RELATED: 14 Ways to Ease Seasonal Depression “You’ll be fine if you can manage the big three outdoor winter workout concerns: overextended exposure to cold temperatures, wind chill levels, and moisture,” says Mark Koester, a National Association of Sports Medicine–certified corrective exercise specialist and director of fitness at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Be aware, however, there are a few risks associated with exercising in colder weather for individuals with certain preexisting conditions for which overexertion in cold temperatures could exacerbate symptoms (such conditions include asthma and heart problems)....

The Arthritis Foundation estimates that nearly 300,000 U.S. children under age 18 have some kind of pediatric arthritis, such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA). “I’ve seen psoriatic arthritis in infants at one year of age. While it’s not the most common age, the incidence increases as children approach the teenage years,” says Lisa Imundo, MD, a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. Dr....

In a study published in September 2019 in the BMJ, researchers observed that non-meat-eaters had a 22 percent lower risk for coronary artery disease, a type of heart disease, but a 20 percent higher risk for hemorrhagic stroke. At the same time, pescatarians, who eat fish but not meat, had the same risk of stroke but a 13 percent lower risk for heart disease compared with the meat eaters. (The authors did not formally compare these risks in fish eaters versus vegetarians....

“I dropped the box I was holding and thought it was because it was heavy. I didn’t realize that it was because my arm was flaccid. Right after that, I felt gravity pull the left side of my face down and my speech was garbled and slurred,” says Swanson. Despite being young — just 39 years old — she knew immediately that she was having a stroke. Swanson called her husband, who was able to figure out where she was....

But if you’re only testing your glucose levels once a day, you’re likely missing the full picture. “Postprandial glucose (PPG) levels — meaning ‘sugar after the meal’ — give you and your care team more important information about how the body is able to manage glucose after a meal,” explains endocrinologist Pratima Kumar, MD, an assistant professor of endocrinology at the University of Texas at Austin. “It informs us if the blood glucose has returned to normal after the meal intake....

But now scientists are finding that people with diabetes can benefit from regular weight lifting, or strength training, as well. In fact, research in the Internal Journal of Cardiology shows that in people with type 2 diabetes, strength training can be more beneficial to blood sugar regulation than cardio,” says Audra Wilson, RD, CSCS, a bariatric dietitian and strength and conditioning specialist at the Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health and Surgical Weight Loss Center at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Illinois....

Given all these curveballs, infectious disease specialists are wary about making predictions about future flu seasons. But Dr. Tosh and others note that, if recent history is any indication, the United States can expect an increase in flu activity after two years of fewer cases. Read on to learn more about what might be coming in the months ahead and what you can do to fight the flu. But once COVID-19 began to hit the United States in spring 2020, the flu essentially disappeared....

According to a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) survey, 56 percent of American adults over age 18 reported drinking in the previous month, and 24 percent acknowledged binge drinking. Of course, most people who drink don’t binge drink, don’t have physical problems related to alcohol abuse or alcoholism, and will never develop a problem with alcohol. But before you take your next drink, consider these facts about alcohol, alcohol abuse, and your health:...

Unfortunately, the weight most women put on during menopause tends to be belly fat, notes a 2012 review of studies published in Climacteric, the International Menopause Society’s journal. And that’s not something to ignore since fat around your middle has been shown to raise your risk for cardiovascular disease. “Your 50s are a really important age for you to look at yourself and make changes that you may not have had the chance to make when you were younger,” says Sylvia Garcia, MD, a family practice physician at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier, California....

In addition to the religious and cultural significance of fasting, some people experience mental health benefits from it, too. “Some observational studies have suggested fasting to improve mood and reduce stress levels,” says Ketan Parmar, MD, a psychiatrist based in Mumbai, India, who identifies as Hindu. For example, a study published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research showed that fasting during Ramadan, a monthlong Muslim holiday that happens each spring, was associated with a drop in depressive symptoms and stress levels afterward among nurses....

“Exercise is part of the behavioral health and holistic care necessary to improve the brain-gut axis and outcomes in IBS,” says Brennan Spiegel, MD, a gastroenterologist and a professor of medicine and public health and the director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. A review published in September 2018 in Neurogastroenterology and Motility looked at various exercises spanning a wide range of intensity from tai chi to mountaineering....

Usually, the difference between enjoying sex and being addicted to sex is apparent. “A healthy sexual appetite can be controlled. If sex is unavailable, it is disappointing but not devastating,” says Tina B. Tessina, PhD, a psychotherapist and author of The Real Thirteenth Step: Discovering Confidence, Self-Reliance and Independence Beyond the Twelve Step Programs. “With a sexual addiction, the addict feels desperate to have his or her sexual outlet, no matter the cost....

Problems with how your body absorbs nutrients, as well as blood loss, diarrhea, and even some of the drugs used to treat this inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can all increase the risk of nutritional deficiency. Maintaining healthy levels of essential nutrients is possible with proper nutrition and supplementation. Here are six of the most common nutritional deficiencies associated with ulcerative colitis, and what you can do about them. Calcium and Vitamin D Keep Bones Strong Kristi L....

Typically, the more mild the acne, the more easily it can be treated at home, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. In more severe cases, though — especially if there are cysts or nodules — professional treatments often are necessary. For mild acne, you might be surprised to learn that you already have several acne remedies in your own home — and in your kitchen of all places....

According to a survey conducted in 2021 by the Pew Research Center, 23 percent of American adults reportedly did not read any part of a book in either paper or electronic form over the previous 12 months. This trend also holds true among children: The Pew Research Center reports that the number of children and adolescents ages 9 to 13 who read “for fun” is the lowest it’s ever been....

Some key factors that contribute to nighttime asthma attacks include: Your body’s internal clock. Your circadian rhythm causes some of your hormone levels to fall at night. Lower levels of hormones can cause your airways to narrow slightly. These narrowed airways can exacerbate your asthma symptoms, according to the Asthma Society of Canada (ASC). Dust mites. Your pillows, blankets, and mattress can all be a haven for these microscopic insect-like pests and their waste....

“Collagen is a type of protein that plays an important role in building and supporting many tissues, from bones and cartilage to skin, hair, eyes, and the digestive system,” says Sonya Angelone, RDN, who practices in San Francisco and is a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. When you take a collagen supplement or eat foods rich in collagen, you are consuming collagen that comes from an animal, explains Ryanne Lachman, RDN, a functional medicine dietitian at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio....

The doctors at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento puzzled over Tim’s diagnosis for a full week. By then, the mysterious disease he was fighting had impacted multiple organs and threatened his life. My wife, Lori, and I were terrified. On an evening walk around the hospital, we contemplated losing our son. Lori asked me if our marriage would survive. I assured her we’d make it, not knowing if I’d survive....

Why? As a study published in 2015 in Advanced Biomedical Research notes, eye-area skin doesn’t have as many oil glands and collagen as the rest of your face and body, making it more prone to dryness, droopiness, lines, and wrinkles. In fact, a study published in September 2015 in Clinical Anatomy concluded that areas of the skin that have fewer sebaceous (oil) glands are less dense and more prone to wrinkles, which is why crow’s-feet is such a big problem....

“I was still short of breath and fatigued, so I drove to urgent care, where they determined my resting heart rate was in the high 100s,” Campbell says. (A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute, according to the American Heart Association, or AHA.) “I thought, ‘I’m young. This isn’t that serious,’” Campbell, who was 24 at the time, says. But the staff at urgent care felt otherwise and instructed her to go to the hospital....