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When to Let Light in Your Room to Boost Alertness
If you don't wake up feeling ready to conquer the day, a new study sheds light, literally, on how to do that. New research reveals that allowing natural light to gently flood the bedroom 20 minutes before waking can boost alertness and banish grogginess. According to Study...
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Dr. Crandall: The Healing Power of Prayer
Numerous research studies and anecdotal stories have shown the power that prayer can have in our lives and for our health. Dr. Chauncey Crandall, world-renowned cardiologist and director of preventive medicine at the Palm Beach Cardiovascular Clinic in Florida, has observed...
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When Gossiping is Good for You
While gossiping is typically considered a negative pastime, if done the right way, it can be good for building social connections and relationships. According to Meriam-Webster, to gossip is to talk about the personal lives of other people. In many cases, the talk can be...
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Brisk Walking Lowers Heart Rhythm Disorders Risk
Long brisk walks might lower a person's risk for heart rhythm problems, a new study says. Folks who stride faster than 4 miles per hour have a 43% lower risk of developing an abnormal heart rhythm, compared with those who amble at a pace of less than 3 miles an hour,...
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11 Natural Remedies to Ease Anxiety
The 2024 results of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) annual mental health poll show that U.S. adults are feeling increasingly anxious. In 2024, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022"Living...
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Beef Up Your Walking Program
Walking is one of the best exercises for your health. Experts at Harvard Health say that walking has been scientifically shown to reduce certain forms of cancer, fight obesity, and ease joint pain. Walking also lowers heart disease risk, boosts immune function, and your...
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Habits That Inhibit Your Happiness
We all want to be happy, but mental health experts say there are common behaviors that stand in the way of a joyful life. Shame, guilt and worry. According to HuffPost, these are the most common disruptors of happiness. Practicing self-compassion is the best way to...
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Dr. Crandall: Food Fixes for High Cholesterol
While the body needs some cholesterol to build healthy cells, high LDL cholesterol, often called "bad" cholesterol because it collects along blood vessel walls, raises the risk for heart attack and stroke. Medications can lower cholesterol levels, but they often have...
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Pets May Boost Happiness as Much as Family, Friends
Your cat might not do the dishes, and your dog probably can't fix your Wi-Fi, but they could be making you just as happy as a spouse or best friend. A new study found that having a furry friend may boost your overall life satisfaction as much as being married or regularly...
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Seasonal Allergies to Worsen With Climate Change
Spring is officially here, and with it comes watery eyes, stuffy noses and constant sneezing for people with seasonal allergies. And climate change means things are only going to get worse for allergy sufferers, a new evidence review suggests. Allergy seasons are expected to...
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Dr. Crandall: Make Small Changes to Boost Immunity
We know if we want to avoid catching a cold or other illness, we need to stay away from people who are sick and wash our hands frequently. But there are also small changes we can make to boost our immune system so if we do encounter germs, we can fight them off and stay...
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Everyday Habits That Can Harm Your Vision
Annual eye exams are important, especially as we age. They can detect any changes in vision that might lead to glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), all of which can cause irreparable harm to your eyes before you notice any changes in sight. And...
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Half of Americans Do Not Get Enough Magnesium
Most Americans do not get enough magnesium through diet alone, especially as we get older. Our great grandparents obtained 500 milligrams of magnesium daily from their diet. Today, our soil has been so depleted of this crucial mineral that the amount we normally get from...
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Citrus Oil May Relieve Cancer Patients' Dry Mouth
A new formula made with natural citrus oil could help cancer patients find relief from dry mouth, a common and painful side effect of radiation treatments. The formula was created by researchers at the University of South Australia and Stanford University. It mixes limonene...
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The Dangers of Taking Too Much Vitamin A
As a measles outbreak spreads across U.S., doctors are now seeing a new and unexpected danger: Children getting sick from taking too much vitamin A. At Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, several unvaccinated children showed signs of liver problems after taking...
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Smell Test Can Spot Early Dementia
The nose might know whether a person is showing early signs of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, a new study says. Older adults who've developed mild cognitive impairment - a precursor to dementia and Alzheimer's - score lower on a peel-and-sniff test than people with normal...
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Heart Rate Per Step Smartwatch Data Reveals Fitness
Folks frequently use their smartwatches to monitor their daily step count, aiming to get enough physical activity to improve their health. But smartwatches are tracking another measure of health that could prove even more important, a new study suggests. Smartwatches also...
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Why Night Owls Are Prone to Depression
Night owls - people who stay up late - have been shown to have an increased risk of depression. And now a new study says why that might be. Dusk dwellers tend to be less mindful - that is, less engaged in the present moment, researchers found. That, along with poor sleep...
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Best Vitamins for Boosting Hair Growth
Hair loss can be devastating for both men and women who view their once radiant tresses as their crowning glory. The average head of hair has about 150,000 strands and it is normal to lose about 100 strands a day. But as we get older, the rate of hair growth slows, so you...
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Study: Chewing on Wood Improves Memory
Chew on this! A new study found that chewing on hard materials like wood may boost memory. Chewing on hard materials increases the amount of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in the brain, according to researchers, while chewing softer surfaces, like gum, did not have the...
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Playing With Dogs Reduces Stress, Heart Rate
Playing with a dog for just 15 minutes can significantly reduce a person's stress, a new study reports. Stressed students who interacted with a friendly dog reported less stress, had a reduced heart rate and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva,...
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Nostalgia Promotes Friendships, Mental Health
Nostalgia might be met by eyerolls from some, as the emotion might inspire insipid images of rose-tinted glasses, gooey sentimentality and living in a time-lost past. But people prone to nostalgia have an edge when it comes to their health and well-being, a new study...
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Prevent Leading Cause of Young Adult Cancer Deaths
Colorectal cancer is increasing 2% to 4% annually in people ages 20 to 49. And it is expected to become the leading cause of cancer death in this age group by the year 2030. Researchers have observed a significant increase in colorectal cancer cases, particularly in those...
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Spouse Benefits When Partner Has Joint Replacement
Knee or hip replacement is a major surgery, and many people must lean hard on their spouses to care for them during weeks to months of recuperation. But all that hassle is absolutely worthwhile for the one providing care for their temporarily disabled partner, a new study...
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Slouching Harms Your Health: How to Improve Posture
Maintaining good posture is essential for overall health and well-being. It helps keep your bones and joints in correct alignment so that muscles are used properly, decreasing the abnormal wear and tear of joint surfaces. Good posture also prevents muscle fatigue and...