientists say sedentary behavior isn't the primary cause of the American obesity epidemic. For that, look to the...

In case you need to hear it: Drinking alcohol at any age is harmful to our health. And, once you turn the page to 65 years old, drinking comes at...

You're sitting at the airport, filled with excitement. People pass by laden with suitcases. Someone sprints behind you, desperate to make a connecting flight. You're one airborne nap away from...

Losing weight in your 40s can help you fit back into your favorite-but-increasingly-snug-jeans. Beyond flattering your figure, however, midlife weight loss carries a host of other benefits — like adding...

This is a story of tomb curses and a deadly fungus. It's also a lesson in how science, funded by the federal government, provides hope in the search for new...

You've flossed your teeth and are putting final touches on your makeup when you get an alert letting you know your stress is off the charts. In a brilliant twist...

Papa and Nana may be lighting up, and they aren't the only ones. Record numbers of older adults are getting high on marijuana. A recent New York University analysis of...

An unorthodox combination may someday help relieve cancer patients' depression and anxiety. A treatment with one dose of psilocybin [sai-luh-sai-bin] — a psychedelic, natural chemical found in mushrooms — along...

Baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. Does it get any better? Perhaps unsurprisingly, these American summertime staples aren't the best for your health — especially when it comes to the...

In the 1940s, comic book ads urged “97-pound weaklings” to spend 10 cents on bodybuilder Charles Atlas' famed workout, bulk up and defend themselves against musclebound beach bullies. Some 85...

A fluffy, long-necked cousin of the camel might be the key to protecting against SARS-like viruses. Yes, you heard that correctly. In a new study from researchers in Belgium, a...

Much like the belief that artists must suffer for their craft, the idea that left-handed people are born brimming with more creativity than their right-handed counterparts has endured for decades....

The summer sun is beating down on you as you wipe the sweat from your brow. You passed thirsty a mile ago and you're headed straight for parched. You need...

Summertime is a great time to get outdoors, go hiking and explore nature. Kids are out of school and vacation season is in full swing. But so is the heat....

If you've ever swatted a fly, it's unlikely you wondered before or after the act, “Do flies feel pain?” Scientists think they do, in a sense. And this fact might...

Some people swear by the keto diet. Others can't make it past lunchtime without a carb-heavy snack. We know weight loss is far from a one-size-fits-all approach. Now, a new...

A new survey of Americans reveals that a third of us are exhausted even after rolling out of bed in the morning. By lunch, the average person's energy levels begin...

Anyone who's struggled to stand up straight after a long car ride or felt restless while sitting through a movie knows that arthritic knees are no fun. And while more...

There are those who live to drink coffee, and those who drink coffee to live. Now, a new study suggests that a cup of joe could be doing more than...

There are plenty of old wives' tales about food before bed. What to eat, what not to eat and whether you should eat all. Now, a new study from researchers...

Who knew a bunch of fat cats could teach us so much? These chunky cats, however, might just help us shed the pounds. Got an obese cat? You aren't alone...

What's better than butter? Well, probably a longer lifespan. A major study tracked more than 220,000 Americans over 33 years to learn about how butter and plant-based oils impact mortality....

As the story goes, Ponce de León never found the fabled Fountain of Youth. The Spanish explorer, however, didn't have a molecular biologist on his team. He could have used...

Ever looked at a photo of a river and instinctively known you would be able to swim in it? Or seen a trail on your drive to work and thought,...

July is the peak of the heat. The month brings the scorching “dog days” of summer, a season of perspiration. When most of the northern hemisphere isn't taking refuge in...

The next time you curse out the driver who cut you off or mutter expletives at the speed demon next to you, consider the fact that the driver might be...

Ulcerative colitis is one of those chronic conditions that doesn't just cause discomfort — it can deeply disrupt daily life, with symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea and weight loss. Now,...

Walking up a flight of stairs won't just get you to the second floor. It might also help get you to your golden years. The elevator apparently doesn't stop on...

Are you feeling sleepy today? Already on your second cup of coffee and still fighting a yawn? You may be inclined to think it stems from tossing and turning on...

You might want to sit down for this. It turns out, while too much sitting can be bad for your health, not all kinds of sitting are equal. How's that?...

It takes a microbiologist to answer this one. For good hygiene and health, what is better, showering in the morning or the evening? Think there isn't a difference? Not according...

Scientists have discovered a nanoparticle produced by jet engines that could be endangering human health. The pollutant reminds some researchers of an onion. An international team of investigators discovered “onion-like”...

About 16 million Americans deal with chronic back pain issues, a whopping 8% of the population. And a staggering 65 million report dealing with some kind of lower back discomfort...

Some of us are lucky enough to see our parents and grandparents enjoy healthy lives well into old age. You'd probably feel as if you'd won the genetic lottery if...

Your heart takes a licking, and most of the time, it keeps on ticking. But there are several screenings you can get to be sure that it does. According to...

Loneliness is becoming especially prevalent in the digital age. With our faces glued to computer and smartphone screens, face-to-face time with friends and family has fallen. Being lonely is about...

You use it to freshen your breath. Baseball players blow big bubbles between pitches on the baseball diamond. Kids swap it between classes. But each stick of chewing gum has...

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But what about an apple, some berries, a cup of tea and a piece of dark chocolate? As nutrition science...

In June, the United States Army adopted new fitness standards for its combat soldiers. The biggest change? The new standards are the same for men and women. The test has...

Does this sound familiar? You're following a generally healthy diet, eating your vegetables and carefully avoiding unhealthy, fatty foods. The weekend arrives, or maybe a holiday. Like a reformed card...

Weight loss solutions are a dime a dozen. Some swear by dieting, others by intense exercise. But for those who struggle with feelings of satiety, a new solution may be...

When it comes to the lifelong pursuit of happiness, dieting rarely comes up. Now a new study using data from over 28,000 adults finds that calorie-restricted diets may come with...

Despite being beloved by most folks with a deadline, caffeine's effect on the brain when they are asleep is far from universal. A new study from researchers in Montreal dives...

They creak, they crunch, they catch. But mostly they hurt. Every year, about 800,000 of us have such bad knees that we have them surgically replaced. That number has been...

Before antibiotics became widely available in the first half of the 20th century, we humans were vulnerable to all kinds of ailments. An infected tooth could take you out. So...