Health in a Heartbeat

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Health in a Heartbeat is a daily radio series that features two-minute segments providing consumer-health information and the latest news on medical research, patient-care breakthroughs and health-care industry trends.

UF Health

Gainesville, Florida


    • Jun 17, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 2m AVG DURATION
    • 645 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Health in a Heartbeat with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Health in a Heartbeat

    They're looking through you — the Beatles and the CT scan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025 2:00


    It's June, and that means it's Paul McCartney's birthday. On June 18, the former Beatle turns 83. Happy birthday, Paul. So, it's a great time to remind the world about...

    Protein for every meal could make you stronger

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2025 2:00


    Does a big, juicy steak for breakfast sound appealing? Perhaps not, but finding ways to boost your protein intake during breakfast and lunch might be a good idea. A new...

    Painting away bacterial infection

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 2:00


    What if we put a bit of the stuff found in antiseptic mouthwash on our walls to protect our health? That may sound like a harebrained scheme or like a...

    Analysis finds more gravely obese than expected

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2025 2:00


    In the last two decades, the average rate of obesity among adults in the United States has risen about 30%. But the rate of those with the most serious, life-threatening...

    How old is your heart?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 2:00


    Wrinkles on one's face are an obvious, unavoidable sign of aging. But your heart might be aging, too, faster than you think — and now, scientists have a way to...

    Little things may be key to mental health

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 2:00


    Much like sleep or sunlight, good mental health may come down to the little things we do every day — like chatting with a friend or taking a moment to...

    Can sound help in the fight against fat?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2025 2:00


    Finding ways to shed a few pounds has become an American obsession. Now, researchers have hit on an idea that will be music to the ears of anyone trying to...

    Poor diets lead to poor brain function

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 2:00


    There's nothing quite like slipping into our ugliest, most comfortable sweatpants and settling in to binge a new TV show while snacking on the tastiest-but-unhealthiest foods possible. But let's face...

    Dad's depression might cause problems for children

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2025 2:00


    Lots of studies have looked at how mom's mood can affect childhood behavior and development, but what about Dad? A new study suggests paternal depression during a child's first year...

    Women have the advantage in Arctic endurance events

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 2:00


    Men have a distinct advantage over women in physical strength. But a new study from scientists in a couple of cold-weather states discovered something surprising. In extremely cold weather, female...

    Lower your blood pressure with a banana

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 2:00


    If your doctor has told you to lower your blood pressure, you might want to consider buying bananas in bulk. A new study suggests potassium can lower blood pressure, even...

    Antivenom developed from one man may act as panacea

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 2:00


    The way we create snake antivenom hasn’t changed much in a century. Using the standard methods leaves us with a concoction of antivenom that gets the job done. But there...

    Sugary drinks are reprogramming your body

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 2:00


    If you're struggling to curb sugar cravings, you might have your intestines to blame. A new study has found that a high consumption of soda and other sugary drinks can...

    Wasabi might boost memory

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 2:00


    For those who love sushi, here's something to remember: Japanese wasabi might boost short- and long-term memory in older adults. We all know the sushi condiment from the often-pungent blast...

    japanese wasabi boost memory
    Tree layout might affect mortality risk in neighborhoods

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 2:00


      A green, leafy canopy benefits more than just the birds. Trees planted along the street, or in high numbers across a neighborhood, are pleasing to the eye and offer...

    Might caffeine and apples relieve ringing in the ears?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 2:00


    Millions of Americans battle a persistent, annoying ringing in their ears. The malady, known as tinnitus [tin-nuh-tuhs], receives relatively little research funding and has no consistently effective treatment. Tinnitus has...

    Be wary of a secret ingredient in tattoo ink

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 2:00


    Tattoos are now mainstream. Once relegated to tough guys and the biceps of sailors who wanted to celebrate anchors and good ol' Ma, those days are over. Today, they are...

    Sun and alcohol are a bad beach combo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 2:00


    Liquor and sunbathing are a bad beach combo. As with many activities matched with alcohol, the danger comes in how it changes our behavior. And like getting behind the wheel...

    How anxiety can push you, positively

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 2:00


    Feeling anxious? It's OK. We all feel anxiety from time to time. Whether a Little League baseball game, an important work presentation or a big life moment like a wedding,...

    Lessons learned from 20 years of snakebites

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 2:00


    The best way to avoid getting bitten by a venomous snake is to not go looking for one in the first place. Much like eating well and exercising to feel...

    High screen-time kids may become stressed-out teens

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 2:00


    If your child is what we like to call an “iPad kid,” you might want to consider limiting their screen time. A new study suggests children with more screen time,...

    Man moves robotic arm — with his mind

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 2:00


    A paralyzed man was able to control a robotic arm using a device that relays signals from his brain to a computer. Although research has seen this before, the big...

    Australopithecus' key to survival … salad?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 2:00


    Human predecessors may have survived long enough to evolve into bigger-brained creatures not by eating meat, but by being flexible about what they ate. For you kids keeping score at...

    Even images of nature reduce pain levels

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 2:00


      These days, the connection between exposure to nature and good health is so well-known that some doctors even prescribe outdoor outings for their patients. Now, a study from a...

