Winter hiking: Magical or miserable?
How to safely explore the joys of winter hiking. By midwinter, our urge to hibernate can start to feel constricting instead of cozy. What better antidote to being cooped up indoors than a bracing hike in the crisp air outdoors? Winter backdrops are stark, serene, and often stunning. With fewer people on the trail, you […]
Jump-start a healthier New Year with four holiday eating tips
Satisfying strategies to adopt during a season of festive food. Many people wait until January 1st to begin eating healthier. After all, the holidays are full of stress and extra helpings of rich festive foods, so why bother? But banish that negative thought, because this is an ideal time to adopt new habits. "The dietary […]
Can plant-based diets lower your risk of prostate cancer?
A new study provides encouraging evidence. Do you want to eat a healthier diet while helping to save the planet? Try becoming a vegetarian. You’ll avoid supporting an animal agriculture industry that emits huge amounts of greenhouse gases, and the foods you eat will lower your odds of developing heart disease and diabetes. Plant-based diets […]
The case of the bad placebo
While studies sometimes reach faulty conclusions, researchers can help correct the record. When it comes to clinical research, the most powerful type of study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. But even a well-designed trial can arrive at questionable conclusions. Recent follow-up on a 2019 cardiovascular study dubbed REDUCE-IT is one example that offers a […]
Ready to learn CPR?
Recent events underscore the importance of knowing how to do lifesaving CPR. The collapse on the football field of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin following a hard hit to his chest brought emergency responders running to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to help restart his heart, which had stopped beating. When a heart stops beating (cardiac […]
Motorcycle rallies and organ donation: A curious connection
A study finds that accidents at large motorcycle rallies lead to increased organ donations. It’s an old and morbid joke, particularly apt in hospital emergency rooms: What do you call someone on a motorcycle speeding past you on the freeway? An organ donor. It’s not funny, of course. But that sad, dark humor appears to […]
When therapeutic touch isn’t healing
If you’re a trauma survivor or dislike physical touch, health care visits may be hard. Physical touch has long been linked to the healing process of medicine. During physical exams, the laying on of hands — broadly known as therapeutic touch — offers many clues to help health practitioners decide on the best course of […]
Struggling with migraine hangovers? Read this
When the trademark throbbing from a migraine finally lifts, the relief is profound. But for many people regularly stricken with these potentially debilitating headaches, their distress isn’t over just because the pain ends. Instead, a distinct phase of migraine called the postdrome leaves them feeling achy, weary, dazed, and confused — symptoms eerily similar to […]
Sibling rivalry is normal — but is it helpful or harmful?
What to know and do about sibling rivalry. Sibling rivalry is a remarkably normal feature of family life that can sometimes help to push children to do and be better. But too much squabbling and competition can also be hurtful, and can have lasting effects on how children view themselves and their family relationships. In […]
Don’t want to go to bed? Dealing with bedtime procrastination
Restful sleep is key for good health, and reluctance to sleep can have consequences. A few years ago, the official Twitter account for Netflix sent out the following message: “Sleep is my greatest enemy.” This perfectly sums up the battle you might experience when you know that you should be in bed but avoid going. […]