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.
Gainesville, Florida
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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%...
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,...
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...
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...
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....
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,...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Scientists around the world who hope to avert the next pandemic have a plan. A team of 25 international scientists wants to do so by conserving natural areas and protecting...
Scientists around the world who hope to avert the next pandemic have a plan. A team of 25 international scientists wants to do so by conserving natural areas and protecting...
Falls become a very big deal as we age. Older adults often lose bone and muscle mass. That means a tumble is more likely to result in a broken bone....
Falls become a very big deal as we age. Older adults often lose bone and muscle mass. That means a tumble is more likely to result in a broken bone....
Thanks to the world's largest ancient human gene bank — which includes bones and teeth from nearly 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia as long as 34,000...
Thanks to the world's largest ancient human gene bank — which includes bones and teeth from nearly 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia as long as 34,000...
The weather is warmer, the sunlight lasts longer and spring is finally here. In most parts of the country, anyway. Along with short-sleeved T-shirts, outdoor workouts and April showers, seasonal...
Age comes for everyone. At some point, our youthful, smooth skin begins to show signs of wear — a laugh line here, a new crease there. Humans have been fighting...
It's a 21st century phenomenon, as you might expect, without historical antecedent. After all, when the knights of the roundtable sat down to discuss business, Sir Lancelot probably wasn't fixated...