    Night owls at greater risk for mental health, study suggests

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 2:00


    Listen up, night owls: It might be time to take a page out of a rooster's book. In the past, research has shown that people who tend to stay up...

    Habits that reduce your risk of memory loss

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 2:00


    Age affects all of us differently. This is especially true when it comes to memory. Just like our bodies, our brains change over time. Volume decreases, neural connections weaken and...

    Email ‘nudge' helps improve math scores, study suggests

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 2:00


    When it comes to listing favorite subjects in school, math is rarely first. In fact, American students have struggled with math for years — consistently landing in the bottom 25%...

    Deadly cardiac events during marathons are less frequent

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 2:00


    Despite our couch potato reputation, more people are running marathons in the U.S. In fact, between 2010 and 2023, more than 29 million people went the distance. In the past,...

    Study indicates women have better hearing than men

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 2:00


    Here's a ready excuse for any male whose female partner accuses him of not listening. Men have poorer hearing than the opposite sex. Really. That's the conclusion of an international...

    Survey: Americans call health care costs a big worry

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 2:00


    Most Americans put health problems wrecking their finances high on the list of things they fret about. It's with good cause. A new national survey shows that more than 31...

    How doomscrolling takes over your life

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 2:00


    Everyone has done it, whether they realize it or not. You pick up your phone, open a social media app and your thumbs get busy. Post after post goes by....

    Dancing helps limit stress

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 2:00


    Exercise is a good way to reduce life's stresses. It prods the body to produce oxytocin and endorphins, which help regulate mood, emotions and boost social bonding. Many of us,...

    For exercise motivation, try moolah

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 2:00


    Money talks. And sometimes it tells us to go take a walk. A team of University of Pennsylvania researchers wanted to study the best ways to motivate people to walk...

    When our common perceptions get in the way of diagnosis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 2:00


    In today's world of online influencers and dating apps, people can feel significant pressure to adhere to unrealistic physical standards. For some, this can lead to eating disorders like bulimia,...

    Flushing might be dangerous to your health

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 2:00


    Your TV has a remote control so that you can channel surf from a sofa on the opposite side of the room. Toilets? Not so much. It might be time...

    How to travel with babies and toddlers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 2:00


    Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. For new parents, the idea of traveling for a vacation with a little one might seem impossible. The truth: It...

    How to beat the afternoon slump

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 2:00


    Have you ever had a very productive morning and then suddenly crashed in the afternoon? The afternoon blahs struggle is real. Sleepiness is driven by circadian rhythms and sleep pressure....

    Sleep distractions lead to inflammation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 2:00


    In today's world, flashy apps, social media platforms and bingeable shows are constantly vying for our attention. And they often succeed. But there's a tradeoff — quality sleep. A night...

    Diet rich in plants also rich in psoriasis relief, study suggests

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 2:00


    Love the skin you're in … by eating more fruits and vegetables. While it may not be the most intuitive treatment for a condition like psoriasis, a new study from...

    Diet program focuses on decreasing ultra-processed food

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 2:00


    In a world where ease often surpasses healthier choices, ultra-processed foods, or U-P-Fs, have become an unfortunate, if tasty, diet staple. These mass-produced, packaged products, like chips and candy, are...

    Microplastics invading our brains

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 2:00


    The magnificent human brain is the most complex machine in the known universe. It's more than the sum of its 86 billion neurons. Forget your outer appearance and beating heart....

    Element of surprise dictates pain perception

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 2:00


    Much like the taste of cilantro, the way we feel pain is not one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, we might feel pain from an injury more intensely than expected. Other times, a similar...

    For kids, healthy drinks are as important as healthy food

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 2:00


    Parents who want to serve the healthiest beverages possible for their children and teens should stick to the basics. A panel of experts, hailing from the national academies in nutrition,...

    Trendy juice cleanses can have not-so-trendy consequences

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 2:00


    Before you spend a week gulping green juice, you might want to consider its impact on your health. A new study has found that just a three-day juice cleanse can...

    Want to feel happy? Just stop trying.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 2:00


    Have you ever felt like the more effort you put toward being “happy,” the less happy you become? You're not alone. It's a known phenomenon called the happiness paradox. While...

    Improve your muscle health with a bunch of grapes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 2:00


    Maintaining your muscle strength and health as you age may be as simple as adding a bunch of grapes to your daily diet. A new study suggests that grapes can...

    Fruit bats might offer lesson for human diabetes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 2:00


    Envy the fruit bat. They can eat twice their body weight in sugary fruit without spiking blood sugar endangering their health. In fact, you'll see a unicorn in the wild...

    Home program helps defer older patients from hospitalization

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 2:00


    Home is where the heart is — and where most of us would rather be when we don't feel well. Now, a new study from researchers in England suggests that...

    Unstructured dog time helps college students

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 2:00


    Starting college — and being away from home — can be stressful. Heck, just being a college student can cause anxiety. Especially if you're missing more than just your two-legged...

    Brake dust might be more harmful than diesel exhaust

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 2:00


    We all know the clouds of noxious fumes coming out of our vehicle tailpipes are a health hazard. Another part of your car, however, might produce an even more dangerous...

    What blinking tells us about our health

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 2:00


    Blink once if you can hear this. Blink twice if you want to know what your blinking says about your health. All of us blink on average 14 to 17...

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