More fiber may help you curb exhaustion and unhealthy snacking

Most people know that you’re not supposed to eat a heavy meal before bed. That can cause heartburn and poor sleep quality. But some researchers wanted to find out what the effects of a short-term diet change could be on sleep. At the New York Obesity Research Center at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, investigators had a small group of adults (no heavy caffeine users, shift workers or people with sleep issues) spend six days staying in the hospital. For the first four days, they ate a controlled diet prescribed by the researchers. For the last two days, they could eat whatever they wanted.

Be proactive when mixing prescription drugs

More than likely, either you or someone close to you is taking a prescription drug. Sometimes, people take multiple medications to manage coexisting health problems, like diabetes and hypertension. This is called polypharmacy. But while keeping your medical conditions under control is important, polypharmacy can become a problem when too many medications are prescribed by multiple specialists working independently of each other, or when drug interactions occur because no single doctor knows your complete medication picture.

What is a coronary calcium scan?

Calcium isn’t always a good thing. You want it in your bones, but not so much in the form of kidney stones or in your heart. After all, calcium buildup in your heart is a risk factor for heart disease. But now, there’s a new way to find out if that’s happening.

How do energy drinks affect your health?

Athletes and office workers alike credit energy drinks for keeping fatigue at bay. With a fast-paced work environment or hectic home schedule, these drinks put gas in the tank when you’re running on E. But every now and then, you hear news stories of energy drink-induced heart palpitations and irregularities, visits to the ER and hospital admissions, making you question whether they are even safe. So let’s be proactive and learn more about how energy drinks affect your health.

Over-prescribing opioids: Where does this problem stem from?

We’ve recently reported on the tremendous overuse of prescription painkiller drugs in this country. Almost everyone knows someone on Vicodin, Percocet, or Norco. Some patients have trouble getting off the drugs, and part of the problem is over-prescribing. So, where is this over-prescribing coming from?

Breast cancer screening recommendations for the proactive woman

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women. Everyone knows that screening is important, but when to start, and how often? Doctors and experts don’t always agree on this, and the answer is different for different women. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) put out their own respective guidelines, though they do differ.

Not all kidney stones are the same

If you’ve read our previous post about kidney stones, titled “Everything you need to know about kidney stones,” you probably have a good handle on what they are, the risk factors and how you can best prevent them. Now, you’re ready to go a little more in-depth and learn about the types of kidney stones. Not all kidney stones are made up of the same crystals.

Concussion playbook: Fuel up on nutrition for healing and recovery

Will Smith recently starred in Concussion, a biographical movie about a doctor who studied and raised awareness about football-related head trauma. While performing an autopsy on a retired pro football player, Dr. Bennet Omalu, played by Smith, discovered neurological deterioration similar to Alzheimer’s – red flag. He called the condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy and published a paper in a medical journal about it. But as he saw more football players receiving the diagnosis, he had to speak up.

Workplace stress and proactive solutions

Statistics show that many Americans are working harder than ever for less, as productivity and demands skyrocket and wages stagnate. And all this work-related stress is harmful to your health. A study by researchers at Harvard Business School and Stanford University compares its damage to secondhand smoke. Their report found that high job demands increased the odds of illness diagnosis by 35 percent, and that long work hours increased the changes of early death by almost 20 percent.

Opioid overdoses on the rise

The U.S. is experiencing an epidemic in drug overdose deaths, the CDC says, and misuse of opioid painkillers are a big part of the problem. Since 2000, overdose deaths from opioids have risen 200 percent. In 2014, there were approximately one and a half times more drug overdose deaths than deaths from car crashes in the U.S.

Exercise programs for older adults: A growing trend that can help you enjoy a healthier life!

Fitness programs for older adults find themselves among the top fitness trends in the country, and for good reason! In the past, this population has really been underserved by the fitness industry. There’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t be able to enjoy the many health benefits of working out. Before beginning a workout plan, it is important for the older adult to consult a medical professional with knowledge of their medical history. Even though this advice applies to exercise enthusiasts of any age, it is a crucial first step for the older adult.

A sour truth about sweets and obesity

It’s no secret that obesity has been rising in America, and there are millions of people who want to get to the root cause of their weight gain so they can enjoy a healthy life. According to the CDC, the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that 33.9 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 and older were overweight, 35.1 percent were obese, and 6.4 percent were extremely obese. Comparatively, in 1988, the number of overweight people was about the same, but the number of obese people was significantly lower at 22 percent. In the 1960s, obesity rates were just 13 percent. Times have changed, and it makes you wonder …

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